The Great War (1914-1918) in real time

Day 1071 of the Great War, July 6th 1917

YouTube (Turmoil In The Reichstag - The Kerensky Offensive)



Western Front

Aerial activity south of Ypres.

German towns bombed by French aeroplanes.

Photo: King George V watching mechanics at work on a wrecked plane at No. 4 Squadron aerodrome near Cassel, 6 July 1917. This had crashed down out of control only a quarter of an hour previously, having had its controls shot through by two enemy machines. Although landing at a speed of 80 miles an hour, neither the Pilot (Lieutenant Longton) nor the Observer were injured beyond having a very severe shaking



Eastern Front: Kornilov Continues Kerensky Offensive

The Kerensky offensive had seen some successes in its first two days, especially in the Eleventh Army’s sector. However, the main body of the infantry involved seemed to think they had done their duty and were unwilling to move beyond the Austrian trench lines that they captured. The Eleventh Army attempted to attack again on July 6 but made no progress. Its commander reported:

Despite the victories of July 1 and 2, which should have strengthened the offensive spirit of our units, we have not seen this in the majority of the regiments. Some unites are dominated by the conviction that they have done their duty and are not obligated to carry on further uninterrupted offensives.

Further to the south, the Russian Eighth Army, under Kornilov (newly sent south from Petrograd), also began its attacks on July 6. Kornilov hoped that German and Austrian reserves had been sent north to stop the Eleventh Army, and that he would be able to smash through the Austrians in front of him. The attack on July 6, initially intended as a diversion, still took many Austrian positions. A larger attack the next day broke open the Austrian lines and took 7000 prisoners.

The resulting gap in the Austrian lines was large enough that, for one of the few times in the war, the cavalry prepared to exploit a breakthrough could actually be used to great effect. Two entire cavalry divisions pushed through and reached as far as Kalusz, over 15 miles distant, by July 11. However, with the Seventh and Eleventh Armies to his north unwilling to renew their offensive, this left the Eighth Army’s rapidly advancing flank increasingly exposed.

Heavy fighting near Brzezany.

Germany: The U-boat war denounced in the Reichstag

Germany’s U-boat campaign was meant to bring the war to a swift end. Instead it has brought the USA into the war against Germany and shows no sign of starving Britain into submission. Now there is increasing disquiet and a sense that the U-boat campaign has been a terrible mistake. This disquiet has penetrated to the ranks of parliamentarians who had previously been supportive of the government. Speaking before the Reichstag’s Steering Committee, Matthias Erzberger of the Centre Party today argues that the navy and the government sold the country a pup with the U-boat campaign, underestimating Britain’s resilience in the face of submarine warfare and peddling the false notion that the U-boats could force Britain out of the war in six months.

Erzberger’s U-boat scepticism is significant. His party, which represents Catholic interests, had backed the U-boat war on the strength of the navy’s assurances. With the Centre Party swinging against the U-boats the government of Bethmann Hollweg is now in trouble. To make matters worse, the Centre Party is now lending its support to those parties calling for a compromise peace to end the war.

Canada

Second reading of Conscription Bill in Canada carried.

Spain

60 Catalonian Senators and Deputies meet in Barcelona to ask for more autonomy from the Spanish government.

Netherlands

In Amsterdam, riot caused by potato shortages is ended when the army shoots at the crowd, killing 9 and wounding 114.

Arab Revolt: Arab Rebels Storm Red Sea Port of Aqaba

The army of rebel Arabs fighting against the Ottoman Empire won a decisive battle on July 6, 1917, when it stormed the Red Sea town of Aqaba. The Arab Revolt had started in June 1916 when the Sharif of Mecca, Husayn ibn ’Alī, called his Hashemite clan to throw off Turkish role. Arab forces captured Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina, but they could not defeat the Turkish army in open combat. Led by Hussein’s son Faisal the Arab rebels started a guerilla war.

The Arab army grew over 1917. It destroyed trains and forced four divisions of Ottoman troops to be tied down in Arabia. In the spring, Faisal and Lawrence began formulating a plan that would allow the rebellion to grow. They hoped to march to the port of Aqaba, on the Red Sea, and by capturing it allow the British to supply them with money, troops, and guns. The British command rejected the plan. Lawrence went on with it anyway.

Faisal and Lawrence set out with only 500 horsemen on a circutious path through the desert. Although Aqaba is located at the southeastern edge of the Sinai, the rebels marched almost as far north as Damascus before turning south. Lawrence carried with him plenty of gold supplied by the British, and put it to good use. By the time they arrived in July, their little army had swollen to 5,000 mounted fighters.

