Evening star., 1917-01-10
RUSSNOW DRIVING
FOR M|TAU, |SBE[|EF
Substantial Progress Scored in
Riga Region-Great I'm
portance Attached.
BERLIN CLAIMS SUCCESS

Considerable Importance is attacheo
by entente military commentators te
the offensive the Russians have opened
in the Riga region at the northern
end of the Russian front. which is be-
lieved to have the capture OF the I'm
portant German force of Mitau for its
objective. Berlin, however. while con-
ceding that the Russian attacks are
developing notable strength. declares
that the assaults along the line In
this sector were without success.
Progress Is Reported.
By the Associated rress.
LONDON. January 10-The anxiety
with which the operations along the
sereth river in Rumania are being
watched here is being partly balanced
by hopeful interest in the activities
in the Riga-Mitau region of Russia.
Here according to Petrograd accounts,
the Russians are taking advantage or
the frost which has made possible
movement on the vast Tfrul marshes,
and il is making substantial progress
The operations seem to have been
begun days ago with German attack
toward Riga, but for some time they
have appeared to be nothing more I'M
outposts and artillery batteries. Two
or three days ago. however, they began
TO develop in manner indicating that
the Russians had made preparations
which perhaps the German movement
aimed at forestalling.
Reply to German Attack.
The Russians very promptly replied
TO the German attack says the Morn
ing Posts Petrograd correspondent.
''and, pushing steadily along the east
bank of the river "A, captured triple
positions from the enemy after hard
fighting and some 1000 prisoners and
sixteen guns. The movement still con-
tinues. and the Russians are within a
dozen miles of Mitau. which appears to
be their Immediate objective.
There is no official confirmation of
statement current that this very i'm
portant forward base of the enemy has
been captured nor are we allowed to
know what forces are engaged in this
region 1t is the general opinion, how
ever, that an important movement is
in progress Hard fighting
has been in progress for three days
already. and the balance of the sue
cess is largely with the Russian side
In the operation, which admittedly is
only beginning"
The Daily News Petrograd correspond
ent says the Russians in the northwest
corner OF the Tiru swamp have reached
point four miles from the Tukkum-
Mitau railroad. and are steadily develop
ing their success there. and also extend
ing their operations farther east
Failure of Russ Claimed.
BERLIN, January 10, by wireless to
Sayville.-Renewed Russian attacks
with stronger forces were made yester-
day southwest of Riga, near the north
ern end of the Russo-Galician front.
The war office announces that these ef-
forts were without success.
Dealing with the recent fighting on the
eastern front from the Carpathians to
the region around Riga, the military
kcrftfc of the Overseas News Agency says
he Russians. who have been delivering
sttacks in the wooded Carpathians and
on the eastern Pennsylvania front in
Moldavia- have been driven from the Of
fensfve to the defensive.
The winter weather. the correspondent
ADDS, has made possible larger actions
on the Dvina front. in the Riga region.
The Russians al various points, he says
have made vicious attacks, but all of
them were repulsed. except in the TiruI
swamp. where they succeeded in advanc-
Ing into a small German position. Coun-
ter attacks by the Germans on all the
other sectors where ofensives were
launched resulted in the capture of
numerous prisoners and machine guns.
The correspondent adds that notwfth-
standing the powerful forces now en-
gagged in Rumania. the men on the Ger
man east front are strong enough to
repulse attacks at any place.