100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

8th June 1915

Western Front

French hold all Neuville St. Vaast, and make progress in the "Labyrinth" at at Hebuterne.

Eastern Front

Stanislau recaptured by Austrian forces.

Naval

St George's Channel area
Admiralty collier (and two schooners) sunk by U.35 (Waldemar Kophamel) off The Smalls:

STRATHCARRON, 4,347/1912, Strathcarron SS Co, Glasgow-reg, sailing Barry for Truro with coal. Torpedoed by U.35, 60 miles W of Lundy Is, off Devon.

Due to the war in Europe, U.S. Navy cancels plans to send the Atlantic Fleet through the Panama Canal on July 4th.

Russia begins salvaging operations of the Ottoman cruiser Mecidiy after it was sunk outside of Odessa.


Political, etc.

Ministry of Munitions Bill amended.

Mr. Bryan, U.S. Secretary of State, resigns. Mr. Lansing succeeds.

King Ludwig of Bavaria promises to extend Germany “beyond the old frontiers as far as is necessary to secure it against future attack.”

The health of Greek King Constantine improves after he was critically ill during the last few days.

An Austrian citizen attempts to kill Italy’s Consul General in New York, but is stopped by police.

U.S. government increases surveillance of the German wireless station at Sayville, Long Island.

Ship losses:

A. W. Perry ( Canada): The cargo liner ran aground at Chebucto Head, Nova Scotia. All 175 people on board were rescued but the ship was declared a total loss. She was on a voyage from Boston, Massachusetts to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Express ( United Kingdom): The schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 44 nautical miles (81 km)south west of the Smalls Lighthouse by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
La Liberté ( France): The schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) west of Lundy Island, Devon, United Kingdom by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Strathcarron ( United Kingdom): The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) west of Lundy Island (51°50′N 6°10′W) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Susannah ( United Kingdom): The schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) south south west of the Smalls Lighthouse (50°55′N 5°35′W) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

June 8:

"We are now in tents. Great news about Warneford, isn't it? He certainly deserves a V.C. Am going to fly a Nieuport to-morrow."
-Harold Rosher, letter to his father, June 8th, 1915

Celtic Sea: Waldemar Kophamel, commanding U-35, stops and scuttles British sailing vessel Express, 115 tons. Next is French sailing vessel La Liberte, 302 tons, carrying a load of coal from Swansea to Bougie. He then torpedoes the British freighter SS Strathcarron, 4,347 tons, bound from Barry to an unlisted destination with a cargo of coal. Finally is the sailing vessel Susannah, 115 tons, also carrying coal from Preston to Thuro. This brings Kophamel's score to 11 ships and 13,991 tons.



German East Africa: At 0550 hours Short Folder 122 makes another recon flight, returning to HMS Laconia at 0728.

At 0700 the tug Blackcock brings a supply of armour plates to HMS Mersey, whose crew are still busy installing them and readying her guns.

[Jimbuna]

9th June 1915

Eastern Front

German attacks repulsed in the Shavli district.

Austro-Germans pressed back to right of the Dniester.

Southern Front

Italians occupy Monfalcone (Isonzo front).

Naval and Overseas Operations

Mediterranean
SCHIEHALLION, Admiralty trawler, 198/1903, Aberdeen-reg A905, Grampian Steam Fishing, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.352, Skipper Thomas Barlow RNR. Mined and sunk, no other details; no lives lost.

Adriatic Sea
Dublin, light cruiser, Chatham-class, 6,000t, 8-6in/4-3pdr/2-21in tt, based at Brindisi from 5/15, Capt Kelly, steaming at high speed with strong escort of French and Italian destroyers off N Albanian coast. Torpedoed by Austrian submarine U.IV (Rudolph Singule) near San Giovanni di Medua, soon worked up to 17kts, got back to Brindisi, but out of action for some time; 13 ratings lost.

British steamer Colonian flies the American flag for 40 hours to ward off German submarines and arrives safely at Boston.

Political, etc.

Prime Minister Asquith announces in the House of Commons that British casualties are 258,069 as of March 31st.

British Admiralty announces that U-Boat prisoners will not be singled out. They will be treated in the same way as other German prisoners.

Canada announces intention to raise a further 35,000 men.

Robert Lansing is made the interim Secretary of State of the U.S..


U.S. sends a diplomatic note to Germany concerning the submarine warfare.

Ship Loses:

Britannia ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-2 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Cardiff ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 90 nautical miles (170 km) north east by east of Spurn Point, Yorkshire by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by the trawler Vulture ( United Kingdom).
Castor ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 80 nautical miles (150 km) north east by north of Spurn Point by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Edward ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 48 nautical miles (89 km) east by south of Lowestoft by SM UB-2 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Erna Boldt ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Thames Estuary 0.5 nautical miles (930 m) north east by east of the Sunk Lightship ( United Kingdom). Her crew survived.
J. Leyman ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 100 nautical miles (190 km) east by north of Spurn Point by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Lady Salisbury ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Thames Estuary 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) north of the Sunk Lightship ( United Kingdom) with the loss of three of her crew.
Laurestina ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) south east of Lowestoft by SM UB-2 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Qui Vive ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 48 nautical miles (89 km) east by south of Lowestoft by SM UB-2 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Schiehallion ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the Dardanelles.
Svein Jarl ( Norway): The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 75 nautical miles (139 km) south east of the Longstone Lighthouse (56°40′N 0°40′W) by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of twelve crew.
Tunisian ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 95 nautical miles (176 km) north east by north of Spurn Point by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Welfare ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) east south east of Lowestoft by SM UB-2 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

June 9:

Washington: President Wilson sends a second note to the German Ambassador.
http://www.rmslusitania.info/primary.../us-protest-2/

Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan, believing that the President is moving towards war, resigns. Wilson replaces him with State Department counselor Robert Lansing, who has supported Wilson's stance toward Germany.



North Sea: Constantin Kolbe, commanding U-19, sinks Norwegian freighter Svein Jarl, 1,135 tons, carrying a load of coal from Warkworth to Kirkenes. His score is now 23 ships and 4,355 tons.

Otto Wünsche, in U-25, stops and sinks Trawlers Cardiff, 163 tons; Castor, 182 tons; J. Leyman, 197 tons; and Tunisian, 211 tons. This brings his score to 9 ships and 2,208 tons.

Werner Fürginger, in UB-2, starts his career with a very small fleet of fishing smacks: Britannia, 43 tons; Edward, 52 tons; Laurestina, 48 tons, Qui Vive, 50 tons; and Welfare, 45 tons.



Adriatic Sea: Rudolf Singule, in Austrian u-boat U-4, torpedoes HMS Dublin, 5400 tons. the damaged cruiser makes it safely back to port.



German East Africa: The complete crew of HMS Mersey debark HMFM (His Majesty's Fleet Messenger) Trent and board their own ships. Both monitors cast off and Trent departs Mafia Island for Tirene bay to stock up on fresh water. Trent returns at 1820 and the monitors are again tied up to the liner.

[Jimbuna]

10th June 1915

Western Front

German artillery fire and heavy fog slow the French advance north and south of Arras to a standstill.

Eastern Front

Austro-Germans driven back near the Dniester at Zurawno.

Naval and Overseas Operations

North Sea
Two torpedo boats, ex-Cricket-class coastal destroyers, c400t, 1907, 26kts, 2-12pdr/3-18in tt, 35 crew, serving with Nore Local Defence Flotilla. Sailed from Harwich at midnight on the 9th, on patrol off Thames estuary, searching for reported submarines with three other TB’s and five destroyers; both mined, laid by UC.11 (Walter Gottfried Schmidt) two days earlier.

TB.12, ex-Moth, Lt Edward Bulteel, near the Sunk LV at 1530 when there was a large explosion under her bows, believed torpedoed at the time (He/un – confirmed mined). Stayed afloat as other TB's came to her rescue, crew abandoned her when TB.10 came alongside, taken in tow, but now TB.10 suffered an explosion and sank. Trawler took over the tow of TB.12, assisted by destroyer Cynthia, progressed slowly while the TB gradually settled, sinking at 1055 (presumably on the 11th) in 51.44.40N 01.26E. Lt Bulteel and 22 ratings lost.
TB.10, ex-Greenfly, Lt-Cdr John McLeod RN. Alongside TB.12, trying to take her in tow, then believed torpedoed herself at 1610 and broke in half, the two halves rising vertically before sinking off the Sunk LV (He/un – confirmed mined); 22 ratings lost, one more DOW.

British Admiralty announces that 6409 men have lost their lives in the Royal Navy.

German U-Boat activities continue unabated, as 11 British ships are sunk in the last 24 hours.

Anglo-French take Garua (Cameroons).

Political etc.

Guglielmo Marconi, inventor known for his work on the radio, helps the Italian army intercept Austro-Hungarian messages.

79,946 British women have registered with the government for war work, but only 1,916 women have been given jobs.

Due to inadequate interment facilities, 9000 Germans and 4000 Austro-Hungarians of military age are still in London.

Diplomats from the Allied countries in Bucharest request the Romanian government to make its stance in the war clearer.

Ship Losses:

Dania ( Russia): The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 55 nautical miles (102 km) north by west of the Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, United Kingdom by SM U-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Intrepid ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 60 nautical miles (110 km) south east of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-2 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Medusa ( Regia Marina): The Medusa-class submarine was torpedoed and sunk in the Adriatic Sea off Porto di Piave Vecchia, Veneto by SM UB-15 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HM Torpedo Boat 10 ( Royal Navy): The torpedo boat struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of 22 of her crew.
HM Torpedo Boat 12 ( Royal Navy): The torpedo boat struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of 23 of her crew.
Thomasina ( Russia): the full-rigged ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 49 nautical miles (91 km) south south east of Roche's Point Lighthouse, County Cork, United Kingdom by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

[Sailor Steve]

June 10:

North Atlantic, Outer Hebrides: Konrad Gansser, commanding U-33, sinks Russian freighter Dania, 2,648 tons, bound from Cardiff to Archangelsk with a cargo of coal. This brings his score to 5 ships and 7,476 tons.



Celtic Sea, off southern Ireland: Waldemar Kophamel, in U-35, sinks Russian sailing ship Thomasina, 1,869 tons, traveling from Liverpool to Pensacola in ballast. His score is now 12 ships and 15,860 tons.



North Sea: Werner Fürbinger, in UB-2, stops and scuttles British fishing smack Intrepid, 59 tons, bringing his total to 6 ships and 297 tons.



Adriatic Sea: Heino von Heimburg, in UB-15, torpedoes Italian submarine Medusa. This is von Heimburg's and UB-15's only sinking.



German East Africa: HMS Hyacinth spends the morning in target practice - target towed by the tug Revenger.

Some of the crew of HMS Mersey are still putting up armour plate, while others are setting up furniture and loading provisions aboard.

[Jimbuna]

11th June 1915

Western Front

French advance five furlongs on a front of 1.25 miles and repulse a strong counter-attack south of Hebuterne (south of Arras).

Eastern Front

Austrians lose 16,000 prisoners at Zurawno.

Russian troops in Galicia, reinforced by fresh soldiers, launch a counteroffensive & drive German and Austrian forces across the Dniester.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Second American Note on the "Lusitania" published.

Aviation

North Sea – First-ever use of reconnaissance seaplanes with battlefleet at sea: Sopwith Baby seaplanes from HMS Campania observe movements of ‘hostile’ squadrons in British Grand Fleet exercises.



Political, etc.

Mr. Lloyd George speaks at Bristol on munitions.

Canadian Shell Committee declares Canada could manufacture 50,000 artillery shells a day if Britain puts in the orders.

General Ricciotti Garibaldi and his three sons enlist in the Italian army.


Bernhard Dernburg, official spokesman for Germany in the U.S., leaves the country and returns to Germany.


Greek Premier Gounaris, in his first speech since taking office, states the country would only enter the war if the outcome was clear.

Anti-German riots have plagued Moscow for the last 2 days after rumors circulated that Germans poisoned the water.

Ship Losses:

Arndale ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the White Sea with the loss of three of her crew
Dovey ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of nine of her crew.
Otago ( Sweden): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) east by north of Coquet Island, Northumberland, United Kingdom by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Plymouth ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 67 nautical miles (124 km) north east of Spurn Head, Yorkshire by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Waago ( United Kingdom): The trawler was scuttled in the North Sea 80 nautical miles (150 km) north east by north of Spurn Point by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

June 11:

Anthony Fokker takes possession of his company's new prototype, upgraded from the original 7-cylinder 80-horsepower Oberusel U.0 to the new 9-cylinder 100-hp U.I.



North Sea: Constantin Kolbe, commanding U-19, torpedoes and sinks Swedish freighter SS Otago, 1,410 tons, bound from Hamsund to Hull with a cargo of timber. He then captures and sinks the British trawlers Plymouth, 165 tons, and Waago, 154 tons. Kolbe's score is now 26 ships for 6,084 tons.

SS Otago, built 1882





German East Africa: The entire crew of HMS Mersey spend the day taking aboard ammunition from HMFM Trent.

[Jimbuna]

12th June 1915

Eastern Front

Austro-Germans cross the Dniester at Kolomea.

Germans attack north of Shavli, north of Przasnysz, on the Bzura and at Mosciska (Galicia).

Southern Front

Italians make progress in the Carnic Alps.

Austro-Hungarian troops evacuate and destroy Fort Pozzachio near Rovereto in the face of the Italian advance.

Malborghetto bombarded.

Naval

North Sea
DESABLA, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 6,047/1913, Bank Line, Glasgow-reg (wi - Admiralty oiler transport No 63, presumably Y7.63), Mr F Cowley, Port Arthur for Hull with linseed/oil (wi - crude oil). U.17 (Hans Walther) sighted astern overtaking rapidly, started shelling continuously from 0720, engines stopped and crew abandoned ship by 0820 during which time the U-boat stood-by. Torpedo fired at 0830, but as she refused to sink, a boarding party placed explosive scuttling charges, by 1230 the submarine had submerged and Desabla was sinking fast 12 miles E of Todhead Point, S of Stonehaven, Kincardine (L - 38 miles ENE of May Is, Firth of Forth; te - 15 miles E of; wi - 13.5 miles ESE of Stonehaven, in 56.54.54N, 01.47.18W); survivors picked up by armed trawlers at 1530.

Political, etc.

Great Britain informs Germany through the U.S. Ambassador that submarine prisoners are now treated as ordinary prisoners.

German military permits light alcoholic beverages when water is of objectionable quality, but forbids schnapps and other strong drinks.

Japan resumes its export of ammunition and arms supplies to Russia, as its dispute with China was resolved.

Ship Losses:

Bellglade ( Norway): The sailing vessel was sunk in the Irish Sea off St. Ann's Head, Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom (50°55′N 6°35′W) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Cocos ( Denmark): The three-masted schooner was stopped and sunk in the North Sea (56°40′N 1°24′W) by SM U-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Crown of India ( United Kingdom): The four-masted barque was shelled and sunk in the Irish Sea 70 nautical miles (130 km) west south west of St. Ann's Head (50°55′N 6°35′W) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Desabla ( United Kingdom): The tanker was torpedoed, shelled, and sunk in the North Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km; 40 mi) off Montrose, Forfarshire by SM U-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Leuctra ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) south east by south of the Shipwash Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM UB-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

June 12:

Mr Homer H. Ladd of Watertown, Massachussetts sends a telegram to President Wilson concerning British Leyland liner Colonian flying the United States flag from May 30-June 2. Mr Ladd receives confirmation of telegram and note that it will "be brought to the attention of the President." This begins a series of letters between Ladd and interim Secretary of State Robert Lansing concerning British violations of neutral rights.
https://books.google.com/books?id=0n...201915&f=false

Note the ad at the bottom of the article for German war bonds.



Air War: French pilot Jean Chaput, flying a Caudron two seater with an unnamed observer, is credited with the downing of Fokker M.5 monoplane. This was almost certainly unarmed, as the two armed Fokkers were both still being used as demonstrators. The M.5s were popular at the time as fast scouts.



Celtic Sea: Waldemar Kophamel, commanding U-35, sinks two more freighters - Norwegian sailing ship SV Bellglade, bound from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Sharpness with a load of timber; and large British four-masted barque SV Crown Of India, heading from Barry to Pernambuco with a load of coal. His score now stands at 13 ships and 16,524 tons.



North Sea: Hans Walther begins his career in U-17 by stopping and sinking the Danish three-masted schooner Cocos, 85 tons, travelling from Christiania to Leith with a cargo of timber. Walther then torpedoes British tanker SS Desabla, 6,047 tons, en route from Port Arthur to an unnamed destination.



After nine days without a victory Hans Valentiner and UB-16 sink British steamer SS Leuctra, 3,027 tons, inbound from Rosario to Hull with a load of Linseed. This is Valentiner's first real ship and brings his score to 4 vessels and 3,225 tons.

This is probably a separate patrol since the UB-1 class are small coastal boats with a listed range of 650 miles at 5 knots, which comes to only five days at sea.




German East Africa: The entire crew of HMS Mersey are now living onboard their own ship. The gunner's party is engaged in installing and testing voice pipes from the bridge to different compartments.

At 0845 the crew of HMS Severn board their ship and begin to work at erecting armour plating. At 1650 Severn casts off from HMFM Trent and conducts steam trials. At 1815 the monitor ties up to the collier Kendal Castle.

[Jimbuna]

13th June 1915

Western Front

French repulsed at Souchez.

Success of the French south-east of Hebuterne.

Eastern Front

Austro-Germans attack successfully from the San to Mosciska.

Russian counter-attack on the Styr and Tysmienice.

Germany launches a large offensive against Russia on the San and the Dniester Rivers.

Naval

Atlantic off SW England
PELHAM, collier (wi - Admiralty collier transport No.604), 3,534/1906, Thompson SS Co, Sunderland-reg, 26 crew, Malta for Barry Roads in water ballast. U.35 (Waldemar Kophamel) appeared on the surface half a mile away, opened fire, ship turned away and went to full speed but hit repeatedly, engines stopped and ship abandoned. Germans placed bombs which sank her sometime after 1545, 30 miles NW of the Scillies (L - 30 miles N of; wi - in 50.16N, 06.55W; survivors picked up by drifter Our Allies, landed in Newlyn on 16th at 0145.

Political, etc.

Former Pres. Roosevelt criticizes the U.S. government over the Lusitania incident, stating the situation called for “not words but deeds.”

Germany begins preparing for a winter campaign as fur garments are manufactured for the army.

Heinz Hardenberg, member of the German aviation corps, is arrested in Cincinnati on suspicions of being a spy.

Greece: General election; Venizelists win 193 out of 316 seats.

E.M. House, President Wilson’s personal representative to Europe, leaves London with important messages and reports.


Zbigniew Dunin-Wasowicz, leader of the Polish Legions fighting for Austria, is killed at the Charge of Rokitna.


Ship Losses:

Diamant ( France): The barque was sunk in the Irish Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) west of Lundy Island, Devon, United Kingdom by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Hopemount ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Irish Sea 70 nautical miles (130 km) west by south of Lundy Island by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Pelham ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) north west of the Isles of Scilly (50°16′N 6°55′W) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Queen Alexandra ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Tod Head, Aberdeenshire.

[Sailor Steve]

June 13:

Air War: Anthony Fokker demonstrates the new 100-hp armed fighter at Stenay for a crowd which includes Crown Prince Wilhelm.



At 0610 hours Austro-Hungarian pilot Max Libano and Bohemian-born observer Otto Jindra, in an Albatros B.I, bring down a Morane-Saulnier 'L' parasol. it is the first victory for both. Ten minutes later they repeat the performance.



Celtic Sea: Waldemar Kophamel, commanding U-35, finishes his third war patrol with the sinking of a French barque, Diamant, 324 tons, sailing in ballast from St. Milo to Swansea; and two more British freighters - SS Hopemount, 3,300 tons, bound from Cardiff to Alexandria with a load of coal; and Pelham, 3,354 tons, travelling in ballast from Malta to Barry. His score now stands at 17 ships and 25,716 tons.



German East Africa: The tug T.A. Joliffe brings more armour plate to HMS Mersey. HMS Severn offloads 54 tons of fuel oil to collier Kendall Castle. the crew spend the day putting up armour plating.

[Jimbuna]

14th June 1915

Western Front

Belgian troops cross the Yser River to support French attack in the Arras battle.

Eastern Front

Russians fall back towards Grodek line (Lemberg).

German forces under General Von Mackensen break the Russian lines along a 43 mile front and advances towards Lviv.

Southern Front

Italian forces continue their advance along the Gulf of Trieste, while the Italian Navy successfully blockades the Adriatic.

Naval

Atlantic off NW Scotland
India, Admiralty armed merchant cruiser, 10th CS, heading for Clyde to coal. Torpedo fired at her in 59.20N, 07.52W, missed.

Ship Losses:

Davanger ( Norway): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 16 nautical miles (30 km) west north west of the Flannan Islands, Outer Hebrides, United Kingdom (58°20′N 8°10′W) by SM U-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

Colley O'Donnel Grattan, whole-plate glass negative, 14 June 1915.

[Sailor Steve]

June 14:

Atlantic Ocean, north end of Scotland: Konrad Gansser, commanding U-33, captures and sinks with the deck gun Norwegian freighter SS Davanger, 2,256 tons, bound from Liverpool to Arkhangelsk with a general cargo. His score is now 6 ships and 9,732 tons.



German East Africa: At 0230 hours HMS Weymouth records a hard rain squall passing through.

At 1615 hours the rain has passed and HMS Laconia hoists out Short 122 for another recon flight. The plane suffers another engine failure, and at 1745 a motorboat is sent to help. At 2215 the boat returns with the seaplane in tow.

The crew of HMS Mersey spend the day putting up more steel plates.

HMS Severn casts off from collier Kendal Castle and anchors on her own. Her crew then resume putting up their own armour plate.

[Jimbuna]

15th June 1915

Western Front

French airmen bomb Karlsruhe.

British take, but fail to hold, German front line trench east of Festubert.

Eastern Front

German advance on right bank of San.

Austrian and German armies capture Mostyska from Russian forces on their advance towards Lviv.

Aviation

Zeppelin raid on north-east coast.


Political, etc.

Prime Minister Asquith admits the word “coalition” for the new cabinet has an unpleasant flavor, but was necessary due to the war.

House of Commons votes for another £250 million credit (£152.4 billion today) for the war.

Ship Losses:

Argyll ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 12 nautical miles (22 km) east south east of Harwich, Essex with the loss of seven of her crew.
Strathnairn ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Bristol Channel 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) west of Ramsey Island, Pembrokeshire (50°16′N 6°37′W) by SM U-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 21 crew.