15th May 1916
Western Front
Fighting on Vimy Ridge.
Southern Front
Austrians force Italians to retreat south of Rovereto (Trentino).
Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres
Russians take Rowanduz (east of Mosul).
Entente blockade Hejaz coast, and assist Sherif of Mecca.
Naval
Russian Red Cross breaks with their German counterparts due to the sinking of the Russian hospital ship Portugal by a German U-boat.
Political, etc.
Statement on war aims by Sir Edward Grey.
Premier Asquith visits Belfast, but is unable to convince representatives of Ulster to accept Irish Home Rule.
Roger Casement, Irish nationalist, is charged with high treason. He was transported to Ireland by the Germans, but was captured.
Sig. Boselli, Italian Premier; Baron Sonnino, Foreign Minister.
100,000 mourners attend the funeral of Yiddish author and playwright Sholem Aleichem in New York City.
Ship Losses:
Mira (France) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea east of Sicily, Italy (36°15′N 15°54′E) by
SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine).