Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 10.djvu/505

WORLD WAR 435 WORLD WAR had maneuvered into an advantageous position between the German vessels and their base. 1917 British Advance on Bajmume. — Severe winter weather made any major military operations extremely difficult along- the whole western front during the early ]«irt of 1917, and as a consequence both sides were satisfied to confine their activ- ities to trench raids and local attacks of minor importance. It was not till the first week in February that offensive operations began, and then the British began to prepare an advance on both sides of the Ancre river. On Feb, 6, 1C17, the Germans felt compelled to evacuate Grandcourt. The capture of their heavy guns with them, though they were compelled to abandon large amounts of ammunition. Meanwhile heavy rearguard actions were fought, but the British pressed steadily forward. By the end of February the British were less than a mile from Bapaume. On March 1, 1917, the British War Office announced that 2,133 prisoners had been captured since the beginning of the offensive along the Ancre and eleven villages had been taken. Some of the positions captured were of first impor- tance, as was evident from the deter- mination with which the Germans de- fended them. The Germans had retired on the Ancre on a front of twelve miles and a depth of two miles. On March 2, 1917, the Germans, having reached their FIGHTING IN ITALY this village was considered of some im- portance, marking, as it did, a notable advance for the British on the forts of Miramont and Grandcourt, which covered Bapaume from the W. After occuping Grandcourt, the British began a steady advance up both sides of the Ancre. At the same time the French began to take the initiative on the Verdun front, as well as in the Ar- gonne, cariying on a number of success- ful raids. Slowly the Germans gave way to the British pressure, retiring to a new line along the Bapaume Ridge. The ground thus surrendered covered about three miles and the British were able to occupy a number of strong points at very little cost. Fortunately for the Germans, the weather was misty and covered their operations, so that they were able to take second line, began to stiffen their re- sistance. The British, however, continued their advance with no lessening of energy. On March 3 they gained two-thirds of a mile along a two-mile front, E. of Gomme- court. On March 8 the French won a decided victory in the Champagne region. In spite of the deep snow, French forces operating between Butte de Mesnil and Maisons de Champagne carried German positions along a front of a third of a mile, ground which the Germans at- tempted desperately to retake, but with no success and heavy cost. By March 12, 1917, the British were advancing along a front of four miles to the W. of Bapaume, on which date they reached a line N. of the Ancre valley, and on the following day they took the