Evening star., 1917-10-19
German Threat Against Petro-
grad May Have Influenced
Governments Decision.
SLAvS DESTROY TWO
ENEMY TORPEDO BOATS
Sailors in Main Russ Fleet in Gulf
of Finland Eager to Fight, But
Are Restrained.

Russia's capital is soon to be removed
to its ancient site at Moscow. The
governments announcement Of its deci-
sion to shift its activities from Petro-
grad assigned no reason for the change.
The issuance simultaneously, however,
ton Of Reval, the Russian naval base
on the Gulf Of Finland. in being re-
moved to the interior suggests that the
| decision was not uninfiuenced by the
German threat against Petrograd, now
being developed in the naval and mill
tary operations in the Gulf of Riga and
northward.
While the small fleet the Russians
had in Riga waters apparently has been
penned In by the Germans as a result
OF their land operations on Oesel and
Moon Islands and the disposition Of
their superior naval forces at strategic
points of the gulf. the main Russian
fleet remains in the Gulf of Finland.
through which runs the water route to
Petrograd.
Government to Move. !:
By the Associated Press.
PETROGRAD, October 19.-The gov.
ernment has definitely determined to
| move to Moscow in the very near fu-
ture.
!. The newspapers publish an Official
announcement that the evacuation OF
the fortified port Of Reval. on the Baltic
| at the entrance to the Gulf Of Finland.
has begun.
| The schools at Reval have been
closed. The inhabitants of the city are
| being sent to the interior of Russia.
Announcement that the government
| will move to Moscow was made today
by M. kishkin. minister of public well
| fare.
The Germans on Wednesday began to
land troops on Dago Island, south OF
the entrance to the Gulf of Finland.
Two Russian infantry regiments total
ins soGO ~ ths men % Mess re ON
| ed officially.
German Vessels Sunk.
Two German torpedo boats were SUNK
| in the mine fields in Moon sound yes
| terday, the war office announces.
The sailors of the main Baltic fleet
are reported to be keen to fight. Tho
| men at Kronstadt are demanding that
| the ships be sent out to meet the Ger
! mans. but the government is under.
| stood to have taken the position that
as the enemy forces are OF superior size
| 1t would be disastrous to leave PetSo.
grad undefended.
Center Of Gravity.
| An official communication issued last
| evening points out that the center of
gravity in the naval struggle is the
maintenance Of communication between
| the Gulf Of Riga and Finland. and says
the Russian torpedo boats are contin-
| uing their endeavor to prevent the
| enemy from penetrating Moon sound.
Berlin Official Report.
BERLIN. via London, October 1s.-
| The official statement from general
headquarters last evening says:
I'm Flanders the artillery duel was
less intense. while northeast Of Sois.
sons 1t was very intense.
Moon Island has been captured az .
result Of a combined land and sea at
tack"
The text of yesterdays statement
reads:
Eastern war theater: Reclassifica.
ton of the booty captured on Oesel
Island has up to the present given the
following result: Ten thousand prison.
ers from two Russian divisions-only
a few hundred men escaped to Noon
Island: fifty guns, including some una
damaged heavy coastal and field bats
teries: numerous arms and other waA
material.
Go Through Mine Fields.
Portions of our naval forces presses
forward through the mine fields in
the Gulf of Riga to the southern exit
of the great Moon sound. whittier about
twenty Russian warships retired after
a short engagement. The Russian bat,