lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 11, 2021 3:48:30 GMT
Day 591 of the Great War, March 11th 1916Western FrontGermans penetrate French positions near Reims. German forces capture 1,400 yards (1280m) of the frontline and push in 2/3rds of a mile. Their first attack on Fort Vaux (Verdun) repulsed. Persia Campaign Russians occupy Kerind (Persia). Italian Front: Fifth Battle of the IsonzoThe German attack at Verdun had thrown the French into somewhat of a crisis. In order to divert German reinforcements from Verdun, Joffre asked his allies to attack as soon as possible. The British, preparing for their summer offensive on the Somme, refused. The Russians agreed, but required around a month’s preparation. Cadorna, however, had already been planning another offensive for early April, and was willing to bring it forward by a few weeks to help the French. On March 11, the Italians began an artillery barrage. The Austrians were well-prepared for this, as they could easily see the troop movements over the last few weeks that indicated an upcoming offensive. Nevertheless, the barrage caused still caused nearly 2000 casualties, even though Italian artillery fire was generally not well-targeted. After forty-eight hours, the Italian infantry attacked, but it did not get very far. Deep snow in the more mountainous regions and heavy fog closer to the sea was enough to deter attack by more than a regiment or two at a time, and those that did make a concerted effort were repulsed with heavy casualties. On March 16, after only five days, Cadorna called off the abortive battle. He had satisfied his commitment to his French allies, and it was clear no actual progress was being made. The Austrians dismissed the battle as “an attempt by the enemy to pretend there had been a serious battle.” East African Campaign: Latema Nek - British and South African forces attack a German strongpoint South African and British Empire forces are continuing their advance into German East Africa. Now they find themselves facing a strong German position on high ground at Latema Nek. The terrain makes any attempt to outflank impossible, so the Germans are subjected to a series of frontal assaults. Photo: British 4-inch naval guns on improvised carriages firing at German positions The first two attacks fail with heavy casualties (by the standards of fighting in the African theatre). Then at night South African forces move forward. In the confusion of darkness, this attack too comes unstuck. A withdrawal from the hillside is ordered, preparatory to a new assault in the morning. Map: overview of the battle area around Taveta and the Reata-Latema Mountains Naval operations: Celtic SeaDutch freighter SS ZAANDIJK, 4,189 tons, bound from Philadelphia to Rotterdam with a general cargo, is damaged by a mine laid by Alfred Nitzsche in UC-10. Zaandijk will be repaired and returned to service.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 12, 2021 8:57:22 GMT
Day 592 of the Great War, March 12th 1916
Western Front
There is no major infantry action at Verdun today, but heavy artillery exchanges continue to take place.
Italian Front
Italian artillery active on Middle Isonzo.
Mesopotamian campaign
After repeated defeats by Ottoman forces that failed to save British troops under siege at Kut, Lieutenant-General Fenton Aylmer was relieved of command.
United Kingdom
The British domestic First Army and Second Army home forces are reformed into the Northern and Southern Armies to distinguish from the First and Second Armies of the British Expeditionary Force.
Naval operations: Black Sea
Turkish freighter SS SEYYAR, 2,875 tons, is sunk by gunfire off Karasu.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 13, 2021 6:56:14 GMT
Day 593 of the Great War, March 13th 1916
Western Front
German artillery increases its bombardment intensity west of the Meuse on Mort-Homme in preparation for an infantry attack.
Caucasus campaign
Turks defeated near River Kalopotamus.
Senussi campaign
A Western Frontier Force under command of General William Peyton advanced within 19 mi (31 km) of Sollum, Egypt.
Naval operations: New U-Boat Campaign Begins
With one of its most fervent opponents now out of the way, the new submarine campaign was cleared to begin. The Germans now had almost twice the number of submarines they’d had in the previous year, and were poised, they hoped, to cripple British trade. A war zone was declared around the British Isles where merchant vessels could be sunk without warning, though passenger vessels were to be unmolested. Pointedly, the Kaiser’s orders did not mention the nationality of vessels that were allowed targets, raising the worrying possibility that American merchant ships could be sunk. Many naval officials also worried that submarine captains would not be able to reliably tell the difference between merchant and passenger vessels, and this would lead to merchant ships escaping or passenger vessels being sunk, regardless of the Kaiser’s orders.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 14, 2021 7:10:14 GMT
Day 594 of the Great War, March 14th 1916Western Front: Verdun: the horror continuesThe German offensive at Verdun continues. On the west bank of the Meuse the Germans are trying to capture the Mort Homme, a piece of high ground seen as the key to French defences there. Previous attempts to take this grim place have failed but now the Germans launch a renewed assault, sending forward six divisions in an attempt to capture it. This time there is no subtlety to the German approach: instead of flanking attacks the Germans are staging a frontal assault on the hill. Progress is slow and costly, with French counterattacks often recovering lost ground. Each side lacerates the other with its artillery and then the infantry are left to fight over foxholes and shell craters (shellfire has largely destroyed the trench systems). The infantry are as likely to batter each other with shovels than use fire-arms. Grenades are another weapon of choice. The open country of the west bank makes it harder for the Germans to use their infiltration tactics. Flamethrowers are also less effective. French troops have begun to lose their fear of these terrible weapons, which in any case have a very short range. Men carrying flamethrowers are now as likely to be turned into human torches by French bullets as to clear the French out of positions they are holding. Even so, at great cost the Germans are managing to push forward. Both sides continue to suffer ruinous casualties in the fighting. Photo: German infantrymen leave their trenches in the battle of Verdun to attack the heights of the "Toter Mann". In the middle, soldiers throw hand grenades. To the left is a soldier with a flamethrower Eastern FrontGreat artillery activity on Riga front. Senussi Campaign In western Egypt forces from across the British Empire are pushing back the Senussi fighters who had invaded the country from Libya. The Senussi are allied to the Turks and had hoped to trigger a pro-Turkish revolt by the Muslim majority in Egypt, but their campaign