Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-21
RUSS WILL REFUSE
PEACE WITH TURKS
0vertures Again Made to Pet
rograd by MosIems, 1t Is
Reported.
HUNGER NOW MENACES
BRITISH AT KUT-EL-AMARA
Situation Critical, According to Con-
stantinople-London Claims
Success in Recent Fighting.

| PETROGRAD. April 21.-The fall of
| Trebizond has given rise to a fresh crop
of rumors that Turkey is approaching
Russia with peace overtures, but It is
authoritatively stated in official circles
| that no such proposals will be consid-
| cred for a moment by the Russian gov
eminent.
Noicing conviction that Turkey is a
defeated nation and not in a position to
make any terms, the Petrograd Gazette
declares: I'VE may now consider one
of our enemies finished. The taking of
Trebizond has so disorganized the
Turkish defensive plans that all that
remains for her is to lay down her arms
and ask mercy. She already has sought
ways to separate peace, but has met
with the absolute refusal of her OPP
ponent. who is determined to close no
separate agreements. Turkeys hour
has struck. and it is not improbable
that she will in the near future entire
ly disappear from the map"
Begin Swift Advance,
No longer impeded by Turkish pres
sure on the coast. the Russian armies
west of Erzerum have begun a swift
advance on Baiburt and Erzingan.
With three groups of Russian armies
from the Black seacoast to Bitlis in
close cooperation, the westward cam
paign through Asia Minor is expected
to develop rapidly.
The latest Russian official statement
regarding the near east campaign says:
Along the coast in the pursuit of the
enemy. who retreated rapidly, our re-
connoitering party under Sub-Lieut.
kovalkoff captured seven Turkish Of
ficers and 100 men belonging to a regi-
ment recently arrived in the Trebizond
region from Constantinople under COM
mand of a German officer
AT Trebizond we captured some six
inch guns. The town did not suffer
from the war operations. The Turkish
population fled. The Christians re-
manned and received the Russians with
acclamations.
South of Bitlis our detachments dis
lodged the Turks from a series of
mountain positions and advanced in the
direction of Sghert (Sert-ninety miles
east of Diarbekr). repelling all enemy
counter attacks: The enemy left sew
We took many prisoners"
British in Grave Danger.
CONSTANTINoPLE, April Fl. The
war office announces that the position
of the British army which is being be-
sieged at Kut-el-Amara Is becoming
very critical and that the British COM
mander has ordered the civil popula-
ton to evacuate the town, on account
of the scarcity of food. The statement
follows:
There are no new DEVELOPMENTS.
The position of the enemy invested at
Kut-el-Amara is becoming very criti-
cal. The hostile commander. in order
to avoid difficulties in connection with
population to evacuate the town, and
has been expecting aeroplanes to drop
small bags Of -four in the town.
Operations Against Russ.
Caucasian front: THE battle has
taken on violent character, especial
ly on the right wing, in the Tchoruk
region. The enemy's attempt to ad-
vance at the cost of heavy losses has
failed because of our counter attacks.
The enemy. by the fire of his war
ships, repulsed our coast reconnois-
sance sections in Lazistan, and by re-
inforcing and supporting his land
forces as much as possible in the op-
erations. is getting the upper hand:
but our troops there, in spite of their
small number. are bravely trying to
foil the enemy's operations.
I'm other sectors there has been only
unimportant outpost fighting"
British Success Reported.
LONDON, April 1.-The following Brit
ish communication concerning recent
fighting in Mesopotama was issued this
evening:
Further details of the fighting on the
right bank of the Tigris river April 1917,
previous to the Turkish counter attacks.
show that the enemy left between 200 and
300 dead in the captured trenches and two
field guns, five machine guns Prisoners
aggregating $50. including eight officers.
also We're taken. Our losses were COM
parativeiy small.
IAN aeroplane Reconnaissance after the
enemy's counter attack the night Of April
17-ls disclosed the fact that q large num-
Der of Turkish ambulances were busy all
day removing the wounded"