Nov. 1 (Thur.)
Count Hertling succeeds Herr Michaelis as German Imperial Chancellor (see Oct 1, 1918).
Palestine:—General Allenby captures an important section of the defences of Gaza and advances north of Beersheba.
Nov. 2 (Fri.)
The Germans abandon the whole line of the 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 (Sat.)
The French reach the Ailette on the whole front between Corbeny and the Oise-Aisne Canal.
French troops arrive in Italy.
Nov. 4 (Sun.)
British troops arrive in Italy.
The Austro-Germans force the passage of the Tagliamento north of Pinzano.
Nov. 5 (Mon.)
The Italians retreat from the Tagliamento towards the Piave.
Mesopotamia:—General Maude defeats the Turks before Tekrit (100 miles beyond Baghdad).
Nov. 6 (Tues.)
The British capture Passchendaele (this ends the Third Battle of Ypres: see July 31).
Palestine:—The British capture important positions eleven miles north of Beersheba.
Mesopotamia:—The British capture Tekrit.
Nov. 7 (Wed.)
Acoup d'étatin Petrograd by the Bolshevists under Lenin: Kerenski and the Provisional Government are overthrown; Lenin and Trotsky become masters of the situation.
The Italians 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 (Fri.)
It is announced that the Allied War Conference at Rapallo has decided to create a Supreme Council to ensure unity of command.
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 (Sat.)
The arrests of M. Kerenski and General Korniloff are ordered by the Petrograd Soviet; troops loyal to M. Kerenski occupy Tsarskoe Selo.
Italy:—The Austro-Germans attack on the Upper Piave and capture Belluno.
Nov. 11 (Sun.)
Italy:—Austro-German attacks in the Trentino (designed to turn the line of the Piave) are defeated.
The British monitor M 15 and the destroyerStaunchare sunk by submarine off the coast of Palestine.
Nov. 12 (Mon.)
Mr. Lloyd George makes his 'Paris speech' declaring for an Allied War Council to ensure unity of command.
The Italians evacuate Fonzano and a part of the Val Sugano.
Nov. 13 (Tues.)
M. Kerenski's forces are defeated by the Bolshevists at Tsarskoe Selo; flight of M. Kerenski.
M. Painlevé'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 (Wed.)
Mr. Lloyd George announces to the House of Commons the terms of agreement between the Western Allies for a Supreme War Council.
Italy:—Austro-German attacks on a twenty-milefront, designed to turn the line of the Piave from the north, are repulsed.
Nov. 15 (Thur.)
The Italians retreat in the Val Sugano and the Austro-Germans occupy Cismon.
Palestine:—The British approach Jaffa (Joppa).
East Africa:—British troops occupy Chivata.
Nov. 16 (Fri.)
A new French Ministry is formed with M. 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 (Sat.)
Palestine:—The British enter Jaffa (Joppa).
A cruiser action in the Heligoland Bight: the German naval forces retire damaged to the protection of Heligoland.
Nov. 18 (Sun.)
Italy:—The end of the Battle of Caporetto (see Oct. 24).
Palestine:—The British approach Jerusalem.
Death of General Sir Stanley Maude in Mesopotamia (see Aug. 28, 1916).
H.M.S.Candytuft(sloop—employed as Special Service ship) is sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean.
Nov. 19 (Mon.)
In the British House of Commons Mr. Lloyd George successfully defends his 'Paris speech' and the policy of a Supreme War Council.
Nov. 20 (Tues.)
A conference opens at Downing Street between the British War Cabinet and representatives of the U.S.A.
The British Third Army under Sir Julian Byng attacks and carries the Hindenburg line on a ten-mile front before Cambrai (the Battle of Cambrai; see Dec. 7): the advance through the German wire is led by tanks; Bonavis, La Vacquerie, Havrincourt, and other places are captured; the advance is continued to within five miles of Cambrai.
Nov. 21 (Wed.)
Russia:—The Lenin-Trotsky Government 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 (2½ miles from Cambrai) is captured; Mœuvres is reached. The number of prisoners taken to date exceeds 8000.
Palestine:—General Allenby captures the Nebi Samwil Ridge (Mizpeh), five miles from Jerusalem.
Nov. 22 (Thur.)
Cambrai Front:—The Germans recapture Fontaine Notre Dame.
Nov. 23 (Fri.)
Cambrai Front:—The British capture Bourlon Wood.
Nov. 24 (Sat.)
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 command the British forces in Mesopotamia.
The German submarine U48 is destroyed by British drifters on the Goodwin Sands.
Nov. 25 (Sun.)
The French advance north of Verdun.
Nov. 27 (Tues.)
Cambrai Front:—The British gain ground 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 (Wed.)
The British Admiralty announces the formation of the Women's Royal Naval Service.
The Elder-Dempster linerApapais sunk by a submarine (79 lives lost).
Nov. 29 (Thur.)
Meetings of the Allied Conference open at Paris.
Count Hertling announces that Germany will treat with the Bolshevists.
Lord Lansdowne's letter advising a revision of war aims is published in theDaily Telegraph.
Nov. 30 (Fri.)
The Germans counter-attack in strength 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 (Sat.)
Cambrai Front:—The British recapture Gonnelieu.
East Africa:—The British drive the last enemy forces into Portuguese territory.
Dec. 2 (Sun.)
German and Bolshevist plenipotentiaries meet at Brest-Litovsk to negotiate an armistice.
Dec. 3 (Mon.)
The Russian General Staff surrenders to 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.
Dec. 4 (Tues.)
