Evening star., 1917-03-15
Evacuation Not Voluntary.

Immediate defenses of Bapaume, and
at some points are only few hundred
yards from them.
Evacuation Not Voluntary.
The correspondents describe at length
the positions abandoned by the Ger
mans, and state emphatically that the
evacuation was not voluntary, but that
the Germans were pounded out Of them
by the British guns. From the Loupart
ridge, which was held by the Prussian
1t is said the defenders ran
away, leaving intact the dugouts which
the British artillery had spared. EX-
plosiye charges and detonaters which
had been prepared for wrecking the
positions were found by the British
The British found villages taken
pected. Grevillers to a great extent
was not damaged. Many houses In
were only slightly injured.
Germans Sacrifice Supplies.
The Germans sacrificed considerable
and supplies in their re-
treat. Some Of the dugouts contained
a quantity Of champagne and other
wines and cigars.
The Times military correspondent.
on the German retreat.
says:
on clean ground, where We shall have
the worst OF the deal. and seems to
have prepared such position on what
is known as the Hindenburg line. which
appears to run on our front from near
Lens through st. Quentin and toward
Ian. Naturally. it takes some time &c
make fresh dispositions after German
retreat, but far from tncommod1ng THIS
10 yrociaa1y yrhat desire" :"
May Have Postpoued Plans.
Assuming that the present German
movement ID not D main operation. the
writer discusses other possible fnten-
tions. He believed that Won linden
bure's great strategic reserve is still in
the interior Of Germany. owing 70 tne
severe winter having impeded trans
port Therefore, he says. the Germans
may have been compelled to postpone
their plans, and continues:
with at least 1000 more men in the
field than he had a year ago, the enemy
is capable of hitting hard provided he re-
tains the necessary physical and moral
and provided the allies nave
not placed in the field equivalent rein
forcements.
.If the German leaders really believe
their submarine warfare will have the ef-
feet they promise their people. then the
reserve may be retained in the
interior for a counter offensive when the
allies attack; but If the hope placed
in the submarine war proves extravagant.
then an offensive alone can give the Ger
mans the decision.
"Evidence continues to point to the
western front as the most probable thea
ter for the next great effort. We
must also regard Italy as an extension
Of the French front and remain alive to
oh. cI, in tha Italian the
ater. All hypothesis concerning the enc
my's action, however, is subordinate to
the initiative we may assume. On this
matter nothing can be said
British Official Report.
The official report from British head
quarters in France last night reads:
North of the Ancre valley our line
advanced on a front of over one and a
half miles southwest and west of Ba-
,aume. We also made further progress on
a front of over two thousand yards south
of Achnet-le-Petit and occupied a hostile
trench southwest of Essarts, northeast Of
During the day an enemy raiding party
northeast of Arras failed to reach our
lines. Last night a party of our troops
raided enemy trenches east of Armen-
there's.
I'VE carried out effective bombardments
today against enemy positions north OF
the Somme and east Of Arras. where two
explosions were caused by our fire. There
nas been considerable artillery activity
east of Armentieres and In the Ypres
sector"
German Attacks Broken.
PARIS, March 15.-'East of the Oise
surprise attack which we made in the
region Of Moulin Sous Toutvent enabled
is to take prisoners" says today's Off
,ial statement. Several German attacks
IN small French posts in the vicinity OF
yingec, west Of Navarin farm, and in the
Argonne were broken up by our fire. In
he region of Maisons de Champagne there
was rather spirited artillery fighting
infantry actions.
There is nothing to report from the
remainder of the front"
French Repulsed, Says Berlin.
RERLIN, March 15.-The official
statement reads: western front: Dur
ng the rainy weather the artillery fire
n most sectors was limited.
.In the Champagne French attacks
IN the northwest slope of hill 1S5, south
II Ripont, were not developed, under
,ur annihilating fire
'Reconnoiter1ng advances took place
n the Somme sector and on the west
,ank Of the Meuse CVerdun region),
vhere a post held by the French south
II Cumieres was captured by a DASH
ne, energetic attack in broad daylight.