"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية: العمليات في بلاد فارس ١٩١٤-١٩١٩" [و‎‎٢‎٥‎١] (٥٦٦/٥٠٨)

TRAN S-C ASPIA
445
and financial situation, as well as the probable results of a
British withdrawal. He recapitulated briefly the sequence of
events which had led to the British agreement with the Trans-
Caspian Government, to their subsequent resignation owing to
financial difficulties, and to the hurried formation of a Com
mittee of Public Safety to administer the country; and he
pointed out that the presence of British troops had been the
only obstacle to a Bolshevik domination and was the sole
security for the position and safety of the existing administra
tion. The majority of the Russian element in the country
inclined towards Bolshevism and would adopt it if it gained
ascendancy ; and the feeling between them and the Turkomans,
who claimed the country, was strong. But the unfitness of the
Turkomans to govern and the helplessness of the Russians had
led to a temporary bond between the two. The President of
the Administration had informed him, he continued, that the
Russians had lost heart and had begged that the British
should remain. The railway workers were complying with
British demands only as long as they received wages, but the
non-payment of money due for January might lead to a stoppage
of traffic. The attempt of the Trans-Caspian Government to
raise troops by a general mobilisation having proved unsatis
factory, the existing administration had annulled the order and
had instituted the formation of volunteer detachments. But as
they had no money to pay these, the scheme had met with no
success and the whole Russian, as opposed to the Turkoman,
force apparently only consisted of about 200 infantry and three
armoured trains. The country was bankrupt, a financial crisis
was rapidly approaching and no great improvement could be
expected till a strong Government was placed in power and
trade was re-opened with areas in the hands of the Bolsheviks.
Sixteen or seventeen million roubles monthly would be required
to maintain the Government, and of this amount General
Malleson estimated that we should have to supply £100,000 a
month.
The military situation, which he described, would, he con
tinued, be ludicrous if it were not so unsound. The presence of
the British detachment maintained our Allies in position an
prevented a revolution at Askabad with paralysis of rail and
telegraphic communications. The exisitng triple responsibi i y
of command—^between British, Russians and Turkomans—was
unsatisfactory, but was the best in the circumstances. c
Turkoman Commander-in-Chief was anxious to obtain a better
covering position by an occupation of Charjui an c xus
(27782) 2 G2