THE OESEL BUTTLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1917, Page 3

THE OESEL BUTTLE.

A GERMAN WIN

RUSSSIANS FORGED BACK

r»nMIRAtn PER WIBELESB PRESS.] r admiral-"! LONDONj october 18 . Russian official—The enemy completely occupies Oesel 'lsland. We. C' stroyed everything oT military uti i y. The enemy ponetrated Riga Gulf aftei depriving us of control of Irbe Channel and pressed back our patrols in Moon Sound. Our battleships the Guzhbanin, and Slava nnd cruiser Hayon engaged the enemy,, and drove bafck tlieir vanguard. Our ships engaged the principal fighting units,' including two dreadnoughts of the Gross Kurfurst type. The enemy’s artillery outranged that of our old ships, which defended the entrance for a considerable time, 1 ill severe damage forced their retirement. The Slava received several hits beneath the water line. Nearly all the

crew were saved. . Our coast batteries at the entrance to Moon Sound dispersed torpedo boat? attempting to approach. Afterward;, an enemy dreadnought put the batteries out of action. Another detachment of our naval forces in Moon Sound kept hack attacks from the north. Simultaneously a great number* of aircraft dropped many bombs in our ships in hat-hours. The enemy landed small detachments at Dago island. Our fire forced, them to return to their ships. Subsequently nn enemy cruiser and dreadnought bombarded the landing place. * Our patrols report fifty five enemy ships are in the neighbourhood of Oesel and Dago Islands.

MOON ISLAND CAPTURED. TAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION! LONDON, Oct. 18. Wireless German official.—Wo hiavei captured Moon Island . GFRMANY WITHIN. A. RUMOUR. AMSTERDAM, October 18. The sudden return of Von Bulow to •Bedlin has caused rumours that he is suceeding Dr. Michaelis. A~CONFERENCE. If' AMSTERDAM, October 18. At a conference of German social democrats Wuerzburg rejected a motion in favour of Social Domocrots voting against war credits. AUBTRIAN INTERNALLY. DISEASE RAVAGES. BERNE, October 18. A Vienna message states that tuberculosis in the Austrian army is 63 per--7* cent compared with 12 per cent for the first half of 1916. An interpellation in the Reichsrath revealed that serious food riots occurr- „ ed in Pilsen during August. Seventy shops were plundered and the troops fired killing and wounding several besides taking prisoners. Martial law was proclaimed. WAR . TTTtWF, ATT?

FRENCH REPORT. rAUSTRALIAN 05 N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] * REUTER.] , LONDON, October 18. A French communique says enemy again bombed Nancy. Six German aeroplanes were destroyed. French air squadrons bombed numerous munition depot® and Wivoiiaca.