100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

21st January 1918

Western Front

French raid in Argonne.

British bomb Thionville and Metz district and aerodromes in Belgium.

Eastern Front

Germany announces agreement with Ukraine.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Mesopotamia: British bomb Turkish aerodrome at Kifri, north of Baghdad.

Naval and Overseas Operations

War Office reports further progress in East Africa.

British occupy Mwembe.

H.M.S. "Louvain" torpedoed and sunk in Mediterranean.

Political, etc.

Sir Edward Carson, Irish unionist politician, resigns his position on the British War Cabinet, as he opposes plans to conscript the Irish into the British Army.

Austria: Strikes reported at an end.

Ship Losses:

HMS Louvain (Royal Navy) The armed boarding steamer was torpedoed and sunk in the Aegean Sea (37°38′N 24°10′E) by SM UC-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 227 lives.
Maria Caterina (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was shelled and sunk in the North Sea (52°47′N 3°28′E) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all seven crew.
Teelin Head (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 12 nautical miles (22 km) south south west of the Owers Lightship by SM UC-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of thirteen of her crew.
West Wales (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean 140 nautical miles (260 km) south east by south of Malta (34°00′N 16°50′E) by SM U-28 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy) with the loss of two of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

January 21, 1918

Air War:

1150 German pilot Josef Mayer of Jasta 32 killed in action. Victor unknown.

German pilot Günther Gellenthin of Jasta 40 killed in action. Victor unknown.

French pilot Paul Riche and observer Lt Drouet, in a Dorand AR.2, are shot down and taken prisoner. Victor unknown.

[Jimbuna]

22nd January 1918

Western Front

German raids near St. Quentin and La Bassee.

Much British bombing at Roulers, Menin and Courtrai.

Eastern Front

Russian protest against omissions in German report of peace proceedings.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Samaria again bombed.

Political, etc.

French government announces it will cut bread rations, starting on the 29th, due to the need to feed arriving U.S. soldiers.

First meeting of Allied Naval Council in London.

Japan: Prime Minister warns Russia that Japan will intervene in Eastern Asia if necessary.

Resignation of von Seidler (Austrian Prime Minister).

Ship Losses:

Andrea Costa (Italy) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean off Malta by SM U-27 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy).
Anglo-Canadian (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 33 nautical miles (61 km) south of Malta (35°15′N 15°05′E) by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three crew.
Greatham (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) south east of Dartmouth, Devon by SM UB-31 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seven crew.
Manchester Spinner (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 33 nautical miles (61 km) south of Malta (35°15′N 15°05′E) by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Molina (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the English Channel 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) west of St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom (50°34′N 1°29′W) by SM UB-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Serrana (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 10 nautical miles (19 km) west of St. Catherine's Point by SM UB-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five of her crew.
Victor De Chavarri (Spain) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 7.5 nautical miles (13.9 km) north west of Cherbourg, Manche, France (49°48′N 1°45′W) by SM U-90 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

[Sailor Steve]

January 22, 1918

Air War:

1035 English RFC pilot Kenneth Seth-Smith, flying Sopwith Camel B2438, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 4.

1110 English RFC pilot Douglas Graham Cooke and Irish observer henry Crowe, in Bristol F.2b A7256, shoot down an Albatros D.V Victory number 1 for Cooke; number 2 for Crowe.

1115 Douglas Cooke and Henry Crowe shoot down their second Albatros of the day. Victory number 2 for Cooke and number 3 for Crowe.

1117 English RFC observer Cyril Agelasto, riding in Bristol F.2b B883 with Sgt H.O. Smith as pilot, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 3.

1120 Welsh RNAS ace Harold Day, in Sopwith Camel B6371, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 7.

1140 German pilot Richard Plange, flying either an Albatros D.V or a Fokker Dr.I (Jasta Boelcke had a full complement of triplanes by this time but still had some D.Vs in use as well), shoots down Sopwith Camel N6370 for victory number 2. Sub-Lt J.E. Beveridge is killed.

