Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1915 — INDIAN TROOPS IN ACTION [ARTICLE]

INDIAN TROOPS IN ACTION

Although mainly Mohammedan, the Indian native army embraces men of the most varying religions, sects and races. Its normal strength in round figures is 160,000 men, but this does not include (about) 22,000 imperial service troops, 35,000 reservists and 39,000 volunteers. The officers, of course, are British, but every regiment has its native officers, known respectively as rlsaldars, subahdars and jemldars. A risaldar is the native commander of a troop of cavalry, while the subahdar and jemidar rank respectively as captain and lieutenant —among themselves, that is, for in no circumstance does a native captain exercise any command over a British lieutenant. The Indian soldiers whose namSs are most familiar to the British public are the Sikh, the Rajput, the Gurkha and the Pathan. It was the Sikh, of course, who put up such a tremendous fight against England years ago, but who, once conquered, has eVer since proved the loyalest of the loyal. Originally of Hindu origin, the Sikhs as a religious sect were founded by Nanak Shah in the flfteenth pehtury, and reached the zenith' of their military and political power under the famous Ranjit Singh (1780-1839). The Sikh is not bore a Sikh, but is admitted or initiated as one when ,he reaches early manhood, v <- : - •' ~-..i■ —■

from which date he never cuts his hair, and always wears an iron bangle on his wrist. By their religion, the Sikhs are forbidden to use tobacco in any shape or form. Equally at home in the saddle or on foot, the Sikh is a magnificent fighting man, and an awe-inspiring figure with his big beard, and great mustache curled up behind his ears. “Rajput" means literacy, “son’of a king.” and the Rajputs are an intensely proud, reserved and Silent race. They are the world’} finest horsemen, bar none, though they do not disdain to serve in infantry regiments. They are very tall, upstanding men of magnificent “presence” and haughty demeanor, for they never forget or allow the spectator to forget that they are of royal blood. Inside his turban the Rajput carries a steel circlet with sharp edges, and this he can hurl or throw with such deadly accuracy and force as to decapitate an enemy at many yards distance. Kipling has made us familiar with the Gurkha, who is "blood-brother" to the Highlanders, and „ the most cheerfullybloodtbirsty •Htiie*'devil” gdIng. The Mongol descent shows itself in his broad, flat features and squat frame, and the contrast between Mm and the lordly Sikh -or Rajpn? is comical In the extreme.