28 November 1917
 

Western Front
Battle of Cambrai: Germans shell Bourlon Wood and Ypres front. 16,000 German gas and high-explosive shells rain down on Bourlon Wood.
France: AEF US First Army Staff College opens at Langres with three-month course.

Eastern Front
Russia suffers heavily from the war. As a result of famine, there were even cases of cannibalism: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ismus.jpg?ssl=1

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Italian batteries shell Austro-Hungarian boats on Lower Piave.
Albania: Austro-Hungarians assault Italian positions nine miles north-east from Avlona.
A German or Austro-Hungarian soldier taking a picture of the ruined town of Asiago, Italy after its capture: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...237081336569857

Naval and Overseas Operations
British Home Waters: U-boat sinks British Elder-Dempster liner Apapa (77 lives lost).
Adriatic: Austrian destroyers and torpedo boats shell coast railway near Senigallia.
Britain: WRNS founded (Women’s Royal Naval Service).
East Africa: GERMAN EAST AFRICA ALL IN BRITISH HANDS. K George V’s telegram congratulates Jacob Deventer on November 30.

Political, etc
Russia: Estonia declares itself independent.
Bashkirs in Russia proclaim the creation of Bashkurdistan, the first autonomous ethnic region in Russia.
Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky radio and telegram proclamation ‘The Russian Army and the Russian people cannot and will not, wait any longer.’
France: First meeting of Great Inter-Allied Conference opens in Paris.
British Premier Lloyd George meeting with French Premier Georges Clemenceau for tomorrow's Allied war council. © IWM (Q 57040): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...486021789192192
United Kingdom: Air Force (Constitution) Act, 1917, comes into operation in Great Britain (see December 21st, 1917 and January 3rd, 1918).

29 November 1917
 

Western Front
Battle of Cambrai: British troops at Cambrai launch an attack with 30 tanks against Bourlon and Fontaine, but lose gained ground to German counterattacks.
Germans attack Belgian positions near Aschhoop.
Artillery activity in Ypres sector.
A wounded Canadian and German soldier light up their cigarettes near Passchendaele: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...589135011729413

Eastern Front
Russian artillery in Trotus (Moldavia) valley breaks up Austro-Hungarian operations.
Otherwise, cessation of hostilities on Russian front.

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Austro-German efforts on the River Piave fail.
British monitor destroys bridge of boats at Passarella, five miles up the Piave.
The first operational sorties are flown by the Royal Flying Corps in Italy. Royal Aircraft Factory RE8s from No.34 Squadron attempt a photographic reconnaissance of the Montello front, escorted by the Sopwith Camels of No.28 Squadron. The flight shoots down 1 Austrian single-seater but fighter attacks prevent RE8 photo-reconnaissance.
A German Albatros fighter on a reconnaissance mission on the Italian front: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...alpen.jpg?ssl=1 [note: although labelled an Albatros by the caption, this aircraft is clearly a Pfalz D-III (or D-IIIa); Austria-Hungary didn’t use the Pfalz, so perhaps the aircraft is on a training or home-defense flight over the Bavarian Alps: the main user of the Pfalz was Bavaria]
French 75mm field gun converted as an anti-aircraft gun at the Macedonian Front: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...891144642351104

Political, etc
Germany: Germany accepts Lenin's offer of an armistice. Russian delegates cross German lines. Count Hertling willing to treat with Bolsheviks. Kaiser wires Kuehlmann to try for Russian alliance ‘in spite of everything’.
Russia: Allied nations warn Russia not to conclude a separate peace with Germany, while Russian and German delegates begin talks for an armistice.
United Kingdom: Letter in "Daily Telegraph" from Lord Lansdowne calling for a re-statement of Allies' War Aims, and urges compromise peace with Germany.
War Cabinet bars Bolshevik propaganda and suspends all warlike aid.
British newsreel “Topical Budget” showing tank scenes from the Battle of Cambrai and other news: http://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/index/5440

30 November 1917
 

Western Front
Battle of Cambrai: The German counter-attacks at Cambrai begin in earnest (see 20th and December 3rd), with 0830 hours barrage including much gas shell. German Second Army, reinforced to 20 divisions, employs infiltration tactics and close air support, tested at Riga and Caporetto. The attacks on the salient at Vendhuille, Bourlon Wood and Moeuvres penetrate British position as far as La Vacquerie and Gouzeaucourt, capturing 6,000 PoWs and 158 guns in advances up to 3 miles. British Guards Div counter-attack regains La Vacquerie, then 36 tanks arrive. British Army’s youngest general, Brigade-General ‘Boy’ Bradford, Victoria Cross (GOC 186th Brigade, 62nd Division) killed by shell outside his headquarter, aged 25.
At least 30 low-flying Schlachtflugzeug (‘battle aircraft’) support German advance in south, more in northern sector. 10 Australian DH5s of No 68 Squadron assist British afternoon counter-attack. c.50 Royal Flying Corps aircraft and as many German over Bourlon Wood, both sides strafe. British claim 11 German aircraft lost, 7 British.
German soldiers collect their equipment before the counterattack at Cambrai: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...mbrai.jpg?ssl=1
Flanders: Tbritish claim that the total German casualties since July 31: c.400,000 soldiers.
France: 129,623 AEF (American Expedition Force) personnel in Europe.
Germany: Transfer of 42 divisions (over 500,000 traps) from Eastern Front and elsewhere to West begins until March 21, 1918.
Britain: Vickers Vimy twin engine heavy bomber first flies.
OHL has 144 twin-engine bombers in 7 Bogohl (36 in Bogohl 3 against England).
British troops showing off a captured donkey (wearing a German helmet) and cart once held by the Germans at the Battle of Cambrai. TMB on the sign possibly means Trench Mortar Battery: © IWM (Q 6341): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...951543878275072

Southern Front
Macedonia: In Doiran region and north of Monastir, French and British batteries destroy Bulgarian dumps and break up positions.
French bomb valley of the Vardar and north of Monastir.

Naval and Overseas Operations
During November Allied and neutral shipping losses to U-boats lowest of 1917, with 126 ships (56 British with 376 lives) worth 289,095t (U-boat figure 302,599t, including 104,479t in Mediterranean) and 8 U-boats lost. 90% of British ocean-going shipping now in convoy.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
At Auja, Palestine, Australian Light Horse surround Turks, taking 148 prisoners.
British raid Turks at Beth Horun Upper (10 miles west of Jerusalem), taking 300 prisoners.
Mesopotamia: RFC bomb German Kifri airfield (night November 30-December 1), but fail to check reconnaissance for Turks.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Austro-Hungarian Government accept Bolshevik proposals to negotiate for an armistice and peace (see 21st and December 3rd).
Germany: German press approves Lord Lansdowne's letter.
United Kingdom: Allied standing Naval Conference formed in London (see January 24th) creates coordinating Allied Naval Council including politicians for first time.
British claim that prisoners in all theatres taken by British during November are 26,869 and 221 guns.
Coventry aircraft works on strike, 50,000 men and women idle.
Canada: Anti-draft riot breaks out at a meeting in Sherbrooke, Quebec, preventing the Canadian Minister of Justice from speaking.

