Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-06
.DUSkY INDIAN SOLDIERS
NEVER-END|NC SURPRISE
Their Picturesqueness Breaks Mo-
notony OF Grim, ColorlcSs Bust
ness of Modern War.
CoNTENIPTUoUs OF SHE'LL FIRE
Rainy Weather and Miry Mud of
Northern France Their Worst En-
emy-Cavalrymen With Precision
They'd Show Mt Royal Review.

| Frederick Palmer. ut tho front in
France for the Associated Press, sends
! tho following:
BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE tvfa London) March 5.-The
piciurcsqueness of the Indian troops Of
the British empire breaks the mo-
notony of the grim, colorless business
of modern war at the British front
The little mule carts of these soldiers
move about among the powerful motor
trucks from England
III was first feared that the Indians
might not stand shell fire we'll, hut they
became used to 1t, and now they are
even contcmptuous of II. Accustomed
to hot and dry climate, the chill and
rainy weather ana the miry mud Of
Northern France has been their worst
enemy. When the sun shines a smile
spreads over the whole Indian force
THANKS to many layers of warm cloth
ing and careful attention. the sick re-
port OF the Indian troops is normal
All the food of these men has To be
brought from India. Speaking no word
of English, these dusky strangers have
come from the other side Of the world
TO tight In Franco for Great Britain
Bilietcd In barns. with thick layers
OF straw for their beds. each race coolt-
! Ing its food to its taste and according
TO It's caste customs. they form n scpa-
rate world OF never ccaslng wonder to
the French inhabitants
SOMETIMES SEE FACES
OF ENGLISII OFFICERS
This morning there were seen 5000
caralrymen riding by on a muddy road
with II background OF fiat and misty
sionaliy among the dusky faces under
the turbans there were the white
landscape, with all tho precision they
would show at n royal review. Occa-
countenances of the English officers
who had trained these varied tribes
and who have stood with them in tho
trenches In icy water up TO their waists
against the enemy.
Sir Pcrtab Singh, seventy-two years
old. rode ut the head of his regiment.
they told me l was too old" he
SAID but replied, If you will not let
me fight in France, | will 20 to AZ
Ehanstan and fight there don't
mean To die In bed. and / can't live
much longer. So they let me come"
Although all the cavalry Is fighting
as infantry in the trenches, cavalry
officers keep up their cavalry drills, and
the horses are in condition. This Is
I because there may be chance for
the cavalry when the expected German
break comes. Everybody on the line
speaks of the Germans going back, as
II this was AS certain as the coming
Of spring.
ono meets here Englishmen. irish
men and Scotchmcn from every par; of
the world, ready to serve in any mental
capacity in order to help
LOADS TRAIN WITH WOUNDED
RIGHT WHERE SHELLS FALL
NOW, YOU take this message 10 all
my Irish friends in America for me"
said an elderly Irish medical officer In
charge of a hospital train. Tell them
have been sleeping on that car seat
SIN weeks. with tho harp alongside of
me and the Union Jack over my head.
IL was n fine time we had when they
LEI me load my train with wounded
right where the shells were falling.
| pul thtN 30 not permit that any more"
In the outskirts of village. where
German shells fall at intervals, there
We're seen infantry dctachmcnts prac-
ticing at hand grenade attacks and I'm
me defense OF trenches. Nobody wor-
rled about the danger from German
| shells, while they rent the air with
thcir own explosions of bombs thrown
AT close quarters
~ another place. the corrcspo ndcnts
chtere" II building which seemed neither
hosnitahlc nor wholly Y. NJ. C. A. TIN.
reason that the location Of this and
many other places is not given is he
cause no German acroplanc bombs are
wanted. In this particular building
inch "vereXhnustcd from their vigil
IN me trenches, remove their filthy
r'otnes' get warm baths and disin-
! iec,inS spray, ana have u warm meal.
! including bread pudding with raisins
OF Iufrithts IN 1t, OF which they are
extremely fond There arc also clean
co.'s where they turn in. and reading
| room win games. Here no one rs kept
| longer than fourteen days. II In that
'imc thcy hay" not sufficiently recoy-
| crcd from u" "XhaustinE demands OF
| the trenches 10 return to the front.
ihey are sent back TO tho base
FEW EVER HESITATE:
TO FACE EXISTING HORROR
Doesn't soma mallngcrer." asked.
ever hesitate 10 face the horror OF
the treDchcAg
occasionaily there is one" was tho
answer That's human nature. We
are amazed at how few. When we'll
"houEh the average man goes. He
says II" VIII play the game You will
! soon Know what he is going to do"
bciorc leaving TIA" convalcscent home
ne correspondents were given each nm
identification metal disc with his name
on IT, IT is best to have one" was
me r"hiaEh YOU are going into the
trenches Tomorrow"