Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-28
On the Way to Bagdad.

The past week has witnessed notable progress
in the Allied campaign in the East-a campaign
that may go far toward determining the outcome
of the war and still further in shaping the fortunes
of empire for ages to come. decisive victory for
the Russians and the British in Turkey would
cast a deep shadow of moral if not military inhu-
ence on the whole Teutonic cause; and, more than
this, it would presage the end of Germany's long
dream of dominion in Asia The misty future no
less than the glaring present hangs upon that an
cient valley Graded between the Euphrates and
the Tigris.
The Russian forces operating against eastern
Turkey are moving in directions-the right
wing, southwark from the Black Sea- the left
wing westward through Persia Having captured
Bitlis nearly fortnight ago, the right wing has
advanced steadily until it is probably astride
the route of the railroad to Bagdad. The left
wing, moving swiftly despite mountain barriers,
has taken Kermanshah and pressed far toward
Khanykin, which is only ninety miles from Bagdad.
Il is thus evident that the Russian wings are con-
verging. The British troops which are moving
northward along the Tigris to the relief of their
compatriots besieged at Kut-el-Amara have en-
countered more stubborn resistance and have been
less fortunate. But the general drift of circum-
stances is favorable to early junction of all the
Allied forces in this arena. The Importance of
Khanykin, now the objective of the Russian left
wing lies in the fact that if is occupied the
way to Bagdad will be comparatively easy. A mil
itary critic observes in this connection:
There is a fairly good road between
Khanykin and the Tigris-a distance of about
sixty miles-which reaches the river at the
town of Jadida, some forty miles north of
Bagdad. The Turkish force which is opposing
the British on the Tigris will be taken in the
rear or cut off entirely from its line of COM
munieation unless it retires before the Rus
slams up
While Bagdad thus is threatened, Turkish
strongholds on the Black Sea are also in imminent
peril. Trebizond, a point of much Importance IN
a movement against Constantinople, has been
evacuated 1t seems indeed, that the Turks are
hopelessly incapable of stemmng the Russian tide.
Their situation is the desperate from the fact
that they can expect no aid from Germany, whose
power is absorbed on the western front and whose
resources are more and more strained The leu
ton drive through Serbia relieved the pressure on
the DardaneIIes but it fell far short of Turkeys
hopes and needs. The mere fact that roadway
has been opened from the Central Empires to Con-
stantinople is of scant importance unless that
is made to serve some practical
purpose. In reality the Turks no better off
now than when Serbia was intact and the British
were intrenched on Gallipoli. Indeed, they are
much worse off. for the present menace from Asia
is far more formidable than that which once
frowned from Europe.
The collapse of the Teutons' Moslem ally would
he felt around the entire circle of the war Espe-
cialIy pronounced would be its moral effect on the
Balkans where Rumania and Greece are still hes
liant in their neutrality. These States could come
near striking decisive blow if at this juncture
they Joined the force of half million men which
the Allies are holding at Saonih and adjacent
noints And continued decline of the Ottoman
cause will draw Rumania and Greece almost inevi-
tally into the Entente camp
From the remotest ages of history the region
which the Russians and British now are threaten
ing to wrest from Turkey has been the scene OF
and inter-racal conflicts. mo other
space in the world" says historian, mas Wit
messed so many wars, has borne so much OF lnva-
sion. siege. sack and massacre" 1t has been COM
monty supposed that the decisive act of the war
will he staged somewhere in the West, probably
on the Franco-German line. However that may be,
events of determining character will unfold In
this most ancient theater of human history