The Great War (1914-1918) in real time

[lordroel]

Day 1467 of the Great War, August 13th 1918

Western Front

French capture Belval (1.5 miles south from Lassigny).

Siberian intervention

Appeal of General Dieterichs to Allied Naval and Military Commanders at Vladivostok for help.

Italian Front: Highest Battle of the War

The far western portion of the Italian front, near the border with Switzerland, had seen little large-scale fighting, apart from a diversionary attack at the Tonale pass in the lead-up to the Piave offensive. The terrain was too difficult and the conditions too harsh to support large armies. In one case, a detachment of 100 Italian soldiers had to be supported by 900 porters just to bring up their needed supplies every day. Nonetheless, fighting continued, at the smallest scales, in conditions unfit for long-term human habitation.

On August 13, a small group of Alpini seized Mt. San Matteo, a peak of over 12000 feet, in a surprise attack. Many of the defenders were captured, others fled down the peak, and still others were killed. As glaciers have retreated from the area in the past few decades, several bodies from the battle, mummified by the conditions, have been found in the area.

In early September, the Austrians sent a force of 150 men to retake the mountain, with a large amount (for the area) of artillery support. The Italians, knowing they could not hold onto the peak, began shelling it themselves as well, killing many of their own defenders. The operation would be the last Austrian victory in the war; they would lose the mountain in the peace treaty. The fighting on Mt. San Matteo was the highest-altitude warfare in the First World War; war in similar conditions would not be fought again until the 1960′s, when India and China battled in the Himalayas.

United Kingdom

British declaration recognising Czecho-Slovaks as Allied nation; latter declare war on Germany.

Aerial operations: von Richthofen

Lothar von Richthofen, brother of Manfred von Richthofen (Red Baron) and German ace with 40 victories, is shot down. Lothar survives, but he is seriously injured and does not fly for the duration of the war.

Naval operations: Italy

Italian Navy deliberately sinks the outdated UMBRIA-class cruiser ETRUNIA to make it seem Austro-Hungarian agents (turned double agents by Italy) were successful in their sabotage.

Naval operations: ship losses

AANHUI (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) south east of Capo Greco, Cyprus (35°04′N 34°08′E) by SM U-27 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy) with the loss of four of her crew.

CITY OF BRISBANE (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) south of Newhaven, Sussex by SM UB-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

FRIDA (Denmark) The barque was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east of the mouth of the River Tyne by SM UB-104 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seven of her crew.

JONKOPING I (Sweden) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea off Robin Hood's Bay, Yorkshire, United Kingdom by SM UB-104 ( Kaiserliche Marine). The ship broke in two, with the bow section sinking and the stern section being beached at South Shields, County Durham where it was scrapped in 1919. Five of her crew perished.

LA CHAUSSADE (France) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off La Galite, Tunisia by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew.

SMS T67 (Kaiserliche Marine) The S66-class torpedo boat struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of two of her crew.

SM UB-30 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UB II submarine was depth charged and sunk in the North Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) north north east of Whitby, Yorkshire, United Kingdom (54°32′N 0°36′E) with the loss of all 26 crew.

[lordroel]

Day 1468 of the Great War, August 14th 1918

Western Front

German retreat from River Ancre begins; evacuation of Beaumont-Hamel, Serre, Puisieux, Bucquoy.

North of Oise French capture Ribecourt.

Lys salient British establish posts south and east of Vieux Berquin (60 miles east-south-east of Hazelbrouck).

Photo: Headquarters staff of the 42nd Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery. Busnes, 14 August 1918



Photo: Gunners of the D Battery, 61st Anti-Aircraft Section, Royal Garrison Artillery by their 13 pounder 9 cwt anti-aircraft gun. Near Carvin, 14 August 1918



East Africa campaign

Portuguese East Africa: Germans 60 miles inland from coast at Angoche (seaport 100 miles south-west of Mozambique).

Aerial operations: Fonck Downs Three German Planes in Ten Seconds

One of René Fonck’s closest friends described him as “A tiresome braggart, and even a bore.” One history book collected epitaphs from people who liked Fonck less: “A dreadful show-off, intolerable, always bragging, egotistical, ham-like, a poseur, gaudy, loud, hard to take, expressionless at times, morose, deliberately cruel, over-neat, tightly tailored, etc.“

But Fonck was also the best Allied pilot of the Great War. It was a reputation he had already well cemented by 1918, especially after feats such as shooting down six enemy planes in one day. In Germany Fonck was respected, in the airbases at Lille and Douai he was feared. On August 14 Fonck did something about equally impressive when he shot down three German aircraft in ten seconds during one frontal attack. Each crashed within one hundred meters of the others. Flying his SPAD S.XIII fighter, Fonck used only five bullets or less for every kill: "I put my bullets into the target as if I placed them there by hand.”

Fonck also usually made sure everyone in shouting distance knew about his feats. His friends remarked that he was a great comrade to have in the air and a terrible one to have on the ground: “Afterwards he can’t forget how he rescued you, nor let you forget it. He can almost make you wish he hadn’t helped you in the first place.“

Naval operations: ship losses

DOROTHY B. BARRETT (United States) The five-masted schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 6.5 nautical miles (12.0 km) off the North East End Lightship ( United States Navy) (38°54′N 74°34′W) by SM U-117 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

SM UB-57 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UB III submarine struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the Belgian coast and sank with the loss of all 34 crew.

SM UB-103 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UB III submarine departed Zeebrugge, West Flanders, Belgium on patrol. She subsequently struck a mine and sank with the loss of all 37 crew.

WALLSEND (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) south east of Robin Hood's Bay, Yorkshire by SM UB-104 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[lordroel]

Day 1469 of the Great War, August 15th 1918

Western Front

French complete capture of Lassigny Massif by capture of Alliche farm.

End of Second Battle of Lassigny.

British cross Ancre to Thiepval Wood and make progress between Beaucourt (north of Albert) and Puisieux (north-east of Beaucourt).

Caucasus campaign

Announcement of British troops at Baku (on west of Caspian Sea) and at Krasnovodsk (on east of Caspian, terminus of Central Asiatic Railway).

Siberian intervention: First Americans Arrive in Russia

Like the other Allies, the Americans sent troops to Russia during their civil war. The first of them, around 3000 men from the 27th US Infantry, arrived in Vladivostok from the Philippines on August 16. Their main goal was to protect American supplies that had been sent there to aid the long-since-ceased Russian war effort, as well as to aid the Czechoslovak Legion in its efforts to extricate itself from Russia and proceed to the Western Front to resume its part in the war. Although the American commander in Siberia, General Graves (who would arrive the next month), tried his best to stay out of Russian politics, the task was difficult; he had been warned by the War Secretary to “Watch your step, you will be walking on eggs loaded with dynamite.” The Czechs had decisively intervened in favor of the Whites (installing a White government in Vladivostok), the Bolsheviks had announced that a de facto state of war existed with the United States and the other Allies, and the day before the Americans landed, Wilson had severed diplomatic relations with the government in Moscow. Wilson also said that the American role there should include the “steady[ing of] any efforts at self-government or self-defense in which the Russians themselves may be willing to accept assistance.”

Photo: American troops in Vladivostok parading before the building occupied by the staff of the Czecho-Slovaks. Japanese marines are standing to attention as they march by, 15 August 1918



Although not explicitly stated, another reason for the American presence was to keep an eye on the Japanese. Wilson had encouraged the Japanese to land at Vladivostok themselves (which they had done, in large numbers, starting at the beginning of August), but was distrustful of their motives, and wanted to ensure that they did not expand their influence into Siberia permanently. The American forces would remain in and around Vladivostok until April 1920, suffering 189 deaths (mainly from disease and exposure) in that time span.

Russian Civil War: Volunteer Army Takes Ekaterinodar

In April, the Volunteer Army, at that time the only significant anti-Bolshevik force, was nearly broken when it attempted to take the city of Ekaterinodar. Its commander, General Kornilov, was killed by a Red shell, leading Lenin to prematurely declare victory in the civil war. His successor, Denikin, retreated from the city and rebuilt his force from the Kuban Cossacks. Aided by harsh Red rule that alienated the local population, as well as uprisings on the Don and Volga that cut off the local Reds, he went back on the offensive in June. Despite pleas from other White forces to assist them–the Don Cossacks were threatening Tsaritsyn [Volgograd], and the Czechs and Komuch were heavily engaged on the Volga–Denikin knew his force’s limits, and concentrated on the Kuban.

On August 15, the Volunteer Army was able to take Ekaterinodar, site of its earlier defeat. The local Red government was forced to flee southeast to Pyatigorsk, even further away from any other Red units. The fall of Ekaterinodar also cut off a force of around 30,000 Reds in the Taman Peninsula to the west; they would have to conduct a 300-mile march to get to safety. In the coming weeks, Denikin would quickly secure most of the rest of the western Kuban, including Novorossiysk, the Reds’ last port on the Black Sea.

On the same day, in Moscow, the United States severed relations with the Bolshevik government. The Bolsheviks had made it clear they considered the Allies to be at war with them, and acted accordingly. The United States would not recognize the Soviet government until late 1933.

United States/Russian relations

Relations between U.S.A. and Bolshevist Government in Russia severed.

Spain/German relations

Spanish Note to Germany re: shipping losses.

Germany: German and Austrian War Leaders Meet at Spa

In the span of only a few days, the Central Powers’ hope for a military victory had apparently disappeared. The German collapse near Amiens, although checked before it turned catastrophic, still made it clear that the German army was in no condition to go back onto the offensive, and would be lucky to survive further Allied attacks. In private, Ludendorff retreated into depression, while still ordering determined resistance to the British and (now increasingly) French advance. One of his aides, Col. von Haeften, noted on August 12 that he was

…outwardly calm, but very grave…It was not the loss of territory or the superiority of the tank…which disturbed him…What depressed the General was that he had lost confidence in the morale of his troops, the indispensable element in victory. Ludendorff said to Haeften that the men could no longer be depended upon and we needed peace quickly….No longer could any hope be placed in an offensive.

The Kaiser had come to a similar conclusion on August 10: “I see that we must draw up the balance sheet, we are on the brink of insolvency. The war must be ended.” He summoned Hindenburg & Ludendorff to meet with him in Spa, along with Chancellor Hertling and Foreign Minister Hintze.

In their meetings with the Kaiser and the political leaders of Germany on August 13 and 14, Hindenburg & Ludendorff were far more sanguine than they were with their military colleagues. Ludendorff told Chancellor Hintze that a “strategic defensive with periodic offensive action” (whatever that meant) could still offer “good prospects for finally crippling the enemy’s will to war.” Hindenburg admitted the army could not “break the enemy’s will” as they had planned for 1918, but was optimistic that the German army could remain in control of large parts of France and thus “enforce their will on the enemy.”

Hindenburg recommended that Germany change its diplomatic approach in the meantime, but the Kaiser was so encouraged by Hindenburg & Ludendorff’s tone that he only ordered a peace feeler via the monarchs of Netherlands and Spain, rather than directly to the Allied powers. Chancellor Hertling went further, planning to delay even this tepid offer until “after the next German success in the west;” no such success would come. Regardless, none of Hertling, Hintze, nor the Kaiser put too much effort into challenging Hindenburg & Ludendorff’s views.

Ludendorff knew he was deceiving the Kaiser and the Chancellor. Perhaps he could not bear to admit defeat before the Kaiser, feared for his own position, or was already seeking to deflect post-war blame to the civilians. Maybe his reasons were exactly what he told one of his officers: “Perfect candor would have led to a catastrophe! If I had told them the truth, they would have completely lost their heads.” Regardless of his motivations, the result of the conference at Spa was the waste of more lives fighting a war that had already been lost.

Coincidentally, Austro-Hungarian leadership was also in Spa at the same time, including Emperor Charles, Chief of Staff Arz, and Foreign Minister Buriàn. The Germans tried and failed to get the Austrians to commit to more troops for the Western Front. Arz admitted “Austria-Hungary could only continue the war until December.”

Nevertheless, this did not stop Arz and Ludendorff from discussing far-fetched plans; Arz suggested another offensive against Italy, and the two even agreed for an attack on Romania for late September, codenamed Fangstoss. King Ferdinand had refused to sign the Treaty of Bucharest that ended the war, and the Central Powers believed they might have to resort to force to compel him to do so. Romania was surrounded on all sides, largely occupied by the Germans, and had been forced to demobilize, but the Central Powers only really had minimal occupation forces in the area. Events would ultimately move faster than the plans for Fangstoss; Romania would eventually re-enter the war, but on its own terms.

Aerial operations: France

Last German air raid on Paris.

Aerial operations: United States

The first American bomber, the Martin MB-1 or Glenn Martin Bomber, is given a test flight. Nine of these bombers are built before the Armistice. None see service in France.

Naval operations: ship losses

BALKAN (France) The ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea. There were at least 102 survivors.

CUBORE (United States) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 250 nautical miles (460 km) north west of Cape Finisterre, Spain (46°52′N 12°00′W) by SM U-107 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of nine crew.

J. M. J. (France) The fishing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of Ouessant, Finistère by SM U-90 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

KALPS (Russia) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean off Lisbon, Portugal (37°57′N 18°27′W) by SM U-157 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

MADRUGADA (United States) The five-masted auxiliary schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 35 nautical miles (65 km) off Norfolk, Virginia (37°50′N 74°55′W) by SM U-113 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

HMS SCOTT (Royal Navy) The Admiralty type destroyer leader struck a mine laid by U 71 (Richard Scheurlen) and sank in the North Sea off IJmuiden, North Holland, Netherlands (52°24′N 3°51′E) with the loss of 22 of her crew.

HMS ULLESWATER The R-class destroyer struck a mine laid by U 71 (Richard Scheurlen) and sank in the North Sea off IJmuiden (52°24′N 3°51′E with the loss of five of her crew.

[lordroel]

Day 1470 of the Great War, August 16th 1918

YouTube (A Resounding Victory - German Morale Plummets)



Western Front

Anglo-French advance on Roye progresses.

German counter-attack at Damery (north-west of Roye) repulsed.

Siberian intervention

General Otani (Japanese) commanding Allied expedition, arrives at Vladivostok.

Sir Charles Eliot appointed British High Commissioner in Siberia.

Czechoslovakia: Czechoslovakia Declared an Allied Power

Britain formerly recognized Czechoslovakia as an independent Allied power in August 1918, followed by the US and France later in the war. Although there was no existing Czechoslovakian state - the Austro-Hungarian Empire continued to rule from Bohemia to the Carpathians - there was a Czech National Council that existed as a shadow government, and the Czech Legion was seen as a regular army fighting against the Central Powers in Russia. The Allies hoped that recognizing Czech independence would foment revolution in Austria and speed the Dual Monarchy’s collapse.

Aerial operations: Haubourdin

The RAF continues to attack enemy airfields to try and disrupt enemy squadrons. Today’s Communiqué reports an RAF raid on Haubourdin:

“A raid was carried out on Haubourdin Aerodrome by Nos 88 and 92 Squadrons and 2nd and 4th Squadrons A.F.C. Sixty-five machines in all took part, dropping 136 25-lb and 6 40-lb bombs and firing a large number of rounds from a height varying from 400 to 50 feet. Three large hangars containing machines were completely burnt, and two machines standing outside were set on fire. Several fires were started in huts, and what is believed to be the officers’ mess was blown up and burnt. Several other hangars, in addition to those burnt, received direct hits. The station at Haubourdin was also attacked with machine gun fire from low height, causing confusion among the troops. Two staff cars were fired at, one of which upset in a ditch and another ran up a steep bank; the occupants were not observed to leave. A train was also shot at, which stopped. Considerable casualties were caused among personnel at the Aerodrome who were seen rushing take refuge in a hospital. All machines returned.”

As was common at the time the Germans underplayed the impact of the raid suggesting only 4 machines lost. Later diaries suggest that Jasta 43 had five aircraft destroyed and two damaged and was grounded until 3 September. Jasta 63 also had one destroyed and a number of others damaged.

The CO of 2 Squadron AFC praised the squadron’s mechanics as all their aircraft had taken part in the raid and none had been forced back with engine trouble.

Naval operations: ship losses

SMS A58 (Kaiserliche Marine) The A56-class torpedo boat struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the coast of Belgium with the loss of three of her crew.

MIRLO (United Kingdom) The tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, United States by SM U-113 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of nine crew.

USS WEST BRIDGE (United States Navy) The cargo ship was torpedoed and severely damaged in the Bay of Biscay by SM U-90 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew. She was abandoned by the survivors but was later towed into Brest, Finistère, France.

[lordroel]

Day 1471 of the Great War, August 17th 1918

Western Front

French capture Caesar's Camp trenches (west of Roye) and Canny-sur-Matz (north-west of Lassigny).

New advance of French in angle between Oise and Lower Aisne.

French advance 1 mile north of Autreches.

Siberian intervention

Arrival of U.S.A. troops at Vladivostok.

Revolt of the Czechoslovak Legion

Announcement of re-capture of Irkutsk by Czecho-Slovaks and Siberian troops.

Reported defeat of Bolsheviks on Ussuri front by Czecho-Slovaks.

Aerial operations: Lomme

Following yesterday’s raid on Haubourdin Aerodrome by 88 and 92 Squadrons and 2 and 4 Squadrons AFC, the same Squadrons carried out a similar raid on Lomme Aerodrome this morning around 0825. Unlike yesterday which met with little opposition, the Germans mounted a stronger defence this time.

Nevertheless, the raid succeeded in dropping 104 25lb and 2 40lb bombs on the site. At the time thecommuniqué reported:

“Many direct hits were observed on sheds, hangars and huts. From photographs taken during the raid, two sheds can be seen burning fiercely, and from the strength of the wind it, is probable that others also caught fire, but the sheds to the leeward were obscured by smoke. Several other fires can be seen among the huts and workshops. A large number of rounds were also fired and casualties inflicted on the personnel on the aerodrome, and on a party of mounted troops who made for Lille at full gallop. Two hostile machines dived down to Haubourdin aerodrome on the approach of our machines and crashed without a shot having been fired at them. “

Its unknown at this point exactly what damage was caused, but Carl Degelow, commander of Jasta 4 recorded in his later book (With the White Stag Through Thick and Thin) recorded that 4 of his Fokkers were burned in their sheds and that other units also suffered damage, including mechanics killed & wounded.

The 2 Squadron intelligence report also claims that a prisoner reported that 17 Fokker aircraft were destroyed.

Naval operations: ship losses

DENEBOLA (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Celtic Sea, 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) north west of Gurnard's Head, Cornwall (50°13′N 5°37′W) by SM UB-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.