1 December 1917
 

Western Front
Battle of Cambrai: Gonnelieu recovered, but British withdraw from Masnieres salient.
The Germans attack heavily at Bourlon Wood and claim 4,000 prisoners and 60 guns.
RFC more active than Germans, 5 air combats cost 3 German and 1 British aircraft with 2 balloons.
Verdun: Violent German attack north of Fosses Wood, others fail to reach Avocourt and Forges (December 4, artillery duels northeast of city on December 8).
Record of 4,338 Royal Flying Corps aircraft serviceable.
Wounded Canadian soldiers and captured German prisoners sitting together at a dressing station: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...310160645152769

Eastern Front
M. Vladimir Lenin demands surrender of General Nikolai Dukhonin, former Commander-in-Chief.
Russian General Staff surrenders at Mohilev.
Partial cessation of hostilities

Southern Front
In December first all-Greek reconnaissance-bomber escadrille (French-trained) formed, 3 other units created by Armistice.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Britain: US CNO Benson promises Italian Marine Minister in London five 5,000-t merchant ships and 2 or 3 tankers, minesweepers, tugs, small escorts and 5-inch guns. US "dreadnought" division of 4 battleships (Rear-Adm Rodman in battleship New York) joins Grand Fleet.
Germany: During December all U-boats withdrawn from Baltic (last sinking was in October).
Western Mediterranean: During December 751 merchant ships arrive at Gibraltar, 252 with coal, 56 handle cargo, 107 repaired.
East Africa: German East Africa declared clear of enemy; von Lettow-Vorbeck retires across Rovuma river (Portuguese boundary).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Turkish 19th Division’s German-style storm battalion destroyed attack of ALH and 52nd Division at El Burj. Kress hands over Eighth Army to Djevad Pasha. 2 Australian armored cars liberate Hebron in 210-mile round trip looking for a Turkish agent until December 2.
German officer inspecting a company of Turkish storm-troopers in Palestine. The soldiers and their commander wear the special Turkish steel helmet which differed slightly from the German original: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...uppen.jpg?ssl=1
Record of 692 RFC aircraft serviceable.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Neue Freie Presse prints Ludendorff interview: ‘Russian Revolution … is the outcome of our victory we can conclude an armistice with Russia only when we are certain it will be observed’.
Germany: German Foreign Secretary Richard von Kühlmann declares that Germany will only ask for “mild” peace terms from the Allies.
France: Allied Supreme War Council begins work at Versailles and presents plans for 1918 on December 13. Meeting is attended by the Premiers of Britain, France, and Italy. “Colonel” E. M. House represents the U.S. Allied Prime Ministers decide no more supplies for Russia, but guarantee Rumania’s monarchy and prewar territory and defer Polish question.
United Kingdom: British official casualties in November numbered 120,089 men, with 25,444 killed in action.
Canada: Canadian Victory Loan; Over £70 million subscribed.
India: (Listed for yesterday): Indian scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose establishes the Bose Institute in Calcutta, one of the first research institutions in India.
United States: The first of the U.S.’s wooden merchant ships, with a tonnage of 4000 tons and 290 feet in length and designed to make trans-Atlantic voyages, is completed in 120 days. An example of the wooden ships: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...279021091946496

I had not seen anything on the "wooden ships" shown in that last photo link. Do you know anything more about them ... were they produced in large numbers? Were they successful? Speed? Etc.

2 December 1917
 

Western Front
Battle of Cambrai: Only limited air operations until December 6, with 3 German aircraft shot down (2 by McCudden), 3 British with 2 missing.
Germans make a failed attempt to recover high ground about La Vacquerie.
British troops launch an attack towards Westroozebeke near Passchendaele, but are repulsed by German defenses with heavy casualties.
Further fighting north of Passchendaele.

Eastern Front
Brest-Litovsk: Russian and German Peace Delegations welcomed by Prince Leopold of Bavaria (Commander-in-Chief). Suspension of hostilities between the Russian and German Armies begins (see 8th). [The actual suspension of hostilities took place on dates fixed by the local Arms Commanders (see 8th) in anticipation of truce arranged between the official negotiators (see 6th).]
Arrival of the Russian negotiators Adolph Joffe, lev Karakhan and Leon Trotsky in Brest-Litovsk, seat of the German headquarters on the Eastern Front: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...towsk.jpg?ssl=1

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Italian strength 552 battalions plus 86 Anglo-French as 3 British divisions take over Montello sector (until December 4) and 3 French Mt Tomba area, but not attacked as expected. Three German divisions ordered back to Germany, 4 remain. Emperor Charles suspends main offensive though Trentino attack to go on.
Intense artillery action on Asiago Plateau.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Channel: Coastal submarine UB-81 (1 survivor) mined and sunk off the Owers near Portsmouth.
Mozambique: Lettow captures Portuguese Fort Nanguari with food and ammo in Ukula Hills on river Lugenda, has already split force into columns under Wahle and Goering.

Political, etc
Russia: Lavr Kornilov and 5 fellow generals (including Anton Denikin) escape from prison in Bykhov, head for Don by train.
Turkey: General Hans von Seeckt appointed CoS and adviser to Enver at Constantinople.
United States: So far 1,348 U.S. soldiers have died, with 937 from “natural causes,” 352 to accidents, 18 lost at sea, 11 killed in action, and 30 due to other reasons.

from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unite...t_Corpor ation

A notable, possibly notorious, project was the wooden, ocean-going steamer. William Denman had been an early proponent of these ships, as the nation had abundant lumber supplies, and there was doubt whether domestic steel production could cope with the demands of shipbuilding in conjunction with other wartime pressures. Both British and U.S. officials considered the ships worthwhile if the ships could make a single, successful one-way voyage to the war. Still, the wooden ship program was so controversial that Edward N. Hurley, Chairman United States Shipping Board, had to defend them from "criticism and ridicule" with "I am convinced that we were amply justified in building the wood ships, although no one wished to assume the responsibility for them because of the criticism and ridicule which they had received."

Some of the several designs are commonly named Ferris Designs after Theodore E. Ferris, the official naval architect for the USSB. Ferris designed both steel and wood ships for mass production. One design, 1001, was for wooden 3,500 ton steam freighters with dimensions of approximately 281 X 46 X 23.5 feet (7.2 m) built largely of precut, numbered components of pine or Douglas fir.

There were other wooden ship designs, many unique to regional yards, and a large wooden fleet was built, one that has been called by some the "white elephant" fleet. Some were burned in accidents; however others were burned after the war to recover valuable metals. For example, in 1922 Western Marine and Salvage Company (WM&SC) of Alexandria, Virginia bought 233 such ships for $750,000 so that the ships could have machinery removed in Alexandria and then towed back to the anchorage on the Potomac and burned to regain remaining scrap. That activity brought protests from watermen and the operation was moved to in 1924 to 566 acres (2.29 km2) of company owned farmland surrounding Mallows Bay in Maryland.

3 December 1917
 

Western Front
Battle of Cambrai: Battle of Cambrai, ends (see November 20th, 1917 and October 8th, 1918).
British withdraw at La Vacquerie and east of Marcoing, and bridgehead over canal.
German forces at Cambrai claim the capture of another 2000 British soldiers and 40 artillery guns in their attacks against the British salient.
Ypres: British gain ground south-west of Polygon Wood.
Haig warns his army commanders: ‘… situation on the Russian and Italian fronts … the paucity of reinforcements which we are likely to receive will in all probability necessitate adopting a defensive attitude for the next few months. We must be prepared to meet a strong and sustained hostile offensive’.

Eastern Front
First session of armistice [Also known as "Truce Delegates" and "Peace Delegates."] delegates at Brest-Litovsk-Bolshevik Russia, and Bulgaria, Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey (see 6th, and November 30th).
General Nikolai Dukhonin murdered by mob of soldiers and sailors at Mohilev station. General Lavr Kornilov escapes.

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): 213 Austrian guns and mortars heavily bombard (mainly gas shell) Mt.Sisemol to Mt.Badenecche until December 4.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British 74th Division battalion (286 casualties) takes but loses Beit-Ur-el Foka.
Mesopotamia: Third Action of Jebel Hamrin: Egerton’s 20,000 men with 116 guns and Colonel Bicharakov’s 1,000 Cossacks advance against 4,400 Turks with 34 guns, occupy Sakaltutan Pass on December 4, take Kara Tepe on December 5, inflict 542 Turk casualties for 219.
British drive Turks out of Kara Tepe; Turks flood country between Nahrin and Diala rivers.
Armenia: War Cabinet decide to meet ‘any reasonable demands for money from Russian Caucasus Army.’ Russians attempt to co-operate from Persia.

Political, etc
Germany: German Field Marshal von Hindenburg and General von Ludendorff both express confidence in victory due to Russia’s Revolution, the German submarine campaign, and ineffectiveness of the U.S.
France: Allied Conference in Paris resolve to establish an Allied Maritime Transport Council (see January 6th and November 3rd, 1917 and February 15th, 1918).
7,000 strikers close Saint*-Etienne munitions factory until December 5.
United Kingdom: CIGS cables General Ballard (Liaison Officer with Rumanian Army) to finance Kaledin ‘up to any figure necessary’.
Voluntary food ration scale issued for all under 18. 4 German PoWs briefly escape from Farnborough.
Italy: First day of compulsory food rationing in Rome.
Bulgaria: Bulgaria declares readiness to negotiate war settlement.
Romania: Russian C-in-C General Dmitry Shcherbachev informs King Ferdinand of Mackensen’s ceasefire approaches.
United States: War Savings and Thrift stamps go on sale.
Shell casing from the first U.S. shot against Germany on the Western Front is presented to President Wilson at the White House.

Thanks. That was very interesting. Almost sounds like the reluctance of the British government to accept the Mosquito aircraft in WWII. I think the idea as a good one.

4 December 1917
 

Western Front
British obliged to evacuate salient of Brulon wood at Cambrai (night December 4-5 til 7) by threat of renewed German attacks, and loathsome conditions created by unburied corpses, clouds of poison gases and pools of stagnant water.

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Viktor von Scheuchenstuel’s Eleventh Army (35 battalions) eliminates Mts Meletta-Badenecche salient northeast of Asiago in 4 hours, taking 16,000 PoWs, 90 guns and 200 MGs until December 5, helped by inadequate Italian gas masks and incompetent General Armani (later sacked); Italian 29th Division destroyed.
Austrian artillery very active towards Brenta river.
Elsewhere, Italian forces repel German and Austro-Hungarian attacks on the Asiago plateau, despite heavy artillery bombardment by the Central Powers.
Austro-Hungarian Major General von Vidale at his headquarters overseeing the attack on Italian troops defending the Meletta: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...709380086181889

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Minor actions north of Jaffa and on Jerusalem road.
British seaplanes active.

Political, etc
France: Foreign Minister Stephen Pichon signs decree forming independent Czech Army. A group of Czechoslovak soldiers in French uniforms on the Western Front. They were recruited from captured or deserted Austro-Hungarian soldiers: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...front.jpg?ssl=1
United Kingdom: Operations at Aden described in House of Lords.
United States: Wilson message to Congress says peace will come when German people agree to a settlement of ‘justice and reparation’: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Wood...Union_Addres s
US War Trade Board blacklists 1600 German firms in Latin America.
Finland: Declaration of Independence of Finland from Russia is read in the Finnish Senate. It will be voted on the 6th: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...739600155602944

5 December 1917
 

Western Front
British airmen raid Zweibrucken and Saarbrucken.

Eastern Front
Negotiations at Brest-Litovsk re: Russian Armistice; preliminary suspension of hostilities signed.

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Conrad drives towards Foza, but delayed by Bersaglieri and Alpini troops rearguard.
Austro-Hungarian progress at Asiago, storm M. Zomo and Castelgomberto and attack Melette, claiming 11,000 prisoners.
Field marshal Conrad von Hoetzendorf inspecting troops on the Trentino Front: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...Tirol.jpg?ssl=1

Naval and Overseas Operations
A claim that the S.S. Apapa (Elder-Dempster) is torpedoed, with a loss of 79 lives. One of the most egregious of British propaganda fabrications; the SS Apapa wasn’t even built until 1927.
Mozambique: Lettow sends Captain Kohl’s 5 coys with the gun east from Nanguari to Mwalia-Medo district, keeping in touch by relay.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: First British trains reach Ramleh. Mott’s Detachment occupies Hebron, 17 miles south of Jerusalem.
British take Sakaltutan Pass (on Deli Abbas-Kifri road) and 230 prisoners.

Political, etc
Germany: U-boat office opens in Berlin.
Portugal: Major Paes with 1,500 men overthrow Democratic Government until December 8 after 1,350 casualties. Paes Prime Minister, War and Foreign Minister on December 11 and Provisional President of New Republic on December 28.

6 December 1917
 

Western Front
London and south-east counties raided by 25 airplanes (another soruce claims 19 of 21 German (including 2 Giant) , two brought down; eight killed, 28 injured.
Germany claims the capture of 148 artillery guns over the course of its counter-attacks, and British evacuation of the salient at Cambrai.

Eastern Front
Ukraine: Vladimir Antonov forms Red Southern Front.
Don: French captain from Romania meets Alexei Kaledin at Novocherkask and other White leaders later, reports hopes of new anti-German front exaggerated.

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Austro-Hungarians capture Mount Sisemol and 2,000 PoWs; attacks in Val Frenzela frustrated. Italians consolidate new line farther south across Valstagna and Frenzela valleys.
Austro-Hungarian soldiers carrying game caught near the front at Cervignano, Italy: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...073011164499968

Naval and Overseas Operations
United States Battleship Division, under Rear-Admiral Rodman, joins Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow.
U.S. destroyer Jacob Jones torpedoed and sunk by U-53 off Scillies; 37 survivors.
Channel: U-96 collides with UC-69 (sunk) off Cape Barfleur; the latter sank 50 ships worth 88,138t in 1917.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
The first British soldiers enter the city of Hebron, south of Jerusalem, after it was abandoned by the Ottomans: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...103218613243904

Political, etc
Truce arranged between Russia, and Bulgaria, Central Powers and Turkey from 7th to 17th. Negotiations suspended.
Austria-Hungary: Count ottokar Czernin tells Hungarian delegation ‘I see no difference between Strassburg and Trieste.’
France: Loire Department strikes end with union officials reinstatement and promise of negotiated wage rises.
Canada: Halifax (N.S.) wrecked: SS*Mont-Blanc, a French cargo ship laden with high explosives bound for Bordeaux, France, collided with the Norwegian vessel SS Imo in the Narrows, at the north-west tip of Halifax Harbor. When a fire on board the French ship ignited her cargo, around 2,000 people were killed by the blast, debris, fires and collapsed buildings, and an estimated 9,000 others were injured. Nearly all structures within an 800-meter (half-mile) radius, including the entire community of Richmond, were obliterated. A pressure wave snapped trees, bent iron rails, demolished buildings, grounded vessels, and scattered fragments of Mont-Blanc for kilometers. A tsunamicreated by the blast wiped out the community of Mi'kmaq First Nations people who had lived in the Tufts Cove area for generations. estimated cost $40 million.
Aftermath of the explosion at Halifax, Nova Scotia: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...407981733105667
Turkey: Djemal Pasha at Beirut reveals Sykes-Picot Agreement and ‘taunts Hussein’.
Romania: Hostilities between Romania and Central Powers suspended.
United States: Nationalisation of railways in U.S.A. announced.
Manacling of conscientious objectors ends but 142 get life imprisonment (last 31 set free December 1923).
Finland: Finland votes for independence, seeks Swedish recognition on December 29, Bolsheviks recognize on December 31.
Spain: Anglo-Spanish Commercial Agreement.

7 December 1917
 

Western Front
British line improved north of La Vacquerie.
A claim that today, not a few days ago is the end of Battle of Cambrai. British 2-2 1/2 miles in advance of November 20 line in north but have lost almost equal own ground in south.
Captured British tanks Mark IV at Cambrai. These vehicles form the main force of the German tanks in the upcoming spring offensive: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...mbrai.jpg?ssl=1
BEF GHQ Intelligence predict German 1918 offensive no later than March 1918.
France: US 42nd ‘Rainbow’ Division arrives (personnel from 26 US states).

Eastern Front
Truce between Russia and Central Powers comes into operation officially (see 2nd and 6th).

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Asiago: Italians continue withdrawal to Melette lines.
Austro-Hungarians claim 15,000 prisoners since 4 December.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Hebron (17 miles south of Jerusalem) captured.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Ministers agree on peace with Russia without gains.
United States: The United States of America declares war on Austria-Hungary.
Minor Allies: Ecuador severs diplomatic relations with Germany.

