4th December 1917
Western Front
Bourlon Wood evacuated by British.
West Verdun: enemy efforts to reach Avocourt and Forges sectors fail.
Southern Front
Austrian artillery very active towards Brenta river.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres
Minor actions north of Jaffa and on Jerusalem road.
British seaplanes active.
Naval and Overseas Operations
Operations at Aden described in House of Lords.
Political, etc.
President Wilson gives his 1917 State of the Union Address, where he promises to “win the war” and right the wrongs committed in the war. He also urges Congress declare war against Austria-Hungary.
Declaration of Independence of Finland from Russia is read in the Finnish Senate. It will be voted on the 6th.
Ship Losses:
Alberto Verderame (Italy) The brigantine was shelled and sunk in the Gulf of Genoa (39°57′N 9°48′E) by SM UC-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HMT Bounteous (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was lost on this date.
Brigitta (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 63 (Karsten von Heydebreck) and sank in the English Channel 6 nautical miles (11 km) south west of the Nab Lightship ( United Kingdom) with the loss of two of her crew.
Dowlais (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Cape de Fer, Algeria by SM UB-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 26 of her crew.
Eagle (United Kingdom) The coaster was scuttled in the English Channel 10 nautical miles (19 km) south of Start Point, Devon by SM UB-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Forfar (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 115 nautical miles (213 km) south west by west of The Lizard by SM UC-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.
Gerasimos (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Cap de Fer by SM UB-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Helge (Sweden) The coaster was shelled and sunk in the English Channel 6 nautical miles (11 km) north of Guernsey, Channel Islands[32] at (48°49′N 2°45′W) by SM UB-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Vav (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the English Channel 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) south of The Lizard, Cornwall, United Kingdom by SM UB-80 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of nineteen of her crew.
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