"كتاب أزرق. برقيات أُعيد صياغتها" [و‎‎٤‎٦] (١٨٩/٩١)

99 fcont)
agree with your view that the increase of Barr
ett's Force to two divisions is imperative*
As you are aware we have in return for 35 bat
talions of Terrtorial Infantry sent abroad 33
battalions of -Regulars while our total contri-
butionsjoverseas have amounted to six divisions
of Infantry and nearly three divisions of Caval
ry, India has therefore done her duty to the
Empire but we cannot do more inview of the situ
ation on the Frontier. Our onerous responsibili
ties towards the population of India both Euro
pean or native cannot be evaded and it is use
less that we should receive suggestions to take
further risks in India. In conclusion we agree
with you that an increase to at least two div
isions of Barrett's Force is necessary but Ito&t
our contributions to the requirements of his
Majesty's Government early in the war make it
impossible to find the mnmmamamp requisite fem
troops ourselves. The responsibility therefore
not onldtqsupply them but
rests with his Majesty's Government K t»dbimmn x
rf* for any consequences also which may arise
from a refusal to allow India to protect he 7 " int
erests by the use of her own troops.
100
3rd March. This morning the enemy's camp at
Ghadir to the west of Ahwaz was shelled by our
force under the command of Brigadier General Ro
binson. The enemy's strength was estimated at
12,000 and with frequenjr hand -to-hand fight
ing he succeeded in getting round our flanks
and rear thA^making retirement very difficult.
The enemy's losses were very severe but ours,
^regret to say,were heavy.The horses jMt having
* .
been killed one 18 -pdr Field Artillery gun
was abandoned as was also the breach and chase