9 march 1918
 

Western Front
Daylight air-raid by British on Mainz.
DH9 operational debut; controversial DH4 replacement aircraft of No 6 (Naval) Squadron attack St Pierre Capelle. 53 Royal Flying Corps aircraft attack 3 German airfields west of Le Gateau, hits on all three (repeated on Busigny on March 17 and 18). Ludendorffs Michael offensive, air units fly in (until March 12).
The D.H.9 should have been an improvement on the D.H.4, and indeed in terms of design it was. However, powerplant problems gave the new model a performance that was distinctly inferior to that of its predecessor: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...3/DH9.jpg?ssl=1
German gas bombardment for Somme offensive (Ypres-St Quentin): 500,000 rounds mustard gas and phosgene, of which 1,000t directed at British, esp. Flesquieres salient opposite Cambrai, and French positions. 7,223 soldiers gassed (87 deaths) until March 19.

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: 15,000 Red Guards attack and fail against 7,350 Whites in central region (until March 14). Red C-in-C sacked on March 15.


Southern Front
Germany Navy airship L-57 (Ludwig Bockholt) attacks Naples naval base and steel plant (50 casualties); raid attributed to Austrians (their seaplanes do raid on March 11). Royal Flying Corps claim 64 kills since November 10, 1917 for only 12 losses.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Hit (on the Euphrates) occupied by British forces.
Palestine: British cross Wadi Auja (Jordan valley) and advance 2-3 miles on front of 13, astride Jerusalem-Nablus road, taking height of Tel Asur.

Political, etc
Russia: Treaty of Peace signed between Romania and Bolshevik Russia (see 5th).
United Kingdom: War Bonds Week produces £138,870,240.
Romania: Berthelot’s French Military Mission leaves Romania (3 trains to Murmansk).
Switzerland: Last peace feelers till September: Smuts meets Austrian diplomat Skrzynski in Switzerland (until March 14) and Lloyd George’s Private Secretary Kerr also has meeting on March 15. Czernin cables Vienna on March 19 that Franco-Italian annexation demands destroy any continued talks.

10 March 1918
 

Western Front
Many German trench raids on French.
Daylight air-raid by British on Stuttgart. 11 DH4s (1 lost, crew taken PoW) of No 55 Squadron attack Stuttgart Daimler motor works; formation attacked after bombing (1 fighter driven down). Same sequel after 9 DH4s hit Koblenz barracks (70 casualties on March 12).
France: Bombing causes mainly orderly 200,000-strong rail exodus from Paris (until April 6).
Members of the British Agriculture Directorate working to reclaim the former battlefields at the Somme for usable farmland: © IWM (Q 10280): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...140243079004161
BEF GHQ Weekly Intelligence Summary: ‘… the imminence of the [German] offensive in the Arras-St Quentin area has been confirmed …’.
Hindenburg orders Operation Michael (first phase of the Kaiserschlacht [Emperor’s Battle]) Germans begin diversionary operations and feints in various sectors including Champagne and Verdun.
A German 21-cm howitzer is towed for Operation Michael in position: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...llung.jpg?ssl=1

Eastern Front
Austro-Hungarian/Bulgarian advance on Odessa continues.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Hospital ship Guildford Castle torpedoed in Bristol Channel, but not sunk.
Adriatic: Emperor Charles makes 49-year-old Captain Horthy Rear-Admiral and Austrian C-in-C, 4 cruisers and 2 old battleships soon taken out of service to redeploy crews.
Italy: Younger Vice-Admiral Cusani (ex-CNS) appt Italian Fleet commander.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: British advance 3,000 yards on front of 12 miles astride Jerusalem-Nablus road.

Political, etc
Germany: Frank Wedekind, German playwright known for his influence on the development of epic theater and as a precursor to expressionism, passed away: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...110057897938944
France: German prisoners of war at work in at the Saint-Etienne Locomotive Shops, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...171452345733120
Pile of shoes worn out by American soldiers in Tours, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...438188966006784
United States: Film The Kaiser, the Beast of Berlin opens.
George von Lengerke Meyer, former U.S. Secretary of the Navy and ambassador to Italy and Russia, passed away: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...049496296296449

11 March 1918
 

Western Front
A claim that big German raids near Ypres and Armentieres are “repulsed”.
A claim that during a big airplane raid by night on Paris, four Gothas are downed (night March 11-12, 141 casualties including 101 killed when War Ministry hit). Another 66 die in panic rush for Metro shelters. Anti-aircraft guns fire 10,000 rounds. Single bomber attacks on March 24.
(Listed for yesterday): German flying ace Hans-Joachim Buddecke, credited with 13 victories, is killed in action over Lens, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...498591444062209
A destroyed neighborhood in Arras, France: © IWM (Q 78674): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...558992747704323
Lieutenant Paul Frank Baer shoots down a German aircraft, becoming the first pilot of the US Army Air Service (forerunner of the US Air Force) to shoot down an enemy craft: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...800572733710336
American soldier showing off a captured German pistol at Ancerville, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...830774369161216

Eastern Front
Russia: Austro-Hungarians launch first ever scheduled international airmail service (until November) between Vienna and Kiev using modified Hansa-Brandenburg C-I two-seater recon aircraft.
A Hansa-Brandenburg reconnaissance aircraft of the Austro-Hungarian army: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...aerer.jpg?ssl=1

Southern Front
Seaplane raid by night on Naples.

Naval and Overseas Operations
First meeting of the Allied Maritime Transport Council (see February 15th).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Further British progress astride Nablus road.

Political, etc
Russia: Lenin article stresses Russia’s might will be restored. US President Wilson sympathy message to Congress of Soviets on peace treaty.
France: (Listed for yesterday): American Secretary of War Baker arrives in France to tour the frontlines and meet with other Allied officials.
United Kingdom: Mr. Lloyd George on connection between Government and Press.
National Expenditure Committee report on extravagance in munitions, etc.
United States: Comedy romance film “Amarilly of Clothes-Line Arlly,” starring Mary Pickford, is released: https://archive.org/details/Amarill...allNeilanSilent

12 March 1918
 

Western Front
12-20 March: This period is marked by greatly intensified air operations on the part of the Luftstreitkräfte (the German Army Air Corps), enabling it to gain air superiority on the Somme sector. Over the Somme, 730 German aircraft, including 326 fighters, are opposed by 579 Royal Flying Corps aircraft, which include 261 fighters.
Daylight air-raid by British on Coblenz.
Western Front: Richthofen’s 64th victory in Jasta 11, clash with 9 Bristol Fighters of No 62 Squadron (4 lost). Next day (March 13) Richthofen’s c.35 fighters destroy 4 aircraft but lose 3 Fokkers and 1 Albatros (including Lothar von Richthofen wounded in crash).
A Fokker Dr.I from von Richthofen’s unit taxis under horse-power on the airfield: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...aerke.jpg?ssl=1
Britain: Zeppelin raid on Yorkshire; Hull bombed, one woman killed. Woman dies of shock, another wounded when Navy Zeppelins L-61, L-62 and L-63 bomb Hull; dense cloud prevents attack on Midlands objectives, 2 of 3 Giant bombers divert to Boulogne; L-42 (Dietrich) drops 21 bombs on West Hartlepool docks (47 casualties, night Mach 13-14).
The French Ministry of War after it was bombarded by German aeroplanes: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...162981155655681
“Repulse” of big German trench raid on Portuguese near Laventie.

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: German troops land at Aabo (Finland), and advance inland.
Red offensive in Karelia ends, Whites 11,700 men strong
Ukraine: Linsingen occupies Odessa, Austro-German row over precedence. Austrians capture 3 Russian midget submarines at Reni, river Duna.
Siberia: Sino-Japanese volunteers fight Reds at Blagoveschensk.

Southern Front
Salonika: Royal Flying Corps derail Bulgarian train near Porna, shoot German plane into Lake Tahinos (March 13), bomb Drama airfield hitting 4 hangars (March 22, more raids follow).
Macedonia: 3,000 Russians riot at internment camp near Vertikop, French cavalry unit restores order with sabers. Greek 1st (Larissa) Division (12,000 men with 16 guns) begins move to Struma valley, enters British sector line from March 26; 13th (Chalcis) Division replaces 1st Division in Naresh training area.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mozambique: German-aligned forces driven from Poluvu.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Erzerum retaken by Turkish forces (see February 16th, 1916).
Palestine: British advance three miles on 7-miles of coastal sector, taking 5 villages and 112 PoWs.

Political, etc
Romania: General General Alexandru Averescu, Romanian Premier and Foreign Minister, resigns (see 21st, and February 9th).

13 March 1918
 

Western Front
Flanders: Australian raid near Ypres-Comines Canal. British capture strong point southeast of Polygon Wood.
British soldier using a telescope to verify ranges for the anti-aircraft battery at St. Vaast, France: © IWM (Q 8557): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...511514471784449

Naval and Overseas Operations
British submarine D.3 is mistakenly targeted and sunk by a French airship in the English Channel, with the loss of all crew.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, decorating soldiers of the 7th Indian Division near Ismailia, Egypt: © IWM (Q 12526): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...223387928645632

Political, etc
Germany: Lts. Sholtz and Woolley released by Germans (v. 6 February 1918). [note: not at all sure what this refers to: I can find no further explanation].
Interior Minister Max Wallraf decides to cut farmers’ rations not workers to save 140,000t before Ukraine grain arrives.
Female workers in a German weapons factory: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...abrik.jpg?ssl=1
Russia: Russian composer César Cui, known as one of “The Five” who created created a distinct Russian classical music style, passed away: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...526614909825024
United Kingdom: War Cabinet told of Royal Navy Petrograd Attache’s warning that Japanese action may drive Russia into German arms.
United States: Propaganda film “Hearts of the World” is released. Director D.W. Griffith was contracted by the British government to make America more supportive of the war: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...285032663179266

Suck interesting tidbits always appear in the Political, etc section. Like seldom dp we see German women working in the factories; or think about some of the people who die naturally like Cesar Cui. It's part of what makes me not want to miss a single post. That's gg.

