Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-10
England and Her Indian Troops.

may be properly classified and advantageous
~ pla :et.
England and Her Indian Troops.
The transfer of native Indian troops for ser
vice in Europe is a noteworthy event. 1t
marks a new phase in England's policy. 1t will
no longer be absolutely necessary for her to
SubSidiZe European allies, if she can draw an
unlimited number of excellent soldiers from
the richest and most pOpulOus of her DEEPEN
denotes. India is vast recruiting ground
with its territories of over million and
half square miles, and its population of two
hundred million. Army after army could be
raised and sent away without reducing the
population materially that the danger of
famine from the OyercrOwded state of the
people would be removed. The extent then,
to which such troops may be utilized is bound
less, or bounded only by the money resources
OF England. These are not small and the Iu-
dian soldier is cheaply obtained. The private
gets S.5J a month, out of which he provides
his OWN rdtiOnS and clothing, except one suit
every two years. In European service Eng
land would supply the rationS, which con-
SiSt of wheat rice, pulse, butter and
salt. Ii is estimated that an army
OF quarter of million of native
soldiers could be placed in the field at the ex-
penSe of less than twenty-five million dollars
system which the English have introduced in
India, and led by skilIful generals wOuli BE-
f0rml liable. Most of the tribes which make
up the population of India furnish excellent
hghtlng material. They have natural apt-
tude for war and submit readily to drill, dis
clphne: and instruction in military move
mentS. Gen Upton in his recently published
report says that the native Indian army com
pares fayOrably in training as well as in other
respects with European soldiers. There are
numerous instances i'm the history of India
where native troops led by Europeans have
displayed every quality that goes to make up
the efficient soldier, and have fought success
fully against overwhelming numbers. Unlim-
tied numbers, warike spirit in general and
especial enthusiasm when fighting against
Russia, bravery efficiency and chepueSS are
the points which commend the Indian soldier
to England'S use at this juncture. The scheme.
however, has its disadvantages. The use of
pagan and barbarian soldiers against even I'M
christian christians seems like taking a step
backwards in civilization, and would
perhaps, give the world shock 1t may
be suggested. on the other hand. that every
thing connected with war is shocking and that
the dusky AsiaticS under the English dis
ciplne would fight their battles and celebrate
their victories without the atrocities which
have characterized the campaigns of the ar
mics OF me than one of the so called Chris
tian nations. But the prejudice against tn
regular use of such troops is deeDly rooted
Another serious objection is suggested BY
comparing the use of these foreign levies by
England with the employment of barbarian
hOrdes by Rome. The weapon which f lgand
constructs may be turned against herself. 1
the natives of India find that they can fgh.
successfully against Europeans il is not un-
reasonably feared that thpy m ho
aged to enter into a struggle with their Eng
llSh rulers. 1t must be remembe red how
ever, that at the outbreak of the SepOy revolt
OF lSI III an army of 277,0OO only 5000 We're
Europeans: and yet through the fidelity of
the great body of the people, the mutny was
unsuccessful. 1t is hardly probable that there
will be time when the disparity in the army
will be greater; and whenever the mass of the
Indian people desire to separate from Eng
land the change can hardly be prevented If
II be the purpose of England to seize Egypt a
large body of her Indian leyies might be
advantageOusly stationed there. They would
be best suited to the climate of any of her
forces, and the danger which might arise from
the concentration Of large body of trained
naive soldiers in India would be thus avoided
And now Captain EadS comes here to ask
Congress to make "a slight mOdification,-as
it-Of the act providing for jetties at the
mouth of the Mississippi. That is to say he
WantSthe government to pay over the money
10 MIN faster than the law requires In order
that he can prosecute the work with more
ylgOr.' Ii is TO be trusted that Congress will
do no such thing. The ietty business is very
doubtful experiment, and it will be lust as
Wei Tor Uncle sam to wait and see how il
works before handing over the payments i'm
anticipation Of the time agreed upon.
MIR. c. c. Fulton, of the Baltimore Am,r-
dcGn, who wrote an excellent series of Euro
pean letters at the time of the Vienna eyro
Sition, is abroad again, and supplies an inter
esting Screed to his paper almost daily.
An alarming sign of the times to bachelors
and widOwerS is the fact that numerous Spin
Sters and grass widows are writing to Edison
inquiring the price of phOno graphs. Perhaps
old Simon Cameron has cause to bless his stars
that the monograph was not invented when
he used to call on the widow Oliver.
The milk of human kindness and swiIl milk
have raised many champions for the cow The
hardships which the patient animal is COM
PEELED 10 endure in railway transportation
become insignificant when compared with
those which distinguish the career of the dis.
tillery fed cow. For seven or eight months
the animal is closely confined in unclean and
unhealthy sheds, and compelled to eat bot
Stops, the refuse of the distillery, or starve.
The liquid that is drawn from the udders of
the cow during this period is sold rs milk and
no skull and cross bones is place on the cans
rs is required in the case Of other poiSonS
After long stay in its unpleasant surround
ings. deprived OF exercise, living on unwhoe-
some and disgusting food, the COW is slaugh-
tered and appetizing cuts are offered for sale
to the public. Truly the cows are badly
treated, and the consumers of their milk and
flesh with them.
THE WEEKLY STAR now ready, contains all
the News OF the Week: the Florida Business:
the Cimbria mystery Bret Harte'S latest story:
the dOings in Congress; the European crisis:
Lively Local Notes; Agricultural Matters:
White House and Dena rfment Naws. Pc