-2- (ii) Equally important is the fact that no further drafts can be sent to India for some time to come. Consequently, the expansion of medical services in S.E. Asia Command must be delayed until the forthcoming operations in Europe are launched and we are in a position to assess our medical needs in the light of actual battle experience. If our estimates of battle casualties are too low the position will be worse still. On the other hand, if there is a German withdrawal we may find our needs are less than anticipated.