100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

27th January 1917

Western Front

British take German position and 350 prisoners near Le Transloy.

Eastern Front

Russians carry enemy positions between Kimpolung and Jacobeny (Bukovina), and take 1,218 prisoners.

Naval and Overseas Operations

S.S. "Artist" torpedoed in a gale by German submarine; crew left to perish.

Political, etc.

Kaiser Wilhelm celebrates his 58th birthday. In the birthday message, he states the German people will obtain peace by the sword.

Ship Losses:

Artist (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 58 nautical miles (107 km) west of the Smalls Lighthouse (51°20′N 7°00′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 35 crew.

[Sailor Steve]

January 27, 1917

Air War:
0945 Six DH.2s contribute to the downing of a German 2-seater:
Frank Billinge, aircraft number unknown, victory number 3.
Charles Edward Murray Pickthorne, A1545, victory number 1.
James Milne Robb, 7937, victory number 1.
Lt G.C. Eccles, A2535, victory number unknown.
Lt T.A. Gooch, 7941, victory number undnown.
Lt L.M. Taylor, 7938, victory number unknown.

1005 English ace Selden Long, in DH.2 A305, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 8. Records are uncertain, but Vzfw K. Lang and Lt M. Brandt were reported killed this day.

1220 German pilot Wilhelm Cymera, in an unknown aircraft, shoots down FE.2b 7666 for victory number 1.

1410 English pilot Frank Neville Hudson, in Sopwith Pup A652, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 1.

German pilot Emil Meinecke, in a Fokker E.III, shoots down a BE.2c for victory number 1.



Celtic Sea:
Wilhelm Werner, commanding U-55, sinks British freighter SS Artist, 3,570 tons, bound from Newport for Alexandria with a load of coal.

British brigantine Waterwitch, 170 tons, travelling from Garston to Fowey, is wrecked at the entrance to Newlyn Harbour, at the tip of Cornwall.



North Sea:
Norwegian freighter SS Skovdal, 607 tons, carrying a load of salt from Middlesbrough to Skien, is wrecked off Farne Island.



Baltic Sea:
German freighter SS Annemaria, 1,708 tons, runs aground off Västervik, Sweden, and breaks in two.



Spain:
Hellmuth Jürst, in U-43, scuttles Norwegian freighter SS Donstad, 699 tons, captured on the 23rd. His score is now 16 ships and 34,168 tons.



Simonstown, South Africa:
Cruiser HMS Hyacinth makes her first post-refit voyage, a short hop from Simonstown to Cape Town.



Durban, South Africa:
Aboard HMFM Trent an inquiry is begun into the grievances of the crew.

[Jimbuna]

28th January 1917

Eastern Front

Taking advantage of the cold weather, Russian troops manage to advance 2 miles against the Germans in Bukovina.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Considerable progress by British on right bank of Tigris south-west of Kut.

Naval

French troopship SS Amiral Magon is torpedoed by German submarine U-39, resulting in 203 deaths.

British government announces it has completed mining operations in a 100-mile zone along the entire German North Sea coast.

Ship Losses:

Alexandra (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea 60 nautical miles (110 km) east of the Longstone Lighthouse, Northumberland by SM UC-31 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but her skipper was taken as a prisoner of war.
Amiral Magon (France) The troopship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Ocean 160 nautical miles (300 km) west of Antikythera, Greece (35°49′N 20°02′E) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 203 lives.
Argo (Norway) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 26 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow) and sank in the North Sea 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) south east of the Inner Dowsing Lightship ( United Kingdom) (53°19′N 0°37′E) with the loss of nine of her crew.
Daisy (Denmark) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) north north west of Cape Ortegal, Spain by SM U-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Egret (Russia) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 26 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow) and sank in the North Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) south west of the Inner Dowsing Lightship ( United Kingdom) (53°16′N 0°35′E).
Foz do Douro (Portugal) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 55 nautical miles (102 km) west of A Coruña, Spain by SM U-43 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Fulton (Norway) The cargo ship was captured in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) north west of Cape Finisterre, Spain by SM U-43 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was scuttled the next day in Corcubion Bay. Her crew survived.
Heimland I (Norway) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 26 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow) and sank in the North sea 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) off the Inner Dowsing Lightship ( United Kingdom) (53°17′40″N 0°36′03″E). Her crew survived.
HMT Jacamar (Royal Navy) The naval trawler collided with another vessel and sank in the English Channel off the Folkestone Lightship ( United Kingdom).
Nueva Montana (Spain) The cargo ship was sunk in the Bay of Biscay off Point Penmarc'h, Finistère, France (47°38′N 5°15′W) by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Perce (United Kingdom) The sailing vessel was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 150 nautical miles (280 km) north east by east of the St Paul Rocks, Brazil by SMS Seeadler ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HM Torpedo Boat 24 (Royal Navy) The torpedo boat collided with a breakwater and sank at Dover, Kent.

