lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 18, 2022 2:46:54 GMT
Day 1110 of the Great War, August 18th 1917
Western Front
French counter-attack on right bank of Meuse and recapture trenches lost on 16 August.
Eastern Front
Romanian front fighting less intense, situation unchanged.
Romanians retire towards Marasesti (20 miles north of Focsani).
Italian Front: Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo Begins
In a display of military flexibility, Italy’s head general Luigi Cadorna launched an eleventh offensive on the Isonzo River on August 18, 1917. Desperate to make some headway and please his allies, Cadorna mustered 51 divisions and 5,200 guns to break through the Austro-Hungarians dug in on the plateaus across the Isonzo River, on Italy’s northeastern frontier. The Italians outnumbered their enemies more than 2-1, and succeeded in capturing several mountaintops. By the end of the battle a month later, both armies were battered and exhausted.
Macedonian Front: Great Fire of Salonika
Quite unlike the fields of Passchendaele, Salonika had been dry for months. On the afternoon of August 18, oil overflowed and caught fire on a stove in the poorer section of town. The fire spread and began to engulf larger and larger numbers of dry wooden buildings. With little water available in that part of the city, local firefighting efforts were futile and people began grabbing what possessions they could and fleeing that section of the city.
Around 9PM, the British grew concerned and dispatched two firefighting crews to the blaze; one of them would work continuously for the next fifty-eight hours. At 10PM, the fire crossed the Via Egnatia, the old Roman road separating the poorer sections of town from the more prosperous ones; many had assumed the road would serve as a firebreak. Historian Alan Palmer writes that, by midnight, the fire “stretched in a mile long arch across the night sky, with the minarets of mosques burnin like candles on the altar of destruction.” Thessalonika had been an Ottoman city until 1912, and still had a substantial Muslim population.
Many fleed towards the waterfront to avoid the flames. For a moment, it seemed that even that would be no refuge, as a ship carrying gasoline burst into flames, the fire spreading across the water as oil leaked from its holds. However, the British were soon able to tow it out to sea where it was no longer a threat to the people on shore (or the rest of the port).
The blaze would not be brought under control for another two days. By that point, half of the town had burned down and over 80,000 people were displaced, predominantly from the city’s large Jewish population; the British set up temporary camps to house them, but many would permanently emigrate from the area. The British HQ in Salonika was destroyed in the fire, along with many of their stores of supplies. This included virtually all of their stores of quinine in the area, critical for the fight against the malaria endemic to the Struma Valley. On a more mundane level, the fire also proved a blow to Allied morale in the area, as it destroyed most of the entertainment venues in the city. Soldiers on temporary leave from the front now had vastly fewer options to relieve the tedium of the Salonika front.
United Kingdom
British government proclamation forbids threatened strike of Associated Society of Engineers and Firemen.
Aerial operations: High winds foil raid
The weather proved more effective than British patrols in foiling raids by German Gothas today.
This morning 28 Gothas from Kagohl 3 set out from Belgium. However, clear skies in Belgium were matched by a rain swept England. While crossing the English Channel it became clear that the winds were too strong and the cloud cover too heavy for any reasonable chance of success.
The formation turned North with the intention of of making a wide circle over the North Sea to take them back to the Belgian coast near the Dutch frontier, but
the strength of the wind increased and the Gothas began to straggle.
One of them, running for home direct, came down on the beach near Zeebrugge. Most of the others passed over the Dutch island of Schouwen, where six bombs were dropped about 1130. They then turned south-west again and were last seen about twenty strong, flying in the direction of Zeebrugge.
Two aircraft got lost over Holland, and were shot down by Dutch gunners near the German frontier. The crews, uninjured, were taken prisoner, and the Gothas were destroyed. A number of other aircraft were damaged on landing.
Aerial operations: U-boat sunk or maybe not
This morning a U-boat was reported north-east of Cherbourg by the pilot of a Wight seaplane, who was up patrolling the English Channel for U-boats. However, the U-boat disappeared under the waves before he could attack. The aircraft hung around for a while but the sub did not reappear.
The same Wight seaplane was taken up later in the afternoon by Flight Sub-Lieutenant Charles Stanley Mossop and Air Mechanic Arthur Edward Ingledew, who found the U-boat on the surface. This time the crew got the aircraft into a favourable position to attack before the U-boat could submerge and dropped a 100-lb bomb which exploded just ahead of the periscope. The pilot turned for a second attack, but by this time the u-boat had disappeared.
The Official History (Volume 4, page 68) states that this was UB32 and that furthermore this was the first submarine to be destroyed in the Channel by a direct attack from a British aircraft. However German records do not show any losses for the day and the UB32 was still active on 26 August 1917 when it sunk the Italian Steamer Feltre near Flamborough Head.
Nevertheless, at the time it was believed that they had been successful and Mossop was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Ingledew the Distinguished Service Medal on 20 November 1917.
Naval operations: ship losses
ARDENS(United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) east of Filey, Yorkshire by SM UC-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
HMT BENJAMIN STEVENSON (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east of Fetlar, Shetland Islands by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
DUNKERQUOIS (France) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 12 nautical miles (22 km) west by north of the Île de Batz, Finistère (48°50′N 4°19′W) by SM UC-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 16 of her 31 crew. Survivors were rescued by PHENIX ( France).
KONGSLI (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 172 nautical miles (319 km) off Punta de Estaca de Bares, Galicia, Spain (46°10′N 10°12′W) by SM UB-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
POLITANIA (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) north west by west of Cape Sigli, Algeria (36°56′N 4°38′E) by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 19, 2022 5:39:28 GMT
Day 1111 of the Great War, August 19th 1917
Western Front
British line slightly advanced on a front of one mile in neighbourhood of Ypres-Poelcapelle road.
Eastern Front
Romanian front fighting in Slanie region south of Ocna; enemy gains trenches in Focsani region. Germans claims 22,000 Russian prisoners in recent fighting in Galicia and Bukovina.
Italian Front
Italian attack on 30-mile front in Carso (between Mrzli Vrh and sea). Carry Austrian first line east of Isonzo from Plava to sea (25 miles); 7,500 prisoners. Italians take Austrian bridgehead near Anhovo on right bank Isonzo and attack Bainsizza plateau.
Russia: Finnish Parliament Refuses Russian Order to Disband
Finland as part of the Russian Empire was officially the Grand Duchy of Finland, personally controlled by the Tsar. When the February Revolution came and went and there was no more Tsar, what to do with Finland became a dilemma. The Finns decided to figure it out themselves, and the Parliament met in March 1917 to appoint socialist politician Oskari Tokoi as Prime Minister.
There were more problems for the country, however. What exactly Finland’s relation to Russia was was now murky, with most Finns seeing it as an independence of some sort, while the Russians believed they had merely restored constitutional rights to Finland as a part of Russia. Meanwhile internally Finnish socialist and non-socialist politicians were at loggerheads over how to lead the country, and in towns Finnish men were organizing into paramiltaries, leftists into Red Guards and the middle-class into German-supported town militias. The crisis of Finnish independence had the potential to become a Finnish Civil War.
Aerial operations: Ground Support
As part of the ongoing attacks around Ypres, the RFC has been testing new tactics of ground support.
On 9 August the 12th Division attacked opposite Boiry Notre Dame. 15 minutes before the infantry assault seven aeroplanes had assembled behind the lines in readiness. Just before ‘zero’ hour, three DH5s from 41 Squadron RFC crossed the barrage and attacked the German infantry.
At ‘zero’ hour the remaining four, FE2b’s from 18 Squadron RFC passed over the heads of the advancing infantry at 500 feet, and poured their machine-gun fire into trenches, trench mortar positions, and machine-gun emplacements.
Today the tactics were repeated on a larger scale. III Corps attacked south of Vendhuille, near Gillemont Farm The daybombing squadrons of the III Brigade concentrated their attention on the German group head-quarters at Bohain, and on billeting villages immediately behind the area of the attack.
When the infantry advanced, five DH5’s from 41 Squadron and nine from 24 Squadron RFC, four FE2b’s from 18 Squadron RRC , and five SE5’s from 60 Squadron, went ahead of the troops at a low height and fired around 9,000 rounds of ammunition into enemy troops and strong-points.
In the longer term the DH5 with its back staggered wings and excellent forward view found a home in this role, which was just as well as it was a fairly poor fighter.
Naval operations: ship losses
AGHIOS GEORGIOS (Greece) The schooner was sunk in the Ionian Sea (36°23′N 21°44′E) by SM UC-74 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
BREMA (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 7.5 nautical miles (13.9 km) south of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire by SM UC-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by Lonfanny ( United Kingdom).
EIKA II (Norway) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 11 nautical miles (20 km) west of Sulen, Sogn og Fjordane by SM U-87 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
GARTNESS (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 180 nautical miles (330 km) east south east of Malta (34°52′N 18°14′E) by SM U-40 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy) with the loss of 13 of her crew.
GENERAL DUTEMPLE (France) The dredger struck a mine and sank in the English Channel off Cherbourg, Seine-Maritime (49°43′N 1°34′W) with the loss of seven of her crew.
GLOCHLIFFE (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 9 nautical miles (17 km) east north east of Berry Head, Devon (50°29′N 3°17′W) by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
Monksgarth (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 17 nautical miles (31 km) north by east of Ouessant, Finistère, France by SM UC-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
ROSSARIO (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Ireland by SM UC-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 20 of her crew. Two survivors were taken as prisoners of war.
