BIG HAUL AT ERZEROUM.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5361, 19 February 1916, Page 5

BIG HAUL AT ERZEROUM.

FORTIFICATIONS INTACT. GUNS AND OTHER BOOTY. Pctrograd, Last Night. An official messenger estimates that the Erzeromn; garrison numbered a hundred thousand men with 667 guns, while the advanced forts had 37-1 guns and the central forts 2QO guns. The newspaper ‘‘Husky Invalid’* states that the Caucasus army has performed a miracle which military history will remember for years to come. Other newspapers emphasise that the town is a junction of great roads. The Turks wifi try to regain it. but they cannot bring reinforcements in less than two months. The Rus--ians will strengthen the fort. Meanwhile, Russia has captured it by an adroit manoeuvre involving a triple combined movement which paralysed the enemy’s centre and turned his wings .thus overflowing his means of communication. The fall will not pass unnoticed at Athens and Bucharest. Rome, Last Night. A wireless message states that Kr■zeroum is intact. TTte Turks had no time to destroy the fortifications and buildings. There was enormous booty. CONSIDER ED IM PREGNA RLE. SEVERE BLOW TO TURKEY. London. Last N-iglit. ‘ The Times,” in a leader says that the fall of Erzcromn was one of the greatest surprises of the war and should have most important results. It is the chief city in Turkish-Arme-nia ami the strongest strategical position in Asiatic Turkey. ’ Experts considered it impregnable, and it is believed that four Turkish army corps were concentrated in this area. The Grand Duke Nicholas end bis staff caught Enver Pasha and General Von der Goltz unawe res, striking Turkey the severest blow of the war. The Turks made a fatal mistake in not taking the Russian movements here seriously, instead of devoting their attention tfco Bagdad aim Creisphon. “Tlie Times” points out that although the Russian victory eases the pressure in Mesopotamia it is greatly complicating the Turkish problem of supplies. It is unwise to expect immediate results. The great range of the Armenian Tauras mountains are still separating the Russian and British forces. VVo must fight our own battle, hut the capture of Erzcroum will be a hitter disappointment to the Turks, almost equal to the effect that the fall of Bagdad would have produced, GERMAN MARK PALLS. Amsterdam, Last Night. The German mark fell heavily, following the news of the fall of Erzrroum.