RUSSIAN FRONT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9791, 15 October 1917, Page 6

RUSSIAN FRONT

NEW ENEMY I LVE FORCE LANDED OX ISLANDS IX GULF OF RIGA, By Association—Conyrlrii ‘ Am. ami N.Z. Paolo Assn, ami Bauter. (Received October 14, 5,5 p.m.) LONDON, October 15. It is staled in a Russian communique : Tho enemy landed ono or two divisions on the islands of Ooscl and Dago, in thi Gull of Rrfi. Tho debarkation was carried out with extraordinary rapidity, as the enemy had been preparing for this operat.on for a long tanc The weakness of the patrol service favoured tho movement. Tno capture of these islands will dcj,: ivo us of our uuac-rlo predominant po.-.iuons ill the Gull of Riga, and men-' cates fresh enemy operations, probably in the direction of XXapsai. Thtso events may have a repercussion on the situation in the Scgewold region, where a change of front will bo necessary, bringing it nearer the Wonclon-AValk line. The Government has decided to put aside political and domestic affairs and concentrate all its strength in tho defence of the country. Tho coast batteries were silenced hy tho powerful firing of Dreadnoughts. Tho enemy movements were rendered difficult by moles wo had constructed and bad visibility. Tho garrison ot Oesol engaged tho enemy. A wireless Gorman official report states: —In a combined action by tho army and navy, wo obtained a tooting on tho Island of Oesel. ATTACK BY AIRCRAFT BOMBS DROPPED ON MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS. Australian and N.Z Cablo Association (Received October 14, 11 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, October X 4. An official message from Berlin states that naval airships and hydroplanes repeatedly attacked military establishments in tho Gulf of Riga and dropped a thousand bombs. ATTACK AND COUNTER-ATTACK FIGHTING NEAR PSKOFF. Aas. and N.Z. Cable Assn, and Renter. LONDON, October EL A Russian official report states: We counter-attacked and. restored tho position south of tho Pskoff high-road- . The enemy’s artillery forced back our adv raced posts north of the road. Tho enemy took several trenches in the Bnczacz region (Galicia), but a counter-attack recaptured them. REORGANISATION OF ARMY AGGRESSIVE FORCE PROMISED FOR NEXT SPRING. •Australian • and ■ N.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK, October xiJ. The “New York World’s” Petrograd lorrespondcnt had an interview witu Uencral Verbovsky, tho new Minister or War, who said: “By spring you will see a new Rusian army, based on tho principles jf the initiative. We are travelling >n the right read. Nvo must succeed, iv© must triumph, or our soul dies.” Tho basic idea of the reorganisation of tho army is to gain the confidened of the rank and file, "dust tho old commanders and their methods, and profitably utilise the Soldiers’ Councils. OPERATIONS AGAINST TURKS ■Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. I*ONt>ON 3 October 12. A Russian official report states: Wo drove tha Turks from a height south of Urmia. OUTBREAK GF DISORDER CRIMINALS AND DESERTERS COMMIT EXCESSES. liy Telegraph—Proas Association —Copyrlßbi Eeutor’a Telegrams. (Received Oatobor 15, 1.15 a.m.) PETROGRAD, October 141 Rands of criminals and deserters beflan to pillage Kbarkoff on. October 10th, and fired fusillade® on troops engaged in chocking tho excesses. Martial law was proclaimed in tho evening, after fighting which lasted (ail day. Similar disorders, provoked, by tho scarcity of food in various towns of tlho provinces of Bessaitua, podoiia, Kherson, and Astrakhan were aro imrpassabio. ITALIAN FRONT ATTEMPTED AUSTRIAN ATTACK CRUSHED. By Tolejfrapb—Press Association—Copyright Aub. ».m! N 2. Cablo Assn, and Heut©p. (Received October 1-1, 5.5 p.m.) LrOGS’DON, October 13. An Italian official report states:— Wo crushed an attempted attack in the CWtabclla region. Our batteries on the Carso dispersed troops marching eastward of Ousiagnovezza and sot firo to an ammunition dump in the San Giovanni region. WINTER BEGINS PREMATURELY. Ueutor’s TelosrramA. (Received October 15, 1.15 a.m.) ROME, October 14. Premature winter his begun. There are snowstorms and gains in the Trontino. Rain and flood® in tho Isonzo and Carso are transforming tho valleys into lakes of mud and torrents which arc unpassable.