Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 September 1917 — GERMANS TAKE RUSSIAN PORT [ARTICLE]

GERMANS TAKE RUSSIAN PORT

Occupation of Riga Will Increase Teuton Burden IS A BLESSING IN DIS6UISE French ami English Are Quiet While the Italians Continue .to Pound the Austrians Further Back. Riga, Russia’s principal “Baltic port, has been to the Germans 'under the threat of an offensive by land and sea in which the deciding stroke on the land side was delivered by the Germans last Saturday. The fate of Riga was virtually sealed when German troops forced a crossing of the Dvina, southeast of the city and begun to push northward after making good their foothold on the right bank of the stream. Washington, D. C., September 4. —Abandonment of Riga in the face of the pew German drive into Russia, and even the evacuation of Petrogrgd itself, been forecast as possibilities in confidential advices to the American government during the last two weeks. Such a development is not regarded with so much alarm as might bo supposed.

\Vith Riga abandoned, and German occupation of Petrograd In prospect, the seat of the Russian provisional government undoubtedly will be moved to Moscow. Much as they may regret seeing the Russian capital occupied by a German army, the forceful, thinking men of Russia, working to set up a government, may regard it as a blessing in disguise. There are many advantages in moving the Russian capital to Moscow. It is the center of the conservative group and commands the sentimental —almost religious—regard of the Russian populace as the ancient capital of the old empire, surrounded with traditions of Alexander, Catherine and Peter the Great.

Furthermore, some Russians of the new government are said to believe that a German occupation of Riga, and even Petrograd, might be a wholesome object lesson for the radical element which has been hampering the new government and that an experience under the military heel of Germany might convince them' of the need of supporting the governpierit as now constituted to save their fatherland for Russia. On none of the other fronts have there been operations of great moment, except' in the Austro-Italian theater, where the Italians made further progress on theTain* sizza plateau and in the Bresto•vizza valley, and at <.various points along the line have repulsed fresh counter-attacks launched by the Austrians. Throughout this entire theater violent artillery duels are in progress from Tolina to the sea. Advices to the Italian embassy in Washington are to the effect that along the front of the present offensive the Austrians have lost more than 128,000 men. Reports from Udine, Italy, give the Austrian losses as one-third of the first line army. German air raiders Monday night again paid a visit to England, the second time in as many days, dropping bombs.