Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-23

FIELD MARSHAL Won DER GOLTZ.
Comnaader-i..-c.sef OF the Turkish
army, who kEs s:iccnmbsd of spotted
fever. He kns been the backbone of
the Turkish defensive eEorts III the
present war.
mans. after numerous attempts to rout
the French from the!- highly important
positions between Dead Mans hill and
Cumieres. desisted In their more
strenuous attacks at this point and I'M
medately set the other side of the
great steel pincers almost lnclos1ng
Nerdun in operation. In the vicinity
of Les Eparses the Teutons launched
several vicious attacks at the French
after fearful preliminary artillery prep
aration. The French curtain Of fire is
declared to have checked the enemy
and the attacks We're not resumed from
the southwest during the remainder Of
the week.
The Germans. however. did set in
motion an offensive of decided strength
mont farm and NauX. The Teutons
were enabled to get a small foothold
in Chauffor wood. but this was the ex-
tent of their gains. Tine French report
the infection of terrible losses on the
enem.- in this region. The French are
said to have driven the enemy back
in several vicious counter attacks I'M
mediately east of the Meuse- The
fighting about Nerdun would indicate
that the Germans are on the eve OF
bringing every possible pressure to
bear on the enemy in order to Wrest
victory after weeks of fighting. DIS
patches from neutral points based on
reports circulated in German cities de-
clare that both the kaiser and the
crown prince are sorely veXed at their
inability to capture the famous strong
H. IL l., I,,fa md inc n
constant murmurings of dissatisfaction
among the German people at home.
have denoted several generals at the
Eerdun front and sent them home IN
disgrace-in fact. making them the scape
goats for the failure of the Germans.
The tide of battle along the British
front in the vicinity OF st. Elol ana
Ypres has been turning in favor OF the
more than 500 meters of British
trenches i'll recent operations in ad-
dition to repulsing several determined
British counter attacks.
Much mystery attaches to the fight
ing along this section of the western
battle line. the British official reports
being but meager. while Berlin ad-
vices also are curtailed- III the nghtlng
is to be gagged by the British casualty
lists which have been announced in
recent days. the battle has been of a
strenuous character. hundreds of
British officers having fallen 1t is
believed in London that If so many
officers have been lost the casualties
must be great.
Grand Duke Nicholas continues to be
the military hero of all Russia.
T h e a s
Grand Duke Still reat forth
SaI
Russ Military Hero. ,esics1 ,o,n,
held by the Turks in Turkish Armenia
has fallen into the hands of the Slavs.
and one of the most daring operations
of the present war has succeeded.
The present situation in Asiatic Tur-
key is fraught with grave danger to
the Moslems. In fact, with their troops
thoroughly disorganiZed. and more or
less disheartened by continued Slavic
success. only the most Superhuman eff
forts of their officers and commanders
will prevent the Russians from push
ing westward at will.
Furthermore. the Turkish Meso-
potamian army is in grave danger of
being isolated and by the very nature
of the present situation may be forced
to retire westward in order to avoid
capture or isolation. The capture of
but three Or four more large towns
which act the Russians are in a fair
way of accomplishing. would sever the
Mesopotamian army's line of COM
munication. and eventual capitulation
or humiliation would be essential. The
near east situation is decidedly inter-
esting.
Following months of battling through
the Caucasus the grand duke and his
RUSSIAN forces boldly attacked E,rzer,1,n
where large defeated Turks forces; had
taken refuge. A few weeks investment
led to this city's fall. The grand duke
started one army toward Trebizond-an-
;; other approaching from the east-one to-
Hard Sivas ana one i'll the direction of
Bagdad- The distribution of his forces
caused much criticism. but the Russians
by determined action. kept the Turks in
night The capture of Baiburt was
achieved in short order while the grand
dukes Black sea army crept closer to the
port of Trebizond deemed essential as a
pase II future russian operations on the
| interior OF Turkish Armenia were to be
pursued successfully. as it was absolutely
necessary to shorten the line of com
munication.
| Learning that the real temporary OBJ
Jectlve OF the Russians was TrebiZond
the Turks made elaborate preparations
Tor us defense. a large portion of the re-
treating armies making q stand near Eai-
/ ouft; beng Joined by reinforcements dis
patched from Constantinopie. The Turks
also drew great forces from Homs Alex
ahdfetta and other points where they
were assembled for drive on Egypt, il
! being deemed vital that the Russians he
checked Many of these forces were
| thrown along the line stretching from
Bltlis to Trebizond. Strenuous ATTEMPTS
; were made during siX-day battle only
week ago, to smash the Russian line r.
the west OF Erzerum, in the hope that the
Slavs would be forced to withdraw their
! forces along the Black sea coast The
russians were victorious however and
! in addition to repeated successes in the
I Tchoruk region. their army operating n
i the east of Trebizond bitterly pursued t,,o
/ enemy, following his rout along the hank
of the Kara Dere. The Russians did not
give the Turks time to intrench in Az
high mountains surrounding Trebizond
In the meanwhile the Russian fleet he.
gan strenuous bombardment of the nor.
and, under the
Fleet Assists in cover of its guns
Capture of Port. f fanaea 4. "a, a large
westward. The Turks. seeing their dan.
ger. are declared to have fled from Trebi.
zond to effect a union with the forces
operating further to the south and west
The capture of TrebiZond bv the Rus.
slams crystallizes Grand Duke Nichola G,
| plans. The Russian forces along tbs
Black sea now may operate further fe
the westward without fear of being on.
veloped to the rear by Turkish armies
and can form a junction with the Russian
army which has pressed nor.hward from
ErZerun, which is joined directly viii
the army moving directly ,yesf from