The pivotal engagement was rather less dramatic than the way it is portrayed on film. The rebels surrounded and destroyed an outnumbered Turkish outside Aqaba on July 2. For a long time the battle was one of potshots, until Lawrence remarked to an Arab chief that his men “shoot a lot and hit a little.” Insulted, the Arabs mounted and charged the Turks. Lawrence joined in but accidentally shot his own camel in the head.

Four days later, the horsemen rode into the undefended town. Although Aqaba had strong fortifications, they all pointed out to the sea. Faisal and Lawrence’s plan had caught the Turks off-guard. At Lawrence’s insistence, the Turkish garrison and their German advisors were spared. The port immediately began serving as the conduit for British arms and goods to the rebels, as well as a regular Arab army out of Ottoman prisoners of war, which was based in Aqaba. For the rest of the war, Aqaba would be the headquarters of the Arab revolt.

Photo: A flag bearer mounted on a camel leading the triumphal entry into Akaba



Aerial operations: Red Baron shot down

A six strong patrol from 20 Squadron RFC was on patrol in their FE2ds when they were attacked by a formation of 8 aircraft from Jasta 11. They were then joined another 20 plus enemy aircraft and then 4 Triplanes from 10 Naval Squadron.

A large scale fight ensued. Lieutenant Donald Charles Cunnell and 2nd Lieutenant Albert Edward Woodbridge from 20 Squadron claimed to have driven down four aircraft, and their colleagues Lieutenant Cecil Roy Richards and Lieutenant Albert Edward Wear, and 2nd Lieutenant W Durrand and Stuart Fowden Trotter also claimed to have driven down an Albatross scout each.

Their Naval 10 colleagues also got in on the action with Flight Lieutenant Raymond Collishaw, Flight Sub-Lieutenant William Melville Alexander, and Flight Sub-Lieutenant Ellis Vair Reid all claiming victories.

In the end only one confirmed loss was confirmed by the German authorities and that was Manfred Von Richthofen himself. He was hit in the head by a bullet. He was temporarily blinded and paralysed, and fell for some distance, but succeeded in making a forced landing in friendly territory.

Photo: Richthofen's Albatros D.V after forced landing near Wervik. This machine is not an all-red one



Naval operations: ship losses

CUMBERLAND(United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Pacific Ocean 16 nautical miles (30 km) south west of Gabo Island, Victoria, Australia.

FLORA (Norway) The passenger ship was sunk in the North Sea 12 nautical miles (22 km) north east of Lamba Ness, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom by SM U-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine).All on board survived.

HANDEL EN VISSCHERIJ (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was shelled and sunk in the North Sea (56°50′N 5°20′E) by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

INDUTIOMARE (Belgium) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel (50°34′N 01°24′W) by SM UC-61 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

HMS ITCHEN (Royal Navy) The E-class destroyer was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 70 nautical miles (130 km) north north east of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire (58°35′N 0°45′W) by SM UC-44 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eight of her 70 crew.

LOVSTAKKEN (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) north west of Ouessant, Finistère, France (48°00′N 5°43′W) by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

MOTOR(Denmark) The auxiliary schooner was shelled and sunk in the North Sea off Utsira, Rogaland, Norway (59°22′N 2°45′E) by SM U-58 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

PIET HEIN (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was shelled and sunk in the North Sea (56°50′N 5°20′E) by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

ROMA (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Strait of Sicily by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

SKJALD (Norway) The barque was scuttled in the North Sea (57°03′N 4°46′E) by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

VICTORIA 2 (Norway) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 35 nautical miles (65 km) north of Ouessant by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

Day 1073 of the Great War, July 8th 1917

Western Front

Heavy fighting on the Aisne; German attacks repulsed.

Eastern Front: Russian Kerensky Offensive Halted or Stalled along most of the Line

For a few days the Kerensky Offensive, the big Russian push designed to prop up the Provisional Government, met with success. Then it was halted by both strong German resistance and the unwillingness of many Russian soldiers to fight.

The Russian Eleventh and Seventh armies had briefly pushed towards Lemberg, caving in Austrian forces, before German reserves rushed to meet the attack. The Germans counter-attacked hard and sent the Russians reeling. The commander of the Russian attack, General Brusilov, had coordinated his artillery well to support his men. But many of his soldiers simply would not fight. Soldiers council’s debated every order to attack or retreat.

In the north of the Eastern Front, six Russian divisions were scheduled to attack on July 8 and relieve pressure from the south. But only two of the divisions went over the top. In another division, the officers turned the artillery on their own men to try and get them out of the trenches.