has failed and now they are being chased back to Libya. Now the British advance on Sollum, near to the Libyan border, only to find that the Senussi have abandoned it and retreated westward. The Light Armoured Car Brigade (comprising 10 armoured cars) is ordered to pursue. The armoured cats catch the retreating Senussi, who have encamped at Bir Asiso, and a one sided battle ensues. By its end the British have captured all of the enemy’s heavy weapons as well as number of fighters and Turkish officers. From prisoners the British learn that in Bir Hakeim the Senussi are holding captured British sailors, survivors of ships sunk by a German U-boat. The sailors are being held in deplorable conditions and are in desperate straits. Major Hugh Grosvenor, the British commander, resolves that his armoured cars will have to race to the sailors’ rescue. They set off into the hostile territory of the Libyan desert. Mexican Border War: Pancho Villa Expedition New Mexico–Pancho Villa’s raid on Columbus had caused an uproar in the United States, which hurriedly prepared its small Army for retaliation. The so called “Punitive Expedition,” under the command of General Pershing, was approved on March 14 and entered Mexico the next day. It had taken several days to gather enough troops without denuding the rest of the Mexican border entirely. In the meantime, Wilson and Carranza had agreed on terms by which the U.S. Army could enter Mexico–essentialy, Wilson agreed that the Mexican Army would be permitted to enter the U.S. should similar circumstances arise. The U.S. Army currently numbered under 50,000 men, with around 15,000 of those in the Coast Artillery Corps (and thus unable for service in Mexico). Congress on the 14th quickly agreed to provide funds to increase the Army to 100,000 men, the maximum then allowed by law. The National Guard was also available to the Federal government to resist foreign invasion, and its use was still in discussion at this time. Photo: Staging area in Columbus for truck trains that supplied troops of General John J. Pershing during the Pancho Villa Expedition
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 15, 2021 3:50:35 GMT
Day 595 of the Great War, March 15th 1916Western FrontFrench success south of Saint-Souplet (Champagne). French troops launch counterattacks with grenades and bayonets against German advances made at Verdun yesterday, but only make limited gains. Senussi Campaign British troops recapture Sollum in western Egypt from the Senussi and pursue them with motor cars, cavalry, and the camel corps. Italian Front: Fifth Battle of the IsonzoFrance, hit hard by the Battle of Verdun, pleaded for its allies to help lift some of the strain. The Italians showed solidarity in March by launching the fifth battle for the Inonzo river. However, by rushing the attack, they went forwards before completing strategic planning. The result was an indecisive battle that shortly ended when bad weather made further fighting impossible, though the attacking Italians fared better than they had in previous fights. Photo: a wounded Italian soldier is attached to a cable car to be brought down to the rear. Major feats of logistics were required to supply and maintain the battling armies in the Alps Aerial operations: 23 Squadron joins the fight23 Squadron RFC set off for St Omer today. The Squadron was formed at Gosport in September 1915 under the command of Captain (later Major) Louis Strange. He was subsequently replaced by Major Rudolph Edward Trower Hogg due to illness. The squadron is equipped with the FE2b 2-seat fighter and will carry out escort duties and fly standing patrols to engage hostile aircraft. The flight commanders are Captains William Bowen Hargrave, Marwood Elton Lane, and Harold Wyllie. The flying officers are Lieutenants Sydney Herbert Bywater Harris, Francis Hay Mardell, Charles Allen Parker, Herbert Bainbridge Russell, Arthur Norbury Solly, and Thomas Ellames Withington and 2nd Lieutenants Ernest John Amor, Edward Athelston Halford, Leslie Godfrey Harcourt-Vernon, Eric Blake Harvey, Morden Maxwell Mowatt, John Victor Nash, Frank George Pinder, Stephen William Price, William Austin Spratt, Vyvyan Popham Spurway, J Armstrong Turnbull, Thomas Warren Webb, and Alexander Thomas Watson. Austria-Hungary/Portugal relations: Austria Declares War on PortugalPortugal and England had an alliance dating back over five hundred years, despite some recent tensions regarding their African possessions. However, Britain did not call on Portugal to join the war when they did, in part because they thought their weak colonial forces would be a liability against the Germans in South West Africa [Namibia] and East Africa [Tanzania]. Even without Portuguese entry, there had been a few border skirmishes. By February of 1916, with South West Africa conquered and an invasion of German East Africa in the works, Portuguese weakness in Mozambique seemed less of a liability. On February 24th, at the request of Britain, Portugal seized 36 German and Austrian merchant ships that were anchored in Lisbon harbor. In response to this “provocation,” Germany declared war on Portugal on March 9th, calling Portugal nothing but an “English vassal.” Austria followed suit on March 15th. Naval operations: Admiral Tirpitz ResignsAdmiral Tirpitz, the founder of the modern German Navy, was highly dissatisfied with the Kaiser’s increasing restrictions on U-boat use. He believed that such restrictions would cripple the submarines, making them more vulnerable to British attack while letting more British shipping slip through. In protest, he submitted his resignation to the Kaiser: “The grave anxiety at seeing the life work of Your Majesty and the national future of Germany on the path to ruin makes me realize that my services can be of no further use to Your Majesty.” This was not the first time Tirpitz had offered his resignation, knowing his own personal popularity and naval expertise would ensure the resignation would be rejected. However, this time, the Kaiser had enough of Tirpitz, and Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg (as always, against unrestricted submarine warfare) encouraged him to accept the resignation, which he did on March 15th. Tirpitz’s anger, wrote Princess Blücher, was indescribable. They gave out as reason for his retirement that he had broken down and needed rest. So he walked with his wife up and down the Wilhelmstrasse for two hours to prove to the crowd that it was not true and that he was in the best of health. Next day, he took off his uniform and appeared in tall hat and frock coat to show that he had been ‘deprived of his uniform’ and talked to his wife in a loud voice so that the crowd would be able to hear.Tirpitz would never see the Kaiser again.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 16, 2021 3:48:35 GMT
