* m * THE GREAT WAR * * DAY BY DAY. * X ft * (Associated Press Summary.) * K K SUNDAY'S WAR SUMMARY. The Russian Riga fleet has started northward from Moon Sound possibly with the intention of endeavoring to escape through the tortuous channels and maze of islands lying between them and the Gulf of Finland. Or it is possible the Russian armada, although far inferior in gun power and tonnage, has sallied forth from the sheltering waters where it took refuge last week to give battle to the dreadnought and I other craft comprising the German fleet. The announcement of the sailing of . the flotilla is contained in the latest i German official communication, which ) says the Russians left behind the , wreck of the battleship Slava, which j was sunk in last Wednesday's battle, I and four additional vessels that have run aground since the 'naval activi ties in the gulf of Riga began. If the Russians are endeavoring to make their escape, instead of offering bat tle, doubtless their destination is Rev al, the Rusian fortress situated on the Gulf of Finland, in northern Esthonia. Meanwhile the Germans have cap tured in its entirety the Island of . Pago, lying at the southwestern en- | trance to the Gulf of Finland, and | also the Island of Schildau, situated | between Moon Island and the Estho nian coast in the Gulf of Finland. Several hundred prisoners were tak tn on Dago Island, to be added to the large number captured during the past week on Oesel Island. British naval craft have heavily bombarded the port of Ostend, Bel gium, which is being used by the Germans as a submarine base. The Berlin official communication says numerous houses in the town were damaged by the shells from the naval guns. On the fighting front in Belgium heavy artillery activity on the part of the British and French continues, with the Germans answering repeat edly on various sectors. No infantry actions have taken place, except in the nature of reconnaissances. In Champagne, near Carnilet, and in the Verdun sector at several points there also have been violent artillery duels. In Champagne the Germans delivered somewhat heavy infantry at tacks against the French west of Mont Carnilet but were repulsed. There has been brisk fighting be tween the Italians and Austrians in the Trentino region and along the Julian front in the Austro-Italian theatre and between the Entente forces and Teutonic allies in Macedo nia. Likewise in East Africa there has been a renewal of intensive fight ing between British anr German troops, in which the Germans were defeated near Nyangao. Later, how ever, the Germans returned to the fray and at last accounts a new bat tle was ir. progress. Heavy losses had been sustained by both sides when the last reports were sent to London. The preliminary parliament has opened in Pctrograd, Premier Keren sky made the opening speech and was loudly applauded when he announced that while Russia desired peacc she never would bow her herd to force. "We must fight only to save the country," the premier added, amid re newed applause, only the Bolsheviki faction of extreme radicals withhold ing a full meed of encouragement. The German emperor, having con cluded his visit to Constantinople, on the return journey to Berlin, where on Monday he will take part in the cele bration of the birthday of the empress. The emperer is expected to visit the German naval bases, at some of which disaffection recently has been reported, and also to go to Helgoland. He also is expected to discuss with the leading statesmen the political situation which recently has been acute. A TUESDAY'S WAR NEWS. While the Allied troops were busily engaged in consolidating positions won Monday in Flanders, the French for ces of General Petain struck n mighty and unexpected blow against the Ger mon line Northeast of Soissons Tues day morning and made some of the most important gains of terrain since they threw back the army of the German Crown Princ1 which was be sieging Verdun. __ The stroke was m:>de over a front of about six miIo3 from the east of j Vauxsillon to Pargny-Falrin. Under rainy and generally unfavorable weather conditions, the French pushed forward all along the ling, aided by audacious aviators who flew over the German positions at an altitude of about 150 feet, using their machine guns, and penetrating the German line at one point to a depth of two and . one-fifth miles. Numbers of import ant positions fell" one by one into the hands of General Petr.in's men and in addition more than 7,500 Germans, an enormous amount of war material and 25 heavy '( and field guns were captured. The grer.test depth of the drive was in the ccrter of the line where the vill age of Chavignon was captured after a violent struggle which resulted in the enemy fleeing pell-mell. Some of the j best troops in the army of the German Crown Prince were engrged in indea voring Ij hold back the onslaught but 1 their efforts were unavailable under 1 the enthusiasm cf the French to win ] positions which would place them ] more advantageously to press later i on toward Laon. j For about a week the French artil lery had been hurling in front of them in preparation for the drive and when ^ it was started, sad havoc already had i been wrought by the guns. In addi tion to the prisoners taken by the French the Germans also suffered heavy casualties. In Flanders both the British and French troops are holding all the gains i made in Monday's drive northeast of , Ypres, except at one place on the t southern fringe of the Houtholst for- ] est where th^ Germans in a furious < counter attack forced a slight rotire- ] ment by the British. . Tho latest advices concerning the naval activity in the Gulf of Riga be tween the Germans and the Russians show that although the Russians lost the battleship Slava and a larg tor- ( pedobout destroyer, the Germans were i the heaviest losers. Two of their , dreadnoughts, one cruiser, twelve tope do boats, one transport and numerous ; mine sweepers were put out of action , by the Russian fleet. While the i-xaet fate of these vessels has not been as certained by the Petrograd govern ment it is announced that at least six of the German destroyers were sunk. Further attempts to land forces on the Esthcnian coast to the north of Werder have been repulsed by Russian detachments. ? Associated Press Sum mary. TRANSACTIONS IN LEATHER. Aggregate of Recent Sales to Great Britain and Russia Totals $20,000, 000. Following the extensive sales of up- 1 per leather and shoes to the British Buying Commission not^d last week, those operators have since purchased even larger quantities of sole hather, an 1 the effect of the immcnce buying has been very beneficial to the entire leather, hide and shoe trade, and has stiffened priccs materially from tlie'r previous depressed state According to information available in trad" cir cles, the sales ef sole leather were the greatest that have ever been known It is reported that 1)00,000 hemlock sole in bends and 50,000 cases of wom en's cut soles were purchased for Great Britain, and, beside this, 600,000 hemlock sole in sides was taken for Russia, with payment to be made in United States dollars. It is understood that all of this leather is to be furnish ed by three of the largest sole leather tanning concerns, and, while partic ulars as to prices, etc., are not given out, it is stated that the rates obtained were very fair, considering the huge luantities involved, especially as the leather taken by the Commission Con sisted of stock that is not readily mar ketable in this country. Different estimates are made as to how much money has been involved by these transactions, but it is report ed that the (500,000 sides to Russia amounted to around $5,000,000, and probably the 900,000 bends and 3,000, 000 pairs of cut soles (60 pairs per case) going to England will amount at least $10,000,000. This, added to the 5,000,000 to $8,000,000 worth of of upper leather and shoes referred to last week as being purchased by the Commission, will bring the aggregate purchrfSos, of everything up to at least $20,000,000, which is by far the great est deal ever consummated in the his tory of the leather trade. All of this sole leather, as was the ! case in the upper leather purchases, is for civilian purposes, and tends to offset to a great extent the seven and a half months' period during which the British embargo against imports re stricted the export trade here in leath er and shoes so materially. Although the British Commission held up the news of the partial lifting of the em bargo until after their purchases of upper leather were completed, such was not the case in regard to sole leather, and the sales of the latter were effected after the announcement was made that British import permits would be granted to ship leather in store that had been bought and paid for by British concerns. ? Dun's Re view. < Ked Cross Convention. A Ked Cross Convention will be held in R:.leigh Thursday :nd Friday, November 1st and 2nd. The 110 Red Cross Chapters and (WW) auxiliaries md branches nr.: expected to have representatives present. The conven tion will be both inspimticnrl and practical. Every community ha^ "the r:j?ht ?to s