100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

August 30, 1916

Air War:
A Fokker D.I from Jasta 3 sheds its wings on a test flight, killing pilot Hans Miesegades.



English Channel:
Norwegian coaster SS Tunge, 265 tons, bound from Goole for Caen with a load of bricks, is wrecked near Le Havre.



Gulf of Bothnia:
Heinrich Metzger, commanding U-47, sinks Finnish passenger/cargo ship SS Wellamo, 1,050 tons, bound from Sundsvall, Sweden for Yxpila, Finland, with passengers and a general cargo. This is his first sinking.



Balearic Sea:
Max Valentiner, commanding U-38, sinks Italian sailing ship Nostra Signora Della Guardia, 1,588 tons, travelling from Philadelphia to Savona with an unnamed cargo. His score is now 100 ships and 211,444 tons.



New Zealand:
British freighter SS Tongariro, 8,895 tons, travelling from London to New Zealand with a general cargo, is wrecked at Bull Rocks, Portland, NZ.



Caribbean Sea:
Schooner Mary (nationality unlisted), 111 tons, carrying bricks, coal and machinery from Georgetown, British Guiana (modern Guyana), to Nickerie, Dutch Guiana (modern Suriname), runs aground.

[Jimbuna]

31st August 1916

Western Front

British gas attacks at Arras and Armentieres.

Heavy German attacks between Ginchy and Bois Foureaux.

Eastern Front

Fighting at Halicz and east of Lemberg; many prisoners taken in Lutsk area by Russians.

Southern Front

Buk (north-east Drama, Macedonia) air raid on bridges.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British cars raid and capture Senussi convoy 20 miles north-west of Jaghbub (Tripoli).

Political, etc.

Canadian casualties to date (published 22 September 1916): 8,644 killed (or died), 27,212 wounded, 2,005 missing.

Romania bans the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages across the country.

Germany moves Russian Navy prisoners to “reprisal camps” in retaliation for the harsh treatment of German Navy prisoners in Siberia.

Ship Losses:

Bacchus (France) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) north of Cape Cherchell, Algeria by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Duart (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 60 nautical miles (110 km) north by east of Cape Cherchell (37°39′N 2°05′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Nostra Signora Assunta (Italy) The barque was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) north east of Cape Palos, Spain (39°09′N 0°47′E) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Piero Maroncelli (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 55 nautical miles (102 km) north west of Cape Caxine, Algeria by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Quinto (Italy) The barque was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) off Cape San Antonio (39°21′N 0°28′E) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Santa Maria (Italy) The barque was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) of Cape San Antonio, Spain (39°14′N 0°48′E) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Tevere (Regia Marina) The cargo ship was sunk in the Black Sea off Poti, Russia by SM UB-45 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HMT Tuberose (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 1 (Kurt Ramien) and sank in the North Sea off Lowestoft, Suffolk (52°22′N 1°48′E) with the loss of eight of her crew.
Tunge (Norway) The cargo ship sprang a leak and sank at Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, France. Her crew were rescued.

MERCHANT SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 144 ships of 166,000 tons gross. (Lloyd's War Losses).

A captured German Rumpler C.IV biplane at Ricquebourg aerodrome, France.

[Sailor Steve]

August 31, 1916


Idflieg Bi-Monthly Report on German Fighters at the Front

Albatros:
D.I 1
D.II 1

Fokker:
D.I 10
D.II 16
D.III 7
E.I 1
E.II 5
E.III 64
E.IV 25

Halberstadt:
D.II 5
D.III 20

Pfalz:
E.I 11
E.II 17

Air War:
Aroound 0800 a group of British Martinsyde G.100s on a bombing mission are attacked by three German fighters from Jasta 1 and a two-seater.
0800 Hans von Keudell, victory number 1.
0815 Hans Bethge, victory number 2.
0840 Gustav Leffers, victory number 6.
Wilhelm Fahlbusch and Hans Rosencrantz are listed as victory number 5, but there are no prior records concerning the four earlier kills.

1100 English ace Alan Wilkinson, in DH.2 7880, shoots down a Roland C.II for victory number 9.
1130 Wilkinson brings down an Aviatik two-seater for number 10.