Unfortunately, we have the flu pandemic only barely starting to rear its ugly head: ultimately, this killed more people than died in all of World War I, absent the flu.

But since a huge portion of those affected by the flu were soldiers, the exact numbers are difficult to tell.

14 March 1918
 

Western Front
French recover trenches near Butte de Mesnil lost on 1 March.
Severe aerial fighting; 223 German machines claimed since 1 March.
North Sea: Floatplane clash; 2 Royal Naval Air Service planes attack 5 German planes (1 lost, 1 damaged, 1 observer killed).
Pitched battles were fought over the North Sea between these large, well armed Curtiss H-12 flying boats and Hansa-Brandenburg floatplane fighters: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...s-H12.jpg?ssl=1
A salvage dump with discarded shell casings, petrol tins, etc. near Ypres: © IWM (Q 10717): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...587029299748865

Eastern Front
Reds occupy Ekaterinodar (Kuban Cossack capital).
The Czechoslovak Legion defeats German forces at Bakhmach, Ukraine, securing them passage to evacuate from the front through Siberia.

Southern Front
Italy: Royal Flying Corps No 42 Squadron leaves to rejoin BEF on Western Front.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: British make small advance in Jordan valley.
Caucasus: Retreating Armenians on old Russian frontier. Turco-Transcaucasian Trebizond Conference opens.

Political, etc
Russia: Congress of Soviets at Moscow ratifies Best-Litovsk treaty by 704 votes to 261, officially ceding the Baltic, Belarus, and Ukraine to the Central Powers.
United Kingdom: Mr. Balfour, speaking in House of Commons, defends proposed Japanese intervention in Asiatic Russia.
Meeting of Supreme War Council in London, attended by Entente Premiers and Foreign Ministers.
Japan: Japanese industrialist Matsushita Kōnosuke founds an electric company (that will later be known as Panasonic).
Belgium: Gennaro Rubino, Italian anarchist who unsuccessfully tried to assassinate King Leopold II of Belgium, passed away in prison: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...868339595530240
United States: Henry J. Hardenbergh, American architect known for designing buildings such as the Plaza Hotel in New York, passed away: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...647418314100737

15 March 1918
 

Western Front
French ace Rene Fonck (20 victories to date) kills German ace and fighter leader Adolf von Tutschek (27 victories) over Champagne.
Captain Rene Fonck, with 75 victories at the end of the war, absolute Allied top ace and one of the most feared snipers among fighter pilots: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...fonck.jpg?ssl=1
African American soldiers at Menil-la-Tour, France: © IWM (Q 85384): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...990142246440960

Eastern Front
German Government proclaim protectorate over an independent Kurland.
SOVNARKOM allows Czech Legion evacuation to Omsk.
Finish Civil War: Mannerheim Offensive (12,000 troops) towards Tampere (until March 19), takes 700 PoWs and 10 guns. Second phase (March 20-25) cuts off town (until March 25), he cables for speedy German arrival on March 20.
Another soruce reports this as: Battle of Tampere starts in Finland, as 16,000 White forces attempt to besiege 14,000 Red forces at Tampere in the largest engagement in the Finnish Civil War.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Eastern Atlantic: Destroyer HMS Michael depth charges and sinks U-110 off North Ireland.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Strikes in Austria-Hungary.
France: Explosion in an explosives factory in the Courneuve district near Paris (30 killed, 1500 wounded).
United Kingdom: Allies in London discuss Japanese intervention “against Germans” in Russia but Americans object.
Turkey: (Listed for yesterday): The Ottoman Empire and the Transcaucasian Commissariat (breakaway state from Russia) meet in Trebizond to negotiate a treaty for recognition and to settle border disputes.
United States: Lucretia Garfield, wife of former U.S. President James A. Garfield who established the first presidential library, passed away: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...959692312510467
Sweden: Publication by "Politiken" of Prince Lichnowsky's memorandum.

16 March 1918
 

Western Front
Germany: Most German Operation Michael artillery now in position, infantry begins night approach marches until March 18.
German infantry marches for Operation Michael to the Western Front: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...-1918.jpg?ssl=1
Verdun: Big French raids near Cheppy and Malancourt, and counter-raiding by Germany, French take 160 PoWs, Germans 200.
Britain: Haig tells King he can smash any attack. Churchill memo envisages mine-clearing tanks.
British soldiers looking at a bridge over the Avre river at Roye, France, which was destroyed by the retreating Germans: © IWM (Q 9279): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...322835383574528
Daylight air-raid by British on Zweibrucken (Pfalz), dropping 24 bombs. All bombers return safely.
French soldiers looking at a ruined church at Flirey near the frontlines: © IWM (Q 78983): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...368384736464898
Portuguese soldiers in their trenches at Festubert, France: © IWM (Q 10752): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...595129137926144

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: The Battle of Länkipohja phase of the Battle of Tampere concludes with a with victory. The battle is known for its bloody aftermath as the Whites executed 70–100 capitulated Reds.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: Arabs disperse Turk camel corps northwest of Medina. Hejaz Railway near Bowat damaged, train derailed (March 19-20).
Persia: Hamadan (West Persia) evacuated by the Russian regular forces (see March 2nd, 1917).

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Vienna police report ‘… great and rather widespread resentment against Germany’.

17 March 1918
 

Western Front
Big German trench raid north-east of Verdun, taking 200 French prisoners.
French troops raid German lines at Malancourt on a front of 1400 meters to a depth of 800 meters.
[note: I have to wonder if this is a repeat of the raids yesterday, or there exchanges of raids two days in a row. The report of prisoners taken inclines me to the former]
Daylight air-raid by British on Kaiserslautern (Pfalz), hitting the barrack and railway station.
Britain: Two German deserters tell BEF XVIII Corps to expect 6-hour barrage, but no date.
German 10.5 cm light field howitzers 16 at the acceptance by the army administration: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...itzen.jpg?ssl=1
British and French troops conversing near Barisis, France: © IWM (Q 8565): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...686732925861889

Eastern Front
Ukraine: Robert Kosch’s German LII Corps (from Dobruja) occupies Nikolayev, hold all west of Dnieper including Kherson (March 20), advance continues (until March 29).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Black Sea: German occupation of Nikolayev gains ships building including 1 battleship, 3 cruisers, 4 destroyers, 2 gunboats and 3 submarines.

Political, etc
Ireland: In Belfast, the military is called out to quell riots that broke out last night between Sinn Féin members and police.
United States: White House announces it will cancel its annual egg rolling for Easter to conserve food. Other groups in the U.S. also urge people to observe an eggless Easter.

Enjoyed reading Truman's letter to Bess, jseal. Thanks. Nice to see the humanity of people in the news ... not the scripted and rehearsed style we usually think of when celebrities say anything in public.

Thanks.

Nice bit of usually-overlooked history, jseal. Thanks.

18 March 1918
 

Western Front
Germany: Paul von Hindenburg and Erich von Ludendorff moved forward HQ from Spa to Avesnes.
Britain: British and Portuguese trench raids. Winston Churchill visits front until March 22.
Yser: Belgians (1,800 casualties) “repulse heavy local attacks” at three points and one east of Nieuport (March 30).
Hindenburg and Ludendorff at the map table: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...dorff.jpg?ssl=1
Daylight air-raid by British on Mannheim.
Air ‘Battle of Le Cateau’: Richthofen leads 30 fighters (among up to 50 German) vs 29 Royal Flying Corps aircraft, destroying 9 for 1 Albatros fighter. Germans claim total of 28 Allied aircraft for loss of 7.
British sentry near Peronne standing next to a bust wearing a helmet and having a smoke: © IWM (Q 9979): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...049876227723265
American troops preparing for an assault near Badonviller. Their bags are filled with hand grenades: © IWM (Q 61343): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...110525204946944
British soldier using a Lewis Machine gun tied to a wheel as an anti-aircraft gun: © IWM (Q 10749): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...334767444013056

Eastern Front
Czech Legion begins rail journey east but stopped at Penza by Soviet troops on March 22.

Political, etc
Publication of manifesto by Premiers and Foreign Ministers of Entente regarding Germany's policy towards Russia and Romania; they refuse to recognize the peace treaties. (see 3rd and 14th).
United States: Short comedy film “The Bell Boy,” starring Buster Keaton and Fatty Arbuckle, is released: https://archive.org/details/bellboy
Poland: (Special, 1921): The Polish–Soviet War, which determined the borders between the Republic of Poland and Soviet Russia, formally concluded with the signing of the Peace of Riga.
Netherlands: Dutch Government accept with reservations the Allied terms for use of Dutch shipping in United States and Entente ports (see 7th and 21st). Allies repeat it on March 19 and US Navy seizes 40 Dutch ships in her ports (March 20, full compensation to be given; 3000 sailors repatriated in July). Britain does likewise on March 21.

