100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

July 22, 1916

Air War:
1400 Bavarian-born German ace Max von Mulzer, in a Fokker E.IV, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for number 9.

German ace Ernst von Althaus, in a Fokker E.IV, brings down a Farman for kill number 8

German ace Walter Höhndorf, in a Fokker E.IV, shoots down an unnamed Nieuport for victory number 10. Two French Nieuports were downed this day, one of them rising ace Albert Deullin, but there is no direct connection linking Höhndorf with either of them.

German pilot Hugo Stöber, in an unnamed fighter, attacks a large French air raid and scores his first victory, bringing down Farmnan 1899. MdL René Weise and soldat (private) Aviez are both killed in action.

French pilot (or observer, the record is unclear) Del Antoine Gaston Vial, in a Maurice Farman, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 1. This may have been Vizefeldwebel Kurt Schörf, who was shot down and killed this day.



North Sea:
Hans Valentiner, commanding UB-37, comes across a group of small sailing vessels all carrying pit props to West Hartlepool. Sunk are Norwegian vessels Bams, 308 tons, out of Sandefjord; Juno, 355 tons, sailing from Drammen; and Subra, 580 tons, out of Porsgrund; also Swedish vessels Preference, 222 tons, from Göteborg; and Ida, 302 tons, from Krisiania to Tyne. Valentiner's score is now 22 ships and 12,153 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Walter Forstmann, in U-39, sinks British freighters SS Knutsford, 3,842 tons, carrying a load of zinc ore from Tunis to Baltimore; and SS Olive, 3,678 tons, travelling from Algiers to Salonca with a load of hay. His score is now. 93 ships and 237,825 tons.



Adriatic Sea:
Austro-Hungarian freighter SS Carola collides with SS Mátyás Király and sinks.



German East Africa:
British monitor HMS Mersey fires six lyddite rounds at Ras Upanga.



Burma:
British steel barges Cornwallis, 604 tons, Curson, 917 tons, and Ripon, 918 tons, are struck by lighting and destroyed in the Rangoon River.



United States:
Paddle steamer Keyport, 515 tons, sinks off The Battery, New York, after a collision with Santos.

[Jimbuna]

23rd July 1916

Western Front

Second phase of Somme Battle begins.

Intense fighting in and round Pozieres; British recapture whole of Longueval, but Germans retake north end of village.

Outskirts of Guillemont twice change hands.

Eastern Front

Kuropatkin's troops drive Germans back south-east of Riga.

Russians advance 12 miles near Kemmern.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians steadily close in on Erzingan (Armenia); the Turks retreat.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Running fight in North Sea near mouth of Scheldt between British ships and six enemy destroyers; no decisive results.

Naval force occupies Pangani (East Africa).

Political, etc.

The Dutch government publishes the “Orange Book,” which details the difficulties the nation faced as a neutral state in the war.

M. Sazonov, Russian Foreign Minister, resigns, and is succeeded by M. Sturmer.

Ship Losses:

Badminton (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 65 nautical miles (120 km) north east by north of Cape Carbon, Algeria by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

July 23, 1916

Air War:
0745 Frnch ace Jean Chaput, flying an unlisted Nieuport, shoots down an Aviatik two-seater for victory number 8.



Cornwall:
Italian freighter SS Enrico Parodi, 3,818 tons, runs aground in heavy fog at The Gurnard's Head. The ship is refloated with the incoming tide, and taken under tow for St. Ives, but leakage causes her to founder at 2300 hours, sinking off The Carracks.



Mediterranean Sea:
Walter Forstmann, commanding U-39, sinks British freighter SS Badminton, 3,847 tons, travelling in ballast from Torre Annunziata, Italy, to Algiers. His score is now 94 ships and 241,672 tons.



Western Australia:
Australian fishing boat Ivydale B326, 12 tons, bound from Wallal Downs to Mangrove Point, founders with the loss of six of her seven crew. One man is rescued by lugger Whynot.