EROS (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 9 nautical miles (17 km) south east of Scarborough, Yorkshire by SM UB-113 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seven of her crew.

ESCRICK (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 360 nautical miles (670 km) north west by north of Cape Finisterre, Spain (46°24′N 16°10′W) by SM U-90 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member. Her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.

HELENE (Denmark) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 6 nautical miles (11 km) north west by north of St Ives, Cornwall, United Kingdom (50°17′N 5°36′W) by SM UB-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.

JOSEPH CUDAHY (United States) The tanker was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 370 nautical miles (690 km) north west by north of Cape Finisterre (46°35′N 13°54′W) by SM U-90 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.

MOGHRAM (Belgium) The tanker was wrecked in Poro Bay, Crete by the explosion of petrol from Monastir (flag unknown), which she was involved in salvaging.

NORDHAV (Norway) The four-masted barque was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 120 nautical miles (220 km) north east of Cape Henry, Virginia, United States by SM U-113 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

SAN JOSE (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (42°10′N 64°42′W) by SM U-156 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[lordroel]

Day 1472 of the Great War, August 18th 1918

Western Front

French advance between Oise and Lower Aisne, capturing plateau about Nampeel and village of Nouvron-Vingre.

Western Front: Action of Outtersteene Ridge

Although the British had called off major operations near Amiens, at Rawlinson’s insistence, the British advance still continued there as the Germans withdrew or as local circumstances dictated. Additionally, attacks continued elsewhere, in line with Foch’s overall plan to keep up the pressure on the Germans all along their line. On August 18, three divisions from Plumer’s Second Army in Flanders attacked the Outtersteene Ridge, south of Mt. Kemmel on the German salient created by the German offensive there in April. The attack gained around a mile and a few hundred German PoWs were captured. Otherwise, Flanders would remain relatively quiet until late September, but the British success could not have eased the nerves of Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria, the German commander in the area, who had already told Prince Max of Baden: “Our military situation has deteriorated so rapidly that I no longer believe we can hold out over the winter; it is even possible that a catastrophe will come earlier.”

United Kingdom

British Government announcement re: representation of Dominions in Imperial War Cabinet.

United States: 100 IWW Members Convicted in Chicago

A jury in Chicago convicted one hundred International Workers of the World Members to prison time in August 1918. The Wobblies were judged guilty of violating the Espionage Act, which made any criticism of the war effort liable to prosecution. Although the trial was complicated and lengthy, going over months of IWW activities, the jury reached its conclusion in 65 minutes, sentencing the men to a maximum of 27 years in prisoner. The quick and harsh sentence can be taken as some measure of support for the war with most Americans by 1918.

Aerial operations: “Not active”

The RAF Communique reported that today:

“Low clouds and high wind restricted work in the air” and that “Enemy aircraft were not active.” Despite this a balloon and seven other aircraft were claimed by the RAF, though no corresponding German losses are evident. Two aircraft were lost however both to anti-aircraft fire.

Captain Christopher Johannes Venter from 29 Squadron RAF was last seen in his SE5a (D6965) between Kemmel and Bailleul at around 1215. Captain Robert Stewart Skinner Ingram and 2nd Lieutenant Austin Wrench Wyncoll from 108 Squadron RAF were last seen in a rapid descent near Ostend in their DH9 (D7302) after raiding Bruges. All three men were taken prisoner.

Douglas Abbott Ferguson

As was often the case, the Home Front proved just as deadly with 11 fatalities in a variety of accidents. In one case, Douglas Abbott Ferguson from 2 Squadron AFC was thrown out of his aircraft following a collision and killed.

Naval operations: ship losses

GASCONIER (Belgium) The cargo ship struck a mine in the North Sea off Udsire, Rogaland, Norway and sank.

IDAHO (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 120 nautical miles (220 km) north by west of Cape Villano, Spain by SM U-107 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eleven crew.

USAT MONTANAN (United States Army) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 500 nautical miles (930 km) west of Le Verdon-sur-Mer, Gironde, France (46°47′N 13°42′W) by SM U-90 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five of the 86 people on board. Survivors were rescued by USS MOMA ( United States Navy).

NORDBOEN (Denmark) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Palamos, Spain (41°20′N 3°48′E) by SM UB-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[lordroel]

Day 1473 of the Great War, August 19th 1918

Western Front

North of Oise French capture Le Hamel; between Oise and Aisne French capture Morsain; British retake Merville (Lys front).

Russian Civil War

Successful Bolshevist attack on Ussuri front. Allied line withdrawn 6 miles.

Italy

Italian newspapers begin discussion re: difference in foreign policy between S'ri. Orlando (Premier) and Sonnino (Foreign Secretary).

Naval operations: ship losses

BUONI AMICI (Portugal) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 45 nautical miles (83 km) off Viana do Castelo by SM U-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

MARIE SUZANNE (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Aegean Sea 47 nautical miles (87 km) south west of Mudros, Greece by SM UC-37 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

SM UB-12 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UB I submarine departed from Zeebrugge, West Flanders, Belgium on patrol. No further trace, lost with all fourteen crew.

ZINAL (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 360 nautical miles (670 km) north by east of Terceira, Azores, Portugal by SM UB-109 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.

[lordroel]

Day 1474 of the Great War, August 20th 1918

Western Front: Major French Success Near Soissons

Foch’s strategy, beginning with Amiens, had been to launch continued “freeing attacks,” continually attacking the Germans at different places along their line to put them off balance. This continued on August 20 with an attack between Soissons and Compiègne by Mangin’s Tenth Army, which had seen heavy fighting attacking the German salient on the Marne the previous month. Mangin, who had acquired a reputation for recklessness with the lives of his men at Verdun, had learned the lessons of 1916 and 1917 and had planned meticulously for his assault: troops would be moved up at night, air cover would prevent German reconnaissance, the preliminary bombardment would be short but intense, tanks would be used extensively, and the advancing infantry would employ assault tactics.

Launched at 7:10AM on August 20, Mangin’s attack was a great success, capturing 8000 PoWs and advancing three miles. For the Germans, this was a sign that the defeat at Amiens had not been a fluke; it seemed the Allies could win victories of a similar magnitude every two weeks. Ludendorff called August 20th “another black day” and authorized a withdrawal behind the Oise, then the Ailette. Mangin desperately wanted to follow up on his success, but Pétain refused to give him the reserves he asked for, seeing no need to be profligate with the lives of French soldiers when the Americans were on their way. Nonetheless, by the end of the month the French had retaken Noyon (a town of great symbolic importance to PM Clemenceau) and captured more than 30,000 prisoners.