SPECTATOR (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 11 nautical miles (20 km) south East of Galley Head, County Cork (51°28′N 8°41′W) by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
THERESE ET MARIE (France) The cargo ship was sunk in the Bay of Biscay 13 nautical miles (24 km) north west of the Île du Pilier, Vendée (47°04′N 2°40′W) by SM UC-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
YTTEROY (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 10 nautical miles (19 km) east north east of the Île de Batz, Finistère (48°44′N 4°29′W) by SM UC-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 20, 2022 4:06:30 GMT
Day 1112 of the Great War, August 20th 1917Western FrontNorth of Ypres slight British advance. U.S. Expeditionary Force soldiers in France receive gas masks and begin training with them before they head to the front. Western Front: French Offensive at VerdunFrench morale had recovered from its nadir during the mutinies of May and June, and Pétain was now confident enough to try an offensive, albeit one with limited objectives and an overwhelming concentration of force. His target was the German lines on around Verdun. Contrary the claims of the French government (and this author), the French counteroffensives of late 1916 had not completely restored the lines they held before the German offensives. The Germans still held onto some critical hills that could threaten Verdun in case they ever decided to renew last year’s offensive against the city. The French had an immense concentration of force, having two full army corps on each bank of the Meuse. Even this paled in comparison to the concentration of artillery; in some areas there were twice as many gunners as first-wave infantry. The Germans had made their own preparations, however, bringing several divisions from the Eastern Front to the area, and constructing several tunnels under Mort Homme where they could shelter during a bombardment. After a week’s bombardment, the French infantry attacked on August 20. On the west bank, they reached the entrances of the German tunnels before the Germans did, and faced little opposition, taking most of their objectives (Hill 304 excepting) on the first day. They faced stiffer opposition on the east bank, but were still able to make substantial gains. The fighting continued over the next several weeks, but by September 6 they had taken all of their objectives, along with 10,000 PoWs, with relatively few losses. The French had not quite restored the lines of February 1916, but had taken all of the tactically significant points they had lost that year. The victory was a boost to morale for the French troops in the sector; it could not be better publicized nationwide, however, as the French government had claimed that they had already liberated the areas last year. Eastern FrontRomanians gain ground north of Focsani lost on 19 August. In Ocna region enemy gain ground. Indisciplined Russians forced to retire on Riga front. Italian FrontBattle continues in favour of Italians; enemy defences between Korite and Sella (right wing) carried. Austria-HungaryDr. Wekerle appointed Hungarian Prime Minister. Aerial operations: Jagdstaffel 11German General Erich von Ludendorff inspecting officers of Jagdstaffel 11. Photo: Von Richthofen’s (Red Baron) plane is in the background during General Erich von Ludendorff visit Aerial operations: StandardisationDespite being three years into the war, there has yet to emerge a standardised means of artillery cooperation. Each Squadron has evolved its own methods which vary greatly depending on the experience and training of the squadron’s officers and the methods of the battery commanders they worked with. This is now proving a stumbling block to efficiency as battery commanders are moved around they have to start from scratch with each new squadron. It also has the effect of limiting training for observers who can only learn the basics before reaching the front. In response to the criticism, Lieutenant-Colonel Edgar Rainey Ludlow-Hewitt, commanding the Third (Corps) Wing, put forward a memorandum which outlined the case for standardization of the methods of ranging for the artillery. “In the early days of co-operation between aeroplanes and Royal Artillery batteries every observer and every battery commander had his own pet theories and methods. This fact necessitated elaborate arrangements between the observer and the battery commander before each shoot could be carried out. At that time, these arrangements presented no great difficulty because limited time and pressure of work were scarcely serious considerations. The observer was able to visit the battery commander before a shoot, and discuss with him, or was able to ring him up and arrange things on telephone lines which were not over-congested with traffic. They were further simplified by the comparatively small number of batteries which worked with aeroplane observation, which allowed one observer in the squadron to observe permanently for one battery. It was, in fact, almost impossible for him to observe for more than one battery, unless he was an expert and familiar with all the different methods in use. The result of this lack of system was that shoots were, for the most part, very slow, and it was considered a good flight when some 20 rounds had been fired and observed. Further, the number of methods in use rendered it quite impossible to teach a new observer all of them, and, if he was trained in only one, the chances were that he would be asked to work on another when he came to carry out his first shoot. Consequently, artillery work was confined to quite a few expert observers in each squadron. As work increased the three or four experts in the squadron found it impossible to compete with it all, and it became more and more necessary to train every available observer in artillery work. Increase in work, too, began to interfere with liaison between individual observers and battery commanders. These considerations, combined with the desirability of simplifying and improving co-operation, called for the introduction of simple standard methods by squadrons within the Corps with whom they worked.
Later again, active operations on a larger scale involving complete armies soon showed that standardization within armies was both desirable and necessary, not only to facilitate the training of observers in a Wing and to eliminate methods which experience and comparison between Corps began to prove to be faulty, but also to avoid a large number of failures which occurred through the transfer of batteries or groups from Corps to Corps within the Army, due to slight readjustments of the front or to the requirements of special operations. Standardization of methods of ranging within an Army soon began to show the best results in increased efficiency of observers and batteries, and a corresponding improvement in the speed and effect of the shooting. These improvements were at least very clearly demonstrated on the front of the Fourth Army during last winter and spring, when the observation of upwards of 200 rounds in the course of a single flight became as common as the so-called successful shoot of 70 or 80 observed rounds of a few months earlier. The advantages of working on a standard method did not only show themselves in the increased speed and destructive effect of bombardment with aerial observation, but also allowed each squadron to double the amount of work they had previously been capable of. This was the natural outcome of simplifying and reducing the number of methods to be taught, so that observers could be made use of much earlier than heretofore. The time has now arrived when by natural development standardization should extend beyond the confines of individual Armies, and one system should become general for the whole of the British Armies in the field. The desirability of further standardization is shown in recent operations on the Fourth Army front when a concentration of batteries collected from all parts of the fighting line introduced, as far as the artillery were concerned, a large number of different systems, all of which had to be unlearned before serious and successful work could commence. The case would, of course, have been exactly the same had the concentration been of Flying Corps squadrons instead of batteries. It is not intended to suggest that the standard system used during the past winter in Fourth Army is by any means the best system, but the contention is that the introduction of any standard system will necessarily result, and has resulted, in reducing complications, preventing frequent changes, and making co-operation very much easier for all concerned. An aerial observer should not be considered as being in a similar position to a ground observer in an observation post. In the air, the observer is surrounded with distractions and confused with uncertainties. He is thinking how he can best avoid the shells bursting around him, wondering whether yonder hostile machine is going to take an interest in him, dodging clouds and other machines, and is the victim of a dozen other preoccupations.
He feels very remote and cut off from the ground to which, indeed, he is only connected by the delicate thread of his wireless signals. As soon as any check or difficulty arises in the even course of his shoot he becomes a prey to doubt and uncertainty. Is the battery receiving his signals—is there some misunderstanding, or why have they stopped? He can only succeed in the face of these distractions if he is in the first place familiar with his wireless key, and if the methods employed are well understood and so simple that he can carry on almost instinctively with a minimum of thought and concentration. Secondly, stoppages and checks in shoots must be avoided, and if they occur the answer to his appeal for information must be prompt and clear. Rhythm enters into it. One should avoid introducing intervals and pauses of unequal length. The study of the record of any good shoot will show with what remarkable regularity the signals follow each other until the steady pulse of the shoot is brought up with a jerk by some temporary stoppage which throws the whole machinery out of gear and upsets the rhythmical speed for some little time…
The far-reaching effects which standardization of ranging methods may have is best shown in the consideration of its influence on the instruction and turning out of observers. The amount of aerial observation work required by a Corps during and previous to active operations is often beyond the powers of a Corps squadron on the present establishment. The difficulties of organization and supply of personnel and material limit the size and number of squadrons which can be attached to each Corps, and, therefore, any increase in the working value of a squadron must depend on extracting the full measure of work out of each observer. There is no room in a modern squadron for untrained observers, and no time to train them. Casualties and the strain of war flying render continual replacement necessary, and, although each casualty is immediately replaced, the working value of the squadron still suffers a dead loss temporarily while the new man is learning methods of work which he cannot at present learn at home. This means that a squadron at present can never be working at full strength. There are in England several schools of instruction in observation for pilots and observers, but they are heavily handicapped by being unable to teach more than the elements and first principles of observation duties owing to: (a) the number of systems in use out here, and (b) the frequent changes in systems which make it impossible for them to keep up to date. Standardization, besides increasing the confidence of instructors, will render it possible to turn out observers of such efficiency that they can commence useful work immediately on posting to a squadron… As the strength of the artillery and the Flying Corps increases, liaison must continue to weaken, and the only substitute for the old understanding obtained by personal contact is the mechanical understanding induced by observer and battery commander working on the same formula and controlled by the same hand. The high-water mark of mutual understanding can now only be reached by perfect drill, whereby the battery and the aeroplane will work in one piece…. The introduction of one method only to all parts of the front will result in a reduction of signals and a general clean up of unnecessary litter….”As a result of this memorandum a circular letter was sent to all Corps wing commanders asking for a full statement of the methods of co-operation in use. The answers received will form the basis of discussion with the artillery authorities at General Headquarters, and the creation of new guidelines for artillery cooperation. Naval operations: ship lossesBULYSSES The tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 142 nautical miles (263 km) west north west of the Butt of Lewis by SM U-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived. CLAVERLEY (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south east of the Eddystone Lighthouse by SM UB-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of ten of her crew. HMS E47 (Royal Navy) The E-class submarine was lost in the North Sea with the loss of all 30 crew. EDERNIAN (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 6 nautical miles (11 km) east of Southwold, Suffolk by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 14 of her crew. ELSWICK LODGE (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 260 nautical miles (480 km) west by south of Ouessant, Finistère, France by SM U-93 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew. ILYA MUROMETS (Imperial Russian Navy) The auxiliary minesweeper struck a mine and sank in Worms Sound with the loss of eleven of her crew. by SM UC-58 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived. INCEMORE (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 52 nautical miles (96 km) south east by south of Pantelleria, Italy (36°27′N 13°02′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member. HMT KIRKLAND (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by U 80 (Alfred von Glasenapp) and sank in the Atlantic Ocean off Papa Stour, Shetland Islands (60°21′N 1°47′W) with the loss of eleven crew. SERRA DO MAECO (Portugal) The fishing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal by SM UB-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine). SERRA DO PILAR (Portugal) The fishing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal by SM UB-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine). HMS VALA (Royal Navy) The Q-ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 120 nautical miles (220 km) south west of the Isles of Scilly (48°37′N 9°28′W) by SM UB-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 43 of her crew.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 21, 2022 6:44:18 GMT
