RUSSIA.

Taihape Daily Times, 18 October 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

A NAVAL ENGAGEMENT. LONDON, Oct 16. Wireless Russian official. —A German dreadnought shelled our patrol squadron off Soelasand and damaged one torpedoer. Subsequently twelve German torpedoers of the newest type penetrated Soelasand, engaged the patrol squadron and sank a vessel t already damaged. The bulk of the crew were saved. We sank an enemy torpedoer, and on others of ,our warships appearing the enemy turned back. The fleet commander testifies to the good firing and stubborn spirit of the crews. Eye-witnesses state that the German torpedoers were sunk and two damaged. The Germans have been reinforced and continue to develop their success at Oesel Island. They are endeavouring toi capture the batteries at Cerel which cover the entrance to the Gulf of Riga. "Wireless German official. —We are in possession of the main portion of Oesel Island. The Russians are isolated on Sworbe Peninsula. They are still desperately resisting. Only portions of the enemy on the east coast escaped in the direction of Moon Island. LONDON, Oct 16. Wireless German official.—We took prisoner 3400 and captured 30 guns and some aeroplanes. We occupied the Islands of Runo and Abroa. Wireless German official. —We prisonered a further 1100 on Sworbe Peninsula. GERMANS ARMING THE FINNS. STOCKHOLM, Oct 16. German submarines have been seen on the coast of Finland delivering arms and other war material to the Finns to assist in an attack on Petrograd. There is evidence that a German arms depot has been established on the Swedish coast. Swedish Customs officials found a cargo of arms in a Finnish -yacht. The Finlanders drove back the officers with revolvers They then sailed away. AMSTERDAM, Oct 16. The Central Powers have appointed the Archbishop and Mayor of Warsaw, and M. Laudei, proprietor of the “Vonostarowski” as a Regency Council for Poland. AN ALARMING REPORT. PETROGRAD Oct 17. 5 The Constituent Assembly elections will take place ,on the 25th November. The Assembly meets on the 13th December. The campaign is beginning with anarchy and the spread of Agrairian riots. Looting/ murder, and food riots are raging in many towns; bands of soldiers are marauding at various point's behind the fighting line and in the interior. Additional confusion is caused owing to Bolsheyick insisting on summoning all Russians to a congress of Soviets on the 2nd November, with the object of overthrowing the Government and placing power in the Soveit’s hands.