ouncing the taking of an important town or
the crossing of a mountain pass, up to then practically unknown to the
greatest part of the civilized world.

It was such a statement from the Russian General Staff, that had
announced the fall of Kermanshah on February 27, 1916. This was an
important victory for the southernmost Russian army. For this ancient
Persian town lies on the main caravan route from Mesopotamia to
Teheran, passing over the high Zaros range, as well as on other roads,
leading to Tabriz in the north and to Kut-el-Amara and Basra in the
south. It brought this Russian army within less than 200 miles of
Bagdad. Toward this goal the advance now was pushed steadily, and on
March 1, 1916, Petrograd announced that the pursuit of the enemy to
the west of Kermanshah continued and had yielded the capture of two
more guns. The next important success gained by the Russians was
announced on March 12, 1916, when the town of Kerind was occupied.
This town, too, is located on the road to Bagdad and its occupation
represented a Russian advance of about fifty miles in less than two
weeks, no mean accomplishment in the face of a fairly determined
resistance.

[Illustration: The Russians in Persia.]

On March 22, 1916, it was officially announced that a Russian column,
advancing from Teheran, to the south, had reached and occupied Ispaha,
the ancient Persian capital in central Persia. This, of course, had no
direct bearing on the Russian advance against Mosul and Bagdad, except
that it increased Russian influence in Persia and by that much
strengthened the position and security of any Russian troops operating
anywhere else in that country.

Fighting between the northernmost Russian army and detachments of
Turks and Kurds was reported on March 24, 1916, in the region south of
Lake Urumiah. Throughout the balance of March, 1916, and during April,
1916, similar engagements took place continuously in this sector. On
the Turkish side both regular infantry and detachments of Kurds
opposed the Russian advance in the direction of Mosul and the Tigris.
Russian successes were announced officially on April 10 and 12, 1916,
and again on May 3, 1916.

In the meantime the advance toward Bagdad also progressed. On May 1,
1916, the Russians captured some Turkish guns and a number of
ammunition wagons to the west of Kerind. On May 6, 1916, a Turkish
fortified position in the same locality was taken by storm and a
considerable quantit