100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

April 16, 1916

Air War:
1005 German pilot Rudolf Berthold, flying a Fokker E.III, shoots down BE.2c 2097 for victory number 5. Pilot 2nd Lt Wallace Sinclair Earle KIA, observer 2nd Lt C.W.P. Selby POW.

German observer Kurt Jentsch claims two Farmans, both unconfirmed.



Celtic Sea:
Hans Nieland opens his first patrol in his third command - U-67, with the sinking of British sailing ship SV Cardonia, 2,169 tons, bound from Seattle to Queenstown with a load of grain. His score is now. 10 ships and 2,606 tons.

Ernst Wilhelms, in U-69, stops and sinks British sailing ship SV Glendoon, 1,918 tons, carrying a load of nitrate from Iquique to Calais; freighter SS Harrovian, 4,309 tons, travelling from New York to Le Havre with a general cargo; and torpedoes Norwegian freighter SS Papelera, 1,591 tons, en route from Göteborg to Nantes with a cargo of cellulose, sulphur and machinery. His score is now 5 ships and 12,500 tons.

[Jimbuna]

17th April 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: Germans repulsed at Douaumont, but gain footing in Bois de Chaudfour salient.

Southern Front

Italians blow up Col di Lana and take west part of Monte Ancona (Dol.).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians occupy Surmeneh and reach Assene Kalessi (Armenia).

British take Beit Aiessa (Mesopotamia).

Naval and Overseas Operations

Germans in force at Kondoa Irangi (German East Africa).

Political, etc.

Sir Douglas Mawson urges the British Admiralty to send a relief expedition to Shackleton and his men who are trapped in Antarctica.

Russian government release a 35-page report alleging German cruelty against Russian prisoners of war.

French farmers respond to the tax on wheat by switching to oats, barley, and other grains.

Committee appointed to investigate recruiting.

Italy prohibits trading with Germany.

Anti-American riots develop in Chihuahua in protest of the U.S. intervention in Mexico after U.S. aviators were stationed in the city.

Ship Losses:

Ernest Reyer (France) The full-rigged ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north west of Ouessant, Finistère (49°07′N 7°49′W) by SM U-69 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Although her 29 crew were allowed to take to the lifeboats, they did not survive.
Terje Viken (Norway) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by U 73 (Gustav Sieß) and sank in the Atlantic Ocean off Cabo Guia, Portugal. Her crew survived.

African American soldiers guarding Pancho Villa’s soldiers.

[Sailor Steve]

April 17, 1916

Air War:
German pilot Fritz Otto Bernert, flying a Fokker E.III, shoots down a Nieuport for victory number 1.



Celtic Sea:
Ernst Wilhelms, commanding U-69, comes across French sailing ship SV Ernest Reyer, 2,708 tons, bound from Cape Town for Falmouth with 3,500 tons of rice. U-69 shells Ernest Reyer to stop and gives the crew one hour to abandon ship. Wilhelms then fires one torpedo which sinks the ship in heavy seas. The 29 crew are all lost. On May 13th an empty ship's boat is sighted off Ushant. Wilhelms' score is now 6 ships and 15,208 tons.



Portugal:
Norwegian freighter SS Terje Viken, 3,579 tons, carrying a load of grain from Galveston to Lisboa, hits a mine laid by Gustav Seiß in U-73 off Cabo Guia, Portugal. Seiß's score is now 2 ships and 5,406 tons.

[Jimbuna]

18th April 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: German bombardment of Avocourt Wood and Hill 304.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians, after nine days' fighting take a position of left bank of Kara Dere.

Naval

3,117 British civilians have been killed at sea since the war’s start, according to the British Board of Trade.

Political, etc.

U.S. Senate votes 43 to 37 to increase the U.S. Army to 250,000 men with another 750,000 reserves and militia.

General Funston sends another 2,300 U.S. soldiers into Mexico to reinforce General Pershing due to recent clashes with Mexican troops.


