IIIFカラー高解像度
国立情報学研究所 - ディジタル・シルクロード・プロジェクト
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| IIIFカラー高解像度 |
| India and Tibet : vol.1 | |
| インドとチベット : vol.1 |
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引用情報
186 GYANTSE
May 1 we received news from Captain Hodgson, com-
manding the party, that he had advanced with his mounted
infantry across the pass, and three miles beyond had found
the Tibetans in occupation of a wall, some 600 yards long,
built across the valley. The Tibetans, estimated at from
1,000 to 1,500 in number, opened a heavy fire on the
mounted infantry at about 300 yards' distance. Our men
then retired steadily, firing only a few shots and returned
towards Gyantse.
Besides the definite information thus acquired, reports
also reached me that other troops were assembling in the
Rong Valley, ready to support those on the Lhasa road,
and that there was a large gathering, estimated at 4,000,
assembled at Shigatse itself, a portion of which was to
move up to Dongtse, twelve miles from Gyantse.
Colonel Brander now came to me and asked for leave
to go out and attack the Tibetans before these gatherings
could come to a head. He had much frontier experience,
and I also had some, and we both of us knew that when
such gatherings take place it is a pretty sound general
principle to take the initiative, and hit hard at them
before they have time to accumulate overwhelming
strength. It was a bold move, he contemplated, for the
Karo-la (pass) was forty-five miles distant, and was over
16,000 feet high ; and while he was away with two-thirds
of the escort, the Mission, with only one-third of its full
escort, might be itself attacked. I said that if he, on his
side, did not mind taking this risk, I, on my side, did not
mind it, and, as far as my military opinion was worth
anything, was quite in favour of the operation.
But it was on political grounds that I had to give the
decision, and on those grounds I had no objection. I had
come to negotiate, but there was no symptom of nego-
tiators appearing. On the other hand, the Tibetans were
still further massing their troops ; their position at the
Karo-la and between there and Kangma was threatening
our line of communication ; and they had fired on our
reconnoitring party. For these reasons I informed
Government by telegram on May 2 that I had raised no
objection on political grounds to Colonel Brander's pro-
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