Enjoyed the Fatty Arbuckle short filmstrip. Don't remember the last time I saw an old movie with him (and Buster Keaton) in it. Thanks. A real treat.

19 March 1918
 

Western Front
German raids in Champagne and on Meuse.
German gunners pull field guns for the upcoming offensive in their positions: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...uetze.jpg?ssl=1
Somme: General Gough writes home predicting German offensive on Thursday, March 21. Germans issued with special gasmask filters, 20 anti-tank bullets, and grenades.
British pre-emptive gas bombardment near St Quentin: 5,649 projectors fire 85t phosgene; 1,100 gassed (250 deaths).
Royal Garrison Officer at Monchy-le-Preux with the battery’s goat mascot: © IWM (Q 10744): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...455565265690624

Eastern Front
Ukraine: Germans still advancing in Ukraine.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: Harwich Force (Captain St John vice Tyrwhitt on leave) with 3 French destroyers from Dunkirk tows 6 barges with seaplanes to make dawn reconnaissance mission off Terschelling island, shooting down 1 German seaplane (repeated on March 21).
Adriatic: Austro-Hungarian ship SS Linz hits a mine and sinks, resulting in 697 deaths, including 283 Italian POWs: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...682058042388480
Damage to the Australian ship SS Boorara after it was torpedoed by a German submarine: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...682058621210624

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Small British advance in coastal sector of Palestine.

Political, etc
United Kingdom: Debate in House of Lords on resolution approving principle of League of Nations, with Lord Landsdowne stating it was the only guarantee of future peace. The debate is adjourned.
United States: Daylight Saving Act for 31 May-27 October.
Netherlands: Allies demand unconditional acceptance of their demands by Dutch.

20 March 1918
 

Western Front
“Repulse” of “strong German local attacks” in Champagne, near Verdun, in the Woevre, and in Lorraine.
Germany: Final council of war on Operation Michael at German GHQ Avesnes. Record (so far) 190 German divisions in theatre.
Iron Cross markings ordered changed to Balkenkreuze (Greek Cross) as from April 15.
On this Fokker Dr.I Triplanes the new ‘Balkenkreuz’ is visible on the top of the wings: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...start.jpg?ssl=1
Britain: Hugh Trenchard tenders resignation but retained till April 15.
Western Front: French capture German observation balloon with (bogus) documents revealing Roland offensive for March 26 in Champagne.
German soldiers gathering at St. Quentin, France before the Spring Offensive on the Western Front: © IWM (Q 55480): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...802863518736385

Naval and Overseas Operations
Allied Blockade Committee formed.
Eastern Mediterranean: Allied convoy loses 4 ships to U-boat north of Alexandria, warning of its presence not received.

Political, etc
Germany: Reichstag debates Army seizure of Daimler (Stuttgart).
United Kingdom: Sir E. Geddes, speaking in House of Commons, gives figures relating to submarine warfare and shipbuilding (world shipping tonnage fell 8% in 1917, Britain’s by 20%), and announces that Lord Pirrie is to be Controller-General of Merchant Shipbuilding, soon improves repair procedure for damaged ships.
Mr. A. Henderson declares that Labour cannot accept peace of Brest-Litovsk.
COAL, GAS AND ELECTRICITY RATIONING INTRODUCED; theatres to close at 10.30pm, restaurants at 10pm.
Romania: M. Alexandru Marghiloman, Romanian Prime Minister.
United States: Dutch ships in ports of the U.S. seized by Government.
Christening of the Ferris-type wooden boat at Harrison, New Jersey. Large wooden boats capable of trans-Atlantic travel were constructed due to steel shortages: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...742465662771202

21 March 1918
 

Western Front
The storm breaks: the Kaiserschlacht, the series of German offensives on the Western Front begins with Unternehmen Michael. The entire series is often referred to by the British as Operation Michael, with Michael itself (until April 5) often referred to as the Second Battle of the Somme. And occasionally, this is further broken down and the beginning (until March 23) is referred to as Battle of St Quentin.
The German offensive on the Western Front (Operation Michael) opens with a massive assault against British forces in Picardy by 56 German Army Divisions, on 50-mile front between Sensee and Oise rivers. The offensive achieves a number of spectacular early successes, shattering the British defensive line.
German main attack against British Fifth Army (Hubert Gough) on 42-mile southern sector from Gouzeaucourt to Barisis, south of La Fere.
German Northern attack on British Third Army (Julian Byng) by 25 divisions of Seventeenth (Otto von Below) and Second (Georg von der Marwitz) Armies.
5 hour German bombardment by record 6,473 guns and 3,532 mortars on 43-mile front vs 2,500 British begins at 0440 hours, shelling 20 miles behind, causing up to 7,500-8,000 casualties. Lavish use of Blue and Green Cross gas shells is expected to paralyze British artillery (2 million gas shells expended by April 6). German stormtroopers attack in dense mist at various points between 0700 and 0930 hours and advance up to 4 1/2 miles; meet fierce battle zone resistance. Germans advance to Crozat Canal southwest of St Quentin. First of Gough’s reserve divisions in evening action. First 9 German tanks in action.
The German A7V tank makes its debut in the offensive, with 9 tanks deployed, but 3 break down before seeing combat. A7V tank at Roye: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...455921462333440
On Michael sector of attack 720 German aircraft (326 fighters) vs 579 Royal Flying Corps (261 fighters) in 31 squadrons. Udet designated commander Jasta 11 succeeding Lothar von Richthofen. Total German front line strength 3,668 aircraft. Fog hinders early air operations but 36 RFC squadrons see action by end of day losing 16 planes for 14 claimed crashed kills (Germans admit 11 loss and claim 21 Allied planes). British lose 3 observation balloons. 27 German Schlachtstaffeln (168 ground-attacker planes) attack British Third and Fifth Armies.
During the initial stages of the offensive, the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) is instrumental in gathering intelligence about the timing and composition of the attack and on the first day of the offensive, 250 British aircraft from 27 squadrons strafe and bomb the advancing German Army, disrupting its operations and damaging enemy morale. 50 aircraft are lost overall.
British battle positions penetrated at various points, especially near St. Quentin. The German advance forces 17 Royal Flying Corps Squadrons to evacuate airfields that are in danger of being overrun.
For 39,929 casualties Germans inflict 38,512 casualties (including 21,000 PoWs), take 532 guns, 46 ruined villages and 98.5 square miles of ground more than Allied 1916 Somme offensive in 141 days.
British defenders watch the advancing Germans appear through the mist on the first day of the Michael-Offensive. Fog aided the German attackers: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...nsive.jpg?ssl=1
Artois: British gas attack at Lens: 3,728 projectors fire 57t phosgene; 700 gassed (150 deaths).
Champagne: German diversionary attack between Maisons de Champagne and Navarin; hand-to-hand fighting in French forward trenches. Mustard gas attack on US 42nd Division.
General Pershing, Commander of the US Expeditionary Force in France, addressing his troops at Condrecourt: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...181625548623873

Naval and Overseas Operations
Destroyer action in North Sea between Allied and German flotillas (see October 17th, 1914).
Dunkirk bombarded by German destroyers, Ostend by British monitors; two destroyer actions, two German vessels (torpedo boats A 7 & A 10) sunk.
Mozambique: Official report of fighting 22 February 1918 at Msalu (Portuguese East Africa) and of occupation of Nampula by column from Mozambique.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Passage of the Jordan by British forces (21st/23rd).

Political, etc
Germany: Kaiser Wilhelm: “We are at the decisive moment of the war, and one of the greatest moments in German history.”
United Kingdom: Miners under age 25 lose military service exemption (to recruit 50,000).
Romania: M. Constantine Arian appointed Romanian Foreign Minister (see 12th and November 8th).
United States: Railroad Control Act gives Federal control until 21 months after peace ratification.
Netherlands: Dutch shipping question to the fore.

22 March 1918
 

Unternehmen Michael, Second Battle of the Somme, Battle of St Quentin: Germans generally held on northern part of battle-front, but British defenses broken through west of St. Quentin, and troops here and in adjoining sectors retreat hastily. Germans claim 16,000 prisoners and 200 guns. Masses of infantry advance; Germans ‘leapfrog’ fresh divisions through tired troops. British slowly pushed back, 25 tanks (16 lost) and 19th Division counter-attack well at Beugny. Germans capture Epehy and Roisel, cross Crozat Canal and reach Vaux. 2nd of Gough’s reserve divisors enters battle after midnight. Gough decides to fall back on positions east of Somme.
British soldiers gather at a plug-in tank. The German spring offensive hits the Allied front with unexpected power: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...-tank.jpg?ssl=1
17 Royal Flying Corps squadrons move bases back; operations almost all ground attack (RFC lose 30 to German 11). RFC night bombers destroy 2 ammo dumps.
A wounded captured British soldier being treated by German troops: © IWM (Q 88060): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...486124385390592

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: Finnish White Troops launch an expedition to annex Karelia from Soviet Russia.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: British minesweeping sloop Gaillardia (68 lives lost) mined and sunk due to too shallow-laid Northern Barrage mines. Laying not resumed until April 20. Destroyer HMS Kale mined and sunk (March 27).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: British cross Jordan and advance eastward. First Trans-Jordan ‘Raid’: Shea’s Force (85 casualties) cross swollen river at Hijla against 1,000 Turks with 6 guns for raid on Amman.

