A PORTENTOUS VICTORY.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1916, Page 5

A PORTENTOUS VICTORY.

LIBERATION OF ARMENIA. ■ Received Feb. 17, 0.25 p.m. London, Feb. 16. Tlie Daily Chronicle's military correspondent says that Erzerum was tlie key to Armenia, politically and militarily. The immediate consequences of its fall are:—Firstly, the Turkish -ight whig at Lake Van is in a precarious position; secondly, the Turkish pressure in Mesopotamia lias been alleviated.' as many troops will be drawn off; thirdly, the Turks' attack on the Suez Canal will be indefinitely postponed. Russia can never bo driven out of the town, which is strong by natural rather than military fortifications. It was the pivot of the Turkish advance In Armenia, because it is the road centre to the frontier, including the main "oad to Constantinople, and the Caucasus roads from Tri'bizond and Lake Van. The fall of Erzerum means the liberation of the Armenian race.

TURKS IN FULL FLIGHT. PART OF THE TOWN ABLAZE. Received Feb. IS, L 2.5 a.m. Petrograd, Feb, 17. It is estimated that eighty thousand Turks are in full flight westward. A communique reports: We captured seventy guns, besides munitions and prisoners in the nine forts at Develboyun, the position covering Erzerum. The defenders were dislodged at the bayonet point. The Turks are hurrying up reinforcements from west and south. The southern parts of Erzerum are in flames.

THE ROAD TO TURKEY Received Feb. 17, 10.55 p.m. London, Feb, 17. The Morning Post says that the capture of Erzerum is a great event, opening one route whereby Russia may enter Turkey, and it also gives Russia a magnificent base for further operations. It is also important to the British, as it directly threatens the Turks in Mesopotamia. Even the muezzins and minarets of St. Sophia may now hear the reverberations, and fear and tremble.

WINTRY CONDITIONS. TRANSPORT DIFFICULTIES, London, Feb. 10. Mr. Candler, cabling from Basra on February 11, says'that the camp is a quagmire owing to heavy rains. Arabs report that a number of the enemy died from cold and exhaustion during the January operations and large numbers deserted. The enemy is experiencing great transport difficulties, which are accentuated by the interruption of river communication at Kut.

Brooking's column on the "th and 9th punished the Arabs near Xasiriy,'' 1.-lll-ing 636.

INCORRECT REPORT. Amsterdam, Feb, 10. A Turkish communique says that on the Irak front successful attacks were Bade against the British at Bat,hia. The enemy fled, abandoning all material and leaving 500 dead. A small enemy detachment surrendered after having been almtst annihilated. In our attack on Kurna the enemy had heavy losses and hostile auxiliary forces which attempted to relieve the British were forced to retreat.

The Press Bureau states that the correct acceunt of the incident covered by the Turkish communique appeared in the War Office communique cabled on February 11.

(The repert was as follows:—The AVar Office reports that a detachment, making a reconnaisance on one of the branches of the Tigris, named the Shatt-el-Hi, did not find any Turks. Arabs, hitherto friendly, attacked while the detachment was returning to Nasiriyeh, and the British suffered 373 casualties. The enemy lost over 300 killed. A punitive column that was since sent surprised the Arabs and destroyed four villages.) '. -