Bisbee daily review., 1917-10-14
Germany Strikes m
 Effort to Blaze Way
 TOWdrd Russ CapitaI
Teutons Launch Unexpected Mocve on the Gulf of Riga.
 Reason for Action Un- known in Entente Capitals.
(By Review Leased wire.)


 Germany's most striking military move since the attack which resulted in the capture of Riga was started Fri day on this same Russian front when German troops were landed on Oesel and Dago Island at the mouth of the | Riga.
 Heavy units of the German battle 1 fleet were brought up to assist in this operation. some of the dreadnaughts appearing on the coast and covering the landing with their guns. silencing the Russian shore batteries. The Russian forces hampered the progress in every way possible but considerable of the Germans appear to have obtain ed footing on the northwest coast of Oesel Island and on the south shore of Dago Island. On Oesel Island where the Russians have extensive aviation bases. and other military establish ments the garrison engaged the invad- CTS.
 Petrograd's Version. ! Petrograd alludes to the German movement as stubborn effort to clear theentrance of the gulf of Riga near the Courland mainland. Whether it is much more than this. possibly the i fore runner of an ambitious push for Pe-rograd along the railway line up the gulf of Finland coast, can hardly be determined by the moves made so far.
 Meaning Of Move.
 The imminence of the early Russian winter lends color to the assumption that even if the German high command is taking these steps as a preliminary to march on Petrograd it will hardly essay the campaign this year. It Is pointed out, however. that the demor- affixed state of the Russian armies might make the operation a eOmpara- lively short and easy one now. in com parison with the task German army headed for Petrosrad would have to face next spring. if the Russian gov ernment plans for a regeneration of the army are carried through.
 Want Entire Gulf.
 The more conservative views seems 10 be that the German effort is aimed at gaining control of the Gulf of Riga. so as to realize to the full the advant- age gained last month by the capture of the city of Riga. In any event. how ever, the move marks a notable con tinuation of the German northward creep along the Baltic coast This has given them first all of Courland. then slice of Livonia and now has planted them in an advantageous po- sition of the coast of Esthonia. where they will constitute a constant threat to the righ. flank of he wIole Russian : front. now somewhat loosely anchored on he shores of hte Gulf of Riga. some distance to the southwest.
 Rain In Flanders. The heavy rain in Flanders has turned the plains into such a sea of mud tha. neither of the hostile armies seems able to move. Whether the weather and the condition of the ground were the sole reasons which impelled the Germans to refrain from meeting the British advance with speedy counter attacks however. Is considered doubtful in view of the many corroborative reports of the low cred state of the German army morale. Field Marshal Haig in any event was left on the night of his advance in un- disputed possession of the valuable ground won, which the German state ments admits was three-quarters of a mile in depth at points.
 On French Fronts
 On the French front the Germans content themselves with lombard /ments in the Campagne where there has been heavy fighting recently. turn ing their main attention to the Aisne front and launching a series Of attacks along the eastern end of the Chemin- des-Dames between Hurtebise and ClevreuX. The effort was violent one but was checked by the French. The crown princess troops got into the French lines at only one place and were speedily elected from this ad- vanced position.