Italy:—The Austro-Germans attack in the Asiago region and win Italian hill positions.
Dec. 5 (Wed.)
Cambrai Front:—The British evacuate Bourlon Wood.
Italy:—The Austro-Germans make progress on the Asiago Front: Monte Zomo and Monte Castelgomberto are carried.
Dec. 6 (Thur.)
An insurrection breaks out in Lisbon against 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 (Fri.)
The United States Government declares war on Austria.
The end of the Battle of Cambrai (see Nov. 20), the British gains having been largely abandoned.
Dec. 8 (Sat.)
Ecuador breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany.
The Russian peoples on the Don and in the Urals revolt against the Bolshevists.
Palestine:—The British advance isolates Jerusalem.
Dec. 9 (Sun.)
Palestine:—Fall of Jerusalem to General Allenby (see Dec. 11).
The Italians torpedo two Austrian battleships in the port of Trieste, sinking one of them (theWien).
Dec. 10 (Mon.)
Panama declares war on Austria.
Dec. 11 (Tues.)
The Russian Constituent Assembly meets in 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 attachés 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 (Wed.)
The Germans attack, and gain some ground 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 (fiveNeutral and one British) escorted by two British destroyers (thePartridgeand thePellew) and four armed trawlers; the merchantmen and the escort are all sunk with the exception of the destroyerPellew, which is disabled.
Dec. 13 (Thur.)
The Russian Constituent Assembly is forcibly dispersed by the Bolshevists.
H.M.S.Stephen Furness(armed boarding-steamer) is sunk by a submarine in the Irish Sea.
Dec. 14 (Fri.)
The French cruiserChâteaurenaultis sunk by a submarine (10 lives lost).
Dec. 15 (Sat.)
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 (Sun.)
H.M.S.Arbutus(sloop—employed as Special Service ship) is sunk by a submarine off the Bristol Channel.
Dec. 18 (Tues.)
Italy:—The Austro-Germans attack from Col Caprile to Monte Pertica; they capture Monte Asolone with 2000 prisoners.
An evening raid by German aeroplanes on Essex, Kent, and London (10 killed); one raider is brought down.
Dec. 19 (Wed.)
The Ukraine Government demands recognition by the Bolshevist Government.
The Italians recapture part of Monte Asolone.
Dec. 21 (Fri.)
The Italians complete the recapture of Monte Asolone.
Palestine:—General Allenby advances northward.
Dec. 22 (Sat.)
Peace negotiations are opened at Brest-Litovsk between the German Government and the Russian Bolshevist Government; Herr von Kühlmann presides.
A German aeroplane raid on the Kentish coast; one machine is forced to land and its crew is captured.
Dec. 23 (Sun.)
Italy:—The Austro-Germans capture Val Bella and the Col del Rosso in the Frenzela Valley; they claim 9000 prisoners.
Three British destroyers, theSurprise,Tornado, andTorrent, are sunk by mines off the Dutch coast with considerable loss of life.
Dec. 24 (Mon.)
A British air-raid on Mannheim.
Dec. 26 (Wed.)
Vice-Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss succeeds Admiral Sir John Jellicoe as First Sea Lord (see Nov. 29, 1916).
Dec. 27 (Thur.)
Palestine:—Turkish attacks north of Jerusalem are shattered and a British offensive is launched subsequently against the defeated enemy.
Dec. 28 (Fri.)
The Labour Memorandum on War Aims is adopted at a special British Labour Conference.
Palestine:—The British advance on a nine-mile front: they capture Ramah and Beitunia.
Dec. 29 (Sat.)
Palestine:—The British capture Bireh (on the Shechem road, nine miles north of Jerusalem).
Dec. 30 (Sun.)
The Germans attack Welsh Ridge on the Cambrai Front, and gain ground.
Palestine:—The British continue to advance; they capture Bethel and other villages.
The British destroyerAttackis sunk by a mine off Alexandria.
Jan. 1 (Tues.)
Italy:—The Austrians are driven from Zenson, west of the Piave.
Jan. 2 (Wed.)
The German peace conditions are denounced by the Bolshevists as a policy of annexation.
Jan. 4 (Fri.)
The British hospital shipRewais sunk by a submarine in the Bristol Channel (three lives lost).
Jan. 5 (Sat.)
Mr. Lloyd George makes a declaration of 'War Aims' after consultation with Mr. Asquith, Lord Grey, and the leaders of the Labour Party.
Jan. 8 (Tues.)
President Wilson in an address to Congress lays down the 'fourteen points' on which, in his opinion, peace should be based. (Appendix V.)
Jan. 9 (Wed.)
H.M.S.Racoon(destroyer) is lost, with all hands, in a storm off the coast of Ireland.
Jan. 10 (Thur.)
In the peace negotiations at Brest-Litovsk the independence of the Ukraine Republic is accepted both by the Central Powers and the Bolshevists.
Jan. 12 (Sat.)
Verdun Front:—A German attack at Chaume Wood is repulsed.
British forces are disembarked at Port Amelia in Portuguese East Africa.
Two British destroyers are wrecked off the coast of Scotland (all lives lost except one).
Jan. 14 (Mon.)
The Italians attack and gain ground east of the Brenta in the Asolone district (491 prisoners).
Yarmouth is shelled by German destroyers (four killed).
Jan. 15 (Tues.)
The result of an inquiry into the operations before Cambrai (see Nov. 20-Dec. 7, 1917) is announced in the British House of Commons: the Higher Command is exonerated.
Jan. 18 (Fri.)
The Russian Constituent Assembly meets in Petrograd: it refuses to accept the dictation of the Bolshevist Government.
