FALL OF TREBIZOND.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7710, 20 April 1916, Page 3

FALL OF TREBIZOND.

ARCHDUKE’S EASTER GIFT TO HIS COUNTRY. INCREDIBLE DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME . PETROGRAD, April 19. A communique states: The efforts «>f the Caucasian army and Black Sea •leet were crowned by the capture of Trebizond, the most important fortification on the Anatolian coast. After a sanguinary battle on the 14th inslant our troops pressed the Turks without respite, overcoming incredible difficulties and everywhere shattering the most obstinate resistance. The eo-operation of the fleet permitted us to effect the most daring landing in support of our troops, and the heroic exploits of the Caucasian army operating inland facilitated the success of the troops on the coast. Trebizond proves the Archduke Nicholas’ Easter present to his countrymen. The rapidity of the operations is a triumph for General Yudcnitcli, who was leading the army. Trebizond was less fortified than Erzeroum, but a nigged mountain ridge 8000 ft high protected it on tlie south. German engineers worked feverishly to complete the defences until the only possible frontal attack was along the narrow const line. The success was largely due to the Russians advancing along the Choruk valley, preventing the 3rd Turkish army joining the defenders of Trebizond, while the Russians pushing on to Erziugan intercepted the Turkish reinforcements along the converging roads. This will enable the Russians to I urn the whole front to Erziugan, where is the main Turkish concentration. The possibility of revictualling the Armies by sea instead of by difficult mountain defiles will enormously lighten the Russian commissariat. Meanwhile the roads are being imoroved, and a railway constructed from Sarykamysh to Erzeroum. CAUSE AND EFFECT. GALLIPOLI NOT A FAILURE. (Received This Day 11 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This day. Speaking at the Agricultural Society’s luncheon the Hon. Mr, Pearce said the Gallipoli campaign was not a failure. If Turkey had the 1 troops lost in that campaign we should not now he reading of the Russian success at Trebizond. TWO LINES OF RETREAT. OPEN TO THE TURKS. (Received This Day, 2 p.m. PETROGRAD, April 19. The Turkish garrison at Trebizond and the field army number about fifty thousand. There are two possible lines of retreat —first, westward to Kiresun, sixty-five miles, along the Black Sea coast; second, southwards hy rail to Gemuschana, thence to Erzinghan. The mountainous country along this line of retreat is well adapted for defence. The seaward defences of Trebizond were especially strong, and included powerful naval guns on concrete emplacements.