Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-02-27
JubiIant British Forces in Pur-
suit and Rear Guard Actions
Are Being Fought Contin-
uouSIy.
FIRST POSITIONS NOT
HELD TO BITTER END
Haig's Forces Are Approach
ing Coveted Bapaume; 9th
er Parts of Teuton Lines
Are Being Evacuated.
tsr soRs,so JOURNAL SPECIAL lsAsEo WIRE,

British Headquarters in France,
Feb. &c (via London; From a staff
Correspondent OF the Associated
Pressl. The full extent of the Ger>
man retirement in the Somme area
has not yet developed. outpost fight
ing continued today between strong
British patrols and German rear
guards, who fell back.
There has been comparatively little
light artillery fire. the Germans evil
IDENTIFY depending on their heavy guns,
mounted on railway trucks, which
could be rushed away at the last mos
ment in case of necessity,
British Press Forward.
The British continued to move for
ward all along the line from just
south of Gommecourt to lie Transloy,
the latter point apparently being the
pivot from which the German retreat
swings backward. The line has been
carried well to the northeast of Cerre,
while lrles and Warlencourt are in
British possession Cerre, Pys, War
lencourt and Miramont long ago
ceased to have form as villages. The
artillery fire they endured for months
pulverized them TO bits of stone and
brick, the remnants Of which now will
be used by the British in restoring
the roads to passable condition.
Nearer Bapaume.
The weather cleared today and the
airplanes were up closely observing
the German movements. The British
line today was sreeuing nearer Ba-
pauIne, the Famous German strong
hold, on which they had labored for
the greater part of two years. The
roads leading into Bapaume were re-
ported to be obstructed by giant trees,
mine craters and other barriers.
No official hint as to the probable
line the Germans propose taking up
could be obtained tonight There
have been many conjectures during
the last week, however, that when the
Germans began to fall back under
pressure, they probably would make
no real resistance until they had
reached line approximating Arras
and Cambria. 1t is known that the
Germans have been preparing do
fenses that far back for some time
whore they hope to hold against the
expected allied offensive.
Bigger Retreat Probable.
A fire was observed at CONNIE
court today and this may be the next
salient to give way. One of the Ger
man trenches which has passed into
British hands had the official name
of Heaven trench" although it's con-
dition suggested anything but that.
The German retirement, coming so
closely on the heels of unrestricted
submarine war, forms one of the most
interesting phases of the great war.
The Germans gave the first intima-
tion of the near approach of their re-
tirement when they evacuated Grand
court three weeks ago. This was evil
dence of new German tactics, for
throughout all the bitter fighting of
1916 they never yielded an inch of
ground until they were driven out at
the point of the bayonet
Enthuses British Army
The backward movement, inaugu-
rated at Grandcourt, now becomes the
greatest retreat on this front since
the battle of the Marne. The events
of the last two days have sent thrill
through the entire British army, a
thrill which seems to forecast the end
of the Stationary warfare"