[Sailor Steve]

January 28, 1917

Air War:
The Junkers J.I ground attack aircraft makes its first flight. This is an armored all-metal aircraft, with the flying controls activated by push-rods rather than the usual cables. J.I is the military designation for the plane. The Junkers in-house model number is J.4, and it should not be confused with the model J.I monoplane that made its first flight in December 1915.



1045 English pilot John Aspinall, flying FE.2b 7681 with 2nd Lt J.R.M. Miller as gunner, shoots down an Albatros D.I for victory number 2.



North Sea:
Three ships hit mines laid by Matthias von Schmettow in UC-26:
Norwegian freighter SS Argo, 1,261 tons, bound from Hull for Rouen with a load of coal.
Russian freighter SS Egret, 4,055 tons, travelling from Achangelsk for London with a load of timeber.
Norwegian coaster SS Heimland I, 505 tons, carrying a load of coal from Newcastle to Saint Nazaire.
Von Schmettow's score is now 65 ships and 98,182 tons.
Bay of Biscay:
Hans Rose, in U-53, sinks Spanish freighter SS Nueva Montana, 2,039 tons, carrying a load of iron ore from Santander to Tyne Dock. His score is now 9 ships and 28,813 tons.



Hans Nieland, in U-67, sinks Danish freighter SS Daisy, 1,227 tons, travelling from Arzew to Preston with a load of esparto grass. His score is now 13 ships and 10,653 tons.



Spain:
Hellmuth Jürst, in U-43, sinks Portuguese freighter SS Foz Do Douro, 1,677 tons, en route from Lisbon to the UK with a load of pit props. His score is now 16 ships and 35,845 tons.
Jürst also captures Norwegian freighter SS Fulton, 1,034 tons, travelling from Huelva to Nantes with a load of ore, and puts a prize crew on board.



Ionian Sea:
Leading U-boat ace Walter Forstmann, in U-39, topedoes French passenger/cargo ship SS Amiral Magon, 5,566 tons, carrying troops and supplies from Marseilles to Salonica, causing the laus of 203 lives. Forstmann's score is now 141 ships and 289,283 tons.



Bulgaria:
Russian river steamer SS Izmail, 393 tons, travelling the Danube River, is wrecked at Tshoroh Su during a storm.



Cape Town, South Africa:
Old cruiser HMS Hyacinth returns to Simonstown, to take up patrol duties there.



Indian Ocean:
Barque Umvoti (nationality not named), 442 tons, travelling from Port Louis, Mauritius to St. Luce, Madagascar, is wrecked at St. Luce.



Atlantic Ocean:
British schooner Meyric, 198 tons, carrying a load of salt from Cadiz to Pelotas, Brazil, is abandoned at sea.

[Jimbuna]

29th January 1917

Western Front

At Verdun, German forces continue to hold gains on Hill 304, repulsing four French counterattacks.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Progress continued near Kut.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Announcement of laying of New British minefield from Yorkshire to Jutland.

Political, etc.

President Wilson vetoes an immigration bill that would have required a literacy test for arriving immigrants.

Naval radio station at Chollas Heights achieves wireless communication 6000 miles away with Australia.

Allies' flags formally saluted at Athens.

Ship Losses:

Algorta (Spain) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) north west of Ouessant, Finistère, France by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Edda (Sweden) The coaster was sunk in the North Sea (56°00′N 3°40′E) by SM UC-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by Hird ( Norway).
HMS K13 (Royal Navy) The K-class submarine sank in Gareloch with the loss of 32 of the 80 people on board. She was subsequently salvaged, repaired and returned to service as HMS K22.
Punta Teno (Spain) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north west of Spain (44°00′N 7°25′W) by SM U-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Shamrock (United Kingdom) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 115 nautical miles (213 km) north north east of the Longstone Lighthouse, Northumberland by SM UC-31 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Thistle (United Kingdom) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 140 nautical miles (260 km) north east by north of the mouth of the River Tyne by SM UC-31 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

January 29, 1917

Air War:
1030 South African RFC pilot Henry Meintjes, flying Nieuport 17 A311, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 3.

