IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

A REVERSE. FOHT VAUX CAPTURED. AFTER SANGUINARY BATTLES. Paris, June 8. it is semi-offieially stated that the position at Fort Vaux remains obscure. The fort has long been unarmored and reduced to ruins. It wa9 merely an observation post. The enemy will find strong defences behind the fort.

AT FORT VAUX. FRENCH HEROISM. Received June 9, 10.20 p.m. Paris, June 9. Heroic Major Ronjnal and his men held the cellars below the ruins of Fort Vaux to the last. What they underwent can scarcely be imagined, for the bombardment of heavy shells was incttsant and terrific. There were also six infantry assaults in twelve hours on Monday, wherein two divisions were employed, all being repulsed. The Germans, after a hundred days, have not yet reached the second line of the French defence. A communique states: Successive attacks on our positions west and east of Thiaumont farm Sailed under curtain fire.

HOBOKEN BOMBED. BY ALLIED AD3MEN. Received June 9, 5 . p.m. /Amsterdam, June 8. / Allied airmen bombed Hoboken, where the Germans are building torpedoers. (Hoboken is a suburb of Antwerp, and Las shipbuilding yards on the Scheldt). NO CHANGE AT HOOGE. Received June 9, 9.20 p.m. London, June 9. General Haig reports: The situation at Hooge is unchanged, no infantry actions having taken place, the operations being chiefly confined to mining activity elsewhere. We conducted a successful raid south of La Bassee, and the occupants of the trenches fled,'leaving their dead. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Wellington Yesterday. i The High Commissioner reports, under date London, June 8, 4 p.m.:— On the left of the Meuse there has been an intermittent bombardment of ■ our second lines. On the right bank there was intense artillery fighting in the region of Thiaumont and Douaumont. After seven daya of sanguinary combat against the assaultUg troops, renewed ceaselessly, the garrison at Fort Vaux reached the limit of endurance and was unable to prevent the enemy from occupying the work, which was completely ruined by the furious bombardment. We hold the immediate approaches and the trenches to tfhe left and right of the fort, before which all the enemy attacks have been broken by our fire." The night was relatively calm on the rest of the front, except at Bartmanns Weilerkopf, where very active artillery fighting has been maintained.