INDIA AND THE WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16508, 7 October 1915, Page 2

INDIA AND THE WAR

THE PATRIOTISM OF THE EAST. OPERATIONS OF THE Y.M.C.A. Mr J. Harry Lang, general secretary of fcho Foreign Work Depo-rtnioDt of the National Committee of the Y.M.C.A., w at present on a visit to Dunedin. Though it is somo months since he resided in India, ho has been kept in close touch with what baa been going on there, and yesterday ne gave some interesting information to a' Daily Times reporter on India's connection with the war, and on certain phases of the association's work. Mr Lang, it may bo mentioned, is well known in Dunedin, having at one time been a member of the University Football Club. During the interview, Mr Lang gave information concerning the Indian Expeditionary Force which is not generally known in the dominion. He said that the British Empire had great reason to be thankful for India's contribution for one fact alone,-which had now become fairly generally _ known and that was that it was the Indian army that stopped the German onrush to Calais. . Referring to the great response of India to the call of Empire, which had been led by the Indian princes, Mr Lang said that the Nizame of Hyderabad, the chief prince of India, on the declaration of war, offered himself and '6000 of his regular troops for service at the front. When, however, the, prince was informed by the Government that his services were required in India he made a donation of £400,000 to the War Fund, and paid besides the whole of the expenses incurred in transferring thePoonah British regiment, of which he is the honorary colonel, to the front. Other princes had given as handsomely, to the extent of informing the Government that the whole of the resources of their estates were at its call, some of them even offering their Crown jewels if they were required. This information prompted the reporter to ask the reason of the wonderful loyalty of these Indians. -* Mr Lang replied: Because under the British Government they have been treated with absolute justice, and they recognise in the British administration a Government that ia not founded on caprice or the bestowing of favours, like their own Indian Governments used to be, but one that is_ guided by the principles of liberty and justice. .Continuing, Mr Lang remarked that the native Indian commissioned officers had to serve first of all as privates, and that even the sons of princes had to put in a period in the ranks, seirving as privates in a regiment composed exclusively of scions of roydl blood. On ■ the declaration of war_ one of the foremost, thoughts; in the minds of statesmen ■ at Home was the attitude that would be • taken up by India. ■ Any dis-, quietude that might, have been' felt on that score was speedilv answered when ' in September, 1914, there arrived in Marseilles some 70,000 Indian troops, the advance body of the expeditionary force of 200,000 men, composed of all units—Sihks, Ghurkas, Patnans, Madrasees, Bengalis, etc. .The place of these Indian l troops was. taken : by 40,000 territorials •of Lord Kitchener's new, army, who were sent across to undertake garrison duty and complete their training. These men were scattered over the 20 military stations in India, " and' at latest advice were understood to be still, there. ■ ,

The Indian expeditionary force was accompanied by 14 Eurgpean and native secretaries.' ' As three-fifths of the Indian army is oompose.d of non-Christians, it, was not possible for the Government to appoint any chaplains, but it. readily accepted the services ofr the'secretaries on' the stipulation that no propaganda work vras carried on, so that the association's work with the troops resolved itself into one .of spcial service. From the first these secretaries had been with the troops. They had. been stationed at the base hospitals, and had helped in. the Red Cross work, have attended to the wounded, received dying messages ftom the soldiers, and, provided facilities for the writing of and the employment of the • leisure ; Jiours. The number ;of secretaries had how : bsen increased, the British Association sending over '■another • 12. This service had ' greatly touched 4 the whole' Indian people, and_ it would probably mean - that the association, at the close of the war, would be called upon to undertake a permanent ' work in India among the Indian troops. Mr Lang gave an illustration of how . the Indian mind was puzzled at the apparent lack of. motive on the part, of the association's workers. One soldier in Europe came to a secretary, and asked: " What's the reason you are doing this, sahib?" " Oh," answered the eecreta?y,' : Y<m are just as much to us as our own are fighting in the same cause." "Yes, we; know that. But does the Government pay you?" " No,":, replied <the secretary,-;" the Government does not pay us." Finally, as the soldier could not get his mind enlightened to his'own satisfaction, he asked: " Are|Vou holy men? Has God sent you?" and the secretary replied, • " Oh, well, we'll leave it at that." •. S , Mr Lang then detailed the work of the officers of the association • among , the 40,000 -Territorials sent to India, 'and the 'steps ' being taken to educate and entertain them. The key word of their operations among the white troops both in India and in Egypt was: ''Prevention by preoccupation," and thus try to guard , them against the fearful and fiery temptations, of .the different moral atmosphere, of the East.

Speaking on the German, missionaries in India, Mr Lang said that the majority of these had been interned at the commencement of the war. AH of them had, since been interned, and the association, was now in a large part carrying on the work which the Germans had been forced to discontinue.