1800 Irish RFC pilot Patrick Anthony Langan-Byrne, flying DH.2 6010, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 1.

1830 English ace Albert Ball, flying Nieuport 17 A201, is credited with two Roland C.IIs for victories 16 and 17.

German pilot Hans Karl Müller, in either a Fokker E.III or D.I, destroys an Allied balloon for victory number 5.

French pilot Paul Sauvage, in an unnamed Nieuport, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for kill number 3.



North Sea:
His Majesty's Drifter Tuberose, 67 tons, hits a mine laid by Kurt Ramien in UC-1. His score is now 14 ships and 21,416 tons.



Black Sea:
Hans Lütjohann, commanding UB-7, scores his only sinking, scuttling an unidentified Russian sailing vessel for 78 tons. Though the name is unknown, Uboat.net says the tonnage is exact.



Karl Palis, in UB-45, sinks Italian freighter SS Tevere, 2,660 tons, off Poti, Georgia. His score is now 3 ships and 11,660 tons.



Balearic Sea:
Claus Rücker, in U-34, sinks three Allied ships:
Italian barque Santa Maria, 947 tons, travelling in ballast from Livorno to Norfolk, scuttled off Cape San Antonio.
Italian barque Nostra Signora Assunta, 1,256 tons, travelling in ballast from Genoa to Norfolk, scuttled off Cape Palos.
Italian barque Quinto, 836 tons, en route from Kingston, Jamaica to Genoa, scuttled off Cape San Antonio.
Rücker's score is now 55 ships and 134,285 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Max Valentiner, in U-38, sinks three more ships north of Algeria:
French freighter SS Bacchus, 3,583 tons, route and cargo unlisted, sunk with deck gun.
British freighter Duart, 3,108 tons, travelling in ballast from Cette to Newfoundland.
Italian freighter SS Piero Maroncelli, 3,225 tons, carrying a load of coal from Tyne to La Spezia.
Valentiner's score is now 103 ships and 221,360. This puts him in the lead again for number of ships sunk, but still second to Walter Forstmann in tonnage sunk.



British East Africa (Kenya):
British coaster SS Wissmann, 629 tons, catches fire at the pier in Kilindini Harbor, Mombasa.



German East Africa:
Battleship HMS Vengeance and cruiser HMS Challenger fire on gun positions around Mount Upanga at Dar-Es-Salaam. Vengeance then shells the wreck of German freighter SS König at Ferry Point.

[Jimbuna]

1st September 1916

Western Front

High Wood (Somme front), four German attacks failed.

Eastern Front

Romanians capture Hermannstadt.

Fresh successful Russian advance in Volhynia.

Southern Front

Bulgars in possession of 17 Greek forts.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Chormuk, N. Euphrates, captured by Russians.

25 bombs dropped on Port Said.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Allied fleet of 23 warships and 7 transports make a naval demonstration at the port of Athens in response to the coup in Greece.

Political, etc.

New York, value of German Mark at 30% discount.

Bulgaria declares war on Romania.

The city of Berlin, Ontario officially changes its name to Kitchener, after the late Lord Kitchener, due to anti-German sentiment.

Ship Losses:

Baron Yarborough (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 27 nautical miles (50 km) north west of Dragonera, Spain by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Dronning Maud ( Norway) The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north east of Southwold, Suffolk, United Kingdom with the loss of three of her crew.
Giuseppe (Italy) The brigantine was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) north of Ibiza, Spain (39°42′N 1°46′E) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
San Francesco di Paola (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea east of Algiers, Algeria by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Swift Wings (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 18 nautical miles (33 km) east of Cape Bengut, Algeria by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew. Her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.
Wissman (United Kingdom) The cargo ship caught fire a Kilindini, Kenya and was scuttled.

[Sailor Steve]

September 1, 1916

Air War:
German Jasta 2 has finally recieved some aircraft. Leopold Reimann has transferred from Jasta 1 and brought Albatros D.1 385/16 with him. Oswald Boelcke himself has brouught Fokker D.III 352/16 to the unit, and another Fokker (possibly a D.I).

Austrian pilot Raoul Stojsavljevic, flying a Hansa-Brandenburg C.I with an unnamed observer, shoots down A Farman two-seater for victory number 4.



