London
Having finally summoned the courage to make a resolution to engage in combat with the Russians, the British Government was utterly confounded by General Patrick's urgent request for reinforcements.
Putting down the telegram in his hand, Prime Minister Gladstone asked with confusion, "Don't we already have four hundred thousand troops at the front? Why do we still need reinforcements?"
It was not that Prime Minister Gladstone was prone to overreacting, but rather that Britannia had never before engaged in such a large-scale strategic deployment.
Even before the war had erupted, over four hundred thousand troops were already amassed at the front. If another twenty infantry divisions were added, the total force would nearly reach seven hundred thousand.
Such massive involvement in a partial war was completely beyond Prime Minister Gladstone's comprehension.