Evening star., 1917-04-01
Dancer to Germans Is InCreas-
ed at Several Important
StrategicaI Points.
GREATER RETREATS
SEEM IN PROSPECT
Retirements in Belgium and Alsace
Possibly Standardization
Assaults Fail.
BIG GAINS IN NEAR EAST
Russians and British Bring Greater
Menace to Turks-Russia Fast
Setting House in Order.
BIG GAINS IN NEAR EAST
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

crumhle, so are French and British
armies under the valiant and saga
cious leadership of Gems. Nivelle and
Haig. bit by bit. veritably eating their
way into the new German defensive
positions on the western battle front.
Another week has passed. The French
and British at the present moment are
making smaller gains than at any time
since the great German retreat began,
but nevertheless they are gaining.
Outside of Champagne the Germans
have been unable to do little II any
thing in an offensive way.
With this situation in mind it gem
orally is accepted the world over that
the Germans are but beginning an even
greater retreat, for it is admitted that
the preponderant weight of allied
munitions. heavy guns and determined
soldiers must in the end prevail over
the thoroughly disheartened fighting
men of the kaiser. The question now is
being asked: Can the British and
French keep up their effort in the race
of the defensive lines established by
Won Hindenburg? The answer is gen.
orally in the affirmative.
Many reasons continue to be adyanc-
ed for the German withdrawal Some
authorities are inclined to the beIleI
that 1t is the result of shortage OF
to the scarcity of copper and cotton
in Germany Others declare that the
Germans are retiring purely ror
strategical reasons Some are inclined
to the belief that the Germans have
erected much stronger defenses along
the Belgian border than were erected
in France, after two years OF EFFORT
How this can be is not known How
ever, conjecture follows conjecture.
but in all likelihood the most logical
fnr ne rPtlrpment
be found in the cryptic utterance OF
British officer who said:
THE Germans got out because they
jolly we'll had to 60"
forces in following up the German re-
treat has been amazing. AS the days
go by further reports are received en-
phasizing the wonderful success of the
French and British in reconstructlng
highways and railroads Immediately on
the heels of the retiring Germans, hav-
ing as they do tens of thousands OF en-
gineers trained for this purpose. alone
With the possible exception of that
section of the present battle line to
the south of Arras, the main forces viz
tually have been in contact the most of
the time. Allied blows have been fol-
lowed by more successful ones. The
Germans have been forced back both
north and south of the st. Gobain pla-
teau which defends Laon. the southern
end of the Hindenburg line. The oc-
CuDatlOn Oh CnlS IOFeSC territory Dy tHe
allies may turn the whole German line
on the south. This daily is brought
nearer by the activity of Nivelle's men
to the north of Chauny and Immediate
ly above the Aillette river. The Ger
mans are resisting desperately in this
section. French officials reports declar-
ing that the French gain only after
fighting foot to foot.
The advance on the northern section
of the st. Gobain plateau also menaceS
La Fere. while the French have made
gains Immediately to the north of La
Free. which only emphasizes the crit
ical situation of the Germans at this
point.
IN that section of the line to the
south of st. Quentin the Germans also
are bei n e
Germans Lose slowly forced
South of St. Quentin. hsct r. n th,s ,Is
section they have delivered numerous
counter attacks in great force during
the past week, but invaria bly, they have
been hurled back by the whitening
French fire. Germans apparently are
very desirous of holding St. Quentin
and the advance of the French to the
south makes greater the danger to this
strategical point, for the British are
n.
Directly east of Peronne the British
are driving another wedge into the
German lines. having captured Roisal
among other towns in this section. The
British advance has been slower than
any registered by the French, but new
ertheless the forces of Gen. Haig have
been consistent in their activities
Several German counter attacks in this
region also have been repulsed in re-
cent days. Both London and Berlin
continue to emphasize the severity of
the fighting and the great casualties
suffered by both sides.
Directly to the west of Cambria, one
OF the most important of the various
points along the Hindenburg line. the
British continue to advance, having
captured several villages. The Ger
mans. evidently realizing the great
danger, are resisting Stoutly in the
immediate vicinity of Croisilles but
notwithstanding their efforts, Haig's
men continue to slowly crawl forward
When the history of the present war
is written in full it is expected that
one of its darkest chapters will be
that dealing with the fearful destruc-
tion of French territory traversed in
the German retreat. Barbarism, wan
tonness and extreme cruelty have
marked the German actions if allied
reports are to be believed The coun-
try has been absolutely laid waste,
and though the Germans may have in
a measure impeded the allied advance
by the obstructions they created by
their policy of destruction they un :
doubtedly could have done nothing
which would have so fired the ardor
of French troops. The spirit of re-
venge is dominating the heart of every
French soldier today. and this will do
much to strengthen their fighting
power in forward movements The
British, keenly sympathizing with their
allies. also have vowed to avenge the
French who have suffered so long dur
ing the period of German occupation
Everywhere there is a will TO do The
doing viii come in German retirement
into Belgium and back to the Rhine IL
entente soldiers have their voice
considera Die speculation has been in
dulged in in recent days as to possible
German plans for
Speculation as to the future. Reports
c p, have come that the
Germans already
are sacking and destroying in those re.
gions lying Immediately to the east
and north of their present positions
which might indicate that they con-
template further retirement from their
present line. 1t is argued that IL the
Germans are planning further retreat