The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-04

of the Indus 10 tho Mussulnans Of the
northwest. There are the faithful and
valiant Sikhs the Gurkbas, the Rnjputs
OF Hindustan, the DogIas of the Hima-
laya, the gallant .lats, the GilZhai Of the
Afghan border and the MewRrs OF Raj
putana. These have few racial aflinitIes
and little in common that would lead
them 10 agree in muJiny, and the prob
ability is further reduced hv sending These
men into districts not their own in blood
and ottentimes not theirs In religious
belief.
Then, again, the increased paw in the
army has permitted the recruiting oluccrs
to take their pick of the trihesmen and
60 form body Of soldiers, that in in
telligence and aptness for military life,
Is hard tn equal. Combined with these
safeguards Is the presence Of the Irish.
English and Scotch regiments, IN the
proportion OF nearly one 10 two, and the
overwhelming superiority Of the English
artillery service over that Ioi.the enlisted
natives. Tho growth OF the railway ser
vice in India is second in tho world
only 80 It's growth in the United states.
The telegraph service Is perfect there are
splendid military roads, and it would Ge
now only u matter of days, where 10 was
formerly n matter Of months, To mass
troops at any threatened point All these
things tend, of course, to lessen the chance
Of mutiny, and to make the present rising
one TO to regarded simply a. n border
war between the British in India and the
trihesmen of tho mountains that border
Afghanistan nni so orn, Russia N Asia.
Up To date no soldiers have inutlnieu.
and only this latter result would bring
fear into all English speaking homes
THE NATIVE SOLDIERS.
sAll Britid, ,ee1eIar,ss from Lord Give
Ia Rt berts, have testified To the brilliant
fighting qualities CT the native Indian
soldier. Roberts would never rave bCeu
the nero of tho march 30 kandahar 2nly
for the magnificent bravery Of the native
regiments. Gallant HavolccS would never
have succored lucknow and held it til
Coin Cam pboll came v 4 $ Highland
ora, anu soulstirripg hLs,c only for tho
faithful Sikhs. They fight bravoiy, but
cannot lead. lt has teen :he inNarlabl9
experience that when their officers fall
they lose all hope They have little faith
n the leadership OF their own people, ana
10 we uli 20 l1w a;.turdy Scotch officer or
dBshing Irish captain where lGOD would
:oar TO face battle with native com
mardor As In the Indian mutiny so iG
Is now. The great majority are faith
ia! TO the British crown, ana this has
been moro apparent since England, after
the mutinv, assumed formal sovereignty
OF many o tUho states and "A prot ctora!o
over others.
Tho ratiyo troops OF India are divided
into four armies-one in the Punlah, one
in Bengal, one In Madras ana one IN
Bombay Having In mind the possible
aggression Il Russia and the treacherytof
Afghnuistan, on whose borders a pres
ert uprising has begun. the Hover O.! the
natl q army is in the Punlah, ana IN.
cludes hit1en licked regiments oi cavalry
forty b1ttlllons OF Infantry and six bat
tories OF ar ilery. They comprise hall the
native artillery aud more than two-iiiths
OF the cavalry and infantry ia tho service
Of the Empress Of India. The Bengal
army can easily ba Transported TO the
PuDlab and comr rises one mountain bat.
terry, ten regiments OF cavalry and twenty
four infautry hattniioIs. In Madras there
are tbreo cavalry ~ meuis and thirty
one infantry Lattaliuns, wnilo in Bonn
bAy there arc two mountain batteries.
-even cavalry regiments and twonty-siX
hattalinns Of infantry. These comprise all
the native Indian soldiery Uf England.
PERSONAL OF THE SOLDIERS
In the thick Of tho present struggle arc
the Gurkhns. sturdy mountain lighters
1l tho Nnral, whose sleeds in war have
not fallen short ~ the heroic. Ih0y Will
Iight where any EngiishmAn tights, and
ire superior 20 tho European soldier be-
cause of their sturdy physique. HEY are /
q cool, pugnariOus race of fghters who I
ire steadily going up the Steps Of ciVlilZa- (
ion. They arc used 90 tR ting Aighnns .
and the tribes now In revolt The -ikhs !
Il the Punlab arc also among those now |
lshtipg the retcls. lh6y have always