THE EASTERN FRONT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9125, 22 October 1917, Page 6

THE EASTERN FRONT

OPERATIONS IN THE BALTIC.

THE POSITION , REVIEWED

\ LONDON, Oct. 20

Tlie latest news. from Riga emphasises the seriousness of ...the disaster, the preseiit position being apparently that 19 or 20 ;'Russian warships, are bottled up in the narrow Mohn Sound, one side of which is under German occupation^ while German fleets, with numerous auxiliaries, are guarding the north and south exits. The actual number of . warships taking refuge in the Sound is unknown. The German communique says that'.2o are engaged. The Russians' name only three big vessels, /but are silent concerning what has happened to the remainder of the defending fleet. It is certain that a powerful Baltic fleet, based on Kronstadt, did not participate in the battle, j and may possibly now seek to go to the rescue of the isolated squadron, whose dangerous position is accentuated by the dangers of Mohn Sound, which is mostly shallow water withVa deep passage t midway, with mines at the entrance. '

The land operations depend upon the German intentions. Their occupancy of Mohn Island, together with the partial destruction of the forts and the narrowness (six by ten miles) of the Sound,; enables them to land troops on the mainland from o*l in boats, under cover of their long-range naval guns, which .outrange the remaining land batteries. . -

• The Government's decision to evacuate Petrograd is a natural outcome of recent events, but is largely political, as there is no. immediate danger of its occupation by enemy troops.