Day 1113 of the Great War, August 21st 1917Western FrontBritish capture enemy positions west and north-west of Lens on front of 200 yards. Verdun front, French take Cote de l'Oie, Regneville (on left bank), Samogneux and fortified trenches connecting village with Hill 344. Photo: Men of the 152nd (Seaforth and Cameron) Brigade 51st Division marching past Sir Douglas Haig at School Camp, St. Janster Biezen, 21 August 1917 Eastern FrontEnemy attack on Riga front commences. Russians evacuate positions between Tirul Marsh and River Aa. Enemy attack town of Sereth (Bukovina) and take one of fortified heights. Italian FrontBattle in Carso region continues. United Kingdom: British Ministry of Reconstruction Formed The British Ministry of Reconstruction was created on August 21, 1917, “charged with overseeing the task of rebuilding ‘the national life on a better and more durable foundation.’ World War One changed the lives of millions of Britons, not only those who fought on the front, but also those at home. Massive social, economic, and political changes took place. Millions of women were working and hundreds of thousands of men returned maimed. Meanwhile bombs destroyed houses and Britain’s food supply had been rationed. What worried the government most was the potential of worker unrest and strikes. the Ministry of Reconstruction was meant to handle these changes while preserving British stability. Russia: Lenin Flees to FinlandThe Bolsheviks had inspired the July uprising in Petrograd, and many of its members helped to organize it. Lenin had been on vacation in Finland when it began, and had rushed back to the city as soon as he could, but did not commit to backing it, issuing tepid platitudes at most while the uprising evaporated. Despite this, Lenin received much of the blame from the Provisional Government, who accused him of being a paid agent for the Germans. Lenin had to go into hiding in and around Petrograd, but by late August even this was not sufficient. Shaving his beard and wearing a wig, he fled for Finland, mostly by train but occasionally on foot. He would not return to Petrograd until October. Aerial operations: “Hot Air”This evening, eight naval Zeppelins set out from the north German sheds – the L35, L.41, L42, L44, L45, L46, L47 and L51 with the intention of raiding the English Midlands. The airships, keeping well together, approached the Yorkshire coast until they came within sixty miles of the Humber, where they dispersed and cruised about for three hours. Eventually the L41 attempted an attack on Hull, crossing the coast soon after midnight. However the searchlights and heavy anti- aircraft gun-fire made the L41 turn back and drop the bombs randomly. Hedon suffered damage with a Methodist Chapel destroyed, and some other minor damage to property. In addition, one man was injured. British records of the time suggest that no other bombs fell overland. At the time, however, the German Admiralty issued a lengthy report of the raid, in which it was claimed that the Zeppelin fleet had bombed Hull, warships in the Humber, and various industrial establishments. This was assumed at the time to be propaganda. However, German records of the raid suggest that the crews genuinely believed that they had attacked Hull with 11000 kg of bombs. This is reported in the Official History (Volume 5, p56). The Official History also notes a packet of reports to which it was judged no credence could be attached at the time. In this packet, labelled Hot Air, are messages which show that an airship passed over Pontefract and was later reported near Rochdale in Lancashire, while from Doncaster came news of bombs heard exploding in the distance. Two of the twenty pilots who went up to attack the L.41 saw her, but they could not get near enough to engage her. One of them while flying at 15,000 feet estimated that the L.41 was some 5,000 feet higher still and, although he pursued her twenty miles out to sea and fired bursts at long range, he could not get near enough for effective attack. The Zeppelins tended to fly at around 20,000ft, mainly to ensure that they were out reach of British Aircraft, which at this point in the war they were. However, flying height made accurate navigation and precision bombing impossible. It’s possible that the bombs fell in uninhabited areas and were not detected. Naval operations: ship lossesDEVONIAN (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 20 nautical miles (37 km) north east of Tory Island, County Donegal by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two lives. GOODWOOD(United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 28 nautical miles (52 km) north west by west of Cape Bon, Tunisia by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived. HS 4 (United Kingdom) The tug was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 130 nautical miles (240 km) west south west of Ouessant, Finistère, France by SM UC-72 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived. MOUNTPARK (United Kingdom) The collier collided with Alexandra (United Kingdom) and sank in the Bristol Channel 6 nautical miles (11 km) north west of the Bull Point Lighthouse, Devon. NORHILDA (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) south east of Scarborough, Yorkshire (54°15′N 0°10′W) by SM UC-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member. OSLO (United Kingdom) The cargo liner was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) east by north of the Out Skerries, Shetland Islands by SM U-87 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew. RB 6 (United Kingdom) The refrigerated barge was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 130 nautical miles (240 km) west south west of Ouessant by SM UC-72 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived. ROSCOMMON (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 20 nautical miles (37 km) north east of Tory Island by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived. STROINI (Imperial Russian Navy) The Storozhevoi-class destroyer ran aground in the Gulf of Riga whilst minelaying. She was then bombed and sunk by Kaiserliche Marine Friedrichshafen FF.41 aircraft. SM UC-41 Kaiserliche Marine The Type UC II submarine sank in the Tay estuary after an internal explosion. All 27 crew and 7 British prisoners of war were killed. VOLODIA (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 285 nautical miles (528 km)) west of Ouessant, Finistère, France by SM U-93 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of ten of her crew.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 22, 2022 5:51:35 GMT
Day 1114 of the Great War, August 22nd 1917Western FrontHeavy fighting on Ypres front; British line advanced 500 yards on 1-mile front. Also advance 0.25 mile on 2.5 mile front (objective Lens). Photo: British 9.2-inch railway gun ready to fire at night, Boesinghe, Belgium, August 22, 1917 Photo: A German shell burst near Zillebeke, 22 August, 1917 Eastern FrontAt Raggazen (Gulf of Riga) Russians retire from 3 to 8 miles, to shorten line. Situation unchanged on Romanian front, where fighting continues. Italian Front: Italian Breakthrough on the IsonzoThe initial Italian attacks in the Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo had made progress mostly on the Bainsizza plateau. After continued attacks, by the evening of August 21 the Italians had opened up a gap a mile wide in the Austrian lines. The next morning, the Italians, with the help of Fiat trucks, had been able to rush up further reinforcements to exploit this. The Austrians, on the other hand, were nearly out of reserves and had a truck shortage; no reserves could reach the Bainsizza for another twenty four hours. This would prove to be too late. On August 22, the Italians completely overran the last Austrian lines on the Bainsizza and began advancing into the undefended forests beyond. One Austrian said that “the human wall that had withstood ten battles has burst.” Boroevic met with Emperor Charles, who happened to be visiting the front, that afternoon, and informed him of the gravity of the situation. Charles, who had witnessed the ferocity of the fighting to the west, soon agreed with Boroevic that there was no choice but to order a retreat off of the Bainsizza plateau and hope to regroup to the east before the Italians could exploit their victory. At 9PM, Boroevic ordered a general retreat for the next day, hoping that a final artillery barrage could provide some cover for it. Arab Revolt War Office reports Turkish defeat in Hejaz. Aerial operations: Last daylight raidBefore the Zeppelinlast night’s raid had even returned home from last night’s raid, a Squadron of Gotham set off on a mission to bomb England. Losses on the raid of xxxx meant that there were only 15 aircraft. Four of them turned back with engine trouble, but the others came in over Margate about 1040 and, after dropping five bombs, continued south-west. Defensive aeroplanes from Manston were already approaching their height and so the Gothas turned south-east and attacked Ramsgate with thirty-four bombs. Seven of these fell on hospitals and some of the others on shop and house property. They killed eight men (2 soldiers) and one child, and injured twelve men (9 soldiers), two women, and seven children. The anti-aircraft gun-fire with which they were met when they appeared was accurate and the aeroplanes came up and pursued the bombers as they turned for Ramsgate. Two of the raiders were quickly brought down by gun-fire, one of them falling in the sea, and the other, in flames, between Westgate and Ramsgate. From the Gotha which fell in the sea, a member of the crew was rescued and it was learned from him that the intention of the raiders was to separate after striking the coast near the North Foreland. One detachment was to continue up the Thames Estuary to bomb Sheerness, and the other southwards to attack Dover. The accuracy of the gun-fire and the presence of British aeroplanes brought about a change of plan, and the bombers, after the attack on Ramsgate, went out to sea again, pursued by naval aircraft, and recrossed the coast at Deal. Under vigorous gun-fire they went on to Dover, where they arrived about 1110 and six of them dropped nine bombs which seriously damaged seven private houses, an inn, and a school. The casualties were two soldiers and one woman killed, and five soldiers injured. 135 aircraft went up to attack. One Gotha was shot down in the sea, possibly by gunfire but more likely by Flight Sub-Lieutenant J. Drake. The Gothas were continuously attacked over Dover, and across the sea to the Belgian Coast, by naval and Royal Flying Corps pilots, but without further losses. The severity of the defence convinced the Germans that daylight raids were now too risky and they now switched to night raids. Despite this a small number of bombers never numbering more than 30, had forced the British to invest precious resources in Home a Defence, both in guns and men and in aircraft and pilots – keeping them from serving at the front where they were sorely needed. Naval operations: ship lossesALEXANDER SHUKOFF (Denmark) The cargo ship was sunk in the Norwegian Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) west of Florø, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway by SM U-87 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived. GOLO II (French Navy) The armed boarding steamer was sunk in the Ionian Sea off Corfu, Greece by SM UC-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 42 lives. GRO Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the English Channel 6 nautical miles (11 km) south of Start Point, Devon, United Kingdom by SM UC-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived. HMT SOPHRON (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 41 (Hans Förste) and sank in the Firth of Tay with the loss of eight of her crew. VERDI (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 115 nautical miles (213 km) north west by north of Eagle Island, County Mayo (55°15′N 13°20′W) by SM U-53 ((Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of six crew.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 23, 2022 5:07:17 GMT
Day 1115 of the Great War, August 23rd 1917
Western Front
South-west of Lens and north-east of Langemarck British line slightly advanced.
