The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-12
DEEPLY IMPRESSED
BY WAR LESSONS
Indian Soldiers Have Seen Much During
Their Stay at the War Zone, Which
They Will Take Back to
Their Native Land.


Montague Butler, deputy commission, OF
chief officer, of the Attock district, whose
headquarters are here at Campbellpur
The Associated Press correspondent has
received interesting information of the
manner in which the war in Europe may
influence the vast number of simple agri-
c,ilturists who live in such remote dis.
tricts as this, on the frontier of the
Punjab facing the Indus. This district
Is of special Importance since it has
formed and is still forming one of the
main recruiting grounds for the Indian
army. As to what will happen when
these Indian soldiers return to their ma
| tive land, Commissioner Butler said:
II think that to a certain extent the
unknown about the European will have
been dissipated. The Indian soldier has
| learned that we Europeans have our
bad men and women just as Indians
have. But | have never believed in the
'magnifcence which depends on gno-
rance. The knowledge of our failings
will make ms seem more human, and
that il all to the good in bringing the
two races together.
"Then the Indian soldier has been pro-
fouudly touched by the care layished on
him in hospitals when wounded. ! no
ticed this when going round big In
dian hospital at certain base in France
and in several of the hospitals in Eng
land. as well as in India. The wound
ed men in the village in this district
tell the same story That fact is going
to bear fruit hundredfold long after
4 l. l..
"A similar impression has been made
by the, activities of the various funds
for sending out comforts to soldiers and
followers in the field Here in Attock
we are affiliated to the fund controlled
by Lady 0'Dwyer, the wife OF our lieu
tenant governor. Indian gentlemen con
stantly bring me gifts which are sent of
by me to Lady O'Dwyer, and are by her
transmitted to various corps and units
in Mesopotamia and elsewhere. This
system does good in two directions
First, Lady 0'Dwyer writes letter OF
thanks to each donor. She does not
leave it to her secretary to present her
compliments, nor does she send type
written, stereotyped document She
writes in her own hand how pleased she
is and where the gifts are going This
human touch draws closer the donors.
And, secondly, the recipients in the
trenches are grateful. Soldiers On leave
have told how touched they were not TO
be forgotten. Those who have received |
from England any of Princess Mary's |
simple gifts displayed them proudly on
their return and cherished them as heir
looms
Il think, also, that we are going to
see a good many indirect results OF the
great upheaval The soldier, who has
been away from his home for two years
or so, has had brought home to him the
value of being able to read and write
letters. He will want his sons to 90 TO
school more than he used to do. Then
all who have been 20 France have been
amazed at the crops there. The men
spoke to me of this in France, as we'll
they might. They were very happy in
France, you know, and speak highly OF
our French allies. l believe we shall
find an increased readiness after the
war TO take up scientific agriculture.
The deputy commissioner was asked
what expectations the fighting men had
formed as to their position after the
war.
THAT again" he said, lis not an easy
question TO answer. The bulk OF the
men took to material benefits in the I
way of grants of land, assignments OF
and revenue, good pensions and the
ike. A good many of them hope the
government will be more ready to
lelp financially in opening up their
ZONES with roads and in erecting schools
or their children. Most would be graft
led by the creation OF territorial sec
md line army to be Offered in the main
" Indians. Nearly all would resent a
ecision which rewarded only the edu-
ated non-hghting classes with so-called
,oltical concessions
Mr.. Butler had no mlsgivlngs about :
he contentment OF the people OF this
district under British rule. II they
we're not eontented. why did they en-
st so freelyl While this point was be-
NJ discussed, an ancient Indian gentle
nan was ushered in. He was NOLAN.
ledan. a Pathan. He was nearly blind.
Mt otherwise was hale enough. lie
laimed to be six score years old, which
fas an exaggeration. the deputy COM \
lission said. though there was no ques
ION that he was well over ninety. The 81
han was very voluble about the pre- d
british DAYS before 1876, when as o
Dung man he had been bsrrled by the
ikhs over the Indus into the mountains. Z
j remember he said, when We Mo-
smmedsns could not pray IN our :,
'osque for the sikh persecution. In ny
illaCe there were three OF four poor q
els. and the country was waste. Nov
ierc are two or three hundred wells, and 81
ne cannot 6nd an uncultivated spot
nywhere. II was Nikalsein ssbib who y
srted the change
IA rrfrr-r-f A. a. -~~rsf General Nuhu a.