New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-20
German Crown Prince
Strikes Blow at Vcrdun,
Loses Heavily
b. C,blo 70 Tho TrIbuns /

London, March 19.-Assisted by
cloudy weather. the Germans continued
their great withdrawal from the depart
ments of Oise and Aisne, IN France, to-
day, evacuating approximately SOC
more square miles of territory along
front that has now extended 10 lOo
miles. The French troops advance at
some points 20 a depth of twelve more
miles; the British to a depth of be-
tween two and eight miles. The i'm
portant towns Of Ham and Chauny, the
entire Aillette-Soissons line, and twen'
~ additional villages fell to General
Nivelle's forces, while the British sol
diers liberated forty more villages that
had been crushed under the heel OF
the invader for two years. SiXty-two
Villages in all were retakcn.
While Prince Rupprechts forces
we're retiring to their new system Of
defence, between Lille and Laon. the
troops Of the German Crown Prince
nONtu 4OIHdIu OH tue NtiuuH iiNhs
last night and struck the most power
full blow of the year on the heights of
the Meuse. Following bombardment
Of intense violence, the Germans swept
forward in greal waves against the
French positions between the Avocourt
Wood and Dead Man hii..
At most points along this line the
assailants Uet with an impenetrable
curtain of fire. In the southeastern
part of the wood and on the east slope
of Hill 3O4. however. they succeeded
in penetrating French trenches on
fronts of 500 and SOo yards and captur-
ing some 500 prisoners. Powerful counter
attacks during the nignt and this morn
ing won back for the French virtually
all the positions lost. The German
losses are reported TO have been enor-
nous.
Line Now Is Nearly Straight
The continued retirement of the Ger
mans from the Scarpe to the Oise has
row practically eliminated the great
Arras and NoyOn salients. The fluid,
hourly shifting line which marks the
present front of the British and French
forces extends almost straight, north
west to southeast, from Arras 10 Sols-
sons. Beyond the advanced units OF
the Allied armies stands the Lilie-Laon
line. along which the Germans are eX-
pected to make stand who'll. compar-
able with that on the recently evacu-
ated Bapaume- -Peronne-C -Chaulnes line.
The latest adyices from the battle
front indicate that the Germans al
ready have reached their new defensive
front and are now preparing 10 repel
the forward sweep of the Allied forces.
British and French cavalry, operating
extensively along the entire stretch OF
open country. are still in touch with
the German rearguards. but the main
body of Rupprecht's troops is believed
70 be intrenched tonight.
Germans Burn and Pillage
The Germans are burning and pill
laying as they retreat on an unprece-
dented scale. The French official re-
port states that the French troops
found fruit trees cut down, fields
blown up by mines, bridges destroyed,
roads battered 10 pieces. and villages
and towns everywhere burned 10 the
ground and "ruthlessly pillaged.' Says
the French announcement: "The inhab'
itants. without shelter or sustensnce
were fed by our troops"
In refutation Of this. the Berlin re-
port states that "in the abandoned dis
trcts part of the population,
provided with food for five days, was
left"
The German defence for the destruc-
ton of the countryside and the rail-
way centres is that they might prove
useful to the enemy
Everywhere among military circle
here deep admiration is expressed for
the mastery manner in which the Ger
mans have carried out their entire oper-
alton. a hazardous action under the
most favorable conditions. In every way
thew have been extremely successful,
except for drawing the British and
French into a possible trap.
AT the same time. it is clearly rec
ognized not only that the great with
drawal was primarily due 10 the over
vhelming pressure OF the Allied forces,
hut also that the French and British
troops are pressing harder on the
enemy than he ever expected.
---s--
IuE GREINBHIEh White sulphur
snrinKs west Va Ideal limo Tor the
cure only one n.ht from NsS York