0
MASA DAILY- B
THE WEATHER
v Fair
VOL. XLVII NO. 67.
Omaha, titey morning, September 4, 1&17. ten pages
RUSS .EVAGUAtE BALTIC'
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FORT;
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GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS TAKES
PERSONAL CHARGE OF PEACE
SITUATION IN WINDY CITY
Stafje Executive Goes to Chicago to Take Over Authority
WhenL.Mayor ThompsonDeclines to Obey Orders
J , Concerning Canceling of Meeting of
Pacifist Delegates.
s Chicago, Sept. 3. Governor Frank O, Lowden arrived in
Chicago today to tke personal charge of the situation arising
out of the meeting of the conflict of authority between himself
and Mayor Thompson, with whose aid the People's Council of
America for Democracy and Termspf Peace was able toehold a
meeting yesterday, after it had been interdicted by the gov
i
NO MORE MEETINGS
The city hall was, closed, except
for Chief Schuettler's office.
"So far as I can, Jearn, there is no
prospect of another meeting of the
pacifists," said tnhef. "Apparent
ly they concluded fbex work yester
day." -M t
- Most of the dekgaies, however,
were reported as still ia the city.
The' Seventh Illinois infantry,
which was v called out last night by
General Cartels commanding the Cen
tral department, United States army,
was back on routine duty today. Gen
eral Carter permitted themto return
to their homes late last night, when
it appeared that their services would
not be needed. ,
. SCHUETTLER SUBMITS.
s Chief Schuettler today ordered that
hift' men salute federalized soldiers
and National Guardsmen and assist
ffcem in every way possible.
I am not going to nave my men
take issue with the militia or the
regulars or any representative of the
United States," said the chief. "Any
order for the police department to
engage in , conflict with the soldiers
will have to come from someone
else." : . .
A body calling itself the "American
Liberty league, said ta be composed
of women and affiliated with the so
. ; called People's Peace council, met af
a hotel .this forenoon, under the lead
ership of Miss Crystal Eastman and
resolved to go to Washington to
"picket the celebration f conscrip
tion day there, September 5. The pick
eting, it was said, would consist ill
the display of-hanners after the fash
ion of the suffragists.
League Meeting Called.
H. N. Merrick, head of the local
branch 'of the Natibnal Security
- league, called a meeting of the league
foMomorrow to take action against
Mayor Thompson. ' '
"We hope," said Mr. Merrick, "to
institute through the proper channels
the city council and the State Coun
cil of Defense a movement which, if
it does not oust the mayor from his
position, will at least take the police
force out of his hands. We believe that
the city council has the power to do
this." v" .
After various conferences, Gover
nor Lowden left tor Ottawa, 111., to
make a Labor day speech, leaving an
impression behind with his friends
and associates that he considers the
meeting of, the People's , Council of
America fox Democracy and Terms
oi Peace as. a closed incident.
Attorney General Brundage,' who
talked with the governor, said that
the governor also seemed to regard
the fact that Mayor Thompson dis
regarded his instructions in protect
ing the meeting of the council yester-
day also was a closed incident. It
appeared that the governor, although
he is said to have the power to start
ouster proceedings against the mayor,
has no present intention of doing so.
. ' i
Remodeling, of French
1 Cabinet Seems Likely
Paris, ' Sept 3. A complete re
modeling of the cabinet appears to be
' more and more probable, says fhe
Matin, which dda -that in such an
event Premier Ribbt will not present
the collective resignation of the min-
? 'istry until he has a new combination
ready. Various 1,1611 M shade of
. political opinion are mentioned in
this connection, but any prediction at
this time is characterized as prema-
ture. i '
.The Weather
Tot Nebraska Fair. .
Xempenttont at Omttut Testordnr.
' - - , Hour. De.'
. t . ST
a. m
1 a. m.. t T
S a. m. ........... 68
.J a. m. If
'It a. m 1
11 sv m ."..( 8S
m
- 1 p. m.... ........ 1
' I p. m i
3 p. m. ........... l
vJm Sl
S f. m 8
t p. m 7
T p. m It
Comparative Local Record.
