Second Edition Asia Minor

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 15, 20 April 1916, Page 6

Second Edition Asia Minor

GRAND DUKE NICHOLAS’S BRIL HAN'T ACHIEVEMENT. -• « . • < 1 - . • . *■*:.-v • • ■ Petrpgrad, Aipril 19. The capture of Trebizond proves, to b© the Grand Duke Nicholas’' Easter present to his countrymen. The rapidity, of; the operations is a triumph for General Yudenitch, who is leading the army. Trebizond was less fortified than Erzerum, but a rugged mountain ridge, eight thousand feet in height protected it on the south. German engineers worked feverishly to complete the defences until the only possible frontal attack was along a narrow coast line. The success was largely due to the Russians advancing along Choruk Valley, thus preventing a third Turkish army joining the defenders of Trebizond, while the Russians, pushing on Erzingan, intercepted the Turkish reinforcements. The long converging roads will enable the Russians to turn the whole front to Erzingan, where there is the main Turkish concentration. The possibility, of re-victualling the armies by sea, instead of by difficult mountain defiles, will enormously lighten the Russian commissariat. Meanwhile, the roads are being improved. and » , railway is being conatructed from Sarykamysh to Erzerum. •' V v '■