Italians Front
Battle continues. Italians carry new positions.
United Kingdom
British press criticizes the air service for not preventing German air raids. Manchester Guardian proposes an independent air ministry.
United States: Black Soldiers in Houston Strike Back at Police
Although the US Army was decidedly not integrated, the large contingents of new black soldiers at camps throughout the South was seen by many racist southerners as a challenge to the white-dominated order of society. Black soldiers were still subject to the Jim Crow laws of the South, and were often given no additional respect by authority figures there. This caused understandable resentment among the black soldiers, especially among those from the North, for whom Jim Crow laws were unfamiliar.
On August 23, two Houston police officers dragged a black woman, Sara Travers, from her home in a state of partial undress, apparently during a search for a player from an illegal craps game. A passing black soldier, Private Alonzo Edwards, approached the officers; he was immediately set upon and beaten. In the words of one of the police officers: “I beat that nigger until his heart got right. He was a good nigger when I got through with him.” Soon after, Corporal Charles Baltimore, a black military police officer, arrived at the scene and inquired after Edwards. Baltimore, like other black MPs in Houston, was unarmed, in apparent deference to the racist attitudes of the city. The police began shooting at Baltimore, who had no choice but to flee; the police eventually caught him, gave him a severe beating, and arrested him.
When news of this reached Camp Logan (home of the two soldiers), many soldiers began to discuss a counterattack against the police. While their officers ordered them not to do so, they were not dissuaded, and eventually seized an a supply of ammunition (mortally wounding a fellow black soldier in the process) and marched out of camp, chanting “On to the Police Station.” They eventually ran into two police officers (including one of the ones who had beaten Edwards and Baltimore) and killed them; several civilians were also killed on the way. They ran into another man in uniform shortly thereafter; they killed him as well, thinking he was a police officer. However, he was a captain in the Illinois National Guard. Beginning to realize what they had done, the soldiers mostly began to disperse and trickle back to camp; one officer killed himself.
The soldiers involved were arrested over the next day. Many would be executed in the following months. Houston was placed under martial law, which prevented any mass violence against the black community like that in East St. Louis. Nevertheless, the rate of migration north from Houston markedly increased after the riot.
As in East St. Louis, the NAACP conducted their own investigation of the events. The final report, published in The Crisis in November, concluded:
The primary cause of the Houston riot was the habitual brutality of the white police officers of Huston in their treatment of colored people.
Australia
Suffragist Adela Pankhurst is arrested in Australia and sentenced to a month in prison for demonstrating against conscription.
Naval operations: ship losses
BONIFACE (United Kingdom) The cargo liner was torpedeoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 7 nautical miles (13 km) north east by north of Arranmore, County Donegal (55°08′N 8°27′W) by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
CARL F. CRESSY (United States) The four-masted schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 180 nautical miles (330 km) north west of Cape Finisterre, Spain by SM U-93 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
CONSTANCE (France) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 142 nautical miles (263 km) north east of Malta (36°15′N 17°25′E) by SM U-14 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy).
fRATELLI DANIELLI (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily, Italy by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
PEER GYNT (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) north of Pendeen Point, Cornwall, United Kingdom (50°23′N 5°20′W) by SM UC-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew.
VEGTSTROOM (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 7 nautical miles (13 km) north west of the Godrevy Lighthouse, Cornwall (50°16′N 5°35′W) by SM UC-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five of her crew.
WINLATON (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 25 nautical miles (46 km) west of Cape Spartel, Morocco (35°40′N 6°25′W) by SM UB-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew. Her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 24, 2022 6:09:59 GMT
Day 1116 of the Great War, August 24th 1917
YouTube (The 2nd Battle Of Verdun - Lost Opportunities On The Isonzo River)
Western Front
British advanced line forced back from positions gained on 22 August.
Enemy post capture near Lombartzyde (coast section).
French advance 1.5 miles on 2,000 yards front at Verdun, carrying Hill 304 and Bois Camard, reach south bank of Forges Brook, between Haucourt and Bethincourt, make progress north of Mort Homme.
Western Front: Third Ypres: Battle of Hill 70; Canadian Corp Captures and Holds Vital Position
Haig ordered his Canadian Corps to attack the city of Lens in August 1917. The assault would provide a distraction from the British assaults around Ypres, and force the Germans to divert reinforcements. But the new commander of the Canadians, General Arthur Currie, a Canadian himself, argued against attacked a heavily fortified city. Instead, he proposed to capture Hill 70, a fortified bluff in front of Lens. If his men took it, the Germans would have no choice but to counter attack.
Haig approved, and Currie’s men set to work. Canadian sappers dug deep tunnels in the chalk underneath No-Man’s Land, which allowed the troops to pop up out of the ground on D-Day and storm the German lines. Hill 70 fell on August 15, and for the next ten days the Canadians held it against German divisions, smashing in their attacks with machine-gun and artillery fire. The Canadians lost 10,000 men, but dealt twice that in German casualties, and cemented their position as some of the best soldiers in the Allied army in the west.
Italian Front
Italians occupy summit of Monte Santo and continue their advance towards eastern border of Bainsizza Plateau.
Italian advance in this region four miles on 12.5 mile front.
Battle further south dies down. Italians consolidating positions.
Italy: Italian Army Suppresses Revolt in Turin
Discontent had been growing in Italy, as in many of the belligerent powers. In the industrial city of Turin in northern Italy, against the backdrop of high food prices, over 40,000 people marched against the war on August 14. These were likely inspired by the similar marches in Petrograd before the revolution there; the Petrograd Soviet even had a visiting delegation in the city at the time. Within a week, the marches had expanded into strikes and attacks on property, including factories and churches. The revolutionary atmosphere was heightened by the quickly-erected barricades in the city’s narrow streets.
The army was called in to Turin to restore order. Unlike in Petrograd, the soldiers (many of whom were from the poorer, rural, southern parts of Italy) did not sympathize with the strikers, and they suppressed the disorder with little mercy. Tanks crushed the barricades, and machine guns were used liberally. By August 24, order had been restored in the city, 50 of the strikers were killed, and another 800 arrested. The revolt did not spread beyond Turin, and this would be the high point of revolutionary unrest in Italy during the war.
Germany
German Vice Chancellor Helfferich claims UK entered the war because it felt threatened by Germany’s increasing economic & military power.
Aerial operations: “The First Hundred Pilots”
Since the war began, Australia and New Zealand have been contributing in dribs and drabs to the air war.
New Zealand had something of a first today when six pilots were the first to be given their wings in the country at the Canterbury Aviation Company’s training school. This had been formed in August 1916 as a private venture following the failure to get a state sponsored school off the ground. They had purchased land and then sought a trainer, eventually settling on Cecil McKenzie Hill from the Hall School, Hendon, who was recommended by the New Zealand High Commissioner in London.
The school started with two Cauldron Anzani biplanes. But over the next few months constructed their own aeroplane nicknameD “Whitewings” in which all the pupils gained their wings. The six pupils in order of passing were:
Edwyn Arnold Fraser Wilding
Herbert Nelson Hawker
John Ericksen Stevens
Clarence James McFadden
Leslie Alfred Limbrick
Eric James Orr
All six went on to serve in the RFC. Of the 180 pupils trained at the school by the end of the war.
A brief history of the founding of the School was published by the company in June 1918. “The First Hundred Pilots” is available from Christchurch City Online Library.
Also today, 3 Squadron Australian Flying Corps (Also known as 69 Squadron AFC) set off from their training base at South Carlton, where they have been training since January 1917, to join the British Forces in France. They will be the first Australian Squadron to serve in this theatre.
Naval operations: ship losses
HENERIETTE (France) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 230 nautical miles (430 km) north west of Penmarc'h, Finistère (48°00′N 14°45′W) by SM U-62 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
KILWINNING (United Kingdom) The collier was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 94 nautical miles (174 km) east south east of Malta (35°26′N 16°30′E) by SM U-14 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.
PARANA (France) The troopship was torpedoed and damaged in the Aegean Sea between Andros and Euboea, Greece by SM UC-74 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She consequently sank in Karystos Bay with the loss of seven lives.
PENELOPE (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Baltic Sea off the Swalfre Ort Lighthouse by a Kaiserliche Marine submarine.
SPRINGHILL (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) east north east of Scarborough, Yorkshire (54°21′N 0°22′W) by SM UB-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five of her crew.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 25, 2022 5:28:29 GMT
Day 1117 of the Great War, August 25th 1917
Western Front
Enemy recapture some of positions lost on 19 August, but are driven out later in the day.
French progress north of Hill 304.
