Page:History of India Vol 2.djvu/145

 ORGANIZATION OF THE FORCES 115 the sixteenth century (1509-30), affirms that that prince led against Raichur an army consisting of 703,000 foot, 32,600 horse, and 551 elephants, besides camp-followers. The formidable force at the disposal of Chandra- gupta, by far the largest in India, was controlled and administered under the direction of a War Office organ- ized on an elaborate system. A commission of thirty members was divided into six boards, each with five members, to which departments were severally assigned as follows: Board No. 1, in co-operation with the admiral Admi- ralty; Board No. 2 Transport, C o m m i s - sariat, and Army Service, including the provision of drummers, grooms, mechanics, and grass-cutters; Board No. 3 Infantry; Board No. 4 Cavalry; Board No. 5 -War-chariots; Board No. 6 Elephants. All Indian armies had been regarded from time im- memorial as normally comprising the four arms, cavalry, infantry, elephants, and chariots; and each of these arms would naturally fall under the control of a distinct authority; but the addition of co-ordinate supply and admiralty departments appears to be an innovation due to the genius of Chandragupta. His organization must have been as efficient in practice as it was systematic INDIAN FOOT - SOLDIERS. From an Ajanta Cave Painting. (After Griffiths.)