Early Stages of the Campaign
Corps into a roadless country in mid-winter with only horse and mule transport. But Enver Pasha hoped by initial success to find supplies to guarantee his further progress through the Caucasus. Up to a certain point his confidence was justified, for on December 15th he had entered Olti, driving the small Russian force out, and capturing prisoners and booty; after which he and the 10th Army Corps crossed the Bardus Pass in the rear of the Russian army on the Passan plain, and on December 26th were within a few hours of Sary-Kamish, the Russian supply base. The Caucasus army was now literally surrounded. It was held in front by the 11th Army Corps, while the 9th and 10th had suddenly appeared between them and their bases at Kars and Sary-Kamish. The Turks, however, had not yet occupied these two points. Their advanced posts were within 20 versts of the fortress of Kars; and their extreme left, which had come up from the Olti depression, was east of Ardahan and within two days' march of Tiflis. But their main force was still on the wooded heights above Sary-Kamish. A terrific snow-storm had hampered the movements of its commander, Ishkhan Pasha, and prevented him from keeping in touch with his rear. In the valley below him lay Sary-Kamish, the Russian supply centre, where he would be safe, and from which he could demolish the Caucasus army at leisure, if he could only get there. But now the little Russian garrison in Sary-Kamish began to direct a vigorous artillery fire upon the hills above the little town. They had only one battery, and ammunition which would not last twelve hours against the force that was opposing them. But with the energy of despair they poured out all the shot they had, in the hope that relief
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