CAMPAIGN AGAINST TURKEY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1916, Page 4

CAMPAIGN AGAINST TURKEY.

The news that a force of Russian cavalry, after a bold and venturesome ride, had joined up with General Gorringe's army on the Tigris, will 'be eagerly welcomed, and their advent should inspire the British forces with renewed hopes of reaching Bagdad at an early date. It is somewhat remarkable that while the Russians have experienced a con-1 tinuous series of successes in this- region, the British have met with some serious losses and been brought to a standstill. It may be assumed that the Russian cavalry referred to above form part of a large force, and that the main body is not very far distant. A recent cable from New York stated that the Grand Duke Nicholas had captured 73,000 Turks, but there has been no confirmation of the message, which would seem/ to indicate the fall of ■Mosul. It was also stated that the Russians were bringing fresh and powerful pressure to bear on the rear of the Turkish armies, and that appears to bo borne out by subsequent events. The prospect of an early junction of the Russian and British forces on the Tigris removes all anxiety as to the safety of the British, and opon9 up the hope of a march on Bagdad as' soon as the season of floods is over. It would seem that Russian strategy is overcoming all obstacles. Already an exodus o: the population has taken place, and Constantinople is threatened with famine, probably also with an outbreak of hostilities against the authorities, and especially the Germans, but with that we need not be concerned, except that it may hasten the time when the Turks lay down their arms. Apparently the Russians are completely enveloping the Turks in Asia Minor, where they have three large armies operating in different directions, but under one scheme that ha.s evidently been devised with consummate tactical skill. The succession )i heavy blows administered to the Turkp by the Russians should have a demoralising effect. The news is distinctly encouraging, and we can only hope that it presages an early completion of the work of the Anglo-Russian forces in Asia Minor and Persia.