EASTERN THEATRE

Southland Times, Issue 17663, 22 February 1916, Page 5

EASTERN THEATRE

THE ROUT OF THE TURKS. FIVE ARMY CORPS ANNIHILATED. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright) ROME, February 20. “Secolo’s” Petrograd correspondent states that five Turkish army corps were annihilated at Erzeroum. The fugitive remnants of the army arc approaching the desert beyond Sivas. ENORMOUS CAPTURES. ONE CORPS TAKES 240 GUNS. MUSH AND AKHLAT CAPTURED. PETROGRAD, February 20. The communique states: Wo captured, north-west of Krzeroum, the remains c>. the Thirty-fourth Turkish Division, wit. thirteen guns; also the remains of < regiment on the Erzeroum road. One o. our corps during the assault on Erzeroum captured 240 guns. We captured by assault Mush and Akhlat. The enemy continues, his flight. The artillery captured at Erzeroum included a hundred and fifty eight-inch Krupp guns. TURKISH POSITION IN DANGER. SPLENDID VIGOUR OF THE ATTACK PETROGRAD, February 20. Military critics point out that the capture of Mush and Akhlat gravely affects the Turkish position. It completely cuts their communications between north and south and deprives them of all possibility of functioning their forces. The Grand Duke Nicholas is warmly tributed for infusing new energy into the troops and rousing them to deeds recalling the most splendid episodes of the early days of the war. His strategy was admirable—firstly, a sudden sharp knock sending the Turkish centre flying to the fortress; then simultaneously a thrust forward from the north-east and closing in on the south-east. There was no time to lose as strong reinforcements were advancing from Thrace. The Krupp defended heights of Erzeroum were scaled and stprmcd with the bayonet despite the fact that the Germans seemed to have achieved complete technical supremacy. TURKS FRIGHTENED TO TELL THE TRUTH. AMSTERDAM, February 20. The Turkish communiques continue to announce that nothing important has occurred in the Caucasus. DISORDER IN TURKEY, THE WAR DENOUNCED. ROME, February 20. Constantinople advises that serious troubles broke out on Thursday. Crowds demonstrated in the streets find squares, denouncing the war and the Young Turks. German police attacked the demonstrators. A German garrison is reported to be guarding the Palace and Ministerial office. German-subsidised papers are seeking to minimise the fall of Erzeroum. It is alleged that the troops refused to proceed to Armenia. Disorder is also reported at Smyrna and Beirut.

IN STRICKEN ABBBHIA. tee TNEKS’ SCATTERED PLIGHT. SURRENDER OP 34tli DIVISION. EFFORT TO SAVE TREBIZOND. AMPLE TIME POE RUSSIANS TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES. PFTROO KAO, February 21. Received February 21, Ikla p.m. Xmv Hint the key tn Armenia lias lieen taken the Russians are swiftly occupying the stricken land, and hold the A alley of -Mush, eighty-three miles southward of Krzeroum, where in September tlio Kurds and Turkish gendarmes dro\c Armenian women and children into barns and burnt them. Large bodies of beaten r i urks arc reported fleeing southwards, apparently making for Kharpnl and Diarbekr. The eleventh army corps is retreating westward towards Krzingan. One Jegiment has already been captured. the Russians have apparently succeeded in breaking the connection between the. three army corps composing the thiul Turkish army. Orund Duke Nicholas has transferred his headtpiartors to Krzerouin. The surrender of the 21th division is explained by the fact that it was unaware of tlie fall of Krzeroum, and was hastening to join the main body. The Turkish forces near the i-Jlack Sea hastily abandoned their positions and are retreating by the coast road lowaids Trchizond, the Unssians pursuing. They are also subjected to the constant lire of the Russian warships. Tile next strongly fortilied positions behind Krzeroum are at Sivas, lull Hie retreating eolumns are badly scattered. A division has been ordered to Trehizond In resist the Russian attempt to seize Hits valuable port.

Before the Germans and Turks are able to reorganise their forces the Russians ought to be firmly established on the Armenian plateau. The Russians are making every effort to save the' vestiges of the ancient Armenian civilisation. Only two monasteries are left standing in the province of Van. Thousands of valuable manuscripts have been destroyed. THE NATURE OP THE FIGHTING. ENTIRELY DIFFERENT TO TRENCH WASPAAE. GERMAN COMMANDERS MYSTIFIED BY MANOEUVRING. SIBERIANS' MASKrotCEHI CHARGES HORRORS OF THE RETREAT. LONDON, February 21. Received February 22, 1.10 a.m. The fighting in the Brzeroom campaign was* utterly different to that in jlurope. There were no trenches and die troops operated along the roads, forces a few mfl.es apart may be separated by a mountain range as completely as if in different hemispheres. The Russian success was largely due to manoeuvring which mystified the Germans and Turks and led to the fatal dispersion of the Turkish forces. The Grand Duke Nicholas at first did not contemplate the assault of Erzeroum, but with the breaking of the Turkish centre came the opportunity for a sudden stroke. Details are still unknown.

Some heavy guns, laid on sledges, were drawn by sweated man-power over the mountains, deep in snow. On the night of the attack on the Fort Tagma, without firearms the Russians in the starlight crept silently over the snow and rushed the fort with the bayonet alone. The Siberians then attacked the great fort of Tchabandede, the fall of which caused the disorderly Turkish rout. Hand-to-hand fighting in the frozen marshes north of Erzeroum, and tlie storming of the southern ridge proceeded simultaneously. The horrors of the Turkish retreat were increased by the burning of the town and the merciless hail of Russian shells.

The Siberians rushed fort after fort from frontal positions, though there were SO,OOO Turks under Achmet Pasha defending the town. Kiamll Pasha vainly ordered two other army corps to hasten to Erzeroum. The Russians, assisted by the blizzai'd, surrounded one division in a defile and compelled it to surrender.