The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-19
ARE BADLY BEATEN
Little Chance of Turks Trying
to Retake ErZerum.
First Detailed Story of Victory
Reaches PetrOgrad.
OTTOMAN REALIZED THEIR FATE
First Forts Fell to Russians on
January 80.
Inner Forts Evacuated Before
BayOnet Charge.

Petrograd, Feb. 19.-The first story
in detail of the capture of Erzerum by
the Russians reached Petrograd semi
officially today. 1t shows complete
cooperation of Russian troops over
wide area which made useless resist
ance on the part of the Turks. APP
parentIy the Turks realized the fall
was inevitable and withdrew most of
their forces before the final onslaught,
leaving the garrison of the widely
separated forts to their fate.
The campaign began to reach its
The troops of General P from
the north and those of General k
from the east moved against the first
line forts under the most severe
weather conditions. The Russians
dragged their artillery to the heights
surrounding the fortress and when all
was ready began to lombard Forts
Kara Gudek. 20 miles, and Fort Dalan
GeZ, Is miles northeast of Erzerum,
preparatory to the bayonet assault.
Both Forts CapituIated.
On January 20 both forts capitu-
lated.
The taking of DaIan Gez made a
breach in the outer line defenses along
the Beve Boinu range in front of the
city. The capture of Kara Gudek
opened direct passage through the
Karabagas pass to the city proper
from the northeast. Fort Tafta lies
midway between these two fOrtreSses
In a night attack on January 80 this
fort was captured, leaving only Chaban
Bebe between the two armies operat-
ing from this quarter.
On February 1 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.
Beat Hasty Retreat
Meanwhile the Palanteken group of
forts seven miles to the south had
been surrounded on three Sides The
general assault on the second line
began without giving the men time for
rest The five inner forts made only
a Feeble resistance. Their garrison
beat a hasty retreat into the city and
followed the bulk of the troops which
already were on the roads leading
westward. Our 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
| OH the western cage of ErZerum val
/ ley, eleven miles distant, but it is not
regarded as probable that they have
! been able to erect any extensive forti-
! fication there.
The Russians are hastily repairing
the small damages done to the for
tresses against a 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 de-
fense of Erzerum.
ReinfOrcements Were Coming.
/ 1t is reported that reinforcements
from Thrace were on the way to Err
zerum but that they were still five
or six days distant when the city was
surrendered. Artillery has been
shipped by sea to Trebizond A teIe-
gram from Sebastopol reports the
bombardment of Vitzesu on the Black
sea, miles east of Trebizond The
| Turks are evacuating.
The reference in the foregoing tc
Ekved Pevzi, Pasha, as the COM
mander in charge of Erzerum before
it surrendered apparently disposes OF
unofficial reports of several weeks
ago that the Turkish army there was
in charge of the German Field Mar
shall Won Der Goltz or his compatriot
Field Marshal Limon Won Sanders.