Palestine:—The British line is advanced north of Jerusalem.
Jan. 19 (Sat.)
The Russian Constituent Assembly is forcibly dissolved by the Bolshevists.
Jan. 20 (Sun.)
TheGoebenand theBreslaumake a sortie from the Dardanelles and are engaged by British naval forces: theBreslauis sunk by a mine; theGoebenalso strikes a mine but escapes into the Straits, where she runs aground at Nagara Point; here she is attacked by British aeroplanes; H.M.S.Raglan(monitor) and a smaller British monitor (M28) are also sunk in the engagement.
The British armed boarding-steamerLouvainis sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean (224 lives lost).
Two German destroyers are sunk by mines in the North Sea.
Jan. 21 (Mon.)
Sir Edward Carson resigns from the British War Cabinet (see July 17, 1917).
Jan. 22 (Tues.)
Dr. von Seidler, the Austrian Premier, tenders his resignation, which is refused (see June 24, 1917, and July 23, 1918).
Jan. 23 (Wed.)
Two meatless days a week are enforced in Great Britain by a Public Meals Order.
Jan. 26 (Sat.)
It is announced that the British have taken over an additional sector of the front in France, and that their line now extends southward beyond St. Quentin.
Jan. 27 (Sun.)
TheGoebenis refloated and towed to Constantinople.
Jan. 28 (Mon.)
The Italians attack between Asiago and the Brenta Valley: they capture the Col del Rosso and 1500 prisoners.
A night raid by German aeroplanes on London (58 killed); one raider is destroyed over Essex.
The British submarine E14 is sunk by the Turks off Kum Kale (Dardanelles).
Jan. 29 (Tues.)
The Italians capture Monte di Val Bella.
German aeroplanes reach the outskirts of London.
Jan. 30 (Wed.)
An air-raid on Paris (49 killed); one raider is destroyed.
Jan. 31 (Thurs.)
Austrian counter-attacks on Monte di Val Bella are repulsed by the Italians.
Feb. 4 (Mon.)
The trial of Bolo Pasha begins in Paris (see Feb. 14).
Feb. 5 (Tues.)
The Anchor linerTuscania, transporting American troops, is sunk by a submarine off Ireland (166 lives lost).
Feb. 8 (Fri.)
The Germans attack French positions north of the Chemin-des-Dames and are repulsed.
Feb. 9 (Sat.)
Peace is concluded between the Central Powers and the Ukraine Republic.
Feb. 10 (Sun.)
It is announced by Trotsky that Russia is out of the war ('while desisting from signing a formal treaty of peace the state of war with the enemy Powers is ended') (see March 2).
Feb. 11 (Mon.)
A French air-raid on Metz.
Feb. 13 (Ash Wednesday).
The French, assisted by American troops, capture the German salient between Tahure and the Butte du Mesnil.
Russia:—General Alexeieff's forces are defeated by the Bolshevists. General Kaledin commits suicide.
Feb. 14 (Thur.)
Bolo Pasha is condemned to death for high treason (see Feb. 4 and April 17).
Palestine:—The British advance east of the Jerusalem-Shechem road.
Feb. 15 (Fri.)
German destroyers raid the Straits of Dover and sink a British armed trawler and seven drifters. Dover is shelled by a German submarine (one killed, a child).
Feb. 16 (Sat.)
It is announced that Sir William Robertson has resigned his post as British Chief of Staff and that he is succeeded by Sir Henry Wilson.
A night raid by German aeroplanes on London (11 killed).
Feb. 17 (Sun.)
A night raid by German aeroplanes on London (19 killed).
Feb. 18 (Mon.)
The armistice between Germany and Russia terminates; the Germans cross the Dvina and occupy Dvinsk and Lutsk; further south, at the invitation of the Ukraine, they advance towards Kovel.
Armenia is evacuated by the Russians.
Feb. 19 (Tues.)
The German armies continue to advance rapidly into Russia; they claim to have captured 2500 prisoners and several hundred guns.
Palestine:—General Allenby attacks north-east of Jerusalem and advances on a front of 15 miles to a depth of 2 miles towards Jericho.
Feb. 20 (Wed.)
The German advance into Russia, towards Reval, Petrograd, Moscow, and Kieff, continues.
Palestine:—General Allenby advances to within 4 miles of Jericho.
Mesopotamia:—General Marshall occupies Khan Abu Rayat on the Euphrates, 14 miles north of Ramadie.
Feb. 21 (Thur.)
The German Government outlines the peace terms which it will grant to Russia.
Palestine:—General Allenby captures Jericho.
Feb. 22 (Fri.)
Palestine:—The Turks retreat north of Jericho.
Feb. 24 (Sun.)
Germany's peace terms are accepted by the Russian Central Executive Committee of Soviets.
Caucasus:—Trebizond is reoccupied by the Turks (see April 18, 1916).
The German auxiliary cruiserWolfreturns successfully to port after raiding commerce for fifteen months consecutively.
Feb. 25 (Mon.)
The first compulsory rationing comes into force in Great Britain (in London and the Home Counties).
Russia:—The Germans occupy Reval and Pskoff.
Venice is heavily bombarded by Austrian airmen.
Feb. 26 (Tues.)
Palestine:—The British occupy Rujm-el-Bahr (on the north shore of the Dead Sea) and the Mandesi ford of the Jordan.
The British hospital shipGlenart Castleis sunk by a submarine in the Bristol Channel (162 lives lost).
Mar. 1 (Fri.)
H.M.S.Calgarian(armed merchant cruiser) is sunk by a submarine off the coast of Ireland (67 lives lost).
Mar. 2 (Sat.)
Peace is signed at Brest-Litovsk between the Central Powers and Russia.
Roumania announces her submission to an ultimatum from the Central Powers requiring her to enter into peace negotiations.
Mar. 3 (Sun.)
Kieff is occupied by the Germans; the German military operations in Russia now cease.
Palestine:—General Allenby advances on a front of 12 miles to a depth of 3000 yards between Jerusalem and Shechem.
Mar. 5 (Tues.)
The preliminaries of a treaty of peace are signed between the Central Powers and Roumania.
German forces occupy the Aland Islands at the request of the Government of Finland.
Mar. 6 (Wed.)
Death of Mr. John Redmond, the leader of the Irish National Party.
Mar. 7 (Thur.)
A treaty of peace is signed between Germany and Finland.
Palestine:—General Allenby advances on a front of 18 miles to a depth of 3 miles across the Jerusalem-Shechem road.
A raid on a moonless night by German aeroplanes on London (20 killed); one raider is destroyed.
Mar. 8 (Fri.)
A German aeroplane raid on Paris (13 killed): one raider is destroyed.
Mar. 9 (Sat.)
Palestine:—A further advance by the British, who force the passage of the River Auja.
Mesopotamia:—Hit, on the Euphrates, is occupied by the British under General Marshall.
Mar. 10 (Sun.)
The British hospital shipGuildford Castleis torpedoed in the Bristol Channel but succeeds in making port.
Mar. 11 (Mon.)
The Germans raid the Western Front at a number of points.
Palestine:—A further advance by the British astride the Jerusalem-Shechem road.
Caucasus:—Erzerum is reoccupied by the Turks (see Feb. 16, 1916.)
Paris is attacked by 60 German aeroplanes; four of the raiders are destroyed.
Mar. 12 (Tues.)
German forces land at Abo in Finland.
Palestine:—The British advance near the coast.
A Zeppelin raid on the Yorkshire coast (one killed).
Mar. 13 (Wed.)
The Germans occupy Odessa.
A Zeppelin raid on Hartlepool (eight killed).
Mar. 14 (Thur.)
Palestine:—The British gain important positions commanding the Nablus road.
Mar. 15 (Fri.)
Prince Lichnowsky's memoir, dealing with the causes that led to the war, is published in Sweden.
Mar. 17 (Sun.)
Nikolaief, the Russian naval yard on the Black Sea, is occupied by the Germans.
Mar. 18 (Mon.)
The Germans bombard the Belgian Front and make a number of attacks there which are repulsed.
A British air-raid on Mannheim.
Mar. 19 (Tues.)
Great Britain:—Lord Pirrie is appointed Controller-General of Merchant Shipbuilding.
Mar. 21 (Thur.)
The great German offensive on the Western Front begins (the second Battle of the Somme; see April 5): the Germans attack, with immense weight of troops, the British Third and Fifth Armies on a fifty-mile front between the Scarpe and the Oise; they carry the British front-line positions over large sectors and penetrate more deeply at certain points.
Eighteen German destroyers raid Dunkirk. They are met by an Anglo-French flotilla consisting of two British destroyers (BothaandMorris) and three French destroyers, under the command of H.M.S.Botha. Three German destroyers are sunk and one disabled.
British monitors bombard Ostend.
Mar. 22 (Fri.)
The German offensive continues: the British line is broken west of St. Quentin but holds further north; the British fall back towards the line of the Somme; the Germans claim 16,000 prisoners and 200 guns.
Palestine:—General Allenby crosses the Jordan and advances towards the Hedjaz railway.
The British mine-sweeping sloopGaillardiais sunk by a mine in the North Sea (68 lives lost).
Mar. 23 (Sat.)
The peace treaties concluded by the German Government are adopted by the German Reichstag.
The British fall back on new positions west and south-west of St. Quentin, 15 miles in rear of those held at the beginning of the offensive; the French enter the battle at Noyon, on the right of the British; the Germans claim 25,000 prisoners and 400 guns to date.
Paris is shelled by a long-range gun from a distance of 74 miles.
British air-raids on Bruges docks and Metz.
Mar. 24 (Sun.)
The Germans recapture Bapaume, Péronne, Nesle, Ham, and Chauny; they claim 30,000 prisoners and 600 guns to date.
A British air-raid on Cologne.
Mar. 25 (Mon.)
The Germans make further progress between Arras and Péronne and at other points further south; near Maricourt they reach their line of July 1916; the French evacuate Noyon.
Palestine:—General Allenby captures Es Salt and advances towards Amman on the Hedjaz railway (see April 1 and 30).
Mar. 26 (Tues.)
General Foch assumes supreme control of the Allied Armies in France.
The British line runs from in front of Arras south-west to Albert and thence south, behindthe defences of 1916, to Bray; south of the Somme the Germans capture Chaulnes and Roye; the Germans claim to have taken to date 963 guns and to have destroyed 100 tanks.
Palestine:—British mounted troops approach Amman on the Hedjaz railway (see April 1).
Mesopotamia:—General Marshall defeats the Turks at Khan Baghdadie and takes 3000 prisoners.
Mar. 27 (Wed.)
The northern sectors of the British battle-line hold; the Germans capture Albert and in the valley of the Ancre are within 12 miles of Amiens; further south they capture Montdidier (between Amiens and Compiègne); German attacks are repulsed near Lassigny and Noyon.
Palestine:—The British destroy portions of the Hedjaz railway north and south of Amman.
The British destroyerKaleis sunk by a mine in the North Sea.
Mar. 28 (Thur.)
Strong German attacks on the British positions east and south-east of Arras are repulsed with heavy loss, but further south the Germans reach Hamel in their advance on Amiens.
Palestine:—The British attack Amman, but make little progress.
British destroyers capture and sink three German armed trawlers in the HeligolandBight. H.M.S.Tithonus(armed boarding-steamer) is sunk by a submarine in the North Sea.
Mar. 29 (Good Friday)
The Germans make further progress towards Amiens between the Ancre and the Avre.
During the bombardment of Paris by the German long-range gun, a church is hit while a Good Friday service is in progress and many casualties are caused.
Mar. 30 (Sat.)
German attacks on the British Front north of the Somme (in the Boiry—Boyelles district) are repulsed with heavy loss. The French recapture Moreuil (south-east of Amiens).
Palestine:—The British attack on Amman is renewed with slight success.
April 1 (Mon.)
Palestine:—The British retire from before Amman and evacuate Es Salt (see March 25).
April 2 (Tues.)
The British recapture Ayette (between Arras and Albert).
April 4 (Thur.)
The Germans attack in great strength towards Amiens; they advance considerably on either side of Moreuil (south-east of Amiens); the French lose Morisel and Mailly-Raineval. The Germans claim to have taken 90,000 prisoners and 1300 guns since March 21.
April 5 (Fri.)
The British and French defences hold against strong German attacks; the Germans make little progress and suffer heavy losses; the French regain ground between Moreuil and Montdidier; this ends the second Battle of the Somme (see March 21).
British and Japanese marines under the command of Admiral Kato are landed at Vladivostok.
April 6 (Sat.)
The British recapture Aveluy Wood, north of Albert; the French yield ground near Chauny.
The Caucasus:—The Turks reoccupy Ardahan (see Jan. 3, 1915).
April 7 (Sun.)
Syria:—The Arabs capture Kerak, the Turkish headquarters east of the Dead Sea.
April 8 (Mon.)
The Germans bombard the whole British Front in the battle area and northwards to Armentières.
The French retire in the Coucy district, south of the Oise.
April 9 (Tues.)
The Germans attack in great strength on a ten-mile front between La Bassée and Armentières; they penetrate the centre of this sector, which is held by the Portuguese, and widen the gap made (the Battle of the Lys: see April 29).
April 10 (Wed.)
The new German offensive extends northwards; the British are forced back on the Messines Ridge and in front of Ploegsteert Wood; south of Armentières the Germans cross the Lys.
Palestine:—The Turks attack in the coastal sector; they are repulsed and the British line is advanced at some points.
April 11 (Thur.)
There is fierce fighting on the Messines Ridge, where the British 9th Division repulses strong enemy attacks; below Armentières the Germans rapidly deepen and widen the salient they have created; they capture Armentières and Merville, and force back the British to a line behind Ploegsteert, Steenwerck, and Estaires; German attacks on the lines covering Béthune are repulsed with heavy loss; the Germans claim 20,000 prisoners and over 200 guns in this battle to date.
April 12 (Fri.)
The Germans strike northwards from the salient; they reach Bailleul and capture Neuve Eglise; the British withdraw from the Messines Ridge; further south the Germans cross the Lawe and threaten St. Venant.
A Zeppelin raid on the east coast of England and the Midlands (five killed).
April 13 (Sat.)
The British repulse German attacks from Météren to Wulverghem and recapture Neuve Eglise.
The Caucasus:—The Turks capture Batoum and 3000 prisoners.
April 14 (Sun.)
The British withdraw from Neuve Eglise.
April 15 (Mon.)
The resignation is announced of Count Czernin, the Austrian Foreign Minister, following on the publication by M. Clemenceau of a letter by Emperor Karl, dealing with the claims of France to Alsace-Lorraine.
The Germans capture Bailleul and Wulverghem.
A British naval force sinks ten German trawlers in the Kattegat; their crews are saved.
April 16 (Tues.)
The British withdraw from the Passchendaele Ridge.
April 17 (Wed.)
Bolo Pasha is shot at Vincennes (see Feb. 14).
The Belgians repulse German attacks near Bixschoote and capture 700 prisoners.
The British withdraw from Wytschaete and lose Météren; a German attack on Kemmel Hill is completely repulsed by the British; French reinforcements enter the battle along the ridge south-west of Ypres.
April 18 (Thur.)
Lord Milner succeeds Lord Derby as British Secretary of State for War.
The Germans attack in strength from Givenchy to the Lys and are repulsed with heavy loss.
The French attack in the Avre Valley, south-east of Amiens, and advance to the outskirts of Castel.
April 19 (Fri.)
The British gain ground at Givenchy and Festubert.
April 20 (Sat.)
British and German light naval forces are engaged in the Bight of Heligoland.
April 23 (Tues.) St. George's Day.
Guatemala declares war on Germany.
The Germans attack on the Amiens Front, at the junction of the French and British armies; they capture the village of Villers-Bréttoneux from the British but elsewhere are repulsed.
British naval forces (Vice-Admiral Sir Roger Keyes in chief command) raid Zeebrugge and Ostend in the early morning with a view to blocking the entrances to the harbours. Storming parties land on the Mole at Zeebrugge, while three obsolete cruisers, theIntrepid,Thetis, andIphigenia, filled with concrete enter the harbour; these are sunk at the entrance of the Bruges Canal. Two other block ships, theBrilliantandSirius, are sunk near the entrance to theharbour at Ostend. In the action at Zeebrugge the British destroyerNorth Staris sunk.