North Sea:
Hans Degetau, commanding UB-17, captures and scuttles Dutch coaster SS Zeearend, 462 tons, bound from Rotterdam for London carrying a load of piece goods. This is Degetau's first sinking.

Norwegian freighter SS Dronning Maud, 1,102 tons, carrying a load of cement from London to Kem, hits a mine laid by Kurt Ramien in UC-1. His score is now 15 ships and 22,518 tons.



Balearic Sea:
Claus Rücker, in U-34, sinks two ships near Majorca:
British freighter SS Baron Yarborough, 1,784 tons, carrying a load of coal from Glasgow to Savona.
Italian brigantine Giuseppe, 180 tons, route and cargo unknown.
Rücker's score is now 57 ships and 136,249 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Max Valentiner, in U-38, sinks two vessels near Algiers:
Italian sailing vessel San Francesco di Paola, 68 tons.
British freighter SS Swift Wings, 4,465 tons, travelling from Cardiff to an unlisted destination with a load of coal and petrol.
Valentiner's score is now 105 ships and 225,893 tons.



German East Africa:
British light cruiser HMS Hyacinth continues the bombardment of the wreck of German merchant SS König, which is blocking the entrance to the harbor at Dar-Es-Salaam.



Australia:
Australian carvel-built ketch The Tyne, 9 tons, founders in the Torres Strait, between Papua new Guinea and Queensland.



Canada:
Sailing vessel Maggie W., tonnage and registry unknown, on a trip from North Sydney, Nova Scotia to Newfoundland, founders off Cape Smoky, NS.

[Jimbuna]

2nd September 1916

Western Front

Hoboken, near Antwerp, British drop bombs on shipbuilding yards.

Eastern Front

Russians cross the Danube into the Dobruja.

Aviation

First air to air radio communication between aircraft.
http://lexanteinternet.blogspot.co.u...unication.html

British pilot Leefe Robinson becomes the first to shoot down a German airship over Britain. It falls spectacularly in flames near London, killing the entire crew of 16.








Naval and Overseas Operations

Athens: three German vessels seized at Piraeus by Allies, Greek arsenal seized.

Political, etc.

Greece: Allies demand control of posts and telegraphs.

Vienna introduces the “third meatless day” to conserve food, but mutton can still be eaten.

Ship Losses:

Gioconda (Imperial Russian Navy) The transport ship was damaged in the Black Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) off Trabzon, Turkey by SM UB-45 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was towed to Trabzon and beached for use as a landing stage. Not repaired post-war.
Kelvinia (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by U 78 (Otto Dröscher) in the Bristol Channel 9 nautical miles (17 km) south by west of Caldey Island, Pembrokeshire (52°12′18″N 4°38′45″W). Her crew survived.
Strathallan (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) north east of Philippeville, Algeria (37°10′N 7°10′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.
Uranie (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Philippeville by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Farmatyr (Denmark) The steamer sank after hitting a mine off Southwold whilst enroute from South Shields - Rouen with a cargo of coal. There were no casualties.

[Sailor Steve]

September 2, 1916

Air War:
French ace Geroges Guynemer recieves SPAD VII S115. French pilot Paul Sauvage recieves SPAD VII S112.

1805 English RFC pilot Arthur Knight, flying DH.2 5931, shoots down a D-type (biplane fighter) for victory number 3

1905 English pilot Awdry Morris Vaucour and observer Alan Bott, in Sopwith 1½ Strutter A892, shoot down an Eindecker for victory number 1.

1915 German ace Oswald Boelcke, in brand-new Fokker D.III 352/16, shoots down DH.2 7895, which he describes as a "Vickers", for victory number 20.

"Several days ago Fokker sent two machines for me, and I made my first flight in one of these the day before yesterday. There was a fair amount of aerial activity at the front. The fellows had grown very impudent. Somewhat later in the day I saw shell-bursts west of Bapaume. There I found a BE, followed by three Vickers single-seaters - i.e. an artillery aeroplane with its escort.

I went for the BE, bu the other three interrupted me in the middle of my work, and so I beat a hasty retreat. One of the fellows thought he could catch me and gave chase. When I had lured him somewhat away from the others, I gave battle and soon got to grips with him. I did not let him go again - he did not get another shot in. When he went down, his machine was wobbling badly, but that, as he told me afterwards, was not his fault, because I had shot his elevator to pieces. The BE landed near Thiepval - it was burning when the pilot jumped out, and he beat his arms and legs about because he was on fire too.

Yesterday, I fetched the Englishman I had forced to land - a certain Capt Wilson - from the prisoners' clearing depot, took him to coffee in the mess and showed him our aerodrome, whereby I had a very interesting conversation with him."
- Oswald Boelcke, Report filed September 4, 1916

"It was some consolation to me that I was brought down by Capt Boelcke, the greatest German airman, and that my life was preserved in a fashion that is almost miraculous. The next day, Boelcke invited me to his aerodrome and entertained me in his mess. We were also photographed together. I got a very fine impression of him both as a pilot and as a man, and this fight will remain the greates memory of my life, even though it turned out badly for me."
-Captain Robert E. Wilson, No 32 Squadron, account written years later

1925 English pilot John Andrews, in DH.2 5998, shoots down a German "D-type" for victory number 3.

1930 Entglish pilots John Quested and observer W.J. Wyatt, in FE.2b 6965, shoot down two Roland C.IIs for victories 2 and 3.

1935 Irish pilot Anthony Langan-Byrne, in DH.2 6010, shoots down a German fighter for victory number 2.

German pilots Friedrich Dinkel and Hermann Pfeiffer, in Fokker E.IIIs, shoot down two Caudron G.4s for victories number 1 and 3 respectively. One of them, 1574, was destroyed and Cpt Berthin and Sgt Ramponi killed. The other crashed in French lines but destroyed by German artillery fire, crew presumed to have escaped. Also lost this day was a Nieuport 17, SL5 Marcel Burhuin killed.



North Sea:
Danish freighter SS Farmatyr, 1,426 tons, bound from South Shields for Rouen with a load of coal, hits a mine laid by an unknown source.



Irish Sea:
British freighter SS Kelvinia, 5,039 tons, carrying a general cargo from Newport Nes to Avonmouth, hits a mine laid by Otto Dröscher in U-78, bringing his score to 2 ships and 6,877 tons.



Black Sea:
Karl Palis, in UB-45, sinks Russian freighter SS Gioconda, 3,701 tons, off the coast of Turkey. The stricken ship is towed to Trebizond (modern Trabzon) where it is beached. The ship is repaired, but not until 1919, so it is considered a total loss. Palis's score is now 4 ships and 15,361 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Max Valentiner, in U-38, sinks two more ships:
British freighter SS Strathallan, 4,404 tons, travelling in ballast from Augusta to Barry.
French schooner Uranie, 117 tons, in ballast from Algiers to Philippeville.
Valentiner's score is now 107 ships and 230,414 tons.



German East Africa:
With monitors HMS Mersey and Severn covering, translports Barjora, Montros, Rajput and Trent land supplies for the troops at Konduchi. They recieve a report that the troops have occupied Hill 600 and set up a wireless station there.

Battleship HMS Vengeance and light cruiser Hyacinth fire on German positions at Ras Upanga.

[Jimbuna]

3rd September 1916

Western Front

Somme front, Ginchy and all Guillemont, with many prisoners, captured by British.

Le Forest village, east of Maurepas, Clery-sur-Somme and German trenches taken by French.

Thirteen airships raided English eastern counties, one brought down at Cuffley, Essex.

British defeat Prussian Guard attack at Thiepval.

Eastern Front

Near Orsova on Danube, Austrians withdraw to west bank of Cherna.

The Dobruja entered by German and Bulgarian troops.

Russians close to Zlota Lipa capture position near Brzezany, taking many prisoners, Russian success near Dorna Vatra (Carp.).

Southern Front

Constanza (Romania) bombed.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Ghistelles (five miles south-east Ostend) British naval air squadron effectively attacks.

Dar-es-Salaam, capital of German East Africa, surrenders to British Naval Forces.

Ship Losses:

General Archinard (France) The barque was sunk in the English Channel 16 nautical miles (30 km) south east of the Royal Sovereign Lightship ( United Kingdom) (50°35′N 0°50′E) by SM UB-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Gotthard (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the English Channel 45 nautical miles (83 km) west south west of Beachy Head, East Sussex, United Kingdom (50°17′N 0°13′W) by SM UB-29 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Mascotte (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 6 (Otto Ehrentraut) and sank in the North Sea 6.5 nautical miles (12.0 km) off Southwold, Suffolk (52°15′N 1°50′E) with the loss of a crew member. by SM UC-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Netta (United Kingdom) The coaster was scuttled in the English Channel 35 nautical miles (65 km) north east of Cap d'Antifer, Manche, France by SM UB-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Notre Dame de Lourdes (France) The fishing vessel was sunk in the English Channel (50°26′N 0°01′W) by SM UB-29 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Peter Darcy (Imperial Russian Navy) The transport ship was sunk in the Black Sea north of Snake Island (45°28′N 30°18′E) by SM UB-42 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Rievaulx Abbey (United Kingdom) The cargo liner struck a mine laid by UC 10 (Werner Albrecht) and sank in the Humber Estuary (53°30′40″N 0°17′30″E) with the loss of two lives.
Teesborough (United Kingdom) The coaster was scuttled in the English Channel 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Fécamp, Seine-Maritime, France by SM UB-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Villa de Oro (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 60 nautical miles (110 km) off Zembra, Tunisia by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

September 3, 1916

Air War:
English ace Henry Cope Evans killed by AA fire while on patrol.

0900 Gustav Leffers, now flying a captured Nieuport 11 fitted with a synchronized Spandau gun, is part of a group of five German fighters attacking a formation of seven FE.2bs. Leffers shoots down FE.2b 6934. Lt Frank Douglas Home Sams and Cpl Summers are taken prisoner. The Fee's propeller is destroyed and Summers is wounded five times, but survives.


1030 English RFC pilot Geoffrey Hilton Bowman, in DH.2 5984, shoots down a Roland C.II for victory number 1.



North Atlantic Ocean:
Russian barque Norden, 573 tond, en route from Helsingborg to Cambelton, New Bruswick, is abandoned in mid-ocean.



English Channel:
Otto Steinbrinck, commanding UB-18, sinks two British coasters off Cap d'Antifer:
Netta, 370 tons, bound from Rouen for Newcastle in ballast.
Teesborough, 308 tons, travelling in ballast from Fécamp to London.
Steinbrinck's score is now 65 ships and 44,804 tons.

Ernst Voigt, in UB-23, scuttles French barkentine General Archinard, 355 tons, bringing his score to 23 ships and 3,854 tons.

Herbert Pustkuchen, in UB-29, sinks two vessels off Beachy Head:
Norwegian freighter SS Gotthard, 1,636 tons, carrying a load of pig iron and ammonium sulfate from Middlesbrough to Rouen.
French sailing vessel Notre Dame de Lourdes, 161 tons.
Pustkuchen's score is now 37 ships and 46,584 tons.

Norwegian freighter SS Setesdal, 1,476 tons, carrying a load of coal from Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales to Nentes, France, is lost in a collision with British freighter SS Woolston.



North Sea:
British freighter SS Mascotte, 1,097 tons, carrying a general cargo from Rotterdam to Leith, hits a mine laid by Otto Ehrentraut in UC-6. His score is now 11 ships and 9,634 tons.

British freighter SS Rievauix Abbey, 1,166 tons, travelling from Rotterdam to Hull with a general cargo, hits a mine laid by Werner Albrecht in UC-10. His score is now 2 ships and 1,196 tons.

His Majesty's Trawler Italy, 145 tons, sinks following a collision.
(Wrecksite.com. No other sources list this)



Black Sea:
Fritz Wernicke, in UB-42, sinks Russian freighter Black Sea Transport N.48 (ex-Peter Darcy), 731 tons, travelling from Costantza to Odessa with an unnamed cargo. This is Wernicke's first sinking.



Gulf of Tunis:
Max Valentiner, in U-38, scuttles Italian sailing vessel Villa d'Oro, 134 tons, bringing his score to 108 ships and 230,548 tons.