1205 German pilot Theodor Cammann, with Jasta Boelcke in an Albatros D.V or a Fokker Dr.I, shoots down a Bristol F.2b for victory number 2.

1205 German pilot Karl Gallwitz, with Jasta Boelcke in an Albatros D.V or a Fokker Dr.I, shoots down a Bristol F.2b for victory number 1.
(Only one Bristol was lost this day - C4825, 2nd Lt A.R. Paul wounded and taken prisoner, later died from his wounds, and AM2 A. Mann, taken prisoner.)

1235 Irish RFC ace William Molesworth, in Nieuport 27 B6812, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 11.

1245 Canadian RFC pilot George Howsam, in Sopwith Camel B5598, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 3.

1305 German ace Karl Menckhoff, flying an Albatros D.V, shoots down Armstrong-Whitworth FK.8 B3313 for victory number 19. 2nd Lt R. Buchanan is wounded but lands safely. Lt T.G. Mather is unharmed.

1315 George Howsam, now in Camel B2530, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 4.

1355 German pilot Otto Fruhner, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down Sopwith Camel B6426 for victory number 5. 2nd Lt F.W. Dogherty is taken prisoner.

1414 George Howsam, this time in the company of ace Frank Quigley in Camel B5214, shoots down an Albatros D.V. Victory number 5 for Howsam; number 13 for Quigley.

1420 George Howsam and Frank Quigley bring down another Albatros D.V. Victory number 6 for Howsam and 14 for Quigley.

1430 Frank Quigley scores his third kill of the day, this time accompanied by Scottish pilot John Todd in Camel B3890, shoots down yet another Albatros D.V. Victory number 15 for Quigley; number 1 for Todd.

[Jimbuna]

23rd January 1918

Western Front

Germans occupy trenches east of Nieuport (Belgian Coast) after heavy bombardment. French restore position later.

British bomb aerodromes at Courtrai and Ghent.

French raid east of Auberive (Champagne).

Eastern Front

M. Trotsky declares policy of Central Powers to be "a monstrous annexation".

Rioting with much bloodshed in Moscow.

Congress of Soviets meets in Petrograd.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Action between a British submarine and three German submarines reported from Canary Islands.

Political, etc.

Appointment of Sir H. Lawrence to be Chief of the General Staff, France, vice Sir L. Kiggell; other H.Q. appointments announced.

New Army officers to be employed more in staff and higher ranks.

Labour Party Conference meets in Nottingham.

Signor Orlando, Italian Prime Minister, arrives in London.

Leon Trotsky, the Soviet Foreign Minister, decries Central Powers’ demands against Russia to be annexationist. He also accuses Austria-Hungary of simply agreeing to all German demands.

Ship Losses:

Ålesund (Norway) The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 12 nautical miles (22 km) south west by west of St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom (50°28′N 1°33′W) by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of six of her crew.
Birkhall (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Aegean Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south east of Cape Kafireas, Euboea, Greece by SM UC-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
Kerbihan (French Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 67 (Karl Neumann) and sank in the Mediterranean between Pomègues and Cap Croisette, Bouches-du-Rhône (43°14′N 5°19′E).
La Drôme (French Navy) The supply ship struck a mine laid by
UC 67 (Karl Neumann) and sank in the Mediterranean Sea off Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône (43°14′N 5°19′E) by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 26 of her 60 crew.
Portaferry (United Kingdom) The coaster ran aground. She broke up on 3 March and was a total loss.

[Sailor Steve]

January 23, 1917

Air War:

0800 Australian AFC observer Wilmot Hudson Fish, riding in Bristol F.2b A7237 with Cpt S.W. Addison as pilot, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 1.

1500 Canadian RNAS pilot George Anderson, in Sopwith Camel B3940, shoots down a DFW C.V for victory number 5. This is Anderson's last aerial victory. He will survive the war and live until 1958.

