New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-07

column which marched from AIeXandropol moved di-
rec E on Kars and fOughta minor action against some
Turkish baitaoas from that place, WHO, after the On
gagcmcu retired within the fortress. IL seems evident
that dihtar Pasa has left Kars to ne defended ny its
garrison, and las Withdrawn his field army TO Erzcum,
and was even harassed his march by the cavalry OF
Gen Mclso which has pushed its reconnaisances he
vOnd Kars in the direction OF ErZerum and cut tcle-
graphic communication between the two places.
The cause Of the movement for concentrating made
10y the Turkish commander toward Erzerum n'f h'
partly accounted for by the action OF the Russian E
umu which moved from Erivan around the spurs OF
Mount Ararat This column on the 30th OF ApUl, Ocrl-
pied Bayd2d ana thus placed itself the road Ulic
leads directly 10 EgZcru, al distance of about 200
miles from the latter pace rapid advance of thc Rus
sian column from Tayazid would have turned the army
living near Kar-; and was necessary the Rue
SLAMS could press forward on Ererum that the TGria
should fan back toward that place. K-rs is leit to be
Jlocladcd or Dc3c1cd la Russian account OF the oc
cuatiou OF Bayazd slya The Talish sarrison retired
.outl-w,st leaving considerable quantity OF ammuE-
tiou ard provisions behind
Bathin ISIS and 49,. Bayazd, which is the frontier
town toward Persia, the great caravan road from
Tabriz TO Ez.rum and Tfcbizou, played conspicuous
part and the TURKS lad great stress Inc protection Of
ms point which on side controls the su0ree road
from The AIaIdt country TO Erzern, add OF t1e other
leads to the Van aud Upper Euphratcs country In 1854
the first ard only ENGAGEMENTS With The Turkish troops
ID ue w
wax only after defeating the Turkish fore under solm
Ps; on the Seth OF July 1sjl that the Russians could
AXE l,sscseion Of this point According To Russian
bulletin there were only 100 Turkish troops about
Blvazd and these, without even firing sBot-fOr moth
ip il. .Id Of an angagcnent-whdrcw to the slopes O
the AIada high mountain near the sources OF The Eu
,lrat,s; and TINS fact would show that unlike former
occasions when great importance was attached by The
Turkish commander to the defense Of Bayazd and the
watershed between the Euphratos and tho Auras, or
Phass 0U ng into the Caspian, this point has not now
been taken into the range Oi defensive operations, or
else b, piece of gross negligence on me pat OF Tie
Turk al commanders ia Anatola, an important defensive
position has been surrendered In the absence OF PROOF
10 tie contrary. the Turks may be credited with having
abandoned Bayazd from strategical considerations
rather than from negligence.
These movements show that rhe Russian forces are
advancing In a semcirclc toward Erzcrum' WINE me
Turkish forces are concentrated IN triangle at Ere
rum Olu n miles west Of BIrdesl, ana hats. Ire
rlt positiou is SO far good one while the Russian
advance If TOO extended TO be justified, except by TIE
number Of men in reserve and following NJ te advance
According 10 information received here, there ere 10 Ss
than a. 900 men conducting ana supporting me move
lnents 50 that people may BE- prepared To near OF inc
nrs battle having been fought south o. Mars 1"o"eu
nv the advance forcing the passage between EtShcVa
and Deli Musan 10 Mdschnger and llassan kael "heft
the Turks will have Ia take up their position for the de
Tense OF Erzeruln for If once the crest OF the mountains
bordering Grzerun on the east IS won by tie Russian
troops the town 10 lost The Russian ConSula Of Batnm
Eor. Erzcrum and Tr-bizoud accompany tie head
quarters and viii be urustcd with civil administration
Of The districts occupied.
Very significant for the thOrOughness OF Russian al
vance SO far ~ the fact that each corps has Kept up com
,iatiop with the others throughout This Las been
accumulated by the Cossacs The number OF Turkish
troou, al aud between Erzcrum. kars' ana Baum
amount 10 81 900 regulars, of whom 1000 are cavai
and about 900 aruersts In addition there are some
q coo militia and about 5000 Kurdish irregular cavalry
Kurs is well armed, but the detached orts arc p"uy
acd and cover each other insuncently, not at all
nor ore amy ~ the fortresses well provisoned, with the
exception Of Erzcrum where there is large stock OF rice
and Indian corn.