2 April 1917
 

Western Front
Aisne: French rangefinder and counter-battery work begins for 4,544 guns (3 million shells) but hampered by weather and German air opposition.
Artois: BEF capture 9 villages (6 fall to 7th Division and 4th Australian Division with 700 killed and 240 PoWs for 1,000 casualties) between Arras and St Quentin, and advance to north-west, at Templeux.
British troops manning a 4.5-inch howitzer near Arras, France: © IWM https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...8367106/photo/1
France: Petain meets Prime Minister Ribot for first time at dinner.
The ruins of Monchy, France after its capture by the Allies: © IWM https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...7610882/photo/1

Eastern Front
Russian troops attack on a five-mile front on the Northern Romanian border at Oituz Valley, but fail to make substantial gains.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mediterranean: 13 German and 2 Austrian U-boats at sea.

Political, etc
Russia: Measures passed include equal rights for women. Legal and religious curbs, 8 hour day for workers on April 6. Not one of these measures was actually enforced.
United Kingdom: US and British flags fly from Victoria Tower, Westminster.
Speeches of Sir R, Boden and Lt.-Gen. Smuts re: Empire and War.
British Government give Barrow strikers 24 hours to resume work; threaten violent repressive measures if orders not carried out.
United States: President Wilson calls a special session of Congress. Champ Clark is voted as the new Speaker of the House by a vote of 217 to 205: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...6475268/photo/1 Wilson‘s war message to Congress: ‘The world must be made safe for democracy’. President Woodrow Wilson addresses Congress this day, asking those present to support war against Germany: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...l1917.jpg?ssl=1
Gold in the U.S. Treasury has reached $3 billion, mostly due to inflow from Allied countries buying U.S. goods.

3 April 1917
 

Western Front
France: GQG (Grand Quartier Général, the French high command) moves north from Beauvais to Compiegne.
Somme: French occupy 7 villages south and southwest of St Quentin (until April 4). (Another source says only 4).
British forces seize height overlooking Cambrai. (Another source adds: British capture Henin-sur-Cojeul (south-east of Arras), and Maissemy (St. Quentin), and occupy Ronssoy Wood (north of Templeux). It is possible that these three “villages” are the “missing” 3 from the note about the French re-occupations of seven villages.)
German artillery fire more than 2000 shells at the cathedral city (and strategic rail center) of Rheims, France, causing several civilian casualties.
German “night attack” west of St. Quentin fails. Yet another probable trench raid, inflated into a valiantly-resisted attack by the British propaganda, just so they could claim a success on the Western Front.
Reconnaissance photo of the Siegfriendstellung (Hindenburg Line) taken by the British 11th Squadron: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...8595840/photo/1

Eastern Front
Pripet: Linsingen’s Germans cross river Stokhod, take 10,000 PoWs in Russian Tobol bridgehead.

Naval and Overseas Operations
The minesweeper H.M.S. Jason is sunk by a mine off west coast of Scotland.
Brazilian steamer Parana torpedoed by German submarine in Channel.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Royal Flying Corps BE2c damaged by German Fokker E (9 aircraft newly arrived). Another BE2c (flown since November 1915) shot down by Halberstadt fighter over Samarra April 15), but RFC new Bristol Scout destroys a Halberstadt on April 22. German Lieutenant Emil Meinecke poses beside his Halberstadt fighter after a hard air combat with British aircraft in the Middle East. Meinecke was flying for the Turks: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...urkey.jpg?ssl=1
Russian cavalry occupy Kasr-i-Shirin and Khanikin.

Political, etc
Germany: German government declares that President Wilson’s message will have no impact on its conduct of the war.
Kaiser Wilhelm and Emperor Charles meet at Homburg.
Russia: Russian Provisional Government forms War Committee, and repeals anti-Jewish legislation.
Canada: Leon Trotsky is detained by Canadian authorities at the Amherst Internment Camp, as he was deemed dangerous to the Allies.

4 April 1917
 

Western Front
Artois: BEF 2,000-gun Arras barrage begins including gas shells, wreaks great destruction on 12-mile front. The crew of a British 12-inch howitzer prepares to open fire at the beginning of the Battle of Arras: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...Arras.jpg?ssl=1
Aisne: German raiding party captures copy of division order at Mt Sapigneul giving movements of 3 corps on right of French Fifth Army. Nivelle told on April 7.
Amidst violent snow squalls, French soldiers reach the outskirts of St. Quentin. 4 other villages are taken. (Another source says only three).
British capture Metz-en-Couture (towards Cambrai).

Eastern Front
German troops use 13 waves of chlorine gas against Russian troops and force them to retreat across the Stokhid River.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: Royal Navy decides to convoy Scandinavian ships carrying imported wood pulp.
Belgian relief ship, Trevier, torpedoed off Scheveningen.
Western Mediterranean: British liner City of Paris (122 lives lost) sunk by UC 35 south off Nice.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Khanaqin (North-East of Baghdad) again occupied by Russian forces.

Political, etc
United Kingdom: Speeches of General Robertson and Admiral Jellicoe to Trade Unions re: sacrifice required from nation, after the Barrow strike repressed.
British Food Order for hotels, etc. British Flour Order. [ed note: I have no further details on these two orders, other than that they are rationing measures.]
United States: Former President Theodore Roosevelt praises President Wilson’s war message and states he hopes to lead troops again.
Senate votes war resolution 82-6.
Switzerland: Vladimir Lenin and Zürich councillor Platten negotiate with German Berne Ambassador Romberg.

5 April 1917
 

Western Front
Royal Flying Corps at Arras bombing starts with attacks against observation balloons (only 5 destroyed until April 8). No 100 Squadron RFC bombs Douai airfield (‘Richthofen Circus’ base), 4 hangars damaged (night April 5-6) repeated twice (April 7-8) with new 1-prd pom-pom strafing; Frankl in Albatros of Jasta 4 shoots down a BE2c in first planned night interception.
A German observation balloon is prepared for launching: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...tklar.jpg?ssl=1
RFC loses 75 aircraft (105 crew, until April 9), another 56 crashed or written off. Bristol Fighter two-seater flies first offensive patrol, 4 of 6 shot down by Richthofen’s 5 Albatros DIIIs. British airman’s April life expectancy 23 days.
Somme: German withdrawal to the Siegfriedstellung (Hindenburg Line) completed. (Also listed for earlier last month). Another source reports: Allied pursuit of retiring Germans has been impeded by bad weather, collapse of roads, demolitions, booby traps and rearguards. But now most German outposts have been driven in and Allies face Hindenburg Line.
German troops counterattack French lines northwester of Rheims and claims the capture of 800 French prisoners.
A German dummy artillery gun captured by the French Army © IWM (Q 78878): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...4359936/photo/1
Germans bombard French north of Urvillers.
Aeroplane raid on Kent and Ramsgate, no casualties.

Southern Front
Macedonia: KG 1 bombs and destroys munition train and dump at Karasuli by Lake Ardjan north of Salonika.

Political, etc
Russia: In Petrograd, the victims of the February Revolution are buried in the Field of Mars.
Manifesto of M. Guchkov (Russian War Minister) to soldiers to do their duty.
France: General Lyautey appointed to Morocco.
United Kingdom: British Government inform Russian Provisional Government of their adherence to the principle of an independent and united Poland (see March 30th and September 13th, 1916, and January 10th, 1917).
Rejected and some disabled men to be re-examined for military service. Assistant Chief Commissioner Thomson finds ‘a good deal of ignorant alarmism [about industrial unrest], especially among the generals present’.
Britain issues the “food hoarding order,” which prohibits anyone form hoarding food beyond what is needed for individual consumption.
Romania: King Ferdinand proclamation promises land and civic rights to peasants (and Army order on May 6).
United States: The U.S. Capitol is lit up as the Senate votes to declare war against Germany: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...1720576/photo/1
A military budget of $3.5 billion (about $66 billion today) is introduced in Congress as the U.S. prepares for war.
U.S. government states it will not sever relations or declare war on Germany’s allies for the time being unless they act first.
Simon N. Patten, economics professor at the University of Pennsylvania, is dismissed by the university due to his “pacifist activism”.
Netherlands: Dutch Note to British Government opposing armed merchantmen.

6 April 1917
 

Western Front
Heavy German artillery hit British and French troops as they continue their slow advance around St. Quentin, France.
France: President Poincare and generals meet in train at Compiegne to reconsider offensive. Nivelle threatens to resign, but given approval provided attack called off after 48 hours, if expected gains not forthcoming. 5,350 guns now bombarding German positions east of Vauxaillon (north-east of Soissons) to north of Reims.
Mannock posted to No 40 Squadron. 5 Sopwith Pups of No 3 (Naval) Squadron destroy all of 4 Halberstadt fighters.

Political, etc
United States: US House of Representatives passes war resolution at 1300 hours,. The vote is 373 to 50. United States of America declares war on Germany (see February 3rd). The text of US president Wilson’s declaration of war: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...f-war.jpg?ssl=1 . The US seizes 87 German ships in her ports (14 Austrian ships seized on April 9).

7 April 1917
 

Western Front
Second Lieutenant Ball returns (to 56 Squadron) after teaching pilots in England. Richthofen’s 5 Albatros DIIIs shoots down 2 of 6 Nieuport fighters (No 60 Squadron), latter lose again 4 of 6 on April 16. Albert Ball rose to fame in his Nieuport XVII fighter – until his mysterious death in May 1917: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...-Ball.jpg?ssl=1
British advance north-west of St. Quentin to Fresny-le-Petit.
Severe fighting round Berry-au-Bac (north-west of Reims).
British soldiers with Rolls-Royce armoured cars on the Western Front © IWM (Q 3878): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...0329344/photo/1

Naval and Overseas Operations
4 British CMBs (Coastal Motor Boats) raid on Zeebrugge (night April 7-8); CMB8 torpedoes and sinks German destroyer G88 on April 8.
9 Germans are killed when they scuttle their ship SMS Cormoran in Guam. This is the only clash between Americans and Germans in the Pacific.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Austro-Hungary announces it has raised 6.23 billion kronen (about $1.246 billion) for its fifth war loan.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire breaks off diplomatic relations with the United States of America.
United States: U.S. government seizes 60 German ships that had been interned in U.S. ports during the past three years. U.S. Attorney General Gregory orders the arrests of 60 alleged German conspirators in the country. [ed note: the vast majority of these “conspirators” were mere trade unionists and/or antiwar resistors, whom the Wilson administration deemed undesirable.]
State of Maine orders all German citizens to register with the government within the next 24 hours.
Police of Cleveland, Ohio raid the homes of naturalized Germans-Americans [IOW, US Citizens] and confiscate their rifles and other weapons.
Newsboy selling newspapers in Washington D.C., with the headline reading “U.S. at War with Germany.”: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...6424320/photo/1
Minor Allies: Cuba and Panama declare war on Germany (4 German ships seized in Havana.)

8 April 1917
 

Western Front
Lieutenant-General Ernst von Hoeppner and Chief of Staff Lieutenant-Colonel Hermann von der Lieth-Thomsen both awardedPour le Merite for reorganizing German Army Air Service since November 12, 1916.
A French cavalryman riding through the ruins of Chauny © IWM (Q 63689): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...6545024/photo/1
British soldiers fixing scaling ladders in the frontline trenches before the Arras offensive © IWM (Q 6229): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...1785216/photo/1
Wilhelm Frankl, German fighter ace with 20 aerial victories, is killed in action over France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...8283649/photo/1
French government orders Rheims to be evacuated of nonessential civilians due to the German bombardment of the city.
Minor British progress north of Louveral (half-way between Bapaume and Cambrai).

Southern Front
Macedonia: KG 1 bombs Yanesh railhead; 2 Sopwiths force down an already AA-riddled Friedrichshafen G-type bomber, 3 crew taken PoW.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Eastern Atlantic – The Torrington Massacre: U-55 (Wilhelm Werner) sinks British steamer Torrington off Scilly Islands, destroys one lifeboat (14 killed) and drowns 20 passengers by deliberately submerging while they are on outer casing.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British capture Belad station on Baghdad-Samarra railway.

Political, etc
Germany: Lenin with 19 to 20 Bolsheviks begin so-called ‘sealed train’ journey from Switzerland to Petrograd (until April 16) via Berlin (on April 11 told to Kaiser).
Kaiser Wilhelm promises that Germany will expand voting rights after the end of the war. [ed note: Germany already had, before the war, a higher percentage of it citizens with the franchise than did Great Britain.]
Russia: Estonians demonstrating in Petrograd, Russia: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...7395072/photo/1
United States: (Listed for yesterday): Herbert C. Hoover is asked to head a national committee on food supply and prices.
Major [well, some] U.S. unions and labor organizations promise there will be no strikes or unrest that would hamper the war effort.
Minor Allies: Panama joins U.S.A. to defend Panama Canal.

9 April 1917
 

Western Front
Battles of Arras as part of the Allied Artois and Champagne Offensive begin with Battle of Vimy Ridge (see 14th) and First Battle of the Scarpe 1917 (see 23rd and May 4th).
Mining operations in support of the Battles of Arras & Vimy Ridge:
To assess the consequences of infantry having to advance across cratered ground after a mining attack, officers from the Canadian Corps visited La Boisselle and Fricourt where the mines had been blown on the First day of the Somme. Their reports and the experience of the Canadians at The Actions of St Eloi Craters in April 1916, where mines had so altered and damaged the landscape as to render occupation of the mine craters by the infantry all but impossible, led to the decision to remove offensive mining from the central sector allocated to the Canadian Corps at Vimy Ridge. Further British mines in the area were vetoed following the blowing by the Germans on 23 March 1917 of nine craters along no man's land as it was probable that the Germans were aiming to restrict an Allied attack to predictable points. The three mines already laid by 172nd Tunnelling Company were also dropped from the British plans. They were left in place after the assault and were only removed in the 1990s. Another mine, prepared by 176th Tunnelling Company against the German strongpoint known as the Pimple, was not completed in time for the attack. The gallery had been pushed silently through the clay, avoiding the sandy and chalky layers of the Vimy Ridge but by 9 April 1917 was still 21 meters (70 ft) short of its target. In the end, two mines were blown before the attack, while three mines and two Wombat charges were fired to support the attack, including those forming a northern flank.
The ground battle (continues until May 16) begins at 0530 hours in bitter cold and sleet on 12-mile front. Allenby breaches third line of Hindenburg Line, taking 5,600 PoWs and 36 guns in 2,000-6,000 yard advance, but 4-mile gap open for 7 hours not fully exploited as cavalry too slow (until April 10). German PoWs are marched to the rear as British troops moved forward during the fighting at Arras: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...Arras.jpg?ssl=1
British troops preparing to advance from their assembly trenches at Arras: © IWM (Q 5118): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...9544449/photo/1
Edward Thomas, British poet, essayist, and novelist, is killed in action at Arras: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...0952576/photo/1
BATTLE OF VIMY RIDGE (until April 14): After 3-minutes shelling by 1,203 guns (383 heavies) and with 150 Vickers MGs’ barrage, 30,000 men of Canadian Corps (Byng) storm the Ridge on 2-mile front and taking villages and 4,000 PoWs with 54 guns. North end of Ridge remains in German hands. The battle was the first occasion when all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force participated in a battle together and it was made a symbol of Canadian national achievement and sacrifice.
Canadian troops and captured German troops at Vimy Ridge: © IWM (CO 1155): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...4630656/photo/1
Commandant de Peuty note to Trenchard ‘Victory in the air must precede victory on land.’ Royal Flying Corps 754 (385 single-seater fighters) vs German 264 (114 single-seater fighters) planes. RFC (including Lieutenant ‘Billy’ Bishop) give strafing close support to ground advance. This is the most disastrous period in the history of the entire war for the Royal Flying Corps, as they flew in support of the ground battle, and suffered highest proportional losses of any month of the war.
France: Renault FT-17 light tank trials begin.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Irish Sea: US liner New York mined (by UC-65) off Liverpool.
Spanish steamer San Fulgencio, carrying British coal for Barcelona, torpedoed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Russians occupy Kizil Robat. British occupy Harbe (four miles north of Belad).

Political, etc
Russia: Russian Provisional Government (see March 14th) issue Proclamation to Allied Governments declaring in favor of self-determination of peoples (except of course, for those parts of the Central Powers’ territories promised to Italy, Romania, Japan, and to be occupied by Great Britain & France in the Middle East; oh, and Africa) and a durable peace.
United Kingdom: Admiral William Sims, United States Navy, arrives in England (see June 18th). Jellicoe apparently tells him on April 10 no solution now to U-boats.
Due to lack of supply, British beer prices have risen, causing disaffection among factory workers.
Canada: Total Canadian oversea enlistments to date:- 407,302 of which Ontario 170,205, Montreal 36,282, Quebec 8,145.
Brazil: The Republic of Brazil breaks off diplomatic relations with the German Empire.

10 April 1917
 

Western Front
Artois: Canadian troops (7,707 casualties on April 9-10) clear Vimy Ridge with fall of tough Hill 145. German reserves begin to seal off Arras gap. Canadian troops consolidate their recently-won gains on Vimy Ridge: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...Ridge.jpg?ssl=1
British occupy Farbus (north-east of Arras) and Fampaux (four miles east of Arras).
British cavalry advancing over newly captured ground during the Battle of Arras: © IWM (Q 1989): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...7157761/photo/1
British tank “Lusitania” moving through the ruins of Arras towards the front: © IWM (Q 3184): https://t.co/NSrd3RQynG
Champagne: French shell Moronvilliers massif east of Reims (until April 17).
French troops tie messages to balloons, in hopes that they reach those in German-occupied areas: © IWM (Q 112248): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...4166017/photo/1
Royal Flying Corps No 60 Squadron single-seater Nieuport fighters first sent on photo-reconnaissance mission.

Naval and Overseas Operations
British hospital ship Salta mined off Havre.
Damaged German submarine U-22 in drydock after it hit a mine near Hornsriff: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...3800832/photo/1

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Emperor Charles and Czernin letter to Kaiser Wilhelm II, ‘Five monarchs have been dethroned in this war…’ warns of Russian Revolution impact.
Germany: One of the worst outright lies perpetrated by British propaganda first makes its way into print. Berlin Lokal Anzeiger‘s corpse conversion factory story (first appears in Belgian newspaper) becomes war’s most notorious atrocity story (not exposed till 1925). Balfour writes on April 26 that it might be true. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Corpse_Factory
Russia: Russian Provisional Government issues a proclamation urging unity, as the country is still in grave danger.
Bulgaria: Bulgaria severs diplomatic relations with the United States of America.
United States: Severe explosion of ammunition factory at Eddystone, near Philadelphia. Initially, German sabotage is blamed, and used as an excuse to cover-up the unsafe working conditions at the plant.
Poland: Austria-Hungary transfers Polish Legions to German control.
Argentina: Government approves US action, decides on benevolent neutrality towards her (April 11).

