The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-22
GERMAN re hEntNT
MAY MEAN COMPLETE
EVACUATION OF FRANCE
Yet Fixed but Expected II VIII Rest
On 81. Quentin and IAlle.
FRENCH AND BRITISH
-.. CONTINUE EEHEIR PURSUIT
Until German Lines Are Pushed
Back Well Into Territory of the
"Fatherland"--Neit Are Apt to
Consider Peace.
BY MAJOR EDWIN w. DAYTON.


New York. March 2I.--With eager
ness tempered by caution the French
and British armies in Northern France
continue to press forward across the
wide evacuated territory in search OF
the new German line of resistance.
There Is as yet no definite indication
as to the exact location OF this much
sought line.
The importance of LAile, Cambria.
and St Quentin with other towns on
the same general line makes it prob
able that the German fortificaiions
finally Will be unmasked there. II
the retreat did not halt there 1t would
fall back quite certainly all the way
TO the Belgian frontier and mean the
almost complete evacuation Of French
soil. The advance guards OF the pur-
suing columns are now so close 20
the so-cslled Hindenbu burg line that the
next rev days must solve the ques-
ton This line is so far back of the
old front that II would possess all
The advantages over the allies that
any prepared position could hold over
the attacking forces pending the con-
strucuon Of new siege works
Wears German Soil.
further retreat would be a frank
confession by the German command
crs that their military strength hal
been 90 much reduced that they could
hold no longer the valuable invaded
region. defenKive position along tho
Selgtan frontier would require very
nearly ~ many divisions n the
Hindenburg line. 1t would have the
advantage Of shortened communica-
ions TO the rear. but the great dis
advantage OF being close to German
>oil, upon which the allies would be
delighted to throw the burden OF
wars destruction.
Neither England nor France are
likely to welcome any peace until the
cities and towns east Of the Rhine
have learned war as have Belgium
and France.
The French in pressing towards St
Quentin fought brilliant and sue
cessful action at the village OF Jussv.
ON the south side of St Quentin canal.
nine miles south of the city. After a
hard fight. In which they suffered
heavy losses. they captured the villa ga
and fortified savriennois castle. The
st. Quentin canal At Jussy follows the
shallow valley which connects the low
lands Of the Oise with the valley OF
the somme at Ham and beyond The
strong German resistance at this potn.
indicates that the limit Of the evacua-
ton may be about reached. Across the
canal the ground rises toward St.
Quentin. and there the German. NAV
begin to fight again.
Further north the British repor.
great activity OF German patrols be
tween La Bassee canal and the Belgian
frontier. which might perhaps cover a
retirement In the northern sectors cor
responding to that which has occurre,I
further south. From Bapaume British
troops have progressed six miles to the
north, where their advance guard Ia al
Saint Leger. on the Cambrai- Arras rail-
way. and from Peronne their lines ex
tend about three miles toward this 80 s.
through Estrees to Cinaxy.
From Persia news comes that n Rus
sian column driving toward the south.
west from SappiE has crossed the from.
tier into M4sopotamia and the Turks
are still retreating through the region
below Kermanshah. The vet season
Aas set n along ~ TigrtA'