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Post by lordroel on Apr 30, 2023 7:32:12 GMT
Day 1362 of the Great War, April 30th 1918
Western Front
Fierce fighting in Noyon sector.
Mesopotamian campaign
British reach Tank river on Mosul road and capture 12 guns and 1,800 prisoners.
Sinai and Palestine campaign
British advance east of Jordan to attack south of Es Salt.
Line advanced at Mezra (Jerusalem).
United Kingdom
Mr. Ian Macpherson, Under-Secretary of State for War, appointed Vice-President of Army Council.
Major-General Harrington to be Deputy Chief of the Imperial General Staff.
Russia
Rumoured that a counter-revolution is about to take place.
United States: Sentences Rendered in Hindu-German Conspiracy Trial
The German consulate in San Francisco had been a center of German covert activity in the United States in the first few years of the war. In early 1917, the consul and much of his staff were convicted of “conspiracy to restrain interstate commerce” for their role in attempting to disrupt American munitions production, and sentenced to approximately a year in prison. However, they soon faced additional charges, this time relating to a more elaborate conspiracy to smuggle arms into India to aid a revolution against British rule there–tenuously connected to the 1915 mutiny in Singapore and German intrigues in Afghanistan. The arms shipment never made it across the Pacific, and British and Czech intelligence forwarded the information to the Americans, who seized the arms shipment before another attempt could be made. Attempting to cover their tracks, Ambassador Bernstorff claimed the shipment was bound for German East Africa.
After the United States entered the war, the Justice Department began charging the staff of the German consulate, as well as a large number Indian nationalist co-conspirators in the United States. The trial of 105 defendants began in November 1917 and would last until the end of April. The Indians attempted to distance themselves from the hated Germans, and tried to compare their struggle against the British with the United States’ own struggle during the American Revolution, to varying degrees of success.
On the last day of the trial, one of the Indians was shot by one of his co-defendants, who apparently believed he had been embezzling money; the shooter was almost immediately killed by a U.S. Marshal. Later that day, the jury, which had been carefully selected to exclude any men of Irish descent thought to favor Irish independence (as they would be unfavorable to the British case), handed down guilty verdicts for twenty-nine of the remaining defendants. On April 30, the judge pronounced the sentences, none of which resulted in more than two years of prison time. None of the Indian defendants were deported, as the British had hoped, and many returned to agitating for Indian independence in the United States after the war.
Aerial operations: Idflieg bi-monthly report on German fighters operating at the front at the end of April 1918
Albatros:
D.III--174
D.V---131
D.Va--928
Fokker:
Dr.I--171
Halberstadt:
CL.II--342
D.III-----3
Hannover:
CL.II---269
CL.III---51
CL.IIIa-104
LFG Roland:
D.III---14
Pfalz:
D.III---13
D.IIIa-433
Naval operations: Merchant shipping losses
British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 129 ships of 280,000 tons gross. (Lloyd's War Losses)
Naval operations: ship losses
CONWAY (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 38 nautical miles (70 km) south of Cape Palos, Murcia, Spain (37°10′N 0°28′W) by SM UB-105 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
ELLA SAYER (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 15 nautical miles (28 km) east by north of the Royal Sovereign Lightship (50°49′N 0°48′E) by SM UB-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
ISLEWORTH (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) south west of Ventnor, Isle of Wight by SM UC-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 29 of her crew.
KAFUE (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 11 nautical miles (20 km) south west of the Mull of Galloway, Wigtownshire by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
KALLIOPE (United Kingdom) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) off Alexandria, Egypt by SM UC-74 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
KEMPOCK (United Kingdom) The coaster was shelled and sunk in the Irish Sea 6.5 nautical miles (12.0 km) south east by south of the Copeland Islands by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SM UB-85 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UB III submarine foundered in the Irish Sea off Belfast, County Antrim, United Kingdom. All 34 crew were rescued by HMS COREOPSIS ( Royal Navy).
UMBA (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) south of the Royal Sovereign Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM UB-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of twenty of her crew.
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Post by lordroel on May 1, 2023 2:48:39 GMT
Day 1363 of the Great War, May 1st 1918Western FrontComparative quiet on Western Front. French improve their positions before Locre. U.S. troops join Amiens front. Photo: French soldier with Chauchat taken by Jacques Ridel in Le Monchel, 1 May 1918 Photo: The Battle of the Lys. An outpost of the Machine Gun Corps in a cottage (marked with a number 204A) near Haverskerque, 1 May 1918 Photo: The Battle of the Lys (Operation Georgette). A Machine Gun Corps post in a barn near Haverskerque, 1 May 1918 Ukrainian War of Independence: Germans Occupy SevastopolGerman forces entered Crimea on April 19, further extending their operations in Ukraine. Ostensibly, this was a continuation of their mission to defense of their “allies” in the Ukrainian Rada, but, among themselves, the Germans discussed making Crimea a German colony, their own riviera on the Black Sea. The Crimean port of Sevastopol also housed the remainder of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, another tempting prize for the Germans. Photo: Sevastopol, submarines of the Black Sea Fleet which were captured by the Germans in May 1918 After less than two weeks fighting against the local Bolsheviks (and vociferous protests from Moscow), the Germans entered Sevastopol on May 1. Some of the fleet managed to escape at the last moment, bound for Russia’s last major port on the Black Sea at Novorossiysk, including their two remaining dreadnoughts and a considerable number of destroyers. The remainder of the fleet, including all the predreadnoughts, were still in port when the Germans entered; an attempt to prevent a German takeover by quickly hoisting the Ukrainian flag did not succeed. The Germans had little use for many of these obsolete ships, nor the crews to man them, and would ultimately hand many of them over to the Ukrainian government over the coming months. Macedonian FrontBritish airmen in Balkans bomb Bulgarian aerodromes in Vardar valley. Sinai and Palestine campaignBritish advance east of Jordan, capture Es Salt. British mounted brigade, guarding ford at Jisr ed Damiya, attacked and compelled to fall back, leaving 9 guns. Photo: Arrival of German prisoners taken in the 2nd Transjordan Raid arriving at the Compound escorted by men of the Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division, and Indian Imperial Service Cavalry. May 1918 East Africa campaignBritish in East Africa capture important convoy from Germans retreating towards Nanungu. FranceMr Lloyd George, M. Clemenceau and Signor Orlando attend Fifth War Council in France. United StatesFurther increase of U.S. Army sanctioned. France/Germany relationsFrance and Germany arrange for exchange of prisoners of war. Aerial operations: Leaflet Drop FailsOn 1 May Turkish forces counterattacked in an attempt to cut off Australian forces at Es Salt. Enemy troops approaching form the North West were spotted by aircraft from 1 Squadron AFC. A strong south wind blowing over the Amman area made the day unfavourable for flying. Two of 1 Squadron’s Bristol F2bs – A7196 with Lieutenant Frederic William Haig and Ronald Tynsdale Challinor and B1146 with Lieutenant Douglas Wallace Rutherford and 2nd Lieutenant Joseph McElligott – were scheduled to drop leaflets on the Beni Sakr Arabs. Near Amman, B1146’s petrol tanks were holed by machine gun fire and Rutherford was forced to land and burn the machine. Haig and Challinor landed alongside to try and pick up Rutherford and McElligott, but one wheel collapsed as they were taking off and the aeroplane toppled over on its nose. They set fire to this aircraft and then surrendered to Circassian cavalry which had ridden upto them. They were handed over to the German flying corps, and German airmen later dropped letters on the Australian aerodrome from the four officers. That evening, a bombing raid by 142 Squadron RAF on Damieh was accompanied by Bristol Fighters from 1 Squadron AFC. They flew low after the bombs had been dropped, and fired 700rounds into a group of 800 cavalry and 400 infantry. Naval operations: BelgiumZeebrugge lock gates heavily bombed. Naval operations: ship lossesHMS BLACKMOREVALE (Royal Navy) The Hunt-class minesweeper struck a mine laid by U 71 (Richard Scheurlen) and sank in the North Sea off Tod Head, Aberdeenshire with the loss of 26 of her 74 crew. ERA (Australia) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Cape Ténès, Algeria (36°45′N 1°56′E) by SM U-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of twelve crew. MATIANA (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Tunisia, Tunisia (37°15′N 10°05′E) by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived. NIKOLAOS (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Egypt (31°31′N 29°14′E) by SM UC-74 ( Kaiserliche Marine). SAMSO (Denmark) The coaster struck a mine laid by UC 49 (Hans Kükenthal) and sank in the North Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) east by south of the Roker Lighthouse, County Durham, United Kingdom. Her crew survived. SAN NICOLA (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (35°58′N 23°50′E) by SM U-27 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.
