One could not but commiserate with Gen Townshend

TCD MS 3414 folio 71 recto

TCD MS 3414 folio 71 recto

[November 1915]

It must be remembered also how long & difficult was the river communication, & the scanty number of troops we could have at that time spared to guard it. No, it was an impossible enterprise to attempt, & every man in the force I believe knew it, except vain glorious Nixon: one could not but commiserate with Gen Townshend who so ably commanded & landed his troops in an operation designed by his Superior which he had already foretold to be an impossible undertaking, & doomed to failure. But after all the fact remained that Ctesiphon was no doubt a successful tactical victory, prevented from being a great strategical success owing to lack of men & material.