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 CHIPPENHA M — CHITRAL Anglo-German railway to be built from Tientsin south- Chitral immediately informed Dr Robertson at Gilgit, and with great discretion avoided all collision with the new Mihtar (the wards through Shantung. The total value of exports and assassin Amir-ul-Mulk). Gordon was soon reinforced by 50 men imports for 1899 was H. taels 25,691,000 (£3,854,000). from his headquarters at Mastang, and on the 1st February Dr In 1880 the total was H. taels 14,297,000 (£3,932,000). Robertson himself arrived from Gilgit and assumed political charge. situation remained unchanged until Umra Khan, marching on Chinkiang was the seat of a serious riot on the 5th The Chitral, captured Killa Dresh; and on Sher Afzul joining him, a joint February 1898, when the British consulate and several letter was sent to Dr Robertson, ordering his immediate withdrawal foreign houses were burned down by a native mob. The to Mastang. The demand was ignored, and in their turn the population is estimated at 240,000. The number of Government of India ordered Umra Khan to withdraw to his own As he refused, the Government of India prepared for foreign residents is very small, the trade being almost territory. war; and, abandoning the route through Gilgit and over the snowentirely in the hands of natives. bound passes as impracticable, they decided on an advance from Chippenham, a municipal borough and market Nowshera (British India), less than 200 miles from Chitral, through and Jhandol (Umra Khan’s state). Major-General Sir R. town in the Chippenham parliamentary division (since Swat Low was selected to command this relieving force, and on the 1st 1885) of Wiltshire, England, on the Avon, 13 miles N.E. April an army of some 15,000 men was concentrated beyond of Bath by rail. Works for milk-condensing, bacon- Nowshera at Hoti-Mardan on the frontier. On 3rd April Sir R. curing, and making railway signals, guns, and carriages Low stormed the Malakand Pass, and won a decisive victory over Swatis, who had been induced by Umra Khan to oppose the have been established. Area, 359 acres; population the British. The position was considered impregnable by the enemy, (1881), 4495 ; (1901), 5074. but was carried with great gallantry. After this victory the force Chippewa Falls, capital of Chippewa county, pushed on into Swat, and a few days later crossed the Swat river the teeth of a stubborn resistance and continued the forward Wisconsin, U.S.A., situated in 44° 45' H. lat. and in march. 91° 23' W. long., in the north-western part of the state, Dr Robertson, on arrival at Chitral, determined to try to open on the Chippewa river, at an altitude of 831 feet. It is at up communication with Gilgit and Mastang. Accordingly, he the intersection of three railways, and possesses a fine despatched Lieutenants Fowler and Edwardes with a small party this purpose. After two marches they were attacked by the water-power, which has given rise to extensive manufac- for enemy, but managed to send word on to Mastang. A Mastang tures, largely of lumber. Population (1880), 3982 ; party under Captain Ross advanced to relieve them, but was in its (1890), 8670; (1900), 8094, of whom 2357 were foreign- turn attacked by overwhelming numbers, and eventually had to cut its way back, losing Captain Ross and 54 men killed. Fowler born. and Edwardes held out for a week with magnificent bravery, but Chishima, the Japanese term (literally “a thousand eventually were, through treachery, overwhelmed and captured. Mastang itself was now besieged, and Chitral completely cut off. islands ”) for the Kuriles (q.v.). The garrison of the former place made a gallant defence, and were Chitral.—The state of Chitral (see also Hindu able to hold out until relieved by Colonel Kelly, whose march will Kush) is somewhat larger than Wales, and supports a be presently described. Sir R. Low’s force had pushed forward to the Paingkua river, population of between 70,000 and 80,000 rough, hardy on the 13th April Lieutenant Edwardes was released by Umra hillmen. Both the state and its capital are called Chitral, and Khan and sent into the British camp. The same day a third successthe latter being situated about 47 miles from the main ful battle was fought, and on the 16th the force crossed the river, watershed of the range of the Hindu Kush, which divides finally defeated the enemy, and pushed on towards Chitral. A the waters flowing down to India from those which take few days later Lieutenant Fowler also was sent in by Umra Khan, who had brought these officers down with him from Chitral, and their way into the Oxus and on to Turkestan and Central hoped by releasing them to prevent the invasion of his country. Asia. Chitral