The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-10-23

dreadnaughts, one cruiser, twelve tor
pedo boats and one transport were put
out of action by the Russians in
the fighting around the islands In the
gulf of Riga last week, but their ulti
mate fate Is unknown, says an 0th
cial statement issued today ny the
Russian admiralty. 1t has been esti'
mated that at least six German torpe
do boats were sunk, in the lighting
The Russians lost the battleshlp
Slaya and large torpedo boat.
Fight ExceiIent,y: :y' ,,'
The, admiralty staff, in its review OF
the fighting. says the Russian units
f0ught excellently against the superior
ity OF the Germans.
The statement reads:
During October 2lst, important en-
envy forces, together with transports,
were sighted by our OutpOsts. In
Moon Sound the enemy seems to De
clearing the waters OF obstructions
we laid down. There was no naval
action during the day, but many suo
marines were discovered In the gull
OF Finland.
Operations End.
"As naval operations in the Baltic
Isles have now ended, it is possible
to review them. The task OF our
fleet in this region was, with the or
ganized position of Moon Sound as
base, to prevent enemy attempts tc
seize the gulf of Riga and Moon
Sound. AS long as the German fleet
only employed in such an operation
elements of minor Importance, as in
1915, namely two dreadnaughts, our
naval forces could cope with them.
In 1915, although our position in
Moon Sound was organized incOm
pletely, we rcpulsed successfully all
attacks and the enemy, during three
days possession of the gulf of Riga,
suffered losses 50 grave that he was
obliged to depart. A similar attempt
in Iv16, with unilnpOltalt forces fail
ed completely.
Major Part Of Fleet.
':ln the recent operations, the enc
my employed the major part of his
fleet and his overwhelmingly super
iority enabled him to carry out debark'
alton rapidly and successfully. Our
fleet only was able to do it's best to
hinder their efforts and to inflict max.
imum losses. With this object, we
delivered a series of attacks, using all
the naval resources in our posses.
sion.
Wreekaee Reported.
CAS- result of these operations the
enemy lost through mines, submarine
attacks, and artillery fire. two dread
naughts, one cruiser, twelve torpe-
do boats, one transport and numer-
GUS mine sweepers, all of which were
put out of action. Their ultimate fate
is unknown. We have established the
actual loss only of six enemy torpe-
do boats, two of which were of small
type and sunk by gunfire from our
positions on Moon Island. The other
torpedo boats were sunk in combats
or blown UP by mines. The wreck
of torpedo boat 50 is visible on a
sandbank in CAESAR bay. Further,
our coast batteries sank four enemy
torpedo boats"
Amsterdam. Oct. 23.-After his re-
turn from Constantinople Emperor
Wilhelm telegraphed to Prince Leo
pold of Bavaria. commander on the
northern front in Russia, his own and
the fatherland's thanks for capturing
Oesel, Moon and Dago islands in CO.
operation with the navy. The en-
peror also sent congratulations to the
chief of the admiralty staff describ-
ing the naval operations as fresh
proof of the preparedness of my
navy
WON'T GIVE UP TRADE.
Copenhagen. Oct. 23. - Comment
frOm Stockholm nowsna nerS concern.