17 August 1914
HMAS Berrima, an auxiliary cruiser, was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy. Berrima was previously known as SS Berrima of the P&O Line.
Members of the AN&MEF from Victoria board a train leaving Flinders St Station in Melbourne, bound for Sydney to join others aboard HMAS Berrima with the aim of taking action against German New Guinea.
The 3rd Light Horse Regiment was raised in Adelaide on 17 August 1914. Although most of its recruits were enlisted in South Australia, one of the regiment’s three squadrons was composed of Tasmanians and was raised and trained in Hobart.
Work of medically examining volunteers for the 10th Battalion Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force began at the Parade Ground on King William Road in Adelaide. The pay for a private was 4s a day and 1s deferred pay while in Australia and 5s a day with 1s deferred pay plus rations while overseas. Criteria included height 5 feet 6 inches and age between 19 and 38 years. Two men aged 34 and 36, both ex-servicemen, walked from Port Pirie to enlist.
A tent city at Morphettville was set up to cope with the expected enlistments. This followed a large gathering of some 20,000 people in Elder Park on 10 August where the Governor, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Galway, spoke of the patriotic spirit of South Australians. A procession of 4000 children civil servants and retired soldiers, with bands playing, had marched down King William Street where flags flew from nearly every building. More speeches from the premier and other ministers all added to the stirring of patriotic fervour. Although the leader of the Labor party asked for sympathy for the German colonists who, he said, were ‘all Australians’ this appeal was not in all cases adhered to and many Germans were in interned at Torrens Island for the duration of the war. In all about eight per cent of South Australia’s male population of a quarter of a million served overseas in the armed services.
The Hobart Mercury published this article outlining the Australian Prime Minister's Monifesto, which discussed the struggle for national existence and what Australia's part in the War should be:
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/10381637
The Battle of Stallupönen, fought between Russian and German armies on 17 August 1914, was the opening battle of World War I on the Eastern Front. It was a minor German success, but did little to upset the Russian timetables.
Russian 1st and 2nd Armies begin their advance into East Prussia, fulfilling Russia’s promise to its ally, France, to attack Germany from the east as soon as possible so as to divert German resources and relieve pressure on France during the opening weeks of the First World War.
The Russian 1st Army, commanded by Pavel Rennenkampf, and the 2nd Army, led by Aleksandr Samsonov, advanced in a two-pronged formation—separated by the Masurian Lakes, which stretched over 100 kilometers—aiming to eventually meet and pin the German 8th Army between them. For the Germans, the Russian advance came much sooner than expected; counting on Russia’s slow preparation in the east, they had sent the great bulk of their forces west to face France.
Renewed French advance, they take Marsal and Chateau-Salins.
Sir John French takes up his headquarters at Le Cateau.
12th Battalion, Royal Lancer's arrive in France. The intent is to operate this cavalry unit as a mobile strike force as part of the BEF.
Battle of the Jadar (between Shabats and Loznitsa) continued.
In Belgium, Government is transferred from Brussels to Antwerp.
Enrolment of Special Constables across Great Britain begins.