The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-03-21
DEPRESSION IN
GERMAN ARMIES
AF TER RETREAT
CFrom Il. STAFF Correspondent OF the
Associated PrcSSl

II rom Il stan correspondent pI SHo
Associated PrcSSl
BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE. Mar. 20 (via London, 1873
D. m.)-Prisoners recently taken APP
parently were bewildered when told
Of the extent OF the German retire
ment. They said they thought it
great Joke when they first heard Of
the German retirement. they sup
posed it was solely for the purpose of
getting the British deeper and deeper
into the mud OF the Somme. But
when il came TO abandoning positions
that had been fortified with months
and years OF labor there was much
depression in the ranks. Most OF the
Cierluan guns that formerly doomed
along the Somne seem TO have been
utterly swallowed up.
There is no longer doubt that the
main German forces had already in
stalled themselves on Il line before
Cambria and St. Quentin. but today
fires could be seen beyond tht sine.
as if the retreat had not yet been
carried out TO the full limit. The pic
ture behi:-j the British lines is one OF
greatest activity. Movement has
given the Amy wonderful JOY.
Pursuit Continues.
British troops continues and at places
sharp fighting. enSued today. This
particularly true Of the nei-hborhood
of CroiSlieS northeast of st. Leger),
which is stnl strongly held By ma
chine gun companies. The armies
have been in such close touch at other
places that field fighting tactics have
been employed. the Aen firing from
sklrnliSh lines.
" hcn.vvr tne British troops pene-
trate territory formerly held by the
Germans they encounter the same con-
ditlonS of GsSl lruct!un and devastation
as in Eapauur anal P"r"anc. Only Il
few villages hasc escaped. the Ger
mans in these Instances having been
compelled 10 ic:tr,: before their plans
10 lay waste could be- carried out
Cavalry q Surprise.
The use of cavalry py tns British
and French seems t" have taken The
OF their calcuiatl"ns. IN one village.
supper. which had been laid out. was
abandoned. together with much ammun-
itiou. ani III uthrr places nrwty Up'tcd
boxes oi high explosives We're found.
wiki which n" Germans had planned
to destroy thr villages before leaving.
That the wholesale destruction was
systeynatiz.d in ~nanner character
istic Of German iheroushneSs was
shown by captured orders on the sub
jcct. These directed tn. blowing up nt
all houses. wells and cellars except
those occupied ,? rear guard outpcSts.
the rear guard being held rcSponsiole
for making their shelters uninhA bl;abi:
before falling back. All farming in-
plemenlS were burned or destroyed.
Wherever 4 building was spared. it
was first rendered iIlthy. The orders
also directed the assembling OF filth Ii
the neigh borhood OF all wells for the
purpose OF cuntaHiriating the water.
The destruction Of fruit trees now
apparently covers the entire belt OF
evacuated territory. even those cling
ing 70 the walls having b:cn strippct
off. In one Abandoned position :. large
black cat WAS found nailed 20 an up
right board. y cap was on its head
10 aud Il cigar was III It's Uoc<h
\ British Observation party working
forward today on horseback had
rather exciting experience. The patrol
was attacked wiki machine gun lire
BY three German airpianeS. which
swoopcd very Tow but failed TO hit any
member. of the party.