Evening star., 1947-02-23
Free India to Face
Security Problem
Civil War Would Tear Apart
Native Army Built by British
By George Fielding Eliot


One of the many serious problems
which will face whatever responsible
Indian government" takes over power in
the great Indian subcontinent next year
will be the question of military security.
During the 80 years that have elapsed
since the British crown in 1858 took over
the rule of India from the East India
Co., the Indian Army. has been sepa-
rate and distinct military establishment.
It has had three principal missions; The
defense of the northwest frontier, where
India faces Afghanistan and beyond that
Russia the provision from time to time
as necessity arose Of expeditionary
forces for use chiefly in the Indian
Ocean area and the Middle East, and
the maintenance of internal security.
For most of the 90-year period re-
ferred to, the strength of the Indian
Army was kept at a level of about rs 900
British troops to 10000 Indian troops,
officered by Britons. The native troops
were drawn from the so-called martial
races (SikhS, Mahrattas, Rajputs, Jats,
Punjabi, Moslems, Dogras and some 9TH
ers) with proportion of hired Gurkha
soldiers from Nepal, who are not Indians
at ALL This strength was sufficient to
provide the necessary frontier force and
interior garrisons, and still have four or
five expeditionary divisions available
when required.
| Naturally it was assumed that in case
| of any attack On the northwest frontier
by a major power-which could be Rus
sia, or Germany coming through Rus
sian territory-the Indian Army could
be reinforced by sea, which it was as
sumed would always be kept open by the
British feet.
This system served we'll enough up
to and through World War I, and the
Indian contribution to victory in that
war was very great one.
| + * X
After that war steps were undertaken
for the gradual Inflammation" of many
units-that is, the replacing of British
officers by Indian officers. Also the
proportion Of Indian troops to British
was considerably increased, rising from
to to about AZ to l. When World
War II came along, recruiting was for
the first time extended beyond the mar
tial races, to include all elements of the
population. Some 100000 Indian SOL
diers were enlisted-all volunteers-and
many of them served with great distinc-
ton in the Southeast Asia theater in
Africa and Italy. Moreover the military
production of Indian industry was built
up-for example, India became the prin-
cipal empire source of sman-arms am
munition. All these changes represent
ed new departures.
makes ready to take over, must consider
how 1t is to forge out Of its military
assets a sound and dependable system
of national security. The new army
the army of World War II-cannot be
said as a whole to have inherited the
stern traditions and unwavering sense
of loyalty to the RAJ" which distin-
guished the old, small, tightly organized
Indian Army. Many of the old regi-
ments still exist, but the men in them
represent cross-sections Of the popula-
ton and are affected by the communal
strife which is tearing the country apart.
1t would, for example, be too much to
expect Moslem soldiers to continue serv-
ing the new government in some dis
tant part of the country when they
heard that at home their friends and
relations were being massacred by Hindu
mobs-and vice versa. There is no as
surance whatever that the new govern
ment can command the loyalty of any
large part of the wartime army or that
the army will not simply dissolve in the
confusion and bloodshed Of a communal
civil war; yet without an army the gov
ernment cannot maintain order. The
government might continue to hire
Gurkha troops from Nepal-but it would
hardly acquire popularity by so doing
A return to the martial race" policy
could never be reconciled with the ex-
pressed principles of the Congress
party, which is sure to have COM
ment
But there is one element in this diff
cult situation which, as far as the
maintenance Of internal security Is con-
cerned, may be Of very great impor-
tance. The Indian princes are still in
possession of great wealth and Of con-
siderable military strength. The prince
ly states are not, Mr.. Attlee tells us, to
be compelled to accept the new Indian
government as their paramount over
lord in place Of the British crown. APP
parentIy. as far as the British are con-
cerned, they will be left virtually as in
dependent principalities subject to such
/ direct negotiations as to their status as
may take place between the princes
! themselves and the new government.
| The Congress Party, of course, would
like to put an end to what it regards as
outworn feudalistic despotism, and in
corporate the whole of the states with
the rest of India. The fear has been
expressed by some Of the princes that
an attempt might be made to do this by
force
But If civil war comes to India, the
new government may not have the
force to constrain the princely states.
Indeed, it is quite possible that the only
dependable elements of military power
in all India will be the private armies Of
| the princes themselves-the Indian
states forces, numbering some 10000
| during the war and 10000 today; we'll
trained, well equipped, largely veterans
of the war and devoted with feudal
loyalty to the persons of their sover-
eigns-and drawn, moreover, almost