Actual History: 100 Years Ago Today

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Ruins of the commune of Vitrimont, France: http://imgur.com/8PKyk4o* © IWM (Q 78962)
Western Allies estimate total German losses in killed, wounded, and missing now numbers 3,921,869 men, excluding naval and colonial losses.
Heavy bombardments on Somme front continue.

Eastern Front
Romania: Romanians again forced back from the Jalomitsa and the Ploeshti-Buzeu road.
Central Powers advance towards Braila and Galatz.

Southern Front
Italy: Near Mount Marmolada, Italy, an avalanche hits Austro-Hungarian Army barracks, resulting in around 200 deaths.

Asiatic and Egyptian
Mesopotamia: British operations for the capture of Kut begin with the Tigris offensive with 48,500 men; 174 guns and 24 planes against 20,600 Turks with 70 guns: Sannaiyat shelled and Shalt-el-Hai Canal bridged (6 pontoon bridges by December 18). (see May 19th, 1916, and January 9th, 1917).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Black Sea: Russian warships shell Bulgarian grain mills at Balchiknorth of Varna.
Eastern Atlantic: Destroyer HMS Landrail depth charges and sinks coastal submarine UB-29 in southwestern Approaches.
USS Pennsylvania, the lead ship of her class commissioned just this June, at Hampton Roads: http://imgur.com/OuFAAEb* © IWM (Q 58276)

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Austrian Premier (Dr. Korber) resigns. Dr V. Spitzmuller forms new Ministry.
France: Prime Minister Briand sums up German peace note as*‘Heads I win, tails you lose.’.
Prototype Renault FT-17 light tank ordered (conceived by Colonel Estienne and Renault in July), limited production approved on December 30.
United Kingdom: Allied nations reject German proposal to enter into peace negotiations, as they do not believe the offer is serious.
British news-film “Topical Budget,” showing a Belgian armored car in action, and other news: http://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/index/5408
Portugal: Military coups until December 14 fail.
Spain: German Madrid Military attaché radios Berlin speculating that Mata Hari perhaps knows Allies can read code.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Heavy reciprocal raiding near Ypres.

Eastern Front
Romania: Falkenhayn enters Buzeu in push for Braila and Galatz (Danube towns); Danube army over the Jalomitsa; all of Wallachia in German hands, military government established at Bucharest.
German Army announces the capture of the Romanian oil fields in Campina and reveals they are undamaged by the fighting.
Russians again in Carpathian struggle, and along Moldavian frontier.

Southern Front
Fighting near Monastir.
Strong artillery action in Lake Doiran zone.
Turkey: RNAS bomb Kuleli-Burgas rail bridge 20 miles south of Adrianople (and Razlovci in Occupied Serbia on December 15).

Asiatic and Egyptian
Mesopotamia: RFC B. E. 2C scatters Turk Shumran pontoon bridge, leaving only Tigris Ferry till December 17. 2 RFC B. E. 2cs shoot down Albatros near Kut on December 20. 2-10 aircraft attack Turk depots east of Kut (December 21-22).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mediterranean: British horse-transport SS Russian is sunk eat of Malta, resulting in 28 crew member deaths: http://imgur.com/XTsVsxL ; general cargo ship SS Westminster torpedoed.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Prime Minister Dr Ernst Körber resigns against Emperor’s talks with Hungary. Count Heinrich Clam-Martinic succeeds on December 20.
Germany: Berlin fixes the upper price limit for horse meat at 39 cents a pound for the best cuts.
United Kingdom: House of Commons votes £400m war credit (total 1916-17 £1.75 billions: war costs £5.5 million per day). This will add 1 million men to the Army.
British government threatens to punish strikers at the Port of Liverpool, as they are impacting Royal Navy operations.
Greece: Allied 24-hour ultimatum (accepted on December 15). Greek withdrawal of entire Greek Armies from Thessaly demanded (see 11th and 15th).
Denmark: Denmark holds a referendum on whether or not to sell the Danish West Indian Islands to the US. Yes for the sale wins with 64.2% of the vote.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Battle of Verdun: GREAT FRENCH ATTACK (north of Fort Douaumont): The Allies claim the following:
2-mile penetration at 1000 hours recaptures Vacherauville, Hill 342 (Poivre Hill), Louvemont and Les Chambrettes with 3,500 PoWs. Mangin employs 4 divisions (with 4 in reserve) against 9 German divisions. Within 4 days French front east of Meuse is reestablished almost as on February 20. French take 11,387 PoWs; 115 guns; 44 mortars; 107 MGs.
Nivelle leaves Verdun for GOG that evening with farewell words ‘The experiment has been conclusive … I can assure you that victory is certain’. Guillaumat takes over French Second Army.
In reality, almost all of these claims are grossly exaggerated; the ones that aren’t involve the recapture of militarily insignificant territory.

Eastern Front
Romania: Central Powers’ success on Tarnopol Railway, west of Lutsk.
Romanian and Russians still resisting north of Buzeu, but retiring from Jalomitsa.
Strong Russian defence on Moldavian frontier.

Southern Front
Naval aeroplanes bomb Razlovci, 37 miles east of Istip (Serbia).
Bulgarians bombarding Monastir.
Fighting on the Struma; repulse of Bulgarians.
British warships shell Greeks at head of Gulf of Orfano (south-west of Kavalla).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British Government recognize the "King of the Arabs" as the King of the Hejaz (see November 4th).

Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: Fort Kibata: Baluchis warriors retake Picquet Hill in night attack with first use Mills grenades in this theatre; Gold Coast Regiment takes hill to west.

Political, etc.
Russia: Vigorous speeches in the Duma.
Romanian treasures and gold reserves are evacuated to Russia for safekeeping (most of the gold reserves are never returned).
Germany: German Minority Socialists' manifesto against "oracular utterances"; demand Government should state peace conditions.
United Kingdom: King George V visiting the National Shell Filling Factory at Chilwell, Nottinghamshire: http://imgur.com/71j2kZQ
British government bans the manufacture of hairpins to conserve metal.
United States: Special Note: 1791: The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified.
Greece: Greek Government accept Allied Ultimatum (see 14th).

[dicksbro]

Interesting comment on the Bill of Rights being ratified in 1791 ... but ... er ... 1791??

:D

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Battle of Verdun: French 133rd Division (Passaga) claims to clrecapture Bezonvaux and Hardaumont. Again, most of the militarily significant territory remained in German hands. German counter-attack regains Les Chambrettes Farm on December 17. French further claim that 11,000 prisoners and much war material are captured.
{Copied verbatum, cause even if not accurate,the comparison is cool} German lines being bombarded by French artillery at Vacherauville, France: http://imgur.com/kxECDqA While I cannot say for certain, this might be the same view today via Google Earth: http://imgur.com/hRv6PF8

Eastern Front
Pripet: Russian positions between Kovel and Lutsk captured (restored on December 18).
Dobruja: Sakharov retreats north on Braila (until December 20).

Southern Front
Greece: Greek Army begins evacuation of Thessaly under Allied supervision (Anglo-French control officers).

Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: General Cunliffe's Nigerian brigade reaches Dar-es-Salaam.

Political, etc.
Russia: Russia dismisses German peace offer, stating it was a “sensational act of publicity calculated to prepossess the neutral powers.”
Germany: Friedrich Ernst Dorn, German physicist who discovered radium emits a radioactive substance, passed away: http://imgur.com/ZpQqfwG
Prussian General Max von Fabeck commits suicide after he was evacuated from the front due to serious illness: http://imgur.com/rVbRgy5
United Kingdom: British news film “Topical Budget,” showing blind soldiers being taught to become masseurs, among other news: http://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/index/5409
Ireland: Government decides to take over Irish railways, to satisfaction of Irish public.
Romania: Ion Bratianu forms Coalition Goverment, Tache Ionescu joins on December 25.
Portugal: Creation of the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps to serve in France alongside the rest of the Allies is announced.

[gekkogecko]

Interesting comment on the Bill of Rights being ratified in 1791 ... but ... er ... 1791??

:D

Yes; the Main body of the Constitution was adopted in 1789; Wikipedia give a fairly decent summary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Bill_of_Rights

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Artois: Marwitz takes over German Second Army from Gallwitz (until September 22, 1918) who goes to Fifth Army at Verdun.
Battle of Verdun: French offensive continues and succeeds in taking minor parts of Caurieres Wood and Bezon-Vaux.
German counter-attack near Verdun; they recover Les Chambrettes.
British prisoners taken to prisoner of war camps by German soldiers: http://imgur.com/ULBL8EY

Eastern Front
Fighting continues in the Tarnopol region; Romanians and Russians continue to fall back.
Dobruja: Bulgars break through, causing chaos; 1 st Cossack Division’s radio station with cipher code captured, new code from December 21 no more secret.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Strong Turkish cavalry attacks checked south of Falahiya (Kut).

Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: Fighting at Kibata continues.

Political, etc.
Germany: A postcard from Chicago was flown in an aeroplane to New York, where it traveled by U-Boat to Germany, and it has now arrived in Berlin.
German government: “Germany will never give up Alsace and Lorraine while there is a German living.”
Germany reports it seized 60 million bushels of cereals in Romania to help alleviate food shortages in Germany.
France: General Nivelle, new French commander-in-chief: “Victory is certain: I give you assurance. Germany will learn it to her cost.”
Turkey: Government ends extra-territoriality agreements with Turkey due to her treatment of Armenians and Syrians.
Greece: Greek Government issue warrant for arrest of M. Venizelos on charge of high treason (see August 30th and September 29th, 1916 and June 26th, 1917). Athens Archbishop anathematises him on December 26.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Battle of Verdun: "First Offensive Battle of Verdun” ends (see October 24th, 1916 and August 20th, 1917). Fourth (French 126th Division) Zouaves recapture Les Chambrettes Farm, a fairly irrelevant success.
The standard Allied claim is: Battle of Verdun ends in a French victory. France suffered 315,000-542,000 casualties, Germans suffered 281,000-434,000 casualties. Which estimates are highly doubtful on the German side. Mangin thanks his XI Corps ‘We have the method and we have the leader [Nivelle] It gives us the certainty of success’.

Eastern Front
Romania: Surviving elements of the Romanian Army begins reorganization in order to defend the Siret (AKA Sereth) River from Central Power attacks. Mud slows German pursuit; Falkenhayn checked 30 miles west of Braila, but Braila and Galatz still threatened.
Dobruja: RNAS armored car unit leaves Tulcea by barge for transfer to Braila (8 cars arrive there on December 21).
Russian position between Kovel and Lutsk restored.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British move round Sanna-i-Yat and reach Tigris above Kut, severing Turkish lateral communications and commanding river upstream of Khadairi Bend.

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: British government announces plans that it will end game preserves, as an effort to mitigate social class divisions.
Canada: Canada begins transferring 1000 miles of its own rails to France in order to facilitate movement of troops and supplies.
Italy: Italian Chamber declares solidarity with Allies.
United States: President Wilson issues Circular Note suggesting negotiations for peace (see 26th); note asks national objectives.
General Hugh L. Scott testifies to Congress that the U.S. will require 3 million trained soldiers to adequately defend the U.S.

[gekkogecko]

Eastern Front
Romania: German forces in Romani advance towards Brăila, Romania, capturing 1000 prisoners and large supplies of food and military equipment.
Dobruja: Russians in the Dobruja fall back towards Braila; eventually, the Austro-German advance from the west is checked 30 miles from Braila.

Political, etc.
Russia: Russia threatens to restrict German prisoners’ food unless Russian prisoners in Germany are allowed to receive food sent from Russia.
Germany: Postcard sent by Adolf Hitler while recovering from injuries in Munich, stating he is ready to go back to the front: http://imgur.com/tKzss7X
United Kingdom: British Government decide to:
A) institute National Service (see November 1st, 1917)
B) initiate imperial Conference (see March 20th, 1917)
C) recognise Government of M. Venizelos (see September 20th).
Lloyd George’s first speech as Prime Minister rejects peace talks without definite proposals ‘… we shall put our trust rather in an unbroken army than in broken faith’. British safe conduct for Austrian Ambassador from US.
British in Cairo meet a French request for £40,000 in gold to give Arabs.
Turkey: Halil Bey, the Ottoman Foreign Minister, says that Russian “dream” of capturing Constantinople is “fantasy.”
Greece: Greek Government protests re: Venizelist occupation of islands under Allies' “protection”.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Five Jasta 2 fighters (led by Richthofen) shoot or force down 5 DH2s. RFC observers engage 85 targets including destroying 3-gun anti-aircraft batteries, takes 741 photos.

Eastern Front
German Navy airships L-35 (Ehrlich) and L-38 (Dietrich) arrive at Wainoden for Operation Eisernes Kreuz (Iron Cross), a raid on Petrograd advocated since early 1915 by Grand-Admiral Prince Heinrich, C-in-C Baltic Fleet.
Romania: Russian 12th Cavalry Division reaches Odobesti 15 miles northwest of Focsani (after 450-mile ride without losing a single horse).
Galicia: Severe fighting west of Brody.

Southern Front
Fierce local encounters Cherna bend (Monastir).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Turks evacuate El Arish (northern Sinai) and fall back 20 miles south-east of Magdhaba.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mediterranean: British troopship Itonus is sunk by the German submarine SM U-38 off Malta, resulting in 5 crew deaths: http://imgur.com/0j816LL
East Africa: Germans retire from Nangadi (East Africa).

Political, etc.
Germany: Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg comes under sustained pressure from German Army and Navy for unlimited U-boat warfare without delay (December 20-26). Ludendorff urges immediate unrestricted U-boat war in view of Lloyd George reply.
German War Loan M 535,000,000.
United States: U.S. War Department orders 4000 Vickers machine guns for the cost of $5.5 million ($121 million today).
President Wilson's Peace Conference Note handed to Belligerents.

[gekkogecko]

Eastern Front
Romania: German advance on Brăila, Romania slows down due to overextended supply lines and resistance by Russian Cossacks.
Thousands of Romanian flee across the border into Russian Ukraine, which threatens to exacerbate the refugee problem.
Dobruja: Sakharov drives Bulgarians into Lake Babadagh south of Tulcea.
Russia: Fighting south of Dvinsk.
In the Carpathians, hand-to-hand combat occurs in dark tunnels as Russian troops attempt to attack Austro-Hungarian lines in the mountains.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Sinai: El Arish occupied by British forces (see November 15th). (1,600 Turks evacuated to Magdhaba on December 20). Royal Navy N arrives on December 22.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: Two Royal Navy destroyers are sunk by collision; flotilla leader HMS Hoste and HMS Negro. At least 55 are killed.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: V. Spitzmuller (Austria) unable to form Cabinet; Count Heinrich Clam-Martinitz appointed Austrian Premier (see 14th, and June 18th, 1917).
Russia: Germany and Russia both agree to give better treatment to their prisoners of war.
Germany: German newspaper “Tageblatt” says British demands for reparations after the war are “impossible.”
United States: President Wilson backs Germany’s peace move and suggests all the belligerent countries to state their terms.
Jewish groups in the U.S. raise $3 million at Carnegie Hall in order to aid Jewish people suffering in Europe due to the war.
Possibility of a peace in Europe causes another sell-off of stocks on Wall Street as 3.176 million shares are sold off.
Greece: Greek government protests that the Allied nations and Greek rebels are seizing Greek islands.
Allied response note demands control of communications and Venizelists‘ release. Similar conditions demanded on December 31 before blockade lifted.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Charles Mangin put in command of French Sixth Army, Joseph Micheler to head Reserve Army Group for 1917 spring offensive, Denis Duchene takes over latter’s Tenth Army.
Ruins of the Cathedral at Ypres: http://imgur.com/ZKywr9T* © IWM (Q 6213)

Eastern Front
Romania: Battle of Casin begins (until January 16, 1917): Fairly steady Austro-Hungarian advance until the Allies eventually check Archduke Joseph’s 4-division advance along three Carpathian valleys.
Dobruja: German and Bulgarian troops defeat Russian forces in Dobruja, Romania and capture 900 Russian prisoners.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British positions south of Kut consolidated; second air raid on Baghela; also on Beersheba.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: British submarine HMS E.30 hits a mine in the North Sea and sinks with the death of all 30 crew: http://imgur.com/71cD6rd
Adriatic: Four Austrian destroyers raid Otranto Barrage (night December 22-23): only 1 drifter damaged but 2 French destroyers hit, 2 Italian damaged plus one in collisions.
Greece: British ships again shell mouth of Struma (Gulf of Orfano).

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Count Ottokar von und zu Czernin succeeds Baron Stephan Burian as Austro-Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs (see January 13th, 1915, and April 15th, 1918).
Germany: Henning von Holtzendorff memo urges unrestricted U-boat war, promises it can force England to peace table in 5 months I.e. before August 1 1917 and harvest if begun February 1.
France: French Chamber of Deputies approve new taxes on theatre and vaudeville tickets to cover the costs of war.
United Kingdom: Great Britain forms the following ministries: Food (see 26th); Shipping (see January 27th); Pensions.
New Shipping Ministry orders five types of standard merchant ship (3,000-8,000t) until April 1917.
King George V makes a speech proroguing Parliament, stating the war will go on until victory: http://imgur.com/JmOVLGh
It is decided to widen the role of the Air Board, under the presidency of Dickinson Pierson, Lord Cowdray, giving it limited executive powers. A section of the New Ministries and Secretaries Act, 1916, which brought the Board into being, laid down that "for the purpose of this Act the President of the Air Board shall be deemed to be a Minister appointed under this Act"
Switzerland: Swiss Note to Belligerents to support U.S.A. peace efforts.
Mexico: Forces under Mexican rebel Pancho Villa captures the city of Torreon after routing Mexican government forces.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Hostile activity in Champagne.

Eastern Front
Romania: Battle of Rimnicu Sarat (until December 27): Falkenhayn‘s 10 divisions take town on December 27, together with 10,000 PoWs, 2 guns and 58 Mgs.
Australian soldier manning a Lewis machine gun at the ongoing Battle of Magdhaba: http://imgur.com/l1P9PCv
Fierce struggle for Moldavian frontier positions.
Dobruja: Russians from Dobruja retire to Bessarabia, leaving some troops at Macin (Braila).

Southern Front
Bad weather last fortnight on Italian front.
Two successful British attacks along Doiran front (Macedonia)

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Sinai: Battle of Magdhaba: Chauvel’s Anzac Mounted Division and Camel Corps (146 casualties) storm five redoubts, taking 1,282 PoWs and 4 guns. http://imgur.com/fQy8ZEm
Further success to the south at Mitla Pass and Abu Aweigila.

Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: NRFF (1,900 soldiers with 6 guns) advances from Lupembe against Captain Langenn to Mkapira (arriving January 16, 1917) without trapping foe.

Political, etc.
France: French government admits that the nation is facing a severe coal shortage due to the war and difficulties in transportation.
United Kingdom: British news film “Topical Budget,” showing a French priest blessing artillery shells, among other news: http://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/index/5410
United States: Cover of the “Scientific American” showing “an observatory car suspended from a zeppelin airship.” http://imgur.com/UQxqh0w
President Wilson offers to abandon America’s isolationist policy if it is done to bring peace in Europe.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Battery of 9.2 inch howitzers in action on the Western Front: http://imgur.com/dVqxAS8* © IWM (Q 3881)
British troops purchasing geese for their Christmas dinner at Bailleul, France: http://imgur.com/53mw2wU* © IWM (Q 1629)

Eastern Front
Romania: Battle of Rimnicu Sarat: German and Bulgarian armies reach the south fork of the Danube River, threatening the town of Tulcea, Romania.
Dobruja: Bulgars attack Sakharov Macin bridgehead east of Braila, fails again on December 31.

Southern Front
Lively British raids on Doiran front.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: British cavalry blow up Arab Fort Gusab 18 miles southeast of Kut. First British aircraft over Baghdad since November 1915, Hereward de Havilland‘s B.E. 2c.

Political, etc.
France: General Hubert Lyautey is officially named the new French Minister of War: http://imgur.com/CX5cIAO
United States: “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” film directed by Stuart Paton, is released: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/20%2C000_Leagues_Under_the_Sea_%281916%29.webm

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
First Pup Squadron (https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/sopwith-pup.jpg) (No 54) arrives in France, now 38 active squadrons with 700 aircraft against 33 German Jagdstaffeln (establishment 14 planes each). No day flying possible.
Major Wetzel and OHL estimate that US expeditionary force on Western Front not possible before spring 1918.
Heavy artillery exchanges mark Christmas on the Somme battlefields. Aside from this, and minor raids, there is very little fighting on the Western Front due to bad weather and the approach of Christmas. Canadian artillerymen writing “Xmas Greetings from Canada” on a shell at the Somme: http://imgur.com/vKgmjhx* © IWM (CO 1015)
British take over more French line.

Eastern Front
Romania: Field Marshal von Mackensen leaving Christmas morning church service in occupied Bucharest: http://imgur.com/YX4kGJI* © IWM (Q 23978)
Battle of Rimnicu Sarat: German troops and other Central Power forces capture the cities of Isaccea and Tulcea, Romania.
Severe fighting west of Lower Sereth; Macin bridgehead attacked.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Armenia: Fighting round Lake Van, Turks driven south on December 28.
South Persia: Action of Dasht-i-Arjan: c.400 British & Persians troops forced back to Shiraz (until December 28).

Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: Combined offensive by Generals Northey and van Deventer begins, pushing Germans east and south.

Political, etc.
A partial solar eclipse occurs off the shore of Antarctica: http://imgur.com/duLpgT3
Russia: Tsar replies to German Peace overtures. Tsar‘s Order to Army and Navy stresses no thought of Peace till ‘final victory’.
Germany: Kaiser Wilhelm prays: “God bless the third war Christmas of all those away in the field and of those at home in our dear fatherland!”
United Kingdom: King's Christmas message.
Premiers of self-governing Colonies and Indian representatives invited to War Conference.
Romania: Coalition Government formed in Romania, including M. Take Jonescu.
Poland: Albert Chmielowski, Polish professed religious known helping the poor, passed away (he was sainted in 1989): http://imgur.com/vwkR8vK
United States: USS Arizona passing by New York City after initial sea trials: http://imgur.com/9w9KX4k . Arizona was later destroyed at Pearl Harbor.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Naval air-raid on Zeebrugge.

Eastern Front
Romania: Severe fighting along whole Romanian front; the German-led offensive in Romania steadily advances, capturing 6,500 Russian prisoners. Russian 124th Division holds Vizural against Bulgars until December 28 mainly due to 8 RNAS cars before retreating. Austrian First Army begins Trotus valley offensive until January 7, 1917.
Russia: Heavy shelling of Russian positions in Galicia.

Southern Front
Italy: Italian troops at on the Carso, gaining 330 yards on the Carso Plateau and taking 150 cases of artillery shells.
Naval aeroplanes bomb Turkish camps at Galata (Dardanelles).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Weather broken; operations much hindered.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: German, Austro-Hungarian and Turkish Governments send reply to President Wilson's Note; immediate meeting of delegates suggested (see 18th, and January 10th, 1917).
Charles I of Austria prepares for his formal coronation. Princess Zita, his wife, will wear a gown worth $10,000.
Germany: German school children also contribute to the war effort by subscribing $475,000 to the new German war loan.
France: General Joffre created Marshal of France (see 12th); first since 1870.
United Kingdom: Anglo-French Conference meets in London to discuss the German and United States Peace Notes; also the situation in Greece, the Salonika expedition and the division of the front in the Western Theatre. (Discussion continued on the 27th and 28th.)
Lord Devonport appointed Food Controller, Great Britain (see 22nd).
Poland: Governor General von Beseler orders the creation of the Polish State Credit Bank.
United States: Medical Society of New York Country votes 210 to 72 against dissemination of birth control info. All 4 women doctors were in the minority.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Big French air-raids on German industrial works (Rhineland, etc.).

Eastern Front
Romania: Battle of Rimnicu Sarat: Falkenhayn takes Ramnicu Sarat.
Dobruja: The Bulgars seize position east of Macin.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Aegean: Escorted French battleship Gaulois sunk by coastal submarine UB-47 (Steinbauer) 30 miles east of Cerigo between Crete and Peloponnese. https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/BB-Gaulois.jpg
Eastern Mediterranean: Royal Navy seaplane carriers Ben-my-Chree and Raven II launch 9 aircraft which hit with 4 bombs and damage strategic Chikaldir bridge (Baghdad railway), near Gulf of Alexandretta; Turkish heavy guns for Baghdad delayed.

Political, etc.
Germany: Germany limits the sale of "deluxe" shoes to two pairs per person per year, and only if old pairs are turned in.
Germany reassures Switzerland that it will continue to respect Swiss neutrality.
France: Foch moves to new assignment at Senlis as ‘Military Adviser to French Government’.
United Kingdom: British and French Governments conclude agreement regarding temporary administration of Togoland (see August 26th and 31st, 1914).
Britain contracts to buy all the exportable supply of New Zealand meat until three months until (ed note: until? after?) the end of the war.
Sweden, Norway & Denmark: Three Scandinavian Governments agree to present Note to Belligerents in support of peace efforts.
Spain: King Alfonso of Spain persuades Germany to send home some Belgian civilians who were deported as forced labor.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
RFC aid British artillery to get 25 direct hits on trench points and gun pits.
Verdun: Fierce German counter-attack at Mort Homme.
French soldier displaying his military chauffeur’s uniform: http://imgur.com/fD8nQ6e* © IWM (Q 102997)

Eastern Front
Poor weather rules out Operation Eisernes Kreuz; primary target Petrograd; nor can alternatives (Reval, Helsinki, Oesel, Dago) be reached due to severe icing. Airship L-35 force-lands in pine forest at Seemuppen; damaged beyond repair (night December 28-29).
Romania: Allied retreat in Romania continues, destroying $150 million worth of oil fields on the way. British armoured cars engaged.
Battle of Casin: German troops capture another 3000 Romanian and Russian troops. Brăila, Romania is now within artillery range.

Southern Front
Salonika: Serb Colonel Dragutin Dimitrievic (codename*Apis) of Black Hand secret society arrested at Serb Third Army Headquarter on charges of planning a mutiny and murder of Crown Prince.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Armenia: On the Caucasian Front, Russian troops defeat Ottoman troops near the city of Van, forcing them to retreat to the south.

Political, etc.
Germany: Germany hands appreciative reply to Swiss Note.
United States: President Wilson celebrates his 60th birthday today.
New York City requests hotels and restaurants to stop serving liquor at 3 am on New Year’s Day to control the celebrations.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Haig’s [ed. note: self-serving, disingenuous] Battle of the Somme Dispatch published, covers BEF operations from May 15 to November 18, 1916. He divides battle into four phases, lists capture of 38,000 PoWs and 125 guns. Haig stresses that fully half German Army engaged and defeated and that British troops (many only partially trained) surpassed all expectations.
Further, Haig declares that the “great victory” at the Somme proves the Allies will be able to defeat the Germans in the war.
Bad weather hampers flying until December 30.

Eastern Front
Romania: Heavy fighting continues on Moldavian frontier; some Central Powers progress in the Oitoz valley.
Battle of Rimnicu Sarat: German advance north and east from Ramnicu Sarat continued.

Political, etc.
Russia: STAVKA conference until December 31 includes Tsar and all three Front C-in-Cs, Aleksei Brusilov decides, in principle, to launch 1917 offensive.
Murder of Russian monk Rasputin (ed. note: also reported for earlier in December, 1916).
Germany: Germany warns its citizens that food shortages will continue next year even if the war ends.
France: Sitting of National Socialist Congress in Paris. [ed. note: a horribly charged phrase: the French Socialists, who called themselves by this title, had nothing to do with the later National Socialist German Workers’ Party in Germany. The German NSDAP was later shortened to “Nazi”.]
United Kingdom: Some members of the British Labour Party urge a 25% levy on capital and to break up large estates to raise money for the war.
Mexico: Mexico buys $500,000 worth of artillery and anti-aircraft guns from Japan.

[gekkogecko]

Eastern Front
Romania: Very heavy fighting on whole Romanian front.
Battle of Casin: Bulgars and Turks advance slowly towards Macin.
Battle of Rimnicu Sarat: Austro-German progress at various points in mountains and south-east of Ramnicu Sarat, but checked between here and Focsani.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Emperor Charles I (of Austria) crowned King Charles IV of Hungary at Budapest. http://imgur.com/6xU2j0s* © IWM (Q 70806)
The ceremonial guards at the coronation of Charles I: http://imgur.com/6zn0DIK* © IWM (Q 88222)
Charles I of Austria-Hungary: “Our enemies are finally commencing to understand that they cannot conquer us.”
Russia: Tsar tells British Ambassador ‘In the event of revolution, only a small part of the Army can be counted to defend the dynasty.’
Germany: War Ministry dismounts 16 cavalry regiments.
Germany announces it will release 100 French POWs who have at least three children. If France reciprocates, it will release more.
France & United Kingdom: ALLIES REJECT GERMAN PEACE NOTE as ’empty and insincere’. https://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Entente_Reply_to_the_Peace_Note_of_Germany_and_Her_Allies,_December_30,_1916
Anglo-Chinese labor agreement for Western Front.
Bulgaria: Bulgarian Government reply accepting President Wilson's Note (see 18th, and January 10th, 1917).
Serbia: Southern Slavs Committee issues declaration at Coronation of Austrian Emperor.
Greece: Greek Note to Allies requests rising of the Blockade.
Spain: Spain declines to second President Wilson's proposal.

[dicksbro]

These are sure interesting. I've enjoyed following "the course of the war" on this day-to-day basis. Fascinating looking back into history. Thanks, GG for your work putting his together. :thumbs:

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
106 French, 56 British, 6 Belgian and 1 Russian division oppose 127 German divisions (44 new divisions formed in 1916).
French military announces (that is, claims) it took 78,500 German prisoners during the Battle of Verdun.

Eastern Front
Romania: Further Austro-German progress in Moldavian mountains and west and south of Focsani.

Southern Front
Italy: Avalanches in the Italian Alps have killed around 10,000 Austro-Hungarian and Italian soldiers this month.
Salonika: Bulgars fail in attack on Braila bridgehead, but carry positions east of Macin.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Sinai: Magharah Wells, Hassana and Nakhl (Sinai) cleared of Turkish forces.

Naval and Overseas Operations
In last quarter of 1916 only 958,000t neutral shipping (723,000t Norwegian) enters British ports compared with 3,442,000 in January to March. Grand Fleet now mostly equipped with Poulsen-arc jam-resistant radios.
North Sea: Dover Patrols has 5 cruisers and 35 destroyers and many smaller craft with 10 French destroyers (Admiral Ronarc’h).
East Africa: Campaign of the Sudan forces in Darfur comes to an end (see March 1st).
Convoy of Indian sappers traveling in trucks on the road to Rufiji, German East Africa: http://imgur.com/Ow2tfRT* © IWM (Q 15609)

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Nearly 5 million men mobilized (800,000 killed, 1 million wounded and sick) but 20 new divisions formed.
Russia: Raspútin murdered in Petrograd. (also reported for 17 December (Old Style) and 30 December (New Style).
By now 14,648,000 Russian men mobilized including 47.4% of the male peasants.
Russian Duma adopts a resolution stating “dark forces” inside the nation are hampering its war efforts.
Germany: German Army has now 16,000 MGs, each division has 48 mortars. In 1916 it has raised 1,050 batteries (4,200 guns).
Kaiser Wilhelm to troops: “All their [Allied] assaults, East and West, have collapsed owning to your bravery and devotion.”
Bankruptcies in Germany fell this year with 2,277 cases, compared to 4,580 in 1915 and 7,738 in 1914.
France: French Army has now 40,000 motor vehicles.
Paris Municipal Council adopts “decisive victory” as the New Year’s resolution for France.
United Kingdom: Douglas Haig promoted to Field Marshal.
United States: Alice Ball, African American chemist who discovered an effective treatment for leprosy, passed away at age 24: http://imgur.com/B1aYptk
Greece: Entente Note to Greece calling for reparation for events of 1 and 2 December, with other demands.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) School of Photography is formed at Farnborough.
After his Albatros D III’s lower wing cracks in combat in January, Richthofen switches temporarily to a more conventional Halberstadt fighter. Despite modifications wing failures continue to plague the ‘Vee-strutter’ Albatros D III and D V/Va.
No 53 Squadron with B E 2 arrives in France. No 43 Squadron with Sopwith two-seater on January 17; No 35 Squadron with Armstrong-Whitworths on January 24.
Normal activity proceeding.

Eastern Front
Romania: Stubborn fighting in Carpathians. Austro-Hungarian troops advance against Romanian troops in Bekas Pass, crossing the Moldavian frontier.
Dobruja: Austro-Germans in touch with Bulgarians along the Sereth lines at Focsani and Fundeni.

Southern Front
Salonika: Captain G Murlis Green (17 Squadron) forces down 2 Albatros two-seaters behind British lines.
Lieutenant W S Scott of RFC 17 Squadron lands second agent behind Bulgarian lines (first on December 17, 1916).

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: During January battlecruisers Courageous and Glorious (Nicknamed ‘Outrageous’ and ‘Laborious’, respectively) join Grand Fleet.
In January. HMS Muskerry, world’s first fleet minesweeper enters service, 19 sister ships follow by August 1917. Beatty proposes 157-mile minefield with 80,000 mines (only 1,100 in stock) to encircle Heligoland Bight, officially announced on January 23. 
Eastern Mediterranean: Egypt-bound British troop transport Ivernia sunk by coastal submarine UB-47 off Cape Matapan (120 lives lost).
Caribbean: During January US Atlantic Fleet maneuvers until April.
East Africa: British carry German lines near Lissaki in the Mgeta valley (German East Africa), and pursue Germans towards the Rufiji valley at Kibambawe.

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: RFP (Retail Food Price) 87% (up 3%).
During January Wheeldon family arrested for farcical plot to murder Prime Minister on golf course with air rifle poison dart (charged at Derby on January 31, jailed March).
Official film Battle of the Ancre and the Advance of the Tanks released.
Rail fares up 50%.
J.R.R. Tolkien, while on medical leave, is currently writing the early versions of The Book of Lost Tales.
Turkey: Bank of National Credit formed.
Publication of denunciation by Turkey of Treaty of Paris (1856) and Treaty of Berlin (1878).
United States: Sketch by Theodore Roosevelt on his “unsuccessful effort to draw bats from the belfry of WA White.” http://imgur.com/Efc7h0d
Thomas Van Lear becomes the first (and only) Socialist mayor of Minneapolis: http://imgur.com/uOkr2sL
Tuskegee Institute reports that 50 African Americans were lynched in the United States last year.
Egypt: General Sir R. Wingate becomes High Commissioner of Egypt.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Reports claim Allied nations captured a combined total of at least 582,723 prisoners on all fronts last year.
Haig issues orders for Arras offensive on April 8.
Lorraine: Mudra (from Eastern Front) takes over German Army Detachment A (until June 18, 1918) from General d’Elsa (in command since April 15, 1916).
The ruins of the Chateau at Contalmaison, France. The cellar was used as a dressing station: http://imgur.com/TpyoNTn* © IWM (Q 6194)

Eastern Front
Galicia: Südarmee attack near Zloczow repulsed.
Dobruja: Germano-Buolgarian advance between frontier and Focsani; Russian successful counter-attacks south-east of that town.
Mackensen’s Bulgars take Macin and Jijila.
Baltic Provinces: General Scholtz takes over Eighth Army (until April 22) from Mudra (in command since October 22, 1916). General Hutier replaces Scholtz in command of Army Detachment D.
Moldavia: Continued heavy fighting in Moldavian mountains. Austro-Hungarian troops penetrate 8 miles into Moldavian territory and capture 3 villages from the Romanians.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: Lawrence and 35 camel men ambush Turk camp southeast of Yanbo. Feisal’s 10,400 men, 4 guns and 10 MGs march on January 3 to Owais wells, 15 miles north of Yanbo for 185-mile advance on Wejh.

Political, etc.
Italy: Italian government orders its cities to increase food production by cultivating available public land, including city parks.
Japan: Japan notifies the U.S. that its merchant ships passing through the Panama Canal will be armed to protect against German U-boats.
Romania: M. Bratianu, Premier of Romania, reconstitutes Cabinet.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
First units of Portuguese Expeditionary Force land in France (see August 8th, 1916, and June 17th, 1917).

Eastern Front
Galicia: Lechitski attack succeeds near Mt Botosul, 2,218 German PoWs taken between Kimpolung and Jakobeny (January 27 and 30); 3 German night attacks fail on January 31.
Dobruja: Focsani (Rumania) taken by German forces.
Baltic Provinces: Germans take Dvina Island near Glandau northwest of Dvinsk but Russians recover on January 8.
Romania: Cossack Division leaves Rumanian III Corps for Russian one causing gap that Falkenhayn exploits on January 6.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: Emir Faisal and his army on the attack. Picture taken by T.E. Lawrence: http://imgur.com/l0SvLqP* © IWM (Q 58863)

Naval and Overseas Operations:
East Africa: Action of Beho-Beho (until January 4) continues German retreat, but big game hunter Captain Selous DSO, is killed, aged 65 on January 4. Beves’ South African advance guard crosses river Rufiji in four Berthon boats.

Political, etc.
Russia: Imperial family buries Rasputin at Tsarskos Salo by night. His murderers exiled in January 6.
United Kingdom: Admiralty reasserts "immemorial" right of merchant-ships to defend themselves against attack or search by an enemy.

[dicksbro]

And the war goes on. Amazing info, GG! Thanks. What a great history lesson.

[gekkogecko]

In a lot of ways, 1917 was the decisive year; after the utterly futile battles of the Somme, Verdun, and the Brusilov offensive, the Allies started to (and only really then started to) get their shit together.
1917 saw the entry of the US into the war, the first use of tracked, armored fighting vehicles (tanks), the two Russian revolutions.
Lots of stuff to come.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
France: Nivelle visits and impresses King Albert from Belgium, tells him ‘We must gain our objectives in the first two days of the offensive’. Nivelle also forms a General Staff 4e bureau to handle all logistics at army level.

Eastern Front
Dobruja: Russians defeated at Vacareni, and begin evacuating out of the Dubruja region of Romania as Central Power’s gains threaten to cut off supply lines.
Baltic Provinces: Germans fail to cross to right bank of Dvina near Glandau.
Romania: Mackensen takes Gurgueti and Romanul, piercing Braila bridgehead which Russians evacuate. Falkenhayn begins Battle of the Putna until January 8.

Southern Front
Salonika: British airmen bomb Maritza bridge at Kuleli Burgas (south of Adrianople).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Armenia: Due to nearly 6 feet of snow, military operations by the Russians and Ottomans in the Caucasus come to a halt.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Eastern Mediterranean: Russian pre-Dreadnought battleship Peresviet sinks on U-boat (probably U-73) mine off Port Said; ship was a Russo-Japanese War prize bought back from Japan. http://imgur.com/89MfteL
East Africa: Action of Beho-Beho ends (see 3rd).

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Emperor and Empress of Austria-Hungary sends an envoy to the Vatican to urge the Pope to intervene for peace.
Germany: London and Berlin agree to swap all internees over 45 years of age.
Kaiser Wilhelm visits Vienna to meet with Austro-Hungarian officials to discuss the war.
France: New French tax on tobacco causes the closure of more than half of the retail shops, leading to shortages.
Belgium: German Governor General of Belgium issues decree ordering the collection of household goods made of brass, copper, tin, nickel, or bronze.
United States: (Listed for yesterday): Former President Theodore Roosevelt says Wilson’s attempts to mediate a peace is “immoral,” as it helps Germany.
Wilson speech ‘There will be no war … it would be a crime against civilisation for us to go in’.
U.S. Federal Reserve Board estimates the belligerent nations have accrued $49.455 billion in new debt since the start of the war.

[dicksbro]

Interesting Theodore Roosevelt's comment on President Wilson's attempt to mediate a peace.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
British capture two minor posts near Beaumont Hamel.

Eastern Front
Dobruja: Dobruja entirely cleared of Russians and Romanians.
Baltic Provinces: Battle of the Aa (until February 3): Surprise Russian Twelfth Army (Radko) offensive with 2 Latvian brigades (3 other regiments refuse to attack, 94 soldiers executed), without prelim shelling, between Lake Babit and Tirul Marsh, west of Riga. It gains 4 miles plus 8,000 PoWs and 36 guns by January 11 despite German counter attacks from January 11-13.
Romania: Braila (Rumania) taken by German forces. (also listed for yesterday); 1,400 soldiers and six machine guns are also captured.
Central Powers advance at various points on Romanian front, especially between the rivers Rimnic and Buzeu.

Southern Front
Salonika: Sarrail and Milne attend Rome Conference, (see Political developments, below), but Italians decline to reinforce them although former impresses Lloyd George. General Sir H Wilson temporarily in command of Salonika Army (January 3-10). British 65th Brigade raid on Akinjali village only takes 4 PoWs.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: Battle of Kut-el-Amara begins.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Biscay: French steamer Alphonse Conseil escapes twice only to be caught after 15-hour chase (until January 6) during SM U-48’s patrol claiming 11 ships worth 27,000t.
Black Sea: 4 Russian pre-Dreadnought battleships, 1 cruiser and 3 destroyers sink 39 Turk sailing coasters off Anatolia (until January 9).
East Africa: British occupy Kibambawe in Rufiji valley.

Political, etc.
Germany: (Special 1919): The German Workers' Party, the forerunner to the Nazi Party, was founded by Anton Drexler.
Italy: Inter-Allied Conference assembles in Rome to discuss co-operation, and the questions of Macedonia, Greece, the command of the Salonika expedition and to convene a shipping conference. (Discussions continued on the 6th and 7th.) Fifth Meeting of Allied military and political leaders. Cadorna asks for 8 divisions and 300 heavy guns (later 10 divisions and 400 guns) to capture Laibach and Trieste and so eliminate Austria. Anglo-French only willing to lend guns till April (Western Front offensive), first month when Italian large-scale operations possible. Conference also acts to improve communications to Salonika via Southern Italy.
Belgium: Lieutenant-General Félix Wielemans, Belgian Army Chief of Staff, died due to pneumonia contracted in the trenches: http://imgur.com/LVYytO4
Netherlands: After negotiations, the Netherlands agrees to export 220 pounds of fresh pork to Germany for 176 pounds sent to England.

[gekkogecko]

Interesting Theodore Roosevelt's comment on President Wilson's attempt to mediate a peace.

There was a lot, I mean a *LOT* of dispute and controversy about whether or not the US should get into the war on the side of the Allies at the time. Wilson himself seems to have had a mostly neutralist stance, with a favoritism among his cabinet for joining the Allies.

From the Wikipedia page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_entry_into_World_War_I

Historians divide the views of American political and social leaders into four distinct groupings—the camps were mostly informal:

The first of these were the Non-Interventionists, a loosely affiliated and politically diverse anti-war movement which sought to keep the United States out of the war altogether. Members of this group tended to view the war as a clash between British imperialism and German militarism, both of which they regarded as equally corrupt. Others were pacifists, who objected on moral grounds. Prominent leaders included Democrats like former Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan, industrialist Henry Ford and publisher William Randolph Hearst; Republicans Robert M. La Follette, Senator from Wisconsin and George W. Norris, Senator from Nebraska; and Progressive Party activist Jane Addams.

At the far-left end of the political spectrum the Socialists, led by their perennial candidate for President Eugene V. Debs and movement veterans like Victor L. Berger and Morris Hillquit, were staunch anti-militarists and opposed to any US intervention, branding the conflict as a "capitalist war" that American workers should avoid. However, after the US did join the war in April, 1917 a schism developed between the anti-war Party majority and a pro-war faction of Socialist writers, journalists and intellectuals led by John Spargo, William English Walling and E. Haldeman-Julius. This group founded the rival Social Democratic League of America to promote the war effort among their fellow Socialists.[13]

Next were the more moderate Liberal-Internationalists. This bipartisan group reluctantly supported a declaration of war against Germany with the postwar goal of establishing collective international security institutions designed to peacefully resolve future conflicts between nations and to promote liberal democratic values more broadly. This groups's views were advocated by interest groups such as the League to Enforce Peace. Adherents included US President Woodrow Wilson, his influential advisor Edward M. House, former President William Howard Taft, famed inventor Alexander Graham Bell, Wall Street financier Bernard Baruch and Harvard University President Abbott Lawrence Lowell.[14]

Finally, there were the so-called Atlanticists. Ardently pro-Entente, they had strongly championed American intervention in the war since 1915. Their primary political motivation was to both prepare the US for war with Germany and to forge an enduring military alliance with Great Britain. This group actively supported the Preparedness Movement and was strong among the Anglophile political establishment of the northeast, boasting such luminaries as former President Theodore Roosevelt, Major General Leonard Wood, prominent attorney and diplomat Joseph Hodges Choate, former Secretary of War Henry Stimson and Senators Henry Cabot Lodge, Sr. of Massachusetts and Elihu Root of New York.[15]

[dicksbro]

Lot of interesting political insight. Don't think I've ever heard as complete a discussion of the political environment in the U.S. leading up to WWI. Thanks.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French GQG moves from Chantilly to Beauvais. General Louis Rucquoi becomes Belgian CoS (after death of Félix Wielemans).

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: Battle of the Aa: Russian troops attack German trenches in the swamps southwest if Riga, capturing two lines of trenches and several hundred prisoners.
Dobruja: Last Russian and Rumanian forces evacuate the Dobrudja (see August 25th, 1916, and December 3rd, 1918). (Also reported for yesterday).
Romania: Central Power armies begin moving toward the Romanian city of Galați after the fall of Brăila. 5 villages are captured.

Naval and Overseas Operations
"lnter-Allied Chartering Committee" established for chartering shipping (see December 3rd, 1916 and November 3rd, 1917).
British Royal Navy orders 6 Anchusa-type ‘Flower’-class convoy sloops for June and September completion (2 more on January 13 and remaining on February 20 and 21), enter service from June 1917 to June 1918. https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Valerian-Flower-class.jpg

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: British news film “Topical Budget,” showing bob sleighing in Canada, among other news: http://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/index/5413
Labour Congress opposes Military Service Bill.
Italy: There will be no fetes or banquets during the Allied war conference in Rome, and all meals will conform to ration requirements.
Japan: Japan starts arming its merchant ships with 10-inch guns in order to protect them against German submarines.
United States: U.S. Senate votes 48 to 17 to approve President Wilson’s attempts to mediate a peace in Europe.
Deans of 95 medical schools in the U.S. endorse universal military training for young men.
Netherlands: The Dutch government states it has taken no steps to promote peace in Europe, believing it would be worthless in the present circumstances.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
British military band playing at La Neuville-les-Bray, France: http://imgur.com/yDc8sPh
The Victoria Cross is awarded to Sergeant Thomas Mottershead of No.20 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.
This is the only Victoria Cross to be won by a non-commissioned officer of the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War, for recovering his burning aircraft, a Royal Aircraft Factory F. E. 2d, from a fighting patrol in Ploegsteert Wood in France and for saving the life of his observer, Lieutenant W.E. Gower.

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: Battle of the Aa: In the snow, Russian troops, using white clothing to cover their uniforms, surprise German troops near Riga & capture 1000 yards of trenches.
Romania: Russian troops in Romania counterattack Central Power lines southwest of the Siret River on a 15-mile front and advance on a few points.
However, Russo-Romanian front broken north-west of Focsani.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: British Arab Bureau reports Baron Max von Oppenheim’s mission at Medina.
Mesopotamia: Maude’s feints begin with shelling of the Hai and Sannaiyat (7th Division trench raids).

Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: Action at Fort Kibala (until January 9): KAR (King’s African Rifles) capture 6 hills as Lettow raises siege.

Political, etc.
Germany: Pless Crown Council backs unlimited U-boat war. Kaiser’s civilian cabinet chief diary entry: ‘Finis Germaniae’.
France: French and Belgian officials meet in Paris to protest the forced deportations of French and Belgian civilians in German-occupied territory.
Canada: Gold worth $25 million is transported under armed guards from Halifax, Canada to New York City.
Italy: Allied conference in Rome ends today, with a declaration that the Allied nations are united in their war aims.
Romania: Michael the Brave War Order created (3 classes).
Greece: Former Greek Minister of Finance M. Diomede claims that Germany is controlling the Greek army.

[gekkogecko]

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: Battle of the Aa: Russians recover island in Dvina near Glandau. Heavy fighting south of Lake Babit; no material change of positions.
Romania: Falkenhayn captures Focsani with 5,500 PoWs (another source says 4,000) and crosses river Putna north and southeast of it on January 9, only to be repelled on January 10.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Khalil Pasha moves Sixth Army HQ from Baghdad to 20 miles west of Kut, but refuses to evacuate south bank.

