100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

3rd February 1917

Western Front

East of Beaucourt (north of the Ancre) British line advanced 500 yards on a front of 1,200 yards; over 100 prisoners taken, and counter-attacks repulsed.

First Portuguese contingent arrives in France.

Naval and Overseas Operations

S.S. "Heusatonic", American grain ship, torpedoed off Scilly Isles by SM U-53 . Crew rescued by British ship.

Political, etc.

President Wilson severs diplomatic relations between U.S.A. and Germany.

Count Bernstorff receives his passports and Mr. Gerard is recalled from Berlin.

U.S.A. demands immediate release of over 60 Americans taken prisoner by German Atlantic raider.

Germany protests Norway and Sweden’s decisions to ban German submarines, unless damaged, to enter their territorial waters.

Ship Losses:

Belford (United Kingdom) The full-rigged ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 110 nautical miles (200 km) west of the Fastnet Rock (50°34′N 12°16′W) by SM U-45 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Confiante (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the English Channel 16 nautical miles (30 km) north of the Île de Batz, Finistère (49°04′N 4°10′W) by SM UB-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Eavestone (United Kingdom) The collier was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 95 nautical miles (176 km) west of the Fastnet Rock (approximately 51°N 12°W) by SM U-45 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five crew.
Goeland (France) The schooner was sunk in the English Channel 6 nautical miles (11 km) off Triagoz, Côtes-du-Nord (49°04′N 4°10′W) by SM UB-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Hollinside (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic OCean 115 nautical miles (213 km) west south west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-43 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Housantonic (United States) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 20 nautical miles (37 km) south of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom (49°35′N 6°08′W) by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Lars Kruse (Denmark) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 16 nautical miles (30 km) north of Ouessant by SM UB-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seventeen crew.
Port Adelaide (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 180 nautical miles (330 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock (48°49′N 11°40′W) by SM U-81 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.
Sainte Marie (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the English Channel 12 nautical miles (22 km) north of the Île de Batz by SM UB-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Songelv (Norway) The full-rigged ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west south west of the Fastnet Rock (50°20′N 11°10′W) by SM U-43 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Tamara (Norway) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 100 nautical miles (190 km) west south west of the Fastnet Rock (50°26′N 12°15′W) by SM U-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Wasdale (Norway) The full-rigged ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west south west of the Fastnet Rock (50°22′N 11°53′W) by SM U-43 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

February 3, 1917

Air War:
French pilot Henri Languedoc, flying a Nieuport, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 4.

German ace Walter Göttsch is wounded, putting him out of the war for the next two months.



Celtic Sea:
Hellmuth Jürst, commanding U-43, sinks three Allied ships southwest of Fastnet:
British freighter SS Hollinside, 2,862 tons, bound from Sunderland for Marseille with a load of coal.
Norwegian barque Songelv, 2,064 tons, inbound from Buenos Aires to Falmouth with a load of maize.
Norwegian sailing ship Wasdale, 1,856 tons, travelling from Buenos Aires to Dublin with a load of maize.
Jürst's score is now 21 ships and 46,332 tons.

Erich Sittenfeld, in U-45, sinks two British ships in the same area:
Sailing ship Belford, 1,905 tons, carrying a load of barley from San Francisco to Queenstown.
Freighter SS Eavestone, 1,858 tons, en route from Barry to Gibraltar with a load of coal.
Sittenfeld's score is now 13 ships and 18,091 tons.

Hans Rose, in U-53, sinks American freighter SS Housatonic, 3,143 tons, bound from Galveston for London with a load of wheat. His score is now 13 ships and 35,642 tons.
USS Housatonic was also the name of the very first ship ever sunk by a submarine, CSS H.L. Hunley, back on February 17, 1864.

Vokhard von Bothmer, in U-54, sinks Norwegian sailing ship Tamara, 453 tons, travelling from Black River, Jamaica to Fleetwood with a load of logwood. This is his first sinking.

Raimund Weisbach, in U-81, sinks British freighter SS Port Adelaide, 8,181 tons, en route from London to Sydney with an unnamed cargo. His score is now 10 ships and 32,125 tons.



English Channel:
Claus Lafrenz, in UB-18, sinks four Allied vessels north of Brittany:
French dandy Confiante, 85 tons, carrying coal from Cardiff to Saint Brieuc.
French schooner Goeland, 305 tons.
Danish freighter SS Lars Kruse, 1,460 tons, en route from Buenos Aires to Rotterdam.
French sailboat Sainte Marie, 60 tons.
Lafrenz's score is now 32 vessels and 30,062 tons.



Durban, South Africa:
HMFM Trent's troubles continue. While docked for coaling five men desert the ship. In the afternoon seven men and one boy are returned to the ship by the police, and thirteen new crewmembers join the ship.



Australia:
American schooner Kona, 670 tons carrying a load of lumber from San Francisco to Port Adelaide, is wrecked on Scraper Shoal, near Cape St. Albans on Kangaroo Island.



Atlantic Ocean:
German raider SMS Seeadler captures and sinks French barque Antonin, 3,071 tons, bringing her score to 5 ships and 11,997 tons.



German Raider SMS Geier captures and sinks Norwegian barque Staut, 1,227 tons, bound from South Georgia Island for Queenstown, Ireland with a load of 7,172 barrels of whale oil and 1,570 bags of guano totalling 1,600 tons. Geier now has 2 ships and 1,442 tons. This is her last sinking.
Note: There were two SMS Geiers in the First World War. The first was a Bussard-class unprotected cruiser commissioned in October 1895. She served until captured by the U.S. Navy on April 6, 1917. This second was originally the British freighter SS Saint Theodore, captured by SMS Möwe on December 24, 1916 and converted to a raider. After sinking two ships Geier was considered to be of no more use and scuttled on February 14, 1917.

