ARMOURED CARS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4010, 17 March 1917, Page 3

ARMOURED CARS.

CROSSING THE CAUCASUS.

ADVENTURES AMONG KURDS

Router's Agency received in December from tlie Caucasus details of the British armour car squadrons, which have been operating with tho Russians against the Turks. Probably no unit lof the British forces has had more varied experiences than those that fell to the devoted men who, coming from all parts of the British Empire, have, after being icebound for months in tho ! Arctic, crossed European Russia, and after performing tho remarkable feat of crossing the appalling "roads" of the Caucasus and doing good work against tho Turks there, have now appeared in action side by sido with the RussoRoumanian armies in the Dobrudja. In addition to the military value of their work, their presence has been productive of great good, particularly ir. the remoter parts of their field of action. They have been received everywhere with open arms by our Russian Allies, while several of the officers and men have been decorated by the Czar. After their first encounter with the Turks the Grand- Duke Nicholas sent to Commander Locker-Lampson a special telegram of congratulation and best wishes for the future.

The experiences of the squadron in the Arctic and during their journey across European Russia up to their arrival at Vladikavkaz have, already been made public. Pending the arrival of the armoured cars from the iKola Peninsula an officer was despatched to Tiflis and Erzerouni to report on the conditions, ■ and after conferences at Petrograd orders were' given for the , squadron to leave immediately for the Caucasian front. After their winter in the Arctic ice some of the cars needed repair, and in order to ensure a punctual start two days and nights wore occupied in necessary repairs and overhaul. Early ono morning tho squadron left Vladikavkaz for Mschob, near Tim's, and reached that place in excellent order. The cars were urgently needed to inspect roads which the continued retreat of tho enemy had left open" beyond Erzeroum. And they worked according to schedule. The difficulties of the journey were enormous, having to be made, as it was, along winding, precipitous, and ill-kept tracks, the only avenue of supply for the great army. For over 100 miles was met a, constant procession of ancient carts, slow-moving camels and dromedaries, mule teams, ox-waggons, with circular spokeless wheels, and caravans extending for hundreds of yards. The road surface proved tho greatest obstacle, and the base plates of some of the cars were ripped open by projecting rocks. Difficulties of Supply. With characteristic handiness, these defects were 1 made good with seccotine, soap, and medical plaster ; and every armoured car got to Kars intact 18 hours before th« scheduled time. Forty miles further on, at Sarakamish, the cars were inspected by tho Grand Duke, who invited 1G of tho officers to lunch in tho Imperial train, and it was then decided to send one portion of the squadron to the Russian left flank near Mush..... A noteworthy inspection journey of 2500 miles was made by one of tho officers beyond Erzeroum and Trebizond, during which time he suffered much for a shortage of food and exposure to weather, cholera, and typhoid. On his return a squadron was despatched to Mush, while the commander himself proceeded to Erz<>rnm, where it was found that the Turkish advance had been checked. Tho great distanco of this front from the main artery of supply made the question of supplies and transport very difficult, but in spite of theso another squadron was despatched to Mush. Progress was extremely difficult,.'as the bridges had been destroyed, and one of the squadrons, despite heroic efforts, involving the passage of a river, where cars and men were partially immersed for two days, were unable to proceed. Undeterred by all obstacles, another squadron proceeded to Charborg, and after incredible difficulties what was left of it duly" arrived. -Base plates had been ripped from tho cars,' rods 'twisted, axles bent, and gears, seized, •and it was little short of a miracle that the cars' $o£ through. The carrf. wfc've then ordered to proceed to the.plain of Mush, and reach the Bitlis Road' before dawn. By this time the strain was felling heavily on both officers and merry but there was no time for rest; and a staf 6 A'as made. In a long .line,,and a dead silence-the cars proceeded at a snail's pace across the plain. All had been warned against tho Kurds, and .urged not to allow any men to fall alive into their hands owing to their nameless cruelties and the merciless vendetta between them and the Cossacks. The greatest care was, therefore, taken not to allow the cars to becomo separated. Difficulties increased as tho squadron proceeded. Wood was scarce for bridging purposes, and in many ,-plnces the cars had to ;be . hauled by hand across streams and bogs. Sometimes the floor of tho waterway was raised by stones, which ripped holes in the cars. A village' was reached; ' which 'was quite deserted, every inhabitant having been murdered by the Turks. A Serious Situation. After considerable work a stream was bridged, and some of the armoured cars passed' safely over, but om> of tho. cars foundered, destroyed the temporary supports, and prevented the cars behind from crossing. The situa-' tion was a serious ono, but as there was a report that a Turkish battalion was behind, Commander Locker-Lamp-son hastened on with a Cossack, who mounted his ear, as his horse had been shot. Owing to various causes the following cars became separted by hundreds of yards. To reach Maruik, the new objective, seemed impossible, and all felt inclined to give in at an unfordablo river. This, however, was crossed, and in tho shadow of the mountains two miles ahead there was fairly discernible a village and figures of moving horsemen.

Meanwhile the petrol was going. Only a gallon remained in the tank, and it was essential to gain the ■village.. At sumlown it was reached, but it was too dangerous to proceed. Tho officer in charge said that no car had ever entered tho plain beforo. The impossibility of advance was a great disappointment, and it was a difficult tusk next day to return and face the- rest of the squadron, whn had battled through t» within three miles of the village, . living on fish and drinking water | from the radiator sooner than turn b'afik 1.