Salt Lake Tribune | 1916-07-30 | Page 3 | Turks Belittle Russian Success in the Caucasus

TURKS BELITTLE RUSSIAN SUCCESS IN THE CAUCASUS CONSTANTINOPLE, July 26. via Berlin, Ber-lin, and Lon ion. July 2i'. S:"2 p. m., delayed. de-layed. An oftlcial statement given out today reads: Owing to Russian attacks in the direction di-rection of fiaiburt and -Mamakhatun, the positions in the center of the southern bank of the Tchoruk river, our troops are maintaining in successive suc-cessive lines the execution of counter attacks and are retiring in order. Our troops on the left wing, north of the Tchoruk in the Littoral region, also retired voluntarily in order, following the movement against the center. Consequently tiie places of Baiburt, Onmuskhaneh r.n I Erzingan fell into the enemy's hands. The advance, which tiie Russians were able to accomplish ac-complish only with bloody losses, cannot change our general situation on this front. The exaggerated Russian official reports about our retreat are without with-out foundation. The Russians are representing our movement as a flight, but except for two guns damaged dam-aged by the enemy's lire, we left nothing. We removed Vtll of the artillery ar-tillery and other materials, which proves the order with which tne re treat was executed. During the operation op-eration In several counter attacks in many sectors we took a great number num-ber of prisoners. The loss of Krzingan is regrettable, but as it is an open town it will not Influence our general operations. On tiie right wing of the sectors of Mush and Bitlis. the situation is unchanged. un-changed. Activity developed from time to time by the enemv was stopped by our counter movements. Russian forces wiiich succeeded in reaching the sector of Rivandouza were chased back by us In several successful battles. The loft wing of the three armies on the front from southern Tcrsia tn the Black sea was curved back a little. This is mentioned by the Russians as a hi success, bu t our army on the right wing continually advances in southern Persia. The army in the center dominates completely com-pletely the sector of Azerbaijan and western regions. The next operations, which will take place shorilv, will prove how very premature the Russians have been in snre tiding this news of alleged al-leged great successes and how much they have deceived themselves in their reports.