THE BALTIC CRISIS

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1919, Page 5

THE BALTIC CRISIS

,- SCENES IN RIGA, SETOSE EESmENIS LEAyiKG. . battle eodnd the- city.-; |?Afcr op the city in- FLAMES.

By Telegraphs-Press Asm.—Copyright a Received Oct. IS, 9.15 pan. „ London, Oct. 14. . "The Daily Chronicle's Riga corns- t fcondent states that Colonel Berkais fired v pn the white flags with which General permondt on Sunday afternoon attempt- { 9& to open a truce. * p A steamer is in readiness to transport x British residents from Riga. ; A shell struc'c the British Mission, but j Here were no casualties. { German -envoys warned British de- { Irtroyers to leave the harbor on Sunday , (evening, announcing that a heavy bom- E IMrdment was imminent. E Carts collect bodies in the streets. The i besiegers are reported to be suffering 8 heavy casualties. Two German battalions attacked each other owing to the , darkness. s General Home has been awarded the , (G.OB. and General Nixon, the K.C.M.G. ) poth belong to the British mission. \ Helsingfors reports that General Ber- , jnondt addressed a Note to the Allied , Missions in the Baltic provinces alleg- ; jnjj that the Eethonians and the Letts Commenced hostilities against his troops. Bermondt was therefore compelled to take action in order to restore order. The message adds that there is no ptuth in these statementsThe Germans are using gas shells and {alto bombing Bigai The Letts blew up the bridges and are exchanging rifle shots with the Germans across the river. Esthonian armoured trains have arrived on the Pskov-Riga railway, and are to the German artillery fire.— Cable Assn. :■ Received Oct 15, 11.35 pan. 1 London, Oct. 15. - Part of Riga is in flames. Th,e Germans arei still outside the JtoVrtU'trying to negotiate wit athe Letts , WARSHIPS FIRED ON. REPORTED ALLIED LANDING. Received Oct. 15,10.30 p.m. London, Oct. 14. The Times' Reval correspondent cabled' on the 14th inst that, whilst General Bermondt sent a message to the Allies asking them to negotiate between him and the Letts, his German artillery officers fired on Allied warships. ' Commander Tudor immediately sent ft wireless message: "The enemy has opened well-directed fire. Stop it or I will locate and destroy batteries." The Warships returned the fire. According to unconfirmed reports, the Allies landed and occupied part of Riga. THE BALTIC CUT OFF. ONLY TROOPS CAN TRAVEL. London, Oct. 14. A Berlin wireless message says that the Government has forbidden passenger traffic and the transport of munitions to the Baltic States, allowing only military trains for the repatriation of troops to proceed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. An official communique from the Brit- , ish Military Mission in the Baltic States ; reports that Yudeniteh has declared Bermondt a traitor to his country and excluded him and his troops from the North-Western Army. Yudeniteh has ordered the remainder of the officers and volunteers who are faithful to their duties to proceed to sea, and, with the help of the British Mission, rejoin the North-Western Army.—Aus.82. Cable Assn. LATEST NEWS FROM RIGA. THE ENEMY DRIVEN OUT. Received Oct. 15, 11.20 p.m. London, Oct. 14. The latest news from Riga states that the Lettish Government has returned to the city and is making a big effort to secure the co-operation of the Baltic States against Von der Goltz. The situation, however, is most obscure, although it is now clear that General Bermondt, with his RussoGerman army, never captured the whole of Riga, but only the suburbs on the south of the river, from which he has now been driven out. Bermondt seems to be playing a lone hand on behalf of the Baltic Barons.— Reuter.