Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-10-17
Oesel Land Forces Fight
Desperately With
Backs to Wall.
ARTILLERY NOISY IN WEST
British Not Yet Ready for
New Advance; French Re-
pulse TeutOn Assaults.
BY Associated Press

Apparently there has been no cessa-
ton In the rapid progress of the Ger
ma ns to seize In its entirety the Rus
sian Island OF Oesel at the head of the
Gu'f OF Finland. But, altho their
troops now have taken the greater
portion Of the island. the aid they had
expected from their fleet In putting
down Russian opposition in adjacent
waters Is meeting with considerable
resistance from the Russian warships.
TIE Russians are disinclined to
throw their naval vessels into a gen.
oral engagement with the invaders.
fearing that the superiority of the
Germans would result In losses to
them which would leave open the
pathway thru the gulf to Finland up
to Peirograd. But In small battle
with torpedo craft and possibly light
cruisers, the Russians have sunk two
German torpedo boats and damaged
two others i'm Soela sound, to the
north OF Oesel island. while the Rus
slams themselves lost torpedo boat
destroyer. The German vessels which
were acc ompanled by the battleship
put to sea after the engagement
Russians Resist Desperately.
The German land forces now are
driving hard against the Svorb penin-
sula on the southwestern portion OF
capturing the batteries ut Serel, which
dominate the eastern entrance to the
Gulf OF Riga. According to the Berlin
war office, the Rusians In this region
are isolated, but are desperately re-.
sisting.
Berlin reports also that Abro island,
off the southern coast OF Oesel and
Runo island. In the middle OF the
Gulf OF Riga, have been occupied by
49,. n sI.xa
2, 400 prisoners, 80 guns, 81 machine
guns and several airplanes were cap
turcd by the Germans In Oesel.
British Rest In Flanders.
The troops of the entente allies are
still keeping to their trenches in Flan-
ders, probably awaiting a bctterment
of soil conditions which the recent
rains and flooded streams rendered al
most impracticable for attacks Pos
ribly, however, Field Marshal Haig
and the French commander on his
left have not yet sufficiently pounded
the German lines with their big guns
to warrant the turning loose of the In
fantry for further gains. Day and
night the British and French guns are
sh0wering the German positions with
the usual mass OF steel, which is
thrown upon them prior to an attack,
while the Germans, at various points.
especially In the important salient of
the Ypres-Staden railway, are reply
ing vigorously.
Germans Gain and Lose.
To the south, along the Aisne front
the Germans, after a lively lombard
ment, have again attacked the French
and succeeded In penetrating their en-
trenchments. As has been customary,
however. the French Immediately
counterattacked and regained the lost
ground.
Little fighting of great intensity ex-
cept by the artillery wings of the op-
posing forces is taking place in any of
the war theaters, but there is every in
dication that shortly along the Isonzo
front in the Austro-Italian zone. an
ether big battle will begin. From the
head OF the Adriatic northward to the
Bainslzza plateau intense artillery
duels are In progress along the front
lines and against the Austrian lines of
communication in the rear Consider
able activity also is In progress on the
Carso.
Aerial raids In force have been re-
sumed by British aviators on German
positions in Belgium. The Bruges
docks and several airdromes have
been successfully bombed.