In his ultimatum, dated 18 April 1916, Wilson condemned Germany's policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, which resulted in merchant vessels being sunk without warning should they be suspected of trading with the Allies.

Wilson warned that the U.S. would not tolerate the continuation of such a policy and demanded it be revoked by the German government (a stance re-iterated in a speech to Congress the following day). http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/...sultimatum.htm

Ship Losses:

Ravenhill (United Kingdom) The full-rigged ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 72 nautical miles (133 km) west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly by SM U-69 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

April 18, 1916

Celtic Sea:
Ernst Wilhelms, commanding U-69, stops and sinks British sailing ship SV Ravenhill, 1,826 tons, bound from Port Natal to Falmouth with a load of maize. His score is now 7 ships and 17,034 tons.



United States:
American schooner SV Caroline Gray, 277 tons, carrying a load of coal from Norfolk, Virginia to Cienfuegos, Cuba, is abandoned 128 miles south of Frying Pan Shoals, South Carolina.



Caribbean Sea:
Canadian schooner SV Nellie Louise, travelling from Barbados to St. John's, Newfoundland with a load of molasses, is wrecked off Barbados.

[Jimbuna]

19th April 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: German bombardment of Avocourt Wood and Hill 304.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians, after nine days' fighting take a position of left bank of Kara Dere.

Naval and Overseas Operations

South African troops captures Kondoa Irangi in German East Africa.

Political, etc.

The United States threatens Germany that it will severe diplomatic relations if Germany does not stop its “illegal” submarine warfare.

Prime Minister Asquith admits to the House of Commons that members of his Cabinet are still split on the issue of conscription.

Field Marshal von der Goltz, German adviser to the Ottoman Empire, dies in Baghdad (poisoning is suspected).

[Sailor Steve]

April 19, 1916

Britain:
British freighter SS Avon, 2,199 tons, bound from Liverpool to Alexandria with a general cargo, collides with another ship and sinks off New Brighton, at the mouth of the Mersey River.



North Sea:
British Trawler Hawk, 181 tons, on a fishing trip out of Hull for Iceland, collides with Brazilian freighter SS Corcovado and sinks five miles northeast of the Spurn light vessel.

[Jimbuna]

20th April 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: French regain ground near Mort Homme and south of Douaumont.

Russian troops arrive at Marseilles.


Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians take Turkish positions in Bitlis region.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Disguised German warship "Aud" sunk while trying to land arms on Irish coast. Germany attempts to smuggle 20,000 rifles, 10 machine guns, and 1 million rounds of ammunition to Ireland via the SS Libau. However, the SS Libau is trapped by British blockade ships, and the German crew scuttles the ship.

Food situation for the besieged British troops at Kut becomes critical. Civilians in the town are forced to leave.

Political, etc.

British government publishes details of a German plot to invade Canada by recruiting German reservists in the United States.

New Volunteer regulations issued.

Manpower proposals to be submitted to secret session of both Houses.

Sir Roger Casement lands in Ireland and is arrested.

Ship Losses:

Cairngowan (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 55 nautical miles (102 km) west by north of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-69 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SS Libau (Kaiserliche Marine) Easter Rising: The freighter, masquerading as Aud ( Norway), was scuttled off Fenit, County Kerry, Ireland.
Lodewijk Van Nassau (Netherlands) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 1 (Kurt Ramien) and sank in the North Sea off the Galloper Lightship ( United Kingdom) (51°50′N 1°55′E).
Sabbia (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by U 74 (Erwin Weisbach) and sank in the North Sea 7 nautical miles (13 km) off the Isle of May, Fife (56°07′N 2°18′W). Her crew were rescued by Nordland ( Netherlands).
Whitgift (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Ouessant, Finistère, France (47°51′N 6°10′W) by SM U-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 32 crew.

[Sailor Steve]

April 20, 1916

Air War:
Escadrille Américaine (N.124) is deployed to Luxeuil-les-Bains, France. The unit had been officially authorized on March 21.

Australian RNAS pilot Roderic Stanley Dallas, Flying Nieuport 11 3987, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 1.