Political, etc.
Russia: M. Aleksandr Trepov, Russian Premier, resigns and is succeeded by Prince Nikolai Golitsin (see November 24th, 1916 and March 13th, 1917).
Canada: Canadian official casualties now number 68,290 men killed, wounded, and missing.
Italy: Italy arrests more than 40 people as saboteurs for sinking the battleships Benedetto Brin and Leonardo da Vinci. (Note: at least the da Vinci was not in fact, sabotaged, but rather destroyed by accidental internal explosion. The Brin more likely was actually sabotaged).
United States: President Wilson criticizes newspapers for speculating on U.S. diplomatic moves, as it could lead to war.
Mary McElroy, sister of U.S. President Chester A. Arthur who served as First Lady (Chester had been widowed in 1880), passed away: http://imgur.com/36y5hJv
Margaret Sanger at a courthouse in Brooklyn while on trial for opening the first birth control clinic in the US: http://imgur.com/LWfbCQI
Greece: Allied ultimatum to government demands acceptance of December 31, 1916 terms. Greece accepts on January 10.

[gekkogecko]

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: Battle of the Aa: Russian advance between Tirul marsh and River Aa.
Romania: In Romania, the Central Power armies make new advances and now hold a 50-mile front along the Siret River, and cross River Putna north and south-east of Focsani.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: Battle of Kut, 1917, begins (second report of the beginning) (see December 13th, 1916 and continues until February 23rd or 24th, 1917): 3rd Indian Division (700 casualties) with 70 guns storms Turk front line in Khadairi Bend and holds against counter-attacks.
Sinai: Action of Rafah. Chetwode’s Desert Column (486 casualties) storms Turkish border defences, Turk losses include 1,635 PoWs and 4 guns. Eight British Tank Mk I land at Alexandria. Last Turkish troops in Sinai recross the frontier (see January 26th, 1915).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mediterranean: Battleship H.M.S. Cornwallis (15 lives lost) sunk by submarine U-32, commanded by Kurt Hartwig 60 miles southeast of Malta. http://imgur.com/1Jh607V
S. S. Lesbian (Ellerman Liner) sunk.
Atlantic: Raider SMS Seeadler sinks first victim and another British ship (January 10) south of the Azores.

Political, etc.
Germany: After final council of war (at Pless) a Kaiser order is issued: ‘I command that UNRESTRICTED U-BOAT WARFARE BE INSTITUTED WITH THE UTMOST ENERGY ON FEBRUARY 1.’ von Bethmann-Hollweg says ‘U-boat warfare is the last card’. (Austria backs decision on January 20).
Sick Benefit Association of Berlin concludes that large number of prevailing illnesses are due to inadequate nourishment.
Russia: Nikolai Golitsyn is chosen as the new (and last) Prime Minister of Imperial Russia: http://imgur.com/XI5HvgB
Switzerland: Switzerland announces it will be cutting rail services across the country due to shortage of coal.

[gekkogecko]

I have no idea how I missed this, since it was a great influence on the course of the War, and of the peace negotiations leading to the Treaty of Versailles (mostly by being ignored by theWestern Allies).
Woodrow Wilson in an address to Congress, outlines his plan for a e, negotiated settlement to the First World War, on the basis of his now-famous Fourteen Points.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteen_Points

Reaction by war-mongers in the US is generally along the lines of:

Theodore Roosevelt in an article “The League of Nations” published by Metropolitan Magazine (January 1919) warned: “If the League of Nations is built on a document as high-sounding and as meaningless as the speech in which Mr. Wilson laid down his fourteen points, it will simply add one more scrap to the diplomatic waste paper basket. Most of these fourteen points … would be interpreted … to mean anything or nothing."

Senator William Borah after 1918 wished “this treacherous and treasonable scheme” of the League of Nations to be “buried in hell” and promised that if he had his way it would be “20,000 leagues under the sea.”

Which seems to have been one of the major influences keeping the US out of the League of Nations (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Nations), which, in turn, was a major factor in the failure of that body to prevent the Second World War.

[dicksbro]

More interesting info. Always knew that the U.S. was not terribly confident in the League of Nations, but didn't know exactly why. Seems like we could have been almost as skeptical of the UN after WWII. :boink:

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
British attack takes trenches on 3/4-mile front northeast of Beaumont Hamel, (Somme sector). Fifth Army operations on Ancre until March 13 involve Anzac and 3 other corps (11 divisions).

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: Battle of the Aa: Russian drive near Riga have advanced around 2 km and have captured 32 heavy and light artillery guns from the Germans.
Romania: “Thousands” (ed note: not trying to minimize the suffering, just completely unsure of how many thousands) of Romanian refugees die along the road in Bessarabia due to severe weather, while all able-bodied males are conscripted into the army.
Central Powers carry two heights in Oitoz valley (Moldavia), but are thrown back across the Putna north of Focsani.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Sinai: The entire Sinai Peninsula is now back in Allied hands. New Zealand cavalry at the Sinai & Palestine border post: http://imgur.com/AqmkBpc
Mesopotamia: British progress continued north-east of Kut.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Channel: First Anglo*-French collier convoy sails (up to 45 colliers with 3 or 4 trawler escorts); only 5 of 2.600 lost by April 30.

Political, etc.
Entente Governments send joint reply to President Wilson's Note. Allied war aims outlined (see December 18th, 1916).
Russia: The new Premier of Russia Golitsyn declares there will be no internal reforms during the war.
Australia: Relatives and friends give farewells to Australian soldiers as they leave Brisbane: http://imgur.com/31I65tb
Belgium: Belgian Government reply, to President Wilson's Note placing themselves in hands of Allies (see December 18th, 1916 and September 15th, 1918).
United States: German San Francisco Consul-General and 4 employees found guilty of conspiracy to sink arms ships. Von Bernstorff cables Zimmermann war inevitable if U-boats unleashed.
Greece: Evasive reply by Greek Government to Allies' ultimatum.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
A British sentry on duty on the front at night. Hesdin, Frnace: http://imgur.com/ChwhZlG
German “official” casualties now number 4,010,160 men killed, wounded, and missing, not including naval and colonial casualties. {Ed note: I am not sure if this is “official” from the consistently over-estimated by Allied sources, or the far more accurate “official” from German sources.}
British carry German trench on front of 0.75 mile, north-east of Beaumont Hamel (Somme region, again.)

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: Battle of the Aa: German counter-attack near Kalutsem, south of Lake Babit, repulsed.
Romania: Successful Romanian attack in Casin valley.
Austro-German progress in Susitsa valley and between Braila and Galatz.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: King Hussein finally declines British troops.
Sinai: War Cabinet cables Murray to defer large-scale operations in Palestine till later in year.
Mesopotamia: Turk 45th Division breaks through British line (over 650 casualties) but gradually forced back to Tigris south bank until night January 18-19. British Cavalry Division occupies Hai town, but inhabitants attack, it is retiring on January 14.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Eastern Mediterranean: Seaplane carrier HMS Ben-my-Chree sunk in Kastelorizo Island harbour by Turk guns off Southwest Asia Minor (more shelling of French island base on February 27). http://imgur.com/1mAJw1x
This is the only aviation ship lost in the First World War.
British implement dispersal and coasting system in Eastern Mediterranean to try and cut shipping losses, causes friction with French.

Political, etc.
Austro-Hungarian and German Governments issue Note to neutrals and Vatican repudiating responsibility for continuance of war, and declaring that they will prosecute the war to successful end (see December 12th and 30th, 1916, and September 15th, 1918). https://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/German_Note_to_Neutral_Powers_relative_to_the_Entente_Reply_to_the_Peace_Proposals,_January_11,_1917
Allied nations reply to the U.S. that peace is impossible now and outlines terms it seeks from the Central Powers.
Germany: Settlement Treaty signed at Berlin between Germany and Turkey (see April 10th, 1918).
United Kingdom: Bonar Law, concerning a new British war loan: “Shall it ever be said of this country that it is willing to give its sons but not its money?”
PM Lloyd George: “The Allies are still convinced that even war is better than peace at the price of Prussian domination over Europe.”
British Central Liquor Control Board reports that its operations have reduced reports of drunkenness in cities by half.
Important food orders issued by Lord Devonport.
United States: (Listed for yesterday): The Silent Sentinels, a group of women suffragists, begin protesting at the White House: http://imgur.com/fpxVaTj
Supreme Court Justice Wesley Howard states the U.S. could blockade all belligerent nations to force a peace in Europe.
William F. Cody, the performer famously known as “Buffalo Bill,” passed away: http://imgur.com/gTy66ad
Montenegro: Second proposal for union with Serbia; General Martinovic succeeds Radovic as Prime Minister.

[dicksbro]

William F. Cody ... may your resting in peace continue.

[gekkogecko]

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: Battle of the Aa: German attack near Kalutsem again repulsed.
Romania: Mackensen‘s Turkish troops take Mihalea on river Sereth northwest of Braila; he takes Vadeni 10 miles northwest on January 14 but driven out on January 16.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Yemen: 5 British ships land a force at Salif, capture 100 Turks and recover British rock salt works after 3 hours action. Britain recognizes Farson Island as Idrisi territory on January 22.

Naval and Overseas Operations
German steamer Gneisenau, which had been sunk by British in 1914, being refloated: http://imgur.com/ZMxAP7j* © IWM (Q 24022)

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Count Ottokar Czernin tells Austrian Common Ministers Council compromise peace must be sought.
Germany: Kaiser Wilhelm: “Our enemies have dropped the mask, admitted their lust of conquest and their aim to crush Germany and enslave Europe…”
Large number of Romanian prisoners are sent to occupied France by the Germans to work as agricultural laborers.
Italy: Allied Rome Note pledges to work for “liberation” of all Habsburg subject peoples.
United States: A fire breaks out at a Canadian Foundry Co. Plant in Kingsland, New Jersey, causing 500,000 artillery shells to explode. No one is killed.
Former President William Howard Taft resigns as honorary president of the World’s Court League.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
British troops in camouflage snow suits leaving their trench for a night patrol: http://imgur.com/cd5IpM7* © IWM (Q 6423)
British wiring party setting up barbed wire at Cambrai: http://imgur.com/2jp101Z* © IWM (Q 6419)
Captain C.F. Collet of the Royal Flying Corps becomes the first British service flyer [as opposed to balloon crew] to make parachute jump when he uses a Calthrop 'Guardian Angel' parachute for an experimental jump from 600 feet.

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: Battle of the Aa: Germans again repulsed near Kalutsem.
Dobruja: Germano-Bulgarians repulsed east of Focsani.
Romania: Battle of Pralea (until January 18): Rumanians hold Susitza valley.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: Abdulla’s 5,000 Arabs capture Mecca-bound Turk convoy (much gold), reach Wadi Ais, 50 miles northwest of Medina on January 19.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Black Sea: Russia claims that its naval raid on the Anatolian coast sunk 40 Ottoman ships that were carrying food to Constantinople.
North Africa: Italians severely defeat rebels near Zuara (Tripoli).

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: The British government raised £100 million from the public for its new war loan.
Responding to German criticism of the Allied blockade as inhumane, Britain states Germany starved Paris during the Franco-Prussian War.
Italy: Vatican confirms that Pope Benedict will not participate in any action towards peace that might appear to favor one power over the other.
Romania: US and Dutch Ambassadors leave Romania.
United States: Leon Trotsky lands in New York.

[gekkogecko]

Eastern Front
Russian Army now 6,900,000 men strong.
Romania: Battle of Pralea: Falkenhayn repulsed northeast of Focsani (January 13-14), but takes Nanesti on January 19 and Fundeni on January 20.
German-led forces advance on a 10-mile front towards the Siret River against Romanian and Russian forces, capturing 2 villages.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Japanese battlecruiser Tsukuba sunk by internal explosion in harbor, resulting in 305 deaths. http://imgur.com/CAB0EIs
Channel: Q-ship Penshurst makes her second kill, coastal submarine UB-37. Q-ships are posing as unarmed merchantmen and shelling unwary U-boats with their concealed guns: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Q-ship.jpg . UB-37 had sunk 31 ships.
North Sea: Beatty concentrates Grand Fleet for wide sweep and exercises especially in night shooting.

Political, etc.
Germany: German economist professor Moritz Julius Bonn states that a victorious Germany should punish statesmen who are responsible for the war.
Romania: At Ciurea station, Romania, a train crash causes 800-1000 deaths. Due to war, no formal investigation takes place: http://imgur.com/ZVnpou4
Poland: Provisional Council of State first meets; Prince Niemoyovski appointed Regent by Kaiser Wilhelm II.
United States: US cruiser USS Milwaukee runs aground off Humboldt Bay while trying to salvage the sunken submarine H-3: http://imgur.com/S2MvzcR
China: China awards a new contract to an American company to build 300 miles of railway in Hunan province to Hubei province.

[dicksbro]

United States: US cruiser USS Milwaukee runs aground off Humboldt Bay while trying to salvage the sunken submarine H-3

Attached is a picture of that cruiser.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Stack of boxed rations for the British Army supply depot in Rouen: http://imgur.com/ak6t8L1* © IWM (Q 1766)

Eastern Front
Romania: Battle of Pralea: Unsuccessful Russian attack in neighbourhood of Fundeni.
Royal Navy Armoured Car Unit awarded 46 Russian decorations.

Southern Front
Macedonia: German counteroffensive in Macedonia pushes back Serbian troops back across the Cerna River.

Political, etc.
Germany: German Foreign Secretary Zimmermann blames the Allies for preventing German efforts at seeking a peace deal.
Kings of Bavaria & Saxony declare their support of the Kaiser and that they will fight “until the enemy’s disgraceful plans are shattered.”
United Kingdom: New French Western Front commander Nivelle in London until January 16 expands his plan and wins British cabinet support despite War Office misgivings.
British War Cabinet confers with Haig and Nivelle until January 16.
Italy: ltaly accedes to Franco-British Convention as to naval "prizes" (see November 9th, 1914).
United States: In Caminetti v. United States, the Supreme Court decides that extramarital sex is defined as “immoral sex.”
Persia: Persia (Iran) asks the U.S. State Department to help defend its rights, as its territories have been invaded by both Russians & Ottomans.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Manfred von Richthofen awarded Pour le Merite. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pour_le_M%C3%A9rite
Important daylight raid by British aircraft west of Lens.

Eastern Front
Romania: Battle of Pralea: Romanians recapture height between Casin and and Oitoz valleys. Central Powersdriven from Vadeni.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Tripolitania: General Latini’s 5 battalions defeat Senussi near Zuara (until January 17).
East Africa: NRFF takes Malawis bridge over river Ruhudje. Kilwa Force occupies Mohoro and takes Königsberg gun.

Political, etc.
Germany: A7V tank prototype ordered.
At the Pope’s request, Kaiser Wilhelm agrees that he will cooperate in the restoration of the damaged Rheims cathedral.
Germany claims that Allied shelling and air raids have killed 2,557 French and Belgian civilians in occupied areas.
United Kingdom: Despatch from Mr. Balfour in amplification of Allies' Note to U.S.A. communicated to American Government.
Italy: Food Commission appointed.
United States: George Dewey, U.S. Admiral of the Navy (only person to hold the rank), passed away: http://imgur.com/6S9TXsJ
Greece: Greece government asks the U.S. for help, stating Allied meddling in the country is causing starvation among its people.
Complete acceptance of Allies' ultimatum by Greek Government.

[dicksbro]

Western FrontUnited States: George Dewey, U.S. Admiral of the Navy (only person to hold the rank), passed away: [url]http://imgur.com/6S9TXsJ]
I never really thought about it, but I did not realize there has only been one US Admiral of the Navy in our history. Another little gem in a river of gems. Thanks GG.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Somme: British troops capture German posts on 600-yard front north of Beaucourt-sur-Ancre and repulse four counter-attacks until February 4.
Canadian troops carry out raids around Lens and Arras, capturing at least 100 German prisoners, 2 machine guns, and 1 mortar.

Eastern Front
Romania: Battle of Pralea: Mackensen's advance in Romania checked.

Southern Front
Macedonia: French war cemetery at Monastir (Bitola), Macedonia: http://imgur.com/MyDLjk7* © IWM (Q 78321)

Naval and Overseas Operations
British Admiralty announces that German raider in the Atlantic has sunk 10 British and 2 French ships, and captured 2 British ships.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Emperor Charles moves Austrian GHQ from Teschen to Baden near Vienna despite Conrad’s protests.
The Central Powers accuse Russia of deporting Austrian men of military age in occupied areas of Austro-Hungary.
Germany: Germany demands that France move its prisoner of war camps beyond the range of German artillery to prevent accidental hits. (This was in response to the French deliberately locating the camps in areas likely to be shelled for exactly that reason).
Russia: General Dmitry Shuvaev, Russian Minister for War, resigns and is succeeded by General Mikhail Belyaev (see March 29th, 1916, and March 13th, 1917).

[gekkogecko]

(Special, 1919): World War I: The Paris Peace Conference opened, to set the peace terms for the Central Powers.

Eastern Front
Romania: Battle of Pralea: Unsuccessful attacks on Central Powers’ positions between Casin and Susitsa valleys.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: Feisal begins final march on Wejh.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Channel: UC-18 torpedoes Royal Navy destroyer Ferret, but the latter survives to be converted to a minelayer. Ferret’s sister ship HMS Jackal. https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/DD-Jackal.jpg
South Atlantic: Raider Wolf lays 29 mines off Cape Agulhas, South Africa; 2 ships sunk and only 7 mines swept in 1917.
Black Sea: Russian submarine Nervel sinks 3,000t steamer; 440 mines added to fields off Bosphorus.

Political, etc.
Germany: (Special, 1871): Independent German states unified into the German Empire, with Prussian KingWilhelm I being proclaimed as its first Emperor.
Members of the Prussian Diet urge the vigorous prosecution of the war with the increased use of submarines.
Russia: Re-opening of Duma and of Council of the Empire postponed by Russian Government from 25 January to 27 February.
United Kingdom: Lighthouses in Jamaica and other British possessions in the Caribbean are darkened due to fear of German raiders and submarines.
Victor Bruce, Earl of Elgin and former Viceroy and Governor-General of India, passed away: http://imgur.com/5Un6v1g
English bar council votes with an overwhelming majority against allowing women to practice law.
Bulgaria: Kaiser Wilhelm and Bulgarian Tsar Ferdinand I reviewing Bulgarian cavalry at Nis, Serbia: http://imgur.com/rxK09Nk
Greece: British Military attaché and Chief Control Officer reports 8,948 Greek troops; 3,132 animals, 78 guns and 62 MGs have transferred to Peloponnese in past month.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Aerial picture of the trenches and soldiers on the Somme front: http://imgur.com/VBvfKn8

Eastern Front
Russia claims that in 1916, it captured 428,000 soldiers, 325 artillery guns, 1,661 machine guns, and 421 mortars and mine throwers.
Romania: Battle of Pralea: Further unsuccessful Romanian attacks between Casin and Susitsa valleys. Town of Nanesti and bridgehead of Fundeni carried by Makensen’s forces.

Southern Front
Kaiser Wilhelm at the Citadel in occupied Belgrade, the 1st German emperor to visit since Friedrich I Barbarossa http://imgur.com/vU1VRxu* © IWM (Q 27202)

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: 3rd Indian Division has cleared Khadalri Bend (south bank of Tigris below Kut); for 1,639 casualties since January 9.

Political, etc.
Germany: German Government send instructions to German Minister in Mexico (von Eckhardt) to negotiate alliance with Mexico and Japan against the United States (see February 28th). This is the infamous Zimmermann Telegram, which perhaps even more than unrestricted submarine warfare, brought the US into World War I. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimmermann_Telegram and https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=60&page=transcript
United Kingdom: Silvertown (East London) munitions factory explosion (69 killed, 400 injured), heard in Salisbury, Wilts. https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/engl-Muni-Fabrik.jpg (Ed note: uncertain if this is the particular munitions factory in question).

[gekkogecko]

Eastern Front
Romania: Battle of Pralea: Despite strengthening resistance, German-led forces capture the commune of Nănești, Romania from Russian and Romanian troops. After taking Fundeni, Germans decide to halt offensive at river Sereth.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: British bombers carry out an attack on an Ottoman munitions plant in Baghdad.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: British submarine E.36 collides with another submarine E.43 in the North Sea, resulting in E.36’s sinking with loss of all hands.
Eastern Mediterranean: French Salonika-bound transport Admiral Magon (5,566t) sunk by U-39 (Walter Forstmann).
East Africa: General Reginald Hoskins succeeds General Jan Smuts in command of British forces, East Africa (see February 19th, 1916 and May 30th, 1917). Official despatch from German East Africa reports progress in Rufiji valley region and west of Mahenge. Main and Kilwa Forces only 40 miles apart, Hoskins flies from Kilwa to GHQ in a BE2c. Only 15,000 fit troops against 8,400 Germans with 20 guns and 73 MGs. Smuts sails from Dar-es-Salaam for London.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Coffee rations in Budapest are cut to 125 grams per person for each month.
Russia: The Tsar addresses a rescript to Prince Golitzin laying down the main lines of his policy.
Turkey: More than 1000 Americans in Ottoman Syria and Palestine apply for evacuation out of the region.
Belgium: German occupation in Belgium sentences 30 Belgians to death for attempting to escape through the Netherlands and join the Belgian Army.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Britain carries out a daylight raid on German trenches near Loos, destroying dugouts, inflicting casualties, & capturing prisoners.
Verdun: French repulse attacks north of Bois de Caurieres. (Again, probably nothing more than minor raids).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Persia: Ali Ihsan ordered to move troops to Baghdad, 44th Regiment leaves Kermanshah.

Political, etc.
Germany: Germany releases this propaganda poster, replying to Allied propaganda calling the Germans “Barbarians”. Banner headline reads, “We Barbarians!” Middle section, the columns represent Germany, England, and France, in that order. Rows are labeled, “Illiteracy rates per 10,000 citizens”; “median wages(?)” (ed note: not too sure about this one, it might actually read closer to “standard of living”); “books engraved” (i. e. published); “spending on social welfare”. Bottom of the poster highlights the many Nobel Prize winners for the years 1901-1915, compare the nationality of such, and especially highlights many of the German notables. https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/wir-barbaren.jpg
(reported for yesterday): An explosion at a munitions laboratory in Spandau, Germany results in 10 deaths and 20 injuries.
Russia: Tsar Nicholas II issues an imperial rescript calling on all Russians to back the army to the fullest extent.
Russian General Aleksei Brusilov predicts that “during the coming year the enemy will be completely routed.”
France: The Bishop of Verdun, who had to flee the German advance, returns to the city and expresses assurances of coming victory.
Turkey: Ottoman Empire accuses France of coveting Syria and Britain of wanting to take over Mesopotamia (Iraq).
United States: Funeral of Admiral George Dewey, commander during the Battle of Manila Bay, in Washington DC: http://imgur.com/iPQV7jI
The U.S. cuts the number of guards on the US-Mexican border by 15,000, as demobilization of the Mexican expedition continues.
Herbert Hoover, head of the Belgian Relief Commission (and future US President), asks $200 million to aid civilians in occupied Belgium.
Switzerland: Some Swiss citizens living overseas are ordered to return home to serve in the Swiss Army, due to fears of a German invasion.

[dicksbro]

Under "Political, etc." the "We Barbarians" poster noted as an entry for Germany is really quite neat and well done. :boink:

[gekkogecko]

It does help that I speak German.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Ferdinand Foch assumes temporary command of Eastern Army Group (until March 26) for Noël Castelnau, which is on Allied mission to Russia.
Foch’s CoS Weygand goes to Berne for secret talks with Swiss General Staff on steps against any German invasion of Switzerland.

Eastern Front
Airship LZ-97 raids Kishinev, Rumania.
Dobruja: 2 Bulgarian battalions cross south arm of Danube near Tulcea but thrown back on January 23, losing 337 PoWs.
Romania: Battle of Pralea: Following heavy artillery bombardment, German and Austro-Hungarian troops launch attacks on Russian lines along the Stokhid River.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Baltic: German submarine SM U-76 founders in bad weather and then collides with a Russian trawler, resulting in the submarine sinking.
North Sea: Two destroyer actions by night in North Sea. One German destroyer sunk and one (V-69) towed damaged into Ymuiden. One British destroyer lost. [ed note: I can find no evidence of a second action, nor any reference to a British destroyer being sunk. Nor was a German destroyer sunk outright. The High Seas Torpedo Boats {further note: The German Hochseetorpedoboote were the rough equivalent of destroyers in other navies, and often referred to as such} G-41 & V-69 were both damaged and collided during this action, but both made it to port.] Wikipedia has this to say: On 22 January 1917, 11 torpedo boats of the 6th Torpedo Boat Flotilla, including G41 left Helgoland to reinforce the German torpedo forces in Flanders. The British Admiralty knew about this transfer due to codebreaking by Room 40, and ordered the Harwich Force of cruisers and destroyers to intercept the German torpedo boats. During the night of 22–23 January, the 6th Flotilla encountered three British light cruisers (Aurora, Conquest and Centaur). The Germans attempted a torpedo attack against the British cruisers, but were driven off by heavy fire and broke off the attack behind a smoke-screen. V69, leader of the flotilla, and the only torpedo boat to succeed in launching any torpedoes, was hit by three shells, one of which jammed her rudder, forcing her to move in a circle. G41 collided with V69 twice in the resulting confusion, with the second collision caused one of V69's torpedoes to explode. Both torpedo boats were badly damaged as a result of the collisions, and G41 was hit two more times by British shells, knocking out the ship's aft gun and forward torpedo tubes before managing to lose the chasing British cruisers in the smoke. G41 managed to reach Zeebrugge via Dutch territorial waters, while V69 made for Ijmuiden in the Netherlands, where she was repaired, returning to Germany on 12 February.
East Africa: 150 German soldiers repel 125 KAR (King’s African Rifles) from Mpotora, west of Kilwa.

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: Britain announces that all men aged 18 years will be called up for home defense, lowering the age from the former 18 years & 7 months.
Italy: The Bank of Italy and other Italian banks lend Russia $50 million, which will be used to purchase Italian war supplies.
United States: Polish organization in the U.S. asks President Wilson to recognize the Kingdom of Poland, which was established by the Central Powers.
Rockefeller Foundation defends plan for a “modern school,” which will teach French and German instead of Latin and Greek.
Ammunition exports from the U.S. to Europe has passed more than $1 billion in value since the start of the war.
In a speech to the Senate, President Wilson proposes abandoning isolation and establishing a world league to maintain peace.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French ace Guynemer destroys 5 German aircraft (until January 26).
10 RNAS Sopwiths bomb Burbach blast furnaces near Saarbrücken (one other raid February, repeated twice in March).

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: Battle of the Aa: German Eighth Army counter-offensive regains most ground lost between Lake Babit and Tirul Marsh (until January 25), taking 900 PoWs.
Romania: Battle of Pralea: In Romania, Bulgarian troops have crossed the Danube near Tulcea and have established a beachhead after driving away Allied troops. Another source directly contradicts, stating: Bulgarians driven back across Danube near Tulcea.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Allied London Naval Conference (until January 24) opened by Lloyd George who stresses its importance and appeals for unity. It agrees to withdraw 4 Royal Navy battleships from Mediterranean, Adriatic Squadron to use crews in smaller ships, likewise only HMS Lord Nelson and HMS Agamemnon to stay in Eastern Mediterranean; Anglo-French compromise on dispersed or fixed shipping routes in Mediterranean, to try both until next conference; British commander to be in command of Otranto Barrage under Italian C-in-C
North Sea: (Ah, here is the second destroyer action from yesterday): Harwich flotilla action with German 6th torpedo boat flotilla in the North Sea: H.M.S. Simoom sunk. Another source: A by Room 40 warned Harwich Force (3 cruisers and 14 destroyers) engages German 6th Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 ships) and damages destroyers G41 and S5 in icy small hours bound for Zeebrugge. British destroyer Simoom sunk by S50 torpedo. German flotilla leader V69 driven damaged into Ymuiden (Holland) but not interned. And a third: German and British light flotillas clash twice in the North Sea. Britain loses a destroyer, while Germany loses a torpedo boat.

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: Britain rejects President Wilson’s attempts at mediating peace, stating there will be no “peace without victory.”
Labour Party approves acceptance of office by Labour Members in Ministry
Japan: Prime Minister of Japan states the country will resist any peace proposal that would reduce its armaments.
Japanese Foreign Minister promises that Japan will stop meddling in the affairs of China.

[gekkogecko]

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: Battle of the Aa: Further German advance in hard fighting near Lake Babit. Russians fall back.
Romania: Battle of Pralea: In Romania, Russian troops counterattack and destroy the Bulgarian beachhead established across the Danube. 337 Bulgarians are captured.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: Wejh captured by Arab forces. Fourhundred of Feisal’s regulars with 200 sailors from 3 British ships capture 200 Turks (until January 25) as Feisal and Lawrence (in Cairo on january 28) approach by land. T.E. Lawrence in Arab dress: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Lawrence-arab-dress.jpg

Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: Major Grawert’s 289 Germans surrender at Likuju in south. Major Otto’s 600 soldiers (46 casualties) beat Nigerians (64 casualties) at Ngwembe (until January 25) south of Rufiji.

Political, etc.
Germany: Railway chaos in winter freeze prevents all extra traffic (until February 5) despite mobile unloading teams.
United Kingdom: Allied Naval Conference continues in London as to policy in Mediterranean (see November 30th).
United States: U.S. government states it will allow armed merchantmen to cross the Panama Canal, as long as the weapons are only for defense.
Greece: Greek Government make formal apology to the Allies for the occurrences of December 1st, 1916.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Verdun: German success at Hill 304; mile-long stretch of French trenches stormed, but French regain most of them on January 26.

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: German counteroffensive around Riga against Russian lines continues. 1700 Russians and 13 machine guns are captured.
Romania: Battle of Pralea: Snowstorms and cold weather halts Central Power armies’ advances in Romania, with only isolated fighting today.

Southern Front
Albania: Street scene in the French-occupied city of Korçë, Albania. Albanian volunteers in the background: http://imgur.com/zddTzKr

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Maude attacks Hai salient southwest of Kut on a mile front with 13th Division (1,135 casualties including 3 battalion commander, 2 Victoria Cross) and 114 guns; one source claims: only half captured trenches held against counter-attacks, while another says: Turkish counter-attacks recover a little ground. One Victoria Cross went to Robert Phillips ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Edwin_Phillips ); I am unable to track down the recipient of the second.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: White Star liner and Armed Merchant Cruiser Laurentic (350 killed) mined off Ireland, her gold cargo partially salvaged after Armistice.
North Sea: Southwold and Wangford on the Suffolk coast shelled by German destroyers.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Grand Admiral Anton Haus argues to Emperor Charles for unrestricted U-boat war. Charles then sees German Admiral Holzendorff (which promises 42 U-boats in Mediterranean) and Zimmermann.
France: Paris jury acquits Josephine Barthélemy of infanticide, as she testified the child was due to a rape by a German soldier.
French workers at the Schneider Steel Works, the 2nd largest in France, end their strike, as their work is essential to the war effort.
United Kingdom: British government announces beer production will be restricted by 30% starting on April in order to conserve food supplies.
British Treasury is given new powers to seize foreign assets in order to strengthen the country’s finances.

[dicksbro]

United Kingdom: British government announces beer production will be restricted by 30% starting on April in order to conserve food supplies.

:yikes:

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
German troops attack several miles of trenches near Verdun, but most gains, except at Hill 304, are reversed by a French counterattack.
British soldiers buying apples from a woman near the frontlines at Cambrin: http://imgur.com/Wg8CFWl* © IWM (Q 6461)

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: 14th Indian Division retakes Hai west bank sector, creeping advances until January 31.
British troops win 1,100 yards of Ottoman trenches southwest of Kut Al Amara.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Battleship U.S.S. Mississippi being launched from Newport News, VA: http://imgur.com/VH2Xnzb
Arctic: Minelaying U-76 rammed by Russian trawlers; she founders off Hammerfest.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: At Pless Austro-German naval chiefs draft note declaring Mediterranean prohibited zone to Allied shipping, Austrian U-boats to operate beyond Adriatic.
Ausgleich Agreement (1867) with Hungary changed and renewed in latter’s favour for 20 years.
Germany: War spending to date estimated at £5 billions.
France: French government restricts the number of courses restaurants can serve to 4 (hors d’oeuvres or soup, 2 mains, and cheese or dessert).
United Kingdom: British labour unions, by a vote of 3 to 1, defeats a resolution in favor of an immediate offer of peace proposals to the Central Powers.
British labour unions unanimously adopt a resolution urging a creation of an “international league” to maintain peace after the war.
Compulsory loan or sale to Treasury of “certain” foreign securities.
Canada: National Steel Factory established at Toronto.
United States: Women suffragists protesting outside the White House in the rain: http://imgur.com/ujpvEDV
Netherlands: Dutch government bans armed merchantmen in the Dutch colonies, unless they are carrying food.

[gekkogecko]

United Kingdom: British government announces beer production will be restricted by 30% starting on April in order to conserve food supplies.


:yikes:

And today, it France's turn to limit food in some manner. You might think there's a war on or something.

[dicksbro]

Maybe it's not war ... maybe it's so they can increase by 30% wine production? :D

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Somme: British take position near Le Transloy and capture 350-strong garrison.
At Verdun, German forces successfully defend their gains at Hill 304 against two French counterattacks.

Eastern Front
Dobruja: Russians carry Central Powers’ positions between Kimpolung and Jacobeny (Bukovina), and take 1,218 prisoners.
Romania: Field Marhsal von Mackensen distributing Iron Crosses in occupied Bucharest: http://imgur.com/xpEuNJI* © IWM (Q 52243)

Naval and Overseas Operations
Germany: U-boat leader Bauer orders his commanders ‘… unrestricted U-boat warfare is to force England to make peace and thereby decide the whole war. Energetic action is required and above all rapidity of action … expend only one torpedo on each ship stopped …’. Dover Straits route now compulsory to maximize time on station.
Atlantic: S.S. Artist torpedoed in a gale by German submarine; crew left to perish.

Political, etc.
Germany: Kaiser Wilhelm celebrates his 58th birthday. In the birthday message, he states the German people will obtain peace by the sword.
The celebration of Kaiser Wilhelm’s birthday in the arena at Bucharest: http://imgur.com/G4j2dvb* © IWM (Q 87106)
Russia: Nikolai Pokrovski, Russian Foreign Minister, resigns (see December 12th, 1916 and March 15th, 1917).
Japan: Government asks Britain to approve her assuming German rights in China (done February 16).
Count Date Munemoto, head of the Date clan and last Daimyo of the Sendai Domain, passed away: http://imgur.com/r5Etu8P

[dicksbro]

Western Front
Somme: Count Date Munemoto, head of the Date clan and last Daimyo of the Sendai Domain, passed away: http://imgur.com/r5Etu8P

My ol' hometown (Sendai) for a year and a half in the mid-50s. Nice to catch a bit of history related to the city.

A bit more about Sendai from WikiLeaks ..

Sendai Domain was a Japanese domain of the Edo period. Most of its holdings were contiguous, covering all of present-day Miyagi Prefecture, small portions of southern Iwate Prefecture, and a portion of northeastern Fukushima Prefecture.

The domain's capital, and the ruling family's castle, were located in what became the modern city of Sendai. Ruled for the entirety of its history by the Date clan.

It constituted the largest domain in northern Japan, and one of the largest domains in the entire country, after the Satsuma Domain and Kaga Domain.

Sendai was the focal point of the Ouetsu Reppan Domei during the Boshin War. Unlike the nearby Aizu domain, Sendai survived the war largely intact, though with a severely reduced income. It was disbanded with the other domains in 1873.

[gekkogecko]

Ooooh! Thanks for the capsule history, DB.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Severe British January pressure on the Anere prompts Rupprecht to demand a voluntary retirement to Siegfried Stellung (the so-called “Hindenburg Line”); (OHL vetoes on January 29).

Eastern Front
Romania: Taking advantage of the cold weather, Russian troops manage to advance 2 miles against the Germans in Bukovina.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Considerable progress by British on right bank of Tigris south-west of Kut.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: British government announces it has completed mining operations in a 100-mile zone along the entire German North Sea coast.
Black Sea: 2 Russian destroyers sink or capture 22 Turkish sailing craft between Ordu and Sinope (until January 31).
Atlantic: U-53 sinks Spanish SS Nueva Montana (arrying core for Newcastle) off Ushant and a similar ship on January 29.

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: Royal Navy Room 40 intercepts Bernstorff’s second protest against unlimited U-boat war.
Frank Godden, chief test pilot for the Royal Aircraft Factory, is killed during a test flight: http://imgur.com/KZFTPXU
4,523 private factories and works, employing 2.25 million workers, are now controlled by the British government to assist in war production.
United States: Not knowing its value, robbers who stole a $10,000 necklace from the Chicago Art Institute sold it for $18.
Naval radio station at Chollas Heights achieves wireless communication 6000 miles away with Australia: http://imgur.com/6trRyaD
China: Yikuang, Prince Qing and former Prime Minister of the Qing Chinese Empire, passed away: http://imgur.com/TADNut2
Costa Rica: General Federico Tinoco Granados launches a coup in Costa Rica, deposing President Alfredo González: http://imgur.com/yRcs2PP
Mexico: US General Pershing and his troops ordered home.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French troops practicing with rifle grenades: http://imgur.com/QTN93T2* © IWM (Q 94768)
Verdun: German forces continue to hold gains on Hill 304, repulsing four French counterattacks.

Southern Front
News footage of a Royal Irish Regiment captain demonstrating a rifle grenade, possibly in Salonika: http://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/index/45839

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: British progress continued near Kut.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: Royal Navy submarine K13 sinks on acceptance trials in Clyde, 47 men survive after 57-hour ordeal. The ‘K’-class was designed as fleet submarines capable of 24 kts surfaced. No contemporary diesels were equal to the task so steam turbines were fitted together with a diesel to drive the generator. Over a third of the hull was devoted to machinery. https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/K-class.jpg
Announcement of laying of New British minefield from Yorkshire to Jutland.
East Africa: 160 soldiers of KAR (King’s African Rifles) besiege Fort Utete on river Rufiji; c.200 Germans escape on rainy night (January 30.31) and maul pursuit (February 2).

Political, etc.
Russia: Allied delegation (Lord Milner, Generals Wilson and Castelnau) arrives at Petrograd (until February 21).
United Kingdom: Evelyn Baring, 1st Earl of Cromer and first British Controller-General of Egypt, passed away: http://imgur.com/dkgSSXB
United States: Rockefeller Foundation provides $772,700 to universities & other educational institutions, including $197,500 to African American schools.
President Wilson vetoes an immigration bill that would have required a literacy test for arriving immigrants.
Greece: Allies' flags formally saluted at Athens.
Switzerland: Prince Sixtus of Bourbon receives Emperor Charles’ peace letter from his mother (also Empress Zita‘s).

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Lorraine: Destructive French trench raid south of Leintrey; penetrates to German second line taking PoWs. Further small success south-west of Leintrey.

Eastern Front
Airship LZ-98 raids Petrograd.
Baltic Provinces: Between Tirul swamp and River Aa (Riga) strong German attack succeeds in one sector, 900 Russians taken prisoner.
Romania: East of Jakobeny (southern Bukovina) Russians assault and capture important hill fortifications claiming to take over 1,000 prisoners.

Political, etc.
Germany: Government replies to Wilson’s message from January 22, 1917 and ‘will do her best to protect US interests.’
Germany estimates that due to the blockade and war, food supplies have decreased by 2 million tons of grain compared to last year.
Russia: Allied conference is ongoing in Petrograd to help reorganize the Russian military and financial situations.
United Kingdom: British Committee on Electoral Reform suggests that women 30 years and up should be given the right to vote.
Norway: Norway re-issues statement forbidding submarines in territorial waters.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
During January 4 German Jagdstaffeln (fighter squadrons) formed, another 6 in February.
German attacks fail on the Ancre near Beaucourt and west of Serre.
Total of German prisoners taken by British in France during January is 1,228, including 27 officers.

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: East of Jakobeny Germans attack three times by night against previous lost positions, but are repulsed with heavy loss.

Naval and Overseas Operations
During January U-boats have sunk 180 ships (51 British, 63 Allied, 66 neutral including 34 Norwegian) worth 328,391t (British 109,954t), 2 U-boats lost. U-boat toll in Mediterranean is 75,541t.

Political, etc.
Germany: Government informs US Government it will not ‘leave any means whatever unturned [ie unrestricted U-boat warfare] to hasten the end of the war. Since the Allies have rebuffed Germany’s attempt to reach an understanding by negotiation … The Imperial German Government must therefore abandon the limitations … imposed upon itself …’.
GERMANY DECLARES UNRESTRICTED U-BOAT WAR and threatens cross-Channel hospital ships (alleged munition cargoes). Bernstorff orders sabotage of German ships [that is, so they could not be seized and used by the US or Allies] in US ports.
Germany announces zone in which all shipping liable to be sunk as from Terschelling (Holland) north to Udsive (Norway) then northwest to Faroe Islands and down longitude 20° West 350 miles west of Ireland to Cape Finisterre. Zone also includes whole Mediterranean excluding Balearic Islands and seas east of Gibraltar as far as Spain’s heel. A 20-mile channel left for ships sailing to Greece until January 11, 1918. Archangel added to barred zone on March 1917. Scheer Order of Day says whole Navy must support U-boats.
German approval for the new development ‘U-boats go forth’: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/U-Boote-heraus.jpg
Count Kuno von Westarp, Conservative leader in the Reichstag, states Germany will seek territories and reparations after winning the war.
United Kingdom: Commodore Godfrey Paine appointed Fifth Sea Lord and Director of Air Services (succeeding Rear-Admiral Vaughan-Lee).
Turkey: Legal and literary faculties of Stamboul (Istanbul) University in Constantinople nominates Kaiser Wilhelm for the Nobel Peace Prize.
United States: U.S. Secretary of State Lansing announces normal diplomatic relations with U.S. and Mexico will be resumed immediately.
New York Department of Health orders all New York restaurants and lunch counters to obtain a license to ensure sanitation.

[dicksbro]

Lots of interesting tidbits. Germany's declaration of unrestricted sub warfare and US resuming diplomatic relations with Mexico in particular.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
In February German Army now has 15 assault battalions and 2 coys of Stosstruppen (given title of Grenadier, and Guard insignia in March). Each German infantry coy to have 3 Bergmann sub-machine guns.
BEF forms 1st Tank Brigade (2nd on February 15; 3rd on April 24), Central Workshops and Stores already begun on January 7.
57th Division (on February 6) and 59th Division (on February 21) join BEF.
The Sopwith Triplane enters service with No.1 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS).
Flanders: German infantry wearing winter white battle dress unsuccessfully raid British positions near Wytschaete. Severe frost on this and several succeeding nights. This week temperature falls below zero °F.
Somme: Unsuccessful German trench raid near Grandcourt. British trench raiders seize 56 PoWs near Gueudecourt.
Occupied France: During February German senior commanders and staffs, attend tactical School at Solesmes to learn new defence methods (school at Sedan opens in March).

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: Russian forces west of Riga are able to check German advances through the use of armored cars.
Galicia: 15 miles south of Halicz (Galicia) Germans in white overalls break through Russian lines but are ejected by counter-attack.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Near Kut, east of the Tigris-Hai junction, British capture all but last line of Turkish trenches, taking 166 prisoners, and repulsing a strong counter-attack.

Naval and Overseas Operations
German unrestricted submarine warfare begins (see January 31st): 105 U-boats in service (42 under repair, 51 lost to date – High Seas Fleet 49, Flanders 23, Baltic 2, Adriatic 24 including Austrian, Constantinople 3). 51 more U-boats ordered. Maximum of 44 at sea on anyone day. Royal Navy C-in-C Ireland has 10 Q-ships operational in home waters and Bermuda.
Dutch S.S. Gamma attacked and sunk by German submarine. Dutch Government request an explanation.
Britain: 4 new seaplane stations cover Southwestern Approaches. Over 600 neutral ships refuse to sail.
North Sea: HM Special Service Smack I’ll Try (ex- G & E) scores two hits on U-boats. In February dreadnought battleship Queen Elizabeth becomes Beatty’s Grand Fleet flagship.
Aegean: During February Royal Navy Air Service forms seaplane base for 4 planes at Suda Bay, Crete, to patrol against U-boats.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Austria-Hungary also announces it will also intensify its naval actions in the Mediterranean.
Germany: German Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg: “We stake everything and we shall be victorious.”
United Kingdom: Prince Edward, Prince of Wales, inspecting the North Staffordshire Regiment near Beaussart: http://imgur.com/W44q7mX* © IWM (Q 4776)
United States: U.S. closes New York City harbor to all shipping upon receiving news of the German note. Other neutral nations’ ports do the same.
Stock prices at Wall Street tumble due to the German resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare. 2 million shares change hands.
The press of U.S.A. takes bellicose view of the German decision to resume unrestricted submarine warfare.
Norway: Norway reiterates the announcement forbidding foreign submarines to use her waters.

[Oldfart]

The Bergmann ironically was adopted by the British Navy as an emergency weapon in World War 2. It used captured Italian 9mm ammunition and was in service into the 50s.

It was called the Lanchester.

[gekkogecko]

Oh, right, OF< I had completely forgotten that. Indeed, it was. Thanks.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Fighting on the Western Front is limited to small engagements as intense cold weather hampers troop movements.
Bruges harbour bombed by British naval airmen.

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: East of Kalutsem high road, (west of Riga) Germans launch several attacks, repulsed.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Black Sea: Off Anatolian coast Russian warships sink 18 small Turkish vessels.

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: The Government approves a scheme giving the Air Board responsibility for experimental work and approval of aircraft design, the number to be ordered and their allocation between the Services. The Ministry of Munitions undertakes production, inspection and delivery.
Appeal to nation for food economy by Lord Davenport.
United States: Around 50,000 American volunteers are fighting for the Allies, with around 40,000 in the British Army.
Count Adam Tarnowski (on left), the new Austro-Hungarian ambassador to the U.S., arrives in New York: http://imgur.com/CRD9qqt
Bill is introduced in the U.S. Senate for the construction of 100 new submarines.
President Wilson goes to the Capitol and meets with Senate leaders to discuss severing diplomatic relations with Germany.
Norway: Norway institutes coal rations in order to combat shortages caused by the war.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
British news-film “Topical Budget” showing footage of French artillery in action, among other news: http://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/index/5415
First units of the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps arrive in France.
British troops among the snow-covered ruins of Combles: http://imgur.com/8rwWDxE* © IWM (Q 6387)
East of Beaucourt (north of the Ancre) British line advanced 500 yards on a front of 1,200 yards; over 100 prisoners taken, and counter-attacks repulsed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Egypt: Affairs in the Siwa Oasis (West Egypt) begin (see 5th).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: Germany submarine SM U-53 sinks a U.S. cargo ship Housatonic, further harming relations between the two countries. (ed note: this sinking was carried out entirely within the confines of international law: that is, Kapitänleutnant Hans Rose stopped the Housatonic, examined her papers, determined that she was carrying contraband to an enemy country, gave her crew time to get to the lifeboats, then towed those same lifeboats to within sight of another vessel able to take the refugees on board. There was no loss of life involved. Nevertheless, U-53’s action had come on the heels of the declaration of unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany, and served to further inflame the yellow press in the United States.)

Political, etc.
Germany: Germany protests Norway and Sweden’s decisions to ban German submarines, unless damaged, to enter their territorial waters.
Count Bernstorff receives his passports and Mr. Gerard is recalled from Berlin.
United States: President Wilson, in front of Congress, announces his decision to break off diplomatic ties with Germany: http://imgur.com/UdTkwvB
According to the 1910 census, German and Austro-Hungarian born residents in the US number 4,171,915 people.
U.S.A. demands immediate release of over 60 Americans taken prisoner by German Atlantic raiders.

[Teddy Bear]

Thanks gg for continuing this thread.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
At Ancre, British troops advance 500 yards on a three-quarters of a mile front. Trench raids are conducted in other areas.
North-east of Gueudecourt both sides make raids.

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: Near Riga, German forces conducted 6 large attacks against Russian lines from daybreak to nightfall, but fail to make major advances.
East of Kalutsem road, Germans again attack and take positions, but are ejected.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Egypt: At Siwa (Western Egypt) British expedition locates and defeats the forces of the Senussi leader, Said Ahmed.

Naval and Overseas Operations
In Manila Bay German crews wreck the engine-rooms of nine German steamers.

Political, etc.
Germany: Intense cold wave continues in Germany, with some areas seeing record lows. Suffering is exacerbated by the coal shortage.
Germany agrees to yesterday’s US demand to release 72 Americans whose ship was sunk in the Atlantic by a German raider.
Turkey: Sa'id Halim, Turkish Grand Vizier, resigns [Appointed in 1913.]: succeeded by Talaat Pasha (see October 13th, 1918).
United States: U.S. government appeals for other neutral nations to also break off diplomatic ties with Germany for resuming unrestricted submarine warfare.
William J. Bryan, former US Secretary of State, likens Germany to a “drunken chauffeur,” but urges the U.S. to avoid war.
Brazil: Brazil, responding to Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare, proposes a defensive union for all American nations.

