LOYAL INDIA RALLIES TO THE EMPIRE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue LXXXVIII, 12 September 1914, Page 2

LOYAL INDIA RALLIES TO THE EMPIRE

GREAT WAVE OF PATRIOTISM PRINCES AND PEOPLE COME FORWARD PERSONAL SERVICE AND COUNTLES GIFTS. The great wave of spontaneous patriotism that has swept over all India and joined princes and people in emulation to serve the Empire in her hour of need is one of the most thrilling and inspiring features of the day. It was splendidly illustrated in a long and stirring message from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor last evening. The telegram was read by the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives last night and excited the greatest enthusiasm. NATIVE RULERS VOLUNTEERING. The following is from the Press Bureau : — Summaries of offers of service, money, etc., etc., made in India to the Viceroy : Rulers of Native States, numbering nearly seven hundred in all, have with one accord rallied to the defence of the Empire and offered personal services and their States' resources for war. From among many princes and nobles volunteering " for active service, the Viceroy has selected the Maharajahs of Jodhpur, Bikauer, Kishangarh, Ratlam, Cochin, Patiala, Sir Pertab Singh, Regent of Jodhpur, the Heir Apparent of Bhopal and the brother of the Maharajah of Cooch Benar, together with other cadets of noble families. The veteran Sir Pertab Singh insists on serving his King and Emperor" despite his seventy years. His nephew, the Maharaja, aged sixteen, goes with him. All these have already joined the Expeditionary Forces. The Maharajah of Gwalior, the Nawabs of Jaoro and Bhopal, . and the heir-ap-parent of Palanpur were to their great regret prevented from leaving their States. MEX, MONEY, AND MUNITIONS. Twenty->seven of the larger Native States maintain Imperial Service Troops, and the services of every corps were immediately placed at the disposal of the Indian Government on the outbreak of war. The Viceroy has accepted from twelve States contingents of cavalry, infantry, sappers, and transport ; also a camel corps fr£>m Bikaner. Most of these have already embarked. The following are particulars of the generosity and the eager loyalty of the chiefs: — Various Durbars are . providing a hospital ship to be called the Loyalty for the use of the Expeditionary Forces. The Maharajah of Mysore has given fifty lakhs of rupees (£333,333) for expenditure upon the Expeditionary Forces. The Maharajah of Gwalior, besides sharing the expenses of the hospital ship, the idea of which originated with him and the Begum of Bhopalj has offered the Indian Government a large sum of money and has offered to provide a thousand horses as remounts. , From Lohani in the Punjab and Las Bela and Kalat in Baluchistan, the Chiefs and the Hardars offer to supply and maintain camels with drivers. Several Chiefs have offered to raise additional -troops for military service if required. . „«..' GIFTS FROM I ; ALL .STATES. Donations to Indian Relief Fund have poured in from all States. The Maharajah, of Rewa offers troops and his treasury, even his private jewellery,, for the service of his King and Emperor. Besides contributions to the Indian Fund, the Maharajahs of Kashmir, Buadi, Orchha, Gwalior, and Indore have given large sums to the Prince of Wales Fund. The Maharajah of Kashmir, not content with subscribing • to the Indian Fund, presided over a meeting of 20,000 people, and delivered a stirring speech ( in response to which large subscriptions [ were collected. The Maharajah Holkar | offers free of charge all the horses in his State army suitable for Government puri poses. Horses are also offered by the Nizam of Hyderabad's Government, by the Jam of Nawanagar, and by other Bombay States. Every chief in the Bombay ! Presidency has placed his State's resources at the disposal of the Government, and all have contributed to the Relief Fund. Loyal ■ messages and offers have also been received from the Mohtar of Chitral, \ and the tribes of the Khyber Agency and the Khyber Rifles. Letters irom the most remote States in India are all marked by a deep desire to assist the British Government, however humbly, in its hour of need. From beyond the Indian borders generous offers of assistance have been received. From the Dewan of Nepal, the military resources of the State have been placed at the disposal of the British Government. The Prime Minister offers three lakhs of rupees (£20,000) to the Viceroy for machine guns or field equipment for the British Gurkha regiments proceeding overseas, besides large donations from his private purse to the Prince of Wales Fund and Imperial Relief Fund. The Fourth Gurkha Rifles, of which the Prime Minister is honorary Colonel, have offered 30,000 rupees (£2000) for machine guns in the event of their going on service. TIBET OFFERS MEN AND PRAYERS. The Dalai Lama of. Tibet offers sl thousand Tibetan troops, stating that the Lamas in Tibet are offering prayers for the 'success of the British Army. The same spii'it has prevailed throughout British India. Hundreds of telegrams and letters to the Viceroy express loyalty and a desire to serve either in the field or in India. Many hundreds have also been leceived by local Administrations. These •come from communities and associations of all classes and. creeds, and also from individuals. Following are typical examples : — All India Moslem League in the Bengal Presidency, the Moslem League,, the Moslem Association of Rangoon, the Trustees Aliharg College, the Behar Provincial Moslem League, the Central National Mohammedan Association, the Calcutta Khoja Community, and ' other followers of Aga Khan, the Punjab Moslem League, the Mohammedans of Eastern Bengal, the Citizens of Calcutta, Madras, Rangoon, and many other cities, the Behar Land Holders' Association, Madras Provincial Congress, the Talugdars of Oudh, Punjab Chiefs' Association, the United Provinces' Provincial Congress, the Hindus of the Punjab, the CMef. Khasla, Dewan representing the orthodox Sikhs, the Bohia Community of Bombay, and the Parses Community of Bombay. FROM EVERY CLASS AND CREED. The Delhi Medical Association offer the field hospital sent to Turkey during the Balkan war. Bengalese student* offer services for the Ambulance CorD6. There are also many oilers of medical aid. The Zemindars of Madras offer 500 horses. Meetings have been held to allay panic aikl keep down prices, and to maintain public confidence and credit. Generous contributions have come from all quarters to the Imperial Relief Fund. The Secretary of State for India has received the following offer from chiefs residing in this country : — From. Maharajah and Maharani Maji Sahiba of Baratpur, all resources of their State, two motor-cars, and 2000 rupees to Indian

Relief Fund ; the Rajah of Akalkot, personal services in the field; the Rajah of Pudukota, "All I possess," and anxious to serve in any capacity ; has jrtaced his motor car at the disposal of the Government, and returns to India to raise, Bubjecb to approval, a regiment of his subjects, to release a regular legiment ; tha Gaekwar of Baroda. all his troops and resources ; Sir Ghulam Ali Khan, the Mir of Khairpur, personal services in the field: British Indian residents in this country of every class and creed havts been forward with loyal and generous offers of personal services. (Signed) HARCOURT. PROFOUND IMPRESSION CREATED The reading of the cablegram by Mr. Massey created a profound impression on the House, which listened to the text with a feeling of intense interest. At its close the members expressed their feeling by a loud outburst of applause, which was repeated when the Prime Minister expressed the opinion that there could be only one result of the splendid offers of assistance that had been given to Britain from every part of the Empire. • Mr. G. W. Russell, on b&half of the Opposition, contrasted the offers with thts terrible doings during the Indian Mutiny, and remarked that India was now with the Empire and pouring out her treasures in men and mone_y for the defence of that Empire of which they were all so proud. (Applause.) On the motion of the Prime Minister, it was decided that the message be recorded on the Journals of the House.. The Prime Minister added that it had already been arranged that messages of appreciation of their splendid offers should be sent to the Princes and potentates and principalities whose generosity was the subject of the Secretary of State's cablegram.