RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

REPORTED NAVAL BATTLE. IN RIGA BIGHT. Received Sept. 10, 5.5 p.m. Copenhagen, Sept. 0. There is the heaviest cannonading at Riga and Reval, and it is believed that a naval battle is in progress.

FATE OF PETROGRAD. HANGS IN THE BALANCE. EXODUS OF POPULATION. Received Sept. 10, ".In p.m. Petrograd, Sept. 9. The fate of Petrograd hangs in the ballance. The. Russians are hastily entrenching across Courland . Officials have been armed with arbitrary power to stop the stream of refugees outside the city, directing the exodus to the eastern provinces. The congestion in all towns has reached enormous proportions. The people are penniless and homeless, adding greatly to the Government's perplexities for the coming winter. The Govefnmont, besides taking military measures, is closing places of amuse, ment and restricting lighting and traffic, hoping the discomforts will drive out all excepting those compelled to remain on business. CROWDS EAGER TO DEPART. ALARMING REPORTS. Received Sept. 10, 7 p.m. London, Sept. 9. The Daily Chronicle's correspondent at IPetrograd states that crowds are wait* ing in the rain at the railway stations, eager to depart anyvhere, owing to the alarming rumors. The Government is encouraging departures, and appointed a committee to determine. the means of dispatching half a million. The arrest of the Grand Dukes is eaus» ing dissention in the Cabinet. M. Kerensky is accused of acting precipitately. The plot was in the embryonic stage. Some Accused of participation have been proved to be innocent. Tho Russian Provisional Government has adopted stringent press retaliations. M. Kerensky has prohibited a Maximalist and two counter-revolutionary papers. The military censor has decided that papers shall publish only official war telegrams. CONTROL OF EVACUATION. FOOD MINISTER RESIGNS. Received Sept. 10,' 5.15 p.m. Reuter Service. Petrograd, Sept. 10. The Minister for Posts and Telegraphs is controlling the partial evacuation of the city, The Government has decided that the question of their own departure can be> postponed for six weeks. The Bourse Gazette states that tbft Minister for Food Supplies has resigned, owing to the difficulties of the food problems.

EFFECT UPON FINLAND. A SECOND (POLAND. GERMANY'S REAL OBJECTIVE. Received Sept. 10, 10 p.m. Petrograd, Sept. 0. / The Russian Government is fearful of the result of the fall of Riga upon Finland. It is affirmed in some German military circles that the real object of the German offensive is to establish direct communication with Helsingfors, and turn Finland into a second Poland, and use the Finnish legions to fight Russia, under the promise of the crea> tion of an independent Finland.

ULTIMATUM FROM FINLAND. FINAL SEPARATION WANTED. Received Sept. 10, S p.m. Helsingfors, Sept. 10. The newspaper Vetcherno Vremya announces til at the Senate has drafted a Bill for the final separation of Finland. The Bill will be presented as an ultimatum to the Provisional Government. TERROR IN RICA. (PUBLIC UNAWARE OF RUSSIAN RETREAT. • Received Sept. 10, 8 p.m. iPctrogrnd, Rep'.. 10. Refugees state tTTat the fall of Riga came with dramatic unexpectedness to the civilian population, who were unaware that the Russian troops had retreated. They continued business ns usual until the tremendous bombardment fell on the city, chemical sheila causing a darkening pall of smoke. The terrorstricken populace fled wildly through the gas-poisoned streets, huge shells falling in their midst, slaughtering and maiming hundreds, and setting houses afire. The terrible scenes made for panic at the railway station. Refugees ran the gauntlet of bursting shells. Thousands were left behind.

■REFUGEES CROWD THE CAPITAL.

Pctrograd, Sept. B. A commissioner has been appointed to deal with overcrowding. He has appealed to those inhabitants not obliged to remain gradually to leave the city in now of the possibility of air raids and the scarcity of provisions. The newspaper Retch says the Government is considering removing to Moscow. GERMANS CONCENTRATING. " London, Sept. 9. A wireless Russian official message states: In the direction of Riga the enemy has constructed bridges on the lower reaches of the River Aa, anil Is concentrating forces on the north bank under cover of his cavalry. In the region of Zegvolt our cavalry is hindering the Germans' advance, We repulsed , a.i enemy offensive southward of the

PETROGRAD NOT ENDANGERED. ODESSA MOKE IMPORTANT THAN RIGA. London, Sept. 9. M. Kadottzeff, interviewed in London, where he is engaged on an important official mission, declared that Petrograd was not in either immediate or prospective danger. General Korniloff was busy on the ' south-western front, which was far more important than the north end, and had to choose between sacrificing Riga and losing Odessa and the most fruitful districts of southern Russia. The 'Kaiser and Ilindenburg were hugely deceived if they imagined a march from Riga to Petrograd would be a mere; military promenade. A largo Russian army was posted on the Pskov line and, even supposing the enemy pierced this line, there remained immense, masses of troops between the Dvina froiit and Petrograd, including many divisions and crops which might confidently be relied on to oppose patriotic and successful resistance to the enemy. GERMAN PLANS DISCUSSED, M. Kadottzeff considers that it is possible General Hindenburg contemplates attacking from the sea or from Finland. He says: "Recent events have proved that Germany is trying to precipitate a revolution in Finland in order to to secure a foothold and a base for operations, but the conspiracy has been crushed. But supposing that Germany obtained such a base; before making a descent from Finland her navy must destroy the Russian Baltid fleet. When he left Petrograd the news was most reassuring, especially as regards the restoration of discipline in the, mosquito torpedo fleet, which is the backbone and mainstay of the (Baltic defences. The political and social outlook was improving daily. The di.-aster at Riga would act an a trumpet call in rallying the masses' of the people to a stern sense of duty. He saw, many signs of the closing of the ranks before ho embarked for England."

PUBLIC TEMPER IN PETROGRAD. MORE HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. London, Sept. 9. The Petrograd correspondent of the Daily Chronicle says that, barring disasters, there is a strong possibility that the Germans will be hold up between Pskov and the sea, and the Austrian advance on the south-western front checked on the ißessarabian and Podolian frontiers. The Russian army' on tho Roumanian front, after some wavering, is now fighting v on the whole creditably. The public temper at Petrograd at present is restrained with few outward signs of panic, but there is a strong undercurrent of ugly rumor, bitter recrimination and acute class hatred. There is a certain testimony to the calmness in the discipline of the soldiers now drilling in the streets after months of idleness.