AN INHUMAN DEED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 23, 22 October 1917, Page 5

AN INHUMAN DEED

GERMAN RAIDERS ATTACK A CONVOY CREWS LEFT TO DROWN RAID ON LONDON FOUR ZEPPELINS BROUGHT DOWN RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT GOING TO MOSCOW A Zeppelin raid on England, reported to-day, resulted in a, considerable number of casualties, but later news states that four of the airships were brought down or compelled lo land in France, and that a fifth is also believed to have been destroyed. An atrocious enemy crime is reported in the North Sea. Two heavily armed German raiders eluded the British patrols and attacked a merchant convoy, sinking eight unarmed neu.tral ships. Two British destroyers escorting the convoy fought an unequal battle with tho raiders and were sunk. Kno weather and »n intense bombardment are- reported in I'landere. A Russian squadron of twenty ships is bottled up in Mohn Sound, the northern passage of the Gulf of Riga, apparently without hope of escape.

THE GULF OF RIGA NAVAL BATTLE

NUMBER OF RUSSIAN WARSHIPS BOTTLED UP

I GOVERNMENT DECIDE TO EVACUATE PETROGRAD By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Eee. October 21, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 20. The latest news from ltiga emphasises the seriousness of the disaster to the Rnssian Fleet, the present position being that apparently nineteen or twenty Russian warships are bottled up in the narrow Mohn Sound, one side of which is under Gorman occupation. German l'.eets with numerous auxiliaries !'( guardin" the north and south exits. The actual number of warships taking refuge in the Sound is not known. A German communique says that twenty were engaged. Xho Enss:ans name only three biff vessels, but are silent concerning what lias happened to the :e. Xdei of Hie defending fleet. It is certain that the powerful Baltic Fleet based at Kronstadt has not participated in the fighting, and, it may possibly now seek to go to the rescue of the isolated squadron, whose ilangcnus positron is accentuated by the dangers of Mobn Sound, which is mostly shallow water, with a deep narrow passago r.idway, with mines at the entrance. 'Che land operations depend upon ihe Germane' intentions. Then- occupancy of Mohn Island, the partial destruction of the forts, and the narrowness of the Sound which is six miles by ten miles, enables them to land troop.? on he mainland from Oescl in boats, under cover of long-range naval guns outranging the remaining land batteries. The Governments decision to evacuate Petrogriwl is the natural outcomo of recent events, and is largely political, as there is no immediate danger of occupation by enemy troops.- . The limes.

LARGE GERMAN FLEET ENGAGED "ENEMY TROOPS LAND ON DAGO ISLAND. (Rec. October 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 1!). 4. Russian official report stales: "During AVednesday's battle our battleships secured hits on tho enemy Dreadnoughts. No fewer than ten German Dread' noiHits of the Kaiser and Knenig type, ten cruisers, fifty destroyers, of wlueli twentv were of (he newest type, ten submarines, and a largo number of Ira n> Id's auxiliaries, transports, lydroplaivs, and rafts participated. Enemy troops on Wednesday landed at Serro, Dago Island. Tt « reported that Pleven enemy ships are anchored on the tast coast of Mohn Island."-Aus;-i\./,. oab'.e Asaii.iteuter.

RUSSIAN CREWS DISPLAY GREAT BRAVERY. (Rec. October 21, 5.5 p.m.)) Petrograd, October 19. Details of tho Gulf of Riga battle show that tho enemy ships were in great strength. Various squadrons, assisted by mine-sweepers, submarines and etrong aerial squadrons, attacked at various points, probably two-thirds .of tho whole encnvr fleet being engaged. The bombing of Pernau resulted in the killing of ten civilians. Tho Russians crews throughout tho fighting displayed great bravery.—Renter. RUSSIAN SQUADRON OUTCLASSED.

