The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-03-14
Retirement Follows Terri
fic BOmbardment Under
Cover Of Haze.
FRENCH CONSERVE
GAINS IN CHAMPAGNE
New Positions on Hill 1856
= Held Against TeutOn
+ Grenade Attacks.

Nrrhhce Wsue another nOtahle advance
to-day with the Ancre front the scene
OF highly important forward sweep.
The Germans abandoned their main de-
fcnsive system along the forward crest
Of the ridge west of Bapaume on line
stretching uninterruptedIy for three and
half miles.
The British, pressing on reientlessly,
swept the kaiser's rear guard back for
4 full mile, penetrated the German posi-
fons in the Loupart wood and seized
the village Of Grevillers. The retire.
ment followed a terrific bombardment
and was made under cover Of heavy
haze.
Details Of these highly successful
operations are contained in to-night's
oficial report from British headQuarters
IN France. Besides casual reference
to violent activity" In this region. the
German statement contains no mention
q the days developments. British OBJ
servers regard this fact in itself AZ
significant
North Of the Ancre the British LETT
wing bent back the German lire on q
front Of about a mile east and north
east Of Gommec0urt and somewh
straightened the curve extending from
Ebsarts les Bucquoy to the retsien north
saT Of Puisieux au Mont.
+ Expect Capture of Baps ume.
Correspondents with the kritiAh head
quarters In France, telegraphiNg this
evening concerning the occupation\Dy the
British of Loupart Wood and GreNillers.
say 1t would seem that the csptuNe Of
Irles rendered the positions untenAble
and that the terrible concentrations NQf
the British gunflre apparently caused ths
Germans to decide to withdraw before
their troops we're annihilated.
All the dispatches speak OF important
activities that are continuing. The Brit
ish advanced troops are said to be hard
upon the heels of the Germans and more
than keeping pace with their retreat
The writer's evidently are expecting the
speedy occupation by the British Of Ba-
paume, although they stop short Of actu-
ally predicting II with certainty. with
luck We shall be there soon.' says one
correspondent. "Bapaume il now seri-
ously directly threatened" says another.
who adds We are on the eve of i'm
portant movements. and the enemy is not
likely to escape the pressure of them
without severe damage. even II he es-
capes something like disaster"
Another correspondent wires that there
should be important news available
Wednesday.
tThe Times correspondent says il would
not be surprising to hear that Achiet lie
Petit, less than one mile and a half north
Of Irles. was In British hands. Infor-
nation from the advanced British col
umns is that the Germans have re-
treated north OF Achiet lie Petit. and
may have reached the Logeast wood, a
mile further north.1
Meanwhile, the French conserved their
recent gains in Champagne. the official
communication from Paris records. The
newly acquired French positions on Hill
1855 were held successfully against
grenade attacks launched by the Ger
mans.
The Berlin communication records the
failure of British attempt to advance
yesterday on q wide front near Beau
rains. south Of Arras. butNdoes not refer
TO to-day's fighting near Bapaume. South
Of Ripont, in Champagne. the report
continues. French troops made unsuc-
cessful attacks. gaining only narrow
strip on the northwest slope OF Hill 1856.
Xor which thsy paid with "sanguinary
kcrihces."
The oaeiai Reports. I
The ofacial reports follow:
British--In consequence OF our
Dombardment of his positions yester-
day the enemy abandoned his main
defensive system along the forward
crest OF the ridge west OF Bapaume
"a front Of three and half miles
During the day our advancing
troops have driven back the enemy's
rear guard in this area for depth
Of mile and have occupied the VIII
lage OF Grevillers and Loupart wood.
We have also made further progress
east and northeast Of Gommecourt
on front OF about mile.
Hostile raids were repulsed during
the night In the neighborhood of
Neuvile-St. Vaast, Souchez and Ar
nentieres. In each case the enemy
failed TO reach our trenches Another
hostile raiding party succeeded in
reaching our trenches southwest OF
Neuve Chapelle. A few OF our men
are missing.
The German Statement.
German--South of Arras British de.
tachments after artillery preparations
during the day advanced on a wide
front near Beaura!ns The attack
failed with heavy losses.
On the Ancre and between the Avre
and the Oise, west Of Scissors. In the
Champagne and on both banks of the
Meuse the fighting activity was violent.
North OF the Avre French companies
advanced against our positions. They
were forced back by our fire before the
barrlcades.
South Of Ripent tchampasns) the
AxA