The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-01-22
HOLDING THE LINE
ON AFGHAN BORDER
Sir George Ross, Keppel
and His Force Has a
Mans Size Job.

pEsHwAR, NORTH WEST FRONT
lTIR PROVINCE, India, Dec. is
Correspondence of The Associated
Press) The British army officers and
'rommies in this northwestern section
Of British India, who often turn their
thoughts longingly towards the activ-
tiles in the great theatres of war, SO.
lace themselves with the fact that they
IRE holding "the eastern end of the
'front.', anyway. Under the direction
Of Sir George Roos- Keppel, Chief Com.
missioner for the North West Frontier
Province. they are keeping open the
Peiwar Kotal and Knyber Passes, the
gateways into Afghanistan and are
preventing the tribesmen of the inter.
vening territory from carrying into
British India a warfare which might
have q strong bearing on the situat-
ON as a whole.
When the war broke out there was
considerable uneasinesS among British
officials regarding the thousands Of
independent tribesmen, who are ever
ready to make trouble, and who, II
hey should succeed in burying their
tribal feuds and unite would present
j serious menace. Numbers of Ger.
man and Turkish emissaries had made
heir way into this Independent region
and had been busy trying to stir up
the mountainous to war, playing on
he religious fanaticism of the latter
10 o certain extent they were sue
cessful for they created more or lest
unrest and aroused hopes OF conquest
which held dangerous potentialities.
AT this critical juncture Sir George
Roos-Keppel, who was then on pro.
tracted leave Of abence in England, re
turned to take charge Of his province
which forms the buffer between the
lribesmen and the rest Of British In
dia. As the result of the measures
which he instituted the situation is
said to have been got thoroughly in
hand, and while the habitual fighting
still continues there is no longer any
ear Of serious. trouble.
The handling Of the tribesmen is
argely a matter OF personal influence
ind Sir George Is credited in official
sircles with being extraordinarily sue.
eessful. One thing that undoubtedly
las contributed to his success is the
TACT that he is typical leader of
men; tall, broad shouldered, keen-eyed
iuick of mind and with a. particular
y strong personality-the type the
ribesmen respects. The Chief Com.
missioner deals the chiefs as man to
nan; employing their own open.hand-
ID from Of diplomacy. He has estab-
shed reputation among the tribes
i never trying to bluff, fact which
said to have bridged many a diff
inulty.
the Afridi, the most warlike and
lowerful Of the tribesmen, have been
.emaining strictly neutral ever since
lie arrival Of the Chief Commissioner
although they were restless when he
eft England. Here the personal in.
1uence of Sir George came into play
or he had worked among the Afridi
re friendly Is most important, as it
prevents the tribes on either side of
rim joining hands against the British,
The Mohammeds, whose territory
iSs near Peshawar. have been giving
considerable trouble, as have also the
Hahsuda, far to the southwest, but
I IS by all OF them would give cause
or particular worry. The Mohammeds
Who have been already are paying
or their hospitality. Not only have
hey been barred from entering the
province to carry on trade by which
hey have been want to secure the
necessities OF life, but virtually all
he Mohnands in the British domains
rave either been driven back into
heir own country or informed.
The Mahsuds have particularly act.
We and have devasted large ract
{ the province along. their border.
spr the present they are being mere.
held IN check, but Sir George Roos.