Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-15
By MONICA RYAlI..


Flight Lieut.. Carter took look at TIA,
sky. HIN! visibility good On tlas
whole" he said thoughtfuiiy. II donb'
whether we shall get better conditions
than this, Marshall"
felt sudden thrill at the thought
that the great moment had come at last
This Was my first experience of flying
and ] was determined to enjoy the TRIP
into WagiriStan as much for lis owi
sake as for the information we hoped tc
obtain regarding the enemy's where
ahoutS.
When do we Starts" asked.
Wed better be Of as soon as DOS
ssble. Can you be ready IN a quarter Of
an hour?"
rushed of to get my maps and
equipment and in 10 minutes was down
at the airdrome Carter and climbed
into our seats. the engine was started
and on we went. Good iiick!" shouted
some one, and as we rose higher and
higher into the cloudless blue heavens
felt my spirits rising likewise.
We few in northwesterfy direction,
sance Of tract of that bleak and DESC
late region inhabited by the turbulent
WaZirs. Operations were in full force
In WaxirfStan-in fact, the tribeSnen
had proved themselves 50 hostile that a
miniature war was being carried on.
This was no easy task. The country
is very mountainous. the Waxirs are
past masters in the art of sniping and
water and transport facilities are prac-
ticaliy non-existent. We had already
had some nasty encounters with the
tribeSsnen- who had managed on more
than one occasion TO cut OF q picket or
ambush our patrols. so that the value
Of air reconnaissance became doubled.
knowledge Of the country was es-
sentisl, for it became Increasingly svi-
dent that certain death was the lot of
stragglers and parties of men who be-
came separated from the main body.
The Wazfrs gave no quarter and ex-
pected none. Hardy, virile fighters, ex-
listing for days on o few handouts of
alta and skin OF water, they would lie
out on the barren hills watching the
movements OF our troops below, ready at
moments notice to pounce upon
an ilsufhciently guarded convoy or to
pick of scout
They would dog the steps of our adj
vance guard for weeks on end, moving
like specters along the tops Of the noun
tairls, unseen by human eye. Should q
picket occupy the same position for q
&CSAs b1AGGG kDuAQ COME Gay Wf1eD
that picket would not return. Our casu-
alties we're mounting UP almost an
canily. and there were ominous gaps
among the numbers Of British oficers.
"A sickening show, this Waziristan
business" thought; "just the kind OF
warfare soldier hates. There Is very
little scope for heavy artillery, with no
towns to lombard; and In this roadless
country tanks and armored cars are use-
less. Our greatest strength undoubtedly
Hes in our air force, If only the powers
that be could be persuaded to use IT,
y
MY thoughts were suddenly interrupt
ed by the feeling that all was not
well with the airplane The engine was
running uneFeniy and the plane was
giving uncomfortable jerks. leaned
ever to the pilots seat and prodded Car
ter in the back
whats the matter?" I shouted.
"MiSsing!" was all the answer I got.
A moment later he hawled out:
We shall have to descend"
I looked over the edge and took q
good view of the hills beneath us. To
make forced landing In such country