Western Front: General Herbert Plumer Replaces Hubert Gough as Commander of Ypres Battle
The two British armies fighting at Ypres, the Fifth and the Second, were commanded respectively by Generals Hubert Gough and Herbert Plumer. Gough’s Fifth Army spearheaded the attack, and had made considerable progress since July 31, at the cost of considerable casualties. Yet Gough’s forces had not made the progress expected by Haig.
The offensive started and stopped repeatedly. German heavy guns, even more-so heavy rains, turned the battlefield into a morass. Meanwhile the German army as yet showed no sign of breaking. On August 25, Haig halted the batle again to shift emphasis to Plumer’s southern Second Army. Plumer had won a considerable victory at the Battle of Messines in the lead-up to Third Ypres, but that had only been after enormous preparation. Now Plumer would be a victim of his own success, unable to replicate his earlier triumph as he pushed farther into German lines towards the town of Passchendaele.
Eastern Front
Lull on Riga and Romanian fronts, some activity on Volhynia front.
Italian Front
Intense fighting Bainsizza Plateau.
Russia
Russia receives another $100 million loan from the U.S. despite Russian internal instability and recent defeats.
Russian National Conference opened at Moscow by M. Kerenski, who warns extremists of the danger of their methods.
United Kingdom
British police raid the office & home of pacifist E.D. Morel. He will be sentenced to 6 months in prison.
Germany: German-Backed Polish Government Disbands In Protest
The nominally pro-Central Powers faction in Poland had been having more and more disagreements with their German and Austrian backers lately. The revolutionary government in Russia, with their promise of an independent Poland and a peace without annexations or indemnities, seemed more believable than the half-hearted German and Austrian efforts over the last year. In July, Piłsudski instructed his soldiers in the Polish Legions not to swear an oath to an unnamed future Polish king and to be “loyal brothers-in-arms” to the Germans; the Legions were then disbanded, with their soldiers imprisoned or conscripted into the Austrian army.
In August, the Polish Provisional Council of State–a purely advisory body, but a symbol of Germany’s guarantee of an independent Poland–increasingly expressed its dissatisfaction, with its chairman resigning early in the month. On August 25, no longer willing to serve as a symbol of Germany’s promise of an independent Poland when actual independence seemed as distant as ever, the remaining members of the council dissolved the body in protest. The Germans, left without even a nominal Polish-run government, scrambled to come up with a replacement; actual governance of the country continued unchanged under military administration.
Aerial operations: Naval Air Policy
Admiral Beatty, the Commander in Chief of the Navy, had written to the Board of the Admiralty on 20 August requesting clarification on the overall policy on Naval Aviation.
“A correct policy is of vital moment to our air supremacy at sea during the year 1918…Possibly a definite policy has been decided upon by the staff, assisted by the experts concerned. If this is so, I should be glad if a member of the naval staff visited me and explained the proposals ; if no definite policy has yet been formulated, it is urgent the matter should be discussed between the naval staff, the technical experts, and myself at the earliest possible date.”
The Admiralty realised that no definite air policy had been laid down in black and white. There was a rapid exchange of memoranda on the question between the various Sea Lords and today a preliminary general statement of naval air policy, drawn up by the First Sea Lord was sent to Admiral Beatty.
ADMIRALTY MEMORANDUM ON NAVAL AIR POLICY
The Air Policy to which the Admiralty is working is as follows:
(i) Lighter-than-air craft.
To provide a type of airship, in sufficient numbers, which will be able to scout with the Fleet, and, in this respect, to perform the duty of light cruisers.
To provide also a type of airship for coastal patrol work and for escort of merchant ships and convoys unless and until this duty can be performed by heavier-than-air craft.
To provide also a sufficient number of kite balloons for the work which is required of them in the Fleet, in destroyer flotillas which are engaged in submarine hunting or in convoy work, and in trawler flotillas engaged in similar duties.
(2) Heavier-than-air machines.
(a) Those for use in seaplane carriers.
Under this heading the policy is to provide a sufficient number for reconnaissance, for engaging enemy aircraft, for observation of fire and for torpedo carrying. The policy also is to provide, when conditions admit, a sufficient number of seaplane carriers to work with the Grand Fleet, with the Harwich Flotilla, the Dover Patrol, Tenth Cruiser Squadron, Ireland, Gibraltar, and the Mediterranean.
(b) To provide also, when a satisfactory type is evolved, a sufficient number of lighters for carrying seaplanes for extended reconnaissance and for engaging enemy aircraft in Southern waters.
(c) The provision of heavier-than-air craft apart from Fleet work.
The policy is to provide machines for offensive action against submarines, mine-laying and attack of enemy aircraft, detection of minefields, protection of trade (by patrol or convoy), reconnaissance of such places as the Belgian coast and other enemy naval bases within reach of this type of machine.
To provide also torpedo-carrying seaplanes for work against the enemy bases in the Mediterranean, in addition to aircraft to carry out in the Mediterranean duties similar to those for which they are required in home waters.
(d) The policy also is to develop wireless, D.C.B.’s (Distant Control Boats), and vessels of larger type, dependent upon the result of experiments now in progress.
Naval operations: ship losses
CYMRIAN (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 13 nautical miles (24 km) south east by south of the Tuskar Rock, Ireland by SM UC-75 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of ten of her crew.
FRIGGA (Norway) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 20 nautical miles (37 km) east south east of Portland Bill, Dorset, United Kingdom by SM UB-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
GARM (Norway) The coaster was sunk in the English Channel 8 nautical miles (15 km) east north east of Start Point, Devon, United Kingdom (50°19′N 3°29′W) by SM UC-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HEATERSIDE (United Kingdom) The collier was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north west of Cape Ortegal, Spain (46°14′N 10°57′W) by SM U-93 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 27 of her crew.
JUNONA (Russia) The cargo ship was sunk in The Minch (58°32′N 5°34′W) by SM U-80 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
MALDA (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 130 nautical miles (240 km) west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly by SM U-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 64 lives.
NASCENT (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 27 nautical miles (50 km) south of the Bishop Rock (49°32′N 6°25′W) by SM UC-49 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of six of her crew.
NERMA (Denmark) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 3.5 nautical miles (6.5 km) west of Berry Head, Devon by SM UC-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seven of her crew.
OVAR(Portugal) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (46°05′N 11°15′W) by SM U-93 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SYCAMORE (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 125 nautical miles (232 km) north west of Tory Island, County Donegal by SM UB-61 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eleven of her crew.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 26, 2022 5:16:11 GMT
Day 1118 of the Great War, August 26th 1917
Western Front
British capture enemy positions east of Hargicourt (north-west of St. Quentin) on front of over one mile to depth of 0.5 mile. Enemy recapture post lost on 24 August.
French make progress on right bank of Meuse, reaching outskirts of Beaumont.
Eastern Front
Renewed enemy attacks east of Czernowitz; Germans claim 1,000 prisoners.
Italian Front
Practically whole of Bainsizza Plateau in Italian hands; 23,000 prisoners to date; Italians fail at Jenelik.
German/Belgian relations
Belgian officials protest German attempts to divide the occupied country into two between Flanders and Wallonia.
Bulgaria
Bulgarian Premier demands annexations of Macedonia, Dobruja, and the Aegean coast for joining the Central Powers.
Russia: Febrile Atmosphere in Petrograd, Rumors of Planned Bolshevik Insurrection
The heady air of revolutionary Petrograd was that much more so on August 26, as rumors spread of a coming Bolshevik coup that would topple the Provisional Government. This came weeks after the July Days, when crowds had agitated for further revolution, only to have the Petrograd soviet cautiously reject to help. Loyalist troops bloodily put down the revolt, arrested leading Bolsheviks like Leon Trotsky, and sent others like Lenin into hiding.
The rumors on August 26 again had little to do with the Bolsheviks. This time, however, it was not revolutionaries stirring up specters of rebellion, but the right. After the July Days very few Russians had faith in the Provisional Government. The bloody suppression of the July Days angered the left; the weakness of the government worried the right. “Chaos in the army, chaos in foreign policy, chaos in industry and chaos in the nationalist questions,” fretted Pavel Miliukov, leader of the liberal Kadet party. Thus Russia’s military chief-of-staff, Lavr Kornilov, had helped spread rumors of a Bolshevik rising, hoping to be able to use the military to put a more conservative regime in power.
Aerial operations: Integration
The integration of the RFC into the battle plans of the Army continues apace. Today, the infantry assault around Ypres was resumed with an attack on a point called Cologne Farm Hill. The RFC contributed to the attack in a variety of roles, showing the continuing specialisation of Squadrons.
On this occasion, twelve DH5’s from 24 and 41 Squadrons RFC carried out ground assault missions attacking infantry and transport.
At the same time, the progress of the British infantry was well reported by contact-patrol observers, and enemy aircraft were kept at a distance at the vital time by strong patrols of fighting aircraft,
Finally and the artillery aeroplane and balloon observers co-operated by reporting active German batteries and by observing for fire on them.
This was not without loss of course. 9 Squadron carrying out artillery observation in their RE8s suffered most. Captain Alexander Lindsay Macdonald and 2nd Lieutenant Francis John Ashburnham Wodehouse were shot down and killed in A4390. 2nd Lieutenant Harold C Dumbell had his leg broken by gunfire during an air combat. The pilot of his RE8 (A3770), Lieutenant Frederick Maden, was unhurt.
2nd Lieutenant John Gardner White from 24 Squadron was attacking a trench in his DH5 (A9178) when his aircraft suddenly nose dived from about 200 feet. White was killed.
Naval operations: ship losses
ASYRIA (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 34 nautical miles (63 km) north west by north of Tory Island, County Donegal (55°40′N 9°00′W) by SM UB-61 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
CASSIAR (Canada) The passenger ship ran aground on Trivet Isle, British Columbia and sank. All on board were rescued.
