The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-13 00:00:00

oers of the Commis'

it and four of the Medical Staff,

as follows :-
93d Highlanders—Lieutenant-Colonel Ainstie,
Majors—Bunner and Hays.
C M‘Gowan, Shelton, Max-
aptains—Gordon, Bwart,
well, Ross, Cornwall, and Cathcart.
Lieutenants—Middleton, Dalz
er, Sprot, Stotherd.
ell, Burroughs, Stewart,
Clarke, Dawson, Mannish, Turn
A.bercromby, Macdonald,
Ensigns—Crow
Evart, and Clayh' Wemysa,
ills.
Lieutenant Macdonald, Adjutant.
Quart•ermaster Sinclair.
Paym&e:er Blake.
Surgeon i;:ush; Assistant-Surgeons Sinclair and
Menzies.
rank and file, :tight women, and four horses.
892 General—Strickland, Smith,
n
Assistant-Commissa.:l-

and Mitchell. A,,„L‘tAnt-Surgeons Ander-
S SLwuargesoonn .
Mieldam ;
son
• -tent.
paymaster F. L. Bennett, 44th Reim, s
ships were all inspected by Staff-, Cur eon Dr.
lye in
Tice.
c steatrders"r
Immediately on the arrival of the French
from Marseilles on the morning of the 4th inst.,
were received for the embarkation of a portion of t`he.
troops, when the 44th Regiment, and three companies of
the 50th—viz., the grenadier company and the sth and
6th companies, made immediate preparation for pro-
ceeding by the Vulcan, Commander Von Donop.
By 5 o'clock the 44th had struck every tent at St.
Clements, and marched to the point of embarkation
under the most cheering auspices. Immense crowds
followed, the band playing lively and appropriate airs.
The men were in high spirits.
The following is the amount of the force that left the
island by the Vulcan :-
44th Regiment—Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. A. A.
Spencer, Majors C. W. D. Staveley and R. Feilden :
Captains W. Mrldahon, A. Browne, W. Spring, B.
Fenwick, W. Faussett, J. Robinson, J. S. Howard,
and the Hon. C. W. H. Agar ; Lieutenants Greene,
Cooper, Streatfield, Preston, Caulfield, Thoroton, Flet-
cher, Hon. H. Haudcock, and Hoskins ; Ensigns Ing-
ham, Eyre, Wood, Bradford, and Hercy ; Paymaster
Bennett ; Quartermaster Walsh ; Adjutant Gregory ;
Surgeon Swettenham ; and Assistant-Sugeons Thomson
and Gibson-923 rank and file.
50th Regiment.— Major Wilton, Captains Hibbert and
Locke, Lieutenants White, Dashwood, and Macfarlane ;
Ensigns Antrobus and Clarke, Surgeon Noott —259 rank
and file, and 10 women.
General Espinasse, one of the aides-de-camp of Prince
Louis Napoleon, and General of the 2d Brigade of the
French force, accompanied bye. numerous staff (14 per-
sons), arrived here on the 4th inst., and left for the East
by the same vessel (Osiris) that conveyed them here.
A grand review took place on the 4th inst. on the
Florian Parade ground, but, owing to the very limited
space, no evolutions were possible, the work being
limited to passing round in battalions in quick time and
in order of review. About 9,000 men were on the
ground—viz., the Grenadier Guards, Fusilier' Guards,
and Coldstream Guards ; the 4th, 28th, 33d, 44th, 50th,
77th, and 93d Highlanders, under Brigadier-General
Bentinck. His Excellency the Governor-General Fer-
gusson, Rear-Admiral Stewart, as also General Espinasse
and his suite, were on the ground.

THE INDIAN ARMY IN TURKEY.

