"THE LAYING OF THE RUSSIAN BOGEY."

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 8 June 1901, Page 4

"THE LAYING OF THE RUSSIAN BOGEY."

By an Officer at the Front.

There is one aspect of this war in China - -unique in so many ways—which may have esciiped the casual observer, but which is perfectly patent to any one associated with the troops from India.

The importance and far-reaching results ot' this point, namely, the influence of the Chinese war on the native troops, and through them on India, can only be sketched in roughly.

It is very plain that the native of India —especially the bettor educated rajah and native gentleman —when he came to China, kept his eyes open in order to compare the various European nations, and he has since written his impression to the vernacular newspapers and to his home.

It should be prefaced that the native of India appreciates immensely the presence or absence of any good arrangements made for his general well-being, food, clothing arid transport. Ho has, like mo3t people, an enormou3 respect for the Japanese. But, coupled to this, is a feeling of prido that a felbw Asiatic nation can rank with the greatest European Powers ; and a half born idea that India might rise to similar heights clay. He has the greatest contempt for the arrangements of the Germans, Italians, and French. On the other hand, he admires the undoubtedly fine physique and smartness of the German soldiers, who have been specially picked for this war in China.

The French have done their prestige a great deal of harm by sending the pale i'aced, fevcr-r dden weaklings from Tonkin. Their total absence, of smartness, or even uniformity in dress, their slouching, habits, and their lawlessness are a disgrace to a great nation like France.

. Natives, perhaps naturally, judge by what, they sec, and. disparaging remarks on the French army as a whole, judged from 'a small part only, arc heard on all sides.

. .The native admires the Americans for their excellent commissariat and transport, and. for a quiet sense of power -which is noticeablo in the American soldier. I have left the most important point, the natives opinion of Russia, to tho end.

He sees an absolute lack of all arrangements for the soldier's comfort in the French and Italian armies ; but especially is this the case with the Russians. At the erid of a long march he sees them foraging among the villagos near, picking up a fowl here and there or even a sheep or goat, and digging up sweet potatoes, etc., to add to their meagre fare.

For himself, he sees that, on arrival in camp, his ration of flour, meat or vegetables, or what not, is ready for issue, that when the weather gets colder he is supplied with ample clothing for himself and his horse ; and he draws his own conclusions as to which nation he would prefer to rule over him.

He sees actual cases, and hears of numberless others, of rape, or murder in cold blood of harmless and terrified coolies, by the Russian soldiery. He asks himself "Is" this the great nation of whom I have heard so much, and whose possible attacks on the Indian frontier even the Sirkar is afraid of ? This nation of semi-barbarians, whose soldiers perpetrate atrocities without number, and does not even take trouble to look after thoir comfort! Who cannot supply transport for a small force operating against an insignificant enemy, and separated by only a few hundred miles of flat country and sea from an enormous depot—Port Arthur." And if there was ever any doubt in his mind as to whose yoke he would prefer, it is laid *to rest for ever.

Thus, we may fairly say that the Russian bogey on the Indian frontier lias been " laid " by the Chinese war of 1900.