"Even if the UK forces were hopelessly outgunned, so what? Isn't fighting and dying what soldiers do - part of the job description?"

Yes - who does Tommy Atkins think he is, choosing not to throw his worthless life away when the honour of the Empire is at stake? Doesn't he realize he is mere cannon fodder? I'd see every manjack o' them hanged! Let the wogs have'm, I say - Gunga Din's a better man than any ten of'm! A fine show this lot would have made at the Charge of the Light Brigade ...

"Is it right that there is really nothing we can do, other than wait for the diplomatic ransom demand to arrive?"

Perhaps there IS "more" that could be done - but perhaps "more" is neither sensible nor expedient. We still don't know much about this incident. There's a lot of idle sputtering going on here ...