[Jimbuna]

4th February 1917

Western Front

Near Beaucourt four severe counter-attacks against new British positions defeated.

North-east of Gueudecourt both sides make raids: British take 500 yards of hostile trenches and over 100 prisoners.

Eastern Front

Between Tirul Swamp and River Aa (Riga), Germans make several abortive attacks.

East of Kalutsem road, Germans again attack and take positions, but are ejected.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

At Siwa (Western Egypt) British expedition locates and defeats the forces of the Senussi leader, Said Ahmed.

Naval and Overseas Operations

In Manila Bay German crews wreck the engine-rooms of nine German steamers.

Political, etc.

The U.S.A. demand for release of imprisoned Americans acceded to. Germany agrees to release 72 Americans whose ship was sunk in the Atlantic by a German raider.

Sultan of Turkey accepts resignation of the Grand Vizier, Said Halim; Talaat Pasha forms new Cabinet.

U.S. government appeals for other neutral nations to also break off diplomatic ties with Germany for resuming unrestricted submarine warfare.

Brazil, responding to Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare, proposes a defensive union for all American nations.

Intense cold wave continues in Germany, with some areas seeing record lows. Suffering is exacerbated by the coal shortage.

Ship Losses:

Aimée Maria (France) The barque was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom (49°27′N 6°40′W) by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Anna Maria (France) The barquentine was sunk in the English Channel (49°37′N 5°10′W) by SM U-83 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Bangphutis (Russia) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of the Isles of Scilly (49°35′N 6°25′W) by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Cerera (Russia) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) north of the Stiff Lighthouse, Ouessant, Finistère, France by SM UB-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Coquette (France) The topsail schooner was sunk in the English Channel 28 nautical miles (52 km) south of The Lizard, Cornwall, United Kingdom by SM U-83 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Dauntless (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Bay of Biscay 10 nautical miles (19 km) off Pointe de la Coubre, Gironde, France (45°36′N 1°10′W) by SM UB-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of fifteen crew. Four survivors were rescued by the fishing vessel Mamelena ( Spain).
Eridania (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 96 nautical miles (178 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-45 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Floridian (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 200 nautical miles (370 km) west by north of the Fastnet Rock (50°42′N 14°39′W) by SM U-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five crew. Three survivors were taken as prisoners of war.
Ghazee (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) south south west of Galley Head, County Cork by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was beached but was declared a total loss. Her crew survived.
Maria (Italy) The barque was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 150 nautical miles (280 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock (49°40′N 11°50′W) by SM U-81 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Marthe (France) The schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 18 nautical miles (33 km) south south east of the Isles of Scilly (49°42′N 6°00′W) by SM UC-45 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Palm Leaf (United Kingdom) The tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 230 nautical miles (430 km) west of the Fastnet Rock (approximately 51°N 15°W) by SM U-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but two of them were taken as prisoners of war.
Solbakken (Norway) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) south west of Ouessant by SM UC-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of fifteen of her crew.
Thor II (Norway) The barque was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 80 nautical miles (150 km) west of Ireland (50°18′N 11°48′W) by SM U-45 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, three people were rescued by U-45.
Turino (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 174 nautical miles (322 km) west of the Fastnet Rock (50°25′N 13°50′W) by SM U-43 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four crew.

[Sailor Steve]

February 4, 1917

Air War:
1255 German pilot Paul Bona, flying an Albatros D.II, shoots down FE.2b 7023 for victory number 3. 2nd Lt A.B. Coupal wounded, lands in No-Man's Land, 2nd Lt H.L. Villiers killed.

1315 English pilot Stanley Cockerell, in DH.2 A2541, shares the downing of a German two-seater with Lt Begbie (A2544) and Lt Evans (A2563). Victory number 3 for Cockerell.

1345 English observer Frank Johnson, riding in FE.2b 7697 with pilot Cpt H.R. Hawkins, shoots down an Albatros D.II for victory number 4.

1400 Canadian RFC aircrew of Carleton Clement and Medley Kingdom Parlee, in FE.2b A5461, shoot down an Albatros D.II. Victory number 2 for Clement, number 1 for Parlee.

1400 English ace Eric Pashley, in DH.2 7930, shoots down an Albatros D.II for victory number 7.

1440 German pilot Werner Voss, flying an Albatros D.II, shoots down BE.2d 5927 for victory number 5. 2nd Lt Herbert Martin-Massey is wonded but manages to land behind his own lines. 2nd Lt Noel Mark Hodson Vernon is killed.

1530 German pilot Erich König, in an Albatros D.II, shoots down BE.2c 2768 for victory number 4. Lt J.W. Boyd and A.H. Steele are both wounded and taken prisoner.

1535 English pilot William Curphey, in DH.2 A2536, shoots down an Albaros D.II for victory number 4.

1600 William Curphey shares a second Albatros D.II with Lt H.D. Davis, number 5 for Curphey. Above The Trenches and The Aerodrome both show this kill also being shared with James Robb, but neither source has Robb's listing showing a kill on this date.

1600 English pilot Robert Wallace Farquhar and Irish observer Giles Noble Biennerhasset, in FE.2b A5460, shoot down an Albatros D.II. victory number 1 for both.

1605 (1505 German time) German ace Erwin Böhme, flying an Albatros D.III, whoots down DH.2 A2536 for victory number 10. English 5-kill ace William Curphey is wounded, crashes on his own side of the lines.

1630 (1530) Erwin Böhme shoots down BE.2e 7105 for victory number 11. Sgt Federick James Shaw and 2nd Lt George William Bathurst Bradford are both missing and presumed dead.



Celtic Sea:
Hellmuth Jürst, commanding U-43, sinks British freighter SS Turino, 4,241 tons, bound from Norfolk for Liverpool with a general cargo. His score is now 22 ships and 50,573 tons.

