The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-07-15
THE KEY TO
 ASIA MINOR


 is the little city of Kars. in Russian Armenia, which has been a possession of the Great White Car since 1878. It is from this fortress, situated about a hundred miles northeast of Erzerum, that Russia has sent forth her armies for the conquest of Turkeys Asiatic possessions. "The key to Asia Minor." Kars has been called, and so it may prove to be. Situated on a table land of 5000 feet in elevation, it forms a commanding position from mili- tary point of view on the plateau of Asia Minor, facilitating aggression to- ward Turkish Armenia and serving as Russian outpost on the road to Constantinople'' now being taken by Russian armies. since Kars was made Russian city it has been rendered almost impregnable.
 The Russian flag was first hoisted over Kars eighty-eight years ago to- day, July 15, 1928, when it was cap tured by General Paskiewich after a conflict of three days. After an oc- cupation of two years the Russians were forced by, the terms of peace to abandon the place, and it was restor- ed to Turkey. Grudgingly the bear released his grasp, and when the Cri- mean war broke out in 1854 the Rus sians again besieged Kars. The town was then defended by rampartsl sur rounded by ditch, with a strong cita- del and some works on the hills north of the town. Kars was then under the nominal command of Vassif Pasha, but was really in charge of the British officer, General Fenwick Williams, and Gen, Kmety, known as "Ismail Pasha" a Hungarian. The Russian army. of 10000 infantry and 10000 cavalry was led by Gen Mouravieff. The siege lasted from June Is to Nov. 28, 1855. All the efforts of the Russians to car fy the place by assault ended in failure. Four times they captured the redoubts only to be dislodged by bayonet charges. The garrison suffered ter ribly from lack of food and from the ravages of cholera, and it was not un- til he and his men were starving that Gen. Williams offered to surrender. In accepting the proposal, Gen. Moura- vieff said: Gen. Williams, you have made yourself a name in history, and posterity will stand amazed at the en- durance, the courage and the dfsci- pline which this siege has called forth in the remains of an army. Let us arrange equalization that will sat isfy the demands of war, without dis gra ing humanity
 For a second time, by the treaty of peace, Kars was lost to Russia. The bear bided his time, and in 1877. when Russia was again at war with Turkey Kars fell a third time before the Rus sians. This time Kars wasNtaken by assault after twelve hours of fighting The capture of Erzzerum by the Rus sians last February was case of Cau- casian history repeating itself, for the Czar's soldiers reproduced against the modern forts the direct method which succeeded thirty mine years ago against Kars. The Russians lost about 2,500 in killed, and wounded in the assault while the Turkish casualties were 5, 900 with 10000 prisoners. By the Berlin treaty of July. 1878, Kars was finally ceded to Russia.
 The long struggle for Kars, finally crowned with success, marked step toward the realization of Russia's great ambition-the capture of Constanti- nople. Since Catharine made her tri- umphal march along the Road to Constantinople," and Czar Alexander demanded from Napoleon, as the price of his help. "the key to Russia s house," nearly all of Russia's wars have had for their main purpose the annexation of Constantinople and the domination of the Dardanelles. That ambition is still cherished, and it is the hope of all Russians that the pres ent war will witness it's realization.