THE VICTORY AT ERZERUM

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2700, 21 February 1916, Page 5

THE VICTORY AT ERZERUM

MASTERLY STRATEGY \ BRILLIANT WORK BY A SIBERIAN COLUMN By Telegraph—Fresa Association—Copyright V ' 1 •; '~ ' London, February 18. The latest messages from Petrograd attribute the victory at Erzerum to the masterly strategy of the Grand Duke Nicholas ant] General Yudenitch's brilliant fighting powers, which crown General Yudenitch's earlier defeat of the Turks at Ardahan, where he frustrated Enver Pasha's wild dash to invade Transcaucasia. After the Turkish centre had. been broken on January 17, tho Russians, by a dashing pursuit along the Hassan Kaleh Road, threatened to rush the impenetrable Deveboyun position, the forts of which are 6000 feet above the sea. The Turks desperately attempted to check the onset by a sally into the Pasin Plain, but were defeated and driven back to the forts. The failure of the sally convinced the Turks that the Russians were of men and guns from Hassan Kaleh. As a matter of fact, the Grand Duke Nicholas's prime attack was elsewhere. An independent Russian column operating southwards in the direction of Melazghert cut off the Turkish reinforcements and herded them towards Bitlis. . This operation also was a blind. Nicholas's real attack was revealed when a special column of Siberians seized the Dumlu Dagh ridges at the rear of the Karagubek and Tafta forts, which are northeastwards of Erzerum.

The Siberians .rushed two forts, taking prisoner 1452 Turks and many guns. The Turks then lost sight of tho Siberians for some days owing to a blizzard around Dumlu Dagh. Next they were suddenly surprised by a rush of the Siberians against the rear of the Deveboyun forts. The whole of the principal defences faced eastward. A terrible bombardment was followed by infantry assaults, characterised by desperate hand-to-hand fighting, on the half-battered fortifications. But the 'Siberians wore victrious, reducing a fortress with 800 guns in a few hours. This in mid-winter and under the most tenTKe weather conditions. It seemed an impossible task for the hardiest troops. The Siberians are not necessarily borA in .Siberia, but they are, picked men of the quality of the Guards, who are sent 1 to do soldiering on the confines of the empire. ' - „ The Grand Duke Nicholas's task is now to intercept the remnants of tha defenders, who are apparently retreating along tho plateau westward, and prevent them joining the third Turkish army. ADVANCE CONDUCTED ALONG THREE ROUTES. Petrograd, February 18. The advance on Erzerum was conducte'd along three routes. The downfall of the place was due to a frontal attack. The first fort was taken on Konday. The Russians on tho following evonin" impetuously rushed the entire first line of forts, which fell after less than thirty-six hour's' fighting. The majority were , taken at the bayonet point. _ Earlier in the advance a special striking column of Siberians seized tho Duzluila'gh ridges. It was then lost sight of for a week, having evidently made actoss country to circumvent the enemy. Ultimately it took the Karagubek and Tafta forts from tho rear. Their capture necessitated hard fighting. The Siberians swept southward like a cyclone behind Deveboyun, and within twenty-four hours were masters of seven forts, thus opening a free passage to the forces along tho shortest route, via Koprukeni and Hassan Kaleh. NO FLAG-WAVING IN ENTENTE COUNTRIES. London, February 18. Though the tidings of the capture of Erzerum were received without flagwaving in Entente countries, there is a strong undercurrent of elation. It is regarded as the greatest triumph the Allies have secured in a-twelvemonth. The newspapers of France, Russia, and Italy consider the victory marks the collapse of tho grandiose Germano-Turkish schemes regarding the especially the Euphrates and the Suez Canal. ENORMOUS IMPRESSION CREATED IN GERMANY. Paris, February 18. Advices from Shaffhansen state that the fall of Erzeru'in created an enormous impression in Germany, coupled with uneasiness regarding its effect on Constantinople. GREAT ENTHUSIASM THROUGHOUT RUSSIA'. (Rec. February 20, 5.5 p.m.) Petrograd, February 19. The capture of Erzerum was received with the greatest enthusiasm throughout Russia. Thousands attended tho Te Deums in the churches, and the populace acclaimed Grand Duke Nicholas. The capture is regarded as a triumph of generalship. It is almost incredible thnt tho Russians captured with the bayonet in a few hours the Germanised forts, which forty years ago were found impregnable after almost a year's assault. Despite five excellent toads westward, it Is unlikely tho retreating Turks will malto resistance during their fortnight's march to the railhead leading to Constantinople. Possibly tl'ie hurried and disorderly retreat will enable most to escape, but the rout will have an'immense moral effect in a vast area. Reinforcing corps are now useless, as thoy arrive without artillery, which is being shipped via Trebizond. The Russians are vigorously pursuing the retreating enemy, and broke down a Turkish stand ten miles westward of the fortress. The Russians are unlikely to be held up anywhere eastward of Sivas. - COMMENTS OF THE "COLOGNE GAZETTE." , London, February 18. The "Cologne Gazette' 1 attributes the fall of Erzerum to Turkey's failure to build railways and create a fleet. It 6tates that it will be impossible to march up reinforcements spaadil? in the. dep'h of winter. Ihij Itiissiati, commenced weeks previously to the tii»e expected) mid with superior forces,

