though
the official Russian statement of the next day, March 17, 1916,
reported a continuation of the Russian advance towards Erzingan, it
also mentioned Turkish attempts at making a stand and spoke even of
attempted counterattacks.

This stiffening of Turkish resistance necessitated apparently a change
in the Russian plans. No longer do we hear now of quick, straight,
advances from point to point. But the various objectives toward which
the Russians were directing their attacks--Trebizond, Erzingan, the
Tigris--are attacked either successfully or consecutively from all
possible directions and points of vantage. Not until now, for
instance, do we hear of further advances toward Erzingan from the
north. It will be recalled that as long ago as February 23, 1916, the
Russians occupied the town of Ispir, some fifty miles northwest of
Erzerum on the river Chorok.

The headwaters of this river are located less than twenty-five miles
northeast of Erzingan, and up its valley a new Russian offensive
against Erzingan was started as soon as the new strength of the
Turkish defensive along the direct route from Erzerum made itself
felt.

On April 1, 1916, and again on April 12, 1916, the Turks reported that
they had repulsed attacks of Russian scouting parties advancing along
the upper Chorok, and even claimed an advance for their own troops.
But on the next day, April 3, 1916, the Russians apparently were able
to turn the tables on their opponents, claiming to have crossed the
upper basin of the Chorok and to have seized strongly fortified
Turkish positions located at a height of 10,000 feet above sea level,
capturing thereby a company of Turks. Again on the following day,
April 4, 1916, the Russians succeeded in dislodging Turkish forces
from powerful mountain positions.

Concurrent with these engagements, fighting took place both in the
south and north. On April 2, 1916, a Turkish camp was stormed by
Russian battalions near Mush to the northwest of Bitlis. Still farther
south, about twenty-five miles southeast of Bitlis, the small town of
Khizan had fallen into the hands of the Russians, who drove its
defenders toward the south. The Russian advance to the southwest of
Mush and Bitlis continued slowly but definitely throughout the next
few days, with the town of Diarbekr on the right bank of the upper
Tigris as its objective.

Beginning with the end of March, 1916, the Turks also launched a
series of strong counterattacks