A Burmese wonderland; a tale of travel in Lower and ... - Khamkoo

CHAPTER XVI.
Bandula—A Burmese Soldier.
The raising of Burmese Units during the Great War
has naturally led to much interesting speculation as to
the value of the Burman as a soldier. Except on
one occasion, when the Burma Sappers and Miners
distinguished themselves at the Tigris Crossing, the
late war unfortunately affords no opportunities for
.
judging them in the actual crisis of battle. The student
of history cannot, however, be in doubt as to the courage
and 61an which for centuries have won the Burmese
pre-eminence in the Indo-Chinese peninsula. But the
public memory is proverbially short. It is almost
forgotten that formerly the Burmese were regarded
as born soldiers, that they lived in an atmosphere" of
constant warfare, and that they usually won. The
collapse of the Army in 1886, without striking a blow,
and the failure of half-hearted attempts at various
times to form units, have raised doubts which the
general characteristics of the race aggravate. In the
past the Burman has always been a tough soldier in
spite of bad pay, bad equipment and abominable
leadership. Their military officers were chiefly notable
for offensive arrogance and swagger ; and the soldier
himself appears to have left his virtues at home, and
in war spread terror not only amongst the enemy, but