[gekkogecko]

Eastern Front
Germany attacks Russian positions ten miles south of Kieselin (Volhynia), but is repulsed.

Southern Front
Italy: Italian line heavily attacked by the Austro-Hungarians in various sectors. All attacks beaten off.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Egypt: Affairs in the Siwa Oasis end (see 3rd and 8th); Siwa evacuated by the Senussi and entered by British, who capture Munasib Pass, cutting off Senussi retreat.

Political, etc.
Germany: Referring to the break with U.S.A., Germany says: "The struggle is for our existence. For us there can be no retreat."
Russia: Russian Conference on future of Poland announced.
Switzerland: Switzerland in a message to U.S.A. decides not to break off diplomatic relations with Germany.

[Teddy Bear]

Great 'tag team' play going on in this thread........

gg posts and then DB has his say and OF added his thoughts.

All 3 of you add to the thread giving us more information keeping it interesting.

Thank you guys.

:cheerlead: :line: Yeah Pixies men, great as always! :line: :cheerlead:

[Oldfart]

We're only doing it for you, Teddy Bear. Just don't tell anyone else.

[Teddy Bear]

LOL....

You know how to flatter a girl don't ya?

[gekkogecko]

All 3 of you add to the thread giving us more information keeping it interesting.



Good point, TB, and yes, I very much enjoy the additional info.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
British troops posing in a wrecked German light railway engine at Combles: http://imgur.com/Qf1O6N8* © IWM (Q 5785)
At the Somme, British troops win 1000 yards of trenches near Grandcourt “without opposition.”

Eastern Front
The Sereth river (south-east of Focsani) being frozen, Austro-Hungarian “attacks lightly”, but is driven back. Again, probably nothing more than planned probe-and-withdraw raids.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Near Kut, the Turks evacuate the south bank of the Tigris east of the Hai-Tigris junction; also forward positions west of the Hai.
Second phase of the Battle of Kut begins.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: S.S. California, Anchor Line, sunk by submarine without warning.* 43 killed and missing. [ed note: NOT the same ship, the SS Californian, that played such a large non-role in the Titanic disaster. The SS Californian had already been sunk, by U-35 in the Mediterranean, on 9 November, 1915]

Political, etc.
Germany: German Foreign Secretary Zimmermann states Germany “regrets” the U.S. decision to cut off diplomatic ties.
Germany will not allow James W. Gerard, U.S. Ambassador to Germany, to leave until they are satisfied with the German ambassador’s treatment.
France: Report presented to the French Senate charges that munition manufacturers have made millions in excess profits on government contracts.
United Kingdom: (listed for yesterday) The decoded Zimmermann Telegram is passed on to the British Foreign Office. Discussion begins on how to tell the U.S.
New Air Board formed with Lord Cowdray as chairman.
Mr. Neville Chamberlain announces his scheme for National Service.
United States: Members of the New York militia guarding a bridge against German sabotage: http://imgur.com/EJLcn66
Henry Ford states his factories can make 1000 small submarines a day if the U.S. were to enter the war.
(listed for yesterday): U.S. Senate overrides Wilson’s veto and passes the Immigration Act of 1917, which restricts immigration, specifically from much of Asia.
Nearly 1000 Germans, Austro-Hungarians, Bulgarians, and Ottoman citizens living in New York City apply for naturalization.
Switzerland: Switzerland states it will continue to maintain relations with Germany in order to preserve its neutrality.
Mexico: (listed for yesterday) Mexico’s Constitutional Congress officially ratifies its new Constitution: https://es.wikisource.org/wiki/Constituci%C3%B3n_Pol%C3%ADtica_de_los_Estados_Unidos_Mexicanos_(1917)

[dicksbro]

Henry Ford states his factories can make 1000 small submarines a day if the U.S. were to enter the war.
A DAY! :yikes: For some reason I have doubts about that ... 1-5 maybe, but I really doubt 1,000! :faint:

[gekkogecko]

Naval and Overseas Operations
Since the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare last week, Germany has sunk at least 59 ships, with 22 belonging to neutral nations.

Political, etc.
Germany: All US citizens held in protective custody (the Allied Powers insisted on referring to them “as government hostages”) (until February 17).
Russia: 125,000 people involved in Moscow and Petrograd political strikes (20 leaders arrested February 10-11).
United Kingdom: King opens Parliament. Petrol licence issues suspended, private motoring virtually eliminated (331,897 licences in 1916).
United States: Several neutral States refuse Mr. Wilson's invitation to act in conjunction with the U.S.
South America: Governments of Brazil and Argentina threaten to sever relations if Germany attacks their shipping.

[gekkogecko]

A DAY! :yikes: For some reason I have doubts about that ... 1-5 maybe, but I really doubt 1,000! :faint:

It's a good thing he didn't actually try. The over-inflated claims of millions of aircraft turned out by US industry were already bad enough (partly because such absurd claims were widely accepted).

[Oldfart]

A DAY! :yikes: For some reason I have doubts about that ... 1-5 maybe, but I really doubt 1,000! :faint:

A classic example of people getting a little carried away. Perhaps the little submarines were better known as torpedos.

[dicksbro]

A classic example of people getting a little carried away. Perhaps the little submarines were better known as torpedos.

Now that's a possibility ... and maybe even do-able although that almost sounds a bit ambitious. :shrug:

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Georges Guynemer shares shooting down of Freiburg-based Gotha bomber near Bouconville; this 32nd victim goes on display in Paris.
Sailly-Saillisel ridge (Hill 153, Somme) taken by the British with 78 prisoners.
From Grandcourt British make minor advances on both banks of the Ancre.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Egypt: (also reported for yesterday) British operations against the Senussi come to an and (see 5th, and November 23rd, 1915).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Adriatic: Grand Admiral Baron Anton von Haus, C-in-C Austro-Hungarian Fleet dies of lung disease aboard flagship Viribus Unitis aged 65 http://imgur.com/SA9UPGg ; Emperor Charles attends funeral. Senior Vice-Admiral Njegovan (1st Squadron) succeeds, also made Admiralty Chief (April 30).
North Sea: Destroyer HMS Thrasher sinks UC-39 with depth charges off Flamborough Head.
Channel: Dover Strait minefield completed by Royal Navy minelayers, but has to be swept and relaid (June-July). HM Destroyer Gurkha mined and sunk. UC-46 rammed and sunk by destroyer Liberty southeast of Goodwin Sands.
Britain: War Cabinet decide only to continue with building battlecruiser Hood; 3 sister ships suspended on march 9 as Germans known to have stopped work on capital ships.

Political, etc.
Germany: Neutral sources (falsely) report that Mr. Gerard is being held hostage in Berlin and not allowed to communicate with U.S.A.
France: French Chamber of Deputies authorizes the Finance Minister to lend $300 million to Allied and friendly countries.
To save fuel, Paris theaters will be closed four days a week and streetcars and subways will cease operations by 10 pm.
United Kingdom: Zimmermann telegram made public from the Royal Navy Room 40 decrypt: ‘… you are desired … to broach … an alliance to the President [Carranza of Mexico] … The President might, even now… sound Japan’.
United States: Wilson proposes to Britain that Allies declare against Austro-Hungary’s total break up but Lloyd George declines on February 11.
President Wilson makes assurances that foreign property and other assets will not be taken even if the U.S. goes to war.
Sweden: Sweden also rejects President Wilson’s call to break off relations with Germany, stating they will continue to maintain neutrality.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Somme: Operation Alberich: Germans begin demolitions with programmed removal of material and civilians between Siegfried [Hindenburg] Line and actual front line at the Somme.
East of Sailly-Saillisel Germans counter-attack new British positions, but are repulsed.
Meuse: French repulse German attacks.

Southern Front
Italy: Austrians claim 1,000 PoWs in attack east of Gorizia. but Italians regain trenches taking 100 PoWs on February 9. Italian Intelligence reports new Austrian artillery and troops on Asiago and in Upper Adige.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Egypt: Report on Senussi operations issued.
Mesopotamia: British 13th and 14th Divisions storm liquorice factory (until February 10). [ed note: I knew there were shortages, and rationing had to be implemented among all the belligerents, but I had no idea things were that bad.]

Political, etc.
Germany: German Government admit having prevented Mr. Gerard communicating with U.S.A., “stating falsely” that Count Bernstorff has not been allowed communication with Germany. Mr. Gerard receives his passports.

[Teddy Bear]

yummm!!! Liquorice. :D :D


My spell check says that ^ is spelled wrong but it doesn't say how it is spelled. *sighs* Its hard being such a bad speller that spell check doesn't even know what you're saying.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Somme: British capture 1,250-yard wide trench system south of Serre Hill (Ancre), taking 215 PoWs. German local counter-attack fails on February 11.
British, French, and German units on the Western Front all carry out successful trench raids today.
Successful Allied raids at Givenchy, Neuville, Grandcourt, La Bassee, Neuve Chappelle, Auberive (Champagne), and Luneville.
German airmen bomb Dunkirk, Amiens and Nancy.

Southern Front
Italy: At Valona two out of three Austrian hydroplanes captured by Italian airmen.
Salonika: c.600 British trench raid (158 casualties) on ‘Petit Couronne’ west of Lake Doiran, gains 27 PaWs. Smaller raid on German 59th Regiment east of Vardar on February 21.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: 60-pounder battery severs Turkish Shumran Bridge at 9,600 yards range and forces it West.
Near Kut Turks deliver four unsuccessful attacks on British right flank during the night.
And that fight over the licorice (to use the US spelling: the sources I most frequently cite commonly use British spelling for words) continues:
At Kut British carry the liquorice factory, and establish a new line on a 6,000 yard front, pressing back the Turks from 800-1,200 yards.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Austria-Hungary proposes allowing Americans to travel the Mediterranean unhindered, in order to preserve relations between the two countries.
Germany: German government agrees to pay Norway for ships sunk by German U-boats, but will not admit illegality of the actions.
More than 400 steamships and 2,700 tugs are employed by Germany to haul captured Romanian equipment and stores up the Danube.
Germany declares that the "period of grace" for neutral shipping has expired.
Mr. Gerard leaves Berlin.
France: French government restricts the number of newspaper pages in order to save on print paper and other resources.
United Kingdom: John William Waterhouse, English painter known for his Pre-Raphaelite style, passed away: http://imgur.com/hQnFpUz
Chile: Chile sends a reply to Germany refusing to recognize the blockade, and retaining a free hand in case of damage to Chilean ships.
China: China sends energetic protest to Germany, and threatens to break off diplomatic relations.
Netherlands: Dutch government officially protests German resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare and will consider all sinkings to be illegal.
Spain: With the breakoff of diplomatic relations between Germany and U.S., Spain will represent U.S. interests in Berlin. The Spanish ambassador in Berlin formerly represented Spain in Washington D.C. during the start of the Spanish-American War.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
First successful night aircraft vs aircraft combat: Germans Peter and Frohwein in DFW C-V destroy 2 French bombers on landing approach to Malzeville (night February 11-12).
Somme: North of the Ancre British take about 600 yards of German trenches near the Beaucourt-Puisieux road.
South of Serre Hill Germans attack British new positions, but “are decimated”.


Eastern Front
Romania: South of Halicz small Bulgarian forces force the Dniester on the ice, but are driven back by a counter-attack.

Southern Front
Italy: East of Gorizia the Italian recover the trenches taken by the Austrians, and make 100 prisoners.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: At Kut, British resume attack on river bank of Tigris, hemming the Turks in on the Dahra bend, taking all but the last line of trenches.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mediterranean: The U.S. merchantman S.S. Lyman M. Law sunk by a submarine off Sardinia.
East Africa: Lettow-Vorbeck attacks British outposts at Johannesbruecke and Nyamasi on Songea-Lake Nyasa supply line to cover his retreat towards Portuguese frontier.
Ethiopia: Judith (Zawditu) crowned Empress in Addis Ababa (Central Powers represents not invited).

Political, etc.
Germany: Government attempts to re-open talks with USA via Swiss Minister. Wilson declines on February 13 unless February 1 (unrestricted U-boat warfare) measure lifted.
Kaiser Wilhelm organizes a conference with military and government leaders to discuss the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare.
German Government state that the restraint placed on Mr. Gerard was an error of minor officials.
Russia: Russian government announces the arrest of 11 labor leaders on charges of belonging to revolutionary parties & fomenting a labor movement.
France: Prince Sixtus meets Jules Cambon for Austrian peace offer and returns to Switzerland, meeting Emperor’s envoy Cont Erdody at Neuchatel (February 13 and 21).
French Senator Raoul Gomot warns that French wheat harvests for 1917 will fall to 50 million bushels, from a prewar level of 90 million.
United States: Report shows the U.S. conducted $2 billion worth of trade with Allied nations in 1916, and German submarine warfare threatens this trade.
U.S. Senate discusses a bill that will give military training for 6 months without pay to all men who turn 19.
U.S. government refuses to negotiate with Germany unless it immediately ends its “illegal” submarine warfare.
Switzerland: James W. Gerard, U.S. ambassador to Germany, safely crosses the German border into neutral Switzerland.
Swiss Minister sends a message from Germany to U.S.A. suggesting a discussion on ways and means of preventing war.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Somme: Successful British trench raid south of Souchez; raid takes 48 prisoners.
Other successful raids at Neuville, Loos and Ypres.
A French sniper in the trenches near Tracy-le-Val: http://imgur.com/PShNfI2* © IWM (Q 70060)
South of Serre several more successful German trench raids.

Eastern Front
Bukovina: Germans take Russian positions near Jakobeny with over 1,200 PoWs but Russians defeat attack on February 21.

Southern Front
Serbia: In Crna bend German surprise flamethrower attack recaptures Hill 1050 with 92 Italian PoWs and MGs. Italians retake some lost trenches on February 27 with c.70 PoWs but fail to regain summit; 400 casualties in all.
East of Monastir, Hill 1050 attacked by the Germans, who gain a footing at several points in the Italian front lines.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Emperor Charles meets Kaiser Wilhelm II at Vienna and refuses to break relations with USA.
United Kingdom: Commons votes £ 200 million war credit; war costing £5.7 million per day.
4lb loaf of bread now costs 11d.
United States: U.S. socialist politician Jacob Panken declares he will not go to war-“They can stand me up against a wall and shoot me, but I will not go.”
The comic strip “The Gumps,” by Sidney Smith, is launched: http://imgur.com/nfPG5Gg
Netherlands: The Netherlands Government representative assumes charge of British interests in Germany.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Artois: British trench raid northeast of Arras (40 PoWs).
South-east of Grandcourt British capture a strong point.

Eastern Front
Near Jakobeny Russian counter-attacks repulsed.

Naval and Overseas Operations
More neutral ships are sunk by German submarines, with at least 2 Swedish, 2 Norwegian, 1 Greek, and 1 U.S. ships being sunk today.
The White Star liner Afric, of 12,000 tons, reported sunk.
South Algeria, Sahara: 150 rebels repulsed from Ain El Hadjadj south of Fort Flatters.

Political, etc.
Germany: Germany states it will hold 72 American sailors as hostages until assurances can be given on the safety of German sailors stuck in the US.
German Research Institute of Psychiatry (today Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry) is founded by King Ludwig III of Bavaria.
Russia: At Petrograd, Lord Milner, at close of Allied Conference, says much good done in bringing about closer co-operation between Entente countries.
France: Mata Hari arrested in Paris: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Mata-Hari.jpg
United Kingdom: Lord Curzon, member of the British War Council, states he is “not dissatisfied” at the progress in limiting losses incurred by U-boats.
Belgium: The American Commission for Relief in Belgium notifies the German occupation that they will cease relief work due to the diplomatic break.
United States: Several representatives of American manufacturers meet with U.S. Navy officials to discuss creating war zeppelins.
Frances T. Evans, Sr., one of the first U.S. Marine Corps aviators, becomes the first person to loop a seaplane: http://imgur.com/MKhN2Tg
Scandanavia: Scandinavian Governments' joint protest against German submarine warfare published.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Twelve miles north-west of Compiegne the French carry out successful large-scale raid.
Bruges harbour again bombed by British naval airmen.


Eastern Front
Between Zloczow and Tarnopol (northern Galicia), Germans report successful great raid, taking six Russian officers and 275 men prisoners.

Southern Front
Serbia: East of Monastir, Italians counter-attack and re-establish their line.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Black Sea: 2 Russian destroyers and a minelayer from Batumi sink 15 Turkish schooners between Amasra and Sinope.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Emperor Charles of Austria-Hungary hosts a dinner for Kaiser Wilhelm: “I drink to the health of your majesty, my true friend and ally.”
Germany: Germany remains defiant towards the U.S., stating its submarine warfare “will under no circumstance be restricted.”
Russia: Secret Russo-French Treaty signed at Petrograd on territorial aims.
United Kingdom: British Government inform Japanese Government that they will support Japanese claims to German possessions in the Pacific north of the Equator if it is understood that Japan will support similar British claims south of the Equator (see December 16th, 1914).
British Government give pledge in House of Commons that the “restitution” of Alsace-Lorraine is an object of the war (see November 15th).
United States: German ambassador Graf (Count) Johann von Bernstorff sails from Hoboken NJ in the S.S. Frederik VIII (home March 14, 1917). Congress votes funds for fortifications and $3.6 million for airships. Bernstorff, the ‘good German’ but ladies’ man – a diplomat discomfited by scandal. But the German ambassador was a generally competent diplomat to whom both the American and German governments should have listened: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Bernstorff.jpg
U.S. considers intervening in Cuba, as a liberal insurgency grows in strength in the country, threatening U.S.-owned sugar plantations.
U.S. Cabinet becomes divided on the issue of whether or not to arm American merchant ships, as it could lead to armed conflict with Germany.
Switzerland: Switzerland institutes meatless days and rations rice and sugar, as food supplies become more restricted due to the war.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Flanders: Successful German trench raids near Laos, west of Messines and northeast of Ypres.
Champagne: Nivelle’s instructions issued for general offensive. German attack gains the plans, 858 PoWs and trenches from French salient west of Maisons de Champagne.
British War Office states its forces have advanced ¾ of a mile on a 10,000-yard front in the Somme front since the start of the year.

Eastern Front
In Romania, Austro-Hungarian forces announce the capture of 1,223 Russian prisoners, three artillery guns, and 12 machine guns.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Decisive day of Battle of Kut. Turks driven from right bank of Tigris. British clear Dahra Bend until February 16, take 1,995 PoWs for 503 casualties. Heavy rain on February 17 prevents further southern bank operations.
Arabia: Lawrence’s secret despatch on ‘Feisal’s Table Talk’ appears in Arab Bulletin.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Eastern Mediterranean: U-39 (Forstmann) sinks unescorted Italian Salonika-bound transport Minas (870 of 1000 on board die) west of Cape Matapan, French transport Athos also sunk on February 17 by U-65 (Fischel) 200 miles east of Malta.
Germany: Light cruiser SMS Nürnberg II completed at Kiel, last of 4-strong class finished since August 12, 1916 to serve with High Seas fleet Scouting Forces.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Cargoes of captured Romanian grain arrive in Austria-Hungary, but will not go to civilians; instead, they will go to its army & Germany.
Due to heavy snows and coal shortages, Vienna’s theaters, restaurants, and streetcars are ordered to close earlier in the day.
France: Octave Mirbeau, the French journalist, critic, and writer, passed away: http://imgur.com/HOxF48C
French government institutes maximum prices for milk, butter, and cheese to control rising food costs.
United Kingdom: Interview with Sir Douglas Haig published.
British Government take over all coal mines in the U.K. for the period of the war.
Belgium: Germany reverses its order, allowing U.S. relief corps to continue operating in occupied Belgian areas.
In Brussels, the U.S. Minister is ordered by the Germans to lower the U.S. flag over the Legation.
United States: (Listed for yesterday): U.S. National Woman’s Party sends over 1000 valentines to legislators and President Wilson, urging them to give women the vote.
Netherlands: The Netherlands accepts 250 refugee children from occupied France. Several hundred more are expected to arrive soon.

[dicksbro]

United Kingdom: Lord Curzon, member of the British War Council, states he is “not dissatisfied” at the progress ...
I always chuckle a bit at the use of double negative ... not dissatisfied ... instead of satisfied. :D

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
France: Nivelle visits Haig at Montreuil, with the latter unaware that Lloyd George was dealing with Nivelle directly. Nivelle reviews British 7th Division on February 17.
Airship LZ 107 bombs Calais and overflies Deal – causing false alarm in London night February 16-17). At Boulogne (the same ?) German airship drops bombs on town and harbor, doing only slight damage.
Bruges and Ghistelles bombed by British naval airmen.


Eastern Front
Germany: Hoffmann diary ‘There is very encouraging news from the interior of Russia. It would seem that she cannot hold out longer than the autumn’.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: West of Kut, British capture remaining Turkish positions in the Dahra bend, and take nearly 2,000 prisoners.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Germany: German torpedo boat V69 with extensive damage: http://imgur.com/HdpxoEn

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: Close of War Loan.
South Africa: Opening of South African Parliament.
Turkey: The new Ottoman Grand Vizier Talaat Pasha declares they will fight to the last man and will retain Constantinople.

[gekkogecko]

I always chuckle a bit at the use of double negative ... not dissatisfied ... instead of satisfied. :D

Weasel words among politicians never go out of style.

[dicksbro]

Naval and Overseas Operations
Germany: German torpedo boat V69 with extensive damage: http://imgur.com/HdpxoEn

Amazing that the captain could get it back to port. :yikes:

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Somme: 3 BEF Fifth Army divisons (3,800 casualties) gain 500-1000 yards with 773 PoWs in two attacks at Miraumont north and south of the Ancre (night February 17-18).
Alsace: French raid on German salient northeast of Altkirch causes heavy loss.
A French naval gun shelter near Saint-Crepin-aux-Bois: http://imgur.com/t8ww0B8* © IWM (Q 78184)

Eastern Front
On the Lavkassa river (south-west of Dvinsk) Germans clad in white raid Russian lines, taking about 50 prisoners.

Southern Front
Albania: French and Italian troops link up at Herseg making 240-mile Allied front from Adriatic to Aegean.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Near Kut, British progress on south bank of Tigris. On the north bank an attack on the Sanna-i-Yat positions fails: 7th Indian Division (over 500 casualties) panics in attack on Turkish position with 3,000 soldiers.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: Torpedoed Q-ship Farnborough (Campbell wins Victoria Cross) sinks U-83 (Hoppe), 2 survivors, off southwest Ireland with 25 shots at 300 yards.
Mediterranean: French troopship SS Athos, carrying Senegalese soldiers, Chinese laborers, and civilian passengers, is sunk by SM U-65, resulting in 754 deaths.
England: Britain closes the harbour of Plymouth, England to all ships not belonging to Britain and the Entente.

Political, etc.
Germany: Due to cold and lack of coal in Hamburg, Germany, all schools, theaters, and concert halls are closed.
France: Carolus-Duran, French painter known for depicting members of French high society, passed away: http://imgur.com/dAbxcIE
United Kingdom: British war loan raises a record of £2 billion, financed largely by small, private investors (the loans are redeemed in 2015).
Australia: Australian War Government formed.
United States: U.S. Navy begins installing undersea steel nets around Hampton Roads in order to defend against German submarines.
U.S. government provides $10 million more to help insure ships to cover the increased risk caused by German submarines.
Greece: Entente Powers call the Government's attention to hostile attitude of Greek press.
Greek Government search private dwellings for hidden arms.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Somme: British troops repulse German “attack” on their new positions above Baillescourt Farm (north of river Ancre).


Eastern Front
In the Trotus valley (Moldavia), Russian surprise attack captures strong position on high ground.

Southern Front
Albania: (also reported for yesterday) Junction of French and Italian troops in southern Albania, isolating Greece from Central Powers.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Indian Ocean: Raider Wolf lays 58 mines off Ceylon, later swept by 6 trawlers after loss of 2 large ships.

Political, etc.
Germany: Germany announces new war taxes to cover deficits that equals $312.5 million. Taxes will be applied to coal and transportation.
“Official” German Army deaths, excluding colonial troops, now numbers 988,329 men since the war’s start. Total casualties pass 4 million. [ed note: I have no idea whose “official” statistics these were: the source is not cited, no it is unclear if it was Official, as reported by German sources, or the Official estimates of the British War Office, which were consistently optimistic as to the effectiveness of the Allied war effort.]
Russia: General Khabaiov of Petrograd military district given special powers to maintain order.
Japan: Report shows that the Empire of Japan in 1916 increased its shipbuilding output of merchant ships by more than 150% compared to 1915.
United States: U.S. Treasury Department will no longer publicly disclose destinations &manifests of ships leaving the U.S. to protect them from submarines.
Former President Theodore Roosevelt expresses shock after seeing U.S. Army recruits practicing drills with broomsticks.
Ezequiel Cabeza De Baca, the first Hispanic Governor of New Mexico, passed away: http://imgur.com/NxNXrWm
U.S. Army completes its plans for military intervention in Cuba, which will involve around 5000 to 7000 troops.
New York Harbor will close after dark as long as the current diplomatic crisis with Germany continues.
Switzerland: Swiss Federal Council proposes that it increase aid to people living in German-occupied areas of France and Belgium.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Flanders: British take 114 PoWs in raid east of Ypres.
Somme: Germans with flamethrowers capture British post and 30 PoWs south of Le Transloy.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Sinai: The first recorded casualty evacuation flight is carried out by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), when a wounded trooper of the Imperial Camel Corps is flown from Bir-el-Hassana in the Sinai Desert to the airfield at Kilo 143 in an Royal Flying Corps aircraft. This would have been a three-day journey by the available surface transport, but the flight took 45 minutes.

Naval and Overseas Operations
English Channel: German submarine SM UC-18, and the British Q-Ship Lady Olive sink each other; Lady Olive’s crew rescued, all of UC-18’s crew died. UC-18 had sunk 35 ships during its career.
Indian Ocean: S.S. Worcestershire sunk after striking a mine. No, her cargo was not a load of the sauce.
East Africa: NRFF engages Kraut’s rearguard near Litembo and Captain Wintgens’ 500 men, 3 guns and 13 MGs near Tandala, saving that post (Wintgens heading north on own solo raid until October 2).

Political, etc.
Germany: German Imperial Bank urges German men and women to sell their gold and jewels to the bank for the war effort.
United Kingdom: Royal Navy Room 40 deciphers Zimmermann Telegram full text, shows it to US Embassy, Balfour gives Hall free hand on February 20.
The new British War Loan estimated to be going to reach over £700,000,000 in new money.
Government decide to revise exemption certificates for men under 31.
Norway: Britain resumes regular coal shipments to Norway after Norway agreed to stop exports of pyrites to Germany.

[dicksbro]

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Sinai: The first recorded casualty evacuation flight is carried out by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), when a wounded trooper of the Imperial Camel Corps is flown from Bir-el-Hassana in the Sinai Desert to the airfield at Kilo 143 in an Royal Flying Corps aircraft. This would have been a three-day journey by the available surface transport, but the flight took 45 minutes.
Amazing. Now, air evacuation seems ordinary.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Somme: German troops capture a British strongpoint south of Transloy, taking 30 prisoners.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: First major raid on Hejaz Railway: Captain Garland’s 50 Arabs from Wejh blow up engine and bridge at Toweira.
Sinai: British surprise and take Turkish posts at Nakhi and Bir-el-Hassana.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Western Mediterranean: French cruiser-minelayer Cassini sinks on UC-35 mine in Bonifacio Straits.
Report shows that out of 9,291 ships that arrived and left Britain in the first half of February, 101 ships were sunk by the Germans.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Emperor Charles hints at separate peace by sending secret note inviting Prince Sixtus of Bourbon-Parma (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Sixtus_of_Bourbon-Parma) to Vienna for peace talks.
A Hungarian poster calls for donations for war orphans: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ung-plakat-kriegswaisen.jpg
Russia: Inter-Allied Conference ["Commission de Ravitaillement"] at Petrograd dissolves (see January 17th).
United Kingdom: Arthur Ponsonby, Charles P. Trevelyan, Philip Snowden & other MPs in the House of Commons declare the Allies are pursuing war of conquest.
United States: (listed for yesterday): North Carolina Senator Overman claims that there are 100,000 spies in the U.S. and urges drastic laws to protect military assets.
Wilson asks for increased war powers from Congress, "to enforce the obligations imposed by the laws of nations and by American statutes".
Major General Frederick Funston, who received a medal of honor during the Philippine-American War, died suddenly: http://imgur.com/C6bStEX
Former President Taft enrolls as a reserve cavalryman, but states, “It would be hard on the horse.”

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
British troops conduct three night attacks south of Armentières, France, resulting in the capture of 1,150 yards of German trenches.
Germans begin to withdraw in front of Serre.

Southern Front
Trentino: Italian guns destroy Austrian railhead at Tarvis.
Macedonia: General Lyautey approves Sarrail‘s spring offensive plan submitted February 8 whose final objective is Sofia. Sarrail finally consults Milne on February 28 and they agree on Lake Doiran sector British attack.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: British yacht Managam visits Athlit, contacts NILI Jewish spy ring and delivers funds.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Britain: New blockade orders insist ships sailing to neutrals with access to Central Powers enter a British port for examination or be liable to “capture”.
British troopship SS Mendi collides with SS Darro & sinks, resulting in 646 deaths, mostly black South African soldiers: http://imgur.com/AhjaIVo Survivors were rescued by HMS*Brisk.
Mediterranean: Off Cartagena (south-east Spain) spare parts for submarines are discovered in a buoy.

Political, etc.
United States: Thousands protest in New York City against the rising prices of food: http://imgur.com/xA5Tcbh
The musical “Oh, Boy!” by Jerome Kern, Guy Bolton, and P.G. Wodehouse makes its Broadway debut: http://imgur.com/tx0EOsk
President Wilson and the Cabinet agree to hold the present diplomatic course and will not do further moves that could antagonize Germany.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
East of Vermelles and south of Neuve Chapelle hostile raids repulsed with heavy loss to both sides.
North of Gueudecourt British take German trench and 30 prisoners. British push forward cautiously.

Southern Front
Isonzo: Captain Benito Mussolini on Carso (Sector 144) in grenade or mortar shell accident, 4 killed out of 20 soldiers, has 44 pieces removed from his body. Visited by King at Ronchi hospital, moved to Milan, on crutches in August.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: 7th Indian Divison (1,332 casualties) storms and holds first two Sannaiyat lines against 7 Turkish counter-attacks as diversion to pin reserves; 88 Punjabis (in 11 pontoons) raid across Tigris, 4 miles east of Kut.

Naval and Overseas Operations
British merchant ships are now carrying phosphorus “smoke screens” to hide them from German U-Boats.
Channel: U-21 (Otto Hersing) homeward bound from Mediterranean sinks 6 of 8 Dutch steamers (including Holt liner Perseus) in convoy off Falmouth, unaware these ‘easy kills’ have been granted ‘safe passage’ by Berlin.
Also, another report states: Seven Dutch ships sailing from Falmouth are attacked by submarine U3, in spite of German guarantee of security; four are sunk. (In reality, U-3 was never in active service: she served as a training vessel throughout the war. SM U-21 was serving as KuK U-36 during the time of her service in the Mediterranean [since Germany hadn’t technically reciprocated Italy’s declaration of war of 23 May 1915, German submarines in the Mediterranean were given freedom of action by being transferred in name to Austria-Hungary] The truncation of KuK U-36 to U-3 is mostly likely the source of the error).

Political, etc.
Germany: Strike at the Krupp works in Essen, Germany continues, with several thousand workers demanding higher wages and increased food rations.
German Foreign Affairs Secretary Zimmermann expresses confidence that Germany will achieve its aims with submarine warfare.
Allied Powers: Allied government ministers declare that captured German colonies in Africa and Asia will not be returned after the war.
France: 150 Renault FT-17 light tanks ordered.
United Kingdom: British War Office declares that military operations against the Ottomans have successfully prevented them from reinforcing Germany.
50 Sinn Feiners (Irish nationalists) are arrested by British authorities under the Defense of the Realm Act.
Formation of "Labour Corps": http://www.1914-1918.net/labour.htm
Turkey: Turkey declares her agreement with Germany on policy of unrestricted submarine warfare.
Japan: Japanese businesses consider suspending shipping to Europe due to the U-boat threat, which has caused shipping costs to jump by 30%.
United States: Nationwide protests against high food prices continue in the U.S. One protestor is killed in Philadelphia.
U.S. House of Representatives vote 321 to 72 approving total prohibition of alcohol in 19 states.
U.S. Mint in Philadelphia weighing gold. $600 million of gold will be sent from Europe to the U.S. this February: http://imgur.com/aSv6vkX
In U.S.A., war tension appears critical. German agents instigating many disturbances. (Refers to acts of sabotage; German agents were known to place time bombs on Europe-bound ships, and some were also arrested for attempts to place bombs in various harbors. What is wildly inaccurate is the charge that numerous labor actions were instigated by German agents.)
Switzerland: Swiss government seeks to use Genoa, Italy for exports & imports, as German ports are blockaded & French ports are threatened by U-boats.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
British follow-up retreating Germans.

Eastern Front
In Galicia, German and Austro-Hungarian troops penetrate Russian lines, blowing up 4 mine shafts and capturing 253 prisoners.
North-west of Ocna (Moldavia) the Russians lose the heights of Magyaros, and 1,000 prisoners.

Southern Front
(Also reported for earlier in the month): Allied advances in Albania and Macedonia succeed in cutting off Greek territory from the Central Powers.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: 14th Indian Division (350 casualties) makes dawn crossing into Shumran Peninsula 7 miles west of Kut, builds a pontoon bridge and takes 544 Turk PoWs. Kiazim Karbekir evacuates Sannaiyat (night February 23-24).
Kut reoccupied by British forces (see 24th, and January 9th).

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea:*U-boat*sinks a Norwegian and 4 British steamers.
German submarine SM UC-32, credited with sinking 6 ships, is accidentally sunk by its own mine.
Black Sea:*30 landing ships ordered for Russian Fleet, 3 completed by April 1918.

Political, etc.
Russia: Duma President Rodzianko in last report urges Tsar to appoint new ministry, also sees Chief of Staff General Gourko on February 24-25; Duma re-opens on February 27.
United Kingdom: Prime Minister’s speech warns of more import restrictions (14th list issued), announces minimum wheat and oat prices till 1922 and 25s per week minimum wage in farming.
Ireland: (also reported for yesterday ?): 28 Sinn Fein agitators arrested and exiled for alleged plotting with Germans.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Somme: Germans retreat from Serre salient, evacuating Serre, Miraumont, Petit Miraumont, Pys and Warlencourt.

Southern Front
French machine gunners in a foxhole near Koritza (Korçë), Albania: http://imgur.com/GNuqSBl

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Turks abandon Kut, retreat west on Baghdad losing 1,730 PoWs and 4 guns but British Cavalry Division fails to pursue vigorously although 2 armoured cars do damage on February 25. Royal Navy gunboat Mantis rehoists Union flag at Kut.
Indian Lancers marching through the streets of Kut, Mesopotamia (Iraq): http://imgur.com/ZhWU57B* © IWM (Q 25223)
Persia: Turkish 6th Division falls back from Hamadan to Kermanshah, 2nd Division follows on February 26.

Political, etc.
Russia: Russian government opens a special committee to discuss the future status of Poland.
France: French Chamber of Deputies approves a resolution to recall some farmers serving at the front in order to boost food production.
United Kingdom: Lord Arthur Balfour writes that more than 1.2 million Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire have been killed or deported.
Lloyd George states restrictive measures are needed to ration food in Britain, such as cutting beer & liquor production by two-thirds.
United States: US London Ambassador Page, having received Zimmermann Telegram from Balfour cables Wilson with news, received with ‘much indignation’ but awaits Secretary of State’s return.
U.S. War Department proposes a bill that would increase the Army size to 3,296,023 men, which will cost $472,258,746.
Spain: Mr. Gerard is received at Madrid by the King of Spain.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Somme: German forces withdraw from front line positions on the Ancre as part of the withdrawal to the Siegfried Stellung (aka Hindenburg Line). (see November 18th, 1916 and March 14th, 1917).
British troops advance on an 11-mile front, to a depth of 3 miles.
Destroyed sugar refinery in Serre captured by the British in operations around Ancre, France: http://imgur.com/lJ3wvw0* © IWM (Q 1769)
BEF 2nd Division and Anzac Corps fight for the Thilloys (until March 2) southwest of Bapaume.
Flanders: General Sixt von Arnim takes over Fourth Army from Duke Albrecht of Wurttemberg who now commands his own Flanders Army Group; both in command for duration of war.
France: Prime Minister Briand proposes that ‘In order to ensure unity of command on the Western Front, the French General-In-Chief will from the 1 March 1917 have authority over the British Forces … in all that concerns … operations … dispositions … allotment of material and resources … to the Armies’. Haig and Robertson object (plan modified February 27).
Successful raids at Monchy-au-Bois, Lens and in Champagne.
English Naval air raid on Brebach (near Metz).

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: 100 Royal Navy Division PoWs arrive at Reiskatte Reprisal Camp (c.3 miles from Front) to dig trenches, often under Russian fire (until June 10); another 500 PoWs join them. [Ed note: this “reprisal” action was one of the responses to the Allied “reprisal” actions of carrying U-boat officers as hostages aboard cargo vessels, or exposing German PoW work parties to German artillery fire on the Western Front. And of course, these two “reprisal” actions were themselves a response to Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare, which itself was a partial response to Great Britain’s illegal blockade methods.
Truly, and illustration of how absurd tit-for-tat actions in war can be.]

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: The pursuit to Baghdad begins (see 24th and March 11th). Turks destroy much war material.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: German destroyer raid on Margate and Broadstairs; 11 German destroyers (Heinrich (?) Tillessen) raid*Dover barrage*including 10-minutes shelling of Margate and*Broadstairs*(4 civilian casualties). (see March 18th).
Atlantic: British S.S. Laconia sunk by submarine SM U-50; this was exceptionally controversial, because earlier in the war, the Royal Navy had taken the Laconia into service as an armed merchant cruiser, and used her at several points in a naval capacity, particularly in the African campaigns. By the time she was sunk, though, the Laconia had been discharged from the Royal Navy, and handed back to Cunard. It is not clear if she was, however, completely disarmed; the British had long since, instituted their policy of arming merchant ships, so the Laconia may have still had some guns on board. However, armed or not, she was at the time of her sinking, a passenger liner in regular service. At least two of the deaths on the SS Laconia are American citizens, further increasing the support for war in the United States. http://imgur.com/NkjsDjc

Political, etc.
France: Due to rationing, only stale whole meal bread can be sold in Parisian restaurants and night work in bakeries are banned.
United Kingdom: (also reported for earlier in the month) New British War Loan subscriptions amount to (new money) £1,000,312,950.
United States: U.S. Senators express anger at President Wilson, who remains silent on the issue of German submarine warfare.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Anglo-French Military Conference assembles at Calais to discuss operations, the co-operation of the armies and the co-ordination of operations by the French Commander-in-Chief (continued on 27th) (see March 12th); fixes next Western Front offensive.
Somme: North and south of the Ancre British make further progress, capturing the village of Le Barque (south-west of Bapaume).
Due to the German withdrawal towards the Hindenburg line, British forces have gained 22 square miles of territory in France.
An artificial armored tree used by the French as an observation post in the Auberive sector: http://imgur.com/2k6HunP* © IWM (Q 78890)

Southern Front
Macedonia: 20 aircraft of KG 1 (transferred from Bucharest) surprise bomb French Gorgop airfield; 8 French aircraft destroyed, 4 damaged. KG 1 later bombs Yanesh airfield (RFC), British dumps and camps (28 casualties).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: British 13th Division belatedly drives Turkish rearguard from Sheikh Ja’ad, but 3 Royal Navy gunboats (2 hit) destroy Turkish flotilla (4 ships and 1,500 PoWs) and recapture the gunboat HMS Firefly.
Turkish rearguard covers the retreat 15 miles from Kut.

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: British Government requisitions Dutch ships in British ports.
British government announces that it raised £1 billion in new war loans, raised by the contribution of 5 million subscribers.
United States: President Wilson in address to Congress asks for power to arm merchant ships (see February 21st, 1916 and March 12th, 1917). Bill introduced on February 28, but filibustered in Senate to session’s end, March 3.
President Wilson asks the Senate “blanket” authority to use “all instrumentalities” to meet emergencies if Congress is not in session.
American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief states $5 million a month is needed to save refugees in the region.
President Wilson signs the bill creating the Mount McKinley (Denali) National Park in Alaska.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Somme: On February 26 and 27 British troops capture villages of La Barque, southwest of Bapaume, and Ligny; in past week gains on 11-mile front (south of Gommeccourt to east of Gueudecourt) to maximum depth of 3 miles.
Flanders: Successful British trench raid east of Armentieres.

Eastern Front
Near Jakobeny the Germans take several Russian positions on high ground and 1,300 prisoners.

Southern Front
Macedonia: Salonika: KG 1 raids British Summerhill camp north of Salonika (376 casualties). Raiders intercepted by fighters of Nos 17 and 47 Squadrons; 1 Halberstadt escort fighter forced down and pilot taken PoW. Most of 47 Squadrons fighters damaged.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: British cavalry reconnaissance Aziziyeh (until February 28) 50 miles west of Kut but supply shortage forces them back to river. Turkish losses since February 23 including 4,300 PoWs; 39 guns; 22 mortars and 11 MGs. Maude cables C-in-C India asking further advance approval after necessary supply pause till March 5.

Naval and Overseas Operations
US Cruiser USS Des Moines is sent to the Ottoman Empire to carry supplies & rescue American refugees. Germany refuses to give safe conduct.
Royal Navy purchases the HMS Nairana from Australia to be converted into a seaplane carrier: http://imgur.com/WRzp1MF

Political, etc.
Germany: von Bethmann-Hollweg hails U-boat success and justifies breaking agreement with USA, saying it was conditional on America insisting on Great Britain respecting international law concerning "Freedom of the Seas".
Russia: Re-opening of Duma.
France: Calais Agreement: Lloyd George and French War committee (Briand and Lyautey) agree on Nivelle-Haig plan of operations. British agree (Haig reluctantly) that general conduct of imminent campaign should only be in hands of the French C-in-C subject to Haig’s usual right of appeal to London.
United Kingdom: British government seeks 2000 U.S.-made tractors to help support food production in Britain.
United States: President Wilson states that he considers sinking of Laconia the "overt act" for which he was waiting (see 25th and April 6th).
Wilson thanks Balfour for ‘information of such inestimable value’ (Zimmermann telegram).
John M Browning demonstrates his new short recoil, water-cooled machine-gun. In a very short space of time the US Browning M1917 machine-gun was ordered into production in large numbers. https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Browning-M1917.jpg
Standard Oil Company seeks $150 million from the Allies for destroying Romanian oil fields during their retreat from the Central Powers.
Sweden: Train carrying invalided captured Russian soldiers, sent home by Germany through Sweden, suffers a crash, resulting in 50+ deaths.

[dicksbro]

More interesting data. Thanks, gg. Really enjoy this series of posts. :thumbs:

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
End of February British make first pigeon drops by balloon (after 3 agents so sent), 40% return rate by end of war.
Somme: British troops in the Somme capture Thilloy, Gommecourt, Puisieux, and Sailly-Saillisel, as the German retreat continues. British have captured 11 villages and 2,133 PoWs during February.

Eastern Front
Romanian counter-attacks in Bukovina partially successful.

Southern Front
Austrian “attacks” on Asiago Plateau and north of Gorizia repulsed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Turkish losses in Mesopotamia in last three months estimated at over 20,000.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: In February British 10th (Minesweeping) Sloop Flotilla transferred from*Immingham*on East Coast (Humber) to Queenstown to meet mine threat off Southern Ireland, loses 2 ships in March.
7 Arethusa-class cruisers from*Harwich Force*and Grand Fleet converted to lay 70-74 mines each (February to November); carry out 35 operations (2,553 mines laid by November 1918).
Allied February shipping losses: 254 ships of 500,673t (German figure 520,412t) including record 105 British ships worth 313,486t. Mediterranean toll is 105,670t.
French destroyer Cassini torpedoed in Mediterranean.

Political, etc.
Germany: Only 60,000 Auxiliary Service Law Volunteers (mainly women) instead of 200,000 hoped for. Women transport blanks for 15 cm shells in a national German ammunition factory: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Frauen-Munitionsfabrik.jpg
Russia: Duma member Kerensky calls for end to ‘medieval regime’.
France: Nivelle letter to government warns of ‘pacifist propaganda’ reaching troops.
Canada: Canadian government states it seeks a $150 million loan in order to fund the war effort.
India: Act forms Indian Defence Force (all British European subjects).
United States: German proposals to Mexico for alliance against the United States published in the American Press (see January 19th).
China: Allied Minister present Memorandum to Chinese Government.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French troops working at a heavy artillery repair park at La Neuville-Sire-Bernard: http://imgur.com/PX4Dq3b* © IWM (Q 78229)
British falsely claim that German air losses during February are twice those of Allies.
Aeroplane raid on Broadstairs: six injured.

Southern Front
The ruined town of Leskovik on the Albanian-Greek border: http://imgur.com/RpbY7m7

Naval and Overseas Operations
While under construction, the battlecruiser HMS Furious is ordered to be converted into an aircraft carrier.
During March an average of 40 U-boats at sea per day and maximum of 57. Shipping entering British ports in February and March is only 25% of February to March 1916 levels. 16 British oilers (Fleet tankers) sunk March to September. Germany announces end of safe period for sailing ships in Atlantic.
British hospital ship Glenart Castle damaged by mine between Le Havre and Southampton (see February 26th, 1918). Further mine or torpedo disasters to hospital ships on March 20 (Asturias; 14 killed), March 30 (Gloucester Castle, no lives lost); April 10 (Salta, 52 killed); April 17 (Lanfranc, 35 killed including 20 German PoWs) and ambulance-transport (red crosses and distinctive marks dropped) Donegal (41 killed). Germans convinced, probably erroneously, that the hospital ships were carrying munitions and radioing U-boat positions, both blatant violations of international law. This excuse was used to explain Germany’s blatant violations of the same when attacking hospital ships.
Mediterranean: From mid-April British hospital ships sailing zigzag course and get 2 destroyer escorts. French embark 70 German officer PoWs as hostages (April 15 to c.August 15) in 5 hospital ships and notify Berlin (which sends 200 French officer PoWs to Western Front areas shelled by Allies). Again, these last two acts were both blatant violations of international law, and were further illustrations of the stupidities of tit-for-tat tactics.
First weekly statement of shipping sailings, arrivals and losses issued.
Germany announces end of safe period for sailing vessels in Atlantic.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Arthur Arz, Baron von Straussenburg, succeeds Franz Conrad as CoS.
Germany: Speech by Herr Arthur Zimmermannn on torpedoing of neutrals.
Colonel Richard Hentsch (Marne decision) made CoS German Romania military occupation.
United Kingdom: British government announces that during February, it captured 2,133 German prisoners, including 33 officers.
A remotely controlled bomber is tested unsuccessfully at Upavon.
Government of India's offer of £100,000,000 towards cost of war accepted.
Turkey: The Ottoman Empire realign its Rumi calendar to the Gregorian calendar, although years are still based on Muhammad’s migration (Hegira).
United States: Wilson hands press Zimmermann Telegram. The Zimmermann telegram produces widespread condemnations of Germany among U.S. politicians, press, and the public.
In March DW Griffith sails for Europe to make two British-funded films on Western Front.
(listed for yesterday): U.S. House of Representatives pass a law 276 votes to 143, imposing prohibition of alcohol in Washington D.C.
(Also listed for yesterday): President Wilson meets with pacifist groups at the White House and promises he would do everything to avoid war.
Switzerland: Rice and sugar rationing cards issued (2 meatless days per week since February 12).