The Kerensky Offensive offered the only opportunity for the famous Women’s Battalion of Death to prove its mettle. Going into action, the female soldiers succeeded in capturing several trenches and 2,000 Austrian prisoners, even though they lacked artillery support. But the male soldiers in their brigade refused to attack. Many of them were drunk and some even attacked their female comrades. The battalion’s commander, Maria Bochkareva, had to withdraw. The Russian Stavka, high command, decided to pull the Women’s Battalion out of the line.

United States

America declares an embargo on exportation of foods, metal and coal.

Germany: Polish Oath Crisis

Germany, hoping to use Poland’s extensive manpower to help them fight the war, had promised an independent Poland in November 1916 and oversaw the creation of an (advisory) provisional government in January. The hoped-for influx of volunteers did not occur, however; Piłsudski’s Polish Legions remained small and unreliable.

By the summer of 1917, however, Piłsudski had grown disillusioned with the Central Powers. The revolution in Russia had removed the hated Czar and brought in a government that had gave a believable guarantee of Polish independence, and American entry into the war made it more likely that any Allied-enforced peace would recognize full Polish self-determination, instead of nominal independence as a German vassal.

Piłsudski saw his chance to make his objections known in July, when the German governor of Poland required that soldiers in the Polish Legion swear a loyalty oath to a “future King” of Poland and be a “loyal brother-in-arms” of the Germans and Austrians. On July 8, after resigning from the provisional government, Piłsudski instructed the men of the Polish Legions not to swear the oath, and most publicly refused to do so the next day. Austrian subjects in the Legions were forcibly drafted back into the Austrian army and sent to the Italian front; Russian and German subjects who refused to swear the oath were treated as prisoners of war. Piłsudski himself was arrested by the Germans later in the month and remained in captivity until the final weeks of the war.

Aerial operations: Brooks shot down

Today in Palestine, three machines from 1 Squadron AFC (67 Squadron RFC)’ were up un patrol. Captain Charles Alfred Brooks in a Martinsyde, Lieutenant CH Vautin in a BE12a were providing cover for a reconnaissance by Lieutenants Thomas Taylor and FWF Lukis in a BE2e.

Near Gaza two German scouts attacked the escorts. One dived at Brookes, who spun away to avoid the attack, but the wings of his Martinsyde were seen to fold up and the tail fell off, and the broken machine went down like a stone and Brooks was killed in the crash.

The Germans then made for Taylor and Vautin. Taylor met the challenge with two well-directed bursts of fire, from which the German sheered off and joined his comrade in attacking Vautin. Taylor and Lukis reached home, but Vautin was driven down by the superior manoeuvring power of his opponents, forced to land, and taken prisoner.

Aerial operations: Shot up on the ground

Out on the Macedonian there has been little military activity on the ground since the end of May 1917. However, 17 and 47 Squadrons RFC have continued to carry out almost daily bombing attacks in formations of seven or eight aeroplanes on Drama, Angista, and Porna stations on the Constantinople railway; camps at Tushchulu north-east of Lake Butkovo, and the Bulgarian Second Army head-quarters at Sveti Vrac beyond the Rupel pass ; Dedeli, the head-quarters of the Bulgarian First Army; depots at Petric, in the valley of the Strumica, and at Cerniste, Platanenwald, and Cestovo in the Dojran area; and the aerodromes at Drama, Livunovo, Gereviz, and Hudova.

A large number of these missions have been completely unopposed by enemy aircraft, but today enemy aircraft were up.

Captain John Emile Alexander O’Dwyer from 17 Squadron was on a bombing mission near Petrich when he attacked by by two Roland D.IIIs in his BE2e. His engine was hit and he was forced down in enemy territory.

When trying to burn his aircraft, as was usual practice at the time, he later claimed that he was fired on by the enemy aircraft which at the time would have been considered pretty out of the ordinary. In the end however, in was uninjured and taken prisoner.

2nd Lieutenant Howard Charles Brufton from 47 Squadron was was flying solo in a DH4 when he was attacked by an enemy aircraft. THe DH4 was seen to break up in the air and crash killing Brufton.

Naval operations: ship losses

ASHEIM (Norway) The four-masted barque was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 120 nautical miles (220 km) north west of Inishtrahull Island, County Donegal, United Kingdom (57°33′N 7°55′W) by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.