1545 German pilot Gustav Wandelt, with Jasta 36, shoots down Sopwith Camel B7184 for victory number 1. Sub-Lt J.E. Youens is taken prisoner. Jasta 36 had been flying Albatros D.IIIs for several months and was in the process of receiving its first Fokker Dr.Is.

1550 Gustav Wandelt scores his second victory, shooting down Camel B5663. Sub-Lt R.A. Blyth is killed. Wandelt himself is killed colliding with a Camel. Whether it is Blyth's aircraft or another whose pilot survived is uncertain.

1650 German pilot Franz Brandt, with Jasta 27, shoots down a Camel for victory number 3.

English RFC ace William Fry, flying SPAD XIII B6847, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 10.

German pilot Emil Meinecke, with FA 6 in Turkey, shoots down a Sopwith 1½ Strutter for victory number 4.

Irish RFC ace Major William Robert Gregory, flying on the Italian Front, crashes to his death in Sopwith Camel B2475. Some sources say he was accidentally shot down by an Italian pilot. Others say he was innoculated for something shortly before this and shouldn't have been flying so soon. W.B. Yeats wrote four famous poems about him. Gregory was 36 years old and left behind a wife and three children.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert...ry_(cricketer)
https://www.historyireland.com/20th-...es-of-1917-18/

[Jimbuna]

24th January 1918

Western Front

Great aerial activity in Flanders.

Courtrai, Ledeghem and Douai bombed.

Air raids into Germany on Mannheim, Treves and Thionville.

French repulse raids north of Aisne river and at Caurieres Wood.

Southern Front

Italians occupy Austrian advanced post at Capo Sile.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Naval aircraft continue to bomb "Goeben".

Enemy post at Pamuni Hill (East Africa) taken.

Political, etc.

British Food Controller Lord Rhondda announces rationing of meat, butter, and margarine will begin February 25.

Ship Losses:

Aghia Arene (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Aegean Sea off Skyros (39°09′N 25°17′E) by SM UC-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Aghios Johannes (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Aegean Sea off Skyros (39°09′N 25°18′E) by SM UC-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Antonios J. Dracoulis (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean off Alexandria, Egypt by SM U-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Apostoles Andreas (United Kingdom) The sailing vessel was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Alexandria by SM U-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Charles (United Kingdom) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the English Channel 16 nautical miles (30 km) south west of the Casquets, Channel Islands (49°30′N 2°45′W) by SM U-90 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of one of her crew. Three survivors were taken as prisoners of war.
Corse (French Navy) The troopship was sunk at La Ciotat, Bouches-du-Rhône by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMS Desire (Royal Navy) The naval tug was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) north east of Filey, Yorkshire (54°57′N 0°35′W) by SM UB-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of ten of her crew.
Elsa (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the English Channel 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) east south east of Dartmouth, Devon, United Kingdom by SM UB-31 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Fylgia (Sweden) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) south east of Bell Rock (56°23′N 2°15′W) by SM UC-49 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew . Fylgia was part of the same convoy as Jönköping II.
Jönköping II (Sweden) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) east nortn east of Bell Rock by SM UC-49 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived. Jönköping II was part of the same convoy as Fylgia. One casualty.
X6 and X110' (Royal Navy) The barges were sunk in the North Sea 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) north east of Filey by SM UB-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of six crew from X6.

[Sailor Steve]

January 24, 1917

Air War:

1120 Canadian RFC ace George Howsam, in Sopwith Camel B5598, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for victory number 6.

1120 Canadian RFC ace Frank Quigley, in Sopwith Camel B2447, shoots down a two-seater for victory number 16.

1130 English RFC pilot William Edward Green, flying DH.4 A2161 with 2nd Lt H.S. Gros as observer, is recorded as shooting down a Fokker Dr.I and an Albatros D.V for victories number 2 and 3.