TO THE EDITOR or THE EEL_

SIB,—It has caused me some surprise that, amid the
various communications and suggestions which have
from time to time made their appearance in the public
journals, no allusion should have hitherto been made to
the aid derivable from India in the present conflict be-
tween Russia and Great Britain.
The Government of France has set us a very fair ex-
ample by ordering corps of Spahis and Zouaves from
Algeria to the scene of action. Russia, it is to be pre-
sumed, will not disdain to employ all the resources which
she can command. Neither will Turkey, or any of the
Powers who may eventually take part in the contest ;
and, indeed, in the last century, when our military power
in India was inferior both in numbers and efficiency, and
our position in that country far more insecure than at
the present day, it was not thought beneath the dignity
of Great Britain to call in the aid of a large auxiliary
force from that quarter to Egypt. Let us suppose for a
moment that this point is settled, and that it is desired
and willed that a contingent of 60,000 men shall be fur-
nished by the Indian army.
I must leave to those better acquainted with minutiae
than myself the task of deciding at which port such a
force might best assemble previously to embarking.
Some would perhaps have them rendezvous at Bombay,
others at Kurrachee ; others, again, might prefer their
embarking by detachments, partly from Calcutta, partly
from Madras, partly from Point de Galle or Colombo.
But, whatever be the ports of embarkation, I presume
there will he little doubt that Bussorah should be the
place of their common destination, preparatory to com-
mencing their march to Erzeroum.
From Kurrachee to Bussorah is somewhere about
1,250 miles, which, if steamers can be supplied in suffi-
cient number arid tonnage, might be accomplished iu six
days ; from Bussorah to Erzeroum is a distance in a
straight line of 750 miles, which, allowing one-fifth for
the sinuositmes of the road, would amount to 900 miles—
a three months' journey of very easy marches.
The local knowledge possessed by Mr. Layard,
Colonels Chesney and R:iwlinson, and many ether gen-
tlemen of high talent and intelligence, whose travels
have made them familiar with the tract in question,
would enable them to judge more accurately than I can
pretend to do of the nature of the difficulties to be
encountered on the march ; to me it would not seem that
they would be very formidable.
With due deference to these gentlemen, I should pre-
sume that as tar as Bagdad the Euphrates and Tigris
might be found available for the conveyance, at least, of
the Ordnanee stores and heavy baggage, if not of the
personnel of the force. Arrived at Bagdad, I should
suppose that, if sufficient energy be exerted by the Go-
vernment agents, an adequate number of camels may be
procured ; and, as it would be no part of my plan that
the force should be accompanied by a siege train, the
few wheeled carriages which would be needed, and could
not be obtained on the spot—such as ambulances, &c.—
might either be brought from India, or constructed by
the artificers attached to the park with such aid as the
country afforded.
The difficulty of conveying horses from India would
be very great, but, as Bagdad and Bussorah are, to
the best of my remembrance, the places from which the
markets of Bombay and Calcutta are regularly supplied
with the finest specimens of these animals, it is perhaps
fair to suppose that a very large proportion can be ob-
tainable there for the service of the artillery and cavalry
of the expedition. I suppose that 15,000 horses will be
needed, but this knotty point I leave to be solved by
those intrusted with the execution and details, remarking
only that the Arab horse is a peculiarly generous and
docile animal, and easily trained to anything.
It must be understood that all who accompany this
force are to march as lightly equipped as possible, and
all persons must be impressed with the idea that they
will be expected to conform, as nearly as the force of
circumstances demands, to the frugality of the foes whom
they go to encounter. The climate is very different
from that of India, where large tents and a throng of
servants are needed ; and the equipment should be re-
gulated by an European, not by an Indian standard.
A very large proportion of the native infantry of
India, more particularly on the Bengal establishment,
consists of Hindoos of high caste, who, with peculiar
prejudices and observances of their own, to which they
are inveterately attached, are nevertheless full of affection
towards those who know how to deal with them ; leaders
whom they like and confide in they will follow for ever ;
under those whom they mistrust or dislike they are often
litigious, discontented, and even mutinous ; decision,
strictness, and justice, tempered by discretion, patience,
and kindness, are essential to the management of them ;
they are easily elated by success, and depressed by re-
verses.

Of all riflemen in the world I cannot imagine a more
efficient body than the Ghoorkas, and it was always a
subject of marvel and regret to me, that during the Cat=
fre war some 2,000 of this gallant race were not brought
to the scene of action; but the Government of England
never seem to me to be half alive to the resources of
their Indian possessions. The Sikh regiments now en-
rolled in the Indian army might probably be found very
useful also; and it would be wise, if they can be induced
to embark, that a large proportion of them should ac-
company the proposed contingent.
The native cavalry, whether regular or irregular, be-
ing chiefly composed of Mahomedans, of the Punj-tun-i-
-pak, or Suni sect, would no doubt he eager to share in a
conflict where the head of their faith is to be supported
against the Kafir Russ.

-The artillery are always kept at their full complement.
and in a constant state of efficiency ; and as one-half at
least of the gunners are Europeans, there can be no doubt
of their availability.

Much the same may be said of the engineers and sap-
pers and miners; and I apprehend it will be found on
trial that neither of these corps need shrink from compa-
rison with their fellows in any other army,
10,000 European infantry and 1,000 European cavalry
might perhaps be spared from India without inconveni-
ence, and thus we might have an auxiliary force com-
posed as follows :
Artillery, 120 guns ... •• • ••• ••• 1,800
Cavalry, European ... •• • •• • ••• 1,000
Ditto, Native Regular •• • ••• ••• 4,000
Ditto, do., Irregular ... •• • ••• 5,000
Infantry, European ... ••• ••• "' 10,000
Ditto, Native ••• 3 ),000
Engineers, sappers, and miners, &c. •• • 3,200

