The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-01-22
TONNES ON DUTY IN
INDIA HOLD EASTERN
END OF THE FRONT
British Officers and Soldiers
Would Rather be Where There
Are Greater Activities, but Ser.
vices Are Needed Elsewhere.

p~eshuwar. Northwest Frontier Prov.
nce. India. Jan. 22.--Tho British army
officers and Tommies in this northwest.
crn section of British India who often
turn their thoughts lougingly toward
the activities in the great theatres Of
war, solaec themselves with the fuct
that they are holding the eastern end
of the front, - anyway. Under the di.
%rcction 81 sir George Roos- Kcppel, Chief
Commissioner for the North West From.
tier Province, they are keeping open the
Peiwar Kotal and Khybaf passes, the
gstcways into Afghanistan, and are pre-.
venting the tribcsmen Of the intcrvon.
ing territory from carrying into British
India q warfare which might have a
strong bearing ON the situation as Il
whole.
When the war broke out there was
considerable uncasincss among British
officials regarding the thousands Of in
dependent tribesmon, who are ever
ready 10 make trouble and who, il they
should succeed in burying their tribal
feuds and unite, would present a serious
menace. Numbers OF German aud Turk
ish cmissarios had made their way into
this independent region aud had been
busy trying 10 stir up the mountaiuccrs
20 war, playing on the religious fanat-
icism of the latter. To q certain ex.
tent they were successful, for they ere.
ated more or less unrest and aroused
hopes OF conquest which held dangerous
po%teutialities.
At this critical iuncture sir George
Roos.kcppel. who was hen on pro-
tracted leave OF absence IN England, re-.
turned 10 take charge of his province,
which forms the buffer between the
! tribesmcn and the rest Of British India,
As the result of the measures which he
instituted the situation il said 10 have
been got thoroughly 10 hand, aud while
tho habitual lighting still continues
there is no longer any fear OF serious
! trouble.
The handling Of the tribesmon q.
largely q matter OF personal influence
and Sis George n credited iu official
%circlcs with being extraordinarily sue.
/ c%esstul, One thing that undoubtedly
has contributed 60 his success il the fact
that he l. a typical leader OF men; tall.
broad shouldcred, Keen eyed. quick oi
mind and with O. particularly strong
personality-thc type that the tribes.
mon respects. The Chiof Commissioner
/ deals with the chiefs as man 10 man.
employing their own opou.hauded form
OF diplomacy lie has established a rep.
u%tation among the tribes OF never trying
to bluH, a fact which Is sad 90 have
bridgcd many % difficulty.
The Nflidi, the most Warlike and
powerful eff the tnhcsmrn. have been
remaining strictly neutral ever since
the arrival of th, chief commissioner
although they we're restless when hs
left Englord. Here tho personal ,nflu.
ruce OF Sir George cam" into PLAY, for
he had worked among the Atridi foi
nine years and h. known Hud respected
hv the people. The fact that the Arid
are friendly b. most important, ~ II
prevents the tribes on either side OF
them from Joining hands against tho
British.
The Mohmuds, whose territory lir'
near r%eshawar, huvc been giving con
siderable trouble, AZ have also the Nah
suda. far 20 the southwest, tUt IL is NO.
deprvdatlons by individual tribes tina