THE CAPTURE OF ERZERUM

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2699, 19 February 1916, Page 5

THE CAPTURE OF ERZERUM

■ TURKS CAUGHT UNAWARES PRESSURE IN MESOPOTAMIA GREATLY EASED By Telegraph—PieEa Association—Copyright ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) Olec. February 18, 3.5 p.m.) „ . , ~ London, February 17. "The Tames,' m a leader, says: "The fall of Erzerum is one of the Greatest surprises of the war,'and should have the most important results. It was the chief city of Turkish Armenia, and the strongest strategical position in Asiatic Turkey. Experts considered it impregnable, and believed that four Turkish army corps were concentrated in this area. Grand Duke Nicholas and his staff caught Enver Pasha and General von der Goltz unawares, striking ' Turkey the severest blow of the war. The Turks made the fatal mistake of not taking the Russian movements here seriously, and devoting attention to Bagdad and Ctesiphon." "The Tirwes" points out that although the Russian victory eases the pressure iu Mesopotamia,' greatly complicating the Turkish problem of supplies it would be unwise to expect immediate res-ults, the great range of the Armenian Taurus still separating the Russian and British forces. "We mustlight our own battles, but the capture of Erzerum is a bitter disappointment to the Turks, and almost equal in effect, as if it had been Bagdad." . THE FIRST ENTENTE VICTORY IN 1916. ' ..... lm _, London, February 17. The "Dany Mail says:— The brdliant feat at Erzerum is the first Victor? of the Entente in 1916." COMMENTS OF RUSSIAN NEWSPAPERS. (Rec. February 18, i p.m.) Petrograd, February 18. The Official Messenger estimates that the Erzerum garrison numbered one ' hundred thousand, with 467 guns, while the advanced forts had 374 guns, and the central forts two hundred. The "Russky Invalid" states that the Caucasus army performed a miracle which military history wjll rememl>er in years to come. Other newspapers emphasise that the town is the junction of grcit roads. The Turks will try to regain it, but they cannot bring reinforcements iti less than two months. "We will strengthen the fort meanwhile. We captured it by an adroit manoeuvre, involving a triple combined movemont, paralysing the enemy's centre, turning his wings, and overflowing his means of communication. The fall will not pass unnoticed in Athens and Bucharest." OPINIONS OF AN EMINENT BRITISH DIPLOMATIST. ' , ~ , . , London, February 17. Reuter's correspondent interviewed a British diplomatist who had made, a - prolonged stay at Erzerum. "The fall of what may be called the Metz of Eastern Turkey will," said the diplomatist, "lave the greatest affect throughout tho Ottoman Empire; it will have influence from Teheran tftthe Balkans. It throws all Kurdistan open to the_ Russians, enables them to capture the Bitlis Gorge, which the_ left flank is approaching. It will greatly affect the situation in Mesopotamia, and end all solicitude about Northern Persia. It will also influence the attitude of the Kurds, who even now qre doubtful snpporters of the Turks* Knowing the Ihast as I doj I think it is not easy to over-estimate the importance of the fall. The Russians entered at Camel Neck, which is a long, "winding path— a wonderful achievement, which the Turks doubtless thought impossible. VIEWS OF MR. ASHMEAD BARTLETT. „ „ , ~ . Sydney, February 18, Mr. Ashmead Bartlett coniders the importance of the capture of Erzerum cannot be over-estimated. It formed tho vital turning-point of the Russian advance. There was every probability now—though a year later than was hoped —that they would find the Allied armies en route to Constantinople. RUSSIANS SECURE ENORMOUS BOOTY. (Rec. February 18, 5.25 p.m.) '• . . Roma, February 17. The wireless station at Erzerum ia intact. The Turks had no time to destroy the fortifications and buildings. Tho Russians secured an enormous quantity of booty. GUNS AND PRISONERS CAPTURED. London, February 18, 3.20 a.m. Tho High Commissioner roports:— $ Anott-or twenty-five guns were captured at the Erzerum first line of forts. Thirty-nine officers and fourteen hundred askars wero captured at Fort Taft alone. IMMEDIATE EFFECT ON GERMAN CREDIT. Amsterdam, February 1?. The value of the German mark fell heavily, following the uewe of the full of Erzorma.

TURKISH COMMUNIQUE CLAIMS SUCCESSES. ~ . London, February 1?. A Turkish communique states: "The British left many dead on their lino of retreat from Bathia. Tho enemy lost during that battlo 2300 animals. '"'The Russians in the Caucasus in three days lost over 5000 dead, and sixty were taken prisoner. "Wo almost annihilated an enemy detachment near Aden. The survivors fled, abandoning their baggage."