the IAC/NCC had to fight north from Derbent during the
month of October, in the face of stiff resistance from
Bicherekhov's forces, complemented by armored trains
and Russian ships in the Caspian Sea.
The details of the battles reveal precise military moves
and, unfortunately, high casualties.//
Battles Conducted North of Derbent
After the seizure of Derbent, the 15th Division was forced to halt 4
kilometers north of Derbent and remained at this location for 10 days
(sic), from 6 to 20 October. During this period the enemy attacked a
number of times in an effort to retake Derbent, but was repulsed each
time. The battles that occurred during this 10-day period are detailed
below.
On the morning of 7 October, the enemy began an attack with an
estimated 800 infantry, 8 machine guns and 4 cannon. An armored
train joined in the attack, as well. After 1 o’clock, although Ye56’s
left flank contracted a bit, the situation was ameliorated with Ye38 T2
being sent from divisional reserves. We suffered 54 wounded (2
officers) and 10 martyrs in this battle.
There was no fighting on 8 October. The enemy evacuated Akhty
station and moved one kilometer north of the station to the ridges,
which were more easily defended. Meanwhile, the 15th Division
reinforced its positions. One day later, on 9 October, the enemy attacked
a second time with more forces. Before 9 o’clock, at least one enemy
infantry regiment, effectively supported by 8 cannons, began an attack
on the north and west sides of the station. The 'Kars' and 'Ardahan'
armored vessels belonging to the Russian Caspian Sea fleet approached
the shore and began to bombard the communications line and the rear
detachment encampments. The enemy attack was 500 meters on our
right flank and 1,500 meters on our left flank. In particular, though, our
cannon fire destroyed the locomotive and a large amount of ammunition
was seized after the train crew fled.
The Russian gunboat 'Kars' bombarded the Turks north of
Derbent from the Caspian Sea on 9 October 1918.
On the morning of 12 October, Ye107 and Ye13 came to Derbent in
order to replace the 15th Division and the exchange was accomplished
that night. On the morning of 13 October, Ye56 and Ye38 assembled at
the rear of the front. However, the decision was made not to send the
Division to Batumi, as had been described above, and to have it
continue the operation to cleanse the Northern Caucasus of the enemy.
Since Ye107 and T46 were attached to the 15th Division, the Division
now had a full complement of three regiments.
Early on the morning of 13 October, the enemy went into action. Before
5 o’clock, an enemy force consisting of an infantry company and a
cavalry company advanced on the Division’s left flank from Zaryan but
was repulsed by the Division’s cavalry company and militia cavalry,
together with Ye38 T3. After 3 o’clock, 15 kilometers south of Derbent
a few enemy ships came and seemed to be disembarking troops before
they departed again. At the front, Ye107 was on the right and T46 was
on the left. Ye56 and Ye38 were held in reserve. After 2 o’clock, an
enemy force of about 300 infantry and 6 machine guns, supported by
cannon fire, attacked the T46 front. The battalion’s 4th company
withdrew about one kilometer. There was a danger that the front would
be split.
Division Commander Süleyman İzzet Bey took two companies from
Ye38 T1, which was in reserve, and personally sent them to the front for
an attack. Soon after, these two companies made a bayonet attack and
repulsed the enemy. The losses in the battle today were 49 martyrs, two
of whom were officers – one of them the Ye107 T2 commander, 5
officers wounded, 10 soldiers missing. The losses suffered by the
officers is sufficient to prove their self-sacrifice and zeal.
With a raid conducted at night, T46 completely recovered the lost
positions.
Makhachkala (Petrovsk)
Given that it was possible that the enemy would renew its attack with
additional forces and in light of the fact that the Division’s transport to
Batumi had been shelved, Ye38 was sent to the front once more. In this
way, command on the front was split between the Ye107 and Ye38
commanders. Ye56 and Ye107 T1 were held in reserve.
From 6 to 20 October, there were three big battles as described above.
On the other days of the period, there was routine firing on the enemy
trenches, which were kept under observation, and reconnaissance team
clashes. When Bicherekhov did not reply within the alloted time to
the demand of President Mecid Çhermeyev that the land of the North
Caucasus Government be evacuated immediately, the Northern Caucasus
Army Commander decided to attack the enemy in the vicinity of Han
Mehmed Kale with the bulk of his forces.
The order issued for this attack is presented below verbatim, in light of
its importance:
Derbent
19 October 1918 after 8 o’clock
To the 15th Division Command
1- The note given by the Republic Government demanding the
evacuation of land belonging to the North Caucasus Government Republic
between the city of Petrovsk and its surroundings and Derbent expires
on 20 October 1918. In the event that a positive reply is not received from
the enemy, the Republic Government is determined to take back this land
to ameliorate this danger to its independence. Consequently, troops
under your command in the vicinity of Derbent must be ready to attack
with an order given as of the morning of 20 October.
2- Based on the latest reports from Levaşi, Daşlagar and Çerkehi, the
enemy at Petrovsk is being pressured by Chechens from the north. It is
being heard that the enemy has requested a relief force from the vicinity
of Derbent.(The lack of veracity of this information will be understood
later). Based on a report from a cavalry officer reconnaissance team,
before 6 o’clock on 18 October, the enemy began moving north from
Mamedkala station in five trains, one following the other. It was
observed that 300 enemy troops who appeared to be waiting in the
vicinity of Mehmed Kale station had diminished in number and there
were no signs of enemy elements in the vicinity of the glass factory.
White Russian armored train, circa 1918-1919.
3- A mandatory order was given for the 300-strong ‘organization
battalion’ to come to Daşlagar and there, together with local forces, to
destroy the Yeni Boynak rail line to prevent reinforcement troops from
coming from Petrovsk (this movement did not happen.) The
‘organization battalion’ will probably arrive in Daşlagar on 20 October
(it did not come on that date or thereafter.) Our force of about 1,000
armed men, under the command of a regular army officer, assembled
at Levaşi on 17 October. This force’s commander, Cavalry Colonel
Kemal Bey, advised that the troops departed Levaşi on 19 October
and would begin to engage the enemy at Paraul. (There was no
engagement. This force only was able to come after Petrovsk had been
completely surrounded.)
4- The Koba Battalion, with a ‘seri sahra’ (rapid-fire field gun) and
a mountain cannon, under the command of Ye14 Commander
Saudeddin Bey was assigned to defend the coast. I directly ordered
the Ye14 Commander to have the guns in place by this evening and
have the battalion make the necessary pronouncements.
Tomorrow I will decide whether or not it will be necessary to allocate
a Ye107 battalion for the defense of the city’s surroundings, based on
how things go with the start of military operations.
5- I will give the order to begin the attack separately. Based on this
order I will give the order for the first attack and I will arrange for
transport of the troops under your command who will move from
the front along the rail line to Mahmedkala.
North Caucasus Commander
Yusuf İzzet
Yusuf İzzet Paşa
This order was complemented by a second order, written below, which
was issued the same day after 08:45 hours:
1- On 20 October, the Division will surround and take prisoner
enemy elements found between the village of Mahmedkala and Derbent,
thus beginning the attack. By evening the main force will have
occupied Hacıkent and the cavalry will have occupied Kayakent.
2- Division cavalry should extend its movements to the Daşlagar-
Kayakent line by evening and establish a communications post with a
force advancing from Daşlagar.(this force did not come and the
communications post was not established.)
3- I will announce the time for the start of the operation. In the event
that telephone communication is cut off, the operation should begin at
7 o’clock.
4- As of 8 o’clock on 20 October, I will be at the artillery observation
location.
North Caucasus Commander
Yusuf İzzet
//End Part VII//
//End Part VII//
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