RUSSIANS CAPTURE TREBIZOND

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2751, 20 April 1916, Page 5

RUSSIANS CAPTURE TREBIZOND

SUCCESS OF GRAND DIKE'S STRATEGY SKILfUL CO-OPERATION OF ARMY AND FLEET ByTeiegraph— Frera iSßooiotion-Oopyriglit / New York, April 18. -r £ -Renter message from Petrograd states that tie Russians liaVe captured Trebizond. . , . ■ I ' , ■' ; ' HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT; \ lie High Commissioner reports:. , London, April 19, 12.30 a.m; "The Russians have taken Trebizond." STORY OF THE ACHIEVEMENT SPLENDID TENACITY AND COURAGE OF. THE RUSSIANS. (Rec. April 19, 8.5(1 p.m.} ■ , Petrograd. April 1-8. • A communique states:—"The'efforts of our Caucasian army and our Black Sea fleet have been crowned b,v the capture of Trebizond, the most important fortified ppsitioii on the Anatolian coast. After a sanguinary battle •on April i 4, out troops pressed the Turks without a respite, overcoming incredible difficulties, ahd everywhere shattering the most obstinate resistance. The co-operation of the fleet permitted us to effect a- most dfiring landing ih sup- . £>ort of the tfopps. The heroic exploits of the Caucasian army t operating inland,- facilitated the success of the troops on the coast." AN EASTER PRESENT FROM THE GRAND DUKE HOW THE ENEMY'S FORCES WERE SUNDERED. ' (Rec. April 19, 10.20 p.m.) Potrograd, Afr-ii 19. Trebizond proves to be the Grand Duke Nicholas's Easter present to his countrymen. The rapidity of the opertaifliis is a trhimph for General Yiideriitch, who is leading the anny. Trebizolid is_ less fortified than was Erzel-um, but a 1 rugged mountain ridge, 8000 feet high,' protreted. it from .the sotitli. The German engineers had worked feverishly to complete the defences, liiiiil the only possible frontal attack was along the narrow coast line. Success was largely due to the Russians advancing along the Chorok Valley, tlitis preventing the Third Turkish Army joining the defenders at Trebizond, whilo the Russians, pushing on towards Erzingan, intercepted the Turkish reinforcements. The lOrig converging roads will enable the Russians to tUrii the whole., front to Erzingjin, where is tlio main Turkish concentration. The' possibility of revictuailing the Russian armies by sea, instead of through the difficult mountain, defiles, will enormously lighten the task of the Russian cotnmissafiat; Meanwhile the roads are being improved, ' and a railway is being construction from Sarikamish to Erzonim. [Trebizond.(says an authority) is situated in the south-eastern part of the Black Sea. in Turkey. Asia Minor. Front a geographical point of view it is a ' part of tho mountains of the Caucasus. The towii is built on both slopes of a cape which separates the Bay of Platana from the Bay of'Trebizond, dear the River de Deiermen Dere ("the River of the Valley of the Mill"). Its population a few years ago s was .46,000, the inhabitants Being Greeks, Armenians, Turks, and Georgians. The distance ili a straight line by sea froitt liooizond. to Battiin (which is harbour of the Russian Caucasus) is about miles. The position of the town is an important one, both from a commercial and strategical point .of view. It is the great depot for traffic in caravans going to and from to and from Erzerum, and also to atid from a great part of Armenia. Its strategical position is important by rcadoii oj the fact .that it is at the oftd of the Erzorum lloa'd. Cannons, arms, and general munitions of war for Erzeruin are sent from here. Trebizolid Road is essentially a military position. As a road it is exceptional for Turkey in Asia Minor, being well kept. It was constructed by a Frenchman, M. Briot, an engineer in the Ottoman Government service. It is 316 kilometres in length. Starting from the centre of Trebizond, it follows parallel with the bay, theii turns briskly towards the south. It winds with the River Deiermen Dere, which flows between sharp steep hills. The country is particularly picturesque. The climate is colder ih Winter than iii Australia, and in summer the atmosphere is hot and muggy. The hills, all cldsc to the sea, are covered with rhododendrons and aiialea, which, in their springtime' blossom, give' a very pretty effect. Hazel nut trees grow in profusion. In the autumn the nilts are exported in enormous quantities. x The Russians by the capture of Trebizond will bold' the two extreme points of the road which leads fi'oiii Trebizond to Erzertim, and thfey' will be virtually mftsterfe of tlio Armenian country. They will also be in an admirable position to provide their troops nt jErzei'iim with arms, aiiimiinitioh, big guns, and provisions much i more easily than through the Cnuna.«nn