ATLANTIC (Norway) The barque was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 20 nautical miles (37 km) south of St. Kilda, United Kingdom by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

CAMBRONNE (France) The barque was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 200 nautical miles (370 km) off the Île de Sein, Finistère (47°34′N 7°30′W) by SM UC-72 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

FIORELLA (Norway) The barque was scuttled in the Norwegian Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east of the Faroe Islands by SM U-58 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

L'INMORTALE LEONE (Italy) The brigantine was shelled and sunk in the Strait of Sicily (36°20′N 11°35′E) by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

MARY W. BOWEN (United States) The five-masted schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean west of Belle Île (47°20′N 8°10′W) by SM UC-72 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

M. I. MANDAL (Denmark) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 110 nautical miles (200 km) west of Ouessant, Finistère by SM UC-72 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

OBUASI (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 290 nautical miles (540 km) north west by west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-49 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew. Her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.

PEGU (United Kingdom) The cargo liner was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 7 nautical miles (13 km)) south east of Galley Head, County Cork (51°28′N 8°39′W) by SM U-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.

RUELLE (France) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 200 nautical miles (370 km) north west of Madeira, Portugal (approximately 38°N 18°W) by SM U-155 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

SPEKULATION (Sweden) The barque was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) south east of Hartlepool, County Durham, United Kingdom[93] by SM UC-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

VALETTA (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 118 nautical miles (219 km) north west by west of the Fastnet Rock (51°49′N 12°22′W) by SM U-87 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

VENDEE (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 71 (Reinhold Saltzwedel) and sank in the Bay of Biscay off the mouth of the Gironde (45°45′N 1°20′W with the loss of three of her crew.

Day 1074 of the Great War, July 10th 1917

Western Front: “Operation Beach Party”

In recent weeks, the Germans had noticed a buildup along the Belgian coast, the extreme northern end of the Western Front. British troops had replaced French ones, and Allied artillery fire had picked up. In fact, the British were preparing for amphibious landings along the Belgian coast just behind the front line, in an attempt use their naval advantage to outflank the Germans and potentially capture the German U-boat ports in Belgium. The Germans began to make preparations to counter such a move, which included an attack on the British lines near the coast, hoping to forestall any British advance on land. This attack was called Operation Strandfest; literally “Operation Beach Party.”

Map: German spoiling attack on the Yser, 10 July 1917



The Germans opened with an artillery barrage early in the morning of July 10. The British positions on the coast were particularly vulnerable. Located on the east bank of the Yser river, they were quickly cut off when the German artillery destroyed the bridges over the Yser. The sandy terrain also meant that their fortifications were rudimentary and were quickly destroyed. Some units took 80% casualties from the bombardment alone. When the German infantry attacked in the evening, the remaining defenders fought valiantly (two platoons resisting to the last man), but they were quickly overwhelmed; the Germans reached the Yser and captured over 1000 prisoners of war. From the two battalions closest to the sea, only 68 men escaped, all by swimming the Yser at night.

Eastern Front

Capture of Halicz (Galicia) by Russians; enemy pursued across River Lomnica, 2,000 prisoners taken.

United Kingdom

Official statement gives British captures on all fronts since beginning of war as 117,772 prisoners and 759 guns.

Germany

German Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg: “We cannot declare our terms of peace. We must fight and conquer.”

Aerial operations: Germans turn up

Out in Mesopotamia, this morning, with the thermometer hitting 122° F, two German aviators stumbled into the British camp at Samarra.

Back on 7 July, they had set out on a reconnaissance mission over Falluja area on reconnaissance. At that time, the British had sent out aeroplanes to cut them off but they were never seen. It was presumed the Germans had landed at Ramadi and would fly on next day. It was reported next morning, the 9th, that they had left Ramadi, but air patrols again failed to find them.

It turned out that shortly after leaving Ramadi one of the aeroplanes, an Albatros twoseater, had been forced to land through engine failure due to the heat. The other had landed alongside and, after the first Albatros had been set on fire, the pilot and observer had been flown away on the wings of the second.

With its load of four persons, however, the German aeroplane would not go higher than 400 feet, and at this height it was impossible to keep the engine cool, and they were forced to land.

The four Germans sought shelter from the heat under the wings of the aeroplane until 1930 when an attempt to ‘taxi’ the Albatros to the Tigris was made. The engine, however, again gave trouble, and eventually the aeroplane was burnt and the four airmen set out for Samarra on foot. Two of them collapsed on the way, but the others reached the British line this morning. Armoured cars and cavalry were at once sent out to rescue the two missing Germans, but they were never found.

Aerial operations: Home defence

Following the daylight attack on 7 July the War Cabinet have once again been considering home defence. Firstl, they have reversed their decision not to give warnings and now it is planned that warnings of five minutes at the circumference of a circle with a radius of ten miles from Charing Cross will be given.