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
A large trench raid at Vimy, led by the 4th Canadian Division, fails, resulting in 637 Canadian casualties.
British lines advanced north-west of Puisieux and north of Warlencourt (Ancre).
German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line slows, as they launch limited counterattacks against the British advance.
A French caterpillar artillery tractor at a training ground near Bouy: http://imgur.com/NXyH7Mb*© IWM (Q 78891)

Eastern Front
Fighting continues in southern Bukovina.
Activity round Riga and on Narajowka river (Galicia), where Germans claim success.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Persia: Turks fall back towards Baghdad, one column from Hamadan and one to Dauletabad.
Hamadan, Kangavarand Sehna (March 5) (Western Persia) recaptured by Russian forces (see also August 10th, 1916, and March 16th, 1918).
A Russian army 107-mm Field Gun Model 1910 in action with Armenian gunners in Middle East https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/russ-107mm-FieldGun.jpg

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Charles’ Army reforms begin to take effect.
Germany: Zimmermann tells press his telegram is true.
France: 1918 recruits called up.
Poland: State Council, Warsaw, reported organising national army against Russia, using Polish legions as cadres.
United States: U.S. Congress passes resolution for arming merchant ships.
China: Allied nations offer to cancel China’s indemnity for the Boxer Rebellion and revise tariffs if it enters the war on their side.
Mexico: Mexican and Japanese embassies reassure the U.S. that they had nothing to do with the Zimmermann Telegram.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Somme: British advance east of Gommecourt (until March 5).
Aisne: German 51st Reserve Division raid south of Ripont and captures Nivelle’s memo on general offensive from December 16, 1916.

Eastern Front
Western Russia: Russian gas attacks north of Lake Naroch near Krevo (March 4).
Pripet: German 1st Landwehr Division (with 400 field guns and mortars support) attack west of Lutsk and nets 9,000 PoWs; 15 guns; 200 MGs and mortars.

Southern Front
Fierce fighting near Monastir; Italian troops in action.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: Captain Newcombe and Arabs wreck Hejaz Railway a Dar-el-Hamra Station. During these days Cairo intercepts Djemal Pasha cable to Medina indicating evacuation plan, Lawrence urges Felsal to act.

Political, etc.
Germany: Zimmermann on submarine warfare: “We regret that neutrals [nations] have to suffer by it, but we cannot help it.”
Russia: The first major protest of the February Revolution occurred on 3 March [18 February in the Julian calendar, still in use in Russia at the time] 1917 as workers of Putilov (later called Kirov Plant), Petrograd's largest industrial plant, announced a strike to demonstrate against the government. Strikes continued on the following days. Due to heavy snowstorms, tens of thousands of freight cars were stuck on the tracks, with the bread and fuel. On 7 March [22 February O.S], the Tsar left for the front. http://imgur.com/5kWLpWw
United Kingdom: British Major-General Frederick B. Maurice predicts that there will be another winter of war, as the German Army is still capable.
U.S. Ambassador Page and Premier Lloyd George confer to discuss the possible entrance of the U.S. into the war.
British government reports 933,000 women are now occupying jobs once held by men called to the front or other war-related services.
Turkey: Ottoman Empire borrows $48 million from Austria-Hungary, on condition that it be used to buy Austro-Hungarian goods.
Belgium: Council of Flanders group in Germany (sees Kaiser) to petition independence.
United States: [yesterday ?] Jones-Shafroth Act is signed by President Wilson, which grants anyone born in Puerto Rico citizenship & creates the Puerto Rican Senate.
Special Preparedness Fund and first Excess Profits Acts passed.
President Wilson is sworn in for a second term as President of the United States.
President Wilson and the First Lady riding a carriage through the streets of D.C.: http://imgur.com/6SK19Hq
Scandinavia: Scandinavian liners resume service to the United States, but will not carry passengers due to the threat of U-boats.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
General d’Esperey (Northern Army Group) vainly asks Nivelle to let him attack retreating Germans (and on March 6 again), asks for tanks on March 9.
Aisne: French advance between rivers Oisne and Aisne, south of Mouvron.
German withdrawal on the Ancre and Somme front still continues. British troops advance two-thirds of a mile on a two-mile front.
Somme: British 8th Division (1,137 casualties) captures Bouchavesnes with 217 PoWs and repels six counter-attacks.
Verdun: German 28th Division attack on a 2-mile line, penetrates Caurieres Wood, and manages to capture 572 French prisoners. French artillery checks further advances.
French troops transporting a 240 mm heavy artillery gun near Beaurieux: http://imgur.com/0cLcJTA* © IWM (Q 78287)
Naval aeroplanes bomb Brebach (Saarbrucken).

Eastern Front
Germany: Hoffmann diary ‘The Russian Army is deteriorating.’
Romania: Romanians troops bombard near Calieni, but lose Magyaros Ridge on March 8 and fail to regain it on March 10 and 28.
Russia: Another Russian gas attack near Krevo (south-east of Vilna).

Southern Front
Isonzo: Italians form Gorizia Defence Command (3 corps) for Mt Kuk to Mt Santo sector under General Capello, Second Army reduced to IV Corps because of this.
Austrian attack east of Gorizia repulsed. Italians occupy heights in Costabella Mountains. Fighting in the Dolomites.

Political, etc.
Russia: Food riots in Petrograd (and on March 6 and 7).
France: Tubercular Ex-Soldiers Flag Day.
United Kingdom: War Office decides to form 9 tank battalions (total of 1,000 tanks).
Belgium: Flemish deputation received by German Chancellor.
United States: US Secretary of the Navy Daniels announces he will immediately exercise emergency powers to commandeer private shipyards to produce warships.
China: Chinese Cabinet decides to cut off ties with Germany, but President Li Yuanhong rejects the Cabinet’s decision.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
At Verdun, French troops attack German positions and capture trenches north of Caurieres Wood.
British progress on Ancre front towards Bapaume Ridge.

Eastern Front
Russia: Romanian people of Austro-Hungarian PoWs in Darnitsa Camp near Kiev sign oath to fight Dual Monarchy. [That is, Austria-Hungary]

Southern Front
Sharp fighting in the Dolomites.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Russians occupy Kangavar, south of Hamadan.
Palestine: Turks abandon strong position west of Shalal (Sinai Peninsula): Kress evacuates Wadi Sheikh Nuran for Gaza-Beersheba line.
Mesopotamia: Maude resumes advance; 13th Hussars’ charge foiled by second trench line.

Naval and Overseas Operations
According to a British report, 123 British vessels were sunk by the Germans in February, while 9,463 ships were able to safely enter port.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Government reply to USA backs U-boat war.
A second report that Marshal Arz von Straussenburg is appointed the new Chief of the General Staff of the Austro-Hungarian Army: http://imgur.com/1zo1W9I
Russia: Food riots in Petrograd continue.
Lord Milner returns from Petrograd saying ‘it is quite wrong to suppose that in Russia there is any controversy about the waging of the war’.
United States: Wilson’s second term inaugural address ‘We stand fast on an armed neutrality.’
London Ambassador Page cables to US ‘France and England must have … enough credit in the US to prevent collapse of world trade’.
12 pacifist US Senators successfully filibuster a bill that would have armed merchant ships to protect them from German submarines.
“The Poor Little Rich Girl,” starring Mary Pickford and directed by Maurice Tourneur, is released: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/The_Poor_Little_Rich_Girl_%281917%29.webm

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
First DH4 fast, high-flying S/E bombers [ed note: I think this is a typo, referring to De Haviland light bombers: the S/E series were Royal Aircraft Factory products, the “S E” standing for Scouting Experimental] with first Constantinesco cc MG synchronizing gear (6,000 issued to December) join No 55 Squadron Royal Flying Corps. Wikipedia has this to say about No 55 Squadron: No. 55 Squadron was formed at Castle Bromwich on 27 April 1916. It initially operated as a training unit, flying a mixture of types, including the Avro 504, Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 and the Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8, but in January 1917 it changed its role to a day-bomber squadron and re-equipped with the Airco DH.4, being the first squadron to receive the new light bomber.
Despite a blizzard, fighting continues in Verdun, with French forces successfully defending their trenches from German attacks.
British line extends south of Somme to neighbourhood of Reims, twice the length of a year before.

Eastern Front
Night attack on German positions south of Brzezany fails.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: British occupy Lajj and Ctesiphon.
British cavalry 14 miles from Baghdad.
Members of the 1st Australian Wireless Signal Squadron on horseback during their advance on Baghdad: http://imgur.com/WXUb4lH

Political, etc.
Germany: 250 British PoWs entrain at Minden to work in Ruhr coal mines (2,000 Allied PoWs there already).
German Reichstag budget committee unanimously approves Zimmermann’s attempts to secure an alliance with Mexico against the U.S.
Russia: Food riots in Petrograd continue.
France: Paris is suffering from a potato shortage, and French women are urged to grow potatoes and other foodstuffs instead of flowers.
United Kingdom: Controller of Potatoes appointed. Army Demobilization Trades Register begun.
United States: 18,000 soldiers parade past President Wilson (picture is incorrectly labeled March 4th): http://imgur.com/0jm9cum
U.S. Supreme Court decides S S Appam case in favor of British owners.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Occupied Belgium: New German Gotha bomber base of Scheldewindeke operational south of Ghent.
Britain: 11 home air defence squadrons have 147 aircraft instead of 222 establishment and 113 pilots of 198. Field Marshal French orders no anti-aircraft gun firing at hostile planes (until June 7) except in specific coastal defenses; crews reduced to send men to France.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: British fail to cross river Diyala but cross Tigris to southern bank by steamer (bridged on March 8).
Three Turkish columns in western Persia continue retreat, converging on Baghdad road at Kangavar; main column thrown from Assadabad Pass by pursuing Russians.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Austria: C-in-C Njegovan urges hastened U-boat and MTB construction.
North Sea: Royal Navy CMBs torpedo German destroyer leaving Zeebrugge during air raid.
Black Sea: Russian submarine Kashalot sinks 8 Turk sailing coasters and 3 tugs east of Bosphorus.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: 1920 class called up in Austria.
Russia: Food riots continue. Tsar Nicholas II leaves Petrograd (St. Petersburg) and head towards the front, even as demonstrations against the government continues.
France: National manifestation at Sorbonne, Paris, for triumph of right.
United Kingdom: Recruiting for W.A.A.C. temporarily completed. 114,803 enrolled for National Service to date.
Turkey: Proclamation by Ulema of Mecca to the Faithful published
United States: U.S. Secretary of State Lansing & Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo signs a check to buy the Danish West Indies: http://imgur.com/MYkPjKP
Joint committee of 11 U.S. Senators work to limit the power of the filibuster.
Survey of Princeton students reveal 41 students think kissing a girl is “highly immoral,” yet 14 of them have engaged in the practice.
Philippines: City of Manila, Philippines orders that everyone on public streets must wear a shirt.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
France: Canadian Prime Minister visits BEF, Haig and Nivelle (until March 12).
Champagne: French regain most of salient lost on February 15 (Butte de Mesnil-Maisons de Champagne); more gains in eastern sector on March 12.
Flanders: 5 raids on British trenches north of Wulverghem (Messines).
Slight British advance in Ancre valley.
Great air activity.

Eastern Front
Romanians lose three heights (late Russian positions) north-west of Ocna (Moldavia).
Germans “repulsed” near Mitau (Riga).

Southern Front
Several days' shelling of Monastir reported.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: British forces begin engaging Ottoman defenders on the confluence of the Tigris and Diyala River south of Baghdad, Mesopotamia (Iraq).
Russians on road from Hamadan rout Turks, who withdraw to Hajiabad.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Italy: Rear-Admiral G. Mortola First Inspector of Shipping Defence.
North Sea: Norwegian relief ship Storstad torpedoed.

Political, etc.
Germany: Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin dies, aged 79, pioneer of giant metal-framed rigid airships (civil and military) since 1891 and of giant LR biplane aircraft. http://imgur.com/dHC9QGK
Prussian government blames the illegal use of ration cards for contributing to the lack of potatoes and bread in Germany.
Russia: The February Revolution begins in Petrograd (different calendar, remember). Demonstrations in Petrograd grow as people celebrating International Woman’s Day join the protests. Women, in particular, were passionate in showing their dissatisfaction with the implemented rationing system, and the female workers marched to nearby factories to recruit over 50,000 workers for strike. Both men and women flooded the streets of Petrograd, demanding an end to Russian food shortages, the end of World War I and the end of autocracy. By the following day 9th March [O.S. February 24], nearly 200,000 protesters filled the streets, demanding the replacement of the Tsar with a more progressive political leader. The protesting mob called for the war to end and for the Russian monarchy to be overthrown. By 10 March [O.S. 25 February] 1917, nearly all industrial enterprises in Petrograd were shut down by the uprising. Although all gatherings on the streets were absolutely forbidden some 250,000 people were on strike. The president of the Imperial Duma Rodzianko asked the chairman of the Council of Ministers Nikolai Golitsyn to resign; the minister of Foreign Affairs Nikolai Pokrovsky proposed the resignation of the whole government. There were disturbances on on the Nevsky Prospect during the day and in the late afternoon four people were killed.
France: Civil mobilisation report tabled in French Senate: civilians of both sexes, 17 to 60, included.
United Kingdom: Irish Nationalists in the House of Commons demand immediate Home Rule and call Premier Lloyd George a “turncoat.”
Interim report of Dardanelles Commission issued.
British Government accepts Nizam of Hyderabad's offer of £100,000 towards anti-submarine campaign.
United States: George W. Guthrie, U.S. ambassador to Japan and former mayor of Pittsburgh, dies in Tokyo while playing golf: http://imgur.com/uDqGRXD
Wireless communication between U.S.A. and Germany suspended.
President Wilson decides to arm American ships against submarines.

[dicksbro]

Following the events in Russia is especially interesting. A great deal of transition from Czar to Communist Rule is not well understood in the U.S. This helps build some of the basis for what happened there. Thanks.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Richthofen (petrol tank and engine hit) leads fighters that shoot down 4 of 9 No 40 Squadron’s FE8s. The Royal Aircraft Factory F. E. 8 was a single-seat fighter with a monosoupape Gnome pusher engine. https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/FE8.jpg
French repulse attacks in Champagne and north of Bois des Caurieres. French troops made advances in the Champagne front yesterday and today, taking 170 German prisoners.
Germany claims that during February, it lost 24 airplanes across all fronts, while the Allies lost 91 airplanes.

Asiatic and Theaters
Mesopotamia:Gertrude Bell letter to father ‘That’s the end of the German dream of domination in the Near [Middle] East … their place is not going to be in the sun’. Captain Reid’s 100 men cross river Diyala and repel six Turkish attacks (Reid gains Victoria Cross). South of Tigris Turks forced back to inner line.
Asia Minor: Russians attack retreating Turks near Sivas.
Persia: Turkish XIII Corps reaches Karind. Russian scouts advance south-west from Sakis; Sinnah (Persian Kurdistan) captured. Russians invite Persian Government to repossess reoccupied towns, Baratov reoccupies Kermanshah (March 11) and Karind (March 17).

Political, etc
Germany: Ludendorff warns War Minister and Chancellor home front having an ‘unhealthy influence upon the moral of the Army’.
Alfred Zimmermann: “[Germany] is prepared to place herself at the head of an alliance of states for the maintenance of the world’s peace.”
Russia: Food problem at Petrograd becomes urgent. Around 200,000 protesters flood the streets of Petrograd, demanding the end to the war and overthrow of the Tsar.
France: GQG, persuaded by Estienne, orders 1,000 Renault FT-17 light tanks. Prototype tested on March 14, order approved April 10.
World shortage of wheat foreshadowed by French Chamber.
United Kingdom: British loan of £40,000,000 to Romania.
Lord Devenport sanctions maximum food prices.
Due to food shortages, Britain conducts negotiations with Canada to buy its entire surplus wheat crop for 1917.
Canada: Canada bans women and children from traveling on ships that would pass through areas where submarines are active.
Netherlands: Dutch authorities officially notified by Germany that safety is guaranteed for shipping along a strip of North Sea from Holland to Norway.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
British capture Irles (on the Ancre); 292 prisoners.

Eastern Front
Romanians and Russians counter-attack to attempt to regain Magyaros Ridge (Moldavia) lost on 8 March.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: Royal Navy submarine G13 sinks UC-43 off Shetlands with loss of all hands. HMS ‘G 13’ was part of the 10th Submarine Fleet and was mainly used for sub hunting in the North Sea. https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/HMS-G13.jpg?ssl=1
Eastern Atlantic: Epic action between NZ Shipping Co SS Otaki (4.7-inch gun) (A Bisset Smith, posthumous Victory Cross) and German raider Möwe (15 casualties), 350 miles east of Azores. Otaki sinks after c.30 hits but hits Möwe 7 times.
Western Mediterranean: In tragic error troopship-escorting sloop HMS Cyclamen rams and sinks Italian submarine Guglielmotti (14 die) off Capraia Island.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: British bridge river Diyala and turn Turk west flank 3 miles from Baghdad. Khalil Pasha grudgingly lets subordinates evacuate city and leaves by train. 9,500 Turks with 48 guns retreat before 45,343 British with 174 guns; German radio station blown up.

Political, etc
Russia: Martial law declared in Petrograd as food riots and protests turn into a general strike (until March 19). The Tsar took action to address the riots on 25 February (O.S.) by wiring garrison commander General Sergey Semyonovich Khabalov, an inexperienced and extremely indecisive commander of the Petrograd military district, to disperse the crowds with rifle fire and to suppress the "impermissible" rioting by force. There were disturbances on on the Nevsky Prospect during the day and in the late afternoon four people were killed. Petrograd Soviet elected.
Turkey: Talaat Pasha obtains Chamber 3.5 million Turkish Pounds food board credit, promises radical solutions.
Romania: Romanian royal family and Romanian soldiers attending a service in Iasi: http://imgur.com/RnNYyzP © IWM (Q 76461) http://imgur.com/RnNYyzP

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Somme: French First Army reports 40 villages in flames, explosions in and south of Noyon.
Aisne: General Max von Boehn takes over Seventh Army (until August 6, 1918) from Richard von Schubert (in command since August 28, 1916).
Meuse: Georg Fuchs replaces Boehn (since February 2) in command of Army Detachment C at St Mihiel.
Continuous air fighting; loss of 26 Allied and Central Powers machines reported.

Eastern Front
Russian gas attack east of Mitau fails.

Southern Front
Albania: Spring campaign in Macedonia begins (until May 21: French 76th Division advances from Koritza on Resna but blizzard and Austrian-paid Irregulars force suspension on March 19. Snow continues into April.
Salonika: Sarrall and Venizelos at a review.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: FALL OF BAGHDAD (population over 150,000). British troops enter before 0900 hours, find 600 sick and wounded Turkish soldiers. (another source says More than 9000 Ottoman soldiers are captured during the battle. Not actually a contradiction: the first figure refers to the number of soldiers actually in Baghdad itself, the latter to the number of Turkish PoW during the overall battle). Maude lands from steamer at 1530 hours. His troops have marched 110 miles in 15 days.
British troops march into Baghdad: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/british-enter-baghdad.jpg?ssl=1
Kirmanshah (Western Persia) again taken by Russian forces (see July 1st, 1916 and February 25th, 1918).

Political, etc
Germany: Siegfried Heckscher, German Reichstag member, predicts that after the war “Japan’s life interests demand…that she draws nearer to Germany.”
Russia: Mikhail Rodzianko to the Tsar: “The situation is serious. The capital is in a state of anarchy. The Government is paralyzed.” Strikers' food demonstrations and rioting increase in Petrograd; Government agrees to hand over food question to local bodies.
Fourth Company of the Pavlovski Replacement Regiment becomes the first military unit to mutiny in Petrograd, but are quickly disarmed: During the late afternoon of 11 March [O.S. 26 February] the Fourth Company of the Pavlovski Replacement Regiment*broke out of their barracks upon learning that another detachment of the regiment had clashed with demonstrators near the Kazan Cathedral. After firing at mounted police the soldiers of the Fourth Company were disarmed by the Preobrazhensky Regiment.
On the 11th March [O.S 26 February ] the center of the city was fenced off. That evening Golitsyn used a (signed, but not yet dated) ukaze [“Imposition”, “Edict” or “Decree” having the force of law] declaring that his Majesty had decided to interrupt the Duma until April, leaving it with no legal authority to act.
Student militias in Petrograd: http://imgur.com/PNofOmx
France: Sugar-cards (rationing) in Paris.
United Kingdom: (Listed for yesterday): Captain Charles Bathurst, the Assistant Food Controller of Britain, warns that the lack of food could result in the loss of the war.
China: Chinese Congress votes overwhelmingly to cut off diplomatic ties with Germany due to its unrestricted submarine warfare.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French gain ground in eastern Champagne.
British raid near Arras.
Soissons bombarded with incendiary shells.
A British fighter pilot, James McCudden, wins the Military Cross. His final tally of medals also included the Victoria Cross, a Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and a bar to his Military Cross, and the Military Medal. McCudden was one of the most decorated combatants of World War One.

Eastern Front
Russia: Tsar Nicholas's initial response on 12 March [O.S. 27 February], perhaps based on the Empress's earlier letter to him that the concern about Petrograd was an over-reaction, was one of irritation that "again, this fat Rodzianko has written me lots of nonsense, to which I shall not even deign to reply". Eventually, the Tsar leaves STAVKA for Petrograd.
By now CoS Alexejev convinced no offensive to support Nivelle possible; only by the end of July.
Galicia: Successful German raids near Zloczow-Tarnopol railway, Brzezany and on river Narajowka.

Southern Front
British advance on Doiran front.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: Q-ship Privet sinks U-85 (Petz) off Start Point near Plymouth (UC-68 blows up on own mines there on March 13). US SS Algonquin torpedoed without warning. The crew survives.
British submarine HMS E.49 hits a mine off the Shetland Islands and sinks with the loss of all 30 crewmembers.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Tripoli: Italians occupy Bukamez (west of Tripoli).
Mesopotamia: Soldiers of the 1st Australian Wireless Signal Squadron enjoy a meal following the capture of Baghdad: http://imgur.com/e8Diopd

Political, etc
Russia: Russian February Bourgeois Democratic Revolution begins. Starting with the Volinsky Regiment, the garrison of Petrograd begin to mutiny one by one. Eventually, the whole 17,000-strong Petrograd garrison joins crowds. http://imgur.com/8LSrdVs
Temperature 0°F.
Duma prorogued at first: then some delegates decided to form a Provisional Committee of the State Duma, led by Rodzianko and backed by major Moscow manufacturers and St. Petersburg bankers. However, the Duma refused to head the revolutionary movement as a whole. Its first meeting was on the same evening and ordered the arrest of all the ex-ministers and senior officials. In the Marinsky Palace the Council of Ministers of Russia, assisted by Rodzyanko, held its last meeting. Protopopov was told to resign and offered to commit suicide. The Council formally submitted its resignation to the Tsar.
No bread or transport. Only 2 regiments and the police loyal to Tsar in sporadic street fighting.
Students and army deserters fire on police in Petrograd: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Petrograd-Schiessereien.jpg?ssl=1
Petrograd protestors burn symbols of the Russian monarchy: http://imgur.com/yvfrKtv
United Kingdom: Anglo-French Conference assembles in London to discuss relations of British and French commanders in the Western Theatre and employment of prisoners of war in the fighting zone (see February 26th, 1917 and March 26th, 1918).
Bread order makes sale by weight compulsory.
British Lieutenant General Smuts states German colony in East Africa is immensely rich and suggestions to return it is “preposterous.”
Canada: Third War Loan opens.
United States: United States Government announce arming of all merchant vessels in the war zone (see February 26th).
112 labor unions in the U.S. meet in Washington, D.C. to discuss how to aid the American war effort if it was to enter the war.
Mexico: The 1917 Mexican general election is held. Venustiano Carranza is elected President with 97.9% of the vote: http://imgur.com/2RyKgp1

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Somme: British advance guard now 11 miles from Bapaume. Further gains east and northeast of Gommecourt.
Aisne: Germans repulsed at Hill 185.
Meuse: Fighting near St Mihiel.
“Lively” fighting north-east of Soissons.

Eastern Front
Bulgarians bombard Galatz from the Danube.

Southern Front
Field hospitals at Vertekop (Serbia) bombed: two British nurses and others killed.
British line south-west of Doiran advanced 1,000 yards.

Naval and Overseas Operations
USA: Navy Department authorizes armed merchant ships to take action against U-boats.
France: Parliament Commission de la marine de guerre urges anti-U-boat directorate and priority to patrol craft.
Norwegian relief ship Lars Fostenes, carrying grain, torpedoed outside blockade zone.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Russians take Kermanshah (Persia) after two days' fighting.
Another column approaches Bana (140 miles north-west of Kermanshah).
British 30 miles north of Baghdad.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Impending cabinet crisis in Austria-Hungary.
Russia: On 13 March (O.S. 28 February), at five in the morning, the Tsar left Mogilev, (and directed also Nikolay Iudovich Ivanov to go to Tsarskoe Selo) but was unable to reach Petrograd as revolutionaries meanwhile controlled railway stations around the capital. Around midnight the train was stopped at Malaya Vishera, and turned back. In the evening of 14 March Nicholas arrived in Pskov. In the meantime the units guarding the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoe Selo either "declared their neutrality" or left for Petrograd and thus abandoned the imperial family. The Provisional Committee declared itself the governing body of the Russian Empire. [13 March] http://imgur.com/HMp343H Nicholas II, Tsar of Russia, abdicates. [14 March]. Prince Georgy Lvov appointed Russian Premier. Pavel Milyukov appointed Russian Foreign Minister. General Alexandr Guchkov appointed Russian Minister for War. "Chief among them [the Aims of the Provisional Government] was the desire to bring the war to a successful conclusion in conjunction with the Allies; and the very cause of their opposition was the ever deepening conviction that this was unattainable under the present government and under the present regime. The socialists had formed their rival body, the Petrograd Soviet (or workers' council) on the 27th of February [O. S.; 12 March]. Izvesteya paper first published. Crowd storms military Hotel Astoria but British present save many Russian officers. Revolutionaries execute captain of cruiser Aurora, refitting in the Baltic, crew elect first ship committee. Mutiny at Kronstadt naval base (just west of Petrograd proper; mutiny lasts until March 14) kills c.40 officers and NCOs, 162 officers arrested. Fleet C-in-C first main one to accept Provisional Government (on March 14).
Emblems of the Russian royal family are torn from shops and thrown into the Fontanka Canal, Petrograd: http://imgur.com/69vkG5h
France: Political crisis in France grows serious, as the Opposition Party refuses to vote due to disagreements with PM Briand on military decisions.
United Kingdom: In London Haig and Nivelle sign clarifications of command spheres.
Government takes over all quarries and mines (non-coal).
First WAAC (Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps) enrolled, mainly ex-Women’s Legion.
General Smuts sworn of the Privy Council.
Statement on mastery of air in House of Commons.
Government intends to stand by new Indian cotton duties.
Australia: The explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, while speaking in Sydney, states he seeks war service, as all able-bodied Britons should fight.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
German forces withdraw from the Somme sector to the Siegfried Stellung (Hindenburg Line) (see February 25th and April 5th). German Second and First Armies involved. BEF Fifth Army follows cautiously including 4th (1st Indian) Cavalry Division.

Southern Front
Monastir front “lively” (ed note: there’s that word again; personally, I can’t see military action as ‘lively’ it is way more likely to be quite deadly): Austrians attack west and Italians advance east of town.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Crew of the German merchant raider SMS Möwe returns from their 2nd raiding voyage, having sunk or captured 25 ships: http://imgur.com/jtXqtDS

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Action of Mushaidiya Station. 20 miles north of Baghdad, west of Tigris: Cobbe’s 7th Division (518 casualties) with 46 guns smashes Turk rearguard (800-1,000 casualties) after night march from Baghdad (returns on March 17). British 40th Brigade occupies Kasirin (28 miles north of Baghdad, east of Tigris).
Turks hurrying north to position at Mushaidiya (20 miles north of Baghdad).

Political, etc
Russia: New Provisional Government proclaimed, meets Petrograd Soviet. Petrograd Soviet Order No 1 ordering soldiers to obey their officers as long as it did not contradict the Petrograd Soviet; also orders elected committees to control weaponry and one representative per company to Soviet; saluting off duty abolished. Another source claims this order is to “demoralize Army”.
Soldiers guarding the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoe Selo abandon their posts and leave the Russian royal family.
Tsar’s train stopped at Pskov.
Strikes and 30,000-strong march at Reval (until March 15).
Moscow, Kharkov and Odessa declare for Provisional Government.
France: War Minister Hubert Lyautey resigns because of Socialist hostility.
United Kingdom: Both Houses accept India's war contribution of £100,000,000 and authorize increase in cotton duties.
United States: New York City mayor urges its citizens to sign a declaration of “unconditional loyalty” to the United States.
China: German minister at Peking handed his passports. German merchant ships in Shanghai are seized by China.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
British progress on 2.5 mile front between St. Pierre Vaast Wood and Saillisel (north of Somme).
German delaying attack east of Achiet-le-Petit.
French progress between Avre and Oise.

Southern Front
Turkish concentration in Asia Minor contemplated.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Channel: Dover Patrol destroyer Foyle mined,
Red Sea: British sloop Odin intercepts minelayer Iltis (originally a prize of the raider Wolf; 26 German PoWs) in Gulf of Aden where she laid 25 mines (swept by Somali-manned tugs within 2 months for 1 ship lost).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Action of Mushaidiya Station: British take Mushaidiya; Turks in full flight towards Samarra (Tigris).

Political, etc
Germany: Sixth War Loan opens.
Russia: Nicholas II, Tsar of Russia, abdicates (see 12th, and July 16th, 1918). https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Zar-Nikolaus-II.jpg?ssl=1 He did so on behalf of himself and his son, Tsarevich Alexei. In the afternoon at 3 o'clock Nicholas nominated his brother, the Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, to succeed him. The next day the Grand Duke realised that he would have little support as ruler, so he declined the crown. Prince Lvov appointed Russian Premier (see 13th, 14th and July 19th). M. Milyukov appointed Russian Foreign Minister (see 14th, January 27th, and May 16th). General Guchkov appointed Russian Minister for War (see 13th, 14th, and May 16th). Alexandr Kerensky Justice Minister; Guchkov War and Marine Minister. (One highly suspect source claims: Political and religious amnesty declared plus widespread freedoms. Immediate preparations for Constituent Assembly (universal suffrage) announced. However, another more realistically states: the Provisional Government lacked support from the population. The Provisional Government was an alliance between liberals and socialists who wanted political reform. Their goals were to set up a democratically elected executive and constituent assembly. Or, IOW, these ‘widespread freedoms’ were to happen at some unspecified point down the road). Ukrainian National Rada formed at Kiev.
France: Army has received 160 tanks (208 by April 1).
French Chamber pass summertime bill.
United Kingdom: British news film showcasing a snow sculpture exhibit in Geneva: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060023444
Turkey: (special 1921): Talaat Pasha, considered the main perpetrator of the Armenian Genocide, was assassinated by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.
United States: U.S. railway men threaten strike.
Switzerland: Vladimir Lenin in forced exile, gets news of Revolution, envisages train journey through Germany (March 19), publicly opposes new Provisional Government (March 27).

[dicksbro]

Snow sculptures were pretty neat. Hadn't seen those before.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
German airship L-39 shot down by French anti-aircraft fire near Compiegne (night March 16-17).
Guynemer achieves first French ace’s triple victory and receives Russian Order of St George (4th class) from President Poincare.
Abortive German Navy airship operation against London; adverse weather. First sortie by 4 R-class ‘height climber’ Zeppelins at 17,000 – 19,000ft.
Somme: British occupy St Pierre Vaast Wood, dominating Peronne. First marching day of Operation Alberich: 35 German divisions begin synchronized retreat to Hindenburg Line.

Southern Front
Austro-Hungarians destroy Italian defenses in San Pellegrino valley (Dolomites) and occupy positions there.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Action between German raider Leopard and H.M.S. Achilles and Armed Boarding Steamer Dundee: Leopard sunk 200 miles northeast of Faroes during attempted breakout into Atlantic.
Black Sea: Russian Fleet shells Derkos.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Russians dislodge Turks from summit of Naleshkian (Persia) and occupy Alliabad, engaging Turkish forces near Kerind.

Political, etc
Germany: German Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg states Germany will give more power to the people after the war.
Russia: Tsar Nicholas II announces his abdication of yesterday, bringing 3 centuries of Romanov rule over Russia to an end: http://imgur.com/dp08csM . As related, Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich declines the Russian throne, realizing that he has little support as ruler: http://imgur.com/79WaAPY. Russian 2nd Battleship Brigade (4 ships) leads revolution at Helsinki (night Mach 16-17, c.50 officers and NCOs killed) but no bloodshed at Reval (March 15) or elsewhere. Fleet has over 89,000 members of all ranks.
Winter Palace declared State property.
France: French Army agrees to send 5 of its officers to the U.S. to help train American soldiers.
United Kingdom: Despite German submarine warfare, British Board of Trade announces overseas trade in February increased by £4.5 million.
British labour leaders send telegram of sympathy to Russian labor party.
Acute potato famine in England.
Turkey: Turkish Senate approves agreement with Baghdad Railway Co.
Sheikh-ul-Islam again proclaims Holy War; general mobilization of Turks ordered.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Roye occupied by French forces (see August 30th, 1914 and March 26th, 1918).
Bapaume occupied by British forces (see September 26th, 1914 and March 24th, 1918). imgur.com/1vigRqS © IWM (Q 1822)
Germans blow up all public and commercial buildings and leave secret huge mine under the mairie (explodes on March 27, killing 2 French deputies and British staff). BEF occupies 13 villages. British Lucknow Cavalry Brigade ordered forward.
British troops with French inhabitants of Bouvincourt, sitting around a fire: http://imgur.com/Hjc994X © IWM (Q 1896)
Aisne: German Seventh Army evacuates Crouy for position 5 miles to north; French can enter Lassigny.
Future French ace Renė Fonck fights off 5 Albatrosses, destroying 1 (his second kill).
German aircraft drops 4 bombs near Dover submarine pens.
Allies bomb Frankfurt in reprisal for destruction of Bapaume. Germans send many prisoners into war zone as reprisal.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: HM sloops Migonette and Alyssm (March 18) mined and sunk off southwest Ireland.
U.S. cargo ship Vigilancia is sunk by the German submarine SM U-70, resulting in the deaths of 15 American crew.
Channel: 16 German destroyers raid Ramsgate and Broadstairs (night March 17-18) also sink destroyer HMS Paragon (10 survivors) and torpedo destroyer Llewellyn.
East Africa: Hoskins asks for 15,000 porters per month to replace wastage plus 500 American light lorries (200 promised for mid-May), orders 300 new KAR (mainly ex-German Askari) to leave Morogoro by rail for Tabora. They leave there for south on March 23.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Karind (West Persia) occupied by Russian forces.
Royal Flying Corps Flight moves from Rabegh up coast to Wejh.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Franz Brentano, influential German philosopher, psychologist, and priest who taught Sigmund Freud and many others, passed away.
Russia: C-in-C Russian fleet Nepenin resigns, is shot and murdered by lone sailor. Vice-Admiral Maksimov elected in his place; restores order with 2 Provisional Government envoys.
Russian Provisional Government pledges universal suffrage, freedom of speech, amnesty for prisoners & other reforms: http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/firstprovgovt.htmAnd but the final paragraph: “The Provisional Government wishes to add that it has no intention whatsoever of taking advantage of the military situation to delay in any way the carrying through of the reforms and the measures outlined above.” proved to be only the ghost of a promise.
France: General Pierre Roques, French Minister for War, resigns (see 20th and March 16th, 1916).
United Kingdom: Albert Hall meeting in favor of national service for women.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line continues on a front of 70-miles, yielding 400-600 square miles & 70 villages to the Allies.
Somme: Péronne and Noyon occupied by Allied forces (see September 21st, 24th and 25th, 1914; and March 24th and 25th, 1918).
BEF GHQ Intelligence summary reports wells at Barleux southwest of Peronne poisoned with arsenic. French reoccupy Noyon (population 12,000; streets mined and booby-trapped, explosions till mid-April). British 48th Division occupies Peronne and BEF Chaulnes. Allies enter Nesle together.
British officers studying maps after entering the French town of Peronne: http://imgur.com/iEW3d3o © IWM (Q 4957)
Verdun: German ‘attacks’ in Avocourt-Mort Homme sector ‘repulsed’ (until March 19).
Great air activity.

Southern Front
Salonika: Two attempted KG1 raids broken up by Royal Flying Corps fighters; Captain Murlis Green in BE12 shoots down 1 bomber, damages another.
After five days' fighting French capture 1,200 Bulgarians, a mile of trenches north-east, and village of Svegovo, north of Monastir.
French troops sleeping in the frontlines of Florina and Monastir (Bitola), Macedonia after an attack: http://imgur.com/z6mKJah

Naval and Overseas Operations
American steamer Illinois is sunk by the German submarine SM UC-21. Its crew were saved: http://imgur.com/6KBVjIA © IWM (Q 58104)
German crew of the SM UB-6 scuttle their own submarine, after it had run aground in Dutch territory and interned by the Dutch government.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Armenia: Mustafa Kemal appointed C-in-C Turk Second Army (Deputy since March 5) in new Army Group Caucasus (Ahmed Izzet Pasha), only 40,000 strong, and still typhus-ridden. Russians reoccupy Van.
A Turkish staff officer with a ten-year-old boy soldier who has his slain father’s rifle and medal at the Caucasus front: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/turkish-officer-boy-soldier.jpg?ssl=1
Mesopotamia: British occupy Baquba (35 miles northeast of Baghdad) after 240 lorried infantry with 4 armoured cars fail to seize bridge there on March 14.

Political, etc
Russia: Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church removes the Tsar’s chair from their conference rooms, symbolizing break with the monarchy.
The Russian Duma in session in the aftermath of the February Revolution: http://imgur.com/dnrbM3G
Russian Press urges loyalty to Allied cause; commission inquires into delinquencies of former ministers; food question, in hands of Zemstva, etc., becomes less acute.
United States: Political cartoon showing women suffragists on a steamroller labeled “Progress”: http://imgur.com/5LWcQcd
Loretta Perfectus Walsh becomes the 1st woman to enlist in the U.S. Navy and also the 1st woman to join the US military in a non-nurse role.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Allied forces capture another 62 French villages from the Germans, who are continuing their planned withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line. Over 170 villages taken by Allies in three days.
French advance beyond Ham (Somme) and take Chauny (Oise).
Heavy German “attacks” between Avocourt Wood and Hill 304 (Verdun) “repulsed”.

Eastern Front
Bavarian cavalry withdrawing after fighting a rearguard action near Chauny: http://imgur.com/YBmV25W © IWM (Q 69959)

Southern Front
Germans re-occupy railway station at Poroj, previously entered by British.
Renewed activity in Pass of Tonale, in areas of Pasubio, Asiago, Tolmino, east of Gorizia and on Carso.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mediterranean: U-64 sinks modern French battleship Danton (296 lost) southwest of Sardinia. The French battleship Danton (completed March 1911) was classified as a ‘Semi-Dreadnought’ with 18,400 tons and just 4 x 12-inch main guns plus 12 x 9.4-inch guns. https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/French-BB-Danton.jpg?ssl=1
Kaiser Wilhelm II approves announcement that Allied hospital ships in Mediterranean no longer to be spared except in neutral corridor under strict conditions. [ed note: The Germans were, by now, convinced that the Allies were using Hospital Ships as very thinly-disguised troop transports, and the actual wounded carried by them, and the medical staff of doctors, orderlies, and nurses on board was what today would be called “human shields”.]

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Maude’s proclamation to Baghdad promises Arab freedom. British take Falluja (west of Baghdad) ending Turkish control of Euphrates sluice gates.
Capture of Deltawa and Sindia.

Political, etc
Germany: (Special 1911): Socialist German politician Clara Zetkin established the first International Women's Day.
Russia: Petrograd Soviet Executive Committee appoints commissars to all units. Parade of military schools in Palace Square, Petrograd after the Revolution: http://imgur.com/uRNhh76
Workers in Petrograd are ordered by the Committee of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates to resume work in the factories. Back pay will be given for days during the Revolution.
Attempted murder of Aleksandr Kerenski.
France: Alexandre Ribot is named the new Prime Minister of France: http://imgur.com/1UETxTm
United Kingdom: Lloyd George in the House of Commons congratulates the “free people” of Russia, but he is jeered by Irish Nationalist MPs.
British Government opens relations with M. Miliukov, but Government not officially recognised.
Financial statement by Mr. Bonar Law in House of Commons.
United States: Roosevelt criticizes Wilson’s inaction over submarines: “We have been content to shelter ourselves behind the fleet of a foreign power.”
President Wilson settles U.S. railway strike; eight hours day legalized.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Aisne: Germans demolish irreplaceable medieval castle of Coucy-le-Chateau, 10 miles north of Soissons, to remove potential observation post.
A house set on fire by retreating Germans explodes in Mons-en-Chausee, France: http://imgur.com/B1IoSPp © IWM (Q 1907)
Artois: BEF preparatory bombardment for Arras offensive opens.
British soldiers with French children in the newly-liberated village of Vraignes on this day. In the background is the German goodbye “Gott strafe England’ (‘God punish England’; this is, BTW, where the English word “strafe” comes from): https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/british-troops-vraignes.jpg?ssl=1
Department of Oise entirely liberated.
French take Tergnier and cross St. Quentin Canal. French carry railway junction of Jussy (east of Ham).
German casualties reported at 4,148,163 (to end of February).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Germany: Raider Möwe returns to Kiel.
British hospital ship Asturias torpedoed without warning during night of 20-21 March: 41 lost.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
The Victoria Cross is awarded to Lieutenant F.H. McNamara of No.67 (Australian) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, the only Australian airman to be so decorated. The Victoria Cross is awarded for his rescue of a downed fellow pilot, Captain D.W. Rutherford, after a bombing attack on a railway across Wadi Hesse at Tel el Hesi in Palestine. http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/images/aviation_timeline/british-military-aviation/1917/thumbs/pc76-23-5.jpg

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Princes Sixtus and Xavier in Vienna until March 25.
Russia: Ex-Tsar Nikolai Romanov reviews troops at STAVKA, urges loyalty to Provisional Government and war’s continuation.
Appointment of Grand Duke Nicholas to supreme command of army annulled.
Casualties at Petrograd 2,500.
Proclamation by Provisional Government. [the one promulgating freedoms]
France: M. Paul Painlevé appointed French Minister for War (see 17th, September 12th and November 14th).
United Kingdom: First meeting of British Imperial War Conference attended by dominion and colonial officials, to discuss the war and the empire’s future. (see December 19th, 1916).
At the House of Commons, former Premier Asquith defends the late Lord Kitchener’s part in the Battle of Gallipoli.
Ministry of National Service formed.
Romania: CoS General Iliesca blames Russia for autumn 1916 disasters.
United States: US Cabinet agree war inevitable, Wilson summons Congress for April 2, 1917.
American Note to General Carranza (Mexico) published.
China: Chinese Navy takes over 2 interned German river gunboats before declaration of war (on August 14, 1917); 20 interned steamers (21,000t) already seized on March 14.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Oise: French Third Army occupies Tergnier on Crozat Canal, fights its way across on March 22.
German Army completes Operation Alberich, the planned withdrawal of around 25 miles (40km) to the Siegfried Stellung (Hindenburg Line).
(Listed for yesterday): Canadian forces begin preliminary bombardment and trench raiding of Vimy Ridge: http://imgur.com/cVkmteV
A British soldier lifts a damaged figure of Christ at Le Barque, France: http://imgur.com/Xti2WuH © IWM (Q 3874)
French civilians greet British soldiers in the ruins of Mons-en-Chausee: http://imgur.com/8pZ78DU © IWM (Q 1874)

Eastern Front
Germans active near Lida (Beresina), in Galicia and on Romanian front.

Southern Front
Fighting by French, lasting for over a week, frees Monastir from daily bombardment. Central Powers make serious counter-attack but are repulsed.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: US tanker Healdton sunk (20 die) by U-boat in Holland safety zone.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Russians continue to pursue Turks from Sakiz (Persia) towards Kermanshah.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Government empowered to seize all supplies and fix prices (likewise in Hungary on March 23).
Germany: Philipp Scheidemann, leader of the Socialists in the German Reichstag, warns that Prussia must learn from the Tsar’s fate in Russia.
Russia: Ex-Tsar Nikolai Romanov arrested at Mogilev. Munitions and food problem in Petrograd being satisfactorily dealt with. Proposed eight hours day.
France: Vote of confidence in French Chamber.
United Kingdom: The first British guided missile anti-tank weapon is designed by Professor A.M. Low and begins flight trials at Upavon. The tests are unsuccessful.
Belgium: German decree partitions country with centers at Brussels and Namur; Flemish official language in West, French in Walloon districts.
United States: French Military Mission sails for New York.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
(Listed for yesterday): Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia’s plane is brought down over France. He is injured & captured by Australian troops: http://imgur.com/evonpd0
British troops cross the Somme River across a newly-constructed pontoon bridge at Peronne: http://imgur.com/TfGal3X © IWM (Q 5834)
German lines on the Western Front stiffens, and begin launching counterattacks against British and French positions.
French progress north of Tergnier (Oise) and north of Soissons, despite stiffening defence.
French refugee children at a British field kitchen in Nesle: http://imgur.com/i2ikzoD © IWM (Q 5806)
Heavy snow storms.

Eastern Front
German aircraft shoots down Russian Morane Parasol (No 317) into German wire southwest of Dünaburg.
German troops attack Russian positions near the city of Lida (today named Vilna)along a front of 2.5 miles, but are driven back in a counterattack.
Russians eventually retake lost trenches near Lida.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Archangel route in danger zone.
British danger zone in North Sea extended towards Holland and Jutland from 2 April.

Political, etc
Germany: Interior Minister Dr. Karl Helfferich give Reichstag speech which praises Auxiliary Service Law, states food restrictions not serious, health surprisingly good, infant mortality lower than peacetime.
(Listed for yesterday): Alfred Einhorn, German chemist who 1st synthesized procaine (Novocain), passed away: http://imgur.com/smsKiwf
Russia: Provisional Government in Russia by now recognized by Great Britain, France, Italy, United States of America, Romania, and Switzerland (see 14th).
The former Tsar was reunited with his family and placed in Protective Custody by the Provisional Government at the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoye Selo.
France: Decree forbids imports except essential foods.
United States: The Arion Society, a German-American music society, condemns the mayor of New York for urging people to sign a “loyalty” pledge to the U.S.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Germans flood Oise valley and La Fare (French near suburbs on March 24). Nivelle confesses to King Albert that ‘many people are against the offensive’.
French success at Artemps (south of St. Quentin).
New detachments cross Ailette; progress north of Soissons.
Some fighting on British front between Arras and Bapume-Cambrai road.

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: Germans mass on Riga-Dvinsk front; seriously menaces Petrograd.
Romania: Russians lose trenches west of Moinesci near river Trotus.

Southern Front
Allied Offensive in Macedonia ends (see 11th).
Bombs on Mudros from German airship.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Emperor Charles and Count Czernin meet Princes Sixtus and Xavier at Laxenburg Castle, drafts letter to Poincare (March 24).
Germany: German proclamation to Russian soldiers blames English for war & Tsar’s abdication.
United Kingdom: Lloyd George cables Russian Prime Minister Prince Lvov Revolution a portent for Prussian military autocracy.
Lord Devenport on food consumption; shortages looming.
United States: 13,000 people rally in Madison Square Garden in New York City to demand war against Germany.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
The Royal Flying Corps' first night-bombing squadron, No.100 Squadron, equipped with Royal Aircraft Factory FE2b aircraft, departs for France.
Somme: British troops occupy Roisel east of Peronne. Ruins at Peronne after British capture. German sign reads, “Don’t be angry, just be amazed.” http://imgur.com/wTig7iE © IWM (Q 78871)
Raiding party from the Scottish Rifles begin their attack on German lines near Arras: http://imgur.com/Cv2dXpy © IWM (Q 5101)
French occupy right bank of Oise from north of Vaudreuil to suburbs of La Fere and progress on east bank of Ailette Canal.

Naval and Overseas Operations
British destroyer HMS Laforey strikes a mine and sinks off Boulogne, France, resulting in the deaths of 59 of her 77 crew.
Britain announces that it will expand its mine zones to cover the mouths of the Weser and Elbe rivers of Germany.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British offensive into Palestine begins (see 26th).

Political, etc
Germany: Germany announces that bread rations will be cut by one-fourth starting on April 1st. Meat rations will be increased by 250 grams per week.
Russia: Russian Army proclaims loyalty to Provisional Government: Junior officer writes ‘There was a gulf between the troops and the officers which could not be bridged’.
Swearing of Russian troops on the new Provisional Government, which wanted to continue the Tsar’s war. But the loyalty of the soldiers is fragile. https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/vereidigung-russ-soldaten.jpg?ssl=1
France: Government protests to neutrals against German devastation in newly evacuated French territory.
Bulgaria: Tsar Ferdinand of Bulgaria advises German Minister not to exploit Russia’s weakness by offensive (none planned on March 27).
United States: Council of National Defense creates Commercial Economy, and General Munitions Boards (March 31).
The 1917 Indianapolis 500 is canceled due to the war and disputes with local hotels.
Greece: Greek Government demands Italian troops’ withdrawal from Epirus. Allied Ministers return to Athens.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Billy Bishop gains first of credited 72 victories. Only one of 6 Sopwith two-seater (No 70 Squadron) survive reconnaissance to Valenciennes (2 lost before on March 24).
Heavy fighting develops along the Western Front, as French and British troops approach the town of St. Quentin.
A British officer watches demolition work by the Royal Engineers at the Somme River: http://imgur.com/nM6ZXsb © IWM (Q 1928)
A delegation of Chinese students visit the Western Front at the town of Peronne: http://imgur.com/SgY0tOF © IWM (Q 1923)
395 shells on Reims.