Day 596 of the Great War, March 16th 1916Western FrontAt Verdun five successive attacks on the city of Vaux are repulsed. East African campaign: last supply ship arrives in German East AfricaGermany’s last colony, in East Africa, was entirely isolated, and was dependent almost entirely on her own resources for supplies. Mostly, this was not too much of a problem, as the Germans learned to do without European luxuries and adapt what they had on hand. However, certain items were impossible to obtain: guns, shells, ammunition, sturdy clothing, medical equipment, and tobacco, among others. The governor put out a desperate plea for supplies via then-neutral Portugal in late 1915, and the MARIE VON STETTIN departed Hamburg on January 16. Maintaining complete radio silence, the MARIE VON STETTIN traveled across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, arriving at Sudi Bay in the southern reaches of the colony on March 15. The British blockade of the colony had proven no obstacle, and the ship was quickly sequestered out of sight of the British patrols. On March 16, the ship was met by the German officers (including some from the KONINGSBERG), who arranged for a delivery of fruit, which “tasted particularly good…after the long sea trip.” The unloading of the supplies began posthaste. No dock or pier was available, so the cargo was unloaded on a pontoon bridge brought with the ship. Both sides had carefully planned for the quick unloading of the vessel. In Germany, the supplies had mostly been packaged in small, easily-transportable bale-shaped containers. In East Africa, a force of 50,000 African porters had been assembled to carry the supplies away as quickly as possible. The shipment contained four howitzers, two mountain guns, 2000 rifles, 3 million rounds of ammunition, 200 kilograms of quinine, and many other loads of clothing, food (including candy), equipment, and a number of medals for particular soldiers. The ship was unloaded in eight days, and all but around 200 of the porters’ loads reached their destinations successfully. The captain of the MARIE recalled “One old African black NCO from a machine-gun regiment kept on going up to the beautiful, shining, new machine guns and stroking the barrels and laying himself down aiming with all of them…It was certainly worth all the fuss.” The MARIE would be the last German aid to successfully reach East Africa. Mexican Border War: Pancho Villa Expedition American aircraft fly their first mission over foreign soil when Curtiss JN-3s of the 1st Aero Squadron carry out reconnaissance over Mexico. Photo: S.C. No. 53, a JN3 of the 1st Aero Squadron, at Casas Grandes, Mexico Aerial operations: Aussies on the wayThe first complete Australian flying unit, 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, consisting of twenty-eight officers and 195 other ranks-embarked from Port Melbourne in the transport Orsova today on its way to support British forces in Egypt. The squadron is a twelve-aeroplane squadron, with three flights – “A”, “B”, and “C”- each of four machines. That said the squadron has no aeroplanes – and the only equipment it is bringing are two motor-cars and seven motorcycles – all belonging to members of the unit. Aeroplanes will be provided by the RFC in Egypt. Naval operations: English ChannelOtto Wünsche, after a good start in U-25, is now Commanding U-70. He starts his first patrol in the new boat by torpedoing British frieghter SS BERWINDALE, 7,242 tons, bound from Galveston to Avonmouth with a load of wheat. The ship is only damaged, however, and manages to make port safely. Later the same day Wünsche stops British brigantine SV WILLIE, carrying a load of cement in barrels from London to Cardiff, and then sinks her with his deck gun. Wünsche's score is now 22 ships and 14,330 tons. Arthur Metz, new commander of UB-13, starts his career with the sinking of Dutch liner SS TURBANTIA, 13,911 tons, outbound from Amsterdam to Buenos Aires. TURBANTIA is lying at anchor off the North Hindon Light Vessel, fully lit up to avoid a mistaken attack by the British, waiting for dawn to come before proceeding. At around 0230 the liner's lookouts spot bubble trails, but there is nothing to be done with the ship anchored. as the ship begins to sink she sends out distress calls. Quick action by the vessels BREDA, KRAKSTAU and LA COMPINE results in the rescue of all 80 passengers and 294 crew. Naval operations: Mediterranean SeaUC-12, under the command of Eberhard Fröhner, is laying a minefield off Taranto, Italy, when one of the mines detonates. UC-12 is sunk with the loss of all 15 crew. Later the Italians will raise the two halves of the boat and put her into service as X1.
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Post by lordroel on Mar 17, 2021 3:48:42 GMT
Day 597 of the Great War, March 17th 1916YouTube (Battle of the Isonzo - Discord Among The Central Powers)Western FrontGerman troops launch five attacks against the village of Vaux and the nearby fort at Verdun, but are repulsed. Caucasus campaignContinued Russian advance west of Erzerum. Senussi Campaign: Duke of Westminster Rescues POWs with Armored Cars The Senussi presence along the Egyptian coastline had largely been shattered at Agagiya last month, but operations continued against their remnants. One of the most pressing concerns were around 100 British POWs being held by the Senussi, mostly from the British Navy steamer HMS Tara. The Tara had been sunk off the Egyptian coast in November by the U-35, whose captain was (unusually) a stickler for prize rules. He made sure to rescue the crew of the Tara, and handed them over to the Senussi as prisoners. In mid-March, the Tara prisoners were running short of food, and the Tara’s captain had sent a letter to Turkish officers pleading for an improvement in their conditions. The British found this letter in a Turkish camp, and the Duke of Westminster set off in his squad of armored cars. Arriving on March 17 after a 115-mile drive, he was able to rescue them from their few Senussi guards and bring them back to the British camp. Photo: One of the Duke’s armored cars, pictured in April 1916 Italian Front: Fifth Battle of the Isonzo Ends Due to Bad WeatherThe Fifth Battle of the Isonzo ended on March 17, 1916, almost as soon as it had begun. The Italian Army had attacked to help relieve pressure on the French Army, embattled at Verdun, but in doing so they had attacked before completing preparations for their spring offensive. However, this time the Italian commander-in-chief, Luigi Cadorna, was more cautious than usual, and the Italians suffered less casualties as a result. By the 17th the battle ended as bad weather made further fighting impossible, without either army achieving decisive results[/u] Photo: an Austrian machine gun nest opens up on Italian soldiers Naval operations: English ChannelOtto Wünsche, Commanding U-70, stops Norwegian barque SV LINDFIELD, 2,230 tons, bound from Portland, Oregon for Queenstown, Blackpool, Lancashire with a load of wheat, and sinks her. His score is now 23 ships and 16,560 tons. Naval operations: North SeaErnst Voigt, in UB-6, torpedoes Swedish freighter SS ASK, 1,041 tons, carrying a load of timber from Westervik to London. The damaged ship manages to put safely into port and is later repaired and returned to service.
