Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎102v] (204/544)

4
Relief of Refugees
from Bijar.
Baku and the
Caucasus.
I lie Chairman considered that this suggestion correctly
expressed the views of the Committee. Me himself thought that
the terms of the draft required hardly any alteration, but he
su &i-? es ted that the amended message should begin with the second
part of the draft and be prefaced by some such phrase as “ Our idea
of the situation is as follows . . . what are your views . . . . 9 ”
rhe final message should also enquire when the telegram from the
Indian Government might be expected.
The Committee agreed—
That no decision could be arrived at until the views of the
Government of India had been ascertained, and authorised
the despatch of the message, which should be a personal
communication f rom Sir Henry Wilson to General Monro,
amended in the above sense.
3. \\ ith reference to the twenty-seventh meeting of the Com
mittee (Minute 2), General Macdonogh said that, in accordance with
the decision of the Committee, he had telegraphed to General
Marshall asking the latter’s views in regard to the proposal to divert
the refugees to Hillah (E.C.-12o$). General Marshall’s reply had
now been received and was as follows (E.C.-J282) :—
“ Your 63558 of the 18th August. Majority of refugees
will be evacuated to Baqubah, where camps are being prepared
in order to facilitate supply administration. Reports are
awaited from Hamadan regarding number of fighting men
available among refugees with a view to making best use of
suitable material for levies, Ac. Labour corps will also be
formed, and three are already being organised at Hamadan for
work on Persian road. Disposal of remainder will not be
decided until after they are collected at Baqubah.”
General Macdonogh briejiy summarised the latest information
regarding the situation at Baku. The line of defence for the town
was 18 miles in length and stretched across the Peninsula. The
enemy force at present consisted of the 5th Caucasian Division,
numbering some 5,000 combatants, about 2,000 Tartars and ten
guns. On the 12th August one Turkish regiment had been ordered
out to support the enemy’s attacking forces. On the 18th August
some heavy artillery had started from Batoum for Baku. On the
same date the Germans and Turks had agreed as to their common
action and had arrived at a settlement of their disputes regarding
the use of the railway. In consequence, we might expect that as
soon as the Turkish regiment and the heavy artillery joined the
enemy forces, the latter would press an attack against Baku. On
the 4th August the garrison there had consisted of 8,000 men.
Four days later the Bolshevik part of it had fled. On the 14th
instant 37'5 British rank and file, with 16 machine guns and some
armoured cars had reached Baku, where Dunsterville was due four
days later; we had, however, received no news of his arrival. To
the north of Baku, Bicharakoff was said to be near Derbend, and
trying to get into touch with Alexieff, who was showing signs of
renewed activity. The Germans evidently wished to seize Grosny
and the oil wells there. To the south of Baku we had about 3,500
Mughan Russians who, we had suggested to General Marshall,
might be usefully employed to operate against the Turkish right
flank. As regards Colonel Battine ajid his party at Krasnovodsk,
they had moved forward on the 20th instant with two guns towards
Askabad, but all the British officers except Battine himself were
down with fever. According to latest reports the Germans had
four battalions and 25 aeroplanes in the Caucasus. We had no
fresh news of the movements of the Caspian fleet.