The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-10-19
TRAPPED NAVY
IN RIGA GULF
Continued from page L.

IN RIGA GULF
CONTINUED from page -
from grand headquarters, recovered
from his recent attack OF lnnuenIa
and presided at a council OF ms
ministers.
TWO Germans Sunk.
PETROGRAD, Oct. 1.-Two YER
man torpedo boats were sunk IN the
Moon sound mine fields yesterday, an
official statement announced today.
Reval Evacuated.
PETROGRAD. Oct. 19.-EVacua,
ton by the Russians of the naVai
base of Reval was begun TUESDAY
the Novoe Vremya declared To-Day.
The withdrawal of Russian forces
from the naval depot has been maze
necessary by operations of Germanys
great fleet now operating OH the
gulf of Riga and threatening fur.
Their naval campaign against the gun
of Finland.
IEyacuation of Reval, If confirmed,
would appear to indicate even great
er menace to Russia by the German
Baltic sea fleet than it's victories
40 far reported have indicated ReVai
is the first of the naval bases which
a hostile fleet, intent on penetrating
the gulf of Finland would encounter.
II is only 200 miles from Pertograd.
Before the war Reveal was classihed
as a naval station of the SECOND
class. but under the cars regime IL
was strengthened and re-fortihed
Three great stations command the
gulf of Finland for Russia and con-
stitute defenses to Petrograd-Reval,
Viborg and Cronstadt. Helsingfors
is likewise an important base. That
Russia should relinquish Revai WITH
out striking a blow in its defense, so
far as dispatches have indicated SO
far. apparently indicates realization
by Petrograd Of the great strength
Of the German attacking fleet ana
fear of a flanking attack on the sta
ton which might be made by land
ing Of German troops opposite Moon
island.l
German Official Report.
BERLIN, (via London) Oct. 10
eve gained near the mole on the
western coast of Moon island and by
midday all Of it was ours" declared
today's official statement describing
naval operations in the gulf OF Riga
May Move Capital.
pETROGRAD, Oct. 19.-Petrograd
may be abandoned as the capltal Oh
| Russia.
ION account OF the strategical sit
uation" caused by the menace OF
German advance from the gulf of Riga,
It was formally stated today that early
| transfer Of the capital from Petrograd
| probably to Moscow, was being pre-
pared for by the government.
Evacuation Of Reval, Russia's great
naval depot. Just at the entrance of the
gulf of Finland, was announced today.
| TRANSFER of the capital from Petro-
grad to Moscow has frequently been
considered by the new democratic gov
eminent. At the time of the last Ger
man drive on land around Riga, it was
formally stated such step was plann-
| ed. A little more than month ago q
formidable German fleet in the Baltic
and reports of naval offensive
against Petrograd, caused a revival OF
the report.
! Democratic leaders have since the
very start of the new republic regard
ed Moscow as more suitable for the
capital than Petrograd. A number OF
weeks ago when the Bolsheviki oppo
sition to Premier Kerensky came to
a head, dispatches from William g.
Shepherd, United Press staff CORES
pondent, then in Petrograd, reported
that Kerensky was seriously consider
ing switching all governmental activity
to Moscow, the ancient Russian CAPT
tai. Moscow has always been more
intellectually sympathetic with the
government than any other Russian
city.
Just why there should be any I'm
mediate fear of danger to Petrograd
from the Germans is not clear on the
basis Of dispatches so far received and
detailing the German naval campaign
around the mouth OF the gulf Of Riga
II is possible, however, that the Rus
slams foresee that the great German
dreadnoughts known to be included In
that fleet could easily outrange any
coast defenses of the three great naval
fortresses at Reyal, Viborg and Con
stadt, if they desired to chance Rus
sian mine fields and make try for In
vestment Of Petrograd by seal