(Kec. October 21, 5.5 p.m.)) Petronrad, October 19. The Minister of Marine, Admiral Verderevsky, has joined the Baltic Fleet. He stated that each Koenig Dreadnought in the recent battle was more V°™f«} than the whole Russian squadron. He declares the Russians sank the battleship Slava when it was discovered she was too. nuich damaged to join the remainder of the retiring warships, the object being to block tno channel against tie .General S>(V stated that the submarines were t.hable to prevent the German disombarication at Oesel, in consequent or the heavy swell—Rcutcr. ; TWO GERMAN TORPEDO-BOATS SUNK. London, October 19. ■V Russian official report states: "Two German torpedo-boats were sunk in the mine-nelds yesterday in Mohn Sound (the northern entrance to the Gult of Riga).—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. RUSSIANS ABANDON MOHN ISLAND. (Rec. October 21, 11.15 p.m.) London, October 20. A Russian official report states: "Under pressure of superior naval forces, we abandoned Mohn Island. Our trawlers discovered that enemy minefields had been sown with the intention of closing the entrance to Riga Gulf from Mohn Sound. These operations, in connection with the landing of detachments at Dago Island show that the enemy's desire is to destroy the naval forces defending this region."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Houter. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Rec. October 21, 5.5 p.m.) , London, October 19. A German official report states: "We completely overcame the Russians at Mohn Island, talcing prisoner 51)00."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. A German official report states: "We have landed troops on Dago Island."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Renter.

RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT REMOVING TO MOSCOW

LACK OF FUEL INTERFERING WITH RAILWAY SERVICE. Petrograd, October 19. In view of the strategic situation bringing Petrograd into tlio war zone, Ilia Government is taking measures for the evacuation of the city. The Government will go to Moscow. A special Ministerial Commission has been constituted to consider the evacuation of the Constituent Assembly, which will also meet lit Moscow. Tho Government will not be precipitate. The preliminary Parliament will hold iie first meeting in Pclrograd, when (ho Government will explain the transfer to Moscow. The railway service- is precarious, owinjf to tho lackol luei, and a further reduction of trains is foreshadowed. Tho "Novoa Vremya stares that tho evacuation of floval (on tho Gulf of Finland) began on October 16, owing to tho danger of an enemy landing. Most of the inhabitants liavo gone to me interior.—Router. INVESTIGATION INTO KORNILOFF REVOLT DEMANDED. (T?ec. October 21, 5.5 p.m.) Petrograd, October W. _ A Conference represonting , all tho Cossack troops demanded a public investigation into the Kornilolf revolt, believing Hint individuals or organisation.-*, ■■nnbitious of securing power, instigated (ho revolt.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. POLISH NATIONAL COMMITTEE .RECOGNISED BY ENTENTE CTlec. October 21, 5.5 p.m.) London, October Hi. The Entente Governments havo iViimully recognised Hie Polish Nationiil Oommitfte. which has been formed to eecurePolnnd's independence, with nectss to t.n<* sea, and tha raising of a. Polish Army to operate in Franco and Russia.—R«uter.

CRIMINAL OUTBREAKS IN SOUTHERN RUSSIA. (Roc. October 21, 5.5 p.m.) Odessa, October 19 Criminal outbreaks aro increasing in South Russia. Armed bands of soldiers and civilians are engaging in robborv and nnir-ders. In Hie Caucasus two hundred brigands removed llio rails, wr t . c k.ed a train, and massacred tho passengers.— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. Pctrograd, October 1!). Martial law has been proclaimed in Kutais, in tho Caucasus, after a mob had sacked the central quarters of the town.—Keuter.

AN AUSTRIAN ARMY SURRENDERS TO RUMANIANS

WILL JOIN JUGOSLAV LEGION.

(Rec. October 21, 11.5 p.m.) Washington, October 20. It is officially learned that an Austrian array, composed of Mohammedan Serbs from Bosnia, surrendered to 'he Rumanians, and will join the Jugoslav Legion now being formed from Serbians.—Aue.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

DARING NIGHT PATROLLING BY ANZACS

SHARP-SHOOTERS KEEPING DOWN ENEMY SNIPERS

FRENCH PENETRATE GERMAN TRENCHES (Rec. October 21, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 19. Sir. G. Ciilmour (tho Australian Press Association correspondent) reports that there has been lino weather during the past two days, and great air activity. There has been a little liveliness elsewhere, and though ail along the Australian and New Zealand front the Germans havo been dropping .many gas shells, (hey cause little trouble to experienced troops. Tho Anzacs have been doing sonio daring night patrolling, securing valuable information about tho enemy's dispositions. Our Bharashootei-s aro keeping tho enemy's snipers well down. They also inako ,i sorry mess of his sunniunitjon-carriere and wiring , parties. Mr. CuTlnour instances the case of an Australian padre who, after several hours of the heaviest work dressing the wounded at a regimental aid-post, 6topped outside, for a breath of air, and was blown to 'pieces by a shell—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

