The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-10-14
Lettish Troops Still Holding
City in Most Recent Fight
ing by Strong Stand
at River.
HUNS USE WHITE FLAG
Morale of Defending Army Is OF High
est Character and Determin-
ed to Fight to
End.

L fTGSS Lcet5cQ WhC oCA 'ASS'1
LONDON, Oct 14.-Lettish troops
still were holding Riga in the most
recent fighting to be reported in dis
patches reaching here today. They are
said to have held the city firmly Sun
day night when the Germans failed re-
peatedly in attempts to cross the
Dwina river into the city proper.
Reports from Helsingfors today said
Colonel Bermondt, cooperating with
the Germans in their attack against
the Let's, had crossed the river above
Riga and was concentrating his troops
opposite Riga the Germans hoisted a
white flag Sunday, but the Let's did
not heed the truce offer and continued
firing. Dispatches describe the Let's
morale as being of the highest charac-
fer. Their government has been
moved to Wenden. fifty miles north
east of Riga.
Allied cruisers are aiding in the de-
tense of Riga, according to Lettish
communique.
General Leidener, commander In
chief of the Esthonian army, declared
in an interview that Esthonia would
fight with all her resources If General
Won Der Goltz advanced north Of
Riga.
Tension is Lessened.
BERLIN, Oct 13.-(Delayed.)- j
The allies answer to the latest Ger
man note with regard 70 the Baltic
situation has lessened the tension IN
Germany. While the allied attitude
was decidedly firm, the Germans
consider it was friendly and 90 nor
expect the blockade to be renewed.
At first indications were that Ger
p,any would do and say what was
possible to meet the entente's sug'
gestions of blockade against Rus.
sia. but the feeling today as voiced
by responsible authorities was that
Germany ought to decline the s'lg-
eestion as a matter OF principle in
as-much as she herself had suffered
by the imposition of blockade
The cabinet which will decide the
official position, has not yet been
summoned.
Blockade Against Russia.
rRv Carl D. Groat, United Press
Staff Correspondent
BERLIN, Oct. 13.-Delayed)-
The allies have proposed an inter
national blockade against soviet
Russia. The suggestion was made
to Germany today in note which
also was addressed to Austria and
neutral countries.
The notes receipt here followed
the allies most recent note to Ger
many defining their attitude toward
the Baltic situation and the presence
of General Won Der Goltz's troops.
The communication proposing the
blockade on bolshevik Russia as to
what measures Germany was pre-
pared to take in assisting the move
iment. At first it was stated officially
here that Germany was willing to
/ cooperate, but was incapable of eX-
/ tensive measures.
The feeling later, however, as ex-
pressed by responsible authorities
was that Germany ought to decline
/ as a matter Of principle. 1t was
stated that Germany likely would
reply to the allies that she could not
be a party to an action which would
result in a starvation blockade such
as she herself had suffered. Ger
many also is expected to point out
that the non-bolshevik clements
would suffer as much under the
4 blockade as the bolsheviki.
| As counter-proposal, it was
learned Germany might suggest an
International commission to seek a
course of harmony Sin the spirit of
the league of nations"