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INDIA'S TROUBLES.I -

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INDIA'S TROUBLES. THE ORAKZAIS AND THE SAlAXA RANGE. IN THE KURRAM VALLEY. The situation on the disturbed North-West frontier of India was thus ably summed up in the Standard of Monday: North and north-west of t Ii Samana range are valleys occupied by the Orakzai tribe; while the Miranzai ralley, to the south, is part of the British district of Kohar, After the chastisement of certain sections of the Orakzais in 1891, two strong forts were cfti- Btructed on the Samana—one at Gulistan, the other at Mastuj. The latter is known as Fort Lockhart, after the distinguished General Sir William Lockhart; while that at Gulistan bears the name of Sir Louis Cavagnari. The crest of the Samana range has an elevation of from six to seven thousand feet, and is fairly broad and flat; tuns offering an excellent site for frontier posts. On he outbreak of the present disturbances, Fort Lockhart was garrisoned by the 36th Sikh Infantry, which also had a detachment, under Major C. H. Des V;eux, at Fort Cavagnari (Gulistan), as well as another de- tachment in the Kurram Valley. Briefly, the meaning of the latest intelligence from the Samana is that the Orakzais are up. On Satur- day it was reported that the Daulatzai section of this tribe-wrongly described as Afridis—had raided a post south of the Ublan Pass, and about 25 miles north- east of Hangu. Some additional details of the fighting in this neighbourhood have also been given in a later telegram it being reported that Captain Baird Smith and Lieutenant North were wounded while returning with a force sent to clear the Ublan Pass of the enemy. But the accounts of the affair on the Samana indicate that the most severe fighting was along this range. The Commandant of Fort Lockhart received information that Fort Cavagnari (Gulistan) was threatened by a gathering of the Orakzais, which included men from three of the five sections of the tribe. As a fourth section had been engaged with Imperial troops near the Ublan Pass, it will be seen that the hostility of the Orakzais is by no means con- fined to a few of them. Firing from the neigh- bourhood of Fort Cavagnari was heard all Friday night of last week, and on Saturday morning Colonel Yaughan went from Fort Lockhart to the assistance of the garrison. On arrival he found that Major Des Voeux, who had reconnoitred the enemy, had been compelled to retire, and that during this operation Lieutenant Blair had been severely wounded. The Ali Khels and Ali Sherzais are said, with the Malla Khels, to be the bravest of their tribe. It is pretty certain that we shall hear of further fighting on the Samana; but, although some of the outposts, held by small detachnrents, may prove untenable, little apprehension need be felt as to Forts Lockhart and Cavagnari. The position here, it must be understood, is unlike the position in the Khyber. The little forts in the Pass and the fortified Serai at Lundi Kotal were not British forts, and they were not held by regular troops. Forts Lock- hart and Cavagnari are garrisoned by Sikh troops under British officers, and are of more importance than the Khyber posts. At the same time, they will be defended more resolutely, and they can easily be reinforced fron Hangu and Kohat. The report that, in view of the urgent need of reinforcements on the Samana, Colonel Gordon is starting with a column to march through the Kohat is, no doubt, based on a misap- prehension. Such a move might be useful as a diver- sion but the quickest way of getting troops to the Samana is to bring them by rail from Rawul Pindi and Kushalgarb, on the Indus, whence they would march via Kohat. There are also reasons for doubt- ing the report that the Lakka Post has been attacked at least, if this refers to the Lachi Post, which is 15 miles south-west of Kohat, on the main road to Bunnu. ) With regard to the Orakzai rising, it may be noted that the measure advocated for effectually controlling the Afridis would, at the same time, serve to keep the Orakzais in check. Like the Khyber Afridis, the Orakzais migrate in the summer months to Tirah, though to a different part of this region, which, it may be explained, covers a series of valleys compris- ing an area of 700 square miles. Afridi Tirah con- sists of the Upper Valley of the Bara River, above Torabela, Orakzai Tirah lying to the south. In the Kurram Valley, stationed at Para Chinar, Kurram Fort Sangina, Sudda, and other points, we have a detachment of the 3rd Punjab Cavalry, two guns of Number 2 Mountain Battery, a wing of the 5th Goorkhas, and a detach- ment of the 36th Sikhs. The chief danger here is from the Zaimukht Pathans and from the Massozai, an Orakzai clan. Communications beyond Thull are frequently interrupted; and little seems to be known as to the exact state of things further op the valley. The garrison, however, should be strong enough to hold its own, and there ought now to be no fear of incursions from the Afghan district of Khost; that is, if the Ameer Abdur Rahman's officials there can be depended on. From the Khyber there is no trustworthy intelli- gence, though the Afridis are said to be suffering from the scarcity of provisions. This time last year there was a water famine in the Pass. A scattered remnant of the garrison of Lundi Kotal has come into Jamrud, but the rest seem to have joined their kinsfolk, the enemy, which possibly was the wisest thing they could do in the circumstances. It is now known that Colonel Aslam Kban was Hot in Lundi Kotal, but at Jamrud, when the out- break occurred. During the last few months he has been acting as Officer in Charge of the Khyber, the position held by Colonel Warburton, in addition to his other duties as Commandant of the Khyber Rifles; and this, no doubt, accounts for his presence at Jamrud. Mr. Donald, C.S.I., now Political Officer in Samana, has been Bpoken of as likely to take Colonel Warburton's place permanently; but, until tbe Khyber is recovered, the appointment is something of a sinecure. The disarmament of the Khyber Rifles, or what is left of them is, doubtless, a proper measure; but it is unsatisfactory to find that a corps which fought well for us in the Black Mountain, and on the road to Chitrd, can no longer be trusted. The payment of subsidies to the Pass Afridis has, of course, been stopped and pensions to all old soldiers in Afridi-land should be withheld unless they come in and consent to settle in the plains, away from the frontier, till the trouble is over. The reports of threatened disturbances in the Quetta direction should be received with caution, though it may be that the attitude of the Murris may give rise to soma uneasiness. In October last the tribe was excited by the preaching of another Mad Mullah," the Must Faquir as he was called, who instigated the attack on a railway station on the Hurnai line, for which he was hanged at Sibi.

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GREECE AND TURIviiY.

THE ENGINEERING DISPUTE.

THE SUSSEX MAJSCEUVRES.

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THE ROYAL VISIT TO IRELAND.

PARISH COUNCILS.

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THE KHYBER PASS BY MOONLIGHT.

MAD DOGS.

THE ONLY TWINS.

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THE CONDITION OF INDIA.

A LOST ART.

FOREIGN GOODS.

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- FUN AND FANCY. -