Western Front
Long distance British air-raids into Belgium.
Battle of the Somme: Joffre dissatisfied with offensive developing into innumerable minor actions, demands return to Allied attacks on broad front and writes to Haig proposing capture of line Thiepvall –High Wood–Ginchy–Combles–river Somme by 3 operations beginning on August 22. Then (c. September 1 ) attack to be against Grandcourt–Courcelette–Martinpuich–Flers–Morval–Ra ncourt-Bouchavesnes. French capture German trenches south of Maurepas.
Southern Front
21 Austro-Hungarian aeroplanes drop three tons of bombs on Venice, causing fires to break out in the city.
6th Battle of the Isonzo: Italians cross the Vallone and make progress on the northern edge of the Carso.
Salonika: Italian 35th Division (11,000 men) and 32 guns lands (until August 25), relieves French 57th Division by August 27. General Cordonnier now in command of French Army of the Orient.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Sinai: Turks attack at Bayud and evacuate it.
Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: German resistance broken at Matamondo (east of Nguru Mountains); they retreat south.
Political, etc.
United Kingdom: War Office releases the “Battle of the Somme,” recounting the battle so far:
http://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/index/47231
United States: John J. Loud, American inventor who designed the first ballpoint pen, passed away.