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.