SMALLER INDIAN ARMY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 100, 21 January 1908, Page 10

SMALLER INDIAN ARMY.

GUARDING THE FRONTIER. The "Daily Mail's" Simla correspondent writes A report has becomo current bore since the signing of the Anglo-Russian Convention that some reduction is to be mado in the Indian Army. The matter is a serious one not only , for India and all who have made that land their home, but also for the Empire at large. The Russian menace may have been temporarily removed, but the'duty of guarding the Indian frontier and of maintaining tho integrity of Afghanistan remains, ana the force for this purpose -needs to bo larger and more efficient now than ever before, owing to the continunl arming of the tribesmen beyond the British border. A generation ago tho regular troops of Afghanistan wore contemptible. To-day, Afghanistan is a real power to bo reckoned . with, and tho bordor tribesmen have Mansers aiid Martinis and can use them well. Great Britain has herself to'thank for the,change.' I state a fact when I say that the policy of'allowing and encouraging the arming , of tlio Afghans, be it right or Wrong., has ringed India with wcll-armcid hordes, who recognise no right but that of superior force: The v duty of guarding the Afghan frontier hits'not' been removed, and- the Government of India has besides to contemplate possibilities arisihg from tho presence bf independent .forces,- compared'with which those of the Transvaal of.- pre-Vereeniging days woiild ■ have,boon small. "''This'state'' ot things'-is largely tho growth 6f this"'last twenty years. In that period ho inbreaßO has been made 111 the numbers of the Army of India. • A time of Unrest m India is not <me in which it is desirable-cither to discourage loyal Mahotnedans by reducing employment for them in the Indian Army, or to increase the nuriiber of Hindus trained to arms in the general population, by breaking up corps in Which men of this typo predominate.