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Post by lordroel on Mar 18, 2021 3:49:38 GMT
Day 598 of the Great War, March 18th 1916Western FrontGerman attacks at Verdun slows down. French report attributes it to the “curtain of fire” created by French artillery. Eastern Front: Disastrous Russian Offensive at Lake NarochAfter the start of the German onslaught at Verdun, Joffre quickly pleaded with his Allies to launch offensives to divert German resources. Britain refused, Italy launched an perfunctory attack on the Isonzo, but the Russians took it more seriously. Alexeyev and the Foreign Minister had somewhat backed themselves into a corner regarding commitments to the French. The size (and perhaps more importantly, the rifle supply) of the Russian Army had been repeatedly overstated, and the Russians had insisted last year that an attack on one ally should be replied to with attacks from multiple fronts. They had said this during their dire summer last year, and the French and British had fulfilled this (if slightly too late) with their attacks in Artois and Champagne in September. On February 24, just three days after the attack at Verdun, a conference at Stavka decided to attack. Evert, in command of the Western Front, would lead it, striking north of the Pripet Marshes between Dvinsk and Lake Naroch. Evert was wildly optimistic for its success, often misspelling words in dispatches in his enthusiasm. He had a large superiority in numbers–larger than the Germans had ever had during their successes last year–and an adequate supply of shells. The offensive opened on March 18 with a preparatory bombardment. Almost no preliminary reconnaissance had been conducted, so it was wildly ineffective. In one case they fired randomly over some woods in the hope they hit German artillery that was supposedly behind it; in other sectors they hit their own trenches or the advancing troops. The artillery had not been told its targets until a few days before (at best), and infantry and artillery had no coordination with each other. In some cases, the artillery had no coordination with itself; in one sector the heavy and light artillery were under different commanders who refused to talk to each other for political reasons and did not send over deliveries of the wrong caliber of shells to each other. The weather conditions could not have been worse; with the thaw at the end of winter in progress, the ground was either frozen solid (and thus resistant to shelling) or a cold muck (that would trap shells and troops alike). Logistics were also a nightmare as a result, exacerbated by the large amount of cavalry kept in reserve to exploit a breakthrough that would never come. The Germans had two weeks’ advance notice of the Russian attack, and were able to do considerable damage to the poorly-reinforced Russian trenches with their own artillery. When the infantry attacked, it advanced in large waves that were easy targets for German artillery and machine-gun fire. In the few cases they reached the German trenches (usually because they had been left deliberately open), they would be hit by artillery fire from three sides. One of the three main attacking groups lost 15,000 men–three-quarters of the attacking troops–in the first eight hours of the offensive. Russian commanders were bewildered that such a large superiority in guns, men, and shell led to no gain. It would shock many of them into passivity for the rest of the war. Historian Norman Stone wrote: “It was altogether an episode that suggests commanders had lost such wits as they still possessed.” Newspaper: Russian soldiers charge German positions in a German newspaper illustration. The Battle of Lake Naroch took place in present-day Belarus Senussi Campaign Prince of Wales arrives in Egypt as Staff Captain. British troops report successes against the Ottomans and their allies near Aden and the western Egyptian frontier. East Africa campaign: Smuts attacks the Germans at KaheGerman East Africa is being invaded by British Empire forces under the overall command of South Africa’s Smuts. In the Kilimanjaro region the Germans have retreated from Salaita Hill and Latema Nek. Now they are concentrated at Kahe. Smuts fears that if the Germans are left here unmolested until the imminent rainy season they will be able to harass his lines of communication. So he sends his own men forward to attack Kahe. The British Empire forces are a motley crew of South African, British, Indian, Rhodesian and African troops while the Germans are mostly locally recruited Askaris with German officers. The highly disciplined Askaris put up a stout resistance for their colonial masters. Heavy fighting ensues at Kahe, with it being clear that the Germans will not be easily dislodged. Naval operations: North SeaHis Majesty's Trawler AMEER, 216 tons, and British freighter SS LOWLANDS, 1,789 tons, both hit mines laid by Georg Haag in UC-7, bringing his score to 11 ships and 22,552 tons. Dutch freighter SS PALEMBANG, 6,674 tons, bound from Rotterdam to Batavia, hits a mine laid by Alfred Nitzsche in UC-10. His score is now 9 ships and 18,880 tons. Naval operations: Adriatic SeaHugo von Falkhausen, commanding Austrian U-6, torpedoes French destroyer RENAUDIN, 756 tons, off Durazzo (modern Durrës, Albania). Photo: The successful crew after the sinking of destroyer RENAUDIN
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Post by lordroel on Mar 19, 2021 2:52:10 GMT
Day 599 of the Great War, March 19th 1916Western FrontBattle of Verdun: Germans repulsed at Poivre Hill. Eastern FrontRussian success north-west of Uscieczko (River Dniester). Caucasus campaignRussians enter Ispahan. Netherlands: War Fears in the NetherlandsThe renewed German submarine campaign had, within a week, already enraged a neutral country, as Chancellor Bethmann had feared. Thankfully for Bethmann’s nerves, that country was not the United States but The Netherlands. In the wee hours of March 16, the Dutch passenger liner TUBANTIA, en route to Buenos Aires, was sunk by a German submarine–despite illuminating herself completely and not running her engines at night in an attempt to clearly indicate that she was a neutral passenger liner. Multiple officers on board reported that they saw a torpedo clearly approaching the vessel before the explosion. All on board were rescued by three rescue ships–this was aided by the fact that there were only 80 passengers on board due to fear of submarines. Nevertheless, the sinking of such a prominent ship outraged public opinion in the Netherlands. On March 19, Dutch papers wrote: “…nothing would be more damaging to our independence and national existence than the conviction gaining ground that we are unprepared to shed our blood for the defense of our rights and independence” and “If the attack was made against the orders of the German Admiralty we expect the submarine commander will get what a pirate deserves.” The crisis escalated a few days later when fragments of the torpedo, found in one of the TUBANTIA’S lifeboats, proved it was a German torpedo–in fact, a particular torpedo, fired by the UB-13. The Germans continued to deny that they had attacked the TUBANTIA, falsifying the submarine’s logs to show that it had been fired ten days before. The American ambassador later described this particular explanation thusly: This certain U-boat had fired this particular torpedo at a British war-vessel somewhere in the North Sea ten days