The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-03-20
Fourteen Villages Fall Into the
Hands Of the Troops Under the
Command Of Sir Douglas Haiu
After Much Fierce Fighting
BAPAUME THEIR OWN THEY
PRESS FARTHER EASTWARD
French Also Report Victory In
Smashing Blows Delivered
Against the Teutonic Lines
Holding Champagne Positions
Associated Pres. by Federal wireless,

ASSOCIATED Press BY Federal Wireless,
II ONDON, March 49, Bapa-
- urne has fallen, pillaged, ruin
ed and Quilted by its masters Of
two years, into the hands Of the
troops under the command OF Sir
Douglas Haig and the prediction
made by the British general last
month is fulfilled, for the German
lines defending the fortress have
broken and the speed Of their re-
tirement is increasing as they fall
back upon the lines in their rear.
The fall Of Bapaume opens the
way for the British attack upon
the flank OF the Arras salient, and
may clear the path to Lille and
the other French cities which for
two years and more have been IN
the hands of the German invader.
Military observers here, declare
that this is the chief objective in
the attack on Bapaume, which Of
itself is Of but little importance
from military point Of view. IT.
does, however. lay bare the posi-
tons of the Teutons to the north
west and southeast as far as Pc
rome.
The advance Of the British IN the
Saint Pierre Vast woods, as reported
yesterday, TANKS the German positions
at Mount Saint Quentin, which Is the
dominant factor in the problem Of TAX
ing Peronne from its present masters.
Once the mount falls Peronne becomes
untenable and the GermaAs must aban-
don ii.
The advance of the British yesterday,
coming as il did after the heavy fight
ing Of the last few days, found the
Germans unable to hold back the vic
torious troops, and their front smashed
in dozen different places, reeling In
shattered groups before the blasts of
British gun and rifle FIRE and the an
saults of the men with the bayonette,
who followed the paths cleared by the
guns.
In all the British advance covered
front of more than sixteen miles taking
fourteen separate towns, and crushing
the German defense for a depth OF
from two to four miles, so that, with
Bapaume, the objective for which theJ
have been striving almost ten weary
months Of blood and mud and fire, left
behind them last night found them
driving forward, pounding without re-
spite the broken fragments Of the
Kaiser's once triumphant armies.
II is the greatest disaster that has
befallen German arms ON any field
since Napoleon marched into Berlin at
the head Of his legions more than one
hundred years ago, and the prospects
are bright that this is but the com
mencement and that the breaking Of
the Teutonic lines win 60 forward
rapidly.
The British were no more successful
than their French allies, yesterday, for
the fighting on the Disc, in the Cham
payne country was big victory for
the French, and there also the German
front appears 10 have crumpled up un-
der the hammer blows Of General Pc
tain and his lieutenants. There in tho
aeighborhood of lie Maison de Cham
payne the battling of the last few days
has been exceedingly bloody, and the
advances which the Germans made two
weeks ago have been obliterated as
the French guns got into action, and
the peilus followed the guns 10 via.
tory, finging the Teutons backward.
breaking their defense with rhe IT,.
full barrage fire of the esventy Ave and
making use of the resurrected weapon
Of today, the grenade, bombing he
holders of the German trenches dniil
the long lines have been cleared and
the vietors entered them TO consolidate
their gains. t
The French north Of the Avre River
and between the Avre and the Disc
have progressed on front Of twenty
kilometers TO depth of four kilome.
tiers, says an official announcement yes
terday.
The French scored substantial nd.
vances on both banks Of the Ayre and
in the Champagne district made a sur
prise attack upon the German positions
east of the Butte de Souain, entering
the German lines, taking prisoners and
destroying the trenches and duoouts.
During the operations before Peronne
yesterday there were a number Of air
battles, during the course Of which the
British aviators shot down seven Ger
man machines without losing one Of