11 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive: Battle of Éstaires (9th/11th): Battle of Messines 1918 (10th/11th): Armentières and Merville taken by German forces (see October 11th and 17th, 1914, August 19th and October 3rd, 1918).
The ruined streets of Armentières: © IWM (Q 61031): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...748976062156800
Fighting general on whole battle-front.
British forced back beyond Ploegsteert and Steenwercke to south of Neuve Eglise and Bailleul. At Hollebeke and Messines attacks repulsed. Strong local attacks repulsed south of Arras. British 25th Division loses Hill 63.
Germans claim 20,000 prisoners in Northern fighting.
Haig’s ‘Backs to the Wall’ Order of the Day: ‘… there is no other course than to fight it out… with our backs to the wall… each one of us must fight on to the end.’
German tank crew sit astride a captured British tank Mark IV following the occupation of Armentieres: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...l1918.jpg?ssl=1
German prisoners captured by the British near Bethune, France: © IWM (Q 10883): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...394145531318272
Wounded Highlander troops coming back from the trenches at Bethune: © IWM (Q 355): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...687316471500800
The Royal Air Force Marine Craft Section is formed, with personnel from the Section initially tasked with operating support vessels that have transferred to the Royal Air Force (RAF) from the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS).
US I Corps Observation Squadron flies first mission over German lines. 94th Aero Pursuit Squadrons first successful patrol destroys 2 German aircraft on April 14, pilots PoWs.
Single Gotha bomber drops 1,543 lb bomb on Paris (99 casualties).
Only 4 of 7 Handley Pages bomb near Zeebrugge area (2 lost).
A Gordon Highlander soldier feeding a French refugee child fleeing from the German offensive near Locon: © IWM (Q 7855): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...717524922621952
First American reinforcements arrive in the area of fighting during Operation Georgette.
French children in Soulosse waving at American soldiers heading towards the front: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...732635800399873
Damage to a maternity ward at Baudelocque Hospital in Paris after it was hit by long-range German artillery fire: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...020762708398080
American Army band performing a concert at Boucq, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...050970253578240

Naval and Overseas Operations
British naval forces bombard Ostend and aircraft bomb Zeebrugge.
Mediterranean: Marseilles-bound British transport Kingstonian (9 lives lost) sunk by U-boat.
North Sea: Dover Patrol shells Ostend and its aircraft bomb Zeebrugge. Dover Barrage claims coastal submarine UB-33.
Baltic: German battleships Westfalen and Posen arrive off Helsinki from Reval, but sister ship Rheinland crippled by rocks off Lagskar (600t including all guns removed before refloated for return to Kiel but not repaired).
Irish Sea: American S.S. Lakemoor sunk by submarine.
Mozambique: British columns from coast and Lake Nyassa in touch with German-aligned forces at Medu and Msalu river.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Action of Berukin (until April 11): Turks attack near El Ghoraniya (East Jordan): defeated and pursued by cavalry six miles towards Es Salt. Arab regulars storm stations north and south of Maan and hill to southwest until April 13, take but fail to hold Maan Station on April 16; 327 PoWs and 3 MGs taken.

Political, etc
France: Major-General Hon. C. Sackville-West succeeds Sir Henry Rawlinson (who goes to the front) at Versailles.
United Kingdom: Report issued of Government Committee on treatment of prisoners of war behind lines.
Netherlands: Food riots in Holland.

12 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive: Battle of Hazebrouck begins (see 15th). Strong German pressure, especially at Bailleul and Wulverghem; Neuve Eglise and Messines penetrated. 4 British division defend Nieppe Forest. BEF First Army defends Hinges Ridge north of Bethune. Kaiser arrives at Armentieres, anticipating victory. German offensive slackens 6 miles from Hazebrouck (until April 16) although Merville falls. British 5th Division arrives from Italy and 1st Australian Division comes up.
Tank wrecks on the battlefield. The funnel fields of the previous Flanders battles are a major obstacle to the advance: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...aende.jpg?ssl=1
Over 170 RAF planes attack at Merville junction on river Lys for 13 hours, lose 10 planes for 5 German and 5 German balloons. Little German air support for advance till April 25 but German fighters check RAF from April 13.
Map showing German advance (dotted line): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...126460490330112
British artillery setting up to defend a canal bridge at Saint-Venant from the German offensive: © IWM (Q 6611): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...347922610511877
Argonne: In Apremont Forest Franco-Americans repulse continued attacks.
110 German Divisions engaged till now.
Air raid on Paris, one raider shot down at Compiegne.
Last airship raid over England in which British casualties were inflicted (see January 19th, 1915 and August 5th, 1918). 5 Navy airships scatter 33,340lb-worth bombs across Western Midlands and Northern England (night April 12-13, 27 casualties). L-61 (Ehrlich) bombs Wigan (claims attack on Sheffield). 27 defence sorties (5 sightings) cost 3 aircraft.
Following a dispute with Lord Rothermere, Major General Hugh Trenchard resigns from the post of Chief of the Air Staff and is succeeded by Major General Sir Frederick Sykes.
Captain H Woollett RAF in a Sopwith Camel claims 6 victories.
British troops helping French refugees escape the German offensive at Lillers: © IWM (Q 10892): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...081159373119488
A British tank captured by the Germans on the Western Front: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...111363814543361

Southern Front
Sir Herbert Plumer's despatch from Italy published.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Adriatic: Austrian raid on Otranto Barrage (until April 13).
North Sea: Grand Fleet base moved from Scapa Flow to Rosyth for duration of war.
Mozambique: Action at Medo; Kartucol and Rosecol (over 155 casualties) join after former’s flanking move ambushed in swamp by Captain Kohl’s 800 Germans, 12 MGs and 1 gun; 7 hours fighting before Kohl retreats from Chirimba Hill. Rosecol resumes advance on Mwalia on April 15, skirmishes (28 casualties) with German rearguard on April 17.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Colonel Sir Ronald Storrs, the Military Governor of Jerusalem, and the men of the 1st Egyptian Infantry Battalion at the Mosque of Omar: © IWM (Q 12651): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...378136925294593

Political, etc
Germany: Food Dictator says that no satisfactory solution of economic situation can be expected.
United Kingdom: Manpower Bill: Military service for Ireland agreed to by majority of 165.
Netherlands: Food riots quelled by troops.

13 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive: Battle of Hazebrouck (see 15th). Battle of Bailleul begins (see 15th): British re-occupy Neuve Eglise and repel further attack, but loses it on April 14 again.
Germans gain less than 1/2 mile vs British 34th and 59th Divisons. Ludendorff sacks II Bavarian Corps commander.
Continuous fighting round Wulverghem, Bailleul and Meteren, and at Festubert. Lys river front remains firm.
British soldiers at an improvised field kitchen. There is a lot of discouragement among British troops and desertions are coming. A Brit reported: ‘It is not the bar to get in the doubt that the Germans will take the channel ports’: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ueche.jpg?ssl=1
Along the Meuse river, Americans north-west of Toul are twice attacked.
Long-range gun shells Paris by night.
German bombers raid Paris, causing around 100 casualties. Aftermath of the raid: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...710325936238593
Zeppelin Works near Friedrichshafen burnt out.
Portuguese soldiers heading to the front near Merville: © IWM (Q 360): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...438579622490113
British and Portuguese troops digging a trench through the town of Noeux-les-Mines, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...740532743229442

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: Helsingfors captured by German forces (12th/14th) (see 3rd and 4th). Finnish Government announce that all German troops landed in Finland had been dispatched at their request.
Germans take Helsinki for 200 casualties, German troops in the city: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...408351751712768
White Western Army occupies Pori and its railway with Rauma on April 17.
Kuban: White Volunteer Army repulsed from Ekaterinodar, Lavr Kornilov killed by Bolshevik shell: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...773228588609536 . Anton Denikin succeeds and orders retreat north back to Don.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Sir A. A. Barrett's Gazette on Mahsud operations of 1917 published.
Palestine: Colonel Sir Ronald Storrs, the Military Governor of Jerusalem, and the men of the 1st Egyptian Infantry Battalion at the Mosque of Omar: © IWM (Q 12651): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...378136925294593
Armenia: Turks occupy Batum.

Political, etc
Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania: United Diets of Baltic Provinces adopt resolution to form themselves into a separate State within the German Empire.
Ireland: Irish Convention Report published.
South Africa: Mr. Hertzog's “seditious” speech, demanding separation.
Turkey: Transcaucasian Council break off peace negotiations with Turks.
Serbia: National Assembly of Yugo-Slavs, Croats and Slovenes at Agram take oath of solidarity.

14 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive: Battle of Hazebrouck (see 15th). Battle of Bailleul (see 15th): Seven attacks in Merville sector repulsed. Near Bailleul, British line penetrated, but position restored. East of Robecq, British take prisoners and machine guns. Neuve Eglise is re-taken by the Germans.
General Foch appointed Commander-in-Chief of Allied Armies in France [The Belgian forces were not placed under the command of General Foch.] (see March 26th, August 6th, and November 5th)
Marshal Ferdinand Foch (1851-1929) is a deliberate organizer and diplomat and can overcome the national self-interests of the Allied nations: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...-Foch.jpg?ssl=1
French refugees on the road at Noeux-les-Mines: © IWM (Q 10899): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...803427346722817
British machine gunners setting up to defend a bridge crossing of the Lys Canal at Marquois: © IWM (Q 6612): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...863822757363714

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: Captured Red forces in Helsinki: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...848722386456580

Southern Front
Salonika: Anglo-Greek operations across the Struma temporarily occupying 7 villages (night April 14/15 until April 20) but, due to poor reconnaissance, Bulgarians nearly cut off a British battalion (most of 349 casualties) and Greeks lose half 33 casualties to own premature grenades; Bulgarians claim 150 British PoWs with 3 MGs.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: U-151 (Heinrich von Nostitz) leaves Kiel for US Eastern Seaboard. She re-enters Kiel on July 20, claiming 23 ships sunk of 61,000t (+ 4 mine victims). In all, big U-cruisers carry out 7 transatlantic summer cruises but fail to sink one loaded transport.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Foreign Minister Count Ottokar von Czernin resigns, Count Stephan Burián von Rajecz again in post on April 16.
France: M. Georges Clemenceau issues statement that France does not recognize present Russian Government nor its acts.
United States: U.S. removes the statue of Frederick the Great, a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm, from the front of the Army War College in D.C. after two bombing attempts were made by angry Americans.

15 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive: Battle of Hazebrouck ends. Battle of Bailleul ends: Bailleul taken by the Alpenkorps together with 2 other divisions. Germans capture Wulverghem. Herbert Plumer evacuates 5 divisons from Passchendaele Ridge. Robillot’s French II Cavalry Corps (3 divisions) arrives near Cassel, 5 infantry divisions follow April 17-18.
Very violent artillery action in Luce Valley (Somme).
(Listed for yeterday): American forces conduct their first dogfight over the Western Front, with (future ace) Douglas Campbell and Alan Winslow shooting down 2 German planes.
French cavalry and armored cars heading towards the front near Hesdin: © IWM (Q 378): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...135607134420993
A member of the British Royal Flying Corps shakes hands with a French cavalryman at Hesdin: © IWM (Q 376): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...226201705926657
American signalers writing messages to be sent by carrier pigeons while facing German fire near Larne: © IWM (Q 58208): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...422491635142656
British horse-drawn artillery passing by French armored cars near Caestre: © IWM (Q 8804): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...453947631661062

Southern Front
Macedonia: Greek troops cross Struma river and occupy villages in Seres district.
British troops take two villages south-west of Demirhissar.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: Raid by British naval light forces on the Kattegat. British Naval forces claim that they sank ten German armed trawlers, but this is utterly unverified.
2 Royal Navy minelayers lay deep minefield 10 miles northeast of Laeso.
Adriatic: Admiral Miklos Horthy orders increased security at Pola. Allies begin to lay net barrage from Fano to Otranto (until September 30).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Archibald Wavell made Brigade-General and CoS of XX Corps.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Details of Count von Czernin's resignation as Foreign Minister of Austria-Hungary over the Sixtus Affair. In the scandal, it was revealed Emperor Karl I attempted to make a separate peace with France by promising to return Alsace-Lorraine. Von Czernin: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...514351590289408
United Kingdom: Major General Hugh Trenchard’s resignation from the post of Chief of the Air Staff becomes effective; he is succeeded by Major General Sir Frederick Sykes.
British government reports 1.413 million women have replaced jobs formerly held by men in industrial, professional and civil service positions.
United States: Charlie Chaplin film “A Dog’s Life” is released: https://archive.org/details/ADogsLi...echargement.com
American opera singer Geraldine Farrar gives a performance with her dog to sell Liberty Bonds in New York for the war effort: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...484144078618624

16 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive: Passchendaele reoccupied by German forces (see November 6th, 1917 and September 29th, 1918). Heavy attacks develop at Wytschaete and south-west of Vieux Berquin, with record c.1,000 ΝΖ PoWs.
British soldiers making a street barricade out of furniture at Bailleul, France to defend against the German offensive. The town fell a few hours later: © IWM (Q 6530): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...544552705679361
Wytschaete and Metern lost and retaken. Attacks near Bailleul repulsed. Heavy fighting in Boyelles district, south of Arras.
French troops and an armored car at Meteren: © IWM (Q 6640): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...822627318165504
British officers treating a wounded soldier at Meteren: © IWM (Q 6542): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...852831797268481
Sir Douglas Haig issues special dispatch "The 55th Division at Givenchy", praising its gallantry.
Open warfare breaks out on the Western Front for the first time since 1914. Here, German howitzers advance: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...hrung.jpg?ssl=1
American Red Cross Hospital in Evian housing sick refugee children who fled the Germans: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...574749404266497
France calls on its class of 1919 (men 19 years old) to report for military training. New French conscripts: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...883037564104706

Eastern Front
Kuban: Renewed fighting between Soviet troops and those of General Anton Denikin.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: A claim that Dr. Sandor Wekerle (Prime Minister of Hungary) resigns; but other sources state that he remained in office until October.
Ukraine: The Ukraine Government issue protest against union of Bessarabia and Rumania (see 9th and 23rd).
France: (special, 1912): American Harriet Quimby became the first woman to fly across the English Channel.
United Kingdom: Military Service Bill passes House of Commons; majority 198.
Romania: League of the People Party formed at Jassy, General Alexandru Averescu leader.
United States: Mr. Charles Schwab appointed Director-General of U.S. Shipbuilding (4 Εast Coast shipping firms taken ονer on April 11).
Netherlands: Dutch Government decides to send convoy to East Indies.

17 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive: First Battle of Kemmel Ridge begins (see 19th): Intense bombardment, followed by infantry attack, on whole line from Nieppe Forest to Wytschaete. Wytschaete and Meteren again lost. North-west of Dixmude, Belgians take 700 prisoners and 42 machine guns.
French repulse local attacks on Meuse and in Champagne.
Specially-prepared positions for Vickers machine-gun teams somewhere among the Flanders battlefields: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ndern.jpg?ssl=1
Heaνy German mustard gas attack οπ Villers-Bretonneux.
Germany: Erich Ludendorff orders Aisne attack preparations by German Crown Prince.
A horse wounded near the front being treated at a veterinary hospital at St. Omer, France: © IWM (Q 10909): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...913245272862724
A British soldier having a shave while another mans a Lewis gun near Robecq: © IWM (Q 8721): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...169918252109824

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: British monitors Erebus and Terror bombard Ostend.
North Atlantic: 4 Royal Navy drifters sink coastal submarine UΒ-82 in Northern Channel.
Adriatic: Italian submarine Η.5 sunk in error by ΗΜ Submarine Η.1.
Mozambique: War Office reports progress.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Armenia: Turks approach Kars, and claim 250 guns at Batum.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Baron Burian succeeds Count Czernin as Minister for Foreign Affairs.
France: General Emile Belin succeeds General Maxime Weygand on Supreme War Council.
Bolo Pasha is executed.
Canada: Government makes proposals for increase of manpower.
United States: Americans testing mobile anti-aircraft searchlights in Washington, DC: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...154821311959040

Hard to imagine that the war is within seven months of ending but the battlefield reports still suggest heavy fighting is the norm rather than the exception with Germany giving about as well as she's getting. I'm just thinking how different that seems from WWII when after Stalingrad, Germany was basically on the defensive through the end of the war.

18 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive: First Battle of Kemmel Ridge (see 19th): In the north, attacks south of Kemmel repulsed. Belgians repulse attack north-west of Passchendaele.
Battle of Béthune: Heavy attacks from Givenchy to Lys river. Fighting particularly severe at Givenchy, where Germans make advance of 10 miles gained since April 9.
British soldiers fighting in the ruins of Cuinchy: © IWM (Q 10942): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...245432392208384
French progress on Avre river and take 650 prisoners at Castel with tank support.
The new recruits for the British infantry in 1918 in Etaples: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...-1918.jpg?ssl=1
Two groups of African American soldiers having a tug-of-war contest: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...185025082228736
British Major General F. B. Maurice: “The British army is playing the role which it often has played before. It is fighting a Waterloo...”
French children riding a carousel in the streets of Paris: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...578884488515584

Southern Front
Macedonia: Bulgarian detachments attack Italians in Cherna Bend and are repulsed. Four-day British artillery harassing in Lake Doiran sector plus 3 trench raids (April 20 and 22) cost 136 casualties for 100 Bulgarians.
Italy: Italian II Corps (3rd and 8th Divisions) begins tο entrain (until April 27) for Western Front; comprises 52,826 men as symbol of Αllied unity and affront tο Austria.

Naval and Overseas Operations
German destroyers bombard Adinkerke (Belgian coast).
A dazzle-camouflaged American transport ship arriving with American troops at Brest: © IWM (Q 58240): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...609085364785152

Political, etc
United Kingdom: The 3rd Military Service Bill (Manpower) receives Royal Assent. This law , lowers age to 17 1/2 and raises it to 50, eyesight criteria lessened. It also extended military conscription to Ireland.
Shakeups in the British government: Lt.-Gen. Sir D. Henderson resigns from Air Board. Mr. A. Chamberlain joins War Cabinet. Early of Deby appointed Ambassador to France, vice Lord Bertie. Viscount Milner to be Secretary of State for War.
Ireland: The conscription law faces widespread opposition in Ireland, and Sinn Fein and labour movements plan strikes. Dublin Mansion House Conference, after consultation with Bishops, denies right of Government to enforce conscription.
South Africa: Cape Town: In House of Assembly, Sir P. Fitzpatrick denounces Mr. Hertzog for sedition.
Italy: Prime Minister Orlando announces Italian troops sent tο Western Front.
Central Inter-Allied Propaganda Commission begins work at Padua (by October 70 million publications sent tο Austrian Army and beyond cause “much” desertion).

19 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive: First Battle of Kemmel Ridge (see 19th): First Battle of Kemmel Ridge ends. North of Merville heavy shelling, but no infantry attacks. Position restored at Givenchy.
Battle of Béthune: Scarpe river British capture a few prisoners and machine guns.
Sharp fighting at Robecq, but then there is a lull in fighting; minor actions (until April 24). General Antoine de Mitry assumes command of French Νorthern Army Detachment (until July 5) which relieves British ΙΧ Corps, 6 battered British divisions withdrawn for rest.
French artillerymen go into action with a train-mounted naval gun during the fighting to halt the German offensive along the Lys River: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...z-lys.jpg?ssl=1
Frenchwomen workers sorting and repairing underwear for American troops at Tours, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...639305438310400

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: German troops under Colonel Brandenstein captures Lahti, cutting off 25,000 Red Guards and joins with Whites on April 20. Fighting till Reds surrender until May 2.
Ukraine: German forces enter the Crimea. Germans report occupation of two stations of main Sevastopol line.

