Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-02-26
STRONG POSITIONS
SKILFULLY YIELDED
Haig'S Men Believe Bapaume,
important Railroad Center,
Is Sure to Fall Into Their
Hands As Result.
(From a Staff Correspondent of tie
Associated Prcss.)

Feb. 25 tvia London, Feb. 28)-oU
one portion of the British front at
least, tho war today became n pnr ef
movement. Under cover of fog ars
mist. which have been particularly
heavy > the past forty-eight hours
the Germans carried out the greatest
retirement they have made on the
western front in the last two wears
and the British have swept into pos
session of Pys, Serre Niraumont and
Petlt Mlraumont, including the ia
nous Butte de Warlencourt, which
mas been the scene OF some of the
llercest fighting of the war and in
places is deep with the bones of dead
men.
Ihe exact extent of the German re-
tlrement is not known tonight. but II
Is estimated that 1t approaches to 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. Until
they report, 1t will not be possible to
say just where the Germans have de-
termined to fix their next line of re.
sistance
May Take Baupaume Soon.
IT can be stated that the British
now or soon win be, in position pos
sibiy to force the evacuation of Bau-
padme, which has been the key to the
German position since the beginning
of the battle Of the Somme. The
points which already have fallen into
the British hands have stood out In
the history of the fighting on this
front and had been most stubbornly
defended only week ago. when tho
British attacked on two-mile fro >.
east and south of Miraumont and Pys,
the German resistance was bitter and
the high ground desired was won only
after desperate hand -to-hand encoun-
ters and the taking of more than 500
German prisoners.
Retire During Fog.
The British had been waiting for n
clearing of the foggy weather before
pressing the advance but meantime 1t
is apparent that the German high
command decided to retire without
any further fighting. to stronger posi-
tions prepared well In the rear, Fri.
day 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 German
dugouts. Patrols sent forward report.
ed the evacuation Of the German OUT
posts. Similar reports came from
north of the Ancre, and by nightfalI
yesterday the British had established
themselves in Petit Miraumont and
advanced all along the line, meeting
only with sniping resistance here and
there.
Today, the British patrol pressed
forward, keeping In close contact
with the Germans. who had retreated
n further 1000 yards during the night.
Thus, they way was opened to the
Ground which for months had been
contested
There were bursts of stiff resistance
from German obstructing parties
which had scattered in the rear OF the
retiring columns. Eearly today a big
mine was exploded in the main street
Of Miraumont just before the British
advance patrols entered.
1t Is evident now that the Ger
mans, taking advantage of the last
days of the recent heavy frost and
hard ground, moved a great many
of their big guns well to the rear,
leaving other forward to keep up a
show of resistance. This they had
been valiantly doing for the past three
or four days. firing more rounds than
any German guns in recent months.
The reason for this is considered as
probably desire to shoot up stores
OF ammunition which there was not
time to remove.
The foggy, misty weather, was
ideal for the beginning of the Ger
man retirement, as it completely hid
the purpose of the movement from
the prying eyes of the airplanes.
which otherwise would have daily
searched out the German positions.
Germans mado prisoner yesterday
and today said they had been left be-
hind to walk about and fire their
rifles and make as much noise as pos
sible. They We're delighted to be re-
leved from their thankless task.