New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-24

fBy Cable 10 The Tribune
London. Aug. 23.-Following dis
heartening week of the blacklist news
since early in the war. all London Is
rejoicing to-day over the victory Oh
the Russians in the Gulf of Riga. Re
ports that British submarines are tax
ing an active part in the destruction
of the German fleet are particularly
gratifying. , o,,o .ho
victorv should have a tremendous
moral effect. The Russians have been
sorelv pressed and have needed the
stimulating effect Of victory such as
This. The reports show that this IS
one of the greatest naval actions OF
the war. The ships sunk represent
tonnage equal and possibly greater
than any loss Germany has suffered
before.
The Russian land forces have UNI
doubtedly been helped materially one
report saying that four barges loaded
with German soldiers were demolished
by the Russian infantry, indicating
that a landing force was almost ready
TO disembark. Interest IN whether the
United States will sever relations with
Germany IS now overshadowed by re-
joicing in the first substantial allied
victory in a long time.
The fall of Ossowetz was reported
to-day, but the Russian success IN the
Gulf Of Riga overshadows the halser
victories on land.
Petrograd Drive Checke
The German versi. O. the Riga bat
tie has not yet been given out, but the
defniteness the oiiici Russian re-
port on the sinl n. gripping OF the
German bat cruiser Moltke by Brit
ish submarine and the obstruction OF
two other cruisers an ight torpedo
boats has sent wave OF enthusiasm
through the country. Aside from the
loss of the German ships, the naval
engagement is regarded chiefly lmpor-
tant for the str; tegc effect on the land
operations ~. German sweep east
ward toward Petrograd, which military
observers now Oonsid having been
checked and possibly irreparably de-
feated.
The German centre has pressed for
ward steadily until Prince Leopold OF
Bavaria is near tie Russian new line
Of defence, but military observers say
that the entire campaign hinged on the
vast enveloping movement OF tleld
Marshal Won Hindenbucg's forces il the
north They had succeeded in pushing
far beyond Ria. to JacC bstadt, on the
Dvina. but the Russians hold on the
Gulf of Riga and of the great naval
base was a continual menace IN Won
Hindenburg's rear.
Germans TAX OsJowetz.
This. the militia Observers say, led
"a the shifting If several German capt.
tai ships. including the Moltke, from
the North Sea TO the Baltic. with the
purpose of controlling Riga and thus
protecting German land advice on
Petrograd. The result Of the naval
battle. as CLEANED from the Official re-
port, appears definitely to have de-
feated the German objective.
The capture by the Germans Of the
fortress of Ossowetz gives them an
other stronghold, only Grodno and
Brest-Litovsk remc ing in the central
section. 1t also gi-es them the main
point on the railway tc Blelsk and
Brest-Litoysk.
Special reports from Petrograd indi-
cate that the Russian position as Brest-
Iitovsk gradIa IS becoming unten-
al. and that - public is being pre-
pared for its abandonment.
f STA Rejoices in victory.
Reuters err sp,ndant t Potrograd
telegraphs that the Russians naval
success has come as a great rc-~I to
the capital, after the strain - the last
week The public celebration lasted un-
til late last ii. It. A ter gathering IN
front of the government buildings,
crowds ma. he'd to the British En-
bassy.
An official communication describing
the naval battle in the Gulf of Riga.
was issued at Petrograd to-day. Il
gives the German losses as one dread
uaught. two cruisers and eight torpedo
boats
RUSSIAN OFFICIAL.
The statement follows:
The German feet on August Is re-
newed with large forces It's attacks on
our positions at the entrance TO the
Gulf Of Riga. Our ships during the
18th and 18th repulsed the attacks of
the enemy, whose secret prepare
tions for entering the gulf had been
favored singularly by misty weather.
Taking advantage of thick fog,
hostile forces of considerable size
entered the gulf on the 18th, and our
vessels retired at the same time, con-
tinuing 10 resist the enemy without
losing touch with him.
Russian GunbOat Lost.
On the 18TH and Goth, the enemy
reconnotred in different directions,
at the same time keeping up a night
with our ships. in which their torpedo
boat fotilla suffered material losses.
On our side, we lost the gunboat
Siyutch, which persisted gloriously in
an unequal fight with an enemy
cruiser which was escorting torpedo
craft, and came up 10 a distance Of
400 yards from her. The Sivutch, en-
veloped in flames, continued to re-
ply shot for shot, until she sank, hav-
ing previously sunk enemy torpe-
do boats.
In view Of the losses suffered, and
the futility Of his efforts, the enemy
appears to have evacuated the Gulf
Of Riga on the 2lst.
Between the 10Th and 2lst, two
enemy cruisers and no fewer than
eight torpedo boats were either sunk
or placed hors de combat. Simultane-
ously a British submarine succeeded
in torpedoing in the Baltic, one Of the
most powerful dreadnaughts Of the
German fleet.