Evening star., 1917-03-14
.FALL0 BAPAUME
MADE IMMINENT
BYBR|T|SH DRIVE
Germans Forced to Quit Lou
part Wood and GreviIIers
in Big Retirement.
STILL FURTHER RETREAT
Is BELIEVED LIKELY
Tssrible Guu6re of Allies Effective.
French RepuiSe feuton At
tacks in Champagne.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, March IA. AS am.-Corre-
spondents with the British headquarters
in, France, telegraphing Tuesday evening
concerning the occupation by the British
of Loupart wood and Greviliers, describe
the positions abandoned by the Germans
as having seemed capable Of defense un-
til the garrison was driven out by an at
tack 1t would SEEM however. that the
capture of Irles rendered the positions
untenabIe and that the terrible concen-
trations of the British gunfire apparently
caused the Germans to decide to with
draw before their troops were annihi-
lated.
All the dispatches speak of important
activities that are continuing. The Brit
ish advanced troops are said to be hard
upon the heels of the Germans and more
than keeping pace with their retreat.
See Bapaume's Occupation.
The writer's evidently are expecting the
speedy occupation by the British OF the
important town of Bapaume. although
they stop short of actually predicting it
with certainty. With luck we shall be
there soon," says one correspondent.
threatened" says another.
The mist that obscured the country
earlier in the day cleared during the
evening. The weather became alto
gether finer. and there was an increa Sc
in the activity of the British troops.
One of the correspondents with the
forces in operation said:
I'VE are on the eve of important
movements and the enemy is not likely
to escape the pressure of them without
severe damage. even If he escapes
something like disaster"
Large Withdrawal Foreshadowed.
A German withdrawal on great
scale on the western front is foreshad-
owed by Maj. Moraht in an article in
the Berliner Tageblatt. which is quoted
in a Rotterdam dispatch to the Daily
News. Maj. Moraht recalls Field Mar
shal Won Hindenburgs strategy against
the Russians at Tannebers, when he
caused parts of his army to retire fight
mg in order to gain ample space for
strategical movements.
The military critic reminds his read
ers that Field Marshal Won Hindenburg
is now operating in the west. and says
that by shortening their present front
the Germans are giving their enemies
"a desert to advance over-a ground as
bad as ever fighting ground was"
British Official Report.
The official report from British head
quarters in France announces the aban-
donment by the Germans of their main
defensive system west of Bapaume on
a front of three and one-half miles.
The British troops drove back the Ger
man rear guard to a depth of a mile
and occupied Greviliers and Loupart
wood. The text OF the report reads:
I'm consequence of our bombardment
Of his positions yesterday, the enemy
ahandoned his main defensive system
along the forward crest of the ridge
west of Rapaume on front of three
and one-half miles.
..Durine the day our advancing
.roons have driven back the enemy's
rear guard in this area for depth of
a mile. and have occupied the village of
Crevillers and Loopart wood.
Gain Near Gommecourt.
I'VE have also made further prog
res. east and northeast Of Gommecourt
on a front of about a mile.
.Hostile raids were repulsed during
the night in the neighborhood of Neu-
ville-St. Vaast. Souchez and Armen-
t;ares- In each case the enemy failed
to reach our trenches. Another hostile
raidin9 party succeeded in reaching our
trenches southwest of Neuve Chapelle.
A few of our men are missing.
Our artillery carried out an effective
of the enemy's positions
- 7ConfTni,ed on Seventh PaCel