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Post by lordroel on May 2, 2023 1:48:48 GMT
Day 1364 of the Great War, May 2nd 1918
Western Front
Minor infantry actions.
Enemy guns active on Villers-Bretonneux sector.
French gains in Avre valley, seize Hill 82, between Hailles and Castel.
British airmen bomb Thionville.
Zeebrugge again bombed.
Ukrainian War of Independence
Germans occupy Taganrog in Donetz region.
Sinai and Palestine campaign
Heavy fighting in Palestine; Turks cross Jordan at Jisr ed Damiya; attack troops holding Es Salt.
Russia
Ex-Tsar is removed to the Urals.
France: Allies Quarrel Over American Plans
The Allied war leaders gathered at Abbeville near the Channel coast at the beginning of May to deliberate strategy for the rest of 1918 Their counter-attack was planned for 1919, but Lloyd George and Clemenceau were angered when the American Expeditionary Force commander Pershing refused to send American troops into the Allied lines now. Although he had allowed some brigades to fight under British and French command, Pershing claimed that he would keep the rest of his troops together to form an independent army.
Lloyd George pointed out the high number of British and French casualties since March 21. Apocalyptically he foretold that “If France and Britain should have to yiled, their defeat would be honourable, for they would have fought to their last man.” The United States on the other hand “would have to stop without having put into the line more than little Belgium.”
Pershing was irritated by stuck to his claim that America had gone to war independently and intending to command its own army. As a compromise, however, he agreed that the next 130,000 American troops to come cross the Alantic that May and the 150,000 in June would bolster the Allied line. After that, however, he intended to build his troops into an all-American army. Foch, Clemenceau, and Lloyd George glumly acceded.
Aerial operations: A full picture
Today the position around Es Salt remained precarious. 1 Squadron AFC reconnoitred the area three times in the morning and were able to provide commanders with a full picture of the field situation.
On the first reconnaissance, at 0600, Lieutenants Paul Joseph McGinness and Frederic Cecil Hawley were escorting Lieutenants Francis William Fellowes Lukis and Edward Balfour Somerset Beaton, when they spotted a German two-seater at about 9,000 feet between Jericho and Damieh.
McGinness, after warning the reconnaissance machine, climbed to attack. They attacked from below, and both pilot and observer fired bursts into the enemy until the aircraft stalled, rocked from side to side, and then went down in a slow spin.
McGinness had to swerve sharply aside to avoid a collision, and at this moment the Bristol Fighter’s engine cut-out and they lost sight of the enemy.
Lukis and Beaton reported back that enemy reinforcements were still arriving at Damieh.
Following a second reconnaissance 30 minutes later, Lieutenants Edgar Leslie Spragg and Charles James Vyner spotted large enemy cavalry forces about Ain es Sir (south-east of Es Salt).
By noon the Turks were hurrying reinforcements and ammunition from Nablus to Mejdel Beni Fadl, foreshadowing pressure down the western bank of the Jordan. The lower Wady Fara road was full of transport, cavalry, and guns. The Damieh-Es Salt road was littered with Turkish cavalry. Amman showed at least 500 infantry and 100 rolling-stock in the station, and another large troop-train was entering from the north. Towards Es Salt, at Ain es Sir, were strong bodies of cavalry and infantry, a fairly large new hospital, and 200 horse-waggons.
Naval operations: ship losses
FLAWYL (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) east south east of Pantelleria, Italy (36°41′N 12°42′E) by SM UB-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
FRANKLYN (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 65 nautical miles (120 km) east by north of Port Mahon, Spain (40°24′N 5°41′E) by SM UB-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
GIRDLENESS (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in Bude Bay (50°54′N 4°41′W) by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew.
MEDORA (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 11 nautical miles (20 km) south west of the Mull of Galloway, Wigtownshire by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but three of them were taken as prisoners of war.
TTHORSA (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) north north west of the Pendeen Lighthouse, Cornwall (50°12′N 5°44′W) by SM UB-103 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
TYLER (United States) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 65 nautical miles (120 km) east by north of Port Mahon (40°24′N 5°41′E) by SM UB-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eleven of her crew.
SM UB-31 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UB II submarine struck a mine and sank in the Strait of Dover (51°01′N 1°16′E) with the loss of all 22 crew.
SS UNITY (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 9 nautical miles (17 km) south east of Folkestone, Kent by SM UB-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of twelve of her crew.
