Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-19
Complete Cooperation of the
Russian Troops Made Any
Defense Useless.
FIRST DETAILED STORY
Petrograd Gives Good Ac-
count of Capture of the
Turkish Stronghold.


1852 a. m.)-The first story in detail
of the capture of Erzerum by the Rus
slams reached Petrograd semi-offi-
cially today. 1t shows complete CO.
operation Of Russian troops over a
wide area, which made useless resist
ance on the part of the Turks. APP
parently the Turks realized the fall OF
Erzerum was inevitable and withdrew
most of their forces before the final
onslaught, leaving the garrisons Of the
widely separated forts to their fate.
The campaign began to reach its
climax in the last days of January.
The troops of General P from
the north of General k from
the east, moved against the first
line under the most severe wealth
err conditions. The Russians drag
ged their artillery to the heights
surrounding the fortress and when all
was ready began to lombard Fort
Kara Gudek, 20 miles, and Fort Da-
Ian GEE, Is miles northeast of Ere
rum, preparatory to the bayonet as
sault
January 20 both forts capitulated,
Taking of Dalan Gee made breach in
the outer line defer"" "'0"~-'
Boinu range in front of the city. The
capture OF Kara Guueh upe..e,- - ---~-,
passage through the Kara Bagas pass
to the city proper from the northeast.
Fort Tafta lies midway between
these two fortresses. In a night at
tack on Jan. 80 this fort was captured,
leaving only Chaban Bebe between the
two armies operating from this quar-
ter.
Russians Effect Junction.
On Feb. 2, the Russians began to
storm the whole front line on the
Beve Boinu heights. By evening all
these positions were in Russian hands,
permitting complete junction of the
troops on the northeast. The fall of
this first line quickly decided the fate
of the inner forts.
Meanwhile the Palan Teken group of
forts, seven miles to the south, had
been surrounded on three sides. The
general assault on the second line be-
gan without giving the men time for a
rest. The five inner forts made only
a feeble resistance. Their garrison5
beat a hasty retreat into the city and
followed the bulk of the troops which
already were on the roads leading
westward
Turks Evacuate Forts.
Only the rear guard took part in the
fighting Of the last day. Signs that
the evacuation was under way were
observed Immediately after the fall of
the first fort.
1t is thought possible the Turks
will attempt to make a stand at the
first favorable point, which is in the
hills on the western edge of Erzerum
valley, II miles distant, but it is not
regarded as probable that they have
been able to erect any extensive forti-
fications there.
The Russians are hastily repairing
the small damage done to the fort
resses against possible attempt of
the Turks to retake them.
No news has been received Of the
fate of Ekved Pevzi Pasha, commander
of the Ninth corps, who was in charge
of the defense of ErZerum.
Reinforcements Fail TO Arrive.
1t Is reported that achievements
from Thrace were on the way to Err
zerum but that they were still five or
six days distant when the city was
surrounded. Artillery had been
shipped by sea to Trebizond.
A telegram from Sebastopol reports
the bombardment of Vitzesu, on the
Black sea, Is miles east of Trebizond.
The Turks are eyacuating.
The reference in the foregoing TO
Ekved Pevzi Pasha as the commander
in charge Of Erzerum before its sur
render apparently disposes of unoffi-
cial reports of several weeks ago that
the Turkish army there was in charge
of the German field marshal. Won Der
Goltz, or his compatriot, Field Mar
shall Liman Won Sanders.
Davenport Officer Resigns.
Des Moines, Iowa, Feb. 19.-Adju-
tant General Guy z. Logan announced