I WITNESSED and LIVED THROUGH

Those guns were placed solely to retaliate the kurdish raids. Guns
were so openly positioned that they were unable to fight against any
orderly unit supported by artillery units. They would easily be
destroyed at the first two or three shots. However, it was the only
possible way to repulse the kurdish attacks successfully.
In mid-February, the breeches, telescopic sights and quadrant sights
of the guns positioned in distant places were all taken to the central
depots. Only the telescopic sights of the guns positioned near were
taken out; now it was the time for dismantling their breeches. The
same order was issued for the guns positioned in Palandöken
Mountain; but the task could not have been realized thoroughly yet.
Only the telescopic sights of the guns to be used against the kurds
were left.
The Ottoman army’s attack was not expected to start soon. It was
thought that the morale of the Ottoman units was low and that they
were not capable of making any maneuvers before the summer.
On February 12, two Russian officers, who witnessed the shooting of
10 or 12 Turks by the Armenian gangs armed to the teeth out in the
open near the train station, tried to save those people, but the
Armenians threatened the officers with weapons and pushed them
away. None of the gang members was taken under arrest in relation
to this event.
On February 13, the Army Commander declared Martial Law. He
ordered the setting up of the Court Martial, and the practicing of the
death penalty in line with the stipulations of the former law,
preceding the revolution. Colonel Morel was appointed to the
Command of the Erzurum Fortress and to the chair of the Armenian
Court; and he set off the same day. Brigadier General Gerasimov,
Commander of the Fortified Region, left with him to set up a new
base for a possible transfer of the guns. I kept my position and took
over the duty of Commander of the Fortified Region as a deputy.
The majority of Colonel Morel’s headquarters were composed of the
Russian officers. The Chief of Staff of the Regiment was Staff Captain
Shneur.
As soon as the Army Commander left, Colonel Morel put on a
different air. He declared that Erzurum would be kept in hand,
defended until the very last moment, and that he would not allow any
of the officers and men who could bear arms leave the city.