Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-27
German Line Withdrawn
Three Miles in the West

BRITISH HEADQDARIERS IN
FRANCE. Feb. 25.-Cvia London, Feb
ruary 2s. CFrom a Staff Correspondent
Of the Associated Press.)-On one pOr-
ton OF the British front at least the
war today became war Of movement
tfuder cover OF fog and mist. which have
been particularly heavy in the past
forty-eight hours. the Germans carried
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, Mirau-
mont and Petit Miraumont, including the
famous Butte ue WarIencourt which has
been the scene OF some of the fiercest
fighting OF the war, and in places is
deep with the bones OF dead men.
The exact extent of the German re-
.lremenr is not known, but il is esti-
mated that II approaches a depth of three
miles at some points British patrols
are out in all directions. harassing the
Germans and keeping in touch with their
movements UuJil they report it will
H0r he possible TO say just where the
Germans have determined to fix their
IaexJ line OF resistance
BAPAUNE Is NEXT.
Nevertheless 5t can be stated that the
position possibly 10 force the cyacu--
ton Of Eauaume. which has been the key
-o the German position since the begin
r-u- of The battle OF the SOmme- The
pc.u; which already have fallen into
lie British hands have stood out in the
uss-C cry Of The lighting Ola this front, and
lad been most stu0bOrniy defended only
a week ago when the British attacked on
a two-mile front east and south of
MiraumOnt and Pys, the German resis-
lance was bitter and the high ground de
sired was won only after desperate hand
to-hand encounters and the taxing NJ
more than see German prisoners.
The British had been waiting for a
clearing Of the foggy weather before
pressing the adv auce. but meantime IL
is apparent that the German high com
mand decided to retire without any fur
fher lighting TO strong positions pre-
barred well TO the rear. Friday night
fires were observed in the German front
line trenches. They were only dimly
visible through the thick mist OF the
particularly black night. but it was
discovered that the flames issued from
burning ground dugOuts. Patrols sent
forward reported the evacuation of the
German .outposts. Similar reports came
from north .of the Ancre, and by night
fall yesterday the British had estab-
Iished themselves in Petit MiraumOnt
and advanced all along the line, meet
ing only with sniping resistance here
sud there
Today the British patrol pressed for
ward. keeping i'm close contact with the
Germans who had reJrested a further
. 900 yards during the night. Thus the
way was opened 10 the ground which for
months had been contested
There were bursts of stiff resistance
from German obstrUcting par ties which
had been scattered in the rear of the
retiring columns. Early today a big
mine was exploded in the main street
OF NiraumOnt just before the British
advance patrols entered.
1t IS evident now that the Germans
taking advantage of the last days OF
The recent heavy frost and hard ground
moved a great many OF their guns well
to the rear. leaving otherg forward ia
keep up a show of resistance This
they had haen valiantly doing for the
past three or four days. firing more
rounds thar any German guns in re
cent months The reason for this is
considered as probably a desire to shoot
up stores Of ammunition which there
yas not time TO remove
The fogEy, misty weather was idea
for the beginning OF the German re.
'etrement, as H. completely hid the pur'
nose of the movement of the pTying
eyes Of the airplanes. which otherwise
would have daily searched out the Ge--
man positions
Germans T1ale prisoner yesterdaS
and today said they had been left be-
hind to walk about and fire their rifles
and make as much noise as possible
They were delighted to be relieved from
their thankless task