ON THE EAST FRONT.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1917, Page 3

ON THE EAST FRONT.

THE BALTIC BATTLE.

(>ULF OF RIGA INVADED

GERMAN DIVISIONS LAND

J" AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION]

LONDON, Oct. 13

A Russian communique says: —The enemy landed one or two divisions at the islands of Ocsel and Doga, in the Gull' of Riga. Debarkation was earned out with extraordinary rapidity. The enemy were preparing this operation for a long time. The weakness of the patrol service favourod the movement. The capture of these islands will deprive us of hitherto predominant positions in the Gulf of Riga, and indicates a fresh enemy operation, probably in the direction of llapsal. Those events may have n repercussion effect on the situation in the Segewoid region whore a change of front will he necessary, bringing it near the Wenden-Walk line.

The Government has decided to put aside political and domestic affairs, and concentrate all its strength on the defence of the country. TNT THE GULF OF RIGA. (Received this day at 12.30 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, October 14. An official message from Berlin states naval airships and hydroplanes repeatedly attacked military establishments in the Gulf of Riga and dropped a thousand bombs. ATTACK IN RIGA GULF. LONDON, October J 4. A Russian communique says the Coast batteries were silenced by the powerful firing of Dreadnoughts. The enemy movements were renewed hut were defeated by the moles w,e. had constructed. There was bad visibility. The garrison at f Oesol engaged tho enemy. THE GERMAN LANDING. T“nnuTKir’s” telegram.] (■Received This Dnv at 10.15. a.vn ) PETROGRAD, October 14. Tho Minister of Marine learns that eight dreadnoughts, a dozen light cruisers, forty torpedo boats and thirty mine Sweepers participated in the German landing at Oesel. Experts recognise the seriousness of the move, but do not. consider Petrograd immediately menaced. The Navnl General Staff reports the enemy are in possession of the northern and <'■astern ports of Oesol and have arrived near Arensberg, hut only demonstrated against Dago. M. Kerensky has sent messages to the Baltic fleet imploring it to do its duty. THE BALTIC BATTLE. , FOUR TORPEDO BOATS SUNK. rAUSTRALIAN or N'.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION'] & RETTTER.] fADMIRALTY I*ER WIRELESS TRESS.] 'Received This On-.- yj- 10.25. p.nO LONDON, Oet. 14. Russian official.—Wo repulsed an attempt to capture the pier on Mooin Island. > Fighing at Oesel Island continues. The enemy is pressing us bark "in a south-easterly direction. Germans continued their disembarkation on Saturday under the protection of very largo naval forces. Simultaneously, several ships engaged tho short batteries at Dago Island. Our batteries sank four torpedo boats. An enemy cruiser grounded. German gun-fire destroyed a battery enabling a small detachment to land, but they were unable to maintain their position and returned to their ships. Since yesterday morning, our ships prevented the enemy from entering the waters between Dago and Oesel Islands. Our torpedo boats in the Baltic destroyed eleven schooners, GERMAN REPORT. rADMTUAI.*" T —PER WIRELESS PRESS.] ■ (Received This T>nv at 12.25. p.m.l LONDON, TLt.. 13. German official.—Five French coun-ter-attacks northard of Vauclore Mill failed. Wo are now advancing south-east of Oesel Island. Tho town s of Zerel an 1 Aronsburg are on fire. RUSSIAN BANDITS. j T ‘ ‘rkcterV’ I’ELEORAM.] (Received Yesterday at 11.10. p.m.) PETROGRAD, Oct. 14. Bands of criminals and deserters began to pillage Kharkoff on the ICHIi. They wore fusilladed by the troops, checking the excesses. Martial law was proclaimed in the evening, after fighting all day. Similar disorders ivere provoked by tho scarcity of food in various towns of tho provinces or Bessaitau, Podolia, Kherson and Astrokhkan, hut were speedily suppressed. | i A RUSSIAN REPORT. LONDON, Oct. 12. A wireless Russian official message I says:—We counter-attacked, a'nd re--1 stored our position southward of the Pskov high road. The. enemy artillery , forced bock our advanced posts nort-h- ---' ward of tho road. ! The enemy took several trenches in the Buczncz region; but attacks recaptured them j We drove the Turks from a height southward of Wirna.

RUSSTAN NEWS.

(Reemvol, This Day nt 3.60. a.m.) WASHINGTON. October 1-1. The Russian Embassy has received pleasing advices from Russia indicating that' the Socialists' do. not desire to take supreme- power. The Moderates triumphed when the Radicals could not agree. The new Russian Council has « legal status, and represents the real Russia, including all classes favouring order and the reconstruction and reformation of the Army.