Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-07
RUSSIAN PORT ON BALTIC
OBJECTIVE OF CAMPAIGN
Menace Regarded as Growing in Sc
riousness as Enemy Pushes
Its Advance.
FALSE REPORT OF CAPTURE
Petrograd Reported Thrown Into Q
Panic by Rumor That Strong
hold on Gulf Already
Had Fallen.

LONDON, September 7, 1883
a.m.-The immediate objective of
the Austro-German campaign in
Russia becomes clearer with the
growing indications that the in
vaders need the Baltic port of
Riga, not only as a base for pres
ent operations in the direction of
Petrograd, but as winter quarters
in case the attempt to reach the
Russian capital should be post
poned until next spring.
The menace to Riga is becom-
ing more serious. The Germans
still hold the bridgehead at
Friedrichstadt, the occupation of
which effectively cuts off Riga's
railway communication to the
south, while German aircraft are
active in the gulf, perhaps presag-
ing another naval clash as part of
a concerted German move from
land and sea to complete the iso-
lation of the city and force its
abandonment by the Russians.
Claim Possession Of Gulf.
According to an unofficial Berlin dis
patch received by way of Copenhagen
the Germans claim Possession of the
gulf. the Russians having abandoned
Dagoe. the northernmost of the three
islands just outside the gulf
Field Marshal Won Htndenburg is ex-
periencing great difficulty in bridging
the portions Of the Dvina held by the
Germans. The current of the river IL
too swift for the construction of pom
toon bridges under the Russian artil-
lery IRE. As the rainy season comes
on 1t will be more difficult for the in
vaders to bring up supplies for their
advance forces. and consequently the
seizure OF Riga as a base becomes more
vital % the success of Won Hinden-
burg's plans.
Urged to Final Effort.
The urgent necessity of capturing
Riga Is indicated in an army order
which Paris newspaper credits to
Gen. Won Bue1ow. The general ex-
horts his troops to one more great Of
fort to capture the port. making it
their winter home preparatory to
marching on @ Petrograd ad.ns next t. spring: !S
ern front the impetus of the Austro-
German rush has been considerably
checked. Vienna admits that fierce
counter attacks by the Russians have
hr, 10 he a
border almost to a standstill. The
right wing of the Austro-German
forces is said to be contemplating an
attack on Kfev, with Field Marshal Won
Mackensen in command.
Telegraphing from Petrograd. the
correspondent of the Times quotes the
representative Of the Novoe Vremya at
the front as connecting the movement
against Riga with the need by the
Germans of a naval base so as to in
crease the number Of their operating
lines in view of what he terms the
growing difficulty Of transporting mu-
False Report Of Capture.
BERLIN. September (by wireless
to sayville. N. Y.).-The Overseas News
Agency says that a panic was caused
in Petrograd yesterday by rumors that
tho Russian Baltic port Of Riga had
been captured.
The Lokal Anzeiger publishes pn-
vate kilograms from Stockholm" says
the news agency. stating that the Rus
sian capital was thrown into confusion
by reports that the positions on the
Dvina line had been captured. that
Russian armies had been destroyed,
that Riga had been taken and that the
German advance upon the capital would
be no longer hampered. Immense
crowds gathered in front Of the news
paper offices. There was great excite
ment, and many arrests were made.
Toward evening the newspapers
published extra editions containing Of
fcial denials OF those rumors and say
ing that the Russian defensive posi-
tions were still intact. However. the
spread of panic at the capital and re-
ports of Emperor Nicholas trip to tho
front are only a pretense to veil the
removal Of the emperoTs residence to
the interior"