1 G12 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
2 The Government of India did not think it necessary, nor, in all respects, desirable to
3 accept from the Native States of India the pecuniary assistance which they had so freely
4 tendered, but in one very important particular the Government wished to enlist their
5 co-operation. The armies of Native States were strong in numbers, but at present of
6 various degrees of efficiency. It was proposed to ask those chiefs who possessed speciul-
7 ly good fighting material in their armies to raise a portion of those armies to such a pitch
8 of general efficiency as would make them fit to go into action side by side with the
9 Imperial Troops ; for this purpose some extra exertions would, it was thought, be necessary,
10 as troops at the present day, to be thoroughly fit for service, require very complete arrange-
11 ments in the way of arms, transport, equipment and organisation generally, To help the
12 chiefs in setting on foot and maintaining the’ troops selected for service, it was resolved
13 to appoint a few English officers as advisers and inspectors. The officers will have their
14 head-quarters at some central point in British territory, and will visit the several States
15 in turn, Capable native drill instructors will also be lent to the states from the British
16 regiments,
17 The selected troops will be armed with breech-loading weapons presented to the
18 several states by the British Government; there will be carbines for the cavalry and Snider
19 iifles for the infantry, and, in addition to this, each Panjab chief will receive a battery of
20 four guns, hus, while each force is to remain a purely State force, recruited in the
21 territories of its chief and serving within them, the troops composing it will gradually
22 be made so efficient as to enable the Imperial Government to use them as part of its
23 available resources to meet any external danger.
24 Having thus explained the views of the Government, His Excellency
25 suid:—_ -
26 I trust that the chiefs selected will in any case regard the acceptance of their offers
27 as an honourable distinction, while those whose armies it is not found possible to utilise in
28 the same manner, will understand that if they cannot usefully contribute to the fighting
29 stiength of the Empire, they can, in other ways, render service equally meritorious and
30 equally sure to win the approval of Her Majesty the Queen-impress.
31 Retirement of Lord Early in December, 1888, Lord Dufferin resigned the office of Viceroy
32 ee ak -and Governor-General, and was succeeded by the Marquis of Lansdowne,
33 The retired Viceroy had fully justified the anticipations which had been
34 formed of his great administrative capabilities when his appointment was
35 first announced, and great was the regret among all classes of people,
36 European and Native, when the time came for his retirement. A complete
37 master of the art of diplomacy and politics, he brought with him a high
38 reputation as a ruler of men, and his keen insight into the wants of the
39 - country over whose destinies he was called upon to rule, and the great
40 measures introduced by him for strengthening the empire of India inter-
41 nally, as regards its own affairs, externally, as to its relations with foreign
42 countries, as well as the calm perseverance and energy with which he applied
43 himself to the accomplishment of his great task, gained for him universal con-
44 India on the verge of fidence and admiration. When he first came to India, the Empire was on the
45 Wiituy yore verge of war, on the North-Western Frontier, with one of the greatest military
46 ‘Powers of Europe. By the wise policy adopted by the Governor-General,
47 The danger averted. UOt only were the war and its concomitant calamities averted, at a mo-
48 ment when the British were the least prepared to face the tempest, but
49 jp Strengthening of effectual measures were adopted to strengthen the Frontier by the construc-
50 ve Hontier defences tion of military post and forts, thé laying out of cantonments, the con-
51 struction of new lines of railway and the improvement of the means
52 of communication by extending the system of roads to the hitherto
53 comparatively inaccessible parts of the border. ‘These active measures
54 had the effect of soon restoring the strength and security of the Empire,
55 and this at a time of special financial difficulty, as there was a great
56 drain on the resources of the country, consequent on the loss on ex-
57 change and a decrease in the opium revenue. With due regard to eco-
58 nomy, and at a cost which is infinitesimal, compared with the expen-
59 diture on similar schemes in Europe, the whole of the North-Western
60 Sri Satglneparpit Basghebrelibtatito such a staftanidhadblibrasy@igmailaia@ the culti-