To do this, the warning would have to be given when the enemy aircraft were crossing a line twenty-two miles from Charing Cross. There was, however, no line of observers at that distance, the existing line of the London defences being closer in, at an average of sixteen miles from the centre. The idea of establishing observation posts farther out was considered, but abandoned. Instead ,the existing stations of the Medway defences were used together with some of the new gun stations which were set up as a result of the reorganisation of the defences. They formed an incomplete ring, at a distance of twenty to twenty-five miles, from the north-west, by the north and east, to the south of London. Now all that needs to be sorted is how the warning will be given.

In addition to this, 46 Squadron RFC has been ordered home for home defence. This decision was the subject of much debate within the War Cabinet with Sir John French arguing the inadequacy of his forces against massed raids and Sir Douglas Haig outlining the risks to the British offensive. In the end a compromise was reached as only one rather than two squadrons were ordered home.

The idea of carrying out retaliatory raids on Mannheim was also abandoned.

Naval operations: ship losses

CEDRIC (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 55 nautical miles (102 km) south by west of Suðuroy, Faroe Islands by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

FLAMMA (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 55 (Horst Rühle von Lilienstern) and was damaged in the North Sea off Hartlepool, County Durham. She was beached but was later refloated.

GARMOYLE (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 14 nautical miles (26 km) south east of Mine Head, County Cork (51°49′N 6°52′W) by SM U-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of twenty crew.

HILDEGRAD (United States) The barquentine was scuttled in the English Channel 10 nautical miles (19 km) south east of Start Point, Devon, United Kingdom by SM UB-31 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

JUPITER (France) The trawler struck a mine laid by UB 12 (Ernst Steindorff) and sank in the English Channel with the loss of eleven of her crew.

KANSEN(United States) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 69 (Erwin Waßner) and sank in the Bay of Biscay 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) east of Kerdonis Point, Belle Île, Morbihan, France (47°20′N 3°03′W) with the loss of four of her crew.

KING DAVID (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 360 nautical miles (670 km) north west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-49 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew.

MABEL (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean off Suðuroy by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

PACIFIC (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean off Suðuroy by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

PERIDOT (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean off Suðuroy by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

PRETORIA (United Kingdom) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 130 nautical miles (240 km) north by west of Hoy Head, Shetland Islands by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

ROMANTIC United Kingdom World War I: The trawler was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean off Suðuroy by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

SEA KING (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) south by east of Suðuroy by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

SEANG CHOON (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 10 nautical miles (19 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-87 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of nineteen lives.

STOIC (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean off Suðuroy by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

Day 1074 of the Great War, July 12th 1917

Western Front: First Use of Mustard Gas

The Germans had been using gas warfare since early 1915, with its western debut at Ypres to great effect that April. Effective countermeasures, largely in the form of gas masks, prevented future breakthroughs solely due to the use of poison gas, though it remained a deadly nuisance for both sides. Embracing this aspect, the Germans developed and deployed a new weapon whose main purpose was to cause pain to and incapacitate enemy soldiers.

Mustard gas is a blistering agent that would cause few immediate symptoms, but several hours later would result in painful chemical blisters and burns all over the body, eye damage, and lung damage if inhaled. Gas masks, if worn, would only prevent the latter two effects. Technically a fine aerosol rather than a gas, it would also eventually fall to the ground and cover surfaces, potentially causing future exposure. While this made it more difficult to attack areas exposed to mustard gas, this was little problem for a defending army.

On July 12, the Germans used mustard gas for the first time, firing 50,000 rounds of gas shells at the British lines near Ypres, where the Germans had observed a British buildup in progress. Nearly 2500 British soldiers were gassed; of these, only 87 died, though many others suffered debilitating chemical burns. The British first called this new weapon “Yellow Cross;” the French, “Yperite.”

Photo: General Phillippe Petain, the C-in-C of the French Army, and other French Generals after being decorated by King George V. Albert, 12 July 1917



Photo: King George V with General William Birdwood during his visit to an Australian Sports Meeting, Henencourt, 12 July 1917



Eastern Front

Russian progress towards Dolina (Galicia).

General Kornilov crosses the Lomnica river.

Arab Revolt

Announced that Turks have been routed by King of Hejaz in northern Arabia, 700 killed, 600 prisoners.

United Kingdom

Mesopotamia Debate: Mr. A. Chamberlain, Secretary of State for India, resigns.

