THE BAKU EXPEDITION.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14875, 25 September 1918, Page 7

THE BAKU EXPEDITION.

£UJ»IT2D PBEBB AsSOOlAlifcA.j

Wellington, September 23. The British Ministry of Information states: —

A British detachment was sent to Baku, on the urgent appeal of the inhabitants, with a view of stiffening the deienco against the Turks and Germans and Saving Caspian shipping and Baku oil. It was known that the expedition was hazardous, since the Armenian .National GWncilhad made peace with the Turks, but it was hoped that the Armenian population of 800,000 would offer, a stout resistance to their , persecutors, and, if so, the strategical gain was held to justify the rick. The Bolsheviki Government, was overthrown and a new one set up, which begged for British assistance, but the number *'of troops sent was limited by difficult communications ; To secure, this small force,-including some 10,000• Russians and, Armenians on the spot, -it was (Jbvious. that loyal co-operation .wa^rieces-. sary, but the Jocal Government a-p-*' pearod tGhtaifik; tiiat-nd? further;.; effort, was necessary after trie arrival of the British detachment, and the; Armenian troops preyed quite unreliable in action. <>n August 26th a determined Turkish attack', was beaten off by the North Staffordshire^, .and Worcestors, andl.a second attack in another sector, was also repitlsed. -By-.the end of August it was recognised.that the co-operation of the local Government was insufficient to justify the sacrifice of our small detachment in Baku," in the face oi s/aperior enemy mimbe.rs and the difficulty of comniunicatiuijs, arid orders were issued to evacuate the British troops. The same day the Turks again attacked, and our allies again failed to ec-operate, so that the Royal Warwickshire Regiment had to cover? the retreat of the Armenians and Russians, and, it is fearcCi, lost heavily. On September 2nd the Russian General Bichalakov ; occupied Gtrovsk, and promised to send reinforcements to Balcu. A first • smali detachment .'tctiially arrived oil September 9th. Promises of; reinforcements nn-V corn mrative enemy 'inactivity tended to sinprove the morale of our' allies, butirieanwhile the Armenians were negotiating to hand over the town to the enemy. The British thereupon trained theirguns on the Armenian quarter; • On- the 14th the ■Turks'! made a determined attack, and after a battle of 16 hours, chiefly bornej by the British, our troops evacuated Baku. The Russians we're by now dis- j gusted at the feeble and untrustworthy behaviour of the ArmeniEtns, and cori-j templated depesing the Goyernment and j assuming control in conjiyiction with; the : British.; As Dunsterviile reports the evacuation of his force, the RussiauS|probahly helped hini M-itli the necessary shipping; realising, that; furth^ ' resistance w^s ."useless..:.; In Trans-Caspia the /Bolsheviki ; advaoDce has come'to a standstill, owing to. the assistance of .British troops. .^;v." .;.:.

'" Sineta the' Avar "began a Russian is said to have made £10 3 000 by unauthorised dealing-in cast-off uniform^ and accoutrements.