New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-08
Fleeing Army Outnumbers
Foe 3 to May Be
Rallying
Troops in Swamps;
U-Boats She'll Coast
Muscovite Generals Believe
Greatest Danger Lies in
Attack on Odessa


ing in the Russian retreat from Riga
is apparent to-day. Whether IL is due
10 German exhaustion in the swift
pursuit which has already carried the
enemy cavalry more than forty-siX
miles cas-; Of the Livonian capital, or
to some somblance of cohesion in the
retresting Russian army, is not yet
clear.
Letchitsky seems to be trying to
establish a temporary line from Seco-
void. which the Uhlans have already
entered. through the Livonian town Of
Lemburg to a point north of Peters
capelle. on the Gulf of Riga, but it
is probable that the broken Musco-
vite forces will rot halt definitely
until the highlands of eastern Livonia
are reached.
Petrograd fears a German naval at
tack in the Gulf of Riga. which APP
pears to be imminent. though as vet
there have been only minor encounters
with enemy submarines. Apparently
there has been a considerable con-
centration of Teuton submersibles in
these waters. Zeppelins also are be-
ing used.
Monday night German U-boats
shelled the coastal region between
Riga and Pernau on the eastern coast
of the gulf. They fired forty rounds
and in the village Of Kabodi killed a
woman and a little girl. Ieppelins
flew over the same area also, drop
ping bombs without effect near Hal
nash.
U-Boat Attack Repulscd
The next day U-boat attacked the
transport Linol and fred twenty rounds
into il. wounding two OF the crew, but
the vessel renlied with its 37-m.lli-
metre guns and forced the enemy craft
10 submeree.
Outside the Gulf Of Riga, in the Bal
tic. the German fleet IS active, and Il
is possible the Germans may intend a
dash up the Gulf Of Finland, between
the twin fortresseS of HelsinCfors and
Reval, through the water lanes which
lead TO Petrograd. These are danger
Gus waters, however. and gradual
working up the coast in conjunction
with the army is more likely.
Russians Burn Villages
Berlin reports the Russian with
drawal as still in progress. and de-
clares that advanced cavalry is success
fully fighting the Russian rear guards
southwest Of Nicau tNitau) and near
Newkalpcn, seventy kilometres east OF
Riga. The retreatirg army is setting
fire TO villages between Lobe Lake and
Friedrichstadt, on the Dvina, ten miles
to the southwest. The latter town is
also in flames.
According to advices received to-day
the fleeing Russians outnumber the
pursuing Germans fully three TO one
In some cases Letchitsky'S rearguaid'
have offered gallant resistance. bu'
there is absolutely no cooperation be
/ tween the Russian artillery and th'
mass Of the infantry. Apparently thi:
Reorganization. resulting from clylIlar
interference with the army, IS lespon
sibe for the flight as much as the alb
sence Of morale. Meanwhile reinforce
ments are arriving from Petrograd, L
add 10 the confusion.
The Russians, in the present state o
their organization, will find the 1871
square miles of Livonia difficult terri
tory to defend. If the fighting were
like that on the West front IT would b'
an ideal defensive area, as the whole
western half of this Baltic province Il
low-lying bog, fully a quarter Of i
foretted, and dotted with nearly, SD
hundred lakes.
Hope Rains Will Stop Germans
The Russians, however, are apparent
" making for the high ground east o
Lake Virts Yarvi, where, at Munn'
Maggie, the land .rises over a thou
sand feet. Meantime, the Russian com
mand hopes the expected rains vii
find the German army, with the heav'
impedimenta it must bring up stu OF
the fat lands. This hope seems to b,
the source Of the Russian optimism il
/ rooard ~ tho defence of PetrOgrad.