DELUDING THE TURKS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1692, 29 March 1917, Page 4

DELUDING THE TURKS.

“TANKS” IN THE DOBRUDJA. Some details are now to hand regarding the recent work of the British naval armoured car squadron in the Dohrudja. In one case two squadrons under heavy fire forced their way through the enemy’s lines and cut off a large enemy force. Every one of the vehicles got back, but in order to save the cars, one officer and six men left the motors and were made prisoners. The Emperor of Russia has conferred the Cross of St. George upon nine members of the unit. Two of the si pm (Irons after considerable difficulty joined up with the Russian army operating in Turkish Armenia. Impediments of transport made the supply of petrol, and even food, very difficult. As for petrol, the great distances involved considerable consumption, and when the squadron actually reached the Russian armies they had exhausted their supply. The situation was saved by collecting all the petrol left in the cars and putting it in the best car, which was sent forward deliberately as though to reconnoitre. The ground was then openly surveyed as though an attack Avas to he made. This deception Avas kept up for two days until the petrol arrived; it completely deluded the Turks. In (he subsequent attack on the village of Norshaii the Turks had been allowed to infer that the armoured cars were going away, and their surprise Avas complete. Before any reinforcements could come up the village had been surrounded, and one shot from a gun on the armoured cars destroyed a Turk ish magazine at the hast', killing over 300 Turks.