Bisbee daily review., 1917-09-04
RUSSIAN PORT RIGA FALLS ID
 THE GERMANS
Troops of New Republic Show the White Feather and Commanding Officers Are Forced to Evacuate Big Seaport.
By Review Leased Wire)

Riga, RUSSIA DIE port On the Nuii of Riga, is in the hands of the Ger mans and its garrison and the civilian population are on retreat eastward.
 Following up rapidly the advant- age they gained in driving the Rus sians across the Dvina river on both sides of Uxkull last Saturday the Ger mans threw bridges across this stream and soon were on the heels of the former defenders, some of whom offer ed resistance, but others of whom showed the white feather, giving the | invaders no trouble in marching up the eastern bank of the Dvina toward Riga-15 miles distant. Seeing the disaffection and the inability to stem the tide of the advance, the Russian commander ordered an evacuation.
 Russians In Danger.
 With the falling back of the Rus sians from the city proper and the ad- vance of the Germans northward along both sides of the stream, the Russians still defending the western bank around Dahlen seemingly are in danger of being caught by the two fast moving bodies of the enemy and made prisoner.
 Behind them the Russians in their flight from Riga are lying the country waste, burning villages and farms.
 Gain Not Important.
 Aside from the strategic value of controlling the Gulf of Riga and of base nearer the mouth of the Gulf of Finland, at the head of which Pet rograd is situated, for the moment it is impossible to see the importance of the German gain, especially with the near approach of winter, when military operations in this northern region are almost impossimle.
 Italians Still Active.
 On none of the other fronts have there operations of great moment eX- cept in the Austro-Italian theatre where the Italians have made further progress on the Bainsizza plateau and in the Brestovizza valley and at var icus points along the line have repuls- ed fresh counter-attacks launched by the Austrians. Violent artillery duels are in progress from Tolmino to the sea.
 Austrians Lose Heavily.
 Advices to the Italian embassy in Washington are to the effect that the Austrians have lost more than 12S,- 900 men in the present offensive. Re ports from Udine, Italy. give the Aus trian losses as one-third of the first line army.
 Haig's Batteries Active.
 The batteries of Field-Marshal Haig are still pouring an incessant fire agains the German trenches in Elan ders, but as yet the anticipated new dash by his men to capture them has not started.
 Artillery duels which are somewhat violent in the Verdun region are talk ing place along the French front. No infantry actions of importance have occurred.
 German Air Raid.
 German air raiders Monday night again paid visit to England. the second time in as many days, drop ed
 Russ Advance Started Saturday.
 PETROGRAD, Sept. 3-The German offensive on the Riga front began Sat ttrdav with an ottocl nn tho Ducciap Uzkull position, following artillery preparation which lasted several hours. The Russian troops defend ing the Dvina river withdrew and the Germans succeeded in throwing two bridges across the Dvina and passing to the eastern bank.
 The Russian infantry in spite of the brilliant action of the artillery which destroyed one of the enemy's bridges, could not stop the German thrust and the enemy, taking advantage of this, rapidly developed his success and began an advance northward. Rus sian counter attacks against him were unsuccessful
 Petrograd Threatened.
 LONDON, Sept. 3.-The evacuation of Riga by the Russians recalls the statement of General Kornloff. com mander in chief of the Russian armies at the Moscow conference: "If our army does not help us to hold the shore of the Gulf of Riga. the road to Petrograd will be opened wide.
 While few believe that the Germans will undertake to penetrate to the Rus sian capital over an inhospitable road
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