Western Front
Third Battle of Ypres: Continued lack of activity today, due to continued heavy rains.
Thirteen dirigibles attempt to raid east and north-east England and London; 11 German airships actually attack England. Larger type of Zeppelin used; 660lb bomb hits Piccadilly Circus; 36 killed, 55 injured. 78 defense sorties cost 4 wrecked aircraft.
L-44 shot down at St. Clement by French anti-aircraft fire from 19,000ft;
L-45 crash lands and burnt by crew west of Sisteron (Provence);
L-46 shot down at Laragne;
L-49 shot down at Bourbonne-les-Bains near Langres, falls into French hands on October 20th;
L-50 disappears, is later thought to have been brought down in the Mediterranean on October 21st. (Last airship raid on London.) (See May 31st, 1915 and August 5th, 1918).
This is the gondola of
L-54, which was to take part in the famous raid by 13 Zeppelins on this day, only to be scattered by high winds:
https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ndola.jpg?ssl=1
Troops of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) with a bottle of wine in the ruins of Arras: © IWM (Q 6099):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...695473647771648
Eastern Front
Operation Albion: Germans land on Dago Island. German forces strengthen control over the islands in the Gulf of Riga, claiming 10,000 Russian prisoners and 50 artillery guns.
Germans fail in effort to fraternise on Romanian front.
Naval and Overseas Operations
British armed mercantile cruiser
Orana torpedoed and sunk; no lives lost.
East Africa: Battle of Nyangao and Mahiwa: Action of Nyangao (German East Africa) ends (see 16th). Deventer cancels another attack, replaces Beves with Cunliffe as GOC*Linforce. Lettow gains respite.
Political, etc
Russia: Russian government report reveals that the Russian Army morale is abysmal and soldiers are ready to lay down their arms and go home. Munition Works removed from Petrograd.
United States: U.S.A. embargo on trade with Northern Neutrals.
Spain: British films not allowed public screening.
Sweden: Liberal Swedish Cabinet formed by Professor Nils Eden:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...951410472058881