The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-13

Dismal Reception of Colonial Troops
Arrived for Coronation.

London Mail
They'll turn US out at Portsmouth wharf in cold
an wet an rain,
All wearin' Injian cotton kit. but We viii not
They'll kin Us Of pneumonia-for that's their lit
tie way
-Rudyard Kipling
Alexandra Park presented anything but
an inviting aspect to the colonial troops
who arrived in London yesterday for the
purpose of taking part in the coronation
ceremonies. The whole place was deluged
with rain, the scene from Muswel hill was
blotted out by thick mist. the atmosphere
was chilly and the few curious visitors who
were present wore downcast and detected
appearance.
The men themselves, freshly arrived from
a tropical climate, made a brave effort to
be happy under such conditions. Clad as
they were. however, in the thinnest of
khaki, which made them an easy prey to
the rain and the wind, this was all but i'm
possible.
The Maltese contingent was already in
their quarters when the mixed volunteers
from the Straits Settlements came upon the
scene yesterday The latter reached the
Albert docks by the p. and o. boat Ceylon
in the morning and disembarked at IL o clock
Tor their camp, TO which they were con-
veyed by special train. All the men looked
fit and well and were in the highest spirits
at having reached England after long and
uneventful voyage.
The contingent, which includes a detach-
ment of the Malay States Guides, the body
guard Of the Sultan of Perak, numbers in
all ITO men. These are made up from the
volunteer artillery. rifles and infantry of
Singapore. The whole of the artillery are
British, but the infantry is made up partly
of Eurasians and partly of Chinese.
The officers in charge of the contingent
are Lieutenant Colonel the Hon. A. Muir
ray, V. D., Of Singapore: CAPTAIN Adams.
of Penang, and Subadar-Major Khwas, Of
the Malay States Guides. The men were
met on arrival at the docks by Major St
Clair with Miss st. Clair) and Lieutenant
Derrick. OF the Singapore Volunteer Artil-
lery, who are just now on leave in this
country.
The most curious and interesting feature
in connection with the contingent is the
presence for the first time in this country of
Chinese volunteers = British-b born Chinese
from Singapore, whose whole interest is
wrapped up with that of the British empire
This section, too, is really body OF Chinese
millionaires somewhat analogous to Roose-
velt's Rough Riders in the Spanish-Amer-
lean war. The senior sergeant is DR.. the
Hon. Linn Boon Keng. who holds the degree
of M. b. of Edinburgh University, and is a
member of the Singapore Legislative Coun-
Gil, while the junior noncommissioned Off
Ger of the same rank is Song ong Slang
NJ. A (Cantab), and barrister at law
Other members of this small body, which
numbers only eight, include T1an Boo Lat,
a merchant prince of Singapore a great
! sportsman and the owner OF Vanitas, which
! won the Calcutta cup-the Indian Derby.
This gentlemans brother. Tan kwee Wah,
| and another wealthy Chinese, Tan Hood
| Guam. are also in the company. The first
! and last named were not chosen to form
! part of the contingent. but so anxious We're
| they to be present at the coronation that
! they elected to pay their own passage.
The contingent, on it's arrived at the pal
| ace, was welcomed by an officer on behalf
of the Duke of Connaught. But little else
| had apparently been thought of. Fresh from
| the tropics though they were, the original
| intention was to put them under canvas,
| but TO this the officers objected, even Tor
| the native troops.
| The old and dilapidated banqueting hall
| in the grounds was then resorted to, but
1 prior TO settling there the men had been
! marched hither and thither until o'clock,
| when they were permitted to break their
/ six hours fast. and then only in the re-
freshment rooms of the palace at their own
| expense. 1t was fully two hours after this
! before the native troops got anything TO
! eat owing to their food requiring special
/ preparation. When it was ready the men
! scudded like hares to the repast.
! But in the banqueting hall no prepare
ton had been made for the troops.
In the Maltese camp there is little COM
] fort the troops tents being pitched on the
! bare ground, with only a piece of canvas
/ a protection against damp 1T is very
! cold at night" said one of the men, but
/ we must make the best of it." This con-
! tingent, numbering ffty-three. did. how
| ever, find all ready for them when they ar
! rived on Thursday.
/ Our Marseilles correspondent telegraphs
/ that detachment of the Kings Africa Ri
! fles, in charge of Captain Stokes, of the
arrived at that port en- route for London.
/ The detachment consists of thirty fine, sol
/ dierly looking men, most of whom have
\ seen active service.
The people of Marseilles are much struck
! by their smart appearance, good humor
and contented faces.