I hope Pollock won't be squeamish, or truckle to the hysterical
party at home. The towns should be laid in ashes and the fields sown
with salt. Above all, the Residency and the Palace must come down.
So shall Burnes, McNaghten, and many another gallant fellow know that
his countrymen could avenge if they could not save him!
It is hard when others are gaining glory and experience to be stuck in
this miserable valley. I have been out of it completely, bar a few
petty skirmishes. However, we may see some service yet.
A jemidar of ours brought in a Hillman today, who says that the tribes
are massing in the Terada ravine, ten miles to the north of us, and
intend attacking the next convoy. We can't rely on information of this
sort, but there may prove to be some truth in it. Proposed to shoot our
informant, so as to prevent his playing the double traitor and reporting
our proceedings. Elliott demurred.
If you are making war you should throw no chance away. I hate half-and-
half measures. The Children of Israel seem to have been the only people
who ever carried war to its logical conclusion--except Cromwell in
Ireland. Made a compromise at last by which the man is to be detained
as a prisoner and executed if his information prove to be false. I only
hope we get a fair chance of showing what we can do.
No doubt these fellows at the Front will have C.B.'s and knighthoods
showering upon them thick and fast, while we poor devils, who have had
most of the responsibility and anxiety, will be passed over completely.
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