Western Front
Battle of the Somme: British Reserve Army redesignated Fifth Army and reinforced with guns from Third Army and all available 52 Tank Mk I‘s for limited ops astride Ancre Valley.
German troops with flamethrowers counterattack French positions east of Peronne, but are driven back.
French take trenches north-west of Sailly-Saillisel.

Eastern Front
German/Austro-Hungarians retiring in Jiu Valley and in Vulkan Pass.
South-east of Roter Turm Pass, enemy capture heights.
Germans and Turks force back Russians near River Narajowka (Galicia).
Latter advance towards Lutsk.

Southern Front
Violent fighting along whole line in Cherna region.
Bulgarian attack on Kalendia (Struma) repulsed.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Adriatic: Allied Taranto conference on Otranto Barrage ducks single commander question but Italians will transfer 22 trawlers from Tyrrhenian, plus add 18 small torpedo boats and 38 aircraft (30 French aircrafts at Corfu).
Britain: Royal Navy has 47 antisubmarine ships, from drifters to medium-size steamers.
East Africa: British drive enemy over Ruhuje River, and repel them in Iringa district and at Lupembe (East Africa).* Main body of enemy south of Central Railway and about Rufiji river, Tabora force being near Iringa.

Political, etc.
Germany: Lieut.-General Hermann von Stein succeeds Lieut.-General Wild von Hohenborn as German Minister for War (see January 21st, 1915, and October 9th, 1918).
United Kingdom: Increased wages demanded by Cardiff miners.
United States: U.S. Army recruitment is down this year, and there are less than 100,000 regulars in service.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
In the air, Allied October losses 88 aircraft plus over 99 RFC personnel. RFC help engage 169 German batteries.
Battle of the Somme: German counterattacks succeed in gaining a foothold in the town of La Maisonnette.
British losses in the four months since the start of the Somme offensive number 414,202 men killed, wounded, captured, and missing.

Eastern Front
Following their success in Jiul Valley, Romanian troops also go on the offensive in Dobruja.
German Ninth Army facing the Romanians losses since September 11: 9,072 men.
Despite snowstorms, Romanian troops make further gains against German and AH troops in Jiul Valley and Bicaz, but fall back at Mieczysczow.
Austrian-Hungarians checked at Torzburg, but successful in Predeal Pass.

Southern Front
Italy: Ninth Battle of the Isonzo begins (see November 4th).
Struma front, British take Barakli Juma (in front of Rupel Pass), also Kumli.

Naval and Overseas Operations
In October 353,600t Allied and neutral shipping (49 British worth 176,248t with 197 lives, a record so far; including 44 ships or 125,152t to Mediterranean U-boats.
East Africa: British reorganised into two divisions (Hoskins and van Deventer), former about Kilwa, latter on Ruaha and Central Railway, Northey about Iringa.

Political, etc.
Germany: Field Marshal von Hindenburg declares German lines can hold for 30 years against Allied attacks.
Russia: Russian Sixth Army censor reports soldiers saying ‘after the war we’ll have to settle accounts with the internal enemy’. Russian losses so far 4,670,000 killed and wounded; 2,078,000 PoWs and over 1 million missing.
United States: The U.S. begins circulating its new 10-cent coin (nicknamed the Mercury Dime): http://imgur.com/U8Pq4tg
China: Huang Xing, Chinese revolutionary leader and one of the founders of the Kuomintang, passed away: http://imgur.com/yjx5SQG

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
Joffre letter to Haig specifies broad lines of combined action in 1917 (Haig agrees by letter on November 6).
High winds and poor weather hampers air operations until November 8 and from November 12-15.
Battle of the Somme: French repulse counter-attack at Sailly-Saillisel and advance northeast of Lesboeufs. Other British and French attempts to reverse German gains fail, in part due to bad weather. Allies announce 72,901 PoWs; 303 guns; 215 mortars and 981 MGs captured since July 1, 1916.
Battle of Verdun: Fort Vaux evacuated by Germans, and recaptured by French forces (see June 2nd).

Eastern Front
Transylvania: Falkenhayn advances beyond Törzburg, Predeal and Rotenturm Passes (until November 5).
Dobruja: Sakharov replaces Zayonchkovski in command of Danube Army (now 8 divisions) and orders end to ‘shameful flight’. By November 5, 27 Russian divisions in Rumania (Fourth, Eighth and Danube Armies).
Airship LZ-97 raids Bucharest (German 1st Squadron raids on November 14, 20, 22 and December 12-15).

