mber, 1916. Their
caterpillar trucks and peculiar form make it possible for them to
advance easily over obstructions and trenches.]

On the following day, February 15, 1917, the troops of the German
Crown Prince achieved a success of some importance. After intense
artillery fire they stormed four French lines south of Ripont in the
Champagne, on a front of about a mile and a half, gaining ground to a
depth of half a mile. They captured twenty-one officers and 837 men of
other ranks, and a considerable quantity of war material. On the same
date the British carried out a successful raid southeast of Souchez,
penetrating enemy positions and taking prisoners. In air combats in
different sectors British airmen disposed of nine German machines and
lost four of their own.

The British made important gains on both banks of the Ancre when in
the morning of February 17, 1917, they attacked German positions
opposite the villages of Miraumont and Petit Miraumont on a front of
about two miles. North of the river a commanding German position on
high ground north of Baillescourt Farm was carried on a front of about
1,000 yards. In these operations along the Ancre the British captured
761 prisoners, including twelve officers.

During the preliminary bombardment of the German positions a British
artillery sergeant slipped out of the trenches with a telephone, and,
establishing himself in a shell hole in a forward position, directed
the gunfire which shattered the German barbed-wire defenses.

The Germans made a courageous attempt to oust the British from their
newly won positions on the spur above Baillescourt Farm in the morning
of February 18, 1917. Their infantry, advancing in three waves with
bodies of supporting troops in the rear, were swept by the
concentrated fire of the British artillery. The storm of fire
shattered the attack and the German forces were rolled back in
confusion. At no point were they able to reach the British lines.

During the night the British carried out four successful raids on
German positions southwest and northwest of Arras, south of
Fauquissart and north of Ypres, during which nineteen prisoners were
taken and great damage was wrought to hostile defenses.

The British continued their successful minor operations during the
succeeding days. On February 20, 1917, New Zealand troops penetrated
German lines south of Armentieres to a depth of 300 yards, where they
wrecked dugouts and trench works. The