The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-02-18
WAR SUMMARY
PROGRESS OF CONDITIONS AS
COMPILED by THE ASSO-
GATED PRESS.

zerum, Turkeys chief city in Ar
menia, 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 a period Of five days and direct
ed Grand Duke Nicholas, the Russian
commander in chief, described MS
unprecedented" have resulted in
the capture Of the fortress.
Unofficial reports early in the
present month said the German field
marshal, Won der Goltz, with 80, 1000
men, was besieged in the city with
provisions for only a fortnight.
The capture Of ErZerum is consid-
cred of great strategic Importance.
From ii radiates roads leading in all
directions. over those to tho south
west and south it will be possible for
the Russians now to fight their way
toward their compatriots operating
against the Persians and Turks in
northwest and west Persia, or pro-
coed south toward Bagdad to the re
lief Of the British bottled UP at Kut-
el-Amara, on the Tigris, southeast of
Bagdad.
The immediate effect of the Rus
sian victory on the situation in Persia
and Mesopotamia Is p~roblematical,
however. for despite the roads, the
country Is mountainous 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
a junction with the British at Kut-
el-Amara could be formed.
With the advent of stormy weather
on the western battle line the heavy
fighting of the last few days seem
ingly has simmered down again to
artillery bombardments and mining
operations. Berlin reports, however,
that the British and French have en-.
deayored to recapture trench posi-
tons taken from them by the Ger
mans, respectively. southeast Of
Ypres and in Champagne, near Ia
hure, but that the attacks failed.
Paris asserts on the contrary that
near Tahure the French have retaken
portions of their former trenches.
The British and Germans are still
at deadly grips for possession of the
trenches captured from the British
southeast of Ypres. artillery and hand
grenades being employed in the fight
ing.
London reports that i'm an attack
in which the British lost 500 yards
Of a front line trench the Germans
attacked over a front of 1000 yards,
but were everywhere ~repulsed with
considerable losses, except at the
point the trench was captured.
ON the Russian front, a driving
snowstorm along the entire line has
almost stopped operations. The usual
bombardment, interspersed with in
fantry attacks. continue on the Aus
tro-Italian line.
In Albania the Austrians and Bull
garians are said TO have formed a
juncture and are battling for the cap
ture OF Durazzo, which is being de
Tended by Essad Pasha's forces. COM
prising A%lbanians, Serbians and Mon
tenegrins.
Strumitza, Bulgaria, has been raid
ed by thirteen French aeroplanes
which dropped 1873 bombs and return
ed to their base unscathed. Several
fires were started by the bombs.
The ministers of the entente pow.
ers have informed the Belgian gov
eminent that hostilities against the
Teutons and their allies will not be
permitted to end without Belgium
having re%established its political and
economic independence. They added
that the Belgian government also
would be called up to take part in the
peace negotiations.
The question of submarine warfare
still remains an open one by reason
of Germany's announced intention TIC
treat as warships all armed mer-
chantmen after February 20. Seere.
tary of State Lansing is making
careful study of Germany's latest re.
ply with reference to the Lusitania
question to ascertain If there is any
thing in the German memorandum
concerning armed merchantmen
which conflicts with the assurances
given by Germany in the Lusitania
negotiations regarding the sinking oil
liners and the safety of their passen-
gers.