8 December 1917
 

Western Front
Germans make 225 trench raids against BEF until March 21, 1918 and gain 62 unit identifications.
Small actions west of Graincourt (south-western Cambrai).
Kaiser Wilhelm decorating officers after the Battle of Cambrai: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...810394755211264
Great artillery activity north-east of Verdun.

Eastern Front
All hostilities on the Eastern front suspended.

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): German and Austro-Hungarian advance against Italy on the Asiago plateau slows down after Italian troops retreat to new lines. 16,000 Italians had been captured in the recent offensive. French and British join Italian line, latter in Montello district.
150 Allied aircraft over Frenzela valley fighting, Trentino. Italian ace Francesco Baracca scores 3 victories, winning Gold Medal.
Count Francesco Baracca, standing by his SPAD XIII fighter with the prancing horse logo that later became the emblem of*Ferrari: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe.../FBaracca_1.jpg

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mozambique: Germans capture Portuguese force at Ngoma (River Rovuma).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Advance on Jerusalem begins despite heavy rain, 60th Division takes two villages, 297 PoWs, 3 guns and 12 MGs. British, by cutting Jerusalem-Jericho and Shechem roads, isolate city. Local authorities arrange to surrender. Turkish XX Corps (12,000 soldiers with c.50 guns) evacuates Jerusalem (until December 9.)
Turkish cavalry in a camp near Jerusalem: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...salem.jpg?ssl=1

Political, etc
Russia: British Ambassador in Petrograd disclaims wish to interfere in internal affairs.
Russian Bolshevik captain addressing his soldiers at Kronstadt: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...749961147224064
Japan: 8 family-owned soy businesses in Noda, Japan come together to form the Kikkoman company.
Portugal: Sidonio Pais, Portuguese politician and military officer, completes a successful coup in Lisbon after 3 days of fighting: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...128736959614976

9 December 1917
 

Eastern Front
Armistice, named the Truce of Focsani, signed between Rumania and Central Powers (see 6th, and November 10th, 1918).

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Italians contain Austrian bridgehead on Lower Piave delta, more fighting on December 19. Plumer tells Diaz British will not retreat even if Italians do.
A war memorial at an Austro-Hungarian cemetery in Trient (now Trento, Italy): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...189144051503104

Naval and Overseas Operations
Italian naval raid on Trieste harbor (night 9th/10th). Austrian coast defense ship Wien sunk.
Convoy escort trawler Ben Lawer rams and sinks coastal submarine UB-18 (sinker of 126 ships worth 128,555t in 1916-17).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Jerusalem surrenders to British forces (see 11th). Mayor hands keys to Ptes Church and Andrewes (mess cooks), then to GOC 60th Division which storms Mt Scopus. Mott’s Department occupies Bethlehem.
British artillery prepares for action in Palestine: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...stina.jpg?ssl=1

Political, etc
Russia: South Russia: Soviet Commissars declare war against Cossack chiefs. Escaped generals, excluding Lavr Kornilov, sent on to Kuban. First White Volunteer Army units, organized by General Mikhail Alexeiev, parade at Novocherkask.
Romania: German soldiers and civilians crowd in Central Powers-occupied Bucharest after the signing of the Focsani Armistice. © IWM (Q 87113): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...521298186887168
Finland: Removal of Russian troops demanded.

10 December 1917
 

Western Front
Cambrai: German post carried east of Boursies.
Verdun: German attacks on Chaume Wood, etc., checked.
British seaplanes bomb aerodromes near Ghent, and Bruges Docks.

Eastern Front
Bolshevik railway detachments defeat General Kornilov at Tamarovka (north of Kharkov).
Austro-Hungarian officer greeting Russian delegates to negotiate the armistice: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...551508688965635

Southern Front
Salonika: Clemenceau recalls Sarrail who leaves on December 22.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Italian MAS torpedo boat of the type Grillo (responsible for the overnight sinking of the Austrian coast ship Wien) from the year 1917: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...l-MAS.jpg?ssl=1

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mayor of Jerusalem holding a white flag of truce delivers a letter of surrender of the city to the British forces: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...566602361634816

Political, etc
Russia: Vladimir Lenin drafts outline peace program for negotiations.
Belgium: Petain visits King Albert, ‘deplores the inefficiency of the British Command. The troops are excellent but they have been clumsily used. The Americans lack discipline and experience’.
Portugal: Dr. S. Cardosa da Paes (also spelled Pais) succeeds Dr. A. A. da Costa as Portuguese Prime Minister (see April 25th, 1917, and May 15th, 1918).
Minor Allies: Panama declares war on Austria-Hungary.

11 December 1917
 

Western Front
American artillery being inspected before they head to the front in Lorraine, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...213357226942465

Eastern Front
Forces from Russian front sent against Don Cossacks.
Emperor Karl of Austria-Hungary inspecting soldiers of the Polish Auxiliary Corps in Bukovina: © IWM (Q 112592): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...911367041146886

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Alfred Krauss with 4 divisions and 460 guns attacks Mt Grappa (‘Sacred Mountain’) sector; German 5th Division storms Mt Spinoncia but can get no farther despite repeated attacks. Austrian 4th Division, arrived from Eastern Front, captures Col della Berretta.
A destroyed a church in San Polo di Piave after its capture by the Austro-Hungarians: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...926454577582080

Naval and Overseas Operations
East Atlantic: U-155 shells Funchal on the Portuguese island of Madeira.
North Sea: British airship N. S. 5 lost (with crew of five) over the North Sea.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
General Edmund Allenby makes formal entry into Jerusalem (see 9th), with Allied parties including Major TE Lawrence and Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Wavell (film released in Britain in February 1918): https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...salem.jpg?ssl=1

Political, etc
Russia: Russian Constituent Assembly meets in Petrograd (see 13th).
France: Georges Clemenceau demands removal of parliament immunity from ex-Prime Minister Joseph Caillaux (arrested December 12) and two other deputies (done December 22-23).
United Kingdom: Mr. Arthur Balfour announces receipt in September of German peace proposals.
Non-Ferrous Metals Bill passed.
Winston Churchill: “The longer Great Britain and America are fighting side by side the closer they will be drawn together. That is a tremendous fact, and it will make amends for what we are now suffering.”
Canada: (Listed for yesterday): Mackenzie Bowell, former Prime Minister of Canada, passed away: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...881165821042689
Italy: Italy establishes the National Institute of Exchange, which is given a monopoly on foreign bank exchanges in order to reduce currency speculation.
Norway: Nobel Prizes are awarded in Oslo. Peace Prize goes to the Red Cross, Physics goes to Charles Glover Barkla, and Literature goes to Karl Adolph Gjellerup and Henrik Pontoppidan.
Portugal: Dr Machado Guimarães, Portuguese President, deposed.

12 December 1917
 

Western Front
Cambrai: Germans capture small salient between Bullecourt and Queant.
Gotha Bogohl 3 unit loses Commander Captain R Kleine shot down and killed in daylight attack on Allied troops, Lieutenant R Walter replaces.

Eastern Front
Fighting between Cossacks and Bolsheviks at Rostov (River Don), occupy it on December 14. General Kaledin retakes it on December 15 with Alexeiev’s Volunteer Army forcing local Reds to flee to Black Sea Fleet.

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Battle on Monte Grappa front between Brenta and Piave; heavy Austro-Hungarian attacks.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: German destroyers raid British convoy in the North Sea and sink H.M.S. Partridge (see October 17th), and 3 other vessels. Another source says:
4 German destroyers annihilate British Norwegian convoy, sink destroyer Partridge, damage consort Pellew, 6 merchant ships and 4 trawlers in 45 minutes (75 PoWs); 3 covering British cruisers arrive too late. 4 other German destroyers sink 3 convoy stragglers off the Tyne. Admiralty sails Norwegian convoys at longer intervals with stronger escorts.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British claim to have taken 562 officers and 11,474 men prisoners in Palestine to date.