1045 Henry Meintjes wins a fight with an Albatros D.III for number 4.

1050 English observer Alfred Blenkiron, riding in FE.2b A784 with pilot 2nd Lt W. Shirtcliffe, shoots down an Albatros D.II for victory number 2.

French pilots Marcel Hauss and Adj Belin, both in Nieuports, share a victory over a DFW two-seater. Number 5 for Hauss, unknown for Belin.

French pilot Henri Languedoc, in a Nieuport, shoots down an Aviatik two-seater for victory number 3.

German pilot Günther Schuster, in an Albatros D.II, shoots down a Caudron G.4 for victory number 1.



Irish Sea:
British coaster SS Bessie, 180 tons, bound from Preston, England for Castletown, Isle of Man with a load of coal, is wrecked off Douglas Head.



North Sea:
Otto von Schrader, commanding UC-31, stops and scuttles two British trawlers near the mouth of the Tyne River:
Shamrock, 173 tons.
Thistle, 167 tons.
Von Schrader's score is now 14 ships and 9,263 tons.

Herbert Breyer, in UC-32, sinks Swedish coaster SS Edda, 536 tons, bound from Seaham for Halmstad with a load of coal. The crew are rescued by Norwegian freighter SS Hird and taken to Kristiansand. Breyer's score is now 3 ships and 4,435 tons.



Bay of Biscay:
Hans Rose, in U-53, captures and sinks Spanish freighter SS Algorta, 2,117 tons, carrying a load of iron ore and oranges from Sagunto to Tees; southwest of Ushant. His score is now 10 ships and 30,930 tons.

Hans Nieland, in U-67, sinks Spanish freighter SS Punta Teno, 1,042 tons, en route from Santa Cruz de Tenerife to Bordeaux with a load of banabas and onions. His score is now 14 and 11,695 tons.



Spain:
Hellmuth Jürst, in U-43, scuttles British freighter SS Fulton, captured the previous day. His score is now 17 ships and 36,879 tons.

[Jimbuna]

30th January 1917

Western Front

South of Leintrey (Lorraine) French soldiers penetrate to German second line, destroying the garrison and taking prisoners. Further small success south-west of Leintrey.

Eastern Front

Between Tirul swamp and River Aa (Riga) strong German attack succeeds in one sector, 900 Russians taken prisoner.

East of Jakobeny (southern Bukovina) Russians assault and capture important hill fortifications taking over 1,000 prisoners.

Naval

Norway forbids submarines in territorial waters.

Political, etc.

Count Kuno von Westarp, Conservative leader in the Reichstag, states Germany will seek territories and reparations after winning the war.

British Committee on Electoral Reform suggests that women 30 years and up should be given the right to vote.

Germany estimates that due to the blockade and war, food supplies have decreased by 2 million tons of grain compared to last year.

Allied conference is ongoing in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) to help reorganize the Russian military and financial situations.

U.S. Secretary of State Lansing announces normal diplomatic relations with U.S. and Mexico will be resumed immediately.

Ship Losses:

Euonymus (United Kingdom) The fishing smack was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 34 nautical miles (63 km) off Trevose Head, Cornwall (50°30′N 5°31′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Helena and Samuel (United Kingdom) The fishing smack was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) north north west of Trevose Head (51°00′N 5°34′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Marcelle (Belgium) The trawler was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off north west by west of Trevose Head (50°45′N 5°30′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Merit (United Kingdom) The fishing smack was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 20 nautical miles (37 km) north by east of Trevose Head (50°50′N 4°46′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Trevone (United Kingdom) The fishing smack was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) north west of Trevose Head (50°50′N 5°30′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
W.A.H. (United Kingdom) The fishing smack was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 32 nautical miles (59 km) north west of Trevose Head (50°46′N 5°38′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Wetherill (United Kingdom) The fishing smack was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 25 nautical miles (46 km) north north west of Trevose Head (50°50′N 5°30′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

January 30, 1917

Celtic Sea:
Wilhelm Werner, commanding U-55, sinks a British fishing fleet with his deck gun, just north of Cornwall:
Smack Euonymus, 60 tons.
Smack Helena And Samuel, 59 tons.
Smack Merit, 39 tons.
Smack Trevone, 46 tons.
Smack W.A.H., 47 tons.
Smack Wetherill, 46 tons.
Also sunk is Belgian trawler Marcelle, 219 tons.
Werner's score is now 17 vessels and 25,433 tons.



Norway:
Norwegian schooner Nora, 65 tons, carrying a load of salt and empty barrels from Kristiansund to Lofoten, is wrecked near Bjugnskjær.



Pacific Ocean:
Japanese freighter Gishun Maru, 3,860 tons, departs Seattle for Yokohama with a load of steel plates plus general cargo, and is not heard from again.

[Jimbuna]

31st January 1917

Western Front

the Ancre near Beaucourt and west of Serre German attacks fail.

Total of German prisoners taken by British in France during January is 1,228, including 27 officers.

Eastern Front

East of Jakobeny Germans attack three times by night against previous lost positions, but are repulsed with heavy loss.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Germany declares to all neutrals "Unrestricted naval warfare", i.e. within the war zone, German submarines will sink both combatant and neutral shipping at sight from 1 February.


Political, etc.

Kaiser Wilhelm orders the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare on February 1st.

Germany announces that the traffic of British hospital ships between Great Britain, France and Belgium will no longer be tolerated. The false reason assigned is misuse of the Red Cross.

U.S. closes New York City harbor to all shipping upon receiving news of the German note. Other neutral nations’ ports do the same.

Former President Roosevelt states the German declaration makes “murder on the high seas” a German national policy and urges U.S. action.

Report shows that in France, women cannot fill labor shortages caused by the war, and so factories will need to adopt labor-saving devices.

Ship Losses:

Dundee (Canada) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 10 nautical miles (19 km) west of St Ives, Cornwall (50°22′N 5°36′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Epsilon (Netherlands) The cargo ship was sunk in the English Channel 0.75 nautical miles (1.39 km) south of St Anthony's Lighthouse, Cornwall, United Kingdom (50°08′N 5°01′W) by SM UC-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Famiglia (Italy) The cargo ship was captured in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Hebrides, United Kingdom by SM U-43 ( Kaiserliche Marine). A prize crew was placed aboard. They scuttled the ship on 9 February when intercepted by HMS Moldavia ( Royal Navy).
Hekla (Norway) The coaster was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of the Wolf Rock, Cornwall, United Kingdom by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ida Duncan (United Kingdom) The tug struck a mine laid by UC 32 (Herbert Breyer) and sank in the North Sea off Middlesbrough, Yorkshire (53°39′00″N 1°07′15″W) with the loss of six of her crew.
HMML 197 (Royal Navy) The motor launch was lost on this date.
Modiva (Norway) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 47 (Paul Hundius) and sank in the North Sea 14 nautical miles (26 km) south east of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire (53°46′N 0°17′E) with the loss of three of her crew.
Ravensbourne (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine, set by SM UC-31, and sank in the North Sea 8 nautical miles (15 km) south east of the mouth of the River Tyne (54°56′N 1°14′W) ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.
Rigel (Norway) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) north west of Cape Villano, Spain by SM U-43 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Saint Léon (France) The schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 12 nautical miles (22 km) north north west of the Pendeen Lighthouse, Cornwall (50°21′N 5°48′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Yvonne (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Pendeen Lighthouse by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

MERCHANT SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 211 ships of 380,000 tons gross. (Lloyd's War Losses).

[Sailor Steve]

January 31, 1917

Air War:
French pilot Georges Madon, flying a Nieuport, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for victory number 5. German crew are unknown, but Ltn Walter Stephan and Wilhelm are reported killed this day.



Ireland:
His Majesty's Motor Launch ML-197, 37 tons, runs aground near Balynacourty Lighthous, near Waterford.



Irish Sea - Bay of Biscay:
Norwegian freighter SS Norheim, 1,403 tons, departs Glasgow for Bayonne, France, with a load of coal and is not heard from again. Ten lives lost.



Celtic Sea:
Hans Rose, commanding U-53, sinks Norwegian coaster SS Hekla, 524 tons, bound from Oporto for Cardiff with a load of pit props, near Wolf Rock off the west end of the English Channel. His score is now 11 ships and 31,464 tons.

Wilhelm Werner, in U-55, sinks three Allied ships:
Canadian freighter SS Dundee, 2,290 tons, travelling in ballast from London to Swansea.
French schooner Saint Leon, 230 tons, route and cargo unlisted.
French dandy Yvonne, 87 tons, en route from Lannion to Cardiff. Werner uses his deck gun, but doesn't identify the vessel. Yvonne is listed as missing until records are compared after the war.
Werner's score is now 20 vessels and 28,040 tons.



English Channel:
Dutch freighter SS Epsilon, 3,211 tons, carrying a load of maize from Buenos Aires to Amsterdam, hits a mine laid just off Falcouth Bay, Cornwall, by Ralph Wenninger in UC-17. His score is now 40 ships and 23,009 tons.



North Sea:
British freighter SS Ravensbourne, 1,226 tons, bound from Tyne for London with a load of coal, hits a mine laid off the River Tyne by Otto von Schrader in UC-31. His score is now 15 ships and 10,490 tons.

British tug Ida Duncan, 139 tons, travelling in ballast from Middlesborough to Tees Bay, hits a mine laid off Middlesborough by Herbert Breyer in UC-37. His score is now 4 vessels and 4,574 tons.

Norwegian freighter SS Modiva, 1,276 tons, en route from West Hartlepool to Rouen with a load of coal, hits a mine laid off Flamborough Head by Paul Hundius in UC-47. His score is now 6 ships and 8,455 tons.

Spain:
Hellmuth Jürst, in U-43, stops and scuttles Norwegian freighter SS Rigel, 2,671 tons, carrying a load of coal from Newport, Wales to Lisbon. His score is now 18 ships and 39,550 tons.

[Catfish]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

31st January 1917
[...]
Germany declares to all neutrals "Unrestricted naval warfare", i.e. within the war zone, German submarines will sink both combatant and neutral shipping at sight from 1 February.

Political, etc.
Kaiser Wilhelm orders the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare on February 1st. [...]

This is a bit more difficult.

1. The "unrestricted naval warfare" from the german side was declared for two times, to be abandoned again sooner or later.

2. "Unrestricted naval warfare" was exercised by british warships and their submarines from day one, whithout "declaring" it, throughout the war.

3. German "unrestricted naval warfare" was limited to certain declared zones around the british isles, not everywhere. So a neutral ship carrying contraband with course set on e.g. Liverpool within english territorial waters could only now be attacked without warning. During the other time neutral ships were stopped, hailed, and searched. Only if carrying contraband, would it be seized, or sunk. Usually letting the crew leave the ship beforehand, and in numerous cases towing the lifeboats to near coasts.

The german idea of an "unrestricted naval war" was born under the impression of the british blockade and the resulting famine, but also caused by incidents like with the british Q-ships or U-boat traps (e.g. the Baralong incident but there were others), military ships camouflaged as neutrals flying false flags, abusing passenger ships as troop ships and arms transports, and the alleged misuse of red cross ships for military purposes.

Apart from trying to keep the US out of the war, the german "unrestricted naval warfare" in WW1 was 'undermined' by most german U-boat commanders, who just did not follow orders, and kept hailing and stopping ships even during those times.
Interesting enough, the tonnage sinking during the "restricted" warfare "yielded" more results, than within the unrestricted intervals.
You realyl have to cut them some slack, they did a relatively good job. While the arming of merchant ships and the use of Q-ships rendered the internationally-signed prize regulation useless, the U-boat commanders stubbornly clung to it, even during the time of the "unrestricted intervals". For all exceptions, fails and propaganda, the german U-boats were much more "humane" than their reputation in the Entente papers wanted their people to believe.
Again, while the english Navy lead an unrestricted naval war right from the beginning, without declaring it, and without trying to justify or limit it. War, is war.

Not so Germany though. But the german high command, politics and Kaiser were simply unable to communicate the german conduct of warfare, to the US.
No doubt Entente propaganda played a big role here, but also german diplomats were reluctant to explain that publicly, because the german people were angry about war and famine, and demanded a harsh response. For them England had declared the war, and they did not understand any reluctance in retaliation.