Political, etc
Netherlands: Dutch Government informed that Allies have decided to seize Dutch ships in their ports.
Spain: New Spanish Cabinet under Senores Maura and Dato.

23 March 1918
 

Western Front
Paris first shelled by long-range gun (from Crépy-en-Valois, 75 miles distant) (see August 15th). Note: this gun, for some abysmally stupid reason sometimes referred to as “Big Bertha” was one mount, with several replacement barrels. It was a special 8.26in Krupp design. The first bombardment, lasting until May 1, consists of 183 shells. Overall, the daily shelling of Paris continues until August 9), for a total of 303 rounds fired, with 23 shots at range of 74 miles (256 killed, 620 wounded).
Unternehmen Michael. Second Battle of the Somme. Battle of St Quentin: Battle of St Quentin phase ends. Germans take Monchy-le-Preux, cross Tortille river. British lose line of Crozat Canal: Gough decides to continue retreat to western bank of the Somme. Germans enter Ham and Peronne (evacuated) and pursue to there; some bridges lost more or less intact. French infantry (5 divisions ordered) begin to arrive by lorry to take over front south of Peronne, 1 regiment in action. Byng’s Third Army abandons Flesquieres (Cambrai) Salient.
A British tank Mark IV (female) in the ruined streets of Peronne, shortly before evacuation: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ronne.jpg?ssl=1
French refugees leaving the commune of Ham in order to escape the German Spring Offensive: © IWM (Q 10828): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...818313245462529
A wounded British soldier at Peronne after fighting the Germans at St. Quentin: © IWM (Q 10779): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...864864168759297
U.S. Marine receiving first aid in a trench in the Toulon Sector, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...879964447526914
German forces claim the capture of 25,000 British prisoners, 400 artillery guns, and 300 machine guns so far in its offensive: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...151747700510721
British soldiers setting up an improvised barrier in Peronne as defenses against the German offensive: © IWM (Q 11568): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...181956847865857
British air-raid on Konz (near Treves) by night.
French fighters reinforce Royal Flying Corps (38 planes lost including 6 in Flanders; Germans claim 29 Allied aircraft for loss of 14) between the Oise and Somme (until March 24) who claim 36 German aircraft as weather improves.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: 4 British echo-ranging East Coast stations accurately fix Dover Patrol monitors bombarding Zeebrugge.
Dardanelles: British destroyer HMS Arno sunk in collision.
Western Mediterranean: Italian minelayer Partenope sunk by UC-67 off Tunisia after firing her last shell.

Political, etc
Germany: Russian and Romanian treaties adopted by Reichstag.

24 March 1918
 

Western Front
Unternehmen Michael/Second Battle of the Somme: First Battle of Bapaume phase (24th/25th): Bapaume and Péronne taken by German forces (see March 17th and 18th, 1917 and August 29th and September 1st, 1918). Germans also cross Somme between Peronne and Ham, and take Nesle and Peronne, and further south capture Guiscard and Chauny. They now claim 30,000 prisoners and 600 guns. Germans destroy 500-strong South African Brigade.
Separation of BEF and French Armies threatened. A shaken Petain orders Fayolle above all to keep ‘the solid connection of the French armies and then, if possible, to preserve contact with the British Forces’. At 2300 hours Petain visits Haig and refuses further reserves as he expects main German blow in Champagne at any moment. Haig enquires if he means to abandon BEF right flank and allow Germans to penetrate; Petain nods assent. Haig cables War Office for Wilson and War Minister Milner to come to France at once, emphasizing ‘unless General Foch or some other determined general is given supreme command of the operations … there will be a disaster’.
Petain, the hero of Verdun, inspects a new barbed wire assembly: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...draht.jpg?ssl=1
German artillery pulled by horses towards the front to support the ongoing offensive: © IWM (Q 29951): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...212163352875009
British Mark IV Tank in the streets of Peronne: © IWM (Q 10832): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...242353571454978
British 3rd Cavalry Division going towards the front to meet the German offensive: © IWM (Q 10790): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...544333858607104
Waves of 20-80 French bombers intervene in BEF’s Somme battle, Group Fequant from Soissons and Fareen-Tardenois, with Group Manard from Chalons (March 25), effort especially against German convoys continues (March 26-29). Captain J L Trollope in Sopwith Camel of No 43 Squadron Royal Fling Corps scores 6 victories. Royal Flying Corps lose 65 aircraft to claim of 42 German (17 in Flanders). German claim is 35 Allied for 14 lost. Germans night bomb Albert and Amiens (10 hours interruption to rail traffic).
Germany: British airplanes raid Mannheim by day and Cologne by night, the latter by Handley Page bombers (first raid on Cologne since 1914 (night March 24-25)).
A photograph of the massive “Paris Gun, used to bombard Paris from a distance of 75 miles: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...257455011942400

Southern Front
Italy: 3 French divisions recalled to Western Front (until March 26); Corsican Graziani replaces Maistre as C-in-C.

Naval and Overseas Operations
India: Northwest Frontier: A British air raid drops 3 bombs, killing 14 armed tribesmen at Marri district capital (submits April 19).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: British advance nine miles towards Es Salt (Jordan); British 60th Division captures El Haud Hill with 3 guns. There are now 9,600 British soldiers with 82 guns vs 5,500 (maximum) Turks and Germans with c.26 guns. Eight RFC aircraft bomb Amman.

Political, etc
Germany: Germany recognizes the independence of Lithuania, declared on February 16, but very little changes as the country remains occupied by Germany.
United States: Scottish-American magician William E. Robinson (stage name Chung Ling Soo) dies after failing to do the “bullet catch” magic trick: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...514134282670080

25 March 1918
 

Western Front
Unternehmen Michael/Second Battle of the Somme: Battle of Noyon phase. Noyon taken by German forces (see March 18th, 1917 and August 29th, 1918). Germans carry Bapaume in night attack; subsequently their advance, though less rapid than on previous two days, continues on whole front from Ervillers (north of Bapaume) to the Oise. Germans claim 45,000 prisoners since beginning of attack.
General Emile Fayolle takes command south of Somme; 7 French infantry divisions and 1 cavalry division now engaged. Germans oust Third Army from Bapaume. Noyon falls to night assault despite British 18th Division counter-attack. Gaps opening between BEF and French armies and between British XIX Corps (Herbert Watts) and XVIII Corps (Ivor Maxse). Crisis of the battle: Hubert Gough summons his chief engineer Major-General Peter Grant and directs him to form scratch force (Constantine Carey’s Force until April 2) of 3,000 men with 92 MGs including 500 US rail engineers and hold line east of Amiens. John Pershing offers Philippe Petain 4 US divisions at 2200 hours; 2 relieve French divisions in quiet sectors. Haig, Wilson and Weygand meet at Abbeville.
An improvised battle group of French and British soldiers occupy a hastily prepared defensive position: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...igung.jpg?ssl=1
Thick smoke rises up as British troops burn stores and hutments at Omiecourt during their retreat from the German offensive: © IWM (Q 10796): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...621257867980801
German officers cooking their meal in a trench at Roye: © IWM (Q 55244): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...845058505494528
Over 100 Royal Flying Corps aircraft ground attack to support BEF Third Army.
British pilot Captain John Lightfoot Trollope is credited with shooting down 7 German aircraft in a single day, the first British pilot to do so.

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: Carl Mannerheim attacks Tampere (until March 28) against bitter resistance. Karelian Finn ski troops raid into Russia and cut railway to Petrograd (until March 26). Last Red attack on Ahvola (Karelia) just fails on March 26.

Naval and Overseas Operations
A view of the Italian minelayer Partenope, torpedoed and sunk two days ago by the German submarine UC-67 north of Tunisia: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...574536546865152

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: British take Es Salt.
Mesopotamia: RFC Commander Colonel Tennant shot down and captured in DH4 at Khan Baghdadi by Euphrates (8 armored cars rescue him on March 28). RFC air liaison essential in British Khan Baghdadi victory, also make 32 ground attacks dropping 6,344lb of bombs (March 26-27).

Political, etc
Belarus: The Belarusian People’s Republic declares its independence from Russia in Minsk.
France: French composer Claude Debussy, associated with Impressionist music, passed away: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...876515449864192
United Kingdom: War Cabinet discuss possibility of BEF retreat to Channel ports.
Japan: Sino-Japanese Agreement to resist hostile influences.
United States: Mexican rebels cross the Texas border and raid a ranch, killing two. This is the last major attack by Mexican rebels on U.S. soil.

