100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

19th May 1917

Western Front

British push forward beyond Bullecourt.

Hostile attack on La Bovelle repulsed.

German attack French trenches along the Chemin des Dames with flamethrowers and gain ground.

Eastern Front

Russian Army at the front remains passive.

Southern Front

Austrians fail to recover heights north of Gorizia; their surprise attack at night on Vodice collapses.

Political, etc.

Former President Roosevelt asks the White House for permission to raise 2 divisions to fight in Europe.

Nicaragua, following the lead of Guatemala and Honduras, severs its diplomatic relations with Germany.

Ship Losses:

Askild (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 19 nautical miles (35 km) north of Ouessant, Finistère, France by SM UB-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Elise (Denmark) The schooner was sunk in the North Sea (57°28′N 3°10′E) by SM U-45 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of six crew.
Erik (Sweden) The coaster was sunk in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Finland (60°15′N 19°44′E) by SM UC-58 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Farnham (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 90 nautical miles (170 km) north west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seventeen crew.
Kjell (Sweden) The coaster was sunk in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Finland[252] by SM UC-58 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Kyros (Sweden) The coaster was sunk in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Finland[254] by SM UC-58 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Mardinian (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south by west of Tabarka Island, Spain (38°05′N 0°31′W) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Mordenwood (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 90 nautical miles (170 km) south east by south of Cape Matapan, Greece (35°02′N 22°05′E) by SM U-28 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy) with the loss of 21 of her crew.
Olga (Sweden) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Finland by SM UC-58 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Pauline (Sweden) The coaster was scuttled in the Baltic Sea off Rauma, Finland by SM UC-58 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Therese (Sweden) The coaster was scuttled in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Finland[260] by SM UC-58 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

Should have been posted yesterday.

[Sailor Steve]

May 19, 1917

The United States Congress adopts the first official American aircraft insignia, a white five-pointed star in a blue disc with a small red disc in the middle. Later in the war America will switch to a roundel to complement the other Allied nations, but will switch back a the end of hostilities. The star-insignia will remain in use until 1942.


Air War:
0645 Irish RFC pilot William Jameson Cairnes, flying SPAD VII B1565, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for victory number 1.

0730 Scottish RFC pilot William Campbell, in Nieuport 17 A6670, destroys a German observation balloon for victory number 2.

0740 William Cairnes scores his second kill of the day, an Albatros D.III, for victory number 2.

0905 German ace Adolf von Tutschek, in Albatros D.III 2274/16, shoots down Sopwith Triplane N5461, for victory number 9. Sub-Lt Geoffrey Glendinning Bowman is listed as Missing.

0910 German ace Karl Allmenröder, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an unidentified Sopwith for victory number 16.

1030 New Zealand RNAS pilot Thomas Culling, flying Sopwith Triplane N5444, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 5.

1110 German pilot Julius Schmidt, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down SPAD VII A6711 for victory number 3. RFC Capt C.J. Abrahams is killed.

1916 Australian RNAS pilot Richard Minifie, in Sopwith Triplane N5446, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 4.

1945 Australian RNAS ace Roderic Dallas, in Sopwith Triplane N6296, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 17.

1945 English RNAS pilot Cyre, in Sopwith Triplane N5435, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 2.

1945 Malayan RNAS ace Thomas Gerrard, flying Sopwith Triplane N5440, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 6.

2055 German pilot Gisbert-Wilhelm Groos, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Sopwith Triplane N5488 for victory number 1. Sub-Lt Oliver Ellis is killed.



Ireland:
Carl-Siegfried von Georg, commanding U-57, sinks British freighter SS Farnham, 3,102 tons, bound from Bizerta for Glasgow with a load of iron ore. His score is now 37 ships and 37,198 tons.



English Channel:
Hermann Glimpf, in UB-20, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Askild, 2,540 tons, carrying a load of coal plus general cargo from Penarth to Saint Vincent, north of Ushant. His score is now 8 ships and 6,602 tons.

His Majesty's Trawler Kumu, 315 tons, hits a mine laid off Hope's Nose, Torquay, Cornwall by Ralph Wenninger in UC-17. His score is now 75 vessels and 97,869 tons.



North Sea:
Erich Sittenfeld, in U-45, sinks Danish schooner Elise, 137 tons, hauling a load of coal from Hull to Randers. Never seen again, listed as missing. Sittenfeld's tally is now 20 vessels and 31,374 tons.



Gulf of Bothnia:
Karl Vesper, in UC-58, attacks 9 Swedish ships off the coast of Finland:
Freighter SS Erik, 785 tons, en route from Stockholm to Raumo with a general cargo; sunk.
Freighter SS Göta, 1,128 tons; taken as a prize.
Coaster SS Kjell, 235 tons, transporting a general cargo from Stockholm to Mäntyluoto; scuttled.
Coaster SS Kyros, 221 tons, carrying a general cargo from Stockholm to Raumo; scuttled.
Freighter SS Lizzie, 1,095 tons, out of Stockholm for Raumo with a general cargo; prize.
Coaster SS Märta, 493 tons, en route from Stockholm to Raumo with a general cargo; prize.
Sailing vessel Olga, 83 tons; scuttled.
Coaster SS Pauline, 168 tons, carrying 230 tons of cement, electric lamps, axes and iron thread from Öregrund to Raumo; scuttled.
Coaster SS Therese, 208 tons, traveling from Gävle to Raumo with 295 tons of machinery goods, pig iron and general cargo; scuttled.
Vesper's total is now 15 vessels and 16,256 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Johannes Klasing, in U-34, torpedoes British freighter SS Mardinian, 3,322 tons, carrying a general cargo from Calicut to London; off Tabarka Island, Spain. His score is now 23 ships and 27,128 tons.

Leo Prásil, in Austrian U-29, torpedoes British freighter SS Mordenwood, 3,125 tons, off Cape Matapan. His score is now 3 ships and 14,784 tons.

[Jimbuna]

20th May 1917

Western Front

British force line near Fontaine-lez-Croisilles.

Germans gain 200 yards north-east of Cerny. They lose 500 prisoners on Moronvilliers sector.

End of Second Battle of the Aisne.

Southern Front

Austrian attacks on the Carso beaten off.

Political, etc.

British govt says grain stocks will last for 12 weeks, which is long enough for the harvest, but warns against any increase in consumptions.

U.S.A. Division to start at once for France under General Pershing.

Mr. Roosevelt's offer declined. President Wilson refuses former President Roosevelt’s request to personally raise troops to fight in Europe.

French Parliamentary investigations are announced over the disappointing results of the offensives at the Aisne and Champagne fronts.

Conscription bill in Canada announced and well received.

Russian Provisional Government recognises debt of honour to Allies and repudiates peace talk.

Ship Losses:

Arnfinn Jarl (Norway) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Norwegian Sea 16 nautical miles (30 km) west of Holmengrå, Finnmark by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Caspian (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) off Cape Cervera, Spain (37°53′N 0°22′W) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 25 crew. Three survivors were taken as prisoners of war.
Dana (United Kingdom) The brigantine was scuttled in the English Channel 20 nautical miles (37 km) north west of Guernsey, Channel Islands by SM UC-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMS Paxton (Royal Navy) The Q-ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 90 nautical miles (170 km) west of the Skelligs (51°42′N 13°13′W) by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 31 crew. Two survivors were taken as prisoners of war.
Mientji (United Kingdom) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the English Channel 25 nautical miles (46 km) off the Les Hanois Lighthouse, Guernsey by SM UC-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Normand (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 25 nautical miles (46 km) north of Ouessant, Finistère, France by SM UB-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Porthkerry (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 16 nautical miles (30 km) west by south of Beachy Head, East Sussex (50°38′N 0°08′W) by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seven of her crew.
Tijuca (Brazil) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) south west of the Pierres Noires Lighthouse, Finistère, France by SM UC-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Tycho (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 16 nautical miles (30 km) west of Beachy Head by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of fifteen of her crew.
Voorwarts (Netherlands) The sailing vessel was damaged in the North Sea off Terschelling, Friesland by SM UC-64 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was towed in to Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, United Kingdom but wad declared a total loss.

[Sailor Steve]

May 20, 1917

Air War:
0640 New Zealand RNAS ace Thomas Culling, flying Sopwith Triplane N5444, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 6.

0807 German pilot Otto Rosenfeld, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an FE.2b for victory number 2.

0815 Hungarian pilot Stefan Fejes, in Hansa-Brandenburg C.I 29.63 with an unidentified observer, shoots down a SPAD VII for victory number 3.

0920 English RFC pilot Reginald Conder and Irish observer John Cowell, in FE.2d A6400, shoot down an Albatros D.III. Number 3 for each.

0920 Hungarian observer Franz Gräser, riding in Hansa-Brandenburg C.I 229.20 with an unnamed pilot, shoots down a SPAD VII for victory number 2.

0930 Italian pilot Pier Piccio, flying a Nieuport, shoots down an Albatros for victory number 2.

0930 English RNAS pilot Leonard Rochford, in Sopwith Pup N6461, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 2.

1030 Galicia-born Austro-Hungarian ace Godwin Brumowski, in Hansa-Brandenburg D.I 28.10 and Hungarian pilot Karl Kaszala, in D.I 28.11, share a kill over an Italian two-seater. Victory number 8 for Brumowski, number 5 for Kaszala. Brumowski's listing at The Aerodrome.com doesn't show the shared kill, and says the victim was a "SPAD 2", which may be the two-seat SPAD S.XI. Kaszala's listing does show the shared kill but says the target was a Farman.

1110 German ace Karl Schäfer, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2d A6457 for victory number 27. Lt A.C. Lee and AM2 C. Beminster are both taken prisoner. The Aerodrome.com has this kill taking place on May 18, but The Jasta War Chronology says it was the 20th.

1110 German ace Adolf von Tutschek and pilot Arthur Schorisch, both in Albatros D.IIIs, were on approach to their field after an unproductive patrol when they are jumped by Lt Hyde Tregallas Garrett in SPAD VII B1587. Garratt focuses his attention on Schorisch. Von Tutschek peals off and then back in, but Garrett sees this coming and breaks off his attack to turn toward von Tutschek. Both planes are hit in the head-on pass, and Garrett runs for home. Von Tutschek gives pursuit, but Garrett manages to keep out of the German ace's line of fire. Then one of von Tutschek's guns jams. Firing with his one good gun von Tutschek finally scores more hits on Garrett's plane and the SPAD catches fire. Garrett crashes four kilometres inside the German lines. His body is never found, and to this day he is still listed as Missing. Victory number 10 for von Tutschek.

1115 French pilot Henri Joseph Marie Hay de Slade, flying a Nieuport, shoots down a DFW C.V for victory number 1.

1140 English RNAS pilot Bruno Philip Henry De Roeper, in Nieuport 17 N3209, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for victory number 1.

1200 Canadian RFC pilot Reginald Hoidge, in SE.5 A4862, shoots down a Halberstadt fighter for victory number 4.

1230 Two RFC Bristol F.2b teams share a victory over an Albatros D.III:
Harold Johnstone Pratt, England, and Hugh Leslie Owen, England, A7108. Victory number 1 for both.
Richard Raymond-Barker, England, and Lt R.N.W. Jeff, unknown, A7112. Victory number 1 for Raymond-Barker, unknown for Jeff.

1230 Richard Raymond-Barker and Lt Jeff are credited with a second Albatros at the same time. Victory number 2 for Raymond-Barker.

1245 Australian RFC pilot Alfred Shepherd, flying Nieuport 23 B1504, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 2.

1410 English RFC pilot Edric Broadberry, in SE.5 A8903, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 2.

1630 Canadian RFC observer George Walker Blaiklock, riding in Sopwith 1½ Strutter A8268 with pilot Sgt E.A. Cook, is credited with bringing down two Albatros D.IIIs for victories 1 and 2.

1850 German pilot Heinrich Kroll, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a SPAD VII for victory number 4.

Italian ace Francesco Baracca, in a SPAD VII, shoots down a Hansa-Brandenburg C.I for victory number 12.

Italian pilot Flavio Torello Baracchini, flying a Nieuport 11, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 1.

German ace Heinrich Bongartz, in an Albatros D.III, destroys two Allied observation balloons. Victories 6 and 7.

French pilot Marcel Hugues, in a SPAD VII, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 2.

French ace Armand Pinsard, in a SPAD VII, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 13.



North Atlantic Ocean, far west of Ireland:
Leo Hillebrand, commanding U-46, sinks British Q-Ship HMS Lady Patricia, 1,372 tons. Lady Patricia had previously survived an attack by Carl-Siegfried von Georg in U-57 on March 30. Hillebrand's score is now 28 ships and 58,444 tons.



English Channel:
Hermann Glimpf, in UB-20, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Normand, 2,097 tons, underway from Cardiff to Dover with a load of coal; north of Ushant. His score is now 9 ships and 8,699 tons.

Hans Howaldt, in UB-40, sinks two British freighters off Beachy Head:
SS Porthkerry, 1,920 tons, carrying a load of coal from Cardiff to Sheerness.
SS Tycho, 3,216 tons, heading from Bombay to Hull with a general cargo.
Howaldt's score is now 32 ships and 39,640 tons.

