TERRIFIC BATTLE OF RIGA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2999, 9 February 1917, Page 5

TERRIFIC BATTLE OF RIGA

GERMANS SACRIFICING THEIR MEN ENORMOUS LOSSES RUSSIANS HOLDING TIJS ONSET . (Rec. February 8, 10.50 p.m.) London, February 1.The "Daily Chronicle's" Petrograd correspondent states: "The Battle of Riga rages ivitli unabated severity, though the winter is tlio worst for many years. The frost is oontinumis, and the fighting on both sides of the Aa River is as stubborn as tha previous conflicts at Kovel and Halicz in the summer. The violence of the bombardment, recalls'Mackensen's phalanx in. Galicia, except tliat it is equally violent on both sides.. The Germans are throiyiilg in strong reinforcements, and have succeeded in making ieadway iu the directipn of recovering tlieir Wiar ter positions at Mitau, hut they bar? noiv been, brought to a.standstill. "The Russja|i salient is within two miles <>f the Mitau-TijkkHm railway, the mogt important German Jirtp of cojninii!iica.tion <m the Riga front. TVhere ths Gernians fgrmerly l)ad ojie division on the' front, now they liaye two jjrroy corps. They fling men into incessant 'iyttaekg rotfej- cover of novel yinjlent ppisoii gag shells. The German losses have been gnonjious, wiilp- tji? Russian losses havs been comparatively slight. - Tlie German commanders' in {Heir" apsiety men into the firing line irifli. & Jjipit-ed kit. Men were hurried to B9sitiQi)B by train or sleigh; and aro now without adequate protection from the bitter cajtj. ffe Germans are attempting 1» out the saliept fr<>pi §ot}th to nortn, faifc with little prospect pf. .•success,"—' Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn,