Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-18
RUSSIANS ONLY
II NILES EAST
OF TREBIZOND
Defeat Enemy on Kara
Dere River and Appear
Before Fortified Area
FLEETS GUNS ACTIVE

pETROGRAD, April 1s.--Russian
aviators have attacked the Turkish
port of Trebizond, the last city of mill
tary importance held by the Turks in
Armenia, doing heavy damage.
The Russian aircraft were severely
bombarded with high angle guns, the
Gre being of such accuracy as to lead
to the belief they were being worked
BY trained German artillerymen. How
ever, all the aeroplanes returned to
their base.
PETRoGRAD, April 1s.-The Russian
army in the Caucasus has penetrated to
within 11k miles of Trebizond, the Turk
lsh stronghold In the Black Sea, accord
ing to an official report issued last night.
The statement issued the preceding day
ANNOUNCING the passage of the River Kara
Dere, Ia miles east of Trebizond, indi-
Gates an important victory for the Russian
forces, and rapid pursuit
The Kara Dere was the last Of series
OF natural obstacles along the Black Sea
coast protecting Trebizond from the Rus
elan advance. Thus 1t has entered the
Immediate area of the Trebizond fortifca-
tfons
I
Caucasus front--In the coast re-
gion our troops. after occupying Sur
fneneh, pursued the retreating Turks
and reached the village of Arsene
Kelessi. is vests (about Tx miles),
east of Trebizond.
No part of the intervening terri
tory between the Russians and Trezi-
bond is considered capable of sus-
tained defense. Since the fall of
Erzerum. however the Turks have
undertaken everything possible to
perfect the defensive power of the
Trezibond fortifications and greatly
Increased the garrison, which is now
said to contain three complete divi-
sions.
The capture of the Kara Dere posi-.
tion. which necessitated the crossing
of the swift stream, which is particu-
iarly- swollen and turbulent at this
time of the year, was made possible
by fine assistance rendered by the
Russian fleet.
The Turks apparently believed the
recent appearance in the Black Sea
of their cruiser Breslau had caused
the Russian fleet to abandon the
operation which it had successfully
executed in connection with the land
forces
Not anticipating a bombardment
from the sea, the Turks set up no
shore batteries and limited their con-
struction of defense to an elaborate
system of wire entanglements.
vigorous bombardment from the
sea which demolished a great part of
the Turkish Notifications was fol-
lowed by an infantry attack, which
met little resistance.
The Turks are still fiercely on
posing the Russian forces operating
against Baiburt so miles northwest of
Erzerum.
Fighting is taking place in which
the Russians, If successful, are ex-
pected to unite their two groups of
operating along the coast and
west of Erzerum in such a way
urther Turkish efforts to prevent
solid advance of the Russian armies
over the whole width OF the front
would be useless"
The garrison at Trebizond is now
said to consist of three complete divi.
sions $4,000 to $4,000 merD. and il is not
considered, despite the Russii advance,
that the fall OF the city can be regarded
as Imminent, or likely. until there has been
the hardest kind of struggle even more
severe than lat which preceded the fall
OF Erzerum.