"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية. الحملة في بلاد الرافدين ١٩١٤-١٩١٨. المجلد IV". [و‎‎١‎٣‎٥] (٥٤٠/٢٧٤)

LOCAL CONDITIONS
217
The main Turkish position lay along the ridge on the further
side of the railway to the west, and the cliffs between it and
the town afforded in General Dunstervilles opinion a very
strong position to reliable troops. But the local troops were
not reliable and the British troops were too few to do more
than hold the left of the line and Dirty Volcano, which appeared
to be the most important points. The general reserve was
supplied by local troops, but it was soon found that they
were seldom at hand when required. They were composed
for the most part of townbred Armenians of a less virile type
than their rural countrymen whose courage had been frequently
shown elsewhere. The Baku Armenians disdained to dig
trenches, had little idea how to use their rifles effectively,
constantly disobeyed orders and generally speaking showed
little courage.*
The town was controlled by five Dictators and the fleet
controlled the Dictators. Commodore Norris being very
anxious to commence his work of taking over and arming
merchant vessels, General Dunsterville asked for six ships to
begin with, pointing out the benefits that would accrue. But
the fleet and Dictators were all against such a coursef and
General Dunsterville felt that it was inadvisable, if not
impossible, to act in opposition to their wishes.
It was clear to General Dunsterville that the situation w r as
as bad as it could be. The best way to save the town would
be to seize and hold the heights to the west, then in Turkish
possession. But the local troops were not fit for such a task
and it would take much reorganisation and training to render
them capable of it. The most that could be hoped for was a
passive defence till British reinforcements or Bicharakoff’s men|
The Adventures of Dunsterforce ” General Dunsterville says :
I do not blame the Armenian soldier of Baku for his cowardice, which is
at best merely a comparative term. He was not a soldier by instinct or training,
but just an ill-fed, undersized factory hand. A rifle was pushed into his hand
and he was told to go and fight. He had no equipment, no proper instructors,
no decent officers and no regular arrangements for food supply. Meanwhile
as he sat in the trenches, with the bullets whistling by and the shells bursting
overhead, he knew that most of his mates had skulked back to town and were
having tea with the girls, and why shouldn’t he go too ? . . . under such
circumstances no troops could be expected to display a high standard of
valour. And finally I would add that there were many cases of individual
bravery among them.”
f They suggested that our guns should be mounted on their ships and should
come under their officers and orders.
+ bicharakoff was at Derbend, where he had been joined by half the garrison
and had beaten off an attack by Bolsheviks. He propxised to occupy Petrovsk
and to obtain reinforcements from Northern Caucasia to relieve Baku.