[Jimbuna]

24th July 1916

Western Front

Struggle for Pozieres continues; British gain some important advantages.

Persistent German counter-attacks at High Wood and Guillemont.

Near Estrees, French capture enemy battery. They take a redoubt west of Thiaumont (south-west of Douaumont, Verdun).

Eastern Front

Russians repulse Germans from Uxkull to Riga.

Southern Front

Italian advance on Asiago Plateau and Trentino border continues; after a night attack troops capture Monte Cismone.

Naval and Overseas Operations

In East Africa, General Northey defeats German southern detachment at Malangali; drives enemy towards Iringa.

Political, etc.

Premier Asquith asks the House of Commons for a vote of credit of £450 million, the largest asked by the government since the wars’ start.

Kaiser Wilhelm to wounded troops: “It is the most poignant grief of my life that I am unable to take a more active part in this war.”

Irish Home Rule is defeated in Parliament due to opposition by the Unionists. Irish members cry “traitor” to Premier Asquith.

David Lloyd George predicts victory in the next few months: “I feel confident that victory is assured to us.”

General Sir Douglas Haig praises the First Australian Division for “a very gallant, skillful and successful attack on Pozieres village…”

Ship Losses:

Balvenie (United Kingdom) The cargo ship collided with Tagona ( United Kingdom) in the Bristol Channel off Lundy Island, Devon and sank with the loss of two lives.
Maria (Italy) The brigantine was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off the east coast of Algeria (37°38′N 9°20′E) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Mars (Norway) The sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea off the mouth of the River Tyne (55°51′N 0°13′E) by SM UB-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Mary (Norway) The barge was scuttled in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) east north east of the mouth of the River Tyne (55°12′N 0°35′E) by SM UB-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Matatua (United Kingdom) The cargo ship ran aground at St. Mary's, Newfoundland. She was refloated on 28 August.

[Sailor Steve]

July 24, 1916

Air War:
German pilot Hartmuth Baldamus, flying a Fokker E.III, shoots down an unidentified aircraft for victory number 3, and the Caudron G.4 2236 for number 4. Caporal René Blanc and Slt Bayard are both killed in action.

French ace Jean Chaput is wounded in a fight on this day, and will not return to duty until May 1917.
(Norman Franks, Sharks Among Minnows. According to The Aerodrome this takes place on August 24, and he returns to action in April 1917.)



Bristol Channel:
British freighter SS Balvenie, 872 tons, carrying locomotives and tenders from Glasgow to St. Nazaire, sinks following a collision with SS Tagona.



North Sea:
Walther Becker, commanding UB-19, scuttles Norwegian sailing vessel Mars, 106 tons, bound from Fredrikshald to West Hartlepool with a load of pit props. His score is now 6 ships and 2,320 tons

Ernst Voigt, in UB-23, scuttles Norwegian barge Mary, 560 tons, being towed from Fredrikstad to West Hartlepool with a load of pit props, bringing his score to 11 vessels and 2,210 tons. He lets towing tug Veslefjell go.

Dutch freighter SS Maas, 1,234 tons, en route from Tunis to Rotterdam, hits a mine laid by UC-1.
(www.wrecksite.eu and https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/456763587185114390/&prev=search. U-Boat.net has no such credit for UC-1, and on mention of any ship named 'Maas' throughout the war.)



Mediterranean Sea:
Walter Forstmann, in U-39, sinks Italian brigantine Maria, 198 tons. This brings his score to 95 ships and 241,870 tons.



German East Africa:
British monitor HMS Mersey puts two machine guns and their crews ashore at Tanga, plus iron plates to erect as armor for defense against German activity in the area.

Monitor HMS Severn takes aboard three officers and 113 native troops of "Dickson's Scouts", formerly placed ashore as assault troops.

Cruiser HMS Talbot lends her entire compliment of ship's boats to help transport troops across river at Pangani.



United States:
American schooner H.B. Cousins, 361 tons, runs aground at Seal Island, Maine.

