THE BATTLE AT RIGA.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1917, Page 5

THE BATTLE AT RIGA.

STUBBORN AND SEVERE FIGHTING. VIOLENT ARTILLERY WORK. GERMANS BROUGHT TO A STANDSTILL. ENORMOUS ENEMY LOSSES, Received Feb. 8, 10.55 p.m. London, Feb. 7. The Daily Chronicle's Petrograd correspondent reports tiiat the battle at Riga rages with unabated severity. Though the winter is the worst experienced for many years, frost being continuous, the fighting on both sides of the Aa river is as stubborn as were the conflicts at Kovel and Halicz during the summer. The violence of the bombardment recalls General Maekensen's phalanx at Galicia, except that it is equally violent on both sides. The Germans, throwing in strong reinforcements, succeeded in making headway in the direction of recovering their winter positions at Mitau, but they are now brought to a standstill. The Russian salient is within two miles of tht. Mitau-Tnkkum railway, the most important German line of communication on the Riga front. Where the Germans formerly had one division on the Kalncem front, they now have two army corps, and /ling men into incessant attacks under the cover of novel and virulent poison gas shells. German losses are enormous, the Russian losses being comparatively slight. The German commanders' anxiety to crowd men into the firing line is so intense that the men, have only a limited kit, and they arc being hurried into positions by train and sleigh now without' adequate protection from the bitter cold. The Germans are attempting to cut the salient from south to north, with little prospect of success. IN THE EAST.. | RUSSIA AND POLAND. A UNION FAVORED. Petrograd, Feb. 7. The Czar has summoned a conference to discuss Poland's future organisation and relations to the Russian Empire. Some newspapers draw attention to the concluding phrase of the document and say that it suggests a free Poland with personal or political union with Russia. M. SasanofT, who drafted the scheme for Polish autonomy before bis retirement, will be a member of the conference. HOLLAND. AN INVASION EXPECTED. London, Feb. f. The Rotterdam correspondent of the' Daily Telegraph states that the German concentrations on the frontier of Holland continue, including cavalry. Many of the Dutch inhabitants have packed up in readiness to depart. INDIA COMPULSORY TRAINING OF WHITES. Bombay, Feb. 7. The Government lias ordered the compulsory training of Europeans in India.