Southern Front
Ninth Battle of the Isonzo: Italian Second and Third Armies attack at 1110 hours east of Gorizia and on Carso. In former some ground gained on San Marco slopes despite waist-deep mud, in latter Toscana Brigade (D’Annunzio a vol) seizes Velike Kribach (1,125 ft), 5 other objectives taken and held or regained after Austrian attacks (night November 1-2).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: Lawrence crosses Red Sea from Jeddah to Port Sudan in cruiser HMS Euryalus, goes on to Khartoum for talks.
Armenia: In November Turk getting only 1/3 rations despite German motor columns and efforts. Second Army Kharput hospital has 900 deaths per month. Third Army losses 60,000 men to cold, plague, lice and typhus (July 1916 to spring 1917).
British Appointment of Colonel L. Stack as acting Governor-General of Sudan and Sirdar.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Grand Fleet receives daily Room 40 summaries of all German naval movements and changes.
Adriatic: Italian torpedo boats raid Pola.
France: 12 Japanese-built Arabe-class destroyers ordered (completed September-October 1917).

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: In November Air Board orders 8,000 Hispano-Suiza engines.
Italy: In early November Italian Navy discover French reading their codes, but this continues into 1918.
United States: Mercantile U-boat Deutschland reaches New London on second transatlantic voyage.
Greece: Greek royalist forces and those loyal to Venizelos clash near Thessalonica, resulting in several casualties.

__________________
On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Interesting that France apparently ordered 12 Arabe-class destroyers from Japan. Didn't know any of the western powers ordered any ships from Japan. I'd never heard that before. Thanks. Love this little tidbits.

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: British capture trench east of Gueudecourt.

Eastern Front
Transylvania: Austro-Hungarians attack in Predeal Pass; Romanians pursue Austrians in Vulkan Pass (northern Wallachia front).

Southern Front
Ninth Battle of the Isonzo: Italians occupy Faiti Hrib (dominating Kostanjevitsa-Isonzo front).
French 155mm heavy artillery guns near Cerne in Macedonia: http://imgur.com/xmJIZRq* © IWM (Q 79013)

Naval and Overseas Operations
Arctic: U-56 sunk by Russian patrol craft gunfire off Lapland.
Black Sea: Russian Fleet shells Constanza (and on November 4).
North Sea: British destroyers rescue Dutch*SS Oldambt, routing 5 German destroyers.

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: Asst Chief Commissioner Thomson meets Jewish master spy Alex Aaronsohn by St James’s Park; Aaronsohn arrives at Cairo on December 12.
British soldier carries away two dogs that had wandered into the parade grounds during the review: http://imgur.com/IWLRFDN* © IWM (Q 1500)
Russia: Declaration of Labor Group at Petrograd to working classes.
United States: Campaign ad for Charles E. Hughes, the Republican nominee for President: http://imgur.com/8xaYDr0
President Wilson says the GOP’s criticism of US foreign policy is “partisan” and “unpatriotic.”

__________________
On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Yes, by then Japan had long been involved in the First World War, seizing many of Germany's former possessions in the Pacific. Japan's involvement was mainly a naval contribution, either directly when Japan sent destroyers to maintain anti-submarine patrols in the Mediterranean, or indirectly, as above. BTW, there is a Wikipedia article on the destroyers in question: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabe-class_destroyer

__________________
On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: RFC help range 120 targets but lose 5 aircraft.
Battle of Verdun: Two more French patrols reoccupy Fort Vaux.
Aerial photo of Fort Douaumont at Verdun after its recapture by French forces: http://imgur.com/j6pZsx2

Eastern Front
German offensive against Russian lines on the Stokhid River leads to the capture of 1500 Russian prisoners.

Southern Front
Ninth Battle of the Isonzo: Four Italian brigades take Volkovniak, Dosso Faiti, Hills 123 and 126. Italian troops claim the capture of 5000 Austro-Hungarian soldiers.
Salonika: French War Minister General Roques visits (until November 12) and largely clears Sarrail from Allied complaints.

Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: Major Huddleston occupies Kulme (Darfur).

