New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-26
Struggle at Hindenburg
Line Develops Into One
of Greatest in War
French and British
Drive Germans Back
poiIus Enraged by Enemy's
Ravages-English Capture
Two Important Towns
LRr c,hI. % M TrAune


1ordop. March 25.-Along the whole
front OF the German retreat terrific
b,,ile is being waged which is likely
% rrove one Of the decisive factors o.
,be war. From Arras to La Fere. dis
,,,c. OF sixty miles, the heavy guns
are now in action and reinforcements
are being rushed up with the greatest
possible speed.
The heaviest lighting is still going
IN around St Quentin, where the
French to-day closed in upon the en-
env's lines for a considerable distance
and along the road 20 Cambria, where
.be british have scored successes which
rsv have farreaching consequences.
Roth che British and French ad-
,snees aim TO cut of st. Quentin and
eanturo hat powerful point in the Hin
senburg line of defence. The troops
- General Haig have driven the enemy
ont Of the important centres Of Roi-
sci and Beaumetz-les-Cambrai. where
street-to-street and house-to-house COM
bats took place before the Germans re-
Hnouished their grip. The occupation
Of Roisel cuts the Cambrai-St Quen-
tn line. one OF the chief supply lines
on which the present German front IS
believed 10 be dependent.
Devastation Arouses POilus
Around ST. Quentin Itself the French
have struck new blows thai. coupledwith
the successes OF their allies. threaten
ihat stronghold. To-day Nivelle's troops
forced the Germans from the impor-
tsnt line embracing Castres. Essigny-
lc.Grsns and Hill 121. along front OF
about two and n half mias, directly
west and southwest Of ST. Quentin.
.Du-in~ the course OF the day" say
tfc French communique. "a desperate
struggle followed q strong defence by
the enemy. hut our soldiers. aroused
by the spectacle OF the ravagos com
nitted by the Germans. everywhere
grove back the adversary. who suffered
serious losses
Along the Athlete limo, north and
south Of the Oise and north Of Soissons'
if, French troops pressed ahead to-day.
On the east bank cf the Aillette they
advanced 20 the south OF Cnauhy.
South Of the Oise they penetrated sew
eral points in the lower Coucy wood
and reached the outskirts OF tolem-
bray and Coucy-le- Chateau, which the
Germans have devastated. North OF
c. 30
On the British end Of the Arras-La
Fere line the Germans are fighting 70
halt the advance Of Haig's troops.
which continues much slower than
that OF their allies 20 the south.
The British improved their position
west OF CrOiselles, Berlin admitting the
retirement of German rear guard
forces from this district. as well as IN
the neighborhood Of Beaumetz. Counter
attacks north of the Bapaume-CamDral
road failed under British fire.
French Gain at Nerdun
On the Verdun front to-day the
French captured elements OF enemy
trenches east Of the Malancourt wood.
Attempts by the Germans to divert the
French TO the east bank Of the Meuse
by an attack near Apremont failed.
Twenty-seycu aeroplanes were
brought down during the day. seven
teen being Allied and ten German.
Lieutenant Baron Won Richthofen
climbed nearer the record OF Lieuten-
ant Guynemer by bringing down his
thirtieth machine. The French hier
Still leads. with thirty-hye victims:
German aviators again bombarded
Calais and Dunkirk yesterday, killing
;Wo civilians in the former town.
Descriptions of the Allies labors
behind the odyancing armies and Of
The German devastation o1, Page 81