Germany.

GERMANS RETREAT ON THE WEST.

After numerous minor successes by the British and French on the Western
front, the Germans effected a retreat late in February, which was the
greatest retirement in two years, as they yielded on a front of several
miles on the Ancre to the Allies, including important towns. The growing
superiority of the Allies in artillery had begun to count, and the
retirement, while announced from Berlin as strategic, was undoubtedly
forced by the development of Allied strength. The capture of Bapaume
soon followed. By March 2 the Germans had retreated on a front of
miles to a depth of from two to three miles, and the British were still
pushing forward.

Another extended German retreat began on the West front March 17, the
British and French advancing without resistance for from two to four
miles on a front of 35 miles. Peronne was captured next day and it
became evident that the Germans were falling back to a so-called
Hindenburg line, 25 miles to the rear of their former positions. The
Allied advance continued until more than 300 towns and villages were
reoccupied and some 1,500 square miles of French territory regained by
March 21. The German armies in their retreat devastated the country in
the most wanton manner, even going so far as to destroy fruit trees,
wells, churches, and buildings of every kind. They also drove before
them many of the inhabitants, including women and girls, leaving only
a remnant of the former populations, mostly old and feeble folk and
children, these being left destitute and without food even for a day.
The story of this devastating retreat aroused horror throughout the
world.

On March 25 the French pressed an attack against the whole front between
St. Quentin and Soissons and made progress everywhere. From this time on
the French offensive was active for three weeks, culminating in a great
victory on the Soissons front April 16, in which the German losses were
placed at 100,000.

A GREAT BRITISH OFFENSIVE.

In the week of April 9 the British made great gains in the Arras sector,
capturing German positions to a great depth and taking a total of some
15,000 prisoners and 190 guns of all calibers, some of which were turned
against the Germans as they sought to stem the tide of British successes
by desperate rearguard actions. Notable victories were won by the
Canadian troops in the capture of the hotly contested Vimy Ridge and
other positions during the bat