Celtic Sea:
Hans Nieland, commanding U-67, sinks British freighter SS Whitgift, 4,397 tons, bound from Almeria for Tyne with a load of ore. His score is now 11 ships and 7,003 tons.

Ernst Wilhelms, in U-69, sinks British freighter SS Cairngowan, 4,017 tons, travelling from Liverpool to Newport News. His score is now 8 ships and 21,051.



North Sea:
British freighter SS Sabbia, 2,802 tons, headed from Burntisland to London with a load of coal, hits a mine laid by Erwin Weisbach in U-74. Weisbach's total is now 6 ships and 6,972 tons.

Dutch freighter SS Lodewijk Van Nassau, 3,350 tons, carrying a load of nitrate from Valparaiso to Rotterdam, hits a mine laid by Kurt Ramien, new commander of UC-1.

[Jimbuna]

21st April 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: French make progress near Mort Homme, Vaux fort and Bois de Caillette.

British retake ground lost at Langemarck-Ypres.

Southern Front

Italian progress in the Carso.

Political, etc.

British government charges Germany of not properly treating prisoners in Southwest Africa. POWs were forced to boil hide for food.

British government stops authorization for the American Red Cross to ship aid to the Central Powers.

Prussian Finance Minister says that the German Empire may have to directly tax its states to forestall financial crisis.

Veracruz, Mexico holds a day of mourning to observe the second anniversary of the U.S. invasion of the city.

John Surratt, Confederate spy who was accused of being involved in Lincoln’s assassination, has died.


Ship Losses:

Estafette (French Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 6 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow) and sank in the North Sea off Dunquerque, Nord (51°02′N 2°11′E) with the loss of eight of her crew.
Feliciana (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 67 nautical miles (124 km) north north west of the Fastnet Rock (51°08′N 11°27′W) by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

April 21, 1916

Air War:
Irish RFC pilot David Tidmarsh barely escapes death when an anti-aircraft shell passes through the cockpit of his DH.2.



Celtic Sea:
Raimund Weisbach, commanding U-19, begins his career with the sinking of British freighter SS Feliciana, 4,282 tons, travelling in ballast from Cardiff to New York.



German freighter SS Libau, 1,062 tons, disguised as Norwegian SS Aud departed Lübeck on April 9, with an all-volunteer crew heading for southern Ireland with a load of 20,000 rifles, one million rounds of ammunition, machine guns and explosives, all hidden under a load of timber. Managing to evade the British blockade and a major storm she arrived at Tralee bay on April 20th. The plan was to meet with traitor/spy Roger Casement. The plan failed and Libau attempted to escape, but was captured by the blockade. On April 21st she was being escorted by sloop HMS Bluebell when captain Karl Spindler and his crew scuttled their ship and were taken POW.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Libau



North Sea:
French naval trawler Estafette, 276 tons, hits a mine laid by Matthias von Schmettow in UC-6, bringing his score to 35 ships and 47,333 tons.

[Jimbuna]

22nd April 1916

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British repulsed at Sanna-i-Yat.

Naval and Overseas Operations

SS Hsin Yu, a Chinese Army transport, collides with the crusier Hai Yung, resulting in its sinking and 1000 deaths.

British progress in German East Africa.

Political, etc.

Easter Manoeuvres of Sinn Fein volunteers cancelled.

German Kaiser, the Chancellor, and the Chief of the General Staff meet at General Headquarters to discuss military and diplomatic issues.

Portugal orders German citizens to leave the country within five days. Men of military age are interned.

Ship Losses:

Chanaral (France) The four-masted barque was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) south of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom (50°03′N 8°07′W) by SM U-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
József Agost Föherzeg (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (49°36′N 10°06′W by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine).[
Ross (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 108 nautical miles (200 km) west by north of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Tregantle (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea by UB 16 (Paul Hundius).

