THE INDIAN ARMY.

Bush Advocate, Volume XVI, Issue 582, 5 December 1904, Page 4

THE INDIAN ARMY.

Lobd Kitchbkbr's scheme -for the reorganisation of the Indian Army, the gist of which was supplied to us by cable message twa days ago, ESs as its great aims the transformation of India into a self-contained military power, supplying within itself all that an army needs, and the placing of a fully-equipped army on the north-west frontier. This army, to quote the Daily Express, is to be "ready to move. against an invader and strike swiftly." The new field army will be organised in divisions; . each . ,of , which will stand complete m itself for war, and the great invasion routes via Kandahar and Kabul will be covered $y the main body. . . These two routes are those selected by General Kuropatkin in his plan for the invasion of India; whicb was published a few months ago by the Daily Express. This paper divides the reorganisation scheme into the following divisions :— l. The flower of the army to be concentrated for war in. the north. 2. India to be self-supporting as a military Joweir.. 3v^^eaterEeserve to be created. -■-••:4. The extension of the Volunteer system. Coast and fortress defences to be strengthened. 6. Breed* ing of horses .tobe enoouraged. 7. New transport and equipment. At present India depends upon Home sources for many ef her supplies, and the Admiralty reahses .that in war time it will not be possible to runoonvoys oversea until tbe command of the sea is assured. A new staff' college is to be established at Quetta, but its proposed organisation is said to have given rise to grave objec-i tions. .It was proposed to train two sets Of officers; one "! for 'operations of war, and- one for the routine duties • of the army, but it was urged that qualification for routine work only would mean that an officer would be branded for life as unfit for staff work in war time. We ;are tpld that "as Mis '; §uestidn? involves the. development of leaders in the wars of the future, tbe greatest possible con. sideration is being given to it both at the War Office and in India." Lord Kitchener's^ thiree v army corps commanders are fine soldiers. Sir Bindon Blood and- Sir Alfred Gaselea haye bmh seen much service on ,lih6 frontier, and though Sir Archibald not bad such experience, bis records in the Soudan, where he Was one of Lord Kitchener's vright-hand men, and in South ' Africa, were brilliant. Perhaps in the midst of his arduous ' Manchuria campaign, General Kuropatkin has heard of. the preparations which India is taking to meet him if he ever throws down the gauntlet..