Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-03-18
Bic ALLIED DRIVES
NET GAINS OVER
| 81 MILES OF FRONT
British Capture Nine Towns
Above Somme and Six
South of Peronne.
BAPAUME is PILLAGED
BY RETIRING GERMANS
French Enter Roye and Entire Front
Between Andechy and
the Oise.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, March 17.-The British
troops have made another extensive ad-
vance, entering German positions on a
front of about sixteen miles, according to
official report from British headquarters
in France tonight. The text of the state
ment reads:
"Bapaume has been captured by our
troops after stiff fighting with the Ger
man guard. The town had been system
atically pillaged by the enemy. All pri-
vate houses and public buildings alike
have been destroyed. and everything of
value carried off or burned.
Gain South Of Somme.
"Our advance has proceeded rapidly
during the day on both banks Of the
Somme. South Of the river We have en-
tered the enenay's positions on a front
of about sixteen miles and occupied the
villages Of Fresnes. Horgny, Villers-Car-
bonell. Barleux. Eterpigny and lanai
sonette (south Of Peronne).
North Of the river. in addition to the
town of Bapaume, we are In possession
of the villages of LIE Transloy. Biefvillers.
Bihucourt. Achietle- Grand. Achiet-le-
Petit. Ablainsevelle. Bucquoy and Essarts.
We also hold Quesnoy farm, 1.500 yards
northeast of the last named village, and
have gained the western and northwestern
defences of Monchy y-au-Bois.''
Raids In Arras Region.
I'VE carried out successful raids this
morning east and northeast Of Arras
The enemy's support line was reached
and the two machine guns and a num-
ber of prisoners captured. A hostile
raiding party was driven or during the
night northeast Of vermelles.
IAN encounter took place yesterday
between a patrol OF eight OF our air.
% With the result dat M II twenty nniauses
fighting the hostile formation was brok
en- up. Two German airplanes were de-
stroyed and two others driven down
damaged. All our machines returned"
Bapaumess Fall Anticipated.
The fall of Bapaume had been antici-
pated for some time and the capture of
Achiet-le-Petit and Le Transloy were
looked upon as a necessary consequence
Of that event.
The British public, however. hard
ly had hoped for such quick result
Of the continued British pressure fol-
lowing the German retirement, as it
was believed the Germans would make
stubborn resistance on Bapaume ridge
so as to enable them to retire from the
Arras salient. which now becomes more
pronounced than ever.
Apparently the British following up
the advantage gained in the recent op-
erations prevented this being done and
as q result a German retreat on a
l.- Ia f0H hv mil
itary writer's.
Details May Solve Riddle.
Details Of the operations with the
number of prisoners and the amount Of
booty taken anxiously are awaited. as
this will dispose of the question
strategic retirement" or. as the Brit
ish writer's contend, they are being
driven from their positions by British
gunfire and the never-ending pressure
of the infantry.
1t Is believed here the new advance
of the British brings the Germans on
the western front almost to the edge
of disaster for the retirements from
the ArraS salient and from the posi-
tions south of Peronne with the British
in control Of SO many of the main
roads, will be far from an easy opera
tion.
French Forces Enter Roye.
PARIS. March 17.-French advance
guards have entered the important
town of Roye, and the French have oc-
cupied tho entire front between Ande-
chy and tho Disc, comprising powerful
ly fortified lines which the Germans
have held for moro than two years.
This announcement is made tonight
In the official communication from the
war Office, which adds that at several
points the road between Roye and
Noyon has been reached. Frankfort
on Main has been bombarded by
| French airplanes in retaliation for the
| firing of Bapaume by the Germans.
| The text Of the statement reads:
Along the whole front between
| miIes). the enemy. declining battle
abandoned under pressure of oul
troops powerfully and skillfully forti-
| fed lines, which they had held fol
moro than two years.
/ Advance Continues Rapidly.
To-day our advance movement con-
tinued rapidly. Our advance guard
entered Roye, pursuing an enemy con-
tingent, which blew up crossings and
4
! 500 OF the civil population. whom the
| Germans did not have time to remove
greeted our soldiers with enthusiasm.
| ..North and northeast of Lassigny
| which we likewise occupied, we have
cached at several points and even ad
yanced beyond the road between Roy.
and Noyon. In the course Of our pur
suit we made prisoners, who have no
yot been counted.
! Guns Active in Champagne.
"ouite violent artillery fighting tool
,,ace in Champagne. in the region O.
Ma,sons de Champagne. and on tn,
right bank of the Meuse. in the sector
of Les Chambrettes and the Cauriere
wood. On the left bank of the Meus,
we directed destructive fires effectivel.
against the German organizations /,
the region of Avocourt. There is moth
ing to report on the rest of the front
Last night our air sauadrons bonn
barded enemy organizations in the re
. gion Of Arnayflle and factories ant
blast furnaces at Wolklingen. whore ,
great fire. broke out. as well as station
and roads In the region Of Ham and 81
i Continued on si1Renth Pase.5
q