IN MESOPOTAMIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1916, Page 5

IN MESOPOTAMIA.

THE FALL OF ERZERUM. GRAND. DUKE'S GREAT STRATEGY. BASHING WORK OF THE RUSSIANS. London, Feb. IS. Though the tidings of the- fall of Erzcrum were received without flag-wav-ii.g in Entente coutries there was a. strong undercurrent of elation. The victory is regarded as the greatest triumph the Allies have secured for twelve months.

Newspapers in France, Russia, and Italy consider the victory will cause a collapse of the grandiose German-Tur-kish schemes eastward, especially as regards the Euphrates and Suez Canal. The latest messages from Potrograd attribute the victory to the Grand Duke Nicholas' masterly strategy and General Yudenitch's 'brilliant fighting powers, which crown Yudenitch's earlier defeat of the Turks at Ardahan, where lie frustrated Enver Pasha's wild plan to invade Transcaucasia.

After the Turkish centre was broken o? January 1". the Russians by dashing pursuit on the Hassunkala road threatened to rush the impenetrable Deveboylili position, the forts of which were 0000 fe •( above tho sea level. The Turks desperately attempted to check the onset by a sally into the Pasin Plain, but were defeated and driven back into the forts. The failure of the sally convinced the Turks that the Russians were pushing masses of men and guns on Hassankala, while as a matter of fact the Grand Duke's prime attack was elsewhere.

An independent Russian column, operating southwards in the direction of Melazghert, cut off Turkish reinforcements and headed them towards Bitlis. This operation was also a Wind. The Grand nuke's real attack was revealed when a column of Siberian? seized the D.in'h'nangh ridges at the rear of the l-'arakubek and Taft forts, which are northward of Erzerum. The Siberians rushed tiie two forts, taking : 14.r2 prisoners and Mpturing many guns. The Turks then lost sight of the Siberians fr.r some days owing to the blizzard arrni.d Dir.nbpdngli. Next they were suddenly surprised by a rush of the Siberians against the rear of the Devebeyun forts. The whole of the principal defences faced eastward. A terrible bombardment was followed by infantry assaults and desperate handle hand figging in the half-battered forts. Hut the Siberians were victorious in the reduction of the fortress, taking SOO guns in a few hours. In the mid-winter terrible weather conditions it seemed impossible for the hardiest troops. The Siberians are not necessarily bor;i in Siberia, but are picked men of the quality of guards, sent to do soldiering on the confines of the Empire. The Grand Duke Nicholas' task now is to intercept the remnant of the defenders, who are apparently retreating across the plateau westward, and to prevent them joining the Third Army.

CAPTURING THE FORT 3, Petrograd, Feb. IS. The advance on Erzerum was conducted by three routes. Its downfall was due to a frontal attack. The first fort was taken o-.i Manday. The Russians on the following evening impetuously rushed the entire first line of forts, which fell after less than SO hours' fighting. The majority were taken at the bayonet point. Earlier in the advance a special striking ctlumn of Siberians seized the Duzludagh ridges. They were then lostsight of for a week, and apparently r.isde acres* country to circumvent the enemy. Ultimately they took the Karagubek and Tafta forts, the capture of which necessitated hard fighting. The Siberians swept southward like a cy-clt-ne behind Beveboyun, and within 24 hours ".ivre masters of seven forts, opening a free par-sage tor the forces along tile shortest route, via Koprkeui and Ilfjaukalu.

ENEMY CAUGHT NAPPING. THOUSANDS OF ARMENIANS SLAIN. Received Feb. 20, 5.5 p.m. Petrograd, Feb. Id. The German commander at Erzerum was an experienced engineer officer. lie had a powerfully organised fortress, and used all the resources of.modern artillery art in strengthening the position. It is now known that Dig Turkish reinforcements were hurrying to the aid o? Erzerum, but were unable to arrive in time. The greater portion of the garrison escaped. The Russians fought without heavy artillery. Before the evacuation of Erzerum the Kurds mercilessly massacred thousands of Armenians.

KING'S CONGRATULATION'S. Received Feb. 19, 5.5 p.ai, London, Feb. 10, JVing Oeorge sent the following message to tlie Czar: Heartiest congratulations on the splendid achievement of your gallant troops at Erzerum after such hard fighting, which I trust will have effect*, - \