Gustav Buch, in UC-36, sinks three ships off Guernsey:
Bitish brigantine Dana, 182 tons.
British sailing vessel Mientji, 120 tons, travelling in ballast from Saint Malo to Fowey; scuttled.
Brazilian freighter SS Tijuca, 2,304 tons, en route from Rio de Janeiro to Le Havre.
Buch's tally is now 22 ships and 31,377 tons.



North Sea:
Johannes Spieß, in U-19, torpedoes Norwegian freighter SS Arnfinn Jarl, 1,097 tons, carrying a load of pit props from Narvik to Tyne; off Holmengraa. His score is now 19 ships and 26,235 tons.

Ernst Müller-Schwartz begins his U-Boat career in UC-64, attacking Dutch sailing vessel Voorwaarts, travelling from Karlskrona to Rotterdam with a load of deals and props. Gunfire doesn't sink the vessel. Explosives also fail. Finally the vessel is set on fire and abandoned. The fire goes out and Voorwaarts is towed to Great Yarmouth, where she is written off as a total loss. Müller-Schwartz is credited with the sinking.

Erich Haecker, in UC-79, takes two vessels as prizes:
Danish Brigantine Otto, 152 tons.
Dutch freighter SS Pomona, 789 tons out of Christiania for Amsterdam.
Haecker's score is now 10 vessels and 5,985 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Johannes Klasing, in U-34, sinks British freighter SS Caspian, 3,606 tons, en route from Antofagasta to Savona with a load of nitrate; off Cabo Cervera, Alicante. His score is now 24 ships and 30.734 tons.

[Jimbuna]

21st May 1917

Western Front

British capture "Siegfried" line from Bullecourt to one mile east of Arras (bar 2,000 yards).

French claim great success on Moronvilliers ridge and ground held.

Activity on California Plateau and near Craonne.

Southern Front

Severe fighting in the Travignolo Valley (Trentino); enemy penetrate and are later ejected.

Naval

German submarine UC-36, which sunk 22 merchant ships and 2 warships, is rammed and sunk by a French steamer.

Political, etc.

U.S.A. Division to start at once for France under General Pershing.

M. Albert Thomas, French Minister of Munitions, speaks with effect in Moscow.

Premier Lloyd George proposes in Parliament a constitutional convention for Ireland to decide its fate.

Berlin residents are warned that the government may not be able to fulfill potato rations. Pork will only be sold on Thursday.

Ship Losses:

HMS Ampleforth (Royal Navy) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) west south west of Gozo, Malta (36°10′N 13°30′E) by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew.
City of Corinth (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 12 nautical miles (22 km) south west of The Lizard, Cornwall (49°54′N 5°30′W) by SM UB-31 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Don Diego (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east by south of Linosa, Italy (35°50′N 13°40′E) by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five of her crew.
Ferdinand A. (France) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay 10 to 15 nautical miles (19 to 28 km) off the Stiff Lighthouse, Ouessant, Finistère (48°40′N 5°10′W) by SM UC-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Jupiter (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 15 nautical miles (28 km) west of Beachy Head, East Sussex (50°38′N 0°05′W) by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of nineteen of her crew.
Lanthorn (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was captured and scuttled in the North Sea off Whitby, Yorkshire by SM UB-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Lynton (Russia) The four-masted barque was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) off Queenstown, County Cork, United Kingdom by SM U-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Madura (Norway) The barque was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) south west of Queenstown by SM U-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew.
Saint Michel (France) The brigantine was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea south of the Balearic Islands (37°55′N 1°15′E) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HMT Senator (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by U 80 (Alfred von Glasenapp) and sank in the Atlantic Ocean off Tory Island, County Donegal (55°15′N 8°10′W) with the loss of eleven crew.
SM UC-36 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UC II submarine was rammed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay off Ouessant (48°42′N 5°14′W) by Molière ( France) with the loss of all 26 crew.

[Sailor Steve]

May 21, 1917

Air War:
Austrian 3-kill pilot Kurt Gruber, after five months as a test pilot, returns to the frnnt only to crash Hansa-Brandenburg D.I 28.14, putting him out of action until September.

1030 Scottish RNAS pilot Gerald Ewart Nash, flying Sopwith Triplane N5492, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

1630 English RFC pilot James Green, in FE.2b A6419 with Pvt H. Else as observer, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 5.

1630 English RFC pilot Alexander Roulstone, in FE.2b A6381 with observer Lt H. Cotton, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 3.

1740 German pilot Eberhard Mohnicke, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an FE.2d for victory number 2. 2nd Lts J.H. Blackall and B.C. Moody are both wounded and taken prisoner.

2000 Scottish RFC pilot William Campbell, in Nieuport 17 A6670, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 3.

German ace Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp, flying an Albatros D.III, destroys two French observation balloons for victories number 14 and 15.

Russian pilot Ivan Orlov, in a Nieuport 17, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for victory number 5.

German pilot Theodor Quant, in an Albatros D.III shoots down two German balloons for victories number 1 and 2.



Ireland:
His Majesty's Trawler Senator, 211 tons, hits a mine laid by Alfred von Glasenapp in U-80, off Tory Island, north of Ireland. His score is now 12 vessels and 31,809 tons.



Celtic Sea:
Karl Edeling, in U-48, sinks two ships south of Queenstown, Ireland:
Russian barque Lynton, 2,531 tons, sailing from Pensacola to Clyde with a load of timeber.
Norwegian barque Madura, 1,906 tons, en route from Gulfport to Cardiff with a load of timeber.
Edeling's score is now 6 ships and 23,203 tons.

Thomas Bieber, in UB-31, torpedoes British freighter SS City of Corinth, 5,870 tons, carrying a general cargo from Singapore to London, just off the Lizard, west end of the English Channel. His score is now 3 ships and 20,086 tons.



English Channel:
Hans Howaldt, in UB-40, sinks British freighter SS Jupiter, 2,124 tons, travelling in ballast from Dieppe to Manchester; off Beachy head. His score is now 33 ships and 41,764 tons. Jupiter had previously survived a scuttling attempt by Victor Dieckmann in UB-27 on October 7, 1916.

Gustav Buch, in UC-36, torpedoes French freighter SS Ferndinand A., 2,062 tons, in a convoy from Clyde to Nantes. His score is now 23 ships and 33,439 tons.
While attempting a second attack on the convoy UC-36 is rammed by French freighter SS Molière. The U-boat sinks with the loss of all 27 hands.



Mediterranean Sea:
Johannes Klasing, in U-34, comes across French brigantine Saint Michel abandoned and adrift. Klasing scuttles the ship, raising his total to 25 vessels and 30,909 tons.

