Dargai

DARGAI. (1) Mountain ridge of the Samana range, on the Kohat border, famous for the stand made there by the Afridis and Orakzais in the Tirah Campaign, 1897. (See TIRAH CAMPAIGN.) (2) The terminus, on the Peshawar border, of the frontier rail way running from Nowshera to the foot of the Malakand pass.

Attack on Dargai (1897) .

During the British advance through Tirah in 1897 two attacks were made on the Dargai ridge, the first on Oct. 18, and the second on the loth. The first failed; the second succeeded through British pluck, in spite of its tactics being of the meanest order.

Dargai is a spur of the Samana range of hills which flanks the Kuram valley, north of Thal, Shinawari and Hangu. It is clearly visible from near Fort Gulistan, whence on the loth, it was seen that the tribesmen were holding the ridge in strength, and were throwing up sangars (stone breastworks). Major-General Yeat man-Biggs decided to take the position by a frontal attack, and though he had 24 guns at his disposal no attempt was made to concentrate their fire on the tribesmen. The result was that the attack was brought to a standstill by a hail of bullets, and a second one had to be mounted. More wisdom was then displayed, the guns being ordered to bombard the position for three minutes prior to the assault. This bombardment demoralized the tribesmen, and the position was carried. The British losses were 37 officers and other ranks killed, and 156 wounded. The bulk of these losses could have been avoided had it at first been realised that frontal attacks must be prepared by gun-fire.

See C. E. Callwell, Tirah, (1897) ; H. D. Hutchinson, The Campaign in Tirah 1897-98, (1898) ; L. J. Shadwell, Lockhart's Advance Through Tirah, (1 898) .