NEWS OF THE WEEK • T HE event of the week
has been the publication, through Renter, of a telegram from Calcutta, datedApril 17th—that is, one day after the adjournment of Parliament—announcing that orders had been received by the Indian Government to despatch about 7,000 native troops to Malta. The regiments selected from Bengal are the 9th Light Cavalry, the 13th and 31st Infantry, and the 2nd Goorkhas ; from Bombay, the 1st Light Cavalry, and two regiments of Native Infantry (numbers not given) ; and from Madras, the 25th Infantry. Four companies of native Sappers and Miners are also to be sent, and two field batteries of (British) Field Artillery. The total force ought, if brought up to full war strength, to exceed 7,000 men. The native -troops will be brigaded with the British troops in Malta, but will, we imagine, be hutted, as the barracks are already full. Nothing has yet been reported as to the reception of these orders by the Native Army, or of the arrangements made for their transport, which must be elaborate. It is probable that they will not start just yet, as the statute enacting that all native troops employed out of India shall be paid for by the Crown is not repealed, and a vote of Parliament must therefore be taken to provide for the outlay. We have commented on this order, which is a very grave one, elsewhere, but must mention here that it has created no excitement and few .comments.