German East Africa:
A concerted attack begins on the area around Dar-Es-Salaam, with flagship HMS Vengeance directing.
0500 Cruiser HMS Challenger attempts to draw enemy fire.
0515 Whalers Childers, Fly, Pickle and Thistle open fire on Konduchi Harbor, cruiser Hyacinth observing.
0615 Seaplane and balloon are sent aloft to direct firing. Cruiser HMS Talbot opens fire on German positions.
0630 Monitor HMS Mersey joins Severn in bay.
0640 Mersey and Severn open fire on German defenses in Msasani Bay. Squadron opens fire on Dar-Es-Salaam.
All firing is done by 0800. Ships spend the rest of the day covering shore operations.

[Jimbuna]

4th September 1916

Western Front

Somme front: French offensive continues, Barleux to south of Chaulnes, many prisoners taken.

French take village of Chilly.

Eastern Front

Zlota Lipa front, General Brusilov's troops successful, 19,000 prisoners within four days.

Unsuccessful German gas attacks near Baronovichi (C.).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

South of River Elen, west of Trebizond, Russian offensive continues; over 500 prisoners.

South-west of Lake Nimrud, west of Lake Van, British armoured cars engage Kurdish forces.

Political, etc.

Athens reports that King Constantine will reconsider the attitude of Greece.

Due to military pressure, Greece allows the Allied forces to take control of the country’s postal, telegraph, and wireless systems.

Prince Leopold of Bavaria says the Romanians “will get their whacks, you may be sure, and if others come in they will get their whacks too.”

Ship Losses:

HMT Jessie Nutten (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 1 (Kurt Ramien) and sank in the North Sea off Lowestoft, Suffolk (52°17′N 1°46′E) with the loss of five of her crew.
Laristan (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) south east of Gozo, Malta (36°04′N 13°13′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived but her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.
Pasquale Lauro (Italy) The barque was scuttled in the Gulf of Lion (41°55′N 5°16′E) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew took to the lifeboats but were not seen again.
Silverstream (Italy) The barque was scuttled in the Gulf of Lion (42°25′N 5°22′E) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Stadion (Norway) The cargo ship capsized whilst being loaded at Hull, Yorkshire, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

[Sailor Steve]

September 4, 1916

Air War:
1825 French ace Georges Guynemer, flying SPAD VII S115, shoots down a Rumpler C.I for victory number 15.

Bohemian-born Austro-Hungarian ace Julius Arigi and new observer Fabian Lukas-Sluja, in Hansa-Brandenburg C.I 61.64, shoot down a Farman two-seater. Victory number 6 for Arigi, number 1 for Lukas-Sluja.



Iceland:
American schooner George E. Dudley, 387 tons, bound from New York for Iceland with a load of coal, is wrecked off Siglufjord.



North Sea:
His Majesty's Trawler Jessie Nutten, 187 tons, hits a mine laid by Kurt Ramien and UC-1, bringing his score to 16 ships and 22,705 tons.

Norwegian freighter SS Gustav Vigeland, 2,172 tons, carrying a load of timber from Arkhangelsk to London, is wrecked on Knavestone Rocks.



Gulf of Lyon:
Claus Rücker, commanding U-34, stops and scuttles two ships:
Italian barque Pasquale Lauro, 1,188 tons, travelling in ballast from Genoa to Pensacola.
Italian barque Silverstream, 1,224 tons, travelling in ballast from Civitavecchia to New York.
Rücker's score is now 59 ships and 138,661 tons.


Mediterranean Sea:
Max Valentiner, in U-38, sinks British freighter SS Laristan, 3,675 tons, carrying a load of wheat and barley from Karachi to Hull. Valentiner's score is now 109 ships and 234,223 tons.



German East Africa:
0530 Cruiser HMS Challenger stops at the entrance to Dar-Es-Salaam Bay and hoists a white flag. Two officers are transferred to armed whaler Echo, which then enters the bay, also flying a white flag.
0600 Battleship HMS Vengeance, cruisers Hyacinth and Talbot, balloon ship Manica and whalers Childers, Fly and Pickle anchor at the entrance to the bay, outside Challenger.
0840 Echo brings representatives from the town to HMS Vengeance.
0900 Dar-Es-Salaam surrenders to British forces.
0938 An armed party from HMS Challenger searches outer Makatumbe island, while a similar party from Talbot searches inner Makatumbe Island.
1000 British squadron proceeds into Dar-Es-Salaam Bay. Monitors HMS Mersey and Severn arrive at bay.
1200 Party from Mersey use explosives to clear harbor boom defenses.



