THE BRITISH AT BAKU.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1919, Page 5

THE BRITISH AT BAKU.

THE "HUSH, HUSH" PARTY. Captain Gordon Hopkins, who has just returned to Vancouver from Mesopotamia, has a most interesting tale to tell of the work ol that mysterious expedition known as the "Dunsterforce," auJ otherwise called the "Hush, hiuh party." He took part .in the historic dash lor Baku, The collapse of the .Russian army and the general demoralisation in the Caucasus placed Baku und its oil wells in danger of capture by the Turks, and it was decided to send an expedition there through Mesopotamia and Persia. Volunteers were called for, and Captain Hopkins was among those selected. The as it was known, because the commanding officer was General Dunsterville, was to raise levies among tiie Armenians and act as officers, and some English troops were sent along. The expedition did the journey on foot., marching at night while in Mesopotamia, and living off the country while in Persia and Caucasus. The Dunstenforce was plentifully supplied with money, but found supplies hard to get, as Russian troops had been through the country aud had swept it fairly clean. A Bolshevik administration had been set up at Baku, and the force halted for some time to await reinforcements; but ihese did not come up. Then there was an election and the Armenians obtained ••.iiitrol, and invited the British in. Some tank steamers were secured on the Caspian Sea, and the little army occupied Baku, Then the Dunsterforce set to work to raise an Armenian army; but it was a heartbreaking job. Some Russian troops also arrived, but the situation was never secure. A captured Turkish officer gave information that the Turks had decided to take Baku at all costs, and when this was known the Armenian army melted away.

"We had' as in aay as 3000 desertions a day," said Captain Hopkins. "The Persian'levies also left, and so did sonic of the Russians." The situation at Baku was humorous in a way.: There were three Russian gunboats at the ports with Bolsheviki crews Tile British had a hard time keep nig track of the officers. Negotiating with the commander of a gunboat, they 'ivould find a day or two later that the (tsw had deposed that officer and elected someone else. It was the same with the troops. Captain Hopkins had many interesting experiences in this connection; but the Bunsterforce could see that there was no hope of putting any stiffening into the levies raised. It was therefore decided io evacuate Baku; but the Bolshevik cruisers objected to the British leaving, and threatened to fire on the three tankers which were to tnke the [troops away. However, the crews of the I cri'isers decided tlmt they would take their women and children to sea with 1 hem, and while they were on shore the Dunsterforeo boarded llie tankers, having heavily paid the Russian skippers ami engineers. Machine-guns were trained down the streets near the docks, and when the troops were on board the ma-chine-gunners were hastily called in, the tinkers cast off, and the expedition got clofir of Baku, went to Persia, and returned to Bagdad and Basra, During the attack on Baku by the Turks the few English troops fought bravely, hanging en like grim death, and they suffered heavily while the Armenians and Persians were leaviug the trenches and flying.