Evening star., 1900-10-12

History of Bharatpur, Once BesieEed
by an Alligator.

History of Bharatpur, Once Besieged
by an Alligator.
A. S. K. Gosh in the London Express
The deposition of the Maharatah of Bha-
ratpur for misgovernment recalls to mind
two of the most remarkable episodes of In
dian history. fortress OF wonderful nat
uraI strength, Bharatpur has the proud dis
tfnction of having withstood the fercest as
sauIts of Lord Lake. the able colleague Of
Sir Arthur Wellesley, at the height Of his
victorious career.
Rangit Singh. Maharajah Of Bharatpur,
was one of the first princes of India to en-
ter into an alliance with the British gov
ernment. In the Maharatta war of 1903
against Scindia a Bharatpur contingent
helped Lord Lake to gain the victory Of
Laswarf. but when, the following year. war
broke out also with Holloar, the Bharatpur
troops withdrew from the alliance. and even
gave shelter to the shattered forces of Hol-
kar beneath the walls of Deeg.
Lord Lake forthwith attacked Deeg and
carried 1t by assault. Then he laid siege to
Bharatpur itself. The town was surround
ness and protected by numerous bastions.
The garrison was estimated at 5000 ;nen,
Lord Lakes force at IL, 600.
Being deficient in heavy artillery the be-
Segers made little impression on the mas
sive earthworks. At last, after losing more
than third Of his army, Lord Lake gave
up the siege.
The failure of the attack under general
second TO none in Indian reputation gave
the fortress unique Importance in popular
estimation. The prestige of the British
government was at stake. A hundred VIC
tories elsewhere were discounted by This
one defeat. Men talked of it with batad
breath, and whispered mysteriously of a
divine mandate that had endowed the cita-
del with perpetual impregna bility.
1t became public danger-no less serious
because it was sentimental. 1t had to be
captured at any cost. The government
bIded its time.
In 1925 the reigning maharaiah died, and
the succession was disputed by two cousins.
One imprisoned the other, and placed him.
self on the throne. That was the opportu-
nifty the British government was long
awaiting. A magnificent army was dis
patched under Lord Combermere to rescue
the captive.
The besieging force under this general
was $1,000 men. but the chief difference be-
tween this and the former siege was In the
number and quality Of the artillery Where
as Lord Lakes siege train consisted Of only
fourteen guns. his successor had 112 all OF
the finest pattern then invented some OF
which We're mortars and howitzers throw
ing s-inch to 13-inch shells. Supplementing
these were forty field guns and ten 5E-inch
field howitzers.
The investment commenced on December
10. 1928. The garrison, consisting of 5000
regulars, save no sign Of life. When the
oeStoSpis iofces were taS'ng up the sever al
vantage grounds in front a Itw of the f1t
guns had fired on than at long range. but
doing little damage and fearing to waste
ammunition, they had sunk into sullen ST.
lence
So splendid corps of engineers Lord
Combermere had brought with him thai
the parallels were finished and the invest
ment completed by the 21st. Desiring to
save the women and children In the town
from the horrors Of siege. he sent a mes
sage Offering them a free passage No an
swer was given to this offer
By the oath every exit was closed and all
the LIE siege guns placed In advanced posi-
tions some of them within 250 yards Of the
wall. On that day the bombardment COM
menced. So terrible q shower Of shells and