The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-17
Early Relief Of Beleagurred
British in Mesopotsmia Il
Foreshadowed
GREAT RUSSIAN LEADER
COMES INTO HIS OWN.
Removed From High Conn
rnand When Teutons Broke.
Into Russia. Grand Duke
Comes Back in Caucasus

London. Fc.. is.--Led by GRAND
Duke Nicholas, the Russian army
Of the Caucasus has captured the
great Turkish fortress OF Erxcfuns.
IN Eastern Asia Minor.
The following ofIiciisi statement
was given out tonight IN Pctrs,-
grad:
..Gsspa Duke Nishotas has teie-
graI,he.i 20 the h.npercr as fol-
i0ws: sss
!. God has granted 10 che brave
troops Of the army VI tho Cau-
casts such great help that Etxe-
rum has been taken after Ave
days OF unprecedented assaults.
~ ani incxprcssihiy happy y
announce this victory 10 sonr lisI-ssA8
pcrial Majesty -
4 Thousands of Turks wers taken
prisoner when the fortress fsil, lFd
great stores of munitions and suppiEss
Tell into the hands OF thu victorious
Troops. ii ii believed. The blow is tins
most serious vet stracS At Jersey
Early relief Of the British forces oper,
ating In M~sonctau.is, iuciudfHe the
si,csra gurea xxffisnn Of KIT -cf- Anna -
il predicted
Opens Door 20 4lrsnenTa.
The fall or ErEeruns Ii cxrected Il
open tbs Way for huge advance lsy
the Russians through L.asteris
Armenia in the spring syorstantinorft
itself might be isnperiilsd. By THE
contemplated drive the Russians, Il il
said, hope to bring Turkey 70 hAs
knees. fss8
More than 1900 Turkish iroetss
were locked up ID Erzeyum with tiss
Investment of the fortress according
to all dispatch Two noted German
leaders. Field Mersitais vim Der Colt.
been reported at Erze.ani. II IL nos
yet known whether they escaped.
Unparalleled enMpafgu.
The Russisa campaign was m
parelfeled in military history This se
vance was pressed across bleak aud
rugged country. over mountain AMI
through narrow def1ie:s in ARCTIC s-nsE
Russian official reports state tina. III
places the soldiers fought heir as-
ysncs through snew fifteen fect desp.
The Grand Dukes message Was res
csived shortly after a report from fsS
army headquarters that nine ~ TIE
taken with the bayonet. The HllssisM
soldiers swept ur the mcuntaipr.dsa
and xwarmed through gaps made ~
the heavy guns
Took Charge Fire Months .Ago.
Grand Duke Nicao.as took cons-
nand on the Russian sonshert front
less than Ave mouths ago. Imnediate-
liz tho Russian forces, which had nBen
inactive. began to develop the often.
sive, which has resulted in the fAii 6k
Erzcruu.
The Grand Duks is considered hy
military experts TO be one of the
greatest strstesists developed ~ tbs
w.,r, From the outbreak Of hnsttttts-
was com nder-in-chicf Of the RUS
sian armies. He directed the master 4.
ly retreat Of the harrassed Russsaas
during the Austre-German offensive Of
last summer, twice saving his armies
from What threatened to be fatal
traps.
First, he succeeded in defeating tho
German campaign TO encIrcle ana cut
Off the bulk OF the Russian forceA
around Warsaw. Ths city was lost.
but the troops were successfully wifh-s
drawn. Again at Brest- Eitovek he
Grand Duke succeeded in leadinS his
men out OF the snare.
Early in september Grand Duke
ASiCHolAs W8S F0nNOVrQ from GniutMAU -
by his Imperial conhin. CsAr NIeholGa.
Oficiai announcement was made -
September last that. Russian e0i4
having been invaded the CAar h14
decided hinissif TO take direct feni~
mand OF AL the military pnd nsxet
forces. and that tbs Crank Duke hA4
heen appointed viceroy cf the Carr
casus and commander of ths troope Il
that district ssAS
Fsrssrum IL about ATTY nillas MAA&
OF the Russian frontier. Il n saxf-
rounded by stone wail built bY tnA
Turks three centuries $50. On tAs
eastern side 4 high rioNntAin rt4l4
outside the wall profscts the 6itys H6fk
attack from the Russian CAue4e94
Along this ridge were locatsd T. NJ
the stronger forts sS q II II IS
fCoHtinned On necpnd Y41e III