once commenced on the escort from the houses on three sides. [Sidenote: The Maizar Outrage] Colonel Bunny and three officers were hit almost immediately, and the baggage animals, carrying most of the reserve ammunition, stampeded; but the guns at once came into action, driving back into the village the men who seemed upon the point of charging, and giving time for preparations for the retirement of the escort, now inevitable. The circumstances were trying in the extreme for the troops, and their staunchness is worthy of the highest praise. By this time every one of the British officers had been hit, two of them mortally, but the native officers of the 1st Punjab Infantry and 1st Sikhs nobly filled their places. Getting together a party of men, a most determined stand was made by a garden wall, whereby the first withdrawal was covered, the wounded were helped away, and the guns were able to retire to a fresh position, whence they fired “blank” to check the enemy, the small number of service rounds brought out having now been exhausted. The retirement was continued, the enemy coming on and enveloping the flanks, until the Sheranni plain was reached; and about 5.30 p.m., reinforcements coming out from Datta Khel, the enemy were at last beaten off, and the further withdrawal to camp was unmolested. _Operations of the Tochi Field Force, 1897–98._—The decision to send a punitive expedition into the Tochi was arrived at on the 17th June, and by the 8th July the concentration at Bannu was completed. The force was placed under command of Major-General Corrie-Bird, C.B., and comprised two brigades. FIRST BRIGADE. Colonel C. C. Egerton, C.B. 2nd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. 1st Sikh Infantry. 1st Punjab Infantry. 33rd Punjab Infantry. One squadron 1st Punjab Cavalry. No. 3 Peshawar Mountain Battery. No. 2 Company Bengal Sappers and Miners. SECOND BRIGADE. Brigadier-General W. P. Symons, C.B. 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade. 14th Sikhs. 6th Jats. 25th Punjab Infantry. One squadron 1st Punjab Cavalry. Four guns No. 6 Bombay Mountain Battery. [Sidenote: Punitive Operations]