The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1917-10-18

RUSSIAN
Haiq's Guns Pound Teuton Lines
in Flanders While Mud
Holds Infantry
Inactive.

.aA oISCo
which landed on the Russian island of
Oesel, at the head of the Gulf Of Riga,
on Friday. have occupied Arensburg,
the capital Of the island, it was an
nounced today by the Russian war off
ice. Arensburg is on the southern
shore of Oesel island.
Russ Fleet Is Fighting.
The northern group of German war
ships, the statement adds, dispatched
a torpedo boat squadron between the
islands of Oesel and Dago, which
pressed back the Russian patrols. Rus
sian ava forces reinforced the patrol
and accepted battle, whereupon the
German ships retired.
Fighting for Oesel island, the war off
ice announced, continued all day yes
terday.
A third group of German w%arships.
consisting of cruisers and torpedo
boats, approached the southwestern
coast of Oesel island and bombarded
unimportant parts of the coast. Ger
man submarines We're observed at vari-
Gus times and places in the Baltic.
German naval aerial forces are sup
porting the land forces of the northern
and southern sections of Oesel island.
Further movements of The German
naval forces into the Gulf of Eiiga, the
statement says, are covered by the long
range artillery of the Russians.
Heavy artillery actions are.in progress
on the Flanders front London's Off
cial report today speaks of a strong
bombardment of the new British posi-
| ions on the main ~Paschendaele Ghleu-
welt ridge south of Broodseinde. In the
| light of previous experience this may be
| viewed as indicating German counter
battery work against the intensive
British artillery fire in progress pre-
paratory to another push.
British Heavy Guns Up.
The British artillery now has super
/ Tor positions from which to work, as
| there must, by this time, AVE been
ample opportunity for the heavy guns
to be PUT in position on the dominating
ground taken in the recent advances.
1t thus seems probable that Field Mar
shall Haig will not delay his next stroke
| beyond the time when these guns have
an opportunity to break up such con.
crete construction as the Germans have
been able to build in what they describe
as their offensive zone"
The weather, however, is a decidedly
important element in this consideration
as the continuation of hard storms dc
not only keep the ground in a state
well night prohibitive of coordinated
infantry advances. but interferes SER
iously with the vital aerial observation
work.
Teutons Overrun Oesel.
The situation or the Russian north
II VIZ &ilGASo1 ~ 1klh al
Germans overrInning the island OF
Osel and rapidly pursuing their pro
gram Of gaining complete control of the
Gulf of Riga.
Russian military observers eexpect
speedy extension of the German opera.
tons to the main land. probably on the
E%sthonian coast. whence a movemen'
toward Petrograd might be pushed.
GERMANS GAIN ON RUSS.
Petrograd, Oct. 16.-The. German
forces which were landed on Oesse
Island at the head of the Gulf Of Rigs
are pushing forward to the east ant
south, placing in a difficult position tn,
Russian forces n batteries in the dis,
trict Of A~rensburg. at the southern enc
Of the island, and especially those OF
the Cerel peninsula.
Military critics predict actions in tn,
Gulf OF Riga. followed by development
of the invasion to the mainland on tn,
coast of Esthonia rather than an at
tempt to take the Gulf OF Finland, whicl
is protected by mine fields which tn
Germans would have to sweep unde
the menace of the Russian fleet.
Petrosrad Exodus Begins.
The landing Of the Germans has in
creased the exodus from Petrograd
which has been noticeable since the fal
fees have been besfeged, many person
Offering large premiums for ticket.
The situation Is aggravated by rumor
which were branded officially as un
founded. that passenger traffic will b
stopped shortly. in View OF the expect
ID evacuation Of government institu