The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-28
INDIAN ARMY CORPS
TAKEN FROM FRANCE
Destination Of $4,000 Troops
Is Withheld by the
British.
KING PRAISES FORCE
Special Gable pe.posch to n, sus,

rpcCEut tOOfC Deap0tCn 10 I'M SUN.
LONDON. Dec. 27.-The oficial press
bureau let It be known to-day that an
army corps composed OF Indian troop
has left France. Its destination has not
been announced.
There is mush speculation in military
circles here as to the destination OF the
Indian Army Corps. The possibilities
Of Their new field Of action touch upon
three points-Salonica, Egypt and Meso-
potamia. The latter Is deemed to be
the more probable field for them. and
Il ls believed that they may be sent to
reinforce Gen. T~ownshend's army, now
apparently In a critical situation on the
Tigris.
Before the departure Of these $1,000
men for n new field Of action" after
having fought the Germans for more
than a ear on the A~nsio-French front,
the Prince OF Wales del .vered to them
a message from the King. thanking
them for their gallant services. The
Kings message was:
More than a year ago I summoned
you from India to night for the safety
Of my empire and the honor OF my
pledged word or the battlefelds OF Bel
gium and France. The confidence which
l then expressed In your sense of duty,
your courage and your chivalry you
since ave nobly Justified.
II now require your services In another
field Of action. but before you leave
France I send my dear, gallant son, the
Primo Of Wales. who has shared with
my armies the danger and hardships OF
the campaign. to thank 80 In my name
for your services and to express to you
my satisfaction.
Indian Troops Praised.
British Indian comrades in arms,
yours has been fellowship In tolls, hard
ships. courage and endurance. often
against great odds. in deeds nobly done
In days of ever memorable conflict. In
the warfare waged under new conditions
n In peculiarly trying circumstances
you have worthily upheld the honor of
the empire and the great traditions OF my
army In India.
II have followed your fortunes with
the deepes, interest and watched o
gallant actions with pride and satisfsc-
ton. and ! mourn with the loss OF
many gallant officers and men. Let II
be your consolation. as their pride. that
they freely CAV their lives in a just
q use TOT the nOnor o! tnelr sovereign
and the safety of my empire. They
died gallant soldiers and I shall ever
hold their sacrifice In grateful remem-
branoe.
You leave France with Just pride in
honorable deeds already achieved and
with my assured confidence that your
valor and experience will con-
tribute to further victories IN the new
fields OF action TO which YOU go.
Il pray God TO bless aud guard you
and bring you back safely when final
victory IL won. each TO his own home,
there TO be welcomed with honor among
his own people"
Early In September. 1914. the British
Government admitted that indian troops
were in France. one Cabinet official
called them 'the unknown factor which
the situation at the front. Al
that time there were 1000 Indian
there two divisions OF Infantry
arrived, and in November twelve trans
ports arrived at Marseilles. bringing
cavalry. who were anxious
to join the British infantry against the
A despatch from Delhi, via London.
January 10. 1915. said that Lord
Hardinge, Niceroy OF Egypt. had stated
AZ the opening of the Nice-Regai Coun-
ell that 100000 Indian troops were n,
the front. distributed in France. Egypt,
East Africa and along the Persian Gulf.