RIGA AND DVINSK.

Nelson Evening Mail, 29 March 1916, Page 4

RIGA AND DVINSK.

•IT is considered highly probable that the German general staff has a Russian.;programme in preparation, as well as one ot ' attacks in the west. And if the Verdun ' offensive fails we are likely to hear- of a continuance of the old one in the east, at least along part of that enormous line, though whether further western offensives may not precede or be simultaneous with it,.it is impossible to be certain just yet. And it would not be at- all surprising, says one authority, if the' German attempt in the east were made once bore 1 against the Dvina line. It is pretty sure, at any rate, toinclude an attack on that line. This is the one line on the eastern front which the Germans have been so far -unable to break. Riga would be necessaiy to the 'Germans in case of a move up the Baltic coast by army and fleet actinjr in co-operation, and Dvinsk could not be left in Russian hands on tJie rirrhfc flank of such an advance. Recent cables contain some evidence that such an advance has really been planned, though as a mattor of fact the Dvina line has never been entirely quiet since ;.he lime of the -great drive. It is significant that there has been a good deal olf aerial scouting woi'k going on, by Zeppelins as well as aeroplanes, in this 'district, and recently we heard of the .installation of big naval batteries near the coast. For some time, however, enormously new armaments, have been reaching xilie enemy on the Russian front, and it js said that the number of Maxims has been trebled. One of the latest reports is that .the Germans have- a new 22-inch guXi',' for vfrhifch "concrete' of enormous dimensions have been preparing » for- some time. pa£tu