11 April 1917
 

Western Front
Artois: British 3rd Cavalry Division with 2 divisions of Third Army, with 11 tanks, capture Monchy-Ie-Preux and Wancourt, but German line stiffening. Allenby has inflicted 21,000 casualties (incl. 7,000 PoWs), taken 112 guns for 8,238 casualties. British 62nd Division and 4th Australian Division with 11 tanks (2 knocked out by German Mauser Rifles 98 with armour piercing bullets and captured) make first attack on Bullecourt, a fiasco costing 3,052 casualties (1,170 PoWs).
British troops investigate a German observation post disguised as a shell-blasted tree stump: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...stump.jpg?ssl=1
German troops with a captured German Mark II tank at Bullecourt: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...4221056/photo/1
Richthofen equals Boelcke‘s score of 40 with a BE2c of No 13 Squadron (wing lost but crew only bruised) on day Royal Flying Corps loses 13 aircraft to 5 German.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British troops defeat Ottoman forces at Ghaliya, 45 miles northeast of Baghdad, inflicting around 900 casualties.

Political, etc
Germany: Berlin rejects Czernin’s joint peace approach to Russia.
France: Alexis Carrel, the Nobel-prize winner in Physiology or Medicine, predicts the war will last another 50 years.
United Kingdom: Lloyd George and Ribot discuss Austrian Emperor Charles’ peace letter at Folkestone, agree Italy must be consulted.
United States: U.S. Cabinet decides to prioritize sending food and money to the Allies before sending soldiers.
Brazil: Brazil severs diplomatic relations with Germany (see October 26th). (Another source already reported this as occurring on 9 April, 1917. Onehundred years after the event, it can be difficult to sort out exactly which day things happened). Yet another source states: Government breaks relations with Germany but neutral in US-German war. German Ambassador only leaves on April 27.

12 April 1917
 

Western Front
Artois: Battle of Vimy Ridge ends, as Canadian troops capture their objectives. Allied forces suffered 3,589 dead and 7,004 wounded.
4000 German troops are also captured during the Battle of Vimy Ridge: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...4530946/photo/1
Canadian troops storm Pimple hill north of Vimy Ridge, but 2 German ‘counter-attack’ divisions now holding Mericourt-Arleux line against breakout.
British artillery gunners setting up an 18-pounder gun in a cemetery at Arras: © IWM (Q 6205): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...4787968/photo/1

Naval and Overseas Operations
Greek ship India being sunk by the German U-Boat U-35: © IWM (Q 88293): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...4378501/photo/1

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Turks retreat towards Deli Abbas (between Tigris and Diala).

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: General Rudolf Stager-Steiner succeeds General Alexander Krobatin as War Minister.
Russia: Law enlarges Estonia and permits it a Diet.
Russian Provisional Government announces it will issue a “liberty” loan in order to raise money.
United Kingdom: London meetings celebrate US entry into war, US Ambassador says aim ‘to save the earth as a place worth living in’. British postcard: for Great Britain, America’s declaration of war promised men – and hope: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...S-war.jpg?ssl=1
United States: Herbert Hoover officially takes job of U.S. food controller. He urges the nation to eliminate waste and promotes corn bread over flour.
Major General Leonard Wood declares there are too few volunteers for the U.S. army and so conscription is necessary.
New York Yankees conducting a military drill before the opening game of the season against the Red Sox: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...4583552/photo/1
Minor Allies: Costa Rica: Government places nations waters and ports at US disposal.
Switzerland: Bulgarian and Austrian envoys make peace feelers to Allies.
Spain: Government protests to Berlin for San Fulgencio torpedoing (April 9)
Mexico: Mexico reassures it will continue the exportation of oil to Britain after diplomatic pressure from Britain and the U.S.

13 April 1917
 

Western Front
Artois: Canadians capture Vimy village and Petit Vimy, Givenchy-en-Gohelle, Angres and two other villages. British 50th Divison attacks Wancourt Ridge, captures it by April 15.
Canadian troops advance in the area of Vimy: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...-vimy.jpg?ssl=1
South of Bapume-Cambrai road, British capture village and wood of Gouzeaucourt.
British Rolls-Royce armoured car stuck in a shell hole on the Arras-Tilloy road: © IWM (Q 3876): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...8962560/photo/1
Somme, Oise: French Third Army attack (until April 14) soon called off despite aid of 390 heavy guns.
Richthofen scores twice more including 1 of 6 RE8s destroyed as not met by escort. 21 Royal Flying Corps bombers (4 lost to Richthofen’s unit, which 1 fighter lost) plus 17 escorts strike Henin-Lietard rail station.

Naval and Overseas Operations
In an effort to counter German submarines in transit to and from their hunting ground in the shipping channels surrounding the United Kingdom, the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) institutes the 'Spider Web' patrol system centered upon the North Hinder Light Vessel.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British drive Turks from Seraijik (on Deli-Abbas-Mosul road).

Political, etc
Germany: German government announces it will not intern American citizens currently residing in Germany.
Russia: Many Russian battleships and cruisers renamed by Provisional Government to sound more democratic (and on April 29), often return to pre-1905 Mutiny names.
Russian Provisional Government receives representatives of British Labour and French Socialists.
All-Russian Conference of workmen and soldiers' delegates at Petrograd.
Minor Allies: Bolivia severs diplomatic relations with Germany.

14 April 1917
 

Western Front
Battle of Vimy Ridge and First Battle of the Scarpe end (see 9th). 10 men of Royal Newfoundland Regiment (485 casualties) hold Monchy against 3rd Bavarian Division for 5 hours until reinforced. Canadian losses 10,602 for a 4,500 yards advance capturing 4,000+ PoWs, 54 guns, 104 mortars and 124 Mgs.
British capture Vimy Station, Lievin, and Cite St. Pierre (Lens).
German attack on British at Monchy-le-Preux repulsed.
British forces claim the capture of 13,000 German soldiers and 166 artillery guns since the start of the Arras offensive.
Canadian soldiers have overpowered a German trench detachment and are collecting military passports: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...raben.jpg?ssl=1
British Royal Engineers building a temporary bridge and pontoon-ferry over the Scarpe River: © IWM (Q 5821): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...9779713/photo/1
Wounded British soldiers awaiting transport in the devastated town of Blangy: © IWM (Q 6195): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...9758976/photo/1
21 French and British aircraft indiscriminately bomb Freiburg in reprisal for Allied hospital ship losses. Royal Navy Air Service 3rd Wing withdrawn mid-May from Luxeuil.
German authorities order the evacuation of civilians from Lens, France as the British offensive approaches the city.

Eastern Front
7,688 men desert from Russian North and West Fronts (until April 21); numbers considerably underestimated.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Emperor Charles draft letter to Czernin ‘A smashing German victory would be ruin’. Russia spurns Austrian peace-feeler.
Russia: Note of Allies (France, England, Italy) to Russia re: Poland.
United Kingdom: Appeals to farmers against hoarding by Mr. Lloyd George and Board of Trade.
United States: President Wilson signs an executive order creating the Committee on Public Information to influence American opinion on the war.
U.S. House of Representatives approve to raise a $7 billion (about $133 billion today) war loan without a single dissenting vote.
Poland: L. L. Zamenhof, a Polish doctor who invented the constructed language Esperanto, passed away.
Brazil: Brazil states it will start arming its merchant ships in order to protect them from German submarines.

Continued thanks for this great series of posts. :thumbs:

15 April 1917
 

Western Front
Artois: ANZAC Corps and British 62nd Division (Fifth Army) repulse major German 4-division attack on Lagnicourt on 7-mile front.
British capture Villeret (north-west of St. Quentin).
In a British trench: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...raben.jpg?ssl=1

Naval and Overseas Operations
Eastern Mediterranean: British transports Cameronian (22 lives lost) (another report says ‘around 200’; I suspect the lower figure is a typo) sunk despite 2-destroyer escort, by U-33 (Gustav Siess) 150 miles east of Malta and Egypt-bound Arcadian (279 lives lost) sunk off Milo, Aegean by UC-74 (Wilhelm Marschall).
Cameronian: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...1022345/photo/1
Arcadian: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...8850944/photo/1

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Turks driven back to Jebel Hamrin (tableland from Tigris to Persian hills).

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Austrian feelers for separate peace with Russian apparent.
Russia: Russian government accuses Germany of using Russian socialists and other radicals to cause disturbances inside the country.
United States: Appeal of President Wilson to American citizens re: war; more specifically, justifying the creation by executive order (two days before) creating the Committee on Public Information ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commi...lic_Information ), an agency created to disseminate the Wilson’s administration on the war. Said committee was, despite the protests of the chair, heavily involved in censorship & suppression of alternative views of the war.
Greece: Venizelist regime in Greek islands in force.
Brazil: 1,000 rioters burn c.300 German buildings in Porto Alegre (until April 17); 7,400 troops sent there and elsewhere.
Argentina: Riots occur in Buenos Aires, Argentina as a mob attack the German Legation and Consulate, as well as German newspapers.
Mexico: Mexican government announces it will maintain strict neutrality in the ongoing world war.

16 April 1917
 

Western Front
Aisne – NIVELLE OFFENSIVE (SECOND BATTLE OF THE AISNE) on 25-mile front (until April 20): Despite long preparatory bombardment and first French tank attack, from 0630 hours to nightfall 20 French divisions (6,731 infantry casualties in 3 divisions alone) have advanced c.600 yards, taking the 2nd line of German trenches south of Juvincourt and advance to the Aisne Canal against 15 German divisions instead of 6 miles anticipated.
Decimated by MG fire, Senegalese troops break and flee. Fifth Army’s 128 Schneider tanks bog down (32 knocked out), only few reach German third line. French troops suffer 40,000 casualties during the first day of the Second Battle of Aisne, a few days later up to c.100,000 instead of 15,000 planned for.
Nivelle belatedly confines effort to either flank of Chemin des Dames. Forewarned, Germans have inserted new First Army (F Below) from Somme between Third and Seventh Armies on the front of attack.
131 French aircraft (200 on paper) support Nivelle Offensive, 153 by April 21, but German fighters drive off French artillery and contact patrols. Bad weather also hampers.
At the beginning of the Nivelle offensive, French soldiers advanced against the Chemin des Dames heights, which was fortified by the Germans: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...dames.jpg?ssl=1
Artois: Haig and his army commanders meet to plan next assault.

