, 1916-06-14
TELEGRAMS.
ST. ROI STATI ON.

withstandmg the fact that he is nearly 70
years OF age, has been serving in the south
east African campaign. He is now on his
way home. Col. Kitchener formerly COM
manded the West India depot. He was
mentioned in dispatches for his services in
Burma in 1891, and in the same year receiv-
ed official commentator for lis services MS
Chief Transport Officer OF the Manipur Ex-
petition. He was born October 9Th, 1916.
The second heir is Col. Kiichener's son.
Commander Henry Franklin Chevaliel Kit
chener, r. N.
Thurso, Scotland, June 6tb.-Several Boz
dies from the cruiser eHampshire" on which
Earl Kitchener and Staff were lost. nre being
brought here. Among them is that of Lieu
tenant Colonel o. A. Fitzgerald, Private Mill
itary Secretary to Eatl Kitcht ner. There
is no confirmation of rumours that some
survivors of the sunken "HampshIle" have
been found, and these rumours are believed
to be unaut hentic.
Paris, June 8th.-Heavy fighting contin-
ues in the vicinity of Fort Vaux, noit h- east
of Verdun. The War Office report to-day
says: French troops still occupy the out
skirts of the fort as we'll as trenches to
the light and left of the works. The
loss of the fort itself, of which m in
timation was given in last nights's report,
is conceded. The announcement says the
fort was abandoned by the garrison after 1t
had been reduced to q heap of ruins by an ln-
cessaut bombardment Of seven days. Ger
man attacks on the adjacent positions thus
far have been unsuccessful. West of the
Mouse, intermittent caDnonading was carried
on last night. The text of the statement is as
follows: In the Argonne district, n mine was
exploded this morning at Hill 2S5 at Haute
Chevauchee but without causing any dam
age. W 9 occupied the southern lip of the
crater thereby created. On the left bank Of
the river Mouse, there has been an intermit-
tent bombardment of our second line posi-
ton. On the right bank Of the river, there
has been intense artillery fighting In the
region of Thiaumont and Douaumont. At
ter seven days of ferocious fighting against
assanlting forces, whose numbers were
constantly renewed, the French garrison at
fort Vaux reached the limit of lis strength
and was not able to prevent the enemy
from occupying this position which had
been completely ruined by a continuous
Commandment We hold the immediate
surroundings of the fort as well as the
trenches to the right and to the left Of
it. In front of these every attack delivered
by the enemy has been broken by our fire.
The night passed in relative quiet on the
remainder of the trout excepting at Hart
LuHADSWeibcIh OPl WhOIO '" ohAOA hShc'dS
continues with activity. Fort Vaux had.
long been disnantled, and is regarded by
the French as merely of value Us an obsel-
walton post. It is asserted that it's occupa-
ton will not help the Germans to take Yer
dun anymore than the capture OF fort Dou-
aumont, which they held for three months
without being able to make a step forward.
Behind fort Vaux the enemy is confront
ted by an exceptionally strong inner line,
to the defence OF which both nature and
military art have given their greatest aid.
This line includes the position of Froi-de-
terte and the height of Souyile and Tayan-
mas, which are crowned with forts. Vanx
forms ali advance work which supplements
the defence of Souyille fort, and was con-
structed with o view of sweeping the rayine
which it commands. AS Vaux is the furth-
est point from the river Meuse of the We
dun defence, it is less affected by the funk
ing fire from the French batteries west of
the river than other positions. This explains
why the Germans chose it as the point
through which to- make a determined effort to
force 4 way to the inner lines Of The Yer
dun forts, Notwithstanding that by the con-
formation of the ground it was the most
difficult to attack in the whole region.
london Juie S;h.-The Allied air-snund-