Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-07
STRUGGLE WITH TURKS
CONTINUES TEN DAYS
Battle Finally Turns to
Russians.
THEIR VICTORY is COMPLETE
One Army Corps Is Captured, and
Remainder of Ottoman Forces Is
Put to Flight-EXtent of Booty
Not Yet Determined.

PETROGRAD. January 6-The fol-
lowing statement Of the general staff
OF the army in the Caucasus was issued
tonight:
AT tho end of November. the bulk
Of tho third Turkish army was sent
TO the region east of Erzerum. pre-
ccded by two army corps. besides Il
reserve corps near Hassan Kalah.
, I'm conformity with the plan of
Envcr Pasha, the third army was to
proceed rs follows:
The Ninth and Tenth Army Corps
we're to advance In the direction of
olti and form the offensive wing
whereas the Eleventh Corps had orders
10 hold Its powerfully organized posi-
ti"n and attract through strategIc
demonstration the weight OF our troops.
In ease the Russian troops had taken
ur the offensive cnergetlcally, the
Eleventh Corps had been ordered 10
fall hack on the fortress of Erzerum
carrying along with 1t the Russian
forces.
TENTH TURKISH ktMY CORPS
ADVANCES IN TWO COLUMNS
The Tenth Turkish Army Corps was
then Ia advance in two columns. Tie
first. including one division, proceed
ing towards Id. by the Olti- Chat Valley
The second two divisions strong. was
TO advance on Ardost, through the
scrvy- Chat Valley. The Ninth CORPS
was to take the offensive in the in
terval between the Tenth and Eleventh
Army Corps.
Our troops in the region OF Olti
checked with great courage the Turk
- al Al, To fI,a xrk.
periority of the enemy, and through
several cOunterattacks. inflicted heavy
losses.
In the meantime. we detected a
strong Turkish column, reinforced By
Mussulman rebels which was advanc-
ing from the Panjourelsk and Jala-
gouztchamsk passes. In the direction
of Arabian The garrison which we
had left at this point, after holding
out for seventeen days. fell back n
little TO the east.
Having received achievements, We
attacked on January 3 the Turkish
forces concentrated at Arabian. and
inflicted upon the enemy complete
defeat. We captured the flag of the
Eighth Infantry Regiment, Il part of
the Constantinople garrison.
During the development of sub
scquent action we discovered that the
bulk OF the Turkish forces, 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 deep In snow. The
turkish troops were abundantly pro-
v!ded with provisions and war ma
icrial The enemy had planned the
operation relying on the sympathy and
help Of the natives, who previously had
been Influenced by Turkish enissaries
FIGHTING Is FIERCE,
AND LASTS TEN DAYS
The task Of our troops consisted in
holding on the front important forces
OF The enemy, and at the same time in
oHer!rg a resistance strong enout
check The Ninth and Tenth CorDs In
spite OF the extraordinary difficulties OF
this. in spite also OF the rigors of IN.
winter and Of the necessity of fight,
ING IN passes OF mountains rising 10
40" feet and covered with snow. our
valiant troops after a fierce battle cx
tending over ten days. fulfilled brill
l!antly the exceptional task which had
been imposed upon them.
They repulsed the frantic attacks Of
tho Turks on the flank and in front.
ana mt Sari knmysh enveloped and al
most annihilated two Turkish corns
Ihey captured one OF these corps with
IT'S commander. three division generals
with their STATS. Il number OF oficers
thousands of soldiers and many guns
rapid -firers and horses.
inc fghting was very fierce on the
principal front. and. of course, neces-
h'tated q change In the grouping of our
torces In regions OF secondary import
hhce. we brought certain detachments
nearer our frontier
we have not yet asccrtained the
extend OF our booty. The pursuit of
the enemy stu continues"