RUSSIANS PREPARING A NEW OFFENSIVE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2974, 11 January 1917, Page 5

RUSSIANS PREPARING A NEW OFFENSIVE

"... ■ . ) AMPLE MUNITIONS AVAILABLE : - VIOLENT ARTILLERY FIRE ON BOTH SIDES (ByTolcßraph-Prcea Associalien-CopyritTht Copenhagen, January 9. _ German correspondents state that the Russians on the Riga front are evidently in possession of great quantities of nmnitione and fresh reserves, They are ■preparing for a new offensive near Mitau and southward of Riga. The artillery fire is violent on both sides. During a great snowstorm on Sunday masses of Russians, with white sheets over tlieir uniforms in order to escape detection, succeeded in ontering German trenches on an eleven-huudred-yards front, between Mangal and Buabos, with a view to breaking through io the_ Mitau-Riga road, ate Germans realised tho danger, and dispatched all available reserves. After violent bomb and bayonet fighting, tho Russians retired.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. OFFENSIVE CLOSELY CONNECTED AVITH RUMANIAN CAMPAIGN. London, January 9. The sustained Russian offensive at Riga is closely connected with the Bulgar-German success on tne Seretb, where the capture of Focsanl imperils the Russo-Rumanian line. A. rotreat to the Pruth seemn inevitable. The Riga advance of four miles was made across the frozen marshes. Large new forces aro available on the northern Russian lino.—"Tho Times." • ISLAND IN THE DVINA RIVER RECAPTURED BY THE RUS- , .SIANS. London! January 9. A' GoTman official report states: "During a heavy snowstorm the Russians recaptured Claudon Island (in the Dvina River), north of Uhikst (near Dvinsfc). An attempt against the west bank of the Dvina failed." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. London, January 9. A Russian official Teport, states: "Wo threw back the enemy by an offensive westward of Riga, and captured an island in tho Dvina River, north of Dvinsk."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. RESIGNATION OF THE RUSSIAN PREMIER. (Rec. January 10, 7.30 p.m.) Petrograd, January 10. ' The Premier, ftL Trepoff, has resigned, and Prince Gofitziui has been appointed to succeed him.—Renter. [M. TrepofE succeeded M. Stunner as Premier on November 24, 1916. Ho was at the time Minister of Communications.] (Rec. January 10,11.30 p.m.) Petrograd, Jauuary 10. M. Ignateff, Minister of Education, has also resigned. M. Kaltchicky succeeds him.—Router.