BACK FROM INDIA

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 30 September 1927, Page 3

BACK FROM INDIA

MAJOR POTTER RETURNS. EXCHANGE OF ABMY OFFICERS. After two years’ service in the Indian Army, Major L. Potter, of Auckland, returned on Monday by the s.s. Maheno from Sydney. Major Potter was attached to the Highland Light Infantry and was stationed at Bangalore and on the north-west frontier. “Things were very quiet in India while I was there/’ said Major Potter. “Except for occasional skirmishes with hill tribes, there was no fighting at all. I think the system of exchanging officers is an excellent one. I was never treated as a visitor. but went to work and was given every facility for becoming acquainted with the conditions in the Indian Army. ’ ’ One of the things that surprised Major Potter was the knowledge the people of India generally had of New Zealand. “I found the Dominion was advertised very well in most parts of India,” he said. “At several of the railway stations I found pamphlets dealing with New Zealand’s attractions. I found officers in the Army who knew all about the trout and swordfishing, and I am sure that if they could obtain longer reave they would come here. Their usual leave is two months, and this is not long enough to allow them to make the trip and when they have their extended leave they go to England.”

Major Potter was impressed with the railway running through the famous Khyber Pass, a distance of about 40 miles. He said it was the best piece of engineering work he had ever seen. Despite th fact that an excellent motor road had been built through the pass, the old caravan route was still extensively used. Caravans bearing precious goods •from Afghanistan, and even from Russia, passed along the historic highway. Travelling with Major Potter was Lieutenant G. Dykes, of the Indian Army, who is coming to New Zealand to serve with the permanent staff here for a few years as an exchange officer.