176 miles.
Jhelum and Peshawar were also connected by rail, a military transport
train being run by the Post Office between these points. Even earlier
than this date there were postal arrangements for Indian Expeditionary
Forces, including that operating in Abyssinia (1867-68), the type of
postmark being lettered F.F. (Field Force), as in _Fig._ 58.

[Illustration: 58]

The postmarks used on letters despatched from troops accompanying the
numerous Indian military expeditions form a very considerable range
for philatelic exploration. They include Egypt, Miranzi, Kurrum,
Hazara, Waziristan, Suakim, Tochi, Chitral, Malakand, Tirah, China,
Tibet, Somaliland, and South Africa. The system of the Indian Army
Postal Service is similar to that already described for the British
Expeditionary Force on the Continent. A base office is established at
each military base, and works as a head office, communicating with
India and with the field. Field post offices of 1st and 2nd class are
attached to brigades, divisional troops, and divisional headquarters,
and these fly a distinguishing flag by day and display a distinguishing
lamp by night. The establishment of base and field offices varies
according to the size of the force which they are to serve, but
ordinarily the establishment of a base office is: 1 postmaster, 2
deputy postmasters, 15 clerks, 2 khalassis, 6 packers, 1 sweeper.
First class field post offices are accompanied by 1 postmaster, 2
clerks, 1 packer, 2 tent khalassis, and 1 sweeper, while for second
class field post offices the establishment consists only of a
postmaster, a packer, and a sweeper. In addition there are supervising
officers for each division, and in the event of the post office making
its own arrangements for transport between the base and the field
offices, a number of overseers are required. The officers and men all
have the word "POST" in brass letters on the shoulders of their
uniforms.

Postage stamps of India (including postcards and embossed envelopes,
both ordinary and "official") are stocked by all field post offices,
and ordinarily a six-months' supply is sent out with the force, and is
distributed from the base office to the field post offices. It is part
of the duty of the base office to see that each field office maintains
a sufficient stock of stamps, in accordance with a minimum determined
by the chief superintendent in respect of each field post office.

In 1900, in connection with the