Southern Front
Asiago Plateau: Successful minor action by British announced.
Macedonia: British withdraw from positions in Struma valley occupied on 15th.

Naval and Overseas Operations
English Channel: German submarine SM UB-78, which sunk 2 ships during its career, hits a mine off Dover with loss of all 35 crew.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: Lieutenant-Colonel Α Dawnay and Lawrence plus 5 armored cars, 2 aircraft, Egyptian Camel Coy and Bedouin capture Tell-esh* Shakin Station (54 PoWs, 200 rifles), occupy Ramleh and wreck 80 miles of line; Medina cut off from north.
Armenia: Turkish Ι Caucasian Corps breaks Nazarbekov’s 9,000-strong Armenian line (350 casualties) southwest of Kars.

Political, etc
United Kingdom: British Government announces right of search re: Dutch convoy of 16 April.
Belgium: Lieutenant-General Cyriaque Gillain replaces Lieutenant-General Louis Rucquoy as CoS under King Albert.
United States: U.S. State Department says American landing in Vladivostok is merely police precaution.

I love the picture of the French ladies sorting and repairing "underwear" for the American troops. Who would have thought? Love this series. Amazing what you learn. (Almost hate to see the war end this coming November ... well at least the 100th anniversary of the ending.) Thanks!

20 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive:
Flanders: German gas bombardment of Kemmne-Ypres with 9 million rounds (2,000t) mustard gas, phosgene and diphenylchlorarsine fired (until April 25) at BEF; 8,470 gassed (43 deaths). North-east of Ypres German minor attempt fails.
(Listed for yesterday): William Hope Hodgson, English author known for works like the “Sargasso Sea Stories, “The House on the Borderland” and “The Night Land,” is killed in action at Ypres: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...967769005613057
Somme: Skirmishes go in favor of British (until April 22).
Richthofen’s 80th (and last) victory, a Sopwith Camel northeast of Villers-Brelonneux.
Meuse: Germans gain ground at Seicheprey (Woevre) against Franco-Americans, who counter-attack successfully on April 21.
German troops capture Seicheprey, France from American soldiers, but they retake the town after hand-to-hand fighting: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...269777893871616
Artois: Pershing visits Canadian Corps.
German shells falling on the village of Rambucourt, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...300021828816896

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: Details of intentions of Finnish "White Party" are published in Stockholm.
Carl Mannerheim attacks towards Viborg with 24,000 men and 40 guns (until April 29).
The Finnish Commander-in-Chief Carl Gustav Mannerheim: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...m-1WK.jpg?ssl=1

Naval and Overseas Operations
British and German destroyers in contact in Heligoland Bight. One German destroyer damaged.

Political, etc
United Kingdom: Lord Derby, Secretary of State for War, Great Britain, resigns to become ambassador to France: Viscount Milner appointed Secretary of State for War, Great Britain (see 18th).
First National Emergency Proclamation, withdrawing exemptions up to 23.75 years, issued.
Canada: 20-22 year-old men called up.
United States: “Sabotage Act”, a codification of the Alien Enemies Act. It was used by the government to identify and imprison “dangerous” enemy aliens from Germany; more commonly used to suppress German-language publications in the US, and to prosecute those who spoke out against the US participation in the war. (Also, used later in World War II to persecute ethnic German, Japanese, and to a lesser extent, Italian descendant American citizens.
President Woodrow Wilson, while riding a British tank in front of the White House, accidentally burns himself when he grabbed on to a hot exhaust pipe: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...998102686162947
Karl Fredinand Braun, German physicist and Nobel laureate who invented the cathode-ray tube, passed away in Brooklyn, New York: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...330309199925248

21 April 1918
 

Western Front
Rittmeister Manfred Albrecht, Baron von Richthofen, the 'Red Baron', is shot down and killed. Manfred von Richthofen was the most successful fighter pilot of the First World War and at the time of his death, he had shot down 80 Allied aircraft in air combat. Although Captain Roy Brown of No.209 Squadron is credited with the destruction of von Richthofen's Fokker Triplane, it is virtually certain that the Red Baron actually fell victim to ground fire whilst being pursued by Captain Brown.
Von Richthofen: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...632128300126208
The funeral of Richthofen with military honors by the 13th squadron of the Australian Air Force: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ebnis.jpg?ssl=1
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/images...mbs/p021391.jpg
Footage of Australian soldiers breaking apart the Red Baron’s crashed triplane: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...e.ogv.240p.webm
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive: Position at Seicheprey restored. Local fighting round Albert, Villers Brettonneux and Robecq.
Great aerial activity and much bombing on whole front.
British Casualties on Somme and in Flanders since March 21 total nearly 250,000 soldiers.
Result of 29 days' bombardment of Paris: 118 killed, 236 injured.
British war dog wearing a gas mask at the kennels near Etaples, France: © IWM (Q 29559): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...360599804956672
British and French soldiers sitting on an artillery gun and smiling for the camera: © IWM (Q 10926): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...662398550106112

Naval and Overseas Operations
Western Mediterranean: Royal Navy ML.413 depth charges and sinks Cattaro-bound coastal-submarine UB-71 off Ceuta.

Political, etc
France: New constitution of Versailles Council announced.
United Kingdom: The King sends message to munition workers.
Sir M. de Bunsen sent on Mission to South America.
Australia: Australian Roman Catholic Bishops protest against Government action in Ireland.
Japan: Count Ichiro Motono, Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, resigns (see 22nd, and November 21st, 1916).

22 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive: Local fighting to slight British advantage in Albert, Robecq and Wytschaete sectors. Near Villers Brettoneux and on Ancre river, some German concentrations are dispersed.
Austrian troops reported to be arriving in Belgium.
DH4 bombs Zeebrugge harbor mole (night April 22-23) as diversion for Royal Navy Zeebrugge Raid.
French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau visiting the front and inspecting the British 33rd Division at Cassel: © IWM (Q 6550): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...692707970723846
French colonial troops moving up to the front near Domart: © IWM (Q 10950): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...723921884631046
British artillery officer using the shoulder of another soldier to act as a support for his telescope: © IWM (Q 6539): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...008277282836480
The remains of von Richthofen’s downed triplane on display: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...053578538504192

Naval and Overseas Operations
Νorth Sea: Zeebrugge Raid: St George’s Day Raid by British Dover Patrol: 3 old cruiser blockships; 9 monitors; 5 cruisers; 7 flotilla leaders, 44 destroyers on Zeebruge and Ostend (night April 22-23) (2 blockships miss). Zeebrugge Raid lasts 1 hour and costs 588 Royal Navy casualties mainly from 900-strong landing party that tries tο storm harbor mole. Obsolescent submarine C.3 destroys viaduct linking mole to mainland; 24 CMBs and 60 Minelayers lay flanking smokescreen; 8 Victoria Cross won (King invests them on July 31) and 209 other decorations. Destroyer North Star (35 casualties) sunk, probably by torpedo from Mole, and German destroyer probably torpedoed on inside. Germans dredge in 24 hours 60-feet wide channel round blockships, canal fully open within 3 weeks; coastal submarine UB-16 uses it on April 24, larger boats diverted to Ostend, but raid a great British morale booster at home and in France.
The state of the entrance to the German destroyer and submarine base Zebrugge after the British raid: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...-Raid.jpg?ssl=1
Adriatic: Destroyer action (night April 22-23) as 4 Austrian ships chased from West of Valona back to Cattaro by 5 British (Hornet suffers 32 casualties) and 1 French.

Political, etc
Germany: "Das neue Europa" publishes estimate of German losses up to 31 July 1917 as exceeding 5,000,000.
Lithuania: United Diets of Baltic Provinces request German Government to form them into a monarchy under King of Prussia.
United Kingdom: Mr. Bonar Law introduces the Budget.
India: Baluchistan: India Office announces unconditional surrender of Khotran Tribe.
Japan: Baron Goto Shinpei appointed Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs (see 21st, and September 28th).
Denmark: Denmark conducts its Parliamentary election, which is the first election Danish women are eligible to vote. The Venstre (Left) Party wins the most seats.
Netherlands: Severe tension reported between Holland and Germany.
Armenia: The Trans-Caucasian Council decide to declare independence (night 22nd/23rd) lace September 20th, 1917 and May 6th and 26th, 1918). The Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic (based in modern-day Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia) declares its independence from Russia. and reopens negotiations with the Turks.

23 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive: Violent artillery fire from Avre river to Albert, followed by heavy infantry attacks at Albert and in region between Somme and Avre.
US 1st Division enters line opposite Cantigny (west of Montdidier) between French IX and VI Corps.
Paris raided by one aeroplane, which is brought down.
Naval aircraft bomb docks at Zeebrugge and Ostend.
Paul Frank Baer becomes the first American serving in the U.S. military to become a flying ace: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...407170319421440
Special dispatch from Sir Douglas Haig mentions 14 divisions: 102 German divisions employed against British alone during great offensive.

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: Finnish Western White Army reported to have reached Russian frontier.

Southern Front
Albania: Durazzo bombed by British Naval aircraft:- only one warship seen in harbor.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: LAST GERMAN HIGH SEAS FLEET SORTIE (until April 24). Vain bid from 0500 hours, initially undetected (Scheer eliminates radio traffic), to attack British Norwegian convoys (81 ships off Forth nowhere near Norwegian waters). Hipper finds nothing, sends back battlecruiser Moltke with engine trouble (40 miles southwest of Stavanger). Distress signal (April 24) alerts Room 40 and Grand Fleet’s 35 capital ships (including 4 US battleships) plus 111 cruisers and destroyers put to sea from Rosyth in record 1 1/2 hours. Battleship Oldenburg takes Moltke in tow but she is torpedoed by British submarine E.42 on April 25 before she and whole fleet of 17 battleships re-enter harbor.
A late sortie by the German High Seas Fleet as the ‘Bayern’ class battleship on the right has a mainmast and all have landed their torpedo nets. The Germans successfully preserved the greater part of their battle fleet as a ‘fleet-in-being’, tying down the superior strength of the British: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...lasse.jpg?ssl=1
Kaiser Wilhelm inspecting a Mole at Zeebrugge, Belgium damaged by British submarine C.3: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...346766327275520

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: War Office reports progress in Hejaz.
Armenia: Bayazid occupied by Turks.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Hungarian Prime Minister Dr Sandor Werkerle says Emperor’s peace letter had German agreement.
Russia: Russian Bolshevik Government issue protest against union of Bessarabia and Rumania (see 9th and 16th, and December 10th).
United Kingdom: Major-General Tom Bridges, appointed to Military Adviser to Lord Reading in U.S.
Canada: Newfoundland: Conscription Bill introduced.
Ireland: Ireland launches a general strike to protest the British government’s decision to extend military conscription to the Irish.
Minor Allies: Guatemala declares war on Germany (see April 27th, 1917).

24 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive: Actions of Villers-Bretonneux: Violent attacks on junction of British and French in Amiens sector south of Somme; Villers-Bretonneux lost to 2 German divisions with 13 tanks (over 390 PoWs); they also threaten Allied junction in Amiens sector. Battle very severe at Hangard; Germans finally capture village.
First tank-vs-tank action: a British Mk IV ‘Male’ (Mitchell) knocks out German A7V Elfriede (after it disables 2 ‘Females’), which is then captured; 7 British Whippet light tanks (1 lost) run down 400 German infantry.
A7V “Elfriede” was disabled by four shots of the 6-pounder of a Mark IV tank and captured: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...7V-02.jpg?ssl=1
Attacks beaten off east of Robecq and north-east of Bailleul.
Heavy artillery fire in Woevre.
British Naval aircraft riad Zeebrugge and Ostend.
A French car camouflaged with tree branches: © IWM (Q 7871): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...422266642890753
British and French soldiers playing with baby goats: © IWM (Q 6561): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...452475761053696

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: 8,000 Red Guards and 10 guns vainly try to retake Lahti from 800 German troops until April 29.

Southern Front
Macedonia: Lively fighting west of Doiran and in Cherna Bend.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mozambique: Kartucol push checked at Mbalama Hill, but Captain Brodie’s reconnaissance party storm observation post and force German retreat on April 25. Rosecol advances on Koronje and Nanungu (April 27-29), Kartucol takes over on April 30.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: During past week, a 53-mile section of Hejaz railway south of Maan effectively occupied by Arab troops.
Manchuria: Cossacks under Colonel Semenov defeat 500 armed Hungarian prisoners of war and drive them back towards Chita.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Count Bela Serenyi tries to form Ministry; and fails next day.
France: French papers publish Lichnowsky memorandum in full.
United Kingdom: Rectification of Anglo-Turkish agreement for exchange of prisoners announced.

25 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive: Second Battle of Kemmel Ridge or Second Battle of Kemmelberg (Lys) (25th/26th): Mount Kemmel stormed by German forces (see 19th, and August 31st). Allied line forced back. Very strong attack on British and French from Bailleul to Hollbeke.
Anglo-Australian night attack by 2 brigades (night April 24-25) recaptures Villers-Bretonneux with 600 PoWs. German illustration showing the battle: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...740606565470208
Following yesterday’s tank-against-tank battle during the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, a destroyed German A7V tank: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...755705736974337
96 German planes fire 60,000 MG rounds and drop 700 bombs on 3 villages in low-level preparation for assault on Kemmel Hill; RAF lose 4 planes to only 1 German.
A British 13-pounder anti-aircraft gun in action at Omiecourt, France: © IWM (Q 11023): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...785908131483649
In the Woevre, after heavy bombardment, German attack is stopped.
British engineers setting up a roadside mine near Robecq to slow the German offensive: © IWM (Q 6557): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...846302179086336
British soldiers defending the canal at Robecq. The canal is crossed by German troops later today: © IWM (Q 7874): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...125649007824896

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: Germans report junction with Finnish army 30 miles north of Helsingfors.
Ukraine: Germans announced to be near Sevastopol.

Southern Front
In Asiago basin British patrols force enemy detachments to retire.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: World’s first dedicated anti-sub hunter-killer submarines (British R.1 and R.2) launched at Chatham (class of 12 launched by October 5, 1918).
7 German Zeebrugge seaplanes shoot down 1 of 2 Felixstowe flying boats (down another on June 6).
Damage to the British cruiser HMS Vindictive, which participated in the indecisive Zeebrugge raid: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...816107678175232
Eastern Atlantic: U-boat sinks sloop HMS Cowslip off Cape Spartel (near Gibraltar).
Adriatic: Royal Navy Air Service aircraft bomb Durazzo.
Britain: First Lord Geddes memo on ‘The Future of the Russian Fleets.’
St George’s Channel: Royal Navy sloop Jessamine depth charges and sinks U-104.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Persia: Small British column (aided by 4 RAF aircraft) defeats pro-German Sinjabis northeast of Kasr-i-Shirin.
Armenia: Turks occupy Kars (first time since 1878), find over 212 field and fortress guns.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: German demands for use of Limburg (Lemburg, now, Lvov) railway agreed to.
United Kingdom: Mr. Winston Churchill reviews work of Ministry of Munitions; losses since March 21 more than made good; 750,000 women working, doing 90% shell production; 100,000 men released to forces since May 1917.
Women as workers in a British munitions factory: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...abrik.jpg?ssl=1
Harold Harmsworth, Lord Rothermere, resigns his position in the Air Ministry.
Red Cross sale £151,000.
Exports prohibited to Russia.
Australia: Mr. Hughes and Mr. Cook appointed to represent Australia at War Conference.
Belgium: A Belgian refugee family who fled Lille, Belgium due to the hardships of German occupation: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...155842875379713
United States: Potato eating urged instead of bread.
Netherlands: Mr. Loudon, Dutch Foreign Minister, says relations with Germany difficult.

26 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive: Second Battle of Kemmel Ridge or Second Battle of Kemmelberg (Lys) (25th/26th): In Kemmel region, Germans occupy Kemmel Hill and village and Dranoutre after very severe fighting, capturing 6500 French prisoners. Kemmel Hill overlooks south of Ypres. Ruins of Ypres: © IWM (Q 6730): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...427631279001600
Locre is lost and retaken by French.
Along the Ypres-Comines Canal, the Allied line falls back; at Voormezeele (Ypres) heavy fighting results in ultimate repulse of Germans; (and twice on April 27).
In Luce Valley and at Givenchy, fighting is to the advantage of the Allies.
French Foreign Legion (851 casualties) storms Hangard Wood and holds it against 5 counter-attacks.
Map showing the German order of battle during its current offensive: © IWM (Q 17200): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...186048143052801
Smoke billows from Amiens due to the German bombardment on the city: © IWM (Q 11152): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...201141371162625

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: 3,000 German troops capture Hameenlinna and meet Finnish Nyland Dragoons on April 27. Red director Kullervo Manner flees Viborg with 3 steamers for Petrograd.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: General Egerton’s 10,500 men (5 columns) wrest Kifri-Tuz Khurmatli from 3,000 Turks (until April 29); 6th Indian Cavalry Brigade charges at Kulawand on April 27, destroying Turk rearguard (200 killed, 565 PoWs and 1 gun captured); 13th Division takes Tuz as 13th Hussars’ charge causes 1,300 Turks with 12 guns and 20 MGs to surrender on April 29.
British cavalry charging in Middle East: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...t-Kav.jpg?ssl=1

Political, etc
Russia: Bolsheviks protest against German Brest-Litovsk violations.
United Kingdom: Ministry of Reconstruction issues report of Balfour Committee on commercial and industrial policy after the war.
Netherlands: Birth of the Dutch athlete, Francina "Fanny" Elsje Blankers-Koen, best known for winning four gold medals at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.

27 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive: In Ypres sector Voormezeele is twice attacked by Germans without success. Local fighting astride Ypres-Comines Canal.
The Museum of Picardie (Musée de Picardie) in Amiens damaged by German shelling: © IWM (Q 11451): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...835317682327552
First contingent of Italian troops arrive on the French front. [Approximate date.]
Canadian Armoured Autocar in France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...457834155954176
British soldiers examining the downed fuselage of a German Pfalz D-III at the Vert Galand Aerodrome: © IWM (Q 12165)
A member of the British Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps carrying rations in a German helmet at Etaples: © IWM (Q 8743): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...518233844834305
British and French troops sharing drinks near Amiens: © IWM (Q 10940): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...548439108292609
A French doctor tending to the wounds of a British soldier at Villers-Bretonneux: © IWM (Q 10936): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...774923768909824
African American Army cooks on a hospital train at Horreville, France: © IWM (Q 93185): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...867031158812672

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Rapid British advance north of Baghdad; Kifri captured.
Armenia: Turks report capture of Kars with 860 guns (also reported for earlier).

