Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-21
INDIA AND AFRICA.
THE DEMAND FOR INDIAN TROOPS
AT sUAkIN.
some Interesting Facts Not Gene
rally known to the World mt
Largc-Questions of Citizenship
What the Next Generation May See.
Nondon Times.D


much doubt that that demand would, un-
der certain eventualitics, be complied
with. The considerations which imme-
diately control the situation should not,
however, be overlooked. An Indian con-
tingent is unquestionably cheaper than
British force. and, led by English Of
fcers, it is not less effective in a tropi-
cal campaign. But hitherto the DIS
patch of any large number Of Indian
troops beyond the seas, whether to CHINA
or to Africa, has been regarded as a
measure to be held in reserve for graver
difficulties than have yet developed In
the Sudan. Half century's experience
has taught us that operations in CHINA
must be conducted by an army largely
composed of Indian regiments. But 10
many Englishmen the employment OF
Indian soldiers in Africa still seems an
innovation, "A coup de theatre nashed out
OF Disraelrs fertile brain, and not yet
accepted as a part OF the permanent
policy Of the empire. It Is needless 10
say that the idea Is historically incor-
rect The fact remains that the sud
den dispatch Of an Indian contingent 70
Africa might encourage alarmist views
in England, and. possibly cause excite
ment throughout Europe.
This view would have been Justihaole
thirty years ago. The rapid extension
of British interests and responsibilities
I'm Africa during the past quarter Of a
century now renders such view un-
sound and mschieyous. The extension
has taken place not alone, indeed, not
chiefly, I'm Egypt. but in Equatorial
Africa. and in the sub-trOpical regions
of the south. Great Britain enters on
these new spheres Of influence with a
force at her disposal, which not one or
her rivals can command. She has IN
India an overlooking population COM
posed I'm part OF the finest military races
in the tropical world, in part Of races
the most patient OF labor, Injured to a
tropical climate, and to tropical condi-
tions OF life. Each year India adds
nearly three millions to the number OF
those races: during the next ten years
the increment will aggregate 3O,OOOW.
This inexhaustible reservoir Of human
life. this great recruiting field for tropi-
cal service and source OF labor supply
for tropical work, gives 10 England pos
sibilIties of African development such as
no European nation possesses.
How to organize that vast industrial
| force. and how to dispose OF IT 50 that
| its very numbers shall not tread each
| other down, is becoming the supreme
problem Of British rule I'm India. The
| services rendered by Indian troops I'm
| Africa are we'll known; Abyssinia, the
| Nile Valley. and the eastern coast stand
/ out conspicuously on the record. But
| the record IS not one Of successful cam
paigning alone but of steady watch and
ward, little recognized, indeed, I'm Eu-
| rope and almost unknown 10 the mass
] Of Englshmen. On Saturday morning
we got incidental glimpses at the part
played by Sikh soldiers during the past
five years I'm Nyasaland. As a loca
force, and as a military police. the Indians
have proved invaluable I'm Equatorial At
RIGA and recent events point to the eX
| pedlency OF thus employing them gooc
deal further south. Indian native sur
veyors have helped 10 make the map Of
| British Africa. Indian traders conduc
the retail supply. and not a little OF th'
| general business OF the East African
| ports. and are finding their way far in
| land Indian laborers cross the sea bl
thousands a year 20 the British and I'm
| dependent States Of the new continent
/ and IN Natal alone number 5l.OOO. o
more than the whole European pogula
| ton. The cOnncxion between India anC
/ Africa consists. therefore. not OF a few
| thrilling episodes like those Of MagdalS
/ or Malta, but of continuous services rem
/ dered during a quarter Of a century an,
now being rendered on a rapidly-eXtend
ing scale. IL does not arise out OF eX
! ceptional contingencies. but results from
| permanent economic laws. The truth d
that Indian labor Is cheapest where Eu
ropean labor is dearest, and efectiy,
under conditions, which, 10 the British
worlSingman would mean misery an,
death. Africa lies open TO the Overlooking
population of India now freed from in
ternecine struggles. as America oDene,
up 10 the population OF Europe when re
lieved from the drain OF medieval wars
But Africa Is to India more accessible
America: q new world In which Tndiai
soldiers have contributed to the establish
ment Of the British power. and In which
Indian merchants and labOrers are as
sisting in the development OF British en-
terprise.
NO MENACE.
The employment OF Indian troops fl
Africa forms no menace 10 other Euro
pean interests on that continent. II SHOULD
/ be regarded as natural inciden
Of the connection which has for year
subsisted between British India an,
British Africa. How close that con
nection has been, and in ways quite I'm
known TO the English public. is show
] by the history OF the post-office at IAN
zibar. After twenty years of Indial
management. the postal administration
! at Zanzibar was made over 10 British
control at the end OF 1895. Down TO 1s7
there seems to have been no regula
postal service at the settlement. when
| In April OF that year, the Consul-Gene
| raj proposed the establishment of a Brit
ish postal agency the post-office au
thorities In England declined, on IN
ground that 1t could not pay and tn
Director-GeneTal Of Post-Ohices in Indii
was begged TO intervene. After som
tentative measures. the Government o
I India sanctioned an arrangement from
October /, 1879, and an Indian post-ofic
! az Zanzibar was established. within
three years II had developed postal bust
ness TO an extent which warranted
regular organization, under the cOntrC
! OF the POstmaster-Ge General OF Bombay
! Even at that date the sale OF stamp
only amounted to RS 600 a month.
ten years the sale OF stamps rose [
! Rs.i4,0o0 a year, while money-orders wer
issued TO the extent OF RS. 10000. yield
ing a commission OF Rs.2.O00 a year.
1891 the reorganization Of the Zanziba
Territory and the closing Of the Germa
pOst-office led TO a further increase O
incomes. The position OF the Zanziba
post-ofice is now assured. and the India
Government having created it out q
nothing. and built it up into an admins
trative success made Il over to tn
British postal authorities on Noyembe
u, 1895. II forms an example of man
classes OF Hnconspcuous work whic