VALDIVA (France) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 45 nautical miles (83 km) south west of Cape Spartel, Morocco (35°07′N 6°30′W) by SM UB-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
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Post by lordroel on May 3, 2023 2:47:32 GMT
Day 1365 of the Great War, May 3rd 1918YouTube (Pershing Under Pressure - The End Of La Lys) Western FrontQuiet on front, artillery active locally. British bring down 36 enemy planes. Photo: French Infantry going up to the line near Ribecourt, 3 May 1918 Finnish Civil WarGermans and Finns surround and defeat Red Guard forces in south-west Finland. Sinai and Palestine campaign: Second British Transjordan Offensive FailsThe first British attempt to cross the Jordan and capture Amman failed in early April. Since then, Allenby had lost a considerable portion of his force, diverted to reinforce the Western Front. Nevertheless, he was determined to make a final push before summer; Amman would be out of his reach, but he hoped to push out of the Jordan river valley, taking valuable farmland before the harvest (as the British were doing in Mesopotamia) and forcing the Turks to weaken their line in Palestine to defend Amman. Additionally, he wanted to get the bulk of his men out of the Jordan River valley before the summer; temperatures regularly reached 120 °F, compounded by high humidity from evaporation from the Dead Sea. The British crossed the Jordan on April 30, but soon ran into determined opposition from a Turkish force they had hoped to push through with ease. Attempts to outflank the Turkish position were also fought off, and the British were never able to fight their way out of the valley. The Turks also launched a counterattack on the west side of the Jordan, capturing several Australian guns and threatening the British supply lines. On May 3, after the failure of further frontal attacks against the Turkish position, Allenby ordered a retreat. The British did inflict more casualties on the Turks than they suffered themselves, and Allenby tried to spin it as a successful “raid,” but it failed to achieve any of is objectives. The British would have to spend the summer in the heat of the Jordan River valley, and the offensive could not be resumed until September. United Kingdom Mr. Lloyd George returns with cheering message from Paris. Germany/Russia relationsGermany and Soviet Russia establish a special commission to exchange 3 million Russian prisoners in German hands for 1 million Germans held in Russia. Aerial operations: WithdrawalThe British attack on Es Salt has failed and British forces are now in retreat. Every available machine from 1 Squadron AFC was up assisting the retreat. Perhaps there was an extra incentive as many of the aircrew were drawn from the Australian Light Horse who were involved in the battle. Early this morning, Lieutenant Jack Keith Curwen-Walker and Corporal Nils Peter Berg Jensen were killed when their Bristol F2b in got into a spin as it was leaving the aerodrome and crashed. Lieutenant Allan Runcieman Brown and Lieutenant Garfield Finlay (in RE8 B1149) and Lieutenant Gordon Vincent Oxenham and Lieutenant Harold Akexander Letch set out at the same time and found that enemy strength at the Wady Fara and Damieh camps had increased overnight. Holding Near Es Salt, the two Australian machines chased down an enemy two-seater at Suweile and riddled it on the ground with bullets. It was Brown’s first victory. Other patrols during the day watched the retirement. Naval operations: ship lossesSMS G9 (Kaiserliche Marine) The V1-class destroyer struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of 31 of her crew. IL FRANCESCO (Italy) The sailing vessel was shelled and sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea 8 nautical miles (15 km) east of Monte Santo, Sardinia (40°10′N 9°50′E) by SM UC-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). PANAGHIA (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (35°49′N 26°29′E) by SM U-27 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived. VASILEFS GEORGIOS (Greece) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) north east of Pendeen, Cornwall, United Kingdom (50°13′N 5°40′W) by SM UB-103 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
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Post by lordroel on May 4, 2023 2:47:31 GMT
Day 1366 of the Great War, May 4th 1918
Western Front
Germans open intense bombardment of French and British positions from Locre and south of Ypres; no attack develops.
French make progress in Locre sector.
Ukrainian War of Independence
Germans take Sevastopol.
Italian Front
Activity increased on Italian front.
Macedonian front
Serbians capture and hold Bulgarian advanced positions on Dobropolye sector.
Russia
Soviet Russia signs an armistice at Korenevo with Ukraine and Germany, establishing the border between Ukraine and Russia.
Austria-Hungary: Austrian Parliament Prorogued
The Austrian parliament had been even more chaotic than usual in recent months. The Czechs had become more strident with time, and since the peace with Ukraine, the Polish representatives had little reason to cooperate. Furthermore, even the German-Austrians were beginning to embrace a hard-line nationalist stance, with some even calling for a union with Germany. Franz Joseph had governed for the whole war without the consultation of parliament, and Emperor Charles began to believe that might have been the right approach, after all. On May 4, the Emperor agreed to adjourn parliament indefinitely, after less than a year in session. Austrian PM Seidler blamed the food crisis:
We are in the last decisive phase of the war. No enemy any longer threatens in the east, but, in firm union with Germany and our other allies, we must force our other opponents also to renounce their hostile intentions….As things are, the resumption of Parliament would not facilitate the position but would only sharpen political antagonism and thereby endanger the fulfillment of those economic tasks on which the successful solution of which everything depends.
Until the reassembly of parliament, which will take place at the soonest possible moment, the government will devote its entire strength to the economic problems of the day, especially to the task of arranging for the nation’s food supply, and will try in every way to create conditions which are required to enable the population to hold out.
However, the food crisis was not the only item on Seidler’s agenda. Soon afterwards, he announced plans to overhaul the administration of Bohemia, giving major concessions to the Sudeten German population by giving them effective control over four out of the eleven redrawn districts.
Aerial operations: Final retreat
The Australian Forces in Palestine completed their retreat from Es Salt today. Every available machine was sent up to harass the Turkish forces.
Ross McPherson Smith and Ernest Andrew Mustard in their Bristol F2b
At dawn Lieutenants Edward Patrick Kenny and Garfield Findlay and Lieutenants Ross McPherson Smith and Ernest Andrew Mustard carried out strategic reconnaissance around Amman and took the opportunity to bomb the station there which was crowded with tents, transport, and stores.
At around 1150, Lieutenants Edgar Leslie Spragg and Oswald Charles Dawson and Lieutenants Stanislaus Acton Nunan and Charles James Vyner attacked a group of enemy cavalry with their machine guns.
In the afternoon around 1420 patrols by Francis William Lukis and Edward Balfour Somerset Beaton and Colin Campbell Cameron and Wilmot Hudson Fysh, attacked enemy cavalry with bombs and machine gun fire near Ain es Sir.
Arthur William Murphy and Harold Alexander Letch got into a bit of trouble when a stray bullet ignited a smoke ball in the cockpit. However Letch put the fire out with a fire extinguished carried in the cockpit and only minor damage was caused in the end.
In all 1 Squadron AFC put in 27 Hours 25 minutes of flying time, more than any other day during the operation. Australian forces were able to escape in relatively good order.
The enemy forces did not get the same assistance. German aircraft stayed mostly on the ground. Two German machines that did attack British infantry withdrawing west of Shunet Ninirin, but were both shot down by ground fire and seen to crash.
Naval operations: ship losses
SMS A71 (Kaiserliche Marine) The A56-class torpedo boat struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of six of her crew.
POLBRAE (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 4.5 nautical miles (8.3 km) off Bude, Cornwall by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew.
