THE FIGHT AT SARAKAMYSH

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2354, 9 January 1915, Page 7

THE FIGHT AT SARAKAMYSH

WISH LOSSES APPALLING BATTLE PLANNED ON TEXT-BOOK TACTICS Potrograd, January 7. ' The Turks in the Caucasus fought bravely under German orders, but the Russian leaders out-manoeuvred the Germans, who had planned the battle on favourite textbook tactics, .and fell into a trap resembling that of Breziny at the end of November, when General Mackensen's three army corps wero cut off, east of Lodz. The German idea was to rest one wing on a fortress and swing the other flank for an envelopment. Erzerum was the fortress, but the direction of the turning movement was long kept secret. The condition of the atmosphere hampered aeroptoe reconnaissance, and the mountains impeded scouting. The German generals reduced transports to a minimum, and swiftly advanced in two main bodies, one marohrag on Sarakamysh" whilst the _ other crossed the frontier at Artvin, near the sea,- and occupied Ardagan, with the mountains in the. rear. Russians, in good time, discovered the move on Ardagan and posted a strong force against the left wing, and also between the wing and the centre, The Turks, thus lured into a trap, delivered a frontal attack on Sarakamysh, They were apparently unaware that the turning movement had failed, or hoped that a bpjd stroke would retrieve the failure. '■-.■■■■■ The Turks' losses were appalling. Dead and wounded lie on the ground I for.miles. The narrow valleys and mountain roads are dotted with frozen corpses, the ground peing too hard to allow of their burial. The dead were cremated in heaps. The Russian pursuit iras terribly arduous. It was unreasonable to expect too much. Even the seasoned trqops were obliged to sleep with'cattje fcf ' warmth. ■ The prisoners include Austrian members of the Staff, IZZET PASHA CAPTURED BY RUSSIANS, i petrograd, January 7. The "Gazette" states that the Russians captured Izzet Pasha, a former • Turkish Minister of War. , - . RUSSIAN COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CONGRATULATED. ■ . London, January 7. The Frenoh Commander-in-Chief (General Joffre), in congratulating the Russian Commander-in-Chief (the Grand Duke Nioholas) on the Russians' great victory in the Caucasus, said:—-"By constant, uninterrupted efforts in all the theatres of war, the Allied armies are paving the way for final victories." Petrograd, January 7. The Grand Duke Nicholas, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Forces, has received Field-Marshal Sir John French's congratulations on the battle at Sarakamysh.—"Times", and Sydney "Sun" Services. A REVOLUTION IN TURKEY CERTAIN OPINION OF SHERIF PASHA, EX-MINISTER OF EDUCATION, . Paris, January 7. Sherif Pasha (who was Minister of Education in Kiamil Pasha's Ministry in 1912), interviewed, said the Turks did not wish to join Germany, but had no alternative, because they were at the mercy of Talaat Bey and nine other Union of Progress committeemen, who last year had received several million marks from Germany. Sherif Pasha predicts certain revolution when Turkey realises the significance of Sarakamysh. ALLIES MADE BIG EFFORTS TO AVOID WAR WITH. TURKEY. (Rec. January 8, 5.35 p.m.) , . Petrograd, January 7. An Orange Book (official pubUcatioii) which has been issued affords the most striking testimony of the unprecedented, lengths to which Russia, in conjunction with England and France, proceeded hoping to avert a conflict with Turkey. It shows that the Russian 'Ambassador was minutely informed of every German move in Constantinople. , Reporting on September 10, he states that Enver Pasha had received a '' letter from Germany intimating that the moment had arrived for Turkey to fulfill her obligation by the invasion of Egypt and landing troops in Odessa.— "Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services. GERMAN PAPERS ARE SILENT ABOUT TURKEY'S DEFEAT. i , \ (Reo. January 9, 0.30 a.m.) Amsterdam, January 8. No reference is made to the Turkish debacle at Sarikamysh in the Ger? man newspapers.