Naval and Overseas Operations
British submarine C16 collides with the destroyer Melampus and sinks, resulting in the deaths of all crew members: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...8618496/photo/1
French liner Sontay is sunk by the German submarine SM U-33. The crew survives after boarding lifeboats: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...6174592/photo/1

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British advance towards Istabulat (12 miles south-east of Samarra).

Political, etc
Germany: Strikes (until April 23; but another source claims only a 1-day strike) in Berlin (217,000 workers) and Leipzig against bread ration cut (April 15).
Russia: Vladimir Lenin arrives at Petrograd; makes ‘April Theses‘ on April 17 speech to Petrograd Soviet.
United Kingdom: British food orders (that is, placed in the US) re: wheat, barley, and oats.
United States: Shipping Board’s Emergency Fleet chartered, 280,000 shipyard workers enrolled by April 20.
President Wilson issues a proclamation urging Americans to put their whole strength into the war: http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/doyourbit.htm
President Wilson warns both citizens and alien residents against acts of treason and states that prosecution will be vigorous. [ed note: by this time, the definition of ‘treason’ was pretty broad, likely to encompass anything anyone said against the war, no matter how mild.

17 April 1917
 

Western Front
"Battle of the Hills" ("La Bataille des Monts") also called the Third Battle of Champagne (Champagne) begins (see May 20th) in worsening weather: French Fourth Army (7 divisions) fails to break through on east flank taking first line only in up to 1 1/2-mile push.
French forces made use of tanks in its offensive, but with limited effect. 150 tanks are lost the first day. The St. Chamond tank: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...1089537/photo/1
French Schneider CA1 tank is also used for the first time in the offensive: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...1079936/photo/1
Aisne: Germans evacuate and burn 4 villages south of Chemin des Dames.
Foch visited by General H Wilson at Senlis. Foch clear, notes Wilson ‘that Nivelle was done, owing chiefly to the failure of the Sixth Army … Foch said he knew … positions which this army were … to attack were impossible … He thinks … Nivelle will be degomme (dismissed) and Petain, put in his place, who will play a waiting game until the USA come … say a year hence. I asked about a central organization of the Allies to really take hold and he was all in favour … would love to be the French representative.’
Heavy rain and snowstorms fall on the Aisne battlefields, grounding aircraft and limiting visibility.
Australian soldiers saluting as they march past King George V during a Royal Review: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...3098496/photo/1
FRENCH ARMY MUTINIES BEGIN with 17 men of 108th Infantry Regiment abandoning posts before an attack. By end of August 1917 46 divisions seriously affected with c.35,000 mutineers who call themselves strikers. 2,873 court-martial and sentenced, many suspended. 629 receive death sentences (of which 43 certainly suffer ultimate penalty).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Japanese flotillas join Allied forces in the Mediterranean (see February 8th, 1916 and November 15th, 1917).
British ambulance transports Lanfranc and Donegal torpedoed and sunk in English Channel, with a total of 40 casualties.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Second Battle of Gaza begins (see 19th and March 27th) (until April 19): 40,000 British soldiers, 170 guns, 8 tanks against 19,500 Turks, 101 guns and 86 MGs. British storm Samson’s Ridge but tanks and gas shells too few to retain gains. Dobell loses 6,444 casualties (272 PoWs) and 3 tanks to 2,013 Turks (200 PoWs).

Political, etc
Germany: Sixth German War Loan closed: 656,100,000 Marks.
United Kingdom: Thorneycroft depth charge thrower designed in 10 days (by Sir J Thorneycroft, marine engineer); 2,760 made and 28 U-boats sunk by it (6 in 1917) by end of war.
Jellicoe urges Salonika withdrawal to save shipping for 1918.
The Times & Daily Mail publish (false) stories that a “German Corpse Factory” processes fat from German war dead for industrial use.
United States: New York City revokes all night licenses for hotels and restaurants for the duration of the war. Dancing and Drinking must stop at 1 AM.
Measures of Senate (U.S.A.) to suppress export of food-stuffs, etc., to Germany.

18 April 1917
 

Western Front
Somme: British Fifth Army captures Villers Guislain (12 miles south of Cambrai) and Gonnelieu (on April 20, 8 miles southwest).
Aisne: German counter-attack repulsed near Juvincourt.
French troops capture Aubérive and claim the capture of at least 2,500 Germans, putting the 2-day total to 13,500 German prisoners.
French advance continued east and north-east of Soissons. French capture five villages; on Aisne capture Conde bridgehead and Vailly, and consolidate positions in Moronvillers massif.
A German 6-in howitzer is prepared to fire on the French at the Aise during the Nivelle Offensive: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...Aisne.jpg?ssl=1

Naval and Overseas Operations
Eastern Mediterranean: French battleship Requin, 2 Royal Navy monitors and 3 French destroyers bombard Gaza.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Marshall’s 4,000 men and 40 guns force and bridge Shatt-el-Adhaim (east of Tigris), take 1,250 PoWs and 6 MGs in 14-mile pursuit for 73 casualties.
Clashes continue between British attackers and Ottoman defenders at Gaza. Ottoman machine gunners: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...8025473/photo/1

Political, etc
Germany: German government grants concessions to strikers.
Russia: Lenin delivers the April Theses, calling on the soviets to take power and denounces the Provisional Government: https://www.marxists.org/archive/le...1917/apr/04.htm
United Kingdom: War Minister Lord Derby writes to Haig ‘… we have lost command of the sea’.
British Food Order restricting pastry and cake making.
Belgium: Death of General Moritz von Bissing, Govenor-General of occupied Belgium.
United States: U.S.A. War Bill ("Old Glory" loan of $1,400,000,000 passes Senate.

19 April 1917
 

Western Front
Aisne: French capture Fort Conde and secure Chemin des Dames road on Craonne plateau.
Champagne: Legion RMLE (2/3 casualties) storms Auberive, German Legionnaire Sergant-Major Mader captures 6 Saxon heavy guns with grenades (April 21).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic – First US shot of the war: SS Mongolia repels U-boat.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Second Battle of Gaza ends (see 17th and October 27th). Heavy fighting and much ground gained, but, owing to severe British losses, attack not pushed through.

Political, etc
Germany: Troops and police militarize 2 Berlin factories. Hindenburg appeal published. All still striking by April 21 to be drafted into Army.
The German police arrests strikers at a ammunition factory: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...abrik.jpg?ssl=1
Russia: Admital Aleksandr Kolchak (Commander of Black Sea fleet) appointed Commander in Chief of Baltic Fleet. (ed note: I can find no other cooberation of this. Other sources indicate that he was commander of the Black Sea fleet up until June, 1917).
France: Pastry restrictions in France.
United Kingdom: More frequent or new publications banned (to save paper). Final British refusal to offer Tsar asylum.
Sir Archibald Murray, commander of the British forces in Palestine, voices support for a Jewish state.
King George V and Queen Mary visit the Canbery Park Road aeroplane factory: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...3335424/photo/1
Speech of Mr. Fisher (Minister of Education), re: educational reform.
United States: Cotton price highest since Civil War. (ed note: many US Farmers were outraged to see that cotton prices were not controlled like grain & oil prices were. It cannot be coincidence that many of the administration’s supporters in congress represented cotton interests).
US orders that all alien residents of enemy nations must move at least half a mile away from military facilities by June 1st or face arrest.
The U.S. states it will prioritize trade of food supplies with the Allies before neutral nations. (making the relief commission of Belgium, and several Scandinavian states very unhappy).
A poster of “Wake Up America Day” to mobilize Americans for war: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...5306882/photo/1
Spain: Señor Manuel Garcia Prieto (Marquis of Alhucemas) succeeds Álvaro de Figueroa (Count Romanones) as Spanish Premier.

20 April 1917
 

Western Front
French Offensive stopped (see 16th): Second Battle of the Aisne and "Battle of the The Hills” end (see 16th and 17th). After 5 days Nivelle‘s main achievement is Sixth Army’s (Mangin) capture of 4-mile deep salient on Western flank. This Pyrrhic victory gives Germans a straighter line to defend. Captures include 16,300 PoWs, 140 guns and 300 MGs. The ludicrously sanguine Nivelle now forced to cease breakthrough attempts, having sacrificed 134,000 men (by April 25) now proposes to revert to local attacks.
Minor gains as the French occupy Sancy (north-east of Soissons), and the British capture Gonnelieu (eight miles south-west of Cambrai).
Lloyd George at Paris conference.
A French tomb at Vendelles ransacked by Germans for metal: © IWM (Q 2094): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...7898880/photo/1

Naval and Overseas Operations
Second German destroyer raid on Straits of Dover (night 20th /21st). Action by the Swift and Broke (see October 26th, 1916 and February 15th, 1918).
British Antarctic explorer Captain Evans (later Lord Mountevans) with Dover Patrol destroyers Broke (57 casualties) and Swift (5 casualties) defeat 6 German 2nd Flotilla torpedo boats (night April 20-21) in complete darkness off Belgian coast. Evans sinks G42 by ramming and there is hand-to-hand fighting on Broke‘s decks. G85 also sunk, 140 of 180 Germans rescued.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
A disabled British tank at Gaza. Ottoman defenders incorporate the hull into a fortification: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...4204032/photo/1

Political, etc
United Kingdom: Flour Mills' Order extending powers of Food Controller.
Turkey: Turkey severs diplomatic relations with the United States of America. (Young Turks badly split over this).
Japan: General elections are held in Japan. The Rikken Seiyūkai under Hara Takashi wins the most seats with 165 out of 381.
United States: 60,000 people march in New York City to support war recruitment: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...7655298/photo/1
New York Yacht Club drops Kaiser Wilhelm and Prince Henry of Prussia as honorary members.
Portugal: Senhor D'Almeida resigns Premiership in Portugal.

