New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-04
I'll. British Upper House
He Opposed Advance
by Nixon
o..o,,nts Sacrifices
By Indian People
r,.yiceroy Regrets Posi-
n. Effect of Revelations
IN Eastern Subjects

Ian July S.--There was an un-
= rene in the House Of Lords this
. ,n.noon when Baron Hardinse' the
~, yjceroy Of India, appeared to
.,..s and explain his share in the
..uent Of the first Mesopotamia
s,ion. which eliminated in the
" DER o. Major General Townshend
"~.JAmara with the largest Brit
y ~. which had laid down arms
a ~ an enemy in more than a cen
H1. ...;rod IN N. re-
mort of the commission on the
", 'a' expedition, and the
$500, contained therein, created a
80 sensation in Great Britain than
,;nilsr episode since the Crimean
~, and q part Of the press has been
'.n,,s for the impeachment or the
S,-I,s.l from public office Of all con-
..-,d. including Baron Hardinge' who
..v Permanent Under Secretary Of
4. Foreign Office.
r.,d Hardinge began with an express
"a, 0, regret thst the commission 40
=. include an eminent lawyer accas-
..r,d TO weigh evidence, and that all
.u;d.,cs tsken could not be pub
li;h.d. ,,.o,. Dofcnce
...r a detailed review Of the man
,,rmsnt Of the expedition, he said;
The viceroy is theoretically respon-
,;y. for everything that happens IN
Irsi. and outside of India where IND
;.r interests are affected. But he has
:. ,,r,. 70 his lieutenants and advisers
tor information and guidance. have
~ desire 10 shirk any responsibility
TIA. is my due, but it is Tot easy 10
law what further strenuous and per-
,u,.orv action could have taken with
Az, exposing myself to the charge OF
,v.s,,iys civilian interference in mill
,ary affairs. ,..,;., roro
rojng badly. The official reports salo
lev we're going well. II was my hISt
iuty 10 ascertain the truth. II may De
EE.ult for people in England 20 re-
~. the inherent difficulties IN per.
sorsl supervision by the Niceroy OF
rrsdieal arrangements on river 3,OOO
niles away in the midst Of his other
boavv lsbors OF governing country
bigger than Europe and with more than
sO0.0O0OOO Inhabitants
India's Great Effort
He expressed regret that the com
MISSIONS report might create feeling
IN India that midas efforts and sacrl-
fees had not been adequately apprecl-
i,ed az home. The report scarcely re-
!srred 70 the greatest military effort
ever made in midas history IN dis
patching expeditions to France, Egypt
and East Africa, so that the military
equipment and stores were almost eX-
.susted before the Mesopotamla cam
ysign was considered
He pointed out that the commission
saGer Field Marshal Baron Nicholson,
which investigated the Indian army IN
1918. recommended the maintenance OF
seven and one-third divisions OF IN
isrtry, and FIVE cavalry brigades with
reserves, and that within six months
after the war India had modified ten
infantry divisions and had sent seven
overseas, and eight cavalry brigades,
o. which six went 20 France.
India had also supplied immense
stores OF ammunition and equipment
70 n. home government. AS result
lrdia's own needs became pressing
when the Mesopotamia operations be-
Gan, but insistent demands upon the
Va, Office for troops, machine guns
and other material met with refusal
o. sesnty supplies, owing 70 the great
81 need in France.
A, the same time, Lord Hardinge
nid, the Indian government at the
nos. critical period Of the war sue
tsss!ully carried out the greatest mill
uy operations since the frontier
,snpsign Of 1897 in effectively dealing
VII seven serious attacks by tribes
zen on the northwest frontier.
Unpublished Letters Read
Dealing with the circumstances OF
General Sir John Nixon's advance from
~, toward Bagdsd with an insult
Silent force, Lord Hardinge said that
il,hough the government o. India was
lilly alive 10 ne political and military
ssysntages Of the capture Of Bagdad
vas absolutely opposed 20 an adj
'y,IInum SenIcs al Minimum C0SD