Erich Sittenfeld, in U-45, sinks two ships west of Fastnet:
Italian freighter SS Eridania, 3,171 tons, travelling from Cardiff to Genoa with a load of coal.
Norwegian barque Thor II, 2,144 tons, en route from South Georgia to Queenstown with a load of whale oil, is stopped and torpedoed after the crew are allowed to take to the lifeboats. The ship's master, Captain Jacobsen and his wife and three-year-old daughter are taken aboard the u-boat and dropped of at Helgoland, from whence they sere returned to Norway.
Sittenfeld's score is now 15 ships and 23,406 tons.

Hans Rose, in U-53, stops and scuttles two Allied ships off the Scilly Isles:
French barque Aimee Maria, 327 tons, bound from Lisbon for Saint Servan.
russian sailing vessel Bangpuhtis, 259 tons, travelling from Saint Nazaire to an unnamed destinaion.
Rose's score is now 15 ships and 36,228 tons.

Volkhard von Bothmer, in U-54, sinks two ships northwest of Fastnet:
British freighter SS Floridian, 4,777 tons, carrying a general cargo from Halifax to Cherbourg.
British tanker SS Palmleaf, 5,489 tons, travelling in ballast from Devonport to Port Arthur.
Von Bothmer's score is now 3 ships and 10,719 tons.

Raimund Weisbach, in U-81, stops and scuttles Italian barque Maria, 992 tons, en route from Santos, Brazil to Bristol with a load of coffee. His score is now 11 ships and 33,117 tons.

Friedrich Moecke, in UC-46, sinks French schooner Marthe, 154 tons, en route from Lisbon to Dunkirk with a load of salt, with his deck gun. His score is now 12 ships and 18,529 tons.



Ireland:
Karlgeorg Schuster, in U-60, sinks British freighter SS Ghazee, 5,084 tons, carrying a load of coal from Cardif to Port Sudan. The ship is beached but ends up being a total loss. This is Schuster's first sinking.



English Channel:
Bruno Hoppe, in U-83, sinks two French sailing vessels at the west end of the Channel:
Brigantine Anna Maria, 141 tons, en route from Bonanza, Spain to Saint Malo with a load of salt and wine.
Schooner Coquette, 167 tons, travelling from Swansea to Bordeaux with a load of coal.
Hoppe's score is now 13 vessels and 24,223 tons.

Claus Lafrenz, in UB-18, sinks Russian freighter SS Cerera, 3,512 tons, bound from Cardiff for Brest with a load of coal. His score is now 33 ships and 33,574 tons.



Bay of Biscay:
Heinrich Küstner, in UB-39, stops British freighter SS Dauntless, 2,157 tons, carrying a load of coal from Newcastle to Bayonne, and sinks her with his deck gun. His score is now 41 ships and 40,781 tons.

Kurt Willich, in UC-24, stops and scuttles Norwegian Freighter SS Solbakken, 2,616 tons, travelling from Buenos Aires to Cherbourg with a load of wheat. this is Willich's first sinking.



Caribbean Sea:
American schooner Charles K. Schull, 884 tons, travelling from Gulfport to Rotterdam with a load of acid phosphate, founders off Tortugas.

[Jimbuna]

5th February 1917

Eastern Front

Ten miles south of Kieselin (Volhynia) enemy attacks Russian positions, but is repulsed.

Southern Front

Italian line heavily attacked by the Austrians in various sectors. All attacks beaten off.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Siwa evacuated by the Senussi and entered by British, who capture Munasib Pass, cutting off enemy retreat.

Political, etc.

The decoded Zimmermann Telegram is passed on to the British Foreign Office. Discussion begins on how to tell the U.S.

William J. Bryan, former US Secretary of State, likens Germany to a “drunken chauffeur,” but urges the U.S. to avoid war.

Referring to the break with U.S.A., Germany says: "The struggle is for our existence. For us there can be no retreat."

Switzerland in a message to U.S.A. decides not to break off diplomatic relations with Germany.

Russian Conference on future of Poland announced.

Ship Losses:

Anna Prosper (Belgium) The fishing vessel was sunk in the North Sea off the coast of Norfolk, United Kingdom by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Azul (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 180 nautical miles (330 km) west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eleven crew.
Bråvalla (Sweden) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom[52] (49°40′N 6°45′W) by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Emerald (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was shelled and sunk in the North Sea off Norfolk by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Hurstwood (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 6 nautical miles (11 km) north east of Whitby, Yorkshire (54°35′N 0°35′W) by SM UB-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew.
Lorton (Peru) The barque was scuttled in the Bay of Biscay 11 nautical miles (20 km) east of Santander, Cantabria, Spain by SM U-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Lux (United Kingdom) The tanker was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) west of Mizen Head, County Cork by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all 29 crew.
Primrose (United Kingdom) The trawler struck a mine laid by UC 29 (Ernst Rosenow) and sank in the North Sea 17 nautical miles (31 km) south south west of Tod Head, Aberdeenshire with the loss of nine of her crew.
Resolute (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 64 nautical miles (119 km) east by south of St Abb's Head, Berwickshire (55°56′N 0°15′W) by SM UB-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Vestra (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea (54°46′N 1°07′W) by SM UB-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
Warley Pickering (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 46 nautical miles (85 km) west by north of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Wartenfels (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 120 nautical miles (220 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock (50°10′N 11°59′W) by SM U-81 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew. Her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.
Yvonne (France) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the Bay of Biscay 20 nautical miles (37 km) west of Arcachon, Gironde by SM UB-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

February 5, 1917

Air War:
1700 German pilot Sebastian Festner, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down a BE.2c for victory number 1. Details unknown.

German pilot Otto Könnecke, flying one of the first LFG Roland D.IIs, shoots down a Farman two-seat pusher for victory number 1.



