Western Front
French ace-to-be Xavier de Sevin scores his first victory over Chamouille (Champagne).
Battle of the Somme: British repulse further counter-attacks at Contalmaison. RFC No. 18 Squadron night bombs 8 targets (night 11-12) including La Bassee.
French medical orderlies walking through the ruins of Meharicourt: http://imgur.com/nJri7Ke © IWM (Q 61233)
Battle of Verdun: Germans gain some ground at Chapelle St. Fine, at intersection of Fleury-Vaux roads.

Eastern Front
Brusilov Offensive: Furious fighting continues on the Stokhod, with no decisive results.

Southern Front
An Austrian attack on the Adige driven back.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Russians under General Yudenich advance west of Erzerum on the Erzingan road; Mamakhatun (Armenia) again taken by Russian forces (see May 31st).

Political, etc.
United States: President Wilson signs the Federal Aid Road Act, which provides the first federal highway funding in the U.S. Polio epidemic continues in New York City with 195 new cases and 32 deaths in the past 24 hours. $100,000 reward is offered for a cure.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

More interesting stuff! Thanks.

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: Battle of Albert ends; British capture German howitzers and munitions.
Champagne: French trench raid success.
Flanders: German raids west of Wytschaete and south of La Bassee Canal repulsed.
French soldiers with a Chauchat machine gun at Chalons-sur-Marne: http://imgur.com/1BN6gDl © IWM (Q 99246)

Eastern Front
Brusilov Offensive: Heavy fighting in Südarmee centre northwest of Buczacz on river Styrpa; Russian Seventh Army claims to take 12,000 PoWs.
Still no decisive results on the Stokhod.

Naval and Overseas Operations:
German submarine sinks two trawlers and two fishing boats off Whitby.

Political, etc.
Finance ministers of Britain, France, Russia and Italy meet in London to discuss the coordination of finances for the war (continues until 15th).
United Kingdom: Lloyd George on Battle of the Somme: “We have crossed the watershed and now victory is beginning to flow in our direction.”
Premier Asquith asks munition workers to dispense with their August holidays, as a constant supply of shells is needed for the Somme.
Bank Holiday suspended.
France: Government announces that tax revenues for the first six months of 1916 were 14% higher than last year at 1.7 billion francs.
United States: Shark attacks today along Jersey Shore results in two deaths and one injury, bringing the total to five attacks in the past 2 weeks.
Americans offer up to $50,000 (today $1.1 million) to travel in a submarine to Germany. North German Lloyd Line refuses the offers.
President Wilson meets with a delegation of Polish organizations and promises aid to relieve the “tragical” situation in Poland.
Greece: Tatoi Forest fire nearly consumes royal summer palace and King.
Spain: Martial law declared across the country due to a railroad strike, which has caused rioting and a standstill in transportation.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

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.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

This is really fascinating reading.

Western Front
Battle of the Somme:
Royal Flying Corps bombs 13 targets and claims 6 German aircraft for no loss.
Battle of Bazentin Ridge: Battle of Delville Wood (Yes, the Battle of the Somme is so elaborate, even the various phases have sub-phases (until July 20, but another sources until September 3)):
3,153-strong South African Brigade, ordered to capture and hold wood at all costs, secures most of it. For five nights and 6 days South Africans hold out against 3 divisions counter-attacks and shelling by 180 guns. British cavalry fail to break through at High Wood, withdraw on July 16. British claim 2,000 prisoners taken; second defence lines penetrated.
Comparison photo of German trenches at “The Point” south of Thiepval on June 1st and July 15th: http://imgur.com/dKKDlyf © IWM (Q 63950)
South of Somme, Germans re-enter Biaches and La Maisonette, and are again driven out by French.
Battle of Verdun: French recapture and then lose Battery C and CP 119 near Fleury (until July 16).


Eastern Front
Riga front Russians, supported by sea and land artillery, make slight advance west of Kemmern.
Brusilov Offensive, Pripet: Sakharov’s Eleventh Army (night July 15-16) pre-empts Marwitz attack on Southern Lutsk salient thanks to agent network’s warning, reaches river Lipa, takes Mikhailovka and claims 13,000 PoWs.
German troops launched three attacks against Russian lines at Baranovichi today, but all are repulsed with heavy losses.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
The Middle East (Air) Brigade is formed in Egypt under the command of Brigadier General W.G.H. Salmond, concentrating all Royal Flying Corps units in Macedonia, Mesopotamia, Palestine and East Africa under one headquarters.
Armenia: Russian right wing, under General Yudenich, occupies evacuated Bayburl (also spelled Baiburt); the left drives back Turks south-west of Mush.

