The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1914 OUR COLORED BRETHREN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 83, 3 September 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1914 OUR COLORED BRETHREN.

The decision of the Home Government to employ two divisions of her Indian Army in the deadly war she is now waging against Germany lias given great satisfaction in that part of the British Empire. A wave of British loyalty is, the cables tell us, sweeping over the country, which is enthusiastically making preparations for the war. Britain, as Lord Kitchener has pointed out, could not continue to refuse the magnificent and patriotic offers of assistance from her loyal Indian subjects, even if she were able to do without their help. As a matter of fact, Britain is desperately in need of the support of her Indian troops. She is fighting for her very existence as a world power and with totally inadequate military forces. She has made the mistake in the paet of only keeping by her for immediate use a mere handful of soldiers, as compared with the forces at the disposal of the other European Powers, and however efficient and courageous those troops are—and they have already abundantly shown l>oth their efficiency and courage —they are unable to offer that resistance against the mighty hosts of the enemies that larger forces undoubtedly would. It is just now that Britain is realising her mistake. Certainly she is doing her best to repair it by fashioning armies out of the many volunteers offering, but it is now, at this veTy moment, that the trained men are required. Half-a-million efficient Britishers, instead of the two hundred thousand already in France, would be moro valuable now than thrice that number three months hence. Still, we have to make the best of the means at our disposal, and, thank goodness, we are doing that in a way that accords with the glorious traditions of the race. There can be no exception taken to the employment of Indians or even our own Maoris. Neither could be more brutal than or inhuman as the "Red Indians of Europe," the so-called civilised and enlightened Germans, who are murdering inoffensive women and children, bavonctting incombatants and wounded soldiers, sucking ancient towns and destroying their priceless possessions. Better soldiers than the Sikhs, the Gurkas, Pathans and other tribesmen there are not in the whole world. Two divisions of these men should be a welcome addition to the Allied forccß. The English forces in India number 75,800 of all ranks, while the establishment of the Native Army is 2751 officers and 1G1,085 other ranks. There are 35,700 reservists. Besides these there are about 20,000 troops organised 'by Indian princes, called the Imperial Service troops, who arc quite efficient. The Indian troops havo previously served with marked success in China, Burma, and alse in somo ef the African little wars. As for the Maoris, they always were a martial race, and properly trained and led they would not be one whit behind the Algerians the French are at present employing. The Maoris are very eager to serve, and it would be a great pity if they were prevented from taking a part in defending the Empire at this critical period of its history. Happily the Government has decided to give ihem the opportunity.