Political, etc
Germany: General Oskar von Hutier is one of the founders of the successful German stormtroopers tactics: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...utier.jpg?ssl=1
Russia: Estonian nobility appeal for German help. General Count Kirchbach takes over German Eighth Army (Hutier to Western Front).
Vladimir Lenin proposes Joseph Stalin, Grigori Sokolnikov and leon Trotsky for Pravda editorial board.
France: French Government decides to bring M. Joseph Caillaux before Court Martial, for “treason”, based on his peace efforts.
Worst civil railway disaster in history, 543 killed at Modane when train jumps tracks.
U.S. troops in France donate $4000 for Christmas gifts to French refugee children settled in their sector.
United Kingdom: Enquiry into the reverse at Cambrai ordered by Government. The Times calls it ‘One of the most ghastly stories in English history’.
Commons votes £550 millions war credit (1917-18 total £ 2,450 millions).
Turkey: Djemal Pasha resigns as Gouverneur-General of Syria and Arabia and as C-in-C Fourth Army, returns to Constantinople.
Minor Allies: Cuba declares war on Austria-Hungary.

13 December 1917
 

Western Front
Moderate fighting on Ypres, Cambrai and Verdun fronts.

Eastern Front
Armistice negotiations on Russian front resumed.

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): German and Austro-Hungarian launch attacks against Italian troops between the Piave and the Brenta.

Naval and Overseas Operations
(Listed for yesterday): Royal Navy destroyer HMS Wolverine collides with the a sloop off the coast of Ireland and sinks: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...607230638022657
North Sea: U-75 sunk in mine nets off Terschelling (she had mined HMS Hampshire and drowned Lord Kitchener).
Adriatic: 3 Austrian destroyers sortie against Valona-Otranto route but sight 4 Allied ones and retire (night December 13-14).
Eastern Mediterranean: French ship Paris II sunk at Adalia (Anatolia).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British line extended north-east of Jerusalem and advanced between latter and Jaffa, capturing 140 Ottoman prisoners.

Political, etc
Russia: Russian Constituent Assembly dispersed by Bolsheviki.
Italy: After Austrian Czernin status quo peace hint from December 5, Prime Minister Orlando tells deputies in secret session Italy will fight on even if armies have to fall back to Sicily.
After the defeat of Caporetto, the Italian propaganda tries with ‘Soldiers Forward’ to highlight the national defense: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...retto.jpg?ssl=1

14 December 1917
 

Western Front
British troops collecting mistletoe near Hesdin, France: © IWM (Q 8341): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...969612707090434
British soldiers sliding on top of a frozen pond near Ypres: © IWM (Q 8369): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...030024626524161

Eastern Front
Rostov occupied by Bolshevist troops.

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Italians surrender Col Caprile (Valstagna, Brenta river); but shell shortage postpones exploitation. Otherwise Austro-Hungarian attacks repulsed.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Ionian Sea: UC-38 (Wendlandt) sinks French cruiser Chateaurenault (10 lives lost, 1162 saved including 985 troops for Salonika) in Gulf of Patras off Cephalonia. UC-38 (also sinker of 36 merchant ships worth 52,525t) then depth charged and sunk by convoy escort destroyers Mameluk and Lansquenet.
Naval Allied Council to be formed (ministers and Chiefs of Naval Staffs).

Political, etc
United Kingdom: Mr. Lloyd George speaks at Gray's Inn on "No halfway house between victory and defeat".
Home Office and MI5 decide not to prosecute in 41 subversion cases. Local butter and margarine rationing begins. In December local tea rationing begins (1 1/2 oz per head per week), affects 17.5 million people.
Turkey: Single members of ‘Society for Finding Employment for Women’ (c.15,000 members) must marry or lose job (those eligible listed in press see February 9, 1918).

15 December 1917
 

Western Front
Flanders: Snow hampers operations. Since 15 June 77 German divisions have been transported to Fourth Army front (from Lille-Armentieres road to coast) and 63 transferred elsewhere.
German troops launch attacks against French lines north of the Aisne to the Meuse, but make little gains.
Verdun: Germans repulsed at Chaume Wood. In December Charles Mangin restored to duty in command of French IX Corps.
Kuhl memo to Ludendorff urges his St George scheme for a Flanders offensive since now fairly certain BEF unable to launch offensive until numerous US troops arrive.

Eastern Front
Armistice signed at Brest-Litovsk between Russian Bolshevik Government and Bulgaria, Central Powers and Turkey, to begin at noon December 17th, and terminate January 14th, 1918 (see 13th and 22nd). Fraternization centres fixed, week’s notice of termination. Germans given police powers in Baltic Provinces.
Fraternisation between Austro-Hungarian and Russian soldiers on the Eastern Front: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...sterr.jpg?ssl=1
After six days' fighting, General Alexei Kaledin (Cossacks) enters Rostov; local Bolshevist chiefs flee to Black Sea fleet.

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Austro-Hungarian and German forces claim the capture of 3000 Italian troops in their attacks between the Piave and the Brenta.
General Adolphe Guillaumet succeeds General Maurice Surrail at Salonika as Commander-in-Chief.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British left center in Palestine advanced 1.5 miles on five mile front. EEF losses 18,928 to 25,000 Turkish (12,036 PoWs), 100 guns and over 132 MGs, more than 20 aircraft.
Persia: Around this date mutinies among Nikolai Baratov’s troops at Hamadan.
Turks and Russians to evacuate according to Brest-Litovsk Armistice demarcation agreed at Mosul.

Political, etc
Russia: (Listed for yesterday): Bolshevik Foreign Minister Leon Trotsky gives Russian delegates power to negotiate a peace with the Central Powers if an armistice is signed at Brest Litovsk.
Bolshevist ultimatum to the Ukraine demands free passage for troops.
The Moldavian Democratic Republic is declared by the National Council of Bessarabia, breaking away from Russia.
United States: U.S. Public Information Committee reveals it is spending $1,285,500 for U.S. propaganda in other countries.

16 December 1917
 

Western Front
East of Avion (south of Lens) British position improved.

Eastern Front
The Bolshevik government in Russia signs an armistice with the Central Powers. It will go into effect on the 17th: https://twitter.com/centuryagotoday
German and Russian soldiers together after Russia signs the armistice with the Central Powers: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...725857407791106

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Italians regain some positions in Brenta valley.
Macedonia: Allied aeroplanes bomb depots at Cestovo.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Ionian Sea: A claim that a French destroyer sinks two submarines. The only loss I can track for the Mediterranean for the entire month of December, 1917, is the destruction of UC-38, after it sank the Chateurenault on 14 December.
Bristol Channel: Sloop HMS Arbutus sunk by U-boat.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
General Edmund Allenby made G.C.M.G. (Order of St Michael & St George)

Political, etc
Germany: German poster, which promotes war donations at Christmas 1917: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...cht17.jpg?ssl=1
United Kingdom: Lieutenant-Colonel Bernard Freyberg – Victoria Cross – condemns Siegfried Sassoon’s anti-war attitude to Lady Cynthia Asquith.
Portugal: New Portuguese Government declare they will honor all Portuguese engagements.

Arthur C. Clarke, science aficionado, was born.

Indeed, I had missed that; included with today's post, with the disclaimer listed for yesterday. Good spot, jseal.

17 December 1917
 

Western Front
Fighting near the Ypres-Comines Canal.
A British soldier with Christmas pudding in the trenches near Saint-Pol: © IWM (Q 8337): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...362509700403207
Two Canadian polling officers at the Western Front inspecting a German gas shell. Canada is holding its federal election today: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...422913554186240
Canadian cavalrymen getting ready to vote for the federal election: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...424349340037122

Eastern Front
Armistice between Russia and Central Powers begins.

