The Washington herald., 1917-03-25
HINDENBURG LINE
SECTOR MENACED
BY ALLIED DRIVE
French Closing in on La Fere,
Key to Famous German
Defenses.
EXPECT TEUTON RETREAT
Two Advance Forts Already Cap
tured-Retiring Enemy Floods
Town.
(By the InternationaI New. service.)

(By the International News Seryiee.)
Amsterdam. March AIN the teeth of
constantly stirrening Teuton resistance.
the AngIo-French armies in the west con-
tinued throughout today to push menac-
ingly close to the now famous ''Hfnden-
burg line"
The French closed in on the key point.
La Fere which is completely under
water. having been inundated by the
Germans. They captured two advanced
forts of the city's defensive system and
crossed the Oise River. occupying the
west bank from the outskirts OF La Fere.
as far north as Vendeui. The line of the
bank occupied is about four miles in
length
Several villages on the east bank of the
AiIlette River also fell into French
hands
The British. on their part. occupied the
village of Roisel. on the Somme. seven
miles each OF Peronne.
In a violent engagement around Bau-
metz Leg Cambria. the Germans. In a
bold counter-attack. managed to take
foothold in the British lines, but they
were elected again in a British counter
attack.
Berlin reports heavy entente losses in
engagements with German rear guards.
After these frequent engagements"
says the statement. in which they suf-
fered heavy losses. the enemy forces
simply groped ahead in a hesitating man.
ner.''
II adds that the French were beaten
OF to the west OF La Fere. In the
Champagne. successful German raids are
reported
Is Hindenburg about to strike in the
east? This question formed the subject
OF much speculation today, as a result
of a statement from the Russian war
ONCE that the Teutons are massinG men
and materiel on the northern end OF the
battle-Iine in Russia. There is a strong
belief among military observers that the
Germans will try to take advantage Of
the chaos created by the Russian re-
volt. strike against Riga and thence ini-
tiate a drive on the Russian capital, the
entire line from Dwinsk southwark stimuli
taneously moving eastward into the heart
of the Muscovite realm.
Thus far. no military action has been
reported to support this theory, but the
Germans, for the first time in many
weeks. resumed activity on the Ru-
manian front today. Troops belonging to
Archduke Earrs army group stOrmed
Russian positions on the frontier ridge
between Solyomtar and CZObsnos valleys,
Berlin announced. Petrosrad admitted
that under enemy pressure. our troops
withdrew to the next line OF defense,
about two-thrds OF a mile eastward. -
In Persia. the Russians. on MARCH l..
occupied the ruins OF the town Of Kerind,
burned to the ground by the retreatinG
Turks. The pursuit of the Ottoman
troops still continues. Petrograd an
nounced.
On the Macedonian theater. Berlin re-
ported today. comparative quiet prevails.
imposed on the French. the statement
suggests. by the heavy losses incurred
during the recent attacks. French gains
were Offset by Teuton counter-atttacks,
the German report AYERS.
Paris. March 2i-"North of the Somme
We have forced back the Germans to the
outskirts of Savy. where they had .estab-
hshed themselves in a line OF trenches
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