Naval and Overseas Operations:
Adriatic: British submarine H-3 mined and sunk off Cattaro.

Political, etc.
Germany: German Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg meets with the Kaiser to discuss whether or not to resume unrestricted submarine warfare.
United Kingdom: Sir Edward Grey: “Every week now the Allies are gaining confidence and the enemy is losing it.”
France: A French commander had criticized the British attack, describing it as “an attack organized for amateurs by amateurs.”
United States: Municipal Pier (later Navy Pier) opens in Chicago, Illinois. The pier under construction: http://imgur.com/Fj8BdkF
Austria: Ex-Reichsrath Trentino deputy Cesare Battisti (Italian PoW) executed as traitor.
A partial lunar eclipse occurs, visible the most in South America and Antarctica.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

William E. Boeing incorporates the "Pacific Aero Products Co"., later to become the Boeing Company.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

... and the echoes of the end of the age of European empires continue to shake our world.

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Eudaimonia

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: British troops launch four assaults on German lines at Ovillers and Bazentin-le-Petit, but fail to make further advances. British consolidate their positions; withdraw from Bois des Foureaux (High Wood).
German troops attacked and captured La Maisonette and Biaches, but a French counterattack recaptures the towns.
British 62nd Brigade relieved at Mametz Wood (night July 15-16). Since July 12, heavy German guns have inflicted 950 casualties.
Battle of Verdun: French make slight advance west of Fleury.
Russian and French patrols work together on the Champagne front in one of the first actions by the Russians on the Western Front.
German prisoners carrying a wounded soldier in a sheet: http://imgur.com/3jIfgCc © IWM (Q 3971)

Eastern Front
Slight Siberian (Russian Twelfth Army) advance southeast of Riga peters out against Below’s Eighth Army (until July 21).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arab Revolt: Egyptian 4-gun mountain battery shells Taif, a Turk stronghold.

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: “War Savings Week” begins today in Britain to encourage citizens to invest in the financing of the war.
Sir Victor Horsley, a British physician and neuroscientist, passes away in Iraq while serving in the Army.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: Battle of Bazentin Ridge at the Somme comes to an end with most British objectives completed, but German lines still hold. British storm and capture German second line positions on front of 1,500 yards. Take Waterlot Farm, east of Longueval; Ovillers cleared of the remaining Germans by 48th Division.
French repulse attacks at Biaches and La Maisonette Farm.
Allied forces report that only a single French civilian has been found alive in the 30 villages retaken at the Somme.
Two British and a German wounded help each other reach a dressing station: http://imgur.com/© IWM (Q 3974)

Eastern Front
Brusilov Offensive: Russians make progress in the Carpathians, claim 13,000 prisoners are taken.

Southern Front
Macedonia: Serbs begin to move to take over 60 miles of front west of river Vardar. Sarrail told to be ready to attack on August 1 in combination with Russo-Rumanian thrust south of Danube. (See Political developments, below).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
In Sinai Peninsula a Turkish and German force under von Kressenstein advances westward on Katiya.

Naval and Overseas Operations:
British capture two German steamers on Lake Victoria Nyanza.

Political, etc.
Germany: German HQ: “Never has the world experienced anything so stupendous as the present battles. Never has an army braved what ours has braved.”
United Kingdom: Trade Unions recommend postponement of all holidays in connection with munitions production.
Munition workers pay rates fixed, 4 1/2 d per hour for over 18 years old.
Daily cost of war, six millions.
Austria: Count Mihály Károlyi of the Hungarian Parliament declares Austria as corrupt and demands peace for Hungary.
Romania: Draft Russo-Rumanian treaty sent to Bucharest, envisages August 7 war entry.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: North of Ovillers British advance on 1,000 yards front. Strong German counter-attacks at Longueval and Delville Wood, retake part of the latter.
Germans again repulsed at Biaches (Somme).
Battle of Verdun: For third day, close fighting round Fleury (Verdun).