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: British and French authorities seized 41,000 bags of mail heading to or leaving Germany on neutral shipping during the last 10 months.
Romania: Prince Mircea, son of King Ferdinand of Romania, dies at age 3 due to typhoid fever (on right): http://imgur.com/rFRhBI2
Japan: Hirohito is formally declared the Crown Prince and heir apparent to the Japanese Empire.

__________________
On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
Germany claims bombings by Allied aeroplanes have caused 3,348 civilian casualties in occupied Belgium and France.
Battle of the Somme: Aerial photo of German and British frontlines southwest of Beaumont Hamel-Hawthorn Ridge and Redoubt: http://imgur.com/jFY9SBW* © IWM
Battle of Verdun: French occupy Damloup.

Southern Front
Ninth Battle of the Isonzo ends: After turning move on Salone fails, Cadorna halts offensive due to bad weather and heavy losses (28,000 casualties); 9,000 Austro-Hungarian PoWs taken. Italian losses in Seventh to Ninth Isonzo battles (since September 14) 75,500 men; 21,500 Austrian PoWs taken in their c.63,000 loss.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Coal ship Retriever collides with the SS Connemara off the coast of Ireland, resulting in 97 deaths with only 1 survivor.
Black Sea: Russian fleet bombards Constanza.

Political, etc.
Germany: Germany apologizes to the Netherlands after a Zeppelin flew over Dutch territory; says the pilot thought he was over Belgium.
United Kingdom: British news film “Topical Budget,” showing blinded soldiers learning new skills, among other news: http://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/index/5401
Austria-Hungary: Emperor’s letter to Prime Minister states plan to give Galicia self-rule within new Poland.
Turkey: (Arabia): Sherif Hussein crowned ‘King of the Arabs’ at Mecca. Allies recognize him as de facto King of Hejaz (November 6) but do not attend coronation.
United States: U.S. Department of Justice claims that 60,000 African Americans have been brought from the South to illegally vote in northern states.
Norway: Norwegian Note to Germany; maintains right to forbid coasts to submarines.
Greece: Venizelists attack loyal troops at Ekaterini.

__________________
On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: British in see-saw action near Butte de Warlencourt; attack on Le Transloy. French capture most of Saillisel and attack St Pierre Vaust Wood (advance continues on November 6). Anzacs capture, then lose Bayonet Trench.
Battle of Verdun: French 9th Division reoccupies whole of Vaux.

Eastern Front
Romania: Austro-German success south-west of Predeal and south-east of Roter Turm Passes.

Southern Front
Italy: In the Travignolo Valley, Italian troops use bayonets to fend off five Austro-Hungarian attacks on their lines.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: High Seas Fleet destroyers with battlecruiser Moltke and 3rd Battle Squadron rescue submarines U-30 and U-20 gone aground in fog off Borsbjerg, Denmark, but Royal Navy submarine J.1 (Laurence) torpedoes battleships Grosser Kurfürst and Kronprinz forcing them back to harbor. The U-20 was the submarine that had torpedoed the Lusitania in May of the prior year, and had originally run around; the Germans worried about the propaganda value to the Allies of having captured or destroyed this submarine, and so originally attempted to tow it off the mud bank with the U-30. Then the U-30 itself got stuck, and the rescue effort cascaded from there. Eventually, the U-30 was freed, but the Germans had to abandon the U-20.

Political, etc.
Poland: Germany and Austria-Hungary proclaim ‘Independent State of Poland’, Polish recruiting for German Army announced (November 16) gains only 370 volunteers from November 22.
Polish Legion officers in Warsaw after the declaration of the Kingdom of Poland: http://imgur.com/7KbAJ3s* © IWM (Q 70803)
Germany: German military report on the Somme, published in newspapers, declares that the Allied offensive is a failure.
United States: In Everett, Washington, “citizen deputies” and local law enforcement, working for the business of the town open fire on a peaceful demonstration by members of the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World), resulting in 7 deaths, 47 injuries.

__________________
On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: British transport wagons in the mud near Maricourt, Somme: http://imgur.com/VRDVTr0* © IWM (Q 58341)
French progress in north of St. Pierre Vaast Wood; in Saillisel Germans regain ground.

Eastern Front
Bukovina: Russian general Lechitski success in two passes south of Dorna Watra against Austro-Hungarian troops, but Central Power reinforcements stall the advance.
Fierce fighting south-east of Roter Turm Pass.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Appointment of General Sir F. R. Wingate as High Commissioner of Egypt.

