of allied
public opinion, which had hoped for a smashing victory such as the
fall of Przemysl, or Metz in 1870, or Plevna in 1877.

The grand duke decided to advance with the right of his army on
Trebizond, the Turkish supply base on the Black Sea. Turkey was known
to be hurrying reenforcements to this town in the hope of preventing
its capture by the Russians. It became a race across difficult country
and, although Petrograd and London reports confidently predicted the
success of the Russians, in the end the Turks were able to bring up
strong enough forces to prevent its capture, for the time being at
least.

It is difficult to measure with any accuracy the political results of
the success of the Russians at Erzerum, for the political results far
outweighed the military. In a general way it can be said that it had
little or no effect upon the Balkans, and upon Mohammedan opinion
throughout the East, merely serving to offset in a small measure the
effects of the allied withdrawal from the Dardanelles. On the other
hand, it had a tremendously important effect upon the situation in
Persia. In that kingdom, just prior to the Russian offensive, there
were many evidences that affairs were ripe for a rising of the local
tribes against the Russians in occupation of the northern zone of
influence. Indeed, at the very time the grand duke gave his orders for
the advance upon Erzerum he was compelled to detach troops for
operations in Persia. This force advanced against a body numbering
about 2,000, made up of Turks, Persians, and some Germans, and
finally, after some small fighting, occupied the Persian towns of
Hamadan, Kurn, and Kermanshah.

Even with these successes there was great difficulty in controlling
the Persians, who had gained courage through the defeat of the British
in Mesopotamia and in Gallipoli. However, the capture of Erzerum and
the rout of the Turks had a quieting effect, for the time being at
least.

PART IX--ITALY IN THE WAR

CHAPTER XLVI

REVIEW OF PRECEDING OPERATIONS--ITALIAN MOVEMENTS

A retrospect of the Austro-Italian struggle, taken from the vantage
point afforded by nine months of fighting, revealed what was intended
to be a campaign of invasion as developing all the characteristics of
trench warfare. Following shortly on the declaration of war by Italy,
General Cadorna deployed the whole of the Italian Third Army on the
right bank of the Isonzo between Tolmino and Monfalcone