United States:
American coal barge Bydarky, 53 tons, caught in a storm while anchored at Bluff Point Coal Mine in Cook Inlet, Alaska, drags its anchors in a storm and is driven ashore. No casualties.

[Jimbuna]

5th September 1916

Western Front

East of Guillemont the Allied line is carried forward 1,500 yards; Allies hold most of Leuze Wood.

Allies occupy whole of enemy's second line on the Somme.

Eastern Front

Seven miles south-east of Halicz the Russians claim success; many prisoners taken.

Polish autonomy granted by Central Powers.

Southern Front

In the Dolomites operations now developing, the whole of Val Cismone free.

Bucharest bombed by Bulgars.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British bomb Turkish aerodrome at El Arish (90 miles east of Port Said).

Aviation

Austro-Hungarian aeroplanes bomb Venice, Lucinico, Sdraussina, and Gorizia today.

Leefe Robinson, the first British pilot to shoot down a Zeppelin over Britain, is awarded the Victoria Cross.


Political, etc.

Mr. Balfour at Glasgow appeals to local trade unions re: shipyard labour.

Trade Union Congress at Birmingham rejects invitation of U.S.A. Federation of Labour, re: "Terms of Peace".

During the two years of war, the French government has spent $12.2 billion (about $270 billion today) on its budget.

Ship Losses:

City of Ghent (United Kingdom) The coaster was scuttled in the English Channel 18 nautical miles (33 km) south east of Barfleur, Manche, France by SM UB-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Jeanne (Denmark) The cargo ship was sunk in the English Channel 16 nautical miles (30 km) north east of the Casquets, Channel Islands (49°51′N 2°17′W) by SM UB-29 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Marcel (Belgium) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 20 nautical miles (37 km) north of Barfleur by SM UB-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Saint Marc (France) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 58 nautical miles (107 km) south east of Malta (35°08′N 15°23′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived and were rescued by La Savoie ( French Navy).
Spence (United Kingdom) The schooner was driven ashore 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) west of Point of Ayre, Isle of Man and was wrecked. Her three crew were rescued.

"The Roll-Call, Or, One A-Wanting" (Western Mail cartoon).

[Sailor Steve]

September 5, 1916

English Channel:
Otto Steinbrinck, commanding UB-18, sinks two vessels off Barfleur:
British coaster SS City of Ghent, 199 tons, bound from Tyne for Rouen with a load of coke.
Belgian freighter SS Marcel, 1,433 tons, travelling from Hull for Rouen.
Steinbrinck's score is now 67 ships and 46,436 tons.

Herbert Pustkuchen, in UB-29, sinks Danish freighter SS Jeanne, 1,191 tons, carrying a load of esparto grass from Oran to Leith. His score is now 38 ships and 47,775 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Max Valentiner, in U-38, attacks French freighter SS Saint Marc, 5,818 tons, with his deck gun. The freighter is armed and returns fire, but apparently her guns are small and U-38 is out of range. U-38's fire is accurate and Saint Marc is sunk. Her crew is picked up by French naval trawler La Savoie. Valentiner finishes this war patrol with 110 ships and 240,041 tons.



United States:
Swedish sailing ship Barden, 358 tons, departs Mobile, Alabama for Cardiff, Wales with a load of pitch pine, and is not heard from again.

American Schooner Donna T. Briggs, 158 tons, en route from Albany, New York to Bangor, Maine with a load of sand, founders off Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

[Jimbuna]

6th September 1916

Western Front

Somme front: British gain Leuze Wood.

South-west of Barleux and south of Belloy, Generals von Stein and Kirchbach make ten attempts against the French, all hopelessly beaten by "75's" and "105" guns.

Capture of Guillemont and advance to Ginchy completed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Mazar (Sinai Peninsula), British airmen raid camps, supply depots and camel lines, good results.

Naval and Overseas Operations

British checked north of Kissaki (Uluguru Mountains).

Political, etc.

Birmingham: Trades Union Congress insists on restoration of Trade Union customs and practices after the war.

