The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-02-25
GERMANS LOSE
Line ON ANCRE
British Enter Petit Mirau-
mont, Advancing on One
Mile Front.
MAKE BIG GAIN AT SERRE
Raids of Past Month Force
TeutOns to Give Up
Strong Position.

LONDON, Feb. 24.-On both sides of
the Ancre the Germans gave way to-
Gay on broad front before the con-
slant hammering of the British artillery
and repeated charges OF the infantry.
British troops entered the village Of
Petit M!raumont, advancing on a mile
river the Germans retreated on front
OF more than n mile and a half.
BY to-day's progress Gen. Raw,inson's g
troops threaten seriously two important
points in the German defences on the
Ancre. Only the river separates Petit
Mraumont from Miraumont Itself. a
large village, strongly fortified and the
junction Of five roads The village Of
Serre. on the old German first line,
which has long resisted frontal attack.
Is nearly outfanked
Raids Force Withdrawal.
The dominant reason for the German
withdrawal, which was made apparently
with little opposition, was the individu-
ally small but collectively large advances
the British have been making on the
Ancre this month, taking advantage of
the hardened ground. The last Of these
nibbling advances was recorded yester-
day. when q German outpost just south
OF Petit Mraumont was taken. BY these
small advances the Germans have been
squeezed out of their positions. which
had been nearly ruined by the accom-
panying commandments
The British line south of the Ancre
has now been brought up almost even
with the line established by the Somme
offensive major operations last autumn
and runs practically straight northwest
from Le Sars TO Petit Miraumont. A
salient has been formed in the German
line north of the Ancre from Ba!lles.
court farm to Miraumont
Berlin Admits Loss.
To-day's German statement admits
that the British occupied some portions
OF an advanced position on the Somme.
which the Germans abandoned because II
was filed with mud. This may refer.
however. to the post south Of Mirau-
mont and the trench near Gueudecourt
taken yesterday.
The official statement follows:
Britisit--As a result of the unceas-
ing pressure of our troops tho enemy
to-day vacated further important po-
sitions on both banks Of the Ancre.
We made considerable progress south
and southeast OF Miraumont on
front OF a mile and entered the village
OF Petit Miraumont. We also ad-
vanced our line on q front of over one
and one-half miles south and south
east OF Serre.
During the night the enemy rushed
one OF our posts west of Lens. We
recovered the post by an immediate
counter attack.
There has been considerable mutua!
artillery activity at intervals during
the day and night on both banks OF
the Somme. southwest OF Arras and
south Of Ypres.
| German Effort. Fails.
French--The usual cannonade oc-
Cured along the whole front. Except
for two fruitless attempts by the
| enemy against our trenches at violu
(Alsace) there was no infantry action.
Belgian-There was sustained ar
tlllery activity along the whole front
and violent bomb fighting in the re-
gion OF Steenstrate and fot Sas.
German-In the Wtychseste salient
| there were lively artillery duels. On
| the Artols front several British recon-
noitring dctaclments We're repulsed.
In the Somme sector the British oc-
cupied some portions OF an advanced
position which was filled with mud
and abandoned by us.
In the Champagne the French In the
evening and al night attacked the
lines south OF Ripont, which were
taken by us on February 10. The at
tacks failed.
On the west bank of the Meuse
, hostile detachment entered, northeast
of Avocourt. one os Our most advanced
| trenches. whca was cleared by
counter thrust Immediately launched.
We retained prisoners.
French Advance in Vosges.
| The French afternoon statement reads
| In the Nosges late yesterday one of
our detachments penetrated the enemys
lines north Of Scnones.
In the morning. after violent
! hombardmcnt, the Germans attempted
without success n surprise attack on
our trenches Mt Wissembach. On the
| remainder of the front the night was