New-York tribune., 1916-07-30
Drive on Toward SivaS as
Ottoman Troops
Retreat.
CAUCASIAN LOSSES
ADMITTED BY TURKS
Comstantinople Denies Flight OF
Troops to the West,
However.

London. July as@The Grand Duke
Nicholas. troops are sweeping forward
west of Er7ingsn In their drive on
Sivss and Kharput. As was expected
the Turks are powerless TO offer ef-
fective resistance 70 the Russian sd-
vance through the open country OF
Central Armenia.
A delayed announcement from the
Turkish War ofice, issued on Wednes-
day last, admits the loss Of Bsiburt,
Gumuskhsneh and Erzingan and the
bending back OF the Turkish left wing
but asserts that the Ottoman right
wing Is continuing its advances in
Southern Persia, while the centre OF
the line is holding.
Deny Russian Reports.
Ths statement denies Petrogrsds re-
ports OF disordcrly fight by the
Turks. declares that the Russians nave
greatly deceived themselves in regard
Inc the movement as success, and
relterates that the general situation In
the Caucasus has not been changed py
the latest Russian advances.
The Russian announcement READS:
"Our advance in the direction Of
silva, and Kharput continues. and we
have taken q number OF prisoners: Dur
ing the night Of the 27th the TURKS
launched a fierce attack on the district
Of Mosul on the right flank Of our de-
tschments, but were forced back oy
gallant counter attack by our Gruzlh-
ian riflemen. The enemy hed IN dlsor-
der, throwing away arms and cart
ridges"
Tho Turkish statement says:
"Owing to Russian attacks in the d.
rection OF Baiburt and Mamakhatun on
our positions in the centre OF the
southern bank Of the Tchoruk River,
onr troop. are maintaining in success
sive lines the execution of counter at
tacks and are retiring in an orderly
manner. Our troops on the LETT wing,
north OF the Tchoruk in the lttoral
region, also retired voluntarily on our
order. following the movement against
consequently. the places Of Baiburt,
Gumuskhaneh and Erzingen fell INTO
the enemy's hands. The advance, which
the Russians were able TO accomplish
only with bloody losses, cannot chahge
our general situation on TINS front
'Tne exaggerated Russian othclal re-
ports about our retreat are "l1hOu'
foundation. The Russians are repre-
senting our movement as a fight, out'
except for two guns damaged by the
enemy's fire, we left nothing. We re-
moved all Of the artillery and other
material. which proves the order Win
which the retreat was executed. Dur
ing this operation in several counter
attacks in many sectors we made
great number Of prisoners
Erzingan Loss "Regrettabie."
"The loss Of Erzingan il regrettaole,
but as il is an open town IT Will not
influence our general operations
ION the right wing Of the sectors OF
Mush and Bitlis the situation Is un-
changed. Activity developed from time
10 time BY the enemy was stopped by
our counter movements. Russian
forces. which succeeded in reaching the
sector Of Rivandouza, were chased back
bv us In several successful battles.
"The left wing Of the three armies
on the front from Southern Persia TO
m. Black Sea was curved back little.
Thi, Is mentioned by the Russians as
big success, but our army on the rlgnt
wing continually advances in Southern
Persia. The army in the centre domi-
mates completely the sector OF Azeroal-
ian and western regions.
~The next operations, which Will take
nlsee shortly, will prove how very
nremsture the Russians have been in
,preading this news of alleged great
spcce.ses and how much they have de-
ceived themselves in their reports"