The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-09-06
PORT OF RIGA HAS FALLEN
RUSSIANS EVACUATE IMPORTANT
POST on GULF OF RIGA.
Opens the Road to Petrogad for the
German ArmieS.-AuStrians
Lose 12S,OOO Men.

Lose 12S,OOO Men.
Riga, Russia's big port on the Gulf
of Riga, is in the hands of the Ger
mans and it's garrison and the civil
lian population are in retreat east
ward.
Following up rapidly the advantage
they gained in driving the Russians
across the Dvina river on both sides
of Uskull last Saturday, the Germans
threw bridges across this stream and
soon were on the heels of the former
defenders, some of whom offered re-
sistance, but others of whom showed
the white feather, giving the invad-
ers no trouble in marching up the
eastern bank of the Dvina toward
Riga, fifteen miles distant. Seeing
the disaffection and the inability to
stem the tide of the advance, the
Russian commander ordered an evac-
uation.
Between Two Fires.
With the falling back of the Rus
slams from the city proper and the
advance of the Germans northward
along both sides of the stream, the
Russians still defending the western
bank around Dahlen, seemingly are
in danger of being caught between
the two fast moving bodies of the
enemy and made prisoner.
Behind them the Russians in their
retreat from Riga are laying the
country in waste, burning villages and
farms. Whether the city itself re-
mains intact has not yet been made
known, but doubtless the guns in the
fortress and the ammunition stores
either were removed or destroyed to
prevent them falling. into the hands
of the Germans.
Value Of Position.
Aside from the strategic value of
controlling the Gulf of Riga, and of
a base nearer the mouth of the Gulf
of Finland, at the head of which Pc
trogad is situated, for the moment it
is impossible to see the Importance
of the German gain, especially with
the near approach of winter, when
military operations in this northern
region are almost impossible.
On none of the other fronts have
there been operations of great mo-
ment, except the Austro-Italian the
atre where the Italians have made
further progress on the Bainsizza
plateau and in the Brestovizza valley
and at various points along the line
have repulsed fresh counter-attacks
launched by Austrians. Throughout
this entire theatre violent artillery
duels are in progress from Tolmino
to the sea.
Heavy Austrian Losses.
Advices to the Italian embassy in
Washington are to the effect that in
the present offensive the Austrians
have lost more than 12S,0O0 men.
Reports from Udine, Italy, give the
Austrian losses as one-third of the
first line army.
The batteries of Field Marshal
Haig are still pouring an incessant
fire against the German trenches in
Flanders, but as yet the anticipated
new dash by his men to capture them
has not started. Doubtless the
knocking down of the defences has
not reached the limits which the
British commander always requires
before he throws his infantrymen
into the fray.
On the remainder of the front In
the west, held by the British, there
have been the usual trench-raiding
operations, in one of which south OF
Monachy-Le-Preux German dugouts
and machine guns were destroyed and
some prisoners taken.
Artillery duels, which are some
what violent in the Verdun region,
are taking place along the front
where the French are facing the Ger
mans. No infantry actions of i'm
portance have occurred.
Condition of Cotton Crop 69.6