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Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2008 with funding from
IVIicrosoft Corporation
http://www.archive.org/details/concisechronicleOOrowe
A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
A CONCISE CHRONICLE
OF EVENTS OF
THE GREAT WAR
BY
R. P. P. ROWE
M.A. (oxOn), captain, LATE OF THE
ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT AND OF THE
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE DIRECTORATE
LONDON PHILIP ALLAN AND CO.
QUALITY COURT, CHANCERY LANE MCMXX
INTRODUCTION
I TRUST that this chronicle of the chief events of the war will prove a useful and an interesting record. It has been decided to omit maps, because their inclusion within bounds less than cumbersome would prove practically worthless. The number of towns, as opposed to villages, which were definitely connected with the war is surprisingly small, and their locality is known to nearly every one. The great majority of places which the war has brought into prominence are villages so small that they are marked only in maps of an exceptionally large scale. What is required, therefore, for adequate study of the topography of the war, is either a moderate number of maps of great size or a far larger and confusing number less bulky but each covering only a small area. As the inclusion of either would necessitate a detached and cumbrous volume, I have in its absence taken pains to indicate accurately the posi- tion of every place whose locality might be unfamiliar.
In the following pages the names given to the battles, and the dates on which they began and ended, are from sources either official or authoritative. The same may be said of the strategical or tactical aims or results which I have in some cases noted — particularly in 1918.
V
EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
As appendices I have chosen the four documents most closely connected with the outbreak of the war (the Austrian ultimatum to Serbia, Serbia's reply, and Ger- many's declarations of war on Russia and France), Presi- dent Wilson's ' Fourteen Points,' and the chief instruments in the restoration of peace, i.e. the terms of Armistice with the Central Powers and the Treaty of Versailles. The text of this last is so long, and concerned with so many small matters of detail, that I have thought it best to repre- sent it by a short summary of its main provisions. An exception has, however, been made in the case of its very important Military, Naval, and Aerial Clauses, which are given in the fuller form of the official precis.
In cross-references, where no year is given the reference is to the same year as the entry referenced.
I am indebted to Mr. A. D. L. Cary, Librarian of the Royal United Service Institution, for an introduction to certain valuable records not readily accessible. I have also to thank the Librarian of the Admiralty for his assistance in connection with the dates of various naval incidents.
R. P. P. RowE.
VI
A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
1914
June 28 Assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdin-
(Sun.) and, heir to the throne of Austria, at Sarajevo.
July 23 The Austrian ultimatum to Serbia (see
(Thur.) Appendix I.).
July 25 Serbia replies, yielding on all points except
(Sat.) two (see Appendix II,). The Austrian Minister leaves Belgrade.
July 26 The Admiralty countermands orders for the
(Sun.) dispersal of the British Fleet.
July 27 France and Italy accept England's proposal
(Mon.) for an international conference.
July 28 Germany rejects England's proposal for an
(Tues.) international conference.
Austria declares war on Serbia.
July 29 First shots of the war : Austria bombards
(Wed.) Belgrade.
Germany makes proposals to secure England's neutrality.
July 81 German ultimatums to Russia and France
(Fri.) (see Appendices III. and IV.).
A
1914 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
The French Sociahst leader, M. Jaur^s, is assassinated in Paris.
Aug. 1 Germany declares war on Russia.
(Sat.)
Aug. 2 The German army enters Luxemburg. Ger-
(Sun.) man patrols cross the frontiers of France. Germany invades Poland.
The German ultimatum to Belgium.
A moratorium is proclaimed in England.
Aug. 3 Germany invades Belgium and declares war
(Mon. on France.
Bank Grey's speech in the House of Commons.
Holiday) Italy declares her neutrality.
The mobilisation of the British Navy is announced complete.
Aug. 4 The British Government ^ delivers an ulti-
(Tues.) matum to Germany, which is summarily re- jected. Great Britain declares war on Germany as from 11 p.m. on this day.
Sir John Jellicoe assumes command of the British Home Fleets.
Aug. 5 Liege is bombarded by the Germans.
(Wed.) Austria declares war on Russia.
Montenegro declares war on Austria.
• At the outbreak of war : Prime Minister and Secretary for VV^ar (see Aug. 6), Mr. Asquitli ; Foreififii Secretary, Sir E. Grey; First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Churchill ; Cliancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Lloyd George ; Secretary for India, Marquis of Crewe (see May 26, 1916).
2
1914 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Lord Kitchener is appointed Secretary of State for War in Great Britain.
The Konigin Luise, equipped as a German mine-layer, is sunk by the British Third De- stroyer Flotilla (parent ship Amphion) off the Suffolk coast.
Aug. 6 Fall of three of the forts of Liege.
(Thur.) H.M.S. Amphion (light cruiser) is sunk by a
mine in the North Sea.
The Goeben and the Breslau escape at dusk
from Messina and run for the Dardanelles.
Aug. 7 Fall of Liege ; but its northern forts hold out
(Fri.) (see Aug. 15),
A French reconnaissance into Alsace : Alt- kirch is captured.
The Russians invade East Prussia. H.M.S. Gloucester (light cruiser) attacks and pursues the Goeben and the Breslau in the Mediterranean.
Aug. 8 The French occupy Mulhausen, in Alsace.
(Sat.) A British and French force enters Togoland
(see Aug. 26).
Aug. 9 (Sun.)
Heligo- land ceded to Germany in 1890.
British troops land in France (disembarkation completed on August 16th).
German submarines attack a British light cruiser squadron : the U 15 is sunk by the Birmingham.
3
1914 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Aug. 10 France declares war on Austria.
(Mon.) The French evacuate Mulhausen, and retire
in Alsace, but gain successes in the Vosges. Austria invades Russian Poland. The Goeben and the Breslau reach the Dardanelles.
Aug. 11 The Belgian army is defeated and falls back
(Tues.) before the Germans.
A German reverse at Spincourt, in Lorraine.
Aug. 12 Great Britain declares war on Austria.
(Wed.) Serbia invades Bosnia.
Aug. 13 Austria invades Serbia (see Aug. 25).
(Thur.) Dar-es-Salaam (GermanEast Africa)is shelled
and raided by the British cruisers Astrcea and
Pegasus.
Aug. 14 A Russian proclamation guarantees autonomy
(Fri.) to Poland.
The Russians defeat the Austrians at Sokal.
Aug. 15 Japan delivers an ultimatum to Germany,
(Sat.) demanding the evacuation of Kiao-Chau. The last Liege forts are reduced. East Africa : — The Germans occupy Taveta.
Aug. 16 The disembarkation in France of the original
(Sun.) British Expeditionary Force is completed, with
Sir John French in supreme command (see
Dec. 15, 1915), the First Corps being commanded
4
1914 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
by Sir D. Haig, the Second Corps by Sir James Grierson (see Aug. 17).
The Austrians capture Shabatz from the Serbians.
The Austrian Hght cruiser Zenta is sunk during a sweep up the Adriatic by the Alhed Fleets.
Aug. 17 Death of Lieut. -General Sir James Grierson :
(Mon.) he is succeeded in command of the British Second Corps by Sir H. Smith -Dorrien.
The Germans advance in Belgium : Tirle- mont and Louvain are captured. The Belgian Government moves to Antwerp.
The Serbians attack on the Jardar (the Battle of the Jardar, which leads to the expulsion of the Austrians from Serbian territory).
Aug. 18 The French advance in Lorraine culminates
(Tues.) in the capture of Saarburg on the Metz-Stras-
Gravelotte, bourg Railway. 1870. " ^
Aug. 19 The Belgians retire on Antwerp.
(Wed.) Alsace : — Mulhausen is again taken by the
French (see Aug. 10, 25).
The Battle of the Jardar ends in a complete
victory for the Serbians (see Aug. 17).
Aug. 20 The Germans enter Brussels. They bombard
(Thur.) Namur.
The French retire before a German counter- offensive in Lorraine. 5
1914 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
A Russian victory at Gumbinnen (East Prussia), which leads to the retirement of the Germans on Konigsberg, and to the appointment of Hindenburg to High Command (see Aug. 22).
Aug. 21 The forts of Namur are silenced.
(Fri.) The Battle of Charleroi (east of Mons)
begins (see Aug. 23).
South Africa : — German patrols cross into Union territory near Nakob.
Aug, 22 The French and Belgians are defeated out-
(Sat.) side Namur.
The Germans approach Nancy : the Battle of Nancy (see Sept. 11).
General von Hindenburg is appointed to command the German armies in East Prussia.
Aug. 23 Japan declares war on Germany.
(Sun.) Namur is captured by the Germans.
The Battle of Mons.
The Battle of Charleroi ends in the defeat of the French (see Aug. 21).
East Prussia : — The Russians are victorious at Frankenau.
Galicia : — The Russians take Brody and Tamopol (see Sept. 1 and 7, 1915).
Aug. 24 The retreat of the Allies on the Western
(Mon.) Front begins.
The Germans occupy Toumai. 6
1914 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Cattaro, in the Adriatic, is bombarded by the Allied fleets.
Aug. 25 Lou vain is sacked by the Germans.
(Tues.) The British fight severe actions at Landrecies
and Maroilles, and reach the line Cambrai- Le Cateau in ' the Retreat.'
Mulhausen is again captured by the Germans.
In East Prussia the Russians approach Konigsberg.
The Austrians defeat the Russians in the First Battle of Krasnik.
The Austrians evacuate Serbia (see Aug. 13).
Invasion of the Cameroons by the French and British (see Feb. 19, 1916).
Aug, 26 The First Battle of Le Cateau : further retire-
(Wed.) ment of the Allies in France. Maubeuge is
Crecy, invested by the Germans (see Sept. 7).
1346. The beginning of the Battle of Tannenberg,
which, after four days' fighting, leads to the
crushing defeat of the Russians by Hindenburg.
Togoland surrenders to the Allies (see Aug. 8).
H.M.S. Highflyer (a light cruiser, used before
the war as a training ship for naval cadets)
sinks the German auxiliary cruiser Kaiser
Wilhelm der Grosse off the West African coast.
Aug. 27 The Allies fall back behind the Somme.
(Thur.) Lille and Mezieres are occupied by the Ger- mans. Ostend is occupied by British marines.
7
1914 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Halicz (Galicia) is captured by the Russians.
The blockade of Tsingtau (Kiao-Chau) begins (see Aug. 15, Nov. 7).
The German cruiser Magdeburg runs ashore in the Gulf of Finland, and is blown up by her captain.
Aug. 28 The Battle of the Bight of Heligoland :
(Fri.) British destroyers supported by light cruisers
and battle cruisers sink three German cruisers
and two destroyers ; no British vessel is lost.
New Zealand troops, supported by an Allied
naval force, occupy German Samoa.
Aug. 29 The British Army, in touch at last with the
(Sat.) French on both flanks, rests temporarily for the first time in ' the Retreat.' General Joffre and Sir J. French meet and confer at Compiegne. In the evening the retreat is resumed in an orderly manner.
The Battle of Tannenberg ends in a complete victory for the Germans (see Aug. 26).
Aug. 30 The British reach a line a little north of
(Sun.) Compidgne-Soissons. The Germans occupy La F^re and Laon. The British bases are estab- lished temporarily at St. Nazaire and Nantes instead of at Havre and Boulogne.
Aug. 31 The Germans occupy Amiens.
(Mon.) In Galicia the First Battle of Lemberg begins
(see Sept. 2).
8
1914 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Sept. 1 The Germans occupy Soissons. The British
(Tues.) fight gallant actions at Villers-Cotterets and N6ry in 'the Retreat.'
East Africa : — The first portion of the Ex- peditionary Force arrives at Mombasa.
Sept. 2 The British reach the north bank of the
(Wed.) Mame in ' the Retreat.'
The First Battle of Lemberg ends in a heavy defeat of the Austrians by the Russians (see Aug. 81).
China : — Japanese troops are landed to attack Tsingtau (Kiao-Chau).
Sept, 3 The French Government moves to Bordeaux.
(Thur.) The British cross the Marne in 'the Retreat,'
and blow up the bridges.
Lemberg is occupied by the Russians (see June 22, 1915).
H.M.S. Speedy, torpedo gunboat, is sunk by a mine off the Humber.
Sept. 4 The Germans cross the Marne in force.
(Fri.) The Russians advance into the Carpathian
passes.
Sept. 5 The Franco -British retreat ends ; Joffre
(Sat.) orders a counter-offensive. The Germans take Rheims and on their right are close to Paris. Heavy fighting on the Ourcq.
The British light cruiser Pathfinder is sunk, 9
1914 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
with serious loss of life, by a German submarine off St. Abb's Head (the first ship to be sunk by a submarine).
Sept, 6 The Allied offensive in France begins with the
(Sun.) First Battle of the Marne (see Sept. 10). A
decisive day in the Battle of Nancy (see Aug.
22 and Sept. 11) ; German attacks are repulsed.
East Prussia : — The Battle of the Masurian
Lakes begins (see Sept. 12).
In Galicia, the Battle of Grodek begins (see Sept. 13).
Sept. 7 Maubeuge surrenders to the Germans (see
(Mon.) Aug. 26). The Allies press forward in France. The Germans advance into Russia. Austria begins a second invasion of Serbia (see Sept. 15).
The formation of the British Royal Naval Division is announced.
Sept. 8 The advance of the Allies in France con-
(Tues.) tinues. Von Kluck is now definitely in retreat. H.M.S. Oceanic (armed merchant cruiser) is wrecked and lost off the Shetland Islands.
Sept. 9 The decisive day of the Battle of the Mame :
(Wed.) the British cross the river and advance north
of it ; the French carry the Ourcq. Foch
makes a decisive move with the 9th French
Army.
ID
1914 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
General Botha announces the decision of the South African Government to undertake an expedition against German South- West Africa.
Sept. 10 The victory of the Mame is complete (see
(Thur.) Sept. 6) : the Allies advance rapidly.
Poland : — The Austrians are defeated in the Second Battle of Krasnik.
The Serbians occupy Semlin (Hungary).
The Emden appears in the Bay of Bengal.
Sept. 11 The French reoccupy Chalons. The British
(Fri.) cross the Ourcq. The Battle of Nancy ends
in complete failure by the Germans (see Aug. 22).
Australian military and naval forces occupy the Bismarck Archipelago.
Sept. 12 The Battle of the Masurian Lakes (see Sept.
(Sat.) 6) ends in the defeat and further retreat of the Russians : East Prussia is cleared of the invader.
Sept. 13 The Battle of the Aisne begins (see Sept. 28) ;
(Sun.) the British force the passage of the river. Soissons and Amiens are reoccupied by the French.
Galicia : — The Battle of Grodek (see Sept. 6) ends in a complete Russian victory.
The German light cruiser Hela is sunk off Heligoland by the British submarine E 9 (the first successful submarine attack by the British). II
1914 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Sept. 14 High ground north of the Aisne is captured
(Mon.) by the British 1st Corps. The Germans evacuate Rheims.
In Gahcia, the Russians advance across the San.
H.M.S. Carmania (auxihary cruiser) sinks the German auxiliary cruiser Cap Trafalgar off Trinidad after a sharp action.
Sept. 15 The Russians take Czemowitz, in the Buko-
(Tues.) vina (see Oct. 22).
The Serbians defeat the Austrians on the Drina : this ends the second Austrian invasion of Serbia (see Sept. 7).
The rebelhon in South Africa begins, but the accidental shooting of De la Rey delays the open outbreak designed and upsets the rebel plans (see Oct. 9, 22).
Sept. 16 East Africa : — Longido is occupied by the
(Wed.) Germans.
Sept. 17 The Belgians fall back on Antwerp.
(Thur.) Hungary : — Semlin is evacuated by the
Serbians (see Sept. 10).
Sept. 19 British marines are landed at Dunkirk.
(Sat.) South- West Africa : — Luderitz Bay is occu-
pied by Union troops.
12
1914 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Sept. 20 The Germans bombard Rheims Cathedral.
(Sun.) H.M.S. Pegasus is sunk by the K'dnigsberg
off Zanzibar (95 casualties).
Sept. 21 The French retake Noyon (see Sept. 25).
(Mon.) The German forces advancing from East
Prussia reach the Niemen.
Sept. 22 The Russians invest Przemysl.
(Tues.) The Serbians invade Bosnia again (see
Aug. 12).
South Africa : — General Botha assumes com- mand of the Union forces.
H.M.S. Cressy, Ahoukir, and Hogue (cruisers) are torpedoed by a German submarine off the Hook of Holland : 1400 lives are lost.
The Emden shells Madras.
A British naval air-raid on Diisseldorf.
Sept. 23 The Germans capture St. Mihiel.
(Wed.) The Russians take Jaroslav (Galicia).
Sept. 24 The Germans occupy Peronne.
(Thur.) Australian forces occupy German New Guinea.
China : — A British force is landed to aid the Japanese in their operations against Tsingtau.
Sept. 25 Noyon is retaken by the Germans (see
(Fri.) Sept. 21). The Battle of Albert (see Sept. 29)
begins, the Germans attacking. 13
1914 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Sept. 26 The Battle of the Niemen (see Sept. 28) be-
(Sat.) gins, the Russians standing on the Hne of the river against the German attack.
Sept. 27 The Germans fail to cross the Niemen and
(Sun.) retire.
The Cameroons : — Duala surrenders to the Allies.
Sept. 28 The Germans attack Antwerp.
(Mon.) The Battle of the Aisne (see Sept. 13) ends
in trench warfare.
The Battle of the Niemen (see Sept. 26) ends in the definite retreat of the Germans.
The occupation of Galicia is completed by the Russians, who threaten Cracow and invade Hungary.
Sept. 29 End of the Battle of Albert (see Sept. 25) :
(Tues.) the Germans are repulsed.
The Battle of Augustovo (see Oct. 4) begins :
the Russians, having advanced from the Niemen,
attack the Germans.
Sept. 30 The French re-enter Arras and reoccupy Lille.
(Wed.)
Oct. 1 The transfer of the British Army from Cham-
(Thur.) pagne to Flanders begins (see Oct. 19).
14
1914 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Oct. 3 TheGermans attack from Varennesto Verdun.
(Sat.) Before Antwerp the Belgians retire to the
Hne of the Net he.
Oct. 4 Lens and Bailleul (see Oct. 14) are occupied
(Sun.) by the Germans in their movement towards the coast.
The end of the Battle of Augustovo (see Sept. 29) : the Russians re-enter East Prussia.
Oct. 5 The British Naval Division reaches Antwerp.
(Mon.) The first German advance on Warsaw begins.
Oct. 6 The British 7th Division is disembarked at
(Tues.) Ostend.
The British submarine E 9 sinks a German destroyer off the mouth of the Ems.
Oct. 7 The Belgian Government moves from Ant-
(Wed.) werp to Ostend.
Japan occupies the Marshall Islands.
Oct. 8 The city of Antwerp is bombarded ; the
(Thur.) garrison retires across the Scheldt. A force of Belgians and 2000 British are driven into Dutch territory.
A British air-raid on Cologne and Diisseldorf.
Oct. 9 The end of the second Russian advance into
(Fri.) East Prussia.
South Africa : — Maritz openly rebels and 15
1914 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
joins forces with the Germans on the border of South-West Africa (see Oct. 22).
A British naval air-raid on Diisseldorf, by which a ZeppeHn is destroyed in its shed.
Oct. 10 Antwerp is captured by the Germans.
(Sat.)
Oct. 11 The Battle of La Bass6e begins (see Oct.
(Sun.) 31) ; the British (2nd Corps) attack the La Bass^e position.
A heavy attack on the British 7th Division at Ghent is repulsed.
The Russian cruiser Pallada is destroyed by German submarines in the Baltic.
Oct. 18 The Germans occupy Ghent and reoccupy
(Tues.) Lille ; the British (3rd Corps) drive them from
Meteren.
Oct. 14 The British (8rd Corps) recapture Bailleul
(Wed.) (see Oct. 4).
Jabussi, in the Cameroons, is occupied by the Allies.
Oct. 15 The Germans occupy Zeebrugge and Ostend.
(Thur.) The British (8rd Corps) advance towards the Lys.
The First Battle for Warsaw begins (see Oct. 27). The Siege of Przemysl is raised for three weeks.
i6
1914 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
South Africa : — Union forces under Colonel Brits attack and defeat the rebel corpmando under Maritz at Ratedrai.
H.M.S. Hawke (cruiser) is torpedoed by a German submarine in the North Sea (500 lives lost).
Oct. 16 The Battle of the Yser begins (see Oct. 30).
(Fri . ) The Belgia ns retire from the Forest of Houthulst .
Oct. 17 The British (9th Brigade) recapture Aubers.
(Sat.) H.M.S. Undaunted (cruiser) and four British
destroyers sink four German destroyers off the Dutch coast.
Oct. 18 British monitors bombard the right flank of
(Sun.) the German army in Belgium.
The British submarine E 3 is sunk in the North Sea (the first British submarine to be lost through enemy action).
Oct. 19 The transfer of the British to Flanders is
(Mon.) completed (see Oct. 1). The First Battle of Ypres begins (see Nov. 21). The first division of Indians reaches the Western Front.
Oct. 20 The German attack on Arras begins.
(Tues.)
Oct. 22 Bukovina : — Czernowitz is reoccupied by the
(Thur.) Austrians (see Sept. 15, Oct. 27).
17 B
1914 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
South Africa : — Beyers, Kemp and De Wet openly rebel (see Sept. 15, Oct. 9).
Oct. 23 French troops support the British at Zonnc-
(Fri.) beke.
South - West Africa : — Angola (Portuguese colony) is entered by the Germans.
Oct. 24 The French advance near Zonnebeke. The
(Sat.) Germans cross the Yser.
South Africa : — De Wet seizes Heilbron. H.M.S. Badger rams a German submarine off the Dutch coast.
Oct. 26 South Africa : — Union troops under Colonel
(Mon.) Brits defeat and break up rebel forces under Maritz at Kakamas.
The Cameroons : — Edea is occupied by the Allies.
The French liner Amiral Ganteaume is sunk by a submarine off Cape Grisnez.
Oct. 27 The British line is drawn back at Ypres.
(Tues.) The end of the First Battle for Warsaw (see
Oct. 15) : the Germans retreat.
Bukovina : — Czernowitz is reoccupied by the Russians (see Oct. 22, 1914 ; Feb. 17, 1915).
The Serbians are driven out of Bosnia by the Austrians.
South Africa : — General Botha defeats and disperses Beyers' commando at Commissie Drift, near Rustenburg ; Beyers escapes. i8
1914 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
H.M.S. Audacious (dreadnought) is sunk by a mine off Lough Swilly on the north coast of Ireland.
Oct. 28 The Belgians flood the land round the Yser.
(Wed.) The Emden sinks the Russian cruiser
Jemchug and the French destroyer Mousquet
off Penang.
Oct. 29 Lord Fisher succeeds Prince Louis of
(Thur.) Battenberg as British First Sea Lord (see May 28, 1915).
Fierce fighting round Ki'useik and Gheluvelt.
Oct. 30 The Germans are forced back by the floods
(Fri.) in the Yser district : the end of the Battle of
the Yser (see Oct. 16). The British are driven from Zandvoorde but hold at Klein Zillebeke.
South Africa :— Colonel Brits clears the north-west of Cape Province by defeating the remnant of the rebels left in this locality at Schuit Drift.
The German cruiser Konigsherg is discovered in the Rufiji River (German East Africa) and shelled by H.M.S. Chatliam and other British warships (see July 11, 1915).
Oct. 31 The end of the Battle of La Bass^e (see Oct.
(Sat.) 11).
A critical day in the First Battle of Ypres ; the British line is broken and restored.
19
1914 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Tsingtau is bombarded by the Japanese and British (see Nov. 7).
H.M.S. Hermes (aircraft-carrier) is sunk by a submarine in the Straits of Dover.
Nov, 1 The Germans take Messines.
(Sun.) The third Austrian invasion of Serbia begins
(see Dec. 15).
The forts of Tsingtau are silenced (see Nov. 7).
A British squadron is defeated off Coronel
(Chile) by a German squadron of superior
strength under Admiral von Spee : the Good
Hope and Monmouth are sunk.
Nov. 2 The Germans capture Neuve Chapelle from
(Mon.) the British.
Nov. 3 The Dardanelles Forts are bombarded by
(Tues.) the British and French Mediterranean fleets.
