THE NINTH LANCERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7637, 21 February 1903, Page 4

THE NINTH LANCERS.

. , * . — THE DISGRACED REGIMENT AND THE DUKE. In certain quarters in London very strong criticisms were mads upon the fact that the 9th Lancers the regiment which the Viceroy disgraced because the- authorities were unable to find the perpetrators of certain murders committed near tho camp — 'Should havejfoeen chosen* as the escort of th6 Duke and Duchess of Connaught at\the Durbar. Ib has even been hinted that; the action of the- Duke was in direct antagonism to that of tho Viceroy, and that the choosing of the 9bh waa un« justifiable. x For instance, the " Daily News " re- ■ marked on the honour paid to the regiment : " The thing is a scandal. It is :m insult to the Viceroy and' an outrage on bui? national honour. It is the triumph of the soldier over tire civilian, of militarist** over jtifetice. It is a direct, encouragement fco crime and the concealment of crime." In order to ascertain' the real facts of the maitter, the " Daily Mail " cabled to its Delhi correspondent, asking him to investigate it. The following is his reply: — _ I have received from an absolutely reliable Source a true and simplo account of the manner in which the 9th Lancers caine to escort the Duke of Conna,ught at the Durbar. On all occasions it is the invariable practice that the necessary escorts are provided by cavalry regiments present in order of seniority. This rule was strictly observed on Jan. 1. The 4th Dragoon Guards escorted the Viceroy, the; 9th Lancers the Connaughts, and the 15th Hussars the Grand Duke of Hesse. The Duke of Uonnought, in spite of assertions to the contrary by those who were then apparently in «, .position to know, did not ask any questiottu whatever of the 9th. The chief interest in the incident was that the audience in tha amphitheatre, which welcomed the 9th enthusiastically,was almost «3cciUßively civilian. ' The opinion of the Army on the question is naturally biassed by esprit de corps,' and is, therefore, properly h> be discounted. But such a welcome to the 9th by civilians at the gathering it probably one of the greatest surprises to the very people taking part in it. The matter is only of importance because it lias somewhat re-awakened the wlsole agitation (Which in the interests of discipline is now much better left tf> die out, whatever the original merits of the case), and because it is rumoured (though so far an I can judge the report htft'. neither foundation nor probability) that some who sympathise with the regiment not wisely but too well, intend taking advantage of •the universal popularity of the 9th to organise n> demonstration against the Vice* i'oy's action oh Jan. 8. It is difficult to my how far any demonstration, past or 'future, may be actually iufcanded as a protest. Great numbers who have not the least wish to Te-open the matter fully intend to applaud to the echo the caviilry regiment -which, has nob only seen the lemgesfc service, but probably possess:?* njso the record of the beat service done by that arm during the lute war. Olio incident of the Durbar full of significance, was that the rujinir chiefs to a man respectfully saluted the Mutiny veterans. /