The sun., 1917-02-13
BRITISH GAIN
MORE ON ANCRE
They Occupy 600 Yards of
Trenches in Night
Attack.
COUNTER CHARGES FAIL
Six Other Attacks Against Ger
man Positions Are With
out Success.
COUNTER CHARGES FAIL

LcSpoN, Feb. 12.-Again British troops
have ousted the Germans from positions
north of the Ancre. Last night the Brit
ish captured 500 yards OF a German
trench near the Reaucourt- -Puisieux road.
which runs two miles west OF Miraumont.
No difficulty was encountered in taking
the trench. Sir Douglas Haig reports.
In night and day statements Berlin be-
Titles the last few days advances OF the
British on the Ancre front. During last
night British troops made six vain at
tacks on German trenches on a two mile
front north Of the river. many OF them
WEARING white clothing. almost invisible
aea,nst snow. The Germans evacuated
aa "unseryiceable" trench line near
Serre. the statement says, referring to
\ the fighting In which 2l5 prisoners were
taken.
Counter Attack Repalsed.
According 10 :he British official state
nent, however. the Germans were anx-
.ous enough to regain this trench to
make q counter attack early last night
They were caught in the quickly laid ar
tlsry barrage and by the Lewis guns OF
the troops In tho trenches and were
easily repulsed.'
The official statements issued tonight
are as follows
British--!we made further progress
last night north of tho Ancre. In the
aeighborhcod Of the Beaucourt-Pui-
seux road, where as q result Of 4
amall enterprise undertaken on lin
ned front We occupied some 500 yards
sf hostile trench without difficulty.
We took few prisoners. ~-
Early in the night the enemy at
lacked our new positions south OF
oerre Hill. but. caught by artillery bar
rage and machine gun Are, was easily
fepulsed- The enemy'e lines were en-
tered BY our patrols at number OF
places.
Southeast of Armentieres one Of our
Y raiding parties blew up q hostile am
munition dump and captur ed few
prisoners. This morning an enemy
ralding party. observed collecting on
the enemy's positions northeast Of
Nsuville-St. Vast. was dispersed by
cur artillery.
Successful bombardments were car
ried out by us during the day north OF
the Somme and In the neighborhood
Armentieres and Ypres.
In the course of the air fighting yes
terday one German airplane was
driven down. damaged One OF our
machines is missing.
Calm ON French Front.
French--There was intermittent ac-
tlvlty by both artilleries in the region
Of Bezanges and some sectors In the
Vosses. Everywhere else the day was
calm.
Belsian--In the neishborhood of the
n Ferrymans House there was patrol
activity during the course OF the night.
In the direction Of Het Sas this morn
Ing homb and grenade fighting oc-
cured. The artillery was moderately
active at various points along the
'front.'
German-Army group Of Crown
Prince Rupprecht: East OF Armen-
there's and south OF La Dassee all tho
Attacks which had been prepared by
lively artillery FIRE failed.
During the day strong artillery fire
was directed against our positions on
both sides Of the Ancre River. During
n the night English troops six times at
lacked our wrecked trenches from
Serre as far as the river. All the at
tacks were repulsed. The enemy suf-
Tered severe losses In our defensive
nre and TO the north OF Serre in hand
10 hand fighting. His Il oops In many
Instances wore "snow shirts.'
The trench line southeast of Serre,
which had become unserviceable, was
evac.ated. This was planned ana
carried out without any moiestation
ana before the English attacks were
launched.
The French afternoon statement says
In the region Of Berry-au.Bac We
phn up with auccess two mines at
HA los. In the Cha mpag gne and the
Fi'nne patrols were active during
no night We carried out two sue
eeoful surprise attacks which ena bl-d
US 10 take prisoners-one in the Ar
sonne' the other in the sector OF Hill
so'' Everywhere else the night was
calm.
1t is confirmed that q German air.
plsne was brought down on February
~ In an aerial enga cement In the 10
ZION OF Etouvelles. In the Aisne. Last
night our squadrons dropped bombs on
the railway stations at Stenay, Dun