New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18
French and British
Drive On Together
Teutons Abandoning Arras
and Noyon Salients-Pe-
ronnes Capture Near

Hard pressed by the British and French
forces. the Germans have abandoned
almost their entire line along a sixty
mile front from northwest Of Bapaume
to the Oise River
The Germans. il is now believed, are
evacuatng both the Arras salien and
the great Noyons sector. There is still
no halt in the retiring movement at
any point on the front. and it seems
likely that they do not intend to face
about for a stand until they have
reached a line extending from the
Douai region southeast 20 Scissors,
thus eliminating tho two great loops
IN tho Picardy front. Hundreds OF
square miles OF territory are yet 20 be
evacuetcd il this plan is carried ous
Bapaume Is Captured
The magnitude Of the German retir-
;ng movement overshadows the loca!
victories which on any other day OF the
war would command instant attention.
Bapaumc. the German stronghold which
has been the goal OF the british for
eight months; Roye. the bastion in the
German line Of defence along the west
crn side of the Noyona salient, which
has withstood the onslaUghts Of the
French for two years; and no less than
seventeen important villages and forti-
fed posts fell into the hands Of the
British and French troops as they
swept forward mile after mile into ter
riiory held by tho enemy since the fall
OF 1911.
The British and French advanced
along fronts OF about equal length
north and south of the Somme, but the
sweep Of the French troops carried
them far deeper. The average gain OF
the French on the front Of twenty-five
miles. extending from Chaulnes TO
noint beyond Lassigny. was SIX miles,
while the British penetrated the Ger
man dcfcnces from three to four miles.
North Of the Somme, IN addition 10
Bapaumc. the British captured Trans
loy. Achiet-le-Pcti and Achiet-le-Grand.
Bnufvilers. Bihucourt, Ablainzeyllle.
RucGuov. Essarts. Monchy-au- -Bois and
Oueenoy Farm. South of the river
tho villages Of Fresnes. Horgny. Vii
rs-Carbonnell. BarlcuX. Eterpigny and
La Maisonette fell into British hands.
Cut Road to Noyons
On their front, which adioins the
british lines to the south Of Chaunes,
the French overran Roye and Lassigny,
cut the important road to Noyons and
swept the entire defensive system. Inc
Germans refused to offer battle TO the
swiftly pursuing French forces.
I'm many quarters 1t is thought the
great withdrawal the Germans are now
conducting will not end without disas-
ter for them. as the British and the
French are not only pressing closely
on their heels but arc sweeping into
control of the main roads and lines OF
communication on which the Germans
depend for their safe retirement TO
secondary defence line.
Quitting Noyons Salient
4. tho present moment the extensive
German withdrawal is pivoting on lie
Fere. 4 town inclosed within the Noyons
loon q few miles north of Soissons.
The entire German line from that point
northwest is swinging outward toward
the east. abandoning mile after mile OF
valuable ground from BucGuoy to the
Disc.
The French pressure on the lower
part of the German line may soon force
il TO drop TO Seasons as pivot ana
leave most of the Noyons salient IN
French hands. The latest reports indi-
cate that the French are rot far from
Noyons itself, and are moving forward
uniformly from Chaunes TO Lassigny.
The British and franch gains logl-
cally involve the evacuation of the I'M
portant strongholds Of Peronne and
Chaulnes. with their adjoining de-
fences. Both Of these places have been
pocketed in such manner that their
capture is only a matter Of hours and
probably will be achieved tomorrow.
The fan of the village Of Eterpigny,
which lies on the eastern bank of the
Somme Immediately south of Peronne
seals the fate Of that town. while
Chaulnes has been left fal TO the west
of the British and FrencJ lines to the
north and south and is almost an ISL
and surrounded by hostile arms.
Burn Evacuated Towns
Unouestionably the Germans are de-
stroying every town they evacuate.
British official accounts of the latest
DEVELOPMENTS state that Bapaume was
found in flames. while the smaller vii
lagos hanking il were reduced 20 ruins
ebfore the enemy departed. This ruth
lessness is believed 70 be part Of
settled plan 70 influence the French TO
sue for peace in order 70 save property
From July ! Of last year the Allies
have been hammcring az the defences~
of Bapaume, which last summer was
used a. the headquarters of Crown
Prince Rupprecht. From the centre Of
Bapaume radiate a number of little
valleys of a depth of a hundred feet.
with roads running IN every direction.
Beyond the town lie the plains of Elan
ders. with the important points of Cam
brai. Valencicnnes and Douai almost
within view. With Bapaume the Brit
ish come into possession OF two impor-
tant railroads running 20 Cambria and
Arras.
| Man showing the crteHt OF the