THE RISING TIDE OF BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3026, 13 March 1917, Page 5

THE RISING TIDE OF BATTLE

ACTIVITY ON THE BRITISH FRONT

SHARP FIGHTING ON FRENCH SECTORS (Ret:. March 12, 6.30 p.m.) , London, March 11. Sir Douglas Ilaic reports: Our artillery crashed the enemy's attenipl.B to attack west, and north-west, of Lens, Tho artillery is active on tho Somms and the Ancre, Armontieres, Ypres, and southward of Arras.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Renter. THE CAPTURE OF IRLES TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENT AND QUICK SURRENDER. (Hoc. 'March 12, 6.30 p.m.) London, March 11. i!r. Philip Gibbs writes: "Irlcs is a. village standing on high ground beyond Pys. It was captured hv a. bri llisnfc attack on the morning of tho 10th. Before tho attack, the British howitzers swept the placo so that, nothins: could live above ground. Our men followed close upon the hurricane of shells, one force working Irom tho south, and' another swinging northwards in order t ocut tho onemv's retreat, while a third paHy attacked tho German Futiliers who were holding the sunken road with machino-giiHs. There was little fighting. When the cnemv saw tlm British they surrentlercd quickly.''—Atis.-N./C. Cable Assn. GERMANS ADMIT THE LOSS OF IRLES. London, 3larch 11. Wiroler-s per Admiralty Press: —A. German official report states: "After infantry fighting at Irles our rearguards withdrew to the main position. French attacks between the Avre and the Oiso were unsuccessful and wcra repulsed with much bloodshed. There were renewed French attacks at Hill 185 and on both sides of the Champagne Farm (Maison do Champagne)." ON THE FRENCH FRONT London, March 11. A French official commnuique states: "Wo ma do several successful coups de main against tho German trenches in the regions of Lassigny, Canny-sur-Matz, and north of the Bois de -Jury, in the AYoeuvre. Wo captured some prisoners. A considerable amount of artillery tiro is in progress in tho sector of Maison de Champagne. An enemy attempt against small posts in the J'ogion of Largitzen. in Alsace, ■ failed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. BELGIAN FRONTIER CLOSED. London, March 11. The Germans have closed the Belgian frontier.—Renter.