CHACMA (Norway) The sailing vessel was sunk in the English Channel 50 nautical miles (93 km) west of the Casquets, Channel Islands by SM UC-62 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
DURANGO (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) north west of Barra Head, Outer Hebrides (57°08′N 8°55′W) by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
EIRINI (Greece) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 47 (Paul Hundius) and sank in the Atlantic Ocean 2.75 nautical miles (5.09 km) west of Hartland Point, Devon, United Kingdom.
FELTRE (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south south east of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, United Kingdom by SM UB-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
KENMORE (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) north of Inishtrahull Island, County Donegal (55°57′N 7°30′W) by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five crew.
MARIA DEL CARMINE (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea east of Sicily by SM UC-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
MARMION (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 300 nautical miles (560 km) west by south of Ouessant, Finistère, France (46°18′N 11°40′W) by SM U-93 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 17 of her crew.
MAURIZIO P. (Italy) The coaster was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (36°56′N 0°15′E) by SM UC-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
MINAS QUEEN (Canada) The three-masted schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 350 nautical miles (650 km) north west of Cape Finisterre, Spain (46°23′N 10°24′W) by SM U-93 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of six of her crew.
TITIAN (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 170 nautical miles (310 km) south east of Malta (34°20′N 17°30′E) by SM U-14 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.
W. H. DYWER(Canada) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 15 nautical miles (28 km) east by north of Berry Head, Devon, United Kingdom (50°18′N 3°11′W) by SM UB-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 27, 2022 5:35:07 GMT
Day 1119 of the Great War, August 27th 1917Western FrontYpres region: British line advance 200 yards astride St. Julien-Poelcapelle road. Photo: Battles of Ypres. A 12inch howitzer of the 104th Siege Battery in Ypres. 27th August 1917 Photo: 12 inch howitzer on railway mounting of the 104th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery in the ruins of Ypres, 27 August 1917 Renewed activity on the Aisne. Right bank of Meuse heavy enemy counter-attack repulsed. Western Front: Continued Failed Attacks Around YpresSince Langemarck, the British had been continuing local attacks, with mixed results. A few gains had been made when tanks were able to work properly; in other cases, ground had been captured but soon lost to determined German counterattacks. On August 27, XVIII Corps attacked, but again was undone by the terrible weather and ground conditions. The speed of the creeping barrage had been slowed by half to let the infantry keep up, but even that was not enough. Attempts to lay down a smoke screen to conceal the advance also failed due to strong winds. The official report noted: It is clear that the state of the ground, cut up with shell-holes full of water, and all slippery with mud, made it impossible for our leading lines to keep in touch….The Boche…saw that our troops could not move…and took full advantage of the unequal contest, at the same time training every machine gun on our men as they struggled in the mud. On the right flank, over a third of the attacking British infantry became casualties. They could inflict little in return on the Germans, as weapons were often fouled with mud or water. Many of the deaths were those who fell into shell-holes and drowned. Even before this, Haig had realized that his troops were exhausted, and had decided two days earlier to hand over the responsibility for the offensive from Gough’s Fifth Army to Plumer’s Second Army. He hoped that a new commander would boost morale and (relatively) fresh troops would reinvigorate the offensive. In London, Lloyd George, a skeptic of the push around Ypres from the start, was trying to argue for a diversion of resources (at the very least, in heavy artillery) to the Italian front, where Cadorna at least seemed to be making progress. His generals, however, warned that artillery could not reach them in time to make a difference, and that the only effect would be to make the Ypres operations impossible. This was not an outcome that Lloyd George would have minded, but unsurprisingly he was unable to convince any generals to acquiesce. East Africa CampaignPublication of official communication regarding operations in East Africa; enemy slowly being pressed back, eight miles in Masasi district. Belgian columns from Kilossa drive enemy to south bank Ruaha river. Midway between Lake Nyassa and sea, considerable German force closely invested. Russia: Kornilov Denounces Indiscipline in the Russian Army Lavr Kornilov had a meteoric rise from an army line officer to commander of the Russian army in August 1917. The son of middle-class Siberians, Kornilov benefitted from his birth and luck as much as skill. Although a good field commander, Kornilov also was politically acceptable to both sides of an increasingly, irreparably divided Russia. The left approved the low-born Cossack in charge, while the right applauded Kornilov’s suppression of political revolts. Kornilov became head of the Russian army in summer 1917, replacing Alexei Brusilov. Unlike the moderate Brusilov, who understood his troops’ political grievances, Kornilov as chief grew hostile to Russia’s new Provisional Government, and of course the even more revolutionary parties. On August 27 Kornilov denounced the soldiers’ councils and soviets that had spread throughout the Russian army. It was part of his growing attraction to the counter-revolutionary right. Aerial operations: 6 and 11 No MoreSuch is the shortage of pilots that the Navy has been forced to disband two of its squadrons currently assisting the RFC on the Western Front to reinforce its other squadrons. 6 (Naval) and 11 (Naval), both fighter squadrons were those to go, with the remaining pilots and aircraft going to reinforce 9 (Naval) and 10 (Naval) Squadrons. Both Squadrons were subsequently reformed in January 1918 as bomber squadrons. Naval operations: ship lossesANNA (Denmark) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) east of Lerwick, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom by SM U-87 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member. AURORA (Denmark) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) east south east of Lerwick (60°35′N 0°07′E) by SM U-87 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member. HATHOR (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) off Cape Ténès, Algeria by SM UB-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member. Her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 28, 2022 6:05:22 GMT
Day 1120 of the Great War, August 28th 1917
Western Front
Verdun: French positions on this front almost completely restored to those before the great attack of February 1916.
Eastern Front
Enemy attack Focsani region (Romanian front); Russian defection (of a division) in face of enemy, who advance throughout day and penetrate positions in region of Vainitza. Heavy fighting in Ocna valley, Romanians stubbornly resisting.
Italian Front: Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo: Italians Repulse Austrian Counterattack, but Both Sides Suffering Heavily
Fighting again for the Carso plateau on the west bank of the Isonzo River, the Italian army continued to make small progress. Five mountain peaks and more than 20,000 Austro-Hungarian prisoners had been taken, plus a couple of Germans, some of the first to arrive on the Italian front. But casualties were horrendous. Helen D’Abernon, a nurse in an Italian triage station, recalled the mutilated body of one wounded soldier, a former tenor at the Hanover Opera House:
“His poor face was concealed by a sanguinary mass of bandages. It was only possible to give nourishment by means of an india-rubber tube passed underneath. It seemed as though gangrene had already set in, yet he wrote down an anxious enquiry as to whether we though he would ever ‘be able to sing again’.” Enemy prisoners passed through as well, to be “interred behind barbed and electrolised wire at Cividale. Some are very young, some looked like Montenegrins, some like flat-faced Kalmucks - all were slouching in a ragged tired way. But they seemed in good spirits and were laughing and singing in snatches.”
For Austria-Hungary’s demoralized troops, capture and internment meant life. The Italian army was melting away too, however. Already 10,000 men had deserted in July and August.
Romania Campaign: Final German Attack on Romania
The German and Austrian offensives against Romania, though they had achieved some initial successes, resulted in unexpectedly high casualties for the Central Powers and did not come close to achieving a great breakthrough that would knock Romania out of the war, as hoped. On August 19, a Romanian counterattack in some places even pushed beyond their original starting positions, though, worried about overextending themselves, they soon stopped.
Mackensen, however, was eager to keep up the offensive, pleading for additional reinforcements. Even if troops were not forthcoming, further attacks were necessary “in order not to give Romanian authorities the idea that their local successes…had influenced German operations.” Ludendorff rejected this idea, and on the 24th even informed Mackensen that the elite mountain units in the area would soon be transferred to the Italian front to stabilize the situation there. Romania was not to be conquered this year.
Given this news, Mackensen limited himself to an attack on Muncelu, though German artillery conducted an extensive barrage all along the front with their large shell stockpiles. The Alpine Corps took the town after a fierce battle on the morning of August 28: “house by house, courtyard by courtyard had to be stormed in tough combat.” Afterwards, a precipitate Russian retreat opened a large gap in the lines that the Germans were able to exploit, advancing nearly three miles in some places. However, Romanian reserves soon arrived, and counterattacks over the next few days stabilized the front, though Muncelu remained in German hands.
The Romanians successfully kept their position largely intact throughout the German offensives in August, despite occasionally unreliable support from the Russians. The Central Powers would not launch another offensive against Romania; while they would ultimately be knocked out of the war, it was due only to political circumstances beyond their control.
Arab Revolt
British aeroplanes successful about Maan (Hejaz railway).
United Kingdom
Official British casualties for the last week number 14,331 men killed, wounded, or missing.
United Kingdom
U.S. government orders 1,074,000 gas masks to outfit the U.S. Army for around $1.40 each, not including raw materials.
Russia
Moscow National Conference closed.
General Kornilov, Russian Commander-in-Chief, warns that Russia will face ruin if domestic enemies are not dealt with.
Aerial operations: Gulfs of Riga
German aeroplanes drop 90 bombs on Russian shipping in Gulfs of Riga and Finland.
Aerial operations: No low flying for the DH4
The Airco DH4 has been in service since January 1917, and has been proving popular with crews. However there is a severe shortage of the Rolls Royce Eagle engines which power it such that the RFC and RNAS are struggling to keep up with the requirements of existing squadrons never mind equipping any new ones. .
The engine issue is exacerbated by the problem that the engines have to be returned to Rolls Royce for repair and they do not have the capacity to repair damaged engines and build new engines at the rates required.
Rolls Royce have also refused to allow other manufacturers to make the engines as they fear a loss in quality.