is an important state because of its situa- But this was not General Low’s view of the matter, and on the tion at the extremity of the country over which the 18th inst. his force occupied Umra Khan’s deserted stronghold in Government of India exerts its influence, and for some Jhandol, the latter fleeing with his family and treasure towards He was not overtaken, and remained at Cabul a refugee. years before 1895 it had been the object of the policy of Cabul. Meantime the siege of Chitral had begun, and was being prosethe Government of India to control the external affairs of cuted with the utmost vigour by Sher Afzul, Umra Khan having Chitral in a direction friendly to British interests, to secure proceeded south to oppose Sir R. Low. The defence of Chitral an effective guardianship over its northern passes, and to will always be counted among the finest exhibitions of British The garrison numbered only 543, of whom 137 were nonkeep watch over what goes on beyond these passes. This pluck. combatants. On the first day of the siege a reconnaissance by thepolicy resulted in a British agency being established garrison was repulsed with heavy loss, Captain Baird and 24 men at Gilgit (Kashmir territory), with a subordinate agency being killed. This engagement was the hardest fought during the in Chitral, the latter being usually stationed at Mastang whole war. The military command was in the hands of Captain to whose skill, energy, and valour the successful (65 miles nearer to Gilgit than the Chitral capital), and Townshend, resistance of the garrison was practically due; Dr Robertson, occasional visits being paid to the capital. though ranking himself as a non-combatant, assisting most In December 1894 Surgeon-Major Robertson, C.S.I. (India gallantly in the perilous duties of the defence, in the performance Medical Service)—afterwards Sir George Robertson, K.C.S.I.—the of which he was severely wounded. The siege lasted 46 days. Britisl agent, was at Gilgit; and his assistant, Lieutenant Gurdon, One of its most brilliant features was a sortie by Lieutenant Harley with ten men of his escort, was staying on a visit to the Chitral to destroy the besiegers’ mines on the 17th April. The relief of Chitral was at last accomplished by Colonel Kelly. capital, the remainder of his escort of 100 men remaining at Mastang. On the 1st January 1895 the Mihtar (or Ruler) of Chitral This officer, with his regiment, the 32nd Pioneers, was at this time was treacherously murdered at the secret instigation of Sher employed at road-making in the Gilgit district. On the 22nd Afzul, who himself was an ex-Mihtar, and had been dethroned by March (the siege of Chitral having begun on the 4th) Colonel a stronger party in the state and forced to fly for refuge to Cabul. Kelly was ordered by the Government of India to assume military His chief ally was Umra Khan, chieftain of Jhandol, whose restless command of all the troops under the Gilgit agency. He was made ambition, not satisfied with numerous small conquests and in- acquainted with what had taken place at Chitral, and was given creases of territory, had long been set on the Mihtarship of Chitral. practically a free hand to make such dispositions and movements For the time being, however, he posed as an ally of Sher Afzul; of the troops under his command as he considered necessary. He but without waiting for the latter’s arrival from Cabul, he himself, » immediately decided to march over the snow passes on a relief on hearing of the Mihtar’s murder, hastened with his forces to expedition, in spite of the fact that this route had been considered seize Chitral. He met with some success, capturing Killa Dresh, impracticable by the Government of India and the road through 25 miles to the south of Chitral Fort; but here he was opposed Swat, Jhandol, and Dir decided on. The troops at Colonel Kelly’s and beaten by the Chitralis themselves. At this juncture he was disposal were entirely native troops, consisting of 400 men of the joined by Sher Afzul, who quickly won over the Chitralis ; and 32nd Pioneers, with 2 mountain guns, 40 sappers and miners, and the two forces amalgamated and made common cause against the some 150 ragged and undisciplined levies from the wilds Of surroundBritish, whose presence at Chitral was considered likely to inter- ing native states. With this small force he had to march through fere with the return of Sher Afzul to the throne. The combined 220 miles of hostile country yielding scarcely any supplies ; and above all, he had to cross the terrible Shandur Pass, 12,230 feet , force at once marched to attack Chitral Fort. On hearing of the Mihtar’s assassination, Lieutenant Gurdon at high, at this time covered with deep snow. In the face of all 46