‘Hunger is More Savage than Cannon’

This chapter studies the logistics – manpower, materials such as food, armament, ammunition and the service rendered to the combat forces during the Anglo-Kuki War of 1917–1919 and explores the influences of the landscape over the logistics or war theatre arrangements. The lack of war provisions, food and modern armament and ammunition on the part of the Kuki during the war was heightened by the British economic blockade. The rugged hills, ridges and absence of roads and communication on the one hand and lack of geographical knowledge on the part of the British had derailed the operation against the Kuki during the first phase December 1917–March 1918. The shifts in the logistics of the British in tune with the landscape and war provisions enabled them to occupy all the strategic points throughout the length and breadth of the war zone and had directed, shaped and influenced the war theatre maneuver to achieve a ‘critical logistics target’ or ‘economic blockade’. This chapter explores the war provisions and argues that the shifts in logistics scheme uprooted the food supply of the Kuki and that hunger was more savage than weapons in putting off the war flame.