The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-14
By Associated Press


 Germany's most striking mil itary move since the attack which resulted in the capture of Riga, was started Friday on this same Russian front, when German troops were landed on 0esel and Dago Islands, at the mouth of the Gulf Of Riga.
 Heavy units Of the main German battle fleet were brought un to assist in this operation, some of the dread naughts appearing off the coast and covering the landing with their guns, siiencing the Russian shore batteries. The Russian forces hampered the pro cess in every way possible, but con siderable numbers of the Germans ap- pear to have obtained a footing on the northwestern coast of Oesel Island and on the southern shores of Dago Island.
 On Oesel Island, where the Russians have extensive aviation bases and other military establishments the garrison en-. gagged the invaders.
 Petrograd alludes to the German move ment as q stubborn effort to clear the entrance of the Gulf of Riga near thu Courland mainland. Whether it is much more than this, possibly the forerunner of an ambitious push for Petrograd along the railway line up the Gulf of Finland coast, can hardly be determined by the moves made so far,
 ADVANCE NOT EASY
 The imminence of the early Russian winter season lends color to the assump- ton that even if the German high com mand is taking these steps as prelnli- nary to march on Petrograd, it will hardly essay the campaign this year. It . pointed out, however, that the demor- alized state of the Russian armies might make the operation comparatively short and easy one now in comparison with the task Germany, headed for Pctrograd, would have to face next spring if the Russian governmental plans for a regen- eTauOu OI lHc army dIt aCdITlGa LII OuS
 CONSERVATIVE VIEW
 The more conservative view seems to be that the German effort is aimed at gaining complete control of the Gulf of Riga, so as to realize to the full the ad- vantage gained last month by the capture of the city of Riga. In any event, how ever, the move marks notable contin-
 
 along the Baltic coast This has given them first all of Couriand. then slice of Livonia, and now has planted them ir an advantageous position off the coas, of Esthonia where they will constitute constant threat to the right flank oi the whole Russian front. now somewhat loosely anchored on the shores of thu Gulf of Riga some distance to the south west.
 RAIN IN FLANDERS
 The heavy rain in Flanders has turned the plains into such a sea of mud tha neither of the hostile armies seems abl' to move. Whether the weather and thu condition of the ground were the sol' reasons which impelled the Germans t refrain from meeting the British advance With SpeeQy counter dtldthS, thVNSNSts A considered doubtful in view of the man. corrohorative reports of the lowered stat of the German army morale. Fictd Mar shal Haig. in any event. was left on th night of his advance in undisputed pos session of the valuable ground won which the German statement admits wa three-q quarters of mile in depth a points.
 FRENCH REPORT
 On the French front the Germans con tented themselves with bombardment in the Vcrdun region, where there na been heavy infantry fighting recent, turning. their main attention to the Aisn front and launching a series of attack along the eastern end of the Chemin-des Danes. between Hurtebise and Chevreu, The effort was a violent one. but wa checked by the French. The crow princes troops got into the French line at only one point and were speedil elected from thls advanced position.