TURKISH CAMPAIGNS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15722, 16 October 1916, Page 8

TURKISH CAMPAIGNS.

POSITION IN ARMENIA AN EFFORT THAT FAILED.

<By Coblo.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and X.Z. Ca.b!« Association.) (Received October loth. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON", October 14. Mr Phillips Price, the ''Manchester Guardian's" correspondent at Tillis, sums up the position in Armenia and Persia. The Turkish evacuation of Erzingan, he says, proved to be the preliminary of a big counter-offensive extending from tho south Armenia plateau to Eastern Persia. The Turkish plan was to draw tho Russians deeply into the Western Euphrates Valley and then throw the whole third army into the lake depression, while the loft wing, consisting of tho Sixth Army, advanced and occupied Tcherau. Aboi Pasha, commanding the Tliird Army, hoped to push north from tho Mush Plain and cut off the Russians between Erzerum and Kars. Tho Turks commenced the offensive by sending 110,000 troops under Isset i) Pasha in three columns, which it was arranged should converge near Khunus, south of Erzerum. General l'udenitch. however, managed to outflank Isset Pasha, who evacuated the Mush Plain. Tho large Turkish force now in the Upper Euphrates Valley is connected with its base by bad roads, and Isset Pasha's power for an offensive has-been greatly reduced owing to the difficulty of getting supplies from Kharput. Tho situation in Persia is less satisfactory. Halil Pasha invaded Persia with 26,000 regular cavalry and infantry, and 12,000 irregular Kurds, together with German batteries and aeroplanes. The Russians, who were

outnumbered, retired, and the Turks now hold Hamadan, but will not attempt an advance on Teheran, as they fear a Russian counter-offensive which will threaten Halil Pasha's retreat on Bagdad.

A PLOT DISCOVERED

EXTENSIVE HANGINGS

(Received October loth. 5.5 p.m.)

ROME, October 14

The "Tribuna's" correspondent at Salonica states that the German police at Constantinople discovered an extensive plot to assassinate Enver Pasha and other members of the Cabinet, as well as German officials.

Many well-known persons were arrested and executed without a trial. Fifty bodies were seen hanging on the gallows on October Ist, and many additional hangings took place on succeeding days.

IN MESOPOTAMIA.

BRITISH AIRCRAFT ACTIVE,

LONDON, October 13

A communique from British headquarters in Mesopotamia states that the situation on the Euphrates is unchanged. Aeroplanes successfully bombed the enemy's camp south-east of the Dugailth redoubt.