523 
es) 
THE KASHMIR IMPERIAL SERVIC 
ARTILLERY. 
BY 
LIEUTENANT G. F. MACMUNN, D.S.0O., R.A. 
Tur share which a section of a Kashmir Mountain battery had in 
Colonel Kelly’s advance over the snows to the relief of Chitral may, 
perhaps, render an account of the Kashmir Artillery of interest to 
readers of these “‘ Proceedings.” 
Before however describing the Kashmir forces it may be of interest 
to give an outline of that large auxiliary force, of which they form a 
part, the Imperial Service Troops, which, during the last eight years, 
has been growing up almost unheeded by the public and even by the 
army in India and at home. 
During and after the Russian War scare of some ten years back, 
almost all the princes of India, following the lead of the Nizam of 
Hyderabad, offered large sums of money to be expended in the defence 
of India. This offer was not accepted as it stood, but it was arranged 
that each State should set apart a portion of its troops for the service 
of the Empire, in return for which the Indian Government was to 
furnish arms and a portion of the equipment, and would depute officers 
to train and inspect the various corps. Accordingly a beginning was 
made under Colonel H. Melliss, C.S.I., who was appointed chief 
inspecting officer with a staff of inspecting officers and their assistants 
under him. 
The force rapidly progressed and grew till it now numbers close on 
20,000 men, cavalry, artillery, infantry, camel corps, sappers and trans- 
port trains. The chief inspecting officer was appointed Inspector- 
General of Imperial Service Troops, and a D.A.A.G. of musketry for 
the force was appointed, who presides over an annual rifle meeting for 
these troops at Meerut. 
The corps, which are all now equipped with the Martini-Henry 
arms, are modelled on the cavalry and infantry regiments of the Indian 
Army. The command is exercised entirely by the native commandants, 
under the military organization of the States they are serving. ‘The . 
inspecting officers, once the corps in their circles are trained and 
organized, only inspect the corps from time to time, conferring with 
the various durbars on their requirements. 
The corps themselves are all very completely and smartly clothed 
and equipped and present a very soldierly appearance. They are not 
as yet in any way under the commander-in-chief in India, save when 
GL, WOlly S608 all 
