1940-11-27 — Page 23

THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 27, 1940

Page.

CHINA MAIL The Soldier Of India

WINDSOR HOUSE

NAZI SETBACK

1

In attempting to soy something. about the part now being played

On Duty

Meanwhile, especially when the Empire is at war, the watch on the Frontier must be a heavy rès- ponsibility for the Army in India. To-day Afghanistan, independent and member of the League of No- tions, is a true friend of Great Bri-. thin, but beyond Afghanistan lies

The diplomatic bomb-by the Army in India in this latest war, I know that I shall find many -shell for which Nazi pro- who from personal knowledge can paganda prepared: the underline my sentiments "and" en-- world during the Molotov dorse my appreciation: Australian contacts with India are close. Has

land and disturbed the sleep of the Army in India in holding the Soviet Russia, and Russian intri visit to Berlin has shrunk hot the "waler" been the medium Foreign Secretaries in Simla for rugged fastnesses of that difficult in Afghaniston itself, is a plant of to the adherence of Hun-of introduction of Australian gary, Rumania and Slova-se lovers to the officers and kia

men of the cavalry in India? Aus

to the Tokyo-Axis relian officers have long been Pact; providing a degree conded for service with the In-

khas and the 14th Siths is hon-

several decades.

gues on the Frontier, and indeed terrain has given India à sure long and persistent growth. In the shield against the aggressor. So last war Germany node, pestina successful has this watch and ward cious, attempts to shinko file then been, that I'offont think that Tidia Amir Habibullah of Afghanistan herself-peacefully working out from his save policy of friendship her political salvation ever, the ex- with India: Those attempts panse of a vast, sub-continent ignominiously failed. The story does not reelise its vital Import- cannot be too faithfully remem-.. ance. Such vigilance is not light-bered. The Army in India, which em-ly purchased. Even when the Em- pire is at peace British and Indian soldiers are on active service in the north-west, whether in the torrid

Army Strength

dian Army. Above all, my old of anti-climax which is comrades of Anzac have no need as comforting as it is to be told of the valour of the In- significant, Even dullian Mountain Batteries, the Gur-braces the British units serving witted Germans who be-sured by all who fought alongside By Field-Marshal lieve everything they read them on the Gallipoli penin- Lord Birdwood, in

their State-dictated sula. To-day the Indian Army is

profoundly gratified by the know-G.C.B., G.C.S.I., G.C.M.G, newspapers must puzzle edge that, in this war, the gallant over the precise gain toe of those Gallipoli days is our G.C.V.O., C.I:E., DS.O. the power and might of Germany that has been achieved by a diplomatic flurry terminating in the signatures

siaunch friend.

fierce hent of the Frontier sumin

or in the bitter cold of its snow-

capped hills in the winter.

Keynote Of Service

in

fence, prime preoccupation arises British and Indian officers and In the problem of Frontier de- In this task of defending India, over the situation in that indiepen-men have a wonderful comrade- dent tribal territory-a "no man's ship. It strikes the keynote of land" where there are 500,000 service in the Indian Army, and Aghting men, half of whom

I account at

myself fortunate least are armed with modern rifles. | having, enjoyed its privilege ever Bound together loosely by a com- since as a subaltern from a Brit- mon Pathan blood, these tribes-tish Cavalry Regiment I entered how strongly the Imperial am- peacetime, has for its main func-men are split up into clans which the 11th Bengal Lancers, now the

itions of the Czars were rising in tion the 'défence. of India against ccpted leader.

ove no allegiance to any one at-5th King Edward's Own Probyn's Their problem is Horse, well over 50 years ago. My of three al- the breast of Stalin, my mind was outside aggression: Misunder- 'mainly economic. The country family's close associatien with

ready completely subser- vient States to Hitler's line-up against the vil- lainous British.

The conclusion to be drawn fairly leaps out of the procession of events. It is, of course, that M Molotov's, trip to Berlin, was a dismal failure from the German viewpoint, and that Ribbentrop had to do some quick thinking to show anything at all.

in that country and the Indian When I read of the Russian In-Army, with strengths respectively vasion of Finland and could see of about 50,000 and 150,000

P

have their headquarters. to the north of that river. This obvious-

ly shows that the chief duty of the Army is to keep itself in readiness to repel attack on the North-West Frontier. I protection of India

Unruly Tribes

India for nearly 150 years is a matter of great pride to me, cover- ing as 'it does service in the Army as well as in the Civil Service. In writing about the Army I do not discuss politics-a soldier has no politics-but I have never per- mited my military life to cut me: off from study of the Indian ad- ministration. My old colleagues in the Indian Legislature will, I thinle, bear me out in the assertion that I have been a whole-hearted champion of India's advance: to- ward self-government within the Empire which the Indian Army has served to- gallantly-097 če-'. corations were won by that Army in the Great War-and which has, greatly benefited the moral and ryaterial progress of India. The co- eneration of British and Indians in the Civil Services has been as splendid as that in the Army, it- self and has made notüble' contri- butions, to the consolidation of In-. dian policy, for the good of the. many peoples of that country.

Were there any doubt about the setback, it

An Indian Mountain Regiment assembling, a mountain gun. would appear to be re- moved by the sudden in-thrown back to the years just be-standing on this point leads me to breeds faster than it can feel

fore I entered the Indian Army, the map. Of the four Army-Com-them. Fine warriors, they have India: At Her Best terest of Moscow Radio in nearly fifty-five years ago, when mands in India; only one their rough-and-ready codes, of last week's debate 'in the Russia's advance to within mea-

the Southern Command, at honour, but they lack nothing in.