East Africa : — Tanga is attacked by the British (see Nov. 5).
A German cruiser squadron bombards Yar- mouth and escapes.
Nov. 4 The Austrians are heavily defeated at
(Wed.) Jaroslav (Galicia).
East Africa : — A British attack on Longido is repulsed.
The German armoured cruiser Yorck is sunk by a mine at the entrance to Jahde Bay (west of the mouth of the Weser). 20
1914 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Nov. 5 Great Britain declares war on Turkey and
(Thur.) annexes Cyprus.
The British line at Ypres is readjusted.
East Africa : — The British attack on Tanga is repulsed (see Nov. 3).
Nov. 6 Carl Lody is shot for espionage in the Tower
(Fri.) of London.
The Germans attack at Klein Zillebeke. Mesopotamia : — Fao, at the mouth of the Shatt-el-Arab, is captured by the British.
Nov. 7 Tsingtau is taken by the Japanese and
(Sat.) British (see Aug. 27, Oct. 31).
Nov. 9 H.M.S. Sydney of the Australian navy
(Mon.) destroys the Emden off Cocos Island.
Nov. 10 The Germans capture Dixmude.
(Tues.) Goldap (East Prussia) is occupied by the
Russians.
H.M.S. Chatham and other British warships again shell the Konigsberg in the Rufiji River (German East Africa) (see Oct. 30 and July 11, 1915).
Nov. 11 A critical day in the First Battle of Ypres :
(Wed.) a great attack by the Prussian Guard is repulsed. The Russians begin the Second Siege of Przemysl (see March 22, 1915).
The British torpedo-gunboat Niger is sunk by a German submarine off Deal.
21
1914 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Nov. 12 A fresh German assault on the Klein Zille-
(Thur.) beke position is partially successful.
South Africa : — Botha completely routs the
rebel forces under De Wet at Mushroom Valley
in the Orange Free State.
Nov. 14 Death of Lord Roberts at British G.H.Q, in
(Sat.) France (St. Omer).
Nov. 15 The Russians advance rapidly in East
(Sun.) Prussia.
Nov. 17 South-West Africa : — The Germans again
(Tues.) invade Angola (see Oct. 23).
East Africa : — Longido is occupied by the British.
Libau is shelled by a German squadron.
Nov. 18 The Second Battle for Warsaw begins (see
(Wed.) Dec. 28).
The Goeben and the Breslau are attacked by a
Russian squadron in the Black Sea, the Goeben
being damaged.
Nov. 20 The Germans invade Uganda.
(Fri.)
Nov. 21 The end of the First Battle of Ypres (see
(Sat.) Oct. 19).
Basra, at the head of the Persian Gulf, is occupied by British forces from India. 22
1914 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
A British air-raid on the Zeppehn sheds at Friedrichshafen .
Nov. 23 The Germans attack the Indians at Festu-
(Mon.) bert ; trenches are lost and recovered.
The Russian front is broken near Lodz. Zeebrugge is bombarded by two British battleships.
The German submarine U 18 is rammed and sunk off the north coast of Scotland.
Nov. 24 The Russian line near Lodz is restored.
(Tues.)
Nov. 25 Mesopotamia : — A naval reconnaissance up
(Wed.) the Tigris to Gurneh.
Nov. 26 H.M.S. Bulwark (battleship) is destroyed by
(Thur.) an accidental explosion off Sheerness with heavy loss of life.
Nov. 27 The Russians begin to evacuate Lodz.
(Fri.)
Dec. 1 South Africa : — De Wet is captured by Union
(Tues.) troops at Waterburg (100 miles west of Mafe- king) (see Oct. 22).
Dec. 2 A French success at Vermelles.
(Wed.) Belgrade is occupied by the Austrians.
Dec. 3 The Battle of the Ridges, between the Ser-
(Thur.) bians and the Austrians, begins (see Dec. 6).
23
1914 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Dec. 4 South Africa : — Part of the rebel forces
(Fri.) surrenders near Reitz.
Dec. 6 The Battle at Lodz (see Nov. 23, 24 and 27)
(Sun.) ends in the capture of the town by the Germans.
The Battle of the Ridges (see Dec. 8) ends in the rout of the Austrians.
Dec. 7 The Russians attack the forts of Cracow.
(Mon.) Mesopotamia : — A British success at Mezera.
Dec. 8 The Battle of the Falkland Islands : a Ger-
(Tues.) man squadron under Admiral von Spec is
destroyed by a British cruiser force under
Admiral Sir F. Doveton Sturdee ; only the
Dresden escapes.
South Africa : — General Beyers, after a crushing defeat south of Bothaville, is drowned in attempting to escape across the Vaal River, The main rebel force surrenders to General Botha (see Oct. 22).
The Cameroons : — Bare is occupied by the British.
The Goehen is driven from Batum.
The Austrians take the Dukla Pass. The Russians are forced to retreat from Cracow. 24
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Dee. (Fri |
11 |
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Dec. 12 (Sat.) |
1914 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Dec. 13 The British submarine B 11 passes under the
(Sun.) Dardanelles mine-fields and sinks the Turkish battleship Messudiyeh.
Dec. 15 The end of the third Austrian invasion of
(Tues.) Serbia : the Serbians retake Belgrade and again drive the Austrians out of the country (see Nov. 1).
Dec. 16 German cruisers bombard Scarborough,
(Wed.) Hartlepool, and Whitby.
Dec. 18 The Khedive of Egj^pt, Abbas ii., is deposed,
(Fri.) and Prince Hussein Kamel Pasha, a son of the
ex-Khedive Ismail, is appointed Sultan of Egypt by Great Britain (see Oct. 9, 1917).
Dec. 19 An attack by the Indian Corps at Givenchy :
(Sat.) ground is gained and lost.
Dec. 20 The Germans capture Indian positions near
(Sun.) Givenchy.
The Russians recapture the Dukla Pass and advance in the Carpathians.
A British air-raid on Brussels airship sheds.
Dec. 22 The situation near Givenchy is restored by a
(Tues.) British counter-attack.
Dec. 24 A British air-raid on the German airship
(Thur.) sheds near Brussels.
25
1914 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Dec. 25 German warships are bombed by British
(Fri.) seaplanes off Cuxhaven.
South-West Africa : — Walfish Bay is occupied by Union troops.
Dec. 26 Valona (Albania) is temporarily occupied by
(Sat.) the Italians (see May 29, 1915).
Dec. 28 The Second Battle for Warsaw (see Nov. 18)
(Mon.) ends in failure for the Germans.
Dec. 29 The Caucasus : — The Battle of Sarykamish
(Tues.) begins, between the Russians and the Turks (see Jan. 2, 1915).
Dec. 30 A raid by German aeroplanes on Dunkirk.
(Wed.)
26
1915
Jan. 1 A new British decoration, the ' MiUtary
(Fri.) Cross,' is instituted.
The Caucasus : — Ardahan is occupied by the Turks.
H.M.S. Formidable (battleship) is torpedoed in the English Channel (600 lives lost).
Jan. 2 The Caucasus :— The end of the Battle of
(Sat.) Sarykamish (see Dec. 29, 1914) : the Turks are routed.
East Africa :— Jassin is occupied by the British (see Jan. 19).
H.M.S. Fox and H.M.S. Goliath bombard Dar-es-Salaam (German East Africa).
Jan. 3 The Caucasus : — Ardahan is reoccupied by
(Sun.) the Russians.
Jan. 4 A Russian advance in the Bukovina begins.
(Mon.)
Jan. 7 The Cameroons : — A German attack on Edea
(Thur.) is repulsed.
Jan. 8 The Battle of Soissons begins (see Jan. 14) :
(Fri.) the French advance.
The Caucasus : — The Battle of Kara Urgan begins (see Jan. 13). 27
1915 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Jan. 9 Northern Persia :— The Turks capture Tabriz
(Sat.) from the Russians (see Jan. 30).
Jan. 11 A German counter-attack at Soissons is
(Mon.) repulsed.
Jan. 12 East Africa :— The Island of Mafia surrenders
(Tues.) to the British.
Jan. 13 Caucasus :— The Battle of Kara Urgan ends
(Wed.) in a Turkish defeat (see Jan. 8).
Jan. 14 The French fall back on Soissons : the end
(Thur.) of the Battle of Soissons (see Jan. 8).
South-West Africa: — Swakopmund is occu- pied by Union forces.
Jan. 19 The Austrian army enters Galicia.
(Tues.) East Africa :— Jassin is captured by the
Germans (see Jan. 2).
A Zeppelin raid on Yarmouth, Cromer and King's Lynn.
Jan. 21 The Germans capture the Hartmannsweiler-
(Thur.) kopf (Alsace).
Jan. 22 A British air-raid on Zeebrugge.
(Fri.)
Jan. 24 South Africa :— The rebels under Maritz and
(Sun.) Kemp are repulsed with heavy loss at Upington.
28
1915 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
The Battle of the Dogger Bank : Beatty's squadron destroys the Bliicher and damages other German warships.
Jan. 25 German attacks are repulsed at Cuinchy and
(Mon.) near Givenchy.
The German light cruiser Gazelle is torpedoed in the Baltic.
The Russians destroy a German airship over Libau.
Jan. 26 The Turks advance on Egypt from Palestine.
(Tues.)
Jan. 29 The Turks occupy Katiyeh, near the Suez
(Fri.) Canal.
Jan. 30 Northern Persia : — The Russians reoccupy
(Sat.) Tabriz (see Jan. 9).
Jan. 31 Farsan Island (Red Sea) is occupied by Arab
(Sun.) forces.
Feb. 1 The British hospital ship Asturias is attacked
(Mon.) near Havre by a German submarine.
Feb. 2 The first Turkish attack on the Suez Canal.
(Tues.)
Feb. 3 The Turks are repulsed on the Suez Canal.
(Wed.) South Africa : — Kemp, the last rebel leader,
surrenders unconditionally ; this ends the
rebellion (see Oct. 22, 1914). 29
1915 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Feb. 4 The British cross the Suez Canal and pursue
(Thur.) the Turks.
Feb. 6 The Russians again advance in East Prussia.
(Sat.)
Feb. 7 The Russians retire before a German advance
(Sun.) in East Prussia, and are driven back by the Austrians in the Bukovina.
Feb. 8 South- West Africa : — General Botha sails for
(Men.) Walfish Bay (see July 9, 1915).
French airmen bombard Ostend.
Feb. 11 A British air-raid on Zeebrugge.
(Thur.)
Feb. 12 The Germans invade Russia and take
(Fri.) Miriampol.
The Austrians advance in the Carpathians. Aden Protectorate is invaded by the Turks.
Feb. 14 The Germans capture Lyck and again clear
(Sun.) East Prussia.
Feb. 15 Mutiny of the 5th Light Infantry at Singa-
(Mon.) pore.
Feb. 16 The Austrians capture Kolomea (Bukovina).
(Tues.) A British naval air-raid on Zeebrugge.
30
1915 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Feb. 17 Czernowitz is recaptured by the Austrians
(Wed.) (see Oct. 27, 1914).
Feb. 18 The declaration by Germany of a submarine
(Thur.) blockade round the British Isles comes into force.
The end of the German advance into Russia.
Feb. 19 The Austrians drive the Russians out of
(Fri.) Stanislau (see March 4).
A naval attack on the Dardanelles begins : the outer forts are bombarded until the 28rd.
Feb. 21 A Zeppelin raid on Calais.
(Sun.)
Feb. 22 The Germans advance on Przasnysz (the
(Mon.) Battle of Przasnysz).
The Turks are driven from Akaba (Red Sea). South-West Africa : — Garub is occupied by Union troops.
Feb. 24 The Germans capture Przasnysz (see Feb. 27).
(Wed.)
Feb. 25 The bombardment of the Dardanelles forts
(Thur.) is resumed ; the Queen Elizabeth comes into action.
Feb. 26 The entrance to the Dardanelles is swept
(Fri.) clear of mines.
31
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Feb. 27 |
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Feb. 28 |
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(Sun.) |
1915 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Przasnysz is reoccupied by the Russians (see Feb. 24 and July 14).
A German retreat from North Poland begins.
A German submarine is rammed by the Thordis off Beachy Head (the first case of a submarine being rammed by a merchant ship).
Mar. 3 South-West Africa : — Makob is occupied by
(Wed.) Union forces.
Mar. 4 Stanislau is recaptured by the Russians
(Thur.) (see Feb. 19).
The Dardanelles forts are bombarded from inside the Straits.
The German submarine U 8 is sunk by British destroyers near Dover.
Mar. 5 The Allies bombard Smyrna,
(Fri.)
Mar. 6 Another great attack on the Dardanelles
(Sat.) forts.
Mar. 7 Lemnos, in the ^gean Sea, is occupied by the
(Sun.) British.
Mar. 8 The British Government announces that a
(Mon.) separate treatment will be meted out to pris- oners captured in German submarines (see April 12 and June 12). 32
1915 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Heavy fighting near Augustovo : the Russians drive the Germans back to the frontier. A British air-raid on Ostend.
Mar. 9 East Africa :— The British defeat the Ger-
(Tues.) mans on the Mora River.
The German submarine U 12 is rammed and sunk by the British destroyer Ariel off the Firth of Forth.
Mar. 10 The Battle of Neuve Chapelle begins : the
(Wed.) British advance (see March 13).
Mar. 11 South- West Africa : — Nabas is occupied by
(Thur.) Union forces.
H.M.S. Bayano (armed merchant cruiser) is sunk by a submarine off the Clyde.
Mar. 13 The Battle of Neuve Chapelle ends : the
(Sat.) British gains are consolidated (see March 10). The Russians breach the defences of Przemysl.
Mar. 14 The Germans attack at St. Eloi and take the
(Sun.) village.
H.M.S. Kent and Glasgow sink the Dresden off Juan Fernandez Island.
Mar. 15 The British retake St. Eloi.
(Mon.) H.M.S. Amethyst makes a raid up the Dar-
danelles.
33 c
1915 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Mar. 17 A further enemy attack at St. Eloi is re-
(Wed.) pulsed.
Sir Ian Hamilton arrives at Tenedos {JEgean Sea).
Mar. 18 The Battle of the Narrows : an Allied naval
(Thur.) attack on the Dardanelles is repulsed ; the French battleship Bouvet and the British battleships Irresistible and Ocean are sunk.
The Russians again invade East Prussia and temporarily occupy Memel (see March 21). A Zeppelin raid on Calais.
Mar. 20 South-West Africa : — General Botha defeats
(Sat.) the Germans at Riet on the Swakop.
Mar. 21 The Germans retake Memel (see March 18).
(Sun.)
Mar. 22 Przemysl surrenders to the Russians, who
(Mon.) claim 126,000 prisoners (see Nov. 11, 1914, and June 3, 1915). A second Turkish attack on the Suez Canal.
Mar. 23 The Turks are again driven back from the
(Tues.) Suez Canal.
Mar. 24 A British air-raid on German submarine
(Wed.) works at Hoboken, near Antwerp.
34
1915 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Mar. 25 The French attack the Hartmannsweiler-
(Thur.) kopf (Alsace).
The Dutch steamship Medea is sunk by a German submarine off Beachy Head.
The German fleet bombards the coast of Courland.
A French air-raid on Metz.
Mar. 27 The French capture the Hartmannsweiler-
(Sat.) kopf (Alsace).
Mar. 28 The British liner Falaba is sunk by the U 28
(Sun.) south of St. George's Channel.
Libau is bombarded by German warships.
A German air-raid on Calais.
April 1 South - West Africa : — Union forces seize
(Thur.) Hasuur.
A British air-raid on Hoboken and Zeebrugge.
April 4 South-West Africa : — Warmbad is occupied
(Easter by Union forces. Sunday)
April 5 The French attack at Les Eparges.
(Mon.) Caucasus: — Artvin is occupied by the Russians.
April 6 A German counter-attack at Les Eparges.
(Tues.)
April 8 The French win the summit of Les Eparges.
(Thur.)
35
1915 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
April 9 A final German counter-attack at Les
(Fri.) Eparges is repulsed.
April 12 Germany places 39 British officers in detention
(Mon.) barracks as a reprisal against the treatment of
submarine prisoners by Great Britain (see March
8 and June 12).
Mesopotamia: — The British are attacked at
Shaiba.
April 14 Mesopotamia : — The Battle at Shaiba ends in
(Wed.) the defeat of the Turks.
A Zeppelin raid on the Tyneside.
April 15 A Zeppelin raid on East Anglia.
(Thur.)
April 16 Northern Persia : — Urmia is occupied by the
(Fri.) Turks.
April 17 The British capture ' Hill 60,' near Ypres.
(Sat.) South West Africa : — Seeheim is occupied by
Union forces.
April 18 The Germans counter-attack on ' Hill 60 '
(Sun.) and regain part of it.
On the North-West Frontier of India Moh- mand Inshkar is defeated by the British.
April 20 Fierce fighting on ' Hill 60.' The Germans
(Tues.) bombard Ypres.
36
1915 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
April 21 The Germans are driven from ' Hill 60 ' (see
(Wed.) May 5).
April 22 The Second Battle of Ypres (see May 24) be-
(Thur.) gins ; poison gas is used by the Germans for the first time ; the Canadians suffer heavily.
April 24 A second German gas attack ; the Germans
(Sat.) storm St. Julien.
April 25 Alsace : — The French lose ground on the
(Sun.) Hartmannsweilerkopf.
April 25-26 The Allies land in Gallipoli (the Battle of (Sun.- Cape Helles). Mon.)
April 27 The Baltic Provinces are invaded by the
(Tues.) Germans.
The British positions in Gallipoli are consoli- dated.
The French armoured cruiser Leon Gamhetta is torpedoed and sunk at the entrance of the Straits of Otranto (night of 26-27).
The British submarine El4 enters the Sea of Marmora.
April 28 The German offensive is held at Ypres.
(Wed.) Alsace : — The French retake the Hartmanns-
weilerkopf, the summit of which had been lost on the 25th.
37
1915 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Gallipoli : — The First Battle for Krithia : the Allies are repulsed.
An unsuccessful Turkish attack on the Suez Canal (the third).
South-West Africa : — The Germans are de- feated at Gibeon.
French airmen raid Friedrichshafen.
April 29 A Turkish transport is sunk by the E 14 in the
(Thur.) Sea of Marmora.
April 30 A Zeppelin raid on East Anglia.
(Fri.)
May 1 The great Austro-German offensive in Western
(Sat.) Galicia begins. In the Baltic Provinces the Germans occupy Shavli and approach Libau. The Turks attack in Gallipoli. The British destroyer Recruit ^ is sunk by a submarine off the Galloper lightship. Two German torpedo boats are sunk by British destroyers in the North Sea.
May 2 A German gas attack at Ypres is repulsed.
(Sun.) The Austro -Germans cross the Biala ; Ciez-
kowice is taken.
The British counter-attack in Gallipoli.
May 3 The British line at Ypres is shortened.
(Mon.) The Germans advance on the Eastern
Front.
^ Launched 1896. The new Recruit (launched Dec. 1916) was sunk on Aug. 9, 1917.
38
1915 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
May 4 Gallipoli : — The British fail in an attack at
(Tues.) Gaba Tepe.
May 5 The Germans recapture ' Hill 60 ' (see Apr. 21 ).
(Wed.) South-West Africa : — Union forces occupy
Karibib.
May 6 Gallipoli: — The Second Battle for Krithia
(Thur.) begins (see May 8).
May 7 The Lusitania is torpedoed by a German
(Fri.) submarine off the Old Head of Kinsale ; 1198 lives are lost (including 124 Americans).
The British destroyer Maori is sunk by a mine in the North Sea.
May 8 A fierce German attack at Ypres.
(Sat.) The Russians are defeated in Galicia and in
the Baltic Provinces. Libau is captured by the Germans.
Gallipoli : — The Second Battle for Krithia (see May 6) ends in a slight Allied advance.
May 9 The British line is pushed back at Ypres.
(Sun.) The British attack and gain ground (which is
subsequently relinquished) near Fromelles.
The Battle of Souchez begins (see July 13).
Gallipoli : — Turkish trenches at Sari Bair are
stormed by the Australians.
May 10 The Germans retreat in the Baltic Provinces
(Mon.) but continue to advance in Galicia.
39
1915 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
May 11 The Germans evacuate Shavli (Baltic Pro-
(Tues.) vinces) (see May 1).
The Cameroons : — Eseka is captured by the
Allies.
May 12 South-West Africa : — Union forces capture
(Wed.) Windhoek, the capital of the Colony.
May 13 A fierce German attack at Ypres : the British
(Thur.) line is restored after hard fighting.
H.M.S. Goliath (battleship) is torpedoed off
Gallipoli, while inside the Straits protecting
the French flank.
May 14 The Battle of the San : Jaroslav is taken by
(Fri.) the Austro -Germans.
May 15 The Caucasus : — The Russians capture Van.
(Sat.)
May 16 The Battle of Festubert begins : the British
(Sun.) advance (see May 25).
The Austrians are defeated in South Poland. A Zeppelin raid on Calais.
May 17 The San is crossed by the Austro -Germans.
(Mon.) A Zeppelin raid on Ramsgate.
May 18 Gallipoli : — The Turks attack the Australians
(Tues.) and are repulsed.
40
1915 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
May 19 The Austro -Germans capture Lutkow
(Wed.) (Galieia).
May 20 Admiral von Essen, Commander-in-Chief of
(Thur.) the Russian Baltic fleet, dies of pneumonia.
May 23 Italy declares war on Austria.
(Whit Sunday)
May 24 The end of the Second Battle of Ypres (see
(Mon.) April 22).
The Italians cross the frontier into Austria (midnight, 24th-25th).
May 25 The formation of a new Coalition Ministry is
(Tues.) announced in the House of Commons.
The end of the Battle of Festubert (see May 16) ; the British gains are consolidated.
H.M.S. Triumph (battleship) is sunk by a submarine off Gaba Tape, Gallipoli.
May 26 The constitution of the new British Govern-
(Wed.) ment is announced : Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith ; Foreign Secretary, Sir E. Grey ; Secretary for India, Mr. Chamberlain ; Secretary for War, Lord Kitchener ; First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Balfour ; Minister of Munitions, Mr. Lloyd George (see Aug. 4, 1914, and Dec. 10, 1916).
The British submarine E 11 torpedoes a Turkish transport in Constantinople harbour.
A Zeppelin raid on Southend.
41
1915 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
May 27 The Italians capture Ala and Grado.
(Thur.) H.M.S. Majestic (battleship) is torpedoed off
Cape Helles, Gallipoli.
A French air-raid on Ludwigshaven.
May 28 The appointment of Admiral Sir Henry Jack-
(Fri.) son as First Sea Lord in succession to Lord Fisher is announced (see Oct. 29, 1914, and Nov. 29, 1916).
May 29 The French capture Ablain (near Souchez).
(Sat.) The Italians occupy Valona (Albania).
May 30 The Austro -Germans attack Przemysl.
(Sun.)
May 31 The French capture the sugar factory at
(Mon.) Souchez.
A Zeppelin raid on London.
June 1 The Austro -Germans capture Stryj.
(Tues.)
June 2 A German attack at Hooge is repulsed by the
(Wed.) British.
June 3 The Austro -Germans recapture Przemysl (see
(Thur.) March 22).
Mesopotamia : — The British capture Amara. 42
1915 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
June 4 Gallipoli : — A third Allied attack on Krithia
(Fri.) and Achi Baba results in a slight gain of ground at certain points.
A Zeppelin raid on the east coast of England.
June 6 A Zeppelin raid on the east coast of England.
(Sun.)
June 7 The Italians begin a general advance on the
(Mon.) Isonzo Front.
Sub-Lieut. R. A. J. Warneford destroys a Zeppelin over Belgium. A Zeppelin in its shed near Brussels is destroyed by British airmen.
June 8 Stanislau is recaptured by the Austrians (see
(Tues.) March 4).
June 9 The Isonzo front : — Monfalcone is captured
(Wed.) by the Italians.
June 10 The Austro -Germans are defeated near
(Thur.) Zurawno, where they had crossed the Dniester. The Cameroons : — Garua surrenders to the Allies.
June 12 The British Government rescinds the order
(Sat.) concerning the treatment of German submarine prisoners (see March 8 and April 12).
June 14 The Russian retirement on Grodek begins.
(Mon.)
43
1915 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
June 15 The Isonzo Front : — The Italians attack the
(Tues.) Podgora position.
