Western Front
Battle of Montdidier (see 15th): French complete capture of Lassigny Massif by capture of Alliche farm. British cross Ancre to Thiepval Wood and make progress between Beaucourt (north of Albert) and Puisieux (north-east of Beaucourt). Battle of Montdidier ends (see 8th).
Haig refuses to obey Foch’s order from August 11 for attack on Roye-Chaulnes, but will attack north of Somme (c. August 21).
Last bombardment of Paris by German long-range gun (see March 23rd).
Rupprecht warns Prince Max of Baden
‘Our military situation has deteriorated so rapidly that I no longer believe we can hold out over the winter; it is even possible that a catastrophe will come earlier.’
A Canadian 60-pounder battery in action, August 1918:
https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...under.jpg?ssl=1
Western Front, Air: German fighters break up Allied formations, claim 25 Allied aircraft for 4 lost.
British troops in the damaged neighborhoods of Caix: © IWM (Q 61209):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...315461731835904
British Royal Engineers constructing a railway in the destroyed town of Villers-Bretonneux: © IWM (Q 56897):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...345668790472704
Australian soldiers digging a trench at Proyart:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...375865627529216
Ruins of Morlancourt after its capture by the Allies:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...677850473975808
British soldiers of the Directorate of Agricultural Production tending to cabbages near Vimy Ridge:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...754615976407046
Phosphorous bombs go off at night at Gondrecourt-le-Château:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...845202813562880
Eastern Front
Kuban: White “Volunteer” Army captures capital Ekaterinodar (Denikin enters on August 16).
Eastern Front/West Asia Border Theater
Azerbaijan: Action of Bairam Ali (Trans-Caspia): Trans-Caspian Government defeated by Bolshevik forces.
Georgia: Announcement of British troops at Baku (on west of Caspian Sea) and at Krasnovodsk (on east of Caspian, terminus of Central Asiatic Railway).
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Siberia: Heavy shelling exchanged between Red field batteries (until August 17) on August 16 and HMS Suffolk 12-pounder in armored train. Siberian Regional Duma meets in Tomsk.
First American troops land in Vladivostok, joining Japanese, British, and French troops in the intervention against the Bolsheviks.
Bactrian camels used to pull sleds in Siberia for the British troops participating in the intervention against the Bolsheviks: ©IWM (Q 114808):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...406076217819136
Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: Harwich Force destroyers
Ullswater and
Scott sunk (torpedo and mine respectively) escorting Dutch convoy.
A painting of HMS
Ulleswater sinking by Charles Pears:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...739516192546817
Political, etc
Germany: Vice-Admiral Paul von Behnke appointed German Minister of Marine (see 13th).
Meeting of Kaiser Wilhelm and Emperor Charles at Main Headquarters.
United Kingdom: Portuguese and British soldiers at a sports meet at Horsham, England: © IWM (Q 28083):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...709309440086018
United States: Relations between U.S.A. and Bolshevist Government in Russia severed.
Spain: Spanish Note to Germany re: shipping losses.