'The views and opinions of Brigadier General John Jacob, CB. Aide-decamp to the Queen; Aide-de-camp to the Governor General of India, &c. &c. &c.; late commanding in chief the British forces in Persia; at present commanding the Sind Irregular Horse, and Political Superintendent of the North-West frontier of Sind.' [‎345] (375/481)

345
force to be increased by the absence of such soldiers. They
could not be trusted without imminent risk, of failure and
disgrace.—(1863.)
SUGGESTIONS TOWARDS THE PERMANENT DEFENCE
OF THE NORTH-WEST FRONTIER Region of British India bordering Afghanistan. OF INDIA.
It seems to me that if arrangements for the permanent
defence of our North-West Frontier Region of British India bordering Afghanistan. be not speedily
applied, and manfully carried out, they will have caused
the loss of our Indian empire within the next generation
of men.
The first enormous error consisted in not at once, after
your report of the state of the Turkish army at Erzeroom,
sending a strong force, under an able commander, to that
country, and then driving every Russian back to the north
of the Caucasian range. The next error was allowing
Kars to be taken ; and thirdly, after all this had been com
mitted, another egregious error was perpetrated in not
making Russia withdraw from Turkish Armenia before
we moved a man out of the Crimea.
The fall of Kars caused Persia to quarrel with our
ambassador; but, with true oriental cunning, wishing to be
prepared for our ultimate success, the Persian Government
pretended that the quarrel was personal only.
Now Kars is still held by Russia, and Persia invades
Beloochistan and Affghanistan; being of course quite
convinced that we have been well beaten, and that Russia
is all-powerful. This effect is all that Russia proposed to
produce by the delay in evacuating Kars, (fee. She will
now withdraw, and remain apparently perfectly quiescent.
But the result will be, that Russia, all-powerful in Persia,
will use that country as she pleases, herself unseen all the
while; she will—as she is now in fact doing—endeavour