The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1916-06-09
RUSS SMASHING
AUSTRIAN Line
Take Big Fortress Of Lutsk in
Great Drive.
CAR REPORTS GREAT SUCCESS
Germans Take Fort Vaux Near Yer.
dun After a Terrific Battle in un
derground Passages.

London, June 9.-The capture OF
Lutzk, in Volhyria, md also OF
series of powerfully organized Aus
TRAN positions is announced in an OIL
fetal communication issued in Petro-
grad.
In addition to the Austrians prevl,
ously captured in the offensive move
ment recently inaugurated, the state
ment says there we're captured in yes
terday's fighting fifty-eight officers and
1000 men. A large amount of war
material was also taken.
Outzk is the apex of triangle OIL
fortresses whose base line, extending
from Dubno to Rovno, lies to the
southeast. These fortresses were
captured by the Austrians last fall.
after long and severe fighting, during
which Lutzk changed hands several
times.)
It is stated that the Austrian lines
have been broken in Volhynia, and
that they have been withdrawn near
ly twenty miles throughout the LutzB
sector.
The capture by the Germans Of Fort
Vaux, key position of the French
northeast of Verdun, was officially ad
mitted by the French war Office In
Paris. The fort had been demolished
by heavy shell fire before 1t was given
up, the statement says.
French soldiers, under Major Ray
nal, made a gallant defence OF the
blasted works for seven days, during
which the Germans attacked night ano
day, hurting wave after wave of troops
against the fort and Smelling It with
unprecedented violence in the hull be
tween infantry assaults.
On Tuesday night the Germans gain
ed a foothold in the fort, and al.
through the rest of the night and day
the battle ragged, with the men al
hand-to-hand grips. 1t was a bloody
combat in the trenches and caves anc
underground passageWays, where the
soldiers grapsled like wild beasts. Ir
the meantime the big German guns
were pouring their salvoeS OF flre
against the French rear and hurting
! a curtain of shells across the com
munication ways to prevent reinforce
ments from reaching Major Raynal.
Finally, on Wednesday, the French
completely cut off, had to surrender
The garrison had fought CALAMITY, ant
it is believed that most of them were
killed German positions east anc
west of the fort all night, but. despite
their ferocity, all were repulsed.
Fort Vaux was known as the door tC
Verdun from the northeast. 1t lies or
a high bluff and is only about foul
miles from the city Of Verdun. This
| is the second of the forts defending
! Verdun to be captured by the crown
prince.
The German war office said Fort
Vaux was occupied Tuesday night anc
! 700 French prisoners were taken
| along with large number Of guns
machine guns and mine throwers.
Although the position was not oc
cupied until Tuesday night, the wal
| office says it really was stormei five
| days ago, on June 2, by infantry from
the city of Paderborn, in Westphalia
Another success announced was
| gained against the British from whom
! the remainder of the village of Hooge
part of which already was in German
! hands, as result of the attack III
! this region on June 2, was taken. With
| the recent capture of Zillebeke the
successes of Tuesday night gives the
| German forces operating in this region
according to Perrin a new line Of
positions on three kiiometer rs
miles) front, east and southeast Of
7nreS