before the TUBANTIA was sunk. The shot missed its mark. But the naughty undisciplined little torpedo went cruising around in the sea on its own hook for ten days waiting for a chance to kill somebody. Then the TUBANTIA came along and the wandering-Willy torpedo promptly, obstinately, ran into the ship and sank her. This was the explanation. Germany was not to blame.Mexican Border War: Pancho Villa Expedition Eight Curtiss “Jenny” biplanes took off from Columbus, New Mexico, commencing the first combat air mission in American history. The biplanes helped scout for General John Pershing’s punitive expedition, which was tasked with hunting down the Mexican warlord Pancho Villa, who had raided Columbus earlier that month. The eight American planes represented the majority of the United State’s air strength. America’s military strength was tiny in comparison to the nation’s industrial might. Over eleven months, the American expedition, which included every major Army unit, failed to find the elusive Mexican revolutionary, but the campaign helped weather the fledgling American military for larger tasks in store. Photo: A Curtiss Jenny takes off over the crowded base camp at Columbus Aerial operations: Kent raidedThe German Navy mounted a rare raid by its aeroplanes today as 6 aircraft attacked the south coast of England. The attackers consisted of four Friedrichshafen FF33s, a Hansa-Brandenburg NW and a Gotha Ursinus WD. At 1.57pm three aircraft appeared over the Admiralty harbour at Dover. Four bombs fell on Northfall Meadow, close to Dover Castle. One smashed into a hut housing men of the 5th battalion Royal Fusiliers – killing Frank Roseberry and Walter Venables, and injuring 13 more, two seriously. More bombs fell on Castle Street and Folkestone Road killing Edith Stoker, and 7-year-old Francis Hall who was on his way to Sunday School and casuing extensive damage. The aircraft then turned back towards the harbour, dropping a bomb in Northampton Street killing Mrs Jane James and injuring two other women. Two more bombs were dropped with minimal damage to the harbour. By this time a second aircraft had begun bombing Dover. At Eastbrook Place a bomb hit an orphanage but the occupants had hid in the basement and escaped injury. Further bombs fell close together in Church Street, King Street, Russell Street, Woolcomber Street and Trevanion Street, causing varying amounts of damage. Finally two more bombs hit the harbour. Then, at about 2.12pm, two other German aircraft, approached Ramsgate and dropped 14 high-explosive bombs on the town. One bomb landed on a car causing the petrol tank to explode. It killed the driver Harry Divers, five children and severely injured Mrs G.M. Bishop. Other bombs hit the town causing damage to buildings but without causing any more injuries. The final bomb of the raid fell on 29-30 Fort Crescent, Cliftonville, Margate used as headquarters of the 9th Provisional Cyclist Company, damaging the roof and dislodging chimneys. The RFC and RNAS managed to get 26 aircraft in the air, from Dover, Eastchurch, Grain and Westgate. A FE2b being ferried to France by Lieutenant Reginald Collis and Sergeant A C Emery that also joined in the attack. Collis and Emery spotted the Hansa-Brandenburg NW. He then dived on the aircraft and Emery’s gunfire damaged the floatplanes cooling system and put one cylinder out of action, as well as wounding the observer. The aircraft went into a steep right-hand spiral with its engine spouting steam. At this point Collis had his own engine problems and lost contact. The German observer, Oberleutnant-zur-See von Tschirschky, managed to climb onto the wing and repair the radiator with a handkerchief and tape. They managed to remain airborne until twenty miles from Ostende. After taxing for a while they were able to get airborne again and return to the German base at Zeebrugge. Flying from Westgate, in Nieuport 10, No 3964, Flight Commander Reginald John Bone, CO of RNAS Westgate, spotted one of the Friedrichshafen FF33s and forced it down 30 miles northeast of the North Foreland, but had to return due to being short of fuel. The enemy machine was assisted by another floatplane and was later towed back to Zeebrugge. Naval operations: North SeaReinhold Saltzwedel, new commander of UB-10, begins his career with the sinking of Canadian freighter SS PORT DALHOUSIE, 1,744 tons, bound from Middlesbrough for Nantes with a load of steel billets. Herbert Pustkuchen, in his first patrol in new command UB-29, torpedoes French freighter SS NOMINOE, 3,155 tons, riding at anchor off Lowestoft while on a voyage from Rouen to Newcastle in ballast. Pustkuchen's score is now 22 ships and 29,996 tons. His Majesty's Trawler VALPA, 230 tons, his a mine laid by Georg Haag in UC-7, bringing his score to 12 ships and 22,782 tons. Norwegian freighter SS SCHOTLAND, 1,490 tons, is wrecked off the southeast side of the Isle of May. Naval operations: German East AfricaHMS SEVERN carries an exploratory group to Mwambani Harbour. At 0628 the monitor anchors and lowers boats for the observation. At 0855 the 1st motor boat and gig are examining the shoreline when enemy troops on the mainland open fire. The boats withdraw without casualties and return to the ship with detailed information. At 1040 SEVERN departs Mwambani Bay with the second motorboat an gig following. At 1122 the monitor achors off Yamba Island to take the boats and troops back aboard.
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Post by lordroel on Mar 20, 2021 8:04:05 GMT
Day 600 of the Great War, March 20th 1916Western Front: Verdun - a disastrous failure of French moraleAt Verdun the Germans are still attacking. On the west bank of the Meuse, their target is the outcropping of the Mort Homme. Frontal assaults and flanking attacks from the north east have failed. Now they are trying to take it from the west. The Mort Homme here is defended by another French position known as Côte 304. To take this the Germans must first seize the village of Avocourt and its surrounding woods. A unit of Bavarian troops, who had been serving with Mackensen in Serbia, is given the task. Today they move forward. The French positions around Avocourt are well fortified and should be easy enough for committed troops to hold. Unfortunately the French troops defending here have been so battered by the fighting that their morale is shot. In an embarrassing debacle, the French defenders put up little resistance; there are even rumours of treachery on their part. Avocourt falls with the Germans taking many prisoners. Now the Bavarians prepare to press on to seize Côte 304 and roll up the French line. Senussi Campaign: Reports of a “Dashing Affair” as Duke of Westminster Rescues Hostages at Bir HakiemThe jihadist Senussi tribe, campaigning against Britain and Italy in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts, took a number of British sailors from the patrol ship HMS Tara prisoner in November, after the ship was sunk by a German submarine in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Duke of Westminster formed a force of 45 armored cars to track down and rescue the hostage, who he learned from interrogations were being held at Bir Hakiem, far to the south. On March 17, the British armored cars started their journey towards the desert oasis, where the 91 prisoners languished with little food or water. The armored cars surprised the Senussi captors, who fled, and the British