Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-02-24
Detailed Story Of Campaign
Against Turkish Fortress
Reveals Desperate Fight
ING to Subdue Forts.
TURKS ARE IN FULL FLIGHT
Main Army Flees, Leaving Gar
risons to Their Fate-Grand
Duke Following Up De
feated Enemy.

| Petrograd. (via London), Feb. I'll
The story in detail of the capture of
ErZerum by the Russians reached Pet
rograd semiofficially today. 1t shows
| complete cooperation of Russian troops
over a wide area, which made useless
resistance on the part of the Turks.
Apparently the Turks realized the fall
of Erzerum was inevitable and with
drew most of their forces before the
final onslaught, leaving the garrison
of the widely separated forts to their
fate.
The campaign began to reach it's eli
max in the last days OF January. The
the north, and those of General
-, from the east, moved
against the first line of forts under
the most severe weather conditions.
The Russians dragged their artillery
to the heights surrounding M TORT
ress, and When all was ready, began
to lombard forts Kara Gudekm, ~
miles, and Fort Palan Gez, IL miles
northeast of Erzerum, preparatory to
the bayonet assault.
Break Outer Defense.
On January 20 these forts capitu-
lated. The taking of Dalan GEE made
! a breach in the outer line defenses
along the Beve Boinu range In front
of the city. The capture of Kara Gu
dek opened a direct passage through
tne haraDaSaS pass 10 lue CITY PioPSA
from the northeast.
Fort Tafta is midway between these
two fortresses.
In a night attack on January 80 this
fort was captured, leaving only Cha-
ban Bel between the two armies op-
Grating from this quarter.
On February 2 the Russians began
to storm the whole front line on the
Beve Boinu heights. BY evening all
these positions We're in Russian hands,
permitting complete junction or the
troops on the northeast. The fall of
this first line quickly decided the fate
of the inner forts.
Meanwhile the Palan Tellen group
Of forts, seven miles to the south, haa
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 garrisons
beat a hasty retreat into the city ana
followed the bulk of the troops, which
already were on the roads leading
westward.
Started Evacuation Early.
Only the rear guard took part in the
fighting of the last day. Signs that
the evacuation was under way We're
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 hat they have been able
to erect any extensive Qualifications
there.
The Russians are hastily repairing
the small damages done to the for
t~resses against a possible attempt OF
the Turks to retake them.
No news has been received of the
fate of Ekved Pevzi Pas1a, comman-
dor of tho Ninth cOrnS who was IN
charge OF the defense of Erzerum.
1t is reported that reinforcements
from Thrace were on the way to Err
eruln.
Still Counting Booty.
An official statement says:
THE completeness OF the definite de-
feat sustained by the Turks and the
terrible losses they suffered in the
Erzerum fighting are becoming more
and more clear. The fortress itself
and the surrounding country are lit
tered with Turkish dead.
The remnants of the Turkish army
chased by our troops are falling into
disorder, at many points in different
directions. A severe snow storm has
failed to cool the ardor of our men in
pursuit, who are close on the heels of
the enemy and are annihilating them
or taking prisoners at the tail ends of
Turkish columns.
wv captured at Erzerum the entire
fortress artlllery and a large part or
the enemy's field artillery. Up to the
present we have counted 200 guns. We
have taken a huge quantity Of artillery
ammunition and arms, several dozen
motor cars, wireless apparatus and a
pontoon bridge park. The number of
other trophies taken and the Turkish
soldiers captured in the vast region of
Erzerum are being tabulated.
The troops of the Caucasus army,
Notwithstanding the supreme efforts
demanded of them in the ceaseless
lighting for over a month under most
suffered but slight losses and are ready
for fresh exploits when their sovereign
chief gives the order.'
ReinforcementS were on the way to
Erzerum, but they were still five or six
days distant when the city was sur
rendered.
Artillery has 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 evacuating.
The reference in the foregoing to
IIkved PevZi Pasha as commander in
charge of ErZerum before it's surrender,
apparently disposed of unofficial re-
[ ports of several weeks ago that the
Turkish army there was in charge OF
the German field marshal, Won Del
Goltz, or his compatriot field marshal
Livlan Won Sanders.
GREAT BRITAIN TARDY