The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-11-20 00:00:00

THE MARQUIS OF RIPON IN INDIA.

On Saturday last the Marquis of Ripon held a
grand review, at Mianmir, of upwards of ten thousand
men of all arms, who had returned from Afghanistan.
All the Rajahs, accompanied by their respective
suites, were present on the occasion, and the spectacle
which was of a very imposing character, was viewed
by a large concourse of people.
.The manceuvres of the troops were executed with
the greatest precision, and the general appearance of
the soldiers excited extraordinary enthusiasm among
the lookers on. The belief was generally expressed
that such a fine body of men had not been seen in
India since the termination of the Mutiny.
At the conclusion of the taanceuvres the Viceroy
made 4 long. speech to Sir Frederick Uaines, the
Cemme,ncier-in-Qhief in India, and to the officers of
the regiments present. _ His Excellency passed the
highest eulogium on the dficipline and power of the
splendid force under arms, and recalled in glowing
terms their actions during the most trying periods of
the war which had happily just been concluded. His
Excellency then generally reviewed the whole Afghan
campaign, especially dwelling upon the gallant deOg
of Gnerals Stewart and Roberts, fin 4 v,pcin, r 0
of the latter frog! Ptittql its WS' Mid of 'Candahar,
which 44 itlyictA the 4diration of the whole
Wort, cOnclidmg with a reference to the battle with
Ayoub's force, which, he hoped, would have s lasting
effect.

The Viceroy next assured the force ef Groß
sympathy which the gueip felt in oe-darlT..'ilours
bit 4 'tiM Util e''to "e overshadowed the
niitisli,i• .Army m Afghanistan, and of her gratitude
and joy when she heard of their success, which
had brought the war to a close. Special reference
to the 'services of the troops
guarding the communications, to whom gratitude
was equally due, as the trials they poisimnt,
we rq ecti44l47 gm*, thpse etc ponlreedee
the trqat. Excellenqy praised t p admirable
discipline displaye4. by the treops whilst occupy-
ing a foreign country, and the justice and modera-
tion shown towards the people, which, he said,
had done as much for the fame, reputation, and
honour of England from a political point of view as
had been done in a military sense by the victories of
the troops. The Marquis said that a finer force had
seldom if ever assembled on the plains of 1444, WI,
in conclusion, state 4 that tli9oKeinfliiia siiricitioned,
iliadOitioji Itie A:eau War medal which had
already been granted, the issue of six clasps, bearing
the titles of All Musjid, Peiwar-Kotal, Charasiab,
Cabul, Ahmed Kheyl, and Can&har, and also a.
bronze star, as a special decomtieß 'for qqßsTal
/loberOis infixo4 '
.. ,

On Monday the Viceroy held a Chapter of the
Order of the Bath. General Stewart was invested
with the Grand Cross.

A Grand Durbar followed, which was attended by
the Punjab WO and a large Denci bajant gathering,
'rho 6469104, which -lasted four hours, was carried
out with the greatest pomp and splendour. The pro-
ceedings opened by the presentations of chiefs and
sirdars, who offered Nuzzars. Killuts were then pre-
sented by the Viceroy to the chiefs and swords of
honour to the officers of the. Native contingent who
assisted in the Afghan war.

The Viceroy then made a long speech, expresging
hi satisfaction at the .sigßs pf prpgress exid prosperity
in the_ PLlT:tht Tie';gso expressed his pleasure at the
friendly an cordial reception which had been accorded
to him. He referred at length to the question of land
tenures, agriculture, railways, and education, and also
to the steady growth of the reciprocal relations be-
tween the Government and the chiefs, making special
mention of their readiness to assist in the late war,
which hkrecognised in various ways, saying that the
Government was fully prepared to mark by aubstan-
pOlig tckeßs its npproval of these and other
serVi6es.
' Lord Ripon next pointed out that there had been no
such durbar as the present since that held by Lord
Lawrence in 1864, and it would be his constant en-
deavour to walk in his footsteps and apply his prin-
ciples. He could not give a hetter suran e than this
dec.l4ration of his earnest desire to promote their
prosperity and welfare.