RUSSIA.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 8 September 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

THE RIGA DEBACLE. FRONT BROKEN FOE 36 MILES. LONDON, Sept. 6. A Russian official message says:— “ Continuing our retirement north of the River Aa we crossed the Melupe River, in the region of Pskoviegaa. We retired south-west of Venden. In the operations east of Riga we reached the line Klangsnberg-Moritzberg -KasfranFriedriehstadt. “Yesterday the German fleet appeared in the Gulf of Riga. The Riga front is broken on a width of 36 miles, The Germans energetically attacked, especially north of Ik skull, in order to cut the Eiga-Venden railway.” GERMANS GOING ON. LONDON, September 7. German wireless official. —Our cavalry defeated a Russian rear-guard near Newkalpen, south-west of Mitau and fortythree miles eastward of Riga. KRONTADT AND REVAL. COPENHAGEN, Sept. 6. Both Berlin and Helsingfors report that German squadrons w-ere seen at the entrance to the Gulf of Finland. It is believed they are preparing to attack Reval and Kronstadt. ANTI-REVOLUTION PLOT. t- _ —— PETROGRAD, Sept. 6. It is officially stated that besides the Grand Dukes and other members of the ex-Czar. ’s entourage, certain monarchist politicians are implicated in the anti-Eevolution plot. There is evidence that they have been traced in Petrograd, Kieff, Odessa, and Siberia. Large sums which were to be utilised for the plot were seized. Arrests continue. RUSSIANS STILL RETREATING. LONDON, September 7. The Russians continue to retreat on a curving front of 60 or 70 miles between the Gulf of Riga and the Dvina, the most pronounced coastal region, steadying on Fricderichstadt, which is temporary the keystone of the Livonian front. FLEEING FROM RIGA. Received 8.45 NEW YORK, Sept 7. A Petrograd despatch states that refugees from Riga have arrived, including the last trainload, which dashed through before the Germans cut the railway. Hundreds of Russian civilians have been captured. CHINA TO ASSIST RUSSIA. CHINESE TROOPS MOBILISED. Received 8.45. SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 7. A Shanghai correspondent to the Chinese World says 15,000 Chinese troops have mobilised to assist on the Russian battle-front. GUARDIANS OF THE GATES. ALLIES’ DEBT TO SERVIA. Speaking at the luncheon given by the Servian Society, Mr. Lloyd George said the allies owed more to M. Pashitch, Prime Minister of Scrvia, and M. Yenizelos, Prime Minister of Greece, than he could possibly reveal at present. Servia, which had been covered by the dirt of Turkish barbarism, i was about to be cleaned, and would yet appear fresh and wonderful. The first condition of peace was complete restoration without reservation. However long the war may last, British honour was involved in seeing that Servia was freed.

Servia and Belgium were the guardians of the gates,, and bravely they had defended them. Servian troops, although overwhelmed, Avere never disheartened and were still guarding the gate. We extended again the hand of friendship to Servia, and we would go through the war together to the end. Lord Robert Cecil, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, declared he was convinced there was no inconsistency between the aims of ItaJly and those of Servia. M. Pashitch, whom Lord Robert Cecil described as the “Grand Old Man of Servia,” after expressing his deepest thanks for Avhat Britain had done for small nations, said that Germany now spoke of an honourable peace. Such a peace could only be secured if the people under the AustroGerman rule Avere set . free. “If France gets back Alsace-Lorraine, if the Italians accomplish unity with their still unredeemed brethern. if the unity of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovines is achieved, if the Czechs and Slovaks are united and independent, if tV< Polish and Ruthenian questions a solved, then,” M. Pashitch deehvt'd. <: and only then, will an honon-able peace be secured.” (Cheers.)