[Sailor Steve]

April 22, 1916

0530 Australian RNAS Roderic Stanley Dallas, flying Nieuport 11 3987, shoots down a two seater for victory number 1.



Celtic Sea:
Raimund Weisbach, commanding U-19, sinks Italian freighter SS Jozsef Agost Foherzeg, 2,680 tons. bound from Barry for Livorno with a load of coal. He then captures British freighter SS Ross, 2,666 tons, carrying a load of ore from Sevilla to Glasgow, and after the crew has abandoned ship sinks her with a torpedo. Weisbach's score is now 3 ships and 9,629 tons.

Hans Nieland, in U-67, stops French freighter SS Chanaral, travelling from Mejillones to Falmouth with 4,000 tons of nitrates, orders the crew to abandon ship, collects the ship's papers and sinks her with a torpedo. Nieland then gives the crew directions Scilly Isles where they land safely the next day.



North Sea:
Paul Hundius, in UB-16, torpedoes British freighter SS Tregantle, 3,091 tons, carrying a load of wheat from Galveston to Hull. His score is now 2 ships and 6,069 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Italian freighter SS Nilo, 2,768 tons, en route from Naples to Tripoli with a general cargo, is wrecked as she approaches Tripoli.



East China Sea:
Chinese passenger/cargo ship SS Hsin-Yu, 1,629 tons, carrying soldiers from an unspecified port to Foo Chow (modern Fuzhou), collides in a fog with Chinese cruiser Hai Yung off Chusan Island (modern Zhoushan), with the loss of over 1,000 lives. Only 30 survive the accident.

[Jimbuna]

23rd April 1916

Western Front

Aerodrome at Mariakerke bombed by naval aeroplanes.

British bombard Belgian coast.

Battle of Verdun: German attacks at Mort Homme repulsed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

S.S. "Julnar" fails to break blockade at Kut.

Ottoman troops, led by General von Kressenstein, attacks British positions east of the Suez Canal at Katia, Ograntina, and Duidar.

Political, etc.

U.S. Government makes preparations to cut off diplomatic relations with German if it does not stop its submarine warfare.

Greek Prime Minister Skouloudis gives around $1 million (about $21.8 million today) to families of Greek soldiers.

King Alfonso of Spain sends a message to King George V, commemorating the 300th anniversary of Shakespeare and Cervantes’s deaths.

Ship Losses:

HMT Lena Melling (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 7 (Georg Haag) and sank in the North Sea off the Elbow Lightship ( United Kingdom).
Parisiana (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 82 nautical miles (152 km) west of Ouessant, Finistère, France (47°55′N 7°04′W) by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Olga (Norway) The barque was reported to have been sunk by a German submarine. Her crew survived.
Ribston (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 66 nautical miles (122 km) west by south of Ouessant (47°51′N 6°44′W) by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

April 23, 1916

Air War:
0945 German Ace Max Immelmann, in a Fokker E.IV, shoots down Vickers FB.5 5079 for victory number 14. 2nd Lts William Charles Mortimer-Phelan and William Archibald Scott-Brown both taken POW.

1130 German pilot Max von Mulzer, in a Fokker E.III, shoots down FE.2b 5210 for victory number 2. Lt W.E. Collison is taken POW, AM2 Geoffrey F. Atwell KIA.
(Immelmann and von Mulzer were operating together and were both involved in shooting down both British planes. The above is how they divided the credit.)



Celtic Sea:
Raimund Weisbach, Commanding U-19, sinks British freighters SS Parisiana, 4,763 tons, bound from London to Newport News with a load of manure; and Ribston, 3,048 tons, carrying a load of coal from Cardiff to an unnamed destination. His score is now 5 ships and 17,440 tons.

British schooner SV Peter James, 90 tons, departs Newport, Wales for Waterford, Ireland, and is not heard from again.



North Sea:
His Majesty's Trawler Lena Melling, 274 tons, hits a mine laid by Georg Haag in UC-7, bringing his score to 21 ships and 30,102 tons.



Iyo-nada Sea:
Japanese freighter Kagawa Maru, 613 tons, carrying a general cargo from Uwajima to Osaka, is wrecked on the west coast of Shikoku.