[Jimbuna]

25th July 1916

Western Front

With fresh reinforcements the Germans counter-attack near Longueval and Bazentin; are repulsed.

Pozieres almost entirely in British hands.

British push along Albert-Bapaume road towards Hill 160.

French progress south of Estrees and north of Vermandovillers.

In Alsace a sharp attack north of Altkirch is repulsed.

Eastern Front

Sakharov again attacks Austrians east of Styr and advances against Brody. Defeats von Linsingen on River Slonuvka.

Southern Front

The re-constituted Serbian Army comes into action on the Salonika front against the Bulgarians.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Capture of Erzingan; (it formed the advance base for Turkish operations on Caucasus front).

Aviation

First flight of the Anatra DS.


Political, etc.

Kaiser Wilhelm to his troops: “Your duty is to break the English offensive, and to prove once more that Germany is invincible…”

The protest of Mr. Gerard (U.S.A. Ambassador) against inhumanity at Ruhleben camp published in Times.

U.S. makes an agreement with Denmark to buy the Danish West Indies for $25 million ($552 million today).

Ship Losses:

Norderney (Germany) The cargo ship foundered in the Baltic Sea off Rügen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with the loss of four of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

July 25, 1916

Air War:
French observer Charles Alexandre Bronislas Borzecki, riding in a Caudron with an unknown pilot, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 1.

French pilot Gustave Douchy, flying an unnamed Nieuport, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 1.

German pilot Hans Hartl, in a Fokker E.III, shoots down a BE.2c for victory number 1. 2nd Lts James Alfred Brown and Fritz Bowyer are both killed.

Austro-Hungarian pilot Raoul Stojsavljevic and observer Josef Friedrich, in a Hansa-Brandenburg C.I, shoot down a Farman two-seater. Victory number 2 for both.



German East Africa:
British monitor HMS Severn drops "Dickson's Scouts" at Pangani Island. One officer from Dickson's Scouts is taken back aboard for medical treatment, as well as one German officer POW.

Light cruiser HMS Talbot fires four 6" salvoes at the village of Kipumbwe. The village hoists several white flags and Captain Thomas (no information, possibly Royal Marines) is sent to investigate.

[Jimbuna]

Western Front

The whole of Pozieres village in British hands.

British advance continues northwards towards Hill 160.

French capture some fortified houses south of Estrees.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British-Italian car raid from Sollum.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Admiral Bacon's report on work of Dover Patrol published in Times.

Political, etc.

Premier Asquith revokes British titles from the two German Dukes and one German Prince.

German occupation authorities in Belgium execute 6 civilians in Ghent for “war treason.”

Ship Losses:

Duguay Trouin (France) The barque was severely damaged by fire at Nantes, Loire-Atlantique.
Ellen Kirstine (Denmark) The schooner collided with a Russian merchant ship in the North Sea. Her crew were rescued.
Flore (France) The cargo liner sank in the North Sea 8 nautical miles (15 km) east of Fetlar, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom. She probably struck a mine.
Kentigern (Norway) The barque was sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east north east of Hartlepool, County Durham, United Kingdom (55°10′N 0°20′W) by SM UB-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HM Torpedo Boat 9 (Royal Navy) The torpedo boat collided with another vessel and sank in the North Sea.
HMT White Rose (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was lost on this date.

[Sailor Steve]

July 26, 1916

Air War:
French Nieuport pilot Joseph de Sevin claimes two eindeckers shot down. Both are discounted.

German pilot Werner Lehmann, flying a Fokker E.III, shoots down a Caudron G.4 for victory number 1. MdL André Waldmann and SLt Félix Giacomelli are both killed.



North Sea:
Ernst Voigt, commanding UB-23, sinks Norwegian barque Kentigern, 796 tons, bound from Drammen for Hartlepool with a load of pit props. His score is now 12 ships and 3,006 tons.

HM TB-9 (ex-Grasshopper), 255 tons, is lost following a collision.



