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« Reply #15 on: April 26, 2010, 12:42:47 pm » |
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We stayed in Erzurum as a result of this order, and for the interests
of Russia. It was just then, when the Ottoman State found the peace
proposal made by the Southern Caucasus Commissariat appropriate,
and the peace talks was scheduled to start in Trabzon as of February
17, 191811.
The Army Commander in his speech declared that we were to stay in
Erzurum until the signing of the peace treaty; that following the
signing of the peace treaty all the guns and equipment were either to
be transported to Russia or left to the Turkish forces; that we were to
leave if the terms of the treaty required; that we were to leave
Erzurum after having destroyed all the guns if the treaty is would not
be signed; that the Army Commander had no intention of engaging in
a battle in the environs of Erzurum; and explained that after
observing of the first signs of a general attack to be launched by the
Turkish units, he would notify us within 7 days.
Briefly, until the finding of a definite solution for the staying of the
officers in Erzurum, a necessity of taking measures against the
possible kurdish attacks on Erzurum was born. Because, the Turkish
Government had officially informed us, during the peace talks, that
the kurds were not obeying the orders given but were acting at their
own will.
To this end, at the end of January, upon the orders of the Army
Commander, artillery guns were transferred to the logistics support
units along the Erzincan-Erzurum line to drive the kurds who started
attacking the depots to provide food back.
Several guns were deployed along the logistics support lines under the
supervision of officers. Those guns were brought back by the units that
were mainly composed of the Armenians withdrawing from Erzincan.
Towards February 10, Army Commander ordered the positioning two
guns on each of the Büyükkiremitli and Surp Nishan emplacements
over looking the Trabzonkapı. Later, more guns were positioned on the
various parts of the town. It was also evaluated that the positioning of
guns between the Karskapı and Harputkapı emplacements would be
appropriate to prevent the possible kurdish raids to come from the
direction of Palandöken12.
11 Trabzon peace talks started in March 14, 1918. Kemal ARI. Birinci Dünya Savaşı
Kronolojisi [Chronology of the First World War]. Ankara: Genelkurmay ATASE
Başkanlığı Yay., 1997, p. 336.
12 A sub-district affiliated to Erzurum.
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