21 April 1917
 

Western Front
Royal Flying Corps destroys 2 German balloons (3 British aircraft lost) and damage 3 more. Arras bombardment renewed. 2 new Sopwith Triplanes of Royal Navy Air Service No 1 Squadron disperse 14 German DFW CVs and shoot 3 down at 16,000ft before they can reconnoiter the BEF lines.
Shoot down of an observation balloon. The observer could jump off by parachute in the picture on the left: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...allon.jpg?ssl=1
Somme: British 40th Division (Fourth Army) captures three local objectives (incl on April 24 and 25).
Aisne: Mangin protests at offensive continuing, despite announcements of it being discontinued the day before; ammo supply critical. Tenth Army (Duchene) committed between Hurtebise and Berry-au-Bac.
British officers drinking tea in St. Quentin: © IWM (Q 2085) https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...5881728/photo/1
65,000 German shells have been fired on the city of Rheims since April 1st. French official calls it “abominable vandalism.”
In the ongoing offensives on the Western Front, Allied troops claim to have captured 33,000 German prisoners and 330 artillery guns.
Troops of the Indian Army in the ruins of Caulaincourt, France: © IWM (Q 2080) https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...5145345/photo/1
ritish cavalry passing through Caulaincourt in pursuit of the Germans: © IWM (Q 2074) https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...9876352/photo/1

Naval and Overseas Operations
German submarine SM UC-30, credited with sinking 5 ships, hits a mine and sinks with all hands.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Battle of Istabulat (until April 22). General Cobbe with 7th Division (2,228 casualties) and 76 guns twice attacks Shefhet’s 7,000 Turks (c.2,200 casualties including 700 PoWs) with 31 guns astride railway, taking position and 1 gun. Lieutenant Graham (MG Corps) wins 23rd and last Victoria Cross of the campaign.
Palestine: Chetwode replaces Dobell as GOC (General in command) Eastern Force, Chauvel takes over Desert column.
Cossacks repulse Kurds on Diala (north-west of Kasr-i-Shirin).

Political, etc
Russia: On 20–21 April 1917 massive demonstrations of workers and soldiers erupted against the continuation of war. Demonstrations demanded resignation of Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavel Milyukov. They were soon met by the counter-demonstrations organised in his support. General Lavr Kornilov, commander of the Petrograd military district, wished to suppress the disorders, but premier Georgy Lvov refused to resort to violence. Decree of Russian War Minister Alexandr Guchkov re: Army.
United Kingdom: British government states all doctors must report for military service due to the need to establish hospitals near the frontlines.
“American flag day” in London to celebrate the U.S. entrance into WWI: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...4768385/photo/1
Spain: In the first meeting of the new Spanish Cabinet, it announces the country will continue to maintain strict neutrality in the war.

22 April 1917
 

Western Front
No 56 Squadron (SE5s) destroys 4 Albatros fighters (1 credited to Albert Ball) on its first patrol. Despite initial problems with the engine and only one machine gun in front of the pilot (another on the upper wing), the SE5 together with the Sopwith Camel eventually ended the superiority of the German Albatros fighters: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...4/SE5.jpg?ssl=1
Artois: Falkenhausen removed from German Sixth Army probably for poor defensive tactics, replaced by O Below (until September 9), Colonel Lossberg already able new CoS, since April 11.
British capture southern part of Trescault (east of Havrincourt Wood, below Bapaume-Cambrai road).
Germans bombard Reims; French repulse German attack on Moronvillers massif.
British gunners rowing ammunition on a pontoon boat up the Scarpe River © IWM (Q 5830): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...3718272/photo/1

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: Hutier made C-in-C German Eighth Army (until December 12), replaces Scholtz. Count Kirchbach takes over Army Detachment D (until December 12).

Southern Front
Macedonia: General Scholtz (from Eighth Army, Eastern Front) replaces Below (see Western Front) in command of German Eleventh and Bulgarian First Armies (Army Group Scholtz) for duration of war.
KG 1 bombs British bivouacs near Yanesh.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British continue their attack on Turks in retreat from Istabulat on west bank of Tigris and on west bank of Shatt-el-Adhaim.
British artillery getting ready to fire on Ottoman positions south of Samarrah. Note the battery commander using a pole to spot for the guns: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...5590656/photo/1

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Allies reject Prince Sixtus peace approach.
Germany: Germany orders all striking workers to return to work within 24 hours or else they will be conscripted (but a different source has this order already issues for the other day).
Kaiser Wilhelm congratulates his son the Crown Prince for “steelhard” resistance against the French at the Aisne.
France: To conserve food, France orders all restaurants to have one meatless day per week. Butchers will also have to close by 1 pm.
United States: Balfour’s British Military Mission arrives in Washington; French Military Mission arrives New York on April 24. People of Washington D.C. welcome the visit of British Foreign Secretary Balfour: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...4391937/photo/1
U.S. National Championship for tennis (US Open) will be renamed the National Patriotic Tournament & no trophies will be given.

23 April 1917
 

Western Front
Artois: Second Battle of the Scarpe 1917 begins (next phase of the Battle of Arras) (until April 24) (see also 9th and May 3rd): 9 British divisions (Third Army) with 2,685 guns (vs 1,329 German pieces), 20 tanks (5 disabled) attack on 9-mile front gaining 1-2 miles north and south of river Scarpe; 63rd (Royal Navy) Division repulses 5 counter-attacks at Gavrelle; 15th Division captures Guemappe. British capture 2,500 PoWs (another source claims only 1000) but lose 10,000 casualties.
Aisne: Poincare urges postponing offensive.
68 Royal Flying Corps fighters on offensive patrol for ground attack’s renewal. An hour-long massive ‘dogfight’ without any fatal casualties. But elsewhere, Ball makes 2 kills. Richthofen’s Jasta 11 scores its 100th victory (of 350 in war, top German unit score).
German soldiers take cover inside the trench from enemy grenades: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...raben.jpg?ssl=1
French railway artillery in action near Muizon. © IWM (Q 56898): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...3893377/photo/1

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: Battleship New Mexico (BB49) launched at New York Navy Yard. First battleship with turbo-electric drive (completed May 20, 1918).
North Sea: 3 Royal Navy Air Service seaplanes bomb 5 German torpedo boats off Zeebrugge, sink 1.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British forces capture the city of Samarrah, Mesopotamia (Iraq) and its strategic rail yard from the Ottomans.

Political, etc
France: French government threatens to put German prisoners on board hospital ships if U-boats continue attacking those ships.
United States: “The Butcher Boy,” a short comedy film starring Roscoe Arbuckle and Buster Keaton, is released: https://archive.org/details/busterkeatonthebutcherboy
Diplomatic relations broken off between U.S.A. and Turkey (no state of war followed).

24 April 1917
 

Western Front
Severe fighting from Croisilles to north of Gavrelle; minor British setbacks. South of Bapaume-Cambrai road minor British advance to St. Quentin Canal near Vendhuil and capture Bithem.
Five of Richthofen’s fighters survive attacks by 20 Royal Flying Corps fighters.
Formation of first German Kampfstaffel or ‘Battle Flight’ special ground attack with MGs and hand grenades in support of infantry attack.
Jagdstaffel 11 members in France. Commander Manfred von Richthofen (Red Baron) is seated in his Albatros © IWM (Q 42283): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...0389124/photo/1
Royal Field Artillery firing their 18-pounder guns at Monchy-le-Preux. German shelling can be seen in the background © IWM (Q 6294): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...1994240/photo/1

Southern Front
Salonika: First Battle of Lake Doiran begin (first phase 24th/25th) (see, May 9th). The assault began with a bitter four-day artillery barrage in which the British fired about 100,000 shells. As a result, the earthworks and some wooden structures in the front positions were destroyed. The Bulgarians also opened fire from the batteries between Vardar and Doiran. Vladimir Vazov ordered fire day and night on the Allied positions. The initial several-hour struggle between the British and Bulgarian batteries was followed by a one-hour Bulgarian counter-barrage in which 10,000 shells were fired. British 22nd and 26th Divisions attack on 2 1/2-mile front at 2145 hours but, under 147 Bulgar guns (including German 5.9-inch naval gun battery) and 33 searchlights, never penetrate beyond first line of concrete defences on steep round hills. British losses 3,163; Bulgarian and German 835+ (22 PoWs) soldiers, including in 7 counter-attacks.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: General Cobbe occupies Samarra (60 miles north of Baghdad, railway station occupied on April 23), takes 340 sick and wounded Turkish soldiers. Marshall drives 2,000 Turks east over Adhaim taking 160 PoWs but heat halts operations.

Political, etc
Russia: Ukraine demands autonomy.
France: 155mm GPF gun first test fired (at Paris).
300,000 copies of President Wilson’s war address to Congress are printed and will be air-dropped on German trenches on the Western Front.
United Kingdom: British government will insure cargoes of neutral ships from German submarines between Europe and Americas in order to facilitate trade.
United States: Arrival of French Mission (Marshall Joffre and M. Viviani) in New York.
Liberty Loan Act $7 billions ($3 billion for Allies). With wild enthusiasim and waving flags on the Broadway is US going to war: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...adway.jpg?ssl=1
Portugal: Sen. Costa (Democrat) becomes Premier in Portugal.

