WORK OF THE INDIAN ARMY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4290, 25 February 1901, Page 2

WORK OF THE INDIAN ARMY.

The Indian Army comes-second perhaps only to the British in the variety of work that it has to perform and the variety of climates in which it serves. First oi all, India has to be defended. So far the army has never been called npou for the defence of the Indian Umpire. There are some who think that, should such a juncture arise, the standing army would be unable to cope with an invader. Others, again, who have studied frontier matters and the inseparable subject of the character , of __ the native races beyond the frontier, are confident that at its present strength the Indian Army could prevent any enemy from gaining the filains of Northern India. Thou India has to be policed. Three hundred million people, the most sensitive on the face ct the earth, require more than a force of 150,000 organised police to keep the peace. However, in India proper. the police duties of the army arc not very onerous, the mere presence of soldiers preventing disturbances when anything has transpired to render them probable. But the xiolicing of the frontier districts is imich more serious, and in this duty a portion of the Indian Army is actively engaged from year to year. Not a month elapses without military operations on some scale, and at the present moment some thousands of troops are engaged in a blockade of the Mahsud territory, on tiie north-west , frontier. The 'Tittle war system” and the forward policy cannot be avoided. The King’s peace cannot be maintained on one side of a. geometric lino without frequent castigation of the disturbing tribesmen 'on the other, and thus the Punjab Frontier Force is kept constantly engaged. This has, of course, a beneficial effect on the efficiency of the troops, and accounts for the large number of "decorations. Then there are all the frontier posts, along thousands of miles of frontier, to be garrisoned. This is another tax upon the Indian Army, and calls for a considerable amount of roadmaking. bridge-building and other engineering work, which is generally done by the troops. The Bengal, Bombay and Madras armies all have regiments of engineers sappers aud miners. Along the stretch’of frontier from Quetta to Chitral there is a diversity of climate sufficient to try the hardiest troops. From Quetta to Peahawur the climate is the climate of the plains of India, while north of this, during tho cold season, snow lies tor worts on the ground, and tlio most common ail ment among the rroops is frost-bite, ho much for India itself; and up to the time of tho mutiny Indian troops were not emploved outside India. Now the case is different. Whatever military duty nas to be done in the East, the Indian troops are liable to bo called upon to do it. Consequently they are scattered over , Imc l whole of Southern and Eastern Asia, La,'*Africa, and even West Africa. Tnere are the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mauritius tho Straits Settlements, Ceylon, Porim and Suakim in the Bed Sea, Aden and numerous militarv posts garrisoned by Indian troops. There are Indian troops in Burma and Hongkong, Indian police in Shanghai and the Chinees settle ments, Singapore, and at numerous other spots, Indian guards, to the Eastern legstions ludi.au troop# building up tho -British. Empire in. East Africa, and Indian drill sergeants in Uganda, and oven 111 West Africa. All the new “plantations iu the*East are a tax on tho Indian establishment, and at tho present time hitecu thousand Indian troops arc. cugag ci in ihc operations of the allies in China, while several thousands were recently employed in ambulance work in South Alima. U*U6 it will be seen that besides defending India. the Indian Army is playing an important part in building 1 up the Empire in ( he East, .and is thereby/ setting free tor the war in South Africa and for garrison duty all over the world a very largo number of British regular troops. Tho testimony of Lord Roberts, "Bobs Bahadur, who’spent forty-one years in the Indian Army, would be a high encomium to any troops. have/* ho says, li a thorough belief in and admiration for Gurkhas, Sikhs, Dogras. Rajputs, .Tats and selected Mohammedans. Brigaded with British troops, I would ho proud to lead them against any European army.” THE SIKHS. The Sikhs were formerly a purely religious sect, professing a fine fom. of religion, which hold that all men are equal, and that the main things necessary tor true religion are a belief m one God, purity, chastity ami charity They.are not allowed to smoke or to cut their hair, and must wear steel on some part of their body, steel being the emblem of all that is strong, by which alone they think that happiness is to be attained. Accordingly they generally wear a steel quoit fastened into their turban. About two centuries ago they came into prominence as a military sect bound together by a fierce hatred of Mohammedans. They then changed their name from Sikhs to "Singhs’’ (lions), and fighting, as enjoined by their religion, has always been honourably and faithfully carried out. SOME DISTINGUISHED MEN. Colonel Dadbha, of the Jamnagar I.S. Cavalry, the senior native officer, is one of tho’most handsome men in the contingent. He is an officer of great attainments, a fine scholar, and an accomplished linguist. He is married to a cousin of Prince Ranjitsinhji. , Rissaltler-Major Mishari K.han,‘ of the 18th Bengal. Lancers, is an officer who has seen a good deal of service and is credited with being one of the finest riders in India, besides being a clever trick rider. When in India, the Prince of Wales (now King Edward) presented Mishari Khan with a silver dagger in recognition*of Lie dexterity with the sword. Subahdar-Major Savaz Khan, of the Queen’s Own Corps of Guides Infantry, marched with Lord Roberts from Kabul to ■ Kandahar, and holds medals also for the Afridi, Chitral, Malakand and Tirah campaigns. Subahdar Ghulam Mohammed, of the '(3rd Punjab Infantry, is an officer who holds decorations for numerous campaigns. Ho served under! Lord Roberta on the march, to Kandahar, and gained distinction in a hand-to-hand fight in tho Malakand. Subahdar-Major Gurdad Singh, of the 15th Sikhs, is another distinguished officer. He holds the Khedive’s Star for service in Egypt in 1882, and the Suakim medal (1885). He was a great favourite of the late General Sir W. Lockhart, who presented him with a beautiful silvermounted stick in recognition of his courage. Subahdar-Major Gangi Thapa, of the sth Gurkhas, was one of Lord Roberts’s faithful orderlies in the Afghan campaign. Kot-duffanar Thaman Singh, of the 6th Bengkl Cavalry: RNsalJar Suehct Singh, of the 4th Lancers (Hyderabad contingent), and Rissaldar-Major Hiliz Khan, of the 19th Bengal Lancers, all marched to Khandahar with Lord Roberts. Subahdar-Major Chirangi Lai Tewarri. of the 4th Infantry (Hyderabad Contingent) is a. stern-looking, black-moustach-ed veteran. Among his numerous medals are the Gold Star of British India the ■first-class), Burma 1885-81 and 1887-88 and the Frontier 1897-98. He has over thirty-two years’ service.

It is to be hoped that during their stav in Wellington .arrangements may be made for the Indian troops to give a display of their skill in arms and riding. While in Svcjney they gave a capital representation o.f' frontier -warfare,, showing the tribesmen in each stage of demoralisation befor the little expedition of the Sirkar. Exhibitions were also gwen of riding, sword exercise, tent-pegging, etc.