Going ahead

In the Caucasus

Brilliant Russian work

Important despatch

Eleven Turkish Divisions defeated

South Wales Argus War Special

Petrograd Tuesday – The following communiqué from the headquarters of the Army in the Caucasus is issued here:

The left wing of the Russian army driving the Turks further and further back from the Villayet of Van and the Valley of the Euphrates reached in the middle of July the front Melinsghert-Ahlat where it came into contact with considerable Turkish forces occupying strongly organised positions at Kop Kormundj.

The Turks, devoting their main attention to the operations which were taking place in this region, began a long time ago to concentrate important reinforcements on their right wing and about the Middle of July the Russian troops encountered in the Mejiasghert region enemy contingents strong enough to offer resistance. Moreover, still larger reinforcements were on their way to the region.

Our troops on the left wing received the order to rout the Turks before the reinforcements arrived. There followed a series of obstinate engagements, which ended in our taking possession of the very strong and powerfully organised positions on the Kon Ahiat front.

The Turks broke into a hasty retreat to the South-West falling back on their reinforcements which were close at hand. There reinforcements joined to the defeated troops on the Kop Ahlat front, formed a total of ten divisions.

Owing to the peculiarity of the local conditions and the advantages of support on the base near at hand, the Turks were able not only to make a stand at the Korwedagh Chain but to open an offensive against our forces operating in this direction which were greatly inferior in numbers.

For this reason our troops received orders to fall back without accepting a decisive battle at the same time caring out the regrouping which was indispensable for a counter stroke.

On July 23 the Turks took the offensive. On August 4 part of our troops on the left wing reached the region north of Karakilissa where they occupied a position south of the Akhtiu Pass, thus drawing themselves to the main Turkish forces. Meanwhile the rest of the force barred the way in the direction of the Diadin Valley.

On August 5 our troops having effected the regrouping opened a strong attack which took the Turks totally by surprise, hurling powerful columns against the Turkish flanks to the rear both from Akhtiu and the Diadin Valley and especially near Dayar. From the very first our offensive had momentous results. The Turks everywhere broke into a headlong retreat and we pressed them hard.

Our enveloping column succeeded in taking Klytch Chiadonk Pass, which constituted the principal and most practicable line of the communication for the Turks on the right bank of the Euphrates.

The Turks endeavoured to recover this pass, which was of great importance to them, and so open a road of retreat along the right bank of the Euphrates. With this object they made several violent attacks against the north side all of which were, however, repulsed with enormous losses for them.

Here the situation of the Turks, who maintained themselves in the valley, became more and more difficult as our troops began to push them further and further back.