RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 October 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

I SERIOUSNESS OF IDSASTER. RUSSIAN. WARSHIPS BOTTLED OP. i Times Service. Received Oct. 21, 5.5 p.m London, Oct;. 20. The latest news from Riga emphasises the seriousness of the disaster, the proscut position being, apparently, that nineteen or twenty Russian warships are bottled up in the narrow Moon Sound, one side of which is under German occupation. The German fleets, with numerous auxiliaries, aro guarding the north and south exits. The actual number of warships Tefuging in the Sound is unknown, GERMAN REVIEW OF THE SITUATION. BALTIC 'FLEET AVAILABLE. TO HELP RIGA WARSHIPS. < ENEMY ABLE TO REACH MAINLAND. (PETROGRAD NOT YET ENDANGERED Received Oct. 21, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 20. A,German communique says that although twenty ships were engaged the Russians name only three big 'vessels, but are silent as to what ha 3 happened to the remainder of the defending fleet. It is certain that the powerful Baltic fleet, which is based at Kronstadt, has not participated, and may possibly now seek to go to the rescue of the isolated squadron, whoso dangerous position is accentuated by the dangers of Moon Sound, which mostly consists of shallow water, with a deep narrow passage midway. Mines have been placed at the entrance and land operations depend on German intentions. Their occupancy of Moon Island and the partial destruction of the forts, and the narrowness (six miles by ten miles) of the Sound, enables them to land troops on the mainland from Oesel in boats under cover of long range naval guns outranging the remaining land batteries. The Government's decision to evacuate Petrograd is the natural outcome of recent events, being largely political, as there is no immediate danger of occupation by enemy troops. THE NAVAL BATTLE. STRENGTH OP GERMAN FLEET. Received Oct. 20, 5. sp.m. London, Oct. 19. A wireless Russian official report states: During VPednesday's battle our battleships secured hits on enemy dreadnoughts. No fewer than ten German dreadnoughts of the Kaiser-Koenig type, ten cruisers, fifty destroyers (whereof twenty were of the newest type), ten submarines, a large number of trawlers, auxiliaries, transports, hydroplanes, and rafts participated. Enemy troops on Wednesday landed at Serro, on Dago Island. It is reported that eleven enemy ships are anchored on the east coast of Moon Island. THE RICA BATTLE. TWO-THIRDS OP GERMAN FLEET ENGAGED. RUSSIANS DISPLAY GREAT BRAVERY. Reuter Service. Received Oct. 21, 5.5 .p.m. Petrograd, Oct. 20. Details of the Gulf of Riga battle show that enemy ships were in great strength. The various squadrons, assisted by mine-sweepers, submarines, strong aero squadrons, attaked at various points, probably two-thirds of the whole fleet being engaged. The bombing of Peman resulted in the killing of ten civilians. Russian crews throughout the fighting displayed great bravery. BRIGANDAGE AND MURDERS. ARMED BANDS IN CAUCASUS. A TRAIN WRECKED AND PASSENGERS MURDERED. Seceived Oct. 21, 5.5 p.m. Odessa, Oct. 20. Criminal outbreaks aro increasing in south Russia. Armed bands of soldiers and civilians are engaging in robbery and murders in the Caucasus. Two hundred brigands removed the rails, wrecked a train, and massacred the passengers. MARTIAL LAW TO QUELL LOOTERS. Received Oct. 20, 5.5 p.m. Petrograd, Oct. I#, Martial law was proclaimed at KutaTs, in the Caucasus, after the mob sacked the central quarters of the town. GERMANS CLAIM SUCCESS. Received Oct. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 19. A wireless German official report states: We completely overcame the Russians at Moon Island, taking 5000 prisoners.

RUSSIA'S IMPOTENT j SHIPS. j THE gLAVA SUNK. ! i TO BLOCK THE CHANNEL. j Received Oct. 21, 5.5 p.m. I I . iPetrograd, Oct. vj. The Minister of Marine, Admiral Verderevskv, lias joined the Baltic fleet. He 3tates that each Koenig dreadnought was more powerful than the whole Russian squadron. Ho declares that tho Russians sank the Slava when it was discovered that she was too damaged to join the remainder of the retiring warships, the object being to block the channel against the enemy. The chief of the Naval' General Staff states that submarines were unable to prevent the German disembarkation at Oesel, in consequence of the heavy «.well. | THE KORNILOFF REVOLT. COSSACKS DEMAND AN INQUIRY. , Received Oct. 21, 5.5 p.m. [ i Petrograd. Oct. 20. A conference representing all the Cossack troops demanded a public investigation into the Korhiloff revolt, believing | that individuals or organisations ambitious of securing power, had instigated the revolt. MOON ISLAND ABANDONED. j ENEMY'S AIM TO DESTROY NAVAL j DEFENCES Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter, Received Oct. 21, ILK p.m. London, Oct. 20. A wireless Russian official message states: Under the pressure, of superior naval forces we abandoned Moon Island Our trawlers discovered enemy minefields, sown with the intention of closing the entrance to Riga Gulf from Moon Sound. These operations, in conjunction with the landing of detachments at Daso Island, show the enemy's desire to destroy the naval forces defending this region, PETROGRAD TO BE EVACUATED. TRANSFER TO MOSCOW. Petrograd, Oct. 19, In view of the new strategic situation bringing Petrograd into the war zone, the Government will take measures for the evacuation of Petrograd. The Government will go to Moscow. A special Ministerial Commission has been con ; stituted to consider the evacuation. Tho Constituent Assembly will also meet at Moscow. The evacuation by the Government will not be precipitate. The preliminary Parliament will hold its first meeting at Petrograd, when the Government will explain the reason for the Moscow transfer. The railway service is precarious owing to the laek of fuel, and further reductions of trains are foreshadowed. The Novoe Vremya states the evacuation of Reval began on the ICth owing to the danger of the enemy landing. Most of the inhabitants have gone to the interior. TWO ENEMY DESTROYERS MINED. Received Oct. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 19. A wireless Russian official report states: Two German torpedo boats were sunk in the minefields in Moon Sound yesterday.