"ON GUARD."

Northern Advocate, 22 February 1911, Page 3

"ON GUARD."

AUSTRALIAN OFFICER IN INDIA.

Captain. \V. 11. Coulter, of the D (Richmond) Company, 3rd A.1.R., has written a letter from Peshawar, on the northwest frontier of India, giving a graphic description of the military training he is undergoing, and of the raids and murders commited by hostile tribesmen, (says the "Sydney Morning Herald") "The troops in this division (No. 1 Division, Peshawar) are constantly mobilised for active service" i. Captain Coulter says), "and are ready to turn out at a moment's notice. This state of preparedness must exist in this locality, as we are right on the frontier and in touch with all the hostile native tribes. "A few days ago a big 'frontier show' (as they call it here) was regarded as imminent, but it seems to have eased down a bit now. However, 1 was in conversation with Major General Sir James Wilcocks G.O.C. of the whole Northern Army, and he informed me that he expected the 'cloud' to burst any time, and not to be surprised to find ourselves out on active service any day. The General is a very fine feliow, and was most interested in Australian news. " One has only to look round here to be impressed with the state of preparedness. Patrols of native troops and police are constainly moving about, always armed and with fixed bayonets, while we have guards drawn from our own company always on duty. A good many sentries have been picked off and killed of late by the Paghans, who are notorious rifle thieves, and will give as much as Soo rupees (about £50) for a regulation rifle, while for am munition they are known to give as much as a rupee a round. In order to prevent them getting possession of any of our regulation rifles, the guard at night time have their rifles locked up, aud in their place they are armed with Sniders loaded with buckshot The guardrooms are always in darkness, so that the sentries cannot be seen, and around the guardrooms are barb-wire entanglements. I have just finished being captain of the week, among other things it being my duty to visit the guards and sentries at midnight.- By jove ! I assure you they throw no chances away, and cannot be taxed with not being alert, They halt you not quite a hundred yards off. When the guard falls in at night to receive visiting or guard rounds, they always do so lining a wall with head-cover."