Hermann von Fischel, in U-65, sinks two British freighters northwest of Malta:
SS Ampleforth, 3,873 tons, carrying a load of coal and crated aircraft from Barry to Alexandria.
SS Don Diego, 3,632 tons, underway from Swansea to Alexandria with a load of government supplies.
Von Fischel's score is now 20 ships and 47,650 tons.

[Jimbuna]

22nd May 1917

Western Front

Confused fighting on Arras front; successful French actions on the River Aisne front.

Southern Front

Italians frustrate hostile attacks in Travignolo valley.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Demolition of 13 miles of Hejaz Railway by Anzac Mounted Brigade and Camel Corps.

Political, etc.

Brigadier-General Nash succeeds Sir E. Geddes as Inspector General Transportation.

Crisis in China; President replaces Tuan-chi-jui by Wu Ting Fang, as Prime Minister.

Count Tisza, Hungarian Prime Minister, resigns.

Former President Roosevelt states he will do “everything” in his power to help Liberty Loans, which will fund the U.S. war effort.

President Brás of Brazil urges the Brazilian Congress to give up neutrality due to Germany’s submarine warfare.

Premier Ribot announces French war aims: the assurance of lasting peace, restoration of Alsace-Lorraine, & reparations from Germany.

Ship Losses:

HMT Epworth (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was lost on this date.
Jeune Albert (France) The fishing vessel was sunk in the Bay of Biscay by SM UC-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Lanthorn (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) east of Whitby, Yorkshire (54°30′N 0°29′W) by SM UB-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Lapa (Brazil) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 130 nautical miles (240 km) west south west of Gibraltar (35°28′N 8°03′W) by SM U-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HMT Merse (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 65 (Otto Steinbrinck) and sank in the Firth of Clyde 6 nautical miles (11 km) south east of Garroch Head, Isle of Bute with the loss of all seventeen crew.
Milo (United Kingdom) The collier collided with another vessel and sank in the English Channel off St. Alban's Head, Dorset.
Nann Smith (Norway) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 69 (Erwin Waßner) and sank in the Bay of Biscay between Belle Île and Groix, Morbihan, France (47°13′N 3°14′W). Her crew survived.
Tansan Maru (Japan) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 80 nautical miles (150 km) west of Annagh Head, County Mayo, United Kingdom (54°10′N 12°40′W) by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

May 22, 1917

North Atlantic Ocean, west of Ireland:
Leo Hillebrand, commanding U-46, sinks Japanese freighter Tansan Maru, 2,443 tons, bound from Boston for Manchester with a General Cargo; 80 miles west of Annagh Head. His score is now 29 ships and 60,887 tons.



Firth of Clyde, western Scotland:
His Majesty's Trawler Merse, 296 tons, while escorting battleship HMS Ramillies from Dalmuir to Liverpool, hits a mine laid by Otto Steinbrinck in U-65, off the Isle of Bute. The trawler sinks with all 17 hands, and Steinbrinck's score is now 174 vessels and 162,677 tons.



North Sea:
Günther Krause, in UB-41, sinks British freighter SS Lanthorn, 2,299 tons, travelling in ballast from London to Tyne; off Whitby. His score is now 2 ships and 3,243 tons.



Bay of Biscay:
Reinhold Saltzwedel, in UC-21, scuttles French fishing boat Jeune Albert, 25 tons; off Belle Ile. His score is now 71 vessels and 101,974 tons.

Norwegian freighter SS Nann Smith, 2,093 tons, carrying a load of iron ore from Bilbao to Newport, Wales, hits a mine laid by Erwin Waßner in UC-69 between Belle Ile and Ile de Groix. His score is now 55 vessels and 76,063 tons.



Atlantic Ocean, west of Tangier:
Heinrich Metzger, in U-47, scuttles Brazilian freighter SS Lapa, 1,366 tons, en route from Santos to Marseilles with a load of coffee. His score is now 11 ships and 19,842 tons.

[Jimbuna]

23rd May 1917

Western Front

Zeppelin raid eastern counties, 1 killed.

Germans make early attack on Vauclere Plateau (Craonne), heavily repulsed.

Southern Front

Southern Carso: Great Italian advance from Kostanjevica to the sea, capturing several important positions. Ten British batteries and British monitors engaged. 9,000 prisoners taken.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Demonstration and raid by mounted troops on Bir-es-Saba (Palestine).

Aviation

First flight: Sopwith Dolphin.


Political, etc.

U.S. government bans its citizens from attending the Socialist conference in Stockholm and warns “heavy punishment” for those who still go.

U.S. House of Representatives approves a $1.857 billion war tax bill by a vote of 329 to 76.

M. Isvolski appointed Ambassador in London (subsequently cancelled).

Russian Provisional Government announces it has raised 145 million Rubles through its “Liberty” loan.

Return to France of Marshal Joffre and M. Viviani from U.S.A.

Chinese Premier Duna Qirui is dismissed from his position due to his support for war against Germany.

Ship Losses:

Alberdina (Netherlands) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) north west of the Maas Lightship ( Netherlands) by SM UC-64 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Begona No.3 (Spain) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 29 nautical miles (54 km) north of Ouessant, Finistère, France (48°55′N 5°04′W) by SM UC-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Beinir (Denmark) The fishing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Faroe Islands by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Britannia (Denmark) The fishing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Faroe Islands by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Else (Denmark) The fishing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Faroe Islands by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Elmmoor (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 36 nautical miles (67 km) east by south of Syracuse, Sicily, Italy (36°54′N 16°09′E) by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived but her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.
Elve (Netherlands) The coaster was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the north coast of Scotland (59°39′N 3°20′W) by SM U-87 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
England (United Kingdom) The collier was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) south by east of Cap Bon, Tunisia (36°20′N 11°15′E) by SM U-65 Kaiserliche Marine with the loss of three crew.
Freden (Denmark) The three-masted schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) north west of the Butt of Lewis, United Kingdom by SM U-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew.
Gran (Norway) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 40 (Gustav Deuerlich) and sank in the North Sea off Ryhope, County Durham, United Kingdom (54°54′N 1°20′W). Her crew survived.
Harwood Palmer (United States) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the Loire Estuary 6 nautical miles (11 km) south west of the Île de la Banche (47°16′N 2°30′W) by SM UC-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by Cobra ( French Navy).
Hector (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 110 nautical miles (200 km) north north east of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, United Kingdom (56°05′N 2°00′E) by SM U-88 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Lesto (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay 8 nautical miles (15 km) west of the Île du Pilier, Vendée, France (46°57′N 2°30′W) by SM UC-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew.
Margrethe (Denmark) The fishing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Faroe Islands by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Maria Febronia Antonina (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Strait of Sicily by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Monarch (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) east of Seaham, County Durham, United Kingdom by SM UB-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of ten of her crew.
Olearia (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 65 nautical miles (120 km) west south west of Suðuroy, Faroe Islands by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Pipitsa (Greece) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Tyrrhenian Sea east of Corsica, France (42°00′N 9°59′E) by SM UC-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Sisapon (United Kingdom) The trawler was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) west south west of Suðuroy by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Streymoy (Denmark) The trawler was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Faroe Islands by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Tettenhall (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 14 (Ulrich Pilzecker) and sank in the North Sea off Lowestoft, Suffolk (52°30′N 1°54′E) with the loss of six of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

