"Scoundrels! Faster! All of you, move faster!" The British officer, mounted on his horse, lashed his whip harshly across the backs of the Indian soldiers as they marched northward.
The Indian soldiers cried out in agony, falling into a mud pit with a heavy thud.
"The order from the division headquarters is clear," the officer declared coldly, his face a mask of indifference. "We must reach Alibag within two hours, or we will all face court-martial and suffer dire consequences." In his eyes, these Indian soldiers were no more than expendable cannon fodder, their lives of no consequence.
Despite their exhaustion, the diminutive, emaciated Indian soldiers had no choice but to quicken their pace. Gasping for breath, they pushed themselves to move faster, for if they did not, the lash of the whip would be their punishment, or worse, they might be beaten to death by the officers.
Under the officers' relentless urging, the British-Indian forces advanced swiftly. Yet, considering the already frail condition of the Indian soldiers, it remained uncertain how much fighting strength they would have left once they reached Alibag after this forced march.
By midday, the vanguard of the British-Indian forces arrived at Alibag. The soldiers collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air as they lay utterly exhausted.
"Get up! Get up now!" the British officer barked in displeasure, seeing the state of the soldiers. It was clear that in this condition, they would be utterly incapable of mounting an attack.
General Howard, commander of the British-Indian 2nd Army, shared his frustration over the state of his troops. With no other choice, he issued an order for a one-hour rest upon the army's arrival. After all, in order for an attack to succeed, the soldiers had to have at least some strength left. It was impossible to fight when they were too weary to even stand.
This delay, however, provided the Germans with more time to reinforce their defenses, allowing more of their troops to disembark.
The German 71st, 72nd, 73rd, and 74th Infantry Divisions successfully landed, bolstering the German forces. Even though the last two divisions lacked heavy weaponry and were only equipped with light arms, their presence added over 30,000 men to the German ranks, significantly enhancing their fighting strength—enough to repel the British-Indian offensive.
At 1:30 PM, General Howard issued the order to advance.
The six primary infantry divisions of the British-Indian 2nd Army, along with the British-Indian 12th Army, began their assault on Alibag from the north. Meanwhile, the 11th Army launched their attack from the south.
However, despite the large number of troops, Alibag was a small town, and not all of them could be committed to the assault at once. At most, around 100,000 troops could be deployed simultaneously. The Germans, though fewer in number, had already deployed four infantry divisions and one marine division, totaling just under 100,000 men, a sufficient force to hold the line, especially with naval artillery support. Defending the position and fending off the British-Indian attack was within their capability.
"Attack! Crush the Germans and drive them into the sea to feed the fish! If we don't, all of India will be lost!" the British officers shouted their orders.
Countless Indian soldiers, their eyes red with determination, surged forward. Despite the brutal treatment they suffered at the hands of the British officers, they endured, driven by the hope for India's future.
Many of these soldiers were members of the Congress or the Green Party, or at the very least, influenced by their ideals. They knew that the British had promised that if the Germans were defeated, India would be granted autonomy and, eventually, independence—a dream cherished by every Indian.
Thus, despite knowing the strength of the Germans and the mortal dangers of battle, these Indian soldiers pressed forward without fear. They hoped their sacrifice would secure a bright future for India.
The British-Indian forces, with their numerical superiority, launched their attack. Over 100,000 soldiers advanced, and due to the limited space of the German positions, the British-Indian forces found their ranks packed tightly together.
"Contact the fleet, order them to fire! Let these damned Indians experience the full power of our naval guns!" the German commander on the frontlines ordered.
Despite the British-Indian soldiers' poor combat effectiveness, their sheer numbers posed a significant threat. German commanders sought to minimize casualties by using their firepower advantage to the fullest.
Out on the sea, the German Indian Ocean fleet's seven major warships lined up, broadside to the coast. Their main guns, raised toward the sky, were primed and ready to unleash a devastating barrage.
"Fire!"
Upon receiving the coordinates, the warships adjusted their guns. The gunnery officers gave the order to fire.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The 380mm guns of the battleships fired relentlessly. Other light cruisers and destroyers joined in, their shells raining down upon the battlefield with terrifying force.
As shells rained down on the Indian soldiers' tightly packed ranks, the true horror of war became evident. The young Indian recruits, filled with patriotic fervor when they entered the battlefield, now realized how brutal the reality of war truly was.
"Boom! Boom!" The relentless bombardment continued, with each explosion claiming countless lives. How many young Indians had already sacrificed themselves for a cause they believed in?
The intensity of the German artillery forced even the British officers to change their expressions, many relieved they were not personally participating in the assault, for they too would have been torn apart by the onslaught.
The morale of the British-Indian troops had always been fragile, but the unyielding artillery fire shattered their resolve. Many soldiers, even before reaching the German lines, were already in full retreat.
In a fit of desperation, General Howard issued another order to attack, demanding that the British-Indian forces charge at all costs, determined to drive the Germans into the sea.
Yet, the final result was a bloody disaster—countless bodies lay scattered in front of the German positions.
The blow to morale was devastating. Even the newly recruited Indian soldiers, once filled with determination, began to flee. This was not the promising start the British-Indian forces had hoped for.