Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-15
THE WAR PRIMER By National Geographic Society

Baiburt, the Turkish city of Asia Minor where the Russians are reported to have gained a signal advantage re- gently, is the subject of the following war geography bulletin issued by the National Geographic Society from Washington:
 Situated on both banks of the Churuk River, which rises nearby and flows northeast into the Black Sea at Batum after a course of 200 miles, Baiburt was a town of 10000 inhabi- tants at the beginning of the war. It owes whatever commercial importance it possesses to the productive agricuI- turaI lands in it's vicinity and to the fact that the carriage road running from Trebizond to Erzerum passes through it, the latter city lying 50 miles in an airline to the southeast and Trebizond about the same distance to the northwest. Surrounding the town IS a fertile plateau having an elevation Of nearly mile above the Black Sea which would be almost visible to the north were it not for the Pontic range of mountains. Erzi0gan is 50 miles to the southwest
 With practically no industries and with only a poor bazaar, Baiburt offers nc points of special interest to the traveller. Even the castle which crowns q mass of rocks on the left bank of the Chruk is a crumbling ruin the relic of days when Armenians and SelJiks ruled this region. But the city IS of historic significance as the most westerly point reached by the Rus sian army under the renowned General Ivan FedoroVich Pasl1evich in the Russo Turkish war of 1828-29 The occupation Of Baiburt by Gen. Paske- vich marked the continuation of a bril- liant campaign which in some respects parallels the present westward drive of the Czar's forces. While the Black lSn9 TnaT hO119 O9 T6n1 and just as Trebizond was occupied many months ago, PaskeVich advanced from Tifiis and in the course Of a two seasons campaign captured AkhaIzil1 and Ardahan, just as Erzerum was forced to yield in the present struggle
 '"Fhe Grand Duke Nicholas, under whose direction the Russian troops are fighting on the Baiburt plateau, has keen historic incentive in the triUmphs associated with the name of Paskevich This great soldier became an aid de- camp to his CZar at the age of IS and when only 23 years old took part in the battle of Austerlitz,. having ac- cOmpanied the Russian expedition sent to aid the Austrians against Napoleon. He was a general officer at the age of 90 and after a distinguished share in the battle of Leipzig he became a lieu tenant general. The first of his ex- ploits in the battle-ground where the Grand Duke is now fighting, was his brilliant conduct of the campaign against Persia in the war of 1926, and when, two years later, after the Shah had been forced to sue for. peace, Rus sia began her drive against the Turks, P2skeVich was placed in supreme com mand of the Asia Minor forces. A mil lion rubles, a diamond-mounted sword and the title of Count of Erivan were among the gifts showered upon the soldier who was now a field marshal at the age of 47, having brought his campaign to a close at Baiburt. Two years later Paskevich was created Prince of Warsaw, and was entrusted
 with the viceroyaIty of Poland. Such was the distinguished career of a Rus sian officer on the Caucasus frontier, and such his little Fathers recognition of his achievements.
 'FMamakhatun, mentioned as the scene of a violent night battle at the same time that the Russians were driving the Turks from the heights east of Baiburt, Is 30 miles south of the latter city and half way between ErZingan and ErZerum'