THE ARMY IN INDIA

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 January 1931, Page 7

THE ARMY IN INDIA

SUBSTITUTION OF OFFICERS,

INDIAN DELEGATES’ DESIRES

COMPLETE HOME CONTROL

(British Official Wireless.) Received 1.45 p.m., to-day.-RUGBY, Jan. 9

Presiding at a sub-coin mi tee of the Indian round-table conference Mr. .1. H. Thomas referring to the, Indiamsation of the Indian Army and the establishment in India of a military college said if all recruitment of British officers ceased on the, day the output from the Indian Sandhurst started, and if its output was calculated to meet the normal wastage, it woulid he about 35 years before the last British officer was eliminated from the Indian Army. If in accordance with views expressed, it" was not desired that the, recruitment of British officers should cease immediately., then the period would be 35 years after the, last British officer i\ as recruited, but the complete Indianisation of the army was not a prelimmary; it was necessary to tlie lull attainment of responsible Government. All Dominions still depended on the British Navy for protection and the Question of defence was too vital to take chances, and that aspect must weigh with Indians more as they liecame responsible for their country. The question to be examined l was what was a wise rate for substituting Indian for British officers. The establishment ol a, military college in India need pot involve tlie discontinuance of the existing practice of a limited number of Indian students attending the English Sandhurst College. Some delegates urged the speeding uo of tlie Indianisation of the, army, Avh.il e others favoured increasing the number of Indian officers gradually. Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qaiyum suggested that British students be encouraged to enter the Indian Sandhurst. 'Mr.' Thomas is _ drafting a series of resolutions focussing the issue, raised.