Arizona republican., 1917-09-03
LOCKING. GATES | r R | | A
TRepublicsn A. p. Leased Wire]

 at the gates of Riga, with the Rus sians apparently unable to withstand their advance
 The great Baltic port, head of the railway running to Petrograd, is beset on three sides by the enemy-on the west in the lake Babit region, on the southewst near Mitau and on the southeast along the eastern bank of the DVina river, a seant fifteen miles dis tance from the city. In the latter re- zion the Germans after a heavy bom- l,ardment won the Kull bridgehead, and crossed the Dvina river. Thence they shaped their course nOrthWard along the waterway toward Riga with the Russians counter attacking but Unable to hold them.
 Some 20 miles southwest of Riga, the Germans have begun new offensive \ big battle is in progress but in whose favor it is going has not yet been made evident by the Russian and German of ficial communications Neither is any thing said of the operations near Lake Babit where the Germans were last re- ported standing about twelve miles west of Riga.
 Preparation evidently was made last week in raids by airplanes on war ships and military works in the Gulf of Riga and by the maneuVers of German torpedo boat destroyers, submarines and mine sweeping trawlers in adja cent waters for the new offensive against Riga. but whether the attack is heinz carried out spontaneously by sea has not become apparent. While the capture of Riga would be of great strategic value to the Germans in con- trolling the entrance to the Gulf of Finland at the head of which stands Petrograd, it would not necessarily place the capital in jeopardy, for it lies overland 360 miles from Riga.
 In southern MoldaVia near Fokshani the Russians evidently have ceased their assertions and again are facing the enemy. Here. according to Berlin, kthey have delivered heavy counter at rtacks against Field Marshal von Mack ensens forces. Near Braila, southwest of Galatz, on the Danube, the Germans were repe!led in an attack on the Rus sian positions.
 On the Italian front General Cador- mas forces have extended their gains on the BrestoviZZa plateau on the slopes of Monte San Gabrielle and east ot GOriZio and have taken additional pI isoners and war stores from the Aus tians. Five Italian aeroplanes have fl )wn from the Italian front over Vii enna and dropped pamphlets telling the Austrian people of the victory of the Itanans from Tolmino to the sea
 In Belgium, the British big guns are continuing 10 lombard violently the German positions Near Havrincourr the Germans pushed back the British, but later lost tie ground in counter attack
 Heavy artillery duels also are in D. Ogress along tie Aishe in Champagne and in the Verdun sector but the in- fantry has remained virtually inactive. 
 Germans Cross Dvina
 PETROGRAD, Sept. D. German troops have crossed the Dvina south east of Riga and are advancing in a northerly direction, successfully re- polling Russian counter attacks, the war office announced today A Ger m Tn offensive has been opened in the northern sector or the Russian front in the region of Mitau southwest of Riga
 The battle here still is in progress
 On the Rumanian front several sharp attacks were made by the Aus c-German forces but all these were rendered fruitless by the Russo Ru- manian resistance. One of these at tacks was in the vicinity of Braila, on the Danube
 English Coast Raided
 LONDON, Sept. "A German air raid on the coast of England tonight was announced by the official bureau Bombs were dropped as the airplanes crossed East Kent
 The text of the statement reads:
 Hostile airplanes crossed the East Kent coast at 11:15 o'clock tonight They flew southward few minutes later A few bombs were dropped The casualties are believed to be small"
 Press dispatches from the south . east coast report only one airplane engaged in the raid. No deaths are reported. The number of injured is said to be from two to five none of them seriously. Six bombs were dropped and the raid lasted only a few minutes.
 Italians Extend Positions
 ROME, Sept 2-Italian troops yes