INDIANS IN ACTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 164, 17 December 1914, Page 7

INDIANS IN ACTION.

TRADITIONS UPHELD. TERRIFIC BAYOXET CHARGE. , Tlie Indian troops behaved with their traditional bravery when they received their baptism of lire in the European War. The battle for the Straits of Dover lias not been without its anxious periods, and Mr W. T Massey, in the London Daily Telegraph, mentions as an illustrationv.as that there was an hour or two of trouble, not verv far from La Basee. but what looked like a reverse for British arms was turned into almost the complete annihilation of the vast attacking force of Hermans. Air Massey continue;;:—"The German., •were pressing our front strongly. 'The trenches round La I'assee were heavily .shelled, but so, too, were the lines running northward in and out of the dis_ trict covered by miners' cottages and small, well-kept homesteads. There was nothing to indicate that the enemy .intended to rush and particular part, although the massing of many brigades behind the artillery positions had been . faithfully reported by our flying men. "Suddenly an 'avalanche of in en' fell up on a section of the line near La liassee. Hank after rank of the oncoming masses was wiped out by the fire of our entrenched infantry, but as one man fell another took his place. The rush ■was irresistible, and the trench was carried, the men in it doing their duty to the last. Troops were hurried up to reinforce, but before they could repair the broken line,'a horde of Hermans had rushed forward confident, no doubt, that they had found the way to the coast. They had a rude awakoni::;/. THE WARRIORS OF THE PAST. "The supporters of the English line were Indian troops. It was the 'first time they had been in action in the campaign. They had been thirsting to prove their quality. For days they hud heard at no great distance the roar of the guns, and had watched the pull's of bursting shrapnel. It had interested them, and had whetted their appetite i'or a soldier's work, and right well they acquitted themselves. Ifanyone had fears as to how the Indian troops would have behaved against disciplined Europeans —and- the history of the native regiments should have prevented any misgiv. ings—their doubts should now be dispelled, for the turbened warriors displayed great bravery and dash equal to anything done in this war. Could there be higher praise? "It"was forward with the bayonet. Xo Frenchman who loves 'La Rosalie' could have met the foe with greater eagerness. The forces came together and clashed. In an instant, the issue was decided. The German advance was not checked and stopped; it was beaten and broken. The enemy turned to retreat. The Indians ran through them, using the steel in their own workmanlike fashion, and pouring the right back to receive right and left the lire of British infantry who awaited their oncoming. "Up to the trench which the (iermans .had gained, it was slaughter. The In'dians did not stop at the trench they 'won for the Allies, but, leaping it, chased i the enemy down a hill until their officers | thought it prudent to recall them. In \ returning, they passed over a bloody field, just as proud of the part they had plavcd for the Empire as the British j Tommies were of them. Round about i Ypres, where sterling work has been done, the story of the Indian troops' •'baptism of fire will be heard with peculiar pleasure. In that neighborhood are 'fighting many battalions who have sol. diered side by side with active regiments. Thev'knew what to expect of them, and they longed for the opportunity which would give their comrades a chance of showing their mettle."