18th May 1916
Western Front
Battle of Verdun: German attacks repulsed at Hill 304 and in Avocourt Wood.
Southern Front
Italians evacuate Zugna Torta and retire from Monte Maggio-Seglio d'Aspio (Trentino).
Naval and Overseas Operations
British advance in Para and Usambara districts (German East Africa).
British bombard El Arish (northern Sinai).
Aviation
Kiffin Rockwell shoots down a German two-seater aircraft, the first aerial victory claimed by the "Lafayette Escadrille", an American-manned squadron of the French Air Service.
Political, etc.
Royal Commissions on Irish rebellion opens.
Mr. Balfour makes a statement on sea power.
Grace Annie Lockhart, the first woman to earn a bachelor’s degree in the British Empire, has passed away.
Ship Losses:
Adamantios Korais (Greece) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) south south east of Toulon, Var, France (42°38′N 6°13′E) by
SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Carbineer (Royal Navy) The naval trawler hit the Crim Rocks in the Isles of Scilly and was run ashore on Great Crebawethan becoming a total loss.
HMML 40 (Royal Navy) The motor launch was lost on this date.
Osprey (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea 13 nautical miles (24 km) east north east of the Spurn Lightship ( United Kingdom) by
SM UB-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ponto (Norway) The cargo ship collided with
Fredsael ( Norway) off Barry, Glamorgan, United Kingdom and sank. Her crew were rescued.