New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-18
TURKS nth ARMY
CORPS WIPED OUT
New Glory for Russian
Troops in Caucasus
Artillery Captured.

Petrograd. Jan. l.. The following
report has been received from Tihis'
"The army of the Caucasus has Gov
cred its flags with glory by a fresh
heroic exploit, having completely ami
iila.ed the 18th Turkish Corps, with
The exception % several insignihcap'
dement's. which are fleeing in disorder
We have captured all the artillery o.
this corps"
The following Official communication
from, TIE army Of the Caucasus was IS
sued tonight:
"In the region Of Kara-Urgan On
Turkish Armenia the fighting IS de-
velopipc. With the advantage resnns
with our troops. By a bsyonet attack
we annihilsted the SD Turkish Regi'
men+. the survivors Of which. includ-
ing the commander and several officers
we're made prisoners.
IN one direction where we we're
pursuing the defeated Turkish troops
we took more than 5000 prisoners
fourteen cannon, an enormous guam
titv Of supplies and nearly 10000 head
Of cattle"
That Persia should not be held sc-
countable for her inability TO prevent
the Turks from menacing Russia
through violation OF Persian neutral
ity was the assertion made to-day by
Issac Khan, Persian Minister to Rus
sis. at one time Minister TO Washing
ton. He declared his country had
placed her dependence on foreign
troops for protection. The minister
explained the Persian situation as fol-
lows:
Neutrality Solemnly Declared.
ave solemnly declared our neu-
trality. and intended to adhere to that
declaration. The integrity OF our ter
ritory was guaranteed to US by Eng
land and Russia Last Monday I'm
peror Nicholas. reiterating this prom
ise. said. Il wish you 10 tell your gov
ernment that we shall not take a
single foot Of your territory
I'VE have protested against Turkish
violation Of our territory, and II
Turkey continues its invasion we shall
continue 20 protest. At present the
Turkish garrison at Tabriz consists OF
little more than two regiments, but
IL is possible, even probable. that
Turkey will send through our province
OF Azerbsijan into the Caucasus large
numbers Of troops, because our coun-
try is unfortiied. and the frontier be
tween Russia and Persia is the only
unfortifed Russian frontier.
"For this reason the use OF our
country by Turkey is an even more
obvious expedient than was Germany
violation OF Belgian neutrality, for
Belgium could offer resistance, while
we are unable 10 do so. The Russian
government knows. however. that we
are not culpable. Nearly all Kurds
Joined the invading army, but again
We were not blameworthy, since we
we're helpless. because We lacked an
army.
Cannot EXpel Diplomats.
Certain Russian papers have de-
manded that We eXpel from Teheran
the diplomatic representatives. OF Ter
manv. Austria and Turkey. This we
snail not do. because 10 would consti.
tute a breach OF neutrality and would
Justify the Turks IN treating US as
hostile country. whereas now we are
perfectly sure. no matter what the re-
Sui,s OF the war. that Persia will re.
main independent"
Minister Khan said Persia hoped soon
N succeed IN forming an army. which
:, has been endeayoring 10 do since
zoos but hitherto unsuccessfully, be d.
csrse OF the country's poverty and
IscL Of united action by the various
tribes.