1917. lll. 115. 114.
Highest yesterday.... S iff 8 (1
ijwut vesterday,.,. .if- 61 ti 7
Mean temperature..., 0 . It 74
Propltatlon .....n.. .00 N.OO .00 .00
Temperature and precipitation departure!
from the normal at Omaha yesterday:
Normal temperature................ 70
Excesa for the day ,.. 10
Total deficiency since March I......... Ill
Normal precipitation,..... 01nch
TWIlceocr for the day. .. .'. 01 Inch
Total rainfall, stnrs March 1... .11.711 Inches
rftclMy since March 1.-. t. 86 Inches
Deficiency fofcor. period, 1J18. 0.73 inches
. Excesa for cor. period, lli. ... .03 Inch
Report From Stations at 1 A. M.
Station and State Temp. JUnh- Rain
Weather. 7 p.m. est lall.
Omaha, Clear.......... 71 ' S -00
. . t. -A.-WELSH Meteorologist
s'" 1
SENATE PROBES
DEFECTS FOUND
IN 'AMEX' SHELLS
Military Affairs Committee De
mands Statement From Sec
retary Baker; Chemist's
Investigation Urged.
' (By Associated Press.)
Washington, Sept. 3. Creation of
aiboard to investigate the cause of de
fects jn cartridges sent to American
forces in France was recommended
today by Brigadier Oeneral Crozier,
chief of ordnance, in a letter to Ad
jutant General McCain.
The letter follows:
"Certain small arms ammunition
supplied tcf, the expeditionary force jrt
trance nave oeen touna to contain ae
fective primers and theommander of
the force .had 'been - warned and duly
advised in the premises by this de
partment. I recommend that a board
whose .membership shall include , at
least one competent chemist be ap
pointed to investigate the cause of
the defects which has been in these
primers; the methods of inspection
which are intended to guard against
defects in small arms ammunition; "the
adequacy of the measure in con
seauence of the incident and all the
circumstances connected therewth and
to make ful reports upon the subject.
Shortly-before General Crozier's let
ter was made public the senate mili
tary affairs committee decided to have
Secretary Baker make a statement be
fore it tomorrow in regard to, the de
fective shells. Whether an investiga
tion will be made will be decided after
the secretary has testified.
Garbage Decrease Shows
Food Conservation Effect
Washington, Sept. 3. Practical re
sults of the food conservation cam-!
paign are shown in the garbage re
ports for July from fifty-nine cities
compiled today by the food adminis
tration. San Diego, Cal., heads the lists with
a garbage collection only 43 per cent
of that for a year ago. Among other
cities showing a decrease of 25 per
cent or more are Portland, Ore.; Lin
coin, Neb., and Davenport, Ia.
Texas Cattle Dying as ,
Result of Car Shortage
Austin, Tex., Sept. 3. Owing to a
shortage of cars, cattle in the drouth
stricken section of west Texas- can
not be moved to points where water
and grass are obtainable, according
to findings of the State Railroad com
mission today. Telegrams from west
Texas said cattle are dying as a re
sult. .
KELLY SWEATED"
American Schooner
rH&lirnl? Tin Fluhnmrino
a "aiBABBSsai tru s
ALLNIKHId::L
HE "CONFESSED"
The State
today of
Y tue mking August; 23 of the Ameri
can scnooner can r. cressy ot
Bath, Me., by a submarine. The
crew of seven was saved.
Preacher's Attorneys Declare
He Wass Promised Freedom
if He Would Admit He Com
mitted Villisca Murders.
BULLETIN.
Rev. and Mrs. L. G. Kelly, ac
companied by . Sheriff Dunn of
Montgomery county, left: Logan,
Ia., for Red Oak by automobile, at
7:30 last night -
Kelly is reported to have shown
considerable fear, going from jail
to the automobile in the street. His
removal was without demonstration
of any kind, since his going had
been kept secret by the authorities.
