The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-26
GERMANS GIVE UP
FOUR VILLAGES
IN BIG RETREAT
British Are Said to Be in Position to
Capture Bapaume, the Key to Ger
man Line in Northern Part of
Western Front.

From staff correspondent of the AS
sociated Press, British headquarters in
France, Feb. 25, via London, Feb 20,
1 1885 a. On one portion of the Brit
ish front, thes war to-day became war
Of movement. Under cover of fog and
mist, which have been particularly heavy
in the past 4s hours, the Germans car
ried out the greatest retirement they
have made on the western front in the
last two years, and the British have
swept into possession Of Pys, Serre, Mi
raumont and Petit Miraumont, inelud-
ing the famous Butte DE Warleneourt,
which has been the scene Of some of the
fercest fighting of the war and in places
is deep with the bones Of dead mon.
The exact extent OF the German re-
tirement is not known, but it is esti.
mated that it approaches a depth of
three miles at some points. British pa
trolls are out in all directions, hsrassing
the Germans and keeling in touch with
their movements. Until they report it
will not be possible to say just where
the Germans have determined to fix their
next line of resistance.
Nevertheless, ii can be stated that the
British now or soon will be in position
possibly to force the evacuation of Bap-
aume, which has been the key TO the
German position since the beginning of
the battle of the Somme. The points
which have fallen into the British hands
have stood out in the history of the
fighting in the front and had been most
stubbornly defended. Only a week ago
when the British attacked on two-mile
front east and south of Miraumont and
Pvs the German resistance was bitter
and the high ground desired was won
only after desperate hand-to- hand en-
counters and the taking of more than
500 German prisoners.
The British had been waiting for a
clearing of the foggy weather before
pressing the advance but meantime it |
is apparent that the German high COM |
mand decided to retire without any fur I
ther fighting TO stronger positions pre-
pared well to the rear. Friday night |
fires were observed in the Gerdan front 1
line trenches They were only dimly
visible through the thick mist of the par
ticularly black mint. but it was discov-
,red that the flames issued from burning
German dugouts Patrols sent forward
reported the evacuation of the German
,utposts. Similar reports came from
north of the Ancre. and by nightfall
the British had established
themselves in the Petit Miraumont and
advanced all along the line, meeting only
With sniping resistance here and there.
Yesterday the British patrols pressed
Onward keeping in close contact with
he Germans, who had retreated fur
her 1000 yards during the night. Thus
he way was opened to ths ground which
or months had been contested
There were bursts of stiff resistance
rom German obstructing parties which
Iad been scattered in the rear of the
etiring columns Early to-day big
nine was exploded in the main street of
Iiraumont just before the British ad
anee patrols entered.
II IS evident now that the Germans /.
aking advantage of the last days of the
ecent heavy frost and hard ground,
moved a great many of their guns well
o the rear. leaving Others forward 10
eep up a show of resistance. This they !;
ad been valiantly doing for the past
bree or four days, firing more rounds
han any German guns in recent months.
he reason for this is considered as
robablv desire to shoot mp stores of
mmunition which there was not time to
,moye.
The foggy, misty weather was ideal z
n the beginning Of the German retire :
ent. a. il completely hid the purpose 81
the movement from the prying ewes L
the airplanes. which otherwise would v
ave daily searched out the German po- es
tions. il
Germans made prisoners Saturday and
ssterdav said they had been left be- v
nd to walk about and fire their rifles FL
IA make as much noise as possible r,
hey we're delighted to be relieved from "
.eir thankless task. II