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Post by lordroel on May 5, 2023 6:33:17 GMT
Day 1367 of the Great War, May 5th 1918Western FrontArtillery fire on both sides and local encounters on whole front. British line advanced at Morlancourt between Ancre and Somme. A German long-range gun put out of action by French guns. Photo: The Battle of the Lys. Royal Artillery gunners outside their billet at Saint-Floris, 5 May 1918. One of the is cleaning a Lewish machine gun while another is haveing a shave Macedonian FrontPhoto: Kings Alexander I of Serbia and Alexander I of Greece at the HQ of the Serbian forces Photo: Alexander of Yugoslavia accompanies Alexander I of Greece to the station, after the visit of the Q.G, in Macedonia East African campaign Von Lettow-Vorbeck defeated at Nanungu (East Africa) by General Northey's forces; enemy driven to north-east with much loss. United Kingdom: Lord French Made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Since his dismissal as head of the BEF, Sir John French (eventually made Viscount French) had been relegated to serve as commander of the UK’s Home Forces, guarding against the oft-overblown fears of a German invasion. In April 1918, faced with severe manpower shortages and multiple German offensives, Lloyd George had decided to extend conscription to Ireland, a move that brought immediate vociferous opposition in Ireland, not only from Sinn Féin, but from the Irish Parliamentary Party and the Catholic Church as well. Determined to push through conscription (albeit in conjunction with Home Rule), on May 5 Lloyd George appointed Lord French as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and gave him independent command of all British troops there. In the past, the post was a figurehead, but Lord French insisted that he be made effective “Military Viceroy at the Head of a Quasi-Military Government.” French would consult Irish business leaders for advice during his tenure as Lord Lieutenant, but largely ignored the current civil administration in Ireland and refused to talk to Sinn Féin or other Irish nationalists; opposition to conscription was in no way reduced. Naval operations: ship lossesAQHIOS JOHANNIS (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea north of Crete by SM U-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). ALBERTO TREVES (Italy) The cargo ship was damaged in the Mediterranean Sea off Cartagena, Murcia, Spain by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine) and was beached. She was subsequently refloated, repaired and returned to service. CARRIONE (Italy) The sailing vessel was shelled and sunk in the Gulf of Genoa 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) west south west of the Capo Mele Lighthouse, Liguria (43°52′N 8°30′E) by SM UC-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). KYARRA (United Kingdom) The cargo liner was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel off Swanage, Dorset by SM UB-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of six crew. HMS RHODODENDRON (Royal Navy) The Anchusa-class sloop was sunk in the North Sea (59°33′N 2°50′W) by SM U-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of fifteen of her 93 crew. SAYEDA (Egypt) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Egypt by SM UC-74 ( Kaiserliche Marine). TOMMI (United Kingdom) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the Irish Sea between the Calf of Man and Chicken Rock, Isle of Man by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew. SM UB-70 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UB III submarine was last reported in the Mediterranean Sea east of Gibraltar. Subsequently lost with all 33 crew. SM UB-119 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UB III submarine was rammed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Rathlin Island, County Donegal, United Kingdom (55°16′N 6°24′W) by Green Island (flag unknown) with the loss of all 34 crew.
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Post by lordroel on May 6, 2023 5:37:31 GMT
Day 1368 of the Great War, May 6th 1918
Western Front
French repulse raids south of Locre.
Ukrainian War of Independence
Russian ships bombard Germans in Mariupol Harbour (Azov).
Russian Black Sea Fleet arrives at Odessa, surrenders to local authorities.
Ukrainian War of Independence: Germans Confront Polish Troops in Ukraine
Protesting the Central Powers’ treaty with Ukraine that gave the latter concessions at Polish expense, a number of Austrian Polish Legion troops mutinied and crossed over to the Russian side of the front in February. There, they joined with the Polish II Corps, a military unit comprised of Russian Polish troops formed in the aftermath of the October Revolution. They refused to lay down their arms, and steadily headed east, further into Ukraine. The Germans, advancing through the Ukraine, had no particular desire to fight the Poles, and instead got their puppet government in Poland, the Regency Council (which had replaced the last puppet government in August), to order the Polish II Corps to halt, hoping that nearby German troops could disarm it without controversy.
On May 6, the Germans issued an ultimatum to the Polish II Corps, demanding that it surrender. The Poles refused, and the Germans brought in more reinforcements and attacked the Polish positions on May 10. The Poles successfully resisted for a day, but realizing they were surrounded and essentially out of ammunition, accepted a German ceasefire offer. Most of the Polish soldiers were placed in German PoW camps, though a few thousand, including its commander, managed to escape.
Ottoman-German/Georgia relations
Turko-German delegates arrive at Batum to negotiate peace with Georgia.
Aerial operations: US Insignia
The RFC in general had frowned upon garish markings unlike their German counterparts. Squadrons could be identified by those in the know as many squadrons had markings on the fuselage such as lines, chevrons and zigzags. The RFC were quite obsessive about secrecy to the extent that shortly before the German March offensive, Squadrons were forced to change their markings to try and confuse the Germans.
The RNAS had a more lenient policy as is evident in the coloured stripes of 10 Squadron RNAS and the black aircraft of 8 Squadron.
Their new allies, the USA, now have their own air forces in France, and they clearly do not share the British retiscence. 94 Aero Squadron has its hat in the ring, and and the 95 Aero Squadron the kicking mule.
Today, Brigadier General Foulois, Chief if the US Air Service, established a policy authorizing creation of emblems for aviation units, and ordered all squadrons to create an official insignia to be painted on each side of an airplane fuselage:
“The squadron will design their own insignia during the period of organizational training. The design must be submitted to the Chief of Air Service, AEF, for approval. The design should be simple enough to be recognizable from a distance.”
Naval operations: ship losses
AGHIOS DIMITRIOS (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (35°42′N 25°25′E) by SM U-27 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.
EVANGELISTRIA (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (35°38′N 25°13′E) by SM U-27 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.
LEEDS CITY (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) east by south of the Skulmartin Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SANDHURST (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 6 nautical miles (11 km) north west by west of Corsewall Point, Wigtownshire (54°58′N 5°25′W) by SM UB-72 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of twenty of her crew.
TAXIARCHIS (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (35°38′N 25°13′E) by SM U-27 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.
