THE AMIR'S ARMY.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 1414, 22 November 1904, Page 5

THE AMIR'S ARMY.

NEW METHOD OF RAISING RECRUITS IN AFGHAJSSTAN. At a recent public durbar the Auiir spoke as follows : "By the grace of God Afghanistan is in no way backward among the kingdoms of the world. 'the magazines of the Amir can supply war instruments of the newest type for ten lakhs of men, and his grain stores are sufficient for three years. One thing only is lacking? —union among the Afghans. Plenty of men are to be found in Afghanstan. 'lhe people are becoming enervated by tieir pleasures and the old method of forcing men to serve is abolished. The Conunandci-in-Ohicf should go out with several Sardars into the outskirts of Afghanstan to gather recruits." According to the old law, every household or tribe had to supply re- I cruits at the rate ot one man for I every eight males. The Amir has abolished this system as impracticable and oppressive, and against the Mohammedan law. His Highness has now announced his desire of raising 10,000 men, drawn from the Afghan tribes, each sepoy to be paid at the rate of ten rupees per month. It has further been decided that every Malik or Rais bringing in 100 recruits shall be made a subodar, and that anyone brining in 1000 shall be made a colonel. The decision has been hailed with delight, and all the tribes are enthusiastically collecting recruits