Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-04
PUSH ADVANTAGE
GAINED ON DV|NA
IN UXKULL REGION
Throw Bridges Over Stream
and Soon on Heels of
Former Defenders.
EVACUATION ORDERED
BY SLAV COMMANDER
Garrison and Civilian Population,
in Retreat Eastward, Lay
ing Country Waste.
CONDITION OF CITY NOT KNOWN
Impossible for Moment to See I'm.
portance OF TeutOnic
EVACUATION ORDERED
BY SLAV COMMANDER
CONDITION OF CITY NOT KNOWN
Impossible for Moment to See I'm.
portance OF TeutOnic
Gain.

Riga, Russia's big port on the Gulf
OF Riga. is in the hands of the Ger
mans and it's garrison and the civilian
population are in retreat eastward
Following up rapidly the advantage
they gained in driving the Russians
across the Dvina River on both sides
OF UXkull last Saturday. the Germans
threw bridges across the stream and
Hoon were on the heels Of the former
defenders, some of whom offered resist
ance. but others of whom showed the
white feather, giving the invaders no
trouble in marching up the eastern
bank Of the Dvina toward Riga fifteen
miles distant Seeing the disafYectton
and the inability to stem the tide of
the advance, the Russian commander
ordered an evacuation.
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, tho
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.
VILLAGES AND FARMS
BEING LAID IN WASTE
Behind them the Russians. In their
retreat from Riga. are laying the
country In waste. burning villages and
farms. Whether the city itself aims
Intact l.as not yet been made known,
but doubtless the guns in the fortress
and the ammunition stores either were
moved or destroyed to prevent them
railing into the hands of the Germans
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 Petro-
grad 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. Where the Rus
slams will draw their new line in the
north to connect with that below the
point of penetration b. the Germans
also remains to be see.
On none of the other fronts have
there been operations of great moment,
except In the Austro-falian theater,
where the Italians have made further
progress on the Bainsizza Plateau, and
In the Brestovizza Valley and at vari-
Gus points along the line have repulsea
fresh counterattacks launched by the
Austrians. Throughout this entire
theater violent artillery duels are in
progress from Tolmino to the sea.
AUsTRIANs LOSE MORE
THAN 1cs.OO0 MEN
Advices to the Italian embassy in
Washington are TO the effect that along
the front OF the present offensive the
Austrians have lost more than $4,000
men. Reports from Udine. Italy, give
the Austrian losses as third of
the frst-line army
The batteries of Field Marshal Haig
are still pouring an incessant firo
against the German trenches in Elan.
ders. but as yet the anticipated new
dash by his men to capture them has
not started.
On the remainder Of the front In the
west held by the Lritish there have
been the usual trench raiding opera
TONS in one Of which south Of Mon
chy-le-PreuS. German iugouts and ma
chine guns were destroyed and some
prisoners taken.
Artillery duels, which are somewhat
violent in the Verdun region are taxi
ing place along the front where the
French are facing the Germans. No
infantry actions OF Importance have
occurred.
German air raiders Monday night
again paid visit to England. the sec
ond time In as hiany days. dropping
bombs.
Riga. capital OF the government OF
Livonia- had n population OF more than
100000 persons before the war. and,
aside from Petrograd. was the most
important Russian commercial and in
dustrial town having access TO the
Baltic. 1t is situated at the southern
extremity OF the Gulf OF Riga. a
stretch OF water 100 miles long and
sixty miles wide, Riga lying at the
point where the Dvina empties into the
gulf. The port is icebound during vir-
tually one-third Of the year. II had
very large German population before
the opening OF hostilities. and II Is
interesting to note that 1t was founded
in ll5s by German merchants as
storehouse. tho city passing through
the control OF various northern natiop-
alties during the centuries. until
hnally. in 1921. 1t was Incorporated
with the Russian empire. Its CONNER