Celtic Sea:
Hans Rose, commanding U-53, sinks Swedish freighter SS Bravalla, 1,519 tons, bound from Rufisque for Liverpool with a load of ground nuts. His score is now 16 ships and 37,747 tons.

Volkhard von Bothmer, in U-54, sinks British freighter SS Azul, travelling from Buenos Aires to Cherbourg with a load of wheat. His score is now 4 ships and 13,793 tons.
Von Bothemer also attacks British freighter SS Ainsdale, 1,825 tons, en route from Buenos Aires to Queenstown with a load of maize, but the ship is only damaged, and reaches port safely.

Karlgeorg Schuster, in U-60, torpedoes two British ships south of Ireland:
Tanker SS Lux, 2,621 tons, carrying a load of refined petroleum from New York to Calais.
Freighter SS Warley Pickering, 4,196 tons, bound from Sagunto, on the Balearic coast of Spain for Tees with a load of Iron ore.
Schuster's score is now 3 ships and 11,900 tons.

Raimund Weisbach, in U-81, sinks British freighter SS Watenfels, 4,511 tons, carrying a general cargo from Barry to Alexandria. His score is now 12 ships and 37,628 tons.



English Channel:
Friedrich Moecke, in UC-46, torpedoes British passenger liner SS Argyllshire, 12,097 tons, en route from London to Barry. The damaged ship makes port safely.



North Sea:
Bernhard Putzier, in UB-22, sinks British fishing vessel Resolute, 125 tons, with his deck gun. His score is now 4 ships and 4,875 tons.

Theodor Schultz, in UB-34, torpedoes British freighter SS Hurstwood, 1,229 tons, travelling in ballast from London to Newcastle. His score is now 10 ships and 6,695 tons.

Rudolf Gebeschus, in UB-35, sinks British freighter SS Vestra, 1,021 tons, carrying a load of coal from Tyne to Rouen. This is his ferst sinking.

Hans Howaldt, In UB-40, sinks two vessels off Great Yarmouth:
Belgian fishing boat Anna Prosper, 70 rons.
British fishing smack Emerald, 57 tons. Erich Haecker had damaged but failed to sink Emerald back on July 12, 1915.
Howaldt's score is now 9 vessels and 4,571 tons.

British trawler Primrose, 136 tons, hits a mine laid by Ernst Rosenow in UC-29, bringing his score to 4 vessels and 5,811 tons.



Bay of Biscay:
Hans Nieland, in U-69, stops and scuttles Peruvian barque Lorton, 1,419 tons, travelling from Caleta Buena, Chile to Pasajes, Spain with a load of nitrate; off Santander, Spain. His score is now 16 ships and 16,714 tons.

Heinrich Küstner, in UB-39, sinks French trawler Yvonne, 123 tons, with his deck gun, off Arcachon, France. His score is now 42 ships and 40,904 tons.



Malta:
French freighter SS Saint Laurent, 5,607 tons, catches fire while anchored in Malta Harbour with a load of explosives. After two small explosions the ship is torpedoed to prevent a catastrophe.



Canada:
Canadian freighter SS Retlaw, 4,062 tons, carrying barrels of oil from New York to Le Havre, is wrecked off Jeddore Head, Nova Scotia.



United States:
American tug Covington is towing schooner-barges Iowa, 1,473 tons, from Norfold, VA to Fall River, MA, and Kennebec, 1,850 tons, from Norfolk to Providence, RI, carrying loads of coal, when both barges founder in a snowstorm. The tug manages to rescue two of the five men aboard the barges.

[Jimbuna]

6th February 1917

Western Front

Near Grandcourt (south of the Ancre) the British advance and occupy 1,000 yards of enemy trench without opposition.

Eastern Front

The Sereth river (south-east of Focsani) being frozen, enemy attacks lightly, but is driven back.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Near Kut, the Turks evacuate the south bank of the Tigris east of the Hai-Tigris junction; also forward positions west of the Hai.

Second phase of the Battle of Kut begins.

Political, etc.

New Air Board formed with Lord Cowdray as chairman.

Mr. N. Chamberlain announces his scheme for National Service.

Germany will not allow James W. Gerard, U.S. Ambassador to Germany, to leave until they are satisfied with the German ambassador’s treatment.

German Foreign Secretary Zimmermann states Germany “regrets” the U.S. decision to cut off diplomatic ties.

Nearly 1000 Germans, Austro-Hungarians, Bulgarians, and Ottoman citizens living in New York City apply for naturalization.

Report presented to the French Senate charges that munition manufacturers have made millions in excess profits on government contracts.

Ship Losses:

Adelaide (United Kingdom) The trawler was sunk in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) east north east of the mouth of the River Tyne by SM UB-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Balgownie (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Thames Estuary (51°46′N 1°32′E) with the loss of a crew member.
Cliftonian (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 4.5 nautical miles (8.3 km) south by east of Galley Head, County Cork (51°28′N 8°55′W) by SM U-85 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Crown Point (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 55 nautical miles (102 km) west of the Isles of Scilly (50°06′N 7°46′W) by SM U-83 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seven of her crew.
Ellavore (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 35 nautical miles (65 km) north of Cap Villano, Spain by SM UC-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ferruccio (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea off Whitby, Yorkshire, United Kingdom by SM UB-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Havgard (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) north east of Cape Villano by SM UC-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Longset (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 46 (Friedrich Moecke) and sank in the Bristol Channel off Barry Island, Glamorgan with the loss of eight of her crew.
Perseo (Regia Marina) The Pegaso-class torpedo boat collided with Astore ( Regia Marina) and sank in the Mediterranean Sea off Stromboli.
Romeo (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the North Sea 70 nautical miles (130 km) east of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland (56°50′N 0°00′E) by SM UB-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Rupert (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the North Sea 42 nautical miles (78 km) east nort east of the mouth of the River Tyne by SM UB-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Saxon Briton (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) north north east of Gurnard's Head, Cornwall (50°13′N 5°35′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.

