NOTES ON THE WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17095, 18 February 1916, Page 6

NOTES ON THE WAR.

Fairly full notes concerning the Russian campaign in Armenia were given in this column some three weeks ago, but the reported capture of Eraoruin. by the Grand Duke directs attention sharply to the region now. The Russians have been energetic throughout tlio winter, but the, very brief announcements in the oommunique.s have given no indication of the magnitude of tile movements or the significance of the fighting. Hitherto the Russian campaign has been mainly defensive, but an advance was indicated, two or three months ago, and lator it was apparent that the Russians were pushing their left tving we3t to the ridgos north and south of Lake \ an, but it was not until quito recently that the threat against Erzerum developed at all seriously. As a matter of fact, the Russians disguised their intentions rather cleverly, and as the Turks took it for granted that no big work could be attempted until the spring they doubtless were caught by surprise. From this distance the explanation of the Russian offensive seemed to bo that active assistance was being lent to the British in Mesopotamia, but it ri not improbable that the campaigns wore planned to co-ordinate. A simultaneous advance by British and Russians might have given .the Allies both Eraeruni and Bagdad. General Pownshend suffered some delay ori the Tigris, allowing the Turks to hurry reinforcements to Bagdad, and it- will no doubt be found that some of these reinforcements came from Armenia, so that even though General Townshend had to retire lie may well have contributed to the Russian success. The fact that von der Goltz was sent to Mesopotamia in November suggests that the Turks were not then anxious regarding the position in Armenia.

Apart- from its importance commercially, Erzerum is a town of considerable strategic value. It is the advanced fortress of Turkey in Asia-, guarding the main highways of traffic. It lies at the eastern end of a plain that stretches for thirty miles, with high mountains on all sides. North of the town are marshes, and to the east and south are steep ridges, that to the east, forming an apparently insuperable barrier. Forts on the outer slopes of this mountain ridge guard the approach bv the Kars road across the Devebiv ' n or Camel’s Neck, to which reference is made in the cable message. The inner ring of fortifications of the city was considered to be of small importance. though the Turks may lately have improved it-; but the detached fortified positions, extending many miles north, east and south, were believed to afford a sufficient- protection. The Russians braved the winter storms and brought up heavy guns from Kars, and the forts were apparently reduced quickly. It is said that the troops marched and fought- in fifty degrees of frost, and while that may be an exaggeration it Is a fact- that the winter temperature of Erzerum sometimes falls to twenty degrees below zero, and even lower temperatures are recorded on the higher country.

The Russians have previously been in occupation of Erzerum. for they captured it in 1829. Again in the war of 1877 it was attacked, after the Turks had been defeated ou the Dovcboyuu rkße, but on this occasion the defence was good. However, during an armistice in February, 1878, they entered again into occupation and remained in possession until peace was declared. The region is remote and difficult for military operations, particularly from the Turkish side, seeing that reinforcements must reach it by road, whereas the Russians have the advantage of rail transport as far as Sarikamish, and the Grand Duke should therefore be able to hold his advantage.

The American Government has abandoned its proposals in regard to armed merchantmen, as most people expected, and Mr Lansing’s threat that such ships would be treated as warships if they visited American ports comes to noth-

ing. The history of this little phase of a big question will be interesting if it is ever published. As far as one can judge the American scheme was the outcome of conversations between Mr Lansing and the German ambassador, in which the Teuton proved clever enough to secure what appeared to be a substantial advantage. Count Bornstorff seems to have suggested that if Britain abandoned the arming of merchantmen Germany would abandon the submarine attacks on commerce ships—knowing, of course, that Britain would do nothing of the kind. It is certain, at any rate, that his chief objection to the suspension of the submarine attacks was the contention that Britain had armed merchantmen wholesale for offence. Mr Lansing, .being one of the world’s greatest authorities on international law—though maritime custom may not be his specialty—cannot have imagined that Britain would abandon the established right of arming commerce ships for defence, and therefore it is to be supposed that his proposals were shaped rather by the pacifist members of the Administration than by himself. However, the Administration decided to adopt the very German suggestion and the Secretary of State drafted the proposed “rules."

Britain, of course, promptly rejected the scheme, and Mr Lansing was then left with the option of standing to the proposals and drawing up a set of American regulations that would have proved utterly impracticable or of withdrawing his proposals. Obviously, if merchantmen carrying guns were to be treated as warships in American ports there would be all sorts of difficulties and delays in the transaction of trade between America and Great Britain, and the Administration would have to face a storm of protest from its own people. But Britain had only to take her stand on the universally recognised rule and the United States had to give way on the point. The Administration covers its retreat by announcing that if there is reason to suppose that a commerce ship is armed for offence she may be refused clearance papers. But to that Britain’s reply will be that the names of all merchantmen armed for offence are given in the current issue of the Navy List, and that, no doubt, will be the end of tho curious incident.