During the week the Times has given special prominence to
rumours that the Indian Army is to be reduced. Colonel Seely, in the House of Commons on Wednesday, made a statement which shows that there is no intention on the part
of the Government to diminish the numbers of the British garrison, but it would appear that the rumours have founda-
tion as far as the native army is concerned. If any units of that army are inefficient it would, no doubt, be wise to get rid
of them on that ground alone. If, however, the real reason for reduction is economy, not inefficiency, then the policy is most mistaken. Considering the vast population of India and the fact that the whole line of her frontier is liable to attack from the wild and predatory inhabitants of the other side of the border, and that border raids may easily turn into little wars, or even big wars, any reduction of the frontier
guard—for that is what the Indian Army is in fact—would be a fatal error. India has not a soldier too many for manning the vast enceinte of her ramparts.
