The Daily News. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1917. THE GERMAN MENACE AT RIGA.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1917. THE GERMAN MENACE AT RIGA.

Now that the Germans have placed an army in Osel and Dago surprise is being expressed at the belated nature of the movement, and all sorts of speculations are indulged in as to its present and ultimate object. The Russians admit that disaster, which will deprive them of the predominating positions in the Gulf of Riga. To understand the position it has to be remembered that although the German fleet controls the Baltic, the Russian fleet has hitherto controlled the Gulf of Riga. The entrance to the gulf is covered by the islands of Osel and Dago, which were fortified and provided with long range guns. The entrance channels being heavily mined, the Germans have hitherto been kept out by the mines, which were in turn jpotaeted by the heavy guns, but the enemy made careful and effective plans for landing, as well as for overcoming the mine barrier. The control of the islands would naturally enable the enemy to sweep up the : lines and turn them against the Hussians. It is by no means improbable that the coup was well timed and that I ihe disaffection in the Russian navy lias been a factor in the loss of this important strategical position, otherwise it is inconceivable that the capture of the islands should have been so easily 'iffected. It must have been obvious to the German high command that the advantages of a strong landing north of Riga were considerable, inasmuch as the move w#uld outflank the Russian line and become a menace to Petrograd. Up to the time of the revolution the Russian navy was a force that the enemy had to respect and would have given a good account of itself in any engagement with the enemy, but since the revolution it has not been safe to reckon on it 9 aid in an emergency. The Russians might, if the navy could have been relied on, still have retained control within the gulf, but the Germans have gone to work with characteristic thoroughness by sending a very powerful force of warships which may be regarded as a match for the whole of the Russian Baltic fleet, whose inactivity at such a momentous period seems incomprehensible. Nothing that has happened of late has so clearly emphasised the impotence of Russian naval defence, as this deplorable disaster, and yet it is only on a par with the long sequence of depressing imbecilities that have followed as the aftermath flf the revolutionary upheaval. In one way the offensive was well timed, for very soon the ice will help the enemy by preventing Russian naval operations in the enclosed portion of the sea. It may be mentioned that the Gulf of Riga is a huge expanse of shallow water about one hundred miles from north to south by seventy miles from east to west in its widest part,,the mouth being ninety miles wide, but it is closed in to about a third of its full width by a barrier of islands, of which Osel is the largest and southernmost, Dago being to the north and Moehin to the north east, while the southern channel, fifteen miles wide, between Osel and the mainland is clear. All that the Russians can now do is to ■silt the German sea communications, but in view of the latest news reporting the largest number of German warships ever seen were on their way to the Baltic, it would seem that the Russians have allowed the enemy an advantage that will prove a powerful menace to Petrograd. With the loss of the control of the Gulf of Riga the strategical situation on the Russian flank will be much modified. It

| is possible for the Russians to retire far

'■<iough to rest on the southern end of .lie great Peipus Lake, but they might .'•i!ii the risk of being caught in a trap. It is evident that the Germans have made arrangements to secure the assistance of the Fins and that the way is being opened up for a, march towards Petrograd along the coast of the Gulf of Finland, hence the necessity for the formidable naval co-operation which apnears to be materialising. There arc difficulties, hut the menace is taking shape, though ifc is doubtful if Germany win spare for this theatre of operations the large land force that the undertakiag render., imperative. Will this menace serve t 0 stir up the Russians to a sense of the danger that is overshadowing the '■iimtry? We hope it may, but the canker that has developed at suc ], an a j ann . ing speed will be difficult to eradicate. It h only necessary to pay heed to the remarkable statements recently made by Genera! Alexieff, in order to comprehend iOW little reliance is t 0 be placed in Russian defence. It would .he the irony of fate if the Japanese had to take up the work of protecting Russia from her enemies.