New-York tribune., 1877-05-05
THE ASJATIC CAMPAIGN.

OBSTACLES TO BE OVERCOME
The relative positions of the belligerent
armies in Asia Minor indicated in the accompanying
map according 10 the latest adyccs from the seat OF
war. Headquarters marked by flag. The dark
square indicates the presence of Russian troops Nhie
the lighter square points out positions where the Turk
ish army is assembled in force. According to
the Turkish report, the Russians have advanced
10 the westward OF Kars, and are intent
upon intCrceptng the communications between
that fortress and Erzerum. The Turkish commander
sought to defeat this movement 10y sending troops from
Kalr to oppose the advancing Russians. An engage
ment ensued winch proved ndecisive. Il IS now apparent
that tie Russian armies concentrating upon Ere
rum and will simply invest KIrs uutl the greater ioi-
trss falls their hands. Tie frontiers is crossed by
four main roads. The most northern starts from Pot
the terminus of railway from TAs. This road,
after crossing the Turkish frontier, forks at
Eatnn whence one branch runs along the coast to
Trelzund while the other goes direct 10 EfHruu Inc
second road crosses the frontier close to tie Russian
fortress OF Acnalzch and thence to karS The tiid Is
tn road rns to Kars, crossing the frontier
at the Russian fortress OF AlexandrOpOL The fourth
road leads from EIvdn 10 Bayazid thence to lrztrum
The Russians have begun tncr advance on the la>tnancd
road by capturing BayaNd. In 1929, PaSkcwch only
moved the three southern routes but the force at his
command was so small comparison 90 tie army now
launched against Turkey that the precedent o. no value
At the present time
Excepting OF course Kars, there great barriers
to the advance Of the Russians The roads leading 20
Erzerum. The amy from Pou, turning on at Balui,
would pass through the defles III tie valley Of tae
Di,ruk without meeting a fortress. On issuing ont
into the PLAIN Of ErzcTum they would tni themselves
nauked on either hand by the little orresses OF Iser
aud Thortum THese, however, are over Il mics apart
AID Tnoltuln could be masked and bcscg by small
force while tie main body marched out Of reach OF ITS
guns upon Erzcrum. The road from Achainch to kars
WAS scd bv the Russians 1923 20. 10 lsTungh ami ia
barred by fortress of Arabian In l-27 ths place sur
rendered without defense bat this was III TIE lsl ieenS
Of deprcssi subsequent upon the fan of AcLazicb, after
one of the most desperate defcHses ever related IN BIS
tory Arabian is small but strong Its defensos are NOT
however. proof against the improved artillery with
which the Russian army is supplied On the shori,seye
road which leads AlcNaudropO TO Rars there ase 40
obstacles 10 the Russian advance. On the fourth road
leading 10 Erzcum tie fortress of Bayazd was
the main barrier Having captured this the Russian
column may either take tae line followed by
P,seyi,.h and advance through Toprak Kaie or moro
pro.ably it viii march due west pass 'he Bnso' Bash
Mountains and the Eastern Eupaes' and then turning
north come down ugon The main road to Erlcrun in lie
rear Of the Turkish army
The invaders would thus lave marched nearly all the
line Of frontier which Russia coyets. kais is strong
fortgess II rcpuseI invaders several times prior to
the Russian attack in 1925 when fell after very
short siege In the Crimean II cll again. but this
time bv tie slow process of starvation The garrison
unoD that occasion was very strong one, almost as
large as the besegug army, and the turks nave Always
maintained that It ought not 70 nave bcon smut up
in the fortress nut ought 10 nave fouSht III inc
omen The position Of Kars as fortress Is iauty'
cxccnt as covering a large intrenched camp. As
citadel only il is useless, the country 10 us s0ulh Is
spmcuty level AID open for army TO march past ont
of reach OF its guns. There is another ROAD through
Kagzman 20 miles further south, and the posilio can
be turned altogether by invading armies advancing
either by the DjOruk road or tat Dy Arait H. however
:, ne we'll proylsoncd and used as an intrcnched camp
for q cOrBs d drpte II must be reduced ana S garrison
defeated before an army move forward elther by
fine ,n or southern road II is said that the iortlhca-
Ss have btea increased ana strengthened, and another
famous siege may be looked for Erzerun u otiat'gcy
or nportaut fortress than Kars. Itbocks the main
road and that coming up the DjOruk Valley iiom 'he
cot and In fact bars the passage of any army coming
IN te uorthward OF the BingOl Dagh range II is fairly
fr,idcd and If new rcdOubts have been thrown mp on
,.s frotn which il is 10 some extent commanded by
o1crn artillery it should make long ana stout resist
aprc II has however the disadvantage oil benS large
and populous city, being the capltal ol Asla MIhoi'
Food may be laid by active ana energetic governor
for the use of garrison for months, but IL s 'c"ToeS
possie for the inhabitants of large city 10 40 3D. IL
berfore the Turkish army be routed In the hei" can
scarcely be expected tAat Ei%eiu"i " -
stand "a heightened siege.
Having considered the line of advance OF the Kussans'
the line of defense which the rks might occupy ma!
be examined This line must OF course depend srca'S
upon the strength OF their army But SupPoSIns n'H
have any proportion at all 10 the mNauIhs 'o,00 D
Rnssiaps the positon which they should take up ap-
pears clearly indicated by srategical consideration
force Of some 10000 men, IN addition to the GARRISON
should be encamped under the guns Oh MARS or
Erzcrum The latter force should be destined 10 aAe
up fighting position the approach OF the huhSian
column from the Djoruk, at point where siueu ~ INC
guns OF Thorum. 1t could check the advance Oh tho
enemy and If this found impossible, fall Dack upon
the capital The natives OF the hill Districts aided oy
what rregulars may be dspOsabe. should hArass tne