BLUFFING THE TURKS

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 48, 24 February 1917, Page 5

BLUFFING THE TURKS

AID TO RUMANIA FROM BRITISH

MOTORS

Reuters Agency, under date of 23rd December, states that telegrams received in England are now giving further particulars of the recent engagements of the British naval- armoured car squadron against the German,-Turco-Bulgarian armies in the Dobrudja.

The few details available show that under heavy fire, and at great risk, two squadrons of the armoured car* forced a passage through the enemy lines, whereby a large force of the enemy was cat off.

All the cars advanced far beyond the enemy lines, and notwithstanding assertions to the contrary, every one succeeded in getting back. \

This was, however, not accomplished without loss, as, in order to save the cars, one officer and six men left the motors, and as a result were made prisoners by the Germans.

As already announced, the appearance of this British force in Rumania cams as a dramatic surprise, as when last heardi of the squadrons were fighting in far distant theatres.

In one month the squadrons had made a record journey from Turkey. Two of tile squadrons, after considerable difficulty, joined up with the Russian Army operating in Turkish Armenia. It was in this ' section that their greatest adventure took place. Impediments -of transport made Kie supply of petrol and even, food very difficult, and the officers and men of the squadrons had to hunt down Turkish cattle.. A GREAT DAY. A great day was Ibhe capture of two oxen up in the hills, for the squadrons had for many weeks been without meat. As for petrol, the great distances involved considerable consumption, and when the squadrons actually reached the Russian armies, they had exhausted their supply. It would take them a matter of three days before they could get any more, and it was only by a big bluff that they saved the situation.' Just when, this shortage became apparent, news of a. contemplated Turkish attack reached the squadrons. They could not advance or retire, and they only saved themselves by collecting all the petrol left in the cars, and put it in their best car, which was sent forward deliberately as though to reconnoitre, and the ground was operaty surveyed as though an attack was to be made.

This deception was kept up for two days until the petrol arrived, and it completely deluded the Turks. When the petrol had arrived the armoured cars undertook an alt tack xrpon. the village of Norshen.

The- Turks had been allowed to infer that the armoured cars were going away, and their surprise was complete. The distance separating the armouredcar position and the Turkish village was traversed by the armoured cars before any reinforcements could come up, and the village was surrounded.

One shot alone from ono of ItKo grais on the armoured -cars destroyed a Turkish magazine at tho base, killing ovor 300 Turks. This engagement was ono of many-similar skirmishes in this region. Tho Kurds proved a. hrutal enemy. They captured two Cossacks attached to the armoured car squadrons, »nd carried, them off -to the hills.

The day following they came with their knives, rolled up the sleeves of their captives' right arm and sharpened their knives upon it. They did the same the day following upon their left arm.

The third day they came to kill ithem, only to find that the prisoners had escaped and were back again with the squadrons.

, Sir Ernest Shackleton, who has arranged to deliver lectures in Christchurch, Timaru, and Dunedin, left for the South last evening.

Official advice has been received by Mrs. Hornby, 159, Vivian-street, thai her son, Private A. Hornby, was killed in action in France on the 21st November last. Private Hornby was born in Invercargill and educated at Port Chalmers Grammar School. He left with tho Main Australian Forces. Wounded twice- at Gallipoli and invalided to England, he was eventually sent to France, where he met his death. His elder brother loft for the front with tho 14th Reinforcements.

A motion expressing sympathy with the relatives of swimmers who have fallen at the front v,-as passed at the conference of New Zealand swimming delegates held to-day, . .