PERSIA.

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 2886, 4 March 1916, Page 4

PERSIA.

THE RUSSIANS IN KERMANSHAH. Keiimanshah, now occupied by the Russians, is the capital of the province ef that .lizwUe. It is situaited at an elevation, of 5100 ft, about 250 miles from Xtiheraii, and about 220 miles north-east of Bagdad. It has a population of about 40,000. The town, 'is on the high road bobweon Teheran, and Bagdad, over 100 miles west by south of llamadan, and carries on a, transit trade estimated m value at £750,000 per annum. Although surrounded by fortifications, with fivo gates and three miles of circuit, it was until recently practically an open town, the walls being in ruins, and the moat choked with rubbish but, doubtless, tho Germans and Turks recently put the defences m something like repair. The province of Kormainshah extends westward to tho Turkish frontier. Its population is about 400,000, and it pays a yearly revenue of over £20,000. Many of its uihabitaiifs aro nomadio Kurds and Lurs, who pay little taxes, me country is very mountainous, the ranges running in a, series of great ridges parallel with tho frontier, the main road to Bagdad being practically tho_only highway of importance. The pupturo of Kernianshah is of considerable importance, as is also that of Kashan in Central Persia. Haiuadaii was captured on December _ 16, a-nd ,it was then estimated that the ' forces which the Gormaais bad col- I looted in the. vicinity numbered 8000 i irregulars 'and 3000' revolted gondar- : nice with an adequate supply of rifles and maohine-guns. The strength of the Russian forces in, Persia hats' not been disclosed, but, their numbers must , be very considerable in view of the ■ wide area, over which operations are being conducted, and (he great length of the linos of communications, wruci) . owing to the entire absence of rail- I Mays, roi_ui.ro Iho services of largo : forces to keep the roads open, send ; supplies forward, aud garrison the j occupied towns. The adva.nee on Ker- I maiushah lias boon an operation of '. considerable magnitude conducted ■ over very difficult country. The success of the Russians is therefore most noteworthy., especially as the plan of operations must have entailed long preparation and skilful execution by , a- considcrablo force well supplied with artillery. The Russian advance has now reached a point 150 miles 'in a d root line, north-east- of Knl-el-Am-ara on. tin Tigris.