The National tribune., 1900-09-13
GIBRALTAR OF INDIA.
The Deposea Maharajah's Fortress-capitaI,
Which Was Once Besieged by an Alligator.
London ErDrcSS

LOHuOH LI"tSS.
The deposition of the Maharajah of
Bharatpur for misgOverDmcnt recalls to
mind two of the most remarkable episodes
of Indian history. y fortress of wonder
full natural strength, Bharatpur has the
proud distinction of having withstood the
fiercest assaults of Lord Lake, the able
colleague of Sir Arthur Wellesley, ut the
hight of his victorious career.
Rangit Singh, Maharajah of Bharatpur,
was one of the first Princes of India to
enter into an alliance with the British
Government. In the Maharatta war of
1903 against Scindia Il Bharatpur con-
tingcnt helped Lord Lake to gain the vic
tory of Laswari; but when, the following
year, war broke out also with Holkar, the
Bharatpur troops withdrew from the alli-
ance, and even gave shelter to the shat
tered forces of Holkar beneath the walls
of Deeg.
Lord Lake forthwith attacked Deeg and
carried il by assault. Then he laid siege
to Bharatpur itself The town was sur
rounded by mud wall of great hight and
thickness, and protected by numerous bas-
tons. The garrison was estimated at
5000 men: Lord Lakes force at 1900.
Being deficient in heavy artillery, the
bcsicgers made little impression on the
massive earthworks. At last, after losing
more than a third of his army, Lord Lake
gave up the siege.
The failure of the attack under n Gen
eral second to none in Indian reputation
gave the fortress Il unique Importance in
popular estimation. The prestige of the
British Government was at stake. A hum
dred victories elsewhere were discounted
by this one defeat Men talked of it with
hated breath, and whispered mySteriously
of a Divine mandate that had endowed
the citadel with perpetual impregnabiity.
1t became Il public danger-no less Sc
rious because it was sentimental. 1t had
to be captured at any cost. The Gov
ernment bided its time.
TUE SECOND SIEGE.
In 1925 the reignng Maharajah died,
and the succession was disputed by two
cousins One imprisoned the other. and
placed himself on the throne. That was
the opportunity the British Government
was long awaiting. A magnificent army
was dispatched under Lord Combermere
TO rescue the captive.
The besieGing force under this General
was $4,000 men; but the chief difference
between this and the former siege was
in the number and quality of the artil-
lery. Whereas Lord Lakes siege-train
consisted of only II guns, his successor
had 112, all of the finest pattern then
invented, some of which were mortars and
howitzers throwing cight-inch to 13-inch
SUpiIS. iLeSc were ~ lIeiu-
guns and 10 ) y inch feld-howitzcrs.
The investment commenced on Dec. 10,
1875. The garrison, consisting of 5000
aregulars, gave no sign of life. When the
besieging forces were taking up the sew
eral yantage-grounds in front, a few Of
the fort guns had fired on them at long
range, but, doing little damage and fear
ing to waste ammunition. they had sunk
into sullen silence.
So splendid n corps of engineers Lord
Combcrmere had brought with him that
the parallels were finished and the in
vestment completed by the 2lst. Desir
ing to save the women and children in the
town from the horrors of n sicg =, he sent
a message offering them free passage.
No answer was given to this offer.
BY the 9th every exit was closed and
all the 112 sicge-guns placed in advanced
position, some of them within 80 yards
of the wali. On that day the lombard
ment commenced. So terrible Il shower of
shells and round-shot was poured into the
town and fort that many of the defend
ers' guns-all of a comparatively feeble
range-were overwhelmed and destroyed.
On the night of the 26th the garrison
made sortie, captured the most ad-
vanced battery, were driven back by re-
Inducements, charged and captured it
again, and once more repulsed.
The next day, as if in one last desperate
effort, all the surviving fort guns opened
fire with great precision, but did little