The Army side of Indian life is Bulgarian Parliament, surable distance of the Ind.an Poona-lies south of the Ganges. resolution or ruthlessnessi. The naturally most, indeed I may say sorder created disquietude in Eng-The other three-the Northern at maxim that to be a man one must very, familiar to me. In some ways Emphasis throughout the

have "begot a man and shot: athe. British- officer. in: that Army Murree; the Western at Quaita, man" is characteristic of their seas India..at. her best.. He enjoys. ⚫Soviet version of the pro-

and the Eastern at-Naini Tal--all outlook.

the companionship in war, in ercised to prevent Turkey

sport, in the countryside of Indian ceedings was upon the

comrades, who, by traditloní, tem- pcrament, and family ties re pro-Soviet and the anti-. from becoming involve

bound - whole-heartedly to the... German feelings express-

in hostilities. Which is in-

service of the King-Emperor un- [der the Commander-in-Chief. As teresting: ed during the discussion;

Commander-in-Chief. Imyself I knew how much that meant. and upon the sharp criti- Soviet activities do not against internal trouble were

Drawn from martial classes, most- cism by several Deputies imply a hint to Hitler that primarily required, such an ar-

In handling these unruly tribes y of peasant stock, the men of the Government has a two-fold the Indian Army, are of the finest cf King Boris's visit to aid to Italy against rangement would be irrelevant,

policy. It establishes military posts type which India produces. For Berchtesgaden. Direct re- Greece must go through

linked up with roads in certain them the duty of defending the The North-West Frontier is In- dominating points in the territory, community with the sword is sult, too, apparently, was Yugoslavia instead of dia's vulnerable spol. Her 3,000- and gives the tribesmen the op- paramount. They are no mere cancellation of the pro-ana. Rather is it an mile coast line is protected by the portunity of sharing in the polic swashbucklers, Underlying their posed visit to Berlin of indication of Moscow's Royal Navy, with the young Ro-ing of the country by a system of martial spirit is the thrift and do- the Bulgarian Premier confidence that Yugosla-dian Navy's special duties with allowances. Ortier is thus sant. When the Indian soldier goes and the Foreign Minister, via, with whom Russian frontiers of 3,000 miles the stretch weigh

Of her. land maintained on lines-which do not briservice; whether in wartime or too heavily upon tribal ongarrison duty overseas, the who stayed in Sofia for relations are greatly in- from the Pamirs castward and tribesmen to conduct their own stantial sums of money

turbulency: By thus allowing the marmer in which he remits sub- to his talks with Soviet repre- proved; is better able to south-westward" is mainly guard affairs in their own way it is people at home is an object-lesson take care of herself, es-ed by the gigantle snow curtains hoped to discourage them from in conjugal or alial piety. It ex- pecially now. that the of the Himalayan Mountains adventures into a administrative plains; too, the traditions which territory. The inevitable firebrand | Bring recruits to the Army to the as not only latic fact, triumphs of Greece have Directly to the east is Burina, how crops up, of course, for religion third and fourth generation. has not only flatly. contra stiffened every Balkan ca- responsible for her own affairs. can quickly fan the flame of fand- dicted the German at pital and removed a men- Frontier, where the boundary beraction. Yet the Government re-are Intimate and really healthy There remains the North-West, ticism, and ther pacification has The relations between the officer to be strengthened by- punitive, of the Indian Army and his men tempt to suggest that ace Russia approved Hun southern borders.

from Yugoslavia's ween India and Afghanistan part cognises the need for. davising In themselves they greatly y conciding with the administra economic relief over and above strengthen the tles which bind the gary's accession to the

uve border of British India and subventions to the guardians of people to the Government. They forming with that border between law and order. So plans for im-create friendships which persist Axis-Tokyo Pact (giving Neutralisation of Bul- the Zhob Valley and the Pamirs, proving irrigation facilities in this throughout; a lifetime and even the German Army right garia, Moscow's primary n strip of independent tribal ter- mountainous country are among for many generations. To-day: 1 of passage through Hun aim, is an aid to Greece, vigilance. Before the British came, real peace in no man's land. The the regiment which I first joined ritory, gives continual cause for the measures designed to bring have the honour to be Colonel of gary to Yugoslavia, If an aid to Yugoslavia, and the story of India was one of a ultimate goal is to maite the nd as a subaltern: My son is a serving Hitler so decreed), but an aid to Turkey, and, Karbor Pistons by the ministrative border coincide officer of that regiment. So the tale Khyber or vicinity on to everywhere with the true Fron proceeds. Somehow I feel that it has given Hitler fair

also to the ATthe rich plains of the Puntals and tier, but so long as the, tribesmen continue to proceed; for what- beyond," "Three times in her his feel they must always carry villes ever changes occur, the virility,

sentatives.

.

waters:

recruitment as road guardians mesticity of the yeoman or pea-

warning that an attack on foe Is Stalin betory has India's fate been deter-on their bucks for Immediatè dé- | sense of fair play and chivalrous

Greece through Bulgaria ginning to detect the mined in pitched battle near therence and accept the obligations honour of the Indian soldier must would be regarded by Rus cracking of the Hitler mettle village of Panipat sixty of the blood feud this le topracti play their full part in the develop

miles north of: Dellil-and-cach cabile. The forcible disarmament ment of India's nationhood. They, sia as an unfriendly act. chine, or merely realising time the invader won

of them andladvánico to the Phare"|are alert to-day when India Hears The diplomatic pressure where Russia's

God and Line, as the Frontier is called the call to defend mankind against. The British shuttered up, the would be an operation unjustified oppression and arrogant domiu-

Now, long experieties of fanciully as well as morally. ance.

funda-

of the Soviet has been ex mental interests He?:

north: