100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

April 17:

"Very little news of interest to tell you, but here goes for what there is. My Morane parasol was ready to-day and Babington tested it. If the weather is fne to-morrow, I shall float forth on it into the "ethereal blue." Not having flown a monoplane before, I am all of a "doo-da."

Yesterday I went out to see the War at N____. Though a fine day, the Bosches were not bombarding, so we went around in peace, and I brought back a few shell fragments with me, which you may find interesting. For the rest, our miserable lives continue much as before. The Frenchmen here have lost a machine to-day, but the R.F.C. brought down an Aviatik at Wipers (Ypres), so that makes us all square."
-Harold Rosher, letter to his father, April 17, 1915



Air War: Pilot Fernand Maximillian Leon Jacquet and observer Henri de Vindevoghel, in a Farman HF.20, bring down an Albatros two-seater. Vindevoghel fires seven rounds from his Lewis gun at a range of 30 yards, hitting the German pilot, Offizierstellvertreter Wilhelm Wohlmacher. Wohlmacher manages to land the plane safely before dying, allowing observer Hauptmann Bogislav von Hayden to be captured. This is the first aerial victory for a Belgian aircrew.



North Sea: Karl Groß in UB-4 sinks the Greek freighter Ellispontos, 2989 tons, bound from Amsterdam to Montevideo with an unlisted cargo. His score is now 2 ships and 8,929 tons.



Durban, South Africa: At 1100 hours HMS Laconia hoists Short Type 81 'Folder' S.122 aboard. At 1300 she takes aboard Folder S.119.



Short 81 'Folder' S.64 being hoisted aboard HMS Hermes, July 1913

[Jimbuna]

18th April 1915

Western Front

German attacks repulsed at Hill 60.

Eastern Front

Russians repulse attacks in the Carpathians.

Russian forces state they have captured 70,000 Austro-Hungarian prisoners in the last three weeks of fighting in the Carpathians.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Union forces occupy Seeheim (German south-west Africa).

Frontier raid repulsed on the northern border of Peshawar valley.

The USS New Orleans is sent to Baja California to investigate claims that the Japanese are attempting to establish a base there.

Aviation

Flying a B.E.2c, Royal Flying Corps pilot Lanoe Hawker attacks the German Zeppelin sheds at Gontrode, Belgium, destroying a brand-new shed and shooting down a nearby Drachen observation balloon. He will be awarded the Distinguished Service Order for the action.


A member of the German Bahnschutzwache, or Railway Protection Guard, shoots down the well-known French airman Roland Garros in his flight over German positions in Flanders, France, on a bombing raid.


Political etc.

Germany places 10 captured British officers in solitary confinement as reprisals for the treatment of German submariners by the British.

General von Bissing, military Governor of Belgium, dissolves the Belgian Red Cross and puts relief work under German control.

Industrialist Henry Ford dismisses rumors that he might run for President on the Republican ticket for 1916.

Ship Losses:

Vanilla ( United Kingdom): The trawler hit a mine and sunk in the North Sea 53 nautical miles (98 km) east by south of the Inner Dowsing Lightship ( United Kingdom) with the loss of nine of her crew. The location matches a minefield laid by the German cruisers Straslund and Strassburg on April 17, 1915.

[Sailor Steve]

April 18:

Roland Garros of France shoots down his third victim, an unidentified German two-seater.

Later the same day Garros lands behind German lines and is captured in the act of trying to burn his plane. The Morane is captured relatively intact and handed over to Idflieg. There seems to be the usual controversy over the cause of Garros' forced landing, the two main claims being a clogged fuel line and a bullet fired from the ground. Neither theory is substantiated, and Garros himself seems to have left no comments behind.



North Sea: Max Valentiner, commanding U-38, takes as a prize the Norwegian freighter SS Brilliant, 1,441 tons, travelling from Fredrikstad to London with a load of timber.



Durban, South Africa: At 0800 HMS Laconia hoists Short Folder S121 aboard. At 1652 Laconia departs Durban for the Rufiji Delta.



Red Sea: Hellmuth von Mücke and his men are halfway through their slow journey from Jeddah to Al Wahj. Every night they anchor among the coral reefs. This is done not with an actual anchor, but by taking the zambuk as close to a reef as possible, at which point two Arab sailors leap onto the reef and drive iron hooks directly into the coral. The coast on this journey is mostly unpopulated, but stopping among the reefs is preferable to the risk of another attack should they spend the night ashore.

[Jimbuna]

19th April 1915

Western Front

German retirement in Alsace.

Fighting for Hill 60.

Sir John French denies that the British have made use of poison gas.

Southern Front

Austrians bombard Sep (near the Iron Gates).

Naval and Overseas Operations

North Sea
MAYFAIR, naval motor boat No.1, hired 1914, Lt Edward Martin RNVR. Darkened and on patrol in Firth of Forth, W of Inchkeith in approaches to Rosyth, spotted at 2033 by also darkened and patrolling torpedo boat TB.32 which put engines full astern and helm hard a starboard, but hit Mayfair the starboard side, sinking her; no lives lost, all crew picked up by TB.32’s boat(s). Mayfair continued to be listed until 1919, either a clerical error or she was possibly salvaged.

off NW Scotland
RHODESIA (1), Admiralty trawler, 155/1899, Hull Steam Fishing & Ice, Hull-reg H443, hired 1/15 as auxiliary patrol vessel, Admiralty No.1215, Skipper Philip Marr RNR (wi - A Gibson, Captain). Wrecked near Stornaway, Isle of Lewis (He/wi - on Obb Rock, S of Tulm Is, South Harris, in 57.41.20N, 06.20.40W); no lives lost.

Germans evacuate Keetmanshoop (German south-west Africa).

British and French troops begin leaving the island of Lemnos, the staging area for the upcoming Gallipoli Campaign.


Japan recalls all of its warships that were stationed in Pacific Waters near the American coast.

Political, etc.

A German Prisoner captured by the British states that Germany has been testing the use of poison gas on the Western Front.

Germany expresses regret for sinking of "Katwyk".

Enver Pasha, War Minister of the Ottoman Empire, declares this is a “war of the Turkish people.”

Baron Herbert de Reuter, managing director of Reuter, commits suicide at his home in Reigate, England.

Ship Losses:

HMT Rhodesia ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler was lost on this date.
Tweed ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground at Sea Mills, Gloucestershire. She was refloated but then sank in the River Avon whilst being taken to Bristol.

[Sailor Steve]

April 19:

"I have flown my Morane twice. It is a most comic affair, but I think I shall like it when I get more used to it. It is very light on the controls, especially the elevator, and gets off the ground before you san say "squeak". Garros was missing last night, and there has since been a rumour that his is a prisoner of war. This is, of course a nasty knock for us."
-Harold Rosher, letter to his father, April 19, 1915



German East Africa: HMS Hyacinth is patrolling the area south of Rufiji, investigates the bays of Keonga and Tunghi.

HMS Kinfauns Castle spends the day anchored at the north end of Niororo Island, reports 78-degree temperature but rain storms all day long.

HMS Weymouth is patrolling between Niororo and the Rufiji delta.

[Jimbuna]

20th April 1915

Western Front

British forces gain 3 miles in Ypres, which represents the greatest gain they had since last autumn.

Germans bombard Reims and Ypres.

Germans retake Embermenil (Lorraine).

Eastern Front

Austrians repulsed near Gorlitse.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Turks lay siege to Van (Armenia).

Naval and Overseas Operations

Union forces defeat the Germans at Kebus (north of Keetmanshoop).

Anglo-French troops take Mandera (Cameroons).

Aviation

Flying a reconnaissance mission along the border with Mexico in a Martin T biplane, First Lieutenant Byron Q. Jones and Lieutenant Thomas D. Milling become the first United States Army aviators to come under enemy fire during a flight when Mexican forces open fire on them.
http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasPer...Over-Texas.htm

Political, etc.

Mr. Asquith at Newcastle denies that military operations have been hampered by lack of munitions.

Correspondence between Great Britain and U.S.A. on the "Peklat" case published.

President Wilson announces that U.S.A. hopes to share in restoration of peace.

Ship Losses:

Merwede ( United Kingdom): The dredger sank at Rosyth, Ayrshire.
SMS S21 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The V1-class destroyer collided with SMS Hamburg ( Kaiserliche Marine) and sank in the North Sea with the loss of 36 of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

April 20:

Bombay, India: HMS Chatham reports that at 2100 hours shore batteries open fire on three dhows entering the harbor. At 2200 Chatham turns on her searchlights to aid the batteries' targeting. Last fire is recorded at 2330.



German East Africa: HMS Hyacinth probes into the Lindi River, Kiswere Harbour, Port Pactolus and Kilwa Kisiwani.

HMS Kinfauns Castle is still operating north of Niororo Island.

HMS Weymouth is still patrolling the Rufiji Delta.

[Jimbuna]

21st April 1915

Western Front

Continued fighting for Hill 60.

French take "the Cow's Head", two lines of trenches, near St. Mihiel.

Eastern Front

Russians take Hill 1002, north-east of Lubonia (Carpathians).

German zeppelins raid the town of Bialystok, dropping a hundred bombs and causing several civilian casualties.

Southern Front

Affair between frontier guards on the Austro-Italian frontier.

Naval and Overseas Operations

British and French forces defeat German troops in central Kamerun; German colonial capital is transferred to Jaunde.

Political, etc.

Mr. Lloyd George delivers a speech on the capacity of the country for producing munitions.

Khalil, a young Egyptian merchant who unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate the Sultan of Egypt, is sentenced to death.

Austria-Hungary’s ambassador to Italy sends his family home, anticipating that Italy’s entry into the war is imminent.

Ship Losses:

Ruth ( Sweden): The coaster was sunk in the North Sea 100 nautical miles (190 km) east of the Isle of May, Fife, United Kingdom by SM U-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

[Sailor Steve]

April 21:

North Sea: Just off the entrance to the Firth of Forth, Bruno Hoppe, commanding U-22, stops SS Ruth, 867 tons, bound from Leith to Göteborg with a cargo of coal. The crew is allowed to abandon ship, then Hoppe torpedoes the freighter.



Malta: Captain Eric Fullerton is informed of upcoming plans for the three monitors. HMS Humber will stay at Malta to support the upcoming Dardanelles invasion. HMS Mersey and Severn are to be towed to the Rufiji Delta to commence operations against SMS Königsberg.



German East Africa: HMS Hyacinth returns to Zanzibar. HMS Kinfauns Castle does the same.

HMS Weymouth, still on station at Rufiji, recoals from SS Cento.

[Jimbuna]

22nd April 1915

Western Front

Second Battle of Ypres begins: town of Ypres largely destroyed; German advance checked by Canadians after French retreat before poisonous gas attack.

Progress by the French near St. Mihiel.

Eastern Front

Russian attacks repulsed on both sides of the Uzsok Pass.

Austrian attack towards Styrj fails.

Southern Front

Anglo-French force landed at Enos.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Resumed bombardment of the forts at Smyrna.

Political, etc.

Lloyd-George states there are now 36 British divisions in France, which totals 750,000 men.

British Admiralty suspends passenger traffic between England and Holland.

U.S. rebukes German accusations that it is favoring the Allies, stating the U.S. will always observe “strict neutrality.”

Ship Losses:

Eva ( Norway): The sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea 170 nautical miles (310 km) north east of the Longstone Lighthouse (56°31′N 3°03′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Oscar ( Norway): The sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea south west of Lindesnes, Vest-Agder (56°31′N 3°03′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
St. Lawrence ( United Kingdom): The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea 88 nautical miles (163 km) east of the Spurn Lightship ( United Kingdom) (54°14′N 3°02′E) by SM U-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.

Gas attack at Ypres

[Sailor Steve]

April 22:

Louis Strange and observer Lt. Hawkins are flying their BE.2c 5,000 feet above Ypres, watching for German artillery fire, when they see an odd yellow-green smoke. Strange drops to 2,000 feet to get a better look. The odd-colored smoke is drifting toward the French lines. Strange lands at Poperinghe where he and Hawkins hitch a ride to 5th Army headquarters and report to General Plummer. What they have witnessed is the first chlorine gas attack ever.



North Sea: Bruno Hoppe in U-22 captures and scuttles the British steam trawler St. Lawrence, 196 tons. His score is now 2 ships and 1,053 tons.

Max Valentier in U-38 sinks two Norwegian sailing ships - Eva, 312 tons and Oscar, 766 tons. Both are travelling to Granton carrying pit props.



German East Africa: HMS Kinfauns Castle rejoins HMS Weymouth at Niororo Island.

[Jimbuna]

23rd April 1915

Western Front

Second Battle of Ypres: German attack east and west of St. Julien repulsed by Canadians; Germans take several hamlets.
Canadian Expeditionary Force counterattacks against the German advance in Ypres; cloths drenched in urine are used to counter the gas.


Southern Front

Turkish coast bombarded by Allied fleet in the Gulf of Saros.

Naval and Overseas Operations

British Government declares a blockade of the Cameroons.

White Book on military operations in Togoland published.

Political, etc.

German Navy claims it has “carried out many cruises in the North Sea, navigating as far as English waters” without seeing the Royal Navy.

Sir Edward Grey presides over a conference of the French, Russian, Italian and Serbian ministers.

Ship Losses:

Fråck ( Russia): The coaster was scuttled in the Baltic Sea off the Flöttjan Lighthouse (59°51′N 19°36′E) by SM U-26 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

April 23:

Western Front: The previous day's gas attack has forced a retreat of British and Canadian troops at Langenmarck. While covering the withdrawal with his machine gun Lance Corporal Frederick Fisher is killed. Fisher is the first Canadian to recieve the Victoria Cross while serving in the Canadian Army.



Baltic Sea: Egewolf von Berchheim, commanding U-26, scores his second victory when he captures and scuttles The Russian steamer Fråck, 849 tons. His first was the sinking of the cruiser Pallada with all hands back in November. His score is now 8,624 tons.



Aegean Sea: Legendary war poet Rupert Brooke dies from an infected mosquito bite while waiting with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force for the Gallipoli landings. He is buried on the island of Skyros.



German East Africa: HMS Laconia anchors off Niororo Island at 0740. SS Reichenfels delivers stores for the three seaplanes, which are hoisted overboard and tested by Lt. Cull and his pilots.

[Jimbuna]

24th April 1915

Western Front

Second Battle of Ypres: Germans take St. Julien: French and Belgians recover Lizerne: 3rd Canadian brigade withdrawn.
The German Fourth Army resumes the assault at Lizerne and Saint-Julien. Before dawn, a cloud of chlorine gas floats over the trenches held by Franco-Belgian and Canadian troops. Though some collapse, the vast majority hold the line, delivering a withering fire against the Germans.
http://www.cwgc.org/ypres/content.as...en&menu=subsub

Eastern Front

Austrians capture Ostaij, height south-east of Kosziowa.

Naval and Overseas Operations

North Sea
Undaunted, light cruiser, Arethusa-class, 4,400t, 3rd DF leader and Landrail, destroyer, L-class, c1,300t, 3-4in/1-12pdr/4-21in tt, 3rd DF, Harwich Force sailed on the 23rd with carrier Empress for a seaplane raid on the German coast, good weather lasted until around 0500 on the 24th when dense fogbanks were encountered near the take-off position. During manoeuvres, Landrail hit Undaunted in the engine-room at 18kts holing her badly, Landrail lost 20-30ft of her forecastle, and both had their wireless knocked out, making it difficult to inform Cdre Tyrwhitt in Arethusa. Undaunted made her way home with 3ft of water in the engine-room, Landrail was towed stern-first by destroyer Mentor and then light cruiser Aurora, both having towing-hawsers part twice in rising seas. At 1830 and drifting close to Terschelling on a lee shore, Arethusa, after her own two failed attempts took up the tow and headed for Yarmouth at 4kts, reaching there at 2100 on the 26th, 71 hours after the collision. Two tugs took Landrail to Chatham where repairs took 5 weeks. Their last collision has been exactly one month before, on 24 March!

Nidaros 1024 tons, Danish steamer was taken as a prize in the North Sea by U 38 (Max Valentiner).

Russian Black Sea torpedo boat squadron bombards Ottoman formations on the coast and routs them.

Fighting round Kilimanjaro (German East Africa).

Dardanelles: The Allied fleet of two hundred ships carrying the invasion force sets out from Lemnos with troops headed to three destinations: the Royal Naval Division to the Gulf of Saros, the Anzac force to Imbros, and the British and French troops to Tenedos.
http://www.anzacsite.gov.au/1landing/nbeach1.html

Political etc.

Christakis-Zografos, Greek Foreign Minister, states Greece will aid the Allies in the war if it was asked to do so.

Secretary Bryan announces he will not issue passports to Americans going to Europe for tourism.

The French ambassador to Russia writes of Rasputin's "disgusting orgy" at a restaurant and claims that "without assistance from above he would have never been able to get out of it so cheaply".

[Sailor Steve]

April 24:

"Spenser Grey and Marsden paid a visit to Ostend to-day with bombs, and Sippe was turned upside down on the ground in a Morane by a gust of wind this afternoon. He was unhurt, but the machine was badly damaged."
-Harold Rosher, letter to his father, April 24, 1915



North Sea: Max Valentiner in U-38 takes as a prize the Danish steamer SS Nidaros, 1,024 tons. No credit is given, as Valentiner was later forced to release his prize.



German East Africa: HMS Hyacinth returns from Zanzibar to Niororo Island. HMS Kinfauns Castle is patrolling the Mafia Channel. HMS Weymouth is patrolling the Rufiji Delta. At one point she secures alongside Laconia, and then receives mail from Hyacinth. HMS Laconia is anchored off Niororo Island. At 0910 she likewise receives stores and mail from Weymouth.



Bombay, India: After several months in Bombay, at 0004 hours HMS Chatham is underway on a return trip to the Rufiji Delta. It was Chatham and her captain, Sidney Drury-Lowe, which first discovered SMS Königsberg in the Rufiji River.



Red Sea: Hellmuth von Mücke and his men are still making their slow journey north, hugging the shoreline and staying behind reefs as much as possible. He reports that the only other vessels they see are Arab fishing and supply boats. The occupants are in the habit of greeting each other with a loud howling noise. The Arabs in the other boats are always surprised when their howls are greeted by more than fifty voices doing the same.