NO ROADS OR BRIDGES.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 15 March 1917, Page 5

NO ROADS OR BRIDGES.

ADVENTURES OF BRITISH ARMOURED CARS. CARS HAULED BY HAND ACROSS STREAMS AND BOGS. Details have been received from the Caucasus by Reuter’s Agency of the work of the British armoured-car squadrons which have been operating with the Russians’ against the Turks. Probably no unit of the British Forces has had more varied experiences than those that fell to the devoted men who, coming from all parts of the British Empire, have, after being icebound for months in the Arctic, crossed European Russia, and, after performing the remarkable feat of crossing the appalling “roads” of the Caucasus and doing good work against the Turks there, have now appeared in action side by side with the i Russo-Roumanian armies in the Doj brudja. , In addition to the military value of their work, their presence has been productive of great good, particularly in the remoter parts of their field of action. They have oeen received everywhere with open arms by our Russian allies, w r hile several of the officers and men have been decorated by the Tsar. After their first encounter with the Turks, the Grand Duke Nicholas sent to Commander Locker-Lampson a special telegram of congratulation and best wishes for the future, w-hile Maj-or-Genenral Nazabekoff also telegraphed expressing his deepest thanks to the “courageous squadron which has. given such valuable help to the troops entrusted to me.” The Russian commander added; “The memory of my co-operation with the valiant Englishmen rvill always remain with me.” j WINTER IN THE ICE. I Pending the arrival of the armoured \ cars from the Kola peninsula, an officer was despatched to Tfflis and Erj zerum to report on the conditions, and after conferences at Petrogfad orders were given for the squadron to leave immediately -for the Caucasian front. 1 After their winter in the Arctic ice some of the cars needed repair, and in order to ensure a punctual start, two days and nights were occupied in necessary repairs and overhauls. | Early one morning the squadron left \ladikavkas for Mscheb, lis, and reached that place in excellent order. The cars were urgentlyneeded to inspect roads beyond Erzerum, which the continued retreat of the enemy had left open.

The difficulties of the journey were enormous, having to be made, as it was, along winding, precipitous, ’and ill-kept tracks, the only avenue of.supply for the great army. For over a hundred miles was met a constant procession of ancient carts, slow-mov-ing camels and dromedaries, mule

teams, ox-waggons, with circular, spokeless wheels, and caravans extcnding for hundreds of yards. The road surface proved the greatst obstacle, and the base-plates of some of the cars were ripped open by projecting rocks. With characteristic ••nandiness” these defects were made good ; with secotine, soap, and medical piaster, and every armoured car got to Kars eighteen hours before the scheduled time. ! 2000-MILE JOURNEY. Forty miles further on—at Sarak- . amish—the cars were inspected by the Grand Duke, who invited sixteen officers to lunch' in the Imperial train, , was then decided to send one 1 P or Uon of the squadron to the Rus- ; sian left hank near Mush. A noteworthy inspection journey of : 2000 miles was made by one cf rhs officers beyond Erzerum and Trebizond, ■ during wffiich time he suffered much from shortage of food and exposure. On his return a squadron was despatched to Mush, while the commander himself proceeded to Erzerum, where it was' found that the Turkish, advance had been checked. The great distance of this, front from the main, artery of supply made the question of supplies and transport very difficult, but, in spite of these, another squadron was despatched to Mush. Progress was extremely difficult, as the bridges had been destroyed, and one of the squadron despite heroic efforts, involving the passage of a river where cars and and men were partially immersed for two days, was unable to proceed. Undeterred by all obstacles, another squadron proceeded to Charborg, and, after incredible difficulties, what was left of it duly arrived. Base plates had been from the cars, rods twisted, axles bent, and gears seized, and it was little short of a miracle that the cars got through. The cars were then ordered to proceed to the plain of Mush, and reach the Bitlis road before dawn. By this time the strain was telling heavilv on both officers and men, hut there w'as no time for rest, and a start was made. In a long time and a dead silence th e cars proceeded at a snail’s

pace across the plain. All had been warned against the Kurds, and urged not to allow any nian to fall alive into their hands, owiTTg to their nameless ■cruelties, and the merciless vendetta between them and the Cossacks. The greatest care was therefore taken not , to let the cars become separated. Difficulties increased as the squadron proceeded. .Wood was scarce for bridging purposes, and in many cases the cars had to be hauled by hand across streams and bogs. Sometimes the floor of the waterway was raised by stones which ripped holes in the cars. A village was reached which was deserted, every inhabitant having been murdered by the Turks. From this place there appeared to be no road, and the journey now became a blind pilgrimage. The path was barred with dry and bard river beds, and endless streams filled with rotting carcases, and with every move forward the more anxiety there was as to the chances of getting back. - After considerable work a stream was bridged and some of the armoured cars passed safely over, but one of the cars foundered, destroyed the temporary supports, and prevented the cars behind from crossing. The situation was a serious-one, but as there was a report that a Turkish battalion was ahead Commander Locker Lampson hastened on with a Cossack, who mounted his car, as his horse been shot. Owing to various causes the following cars became separated by hundreds To reach Marnik, the new objective, seemed impossible, and all felt inclined to give in at an unfordable river. This, however, was crossed, and, in ■ the shadow of the .mountains, two miles ahead, there was faintly discernahle a village and figures of moving horsemen. Meanwhile the petrol was going, only a gollon remained in the tank, and it was essential to gain the village. At sundown it'was reached, but it was too dangerofls to proceed. The officer in charge said that no car had ever entered the plain before. The impossibility of advance was a great disappointment, and it was a difficult task next day to return and face the rest of the squadron, who had battled through to within three miles of the village, living on fish, and drinking water from the radiators sooner than turn back.