Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-01-07
Bitter Struggle, Lasting Ten
Days, Results in Practical
tnaihiIation of One Turkish
Army,
ANOTHER STRONG FORCE
DEFEATED AT ARABIAN
Engagements Occur Amid
Winter Weather of Noun
tainS More Than Ten Thou
sand Feet High,

fsy FORMING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wssI
Perograd, Jan. 6.-The following
statement of the general staff Of the
army of the Caucasus was issued to-
night
AT the end of November the bulk
Of the third Turkish army was sent to
the region east of Erzerum, preceded
hy two army corps besides a reserve
corps near Hassan Kalah.
I'm conformity with the plan Of
EnVer Pasha, the third army was to
proceed MS follows
The ninth and tenth army corps
we're to advance IN the direction of
OH and form the offensive wing,
whereas the eleventh corps had orders
to hold it's powerfully organized po-
sltion ana to attract through a STRAIT
egic demonstration the weight of our
troops IN case the Russian troops
had taken up the offensive energet-
ically the eleventh corps had been or
dered TO fail back on the fortress of
Erzefum, carrying along with it the
Russian forces.
THE tenth Turkish army corps was
then to advance in two columns, the
first including one division, proceed
ing towards Id by the Olti-Chai val
ley. The second, two divisions strong,
was to advance on Ardost through the
Servy Chat valley. The ninth corps
was to take the offensive in the inter-
val between the tenth and eleventh
army corps.
Our troops in the region of Olti
checked with great courage the Tur-
kish advance despite the numerical
superiority of the enemy and through
several counter-attacks inflicted
heavy losses.
in the. meantime we detected a
strong Turkish column. reinforced by
Mussulman rebels which was adj
vancng from the Panjouretsk and
Jalagouztchamsk passes in the direc-
ton Of Abraham. The garrison which
We had left at this point, after hold
ing out for seventeen days. fell back
u little to the east
Inilicts Complete Defeat.
Having received rcinforcements
we attacked, on January 3, the Tur-
kish force concentrated at Arabian
and inflicted upon the enemy com
plete defeat. We captured the flag of
the Eighth infantry regiment, part
OF the Constantnople garrison
During the development of a sub
sequent action we discovered that the
bulk Of the Turkish force, that is TO
say the ninth and tenth army corps,
were taking the offensive against Sari
Kamysh This movement was under
taken through mountain roads and
steep passes buried in deep snow. The
troops were abundantly pro
vided with provisions and war mate
rails The enemy had planned the
operation relying on the sympathy
and help Of the natives who previous
~ had been influenced by Turkish
emissaries.
Ten Days Battle Results.
THE task of our troops consisted in
holding on the front important forces
of the enemy and at the same time in
offering resistance strong enough
Ia check the ninth and tenth corps.
In spite of the extraordinary difficult
ties Of this, in spite also of the rigors
of the winter and of necessity of fight
ing in passes of mountains rising 49,
600 feet and covered with snow, our
valiant troops after a fierce battle eX-
tending over ten days fulfilled bril-
lianty the exceptional task which had
been imposed upon them.
They repused the frantic attacks
Of the Turks on the flank and ON the
front and at Sari Kaymsh enveloped
ana almost annihlated two Turkish
corps They captured one of these
corps with its commander, three divi-
sion generals with their staffs.
number of officers, thousands of sol
diers and many guns, rapid firers and
horses.
The fighting was very fierce on
the principal front and Of course ne
cessitated a change in the grouping
Of our forces in regions Of secondary
Importance We brought certain de-
tachments nearer our frontier.
We have not yet ascertaincd the
extent of our booty. The pursuit OF
tha suar,,t atfII soutfuuae %