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Dr. Sandor Wekerle again appointed Hungarian Prime Minister (see 17th and October 24th).
Russia: Soviet Central Executive Committee abolishes rights of inheritance. At Petrograd White plotters name Grand Duke Alexis Nikolaievich ruler of Russia.
Georgia: Independence of Georgia (Trans-Caucasia) declared by its Diet.
France: France announces that there will be three meatless days a week starting on May 15 due to limited supply and the need to feed arriving American soldiers.
United Kingdom: Announcement of Sir W. Weir's appointment as Secretary of State for Royal Air Force.
Wheat acreage highest since 1882 but only 500,000 bales of cotton (11 weeks supply) left.
India: Important War Conference at Delhi.
Italy: Italy’s role in an international front is highlighted on this Italian propaganda poster: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...front.jpg?ssl=1

28 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive: Germans again make a local attack at Locre and are repulsed.
Great artillery activity in Luce Valley and south of Lassigny.
Further attacks on Hangard Wood are repulsed.
At Langemarck, Belgians repulse a big German raid.
Allies announce that an American force has entered the line under French command on Northern battle front.
American troops wearing body armor tested with bullets at Langres, France: © IWM (Q 112258): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...897292655276033
German prisoners captured by the Canadians on the Western Front: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...175055459086338

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: Reds shoot 26 White PoWs in Viborg prison. Red Guard night attacks throw back Germans, taking 2 guns, but held at Lahti.
Southern Russia: German troops reach Taganrog, Sea of Azov, in Donetz coal basin.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: British forces reach the Ak Su river (Tigris).

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Death of Gavrilo Princip (the assassin of Sarajevo 1914), age 22, in hospital of tuberculosis, Theresienstadt. The assassin of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Sophie, the student Gavrilo Princip, who eradicated an entire era. At time of the crime with an age of 18 years, which precluded a death sentence against him, he dies in prison of tuberculosis: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...incip.jpg?ssl=1
Poland: Polish Government addresses Note to Central Powers.
Portugal: Senhor Sidonio Paes, Provisional President, is elected President of the Portuguese Republic.

29 April 1918
 

Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive: The Battle of the Scherpenberg (Lys) brings to an end the Battles of the Lys (see 9th).: Heavy bombardment between Meteren and Voormezeele followed by violent infantry attacks by 13 Divisions; but only capture Scherpenberg, a knoll 2 miles northwest of Mt Kemmel from French and 2-mile stretch of British-held Salient outpost line, 3 miles south of Ypres. French regain Locre.
Haig and Plumer contemplate retreat to prepared St Orner line. Ludendorff suspends the offensive at 2200 hours.
Lorraine: US codebreakers give Doughboys 1/2 hour warning of attack.
First of Rickenbacker’s 26 victories; an Albatros fighter at Baussant. German aircraft losses since March 21 are 659; RAF/RFC in March and April 1,032 planes.
Eddie Rickenbackjer in front of his SPAD fighter: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...-Spad.jpg?ssl=1
A YMCA tent damaged by German selling at Ansauville, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...205256721223681
A French pilot and an American soldier boxing during a tournament at St. Aignan: © IWM (Q 70262): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...265654925291524

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: Viborg taken by White Guards. In the following days, several hundred Red prisoners and civilians suspected of having Communist ties are massacred. Captured Red troops: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...531168704614400
Ukraine: General Groener establishes military dictatorship (Kiev martial law from April 26) under landowner Hetman (ex-Tsarist) General Skoropadski, having arrested anti-German League dissolved Rada.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mozambique: British columns from coast and Lake Nyssa have forced Germans to River Lurio; other British and Portuguese columns approaching this river from the South.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: British capture Tuz Khurmati.
British soldiers carrying a wounded man during the fighting against Ottoman troops north of Baghdad, Mesopotamia (Iraq): © IWM (Q 24663): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...235451863851009
British medic tending to the wounds of an Ottoman soldier north of Baghdad: © IWM (Q 24666): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...561422273843200

Political, etc
Germany: Formation of State Grain Bureau in Ukraine announced. (Yes, this is referring to the German cooperative occupation of the Ukraine, in support of Ukrainian independence).
France: Bonnet Rouge treason trial opens.

30 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Fierce fighting in Noyon sector.
OHL decides on major diversionary offensive (Goerz) against French designed to draw Allied reserves south from Flanders. Once achieved, a further heavy attack will be mounted to encompass BEF’s destruction.
180 German triplanes available. Allied April losses 232 aircraft and 16 balloons to Germans’ 136 aircraft.
A standard Fokker Dr I triplane in 1918: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...gzeug.jpg?ssl=1
Since April 27 flights of obsolete DH6s on anti-U-boat patrol.
During April 118,000 US troops sail for France, BEF losses 143,168 soldiers, only 48 of 61 divisions battleworthy.
Trainload of British tanks being transported near La Vicogne, France: © IWM (Q 11495): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...591608168075265
British soldiers defending behind a wire block on a road at St. Jean, France: © IWM (Q 6594): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...606697398964225
Camouflage netting used to hide the American 26th Division headquarters at Boucq, France from German aerial surveillance: © IWM (Q 63746):

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: Red Western Army cut in half by German-White Guard attacks.
Russia: Ex-Tsar and family brought to Ekaterinburg in the Urals.
By now 386,000 Austro-German PoWs returned home. Turkestan Soviet Republic proclaimed.

Southern Front
Operations during the month confined to artillery, air and patrol actions.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: Canadian Pacific liner, S.S. Oronsa, sunk by submarine.
Irish Sea: Royal Navy convoy sloop Coreopsis gunfire sinks coastal submarine UB-85 in Northern Channel.
Further prohibited area in North Sea announced for 15 May.
Allied and neutral shipping losses to U-boats in April: 112 ships (67 British with 488 lives) worth 273,355t (215,543t British from all causes); German U-boat figure 134 ships worth 300,069t including 43 ships worth 80,126t in Mediterranean; 6 U-boats sunk.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Second action of Es Salt begins (see May 4th). Line advanced at Mezra (Jerusalem).
Second Trans-Jordan ‘Raid’ (until May 4): Chauvel’s 13,000 men with 66 guns vs 9,000 Turks and Germans and c.70 guns. 60th Division and NZ Mounted Brigade only take first line of Turk Nimrin position east of Jordan, 3rd ALH (Australian Light Horse, mounted infantry) Brigade captures Es Salt (Turk Fourth Army HQ) but 4th ALH Brigade checked at Jisr-ed-Damieh bridge.
Arabia: British reach Tank river on Mosul road and capture 12 guns and 1,800 prisoners.
Persia: Sykes’ Mission: 3,344 British troops and 7,898 South Persia Rifles (292 British-Indian officers and NCOs).

Political, etc
Russia: Rumoured that a counter-revolution is about to take place.
Ukraine: German troops dissolve the Ukrainian People’s Republic and instead install Pavlo Skoropadskyi as Hetman of Ukraine: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...621812013793281
France: Wounded French veterans given training as barbers: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...893635133722624
United Kingdom: Mr. Ian Macpherson, Under-Secretary of State for War, appointed Vice-President of Army Council.
Major-General Charles Harrington to be Deputy Chief of the Imperial General Staff.

1 May 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Comparative quiet on Western Front.
French improve their positions before Locre.
U.S. troops join Amiens front.
No.1 to No.5 Air Force Areas are formed, but the words 'Air Force' are dropped from the titles of almost immediately.
Zeebrugge lock gates heavily bombed with 32t of bombs (and on May 2, 6, 12 with Ostend on May 22) aiming for lock gates. Bruges docks also attacked on May 25 with 36t of bombs.
In May first flight of super-Handley Page V/1500 ‘Berlin Bomber’ at Belfast, but crashes in June, second prototype tested mid-October and 3 of 255 ordered ready in Norfolk (No 166 Squadron) on Armistice Day.
In early May Fokker D-VIIs reach German fighter units in quantity, 828 by August 31. Germans have 2,551 pilots at front.
The actual link that got left out yesterday: Camouflage netting used to hide the American 26th Division headquarters at Boucq, France from German aerial surveillance: © IWM (Q 63746): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...925024453373954
American soldiers putting on their gas masks after a gas alarm is sounded: © IWM (Q 61480): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...955209911422976
British soldiers setting up a machine gun post in a barn near Haverskerque, France: © IWM (Q 6571): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...228246070046720

Eastern Front
Ukraine: Sevastopol taken by German forces (April 30th/May 1st).
Russia: General Skoropadski proclaimed Hetman, Germans occupy Odessa.

Southern Front
British airmen in Balkans bomb Bulgarian aerodromes in Vardar valley.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Part of Russian Black Sea Fleet seized by the Germans (see June 21st, 1917 and June 18th and November 26th, 1918).
South Atlantic: During May Brazilian squadron of 2 cruisers, 4 destroyers and a tender sails for European waters, but crew illness delays them at Sierra Leone.
Adriatic: Austrians suppress plot in Tb80 at Pola.
Germany: In May light cruiser Stuttgart converted to carry 3 seaplanes on davits (since January).
North Sea: Blackburn Kangaroos of No 246 Squadron at RNAS Seaton Carew (Tees) fly 600 hours on anti-submarine patrols from May 1 to November 11; 12 U-boats sighted, 11 attacked.
Britain: During last of 44 P-Boat type patrol craft/minesweepers/submarine chasers launched (since October 1915), serve with Dover Patrol, Portsmouth and Nore commands.
Mozambique: British in East Africa capture important convoy from Germans retreating towards Nanungu.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: British mounted brigade, guarding ford at Jisr ed Damiya, attacked and compelled to fall back, leaving 9 guns.
No 1 Squadron AFC aircraft forced to land and burnt near Amman. 1 German strafing attack on May 4.

Political, etc
Between warring sides: France and Germany arrange for exchange of prisoners of war.
Austria-Hungary: Hungary: General strike, marches in 4 towns despite ban.
Germany: In May Ludendorff Fund for War Wounded opens.
Hoffmann diary on difficulties of repatriating Austro-German PoWs and 3-4 million Baltic and Polish refugees. During May 2 German divisions transfer to Western Front (until May 10).
Russia: Lenin addresses first May Day rally in Red Square and attends flying display.
The Bolshevik soldiers currently guarding (and would later execute) the Russian imperial family: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...985423940980738
France: Mr Lloyd George, M. Georges Clemenceau and Signor Vittorio Orlando attend Fifth War Council in France.
35,000 armaments workers in May Day strike at Saint-Etienne and vicinity.
United Kingdom: RFP 107% (March level). New War Pensions Warrant issued. Anglo-Australian zinc agreement for 250,000t per year for duration of war plus 1 year. In May record month’s gun production: 1750 pieces with 1275 carriages.
Inside a British gun factory in Coventry: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...entry.jpg?ssl=1
Turkey: Fist war loan in Constantinople (until May 31 and until Juni 30 outside) raises T17.8m.
United States: Further increase of U.S. Army sanctioned.
Finland: Mannerheim holds victory parade in Viborg.

2 May 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Minor infantry actions.
German guns active on Villers-Bretonneux sector.
French gains in Avre valley, seize Hill 82, between Hailles and Castel.
British airmen bomb Thionville.
Zeebrugge again bombed.
Members of the British Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps playing basketball with convalescing soldiers at Etaples: © IWM (Q 8756): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...288648443326464
German soldier posing inside the barrel of the “Paris Gun,” the long-ranged artillery gun that bombarded Paris from behind German lines: © IWM (Q 87407): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...349067707011072
Royal Artillery officers rest while one plays a piano at Saint-Floris. Their dog mascot sits on top of the piano: © IWM (Q 6586): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...595680287416320
French gunners loading a massive 400mm howitzer at Sommesous: © IWM (Q 108347): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...656102638039040

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: Red Western Army collapses, 20,000 PoWs; 50 guns and 200 Mgs.
German troops arrest suspected Bolsheviks: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ewiki.jpg?ssl=1
Russia: Germans occupy Taganrog in Donetz region.

Southern Front
Italy: Ferdinand Foch’s authority extended to Italian Front.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: U-boat sinks transport Tuscania (211 of 2,400 US troops lost) 7 miles north of Rathlin island.
Channel: Dover Barrage sinks coastal submarine UB-31, which sunk 26 Allied ships during its career.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Heavy fighting in Palestine; Turks cross Jordan at Jisr ed Damiya; attack troops holding Es Salt.

Political, etc
Germany: Prussian Landtag votes 235-183 against equal suffrage; pro-equal suffrage meetings banned on May 25.
Russia: Cossacks cable Kaiser for help against Bolsheviks.
United States: Montana bans German language teaching and textbooks, half states curtail German by summer, much book burning.
Netherlands: Agreement concluded regarding export of sand and gravel from The Netherlands for German use (see July 15th).
Spain: Real Unión wins the 1918 Copa del Ray after defeating Madrid FC by 2-0.

3 May 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Quiet on front, artillery active locally. Germans fire 10,000 rounds (15t) mustard gas at US 1st Div opposite Cantigny, 693 gassed (4 deaths).
Major-General James W McAndrew now AEF CoS.
British claim 36 enemy planes. DH4s of No 55 Squadron seriously damage goods statin rail tracks and rolling stock at Thionville. Actual German losses were 22 for 33 Allied.
Flight of DH4s: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...-flug.jpg?ssl=1
A French Chasseur plane shot down by German fighters near St. Maurice: © IWM (Q 60799): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...958085513236480
British soldiers next to the 16th-century Church of St. Vaast, destroyed by German artillery: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...716544974598146

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: Germans and Finns surround and defeat Red Guard forces in south-west Finland. Whites occupy Kouvola. White ministers meet Mannerheim at Haapamaeki.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Attacked by superior forces, British withdraw from Es Salt and retire to west of Jordan.

Political, etc
United Kingdom: Mr. Lloyd George returns with cheering message from Paris.
Turkey: Samsam es Sultaneh succeeds Mustaufi ul Mamalek as Persian Prime Minister (see 31st, and January 19th).

4 May 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Germans open intense bombardment of French and British positions from Locre and south of Ypres; no attack develops.
French make slight progress in Locre sector.
A German 38-cm gun in railway carriage firing: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...anone.jpg?ssl=1
France: 440 Renault FT-17 tanks delivered, only 216 with units.
French soldiers marching towards the frontlines at Ribecourt: © IWM (Q 69360): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...048722266804224
A British officer of the Tank Corps with his pet dog on a motorcycle at Neulette, France: © IWM (Q 8770): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...078941073608704
American Army barber cutting the hair of children in Bronville, France: © IWM (Q 114507): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...364484294561793

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: Whites take Kotka and 3 Red evacuation ships (4,000 PoWs, 38 guns and mortars, 50 MGs).
Russia: Siberia: Novonikolayevsk Soviet arrests Czech Captain Gajda.

Southern Front
Italy: Activity increased on Italian front.
Serbia: Serbians capture and hold Bulgarian advanced positions on Dobropolye sector.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Second action of Es Salt ends (see April 30th). British troops retreat from their 2nd offensive against Ottoman forces in Transjordan due to strong counterattacks.

Political, etc
Between warring sides: Germany and Soviet Russia establish a special commission to exchange 3 million Russian prisoners in German hands for 1 million Germans held in Russia.
Austria-Hungary: Officials seize German food from Romania and Ukraine.
Emperor closes Reichsrat.
Ukraine: Armistice signed at Korenevo between Russia and The Ukraine (German-Ukrainian Command) (see June 12th).

5 May 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Artillery fire on both sides and local encounters on whole front.
British line advanced a little at Morlancourt between Ancre and Somme.
Killed British machine gunners at the Somme: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...miens.jpg?ssl=1
A German long-range gun (Not the Paris Gun) put out of action by French guns.
France: Foch orders army commanders and higher not to yield ground for defense in depth.
American 320 mm railway gun near Mailly, France: © IWM (Q 58209): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...773470974042114

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: Battle of Ahvenkoski: Last Red Guards surrender in Kymi Valley; 9,000 PoWs; 57 guns and 120 MGs; c.280 Reds shot (until May 15) despite orders. This is the last battle of the Finnish Civil War.
Russia: Trotsky approves ‘in principle’ re-routing Czech 2nd Division (still west of Omsk) via Archangel.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: U-boat sinks sloop HMS Rhododendron.
Channel: Australian ocean liner Kyarra is sunk by the German submarine UB-57, causing 6 deaths: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...711771315228672
Mozambique: Rosecol takes over Pamforce advance.
Action of Nanungu: Two very different accounts. One says: Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck is defeated at Nanungu (East Africa) by General Edward Northey's forces; Germans driven to north-east with much loss. Account two says: Paul von Lettow’s 404 men (107 casualties) beat c.800 KAR from NRFF (c.211 casualties including 106 PoWs), but both sides retire during night (until May 8).

Political, etc
Ireland: Field-Marshal Lord John Fench appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland (see December 15th, 1915); Mr. Ed Shortt, Chief Secretary.
John French: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...681573186265088

6 May 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Flanders: Germans raid French positions south of Locre.
Aisne: 3 British divisions enter line to ‘rest’ (until May 15).
African American soldiers of the Harlem Hellfighters/Black Rattlers defending a trench near Maffrecourt: © IWM (Q 69943): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...803663126155264
Australian troops advanced 500 yards on a 2000-yard front against German troops at Morlancourt, France, taking 150 prisoners.
A British military traffic control signal post at Blendecques, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...098137119150081
A damaged German A.E.G. G IV aircraft brought down by anti-aircraft fire near Villers-Bretonneux: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...113202656456704
British troops erecting a camouflage screen besides a road at Abeele, Belgium to prevent German fire: © IWM (Q 8803): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...143400605143040

Eastern Front
Southern Russia: Max Hoffmann diary ‘… OHL and Eichhorn are … driving the Ukraine back into the arms of Great Russia’. Russian ships shell German troops in Mariupol on Sea of Azov, General Haller’s Poles fight Germans at Kaniow. Denisov’s Anti-Soviet Cossacks capture Novocherkassk (reinforced by Drozdovski’s 900 Whites on May B), call Krug (Assembly) for the Salvation of the Don on May 11.

Southern Front
Salonika: British coy trench raid (81 casualties) west of Lake Doiran uses body shields, blows up pillbox (night May 6-7).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Sea of Azov: Russian ships bombard Germans in Mariupol Harbor.
Russian Black Sea Fleet arrives at Odessa, surrenders to local authorities.

Political, etc
Georgia: Turko-German delegates arrive at Batum to negotiate peace with the Georgians and Armenians (see April 22nd, May 26th, and June 8th).
United States:A street beneath the Brooklyn Bridge in New York: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...128297969147905

7 May 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Rain prevents all but artillery fighting at front.
Canadian Corps withdrawn into reserve (until July 15); 5,690 casualties since March 21 although only Canadian Cavalry Brigade in major battle.
Canadian soldier with his battalion’s goat mascot: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...460575471656963

Eastern Front
Finnish Civil War: Frederickshamn (South Finland) captured by Finnish White Guards: End of the Finnish Civil War.[The civil war may be said to have begun about March 1st, 1918.]

Southern Front
British successfully raid Austro-Hungarian trenches near Lake Doiran, on Balkan front.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Kirkuk taken by British forces (see 24th) (until May 8), 600 Turks sick and 3 damaged planes taken but evacuated with 1,600 refugees (May 11-24) due to supply difficulties. Turks retire towards Lesser Zab river.

Political, etc
Russia: Sidney Reilly (MI1c) arrives in Moscow and tries to see Vladimir Lenin.
United Kingdom: Letter of Major-General Sir F. Maurice in "Times" charging Ministers with mis-statements on the military position.
Romania: Peace of Bucharest: Final Treaty of Peace signed between Romania and Bulgaria, Central Powers and Turkey (see March 5th), together with various supplementary treaties between the separate contracting parties (see November 10th). Bulgaria gets all land lost in 1913, Central Powers to control Danube estuary, 1/3 Army to be demobilized at once; indefinite military occupation (August von Mackensen C-in-C in May 11).
Signing of the Treaty of Bucharest: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...rest.jpeg?ssl=1
Minor Allies: Nicaragua declares war on Germany.