German East Africa:
British monitor HMS Mersey conducts operations against village of Saadani.
0540 Mersey takes up firing position off Saadani.
0618 Mersey opens fire on village.
0645 Mersey ceases fire.
0730 HMS Manica sends up an observation balloon.
0826 Seaplane is sent aloft, balloon hauled down.
0845 Seaplane drops bombs on Saadani, is fired on by machine guns.
0900 Ships move up the coast, with seaplane spotting.
0921 Mersey opens fire on German positions.
0940 Mersey ceases fire.
0945 Mersey spots HMS Talbot to north.
1025 Mersey turns southward.
1042 Seaplane recovered.
1140 Mersey opens fire on Buini Village.
1209 Mersey ceases fire.
1626 Mersey opens fire on Saadani again.
1645 Operations ceased.

Light cruiser HMS Talbot is conducting an attack on Mkwaja Village, with a seaplane spotting for her as well. At 1300 a party of marines under captain Thomas is sent ashore.

Meanwhile, at Pangani Village HMS Severn uses her ship's boats to transfer a company of the 57th Regimant and one from the 5th from transport SS Barjora to shore. Severn also transfers the sick German officer to Bajora.

[Jimbuna]

27th July 1916

Western Front

Fresh British gains at Delville Wood and near Pozieres; fighting continues at Longueval.

French make progress east of Estrees.

Germans make two strong attacks on French centre at Ville-au-Bois, north of Aisne, and in Champagne, west of Prosnes.

Eastern Front

Sakharov reaches Klekotov position, within five miles of Brody.

Southern Front

Hostile aeroplanes drop bombs on Bari and Otranto.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians advance towards Sivas (west of Erzingan); a Turkish attack near Mosul is repulsed.

Yanbo, port of Medina, captured by Grand Sherif of Mecca.

Turks and Germans begin to move from Katiya line.

Political, etc.

Captain Chas Fryat, of the G.E. liner "Brussels", is court-martialled and shot by German authorities in Belgium for attempt to ram German submarine.

Laurence Ginnell, Irish Nationalist MP, is suspended from the House of Commons for calling Herbert Samuel “insolent.”

Kaiser Wilhelm: “The iron hurricane rages against our brave German men at the Somme. Everything is at stake.”

Ship Losses:

Agenda (Norway) The brig was sunk in the North Sea off the mouth of the River Tyne (55°15′N 0°40′W) by SM UB-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

July 27, 1916

Air War:
French pilot Joseph de Bonnefoy, in an unnamed Nieuport, shoots down an "Avion" for victory number 2.

French pilot Jean Augustin Paul Joseph Loste, observer P. Barbou and gunner Louis Honore Martin, in a Caudron three-seat "Battle Plane", claim an "Avion" for victory number 1.

Italian pilot Ferruccio Ranza, flying a Nieuport 11, shoots down a Hansa-Brandenburg C.I for victory number 1.



North Sea:
Ernst Voigt, commanding UB-23, sinks Norwegian brig Agenda, 226 tons, bound from Fredrikshald for Hartlepool with a load of pit props. His score is now 13 ships and 3,232 tons.

German minesweeper M-12 is sunk by a mine.



German East Africa:
Monitor HMS Mersey continues the attack on Saadani Village with 6" and 4.7" guns.
0230 Mersey lowers a skiff to examine two dhows drifting by her anchorage.
0455 Mersey is underway for Saadani.
0700 Seaplane is aloft for spotting.
0730 Mersey opens fire on village.
0752 Mersey ceases fire.
0800 Seaplane reports being fired on by machine guns in village.
0815 Mersey resumes fire at 7500 yards.
0820 Mersey ceases fire. Seaplane lands.
1015 Mersey moves south.
1800 Mersey opens fire on village with after guns only.
1825 Mersey ceases fire.
2230 Mersey fires on village one last time for ten minutes, ceasing at 2240.

