Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-02-21
RUSSIANS PRESS
THEIR ADVANTAGE

Petrograd, Feb. 21.-The Russians
are pressing the advantage gained at
Erzerum on the right along the
Black seacoast, by the cooperation of
the sea and land forces, they are driv-
ing the Turks from one position after
another to the east of Trebizond and
active operations against that import
ant seaport are expected soon.
In the last three days the Russians
have occupied Wilde (Widje) and
pressed forward 10 or IL miles west
ward. The fleet has destroyed several
shore batteries and by keeping we'll in
advance of the land forces and by de-
stroying bridges over several streams
in the path of retreating Turks, has
rendered their retreat more difficult
The fleet has been working so close to
the shore that the Warships have been
reached by rifle fire from the Turkish
troops.
on the left flank after the occupa-
tion of Koph, the Russians pushed on
to Mush and Achlat. the latter on the
north shore of Lake Van. From koph
to Mush, so miles over mountain roads.
they fought several battles and occu-
pied Mush by storm.
Turks are in Flight.
The Turks fled southwark toward
Diarbekr, the next objective of the
Russians. Once in possession of Diar-
bekr, 1t is only a days march to the
Bagdad railway. the last remaining
communication into Syria
The rapid Russian offensive beyond
Erzerum, 1t is believed here, makes 1t
probable that the retreat of the Turk
ish corps operating along the Turkish
sea coast and OF those troops which
were active in the Mush district be-
fore the Russian occupation will be
entirely cut off and that the main
Turkish armies will be surrounded.
This fate has already overtaken the
thirty-f fourth division of the Tenth
corps, which was ordered from olti to
Erzerum before the fall OF the fortress.
AS telephone communication between
this group OF Turkish forces and the
garrison at Erzerum has been entirely
destroyed by the Russians the thirty
fourth division marched serenely on to
Erzerum without suspicion that the
fortress then was about to surrender.
These troops reached Erzerum from
the northwest at the moment that tho
Deve- Boina line of forts fell into Rus
sian hands and the army which they
had come to assist was in full retreat.
The road over which they had passed
was instantly occupied by Russian
cavalry. and. as they were completely
surrounded. there was no alternative
but to surrender with arms, equip
ment and artillery
Trap Set for Turks.
1t is regarded as almost inevitable
that the Turkish corps retiring along
the Black sea coast under the destruc-
tive fire of the Russian fleet and the
pressure of the Russian armies will be
caught in the same sort OF trap as the
Turkish troops falling back from
Wide to Gumish Khaneh still have a
greater distance to go than the Rus
sian troops which are advancing from
Erzerum to cut them OFF
On the Turkish right flank, where
the Ninth corps is operating. the
Turks find themselves in the same
precarious condition. since all the
roads of retreat to the north are grad
ually falling under Russian control.
The retreat of the Turkish armies ev-
erywhere Is impeded by deep snow and
the difficult character of the country.
They are without food and lack war
supplies and there seems to be little
possibility of their offering even tenn
porary resistance of any strength to
the Russian advance.