El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-09-08
ENGLAND To USE
TROOPS Of INDIA
VIII Have Them Play an
Important Part in War
Against Germany.
BY HERRERT TEMPLE.

London, Eng. Sept. S.-The throw
ing by England of thousands OF her
indian fighters into France to combat
Germany and the importation Of
French African troops into the field,
have given amazing aspect to the in
ternational war. Germany now is Op-
posing English, French. Belgians, Rus
SLAMS, Hindus and Africans.
The remarkably short time after the
beginning Of war in which the BRUSH
indian troops We're seen crossing can
ada from the Pacific to the Atlantic
aslonlshed the Germans. It indicated
Ihat the Asiatic soldiers were on their
way about the same instant that war
was formally declared by Great Brit
ain.
India Can send 23s,OOO.
England, if necessary, can pour into
France from India, 2SS,OOO trained
men, of which $4,000 are trained Brit
lsh troops, including some Of the crack
regiments Of the royal army, the re-
mainder being native Indian soldiers
1T comrades on the tlrinS line OF
Frances RurcOs and Spahis-
According TO the official figures
the strength OF the Indian army al
ready on its way to the front, is, in
fantry, 122, 600; cavalry, $4,000; artll-
lery, 10000 engineers, etc, 5000.
The main strength Of the Indian
army is its infantry. Brahmans, Raj
puts, Jats, Sikhs. Punjabis, DOgras,
Mahrattas and Ghurkas, Of all castles
and several religions, MOhammedan.
Hindu. Buddhist. all are warriors who
viii lay down their lives for the Brit
ish and the dark skinned regiments OF
the Indian army are a fighting force
hard to stop.
Though all arrangements for offense
ard defence in the present great war
have been kept profoundly secret II
is probable that the order to bring
mt
given without long and careful
thought on the part of the war office
India Open to Attack.
To take the army out Of India would
be TO leave that vast empire open to
attack from without and mutiny from
within. There is always talk OF up
risings in India 1t was finally de-
cided. though, that there was no i'm
mediate prospect of internal trouble
In India, and the lineup OF the allies
made IL improbable that any foreign
eJJack would have TO be resisted With
Germany as England's only enemy and
the kaiser pretty much occupied at
home and in China with defending the
Farherland- ii was deemed almost a
certainty that nothing could occur IN
India that would require the presence
Of troops there
Among the most interesting as well
as the most formidable fighting out
fits III the Indian army are the Gnur-
kus- There are ten regiments OF the
Ghurka rifles. These little fighters
who come from the region of Nepal
and trace their descent from the Raj
puts, would rather fight than eat In
appearance they are deceiving- They
are short, stocky little men, Of some
what the appearance Of the Japanese,
only a bit heavier They wear per
petual grins on their faces and the
grins do not come off when they 80
into a fight.
Natives Conquered in 1874
1919 by the British after years OF
fighting and have become loyal sub
Jects of England When the Ghurka
regiments were first made a part Of
the Indian army. they did not seem
to take well TO organized methods OF
warfare. It was not unsu the army
authorities allowed them 20 make
their national weapon, the kukri.
equipment that the Ghurkas regained
their prestige as fighters Their in
structOrs never could make them use
the bayOnet
In close quarters the Ghurka throws
away his rifle and takes TO his knife.
which he uses with telling effect.
When charged by cavalry the Ghur-
kas stand up and fire at the hOrsemen
until they come within close range.
Then the natives drop to the ground.
As the cavalry passes over them, the
little Indians are up and buslly n
work ham stringing the horses and
clinging TO stirrups. stabbing the
riders
This method OF fighting is not IN
like that Of the French TurcOs. who
also play 'possum' when charged by
a heavier enemy. The Ghurkas. like
the Scotch Highlanders. use bag pipes
and they carry their pipes with them
when they go into battle
Ghurkas Are Formidable.
If the German infantrymen come in
contact with the Ghurkas. il is likely |
they viii receive the surprise Of their !
lives. for the Indians do not fight like |
European troops. Once they are
launched on a charge they do not stop
until they come to grips with the /
enemy No matter how many fall, the /
survivors do not retreat
In contrast to the little Ghurkas are /
the Sikhs and the Pathans. who are i
big men. of more than ordinary size |
They too, are brave fighters, but they /
have taken to the methods Of modern /
warfare
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