"Within The Dread Coils" (Western Mail cartoon).

[Sailor Steve]

February 6, 1917

Air War:
1310 German pilot Paul Bona, flying an Albatros D.II, shoots down FE.2b 4971 for victory number 4. Lt W.N. McDonald is wounded, 2nd Lt Galley uninjured.

1325 French ace Alfred Heurtaux, in a SPAD VII, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 20.

1415 English pilot Stanley Cockerell, in DH.2 A2581, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 4.

1630 German pilot Rudolf Freiherr von Esebeck, in an Albatros D.II, shoots down FE.2d A38. 2nd Lt M.E. Woods is taken prisoner. Lt E.B. Maule is killed. As far as is known this is von Esebeck's only aerial victory.

1630 German pilot Alfred Träger, in an Albatros D.II, shoods down FE.2d for victory number 1. Lt T.C. Lucas and 2nd Lt J.T. Gibbon are both killed.
(Per The Jasta War Chronology, by Franks, Bailey and Duiven. According to Aces of Jagdstaffel 17 by Greg VanWygarden, Träger had no confirmed victories.)

French ace Jean Casale, flying a Nieuport, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 6.

German pilot Otto Könnecke, in a Roland D.II, shoots down a Farman pusher for victory number 2.

French ace Georges Madon, in a Nieuport, shoots down a Rumpler two-seater for victory number 6.

German pilot Adolf Schulte, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Nieuport for victory number 2.



Celtic Sea:
Wilhelm Werner, commanding U-55, sinks British freighter SS Saxon Briton, 1,337 tons, bound from Portishead for Calais with a load of petrol. His score is now 25 ships and 30,216 tons.

Bruno Hoppe, in U-83, sinks British freighter SS Crown Point, 5,218 tons, travelling from London to Philadelphia with a load of chalk plus general cargo. his score is now 14 ships and 29,441 tons.



Ireland:
Willy Petz, in U-85, sinks British freighter SS Cliftonia, 4,303 tons, carrying a load of coal from Cardiff to an unnamed destination. His score is now 2 ships and 5,226 tons.
Petz also torpedoes British freighter SS Explorer, 7,608 tons, but the damaged ship manages to make safe port.
Petz's score is now 2 ships and 5,226 tons.



Bristol Channel:
His Majesty's Trawler Longset, 275 tons, hits a mine laid off the Breaksea Lightship by Friedrich Moecke in UC-46. Moecke's score is now 13 vessels and 17,804 tons.



English Channel:
UC-26, commanded by Matthias von Schmettow surfaces at night directly in front of British paddle passenger ship SS Mona's Queen. The ship rams the u-boat, causing damage to the steel paddle on the port side. Mona's Queen limps to Le Havre. UC-26, her outer bow skin ripped open, makes it back to base for repairs.



North Sea:
Bernhard Putzier, in UB-22, stops and scuttles three British fishing trawlers off the mouth of the Tyne:
Adelaide, 133 tons.
Romeo, 114 tons.
Rupert. 114 tons.
Putzier's score is now 7 vessels and 5,236 tons.

Theodor Schultz, in UB-34, sinks Italian freighter SS Ferruccio, 2,192 tons, en route from Sunderland to Savona with a load of coal. His score is now 11 ships and 8,887 tons.



Spain:
Kurt Willich, in UC-24, sinks two Norwegian freighters off Cape Vilan:
SS Ellavore, 2,733 tons, bound from Valencia for London with a load of fruit and wine.
SS Havgard, 1,279 tons, carrying a load of ground nuts from Rufisque to Dunkerque.
Willich's score is now 3 ships and 6,628 tons.



Tyrrhenian Sea:
Italian torpedo boat Perseo, 210 tons, is lost following a collision with her sister-ship Astore, off the Island of Stromboli.



United States:
American schooner Edward F. Clark, 549 tons, carrying a load of coal from Sewall's Point, Virginia to new London, Connecticut, founders off Norfolk, VA.

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

6th February 1917

Germany will not allow James W. Gerard, U.S. Ambassador to Germany, to leave until they are satisfied with the German ambassador’s treatment.

German Foreign Secretary Zimmermann states Germany “regrets” the U.S. decision to cut off diplomatic ties.

Nearly 1000 Germans, Austro-Hungarians, Bulgarians, and Ottoman citizens living in New York City apply for naturalization.

James W Gerard, an able attorney after his diplomatic career, had some serious fiber And knew how to deal with Krauts (no offence I'm one too)

Gerard once said in a speech: "The Foreign Minister of Germany once said to me 'your country does not dare do anything against Germany, because we have in your country five hundred thousand Germans[emigrants] who will rise in arms against your government if you dare to make a move against Germany.' Well, I told him that that might be so, but that we had five hundred thousand – and one – lamp posts in this country, and that that was where the reservists would be hanging the day after they tried to rise."

[Jimbuna]

7th February 1917

Western Front

At the Somme, British forces make further advances by capturing Grandcourt, aided by the frozen marshy ground around the Ancre River.

Naval and Overseas Operations

S.S. "California", Anchor Line, sunk by submarine SM U-85without warning. 43 killed and missing.


Since the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare last week, Germany has sunk at least 59 ships, with 22 belonging to neutral nations.

Political, etc.

Several neutral States refuse Mr. Wilson's invitation to act in conjunction with the U.S.

U.S. Senate votes 78 to 5 endorsing President Wilson’s decision to breakoff ties with Germany.

U.S. coast guard and lighthouse services dismiss unnaturalized German citizens from their jobs.

Parliament opened by the King.

Romanian government accuses Germany of deporting Romanian males of military age in occupied areas.

Ship Losses:

Aphrodite (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea north west of Alexandria, Egypt by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Boyne Castle (United Kingdom) The coaster was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 12 nautical miles (22 km) north east of St Abb's Head, Berwickshire by SM UB-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
California (United Kingdom) The ocean liner was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 38 nautical miles (70 km) west of The Fastnet Rock (51°10′N 9°24′W) by SM U-85 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 43 lives.
Corsican Prince (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) east of Whitby, Yorkshire (54°30′N 0°31′W) by SM UB-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Diaz (Russia) The barque was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south of Ireland(50°05′N 8°43′W) by SM U-83 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Gravina (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 85 nautical miles (157 km) west of the Fastnet Rock (51°03′N 11°30′W) by SM U-81 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seven of her crew. Five survivors were taken as prisoners of war.
Hans Kinck (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea off the Noordhinder Lightship ( Netherlands) by SM UC-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Noella (French Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 26 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow) and sank in the English Channel 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) off Le Havre, Seine-Maritime.
Saint Ninian (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off Whitby (54°30′N 0°32′W) by SM UB-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of fifteen crew.
Saxonian (United Kingdom) The tanker was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 270 nautical miles (500 km) west by north of the Fastnet Rock (50°26′N 16°26′W) by SM U-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Shakespeare (United Kingdom) The trawler was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off the Firth of Forth by SM UB-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of nine crew.
Storskog (Norway) The full-rigged ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Väring (Sweden) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) east north east of Noup Head, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom[88] by SM U-78 ( Kaiserliche Marine).[89] Her crew survived.
Vedamore (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 20 nautical miles (37 km) west of the Fastnet Rock (51°17′N 10°03′W) by SM U-85 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 23 of her crew.
Wallace (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean (50°30′N 15°05′W by SM U-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member and another taken as a prisoner of war Survivors abandoned ship and were rescued by a Royal Navy warship.
Yola (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of Ouessant, Finistère, France by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all 33 crew.

[Sailor Steve]

February 7, 1917

Air War:
1200 English pilot James Dacres Belgrave, flying Sopwith 1½ Strutter 7775 with 2nd Lt Thompson as observer, shoots down an Albatros fighter for victory number 1.

1325 German ace Walter von Bülow, in an Albatros D.II, shoots down Sopwith 1½ Strutter 7789 for victory number 8. 2nd Lt E.E. Erlebach and AM2 F.J. Ridgway are both killed.

1430 English ace William Curphey and pilot 2nd Lt Thompson, both in DH.2s. share in the downing of an Albatros D.II. Victory number 6 for Curphey.

German pilot Georg Meyer, flying a two-seater with an unnamed observer, shoots down a Nieuport for victory number 1.

French ace Pierre Dufaur de Gavardie wounded, retires from combat flying. He will live until 1966.



Celtic Sea:
Vokhard von Bothmer, commanding U-54, sinks British tanker SS Saxonian, 4,855 tons, bound fro Port Arthur for Dartmouth sith a load of parafin oil. His score is now 5 ships and 18,648 tons. Von bothemer also attacks British freighter SS Wallace, 3,930 tons, carrying a general cargo from New York to Le Havre, with his deck gun, but a British warship comes into sight and he is forced to break of the attack.

Wilhelm Werner, in U-55, sinks British freighter SS Yola, 3,504 tons, travelling from New York to London with a load of wheat. The ship goes down with all hands, and is listed as Missing until after the war. Werner's score is now 26 ships and 33,720 tons.

Karlgeorg Schuster, in U-60, stops and scuttles Norwegian sailing ship Storskog, 2,191 tons, carrying a load of maize from Buenos Aires to Queenstown. His score is now 4 ships and 14,091 tons.

Raimund Weisbach, in U-81, sinks British freighter SS Gravina, 1,242 tons, bound from Seville for London with a load of fruit. His score is now 13 ships and 38,870 tons.

Bruno Hoppe, in U-83, sinks Russian barque Diaz, 637 tons, en route from Savanna-la-Mar, Jamaica to Fleetwood with a load of logwood. His score is now 15 ships and 30,078 tons.

Willy Petz, in U-85, sinks two British ships southwes of Fastnet:
Passenger liner SS California, 8,668 tons, carrying passengers and a general cargo from New York to Glasgow.
Freighter SS Vedamore, 6,330 tons, travelling from Baltimore to Liverpool with a general cargo.
Petz's score is now 4 ships and 20,225 tons.
After this U-85 was not heard from again. Originally thought sunk by Q-ship HMS Privet, it was later determined that the U-boat in that attack was U-68, which survived. U-85's fate remains undetermined - presumed foundered. All 38 crew lost.



English Channel:
French naval trawler Noella, 277 tons, hits a mine laid by Matthias von Schmettow in UC-26 off Le Havre, raising his score to 66 ships and 98,459 tons.



North Sea:
Otto Dröscher, in U-78, scuttles Swedish freighter SS Väring, 2,107 tons, en route from Savannah to Helsingborg with a load of oil cake. His score is now 6 ships and 11.653 tons.

Bernhard Putzier, in UB-22, sinks two British ships off the Firth of Forth, Scotland:
Coaster SS Boyne Castle, 245 tons, travelling in ballast from MacDuff to Sunderland; sunk with deck gun.
Trawler Shakespeare; torpedoed.
Putzier's score is now 9 ships and 5,691 tons.

Theodor Schultz, in UB-34, sinks two British freighters off Whitby:
SS Corsican Prince, 2,776 tons, en route from dundee to Dunkerque with a load of timber.
SS Saint Ninian, 3.026 tons, carrying a load of iron pyrites from Pot Kelah to Tees.
Schultz's score is now 13 ships and 14,689 tons.

Otto Ehrentraut, in UC-39, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Hans Kinck, 2,667 tons, travelling in ballast from Rotterdam to Tyne. His score is now 12 ships and 12,301 tons.