Naval and Overseas Operations
German auxiliary cruiser KronPrinz Wilhelm in dry dock after getting hit by a torpedo: http://imgur.com/x2wYNj2
Mediterranean: UB-43 (Mellenthin) torpedoes and sinks P&O armed liner Arabic (11 crew lost) off Cape Matapan.
Black Sea: Coastal submarine UB-45 mined off Varna, UC-15 also lost to unknown cause in November. UB-46 mined off Bosphorus on December 7.
East Africa: Affair of Gyuba (Darfur). The forces of Ali Dinar, ex-Sultan of Darfur, who launched a rebellion against the British, are defeated by Sudan force. Ali Dinar killed (see May 22nd).

Political, etc.
Poland: With the proclamation of the Kingdom of Poland, Germany asks volunteers to join the new Polish Army.

__________________
On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: British gain ground east of Butte de Warlencourt and repulse night counter-attack at Beaumont Hamel. French capture Ablaincourt and Pressoir south of Somme, repulse German counter-attacks on November 12, 14 and 15.
French Farman F.40P biplane armed with Le Prieur rockets for use against Zeppelins: http://imgur.com/3GHwKLV* © IWM (Q 65576)

Eastern Front
Romania: Falkenhayn repulsed in Tolgyes Pass (northern) sector but drives beyond Vulcan and Predeal Passes. His Group Kraftt captures Sardoui 16 miles south of Rotenturm Pass (November 8).
Bukovina: Russian success south of Dorna Vatra (southern Bukovina).

Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: German attack at Kibata repulsed.

Political, etc.
Germany: von Bethmann-Hollweg tells Burian German war aims, latter calls them impossible (November 15).
United States: WILSON RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT. (“He kept us out of war!”) Jeanette Rankin (Montana) first woman elected to Congress.
China: Wu Tingfang is appointed the new foreign minister of China: http://imgur.com/V0yeN76
Greece: Admiral Fournet seizes Salamis naval arsenal, sees King on November 9.

__________________
On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: German counter-attack at Saillisel (slight gains), but French capture whole village (November 11-12).
Royal Engineers bridging the Ancre River at Aveluy, France: http://imgur.com/aIxGSB0* © IWM (Q 5843)

Eastern Front
Romania: Germans advance south of Roter Turm Pass; capture Sardoui (16 miles south).

Naval and Overseas Operations
US SS Columbian sunk by U-boat near Cape Finisterre (northwest Spain).
East Africa: Wahle attacks British Malangali post (until November 12) which is relieved by Murray’s 400 British soldiers.

Political, etc.
United States: (Top six listed for yesterday): Radio 2XG becomes the 1st to broadcast live returns of the U.S. presidential election through spoken word instead of Morse code.
Woodrow Wilson wins reelection with 277 electoral votes against Republican Charles E. Hughes with 254: http://imgur.com/I3I853i
However, due to the close race & slow counting in some states, the winner of the 1916 Presidential Race is not known for another 48 hours.
In the Senate, Democrats now have 54 Senate seats & the Republicans have 42.
In the House, Republicans have 216 seats, Democrats 214, Progressive 3, Socialist 1, and Prohibition 1.
Jeannette Rankin becomes the 1st woman in the US to hold federal office after being elected to the US House: http://imgur.com/WrSEeJo
In Boston, a trolley crashes through an open drawbridge, resulting in 46 people drowning to death: http://imgur.com/xm6x05S
Belgium: Heavy deportations of Belgians by Germans under decree of 3 October 1916.

__________________
On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
Air War
Belgium: 6 RNAS Short seaplanes (1 FTR) bomb Ostend docks and Zeebrugge (repeated November 15 and 17), 19 RNAS bombers raid Ostend (November 10; 10 bombers repeat on November 12). Zeebrugge again bombed on November 22 and 28; little damage but German torpedo boats lie up at Bruges.
Battle of the Somme: RFC helps fire on 203 targets (40 direct hits) and discovers Hindenburg Line works. RNAS No 8 Squadron (from Dunkirk units) joins Somme fighting, destroys 24 aircraft for loss of 2 pilots (until December 31). Largest air battle yet: c.30 German fighters intercept 12 British bombers and 14 escorts destroying 5 (BE2c to Richthofen) and damaging 3; 26 other air combats.
Aerial photograph of German lines southeast of Beaumont Hamel in the Somme: http://imgur.com/S9vVOTd
End of 3rd Phase of Battle of the Somme.

