Turkey

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 6, 8 January 1915, Page 5

Turkey

THE TURKISH DISASTER AT SARY KAMISH. United Press Association. Petrogradj January 7. The Turks at Sary Kamish outnumbered the Russians by ten to one. The Turks adopted German tactics, and attacked front and flanks simultaneously. Tliey swamped down a gully which would have daunted Swiss mountaineers. Waist-deep in snow, half-naked, ragged and frozen, they ! attacked the Russians, who reserved j their fire until the enemy was within .400 yards. Then they opened a. devastating machine-gun whirlwind. The Russians then retired, drawing the \ Turks after them into the zone of the Russian artillery, and reinforceI ments completed the enemy's destruction. THE TURKS HAD NO ALTERNATIVE. CERTAIN REVOLUTION IN SIGHT. Timeb <ano Sydney Sun Bebvioeb. {Received 8.50 a.m.) Paris, January 7. Rheref Pasha, in an interivew, said the Turks did not wish to join Germany, hut there was no alternative,hecause they were at the mercy of Zalaat Bey and nine other Union Progress committeemen who for the last year and a-half received several million marks from Germany. Sheref Pasha predicts a certain revolution when Turkey realises the significance of the operations at Sary Kamish.

TURKS IN A TRAP. PARTICULARS OF THE DISASTER AT SARY KAMISH. ENEMY'S APPALLING LOSSES. (Received 8.50 a.m.) Petrograd, January 7. The Turks in the Caucasus fought bravely under the German orders, but the Russian leaders outmanoeuvred the ""Germans, who planned the battle on their favourite text-book tactic*. Thel fell into a trap resembling that fit Bresiny at the end of November. The German idea was to rest one wing on the fortress and put a wing on the other flank for envelopment. Erzeroum was the fortress, but the direction of the turning movement was for long a secret, and the condition of the atmosphere hampered aeroplane reconnaisance, and the mountains impeded scouting. The German generals reduced the transport to the minimum, and swiftly advanced in two main bodies, one marching on Sary Kamish', while the other crossed the frontier at Artvine, near the sea, and occupied Arda> gan, with the mountains in the rear. The Russians discovered the move on Ardagan in time and posted a strong force against the left wing, also between the wing and the centre. The Turks, thus lured into a trap, delivered a frontal attack on Sary Kamish, apparently unaware that the turning movement had failed, or else they hoped by a bold stroke to retrieve the failure. The Turks' losses were" appalling. The dead and wounded lie on the ground for miles, the narrow valleys and mountain roads being dotted with frozen corpses. The ground was too hard for burial, and the dead were cremated in heaps. The Russian pursuit was terribly arduous. It was unreasonable to expect too much, as the men, although seasoned troops, were obliged to sleep with the cattle for warmth. The prisoners include the Austrian staff.

CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM FRENCH. (Received 9.10 a.m.) Petrograd, January 7. The Grand Duke Nicholas has received Sir John French's congratulations on the success of the operations at Sary Kamish.