Evening star., 1917-10-17
ENEMY COMPLETES
CONQUEST OF 0ESEL
Petrograd Admits Russian
Forces Are Completely Cut
Off by Germans.
WAR VESSELS IN BATTLE

The German naval and military ma
chine is obviously proceeding with IA
pidity to carry out its program OF gam
ing complete dominance in the Gulf Of
Riga. 1t has all of Oesel Island, of the
mouth of the gulf, already in its grasp.
Berlin's announcement of the compile
ton of the conquest followed shortly the
statement from Petrograd that the Rus
sian war office had lost touch with the
Russian forces on that island. All that
remained had been penned up on the
southern peninsula, which terminates In
the town of Serel, and this evidently
has now been swept clear by the Ger
mans.
By the Associated Press.
All arms of the German service seem
engaged in the operations, even a meet
of Zeppelins being on hand TO make
observations. The Russian naval FORCES
are now bearing the brunt OF the re-
sistance to the German effort and fetFo-
grad reports their patrol ships keeping
in touch with and having encounters
with German torpedo craft.
Berlin does not admit anv losses IN
the engagement north OF Oesei lsiaho'
in which the Russians reported t"o
German torpedo craft sunk ana ivy
damaged, while conceding the loss oi
one Russian destroyer. Furth liloi e
Petrograd today reports that a Se[ ma
dreadnaught struck mine on oesel
Island October u. making Tor the
coast after the explosion of the mine,
the ultimate fate Of the warship not
being known.
PETRoGRAD, October, 1.-THE Rus. Rus,
sian war Office has completely losI toucn
with the Russian forces on the Island OF
Oesel, it was officially announced TO-DAY
One German dreadnaught,, when ran
into the Russian mine held, delenaliis
Oesel Island on October ~. struck
mine, the statement adds. After the ex-
plosion, the warship made for the coast
and its ultimate fate is not known
Naval skirmishing is continuing IN
the waters around Oesel Island. off the
Grlf of Riga, Russian patrol ships haV-
ing had encounters with German tor
pedo craft.
A fleet of Zeppelins is reported over
Moon sound. northeast OF Oesel Island
Report of Operations.
In describing recent operations In the
Baltic, the latest official statement says:
"On the Baltic Sunday at o'clock
pm, our patrol squadron on Soeia
sounds consisting of four torpedo boats
and two gunboats. was shelled by
German dreadnaught. The torpedo
boat Grom was severely damaged
''FolIowing this twelve. and after
ward more, German torpedo boats Of the
newest type forced their way through
nf "a
German battleships. Our patrol squad
ron accepted battle. The gunboat khra-
bry was struck twice and the torpedo
boat Grom was under Nloient Hre.
Other torpedo boats covered them, en-
ergetically engaging the enemy.
Majority of Crew Saved.
The enemy's fire was principally di-
rected on the Khrabry and Grom. All
the guns of the latter vessel were put
out of action. She also was set on fire
and a big wave cut the hawsers with
which the khrabry was towing her. The
khrabry again approached the Grom
and once more endeavored to take her
in tow, but without success, and the
Grom sank. majority of her crew
were saved by the khrabry.
simultaneously one of the enemy
torpedo boats was sunk by the fire of
the hhra Dry. OtnerS OF our WdfSHipS
then appeared on the scene, the enemy
turned back. The rest of our warships
were only slightly damaged.
Men Show Good Spirit.
THE commander of our fleet testified
to the good firing and the stubborn
spirit of the crews of our gunboats and
torpedo boats. especially the gunboats
khrabry and khivenwz. and the tor
pedo boats Zabiaka, Pobyediete and
Konistantin, which stood the brunt of
the fighting against superior enemy
forces.
..Eye-witnesses report the sinking of
two enemy torpedo boats and the dam
aging of two others.
ION the Island Of Oesel the enemy is
developing his success and reinforcing
himself We have received reports that
the enemy is directing his offensive
against the Svorb peninsula with the
purpose of capturing our batteries at
Cerel, which are covering the entrance
to the Gulf of Riga"