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« Reply #15 on: April 26, 2010, 12:51:51 pm » |
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Peace talks that were to start in Trabzon were being delayed every
day. It was previously scheduled to start on February 17, then it was
delayed to February 20, and then to February 25. I was receiving the
information through either by Erzurum Detachment Headquarters or
by the Fortress Headquarters. I was not able to correspond via
telegram. Those two headquarters were situated on the either sides
of the town. The telephone lines of the Fortress Headquarters hardly
ever functioned properly. Sometimes, when it worked, it was
impossible to communicate through the telephone lines as nothing
was heard properly. Therefore, I was compelled to go to the Fortress
Headquarters twice a day.
Under the light of the information I received from Colonel Morel and
from his headquarters I understood that we were not fighting with
the regular Turkish Army at the front; but with the kurdish gangs,
and rebellious groups among which were well trained soldiers who
remained in the villages in the region after the withdrawal of the
Turkish Army from Erzurum in 1916.
It was thought that those kurdish gangs were set up, and trained by
several Turkish officers and military personnel in order to enable the
local people, among whom were soldiers, fight back in their own
self-defense.
It was believed that the attackers had two Russian Mountain Artillery
guns that were left by the Armenian units as they were retreating
from Erzincan. The reconnaissance reports suggested that the kurds
would attack from the direction of Famski, Erzincan, and Oltu16. Their
launching an attack from the rear echelons of the front, from the
direction of Kars through Palandöken was also possible. I do not
know why; but, Colonel Morel was expecting an attack from the
direction of Oltu only.
For me, the reconnaissance activities were being carried out
desultorily by the Armenians. The cavalry units were in pursuit of
massacres, pillaging, and stealing the live stocks of the villagers
rather than performing reconnaissance activities in the villages. Their
reconnaissance reports were frequently erroneous.
Whenever a reconnaissance detachment reported a force of 2.000, it
was always found out to be a force of 200 men only.
16 District affiliated to Erzurum.
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