Eastern Front
Western Russia: Germans take 3,400 PoWs at Skrobova.
Dobruja: Sakharov occupies with the aid of Danube naval forces, recapture the town of Hârșova (Hirsova), (also Topalu 12 miles southeast on November 11) and Dunarea on Danube eastern bank, fighting for Cernavoda Bridge (until November 12) ends in retreat to Dunarea.

Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: Malangali post attacked (8-12 November) and relieved.

Political, etc.
Germany: von Bethmann-Hollweg Reichstag speech replies to Grey on causes of war; states Germany will accept peace if British rule over the seas is ended.
United Kingdom: Asquith Guildhall speech assures Venizelos and Armenians of British sympathy; no separate peace possible. “Peace…on one condition only—that the war, with its vast waste, its sacrifices, its untold sufferings…shall not have been in vain.”
France: French War Loan 454,000,000 francs.
Portugal: Portuguese troops ready to leave for European front.

__________________
On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: day begins with attempts by both sides to advance, which ends in failure even after hand-to-hand fighting.
Later, British troops capture east section of Regina Trench north of Thiepval. French troops capture some trenches northeast of Lesboeufs, while French capture several German trenches north-east of Lesboeufs.
French anti-aircraft guns at Villers-Bretonneux at the Somme: http://imgur.com/HqSP4I2* © IWM (Q 79000)

Eastern Front
Transylvania: Second Battle of Oituz (until November 15).
Serbs advance towards Monastir; carry Chuke heights, etc.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Baltic: During attempted raid (night November 10-11) on Russian patrol lines in Gulf of Finland, near Reval, 7 wartime-built German torpedo boats (V-75, S-57, V-72, G-90, S-58, S-59 and V-76) out of 11 (10th Flotilla) sink in unsuspected minefields (400 survivors), largest single action destroyer loss; Admiral Langemarck relieved of command.
A German S or V (German torpedo boats were designated according to manufacturer, in this case, Schichau or Vulkan) type torpedo boat: http://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp...V-destroyer.jpg
North Sea: RNAS seaplanes attack Ostend and Zeebrugge (and on November 15).
Britain: The King informed that Prime minister Asquith wants Beatty to succeed Jellicoe in command of Grand Fleet, the monarch approves heartily (November 22).

Political, etc.
Germany: German Note to Greek Government re: War Material
France: French government prepares a 100-page report alleging German atrocities in prisoner of war camps.
Sweeden: Nobel Prize for Literature for 1915, which had been held in reserve, is given to Romain Rolland. Verner von Heidenstam wins for 1916.
Greece: Review of troops by Greek National Government at Salonika.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: Battle of the Ancre Heights ends (also listed for yesterday). British artillery preparation begins, British infantry capture Farmers Road near Regina Trench.
French recapture most of Saillisel, and repulse German attack at Deniecourt.

Eastern Front
German and Austro-Hungarian counterattack regain ground around Halych, reversing some Russian gains during the Brusilov offensive.
Dobruja: Russo-Romanians occupy Topalu (right bank Danube) and advance south.
Transylvania: Second Battle of Tirgu Jiu: in Group Kuehn’s attack Lieutenant Rommel’s Wuerttemberg Mountain Company captures Mt Lescului (3,937 ft) and descends to plain on November 12.

Southern Front
Macedonia: Serbian troops defeat Bulgarian counterattacks around Polog, Macedonia, resulting in the capture of 1000 Bulgarian prisoners.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Egypt: 6 RFC aircraft apiece raid Maghdaba (100 miles east of Ismailia) and Beersheba. German aircraft bombs Cairo (and on November 13 with 39 casualties) and Suez (November 17) but little damage.

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: J. L. Garvin, British journalist, states, “The Allies in the East have perpetrated almost every blunder left to them to commit…”
Austria-Hungary: Austria-Hungary announces that Emperor Franz Joseph is suffering from catarrh, but otherwise is carrying out his duties.
United States: The newly-created Kingdom of Arab Countries asks the U.S. State Department for formal recognition.

__________________
On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.