26 March 1918
 

Western Front
Unternehmen Michael/Second Battle of the Somme: Albert and Bray taken by German forces (see March 17th, 1917 and August 22nd and 27th, 1918). British make stand north of Somme on line Roeux-Ayette-Beaumont Hamel-Albert-Bray, Very heavy fighting south of Somme; Germans capture Lihons, Chaulnes, Roye and Noyon.
British Whippet light tanks first time in action: 12 rout 2 German battalions, helping ANZAC troops to plug Hebuterne-Collincamps gap in Third Army front after 22-mile retreat in 5 days.
The Whippet tanks of the 3rd Battalion Tank Corps move up first time into action near Maillet Mailly on this day: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...nsatz.jpg?ssl=1
DOULLENS CONFERENCE: between Georges Clemenceau, Alfred, Lord Milner, Douglas Haig, Philippe Petain and Ferdinand Foch (all but Haig met at Compiegne at 1700 hours on March 25). "Doullens Agreement" concluded. At Haig’s proposal FOCH APPOINTED TO CO-ORDINATE ALLIED MOVEMENTS (President Wilson approves on March 29) (see April 14th). [Note: Although labeled “Haig’s” proposal, this was a face-saving formality; the French had been pressing for this decision since before the American involvement, with confusion only about whom should be appointed. The British strongly resisted, and only reluctantly agreed in the face of nearly overwhelming disaster, and in fact, continued for the rest of the war to undercut Foch’s decisions when they perceived such decisions would lead to more British disasters].
Germany claims 45,000 British prisoners captured since the start of the offensive.
The ruins of Albert Cathedral, damaged by German (?) shelling: © IWM (Q 37367): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...0194176/photo/1
Foch immediately switches Marie-Eugène Debeney’s First French Army from St Mihiel sector towards Amiens and asks both Haig and Petain to maintain a united front. Petain makes a pessimistic report on his plans to fortify and defend Amiens 20 miles behind front. Foch retorts: ‘We must fight in front of Amiens. We must stop where we are now. As we have not been able to stop the Germans on the Somme, we must not retire a single centimeter!’
British and French military and government leaders meet in Doullens France to coordinate the war effort, and both governments agree General Ferdinand Foch should be appointed “commander-in-chief” of the Allied forces: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...6607106/photo/1
British Third Army uses 27 of its 34 Royal Flying Corps squadrons or over 250 aircraft for close support, total 29t (c.1437) bombs and 228,000 rounds by formations of up to 60 aircraft. RFC lose 50 planes (Germans claim 12 for loss of 5) for 10 German claimed. Both sides night bomb. RFC drop record of 1,326 bombs.
A wounded British soldier is carried past defensive positions manned by French soldiers near Roye: © IWM (Q 10824): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...0209025/photo/1
German artillery moving forward near Bapaume: © IWM (Q 51465): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...5424005/photo/1
A French cavalry patrol near the Amiens-Roye Road during the German offensive: © IWM (Q 10826): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...3731329/photo/1

Naval and Overseas Operations
St George’s Channel: Royal Navy PC-51 depth charges and sinks U-61, sinker of 36 ships (90,770t) since 1916.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: British cavalry advancing towards Amman (east of Jordan).
Mesopotamia: Action of Khan Baghdadi (26th/27th). British carry Turkish positions on Euphrates and claim 3,000 prisoners. A further source claims: H. T. Brooking’s c.11,000 men, 48 guns, 16 planes, 13 armored cars and 300 Ford vans storm 2 Turk trench lines and cut Aleppo road trapping 5,254 PoWs (including Nazim Bey, commander 50th Division), 12 guns and 47 MGs for 159 casualties.

Political, etc
United Kingdom: Churchill cables all factories for increased output and Easter holidays’ deferment (over 1,500 firms do); assures War Cabinet 2,000 guns ready for BEF by April 6. Light, Heating and Power Order, no lighting in public places after 10.30pm.
Japan: Prime Minister of Japan says gravity of situation in Siberia may shortly compel action.

27 March 1918
 

Western Front
Unternehmen Michael/Second Battle of the Somme: Battle of Rosières phase (26th/27th). Germans advance on both side of Somme in night attack, reaching Sailly le Sec (12 miles from Amiens), but lose ground in British counter-attacks. Germans afterwards fail in attacks from Bucquoy to Rosieres and are checked near Lassigny and Noyon, but take Montdidier after rapid advance (see August 10th).
British XIX Corps takes 800 PoWs and holds firm by the Somme. In Allied center Germans capture Proyart, Morcourt and Lamotte-Warfusee and are 12 miles East of Amiens. Still a 10-mile gap between the British and French armies. Foch orders ‘lose not another meter of ground!’ Dismounted cavalry halt key German thrust 11 miles east of Amiens as 3rd Australian Division (Monash) comes up.
BEF weekly officer casualties record 6,325 since March 21. Turning point in great offensive (by Crown Prince Rupprecht).
Assault of German infantry in the west: https://ww2-weapons.com/diary-march...angriff-de-inf/
The Victoria Cross is posthumously awarded to 2nd Lieutenant A.A. McLeod of No.2 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. At 19 years old, he is the youngest airman to receive this award during the First World War, for action during a bombing mission over Bray-sur-Somme in France and for saving the life of his observer, Lieutenant A.W. Hammond, after being shot down in an Armstrong Whitworth FK8 (B5773).
JG 1 shoots down 13 Royal Flying Corps (RFC) planes (39 lost in all) over Albert (3 to Richthofen) without loss. Schlachtstaffeln attack 4 villages on Somme and Ancre. RFC drops record of 50t bombs and fires 313,345 MG rounds. On whole front Germans admit 6 losses for 34 Allied victims.
Map showing extend of German gains in the offensive. Perpendicular lines are today’s gains, diagonal is the previous day’s, and the bold line is the German positions on the 21st: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...347142413737984

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: British destroyer HMS Kale, as reported several days ago in connection with other operations, sunk by mine.
5 minelaying British destroyers sink 3 German armed trawlers (72 PoWs) 70 miles northwest of Heligoland Bight.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Allenby warned to stay on defensive and spare troops for France (9 Yeo regiments on March 26). Anzac Mounted Division attacks and temporarily isolates Amman, but second attack fails on March 28 as Turkish Fourth Army C-in-C Djemal Kuchuk takes over German-stiffened defense.

28 March 1918
 

Western Front
Unternehmen Mars: First Battle of Arras 1918 (aka FOURTH BATTLE OF ARRAS) phase (see August 26th).
Great German attack on wide front north and south of Scarpe river defeated with very heavy loss. Ludendorffs Operation Mars fails bloodily with 9 divisions against 4 to clear northern flank of his ‘bulge’ against British Third Army and Arras itself. Local German attacks towards Amiens gain 3 miles; Germans take Hamel, Mezieres and Demuin, but fail to cut off XIX Corps’ retreat from Rosieres.
At 1630 hours Henry Rawlinson replaces Hubert Gough (recalled).
Strong French counter-attacks gain ground near Montdidier and between Hainvillers and Pont l'Eveque (Oise).
The end in the barbed wire – fallen German soldier in a Cheval de frise: https://ww2-weapons.com/wp-content/...tacheldraht.jpg
British Whippet Tanks on the move to meet the German offensive near Albert: © IWM (Q 8811): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...971236943441920
General Pershing asks for employment of U.S. troops.
Ludendorff orders completion of preparations for reduced Flanders Operation Georgette. In the estimated 8-10 days before (actually 12 days) he orders all efforts be made to secure Amiens. King visits BEF until March 30.
Royal Flying Corps lose 58 planes in low-level operations (7 German planes shot down) dropping 40t bombs and firing 242,000 rounds.
Royal Engineers near Roye setting an explosive charge on a tree to cause to fall across the road to slow down the German offensive. © IWM (Q 11573): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...695684022038528
French gunners firing on German positions at Nampcel: © IWM (Q 91197): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...002746606178304

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: H.M. boarding steamer Tithonus torpedoed.
Atlantic: Submarine-cruiser U-157 investigates Spanish liner Infanta Isabel de Bourbon. The latter is then allowed to proceed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: 2/14th Battalion (London Scottish) soldiers with bagpipes marching through the recently captured town of Es Salt: © IWM (Q 12610): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...665503676928000
At Amman (Jordan), Ottoman troops launch counterattacks against British forces to prevent them from taking the city.
Mesopotamia: British armored cars capture Ana, its radio station and drive 73 miles beyond until March 29.

Political, etc
Australia: Australian Cabinet reconstituted.

29 March 1918
 

Western Front
Unternehmen Mars: No serious fighting north of Somme. Between Somme and Avre Germans continue to advance, taking Hamel, Mezieres and Demuin.
French hold line west of Mezieres-La Neuville-Sire Bernard-outskirts of Montdidier. Continued French counter-attacks on southern flank.
Germans claim 70,000 prisoners and 1,100 guns since opening of offensive.
Quiet phase begins until April 3. Kaiser briefed at Mons. Luettwitz’s III Corps drives Anglo-French back up to 2 miles on 7-mile front between the Avre and Luce.
General Ferdinand Foch appointed to co-ordinate action of Allied Armies: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...381442215055360
Paris: Long-range gun causes 165 civilian casualties in Church of St Gervais.
French cemetery near Lens wrecked by shell fire: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...063147351994368
A Frenchwoman refugee with her cow in Amiens to escape the German offensive: © IWM (Q 10836): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...078234540212224
King George V in a conversation with men of the Gordon Highlanders at Frevent, France during his visit to the front: © IWM (Q 315): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...289610403631104
German soldiers helping push a 77mm field gun over rough terrain: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...319830691147776
Destroyed town of Misery, France in the Somme: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...351242534281216
German carts pass by an abandoned British tank near Combles, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...411640788582400

Eastern Front
Ukraine: German 2nd Cavalry Division occupies Poltava.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters:
Palestine: British troops of the Imperial Camel Corps taking positions near Amman (Jordan) during the battle to capture it: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...305940515262464

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Ottokar von Czernin urges Emperor Charles to launch Italian Front attack to support Hindenburg
Germany: Germans ratify Brest-Litovsk treaty of 3 March.
France: Senate votes 1919 class call up.
Canada: (Listed for Yesterday) In Quebec, anti-war and anti-conscription riots break out, fueled by French-Canadian nationalism.
Turkey: Turks ratify peace with Russia and Ukraine.
United States: Lloyd George cables Woodrow Wilson for immediate commitment of US troops plus 120,000 per month to Europe (Georges Clemenceau also on March 31).

