RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

RICA COAST VILLAGES ' SHELLED. RUSSIAN'S RETIRING EVERYWHERE. READJUSTMENT OF FRONT. Received Sept. 5, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 4. A wireless Russian official report states: We evacuated Riga, blowing up the fortiiieations at the mouth of the 'Dvin.i and the hi'dpc-:. Our retirement continues north-eastwards. Enemy ships are now shelling the Riga coast villages. In the direction of Intskul the enemy dislodged our troops. In the great Jaegel we penetrated positions on a thirteen verst front and occupied Valdendone. We are retiring northwards. Measures have been taken to readjust our front, as our troops are failing to withstand enemy pressure. In the region of Mildep, Rybnak, and Krangem we retired north-eastwards. THE TAKING OF RIGA. BITTER FIGHTING. NO NAVAL CO-OPERATION. Received Sept's, 11.40 p.m. Petrogrnd, Sept. a. The German offensive at Riga began with a bombardment, of asphyxiating sheiks and gas. Waves of troops then threw pontoons across the river Dvina. Some were destroyed by the Russian batteries, but ultimately the Germans obtained a footing on tho other bank. Bitter lighting followed, the loyal Russians counter-attacking. On German reinforcements arriving the Russians withdrew northward. The German artillery seriously damaged the town. The attack was unaccompanied by naval operations. It is reported that the Government has decided to banish General Gourko. ADVANCE ON PETROGRAD. TEN GERMAN DIVISIONS. Paris, Sept. 4. All public buihlirgs in Riga have been evacuated for many months, and tho 'number of inhabitants has diminished to 100,000. It is reported that ten German divisions on the Riga front are intending to advance ou Pskov and Petrograd. HUNS TOO LATE. PETROGRAD SAFE FROM ATTACK. Received Sept. 5, 11.5 p.m. London, Sept. .'>. M. Shumsky, the war expert attached to the Bourse Gazette, interviewed in London, said the German ru-h on Riga cannot seriously menace Petrograd this year. The offensive would Jiave takeover four hundred versts, which would require at least tm-o months. Tho Germans started too late. Within two or three weeks they will meet the rainy season with bad roads. Moreover, the wellfortified lake system in tho Pskof region protects Petrograd. The Anglo-French attack's had drawn 160 German divisions westward, and there were insufficient Germans left on the Russian front to defeat even the disorganised Russian army, which was supported by excellent artillery and an enormous quantity of ammunition. TURKISH SHIPS SUNK. A TOWN TAKEN AND EVACUATED. Times Service. Received Sept. 5, 7.50 p.m. Petrograd, Sept. 4. An Odessa correspondent states tint the Russian fleet sunk six Turkish merchantmen and also captured a town, which on 14th August was evacuated, after destroying large stores of munitions and provisions and removing eight hundred Greeks desirous of leaving Turkey. THE DEATH PENALTY. PATRIOTIC ELEMENT IN MINORITY. Received Sept. 5, 11.10 p.m. London, Sept. 5. The Daily Chronicle's Petrograd correspondent says that the. Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates discussed tho Moscow decision in favor of the death penalty. M. Tseretelli bravely endeavored to persuade tho meeting in favor thereof, but the internationalists . and social revolutionaries won. M. Tserctelli's defeat i 3 symptomatic. It shows that the international element of the Workmen's and Soldiers' Council still the patriotic element. The municipal elections are proceeding jin Petrograd. The extremists are using the death penalty as the principal election cry.