Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-14
LAND ON ISLANDS
OESEL AND DAGO
AT ITS ENTRANCE.
Heavy Units of Main Fleet
Brought Up to Assist
in Operations.
MAY BE FORERUNNER
OF DRIVE ON PETR0GRAD
Move Marks Notable CONTINUES
ton of Teuton Creep Along
Baltic Coast.
LII1E SEA OF MUD IN FLANDERS
Heavy Rains Mako Conditions So
Terrible That Neither OF Armies
Is Able to Move. G
LIRE SEA OF MUD IN FLANDERS
Heavy Rains Make Conditions So
Terrible That Neither OF Armies
Is Able to Move. kaG
tBy Associated Pres,1

Germanys most striking military
move since the attack which resulted
in the capture OF Riga was started
Friday on this same Russian front, q
when German troops were landed on
Oesel and Dago Islands. at the mouth :
OF the Gulf OF Riga.
Heavy units OF the main German
battle fleet were brought up to assist
In this operation, some OF the Dread.
noughts appearing of the coast and
covering the landing with their guns,
siencins the Russian shore batteries.
Tho Russian forces hampered the pro-
cess In every way possible, but con-
siderable numbers OF the Germans ap-s
pear to have obtained a footing ON
the northwestern coast of Oesel Is
land and on the southern shores Of 4
Dago Island. On Oesel Island, whore
the Russians have extensive aviation
bases and other military establiah.
ments. the garrison engaged the In
vaders.
Petrograd alludes to tho Germans
movement as a stubborn effort to clear
the entrance of the Gulf Of Riga. near
tho Courland mainland. Whether 1t sis
much more than this, possibly the FORE
runner OF an ambitious push for Ps-
trograd along the railway limo up the
Gulf of Finland coast can hardly bs
determined by the moves made, SO far.
IMMINENCE Of WINTER MAY
SERVE TO HASTE DRIVE
The imminence of tho early Russian
winter season lends color to the as
sumption that even if the German high
command Is taking these steps as
preliminary to n march on Petrograd.
hn ion To
year. 1t Is pointed out. however, that
the demoralized state OF the Russian
armies might make the operation
comparatively short and easy ono now
In comparison with the task German
army headed for Petrograd would have
TO face next spring II the Russian gov
ernmental plans for a regeneration OF
the army are carried through.
The more conservative view seems
to be that the German effort is aimed
at gaining complete control Of the Gulf
Of Riga so as to realize to the full
tho advantage gained last month by
tho capture OF tho city OF Riga In
any event, however, the move marks
a notable continuation Of tho German
northward creep along the Baltic coast.
Thi shas given them first all Of Cour-
land. then slice OF Livonia. and now
has planted them in an advantageous
position off the coast of Esthonia,
where they will constitute q constant
threat to the right flank Of the whole
Russian front now somewhat loosely
anchored on the shores OF the Gult2of
Riga. some distance to the southwest.
PLAINS OF FLANDERS
LIKE SEA OF MUD
The heavy rain in Flanders has
turned the plains into such a sea OF
mud that neither or the hostile armies
seems able to move. Whether the
weather and the condition OF tho
ground were the sole reasons whirh
impellcd the Germans to refrain from
meeting the British advance with
speedy counterattacks. however, is con.
sidercd doubtful. in view OF the many
corroborativc reports OF the lowered
state OF the German army morale. Field
Marshal Haig. in any event. was left
on the night OF his advance In undIs-
puted possession OF the valuable ground
won. which the German statement ad.
mits was three-quarters OF milo In
depth at points.
On the French front. the Germans
contented themselves with bombard-
ments in the Verdun region, where
there has been heavy infantry fighting
recently, turning their main attention
to the Aisne front and launching q
series OF attacks along tho eastern
ends OF the Chemin-d des- Danes, be-
tween Hurtebisc and Chevreux. Tho
effort was a violent one. but was check
ed by the French The crown princess
troops got into the French lines at only
one point, and were speedily ojected
from this advanced position. 80