1st May 1916
Western Front
Battle of Verdun: French success at Fort Douaumont.
German attacks repulsed east of Ypres and north of Albert.
Naval and Overseas Operations
"Aegusa" and "Nasturtium" announced as sunk in Mediterranean.
Political, etc.
The British surrender at Kut and the Irish rebellion increases fears that full conscription will be instituted in Britain.
German clocks are moved ahead one hour to conserve daylight.
The Hague, Holland: A German consul recruits Mata Hari (real name Margaretha MacLeod), a Dutch dancer and courtesan who has lived in Paris since 1905, to obtain information for the Germans. Among her lovers are numerous military officers.
German Socialist Karl Liebknecht is arrested in Berlin for demonstrating against the war.
Ship Losses:
Bernadette (France) The three-masted schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (50°10′N 11°00′W) by
SM U-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Hendonhall (United Kingdom) The cargo ship stuck a mine laid by
UC 10 (Alfred Nitzsche) and sank in the North Sea (51°51′00″N 1°54′45″E). Her crew survived.
Rio Branco (Brazil) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) east by north of the Longstone Lighthouse, Northumberland, United Kingdom by
SM UB-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SMS S123 (Kaiserliche Marine) The S90-class torpedo boat struck a mine and sank in the North Sea.