New Britain herald., 1916-02-19
TURKS CALCULATING
 TOWN ON BLACK SEA
Russians Bombarding VitzeSu-
 Story of Capture Of Erzerum
COMMANDERS FATE UNKNOWN

Complete CO-Operatioh O1 IZaf"S
 Troops Over Wide Area Made Usc-
 less Resistance on Part of Sultan's Forces Defending Stronghold. ! Petrograd Feb. 19. via London, 11:52 a. m.-The first story in detail i of the capture of Erzerum by the Rus sians reached Petrograd semi officially today. It shows complete co-Opera- tion of Russian troops over a wide area, which made useless resistance on the part of the Turks. Apparently the Turks realized that the fall of Erzer- um was inevitable and withdrew most of their forces before the final On- slaught, leaving the garrisons of the widely separated forts to their fate. The campaign began to reach it's climax in the last days of January. The troops of General p from the north and those of General K from the east moved against the first line forts under the most severe weather | conditions The Russians dragged their artillery to the heights surround ing the fortresses and, when all was i T | Gudek, 20 miles, and Fort Dalan Gez, 1 15 miles northeast of Erzerum, pre- 1 paratory to the bayonet assault. Both Forts CapituIate. On Jan. 29 both forts capitulated. | The taking of Dalan Gez made | breach in the outer line defenses along the Deve Boinu Range, in front of the 1 city. The capture of Kara Gudek 1 opened a direct passage through the Karabagas Pass to the city proper from the northeast.
 Fort Tafta lies midway between ] these two fortresses. In a night at ! tack on Jan. 30 this fort was captured leaving only Chaban Bebe. between the two armies operating from this quarter.
 Storm Whole Front Line.
 On. Feb. 2 the Russians began to storm the whole front lines on the Bebe Boinu heights. By evening all these positions were in Russian hands, permitting complete junction of the troops on the northeast. The fall of this first line quickly decided the fate 1 of the inner forts. Meanwhile the Palan Teken group of forts, seven miles to the south had been surround 1 ed on three sides. The general as- l sault on the second line began with | out giving the men time for rest The five inner forts made only a fee- i ble resistance. Their garrisons beat hasty retreat into the city and fol- 1 lowed the bulk of the troops which al- ready were on the roads lea ding west 1 ward.
 1 Only the rear guard took part in the l fighting of the last day Signs that the evacuation was under way were observed immediately after the fall of the first fort
 May Attempt Stand. It is thought possible the Turks will attempt to make a stand at the first favorable point, which is in the hills on the western edge of Erzerum Valley, eleven miles distant but it is not regarded as probable that they have been able to erect any exten- sive Notifications there.
 The Russians are hastily repairing the small damages done to the for tresses against a possible attempt of the Turks to retake them
 No News of Commander.
 No news has been received of the fate of Ekved Pevzi Pasha com mander of the ninth Corps, who was in charge of the defense of Erzerum.
 It is reported that endorsements from Thrace were on the way to Err zerum, but that they were still five or six days distant when the city was surrendered. Artillery had been shipped by sea to Trebizond.
 Turks Evacuating Vitzesu.
 A telegram from Sebastopol reports the bombardment of Vitzesu on the Black Sea, fifteen miles east of Trebi- zond. The Turks are evacuating
 The reference in the foregoing to Ekved Pevzi Pasha as the commander in charge of Erzerum before it's sur render apparently disposes of unoffi- cial reports of several weeks ago that the Turkish army there was in charge of the German Field Marshal Won Der Goltz or his compatriot, Field Marshal Liman Won Sanders.