May 23, 1917

Air War:
1000 St. Vincent (West Indies)-born RNAS pilot Charles Hugh Beresford Jenner-Parson and English RNAS pilot Reginald Soar, both flying Sopwith Triplanes, share a victory over a German two-seater. Victory number 1 for Jenner-Parson, number 3 for Soar.

1045 English RFC pilot Hugh White and observer Thomas Lewis, in FE.2d A6412, shoot down an Albatros D.III. Victory number 2 for both.

1325 Irish RFC observer Giles Blennerhasset, in FE.2b 7003 with 2nd Lt D. Marshall as pilot, shoots down two Albatros D.IIIs for victories number 7 and 8. These are Blennerhasset's last victories. On July 19 he will be transferred to Home Defense, where he will undergo pilot training. Once qulified as a pilot he will serve in four different Home Defense Squadrons. After the war Blennerhassett will serve with the RAF until 1922. Giles Blennerhassett will die on December 4, 1978.

1340 Canadian RNAS pilot James Alpheus Glen, in Sopwith Pup N6183, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

1345 Canadian RNAS ace Lloyd Breadner, in Sopwith Pup N6197, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 7.

1345 Cnnadian RNAS ace Joseph Fall, Flying Sopwith Pup, N6205, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 8.

1425 German ace Werner Voss, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2b A5502 for victory number 29. 2nd Lt Wilfred Ferguson MacDonald and Lt Frank Charles Shackell are both killed.

1510 English RFC aces pilot Frederick Thayre and observer Francis Cubbon, in FE.2d A6430, shoot down an Albatros D.III. Victory number 13 for Thayre and 14 for Cubbon.

1515 Frederick Thayre and Francis Cubbon score a second kill, another Albatros D.III. Number 14 for Thayre, 15 for Cubbon.

1545 Two RNAS aces in Sopwith Pups share a victory over an Albatros D.III:
Charles Booker, England, N5482, number 10.
Robert Little, Australia, N5493, number 19.

1555-1810 English RFC pilot Cecil Lewis, flying SE.5 A4853, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for victory number 5.

1615 German ace Max von Müller, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2d A6468 for victory number 11. Lt Richard Allan Pendarves Johns is wounded and taken prisover. Sgt Bernard Aldred is wounded, and dies later.

1615 German ace Karl Schäfer, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2d A6467 for victory number 28. Lt R.G. Masson and 2nd Lt F.W. Evans are both killed.

1800 English RFC pilot Louis Fleeming Jenkin, in Nieuport 17 B1554, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

1800 Australian RNAS ace George Simpson, in Sopwith Triplane N5460, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 6.

1815 English RFC pilot Cyril Crowe, flying SE.5 A8902, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 5.

1845 Karl Schäfer makes his second kill of the day, shooting down Sopwith Pup A665 for number 29 overall.

1900 English RFC pilot Edric Broadberry, in SE.5 A8903, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 3.

1900 English RFC pilot Arthur Percival Foley Rhys Davids, in SE.5 A4868, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

1900 Scottish RFC pilot Phillip Prothero, in SE.5 A8909, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 3.

1915 English RFC pilot Augustus Henry Orlebar, flying SPAD VII A6663, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

2115 German pilot Hans Hintsch, in Albatros D.III 2016/16, shoots down Sopwith Triplane N5481 for victory number 3. Sub-Lt H.A. Pailthorpe is killed.

Italian pilot Falvio Baracchini, in a Nieuport 11, shoost down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 2.

German ace Heinrich Bongartz, in an Albatros D.III, destroys a French observation balloon for victory number 8.

German pilot Dieter Collin, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Nieuport for victory number 3.



Faroe Islands:
Martin Schelle, Commanding UC-33, stops and scuttles 5 Danish and 2 British fishing vessels:
Danish smack Beinir, 73 tons.
Danish ketch Britannia, 69 tons.
Danish smack Else, 78 tons.
Danish smack Margrethe, 104 tons.
Danish smack Streymoy, 81 tons.
British trawler Olearia, 209 tons.
British trawler Sisapon, 211 tons.
Schelle's score is now 16 vessels and 8,159 tons.



North of Scotland:
Rudolf Schneider, in U-87, attacks two Dutch freighters on their way from Rufisque to Rotterdam with loads of groundnuts:
SS Elve, 962 tons, torpedoed and sunk.
SS Bernisse, 951 tons, torpedoed but did not sink; towed to port.
Schneider's score is now 27 ships and 90,146 tons.



Scotland:
Franz Grünert, in U-30, scuttles Danish schooner Freden, 166 tons, carrying a load of salt from Setubal to Thorshavn; off the Butt of Lewis, the northernmost point of the Hebrides. His score is now 17 ships and 22,113 tons.



English Channel:
Werner Fürbringer, in UC-70, sinks Spanish freighter Begona Nº 3, 2,699 tons, en route from Almeria to Barrow with a load of iron ore. His score is now 80 ships and 65,303 tons.



North Sea:
Walther Schwieger, in U-88, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Hector, 1,146 tons, travelling from Ålesund to Hull with a load of salt herring. His score is now 38 ships and 146,976 tons.

Günther Krause, in UB-41, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Monarch, 1,318 tons, carrying a load of pitch from Tees to Saint Nazaire; just off Seaham. His score is now 3 ships and 4,741 tons.

His Majesty's Trawler Tettenhall, 227 tons, hits a mine laid off Lowestoft by Ulrich Pilzecker in UC-14. His total is now 3 vessels and 761 tons.

Norwegian freighter SS Gran, 1,153 tons, travelling in ballast from Rouen to Tyne, hits a mine laid off Ryhope, Sunderland, by Gustav Deuerlich in UC-40. His score is now 6 ships and 5,147 tons.

Ernst Müller-Schwartz, in UC-64, scuttles Dutch sailing vessel Alberdina, 100 tons, en route from Saintt Valéry to Rotterdam with a load of stones and plaster; off the Maas lightship. His score is now 2 vessels and 214 tons.



