When Fernee arrived in Ashkhabad he was surprised to be met at the station by Tamara Press. Press told Fernee that members of the FTU government had wired General Blavatsky to suggest that he discuss military matters as soon as Fernee returned to Ashkhabad. Once in the general’s presence Fernee was all business as he gave the general a full report on what he had discovered in Baku - in particular the presence of troops and guns within the town. Blavatsky looked worried at the Baku news and his worried look deepened when Fernee questioned him about what had happened further east along the railway line. Blavatsky had bad news from that front because the Bolsheviks had forced FTU soldiers to retreat.
Having met Zukoff Fernee was unsure what the relationship was between him and Blavatsky, so he asked.
‘General Zukoff is in command of all our forces. I command here,’ replied Blavatsky.
It was ironic that when the discussion moved on to what Meshed was doing to support the FTU a messenger arrived for the general. The messenger delivered a note from a British Officer, Colonel Fishlock, who had just arrived from Meshed and was staying at the hotel. In answer to the question whether Fishlock was someone Fernee knew he answered the general in the negative. Blavatsky asked could Fishlock be genuine or a spy who should be shot. Fernee said he would go and find out.
After his recent experience with Barrington it was with apprehension that Fernee set off to meet Fishlock. He wondered if Fishlock was yet another useless paper-pushing staff officer and if he was, could Fernee tell Blavatsky that Fishlock was a spy and should be shot like all staff officers. He laughed over that thought as he arrived at the hotel. At the hotel Fernee met a sergeant he knew was based in Meshed who confirmed that Fishlock had arrived there after Fernee had left on his mission.
Fishlock saw Fernee immediately and listened intently to what Fernee had to say about Baku and what he had just learned from Blavatsky on events to the east. Fishlock thanked Fernee for his report and the clarity in which he expressed himself. Fernee felt pleased at receiving praise but when Fishlock said he wanted him as an interpreter Fernee felt uneasy. He asked the colonel whether he could speak any Russian.
‘If I could I would not need you to interpret.’ Suddenly an engaging grin spread on the colonel’s face, ‘oh you think I might be pretending not to speak it and then I could concentrate on studying our friends and keep some cards up my sleeve, or even checking on your linguistic abilities. Well I’ve no hidden cards and I am no Machiavellian so why do you have a reason for asking that question?’
Fernee clearly hesitated as though he was unsure whether to speak but it was an act. ‘I interpreted for Colonel Barrington back in Krasnovodsk, sir. I do not think the FTU government officials were,’ Fernee was going to say they were unimpressed with Barrington’s manner or, lack of the Russian language but was interrupted by a snort from Fishlock.
‘With Beaky Barrington – you were going to say they were unimpressed with him? I should hope not. I shouldn’t say this but being who you are and the role you are playing I will tell you, that man is a liability! He always has been a complete waste of time and always will be. Except for the war he’d have been retired. Not a word of this to anyone but he’s the sort of chap who could prolong the war. Wait a minute what is Beaky doing in Krasnovodsk? General Barber never told me he was one of his chaps and that he sent him there.’
‘Well he’s not from Meshed. Colonel Barrington is on General Muncerville’s staff and was sent from Enzeli to find out what was happening on this side of the Caspian and in particular what the FTU is doing, hence our chat to them the other night.’
‘I don’t suppose he said anything about what General Muncerville was up to?’
‘No, sir, I know the new government in Baku is finally going to ask General Muncerville for help against the Turks. Major McWilliam, our consul in Baku, was going to Enzeli to see the general the same day that I left to come back here. I just hope Muncerville is not too late and that the force he has is not too small to do the trick.’
‘Well only time will tell. I have been sent here by General Barber to formally discuss the request from the FTU for military assistance from the British. As yet the FTU has only asked Barber informally for such help. My job is to work out with the FTU a more detailed request of exactly what is wanted from us. I have already been in touch with the FTU who knew I was coming and I have a meeting in the morning at ten a.m. in the telegraph office. The other thing for you to know is that if either Turk or German crosses the Caspian the railway must be put out of commission. I know you have travelled the railway several times and I would expect you to be able to tell us where we could damage it.’
‘I can do that, colonel’
‘Good, please, be at the telegraph office in the morning, Captain Fernee.’
Fernee left the hotel with a feeling that the FTU committee would meet the Meshed man with rather more warmth than they had demonstrated with Barrington.
Fernee was right. When the two sides met in the telegraph office business began to be transacted with a minimum of fuss. The FTU were worried by the defeat of their soldiers near Barium Ali by the Bolsheviks and that Merv would clearly be the next place in the Bolsheviks’ sights. The FTU formally asked that the British send troops to help them against the Bolsheviks. The FTU also asked for guns and ammunition for their ill-equipped soldiers and as always money to pay the army. Fishlock promised that he would recommend that Barber would review all the FTU requirements and action would happen quickly. In an aside in English to Fernee Fishlock said that the only problem might be the money because Barber had told him that as far as he was concerned Russia was a ‘bottomless pit’ when it came to money and that he had no desire to fall therein.
Fishlock had been instructed to ask the FTU to allow all wireless stations within their territory to be brought under the control of the British. Further the FTU would be asked to agree to stop the infiltration into Persia of German and Turkish agents. Fernee then pointed out to Fishlock that he had seen German and Austrian agents in both Krasnovodsk and Ashkhabad attempting to buy cotton. Fishlock on hearing this asked the FTU to arrest all foreign agents in the two towns mentioned and to arrest any other Central Powers agents that were operating within FTU controlled territory. The FTU agreed to the British demands at which time Fishlock and Fernee held a tête-à-tête as to what was to happen next. Fishlock had to return post haste to Meshed to report on what had transpired at his meeting with the FTU; Fernee was now ordered to remain in Ashkhabad and liaise with the FTU and await events.