Very well explained in the book "Die U-Boote des Kaisers" from 2001, with lots of paperwork and evidence in the attachments.

[Jimbuna]

1st February 1917

Western Front

Near Wytschaete Germans in white overalls attack British positions, but are beaten off with heavy casualties.

Near Grandcourt (Somme) strong enemy attempt to rush British trenches driven off.

North-east of Gueudecourt (Somme) British raid enemy trenches, taking 56 prisoners.

Eastern Front

15 miles south of Halicz (Galicia) Germans in white overalls break through Russian lines but are ejected by counter-attack.

Russian forces west of Riga are able to check German advances through the use of armored cars.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Near Kut, east of the Tigris-Hai junction, British capture all but last line of Turkish trenches, taking 166 prisoners, and repulsing a strong counter-attack.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Dutch S.S. "Gamma" attacked and sunk by German submarine. Dutch Government request an explanation.

Political, etc.

German Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg: “We stake everything and we shall be victorious.”

Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare. 105 U-boats are ready for action.

Germany's manifesto to sink all ships in the War Zones, taking effect today, causes temporary suspension of neutral sailings. The press of U.S.A. takes bellicose view.

Norway forbids foreign submarines to use her waters.

Austria-Hungary also announces it will also intensify its naval actions in the Mediterranean.

Ship Losses:

Ada (United Kingdom) The fishing smack was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) north north west of Trevose Head, Cornwall by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Butron (Spain) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Bay of Biscay 90 nautical miles (170 km) off Punta Galea, Biscay (44°53′N 3°52′W) by SM U-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Essonite (United Kingdom) The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) north north west of Trevose Head (50°35′N 5°04′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of ten crew.
Gamma (Netherlands) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Land's End, Cornwall (51°08′N 6°56′W) by SM UC-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by Vondel ( Netherlands).
Ida Duncan (United Kingdom) The tug foundered in Tees Bay with the loss of six of her crew.
Inverlyon (United Kingdom) The fishing smack was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 15 nautical miles (28 km) north by west of Trevose Head (50°47′N 5°05′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Jerv (Norway) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) north of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, United Kingdom (54°16′N 0°09′E) by SM UC-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Portia (Norway) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 47 (Paul Hundius) and sank in the North Sea off Flamborough Head (53°45′N 0°19′E). Her crew survived.
Sainte Hélène (France)The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 21 (Reinhold Saltzwedel) and sank in the Bay of Biscay 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) off the La Coubre Lighthouse, Charente-Maritime. Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

February 1, 1917

Air War:
1420 Irish RNAS observer Eric Bourne Coulter Betts, riding in Sopwith 1½ Strutter 9417 with pilot Flt Lt Holden, shoots down an Albatros D.II for victory number 1.

1600 German ace Manfred von Richthofen, in a Halberstadt D.II, shoots down BE.2d 6742 for victory number 19. Lts William Murray and Duncan John McRae are both mortally wounded, and die the next day.

About 1600 I spottted, flying with Leutnant Allmenröder, at 1,800 metres altiturde, an artillery flyer. I managed to approach him within 50 yards apparently unnoticed in my Halberstadt machine. From this distance, up to only the length of a plane, I fired 150 shots.
The enemy plane then went down in large, uncontrolled right-hand curves, pursued by Allmendöder and myself. The plane crashed into the barbed wire of our front lines. The occupants were both wounded and were made prisoners by the infantry. It is impossible to remove the plane.
-Manfred von Richthofen, combat report

1600 German pilot Werner Voss, in an Albatros D.II, shoots down DH.2 A2614 for victory number 4. Cpt Albert Peter Vincent Daly is wounded and taken prisoner.

Australian RNAS pilot Roderic Dallas, in Sopwith Triplane N5436, shoots down an LVG two-seater for victory number 7.

German pilot Walter Göttsch, flying an Albatros D.II, shoots down FE.2d A1951 for victory number 5. 2nd Lts W.A. Reeves and F.H. Bronskill are both taken prisoner.
Walter Göttsch then shoots down FE.2d A28 for number 6. 2nd Lt E.D. Spicer and Cpt C.M. Carbert are both killed.

German pilot Friedrich Mannschott, in an Albatros D.II, shoots down a Voisin pusher for victory number 4.