1130 Two RNAS Sopwith Camel aces share a victory over an Albatros D.V:
Edward Johnstone, England, N6377, victory number 6.
William Jordan, South Africa, N6368, number 14.

1135 Edward Johnstone and William Jordan share a second Albatros for victories 7 and 15 respectively, this time joined by Reginald Leach Johns of England, in Camel N6356, victory number 1.
Note: These Camels were redesignated from RFC to RNAS at some point. In some sources the prefix is 'B' and in some it is 'N'.

1140 Canadian RNAS pilot James Butler White, in Sopwith Camel N6321, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 1.

1200 Irish RFC ace William Molesworth, in Nieuport 27 B1652, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 12.

1230 English RFC pilot James Coombe, in Nieuport 27 B6832, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 4.

1250 Irish RFC pilot George McElroy, in SE.5a B598, shoots down a DFW C.V for victory number 4,

1310 William Molesworth scores his second kill of the day, shooting down another two-seater for number 13,

1335 German pilot Wilhelm Schulz, flying with Jasta 41, shoots down a Dorand AR.2 for victory number 2. Sgt Paul Joubert and S/Lt Dechery are both killed.

1350 German pilot Martin Möbius, with Jasta 7, and RFC pilot A.W. Morley, in SE.5a B4897, collide in combat. Both men are killed.

1420 German pilot Paul Lotz, with Jasta 7, shoots down DH.4 A7912 for victory number 3. Lt J.O. Beattie is killed; AM1 W.J. Belchamber is taken prisoner.

1500 English RNAS pilot Wilfred Sneath, in Sopwith Camel B3821, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 2.

1620 Two RFC Camel pilots destroy an Austro-Hungarian observation balloon over the Italian Front.
William Barker, Canada, B3821, victory number 9.
Harold Byrn Hudson, Canada, B6313, number 1.

1621 Barker and Hudson shoot down a second balloon; Number 10 for Barker, number 2 for Hudson.

[Jimbuna]

25th January 1918

Western Front

East of Loos, Germans make raid after heavy bombardment.

Great Allied air activity: Courtrai, Tournai, Ghent and Douai districts heavily bombed by British and Thionville, Freiburg and Ludwigshafen by French.

Eastern Front

Fight between Romanians and Bolsheviks at Galatz.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Palestine: British bomb troops south of Shechem.

General Allenby's despatch issued.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Unsuccessful bombing of "Goeben" continues.

War Office report progress in East Africa.

Political, etc.

President Wilson cancels all engagements today due to catching a cold.

Ensign Krylenko, acting Soviet Russian Commander in Chief: “We are against the whole world. We shall fight for the revolution, and the revolution alone.”

Germany and Austria-Hungary rejects Allied peace conditions, particularly on the point that Alsace-Lorraine be returned to France.

Ship Losses:

Aghios Dimitrios (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Aegean Sea by SM UC-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Carignano (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea off Stromboli (38°58′N 15°08′E) by SM UC-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Eastlands (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 13 nautical miles (24 km) north west of Île Vierge, Finistère, France by SM UB-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Folmina (Netherlands) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) south east of Sunderland, County Durham, United Kingdom (55°00′N 1°20′W) by SM UB-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Giralda (Spain) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Cape Guardia (41°15′N 9°20′W) by SM U-152 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by Cabo Meñor ( Spain).
Giuseppe O. (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea east of Corsica by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Humber (United Kingdom) The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) east of Sunderland by SM UB-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seven crew.
Normandy (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 8 nautical miles (15 km) east by north of the Cap de La Hague, Manche, France (49°46′N 1°44′W) by SM U-90 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of fourteen lives.

[Sailor Steve]

January 25, 1918

Air War:

1045 German ace Heinrich Arntzen, flying OAW Albatros 2380/17, destroys a French observation balloow for victory number 7.

1045 English RFC pilot Norman Cyril Jones, in Sopwith Camel B6344, shoots down an Aviatik two-seater for victory number 1.

