Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-07
Narrow Neck of Land Be
tween Two Lakes Is
Death Trap In Which
Troops Are Penl,ed For
Slaughter.
SLAV LINE BROKEN
ON 40-MILE FRONT
PRISONERS EXCEED $500.

Ken py me 4ofm1n8 IN the Riga
offensive, army headquarters an.
nounoed today. Guns to the mum.
ber Of 1870 have been captured.
RADICALS WIN ELECTION.
Petroorad, Sept. o-(DeIayed).
New municipal elections havo
been held In Petroorad, resulting
In victory for the radicals. The
social revolutlonaries and eossh-
evikI Opponents Of the 'ks~ensiey
oovernment) inflicted severe dc.
feat on tho moderate socialists
and the constitutional democrats.
The social revoiutionaries polied
$4,000 votes, the 1oIshevid 174,-
600 and the constitutional demo-
Gratis, 1o1 900. The social revoIu.
tlonarles elected seventy-three
municipal councillors, the Boish-
eviki 70 and the constitutional
democrats, ~.
Petrograd. Sept. 6.-It is semi-om.
ically announced that German fiees
has appeared in the Gulf Of Riga
The Russians are continuing thekt
LIE r. III warJ the 1OEthaa at IN ,aasss;
Riga region. crossing the Melupe
river. the war Office announces.
During the last two days the Riga
front has been broken on width OF
sixty versts (forty miles). Throughout
Tuesday the Germans energetically
pursued their offensive. particularly
north of Uxkull In order to cut the
railway.
RETREAT Is DIFFICULTY.
The retreat Of the Russians from
Riga over a neck Of land a mile and
a half wide between Lake Kish and
Lake Egel IL being accomplished with
enemy constantly shelhng the rear
guard. This route is along the Pskon
railway and is the only exit from the
cul-de-sac, the German column having
moved from Uxkull direction, cutting
OF the Russian retreat to the south
east
SOME FIGHT BRAvELY.
The civilian head Of the war minis.
try, Boris SavankoH. has issued a
statement saying that the success Of
the measures which will be taken to
check tho advance depend wholly
upon the behavior OF our troops"
Despite reports Of the disgraceful
flight Of certain elements of Russian
defenders Of Riga positions military
praise the heroism Of
certain regiments, among which were
some composed OF Let's who fought
TACT setting an example for their COM
rades.
RAIN MAY SAVE CAPITAL.
The chief Of the general stat, Gen.
eral Romanofsky, expresses the opin.
lon that the evacuation constitutes no
Imminent menace to Petrograd be-
cause the near approach OF the
rainy season will prevent the enemy
from advancing far In the direction OF
the capital. The danger of descent
upon the coast nearer to Petrograd Ii
also discounted in Official circles for
like reasons and the additional diff
Guilty found in maintaining communi-
cation with a detached force.
The newspapers take gloomier
view of the situation.
TO DEFEND PErRoGRAD.
Russky Invalid. the least pessi.
mistic in its expressions, finds nothing
definitely hopeless in the situation,
If our troops have not forgotten that
they are Russians and If some bril-.
liant officers are found among them
who are ready to do their duty
Special committees from the regi
ments of Petrograd garrison have
been appointed to work out plan for
the defense of the capital.
RUSSIAN FLEET IMPERiLEo.