Bay of Biscay:
Reinhold Saltzwedel, in UC-21, sinks two ships near the mouth of the Loire:
American schooner Harwood Palmer, 2,885 tons, travelling from Boston to Saint Nazaire with a load of steel bars; deck gun.
British freighter SS Lesto, 1,940 tons, underway from Bilbao to Garston with a load of iron ore.
Saltzwedel's score is now 73 ships and 106,799 tons.



Tyrhennian Sea:
Ernst von Voigt, in UC-35, scuttles Greek sailing vessel Pipitsa, 224 tons, east of Corsica, bringing his total to 19 ships and 37,956 tons.



Strait of Sicily:
Hermann von Fischel, in U-65, sinks two vessels off Cape Bon, Tunisia:
British freighter SS England, 3,798 tons, en route from Cardiff and Bizerta to Malta with a load of coal.
Italian sailboat Maria Febronia Antonia, 55 tons.
Fischel's score is now 22 ships and 51,503 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Karl Neumann, in UC-67, sinks British freighter SS Elmmoor, 3,744 tons, carrying a load of wheat from Karachi to Livorno; southeast of Siracusa. His score is now 27 ships and 35,631 tons.

[Jimbuna]

24th May 1917

Western Front

French line round Craonne improved.

Southern Front

Further Italian gains in southern Carso. Austrian counter-attacks fail.

Naval and Overseas Operations

German submarine SM UC-24 is sunk by the French submarine Circé, one of the few (possibly only) kills by a French submarine in the war.

Japanese flotilla announced in Mediterranean.

Political, etc.

U.S. government criticizes businesses that fire immigrant employees based on their citizenship, as it violates “national good sense.”

Sinn Fein demands the right for Ireland to secede from Britain and better treatment for prisoners captured during the Easter Rising.

Ship Losses:

Barbara (United States) The sailing vessel was set afire and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 90 nautical miles (170 km) west of Gibraltar (36°11′N 7°58′W) by SM U-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Belgian (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) west of the Fastnet Rock (50°59′N 10°42′W) by SM U-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew.
Biarritz (France) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) south east of Malta (35°12′N 14°16′E) by SM U-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Brestir (Denmark) The trawler was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Faroe Islands by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Domenico Barone (Italy) The barquentine was shelled and damaged in the Mediterranean Sea off Cape Passero, Sicily (36°53′N 15°12′E by SM UC-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was beached but was declared a total loss.
Gudrun (Norway) The barque was scuttled in the English Channel 50 nautical miles (93 km) south west of Portland Bill, Dorset, United Kingdom by SM UB-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Isabel Innes (Denmark) The fishing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Faroe Islands by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Jersey City (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 35 nautical miles (65 km) north west of Flannan Island, Outer Hebrides (58°30′N 8°36′W) by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived but her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.
Mcclure (United Kingdom) The schooner was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) east of Cape Carbonara, Sicily, Italy (38°59′N 10°15′E) by SM UC-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Rosevine (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was lost on this date.
Sant Antonio di Padova (Italy) The brigantine was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea north west of Sicily (36°24′N 12°27′E) by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Thyra (Denmark) The schooner was scuttled in the English Channel 45 nautical miles (83 km) south south east of Start Point, Devon, United Kingdom by SM UB-38 (Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Traveller (Denmark) The fishing smack was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Faroe Islands by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SM UC-24 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UC II submarine was torpedoed and sunk in the Gulf of Kotor by Circé ( French Navy) with the loss of all 26 crew.

[Sailor Steve]

May 24, 1917


United States:
B-1, the first of the new US Navy B-class blimps, makes its first flight at White City Amusement Park, Chicago, Illinois.




Air War:
Vizefeldwebel Fritz Rosengart and Oberleutnant Georg Behrla take off on a routine patrol in Albatros C.V 1211/16. Shortly after reaching 4,500 metres altitude, Rosengart sees some enemy fighters and throws the aircraft into a spin, pinning Behrla to the observer's cockpit floor. Rosengart levels off at 4,100 metres and Behrla stands up to aim his machine gun. At that exact moment the Albatros hits an air pocket and drops, leaving Behrla floating three metres above the plane. The machine stops dropping and Behrla crashes through the fuselage deck just behind his cockpit. Stuck there until Rosengart can land the aircraft, Behrla is none the worse for his misadventure.




0610 Italian ace Luigi Olivar, flying a SPAD VII, shoots down a Lohner T.I flying boat fighter for victory number 6.

0750 English RNAS ace Charles Booker, in Sopwith Triplane N5482, and Canadian pilot Roderick McDonald, in N5472, share a victory over an Albatros D.III. Victory number 11 for Booker and number 1 for McDonald.

0751 Charles Booker scores his second kill of the day, bringing down another Albatros for victory number 12.

0800 Australian RFC Alfred Shepherd, in Nieuport 23 B1504, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 3.

0810 English RFC pilot Oliver Sutton, in Sopwith Pup A6183, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 3.

0830 Englsih RFC pilot, flying Sopwith 1½ Strutter A8248 with observer 2nd Lt E.H. Jones, shoots down an Albatros D.iii for Victory number 3.

0835 Charles Booker and Roderick McDonald team up for another win over an Albatros. Number 13 for Booker, number 2 for McDonald.

0850 German ace Karl Allmenröder, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2b A5517 for victory number 17. Lt W.G.D. Turner is killed. 2nd Lt L. Holman is wounded and taken prisoner.

0902 German pilot Otto Maashoff, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Sopwith Triplane N5450 for victory number 3. Sub-Lt H.L. Smith apparently landed on his own side of the lines.

1940 German pilot Julius Schmidt, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Sopwith Pup A6194 for victory number 4. Cpt L.A. Smith is taken prisoner.

1900-2000 Five RFC pilots share a victory over an Albatros D.III.
Cyril Crowe, England, A8910, number 6.
Arthur Rhys Davids, England, A4868, number 2.
Reginald Hoidge, Canada, A4862, number 5.
Keith Knox Muspratt, England, A4861, number 1.
John Seymour Turnbull, Australia, A8913, number 1.

2030 German pilot Wolfgang Güttler, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a SPAD VII for victory number 2.

2050 German ace Max von Müller, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Nieuport 17 B1642 for victory number 12. 2nd Lt Lewis Laugharne Morgan is severely wounded.

French pilots Gustave Daladier and Maurice Robert, both in Nieuprts, share a victory over a German two-seater. Number 2 for Daladier, number 1 for Robert.

Italian pilot Alvardo Leonardi, in a Nieuport 11, shoots down an Austro-Hungarian seaplane for victory number 1.