Eastern Front
German seaplanes drop bombs on Reval (G. of Bothnia).
Brusilov Offensive: Sakharov continues pressure against Austrians; drives them south of the Lipa.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Armenia: Russians occupy Gumusane, capture 800 Turks 15 miles southwest of Bayburt. Also capture Kighi, an important junction on Erzerum-Baiburt road.
Arabia: British government ratifies treaty with Ibn Saud, Emir of Nejd (see December 26th, 1915).

Naval and Overseas Operations:
General Smuts reports steady clearance of Usambara district; enemy forces driven down Pangani river.

Political, etc.
Germany: Kaiser Wilhelm: “Give the men in the trenches my greeting, and…tell them how important it is that they keep firm reliance on God.”
United Kingdom: London Gazette blacklists c.80 US firms trading with enemy.
Employers and unions agree to postpone holidays during war (see entry for yesterday).
General Haig at the Somme: “At this moment we are engaged in the greatest battle the British Army has ever fought.”
Mr. Asquith makes short statement on Mesopotamia in House of Commons and refuses papers.

Uruguay wins the first ever Copa América. The tournament was a single round-robin tournament; Uruguay tied Argentina 0-0 for the last match.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
Flanders: British First Army diversionary attack but inept daylight attack at Fromelles (until July 20) fails spectacularly, new 5th Australian Division has 5,500 casualties. Labeled “The worst 24 hours in Australian history”: (Yes, worse than any single day at Gallipoli) https://www.awm.gov.au/wartime/36/article/ Only 3 out of the pictured survive, all wounded: http://imgur.com/qc8iN2o
Battle of the Somme: Germans outflank left flank of South African Delville Wood garrison and compress pocket. German attacks on Longueval, Waterlot Farm and Trones Wood. German Second Army north of Somme becomes new First Army (General F v Below), from the Somme to river Cologne (northwest of St Quentin), Second Army (General v Gallwitz, latter also Army Group Commander). Royal Navy Division becomes 63rd (Naval) Division.
30-40 German aircraft seen over BEF Fourth Army front (12 combats).
Battle of Verdun: General von Francois replaces von Gallwitz (to Somme) in command west of the Meuse. Bombardment of Verdun front.
French Nieuport Scout armed with Le Prieur incendiary rockets at Toul: http://imgur.com/6MWhWCa* © IWM (Q 56665)

Eastern Front
German aeroplanes again bombard the Russian harbor of Reval (Tallinn), causing fires to break out at the port facilities.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Sinai: Second Turk Offensive against the Suez Canal begins from Oghratina. Stotzingen ordered from Damascus to Beersheba (July 20). RFC discover 8,000 Turks preparing for offensive (Brigadier-General E Chaytor, GOC NZ Mounted Rifle Brigade, was observer on this reconnaissance flight).
East Persia: Action of Gusht Defile (until July 21): Dyer defeats Sarhad tribesmen.
In Persia, Russians are defeated and driven back north of Kermanshah by Turks.

Political, etc.
United States: Quarantine of New York City is considered in an effort to contain the polio epidemic, as 121 cases & 26 deaths are reported in the past day.
New York City manufacturers receive an $1 million order to make artificial limbs for wounded Australian and New Zealand soldiers.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
Flanders: Out of 7,080 Allied casualties resulting from the Battle of Fromelles yesterday, 5,533 were incurred by the Australians.
Battle of the Somme: Struggle in Longueval and Delville Wood continued; 778 surviving South Africans relieved at Delville Wood. British advance 1,000 yards between Bazentin and Longueval. 4 British divisions begin attacks on High Wood (until July 30).
North of Somme French carry enemy trenches from Hardecourt Hill to the river. South, they take enemy first position from Estrees to Vermandovillers, and Barleaux to Soyecourt.
Battle of Verdun: Mangin’s French attack in Souville-Thiaumont sector gains ground (and on July 24 and 28). French gain a position south of Fleury.
French airman drops leaflets over Berlin; is captured in Poland.

Eastern Front
Heavy fighting on Riga front resumed.
Brusilov Offensive: Sakharov defeats Austrians on south-west of Lutsk salient; attacks and captures Berestechko on river Styr, Galician border, crosses river taking 14,000 PoWs (until July 21).
Heir apparent Austrian Archduke Charles in command ofSuedarmee, Seventh and Third Armies.