A Zeppelin raid on the north-east coast of England.
A French air-raid on Karlsruhe.
June 16 The British attack and gain ground on the
(Wed.) Bellewarde Ridge, east of Ypres.
June 17 The Isonzo Front : — The Italians attack at
(Thur.) Plava.
June 18 The Austrians are defeated at Plava, and the
(Fri.) town is captured by the Italians.
Gallipoli : — The Turks attack and are re- pulsed.
An Austrian squadron raids Fano on the Italian coast.
June 20 The Germans attack in the Argonne.
(Sun.) The Russians are defeated at Rava Russka ;
the Grodek position is turned.
June 21 Gallipoli : — The Allies attack and gain
(Mon.) ground.
June 22 The Austrians recapture Lemberg (see Sept. 8,
(Tues.) 1914).
June 23 East Africa : — Bukoba on Lake Victoria
(Wed.) Nyanza is captured by the British.
44
1915 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
June 25 The Cameroons : — The Allies capture Lome.
(Fri.)
June 27 The Austro -Germans occupy Halicz.
(Sun.) Gallipoli :— The British attack and gain
ground.
June 29 Gallipoli : — The Turks attack in strength (see
(Tues.) July 1).
Cameroons : — The Allies occupy Ngaundere.
June 30 The Russians retreat before a powerful
(Wed.) German offensive between the Bug and the
Vistula. The British destroyer Lightning is sunk in
the North Sea.
July 1 Gallipoli : — The Turkish offensive fails com-
(Thur.) pletely after fierce fighting (see June 29).
July 2 An offensive is launched by the Italians on
(Fri.) the Isonzo : they advance on Gorizia (see
July 29).
South-West Africa : — Union forces capture Otavifontein.
The German cruiser Pommern is torpedoed by a British submarine in the Baltic.
July 4 Gallipoli: — A strong Turkish attack is re-
(Sun.) pulsed.
South-West Africa : — The Germans are de- feated at Gaub.
45
1915 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
July 5 The German advance on Warsaw is checked.
(Mon.) In the Aden Protectorate Lahej is taken by
the Turks.
July 6 The British capture trenches near Pilkem.
(Tues.) A German success at St. Mihiel.
The Russians defeat the Austrians near Krasnik.
July 7 An Italian attack at Gorizia is repulsed.
(Wed.)
July 8 The Italian cruiser Amalfi is sunk by an
(Thur.) Austrian submarine in the Adriatic.
July 9 The German forces in South-West Africa sur-
(Fri.) render unconditionally to General Botha.
July 11 The Konigsberg is finally destroyed in the
(Sun.) Ruj&ji River (East Africa) by British river monitors (see Oct. 30 and Nov. 10, 1914).
July 13 The end of the Battle of Souchez (see May 9).
(Tues.)
July 14 The Austro -Germans launch an offensive
(Wed.) which covers the whole Eastern Front; they capture Przasnysz (see Feb. 27).
July 15 The Germans advance towards Riga.
(Thur.)
46
1915 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
July 16 Heavy fighting on the Eastern Front; the
(Fri.) Battle of Krasnostav begins.
July 18 The Russians are defeated at Krasnostav.
(Sun.) Windau (on the coast of Courland) is cap-
tured by the Germans.
The Italian cruiser Giuseppe Garibaldi is sunk by an Austrian submarine.
July 19 The Third Battle for Warsaw begins (see
(Mon.) Aug. 5). The Germans force a crossing of
the Upper Bug.
The Isonzo Front : — The Italians capture
Monte San Michele.
July 20 The Germans advance on Kovno (see Aug. 17).
(Tues.) The Isonzo Front : — An Italian success at
Podgora.
July 21 A British success at Hooge.
(Wed.) The Germans gain a crossing of the Vistula
at Nova Alexandria.
July 22 The Germans invest Ivangorod.
(Thur.) The Isonzo Front : — The Italians continue to
gain ground.
July 23 The Germans force a crossing of the Narev.
(Fri.) An Austrian squadron bombards Ortona (on
the eastern coast of Italy).
47
1915 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
July 25 The Italians occupy the island of Pelagosa
(Sun.) (Adriatic).
Mesopotamia : — Nasiriyeh is captured by the British.
July 26 There is heavy fighting before Warsaw.
(Mon.) A British submarine sinks a German de-
stroyer near the German coast.
July 27 The Germans close in on three sides of
(Tues.) Warsaw.
July 28 The Germans cross the Vistula in force.
(Wed.)
July 29 The Russian line is broken on the Lublin-
(Thur.) Cholm railway.
The end of the Italian offensive on the Isonzo (see July 2) ; it results in a valuable advance and the capture of many prisoners by the Italians.
July 30 A successful German attack with liquid fire
(Fri.) (first use of this) at Hooge ; a British counter-
attack fails (see Aug. 9).
The Austro -Germans occupy Lublin. The Russians retire rapidly.
A British submarine sinks a German transport in the Baltic.
July 31 The Austro -Germans occupy Cholm.
(Sat.)
48
1915 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Aug. 1 Mitau is occupied by the Germans (see
(Sun.) Aug. 16).
Rhodesia : — The Germans are driven back from Abercorn.
Aug. 3 The Germans force the line of the Narev.
(Tues.)
Aug. 4 The Russians evacuate the Blonie lines, 15
(Wed.) miles west of Warsaw.
Aug. 5 Warsaw, Ivangorod, and Vladimir Volynski
(Thur.) are captured by the Austro -Germans (see July 19 and 22). The Russians prepare to evacuate Riga.
Aug. 6 Gallipoli :--The Battles of Sari Bair (see
(Fri.) Aug. 11) and Suvla (see Aug. 15) begin :
the British effect a surprise landing in Suvla
Bay and launch an offensive against the Turks
at other points.
Aug. 7 The Germans are repulsed near Riga.
(Sat.) Gallipoli; — Slight successes are gained against
the Turkish positions above Suvla Bay.
Aug. 8 Gallipoli : — The New Zealanders capture
(Sun.) Chunuk Bair. This is the critical day at Suvla (see Aug. 10).
Persian Gulf: — Bushire is occupied by the British.
49 D
1915 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
H.M.S. India (armed merchant cruiser) is sunk by a submarine off the Norwegian coast.
Aug. 9 A successful British counter-attack at
(Men.) Hooge : the trenches lost on July 30 are recaptured.
A British submarine sinks a Turkish battle- ship, the Kheyr-ed-Din Barharossa.
The British destroyer Lynx is mined off the Moray Firth.
A Zeppelin raid on the east coast of England. A Zeppelin is destroyed near Ostend.
Aug. 10 The German advance beyond the Vistula
(Tues.) begins.
Gallipoli : — The Turks regain Chunuk Bair.
A German squadron fails to force its way
into the Gulf of Riga (see Aug. 17, 18, and 21).
The German mine -layer and raider Meteor is
blown up, to avoid capture by British cruisers
near the German coast.
Aug. 11 Gallipoli : — The end of the Battle of Sari Bair
(Wed.) (see Aug. 6).
Aug. 12 Syedlets (Poland) is taken by the Germans.
(Thur.) A Zeppelin raid on the east coast of England.
Aug. 14 A German submarine sinks a British transport,
(Sat.) the Royal Edward, in the ^Egean (the first British transport to be lost).
50
1915 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Aug. 15 The Germans take Vlodava (Poland).
(Sun.) Gallipoli : — The end of the Battle of Suvla (see
Aug. 6).
Aug. 16 The Russians retake Mitau (see Aug. 1).
(Mon.)
Aug. 17 The Germans capture Kovno (see July 20).
(Tues.) A German squadron enters the Gulf of Riga
(see Aug. 10, 18, and 21).
Aug. 18 The Germans cut the Brest-Bialystok railway.
(Wed.) A Russian naval success in the Gulf of Riga :
the German squadron which has entered the Gulf suffers severe losses.
A British submarine torpedoes the German battle -cruiser Moltke in the Baltic.
The British submarine El3 is shelled by German warships when aground in Danish waters. She is wrecked and interned.
Aug. 19 A German submarine sinks the White Star
(Thur.) liner Arabic south of Ireland.
Aug. 20 Italy declares war on Turkey.
(Fri.) Novo-Georgievsk is captured by the Ger-
mans ; a further Russian retreat follows.
Aug. 21 The British and French Governments declare
(Sat.) cotton an absolute contraband of war.
Gallipoli : — A fresh British attack on the Turkish positions at Suvla fails.
51
1915 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
The German naval forces retire from the Gulf of Riga (see Aug. 17 and 18).
Aug. 23 The Germans take Ossowietz. The Austro-
(Mon.) Germans occupy Kovel.
A Franco -British squadron bombards Zee- brugge.
Aug. 25 Brest-Litovsk is taken by the Germans.
(Wed.)
Aug. 26 The Russians evacuate the fort of Olita on
(Thur.) the Niemen.
A British aeroplane bombs and sinks a Ger- man submarine near Ostend.
Aug. 27 Germany notifies the U.S.A. that her sub-
(Fri.) marine commanders are henceforward for- bidden to sink merchantmen without warning.
Aug. 28 A great German attack on the Dvina line
(Sat.) begins.
Aug. 30 A Russian victory on the Strypa in Southern
(Mon.) Galicia.
Sept. 1 The Germans capture Lutsk (see Sept. 23 and
(Wed.) 28) and storm part of the defences of Grodno.
The Austro -Germans capture Brody (Galicia)
(see Aug. 23, 1914). 52
1915 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Sept. 2 The Germans capture Grodno. The Austro-
(Thur.) Germans cross the Styr, the Sereth, and the
Sedan Strypa.
fated"" '^^^ British transport Sutherland is torpedoed
1870.' in the ^Egean (loss of life small).
Sept. 3 The Russians re-enter Grodno temporarily,
(Fri.) but are forced across the Dvina at Friedrichstadt.
Sept. 4 The Germans complete the occupation of
(Sat.) Grodno.
A German submarine torpedoes the Allan liner Hesperian off Ireland.
Sept. 5 The Tzar formally assumes command of the
(Sun.) Russian armies ; the Grand Duke Nicholas is appointed Viceroy in the Caucasus.
A British success at Hafiz Kor on the North- West Frontier of India.
Sept. 6 A French air-raid on Saarbrucken.
(Mon.)
Sept. 7 The Battle of Tamopol begins (see Aug.
(Tues.) 23, 1914).
British and French warships bombard the Belgian coast.
A Zeppelin raid on the east coast of England (17 killed).
Sept. 8 The Battle of Tamopol on the Sereth ends
(Wed.) in a Russian victory.
53
1915 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
A Zeppelin raid on the east coast of England and on London (20 killed).
Sept. 9 Further Russian successes on the Sereth.
(Thur.)
Sept. 12 The Germans storm Meiszagola and cut the
(Sun.) Vilna-Dvinsk railway.
Sept. 16 The Germans occupy Pinsk.
(Thur.)
Sept. 18 Vilna capitulates to the Germans.
(Sat.) British and French warships bombard the
Belgian coast.
Sept. 19 The British transport Ramazan is torpedoed
(Sun.) and sunk in the ^Egean with heavy loss of life in Indian troops.
Sept. 20 The Russians retake Vidzy.
(Mon.)
Sept. 22 A French air-raid on Stuttgart.
(Wed.)
Sept. 23 The Russians retake Lutsk and Dubno (see
(Thur.) Sept. 1 and 28).
Bulgaria mobilises (see Oct. 11).
Sept. 24 A German attack on Dvinsk fails.
(Fri.) 54
1915 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Sept. 25 The Battle of Loos begins : the British cap-
(Sat.) ture Loos and make a considerable advance in its neighbourhood (see Oct. 15).
The French attack at the Vimy Ridge and in Champagne (the Battle of Champagne).
Mesopotamia : — General Townshend reaches Kut-el-Amara.
Sept. 26 Fierce fighting round Loos and Hulluch ; the
(Sun.) British lose ground.
The French capture Souchez.
Sept. 28 The Russians abandon Lutsk (see Sept. 1
(Tues.) and 23).
Mesopotamia : — The First Battle of Kut-el- Amara begins.
The Italian battleship Benedetto Brin is destroyed by an accidental explosion.
Sept. 29 Heavy fighting for the Hohenzollern Re-
(Wed.) doubt (near Loos).
Heavy fighting on the French front in Cham- pagne and on the Vimy Ridge.
Mesopotamia : — The British capture Kut- el-Amara and 2000 prisoners.
Oct. 3 The Germans counter-attack near Loos and
(Sun.) retake most of the Hohenzollern Redoubt.
A great battle for Dvinsk begins (see Oct. 10). 55
1915 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Oct. 4 Russian ultimatum to Bulgaria.
(Mon.) The Caucasus : — The Turks are defeated by
the Russians near Van.
Oct. 5 Lord Derby is appointed Director of Recruit-
(Tues.) ing in Great Britain.
M. Venizelos resigns and M. Zaimis becomes Greek Premier (see Nov. 4). Allied troops land at Salonika.
Oct. 6 Crossings of the Save and the Danube are
(Wed.) forced by the Austro -Germans ; Serbia is thus invaded for the fourth time.
Oct. 8 German counter-attacks in Champagne and
(Fri.) near Loos are repulsed with heavy loss.
The Austro-Germans capture Belgrade.
Oct. 9 Austria invades Montenegro.
(Sat.) The Cameroons : — Wum Biagas is captured
by the British.
Oct. 10 The German attack on Dvinskfails (see Oct. 8).
(Sun.) Semendria is taken by the Austrians.
Oct. 11 Bulgaria invades Serbia (see Oct. 14). Serbia
(Mon.) appeals to Greece for aid.
Oct. 12 Edith Cavell is executed at Brussels.
(Tues.) Greece refuses Serbia's appeal.
The Russians attack near Dvinsk.
A Zeppelin raid on London (many casualties). 56
1915 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Oct. 13 M. Delcasse, the French Minister for Foreign
(Wed.) Affairs, resigns.
The British attack near Loos with partial success.
A Zeppehn raid on London (59 killed).
Oct. 14 Bulgaria declares war on Serbia (see Oct. 11).
(Thur.) A Russian success near Dvinsk.
Oct. 15 Great Britain declares war on Bulgaria.
(Fri.) The end of the Battle of Loos (see Sept. 25).
The Bulgarians take Vranja.
Oct. 16 France declares war on Bulgaria.
(Sat.) Alsace : — The French recover the Hartmanns-
weilerkopf (lost after much previous fighting).
Sir Ian Hamilton is recalled from Gallipoli, Sir
Charles Monro being appointed to succeed him.
Oct. 17 The Italians capture Pregasina.
(Sun.) A French air-raid on Treves.
Oct. 18 Sir Edward Carson resigns his seat in the
(Mon.) British Cabinet.
The Germans advance on Riga.
Oct. 19 Italy declares war on Bulgaria.
(Tues.) A French force drives the Bulgarians from
Strunmitza.
57
1915 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Oct. 21 The Bulgarians capture Veles (see Oct. 25
(Thur.) and 29).
Tra- An Allied squadron bombards the harbour
1805^' of Dedeagatch and other points of military im-
portance on the Bulgarian coast.
Oct. 22 The ' Group ' system of enlistment comes into
(Fri.) operation in Great Britain.
The Bulgarians capture Uskub and Ru- manovo.
The Italians advance on the Isonzo front.
Oct. 23 The Austro-Germans force the passage of the
(Sat.) Danube at Orsova.
Mesopotamia : — The British reach Azizie in their advance on Baghdad.
A British submarine sinks the German cruiser Prinz Adalbert in the Baltic.
Oct. 24 The Germans are within ten miles of Riga.
(Sun.) The Danube route to Constantinople is opened
to the Germans by their victories in Serbia.
Oct. 25 The Austro-German and Bulgarian forces
(Mon.) effect a junction in the Kraina district. The Serbians recapture Veles (see Oct. 21 and 29). The Cameroons : — Sende is occupied by the French.
The British destroyer Velox is mined off the Nab lightship.
58
1915 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Oct. 26 The British transport Marquette is torpedoed
(Tues.) in the Mgean.
Oct. 27 French troops effect a junction with the
(Wed.) Serbians at Veles. The French and British are in position across the Vardar.
The Russian Black Sea Fleet bombards Varna.
Oct. 28 The French Ministry resigns : M. Briand be-
(Thur.) comes Premier (see March 17, 1917).
King George is thrown from his horse and injured in France.
Sir Charles Monro assumes command in Gallipoli.
H.M.S. Argyll (cruiser) is wrecked off the east coast of Scotland (no lives lost).
Oct. 29 Veles is retaken by the Bulgarians (see Oct.
(Fri.) 21 and 25).
The British mine-sweeper Hythe is sunk off Gallipoli.
Oct. 30 The Germans capture the Butte of Tahure.
(Sat.) The Serbian arsenal at Kragujevatz is cap-
tured by the Austrians.
The Cameroons : — ^Eseka is captured by the Allies.
Oct. 31 A Russian counter-offensive near Dvinsk
(Sun.) begins.
59
1915 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Nov. 2 A Russian success on the Strypa : 5000
(Tues.) prisoners are taken.
An Italian success on the Isonzo front.
Nov. 3 The Russians advance south-east of Dvinsk.
(Wed.) The British transport Woodfield is sunk by a
submarine off Morocco (loss of hfe small). The Cameroons : — Tibati is occupied by the
Allies.
Nov. 4 The resignation of M. Zaimis, the Greek
(Thur.) Premier, is announced (see Oct. 5).
Turkish attacks at Anzac are repulsed.
Nov. 5 The Russians force back the Germans in the
(Fri.) Riga district.
Serbia : — Nish is captured by the Bulgarians after three days' fierce fighting. The main German and Bulgarian forces effect a junction at Krivivir, north of Nish.
Nov. 6 M. Skouloudis becomes Greek Premier (see
(Sat.) June 22, 1916).
A British success at Bango Mountain in the Cameroons.
The British submarine E20 is lost in the Dardanelles.
Nov. 7 A Note is received from the U.S.A. protest-
(Sun.) ing against the maritime policy of Great Britain and France.
6o
1915 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
The Russians capture Olai (west of Riga).
A German submarine sinks the ItaHan Hner Ancona off Sardinia ; many are drowned, including 25 Americans.
A British submarine sinks the German hght cruiser Undine in the Baltic.
Nov. 9 A Russian victory near Kolki, on the Styr :
(Tues.) 3500 prisoners are taken.
Nov. 10 Heavy fighting between the Russians and
(Wed.) the Germans near Riga.
Nov. 11 The War Committee of the British Cabinet is
(Thur . ) appointed. Mr. Churchill leaves the Government. A Russian victory at Kemmern near Riga : the Germans are forced to retreat.
Nov. 12 The Germans henceforward control the rail-
(Fri.) way from Belgrade to Constantinople.
Mesopotamia : — The British under General Townshend advance on Ctesiphon.
Nov. 14 Fierce fighting for the ' Labyrinth ' in Artois.
(Sun.) An Austrian air-raid on Verona.
Nov. 15 An Austrian success on the Styr.
(Mon.) Gallipoli : — A successful attack is made on
Turkish trenches by the 52nd Division.
Nov. 16 The Bulgarians capture Prilep. The French
(Tues.) repulse Bulgarian attacks between Krivolak and Strumnitza.
6i
1915 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Nov. 17 The British hospital ship Anglia is sunk by a
(Wed.) mine in the Channel (85 lives lost).
Nov. 21 Serbia : — Fall of Novi Bazar to the Germans.
(Sun.)
Nov. 22 A German success on the Dvina.
(Mon.) Mesopotamia : — The Battle of Ctesiphon
begins : the chief Turkish positions are cap- tured (see Nov. 24).
A revolt, instigated by Germany, breaks out in Persia.
Nov. 23 The Serbians retreat towards Albania. The
(Tues.) Serbian Government leaves Mitrovitza for Prisrend.
Rovereto is taken by the Italians.
Nov. 24 Mesopotamia : — The Battle of Ctesiphon
(Wed.) ends in the defeat of the Turks, but at the
price of very heavy British losses (see Nov. 22).
Nov. 25 Serbia : — The Austrians capture Mitrovitza
(Thur.) and Prishtina. The Serbian seat of Govern- ment is moved to Scutari in Albania.
Mesopotamia : — The British retreat from Ctesiphon towards Azizie.
Nov. 28 The Serbian army retreats into Albania.
(Sun.) A German submarine is sunk off the Belgian
coast by a bomb from a British aeroplane. 62
1915 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Nov. 29 The Bulgarians occupy Prisrend.
(Mon.)
Nov. 30 Mesopotamia : — The British retreat from
(Tues.) Azizie on Kut-el-Amara.
Dec. 3 Mesopotamia : — The British reach Kut-el-
(Fri.) Amara.
Dec. 4 British reinforcements are landed at Salonika.
(Sat.)
Dec. 5 Serbia: — Monastir is taken by the Bulgarians.
(Sun.)
Dec. 6 The Allied Council meets in Paris (its first
(Mon.) meeting).
The Bulgarians attack the British near Lake Doiran.
Dec. 7 Ipek (Montenegro) is taken by the Austrians ;
(Tues.) the British are forced back from Lake Doiran ;
the Allies begin to retire from Serbia into Greece.
Mesopotamia : — The siege of Kut-el-Amara
begins (see April 29, 1916).
Dec. 8 Gallipoli : — The evacuation of Suvla and
(Wed.) Anzac begins (see Dec. 20, 1915, and Jan. 8, 1916).
Dec. 9 The Bulgarians occupy Diakhova, Dibra, and
(Thur.) Okrida.
63
1915 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Dec. 11 Macedonia : — The French and British repel
(Sat.) Bulgarian attacks with heavy loss.
Persia : — The Russians occupy Hamadan after defeating the Persian rebels.
Dec. 12 Recruiting for the ' Derby ' groups is closed
(Sun.) in Great Britain.
The Franco-British forces are in position before Salonika.
The Bulgarians capture Doiran and Ghevgeli. Mesopotamia : — A Turkish attack on Kut-el- Amara is repulsed.
Dec. 13 Western Egypt: — In an action near Mersa
(Mon.) Matruh an attack by Senussi Arabs is repulsed.
Dec. 14 It is announced that Sir H. Smith-Dorrien
(Tues.) is appointed to Supreme Command in East Africa (see Feb. 10, 1916).
Dec. 15 Resignation of Sir John French ; Sir Douglas
(Wed.) Haig succeeds him as British Commander-in- Chief in France.
Dec. 17 The German light cruiser Bremen and a
(Fri.) German torpedo boat are sunk in the Baltic by Allied submarines.
Albania : — Elbasan is taken by the Bulgarians.
Dec. 20 The first ' Derby ' groups are called up for
(Mon.) service.
64
1915 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Gallipoli : — The evacuation of Anzac and Suvla is completed (see Dec. 8).
Albania : — Durazzo is occupied by the Italians.
Persia : — The Russians occupy Kum ; this marks the end of the Persian revolt.
Dec. 21 Sir William Robertson is appointed Chief
(Tues.) of the British Imperial General Staff (see Feb.
16, 1918).
The Cameroons : — Mangeles is occupied by
the French.
Dec. 24 The French liner Ville de Cioiat is torpedoed
(Fri.) in the Mediterranean.
Dec. 25 Western Egypt : — The main Senussi force is
(Sat.) attacked and routed near Mersa Matruh.
Mesopotamia : — Turkish attacks on Kut-el- Amara are repulsed.
Dec. 27 Heavy fighting between the Russians and
(Mon.) the Austrians on the Bessarabia -Bukovina frontier.
Dec. 28 The decision of the British Cabinet in favour
(Tues.) of Compulsory Service is announced. The Indian Corps leaves France.
65 e
1915 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Dec. 29 In a sea fight off Cattaro a French submarine
(Wed.) and two Austrian destroyers are sunk.
Dec. 30 The P. & O. Hner Persia is torpedoed in the
(Thur.) Mediterranean.
Dec. 31 H.M.S.iVato^cruiser) is blown up in Cromarty
(Fri.) Firth by an internal explosion.
66
1916
Jan. 1 The Russians gain successes on the Styr
(Sat.) and the Strypa.
The Ca meroons : — The British capture Jaunde (the capital of the German colony).
Jan. 2 The Russians approach Czernowitz.
(Sun.) The British passenger steamer Glengyle is
sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean.