1145 English RFC pilot Percy Wilson, in Sopwith Camel B6363, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 1.

1225 English RFC pilot David John Weston and observer Walter Noble, in Bristol F.2b B1177, shoot down two Albatros D.Vs. Victories number 1 and 2 for both.

1235 German pilot Georg Michaelis, with Jasta 13, shoots down a Dorand AR.1 for victory number 1. Possible victims are S/Lt Auguste Jacob and Adj Jean Jacob, both listed as Missing.

1240 Canadian RFC pilot David McGoun and English observer Cyril Agelasto, flying Bristol F.2b C4836, shoot down two Albatros D.Vs. Victories 2 and 3 for McGoun, 4 and 5 for Agelasto.

1245 English RFC pilot Godfrey Bremridge, in Sopwith Camel B5597, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 3. Gfr W. Schreiber and Offz O. Hass are both killed.

1245 German 1-victory pilot Herbert Werner is killed in combat with Sopwith Camels. No claim was filed, and nothing is known abut the victor.

1250 German ace Otto Kissenberth, with Jasta 23, shoots down a French SPAD for victory number 18. American Cpl Philip Benney dies from his wounds the following day.

1200 German pilot Friedrich Ritter von Röth, in an Albatros D.III, destroys a French observation balloon for victory number 1.

1304 Friedrich von Röth brings down a second French balloon for victory number 2.

1308 Friedrich von Röth shoots down French balloon number e for his third victory.

1315 German pilot Carl Degelow, possibly in a Pfalz D.III, shoots down a Bristol F.2b for victory number 2. Sgt H.O. Smith and 2nd Lt H.S. Clemons are both wounded and taken prisoner.

1315 Two RNAS Sopwith Camel aces share a victory over a Pfalz D.III:
Edward Johnstone, England, N6377, victory number 8.
William Jordan, South Africa, N6369, victory number 16.

1340 English RFC pilot William Lewis Wells and Scottish observer Hugh Fitzgerald Moore, in Bristol F.2b A7236, shoot down an Albatros D.III. Victory number 1 for both.

1415 English RFC pilot Trevor Durrant, flying SE.5a B35, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 2.

1425 English RFC pilot Hugh Elliott and observer Robert Samuel erring, in Bristol F.2b B1187, shoot down an Albatros D.III. Victory number 5 for Elliott; number 1 for Herring.

1430 Two Canadian RFC SE.5a pilots share a victory over an Albatros D.V:
Frank Taylor, C1752, victory number 2.
Harry Ellis Watson, B8235, victory number 1.

1440 South African RFC pilot Hugh William Lumsden Saunders, in SE.5a C9500, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 1.

1515 French pilot Adj Duret (no first name listed), in a SPAD, shoots down an Albatros scout for victory number 1.

1525 English RNAS pilot Miles Day, flying Sopwith Camel N6363, shoots down a Fokker Dr.I for victory number 2.

1735 German ace Heinrich Kroll, in a Pfalz D.III, shots down a Bristol F.2b for victory number 17. During the fight Kroll's Pfalz suffers a serious wing spar failure. Kroll survives the crash unharmed.

German pilot Vfw Amschl (no first name given), with Jasta 31, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 3. This is Amschl's last aerial victory. He will survive the war, but further records are lacking.

French aircrew of Lt Berlioz and S/Lt Gaudy (no first names given), in a Dorand AR.2, claim an Albatros D.III. This is possibly Hermann Reisch (1 victory), who was killed while attacking an AR.2.

German pilot Jon Santjer, with Jasta 26, shoots down DH.4 B2085 for victory number 1. 2nd Lts D.T.C. Rundle-Woodcock and J.H. Holland crash-land safely on their own side of the lines.

[Jimbuna]

26th January 1918

Western Front

Germans report air attack on Dunkirk, Calais and Boulogne.

Extension of British line to south of St. Quentin reported.

Eastern Front

Ukraine declares its complete independence.