Government inaction has further exacerbated the problem. Rolls Royce had proposed in the autumn of 1916 to set up a repair factory with government assistance but this has been repeatedly delayed until finally being agreed by the Air Board in July 1917. The factory is in the process of being set up but is not yet operational. The Government also recently took over the Clement Talbot Company to carry out repairs under Rolls Royce supervision, but again it will be many months before this is operational.
The end result of all this prevarication on the part of the Air Board is that the respective air service headquarters have had to issue orders that DH4s on the Western Front must carry out bombing missions below 15,000 feet to reduce the chances of being intercepted by the enemy and in turn to reduces losses and damage.
Naval operations: ship losses
HIDALGO (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Barents Sea 120 nautical miles (220 km) north east of the North Cape, Norway by SM U-28 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 15 crew.
MARSELIEZA (Russia) The cargo ship was sunk in the Barents Sea 110 nautical miles (200 km) north west by north of the North Cape (72°30′N 29°00′E) by SM U-28 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
NAIRN (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 125 nautical miles (232 km) north by west of Benghazi, Libya (34°05′N 19°20′E) by SM U-14 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.
PASQUALINO CARMELA (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Strait of Messina by SM UC-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
SCILLA (Italy) The ferry struck a mine laid by UC 38 (Hans Hermann Wendlandt) and sank in the Strait of Messina.
WHITECOURT (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Barents Sea 120 nautical miles (220 km) north north east of the North Cape (72°48′N 29°00′E) by SM U-28 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 29, 2022 6:15:37 GMT
Day 1121 of the Great War, August 29th 1917
Eastern Front
Fighting continues in Focsani region.
Russia
Russian Premier Kerensky states the Provisional Government “will suffer no counter revolutionary attempts…”
United States/Vatican relations
U.S. reply to the Papal Peace Note.
Canada: Canada Enacts Conscription
Britain’s overseas dominions, though they had an initial enthusiastic call-up of volunteers, were deeply divided on the issue of conscription. Whether men should be drafted to serve in a war on another continent was a matter of great debate. In Australia, conscription was narrowly defeated in a plebiscite in late 1916, while in New Zealand it had been enacted a few weeks earlier. In Canada, there was severe opposition to conscription in Québec. French-speakers were not well-treated in the Canadian Army, which only had one belatedly-created French-speaking battalion. Additionally, there was little affection for Great Britain (or even France) in Québec; the war in Europe was not viewed as Québec’s concern.
Despite these objections, in the summer of 1917, PM Borden’s government (which had already delayed mandated elections due to the war) pushed for conscription. Canadian manpower in Europe was running low after years of war, and new volunteers were not forthcoming. Additionally, the United States’ entry and own conscription program now threatened to put Canada to shame. On August 29, Parliament passed the Military Service Act, which would call up unmarried men between 20 and 34 on November 10, though there were broad exemptions available.
The news was met with immediate protests in Montreal, where on the same day over 5000 people marched against conscription. Resentment in Québec would continue for the rest of the war and beyond, and anti-conscription protests would increase in size and intensity in 1918.
Aerial operations: Double Disaster
Despite the improvements in flying training and the quality of aircraft, learning to fly remains a dangerous business.
Today, 50 Training Squadron based at Narborough felt the brunt of this with two fatal accidents in the same day.
First, 2nd Lieutenant Lawrence Edward Stuart-Vaile and Lieutenant John Jacob Bennett crashed their Armstrong-Whitworth FK8 (B219) killing Stuart-Vaile and injuring Bennett. As the aircraft had crashed in the UK, a court of enquiry was held. It found that the pilot had attempted a turn but the air speed was insufficient and the aircraft was too close to the ground. As a result it had sideslipped and nose dived into the ground.
Another instructor Norman Victor Spear had been sent with a mechanic, S Burrell, to repair and collect another Armstrong-Whitworth FK8 (A2730) which had force landed near Pulham St Mary in Norfolk. On the way back the aircraft crashed. The court of enquiry found that shortly after taking off the aircraft developed engine trouble and Spear attempted to turn back. Unfortunately, the aircraft side-slipped as it did not have sufficient speed to make the turn. There was not enough time to recover and the aircraft nose-dived into the ground.
That said, 50 Training Squadron has a reasonable record as these are the first fatalities since its formation in December 1916.
Naval operations: ship losses
COOROY (United Kingdom) The four-masted barque was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 16 nautical miles (30 km) south south east of Ballycotton, County Cork by SM UC-75 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
LAURA C. ANDERSON (United States) The four-masted schooner was sunk in the English Channel 15 nautical miles (28 km) east of Barfleur, Manche, France (49°43′N 0°55′W) by SM UC-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
LYNBURN (United Kingdom) The coaster struck a mine laid by UC 75 (Johannes Lohs) and sank in the Irish Sea 0.5 nautical miles (930 m) south east of the Arklow Lightship ( United Kingdom) with the loss of eight of her crew.
MILAZZO (Italy) The bulk carrier was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 250 nautical miles (460 km) east of Malta (34°44′N 19°16′E) by SM U-14 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy).
TRELOSKE (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 145 nautical miles (269 km) north north west of Cape Finisterre, Spain by SM U-93 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
VROWNEN (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) north west by north of Gozo, Malta (36°12′N 13°56′E) by SM UC-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 30, 2022 5:36:09 GMT
Day 1122 of the Great War, August 30th 1917Western FrontAttempted German night raid on British lines south-east of Lens repulsed. Photo: Australian troops watching British soldiers manning an anti-aircraft gun at Morbecque, this is a 13 pounder 9 cwt gun mounted on a lorry. The recuperator, above the barrel, has the armoured box-shaped oil reservoir at the front end, developed to extend the life of the 18 pounder's recuperator springs, August 30, 1917 Sinai and Palestine campaignBritish advance on front of 600 yards south-west of Gaza. United States Former President Roosevelt states pacifist Senators La Follette and William Stone should be sent to Germany, accusing them of pro-Germanism. President Wilson exempts hospital interns and medical students from the draft. Aerial operations: Forest FiresWell away from the Western Front, the fledgling air foces of the United States have come under threat from an unusual source. Unusually warm weather and a lack of rain in the Northwest of the country has contributed to an increase in forest fires and more rapid spread of those that have started. Large fires have been raging for weeks in Idaho, Montana and Oregon thwarting all efforts to put them out. Today the Sacramento Union reported that the situation was now so bad that the loss of wood threatened to set back the construction of aeroplanes. Whilst wildfires are normal at this time of year, this being wartime, rumours of fires being deliberately started as sabotage abound. So much so that the New York Times reported on 26 August that troops in Oregon have been patrolling the forests with orders to kill anyone caught starting fires. Naval operations: Former German submarine UB-26 becomes FrenchIn April of 1916, the German submarine UB-26 was caught in an anti-submarine net trailed behind a French destroyer just outside the harbor in Le Havre. The submarine surfaced but was unable to escape, and its crew scuttled the submarine to prevent it from falling into French hands. This effort was not ultimately successful, however. On August 30 1917, the French managed to refloat UB-26 and entered it into French service under the name Roland Morillot. Its namesake had been a French submarine captain who went down with his boat at the end of 1915 after ensuring his crew escaped safely after they were rammed by an Austrian cruiser. The Morillot would be the only German submarine captured and entered into Allied service during the war. Naval operations: ship lossesATHINAI (Greece) The coaster was shelled and sunk in the Kassos Strait south east of Cape Sidero, Crete by SM UC-74 ( Kaiserliche Marine). EASTERN PRINCE (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) south west of the Eddystone Lighthouse (49°41′N 4°12′W) by SM U-62 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five crew. GRELHAME (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south west of Start Point by SM U-62 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived. NATAL (France) The passenger ship collided with another French merchant vessel and sank in the Mediterranean Sea off Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône. All 520 people on board were rescued. NOYA (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 8 nautical miles (15 km) west south west of The Lizard, Cornwall (49°52′N 5°22′W) by SM U-62 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 31, 2022 5:31:40 GMT
Day 1123 of the Great War, August 31st 1917
YouTube (The Moscow State Conference - Black Sea Revolutionaries)
Western Front
Germans force British to evacuate advanced posts north of St. Julien-Poelcapelle road.
British air raid on aerodromes on Belgian coast.
French success near Hurtebise (Aisne).
Eastern Front
Fighting at Halicz and east of Lemberg; many prisoners taken in Lutsk area by Russians.
Italian Front
Heavy fighting at Monte San Gabriele (north-east of Gorizia); Austrian counter-attacks repulsed.
Italians claim 27,000 prisoners since 19 August.
United States/Mexico relations: US Recognizes Mexican Constitutionalist Government
Before the Great War started in Europe, Mexico was involved in a historical event of similar importance. The Mexican Revolution started in 1910, when liberal politician Francisco Madero publicly opposed the autocratic, ruthlessly industrialist government of Porfirio Díaz. Madero toppled Dīaz’s government, but a counter-revolution in 1913 led to Madero’s execution.
A vicious civil war erupted in the wake of Madero’s death. Politician Venustiano Carranza took up Madero’s mantle and created a Constitutionalist army in Northern Mexico. With help from more radical warlords, like Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata, the counter-revolutionaries were defeated and Mexico City occupied in 1914. The victors then split, but the Consitutionalists triumphed, defeating Villa and Zapata in battle. By 1917 the Mexican civil war had all but ended. Carranza was elected president in March 1917.
In the meantime Mexico had adopted a radically progressive constitution. It proclaimed universal male suffrage, gave federal ownership to Mexican land and natural resources, established mandatory secular public education, and massively restricted the power of the Catholic Church. The Mexican 1917 Constitution was a model for the Weimar and Russian post-war constitutions.
Meanwhile, Germany had approached Mexico in January about a possible alliance against the United States. Both this and Mexico’s new constitution made its northern neighbor uneasy. However, Carranza constantly affirmed his neutrality in the Great War, and agreed not to nationalize US petroleum interests in country. These promises won him the United State’s recognition in August 1917.