30 March 1918
 

Western Front
Unternehmen Mars: French heavily engaged on 25-mile front between Moreuil and Lassigny as 14 Germans divisions gain 2 miles on average, capturing 6 villages and doubling Avre bridgehead.
French continue their counter-offensive; desperate resistance to German attacks.
French troops await a gas attack: https://ww2-weapons.com/?attachment_id=21461
North of Somme in Boivy and Boyelles region (Cojeul river) heavy German attacks break down. British, Australian and Canadian troops (including 1,400 cavalry) counter-attack, recapture most of Moreuil Wood and 3 other woods. Georg von der Marwitz’s 8 divisions gain only a mile, now 11 miles east of Amiens.
“Charge of Flowerdew’s Squadron” by Alfred Munnings, depicting the battle in Moreuil Wood: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...668333749469185
South of Somme in Luce valley, Demuin is lost and retaken by British.
Attack on Belgian trenches east of Nieuport repulsed.
RFC personnel loss of 199 since March 24 highest weekly total of war until September 15-21.
A view of the St-Gervais-et-St-Protais Church, damaged by the Paris Gun: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...441840624726016

Southern Front
The Victoria Cross is awarded to Lieutenant A. Jerrard of No.66 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, for gallantry displayed during an offensive patrol over Italy in a Sopwith Camel (B5648). for destroying 3 of 6 out of 19 Austro-Hungarian fighters engaging 3 Camels.
Albania: Austro-Hungarian attempt against bridgehead in Avlona sector fails.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: British raid Hejaz railway near Amman (east of Jordan). Third attack on Amman fails against citadel, night retreat ordered. NZ Brigade covers it on March 31.
Armenia: Turkish I Caucasian Corps takes old Karaurgan frontier post, patrols penetrate c.8 miles.
War breaks out between Armenians and Azerbaijanis. In the next few days, several thousand Azerbaijanis are killed in Baku (Azerbaijan) by Armenians and allegedly by Bolsheviks.

Political, etc
United Kingdom: H.M. the King returns from a visit to the front.
Mr. Lloyd George issues statement on course of present battle and announces appointment of General Foch.
British women at a munitions factory working during Easter weekend: © IWM (Q 110357): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...729998746673155

31 March 1918
 

Western Front
Unternehmen Mars: French make some progress between Montdidier and Lassigny.
West of Albert German attack is stopped.
Indecisive fighting in Luce and Avre valleys. Eberhard von Hofacker’s LI Corps recaptures woods lost on March 30. Ludendorff orders April 4 thrust for Amiens after supplies brought up. British capture then lose Hangard.
1,059 aeroplanes reported brought down on all fronts in March, of which Allies make the ridiculous claim of 838, and Germans 221.
822 German aircraft supporting Ludendorff Offensive vs 645 British, but only 3 Anglo-German combats as Germans claim 19 Allied aircraft for loss of 4. BEF Fifth Army’s anti-aircraft guns claim 17 aircraft since March 21. Germans admit March loss of 161 aircraft and claim 447 Allied.
Comparative statement of bombing activity by British and German aircraft issued.
Easter Day: Germans claim 75,000 PoWs and c.1000 guns captured since March 21. German Army peak ration strength 7,917,170 men.
BEF March losses 173.721 soldiers, second worst month of war, including 124,462 infantry and cavalry since March 21.
General Erich Ludendorff as hard-working talented staff officer. During 1917-1918 he is the most powerful man in Germany, but he waged war as an end in itself, ignoring Clausewitz’s great maxim: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...dorff.jpg?ssl=1
American Army nurses receiving instructions on using gas masks: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...805499347566593

Eastern Front
Ukraine: Germans form new Army Group Eichhorn (18 divisions) at Kiev for Ukraine occupation, CoS Karl Groener to organise railways; Alexander von Linsingen removed and Bugarmee dissolved.

Southern Front
Announced that British troops in Italy are now holding sector on Asiago Plateau instead of Montello.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Black Sea: Battlecruiser Yavuz Sultan Selim carries Central Powers Armistice Commission to Odessa.
Allied and neutral shipping losses during March: 169 ships (79 British with 490 lives) worth 244,814t (British 199,458t including 3 mined). U-boat figure 190 ships worth 368,746t, including 68 ships of 128,620t in Mediterranean (4 to Austrians); 5 U-boats sunk (2 to unknown cause).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
War Office reports progress in Mesopotamia, Palestine, and the Hejaz.
Palestine: However, despite the “progress”, British efforts to take Amman (Jordan) fail due to Ottoman counterattacks and rainy weather that frustrated supply efforts.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Arbeiter-Zeitung on Sea-power.
Russia: Russo-Romanian agreement on subject of Bessarabia completed.
France: “Blue Bird,” a fantasy film directed by Maurice Tourneur, is released: https://archive.org/details/theBlueBird1918
United Kingdom: Mr. Lloyd George in message to Dominions says "the last man may count".
Canada: Thousands of Canadian soldiers are sent to Quebec to quell anti-war and anti-conscription riots.
The Toronto Arenas defeat the Vancouver Millionaires to win the 1918 Stanley Cup Finals: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...790393003954177
United States: Agreement between Capital and Labor to refer all questions to arbitration announced.
Daylight Saving Time goes into effect for the first time in the United States, moving the clocks forward one hour.

1 April 1918
 

Western Front
Unternehmen Mars: Local attacks near Albert repulsed. British war poet and painter Pte Isaac Rosenberg killed aged 27 east of Arras (4th Division).
Grivesnes (southern Moreuil) heavily attacked but remains in French hands.
At Hebuterne (Bucquoy) heavy local fighting.
Germany: During April 8 German divisions transfer to Western Front.
British soldiers taking a rest near Amiens to eat during their retreat from the German offensive: © IWM (Q 10842): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...152775211470848
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is formed by the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). The Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) is also formed from those serving in air units of Women's Royal Naval Service, Women's Auxiliary Army Corps, the Voluntary Aid Detachment and the Women's Legion.
The Royal Aircraft Establishment is formed from the Royal Aircraft Factory at Farnborough.
That’s the for realz note. Wikipedia reports this as: Wikipedia's report on this is: 1918 – The British Armed Forces started to grant personnel the power to fly.
All ex-RNAS units (add 60 to squadron numbers and 200 to wing nos); RNAS officers receive military ranks; 63 RAF squadrons and 1 Special Duty Flight in France. Includes RAF Nos 100 and 216 night bombing Squadrons transferred to French zone to raid rail targets in Chalons-sur-Marne sector on six 6 nights (until May 9).
Two mascot dogs of the British No. 22 Squadron on top of a Bristol Fighter: © IWM (Q 11991): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...425817019879426
England: In April London Air Defence Area has 282 fighters on 14 airfields, 260 guns and 353 searchlights.
France: 7 Gotha bombers drop 21 bombs on Paris.
Men of the South African Scottish brigade with their pet baboon holding a rifle: © IWM (Q 10841): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...167872914903046
British tanks at Mont-Saint-Éloi to meet the German offensive: © IWM (Q 338): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...395613782241280
German (??) observation balloons being sent up over Coblenz: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...456017409560577

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: German Expeditionary Force for Finland leaves Danzig.
Whites close ring on 1,000 Reds in Battle of Rautu (until April 5).
USSR: Red Army now 114,678 soldiers strong, 30 divisors planned (88 in May).
Ukraine: During April French Captain E Bordes, officially helping Red Ukraine C-in-C Antonov, moves 3,000 rail wagons of munitions to Samara on Volga, out of German reach. Similar convoys (including strategic minerals) to Tsaritsyn and Baku.

Southern Front
Mediterranean: RAF HQ at Malta, 6 aircraft/seaplane carriers based there or at Alexandria and Mudros.
Salonika: No 150 Squadron RAF formed with flights from Nos 17 and 47 Squadrons, destroys or captures 36 Bulgarian aircraft for loss of 1 (until September 18).

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: British destroyer HMS Falcon sunk in collision.
Atlantic: In April fast US troop convoys begin, transporting 1,037,000 troops for loss of 3 transports; Aquitania carries 60,000 men in 9 voyages.
An American troop convoy is approaching the French coast with the safety of airships: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...itzug.jpg?ssl=1
Mediterranean: In April First Sea Lord and Royal Navy Intelligence chief Rear-Admiral Hall visit Malta to reorganize C-in-C’s staff to reduce shipping losses. Fixed Otranto Barrage begun (until September) but 121 U-boat passages (until August) despite 58 depth charge attacks.
Britain: In April HMS Simoom, first S-class destroyer completed (ordered Apr 1917), 18 more completed by Armistice. During April Allied shipbuilding for first time exceeds lost tonnage and does so for duration of war.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Strong Turkish resistance near Amman; British retire to Es Salt.
During April one British anti-aircraft section of 2 guns (17 sections with EEF) in action 76 times, firing average of 100 rounds, Germans especially note hampering of reconnaissance during April 13-19.
Persia: Enzeli evacuated by the Russian regular forces (see February 17th).
Martinsyde Scout of No 72 Squadron RAF joins Dunsterville at Hamadan.
Mesopotamia: British troops 73 miles beyond Ana (Middle Euphrates).

