THE RIGA FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 January 1917, Page 5

THE RIGA FRONT.

SECURITY OF COURLAND ! MENACED. GERMAN' CONFIDENCE MISPLACED. THEIP RECKONING UPSET. Received Jan. 18, 7.20 p.in London, Jan. 17 The Daily Chronicle's Petrograd correspondent reports that the Russian advance westward of Rig* hits, the Germans in a sensitive point, as it menaces the security of Courland, the retention of which, afte. the war, had been an axiom of the Prussian aggressive policy, with tin view of holding tlu southwestern shore of the Gulf ot Riga, and thus dominating the Baltic. This was part of the Germans dream of "Peace with victory.' 1 The Germans had sltch confidence in the permanence of the defences of Courland that they had transferred troops south-westward against the Roumanians. General Dimitrief's sudden onslaught in th. wintei rudely upset the German reckoning. In spite of .enormous difficulties in swampy wooded country south of Lake Babit, where entanglements were in profusion like rank weeds, the Russians attacked under a storm oi gunfire. The Lettish troops fought with splendid gallantry at the prospect of recovering their native soil. The Germans are preparing to evacuate Mitau, and are hurrying up reinforcements and violently counterattacking. * |