The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-06

ing Indians actually ON the war path
Sir Garnet wolseIey on the British In
dim Army.
We have BIsMARcK's word for Il that tho
Berlin Congress never would have met but
for the news that handful OF native regi-
mcnts had been despatched from Bombay
TO Malta. Bythat decisive stroke all shrewd
observers were convinced Of two things
first, that England would fight Russia. II
necessary, unaidcd and alone and, second,
that she would enter on such contest not
only with the longer purse but with supe-
rior military resources. Nothing therefore
could be more timely than the article which
Sir GARNET WOLsELEY has written for the
current number Of the North American Re-
riclr and in which he discusses the value of
the native army of India as lighting instru-
mcnt; in other words, the weight OF this new
factor in the problems Of European warfare.
Sir GARNET WuLsELEY dwclls on the rcvo-
luton produced i'm public opinion ut home
and on the Continent 10y the measure that
doubled at one blow the military force uf
the United Kingdom. Heretofore Europe
had regarded India rs n source Of weakness.
not of strength, and IL was firmly believed
at st. Petersburg up TO few weeks ago
that the number Of white regiments in
Hindostan would have To be augmented
to avert mutlny In the event OF
war with Russia Lord BEAcoNsFIELD
himself had said in the days when he was
| Mr.. DIsRAELI that his country was rather
an Asiatic than European power, and the
ambiguous words were supposed TO mean
that England would have her hands full
with maintaining her possessions in the
| East. In view OF late events the wcll-known
| phrase seems to bear very different
construction. II turns out TINT Brit
ish India is mighty, not only for defence,
but for aggression; that us regards tho
combination of three ondowmcnts. namely,
n vast population n manful warrior class,
and an effective organization, IL Ia not only
the greatest power in Asia. but one of the
foremost in the world The fact which has
lain at the root Of Russian military prestige
Is the wide recruiting ground open TO the
Cars armies. But what are the sixty or
seventy millions who obey the house Of
RoMANoFF beside the two hundred mill
| lions who, 1t now seems. may be trusted to
swell the forces of the Empress Of India;
1t is interesting to hear some precise state
ments from an authority OF unGucstioncd
competence touching the fighting qualities
OF the native soldlcry. Striking differences
would of course be looked for in n large and
composite population, and according 10 Sir
GARNET WoLsELEY, the Madras contingent,
although well disciplined, Is, Of the three
armies into which the Sepoys are dis
trbutcd, the least conspicuous for valor
and endurance. On the other hand, the
Bengal army, largely recruited among the
hill tribes of the northwest contains ma
tcral equal in his judgment to any in the
world We may here note that the number
OF troops maintained by the Bengal Gov
eminent exceeds that furnished by the tive
Prcsldencics OF Madras and Bombay com
blned, and might without much difficulty b'
increased to million men. Nor would the
cost Of supporting such II force represent
anything like the outlay cNactcd by The
present military establishment Of Russia.
Sir GARNET WoLsELEY discusses in some
detail the characteristic traits Of the scct'
and races from which the best soldiers arr
drawn. The Sikhs, he tells MS, whose religion
bears much the same relation to the Hindo'
creed that Professionalism docs to the Roman
} Catholic faith, have been Injured to war b.
the continual prosecutions Of four centuries
, Their dlsclpline is remarkable. and although
; not pnrticularly good horscmen. they mr.
, norbons the most efficient foot soldiers fl
, Asin. The Afridcos and other Pathan tribe
( inhabiting the northwestern fronticrare Nc
T hammedan savagcs, brave and hardy, re-
s vcngcfu and rapacous faithlcss to publ
e engagements yet keeping an answering
V allegiance to the master whose salt the
D cat. Many instances are recorded wher
;, those wearing the British uniform have
i under the most trying circumstance
r remained loyal. Sir GARNEr WoLSELE
cites the case OF Il treasure cseor
y composed Of mon belonging to reg
q mcnt which had mutinied in the outbreak {