The Washington herald., 1917-08-24
Berlin Claims Gains While
Petrograd Admits With
drawal in Face of Push
Toward Baltic Portal
lied Offensive Slackens.

my inc tnNernntlOnal n ews serklce.D
London, Aug. 5.-Except for the
Austro-ltalian front, where Gen. Ca
doTna's troops, under the eyes of King
Victor Emmanuel. are pushing on
along the entire front of attack, the
entente concerted offensive has some
what slackened in the last twenty-four
hours. A pause has set in on the west
front, necessitated by consolidating ac-
tlons and the bringing up of guns and
supplies to the newly conquered posi-
tions.
Nevertheless. brilliant piece of To-
cal work was done by Manitoba troops
southwest of Lens, adding still fur
ther to the British menace to the
queen city of Frances richest coal dis
trict.
Quiet at Verdun.
The French did not renew their YER
dun drive. Nor did the Germans re-
peat their counter thrusts. The con-
sensus is that the battle. having def
nitely disentangled the big fortress, is
ended, for the time being at least. The
Italians have taken more than 1900
prisoners since sunday. the French
nearly 500 since Monday.
Intense interest now is centered upon
the German drive on Riga. Petrograd
admitted today a further withdrawal.
Berlin claimed occupation of a new
line without fighting." Whether new
dlsorganiZation among the Russian
t.oopS or the intensity of the German
hre were responsible is still uncertain.
The German advance, however, syn
chronlzes with alarming reports from
Petrograd regarding new political and
economic chaos. In some quarters
here deepest anxiety is felt. in others,
optimism and faith.
Results ON All Fronts,
These were the outstanding devel-
opments on all fronts during the last
twenty-four hours:
Russia-A considerable degree Of
vagueness marks the official and un-
official news concerning the new Ger
man drive on the northern tip of the
Russian battle line. Enough has
filtered through, however to show that
the Teuton operation now under way
is to clear the way for a frontal or
banking attack on Riga by sweeping
the Russian forces out of the whole
swamp district along the Baltic lit
toral between Raggasem and the
mouth OF the Dwina
In this effort the Teutons already
have been successful to the extent of
between four and six miles since the
inception of their drive yesterday.
Petrograd admitted officially today
that the Russians yielded to the Ger
man pressure. retiring from the Rag
gasem-Kemmern line to the regions
of Frankendorh and Lake Shloyirn.
Frankendorff lies on the river "A, near
where it turns sharply to the east at
Schlok. To drive the Russians across
this river and then trap them. II
possible, between tho Tirul Swamps
and the sea, is the immediate Teuton
object.
Seven Miles From Riga.
At Frankendorff the Germans now
stand twelve-and-a-half miles west of
Riga. The northern extremity of their
lines have been moved in the last
twenty-hours from Raggasem to
Bigaun, A distance of twenty-One
miles and a half from the big Baltic
port From Frankendorff southwark
the German line sweeps in a semi
circle to the CXkull bridgehead. re-
Gently abandoned by the Russians.
This point is only fifteen miles south
east Of Riga. The nearest point of
the Teuton line to Riga is due south,
lust below the village of kekkau,
about seven miles.
Thus, the coveted Baltic harbor is
virtually in a German pocket which
Prince Leopold evidently is now try
ing TO close. Participation by German
naval forces is looked for momen-
tariIy. A Scandinavian dispatch a few
days ago said a large flotilla of Ger
man armed trawlers under cruiser
convoy had steamed into Riga Bay.
The German war office asserts the
new line was occupied without fight
ing. Petrograd's official account
CONTINUED on PAGE ELEVEN.