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Austro-Hungarians repulsed on Upper Brenta.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mediterranean: Italian Navy ordered to economize stringently on coal and oil fuel (c.50,000t used per month and national stocks only c.360,000t).
Pacific: 2 US submarines collide in fog; USS F-1 sinks with 19 crew members.
Mozambique: Paul von Lettow with headquarters arrive at Chirumba (Mtarika), Portuguese Nyasa Business Company’s station.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British Government give the King of the Hejaz (see December 15th, 1916, and February 4th, 1918) written assurance of the future independence of the Arab people.
Yosf Lishansky, Jewish spy working for the British in Ottoman Palestine, is executed by the Ottomans in Damascus: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...030329157734400

Political, etc
Germany: Count Georg Hertling replies to Mr. Lloyd George's speech of 14 December.
Russia: All Church property to be confiscated, religious teaching abolished.
United Kingdom: (Listed for yesterday): Arthur C. Clarke (future British science fiction writer known for works such as 2001: A Space Odyssey) is born in Minehead, England.
(Listed for yesterday): Former British Prime Minister Asquith states a partnership of nations “with equal rights and reciprocal duties” is necessary to maintain peace after the war.
Lord Rhondda says ‘Food queues must be stopped’, rationing probably inevitable.
No post to neutrals, except to PoWs or under permit.
Don’t waste bread: British appeal for economy in face of the U-boat menace: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...bread.jpg?ssl=1
Canada: Unionist Government wins General Election.
Italy: 35,000 people march in Rome to celebrate the British capture of Jerusalem. The Pope says any Christian nation that would aid the Ottomans in retaking the city will be condemned.

18 December 1917
 

Western Front
Airplane raid on London, Essex and Kent; 14 of 16 German bombers (1 Giant) attack southeast England, 6 reach London. Total of 11,300lb bombs cause 97 casualties (another sources gives 14 killed, 85 injured.), and £238,861 property damage, worst since Zeppelin Raid vom September 8-9, 1915. No 44 Squadron commander Captain Murlis Green MC achieves first night fighter success against aircraft over Britain in Sopwith Camelwith 4 attacks over East London, forcing Gotha to ditch off Folkestone (armed trawler Highlander rescues 2 survivors); 2 other Gothas burnt after crash landing.
A claim that heavy air fighting ends in Allies' favor on northern front.
A British soldier shaking hands with a kitten at Neulette, France: © IWM (Q 6400): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...469523818590209

Eastern Front
Ukraine: Ukrainian Rada rejects Red transit demands (Lenin ultimatum from December 17) and mobilizes and cuts telegraph links on December 19.

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Italian Fourth Army heavily attacked near Mt. Asolone (Mt. Grappa), Austro-Hungarians claim 2,000 prisoners.
Erwin Rommel’s Wurttemberg Mountain Batallion withdrawn from final but local and costly success (after German failure to take Mt Solarolo); he and his commander receive Pour le Merite.
A mountain gun is positioned on the Italian front: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...front.jpg?ssl=1

Naval and Overseas Operations
A photograph of the US submarine USS F-1, sunk yesterday in a collision with the submarine F-3: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...439472674766852

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British clear ground south-east of Jerusalem, beyond Abu Dir.
Armistice of Erzincan is signed, ending the fighting between Russian forces and the Ottomans in the Caucasian and Persian fronts.

Political, etc
Germany: Kaiser in Kreuznach Crown Council approves Armistice terms.
Russia: Trotsky appeals to Europe’s ‘oppressed peoples’ after Brest-Litovsk armistice signing.
Canada: In the Canadian federal election held yesterday, Unionists win 153 seats, while the Liberals win 82. The main issue of the election was over conscription, with the Unionists supporting it and the Liberals opposed.
Switzerland: Jan Smuts meets Austrian Albert von Mensdorff (ex-Ambassador to London) on separate peace chances (until December 19). Also, a claim that at Geneva, Lloyd George’s Secretary Philip Kerr meets Dr Parodi (Turkey).

19 December 1917
 

Western Front
Air defences finally told of Giant bomber, codenamed Bertie, after its eighth raid.
Five-engined Zeppelin Staaken ‘Gigant’ bomber: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...XV-03.jpg?ssl=1

Eastern Front
Odessa supports the Ukraine against the Bolsheviks.

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Brisk fighting in Piave delta; Italian counter-attacks against Mts Rertica and Asolone fail to gain ground until fog and thick snow end operations on December 21.
German and Austro-Hungarian forces claim another 1000 Italian prisoners captured. Italian soldiers riding on the front of a train while retreating from Austro-Hungarian and German attacks: © IWM (Q 114386): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...801778017554433
British guns heavily engaged at Montello.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Channel: New Dover Straits minefield claims first victim, coastal submarine UB-56 after Vice-Admiral Bacon advised to start flare and searchlight surface patrol along it.
Adriatic: 2 old Austrian battleships, 1 cruiser, 6 destroyers shell Italian Cortellazzo batteries again, but big ships withdrawn to Pola on December 20, 3 old battleships mothballed after December 28 to obtain personnel.

Political, etc
Canada: Conscription Law becomes effective.
The first ever NHL game is played between the Toronto Hockey Club against the Montreal Wanderers, with the Wanderers winning 10-9.
United States: U.S. Congress proposes a Constitutional Amendment which institutes alcohol prohibition to be ratified by the states. House of Representatives voted 282 to 128, Senate voted 47 to 8.

20 December 1917
 

Western Front
West of Messines, Germans capture British advanced post in fog.
Petain Directive urges defence in depth (and on December 22) but not all generals comply.
British soldiers throwing snowballs near Hesdin, France: © IWM (Q 8343): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...206841974251522

Eastern Front
Don: Lavr Kornilov arrives at Novocherkask, is made “White” Russian C-in-C.

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Italians recapture part of M. Asolone.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Battle of Jaffa (until December 22): XXI Corps’ 8,100 men and 88 guns surprise cross river Auja on December 21, take 259 PoWs and 5 MGs from 6,200 Turks with 60 guns. 6 Royal Navy ships and 36 Royal Flying Corps planes aid 52nd Division 5-mile coast advance to Arsuf on December 22, Jaffa put out of Turkish gun-range. 54th Division captures Bald Hill and two villages inland.
British field artillery prepares for combat in Palestine: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ina-2.jpg?ssl=1

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Lower House adopts peace resolution.
Russia: Bolshevik Cheka [Всеросси́йская чрезвычайная коми́ссия по борьбе́ с контрреволюцией и саботажем, tr. Vserossiyskaya chrezvychaynaya komissiya po bor'bye s kontrrevolyutsiyei i sabotazhem: "The All-Russian Emergency Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution and Sabotage"] Secret Police founded under Felix Dzerzhinski to ‘fight counter-revolutionaries and saboteurs’.
Australia: Second referendum again defeats conscription 1,181,747 vs 1,015,159 votes; 1918 recruiting falls to c.2,500 per month.
Australia holds a referendum on whether to institute conscription. The “no” vote wins 53.79%. A “no” campaign poster: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...448418403475457
United States: (listed for yesterday): U.S Federal Food Administration set Wednesday as a “Wheat-less Day,” but it is largely a failure as it is not enforced, with bakeries and restaurants freely serving bread, pastries, and other wheat products.
Tentative German peace terms in Washington.
M.J. Cambon, adviser for U.S. affairs in Paris.

21 December 1917
 

Western Front
Alsace: Stiff fighting at Harmannsweilerkopf.
British troops struggling to push up a horse-drawn cart up a snow-covered road in Hesdin, France: © IWM (Q 8351): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...508815839760384
British soldier kissing a French woman while holding up a sprig of mistletoe: © IWM (Q 8354): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...569225150615552

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Italians recapture whole of M. Asolone.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Battle of Jaffa (until December 22): 54th (East Anglian) Division crosses the Yarkon River in darkness. The attack completely surprised the Ottoman defenders, and all Ottoman resistance was overcome by British troops using their bayonets and no shots were fired. and their front line were forced back 5 miles (8.0 km). By dawn the British held a line from Hadrah to Tel el Rekkeit, around 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the river.

