The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-01-24
THE INDIAN TROOPS.
A Picturesque Contingent Sent by
Great Britain to China.
CREDIT TO THE EMPIRE.
Hindus, MahOmetans, and Native Chinese
Under the English Flag.

Special correspondence 10 THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
PENING, CHINA.
There are many tribes represented in
Great Britain's large army of Indians in
China.
Every Indian soldier and every Indian
coolie saluteS officers, soldier and civilian
alike, and it is done in such Il way that
every man feels that he must answer the
salute of the humhlest coolie.
The Indians bearing tells You that he
is proud of the fact that he is here to help
the civilized world straighten out China.
1t is claimed that the experience of the
Indian troops here has had a wonderful
effect toward their Improvement. The
Indian feels that he belongs TO Il civilized
and enlightened race as much as any sol
der here.
1t is now about 30 years since the In
dams visited China as an army, the pres
ent one being the second sent here.
Great Britain has sent $4,000 Indian
troops into China. besides some $1,000
followers, both public and private. These
latter are for the most part of the cooIie
class, sent us labOrers and servants. 1t
remains to be seen how well the Indians
will stand the rigors of a North China
Winter.
The selection of Indian troops rests en-
tirely in the hands of the Commander-in-
Chief in India, and the way he has chosen
the present army in China is commented
upon by the British officers and citizens
in China as giving general satisfaction.
Punjab has heretofore furnished a
larger number of regiments than any other
Presidency, but in this China expedition
all of the Presidencies have contributed.
Some of the native states also are repre-
sented, most prominently Jodipur.
The Queens army of Indians consists
of men of various nationalities and castles.
Roughly speaking. it may be divided into
Hindus and Mahometans. The Hindus
form the major part of Che army and are
subdivided into various classes, among
them being SikhS. RajputS, GOurkhas. Ma
harattaS, JatS, DOgraS and MadraSSeeS.
The Sikh has a fine and intellectual face,
black as his skin is. He has a pleasing
appearance and fine, soldierly bearing.
OF all the soldiers in China he is the most
picturesque.
The Sikh proved his loyalty to Great
Britain in 1857, when all the other classes
mutinied, and Great Britain has not al
lowed the great service done her in that
year by the Sikh to go unrewarded. They
are considered the choicest of all the In
dian soldiers, and their conduct for 43
years has merited that distinction.
AS Great Britain's foe they were her
fercest one. England's wars with the
Sikhs tried her not a little, and a review
of these wars discloses many desperately
fought battles in which the British were
on more than one occasion held in check
After their country was conquered the
Sikh gave up his very heart and soul to
soldering. Every class worships the sol
der; he is their ideal. Even the young
women refuse TO marry young man who
has been refused admission to the Indian
army because of failure TO come up to the
physical requirements in the medical ex-
animation.
Travellers who visit remote villages in
Punjab will be interested at the sight of
the old Sikh pensioned warriors. They
nre men of so or 20 years of age, wearing
the Indian Mutiny medal. Sikh" means
soldier.
The religion of the Silks was founded
by priest named Suru Manak 800 years
ago. "Suru" means priest, and many of
them have ruled since then, but it was
Suru Govind Singh who first organized