Eastern Front
Western Russia: German gas attack in Dvinsk area repulsed, but attack on March 26 southwest of Baranovichi gains east bank of river Shchara and 300 PoWs.

Naval and Overseas Operations
French take Ouijan (Morocco).
Dunkirk bombarded from sea.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Qasr-i-Shirin (Western Persia) again taken by Russian forces (see June 20th, 1916 and July 8th, 1917).
Battle of Jebel Hamrin: Having bridged two canals on March 24, Keary GOC 3rd Indian Divisions’s 4,600 men (1,165 casualties) with 26 guns repulsed by 5,650 Turks and 24 guns (Ali Ihsan’s XIII Corps from Persia who cross to Diyala West bank on March 29).

Political, etc
Russia: General Mikhail Alexeiev made C-in-C by Provisional Government (until June 4) instead of Grand Duke Nicholas, Tsar’s choice (arrived from Caucasus on March 23) .
Following the overthrow of the Russian Tsar Nicholas II, Georgia's bishops unilaterally restored the autocephaly of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
Death penalty abolished and medals except St George Cross. All Tsar’s property and income transferred to State.
France: French government protests German “acts of barbarism and devastation” in occupied-French territory.
United Kingdom: Commons votes £60 million war credit.
Italy: National Board for War Invalids authorized.
Belgium: U.S. Legation at Brussels removed to Le Havre; Belgian relief work to be undertaken by other neutrals.
United States: U.S. Navy Secretary Daniels announces censorship rules that would prevent the press from criticizing the administration’s policies.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Heavy snow and rain (plus hail on March 27).
Somme: Australians capture Lagnicourt (c.50 PoWs), 6 miles northeast of Bapaume.
Aisne: Heavy clashes occur between French and German forces around St. Quentin, with two towns falling to the French. French Third Army push back Germans beyond Barisis-Servais line and recapture Coucy-le-Chateau.

Eastern Front
German troops advance on Russian lines near Dvinsk (Daugavpils), aided by poison gas attacks, but only make limited gains.
Russians attacked south-west of Baranovichi (centre), retire on east bank of Shchara, losing 300 prisoners.

Southern Front
French artillery active on the Salonika (Thessalonica) Front in Macedonia: http://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/index/170
Austro-Hungarians occupy Italian advanced trenches south of the Vipacco (Carso).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
First Battle of Gaza begins (see 27th): Dobell’s British Eastern Force (39,000 men and 136 guns against 16,000 Turks with 74 guns) cuts off Gaza with 8500 cavalry and belatedly captures Ali Muntar Ridge above city, but ceases battle at nightfall. Late in the afternoon, on the verge of capturing Gaza, the Desert Column was withdrawn due to concerns about the approaching darkness and large Ottoman reinforcements. British incur 3,967 casualties including 246 PoWs and 2 planes; Turkish forces 2,447 casualties (837 PoWs) including 48 Austro-Germans, 2 guns and 1 aircraft.
Germans (8 Rumplers and a few Halberstadt fighters) outperform Royal Flying Corps (21 serviceable aircraft) in vital reconnaissance role during First Battle of Gaza (until March 28).

Political, etc
Russia: Russian War Minister warns that the “foe is at the gate,” pointing to the buildup of German troops threatening Petrograd.
Leon Trotsky leaves his exile in New York City and heads back to Russia: http://imgur.com/CKc1WfZ
United Kingdom: Statement re: prisoners of war in House of Commons.
Mr. Bonar Law appeals to engineers on strike at Barrow to resume work.
Bread rises to 1s. per 4-lb. loaf, and new standard of flour applied to bakers.
United States: Pres. Wilson issues executive order putting the Navy at war strength. U.S. Navy recruiting station in New York City: http://imgur.com/X5NoAvi
25 additional U.S. National Guard units are called out for Federal service today, putting the total at about 46,000 men so far.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Aisne: French reach Aisne-Oise Canal north of Soissons. Allied advances on the Western Front continues near St. Quentin, with French forces taking 4 towns and British taking 3 towns.
A memorial to both German and French dead raised by Germans at Champlieu, France: http://imgur.com/aV40199 © IWM (Q 78230)
A wooden mock-up of a French tank prototype at La Seyne: http://imgur.com/babZ5YC © IWM (Q 70879)

Naval and Overseas Operations
Germany forms Long-range Ocean U-cruiser Flotilla with U-155; 5 boats by September 22. In or outside prohibited zones ships without lights to be sunk without warning. U-155 was converted from the commercial submarine Deutschland and was one of a class of 8 long-range U-boats. The boats were obsolete in the last year of the war, but were important as the first long-range subs ever: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/U-155.jpg?ssl=1

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
First Battle of Gaza ends (see 26th, and April 17th). Ottoman counterattacks recaptured Ali Muntar and a portion of Green Hill, but the 1/7th Battalion of the Essex Regiment, (161st Brigade, 54th Division), retook the positions before consolidating and re-establishing their posts. Meanwhile the Ottoman force, appeared on Sheikh Abbas and shelled the rear of the British position, "including his reserves, medical units and transport camels." The Turkish artillery batteries at Sheikh Abbas targeted all the tracks across the Wadi Ghuzzeh, employed by the Egyptian Camel Transport Corps, who were at the time attempting to supply food, water and ammunition, to the forward units. Turkish presence and severe command confusion among the British eventually prompted the withdraw of all efforts to attack Gaza.

Political, etc
Russia: Petrograd Soviet appeals to peoples of the world for peace.
Grand Dukes and Princes renounce hereditary rights, formally pledging their support to the new government and to turn over crown lands to the state.
France: French Chamber votes for calling up of 1918 class in April.
A French soldier writes ‘Victory is smiling on our arms.’
United Kingdom: Commons debate on the blockade.
United States: Wilson tells Edward House war decided: ‘What else can I do?’.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
5 Halberstadt fighters shoot down 3 FE2bs (No 25 Squadron) covering BE2 artillery observation aircraft.
Foch hands back command of Eastern Army Group to Castelnau.
Verdun: French troops “recapture” Hill 304.
French repulse Germans in Maisons de Champagne, but lose a few trenches.
British established along Bapume-Cambrai road beyond Beaumetz.
Ground gained round Croiselles-Arras.
German long-range gun shells Soissons.

Eastern Front
Germans report that spring thaw prevents fighting on large scale.
Russian attacks on Magyaros Ridge (Moldavia) fail.

Southern Front
Unsuccessful Austro-Hungarian attacks in the Carso.
Naval and Overseas Operations
Two British destroyers reported to have been sunk recently.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Gaza: British troops retreat from Gaza. British forces suffered 532 dead, while Ottomans suffered around 300 dead.
Macedonia: 10 KG 1 bombers attempt raid on Snievche airfield (No 47 Squadron Royal Flying Corps) but are intercepted by 4 Sopwith 1-1/2-Strutters, 1 Sopwith triplane & and BE 12 (Murlis Green) and chased all the way back to their Hudova base. Just 150 Sopwith Triplanes were built and served only with Royal Navy Air Service units as a counter vs Albatros fighters. In summer 1917 the famous Canadian Collishaw destroyed 18 German aircraft only in June: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/sopwith-triplane.jpg?ssl=1

Political, etc
Germany: Hindenburg and Ludendorff in Berlin food talks with Austrians.
Russia: All Romanovs have taken oath of loyalty to Provisional Government.
France: France prohibits all foreign imports unless a special permit is received from the Minister of Finance.
United Kingdom: Electoral reform debate in House of Commons: Asquith announces conversion to female suffrage (Lloyd George announces bill on March 29).
India: Viceroy asked if 100,000 troops could be raised to relieve British.
United States: The Cabinet offers President Wilson a plan of action for war, which will have 10,000 regular troops as the first U.S. units to go to France.
Argentina: Export of wheat from Argentina prohibited.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Manfred von Richthofen scores 4 victories (total 10 in March).
Attack of German “Albatros” [ed note: Although titled “Albatros”, the aircraft in question are clearly Halberstadt] fighters over the Western Front: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/angriff-albatros-jaeger.jpg?ssl=1
British troops capture four more villages near St. Quentin. French forces recapture trenches at Verdun.
A church vault opened in Misery, France by Germans in search of metal © IWM (Q 1936)
The devastated town of Misery, France after its capture by the Allies: pic.twitter.com/n6q8VTVpXN
German retreat slackens.

Eastern Front
(Listed for yesterday): Near Berezhany, Russian troops explode a mine underneath German trench and conduct a raid, capturing 20 German prisoners.

Southern Front
Heavy Austrian attacks in the Carso repulsed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Action of Duqma (‘the burning Marl’): Caley’s 13th Division (514 casualties including Second Lieutenant Slim wounded) defeats but fails to trap 3,000-strong Turk 52nd Division (over 380 casualties) against Tigris.

Political, etc
Germany: Bethmann-Hollweg declares no German intention of meddling in Russian home affairs nor to be blamed for Sino and US hostility.
Russia: Provisional Government acknowledges Poland’s independence.
In the Russian Duma, workers, soldiers, and politicians urge Germans and Austro-Hungarians to overthrow their monarchies.
United Kingdom: It is announced that after April, Britain will forbid the use of petrol for private motors due to shortage of supply.
Speech by Mr. Bonar Law; 100,000 men from India needed.
Military Service (Review of Exemptions) Bill passed.
Spain: Spanish government suspends all constitutional guarantees in its provinces due to a threat of popular unrest and revolt.
Sweden: Hamarskjold (Conservative) Ministry in Sweden resigns.

Correction: yesterday's post included "Macedonia" in the "Egyptian/Asian" Theaters. Macedonia includes parts of six Balkan countries: the Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia and Kosovo. Thus, it should have been included in the "Southern Front"

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Somme: Heavy rain. British occupy 8 villages (4 more on March 31) towards Cambrai.
French infantry and cavalry push German troops out of Château de Coucy and find the medieval castle demolished by German forces.

Southern Front
Salonika: Due to investigations into Black Hand and internment of 180 suspect officers at Bizerta (Tunisia), General Bojovic abolishes Serb Third Army and splits its formations between the other two armies.
Naval and Overseas Operations
British hospital ship Gloucester Castle torpedoed by UB-32 between Le Havre and Southampton, but towed in.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: British Cavalry Division occupies Delli Abbas, Keary occupies Jebel Hamrin (March 31).
Palestine: War Cabinet telegram makes Jerusalem Murray’s objective.

Political, etc
Germany: At the German Reichstag, Arthur Zimmermann again admits that his telegram offering alliance with Mexico against the U.S. is genuine.
German Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg declares, “Germany never desired war against the USA and does not desire it today.”
Electoral Reform debate in Prussian Parliament.
Australia: People of Brisbane, Australia watching the movie “Why We Went to War,” shown during a recruitment campaign: pic.twitter.com/54fuzYMDlA

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
In March Royal Flying Corps losses 120 aircraft. German fighters claim 60 Allied aircraft in February and March for loss of 7. [Take note of these figures: they’re about to get a lot worse].
Eight villages along the Siegfriedstellung (Hindenburg Line) fall to British troops. French forces also gain north of Soissons.

Naval and Overseas Operations
For March Allied shipping losses 556,775t or 310 ships (German official figures 564,497t or 281 Allied ships including 61,917t in Mediterranean). Of 1,200 British collier March sailings (convoyed) to France only 3 ships lost. 3 U-boats lost.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British and Russian troops meet up at the town of Qasr-e Shirin, Persia © IWM (Q 25197)
British occupy Deli Abbas (River Diala).

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: The Emperor of Austria, Karl Hapsburg, makes secret proposal, conveyed in a letter to prince Sixte of Bourbon, to the French President (M. Raymond Poincaré) to open conversations with a view to peace (see April 11th, 1918).
Germany: Army ration strength 7,630,456.
Social Democrats in the German Reichstag declare that a republic is inevitable, causing cries of “treason” in the chamber.
Russia: Pig iron production down 17.6% compared to first quarter of 1916.
Russian government offers Poland “freedom” and self-government and condemns German efforts to create a Polish state.
France: During March French order 150 Renault FT-17 light tanks. French government introduces a bill to provide 300 million francs for agricultural aid, especially in areas affected by the fighting.
French politician Denys Cochin declares France will “war to the bitter end” due to Germany’s destruction of occupied French areas.
United Kingdom: Only 9 weeks supply of wheat and grain in country. Now 300 War Pensions committees (68,269 widows pensions granted). First WAAC draft arrives in France (6,023 by March 12, 1918).
Order limiting output of beer in United Kingdom issued.
Italy: War costing £30 millions per month (£730 millions so far).
United States: Dunk, the first elephant to reside at the National Zoo in Washington DC, passed away: pic.twitter.com/U7xRdChOEf
U.S. Bureau of Mines conducts a census for engineers and scientists so they will not be sent to the front if the U.S. enters the war.
A “Patriotic Rally” in Philadelphia as the U.S. prepares to go to war: pic.twitter.com/s1GMDuACCp

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
During the first week of April, the Royal Flying Corps loses 75 aircraft in combat over the Western Front. The aircraft and tactics of the German Jagdstaffeln (Fighter Squadrons) are shown to be greatly superior to those of the Royal Flying Corps and its French and Belgian allies. By the end of the month the British air services lose 150 aircraft and 316 aircrew in what would become known as 'Bloody April'. The French and Belgian air services lose an additional 200 aircraft.
Another source says: Only the exploits of Collishaw, Dallas, Little and the Sopwith Triplanes of RNAS ‘Black Flight’ hold promise the tide will eventually turn. Royal Flying Corps has 754 aircraft (41 squadrons) in France.
BEF establishment strength 1,893,874 men (including 139,353 Anzacs and 130,255 Canadians).
Somme: British Fourth Army capture Savy with Savy Wood 4 miles west of St Quentin, and begin an indiscriminate bombardment of the area. French President Poincare visits liberated area.
British troops manning a 9.2-inch howitzer to bombard German positions near Arras, France: © IWM (Q 6460) https://t.co/bvkbQmreo5
Aisne: French push back Germans to Vauxaillon northeast of Soissons.
Champagne: Germans shell Reims (25,000 shells in one week).

Southern Front
Bulgar-Germans bombard Monastir (asphyxiating shells).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: APRIL SHIPPING LOSSES (373 Allied ships) REACH RECORD MONTHLY TOTAL OF 545,200t (world-wide losses 873,754t). Now 120 German U-boats in service. In April British Aircraft join seaplanes on anti-U-boat patrols.
USA: 600,000t German merchant shipping (interned since 1914-1915) seized by US.
U.S. armed cargo ship Aztec is torpedoed by the German submarine SM U-46, resulting in 28 crew deaths.
Mediterranean: In April Japanese 2nd Detached Squadron (Rear-Admiral K Sato), cruiser Akashi and 8 wartime-built destroyers arrive (c.April 17), based at Malta (made public by lord R Cecil on May 24). Cruiser Idzumo arrives with 4 more destroyers in August, 2 Royal Navy destroyers turned over in June.
Adriatic: Austrian U-30 lost by unknown cause in Otranto Straits (or following day).
Baltic: In April Bolsheviks claim 1,400 members aboard 22 ships.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Russians progress towards Khanikan (85 miles north-east of Baghdad).
Turks retreat towards Kasr-i-Shirin (Persia).
British and Russian cavalry officers at Kizil Robat, Mesopotamia, which fell unopposed: © IWM (Q 25199) https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/848105192105050112/photo/1

Political, etc
France: Paul Langevin tests his first quartz transmitter for detecting submarines in laboratory tanks, it kills fish in its path.
United Kingdom: British Government decide to interfere in Barrow strike.
They adhere to principle of an independent Poland.
United States: Thousands of pacifists, carrying tulips, march to Washington D.C. to protest against the U.S. entering the war.
Scott Joplin, African American composer and pianist known as “King of Ragtime Writers,” passed away: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/848181953253789698/photo/1

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Aisne: French rangefinder and counter-battery work begins for 4,544 guns (3 million shells) but hampered by weather and German air opposition.
Artois: BEF capture 9 villages (6 fall to 7th Division and 4th Australian Division with 700 killed and 240 PoWs for 1,000 casualties) between Arras and St Quentin, and advance to north-west, at Templeux.
British troops manning a 4.5-inch howitzer near Arras, France: © IWM https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/848514131288367106/photo/1
France: Petain meets Prime Minister Ribot for first time at dinner.
The ruins of Monchy, France after its capture by the Allies: © IWM https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/848499066367610882/photo/1

Eastern Front
Russian troops attack on a five-mile front on the Northern Romanian border at Oituz Valley, but fail to make substantial gains.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mediterranean: 13 German and 2 Austrian U-boats at sea.

Political, etc
Russia: Measures passed include equal rights for women. Legal and religious curbs, 8 hour day for workers on April 6. Not one of these measures was actually enforced.
United Kingdom: US and British flags fly from Victoria Tower, Westminster.
Speeches of Sir R, Boden and Lt.-Gen. Smuts re: Empire and War.
British Government give Barrow strikers 24 hours to resume work; threaten violent repressive measures if orders not carried out.
United States: President Wilson calls a special session of Congress. Champ Clark is voted as the new Speaker of the House by a vote of 217 to 205: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/848545603726475268/photo/1 Wilson‘s war message to Congress: ‘The world must be made safe for democracy’. President Woodrow Wilson addresses Congress this day, asking those present to support war against Germany: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Wilson-Congress-2April1917.jpg?ssl=1
Gold in the U.S. Treasury has reached $3 billion, mostly due to inflow from Allied countries buying U.S. goods.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
France: GQG (Grand Quartier Général, the French high command) moves north from Beauvais to Compiegne.
Somme: French occupy 7 villages south and southwest of St Quentin (until April 4). (Another source says only 4).
British forces seize height overlooking Cambrai. (Another source adds: British capture Henin-sur-Cojeul (south-east of Arras), and Maissemy (St. Quentin), and occupy Ronssoy Wood (north of Templeux). It is possible that these three “villages” are the “missing” 3 from the note about the French re-occupations of seven villages.)
German artillery fire more than 2000 shells at the cathedral city (and strategic rail center) of Rheims, France, causing several civilian casualties.
German “night attack” west of St. Quentin fails. Yet another probable trench raid, inflated into a valiantly-resisted attack by the British propaganda, just so they could claim a success on the Western Front.
Reconnaissance photo of the Siegfriendstellung (Hindenburg Line) taken by the British 11th Squadron: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/848879085778595840/photo/1

Eastern Front
Pripet: Linsingen’s Germans cross river Stokhod, take 10,000 PoWs in Russian Tobol bridgehead.

Naval and Overseas Operations
The minesweeper H.M.S. Jason is sunk by a mine off west coast of Scotland.
Brazilian steamer Parana torpedoed by German submarine in Channel.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Royal Flying Corps BE2c damaged by German Fokker E (9 aircraft newly arrived). Another BE2c (flown since November 1915) shot down by Halberstadt fighter over Samarra April 15), but RFC new Bristol Scout destroys a Halberstadt on April 22. German Lieutenant Emil Meinecke poses beside his Halberstadt fighter after a hard air combat with British aircraft in the Middle East. Meinecke was flying for the Turks: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Lt-Meineke-Halberstadt-Turkey.jpg?ssl=1
Russian cavalry occupy Kasr-i-Shirin and Khanikin.

Political, etc
Germany: German government declares that President Wilson’s message will have no impact on its conduct of the war.
Kaiser Wilhelm and Emperor Charles meet at Homburg.
Russia: Russian Provisional Government forms War Committee, and repeals anti-Jewish legislation.
Canada: Leon Trotsky is detained by Canadian authorities at the Amherst Internment Camp, as he was deemed dangerous to the Allies.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Artois: BEF 2,000-gun Arras barrage begins including gas shells, wreaks great destruction on 12-mile front. The crew of a British 12-inch howitzer prepares to open fire at the beginning of the Battle of Arras: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/brit-Ari-Arras.jpg?ssl=1
Aisne: German raiding party captures copy of division order at Mt Sapigneul giving movements of 3 corps on right of French Fifth Army. Nivelle told on April 7.
Amidst violent snow squalls, French soldiers reach the outskirts of St. Quentin. 4 other villages are taken. (Another source says only three).
British capture Metz-en-Couture (towards Cambrai).

Eastern Front
German troops use 13 waves of chlorine gas against Russian troops and force them to retreat across the Stokhid River.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: Royal Navy decides to convoy Scandinavian ships carrying imported wood pulp.
Belgian relief ship, Trevier, torpedoed off Scheveningen.
Western Mediterranean: British liner City of Paris (122 lives lost) sunk by UC 35 south off Nice.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Khanaqin (North-East of Baghdad) again occupied by Russian forces.

Political, etc
United Kingdom: Speeches of General Robertson and Admiral Jellicoe to Trade Unions re: sacrifice required from nation, after the Barrow strike repressed.
British Food Order for hotels, etc. British Flour Order. [ed note: I have no further details on these two orders, other than that they are rationing measures.]
United States: Former President Theodore Roosevelt praises President Wilson’s war message and states he hopes to lead troops again.
Senate votes war resolution 82-6.
Switzerland: Vladimir Lenin and Zürich councillor Platten negotiate with German Berne Ambassador Romberg.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Royal Flying Corps at Arras bombing starts with attacks against observation balloons (only 5 destroyed until April 8). No 100 Squadron RFC bombs Douai airfield (‘Richthofen Circus’ base), 4 hangars damaged (night April 5-6) repeated twice (April 7-8) with new 1-prd pom-pom strafing; Frankl in Albatros of Jasta 4 shoots down a BE2c in first planned night interception.
A German observation balloon is prepared for launching: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/dt-ballon-startklar.jpg?ssl=1
RFC loses 75 aircraft (105 crew, until April 9), another 56 crashed or written off. Bristol Fighter two-seater flies first offensive patrol, 4 of 6 shot down by Richthofen’s 5 Albatros DIIIs. British airman’s April life expectancy 23 days.
Somme: German withdrawal to the Siegfriedstellung (Hindenburg Line) completed. (Also listed for earlier last month). Another source reports: Allied pursuit of retiring Germans has been impeded by bad weather, collapse of roads, demolitions, booby traps and rearguards. But now most German outposts have been driven in and Allies face Hindenburg Line.
German troops counterattack French lines northwester of Rheims and claims the capture of 800 French prisoners.
A German dummy artillery gun captured by the French Army © IWM (Q 78878): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/849568578504359936/photo/1
Germans bombard French north of Urvillers.
Aeroplane raid on Kent and Ramsgate, no casualties.

Southern Front
Macedonia: KG 1 bombs and destroys munition train and dump at Karasuli by Lake Ardjan north of Salonika.

Political, etc
Russia: In Petrograd, the victims of the February Revolution are buried in the Field of Mars.
Manifesto of M. Guchkov (Russian War Minister) to soldiers to do their duty.
France: General Lyautey appointed to Morocco.
United Kingdom: British Government inform Russian Provisional Government of their adherence to the principle of an independent and united Poland (see March 30th and September 13th, 1916, and January 10th, 1917).
Rejected and some disabled men to be re-examined for military service. Assistant Chief Commissioner Thomson finds ‘a good deal of ignorant alarmism [about industrial unrest], especially among the generals present’.
Britain issues the “food hoarding order,” which prohibits anyone form hoarding food beyond what is needed for individual consumption.
Romania: King Ferdinand proclamation promises land and civic rights to peasants (and Army order on May 6).
United States: The U.S. Capitol is lit up as the Senate votes to declare war against Germany: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/849508175581720576/photo/1
A military budget of $3.5 billion (about $66 billion today) is introduced in Congress as the U.S. prepares for war.
U.S. government states it will not sever relations or declare war on Germany’s allies for the time being unless they act first.
Simon N. Patten, economics professor at the University of Pennsylvania, is dismissed by the university due to his “pacifist activism”.
Netherlands: Dutch Note to British Government opposing armed merchantmen.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Heavy German artillery hit British and French troops as they continue their slow advance around St. Quentin, France.
France: President Poincare and generals meet in train at Compiegne to reconsider offensive. Nivelle threatens to resign, but given approval provided attack called off after 48 hours, if expected gains not forthcoming. 5,350 guns now bombarding German positions east of Vauxaillon (north-east of Soissons) to north of Reims.
Mannock posted to No 40 Squadron. 5 Sopwith Pups of No 3 (Naval) Squadron destroy all of 4 Halberstadt fighters.

Political, etc
United States: US House of Representatives passes war resolution at 1300 hours,. The vote is 373 to 50. United States of America declares war on Germany (see February 3rd). The text of US president Wilson’s declaration of war: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Wilsons-declaration-of-war.jpg?ssl=1 . The US seizes 87 German ships in her ports (14 Austrian ships seized on April 9).

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Second Lieutenant Ball returns (to 56 Squadron) after teaching pilots in England. Richthofen’s 5 Albatros DIIIs shoots down 2 of 6 Nieuport fighters (No 60 Squadron), latter lose again 4 of 6 on April 16. Albert Ball rose to fame in his Nieuport XVII fighter – until his mysterious death in May 1917: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Nieuport-XVII-Ball.jpg?ssl=1
British advance north-west of St. Quentin to Fresny-le-Petit.
Severe fighting round Berry-au-Bac (north-west of Reims).
British soldiers with Rolls-Royce armoured cars on the Western Front © IWM (Q 3878): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/850284550710329344/photo/1

Naval and Overseas Operations
4 British CMBs (Coastal Motor Boats) raid on Zeebrugge (night April 7-8); CMB8 torpedoes and sinks German destroyer G88 on April 8.
9 Germans are killed when they scuttle their ship SMS Cormoran in Guam. This is the only clash between Americans and Germans in the Pacific.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Austro-Hungary announces it has raised 6.23 billion kronen (about $1.246 billion) for its fifth war loan.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire breaks off diplomatic relations with the United States of America.
United States: U.S. government seizes 60 German ships that had been interned in U.S. ports during the past three years. U.S. Attorney General Gregory orders the arrests of 60 alleged German conspirators in the country. [ed note: the vast majority of these “conspirators” were mere trade unionists and/or antiwar resistors, whom the Wilson administration deemed undesirable.]
State of Maine orders all German citizens to register with the government within the next 24 hours.
Police of Cleveland, Ohio raid the homes of naturalized Germans-Americans [IOW, US Citizens] and confiscate their rifles and other weapons.
Newsboy selling newspapers in Washington D.C., with the headline reading “U.S. at War with Germany.”: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/850337419786424320/photo/1
Minor Allies: Cuba and Panama declare war on Germany (4 German ships seized in Havana.)

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Lieutenant-General Ernst von Hoeppner and Chief of Staff Lieutenant-Colonel Hermann von der Lieth-Thomsen both awardedPour le Merite for reorganizing German Army Air Service since November 12, 1916.
A French cavalryman riding through the ruins of Chauny © IWM (Q 63689): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/850660803036545024/photo/1
British soldiers fixing scaling ladders in the frontline trenches before the Arras offensive © IWM (Q 6229): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/850675882171785216/photo/1
Wilhelm Frankl, German fighter ace with 20 aerial victories, is killed in action over France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/850690991728283649/photo/1
French government orders Rheims to be evacuated of nonessential civilians due to the German bombardment of the city.
Minor British progress north of Louveral (half-way between Bapaume and Cambrai).

Southern Front
Macedonia: KG 1 bombs Yanesh railhead; 2 Sopwiths force down an already AA-riddled Friedrichshafen G-type bomber, 3 crew taken PoW.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Eastern Atlantic – The Torrington Massacre: U-55 (Wilhelm Werner) sinks British steamer Torrington off Scilly Islands, destroys one lifeboat (14 killed) and drowns 20 passengers by deliberately submerging while they are on outer casing.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British capture Belad station on Baghdad-Samarra railway.

Political, etc
Germany: Lenin with 19 to 20 Bolsheviks begin so-called ‘sealed train’ journey from Switzerland to Petrograd (until April 16) via Berlin (on April 11 told to Kaiser).
Kaiser Wilhelm promises that Germany will expand voting rights after the end of the war. [ed note: Germany already had, before the war, a higher percentage of it citizens with the franchise than did Great Britain.]
Russia: Estonians demonstrating in Petrograd, Russia: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/850644452427395072/photo/1
United States: (Listed for yesterday): Herbert C. Hoover is asked to head a national committee on food supply and prices.
Major [well, some] U.S. unions and labor organizations promise there will be no strikes or unrest that would hamper the war effort.
Minor Allies: Panama joins U.S.A. to defend Panama Canal.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Battles of Arras as part of the Allied Artois and Champagne Offensive begin with Battle of Vimy Ridge (see 14th) and First Battle of the Scarpe 1917 (see 23rd and May 4th).
Mining operations in support of the Battles of Arras & Vimy Ridge:
To assess the consequences of infantry having to advance across cratered ground after a mining attack, officers from the Canadian Corps visited La Boisselle and Fricourt where the mines had been blown on the First day of the Somme. Their reports and the experience of the Canadians at The Actions of St Eloi Craters in April 1916, where mines had so altered and damaged the landscape as to render occupation of the mine craters by the infantry all but impossible, led to the decision to remove offensive mining from the central sector allocated to the Canadian Corps at Vimy Ridge. Further British mines in the area were vetoed following the blowing by the Germans on 23 March 1917 of nine craters along no man's land as it was probable that the Germans were aiming to restrict an Allied attack to predictable points. The three mines already laid by 172nd Tunnelling Company were also dropped from the British plans. They were left in place after the assault and were only removed in the 1990s. Another mine, prepared by 176th Tunnelling Company against the German strongpoint known as the Pimple, was not completed in time for the attack. The gallery had been pushed silently through the clay, avoiding the sandy and chalky layers of the Vimy Ridge but by 9 April 1917 was still 21 meters (70 ft) short of its target. In the end, two mines were blown before the attack, while three mines and two Wombat charges were fired to support the attack, including those forming a northern flank.
The ground battle (continues until May 16) begins at 0530 hours in bitter cold and sleet on 12-mile front. Allenby breaches third line of Hindenburg Line, taking 5,600 PoWs and 36 guns in 2,000-6,000 yard advance, but 4-mile gap open for 7 hours not fully exploited as cavalry too slow (until April 10). German PoWs are marched to the rear as British troops moved forward during the fighting at Arras: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/de-Gefangene-Arras.jpg?ssl=1
British troops preparing to advance from their assembly trenches at Arras: © IWM (Q 5118): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/851008081949544449/photo/1
Edward Thomas, British poet, essayist, and novelist, is killed in action at Arras: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/851023164540952576/photo/1
BATTLE OF VIMY RIDGE (until April 14): After 3-minutes shelling by 1,203 guns (383 heavies) and with 150 Vickers MGs’ barrage, 30,000 men of Canadian Corps (Byng) storm the Ridge on 2-mile front and taking villages and 4,000 PoWs with 54 guns. North end of Ridge remains in German hands. The battle was the first occasion when all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force participated in a battle together and it was made a symbol of Canadian national achievement and sacrifice.
Canadian troops and captured German troops at Vimy Ridge: © IWM (CO 1155): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/851039528114630656/photo/1
Commandant de Peuty note to Trenchard ‘Victory in the air must precede victory on land.’ Royal Flying Corps 754 (385 single-seater fighters) vs German 264 (114 single-seater fighters) planes. RFC (including Lieutenant ‘Billy’ Bishop) give strafing close support to ground advance. This is the most disastrous period in the history of the entire war for the Royal Flying Corps, as they flew in support of the ground battle, and suffered highest proportional losses of any month of the war.
France: Renault FT-17 light tank trials begin.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Irish Sea: US liner New York mined (by UC-65) off Liverpool.
Spanish steamer San Fulgencio, carrying British coal for Barcelona, torpedoed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Russians occupy Kizil Robat. British occupy Harbe (four miles north of Belad).

Political, etc
Russia: Russian Provisional Government (see March 14th) issue Proclamation to Allied Governments declaring in favor of self-determination of peoples (except of course, for those parts of the Central Powers’ territories promised to Italy, Romania, Japan, and to be occupied by Great Britain & France in the Middle East; oh, and Africa) and a durable peace.
United Kingdom: Admiral William Sims, United States Navy, arrives in England (see June 18th). Jellicoe apparently tells him on April 10 no solution now to U-boats.
Due to lack of supply, British beer prices have risen, causing disaffection among factory workers.
Canada: Total Canadian oversea enlistments to date:- 407,302 of which Ontario 170,205, Montreal 36,282, Quebec 8,145.
Brazil: The Republic of Brazil breaks off diplomatic relations with the German Empire.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Artois: Canadian troops (7,707 casualties on April 9-10) clear Vimy Ridge with fall of tough Hill 145. German reserves begin to seal off Arras gap. Canadian troops consolidate their recently-won gains on Vimy Ridge: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Canadians-Vimy-Ridge.jpg?ssl=1
British occupy Farbus (north-east of Arras) and Fampaux (four miles east of Arras).
British cavalry advancing over newly captured ground during the Battle of Arras: © IWM (Q 1989): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/851398128167157761/photo/1
British tank “Lusitania” moving through the ruins of Arras towards the front: © IWM (Q 3184): https://t.co/NSrd3RQynG
Champagne: French shell Moronvilliers massif east of Reims (until April 17).
French troops tie messages to balloons, in hopes that they reach those in German-occupied areas: © IWM (Q 112248): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/851351600174166017/photo/1
Royal Flying Corps No 60 Squadron single-seater Nieuport fighters first sent on photo-reconnaissance mission.

Naval and Overseas Operations
British hospital ship Salta mined off Havre.
Damaged German submarine U-22 in drydock after it hit a mine near Hornsriff: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/851383053863800832/photo/1

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Emperor Charles and Czernin letter to Kaiser Wilhelm II, ‘Five monarchs have been dethroned in this war…’ warns of Russian Revolution impact.
Germany: One of the worst outright lies perpetrated by British propaganda first makes its way into print. Berlin Lokal Anzeiger‘s corpse conversion factory story (first appears in Belgian newspaper) becomes war’s most notorious atrocity story (not exposed till 1925). Balfour writes on April 26 that it might be true. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Corpse_Factory
Russia: Russian Provisional Government issues a proclamation urging unity, as the country is still in grave danger.
Bulgaria: Bulgaria severs diplomatic relations with the United States of America.
United States: Severe explosion of ammunition factory at Eddystone, near Philadelphia. Initially, German sabotage is blamed, and used as an excuse to cover-up the unsafe working conditions at the plant.
Poland: Austria-Hungary transfers Polish Legions to German control.
Argentina: Government approves US action, decides on benevolent neutrality towards her (April 11).

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Artois: British 3rd Cavalry Division with 2 divisions of Third Army, with 11 tanks, capture Monchy-Ie-Preux and Wancourt, but German line stiffening. Allenby has inflicted 21,000 casualties (incl. 7,000 PoWs), taken 112 guns for 8,238 casualties. British 62nd Division and 4th Australian Division with 11 tanks (2 knocked out by German Mauser Rifles 98 with armour piercing bullets and captured) make first attack on Bullecourt, a fiasco costing 3,052 casualties (1,170 PoWs).
British troops investigate a German observation post disguised as a shell-blasted tree stump: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/observation-post-tree-stump.jpg?ssl=1
German troops with a captured German Mark II tank at Bullecourt: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/851715219634221056/photo/1
Richthofen equals Boelcke‘s score of 40 with a BE2c of No 13 Squadron (wing lost but crew only bruised) on day Royal Flying Corps loses 13 aircraft to 5 German.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British troops defeat Ottoman forces at Ghaliya, 45 miles northeast of Baghdad, inflicting around 900 casualties.

Political, etc
Germany: Berlin rejects Czernin’s joint peace approach to Russia.
France: Alexis Carrel, the Nobel-prize winner in Physiology or Medicine, predicts the war will last another 50 years.
United Kingdom: Lloyd George and Ribot discuss Austrian Emperor Charles’ peace letter at Folkestone, agree Italy must be consulted.
United States: U.S. Cabinet decides to prioritize sending food and money to the Allies before sending soldiers.
Brazil: Brazil severs diplomatic relations with Germany (see October 26th). (Another source already reported this as occurring on 9 April, 1917. Onehundred years after the event, it can be difficult to sort out exactly which day things happened). Yet another source states: Government breaks relations with Germany but neutral in US-German war. German Ambassador only leaves on April 27.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Artois: Battle of Vimy Ridge ends, as Canadian troops capture their objectives. Allied forces suffered 3,589 dead and 7,004 wounded.
4000 German troops are also captured during the Battle of Vimy Ridge: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/852190953624530946/photo/1
Canadian troops storm Pimple hill north of Vimy Ridge, but 2 German ‘counter-attack’ divisions now holding Mericourt-Arleux line against breakout.
British artillery gunners setting up an 18-pounder gun in a cemetery at Arras: © IWM (Q 6205): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/852139319464787968/photo/1

Naval and Overseas Operations
Greek ship India being sunk by the German U-Boat U-35: © IWM (Q 88293): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/852124213494378501/photo/1

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Turks retreat towards Deli Abbas (between Tigris and Diala).

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: General Rudolf Stager-Steiner succeeds General Alexander Krobatin as War Minister.
Russia: Law enlarges Estonia and permits it a Diet.
Russian Provisional Government announces it will issue a “liberty” loan in order to raise money.
United Kingdom: London meetings celebrate US entry into war, US Ambassador says aim ‘to save the earth as a place worth living in’. British postcard: for Great Britain, America’s declaration of war promised men – and hope: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/British-postcard-US-war.jpg?ssl=1
United States: Herbert Hoover officially takes job of U.S. food controller. He urges the nation to eliminate waste and promotes corn bread over flour.
Major General Leonard Wood declares there are too few volunteers for the U.S. army and so conscription is necessary.
New York Yankees conducting a military drill before the opening game of the season against the Red Sox: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/851837324434583552/photo/1
Minor Allies: Costa Rica: Government places nations waters and ports at US disposal.
Switzerland: Bulgarian and Austrian envoys make peace feelers to Allies.
Spain: Government protests to Berlin for San Fulgencio torpedoing (April 9)
Mexico: Mexico reassures it will continue the exportation of oil to Britain after diplomatic pressure from Britain and the U.S.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Artois: Canadians capture Vimy village and Petit Vimy, Givenchy-en-Gohelle, Angres and two other villages. British 50th Divison attacks Wancourt Ridge, captures it by April 15.
Canadian troops advance in the area of Vimy: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/canadians-advancing-vimy.jpg?ssl=1
South of Bapume-Cambrai road, British capture village and wood of Gouzeaucourt.
British Rolls-Royce armoured car stuck in a shell hole on the Arras-Tilloy road: © IWM (Q 3876): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/852461470528962560/photo/1
Somme, Oise: French Third Army attack (until April 14) soon called off despite aid of 390 heavy guns.
Richthofen scores twice more including 1 of 6 RE8s destroyed as not met by escort. 21 Royal Flying Corps bombers (4 lost to Richthofen’s unit, which 1 fighter lost) plus 17 escorts strike Henin-Lietard rail station.

Naval and Overseas Operations
In an effort to counter German submarines in transit to and from their hunting ground in the shipping channels surrounding the United Kingdom, the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) institutes the 'Spider Web' patrol system centered upon the North Hinder Light Vessel.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British drive Turks from Seraijik (on Deli-Abbas-Mosul road).

Political, etc
Germany: German government announces it will not intern American citizens currently residing in Germany.
Russia: Many Russian battleships and cruisers renamed by Provisional Government to sound more democratic (and on April 29), often return to pre-1905 Mutiny names.
Russian Provisional Government receives representatives of British Labour and French Socialists.
All-Russian Conference of workmen and soldiers' delegates at Petrograd.
Minor Allies: Bolivia severs diplomatic relations with Germany.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Battle of Vimy Ridge and First Battle of the Scarpe end (see 9th). 10 men of Royal Newfoundland Regiment (485 casualties) hold Monchy against 3rd Bavarian Division for 5 hours until reinforced. Canadian losses 10,602 for a 4,500 yards advance capturing 4,000+ PoWs, 54 guns, 104 mortars and 124 Mgs.
British capture Vimy Station, Lievin, and Cite St. Pierre (Lens).
German attack on British at Monchy-le-Preux repulsed.
British forces claim the capture of 13,000 German soldiers and 166 artillery guns since the start of the Arras offensive.
Canadian soldiers have overpowered a German trench detachment and are collecting military passports: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Kanadier-dt-Graben.jpg?ssl=1
British Royal Engineers building a temporary bridge and pontoon-ferry over the Scarpe River: © IWM (Q 5821): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/852808841569779713/photo/1
Wounded British soldiers awaiting transport in the devastated town of Blangy: © IWM (Q 6195): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/852823943429758976/photo/1
21 French and British aircraft indiscriminately bomb Freiburg in reprisal for Allied hospital ship losses. Royal Navy Air Service 3rd Wing withdrawn mid-May from Luxeuil.
German authorities order the evacuation of civilians from Lens, France as the British offensive approaches the city.

Eastern Front
7,688 men desert from Russian North and West Fronts (until April 21); numbers considerably underestimated.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Emperor Charles draft letter to Czernin ‘A smashing German victory would be ruin’. Russia spurns Austrian peace-feeler.
Russia: Note of Allies (France, England, Italy) to Russia re: Poland.
United Kingdom: Appeals to farmers against hoarding by Mr. Lloyd George and Board of Trade.
United States: President Wilson signs an executive order creating the Committee on Public Information to influence American opinion on the war.
U.S. House of Representatives approve to raise a $7 billion (about $133 billion today) war loan without a single dissenting vote.
Poland: L. L. Zamenhof, a Polish doctor who invented the constructed language Esperanto, passed away.
Brazil: Brazil states it will start arming its merchant ships in order to protect them from German submarines.

[dicksbro]

Continued thanks for this great series of posts. :thumbs:

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Artois: ANZAC Corps and British 62nd Division (Fifth Army) repulse major German 4-division attack on Lagnicourt on 7-mile front.
British capture Villeret (north-west of St. Quentin).
In a British trench: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/brit-Graben.jpg?ssl=1

Naval and Overseas Operations
Eastern Mediterranean: British transports Cameronian (22 lives lost) (another report says ‘around 200’; I suspect the lower figure is a typo) sunk despite 2-destroyer escort, by U-33 (Gustav Siess) 150 miles east of Malta and Egypt-bound Arcadian (279 lives lost) sunk off Milo, Aegean by UC-74 (Wilhelm Marschall).
Cameronian: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/853202527051022345/photo/1
Arcadian: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/853187458128850944/photo/1

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Turks driven back to Jebel Hamrin (tableland from Tigris to Persian hills).

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Austrian feelers for separate peace with Russian apparent.
Russia: Russian government accuses Germany of using Russian socialists and other radicals to cause disturbances inside the country.
United States: Appeal of President Wilson to American citizens re: war; more specifically, justifying the creation by executive order (two days before) creating the Committee on Public Information ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee_on_Public_Information ), an agency created to disseminate the Wilson’s administration on the war. Said committee was, despite the protests of the chair, heavily involved in censorship & suppression of alternative views of the war.
Greece: Venizelist regime in Greek islands in force.
Brazil: 1,000 rioters burn c.300 German buildings in Porto Alegre (until April 17); 7,400 troops sent there and elsewhere.
Argentina: Riots occur in Buenos Aires, Argentina as a mob attack the German Legation and Consulate, as well as German newspapers.
Mexico: Mexican government announces it will maintain strict neutrality in the ongoing world war.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Aisne – NIVELLE OFFENSIVE (SECOND BATTLE OF THE AISNE) on 25-mile front (until April 20): Despite long preparatory bombardment and first French tank attack, from 0630 hours to nightfall 20 French divisions (6,731 infantry casualties in 3 divisions alone) have advanced c.600 yards, taking the 2nd line of German trenches south of Juvincourt and advance to the Aisne Canal against 15 German divisions instead of 6 miles anticipated.
Decimated by MG fire, Senegalese troops break and flee. Fifth Army’s 128 Schneider tanks bog down (32 knocked out), only few reach German third line. French troops suffer 40,000 casualties during the first day of the Second Battle of Aisne, a few days later up to c.100,000 instead of 15,000 planned for.
Nivelle belatedly confines effort to either flank of Chemin des Dames. Forewarned, Germans have inserted new First Army (F Below) from Somme between Third and Seventh Armies on the front of attack.
131 French aircraft (200 on paper) support Nivelle Offensive, 153 by April 21, but German fighters drive off French artillery and contact patrols. Bad weather also hampers.
At the beginning of the Nivelle offensive, French soldiers advanced against the Chemin des Dames heights, which was fortified by the Germans: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/frz-soldaten-chemin.des-dames.jpg?ssl=1
Artois: Haig and his army commanders meet to plan next assault.

Naval and Overseas Operations
British submarine C16 collides with the destroyer Melampus and sinks, resulting in the deaths of all crew members: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/853535959488618496/photo/1
French liner Sontay is sunk by the German submarine SM U-33. The crew survives after boarding lifeboats: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/853551059096174592/photo/1

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British advance towards Istabulat (12 miles south-east of Samarra).

Political, etc
Germany: Strikes (until April 23; but another source claims only a 1-day strike) in Berlin (217,000 workers) and Leipzig against bread ration cut (April 15).
Russia: Vladimir Lenin arrives at Petrograd; makes ‘April Theses‘ on April 17 speech to Petrograd Soviet.
United Kingdom: British food orders (that is, placed in the US) re: wheat, barley, and oats.
United States: Shipping Board’s Emergency Fleet chartered, 280,000 shipyard workers enrolled by April 20.
President Wilson issues a proclamation urging Americans to put their whole strength into the war: http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/doyourbit.htm
President Wilson warns both citizens and alien residents against acts of treason and states that prosecution will be vigorous. [ed note: by this time, the definition of ‘treason’ was pretty broad, likely to encompass anything anyone said against the war, no matter how mild.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
"Battle of the Hills" ("La Bataille des Monts") also called the Third Battle of Champagne (Champagne) begins (see May 20th) in worsening weather: French Fourth Army (7 divisions) fails to break through on east flank taking first line only in up to 1 1/2-mile push.
French forces made use of tanks in its offensive, but with limited effect. 150 tanks are lost the first day. The St. Chamond tank: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/853644215041089537/photo/1
French Schneider CA1 tank is also used for the first time in the offensive: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/853645432551079936/photo/1
Aisne: Germans evacuate and burn 4 villages south of Chemin des Dames.
Foch visited by General H Wilson at Senlis. Foch clear, notes Wilson ‘that Nivelle was done, owing chiefly to the failure of the Sixth Army … Foch said he knew … positions which this army were … to attack were impossible … He thinks … Nivelle will be degomme (dismissed) and Petain, put in his place, who will play a waiting game until the USA come … say a year hence. I asked about a central organization of the Allies to really take hold and he was all in favour … would love to be the French representative.’
Heavy rain and snowstorms fall on the Aisne battlefields, grounding aircraft and limiting visibility.
Australian soldiers saluting as they march past King George V during a Royal Review: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/853915996373098496/photo/1
FRENCH ARMY MUTINIES BEGIN with 17 men of 108th Infantry Regiment abandoning posts before an attack. By end of August 1917 46 divisions seriously affected with c.35,000 mutineers who call themselves strikers. 2,873 court-martial and sentenced, many suspended. 629 receive death sentences (of which 43 certainly suffer ultimate penalty).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Japanese flotillas join Allied forces in the Mediterranean (see February 8th, 1916 and November 15th, 1917).
British ambulance transports Lanfranc and Donegal torpedoed and sunk in English Channel, with a total of 40 casualties.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Second Battle of Gaza begins (see 19th and March 27th) (until April 19): 40,000 British soldiers, 170 guns, 8 tanks against 19,500 Turks, 101 guns and 86 MGs. British storm Samson’s Ridge but tanks and gas shells too few to retain gains. Dobell loses 6,444 casualties (272 PoWs) and 3 tanks to 2,013 Turks (200 PoWs).

