New-York tribune., 1916-07-28
British Experts Wonder at
Continued Drive in
Asia Minor.
CAPTURE OF SUPPLIES
HELPS GRAND DUKE
Believed Now That Further Ad-
vance to Angora Cannot
Be Checked.
TBy Cable To Ths Tribune J

London, July 27.-Thc news from
Petrograd that the Grand Duke Nicho-
las has not stopped TO rest at Erzingan
bat is continuing to drive the flying
Turks along the road 10 Sivas and An
cora has increased the admiration and
wonder with which the military ex-
perts here have been watching the re-
awakening Of the Russian Bear.
II had been supposed that he would
stop to rest his troops after what has
been one of the most difficult and wear
ing campaigns ever carried out by mod
ern troops-a long winter drive through
bleak and almost impossible noun
tains in the face Of the resistance OF
some of the best fighting men IN the
world, and the spring and summer
drive. still through the mountains now
swelterng under the almost tropical
sun. It had also been supposed that
they would have to wait for supplies TO
arrive over the long caravan trans
which have been the only means OF
COlNDluUlCdllOH,
left wing of the army, which is hght-
ing its way along the coast OF the Gas
pian. 10 catch up a little. That none
Of thes. things have checked his ad-
vance is considered wonderful proof OF
the mettle Of the men and the skill OF
their leadership.
Capture of Supplies Rejoiced At.
The news of the capture in Erzingan
Of a large depot of military supplies,
while not unexpected, was also greeted
with ioy. and is taken as possible eX-
planation of the Grand Dukes ability
TO forge ahead. The retreat OF the
Turks has been so precipitate that 1t
was not believed possible for them 10
withdraw the stores which had been
gathered for their strong armies IN
this district. That they had not,
either. been able to destroy them shows
how swift and resistless the advance
of the Russians has become.
II is not believed here that this ad,
vance can be checked TO any marked
degree between Erzingan and Angora,
though it will take well over month
for the armies to march that distance.
The country from Erzingan on is al
most as inviting as the mountains so
lar TIdNcIStu NtIt AVi
fers no natural barriers at all com
parable to those from which the Turks
have already been driven, and it will
provide much of the food and clothing
probably sadly needed by the Grand
Dukes forces.
May Check Transfer Of Troops.
There is much speculation here-it
can hardly be called hope-that the
proof of the collapse of the Turkish
power in Asia Minor, where the Sui
tan's real strength lies, may force him
to veto the plan for sending men to
brace the tottering Austrian line IN
Galicia. Few here doubt what the
Sultan's choice would be were he per-
mitted to decide-or if Enver Bey could
decide-but it is believed that the
threats of the two Kaisers to desert
him and attempt TO buy off Russia with
the cession of the Golden Horn will be
too much for him to withstand. II the
Germans can win the war, the kalsers
argue, Armenia can be won back and
the war is to be decided in Europe.
The Sick Man may well decide that IT
is better to lose half or all his Asiatic
empire rather than to be thrown TO
his foes by his former friends.