New Zealand: Bill passed for Compulsory military service; recruitment stimulated.

Simla: Viceroy's important speech, re: supply of labour to Colonies, and record of India's great services during the War.

Ship Losses:

Britannia (United Kingdom) The ketch was scuttled in the English Channel 12 nautical miles (22 km) north of Alderney, Channel Islands by SM UB-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Manzanita (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was lost in the Mediterranean Sea on this date.
Rilda (Norway) The coaster was sunk in the North Sea east of the Noord Hinder Lightship ( Netherlands) by SM UB-12 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Strathtay (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) north of the Point de Pontsuval, Finistère, France (48°47′N 4°25′W) by SM UB-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Tagus (United Kingdom) The coaster was scuttled in the English Channel 35 nautical miles (65 km) north east by east of Ouessant, Finistère (48°55′N 4°24′W) by SM UB-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Torridge (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was scuttled in the English Channel 40 nautical miles (74 km) south south west of Start Point, Devon (49°33′N 3°39′W) by SM UB-29 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Yvonne (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the English Channel (49°32′N 5°03′W) by SM UB-29 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

[Sailor Steve]

September 6, 1916

Air War:
0730 German pilot Philipp Wieland, flying a Fokker E.III, shoots down BE.2e 7078 for victory number 1. Lt Cyril Llewellyn Seymour Thomas, age 19, is killed.

1315 English pilot James Thomas Byford McCudden, flying DH.2 5985, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 1. McCudden reported only that he had chased the enemy, firing off three drums of ammunition with his Lewis gun, and that he had lost the German in the clouds. The next day a report was received confirming the crash of the plane.

1830 English pilots John Andrews, in DH.2 5998, and Robert Saundby, in DH.2 5928, shoot down a German two-seater. Victory number 4 for Andrews, number 2 for Saundby.

1845 A team of three Sopwith 1½ Strutters shoot down a Roland C.II. Their victims are Wilhelm Fahlbusch and Hans Rosencrantz, who just six days earlier became aces themselves.
Strutter A1902: Bernard Paul Gascoigne Beanlands - victory number 1. Lt C.A. Goode - unknown.
Strutter A3431 William Sanday - victory number 4. Lt Busk - unknown.
Strutter A394: Lt Selby and Lt Thomas - unknown.

1855 German ace Hans-Joachim Buddecke, in a Fokker E.IV, shoots down an FE.2b for victory number 8. The only FE.2b reported lost that day, 5238, went down at 0620, so once again the records are confused.

German pilot Otto Bernert, in a Halberstadt, shoots down a Caudron for victory number 2. This is the first victory for the newly-formed Jasta 4.

French pilot Didier Lecour-Grandmaisson, observer Slt Arthur, and gunner Marie Vitalis, in a Caudron R.4, shoot down an Aviatik two-seater. Number 2 for Lecour-Grandmaisson, unknown for Arthur and number 3 for Vitalis.



English Channel:
British freighter SS Ancona, 1,168 tons, reports being damaged by gunfire from a u-boat. There is no corresponding record of which u-boat it might have been.

Herbert Pustkuchen, in UB-29, sinks two ships:
British freighter SS Torridge, 5,036 tons, travelling in ballast from Genoa to Tyne.
French schooner Yvonne, 104 tons, cargo an route unknown.
Pustkuchen's score is now 40 ships and 52,915 tons.

Werner Fürbinger, in UB-39, sinks two British freighters:
SS Stathtay, 4,428 tons, carrying a general cargo from New York to La Havre.
SS Tagus, 937 tons, out of Oporto bound for London with a general cargo.
Fürbinger's score is now 39 ships and 13,883 tons. These sinkings are very close to where Ancona was attacked, so that also may have been UB-39.



North Sea:
Georg Gerth, commanding UB-12, sinks Norwegian coaster SS Rilda, 313 tons, bound from Rotterdam for London with a general cargo. This is Gerth's first sinking.

Ernst Voigt, in UB-23, scuttles British ketch Britannia, 48 tons, carrying a load of manure from London to the Isle of Jersey. His score is now 24 ships and 3,902 tons.



Gulf of Cadiz:
Spanish trawler Colon, 149 tons, is wrecked off Cadiz.