ARRAS, BATTLES OF, a series of im portant engagements in the World War which took place in the neighborhood of the city of Arras, France. This area, from the autumn of 1914, following the German attempt to break through the Allied lines to the channel ports, was the scene of almost continual operations. The city itself was exposed to repeated bombardments and was almost com pletely destroyed. The most important offensive in the vicinity was undertaken by the British in the spring of 1917. It was carried on a 12-mile front N. and S. of Arras, and was gradually ex tended to an offensive over the whole line from Arras to St. Quentin. The defense was prepared by an artillery bombardment which lasted four days. On the fifth day of the battle the Cana dian troops stormed Vimy Ridge, cap turing 4,000 prisoners and large quan tities of war material. The advance continued on April 11 when Monchy and other towns were captured. On April
13 the British swept forward from a new position E. of Arras and drove the Germans back on a 12-mile front, captur ing six villages and seriously threaten ing the city of Lens. The outskirts of that city were entered on April 15. After a pause of several days, the Brit ish on April 24 pushed forward E. of Monchy. Three days later they broke the Oppy tine, a switch of the Hinden burg line. On May 3 they captured Fresnoy and a part of Bullecourt, but were later obliged to give these up. The battle reached a standstill on May 15, 1917. The British were driven back, in the first two weeks of June, E. of Loos. The chief effects of the battle, aside from the capture of over 15,000 Germans and 200 guns, was the placing of Lens ix a pocket which constantly tightened until its final capture by the British. See WORLD WAR.