THE ARTILLERY IN CHITRAL, 505 
acting more on the offensive and were consequently more exposed—a 
fact of which our troops did not fail to take advantage. The Guides’ 
cavalry made a successful charge and, in spite of very heavy going and 
tired horses, inflicted considerable damage while the battery made some 
beautiful practice at groups of the enemy and accounted for a very large 
proportion of their total loss. 
I again quote Major Cunningham’s notes: “ On 4th of April, at one 
time, No. 3 Mountain Battery, R.A. came into action against a large 
sungur on the hilltop that was full of men and flags, and giving a lot 
of trouble to our infantry. A man was standing on the wall waving a 
green flag. The mekometer gave range 1800 yards. Ring shell was 
used. First round, 1300 yards—short. Second, 1400 yards—over. 
Third, 1350 yards—shell burst on top of the wall just under the 
man with the flag, who went up in the air and came down flat. The 
remaining three rounds burst in the sungur, silencing it for the rest of 
the day. I heard afterwards from the political officer that the man 
with the green flag was a leading tribesman. On 4th April I used 
time shrapnel at ranges up to 1000 yards, without previously getting 
the range, where rapidity in catching the enemy by surprise was 
necessary, with excellent results. The enemy’s losses that day were 
estimated at 500, of which the larger portion must have been due to 
guns.” 
With regard to the incident of the man with the green flag, the 
correspondent of the Hnglishman (Calcutta) writes: “There is one 
incident which took place when Major Cunningham’s battery first 
came into action, which is worth recording. The enemy had planted 
many coloured standards over their defences, and before the guns had. 
found the range correctly, and when the shells were not getting home, - 
one of the enemy, evidently a deserted sepoy, stood on the centre 
‘sungur and signalled the misses with military precision.—‘ Miss, low 
to the right, high to the left!’ in accordance with the inaccuracy of 
the firing. Though our fighting line was extended with fixed bayonets 
in anticipation of a rush, and the tension was great, yet the affair was 
too palpable and absurd, and a laugh passed right down the line. But 
No. 3, R.A. made up for this show of sarcasm when they found the 
range.”’ ‘The same writer says, “Major Cunningham gave the sungurs 
a last benefit. The shooting of the battery was simply perfect, and the 
last fire of the day must have had a demoralizing effect. Shell after 
shell burst upon the defences, and, in one instance, four shells in 
succession fell into the centre sungur almost at the same spot.” 
That night the Ist Brigade bivouacked in the open in momentary 
expectation of an attack, but none was made and the night passed off 
quietly. 
On oth April the 2nd Brigade marched to Khar, bringing with 
it No. 8 and the Derajat batteries. No fighting took place on that 
day, nor on the 6th, though large bodies of the enemy were seen in 
the neighbourhood with flags, tomtoms, and other warlike stores, and 
a few stray shots were fired at our convoys and reconnoitring parties. 
On 6th April the 2nd Brigade, with No, 8 and No, 2 (Derajat) 
5th April. 
6th Apvil. 