Jan. 4 Lord Derby's report on the recruiting cam-
(Tues.) paign in Great Britain is issued.
Mesopotamia : — The Kut relieving force advances from Ali-el-Gharb.
Jan. 5 The Military Service Bill that inaugurates
(Wed.) conscription is introduced in the British House of Commons.
The Russians advance in the Bukovina.
Jan. 6 Recruiting for the ' Derby ' groups reopens
(Thur.) in Great Britain.
Mesopotamia : — The British relieving force defeats the Turks before Kut, but its further progress is checked by floods.
H.M.S. King Edward VII. (battleship) is sunk by a mine off the north coast of Scotland.
67
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Jan. 8 The evacuation of Gallipoli is completed
(Sat.) (see Dec. 8, 1915).
The Russians capture Chartorysk (50 miles east of Kovel).
Jan. 10 Montenegro :— The Austrians capture Mount
(Mon.) Lovtchen.
Jan. 11 A French force lands at Corfu to prepare for
(Tues.) the transfer thither of Serbian troops from
Albania .
The Caucasus : — The Russians advance on
Erzerum.
Jan. 18 Cettinje, the capital of Montenegro, is occu-
(Thur.) pied by the Austrians.
Mesopotamia : — The Turks are again defeated before Kut.
Jan. 14 An Austrian cruiser is sunk off Cattaro by a
(Fri.) French submarine.
Jan. 15 The first Serbian troops land at Corfu.
(Sat.) The steamship Ariadne is sunk by the M&we.
Jan 16 A Russian success near Pinsk.
(Sun.) General Sarrail assumes command of the
Allied forces at Salonika.
A battle begins in the Caucasus (near Erzerum) between the Russians and the Turks. 68
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
The liner Appam is captured by the M'dxve off the Canaries (see Feb. 1 and March 4).
Jan. 17 A Russian victory in the Caucasus : the
(Mon.) Turks retire on Erzerum.
The Clan MacTavish is sunk by the M'dwe.
Jan. 18 AlHed warships bombard Dedeagateh and
(Tues.) Porto Lagos on the Bulgarian coast.
Jan. 21 Mesopotamia : — Action of Um-el-Hannah :
(Fri.) the Kut relieving force is repulsed.
Jan. 22 Montenegro : — Antivari is taken by the
(Sat.) Austrian s.
Jan. 23 The Austrians complete their possession of
(Sun.) Montenegro by the occupation of Scutari.
Western Egypt : — A British column disperses the Senussi Arabs and burns their camp. A German air-raid on Kent. A French air-raid on Metz.
Jan. 24 German attacks near Neuville meet with
(Mon.) some success.
A French air-raid on Monastir.
Jan. 27 The U.S.A. Government publishes a Note of
(Thur.) protest against the British search of mails.
A German attack on the British near Loos is repulsed.
69
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Jan. 29 A Zeppelin raid on Paris.
(Sat.)
Jan. 31 A Zeppelin raid on the Midlands (67 killed) ;
(Mon.) a Zeppelin, the L19, is wrecked in the North Sea while returning from the raid.
Feb. 1 The British liner Appam arrives at Norfolk,
(Tiies.) Virginia, manned by a German prize crew. A German air-raid on Salonika.
Feb. 2 The Dutch steamer Artemis is torpedoed by a
(Wed.) German submarine.
Feb. 3 Mesopotamia : — Heavy fighting before Kut.
(Thur.)
Feb. 4 Heavy fighting round Dvinsk.
(Fri.)
Feb. 8 The Russians cross the Dniester.
(Tues.) The French cruiser Amiral Charmer is sunk
by a mine or submarine off the Syrian coast.
Feb. 9 A German air-raid on Ramsgate and Broad-
(Wed.) stairs. A British air-raid on Terhand.
Feb. 10 The Military Service Act (instituting com-
(Thur.) pulsory service for single men aged 19 to 30) comes into operation in Great Britain. 70
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
It is announced that Sir H. Smith -Dorrien resigns command in East Africa owing to ill- health (see Dec. 14, 1915), and that Lieut.- General J. Smuts is appointed to succeed him (see Jan. 28, 1917).
The Caucasus : — The Russian attack on Erzerum begins (see Feb. 16).
The reorganised Serbian army (75,000 troops) is successfully concentrated at Corfu.
British mine-sweepers are attacked off the Dogger Bank ; the Arabis is sunk.
Feb. 11 H.M.S. Arethusa (Ught cruiser) is sunk by a
(Fri.) mine off the East Coast.
Feb. 12 The Germans make several attempts to cross
(Sat.) the Yser Canal.
German attacks near Vimy are repulsed.
Feb. 13 The Caucasus : — A Russian success at Erze-
(Sun.) rum.
Feb. 14 A German success at 'the Bluff,' near Ypres:
(Mon.) the British lose trenches (see March 2). An Austrian air-raid on Milan.
Feb. 16 Verdun is cleared of its civilian population.
(Wed.) The Caucasus ; — Erzerum is captured by the
Russians (see Feb. 10).
71
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Feb. 19 German attacks are repulsed south of Arras
(Sat.) and north of Ypres.
The Caucasus : — The Russians capture Akhlat and Mush, north-west of Lake Van (see Aug. 2). The Cameroons : — The last German post in the Mora Mountains surrenders ; this completes the occupation of the Cameroons by the Allies (see Aug. 25, 1914).
Feb. 20 A German air-raid on Walmer and Lowestoft.
(Sun.) A British air-raid on Don, in Flanders.
Feb. 21 The Battle of Verdun begins (see Julj^ 1).
(Mon.) A Zeppelin is destroyed near Revigny.
Feb. 22 The Germans gain ground before Verdun,
(Tues.) capturing Haumont Wood and the French salient north of Beaumont.
Feb. 23 Portugal seizes interned German ships (see
(Wed.) March 10).
Further German progress and French with- drawals before Verdun.
Feb. 24 The French resist strongly before Verdun,
(Thur.) but the German advance continues.
Feb. 2.5 A critical day in the Battle of Verdun : Fort
(Fri.) Douaumont is stormed by the Germans.
72
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Feb. 26 German attacks beyond Fort Douaumont are
(Sat.) repulsed by the French ; this ends the first stage of the Battle of Verdun.
Western Egypt : — The Senussi Arabs are defeated at Agagia.
The French transport Provence II. is sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean with heavy loss of life.
Feb. 27 Verdun : — A heavy bombardment by the
(Sun.) Germans and some infantry fighting.
Durazzo is captured by the Austrians, Persia : — Kermanshah is captured by the Russians (see July 2, 1916).
The P. & O. liner Maloja is sunk by a mine off Dover.
Feb. 29 An action is fought in the North Sea between
(Tues.) H.M.S. Alcantara (armed merchant cruiser)
and the German raider Greif, in which both are
sunk.
Mar. 1 H.M.S. Primula (sloop) is sunk by a sub-
(Wed.) marine in the Mediterranean.
Mar. 2 A British success near Ypres : ' the Bluff '
(Thur.) is recaptured (see Feb. 14).
Verdun : — The Germans capture the village of Douaumont.
The Caucasus : — Bitlis (south-west of Lake Van) is captured by the Russians (see Aug. 2). 73
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Mar. 3 Verdun : — The French reoccupy Douaumont
(Fri.) village ; the Germans attack the village of Vaux.
Mar. 4 There is fierce fighting for the Hohenzollem
(Sat.) Redoubt (near Loos).
Verdun : — The Germans again capture the village of Douaumont.
The German Admiralty announces the safe return of the raider 31'6we.
Mar. 5 Persia : — Sinneh is taken by the Russians.
(Sun.) A Zeppelin raid on the north-east coast of
England.
Mar. 6 Verdun : — The Germans advance up the
(Mon.) n^'thern slopes of the Cote de I'Oie.
Mar. 7 A further German success at Verdun : Hill
(Tues.) 265 is carried.
East Africa : — The British advance in the Kilimanjaro district.
The Caucasus : — Rizeh is captured by the Russians.
H.M.S. Coquette (destroyer) and the British torpedo boat No. 11 are sunk by mines off the east coast of England.
Mar. 8 Heavy fighting at Verdun : the French regain
(Wed.) ground.
Mesopotamia : — The second attempt to relieve Kut fails, the British being repulsed at Es Sinn.
74
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
The Caucasus : — The Russians advance to- wards Trebizond.
A French air-raid on Metz.
Mar. 9 Mesopotamia : — The British reheving force
(Thur.) falls back from Es Sinn.
H.M.S. Fauvette (armed boarding-steamer) is sunk by a mine off the east coast of England.
Mar. 10 Germany declares war on Portugal (see
(Fri.) Feb. 28).
Mar. 11 East Africa: — Further British successes west
(Sat.) of Taveta and near Kilimanjaro : the Germans retreat.
Mar. 12 Persia : — Kerind is occupied by the Russians.
(Sun.) East Africa : — Moshi is occupied by the
British.
Mar. 14 The Caucasus : — The Russians occupy Mama-
(Tues.) khatun (see May 31).
Egypt : — The British occupy Solium.
Mar. 16 The resignation of Grand Admiral von Tirpitz
(Thur.) as Head of the German Navy is announced. He is succeeded by Admiral von Capelle.
Verdun : — Heavy German attacks are re- pulsed.
The Dutch liner Tubantia is sunk by a German submarine. 75
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Mar. 17 A fresh German offensive is launched against
(Fri.) Russia.
Egypt : — A motor force under the Duke of Westminster rescues British prisoners from the Senussi by a successful raid.
Mar, 18 A German success at the HohenzoUern
(Sat.) Redoubt.
The First Battle of Lake Narotch (east of Vilna) begins (see April 14).
The Dutch liner Palembang is sunk by a German submarine.
The French destroyer Renaudin is sunk by an enemy submarine in the Adriatic,
Allied air-raids on Metz and Zeebrugge.
Mar. 1 9 Persia : — Ispahan is captured by the Russians ,
(Sun.) An air-raid on Kent by German seaplanes
(one destroyed).
Mar. 20 Verdun : — Renewed German attacks fail.
(Mon.) Heavy fighting near Dvinsk and Riga.
An action is fought between British and Ger- man destroyers off the Belgian coast : the Germans run for Zeebrugge.
A big raid by Allied aeroplanes on Zeebrugge.
Mar. 22 Verdun : — The Germans carry Avocourt
(Wed.) Wood.
A Russian success near Dvinsk. 76
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Mar. 24 The Sussex (passenger steamer) is torpedoed
(Fri.) in the Channel by a German submarine.
Mar. 25 The Russians attack the Germans near Vilna.
(Sat.) A raid by British seaplanes, convoyed by
light cruisers and destroyers, on German air- ship sheds in Schleswig-Holstein : the British destroyer Medusa is lost by collision, and two German patrol boats are sunk in the naval action which develops.
Mar. 27 A Conference of the Allies is held in Paris.
(Mon.) A British success at St. Eloi : German
trenches are captured (see April 7).
The Russians again attack near Vilna.
A German air-raid on Salonika.
Mar. 28 Verdun : — The German attacks are renewed.
(Tues.)
Mar. 30 Verdun : — There is heavy fighting for Fort
(Thur.) Douaumont ; the Germans capture Malancourt. The Russian hospital ship Portugal is sunk by an enemy submarine in the Black Sea.
Mar. 31 The British G.H.Q. are moved from St.
(Fri.) Omer to Montreuil.
A Zeppelin raid on England (which is followed by four more within a week). The Zeppelin L 15 is brought down at the mouth of the Thames.
77
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
April 1 Verdun : — The Germans gain ground at Fort
(Sat.) Vaux.
A Zeppelin raid on the north-east coast of England.
April 2 An explosion occurs in a munitions factory
(Sun.) at Faversham, Kent (106 killed).
A Zeppelin raid on England and Scotland,
April 3 A British success at St. Eloi.
(Mon.) A French success at Verdun.
The Caucasus :— A Russian attack on Trebi- zond begins (see April 18).
April 4 Verdun : — The Germans attack at Douau-
(Tues.) mont and are repulsed.
General Brussiloff succeeds General Ivanoff in command of the Russian armies of the South.
A Zeppelin raid on the Eastern Counties.
April 5 A Zeppelin raid on the north-east of England.
(Wed.)
April 6 Mesopotamia : — A third attempt is made to
(Thur.) relieve Kut : the Um-el-Hannah and Fala- hiyah positions are captured.
April 7 The Germans regain the trenches captured
(Fri.) by the British at St. Eloi on March 27.
The Russians again attack the German lines near Vilna.
78
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Macedonia : — The Allied positions on the Vardar are bombarded.
April 8 Fierce fighting at Verdun : the French evacu-
(Sat,) ate Bethincourt.
April 9 The British regain ground at St. Eloi.
(Sun.) Verdun : — A fierce German attack on the
Mort Homme.
Mesopotamia : — The fii'st British attack on the Sanna-i-Yat position is repulsed,
April 10 A British success at St, Eloi.
(Mon.) A critical day at Verdun : German attacks
on the Mort Homme are repulsed.
April 1 1 The Germans attack near Albert and continue
(Tues.) their attacks at Verdun.
Italy : — The Alpini gain a success on the Ada- mello glacier.
April 12 Mesopotamia : — The British make a second
(Wed.) attack on the Sanna-i-Yat position : some ground is gained.
April 13 Egypt : — Australian troops destroy a Turkish
(Thur.) camp at Jifjaffa on the Egyptian frontier.
April 14 The end of the First Battle of Lake Narotch
(Fri.) (see March 18) ; it leads to little change of
position.
79
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
British naval aeroplanes bomb Constanti- nople and Adrianople.
April 15 A Russian success in the Caucasus.
(Sat.)
April 16 Verdun : — The French attack at Douaumont
(Sun.) and regain ground.
April 17 Fresh German attacks at Verdun, which gain
(Mon.) ground.
The Italians capture the Col di Lana (Tren- tino).
Mesopotamia :— A Turkish counter-attack on the Tigris is partially successful.
April 18 The Caucasus: — Trebizond is captured by
(Tues.) the Russians (see April 8).
April 19 Verdun : — German attacks at Les Eparges
(Wed.) are repulsed.
A Note from the U.S.A. is presented to Ger- many demanding modification of her submarine policy (see May 4).
The Caucasus : — The Russians carry a strong enemy position west of Erzerum.
April 20 The rebellion breaks out in Ireland (see
(Thur.) May 1).
Verdun : — The French gain ground near Fort Vaux.
Russian troops reach Marseilles. 8o
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
April 21 (Good Friday)
Sir Roger Casement is captured on the coast of Kerry, near Tralee (see June 26, Aug. 3).
April 22 Mesopotamia : — A third British attack on the
(Sat.) Sanna-i-Yat position is repulsed.
A British success in German East Africa, by which the occupation of the northern half of the colony is made secure.
April 23
(Easter
Sunday)
An engagement at Katia on the Egyptian frontier.
April 24 Riots in Dublin : the Sinn Feiners occupy the
(Mon.) Post Office and St. Stephen's Green.
Mesopotamia (night of the 24th-25th) : — An
unsuccessful attempt is made to run a supply
ship into Kut.
April 25 German battle-cruisers bombard Lowestoft
(Tues.) and Great Yarmouth ; they are pursued home
but escape in safety.
A Zeppelin raid on the eastern counties of
England.
April 26 Fighting in Dublin.
(Wed.) A Zeppelin raid on Kent.
8i
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
April 27 Martial law is proclaimed throughout Ireland.
(Thur.) H.M.S. Russell (battleship) is sunk by a mine
off Malta.
H.M.S. Nasturtium (sloop) is sunk by a mine in the Mediterranean.
The German submarine UC 5 is captured in the North Sea.
April 28 The Second Battle of Lake Narotch : a
(Fri.) Russian reverse.
April 29 Italy : — The Austrians are driven from the
(Sat.) Adamello glacier by Alpini.
Mesopotamia : — Kut-el-Amara capitulates, after a siege of 144 days, owing to failure of supplies (see Dec. 7, 1915).
May 1 The Irish rebellion is crushed (see April 20).
(Mon.) A Zeppelin raid on Scotland and the north-
east of England.
May 2 Resignation of Mr. Birrell, Secretary of State
(Tues.) for Ireland.
Verdun : — A French success at the Mort Homme.
A Zeppelin raid on Scotland and England : the Zeppelin L20, returning from this raid, is wrecked off Norway.
May 3 Verdun : — Fresh German attacks on the Mort
(Wed.) Homme begin.
82
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
May 4 Germany, in a Note to the U.S.A., agrees to
(Thur.) sink no ships without warning (see April 19). The Zeppehn L 7 is destroyed off Schleswig by the gunfire of British warships.
May 5 Verdun : — Fierce fighting for Hill 304.
(Fri.) A Zeppelin is destroyed near Salonika.
May 7 Verdun : — A great German attack on Hill 304
(Sun.) results in a slight gain of ground.
May 8 Verdun : — The Germans lose ground at the
(Mon.) Mort Homme and Fort Douaumont.
The White Star liner Cymric is torpedoed without warning by a German submarine near the Irish coast.
May 10 Persia :- — Kasr-i-Shirin is occupied by the
(Wed.) Russians.
May 11 A German success near Vermelles : 500 yards
(Thur.) of British front-line trenches are captured.
May 12 A British counter-attack near Vermelles is
(Fri.) partially successful.
May 13 The Germans attack the British at Ploeg-
(Sat.) steert Wood and are repulsed.
The Caucasus : — The Russians retire on Erzerum.
The British monitor M 30 is sunk in action m the Gulf of Smyrna.
83
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
May 14 Italy : — The Battle of the Trentino begins
(Sun.) (see June 4).
May 15 The British capture a German trench on the
(Mon.) Vimy Ridge.
The Austrians advance in the Trentino.
May 16 A Turkish force is defeated by an Australian
(Tues.) detachment in the Sinai Peninsula.
May 17 Verdun : — Fresh German attacks on Hill 304
(Wed.) are unsuccessful.
British monitors engage German destroyers off the Belgian coast and put them to flight.
May 18 An Air Board is constituted in Great Britain.
(Thur.) The Italians retire in the Trentino.
Sinai Peninsula : — A British raid on El Arish. Mesopotamia : — Russian cavalry, after a ride of 200 miles from the Persian frontier, join the British on the Tigris.
May 19 A British success at Vimy Ridge.
(Fri.) Mesopotamia : — The Turks evacuate the Es
Sinn position and withdraw to Kut. A German air-raid on Kent.
May 20 Verdun: — Fierce fighting for the Mort Homme.
(Sat.) A further Italian withdrawal in the Trentino.
84
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
May 21 The Germans win trenches from the British
(Sun.) on the Vimy Ridge.
Verdun : — Part of the Mort Homme is cap- tured by the Germans, but the French advance on the Douaumont Plateau and carry the Haudromont quarries,
Mesopotamia : — The British advance on the south bank of the Tigris.
May 22 The Sudan : — The action of Beringia : the
(Mon.) Sultan of Darfur is defeated.
May 23 The Sudan :— El Fasher, the capital of Darfur,
(Tues.) is captured by the British.
RamillieSj 1706.
May 24 Verdun : — Cumi^res is stormed by the
(Wed.) Germans,
May 25 Compulsory service for married as well as
(Thur.) single men between 18 and 41 becomes law in Great Britain, to take effect from June 24.
The Germans win successes at Verdun and Vimy,
Italy : — Bettale is taken by the Austrians.
May 26 The Bulgarians and Germans advance into
(Fri.) Greek Macedonia and capture Fort Rupel.
85
1916
A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
May 29 A great German attack at Verdun : the
(Mon.) French Hne holds.
A renewed British advance in German East Africa : Neu Langenburg is occupied.
May 80 Verdun : — The French abandon the Bethin-
(Tues.) court-Cumi^res road.
Italy :— The battle for the Pass of Buola.
East Africa : — A Belgian force invades Ruanda.
May 31
(Wed.)
Union
Day,
South
Africa,
1910.
The Battle of Jutland is fought between the main British and German fleets : the German fleet, with considerable loss, escapes aided by mist.*
Italy :— Asiago and Arsiero are captured by the Austrians (see June 25 and 27).
The Caucasus : — Mamakhatun is retaken by the Turks (see March 14 and July 12).
' The following were the British vessels lost in this action : —
Battle Cruisers — Destroyers—
Indefatigable Ardent
Invincible Fortune
Queen Mary Nestor
Cruisers — Nomad
Black Prince Shark
Defence Sparrowhawk
Warrior Turbulent Flotilla leader — Tipperary
The larger German vessels known to have been sunk were the following : —
Lutzow, Pommern, Frauenlob, Wiesbaden, Elbing, Rostock.
86
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
June 1 Verdun : — -The Germans begin a fresh attack
(Thur.) on Fort Vaux.
June 2 The Germans capture trenches from the
(Fri.) Canadians at Ypres (see June 13), and from the French at Verdun.
June 4 Verdun : — Fort Vaux is isolated.
(Sun.) A great Russian offensive is launched in the
Bukovina and the Ukraine (with the 8th and 9th Armies) : rapid progress is made, and many thousands of prisoners are captured.
The end of the Battle of the Trentino : the Austrian advance is checked (see May 14).
June 5 H.M.S. Hampshire is sunk off the Orkneys
(Mon.) and Lord Kitchener drowned.
June 6 The Germans gain ground from the British
(Tues.) at Hooge.
Verdun : — Fierce German attacks on Fort Vaux.
The Russians capture Lutsk from the Austrians.
June 7 Verdun : — Fort Vaux is captured by the
(Wed.) Germans.
June 8 The Russian 7th Army launches an offensive
(Thur.) in Eastern Gahcia : Buczacz is captured.
87
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
June 9 The War Council of the Allies meets in
(Fri.) London.
Arabia : — The Emir Hussein, Grand Sherif of Mecca, revolts against the Turks and gains possession of Mecca.
The Italian transport Principe Umberto is sunk by a submarine in the Adriatic (many lives lost).
June 10 A great Russian victory near Czernowitz :
(Sat.) 35,000 prisoners are captured.
East Africa : — Momba is occupied by the British.
June 11 Verdun : — A German advance near Thiau-
(Whit mont.
Sunday) Venice is bombed by Austrian seaplanes.
June 12 The Germans are within four miles of Verdun.
(Mon.) A further Russian advance in the Bukovina.
Southern Persia : — Kerman is occupied by a British force.
June 18 The Canadians win back the trenches they
(Tues.) had lost at Ypres (from south of Sanctuary Wood to north of Hill 60 : see June 2).
The Russian 4th Army advances on Barano- vitchi.
In the Baltic, Russian destroyers attack a convoy of German steamers escorted by war- ships : they sink the German auxiliary cruiser Herrmann and two German torpedo boats.
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
June 14 The Allied Economic Conference meets in
(Wed.) Paris.
The British occupy Wilhelmsthal, the capital of German East Africa.
June 15 Fresh German attacks at Verdun.
(Thur.) Russian victories on the Strypa and on the
frontiers of Galicia.
Mesopotamia : — A British success on the
Tigris.
June 16 Arabia :— The Grand Sherif of Mecca cap-
(Fri.) tures Jeddah from the Turks.
H.M.S. Eden (destroyer) is sunk by a collision in the Channel.
June 17 Czernowitz is again captured by the
(Sat.) Russians.
June 18 Death of von Moltke.
(Sun.) Immelman, the famous German airman, is
shot down by a British airman.
Russian progress continues in the Bukovina.
June 19 Fierce fighting between the Russians and
(Mon.) Austrians before Kovel.
June 21 A Note is presented to the Greek Government
(Wed.) by Great Britain, France, and Russia, demand- ing complete demobilisation of the Greek army.
89
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
June 22 M. Skouloiidis, the Greek Premier, resigns
(Thur.) and is succeeded by M. Zaimis (see Nov. 4, 1915, and Sept. 11, 1916). Greece accepts the Allies' demands.
The Germans are within three miles of Verdun.
Further Russian progress in the Bukovina.
June 23 Fierce German attacks at Verdun : Fort
(Fri.) Thiaumont is stormed.
Kimpolung (Southern Bukovina) is captured by the Russians.
The Great Eastern Railway Company's steamer Brussels (master, Captain Charles Fryatt) is captured by a German torpedo flotilla and taken to Zeebrugge (see July 27).
June 24 Verdun : — Fleury is stormed by the Germans ;
(Sat.) this is the extreme point of their advance.
The Russians are in possession of almost all the Bukovina.
