HEROES OF CASPIAN SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 January 1920, Page 10

HEROES OF CASPIAN SEA.

12 BOLSHEVIK SHIPS SUNK. How a comparatively small group of British naval officers and men cleared the Caspian Sea of Bolshevik forces is graphically told by Bear-Admiral Seymour, commanding in the Black Sea. Altogether 12 enemy ships were sunk in Alexandrovsk harbor. News was received that the Bolshevik naval authorities at Astrakan intended to carry out an attack on Petrovsk or Baku, with the object of obtaining oil, pf which they were in urgent need. A preliminary to that was the occupation of Fort Alexandrovsk. Reinforcements reached Commodore David T. Norris, C.8., in command of the British flotilla, and in an encounter some days later the flotilla had a severe fight with an enemy force, which included a destroyer and various armed barges. The destroyer was hit j by a shot from the British ship Venture, and appeared to run ashore. The British ship Emile Noble was hit in the engiine room, five men being killed and seven wounded. The vessel drew out of the line, but continued to light. Five British ships followed the enemy into the harbor, and did great damage before drawing off into the direction of Astrakan, as Commodore Norris intended, if possible, to remain on the enemy's line of retreat. During the next few days the operations of a seaplane provided the chief incidents. In the second raid on Fort Alexandrovsk one bomb hit an armed merchant cruiser and a destroyer was sunk. On one occasion the seaplane ran into a fog and fell into the sea. The officers were not picked up for 32 hours. Three or four days later a close reconnaissanae of Fort Alexandrovsk was made. The coastal motor boats proceeded up harbor under the command of Commander Eric 6. Robinson, V.C. On their way they torpedoed a large barge, and on arrival up harbor a white flag was hoisted ashore and a deputation came off. From these men full details of the Bolshevik operations were obtained. Admiral Seymour specially mentions several officers and men, among them ActinglCaptam Basil G. Washington, C.M.G., who commanded the Windsor Castle, on which he was the only British officer, and Commander Kenneth A. F. Guy, who handled the crippled Emile Noble with great ability. Commander Robinson gained his V.C. in 1915 for gallantry in the Dardanelles minefield, when he destroyed two enemy guns. Lieutenant Agar, R.N., was recently received by the King, who conferred upon him the V.C and also the D.S.O. These honors were awarded for Lieutenant Agar's gallant feats in connection with the torpedoing of the Bolshevik fleet, and the King detained him for ' nearly half an hour, listening to his adventures in the Baltic. Lieutenant Agar informed a reporter that the presentation of the D.S.O. was a surprise, as he did not know it had bees awarded jtobia.