The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-05-04 00:00:00

EAGER FOR THE FRAY!

Under date Calcutta, April 2.3, the Correspondent of The
Times writes :

"As an experiment of State policy, the despatch of
native troops to Europe has proved successful beyond
the hopes of even the most ardent advocates of the
measure. The native soldiers appear, indeed, cz,m-
pletely captivated by the prospect of being engaged
iin military service n Europe. The fact is—though
hitherto it has not been sufficiently realised—that the
native army is now composed of very different elements
from those of which it was formed prior to the
Mutiny. The old Bengal army was almost entirely
recruited from high caste men, who were forbidden
by their religion to cross the sea, and who naturally,
therefore, showed intense reluctance, if called upon,
to fight out of India. The present army is, on the
contrary, to a great extent recruited-from the Sikhs,
Pathans, and Punjab Mussulmans—all enlisted for
general service and shackled by little or no caste pre-
judice. These are men to whom fighting is as the
breath of their nostrils, and who have been for a long
time chafing under the severe restraints imposed upon
their bellicose instincts by protracted peace. The pro-
spect, therefore, which has now been opened out to
them of being employed in active service under con-
ditions of honour and confidence, to which the native
soldier is keenly sensible, has awakened a spirit of
emulous enthusiasm showing that England pos-
sesses in India a • reserve of military strength of
which, till now, she appeared hardly conscious.
This reserve, if scientifically organized, is capable of
raising England to a first-class military Power,
were it only from mere strength of numbers. It is
stated that not only the actual native soldiers, but
the classes from which they are generally recruited
are manifesting the greatest eagerness to take part in
the war. Commanding officers have reported to the
Government that regimental second battalions can be
raised in a few day". This enthusiasm is by no means
confined to the Bengal army. Immediately the news
of Indian troops being ordered to Malta became
known at Mhow the native officers of the 23rd
regiment; after the roll was called, advb.nced to the
colonel and expressed their eager desire to be engaged
in active service. Shortly after; the men collected in
crowds round the colonel's bungalow, and on his
coming out with the native officers a scene of the
wildest enthusiasm is said to have occurred, the
private soldiers with loud cheers taking up the request
of the native officers.

"A telegram from Madras states that when volun-
teers were asked for from the 15th Madras Native
Infantry to join the 25th, under orders from Malta,
the whole regiment came forward, earnestly begging
to be sent. This regiment returned only six weeks
ago from three years' foreign service in Burmah, the
men having been settled in lines for only fourteen
days. Many out of the 100 who were selected have
not even seen their families since their return. They
marched away nevertheless in excellent spirits, elated
with the prospect 'of going,' as they described it, 'to
some place near England to fight the Russians.' A
petition for foreign service, signed by exery man in
the regiment, has been sent to the Commander-in-
Chief by the 25th Madras Infantry. On every side
similar accounts are received in all cases of regiments
ordered for service, those chosen bring regarded by
the rest of the army with feelings of generous envy.
The emulation is so great that the Colonel of the 9th
is said to have had the choice of I,COO from which to
fill up the few vacancies in his regiment.
"The Government are treating the troops with a
liberality which is warmly appreciated. The men will
receive batta and free rations,, together with three
months' pay in advance. The new equipment is also
said to be both serviceable and attractive, consisting
of a French-gray turban, tied in the same manner as
in the Sikh regiments, with a patch in front bearing
the number of the regiment, a red serge tunic, Zouave
trousers, white gaiters, worsted socks, stout English
boots, and a pair of blankets for each Sepoy.
"The first expeditionary force will embark from
Bombay. Two divisions leave on the 29th, consisting
of two battteries of the Royal Artillery, and the 13th
regiment from Agra, the 31st from Cawnpore, the 2nd
Goorkhas from Saharunnore, and two companies of
na - Sappers and Miners froKiree. The second division
will embark as soon after the 29th as possible, and
will consist of the 9th Bengal Cavalry, the Ist BombAy
Lancers from Poonah, the 9th Bombay Infantry, the
26th Bombay Infantry, and two companies of Madras
Sappers and Miners. Shipping will be sent from
Bombay on the 23rd to Cannanco.e for the conveyance
of one Madras regiment. :snider carbines have been
served out to the 9th Bengal Cavalry, and revolvers
to non-commissioned officers.
"The shipping arrangements comprise steamers
with an aggregate tonnage of 15,579 tons. and 16 sail-
ing vessels of 21,146 tonnage. These latter will be
towed by the &earners. Water will be provided for
30 and coal for 26 days. Ships will water and coal at
Suez.

- ----
" The Bombay dockyard is working day and night
fitting ships for the troops and horses. It is reported
that the commanding officers of numerous regiments
have received orders to have everything in readiness
for immediate embarcation."

The Daily Telegraph (in a leader on Monday) concedes
that the employment of native troops is a new departure
In our Imperial history, and believes it to be a wise and use-
ful one. By draughting a corps d'armee from the boundless
recruiting-grounds of her Indian possessions, and summon-
ing her Indian children to stand by the policy of England in
the Western hemisphere, the Queen proclaims the unity of
the Empire, and consecrates the principle that hencefor-
ward there shall be no disintegration of either the interests,
the rights, or the resources of the British realm and its
possessions. Statesmen in Europe, if they are sagacious,
will not reckon the significance of the Indian contingent by
mere numbers. We ere confronted with a vast question
which involves the Eastern interests of England and which
is discussed by Powers that reckon their armed hosts by
hundreds of thousands. We have assumed a position upon,
this question, in defence of public law and interna-
tional equity, which obliges us to pass beyond the
arithmetic of our home battalions. By calling upon her
Eastern dominions, and entertaining the loyal applications
of her colonies, her Majesty's "England' is at once made a
nation of three hundred millions of souls. The military
strength suggested by those magnificent figures will be in
the minds of all prudent enemies of this realm when they
hear of the sailing of the Indian flotilla from Bombay.