Political, etc
Germany: Special offer in Germany to send gifts for Christmas 1917 to the front: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...-feld.jpg?ssl=1
Russia: Vladimir Antonov, People’s Commissar for War, made C-in-C ‘for the struggle with counter-revolution’.
France: Lucien Petit-Breton, French cyclist who won the Tour de France twice, is killed when the French army truck he was driving crashes into a cart: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...539030905573376
United Kingdom: British Government issue Order in Council instituting the Air Council (see November 29th, 1917, and January 3rd, 1918).
Mr. Lloyd George appeals for increase of agricultural cultivation. Local rationing schemes authorized. Munitions Ministry empowered to restrict lighting.
Italy: Italian war industry establishments number 3,500 as against 125 in 1915.
United States: A train wreck occurs in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, resulting in 49 deaths: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...624609517178880

22 December 1917
 

Western Front
Several Gothas thwarted in raid on southeast England by bad weather (1 Gotha emergency lands south of Margate, burnt by crew), 3 Giants (1 diverts to Boulogne) merely drop bombs in sea off Kent.
Germans drive in British advanced posts on Ypres-Staden railway.
The town of Ypres, its houses ruined and deserted, pitted by huge water filled shell craters: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ypres.jpg?ssl=1
Lieut.-General Sir R. C. Maxwell, Quartermaster-General, B.E.F., France, resigns (see 23rd, and January 27th, 1915); succeeded by Lieutenant-General Sir T Clarke.
General Marie-Eugène Debeney in command of French First Army for duration of war.
British soldiers guarding German prisoners as they clear a road of snow: © IWM (Q 11553): British soldiers guarding German prisoners as they clear a road of snow: © IWM (Q 11553)

Eastern Front
Peace negotiations between Russian Bolshevik Government and Bulgaria, Central Powers and Turkey opened at Brest-Litovsk (see 15th, and January 5th, 1918).
Romanian troops occupy Bessarabia. Independent Moldavian Republic proclaimed there on December 23.
Bolshevik Red Guard forces in the Ukraine occupy the city of Kharkov.

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Austro-Hungarian massed attack carries hills near Valstagna.
General Adolphe Guillaumat appointed Allied Commander-in-Chief at Salonika (see 14th, and June 6th, 1918). He reads Milne his instructions on December 30 to protect Greece, then use her army in offensive.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Battle of Jaffa (until December 22): Battle of Jaffa ends. British advance north and east of Jaffa.
Arabs under Sheikh Feisul capture Turkish troop train on Hejaz railway.

Political, etc
Russia: Bolshevik peace proposals; Austrian Ottokar Czernin rejects most on December 25.
Leon Trotsky, the Bolshevik Foreign Minister, says Russia will reject “offensive” German peace terms, declaring that, “We did not overthrow Czarism to kneel before the Kaiser.”
United Kingdom: Lord Rhondda's scheme for rationing by localities comes into force; main cause of queues removed.
Belgium: Flanders proclaimed independent.
United States: U.S. Army during the past two months has court-martialed over 100 American soldiers at Camp Merritt, New Jersey, for pro-German views and activities.
China: Chinese government at Harbin orders Russian Bolshevik headquarters in the city to disarm within 48 hours.

23 December 1917
 

Western Front
Cambrai: Skirmishing at Poelcapelle, near Epehy: German troops at Ypres launch a raid against half-mile line of British trenches and succeeds in capturing 30 prisoners.
Verdun: Skirmishing at Caurieres Wood.
British soldier with his pet dog on the Western Front: © IWM (Q 10597): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...268841110171648

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Franz Conrad’s final attempt to break through before winter snows, promises soldiers winter at Bassano in plains below and Christmas Mass in Venice. After hurricane shelling including gas (by 550 guns) Austrian Eleventh Army captures Col del Rosso (4183ft), Mt Melago and 3 other features in the Monte Buso Valley; after a 2-mile advance, they claim 9,000 PoWs until December 24.
Austrian 10.4cm Langrohrkanone on the Italian Front firing gas shells. The crew wears gas masks: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...anone.jpg?ssl=1

Naval and Overseas Operations
Irish Channel: Armed boarding steamer H.M.S. Stephen Furness sunk by submarine; six officers and 95 men lost.
North Sea: 3 Harwich Force destroyers on Dutch convoy duty (Torrent, Surprise and Tornado) blunder into German minefield and sink north of Maas Light Buoy, 252 lives lost. Flotilla leader Valkyri gets home with broken back. Surviving destroyer Radiant rescues survivors.

Political, etc
Germany: The Kaiser, visiting Second Army on Western Front, says the events of 1917 are proof the Almighty is a German ally.
France: Former French Prime Minister Joseph Caillaux loses immunity after the Chamber of Deputies votes 417 to 2 to revoke it. Caillaux will now be tried for treason.
Anglo-French Paris Convention on spheres of influence in Southern Russia (British War Cabinet approve on December 26).
Belgium: Text of the declaration by the Council of Flanders, nominally supported by the German occupation of Belgium: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...253750692270086

I'll call a halt to the war for just a minute while I wish you gekkogecko, a very Merry Christmas.

Ah, but we're up to 1917; the Christmas truce of 1914 was a great idea, but it didn't last.

24 December 1917
 

Western Front
Mannheim (on the Rhine river) heavily bombed by British airmen.
British seaplanes bomb Bruges Docks and other aerodromes.

Eastern Front
German forces not sent west or to Italy being massed on southern and Romanian fronts.
Ukraine: Battles at Tamarovka Station and Oboyan (West of Kharkov), Sievers’ Reds capture Lyubotin on December 25. Telegraph between Petrograd and south-west interrupted by Ukrainian authorities.
Austrians row with Bulgars at Brest-Litovsk.

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Italians regain “much” of lost ground near the Brenta, specifically, Mt Melago and Col del Rosso save summit.
Snow severe on Italian front.
French raids in Albania.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British forces claim that since this year in Palestine, they have captured 91 artillery guns, 120 machine guns, 7000 rifles, and over 10 million rounds of ammo from the Ottomans.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Ottokar Czernin to Emperor Charles ‘Your Majesty must therefore get Poland in order to maintain parity’ (with Germany).
Germany: German government announces it has raised 12.6 billion marks ($2.9 billion) in its 7th war loan.
Russia: Ivan Goremykin, former Prime Minister of Russia, is killed, along with his family members, in a robbery at his dacha in Sochi: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...964668321402883
United Kingdom: Sir John Jellicoe resigns as First Sea Lord at Eric Geddes’ “request” (made public on December 26). Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss succeeds, Admiral Sir Sydney Fremantle replaces Henry Oliver as DCNS; Reginald Bacon recalled from Dover Patrol on December 28.
Meeting of British Naval Officers. Left foreground standing on the left Beatty of the Grand Fleet, and far right Jellicoe, who was C-in-C at Jutland: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ers-1.jpg?ssl=1
Canada: Starting today, Canada prohibits the importation of alcohol of more than 2.5%. Prohibition of liquor will follow in 1918.
Belgium: King Albert replies to Papal peace note.
Switzerland: Swiss cavalrymen patrolling the frontier, with the country surrounded by nations at war (except Lichtenstein): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...904275502747648
Korea: Kim Jong-suk (future wife of North Korean leader Kim Il-sung and mother to Kim Jong-il) is born in the Japanese colony of Korea.

25 December 1917
 

Western Front
“Christmas with the Corpsmen,” by Carl Simon, depicting German corpsmen: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...025065682337794

Eastern Front
Ukraine: RNAS Armoured Car Squadron rear party disable remaining cars and guns after ugly confrontation with local Reds.
Ukrainian People’s Republic of Soviets is proclaimed in Bolshevik-occupied Kharkov. Most of Ukraine is controlled by the anti-Bolshevik Rada.

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave (until December 30): Heavy fighting continues on Asiago plateau for passage of Brenta river. Toscana Brigade and 5th Bersaglieri regiment etc stiffen Italian line and repulse final Austrian attack.
Soldiers and Italian civilians gather around a crash site of an Austro-Hungarian aeroplane: © IWM (Q 26545): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...979782525177857

Naval and Overseas Operations
Irish Sea: Royal Navy sloop Buttercup and PC56 (convoy escorts) ram and sink U-87 with all 44 crew. Twice-victorious Q-ship Penshurst sunk by U-boat.
Mozambique: British pursue Germans 40 miles south of River Rovuma; latter broken up. KAR (King’s African Rifles) Native troops follow Lettow-Vorbeck’s troops into Portuguese East Africa: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...frika.jpg?ssl=1

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Count Ottokar Czernin replies to Russian peace proposals of 22 December.
France: French Premier Georges Clemenceau says age limits for commanders are too high, and instead urges that more younger soldiers with experience at the front be promoted.

