Western Front
Second Battle of the Marne: Battle of Soissons or the
Battle of Soissonais and of the Ourcq phase: French and Americans advance south of Ourcq towards Fere-en-Tardenois and along Marne in Forest of Fere (between Charteves and Jaulgonne).
Army Group Crown Prince reports 18 divisions unbattleworthy. Allies advance north of Chateau-Thierry towards Fere-en-Tardenois, reach line Oulchy-le-Chateau-Gaulgonne, and push along the Marne in Fere Forest. British advance north of the Ardre.
Bombon Conference of C-in-Cs at Foch’s HQ decides to expedite general counter-offensive. Foch aims first to free 3 great rail routes: (1) Paris-Verdun, (2) Paris-Amiens and (3) Verdun-Arricourt. (1) to be achieved by the ongoing French counter-offensive; (2) by Haig’s proposed Amiens offensive (Foch directive July 26); (3) by reducing St Mihiel salient (proposed by Pershing, Lieutenant-Colonel Marshall begins study today). Other follow-up operations to liberate North France coal mining districts and clear Calais-Dunkirk region. French Ninth Army (de Mitry) abolished due to narrowing front.
The first 1,650 pound 'SN' bomb, the largest bomb to be used by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) during the First World War, is dropped on Middelkirke by a Handley Page 0/400 of No.214 Squadron.
Bespectacled German soldier surrenders. With his best men dead, Ludendorff replaced them with the unfit, the very young, and the middle-aged: https//i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/deutscher-ergibt-sich.jpg?ssl=1
British troops resting inside a shell hole after the capture of Marfaux from the Germans: © IWM (Q 6867):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...428529936859138
French, British, and Italian wounded soldiers at a dressing station in the Bois de Reims: © IWM (Q 11114):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...670086883651584
Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Dr. Baron Max Hussarek von Heinlein Minister-President.
Reichsrat secret session attacks military leadership and Piave failure.
Germany: 29 British officer PoWs tunnel out of Holzminden camp, 10 get home.
United Kingdom: General Smuts in London re: future of South Africa.
Birmingham munition workers' strike.
Scheme of Imperial Preference adopted.
United States: Fuel Administrator orders 4 lightless nights per week. No German in letters sent from US allowed from August 15.