The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-02-24

The dispatch, the Russian advance
guards have arrived within a short
distance of Trebizond on the Black
sea coast.
Petrograd. Wia London), Feb. %
Crank Duke Nicholas, commander of
the Russian forces in HI Caucasus,
mas left Tiflis for Erzerum.
a dispatch from Tifl:s to the Boerze
Gazette says that two Turkish army
corps which We're on their way to re-
lnforce Erzerum have turned back on
being Informed that the fortress had
fallen.
The Russians are pressing the adj
vantage gained at ErZerum. On the
right along the Black sea coast, by the
cooperation of the sea and land forces,
they are driving the Turks from one
position after another to the east Of
1reolzond. and active operations
against that important seaport are ex-
pected soon.
Clearing the Sea Coast.
In the last two days the Russians
have occupied Wilde. (Widje), and
pressed forward 10 or u miles vest
ward. The fleet has destroyed several
snore batteries, and by keeping well in
advance of the land forces by de-
stroying bridges over several streams
in the path of the retreating Turks, has
rendered their retreat more difficult.
HI fleet has been working so close to
the shore that the warships have been
cache by rifle fire from the Turkish
troops.
On the left flank, after the occupa-
ton of Koph, the Russians pushed on
to Mush and Achlata. the latter on the
north shore of Lake Van. From Koph
TO Mush. 60 miles over mountain roads,
they fought several battles and occu-
pied Mush by storm.
The Turks fled southwark toward
Dlarbekes, the next objective of the
Russians. Once in possession of Diar-
bekes, 1t is only a days march to the
Bagdad railway, the last remaining
communication into Syria.
May Surround Army.
The rapid Russian offensive beyond
Erzerurn II is believed here, makes it
probable that the retreat of the Turkish
CORPS operating along the Black sea
coast and of those troops which were
active in the Mush district before the
Russian occuDatlon will be entirely cut
off and thai the main Turkish armies
will be surrounded.
This fate has already oyertaken the
Thirty-fourth division of the Tenth
corps, which was ordered from Olti to
Erzerum before the fall of the fortress.
As telephone communication between
this grGuD of Turkish forces and the
&C., sSO'A 49, - SSi clii itGLI JUL Slv
destroyed by the Russians. the Thirty
fourth division marched sereneIy on to
Erzerum without SUSPICION thai the
fortress was then about to be surren-
dered. These rooDs reached Erzerum
from the northwest at the very mo-
EHent that the Deve-Doina line of forts
fell into Russian hands and the army
which they had come to assist was in
full retreat. The road over which thew
had passed was instantly occupied by
Russian cavalry and. as they were com.
pletely surrounded. there was no alter
native but to surrender with arms.
equipment and artillery.
Entire Corps in Danger.
1t is regarded as almost inevitable
that the Turkish corps rallying along
the Black sea coast under the destruc-
tive fire Of the fleet and the presence
of the Russian armies would be caugbt
in the same sort of trap as the Turkish
troops falling back from Wide to Gum
ish Khaneh still have a greater dis
lance to go than the Russian troops
which are advancing from ErZerum tc
cut them off.
On the Turkish right flank. where
the Ninth corps is operating, the Turks
find themselves in the same precarious
position since all the roads of retreat
to the north are gradually falling nm
der Russian control. The retreat of The
Turkish army everywhere is impeded
by deep snow and the difficult charac-
ter of the country. They are without
food and la war supplies and there
seems to be little possibility of their
offering even temporary resistance al
any strength to the Russian advance.
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