John A. McKenzie and Silas A.
Harris, associated with A. L. Sut
ton in the defense of Rev. Lyn G. J.
Kelly, charged with the Villisca ax
murders, returned yesterday from
Logan, Ia., where they passed Sun
day with Kelly and his wife.
"Kelly told me that he was scared
into signing the paper which pur
ported to be his confession," said Mr.
McKenzie.
"He told me he was given a third
degree treatment from, 9 o'clock in
the evening till 8 the following morn
ing. He was denied right to send for
his attorneys. He. said that a repre
sentative of the attorney general, the
sheriff of Harrison county and the
deputy sheriff remained with him all
night and that they read to him for
hours from papers said to contain
evidence which would be bf6ught
against him at the triaL, He was told
that the slate had eighty-seven wit
nesses wno would appear against him,
in additionto thJ,who testified be
fore the grand juryv
, Was Promised Freedom.
"Kelly wants to go to trial and still
maintains his. innocence of the crime
with which he is charged. During the
lasfet few days he was told that public
sentiment at Red Oak was so strong
: -i t.: .u.i. L . ...u t..i..i,.4
against mm nidi no wuuiip uc ijmiicu
if he was taken there) tMat it ho would
sign the so-called confession he would
be taken to' an asylum where he would
be held six months and then released
and it would all be over." -"
Attorneys Sutton and McKenrie
are going to Red Oak tonight, They
declare they will disclose some sen
sational facts in connection with the
alleged third degree methods used on
Kelly.
Havner Withholds Confession.
Attorney General H. M. Havner
at Des Moines refused tcr make- a
statement as to the probable effect of
Kelly's confession on the continuance
of the trial ofher than to say that the
text of the confession would not be
made public until it was brought out
in court. . " . '
Four People Hurt When
Two Automobiles Collide
' Angelo Dondero, Anselmo, Neb
received a bad ,gash behind the ear
and a deep cut in the forearm, whem
his machine, driven by Dominick
Rolli, of Anselmo, collided with the
automobile of George Siert, ' drug
gist, of Florence, at Twentieth and
Manderson streets. Dondero was im
mediately rushed to the Swedfsh Mis
sion hospital. Rolli's wife and 8-year-old
child, who were m the car with
him, were badly shaken up. Mrs.
George Siert received a few cuts
about the forehead, and Margery
Siert, 16 years old, was bruised about
the shoulders. Rolli- was driving
north on Twentieth street at a good
rate of speed, witnesses 'of the acci
dent say, and in swinging around be
hind two cars he crossed to the wrong
side of ' the road, and crashed into
Siert's machine. Both .machine were
demolished. An Army cart from Fort
Omaha, was coming immediately" be
hind Siert's automobile and trashed
into the fender before the ear could
be stopped. - -
Khaki Clad Men in Omaha Spend
Labor Day in Various Activities
The army'and navy, as represented big business' today ? said Lieute'n
in Umaha, observed Labor day . in
different ways. Some of the stations
took a holiday, while others cele
brated by laboring. v V
"That is what Labor day is for,
isn't it?" said . Major Harries of 4he
Sixth Nebraska. "We shall keep
right on with qpr usual .schedule, as
we nave had no orders to take a holi
day." : A.
The four companies of the Tth
were out on the streets drilling at
their usual early hour. Crowds of
holiday-making people took opportu
nity to watch their evolutions, many
thinking ifwas a special entertain
ment staged for the day. The Sixth
being the youngest regiment, the men
feel they Jiave no time To lose if
they wish to make a gAod showing at
Deming.
At the Army building the officers
were down early, but only to finish
up business left over from Saturday
night. Recruiting Officer Lane "ex
amined a number of men who applied
for enlistment Saturday, but no- new
names were taken. .
The recruiting office of the Sev
enth, ,1612 Farnam street, was open
early and men soon began coming in
for information. "We expect to do
ant Leidy. "Many will take advan
tage of the holiday to get the facts
from us. We expect to convince
many of the ned of men in the Na
tional Guard reserve."