China

With Peking surrounded by Republican troops, monarchist General Zhang Xun flees & the restored Emperor Puyi falls from power.

Aerial operations: Big day out

The air offensive in support of the British Offensive (scheduled for the last week of July) in the Ypres area was due to begin on 8 July, but poor weather restricted activity until yesterday when there was some bombing activity in the evening. Today however, saw the most intensive fighting of the war to date.

There was fighting all day along the whole front, but it was most concentrated in the area opposite the Fifth Army. What was also noticeable was that the scale of these battles. The German formations were often very large, and very quickly a range of smaller British and French formations would join in the fight resulting in large scale engagements.

For example, in the evening there was a general engagement, lasting an hour, between a mixed formation of thirty German single-seaters, (from Jastas 4, 6, 36 and MFJ I and a force of British (1 29 and 66 Squadrons abd C flight of 56 Squadron) and some French SPADs of similar strength. The Allied aircraft claimed 12 enemy aircraft shot down but the records show that in reality only 1 German pilot was injured and even he got back. The British lost on pilot taken prisoner – 2nd Lieutenant Harold Morgan Lewis from 29 Squadron whose Nieuport 23 (B1625) was hit by AA fire.

However elsewhere in the fighting the British lost nine aircraft, 13 crew killed and 3 more taken prisoner. 29 Squadron suffered a bad day as earlier in the day they had lost 2nd Lieutenant Hugh Holtom Whytehead in Nieuport 23 A6782 and 2nd Lieutenant James Wellington Fleming in Nieuport 23 B1658.

The others killed were:

Lieutenant Basil Ward Binkley, 53 Squadron RFC
2nd Lieutenant Frank Ernest Bishop, 57 Squadron RFC
Sergeant John Frazier Carr, 11 Squadron RFC
2nd Lieutenant Kenneth George Cruickshank, 32 Squadron RFC
2nd Lieutenant Guy Stuart Ellis, 57 Squadron RFC
Flight-Sub Lieutenant Sidney Emerson Ellis, 4 Naval Squadron
Flight-Sub Lieutenant Edward Hext Kendall, 6 Naval Squadron
Flight-Sub Lieutenant Charles Richard Pegler, 10 Naval Squadron
Captain Chas Eric Robertson, 11 Squadron RFC

Naval operations: North Sea

Six British destroyers - HMAS ANZAC, HMS MAENAD , MOON, MORNING STAR , NORMAN and PATRIOT are on patrol, using kite balloons to try to spot U-boats. On July 12 Flt Lt O.A. Butcher, in a balloon towed by HMS PATRIOT, spots a U-boat at a claimed distance of 28 miles (52 km) PATRIOT closes the submarine and engages with her deck gun. The U-boat dives and Patriot drops depth charges. A small amount of oil is spotted, then an apparent underwater explosion and a larger oil slick. This is believed to be U-69, under the command of Ernst Wilhelms. U-69's last radio communication was logged on July 11, so this is certainly possible. On the other hand U-69 is claimed to have sunk her last ship on July 24. While either story may be true, U-69 was not heard from after July 11.

Naval operations: ship losses

BALZAC (Norway) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off Lerwick, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom (58°50′N 0°46′W) by SM UC-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

CALLIOPE (United Kingdom) The collier was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 150 nautical miles (280 km) north of Madeira, Portugal by SM U-155 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all 27 crew.

CASTLETON (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) south south west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly by SM U-87 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

CLAIRE (Belgium) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 250 nautical miles (460 km) north east of Bône, Algeria(40°01′N 06°05′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 26 crew.

FRANCCESCO (Italy) The brigantine was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) west of Marsala, Sicily (37°31′N 12°18′E) by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

FREDRIKA (Sweden) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the North Sea whilst in convoy 50 nautical miles (93 km) off the Orkney Islands, United Kingdom (59°08′N 0°54′E) by SM U-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was subsequently taken in tow but foundered 9 nautical miles (17 km) east of Auskerry.

HMT GOERGE MILBURN (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 42 (Otto Heinrich Tornow) and sank in the Irish Sea 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) south of Dunmore Point, County Waterford with the loss of eleven of her crew.

GRACE (United States) The cargo ship was sunk in the Aegean Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north of Cape Phessos, Andros, Greece (38°11′N 24°41′E) by SM UC-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.

LAI (Norway) The auxiliary schooner was sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) west of Egersund, Rogaland by SM UC-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

LEONARDO G. (Italy) The vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) west of Marsala by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

MAIJA (Russia) The schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal by SM UC-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

MUIRFIELD (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 350 nautical miles (650 km) north west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-49 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew. Two survivors were taken as prisoners of war.