Political, etc
Germany: Sixth German War Loan closed: 656,100,000 Marks.
United Kingdom: Thorneycroft depth charge thrower designed in 10 days (by Sir J Thorneycroft, marine engineer); 2,760 made and 28 U-boats sunk by it (6 in 1917) by end of war.
Jellicoe urges Salonika withdrawal to save shipping for 1918.
The Times & Daily Mail publish (false) stories that a “German Corpse Factory” processes fat from German war dead for industrial use.
United States: New York City revokes all night licenses for hotels and restaurants for the duration of the war. Dancing and Drinking must stop at 1 AM.
Measures of Senate (U.S.A.) to suppress export of food-stuffs, etc., to Germany.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Somme: British Fifth Army captures Villers Guislain (12 miles south of Cambrai) and Gonnelieu (on April 20, 8 miles southwest).
Aisne: German counter-attack repulsed near Juvincourt.
French troops capture Aubérive and claim the capture of at least 2,500 Germans, putting the 2-day total to 13,500 German prisoners.
French advance continued east and north-east of Soissons. French capture five villages; on Aisne capture Conde bridgehead and Vailly, and consolidate positions in Moronvillers massif.
A German 6-in howitzer is prepared to fire on the French at the Aise during the Nivelle Offensive: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/de-15cmHow-Aisne.jpg?ssl=1

Naval and Overseas Operations
Eastern Mediterranean: French battleship Requin, 2 Royal Navy monitors and 3 French destroyers bombard Gaza.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Marshall’s 4,000 men and 40 guns force and bridge Shatt-el-Adhaim (east of Tigris), take 1,250 PoWs and 6 MGs in 14-mile pursuit for 73 casualties.
Clashes continue between British attackers and Ottoman defenders at Gaza. Ottoman machine gunners: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/854263298338025473/photo/1

Political, etc
Germany: German government grants concessions to strikers.
Russia: Lenin delivers the April Theses, calling on the soviets to take power and denounces the Provisional Government: https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1917/apr/04.htm
United Kingdom: War Minister Lord Derby writes to Haig ‘… we have lost command of the sea’.
British Food Order restricting pastry and cake making.
Belgium: Death of General Moritz von Bissing, Govenor-General of occupied Belgium.
United States: U.S.A. War Bill ("Old Glory" loan of $1,400,000,000 passes Senate.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Aisne: French capture Fort Conde and secure Chemin des Dames road on Craonne plateau.
Champagne: Legion RMLE (2/3 casualties) storms Auberive, German Legionnaire Sergant-Major Mader captures 6 Saxon heavy guns with grenades (April 21).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic – First US shot of the war: SS Mongolia repels U-boat.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Second Battle of Gaza ends (see 17th and October 27th). Heavy fighting and much ground gained, but, owing to severe British losses, attack not pushed through.

Political, etc
Germany: Troops and police militarize 2 Berlin factories. Hindenburg appeal published. All still striking by April 21 to be drafted into Army.
The German police arrests strikers at a ammunition factory: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/polizei-fabrik.jpg?ssl=1
Russia: Admital Aleksandr Kolchak (Commander of Black Sea fleet) appointed Commander in Chief of Baltic Fleet. (ed note: I can find no other cooberation of this. Other sources indicate that he was commander of the Black Sea fleet up until June, 1917).
France: Pastry restrictions in France.
United Kingdom: More frequent or new publications banned (to save paper). Final British refusal to offer Tsar asylum.
Sir Archibald Murray, commander of the British forces in Palestine, voices support for a Jewish state.
King George V and Queen Mary visit the Canbery Park Road aeroplane factory: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/854620671183335424/photo/1
Speech of Mr. Fisher (Minister of Education), re: educational reform.
United States: Cotton price highest since Civil War. (ed note: many US Farmers were outraged to see that cotton prices were not controlled like grain & oil prices were. It cannot be coincidence that many of the administration’s supporters in congress represented cotton interests).
US orders that all alien residents of enemy nations must move at least half a mile away from military facilities by June 1st or face arrest.
The U.S. states it will prioritize trade of food supplies with the Allies before neutral nations. (making the relief commission of Belgium, and several Scandinavian states very unhappy).
A poster of “Wake Up America Day” to mobilize Americans for war: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/854689829405306882/photo/1
Spain: Señor Manuel Garcia Prieto (Marquis of Alhucemas) succeeds Álvaro de Figueroa (Count Romanones) as Spanish Premier.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Offensive stopped (see 16th): Second Battle of the Aisne and "Battle of the The Hills” end (see 16th and 17th). After 5 days Nivelle‘s main achievement is Sixth Army’s (Mangin) capture of 4-mile deep salient on Western flank. This Pyrrhic victory gives Germans a straighter line to defend. Captures include 16,300 PoWs, 140 guns and 300 MGs. The ludicrously sanguine Nivelle now forced to cease breakthrough attempts, having sacrificed 134,000 men (by April 25) now proposes to revert to local attacks.
Minor gains as the French occupy Sancy (north-east of Soissons), and the British capture Gonnelieu (eight miles south-west of Cambrai).
Lloyd George at Paris conference.
A French tomb at Vendelles ransacked by Germans for metal: © IWM (Q 2094): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/854996853707898880/photo/1

Naval and Overseas Operations
Second German destroyer raid on Straits of Dover (night 20th /21st). Action by the Swift and Broke (see October 26th, 1916 and February 15th, 1918).
British Antarctic explorer Captain Evans (later Lord Mountevans) with Dover Patrol destroyers Broke (57 casualties) and Swift (5 casualties) defeat 6 German 2nd Flotilla torpedo boats (night April 20-21) in complete darkness off Belgian coast. Evans sinks G42 by ramming and there is hand-to-hand fighting on Broke‘s decks. G85 also sunk, 140 of 180 Germans rescued.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
A disabled British tank at Gaza. Ottoman defenders incorporate the hull into a fortification: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/854751518444204032/photo/1

Political, etc
United Kingdom: Flour Mills' Order extending powers of Food Controller.
Turkey: Turkey severs diplomatic relations with the United States of America. (Young Turks badly split over this).
Japan: General elections are held in Japan. The Rikken Seiyūkai under Hara Takashi wins the most seats with 165 out of 381.
United States: 60,000 people march in New York City to support war recruitment: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/854704935417655298/photo/1
New York Yacht Club drops Kaiser Wilhelm and Prince Henry of Prussia as honorary members.
Portugal: Senhor D'Almeida resigns Premiership in Portugal.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Royal Flying Corps destroys 2 German balloons (3 British aircraft lost) and damage 3 more. Arras bombardment renewed. 2 new Sopwith Triplanes of Royal Navy Air Service No 1 Squadron disperse 14 German DFW CVs and shoot 3 down at 16,000ft before they can reconnoiter the BEF lines.
Shoot down of an observation balloon. The observer could jump off by parachute in the picture on the left: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/abschuss-beobachtungsballon.jpg?ssl=1
Somme: British 40th Division (Fourth Army) captures three local objectives (incl on April 24 and 25).
Aisne: Mangin protests at offensive continuing, despite announcements of it being discontinued the day before; ammo supply critical. Tenth Army (Duchene) committed between Hurtebise and Berry-au-Bac.
British officers drinking tea in St. Quentin: © IWM (Q 2085) https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/855027049655881728/photo/1
65,000 German shells have been fired on the city of Rheims since April 1st. French official calls it “abominable vandalism.”
In the ongoing offensives on the Western Front, Allied troops claim to have captured 33,000 German prisoners and 330 artillery guns.
Troops of the Indian Army in the ruins of Caulaincourt, France: © IWM (Q 2080) https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/855345578905145345/photo/1
ritish cavalry passing through Caulaincourt in pursuit of the Germans: © IWM (Q 2074) https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/855375895019876352/photo/1

Naval and Overseas Operations
German submarine SM UC-30, credited with sinking 5 ships, hits a mine and sinks with all hands.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Battle of Istabulat (until April 22). General Cobbe with 7th Division (2,228 casualties) and 76 guns twice attacks Shefhet’s 7,000 Turks (c.2,200 casualties including 700 PoWs) with 31 guns astride railway, taking position and 1 gun. Lieutenant Graham (MG Corps) wins 23rd and last Victoria Cross of the campaign.
Palestine: Chetwode replaces Dobell as GOC (General in command) Eastern Force, Chauvel takes over Desert column.
Cossacks repulse Kurds on Diala (north-west of Kasr-i-Shirin).

Political, etc
Russia: On 20–21 April 1917 massive demonstrations of workers and soldiers erupted against the continuation of war. Demonstrations demanded resignation of Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavel Milyukov. They were soon met by the counter-demonstrations organised in his support. General Lavr Kornilov, commander of the Petrograd military district, wished to suppress the disorders, but premier Georgy Lvov refused to resort to violence. Decree of Russian War Minister Alexandr Guchkov re: Army.
United Kingdom: British government states all doctors must report for military service due to the need to establish hospitals near the frontlines.
“American flag day” in London to celebrate the U.S. entrance into WWI: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/855102563594768385/photo/1
Spain: In the first meeting of the new Spanish Cabinet, it announces the country will continue to maintain strict neutrality in the war.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
No 56 Squadron (SE5s) destroys 4 Albatros fighters (1 credited to Albert Ball) on its first patrol. Despite initial problems with the engine and only one machine gun in front of the pilot (another on the upper wing), the SE5 together with the Sopwith Camel eventually ended the superiority of the German Albatros fighters: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/SE5.jpg?ssl=1
Artois: Falkenhausen removed from German Sixth Army probably for poor defensive tactics, replaced by O Below (until September 9), Colonel Lossberg already able new CoS, since April 11.
British capture southern part of Trescault (east of Havrincourt Wood, below Bapaume-Cambrai road).
Germans bombard Reims; French repulse German attack on Moronvillers massif.
British gunners rowing ammunition on a pontoon boat up the Scarpe River © IWM (Q 5830): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/855743030753718272/photo/1

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: Hutier made C-in-C German Eighth Army (until December 12), replaces Scholtz. Count Kirchbach takes over Army Detachment D (until December 12).

Southern Front
Macedonia: General Scholtz (from Eighth Army, Eastern Front) replaces Below (see Western Front) in command of German Eleventh and Bulgarian First Armies (Army Group Scholtz) for duration of war.
KG 1 bombs British bivouacs near Yanesh.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British continue their attack on Turks in retreat from Istabulat on west bank of Tigris and on west bank of Shatt-el-Adhaim.
British artillery getting ready to fire on Ottoman positions south of Samarrah. Note the battery commander using a pole to spot for the guns: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/855707983195590656/photo/1

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Allies reject Prince Sixtus peace approach.
Germany: Germany orders all striking workers to return to work within 24 hours or else they will be conscripted (but a different source has this order already issues for the other day).
Kaiser Wilhelm congratulates his son the Crown Prince for “steelhard” resistance against the French at the Aisne.
France: To conserve food, France orders all restaurants to have one meatless day per week. Butchers will also have to close by 1 pm.
United States: Balfour’s British Military Mission arrives in Washington; French Military Mission arrives New York on April 24. People of Washington D.C. welcome the visit of British Foreign Secretary Balfour: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/855788347444391937/photo/1
U.S. National Championship for tennis (US Open) will be renamed the National Patriotic Tournament & no trophies will be given.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Artois: Second Battle of the Scarpe 1917 begins (next phase of the Battle of Arras) (until April 24) (see also 9th and May 3rd): 9 British divisions (Third Army) with 2,685 guns (vs 1,329 German pieces), 20 tanks (5 disabled) attack on 9-mile front gaining 1-2 miles north and south of river Scarpe; 63rd (Royal Navy) Division repulses 5 counter-attacks at Gavrelle; 15th Division captures Guemappe. British capture 2,500 PoWs (another source claims only 1000) but lose 10,000 casualties.
Aisne: Poincare urges postponing offensive.
68 Royal Flying Corps fighters on offensive patrol for ground attack’s renewal. An hour-long massive ‘dogfight’ without any fatal casualties. But elsewhere, Ball makes 2 kills. Richthofen’s Jasta 11 scores its 100th victory (of 350 in war, top German unit score).
German soldiers take cover inside the trench from enemy grenades: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/deckung-handgranaten-im-graben.jpg?ssl=1
French railway artillery in action near Muizon. © IWM (Q 56898): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/856096614833893377/photo/1

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: Battleship New Mexico (BB49) launched at New York Navy Yard. First battleship with turbo-electric drive (completed May 20, 1918).
North Sea: 3 Royal Navy Air Service seaplanes bomb 5 German torpedo boats off Zeebrugge, sink 1.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British forces capture the city of Samarrah, Mesopotamia (Iraq) and its strategic rail yard from the Ottomans.

Political, etc
France: French government threatens to put German prisoners on board hospital ships if U-boats continue attacking those ships.
United States: “The Butcher Boy,” a short comedy film starring Roscoe Arbuckle and Buster Keaton, is released: https://archive.org/details/busterkeatonthebutcherboy
Diplomatic relations broken off between U.S.A. and Turkey (no state of war followed).

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Severe fighting from Croisilles to north of Gavrelle; minor British setbacks. South of Bapaume-Cambrai road minor British advance to St. Quentin Canal near Vendhuil and capture Bithem.
Five of Richthofen’s fighters survive attacks by 20 Royal Flying Corps fighters.
Formation of first German Kampfstaffel or ‘Battle Flight’ special ground attack with MGs and hand grenades in support of infantry attack.
Jagdstaffel 11 members in France. Commander Manfred von Richthofen (Red Baron) is seated in his Albatros © IWM (Q 42283): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/856173367040389124/photo/1
Royal Field Artillery firing their 18-pounder guns at Monchy-le-Preux. German shelling can be seen in the background © IWM (Q 6294): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/856476601801994240/photo/1

Southern Front
Salonika: First Battle of Lake Doiran begin (first phase 24th/25th) (see, May 9th). The assault began with a bitter four-day artillery barrage in which the British fired about 100,000 shells. As a result, the earthworks and some wooden structures in the front positions were destroyed. The Bulgarians also opened fire from the batteries between Vardar and Doiran. Vladimir Vazov ordered fire day and night on the Allied positions. The initial several-hour struggle between the British and Bulgarian batteries was followed by a one-hour Bulgarian counter-barrage in which 10,000 shells were fired. British 22nd and 26th Divisions attack on 2 1/2-mile front at 2145 hours but, under 147 Bulgar guns (including German 5.9-inch naval gun battery) and 33 searchlights, never penetrate beyond first line of concrete defences on steep round hills. British losses 3,163; Bulgarian and German 835+ (22 PoWs) soldiers, including in 7 counter-attacks.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: General Cobbe occupies Samarra (60 miles north of Baghdad, railway station occupied on April 23), takes 340 sick and wounded Turkish soldiers. Marshall drives 2,000 Turks east over Adhaim taking 160 PoWs but heat halts operations.

Political, etc
Russia: Ukraine demands autonomy.
France: 155mm GPF gun first test fired (at Paris).
300,000 copies of President Wilson’s war address to Congress are printed and will be air-dropped on German trenches on the Western Front.
United Kingdom: British government will insure cargoes of neutral ships from German submarines between Europe and Americas in order to facilitate trade.
United States: Arrival of French Mission (Marshall Joffre and M. Viviani) in New York.
Liberty Loan Act $7 billions ($3 billion for Allies). With wild enthusiasim and waving flags on the Broadway is US going to war: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/usflag-broadway.jpg?ssl=1
Portugal: Sen. Costa (Democrat) becomes Premier in Portugal.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
The Victoria Cross is (later) awarded posthumously to Captain Albert Ball of No.56 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, for his actions during 25 April - 6 May in recognition of his "most conspicuous and consistent bravery" in the skies over France in a Royal Aircraft Factory SE5 (A4850).
German ace Fritz Otto Bernert scores 5 victories in a single day in a span of 20 minutes, despite having a paralyzed left arm.
Workers repairing the Cathedral at Reims, France after German bombardment: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/856550875527098369/photo/1
The ruined church of Etreillers, France used as a dug-out. © IWM (Q 3119): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/856792424739483648/photo/1
British officers enjoying lunch among the ruins of Etreillers. © IWM (Q 2084): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/856817641461297158/photo/1
German “attack” on Hurtebise Farm (Vauclere Plateau, Chemin des Dames) repulsed.

Southern Front
Macedonia: 6 British fighters with 8 bombers encounter KG 1 bomber formation; latter is dispersed (each side loses 1 plane). British bombers proceed to attack designated objective (dumps at Bogdanci).

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: UB-18 (Steinbrinck) sinks Royal Navy sub E22 after latter tries to ram. HMS E22 had been converted into a transport submarine for sea planes: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/E22-Wasserflugzeug.jpg?ssl=1
Channel: German destroyers shell Dunkirk, (night April 24-25), French destroyer Etendard sunk with all hands, but Anglo-French patrols repel them. Others shell Ramsgate (5 civilian casualties) (night April 26-27).

Political, etc
Russia: Russian government prohibits the sale of alcoholic drinks containing more than 1.5% alcohol, except for locally produced wines.
United Kingdom: Second reading of Corn Production Bill carried in House of Commons.
Canada: Canadian government warns that unless new taxes are levied, its debt will reach $1.3 billion.
United States: Government allocates $200 million of yesterday’s Liberty Loan to Britain.
French Deputy Premier Viviani and General Joffre arrive in the United States for a conference to discuss the war.
Portugal: (Also reported for yesterday) Dr. A. Augusto da Costa succeeds Dr. A. J. d'Almeida as Portuguese Premier (see March 15th, 1916 and December 10th, 1917).
China: Provincial military governors meet in Peking and agree war should be declared against Germany.
Chile: Government breaks relations with Germany.
Greece: Court intrigues in Athens cause dissatisfaction.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
On the Western Front, British troops repel German advances at Gavrelle and French troops repel attacks against Chemin des Dames.

Southern Front
Salonika: Continued Bulgarian attacks and shelling of Hill 380 (their old front line) and on April 28. Sarrail postpones offensive to West due to bad weather.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Second German destroyer raid on Ramsgate (night 26th/27th) (see March 18th). Two killed, three wounded.
Britain: Admiralty Anti-Submarine Division director urges general convoy system, Jellicoe approves trial convoy from Gibraltar.
Schooner Q-ship (NZ skipper William Edward Sanders wins Victoria Cross) Prize (ex-German ship Else captured in 1914) damages U-93 (11 ships sunk on her first cruise) and captures her captain Edgar von Spiegel plus 2 other crew members, but U-boat gets home. Another source has the fight occurring on 30 April, and gives the details of the fight: HMS Prize was damaged by shellfire. After the 'panic party' had taken to the boats and the ship appeared to be sinking, the U-boat approached to within 80 yards (73m) of her port quarter, whereupon the White Ensign was hoisted and the Prize opened fire.
Within a few minutes the submarine was on fire and her bows rose in the air, whilst the Prize was further damaged. The U-boat disappeared from sight, and was believed to have been sunk by the crew of the Prize and by several of the German crew (including her captain) who had been blown or jumped into the sea.
Neither of the crippled ships had sunk, with the Prize being towed in flames back to Kinsale, while the U-93 struggled back to the Sylt nine days later after a dramatic escape effort through the British mine and destroyer barrages off Dover. Oblt.z.S. Wilhelm Ziegner took command of U-93 after von Spiegel was thought to haved been killed in the battle. U-93 was later sunk on January 7, 1918 by SS Braeneil ramming). And subsequently, the Q-Ship Prize was sunk with all hands by U-48 on August 14, 1917.
‘This is how your money can fight – turn it into U-boats.’ German poster for war loans and in the background a sinking Allied ship: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/U-Boot-Kriegsanleihe.jpg?ssl=1

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Marshall reconnoiters Ali Ihsan’s Band-i-Adhaim position (dug since April 23). Dust storms and great heat (110°F+) prevent much shelling (until April 29).

Political, etc
Germany: Germany begins calling up men previously exempted by the draft due to their work in vital industries. Women will take their place.
Russia: A small riot occurs in Petrograd, as a crowd attacks a gathering of Lenin’s followers. Several of the rioters, mostly Bolsheviks, are arrested.
France: French Socialists refuse to send representatives to Stockholm Conference on 15 May.
United States: (Listed for yesterday) Dr. Guy Brewster demonstrates his body shield to the New Jersey National Guard and survives 5 bullets shot at him: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/856879277849161728/photo/1
Preliminary conferences between the U.S. government and the French war mission begin in Washington D.C.
New York celebrates “France Day” for the anniversary of when Lafayette left Bordeaux in 1777 to aid the US.
China: I. M. Pei (the Chinese-American architect) is born in Canton, China.
Mexico: Mexican government warns its German residents to not congregate at the U.S.-Mexican border or else they will face arrest.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Britain claims that in the first 18 days of the Arras offensive, they have captured 18,000 Germans and 250 artillery guns.
A British tractor stuck in the mud while pulling a 6-inch artillery gun. © IWM (Q 6237): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/857528533094211585/photo/1
French offensive on the Aisne checked.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Australian transport Ballarat torpedoed and sunk; no casualties.
East Africa: NRFF occupies Captain Lincke’s evacuated camp at Likuyu, having crossed that river on April 23.

Political, etc
Russia: Lenin chairs Petrograd City Bolshevik Conference (until May 5). Kronstadt Soviet declares itself virtual republic in support (April 29). Lenin was born in Simbirsk in 1870 with the name Vladimir Ilich Ulyanov: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Lenin.jpg?ssl=1
United Kingdom: Lloyd George speech on U-boat menace.
United States: US London Ambassador wires Washington urging 30 more destroyers for European waters (Navy Secretary orders 32 on June 20).
Guatemala: Guatemala severs diplomatic relations with Germany (see April 23rd, 1918).
Spain: Spanish Note to Germany re: San Fulgencio published.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Battle of Arleux phase of the Battle of Arras begins. Canadian 1st Division (c.1,000 casualties) capture village and 450 PoWs from German 111th Division in 2-hour, 1,000-yard advance despite numerous MG nests in three sunken roads, but, to south, 3 British divisions fail with heavy losses including 475 PoWs.
French advance towards Suippe valley (Champagne).
Royal Flying Corps loses 12 aircraft including 10 on contact patrols.
British troops on busses after capturing Monchy-le-Preux from the Germans. © IWM (Q 6235): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/857889706297765888/photo/1

Southern Front
Italian aviators drop thousands of translated copies of President Wilson’s war speech over Austro-Hungarian territory.

Naval and Overseas Operations
British imports in March decreased by £5.1 million, in part due to the German submarine warfare.
The tanker S.S. Vacuum is torpedoed; one officer and nine men of U.S. Navy lost, 44 crew overall.

Political, etc
Germany: Interior Minister Reichstag speech claims over 1.6 million tons Allied shipping sunk in first 2 months, urges Germans to hold out.
Russia: Russian workers who were sent to the front as punishment for participating in the revolution are recalled by the Provisional Government.
France: PETAIN APPOINTED CHIEF OF FRENCH GENERAL STAFF; Paris anxious to restore confidence and apply a break to Aisne offensive without sacking Nivelle (Haig still supports); Fayolle to command Centre Army Group.
Henri Philippe Petain (1856-1951): https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/petain.jpg?ssl=1
Soldier of the British Army Service Corps helping French women with farming. © IWM (Q 3947): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/857921112583401473/photo/1
United Kingdom: In a speech, Premier Lloyd George states victory is in sight and declares Ireland must be won over.
Turkey: (Listed for yesterday): Talaat Pasha, the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, states they will not seek territorial annexations after the war.
United States: Conscription decided: United States Congress pass Bill for drafting 500,000 men (see 6th and May 18th).
A mine explosion in Hastings, Colorado results in the deaths of 122 miners.
Children at the City Hall of New York City for an “Americanization rally”: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/857605327897985025/photo/1

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Western Front, General: Richthofen scores 3 victories (50th to 52nd) in 3 sorties, including one SPAD with one by brother Lothar before lunch in mess with father Major Baron Albrecht von Richthofen. Manfred von Richthofen (right) and his younger brother Lothar: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Manfred-Lothar-Richthofen.jpg?ssl=1 Starting later, Lothar achieved an impressive 40 victories. Lothar’s fighting style was much more emotional than his older brother’s and it get him into more trouble, he was wounded in action several times but, unlike Manfred, survived the war.
A crashed British B.E.2e biplane due to engine trouble. © IWM (Q 7231): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/858286028465070082/photo/1
Artois: British 2nd Division capture trenches south of Oppy.
A wounded Canadian soldier being treated by stretcher bearers and a German prisoner at Arleux: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/857985309027557376/photo/1
Scottish troops advancing east of Arras. © IWM (Q 2104A): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/858254591116414976/photo/1
Wounded British soldiers placed on a light railway for transport. © IWM (Q 6225): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/858301157088927744/photo/1
Aisne: Nivelle abandons Mangin (replaced May 2 by Maistre).
Marne and Champagne: The French army mutiny spreads: 200 men of French 20th Regiment flee to woods from Chalons barracks rather than return to front.

Political, etc
Russia: CoS Alexeiev to War Minister ‘The situation in the Army grows worse every day; information … from all sides indicate that the Army is systematically falling apart’. War Minister’s order No 213 gives all punishment powers to disciplinary courts (officer as presidents, 2 soldiers elected for 6 months) except in action but each army differs.
1000 wounded Russian soldiers march in Petrograd to support the continuation of the war against Germany.
United States: 100 U.S. Congressmen write to Premier Lloyd George urging for Irish Home Rule to be implemented.
The U.S. confectionary “MoonPie” is invented by the Chattanooga Bakery.
British and French Missions visit Washington's tomb.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Western Front, Air: Clashes over front line as German two-seaters strafe British lines. Jasta 11 combined with 2 , 3 and 33 into Jagdgruppe 1 of 20 single-seaters which Royal Flying Corps dub ‘Richthofen’s Circus’ (renamed Jagdgeschwader 1 on July 24). Richthofen goes on leave on May 1 after 21 victories during April.
Royal Flying Corps April losses 316 aircrew and 151 planes (88 to Jasta 11) of which 82 to only 5 German pilots; total German 119 aircrew and 66 aircraft.
German April victories: Kurt Wolff 21; Karl Wolff and Lothar von Richthofen 15 each; Otto Bernert 11; Sebastian Festner 10.
Air combat between British and German fighters over the Western Front: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Luftkampf-brit-de-Flugz.jpg?ssl=1
Damage at Zierikzee (Holland) by unknown airplane. (note: literally unknown to this day. It could have been an off-course Allied plane, or an off-course German plane).
Britain: Royal Navy airship SL 9 destroyed in storm.
British troops advancing forward near Arras. © IWM (Q 2105): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/858376636797988865/photo/1
The ruined railway station of Arras covered by weeds and grass. © IWM (Q 7781): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/858618236560171009/photo/1
British military band playing in the ruined town square of Arras. © IWM (Q 6407): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/858649679361449984/photo/1

Naval and Overseas Operations
ALLIED AND NEUTRAL APRIL SHIPPING LOSSES WORST MONTH OF BOTH WORLD WARS: 873,754t (373 ships). German U-boat history figure 860,334t of which 278,038t (23,037 to Austrians) in Mediterranean; another 113,000t shipping damaged.
Projected since April 17, 50% risk of destruction to homeward bound ships 2 in 11, annual loss rate, one in 4 ships leaving Britain being sunk. Only 1 U-boat lost. British minesweepers suffer almost 1 lost per day. U-boats have attacked 781 ships since February 1: 526 sunk, 37 damaged for loss of 10 U-boats (record of 802 t per U-boat day in Mediterranean), 13 new U-boats commissioned. Lloyd George visits Admiralty and reinforces convoy decision. [ed note: Lloyd George made much of this visit, insisting that he personally ‘forced’ the navy to adopt the convoy system. In reality, the decision to institute it had already been taken, and the assertion here, that he ‘reinforced’ the decision is far more accurate].
North Sea: During April Royal Navy orders 136 Nash Fish towed hydrophones after successful trials. In use with 54 patrol vessel as of 1918 as U-boat encounters.
HMS Tulip, a British Q-ship, is sunk by the German submarine SM U-62, resulting in the deaths of 102 crew.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Armenia: Mush occupied by Turkish forces (see August 24th, 1916).
Mesopotamia: During April Royal Flying Corps fly record 335 hours.
Battle of Band-i-Adhaim: Marshall’s 5,200 men (692 casualties) and 64 guns vs 6,270 Turks (565 casualties including 365 PoWs) and 39 guns (1 lost). British storm Turkish second line and beyond but lose gains to 6 vs 1 counter-attack in dust storm.

Political, etc
United Kingdom: Jockey Club stops racing after 4 May.
Belgium: Spanish and Dutch individuals take over relief efforts in German-occupied Belgium and France from U.S. representatives.
United States: Suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt demand equal pay if women take over men’s jobs after they are sent to the front.
Six U.S. Red Cross base hospitals are ordered to go to Europe to treat wounded Allied soldiers.
Poland: Polish scheme for Galicia published. [note: said ‘scheme’ involved the forcible removal of Galicia from Austria-Hungary, and adding it to the Polish state. Today, Galicia is split among Poland, the Slovakian Republic, Hungary, and possibly the Ukraine.]

[dicksbro]

Hard to imagine the shipping losses for April. Wow!

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Champagne: French repulse two counter-attacks south of Moronvilliers and raids on May 2.
Artois: Since April 9 BEF has advanced 2-5 miles on 20-mile front, fired 6,466,239 shells, engaged 32 German divisions (16 forced into reserve), taken 18,128 PoWs and 230 guns; 227 mortars; 470 MGs for 83,970 casualties.
Germany: In May Germans give each infantry company 2 Bergmann submachine guns (another 2 in September).
Air War: On the Western Front in April, Britain lost 275 aircraft, while the Germans lost 66, giving rise to the nickname "Bloody April.
From May until July ‘B’ or Black Flight of Royal Navy Air Service No 10 squadron destroys 87 German aircraft. Royal Flying Corps flies 39,500 hours in May (record till March 1918).
In May Germans have 47 seaplanes at Zeebrugge and Ostend, shoot down 6 French flying boats; RNAS send extra 9 seaplanes.

Southern Front
Macedonia: In early May after ineffective and increasingly more costly, bomber operations KG 1 is withdrawn from Hudova and railed to Western Front (RFC belatedly discovers it on May 10).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Eastern Atlantic: HM submarine E54 sinks U-81 off Western Ireland resulting in 31 crew deaths. U-81 was a high-seas submarine with a 10.5-cm (4.1in) deck gun:
Mediterranean: In May numbers reach 28 U-boats in Pola-Cattaro Flotilla. Allies have 858 patrol vessels (89 destroyers) of which 387 available to protect shipping, but only 201 to protect c.3,000 ships per day at sea at anyone time. During May British Admiralty orders 1108 new ASW vessels including 97 destroyers and 60 submarines. Average of 47 U-boats at sea per day.
In May the transport U-boat UC-20 takes 7 Germans to set up radio station (until August) at Misurata (Tripolitania) with Senussi rebels.
North Sea: German seaplane sinks British SS Gena off Suffolk, but latter shoots down escorting seaplane.
The 1st Battlecruiser Squadron of the Royal Navy leaving the Firth of Forth. © IWM (Q 74234): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/858978070379847681/photo/1
Channel: In May 4 Dover Barrage drifters damaged by its mines. During May record of 13 German mine sweepers mined and sunk (only 12 so lost November 1916-April 1917).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
North-west frontier (India): Mahsud tribesmen attack British convoy; beaten off, British losses 60 killed, 55 wounded.

Political, etc
Russia: Russian Army Conference asks for the abolition of private ownership of land and the distribution of land among the peasants.
Millions of people march in Russian cities to celebrate May Day, the 1st since the February Revolution: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/858962982314938369/photo/1
France: Early May Nivelle insists 1,000 Renault FT-17 light tanks top priority order.
The ‘Ribot Cable’: French Prime minister asks US to send 4,500 combat aircraft to Western Front during 1918; with trainers, grand total required by June 30, 1918 is 22,625 planes.
United Kingdom: British Admiral Beresford states shipping losses by U-boats are “appalling” and criticizes the government for hiding its full scale.
New schedule of Protected Occupations published.
United States: President Wilson confers with British Foreign Secretary Balfour and French Deputy PM Viviani at the White House to discuss the war situation. Later, French war mission delegates Viviani and Marshal Joffre are greeted by the U.S. Senate with cheers.
President Wilson signs executive order instituting censorship for cables out of the U.S. and telegraph/telephone lines into Mexico.
Poland: Polish Council of State presents demands to Central Powers (see yesterday).

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Air: From behind BEF barrage hedge-hopping Nieuport fighters destroy 4 German balloons (7 destroyed similarly on May 7 for 2 Nieuports lost). 40 aircraft dogfight east of Arras in which Captain Ball makes the only kill.
Here, an observer saves himself from a hit balloon by parachute: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/abschuss-ballon.jpg?ssl=1
French aeroplanes bomb Trier in reprisal for German air raids against Chalons and Epernay.
In Champagne and Moronvilliers region German trench raids beaten back.

Eastern Front
Alexeiev and Front commanders tell Provisional Government and Petrograd Soviet ‘The Army is on the very brink of ruin’. 2 MILLION DESERTERS IN MARCH AND APRIL.


Naval and Overseas Operations
First United States destroyer flotilla arrives at Queenstown (see June 18th).
Channel: Royal Navy destroyer Derwent sunk by mine (52 lives lost): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/859341743904497664/photo/1

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: At breakfast German Admiral Holtzendorff assures Emperor Charles that April U-boat sinkings will be 1 million tons, Empress Zita deplores U-boat war.
Germany: Talaat Pasha visits Kaiser.
United Kingdom: ‘Then called on Carson at Admiralty … still deeply depressed about submarine war’ C P Scott, Editor Manchester Guardian.
Fresh Food Order extending powers of Controller.
Mr. Bonar Law introduces Budget.
Argentina: Argentina receives reparation from Germany for sinking of Monteprotegido.
Greece: M. Zaimis again becomes Premier.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Artois: Third Battle of the Scarpe (until May 4): British attack on 16-mile front east of Arras with 14 divisions; 2,685 guns (vs 1,429 German pieces) and 16 tanks before dawn at 0345 hours with few Third Army gains although Canadians (1,259 casualties) storm Fresnoy, capturing 500 PoWs.
Five Sopwith 1½ Strutters of No.43 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, carry out machine-gun attacks on German troops massing at Oppy for a counter-attack on the morning of the first day of the Third Battle of the Scarpe, the Arras Offensive. Although the Royal Flying Corps had carried out low flying attacks during the assaults around Vimy, this is regarded as the first true occasion on which the Royal Flying Corps fly close air support sorties.
And the Battle of Bullecourt (until May 17): 6 British-Australian divisions with 12 tanks of Fifth Army break into strongly fortified village 14 miles west of Cambrai and break through Hindenburg Line switch at Queant.
The new British Mark IV tank has been in operation since March 1917 and its 12 mm reinforced armor can no longer be penetrated by armor piercing bullets from the German infantry weapons: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Mark-IV.jpg?ssl=1
A British soldier tending to a grave of a fallen soldier near Blangy. © IWM (Q 5289): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/859765855625912322/photo/1
French Saint-Chamond tank “Teddy” at Conde-sur-Aisne. © IWM (Q 69623): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/859735597346410497/photo/1
Aisne: French Army mutinies become more widespread, with the Colonial division and 2 French infantry regiments (21st Division) affected (until May 4).
German soldiers training in trenches near Sedan: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/859371955358707712/photo/1
Barbed wire entanglement of the Siegfriedstellung (Hindenburg Line) near Heninel. © IWM (Q 5286): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/859704144688537600/photo/1

Political, etc
Russia: First demonstration against Provisional Government, Foreign Minister Miliukov defends policy to Petrograd crowds. Provisional Governments just wins Petrograd Soviet confidence vote (on May 4).
Russian Provisional Government grants citizens the freedoms of association and meeting.
General Alexeiev protests v. "no annexation, etc." propaganda.
France: Anglo-French Paris War Conference (until May 5).
United Kingdom: British government takes control of all shipping in the face of the German U-boat threat.
Members of Imperial War Conference received by King at Windsor.
King George signs a proclamation urging people to lessen their consumption of wheat and be frugal in use of other grains as well.
British Trade Corporation founded with capital of 10 millions.
United States: U.S. government announces it will issue $2 billion worth of “liberty loans" to help finance the war effort; US loans Italy $100 million, France also on May 8 and Russia on May 16.
Brazil: Foreign Minister Müller resigns as German name hampers his neutral policy.
Sweden: Sweden prohibits the exportation of nearly all foodstuffs in order to control food shortages.

[dicksbro]

Have to admit. This is one of my favorite threads. Glad you started it and have kept it going GG. :thumbs:

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Aisne: Craonne (Aisne) and trenches on 3-mile front northwest of Reims. are retaken by French forces (see September 1st, 1914, April 16th, 1917 and May 27th, 1918).
End of Third Battle of the Scarpe, 1917 (see 3rd) brings Battles of Arras, 1917, to an end (see April 9th).
British soldiers with an 8-inch howitzer near Henin. © IWM (Q 7820): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/860056478488702977/photo/1
19,343 prisoners claimed secured by British during April.
Germany: All 52 German reserve divisions of April 1 have been engaged. Allies still have 30.
French aircraft bomb factories near Metz.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Western Mediterranean: U-63 sinks Egypt-bound British transport Transylvania (413 lost) in Gulf of Genoa, but rest of c.3,000 troops saved by escorting Japanese destroyer Matsu. https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/860071603627057152/photo/1

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: 5 German aircraft bomb EEF Deir-el-Balah HQ (30 casualties). Royal Flying Corps bomb Beersheba on May 10.

Political, etc
France: Inter-Allied conference in Paris until May 5. Haig and French commanders unanimously agree to continue offensive with limited objectives to prevent Germans recovering from their second Aisne and Arras losses and to prevent them striking at Russia and Italy, but BEF will make main attack.
United Kingdom: British Admiralty reform announced.
United States: President Wilson asks Congress for broad economic powers to fix prices for necessities, regulate markets, stop manipulation & limit brewing. Many of the President’s supporters in Congress represented cotton interests, therefore, cotton was not subject to price controls under “necessities”.

[gekkogecko]

Have to admit. This is one of my favorite threads. Glad you started it and have kept it going GG. :thumbs:


And I'm glad that it is proving to be worthwhile.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Aisne: With 48 Saint Chamond tanks (combat debut) in support (6 lost) French take crest of Craonne Ridge including Chemin des Dames, Laffaux Mill, claims 6,000 PoWs (De Lattre’s 3rd Battalion, 93rd Infantry has 300 casualties but takes 500 PoWs and Cerny underground works); French repulse counter-attacks on May 6.
French Saint Chamond tanks in action: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/saint-chamond-im-einsatz.jpg?ssl=1
British soldiers playing in the water during a rest period at Rollancourt. © IWM (Q 5306): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/860345836978524160/photo/1


Southern Front
Italian Front: Italians repulse Austrian attacks on Carso.
Macedonia : Battle of the Vardar begins (see 22nd). French 122nd and Greek Seres Divisions take Bulgarian Vardar sector trenches near Gevgeli (Bulgar frontier), repulse counter-attack on May 7.
Gorizia bombed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Russian detachments withdraw about Oghnut and Mush.

Political, etc
Germany: Zimmermann states the U.S. entering the war with the Allies would help Germany collect billions in indemnities after Germany wins the war.
Russia: Foreign Minister Miliukov tells Petrograd Soviet ‘Russia will never agree to a separate peace.’ Dumas President says same on May 10.
General Kornilov reorganises reserves.
At Nevsky Prospect in Petrograd, thousands of factory workers clash with soldiers in protest of the Russian Provisional Government.
Russian soldiers demonstrate for peace in Bacau, Romania. [ed note: there was a photo to go along with this, but the same photo , from the same source, was also labelled, “Australian soldiers, possibly in London, marking his ballot for the Australian Federal Election.” I tried to enlarge the photo, and there was a background sign with what appeared to be Cyrillic writing on it; but the attitude of the soldiers was more of expectant waiting, rather than people demonstrating anything.]
France: At Paris conference British announce 1 division and 2 cavalry brigades will be withdrawn from Salonika; Jellicoe says force will starve unless reduced.
French government apologizes to Switzerland for accidentally bombing the border town of Porrentruy a few days ago.
United Kingdom: Flat racing discontinued.
Australia: Australian Federal Election is held, with the Nationalist Party winning 53 seats and the Australian Labour Party getting 22.
United States: British Secretary of State Arthur Balfour becomes the first non-American to address Congress.
The U.S. begins accepting subscriptions for its “Liberty Loan,” raising around $20 million on average per hour for the war effort.
Minor Allies: Liberia severs diplomatic relations with Germany (see August 4th).

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Aisne: French Reserve Army Group dissolved, Micheler takes over Fifth Army from Mazel.
French painting from 1917 ‘Poilus’: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Poilus.jpg?ssl=1
French claim 29,000 prisoners taken since 10 April.
Artois: British repulse counter-attack near river Souchez.
At the Aisne and Arras, both French and British forces successfully defend their gains against heavy German counterattacks.
Britain – First night aeroplane raid on London: Albatros C-VII (Klimke and Leon) on own initiative drops 5 x 22lb bombs between Holloway and Hackney (night May 6-7, 3 casualties).

Southern Front
Supported by heavy artillery, Austro-Hungarian troops make small advances against Italian lines southeast of Gorizia.
Violent artillery actions on Trentino and Julian front.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
T.E. Lawrence (2nd from right) and his party on a mission to recover a crashed aeroplane at Wadi Hamdh. © IWM (Q 59040): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/860800125752537088/photo/1

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Common Ministers Council agrees to reopen Mitteleuropa (Central Europe) talks with Germany (Berlin owed RM 6 billions). Emperor says ‘I do not agree at all’ (May 14).
Russia: Kiev Czech congress recognises Masaryk and Czech National Council.
Russian Provisional Government forbids public meetings and demonstrations for the next two days in response to recent disturbances.
Greece: Salonika mass meeting of 30,000 demands King’s deposition. Salonika plot to murder Venizelos discovered on May 10
Sweden: Food riots occur in Stockholm, Sweden, which was triggered by the lack of potatoes.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Captain Albert Ball, Royal Flying Corps (44 victories, last 2 on May 5) killed aged 20 in an SE5 inverted from low cloud behind German lines; cause perhaps vertigo. Only 5 of No 60 Squadron’s 11 Scouts he was among return from evening patrol. Posthumous Victoria Cross. It is possible that Ball was shot down by Lothar von Richthofen, who claimedan aerial victory at about the time and place of Ball’s plane falling. However, von Richthofen claimed a triplane; while the Sopwith Triplane was in operational status at the time, Ball never flew one. Captain Ball fell on the enemy side of the lines and was buried with full military honours by the Germans.
British cavalry crossing a bridge over a communication trench near Neuve Eglise: © IWM (Q 6183): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/861147383681486851/photo/1
British position between Bullecourt and Queant improved by Australians.
Some of “The Balmorals” performers who are entertaining British troops at Chelers: © IWM (Q 5330): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/861177594863120384/photo/1
President Wilson’s war address is translated into German and sent towards German lines via balloons: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/861239234983800832/photo/1
Daylight aeroplane raid on north-east London, 1 killed, 2 wounded.
Edward 'Mick' Mannock of the Royal Flying Corps, shoots down a balloon to claim his first aerial victory.

Southern Front
Bulgarian counter-attack on Franco-Venizelist forces near Gevgeli repulsed.

Naval and Overseas Operations
German submarine SM UB-39, which sunk 93 ships during its career, hits a mine and sinks with all 24 crew.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Imperial Camel Corps blow up wells south of Beersheba (until May 14).

Political, etc
Germany: German Chancellor uses Social Democrats to influence Soviet delegates towards German terms of peace.
Russia: First post-Revolution Bolshevik Party Conference (until May 12) with 80,000 members; Lenin elected to Central Committee. Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, named Lenin, after his return to Russia: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Lenin-070318.jpg?ssl=1
Russian Provisional Government takes control of grain stocks in order to control food supply and prices.
France: With one of six Frenchmen in uniform, France is importing thousands of Chinese labourers to make up for manpower shortages.
Turkey: Falkenhayn reaches Constantinople to discuss Baghdad’s reconquest (he leaves on May 13).
United States: Theodore Roosevelt promises he can recruit 180,000 men and send them to France in 6 weeks. [ed note: another one of the absurd claims made by people in the US, who should have known better; never came about.]
Herbert C. Hoover warns that Germany might win the war before the U.S. is ready to send men to the front.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Artois: 5th Bavarian Division (176+ guns supporting) recaptures Fresnoy at second attempt (until May 9).
Aisne: French storm and hold trenches near Chevreux (northeast of Craonne) despite counter-attacks.
A French soldier in the ruins of the village of La Ville-aux-Bois-les-Pontavert: © IWM (Q 78264): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/861526125415149569/photo/1
Aerial picture of the German-French frontline during the Nivelle Offensive, which was France’s only major attack on the Western Front in 1917: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Luftaufnahme-Nivelle-Offensive.jpg?ssl=1

Southern Front
Salonika: Battle of the Doiran continued (until May 9): British night attack from 2200 hours again fails under Bulgarian searchlights between the lake and Petit Couronne but gains 500 yards on 2-mile front to west. British losses 1,861 soldiers; Bulgarian guns fire 28,874 shells.
Serbs seize useful points in Moglenitsa Valley.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: Destroyer HMS Milne rams and sinks UC-26 with all 26 crew members, in Thames estuary.

Political, etc
France: Special, 1927: French aviators*Charles Nungesser and François Coli aboard the biplane L'Oiseau Blanc, attempting to make the first non-stop transatlantic flight from Paris to New York, disappeared after takeoff.
United Kingdom: "Combing out" of munition workers begins.
Australia: Australian elections result in Nationalist majority in both Houses.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Aisne: NIVELLE OFFENSIVE ENDS: German counter-attacks fail at Chemin des Dames, Craonne and Goroeny. Although Nivelle promised to call off the attacks after 48 hours if they were not initially successful, and announced that he had done so between then and now, the wasteful procedures continued.
German soldiers throwing hand grenades out of the trench: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Handgranatenwurf-Graben.jpg?ssl=1

Southern Front
Second phase of the First Battle of the Doiran ends (see April 24th, 1917 and September 18th, 1918).
Serbia: Allied attack in Crna loop and in Moglena Mountains (Serb Second Army captures Hill 1824): in former, Russian 2nd Brigade capture Orle village a mile into Bulgar lines but forced out with 50% losses, and French 16th Colonial Division seizes the Mamelon only to be driven back by German attacks; French losses 1,579 soldiers. Italians reach 1st line but retreat at night.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: U-19 sinks ship in British Scandinavian convoy east of Shetlands.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
T.E. Lawrence and Auda Abu Tayi leave Wedj to recruit a mobile camel force for attacks against the Ottomans.

Political, etc
Russia: Lenin publishes the essay “Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism”: http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1916lenin-imperialism.html
United Kingdom: Britain cancels its “meatless days” as it increased demand on other foodstuffs, particularly bread.
British Labour Party decides not to attend Stockholm Conference.
Mr. Henderson and deputation appointed to visit Russia.
Vote of Credit demanded for ₤500 millions; daily expenditure ₤5,600,000.

[dicksbro]

WWI was really a very fascinating period. Some of the slower pace than earlier ... but with much of the carnage we associate with WWII and beyond. You'd hope one of these days mankind would learn it's lesson. :(

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
France: 2nd Battle of the Aisne ends with 187,000 French casualties and 169,000 German losses. Discontent and mutiny spreads in French ranks.
Minor French success near Chevreux (Craonne).
Ribot cabinet decide to make Petain C-in-C but Nivelle refuses to go on May 11.
A church in the damaged town at Champs, France: © IWM (Q 78236): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/862258441724846081/photo/1
Somme: Slight British advance on south bank of river Scarpe.
Men of the Canadian Expeditionary Force eating dinner at Berneville: © IWM (Q 5341): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/861984179277484033/photo/1
Men of the Scottish Black Watch prepare for a “gas mask race” at a sports meeting in Bailleul-aux-Cornailles: © IWM (Q 5360): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/862288660783407104/photo/1

Eastern Front
General Russki relieved of command on northern front by Provisional Government.

Southern Front
French and Venizelists take Bulgar-German position near the Lyumnitsa.
Two attacks on Krastali driven off by British.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: First Allied general trade convoy (trial) sails (16 ships in 3 columns at 6 1/2 kts from Gibraltar with 5 escorts), reaches Plymouth unscathed on May 20 after 8 destroyers meet it 200 miles from Channel (May 18).
North Sea: German battlecruiser Hindenburg (launched August 1, 1915) joins High Seas Fleet.
British scouting force from Harwich chases 11 German destroyers into Zeebrugge.
Earl Curzon reveals British shipping losses during the war total 900,000 tons, but reassures that they can be replaced in sufficient numbers.

