The Tomahawk., 1916-03-30
w YHERE the Armenian plateau
n becomes bleak complex of
wv gorge and mountain Is

Y Lu0 ArIueUldu pA6ICc1u
n ! becomes bleak complex of
wv gorge and mountain Is
traced the present boundary
line between the Russian Caucasus and
Turkey in Asia, and the largest city
and the all-important fortress on this
strong natural frontier is Erzerum,
which guards the one convenient way
through the ragged heights to the fiat.
lands of Mesopotamia and the lower
hills of eastern Asia Minor, and which
recently was captured by the Russians.
The beginning of history finds this
city military station and a point OF
considerable strategical value; 1t is
the Armenian fortress of Garin kalakh
of antiquity, the Arabian raiding base
of Kalikale, the Byzantine frontier
post, Theodosiopolis.
The Russians have twice decided
wars against Turkey in their favor by
capture Of E1zerum, and each time
Erzerum has been handed back in the
peace arrangements, says writer for
the National Geographic society.
While the attacks Of the Russians
against the fortress in 1877 were IN
successful, their occupation OF the
town during the armistice of February,
1873, finally brought the Turks to- &C.
cept the terms of peace. The assault
and capture of the fortress by the
Russian general, Paskevich, In fully,
1929, decided the campaign in Asia:
Erzerum bars the roads from Kars
and other points on the frontier
These ways follow the valley OF the
Aras river through the high noun
tains and from Erzerum branch north
west and south. North of the fortress
leagues Of impossible mountains ex
tend from deep in Turkish Armenia to
beyond the Russia border: TO the
south, an equally mountainous coun-
try is broken through by rare, miser.
able trails. In the extreme south, near
The Persian Turkish border, one OF the
best Of these routes into Turkey leads
through the country near Lake VAN
Fine Setting but Dirty City.
Situated at the eastern end Of an
open, treeless plain, 80 miles long and
IL miles wide, and surrounded OIL all
sides by lofty mountains, steep to
heir bases, Erzerunn enjoys . splen-
lid setting. Within the town, en-
:ircled by an earthen enceinte, how.
sver, appearances ara cramped, unfa-
'orable, and gloomy The streets are
many sizes too small according to- tho
western measure, and they lack utter.
y in stability Of direction. Moreover
hey are badly drained and dirty, and
The houses by their side do not add
cheer with their old, UNMARRIED facades
If dark gray volcanic stone.
The town has always enjoyed q
fairly prosperous transit trade, for
It is On the main overland route from
Trebizond to northwest Persia and to
the trade ccnters Of the southern eau
casus. A good road leads from Ere
rum down to the coast at Trebizond,
and the Journey can be made by car
Rage in five or six days. The place
has also been noted from early times
for the quality of it's brass and copper
work. Wheat, barley, millet, and veg
etables are grown in the country
around, and sheep are pastured. The
population of the town is $4,000, Of
which one-quarter is Armenian.
Hamadan, the Treasure City.
Another interesting city that has
fallen into the hands. of the Russians
is Hamadan, the treasure city Of the
great Achaemenian kings, identified
with the Respondent Ecbatana OF the
Greek writer's. The ancient city lies
1873 miles west-southwest of the Per-
sian capital. Teheran.
All vestiges of the by-gone glory OF
the place have been destroyed, save
alone famous but battered stone lion,
which lies in somber, mutilated desc
lation fiat upon the plain near the road
leading to Ispahan. The old lion has
lasted through all the ages of Hama.
dan, a guardian genius of the town;
for it was set up as talisman to pro-
tect the walls Of the city The lions
fate and the city's fate were connected
in prophecy that the city and its peo-
pie would he safe SO long as the lion
was not thrown down or broken. The
tailsman today enjoys . superstitious
veneration; mothers bring their
babies to kiss the hugh carven face
md pilgrims place offerings Of stone
before it. According to one tradition,
he lion was set up to brighten away
| he severe winters OF Hamadan.
| The name Of the city can be traced
ack to earliest times, and it means
terally % Mace OF meeting OF many