Evening star., 1917-09-06

possible to foresee what line the re-
firing Russian forces will eventually
take up; that everything depends upon
arresting the panic in the rear of the
army. where there is great disorder.
"At the present time says the pa
per. the braver units alone are sus-
tanning the shock of the German at
south of Pernau may be regarded as
preparation for a German landing, with
the railway functions connecting Reval
Jacobstadt and Pskoff as the objec-
tive"
Drastic. measures have been decided
upon by the government to avert seri-
Gus conditions at the capital as a re-
suit of the capture of Riga. Agents
will be sent out to stop the flood OF
refugees on the way here. Railroads
have been forbidden to sell them tick
cts to Petrograd.
Germans Suffer Little.
COPENHAGEN, September 6-The
Berlin Tageblatt's correspondent on the
Riga front, describing the passage of
complished without the loss of a man.
thanks to the effect of the German ar
tillery and mine throwers.
The Germans had assembled 4 greater
number of mine throwers than ever be-
fore and brought them into action aft
er the regular artillery had bombarded
the first and second lines for several
hours.
The effect of the mine bombardment
was literally overwhelming. Houses
were reduced to fine dust, and the de-
moralized Russian survivors fed.
Bridges were thrown across the Dvina
at this point 400 yards wide, by which
Stormlng parties crossed and assaulted
the first line heights. Other bridges in
the meantime were being constructed
and the whole army was soon crossing,
while the regimental bands played
The whole operation was carried out
at such little cost that three divisions
which were in the thick of the fighting
had total casualties amounting to only
l5G dead or wounded
The capture by the Germans of Riga
has brought out the name of a new
German army commander. Won Hutier
whose recent promotion to leadership
of an independent army is one of the
few examples of young blood forcing
its way to the top through the serried
ranks OF older generals or superan-
nuated officers.
Won Hutier, who is of French de-
scent, his grandfather having been IA
French officers. was a guard division
commander at the outbreak of the
war and until the capture of Riga he
had no striking events to his credit.
His ciaaf of staff, Gen. Sluberzweig,
was for time Field Marshal Won Mac
kensen's chief of staff and later was
trdnSleTreu 10 belgium, where his name
gained undesirable prominence in con-
nection with the execution of Miss
Edith Cavell. the British nurse
Prince Eitel Friedrich. commander
of the First Guard Division, which can
tured Tarnopol. participated in the on
erations at Riga.
Berlin Claims 1880 Prisoners.
BERLIN, September 6-More than
$500 prisoners have so far been taken bv
the Germans in the Riga offensive. armv
announced today. Guns 70
the number of lS0 hsNe been captured
An official statement issued this even;ne
says: German hydro airplanes MondaS
attacked the harbor wori:s at Sulina- Fires
We're observed 1.-two points" SuIina is
on the Black sea on thu west coast of
Rumania in the Dobrudja district.
The Russians are still hastily retreat
ing and have evacuated their positions
along the Dvina as far 10 the south
east as Friedrichstadt
The statement on the eastern front
reads:
Prince Leopold: Before the front Of
their hasty retreat to ward the
north and the northeast. On the Dyina
the enemy has evacuated his strong
positions as far as Friedrichstatft
During our rapid advance the num-
ber of prisoners taken and the eAtent
of the booty, which has not yet heen
ascertained. amount to l2O
officers and more than $500 men and
1870 guns, 500 machine guns. several
cars and q large quantity OF
war material OF all kinda" !