The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-03-01
WITHIN M|IILEyx><
OF s AUME
German RetreA, Still in Prog
ress. But Every Inch Of
Ground Is Bitterly
Contested.
TOWN BEING DESTROYED
Hefor. Evaeuatlns. Germans Are
Tearing Down all High Tow
ers and Wreeklna
CITY.
! TOWN BEING DESTROYED

| [United Press Leased Wire Service ]
| LONDON, March 1.-British forces
are within Z mile OF Bapaume. The
German retreat Is still In progress.
but during the last day or 90 the har-
has been moro pronounced. Every
sort OF expedient IL being used to de-
lay the forward proGress Of Field Mar
shal Haig's forces.
The front On which the British have
advanced was increased today to ap-
proximately thirteen miles by announ-
cement Of the occupancy Of positions
more than half q mile northeast OF
Gommecourt. This is approximately
the most northwesterly point and from
there down to q position about mid
way between Guedecourt and Beeul-
encourt. the new advanced front Of
tho British zig-zags In and out.
Front dispatches today declared
Gommecourt fell without blow from
the enemy, the British simply slipping
In on deserted village.
Evidence accumulates that the evac-
uAtion OF BApAume 10 under way. In
lleemA4ian. hqm tho front toAay sald
The Germans had methodicaIly de-
lStroyed al .htgh towers In the city.
traainly In der to prevent their util-
ization by the British - observation
posts, when Bapaume fell into their
hands.
For Special Reasons
BERLIN, March l.. tVia Sayville
wireless) -Evacuation "for special
reasons" OF part OF the German ad-
vanced positions on both sides OF the
Ancre, was reported in today's Of
ffcial statement from German head
quarters.
Troops which were removed have
been placed in other positions, al
ready prepared, it is stated.
The statement says: Carefully
acting rear guard posts hindered the
with the greatest hesitation, from
occupying without fighting strip of
land which was abandoned and which
Is now lying In ruins.
yielding in the face of a nlrmeri-
cally superior attack. which had been
ordered, these minor detachments In
flicted considerable sanguinary
losses to the enemy and captured
eleven officers, 174 men from the
ranks and four machine guns. They
still dominate today the forefield OF
our position"
In the eastern war theatre there
was nothing OF importance reported.
RETREAT Continues
TBy VIM Phillip Simms. United Press
Staff Correspondent
WITH THE. BRITISH ARMIES
AFIE1.D, March 1.-Slowly and
steadily the German retirement con-
tinues south of Arras. Indications
are lacking OF any recoil movement.
The retirement may yet resemble
at least In some respcts-that fol-
lowing the battle of the Marine. Then
the Germans were beaten and their
armies were retreating after being Sc
verely trounced in battle.
Now they apparently aim to fore
stall an ultimate retreat-after what
might prove very costly defence of
the old lines-by taking up new posi-
tions previously arranged like those
north Of the Aisne, thereby saving
scores OF thousands Of German lives
for use elsewhere in a laat desperate
attempt to force decision this sum-
mer =
Gommecourt has fallen into British
hands and as this is written the won
derfulIy fortified Bapaume Is less
than q mile away There explosions
follow explosions, leading to the .e-
lief that the Germans are blowing up
their own handiwork preparatory to
calculating the town.
Church steeples and similar van
tage points have been systematically
blow up as the Germans evacuated
the various villages In the territory
over which they have retreated and
the enemy has left picked men IN
carfully chosen places to protect tho
retiring troops. They began heavy
bombardments OF villages evacuated
as soon as they believed the English
were occupying them. The German
high army commander und00 btedly
recognized the precariousness OF tho
old positions and is now Jockeying
for new ones.
Before this process is ended. the
retreat may continue several miles
east, stretching from Ayre to Noyne.