FIGHTING IN CAVES

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2090, 27 May 1907, Page 1

FIGHTING IN CAVES

[’ADDED COAT SAGAINST POISONED ARROWS.

In order to clear out a hand of Titiuks from their stronghold of laves west of Ln’ke Chad, a British corce last December had to improvise padded coats out of blankets to relist tho poisoned arrows, and had to jrawl into dark caverns full of fierce pagan robbers." Tho operations, news if which reached England only re•ently, resulted, says Reuter, in two if the four officers being wounded, 3leven men killled, and forty wounded. Our force was a company of infanry from Maifoni under Lieutenant Jhaptor—who was wounded—a company of mounted infantry from Dum- ; iri under Lieutenant Chapman, and i detachment of infantry from Wom:le under Lieutenant Thompson—who was wounded—with Captain Booth as Political Officer. The Tibuk strongbold was about three miles ill circumference, great rocks piled one on the itlior, and honeycombed with crevices liid caves from which the Tibuks, without exposing themselves, maintained a deadly fire of poisoned ar--ows. Two soldiers were killed at 200 yards.

In ten days the officers and men, baving'to crawl between the boulders,cleaned out each cave separately. As the British crawled over the crevices they could hear the Tibuks talking in their caves below. Occasionally one would bo seen, who, after firing his arrow, would disappear. The enemy’s casualties are reported at 300. Most jif tho British force were hit by arrows.,