Winston
Churchill (1874 –1965) estadista británico fue Primer
Ministro de Gran Bretaña. Churchill también
fue oficial de la armada, historiador y escritor. Ganó el premio Nobel de
literatura en 1953. Aquí unos párrafos de su libro The Story of the Malakand Field Force
… The town and
cantonment of Nowshera was the base from which all the operations of the
Malakand Field Force were conducted. It is situated on the India side of the
Cabul River and is six hours by rail from Rawal Pindi. In times of peace its
garrison consists of one native cavalry regiment, one British, and one native
infantry battalion. During the war these troops were employed at the front. The
barracks became great hospitals. The whole place was crowded with transport and
military stores; and only a slender force remained under the orders of Colonel
Schalch, the Base Commandant…
The small area
of the camp on the Kotal necessitated the formation of a second encampment in
the plain of Khar. This was close under the north outer edge of the cup. It was
called for political reasons North Malakand. As a military position it, also,
was radically bad. It was everywhere commanded, and surrounded by ravines and
nullahs, which made it easy for an enemy to get in, and difficult for troops to
get out. It was, of course, of no strategic value, and was merely used as a
habitation for the troops intended to hold Malakand, for whom there was no room
in the crater and fort. The north camp has now been definitely abandoned.
Nobody,
however—least of all those who selected the site—would seem to have
contemplated the possibility of an attack. Indeed the whole situation was
regarded as purely temporary. The vacillation, caused by the change of parties
and policies in England, led to the Malakand garrison remaining for two years
in a position which could not be well defended either on paper or in reality.
At first, after the Chitral campaign of 1895, it was thought that the retention
of the brigade in this advanced post, was only a matter of a few weeks. But as
the months passed by the camp began, in spite of the uncertainty, to assume an
appearance of permanency. The officers built themselves huts and mess rooms. A
good polo ground was discovered near Khar, and under careful management rapidly
improved. A race-course was projected. Many officers who were married brought
their wives and families to the camp among the mountains, and the whole place
was rapidly becoming a regular cantonment. No cases of Ghazi outrage broke the
tranquillity. The revolvers, which all persons leaving camp were by regulations
obliged to take, were either unloaded or carried by a native groom. Shooting
parties were organised to the hills. A well-contested polo tournament was held
in Christmas week. Distinguished travellers—even a member of Parliament—visited
this outpost of empire, and observed with interest the swiftness and ease with
which the Anglo-Saxon adapts every situation to his sports and habits.
Troops at Malakand |
At the same time
the station of the Malakand Brigade was far from being a comfortable one. For
two years they lived under canvas or in rude huts. They were exposed to
extremes of climate. They were without punkahs or ice in the hot weather. They
were nearly fifty miles from the railway, and in respect of companionship and
amusements were thrown entirely on their own resources. When the British
cavalry officer succeeds, in spite of official opposition, expense and
discouragement, in getting on service across the frontier, he is apt to look
with envious eyes at the officers of the Frontier Force, who are taken as a
matter of course and compelled to do by command, what he would solicit as a
favour. But he must remember that this is their compensation for long months of
discomfort and monotony in lonely and out-of-the-way stations, and for
undergoing hardships which, though honourable and welcome in the face of the
enemy, become obnoxious (unbearable) in times of peace…
The reputation
which its present inhabitants enjoy is evil. Their treacherous character has
distinguished them even among peoples notoriously faithless and cruel. Among
Pathans it is a common saying: "Swat is heaven, but the Swatis are
hell-fiends." For many years they had lain under the stigma of cowardice,
and were despised as well as distrusted by the tribes of the border; but their
conduct in the recent fighting has cleared them at least from this imputation.
Several minor
chieftains now divide authority in the Swat Valley, but till 1870 it was
governed by a single ruler. The Ahkund of Swat was by origin a cowherd, an
office considered most honourable in India. The cow is a sacred beast. His
service is acceptable to the Gods and men. Princes glory in the name—though
they do not usually carry their enthusiasm further. "Guicowar"
translated literally means "cowherd." From such employment the future
Ahkund received his inspiration. He sat for many years by the banks of the
Indus, and meditated. Thus he became a saint. The longer his riparian
reflections were continued, the greater his sanctity became… (The Story of the Malakand Field Force,
by Winston Churchill)
Vocabulario
Riparian:
relating to dwealling in the bank of a river.
Para
saber
El sitio de Malakand
sucedió en 1897, cuando la guarnición británica en la región de Malakand, India Británica, se enfrentó a
tribus Pashtun.
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