LAND & WATER 
April 20, igi6 
THE ADVANCE ON TREBIZOND 
By Hilaire Belloc 
WE know very little of the Russian advance 
through Armenia, But wc arc able to sum- 
marise at this moment (Tuesday evening, 
April i8tli), from the last news received, the 
general situation, and it may be siunmarised as follows : — 
(i) We are fairly clear that the main Russian forces 
are in three groups whatever the liaison may be between 
tiiem. The one group is already well to the west of 
Bitlis ; the other is in the neighbourhood of Baiburt on 
the single high road leading from Erzerum to Trebizond, 
the third is — that is, was last Saturday or Sunday — 
in the neighbourhood of Trebizond itself. 
(2) Where the most ad\anced units of the Russian 
progress now stand we do not exactly know, howe\'er, 
save in the case of the northernmost, which is in the 
immediate neighbourhood of the Black Sea Coast, re- 
posing, indeed, with its right wing upon the sea, and about 
a day's march eastward of Trebizond. 
(3) The Russians are compelled to take Trebizond 
before they can advance to their ne.\t step through the 
centre of Asia Minor, and before they can exercise a 
])ressure from the north compelling the retirement or 
imperiUing the Turkish forces in Mesopotamia, ^^'hcn 
they hold Trebizond they command ultimately all the 
eastern mountain country down to the Mesopotamian 
plain. 
They are compelled to take Trebizond because that 
Port is the main avenue of supply for men and materials 
upon which the Turkish forces in this region depend. And 
.though it would seem that ingress to the Port (or rather 
roadstead) is not unimpeded (there is not a regular 
blockade) it is upon Trebizond that the strength of the 
Turkish forces in Armenia reposes. Only when Trebizond 
has fallen will it be possible for the Russian armies to hold 
the full line from north to south, which is marked by the 
three points Trebizond, Erzingan, Diabekir. When they 
hold that line they will immediately threaten the railway . 
which already reaches Raz El Aim and is being continued 
to Nisibin, and under that threat the Turkish forces in 
Mesopotamia will be isolated or will withdraw to the 
north and east. 
This line Trebizond, Erzingan, Diabekir, is by no means 
the end of the business. It is onlv the end of the first 
stage. Against a further advance the Turks can mass 
troops based upon Angora, which is ser\'ed by the railway. 
But that first stage completes the extreniclv difficult work 
in the tangle of mountains which is the whole ground of 
Eastern Asia Minor. The second stage permits of an 
advance over the great Central Plateau which is far 
easier going. 
Upon Trebizond, therefore, must our attention be 
concentrated in the immediate future so far as this field is 
concerned. 
Let us fir^t ask ourselves why the main Russian advance 
is being made along the rather difficult seacoast, and next 
what the chances of defending Trebizond upon that 
sector are. 
The ad\'ance is being made along the seacoast because 
the terrible tangle of mountains of the interior hampers 
our Allies in two ways. It Icngtliens the winter in- 
ordinately, leaving many of the higher tracks and passes 
deep in snow for several w'eeks to come and, of course, 
rendering the passage of guns anc^ supply exceedingly 
difficult. There is only one road through these moimtains, 
which threads its way along th j gorges of the rivers from 
Erzerum westward, coining round by a great elbow to 
Trebizond. It is on that road that the central Russian 
forces have advanced to the neighbourhood of Baiburt. 
It can hardly cut across the angle to Trebizond in support 
of the force on the seacoast, because, though there is a 
track followed by the telegraph line which leaves the main 
road somewhat west of Baiburt and cuts off the angle, 
that track is not, I believe, jmssable to artillery. The 
Russians are doubtless constructing roads as they go, 
but that is very slow work in such a coimtry. 
Progress along the seacoast has the second advantage 
that it can be supported and supplied from the sea, and 
that it is proceeding imder good climatic conditions. All 
that slope down to the coast varying in height from 6,000 
feet to the level of the sea is now, in its lower portion, 
under the full influence of the spring. 
The Russian force operating along the seacoast is, 
on account of what has been said above, almost certainly 
the largest of the thiee bodies. It is believed to be 
opposed now by about three Turkish divisions, or po^sibly 
rather more ; say 60,000 to 70,000 men. It has reached 
llniformly 
Country 
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