THE KASHMIR IMPERIAL SERVICE ARTILLERY. 529 
troops have been engaged, though a considerable contingent from 
Jammu took part in the siege of Delhi and on more than one occasion 
Kashmir troops have assisted in operations against the Black Moun- 
tain tribes.. 
With the exception of the Jeypore and Gwalior transport trains with 
Sir Robert Low’s force last year, the Kashmir troops alone of the 
Imperial Service force have seen service, while the short period that 
they have been subject to systematic training hardly justifies their 
-present value being accepted as representing the limit of fighting 
value to which the Imperial Service troops can be raised. 
The Kashmir Mountain batteries have several advantages which the 
rest of the force has not, for not only have they the almost undivided 
attention of a British officer each, while other corps get far less super- 
vision, but Government issues a complete equipment free of charge 
and replaces free all losses due to service in the Gilgit district. This 
concession not enjoyed by other corps allows of the equipment being 
kept more efficient than if the replacements of expensive stores, often 
suddenly required, was dependant on the provisions of the Kashmir 
Military Budget and has only been made recently, in view of the great 
expense to the durbar incurred in maintaining two Mountain batteries, 
even without charges for renewing equipment. In the case of other 
Imperial Service corps, the durbars pay for most of the equipment 
issued them, save arms and for all renewals. 
The free issue of equipment to the batteries is also a recognition of 
the value of their services which obviate the presence of any artillery 
from the army of India in the Gilgit command. 
There is, of course, much room for improvement in these Mountain 
batteries, but their present progress has been very steady and there is no 
reason why it should not continue as the spirit of discipline and soldierly 
bearing developes. They cannot, of course, be expected to attain any- 
thing like the efficiency of our native Mountain batteries, but it is as yet 
hard to say how far short the limit will be. They are certainly useful 
auxiliaries and should be fully equal to hill warfare against uncivilized 
enemies anda valuable supplement to the force of native Mountain 
batteries on the frontier. 
It is needless to say that such measure of efficiency as has been 
attained by the Kashmir artillery, would never have been reached 
without the cordial co-operation and acquiescence of the commander- 
in-chief of the Kashmir army and his present head-quarter staff in the 
suggestions and plans put forward by the inspecting officers for its 
efficiency. 
