The Cotton Spies

CHAPTER 39

  To: General Harris, Headquarters Indian Army Simla

  From: General Barber – Meshed

  I have received a report from Colonel Fishlock in Ashkhabad and a communication from the current Trans Caspian Government, known as the Free Turkestan Union (FTU), requesting military help. The latter government consists of Turkmen and Russians.

  Colonel Fishlock reports by telegraph that:

  The Trans Caspian Government consists of nearly all ex railway workers with no experience of either war or civil administration; they call themselves Social Revolutionaries (SRs) and their government the FTU.

  Bolshevik troops from Tashkent have driven the SRs back along the railway from Merv. The Bolshevik troops consist almost entirely of former German and Austro-Hungarian POWs. As such these Bolshevik troops are experienced soldiers. The soldiers have been promised that if they help the Bolsheviks drive west then when the Bolsheviks meet the Turkish and German forces driving to the east then the POWs can leave the Bolshevik army and go home.

  The forces of the FTU are untrained and though their numbers exceed those of the Bolsheviks they consist only of a few ex Imperial Russian officers plus men from the local Turkmen tribes. The latter though warlike fifty years ago no longer seem to have any capacity for military action. The SRs are reported to have performed badly in the fighting for the town of Merv. The Trans Caspian FTU forces therefore need training and they need weapons particularly artillery if they are to stop the Bolshevik drive west from Tashkent.

  The Trans Caspian Government in Ashkhabad have made a formal request for money and arms as well as British troops to support the SR troops against the Bolos. I therefore seek orders as to what I should do in respect of this request. Colonel Fishlock in Ashkhabad is attempting to clarify what the FTU government need.

  General Harris handed a sheaf of papers to Routledge. ‘I thought you ought to read the instructions the Home Government had given us to forward to Meshed. The instructions have just been decoded so let us get them off, as soon as you have read them.’

  To: General Barber - Meshed

  From: General Harris – Simla

  I have received the following instructions about your dealings with the Government of Trans-Caspia.

  To: General Barber - Meshed

  From: General McColl – War Office London

  Because of the lack of clarity and accurate information concerning the area known as Trans-Caspia the War Office feels that they must trust the judgement of the person on the spot to do what they consider necessary. The key concerns of the War Office are: any crossing of the Caspian Sea by the enemy; their subsequent use of the railway line running east from Krasnovodsk to Merv. Every effort must be made to stop the enemy crossing the Caspian. If the enemy succeeds in crossing the Caspian then this railway line should be held by our forces against them. Any local force that might provide support for a German or Turkish advance to the east must be opposed. In this case the local decision must be to support the FTU by all means available.

  Routledge handed the telegram back to General Harris. ‘I think that in this case leaving the decision to the man on the spot is very sensible, sir. I just hope Barber does the right thing.’

  ‘So do I Routledge, so do I,’ the general stared at Routledge before adding, ‘whatever that is.’

  Barber waited until Statham had finished reading before he spoke. ‘I think this gives me carte blanche to support our friends in Russia with troops. I will not allow it to be said that we failed to do our duty.’

  ‘I absolutely agree, sir,’ said Statham though he was far from sure that carte blanche was a term he would have used.

  ‘I have drafted this telegram. Please read it, code it and write the necessary orders please. Immediate action is called for.’ He handed Statham a sheet of paper.

  To: President Belov of the Trans Caspian Government

  From: General Barber

  I have ordered Major Squires with a company of soldiers from the 19th Punjabis, plus a machine gun detachment, to report to the General Officer commanding your Trans Caspian forces currently opposed to the Bolshevik army of ex German and Austro-Hungarian soldiers based in Tashkent but now threatening Merv. The primary objective of the British soldiers is to support your troops and also to provide your troops with training.