Arizona republican., 1917-06-27
R|T|S|I MOVING N
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Republican A. p. Leased WireI


 The slow. but sure encirclement of Lens, the important coal center held by the Germans in the department of Pas de Calais, is in process of consum- nation by the Canadians Having al ready during the present week cap tured important vantage points west and southwest of the town, a fresh smash at the German lines has been rewarded by the occupation of the vil- lage Of LaCoulette, situateda a mile to the south.
 With the British forces virtually en- velOping the town, except on the east the Germans already have ceased the mining of coal in the immediate vii cinity of Lens, thereby seemingly indi- eating that they realize that their ten ure of the position is short lived.
 Although the British war office, aside from the operations around Lens reports no activity by Field Marsha Haigs men aside from patrol sOrties, the Berlin war office asserts that heavy artillery duels are in progress at various points in which enormous quantities of ammunition are being used. Reading between the lines of the German report it is apparent that the British are the aggressors and it is possible that General Haig is paving the way for a series of new thrusts against the German lines
 The infantry activity in the region between SOisSCns and Rheims has giv- en way entirely to artillery duels in the sector of Moulin de Laffaux and a con- tinuance by the Germans of the slow demolition of Rheims with gun fire Monday night saw an engagement of considerable proportions northwest Of the Hurtebise farm, where the French
 
 and took more than 300 prisoners Der lin, in admitting the gain by the French. tempers the German crown princes loss somewhat by the asser- ton that in counter attacks his army racaptured the greater portion of the lost terrain.
 The Austrians have taken the initi- 3tive from the Italians in the Asiago plateau sector of the Austro- Italian theater. Their objective is Monte Or 1igara, but the Italians are vaiiantlv holding them back and, according to the latest Rome communication, have Inflicted heavy casualties on them. The battle was still in progress when the communication was forwarded
 Although no big engagement has yet developed, lively fighting continues between the Russians and AustrO- Ger mans southwest of Lutsll in Volhynia and between the Stripes and Dniestel rivers in Galicia. Nothing has come through from either Petrograd or Der lin .oT Vienna to show the extent of these operations.
 It seems probable that all other eff forts having failed, Eliptherios Venize- 9 los, former premier and a staUnch sup porter of the entente, will form a new Greek cabinet. Unofficial adVices are that at the approaching session of the Greek parliament a resolution will be introduced favoring the entry of Greece into the war on the side of the entente.
 British Statement
 LONDON, June 26-The official re- port from British headquarters in France tonight reads
 During the day our progress south of Lens continued. Enemy positions astride the Souchez river on a front Of two miles to a depth of one thousand yards passed into our possession. We have occupied the village of La Cou- lette.
 Tn the air fighting yesterday, two German airplanes were brought down
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