sailors were returned to Alexandria, a feat that was triumphantly reported in the British press in the following days. Picture: British armored cars rout Senussi tribemen and save a number of sailors kept prisoner by the Ottoman-allied insurgency Aerial operations: Zeebrugge revengeThe British public were heartened by a combined British, French and Belgian attack on the German seaplane base at Zeebrugge and the nearby base at Houttave at dawn today. Whilst this may seem like a quick reprisal for yesterday’s raids on Kent, the raid has been in preparation for some time with the preparation with detailed sketches of the layout of the aerodromes prepared from aerial reconnaissance. The raid consisted of 56 aircraft in total – 15 British bombers and four fighters, ten French bombers and nine fighters, and eleven Belgian bombers and five fighters. The British contingnent was made up of aircraft from 5 Wing RNAS based at Dunkirk and seaplanes from HMS Riviera and Vindex. The British dropped twenty five 65-lb. bombs and the French and Belgians eighty-six of various weights. Many hits on the objectives on both raids are reported. British newspapers have typically painted a rosy picture of the raid claiming that the port “now looks like a huge scrap-heap” (Daily Mail) and “over 200 artillerymen and marines were killed” (Central News). Greece: Greece Announces Annexation of Northern EpirusThe region which Greece called Northern Epirus, in southern Albania, was home to many Greek-speakers. After the collapse of effective Albanian government in the first months of the war, Greek troops crossed the border and occupied the area. In March 1916, with Austria in control of the northern two-thirds of the country, and the few Italian forces left isolated in Valona [Vlorë], Greece felt confident that they could safely annex the region. On March 20, they announced to other countries that they had done so; Greek administration now extended to the area, and representatives from Northern Epirus now sat in the Greek Parliament. This angered many of the Great Powers who had set Albania’s borders in 1913–especially Italy, who had her own interests in the country. The Allies refused to recognize the annexation, but, not having the resources to expel them (nor the desire to see Greece join the Central Powers), temporarily left the matter at strongly-worded protests. Map: Ethnographic map of Northern Epirus in 1913, presented by Greece at the Paris Peace Conference, 1919 Naval operations: North SeaHerbert Pustkuchen, commanding UB-29, sinks Norwegian freighter SS LANGELI, 1,565 tons. bound from Rouen to Blyth in ballast; and Danish freighter SS SKODSBORG, 1,697 tons, carrying a load of oil cake from New Orleans to Helsingborg. His score is now 24 ships and 33,258 tons. Naval operations: Mediterranean Sea French trawler GINETTE, 272 tons, hits a mine laid by Franz Becker, new commander of UC-14.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 21, 2021 7:20:20 GMT
Day 601 of the Great War, March 21st 1916Western FrontAt Verdun, German troops stop their advance to regroup after yesterday’s successes. Heavy artillery exchanges continue. Eastern Front: Russians Attack Over Ice on Lake NarochThe Russian offensive between Dvinsk and Lake Naroch continued to be a disaster in most sectors, taking tens of thousands of casualties for nonexistent or worthless gains. One exception was on the shores of Lake Naroch itself, where forces under General Baluyev attacked on March 21. His artillery was able to coordinate with the infantry and successfully knocked out most of the Germans’ guns. His infantry then attacked, even managing to outflank the Germans by attacking over the ice (despite the continuing thaw on land). Baluyev captured a few square miles of land and 1000 German prsioners. This was not followed up by the Russians to the his north however, who refused to attack at all; their only casualties were due to frostbite. Austria-Hungary: Austrian Premier MurderedEmperor Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary appointed Karlk von Stürgkh as Austrian Prime Minister in 1911. The Styrian nobleman proceeded to rule autocratically, passing emergency laws in March 1914 that stopped the legislature convening, which proved to be a fatal mistake during the July Crisis when the government was virtually shut down and could not respond correctly to the situation, handing control to the army and the Emperor, who chose war. Stürgkh paid a high price for his abuse of power in October 1916, when a Social Democrat politician named Frederich Alder shot him dead as he lunched on a Vienna restaurant patio. The Emperor named Ernst von Koerber his successor, one of his final acts before he died four weeks later. Alder got off rather lightly for the murder. The new emperor, young Charles I, showed leniency and pardoned him. East Africa campaign: Lettow-Vorbeck retreats from KaheBritish Empire and South African forces commanded by General Smuts of South Africa have invaded German East Africa, the Kaiser’s last overseas possession. Lettow-Vorbeck commands the men defending the colony, locally recruited Askaris led by German officers. He has concentrated them at Kahe in the Kilimanjaro region. Smuts ordered his men to attack, hoping to defeat the Germans before the arrival of the rainy season. A tough battle has ensued, with the outnumbered Germans making great use of the terrain to frustrate their enemies’ efforts. But now Lettow-Vorbeck orders his men to withdraw. They have given the enemy a bloody nose, but if they stay to fight any longer the Germans will be overwhelmed. Smuts’ men have control of the battlefield, but Lettow-Vorbeck escapes to fight another day. Map: Sketch Map Of soko Nassai Action On 21st March 1916 Aerial operations: Escadrille AmericaineThe French Government has given permission for an Escadrille Americaine to be formed. This follows a campaign by Dr. Edmund L. Gros, director of the AFS Intercultural Programs WWI , and Norman Prince, an American expatriate already flying for France. Their purpose was to raise the profile of volunteer American pilots and increase public interest in the United States for abandoning neutrality and joining the war. The unit’s aircraft, mechanics, and uniforms will be French, as will the commander, Captain Georges Thenault. The Unit will have a mix of French and American pilots. Naval operations: IrelandHellmuth Jürst, commanding U-43, captures British freighter SS ARANMORE, 1,050 tons. bound frmo Limerick to Glasgow, and sinks her with a torpedo just off Eagle Island on the west coast of Ireland. Naval operations: SkagerrakNorwegian coaster SS URD II, 216 tons, travelling from Engene to Ålvik with a general cargo, founders off Torungen.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 22, 2021 3:46:03 GMT
