EASTERN THEATRE

Southland Times, Issue 17665, 24 February 1916, Page 5

EASTERN THEATRE

TURKISH LOSSBS 40,000. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) PETROGRAD, February 22. Turkish killed, wounded, and prisoners at Erzeroum are estimated at 40,000. FRESH RUSSIAN FORCES. LANDED NEAR TREBIZOND. NEW YORK, February 22. London advices state that, under cover of the guns of warships, Russian transports are landing large forces on the Armenian coast, seventy miles east of Trebizond, against feeble resistance. Russian troops are being transported from Batoum, where they have been in readiness for several months. The fact that they were not used in the earlier stages of the campaign in Turkish Armenia leads to the belief that Grand Duke Nicholas has a fresh army to pursue an aggressive campaign against the Turks in Armenia and thus drive them towards Constantinople and the British in Mesopotamia. KITCHENER'S CONGRATULATIONS. LONDON, February 22. Lord Kitchener telegraphed to tiie Grand Duke, Nicholas; ’’Heartiest congratulations from the British army and nijself on Hie brilliant feat of arms of our Russian comrades at Erzeroum.” Grand Duke Nicholas replied thanking Lord Kitchener and the brilliant British army. RUSSIANS GAIN 20 MILES A DAY. TREBIZOND THREATENED. PETROGRAD, February 22. Received February 23. 9.1 a p.m. The Russians on the Black Sea littoral are chasing the Turks at tire rate of twenty miles daily, and are threatening Trebizond, which is the only bar to Russian dominance of tire region. TURKISH REPORT. PETROGRAD, February 22. Received February 23, 9.1n p.m. The Constantinople communique admits the withdrawal from Erzeroum, but belittles the operations on the ground that it was unfortified. RUSSIANS WITHIN 40 MILES OP TREBIZOND. BET BOG BAD. February 23. Received February 21. 12.(u a.ni. The Russians have, readied Riza, forty miles east of Trebizond,