Political, etc
Russia: President of Duma (M. Rodzianko) affirms Russian loyalty to Allies.
United Kingdom: House of Commons secret session on U-boat menace until May 11. Unofficial strikes involve 160,000 engineers (including London bus drivers on May 13) against dilution on private work (until May 24). 8 strike leaders arrested (released on May 23 after Munitions Minister meets shop stewards on May 19).
Japan: In the Far Eastern Games, the Philippines association football team defeats the Japanese team 15-2, Japan’s biggest defeat in the sport.
United States: Major-General J. Pershing appointed to command United States Expeditionary Force (see June 8th).
The US commanders of the army and the navy: General Pershing (left) and Admiral Sims (right): https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Pershing-Sims.jpg?ssl=1
French Marshal Joffre receives a ticker-tape parade as he visits New York City.
French sailor performing stunts on an anti-aircraft gun of the cruiser Amiral Aube, currently in New York City: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/861969087949361152/photo/1
Italian war mission led by Enrico Arlotta arrives in New York City to begin talks with U.S. officials.
Greece: Plot to assassinate M. Venizelos discovered at Salonika.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Artois: Canadian 44th Brigade regains 300 yds of trenches west of Avion and holds it against repeated German 80th Reserve Division counter-attacks. British attack astride Scarpe captures Roeux (German division fails to retake it until May 14), British cavalry the Farm and Chemical Works.
Repulse of various local German attacks on ground gained by Allies (Arleux, Souchez river, Cerny, Craonne, etc.).

Eastern Front
Western Russia: German officers visit General Dragomirov’s North Front HQ at Dvinsk at his soldiers’ request but with little result. Prince Leopold’s follow-up letter suggesting armistice made a German leaflet (May 29).

Southern Front
French carry Srka di Legen (west of Lyumnitsa).
Serb raids on Moglena hills (Dobropolye), and north of Pozar.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Black Sea: Successful Russian submarine Morzh sails on last patrol, mined or sunk by air attack off Bosphorus.
Baltic: Russian Baltic Fleet Central committee meets as ‘Centrobalt’ at Helsinki.

Political, etc
Germany: Germany moves high-ranking French POWs near industrial areas targeted by Allied aeroplanes as reprisals for similar moves by France.
France: 10,000 Paris clothing workers strike (until May 23) against living costs.
United Kingdom: Appeal for men of 41-50 to volunteer, also coal economy.
Sir Edward Carson refuses to alter form of weekly shipping losses.
Japan: Japan promises to send its merchant ships and fast cruiser fleet to aid the Allies against German submarines.
United States: Onehundred twentyfive aliens arrested since 6 April. (Mostly Germans, and without charges). Some German citizens living in the USA are arrested by the New York police: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/verhaftung-deutsche-in-usa.jpg?ssl=1
Marshall Joffre inaugurating a memorial to La Fayette in Brooklyn: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/862333985531326464/photo/1

[dicksbro]

I the photo of German citizens being arrested by NY police, I couldn't help but noticed that they were all in suits and everything was very orderly. Compare that with photos of today where you'd think every arrest was a bloody free-for-all with attorney's from the American Civil Liability Union are lining the streets waiting to take on new cases. How times have changed. :(

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
British storm most of Bullecourt, and Roeux trenches. German counter-attack fails. From another soruce, reported as: At the Arras battle, German troops armed with flamethrowers attack British lines in Bullecourt, but a counterattack drives them back.
French ace Nungesser shoots down 2 of 6 Albatros fighters over Douai.

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo begins (see June 8th): Artillery activity on Julian front from Tolmino to the sea. Two-day Italian barrage begins at dawn on 25-mile front with 1,058 heavy and 1,320 field guns vs 1,400 Austrian pieces. General Capello gives Badoglio, aged 45, II Corps due to previous commander’s inadequate artillery preparation.
Italian heavy 305mm howitzer, known as a ‘heavy mortar on a De Stefano carriage’. This distinctive system featured four large solid iron wheels running on rails to absorb the recoil: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Italian-305mm-how.jpg?ssl=1
Italians bomb Prosecco (north of Trieste).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Heavy naval bombardment of Zeebrugge by Dover Division, etc. This was a failed attempt to close up the canals leading from the Flanders U-boat bases to the North sea. The British would make several other such attempts later in the war. 3 Dover Patrol monitors (total 6 x 15-inch guns), and with air cover among 41 ships, shell Zeebrugge for 73 minutes from 28.000 yards, for 1 hour but vital locks not hit although 19 of 250 shells land within 15 yards.
Mediterranean: 6 Australian destroyers (3 from Singapore) being sent to Mediterranean.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: AH Emperor Charles pleads Austrians to “hold on, & in this we shall doubtless be successful, through encountering great hardships.”
Russia: Russian socialists call for a world peace congress and demand the resignation of Foreign Minister Milyukov, who promised continuation of war.
France: A Committee of the French Chamber of Deputies submits a report recommending Germany be forced to pay a large indemnity after the war.
United Kingdom: Two new groups for attestation announced: 41 to 45, and 45 to 50. {ed note: “Attestation” in this case means, subject to possible (voluntary) call-up for national service.}
Britain announces all horses not needed for military or agricultural work will be put on rations after May 21.
Official figures show British food prices has risen by around 94% since the start of the war.
200,000 British weavers in northern England threaten to strike on May 26 if their pay is not raised.
India: Bombs and seditious leaflets seized in Calcutta.
Canada: Both Houses, Canadian Parliament, addressed by M. Viviani.
Minor Allies: Haitian Congress votes down a declaration of war against Germany, but adopts a resolution condemning Haitian deaths due to U-boats.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Flanders: General Sir Hubert Gough to command key northern wing of Ypres offensive.
Gough, the young ‘thruster’ put in charge of the opening offensive in Flanders: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Gough.jpg?ssl=1
Somme: British gains on ‘Greenland Hill’.
A horse jumping competition by the British 15th Division Horse Show at Liencourt near Arras: © IWM (Q 2127): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/863346861356310529/photo/1
At the Arras Battle, British troops make further gains at Bullecourt and enters the commune of Rouex.
Champagne: German counter-attacks north of Reims and in Maisons de Champagne repulsed.
Ruined village of Fresnieres, France: © IWM (Q 78237): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/863316658919796738/photo/1

Naval and Overseas Operations
U-boat sinks Spanish SS Carmen.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Russian detachments compelled to retire across Diala river towards Kifri.

Political, etc
Russia: War Minister Aleksandr Guchkov resigns, points out ‘There is a limit (to Army democratization) beyond which disintegration is bound to begin’.
General Lavr Kornilov, Commandant of Petrograd, also resigns.
Russian General Brusilov states the army is threatened by desertions & claims Germans tempted Russians to surrender with promises of vodka.
United Kingdom: Homes in London are fined £25-£50 for using too lavish of material and labor for decoration.
British Ministry of Munitions threatens to use force if striking munition workers do not return to work by Monday.
Canada: Marshal Joffre reviews garrison troops at Montreal; much enthusiasm.
United States: (Reported for yesterday): U.S. Senate votes 38 to 32 to ban the use of grain, sugar, and syrup for the production of liquor, but votes down full prohibition.
(Also reported for yesterday): U.S. House of Representatives votes 215 to 178 to allow former President Roosevelt to raise and lead a division to France.
Sweden: Socialist Conference opens at Stockholm.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
British troops make further gains at the Arras Battle, taking all of the commune of Roeux and advance north of Gavrelle.
A French soldier operating a listening device to detect German aeroplanes: © IWM (Q 70881): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/863679048182104064/photo/1
King Albert I of Belgium and British Field Marshal Haig inspecting men of the 5th Dragoon Guards. © IWM (Q 2162): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/863728141214380032/photo/1
Strong German reconnaissances north-east of Vauxaillon (Soissons), west of Craonne, Berry au Bac and in Champagne.

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Italian Gonzia Command and Third Army (28 divisions) vs Austrian Fifth Army (11 divisions). Italians attack at noon with main thrust north of Gorizia east of Plava, capturing Hill 383, and Zagora and Mt Santo. East of Gorizia Messina Brigade takes Hills 174 and 126 but forced out by heavy counter-attacks. Badoglio promoted Lieutenant-General (confirmed August 23).
Serbia: Serb Sumadija Division captures 2 spurs a mile from Mt Dobropolje.

Naval and Overseas Operations
German airship L-22 destroyed in North Sea by British warships. Another soruce says: Royal Navy Air Service ‘Large America’ H12 flying boat shoots down Zeppelin L-22 near Terschelling Light Vessel.
German submarine SM U-59 accidentally hits a German mine and sinks. 33 crew members are killed with 4 survivors.

Political, etc
Germany: First German tank (A7V) in workup trial at Mainz.
Russia: Petrograd Soviet proclamation appeals for end to fraternization. At STAVKA C-in-Cs discuss resigning en masse, decide to visit Petrograd. After the Russian revolution, the fraternities between German and Russian soldiers, who believed that the war had now come to an end, happens along the Eastern front: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Russ-de-Verbruederung.jpg?ssl=1
United Kingdom: King tours in industrial north. Merchant shipbuilding control reverts to Admiralty.
Sir John Jellicoe to be Chief of Naval Staff, Sir E. Geddes Controller.
British labour unrest; engineers on strike, ditto omnibuses in London, weavers in north threaten strike.
United States: Germans are banned from boarding any American ship heading to any Russian port.
U.S. Senate approves the Espionage Bill, which prohibits interference of the military and aiding the enemy, by a vote of 80 to 8. “Interference of the military” is quite vaguely defined, and the Espionage Act is widely used to suppress German-language newspapers & force striking workers back to work. Wikipedia has this to say:
“Among those charged with offences under the Act are German-American socialist congressman and newspaper editor Victor L. Berger, labor leader and four time Socialist Party of America candidate, Eugene V. Debs, anarchists Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman, former Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society president Joseph Franklin Rutherford, communists Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, Cablegate whistleblower Chelsea Manning, and National Security Agency (NSA) contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden. Rutherford's conviction was overturned on appeal.[1] Although the most controversial sections of the Act, a set of amendments commonly called the Sedition Act of 1918, were repealed on March 3, 1921, the original Espionage Act was left intact.[2] “ and “The Act also gave the Postmaster General authority to impound or to refuse to mail publications that he determined to be in violation of its prohibitions.” This part of the act was the most widely-used section used to suppress the German-Lanugage newspapers in circulation in 1917.

[dicksbro]

You get a feel from these reports how the stalemate of trench warfare (while not gone) is starting to crack a little and that the war is entering a final and climatic phase. Still a year and a half to go ... but the energy is picking up.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
France: NIVELLE DISMISSED AND REPLACED BY PETAIN as Commander-in-Chief of French Northern and North-Eastern Groups of Armies. Petain assumes command on May 17. FOCH APPOINTED Chief of the French General Staff of French Ministry of War in Paris.
Artois: Heavy fighting round Bullecourt (British secure May 17, advance northeast on May 19).
Aisne: Heavy fighting on Chemin des Dames.
Meuse: French trench raids in the Woevre and in Lorraine.

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Badoglio’s II Corps storms Mt Kuk (2004 ft) and Vodice ridge. Italians claim 4,021 PaWs so far, Austrians 2,000 on Carso.
Salonika: British 10th and 28th divisions capture 3 villages in 3 1/2 mile advance east of Struma on 9-mile front (until May 16), taking 89 PoWs from Bulgarian 7th Div, but prepare to withdraw to summer line from May 26.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Adriatic – Otranto Action (largest in Straits): 3 Austrian cruisers (including Horthy’s flagship Novara) and 2 destroyers with 13 aircraft and 3 U-boats support sink 2 destroyers (Italian Borea and French Boutefeu); 14 Royal Navy armed trawlers (72 PoWs) and damage 4 out of 47; 2 merchantmen plus 1 seaplane out of 13 aircraft. Vainly and chaotically pursued by Allies (21 ships) including cruisers Bristol and Dartmouth (latter torpedoed by UC-25 but eventually reaches Malta). New Italian flotilla leader Aquila disabled by shot through steam pipe. Horthy wounded and Novara taken in tow but operational again in 8 days.
Brindisi: Rear-Admiral Bolio superseded. Otranto Barrage restricted to daylight use.
U.S.A. destroyer-flotilla arrives in British waters.
British transport Cameronia torpedoed in Mediterranean, 140 men lost.

Political, etc
Sweden: German Socialists are refused passports for Stockholm.
Spain: (Special, 1793): Inventor Diego Marín Aguilera, the "father of aviation" in Spain, flew one of the first gliders for about 300 yd (270m).

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Artois: Battles of Arras end BEF has regained 61 sq miles, taken 20,834 PoWs and 252 guns in 38 days. British repulse counter-attacks north of Gavrelle.
British hold on Siegfried line, north-east of Bullecourt, extended.
King Albert I of Belgium inspecting Australian troops in the ruined town of Albert, France: © IWM (Q 3125: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/864392531718623233/photo/1
French make appreciable advance east of Craonne.
French soldier reading a map of the area of Mont Sans Nom: © IWM (Q 78893): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/864424003997503488/photo/1

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Italians claim 4,021 prisoners in last two days' advance in Carso and on Vodice. Austrians claim 2,000 prisoners in the Carso.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Adriatic: Austrian U-5 mined and sunk off Pola but raised and reused.
General Van Deventer succeeds General Hoskins in East Africa.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: CoS Arz (to Czernin) believes Russian Army collapse will obviate need for armistice talks.
Germany: German Chancellor indicates lines of peace with Russia.
Russia: Cabinet reshuffle admits 6 Petrograd Soviet Menshevik members. M. Aleksandr Kerenski succeeds General Aleksandr Guchkov as Russian Minister for War (see March 15th and November 8th). M. Mikhail Tereshchenko succeeds M. Pavel Milyukov as Russian Foreign minister (see March 15th and November 8th). Kerensky, as War Minister is visited at Petrograd by all the C-in-Cs.
Trotsky arrives in Petrograd (from April 3 internment in Canada). Lev Davidovich Bronstein, called Trotsky: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Trotzki.jpg?ssl=1
France: (Listed for yesterday): 2000 French women clothing workers go on strike in Paris, calling for increased pay and a 5-day workweek. Strike spreads to other industries.
United Kingdom: Suffrage bill is introduced in the House of Commons to give women over the age of 30 the right to vote.
Mr. Lloyd George proposes Home Rule (for Ireland) at once and suggests Convention.
United States: Aircraft Production Board set up.
A “portable hospital” designed by the Rockefeller Institute for use near the front is revealed: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/864106938996490240/photo/1

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
France: Belgian King Albert tours British Somme, Aisne and Arras battlefields. Petain’s Directive No.1 rejects breakthrough aim ‘for the moment.’ King Albert I inspecting a Belgian heavy artillery armored train near Saint-Pol: © IWM (Q 2202): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/864782760287903746/photo/1
French Army Mutinies: On 16–17 May, there were disturbances in a Chasseur battalion of the 127th Division and a regiment of the 18th Division. Two days later a battalion of the 166th Division staged a demonstration and on 20 May the 128th Regiment of the 3rd Division and the 66th Regiment of the 18th Division refused orders; individual incidents of insubordination occurred in the 17th Division. Over the next two days spokesmen were elected in two regiments of the 69th Division to petition for an end to the offensive. By 28 May mutinies broke out in the 9th Division, 158th Division, 5th Division and 1st Cavalry Division. By the end of May more units of the 5th, 6th, 13th, 35th, 43rd, 62nd, 77th and 170th divisions mutinied and revolts occurred in 21 divisions in May. A record 27,000 French soldiers deserted in 1917; the offensive was suspended on 9 May.

Eastern Front
Intense Central Powers’ fire on Russian trenches near Kukhary (Kovel).

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Italians hold gains with British 6-inch howitzer help despite repeated Austrian counter-attacks. Cadorna orders medium and heavy artillery fire only for attacks or enemy counter-attacks due to shell shortage, guns being moved south to Carso.
Italian troops take the town of Duino on the Adriatic coast, and claim total Austro-Hungarian prisoners taken reach 4,021.
Behind the Austro-Hungarian lines potatoes are peeled: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/oesterr-Kartoffelschaelen.jpg?ssl=1
Serbia: Last French attacks in Crna bend and north of Monastir fail against German counter-attacks with 1,113 casualties. Serrail fails to get Serb First Army (Misic) into action.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Picture of an Arab fighter riding a camel taken by T.E. Lawrence: © IWM (Q 59183): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/864752541619425280/photo/1
Kurds attack Russian rear near Khanikan.
Mesopotamian Commission's report presented.

Political, etc
Germany: Austro-German Kreuznach Agreement (until May 18): Austria to get Balkans territory for letting Germany have Poland and Baltic gains (Czernin’s peace effort thwarted).
United Kingdom: The British Admiralty appoint a Committee, in conjunction with the Ministry of Shipping, to draw up a plan to convoy merchant ships (see June 14th and July 2nd). [ed note: there is a lot of controversy surrounding this decision. Lloyd George claims it was as a result of a visit to Whitehall; others in Parliament claims it was the result obtained following on a Cabinet decision; the records seem to show that the decision to appoint such a committee was taken by the Admiralty a few days to a week prior to Lloyd George’s visit to Whitehall.]
(Listed for yesterday): Philip Snowden, Socialist Member of Parliament, declares if peace does not come soon, Allied countries will be threatened by revolution.
British Director of Food Economy defends the continued brewing of beer in the country, stating it counts as food and is necessary.
Annual meetings of Imperial Cabinet announced.
Serbia: Radomir Putnik, former Serbian Field Marshal and Chief of the General Staff, passed away: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/864828158998138880/photo/1
United States: U.S. National Confectioners’ Association adopts a resolution proposing a 2-cent coin, as “penny candy goods” have risen in cost.
U.S. Secretary of War says that due to the lack of supplies, the U.S. will not be able to mobilize 500,000 men until September 1st. [Ed Note: remember the “wild promises” mentioned earlier ?]
U.S.A. Minister in Belgium issues damning report on German deportations.
Minor Allies: Honduras severs diplomatic relations with Germany (see July 19th, 1918).

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: A battalion of the 166th Division staged a protest demonstration against further futile offensives.
France: Haig meets Petain at Amiens, latter says British Flanders plans too ambitious, former’s diary finds Petain ‘businesslike, knowledgeable and brief of speech’.
British officers training on horseback near Arras: © IWM (Q 2155): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/865130046079606784/photo/1
Aisne: French easily repulse slight attacks on Chemin des Dames California plateau (until May 19). Germans regain 200 yards on May 20.
Artillery activity near Fresnoy.

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Italians extend their hold on Vodice and Hill 652.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: 918 British river craft and 148 on order from India.
Palestine: EEF begins offensive patrols in Gaza sector.


Political, etc
Russia: The Duma urges loyalty to Allies on Provisional Government.
United Kingdom: John Buchan reports on poor ‘public feeling’, urges more domestic propaganda. Cabinet agrees on May 22 to a campaign to ‘counter-attack the pacifist movement’.
Several labour leaders in Sheffield, England are arrested under the Defense of Realm Act for organizing a strike in defiance of their unions.
United States: Selective Conscription Act for men aged 21-31. 500,000 to be mustered in September. A blindfolded volunteer draws out the assigned numbers of some of those Americans to fight on the Western Front: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/selective-conscription-act.jpg?ssl=1
US Base Hospital No 4 (243 staff) reaches Britain (first US soldiers to do so).
Minor Allies: Nicaragua severs diplomatic relations with Germany (see May 8th, 1918).

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: Several mutinies a day now reported in French Army. When Nivelle’s offensive yielded only a few miles of ground at a cost of 200,000 casulaties the grumble became a mutiny in the French Army: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/the-grumble.jpg?ssl=1
German attack French trenches along the Chemin des Dames with flamethrowers and gain ground.
British soldiers salvaging a statue head from the ruins of the Chateau at Caulaincourt: © IWM (Q 2252): https://t.co/zQH39qGtVp
German prisoners are made to reassemble captured German guns for the Allies: https://t.co/OpP6w35QSo
British push forward beyond Bullecourt.

Eastern Front
Russian Army at the front remains passive.

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Italians evacuate temporary Bodrez Isonzo bridgehead and repulse Austrian night attack on Vodice (night May 19-20).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Baltic: 4 Russian submarines sail from Reval on year’s first patrol, Bars sunk on May 28 either mined or depth charged off Norrkoeping, Sweden. Second group also has no success. Kerensky speaks at Helsinki naval base (May 23).

Political, etc
Russia: Russian Provisional Government issue declaration repudiating a separate peace but general one to be without annexations or sanctions.
United Kingdom: Settlement with Amalgamated Society of Engineers agreed on.
United States: United States Government announce decision to send a Division of the United States Army to France at once (see June 25th).
Former President Roosevelt asks the White House for permission to raise 2 divisions to fight in Europe.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Champagne: French take 500 PoWs in Moronvilliers sector (other minor successes on May 21 and 25).
End of Second Battle of the Aisne.
Artois: BEF Fifth Army actions on Siegfriedstellung (Hindenburg Line) (until May 31), British 33rd Division captures whole first line north of Bullecourt.
British force line near Fontaine-lez-Croisilles.
Australian dispatch rider on a motorcycle carrying a basket holding carrier pigeons: © IWM (E(AUS) 646): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/865855907946786816/photo/1
Germans gain 200 yards north-east of Cerny.

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Austrian “attacks” on the Carso beaten off.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Germany: Kaiser finally orders German Navy to regard US warships in blockaded zone as hostile (U-boats told to stay 4 miles off Spanish coast on May 29).
Western Mediterranean: Italian-built Russian submarine Svyatoi Georgi commissioned at Spezia, sails 5,000 miles (June-September) to join Arctic Ocean Flotilla.
A flying boat of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) destroys the first hostile submarine to be sunk by an aircraft without any form of assistance. A 'Large America' flying boat flown by Flight Sub-Lieutenant C.R. Morrish, Royal Naval Air Service, on a 'Spider Web' patrol from Felixstowe sighted and attacked the German submarine UC-36 on the surface near the North Hinder Light Ship. Destruction of the submarine was confirmed in January 1919. Another source claims: two other attacks during May. But UC-36 actually lost on May 17 or 18 off Isle of Wight, probably to mine.

Political, etc
Russia: Kerensky begins visiting units. Aleksandr Kerensky (left) takes a salute at a military parade: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Kerensky-military-parade.jpg?ssl=1
Brawl between Russian and Royal Navy armored car unit at Tiraspol (Bessarabia), 1 killed on each side.
Russian Provisional Government declares it will not annex new territory, but will still fight to free occupied areas.
United Kingdom: Parliamentary committee report warns that “industrial fatigue” among British workers due to war conditions threatens production.
Canada: Conscription bill in Canada announced and well received.
Serbia: Serbian Govermnent-in-Exile transferred from Corfu to Salonika (see February 9th, 1916 and December 9th, 1918).
United States: President Wilson refuses former President Roosevelt’s request to personally raise troops to fight in Europe. The only way this could have been fulfilled was by taking arms & supplies needed by the regular Army.
U.S.A. Division to start at once for France under General Pershing.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: The 128th Regiment of the 3rd Division and the 66th Regiment of the 18th Division refused orders; individual incidents of insubordination occurred in the 17th Division. Even in regiments where there was direct confrontation, such as the 74th Infantry Regiment, the men did not harm their officers; they simply refused to return to the trenches. Most mutineers were veterans who did not refuse to fight but wanted the military authorities to be more attentive to the realities of modern war.
Artois: British now hold advanced line of Hindenburg Line from Bullecourt to 1 mile east of Arras (with a 2,000-yard gap) and make gains on Fontaine-les-Croisilles.
Flanders: British Messines Ridge bombardment begins with 144,000t of shells brought up since March. 2,250 guns fire 3,258,000 shells until June 7.
Preparing a British 12-inch BL Siege Howitzer for action with a lot of shells: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/12-in-siege-how.jpg?ssl=1
British troops now control 11 miles of the Hindenburg line, bar 2000 yards of trenches still held by the Germans.
Canadian soldier inside the breach of a big howitzer: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/866311426000007168/photo/1
French claim great success on Moronvilliers ridge and ground held.
Activity on California Plateau and near Craonne.

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Italians foil Austrian Tavignolo valley attacks.
Macedonia: At Serbian request Sarrail ends Allied spring offensive after 14,000 casualties for minimal gains.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Yet another claim about UC-36: German submarine UC-36, which sunk 22 merchant ships and 2 warships, is rammed and sunk by a French steamer.
East Africa: Max Wintgens (disabled by typhus, captured by Belgian 6th Battalion and allowed to keep sword, May 23) hands over to Lieutenant Naumann 469 German troops with 2 guns and 12 MGs. They cross Central Railway west of Malongwe 2 miles from 4th Nigerian Battalion on May 26.

Political, etc
USA to France: (Special, 1927): Aboard the Spirit of St. Louis, American aviator Charles Lindbergh completed the first solo non-stop transatlantic flight, flying from Roosevelt Field near New York City to Paris–Le Bourget Airport.
Germany: Berlin residents are warned that the government may not be able to fulfill potato rations. Pork will only be sold on Thursday.
Russia: M. Albert Thomas, French Minister of Munitions, speaks with effect in Moscow.
France: French Parliamentary investigations are announced over the disappointing results of the offensives at the Aisne and Champagne fronts.
United Kingdom: British govt says grain stocks will last for 12 weeks, which is long enough for the harvest, but warns against any increase in consumptions.
Female workers unloading boxes of artillery shells at a depot in Newbury: © IWM (Q 110256): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/865947788416348160/photo/1
Premier Lloyd George proposes in Parliament a constitutional convention for Ireland to decide its fate.
Debate in House of Commons on proposed Irish Convention.
Portugal: Members of the Portuguese Expeditionary Force having fun for the camera: © IWM (IWM FLM 2370): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/866234654059352066/photo/1
United States: A fire devastates large parts of Atlanta, Georgia, destroying 1900 buildings and displacing 10,000 people.
Cuba: Inauguration of Mario García Menocal for his 2nd term as President of Cuba: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/865902473340440576/photo/1

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: In Soissons, Villers-Cotterêts, Fère-en-Tardenois and Cœuvres-et-Valsery, troops refused to obey their officers' orders or to go to the front.
Confused fighting on Arras front; successful French actions on the River Aisne front. French troops on the Champagne front repel three attacks by the Germans and claim the capture of 1000 prisoners during the assaults.

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Italians frustrate Austro-Hungarian attacks in Travignolo valley.
Macedonia: Battle of the Vardar ends (see 5th).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Eastern Mediterranean: British Malta-Alexandria convoys begin (4 ships with 4 escort trawlers, only 2 ships lost until July 16).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Demolition of 13 miles of Hejaz Railway by Anzac Mounted Brigade and Camel Corps.


Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Prime minister Count Tisza of Hungary resigns at Emperor’s bidding.
Russia: Kerensky demands CoS Alexeiev resignation, replaces him with Brusilov. Alexej Brusilov headed the successful Russian offensive in 1916, which was named after him: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/alexej-brussilow.jpg?ssl=1
France: Premier Ribot announces French war aims: the assurance of lasting peace, “restoration” of Alsace-Lorraine, & reparations from Germany. Premier Ribot also states that during the recent French offensives “there were some excessive hopes and some errors of execution…”
United Kingdom: Postwar shortage of 500,000 houses estimated. Brigade-General Nash succeeds Sir E Geddes as Inspector-General Transportation.
American Red Cross contingent arrives in London: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/866585725621456900/photo/1
United States: Former President Roosevelt states he will do “everything” in his power to help Liberty Loans, which will fund the U.S. war effort.
In what is described as a “carnival” atmosphere, 5000 people in Memphis, Tennessee lynch Ell Persons, who was accused of rape & murder.
China: Crisis in China; President replaces Tuan-chi-jui by Wu Ting Fang, as Prime Minister.
Brazil: President Brás of Brazil urges the Brazilian Congress to give up neutrality due to Germany’s submarine warfare.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: No additional developments today; previous protests and insubordination continue.
6 German Navy airships fly against London but nearest 40 miles away; (1 fatal casualty to 60 scattered bombs) (night May 23/24). 76 defence sorties only sight 1 Zeppelin, and 1 plane of Royal Navy Air Service failed to return.
Germans make early attack on Vauclere Plateau (Craonne), ‘heavily’ repulsed.

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: From Kostanjevica to sea aided by 60 British guns and Royal Navy monitors begins with 6-hour barrage from 0600 hours, attack at 1600 hours with 130 aircraft in close support. Four hills stormed. Austrian attacks beaten off on May 24. An Italian military photographer pictures the events at the front: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ital-Militaerfotograf.jpg?ssl=1
Gabriele D’Annunzio flies in aircraft over Carso, wins third Silver Medal, promoted Major on September 29.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Demonstration and raid by mounted troops on Bir-es-Saba.

Political, etc
France: Return to France of Marshal Joffre and M. Viviani from U.S.A.
United Kingdom: M. Aleksandr Isvolski appointed Ambassador in London (subsequently cancelled).

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: In 1967, Guy Pedroncini examined French military archives, discovering that by the end of May, 49 infantry divisions were destabilized and experienced repeated episodes of mutiny. Of the 49, nine divisions were gravely affected by mutinous behavior; fifteen were seriously affected and twenty five divisions were affected by isolated but repeated instances of mutinous behavior. As the French Army comprised 113 infantry divisions by the end of 1917, 43% had been affected.
French line round Craonne improved.

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Italian troops at the Isonzo Battle advance on a 10-mile front, taking several towns and claim 9000 Austro-Hungarian prisoners.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: First homeward-bound British transatlantic convoy sails from Hampton Roads, Virginia, USA, arrives safely despite fog and rough seas, 1 straggler lost to U-boat (4 convoys follow in June with 60 ships, no losses).
A convoy of merchant ships which is escorted by warships crosses the Atlantic. With the introduction of the convoy system, the rate of sunken merchant ships drops while the sunken submarines are rising: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Konvoi-Handelsschiffe.jpg?ssl=1
First U-cruiser patrol (2 5.9in-guns and 18 torpedoes) begins: U-155 (Kptlt Karl Meusel) sinks 10 steamers and 7 sailing ships in 104 days or 52,000t (until September 4) on 10,220-mile voyage, longest yet.
Adriatic: French submarine Circe torpedoes and sinks UC-24 off Cattaro, one of the few (possibly only) kills by a French submarine in the war. Two Royal Navy monitors shell Prosecco crossroads and airfield near Trieste despite Austrian seaplane attacks (1 bomb hit, 1 shot down).

Political, etc
England to Australia: (Special, 1930): English aviatrix Amy Johnson landed in Darwin, Northern Territory, becoming the first woman to successfully fly from England to Australia.
Russia: Kerensky’s Declaration of the Rights of Soldiers (published on May 27).
Russian Provisional Government announces it has raised 145 million Rubles through its “Liberty” loan.
United Kingdom: Mr. Bonar Law on German finance.
United States: Prince Udine’s Italian War Mission sees Wilson (landed New York on May 9-10): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/867026134566916100/photo/1
Harry Lane, Oregon Senator who supported women’s suffrage and Native American rights and voted against entering the war, passed away: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/866980833223204864/photo/1
U.S. House of Representatives approves a $1.857 billion war tax bill by a vote of 329 to 76.
U.S. government bans its citizens from attending the Socialist conference in Stockholm and warns “heavy punishment” for those who still go.
Madagascar: Ranavalona III, the deposed Queen and last sovereign of the Kingdom of Madagascar, passed away: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/867011035676520448/photo/1

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: No additional developments today; previous protests and insubordination continue.
Great Britain: TheGerman Air Corps mounts its first large-scale daylight raid on Britain (Kent and Folkestone) to cause heavy casualties. Twentythree Gotha bombers of Kagohl 3 are despatched to attack London, but two are forced to turn back over the North Sea due to mechanical difficulties. Poor weather forced the attacking force to turn away from the capital and seek targets further south. The main attack is carried out against the Channel port of Folkestone and the nearby Army camp at Shorncliffe. 95 deaths and 195 other casualties, over half civilians (see December 21st, 1914 and July 20th and August 5th, 1918) result from the raid, mostly in the Folkestone area. While returning from the raid, the Gothas are engaged near the Belgian coast by nine Sopwith Pups of No.4 and No.9 Squadrons, Royal Naval Air Service, based at Dunkirk and one Gotha bomber is shot down. Bombs in position under the fuselage and wing of a Gotha bomber prior to a mission against London: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Bomben-Gotha.jpg?ssl=1
Home Defence Group allotted 20 extra fighters.
Georges Guynemer achieves 4 kills in one day (total 45).
The devastated street of Croisilles, France: © IWM (Q 2254): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/867676697969254401/photo/1
French colonial troops of the Madagascar Regiment working on reconstructing the ruins Chavignon: © IWM (Q 78883): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/867706870705860609/photo/1
British advance towards Fontaine-lez-Croiselles.
German success near Braye (Chemin des Dames); French success round Mt. Cornillet (Moronvilliers).

Eastern Front
Russia: Kerensky’s Order for the Offensive of the Army and Fleet declares exhorts ‘Without discipline there can be no safety’.
Bukovina: Kornilov takes over Russian Eighth Army from Kaledin.

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Italians take two villages and clear Hudi Log salient, and claim 2,000 PoWs. Italian troops in their trenches on the Isonzo front waiting for the order to go over the top: © IWM (Q 114388): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/867691759429722112/photo/1

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: U-boat sinks Armed Merchant Cruiser Hilary (4 lifes lost).

Political, etc
United Kingdom: British government ends all financial speculations on food in order to prevent rising food costs. Mr. Lloyd George issues statement re: submarine menace and food supplies.
Canada: Anti-conscription parade in Montreal’s Victoria Square: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/867389808821370880/photo/1
Ireland: (listed for yesterday): Sinn Fein demands the right for Ireland to secede from Britain and better treatment for prisoners captured during the Easter Rising.
Italy: (listed for yesterday): Italy observes the 3rd year since it entered the war.
United States: An American Red Cross course at Teachers College, demonstrating how to bandage the head and leg: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/867359602723225601/photo/1
U.S. government criticizes businesses that fire immigrant employees based on their citizenship, as it violates “national good sense.”

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: No additional developments today; previous protests and insubordination continue.
France: FIRST US TROOPS DISEMBARK (1,308 US soldiers by May 31). A group of American soldiers on their arrival in France: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/us-soldiers-france-1.jpg?ssl=1
Champagne: Three German counter-attacks fail. However, At Chemins-des-Dames, German troops capture French positions, taking 544 prisoners and 15 machine guns. \
(listed for yesterday): Karl Emil Schäfer, German fighter ace with 30 confirmed victories, is shot down and killed in action: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/867752227343151105/photo/1
A tent being used as a telephone exchange near Albert: © IWM (Q 2243): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/868055423894663168/photo/1
British troops clearing rubble around a statue of the Virgin Mary at Montauban: © IWM (Q 2240): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/868070528929730560/photo/1

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Italian 4th Division occupies ruins of Kostanjevica village but Austrian guns force evacuation. Italians capture 10 guns and reach river Timavo taking 800 PoWs but Hill 28 (Major Randaccio dies in poet D’Annunzio’s arms) not secured (until May 27).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Western Mediterranean: British hospital ship Dover Castle (7 lost) sunk by UC-67 (Neumann) off Algeria, but destroyer escort gets wounded off. (Neumann acquitted at June 1921 Leipzig War Crimes Trial on higher orders defence.)
Channel: Heinkel designed Brandenburg seaplane fighters shoot down a formation of 4 French Navy FBA flying boats.

Political, etc
France: French Minister of Marine states Germans have sunk 2,400,000 tons in first four months.
Canada: Mr. Balfour arrives in Canada.
Belgium: German occupation of Belgium raises the monthly war tax from 50 million marks to 60 million marks.
United States: Japanese immigration to the U.S. increases due to the need for laborers at farms, caused by food shortages.
A tornado in Charleston and Mattoon, Illinois kills 101 people. 10 pother people are also killed by different tornadoes: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/868131010793353220/photo/1
Brazil: Brazil annuls its neutrality decree.

[dicksbro]

Political, etc
France: French Minister of Marine states Germans have sunk 2,400,000 tons in first four months.
Amazing ... and that's when ships of 10,000 tons were considered pretty big. Not like today when there are ships well over 100,000 tons.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: French 18th Infantry Regiment’s 2nd Battalion (844 casualties from May 4-8) mutinies at Villers sur Fare (until May 28), 12 court-martialled, 5 sentenced to death, 3 executed. Worst disorders at Fare-en-Tardenois rail station (until May 28) as mutineers try to reach Paris. From mid-May the militant ‘midinettes’ (Parisian working-girls) paraded the Paris boulevards and demonstrations and strikes became frequent, while sympathizing troops joined in the anti-war campaign: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/militant-midinettes.jpg?ssl=1
Skirmishing on Champagne, Verdun and Alsace fronts.
A shell bursting just meters away from a British dressing station on the Western Front: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/868402717718224896/photo/1
British troops playing cards even as a shell lands in the background: © IWM (Q 2259): https://t.co/3INewwbmI9
British, French, and Belgian aeroplanes bombard German defenses on the Belgian coast at Heist, Blackenberge, and Zeebrugge.

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Italian troops capture the village of San Giovanni from Austria-Hungary and cross the Timavo River, lose and regain Hill 126, east of Gorizia. Austro-Hungarians claim 13,000 prisoners.
Macedonia: 10 Royal Navy Air Service and Royal Flying Corps aircraft destroyed in hangar explosion at Marian airfield, 9 casualties. Disaster kept secret for many weeks.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Germans threaten to sink at sight all hospital ships in Mediterranean.

Political, etc
Germany: Official statistics show German birthrates in the 26 largest German cities have dropped by 38.3% since 1914.
Announced that 600 German daily papers ceased publication since beginning of war
Russia: Reported that 30,000 deserters pass through Kiev daily.
United States: Children at an “Americanization” rally in New York City: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/868494590948638724/photo/1

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: Mutinies broke out in the 9th Division, 158th Division, 5th Division and 1st Cavalry Division.
Aisne: Unsuccessful German attack near Hurtebise.

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Italian guns within 10 miles of Trieste. Cadorna orders preparations for summer Isonzo offensive. Austro-Hungarian counter-stroke on Carso regains little.
In Plava sector Italians drive Austro-Hungarians to end of Globna valley. Claim nearly 24,000 prisoners in last fortnight.
A Italian trench on the Carso. The Carso plateau, a howling wilderness of stones, sharp as knives, had eventually been taken by the Italians for a terrifying loss of lives and of morale: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/italian-trench-carso.jpg?ssl=1

Political, etc
France: French Socialists decide to attend Stockholm Conference.
MM. Ribot, Cambon, Painleve, and General Foch's agreement with War Cabinet in London.
United Kingdom: Anglo-French Conference assembles in London to discuss the deposition of King Constantine of Greece and the occupation of Athens and Thessaly (continued on 29th) (see June 11th).
British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour declares British Empire had “staked its last dollar on democracy.”
Canada: Mr. Balfour's remarkable reception at Toronto University.
Serbia: Serbians, Montenegrins, and other Yugoslavians in Entente countries voice opposition to Italy’s move to control the Adriatic coast.
United States: More than 20 Americans have been arrested for opposing the draft, with antiwar demonstrations occurring in several U.S. cities.
Race riots begin in East St. Louis, with several deaths & 1,500 African Americans driven away after Whites set fire to their homes.
China: Li Jingxi is approved as the new Premier of the Chinse Republic: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/868766327288324097/photo/1
Brazil: Brazilian Congress votes 136 to 3 in the first reading of a measure to end Brazilian neutrality in the war.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: 80 mutinous incidents until June 10.
Near St. Quentin and in Champagne heavy artillery and small patrol actions.
French listening post in a tunnel, to determine mine works of the Germans: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/horchposten-stollen.jpg?ssl=1

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Italians win trenches near Medeazza (southern Carso).
Austro-Hungarian attacks on Vodice fail.
Fighting diminishing after maximum 4,500 yard Italian advance on Carso claims 16,000 PoWs plus 6,000 in Gorizia zone.

Naval and Overseas Operations
The first British air sea rescue occurs when two seaplane crew are rescued from North Sea by Flight Commander L. Gordon and Flight Lieutenant G. Hodgson in flying boat.
French liner Yarra torpedoed in Mediterranean: 56 lost.
H.M.S. Hilary sunk, 4 lost.
Black Sea: Russo-Rumanian naval coastal raid with 2 cruisers, 2 torpedo boats and 1 subchaser on Anatolia, sinks or captures over 50 sailing craft during shelling of four ports including Samsun and Sinope until May 30.

Political, etc
Germany: Kaiser Wilhelm states the British “fight only to increase their power and don’t inquire where the right may be.”
Russia: The Petrograd Soviet refuses to accept the war aims of the Allies, pointing to British oppression of Ireland.
United Kingdom: Mr. A. Henderson goes to Russia on special Mission.
Mr. Balfour addresses Canadian Parliament in French and English.
Turkey: Vossuq ed Douleh, Persian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, resigns (see August 29th, 1916, June 6th, 1917, and August 7th, 1918).
United States: Attorney General Gregory instructs U.S. attorneys and marshals to use their utmost effort to arrest and prosecute anti-draft activists.
U.S. exports in the past 12 months reach a record of $6 billion, $2 billion more than last year, largely due to demand in Allied countries.
Women in the motor corps of the National League of Women’s Service taking an oath of allegiance to the U.S.: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/869176964535529473/photo/1
John F. Kennedy is born in Brookline, Massachusetts to Joseph Patrick Kennedy and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald Kennedy.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: By the end of May more units of the 5th, 6th, 13th, 35th, 43rd, 62nd, 77th and 170th divisions mutinied and revolts occurred in 21 divisions in May.
Champagne: Heavy German attacks on Moronvilliers Massif fail (until May 31).
British troops marching through Arras after the Battle of Bullecourt: © IWM (Q 3873): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/869478693558734848/photo/1

Southern Front
Austrians reported asking for German aid for Trieste.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Allied and neutral shipping losses: 285 ships of 589,603t (German U-boat official history figure 616,316t including 170,626t in Mediterranean). Record of 7 U-boats lost, only 5 comissioned. UC-65 (Otto Steinbrinck) has sunk 72,311t and damaged 51,452t since February 1. Sixtythree Q-ships operating in Home Waters.
A French freighter sinks after the attack of a German U-boat: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/frz-frachter-sinkt.jpg?ssl=1
During May Room 40 finally incorporated into Admiralty Naval Intelligence Division as Section 25 under Commander William ‘Bubbles’ James.
East Africa: General van Deventer succeeds General Hoskins in command of British forces in East Africa (see January 20th).
German forces break south from Rufiji towards Portuguese territory.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Reichsrat meets for first time since March 1914; Polish representatives declare for independence, Serbs, Croats and Slovenes form ‘Yugoslav Parliamentary Club’.
Germany: German Socialists declare they do not support annexation or indemnities, but demand the independence of Finland and Russian Poland.
Russia: Russian Provisional Government considers seizing private property as the state fails to raise enough money through loans.
United Kingdom: British Board of Trade takes control of all tobacco supplies due to shortage of supply.
United States: U.S. officials report young American men are crossing into Mexico daily to escape conscription.
Junior naval scouts on the “U.S.S. Recruit,” a model battleship built in Union Square in New York City for Memorial Day: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/869556589199589377/photo/1
Sweden: Soviet announces International Conference at Stockholm.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: Mutiny in French 77th Infantry Division (until June 6): 150 men of 157th Light Infantry Brigade and 97th Infantry Regiment detained and disarmed. In almost unique incident light infantry of 60th Brigade refuse to move into line to support Moroccan Division, disciplinary measures taken. Ashworth wrote that the mutinies were "widespread and persistent" and involved more than half the divisions in the French army.
Artillery action in Ypres and Wytschaete salients.
Violent German attacks on Moronvilliers massif fail.
Allies make the utterly fantastical claim of 442 German to 271 Allied aeroplanes brought down in May. Especially in light of the accounting from another source, which says: Royal Flying Corps casualties since April 27 are 361.
British 8-inch howitzer in action at Wagonlieu: © IWM (Q 2297): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/869843431471939585/photo/1
Men of the Canadian Forestry Corps loading timber at Conches-en-Ouche: © IWM (Q 2343): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/869874925120704513/photo/1
Official British casualties for May lists 114,118 men killed, wounded, and missing.
Britain: CIGS chairs home air defence conference, 24 trained anti-aircraft observers to be transferred from France to serve in lightships, but Field Marshal French writes to War Office that too few aircraft available.

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Austro-Hungarian counter-attack in Vodice sector repulsed.
Venizelist forces in Macedonia now amount to nearly 2,000 officers and 60,000 men.
Albanian troops under Italian command recapture 4 villages in southern Albania from Austria-Hungary.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Emperor Charles promises a more liberal Constitution after the war. He also states peace with Russia is also possible.
Germany: 118,000 (79,000 women, youths or old men) civilians now in military agencies but still 260,000 troops at home or in occupied territories.
United Kingdom: Meat Sale Order in Great Britain published.
May bread consumption reported 10% below February.
Canada: Antidraft riots in Quebec continues, with most activity centered on Montreal.
United States: U.S. Department of Justice begins arresting pacifists and anti-draft activists, including university students.
Wilson subscribes $10,000 to Liberty Loan.
Appeal for US war loans: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/appeal-us-war-loan.jpg?ssl=1

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: Up to 2,000 men of French 23rd and 133rd Infantry Regiments (43rd Division) mutiny until June 2 at Ville-en-Tardenois and Chambrecy (southwest of Reims), display red flag. On 1 June, a French infantry regiment took over the town of Missy-aux-Bois.
Four German Jagdstaffeln are combined to form Jagdgeschwader 1 under the command of Baron Manfred von Richthofen. Von Richthofen's 'circus' brought together many of Germany's finest fighter pilots and forced the Allies to concentrate their best squadrons opposite whichever sector the Jagdgeschwader occupied.
Significant numbers of SE5, Sopwith Triplane, Bristol Fighter and Spad S 13 enable Allies to regain air superiority.
Variety of types on an Allied airfield. From front to back is a Morane-Saulnier P, S.E.5, D.H.5, F.E.2 and S.E.5a (barely visible, halfway out of the photo). The fast development of the aircraft does not allow for uniformity: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/alliierte-typenvielfalt.jpg?ssl=1
Britain: BEF claims to have taken 76,067 PoWs to date.
Germany: During June Rupprecht transfers 10 divisions from Lens-Lille sector to Flanders.
Aisne: German 4-coy local dawn attack preceded by 3-minutes mortar shelling and indirect MG fire behind French first line.
Continued artillery duel in Wytschaete salient.
Germans attack near Laffaux Hill (Chemin des Dames) gains some ground.
During "Spring offensive", Allies claim to have have captured 52,000 Germans (including 1,000 officers), 446 guns, and 1,000 m.g.'s.
Zeebrugge, Ostend and Bruges heavily bombed by R.N.A.S.

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Successful Italian attack south of Kostanjevica (Carso).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Adriatic: In June No 6 Wing Royal Navy Air Service begins anti-U-boat patrols from Otranto.
Britain: During June convoys being regularly run, 113 destroyers available for escort in Home Waters, 37 in Mediterranean, average of 55 U-boats at sea per day.
Mediterranean: 18 German and 3-4 Austrian U-boats on operations (until June 15).

Political, etc
Russia: Socialist revolt at Kronstadt against Russian Provisional Government.
France: French Government announces no passports to French delegates to Stockholm Conference.
United Kingdom: Lord Devenport resigns office of Food Controller.
British Labour Party appoints deputation to Stockholm and Petrograd.
United States: In June Major Raynal C Bolling Mission leaves USA for two-month tour of Allied aircraft manufacturing in Europe and remit to conclude license production agreements.

[dicksbro]

Do you know whether at this point in time Hermann Goering was part of Jagdgeschwader 1 or did he become part of that group later?