ODINE (France) The schooner was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north of Denia, Spain by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). All six crew survived.

Day 1075 of the Great War, July 14th 1917

Western Front

German attacks repulsed in region of Lombartzyde (Nieuport).

French gain and hold against counter-attacks German trench system on Moronvillers, east of Reims.

German thrust on Chemin des Dames and Cerny partially resisted north of the Aisne.

Western Front: First American Military Injury From Enemy Fire

While the first American division had arrived in late June had had participated in a pomp-filled 4th of July parade through Paris, they were not yet ready fight the Germans. American medical personnel, however, had arrived a month before and were already serving just behind the front lines with the British, relieving British personnel for service elsewhere. Here, they were within range of German artillery, and on July 14 suffered their first injury. Captain Louis J. Genella was wounded in the head by German shell fire. His injuries, though painful, were relatively minor, however; he was treated on site and remained with his unit.

Genella was obviously not the first American injured by German military action; many had been killed by U-boats, and several Americans volunteering for the Allies had been killed in the line of duty. But Genella was the first injured in the line of duty by enemy fire.

Sinai and Palestine campaign

Successful British raid on Turks near Gaza.

United States

U.S. House of Representatives votes to send 22,000 aeroplanes and 100,000 airmen to Western Front.

Aerial operations: Supply and demand

Shortly after the withdrawal of 46 Squadron on 10 July 1917 for home defence, Major-General Trenchard was informed by the War Office that 24 Sopwith Camels promised to him for the re-equipment of a two-seater Sopwith squadron, and four DH4s for another squadron, would be diverted to Home Defence squadrons. There had been no hint of this in previous discussions and so Trenchard brought the
matter to the notice of Sir Douglas Haig.

The Commander-in-Chief wrote to Sir William Robertson today to complain:

“A serious reduction has been made at the last moment in the supply of aircraft on which I was counting for my operations. I have no information as to the authority on which such an important decision has been arrived at, and I have only learnt of it through these communications, addressed by a Directorate to a General Officer under my command, who has brought them to my notice. You will appreciate, without explanation from me, the unsatisfactory nature of such a method of procedure, and still more the seriousness of my being deprived suddenly and unexpectedly, at the present juncture, of forces on which I was counting to carry through an offensive of such great importance, the preparations for which have reached such an advanced stage that no alteration or modification can now be made without grave disadvantage.”

The War Office replied that the diversion of aircraft for home defence resulted from a War Cabinet decision, and there the matter was allowed to rest.

The consternation at these changes show the wider impact of the German raids. It only took the occasional raid to stir public opinion sufficiently that a significant number of aircraft and personnel were tied up in home defence where they would be mostly inactive unless the enemy actually made a raid.

The real military consequence was the diversion, at a critical time, of significant air strength from France to England. In the longer run however the attacks raised the possibility that a nation might be forced to sue for peace through an air offensive against its most important centres.

Naval operations: ship losses

BONUS (Finland) The vessel was sunk in the Baltic Sea off Mäntyluoto by SM UC-58 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

Chalkydon (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 600 nautical miles (1,100 km) west of Gibraltar (34°10′N 17°25′W) by SM U-155 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

EMANUEL (Denmark) The schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Orkney Islands, United Kingdom (59°35′N 6°00′W) by SM U-96 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived; they were rescued by HMS G12 ( Royal Navy).

EXFORD (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 180 nautical miles (330 km) west by south of Ouessant, Finistère, France (46°48′N 8°50′W) by SM U-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of six crew.

Day 1077 of the Great War, July 16th 1917

Western Front

German counter-attacks repulsed at Moronvillers (Champagne).

Eastern Front

Russian withdrawal in Galicia; Kalusz evacuated.

Russia announces the capture of 36,773 prisoners in the first 13 days of the Kerensky offensive.

Russia: Bolshevik-Inspired Uprising in Petrograd

The garrison in Petrograd had been the vanguard of the revolution that overthrew the Czar. Since then, at the Soviet’s insistence, the garrison had remained unchanged; the garrison could be relied upon to defend the revolution from any reaction against it. The Provisional Government, however, was concerned that these soldiers were too radical and might try to rebel against them, as the sailors at Kronstadt had done. Using the Kerensky Offensive as an excuse, many radical elements of the garrison now had orders to depart for the front.

