Petrograd, Jan. 23.
After leaving. the mountainous country and entering the plain of Erzeroum the Russian operations on the Caucasian front developed rapidly.
Following up the fall of Keprikei the Russians pursued the defeated Turks, capturing eleven forts at Hassan Kala, ten miles west of Keprikei. The Russians then continued the chase of the disorganized Turkish forces retiring along three parallel roads to the protection of the outer forts of the Erzeroum fortress, fifteen miles west of Hassan adds Kala.
The nature of the booty which fell into the hands of the Russians was 1,500 prisoners, ammunition, artil lery, food-supplies and an entire camp, which is a clear indication of the unexpectedness of the Russian onslaught.
The Turks attempted to advance in the region of the coast, a repetition of the manoeuvre when the Russians occupied Keprikei in November, 1914. The attempt failed and the Turkish attacks were repulsed with heavy losses.
Military authorities consider that the siege of Erzeroum to be in the near future engineers have considerably strengthened the fortress with heavy artillery since the beginning of the war. The garrison is estimated at one Army Corps An official communique staten:— suit of the centre Turkish Army, which is retreating precipitately from the region of Lake Tortum. The Russians are capturing pritoners, rifles, munitions and stores of all kin The Cossacks charged the Turkish rear-guard near the forts of Erzerous, sabrad several hundred and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.