left. Orders were
then received by Major Row, commanding the detachment, to take the left
of the two houses which were situated under the hills at the further
side of the plain. This movement was carried out in conjunction with the
mounted infantry. The advance was covered by the 7-pounder guns of the
Gurkhas under Captain Luke, R.A. The attacking force advanced in
extended order by a series of small rushes. Cover was scanty, but the
Tibetans, though firing vigorously, fired high, and there were no
casualties. At last the force reached the outer wall of the house, and
regained breath under cover of it. A few men of the Gurkhas then climbed
on to the roof and descended into the house, making prisoners of the
inmates, who numbered forty or fifty. Shortly afterwards the door, which
was strongly barricaded, was broken in, and the remainder of the force
entered the house.

During the advance a number of the Tibetans attempted to escape on mules
and ponies, but the greater number of these were followed up and killed.
The Tibetan casualties were at least 700.

Perhaps no British victory has been greeted with less enthusiasm than
the action at the Hot Springs. Certainly the officers, who did their
duty so thoroughly, had no heart in the business at all. After the first
futile rush the Tibetans made no further resistance. There was no more
fighting, only the slaughter of helpless men.

It is easy to criticise after the event, but it seems to me that the
only way to have avoided the lamentable affair at the Hot Springs would
have been to have drawn up more troops round the redan, and, when the
Tibetans were hemmed in with the cliff in their rear, to have given them
at least twenty minutes to lay down their arms. In the interval the
situation might have been made clear to everyone. If after the
time-limit they still hesitated, two shots might have brought them to
reason. Then, if they were mad enough to decide on resistance, their
suicide would be on their own heads. But to send two dozen sepoys into
that sullen mob to take away their arms was to invite disaster. Given
the same circumstances, and any mob in the world of men, women, or
children, civilized or savage, and there would be found at least one
rash spirit to explode the mine and set a spark to a general
conflagration.

It was thought at the time that the lesson would save much future
bloodshed. But the Tibetan is so stubborn and convinced of his
self-sufficiency that