THE WESTERS THEATRE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15612, 9 June 1916, Page 7

THE WESTERS THEATRE.

THE BRITISH FRONT. HEAYY FIGHTING NEAR YPRES. ENEMY CAPTURES TRENCHES AT HOOGE. ANZAGS f POSITION DISCLOSED. The High Commissioner reports: — LONDON. June S (1.30 a.m.). Tho British official report says: "On Tuesd-iy night and on Wednesday there were heavy artillery bombardments on both sides of the line cast of Vpros. '"In tho fighting on Wednesday, the enemy captured our front line trenches running through the ruins of tho village of Hooge. Attacks against other portions of our line f.\iled. A further infantry attack againss our trenches west of Hooge was r^ul.v^d.

•'During tho night tlso Australian troops entered the German trenches east of Bois Grenicr (two miles south of Armenticres). inflicting loss on the enemy and capturing prisoners.

"Our troops made a successful raid east of Cuinchy. The German artillery and trench mortars were active against our artillery, which shelled the enemy's batteries.''

THE ENE3r¥'S CLAIMS. CAPTURE OF HOOGE. (Bv Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received June Btli, 10.15 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, June 8. A German official communique says:— "Silesian and Wurtembiirg troops attacked the British near Hoog© and captured the western and southern portion of the village and the adjoining trenches. Thus the entire plateau south-east and south, of Ypres to the extent ol" about three kilometres is in our possession. "The British losses were very heavy." ON THE MEUSE. STRUGGLE FOR FORT VAUX. HE ATT GERMAN LOSSES. I VIOTiENT BOMBARDMENT. PREMATURE ENEMY CLAIM. PARIS, June 7. An official communique savs: — "West of the Meuse, artillery fi.zhting took place in the sectors of Hill 304 and the Caurettes Wood (near Mort Homme). "East of the Meuse, our machine-gun fire smashed a powerful German attack on Fort Vaux on Tuesday evening. The enemy retired in disorder, leaving numerous dead on the ground. "The. enemy is now unceasingly bombarding the fort and the neighbouring region. Our artillery is vigorously countering the enemy's fire." LONDON, Juno 8 (1.15 a.m.). West of the Meuse there is great artillery activity in the region of Hill 30-i. East of the Mouse the bombardment continues very violent on our first and second line from Douaumont to Damlonp. The Germaus have announced that thoy captured Fort Y.iux on Tuesday evening. At four o'clock on Wednesday morning it was still in our hands. Since then, owing to the violence of the bombardment, no communication could he effected with the fort.

THE GERMAN REPORT. FORT VAUX CAPTURED. PRISONERS AND GUNS TAKEN. (Received June Bth. lOflo D.in.") AMSTERDAM, June 8. A German official communique savs:— "Fort Yaux is now in our hands. It was actually captured on June 2nd, but the news was delayed because the remainder of the garrison was holding out in the subterranean rooms of the fort. These have now surrendered, 700 men being taken prisoners. A great number of guns and machine-guns were captured. "We repulsed all the enemy's efforts to recapture the fort.''

ACTIVITY ELSEWHERE. FRENCH REPORT. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, June 7 (3.55 p.m.). \\ est of Soissons, two German patrols which attempted 'to cross the Aisnc, were dispersed by fire near Fontenoy.

The French artillery destroyed several enemy observation posts east of Neuvron. In the Argonne, the French exploded successfully two mines at Lai Fido Morte. | In the Yosges an intense bombardmenu of onr first lines at HartmannsTreilerkopf is proceeding. (By Cat>le.—Press Association. —Copyright.) LONDON, Jane 8 (11.15 a.m.). In the Yosges, German reconnaissances were repulsed.