South Africa:
Sometime the previous day, British troopship SS Tyndareus, 11,000 tons, strikes a mine laid by the German raider Wolf off Cape Agulhas. With the ship down by the bow the men of the 25th Battalion Middlesex Regiment form up on parade. Boats are lowered safely and the entire ship's complement are all taken safely on board SS Eumaeus and hospital ship SS Oxfordshire.
0115 At Simonstown, HMFM Trent recieves orders to assist Tyndareus. SS Eumaeus and HMS Hyacinth are already there giving assistance, but Trent's crew have the most experience with towing other ships.
0135 Trent is underway.
0745 Fighting a moderate gale, HMFM Trent sights the other ships.
0820 Trent joins up with Tyndareus, Eumaeus and Hyacinth. Three attempts are made to pass towing hawsers on a raft, all unsuccessful.
1130 Trent passes 14" towing hawser to Tyndareus via a rocket line.
1215 Towing hawser comes apart. HMS Hyacinth sends party to Tyndareus.
1315 Trent passes a steel cable to Tyndareus.
1515 Second towing attempt fails, with both ships being pushed about by heavy sea.
1655 Trent's after bitts, through which the hawser runs, are ripped loose and carried overboard.
2345 Tug Ludwig Wiener arrives from Cape Town. Towing attempts continue into next day.



Mediterranean Sea:
Max Valentiner, in U-38, sinks French sailing vessel Aphrodite, 130 tons, near Alexandria. His score is now 125 ships and 175,269 tons.



Atlantic Ocean:
Spanish barque Bilmenalde, 360 tons, en route from Gulfport to Bilbao with a load of timber, founders mid-ocean. The crew are rescued by British tanker SS Bulisses and taken to Leith.

[Jimbuna]

8th February 1917

Western Front

Sailly-Saillisel ridge (Hill 153, Somme) taken by the British with 78 prisoners.

From Grandcourt British advance on both banks of the Ancre.

Aviation

Flying a SPAD VII, the French ace Georges Guynemer becomes the first Allied pilot to shoot down a German heavy bomber when he downs a Gotha G.III.


Naval and Overseas Operations

A British destroyer HMS Gurkha sunk by a mine in the Channel; five survivors.

Political, etc.

Neutral sources report that Mr. Gerard is being held hostage in Berlin and not allowed to communicate with U.S.A.

Ship Losses:

HMT Aivern (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was sunk in the Western Approaches.
Derika (Netherlands) The trawler was scuttled in the North Sea (52°53′N 3°20′E) by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Elswick Manor (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine and was damaged in the North Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) off Southwold, Suffolk. She was beached at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Subsequently refloated, repaired and returned to service.
Guillame Tell (France) The brigantine was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 10 nautical miles (19 km) west of Trevose Head, Cornwall, United Kingdom by SM UC-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HMS Gurkha (Royal Navy) The Tribal-class destroyer struck a mine set by SM UC-47 and sank in the English Channel off Dungeness, Kent (50°51′20″N 0°53′17″E). There were five survivors out of her 79 crew.
Hanna Larsen (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was scuttled in the North Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) east by north of Spurn Point, Yorkshire (53°42′N 0°39′E) by SM UC-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Ida (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) south east of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire by SM UC-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
Lullington (United Kingdom) The collier struck a mine laid by UC 47 (Paul Hundius) and sank in the English Channel 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) east of the Royal Sovereign Lightship ( United Kingdom) (50°43′N 0°32′E). Her crew survived.
Mary Ann (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 18 nautical miles (33 km) north north east of St. Ives Head, Cornwall by SM UC-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SM UC-39 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UC II submarine was depth charged, shelled and sunk in the North Sea off Flamborough Head (53°56′N 0°05′E) by HMS Thrasher ( Royal Navy) with the loss of seven of her crew.
SM UC-46 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UC II submarine was rammed and sunk in the English Channel off the Goodwin Sands, Kent, United Kingdom (51°07′N 1°39′E) by HMS Liberty ( Royal Navy) with the loss of all 26 crew.

[Sailor Steve]

February 8, 1917

Air War:
1115 French aces Georges Guynemer, Flying a SPAD 7, and André Chainat, in a Nieuport 17, share the downing of a Gotha G.III, the first German heavy bomber brought down by Allied aircraft. All three German airmen are taken prisoner. Victory number 31 for Guynemer, number 11 for Chainat. It is also Chainat's last kill. He will be severely wounded in September, and removed from combat flying. André Chainat will live until 1961.

Welsh RNAS pilot Ernest Norton, flying Nieuport 17 N3184, shoots down an Aviatik two-seater for victory number 2.



Celtic Sea:
Raimund Weisbach, commanding U-81, torpedoes British passenger liner SS Mantola, 8,253 tons, carrying passengers and a general cargo from London to Calcutta, west of Fastnet. His score is now 14 ships and 11,653 tons. On the previous October 16th Mantola had been damaged by a mine, but made safe port and was repaired.



English Channel:
British destroyer HMS Ghurka, 880 tons, hits a mine laid off Dungeness by Paul Hundius in UC-47.
British freighter SS Lullington, 2,816 tons, en rout from Blyth to Rouen with a load of coal, hits a mine laid by UC-47 off the Royal Sovereign Lightship.
Hundius' score is now 10 ships and 13,278 tons.

Otto Steinbrinck, in UC-65, stops and scuttles two small vessels near Trevose Head:
French brigantine Guillaume Tell, 148 tons.
British fishing boat Mary Ann, 17 tons.
Steinbrinck's score is now 94 ships and 88,247 tons.

British destroyer HMS Liberty rams and sinks SMS UC-46 (Friedrich Moecke). All 23 lost, no survivors.