Southern Front
Demobilisation of the Greek army nearly completed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Armenia: V Caucasus Corps occupies Ardasa. Russians continue advance; they capture Gumishkhanek, on Trebizond-Erzingan road.
Turkish aeroplanes bomb Suez and Port Tewfik.
Mesopotamia: Shamal northwest wind begins 6 weeks late.
Persia: Niedermayer arrives in Tehran from Afghanistan via Russian Turkestan (invalided home from Baghdad in February 1917).

Naval and Overseas Operations:
East Africa: British main body meets troops from Tanga. Anglo-Belgian Entebbe Conference (until July 23).
Lake Tanganyika: Major-General Wahle evacuates Kigoma.

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: Debate on Mesopotamia campaign in both Houses of Parliament. Premier Asquith promises to investigate the defeats that the Dardanelles and Kut after heated debate in the House of Commons.
Russia: Russia mobilizes indigenous men in Turkestan, Astrakhan, and Sakhalin for non-frontline duties.
Greece: An Anglo-French Loan of £800,000 is made to Greek Government.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
4 German bombers of Fl Abt 40 attack Andruicq munitions dump on Calais-St Omer railway: 23 sheds and 8,000t ammunition, 1 mile of track destroyed (night July 21-22). Lieutenant Otto Parschau, one of the first flying aces, is killed after being wounded over Grévillers: http://imgur.com/kCCU81M
Battle of the Somme: British advance into Foureaux wood (High Wood).. German counterattack, supported by gas shells, recaptures part of wood, but British hold most gains. Heavy bombing attacks by Germans south of Thiepval on Leipzig Redoubt. French repulse counter-attacks on their new front at Soyecourt; also south of Chaulnes.

Eastern Front
Brusilov Offensive:
Pripet: Bezobrazov‘s Guard Army (11 divisions, 134,000 men and 396 guns) formed.
Galicia: Austrians retreat and begin to evacuate Brody. Heavy rain (July 23-28) delays Brusilov’s Seventh and Ninth Armies’ resumed offensive. Russian forces advance south of the Lypa River, capturing 15 miles of Austro-Hungarain lines.

Naval and Overseas Operations
A U.S. Navy torpedo boat destroyer flotilla off Eastport, Maine: http://imgur.com/wYBYwQd

Political, etc.
Russia: Russia warns the Ottoman Empire that hospital ships will be sunk, in retaliation for the sinking of the Russian hospital ship Portugal.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: British attack along whole front from Pozieres to Guillemont; violent fighting.
French repel counter-attacks south of Amiens-Peronne high road.
Major-General Edward Charles Ingouville-Williams, commander of the British 34th Division, is killed in action: http://imgur.com/FyrszWU
French aeroplanes bomb Mulheim (Rhine) and other German towns.

Eastern Front
Brusilov Offensive:
Galicia: Austrians, retreating before Sakharov, begin to evacuate Brody.

Southern Front
Trentino: Alpini battalion and 154th Regiment night attack and gain footing north of Mt Cimone summit (July 23) dominating Arsiero to south (Austrian counter-attacks repelled on July 31), but attack on Bocchetta di Portule (6,395 ft) fails.
Dolomites: Italian I and XVIII Corps take Rolle Pass and two peaks, occupy Paneveggio village (July 31) in Val Travignolo.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Black Sea: Light cruiser Breslau escapes new Russian dreadnought battleship Imperatritsa Maria with stern splinter damage.
Launch of the Isaac Peral class submarine, built in the U.S. for the Spanish Navy: http://imgur.com/hGKapJ2

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: General Maxwell's despatches on Irish rebellion published in Times.
Silver badge granted for those disabled.
France: 87 Socialist members in the French Chamber of Deputies oppose economic warfare against the Central Powers after the end of the war.
Russia: M. Sazonov, Russian Foreign Minister, resigns [Appointed in 1910.] and is succeeded by M. Stürmer (see February 1st and November 24th).
United States: Department of Commerce reports that the cost of living in Ireland has increased by 41.2 percent since the war’s start.
James Whitcomb Riley, American writer and poet known for “Little Orphan Annie” and other works, passed away.
Bomb kills 9 and wounds 40 in San Francisco (War) Preparedness Parade: 2 radical labour leaders given life sentence (released 1939).
US Senate votes naval building programme.
Spain: Martial law is lifted in Spain after the end of the railway strike, but press censorship continues.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.