Attacking a girl in distress (7)

I believe the answer is:

railing

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'attacking' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being present participle verbs.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'a girl in distress' is the wordplay.
'distress' indicates an anagram.
'a'+'girl'+'in'='agirlin'
'agirlin' anagrammed gives 'RAILING'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for railing that I've seen before include "Barrier, balustrade" , "Banter" , "Complaining bitterly - barrier" , "Mocking" , "barrier appears" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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