His Majesty's Drifter Aivern, 72 tons, working a net boat, founders and is lost.



North Sea:
Martin Schelle, in UC-33, begins his career with the scuttling of Dutch trawler Derika, 153 tons.

Otto Ehrentraut, in UC-39, sinks two Allied ships off Spurn Point:
British freighter SS Hanna Larsen, 1,311 tons, travelling in ballast from London to Tyne.
Norwegian freighter SS Ida, 1,172 tons, also in ballast from Leith to London.
While attacking Ida, UC-39 is spotted by old Brtish 'B'-class torpedo-boat destroyer HMS Thrasher. UC-39 dives but is forced to the surface again by depth-charges from the destroyer. Thrasher then opens fire, killing seven German sailors before realizing they are attempting to surrender. Kptlt Eherentraut is not among the seventeen survivors.
Ehrentraut's final score is now 14 ships and 14,784 tons.



Balearic Sea:
Italian barque Luigina G., en route from Marseille to Havana with a load of bricks, is driven by a storm to run aground at Mallorca. Ten crew lost trying to swim ashore. All five who stayed aboard survived. Several days later the ship is destroyed by another storm.



Simonstown, South Africa:
The attempt to tow SS Tyndareus into Simonstown continues.
0130 Tug Ludwig Weiner joins HMFM Trent in the tow effort. SS Oxfordshire SS Emmaeus and HMS Hyacinth in company.
0540 HMFM Trent loses another set of bollards.
0740 Trent loses steel cable. Ludwig Weiner tows Tyndareus alone.
0800 Ludwig Weiner is making good time with Tyndareus in tow.
0900 Ludwig Weiner loses towing hawser.
1010 Ludwig Weiner resumes tow.
1106 Ludwig Weiner tows Tyndareus stern-first into False Bay.
1530 Tug and stricken ship recieve orders to proceed into harbour.
1530 Hyacinth signals Trent to enter harbour. "Will you allow me to say how much myself and all onboard admire the handling of the Trent and the manner in which the work was done yesterday." Trent's response: "Thand you for your kind appreciation."
1740 Tyndareus safely anchored at Simonstown.
1748 HMS Hyacinth anchored.
1803 HMFM Trent anchored.
SS Tyndareus will be repaired and serve through the rest of the war, as well as again being a troopship in World War 2. She will continue as a cargo ship until being sold for breakup in 1960.



Durban, South Africa:
After three weeks of dockside work, British monitor HMS Severn enters a floating drydock.



Pacific Ocean:
American schooner E.B. Jackson, travelling in ballast from Melbourne to Apia, Samoa, is wrecked while approaching Apia.

[Jimbuna]

9th February 1917

Western Front

East of the Meuse an enemy attack fails under the French fire.

East of Sailly-Saillisel Germans counter-attack new British positions, but are repulsed.

German troops begin carrying out Operation Alberich, which is a planned withdrawal to the shorter, more easily defended Hindenburg Line.

Southern Front

East of Gorizia, Austrian attack enters certain Italian positions. Austrians claim 1,000 prisoners.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Report on Senussi operations issued.

Political, etc.

President Wilson makes assurances that foreign property and other assets will not be taken even if the U.S. goes to war.

To save fuel, Paris theaters will be closed four days a week and streetcars and subways will cease operations by 10 pm.

German Government admit having prevented Mr. Gerard communicating with U.S.A., stating falsely that Count Bernstorff has not been allowed communication with Germany. Mr. Gerard receives his passports.

Ship Losses:

Benbow (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) off Inchcape, Forfarshire by SM UB-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Duke of York (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the North Sea 34 nautical miles (63 km) east by south of Girdle Ness, Aberdeenshire by SM UB-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Mantola (United Kingdom) The cargo liner sank after being torpedoed the previous day in the Atlantic Ocean southwest of Ireland 143 nautical miles (265 km) off Fastnet Rock (49°55′N 12°25′W) by U-81 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Seven crew were killed while abandoning ship. Survivors were rescued by HMS Laburnum ( Royal Navy).
Marianne (Netherlands) The fishing lugger was sunk in the North Sea off the Terschelling Bank Lightship ( Netherlands) (52°30′N 3°10′E) by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her eight crew survived.
HMT Yesso (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine and sank at Aberdeen (57°09′N 2°03′W) with the loss of seven of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

February 9, 1917

Air War:
German ace Albert Dossenbach, with 9 victories flying two-seaters, joins Jasta 2 for single-seat fighter training.

1530 French pilot Alfred Auger, flying a Nieuport 17, shoots down an Albatros fighter for victory number 3.



Scotland:
On January 1 Hellmuth Jürst, commanding U-43, captured Italian freighter SS Famiglia, 2,942 tons, bound from Tyne for Civitavecchia, southwest of Ireland. He put a prize crew aboard her and sent her northward around Britain toward the North Sea and Germany. On February 9th the ship is rounding the Hebrides on the west coast of Scotland when approached by British armed merchant cruiser HMS Moldavia. Rather than let the ship be recaptured the prize crew scuttles her. Jürst's score is now 23 ships and 53,515 tons.



North Sea:
Hans Rose, in U-53, stops and scuttles Dutch fishing boat Marian, 71 tons, raising his score to 17 vessels and 37,818 tons.

Bernhard Putzier, in UB-22, stops and scuttles two British fishing trawlers off Aberdeen:
Benbow, 172 tons.
Duke of York, 150 tons.
Putzier's score is now 11 vessels and 5,013 tons.

His Majesty's Trawler Yesso, 229 tons, hits a mine laid by Ernst Rosenow in UC-29 right at the entrance to Aberdeen Harbour. His score is now 5 vessels and 6,040 tons.



Helgoländer Bucht:
German minesweeper SMS M-56, 480 tons, hits a mine laid by an unknown ship south of Helgoland.