y of supplies were captured.

Up to this time the Russian reports were more or less indefinite,
announcing simply from time to time progress of the advance in the
direction of Bagdad. From Kerind, captured early in March, 1916, two
roads lead into Mesopotamia, one by way of Mendeli, and another more
circuitous, but more frequented and, therefore, in better condition,
by way of Khanikin. Not until May 10, 1916, did it become apparent
that the Russians had chosen the latter. On that day they announced
the occupation of the town of Kasr-i-Shirin, about twenty miles from
the Turkish border, between Kerind and Khanikin. Not only were the
Russian forces now within 110 miles of Bagdad--an advance of
forty-five miles since the capture of Kerind--but they were also
getting gradually out of the mountains into the Mesopotamian plain.
At Kasr-i-Shirin, they took important Turkish munition reserves,
comprising several hundred thousand cartridges, many shells and hand
grenades, telegraph material, and a camel supply convoy laden with
biscuits, rice, and sugar.

Five days later, on May 15, 1916, another important Russian success
was announced, this time further north. The Russian forces that had
been fighting for a long time ever since the early part of 1915 to the
south of Lake Urumiah, and whose progress in the direction of Mosul
was reported at long intervals, were now reported to have reached the
Turkish town of Rowandiz. This represented an advance of over 100
miles from the town of Urumiah and carried the Russian troops some
twenty-five miles across the frontier into the Turkish province of
Mosul. Rowandiz is about 100 miles east of Mosul, and in order to
reach it it was necessary for the Russian forces to cross the
formidable range of mountains that runs along the Turko-Persian border
and reaches practically its entire length, a height of 8,000 to 10,000
feet.

CHAPTER XLIII

TURKISH OFFENSIVE AND RUSSIAN COUNTEROFFENSIVE IN ARMENIA AND PERSIA

On the last day of May, 1916, the Turks scored their first substantial
success against the Russians since the fall of Erzerum. Having
received reenforcements, the Turkish center assumed the offensive
between the Armenian Taurus and Baiburt and forced the Russians to
evacuate Mama Khatun. This was followed by a withdrawal of the Russian
lines in that region for a distance of about ten miles.

For the next few days the Turks were able to maintain their new
offensive in full