Russian Success in Asia Minor

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 42, 25 January 1916, Page 5

Russian Success in Asia Minor

Third Turkish Army Routed A BALKAN LIE EXPOSED Cameroons Campaign Closing , . y British Supremacy in Air work

CURRENT WAR TOPICS.

The operations in Asia Minor, Persia, and Atesopotamia are harmonious and symmetrical in nature. From the Black Sea to the Persian Gulf the linking up process is proceeding slowly but surely. Three forces are operating, and great importance is attached to their mission, as India is the objective, at the back of the mind of German militarism, and a stab in the back of Britain is what this bloodthirsty crew gloat over in their designs. It must not be expected that the three Allied commands will soon join hands, as there is terrible fighting on all sides to be done before much progress can he made. From Sea to Gulf as the crow flies is a distance of over 900 miles, but a hundred or two of this has been covered on both sides in the march on Bagdad. The Russian force debouching ■ from the Caucasus is perhaps 500 miles' from General Townshend’s beleaguered garrison in Rut-el-Amara, south of Bagdad, while tlie Russians operating in Persia are at Kermanshah, 200 miles north-east gf Kut, and about 150 miles from Bagdad.

There has been no information as to the strength of the Russians, but there has'never been anything to suggest that the force operating in the Kermanshah province is large enough to undertake the difficult task of crossing' the highlands, which run along the Turko-Persian frontier at this point, and the desert way to the Tigris. Kermanshah is on the caravan route from Teheran to Bagdad. This route winds through parallel chains of mountains, which in this region reach their highest point at Nua Kuh, 8520 feet, in the Zagros Mountains. Tho road to the Tigris valley runs at the foot of Nua Kuh, crosses the frontier at Khanikin and then follows the Diala to Bagdad. The direct lino from Kermanshah passes 1 through country that is more difficult. The Kerkhah river, a torrent flanked by lofty, rough uplands, makes the first obstacle and then come the Pushti Alountains running along tho frontier. These mountains are cut by passes, through one of which runs a torrent that filters into the desert cast of the marshes near El Owassa, where the Tigris turns south-east after leaving Kut-cl-Arnara. The barriers are such (opines one Southern authority) that tho decision between the Turks and the British in the Kut-el-Amara operations must undoubtedly be arrived at before the Russians, if they are strong enough to undertake the task, can have any appreciable effect on the conflict.

The chances are that the Indian trtfops that have been withdrawn from France have already reached the “other field of action” of which the Prince of Wales spoke. Their new field will in all probability be Mesopotamia, unless they are needed to help'garrison Egypt. But it i.s understood that Egypt i, s already well garrisoned, and more Australasian troops 'could be used there if necessary. On the other hand, there is not the slightest doubt that the Mesopotamian expedition will have to be heavily reinforced. It was heavy Turkish reinforcements that drove General Townshend back almost from the gates of Bagdad. And the needs of the expedition will become greater still if, as is quite possible, some of flip Turkish troops that are training under I German officers in various parts of I the Near East are sent to Mesopotamia. Apart from the expedition’s needs, there are two important reasons why these Indian troops should be added to it. The first is climatic. Just as the Indians suffered more than the white troops from the hardships of winter life in the trenches of Flanders and North France, so they would stand the Mesopotamian climate much better than Europeans, lit is an unspeakable climate, marshes, insects, and a damp and enervating heat, that probably causes the airmen, buzzing up in the cooler air, to be regarded with an extreme of envy. The jbulk of the British Mesopotamian troops are Indian, though naval detachments are working in conjunction 'with them upon the rivers. The second reason is even more compelling. The Mesopotamian expedition is being conducted not by the War Office at all, but by the Government of India, 'and it would be strange if, finding its responsibilities so greatly increased, it did not use every means in its power )

to get its own troops back for use in what might be considered their natural sphere. Erzeroum, mentioned in the cables to-day in the account of the operations in Eastern Anatolia, is the capital of the vilayet of the same' name in the centre of the Armenian plateau containing the sources of the Euphrates, Choruk, and the Aras. The country is agricultural, though there is much forest. The capital, with a population of about 50,000, is situated on a fertile plain watered by the Kara-su (Western Euphrates), 120 miles east of Trenizond on the Black Sea, and at an altitude of 6000 ft. The citadel, founded in the sth Century by Emperor Theodosius the younger—hence the early name of Theodosiopolis—has disappeared. Erzeroum was the bulwark of the Armenians in Byzantine times, and was formerly an important trading centre, hut its large caravan trade has greatly diminished since the completion of the Transcaucasian railway. The total trade is valued at over £600,000 per annum, the most important industries being iron and copper working. The Turks acquired Erzeroum in 1517, but in 1829 1 and again in 1878 it was taken by the Russians, being finally restored toTurkey by the Treaty of Beilin.

“Yes and no,’’ replied che King of Greece to a newspaper interviewer who asked if Constantine did not admit & certain justification for our recent aq-| tions notwithstanding that they migltlfi be distasteful to him. This answer fairly shows that King Constantine, is on the horns of a dilemma, but bis seat on them is by means' a very comfortable one. His reply as a whole is that of a complaining petted child. He tries to make it appear that he is quite with us in our desire to help the Serbians and in doing this to also protect our forces, but it is tho manner of doing that lie moans about. He impudently throws into the Allies’ face the violation of Greek, neutrality, which lie taunts us with having guaranteed as we did Belgium’s. His dignity was hurt sorely, and he whines of being ridden over roughshod. £et he recognises the necessity for certain of our actions, only complaining of a feeling of “studied attempt to do everything unpleasantly.” But what is the use of listening to this voice crying in the wilderness of indecision. His personal word is proved valueless under the circumstances, and he gives the show away when he says that neither the Government nor the army \yill do anything without his authority! This has been recognised for a long time past, and now “Yes-No” lino admits that lie alone has kept Greece from the side of the Allies.