RELIEF FORCE NEAR KUT-EL-AMARA

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 61, 11 March 1916, Page 5

RELIEF FORCE NEAR KUT-EL-AMARA

The German fleet when at sea during the week evidently sowed a large number of mines, and two of the British mosquito fleet, a destroyer and a torpedo-boat, were sunk by coming into contact with them. Forty-five lives were lost The Germans claim to have captured Fort Vaux, an important fortification on the north-eastern face of Verdun. The capture of this position and its consolidation will have considerable effect on the Verdun campaign, since it commands the inner defences, but it is by no means certain that the German claim is any more substantial than their so-called capture of Fort Doua_mont. They have entered that fort, but the French are on three sides of them, and are holding their ground well. The French communique does not mention the fall of Vaux, but states, on the other hand, that there is no change in the position. During Thursday night there was violent artillery fighting on both banks of the Meuse. The British force in German South Africa is making slow but steady progress, and has captured several of the enemy's strongholds on the frontier line. General Aylmer's relieving force has got to within seven miles of Kut-el-Amara. It has been held up there, but in the fighting the enemy lost heavily, while our losses were slight.