FALL OF ERZEROUM.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5360, 18 February 1916, Page 5

FALL OF ERZEROUM.

WONDERFUL RUSSIAN COUP

GARRISON IN FULL FLIGHT. Petrograd, Last Night. The garrison at Erzeroum, whiich is estimated to be eighty thousand Turks, is in full flight westward. A communique says: We captured seventy guns, besides munitions and prisoners in the nine forts in the Deveboyun position, covering Erzeroum. The defenders were dislodged at the bayonet point. The Turks are hurrying up reinforoemens from western and southern parts. Erzeroum is in flames. The Grand Duke Nicholas’ master stroke at Erzeroum was carried out despite the fact that the mountains were covered with the deepest snow, the absence of railway facilities and fifty degrees of frost, making the bringing up of siege guns a herculean task. The outer line of the (fortress was comprised of fifteen forts, all to the east. Eleven were upon the precipitous Veveboyun heights, four to eight miles oast of the citadel, thus (■losing the Hassan Kala road. The Veveboyun forts were arranged in groups, some of three, some of two, and others of a single fort supporting one another at long ranges. Two single forts enfiladed these groups and another nearest the citadel closeel the gap between the two groups. Due south are two forts echeloned on the (■'alantoken heights, entering the road from Khinis. The remaining forts on the north side cover and guard the Jabogaz Pass, which is a few miles east of the Dumlugah Pass, winch the Prussians occupied last week. Tlie Grand Duke Nicholas apparently first attacked aud captured the Knrgubek forts, sixteen miles north-east <»? Erzeroum, occupying the height between the two roads which unite at Karariver. When the lines of outer forts were broken there were only marshlands extending‘for miles over the plain of Erzeroum. between the Russians and the citadel. The capture of Erzeroum will luckily break the Turkish resistance in Armenia, and will have an excellent moral effect on the Russian campaign in Central Persia and British fortunes in Mesopotamia.

The Grand Duke Nicholas, in m telegram to the Czar, says: The Almighty has lent such great aid to the valiant troops of the Caucasian army that Erzeroum has been taken after five days of unexampled storming and attack.” The "Daily Telegraph's” military correspondent says that it is difficult to realise these brilliantly successful operations, carried out at an elevation of nearly ten thousand feet. Notwithstanding the difficulties the Russians have inflicted defeat after defeat upon the Turks and have crowned their victories by capturing one of the most notable strongholds in th© world.

ROUTE TO TURKEY OPENED

CONSTANTINOPLE ALARMED

London, Last Night. The “Morning Post” says that the capture of Erzeroum was a great teveut opening one route whereby Russia may enter Turkey and gives Russia a magnificent base for further operations. It is also important to the British as it directly threatens the Turks in Mesopotamia. Even the Muezzins (the Mahommedan Criers) in the minarets of Saint Sophia may hear the reverberations of the fall and tremble.

The “Daily Chronicle’s’’ military correspondent says that Erzcroum was the key to Armenia politically end in a military sense. The immediate consequences will be: Firstly, that the Turkish right wing on Lake Van will be in a precarious position; secondly, that the Turkish pressure in Mesopotamia will he alleviated, as many troops will be withdrawn; «nu thirdly, the Turkish attack on the Suez Canal will be indefinitely postponed. Russia will never be driven out of the town ,which is strong by nature rather than by military fortifiications. It is the pivot of the Turkish advance in Armenia because it is the road to Constantinople, end it is the road centre to the frontier, including the main road to Constantinople, arid the Caucasus roads from Trebizond to Lake Y T an. The fall means the liberation of the Armenian race.

There was rejoicing in. London of the news of the fall of Erzeroum. ft is recognised as a triumph, proving that Russia has fully recovered from her set-hack of last summer. The high-class movements have aroused intense satisfaction. Optimists expected the fall to be deferred at loa.-,t a month in view of the terrible snowstorms. The Grand Duke Nicholas evidently hastened the final attack in order to assist, the Allies’ ar. lilies in Persia and Mesopotamia noting with the some unselfishness which ■dictated the rush into- Ebst Prussia at the commencement of the war. Erzeroum lies in a circle of barren hills enclosing a swamp and a flat baked brick plain . The spot is appalling in dreariness, though it has n, population of fifty thousand inhabitants. It has .squalid Imzaars and gardens like swamps.

Rome, Last Night

A wireless m essage from Constantinople says flint, there is consternation among the population owing to the announcement of the disasters at Erzeroum, whore Ottoman troops have been reusing to continue the struggle on account of lack ol provisions.