8 May 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Strong local attack by Germans between La Clytte and Voormezeele, making gains around Morlancourt.
Australians push forward.
Activity in Avre valley.
The Royal Air Force is reorganized. The designations of the newly established Areas are revised to reflect their geographical locations within the United Kingdom:
• No.1 Area became South-Eastern Area - Major General F.C. Heath-Caldwell
• No.2 Area became South-Western Area - Major General M.E.F. Kerr
• No.3 Area became Midland Area - Major General J.F.A. Higgins
• No.4 Area became North-Eastern Area - Major General the Honorable Sir F. Gordon
• No.5 Area became North-Western Area - Major General G.C. Cayley
Hugh Trenchard accepts command of Independent Air Force for bombing Germany.
The first heavy British strategic bombers is the Handley-Page 0/400, here in flight. But they arrive too late to see many operations before the armistice: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...-Flug.jpg?ssl=1
Frenchwomen workers at a food warehouse for American soldiers: © IWM (Q 69425): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...490816587976706
British officer at Neulette, France feeding a canary rescued at the front: © IWM (Q 10948): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...521116898619392

Eastern Front
Russia: German forces occupy Rostov, on the Don.

Southern Front
Salonika: 6 RAF aircraft drop 4,500lb bombs (in 72 sorties) on Bulgarian Drama airfield, 24 aircraft bomb rail stations and dumps on May 13-14; 27 aircraft bomb Hudova airfield (repeated on May 21, 23, 29, 30); probable 8 Bulgarian aircraft shot down in May.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mediterranean: Royal Navy convoy sloop Wallflower depth charges and sinks veteran U-32 attacking convoy 40 miles northwest of Malta.
Adriatic: 4 Austrian destroyers fail to land raiding party to cut coast railway north of Pescara (night May 8-9).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Operations continued on Baghdad-Mosul road.
Turkish troops attacked by British airmen on Tigris, north of Tekrit.

Political, etc
Russia: Red Army forms General Staff under Lenin’s friend Major-General Bonch-Bruevich with 5 fronts.

9 May 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Local German attacks in La Clytte-Voormezeele sector repulsed; French and British positions re-established.
Germans gain small success at Albert.
Minor French success at Grivesnes, north-west of Montdidier.
French troops by a destroyed German A7V tank at the Villers-Bretonneux battlefield: © IWM (Q 55073): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...801450944856065
France: French ace Fonck in 5min 50sec (in Spad) destroys 6 German aircraft (again on September 26) over the Somme firing only 52 rounds.
Capitaine Rene Fonck was a master of deflection shooting and his sparing of ammunition bordering on the uncanny. His official victory score as a thoughtful and analytical fighter pilot was 75 at the end of the war, but he claimed 127 kills: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...Fonck.jpg?ssl=1
Allied Supreme War Council first discusses air policy. 3 of 4 ‘Giant’ bombers flying raids on coastal targets destroyed in crash-landings (fog).
British First Aid Nursing Yeomanry ambulance drivers attached to the Belgian Army at Calais: © IWM (Q 3257): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...893310862274561
British soldier talking with a French farmgirl at Rollencourt: © IWM (Q 3259): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...195310611189760
British 7th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers returning from the frontlines at Ancre: © IWM (Q 10952): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...225510954754050

Southern Front
Italians storm Monte Corno, in the Vallarsa (Upper Piave) during night; take 100 prisoners.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Belgium: Second blocking attack on Ostend fails. H.M.S. Vindictive sunk to block the harbor (see April 23rd).
There are several sources which claim: The attempt is partially successful, but smaller German ships continue to use the port: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...134896854609920
Since the port was only used by small ships (minesweepers, torpedo boats and coastal submarines) in the first place, the effect on German usage was nil. Thus, the claims of “partial success” must be discarded.
Channel: Troop transport Queen Alexandra rams and sinks coastal submarine UB-78 north of Cherbourg.

Political, etc
Ukraine: M. Ustemovich proclaimed President of The Ukraine; General Pavlo Skoropadski remains Hetman (see April 29th).
United Kingdom: Debate in House of Commons on General Maurice's letter; motion by Mr. Asquith defeated by large Government majority.
Portugal: Dr. da Silva Paes, elected Portuguese President (see December 28th, 1917 and December 14th, 1918).
Netherlands: Joint Trade Committee of Entente Powers formed in Holland.

10 May 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: British eject Germans from front trench north-west of Albert.
Great activity of British bombing-machines on whole front.
French improve positions north of Kemmel village.
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders defending a position at the Lys Canal near Saint-Floris: © IWM (Q 6613): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...255705808031744
Occupied Belgium: 7 Handley Page bombers (1 lost) bomb Ostend in support of Royal Navy raid.
North Sea: Zeppelin L-62 blows up after attack by British flying boat.
Argonne: 1,000 German projectors fire 8t phosgene on French positions; 187 gassed (20 deaths).
Meuse: German gas attack (500 projectors) on US 26th Division in St Mihiel-Toul sector.
Lorraine: German gas attack (1,000 projectors) on French north of Parroy.

Naval and Overseas Operations
A German 17 cm Schnell-Ladekanone (fast loading gun) L/40, as it was used to defend Ostend: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...e-l40.jpg?ssl=1
Eastern Atlantic: 6 U-boats attempt to attack convoys (until May 25), only 2 succeed, 30 convoys pass through group’s area.
Britain: Eric Geddes proposes to Italian Ambassador Imperial an Allied Mediterranean ‘admiralissimo’, eg John Jellicoe, to settle command differences as on land, Lloyd George cables Clemenceau (May 13), Anglo-French agreement (May 17) but scheme founders at Supreme War Council (June 2) due to prolonged Italian objections.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: 6th Indian Cavalry Brigade, armored cars and 24 Ford vans drive Turkish 2nd Division north of river Little Zab 70 miles from Mosul.

11 May 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Minor local actions on front; hostile artillery active in Ancre sector.
First ‘Liberty Plane’ (US-built DH4) reaches AEF.
A crashed French Spad biplane which was brought down by British friendly fire at Hazebrouck: © IWM (Q 10312): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...589148123140101
Ruined buildings in Amiens, France: © IWM (Q 3298): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...891142662631425

Eastern Front
Fighting between Bolsheviks and Anarchists in Moscow.
Conflicts at Kiev between German troops and supporters of Rada.

Southern Front
Italians retain Monte Corno against Austrian counter-attacks.
First of 12 RAF raids on Cattaro (only 4 Austrian Phoenix fighters, Italians bomb on May 12) and 7 on Durrazo (until August 31). U-boat Commander at former requests 2 squadrons of German fighters.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: (Listed for yesterday): German officers onboard the wreck of the HMS Vindictive, which was sunk in Ostend by the British in an attempt to block the harbor: © IWM (Q 58102): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...574050193264640
Atlantic: British submarine E.35 torpedoes and sinks U-154, a large cruiser U-boat in Atlantic in lat. of C. St. Vincent; the first submarine of this type to be destroyed.
The submarine cruiser U-154 was originally designed as a transport submarine and received later torpedo tubes and two 15-cm and two 8.8-cm guns: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...U-154.jpg?ssl=1
Mediterranean: German submarine SM UC-54 sinks the French troopship SS Sant Anna, causing more than 600 deaths. Another submarine, UC-52 sinks the Italian troopship SS Verona, causing 880 deaths.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: Hejaz Railway: Arab regulars (+ 3 RAF planes) capture Jerdun Station with 140 PoWs, but another attack cut short by Turkish train arriving on May 17. Nasir destroys 2 stations to north (May 23-24) without loss. Partial Arab success against bridges 80 miles northwest of Medina on May 23.
Persia: Turks advance, occupy Uskner and Suj Bulak:- Enzeli on Caspian Sea being their objective.
Dunsterville cables Baghdad that Baku’s seizure possible, leaves Hamadan for Kazvin and Tehran visits (May 12-18).
Mesopotamia: General Marshall drives Turks over Lesser Zab river at Alton Keupri, 70 miles from Mosul.
Soldiers of the Australian 1st Cavalry Divisional Signal Squadron fording a river with their motorbikes near Kirkuk (Iraq) as they advance towards Mosul: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...619356888911872
Armenia: Peace Conference resumes at Batumi, Turkish delegates arrive (May 6) and demand Aleksandropol’s evacuation within 24 hours (May 14). Ludendorff gets Chancellor’s agreement to sending a few battalions from Crimea to Caucasus.

Political, etc
Germany: Peace signed in Berlin between Finland and Turkey.
Ukraine: Congress of Ukraine peasants demand land, etc.
United Kingdom: Sir Richard Keyes thanked by War Cabinet.
The King reviews American troops in London.
United States: (Listed for yesterday): US Post Office accidentally issues the “Inverted Jenny” stamp, which features an upside-down image of the Curtiss JN-4 airplane (the stamps go on auction for around $1 million today): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...558946974339073

12 May 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Quiet on all sectors; artillery duel on right bank of Meuse.
Between 6-12 May R.A.F. contingents from Dunkirk attack Zeebrugge and Ostend continuously.
Mannock’s SE5a flight of No 74 Squadron claim 6 of 8 German fighters encountered, Mannock is credited with over 20 victories during May including 3 Pfalz fighters and a Hannover two-seater (May 21).
The top ace of the British fighter pilots ‘Mick’ Mannock is credited with 73 kills until the armistice, although he has lost one of his eyes: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...nnock.jpg?ssl=1
American soldiers returning from the trenches in Sommedieue, France. The large banners are meant to camouflage the street from aerial surveillance: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...951546608680962
South African Scottish Regiment soldiers cheering in Rouen, France: © IWM (Q 3274): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...315178504949761

Eastern Front
In eastern Siberia, Colonel Grigory Semenov's (also spelled Semyonov) forces, acting against Bolsheviks, move west from Manchurian border towards Lake Baikal.

