The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-02-22
Russians Pursuing Advantage
Gained at fr1erum
BLACK SEA NAVAL FORCES GIVE
CONSIDERABLE HELP.
Offensive by Cars Forces Beyond
Erzerum Believed to BE For Purpose
of Surrounding Turkish Armies.

PETROGRAD-The Russians are
pressing the advantage gained at
Erzerum On the right along the Black
sea coast, by the cooperation OF the
sea and land forces, they are driving
the Turks from one position after an
other to the east of Trebizond and ac-
tive operations against that important
seaport are expected soon.
In the last two days the Russians
have occupied Wilde (Widje) and
pressed forward 10 or, 10 miles west
ward The fleet has destroyed several
shore batteries and by keeping well in
advance of the land forces and by des-
stroying bridges over several streams
in the path of retreating Turks, has
rendered their retreat more difficult
The fleet has been working so close
to the shore that the warships have
been reached by rifle fire from the
Turkish troops
On the left flank after the occnpa-
tion of Koph, the Russians pushed on
TO Mush and Achlat, the latter on the
north shore of Lake Van. From Kohp
to Mush, 60 miles over mountain
roads, they fought several battles and
occupied Mush by storm.
The Turks fled southwark toward
Diarbekr, the next objective of the
Russians. Once in possession of
Diarbekr, it is only a days march to
the Bagdad railway, the last remain
ing communication into Syria.
The rapid Russian offensive beyond
Erzerum, it is believed here, makes it
probable that the retreat of the Turk
ish corps operating along the Turkish
sea coast and of those troops which
were active in the Mush district be-
fore the Russian occupation will be
entirely cut off and that the main
Turkish armies will be surrounded
This fate has already overtaken the
thirty-fourth division I of the Tenth
corps, which was ordered from Olti
to Erzerum before the fall of the fort
ress. AS telephone communication
between this group of Turkish forces
and the garrison at Erzerum has been
entirely destroyed by the Russians, the
thirty-fourth division marched serenly
on to Erzerum without suspicion thai
the fortress then was about to sur.
render. These troops reached Erzerun
from the northwest at the moment
that the Deve-Boina line of forts fel
into Russian hands and the army
which they had come to assist was il
full retreat. The road over which the,
had passed was instantly occupied b,
Russian cavalry, and, as they were
completely surrounded. there was NJ
alternative but to surrender will
arms, equipment and artillery.
1t is regarded as almost inexitabl'
that the Turkish corps retiring along
the Black sea coast under the destruc
tive fire of the Russian fleet and thu
pressure sof the Russian armies will b'
caught in the same sort of trap as thu
Turkish troops falling back from
Wide to Gumsih Khaneh still have ;
greater distance to go than the Rus
sian troops which are advancing from
Ezerum to cut them off.
On the Turkish right flank, wher
the Ninth corps is operating, tn
Turks find themselves in the sam
precarious condition, since all tn
roads of retreat to the north are gra
dually falling under Russian control
The retreat of the Turkish armie
everywhere is impeded by deep snoN
and the difficult character of tn
country They are without food an
lack war supplies and there seems t
be little possibility of their offerin
even temporary resistance of an
strength to the Russian advance.