LAST WEEK'S BRITISH ADVANCE.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14336, 12 February 1917, Page 5

LAST WEEK'S BRITISH ADVANCE.

MR PHILIP GIBBS' DESCRIPTION.

POSITIONS TAKEN WITHOUT

OPPOSITION

GERMANS ECONOMISING MEN

RETIRING TO THE BAPAUME

DEFENCES

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

(Received Feb. 11, 5.5 p.m.) London, Feb. 10.

Mr Philip Gibbs writes:—The Germans' abandonment of Grandcourt, enabling us' to walk in practically UUopposed, proves that the.German coin* raand prefers at this stage to save casualties rather than hold*" ground regardless of cost. It is a new; phase. . A year ago their pride would not have let them. .

Grandeourtj - after- the capture or Beauconrt and Beaumont-Hamel, had become, a place of .misery for the Ger-

mans. The position was still worse after Sunday, as the result of the British advance. The Germans probably then began the withdrawal to a stronger and higher position south of Miraumontj where they are digging with great .industry

One trench barred the way to Gratiicoiirt. , The British on Tuesday trudged steadily across the enow and found a few Germansj much litter, and ;i number of dead. They decided to-push on. The enemy's massed guns rained explosives on the whole of the Contalmajson and Pozieres,country. No one knew if Grandcourt was occupied, and therefore our artillery put up a grent barrage. The enemy's guns responded heavily, but they did not check the

advance. There was no fighting in the.ruins of-, the village, and the British quietly took s possession* .Grandcourt is honeycombed with deep dugouts filled with stores and rations. ■ •

The seizure of Baillescotirt Farm happened on Wednesday night, in the bright light of. the full moon. The Germans iallXnijfntl^ had not antici-

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pafced the attack, and wore caught hi the dugouts and ruins. They offered not resistance, and ifc was chiefly a matt-oil of dodging shell lire when walking in' the abandoned position. These captures are important and interesting, and a significant hint o£ the new German methods, which, seem ; to consist of falling back here and ther© 'to the defences before Bapaume, which ; have been strengthened untiringly ; since the Somiue battles1 opened. Per-

j haps the Germans are anxious to quit \ the low-lying ground before the thaw.