The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-10-27
GERMANS BOTTLE
UP RUSSIAN FLEET
Twenty Vessels of the Vari0usI
Glasses Confined to Moon
Sound by Teutons.
HUN DREADNAUGHTS IN ACTION
SIaV Land Batteries SiIenced and .
sattieshiP Sunk-Bio Guns
Roar in Belgium.

Washington, Oct. 19.-ApparentIy,
contingents Of the Russian neet-in
all about 20 warships of various
classes-are bottled up in Noon
Sound, with a Gordon OF German war
crafts barring their egress northward
back into the Gulf of Finland or to the
south into the Gulf of Riga. Brave,
but outclassed by reason OF superior
gun range and heavier tonnage, the
Russians gave battle TO the Germans
and attempted to force back the en-
envy armada off Oesel Island Stand
ing far outside the shell zone of the
Russians, however, the guns of the
German dreadnaughts sank the battle
ship Slava-a relic OF the days before
the Russo-Japanese war-and so bad
Iy damaged other units that the Rus
sian flotilla was forced to seek refuge
in Noon Sound-lying between Moor
Island and the EsthOnia coast
SiIenced SIav Batteries.
Immediately seeing their advantage,
the Germans, according TO the latest.
German official communication, began
intensive operations against Moon
batteries until they were silenced, and
also attacking the Russian guns on
the mainland, putting them out Of ac-
ton Moon Island was captured and
the Russians took refuge inside Moon
Sound Thereupon the Germans threw
warships TO the eastern part of Kas-
sar Bay, lying 10 the north Of Noon
Island, barring exit from the northern
entrance to Moon Sound, and also
rushed contingents 10 the south Of
Moon Island, apparently closing the
passage to the south in the Gulf OF
Riga.
No Change in Flanders.
On land there have been no battles
of noteworthy Importance. In Bel
GUM the British and French guns are
still hammering the German positions.
/ but there has been no indication,
either officially or unofficiaIly, OF
when a renewed infantry attack may
be expected The French troops Of
the southern portion of the line have
repulsed somewhat stronger German
attacks in the Verdun sector near
BezOnvaux and also along the Aisne
front in the Vauclerc plateau
Russian Forces Cut Off.
Washington, Oct 1s-The Germans
are entirely in possession OF the Is
land Of Oesel, at the head OF the Gulf
Of Riga, and the Russian forces still
there are cut off from communication
with PetrogTad- Small naval engage
/ ments continue in adjacent waters,
and German aircraft are carrying ont
Reconnaissance over the islands in the
Gulf Of Riga and over the mainland tc
the east Pernau. an important gull
port north OF Riga and due east a
OeseI island, has been bombarded By
German naval aiTships. The Berlin
I war office announces that large Quan
titles Of booty were captured on Desc
and that more than LOO prisoner,
were taken by the Germans on Wed
nesday.
On the mainland. TO the south o.
Riga, there has been activity on the
part OF the Germans, who at ons
point endeavored to throw pontOoI
bridges over the Dvina river. The
Russian artillery, however, prevented
the bridging Of the stream
Naval Battle Imminent.
A report, which, If true, probabI.
indicates that the Germans are pre-
pairing for a big naval demonstration
against the Russians from the Baltic
comes from Malmo, in southern Swe
den 1t says a large number Of Ger
man war craft were observed Monda,
and Tuesday and that the belief pre-
walls that they were reinforcement.
for the German Baltic fleet
The expected renewal Of the gres
offensive by the British and Frenci
troops in Belgium has not taken place
Heavy bombardments and reconnCi
tering encounters still prevail
There have been only lombard
ments on the southern front an.
France and in the Austro-Italian theo
tiers, where from the Isonzo front Il
the sea the Austrians and Italians ar
heavily Smelling each other
Torpedoed q Destroyer.
An American destroyer on patro
duty In the war zone was torpedOe.
by an enemy submarine yesterday anG
had one man killed and five wounded
She managed to make port in spite O
severe damage.