The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-24
Italians Still Unchecked. In
ceasing List of Prisoners to
10000
WEST FRONT WAS
MORE QUIET YESTERDAY
But Manitobans Made Brilliant
Dash. Camping British PIN
GERS More Deeply Southwest
of Lens

Washington, Aug. 23.-Reports
were current in official circles to-
night that Riga, one of RussiaS
most important ports. has been
evacuated and Is probably now in
the hands of the German troops.
As Riga is the principal key TO
Petrograd. Ii is feared that the
Germans will now start a rapid
drive against the Russian capital.
With the disorga nization appar-
cnt in the Russian northern army,
the indications are that such n
drive will meet with little resis-
lance.
London. August 23.-Except the
Austro-Italian front. where General
Cadorna's troops, under the eyes OF
King Victor Emmanuel, are pushing
on along the entire front of attack,
the entente concerted offensive has
somewhat slackened in the last twen-
ty-four hours, a pause has set in on
the west front, necessitated by con-
soidating actions and the bringing
up Of guns and supplies to the newly
conquered positions.
Nevertheless. a brilliant piece Of
local work was done by Manitoba
troops southwest of Lens, adding still
further TO the British menace to the
queen city of Frances richest coal
district. IS
The French did not renew their
yerdun drive. Nor did the Germans
repeat their counter-thrusts. The
consensus is that the battle. having
definitely disentangled the big for
tress. is ended for the time being. 1T
least. The Italians have taken more
than $4,000 prisoners since Sunday.
the French nearly 5000 since Nom
day.
Intense Interest in Riga Drive.
Intense interest now is centered
upon the German drive on Riga. Pc
trograd admitted today a further
withdrawal Berlin claimed occupa-
ton OF a new line without fighting''
Whether new DISCRIMINATION among
the Russian troops or the intensity
of the German fire were responsible.
is still uncertain. The German ad-
vance. however, svnchronizes Nth
alarming reports from Petrograd re-
garding new political and economic
chaos In some quarters here deep
est anxiety is felt; in others. optimism
and faith in Russia's elasticity to hold
firm.
Major General F. B. Maurice. d.
rector of military operations, was one
undue alarm. expressing confidence
that the Russian crisis will be wealth
cred He said $4,000 Germans had
been taken prisoners in the west so
far and predicted that by the end Of
the month the figure of 10000, repre-
senting prisoners taken by the Teutons
in the east in a month. will be ex-
ceeded by the entente.
Outstanding Developments.
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 hattie line. Enough has
filtered through, however to show
that the Teuton operation now un-
der way is to clear the way for 4
frontal or Ranking attack on Riga by
sweeping the Russian forces out OF
the whole swamp district along tho
Baltic littoral between Raggazem ana
the mouth of the Dwina.
In this effort the Teutons already
have been successful to the extent of
between four and six miles since tho
inception OF their drive yesterday.
Petrograd admitted officially today
that the Russians yielded to the Ger.
man pressure, retiring from the Rag
gazem -Kemmern line to the regions
of Frankendorff and Lake Shloyirn.
Frankendorf SIZES on the river Al.
near where 1t turns sharply to tbs
east at Schlok. To drive the Russians
across this river and then.trap' them,
II possible, between the Tirul swampa
and the sea, Is the immediate Teutom
object
At FrankendorY. the Germans now
stand twelve and a half miles west
of Riga The northern extremity of
their lines has been moved in the
last "a hours from Raggazem to
Bigauh. a distance of Fl miles ana
half from the big Baltic port. ROM
Frankendorff. southwark. the Germax
line sweeps In a semi-circle to the
Uxkull bridgehead. recently abanAs
oned by the Russians.
This point ~ only fifteen mi1o4
southeast of Riga. The nearest poiu&
of the Teuton line to Riga u duo
south. just below the village OF KG&
kau. about seven miles. Thus a.
coveted Baltic harbor u t1EfmallY e
! German pocket" which p11nao II
pold evidently = now txa1n1 r. A