Paris Peace Conference 184.01602/21: Telegram
Admiral Bristol to the Commission to Negotiate Peace
[Received in Paris April 22, 2:20 p.m.]
171. For Churchill. [From] Berry 12. Situation report. 6th.
Military. North Caucasus front. Local fighting continues between Volunteer Army and Chechens.9 General Denikin accompanied by General Briggs of English mission have gone to Grozni to persuade Chechen lay down arms.
Manich front. Bolsheviki attacking between Lake Manich and Don making considerable progress.
Donetz Basin. General Shakurare [Shkuro?] captured entire Yuzovka group of town completely annihilating Soviet regiment. Volunteer Army now within eight miles Mariupol.
Crimea. In consequence French action, the Volunteer Army is evacuating Crimea. Refugees now arriving here. South Crimea was a refuge for all that is left of the best Russian society. Moral and perhaps military effect of losses Crimea was disastrous for Volunteer Army.
Odessa. French evacuated Odessa without warning April 5th, deserted Greeks and Volunteer forces who are reported retreating over land to Roumania. Situation is growing serious here. Colonels Riggs and Whitehouse arrived Novorossisk on [from] Odessa. Remainder of Odessa party reported returned to Constantinople. General Denikin absolutely was not informed of contemplated French action. He has telegraphed General d’Esperey asking him to send transports to bring Volunteer troops on [from] Akkerman to Novorossisk and asking what measures he proposes taking to safeguard residents on [from] Bolsheviki outrages. Also requested that explanation of their actions comes on [from] French Government.
General. Above action of French has increased enormously the already serious situation Volunteer Army. It must be expected that tired troops who have been losing ground against overwhelming odds during last three months will come dangerously near collapse when they realize their desertion by an Allied power and seeing their exposed left flank, which they can scarcely afford to defend owing to lack man power. Probability of unrest and hostile demonstration in rear of army is increasing and Bolshevism is omnipresent everywhere all the time. [Berry.]
- The Chechentsi, a mountain tribe of Terek Province.↩