The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-10-14
Maneuvcr May Be Prelimi-
nary to General Advance
on PetrOgrad.
LAND GERMAN TROOPS
ON ISLANDS IN GULF
Present Decentralization Rus
sian Army May Have Given
Chance Sought.

Fetrograd, Oct. lJ.~-The admiralty
does not try to minimize the strategic
seriousness of the capture of the island
of Dago. which will prove important
as an enemy base for operations
against Reval and menace the security
OF the Russian right flank.
Proclamations have been sent to the
army and fleet calling attention to the
growing danger of an attack even upon
the capital aud eNhorting the men to
forget their political differences and
turn their energies 10 the defense Of
the coast. The Germans had been
bombing for several days but with lit
tie damage the Russian defending
fleet, 1t is regarded as not improb.
able that If they are successful ia
holding the islands. air raids upon Pet
rograd Will be conducted by the Ger
mans from these bases.
Gcrmany's most striking military
move since the attack which resulted
In the capture of Riga was started
Friday on this same Russian front.
when German troops were landed on
E.oscl 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
naushis appeared off the coast and
covered the landing with their guns.
silcncing the Russian shore batteries.
The Russian forces hampered the
process In every way possible. but
considerable numbers Of the Germans
appear to have obtained a footing on
the northwest coast of Oesel island
and on the southern shores OF Dago
island. On Ocsel island. where the
Russians have extensive bases and
other military establishments, the gar
rison engaged the invaders.
Direct Object Unknown.
Petrograd alludes to the German
movement as Il stubborn effort to
clear the entrance or the gulf of Riga
near the conrland mainland. Whether
it Is much more than this, possibly
the forerunner of an ambitious push
for Petrograd along the railway line
M the gulf of Finland coast can
hardly be determined by the moves
made so far.
The imminenee of the early Russian
winter season ienuS cOlOf 10 Vnc as
sumption that even If the German
high command Is taking these steps
as n preliminary to a march on Petro-
grad, II will hardly essay the cam
paign this year. It is pointed out.
however that the demoralized state
of the Russian armies might make the
operation a comparatively short and
easy one now in comparison with the
| task n German army headed for Pet
rograd would have to face next spring
| if the Russian governmental plans for
| II regeneration of the army are carried
| through.
| Gives Advantageous Position.
! The more conservative view seems
| to be that the German effort is aimed
| at gaining complete control or the gulf
of Riga so as to realize to the fill the
capture of the city of Riga. In any
event, however. the move marks a
continuation of the German northward
| creep along the Baltic coast This has
| given them first---ali Of Courland and a
slice Of the ILvonia. and now has
| planted them in an advantageous po
sition off the coast OF Esthonia. where
! they will constitute n constant threat
| to the right flank of the whole Rus
| sian front. now somewhat loosely an
| Riga some distance to the southwest