Total 60,000
This is but a rough guess, the intention of which is
morn to attract the minds of those who direct such
matters to the subject than to enter into a precise detail
of particulars. If the project be deemed feasible, there
will, it is to be hoped, be no want of able men to or-
ganise the force without my aid ; if not, the less that is
said the better ; but I presume it will be admitted on
all hands that, in an arduous contest with a powerful
enemy, wherein Great Britain will perhaps be called on
to make many sacrifices, it is better that she should ex-
pend her money in the employment of her own troops
and resources than in subsidising foreigners.
But now for the results--
1. The advent of such a force as I propose at Bus-
sorah would soon settle the question of Persian alliance
with the Emperor of Russia, for the Shah would find it
much safer to keep up friendly terms with England and
her allies than with their foes ; from a dubious enemy
he would probably become an active partisan.
2. People's minds in India have too long been kept
on the qua vise by the cry, "The Russians are coming;"
and our Hindoo subjects are constantly startled with the
erroneous notion that the Russians are an irresistible
race of giants, against whom the English will be unable
to defend them. The sooner this spell is broken the
better, and there is no method so sure as that of putting

our native native troops in a position to encounter those
dreaded foes under advantageous circumstances.
3. Our Mahomedan subjects would likewise be dis-
abused of divers misconceptions and anachronisms which
are at present floating in their imaginations ; it is per-
petually in their remembrance that they were once the
dominant race in India, and that England now sways
the country which was once subject to the Mogul dy-
nasty, the last remaining descendent of which is now a
mere phantom of royalty at Delhi—a wretched cypher
of no import. It would benefit them decidedly to show
how hopelessly fallen is the Mussulman preponderance,
even at Stamboul itself, since the days of Soliman the
ma juificent and Mahomed 11., and that the era of their
little store on :ur Se P"
gr„deo is irretrievably past.
4. Thi; liussians would appear by all accounts to put
them have an opp ops, and it is
theirshgh time to let
tro .
myself no fear for the ~..
-rtunity of testing value. I have
,- --cult, for when properly led and
' the Sepoys will be found
properly handled, I apprehen,
-y, .,
more than a match for the average to ' el the Czar's army.
more
As to the question " Who's to pay ?" 11., .4,,t
of course. It is to protect our Indian possessions i,.._
the war is mainly undertaken ; and it is absurd for the
East India Company to plead poverty, and put forth the
stale pretence that, as it is an European war, therefore
they ,have nothing to do with it. Besides, India can
,;,,,,-11 afford the expense. Has not the Treasury in that
cirecently been so overflowing with money that
nment have been enabled to pay off their Five
per Cent. Le.
the.oi nG JoY ve:
Hall
per Cent. L.o-ins and to open successfully a Three-and-a
an—this, too, where the legal interest
is 12
pe
2 per cent., m l
uaenunt,"ana the market rate frequently 18 per
Has not the large and wealthy ter-
ritory of the late Rajah of I.:ragpore lately fallen to their
lot? Have not the rich plains cif Berir been recently
added to their dominions ? NOW that the right of adop-
tion has beer, abolished, do they not loop forward to the
prapect of eventually enveloping in their coil); Gwalior,
Dholpur, Golconda, all Bundlecund, Boglecund, Sirmur,
Ca.shineer—everything. in short, that their zoophitic
feelers cast reach ? And a glance at the map will show
that these Additions of territory viLll not add to, but
rather diminist; their line of frontier, so ti ,at no propor-
tionate augmentai.'on of military force will iO6 required
to defend their new aCquisitions.
One word more. liu„:sia has her mission to fulfil, in
whicii we ought not to thwat her. She is much better
suited than England is to deal c.'ith the barbarous tribes
of Khiva, Bokhara, and Balkh, and would, if she
abandoned her intriguing policy, and w're convinced of
the impracticability of extending her conquests over
nations more civilised than herself, be a far L; otter
neighbour than the detestable savages who faithlessly.
put to a cruel death our unfortunate countrymen Stod-
dart and Conolly, whom we have been unable to
avenge. Russian subjects are to this hour held in
stgvery in those very countries. Has she not a right to
liberate them by force of arms ? If we are willing and
able to effect this object we ought to do so forthwith ;
but we avow ourselves unequal to the task, and are even
unable to rearess our own wrongs. And yet, when she
makes one step in the direction of Khiva, there is an
immediate outcry of alarm. A glance at the map will
show that Khiva, is distant from Peshawur, our most ad.
vanced frontier station just 875 miles in a direct line,
which cannot be less than 1,100 miles for an army to
march ; and such a road would have to be traversed !
But, are we in earnest ? Do we intend to play at war,
or put forth our whole strength ? That's the question.
I am, Sir, your humble servant,
Athenaeum Club, April 11. A. T.