Meanwhile light cruiser HMS Talbot and armed whaler Thistle against Mkwaja Village.
0700 Talbot sights flag battleship HMS Vengeance.
0745 Talbot puts ashore a "small-arm party and marines".
0815 Talbot opens fire on a house near Mkwaja with her 6" guns.
0830 Talbot ceases fire.
1140 Severn takes on board one officer and eight natives from Dickson's Scouts.
1245 Severn weighs anchor and departs Pangani for Mkwaja.
1500 Small-arm party returns to Talbot.
1700 Burial party for dead native.
1745 Severn arrives and anchors off Mkwaja Village.
2240 "Observed flashes and reports of gun fire to southward."

[Jimbuna]

28th July 1916

Today marks the second year since the start of the Great War.

Western Front

British capture of Delville Wood and Longueval village; make further progress near Pozieres.

Enemy raids near Neuve Chapelle repulsed.

French gains west of Thiaumont (Verdun).

Zeppelin raid on east coast. No damage.

Eastern Front

Sakharov enters Brody, having captured 40,000 prisoners and 49 guns in 12 days. Further north, Lesch and Kaledin attack on Upper Stokhod, crossing river at many points.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Patrol engagements with Turks east of Suez Canal.

Political, etc.

Lloyd George says he got “Irish Nationalists & the Ulster Unionists to the point of shaking hands, instead of shaking fists at each other.”

American Ambassador in London presents formal protest against the policy of the "Black List".

Ship Losses:

Andrew Ina (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea 12.5 nautical miles (23.2 km) north east of the mouth of the River Tyne by SM UB-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Dandolo (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) south east of Cape Spartivento, Calabria (37°50′N 17°40′E) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Good Design (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) north east of the mouth of the River Tyne by SM UB-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Jane Stewart (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) north east of the mouth of the River Tyne by SM UB-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Janet Overstone (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was rammed and sunk in the North Sea 13 nautical miles (24 km) north east of the mouth of the River Tyne by SM UB-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Johan (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) north east of the mouth of the River Tyne by SM UB-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HMS Majestic II (Royal Navy) The auxiliary minesweeper foundered in the Mediterranean Sea off Oran, Algeria.
Renown (United Kingdom) The drifter was scuttled in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) north east of the mouth of the River Tyne by SM UB-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Speedwell (United Kingdom) The drifter was scuttled in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) north east of the mouth of the River Tyne by SM UB-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Spero Meliora (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) north east of the mouth of the River Tyne by SM UB-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Volunteer (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) north east of the mouth of the River Tyne by SM UB-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

July 28, 1916

Air War:

1315 After a string of five unconfirmed claims, French pilot René Dorme, flying an unnamed Nieuport, shoots down an AGO two-seater for victory number 2.

French pilots Georges Flachaire, Georges Lachmann and Jean Matton bring down an Albatros two-seater. Victories number 2 for Flachaire and Lachmann, number 1 for Matton.

French ace Georges Guynemer, in Nieuport 17 1531, shoots down an LVG C.II for victory number 11.



North Sea:
Ernst Voigt, in UB-23, attacks another fishing fleet, sinking motor fishing vessels Andrewina (or Andrew Ina), 50 tons; Good design, 40 tons; Jane Stewart, 15 tons; Janet Ovenstone, 15 tons, Johan, 49 tons; Speedwell, 11 tons; Spero Mellora, 11 tons; and Volunteer, 15 tons. Also sunk is drifter Renown, 61 tons. Voigt's score is now 22 vessels and 3,499 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, commanding U-35, begins his epic patrol with the sinking of Italian freighter SS Dandolo, 4,977 tons, en route from Calcutta to Livorno with an unnamed cargo. This brings his score to 49 ships and 112,634 tons.

British paddle steam minesweeper HMS Majestic II, 408 tons, founders off Oran.



German East Africa:
0727 British monitor HMS Mersey once again opens fire on Saadani village, with a seaplane calling the fall of shot.
0755 Mersey ceases fire.
0900 Mersey gets underway southward to Bagamayo, arriving at 1145.
1400 Mersey is underway again.
1500 Mersey joins light cruiser HMS Talbot.
1745 Talbot and Mersey anchor in Zanzibar Harbour, joining Fleet Auxiliary Trent, whalers Childers and Echo, and colliers Queen Alexandra and Virent.

HMS Severn is still at Mkwaja, hosting operations by Dickson's Scouts.

[Sailor Steve]

July 29, 1916

Western Front:
Hand-to-hand fighting north and north-east of Pozieres and High Wood.

Two German attempts to recapture Delville Wood fail.

Activity south of Ypres and in Loos salient.

Political, etc.
German note to American Ambassador in Berlin rejects British offer to permit passage of American foodstuffs to Poland.

Duke of Devonshire appointed Governor-General of Canada.



Air War:
1215 Scottish pilot George Reid and English observer Laurence Henry Scott, in FE.2d A22, shoot down a Rumpler two-seater. Victory number 4 for Reid, number 1 for Scott.

1400 Irish RFC pilot Sidney Cowan, in DH.2 6000, shoots down a Roland C.II for victory number 3.

German pilot Hartmuth Baldamus, in a Fokker E.III, downs a Caudron G.4 for victory number 5. This is possible Farman MF.11 2118, SLt Boisson and Brigadier Vermillet.

German pilot Paul Hoppe, in a Fokker E.III, shoots down a Farman in flames for victory number 1. MdL Albert Divry and SLt Henri Santrot are both killed.

French pilot René Alphonse Pelissier and observer Paul Constant Homo, in a Caudron two-seater, shood down an eindecker for victory number 1.

German ace Franz Walz, flying a Fokker E.III (or possibly a two-seater) shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 6.



Mediterranean Sea:
Walter Forstmann, commanding U-39, sinks Itlalian freighter SS Letimbro, 2,210 tons, bound from Benghazi for Syracuse; and sailing vessel Rosarina G.V., 131 tons. His score is now 97 ships and 244,211 tons.

Greek freighter SS Mina, 2,357 tons, sinks following a collision with Italian freighter SS Attualta, nine miles east of Gibraltar.



German East Africa:
Dodoma is occupied by the British.

British light cruiser HMS Challenger blocks Lindi Harbour while a seaplane reconnoiters the area.

Light cruiser HMS Talbot spends almost three hours (0710-1000) firing on the village of Bagamoyo. At 0800 a seaplane drops bombs. German machine-gun fire hits one of the airmen.

[Sailor Steve]

July 30, 1916

Western Front:
Combined Allied advace north of Somme, from Delville Wood to the river.

British make progress east of Waterlot Farm and Trones Wood; French reach outskirts of Maurepas.

German attack on left bank of the Meuse repulsed.



Eastern Front:
In the direction of Kovel and in the region south of the Dniester towards Stanislau, Russians still pursue Austrians.



Southern Front:
Austrian attack in Tofana and the Adige Valley repulsed.

Austrians reinforced, attakc three times in the Travignolo Valley without success.



Air War:
No. 3 Wing RNAS has first combat as part of a combined French/British force. Four Farmans, 1 Nieuport, 2 Sopwith bombers and 1 fighter.
https://www.overthefront.com/over-th...ly-anticipated

1030 German pilot Hermann Göring, flying a Halberstadt D.II, shoots down a Caudron for victory number 3. This is Göring's first kill in a fighter, his first two coming in two-seaters. It also seems to be the first victory for the new German biplane fighter.

German aces Walter Höhndorf and Kurt Wintgens, both in Fokker E.IVs, attack a formation of eight Martinsyde G.100s on a bombing mission. Each shoots down one aircraft, giving Höhndorf victory number 11 and Wintgens number 12. Lt Eric Rowland Farmer, flying G.100 7304, is captured. 2nd Lt Leslie Norris Graham, in 7471, is wounded and taken prisoner.