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Post by lordroel on May 7, 2023 7:44:30 GMT
Day 1369 of the Great War, May 7th 1918Western FrontRain prevents all but artillery fighting at front. Photo: Gunner of the Royal Field Artillery sitting by his 18 pounder gun, camouflaged with a covering of straw. Near Corbie, 7 May 1918 Photo: French troops seeting up a motor winch of the observation balloone to stablish an observation post at Montchenot (Marne), 7 May 1918 Macedonian FrontBritish successfully raid enemy trenches near Lake Doiran, on Balkan front. Mesopotamian campaign British troops enter Kirkuk, on Baghdad-Mosul road. Turks retire towards Lesser Zab river. Central powers/Romanian relations: Treaty of BucharestUnder threat of invasion from the Central Powers, the Romanians had signed a preliminary peace at Buftea around the same time as Brest-Litovsk. The conclusion of a final peace treaty took another two months, largely due to disputes between the Central Powers. Austria wanted additional concessions along the border, but were forced to temper their demands by the Germans. The more thorny problem was the division of Dobruja, which the Romanians had agreed to give up in its entirety. Ultimately, the Bulgarians were given what they had lost in 1913 and then some, but the rest of the Dobruja, from Constanța north, was placed under a condominium to be jointly administered by all four of the Central Powers; the Romanians could keep the marshy Danube delta itself. The economic and political concessions remained much the same as in the preliminary peace, and the Central Powers would continue to occupy most of the country for the duration of the war. The Romanian army, which had only partially demobilized after Buftea, would now fully do so, except for around four divisions required to keep order in newly-annexed Bessarabia. After significant lobbying from the Central Powers’ own Jewish populations, the Treaty of Bucharest also forced Romania to recognize their 250,000 Jews as full citizens, with all the rights and privileges thereof, and allowed them to organize their own schools. There were still loopholes in this provision, requiring Jews to either prove that their parents had been born in Romania or that they had participated in the war effort, and the ultimate implementation of this provision into Romanian law was so Byzantine that it was effectively not adopted before the end of the war made the Treaty of Bucharest void. Although Romania would ratify the treaty officially in July, King Ferdinand refused to sign it, and would abrogate it entirely in the final days of the war. Photo: Romanian Prime Minister Marghiloman signing the Bucharest Peace Treaty with the Central Powers, 1918 Naval operations: ship lossesNANTES (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 83 nautical miles (154 km) east south east of Fair Isle by SM U-105 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived. SAXON (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 83 nautical miles (154 km) east south east of Fair Isle by SM U-105 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 22 crew.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on May 8, 2023 2:51:18 GMT
Day 1370 of the Great War, May 8th 1918Western FrontStrong local attack by enemy between La Clytte and Voormezeele; they enter front line at certain points south of Morlancourt. Australians push forward. Activity in Avre valley. Photo: The Battle of the Lys. Outpost manned by men of the 11th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on a road beside the Lys Canal near Saint-Floris, 9 May 1918 Photo: The Battle of the Lys. Outposts manned by men of the 11th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on the Lys Canal in front of Saint-Floris, 9 May 1918. Note a Lewis machine gun manned by a soldier in the foreground Ukrainian War of IndependenceGerman forces occupy Rostov, on the Don. Macedonian FrontIn Balkans, Allied airmen bomb aerodrome at Drama and cantonments at Beranci. Mesopotamian campaign Operations continued on Baghdad-Mosul road. Enemy troops attacked by British airmen on Tigris, north of Tekrit. Nicaragua: Nicaragua Declares War on GermanyThe United States had joined the war to protect the rights of neutral nations, and yet relatively few other neutral countries had joined the war since–apart from their puppet states in Cuba and Panama, only Liberia, China, Brazil, and Siam [Thailand] had declared war. The US exerted considerable diplomatic effort in the Americas to get countries to declare war on Germany, or at least break off diplomatic relations with them. Guatemala declared war on Germany on April 23, 1918. Nicaragua, which had been occupied by the US in 1912, and still had a contingent of Marines in Managua, followed with declarations of war on Germany and Austria-Hungary on May 8. Costa Rica followed later in May, and Honduras and US-occupied Haiti in July. None of these countries contributed anything to the Allied war effort, but they did bolster the Americans’ case that this was a war of the whole free world against Germany and her allies–and American businesses were able to expand and take the place of German ones. Naval operations: ship lossesCONSTANIA (United Kingdom) The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) off Robin Hood's Bay, Yorkshire by SM UB-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew. DUX (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°32′W) by SM U-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived. INGLESIDE (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 80 nautical miles (150 km) off Algiers, Algeria by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eleven crew. PRINCESS DAGMAR (United Kingdom) The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the Bristol Channel by SM U-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all 24 crew. THORALF (Denmark) The barque was scuttled in the Irish Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) south east of the Coningbeg Lightship ( United Kingdom) (51°56′N 5°55′W) by SM UB-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived. SM U-32 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type U 31 submarine was depth charged and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea north west of Malta (36°07′N 13°28′E) by HMS WILDFLOWER ( Royal Navy) with the loss of all 41 crew.
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Post by lordroel on May 9, 2023 2:51:01 GMT
Day 1371 of the Great War, May 9th 1918Western FrontEnemy attacks in La Clytte-Voormezeele sector repulsed; French and British positions re-established. Germans gain small success at Albert. French success at Grivesnes, north-west of Montdidier. Photo: The Battle of the Lys. Outpost manned by men of the 11th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on a road beside the Lys Canal near Saint-Floris, 9 May 1918 Italian FrontItalians storm Monte Corno, in the Vallarsa (Upper Piave) during night; take 100 prisoners. Ukrainian War of IndependenceM. Ustemovich proclaimed President of the Ukraine. United Kingdom: The Maurice DebateThe defeat of Fifth Army during Germany’s Operation Michael and the setbacks in Flanders during Operation Georgette led to understandable questions in Britain as to how these defeats could take place. Lloyd George attempted, without saying so explicitly, to deflect blame to his military leaders, saying that the BEF was stronger at the beginning of 1918 than it had been a year earlier, that there were no more than three non-Indian divisions engaged in fighting the Turks and the Bulgarians, and that the extension of the British line south to where the German broke through was by mutual agreement between Haig and Pétain. These statements were generally disingenuous, at best. Lloyd George had deliberately held back reinforcements from Haig, hoping that this would deter him from throwing British lives away in a repeat of Passchendaele. The count of three non-Indian divisions was only accurate because several divisions had been diverted away from the eastern theaters after Operation Michael had begun, and Haig had agreed to an extension of the line only under pressure from Lloyd George. Major General Maurice, a protegé of former CIGS Robertson, wrote first to CIGS Wilson and then to the press, where his letter accusing Lloyd George of misleading Parliament was published on May 7. It produced an immediate uproar, and on May 9 Parliament debated a motion by Asquith calling for a select committee to investigate the matter. Lloyd George vigorously disputed Maurice’s claims, doubling down on his claims of a month earlier, and distinctly ignoring reports that had arrived in the last month confirming that the Germans had had a distinct advantage in manpower on the Western Front. He also reminded Parliament that there had been no select committee for the worse debacle at Kut, which had happened under Asquith’s watch. Ultimately, Lloyd George had the upper hand in Parliament, and few wanted to topple the government over the matter; Asquith’s motion was defeated by a margin of 295-108. The splits in the Liberal party (to which both Asquith and Lloyd George belonged) were evident, with 98 supporting Asquith, 70 supporting Lloyd George, and 93 abstaining or absent; as usual, Lloyd George got most of his support from the Conservatives. NetherlandsEntente Trade Committee formed in Holland. Aerial operations: “Landing Impossible”This evening around 2205, Rfa 501 sent off four of its giant Zeppelin-Staaken machines (R.VI 26/16, R.VI 29/16, R.VI 32/16 and R.VI 39/16) to attack Dover. However poor weather soon resulted in the mission being cancelled and they were ordered to attack the alternative targets of Calais and Dunkirk. The prevailing north-west wind was considered favourable because the aircraft, flying into the wind, would be able to anticipate oncoming bad weather. The aircraft were ordered to return immediately if a fog warning was received by wireless. R 32 and R 39 dropped their bombs on Dunkirk when they received a message warning that fog over the airfield was increasing. They headed back at once, but the two other aircraft carried on as they were just a short distance from their target, Calais. R32 and R39 arrived over their airfield just before 0100. The airfield signalled by wireless: ‘Cloud height 100 metres, Brussels clear visibility.’ Both aircraft decided to risk the landing rather than divert to Brussels. However, fog soon covered the airfield. The landing beacons could be seen from above, but it was not possible to see them from within the fog bank. R32 was flying towards these when it hit a row of trees 700 metres short of the field and crashed. The explosion of an unreleased bomb and remaining fuel completely destroyed the R32 and killed nearly all its crew. The R39, as it emerged from the fog, flew directly between the two beacons at the edge of the airfield and barely rolled to a safe stop at the end of the runway, within inches of a ditch. The first Rfa 501 learned of the crash was when a badly-injured crew member stumbled across the airfield. At 0130 hours, R 26 and R 29 arrived over the airfield. They received a wireless message saying “Landing impossible, clouds 100 metres high, Ghistelles clear for landing.” A further message, at 0150 hours said ‘Land at Ghistelles, otherwise use parachute.’ In spite of these orders, the R26 and R29 decided to land. The R 26 flew into the ground and burned killing the crew, except one mechanic. R29 made an approach along the edge of the fog bank, using its landing lights to avoid flying into the ground. As it was impossible to locate the airfield under the fog layer, the R 29 climbed over it using its gyro-compass. Having picked up the beacons and under the impression that the cloud bank was still at 100 metres, R 29 attempted a glide approach. In the clouds the aircraft turned 60-80° to starboard in spite of the pilots’ efforts to the contrary and lost its course. Suddenly, at the bottom of the cloud layer, the pilots saw tree tops. They immediately opened up the engines to pull the aircraft into a climb, but it was too late. The landing gear caught the tree tops, pulling the fuselage down into the trees. Although the fuel tanks burst, the R29 did not catch fire, thanks to the pilot who shut-off the ignition of the engines and motor-dynamo. Four were killed and a mechanic was seriously injured. Naval operations: ship lossesBARON AILSA (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 18 nautical miles (33 km) west north west of the Smalls Lighthouse by SM UB-72 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of ten of her crew. DEIPARA (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Cape Camarat, Var, France by SM UC-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eight of her crew. ENRICHETTA (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (35°29′N 12°22′W) by SM U-153 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived. SM UC-78 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UC II submarine was rammed and sunk in the English Channel off Cherbourg, Manche, France by Queen Alexandra ( United Kingdom).