26 December 1917
 

Western Front
German artillery activity near Vimy and east of Ypres.
Verdun: Germans “repulsed” in Caurieres Wood
Outskirts of Lens, France on Christmas Day: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...382412103639040

Eastern Front
Bolsheviks break off Brest-Litovsk talks when Germans say Poland and Baltic States will become independent.
Prince Leopold (on the right), Commander-in-Chief of the German Army on the Eastern Front, at a Christmas celebration: © IWM (Q 52229): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...335854112833536

Southern Front
First Battle of the Piave: A report that this battle ends, in the form of: Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo, aka the Battle of Caporetto ends.
Big aerial fight 18 miles north of Venice; an English pilot, William Barker and two others made an unauthorized flight, raided a German airfield at Motta on the 25th, ignoring an unspoken truce. They also dropped a sign reading: “To the Austrian Flying Corps from the English RFC – wishing you a merry Xmas.” This provoked a retaliatory raid by Austro-German bombers and fighters on Istrana airfield, as recorded in the diary of the Italian ace, Silvio Scaroni. Also a brief mention here: https://books.google.com/books?id=T...Istrana&f=false
Raids repeated nights December 29-30 and 30-31.
An Austro-Hungarian Brandenburg D-I before take-off, built by the Phoenix Works in Vienna: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...rg-DI.jpg?ssl=1

Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: During a revolt against the British-established “protectorate”, 502 King’s African Rifles and levies disperse Aulyehan at Hagagabli, capture 1,233 camels. By February 20, 1918 fines, 402 rifles and chiefs collected excluding the leader.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British defense of Jerusalem begins. Sharp fighting during night; British picketts attacked.

Political, etc
Russia: Ukraine tells Berlin she wants separate status at Brest-Litovsk peace talks.
United Kingdom: Admiral Sir John Jellicoe’s resignation as First Sea Lord is announced.
Mr. McAdoo appointed Director of Railways.
United States: U.S. Shipping Board promises five million tons in 1918.
Mexican raiders cross the U.S. border and attack a ranch in Presidio County, Texas, killing three people. They are pursued by U.S. Army cavalry back across the border. It is uncertain if the raiders were the Constitutionalist Venustiano Carranza's, or if they belonged under Pancho Villa’s command.
Guatemala: A 5.6 magnitude earthquake hits Guatemala, killing hundreds. Damage done to Guatemala City Cathedral: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...524596048097280

Looks like the war took a holiday. :yikes:

27 December 1917
 

Western Front
The snow-covered ruins of Ypres: © IWM (Q 9806): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...068184079138816
Verdun: More German “attacks” around the Verdun are repulsed by French defenders, although 100 French prisoners are taken.

Eastern Front
Bolsheviks’ inducements to the Ukraine for them to join in the fight against Cossacks.

Southern Front
(listed for yesterday): British soldiers inspecting a shot down German biplane near Istrana aerodrome in Italy. © IWM (Q 26549): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...715988452044800

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Turko-Germans attempt to recapture Jerusalem. Deciphered radio message warns Allenby and Chetwode before December 24; British 60th Division repels eight Turkish attacks; 10th and 74th Divisions capture Zeitun Ridge and village in 4,000 yards advance. Turkish counterattack towards Jerusalem fails 3 miles north astride Nablus road despite fresh 1st Division. 33,000 British troops and 180 guns subsequently advance up to 6 miles against strong but flagging resistance by 20,000 Turks and c.100 guns (December 28-30).
Turkish troops at Jerusalem: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...salem.jpg?ssl=1

Political, etc
Germany: Second conference between Erich Ludendorff and army group staff chiefs on 1918 offensive in the West. General Oskar von Hutier, from Eastern Front, takes over new Eighteenth Army at St Quentin.
Russia: Riga Council declares Latvian independence from Russia and requests Kaiser’s protection.
Bolsheviks issues a decree ordering a nationalization of Russian banks, including foreign-owned banks in the country.
United Kingdom: Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss’ appointment as First Sea Lord, Great Britain, is announced.
Romania: George Diamandy, Romanian writer and politician known for pioneering revolutionary socialism in France and Romania, passed away: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...037995265777664
United States: Sir F.E. Smith emphasizes British solidarity in New York.
The nationalization of most U.S. railroads, law passed 6 December, 1917, now takes effect. The ostensible reason is in order to facilitate the transport of troops and materials needed for the war effort.
Mexico: (listed for yesterday): In response to the Mexican bandit raid yesterday, U.S. Army cavalry cross into Mexican territory and kill 10 of the raiders.

28 December 1917
 

Western Front
Much activity on both sides north of St. Quentin.
Royal Flying Corps ace McCudden, who had scored 4 kills on December 23, shoots down 3 LVGs in 20 minutes.
Major James Thomas Byford McCudden received his commission on January 1, 1917 flying S.E.5s. As a fighter he was instinctively a loner, preferring to stalk his prey so as to attack unseen from close range: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...udden.jpg?ssl=1
A British soldier and a carrier pigeon named “Dreadnaught.” © IWM (Q 11954): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...099643791708161

Southern Front
Austro-Hungarian bridges at Zenson bend (lower Piave) destroyed.
Austro-Hungarians bomb Padua, 13 killed, 60 injured; also bomb Treviso, Bassano, Vicenza and Castelfranco (December 31).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Turkish forces driven back north of Jerusalem; Ramah and Bertunia captured.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Arthur Arz, Chief of the General Staff replies to Ludendorff (from December 23), agrees his Western Front 1918 spring offensive will be decisive and Austrian troops will be sent, once no longer needed in Russia.
Russia: Lenin attends Demobilization Congress which votes for Army’s dissolution; he requests ‘revolutionary units’ to hold front line.
France: French Foreign Minister in speech outlines French War Aims (see January 5th, 1918).
United Kingdom: Labour memo on War Aims accepted in special Conference.
Portugal: Dr. da Silva Paes appointed Acting President of Portugal (see December 11th, 1917, and May 9th, 1918).

29 December 1917
 

Western Front
Local German attacks south of St. Quentin and near Ypres-Staden railway.
Heavy snows continue to hamper any major infantry operations on the Western front.
British anti-aircraft gun in action on the Western Front: © IWM (Q 8363): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...341230870515712
British Captain with his pet dog: © IWM (Q 8345): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...446932595134464

Eastern Front
Ukraine: Red Guards capture Lozoyova and Pavlograd on Kharkov-Crimea railway, occupy Kharkov on December 31.

Southern Front
Local German attacks south of St. Quentin and near Ypres-Staden railway.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British troops advance another 13 miles near Jerusalem, adding on to their gains from yesterday.

Political, etc
Russia: German Naval Mission under Admiral Graf von Kaiserling arrives at Petrograd.
Old Russian Army ranks abolished; decision in principle to organize new Red Army.
France: French Chamber of Deputies adopts a resolution prohibiting the manufacture of gin.
United Kingdom: National Labour Convention demands general rationing. Churchill letter ‘I am strongly pressing that the cavalry should be put by regiments into the Tanks’.
Charles Masterman of War Propaganda Bureau ‘As a result of the double propaganda, 19 countries have declared war against Germany and 10 have broken off relationships with her’.
United States: Efforts of U.S. Shipping Board bent on steel ships.
Disgraced women and slain children behind them, medals for murder and destruction on the breat and the chunky boots set on a US flag – that’s how the propaganda sees the ‘bestial Germans’: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...scher.jpg?ssl=1
US Generals slam the War Department for the shortage of arms, as soldiers are training without guns.
Cold weather and a coal shortages cause two riots in break out in New York City.
Finland: Finnish Republic asks for recognition.
Netherlands: First batch of British prisoners arrives in Holland for internment.