THE ARTILLERY IN CHITRAL. 507 
rate, in that neighbourhood. It was therefore a great surprise when, 
at about 1.30 p.m., the 2nd Brigade received orders to turn out at once 
and support the Guides, who were being attacked by two large bodies 
of the enemy. The Guides had crossed the Panjkora by a temporary 
bridge on the evening of the 12th, and had started up a valiey 
on the Jhandoul side early on the 18th to burn villages. Dur- 
ing the night of the 12th the temporary bridge was washed away, 
and there was then no means of communication across the river 
except a small mussuck raft on which some four or five men 
could cross at a time with great difficulty and danger. Consequently, 
when it was known that the Guides were being attacked, all that could 
be done was to send troops along our side of the river to support them 
by firmg across it. The position which these troops took up was about 
three miles from camp, and, most fortunately, it was such as to com- 
mand a view of the spur along which the Guides were retiring at a 
range of from 1900 to 800 yards. They reached this position at about 
2.30 p.m., and No. 8 Mountain Battery came into action on some high 
ground above the river while the infantry lined the banks below. At 
this time the Guides were firing occasional volleys, and a few of the 
enemy were to be seen on the hilltops.! “For some time it was very 
difficult to see for certain which were our men and which the enemy, 
as both kept pretty well under cover, and little could be seen beyond 
puffs of smoke.” Presently the enemy grew bolder and showed 
in great numbers. ‘The guns then began to fire more rapidly and with 
right good effect, directing their shrapnel here and there as occasion 
demanded. ‘The ranges were from 1400 to 1700 yards. Their fire 
soon relieved the Guides from any severe pressure and enabled them to 
retire deliberately and slowly. . . . . At 4.20 p.m. the battery 
(No. 8) came into action in their second position, opposite the end of 
the spur which the Guides had just descended, and presently commenced 
to shell a village some 1400 yards distant from which the enemy were 
firig, the shells appearing to go plump into the buildings, raising 
clouds of dust while the firing from that point quietly ceased.” 
No. 2 (Derajat) Mountain Battery left camp at the same time as the 
rest of the troops, but were, for some reason, ordered to halt after going’ 
a short distance, and were not brought into action till about 4.30 p.m., 
when they took up a position on the river bank nearly opposite the 
Guides’ camp, and made excellent practice at sungurs and bodies of the 
enemy at ranges varying from 650 to 3100 yards. 
By the time the Guides reached their camp, night was falling, and, as 
the enemy remained in force in the neighbourhood, evidently much 
elated at the result of the day’s proceedings, it was considered almost 
certain that they would make a night attack. Consequently, the Derajat 
battery and some companies of infantry remained in position to afford 
what support they could from across the river. What actually trans- 
pired is described as follows by the Hnglishman. “ From information 
received on the following day, it appears that we were right in sur- 
mising that the enemy intended rushing the riverside camp, for a cap- 
} Morning Post. 
? The Guides are armed with Martinis, as are all the Native infantry at present 
