BELGIANS GAINING GROUND.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13636, 17 March 1915, Page 3

BELGIANS GAINING GROUND.

FRENCH CAPTURE TRENCHES

EXPECTED THAT LILLE WILL BE

RECAPTURED

LONDON, March 16. Paris reports that the Belgians captured a windmill at Dixmude, which the Germans had transformed into a fortress by means of reinforced concrete. The Belgians mined and blew the mill to pieces, including thirty machine guns. Official: French infantry made a brilliant attack, and captured three lines of trenches on" the spur of Notre- Dame de Lorette, and reached the edge of the plateau. They took prisoner 100 of the enemy, and blew up an ammunition store.

We also blew up several German trenches at Ecurie and Roslin Court.

There was serious fighting at Albert, north-west K>f Mouvron woods, nor,theast of Splain, and north-west of Perthes.

Numerous counter-attacks were repulsed m the Argonne and at Bois le Pretre.

Our infantry captured the western part of Vanquois, making numerous prisoners.

PARIS, March 16

The Allies' bombardment m the neighborhood of Lille compelled part of the German headquarters' staff to retire to Tournai.

It is believed that the Germans will shortly be forced to evacuate Lille, which would be a serious loss, because it is the junction of many- railway lines commanding Belgium.