The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-04-16 00:00:00

THE EASTER VOLUNTEER
MANCEUVRES.

The march on Dover was on Saturday not attendei
by any very remarkable incidents. Starting from
Canterbury, the volunteers proceeded in three columns
by different routes, communication between them
being maintained by cyclists and scouts. About half-
way towards Dover some experiments took place in
military ballooning. No hostilities occurred until the
marching columns were approaching Dover; A re-
connaissaaFe was made by a force of regular troops
and volunteers from Dover, and a sharp little action
was fought on the ground between Ewell and Whit-
field. On the volunteers marching into Dover they
were warmly greeted by the inhabitants, the Duke of
Cambridge witnessing the arrival of the first column.
The volunteer column marching on Eastbourne
had a smart engagement cin Saturday. About six
hundred Infantry and Artillery, composed of Sussex
Corps, represented an invader who had taken posses-
sion of Willingdon Heights. Colonel Hercy, with a
much stronger force, chiefly of Surrey Battalions,
sought to dislodge the invaders from that position,
and in carrying out that plan there were some
interesting movements, culminating in placing the
adversary in a hopelessly untenable position. Bicyclists
acted as scouts and orderlies during the operations.
After the sham fight the volunteer marched into
Eastbourne.

The volunteers at Aldershot had a hard day's work
on Saturday,7and the General Officer who inspected
them complimented them on their efficiency. The
Volunteer Medical Staff Corps and the Woolwich
Volunteer Detachment of that branch of the Service,
combined in drill and movements specially adapted
to their duties. For the operations in the Long Valley
on Monday all the Regular troops and volunteers
were in position by a quarter to ten in the morning.
Brilliant weather favoured the volunteers W'no
were on Monday engaged in the tactical field-day
at Dover. The attacking force, commanded by
Major General H. J. Buchanan, was composed en-
tirely of volunteer regiments, whilst the defending
force, under the command of Colonel W. Chads, was
made up of artillery and infantry of the Dover gar-
rison and several volunteer regiments, with cavalry
from Shorncliffe. Major General Montgomery
Moore acted as Umpire-in-Chief. The battle was
stubbornly fought upon the hilly ground around Whit-
field. After the engagement, which was witnessed
by large crowds of people, the volunteers marched
past the Commander-in-Chief and a large staff of
officers. The Duke of Cambridge, in a general order
issued at Dover on Monday night, records his appro-
bation of the admirable manner in which the opera-
tic.ns were carried out, and states that the steadiness
and general efficiency displayed reflect great credit
upon the volunteers.
Six thousand volunteers belonging to Middlesex.
surrey, Essex, Sussex, and Cinque Ports Corps took
part in the manoeuvres at Eastbourne. Colonel
Hercy commanded the defending and Colonel Auchin-
leek the attacking force, Colonel Sir Baker Russell
being in supreme command. The defenders were
much obstructed in their movements by the crowds
of spectators, and owing to this and other causes
much confusion prevailed. Cyclists carried the
orders to the oommanders, and the Volunteer
Medical Staff Corps were on the field of ac-
tion. Victory having been awarded to the invader,
the volunteers who took part in the action defiled
past Sir Baker Russell and his staff.
The review at Aldershot passed off brilliantly. All
the troops stationed there, cavalry, artillery, and in-
fantry, with several Metropolitan volunteer bat/.
talions, were engaged in the operations, the troops
being divided into opposing forces. Sir Archibald
Alison witnessed the sham fight; but the report of
the umpire was sent on to head-quarters before it was
permitted to be published. The volunteers
i were com-
plimented on the intelligent manner n which they
had fulfilled their part in the action. After the en-
gagement the march past took place in presence of a
large assemblage of spectators in the Long Valley.
The Queen's Westminster Volunteers mustered at
Eastney Barracks on Monday morning, and had some
drill. They were afterwards inspected by Lieutenant-
General Sir George Willis. After a march past they
were put through some battalion drill. The let
Surrey also had a good day's drill and manoeuvring.
starting from Fort Southwick and proceeding past
Fort Widley to Fort Purbrook.
The Volt nteer Artillery at Sheerness had an in-
structive day's drill on Monday, and in the evening
returned home.

:• At last, my dear Amelia, the happy moment
has arrived when I can tell you how I love you,' She:
For goodness sake, Mr. Tompkins, don't tell me here.'
He: 'Why? There are no witnesses.' She: That's
just it.'
IN mid-Pacific the dismal news came to the
passengers on board a steamship that the vessel had
broken her crank-pin. There was great grumbling and
grieving, in the midst of which a tiny tittle maid felt
about her pinafore and said 'No matter, mother; I've
got a pin I'll give the captain.'

INFANT MARRIAGE IN INDIA.
There are two points to which it is important to
call attention in the case of Rukmini Bai, the talented
Hindoo lady against whom a degree for the restitu-
tion, or rather institution, of conjugal rights has just
been issued by the High Court of Bombay. One is the
continual difficulty and constant injustice which occur
in lending the whole power of the Indian courts to
the enforcement of that vague body of rules of caste
and religion which hitherto have had their only
,anction in opinion. In an original state of Hindoo
moiety the only penalty Rukmini Bai would have
undergone for her refusal to live with the husband to
whom she was betrothed at the age of eleven would
be the displeasure of her t.aste, and whatever spiritual
penalties could have been threatened by religions
machinery. She is equally exposed to these now;
and if she chooses and is strong enough to disregard
them that is her own affair. Probably in the mixed
and enlightened society of Bombay she could afford
to do so without finding herself an isolated outcast.
So that the action of the courts gives an extra turn to
the screw of those very customs and superstitions
which the well-wishers of India desire to see gradually
relaxed without revolutionary confusion or violence.
The other point is this, that Rukmini Bai's predica-
ment, again, calls for a more rapid extension in
certain branches to the English law administered in
India of the modifications superinduced at home by
a progressive public opinion. The unfortunate lady
is actually condemned under a law which the growth
of the moral conscience of the community had
abolished in England before her me came up for
trial in India. The statute above cited has reduced
the remedies in a suit for restitution of conjugal
rights to a mere mode of dealing with the property o.!
the married pair. The continued enforcvnient of the
penalties of attachment and imprisonment, which
come down from the ecclesiastical law, by the Indian
courts in these relations between individuals is worse
than an anomaly. As a distinguished Indian judge
(Dr. Markby) long since advocated, the ruling of the
courts in such actions should amount to a simple
declaration of the law, and the rest should be left to
native opinion. Meanwhile, Rukmini Bai, if she has
funds (or is assisted with funds) sufficient to prosecute
her case further, should appeal from the decision of
the Bombay High Court to the Privy Council. It is
very unlikely that this body would order the decree of
civil imprisonment.