The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-10-01

England, II necessary. can pour into
France from India 238.800 trained men,
of which $4,000 are British troops, In
Guiding some OF the crack regiments OF
the royal army, and the 10000 re-
naming are the fighting native troops
of the Indian army, fit comrades on
the firing line of Frances Turcos and
| Spahis.
According to official figures the n
dian army's strength in round num-
bers. is as follows: Infantry, 10000;
cavalry, 5000; artillery, 10000; engi-
this umbe 5000 are English officers
and noncommissioned officers: the
| rest are natives.
Thirty-nine regiments of cavalry, Id
of them lancer regiments, besides the
bodyguard troops of the governor gen.
eral independent troops, make up the
| mounted arm.
The main strength CT the Indian
army is In its infantry. Brahmans,
Rajputs. Jats, Sikhs, Punjabis. Dogras.
Mahrattns and Ghurkas, of all castles
and Of several Observation-Disclosures
| dan, Hindoo, Buddhists-are all war
| riors who will lay down their lives In
| eagerness for the British Raj, and the
lark skinned regiments Of the Indian
army form a lighting force hare to
stop.
Ghurkas Patriots.
Among the most interesting as well
as the most formidable fighting outfits
in the Indian army are the Ghurkas.
There are 10 regiments OF Ghurka
rifles. These little fighters. who come
from the region of Nepal and who trace
their descent from the Rajputs, would
rather fight han eat. In appearance
the Ghurkas are deceiving. They are
short, stocky, little men, of somewhat
the appearance Of the Japanese, al
u l. - - 4 49, - A r2 4l,~ry rryN -
perpetual grins on their faces. The
grin does not come off when they go
into q fight.
The Ghurkas were conquered by the
British In 1914 after years of fighting,
and have become loyal subjects Of
were first made part of the Indian
army they did not seem to take we'll
to organized methods of warfare. 1t
was not until the army authorities al
lowed them to mak their national
weapon, the kukri, part of their equip
ment that they regained their fame as
fighters. Their instructors never could
make them use the bayonet. The kukri
is a long, heavy curved knife.
Fight With Long Knives.
In close quarters the Ghurka throws
away his rifle and takes to the kukri,
which he uses with telling effect. When
charged by cavalry the Ghurkas stand
up and fire at the horsemen until they
are within sabering distance, when the
natives fall. AS the charging horse
men pass over them the little warriors
are up and hamstringing the horses or
clinging to the saddles and stabbing
the riders.
This method of fighting Is not unlike
that of the TurcoS of the French army,
who also play 'possum" when charged
by a heavier enemy, only to rise and
+ake %na attackers from the rear as soon
10 ne csnS over than NJaifEar
Gurkhas nor TuI--aos4 however, do much
defensive fighting exces1a against cav
airy, for they are usually leau.'Re at3y
charge that may be taking place In then.
vicinity.
There seems to be a natural affinity
between the Gurkha and the Scotch
Highlander regiments. Like the Scotch
men, the Gurkhas use bagpipes, and
their pipes accompany them or the fir
ing line. Time and time again in Great
Britafn's campaigns overseas have the
big ~Highlanders and the little brown
skinned Gurkhas charged side by side.
The Gurkhas look down upon other
Oriental troops, but fraternize with
white soldiers.
Would Surprise Germans.
If the German in~fantrymcn come face
to face with a wave of charging Gurk-
has gone "musth" with the lust of bat
tie and using their knives, the kaiser's
IIoopS. Will ICCelpe liz SuIpIlSe OI lIlGlI
lives. The Gurkhas will not stop when
once launched in q charge until, like
the wildcats that they are, they come
to grips with their opponents.
In direct contrast to the Gurkhas are
the big Sikhs. Six footers all, slow,
when once on the firing line will rather
die in their tracks than retreat. The
Silks have been loyal soldiers ever
since the British took India. During
the Indian mutiny the Sikhs fought and
died beside their white officers, always
faithful to their trust.
The Pathans are also big men. They
are on the same order as the Sikhs, only
quicker thinkers n livelier on their
feet. Six and Pathan both are fond
account Of themselves In bayonet
charges.
The artillery Of the Indian army
proper consists Of II mountain batteries
and one horse battery, besides garrison
artillery.
There are three regiments of sappers
and miners, and seven signal companies
in the engineer corps.
Crack Regiments There.
The British troops in India consist Of
$4,000 infantry, 5000 cavalry and 16, 900
artillery. The famous cavalry regiments
Of England, at present serving in India,
are the First and Seventh Dragon
NNA'' N'S 'idSooi1Sp iiiS
Queens Own, Royal Irish, Thirteenth
and Fourteenth Hussars and the Sew
enteenth and Twenty-first Lancers. The
last named regiment, sometimes known
as the Bengal Lancers. is now called
the Empress of India's.
Eleven batteries of the Royal Horse
Artillery and As batteries Of the Royal
Field Artillery are in India, besides &c
batteries of garrison artillery. 1t is i'm
probable hat these last would be
l ,onJnI ,1r1nc. ~ ,niprrr1n Cpoo& r -;
aims coast defences.
Many Of E~ngland's crack infantry
regiments have battalions in India.
Among them are the Argyll and South
erland ~Highlanders, Berkshire, Border,
Cameron Highlands, Cheshire, Con-
naught Rangers, Dorsetshirc. Dublin
Fusiliers, Durham Light infantry,
Hampshire, Highland Light infantry,
In~niskilling Fusiliers, Irish Fusiliers,
Royal Irish, Irish Rifles, Kent East
CThe Bluffs, Kent West (Queen's
OWN, Kings, Kings own Scottish
Borderers, Kings Royal Rifles, Ian