1855:Kars: In the year up to May 1855 Turkish forces in the east were reduced from 120,000 to 75,000, mostly by disease. The local Armenian population kept Muravyev well-informed about the Turks at Kars and he judged they had about five months of supplies. He therefore decided to control the surrounding area with cavalry and starve them out. He started in May and by June was south and west of the town. A relieving force fell back and there was a possibility of taking Erzerum, but Muravyev chose not to. In late September he learned of the fall of Sevastopol and a Turkish landing at Batum. This led him to reverse policy and try a direct attack. It failed, the Russians losing 8000 men and the Turks 1500 (29 September). The blockade continued and Kars surrendered on 8 November. COUNT 5
QSN1 What caused the number of Turkish soldiers to decrease? ANS1 disease QSN2 How man troops were the Turks forces in the east reduced to?  ANS2 75,000 QSN3 Who kept Muravyev informed about the Turks at Kar? ANS3 The local Armenian population QSN4 What did Muravyev attend to do to the Turks in order to defeat them? ANS4 starve them out QSN5 What city did Muravyev decide not to take control over? ANS5 Erzerum