The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-02-17
RUSSIA

1 limited Press Leased Wire Service.l
PETROGRAD, Feb. 1.-THE great
est demonstration since the capture Of
Przemysl occurred in Petrosrad to-
day, following confirmation OF reports
of tho capture of Erzerum.
Great crowds marched through tho
streets waving tho Russian colors and
chanting hymna. Thousands attended
te deum services In the great kazan
cathedral while other thousands,
standing outside in the snow, offered
up prayers for the Grand Duke Mich
ofas, again the national hero.
The conquest of Erzerum, the first
important Russian victory since the
retreat from the carpathlans began
nearly year ago, has stirred the Rus
Sian people to great depths of pat
riotism.
The newspapers today declared the
grand dukes triumph only the pre-
Iude to greater victories that Wilt
carry the czar's armies sweeping back
through Poland and Gaicia before
summer.
Because Of meagre communications
with the Caucasus region, details OF
the final fighting preceding tho fall Of
the great Turkish fortress are lacking
here. One dispatch said that the
Turks were fleeing westward, aban-
doning part Of their artillery. This
was taken to mean that the larger
part Of the Turkish garrison, various
Iy estimated at from 10000 to $4,000
men, has escaped.
Tho capture Of Erzerun means the
collapse of all Turkish plans Of con-
guest In Persia, military men here be-
IIeve and possibly will force the Turks
to abandon their plans to Invade
Egypt. With British army soon to
be heavily reinforced, fighting Only
ITO miles from Bagdad and the grand
dukes forces moving westward
through Armenia In spring drive, it
is not believed hero that Enver Pasha
will risk sending large forces to the
Suez.
/ cossack squadrons, It Is assumed
here, are pressing the retreatin9
Turks who must continue their f1lght
for several days before arriving at
any tase where they can make a
stand. The Grand dukes main forces
probably will be halted within the
walls Of Erzerum for several days, re-
campaign Of the SHOWS.
AFTER FIVE DAYS SIEGE.
LONDON, Feb. 17.-Between 10000
and 100000 Turkish troops and large
numbers of guns were captured by
the grand dukes forces when they
entered the Turkish fortress OF Err
zerun, according to unofficial reports
received from Petrograd this after
noon.
The war office had received no ad-
ditional dispatches from the Russian
commander and was unable to verify
these reports. II was estimated that
about 100000 Turks comprised the
garrison of the captured fortress and
that more than 1000 guns were
mounted on the various forts. There
/ is nothing to indicate, however, how
| many Of the Turks succeeded In max
! ing their escape.
The fact that the city fell within
five days after the Russians began
storn1ing the forts, makes it appear
possible that the figures, both In men
| and Guns were large. Means Of exit
! from Erzerum under ordinary circur-
/ stances are very meagre. and with
| the city virtually surrounded by Rus
| sian troops in the last few days OF
| fichting and heavy SHOWS making
| highways impossible, 1t is believed
thousands of Turkish troops were un.
able to make their way to safety.
; The gun captures In Erzerum may
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