25 April 1917
 

Western Front
The Victoria Cross is (later) awarded posthumously to Captain Albert Ball of No.56 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, for his actions during 25 April - 6 May in recognition of his "most conspicuous and consistent bravery" in the skies over France in a Royal Aircraft Factory SE5 (A4850).
German ace Fritz Otto Bernert scores 5 victories in a single day in a span of 20 minutes, despite having a paralyzed left arm.
Workers repairing the Cathedral at Reims, France after German bombardment: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...7098369/photo/1
The ruined church of Etreillers, France used as a dug-out. © IWM (Q 3119): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...9483648/photo/1
British officers enjoying lunch among the ruins of Etreillers. © IWM (Q 2084): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...1297158/photo/1
German “attack” on Hurtebise Farm (Vauclere Plateau, Chemin des Dames) repulsed.

Southern Front
Macedonia: 6 British fighters with 8 bombers encounter KG 1 bomber formation; latter is dispersed (each side loses 1 plane). British bombers proceed to attack designated objective (dumps at Bogdanci).

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: UB-18 (Steinbrinck) sinks Royal Navy sub E22 after latter tries to ram. HMS E22 had been converted into a transport submarine for sea planes: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...gzeug.jpg?ssl=1
Channel: German destroyers shell Dunkirk, (night April 24-25), French destroyer Etendard sunk with all hands, but Anglo-French patrols repel them. Others shell Ramsgate (5 civilian casualties) (night April 26-27).

Political, etc
Russia: Russian government prohibits the sale of alcoholic drinks containing more than 1.5% alcohol, except for locally produced wines.
United Kingdom: Second reading of Corn Production Bill carried in House of Commons.
Canada: Canadian government warns that unless new taxes are levied, its debt will reach $1.3 billion.
United States: Government allocates $200 million of yesterday’s Liberty Loan to Britain.
French Deputy Premier Viviani and General Joffre arrive in the United States for a conference to discuss the war.
Portugal: (Also reported for yesterday) Dr. A. Augusto da Costa succeeds Dr. A. J. d'Almeida as Portuguese Premier (see March 15th, 1916 and December 10th, 1917).
China: Provincial military governors meet in Peking and agree war should be declared against Germany.
Chile: Government breaks relations with Germany.
Greece: Court intrigues in Athens cause dissatisfaction.

26 April 1917
 

Western Front
On the Western Front, British troops repel German advances at Gavrelle and French troops repel attacks against Chemin des Dames.

Southern Front
Salonika: Continued Bulgarian attacks and shelling of Hill 380 (their old front line) and on April 28. Sarrail postpones offensive to West due to bad weather.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Second German destroyer raid on Ramsgate (night 26th/27th) (see March 18th). Two killed, three wounded.
Britain: Admiralty Anti-Submarine Division director urges general convoy system, Jellicoe approves trial convoy from Gibraltar.
Schooner Q-ship (NZ skipper William Edward Sanders wins Victoria Cross) Prize (ex-German ship Else captured in 1914) damages U-93 (11 ships sunk on her first cruise) and captures her captain Edgar von Spiegel plus 2 other crew members, but U-boat gets home. Another source has the fight occurring on 30 April, and gives the details of the fight: HMS Prize was damaged by shellfire. After the 'panic party' had taken to the boats and the ship appeared to be sinking, the U-boat approached to within 80 yards (73m) of her port quarter, whereupon the White Ensign was hoisted and the Prize opened fire.
Within a few minutes the submarine was on fire and her bows rose in the air, whilst the Prize was further damaged. The U-boat disappeared from sight, and was believed to have been sunk by the crew of the Prize and by several of the German crew (including her captain) who had been blown or jumped into the sea.
Neither of the crippled ships had sunk, with the Prize being towed in flames back to Kinsale, while the U-93 struggled back to the Sylt nine days later after a dramatic escape effort through the British mine and destroyer barrages off Dover. Oblt.z.S. Wilhelm Ziegner took command of U-93 after von Spiegel was thought to haved been killed in the battle. U-93 was later sunk on January 7, 1918 by SS Braeneil ramming). And subsequently, the Q-Ship Prize was sunk with all hands by U-48 on August 14, 1917.
‘This is how your money can fight – turn it into U-boats.’ German poster for war loans and in the background a sinking Allied ship: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...leihe.jpg?ssl=1

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Marshall reconnoiters Ali Ihsan’s Band-i-Adhaim position (dug since April 23). Dust storms and great heat (110°F+) prevent much shelling (until April 29).

Political, etc
Germany: Germany begins calling up men previously exempted by the draft due to their work in vital industries. Women will take their place.
Russia: A small riot occurs in Petrograd, as a crowd attacks a gathering of Lenin’s followers. Several of the rioters, mostly Bolsheviks, are arrested.
France: French Socialists refuse to send representatives to Stockholm Conference on 15 May.
United States: (Listed for yesterday) Dr. Guy Brewster demonstrates his body shield to the New Jersey National Guard and survives 5 bullets shot at him: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...9161728/photo/1
Preliminary conferences between the U.S. government and the French war mission begin in Washington D.C.
New York celebrates “France Day” for the anniversary of when Lafayette left Bordeaux in 1777 to aid the US.
China: I. M. Pei (the Chinese-American architect) is born in Canton, China.
Mexico: Mexican government warns its German residents to not congregate at the U.S.-Mexican border or else they will face arrest.

27 April 1917
 

Western Front
Britain claims that in the first 18 days of the Arras offensive, they have captured 18,000 Germans and 250 artillery guns.
A British tractor stuck in the mud while pulling a 6-inch artillery gun. © IWM (Q 6237): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...4211585/photo/1
French offensive on the Aisne checked.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Australian transport Ballarat torpedoed and sunk; no casualties.
East Africa: NRFF occupies Captain Lincke’s evacuated camp at Likuyu, having crossed that river on April 23.

Political, etc
Russia: Lenin chairs Petrograd City Bolshevik Conference (until May 5). Kronstadt Soviet declares itself virtual republic in support (April 29). Lenin was born in Simbirsk in 1870 with the name Vladimir Ilich Ulyanov: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...Lenin.jpg?ssl=1
United Kingdom: Lloyd George speech on U-boat menace.
United States: US London Ambassador wires Washington urging 30 more destroyers for European waters (Navy Secretary orders 32 on June 20).
Guatemala: Guatemala severs diplomatic relations with Germany (see April 23rd, 1918).
Spain: Spanish Note to Germany re: San Fulgencio published.

28 April 1917
 

Western Front
Battle of Arleux phase of the Battle of Arras begins. Canadian 1st Division (c.1,000 casualties) capture village and 450 PoWs from German 111th Division in 2-hour, 1,000-yard advance despite numerous MG nests in three sunken roads, but, to south, 3 British divisions fail with heavy losses including 475 PoWs.
French advance towards Suippe valley (Champagne).
Royal Flying Corps loses 12 aircraft including 10 on contact patrols.
British troops on busses after capturing Monchy-le-Preux from the Germans. © IWM (Q 6235): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...7765888/photo/1

Southern Front
Italian aviators drop thousands of translated copies of President Wilson’s war speech over Austro-Hungarian territory.

Naval and Overseas Operations
British imports in March decreased by £5.1 million, in part due to the German submarine warfare.
The tanker S.S. Vacuum is torpedoed; one officer and nine men of U.S. Navy lost, 44 crew overall.

Political, etc
Germany: Interior Minister Reichstag speech claims over 1.6 million tons Allied shipping sunk in first 2 months, urges Germans to hold out.
Russia: Russian workers who were sent to the front as punishment for participating in the revolution are recalled by the Provisional Government.
France: PETAIN APPOINTED CHIEF OF FRENCH GENERAL STAFF; Paris anxious to restore confidence and apply a break to Aisne offensive without sacking Nivelle (Haig still supports); Fayolle to command Centre Army Group.
Henri Philippe Petain (1856-1951): https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...etain.jpg?ssl=1
Soldier of the British Army Service Corps helping French women with farming. © IWM (Q 3947): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...3401473/photo/1
United Kingdom: In a speech, Premier Lloyd George states victory is in sight and declares Ireland must be won over.
Turkey: (Listed for yesterday): Talaat Pasha, the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, states they will not seek territorial annexations after the war.
United States: Conscription decided: United States Congress pass Bill for drafting 500,000 men (see 6th and May 18th).
A mine explosion in Hastings, Colorado results in the deaths of 122 miners.
Children at the City Hall of New York City for an “Americanization rally”: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...7985025/photo/1

29 April 1917
 

Western Front
Western Front, General: Richthofen scores 3 victories (50th to 52nd) in 3 sorties, including one SPAD with one by brother Lothar before lunch in mess with father Major Baron Albrecht von Richthofen. Manfred von Richthofen (right) and his younger brother Lothar: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...hofen.jpg?ssl=1 Starting later, Lothar achieved an impressive 40 victories. Lothar’s fighting style was much more emotional than his older brother’s and it get him into more trouble, he was wounded in action several times but, unlike Manfred, survived the war.
A crashed British B.E.2e biplane due to engine trouble. © IWM (Q 7231): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...5070082/photo/1
Artois: British 2nd Division capture trenches south of Oppy.
A wounded Canadian soldier being treated by stretcher bearers and a German prisoner at Arleux: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...7557376/photo/1
Scottish troops advancing east of Arras. © IWM (Q 2104A): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...6414976/photo/1
Wounded British soldiers placed on a light railway for transport. © IWM (Q 6225): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...8927744/photo/1
Aisne: Nivelle abandons Mangin (replaced May 2 by Maistre).
Marne and Champagne: The French army mutiny spreads: 200 men of French 20th Regiment flee to woods from Chalons barracks rather than return to front.

Political, etc
Russia: CoS Alexeiev to War Minister ‘The situation in the Army grows worse every day; information … from all sides indicate that the Army is systematically falling apart’. War Minister’s order No 213 gives all punishment powers to disciplinary courts (officer as presidents, 2 soldiers elected for 6 months) except in action but each army differs.
1000 wounded Russian soldiers march in Petrograd to support the continuation of the war against Germany.
United States: 100 U.S. Congressmen write to Premier Lloyd George urging for Irish Home Rule to be implemented.
The U.S. confectionary “MoonPie” is invented by the Chattanooga Bakery.
British and French Missions visit Washington's tomb.

30 April 1917
 

Western Front
Western Front, Air: Clashes over front line as German two-seaters strafe British lines. Jasta 11 combined with 2 , 3 and 33 into Jagdgruppe 1 of 20 single-seaters which Royal Flying Corps dub ‘Richthofen’s Circus’ (renamed Jagdgeschwader 1 on July 24). Richthofen goes on leave on May 1 after 21 victories during April.
Royal Flying Corps April losses 316 aircrew and 151 planes (88 to Jasta 11) of which 82 to only 5 German pilots; total German 119 aircrew and 66 aircraft.
German April victories: Kurt Wolff 21; Karl Wolff and Lothar von Richthofen 15 each; Otto Bernert 11; Sebastian Festner 10.
Air combat between British and German fighters over the Western Front: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...Flugz.jpg?ssl=1
Damage at Zierikzee (Holland) by unknown airplane. (note: literally unknown to this day. It could have been an off-course Allied plane, or an off-course German plane).
Britain: Royal Navy airship SL 9 destroyed in storm.
British troops advancing forward near Arras. © IWM (Q 2105): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...7988865/photo/1
The ruined railway station of Arras covered by weeds and grass. © IWM (Q 7781): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...0171009/photo/1
British military band playing in the ruined town square of Arras. © IWM (Q 6407): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...1449984/photo/1

Naval and Overseas Operations
ALLIED AND NEUTRAL APRIL SHIPPING LOSSES WORST MONTH OF BOTH WORLD WARS: 873,754t (373 ships). German U-boat history figure 860,334t of which 278,038t (23,037 to Austrians) in Mediterranean; another 113,000t shipping damaged.
Projected since April 17, 50% risk of destruction to homeward bound ships 2 in 11, annual loss rate, one in 4 ships leaving Britain being sunk. Only 1 U-boat lost. British minesweepers suffer almost 1 lost per day. U-boats have attacked 781 ships since February 1: 526 sunk, 37 damaged for loss of 10 U-boats (record of 802 t per U-boat day in Mediterranean), 13 new U-boats commissioned. Lloyd George visits Admiralty and reinforces convoy decision. [ed note: Lloyd George made much of this visit, insisting that he personally ‘forced’ the navy to adopt the convoy system. In reality, the decision to institute it had already been taken, and the assertion here, that he ‘reinforced’ the decision is far more accurate].
North Sea: During April Royal Navy orders 136 Nash Fish towed hydrophones after successful trials. In use with 54 patrol vessel as of 1918 as U-boat encounters.
HMS Tulip, a British Q-ship, is sunk by the German submarine SM U-62, resulting in the deaths of 102 crew.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Armenia: Mush occupied by Turkish forces (see August 24th, 1916).
Mesopotamia: During April Royal Flying Corps fly record 335 hours.
Battle of Band-i-Adhaim: Marshall’s 5,200 men (692 casualties) and 64 guns vs 6,270 Turks (565 casualties including 365 PoWs) and 39 guns (1 lost). British storm Turkish second line and beyond but lose gains to 6 vs 1 counter-attack in dust storm.

Political, etc
United Kingdom: Jockey Club stops racing after 4 May.
Belgium: Spanish and Dutch individuals take over relief efforts in German-occupied Belgium and France from U.S. representatives.
United States: Suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt demand equal pay if women take over men’s jobs after they are sent to the front.
Six U.S. Red Cross base hospitals are ordered to go to Europe to treat wounded Allied soldiers.
Poland: Polish scheme for Galicia published. [note: said ‘scheme’ involved the forcible removal of Galicia from Austria-Hungary, and adding it to the Polish state. Today, Galicia is split among Poland, the Slovakian Republic, Hungary, and possibly the Ukraine.]

Hard to imagine the shipping losses for April. Wow!

1 May 1917
 

Western Front
Champagne: French repulse two counter-attacks south of Moronvilliers and raids on May 2.
Artois: Since April 9 BEF has advanced 2-5 miles on 20-mile front, fired 6,466,239 shells, engaged 32 German divisions (16 forced into reserve), taken 18,128 PoWs and 230 guns; 227 mortars; 470 MGs for 83,970 casualties.
Germany: In May Germans give each infantry company 2 Bergmann submachine guns (another 2 in September).
Air War: On the Western Front in April, Britain lost 275 aircraft, while the Germans lost 66, giving rise to the nickname "Bloody April.
From May until July ‘B’ or Black Flight of Royal Navy Air Service No 10 squadron destroys 87 German aircraft. Royal Flying Corps flies 39,500 hours in May (record till March 1918).
In May Germans have 47 seaplanes at Zeebrugge and Ostend, shoot down 6 French flying boats; RNAS send extra 9 seaplanes.

Southern Front
Macedonia: In early May after ineffective and increasingly more costly, bomber operations KG 1 is withdrawn from Hudova and railed to Western Front (RFC belatedly discovers it on May 10).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Eastern Atlantic: HM submarine E54 sinks U-81 off Western Ireland resulting in 31 crew deaths. U-81 was a high-seas submarine with a 10.5-cm (4.1in) deck gun:
Mediterranean: In May numbers reach 28 U-boats in Pola-Cattaro Flotilla. Allies have 858 patrol vessels (89 destroyers) of which 387 available to protect shipping, but only 201 to protect c.3,000 ships per day at sea at anyone time. During May British Admiralty orders 1108 new ASW vessels including 97 destroyers and 60 submarines. Average of 47 U-boats at sea per day.
In May the transport U-boat UC-20 takes 7 Germans to set up radio station (until August) at Misurata (Tripolitania) with Senussi rebels.
North Sea: German seaplane sinks British SS Gena off Suffolk, but latter shoots down escorting seaplane.
The 1st Battlecruiser Squadron of the Royal Navy leaving the Firth of Forth. © IWM (Q 74234): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...9847681/photo/1
Channel: In May 4 Dover Barrage drifters damaged by its mines. During May record of 13 German mine sweepers mined and sunk (only 12 so lost November 1916-April 1917).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
North-west frontier (India): Mahsud tribesmen attack British convoy; beaten off, British losses 60 killed, 55 wounded.

Political, etc
Russia: Russian Army Conference asks for the abolition of private ownership of land and the distribution of land among the peasants.
Millions of people march in Russian cities to celebrate May Day, the 1st since the February Revolution: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...4938369/photo/1
France: Early May Nivelle insists 1,000 Renault FT-17 light tanks top priority order.
The ‘Ribot Cable’: French Prime minister asks US to send 4,500 combat aircraft to Western Front during 1918; with trainers, grand total required by June 30, 1918 is 22,625 planes.
United Kingdom: British Admiral Beresford states shipping losses by U-boats are “appalling” and criticizes the government for hiding its full scale.
New schedule of Protected Occupations published.
United States: President Wilson confers with British Foreign Secretary Balfour and French Deputy PM Viviani at the White House to discuss the war situation. Later, French war mission delegates Viviani and Marshal Joffre are greeted by the U.S. Senate with cheers.
President Wilson signs executive order instituting censorship for cables out of the U.S. and telegraph/telephone lines into Mexico.
Poland: Polish Council of State presents demands to Central Powers (see yesterday).

2 May 1917
 

Western Front
Air: From behind BEF barrage hedge-hopping Nieuport fighters destroy 4 German balloons (7 destroyed similarly on May 7 for 2 Nieuports lost). 40 aircraft dogfight east of Arras in which Captain Ball makes the only kill.
Here, an observer saves himself from a hit balloon by parachute: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...allon.jpg?ssl=1
French aeroplanes bomb Trier in reprisal for German air raids against Chalons and Epernay.
In Champagne and Moronvilliers region German trench raids beaten back.

Eastern Front
Alexeiev and Front commanders tell Provisional Government and Petrograd Soviet ‘The Army is on the very brink of ruin’. 2 MILLION DESERTERS IN MARCH AND APRIL.


Naval and Overseas Operations
First United States destroyer flotilla arrives at Queenstown (see June 18th).
Channel: Royal Navy destroyer Derwent sunk by mine (52 lives lost): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...4497664/photo/1

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: At breakfast German Admiral Holtzendorff assures Emperor Charles that April U-boat sinkings will be 1 million tons, Empress Zita deplores U-boat war.
Germany: Talaat Pasha visits Kaiser.
United Kingdom: ‘Then called on Carson at Admiralty … still deeply depressed about submarine war’ C P Scott, Editor Manchester Guardian.
Fresh Food Order extending powers of Controller.
Mr. Bonar Law introduces Budget.
Argentina: Argentina receives reparation from Germany for sinking of Monteprotegido.
Greece: M. Zaimis again becomes Premier.

3 May 1917
 

Western Front
Artois: Third Battle of the Scarpe (until May 4): British attack on 16-mile front east of Arras with 14 divisions; 2,685 guns (vs 1,429 German pieces) and 16 tanks before dawn at 0345 hours with few Third Army gains although Canadians (1,259 casualties) storm Fresnoy, capturing 500 PoWs.
Five Sopwith 1½ Strutters of No.43 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, carry out machine-gun attacks on German troops massing at Oppy for a counter-attack on the morning of the first day of the Third Battle of the Scarpe, the Arras Offensive. Although the Royal Flying Corps had carried out low flying attacks during the assaults around Vimy, this is regarded as the first true occasion on which the Royal Flying Corps fly close air support sorties.
And the Battle of Bullecourt (until May 17): 6 British-Australian divisions with 12 tanks of Fifth Army break into strongly fortified village 14 miles west of Cambrai and break through Hindenburg Line switch at Queant.
The new British Mark IV tank has been in operation since March 1917 and its 12 mm reinforced armor can no longer be penetrated by armor piercing bullets from the German infantry weapons: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...rk-IV.jpg?ssl=1
A British soldier tending to a grave of a fallen soldier near Blangy. © IWM (Q 5289): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...5912322/photo/1
French Saint-Chamond tank “Teddy” at Conde-sur-Aisne. © IWM (Q 69623): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...6410497/photo/1
Aisne: French Army mutinies become more widespread, with the Colonial division and 2 French infantry regiments (21st Division) affected (until May 4).
German soldiers training in trenches near Sedan: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...8707712/photo/1
Barbed wire entanglement of the Siegfriedstellung (Hindenburg Line) near Heninel. © IWM (Q 5286): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...8537600/photo/1

Political, etc
Russia: First demonstration against Provisional Government, Foreign Minister Miliukov defends policy to Petrograd crowds. Provisional Governments just wins Petrograd Soviet confidence vote (on May 4).
Russian Provisional Government grants citizens the freedoms of association and meeting.
General Alexeiev protests v. "no annexation, etc." propaganda.
France: Anglo-French Paris War Conference (until May 5).
United Kingdom: British government takes control of all shipping in the face of the German U-boat threat.
Members of Imperial War Conference received by King at Windsor.
King George signs a proclamation urging people to lessen their consumption of wheat and be frugal in use of other grains as well.
British Trade Corporation founded with capital of 10 millions.
United States: U.S. government announces it will issue $2 billion worth of “liberty loans" to help finance the war effort; US loans Italy $100 million, France also on May 8 and Russia on May 16.
Brazil: Foreign Minister Müller resigns as German name hampers his neutral policy.
Sweden: Sweden prohibits the exportation of nearly all foodstuffs in order to control food shortages.

Have to admit. This is one of my favorite threads. Glad you started it and have kept it going GG. :thumbs:

4 May 1917
 

Western Front
Aisne: Craonne (Aisne) and trenches on 3-mile front northwest of Reims. are retaken by French forces (see September 1st, 1914, April 16th, 1917 and May 27th, 1918).
End of Third Battle of the Scarpe, 1917 (see 3rd) brings Battles of Arras, 1917, to an end (see April 9th).
British soldiers with an 8-inch howitzer near Henin. © IWM (Q 7820): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...8702977/photo/1
19,343 prisoners claimed secured by British during April.
Germany: All 52 German reserve divisions of April 1 have been engaged. Allies still have 30.
French aircraft bomb factories near Metz.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Western Mediterranean: U-63 sinks Egypt-bound British transport Transylvania (413 lost) in Gulf of Genoa, but rest of c.3,000 troops saved by escorting Japanese destroyer Matsu. https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...7057152/photo/1

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: 5 German aircraft bomb EEF Deir-el-Balah HQ (30 casualties). Royal Flying Corps bomb Beersheba on May 10.

Political, etc
France: Inter-Allied conference in Paris until May 5. Haig and French commanders unanimously agree to continue offensive with limited objectives to prevent Germans recovering from their second Aisne and Arras losses and to prevent them striking at Russia and Italy, but BEF will make main attack.
United Kingdom: British Admiralty reform announced.
United States: President Wilson asks Congress for broad economic powers to fix prices for necessities, regulate markets, stop manipulation & limit brewing. Many of the President’s supporters in Congress represented cotton interests, therefore, cotton was not subject to price controls under “necessities”.

And I'm glad that it is proving to be worthwhile.

5 May 1917
 

Western Front
Aisne: With 48 Saint Chamond tanks (combat debut) in support (6 lost) French take crest of Craonne Ridge including Chemin des Dames, Laffaux Mill, claims 6,000 PoWs (De Lattre’s 3rd Battalion, 93rd Infantry has 300 casualties but takes 500 PoWs and Cerny underground works); French repulse counter-attacks on May 6.
French Saint Chamond tanks in action: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...nsatz.jpg?ssl=1
British soldiers playing in the water during a rest period at Rollancourt. © IWM (Q 5306): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...8524160/photo/1


Southern Front
Italian Front: Italians repulse Austrian attacks on Carso.
Macedonia : Battle of the Vardar begins (see 22nd). French 122nd and Greek Seres Divisions take Bulgarian Vardar sector trenches near Gevgeli (Bulgar frontier), repulse counter-attack on May 7.
Gorizia bombed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Russian detachments withdraw about Oghnut and Mush.

Political, etc
Germany: Zimmermann states the U.S. entering the war with the Allies would help Germany collect billions in indemnities after Germany wins the war.
Russia: Foreign Minister Miliukov tells Petrograd Soviet ‘Russia will never agree to a separate peace.’ Dumas President says same on May 10.
General Kornilov reorganises reserves.
At Nevsky Prospect in Petrograd, thousands of factory workers clash with soldiers in protest of the Russian Provisional Government.
Russian soldiers demonstrate for peace in Bacau, Romania. [ed note: there was a photo to go along with this, but the same photo , from the same source, was also labelled, “Australian soldiers, possibly in London, marking his ballot for the Australian Federal Election.” I tried to enlarge the photo, and there was a background sign with what appeared to be Cyrillic writing on it; but the attitude of the soldiers was more of expectant waiting, rather than people demonstrating anything.]
France: At Paris conference British announce 1 division and 2 cavalry brigades will be withdrawn from Salonika; Jellicoe says force will starve unless reduced.
French government apologizes to Switzerland for accidentally bombing the border town of Porrentruy a few days ago.
United Kingdom: Flat racing discontinued.
Australia: Australian Federal Election is held, with the Nationalist Party winning 53 seats and the Australian Labour Party getting 22.
United States: British Secretary of State Arthur Balfour becomes the first non-American to address Congress.
The U.S. begins accepting subscriptions for its “Liberty Loan,” raising around $20 million on average per hour for the war effort.
Minor Allies: Liberia severs diplomatic relations with Germany (see August 4th).

6 May 1917
 

Western Front
Aisne: French Reserve Army Group dissolved, Micheler takes over Fifth Army from Mazel.
French painting from 1917 ‘Poilus’: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...oilus.jpg?ssl=1
French claim 29,000 prisoners taken since 10 April.
Artois: British repulse counter-attack near river Souchez.
At the Aisne and Arras, both French and British forces successfully defend their gains against heavy German counterattacks.
Britain – First night aeroplane raid on London: Albatros C-VII (Klimke and Leon) on own initiative drops 5 x 22lb bombs between Holloway and Hackney (night May 6-7, 3 casualties).

Southern Front
Supported by heavy artillery, Austro-Hungarian troops make small advances against Italian lines southeast of Gorizia.
Violent artillery actions on Trentino and Julian front.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
T.E. Lawrence (2nd from right) and his party on a mission to recover a crashed aeroplane at Wadi Hamdh. © IWM (Q 59040): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...2537088/photo/1

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Common Ministers Council agrees to reopen Mitteleuropa (Central Europe) talks with Germany (Berlin owed RM 6 billions). Emperor says ‘I do not agree at all’ (May 14).
Russia: Kiev Czech congress recognises Masaryk and Czech National Council.
Russian Provisional Government forbids public meetings and demonstrations for the next two days in response to recent disturbances.
Greece: Salonika mass meeting of 30,000 demands King’s deposition. Salonika plot to murder Venizelos discovered on May 10
Sweden: Food riots occur in Stockholm, Sweden, which was triggered by the lack of potatoes.

7 May 1917
 

Western Front
Captain Albert Ball, Royal Flying Corps (44 victories, last 2 on May 5) killed aged 20 in an SE5 inverted from low cloud behind German lines; cause perhaps vertigo. Only 5 of No 60 Squadron’s 11 Scouts he was among return from evening patrol. Posthumous Victoria Cross. It is possible that Ball was shot down by Lothar von Richthofen, who claimedan aerial victory at about the time and place of Ball’s plane falling. However, von Richthofen claimed a triplane; while the Sopwith Triplane was in operational status at the time, Ball never flew one. Captain Ball fell on the enemy side of the lines and was buried with full military honours by the Germans.
British cavalry crossing a bridge over a communication trench near Neuve Eglise: © IWM (Q 6183): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...1486851/photo/1
British position between Bullecourt and Queant improved by Australians.
Some of “The Balmorals” performers who are entertaining British troops at Chelers: © IWM (Q 5330): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...3120384/photo/1
President Wilson’s war address is translated into German and sent towards German lines via balloons: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...3800832/photo/1
Daylight aeroplane raid on north-east London, 1 killed, 2 wounded.
Edward 'Mick' Mannock of the Royal Flying Corps, shoots down a balloon to claim his first aerial victory.

Southern Front
Bulgarian counter-attack on Franco-Venizelist forces near Gevgeli repulsed.

Naval and Overseas Operations
German submarine SM UB-39, which sunk 93 ships during its career, hits a mine and sinks with all 24 crew.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Imperial Camel Corps blow up wells south of Beersheba (until May 14).

Political, etc
Germany: German Chancellor uses Social Democrats to influence Soviet delegates towards German terms of peace.
Russia: First post-Revolution Bolshevik Party Conference (until May 12) with 80,000 members; Lenin elected to Central Committee. Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, named Lenin, after his return to Russia: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...70318.jpg?ssl=1
Russian Provisional Government takes control of grain stocks in order to control food supply and prices.
France: With one of six Frenchmen in uniform, France is importing thousands of Chinese labourers to make up for manpower shortages.
Turkey: Falkenhayn reaches Constantinople to discuss Baghdad’s reconquest (he leaves on May 13).
United States: Theodore Roosevelt promises he can recruit 180,000 men and send them to France in 6 weeks. [ed note: another one of the absurd claims made by people in the US, who should have known better; never came about.]
Herbert C. Hoover warns that Germany might win the war before the U.S. is ready to send men to the front.