"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية. الحملة في بلاد الرافدين ١٩١٤-١٩١٨. المجلد IV". [و‎‎١‎٥‎٠] (٥٤٠/٣٠٤)

DECISION TO EVACUATE
245
Faviell, the Warwicks held on for a time to enable the 8 th
Field Battery to withdraw and then fell back into line with
the Worcestershire. During this time Major Havelock’s party
had again been heavily engaged and, deserted by most of the
local troops, had been obliged to fall back in the direction of
the town. Major Havelock himself was killed and many of
his detachment were killed or wounded. About 3 p.m. the
Russians on the left of the Worcestershire main body also
retired. This necessitated the further retirement of the whole
line, which fell back gradually and slowly till about 5 p.m.
when it reached the vicinity of the northern outskirts of the
town.
lo return to the British left, where the Turkish pressure had
been steadily maintained and where, owing to the amount of
dead ground, it had been impossible to observe their numbers
and dispositions. They had brought several guns into action
and from 10 a.m. onward shelled the Allied line heavily,
especially directing their fire against the cemetery hill position ;
and between 2 and 4 p.m. they gradually worked forward into
a cemetery to the north-west of this position. From here
their machine guns enfiladed the cemetery hill crest and under
this fire the local troops suddenly retreated about 4 p.m. With
insufficient men to fill the gaps they left, Major Ley felt that
he had no option but to withdraw his men also. As, however,
the enemy made no attempt to follow up our retirement, the
local troops were able to rally and push uphill again with part
of the North Staffordshire, to take up a final and last position.
At 3 p.m. Colonel Keyworth came to the conclusion that,
if they wished to avoid annihilation or capture, the British
troops must evacuate Baku.* Colonel Stokes was sent for and
the situation explained for the information of the Russian
Commander-in-Chief. After this the necessary orders for with
drawal were issued, Major Ley being instructedf to hold on to
his position at all costs till 8.30 p.m. to enable the remainder
of the troops to withdraw to the place of embarkation.
In point of fact, the enemy appears to have been incapable
of further serious effort anywhere after about 4 p.m. ; and the
gallant tenacity of the British infantry had been so far successful
* General Dunsterville, having learnt that the Russian Commander-in-
Chief considered further resistance impossible, had visited Colonel Keyworth’s
headquarters a little while before this and discussed the situation. Finding,
Jowever, that Colonel Keyworth considered that the position could be held
till the evening. General Dunsterville left it entirely to his decision whether and
when evacuation was necessary,
t This order reached Major Ley about 6.30 p.m.