New-York tribune., 1916-07-27
Fall of the Armenian Fort
ress Clears Way for
New Drive.
OTTOMAN NO LONGER
FACTOR, CRITICS SAY
London Sees Victory for Gar In
March Through Asia
Minor.
lBy Cabi. 10 rhe Tribune J

tral Armenia. has fallen before the
Russian onslaughts.
( Although the most important base
Of the Ottoman troops in Asia Minor
and the headquarters Of the 10th Turk
Il, ish army corps, the great stronghold
was captured BY the Grand Duke Mich
olas with astonishing ease and swift
ness. Yesterday the Russians were
reported at least ten miles from the
fortress, and it was presumed here
that the Turks would make a strong
stand in order TO give time for the
removal of the garrison and all mill
tary supplies.
As il was, the Russians pushed
ahead at the ordinary pace of an army
on the march and apparently encoun-
tered little opposition, either in front
of the town or from within.
Importance of Stroke.
The Importance of this latest Rus
sian stroke TO the Cars Caucasian
campaign plans can hardly be over
estimated in the opinion Of military
authorities here. With the capture Of
J Erzingan the Grand Duke has practi-
cally completed the seizure of Ar
menia. The Turks have been driven
out of the territory where they have
committed some of the worst atrocities
of the war, and their defeat has gone
a long way toward eliminating them
as serious factors in the great struggle.
London ranks the capture of ERIN
gan much higher, because of its far
reaching effects, than even the seizure
of Erzerum, which paved the way for
the Russian offensive in the Caucasus
at the close of last winter. Army men
agree that it is the greatest success
of the Grand Duke Nicholas since he
took command Of the southern army.
Way Cleared for New Drive.
By eliminating Erzingan the Cars
commander has now cleared the way
for an advance on Sivas and Angora,
both vitally important to the Russians
if they are to control Asia Minor OF
these two towns Angora is the more
important, because it is the eastern
terminus of the railroad that runs into
Constantinople But 1876 miles from
Erzingan, along the 350-mile stretch Of
territory which the Russians must pen
citrate in their westward march 10 An
CORA, Sivas rises up above the level
countryside and effectually blocks the
way to all advance.
From Svas another and smaller rail-
road line runs north to the Black sea
port of Samsun. This the Russians
must command, either by the capture
of Sivas or by the investment of Sam
sun by their extreme right flank, be
fore they can safely press on toward
Angora. The two Russian armies are
at present exactly the same distances
from these two objectives. Along the
Black Sea coast the Cars forces have
advanced past the Fol River to within
lao miles Of Samsun, while the south
ern army is preparing to begin the
14O-mile march from Erzingan to
Sivas.
Expect Fall of Sivas.
at looks like race to see which
army will win its point FIRST" said a
prominent military critic tonight. "ln
all probability. however, the southern
army will face fewer obstacles to a
rapid advance than the Russian forces
on the north. The latter, too, are
known to be weaker in numbers and
in munitions than the Grand Dukes
troops, so we may expect the fall Of
Sivas some time before that Of Sam
SUM-
Until the Grand Duke strikes Sivas
he will be without railroad communica-
tions; but 80 far he has made his
phenomenal advance from Erzerum TO
Erzingan, more than one-fourth of the
distance TO his new objective, without
any railway lines to help in maintain
ing his supplies, and observers here
look for no slowing up in his forward
movement on that account.
With Erzingan as base, II is pointed
out. he will be in better position than
he was on his advance from Erzerum,
since the Armenian stronghold is stu
ated at the western end of rich and
fertile plain, well watered by the
Western Euphrates, which may be
made to furnish him with food supplies
and fresh water. In addition the Rus
slams captured in Erzingan great sup
plies of all sorts and munitions. So
hastily had the Turks fed from the
town that they abandoned much that
will be Of use to the Russians in their
onward drive.
Turks in Dlsorderly Flight.
Demoralized by the swift and over
powering advance of the Russians the
Turks are now in full fight west of
Erzingan and are offering but weak
resistance to the Grand Dukes advance
columns. Ii is believed here that the
Russians will encounter few difficulties
in their march TO Sivas.
The brilliant achievement of his
soldiers has delighted the Gar as much
as the successes Of his commanders on
the eastern front, and the confidence of
the Russian people in a speedy and
complete victory for Russian arms is
unshaken now. Never since the war
began has Petrograd felt so certain Of
the outcome Of the struggle.
Russian Statement.
The Russian official announcement
says:
"On Tuesday our gallant troops
under command of General Udenitchin
took in battle the town Of Erzngan. As
result the clearing Of the Turks from
Armenia has been accomplished.
"The Emperor yesterday sent the
following telegram to the commander
in-chief at Tiflis:
1t is with joy that | have heard
of the taking of Erzingan. From the
bottom of my heart | congratulate you
and the heroic Caucasian army upon
your victory. am delighted that the
troops so quickly justified the conf
dence placed in them
/ "Black Sea: A squadron Of our ships
encountered the Turkish cruiser Bres-
lau steaming in the direction Of Nov
! Oros jskoc on the Black Sea coast
| snnlhMesi Of Eknterinnnarl md nur-