Unternehmen Michael, Second Battle of the Somme, Battle of St Quentin: Germans generally held on northern part of battle-front, but British defenses broken through west of St. Quentin, and troops here and in adjoining sectors retreat hastily. Germans claim 16,000 prisoners and 200 guns. Masses of infantry advance; Germans ‘leapfrog’ fresh divisions through tired troops. British slowly pushed back, 25 tanks (16 lost) and 19th Division counter-attack well at Beugny. Germans capture Epehy and Roisel, cross Crozat Canal and reach Vaux. 2nd of Gough’s reserve divisors enters battle after midnight. Gough decides to fall back on positions east of Somme.
British soldiers gather at a plug-in tank. The German spring offensive hits the Allied front with unexpected power:
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17 Royal Flying Corps squadrons move bases back; operations almost all ground attack (RFC lose 30 to German 11). RFC night bombers destroy 2 ammo dumps.
A wounded captured British soldier being treated by German troops: © IWM (Q 88060):
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Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: Finnish White Troops launch an expedition to annex Karelia from Soviet Russia.
Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: British minesweeping sloop
Gaillardia (68 lives lost) mined and sunk due to too shallow-laid Northern Barrage mines. Laying not resumed until April 20. Destroyer HMS
Kale mined and sunk (March 27).
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: British cross Jordan and advance eastward. First Trans-Jordan ‘Raid’: Shea’s Force (85 casualties) cross swollen river at Hijla against 1,000 Turks with 6 guns for raid on Amman.
Political, etc
Netherlands: Dutch Government informed that Allies have decided to seize Dutch ships in their ports.
Spain: New Spanish Cabinet under Senores Maura and Dato.