The quartermaster's offices in the
Army building also wore an unwonted
appearance of leisure. No business
was done there or at the supply de
pot at Twenty-second and Hickory
streets.
Ensign Condict and his staff at the
navy recruiting office worked during
the morning sending out letters to
Nebraska and South Dakota newspa
pers, enlisting their services in the
drive for cooks and bakers. The navy
office in Omaha is making personal
appeals to 600 papers in the two states
to help get these recruits that are
needed so badly. .
LABOR'S DAY IS
CELEBRATED BY
MEN OF OMAHA
Starts With Parade in Morning
and Closes With Picnic at
Lakeview; Stores. Gen
erally Close.
Omaha paid its tribute to tl(e men
who toil yesterday and the festivities
incident to Labor day did not cease
until midnight. It was a full day of
rest and pleasure, free from the hum
drum of every day work life.
Starting with a parade in the morn
ing, in which 5,000 members of the
labor organizations marched, the pro
gram of the day concluded With a
dance' at' Lakeview park, participated
in by not only the "members of the
younger set, but by many of the men
and women well afong in life.
The day was perfect and everything
helped to make the observance of the
holiday most enjoyable, for there was
not an incident to mar the pleasures
of the occasion.
Practically all who took part in the
parade spent the afternoon at I.ake
vieto and in addition there were thou
sand of others. There were men,
women,, boys and girls. It was a
happy, fun-loving lot and they made
the most of the outing.
Oratory at the Park.
It was 2 o'clock when the Labor
day oratory started and it was not
concluded until 5 o'clock, after which
came a long card of sporting events,
races of all kinds, jumping and other
tests- of strength. And with the end
of the sport card, came the dance, in
which hundreds' took part. V
.- J. J. Carrigan, one of the oldest
members of the Central Labor union
and former president, introduced the
speaker. The first was Mayor rJahl
man, who as soon as he removed his
hat apologized for being bald headed,
contending "that in making furniture
they never put a marble top on a
cheap article." The bald-headed men
in the audience applauded the mayor.
Mavor. Dahlman spoke at some
Jength up.on the wonderful growth of
umaha and attributed considerable ot
its prosperity to' the loyalty of organ
ized labor. He predicted that the
future growth and prosperity of
Omaha would be the greatest of any
city of the central west and that at
alC times organized labor .would be
found doing its share.
Effect of War on Labor.
Attorney Bigelow discussed labor
in all of its phases, urging organiza
tion, contending that organizing is
the only way of fighting what he
termed autocracy.
Mr. Bigelow predicted that the out
come of the war in Europe will mean
that in the future the laboring people
of not only the countries on the other
side of the Atlantic, but those of the
United States,-as well, will have more
of a voice in the affairs of the govern
ment. He asserted that the war will
bring about many reforms in govern
mental matters and probably pro
hibition and universal suffrage for the
entire nation.
Miss Gladys Shamp, a young wom
an of more than ordinary ability, was
greeteH with rousing cheers as she
arose to speak. "We are .all loud in
our praises for the t boys who have
enlisted and gone away for oversea
service, but the women at home are
entitled to some credit, Aor they are
doing their bit.' They are going to
feel the effects pf the war in many
ways, even if they do not send their
boys to the trenches."
Women in War Vocations.
Miss Shamp spoke of the many new
vocations into which women are en
tering, due to the men having been
called to the colors, and urged that
in this new industrial life they must
be taught strength, urging that the
first and most impressive lessons
should be those of organization.
Pointing to hctw conditionshave
changed within a few years, Miss
Shamp said that it was not so long
ago when most of the men were say
ing: ...
. "The place' for wdman is in the
fhome, but now the cry is different;
you hear it on the street, in tne busi
ness house, the office and the club,
women must go where they are
needed and do whatever work they
may be called upon to perform. "
"With this change and this demand
for female labor it js only fair that
there must be an equal wage for equal
work and there is no reason why a
woman working alongside of a man
and doing the same class of Work and
performing as much, should not have
the same wage."
