The task was still formidable. The eastern bank of the Tank Zam was formed by two long ridges, the nearer being christened "Flathead Left" and the further "Flathead Right," while to the north of a deep depression came yet another height dubbed "Marble Arch." The right flank guard soon became heavily en gaged on Flathead Left while the advanced guard met with a heavy fire from Marble Arch and was checked. After a very stubborn and savage action at close quarters, Flathead Left was taken and held throughout the day, aircraft contributing to this result. The column was then able to encamp undisturbed. After a night march on the 28th, the column passed through the gorge.
Although the Mahsud resistance was on the wane, Afghan emis saries were busy stirring them to further efforts. Two Afghan mountain guns arrived to reinforce moral persuasion. On Feb. 1, General Skeen once more ordered a night march against the Mahsud position, held in great strength, near Aka Khel. A strik ing success resulted; the enemy's resistance collapsed with no seeming hope of its reviving; Afghan help did not materialize, while the two /mountain guns proved but a dismal failure. From this moment onwards there was to be no more serious fighting. But the Mahsuds showed no sign of accepting the Government's terms and so the column marched further up the Tank Zam Valley. But there was a change of policy in that there was now a coercive policy enforced, appropriate measures being taken for the destruction of Mahsud property.
On Feb. 16 the column arrived at Tauda China, 2 m. distant from Makin, which centre of population and agriculture, failing submission by the Mahsuds, was to be ravaged. According to the terms of an ultimatum, the days of grace expired on Feb. 19, when, until the 29th, the fortified Mahsud villages were sys tematically shelled or raided. On March 2 the column moved to Kaniguram, the only so-called "town" of the the Mahsud country. The place itself was not occupied, the troops being kept within a fortified camp constructed at Ladha close by the town. The re sulting situation proved embarrassing. A certain number of rifles were surrendered, but as a whole the Mahsuds remained untamed and hostile. The column remained at Ladha when, on April 6, it carried out an important punitive operation north-west of Kani guram. This showed the tribesmen to be still as contumacious and bellicose as ever. Ladha was consequently converted into a standing camp connected with Tank by a strong series of posts down the Tank Zam valley. The Waziristan force was reduced,
the Derajat column as such was broken up; one brigade remained at Ladha while another guarded the road to Tank. Then finally, in the autumn, the long deferred expedition to Wana was organ ized as the Wana Wazirs had failed to comply with the Govern ment's demands for reparation for the outrages of 1918-19. Moreover, the Wazirs were then undoubtedly harbouring Afghan agents who were intriguing against the Government of India.
On Nov. 12 the Wana column, commanded by Major-General W. S. Leslie, C.M.G., left Jandola for Sarwekai where a lengthy pause was made. Then, on Dec. 15, the troops moved again and reached Wana on Dec. 22. The only incident of the advance was a spirited little affair at the pass of Granai Mara Narai where a night march once more dislodged the Wazirs from their position virtually without fighting. The beginning of 1921 thus found a brigade of Indian troops at Ladha and Wana respectively with every prospect of a permanent occupation of Waziristan. But one important circumstance was about to alter the entire prob lem of Waziristan. A great circular motor road was now to be constructed from Banriu up the Tochi Valley ; thence across the passes to Razmak and so down the whole Tank Zam valley to Tank. This road would allow of military operations being con ducted under very different conditions to those prevailing in 1919-2o. Moreover, the Royal Air Force was now in possession of a new aerodrome at Dardoni in the Tochi Valley. Lastly, two 6-inch howitzers were to be stationed at Ladha.
At the close of 1922, on the impending completion of the new motor road, the garrison of Ladha was ordered to move into the new and more salubrious camp of Razmak. The Mahsuds, mis taking this change for a symptom of weakness, committed acts of open hostility. The situation grew so bad that punitive opera tions became inevitable. The plan of operations was for one brigade to advance from Razmak and to unite with the brigade from Ladha in the Makin area. Before this could be effected the last stages of the motor road had to be completed and this proved an arduous task. Starting from Idak in the Tochi Valley the 7th Brigade reached Razmak on Jan. 23, then effecting a junc tion with the 9th Brigade from Ladha on Feb. 4 at Tauda China. The Makin area was once more devastated ; aeroplanes, 6-inch and 3.7 howitzers were all employed in the task. By the 12th enough destruction had been accomplished, and on the 22nd the last recal citrant tribes made their submission.