Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as
Battles of the Lys or the
German Lys Offensive begins (see 29th) with the
Battle of Éstaires (9th/11th). Ludendorff aims to drive back British and Belgians west of Dunkirk and open road to Calais. After 4 1/2 hour hurricane shelling 14 German Sixth Army divisions attack from 0845 hours on 10-mile front; 4 divisors overwhelm Portuguese 2nd Division (6,000 PoWs) and drive a 3 1/2-mile deep wedge, steadily widened, into BEF front. This heavy bombardment from La Bassee Canal to Armentieres, followed by strong attacks, force British and Portuguese back to Lys river at Estaires. “Fine” stand by Guards Division (55th Division) holds southern wing taking 750 PoWs and 100 MGs. Neuve Chapelle taken by German forces.
German gas bombardment of Lys (until April 27) sector: 1 million rounds (2,000t) mustard gas, phosgene and diphenylchlorarsine; 8,424 gassed (30 deaths).
Portuguese troops in their trenches before the German attack:
https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ungen.jpg?ssl=1
Hangard lost and retaken by French; between it and Noyon all German attempts repulsed.
Fog delays Flanders flying in Ludendorff Lys offensive till late pm (until April 11). 492 German aircraft (including 14 Jastas) vs 38 RAF squadrons, RAF lose 10 planes and claim German 15.
British mounted military police on a muddy road near Domart: © IWM (Q 10874):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...015385581670400
Troops of various Highland regiments at a casualty clearing station in Frevent: © IWM (Q 332):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...045579256233985
Women of the Salvation Army serving pastries for American troops at Ansonville, France:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...318642040496128
Eastern Front
Ukraine: Lavr Kornilov’s 6,000 Whites repel Red attack on their river Kuban crossing place, and storm ridge west of Ekaterinodar (April 10), but Avtonomov’s 20,000+ Reds in town resist fiercely (until April 12).
Naval and Overseas Operations
German torpedo boats bombard Belgian coast.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Action of Berukin (until April 11): British 75th Division (plus 162 guns) attacks in Judean foothills vs Turkish 16th and 46th divisions (over 85 guns), gains only 2,500 yards. Turks capture operations order on first day and 2 German battalions strike back. (EEF 1,498 casualties; Turks c.700)
Arabia: Arabs claim 800 miles of Red Sea coast, and to have put 40,000 Turks out of action since declaration of independence.
Armenia: Turks reported before Batum and marching on Kars.
Political, etc
Germany: Count Wilhelm von Mirbach appointed German Ambassador at Moscow (see July 6th).
France: Georges Clemenceau discloses Emperor Charles’ 31 March 1917 peace letter to Prince Sixtus. Ottokar Czernin calls it a lie. Stephan Burian diary ‘Now we really are tied to the fate of Germany whether we want it or not’.
United Kingdom: Mr. Lloyd George introduces Man-Power Bill, reviews battle situation, and refers to Irish affairs.
Romania: National Council of the Moldavian Republic (Bessarabia) pass Act of Union with Rumania, with stipulation for local autonomy (see 16th, December 23rd, 1917, and December 10th, 1918).