Political, etc
Germany: Berlin reports the despatch of ultimatum to Russia on subject of Finland.
Canada: Anti-conscription riots continue in Quebec. Troops fire on rioters.

2 April 1918
 

Western Front
Unternehmen Mars: Artois: British 32nd Division recaptures Ayette south of river Scarpe.
Somme: British Fifth Army renamed Fourth.
Local fighting between Moreuil and Lassigny.
Generally fighting has died down.
U.S. agrees to brigade troops with British and French.
US C-in-C General Pershing with French troops: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...zosen.jpg?ssl=1
Miss Sylvia Hodkinson becomes the first Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) recruit.
The British Official Dispatches report James McCudden (57 victories) awarded Victoria Cross.
Canadian soldiers sleeping and writing letters in the trenches near Willerval: © IWM (CO 2533): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...501316106629122
French troops in rifle pits on the frontlines at Le Plessier: © IWM (Q 78097): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...788216109453312

Political, etc
Russia: Siberia reported dominated by Bolsheviks, German and Austrian prisoners being armed.
United Kingdom: "Curfew" order comes into force.
Canada: Prime Minister intends to enforce Military Act on Quebec rioters. A report that yesterday’s clash the deaths of 5 people and several dozen injuries.
Poland: New Polish Cabinet formed by M. Jan Kanty Steczkowski.

3 April 1918
 

Western Front
Local fighting in Scarpe river region and at Hebuterne.
Heavy air fighting and bombing.
One long-range gun reported blown up.
British troops marching out from their billets at Hardivillers, France: © IWM (Q 78985): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...863722125234176
Beauvais Conference: Foch further empowered to direct Allied strategy. U.S. agrees to let its troops directly reinforce British and French units to help stem the German offensive.

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: German Expeditionary Force lands in South Finland at Hangö (see 1st, 13th and December 16th). Germans total 9,445 German soldiers with 18 guns and 165 MGs, though another source claims up to 30,000.
German and Finnish troops hold a parade in Helsinki: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...uppen.jpg?ssl=1
White Guards capture Tammefors with 1,000 prisoners.
Ukraine: Ekaterinoslav taken by German forces. Indications of coalition between local authorities and Entente to “safeguard” Murman railway.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Baltic: 3 Russian and 7 British submarines blown up outside Helsinki harbor (latter by remaining 26 Royal Navy sailors) to avoid capture (until April 5) together with their mines and torpedoes; crews transferred to Murmansk via Petrograd. Captain Cromie stays behind to continue as Naval attaché and scuttle 3 small British merchantmen (April 9-10) trapped since 1914.
British Shipping output for first quarter 320,280 tons.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Persia: Baluchistan: Successful progress of operations against the Marris.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Count Ottokar von Czernin speaks on international situation and declares he has received peace offer from France (M. Georges Clemenceau denies this).
Russia: All-Russian Bureau of Military Commissars formed, works when military regions created from April 8.
United Kingdom: Allied Blockade Committee meets.
South Africa: General Botha appeals to "Fellow South Africans" for recruits.
United States: Large guns being constructed at the U.S. government arsenal at Watervliet, New York: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...848624933490688

4 April 1918
 

Western Front
Unternehmen Mars: Battle of the Avre: 15 German divisions vs 7 Allied and 1,278 guns. After initial panic British and 2,250 Australian soldiers repulse 9th Bavaria Reserve Division before Villers-Brettoneux. and French between Avre and Luce rivers.
North of Somme, attack near Albert is repulsed.
Five French divisions counter-attack between Grivesnes and Noyon and gain ground in Castel-Cantigny sector.
Since March 21 Germans have advanced up to 40 miles and secure 1,200 sq miles of Allied territory, with 90,000 PoWs and 1,300 guns. BEF has received 101,000 infantry replacements so far, often teenagers. US 3rd Divisions lands in France.
British and French soldiers in a common line of defense: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...daten.jpg?ssl=1
Troops of the London Regiment (London Scottish) at a boxing tournament at Mont. St. Eloi: © IWM (Q 321): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...213521353601029
A British soldier next to a fallen comrade awaiting burial near Domart, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...228620084588546

Naval and Overseas Operations
English Channel: British destroyer HMS Bittern sunk with all hands in collision: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...471557229973505
Adriatic: 61 Austrian sailors land north of Ancona (night April 4-5) but are captured before they can seize a MAS boat and blow up submarines there.
Baltic: Rear-Adm Meurer’s Squadron (including 2 battleships) supports German landings at Hangoe; 2 more Russian battleships, 2 cruisers and 2 submarines escape from Helsinki to Kronstadt (arriving April 10).
Reported German intrigues in Morocco.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Delegation of the Zionist Commission arriving in Palestine to study the settlement of Jews following the Balfour Declaration: © IWM (Q 13184): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...183320225648640
Armenia: Sarikamish occupied by Turkish forces (see January 2nd, 1915).

Political, etc
Germany: Hermann Cohen, German Jewish philosopher who founded the Marburg School of Neo-Kantianism, passed away: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...501739479248897
United Kingdom: Mr. Lloyd George returns from visit to the front.

5 April 1918
 

Western Front
Unternehmen Mars: Battle of the Ancre 1918 brings to an end the First Battles of the Somme 1918 or the German Kaiserschlacht: both Operation Michael, and the follow-on Operation Mars (see March 21st). Germans again attack from Somme to beyond Bucquoy. Ancre front stabilized by 4th Australian Division (1,233 casualties) after 50th Prussian Reserve Division (c.1,600 casualties) gains 1,500 yards; British take 200 prisoners in counter-attack near Hebuterne.
German troops fail to capture the commune of Villers-Bretonneux, France from Allied troops. German forces resting in the Somme battlefields: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...592410504482816
French attack north of Montdidier and near Noyon.
LUDENDORFF DECIDES ‘TO ABANDON THE ATTACK ON AMIENS FOR GOOD … The enemy resistance was beyond our powers’ (War Memoirs). 13 German division are left in awkward Avre salient and Western Front 26 miles longer.
German troops cross the Maas-Aisne Canal over a bridge destroyed by the Allies: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...kanal.jpg?ssl=1
German flamethrowers in action on the Western Front: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...562343854362624

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: Battle of Rautu ends with Whites sealing Karelian frontier.
Ukraine: Germans occupy Kharkov.
Siberia: Japanese marines land at Vladivostok, followed by a British detachment “to protect foreign nationals“ (until April 25),

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mozambique: Sir J. Van Deventer's despatch on East Africa published.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Armenia: Armenians leave Sarikamish night April 5-6 after Turks take a village to north; Van retaken by the Turks.

Political, etc
Russia: Lenin threatens Japan with war on April 8.
Ireland: 51st Meeting of Irish Convention adopts draft report. Convention adjourns sine die.
United States: German immigrant Robert Prager lynched as suspected ‘spy’ (Collinsville, Illinois), countless other non-lethal incidents. Wilson discusses with cabinet on April 6 but does not publicly deplore mob spirit till July 26. Prager buried on April 10, Germany tries to pay funeral expenses, 12 tried for crime from May 13 but acquitted. War Finance Corp created with $500 billions.

Interesting about Robert Prager being lynched as suspected spy in Collinsville, Illinois. Been through Collinsville many times but never knew of this story. Once again, it's the details that really brings the story to life, isn't it?

6 April 1918
 

DB, check out the notes in the "Political, etc." section today:

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Severe fighting in Aveluy Wood (Albert), near Hebuterne, in Luce Valley, north and south of Montdidier, and in Oise region. Artillery duels until April 7.
British Whippet tank moving through the mud near Albert, France: © IWM (Q 11497): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...895519151763458
Strong German attacks near Beaumont (Meuse).
Reims heavily bombarded. Six divisions of Boehn’s Seventh Army drive French Sixth Army from bridgehead north of river Ailette until April 9 taking 2,300 PoWs.
French, British, and American army and navy officers exchange greetings during a military parade in St. Nazaire: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...925741892898816
British artillerymen resting near Boues: © IWM (Q 10863): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...955919184650242
U.S. soldiers in Maron, France boarding trains to head towards the front: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...227704945639424

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: Tampere falls with 11,000 PoWs and 30 guns to Mannerheim who makes his 3 corps commanders major-generals. The destroyed streets of Tampere, Finland: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...197503121485824
Siberia: Disorders in Vladivostok are confirmed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: The Zionist Commission for Palestine parading through the streets of Tel Aviv, a Jewish suburb of Jaffa: © IWM (Q 13186): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...257912566300678
Armenia: Turks occupy Ardahan.

Political, etc
United Kingdom: The King sends greetings to U.S.A. on anniversary of entrance into the war.
United States: President Wilson speaks at Baltimore on war aims and resolves.
Third Liberty Loan drive for $3 billions begins, passes $4.1 billions by May 18. This women’s choir in New York supports the ‘American Loans for Freedom’: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...or-NY.jpg?ssl=1
Memorial to Private James Gresham (first AEF killed) laid at Evansville, Indiana.
A photograph of German coal miner Robert Prager, lynched by an American mob due to anti-German xenophobia: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...835108138274816
Tonga: (Listed for yesterday): Sālote Tupou III becomes the first Queen of the Kingdom of Tonga: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...865311547904000

7 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Heavy artillery work on the Oise and between the Somme and Armentieres; two attacks on Bucquoy repulsed.
German forces begin bombarding Allied lines in Flanders in preparation for the next phase of its Spring Offensive.
Captain G McElroy RAF (18 victories since February 18) in SE5 collides with tree; he returns to front June, killed in action July 31.
British soldier diving for cover from a bursting German artillery shell at Ayette, France: © IWM (Q 6494): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...333412244586496

Eastern Front
Finish Civil War: Bolsheviks evacuating Helsingfors. Red Guards also evacuating Helsinki; German Colonel Otto von Brandenstein’s 2000-strong brigade with 8 guns from Revallands unopposed at Lovisa to east.
German soldiers advance with an armored train in Finland: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...nland.jpg?ssl=1
Siberia: French military mission ordered to screen all Czechs.

