RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

RIGA OFFENSIVE. GERMANS FORCED TO EVACUATE SEVERAL VILLAGES. VIGOROUS FIGHTING PROMISED.

Received Sept. 21, 1 a.m. Washington. Sept. 20. Advices to the Russian Embassy Stat.that the Russians resumed the offensive on the Riga front, and forced the Germans to evacuate several villages. General Alexiefl', successor to Genera! Korniloli', is handling the army well. The new Russian advance is interpreted to mean that the army supports M. Kcrensky's Government; also that there will be the most vigorous fighting later, when the army is reorganised. It is believed some of the German units were withdrawn to aid the Austrians to meet the Italian offensive. THE KALEDIN INCIDENT. GOVERNMENT RESCINDS ITS ORDER Received Sept. 20, 5.5 p.m. Pctrograd. Sept. 10. The General Ivalcdiu incident is settled. The Government rescinded its order for the arrest of General Ivaledin, who is coming to headquarters to explain his. action to the committee of enquiry. General Kaledin states he does not desire to create difficulties for the Government.

SOME HEIGHTS CAPTURED. BY ROUMANIA. London, Sept. 20. A Russian communique states:—The Roumanians captured the heights south of Grozechti, in the region of Ociia.

REASSURING STATEMENT. NO DANGER OF SEPARATE PEACE.

Washington, Sept. 19. M. Bakhmetieff will officially report to America on the Russian situation, pointing out that there is no danger of a separate peace. Russia will wage the war with increased strength.

, ANOTHER GERMAN ARMY. TO ATTACK RUSSIA. TURKS TO GARRISON GERMANY. Received Sept. 20, 5.30 p.m. London, Sept. 20. The Morning Post's Petrograd correspondent states that the public is calmed regarding the possibility of a German dash upon Petrograd this year, which would require half a million 'men. This is improbable, but the Germans are making strenuous efforts to raise, another army. The garrisons in the interior of Germany are to be replaced toy Turks, who are more cheaply fed and more reliable, and will deal mercilessly with internal disorders. It h believed Germany intends to use the new army to secure Russia's rich black earth zone.

RIGA GERMANS SLAUGHTERED ENEMY EXACT RETRIBUTION. Received Sept. 20, 10 p.m. Petrograd, Sept. 19. An eye-witness states that when the Russians abandoned Riga, Letts armed with knives invaded the richer quarters, and went from house to house and slaughtered the Germans without exception. When the German army entered Riga the guilty .parties were sought out and eight hundred were shot. . It is a significant fact that the Riga merchants had been bringing in vast quantities of goods before the German occupation.

FRATERNISING WITH THE ENEMY. GOVERNMENT TAKE ACTION. Received Sept. 20, 7.45 p.m. Petrograd, Sept. 10. The Government ha 3 ordered tho prosecution of Socialists and soldiers fraternising with the enemy and refusing to obey their officers' orders. Some soldiers have been sentenced to ten years' hard labor.

RETURN OF GENERAL ALEXIEFF. BRILLIANT HANDLING OF THE RETREAT OF 1915. General Alexieff was formerly in command of the Russian armies and won fame by the rapid measures he took to pvert the disaster which threntened large Russian forces at the end of their lonj retirement in the autumn of 1915. This was just after General Alcxieff's appointment. Fortunately lie had for some months been in command on the front wheTe this retreat was taking place, so he knew.the tactical possibilities and the nature of the ground, He directed every step of the troops, himBelf, formed fresh army corps to counter the blow of the German cavalry which had broken through the Russian front, timed every movement exactly, extricated 80,000 men from a very difficult position, and brutish t the whole of the forces between Dvinsk and the Poliesi marshes safely back on to the line which they have held since. It was a wonderful stroke of generalship on a cast fitft'-*

A poor mail, Alexiefl' was born 59 years ago. . By the. extreme simplicity of his habits, by his diffidence and dislike of society, he shows that he has never quite changed or wished to change his class. He has none of the dualities which distinguish, the Russian character. Far from being expansive, convivial, garrulous, he is shy ami re. served, prefers his own company to that of others, and is more sparing of speech than a Scot. It is cleat-" .from his features that he is not a .Slav; at all events not an unmixed .Slav. His (mall eyes and high cheek-bones denote the finish or Mongol type so often met U'ith in Russia. But what, you notice first of all is the high, domed forehead of the man. It suggests instantly intellect, far more penetrating and developed than is an intellect- -an intellect. devoted solely and severely to the profession of war. It is intellect which nlone has raised him from the rank's. The quiet voice, scarcely ever raised, heightens the impressiveness of this famous soldier. Whenever he takes part in general conversation, which is hot often, all other voices cease. He floes not make the slightest effort to impose himself or his opinions on the company. There is an instant, genuine desire to catch what this silent commander has to say. He is a good listener. He hears his visitor cut, offering neither comment nor criticism; grasps. purport and details quickly and completely; then replies, i He is not "stiff in opinion." He will accept suggestions if they commend themselves to his judgment. He will even agree to depart from a plan of his own should he be persuaded of the higher merits of some other plan. It is easy to t :ee that he has passion for mastering details. Matters which most commanders would leave to an assistant he prefers to deal with himself.