REMNANTS OF THE TURKISH ARMY FLEEING IN DISORDER (Rec. February 20, 5.5 p.m.) Potrograd, February 18. A Russian communique says: "pie completeness of the defeat of the Turks at Jirzerum is becoming clearer. The fortress and the surrounding country aro full of corpses of Turks. The remnants of the army arc flcoing°in disorder in various directions. Our pursuit continues, and we are annihilating or taking prisoner the rear columns." RUSSIANS FOUGHT WITHOUT HEAVY ARTILLERY. (Reo. February 20, 5.5 p.m.) Petrograd, February 18. The German commander at Erzerum was m. experienced engineer officer, and had powerfully organised the fortress. He used all the resources of modern artillery art for strengthening the position. It is now known that big Turkish reinforcements wero hastening to the aid of Erzerum, hut wero un° able to arrive in time. The greater portion of the garrison escaped. The Russians fought without heavy artillery. Before the evacuation of Erzerum the Kurds mercilessly massacred thousands of Armenians. TURKS WILL HOLD THE GERMANS RESPONSIBLE. Rome, February 18. It is expected the Turk's will hold the Germans responsible for tlie fall of Erzerum, in consequence of German officers at the last War Council refusing to detach troops from the central theatres, despite Enver Pasha's urgent demand cabled on February 14. A Turkish communique naively declares there is no news of importance from Irak, on the Caucasus. The cable message of February 14, which was sent from Paris, was as follows: —The "Echo de Paris" correspondent at Salonika reports a lively dispute between Enver'"Pasha and the German Generals at the last War Council, after the Turkish defeat in the Caucasus. Enver Pasha vigorously insisted that as Turkey had not asked the German, army's help, Turkey ought to be left free to defend her own territory. He demanded that part of the Turkish army in Thrace and Bulgaria should be transferred to the Caucasus. "We have," ho said, "beer, righting for nearly a, year and a half; the Bulgarians have only just started. They alone should help the Central t Powers against Salonika, seeing',that we (done bore the brunt of the Dardanelles fighting." Despite Envor's protests, however, the German Gener&k insisted on keeping the Turks in Thrace. CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE KING. London, February 18. His Majesty the King has sent the following message to the Tsar:— "Heartiest congratulations on the_ splendid achievements of your gallant troops at Erzerum after such hard fighting, and which I trust will have far-reaching effects." THE FIRST'DECISIVE VICTORY'OF THE WAR. ' (Rec. February" 20, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, February 20. Mr. Aslimead Bartlctt, in a lecture, said tlra value of Erzerum as the first decisive victory of tho war cannot be overestimated. Referring to Gallipoli he said lie was certain the check was only temporary, and that we would find ourselves in possession of Constantinople this year or next. TURKS SAID TO BE MAKING A DESPERATE RALLY. (Rec. February 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 18. A Budapest message states that the lurks.are making a desperate rally west of Erzerum, where a big battle is beginning. Milan newspapeis state that tho Russians are hard-pressing the remnants of the fourtcoii Turkish divisions among the mountains. TWO HUNDRED FIELD AND FORTRESS GUNS CAPTURED. London, February 19, 6.10 p.m. ,The High Commissioner reports:—"Russians in the Caucasus report that two hundred field and fortress guns were captured in Erzerum." RUSSIAN FLEET ACTIVE IN THE BLACK SEA. ' (Rec. February 20, 5.5 p.m.) ■ . ' . Petrograd, February 18. A Russian communique says: "Our worships destroyed the coastal bridges west of Trebizond, and destroyed fifteen sailers."