June 25 Verdun : — A French success at Fleury.
(Sun.) Asiago is recaptured by the Italians (see May
31 ) ; the Austrians are pressed back along the entire Trentino Front.
June 26 The trial of Sir Roger Casement for high
(Mon.) treason begins (see June 29).
90
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
June 27 Western Front : — Heavy bombardments and
(Tues.) many trench raids by the British.
A Russian reverse near Kovel.
Tlie ItaHans recapture Arsiero (see May 31) and Posina.
June 28 It is announced in the House of Commons
(Wed.) that the British and French Governments have abandoned the Declaration of London.
June 29 Sir Roger Casement is sentenced to death
(Thur.) (see April 21, Aug. 3).
June 80 Verdun :— The French recapture Fort Thiau-
(Fri.) mont.
Heavy bombardments of the German hnes along the Western Front.
The Russians capture Kolomea (Galicia).
July 1
(Sat.)
The Battle of the Boyne, IGfiO.
The Battle of the Somme begins (see Nov. 17) : Montaubon, Mametz, and other villages are captured by the British ; the French capture Dompierre, Becquincourt, and other villages.
The German offensive at Verdun is virtually at an end (see Feb. 21).
July 2 The Somme Front : — The British capture
(Sun.) Fricourt ; the French capture Curlu and Frise.
The Battle of Baranovitchi (an important
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
junction on the railway running south from Vilna) begins (see July 14) : the Russians advance.
Persia : — Kermanshah is retaken by the Turks (see Feb. 27, 1916, and March 18, 1917).
July 3 The Somme Front : — Fighting is in progress
(Mon.) for Ovillers, Contalmaison, and La Boiselle ;
the British capture Serre ; the French take a
number of villages beyond the German second
position.
July 4 The Somme Front : — La Boiselle is captured
(Tues.) by the British ; the French advance towards P^ronne.
July 5 The Russians advance towards the Stokhod.
(Wed.)
July 6 Mr. Lloyd George is appointed British Secre-
(Thur.) tary of State for War.
July 7 The Somme Front : — The British line is ad-
(Fri.) vanced : Leipsig Redoubt is carried ; Contal-
maison is taken and lost.
East Africa : — The British occupy Tanga.
July 8 The Russians cross the Stokhod.
(Sat.)
92
1916 EVENTS OP THE GREAT WAR
July 9 The Somme Front : — Heavy fighting on the
(Sun.) British Front for Ovillers and in Tr6nes Wood ; the French approach Peronne and capture Hardecourt.
The German cargo - carrying submarine Deutschland reaches Norfolk in Virginia (see Aug. 23).
July 10 The Somme Front : — The British capture
(Mon.) Contalmaison.
Mesopotamia : — A Turkish attack on the British position near Sanna-i-Yat.
July 11 A German submarine bombards Seaham
(Tues.) harbour.
Oudenarde, 1708.
July 12 The Somme Front : — The British complete
(Wed.) the capture of Mametz Wood.
The Caucasus : — Mamakhatun is retaken by the Russians (see May 31).
East Africa : — The British capture Mwanza.
July 14 British attacks on the Somme are renewed :
(Fri.) Bazentin-le-Petit and the greater part of
Longueval are captured (see July 29) ; the British complete the capture of Trones Wood.
The Battle of Baranovitchi (see July 2) ends in the repulse of strong German attacks with slight change of position. 93
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
July 15 The Somme Front : — The British abandon
(Sat.) High Wood (entered the previous day), but advance towards Pozi^res ; fierce fighting in Delville Wood.
The Russian 11th Army launches an offensive towards Brody (Galicia).
The Caucasus: — The Russians capture Baiburt (between Erzerum and Trebizond).
July 16 The Somme Front : — The British complete
(Sun.) the capture of Ovillers ; fierce fighting on the French front near Peronne.
Umlej surrenders to the Sherif of Mecca.
July 18 The Somme Front : — German counter-
(Tues.) attacks in Delville Wood and Longueval are partially successful.
The Caucasus : — The Russians capture Ejghi.
July 19 The Somme Front : — A British attack on
(Wed.) Guillemont fails, but an advance is made near Thiepval.
July 20 The Somme Front : — A British success at
(Thur.) High Wood ; a French success near Hardecourt. The Russians advance across the Styr : 12,000 prisoners are captured.
July 21 The Somme Front : — The Germans attack the
(Fri.) French near Chaulnes and are repulsed.
94
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
July 22 The Russians occupy Berestetchko, south of
(Sat.) the Lipa.
An action is fought between British and German Hght craft off the Belgian coast.
July 28 The Somme Front : — The British attack
(Sun.) towards Pozi^res and make progress.
Taif surrenders to the Grand Sherif of Mecca.
July 24 East Africa : — The action of Malangali.
(Mon.)
July 25 The Somme Front : — The British complete
(Tues.) the capture of Pozi^res.
The Russians advance on Brody (Galicia). The Caucasus : — The Russians complete the conquest of Armenia by the capture of Erzingan.
July 27 Captain Fryatt is executed in the Jardin
(Thur.) de I'Aurore at Bruges by order of a German
court-martial (see June 23).
The Somme Front : — The British complete
the capture of Delville Wood.
July 28 Brody (Galicia) is captured by the Russians,
(Fri.) with 20,000 prisoners and many guns.
July 29 The Somme Front : — The British complete
(Sat.) the capture of Longueval.
A Zeppelin raid on Lincolnshire and Norfolk.
95
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
July 30 The Somme Front : — A French success near
(Sun.) Hardecourt.
Russian troops land at Salonika.
East Africa : — The British occupy Dodoma.
July 31 The Somme Front : — The French advance
(Mon.) near Maurepas.
A Zeppelin raid on the east and south-east of England.
Aug, 1 The Russians attack before Kovel.
(Tues.) The Italians bombard the Austrian positions
on the Isonzo.
Aug. 2 The Caucasus : — Mush and Bitlis are recap-
(Wed.) tured by the Turks (see Feb. 19, Mar. 2, and Aug. 23 and 24).
The Italian dreadnought Leonardo da Vinci is sunk by an internal explosion in Taranto harbour.
A Zeppelin raid on the eastern counties of England.
Aug. 3 Sir Roger Casement is hanged in Pentonville
(Thur.) Prison (see June 29).
Fierce fighting on the Stokhod ; the Russian advance is checked.
East Africa : — Ujiji is captured by the Belgians.
96
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Aug. 4 The Somme Front : — The British advance
(Fri.) near Pozi^res.
The Russians attack on the Sereth. The Turks attack on the Suez Canal (the Battle of Romani).
Aug. 5 The Somme Front : — A further British ad-
(Sat.) vance near Pozi^res.
The Italians attack on the Isonzo (the Battle of Gorizia : see Aug. 8 and 14).
Egypt : — The Turks are routed in the Battle of Romani.
Aug. 6 The Somme Front : — A German counter-
(Sun.) attack at Pozi^res is repulsed.
A Russian success on the Sereth.
Aug. 7 The Russians attack south of the Dniester :
(Mon.) Tysmienica (near Stanislau) is captured and many prisoners are taken.
Aug. 8 The Isonzo Front : — The Italians capture
(Tues.) Gorizia and take 12,000 prisoners (see Oct. 28, 1917).
Aug. 9 The French advance on a four-mile front
(Wed.) north of the Somme.
A Zeppelin raid on England. A British air- raid on the Zeppelin sheds near Brussels. 97 G
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Aug. 10 The Somme Front : — The British and French
(Thur.) advance at a number of points.
Stanislau is captured by the Russians, with a large sector of the remaining Austrian de- fences in Eastern Gahcia ; over 80,000 prisoners and many guns are taken.
Aug. 11 Macedonia : — Itahan troops land at Salonika ;
(Fri.) a French success near Doiran.
East Africa : — Mpwapwa is occupied by the British.
British airmen bombard the Zeppelin sheds near Brussels and Namur.
Aug. 12 The Somme Front : — The French advance
(Sat.) near Hardecourt.
The Italians advance on the Carso. A German seaplane bombs Dover.
Aug. 13 The Somme Front : — The British advance
(Sun.) near Pozieres ; the French advance near Maurepas.
The British destroyer Lassoo is sunk by a mine off the Dutch coast.
Aug. 14 The end of the Battle of Gorizia (see Aug.
(Mon.) 5), which results in an important advance and the capture of Gorizia and many prisoners by the Italians.
98
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Aug. 15 The Russians occupy Jablonica (Carpa-
(Tues.) thians).
Aug. 16 The Somme Front : — The French and British
(Wed.) reach the Guillemont-Maurepas road.
Aug. 17 The Bulgarians attack near Salonika.
(Thur.)
Aug. 18 The Somme Front : — The British attack along
(Fri.) a front of 11 miles between Thiepval and Guille- Grave- mont and capture important positions ; the 18*70 French gain ground near Maurepas.
Macedonia : — The Bulgarians advance to- wards Kavalla.
Aug. 19 The Somme Front : — The British capture
(Sat.) important positions on the Thiepval Ridge.
H.M.S. Nottingham and H.M.S. Falmouth (light cruisers) are torpedoed in the North Sea. The British submarine E 23 torpedoes a German battleship, the Westfalen, in the North Sea.
Aug. 20 The Somme Front : — The Germans counter-
(Sun.) attack unsuccessfully near Thiepval.
Macedonia: — The Bulgarians capture Fiorina ; a general offensive is launched by the Allies. 99
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Aug. 22 The Somme Front : — The British gain ground
(Tues.) before Thiepval and near Pozieres.
Verdun : — The French advance between Fleury and Thiaumont Wood.
The heights of the Jablonica Pass (Car- pathians) are carried by the Russians.
Macedonia : — The Bulgarians are driven back by the British and Serbians on the Doiran Front.
East Africa : — Kilossa is captured by the British.
Aug. 23 The Caucasus : — Biths is recaptured by the
(Wed.) Russians (see Aug 2).
The mercantile submarine Deutschland arrives back in Germany (see July 9).
A Zeppelin raid on the eastern counties of England.
Aug. 24 The Caucasus : — Mush is recaptured by the
(Thur.) Russians (see Aug. 2, 1916, and May 3, 1917). A Zeppelin raid on London and the eastern counties of England.
Aug. 25 Macedonia : — The forts of Kavala are occu-
(Fri.) pied by the Bulgarians.
A raid by British naval aeroplanes on the Zeppelin sheds near Namur.
H.M.S. Duke of Albany (armed boarding- steamer) is sunk by a submarine in the North Sea.
100
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Aug. 26 The Somme Front : — A strong attack by the
(Sat.) Prussian Guard near Thiepval is repulsed by the British.
East Africa : — Mrogoro, the seat of German Government in the colony, is captured by the British.
Aug. 27 Roumania declares war on Austria.
(Sun.)
Aug. 28 Germany declares war on Roumania.
(Mon.) Italy declares war on Germany.
The Roumanians invade Transylvania. Sir Stanley Maude assumes command of the British forces in Mesopotamia (see Nov. 18, 1917).
British warships bombard the forts of Kavala.
Aug. 29 Hindenburg succeeds Falkenhayn as Chief of
(Tues.) the German General Staff.
Brasso (Kronstadt) is occupied by the Roumanians (see Oct. 7).
East Africa : — Neu Iringa is occupied by the British.
Aug. 30 Turkey declares war on Roumania.
(Wed.) The Russians advance in the Carpathians.
Aug. 31 The Somme Front : — A German attack at
(Thur.) High Wood is repulsed by the British.
The Russians continue to advance in the Carpathians and take many prisoners.
lOI
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Sept. 1 An Allied naval demonstration at Athens.
(Fri.) Bulgaria declares war on Roumania.
Hermanstadt is occupied by the Roumanians.
Sept. 2 The Russians capture the Ploska Height near
(Sat.) the Jablonica Pass (Carpathians).
Sept. 3 The Somme Front : — Guillemont and part of
(Sun.) Ginchy are captured by the British ; the French take Clery.
German and Bulgarian forces enter the Dobrudja.
A Zeppelin raid on London and the Eastern Counties ; a Zeppelin is brought down in flames at Cuffley by Lieut. W. L. Robinson.
Sept. 4 The Somme Front : — The advance of the
(Mon.) French and British continues.
East Africa : — Dar-es-Salaam surrenders to British naval forces.
Sept. 5 The Somme Front : — Leuze Wood is captured
(Tues.) by the British ; south of the Somme the French make a notable advance.
A Russian victory near Halicz (4500 prisoners).
Sept. 6 The French advance at Verdun and make
(Wed.) further progress south of the Somme.
The Russians advance rapidly on Halicz. The Bulgarians capture Tutrakan (Dobrudja).
102
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Sept. 7 The Roumanians occupy Orsova (in Hun-
(Thur.) garian territory on the Danube : see Nov. 23).
Sept. 9 The Somme Front : — The British complete
(Sat.) the capture of Ginchy.
SiHstria, the Roumanian fortress on the Danube, is captured by the Bulgarians.
Sept. 10 Macedonia : — The British advance across the
(Sun.) Struma.
Sept. 11 Resignation of M. Zaimis, the Greek Premier
(Mon.) (see June 22).
Sept. 12 The French advance north of the Somme and
(Tues.) reach the Bapaume-Peronne road.
The 4th Greek Army Corps at Kavala sur- renders to the Germans.
Sept. 13 The Somme Front : — The French advance
(Wed.) across the Bapaume-Peronne road.
Sept. 14 The Somme Front : — The British storm * the
(Thur.) Wonderwork ' near Thiepval.
A new Italian offensive is launched on the Isonzo front.
The Roumanians advance in Transylvania, but are forced to retire in the Dobrudja. 103
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Sept. 15 The Somme Front : — The British attack on a
(Fri.) wide front ; tanks are used for the first time ;
Martinpuich, Flers, and Courcelette are taken and the capture of High Wood is completed.
The ItaHans capture San Grade (on the Carso).
Macedonia : — The AHies capture high ground overlooking Fiorina.
Sept. 16 A new Greek cabinet is formed under M.
(Sat.) Kalogeropoulos.
The Russians and Roumanians are definitely in retreat in the Dobrudja.
Sept. 17 The French attack south of the Somme and
(Sun.) capture Vermandovillers and Berny.
The Isonzo Front : — The Italians capture im- portant positions and a number of prisoners.
Sept. 18 The Somme Front : — ' The Quadrilateral '
(Mon.) near Morval is stormed by the British. Deni6- court is captured by the French.
Macedonia : — The Allies capture Fiorina. The Russo-Roumanian army in the Dobrudja is forced to retire from strong positions.
Sept. 20 Transylvania : — The Austro -Germans gain
(Wed.) the summit of the Vulcan Pass.
Sept. 21 The Great Eastern Railway Company's
(Thur.) steamer Colchester is captured by German small craft and taken to Zeebrugge. 104
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Sept. 23 A Zeppelin raid on England : two Zeppelins
(Sat.) are brought down in Essex, the L 82 and L 83.
Sept. 25 Greece : — M. Venizelos leaves the Piraeus for
(Mon.) Crete, where he proclaims a Provisional Government four days later.
The Somme Front : — Morval and Les Boeufs are captured by the British ; Rancourt and Fregicourt are taken by the French. A Zeppelin raid on England.
Sept. 26 The Somme Front : — Gueudecourt is captured
(Tues.) by the British and Combles by the British
and French ; the British attack Thiepval ; the
French advance east of Combles to St. Pierre
Vaast Wood.
The Roumanians regain ground in the Vulcan
Pass.
Sept. 27 The Somme Front : — The British complete
(Wed.) the capture of Thiepval.
Sept. 28 The Somme Front : — The greater part of
(Thur.) Schwaben Redoubt, on the Thiepval Plateau, is captured by the British.
Sept. 29 A Greek Provisional Government is formed in
(Fri.) Crete by M. Venizelos (see Sept. 25).
105
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Oct. 1 The Somme Front : — Eaucourt I'Abbaye is
(Sun.) captured by the British.
The Bulgarians and Germans are checked in the Dobrudja.
A Zeppelin raid on London : a Zeppelin is brought down near Potter's Bar by 2nd Lieut. W. J. Tempest.
Oct. 3 The Greek Cabinet resigns owing to the atti-
(Tues.) tude of the Allies.
The Roumanians counter-attack successfully both in Transylvania and the Dobrudja and capture many prisoners,
Macedonia : — The Serbians reach Kenali in their advance on Monastir.
Oct. 4 The Somme Front : — The French advance
(Wed.) east of Morval.
Macedonia : — The British advance east of the Struma and capture a number of villages.
The Cunard liner Franconia and the French transport Gallia are sunk by submarines in the Mediterranean.
Oct. 5 The Roumanians fall back in Transylvania.
(Thur.)
Oct. 7 The Somme Front :— The British capture
(Sat.) Le Sars.
Transylvania : — Brasso (Kronstadt) is re- captured by the Austro -Germans (see Aug. 29). io6
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
The British advance in Macedonia.
The German submarine U 53 reaches Newport, Rhode Island, after a voyage of seventeen days.
Oct. 8 The Somme Front : — The French advance to
(Sun.) the outskirts of Sailly-SailHsel.
The Germans advance in Transylvania.
Eight ships are torpedoed off the American coast by the U53.
Oct. 9 A new Greek Cabinet is formed by Professor
(Mon.) Lambros.
The Isonzo Front : — The Italians capture important positions and many prisoners.
Oct. 10 An Allied ultimatum is presented to Greece
(Tues.) demanding the surrender of the Greek fleet ; the Greek Government protests but yields.
Oct. 11 The Allies take possession of the Greek fleet.
(Wed.) The Isonzo Front : — The Italian advance
continues.
Oct. 12 A Franco-British raid by 40 aeroplanes on
(Thur.) the mauser factories at Oberndorf.
Oct. 13 The Germans enter Roumania.
(Fri.) Norway prohibits the use of her territorial
waters by belligerent submarines. 107
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Oct. 14 The Somme Front : — The British advance at
(Sat.) Schwaben Redoubt ; the French advance near Bouchavesnes and Ablaincourt.
Oct. 16 The Germans capture the Gyimes Pass lead-
(Mon.) ing into Northern Roumania.
Oct. 17 The AlHes land troops at Athens.
(Tues.)
Oct. 18 The Somme Front : — The French capture
(Wed.) Sailly-Saillisel.
Oct. 19 A new offensive is launched by the Germans
(Thur.) and Bulgarians in the Dobrudja.
The German cruiser Milnchen is sunk by a British submarine in the North Sea.
Oct. 20 The Russian dreadnought Imperatritsa
(Fri.) Maria is sunk by an internal explosion.
Oct. 21 Murder of the Austrian Premier, Count
(Sat.) Sturgkh.
The Somme Front : — The British capture strong positions near Thiepval.
The Germans and Bulgarians advance in the Dobrudja and capture Tuzla.
Oct. 22 The Germans and Bulgarians capture
(Sun.) Constanza, the port of the Dobrudja. The
io8
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Germans continue to advance through the Transylvanian passes.
A German seaplane which raids Sheemess is destroyed.
Oct. 23 The British mine-sweeping sloop Genista is
(Mon.) sunk by a submarine in the Atlantic (many lives lost).
Oct. 24 The French attack at Verdun : the village
(Tues.) and fort of Douaumont and other important
positions are captured with 4500 prisoners
(see Nov. 4).
The Dobrudja : — Chernavoda is captured by
the Germans and Bulgarians.
Oct. 25 A further French advance at Verdun.
(Wed.)
Oct. 27 German destroyers make a raid into the
(Fri.) Straits of Dover : the empty British transport
Queen and the British destroyer Flirt are sunk ; the British destroyers Zulu and Nubian are severely damaged (subsequently these last two are made into one ship named the Zubian).
Oct. 28 The Donaldson liner Marina is sunk by a
(Sat.) submarine without warning off Queenstown.
109
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Oct. 29 The Somme Front : — The French capture
(Sun.) trenches north of Sailly-SailHsel.
Captain Boelcke, the famous German airman, is shot down.
Oct. 30 East Africa : — The Germans are defeated at
(Men.) Lupembe.
Oct. 31 Macedonia : — The British advance in the
(Tues.) Struma Valley.
Nov. 1 The Somme Front : — The AlUes advance near
(Wed.) Les Boeufs and Sailly.
The Italians advance on the Isonzo Front in the sector between Gorizia and the sea : 4700 prisoners are captured.
An action between destroyers in the North Sea.
A raid on Pola by Italian torpedo-boats.
Nov. 2 Verdun : — The French recapture Fort Vaux.
(Thur.) The Italians continue to advance on the
Carso.
Russian warships bombard Constanza.
Nov. 3 Verdun : — The French make further progress.
(Fri.) Isonzo Front : — The Italians make further
progress on the Carso. IIO
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Nov. 4 The recapture by the French of all the main
(Sat.) defences of Verdun is completed by the occupa- tion of the Damloup work (see Oct. 24).
Nov. 5 Germany and Austria proclaim an ' inde-
(Sun.) pendent State of Poland ' with an ' hereditary Monarchy and Constitution.'
Nov. 6 The Somme Front : — The French advance in
(Mon.) St. Pierre Vaast Wood.
The Germans advance in Roumania. The P. & O. Hner Arabia is sunk by a submarine without warning in the Mediter- ranean.
Nov. 7 Mr. Wilson is re-elected President of the
(Tues.) United States.
The French advance south of the Somme. The Russians and Roumanians advance in the Dobrudja.
Nov. 8 A further German advance into Roumania.
(Wed.)
Nov. 10 The Somme Front : — The British make
(Fri.) progress north of Thiepval.
The Serbians make progress towards Monastir: Chuke heights and the village of Polag are captured.
German destroyers shell the Russian coast near Reval.
Ill
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
British naval aeroplanes bombard the har- bours and submarine shelters at Zeebrugge and Ostend.
Nov. 11 The armed French transport Magellan is
(Sat.) sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean.
Nov. 12 The Somme Front : — The French capture
(Sun.) Saillisel.
A further German advance into Roumania. The Serbians gain ground towards Monastir : 16 guns and 1000 prisoners are captured.
Nov. 13 The British attack astride the Ancre and
(Mon.) capture St. Pierre Divion, Beaumont Hamel,
and 3300 prisoners.
The Germans continue to advance in
Roumania.
Nov. 14 The British capture Beaucourt (on the Ancre
(Tues.) Front).
The Allies advance in Macedonia : the Bul- garians fall back on the Bystritza, five miles south of Monastir.
Nov. 15 The Germans advance rapidly in Roumania.
(Wed.) British naval aeroplanes bombard the har-
bours and submarine shelters at Zeebrugge and Ostend.
Nov. 17 The end ofthe Battle of the Somme (see July 1).
(Fri.) British airmen raid Zeebrugge and Ostend.
112
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Nov. 18 A further British advance astride the Ancre.
(Sat.) An important German victory in Roumania
which breaks the Roumanian resistance.
Macedonian Front : — Monastir is recaptured by the AlHes (see Dec. 5, 1915).
Nov. 21 Death of the Austrian Emperor, Francis
(Tues.) Joseph.
Roumania : — Craiova is captured by the Germans.
The British hospital ship Britannic is sunk by a mine or submarine in the ^gean Sea.
Nov. 23 Orsova is recaptured by the Austro-Germans
(Thur.) (see Sept. 7).
Nov. 24 The Germans and Bulgarians under Macken-
(Fri.) sen cross the Danube at several points from the Dobrudja.
The British hospital ship Braemar Castle is torpedoed in the Mediterranean ; the vessel is subsequently salved and repaired.
Nov. 25 Roumania : — The armies of Falkenhayn and
(Sat.) Mackensen effect a junction north of the Danube.
The French battleship Sujfren is sunk by a submarine in the Atlantic.
Nov. 26 The Alhes demand of the Greek Government
(Sun.) the surrender of ten mountain batteries.
113 H
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
The Roumanians are in full retreat. A Serbian success north of Monastir : Hill 105 is captured.
A German naval raid on Lowestoft.
Nov. 27 The Roumanian retreat continues : the line
(Mon.) of the Aluta is abandoned ; Giurgevo, on the
Danube, is captured by the enemy.
A Zeppelin raid on England : two Zeppelins
are destroved.
Nov. 28 A daylight raid on London by one German
(Tues.) aeroplane.
A British air-raid on the harbour at Zee- brugge.