Many of these units were determined not to leave, and soon considered armed action against the Provisional Government. They were encouraged in this by the Bolshevik Military Organization and many Bolshevik-affiliated politicians (like Trotsky). The top Bolshevik leadership had urged patience, however, at least until the Kerensky Offensive was over–but in early July, Lenin himself was on vacation in Finland and could not provide direction himself.

On the morning of July 16, the soldiers took to the streets, and were soon joined by workers mobilized by the Red Guards. They congregated mostly around the Tauride Palace, seat of the Petrograd Soviet, hoping to encourage them to take power from the Provisional Government. The next day, the crowds grew as sailors arrived from Kronstadt. But the crowds were largely leaderless, and their cries of “All Power to the Soviets!” depended on the Soviets wanting to take power–which, apart from the Bolshevik minority, they were not.

Lenin arrived that day, but could not make up his mind on how to proceed. He addressed the Kronstadt sailors for a few moments, but did not say much beyond a few platitudes. As they marched towards the Tauride Palace, shots were fired and order broke down. The crowd could have easily taken the Palace, defended only by eighteen soldiers (fewer than the number of exterior doors). The Provisional Government was in hiding or, in the case of Kerensky, had already fled the city (in the guise of departing to inspect the front).

At around 5PM, it began to rain heavily and much of the crowd dispersed. However, a more committed core, led by the Kronstadt sailors, remained and began to enter the palace. They seized one of the leading Socialist Revolutionary members, Victor Chernov, with one man telling him: “Take power, you son of a bitch, when it’s handed to you!” Again, however, the Bolsheviks backed down, and Trotsky ordered Chernov to be released. Within an hour, a new regiment of soldiers arrived; they were unclear what they were supposed to do, apart from “defend the revolution.” With the lack of effective leadership from the Bolsheviks, the Soviet leadership soon persuaded them to serve as guards for the palace.

The uprising fizzled out on the 18th, as troops loyal to the Provisional Government began to arrive in the city. A warrant was issued for Lenin’s arrest, alleging that he was receiving funds from the Germans; he soon fled the city.

Japan

Japan blacklists companies in neutral countries that does trade with Germany.

Aerial operations: A bizarre accident

Capt Melville Johnstone from 27 Squadron RFC, a New Zealander from Motuotaraia, Waipukurau, Hawkes Bay, was killed today. However it was not enemy action that did for him, but a bizarre accident.

He was returning from a bomb raid over the lines unfortunately one of his bombs had not released properly and was caught in the landing gear of his Martinsyde G100 (7499).

Its not known if he was manoeuvring to try and release the bomb, but in any case the aircraft crashed into a lake near Arques which was just south of 27 Squadron’s aerodrome at Clairmarais North. Captain Johnstone was drowned and the aircraft completely written off.

Johnstone had joined 27 Squadron in December 1916 and in June been promoted to Captain as a Flight Commander.

Aerial operations: German occupied Belgium

British aeroplanes conduct a raid on German targets in Belgium, including a chemical factory in Zeebrugge and railways in Ostend.

Naval operations: North Sea

6 German steamers intercepted off Dutch coast, 2 driven ashore, damaged by gunfire, 4 captured.

Naval operations: ship losses

HMT ASAMA (Royal Navy) The trawler, operating as a Q-ship, was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 190 nautical miles (350 km) due west of Lundy Island, Devon by SM U-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.

CYRUS (Russia) The three-masted schooner was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Hebrides, United Kingdom (57°53′N 10°35′W) by SM U-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

FIRFIELD (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Gulf of Patras 10 nautical miles (19 km) north west of Cape Papas, Greece (37°42′N 25°47′E) by SM UC-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

HENRY R. JAMES (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 10 nautical miles (19 km) east by north of the Île de Batz, Finistère, France (48°49′N 3°46′W) by SM UC-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 24 of her crew.

KHEPHREN (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 178 nautical miles (330 km) east of Malta (36°15′N 18°00′E) by SM U-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

LAMIA L. (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Ireland by SM U-49 and SM U-58 (both Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

PORTO DI ADALIA (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 150 nautical miles (280 km) east of Malta (34°40′N 18°40′E) by SM U-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

RIBSTON (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 85 nautical miles (157 km) west of the Fastnet Rock (50°52′N 11°38′W) by SM U-45 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 25 crew.

TAMELE (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 65 nautical miles (120 km) west by south of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-87 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.

TIMOR (Netherlands) The coaster was scuttled in the North Sea 18 nautical miles (33 km) south of the Noord Hinder Lightship ( Netherlands) by SM UC-64 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

VALENTIA (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) west by south of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly by SM UC-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.

Vesta (Denmark) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north of Scotland by SM U-88 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five of her crew.