Irish Sea:
British trawler Fanny, 235 tons, departs Fleetwood, England for Scottish fishing grounds, and is not heard from again. Believed sunk by U-boat, but no German claims match the vessel. Lost with all ten crew.



Celtic Sea:
Wilhelm Werner, commanding U-55, sinks three British vessels just north of Cornwall:
Fishing smack Ada, 24 tons; scuttled.
Smack Inverlyon, 59 tons; deck gun.
Coaster SS Essonite, 589 tons, bound from Carnarvon for Rochester with a load of stone.
Werner's score is now 23 vessels and 28,712 tons.

Friedrich Moecke, in UC-46, torpedoes Dutch freighter SS Gamma, 2,115 tons, en route from New York to Amsterdam with a load of linseed cake. His score is now 10 ships and 16,457 tons.



English Channel:
Claus Lafrenz, in UB-18, attacks British sailing vessel Wellhome, 113 tons, north of Ouistreham, France. According to Der Handelskrieg mit U-Booten, by Arno Spendler, Wellhome was sunk, but according to Lloyd's only damaged.



North Sea:
Herbert Breyer, in UC-32, torpedoes Norwegian freighter SS Jerv, 1,112 tons, travelling in ballast from Rouen to Tees, north of Flamborough Head. His score is now 5 ships and 5,686 tons.

Norwegian freighter SS Portia, 1,127 tons, carrying a load of coal from Sunderland to Bilbao, hits a mine laid off Flamborough Head by Paul Hundius in UC-47. His score is now 7 ahips and 9,582 tons.

Norwegian freighter SS Knongshavn, 1,254 tons, en route from Newcastle to Rouen with a load of coal, is lost following a collision with SS Jane near the Downs.

Swedish freighter SS Scandinavic, 3,072 tons, travelling from Galveston to Christiania with a load of cotton and seed cakes, is wrecked off Westray, the Skerries.



Bay of Biscay:
Hans Nieland, in U-67, stops and scuttles Spanish freighter SS Butron, 2,434 tons, carrying a load of Iron from Bilbao to Cardiff. His score is now 15 ships and 14,129 tons.

French freighter SS Sainte Helene, 2,128 tons, en route from Port Talbot to Bordeaux with a load of coal, hits a mine laid off the Gironde Estuary near La Coubre by Reinhold Saltzwedel in UC-21. His score is now 30 ships and 46,633 tons.



New Guinea:
Wooden coaster SS Misima, 302 tons, travelling from Northeast Papua to Samarai with a load of island produce, is wrecked off East Cape, Papua.



Guatemala:
Wooden coaster Pilot, 279 tons, departs Salina Cruz for Ocus and is not heard from again.

[Jimbuna]

2nd February 1917

Western Front

Fighting on the Western Front is limited to small engagements as intense cold weather hampers troop movements.

Eastern Front

East of Kalutsem high road, (west of Riga) Germans launch several attacks, repulsed.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Off Anatolian coast Russian warships sink 18 small Turkish vessels.

Bruges harbour bombed by British naval airmen.

Political, etc.

Bill is introduced in the U.S. Senate for the construction of 100 new submarines.

Norway institutes coal rations in order to combat shortages caused by the war.

Around 50,000 American volunteers are fighting for the Allies, with around 40,000 in the British Army.

Stambul University proposes German Emperor as recipient of Nobel Peace Prize.

Appeal to nation for food economy by Lord Davenport.

Ship Losses:

HMT Cotsmuir (Royal Navy) The naval trawler foundered in the North Sea with the loss of all thirteen crew.
Elikon (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of Cape Penas, Spain (43°44′N 6°16′W) by SM U-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Gabrielle (France) The cargo ship was sunk in the English Channel 25 nautical miles (46 km) west north west of Cap d'Antifer, Seine-Maritime by SM UB-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Garnet Hill (Russia) The four-masted barque was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Ireland (51°10′N 11°40′W) by SM U-45 ( Kaiserliche Marine). A German crew member was taken on board U-45.
HMT G.S.P. (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was lost on this date.
HMT Holdene (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 11 (Benno von Ditfurth) and sank in the North Sea east of the Shipwash Lightship ( United Kingdom) (52°01′N 1°54′E) with the loss of seven of her crew.
Isle of Arran (United Kingdom) The full-rigged ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 100 nautical miles (190 km) south of the Old Head of Kinsale, County Cork (50°15′N 7°05′W) by SM UC-45 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Loch Broom (United Kingdom) The four-masted barque was sunk by German submarine SM U-81 ( Kaiserliche Marine) at 50°10′N 10°10′W
Odin (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 20 nautical miles (37 km) north of the Créac'h Lighthouse, Ouessant, Finistère, France by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew.
Pomoschnick (Russia) The brigantine was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Songdal (Norway) The four-masted barque was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Ireland (50°10′N 10°15′W) by SM U-81 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