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Post by lordroel on May 10, 2023 2:46:41 GMT
Day 1372 of the Great War, May 10th 1918YouTube (The Ostende Raid - Peace of Bucharest)Western FrontBritish eject Germans from front trench north-west of Albert. Great activity of British bombing-machines on whole front. French improve positions north of Kemmel village. Photo: A Machine Gun Team from Co. 1, 2nd Brig., Machine Gun Bn., 1st Div. (Capt. H. Wilhelm Comdg.), operating a Hotchkiss Machine Gun on the range near Froissy, Oise, France, May 10th, 1918 Naval operations: British Raid OstendThe British had raided the German-occupied U-boat ports at Zeebrugge and Ostend in April. The former had been a partial success, although U-boats were able to use the port there again within days; the raid on Ostend, however, had been a total failure. The British decided to try again at Ostend on the night of May 9/10, intending to sink the cruisers VINDICTIVE and SAPPHO in Ostend’s entrance channel. The former had participated in the Zeebrugge raid, landing marines on the Zeebrugge mole. SAPPHO had to turn around with boiler issues, but Vindictive continued in, concealed from the Germans by a heavy fog (although this made it more difficult for her to find the channel entrance). When VINDICTIVE entered the channel, she was now close enough to be seen, and she immediately came under fire from German batteries, suffering heavy damage. Before she could fully make her turn to block the channel, her right screw completely broke, making it impossible to complete the turn. Shortly thereafter, a German shell killed the ship’s commander. His replacement then ordered that the ship be evacuated and charges blown to sink the ship. The survivors fled in small launches under heavy fire. Eighteen British men were killed, and the operation failed to block the Ostend channel for all but the largest German ships using the port. Naval operations: ship lossesAMPLEGARTH (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 71 (Walter Warzecha) and sank in the English Channel 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) west south west of Dover, Kent. Her crew survived. ANBOTO MENDI (Spain) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea off Robin Hood's Bay, Yorkshire, United Kingdom by SM UB-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine). ERICH LEA (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 6 nautical miles (11 km) south east of Whitby, Yorkshire by SM UB-107 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived. ITINDA (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) north of Matra Susa, Libya (32°24′N 21°48′E) by SM U-47 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy) with the loss of a crew member. SZECHUEN (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 60 nautical miles (110 km) north by east of Port Said, Egypt (32°00′N 32°46′E) by SM UB-51 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of nine of her crew. SM UB-16 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UB I submarine was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off Harwich, Essex, United Kingdom (52°06′N 2°01′E) by HMS E34 ( Royal Navy) with the loss of thirteen of her fourteen crew. WILEYSIKE (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in St. George's Channel 8 nautical miles (15 km) off St. Ann's Head, Pembrokeshire by SM U-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four crew.
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Post by lordroel on May 11, 2023 2:46:14 GMT
Day 1373 of the Great War, May 11th 1918
Western Front
Minor local actions on front; hostile artillery active in Ancre sector.
Italian Front
Italians retain Monte Corno against Austrian counter-attacks.
Mesopotamia campaign: British Withdraw from Kirkuk; Turks Make Further Demands in the Caucasus
After local victories at Kifri and Tuz Khurmatu, the British pressed further north into Kurdistan towards Kirkuk. Their hope was that a strike so far north would force the Turks to send reinforcements to the area, diverting them from their operations in the Caucasus that were threatening Baku and northern Persia. However, the Turks instead chose to not contest the British advance, withdrawing instead while performing scorched-earth tactics. When the British entered Kirkuk on May 7, they found the food stores empty, the livestock slaughtered, and much of the town burned to the ground, leaving the local population in wretched conditions. As a result, the British were unable to maintain adequate supplies for their forces in Kirkuk for long, and began to withdraw all but a token force back south towards Tikrit on May 11; they were accompanied by at least 1600 refugees.
This British attempt to indirectly aid the Transcaucasian Federation had failed; also on May 11, they met with Turkish representatives at Batumi. The Turks demanded further concessions, beyond the gains at Brest-Litovsk–including Alexsandropol [Gyumri] and control of the railroad through Nakhchivan towards Tabriz. Furthermore, they demanded free use of the railway to Baku, giving the Turks access to the Caspian. The Turks did not give the Transcaucasian delegates much time to consider their new demands, and the Turkish forces began their advance on Alexsandropol on the morning of the 15th.
Russian Civil War
Fighting between Bolsheviks and Anarchists in Moscow.
Ukrainian War of Independence
Conflicts at Kiev between German troops and supporters of Rada.
Congress of Ukraine peasants demand land, etc.
United Kingdom
The King reviews American troops in London.
Germany
Peace signed in Berlin between Finland and Turkey.
Aerial operations: Cattaro
Today, 224 Squadron RAF commenced bombing operations against Cattaro (now Kotor in Montenegro), which was the main Austrian-Hungarian naval base in the Adriatic and home to German U-boats. It was hoped that this would reduce attacks on allied shipping in the area. This was quite a trip, involving a flight of 400 miles there and back over the sea from their base at Otranto.
