The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-04-21

SLAv COMMANDER PUSHES
ON TO KNIT LINE CLOSER
Seeking TO Ioin Cars Force Now
Occupying Positions West Of
Erzerum and Extend Solid
Front Across Eastern District
tAasOciated Press BY Federal wireless,

ASSOCIATED Press by Federal wirsIess)
- ONION, April l9.--With the fall
of TrebiEond, the most important
Black Sea port of Turkey, into the
hands of the Russians under the Grand
Duke, Nicholas, and the sweeping de.
feat Of the Turks farther south, the
campaign in that theater of the world
war has assumed new phase. The
capture of Trebizond, officially con
frmed yesterday by Petrograd, gives
the Slays in Turkish Armenia an inlet
into Turkey and base of operations,
the Importance Of which in their strug.
gle with the Sultans forces, can hardly
he overestimated.
Turkeys Loss Heavy
Not only does II take from the Turks
the possession of this city upon which
they have been depending for the con,
centration of their men and supplies for
their northern armies, but it places the
forces of the Grand Duke upon the
flank of their armies operating to the
west of Lake Van and in the rear of
the forces fighting west and north of
Diarbekr, recently captured by Rus,
SLAMS.
Military observers here declare that
TrPbiZond's fall, while il by no means
brushes the Turkish. resistance in that
part Of the field, is one of the most
severe blows the Sultan has suffered
since he entered the war as an ally Of
Germany. ..' 90,
Attack By Sea and Land
The attack upon the Black Sea port
was made by the Russians in large
force. The Grand Duke has been near
ing the city for some days, and only
Yesterday was said TO have reached d
point less than fifteen miles from the
fortifcatiOns that defended il. The at,
tack Is said to have been made from
land and sea simultaneously, and the
city was carried with a rush that sent
the Turkish defenders flying before the
invading Slays.
Grand Duke Nicholas is said to be
continuing his drive of the Turkish
army toward Baiburt, southeast of Ire
hizOnd, and to be making an attempt
now to break down the lines of Otto
man forces that separate his columns
on the Black Sea. and those which
have Overrun the country in the di-
rection of the Tigris valley from Ere.
rum. Should he be able to accomplish
this he will have secured solid line
stretching to the eastward, and be in
q position to move forward with his
entire command, toward Aleppo, and
the Bagdad railroad.
Weather flinders Fighting
There were but minor assaults on the
western front. At Verdun, the wealth
er continued to hinder major operat-
ions, but the Germans are reported to
have launched attacks against the
French positions at Steinbrucs. seven
hundred yards south of Haudremont, on
the Verdun front. Berlin claims sue
cess here. and the capture of the posi-
tiOn with l647 prisoners, while the |
French reports say that the Teutons
penetrated the French first line, but |
were "partly elected - A lombard !
ment of the French trenches around |
Cote de l. Homme Mort and Cumieres,
as fell as about Douaumout, is also re,
ported.
The British were more successful. !
On the front held by them they attack
ed and penetrated the German trenches
in several places making good their
gains of ground, by consolidating the
positions. The dispatches from the
fighting in the Tigris valley, however;
reports that the British forces there,
were driven back some FIVE hundred
yards by the Turks.
Fierce attacks against the Russian
lines around Ikskull failed to break
down the Slav resistance, although the
TcutOns repeated them several times,
each time losing heavily.
Italians Win and Lose
The Italians, continued to seeaaw
hHck and forth with the Austrians.
They reported last night that they had
attacked and captured the
Austrian positions at ColliIana, where
thew mined and destroyed the trenches
Of the enemy, later occupying the Graf
pr. They were, however, compelled to re-
treat from their advanced positions at
Sng"ha, whore the Austrians had mas
oed heavy guns and large numbers Of
in antrV fOr 1ptarminal ott,.E