Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-13
FRENCH RETAKE
LOST POSITIONS
Strike Smashing Blow at Ger
mans and Invade For
tilted Works.
BRITISH CONTINUE RAIDS
Berlin and Vienna Stunned by
News That Bagdad
Has Fallen.
BRITISH CONTINUE RAIDS
IBy Associated press.l

| BY Associated press.l
again the French and British war
o'iiccs record gains against the Ger
mans on the line in France. Striking
IN the Champagne region on "a front Of
i,5eo meters west Of Maisons de Cham
phsnc. tho French recaptured all the
positions previously taken by the Ger
mans on ridge lS5. and also invaded
a German fortified works one hun
drcd prisoners were taken in the op-
erhtion. In the Woevrc region, near
Seichcprcy. "a raid OH a German trench
was successfully carried ont. while at
tacks By che Germans between Soissons
ana Rheims were rcpulscd
The British on their part Of the front
in France entered German trenches IN
the vicinity 81 Eouchavesnes north Of
pcronnc. ard also carried out raids
successfully TO ,hc south OF Arras. Ia
the latter sector tn" German positions
were bombed and many casualties were
Inflicted on their occupants.
Heavy artillery activity Is IN prog
ross In the Ancre and Somlne sectors
according To Berlin. The German War
. D'!icc reports the stopping OF a French
attack south ot Ripont in Champagne
~
.,Stcnte airplancs and two captive bal
n looms in attacks by uc Germans Tie
i Iondon war Office announces that nine
German machines were brough, down
or driven down damaged. and admits
t'lat Eve British machines are missing
MINOR OPERATIONS
on OTHER FRONTS
On the other fronts. cxcep, in Mcso-
su,ncd that both the British and Rus
slams are stili harassinG the Turks.
only minor operations have been re-
ported. As Yet the fun details OF the
capture OF iiaSdad by the BRUSH have
not been made public. although an
nouncement Was made in the British
House Of Commons that there was rca
son To believe two-thirds OF the Turk
ish artillery had been captured by the
British or thrown into the Tigris. and
that in addition. large numbers of
h prisoners and quantities Of materials
: OF all kinds were taken.
Again the Turks are reported hy Pc
trorrad TO hav. made further retreat
in Persia. this time leaving a position
near Bisitun. twenty miles northeast
Of Kcrmanshah. and retiring toward
ladjiabad. Hisituu WAS occupied by
tho Russians,
In Macedonia there has been an in
crease In the artillery activity In the
Prcsba Lake and G.rua River sectors.
probably prcsaginr an early recon-
!, nicncemunt of hard nrh,iue in this
region.
The possibility that Germany is TO
have another foe arrayed against her
is indicated il unofficial dispatch
from Pckns. which says tho Chinese
House ~ Representatives has approved
the governments diplomatic policy.
which includes the severance of diplu-
matte relations with Germany.
BRITISH NAY ATTEMPT
TO MOVE on uI' TI.RIS
While Erca, political Importance is
4 attached TO tho capture of Rngdad by
III. British the military results of the
notable event arc Of even greater i'm
mediate interest. pointing to the posi-
biliy Of > comparatively speedy link
ing up OF British and Russian move
mcnts against the Turks in this far
away field OF war.
The conditions which General Maude
found upon entering the city OF the
Caliphs and the status OF his supply
arrangements must. in great measure
affect any plans for Il further advance
'Ciivcn the assurance Of adequate sup
plies and rcplcrishmcnts. IL seems
probable that he will not rest CON
tent with holding Bagdad. but will
attempt a further move up the Tigris
This river is navigable for small
steamers northward on its course rs
far as Mosul. nearly $50 miles away
favorinG the transport arrangements
OF tho British force. The measure Of
Turkish resistance along this line will
he affected il small measure by
the rate of progress Of the Russian
columns moving towards Mcsopotamia
from Persia.
These columns operating from Ham
adam and Sakkiz. are still far short
OF the points where they stood last
spring when the British were halted
at Kut-cl-Amara by General Town
shend's surrender Bagdad. however.
is reported to he the point from which
the Turkish defense In Persia was
supplied, and its capture may weaken
the Ottomau resistance and facilitate
the RUSSIAN advance.
Linking up the Russian and British
forces therefore, at n point consider
ably north of Bagdad does not seem
an impossibility. The recupcrativc
power of the Turks. repeatedly shown
III tIlS Whl, mas " W INTO con-
sideration in this connection.
Envcr l'asha. the Turkish Minister OF
war. is quoted as describing the Turk
ish re;rogradc movement in MSsopo-
tamia as n strategic retreat and de-
claring that military reasons are like
wise inducing drawing i'm Of the
Turkish front in Persia towards Ker-
manshah.