Mis? Shamp insisted that women in
entering the industrial field should be
dignified and' independent and that
POLICE NOW SEEK
MOTIVE FOR DEATH
OFMRS.NETHAWAY
Belief Now is that Florence
Woman Ws Not Killed by
Negro Who Chanced to
Be Near
(fontlnned on Pate Two, Column Two.)
The machine gun company of the
Fifth Nebraska at tlje armory sus
pended drilling and took a holiday.
As this company has been drilling at
the armory for three months, h felt
it could afford to take a day off. Many
had permission to extend their week
end leaves and stay home for another
day, promising to return in good time
for Tuesday's work.
Lone Air Raider Swoops
Down on Kentish Coast
London, Sept. 3. One man was
killed and cix women and children
injured by bonabs dropped in the
aerial raid over East Kent last
'night,-it is officially announced. The
attack' was made by single air
plane and was directed against the
important Channel port of Dover.
Seven bombs Were dropped.
Mrs. C. L. Nethaway, victim of the
black crime that shocked Omaha and
Nebraska a week ago Sunday, was
murdered by a person with a motive,
is the latest belief of investigators.
Both Sheriff Clark and his workers
and keener minded police are now
centering their search for new clues
along these lines, instead of continu
ing on the theory that the unfortunate
woman was hacked to death near the
Northwestern railroad track in South
Cut by a fiend who chanced to cross
her path.
Charles Sjnith, negro suspect, is
still in solitary confinement in countv
jail, but .the so-called "chain of cir-
spent all. last4 week in "weaving
around him" is weakening; in fact,
it is nearly brokfti.
Resigns to His Fate.
The negro, visited in county jail
this morning by AdultProbation Of
ficer Andreescn, prison worker and
criminal expert, seemed resigned to
the fact "he was in a bad fix."
Andreesen. who had fhad wide ex
perience with degenerates and mur
derers, is confident Smith knows
nothing of the brutal slaying of Mrs.
Nethaway. "I'd stake my reputation
Smith never murdered that woman,"
said Andreesen.
"I've checked him ut and I know
he knows nothing about the crime.
He's nothing to me a plain 'shine,' in
the parlance of the street bt I'd bet
my last dollar if I was a betting man
that Smith knows no more about that
crime than the postmaster in Pe
dunk, la." - - , ;
Brutal Deed Planned.
Investigators who have followed the
case from the beginning and who
have gone over the scene of the crime
carefully are sure the mutilated body
of the Florence woman, who left her
home on a sunny Sunday afternoon to
meet her husband, was the work of
someone wjio planned the brutal deed
planned it, carried it out and left
the spotvW,ith the stage set.
tier nat was thrown oneplace,
piece of her undergarments another,
her hair switch another, a knife han
dle another 'and a big blade still an
other. All these articles" apparently
were thrown where they would be
found. ,
Struggle Hardly Probable.
If a struggle had taken place the
murderer would have had to drag
the woman around in a circle in or
der to scatter the bits of evidence so
carefully. The murder spot is such
that a. struggle of this kind, while
barely possible,' was hardly probable.
On the ownership7 of a razor, found
Saturday afternoon by a little girl
shortly after a coroner's jury, Sheriff
Clark and others had visited the mut
der district, led by Claude Nethaway,
Florence real estate man, husband of
the mufdered woman, hinges an im
portant phase, of the mystery.
"Another important find was the dis
covery Sunday, a week after the
crime occurred, of a necklace, the
property of the murdered woman,
near the spot where she was hacked
to death.
Assault was not the motive, for a-
SLAVS: ABANDON
RIGA IN FACE OP
GERMAN ATTACK
I l
Threat of Offensive By Land and Sea Causes Russian
Troops to Evacuate principal Baltic Port;
Military Consequences of Move ,
Considered Problematical.
