Western Front
Battle of the Somme: The next phase, The
Battle of Bazentin Ridge begins (see July 17th). 4 BEF divisions (22,000 men) break into German second position on 3 1/2-mile front after dawn 0325 hours surprise attack and 5-minutes bombardment, (660 pounds of shells were expended for every yard of German trench), capture Longueval and Bazentin le Petit with 2,000 PoWs. 2nd Cavalry Division (102 casualties) rides on High Wood, has one charge causing 48 casualties (withdrawn at nightfall); 18th Division secures Trones Wood. Haig and Foch visit Rawlinson to congratulate him on success. Germans hurry 3 divisions up to plug gap.
France celebrates Bastille Day today, as heavy fighting continues at Verdun and the Somme:
http://imgur.com/g9NwEhU
Eastern Front
Brusilov Offensive:
Battle of Baronovichi ends: Russian losses 80,000, mainly to shellfire. STAVKA decided to abandon it, German losses 16,000 men.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
After repelling Ottoman attacks, Russian forces recapture Kermanshah in Persia and move towards Bayburt in Turkey.
Naval and Overseas Operations:
SMS
U -51 torpedoed by HM submarine
H-5 in Ems estuary.
Damaged Italian submarine Balilla scuttles off Cape Pianka, northwest of Lissa island, to escape surrender to two Austrian torpedo boats.
Mwanza, on Victoria Nyanza (German Fast Africa) taken by British forces, but 500-man garrison escapes south.
Deventer’s 2nd Division takes Mpondi on Central Railway, resumes advance south ( until July 19). German rearguard mauls 2 Belgian battalions at Djobahika.