The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-09-03
Germans May Not Have
the Men Needed to Con-
duct Such Offensive
WOULD NOT BE AN
UNMIXED EVIL
Moscow, Sacred City of
Russia, Would Then be
the Rallying Point

(Assoeiatsd Press War Summary
Riga has been abandoned
to the Germans under the
threat of an offensive by
land and sea, in which the
deciding stroke of the land
side was delivered by the
Germans last Saturday.
The possible intimate
military consequences of
this development are diff
cult to estimate. The right
flank Of the entire Russian
front was anchored on the
Gulf of Riga and with this
anchorage apparently lost
the possible strategical de-
velopments of the situation
seem infinite.
Much depends on the
purpose of the Germans and
the size of the forces at
their disposal for opera
tions in this war theater. 1t
is too early yet for it to be
made apparent whether
they will be content at pres
ent with occupation of the
Baltic sea port the Russians
have left to them or if the
advantage is to be pushed
and an attempt made to
swing back the entire Rus
sian lines on this front, ere
ating an opening for an
operation by land and wat
er with Petrograd as its
objective.
Riga the capital of the government
Of Livonia had a population of more
than 100000 persons before the war
and aside fran Petrograd was the
most Important Russian commercial
and industrial town having access TO
the Baltic.
Every since the Russian revolution
with its disorganizing effect upon the
armies made the military situation
more favorable TO the Germans there
have been hints that a descent was
to be made upon the Russian north
ern front and several alarms have
been sounded in Petrograd that such
an eVentuality was pending.
The instability of the Russian
troops, IL is indicated by the official
statement had and important infiu-
ence upon the decision TO order the
evacuation Of the Riga district so
quickly after the winning by the
Germans Of their first success. As
had been the case in Galicia and
Rumania, some of the Russian units
left their trenches without making a
fight.
The Russo -Rumanian army ID
a much firEner resistance on
the Rumanian front. repelling all the
Teutonic attacks. Several were de-
livered yesterday the attacking
forces sustaining large losses and
gaining nothing.
on the Italian front General
CadOrna while COnftning his actiYt-
ties along the greater part OF the
line, mainly TO pounding Austrian
positions with his big guns, has ef
fected an advance south OF Gorizln.
Washington Not Worried.
Washington. Sept. 3. The
Of Riga in the face Of
the new German drive into Russia
and even the evacuation OF PetrOgrad
itself may have been forecast III
advices to the American
government in the last two weeks.
Such a development is not regarded
with so much alarm as might be
supposed.
With Riga abandoned and the Ger
man occupation OF Petr0grad In
the seat OF the Russian
government viii be moved
10 Moscow. Much as they may re-
gret seeing The Russian capital &C.
eupied by q German army the force~
1ul thinking men OF Russia. working
10 set up a government may regard
Il as q blessing In disguise.
There are many advantages tn
moving the Russian capital % Mos
cow. Gt is the center ct the cuu-
serpative group and commands the
utfmental--aIm0R reGsgi0uE-Te+
A.