(Continued on rose Two, Colnmn One.)
Beatrice Man Killed in
Auto Wreck at St. Joseph
Beatrice, Neb., Sept. 3. (Special
Telegram.) The body of James Kas
parek, who was killed in an automo
bile accident near St. Joseph Satur
day evening, was brought to his home
at Odell today for burial. He was 35
years of--age and leaves a widow and
two daughters.
Lee Taylor of OdelJ, who was prob
ably fatally injured, is in a hospital
at St. Joseph.
Manley Hoppes, Private in
Company L, Drowns in Lake
.Gothenberg, Neb., Septi 3. (Special
Telegram.) Manley Hoppes, a pri
vate jn Company L of the Nebraska
National Guard, wlio are stationed
here, was drowned in Lake Helen
here this afternoon.
Another guardsman tried to save
him and was nearly drowned in the
attempt.
German Victory May Be Blessing
In Disguise, Say Slavs at Capital
Washington, Sept. 3. Abandonment of Riga in the face of the new
German drive into Russia and even the evacuation of Petrograd itself,
have been forecasted as possibilities in confidential advices to the Ameri
can government during the last two weeks.
Such a development is not regarded with so much alarm as might be
supposed. With 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
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 Russia's greatness, tri
umphs of Alexander, Catherine and Peter the Great.
Furthermore, some Russians of the new government are said to think
that a German occupation .of Riga, and even Petrograd, might be a whole
some object lesson for the radical element which has been hampering the
new government, and that an experience under the military heel of Ger
many might convince them of the need of supporting the government as
now constituted to save their fatherland for Russia.,
COSSACKS LOSE
PRIVILEGES; MAY
START REBELLION
PetrograJ Fears Taking Away
of Ancient Rights of Tribes
men by Provisional Govern
ment Basis for Trouble.'
London, Sept. 3. The Petrograd
correspondent of the Times predicts
trouble in conslquence of the treat
ment of Ithe ossaks by the provi
sional government and cites the state
ment thai the rights and privileges of
the Don Cossacks, consecrated by
many centuries, have been canceled,
their peculiar elective offices abolished
and government commissaries substi
tuted. Under this order General Ka
lebin, the Cossack commander, be
comes a simple soldier and after the
Moscow conference, at which the an
ti-Cossack campaign began openly, a
personal aitercationoccurred between
Premier Kerensky and General Kale
bin, f
The Kuban, Terek and Orenburg
Cossacks have not yet been affected
by the new order, but, according to
the correspondent, the blow that
strikes one Cossack host must be felt
by all the twelve armies adhering to
the Cossack league and it is to be
expected that they will not tamely
submit.
Chicago Woman Shoots
Self Accidentally
Concord. N. C, Sept. 3. Mrs. Maud
King of Chicago, shot near here last
Thursday ntght, met death as the re
sult of an accidental pistol wound by
jher own hand, according to the ver
dict of the coroner's jury.
Mrs. King and several friends drove
into the country Thursday evening,
and a mile from town left the car
with Gaston Means of Concord, to
walk to a nearby spring. Means, was
taking a drink of water, when- he
heard a shot, and turned to see Mrs.
Kin? falling. Members of the party
iestified that her pistol, was lying by
her side. The bullet entered the
head behind the left ear and she died
several hours later. N
Senate to Recess Tuesday to
Do Honor to Drafted Men
Washington, Sept. 3. By unani
mous consent the senate today agreed
to recess tomorrow afternoon so that
members may participate with Presi
dent Wilson in the parade in lionoi
of Washington" men drafted irfto the
national army.
Pupils from Larger Cities Are
Better in Studies, Says Masters
Miss Sarah Vore Taylor was over
whelmingly re-erected chairman of
the advisory committee of the Reg
ister at the meeting of the faculty
of the Central High school. Dr. Her
bert Senter was appbinted secretary
treasurer by Principal Masters.