Siberian intervention

British War Office announces Japanese to be advancing beyond Nikolaievsk (at mouth of Amur).

Arab Revolt

British and Arab attacks continued against Hejaz Railway.

United kingdom

Speech of Dr. Solf (German Colonial Secretary) in reply to Mr. Balfour's speech of 8 August 1918.

Committee of Representatives established by Inter-Allied Food Council.

United States

Photo: At the New York Navy Yard, 20 August 1918. Note Lenape's pattern camouflage, the large doors in her hull side, and the loaded coal barges in the foreground



Aerial operations: All new

The RAF announced 17 new Squadrons today. The majority of these were not new, however, and were in fact reorganisations of individual flights based at former RNAS coastal bases into the Squadron structure. These flights provided coastal patrols primarily against uboats.

These were:

- 229 Squadron RAF (Great Yarmouth), formed from 428, 429, 454 and 455 Flights.
- 230 Squadron RAF (Felixstowe) formed from 327, 328 and 487 Flights.
- 231 Squadron RAF (Felixstowe) formed from 329 and 330 Flights.
- 232 Squadron RAF (Felixstowe) formed from 333, 334 and 335 Flights.
- 234 Squadron RAF (Tresco, Scilly Isles) formed from 350, 351, 352 and 353 Flights.
- 235 Squadron RAF (Newlyn) formed from 424 and 425 flights.
- 236 Squadron RAF (Mullion) formed from 493, 515 and 516 Flights.
- 237 Squadron RAF (RAF Cattewater) formed from 420, 421, 422 and 423 flights.
- 238 Squadron RAF (RAF Cattewater) formed from 347, 348 and 349 Flights.
- 239 Squadron RAF (Torquay) formed from 418 Flight.
- 240 Squadron (RAF Calshot) formed from 345, 346, 410 and 411 Flights .
- 245 Squadron RAF (Fishguard) formed from 426 and No. 427 Flights.
- 247 Squadron RAF (Fishguard) formed from 336 and 337 Flights.
- 248 Squadron RAF (Hornsea Mere) formed from 404, 405 and 453 Flights.
- 261 Squadron (Felixstowe) formed from 339, 340 and 341 flights.

259 Squadron RAF was authorized to form but there is no evidence that it did so.

265 Squadron RAF was also announced today to be formed at Gibraltar from 364, 365, and 366 flights, but it does not appear to have actually formed before the end of the war.

Naval operations: ship losses

A. PIATT ANDREW (United States) The schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada by TRIUMPH ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

BOLTHONHALL (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 34 nautical miles (63 km) south west by west of Bardsey Island, Pembrokeshire by SM UB-92 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five of her crew.

FRANCE J. O'HARA JR. (United States) The schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) off the coast of Nova Scotia by TRIUMPH ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

Lucille M. Schnare (Canada) The schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 52 nautical miles (96 km) south of Cape Canso, Nova Scotia by TRIUMPH ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

MAGALHAES LIMA (Portugal) The trawler was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 13 nautical miles (24 km) off Nazaré by SM U-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

OTIS TETRAX (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 28 nautical miles (52 km) south of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire by a Kaiserliche Marine submarine.

PASADENA (Canada) The schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) south south east of Cape Canso by SM U-156 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

UDA A. SAUNDERS (Canada) The schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) south of Cape Canso by TRIUMPH ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[lordroel]

Day 1475 of the Great War, August 21st 1918

Western Front: Third Army Resumes British Offensive

The British offensive by Fourth Army around Amiens had been called off at Rawlinson’s insistence, but Haig, like Foch, was eager to keep the pressure up on the Germans, and ordered an attack for August 21 by Byng’s Third Army to the north. Byng envisioned a limited “bite-and-hold” style operation, but Haig was more ambitious, telling him to

…break the enemy’s front, and gain Bapaume as soon as possible….Now is the time to act with boldness, and in full confidence that, if we only hit the Enemy hard enough, and continue to press him, he will give way and acknowledge that he is beaten.

Preparations for the attack were carried out in utmost secrecy, as had become the norm: troops were moved at night, artillery batteries were hidden, radio was used no more than usual, and planes flew low over German lines to conceal the noise of tank engines.

When they attacked at dawn on the 21st they achieved total surprise, aided by a heavy fog blanketing the battlefield. The fog, however, also interfered with the advance, as both infantry and tanks lost their way. They eventually advanced two to three miles, reaching their objectives, but not achieving the sort of breakthrough they had at Amiens; heavy German artillery fire prevented a further advance. When Byng did not follow up on the attack the next day, the Germans believed they had, if not won a victory, at least prevented a third “black day” for their army.

Siberian intervention

Reported Bolshevist advance towards Grodekoro (on Kharbin-Vladivostok Railway).

Announcement of appointment of M. Regnault (ex-French Ambassador at Tokyo) to be French representative at Vladivostok.

United Kingdom

British Prime Minister Lloyd George states that without women’s help in the war effort, “Great Britain, and, I believe, all the Allies, would have been unable to withstand the enemy attacks of the past few months.”

Aerial operations: All go

The British 3rd Army launched another offensive today with the aim of establishing a new front line east of the Albert-Arras railway with the further objective of establishing a base with which to take Baupame area. In support of the offensive were 12 Squadrons, eight British fighter squadrons (1, 3, 54, 56, 60, 73, 87, and 201), and two American fighter squadrons (17 and 148). In addition, two reconnaissance squadrons (6 and 8 Squadrons RAF) were in place to support the cavalry and tank Corps respectively with contact patrols.

Thick mist, which no doubt helped the troops on the ground, prevented any flying in the battle area until around 1000. After that the various squadrons were in action making numerous patrols throughout the day as well as flying ground attack missions. the action. The fighter Squadrons were particularly active making 20 claims (1 Squadron -1, 3 Squadron – 3, 87 Squadron 10, 17 Squadron USAS – 2, 148 Squadron USAS – 4. Remarkably only two crew were killed and one taken prisoner, though a number were also wounded.

