The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1916-06-15
HANDFUL HELD
FORT VAUXAWEEK
A Thousand FicGC1I2n Irla1t0
Hold Off Horde Of GofrlllS.
HAND TO HAND FIGHTING.

5esieeers Took to Using Liquid Fire
and the Brave Defenders at Last Had
to Give Way Before Tremendous
Odds-Few Survivors Who Surrsn-
dsred Were Ia Desperate cenaition.
Fort VauX, which was taken by the
Germans in their advance toward Yer
dun, France, had been practically be-
sieged for ninety days before it fell
Paris newspapers estimate that 1t cost
the Germans 100000 men to capture
the fort.
When the situation at last became
critical the commandant Chief of
Battalion Raynal, a tried soldier, who
had risen from the ranks. had hardly
more than 1000 men with whom to
continue the defense. His task was to
hold the half ruined fort against over
whelming masses Of infantry, support
ed by more than 100 batteries OF heavy
guns Re-enfOrcements could not reach
him owing to the terrible efficacy of
the German fire.
For week, alone and unaided. he
ana his men held out against very
great odds. Two companies of Ger
mans were already installed in ditch
Of the northern bastion. and after three
days that position had to be abandoned
by the French.
Raynal then withdrew to the central
redoubt. He was still able to cOmmu
and one OF the last messages sent was
that whatever happened he would nev-
er surrender. He kept his word. Step
by step the Germans advanced from
the west and south. gradually narrow
ing the circle surrounding the fort.
Messengers Volunteer.
Every night Raynal dispatched vol
unteer messengers TO General Nivelle
to inform him of the progress of
events. Not one In five of these mes
sengers got through.
At $50 o'clock one morning an
officer from the French lines managed
in the darkness to crawl through the
German Gordon and reach the redoubt
where Raynal was holding out. The
German artillery was still pounding in
cessantly at the roofs of the VAULTS
where the garrison had taken refuge.
The officer succeeded In returning to
the French lines and reported the des-
perate condition of the survivors.
The fighting of the two previous days
had been awful. Whole German regi-
ments at one stage tried to advance
against the western bastiOn, where two
batteries of fieldpeces were posted.
They were met with a point blank fire
and annihilated. One company climb
ed to within sixty yards of the guns,
but could get no farther. Several Ger
man assaults were repulsed only after
violent hand to hand fighting.
When at last the assailants reached
the principal entry they were met by
c0unterattack. the garrison making
use OF their rifle butts, knives and fists
and even their steel helmets. which
they held by the strap and swung like
maces. The Germans employed ZACH
rymosal shells. bombs and liquid fire
thrOwers in great numbers.
Gave Way Inch by Inch.
Inch by inch the enfeebled defenders
receded, and when at last. worn out by
seven days watching and lighting they
were incapable OF further effort, fresh
enemy troops rushed the fort and cap
tured the handful Of heroes who re
NAMED.
Nothing is known yet Of the fate of
Chief of Battalion Raynal, who was
gazetted on Tuesday commander of
the Legion OF Honor for his gallant de
Tense. He has been wounded several
times IN the present war.
Seven days Of terrific bOmbardment,
added t. many previous periods OF
bOmbardment Of less intensity, had re-
duced the fort to little more than
ruin. Its possession is still a matter
Of Importance to the Ncrdun opera
tons, however because OF the height
which II crowns and from which II
had been able 10 sweep the rayine To
the north ~ well as the slopes Of the
Meuse heights TO the east.
Although the position, so far az nat
ural defenscs were concerned, was one
II the most difficult 10 attack on this
bank Of the river, It was selected by
the Germans In preference TO other
points " less natural strength because
rom its position on the extreme east
II the line it received the least support
from the hanking batteries on the 9th
or bank
Facing the Germans on the right
bank of the river Is the line from
Froide Tcrre TO the forts Of Souville
and Tavannes. both situated on heights
II great natural strength.
Bible Often Translated.
Some Of the languages the Bible has
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