St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-07-01
A REVIEW IN INDIA.

A REVIEW IN INDIA.
The great review is over, and the
Camp of Exercise is breaking up. Mil
itary maneuvres take place every year
in some part of India; European and
native troops from all the stations go
to suitable ground, and for some ten
days or two weeks marches and sham
battles are carried on daily. No sta
ton or caDtonment is left entirely des-
titute of troops; regiment of Euro
peans is taken from one place, regi-
ment of natives from another, a bat
terry from a third, and so on. The
camp this year was at Delhi, and never
before had operations been upon so
large a scale. Two forces, the North
ern and Southern, were encamped
about the city, and for ten days before
the review man9uvres of all sorts had
been taking place. Representatives of
all the powers had been invited to be
present, and the foreign officers camp
was the great social centre. France,
Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia and
Austria were all represented by one or
more officers, and the United States in
Colonel Lazelle and Captain Mills had
two of the most popular men in the
camp. The idea of having the Camp
of Exercise on such large scale this
year was political one, originated by
the Russian scare of last spring it
was intended to show to the natives of
India that this large force could be
brought together without weakening
seriously any cantOnment in the cOun-
try. That it will have any effect on
war that every English officer here
seems to think is bound to begin is
doubtful. One thing which an Ameri-
can often hears said in all seriousness
is that america would never see En-
gland conquered; if the worst should
come you would help us, for blood is
thicker than water, and you can't for
get your English blood"
| came by train from Bombay, hav-
ing as a companion lieutenant in the
5th GoOrkhas on his way back to his
station OH the frontier. AS [ had not
been warned that on the railways in
India one must carry all his own bed
ding, might have had an unpleasant
journey, as my "kit" included only
one railway rug and light tOpcOat
beside my bag. But the officer shared
his bedding with me and the ride was
comfortable. In his as in every slot"
of luggage were two or three quilts
made of lowered calico and wadded
with cotton and a couple of pillows
made in the same fashion. Everything
locked dim owing to the dust close
the car as much as one could and no
difference was perceptible. At Anime
dabad, 300 miles from Bombay, the
broad gauge road changed to the me-
tire guage and there were 600 miles
ahead of a toy railroad. This narrow
gauge is one of the great mistakes of
the railway system in India. 1t is a
trunk line, but at the time of building
money was so scarce that the narrow
guage was laid and it has been a cause
of regret ever since. All merchandise
must be unlOaded and re-shipped at
Ahmedabad, and as the lower part of
the road runs through a portion of the
cotton country, there is deep execra-
ton over the short GIFTED policy of
the builders. In transferring troops
it would cause great trouble, as tie
cars are very small All bridges are
now built with reference to changing
the gauge, and as the road runs through
level country for the most part, the
expense will not compare with the
stepped out on the platform in Delhi
into IA scene of wild confusion tons of
baggage were scattered over the plat
form, officers and their servants were
rushing in every direction, and per-
feet babel of Hindoostanee was being
shouted all about me. | was soon in
palkee- ghares and on my way to a
bungalow on the Ridge Road. There
l had a warm Indian welcome, and
though the house was full room was
quickly made for me.
In driving out in the moonlight [
had passed through part of the camp,
but the next morning showed me that
l had seen but little of it. Delhi was
city of stone in a city of canvas.
Tents lined the road to the historic
plain north of the city, and between
them living stream poured along on
foot, on horseback and in all the varie-
ties of carts that the mind of man
could devise. A dOg-cart holding the
wife and daughter of some English of
ficer wOnld be followed by two
wheeled cart with cotton canopy filled
with smiling Hindoos,-their turban
and TUNES spOtless save where some
bit of bright gold embroidery would
shine out-and drawn by a couple of
little oxen at a brisk trOt. Next APP
peared the elephant of a Maharajah
with a gorgeous body cloth, one mass
of gold lace, and houdah a marvel of
carving and gold. Ordinary victOrias
were letting at $50 rupees (S43) for the
day and hard to get even at that price. |
Most of the officers in this part of India
had sent their carriages, many coming |
two and three hundred miles. The |
few showers of rain going by the name
of the "Christmas rains," had delayed |
this year as if waiting for the grand |
review. Showers had fallen the day
before and the morning was misty. 1t
seemed impossible to the spectators |
that in the dry season the greatest |
military review ever held in India was
to be rendered less interesting by rain.
A portion of the road beside the salut-
ing point at the flagstaff Lad been COW
cred with a surface of red sandstone,
but the larger part led over the turf
and the ground was somewhat swampy.
As the troops marched up they took
their position in long line facing the
flagstaff but at least half mile away.
The line when Lord Dufferin arrived
and rode down for the inspection must
have been fully two miles long. There
were between 35 900 and 10000 men
in all-English and native, from the