Evening star., 1917-03-04
Germans Retire in Battle of
Somme and May Take
Whole New Line.
GEN. HAIG'S FIGHTERS
DRAW NEAR BAPAUME
Teutonic Morale Expected to Suffer
as Result of Continued
Falling Back.
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.
Another of the kaiser's dream bub-
bles seems about TO burst. leaving to
the emperor of the German peoples
but the memory of things that might
have been.
The threat to realization of his long
ing for complete domination of Turkey
and kindred territories of the near east
has again become genuine. Labors of
years seem about to be undone. Not
only is German influence throughout
the historic and picturesque regions of
the near east about to suffer complete
eclipse. but the power of Turkey it
self forever will be crippled beyond
hope of recovery should present events
bring forth fruit expected of them.
The great British advance up the
Tigris river toward the famous city
of Basdad, and the rout of Turkish
armies which for more than a year
have held the Indo-British armies in
check below Kut-El-Amara, is the re-
suit of a wonderful bit of military
effort and strategy. These operations
chiefly are important for what they
portend.
That the true situation in the near
eastern region which now are sharing
equal attention with the battles raging
on the western front in France may
be fully realized. possibly it is best to
review in measure the trend of events
in the regions Of the near east.
Shortly after Turkey entered the
war Russian forces. though not of
great numbers. began to move against
Caucasus. Great Britain dispatched an
army to the head of the Persian gulf.
which was to move up the Tigris, and,
IL possible, reach Bagdad. The opera
49,.
were not started merely for the sake
of military achievement, though 1t was
believed that these operations might
10 large extent prevent the Turks
from assembling and sending to
Europe great forces.
tion was the possible danger of the
Germans an d
Raal Reoeons Turks spreading
for United Action. regions farther
east. where they infame the whole of
the Mohammedan populations. thereby
forcing serious crises in India and
in Persia. 1t was deemed best to force
the Germans and Turks back from
those regions where they best would be
able to spread their gospel of war and
destruction and subsequently throw UP
4 dividing military wall Furthermore.
serious rebufrs for Turkish armies.
largely manned by expert German Of
hcers-Field Marshal Won der Goltz
and Field Marshal Won Sanders-being
sent to the near eastern regions to per-
feet the strategy and effectiveness of
Turkish armies-possibly would do
more than any other thing to convince
the Mohammedan peoples that the
claims of German secret agents were
fictitious. that the Germans even with
the aid Of the Turks never could de-
feat the entente allies in the present
war and that loyalty to the British
was the safest course for all nations
and peoples of the near east not ae-
tually embroigled in the struggle by
racial and governmental ties
The Russians pressed down through
the Caucasus, but the trend of opera
tions was not satisfactory to the cZar.
and as q consequence Grand Duke
Nicholas was dispatched from the east
srn front to take charge of these ar
mics. The Russians never have ceased
to dream of complete domination OF
the shores of the Black sea. Conse-
ouentIy the movement against the
Turks not only had the redemption OF
Armenia as one of its objectives. but
the capture of a great territory ad-
jacent to Asia's largest inland BODY
of water.
The might of the grand duke was
felt mediately. He smashed throngh
the Turkish armies almost like paper.
captured Erzerum and after this chief
point of Turkish offensive and defen-
sive strength was taken, divided his
armies into three sections. one pushing
to the southwest. another to the west
and one toward the coast port OF ire
bizond. Russian successes were strlK-
ing The Turks appeared completely
disorganized. though after few weeks
battle they succeeded in checking the
Russian advances in three directions.
Operations in Armenia have been prac-
tlcally at a standstill for months.
*
The Russians. however were called
upon to operate in another directioh
owing to German
Russians Gain in intrigue III
sia- 1t was seen