Around midday, 3 Squadron were carrying out low level attacks near the front line. Three of their Camels were badly shot up with Lieutenant Cecil Guelph Brock (D1835) wounded after a low level attack on ammunition wagons near Sapignies, and Lieutenant William Henry Hubbard also wounded (D6627). Lieutenant Gavin Ferguson Young (D6615) was badly shot up but escaped unharmed. Lieutenant Lorne Howson McIntyre (F1960) failed to return after attacking balloons near Bapaume and was killed.

56 and 60 Squadron were involved in ground attack in their SE5a’s. 5 aircraft were badly shot up from the ground. Of these 1st Lieutenant Reagh Havelock Ellis from 56 Squadron crashed behind enemy lines and was taken prisoner. Lieutenant Stephen Whitworth Keen MC from 60 Squadron crashed near the British lines and was badly wounded (in C1131). He was taken to a casualty clearing station but died of his wounds a week later.

Later in the evening around 1900, 2nd Lieutenant Terrance William Imes from 148 Squadron USAS crashed his Sopwith Camel (E1478) in front line trenches near Mercatel after being wounded in combat. He escaped further injury.

Because of the bad weather the reconnaissance Squadrons were unable to provide much assistance to the advancing cavalry and tanks but later in the day carried out various bombing and ground attack missions. As the fog cleared from the east the British tanks advancing on Achiet Le Grand were left exposed for about an hour to anti-tank fire before 8 Squadron could get into the air and assist in the suppression of this fire. Lieutenant William Pakenham-Walsh and 2nd Lieutenant Albert Edward Shirley crash landed west of the lines in their Armstrong Whitworth FK8 (C8540) after Shirley was wounded.

Lieutenant Harry Fearnley Longbottom and Lieutenant Wilfred Melville Anderson from 6 Squadron also crash landed 500 yards west of Achiet-le-Grand after Longbottom was wounded by ground fire.

The failure of the tanks in front of Achiet Le Grand, meant that the British were unable to establish themselves west of the Albert-Arras railway.

Naval operations: ship losses

BOSCAWEN (United Kingdom) The collier was shelled and sunk in the Irish Sea 23 nautical miles (43 km) west north west of Bardsey Island, Pembrokeshire (52°46′N 5°24′W) by SM UB-92 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.

CHAMPLAIN (France) The cargo liner was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 124 nautical miles (230 km) west of Cape Mondego, Portugal (40°10′N 11°42′W) by SM UB-128 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.

DIOMED (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 195 nautical miles (361 km) east south east of Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States by SM U-140 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew.

HECLA (Norway) The barge was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 102 nautical miles (189 km) east north east of Coquet Island, Northumberland, United Kingdom by SM UC-59 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

LAKE EDON (United States) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) north by east of Newquay, Cornwall, United Kingdom (50°27′33″N 5°07′34″W) by SM U-107 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of sixteen crew.

LOEKE (Norway) The tug was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 102 nautical miles (189 km) east north east of Coquet Island by SM UC-59 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

SYLVANIA (United States) The schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 90 nautical miles (170 km) south east of Cape Canso, Nova Scotia, Canada by TRIUMPH ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

THE STEWART'S COURT(United Kingdom) The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south south east of Seaham, County Durham by SM UB-112 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.

[lordroel]

Day 1476 of the Great War, August 22nd 1918

Western Front

British attack between Ancre and Somme, recapture Albert and Bray-Albert road.

French advance on Noyon, to Quierzy (south of Oise) and to River Divette from Evricourt to mouth (north of Oise).

Photo: Battle of Amiens. Mark V (Female) tanks of the 4th Battalion, Tank Corps, passing through Meaulte on the day of its capture by the 5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment (12th Division), 22 August 1918



Siberian intervention

Statement of Allies at Archangel of aims.

Japanese detachment joins Semenov at Manchuria Station.

Macedonian Front

Austrians begin counter-offensive in Albania.

Naval operations: ship losses

ABBASHIEH (Egypt) The sailing vessel was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea by an enemy submarine.

MARIA LUISA (Portugal) The schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal by SM U-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

HMML 403 (Royal Navy) The motor launch was lost on this date, off the coast of Whitby, whilst recovering a German torpedo that had been fired the previous day at a Steamer and had failed to detonate. The torpedo was brought on board when it exploded, killing 11 of the 12 crew.

NORE DAME DE LA GARDE (France) The topsail schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 90 nautical miles (170 km) off Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada (45°32′N 58°57′W) by Triumph and SM U-156 (both Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

PALMELLA (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) north west of South Stack (53°28′N 5°20′W) by SM UB-92 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 28 of her crew.

PRUNELLE (United Kingdom) The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) south east of Blyth, Northumberland by SM UB-112 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of twelve of her crew.

[lordroel]

Day 1477 of the Great War, August 23rd 1918

YouTube (Over By Christmas? - Growing Allied Confidence)



Western Front

British attack on front of 33 miles from Mercatel (5 miles south of Arras) to Lihons (north-west of Chaulnes).

British cross Arras-Bapaume road, advancing on Bapaume from north and north-west.

About Albert British capture high ground to east.

South of Somme British capture Chuignolles (on Peronne road).

Siberian intervention

Semenov advances from Manchuria Station and defeats Bolsheviks.

Macedonian Front

Austrians renew attacks on Italian positions (southern Albania).

Naval operations: ship losses

SMS A19 (Kaiserliche Marine) The A1-class torpedo boat was shelled and sunk in the North Sea off the coast of Belgium by Royal Navy destroyers with the loss of nineteen of her crew.

AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Strait of Sicily (40 nautical miles (74 km)) west north west of Maritimo Island, Italy (38°08′N 11°10′E) by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.

HEROS (Sweden) The coaster was sunk in the North Sea 6 nautical miles (11 km) south of Warkworth, Northumberland, United Kingdom by SM UB-112 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.

[lordroel]

Day 1478 of the Great War, August 24th 1918

Western Front

British advance on Bapaume, capture Bray (south of Albert), Thiepval Ridge (north-east of Albert), Miraumont (west of Bapaume), Biefvillers (north of Albert) and reach Avesnes les Bapaume (western outskirts of Bapaume).

Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War: Allies Fight Bolsheviks on the Ussuri

The landing of significant Japanese forces in Vladivostok early in August meant that the Allies and their White allies could consider pushing out of their isolated base there, along the Trans-Siberian railroad. The Reds still had a considerable presence in eastern Siberia, however, despite their extreme isolation; the Czechs and Whites had taken most of the railroad west of Lake Baikal. In a skirmish earlier in the month, the Allies had been driven back by the Reds. On August 23rd, the Allies tried again; a force of Czechs, Japanese, British, and White Cossack troops, supported by two British naval artillery pieces mounted on trains, attacked the Reds at Dukhovskaya on the Ussuri river north of Vladivostok. By the 24th, the Allies had won in their first real action against Red forces in Russia, destroying two Red armored trains. The Americans, not wanting to further interfere in Russian politics, did not participate in the battle, instead remaining in Vladivostok or on nearby railway lines.

United States

U.S.A. House of Representatives pass Man-Power Bill (336 votes to 2).

Naval operations: ship losses

AUCKLAND CASTLE (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) east by south of the Farne Islands, Northumberland by SM UC-59 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of twelve of her crew.

FLAVIA (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) north west by west of Tory Island, County Donegal (55°23′N 9°40′W) by SM U-107 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of one life.

GRACIOSA (Portugal) The four-masted barque was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north west of Scotland (59°06′N 5°00′W) by SM U-67 and SM U-90 (both Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

HOLLANDIA (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea off the coast of Norfolk, United Kingdom by SM UB-111 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

LISBONENSE (Portugal) The cargo ship struck a floating object and sank in the Mediterranean Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) off the Sisargas Islands, Spain. Fourteen crew were rescued.

MAJOOR THOMPSON (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea off the coast of Norfolk by SM UB-111 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

MARIA JOHANNA (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea off the coast of Norfolk by SM UB-111 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

NEERLANDIA II (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea off the coast of Norfolk by SM UB-111 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

NEERLANDIA III (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea off the coast of Norfolk by SM UB-111 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

SECUNDA (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was sunk in the North Sea off the coast of Norfolk by SM UB-111 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

STELLA (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea off the coast of Norfolk by SM UB-111 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

VIRENT (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 38 nautical miles (70 km) off the Smalls Lighthouse by SM UB-92 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[lordroel]

Day 1479 of the Great War, August 25th 1918

Western Front

British advance on Bapaume; on north capture Behagnies, Sapignies and Favreuil; on south hold Albert-Bapaume road.

Photo: A British 6-inch, 26 cwt howitzer being towed up to the line by a lorry at Irles, 25 August 1918



Revolt of the Czechoslovak Legion

Czecho-Slovaks occupy Kazan (on River Volga).

Coup d'Etat of General Horvath.

Macedonian Front

Austrians recapture Fieri and Berat (southern Albania).

German/Spanish relations

Germany accepts Spanish terms re: Spanish losses caused by submarines.

Naval operations: ship losses

CARASA (Spain) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) north of Towan Head, Cornwall, United Kingdom (50°29′N 5°07′W) by SM UB-92 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of six of her crew.

CLAYTON W. WALTERS (Canada) The schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 35 nautical miles (65 km) west south west of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon by SM U-156 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

C. M. WALTERS (Canada) The schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 35 nautical miles (65 km) west of Langlade Island, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon by SM U-156 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

E. B. WALTERS (Canada) The schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 35 nautical miles (65 km) west of Langlade Island by SM U-156 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

ERIK (United Kingdom) The coaster was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) north west by west of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon by SM U-156 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

J. J. FLAHERTY (United States) The schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 35 nautical miles (65 km) west south west of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon by SM U-156 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

MARION ADAMS (Canada) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean off Saint-Pierre and Miquelon by SM U-156 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

PONTET CANET (France) The cargo ship was sunk in the English Channel 12 nautical miles (22 km) north north west of the Héaux de Bréhat lighthouse, Côtes-du-Nord (49°07′N 3°05′W) by SM UB-109 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

VERNA D. ADAMS (Canada) The schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 35 nautical miles (65 km) west south west of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon by Triumph ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

WILLINGTONIA (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Strait of Sicily 13 nautical miles (24 km) south west by west of Maritimo Island, Italy (37°49′N 11°10′E) by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew.

[lordroel]

Day 1480 of the Great War, August 26th 1918

Western Front

Battle of the Scarpe (east of Arras) begins. British 1st Army attack Germans on River Scarpe, capture Monchy-le-Preux (south of Scarpe) and reach outskirts of Roeux (north of Scarpe).

Western Front: Canadians Attack Near Arras

The Allied attacks kept coming at an increasing rate and on a broader front in late August. On the 26th, the Canadians, who had been transferred north from the fighting east of Amiens, attacked near Arras, advancing four miles in a single day. The pace was exhausting for both sides, but the Germans had the worst of it. They never knew when the next blow would fall, were low on reserves, and had neither the food nor the fuel to let their troops recuperate from the fighting. Even troops that had been officially pulled off the front line could not be spared rolling stock to get away, and had to “rest” under enemy shellfire; still others were stuck in the front line for weeks at a time. Morale was low; one officer complained the next day that much of the infantry “hardly made any use of their rifles,” leaving the artillery and machine-gunners to their own devices (apart from occasional use of the indirect fire of grenades).

That night, the Germans began a general ten-mile withdrawal along a 55-mile front, running from the Aisne to Arras. The Somme battlefield, fought over for months in 1916, was recaptured with four days. Many of Ludendorff’s commanders urged a further withdrawal, to the Hindenburg Line where they had started the year, or even further, to the Meuse, but Ludendorff refused to allow anything but limited withdrawals.

Revolt of the Czechoslovak Legion

Allied and Czech patrols disarm 400 Russian volunteers supporting Horvath.

Russian Civil War: White Coup in Vladivostok

A number of different groups co-existed uneasily in Vladivostok, which had been occupied by Japanese and British forces for several months, and who were now joined by American soldiers. A Bolshevik soviet had officially run the city until late June, when Czech troops drove it out after a day of street fighting. The Allies proclaimed Vladivostok a protectorate and stopped the fighting. In the meantime every reactionary in Russia seemed to come crawling out of the woodwork, notably one General Horvat, a Tsarist railroad functionary who came from China and began acting like the head of the city. On August 25 troops loyal to Horvat took control of the city’s government, and Horvat declared himself the commander of all Russian forces in the East.

