Evening star., 1915-01-06
OTTOMAN FORCES
REPORTED DOOMED
TO DETERMINATION
Russians Surround and Ha.
rass Army of Foe, Defeated
at Ardahan.
ALSO CRUSH OR CAPTURE
TURKS AT SARI KAMYSH
Danger to Egypt and Fortress at
Kars Is Believed to Be
Removed.
CONFLICTING CLAIMS IN WEST
Both Germans and French R.r,,<
Advances in Alsace-Roumania
May Get Into
War.
ALSO CRUSH OR CAPTURE
TURKS AT SARI KAMYSH
CONFLICTING CLAIMS IN WEST

LONDON, January E, 12:3a
p.m.-The crushing blow the
Russians appear to have dealt the
Turks in the Caucasus and the
reported further advance of the
French in Alsace, on the road to
Muelhausen, continue to hold the
foreground in the war news to-
day in the absence of any other
important developments east or
west. Berlin claims the capture
of several French trenches in
Alsace.
1t is felt in England that the re-
ported rout of the Turkish invad-
ers of the Caucasus, with the de-
feat of their plan to seize the Rus
sian fortress at Kars, gives the
Ottoman forces such a setback
that the much discussed invasion
of Egypt is now virtually out
OF the question. At the same time
the pressure on the Russians from
the east has been So far relieved
as to preclude any necessity of
withdrawing Russian forces from
the Polish and Galician fronts for
service in the Caucasus.
Claims Of Petrograd.
Petrosrad reports that the Turkish
army defeated at Ardahan (forty miles
northwest Of Kars), which is distinct
to the forces reported to have been
crushed or captured at Sari Kamysh,
was today completely surrounded and
being harassed by Russian cavalry
aAd doomed to inevitable extermina-
ton" It was added that the Turks were
fighting with great bravery and de-
termination, but against hopeless odds,
as the roads along which they sought
to retreat were blocked by deep SHOWS
This is the defeat of a Turkish army
corps which Grand Duke Nicholas re-
ferred to yesterday In his message to
Gen. Joffre. commander-in-chief of tho
French forces. This dispatch announced
also the capitulation of the entire
Turkish 9th Army Corps at Sari Ka-
mysh and the fact that such a COM
munication mas oeen exchanged be-
tween the allied leaders in the east and
in the west Is taken in london to indi-
cate that the Russian claim is neither
exaggerated nor premature.
Turks Show Bravery.
A dispatch to Reuters Telegram Com.
pany from Petrograd says:
Accounts received here of the Turk
ish defeat at Sari Kamysh say the
n.
their position was seriously threatened
and made frequent desperate bayonet
sorties. When they were compelled to
vacate they made valiant but futile
efforts to cover their retreat by a rear
guard action, even the wounded con-
tinuing firing from the ground when
they were struck down.
According to a telegram from Tffiis
the persistence with which the Turks
pressed their attack in the Sari Kamysh
district was to enable their troops in
the Ardahan region to retire without
heavy losses. Their operations were
conducted under tremendous difficulties
They lacked proper equipment and had
no transport trains. Everything had
to be carried on the backs of soldiers
or Of civilians Communicated for the
purpose. Most Of the trophies Of war
captured by the Russians were of Ger
man make"
Izzet Pasha Taken Prisoner.
A dispatch from Tifis says tho Rus
slams have taken prisoner Izzet Pasha,
former Turkish war minister
The reported Russian victory at Sari
Kamysh and the recapture of Ardahan,
which is an important junction point Of
the mountain roads from the Turkish
frontier to Kars and Tiflis. apparently re-
moves whatever menace to those cities
Tlprl tch inv,
Petrograd also believes. according to the
opinion of military men there. the attack
on Sarf kamysh was secondary in i'm
portance to the wide enveloping' move
to cut off the Russians near the border
and place Turkish forces between them
and the Caucasian capital.
Turkish Forces Routed.
BY December 81 the Turks had estab
lished themselves In the village of Up
per Sari kamysh. but on the 3Oth they
were routed there. with the loss of 20
officers and 500 men. Meanwhile the
Turks had occupied Ardahan, to the
northward. 100 miles from the frontier,
and intrenched themselves. They were
attacked by the Russians January )
and driven out after hard fighting.
which resulted in great losses on both
sides.
At the same time that the battle of
Ardahan was In progress the Turks re-
turned to Sari Kamysh and made an.
other attack, but were beaten by the
Russians in an encounter which ended
the night Of January 4. BY that time
the two Turkish army corps operating
in this region were unable to offer fur
ther resistance. One Of the corps, with
ali of the staff officers, was captured,
and the other was transformed into
scattered remnants. -.r-
Russians May Strike Blow.
While there has been virtually no
change to the west Of Warsaw. It is
the opinion Of British observers of