BATTLE FOR RIGA.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1919, Page 5

BATTLE FOR RIGA.

GAS SHELLS IN THE CITY. • NEW REIGN OP TERROR. PBRMAN CAMPAIGN IN COURLAND, By Telegriph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Oct. 19, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 18. Riga telegrams report that the Letts have taken possession of the suburbs of Dunamtmde and Balderoa and have reached Ilgereen, at the mouth of the Dvina, taking many German prisoners and quantities of arms and ammunition. The greatest enthusiasm prevails amobg the Lettish population. The Germans continue to send gas shells into Riga. Many reinforcements are arriving daily from Germapy. A campaign of terror has begun in Ooorlasd,. the Germans robbing and plundering on a vast scale and shooting many citizens. Bands of deserters from General Berjiondt's and Von der Goltz's armies are looting the homes of the terrified inhabiteuite. The German military have nkliited the population compulsorily for labor purposes.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

A MERE RUMOR? OF CAPTURE OF PETROGRAD AND KRONSTADT. London, October 16. The Helsingfors correspondent of the Daily Express states that the JKronatadt capitulation followed a bombardpent all day long. It was so intense that the concussion ■mashed the windows is Finnish village. for many miles. The fleet's main attack was directed from Kuporia Bay. The achievement is remarkable in view of the absence, of battleships, the British jfleet consisting only of half a dozen light cruisers; ten destroyers, a few coastal motor boats, and an improvised lieriai flotilla. The complete disorganisation of the naval forces under the Bolsheviks made ♦he capture of the key to Petrograd possible. Mosquito craft on August 18 disposed of all the important units •xcept the battleship Petropavlovsk, which escaped serious damage in Aug- > ust, and was abje to engage in yesterday's fight. It has always been recognised that Kronstadt was only impreg- .. liable while ' defended by the navy.— £us.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Received Oct. 19, 5.5 p.m. New York, Oct. 17. The State' Department at Washington has received from a Swedish source reports that anti-Bolshevik forces captured Petrograd and Kronstadt, but no official Information has been obtained. —Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

JFAtE op kronstadt uncertain. Received Oct. 19, 5.5 p.m. Loondon, Oct. 18. The capture of Kronstadt is still nut confirmed. The report is generally believed to be premature.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable £am. AN OFFER OF:-. ENDER. ' Received Oct. :a. . 1:25 a.m. New York, Oct. 18. i Helsingforg advices state that the offer vof the surrender of Kronstadt is officially Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asßn. Received Oct. 20,12.25 a.m. Helsingfors, Oct. 17, A Finnish newspaper states that Kronjfttadt hoisted a white flag at seven in —Reuter. " THE' BOJvSHEVIKS TIRING. . UNABLE TO KEEP DISCIPLINE. LEAVE PETROGRAD. Received Oct. 19, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 18. A Bolshevik wireless communique dated last night belatedly admits that an «nemy squadron consisting of transports and warships entered Kuporia Bay. The communique states that stubborn lighting continues westward of Krasnayafeorka, around Krasnoyeselo and Gatchina, and north-eastward of Pskoff. Tin Daily Telegraph's Copenhagen correspondent says the defeat of the Bolsheviks i« due to the fact that they are tired of war and unable to maintain discipline. The Bolsheviks have decided to evacuate Petrograd because the army refused to fight.

MARTIAL LAW IN LITHUANIA. Copenhagen, October 16. Hartfial lav has been declared throughout Lithuania, partial mobilisation ordered and Parliament convoked, lofting to the concentration of the reactionaries at Schaulen. The Russian colonel, Virkolitch, one of Bermondt's agents, is leading the plot against litlraanian independence. Virkolitch cx&npied the telegraph and telephone bniliings, and is using the schools as £>amcks. He hauled down the Lithuanian fla|g and hoisted the Russian. Virkolitch, in a proclamation, offers borne rule if Lithuania will co-operate >n re-estaiblishing Old Kuasia.—Aus and &Z. Cable Assn. 1 BOLSHEVIKS AT KMfIF. Copenhagen, October 17. ■' The Bolsheviks claim to have recaptured Kieff, including a British heavy battery. Though the capture of Petrograd is U3D unconfirmed, General Yudenitch has reached Tsarskoyeielo, where there is a fcreat eighteenth century palace and the pew palace in which the late Tsar spent tiii springs.—Aus.-N\Z. Cable Assn. ' TDDENITCH'S REPORTS. Received Oct, 19, 5.5 p.m. London, October 18. Bolshevik' propaganda is still emanating from the wireless station at Tsartkoa Selo, making it difficult to believe that Yudenitch has arrived there. —Aus.fXJZ. Cable Assn. p ENGLISH CODONYLEAVES. i Riga, October 10. - British and French warships tire arrilsd, and the majority of the {Ehglish colony has departed. The Premier Hlmnais was shot in the teg while +.frffnTHng the defenders in the front line.