Horvat joined a burgeoning number of warlords in Siberia with grandiose dreams of power. While the Czechs continued to kick the Reds out of Siberia, other Russians like Grigory Semyonov stormed to power. In Omsk a government was formed which would also soon declare itself the legitimate government of Russia. The Allies had little idea who was who, nor whom to support, and indeed the chief danger of the time seemed to be a war between the anti-Bolshevik governments of Siberia. The Americans despised both Horvat and Semyonov, who barely hid the fact that he was only interested in plunder. The British ended up supporting Omsk, while the Japanese funneled money to Horvat, Semyonov, and every other murderous tyrant who popped up in Siberia during the war. It remained unclear who would take charge of the Siberian Whites. “Horvat may be the man of the hour,” wrote the New York Times, “but it remains unclear that the hour needs a man.”

Finland

Finnish Government repudiates alleged intention of supporting German Murman expedition.

Announcement that Duke Adolf-Friedrich of Mecklenburg-Schwerin no longer candidate for Finnish throne.

Ukrainian War of Independence

Manifesto of Ukrainian National Council in Paris appealing for moral support against Germany.

Naval operations: ship losses

EVAANGTELISTRIA (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Aegean Sea (39°11′N 25°15′E) by SM UC-37 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

GLOAMING (Canada) The schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) south south west of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon by SM U-156 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

HELGE (Sweden) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel off Saint-Brieuc, Côtes du Nord, France (48°49′N 2°45′W by SM UB-109 ( Kaiserliche Marine)[155] with the loss of thirteen of her crew.

RUSH (United States) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 135 nautical miles (250 km) south east of Cape Canso, Nova Scotia, Canada (44°30′N 58°02′W) by SM U-113 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[lordroel]

Day 1481 of the Great War, August 27th 1918

Western Front

British capture Cherisy, Bois du Sart (south of Scarpe), Roeux, etc (north of Scarpe).

Severe fighting north and south of Bapaume.

British take Trones Wood (east of Albert).

South of Somme, British advance towards Peronne, reaching line Fontaine-les-Coppy-Vermandovillers.

French occupy Roye.

Photo: Battle of Amiens. Two nurses checking a 21 cm Mörser 16 heavy howitzer at a dump of German artillery guns and howitzers captured by the British Fourth Army, 27 August 1318



German/Russian relations: Russia Makes Additional Concessions to Germany

By late August, both Germany and Russia had higher priorities than fighting each other, despite voices on both sides that still called for it (and the series of assassinations of German officials in Russia and Ukraine). Germany was facing defeat on the Western Front and needed whatever resources could be gotten from Russia without a commitment of troops, while the Russians needed to fight the White forces on the Volga and needed reassurances that the Germans would not attack them from behind, especially given they had already stripped much of Petrograd’s defenses.

On August 27, Germany and Russia signed a supplemental peace treaty. The Russians agreed to pay 6 billion marks in indemnities for wartime damages, to relinquish any rights to Estonia, Latvia, and Georgia, to fight the Allied forces around Murmansk and Archangelsk, to allow the Germans to use the remnants of the Black Sea Fleet (which was already under their control anyway), and to provide the Germans with a third of their oil once Baku returned to their control. The Germans, meanwhile, promised that neither they nor their Finnish allies would attack Russia, and that they would do their utmost to convince the Turks to return Baku once they expelled the Allies. Many of these provisions were secret, despite the Bolsheviks’ stated aversion to “secret treaties.” The terms were viewed by many as a further humiliation, in the words of one negotiator “worse than Brest-Litovsk.” It should be noted, however, that the 6 billion mark figure was far less than the 132 billion mark figure which would be imposed on the Germans at Versailles.

United States: US Begins First Border Fence with Mexico

The Mexican Revolution began in 1910 and had been going on since, but the gringos up north had mostly stopped paying attention. The worst violence in Mexico had burned out; Pancho Villa had been defeated, Zapata’s peasant army could not seriously threaten Mexico City, and beyond a few turn-coat generals the new Constitutionalist government of Venustiano Carranza had no further enemies. Better yet, Carranza had the support of the Americans. Although they were still slightly miffed about the revolution (US businesses had done pretty well in Mexico with former dictator Porfirio Diaz), the Yanks were content to have a liberal neighbor down south who looked likely to keep the status quo.

But some Americans still had their concerns about Mexico. For people who lived on the border, Mexico seemed a great deal more important than the war in Europe. Moreover, violence had poured across the border before, as in 1916 when Pancho Villa’s men attacked the town of Columbus, NM. And the Germans had, albeit farcically, tried to induce Mexico into a war with America with the promise of taking back the Mexican Cession. Americans on the border remained jumpy, but perhaps understandably.

Yet still healthy precaution does not seem to have justified the firefight which broke out in the cross-border town of Nogales on August 27, 1918. The border ran through the town, and those who crossed it were supposed to have packages inspected by customs. A carpenter named Zeferino Gil Lamadrid forgot when he ambled into Mexico that afternoon. The American at the crossing told Lamadrid to halt; the Mexican guard told him to keep going. A nearby American soldier fired his rifle into the air to try and get Lamadrid to stop, which he did, diving for cover, but the Mexican customs man thought he was the target, and shot down his American counterpart. A gun battle erupted out of a fatal misunderstanding.

American infantry and cavalrymen attacked across the border, assaulting a hilltop where Mexican Carrancista soldiers had dug trenches. Civilians from both sides of the border took to the roofs and started shooting at the other part of town. Eventually, when the Americans got a machine-gun into a dangerous flanking position, Mexican officials asked for a ceasefire. A score of people had died.

The bullet-ridden town closed the border for the day and re-opened it the next. But the battle prompted tension between the American and Mexican sides, and the Americans decided on a permanent solution. Starting that August a two-mile fence was erected, six-feet high. It was the first permanent border fence along the US-Mexico border and lasted into the 1920s, costing the government $5,000.

Aerial operations: Ottoman empire

Constantinople bombed by British airmen.

Naval operations: ship losses

ANT CASSER (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) north north west of Strumble Head, Cornwall (52°25′N 5°45′W) by SM UB-118 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

BERGSDALEN (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (45°10′N 55°10′W) by SM U-117 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.

GLORIA (Portugal) The schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Porto Santo Island, Madeira (33°24′N 16°28′W) by SM U-157 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

PAMPA (France) The troopship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 84 nautical miles (156 km) east of Valletta, Malta by SM UC-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 117 lives.