“HUSH ! HUSH !”

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1919, Page 4

“HUSH ! HUSH !”

EXPEDITION TO THE EAST. London, Jan 21. In December. 1917, about a dozen New Zealand officers and twentytwo u.c.o ‘s were seconded from the N.Z.E-F. for special service with the British Army, and at the time there was much speculation as to their destination. Their equipment was manifestly for a hot climate, but speculation as to the exact destination continued for weeks. The party was called tbe “ Hush! Hush ! ” and those “ in the know ” breathed the word East in connexion with them. Well, three oi the officers have just got back to London, from Bagdad.' They are Major F. Starnes, D. 5.0., Canterbury Regiment; Captain E. R. Wells, M.C., Otago M.R., and Captain C. F. Seaward, MC., Aucklaud Regiment. Those who in December, 1917, held rank below captain, were specially promoted to that station. The remaining members of the party are now either at Bagdad or Bombay, and in all probability they will return to New Zealand direct. The party included, in addition to those already mentioned : Captains S. T. Seddou, Auckland Regiment ; T. W. L- Rutherford, M.C., Canterbury Regiment; W. F. Tracy, M.C., Otago Regiment; C. M. McL. Bathgate, Otago Regiment; A. C. P. Hay, Cue. Corps; R. K. Nicol, M,C., Wellington Regiment: S. G. Scoullar, N.Z.R.8., G. E. F. Kmgscote, Rifle Brigade.

Major Starnes had command of one of the columns that operated from Bagdad to travel through Persia by way ot Kermanshah and Hamadan with the intention ofjoining forces with that part of the Russian Army in the Caucasus which was still fighting the Turks. The column got as far as Kasbin, near the Caspian Sea, but difficulties arose in the shape of very strong opposition from the Jungalese—a frontier Persian-Turko tribe —who, backed by the Turks, showed considerable opposition, and the falling back ol the Russians and Armenians prevented the column carrying out its original intention to go through to Baku.

From Kasbin the column turned towards Bijar and Rake Urmia, and iormed pg,rt of the protecting flank of the (British troops which ultimately reached Bagdad. The New Zealanders passed all through the famine-stricken district of Persia, and in some parts food was so short —unobtainable, in fact—that women were seen eating their children Anything that could be had was obtainable only at a huge price, and the soldiers had a great difficulty in getting stores ol any kind owing to their great distance from a base. The special additional allowance of £i per day was of little benefit, for even then, what they were able to get was insufficient. The object of the special force beingaclueved, it reached Bagdad and there disbanded. In it there was a proportion of British, Canadian, Australian, and South African officers and men in addition to the New Zealanders.