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: New French C-in-C Petain’s CoS Debeney informs Haig that, due to mutinies, French Army can give only minimal support in planned Allied offensive.
Haig decides to attack a key sector immediately and so distract Germans from French; Messines offensive already scheduled for June 7 fits the bill.
Western Front: Victoria Cross is awarded to Captain W.A. 'Billy' Bishop of No.60 Squadron, a Canadian serving in the Royal Flying Corps, for his one-man raid on Estourmel airfield near Cambrai in France in a Nieuport (B1566). Canadian ace Captain Bishop flies dawn raid on German airfield near Cambrai, and claims to have destroyed 3 Albatros fighters that rise to engage; returns to base in bullet-riddled Nieuport figher (Victoria Cross award on August 11).
Ed Note: there is a lot of controversy surrounding this mission. Since he flew it as a solo mission, (although he did seek a wingman for it), there are those that claim he made the whole incident up. A careful search of German records seems to indicate that there was no such raid on any German Jäger (fighter) unit on this date. However, Bishop did return with his plane shot full of holes, so something happened.
In his account, he states that the airfield he originally selected was completely socked in by overcast & fog: so he was forced to an alternative target. It is likely that the alternate target was either a two-seater unit’s airfield, or that of a temporary airfield of a ferry unit replacing single-seater fighters, and that otherwise, Bishop’s claim of being able to destroy three German aircraft while they were taking-off is accurate. Examination of German records for the Artillerie- and Aufklärungs- (artillery-spotting and reconnaissance) units, and Jagdstaffel 20’s (the ferry unit) in the area does support claims of German losses for this date.
Canadian ace Billy Bishop in front of his Nieuport 17 fighter: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Billy-Bishop-Nieuport.jpg?ssl=1
Flanders: Royal Flying Corps Second Army aircraft destroy 32 aircraft for loss of 18 (until June 7).
American nurses attached to the No. 12 General Hospital to the BEF at Rouen: © IWM (Q 2337): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/870271359737356288/photo/1
Field Marshall von Hindenburg (accurately) reports to Kaiser Wilhelm that the British and French spring offensives have failed.
British artillery is active at Wytschaete and Ypres sectors in Belgium as it prepares for another offensive.
German attack captures around 1000 yards of French trenches west of CHemin-des-Dames, along with around 200 French prisoners.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Britain claims its shipping losses were the lightest last month since the resumption of German unrestricted submarine warfare.
Eastern Mediterranean: British transport Cameronian (63 men lost) sunk 50 miles off Alexandria.

Political, etc
Russia: The Petrograd Soviet takes control over the Kronstadt naval base in defiance of the Russian Provisional Government.
Belgium: Dutch government gives 12,000 tons of grain to German-occupied Belgium as aid.
United States: President Wilson issues a proclamation warning Americans who flee the country to avoid the draft will face punishment.
In the past 8 days, 383 people have been killed in the Midwest and Southeast U.S. by tornadoes.
Brazil: Brazil takes control over 46 German ships interned in its ports, as Brazil abandons its neutrality in the war.

[gekkogecko]

Do you know whether at this point in time Hermann Goering was part of Jagdgeschwader 1 or did he become part of that group later?


In fact, he was not. Couple of biographies state:
In June, 1917, Göring was still flying with Jagdstaffel 27 (as commanding officer). Göring didn't command JG 1 until July 1918, becoming that until's last commanding officer.

[dicksbro]

Thanks, I was just curious! Couldn't remember if he was one of the early group of pilots to be selected for Jagdgeschwader1 or later.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: The government suppressed the news so as not to alert the Germans, nor depress homefront morale. The extent and intensity of the mutinies were disclosed for the first time in 1967 by Guy Pedroncini in his volume Les Mutineries de 1917. His project had been made possible by the opening of most of the relevant military archives 50 years after the events, a delay in conformity with French War Ministry procedure. However, there are still undisclosed archives on the mutinies, which are believed to contain documents mostly of a political nature; those archives will not be opened to researchers until 100 years after the mutinies, in 2017.
Artois: After 600-projector (mortar) gas barrage Canadian 10th Brigade (over 550 casualties) captures 100 PoWs but cannot hold La Goulette south of river Souchez (until June 25) and Lens.
Loading British gas projectors. The efficacy of the weapon depended on which way the wind blew: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/loading-gas-projectors.jpg?ssl=1
Germans recover ground south of Souchez river.
Flanders: British artillery at Messines begin feint creeping barrage (and on June 5), drawing German guns for counter-battery retaliation.
Intense artillery duel in Wytschaete salient.
Aisne: 5 German Chemin des Dames attacks repelled, another near Hurtebise fails on June 5.
Men of the British 15th division participating in a horse race at Wail, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/870951986987925504/photo/1
Aerodromes at Zeebrugge, Bruges, etc., again heavily bombed.

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Austro-Hungarians repulsed on San Marco (east of Gorizia). They open a great counter-offensive on the Carso.

Naval and Overseas Operations
U-boat UC-72 sinks Uruguayan ship Rosario.
German minesweeper M75 in drydock for repairs after hitting a mine: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/870982191446200320/photo/1
Austro-Hungarian torpedo-boat sunk by submarine. (Maybe-I can find no other record of an Austro-Hungarian ship loss for this date. However, there is a record of SMS Wildfang being mined and sunk on 4 June).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Falkenhayn reports offensive against Baghdad feasible.
Arabia: Lawrence leaves Nebk (with two local guides) to sound Syria Arabian tribes (until June 16), blows bridge on Aleppo-Damascus railway near Baalbek, apparently meets Turkish Damascus commandant (highest-ranking Arab General Ali Riza Rikabi) outside city.

Political, etc
Germany: After negotiations, Germany agrees to keep British prisoners of war at least 15 miles away from the frontlines, out of artillery range.
German Aeronautical Club announces plans to establish a Zeppelin route to carry mail and passengers between Berlin and Constantinople.
United Kingdom: Around eleven hundred British Socialist delegates gather in Leeds, urging peace with Germany without any annexations.
Italy: Government proclaims protectorate over an “independent” Albania.
China: Provisional Government formed in China, as at least 11 Chinese provinces are in revolt, as the government becomes split over whether to declare war on Germany.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: War Minister Painleve estimates only 2 reliable French divisions between Germans and Paris (70 miles away); 1,500 mutineers march on Villers-Cotterelts and try to reach Paris (until June 5).
North Sea: Sopwith Camel first in action with Royal Navy Air Service No 4 Squadron from Dunkirk and scores first victory on June 5 of total 2,500 until the end of the war. Squadron of Sopwith Camels on airfield at the Western Front: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Sopwith-Camel-airfield.jpg?ssl=1
British troops retake the commune of Chérisy, France. British artillery fire on the Western Front continues with intensity.
French air-raid by night on Treves.

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Austrian counter-offensive on Carso under General Wenzel von Wurm with fresh 3 divisions (from Eastern Front) to relieve pressure on Trieste. Italian Third Army driven off lower slopes of Mt Hermada with loss of many PoWs although Armando Diaz’s XXIII Corps holds to north (until June 5).
Italian troops passing through trenches in the ruins of a village: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/871313108597448704/photo/1

Political, etc
Russia: General Alexj Brusilov succeeds General Mikhail Alexeiev as Russian Commander-in-Chief (see September 5th, 1915 and August 1st, 1917).
Russian Minister of War Aleksandr Kerensky backs a federation of states from the “Baltic to Black Sea” so minorities in Russia can have more rights.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: No additional developments today; previous protests and insubordination continue.
German daylight aeroplane raid on Sheerness and the Naval establishments on the Medway: 22 Gotha bombers (1 lost; other sources claim 6) attack Sheerness and Shoeburyness (47 casualties). Only 5 out of 68 British fighters get within range, although 10 RNAS Dunkirk fighters attack formation on its way home after German fighters meet it.
Gotha G-V Bomber on the ground, while the service crew is resting in a trench behind it: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Gotha-bomber-ground.jpg?ssl=1
British troops firing a 6-inch Mark VII gun near Feuchy, France: © IWM (Q 5459): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/871662918894485504/photo/1
The view of the ruined village of Fampoux after the British capture: © IWM (Q 6243): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/871693126750044161/photo/1
Artillery still active near Wytschaete.
British make small advance south of Souchez river, and begin an attack north of river Scarpe.
German “attack” near Hurtebise (Chemin des Dames) fails.

Eastern Front
Russia: Alexj Brusilov farewell to Southwest Front (200,000 men short) ‘I carry luck everywhere with me … now I will lead all the armies of Russia to victory’.
Rumania: General Johannes von Eben in command of German Ninth Army (until June 18, 1918) replacing Erich von Falkenhayn.

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Austro-Hungarian counterattack against Italian lines south of Jamiano succeeds and claims the capture of 6,771 Italian prisoners.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Germany: The ‘Leader of U-boats’ Commander Bauer relieved of command. Bauer has advocated mass ‘wolf-pack’ tactics, ie using cargo submarine Deutschland as radio and fuel vessel for U-boat flotilla; U-66 is used (June 5-10) to try radio-location equipment but U-boats only work in pairs radioing convoy reports. Captain Andreas Michelsen replaces Bauer.
North Sea: Harwich Force (8 cruisers and 17 destroyers) covers Dover Patrol bombardment of Ostend by 2 monitors (20 of 115 shells land in or near dockyard damaging several craft), sinks German destroyer S-20 (9 survivors) and damages another. UC-70 also sunk, but raised to sink more ships. Royal Navy Air service bomb Ostend and Zeebrugge.

Political, etc
Germany: Germany offers to pardon any deserter who returns to their units by July 15.
Russia: Petrograd Soviet issues a statement urging all nations to unite in favor of peace without annexations or indemnities.
United States: Draft Registration Day for nearly 10 million men aged 21-31; 56,830 exemptions recognized including Quakers. https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/871754819270311938/photo/1
US propaganda photo, featuring men smiling after registering for the U.S. draft: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/871756063154065408/photo/1
Contrast to: 3,000 ‘slackers’ fled to Mexico. In New York City, riots break out as anti-conscription protesters clash with militia troops.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: Only casualties of French mutinies when 1 killed and 3 wounded by 42nd Regiment machine-gun.
Royal Navy Air Service fighter ace Collishaw in Sopwith Triplane ‘Black Maria’ destroys 3 Albatros fighters in one action, among 16 victories in 27 days of June (awarded DSC).
In attack north of Scarpe river British carry positions on Greenland Hill.
Unsuccessful German “attacks” on Chemin des Dames front.

Eastern Front
Russia: General Aleksei Gutor new C-in-C SW Front (with Nikolay Dukhonin as CoS who tells Italian officer, June 5, that future offensive ‘could not go far, horses half-starved’) as Alexj Brusilov leaves for STAVKA after three speeches.
US military observer on a visit of the Austro-Hungarian lines on the Eastern Front. Wilson’s attitude toward the Central Powers was not always clear: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/US-Vertreter-Ostfront.jpg?ssl=1

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Austro-Hungarians claim 10,000 PoWs since June 4.
Further heavy fighting on Carso; no material change of front.

Political, etc
Russia: Collapse of Kronstadt revolt after negotiations with Provisional Government.
United Kingdom: Lord Northcliffe to go to U.S.A.
Turkey: Ala es Sultaneh again appointed Persian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (see May 29th and November 24th, 1917 and January 19th, 1918).
Japan: Japan creates a High Commission to decide whether or not to send Japanese troops to help the Allies in Europe.
Greece: Arrival in Greece of M. Jonnart, High Commissioner of the “Protecting” Powers.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: Petain impresses King Albert at first meeting, tells him ‘The French Army is no longer what it was’, As previously outlined, the British response was to launch the otherwise already-planned:
Battle of Messines 1917 begins as an Allied offensive in Flanders (see 14th and November 1st, 1914). The battle was launched in the early hours of the morning with the blowing of 19 mines by the British Army, the largest of which is now known as Spanbroekmolen Mine Crater (or Lone Tree Crater). After the detonation, 9 divisions of British Second Army (Plumer) attack on 9-mile front and capture Messines-Wylschaete ridge. Attack preceded at 0310 hours by devastating, 500t largest non-nuclear explosion of 19 mines (1 still unexploded); causes panic in Lille 15 miles distant. British take 6,400 PoWs. German Gruppe Wytschaete commander Laffert sacked (June 16). Captured German trenches on the Messines Ridge: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/captured-german-trenches-messines-ridge.jpg?ssl=1 The British are also supported by tanks and use of poison gas.
British artillery observers in a captured German observation post: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/872056800429977600/photo/1
Belgium: Belgians to join Anglo-French Flanders advance at certain stage.
The future British Edward ‘Mick” Mannock scores his first victory.

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: Austro-Hungarian attack on Vodice ridge repulsed.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: U-boats begin offensive off US East Coast. Q-ship Pargust (Gordon Campbell, crew win 2 Victoria Cross) sinks UC-29 (Ernst Rosenow) off southeast Ireland.
Baltic: First Congress of the Baltic Fleet (until June 28) at Helsinki tries to clarify C-in-C’s authority.

Political, etc
Sweden: In Stockholm, workers and police clash, as the Swedish Parliament refuses to consider Socialist demands for more rights.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: The repressions begin with mass arrests, which were followed by mass trials. Those arrested were selected by their own officers and NCOs, with the implicit consent of the rank and file. Unrelatedly, activists in some Russian units in France had been spreading word of the revolution underway in Russia and encouraging other Russians and Frenchmen to join them. The rebellious First Russian Brigade was encircled by loyal Russian troops in September 1917 at Camp de La Courtine and bombarded with cannon, killing 8 men and wounding 28. This episode became the basis of widespread false rumors that the French had bombarded French units earlier. Ferdinand Foch meets British CIGS William Robertson at Abbeville. Petain given right to order immediate executions, only orders 7 until July 13. Henry Wilson (British General, not the American President) tells British War Cabinet offensive necessary to keep France in war.
Flanders: British repulse counter-attacks east of Messines Ridge; advance on July 10.
Their advance on a 9-mile front, captures Wytschaete Ridge and claims 6,400 German prisoners. Germans withdraw to new line running through Warneton (July 11). A German PoW captured in the successful battle of the Messines Ridge: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/German-PoW-Messines-Ridge.jpg?ssl=1
British troops near Messines, Belgium while shells burst in the background: © IWM (Q 5462): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/872434280986791937/photo/1
Willie Redmond, Irish nationalist Member of Parliament, is killed in action at Messines: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/872464497348366338/photo/1
Aerial photograph of shells landing near “Fanny’s Farm” at the Messines battlefield: © IWM (BOX 7009-1314-45K-28O-1917): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/872766441157775360/photo/1
Artois: 6 Canadian battalions (709 casualties) make powerful raid west of Avion, bomb over 150 dugouts and inflict over 836 casualties (including 136 PoWs) in night June 8-9. Major-General John Pershing arrives in England (see 13th and May 10th).
A British soldier, wearing a German helmet, carries artillery shells in a wheelbarrow: © IWM (Q 2283): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/872796654314954752/photo/1

Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo: ends (see May 12th). Most of the early Italian gains are wiped out by the Austro-hungarian counterattack.
Greece: Without informing the Allies, Italian troops from Albania occupy Jannina in Epirus and port of Preveza (June 10).

Naval and Overseas Operations
American ships and transports carrying large shipments of grain arrive in France to prepare for the American Expeditionary Force's arrival.

Political, etc
United Kingdom: Lloyd George argues for separate peace with Austria-Hungary, war policy committee set up.
Poland: Austro-German Emperors agree that Germany to control Polish forces. In June Warsaw University shut due to students’ strike.
Ecuador: 101 people are killed in the La Libertad Department, El Salvador due to a 6.7 magnitude earthquake.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: Along with the deterrent of military justice, General Pétain offered two incentives: more regular and longer leave and an end to grand offensives "until the arrival of tanks and Americans on the front". For example, Pétain only launched limited attacks with massed artillery against German strongholds, like Fort La Malmaison. These were taken with minimal French casualties. The relative lack of rigor in repressing the mutinies provoked adverse reactions among some of the French Army's divisional commanders. General Pétain and French President Raymond Poincaré, on the other hand, wisely made it their policy to mend the French Army's morale and not act in a manner that could aggravate the problem of the army's motivation.
Britain: Julian Byng replaces Edmund Allenby as GOC BEF Third Army. Canadian Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Currie becomes GOC Canadian Corps for duration of war.
German prisoners captured by the British at the Battle of Messines: © IWM (Q 2277): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/872826866461290500/photo/1

Southern Front
Isonzo: Italian losses 157,000 since May 14; including 27,000 PoWs; Austro-Hungarian nearly 75,700 (including 23,400 PoWs).
Trentino: Italian Mt Zebio mine explodes prematurely causing 122 casualties.
A mine explodes under positions in the Dolomites: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Mine-Dolomiten.jpg?ssl=1

Political, etc
Russia: Russian Provisional Government refuse a German proposal for an unlimited armistice (made by radio).
Russian Navy sailors back Lenin’s call to imprison Tsar Nicholas II and bring him to trial.
United Kingdom: US General Pershing meets with King George, who states his dream of a closer union between English-speaking countries is being realized.
Romania: First 2 Transylvanian volunteer battalions arrive in Jassy.
United States: The first Pulitzer Prizes are awarded for editorial writing, reporting, biography or autobiography, and history.
U.S. aviation field being constructed in Fairfield, Ohio, as the country prepared for war: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/872994197703450625/photo/1
(Special, 1954): During the hearings investigating conflicting accusations between the United States Army and Senator Joseph McCarthy, Army lawyer Joseph N. Welch asked McCarthy, "At long last, have you left no sense of decency?"
China: Peking is cut off as rebel Chinese factions surround the capital due to divisions resulting from whether or not to declare war on Germany.
Spain: Spanish Cabinet resigns.

[dicksbro]

Keep up the good work. No loss of interest here. :thumbs:

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: First 2 French mutineers executed, outbreaks already receding (June 7), only 20 executed until July 2. Petain speaks to an exmutinous regtiment (June 19) and brings tears to the soldiers’ eyes, visits almost 90 divisions in June and July. The French commander-in-chief sympathizes with a soldier’s complaint. Petain handled the mutinies with sternness and humanity, but he knew much was wrong with the army: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Petain-soldiers.jpg?ssl=1
Battle of Messines Ridge: At the Messines Battle, night raids by British troops succeed in extending their lines. The front is relatively calm the rest of the day.
British soldiers taking a break smoking at the ruins of Marten’s Farm near Wytschaete: © IWM (Q 5479): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/873495199380647936
A British officer in a captured German trench writing a letter home: © IWM (Q 2308): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/873827266840719361

Southern Front
Trentino: Italian Offensive north of Asiago with 12 divisions; 1,500 guns and mortars on 9-mile front but signals and deserters have alerted Austrian Eleventh Army. Barrage (including gas shell) from 0515 hours in near zero visibility (mist) till 1100 hours. Alpini assault from 1100 hours captures Agnello Pass and Peak 2101 (6,794ft) of Mt Ortigaro with 500 PoWs but Austrians retain Height 2105 (6,906ft). Attacks by 5 other divisions on 5 other peaks to south fail. Italian Sixth Army C-in-C Mambretti fails to persuade Cadorna to call off offensive, he allows only 48-hour pause.
Captured Austro-Hungarian prisoners taken by the Italians: © IWM (Q 103663): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/873525387044827137
Greece:French regiment and guns land at Corinth and French (mainly cavalry) division enters Thessaly, takes Larissa for 6 killed, captures 300 royalists in only bloodshed on June 12.
Italian troops take over Janina (Ioannina), Greece, drawing protests from Greek authorities.

Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: Opening of operations which drive Germans from estuary of Lukuledi river (German East Africa).

Political, etc
France: Interior Minister cables 83 prefects for morale reports, 44 say ‘poor’ or ‘indifferent’, 36 towns ‘contaminated’.
United Kingdom: Labour Trafalgar Square demo for world’s industrial workers.
Ireland: Sinn Fein riots in Dublin

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: Suppression & executions continue; otherwise, no further developments.
Battle of Messines Ridge: British progress on mile front south-east of Messines; La Potterie system captured.
In light of the German air raids on Britain, a Cabinet Committee is set up to consider air organisation and air defence. Although nominally under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, in practice the Committee consisted solely of Lieutenant General Jan C. Smuts.
Royal Dublin Fusiliers and other troops having fun with captured German equipment: © IWM (Q 5629): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/873857568636116992

Southern Front
Trentino: Italian Offensive north of Asiago: Austrians reinforce front line until June 13 and send 4 battalions forward for counter-attack on June 15.
Greece: French troops land at Corinth, and Franco-British force enters Thessaly.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Japanese destroyer Sakaki is torpedoed off Malta by Austro-Hungarian submarine U-27, resulting in 59 Japanese deaths.
Channel: British drifter destroys 2 German seaplanes.
Baltic: Russian submarine Lvitsa sunk off Gotland (probably by mine), sister Pantera damaged by Zeppelin on June 14 and forced back to base.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Murray told he will be replaced (leaves on June 16). British 52nd Division trench raid causes over 62 Turk casualties near Gaza.


Political, etc
Russia: Petrograd Soviet issues statement opposing “an imperialistic war in the name of liberation of nations.”
United Kingdom: Sailors and Firemen's Union refuse to let Mr. R. Macdonald and MP Fred Jowett from sailing to Petrograd due to their pacifist positions.
Canada: Canadian Premier Sir Robert Borden states Canada has suffered 99,000 casualties and thus conscription is necessary.
Portugal: Senor Dato forms Cabinet.
United States: Lord Northcliffe, owner of the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror, arrives in the U.S. to help coordinate British-U.S. cooperation.
Publication of message from President Wilson to Russian Government: no people to be ‘forced under a sovereignty under which it does not wish to live’.
Minor Allies: Santo Domingo severs diplomatic relations with Germany.
Greece: Entente Governments present demand to Greek Government for abdication of King Constantine (see 12th and May 28th). Subsequent abdication of King Constantine of Greece in favor of his second son, Alexander.
King Constantine I of Greece: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/873934143314374656
Alexander, the new King of Greece: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/873935415690096643

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: Suppression & executions continue; otherwise, no further developments.
Battle of Messines Ridge: British advance on two-mile front east and north-east of Messines.
French Malagasy (Madagascar) soldier at Leuilly-sous-Coucy: © IWM (Q 78452): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/874252532540821505

Eastern Front
Russian artillery guns renew heavy bombardment of German positions in Galicia and Volhynia.

Southern Front
Trentino: Italian Offensive north of Asiago: No further developments this day.
Salonika: British withdraw back across to river Struma (until June 14) to avoid summer malaria.
Greece: Allied forces occupy Larissa (Thessaly) and Corinth.

Naval and Overseas Operations
German submarine SM UC-66 is sunk by the HMT Sea King by a depth charge with loss of all crew.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Fort of Salif (Red Sea) destroyed by British naval forces.
Armenia: General Prjewalski replaces Yudenich as Russian C-in-C.

Political, etc
United Kingdom: Publication of British reply to Russian Note on war aims, and of French message regarding Russian proclamation of 9 April 1917.
Labour Leader Ramsay Macdonald give up plans to visit Russia due to popular opposition toward his pacifist views.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: Because of the mutinies, the French high command became reluctant to initiate another major offensive. General Petain's strategy in late 1917 was to wait for the deployment of the American Expeditionary Forces and the introduction in battle of the new and highly effective Renault FT tanks. Hence his statement at the time: "J'attends les chars et les américains" (I am waiting for the tanks and the Americans). He had the support of Prime Minister Clemenceau, who told President Woodrow Wilson in June 1917 that France planned, "to wait for the Americans & meanwhile not lose more... I like Pétain... just because he won't attack."
Battle of Messines Ridge: Britain claims 7,432 German prisoners and 47 artillery guns were captured in the past 6 days in Flanders.
The first heavy daylight raid on London takes place when eighteen Gotha bombers of the German Army Air Corps attack the capital, causing 588 casualties, including 162 deaths (other sources vary these numbers slightly). Although a number of interceptions were made, no German aircraft were shot down by defending fighters. Gothas on return repel Bristol Fighter (observer mortally wounded), one of 94 defence sorties. Brandenburg awarded Pour le Merite but injured in crash (June 19) returning from Kreuznach. No 56 Fighter (SE5) Squadron temporarily withdrawn from France as a result (June 21 – July 5).
British soldiers on leave embarking for England at Boulogne-sur-Mer, France: © IWM (Q 80068): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/874578382863949824

Southern Front
Trentino: Italian Offensive north of Asiago: Austro-Hungarian attack on Mt. Ortigara repulsed.
Thessaly: Trikala and Volo (Thessaly) occupied by Allies.

Naval and Overseas Operations
H.M.S. Avenger, merchant cruiser, sunk by submarine.

Political, etc
France: Major-General Pershing arrives in France (see 8th and May 10th): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/874616140781289472
A crowd gathers to greet the arrival of Lieutenant General Pershing: © IWM (Q 5508): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/874617394454331392
5,000 women workers strike with red flags in Toulouse ammunition factory (until June 18), win 30-50% pay rise. 32 die in Renault Paris factory collapse.
United Kingdom: Serious explosion in munitions factory at Ashton-under-Lyne, resulting in 43 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
United States: Waldemar von Nostiz, writer for a German newspaper in Cleveland, Ohio, is arrested by federal agents for writing pro-German editorials.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Battle of Messines Ridge: German withdrawal between St. Yves and the Lys. Successful British attacks near Messines. Third Australian Division attack Infantry Hill (east of Monchy-le-Preux) (lose ground on June 18, regain it on June 20). End of Battle of Messines.
Zeppelin L-43 destroyed by naval fighter forces in North Sea.
British soldiers in the ruins of Thélus, France watches as artillery shells burst in the background: © IWM (Q 2378): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/874933220705521665

Southern Front
Greece: British detachment lands at Piraeus after c.9,500 French soldiers on June 12. 500 British soldiers reinforce French at Larissa on June 16 also to gain grain supplies.

Naval and Overseas Operations
The British Admiralty Formally approve, scheme for convoying merchant ships (see May 17th aud July 2nd).
The Germany Navy made extensive use of Zeppelins for scouting, but communications problems reduced their theoretical effectiveness: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/naval-scouting-zeppelin.jpg?ssl=1

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Count M. Esterhazy becomes Hungarian Prime Minister.
Russia: Arrival in Petrograd of Senator Root and U.S. Mission.
Canada: The Canadian Parliament Building being rebuilt after last year’s fire: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/874963441437593600
United States: U.S. government loans an additional $25 million to the British government, bringing the total loan amount to $500 million.
The U.S. celebrates its 140th Flag Day today: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/874993652833144834
China: Troops loyal to Li Yuanhong, the pro-German President of China, occupies Peking after dissolving the Chinese parliament.
Greece: King Constantine leaves country on June 14.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
A localized German counter-attack south-east of Ypres is repulsed.
Small British advance near Bullecourt.
British airplanes conduct a morning raid on the airdrome at St Denis Westrem near Bruges, Belgium.
The ruins of a church in Bapaume, France: © IWM (Q 78434): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/875327098285686784

Southern Front
Trentino: Italian Offensive north of Asiago: Italians carry position on Corno Cavento (west Trentino) and repulse attack on Mt. Ortigara. Austria-Hungary loses ~1,000 PoWs
British withdraw on wide front from advanced positions in Struma Valley.
Rise of a patrol in the Alps: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aufstieg-patrouille.jpg?ssl=1
Salonika: In these days Turkish 50th Division withdrawn from east of Struma home, to Aleppo. 1 Turkish regiment left in theater.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Atlantic: 35 Royal Navy destroyers and 15 submarines on special hunting operation (until June 24) north of Scotland sight U-boats 61 times, make 12 attacks, but inflict no damage.
Baltic: Rear-Admiral Dmitri N Verderevski made C-in-C by Kerensky. Maksimov becomes STAVKA (CNS) aged 44, but some crews press for elected commanders.

Political, etc
Germany: Hindenburg note to Bethmann blames inflation on ‘The monstrous increase of worker wages’.
France: French newsreel showing re-occupied Alsace and other items: http://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/index/47288
United Kingdom: Lord Rhondda's appointment as Food Controller announced.
Andrew Bonar Law announces all Irish prisoners taken during the Easter Rising will be released.
British public demands the government to provide better warning for airplane raids after the recent devastating attacks by the Germans.
United States: The Espionage Act of 1917 is signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson. http://www.legisworks.org/congress/65/publaw-24.pdf Though claimed to have been enacted to prevent the support of United States enemies during wartime, it has been more often used to suppress dissent, and to harass and prevent the activities of whichever individuals or groups attracted the ire of the national government at the time it is fairly arbitrarily enforced. The Act includes fines up to $10,000 and up to 20 years jail; 2 anarchists almost immediately arrested for disrupting registration. Congress votes $ 3,281 million for Army and Navy See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espionage_Act_of_1917
U.S. completes issuing $1.9 billion worth of Liberty Bonds to finance the war effort.
Minor Allies: Haiti breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Peter Strasser (new ‘Leader of German Navy Airships’) rashly attempts London raid on nearly shortest night of year with 4 Zeppelins (2 return early). L-42 (Dietrich) fortuitously detonates a Ramsgate naval ammo store, but L-48 (Schütze, Strasser’s deputy) hounded to death from c.13,000ft over Suffolk by 3 RFC aircraft after suffering double engine failure (night June 17-18, 3 survivors). L-42 and L-63 lie in their shed: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Zeppelin-L42-L63.jpg?ssl=1
French artillery observers on top of a ruined church tower at Villers-les-Roye: © IWM (Q 61252): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/875646693256986626
A French soldier in the trenches at Hirtzbach woods: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/875676915474018307
French soldiers posing in a trench at Haut-Rhin: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/875678115841888256

Southern Front
Trentino: Italian Offensive north of Asiago: Italians vainly attack Austrian Mt Ortigara positions all day, losses over 6,000 soldiers.
Greece: Allied food blockade of Greece raised on June 16.

Political, etc
Russia: Opening in Petrograd of All-Russian Congress of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates.
France: President of the International Federation of Catholic Alumnae blames “lack of modesty, of moderation” as the cause of the world war.
United States: Inventor Thomas Edison states “each of us should work a little harder than he has ever worked before” in order to win the war.
Sweden: Peace terms of German Socialist delegates to Stockholm published.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: Suppression & executions continue; otherwise, no further developments.
Portuguese troops in action on Western Front for the first time (see August 8th, 1916 and January 3rd, 1917). Portuguese officer with Captain of the British Mission in the trenches near Neuve Chapelle: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Portuguese-Expeditionary-Corps.jpg?ssl=1
Germans capture French trenches near Hurtebise.
The ruins of the German Zeppelin L-48 after it was brought down by British fighters over Leiston: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/876011567028023297
Champagne: French Fourth Army advance between ‘Mountains’ Cornillet and Blond, repulse attack on Mt Le Teton on June 21. At Chemin des Dames, German troops capture French positions, taking 25 French prisoners and 4 machine guns.
First US serviceman buried, at Pauillac (sailor, drowned on June 12).

Southern Front
Italian Offensive north of Asiago: Austro-Hungarian attacks on Asiago Plateau (Trentino) and Vodice repulsed.
Minor Italian advance near Jamiano (Carso).

Political, etc
Germany: Germany moves prisoners of war at least 30 kilometers from the front lines to keep them away from artillery range.
Germany announces it will allow neutral ships stuck in British ports to safely leave on July 1st.
Russia: Russian Duma announces a resolution for an immediate offensive by Russian troops against the Germans.
Provisional Government declares Zemstvo self-government for Siberia and Far East.
France: Paris Economic Conference concludes agreements as to future economic policy.
Ireland: Crowds in Dublin waiting to welcome the released prisoners taken during the Easter Rising: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/876085806762532864
Italy: General Giardino War Minister and Admiral Triangi Marine Minister after Albanian policy crisis ends.
United States: Charlie Chaplin film ‘The Immigrant’ released.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
French Army Mutinies: Suppression & executions continue; otherwise, no further developments. By now, the last of the mutinies have petered out, there isnt’ much left but the repression and trials.
British lose ground on Infantry Hill.
French advance between Mont Cornillet and Mont Blond (Champagne).
French troops attack German lines at Draibank, but are repulsed. German soldiers penetrate French lines east of the Meuse near Hill 844.
British tanks lined up at Rollencourt Tank Park: © IWM (Q 3562): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/876387788433829888
A tank crew in front of their tank at Rollencourt: © IWM (Q 3292): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/876389044426600448
British soldiers having fun in the sea at Etaples, France: © IWM (Q 2381): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/876417984079777793

Eastern Front
German air raid on Dvinsk.

Southern Front
Trentino: Italian guns begin 20-hour shelling of Mt Ortigara-Lepozze Austrian positions.
Italian artillerymen raising a 75mm M1911 field gun into position in the Alps: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/rising-italian-gun-alps.jpg?ssl=1

Naval and Overseas Operations
Admiral Sims, United States Navy, hoists his flag at Queenstown as acting Commander-in-Chief Irish Command (see April 9th and May 2nd).

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Count Clam-Martinitz, Austrian Premier, resigns (see 23rd and December 21st, 1916).
Germany: Kaiser Wilhelm on French War Minister’s statement that France will retake Alsace-Lorraine: “Good, but he must come and take it.”
Russia: The All-Russian Congress of Soviets reports its armies are in dire straits and newly drafted soldiers have poor morale and training.
United Kingdom: General Smuts to attend War Cabinet meetings.
United States: President Wilson sees Belgian Mission.
Switzerland: Herr Arthur Hoffmann, Swiss Foreign Minister, resigns over aiding German peace overtures to Russia incident. The anti-German Gustave Ador succeeds.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
General Arthur Currie appointed to command Canadian troops in France.
Small British advances on Arras front.
Artillery duel between Allies & Germans increases in intensity in Flanders. France raids German lines at Braye-en-Laonnois & Laffaux Hill.

Southern Front
Trentino: Italian offensive on Asiago plateau. From 0600 hours Alpini (15 battalions) storm Mt Ortigara summit (6,906 ft) taking 1,000 PoWs (including Kaiserjaeger); some ground gained on Mt. Ortigara, but Austrians hold 6,729 ft peak and Mt Camigoletti although 9 battalions v 35; Austrians bring up 2 battalions and Conrad’s requests for more reserves finally answered.
An inspection of Austrian troops in the Alpine region, with most of the officers and soldiers wearing ‘Bernsdorfer’ steel helmets and rucksacks: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/inspection-austrians-alpine.jpg?ssl=1

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mediterranean: French submarine Ariane is torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine SM UC-22 off Bizerte, Tunisia.
Black Sea: Vice-Admiral Kolchak, C-in-C Russian Black Sea Fleet, deposed by delegate assembly of sailors’ councils and replaced by Vice-Admiral Lukin. Russian Navy pay rise backdated to May 13.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: Lawrence and 500 Arabs begin march on Aqaba but then execute 100-strong northern sabotage diversion against Amman-Deraa railway before June 27.

Political, etc
Russia: Russian government announces it has been moving state documents from Petrograd (St. Petersburg) to Moscow due to Central Powers advances.
France: French Deputies votes 369 to 95 in confidence of the current government’s general policies.
France orders 20,000 beds to be made to help house people from recently liberated areas.
United Kingdom: King abolishes Royal Family’s German titles, British peerages conferred by the King on Teck and Battenberg families.
United States: U.S. loans to the Allies now total $2,756,400,000 after loaning $25 million to Britain and $20 million to France today.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
British recover ground on Infantry Hill.
Violent German attack near Vauxaillon (Chemin des Dames) gains ground.
Women workers constructing an airship at Chalais-Mendon, Camp Retranche de Paris: © IWM (Q 70314): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/877147820469477377
A dog on top of a tank at a tank park in Rollancourt: © IWM (Q 3223): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/877193125445423104
France: Petain orders 3,500 Renault FT-17 light tanks.
Artois: British repulse attacks on river Souchez after making gains on June 19.
Aisne: German attack near Vauxaillon takes ground mainly lost again on June 21, likewise southeast of Filain (June 22, lost June 24).

Southern Front
Italians carry height on Piccolo Lagaznoi (Carnia front).
Italian soldiers on the attack in the Jamiano sector against Austro-Hungarian troops:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/877116343455277056
Italian Nieuport XI ‘Bebe’ on a airfield in the Alps. The type was often used by the Italians and built at Macchi under license: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Italian-Nieuport-11.jpg?ssl=1
145 Italian aircraft drop 5 1/2 t bombs on South Tyrol, only 26 Austro-Hungarian aircraft oppose.

Political, etc
Germany: Food supervisory committees (Menage-kommissions) allowed in all German warships to give ratings a say in food selection and preparation. For many months they have eaten boiled or dried turnips and a ‘nauseous’ ersatz meat and veg stew dubbed Drahtverhau (literally, ‘wire entanglement’). Last German dreadnought battleship Württemberg launched at Hamburg by Vulcan but never completed (broken up 1921).
Russia: Russian General Brusilov: “In honor bound, free Russia’s armies will not fail to do their duty.”
Russian government indicts former Tsarist officials, including Stürmer, Protopopov, and von Rennenkampf.
Italy: Baron Sonnino on Italian aims (which were chiefly the acquisition of territories part of Austria-Hungary).
United States: President Wilson calls for a recruitment week to boost enlistment, as the U.S. Army is short 70,000 men than planned.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Laon: French recover nearly all ground lost near Vauxaillon and make small advance near Mont Cornillet.
Champagne: German attack on the Teton (Champagne) repulsed.
A German barbed wire entanglement near Arras, France: © IWM (Q 2548): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/877449803101335552
British troops watching artillery shell bursts near Bullecourt: © IWM (Q 2553): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/877481417042776065
First operational Fokker Dr I triplane fighters delivered to Richthofen’s Jasta 11 at Courtrai. [Note: I am suspicious of this claim, as most other sources I have consulted say the first test operational pair weren’t delivered until the end of July or early August]
Richthofen lands with his Fokker Dr I: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/richthofens-fokker-dri.jpg?ssl=1
Flanders: British Fourth Army (Rawlinson) begins operations on Flanders coast (until November 18); they involve 8 divisions.

Eastern Front
Russia: Kerensky reviews on June 19 newly formed Women’s ‘Death Battalion’ at Petrograd. Denikin arrives at Minsk to take over Western Front.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia, Persia: Turks by now reoccupy Kizil Ribat and Kasr-i-Shirin.

Political, etc
Russia: Mutiny breaks out in the Russian Black Sea Fleet at Sevastopol (see March 16th, 1917 and May 1st, 1918).
United Kingdom: Warrant instituting "Order of the British Empire" published.
British Government place embargo on disposal of U.K. securities in neutral countries by residents in enemy countries.
Due to cuts in beer production, some London pubs limit customers to half a pint at lunch or dinner.
United States: Italian war commission, led by Prince Ferdinando of Udine, arrives in New York City: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/877526812259176448
Boris Bakhmeteff, Russian Provisional Government’s ambassador to the US, receives a state dinner with Wilson at the White House.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Reception for US Supreme Commander Pershing in France: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Pershing-France.jpg?ssl=1 Petain tells Pershing French morale is very low.
British troops walking past the damaged Albert Cathedral in the Somme: © IWM (Q 2474):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/877813576517394432

Heavy German attack on Chemin des Dames front; French lose ground south-east of Filain.

Southern Front
Salonika: British 7th Mounted Brigade (c.2,100 men) begins to embark for Egypt (8th Mounted Brigade embarked from May 31).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: U-boats unsuccessfully attack US troop transports.

Political, etc
Germany: Admiral Krosigk of Wilhelmshaven naval base orders careful watch kept on Independent Socialists (‘dangerous agitators’).
Russia: Yevgeni Bauer, Russian film director and screenwriter, passed away: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/877828685549719552

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Germany: Amerikaprogramm submitted to OHL to double fighter units by 1 March 1918 and produce new high-performance fighter.
In the past 2 weeks, U.S. doctors and nurses have taken over 6 British field hospitals in France to free up resources.
(Listed for yesterday): German troops launch an attack on a two-kilometer front against French troops on Chemin des Dames and gain a section of trenches.
French troops repulse German attacks near Filain and Vauxaillon, preventing them from extending yesterday’s gains.
A lone French soldier sitting in the ruins of Dreslincourt: © IWM (Q 78152):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/878214829634330631

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: German torpedo boat escorts 4 steamers from Rotterdam (part of German coastal trade revival since April).
King George V goes to sea for 5th Battle Squadron practice firing (visits Rosyth and Invergordon on June 24).
Indian Ocean: P & O liner Mongolia (23 lives lost) sunk by mine laid by Wolf off Bombay, but vessels based there sweep during June 51 of 68 mines laid off port.
(Listed for yesterday): Baltic: Swedish torpedo cruiser HSwMS Claes Uggla runs aground and sinks: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/877860018350993411

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Royal Navy Air Service (3 Shorts from carrier Empress) and Royal Flying Corps (7 aircraft) simultaneously bomb Tulkarm station and El Ramie airfield; 8 RFC aircraft (5 lost) hit Turk Mount of Olives HQ (June 26).
A seaplane nestles in Empress’s hangar: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Empress-hangar.jpg?ssl=1

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Dr. Ernst Ritter von Seidler appointed Austrian Premier (see 18th and June 21st, 1918), after Count Clam-Martinitz resigns (June 21) over budget impasse.
Russia: Central Rada (Council) of Ukraine declares itself autonomous from the Russian government.
All-Russian Congress of Soviets propose dissolving the Duma and the Council of the Empire.
France: Return of M. Thomas to Paris from Russia.
United Kingdom: British government admits beer rationing were too drastic and orders increases of 33% in production.
United States: Children in costume welcoming the Italian War Commission to the US at Lewisohn Stadium in New York City: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/878276514680152064
Greece: Resignation of M. Zaimis, Greek Premier.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Germans shoot down 3 BEF Second Army balloons, 2 more subsequently. Independent Jagdgeschwader 1 of Jasta 4, 6, 10 and 11 formed under Richthofen (returned from 6 week leave on June 14) with c.50 fighters.
Destroying the heavily-defended balloons called for a high degree of courage, and there were some pilots specializing in the work. One such was Heinrich Gontermann, who accounted for 18 before being killed: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Gontermann-Fokker-DrI.jpg?ssl=1
Artois: BEF First Army advances astride river Souchez as Germans retreat before 46th Division’s attacks (night June 24-25).
Portuguese sentries at the front line near Neuve Chapelle: © IWM (Q 6442): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/878593575998676992
French troops reverse German gains made near Vauxaillon and take ground near Moisey Farm.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Count Czernin ‘We could have a separate peace with England in 8 days. It would be a momentary salvation, but … the certain ruin of the dynasty.’
Russia: Mutiny of the Russian Black Sea Fleet ends after Admiral Alexander Kolchak is removed from command.
France: Soldiers of the South African Native Labour Corps doing a “Zulu war dance” for sports day at Dannes: © IWM (Q 2388): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/878638885923893248
Ireland: 1 man is killed and several injured as Sinn Feiners and British police clash in Cork. Recruiting stations are attacked.
Serbia: Dragutin Dimitrijevic, leader of the Serbian Black Hand terrorist society which orchestrated Archduke Ferdinand’s assassination, is executed: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/878563378477838336
M. Nikola Pashich forms new Serbian Government.
United States: The $400,000,000 U.S.A. Liberty Loan largely over-subscribed.
Greece: (Originally reported yesterday, but two sources state today, with further details as follows): Prime Minister Zaimis resigns, will not recall Venizelist-dominated Chamber of 13 June 1915.
Netherlands: British and German delegates on Prisoners of War question meet at The Hague.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
The contingent of regular United States troops arriving in France (see May 19th) reaches approximately 14,000 personnel.
Aisne: French capture ‘Dragons’s cave’ near Hurtebise.
Canadian troops advance on a 1.5-mile front southwest of Lens, while British troops carry out raids along a 45-mile front.

Southern Front
Trentino: At 0230 hours surprise Austrian attack by 7 battalions with 103 guns and mortars in close support recaptures all 3 Mt Ortigara heights and repulses 7 Alpini battalions in evening (and on June 26). Italian losses 5,633 men (including c.1,800 PoWs).
Austrian 10cm M10 mountain howitzer in action: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Austrian-mt-how.jpg?ssl=1

Naval and Overseas Operations
Black Sea: The Turkish cruiser Medilli (formerly the German cruiser Breslau) destroys Russian radio station and lighthouse on Fidonisi Island.
Adriatic: Vice-Admiral Cerni becomes Italian Fleet C-in-C under Revel’s supervision.
Britain: Admiralty forms Convoy Section to provide escorts and organize ‘evasive routing’ based on Room 40 intelligence. Room 40 now sending 66 special telegrams per month based on German codes or signals, especially from radio-happy U-boats via 40 British Isles intercept stations (11 later in Mediterranean) which often fix their bearings.

Political, etc
Germany: Recall of German Minister to Norway, consequent on bomb plot. (Bomb plot? What bomb plot? A search revealed this: http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5544504 from August, 1917, which states that such was discovered in “July”: I think the paper is in error about the timing, and this incident occurred in June, 1917).
United Kingdom: Young workers at a boiler smith shop at the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth: © IWM (Q 53980): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/878940873823854593
United States: American Red Cross raises $100 million after an 8-day fundraising campaign to prepare for the U.S. entrance into the war.
Spain: Spain institutes martial law to control socialist demonstrations and agitations.
Greece: M. Venizelos returns to Athens and succeeds M. Zaimis as Premier.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Artois: British advance astride Souchez river; La Coulotte occupied. In thunderstorm Canadian Corps begins capture of Avion south of Lens (until June 29).
Frankreich: Advance guard of US 1st Division (‘Big Red One’) lands at St Nazaire, France.
(warning, potentially disturbing): The dying huddled with the dead in Falnders’ fields: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/dying-dead.jpg?ssl=1
British cavalry entering a village near Arras: © IWM (Q 2211): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/879314577934213120

Southern Front
Small Italian withdrawal on Mt. Ortigara.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Pacific, General: 8.5 or 8.4 magnitude earthquake occurs southwest of the Samoan Islands causing widespread damage and a tsunami.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Persia: Russians take Serdesht.

Political, etc
Germany: von Bethmann-Hollweg discusses peace chances with new Papal Nuncio Eugenio Pacelli (later Pope Pius XII) who sees Kaiser on June 29; Chancellor ready to recognize Belgium under certain conditions.
United Kingdom: Report of Mesopotamia Commission (Vincent-Bingley Medical Report, June 27) published. The report blames India and India Office most for 1915-16 setbacks.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Bonar Law states the war costs Britain £7.752 million daily.

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
Western Front, General: First Sopwith Camel aerial victory of Royal Flying Corps (with No 70 Squadron first RFC unit to receive fighter, 3 more squadrons receive it July).
Sopwith Camel chasing a Hannover: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Camel-chasing-Hannover-painting.jpg?ssl=1
Flanders: German ‘Long Max’ 15-inch gun at Luegenboom fires 55 shells at Dunkirk (24-mile range).
Female ambulance drivers from the British Red Cross at Etaples, France: © IWM (Q 2438): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/879646767461130242

Southern Front
Austrian attack on Agnello pass repulsed.

Naval and Overseas Operations
French cruiser Kléber sunk by (42 lives lost) sunk off Brest by mines from UC-61.
British transport Armadale (3 dead) sunk in Atlantic.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Egypt: General Edmund Allenby becomes C-in-C EEF replacing Archibald Murray at Cairo.

Political, etc
Germany: Germany announces that Captain Baron Manfred von Richthofen (Red Baron) has shot down his 56th aeroplane yesterday, extending his record.
United Kingdom: British Secretary of State for War Stanley states Britain will not target German cities in reprisal for German attacks on British cities.
United States: U.S. loans to Allied countries pass $1 billion ($20.9 billion today) after it approved new loans to Great Britain and France.
Greece: M. Venizelos assumes power at Athens. Diplomatic relations severed with Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey. Declaration of War by Provisional Government against Germany and Bulgaria of November 23rd, 1916, becomes effective for the whole of Greece. "State of War" also begins between Greece and Austria-Hungary and between Greece and Turkey (see 26th).

[gekkogecko]

Western Front
British advance on two-mile front south of Souchez river. Canadians secure most of Avion; 46th Division clears Hill 65; 15th Infantry Brigade (5th Division) captures position on edge of Oppy Wood under cover of smoke, previous assaults without failed bloodily. The British are now within a mile from Lens.
Germans positions near Oppy carried.
German attack north-west of Verdun; French trenches on Hill 304 captured.
A canteen counter set up inside a hole made by a shell at Blangy-sur-Ternoise: © IWM (Q 5531): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/879704673040515072

Eastern Front
Galicia: Preliminary Russian shelling (including Royal Navy Air Service manned trench mortars) from 0400 hours, bridge behind Brzezany blown up.

Naval and Overseas Operations
The Doxa, a Greek destroyer seized by the French Navy, is attacked and sunk by the German submarine UB-47, resulting in 29 deaths.
German Admiralty orders U-boats to act off France and Italy as well as severing Salonika transport route, neutral ships in British convoys to be treated as hostile (June 30).

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Czech Socialist memorandum published.
Thousands demonstrate in Budapest, demanding universal, equal, and secret voting rights.
United Kingdom: Since last year, British artillery shell production has increased 4-fold. Since March 1915, the increase is 28 times.
Lord Northcliffe, head of the British war commission, warns the U.S. against the censorship “blunder” Britain committed early in the war.
New Zealand: In recognition of New Zealand's services, "Governor" changed to "Governor-General".
Canada: Canadian Labour MP Alphonse Verville threatens a general strike if Canada institutes a draft without consent of the people.
United States: U.S. Senate passes a bill for daylight saving time, which will start next year.
U.S. Senate begins debating whether or not to ban the brewing of beer for the duration of the war to conserve wheat.
U.S. marines in Pennsylvania on a train to New York, where they will then be shipped to France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/status/880068298569916416