Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-17
Nine Important Defenses Of
Turk Stronghold in East
Reported Captured
ACTION BECOMING .
ONE OF IMPORTANCE
Germans in the West Begin
Assault on Britons and
Win Long Trench

London, Feb. 16. - Reuters
Petrograd correspondent teIe-
uraphs that Erzerum has been
captured by the Russians.
The capture Of Erzerum has
been the objective Of the recent
campaign Of the Russians In the
Caucasus. Its position Is Of con-
siderable strategic importance, as
Il is the chief city Of Turkish Ar
menia and the center Of system
of roads. It has been understood
that the Turks had concentrated
at Erzerum an army Of consider
able size.
Ezerum 10 about sixty miles
west of the Russian border. 1t has
belonged to Turkey for four Gen.
turtles and has played promin-
ent part In previous wars. It's
capture, If accomplished as re-
ported, represents one Of the few
definite accomplishments Of the
Caucasian campaign.
London, Feb. 16. - While France
and Flanders are the fields Of military
activity that Just now command chief
attention, the operations of the Rus
SLAMS in their Caucasus campaign are
developing notable points Of interest.
The newest development comes with
Petrograd's announcement Of the cap
ture Of nine Of the forts of the Turkish
stronghold of Erzerum, the chief city
of Turkish Armenia.
Late last month the Turks were
driven back to the Erzerum defenses
and. there have been reports that 8O,-
900 men were locked up in the city
with not more than two weeks provt-
sions. Reinforcements, however, were
said to be on the way, and may have
arrived.
Military critics link the operations OF
the Russians in this campaign and
that In Persia with the British struggle
In Mesopotamia, pointing to possible
convenience Of the allied forces. The
British armies for their part appear
to be making little progress.
Battle Is Important.
Not much attention was paid for
many months to the Caucasus cam
paign, the Russians apparently having
small forces there. With the appoint
ment of Grand Duke Nicholas to the
chief command, however, 1t was limited
that important developments might be
looked for A dispatch from Amster-
dam on February said that Turkish
reinforcements. sent to the relief OF
Erzerum, had been beaten of by the
Russians and that eighty wounded
Turkish officers and 5000 wounded
men had arrived at Trebizond. An
Athens dispatch stated that the Turk
Ish first army corps had been sent to
the relief of Erzerum, but could not
reach that city before the middle of
February.
The latest German note on the Lus-
itania Is before Secretary Lansing to-
day. All the changes suggested by the
American government, except one,
have been adopted in the new draft
and Teutonic officials here believe that
It will be entirely satisfactory to the
United States.
The Germans have shifted their Of
fensive from the Artois and Cham
payne regions in France to Belgium In
the neighborhood Of Ypres where the
British are entrenched. BY contin-
uous bombardment for two days with
artillery and by infantry attacks the
Germans drove the British out Of their
trenches over distance of 500 yards.
Berlin claims that a majority of the
defenders of the trenches we're killed
and that several dozens Of soldiers
were taken prisoner. In the Artois,
Lille and Vosges regions, the French
and Germans are still fighting artil-
lery engagem ents, but no notable gains
have been reported by either side.
Berlin claims that two British war
ships were sunk off the Dogger bank
on February 10 and that they were Of
new type. built for mine and anti
aircraft service. The British admir-
atty, however, reiterates its previous
statement that only one vessel was
sunk. -,.. .......-. j..