INDIA AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2267, 29 September 1914, Page 6

INDIA AND THE WAR

READY TO FIGHT FOR EMPIRE In viow; of the fact that Bengal is that part of India where thero has been I most unrest and agitation against British rule, the opinions of the native Press are extremely intorestintr. The "Bengalee" wrote on August ': — "Behind the serried ranks of one- of the finest armies the world there are the multitudinous peoples ' of-India, ready to co-oporate with the Government in the defence of tho Empire, which, for them, means, in its ultimate evolution; the complete recognition of their rights' as citizens of the finest State in the world. Wo may have our differences with the Government—and what people have not—but in tho vresenco of a common enemv, bo it Germany or any other Power, we sink our d'fferences," we forget out little quarrels, and close our ranks and offer all that we possess, in defenco of the great Empire to which we are all so proud to belong, end with which the future prosperity and advancement of our people aro bound up. India lias always been loyal in trio hour of danger. In tlie dark days of the Indian Mutiny Lord Canning observed in a communication to the Maharaja of Krshnagar that if tho rebels could be counted by hundreds the loyal people could bo reckoned by millions. In lgSy, when, after the . Panjdeh incident, England was oh tlie brink of a war with Russia, our ; young men offered themselves in their hundreds to be enrolled as'volun-t»-ers for the defence of the Empire. The same spirit animates us. now. In the hour of danger we stand by the sido of England, in defence of the interests, tlie honour,'-and the glory of the Empire.- Ours is a loyalty which has its roots deen in our hearts; but it is a reasonecl loyalty, which recognises, that with the stability and the greatness of the Empire is associated the fruition of our ideal of self-govern-ment. We, therefore, desire to ossure His Excellency the Viceroy of the whole-heartedly loyalty of our-people, ant! of their earnest desire that, should the emergency unhappily occur, tbey may-bo permitted . tho opportunity of practically demonstrating their .' devotion to tho British connection and tho interests of the Empire. On this and other similar views the "Calcutta Statesman" wrote: —"The comments of the Bengali Press on the war are worthy of note. They show that the.unanimity of all parties in the United Kingdom is fairly matched by the union of all in India. The Bengali community, as represented in the Press, stands side !}y side-with the British hi the presence of'a common danger, and is a3, ready.and willing as any political party at :Home to. sink controversial differences? It is one of the compensations of war that.it brings men nnd notions who are ranged on the eame side to a better understanding of each other, and this compensation will not bo lacking in Bengal.. Tlie spirit manifested by the Bengali Press will be remembered and appreciated lons lifter the present troubles are over."