IN MESOPOTAMIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1916, Page 5

IN MESOPOTAMIA.

THE FALL OF ERZERUM. A WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENT. Received Feb. IS, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 17. Reuters' correspondent interviewed a British diplomatist who hail made a prolonged stay at Erzerum. He states that the fall of what may be called the Metz of eastern Turkey will have the greatest effect throughout the Ottoman Empire, and will have influence from Teheran to the Balkans. It throws all Kurdestan open to the Russians, and will enable them to capture the Bitlis Gorge. This will greatly affect the situation in Mesopotamia and end all solicitude about northern Persia. It will also influence the attitude of the Kurds, who arc even now doubtful supporters of the Turks.

"Knowing the Near East as I do," said the interviewer, ''[ think it is not easy to over-estimate the importance of the fall. The Russians entered at Camel Neck, which is a long winding pass. It was a wonderful achievement, which the Turks doubtless thought impossible.' 1

RUSSIAN STRATEGY PREVAILS. Received Feb. IS, 5.5 p.m Petrograd, Feb. 17. An official message estimates that the Erzerum garrison numbered one bundled thousand, with 407 guns, while the advanced forts had 374 guns and the central forts 200. The newspaper Russky Invalid states that the Caucasus army has performed a miracle which military history will remember for years to come. Other newspapers emphasise the fact that the town is the junction of the great roads. The Turks will try to regain it, but they cannot bring reinforcements in less than two months. We will strengthen the forts meanwhile. We captured the town by an adroit manoeuvre, involving a triple combined movement that paralysed the enemy's centre, turning his wings and (lowing over his means of communication. The fall will not pass unnoticed in Athens and Bucharest.

THE TOWN INTACT. ENORMOUS BOOTY. Reecived Fob. 18, 5.25 p.m. Rome, Feb. 17. A wireless message states that Erzerum is intact. The Turks had no time to destroy the fortifications and buildings, and the Russians obtained enormous booty.

THE SURPRISE OF THE WAR. ITS MORAL EFFECT Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received Feb, 18, o.a p.m. London, Feb. 17. The Times, in a leading article, says that the fall of Erzerum is one of the greatest surprises of the war, and it should have the most important results. Erzerum is the chief city in Turkish Armenia, and the strongest strategic position in Asiatic Turkey, and experts considered it impregnable. It is believed that four Turkish army corps were concentrated in this area, but the Grand Duke Nicholas and his staff caught Enver Pasha and General von der Goltz unawares, striking Turkey the severest blow of the war.

The Turks made the fatal mistake of not taking the Russian movements here seriously, and devoting their attention to Bagdad and Ctesiphon. The Times points out that although the Russian victory cases the pressure in Mesopotamia, and greatly complicates the Turkish problem for supplies, it is unwise to expect immediate results. The great range of the Armenian Taurus is still separating the Russian and British forces, and wo must fight our own battles; but the capture of Erzerum will be a bitter disappointment to the Turks, and almost equal in effect as if it had been Baghdad. . A VITAL TURNING-POINT. MR. BARTLETT'S VIEWS. Sydney, Feb. 1". Mr. Ashmen.l Bartlett considers that the importance of the capture of Erzerum eam.ot be over-estimated. It formed the vital turning-point for the Russian advance, and there is every probability now, though a year later than it was hoped, that we shall find the Allied armies en route for Constantinople. FIRST BLOOD THIS YEAR, London, Feb. 17. The Daily Mail says the brilliant feat at Erzerum is the first victory for the Entente in 1910.