Nov. 29 The appointments of Sir John Jellicoe to the
(Wed.) office of First Sea Lord (see May 28, 1915, and
Dec. 26, 1917) and of Sir David Beatty to the
command of the Grand Fleet are announced in
Parliament.
Dec. 1 Mr. Lloyd George makes proposals to Mr.
(Fri.) Asquith for the reform of war administration
in Great Britain.
The Allies' demands are rejected by the Greek Government ; an Allied force which is landed at the Piraeus is attacked by Greek troops. 114
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Dec. 3 Roumania : — A German victory in the Arges
(Sun.) Valley ; the Roumanian armies are driven
back all along the line. The Serbians advance
and carry high ground north-east of Monastir.
A German submarine bombards Funchal
(Madeira).
Dec. 4 The Serbians continue to advance north-east
(Mon.) of Monastir ; they capture Stravina.
The British liner Caledonia is sunk by a sub- marine in the Mediterranean.
Dee. 5 Resignation of Mr. Asquith, British Prime
(Tues.) Minister.
Dec. 6 Roumania : — Bucharest and Ploesti are cap-
(Wed.) tured by the Germans.
Greece ; — The Royalist party in Athens re- gains control of the posts and telegraphs.
Dec. 7 Mr. Lloyd George becomes British Prime
(Thur.) Minister.
Roumania : — The German successes con- tinue ; many prisoners are captured.
Dec. 8 A blockade of Greece is proclaimed by the
(Fri.) Allies, as from this date, until adequate repara-
tion shall be made for recent outrages. 115
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Dec. 10 The formation of the new British Cabinet
(Sun.) is announced. Mr. Balfour becomes Foreign Secretary, Lord Derby Secretary for War, Sir E. Carson First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Chamberlain Secretary for India, Lord Devon- port Food Controller ; Minister of Munitions, Dr. Addison ; Minister of Blockade, Lord R. Cecil (see May 26, 1915, and July 17, 1917).
Dec. 11 An Allied Note is presented to Greece de-
(Mon.) manding the demobilisation of the Greek troops.
The Roumanian retreat continues : enemy forces are 20 miles east of Ploesti.
The Italian battleship Regina Margherita is sunk by a mine in the Adriatic. A British air-raid on Zeebrugge.
Dec. 12 The German Chancellor announces that
(Tues.) Germany has made proposals for peace.
General Nivelle succeeds General Joffre in command of the armies in the field on the Western Front.
Vice-Admiral Gauchet succeeds Admiral du Fournet in command of the Allied Fleets in the Mediterranean.
Dec. 13 Mesopotamia : — A new offensive against
(Wed.) Kut-el-Amara is launched by the British forces under General Sir Stanley Maude. ii6
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Dec. 14 The Allies present an ultimatum to Greece
(Thur.) demanding the withdrawal of all Greek forces from Thessaly.
The Roumanians evacuate Buzeu. The empty British transport Russia is simk by a submarine.
Dec. 15 The Greek Government accepts the ultimatum
(Fri.) of the Allies.
A brilliant French advance at Verdun : im- portant positions and 7500 prisoners are taken. East Africa : — A British victory near Kibata.
Dec. 16 The French advance at Verdun continues.
(Sat.)
Dec. 18 Germany's peace proposals are received by
(Mon.) the British Foreign Office (see Dec. 12 and 30).
The end of the French offensive at Verdun
(see Dec. 15), over 11,000 prisoners and 115 guns
having been captured and much ground gained.
Roumania : — The Germans advancing on
Braila, the grain port on the Danube, are
checked by the Russians at Botogu.
Dec. 19 Mr. Lloyd George announces the attitude
(Tues.) of the British Government and of the Allies towards the German peace proposals : ' restitu- tion, reparation, and a guarantee against repetition ' are declared essential. 117
1916 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Dec. 20 A Peace Note from President Wilson is com-
(Wed.) municated to the belligerents (see Dec. 25).
Dec. 21 Sinai Peninsula : — The British occupy El
(Thur.) Arish.
The British destroyer Negro is sunk by collision in the North Sea.
Dec. 23 Sinai Peninsula : — The British capture the
(Sat.) strong Turkish position of Magdhaba, near the Syrian border : 1300 prisoners and 7 guns are taken.
Dec. 25 Germany replies to President Wilson's Peace
(Mon.) Note, ignoring his request for the statement of terms but proposing that Peace Delegates should be summoned immediately.
Dec. 26 General Joffre is created a Marshal of France.
(Tues.) The British take over more trench -line on
the Western Front.
Roumania : — The Germans capture Rimnic-
Sarat.
Dec. 27 The French battleship Gaulois is simk by a
(Wed.) submarine in the Mediterranean.
Dec. 28 Roumania : — Further German successes at
(Thur.) Rimnic-Sarat : 10,000 prisoners are taken.
ii8
1916 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Dec. 29 Rasputin, the notorious Russian monk, is
(Fri.) assassinated.
Dec. 80 The AlUes reply to the German peace pro-
(Sat.) posals, which they describe as empty and in- sincere, with a direct negative (see Dec. 12 and 18).
119
1917
Jan. 1 Sir Douglas Haig is gazetted a Field Marshal.
(Mon.) East Africa : — The British storm a strong
enemy position in the Mageta Valley and
approach Kilambawe.
The British transport Ivernia is sunk by a
submarine in the Mediterranean.
Jan. 2 The Roumanian Cabinet is reconstituted
(Tues.) with M. Bratiano as Premier.
Jan. 3 A Russian success in the Southern Bukovina
(Wed.) (600 prisoners).
Jan. 4 East Africa : — The British occupy the Ger-
(Thur.) man camp on the Tshogowali River.
Jan. 5 Roumania : — The Austro-Germans capture
(Fri.) Braila.
Mesopotamia: — The Second Battle of Kut- el-Amara begins (see Feb. 24).
East Africa : — The British reach Kilambawe, on the north bank of the Rufiji River.
Jan. 7 The Russians make a successful advance near
(Sun.) Riga.
120
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Jan. 8 The Allies present an ultimatum to Greece
(Mon.) repeating former demands (see Jan. 16).
Roumania : — The Austro-Germans capture Focsani and 5500 prisoners ; the Sereth line is thus turned. The Dobrudja is finally evacu- ated by the Russians and Roumanians.
Jan. 9 The Allies reply to President Wilson's Note,
(Tues.) stating their terms of peace.
Resignation of M. Trepoff, the Russian Premier ; he is succeeded by M. Golitzine.
The Russians continue to advance in the Riga district.
Syria : — Australian mounted troops and the Imperial Camel Corps capture a strong enemy position at Rafa (the Battle of Rafa).
Jan. 11 The An ere Front : — The British capture the
(Thur.) Beaumont Hamel spur.
Roumania : — Galatz is evacuated by the Russians : the conquest of Wallachia by the Germans is complete.
H.M.S. CornwalUs (battleship) is sunk by a submarine off Malta. H.M.S. Ben-my-Chree (aircraft carrier) is sunk in action off Asia Minor.
Jan. 12 Germany and Austria-Hungary reply through
(Fri.) Neutrals to the Allied Note which refused to
consider the German peace proposals.
121
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Jan. 16 The Greek Government accepts in their
(Tues.) entirety the demands of the AUies (see Jan. 8).
Jan. 17 Roumania: — The enemy's advance is checked
(Wed.) in the Moldavian Hills.
Jan. 19 An explosion at a munitions factory at Silver-
(Fri.) town, in the East End of London (69 killed).
Jan. 20 Roumania : — Fundeni, on the Sereth, is cap-
(Sat.) tured by the Germans.
Jan. 23 The Germans attack in the Riga district
(Tues.) and compel the Russians to withdraw slightly.
Two actions are fought in the North Sea between British and German light forces : a German destroyer and the British destroyer Simoon are sunk.
The British armed merchant cruiser Laurentic is sunk by a mine off the Irish coast.
Jan. 24 East Africa : — A small German force is iso-
(Wed.) lated and compelled to surrender.
Jan. 25 The Greek Government offers a formal
(Thur.) apology to the AlUes for the events of Decem- ber 1.
Mesopotamia : — A British attack on Turkish
122
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
trenches south-west of Kut is partially suc- cessful.
A German vessel shells Southwold at night : there are no casualties.
The French transport Amiral Magon is sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean.
Jan. 26 To regulate exchange, the British Govern-
(Fri.) ment by Order in Council enforces the sale or loan of foreign securities to the Treasury.
Mesopotamia : — The British complete the capture of the Turkish position attacked on the previous day.
Jan. 27 A Russian success in the Southern Bukovina :
(Sat.) 1200 prisoners are captured.
Jan. 28 Lieut. -General Smuts is succeeded by Major-
(Sun.) General Hoskins as British Commander-in-Chief in East Africa (see Feb. 10, 1916, and May 16, 1917).
Jan. 30 German attacks between Soissons and Rheims
(Tues.) are repulsed.
Riga Front : — The Germans attack in strength : the Russians fall back slightly.
Jan. 31 Germany announces ' unrestricted naval
(Wed.) warfare ' as from February 1.
The German intention to sink hospital ships
is announced in a statement by the British
Foreign Office.
123
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Feb. 1 The Government of the U.S.A. is officially
(Thur.) informed that Germany ' must abandon the
limitations she has hitherto imposed upon
herself in the employment of her fighting
weapons at sea.'
Mesopotamia : — The British capture the last line but one of the Turkish trenches before Kut east of the Hai-Tigris junction.
Feb. 2 The Food Controller, Lord Devonport,
(Fri.) appeals to the British nation to economise in
food as the only way to avoid compulsory rationing.
A British naval air-raid on Bruges harbour.
Feb. 3 The Government of the U.S.A. breaks off
(Sat.) diplomatic relations with Germany ; Count Bernstorff is handed his passports ; Mr. Gerrard is recalled from Berlin ; interned German cruisers and Hamburg-Amerika liners are seized.
The United States s.s. Housatonic is sunk in daylight off the Scillies by a German sub- marine.
Mesopotamia : — The British capture three lines of Turkish trenches west of the Hai- Tigris junction.
Feb. 4 The Ancre Front : — The British carry im-
(Sun.) portant enemy positions.
President Wilson invites other Neutral Powers to follow the example of the U.S.A. 124
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
in the interests of peace and civilisation {i.e. to break off diplomatic relations with Germany).
Feb. 5 The Swiss Government declines to follow
(Mon.) President Wilson's advice to break off relations with Germany.
Resignation of Said Kalim ; a new Turkish Cabinet is formed with Talaat Bey as Grand Vizier.
Western Egypt : — The action of Siwa : the Senussi are defeated near the Siwa oasis.
Feb. 6 The Ancre Front : — The British line is ad-
(Tues.) vanced near Grandcourt : 1000 yards of Ger- man trenches are taken.
Feb. 7 The Ancre Front : — The British occupy
(Wed.) Grandcourt.
The California, of the Anchor Line, is
sunk by a German submarine with serious loss
of life.
Feb. 8 The British advance from Grandcourt on
(Thur.) both banks of the Ancre.
The British destroyer GhurJca is sunk by a mine in the English Channel.
A British naval air-raid on Bruges harbour.
Feb. 9 The Isonzo Front : — The Austrians attack
(Fri.) and gain some ground east of Gorizia.
125
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Feb. 10 The Ancre Front : — The British capture a
(Sat.) strong German position south of Serre Hill.
Mesopotamia : — The British storm Turkish trenches west of Kut and capture the ' Liquor- ice Factory.'
Feb. 11 Germany attempts through the Swiss
(Sun.) Government to reopen negotiations with the U.SA.
The Italian line is re-established east of Gorizia.
Feb. 12 President Wilson refuses to negotiate with
(Mon.) Germany until her proclamation of unrestricted
sea -warfare is withdrawn.
Roumanian Front : — The Germans attack
the Russians near Jacobeny with partial
success.
Feb. 13 Roumanian Front : — The Russians regain
(Tues.) ground near Jacobeny, but the Germans renew their attack, and make further progress.
Feb. 14 Mesopotamia : — General Maude clears the
(Wed.) Turks from the Dahra bend of the Tigris.
A British naval air-raid on Bruges harbour.
Feb. 15 The Germans attack the French between
(Thur.) Tahure and Massiges : they gain ground and capture 800 prisoners.
The Italian transport Minas is sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean. 126
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
A British naval air-raid on Bruges harbour.
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Feb. 16 |
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Feb. 17 |
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The British advance up the valley of the Ancre and capture important enemy positions.
Mesopotamia : — A British attack on the Sanna-i-Yat position fails.
The French transport Athos is sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean.
Feb. 18 Italian and French forces effect a junction
(Sun.) in Southern Albania, thereby cutting the com- munication between Greece and the Central Powers.
Feb. 20 Sinai Peninsula : — The British capture two
(Tues.) Turkish advanced posts.
Feb. 22 Mesopotamia : — General Maude again attacks
(Thur.) the Sanna-i-Yat position : two lines of Turkish
trenches are captured.
Seven Dutch ships are attacked by a German
submarine outside Falmouth and six of them
are sunk.
Feb. 23 Minimum prices for wheat and oats are
(Fri.) guaranteed for five years in Great Britain.
Mesopotamia : — General Maude's forces cross the Tigris at the Shamrun bend, threatening the Turkish line of retreat ; the third and fourth Turkish lines are captured at Sanna-i- Yat.
127
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Feb. 24 On the Ancre the Germans begin to retire
(Sat.) from their front-line positions.
Mesopotamia : — General Maude captures Kut- el-Amara ; the Turks evacuate the Sanna-i-Yat position and retreat towards Baghdad ; over 1700 prisoners are taken and much booty ; this ends the Second Battle of Kut-el-Amara (see Jan. 5).
Feb. 25 On the Ancre, the Germans withdraw before
(Sun.) the British : Serre, Miraumont, Warlencourt, and Pys are captured.
Mesopotamia : — The British advance-guard, in pursuit of the Turks, is 15 miles west of Kut. The Cunard liner Laconia is sunk without warning in the Atlantic.
German destroyers shell Margate and Broad - stairs.
Feb. 26 The Ancre Front : — The Germans retire be-
(Mon.; fore the British on an eleven-mile front : Le Barque is captured.
Feb. 27 The British occupy Gommecourt (on the left
(Tues.) of the advance).
Mesopotamia : — The Turkish retreat becomes a rout ; the British pursue with cavalry, in- fantry, and gunboats ; the British gunboat Firefly, lost on the fall of Kut, is recaptured. 128
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Feb. 28 The British capture Thilloy and advance
(Wed.) east of Gommecourt.
Relief of The Germans gain ground in the Southern
Lady- Bukovina near the Dorna Watra Pass.
smithy ...
1900. The French destroyer Cassini is sunk by a
submarine in the Mediterranean (many lives
lost).
Mar. 1 Mesopotamia : — The Turks continue their
(Thur.) disorderly retreat on Baghdad.
The British destroyer Pheasant is sunk by a floating mine off the Orkneys.
Mar. 2 The Somme and Ancre Fronts : — The British
(Fri.) continue to advance against the yielding enemy.
Persia : — Hamadan is captured by the Russians.
Mar. 3 The Germans retreat to a depth of five miles
(Sat.) east of Gommecourt.
Mar. 4 The British capture German trenches at
(Sun.) Bouchavesnes.
Verdun : — The Germans attack and gain ground north of Cauri^res Wood .
Mar. 5 The British approach the German main
(Mon.) positions on the Bapaume Ridge.
Mesopotamia : — British cavalry reach Lajj, twenty-seven miles from Baghdad.
Persia : — The Turks retreating from Ha- 129 I
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
madan are attacked by the Russians in the Asadabad Pass.
Mar. 6 Mesopotamia :— General Maude's rapid ad-
(Tues.) vance on Baghdad continues.
Persia : — The Russians capture the Asadabad Pass.
Mar. 7 Mesopotamia :— The Turks stand on the Une
(Wed.) of the Dialah River.
The Turks continue to retreat before the Russians in Western Persia.
Mar. 8 Death of Count Zeppehn.
(Thur.) A French advance in Champagne.
Roumania : — The Austro-Germans attack in
the Trotus Valley (the centre of the Moldavian
Front) and gain high ground.
Mar. 9 Serious food riots are reported in Petrograd.
(Fri.) Verdun : — A French success near Cauri^res
Wood.
Mesopotamia -.—General Maude forces a crossing of the Dialah River.
Mar. 10 The Ancre Front :— The British capture
(Sat.) Irles. Neuve Mesopotamia : — The Turkish resistance be-
Chapelle, f j,g Baghdad is broken ; the British advance 1915. ° .^
upon the city.
130
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Mar. 11 Mesopotamia : — The British capture Bagh-
(Sun.) dad, and continue to pursue the Turks.
Mar. 12 Revolution in Russia : the Duma, which de-
(Mon.) mands representative Government, is pro- rogued ; a number of regiments join the cause of the Duma ; troops refuse to fire on the rioters ; the Cabinet resigns ; the Duma elects a Provisional Government.
Macedonia : — The British advance near Lake Doiran.
Mar. 13 China breaks off diplomatic relations with
(Tues.) Germany.
The Germans abandon the forward slopes of the Bapaume Ridge ; the British capture Loupart Wood and Grevillers.
Mesopotamia : — The British are thirty miles beyond Baghdad.
Persia : — The Russians again capture Ker- manshah (see July 2, 1916).
Mar. 14 The constitution of the Russian Provisional
(Wed.) Government is announced: Prince Lvoff is Premier.
Mar. 15 The Russian Provisional Government de-
(Thur.) mands the abdication of the Tsar. The Tsar
abdicates for himself and the Tsarevitch, and
names his brother, the Grand Duke Michael,
as Regent.
131
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
The British destroyer Foyle is sunk by a mine in the Straits of Dover.
Mar. 16 The British occupy St. Pierre Vaast Wood.
(Fri.) A ZeppeUn raid on Kent : one ZeppeUn,
returning from the raid, is brought down in France.
Mar. 17 Resignation of M. Briand, the French
(Sat.) Premier, and his Cabinet (see Oct. 28, 1915).
The Germans retreat in France on a front of nearly a hundred miles ; Bapaume, Chaulnes, and fourteen villages north and south of the Somme are occupied by the British ; further south the French occupy Lassigny, Roye, and many villages.'
Persia : — The Russians occupy Kerind.
H.M.S. Mignonette (sloop) is sunk by a mine off the south-west coast of Ireland.
Mar. 18 The British advance on a front of forty-five
(Sun.) miles and occupy Peronne and Nesle; the French advance on a front of thirty -seven miles and occupy Noyon and many villages.
The Caucasus : — Van is occupied by the Russians for the third time.
German destroyers shell Ramsgate. Two British destroyers are torpedoed (one of them, the Paragon, is sunk) in the Straits of Dover.
H.M.S. Alyssum (sloop) is sunk by a mine off the south-west coast of Ireland. 132
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Mar. 19 A new French Cabinet is formed with M.
(Mon.) Ribot as Premier (see Sept. 7).
The German retreat continues ; Ham and Chauny are occupied by the French.
Mesopotamia : — Feluja, on the Euphrates, is captured by the British.
The French battleship Danton is torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean (many hves lost).
Mar. 20 The French and British advance on an
(Tues.) eighty-mile front, the British towards Cambrai
and St. Quentin, the French towards La Fere
and Laon.
Mar. 21 The British advance towards St. Quentin
(Wed.) and occupy forty villages ; the French capture
Jussy and force the passage of the Crozat Canal . The British hospital ship Asturias is sunk
without warning by a German submarine
(midnight, 20-21).
Mar. 22 The French cross the Crozat Canal and the
(Thur.) Ailette.
Mar. 23 The French gain ground against fierce resist-
(Fri.) ance between St. Quentin and La F^re ; the
Germans flood the region round La Fere.
The raider Mowe is reported to have returned to Germany for the second time (see March 4, 1916).
The Britibli destroyer Laforey is sunk by a mine in the English Channel. 133
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Mar. 24 The new Russian Government is officially
(Sat.) recognised by Great Britain, France, and the United States.
The British occupy Roisel, seven miles east of Peronne. The French reach the western bank of the Oise between St. Quentin and La F6re.
Mar. 25 The French Government addresses to Neu-
(Sun.) trals a protest against the devastation and bar- barities committed by the Germans in the evacuated territories.
German torpedo-boats bombard Dunkirk.
Mar. 26 The British capture Lagnicourt (north-east
(Mon.) of Bapaume), the French Coucy-le-Chateau and Folembray.
Macedonia : — The French advance west of Monastir : 2000 prisoners are taken.
The British destroyer Myrmidon is sunk by a mine in the English Channel.
Mar. 27 The British occupy Longavines, Liermont,
(Tues.) Villiers, Equancourt, and Saulcourt ; the French capture the forest of Lower Coucy.
Palestine : — The British forces under Sir A. Murray defeat the Turks near Gaza (the First Battle of Gaza) : 900 prisoners are cap- tured, including the General of a Division and his Staff.
134
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Mar. 28 Verdun :— The French recapture Hill 304.
(Wed.)
Mar, 29 The British make progress south-east of
(Thur.) Bapaume.
Mar. 30 The British advance towards Cambrai and
(Fri.) capture Sorel, Heudicourt, Soyecourt, and other
places ; the French advance north-east of Soissons.
The British hospital ship Gloucester Castle is torpedoed and sunk in mid-Channel, but without loss of life.
Mar. 31 The British advance north-west of St.
(Sat.) Quentin and capture Jeancourt, Hervilly, Herbecourt, and Vendelles.
Mesopotamia : — The British occupy Deli Abbas.
April 1 The British capture Savy Wood and Savy,
(Sun.) near St. Quentin, and Epehy and Peizieres, on the Bapaume Railway ; the French ad- vance towards Laon on the Margival-Vregny Front.
The Russians occupy Khanikin (north-east of Baghdad).
April 2 President Wilson asks Congress for a declara-
(Mon.) tion that ' a state of war exists.'
The British take Holnon Wood (two miles 135
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
from St. Quentin) and Francilly-Selency and Selency ; they also advance on a ten-mile front between Bapaume and Arras and capture Croissilles and Doignies.
The American armed liner Aztec is torpedoed off the French coast.
April 3 The British gain ground south-east of Arras ;
(Tues.) the French advance between St. Quentin and
La Fere.
The Germans defeat the Russians on the
Stokhod ; they win a bridge-head and take
many prisoners.
April 4 The U.S.A. Senate resolves that a state of
(Wed.) war with Germany exists by a majority of 82 votes to 6.
April 5 The U.S.A. House of Representatives re-
(Thur.) solves that a state of war with Germany exists by a majority of 373 votes to 50. The sanction of Congress having thus been obtained, President Wilson subsequently declares the United States of America to be at war with Germany.
April 7 Cuba declares war against Germany.
(Sat.) Two German destroyers are torpedoed off
Zeebrugge, one of them being sunk.
The British torpedo gunboat Jason is sunk by a mine off the west coast of Scotland. 136
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
April 8 Austria breaks off diplomatic relations with
(Easter the United States.
Sunday) Mesopotamia : — The British capture Belad
Station, and occupy the left bank of the Shatt-
el-Adhaim.
April 9 Brazil breaks off diplomatic relations with
(Mon.) Germany.
The First Battle of Arras begins : the British advance on a fifteen-mile front between Lens and Arras, and capture the Vimy Ridge with 6000 prisoners (see May 16). On the Bapaume- Cambrai road they take Deniecourt and Havrin- court Wood, and, north of St. Quentin, Fresnoy- le-Petit, Pontru, and Le Vergnier.
April 10 The British continue to advance : they reach
(Tues.) the outskirts of Monchy-le-Preux, and capture
Louveval.
The British hospital ship Salta is sunk by a
mine in the English Channel.
April 11 The British capture Monchy-le-Preux and La
(Wed.) Bergere.
The French advance east and north-east of Soissons.
Mesopotamia : — General Maude defeats the Turks with heavy loss near Deltawa.
April 12 The British advance on Lens ; south of the
(Thur.) Scarpe, Wancourt and Heninel are carried with the aid of tanks ; Gouzeaucourt is captured.
137
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
April 13 Bolivia breaks off diplomatic relations with
(Fri.) Germany.
On the fifty-mile front between Loos and west of Cambrai the British take a number of im- portant villages, including Vimy and Givenchy- en-Gohelle ; south of the Scarpe they capture a portion of the Hindenburg line. The French attack and gain ground south of St. Quentin.
