The sun., 1917-04-24
'TEUT0NS START
FOR PETR0GRAD
Naval Squadr0nS Leave Ger
many to Attack Rus
sian Rear.
GRAVE PERIL POSSIBLE
Provisional Government Has
Warned People of the
kaiser's Plan.
GRAVE PERIL POSSIBLE

LONDON. April 23.--A big German at
tempt by land and sea to break the
Russian northern front or land troops
In Its rear and sweep on to Petrograd
appears to be beginning. The new re-
public faces the peril of which the pro-
visional Government has warned the
Russian people.
ships and cruisers has left Libau. on
the Baltic. according to onicial des-
patches from Riga. Another German
squadron liz reported en- route to the
Baltic from kiel. with the warships
are German transports laden with
troops. A Central News despatch from
Petrograd agrees with the Riga des-
patches as to this.
Unless the Russian army and nation
have completely recuperated from the
disorsanization OF the revolution. unless
above all the Russian Baltic fleet is at
the highest pitch OF efficiency. Russia
may face desperate times Such an at
tack as the Germans appa rently in
tend to carry out In the most dangerous
TO which Russia could be subjected
May Land an Army.
The German plan. as predicted in
Petrograd dispatches. is to make a great
drive on the Riga -Dwinsk front, the
Russian northern sector. while at the
same time landing troops in the rear Of
the Russian lines. probably in the Gulf
or Finland. The German fleet would
have frst to defeat the Russian Baltic
squadron. Once the army was landed
however. the Russians would be taken
front and rear and Petrograd would
be In the most serious danger. II has
been reported that transports and war
ships have been concentrated in the
Baltic. 4 new Russian commander was
appointed few days ago for the fleet
that would have to resist the attack.
In this situation peculiar interest at
taches to the announcement from Jassy,
temporary capital Of Rumania, that NJ.
Guchkoff. the Russian Minister of War,
arrived there on Saturday and conferred
with the Russian Gems. Sakharoff and
Letchitzky.
Divevslon IL Planned.
The Rumanian front has been held re-
Gently by weak Teuton forces II is
possible that n the Germans actually
are intending to attack Petrograd a d.
version might be planned on the Ru-
manian front in which the now reorga n
lied Rumanian army would play a large
part. The official statements cast little
light upon the actual situation. They
follow:
Russian Statement - There have
been rifle firing and reconnoitring op-
erations In the region of the River
Aa tnear Riga) the Germans f1red
glass bullets. In the Carpathians there
are blizzards.
Rumanian Front-Riie firing and
scouting operations are reported. Dur
ing the last few days a blizzard has
prevailed in the mountains. while
heavy rains are falling in the valleys
The rivers have risen considerably
and ovefhowed their banks.
BY successful counter attacks We
drove the enemy out OF the advanced
posts Ne had occupied and reestab-
lished out first lines. In the region Of
Cotalung. northwest of Braila. our
heavy artillery successfully bom-
barded an enemy battalion. On the
rest of the front there were the usual
firing and commissioners
German Statement-On the Russian
front yesterday the enemy directed
lively artillery fire against our lines.
We responded energetically. In re-
taliation for the dropping Of bombs by
Russians near Ida we made aerial at
tacks on Molodechno and Turex, re-
spectively northwest and southwest Of
MiDsk