Western Front
Third Battle of Ypres: Battle of Hill 70 (Lens) begins (see 25th). British attack on wide front north-west of Lens to Bois Hugo, north-east of Loos, carry German first lines and penetrate enemy positions to depth of one mile. Canadian Corps (9,198 casualties), supported by c.326 guns and 160 MGs, captures important height of Hill 70 north of Lens plus the 5 nearby villages of Cite Ste. Elizabeth, Ste. Emile and St. Laurent, Bois Rase, and Bois Hugo. Five major German counter-attacks c.24 total German counterattacks repulsed, mauling 5 German divisions (including over 1,170 PoWs).
Official British casualties during the first two weeks of August total 21,722 men killed, wounded, or missing.
Manfred von Richthofen (Red Baron) at a hospital with a bandage on his head. The prop is from a downed British plane. © IWM (Q 52781):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...111862411747329
Eastern Front
Rumania: Austro-Germans retake Soveja as Allies (Romanian 2nd Army and Russian 4th Army) retreat south toward the Sereth; Central Powers also renew offensive in Focsani region.
Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: Belgian column under Major Batille advances from Kilosa towards river Ruaha, beats Germans at Kidodi 50 miles south on August 18, drives them from Tepe on August 19 and crosses river Ruaha on August 21.
Political, etc
France: Roman Dmowski’s Polish National Committee set up in Paris.
United Kingdom: US troops pass through London:
https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ondon.jpg?ssl=1 Stars and Stripes and Union Jack flown side by side from House of Lords.
War Cabinet decides to send 8 guns to Russia (none sent since March and 150 promised).
Ireland: British police and soldiers raid premises of the Irish National Volunteers in Dublin, taking 100 rifles and 1300 rounds.
Japan: Viscount Ishii, Japanese Ambassador, declares that U.S. and Japan will “march together, work together and fight together as comrades.”
Spain: Spanish government uses artillery in Barcelona and Sabadell to suppress revolutionaries connected to the railway strike.