4 
professions-—some go to the Navy, others to the Army, others 
to the Air Force, and others take up civil avocations in life. 
I expect the reason why I have been asked to propose such an 
important toast lies in the fact that I personally had no 
profession in life to choose, but that it was chosen for 
me more than 300 generations ago—(Cheers)—when my 
ancestors, as Rajputs, were born to be soldiers and rulers 
of men. I can thus claim to have been born a soldier, for 
I bave been taught from my cradle that our first throne 
is in the saddle for the Army, and that the throne from 
which we govern comes as a secondary position. (Cheers.) 
Gentlemen, it is not necessary for me while dealing with this 
Toast to remind you what His Majesty’s Forces have done 
in the past. Indeed I could collect information which would 
keep you here listening until to-morrow did I begin to recite 
before you the achievements of His Majesty’s Navy, the 
Army and the Air Forces, not only in the recent Great War 
but since the British Isles extended into an Empire. Taking 
the Navy, it is not for me to enlarge upon its achievements, 
even during the recent battles, when the English Fleet held 
at bay the German Navy which was rapidly conquered. 
(Cheers.) The battle of the Falkland Islands, the attack on 
Zeebrugge and the Battle of Jutland are all inscribed on the 
pages of history that are known to you as well if not better 
than to myself. Indeed, it would be a sacrilege on my part 
to touch on these subjects, for the great performances of 
the Navy live in our memory and in our hearts. They are 
events which presage the great strength of the Empire, and 
although the Navy externally is a symbol of might it is only 
used for the purpose of upholding the right. (Cheers.) If 
I talk of the Army, it is surely equally unnecessary for me 
to take you across the battlefields of Mons, the part which 
this machine played in the defeat of the German Army in the 
first battle of the Marne, the battles of the Somme, the 
prolonged defence of Ypres, the second battle of the Marne, 
and, finally, the breaking up of the Hindenburg line gallantly 
undertaken by the British troops. (Cheers.) The part that 
was played in these gigantic enterprises by all the sister 
Dominions and India speaks for itself, and has left behind 
feelings which are a source of pride in our hearts that we 
were able to take part in the great battle of right against our 
enemies according to our capacities. It is a source of 
gratification to me to feel that Indian troops did their duty 
during these arduous campaigns—(Cheers) ; and even the forces 
of the Alwar State had the privilege to serve at the fronts in 
France, Kantara, Mesopotamia and Palestine. (Cheers.) 
The Air Force is a machine of comparatively recent growth, 
  
      
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
    
   
      
    
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
    
  
  
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