British flag was hoisted over the town at 3:30 on Sunday
afternoon (Sept. 13, 1914) and it was saluted. A proclamation was then
read by Rear-Admiral Patey, formerly setting out the occupation.

Apia (Samoa) had been occupied by British forces on Aug. 29. The
Caroline Islands, first occupied by Japan, were turned over to New
Zealand. The Marshall and Solomon Islands were likewise occupied on
Dec. 9, thus completing the tale of Germany's colonial possessions in
the Pacific.

There remain large areas in Kamerun and East Africa, but in both cases
the coast line is in the possession of the Entente powers.

IX. FIGHTING IN THE CAUCASUS.

The first considerable battle in the Caucasus, after Turkey entered
the war, was decided in favor of Russia, on Jan. 3. On Jan. 16 the
Eleventh Corps of the Turkish Army was cut up at Kara Urgaun. On Jan.
30 the Russians occupied Tabriz. On Feb. 8 Trebizond was bombarded by
Russian destroyers. On May 4 the Turks were again defeated, leaving
3,500 dead.

The most recent considerable action was the taking of the ancient and
important City of Van, which is graphically described in Novoe Vremya,
June 19:

"When our armies scattered the forces of Halil Bey and
gained marked successes in the western part of Azerbijan,
the question of taking Van and the more important towns on
Lake Van arose. At the same time we received news of the
desperate situation of the Christians (Armenians) of the Van
vilayet, who had been compelled to take up arms against the
Kurds.

"Our division was directed to go to Van through the Sanjak
of Bajazet, crossing the Tatar Pass under fire of Turkish
regulars and Kurds. In spite of the Spring season, the whole
pass was covered with a thick carpet of snow, in places up
to our men's belts. At the highest point of the pass, 10,000
feet, we were forced to halt. After a brief rest we reached
Taparitz and were immediately in contact with the enemy, who
attacked with shell and rifle fire, but we soon silenced
them with our rifles and machine guns. Scattering, the Turks
and Kurds hid among the rocks and sniped at us.

"From Taparitz we advanced much more rapidly along the Abaga
Valley, then turned to the west along the River
Bendimach-Su, the best route to Van. We were informed that
Begri-Kala was strongly occupied by Turks who were
determined to defend it to t