April 14 The British capture Lievin (the western
(Sat.) suburb of Lens), Cite St. Pierre (north-west of Lens), and Gricourt (near St. Quentin).
An Allied air-raid on Freiburg, as a reprisal for the sinking of hospital ships.
April 15 German counter-attacks are repulsed by the
(Sun.) British.
The British transports Cameronia (140 lives lost) and Arcadian (279 lives lost) are sunk by submarine in the Mediterranean.
April 16 The Second Battle of the Aisne begins (see
(Mon.) May 20) : the French attack on the front Soissons to Rheims ; the German first positions are carried from Soissons to Craonne, the Ger- man first and second positions from Craonne to Juvincourt ; 17,000 prisoners and 130 guns are taken.
April 17 The French capture Auberive and carry the
(Tues.) heights south of Moron villiers.
Palestine : — The British attack and carry
138
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Turkish first-line positions on a six-mile front (the Second Battle of Gaza).
Mesopotamia : — General Maude forces the passage of the Shatt-el-Adhaim below Samarra.
The British hospital ships Donegal and Lan- franc are sunk in the English Channel without warning ; 75 persons (mostly wounded), includ- ing 15 wounded Germans, are drowned.
April 18 The British capture Villers-Guislan, 12 miles
(Wed.) south of Cambrai.
The French continue to advance on the Aisne : Chavonne, Chivy, and Ostell are captured.
Mesopotamia : — The Turkish 18th Army Corps is annihilated by General Maude at Istabulat, 12 miles south-east of Samarra.
April 19 The French capture positions east and west
(Thur.) of the Vregny salient, and advance east of Rheims.
April 20 The British capture Gonnelieu, 8 miles south-
(Fri.) west of Cambrai.
The Aisne Front : — The French continue to advance on the Chemin-des -Dames.
Five German destroyers raid Dover ; they are engaged by the British destroyers Broke and Swift, and two of them are sunk (the loss being subsequently admitted by the German Admiralty).
A German destroyer shells Calais. 139
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
April 21 Mesopotamia : — The Turks evacuate Ista-
(Sat.) bulat ; the British attack their new positions between Istabulat and Samarra.
April 22 The British gain ground east of Havrincourt
(Sun.) Wood.
April 23 The British advance north and south of the
(Mon.) Scarpe on a front of 12,000 yards ; Gavrelle, Guemappe, and the German positions for 2| miles further south are captured.
German counter-attacks fail to drive the French from the heights south of Moron - villiers.
Mesopotamia : — Samarra station is occupied by the British.
Three British aeroplanes attack five German destroyers off the Belgian coast : a German destroyer is sunk.
April 24 Mesopotamia : — General Maude attacks on
(Tues.) the west bank of the Shatt-el-Adhaim ; the Turks retreat to the Jebel Hamrin range.
April 25 Macedonia : — The British advance on the
(Wed.) Doiran Front.
A German flotilla bombards Dunkirk.
April 26 A German counter-attack at Gavrelle is re-
(Thur.) pulsed by the British ; German counter-attacks
140
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
on the Chemin-des -Dames are repulsed by the French.
April 27 Guatemala breaks off diplomatic relations
(Fri.) with Germany.
The British transport Ballarat, carrying Australian troops, is torpedoed and sunk, but all hands are saved.
Ramsgate is shelled by G^erman destroyers (5 casualties).
April 28 The United States Congress passes by large
(Sat.) majorities a Bill for raising an American army by compulsory service.
The British advance east of the Vimy Ridge and astride the Scarpe : Arleux is captured.
The French offensive on the Aisne is checked.
April 29 The British approach the Oppy line ; they
(Sun.) capture a mile of German trenches and 976 prisoners ; fierce German counter-attacks are repulsed.
General Petain is appointed Chief of the French Staff.
April 30 Mesopotamia : — General Maude defeats the
(Mon.) 13th Turkish Army Corps at the gorge of the Shatt-el-Adhaim (where the river cuts the Jebel Hamrin range).
H.M.S. Tulip (sloop — employed as Special Service ship) is sunk by a submarine in the Atlantic.
141
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
May 1 The French advance east of Rheims.
(Tues.)
May 2 In Great Britain a Royal Proclamation is
(Wed.) issued, exhorting the nation to food economy. The British destroyer Derwent is sunk by a mine in the English Channel (52 lives lost).
May 3 A new Greek Cabinet is formed : Premier,
(Thur.) M. Zaimis (see Sept 11, 1916, and June 23, 1917).
The British attack on a sixteen -mile front east of Arras ; the Canadians take Fresnoy, east of Vimy (see May 8) ; the Hindenburg ' switch ' line is broken near Queant, and the Hindenburg line as far as Oppy is carried ; counter - attacks by two divisions of the Prussian Guard are repulsed ; 928 prisoners are captured.
The Caucasus : — Mush is abandoned by the Russians (see Aug. 24, 1916).
May 4 The British gain ground near St. Quentin and
(Fri.) Hargicourt ; the French take Craonne, carry German trenches on a front of 2| miles, and capture 1000 prisoners.
The British transport Transylvania is sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean (over 400 lives lost).
142
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
May 5 Russia : — The Council of Workmen's and
(Sat.) Soldiers' Delegates passes a vote of confidence in the Provisional Government by a narrow majority.
The French advance on a front of 20 miles north of the Aisne and capture important ground towards Laon ; they carry the Chemin- des -Dames and the crest of the Craonne Ridge ; over 6000 prisoners are taken.
H.M.S. Lavender (sloop) is sunk by a sub- marine in the English Channel.
May 6 German counter-attacks on the Aisne Front
(Sun.) are repulsed, and the French capture 2000 more prisoners.
May 7 A German attack on the British near Lens
(Mon.) is repulsed.
A German aeroplane raid on north-east London in the early morning (1 killed).
May 8 Liberia breaks off diplomatic relations with
(Tues.) Germany.
The Germans attack in strength and recap- ture Fresnoy from the British (see May 3).
The French carry an enemy position beyond Chevreux (north-east of Craonne).
May 9 A resolution is passed by the Russian Com-
(Wed.) mittee of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates
in favour of an International Socialist Peace
143
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Conference to be held at Stockholm (see May 28).
Macedonia : — The British advance near Lake Doiran.
May 10 A scouting force of light cruisers and de-
(Thur.) stroyers under Commodore Tyrwhitt engage
11 enemy destroyers off Hanvich, and chase
them back to Zeebrugge.
May 12 Arras Front : — The British capture important
(Sat.) enemy positions and the greater part of BuUe- court (see May 17).
Zeebrugge is bombarded by British naval forces.
May 14 Great Britain : — Sir Eric Geddes is appointed
(Mon.) Controller at the Admiralty.
The British gain ground north of Gavrelle, and capture Rceux.
The Isonzo Front : — The Italians assume the offensive from Gorizia to Plava.
May 15 General Petain succeeds General Nivelle as
(Tues.) Commander-in-Chief of the French army ; he
is succeeded by General Foch as Chief of Staff.
The Isonzo Front : — The Italians advance on
the slopes of Monte Santo.
British naval forces destroy the Zeppelin L 22 in the North Sea.
An Austrian naval force sinks 14 British 144
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
drifters in the Adriatic and escapes to harbour.
May 16 It is announced that Major-General J. L.
(Wed.) van Deventer is appointed to supreme com- mand in East Africa, in succession to Major- General Hoskins (see Jan. 28).
Russia : — M. Miliukoff resigns : a Coalition Government is formed, with Prince Lvoff as Premier and M. Kerenski as War Minister.
The end of the First Battle of Arras (see April 9).
May 17 Honduras breaks off diplomatic relations
(Thur.) with Germany.
The British complete the capture of Bulle- court on the Siegfried line (see May 12).
The Isonzo Front : — The Italians win the western slopes of Monte Santo.
U.S.A. destroyers reach British waters.
May 18 The Isonzo Front : — The Italians win the
(Fri.) highest peak of Monte Vodice.
May 19 Nicaragua breaks off diplomatic relations
(Sat.) with Germany.
The Russian Coalition Government issues a declaration repudiating a separate peace.
May 20 The French advance near Moronvilliers and
(Sun.) take 1000 prisoners : the end of the Second Battle of the Aisne (see April 16).
145 K
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
May 22 The Hungarian Premier, Count Tisza, resigns.
(Tues.)
May 23 The Isonzo Front : — The Itahans advance on
(Wed.) a wide front on the Southern Carso, and capture important positions and 9000 prisoners. A Zeppehn raid on East Angha.
May 24 The Isonzo Front: — The Itahans make further
(Thur.) progress on the Southern Carso.
May 25 The Isonzo Front : — The Itahans continue
(Fri.) to advance on the Southern Carso.
A raid by 17 German aeroplanes on Folke- stone ; three German aeroplanes are brought down on the return journey by British naval airmen from Dunkirk.
H.M.S. Hilary (armed merchant cruiser) is sunk by a submarine in the Atlantic.
May 26 The British hospital ship Dover Castle is
(Sat.) sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean (6 lives lost).
May 27 The Isonzo Front :— The Itahans reach the
(Whit third Austrian hne of defence ; San Giovanni
Sunday) is captured.
May 28 French Sociahsts resolve to attend the Stock-
(Mon.) holm Conference (see June 1).
146
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
May 29 The French hner Yarra is sunk by a sub-
(Tues.) marine in the Mediterranean.
May 31 The Austrian Reichsrath is summoned for
(Thur.) the first time during the war ; the new Emperor
Charles promises a more hberal constitution
after the war.
June 1 Great Britain : — Lord Devonport resigns the
(Fri.) office of Food Controller (see June 15).
The French Premier, M. Ribot, announces the refusal of his Government to allow French Socialists to attend the Stockholm Conference (see May 9 and Aug. 13).
British naval aeroplanes bomb the German bases at Bruges, Ostend, and Zeebrugge.
June 2 The British transport Cameronian is sunk by
(Sat.) a submarine in the Mediterranean (63 lives lost).
June 3 Great Allied air-raids on the German aero-
(Sun.) dromes at Zeebrugge, St. Denis Westrom, and Bruges.
A French air-raid on Treves, as a reprisal for the bombardment of Bar-le-Duc.
June 4 Resignation of General Alexeieff as Russian
(Mon.) Commander - in - Chief ; he is succeeded by General Brussiloff (see Aug. 1). 147
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
June 5 An action at long range between British light
(Tues.) cruisers and destroyers, under Commodore
Tyrwhitt, and six German destroyers ; one
German destroyer, the S 20, is sunk by gunfire.
Ostend is bombarded by British naval forces.
A daylight raid by 18 German aeroplanes on
the south-eastern counties of England ; two
German aeroplanes are destroyed.
June 7 A British offensive is launched between Ypres
(Thur.) and Armentieres (the Battle of Messines ; see June 14) : an attack in strength on the Messines - Wytschaete Ridge is preceded by the explosion of 19 mines ; Messines, the Messines Ridge, the village of Oosttaverne, and the enemy's positions on a front of 9 miles are captured, with 7000 prisoners and many guns.
June 8 The German proposal of an armistice on the
(Fri.) Eastern Front is rejected by the Russian Government.
General Pershing, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Expeditionary Force, arrives in London.
German counter-attacks in the Messines area are repulsed.
June 10 Publication of President Wilson's message
(Sun.) to the Russian Government, defining the war aims of the U.S.A. The Italian offensive on the Isonzo Front
148
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
ends, but between the Brenta and the Adige the Itahans attack and capture the Agnello Pass and the greater part of Monte Ortigara.
June 11 Greece : — King Const antine abdicates, as
(Mon.) demanded by the Alhes, in favour of his second son Alexander.
The British gain ground on the right of their new front south-east of Ypres.
A British drifter destroys two German sea- planes in the Channel.
June 12 A British naval force captures the Turkish
(Tues.) fortress of Saliff, on the Arabian shore of the Red Sea.
June 13 The Trentino Front : — An Austrian attack
(Wed.) on Monte Ortigara is repulsed by the Italians.
A daylight raid by 15 German aeroplanes on
London : 157 persons are killed, 432 injured ;
one enemy machine is destroyed.
June 14 The end of the Battle of Messines (see June 7).
(Thur.) The British storm Infantry Hill, east of
Monchy.
H.M.S. Avenger (armed merchant cruiser) is sunk by a submarine in the North Atlantic.
The Zeppelin L 43 is destroyed in the North Sea by British naval forces. 149
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
June 15 Lord Rhondda is appointed Food Controller
(Fri.) in Great Britain (see July 3, 1918).
The British capture further portions of the Hindenburg line near BuUecourt.
June 16 Macedonia : — The British withdraw to the
(Sat.) west of the Struma, owing to the approach of the malarial season.
Two Zeppelins raid the south-east of Eng- land ; one is brought down in flames.
June 17 The Italians make local progress on the
(Sun.) Carso, and repulse Austrian attacks on the Asiago Plateau.
June 19 Great Britain : — Enemy titles held by mem-
(Tues.) bers of the Royal Family are abolished by the King.
June 20 H.M.S. Salvia (sloop — employed as Special
(Wed.) Service ship) is sunk by a submarine off the west coast of Ireland.
June 23 Greece : — M. Zaimis, the Greek Premier,
(Sat.) resigns (see May 3).
The P. & O. liner Mongolia is sunk by a mine off Bombay (23 lives lost).
June 24 Dr. von Seidler forms a new Austrian
(Sun.) Ministry (see Jan. 22, 1918).
The British gain ground south-west of Lens. 150
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
June 25 British and German delegates meet at the
(Mon.) Hague to discuss questions relating to prisoners of war.
June 26 A new Greek Cabinet is formed with M.
(Tues.) Venizelos as Premier.
The first fighting troops of the American army reach France (see Oct. 27).
The British gain ground south-west of Lens astride the Souchez River.
June 27 Great Britain : — The report of the Commis-
(Wed.) sion on the Mesopotamian campaign is pub- lished.
The British transport Armadale is sunk by a submarine in the Atlantic (11 lives lost).
June 28 The British enter Avion (south of Lens), and
(Thur.) capture German trenches near Oppy.
June 29 It is announced that General Allenby is
(Fri.) appointed to succeed General Murray in command of the British forces in Egypt and Palestine.
June 30 The British make further progress south-west
(Sat.) and south of Lens.
East Africa : — German forces are driven from the border of Nyasaland to the Rovuma border. The British destroyer Cheerful is sunk by a mine off the Shetland Islands.
151
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
July 1 A great Russian offensive is launched in
(Sun.) Eastern Galicia : important enemy positions and over 10,000 prisoners are captured.
July 2 The Russians make further progress in
(Mon.) Galicia.
July 3 A German attack on the French lines between
(Tues.) Jouy and Craonne is repulsed with heavy loss.
July 4 The United States Navy Department an-
(Wed.) nounces that an attack on American transports
by German submarines was beaten off by
American destroj'^ers, and that at least one
of the enemy submarines was sunk.
A German aeroplane raid on Harwich (11 killed) : two of the raiders are destroyed.
H.M.S. Aster (sloop) is sunk by a mine in the Mediterranean.
July 6 Herr Erzberger's demand in the Reichstag
(Fri.) for ' a peace without annexations or indem-
nities ' provokes a political crisis in Germany. A Conscription Bill is carried in the Canadian House of Commons.
The Russian advance in Galicia develops in the direction of Stanislau.
The British destroyer lichen is sunk by a submarine in the North Sea (8 lives lost). 152
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
July 7 A daylight raid on London by 22 German
(Sat.) aeroplanes : 59 persons are killed and 193 injured ; four of the raiders are destroyed on the return journey.
French air-raids on Essen and other German towns, as a reprisal for enemy raids on Nancy and Eperney.
July 8 Austrian positions near Stanislau are cap-
(Sun.) tured by the Russians, with many prisoners ; Russian cavalry pursue the retreating enemy.
July 9 The Russians advance on Halicz.
(Mon.) H.M.S. Vanguard (battleship) is destroyed
by an internal explosion with heavy loss of life,
at Scapa Flow.
British naval airmen bomb the War Office at
Constantinople and the Goeben and other ships
in harbour.
July 10 A fierce German attack on the British posi-
(Tues.) tions near the mouth of the Yser (the Battle
of Nieuport) : two British battalions are cut
off and overwhelmed ; the Germans win the
right bank of the river at the mouth.
The Russians capture Halicz (see July 23).
July 11 The Russians capture Kalusz (17 miles from
(Wed.) Stanislau).
Mesopotamia : — The British defeat a Turkish force on the Euphrates, 153
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
July 12 Great Britain : — Resignation of Mr. Austen
(Thur.) Chamberlain, Secretary of State for India. The Russians cross the Lomnica (Galicia).
July 13 The Russians advance south-west of Kalusz
(Fri.) (Galicia).
July 14 The German Imperial Chancellor, von Beth-
(Sat.) mann-Hollweg, is dismissed by the Kaiser ; Herr Michaelis is appointed to succeed him.
A fierce German attack on the Chemin-des- Dames meets with partial success ; on the Moronvilliers Ridge (east of Rheims) the French capture an important enemy position.
Palestine : — The British raid the Turkish lines before Gaza.
July 16 Disorders arise in Petrograd, and among
(Mon.) Russian regiments, owing to Bolshevist in- trigues.
The Russians fall back across the Lomnica (Galicia).
British light naval forces intercept and capture four German steamers off the Dutch coast.
July 17 Great Britain : — The name of the Royal
(Tues.) Family is altered to ' Windsor ' by Royal Pro- clamation.
Ministerial changes : — Sir E. Carson enters the War Cabinet (see Jan. 21, 1918); Sir Eric 154
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Geddes becomes First Lord of the Admiralty ; Mr. Churchill becomes Minister of Munitions ; Mr. Montagu succeeds Mr. Austen Chamberlain as Secretary of State for India (see Dec. 10, 1916).
Mutineers from Kronstadt arrive in Petro- grad.
Verdun : — The French win back on Hill 304 all ground lost since June 29 and capture 425 prisoners.
July 18 The disorders in Petrograd are quelled by
(Wed.) troops loyal to the Provisional Government.
July 19 Herr Michaelis, the new German Chancellor,
(Thur.) declares in the Reichstag for ' a victor's peace.' The Germans attack in north-eastern Galicia and pierce the Russian Front ; here and else- where mutinous Russian units refuse to fight. East Africa : — The main German forces are defeated at Norongombe and driven in retreat to the Mbemkuru Valley.
July 20 Galicia : — The Germans advance rapidly to-
(Fri.) wards Tarnopol.
July 21 Galicia : — The Russian retreat develops into
(Sat.) a rout.
155
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
July 22 Siam declares war on Germany and Austria.
(Sun.) Resignation of the Russian Premier, Prince
Lvoff ; he is succeeded by M. Kerenski.
The French repulse German attacks on the Chemin-des -Dames but lose ground at some points.
Loyal Russian units make a temporary stand near Krevo, east of Vilna.
A German aeroplane raid on Harwich and Fehxstowe (11 killed).
July 23 The Germans occupy Halicz and cross the
(Mon.) Sereth south of Tarnopol ; the Russians also retreat near Dvinsk and Smorgon ; there are wholesale desertions in the Russian Army.
In Moldavia the Russians and Roumanians attack in the Susitza and Putna Valleys and capture guns and prisoners.
H.M.S. Otway (armed merchant cruiser) is simk by a submarine in the North Atlantic.
July 24 The Austro-Germans recapture Stanislau and
(Tues.) Tarnopol.
July 25 The Irish Convention meets in Dublin ; Sir
(Wed.) Horace Plunkett is appointed Chairman.
The Russian retreat in Galicia continues. The Russians and Roumanians gain ground in Moldavia.
156
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
July 26 The Austro -Germans are across the Sereth
(Thur.) from Tarnopol to Czortkow ; they occupy
Kolomea, south of the Dniester.
H.M.S. Ariadne (mine layer) is sunk by a
submarine in the English Channel (38 lives
lost).
July 28 The Austro -Germans enter south-western
(Sat.) Russia on either side of the frontier town of Husiatyn.
The Roumanians still advance in Moldavia.
July 29 An increasing artillery bombardment by the
(Sun.) British in Flanders.
The Russian retreat continues.
July 30 The French attack and gain ground south of
(Mon.) La Royere, on the Aisne Front.
July 31 Great Anglo-French attack in front of Ypres
(Tues.) (the Third Battle of Ypres ; see Nov. 6) : St. Julien, Pilkem, Frezenberg, and other villages are captured by the British ; the French force the passage of the Yser Canal and carry Steen- strasse and Bixschoote.
Aug. 1 The Germans counter-attack and recapture
(Wed.) St. Julien (see Aug. 3).
The Russian generals Brussiloff and Dmitrieff
resign ; General Korniloff is appointed Russian
Commander-in-Chief.
157
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Aug. 2 The Germans carry British positions on In-
(Thur.) fantry Hill, east of Monchy.
Aug. 3 The British recapture St. Julien (Ypres
(Fri.) Front) and the positions lost on Infantry Hill
(east of Monchy).
The Austro- Germans recapture Czernowitz.
Aug. 6 Moldavia : — Roumanian positions are
(Mon.) stormed north of Focsani by Mackensen's forces.
Aug. 7 Moldavia : — Mackensen advances north of
(Tues.) Focsani, and captures 3000 prisoners.
Aug. 8 Moldavia : — Retirement of the Russians and
(Wed.) Roumanians in the Trotus Valley.
Aug. 9 Moldavia : — Mackensen continues to advance
(Thur.) north of Focsani, and crosses the Susitza River
on a wide front.
The British destroyer Recruit is sunk by a
mine in the North Sea (see footnote, p. 38).
Aug. 10 The British advance east of Ypres and enter
(Fri.) Glencorse Wood ; the French cross the Steen-
beek.
A German air-raid on Nancy. A French air- raid on Frankfurt-on-Main. 158
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Aug. 11 Mackensen advances in Moldavia and cap-
(Sat.) tures many prisoners.
The British hner City of Athens is sunk by a niine near Cape Town.
Aug. 12 A German aeroplane raid on Southend and
(Sun.) Margate (32 killed).
Aug. 13 The refusal of passports for the Stockholm
(Mon.) Conference is announced by the British Govern- ment, as a measure agreed between the Allies (see May 9 and June 1).
H.M.S. Bergamot (sloop — employed as Special Service ship) is sunk by a submarine in the Atlantic.
Aug. 14 China declares war on Germany and Austria.
(Tues.) Peace proposals by the Pope are delivered
to the belligerent Governments.
Aug. 15 The British attack from north of Loos to
(Wed.) north of Lens : Hill 70 and several villages are
captured and the defences of Cite St. Auguste
penetrated in the northern sector ; German
positions are carried near Lens.
Aug. 16 The British attack east and north of Ypres,
(Thur.) and capture Langemarck.
The French advance near Craonne.
159
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
The Germans are checked by the Roumanians in Moldavia.
An action between British and German de- stroyers in the Bight of Hehgoland.
Aug. 17 The French gain ground east of Bixschoote.
(Fri.)
Aug. 18 German counter-attacks near Lens are re-
(Sat.) pulsed with heavy loss.
The Isonzo Front : — The Italians bombard the Austrian positions from Monte Nero to the sea.
Aug. 19 The Isonzo Front : — The Italians attack on a
(Sun.) thirty-mile front, and capture the Austrian first line from Plava to the sea.
Aug. 20 The French attack at Verdun on a front of
(Mon.) 11 miles ; they capture Avocourt, the Cumieres Woods, and other strong positions, with 4000 prisoners.
The Germans advance on the Riga Front with little opposition.
The Isonzo Front : — The Italians make rapid progress.
Aug. 21 The British gain ground north of Lens.
(Tues.) The French make further progress near
Verdun.
i6o
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
A Zeppelin raid on the Yorkshire coast. A Zeppehn is brought down off Jutland by British light naval forces.
Aug. 22 Lens is invested by the British on three sides.
(Wed.) The Isonzo Front : — The Italians continue
to advance, 16,000 prisoners being claimed to
date.
A German aeroplane raid on Ramsgate,
Margate, and Dover ; three raiders are brought
down.
Aug. 23 The Isonzo Front : — The ItaHans make
(Thur.) further progress ; they claim over 20,000 prisoners since the beginning of the offensive.
Aug. 24 The British are driven back near the Ypres-
(Fri.) Menin road.
Verdun Front : — The French capture Hill 304 and reach the southern bank of the Forges brook. The Isonzo Front : — The Italians capture Monte Santo, north of Gorizia.
Aug. 28 Moldavia : — A Russian division mutinies and
(Tues.) leaves" the field.
Aug. 31 The French gain ground on the Chemin-des-
(Fri.) Dames.
i6i L
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Sept. 1 The Germans cross the Dvina at Uexkiill,
(Sat.) which constitutes a threat to the Riga-Petro- grad Railway.
British hght naval forces sink four German mine-sweepers off the coast of Jutland.
Sept. 2 East Africa : — A German detachment sur-
(Sun.) renders at Kakera.
A German aeroplane raid on Dover. A British naval air-raid on Adrianople.
Sept. 3 Riga falls to the Germans, who occupy the
(Mon.) town unopposed and advance in pursuit of the retreating and disorganised Russians,
A German aeroplane raid on the south-east of England.
H.M.S. Dundee (armed boarding - steamer) is sunk by a submarine in the entrance of the English Channel.
Sept. 4 The Germans cross the Aa, 33 miles north-
(Tues.) east of Riga.
The Isonzo Front : — The Italians capture enemy positions on Monte St. Gabriele.
A German submarine shells Scarborough (3 killed).
A night raid by German aeroplanes on London (11 killed).
Sept. 5 The Russians lose the line of the Dvina as
(Wed.) far as Friedrichstadt.
162
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Sept. 7 Resignation of M. Ribot, the French Premier
(Fri.) (see March 19).
Sept. 8 M. Kerenski dismisses General Korniloff
(Sat.) from the post of Russian Commander-in-Chief ; General Korniloff marches on Petrograd.
The United States Government discloses the ' sink without trace ' incident in Germany's dealings in the Argentine through Sweden.
Verdun Front : — The French capture Chaume Wood.
Sept. 11 Russia :— M. Kerenski assumes the position
(Tues.) of Commander-in-Chief.
Sept. 12 M. Painleve succeeds M. Ribot as French
(Wed.) Premier (see Nov. 13).
The Argentine Government hands Count Luxburg, the German agent in Buenos Ayres, his passports.
A British naval air-raid on Zeebrugge.
Sept. 18 Russia : — General Korniloff's revolt fails.
(Thur.) The Allies advance in Southern Albania.
Sept. 14 Russia : — General Korniloff surrenders to
(Fri.) General Alexeieff and the Provisional Govern-
ment.
Sept. 15 Russia: — The Provisional Government pro-
(Sat.) claims a Repubhc ; a new War Cabinet is
163
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
appointed under M. Kerenski, who is virtually Dictator.
A British naval air-raid on enemy shipping between Ostend and Blankenberghe.
Sept. 16 Allied air-raids on Stuttgart and Colmar.
(Sun.)
Sept. 18 The British destroyer Contest is sunk by a
(Tues.) submarine in the English Channel.
Sept. 20 The British attack on an eight-mile front east
(Thur.) of Ypres : Inverness Copse, Glencorse Wood,
and other important positions are captured,
with 2000 prisoners.
Sept. 21 East of Ypres the British repulse counter-
(Fri.) attacks and make further progress.
The Russians evacuate the important bridge- head of Jacobstadt (on the Dvina, 70 miles south-east of Riga).
East Africa : — The British advancing from the direction of the port of Kilwa break up an enemy force and drive it in flight towards the Mbemkuru River.
Sept. 22 The Germans occupy Jacobstadt (south-east
(Sat.) of Riga).
Ostend is shelled by British ships of the Belgian coast patrol.
French air-raids on Stuttgart, Tr^ves,Coblenz, and Frankfurt.
164
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Sept. 24 A night raid on London by German aeroplanes
(Mon.) (15 killed).
Sept. 25 A British naval force bombards Ostend.
(Tues.) A night raid on London by German aero-
planes (7 killed) ; one raider is destroyed.
Sept. 26 The British attack on a six-mile front east of
(Wed.) Ypres ; Polygon Wood and Zonnebeke are captured.
Sept. 27 A raid by British naval airmen on the
(Thur.) German aerodrome at St. Denis Westrem (near Ghent).
Sept. 28 Mesopotamia : — The Turks are crushingly
(Fri.) defeated by General Maude at Ramadieh on the Euphrates (the Battle of Ramadieh).
Sept, 29 Mesopotamia : — The British victory at
(Sat.) Ramadieh ends in the surrender of the Turkish force ; over 3000 unwounded prisoners are captured.
A night raid on London by German aero- planes (11 killed).
Sept. 30 A night raid on London by German aero-
(Sun.) planes.
165
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Oct. 1 East of Ypres strong German counter-attacks
(Mon.) are repulsed by the British.
East Africa : — An enemy detachment of 200 surrenders to the British north of the Central Railway.
A night raid on London by German aero- planes (10 killed).
Oct. 2 H.M.S. Drake (cruiser) is torpedoed off the
(Tues.) north coast of Ireland ; she makes harbour and sinks in shallow water (19 lives lost).
Oct. 4 The British attack Passchendaele Ridge ;
(Thur.) positions of great importance and 4500 prisoners are captured.
Oct. 5 An explosion occurs in a munitions factory
(Fri.) at Chilwell, with heavy loss of life.
Oct. 6 Peru and Uruguay break off diplomatic rela-
(Sat.) tions with Germany.
German counter-attacks at Passchendaele are repulsed with heavy loss.
Oct. 9 Death of Hussein Kamel, Sultan of Egypt
(Tues.) since 1914 (see Dec. 18, 1914).
The British and French attack between Passchendaele Ridge and Houthulst Forest ; the villages of St. Jean, Mangelaere, Veldhoek, and Koekuit are taken, and the capture of Poelcappelle is completed. i66
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
East Africa : — A Belgian column occupies Mahenge.
A serious mutiny which occurred in the German Navy in August is announced in the German Reichstag.
H.M.S. Champagne (armed merchant-cruiser) is sunk by a submarine in the Atlantic (56 lives lost).
Oct. 11 The British Government stops commercial
^Thur.) cable communication with Holland until the transit of sand and scrap-iron by Dutch water- ways from Germany into Belgium shall be discontinued.
Oct. 12 The British again attack between Passchen-
(Fri.) daele and Houthulst Forest ; their progress is
checked by the mud.
The Germans attack the island of Oesel in the Gulf of Riga with naval and military forces ; the greater part of the island is occupied.
Oct. 13 The Germans capture Arensburg, the capital
(Sat.) of Oesel Island.
Oct. 14 The Gulf of Riga : — An indeterminate action
(Sun.) between German and Russian naval forces is fought in the Sound between Oesel Island and Dago Island.
167
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Oct. 16 It is announced in Parliament that a British
(Tues.) Air Ministry will be constituted.
The Germans complete the occupation of Oesel, taking many prisoners.
Oct. 17 Gulf of Riga : — The Germans force Irben
(Wed.) Strait ; the Russians are compelled to sink and
abandon their battleship Slava iii Moon Sound.
Scandinavian merchantmen, convoyed by two British destroyers, are attacked by a German naval force in the North Sea ; the two destroyers, the Mary Rose and the Strong- bow, are sunk after a gallant fight (135 lives lost) ; most of the merchantmen are sunk, but three escape.
The U.S.A. transport Aiitilles is sunk by a submarine (67 lives lost).
Oct. 18 The Gulf of Riga : — The Germans complete
(Thur.) the capture of Moon Island.
Oct. 19 The Gulf of Riga : — The Germans complete
(Fri.) the capture of Dago Island.
A Zeppelin raid on the east and north-east of England and on London (27 killed) ; five of the raiders are brought down in France on their return journey.
H.M. armed merchant-cruiser Orama is sunk by a submarine in the Atlantic. i68
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Oct. 20 The Gulf of Riga : — The Germans capture
(Sat.) Schilden Island.
Oct. 21 The Gulf of Riga :— The Germans land at
(Sun.) Verder, on the mainland of Esthonia (see Oct. 27).
British naval forces bombard Ostend.
Oct. 22 The Germans counter-attack and gain ground
(Mon.) in Houthulst Forest.
A German withdrawal south of Riga.
Oct. 23 The French attack on the Aisne Front : the
(Tues.) German defences are deeply penetrated ; Mal- maison Fort and other important positions are carried, 8000 prisoners being captured.
The Italian Isonzo and north-eastern fronts are heavily bombarded at many points by the Austro -Germans, the Austrians in this area having been strongly reinforced by Germans.
Oct. 24 The Battle of Caporetto begins (see Nov.
(Wed.) 18) : the Italians are strongly attacked in
the neighbourhood of Tolmino, on the Upper
Isonzo, by Austro-German forces ; the Italian
Second Army gives way on a twenty-mile front.
Oct. 25 Resignation of Signor Boselli and the Italian
(Thur.) Cabinet.
169
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
A further French advance on the Aisne Front : many guns are captured.
The ItaHans retreat rapidly on the whole front between Plezzo and a point south of Auzza : the Austro -Germans capture Monte Matajur (south-west of Caporetto) ; they claim 30,000 prisoners in two days' fighting.
A British air-raid on the railways and fac- tories at Saarbriicken.
Oct. 26 The British advance on the Passchendaele
(Fri.) Ridge ; the French capture the village of Dvaeibank.
The Italians continue to retreat ; their line is pierced on the Julian Front ; 60,000 prisoners and 500 guns are claimed by the enemy to date.
Oct. 27 The French and Belgians advance on either
(Sat.) side of the Ypres-Dixmude road : Merckem is captured.
American troops are in action in France for the first time (see June 26).
The Gulf of Riga : — The Germans evacuate the mainland of Esthonia (see Oct. 21).
Italy : — The Germans capture Cividale and sweep into the Friulian plain ; 80,000 prisoners are claimed to date.
An action between Allied and German de- stroyers off the Belgian coast. 170
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Oct. 28 A new Italian Cabinet is formed under Signer
(Sun.) Orlando.
Fall of Gorizia : the Italians retreat towards the line of the Tagliamento ; 100,000 prisoners and 700 guns are claimed by the enemy to date (see Aug. 8, 1916).
Oct. 29 Italy :— The Austro -Germans occupy Udine. (Mon.)
Oct. 30 Resignation of Herr Michaelis, the German
(Tues.) Imperial Chancellor (see July 14).
The British advance on the Passchendaele Ridge and reach the outskirts of Passchendaele.
Oct. 31 The remains of the Italian Second and Third
(Wed.) Armies are withdrawn behind the Tagliamento River ; 120,000 prisoners and over 1000 guns are claimed by the enemy to date.
Palestine :— The British, under General Allenby, resume the offensive on the Gaza Front ; Beersheba is captured ; 1800 prisoners and 15 guns are taken.
A night raid on London by German aero- planes (8 killed).
Nov. 1 Count Hertling succeeds Herr Michaelis as
(Thur.) German Imperial Chancellor (see Oct 1, 1918). Palestine : — General Allenby captures an im- portant section of the defences of Gaza and advances north of Beersheba. 171
191? A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Nov. 2 The Germans abandon the whole hne of the
(Fri.) Chemin - des - Dames ; they retire from its
northern slopes across the Ailette.
Italy : — The Austro -Germans reach the east bank of the Tagliamento.
A British naval force sinks a German auxiliary cruiser and ten German patrol craft in the Kattegat.
Nov. 3 The French reach the Ailette on the whole
(Sat.) front between Corbeny and the Oise-Aisne Canal.
French troops arrive in Italy.
Nov. 4 British troops arrive in Italy.
(Sun.) The Austro-Germans force the passage of the
Tagliamento north of Pinzano.
Nov. 5 The Italians retreat from the Tagliamento
(Mon.) towards the Piave.
Mesopotamia : — General Maude defeats the Turks before Tekrit (100 miles beyond Bagh- dad).
Nov. 6 The British capture Passchendaele (this ends
(Tues.) the Third Battle of Ypres : see July 31).
Palestine : — The British capture important positions eleven miles north of Beersheba. Mesopotamia : — The British capture Tekrit. 172
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Nov. 7 A coup d'itat in Petrograd by the Bol-
(Wed.) shevists under Lenin : Kerenski and the
Provisional Government are overthrown ;
Lenin and Trotsky become masters of the
situation.
The Itahans reach the Livenza, the passage of which is forced by the Austro-Germans ; 250,000 prisoners and 2300 guns are claimed by the enemy to date.
Palestine : — General Allenby captures Gaza.
Nov. 9 It is announced that the Allied War Con-
(Fri.) ference at Rapallo has decided to create a
Supreme Council to ensure unity of com- mand.
General Diaz succeeds General Cadorna as Italian Generalissimo.
The Austro-Germans advance in the Trentino and capture Asiago.
Palestine : — The Turks retreat on Hebron and Jerusalem with heavy loss in guns, prisoners, and other casualties.
Nov. 10 The arrests of M. Kerenski and General
(Sat.) Korniloff are ordered by the Petrograd Soviet ;
troops loyal to M. Kerenski occupj'^ Tsarskoe Selo.
Italy : — The Austro-Germans attack on the Upper Piave and capture Belluno.
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Nov. 11 Italy : — Austro-German attacks in the Tren-
(Sun.) tino (designed to turn the hne of the Piave) are defeated.
The British monitor M 15 and the destroyer Staunch are sunk by submarine off the coast of Palestine.
Nov. 12 Mr. Lloyd George makes his ' Paris speech '
(Mon.) declaring for an Alhed War Council to ensure
unity of command.
The Italians evacuate Fonzano and a part
of the Val Sugano.
Nov. 13 M. Kerenski's forces are defeated by the
(Tues.) Bolshevists at Tsarskoe Selo ; flight of M. Kerenski.
M. Painleve's Government is defeated in the French Chamber (see Sept. 12).
Italy :— The Austro-Germans force the passage of the Lower Piave at Zenson.
Palestine : — General Allenby drives the Turks from strong positions north of Ascalon ; the junction of the Beersheba-Damascus railway with the line from Jerusalem is occupied by the British.
Nov. 14 Mr. Lloyd George announces to the House (Wed.) of Commons the terms of agreement between the Western Allies for a Supreme War Council.
Italy : — Austro-German attacks on a twenty- 174
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
mile front, designed to turn the line of the Piave from the north, are repulsed.
Nov. 15 The Italians retreat in the Val Sugano and
(Thur.) the Austro-Germans occupy Cismon.
Palestine : — The British approach Jaffa (Joppa).
East Africa :— British troops occupy Chivata.
Nov. 16 A new French Ministry is formed with M.
(Fri.) Clemenceau as Premier and War Minister.
The Austro-Germans attack the line of the Piave on a twenty-mile front ; they capture Monte Prasolan, the Italians retiring on Monte Grappa ; the enemy cross the Lower Piave at two more points but are checked on the western bank.
Nov. 17 Palestine : — The British enter Jaffa (Joppa).
(Sat.) A cruiser action in the Hehgoland Bight :
the German naval forces retire damaged to the protection of Heligolan(J.
Nov, 18 Italy :— The end of the Battle of Caporetto
(Sun.) (see Oct. 24).
Palestine : — The British approach Jerusalem. Death of General Sir Stanley Maude in Mesopotamia (see Aug. 28, 1916).
m.M.S, Candytuft {sloop — employed as Special Service ship) is sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean.
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Nov. 19 In the British House of Commons Mr.
(Men.) Lloyd George successfully defends his ' Paris
speech ' and the policy of a Supreme War
Council.
Nov. 20 A conference opens at Downing Street be-
(Tues.) tween the British War Cabinet and represen- tatives of the U.S.A.
The British Third Army under Sir Julian Byng attacks and f^arries the Hindenburg line on a ten-mile front before Cambrai (the Battle of Cambrai ; see Dec. 7) : the ad- vance through the German wire is led by tanks ; Bonavis, La Vacqucrie, Havrincourt, and other places are captured ; the ad- vance is continued to within five miles of Cambrai.
Nov. 21 Russia : — The Lenin-Trotsky Government
(Wed.) announces its intention to open negotiations for ' a democratic peace.' Ensign Krilenko is appointed Russian Commander-in-Chief.
The British continue to advance before Cambrai : Bourlon Wood is entered ; Fontaine Notre Dame (2| miles from Cambrai) is captured ; Moeuvres is reached. The number of prisoners taken to date exceeds 8000.
Palestine :— General Allenby captures the Nebi Samwil Ridge (Mizpeh), five miles from Jerusalem.
176
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1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Nov. 22 Cambrai Front : — The Germans recapture
(Thur.) Fontaine Notre Dame.
Cambrai Front : — The British capture Bourlon Wood.
Cambrai Front : — Fierce fighting in the northern outskirts of Bourlon Wood.
General Plumer is appointed to command the British forces in Italy.
Lieut.-General Marshall is appointed to com- mand the British forces in Mesopotamia.
The German submarine U 48 is destroyed by British drifters on the Goodwin Sands.
Nov. 25 The French advance north of Verdun.
(Sun.)
Nov. 27 Cambrai Front : — The British gain ground
(Tues.) towards Fontaine Notre Dame and the village
of Bourlon.
East Africa : — Near Nevale 3500 German and
native troops, under Colonel Tafel, surrender
to the British.
Nov. 28 The British Admiralty announces the forma-
(Wed.) tion of the Women's Royal Naval Service.
The Elder-Dempster liner Apapa is sunk by a submarine (79 lives lost).
177 M
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Nov. 29 Meetings of the Allied Conference open at
(Thur.) Paris.
Count Hertling announces that Germany will treat with the Bolshevists.
Lord Lansdowne's letter advising a revision of war aims is published in the Daily Telegraph.
Nov. 80 The Germans counter-attack in strength
(Fri.) before Cambrai : they capture Lateau Wood and penetrate the British positions as far as La Vacquerie, Gonnelieu, and Gouzeaucourt ; La Vacquerie is recovered by a British counter- attack : the Germans claim 4000 prisoners and 60 guns.
Dec. 1 Cambrai Front : — The British recapture
(Sat.) Gonnelieu.
East Africa : — The British drive the last enemy forces into Portuguese territory.
Dec. 2 German and Bolshevist plenipotentiaries
(Sun.) meet at Brest-Litovsk to negotiate an armistice.
Dec. 8 The Russian General Staff surrenders to
(Mon.) Bolshevist troops ; General Dukhonin, the former Commander-in-Chief, is murdered.
Mesopotamia : — The Turks are driven out of the hills north of Deli Abbas ; they retreat towards the Jebel Hamrin range. 178
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Dec. 4 Italy : — The Austro-Germans attack in the
(Tues.) Asiago region and win Italian hill positions.
Dec. 5 Cambrai Front : — The British evacuate
(Wed.) Bourlon Wood.
Italy : — The Austro-Germans make progress
on the Asiago Front : Monte Zomo and Monte
Castelgomberto are carried.
Dec. 6 An insurrection breaks out in Lisbon against
(Thur.) the Government in power (see Dec. 11).
Roumania agrees to an armistice.
Cambrai Front : — Strong enemy attacks south of Bourlon Wood are repulsed by the British.
Italy : — The Austro-Germans capture Monte Sisemol.
Palestine : — The British occupy Hebron.
A German aeroplane raid on London in the early morning (7 killed) ; two raiders are destroyed.
Dec. 7 The United States Government declares war
(Fri.) on Austria.
The end of the Battle of Cambrai (see
Nov. 20), the British gains having been largely
abandoned.
Dec. 8 Ecuador breaks off diplomatic relations with
(Sat.) Germany.
The Russian peoples on the Don and in the Urals revolt against the Bolshevists.
179
1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
Palestine : — The British advance isolates Jerusalem.
Dec. 9 Palestine : — Fall of Jerusalem to General
(Sun) Allenby (see Dec. 11).
The Italians torpedo two Austrian battle- ships in the port of Trieste, sinking one of them (the Wien).
Dec. 10 Panama declares war on Austria.
(Mon.)
Dec. 11 The Russian Constituent Assembly meets in
(Tues.) Petrograd.
The Revolutionary party establishes itself in Lisbon, and forms a Government which declares its solidarity with the Allies (see Dec. 6).
Palestine : — General Allenby formally enters Jerusalem accompanied by the military attaches of France, Italy, and the United States.
A German submarine bombards Funchal, Madeira.
A British air-raid on Germany between Metz and the Rhine.
Dec. 12 The Germans attack, and gain some ground
(Wed.) near Bullecourt.
Palestine : — General Allenby advances north and north-west of Jerusalem.
A raid by German destroyers in the North Sea : they attack six merchantmen (five l8o
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Neutral and one British) escorted by two British destroyers (the Partridge and the Pellew) and four armed trawlers ; the merchant- men and the escort are all sunk with the ex- ception of the destroyer Pellew, which is disabled.
Dec. 13 The Russian Constituent Assembly is forcibly
(Thur.) dispersed by the Bolshevists.
H.M.S. Stephen Furness (armed boarding- steamer) is sunk by a submarine in the Irish Sea.
The French cruiser Chdieaurenault is sunk by a submarine (10 lives lost).
An armistice for one month from Dec, 17 is signed at Brest-Litovsk by representatives of the German Government and of the Russian Bolshevist Government.
General Guillaumet succeeds General Sarrail in command of the Allied forces at Salonika,
Dec. 16 H.M.S. Arbutus (sloop — employed as Special
(Sun.) Service ship) is sunk by a submarine off the Bristol Channel.
Dec. 18 Italy : — ^The Austro -Germans attack from
(Tues.) Col Caprile to Monte Pertica ; they capture
Monte Asolone with 2000 prisoners.
l8i
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1917 A CONCISE CHRONICLE OF
An evening raid by German aeroplanes on Essex, Kent, and London (10 killed) ; one raider is brought down.
Dec. 19 The Ukraine Government demands recog-
(Wed.) nition by the Bolshevist Government.
The Italians recapture part of Monte Asolone.
Dec. 21 The Italians complete the recapture of
(Fri.) Monte Asolone.
Palestine : — General Allenby advances north- ward.
Dec. 22 Peace negotiations are opened at Brest-
(Sat.) Litovsk between the German Government and the Russian Bolshevist Government ; Herr von Kiihlmann presides.
A German aeroplane raid on the Kentish coast ; one machine is forced to land and its crew is captured.
Dec. 23 Italy : — The Austro -Germans capture Val
(Sun.) Bella and the Col del Rosso in the Frenzela Valley ; they claim 9000 prisoners.
Three British destroyers, the Surprise, Tornado, and Torrent, are sunk by mines off the Dutch coast with considerable loss of life.
Dec. 24 A British air-raid on Mannheim.
(Mon.) 182
1917 EVENTS OF THE GREAT WAR
Dec. 26 Vice-Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss succeeds
(Wed.) Admiral Sir John Jellicoe as First Sea Lord (see Nov. 29, 1916).
Dec. 27 Palestine : — Turkish attacks north of Jeni-
(Thur.) salem are shattered and a British offensive is
launched subsequently against the defeated
enemy.
Dec. 28 The Labour Memorandum on War Aims is
(Fri.) adopted at a special British Labour Conference.
Palestine : — The British advance on a nine- mile front : they capture Ramah and Beitunia.
Dec. 29 Palestine : — The British capture Bireh (on the
(Sat.) Shechem road, nine miles north of Jerusalem).
Dec. 30 The Germans attack Welsh Ridge on the
(Sun.) Cambrai Front, and gain ground.
Palestine: — The British continue to advance ; they capture Bethel and other villages.
The British destroyer Attack is sunk by a mine off Alexandria.
l83
1918
Jan. 1 Italy : — The Austrians are driven from
(Tues.) Zenson, west of the Piave.
Jan. 2 The German peace conditions are denounced
(Wed.) by the Bolshevists as a policy of annexation.
Jan. 4 The British hospital ship /^ewa is sunk by a sub-
(Fri.) marine in the Bristol Channel (three lives lost).
Jan. 5 Mr. Lloyd George makes a declaration of
(Sat.) * War Aims ' after consultation with Mr. Asquith,
Lord Grey, and the leaders of the Labour Party.
Jan. 8 President Wilson in an address to Congress
(Tues.) lays down the ' fourteen points ' on which, in his
opinion, peace should be based. (Appendix V.)
Jan. 9 H.M.S. Racoon (destroyer) is lost, with all
(Wed.) hands, in a storm off the coast of Ireland.
Jan. 10 In the peace negotiations at Brest-Litovsk
(Thur.) the independence of the Ukraine Republic is