The famous German airman, Baron von Richthoven, is shot down in the Somme Valley.
April 24 (Wed.)
On the Amiens Front the British recapture Villers-Bréttoneux.
Syria:—Arab forces seize 53 miles of the Hedjaz railway south of Maan.
April 25 (Thur.)
The Germans capture Kemmel Hill.
H.M.S.Cowslip(sloop) is sunk by a submarine off Cape Spartel.
April 26 (Fri.)
German attacks at Locre and Voormezeele are repulsed.
April 27 (Sat.)
Mesopotamia:—General Marshall captures Kifri.
April 29 (Mon.)
The Germans attack in strength the British and French positions on a ten-mile front between Météren and Voormezeele and are severely defeated; this ends the Battle of the Lys (see April 9).
Mesopotamia:—General Marshall defeats the Turks at Tuz Khartmatli, half-way between Baghdad and Mosul, taking 300 prisoners and 6 guns.
April 30 (Tues.)
Palestine:—General Allenby again advances towards the Hedjaz railway, and recaptures Es Salt (see April 1).
Mesopotamia:—General Marshall reaches the Tank River and captures 12 more guns and many more prisoners.
May 1 (Wed.)
The Germans create a military dictatorship in the Ukraine; Field Marshal von Eichhorn breaks up the Ukranian Rada and establishes a German military Government at Kieff.
Palestine:—The British suffer a reverse between Jisr-ed-Damieh and Es Salt and lose 9 guns.
May 2 (Thur.)
The French make progress on the Avre.
British airmen bomb the lock-gates at Zeebrugge.
May 3 (Fri.)
Palestine:—General Allenby is compelled to withdraw his forces to the west bank of the Jordan.
May 5 (Sun.)
Lord French is appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland.
The British gain ground in the angle between the Ancre and the Somme.
East Africa:—A British success near Manunga (160 miles south of Lake Nyassa).
H.M.S.Rhododendron(sloop) is sunk by a submarine in the North Sea.
May 7 (Tues.)
The Peace of Bucharest is signed between the Central Powers and Roumania.
Mesopotamia:—General Marshall occupies Kirkuk (110 miles south-east of Mosul) (see May 24).
May 8 (Wed.)
Nicaragua declares war on Germany.
May 10 (Fri.)
H.M.S.Vindictive(obsolete cruiser), damaged in the raid on Zeebrugge, is successfully sunk across the entrance to Ostend harbour.
May 11 (Sat.)
Mesopotamia:—The British, advancing along the Baghdad-Mosul road, drive the Turks across the Lesser Zab (70 miles from Mosul).
A British submarine destroys a German submarine of the 'cruiser' type.
May 14 (Tues.)
An Italian motor boat enters the port of Pola and sinks an Austrian battleship.
The British destroyerPhœnixis sunk by a submarine in the Adriatic.
May 15 (Wed.)
The French advance their line north of Kemmel Hill.
May 16 (Thur.)
A British air-raid on Saarbrücken.
May 17 (Fri.)
Great Britain:—A number of Sinn Fein leaders are arrested in connection with the discovery of a German-Irish plot.
Albania:—French and Italian forces advance on a sixteen-mile front.
May 18 (Sat.)
British airmen raid Cologne by daylight.
May 19 (Whit Sunday)
Ville-sur-Ancre is captured by Australian troops.
The Italians capture Austrian positions at Capo Sile (north of the Venetian lagoons).
A night raid by German aeroplanes on London (44 killed); five of the raiders are destroyed.
German airmen bomb a group of British hospitals at Etaples and cause many casualties.
May 20 (Mon.)
The French gain ground near Locre.
May 21 (Tues.)
A German aeroplane raid on Paris (three killed); one raider is brought down.
A British air-raid on Mannheim.
May 22 (Wed.)
A German aeroplane raid on Paris (one killed).
British airmen raid Zeebrugge and sink a German destroyer.
May 23 (Thur.)
Costa Rica declares war on the Central Powers.
The British armed merchant cruiserMoldavia, while transporting American troops, is sunk by a submarine in the English Channel (56 lives lost).
May 24 (Fri.)
Mesopotamia:—The British withdraw from Kirkuk (see May 7 and Oct. 25).
May 26 (Sun.)
The Italians capture the Monticello Pass (in the Adamello district) with 870 prisoners and 12 guns.
The British transportLeasowe Castleis sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean (92 lives lost).
May 27 (Mon.)
The Third Battle of the Aisne (see June 2): the Germans launch an offensive north-west of Rheims; they carry the whole line of the Chemin-des-Dames and advance rapidly to the Aisne, which they cross on a front of eighteen miles; on the left of the German attack British troops hold their ground north of Rheims.
Between Locre and Voormezeele the French repulse a German attack.
The bombardment of Paris by long-range guns is renewed.
May 28 (Tues.)
The Germans advance rapidly south of the Aisne; they force the line of the Vesle.
American troops capture a German salient at Cantigny, north-west of Montdidier.
May 29 (Wed.)
The Germans capture the Vrégny Plateau and Soissons (see Aug. 2), and advance south of the Vesle.
May 30 (Thur.)
The Germans reach Fère-en-Tardenois.
Macedonian Front:—Greek troops make a successful attack at Skra di Legen (west of the Vardar and near the Serbian border) and capture 1500 prisoners.
May 31, (Fri.)
The Germans reach the Marne from Château-Thierry to Dormans; they claim to have captured 45,000 prisoners and 400 guns since May 27.
The American transportPresident Lincolnis sunk by a submarine in European waters.
