The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-12
78
EMPLOYMENT OF INDIAN TROOPS.

The proposed employment by England Of
her Indian troops In the event Of a war with
Russia Ii serious matter, as England her
self acknowledges. There were protests
during the Franco russian war against the
employment by France Of the Turcos, or IT.
regular and semi-savage Arab troops from
Algeria; but these constituted but small
force as compared with the Indian levies that
England talks Of calling into the field in the
event OF war. There is little doubt that
these men. particularly the Sikhs and
ahoorkas. will make efficient troops; they
are courageous, or rather wholly deficient in
! fear; are warriors by profession and descent
for innumerable generations; well armed. ad-
mirably disciplined and Differed. and will
furnish the British army with branch of ser
vice IN which II Is greatly deficient cavalry.
Then, too. the supply of men Is almost "a un-
limited and unexhaustibe "a Englands sup
ply Of money.
The three tribes of India on which England
principally counts for recruits are the Benga-
lese for cavalry and the Sikhs and Ghoorkas
for Infantry The Sikhs enjoy the distin-
Uuished honor of being the only Indians that
ever defeated the English: they and the
tahoorkas are now earnest and patriotic sub
iects of Great Britain and extremely anxious
to fight for her There Is as little reason to
doubt their fidelity as to doubt their courage.
There Is little reason for England TO fear as
to the courage, efficiency or fidelity OF these
troops; the real danger lies in their ferocity
and the self-importance that their employ
ment against white troopa may give them.
Their ferocity is really dangerous in a war
with civilized nation. The ahoorka is more
blood-thirsty than the most savage redskin Of
our plains, he will kill wounded as well
as living, and Is pretty apt TO slaughter
and mutilate his prisoners. Ii is doubtful
whether English officers will be able to re-
strain the murderous instincts Of these semi
savages Any violence by them, followed as
1t must be by retaliation. might plunge Europe
Into the most harbarous and terrible OF wars,
d war of butchery, without quarter or mercy
K The English papers fear also that the en-
ployment against the disciplined soldiers
or Russia may give these Indians eXag-
gerated opinions of their own Importance,
and even tempt them to try their strength
against England herself The Sepoy rebel
Hon of 1867 was bad enough. but had the Sc
boys III ttidb NdS tItttsSN eAAS NApSiiSitsS va "a
campaign in Europe, their subsection would
have been no easy matter.
These two dangers in tho employment of
Indians In the event of a war with Russia are
80 threatening that more than one English
paper has emphatically opposed their use in
the event of an Eastern war. Those who IA
lyor their use, however, hope to neutralize or
prevent any of the evil effects by having a
large number of English officers to every In
dian company. They hope In this way to re-
strain somewhat the impetuous ferocity of
these Indians, and at the same time make
them wholly dependent on their officers-that
Is. mere soldiers. automata, unable to con-
neiye or execute anything without their COM
manders. There is now only one English Of
fioer to every two hundred and fifty of the
Indian troops; by securing one European
officer to every thirty or forty Indians it is
thought that the efficiency Of these troops