The first attack today was made by six DH4s which dropped 230lb and 100lb bombs on submarines and destroyers in the harbour. Explosions were sighted but the attacks do not appear to have had much overall impact on the submarine campaign.
One of the bombers landed with engine trouble and crew were taken prisoner.
It’s not clear who the crew members were and Trevor Henshaw suggests the four following:
- G Baker
- Geoffrey Kelvin Blandy
- Bernard John William Brady
- Leslie Marsh
Reports at the time suggest the prisoners were taken unharmed, though that may not be true. According to Red Cross records, Brady spent some time in hospital with gunshot wounds. In addition there is a letter dated 16.07.17 stating both Brady and Marsh were prisoners. That said there’s no real evidence that Blandy or Baker were those lost.
Naval operations: ship losses
AGNES (Sweden) The steam trawler struck a mine while fishing in the North Sea, west of Vinga Lighthouse. Two survivors, eight casualties.
CLAN MACKAY (United Kingdom) The 6,580 grt Clan Line vessel was in collision with an unnamed vessel in the Bay of Biscay and sank.
GIGILLA (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Strait of Messina by SM UC-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
GOTHIA (Sweden) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 8 nautical miles (15 km) north east of Hartlepool, County Durham, United Kingdom by SM UB-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
MASSOUDA (United Kingdom) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) north of Marsa Matruh, Egypt by an enemy submarine.
MICHAIL (Russia) The fishing vessel was sunk in the Arctic Ocean 8 nautical miles (15 km) east north east of Svyatoy Nos by SM U-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SAN ADRES (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Irish Sea 100 nautical miles (190 km) west of Lundy Island, Devon, United Kingdom (51°23′N 7°53′W) by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
SANT ANNA Anna (French Navy) The troopship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea south of Pantelleria, Italy (37°04′N 11°36′E) by SM UC-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 605 lives.
SUEZETTE FRAISINET (France) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 37 nautical miles (69 km) south of Cape Spartivento, Italy by SM UB-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SM U-154 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type U 151 submarine was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (36°51′N 11°50′W) by HMS E35 ( Royal Navy) with the loss of all 77 crew.
VERONA (Italy) The troopship was sunk in the Strait of Messina (37°04′N 16°19′E) by SM UC-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 880 lives.
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Post by lordroel on May 12, 2023 6:14:25 GMT
Day 1374 of the Great War, May 12th 1918
Western Front
Quiet on all sectors; artillery duel on right bank of Meuse.
Between 6-12 May B.A.F. contingents from Dunkirk attack Zeebrugge and Ostend continuously.
Russian Civil War
In eastern Siberia, Colonel Semenov's forces, acting against Bolsheviks, move west from Manchurian border towards Lake Baikal.
Macedonian Front
British airmen make raids in Balkans and bomb aerodrome at Drama.
Naval base of Cattaro successfully bombed by Italians.
Arab Revolt
Successful Arab raids on Hejaz railway line and the Turkish defences round Maan.
Germany
The Kaiser and Emperor Charles confer at German headquarters.
Austria-Hungary: Anti-Austrian Riots Begin in Dual Monarchy’s Army
On May 12 an infantry platoon in the Styrian town of Judenburg mutined against its officers in the Austro-Hungarian army. The mutineers took over their barracks and food stores and ransacked the town’s telegraph lines. The men were Slovenes; according to the historian Martin Gilbert as they rebelled a spokesman identified their aims:“Let us go home comrades, this isnot only for us but also for our friends on the fronts. The war must be ended now, whoever is a Slovene, join us. We are going home; they should give us mroe to eat and end the war; up with the Bolsheviks, long live bread, down with the war.
The mutiny began to spread across the Austrian army’s non-German units over the next weeks. Czechs, Serbs, Ruthenians, and other members of the Dual Monarchy’s conscript military revolted against Hapsburg rule. The Bolsheviks provided an example for oppressed people across Eastern Europe. The Germans, who had helped Lenin overthrow the Tsar, now wondered whether they had started a flame they could not control.
Naval operations: Albania
Italian destroyers attack enemy convoy off Durazzo; sink a transport.
Naval operations: HMT OLYMPIC Sinks A U-Boat
RMS OLYMPIC, sister to the ill-fated Titanic, had had an exciting start to the war, witnessing the sinking of and rescuing survivors from the British dreadnought HMS AUDACIOUS in October 1914. With transatlantic passenger service declining, that was her final passenger voyage during the war. In the spring of 1915, she was requisitioned by the Admiralty to serve as a troop transport and redesignated the HMT OLYMPIC. Her sister ship BRITANNIC simultaneously served as a hospital ship until she was sunk by a German mine in the Aegean in November 1916.
On the night of May 12, 1918, the OLYMPIC was at the entrance to the English Channel, transporting US troops to Cherbourg, when she sighted a German U-boat, U-103, ahead. U-103 was attempting to attack the OLYMPIC, but could not get their stern torpedo tubes flooded in time. The OLYMPIC opened fire with her few deck guns, and turned to ram U-103. The U-boat dived, but not in time, and the OLYMPIC hit the submarine with her prow at 24 knots, running over it with her entire length, and slicing through its pressure hull with one of her propellers. The submarine blew its tanks to come to the surface and was scuttled; her 31 survivors (9 had died in the collision) were picked up by an American destroyer.
Admiral Holtzendorff had promised the Kaiser that the U-boats would stop any troopships from getting American troops to France; the OLYMPIC’S success showed that the troopships could occasionally strike back.
Naval operations: ship losses
HASLINGDEN (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 7 nautical miles (13 km) off Seaham, County Durham by SM UB-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eleven of her crew.
INNISCARRA (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 10 nautical miles (19 km) south east of Ballycottin Island, County Cork by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 28 of her crew.
KONG RAUD (Norway) The trawler was sunk in the Barents Sea 32 nautical miles (59 km) north east of Svyatoy Nos, Russia by SM U-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
OMRAH (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) south by west of Cape Spartivento, Sicily, Italy by SM UB-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
PAX (France) The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 7 nautical miles (13 km) off Cape Camarat, Var 43°08′N 6°42′E by SM UC-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of fifteen of her crew.
TENNES (Norway) The trawler was sunk in the Barents Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) north east of Svyatoy Nos by SM U-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
TOGO (Italy) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (43°10′N 6°36′E) by SM UC-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
SM U-103 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type U 57 submarine was rammed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (49°16′N 4°51′W) by OLYMPIC ( United Kingdom) with the loss of nine of her 40 crew. Survivors were rescued by USS DAVIS ( United States Navy).
SM UB-72 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UB III submarine was depth charged and sunk in the English Channel (50°08′N 2°41′W) by HMS D4 ( Royal Navy) with the loss of 34 of her crew.
VEA (Norway) The trawler was sunk in the Barents Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) east north east of Svyatoy Nos by SM U-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
VIMIERA (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 16 nautical miles (30 km) west south west of Lampedusa, Italy (35°23′N 12°19′E) by SM UC-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
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Post by lordroel on May 13, 2023 2:50:20 GMT
Day 1375 of the Great War, May 13th 1918
Western Front
German artillery active on Lys and Somme battlefields; heavy rain throughout day.