French ace Maxime Lenoir and pilot Lt Brindejonc share a victory over Fokker eindecker. Number 6 for Lenoir, unknown for Brindejonc.

French-American pilot Gervaise Raoul Lufbery, flying a Nieuport with N.124, the "Escadrille Americaine", shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 1.

German pilot Hugo Stöber, in a Fokker E.III, shoots down A Farman for victory number 2. The French crew are said to have escaped unharmned.



North Sea:
British freighter SS Claudia, 1,144 tons, bound from Middlesbrough for London with a load of steel and general cargo, hits a mine laid by Kurt Ramien in UC-1. Three lives are lost. Ramien's score is now 10 ships and 20,504 tons.



Gulf of Bothnia:
Kurt Albrech, commanding UB-36, begins his career with two captures: Swedish briganting Anna, 172 tons, travelling from Höggarn to Raumo, Finland with a load of ore and empty petrol casks, is stopped and scuttled off Raumo. Swedish steam coaster SS Pitea, 644 tons, bound from Sweden for Raumo, is taken as a prize. Albrecht's opening score is 2 ships and 816 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, in U-35, sinks four ships:
British freighter SS Britannic, 3,487 tons, bound from Tyne for Alexandria with a load of coal.
British freighter SS Ethelbryhta, 3,084 tons, carrying a load of hay from St Louis du Rhône to Salonica.
Tunisian sailing vessel Giuseppe Marta, 111 tons, cargo and route unknown.
Danish freighter SS Katholm, 1,324 tons, travelling from Newport to Malta with a load of coal.
All four are sunk with the deck gun. Von Arnauld's score is now 53 ships and 120,640 tons.



Adriatic Sea:
Italian patrol boat (ex-whaler) Ponente, 74 tons, is lost following a collision with Clio.



German East Africa:
British occupy Kikombo.

British flagship, battleship HMS Vengeance, joins operations against Dar-Es-Salaam.
0719 Cruiser HMS Hyacinth opens fire on observation station near Ras Upanga.
0741 Vengeance opens fire on lookout station near Kurasini.
0800 Shore battery opens fire on Hyacinth. Hyacinth weighs anchor and moves around, still firing.
0855 Vengeance weighs anchor and gets underway.
0858 Shore battery opens fire on Vengeance.
0900 Vengeance opens fire on shore battery.
0920 Armed whaler Pioneer opens fire on Ras Upanga. Tender Manica sends up an observation balloon.
1023 Hyacinth ceases fire and puts to sea.
1030 Vengeance ceases fire.
1145 Vengeance underway for return to Zanzibar.
1545 Vengeance, Hyacinth, Pioneer, Fly and Pickle arrive at Zanzibar harbour.

Meanwhile, at Mkwaja monitor HMS Severn opens fire on a group of natives waving a red flag. Firing from 1745 to 1815.



Canada:
Canadian sailing ship Mule, 145 tons, bound from Parrsboro to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia with a load of coal, founders four miles northwest of Prim Point, NS.



United States:
At 0208 hours, on Black Tom Island in New York Harbor, 50 tons of small arms ammunition on Johnson Barge No. 17 explodes, causing further explosions among the 1,000 tons of munitions stored on the island. The blast is felt as far away as Philadelphia. Windows are broken in lower Manhattan, 25 miles away. Some fragments lodge in the Statue of Liberty. The blast was determined to be a deliberate act of sabotage, but the whole truth was not discovered until many years later. One of the results of the blast was the closing of the staircase leading to the Statue of Liberty's torch. It has not reopened since.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Tom_explosion

Black Tom is on the list of largest non-nuclear explosions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larges...ear_explosions

American schooner George E. Walcott, 1,388 tons, travelling from Buenos Aires to New York with a load of uebrach wood, catches fire at Black Tom, New Jersey, and sinks.

American schooner Julia A. Berkele, 160 tons, carrying a load of coal from New York to Nantucket, springs a leak and sinks at Tarpaulin Cove, Massachussets.