kbar!"
The Russians then broke from cover and some terrible bayonet work
completed the task of securing the pass for the Russians.

By May 10, 1915, the Turks had been driven back to the southwest,
leaving a large quantity of tents and munitions behind them. Farther
south, from Sarikamish, a number of insignificant conflicts were kept
up. Turkish stragglers formed partnerships with local professionals
and organized companies of banditti; the Russians were kept busy
clearing out the villages where these bands had established their
headquarters, driving them into the hills. To the southeast, the
pursuit of Halil Bey's defeated army continued during the first week
in May. The battle had begun at Hantahta, near Urumiah, on April 29,
1915. Both sides lost heavily. In the beginning the Russians had held
the Turks at bay, but the latter received reenforcements and on April
30, 1915, the Russians had to withdraw from Dilman. They intrenched
themselves at Magonzhio, the first village on the way to Khori, whence
they battered the Turks with their heavy artillery until the arrival
of Russian reenforcements.

On May 14, 1915, it was announced from Washington that replies were
being prepared at the State Department to a flood of communications
from various parts of the country urging that steps be taken to
protect Christians in Armenia and other regions under Turkish control.
Assurance was given that the Department was doing all in its power to
aid the Armenians. Mr. Morgenthau, our Ambassador at Constantinople,
was instructed to make representations to the Turkish Government. It
was at his request that Turkish regular troops were sent to Urumiah,
Persia, to keep order.

The Russian consul at that place reported on May 15, 1915, that 6,000
Armenians had been massacred at Van, which has been the scene of so
many similar outrages during the last twenty years. On May 23, 1915, a
detachment of Russian soldiers occupied the town of Van, in Asiatic
Turkey, thus bringing the eagerly expected relief to the Armenians,
who were besieged by the Turks--besieged in their own country by their
own countrymen. Upon the arrival of the Russians the Turks retreated
in the direction of Bitlis.

The Russian successes in the Van region included the occupation of
Baslan; in the capture of Van itself they took twenty-six guns, a
great quantity of war materials and provisions, as well as the
Government Treasury. A considerable part of the town was dest