BLUFFING THE TURNS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 February 1917, Page 2

BLUFFING THE TURNS.

AID TO 1101TMAX1A FROM BRITISH MOTORS.

Reuter’s Agency, 'under date of December 23rd, states that telegrams received in England are now giving further particulars of the recent engagements of the British naval armoured car squadron against the Germau-Tnroo-Bnlgarian armies in the Dobrndja. The few details available show that . under heavy fire, and at great risk, two squadrons of the armoure dears forced a passage through the enemy lines, whereby a, large force of the enemy was cut olf.

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 mt-n left the motors, and as a result were made prisoners by the Germans.

As already announced, the appearance of this British force in lioumania came as a dramatic surprise, as when last heard of the squadrons were fighting' in fardistant theatres. lii one month the squadrons had made a record journey from Turkey. Two of the 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 the supply of petrol and even food vtAy difficult, and the officers and men of the squadrons had to hunt down Turkish cattle. A great day was the 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 squadron actually reached the Russian armies, they had exhausted their supply. It would take them a matter ot three da vs before they could get anv 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 openly surveyed as though an attack was to be made. This deception was kept up tor two days until, the petrol arrived, and it completely deluded the Turks. When the petrol had arrived the armoured cars undertook an attack upon the village ot jSorsheu. 1 , .' ‘. ; • The Turks had been allowed to infer that the armoured cars were going away, and their surpnse was complete. The distance separating the armoured-ear position and ‘ the- Turkish village was traversed by The armoured cars before arty reinforcements could come up, and-the village was surrounded. *• „ , . , , One shot alone from one of the guns on the armoured cars, de-' stroyed a Turkish magazine at the base, killing over 300 Turks. Tins engagement, was one of many similar skirmishes in this region. The Kurds proved a brutal enemy.A They captured Two Cossacks":, attached to the. armoured car ■ squadrons, and carried them offi To The hills. r " fTlie day They came with their knives', rolled up the sleeves of their ' captives’ right arln and sharpened their knives upon it. f"A ■ ~ , They did the same the day following,: upon, their-left arm. ..The third day they came to kill them; .only to dud that the prisoners had escaped and were back again with their squadrons.