INDIA'S GREATEST WARRIOR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 215, 6 October 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

INDIA'S GREATEST WARRIOR.

THE VOW OF GENERAL SIR PERTAB SINGH.

Of the many Indian princes who, when war broke out, hastened to the aid of Britain with money and troops, the name which stands out as the greatest warrior among them rs that of General Sir Pertab Singh, who has sworn not to die in his lied; until he has avenged the insult which, sixteen years ago, the Germans made him suf. fir.

When the Boxer Rebellion broke our in 1900 General Sir Pertab Singh, who has been fighting for Britain all his life, promptly offered his services an l that of his troops, which included the famous Jodlipur Lancers, dubbed t\v Lord Roberts "the finest cavalry iii Asia," to assist in quelling the rising. The off,or was gratefully accepted, and the Indian Prince hastened to China. When, however, he and his men at • rived before Peking they found General von Waldarsee Jn supreme command. In the arrogant, boorish manner so characteristic of the Hun, General von Waldersoe declined to receive the Indian Prince and his staff on terms of equality, and contemptuously referred to the Indian troops as " coolies " and "niggers".

"THE DAY HAS COME." General Sir Pertatb Singh slid nothing in reply, but he and his staff vowel some day to be avenged, and that is why the general, who is seventy years of age, seeks the fiercest of the fighting at the Front. Already he and his troops have accomplished wondert ;l deeds. "The memory of the Indian soldier is not short," as lijs men, remembering the insult, will tell you, and they smile grimly as they recognise that the day has come for that insult to be wiped out. No one had a. greater admiration lor the lighting qualities of Sir l'ertao Singh than Lord Roberts. "Bobs" and Sir Pertab were the greatest of frends, and the great bond of friendship was sealed when Lord Roberts saved the life of the Indian Prince.

Ono day when "Bobs" was visiting Jodlipur, the capital of Sir Pertab s country, they went out pig-sticking. The horse of the Indian Prince put itfoot in a hole and stumbled, throwing its rider heavily right in front of a. boar which Lord Roberts had previously wounded slightly. "Bobs" tit oiive leapt from his horse and, running to his friend's a : d armed anly with a pigstcking spear, managed to thrust it in a vital part of before the animal had a chance of goring Sir Pertab.

A GREAT RULER. The Indian Prince Ims fought n many of Britain's Indian oampa'gns. One of his earliest recollections was, .is a hoy of thirteen, seenfi; his father set out with Havelock to fight the rebel Sepoys during the great mutiny. Apart, however, from his wonderful ro'-ord as a solder, Sir Pertah has proved himself one of the most enightened of Indian monarohs and a great governor. On several occasions he has visited England, and among the civil decoration v.h 'oh have been bestowed upon him is the hon. degree of Doctor of Laws of Cambridge University.