THE RUSSIAN EVACUATION OF RIGA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3183, 6 September 1917, Page 5

THE RUSSIAN EVACUATION OF RIGA

FURTHER RETIREMENTS ENEMY ADVANCING IN FORCE By Telogroph-Prcss Aesooiatiou. Copyright London, September t. A Russian official report states: "We evacuated Riga, Wowing up tho Fortifications at tlio month of the Dwina and tho bridge?. Our retirements continue to tlio north-east. Enemy ships aro now.shelling Riga and the const!) 1 villages. In the direction of TJxknil the enemy dislodged our troops on the great Jaegcl River, penetrated onr positions on a front of eight miles, and occupied Vnldendonc. Wβ aro retiring to the north. Measures have been taken to readjust our front. Our troops failing to withstand tho enemy pressure in tho region, of Mildep, Rybnat, and Krangoin, we retired to tho north-east."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT (lice. September 5. 7.50 p.m.) London, September 4. A German official report states: "The Russians have evacuated the bridgehead westward of tho Dwina at Riga. We stand before the mouth cf the Dwina Kifja is ablaze at many points. Iu a bitter struggle -we overcame strong Russian forces on both sides of the Great Japel River, taking thousands of PllS "\VVhave captured'* liill south-west of Czeruowitz."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter. THE OPENING OF THE ATTACK ■ (Rec. September 5, 11.10 p.m.) • i ' Petrograd, September 1. The German offensive, at Riga began with a bombardment of asphyxiating shells and gas' waves. The enemy then threw pontoons across the Dwina. Some of thoso were destroyed by the Russian batteries, but ultimately the Germane obtained a footing on the other bank. Bitter fighting followed, tho loyal Russians counter-attacking. On German reinforcements arriving the Russians withdrew northward. Tlio German a.rtillery seriously damaged tho town. The attack was not accompanied by naval operations.—Router. A MOVE ON PETROGRAD Paris, September i. 11l the public buildings at Riga wore evacuated many months ago, and the inhabitants diminished to a hundred thousand. It is reported that there are ten German divisions on the Riga front, which are intended to advance on Pekoft' and Petrograd.—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn. A WAR EXPERT'S VIEW OF THE SITUATION . N (Gee. September 5, 11.5 p.m.) London, September i. Colonel Shumsky, war expert writer for the "Bourse Gazette," interviewed in London, paid that the German rush on Riga could not seriously menace Petrograd this year. "An offensive over four hundred versts (about 270 miles) will require at least two months. Tho Germans have started too late. Within two or three -weeks they will meet the rainy season, and bad roads. Moreover, the well-fortified lake system of the Pskoff region protects Petrograd. The AngloFrench attacks have drawn 160 German divisions westward, and there are insufficient forces left on tho Russian front to defeat , even the disorganised. Russian Army which is supported by excellent artillery and an; enormous quantity of ammunition."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NAVAL ACTIVITY IN THE BLACK SEA (Rec. September 5, 7.50 p.m.) London, September t. "The Times" Odessa correspondent states that the Russian Fleet has sunk six Turkish merchantmen at Sevastapol, and also captured. a town on August U This was evacuated nfter destroying large stores of munitions ;,nd pro. visions and removing 800 Greeks who were desirous of leaving Turkey.—"The Times." GENERAL GOURKOTO BE BANISHED. Petrograd, September 4. It is venorted that the Government has decided to banish General Gourko.— EoU rGencnil Gourko was charged with treacherously corresponding with the es-Tsar.j SQUABBLING OVER THE DEATH PENALTY MOSCOW DECISION REVERSED BY WORKMEN'S AND SOLDIERS 1 DELEGATES. (lice. September 5, 11.10 p.m.) London, September 5. The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Petrograd states: "The Council of Workmen's aiid Soldiers' .Delegates has discussed the Moscow Conference decision in .favour of restoring the death penalty. SI. Tcheretolli bravely endeavoured to persuade the meeting in favom- of supporting the decision, but tho internationalists and social revolutionaries won M Teneretelli s defeat is symptomatic It shows that the international element in the ■ Workmen b and Soldiers' Council still outweighs the patriotic element. Tho municipal elections ire proceeding in Petrograd. and tho extremists aro ueing the death penalty as their principal election cry."-Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. PRO-GERMAN EX-PREMIER DEAD. Petrograd, September i. M. Stunner. ex-Premier of Russia, is dead. fIW Stunner became Premier of Russia in Tnbrnnry, 1016. and rnreign. Minister as well in July. 1916- Tn November, 11)11;. lie retired as Premier, under suspicion of being a pro-Gorman; he was implicated in the machination* of the old regime for a separate peace with Germany, and bribery charges were also raised against him.]