North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of Scotland:
Leo Hillebrand, commanding U-46, sinks British freighter SS Jersey City, 4,670 tons, bound from Pensacola for Stornoway with a load of wheat. His score is now 30 ships and 65,557 tons.



Ireland:
Carl-Siegfried von Georg, in U-57, sinks British freighter SS Belgian, 3,657 tons, en route from New Orleans to Liverpool with a general cargo. His score is now 38 ships and 40,873 tons.

Max Schmitz, in UC-62, torpedoes British freighter SS Chicago City, 2,324 tons, carrying a general cargo from New York to Bristol; off Kinsale. The damaged ship makes port safely.



English Channel:
Wilhelm Amberger, in UB-38, scuttles two vessels off Portland Bill:
Norwegian barque Gudrun, 1,472 tons, sailing from Savannah-la-Mar, Jamaica to Le Havre with a load of logwood.
Danish schooner Thyra, 185 tons, en route from Haiti to Le Havre with a load of dyewood.
Amberger's score is now 21 vessels and 23,762 tons.



Faroe Bank, between the Faroe and Shetland Islands:
Martin Schelle, in UC-33, scuttles three Danish fishing smacks:
Brestir, 69 tons.
Isabella Innes, 37 tons.
Traveller, 76 tons.
Schelle's score is now 19 vessels and 8,341 tons.



Atlantic Ocean, west of Gibraltar:
Heinrich Metzger, in U-47, sinks American sailing ship Barbara, 838 tons, carrying a load of petroleum from Port Arthur to La Spezia, by setting her on fire. His total is now 12 ships and 20,680 tons.



Tyrhennian Sea:
Ernst von Voigt, in UC-35, scuttles British schooner McClure, 220 tons, travelling from St. Johns, Newfoundland to Naples with a load of codfish. His score is now 20 ships and 38,176 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Kurt Hartwig, in U-32, torpedoes French freighter SS Biarritz, 2,758 tons, 50 miles southeast of Malta. His score is now 43 ships and 56,408 tons.

Hermann von Fischel, in U-65, scuttles Italian brigantine Sant Antonio de Padova, 184 tons, southwest of Sicily, bringing his tally to 23 vessels and 51,687 tons.

Johannes Feldkirchner, in UC-25, attacks Italian barquentine Domenico Barone with his deck gun. The damaged ship is beached, but then written off as a total loss. Feldkirchner's score is now 8 vessels and 2,680 tons.

[Jimbuna]

25th May 1917

Western Front

British advance towards Fontaine-lez-Croiselles.

German success near Braye (Chemin des Dames); French success round Mt. Cornillet (Moronvilliers).

Southern Front

Italian progress on the Isonzo (Plava to M. Kuk), and on southern Carso.

Aviation

German Gotha G.IV conduct a daylight raid on England, killing 95 people and injuring 195, mostly in Folkestone.


Karl Emil Schäfer, German fighter ace with 30 confirmed victories, is shot down and killed in action.


Political, etc.

Mr. Lloyd George issues statement re: submarine menace and food supplies.

Ship Losses:

A. H. Frijs (Denmark) The barquentine was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 35 nautical miles (65 km) west south west of Suðuroy, Faroe Islands by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Argentina (United Kingdom) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Sicily by SM UC-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Diego Russo (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea south west of Policastro Bussentino, Campania by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Glyg (Norway) The coaster was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 17 nautical miles (31 km) north north west of Muckle Flugga, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMS Hilary (Royal Navy) The armed merchant cruiser was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) west of the Shetland Islands (60°33′N 3°00′W) by SM U-88 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew.
Ida (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Sicily by SM UC-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Kohinur (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 150 nautical miles (280 km) north west of Alexandria, Egypt (33°20′N 29°50′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 37 crew.
Magnus Manson (United States) The five-masted schooner was set afire and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) west by south of Cape St. Vincent, Spain by SM U-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Natale Monaco (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Nicolino (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Gulf of Genoa by SM UC-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Rosina R. (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Sjaelland (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the English Channel 18 nautical miles (33 km) east by north of Start Point, Devon by SM UC-66 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Unione Salvatore (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Sicily by SM UC-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Vincenzino C. (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Whinlatter (Norway) The barque was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (61°04′N 2°53′W) by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

May 25, 1917

Air War:
0535 Canadian RNAS pilot Arnold Chadwick, flying Sopwith Pup N6176, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for victory number 2.

Sometime during a patrol lasting from 0630 to 0730, English RFC ace Cyril Crowe, in SE.5 A8910, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 7.

On the same patrol English RFC pilot Arthur Rhys Davids, in SE.5 A4868, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 5.

0645 English RFC pilot James Child, in SPAD VII B1537, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 2.

0730 Ace RFC team of Frederick Thayre and Francis Cubbon, in FE.2d A6430, shoot down an Albatros D.III. Victory number 15 for Thayre and 16 for Cubbon.

0830 French ace Georges Guynemer, flying a SPAD VII, shoots down an LVG two-seater for victory number 39.

0832 Georges Guynemer scores his second kill of the day, shooting down an unidentified two-seater for number 40.

0845 German ace Paul Strähle, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Nieuport 17 A6678 for victory number 6. 2nd Lt J.R. Anthony is killed.

0900 Frederick Thayre and Francis Cubbon score their second victory for the day, shooting down a Albatros D.III. Number 16 for Thayre and 17 for Cubbon.

1000 English RFC pilot Louis Jenkin, in Nieuport 17 B1638, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 2.

1035 German ace Karl Allmenröder, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down Nieuport 23 A6776 for victory number 19. 2nd Lt W. Gilchrist is wounded and taken prisoner.

1145 English RFC ace Stanley Cockerell, in DH.5 A9363, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 6.

1215 Georges Guynemer gets his third kill of the day, shooting down a DFW C.V for number 41.

1430 German pilot Julius Schmidt, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2b for victory number 5.

1500 Canadian RNAS pilot Sidney Emerson Ellis, in Sopwith Pup N6475, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

1630 American RNAS pilot Oliver Colin LeBoutille, flying Sopwith Triplane N5459, shoots down an LVG two-seater for victory number 1.

1645 German pilot Eduard Ritter von Schleich, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a SPAD VII for victory number 1.

1830 Four RNAS pilots in Sopwith Pups share a victory over a Gotha bomber:
Sub-Lt E.W. Busby, N5196, unknown.
Arnold Chadwick, Canada, N6176, number 3
Lt G.H.T. Rouse, N6198, unknown.
Langley Smith, Canada, N6168, number 5.