February 2, 1917

Air War:
1415 Canadian RFC pilot Harold Hartney, flying FE.2d A1960 with Lt H.R. Wilkinson as obserber, shoots down a Halberstadt D.II for victory mumber 4.

1425 German pilot Paul Bona, in an Albatros D.II, shoots down FE.2b 7705 "Montreal No 4" for victory number 2. Lts R.T. Whitney and T.G. Holley are both taken prisoner.

1425 German pilot Friedrich Mannschott, in an Albatros D.II, shoots down a Voisin pusher for victory number 5.

1450 English pilot James McCudden, in DH.2 7858 and Major A.W. Gratten-Bellew, also in a DH.2, share the downing of a German two-seater. Victory number 3 for McCudden.

1530 German pilot Hans Gutermuth, in an Albatros D.II, shoots down DH.2 A2750 for victory number 1. Lt H. Blythe is mortally wounded.

German ace Hartmuth Baldamus, flying an Albatros D.II, shoots down a Farman two-seater for victory number 11. Lt de Landrain and S/Lt Berger are listed as Missing In Action.

German pilot Fritz Kosmahl, flying an unidentified aircraft with FA-261, shoots down Sopwith Pup N5191 for victory number 4. 2nd Lt W.E. Traynor is killed.



Celtic Sea:
Erich Sittenfeld, commanding U-45, stops and scuttles Russian barque Garnet Hill, 2,272 tons, bound from Tocopilla, Chile for Liverpool with a load of nitrate. One German citizen is taken aboard U-45 from a lifeboat. Sittenfeld's score is now 11 ships and 14,328 tons.

Wilhelm Werner, in U-55, stops and scuttles Russian brigantine Pomoschnick, 167 tons, en route from Portimas to Liverpool, southwest of Fastnet. His score is now 24 ships and 38,879 tons.

Raimund Weisbach, in U-81, stops and scuttles Norwegian barque Songdal, 2,090 tons, bound from Buenos Aires for London with a load of maize. His score is now 9 ships and 23,944 tons.

Friedrich Moecke, in UC-46, stops and scuttles British sailing ship Isle of Arran, 1,918 tons, carrying a load of maize from Buenos Aires to Le Havre, south of Ireland. His score is now 11 ships and 18,375 tons.



English Channel:
Hans Rose, in U-53, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Odin, 1,045 tons, travelling from Barry to Lisbon with a load of coal, northwest of Creach Lighthous, Ushant. His score is now 12 ships and 32,499 tons.

Heinz Ziemer, in UB-23, torpedoes French freighter SS Gabrielle, 1,410 tons, en route from Swansea to Caen. His score is now 7 ships and 10,940 tons.
This is Ziemer's last sinking. He survives the war and leaves the service on November 6, 1919, but nothing else seems to be known of him.

British drifter GSP, 100 tons, is lost following a collision southwest of Plymouth.



North Sea:
His Majesty's Trawler Holdene, 274 tons, hits a mine laid off the Shipwash Lightvessel by Benno von Ditfurth in UC-11. His score is now 6 ships and 10,319 tons.

British trawler/minesweeper HMT Cotsmuir, 243 tons, departs River Tyne for River Humber and is not heard from again.



Bay of Biscay:
Hans Nieland, in U-67, sinks Greek freighter SS Elikon, 1,166 tons, west of Cape Penas, Spain. His score is now 16 ships and 15,295 tons.



Alboran Sea:
Italian passenger liner SS Luisiana, 4,983 tons, runs aground near Almeria, Spain.



Durban, South Africa:
While HMFM Trent was briefly at sea things had calmed down, but now back in port there are four men listed as absent.