Southern Front
Adriatic: German Navy airship L-59 (Bockholt) catches fire (cause unknown), crashes in Straits of Otranto before planned raid on Grand Harbour, Valletta, Malta (23 killed, no survivors). Odd, because L-59 had earlier been reported as destroyed from a fire that was possibly the result of sabotage (see 5 January, 1918).
ETA: Apparently, it was the L-58 which was destroyed in the fire of 5 January, along with L-46, L-47, L-51 & SL-20. L-59 is indeed, listed as destroyed by unknown causes on this date. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_...ccidents#1910s).


Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: Roger Keyes addresses Zeebrugge raiders, not one withdraws. Wind and high sea abort attempt on April 11 and 12.
Baltic: Red Fleet’s final ‘ice-crossing’ evacuation (until April 11) from Helsinki of 48 destroyers; 2 torpedo boats; 12 minesweepers/layers; 10 submarines; 92 other vessels to Kronstadt by April 22, only 85 left behind according to April 5 agreement with Germans.


Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Kerak (south of Dead Sea) occupied by Hejaz troops.
Armenia: Transcaucasia; Turkish troops reported to be marching on Batum.
Ottoman Empire announces it has cleared Armenia of Russian troops and has crossed the frontier into the Caucasus.

Political, etc
Russia: Russian protests to Germany about landing in Finland and to foreign Consuls in Moscow about Vladivostok.
France: M. Georges Clemenceau receives Mr. Newton Baker, U.S. Secretary of War.
A suspected German spy being captured in Amiens, France: © IWM (Q 11582): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...318308451127296
United Kingdom: National meat rationing introduced (until December 15, 1919).
United States: U.S. announces it has shipped 1.1 million tons of food to the Allied countries in March. Shipments include 200 million pounds of pork, 80 million pounds of beef, and 15.5 million bushels of wheat.

8 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Oise river French are forced back in Forest of Coucy, and Coucy le Chateau and Landricourt are lost. 2000 French prisoners have been taken in the past few days.
German attempts in districts of Reims, Verdun and Vosges.
Heavy German bombardment on whole British front, up to Armentieres, including 40,000 mustard shells on Armientieres. Portuguese battalion refuses to march to trenches (relief due evening April 9).
British troops blinded by gas await medical treatment and evacuation to the rear: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...d-gas.jpg?ssl=1
First Renault FT-17 tank battalion formed with 72 tanks.
Australian soldiers watch as French Army cooks work at Villers-Bretonneux: © IWM (Q 10865): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...622793958330369
American troops at a heavy artillery repair shop in St. Nazaire, France: © IWM (Q 108348): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...637900176285697
French and Australian soldiers pose together at Villers-Bretonneux: © IWM (Q 10868): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...683192787423233
Women of the Salvation Army serving donuts and coffee to American soldiers at Ansonville, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...985188681633792

Eastern Front
Ukraine: Kharkov captured by German forces.

Southern Front
A view of the German zeppelin L-59, destroyed yesterday: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...652997724463107

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mozambique: Rosecol reconnaissance company skirmish east of Medo (84 miles from coast). Gambia Company returns home to Bathurst.


Political, etc
Germany: Germany answering Russian protests demands disarmament of Russian Fleet.
France: M. Georges Clemenceau discloses contents of Emperor of Austria's letter.
Canada: Sir Sam Hughes speaks on conditions in Quebec.
Turkey: Constantinople housing rents fixed at 50% of March 1, 1916 level for war plus 6 months, but law largely dead letter.
Italy: “Conference of Nationalities oppressed by Austria” opens.
Romania: Bessarabian Council of Land vote for autonomous union with Romania.
United States: National War Labor Board appointed.

9 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive begins (see 29th) with the Battle of Éstaires (9th/11th). Ludendorff aims to drive back British and Belgians west of Dunkirk and open road to Calais. After 4 1/2 hour hurricane shelling 14 German Sixth Army divisions attack from 0845 hours on 10-mile front; 4 divisors overwhelm Portuguese 2nd Division (6,000 PoWs) and drive a 3 1/2-mile deep wedge, steadily widened, into BEF front. This heavy bombardment from La Bassee Canal to Armentieres, followed by strong attacks, force British and Portuguese back to Lys river at Estaires. “Fine” stand by Guards Division (55th Division) holds southern wing taking 750 PoWs and 100 MGs. Neuve Chapelle taken by German forces.
German gas bombardment of Lys (until April 27) sector: 1 million rounds (2,000t) mustard gas, phosgene and diphenylchlorarsine; 8,424 gassed (30 deaths).
Portuguese troops in their trenches before the German attack: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ungen.jpg?ssl=1
Hangard lost and retaken by French; between it and Noyon all German attempts repulsed.
Fog delays Flanders flying in Ludendorff Lys offensive till late pm (until April 11). 492 German aircraft (including 14 Jastas) vs 38 RAF squadrons, RAF lose 10 planes and claim German 15.
British mounted military police on a muddy road near Domart: © IWM (Q 10874): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...015385581670400
Troops of various Highland regiments at a casualty clearing station in Frevent: © IWM (Q 332): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...045579256233985
Women of the Salvation Army serving pastries for American troops at Ansonville, France: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...318642040496128

Eastern Front
Ukraine: Lavr Kornilov’s 6,000 Whites repel Red attack on their river Kuban crossing place, and storm ridge west of Ekaterinodar (April 10), but Avtonomov’s 20,000+ Reds in town resist fiercely (until April 12).

Naval and Overseas Operations
German torpedo boats bombard Belgian coast.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Action of Berukin (until April 11): British 75th Division (plus 162 guns) attacks in Judean foothills vs Turkish 16th and 46th divisions (over 85 guns), gains only 2,500 yards. Turks capture operations order on first day and 2 German battalions strike back. (EEF 1,498 casualties; Turks c.700)
Arabia: Arabs claim 800 miles of Red Sea coast, and to have put 40,000 Turks out of action since declaration of independence.
Armenia: Turks reported before Batum and marching on Kars.

Political, etc
Germany: Count Wilhelm von Mirbach appointed German Ambassador at Moscow (see July 6th).
France: Georges Clemenceau discloses Emperor Charles’ 31 March 1917 peace letter to Prince Sixtus. Ottokar Czernin calls it a lie. Stephan Burian diary ‘Now we really are tied to the fate of Germany whether we want it or not’.
United Kingdom: Mr. Lloyd George introduces Man-Power Bill, reviews battle situation, and refers to Irish affairs.
Romania: National Council of the Moldavian Republic (Bessarabia) pass Act of Union with Rumania, with stipulation for local autonomy (see 16th, December 23rd, 1917, and December 10th, 1918).

10 April 1918
 

Western Front
Kaiserschlacht: Unternehmung Georgette, known in the west as Battles of the Lys or the German Lys Offensive: Battle of Éstaires (9th/11th): Battle of Messines 1918 (10th/11th): Messines taken by German forces (see June 14th, 1917 and September 28th, 1918). North of Armentieres, line forced back to Wytschaete, Messines Ridge and Ploegsteert; Armentieres evacuated with practically no loss, after 8 German Fourth Army divisions attack on 6-mile front.
Germans reach left bank of Lys river. From Estaires south to Givenchy position is maintained.
Assault of German infantry in the West: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...esten.jpg?ssl=1
British troops trying to tow a Leyland lorry that went over the steep side of the road: © IWM (Q 10886): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...379046456229890
German prisoners captured by the British near Bethune, France: © IWM (Q 10883): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...394145531318272

Eastern Front
Ukraine: Germans take Kherson and Belgorod, northeast of Kharkov. Don Cossack Rising under Esaul Fetisov.
Siberia: Bolsheviki at Vladivostok reported to have fired on Japanese troops.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Monrovia (Liberia) bombarded by a German submarine (see August 4th, 1917), wireless station destroyed, 4 people killed.
Adriatic: 8 Franco-Italian destroyers, escorting 3 Italian battleships, move from Brindisi to Taranto, lose 2 of their number in night collisions.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Palestine: Action of Berukin (until April 11): Turco-German troops attack British position in coastal sector and after preliminary success are driven back, and British line is slightly advanced.

Political, etc
Germany: Settlement Treaty between Germany and Turkey ratified at Berlin (see January 11th, 1917).
Estonia: Estonian Riga assembly refuses union with Germany but Kaiser consents on April 21.
United Kingdom: Third Military Service act passed in British Parliament. Military age limit raised to 50, and Conscription extended to Ireland (see 18th, and June 8th 1916).
Canada: Bill appropriating £100,000,000 for war expenditure introduced.
Italy: Conference of Oppressed Nationalities ends. Agreement reached between Italy and the provisional State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs ("Pact of Rome").