THE NAVIES

Timaru Herald, Volume CIII, Issue 15740, 26 August 1915, Page 7

THE NAVIES

THE RIGA FIGHT. GERMANY'S FIRST EFFORT. COMPLETELY SMASHED. "Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services. Press Association—By Tel.—Copyright. Received 7.40 p.m., August 25th. LONDON, August. 24. "The Times" correspondent at Petrograd states that Admiral Kannino's despatches on the repulse of the German Navy in the Gulf of Riga are not yet available., and only scanty details have been given out. The Russian operations were conducted with remarkable skill, and inflicted enormous loss at cheap cost to themselves. The Russians are unstinting in recognition of the valuable services of British submarines.

Opinion in naval and military circles is that the Germans will not venture to repeat in the immediate future their incursion into the Gulf of Riga, though the danger of a naval raid is not permanently excluded. Evidently the Germans consider the moral effects of such a demonstration will help to induce Russia to conclude a premature peace. The "Novoe Vremya" states that three large transports filled with troops approached the shore at Pernau under cover of the German squadron. The Russians received them with terrific artillery firs and tho Germans replied. The duel continued for two hours, when the last transport was sunk, and the few crowded boats remaining were soon smashed to pieces. The German squadron was unable to approach near Pernau, but managed to destroy some houses by means of long range guns. The Germans also made a descent upon Gainash, two lighters crammed with troops trying to land there. Russian artillery sank them. Received 11.40 p.m., Aug. 25th. AMSTERDAM, Aug. 25. A semi-official Berlin message states that no large German warship was sunk or damaged at Riga, and no landing , was attempted at Pernau. The Ger- j mans successfully bombarded the port and land batteries, and sank a steamer and six sailors. The vessels which the Russians claim to have captured were sunk by us in order to blockade the channel.