Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-03-13

(The last issue of the London sun
day Observer to reach the United
states has the following optimistic re-
view of the war situation;)
The longest lane comes to a turning.
Unless present signs should be helied
by some incalculable disaster. the al
lies ought to come within the next
four months to the turning point OF
the struggle The moral effect of the
renewed pledge to Belgium is nearly
MS important as the magnificent stroke
IN Armenia. More important thar
either Is the fair certainty that by the
end of next autumn, II not by summer
the enemy empires win be permanent.
ly outnumbered and out -munitioned &c
the extent required for the sure con.
vergence OF the allies upon their cen.
trail objective, and for the progressiv,
advance, stage by stage, to the fina
triumph. The assurance of complet,
victory will be vlsihly in our hand,
this year If the allied governments are
That is why il is NOR,
necessary than ever to urge them OF
in order that they may grasp every or
portunity in the coming campaign
and avoid any repetition of the mis-
management which would again throw
back out prospects.
Better Signs.
We are not going to be too saneuin,
before the solid proofs of improve
ment. There are still several unknown
quantities which have to be worked
out by the course of events into def
mite factors in the equation. We shall
continue. as we see need, to shov
things as they are in their sway o
good and i'll. and to mingle warning
and criticism with steady estimate o
the encouraging forces. The glozini
plausiblities of official apologists an,
the exaggerated railing of unreasona
Bile assailants are equally ineffective
For Il considerable time yet II will b
as false as in the past to say tina
things are all wrong or all right. lie
criticism in the parliament and tn
press stick to the real bots. Will
frankly approaching improvement
wherever it shows itself Then critl
cism will become the sanely construct
i've and surely compelling power tina
it ought TO be.
In several directions at home am
abroad there are undoubted improve
ments. We venture, on the whole. t
express a firm belief that events @
themselves are carrying the efforts c
the allies into the right way, and tina
the next campaign, after tremendou
graphing and fierce vicissitudes of
local and temporary kind, will chang
the face of the conflict. We shall hes
see if the basis of this general argu
ment is sounded by dealing first wit
the military events--subordin fo
some weeks to other matters in thes
columns--and then passing to som
reasonable deductions
The Key OF Armenia.
1t is no vain figure to say that ther
lis light from the east, and that IN
lstorming of Erzerum irradiates tn
state of the war like a distant dawn o
ia mountain peak. The image apple
because the success of the grand duB
land his brilliant lieutenant offers
real prospect of settling one by or
the side-shows in Asia and Egypt
the only way that will enable the allie
to effect full concentration on tn
European affair. The weight of tn
consideration we shall presently el
plain. The Russian feat is not onl
in itself big victory--for once tn
word so often and fatuously misapplie
lin this struggle may be legitimatel
used-but it opens up possibiliti,
reaching so far and in so many diret
tons that we must count it among III
master-strokes OF the whole war.
Erzerum is not only a stronghold
but q strategical center, giving vel
wide command. The possession {
that base supported Enver Pasha
whole ambition to recapture Kar
penetrate to Tiflis, raise the Moslei
populations and carry the Ottoma
frontier once more to the main rams
of the Caucasus. Russia in earli,
wars held the place twice. and WI
! forced to relinquish it. Everyor
knows by now that Erzerum has bee
the key of Armenia, and therefore or
of the chief keys of the near east SIM
Roman times ald before.
II dominates o. well-watered plai
in a labyrinth of Alps. The plain {
plateau is over 5000 feet in elevation
All round the mountains sweep L
ridge above ridge to 10000 feet an
more, a region Of cloud and ice. TT
| long routes run through profour
and tortuous gorses piercing Il wi
| derness of savage grandeur and AR
tic rigour. The approach to this ma
ural fastness from the east was fu
Their barred by a wild range Of fort
and these not obsolete. but large
strengthened in the last few years
! German energy. one at least of thel
forts stood at a height of over 500
feet. Others blocked pass as diff
cult as the Khyber. The garrison WI
estimated at 100000 men, but the
were only the central part Of II
Turkish forces At least anoth'
100, 600 men altogether formed Il
left and right wings. extending TO Il
Black sea on one side and on IL
other to Bitlis. near Lake Van. II
zerum was defended by some q
modern guns, without counting hui
dreds of old pieces. Add to this Il
+, terrible severity Of the winter weatl
or, and we can understand why Il
Turks counted the place as the mo
nearly impregnable Of their for
resses next to Constantinople al