Western Front
Battle of the Somme: King George visits the front (until August 15), tells Rawlinson of a ‘cabal’ (including Lord French, Churchill and F E Smith) which plans to oust Haig and curtail Somme offensive. Slight British advance north-west of Pozieres.
Eastern Front
Brusilov Offensive, Galicia: Stanislau again taken by Russian forces (see June 8th, 1915 and July 24th, 1917).
Russians cross the Sereth and repulse repeated enemy counter-attacks.
Russians cross the Zlota-Lipa and advance on Halicz.
Southern Front
6th Battle of the Isonzo: On Carso, the Austro-Hungarian Doberdo-Monfalcone line collapses into full retreat for the Vallone, but Italian 23rd Division forces them out. Austro-Hungarians establish new line northeast of Goriza with 3 divisions and 4 brigades of reinforcements (including 2 divisions from Eastern Front) that block Italian VI and VIII Corps. Italy has claimed the capture of 22,000 Austro-Hungarian soldiers in the past four days.
Serbia: General Winckler replaces General Gallwitz in command of German Eleventh Army, 2 German divisions (1 from Vosges, Western Front) reinforce Bulgars.
Allied offensive begins in Macedonia. French bombard Doiran (Serbo-Greek frontier), and occupy Hill 227, south of Doiran.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Persia: Hamadan, Daulabad, and Bijar taken by Turkish forces [Approximate date.] (see December 14th, 1915, and March 2nd, 1917).
Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: Kraut checks British pursuit at Matamondo for day after evacuating Ruhungu position (August 8-9). Deventer’s 2nd Division begins 60-mile Central Railway advance to Kilosa (until August 22) against five rearguard stands.
Political, etc.
United Kingdom: Chancellor Mr. McKenna, spoke in the House of Commons on the British financial position, estimates £3.44 billion war debt by March 31, 1917. Distilling fixed at 70% of previous output.
British protest re: shooting of Captain Fryatt published.
Russia: Tsar Nicholas II awards General Brusilov a sword of the Order of St. George for his victories against Germany and Austro-Hungary.
Turkey: Decree removes Armenian churches from Etchmiadzin to Jerusalem Catholicate.
Japan: Admiral Katō Tomosaburō of the Imperial Japanese Navy (future Prime Minister of Japna); picture taken today:
http://imgur.com/tWkO7dt
United States: New York City will not open schools on September 11 for the new school year due to polio epidemic. 187 new polio cases are reported today.