1830 Georgges Guynemer scores his fourth victory of the day, number 42 overall. One source lists his victim as a "Fokker", while another says it was a two-seater.

2005 German pilot Otto von Breiten-Landenberg, in an Albatros D.II, shoots down a SPAD VII for victory number 2.

2015 German pilot Heinrich Kroll, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down a SPAD VII for victory number 5. French 23-victory ace René Dorme is killed.

2045 Karl Allmenröder scores his second kill of the day, shooting down a DH.4 for number 20.

2045 German pilot Rudolf Matthaei, in an Albatros D.II, shoots down a Nieuport 17 for victory number 3. Sgt Henri Gross is listed as Missing.

Italian pilot Flavio Baracchini, in a Nieuport 11, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 3.

German pilot Carl Degelow, in an Albatros C.V with an unnamed observer, shoots down a Caudron G.4 for victory number 1.

French pilot Gabriel Fernand Charles Guérin,, flying a Nieuport 17, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 1.

German pilot Bertram Heinrich, in an Albatros D.III with Marine FeldJasta 1, shoots down Short 184 9060 for victory number 3. The British crew are rescued from the water by a u-boat and taken prisoner.

French ace Lucien Jailler, in a Nieuport, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 10.



Faroe Bank:
Walther Schwieger, commanding U-88, sinls British armed merchant cruiser HMS Hilary, 6,329 tons, bringing his total to 39 ships and 153,305 tons.



Martin Schelle, in UC-33, sinks three ships off the Faroe Islands:
Danish schooner A.H. Friis, 110 tons, en route from Setubal to Trangisvaag with a load of salt.
Norwegian coaster SS Glyg, 358 tons, carrying a load of salt and empty barrels from Fraserburgh to Siglufjord.
Norwegian barque Whinlatter, 1,378 tons, travelling from New Orleans to Copenhagen with a load of wood.
Schelle's score is now 22 vessels and 10,187 tons.



English Channel:
Herbert Pustkuchen, in UC-66, sinks British freighter SS Sjaelland, 1,405 tons, travelling in ballast from Le Havre to Swansea. His score is now 84 ships and 108,589 tons.



North Sea:
Dutch freighter SS Westland, 1,283 tons, hauling a load of coal from Methil to Rouen, hits a mine laid off Cromer by an unknown ship.



Portugal:
Heinrich Metzger, in U-47, stops American schooner Magnus Manson, 1,751 tons, carrying a load of timber from Pensacola to Naples, off Cape Saint Vincent, and sets her afire. His score is now 13 ships and 22,431 tons.



Tyrrhennian Sea:
Hermann von Fischel, in U-65, scuttles four Italian sailing vessels off Campania:
Diego Russo, 113 tons.
Natale Monaco, 57 tons.
Rosina R., 54 tons.
Vincenzino C., 54 tons.
Von Fischel's score is now 27 vessels and 51,965 tons.



Gulf of Genoa:
Ernst von Voigt, in UC-35, sinks Italian sailing vessel Nicolino, 120 tons, raising his total to 21 vessels and 38,296 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Max Valentiner, in U-38, torpedoes British freighter SS Kohinur, 2,265 tons, travelling in ballast from Salonica to Karachi; 150 miles north of Alexandria. His score is now 129 ships and 186,452 tons.

Hans von der Lühe, in UC-20, sinks three Italian sailing vessels off Sicily:
Argentina, 97 tons.
Ida, 46 tons.
Unione Salvatore, 57 tons.
Von der Lühe's score is now 4 vessels and 3,763 tons.

[Jimbuna]

26th May 1917

Western Front

Three German attacks in Champagne, all successful.

Southern Front

Italians take and lose Kostanjevica, but capture 10 guns.

Aviation(should have been posted yesterday)

French ace Lieutenant René Dorme is killed in action. His 23 victories will tie him with Lieutenant Gabriel Guérin for ninth-highest-scoring French ace of World War I.


Naval and Overseas Operations

British hospital ship HMHS Dover Castle is sunk by the German submarine UC-67, resulting in 7 crew deaths.

Political, etc.

Mr. Balfour arrives in Canada.

French Minister of Marine states Germans have sunk 2,400,000 tons in first four months.

Brazil annuls its neutrality decree.

Japanese immigration to the U.S. increases due to the need for laborers at farms, caused by food shortages.

Ship Losses:

Abd es Salaam (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Sicily, Italy by SM UC-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Agragas (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Syrte, Libya by SM UC-73 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Angelo Padre (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea off Policastro Bussentino, Campania by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Aristides (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the Bay of Biscay 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north north west of Cabo del Ajo, Spain by SM UC-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Carlos de Eizaguirre (Spain) The ship struck a mine and sank off Cape Town, South Africa with the loss of 84 of the 108 people on board.
Dandolo (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Sicily by SM UC-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Detlef Wagner (United Kingdom) The barquentine was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) west of Ar Men, Finistère, France by SM UC-72 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Dorothy (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) off Cap d'Armi by SM UB-43 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HMHS Dover Castle (Royal Navy) The hospital ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) north of Bône, Algeria (37°45′N 7°36′E) by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seven crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Cameleon ( Royal Navy).
Holmesbank (United Kingdom) The collier was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 90 nautical miles (170 km) north by west of Alexandria, Egypt (32°26′N 29°30′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Lucipara (Russia) The barque was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 45 nautical miles (83 km) north west of Inishtrahull Island, County Donegal, United Kingdom (55°55′N 8°25′W) by SM U-87 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Manoubia (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Sicily by SM UC-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Messaouda (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Sicily by SM UC-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Norhaug (Norway) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 21 (Reinhold Saltzwedel) and sank in the Bay of Biscay 10 nautical miles (19 km) west of Saint-Nazaire, Loire-Atlantique, France (47°13′N 2°33′W) with the loss of five of her crew.
Norway (Norway) The cargo liner was sunk in the Norwegian Sea 11 nautical miles (20 km) west of Holmengrå, Finnmark by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). All passengers and crew survived.
Risorgimento (Italy) The schooner was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sardinia (38°13′N 9°46′E) by SM UC-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Saint Hubert (France) The barque was scuttled in the English Channel 6 nautical miles (11 km) north north west of Cap La Hague, Manche by SM UC-45 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Saint Mirren (United Kingdom) The full-rigged ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 45 nautical miles (83 km) north west of Inistrahull Island (55°55′N 8°25′W) by SM U-87 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
San Francesco (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Sicily by SM UC-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Umaria (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) south west by south of Policastro Bussentino (39°48′N 15°12′E) by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five crew. Three survivors were taken as prisoners of war.
SMS V84 (Kaiserliche Marine) The V25-class destroyer struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of five of her crew.