The British destroyerFairyis sunk after ramming and destroying a submarine in the North Sea.
June 1 (Sat.)
The Germans attack at various points between the Oise and the Marne and gain ground slightly; down the valley of the Ourcq the Germans advance to the edge of the Forest of Villers-Cotterets, 40 miles from Paris.
June 2 (Sun.)
The end of the Third Battle of the Aisne (see May 27): German attacks near Château-Thierry make little impression on the French defence; at several points between the Ourcq and the Marne the French counter-attack and gain ground.
June 3 (Mon.)
The Lys Front:—Mont de Merris (west of Merris village) is captured by the British.
The Germans attack in considerable strength north of the Aisne, between Soissons and Noyon, but make slight progress.
June 5 (Wed.)
A German attack at Longpont and an attempt by the Germans to cross the Oise near Vingres are defeated.
H.M.S.Snaefell(armed boarding-steamer) is sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean.
June 6 (Thur.)
French, British, and American troops counter-attack and regain ground at various points.
The Dutch hospital shipKoningin Regentes, engaged in carrying repatriated prisoners between England and Holland, is sunk by a submarine (four lives lost).
June 7 (Fri.)
French, British, and American troops again counter-attack successfully; the British regain Bligny, near Rheims; the French and Americans recapture Vinly and Veuilly-la-Poterie.
June 8 (Sat.)
A Conference of British and German delegates, to deal with questions relating to prisoners of war, opens at the Hague.
Palestine:—The British capture Turkish positions near the coast.
June 9 (Sun.)
The First Battle of Lassigny (see June 13): a new German offensive is launched on a front of 22 miles between Noyon and Montdidier.
June 10 (Mon.)
In their new offensive the Germans make progress, at great expense in casualties, towards Estrées St. Denis (west of Compiègne) and Ribécourt (south-west of Noyon); they capture Méry, Belloy, and St. Maur.
The Somme Front:—Australian troops make progress south of Morlancourt.
Italian torpedo-boats destroy an Austrian battleship, theSzent Istvan, in the Adriatic.
June 11 (Tues.)
The French counter-attack on a seven-mile front from Rubescourt to St. Maur; they recapture Belloy.
June 12 (Wed.)
The Germans attack between the Aisne and the forest of Villers-Cotterets towards Compiègne and make some progress.
June 13 (Thur.)
The end of the First Battle of Lassigny (see June 9): the Germans are held in check onthe whole front between Noyon and Montdidier; they lose part of the ground won by them on the previous day in the direction of Compiègne.
The Italians defeat the Austrians at the Tonale Pass.
East Africa:—The British occupy Malema.
H.M.S.Patia(armed merchant-cruiser) is sunk by a submarine in the Bristol Channel.
June 14 (Fri.)
Northern Persia:—Tabriz is reoccupied by the Turks (see Jan. 30, 1915).
June 15 (Sat.)
Italy:—The Austrians launch an offensive on a front of 90 miles, from the Asiago Plateau to the sea; on the Asiago Plateau the British maintain their ground, and elsewhere the Austrians are either repulsed or make only slight progress; they cross the Piave at two points.
A German aeroplane raid on Paris.
June 16 (Sun.)
Italy:—The Austrians capture Capo Sile (north of the Venetian lagoons).
June 17 (Mon.)
Italy:—The Austrian offensive, which has met with little success, is definitely checked and the Allies begin to regain ground.
June 18 (Tues.)
Italy:—Capo Sile is recaptured by the Italians; further Austrian attempts to cross the Piave, which is in flood, are defeated.
June 19 (Wed.)
Italy:—The Austrians are driven back in the Montello sector.
June 20 (Thur.)
Italy:—The Italians complete the capture of Costalunga Redoubt and regain ground on the Montello and at other points.
June 21 (Fri.)
The British Government announce the abandonment for the present of Home Rule and Conscription in their policy towards Ireland.
Italy:—Austrian attacks in the Montello and Grappa areas are repulsed.
June 22 (Sat.)
Italy:—The Austrians begin to withdraw with difficulty across the flooded Piave.
June 23 (Sun.)
The British gain ground south of Météren.
Italian troops repulse a German attack on Bligny Crest, near Rheims.
Italy:—The Austrians recross the Piave in disorder pursued by the Italians; the Allies recover the whole of the right bank of the Piave except a small portion opposite San Dona di Piave.
June 24 (Mon.)
Italy:—The Italians clear the right bank of the Piave of the enemy and cross in places to the left bank; they capture many prisoners.
June 25 (Tues.)
American troops attack and defeat the Germans in a sharp engagement north-west of Château-Thierry; they take over 200 prisoners.
Italy:—The Italians capture the Austrian bridge-head at Capo Sile.
A British air-raid on Karlsruhe.
June 26 (Wed.)
The British capture a German position west of Vieux Berquin.
June 27 (Thur.)
General Franchet D'Esperey succeeds General Guillaumet in command of the Allied forces at Salonika.
The British hospital shipLlandovery Castleis sunk by a submarine 116 miles south-west of the Fastnet (234 lives lost).
A German aeroplane raid on Paris (11 killed).
June 28 (Fri.)
The British make progress on a front of 6000 yards east of the forest of Nieppe and capture over 400 prisoners.
The French advance between the Aisne and the forest of Villers-Cotterets and take over 1000 prisoners.
June 29 (Sat.)
The Italians capture Monte di Val Bella (on the Asiago Plateau) with 800 prisoners.
June 30 (Sun.)
The Italians capture the Col del Rosso (on the Asiago Plateau) with 2000 prisoners.
