Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-10-18
Activity in the Gulf of Riga
Indicates Winter Campaign
Against Slav Capital
Decided On.
MUD ENDS FLANDERS FIGHT
British Hold Gains Without
Counter Attack, While Pc.
tain Beats Off New
German Attacks.

WIN the gains erected yesterday,
everywhere held. a situation latent
with big possibilities has developed on
the Russian front.
the islands of Oesel and Dago islands
at the mouth of the Gulf of Riga is
reported today from Petrograd. From
the shores edge at Hapsal, opposite
Daeo island, a railroad line runs di-
rect to Reval, the Russian naval base
on the Gulf of Finland and thence on
to P~etrograd. The islands in ques-
ton have themselves been bases of no
little importance to the Russians,
especially for airplane activity. Their
seizure would undoubtedly hamper
Russian naval scouting work effect
ually close the Gulf of Riga to Rus
sian use and apparently offer an ex-
cellent starting point for a and ex-
petition for Petrograd, if one should
be contemplated by the German COM
mand.
, Little to Stop Advance.
The l%ateness of the season has
seemed to preclude any attempt by the
Teutons to make a drive toward Petro-
grad this year. 1t has been pointed
out, however, that UGH a move prob
ably could be carried out with COM
parative ease at present. with the Rus
sian armies in their admittedly disor-
ganized state, whereas neXt spring,
there is governmental promise of a
winters organizing work along new
tines,
In Flanders the heavy rain which
stopped Field Marshal Haig's drive
before all his detectives We're attained,
was continuing today, increasing the
depth of the sticky mud through which
the British a been struggling in
their advances. The mud evidently was
hampering the Germans equally, for
they failed to deliver n counter attack
during the night.
Fail on French Front.
On the French front the chief activi-
ties have been in the Aisne region
The German crown prince made sew
eral attacks last night on French posi-
tons on this front. He was met with
effective resistance by General Pc
aims forces, howere& end all the as
saults We're repulseG-
London, Oct. 15.-The Germans have
landed troops on the stands of Ose.
and Dago, in the gulf OF Riga, according
to a Reuter- dispatch from Petrograd.
The Germans are working stubborn
ly to clear the entrance to b Gulf OF
Riga near Courland, avs today's Off
cial statement. The activities of the
TiltlDS III ldIldlllS loiScS Welt c!ib VI
difficult by holes constructed by the
Russians and by bad visibility. The
garrison of Oesel is fighting the Ger
mans
The statement says all measures have
been taken against the invaders.
The Germans landed detachments
yesterday on the coast of the Gulf OF
Tagalas, on the north Of Oesel island
and near the village of Serro, on the
southern part of Dago island, the wal
office The Russian coast
batteries were silenced by German
dreadnaughts.
Osel and Dago islands are at the en-,
trance to the gulf of Riga and provide
easy access to the mainland over small
intermediate Islands. They are Off thu
coast Of the Russian province of Es
.thonia. Dago island is about 200 mile:
from Petrogard. Its position derive:
additional Importance from the fac
that it is almost at the mouth of thu
gulf of Finland, at the head of which i!
krOnstadt which defends Petrograd.
Osel island is nearly 100 miles nortl
OF Riga, which the Germans captured
recently. The landing Of German troop:
in Esthonia would threaten the out
thanking of the Russian line and prob
ably compel a retreat on a wide sec
ton of the front If indeed, 1t did no
~HSAA SAO way ~ AtSSAA. 4
railway line follows the coast all tn,
way from Hapsal. opposite Dago island
to P~etrograd.
Osel island, the larger of the two, i
IS miles long and has an area Of 1,01'
square miles and a population o
about $4,000. 1t has a difficult coas
line in the form Of precipitous lime
stone cliffs.
BY United Press.
With the British in Flanders, Oct
13.-The fields of Flanders are nothini
but mud. It's sticky slime is deep an,
helped today to slow up Field Marsha
Haig's great advance. Everywhere be
daubed soldiers were seen. They re
Semble hogs that have WaIlowed in tn
mud of the hog lot.
Today, it was realized the first OF
jects were attained and that they ar
being held. Even the troops did M
and what they had accomplished unit
today. The field over which the me,
were thrown is along the Pa%sefendael
ridge on which Is located the town O
Paschendaele. one of the importan
points which commands the Germa,
line of communication.
BY United Press.
London, Oct. 13.-British troop
achieved and held their latest gain
along the Paschendaele ridge. accordin
to Field Marshal Haig's report TODAY
He said a heavy rain deluged tho battle
field throughout the night, He con
cluded there were no hostile counte
attacks. The fact that the German
permit the British to remain undis
tlrbed In their gained positions was re
ghrded as highly significant here OF tn
crushing blow which Haig has recent
struck at the enemy.
African Town Taken.
British South African troops occu
pied Ratonda, an official statement Is
sued today says. The seizure Of the vi
lage is Important inasmuch as the en-
envy had intended occupying 1t to pro
tect their %retreating forces. occupatio
u this village will enable the BIRTHS
to attack the Germans on the flank a
tAsy retreat.
y the Associated Prsss.
1aAtish Front. In France and Bel
sian. Friday. Oct l1.-Not even tn