BRITAIN'S INDIAN TROOPS.
On the 6th May, Colonel W. Wyndham writes to the New York Herald upon the above subject as follows : Will you- allow me a small space in your coloumns to say a word for the native soldiers of Her Majesty's army in India, who I see treated in yesterdav's Despatch as half savages, and a doubt expressed whether they can stand a European climate. Their fighting powers are contemptously compared Ivy the writer to that of French Zouaves and the Tu»cos. Apart from the ignorance of the man, who seems to suppose Zouave to bw anything but what he really is, a Frenchman, I can not allow the remarks on this Indian army to pass me without a protest. I have had the honour to serve Her Majesty as an officer for many years, eleven of which were served in India, where I was in garrison with Her Majesty's native troops, and I can safely s«'y that a finer body of men for drill, discipline, and fighting qualities I have never seen. The two regiments of eavelry now on the seas on theii way towards AJalta are as fine eavelry as there is in the world. As swordsmen and horsemen they cannot be surpassed, while they are magnticiently mounted and well equipped. I feel sure that the able General Lord Napier of Magdala, who is nominated to command any army England put into the field (should she unhappily have to g* to war) has not only consented to, but has urged the employment of the native army, with whom he has served for nearly forty years, and on whose loyalty and courage he knows he can depend • an-! who I brieve will piove, when led by their European officers, as good troops as any in the world. There need be little fear on the score' of climate. Indian climate alone offers ■ sufficient varieties of temperature to test ; th - f'lidnnuiOH of the soldiers. In the Norih of :l;.- Punj-d) the .soldiers iu the wiuTi'i- ;ii-.! cioih.'d in sheepskin coats \ i!: i'-li the siiiio as they wool i war in winier in Ivirope The w.-.y hi which the id-clothed ship Lascars brave, out ',
the old when they are in European seas, is k f sufficient proof that the' natives can stand .the winter.
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Kumara Times, Issue 566, 20 July 1878, Page 2
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384BRITAIN'S INDIAN TROOPS. Kumara Times, Issue 566, 20 July 1878, Page 2
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