The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-04
From Riga to Russian Capital
Is Kaiser's Goal.
Must Make 32O-Mile journey
Before the Winter.
THE SLAV RETREAT CONTINUES
TeutOns Capture Jaegel River
RegiOn-Ships Shell Coast.
Road to PetrOgrad Full of
Lakes and Marshes.

Petrograd, Sept 4-The Russian
continued along the coast in a north
easterly direction, the war office an
nounced today.
In the Kull district the Russians
are retiring northward, having been
Jaegel river region.
Hostile ships are Smelling the Riga
coast, the announcement adds.
Russian forces did not evacuate
Riga without blowing up the fortifi-
cations at the mouth of the DVina
river and all bridges across that water
way, today's statement declared.
Thousands of Prisoners.
Berlin, Sept. 4.-Via London-Sev-
eral thousand Russians were taken
prisoner by the Germans IN their ad-
vance in the Riga region. army head
quarters announced today. More than
so guns were captured Ly the Ger
man forces in the Great Jaegel river
district.
From Riga northeastvard. dense
masses of troops are crlWding the
toward Great Jaegal,' the war office
declared. The Russian resistance at
Riga was broken down. The enemy's
evacuation of the city was hurried"
Lansing Still Confident.
Washington, Sept.4.-Official reiter-
alton was made today by Secretary
Lansing of confidence in the strength
of Russia.
The evacuation of Riga was char
acterized as a development about
which it was impossible to predict Just
what effect it would have altho the
inclination was to assume that it
would not greatly impair or alter the
oil Gin ntI of
remained.
Riga, on the bay of Riga, was
evacuated by the civilian population
and foreign consUls three weeks ago.
This was the news contained in the
official dispatches surrounded with so
much mystery at the time and over
which so much uneasiness was felt.
Drive for Capital.
London. Sept. A quick. hard
drive from Riga to Petrograd is Lon
don's forecast today of Germany S
Russian campaign. Military experts
believe Germany will do her utmost
in speed. The Germans must go far
in the 500 mile journey toward the
Russian capital before freezing wealth
er sets in, if they expect to rely on
the German Baltic fleets aid. They
may also be expected to hurry with
all speed to cover as much ground as
possible before General Kerniloff can
of the Russian army.
If the Russians manifest a proper
fighting spirit, military authorities
here today agreed they will easily
block the German drive. The ground
from Riga to Petrograd is of a nature
lending itself readily to defense. 1t
is marshy and studded with small
lakes and waterways. Small bodies of
Russian troops could play havoc with
greatly superior attacking forces at
tempting an advance over such broken
terrain.
Where's Russ Fleet?
In the opinion of observers here,
much depends IN the Russian fleet in
stopping the expected German drive.
If mutinous sailors can be quelled and
discipline and fighting spirit restored,
the Russian fleet could effectually
hamper-perhaps prevent-operation
by a German fleet in the Baltic.
No attempt was made to minimize
the effect of Riga's fall on the Ger
man population. Battered badly on
the west front by British and French
drives of the past few months and
with Austria losing ground every hour
under the Italian assault, the German
(ContiEued on Page Two.l