Plans for standardizipg' the work
were discussed by the teachers. 'A
system of cost accounting , will be
started that a comparison may be
made between the Centrar High
school and other schoojs," said Prin
cipal Masters. JHFifty to 75 per cent
of the pupils who come from other
schools fail in their studies. This is
especially true of those who come
from country, nigh schools. Pupils
'"f
I
who come from the larger cities are
found to be more successful.
It is the duty-of each teacher to
conduct her class as economically
as possible. She is expected to han
dle as many students as possible and
handle them well. Each teacher has
a maximum of 125 pupils. Good teach
ers are made as well as "corn. If a
teacher is only doing average work
that teacher should either leave (the
school or improve her work. We want
fewer failures and have adopted the
seven-rsxiod day for that reason."
An extra chance to enroll will be
given to those who have failed to
register this afternoon in the office.
Seventeen hundred have enrolled so
far,
RIGA IS ABANDONED.
(CorrespoAdfeneo ot Ths. Asaoctttsd Press.)
; Riga, Russia's principal Baltic port,
has been abandoned to the Germans
under 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 began to push northward
after making good their foothold on
the right bank of the stream., .
. Menaced also by the attack of a
Column f Teutonic forces moving
from Mltau, southwest of Riga, and
by the German naval forces recently
reported hovering in the vicinity of
the gulf of Riga, the Russian military
authorities evidently considered the
city no longer tenable and decided
to evacuate it.
The possible ultimate military con
sequences of this development are
difficult to estimate. The right flank
of the entire Russian western front
was anchored on the gulf of Riga at
a point to the west of the city and
with this anchorage apparently lost,
the possible strategical developments
of the situation seem infinite.
. May March on Petrograd,
' Much' depends oil the purpose of
the Germans and the size of the
forces at their disposal for operations
in this. war theater. It is too early
yet x for it to be made apparent
whether they will be content at, pres
ent with occupation 'of the Baltic sea-
port the Russians have left to them,
ox, if the advantage is to be pushed
and attempt made to swing back, the
entire Russian line, on this front, ere- t
ating an opening for an operation
by land and water with Petrograd as
the objective. ' '
Riga, capital of the government of
Livonia, had a population of more
than 500,000 persons before the -war
and aside from Petrograd was most
important Russian . commercial and
industrial town having access to "the
Baltic. . .v.
It is situated at the southern ex
tremity of the Gulf of Riga, a stretch
of water 100 miles long and sixty
miles wide. Riga lying at the point
where the Dvina empties into the gulf,
The port is icebound during virtually
one-third of the year. '
Founded by Germans. , ,
It had a very large German popu
lation before the opening of hostili
ties and it is interesting to note that
it was founded in 1158 by German
merchants as a storehouse, the city
passing through the control of various
nationalities during the centuries until
it; finally, in 1721, was incorporated "
with the Russian empire. Its com-
mercial standing is indicated by the
fact that it was the third seaport of
Russia, only Petrograd and Odessa
exceeding it -inimportance. ' '
TheGermans long have had tUVir
eyes upon Riga and at the close of
the great campaign of 1915, when
Poland was overrun and large sec- .
tions ofRussiarysoil occupied by the
Teutonic force an effort was made
by Field Marsnal von Hinderburg to
break the line of the Dvina between
Riga and Dvinsk, 110 miles to the ,'
southeast.
Had Riga in View. '
The Russians at that time, how
ever, were able to hold their grip
on the line, being aided by the advent
of winter. During last year no seri-
ous offensive was undertaken by the'
(Contlnavd oa Fairo Two, Column One.)
Fire from Ambush On Repair ff
. Men ofNStrike Closed Mine
MiddlesboroV Ky., Sept. 3. From a
concealed posftion on a mountainside
200 shbts were fired across the val- ,
ley early today at a partjr of repair '
men, proceeding to the mines ' of
the Lower Lignite Coal company,
where a strike of union cpal miners
is in progress. Three persons were
wounded, including Manager L. B.
Gunn and Gillis Johnson. The lath
ter was said to be seriusly injured, j
