Arizona republican., 1917-09-04
RIGA IN. HANDS ()F
 GERMANS
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel

Republican "A. F. Leased WHcI
 Riga. Russia's big port on the gulf of Riga, is in the hands of the Ger mans. and it's garrison and the civilian population are in retreat eastward.
 Following up rapidly the advantage they gained in driving the Russians across the Dvina river on both sides of Uxkun last Saturday the Germans threw bridges across this stream and soon were on the heels of the former defenders, some of whom offered re- sistance but others of whom showed the white feather, giving the invaders no trouble in marching up the eastern bank of the Dyina toward Riga-l5 miles distant. Seeing the disaffection and the inability to stem the tide of the advance, the Russian commander ordered an evacuation.
 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 between the two fast moving bodies of the enemy and made prisoner
 Behind them the Russians in their retreat from Riga are laying the cOun- try waste, burning villages and farms. Whether the city itself remains intact has not yet been made known but doubtless the guns in the fortress and the ammunition stores either were moved or destroyed to prevent them falling into the hands of the Germans.
 Aside from the strategic value of controlling she gulf of Riga and of base nearer the mouth of the gulf of Finland, at the head of which Petro- grad 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 impossible.
 On none of the other fronts have there been operations of great mo- ment, except in the AustrOItalian the ater where the Italians have made further progress on the Bainsizza plateau and in the Brestovizza valley and at various points along the line have repulsed fresh counter attacks launched by the Austrians. Violent artillery duels are in progress from Tolmino to the sea.
 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. Reports from Udine, Italy give the Austrian losses as one third of the first line army.
 The batteries of Field Marshal Haig still are pouring an fncessant fire against 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 in ha toly ing place along the French front. No inGantry actions of importance have occurred.
 German air raiders Monday night again paid a visit to England, the sec ond time in as many days dropping bombs. No casualties are reported
 PETROGRAD. Sept. 3-The Russians have abandoned Riga, the war office announces. Some Russian detachments voluntarily left their positions, the war office reports, and are retiring toward the north
 The German offensive on the Riga front began Saturday with an attack on the Russian UXkdil position, follow ing artillery preparation which lasted several hours. The Russian troops de- lending the Dvina river withdrew and tHe beTHldHS succeeded Tn 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 be- gan an advance nOrthward Russian counter attacks against him were un- successful.