Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-17
Official Organ of Russia Tells
Vast Army Taken in
Erzerum Victory.
GREAT FEAT OF WAR
Fall of Turk Stronghold Into
Allies Hands Regarded
as Decisive.

Petrograd, Feb. II (via London. 2:15
p. m)-The official Messenger esti-
mates the Turkish garrison at Err
erum, capture of which was announc-
ed yesterday, as 100000 men. 1t also
estimated that more than 1000 guns
were captured.
1t is said there were 467 guns in the
outer forts, 374 in the central forts
and 200 field guns at Erzerum.
More than 1000 guns were captured
by the Russians when they took Err
erum, the Turkish stronghold in Ar
menia, according to estimates in a
Petrograd official publication. If these
figures are borne out, the Russian haul
in cannon probably sets record for
the war in the capture Of any fort
ress.
The Petrograd estimate places the
garrison Of Erzerum at 100000 men,
giving ground for an assumption that
the capture of this number Of Turk
ish troops is claimed. Previous re-
ports had indicated that the garrison
was bottled up in the fortress.
Vienna reports a defeat for the Ital-
ians In the eighth attack by their out
posts on the Austrian positions at
Javerick, while before the new Aus
trian position in the Rombon district
the ground was covered with dead.
The current Turkish official state
ment gives no clue to the course Of
events following the capture of Ere
rum and indeed does not record that
happening. The only mention of the
operations in this war area is the decla-
ration that the Russians in the fight
ing Of the three days preceding lost
5000 dead and so prisoners. Unofficial
advices from Petrograd say the Turk
ish army is fleeing westward from Err
zerum through difficult mountain re-
gion.
Military observers in allied capitals,
who regard Erzerum as the key to
Asia Minor, expect the Russian success
to facilitate the capture Of Trebizond,
on the Black sea coast to the north,
giving possession to the Turkish gate
way from Asia into Europe, while the
Turkish forces throughout Armenia
will be put in jeopardy, it is argued,
and the pressure on the British in
Mesopotamia will be relieved. Opera
tons on large scale by the Russians
will now be possible for the forces of
Grand Duke Nicholas, it is declared.
Key to Asia Minor.
Paris, Feb 1.-THE capture of the
great Turkish stronghold of ErZerum
by the Russians is declared by the
French newspapers this morning as
the best item of news for the allies
in many months. The military experts
dwell on the importance of the cap
ture, declaring that it gives the Rus
slams the key to Asia Minor and is a
victory which will inevitably have far
reaching consequences.
General Berthaut In the Petit Jour
nal says it is not only deadly blow
to Turkey, but an event which cannot
fail to have it's effect on the other
theatres of the war. Major De Civ
rieux says in the Matin:
The conquest Of Erzerum is Of more
importance than would be that of any
other fortress in the whole war thea
tire. In Asia we are faced by a stra-
tegic chessboard, ruled across by rail-
roads and excellent routes along which
fresh forces could be brought up in
few days. Erzerum was the solitary
bulwark of the Turkish empire in
Asia. Open spaces, suitable for oper-
atoms on a great scale, now present
themselves to the forces Of Grand
Duke Nicholas of Russia"
Constantinople. Feb. II, (via Lon
don, 1888 p. m.l-The losses of one
of the British expeditions in Mesopo-
tamia in battle with the Turks near
Batiha, west of Korea, amounted to
1000 officers and men, according to
an official announcement given out by
Continued On Page Nine.)