INDIA’S WAR EFFORT

Evening Star, Issue 23679, 12 September 1940, Page 2

INDIA’S WAR EFFORT

SHOWING LOYALTY IN A PRACTICAL WAY [By Sirdab Ikiul Alt Shah, in the ‘ Weekly Scotsman.’] At a time like the present, when the arrival of dominion troops in England gives us the happy reminder of the Empire’s solid help to the Mother Country, thoughts must naturally turn to India’s war effort. . That there are certain political problems in that country cannot be ignored, and towards the solution of which, that remarkable Scotsman —Lord Linlithgow, the present Viceroy—is leaving no stone unturned. But local anxiety is allowed in no way to interfere in the whole-hearted Indian effort to win this war. Immediately after the outbreak or the war measures were taken there to encourage recruiting. So great was the response that many thousands were turned away daily to await their turn; and everything is being done to cope with this enormous influx of recruits from the largest reservoir of manpower iu the Empire,, which the Indian population of 333 millions provides. At the moment, however, the Indian troops aro already serving in European theatres of war, in Malaya, Aden, Egypt, and the Middle East. Indian Territorials and men of the Auxiliary Forces to whose regular units eight new battalions have been added, are also serving in India. A_ tremendous increase, too, is effected in the enlargements of the existing Air borco there, for five new auxiliary flights have already been brought into being, with which civil aviation is pulling its weight magnificently. INDIAN SANDHURST. Mechanisatiou of the Indian Army is now in full swing, the Indian Sandhurst is training young Indians in everincreasing numbers. The Royal Indian Marino is now designated as the Royal Indian Navy, whoso role of guarding the shores of India and keeping the sea waters clear of enemy vessels has been noteworthy. In industrial and economic resources, of course, India’s contribution.has no parallel. The War Supply Department is not only able ample to provide for India’s expanding army, but will soon be in a position substantially to supplement the war-time requirements of this country. No better man can be placed at the head of this important activity than my old friend Sir Mohamed Zafirullah Khan, a member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council, who said iu an overseas broadcast: “Our position is that both with regard to men and materials the only limit is the tonnage available throughout the war.” Let us look at certain phases of the Indian output. The Indian jute and its manufactures, such as the sandbags and the like, is easily the greatest output. One thousand million sandbags have already been supplied to England; a sufficient quantity to reach to the moon and back; aiid it has been said with some truth that India’s first duty has been “ to cushion the world against air attacks.” / RAW MATERIALS. Then you have such raw materials as cotton, wool, hides, lac, coir, timber, and other jungle products; to which could be added oil seeds, ground-nuts, and linseed. Of ground-nuts alone the export is one million tons annually. Nor are mineral exports insignificant, over one million tons of manganese is an average yqarly export. There are considerable quantities of mica and chromite, and, of course, there is food stuff such as wheat, barley, tea, and lentils. . To the Royal Commission on Wheat Supplies India supplied over 40 million pounds' worth of various foodstuffs. The Indian industrial activity, too, has been vigorous. In this respect India has not been caught unawares for efforts in this field have been going on for the last 20 years, which made it possible to increase the output by two and a-half times. The cotton industry likewise has been working at a high pressure, and the entire production of woollen mills industry has been taken oyer for military requirements. The growth of India’s textile industry _ is, of course, well known; but the iron and steel industry gives an encouraging index of enhanced effort. In 1913 the put-turn of pig-iron was 204,000 tons, and of steel 63,000 tons. _ For 1938-39 the total production of pig-iron in India was 1,644,000 tons, of steel ingots 922,000 tons, and of finished steel one and a-quarter million tons. GIGANTIC FACTORY OUTPUT. For immediate war needs Indian ordnance factories are now producing quantities which would have been unthinkable a few months ago. A five-million-pound effort in this direction has just been announced, and British ammunition factories are soon to train a largo number of Indian workers in that respect. India is now making rifles, machine guns, small arms ammunition, saddlery, blankets, artillery up to Gin guns, and 6in howitzers; and aeroplanes will also be manufactured there. Army boots for this country are being produced at the rate of 125,000 pairs a month; electric bulbs are being manufactured, castiron piping, paints and varnishes, lowtension insulators, machine tools, raw abrasives and considerable quantities of sulphuric acid aro all those items the output of which has been greatly increased since the war.

And as to her loyalty, people and princes of India—at least those pieople who really matter in the military sense -—the Muslims—are whofbheartedly cooperating with the authorities. “ 1 have faith in the righteousness of our Cause and the valiant traditions of the Indians in my provinces,” said Sir Sikander Hayct Khan, the Muslim Prime Minister of the Punjab. “In this war Indians will not be called upon to fight the Imperialist battles of Great Britain; it is her own safety she must assure. . . . Great Britain has continuously and strenuously endeavoured to avoid the calamity of the world war.” PRACTICAL LOYALTY.

His Exalted Highness the Nizam gave a clarion call to the people of India to do everything in their power to assist the British Government. His loyalty ho proved in a practical way by devoting a hundred thousand pounds towards an air squadron, and ho gave further financial help for its upkeep. His Highness the Aga Khan called upon the people to give “ unstinted service to the cause for which Great Britain fights,” and also placed his own services, as in 1914, entirely at the Government’s disposal. The Indian Muslim League, through its distinguished president, again and again assured the Viceroy of the cooperation and solid help of all Indian Muslims, and a large number of Indian Muslim troops have already distinguished themselves in France during this war. The Indian seamen whose ships have boon sunk and they themselves have been machine-gunned told

tne, whilst in English war hospitals, how very proud they were to serve. It should, therefore be taken as an authenticated and an honourable privilege of Indians to be actively engaged in all war efforts, both in this country and India. How true is this feeling for help can he judged by a conversation which I have had with a repatriated Indian las car, who was landed at Glasgow. “I am pleased to be in the country of peace,” he said to me, moving his Ups in his bandaged face, for he had been machine-gunned; “but lam not going back to sea this time. lam going to become a soldier, so that I can kill Germans—all Germans—who are against God and man.” India is heart and soul in this fight against evil forces, and convinced of victory; and she will not lag behind in war effort, in providing men and materials. ~,,,, , , She will as proudly hold her head as she did during the Great War; and do not forget that her sons are here in this country to fight shoulder to shoulder with our members of the British Empire—for Britain’s destiny is India’s destiny, Britain's cause her cause.