1 JANUARY 1983, Page 19

Alexander of Macedon

Sir: According to my understanding of the matter Alexander's advance across India was halted by the refusal of his Macedo- nians to go any further. Arrianus (and his modern editor) seem to support this.

Shiva Naipaul's story CA dying State-2', 11 December) of a defeat by the Indian ar- mies repeats a similar one by one of your reviewers some weeks ago on which I was too lazy to join issue. Has a new source of information been discovered, or are your contributors rewriting history?

Sir Owain Jenkins

Boles House, East Street, Petworth, Sussex