Southern Front
British airmen make raids in Balkans and bomb aerodrome at Drama.
Naval base of Cattaro successfully bombed by Italians.

Naval and Overseas Operations
St George’s Channel: White Star liner and troopship Olympic (46,359t) rams and sinks U-103 after she summons 4 others to intercept convoys (coastal submarine UB-72 sunk by Royal Navy submarine D.4). Olympic in dazzle camouflage: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...283731807162368
Eastern Atlantic: ‘Invasion of St Kilda’: U-19 (Johann Spiess) shells remote Scottish Western Island’s only settlement; then lands armed party to shoot sheep.
Adriatic: Italian destroyers sink transport from Austrian convoy off Durazzo.
Mediterranean: British transport Omrah sunk by U-boat off Cape Spartivento (Sardinia); transports Leasowe Castle (99 lives lost; May 26) and Missir (44 lives lost; May 29) similarly sunk off Alexandria.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: Successful Arab raids on Hejaz railway line and the Turkish defences round Maan.

Political, etc
Germany: The Kaiser and Emperor Charles confer at German headquarters. Military Treaty ("Waffenbund") signed between Germany and Austria-Hungary, includes economic cooperation especially in Ukraine; Charles agrees to major offensive in Italy; one draft of ‘Charles’ journey to Canossa’ extends political treaty to January 1, 1940.
United Kingdom: Return of Mr. Montagu from India.

13 May 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: German artillery active on Lys and Somme battlefields; heavy rain throughout day.
Local fighting north of Kemmel.
It is announced that an Independent Air Force (IAF), under the command of Major General Sir Hugh Trenchard, will be formed from 6 Jun 1918. This is the first time that an Air Force had been formed for the express purpose of conducting a war, without reference or subordination to Army or Navy Commands.
The IAF is to operate by day and night against industrial targets in Germany and enemy aerodromes. In five months, the nine squadrons of the IAF, equipped with de Havilland DH4, DH9, and DH9A, Handley Page 0/400 and Royal Aircraft Factory FE2b bombers, with one squadron of Sopwith Camels for escort work, drop a total of 550 tons of bombs, 390 tons by night.
British soldier talking to French children in a ruined shop in Abbeville, France: © IWM (Q 3265):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...330283384852480
British Machine Gun Corps practicing shooting at aeroplanes: © IWM (Q 3284): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...604607920459778
British, French, and American military policemen in front of a wrecked shop at Amiens: © IWM (Q 11142): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...634841247940608

Southern Front
Increased raids and bombing activity on Balkan front.
11 Austro-Hungarian planes claimed destroyed on Italian front.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Adriatic: Italian tracked naval torpedo motorboat (like a ‘tank’) Grillo (foiled May 6-7) crawls into Pola harbor, is discovered and scuttled to avoid capture, but Austrians raise her and build 2 similar craft (unfinished at Armistice). Early pair of Italian naval ‘tanks’ scuttled similarly (April 13).
Italian Grillo tracked torpedo motorboat: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...oboot.jpg?ssl=1
MAS raid on Trieste also fails (night May 14-15). British destroyer Phoenix sunk by Austrian U-27 in Otranto Straits.
Black Sea: On Moscow’s orders 14 Soviet destroyers sail from Sevastopol for Novorossisk, escaping Germans as do 4 more and 2 dreadnoughts (night May 14) under fire but Germans seize predreadnoughts and smaller vessels including ex-Turkish cruiser Medjidieh.

Political, etc
France: To unions’ surprise 40,301 Paris munition workers strike against war, 105,131 in 53 factories by May 14. Government impose news blackout, back to normal on May 21.
United Kingdom: Government announce policy denouncing all commercial treaties which contain "most favoured nation" clauses.
United States: War labor Policies Board appointed.
The Faith, the largest US ship made out of concrete, undergoes trials in San Francisco Bay. It is made of concrete to preserve steel: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...574425587154944
French “Blue Devils” (Chasseurs Alpin) visiting the White House and meeting President Wilson: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...665088823603200
L. Frank Baum releases “The Tin Woodman of Oz,” the 12th book in the Land of Oz series: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...695239758319618

14 May 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Germans attack on a mile front south-west of Morlancourt; German troops take a hill from the French near Mount Kemmel but fail to advance against a British and (especially) Australian counter-attack near Morlancourt.
A British soldier helping another get out of a dugout at Lievin, France: © IWM (Q 6625): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...967081077182465

Eastern Front
Siberia: Czech 1st Division first clashes with Bolsheviks at Chelyabinsk (east of Urals) and seizes town.
The Czech Legion itook over the control of the Trans-Siberian Railway: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...egion.jpg?ssl=1

Southern Front
Great massing of Austro-German troops and artillery along Alpine lines and Friuli Plains for new offensive.

Naval and Overseas Operations
First million tons of ships ordered by U.S.A. on the seas.
Britain: Compulsory anti-submarine warfare training for Merchant Navy officers.
The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Phoenix, sunk yesterday by Austro-Hungarian submarine SM U-27. It is the only British warship sunk by the Austro-Hungarian Navy: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...998438243303424

Political, etc
Russia: Lenin’s Report on Foreign Policy to Central Executive Committee of Bolshevik Party and Moscow Soviet.
Lithuania: Kaiser proclamation declares Lithuania free and allied to Germany.
Canada: Prime Minister refuses farmers’ sons conscription exemption plea (10,226 drafted until November 22).

15 May 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Heavy artillery fire on whole front; infantry actions locally.
North of Kemmel, French advance their line; capture a wood south of Hailles in Avre Valley.
Somme: US 1st Division ordered to capture Cantigny.
Aisne: 28 German assault divisors begin concentrating opposite Chemin des Dames (1,800 trains used).
British 8-inch BL howitzer in action at Wagonlieu in May 1918: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...-1918.jpg?ssl=1
Ruined belfry in Bethune, France destroyed by shelling: © IWM (Q 3293): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...058857800650752

Eastern Front
Finnish Civil War ends with Whites entering demolished and evacuated Russian Fort Ino.
Volga: Anarchists and Socialist Revolutionary (Russian peasant party) demonstrate in Tsaritsyn.

Southern Front
Reconnoitring raids on both sides along Italian front.
In Balkans ‘lively’ artillery actions near Lake Doiran; British airmen bomb depots near Seres.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: British cease reconnaissance of Fat-ha, 45 miles north of Tikrit.
Armenia: Vehip Pasha resumes Turkish offensive and occupies Aleksandropol.

Political, etc
France: "Bonnet Rouge" trial ends in Paris; Duval sentenced to death (executed July 17) for receiving c.£40,000 from Germans, other accused men imprisoned.
United Kingdom: Official account of Ostend raid issued.
Exports to US need British War Mission’s approval.
Italy: G Villa replaces General Dallolio (resigned) as Munitions Minister.
Portugal: Dr. S.B.C. da Paes, Portuguese Premier, resigns (see 16th, and December 10th, 1917).
China: Agreement between Entente Powers, Japan, and China against German penetration in Far East announced.

In the "Western Front" section ... is the entry "Ruined belfry in Bethune, France ..."
kind of like "Blast in the belfry" instead of bats? Just askin'. :D

The entire continent of Europe probably had bats in the belfry to start the war in the first place. Unfortunately, as has been shown, most of the rest of the world soon demonstrated that their bats were just as good as Europe's.

16 May 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Big-gun duel still in progress; few infantry actions; successful British raid near Beaumont Hamel (Ancre River).
Sharp air fights.
Saarbrucken raided by 12 DH4s (1 shot down, crew killed), shoot down 3 defending fighters. Direct hits on rail targets (61 casualties).
Germans mistakenly bomb hospitals at Hoogsbade and Calais.
French Aviation Res designated 1 st Air Division under General Duval reporting to Petain.
A fox mascot of the British No. 32 Squadron near St. Pol, France: © IWM (Q 12039): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...330627833253889
American 320 mm railway gun at Mailly, France firing against German positions: © IWM (Q 58198): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...360832710774784
A British soldier next to horses with gas masks during a drill at Mont St. Eloi: © IWM (Q 8795): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...665326870892544
A Scottish soldier posing next to a sign warning soldiers not to go beyond due to enemy fire: © IWM (Q 6621): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...726985694023680
French, American, and British troops with French civilians and children at Boulogne beach: © IWM (Q 10968): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...757185198788609


Eastern Front
Central Russia: Red Army revolt at Saratov on Volga.
German troops in Ukraine: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...raine.jpg?ssl=1
Southern Russia: General Pyotr Krasnov elected Ataman of Don Cossacks (replaces Popov) seeks arms and recognition from Germans in Ukraine (15 million roubles; 12,000 rifles; 46 guns and 89 MGs by July).

Naval and Overseas Operations
The torpedo boat destroyer USS Ward is launched 17 days after its keel was laid: © IWM (Q 110341): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...391042579615745

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Emperor Charles sacks Filed Marshal Eduard von Böhm-Ermolli for rowing with Germans, General Alfred Krauss from Italy takes over Ostarmee.
Subject Nationalities Congress in Prague: right-wing Czech Christian Democrats demand independence under federal monarchy (May 22).
United Kingdom: U.S. delegates received by King and Queen.
Penalties on excess food profits.
United States: The Sedition Act was passed in the United States, forbidding Americans from using "disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language" about the United States government, flag, or armed forces during the ongoing World War I. Overman Act expands Presidents’ war powers on May 20.
US Postal Service starts its first airmail service between Washington DC-Philadelphia-New York. The first mail sent through the service: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...421251668369408
Finland: Carl Mannerheim leads 16,000 White Army victory parade through Helsinki (Germans only foreign observers): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...696782624215040
Portugal: Senhor J.T. de Souza Barboza, appointed Portuguese Secretary of the lnterior [The appointment of Premier lapsed between May 15th and December 23rd. During this period the functions of the office were performed by the Secretary of the Interior.] (see 15th and December 22nd).