Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-21
RUSSIANS PENhED IN
0utfIanked and Worried by
kurde Outlaws.
COMMANDER ASKS SUCCOR
Foreign Office Takes the Situation
More Seriously.
IS HUMILIATING AT BEST
Relief Detachment May Have to Be
Sent to the Punitive
Expedition.
HUMILIATING AT BEST

TIFLIS. April 21.-On account of the
threatening situation on the Persian
frontier and the urgent demand for re-
Inducements received from the command
ers of the Russian forces in that district.
1000 men have been sent from here into
the disturbed territory. These reinforce
ments will take several days to reach the
scene of hostilities. which is sixty miles
from the nearest railroad point through
a difficult country.
No further news from the commanders
of the detachments at Belesuvar and
Shirin which are menaced by the kurd-
ish brigands. has been received here. but
information has come in that communities
ton along an important trade route run
ming southwark from the Caspian sea into
Persia has been interrupted by an up
rising of the bandit population. AS a re-
suit. caravans are afraid TO venture out
of I.enkOran.
An alarming report has been received
here setting forth the critical situation
of small Russian expeditionary force In
Persia. which is menaced by a vastly
superior body of Persian brigands. The
Russian troops penetrated the frontier in
the neighborhood of Belesuvar in pursuit
of Kurdish brigands vino mad committed
depredations in Russian territory. The
Russian commander of the force has sent
out messenger demanding reinforce
ments of infantry. artillery and cavalry.
The Persians. who have been Joined by
a warlike tribe of nOmads, surrounded
RnS9ianS a
their horsemen have assumed the onen-
sive. The sending in of Russian REIN
forcements Is made particularly dfmcult
by the flooded condition of the country.
Yesterday the Russians had three men
killed and ten wounded in various minor
engagements with the Persians.
st. Petersburg Troubled.
ST. PETERSBURG. April 21.-The lat
est news received OF the boundary war
that a Russian detachment had been
penned in and was calling for reinforce
ments-has aroused the anxiety of the
foreign Office. 1t shows that the entire
population of this district. composed Of
well-armed and warlike tribes, Is rising
to the support of the brigands who have
been attacked. The situation may become
still more serious II the Kurdish bandits
who inhabit the Russian territory. en-
couraged by the retirement of the Russian
troops, join their Persian kindred and
tthreaten the Russian communications.
The town of ShiriD, whittier one of the
Russian deta chments has been forced to
retire. is situated on the Persian frontier,
twenty miles. from Belesuvar. The de-
tachment of Russian troops from Shirin
has been operating to cover the flank of
the main force at Belesuvar.
Grand Duke Goes South.
Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholaievitch
departed quietly from here yesterday for
the Crimea. travelling incognito in re-
served compartment of an ordinary coach
instead of by private car. The trip o.
tensibly is for personal reasons and. 1t
is stated. will be Of short duration, but
the grand dukes departure just previous
to the imperial family reunion for the
Easter festivities and for the marriage
of Grand Duchess Marie Pavlona to
Prince Wilhelm of Sweden is considered
an indication of a more important OBJ
ject.
1t 10 reported that the grand duke is
really on his way to the Caucasus to
make a personal inspection both of the
Persian and the Turkish frontiers. where
the situation is arousing considerable ap-
prehension.
Caucasus Stirred Up.
Despite diplomatic denials, Russia con-
tinues to forward rein1orcements and
munitions OF war to the Caucasus. An
American treaveler returning from that
territory recently says that he saw train
after train loaded with soldiers pro-
ceedng in a southern direction. and the
railroad to Kars is SO swamped with
military stores that 1t Is unable to accept
private freight.
The European military attaches. espe-
cially the Germans. are evincing keen in
terest In regard to the general situation
and have made a number of official in
quiries. but the general staff reiterates
that the measures are purely precaution-
airy on the part of Russia and are de-
signed to repair the negligence OF past
wears to put the Turko-Persian frontier
in a normal condition for defense.