Batoum
or BATUM (ba-tom'), a acquired by Russia by the Treaty of Berlin, on condition lin, on condition that its fortifications was thrown open the main outlet for Transcaucasia; its as a free port. It rapidly grew to be harbor was enlarged for alleged commercial reasons; an arsenal was built outroad with Kars; and, finally, in July, side it; it was connected by a military 1886, the Russian government declared it to be a free port no longer. As a repart of the Republic of GEORGIA (q. v.). sult of the World War Batoum became It is the capital of the province of the same name (area, 6,129 square versts; pop., about 123,000 ). The Allied Supreme Council, in April, 1920, internationalized it and made it the common outlet for Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The the Transcaucasian railway and of the petroleum pipe line from Baku and the principal center of export for petroleum from the Baku fields. Pop. about 25,000.
The city is the terminus of panies; the tactical and administrative