11 MAY 1895, Page 2

The defenders of Chitral are all to have six months'

pay, and doubtless the Political Agent and the officer in command will have honours and promotion besides. All that is quite right ; but we wish more means existed of acknowledging in a special way any exceptionally brilliant service by native troops. The Sikhs and Cashmerees in that garrison fought like heroes, though they believed their position hopeless, and were killed or wounded in a proportion unusual even in great battles. They will always be honoured soldiers, no doubt, in their regiments ; but there ought to be some way of singling out the leading men among them in some method acceptable to their own notions of fame. How would it do to put up the name of So-and-so Singh, as "hero in Chitral," in letters of brass, on the wall of the Court- house nearest to his own village P We will not speak positively, but we think a practice of that kind would be exceedingly welcome to the soldiery ; would raise the status of the family so honoured, and would help to bring us the very best class of recruits. These men are adhering to us, remember, against many religious and some patriotic prepossessions.