The sun., 1917-02-27
BRlT]SHGAlNON
II MILE FRONT
Occupy Fifth Village as Ger.
mans Continue Big Ancre
Retirement.

LONDON, Feb. 2S.-The Germans are
still falling back on the Ancre. Their
retreat has spread over a front Of eleven
miles and to n depth of two miles. at
least, giving up to the British nearly
twenty-five square miles Of intrenched
and fortified ground.
Besides the villages already announced
Warlencourt- Eaucourt has been occu-
pied. the fifth fortress village to be
yielded up without a struggle in the
last two days. The British are at the
outskirts OF lie Barque. only two miles
from Bapaume, the goal Of their Somme
offensve.' It is believed possible that
the Germans may even relinquish Ba-
paume.
Whether this big German retirement
is the beginning of bigger things. per-
haps the retreat to line many miles
back that the British and French
hoped to force by the Somme offensive.
is the great question now.
Give Tn Much Ground.
up in their withdrawal at least half as
to wrest from them by terrific exertion
and at heavy cost in the fighting OF last
summer and autumn.
Already the German retirement Is cas-
lily the most important backward move
ment on the western front since Joffre
hurled back Won kluck at the Marne
two and a half years ago.
The Germans have evacuated partly
because Of British pressure. but partly
of their own volition, positions on the
Ancre that defied British assault ever
since the first Of July. Such strong
points as Serre and Miraumont have
been given up in this manner.
AirpIanes on watch.
With the clearing OF the weather to-
day the British airplanes have gone OUT
to find Just how far the Germans are to
retreat and how closely II Is sare tor Inc
British to press them.
Berlin still preserves absolute silence
about the most important German move
In the west since the Verdun offensive
Not word has appeared In the orncla
statements thus far to indicate that any
thing unwonted was happening on the
Ancre.
The bulletin from Berlin tonight men,
tions the failure of a British attack eas'
and says fighting became more active
toward evening near Sailly-Saillisel, or
the Somme front. southeast OF the pivo
point of the German retirement. The
German statement of the day mentions
more British advances, evidently under
taken north of the Ancre front to as
certain IL the Germans there were about
| t. withdraw.
The Omcial Reports.
The official statements report little
! of importance elsewhere on the western
! front. They are as follows:
Rritsh--The movements referred to
I'm the communications Saturday and
Sunday were maintained during the
day on both banks Of the Ancre. Our
advance extends over front OF abouf
eleven miles. from east of Gueude-
court to south of Gommecourt, and has
! attained a depth of two miles.
In addition to the village Of Serre.
reported yesterday. we now occupy the
strong point known as Butte de War
| lencourt and the villages of WARREN
court -Eaucourt, Pys and Miraumont.
! We have reached the outskirts OF IIe
Barque Irles and Puisieux Mont,
| A hostile attack made early this
morning on one OF our posts south OF
the Somme was driven of with loss.
| Make Raid Near Arras.
| We carried out successful raid this
! morning north Of Arras and captured
twenty -four prisoners. We also en-
| tered the enemy's trenches during the
night west OF Monchy Bois and
west of Lens and brought back a few
| prisoners The hostile artillery was
more active than usual during the day
south Of the Somme and also south OF