Day 602 of the Great War, March 22nd 1916Western FrontBattle of Verdun: Germans gain a footing on Haucourt Knoll, south-west of Malancourt. Eastern FrontRussian success at Lake Naroch: 1,000 prisoners reported. Anglo-Egyptian Darfur ExpeditionJebel el Hella (Darfur) occupied by Colonel Kelly's force. Naval operations: Celtic SeaOtto Wünsche, commanding U-70, stops French barque SV BOUGAINVILLE, 2,248 tons, bound from San Francisco for Runcorn with a load of barley, and sinks her with his deck gun. Wünsche's score is now 24 ships and 18,808 tons. Naval operations: English ChannelOtto Steinbrinck, in UB-18, sinks British freighter SS KELVINBANK, 4,209 tons, carrying a load of frozen meat from Buenos Aires to Le Havre. His score is now 31 ships and 31,684 tons. Naval operations: German East AfricaBritish ships conduct a bombardment operation against the railway station at Tanga. Involved are old pre-dreadnought battlship HMS VENGEANCE, monitor HMS SEVERN and old 2nd-class cruiser HMS HYACINTH. Supporting are gunboats CHARON and STYX. Naval operations: IrelandA variety of new weapons had been hastily developed by the Allies to counter the German submarine threat. One of these was the Q-ship, a heavily-armed vessel disguised as a harmless small freighter, hoping to sink submarines when they approached their prizes at close range. Another was the depth charge, explosive devices meant to be rolled off a vessel and onto submerged U-boats below. Depth charges were first deployed in January 1916, though quantities were limited due to high demand for explosives elsewhere. On March 22, a depth charge first hit a U-boat during the engagement off the coast of Ireland between U-68 and the Q-ship FARNBOROUGH, captained by Gordon Campbell. The FARNBOROUGH was disguised as a tramp steamer–complete with a sailor on the bridge disguised as a woman, playing the role of the captain’s wife to any German observers. The U-68 took no chances initially upon sighting the FARNBOROUGH, firing a torpedo at the vessel. The Q-ship’s crew pretended not to see it, despite the near miss, as “a tramp steamer could not be expected to know what a torpedo track looked like.” The crew of the FARNBOROUGH continued to casually smoke pipes on deck. Illustration: positions of guns and other disguised aspects of the Q-ship FARNBOROUGH U-68 then surfaced and approached FARNBOROUGH’S port side from astern, carefully observing the vessel and firing a shot across the bows. A specially prepared “panic party” on board the FARNBOROUGH then abandoned ship. At that point, Campbell recalled, He was now about 800 yards off, showing full length, and although the range was a little bit greater than I wished, the time had come to open fire before he might touch off our magazines. I therefore blew my whistle. At this signal the White Ensign flew at the masthead, the wheel-house and side ports came down with a clatter, the hen coop collapsed; and in a matter of seconds three 12-pounder guns, the Maxim, and rifles were firing as hard as they could. The intense and unexpected barrage damaged the submarine considerably, and they attempted an emergency dive to avoid the British fire. The FARNBOROUGH then dropped depth charges, forcing her back to the surface, where she was promptly finished off. The submarine sank with all hands, only six days into her first patrol.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 23, 2021 3:46:21 GMT
Day 603 of the Great War, March 23rd 1916
Western Front
British extended to include Souchez.
German artillery pound French lines at Malancourt, Béthincourt, Le Mort Homme, and Cumières.
Eastern Front
German concentration at Dvinsk broken up.
United Kingdom: Invasion Paranoia in Britain
A recurring fear in Britain throughout the war was that of German invasion of the British Isles. This is something the Germans never seriously considered; barring a complete defeat of the Grand Fleet, the Germans would never be able to land, let alone supply such a fleet. Nevertheless, Britain kept some forces in reserve in Great Britain, under the command of Sir John French, to defend against such an eventuality. Such fears were occasionally overblown in the public press, including a piece written today for The Star, which concluded that the recent sinkings of Dutch vessels must be a prelude to the invasion of Great Britain:
It is quite impossible that Germany should take this step, with all its dangerous chances of arousing neutral nations against her in order to deprive us of the quantities of margarine and foodstuffs which now reach us from Holland. That is a mere pretext. This is finally proved by the fact that the TUBANTIA was bound for Brazil and the Palembang for Java, so the Germans by torpedoing them were inflicting no damage on this country. Their real objective unquestionably is to sweep the North Sea clear of all merchantmen….
The inevitable conclusion is that Germany wants to clear neutrals out in order that they may not observe and give warning to us of the gathering of warships, submarines, transports, and Zeppelins along the German coast from Heligoland to Borkum. Here, if anywhere, the plant of invasion will be collected, and the longer this operation can proceed without observation the greater the hopes of surprise that will animate its organizers.
The Germans, of course, did not sink the TUBANTIA as part of some cunning plan to pave the way for an invasion of Britain. It is hard to tell passenger liners from merchant ships, let alone neutrals from belligerents or Brazil-bound for Britain-bound, in battle conditions in the North Sea at night.
Aerial operations: New Training Standards RFC
Back on 16 February 1916, Brigadier-General John Salmond returned from France to command the V Brigade, an appointment which put him at the head of the RFCs training organization in England, and shortly after this on 8 march, he took command of VI Brigade which then absorbed V Brigade. The purpose of the appointment is to improve the quality of pilots arriving in France which Major General Hugh Trenchard, RFC Commander in the Field, has long been complaining about.
Since then Salmond has been working to improve the standards of training in the RFC. Today he announced new qualification tests for pilots passing out from training Squadrons in England. These state:
(1) The pilot must have spent at least 15 hours in the air solo.
(2) He must have flown a service aeroplane satisfactorily.
(3) He must have carried out a cross-country flight of at least 60 miles successfully. During this flight he must land at two outside landing places under the supervision of an officer of the RFC.
(4) He will climb to 6,000 feet and remain at that height for at least 15 minutes, after which he will land with his engine stopped, the aeroplane first touching the ground within a circular mark of 50 yards diameter. This test can be combined with (3) if proper supervision can be arranged.
(5) He will make two landings in the dark assisted by flares.”
As well as these specific tests officers must be given as much chance as possible to get flying experience including flying in bad weather practising landing, bomb-dropping, righting in the air, night flying, and flying in formation.
Naval operations: English Channel
Otto Steinbrinck, commanding UB-18, sinks Norwegian freighter SS KANNIK while the ship is riding at anchor in Le Havre Road, bringing his score to 32 ships and 24,081 tons.
Naval operations: North Sea
His Majesty's Trawler CORONA, 212 tons, and freighter SS SEA SERPENT, 902 tons, bound from Liverpool to Dunqkerque with a load of corrugated steel sheets, both run on mines laid by Matthias von Schmettow in UC-6. His score is now 30 ships and 36,433 tons.
Norwegian fishing vessel Boy Thomas, 35 tons, runs aground while returning to Blomvåg from a fishing trip. Four of her crew are lost.
Naval operations: Mediterranean Sea
Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, in U-35, sinks British passenger liner SS MINNEAPOLIS, 13,443 tons, travelling in ballast from Marseille to Alexandria. Von Arnauld now has 8 ships and 50,436 tons.
