The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-27

BRfiISH AkMS IN INDIA
IL is not too much to say that the Brit
ish arms have los. good deal OF prestige
as a result Of the campaign against tho
AfridIs now concluded. The recent cam
paigninc In India has developed condi-
tions TINT have long been suspected that
the lighting qualities Of British troops, as
mt present recruited and organized. have
suffered serious decline. Perhaps the
most serious phase of this is due to the
fact that the deficiency illustrated has
been witnessed by the native soldiery In
India, since much OF the British power
has been moral force due to the belief
that the British soldier was unsurpassed
as "A fighting machine. his endurance of a
kind with his courage and the military
staff and organization equal to any emer-
gency.
Evidently, extraordinary efforts must
be made by tho government to re-estab
lish the traditional conditions of British
regiments and the organization for oam-
pAigning before the campaign Is re opened
in the spring, n. meantime, surrender
of the turbulent tribes is rot secured.
Even ut this distance an impression
has been created that the exceptional
valor anu skill displayed in the cam
paign is TO be credited To the native sol
diers. rather than TO tho men of England.
1t is evident that an army recruited from
the slums OF English cities Is not capable
Of sustaining tho prestige of the British
arms, while the native troops have sig
nally demonstrated the confidence placed
in them by their officers. OF course.
there have been exceptional instances Of
old-tlme courage and "go" such rs that
Of the Gordon Highlander who piped for
the advance though fearfu!iy wounded at
the 'front.' and OF courage and patience In
the face of death by besieeed garrlsons.
But on the whole the native soldiers
seem TO have made the best showing.
Their reward, however. has not been
cheerful or in proportion to their loyalty
In grave emergency, and there seems
to be good deal of jealousy engendered
by the disappointment of the fact OF tho
contrast. One native newspaper indeed
declares that the only appreciation
shown by the military authorities of the
distinguished valor displayed by the ma
tive troops on the frontier consists of
mere empty praise. This course OF con-
duct may he creditable to Christian mo
ralitv and English gratitude, but looked
at from the point OF view of Hindu mo-
rality 1t betrays singular indifference
We must DO thankful to tie commander
in-chief, observes this exponent OF native
opinion, even for the need of praise he
has thought fit to bostow on the native
Sepoy. What could We have done IL he
had accused him Of disloyalty for lower.
Ing the prestige of the British soldier by
surprising him in point of daring and
gallantry? We do not 500 tho wisdom of
wasting the country's money and LESSEN
ing the stability Of the empire by en-
ploying highly paid British troops when
a much cheaper article of undoupted 10y
atty and tenfold merit Is available on the
spot. Native Sepoys are sufficiently ablc
to undertake the defence of the country.
Why, then, employ the useless British
troopss The native troops hould not,
however. show that they are satisfied
with the praises showered upon them.
They ought to bring their disapprovsl Of
the mode of rewarding thoir serv ices to
the notice OF their employers.