[Footnote 242: On August 7, 1914, the Prince of Wales founded a National Fund to relieve distress brought about by the war. He was its first treasurer, and he generously offered to pay the whole cost incurred in working the fund. Early in December 1914 it had reached £4,000,000.] CHAPTER XXVII. HOW INDIA ANSWERED THE CALL. "Sons of Shannon, Tamar, Trent, Men of the Lothians, men of Kent, Essex, Wessex, shore and shire, Mates of the net, the mine, the fire, Lads of desk and wheel and loom, Noble and trader, squire and groom, Come where the bugles of Britain play, _Over the hills and far away!_ "Southern Cross and Polar Star-- Here are the Britons bred afar; Serry,[243] O serry them. See, they ride Under the flag of Britannia's pride; Shoulder to shoulder, down the track, Where, to the unretreating Jack, The victor bugles of Britain play, _Over the hills and far away!"_ In Chapter XXVI. you learned how Britons all over the world answered the call to arms. The verses which you have just read might almost have been written to describe the great rally. But the greatest surprise of all was the response of India. It is a vast land, equal in area to the whole of Europe outside Russia, and containing nearly one in five of all people that on earth do dwell. These people consist of many races and many religions, and large numbers of them are ruled by their own princes. During recent years many educated Indians have asked for a larger share in the government of their own country, and this has been granted to them in some measure. Nevertheless, there are still many of them who are not satisfied with our rule, and the Germans, as you know, hoped and expected that when Great Britain was in straits these dissatisfied persons would rise and throw off the British yoke. [Illustration: Types of our Indian Soldiers: Sikhs are seen above, and Cavalry below. _Photo, Central News_.] Even in this country some people feared that there would be trouble in India; but their fears were soon set at rest, for in the course of a few hours India showed clearly that Britain's quarrel was her quarrel, and that she was as loyal to the Empire and as eager to help it in the hour of trial and stress as any of the Dominions. It is remarkable to note that several of those who had been most bitter against British rule at once ceased their work of stirring up the people, and called upon them to rally in Britain's cause. Thus India, instead of being a weakness to the Empire, proved a tower of strength; instead of a danger, she became a staunch bulwark.