Then, in the spring of 1915, the war took a turn in Russia's favour. The Turkish invasion of Transcaucasia was defeated, and the Russian invasion of Turkish Armenia began. A Russian army reached Van and relieved the Armenians beleaguered there; and a detachment thrust forward to Bashkala sent a formal invitation to the Assyrians to throw in their lot with the Allies. The invitation was boldly accepted; and the point that seems definitely to have turned the scale in favour of acceptance was the religious character that had been given to the war by the Turkish proclamation of _Jehad_. The Assyrians felt that they were now called to play their part on the side of Humanity and Christendom; and as soon as the call came definitely they braved all the risks that it involved. But no doubt it is too much to assert that they were guided entirely by this higher motive. They were (as our previous chapters have indicated) a nation of fighters with a healthy, carnal appetite for what is vulgarly called "a jolly row." And they were probably swayed in the same direction by the fact that all their neighbours with whom they had long-standing and (in the main) very just causes of quarrel, were ranged on the contrary side. The war-song of _Shamasha_ Ephraim was soon in all men's mouths in the mountain villages, and some of its spirited lines deserve quoting as evincing the ardour with which they entered the war: Brothers, up and arm you; 'tis the Turk assails you; Lo, the day is dawning when we march to meet the foe! Quit your flocks and cornfields, grip your trusty rifles, Forth we go to battle in the name of Mar Shimun. Stand by one another, clansmen of the nation, Tkhuma by Tyari, and let Baz by Jilu stand. Like a band of brothers, hearts and hands united, Forth we go to battle in the name of Mar Shimun. David is our leader, valiant in the combat, He is captain over us to lead us forth to war. Danger shall not daunt us, fear shall flee before us, Forth we go to battle in the name of Mar Shimun. Young men of the nation, tribes renowned in story, Mighty men in battle were our fathers' kings of old. Raging through the valleys, storming o'er the mountains, Forth we go to battle in the name of Mar Shimun. Nineveh the holy[155] beckons back her children; Know ye not her ancient walls shall be the victor's crown? There alone, Assyrians, shall our race be stablished, Forth we go to battle in the name of Mar Shimun.