THE INDIAN ARMY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 316, 1 June 1911, Page 5

THE INDIAN ARMY.

ITS POSSIBLE REDUCTION*. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Received 31, 10.40 p.m. London, May 31. The Times' Simla correspondent reports that there is a possibility of reducing the strength of the native army, the matter being now under discussion, but there is no thought of reducing tiie British garrison. ■ff. The present streneth of tin Indian army is about men. made up as follows:—British regulars 75,000, Indian regulars 15-1,500, British volunteers 35,000, Indian army reserves 22,080. Imperial service troops 21,0(H), local corps 5000, and military police 28,500. The Indian Financial Statement for 1010-11 stated that owing to the anticipated decrease in the opium revenue consequent on the reduction of exports to China and to the necessity of increasing the revenue assigned to Eastern Bengal and Assam, the Government were compelled, for the first time in sixteen, years, to impose new taxation, including increased import duties on silver, tobacco cigars, cigarettes, beer and spirits". With ttiese additional taxes the revenue for 1910-11 was estimated at £75,261.000, and the expenditure at £73,018,700. The net rpremie of the Indian Government from opium, which is a Government monopoly, was in 10009-10 £4,432,000.