New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-21

The town of Arabian, which has been cap
tured by the Russians is about 10 miles from AcnaHch
lsee map, the Russian post whence the inVa'u0g
army set ont. 1t is so miles from kafS
Arabian is a place OF great strategic importance
being situated between two mountain chains one
separating it from Kars, the other from uie
coast. Its possession gives the Russians com
mand of a great valley as far as the souganIn
mountains where the way il barred by MuKthar fasna
forces which hold chain OF posts by which they mann
tain communication with Kars The fall OF Ardaoah VIII
enable the Russian army which invested 1t to cause
dyer.ion that may lead to the speedy surrender OF tn"
city.
The immediate capture OF Kars has, however, very
subordinate importance to that which il had III the 7'
war; for though Russians cOnSdeFaDY cAceiou III
numbers then Also this superiority was not suc az w
allow Of their leaving corps Of observation for the
blockade Kars and advancing with the rest Vi thc
forces on Erzrum They then had to stdown Tor months
before the town. and wait till they had reduced 1t by
famine; while all that has become known OF iuei
present advance leaves little doubt that the oJeet o
their present operations is Erzeruna not Mars
simultaneous by the caravan road from iy
10 Ezcrum on the left AeXandropo to kars IN the
center. and on the right toward Baum or rather
toward the valley OF the Tshuruk Tor Achamur rs the
Russian bulletins have iO, would seem to leave niue
doubt about this All these lines OF advance converge Oh
Erzerum The center of the Russian army, winch
seems TO form the bulk of IL, has advanced from
AlexfndTOpol. and, after leaving CORPS vi
tion a Kars there nothing 10 stop 1t "a FAR az the
soucanu Mountain which forms the watershed between
the Aras and the Kars Cna aucnt OF the Arpa Cha
which after forming for distance the frontier line
between Turkey and Russia also jOas the Aras There
are two passes leading over the SOuganlu Mounta the
more uortlcry and difficult by kislisse over when
P.skiewilz made his way 1929 while the Turks Wero
Wag Tor him the s0uthery road by MctshSfau Tor
which they paid the penalty According to the pune
tins OF Mukhar Pasha, expected an immediate advance
in tins dreo on leaving the garrison OF hars 10 ia
fate he took nine battalions and retired tO Bardess
above Della Nusa which lies in the valley Of the AraS
and where the two roads coming down from the passes 81
the souaauu meet As he cannot well intend TO bar the
bulk Of the Russian army advancing by the center with
the nine battaOus which he has brought with MN from
Kar- il may be supposed that n means to concentrate
there whatever available forces he may have either to
stop the Russians in their passage Of one or other OF the
passes Of the Sougauu else TO take up position at
the junction Of the two roads so "a to pre-
vent the debouching OF the Russian force into the
plain of the Aras The awkward thing is that be-
sides this central VGyauce there is one from both
wings aso-On the left from Bayazd, by The direct car
aya road 10 Erzcrum and the right by the valley OF
the Tsluruk Su, likewise Erzerum As regards the
FIRST now that Bayazid is taken aud that the Turkish
force which, according the Russian account, only
numbered 200 men, has withdrawn, there seems moth
ing to stop tnis left column from moving up TO the
plateau of the mdagh, which forms strong defensive
position but lies To the southwest Of ArdOs where the
roads coming down from the souganiu meet, cons