RAIDERS REPULSED WITHOUT A CASUALTY. London, October IS. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"Wo repulsed Taiders without suffering a, casualty east of Vennelles last night. The enemy's artillery is active in the neighbourhood of the Menin Road, and also at Zonncbeke."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reutcr. HEAVY ARTILLERY WORK AND AERIAL ACTIVITY. (Hoc. October 21, 11.5 p.m.) London, October 20. Si> Douglas Haig reports: "There has been heavy mutual artillery fil-o end Mr aotijafe - . British machines dropped large quantities of bombs on various important points. Eleien enemy machines were brought down, Seven British machines are missing."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. SUPERB HEROISM OP THE NEW ZEALAND TROOPS ATTACK LAUNCHED UNDER "MOST TRYING CONDITIONS. (Special from the X.Z. Official War Correspondent, Captain Malcolm Eoss.) October 17 (by cable). All accounts prove the superb heroism of tho New Zealand troops in the most recent phase of the Flanders battle. Under the most trying conditions, the attack was launched at formidable positions, and wavo after wave of infantry went forward in an attempt to storm the dominating concreted machine-gun positions, tho only shelter from which was in. waterlogged shell-holes. Owing to tho unpropitious weather, great difficulty had been experienced in getting the guns up to forward positions, and when they commenced shooting some of them, especially the heavier pieces, shifted upon their foundations, so that the usual effectiveness of the barrage was interfered with. After the men had fought almost to a standstill, tho officers, leaving what shelter they had in the shellhales, went forward to reconnoitre tho position, and were shot at by snipers and machine-gunners from the heights above. This accounts for tho large percentage of casualties in the officers. The farthest point reached was by the Rifles on the left, at the cemetery and Wolf Copse, and by tho Canterbury and Otago troops, who made an indentation just below the Bellevue Spur, from which came hot machine-gun fire, Forward of .Hub, on n. ridge to the left of Passchendaele village, were two pill-boxes, from which came a destructive fire. Under the conditions that existed no troops could havo stormed Guch positions, and it was wisely decided to break off the attack. During the afternoon the battle quietened down, and both sides devoted all their energy to clearing their wounded— an extremely difficult task, requiring, in the special circumstances, a very large increaso in the number of stretcher-bearers. These were procured from the reserves and other unite, and worked heroically and untiringly, with the result that our sector was quite clear of wounded forty-eight hours after the battle. Operations havo quietened down, but the enemy artillery is again becoming active, iind yesterday morning mixed his shooting with a large numbor of gas shells. Hie aircraft have also been aelivo with bombing raids, and havo fired on the troops with machine-guns from low altitudes. The ground, though drying slowly, is still waterlogged, so that in some places it is impossible to dig below two feet in tho front or Gnpport lines. FRENCH PENETRATE GERMAN ORGANISATIONS SERIES OF LOCAL OPERATIONS. London, 19. A French communique stales:—"After effective artillery preparation, a series of local oporations enabled us to penetrate the German organisations in the region of LafTaux Mill and Brave En Laonnais. A raid between Miette and the Aisno inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, and we captured war material. A detachment penetrated the German trenches north of Casque (in tho Champagne), and pursued the enemy,-and after a lively combat gained complete entry into h!s lines. A German attack north of Chntillons-les-Cotes, on the right bank of the Mouse, was repulsed. Enemy aeroplanes dropped bombs in the region of Dunkirk, but caused no casualties."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reutor. (Eec. October 21, 11.5 p.m.) London, October 20. A French communique reports marked reciprocal artillery activity on the Aisne, at Souain, and on both banks of the Mouse—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Beu-ter. ' GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. {Eec. October 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 19. A Gorman official report states:—"There is intense artillery activity at Houtluilst Wood and Passchendale, between Gheluvelt and. Zandvome. North-east of Soissons we repulsed three French attacks and northward of Vauclerc Mill."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reutor.