Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-02-17

teV MORNING JouRssl SPECIAL lshsnp w,asi
Erzerum, Turkeys chief city in
Armenia, Is In the hands of the Rus
slams Heavy assaults by the Rus
SLAMS against the long line OF detach-
ed forts protecting the city, lasting
over period of five days and de-
scribed by Grand Duke Nicholas, the
Russian commander-in-ch chief. as 'un-
preeedented, have resulted In the
capture Of the fortress,
Unofficial reports early in the
present month said tho German
Field Marshal von' Der Golta, with
10000 men, we're hesleged In the
city with provialons for only fort
night.
StrategIcaily Important,
Arhe capture OF Ergeffh1 K of3
cred Of great strateelc irprtnnee.
From il iadiates roads lCAuius Vi I'LL
directions over those 20 the suuti
east and south, il will be possible fai
the Russians now To fight their way
toward their eompatriots. operating
against the Perslans and Turks IN
the northwest and west Persia OF
proceed south toward Eagdad to the
relief Of the British bottled up at
kut-cl-Amara, on the Tlgrls south
east Of Bagdad
Effect probIematical
The immediate effect of the Rus
sian victory In Persia and Aleso-
tomai is problomatical, however, for.
despite the roads the country is
and there is still much
ground to be covered something over
200 miles, before the Lake Urumiah
district Of Persia is reached and
over 600 miles before junction with
the British at kut-el- Amara could be
formed.
Artillery Battles West
With the advent of stormy weather
on the western battle line, the heavy
fighting of the last few days SEEM
ingly has simmercd down again to
artillery bombardments and mining
operations Berlin reports, however
that the British and French have en-
deavorcd 10 recapture trench posi-
tons taken from them by the Ger
mans. respectively southeast of Ypres
md in Champagne near Tahure, but
that the attacks failed Paris as
serts on the contrary, that near Ta-
burc the French have retaken por-
ions Of their former trenches
British and Germans right.
The British and Germans are still
1t deadly grips for possession Of the
fenches captured from the British
southeast Of Ypres. artillery and hand
being employed In the fight
ng. London reports that in the at
acl< in which the British lost 600
ards of a front line trench, the Ger
mans attacked over a front OF 1000
ards but were everywhere repulsed
sith considerable losses except at the
point the trench was captured.
ON the Russian front a driving
along the entire line has
Utmost stopped operations
The usual bombardment inter-
persed with infantry attacks con-
inue on the Austro-Italian line.
Attack ON DurazLo.
In Albania. the Austrians and
mlearlans are said to have formed
tuncture and are battling for the
apturo of tho important seaport of
lurazzo which is being defended by
,ssad Pashas forces, comprising Al
,anians. Scrhians and Montenegrins.
Strumitza. Bulgaria, has been raid
do by thirteen French aeroplanes
shich dropped l5s bombs and return
q to their base unscathed. Several
Tres were started ny the bombs.
VIII fire Belgium.
The ministers OF the entente pow
rs have informed the Belgian gov
rnmcnt that hostilities against the
'eutons ana their allies VIII not be
ermittcd to end without Belgium
aving established its political and
economical independence. They adj
ed that the Belgian governments al
b would be called upon to take part
i the peace negotiations,
The suggestion of submarine war
ire still remains an open one by rea-
an of Oermany's announced inten-
lon TO treat rs warships all armed
ierahan NOR afte~ TeNruarv 81.
aer.Halt uf ctate ftn ur ls f3teNg
eartfnI NNd. nf 1etNatuN tNegt
su4 rlfu reference ta the Lu- u,iEla
Urstnn 10 1scertain f there i- ant
hing in the German memorandum
oncerning armed merchantmen
Ihch conflicts with tho assurances
lven by Germany in the Lusitania