Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-21
TURKS IN FLIGHT
PRESSED BY RUSS
ALONG SEA COAST
Grand Dukes Armies, Cooperating
with Navy, Push Moslems Back
Toward Seaport Of Ire
bizond.
HOPE TO SURROUND MAIN ARMY
Several Divisions Caught When
They March Into Trap Set
for Them.
DEEP SNOW 1MPEDEs ACTION

PETRoGRAD, Feb. 2O.-Grand
Duke Nicholas, commander Of the
Russian forces in the Caucasus, has
left Tiflis for ErEerum.
PETROGRAD, Feb. 20.-The RUS
slams are pressing the advantage
gained at Erzerum. On the right
along the Black Sea coast, by the
cooperation Of the sea and land
forces they are driving the Turks
from one position after another to
the east OF Trebizond and active OPP
erations against that important sea-
port are expected soon.
In the last two days the Russians have
occupied wilde Cwidie) and pressed for
ward ten or twelve miles westward. The
fleet has destroyed several shore bat
ieties and by keeping well in advance OF
the land forces and by destroying bridges
over several streams in the path OF tho
retreatng Turks, has rendered their re-
treat 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.
Turks Flee south ward.
| On the left flank, after the occupation
OF Koph, the Russians pushed on TO Mush
and Achlat. the latter on the north shore
or Lake Van. From Koph to Afush. aixty
miles over mountain roads. they fought
several battles and occupied Mush by
storm.
The Turks fled southwark toward Diar-
Bekr, the next objective OF the Russians.
Once in possession of Dlarbekr. II is bnly
a days march TO the Bagdad railway. the
last remaining communication into Syria
The rapid Russian offensive beyond
Erzerum, II Is believed here. makes It
probable that the retreat OF the Turkish
corps operating along the Black Sea coast
and OF those troops which we're active In
the Mush district before the Russian oc-
Icupation, win be entirely cut off and that
the main Turkish armies win be sur
irounded.
Turks March IN Trap.
This fate has already overtaker the
Thlrty-fourth division OF the Tenth corps.
i wiiieD +sas onaered IRON Olti to Erzerum
| before the fan OF the fortress As tele-
phonic communication between this group
OF Turkish forces and the garrison at
Erzerum has been entirely destroyed by
the Russians. the Thirty-fourth division
marched serenity on to Hsrzerum without
suspicion that the fortress was then
about to be surrendered, These troops
reached EFxerum from the northwest at
the very moment that the Deve-Boina
line OF forts fell into Russian hands and
the army which they had come to assist
was in full retreat
The road over which they had rassed
was instantly occupied by Russian cav
airy and. as they were completely sur
rounded, there was no alternative but to
surrender with arms, equipment and ar.
. tillery
Others In same Plight.
II Is regarded as almost inevitable that
the Turkish corps retreating along the
, Black Sea coast. under the destructive
fire OF the fleet and the pressure OF the
Russian armies. would be caught in the
same sort Of trap as the Turkish
troops failing back from Wide to Gum
ish Khaneh still have greater distance
to go than the Russian 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 posi-
ton, since all the roads OF retreat 70 the
north are gradually falling under Rus
sian control. The retreat OF the Turkish
army everywhere is impeded by deep
snow and the difficult character OF the
country, They are without food and
and lack war supplies and there seems
20 be little possibility OF their Offering
even temporary resistance Of any
strength to the Russian advance.