REORGANISES OUR INDIAN ARMY

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1717, 25 January 1905, Page 57

REORGANISES OUR INDIAN ARMY

Lord Kitchener's scheme Tor the reot?» ganisation of our Indian Army has beeii approved by the Home Government. Th<l scheme consists in concentrating the Indian Army at the likeliest point of attack. Hitherto it has beeen scattered all over the country. It is obvious, however, that, so long as the British Navy holdfi} command of the sea, no attack on India; can take place by water. Therefore, to maintain a large army in Madras is useless. The Madras command, then, is 1 0 be abolished, and, broadly speaking, all the troops will be concentrated in the Punjaub, Bengal and Bombay. The Bur* mah command will remain as it is. The effect of this change will be to concentrate tlie Indian Army on India's land frontier. Russia’s outposts, as Lord Selborne opportunely reminded the country the other day, are now only 400 miles distant and, though 400 miles represent a pretty long line of communications for an invading army to keep up, it must be borne in mind that Russia is creeping nearer and nearer whenever she gets a chance, and that she is busy developing and strengthening her base by means of strategic railways. Thus it is more than common-sense that Lord Kitchener should be anxious to concentrate the troops for which he is responsible at the only place where danger threatens. The new scheme involves the expenditure of a good deal of money, for fresh quarters will have to be provided, and a really efficient transport. If we were called upon to defend Afghanistan, for instance, the troops would have to fling themselves clear of the railway at once; and, to enable them to do so, efficient transport is an absolute necessity. Then the artillery will have to be re-armed with more modern guns; and all that means expense. Happily, however, India has been, prospering marvellously of late; and, a£ the cost of the reforms will be spread over a number of years, her finances are well able to stand the strain.