Local fighting north of Kemmel.
Italian front
11 enemy planes destroyed on Italian front.
Macedonian Front
Increased raids and bombing activity on Balkan front.
Aerial operations: Independent
Today the Air Council informed the War Cabinet that, in their opinion, the time had arrived to develop an Independent Force for large-scale bombing attacks on Germany.
They proposed, therefore, to organize the existing 41 Brigade into a separate command under Major-General Hugh Trenchard who would work directly under the Air Ministry.
Trenchard had finally agreed to command the Force. The Minister was glad to be relived of the pressure to find something for Trenchard to do. Trenchard would report directly to the Minister, partially to avoid Army Headquarters from interfering and partially to avoid any conflict with Frederick Sykes, now the Commander in Chief of the RAF following Trenchard’s resignation. Sykes and Trenchard did not get on, sharing wildly different views of the role of the RAF.
In someways it is a surprise that Trenchard took the job at all as he was firmly firmly opposed to Strategic Bombing unless the Armies in the field had been defeated. Sykes however was a supporter of a wider role for the RAF, and the new Force was, at least partly his creation.
As well as Trenchard’s known objections to Strategic Bombing, the new Force is likely to cause ructions with the other allies and fly in the face of the purpose of having a Supreme War Council. An inter-allied Aviation Council has been formed to look at Strategic Bombing, but has not come to any conclusions. The Air Ministry has put the issue forward for discussion at the end of May.
Naval operations: Italian “Naval Tank” Attempts Raid on Pola
The success of the tank on land led some to consider developing a naval version–a “landship of the sea,” as it were. The Italians had developed a series of fast motorboats to attack and harass the Austrian fleet, but these were useless in attacking their harbors, which were protected by artificial booms designed to prevent access to any unauthorized craft. The Italians therefore built a handful of naval tanks, designed to crawl over these booms and then launch torpedoes within the Austrian harbors.
On the night of May 13, the naval tank Grillo successfully crawled over four of the five defensive booms at the main Austrian naval base at Pola. However, the Austrians were on high alert due to previous failed raids (foiled due to mechanical difficulties), and the loud noise of the Grillo’s crawling attracted Austrian attention. Coming under heavy Austrian fire, the Italian crew scuttled the vessel, though the Austrians were able to raise it and began designing their own version.
Naval operations: ship losses
EESPERANZA DE LARRINAGA (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the Irish Sea (55°49′N 7°25′W) by SM UB-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member. She was beached in Lough Swilly.
JULLIA (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (36°35′N 22°10′E) by SM U-32 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.
HMT LOCH NAVER (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 74 (Wilhelm Marschall) and sank in the Aegean Sea (37°50′N 24°26′E) with the loss of thirteen of her crew.
SM UB-114 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UB III submarine sank at Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein with the loss of seven of her crew. She was later raised.
USS ZAANLAND (United States Navy) The cargo ship was rammed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean by USS HISKO ( United States Navy). Her crew were rescued by MUNALBRO ( United States).
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Post by lordroel on May 14, 2023 5:56:49 GMT
Day 1376 of the Great War, May 14th 1918Western FrontGermans attack on a mile front south-west of Morlancourt; fine counter-attacks by Australians. Photo: Two men of the King's Royal Rifle Corps (20th Division) checking a map at the entrance to their dug out under a ruined house in Lievin, 14 May 1918 Photo: Two British Generals (59th Brigade of the 20th Light Division) in a trench in front of Lievin, 14 May 1918. One of them might be Major General C. G. S. Carey, the Commander of the Division Italian FrontGreat massing of enemy troops and artillery along Alpine lines and Friuli Plains for new offensive. Russia: Czechs Fight Hungarians and Bolsheviks in ChelyabinskThe sudden end of the war in the East had left many soldiers from both sides stranded in Russia. German and Austro-Hungarian PoWs were trying to make their way back west. Meanwhile, soldiers from various nationalities oppressed by the Central Powers that had volunteered to serve alongside the Russians now had to figure out where to go. The bulk of the Polish volunteer forces in Russia surrendered to the Germans (many not without a fight). Most of the Czech forces were determined to keep fighting, and reached an agreement with the Bolsheviks in March to leave Russia via the Trans-Siberian Railway to Vladivostok (followed by a long sea voyage to the Western Front). On May 14, Czechs heading east clashed with a group of Hungarian PoWs heading west in Chelyabinsk in the Urals. Representatives of the local Soviet arrested some of the Czechs involved; their fellow Czechs soon liberated them from jail and took over the town. This was the first direct confrontation between the Czechs and the Bolsheviks, though tension had been growing for some time. The Bolsheviks had held up the Czechs’ trains and tried to confiscate their weapons. They were also worried that they were trying to turn them around and force them to surrender to the Germans, as the Poles had done; this was not helped by efforts to divert them towards the northern port of Arkhangelsk (though this was actually done at the behest of the Allies). The Bolsheviks, meanwhile, were worried that the Czechs were Allied agents and would be used to overthrow them. The incident at Chelyabinsk helped to confirm both sides’ suspicions of each other. United StatesFirst million tons of ships ordered by U.S.A. on the seas. Aerial operations: Division AérienneThe Royal Air Force was created back on 1 April 1918. Today the French went some way to concentrating their air power with Marshall Pétain issuing orders for the formation of the Division Aérienne under the command of Colonel Duval. It consists of four groupings:the first contained two wings (Escadres 1 and 12), the second, three fighter and two bomber groups; the third, one wing (Escadre II); the last, two bomber groups, one of which was Italian. Duval however argued against using the new Division as a strategic bombing force, which the British had just created in the Independent Force. Instead he was aware that individual aircraft could not inflict damage on ground targets alone. He wanted to be support the army by massing forces for concentrated attacks on military targets such as railway stations, supply dumps, assembly points and so on in the enemy rear with the aim of inflicting damage but also hoping to force German fighters to come out to be destroyed in turn. Naval operations: ship lossesSMS A72 (Kaiserliche Marine) The A56-class torpedo boat struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of 25 of her crew. EMBLA (Denmark) The schooner was scuttled in the North Sea south west of Skudesnes, Rogaland, Norway (57°45′N 3°30′E) by SM U-101 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived. HMS PHOENIX (Royal Navy) The Acheron-class destroyer was torpedoed and sunk in the Adriatic Sea off Vlorë, Albania by SM U-27 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy) with the loss of two of her 72 crew. Photo: HMS PHOENIX lists to port after being torpedoed, viewed from HMAS WARREGO RUTH (Sweden) The steam trawler struck a mine while fishing in the North Sea, southwest of Marstrand. All four crew perished STAIRS (Norway) The trawler was sunk in the Barents Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) north of Vaidaguada, Russia by SM U-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine). WOOLSTON (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) off Syracuse, Sicily, Italy (37°30′N 12°20′E) by SM UC-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of nineteen of her crew.
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