Naval operations: German East Africa
British cruiser HMS HYACINTH, in company with gunboats PIONEER and VENGEANCE, stops suspect ship SS TABORA and demands access to examine papers and cargo. TABORA refuses. At 1540 PIONEER opens fire for five minutes. At 1622 PIONEER opens fire again, this time for three minutes. At 1714 fire is reopened. At 1758 TABORA is sinking. British ships depart at 1820.
Naval operations: Britain and France Reject American Appeal not to Arm Merchant Ships
In January 1916 the American government sent a request to Britain and France not to arm merchant or passenger ships. Many merchantmen now carried guns and small Royal Navy complements to fend off German submarines and surface raiders, but the increasing weaponization of civilian ships meant that German submarine now tended to subvert the rules of naval warfare by torpedoing ships, even neutral ones, from afar, rather than risk surfacing too close. Many Americans had died on-board passenger ships sunk for this reason, or on their own merchantmen. Britain and France, however, rejected the appeal.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 24, 2021 3:46:41 GMT
Day 604 of the Great War, March 24th 1916YouTube (Russian Spring Offensive - Confusion at Fort Vaux)Senussi campaignEl Hassana bombed again. Aerial operations: Investigation into the Royal Aircraft FactoryFollowing the charges made against the Royal Aircraft Factory by Noel Pemberton-Billing on 22 March in the House of Commons, the Army Council has decided to appoint a committee to look into the operation of the Royal Aircraft Factory. The Committee will be chaired by Sir Richard Burbidge, Managing Director of Harrods who has serviced on a number of Government Committees. The other members are Sir Frederick Donaldson, Chief Technical Adviser to the Ministry of Munitions, and previously Chief Engineer at Royal Ordnance Factories Woolwich, and Sir Charles Parsons, inventor of the Parsons Steam Turbine. Naval operations: IrelandHellmuth Jürst, commanding U-43, sinks British freighter SS Englishman, 5,257 tons, bound from Avonmouth to Portland, Maine, with the loss of 10 lives. Jürst's score is now 2 ships and 6,307 tons. Naval operations: Celtic SeaOtto Wünsche, in U-70, sinks British freighter SS FENAY BRIDGE, 3,838 tons, carrying a load of wheat from Philadelphia to Hull. His score is now 25 ships and 22,646 tons. Naval operations: English ChannelHerbert Pustkuchen, in UB-29, sinks British freighter SS ALYBIA, 3,352 tons, travelling from Trinidad to London with a general cargo. His score is now 25 ships and 36,610 tons. Pustkuchen also torpedoes French passenger liner SS SUSSEX. The ship is beached and despite the heavy damage and loss of life, and the fact that that she will not be repaired until after the war, SUSSEX is only counted as "damaged". Among the dead is Spanish composer and pianist Enrique Granados. Photo: Scene on the SS SUSSEX after the explosion Danish freighter SS CHRISTIANSSUND, 1,017 tons, en route from Falmouth to Copenhagen with a load of salt and tobacco, hits a mine laid by Matthias von Schmettow in UC-6, bringing his score to 31 ships and 37,450 tons. Naval operations: North SeaBritish freighter SS FULMAR, 1,270 tons, carrying a general cargo from Rotterdam to various points in the United Kingdom, hits a mine laid by Georg Haag in UC-7. Haag's score is now 13 ships and 24,052 tons.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 25, 2021 3:46:08 GMT
Day 605 of the Great War, March 25th 1916
Western Front
Battle of Verdun: German artillery active south-west of Meuse.
Aerial operations: British Attempt to Strike Back at Zeppelins
The continued Zeppelin attacks on Britain were an embarrassment to the Admiralty, which was responsible for air defense. Churchill had criticized the Admiralty’s lack of action against the Zeppelins earlier in the month; although the end of the speech was ill-thought and ill-received, perhaps the first half struck home at the Admiralty. The seaplane carrier VINDEX would launch attacks against Zeppelin sheds thought to be located at Hoyer in Schleswig. The VINDEX was to be supported by a force of light cruisers, with Beatty’s battlecruisers and the Grand Fleet itself further off in case Scheer decided to take the bait and sortie the High Seas Fleet.
The weather conditions on March 25 were terrible–gale-force winds and driving snow–but the raid went forward anyway and five planes were launched. Three of them developed engine problems in the freezing weather and were forced to ditch along the German coast, where their crews were captured. One plane reached Hoyer and found no Zeppelin shed there–as Room 40 had in fact known before the attack. A fifth plane did eventually find a Zeppelin shed in a town further inland, but his bomb release jammed and he was unable to hit it.
While this was proceeding, German destroyers found the cruiser force and engaged them in high winds and snow. The British cruiser CLEOPATRA was able to ram the G-194 and cut her in half. Unfortunately for the British, this was not the only collision at sea that day. The HMS LAVEROCK hit the HMS MEDUSA, which was later scuttled. The UNDAUNTED hit the CLEOPATRA and later required major repairs. While this farce continued, Hipper’s battlecruisers and Scheer’s High Seas Fleet were bearing down on them. However, the gale force winds and heavy seas forced them to turn back as well, saving the British cruisers.
Aerial operations: Synchro gear
A Bristol Scout (5313) arrived at 12 Squadron today. It is the first British aircraft fitted with a synchronisation gear to arrive at the front.
It is hoped that this type of aircraft along with the Nieuport 16s that have started to arrive with 1 and 11 Squadrons, and the arrival of 29 Squadron with its DH2s will start to turn te tide back in favour of the British.
Naval operations: Celtic Sea
Paul Wagenfürh begins his career commanding U-44 with the sinking of Russian sailing ship SV OTTOMAR, 327 tons, bound from Churchtown, British Guyana for Liverpool with a load of greenhart wood.
Naval operations: North Sea
Dutch freighter SS DUIVELAND, 1,297 tons, travelling in ballast from London to Sunderland, hits a mine laid by Egon von Werner in UC-1. Von Werner's score is now 16 ships and 17,028 tons.
His Majesty's Drifter HILLARYII, 78 tons, hits a mine laid by Georg Haag in UC-7. Haag's score is now 14 ships and 24,130 tons.
Naval operations: Zanzibar
British monitor HMS MERSEY is secured and taken under tow by Fleet Auxiliary Trent. Destination is Durban, South Africa.
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