United States: New York City Fulfills Draft Quota
New York had been noted for its opposition to the last set of drafts, culminating in the deadly Draft Riots of July 1863. The 1917 draft, however, proceeded much more smoothly, and on August 31, New York Deputy Attorney General Roscoe Conkling (presumably named for his more famous relative) certified that New York City had fulfilled its quota of 38,572 soldiers for the draft. Each of the city’s draft boards had also fulfilled their individual quotas, with one exception where the draft board had been discovered to be selling exemptions; such a practice had been explicitly permitted in the Civil War (and helped lead to the Draft Riots) but was highly illegal now.
Many individuals, of course, asked for exemptions legally. Nearly 3000 of those who were denied exemptions appealed to the District Board (coterminous with the Southern [Judicial] District of New York). This board was chaired by Charles Evans Hughes, who had narrowly lost the Presidential election last year. Less than 30% of those appeals were granted.
The draft boards in New York also received their first official notification that the units they raised would be segregated, and received instructions on how to begin doing so:
In order to provide for the segregation of races in the regiments and other organizations and to arrange for compliance with State laws requiring the races to travel in separate coaches…hereafter the notation “white” or “colored” will be made opposite the name of any person certified from local to district boards on Form 146….
The first draftees were scheduled to leave for training at Camp Upton (now the site of Brookhaven National Laboratory) on September 10th, pushed back from the 6th. At the time, it was a new military facility; the contract for its construction had not even been awarded until June 24th. Competition to be the first to leave for Camp Upton was fierce among the more enthusiastic draftees. The ones lucky enough to leave on the 10th had the pleasure of helping to finish construction for the later arrivals. The men trained at Camp Upton would become the 77th Division, which would be the first division of draftees to arrive in France.
Aerial operations: Belgium
British seaplanes drop many bombs on aerodromes near Belgian coast.
Aerial operations: Observer seniority
A rather boring injustice in the determination of seniority for observers was addressed today by RFC high command.
Up to this point, an observer’s seniority commenced on being noionally available for operations. However, the improved training undergone by observers now means that many are accumulating seniority whilst training back in England not having seen any action at the front.
Today the RFC issued an order stating that from now on seniority would commence once the pilot had reported for overseas duty having passed his courses at home. The importance of seniority was that officers did not receive flight pay without it.
In typical fashion, the order was superseded by the War Office in December 1917, who did not appear to know about the change. It appears though that this was ignored by the RFC.
Naval operations: Merchant ship losses
British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 208 ships of 523,000 tons gross. (Lloyd's War Losses).
Naval operations: ship losses
ELENI(Greece) The coaster was sunk in the Kassos Strait by SM UC-74 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
ERISSOS (Greece) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the English Channel 7 to 8 nautical miles (13 to 15 km) south east of Berry Head, Devon, United Kingdom by SM UC-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was beached but was later refloated.
MARQUES DE MUDELA (Spain) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 21 (Reinhold Saltzwedel) and sank in the Bay of Biscay 14 nautical miles (26 km) off the La Coubre Lighthouse, Finistère, France (45°24′N 1°17′W). Her crew survived.
MINIOTA (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel (49°50′N 3°00′W) by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.
VERNON (United Kingdom) The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 22 nautical miles (41 km) south east by south of Spurn Head, Yorkshire by SM UB-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
WESTBURY (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 8 nautical miles (15 km) south south east of the Fastnet Rock (51°18′N 9°22′W) by SM U-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Sept 1, 2022 6:09:27 GMT
Day 1124 of the Great War, September 1st 1917
Western Front
Enemy attack on Havrincourt (SW of Cambrai), at first successful, beaten back later.
N.E. of Craonne, German counter-attack broken up.
Eastern Front: Germans Begin Riga Offensive
After the Central Powers’ counterstroke against the Kerensky Offensive ran out of steam due to supply issues, the Germans began preparations for an offensive of their own against Russia. Hoffmann chose as his target the Dvina River above the major port city of Riga, hoping to outflank the heavily-defended city. Ludendorff was enthusiastic about the prospects of an attack in the north, hoping that its proximity to revolutionary Petrograd meant that the troops would be less reliable and that any successes would further destabilize the Russian government there. Ludendorff had initially hoped that after a success around Riga, forces could be shifted south to knock out the Romanians; however, the failures of the German efforts there in August and Austrian difficulties on the Isonzo meant that Ludendorff had abandoned such plans by the end of August; any offensive in the East in the remainder of 1917 would be in the north.
The German attack opened at around 6AM on September 1; this was delayed from the initial plans due to the continuing British attacks around Ypres. A three-hour artillery bombardment crippled a Russian division on the far side of the river. Many troops fled, while others were trapped in their trenches. Three German divisions crossed the Dvina, first in boats, and later over pontoon bridges, and quickly overwhelmed the remaining defenders. Hoffmann wrote: “On the whole, the crossing was almost ridiculously easy.”
After securing the bridgehead, however, the German attack slowed. The Russians had had some advanced warning of the attack and had already begun to shift forces east (despite a feint bombardment to the west of Riga the previous day). A Latvian division, defending their own capital from the advancing Germans, was able to stop the Germans from cutting Riga’s sole rail connection with the rest of Russia.
Italian Front
Julian front: slight Italian advance, taking 340 prisoners.
German occupied Poland
In German-occupied Poland, Polish judges are for the first time allowed to administer justice in the courts.
Russia: Russia Becomes a Republic
Tsar Nicholas II abdicated on March 15, 1917. In his immediate address, NIcholas chose his son Alexei to succeed him. After a few hours he changed his mind, and instead proclaimed his brother Grand Duke Michael the next ruler of Russia. Michael, however, demurred, and announced that he would await a decision by the Constituent Assembly over whether Russia should continue as a monarchy or become a republic.
The Provisional Government that succeeded the Tsar was left awkwardly holding the ball. The status of the monarchy was in the air. Meanwhile the Provisional Government’s authority was challenged by the popular revolutionary soviets in many cities, especially the Petrograd soviet, dominated by the ultra-radical Bolshevik party. Lacking real popular authority, the Provisional Government was able to enact some political freedoms, but never any legitimate elections.
Perhaps as a way of bolstering support during a bad period, Prime Minister Alexander Kerensky moved ahead on the republic issue in September 1917. As the German army encircled Riga and the Russian army continued to melt away to desertion, Kerensky proclaimed Russia an official republic. The short-lived Russian Republic would barely last six weeks.
Aerial operations: Three it’s a magic number
Following the success of the Sopwith Triplane, the German’s attempted to create their own version. A captured Sopwith Triplane was sent to the Fokker factory and Fokker instructed designer Reinhold Platz to build a triplane, but gave him no further information about the Sopwith design.
Platz responded with the V.4, an aircraft that bore little resemblance to the Sopwith other than the three wings. It was a small, rotary-powered triplane with a steel tube fuselage and thick cantilever wings – unusual at this time, first developed during Fokker’s government-mandated collaboration with Hugo Junkers. Initial tests revealed that the V.4 had unacceptably high control forces resulting from the use of unbalanced ailerons and elevators.
Fokker produced a revised prototype designated V.5. The most notable changes were the introduction of horn-balanced ailerons and elevators, as well as longer-span wings. The V.5 also featured interplane struts, which were not necessary from a structural standpoint, but which minimized wing flexing.
On 14 July 1917, Idflieg issued an order for 20 pre-production aircraft. The V.5 prototype, serial 101/17, was tested to destruction at Adlershof on 11 August 1917.
Two further prototypes now designated F1, were issued on 28 August for combat evaluation to Manfred Von Richthofen (102/17) and Werner Voss (103/17).
Early this morning Manfred Von Richthofen flew his first mission in the aircraft at was successful in shooting down Lieutenant John Bristo Culley Madge and 2nd Lieutenant Walter Kember from 6 Squadron RFC in their RE8 (B782) near Zonnebeeke. Madge was wounded in the back and taken prisoner, while Kemble was killed.
Aerial operations: First victory for 67
Out in Palestine, 67 (Australian) Squadron have been continuing their patrols East of the Suez Canal.
Today, Lieutenant Ross McPherson Smith in a BE12a (A3611) and Lieutenant Alfred William Leslie Ellis, in a Martinsyde attacked a German Albatross over Beersheba and put it to flight. Smith was slightly wounded in the head.
The German did not escape scot-free. Enemy wireless messages were intercepted which stated that “Lieutenant Schmarje has crashed, and another escort is required in his place,’’ and that “one machine is not enough to get through the English blockade.”
For a few days the daily patrols worked unmolested.
Naval operations: Jutland
Jutland coast: British destroyers drive four German mine-sweepers ashore, two on fire.
Naval operations: ship losses
AKAROA (Norway) The barque was sunk in the English Channel 70 nautical miles (130 km) west of the Casquets, Channel Islands by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
AMIRAL OLRY (France) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 38 nautical miles (70 km) north west of Cape Sidero, Crete, Greece (35°40′N 25°47′E) by SM UC-74 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
DRONT (Russia) The cargo ship was sunk in the Barents Sea 110 nautical miles (200 km) north west by north of the North Cape, Norway by SM U-28 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
ERATO (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 69 (Hugo Thielmann) and sank in the English Channel 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south east of The Lizard, Cornwall. Her crew survived.
PERONNE (France) The cargo ship was sunk in the English Channel 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) south east of Berry Head, Devon, United Kingdom by SM UC-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
TARAPACA (France) The four-masted full-rigged ship was scuttled in the Bay of Biscay 65 nautical miles (120 km) west of the La Coubre Lighthouse, Charente-Maritime (45°55′N 3°12′W) by SM U-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
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