July 1 (Mon.)
The French capture St. Pierre Aigle; the Americans capture Vaux (near Château-Thierry) with 450 prisoners.
The American transportCorringtonis sunk by a submarine (six lives lost).
British aeroplanes bomb the Austrian naval base at Cattaro with great effect.
A British air-raid on Mannheim.
July 2 (Tues.)
Italy:—The Italians advance on the Lower Piave and capture 1900 prisoners; they also make important progress on Monte Grappa.
July 3 (Wed.)
Death of Viscount Rhondda, the British Food Controller (see July 9, and June 15, 1917).
Death of Mohmed V., the Sultan of Turkey.
The French advance between Autrèches and Moulin-sous-Touvent and capture over 1000 prisoners.
July 4 (Thur.)
A hundred merchant ships are launched in the U.S.A. to celebrate Independence Day; the day is celebrated in London and the Dominions, in Paris, and in Rome.
Australian troops, assisted by Americans,capture Hamel (between Villers-Brétonneux and the Somme), and the woods south of it, with over 1500 prisoners.
Italy:—The Italians make further progress on the Lower Piave and on Mount Grappa.
July 5 (Fri.)
The Australians advance on a front of 2000 yards north-east of Villers-Brétonneux.
Southern Albania:—An offensive is launched by the French and Italians.
July 6 (Sat.)
The Silver Wedding day of King George V. and Queen Mary of England.
Count Mirbach, the German Ambassador at Moscow, is assassinated.
Italy:—The Italians clear the Austrians from the Piave delta.
Southern Albania:—The French and Italians make rapid progress between the coast and the Tomorica Valley.
July 7 (Sun.)
The Australians advance on either side of the Somme on a front of 3000 yards.
July 8 (Mon.)
Southern Albania:—The French and Italians continue to advance, assisted in the coast sector by British monitors.
Siberia:—Czecho-Slovak forces temporarily occupy Irkutsk (see Aug. 17).
July 9 (Tues.)
Mr. J. R. Clynes succeeds Lord Rhondda as British Food Controller (see July 3).
The resignation is announced of Herr von Kühlmann, the German Foreign Minister; he is succeeded by Admiral von Hintze.
July 10 (Wed.)
The French capture Courcy, north of the Ourcq.
Southern Albania:—The Italians capture Berat (see Aug. 26).
July 12 (Fri.)
Albania:—The Austrians retreat before the French and Italians.
The Japanese dreadnoughtKawachiis blown up in Tokuyama Bay with a loss of over 500 lives.
July 14 (Sun.)
Palestine:—The Turks attack the British on the Jordan and north of Jericho and are repulsed.
The French linerDjemnahis sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean with a loss of 442 lives.
July 15 (Mon.)
The Second Battle of the Marne begins (see Aug. 4): the Germans launch an offensive on a front of 50 miles, east and west of Rheims; west of Rheims, between Vrigny and Château-Thierry, they penetrate the Allied positions to a depth of several miles in places and captureChezy and other villages; east of Rheims they carry the French outpost positions but are held on the main line of defence; they cross the Marne at Fossoy and other points.
July 16 (Tues.)
French and American troops regain ground south of the Marne and capture high ground overlooking the Marne Valley.
H.M.S.Anchusa(sloop) is sunk by a submarine off the north coast of Ireland.
July 17 (Wed.)
The Germans make progress towards Epernay and reach Montroison; east of Rheims they are defeated and driven back south of Prunay.
In the Somme area the Australians again make progress east of Villers-Brétonneux (see July 5 and 7).
The Cunard linerCarpathiais sunk by a submarine west of Ireland (five lives lost).
July 18 (Thur.)
The turning-point which leads to complete victory: the French counter-attack on a front of 35 miles between Belleau (5 miles north-west of Château-Thierry) and Vingres (north-west of Soissons); on the left, under General Mangin, they reach the Mont de Paris, near Soissons; in the valley of the Crise, they advance to a depth of 8 miles and capture 5000 prisoners and 30 guns. Further south they attack in co-operation with American troops,advance to a depth of 5 miles, and regain more than 20 villages; east of Rheims the French under General Gouraud recapture Prunay.
July 19 (Fri.)
The Lys Front:—The British recapture Météren (see April 17).
The French and Americans continue to attack between Soissons and Château-Thierry and approach the Soissons—Château-Thierry road; south of the Marne the Germans also yield ground.
July 20 (Sat.)
The Germans withdraw across the Marne (on the night of the 19th-20th); the Allied captures since the counter-stroke exceed 20,000 prisoners and 400 guns.
The White Star linerJusticiais sunk by submarines off the north coast of Ireland after fighting for twenty-four hours (16 lives lost); one of the submarines is sunk by the British destroyerMarne.
July 21 (Sun.)
The French recapture Château-Thierry; British, French, and Italian troops advance between the Marne and Rheims down the valley of the Ardre; they capture Courton Wood.
July 22 (Mon.)
The Allies cross the Marne near Dormans, at Chassins and Passy; the Germans retreat north and south of Fère-en-Tardenois; Germancounter-attacks between the Marne and the Ourcq are repulsed and the French advance beyond La Croix and Epieds; east of Rheims General Gouraud recovers all his original positions between the Suippes and Massiges.
July 23 (Tues.)
Dr. von Seidler, the Austrian Premier, and his Cabinet resign.
The forced retreat of the Germans in the Soissons-Rheims salient continues; north of the Ourcq they are pressed back to the outskirts of Taux; south of the Ourcq the French approach Fère-en-Tardenois.