The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-03-31
GERMAN RETREAT
NEARING ITS END
increased Resistance is Report
ed by British and French
on Western Front.
WEATHER IMPEDES ADVANCE
Heavy Snowstorm Adds to Difficulties
of Arnnies-HeaVy Fighting
Near ST Quentin.

London, March 23.@"The enemy
resistance is increasing along our
whole front from west of ST. Quentin
to south of Arras." the official report
from British headquarters in France
tonight says. Heavy snowstorms to-
day added to the difficulties of our
advance
I'VE carried out a successful raid
yesterday afternoon northeast of Ar
ras and took few prisoners. The
enemy endeavored to counter attack
across an open and suffered severe
casualties
ga small hostile party entered our
trenches early this morning north of
Ypres. They were driven off after
sharp fighting. Another hostile raid
ing party was dispersed by our ma
chine gun fire southwest Of Lens
Heavy Fighting Near La Fere.
Paris, March 23-Hard fighting has
been in progress between the French
and Germans in the neighborhood of
st. Quentin. According to the official
statement issued by the war office to-
night, the Germans made number of
attempts to drive back the French
from the east bank of the st. Quen-
tin Canal, but the attacks failed.
There also were lively engagements
west of La Fere, one of the German
strongholds. The text of the state
ment reads:
I'm the region of ST. Quentin skirm-
ishes between patrols have occurred
north of Dalton. Between the Somme
and the Disc the enemy made violent
attempts to drive us back from the
east bank of the canal of ST. Quentin,
which we occupy in front of Clastres
and Montescourt. Successive attacks
by the enemy were broken down by
our machine gun fire.
Spirited engagements to the west
Of La Fere likewise ended in a COM
plete check for the enemy.
Capture More Villages.
Washington, March 22.-Again the
British and French forces in France
are moving rapidly against the retir-
ing Germans and both London and
Paris chronicle additional important
gains in terrain at various points
along the line running from Arras to
the region of scissors. Forty more
villages have been taken by the Brit
ish in the districts south and south
east of Peronne, while east of Ham,
north of Tergnier and north of Sois-
sons the French have made good prog
ress.
To the north, between NurIu and
Arras, the Germans at a number Of
points are beginning to resist the Brit
ish advance vigorously, but despite
this, says London, their rear guards
are being steadily driven back and the
progress Of the British continues In
the Ailette valley and along the east
bank of the Crozat canal the Germans
are in strong force and have heavily
bombarded French positions.
The Russians apparently still have
the upper hand Of the Turks on the
Persian battle front, Petrograd report
ing that they have been driven from
the region of Sakkiz and that the Rus
SLAMS have crossed the Persian border
and invaded Mesopotamia, thus add
ing to the menace of the Ottoman
troops who are in retreat before the
British up the Tigris and DiaIa rivers
from Bagdad. To the south of SAX
kiz the Turks, who recently were
forced to evacuate Kermanshah, con-
tinue to fall back.
Advanced During Storm.
Washington, March 21.-Notwith-
standing bad weather and almost in
superable conditions of terrain and
the obstacles placed by the Germans
to protect their retreat, both the Brit
ish and French armies in France have
made further notable gains.
Fourteen additional villages have
been entered by British forces from
Arras southwark to Ham, and they
have passed the general line of Can
Ivy, Entree-En-Chausse Nurlu, Velu
and St. Leger. The forward march
beyond Entree-En-C haussee places
British troops within twelve miles OF
st. Quentin
On their part of the line the French
have thrown their cavalry to within
four and a half miles of St Quentin
and also have re-occupied consider
able territory between the Somme
and the Aisne. Paris reports that the
losses Of the French in their pursuit
OF the Germans have been insignifi-
cant