Provisional Siberian Government elected by Regional Government at Tomsk.

Southern Front

Austrian attempt at Capo Sile repulsed.

Austrians bomb Mestre and Treviso and damage hospitals.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Turkish attacks near Tafile and Maan repulsed by Hejaz troops.

Naval

German submarines SM U-84, credited with sinking 28 ships, and SM UB-35, credited with sinking 42 ships, are both sunk on the same day.

Ship Losses:

Asimina (Greece) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea off Stromboli, Italy by SM UC-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Athos (Norway) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) east north east of Kettleness, Yorkshire, United Kingdom by SM UB-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
Caterina (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Gulf of Genoa by SM UB-49 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Cork (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 9 nautical miles (17 km) north east of Point Lynas, Anglesey (53°34′N 4°14′W) by SM U-103 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of twelve of the 35 people on board.
Germano (Portugal) The trawler was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Mondego (40°11′N 9°37′W) by SM U-152 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
USS Guinevere (United States Navy) The patrol vessel ran aground in the Bay of Biscay and sank without loss of life.
Hartley (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) north east of Skinningrove, Yorkshire (54°36′N 0°49′W) by SM UB-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Louie Bell (United Kingdom) The schooner was scuttled in the English Channel 15 nautical miles (28 km) north of Cherbourg, Seine-Maritime, France (49°53′N 1°44′W) by SM UB-58 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
May (United Kingdom) The ketch was scuttled in the English Channel 18 nautical miles (33 km) south east of Berry Head, Devon by SM UC-64 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ministro Iriondo (Argentina) The auxiliary schooner was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Toulon, Var, France (43°00′N 5°46′E) by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Rob Roy (United Kingdom) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the English Channel 20 nautical miles (37 km) south west of St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight (50°17′N 1°30′W) by SM UC-64 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Serra do Gerez (Portugal) The trawler was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean (40°04′N 9°36′W) by SM U-152 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SM U-84 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type U 81 submarine was depth charged and sunk in St George's Channel (51°53′N 5°44′W) by USS PC-62 ( United States Navy) with the loss of all 40 crew.
SM UB-35 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UB II submarine was depth charged and sunk in the North Sea (51°03′N 1°46′E) by HMS Leven ( Royal Navy) with the loss of 26 of her 28 crew.
Union (France) The coaster was sunk in the English Channel 7 nautical miles (13 km) north of Sept Îles, Côtes-du-Nord (48°58′N 3°30′W) by SM U-90 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Figaro (France) On a voyage from Brest to Rouen carrying coal, the coaster was sunk, maybe by a mine, certainly after an explosion 3.5 nm SW of Les Hanois Lighthouse, west of Guernsey Channel Islands

[Sailor Steve]

January 26, 1918

Air War:

1335 Australian RFC pilot Cedric Howell, flying Sopwith Camel B4609, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 2.

[Jimbuna]

27th January 1918

Western Front

Treves bombed by British, Conflans and Metz district by French.

Eastern Front

Bolshevik Government breaks off diplomatic negotiations with Romania.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Cunard liner S.S. "Andania" torpedoed off Ulster coast.

Naval aircraft bomb Aertrycke and Engel.

"Goeben" refloated.

Political, etc.

French Food Minister Victor Boret says France will stop importing coffee to free up ships for the transportion of troops and other materials.

U.S. government bans the production of white bread. Instead “Victory Bread,” containing 5-20% of other cereals, must be produced.

Ship Losses:

RMS Andania (United Kingdom) The ocean liner was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea off Rathlin Island, County Antrim (55°20′N 6°12′W) by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seven crew.
Attilio (Italy) The brigantine was scuttled in the Mediterranean off the coast of Liguria by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Carolus (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the English Channel 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) south of Dodman Point, Cornwall, United Kingdom (50°11′N 4°47′W) by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Free to the Core (Belgium) The fishing vessel was sunk in the English Channel (49°42′N 0°32′W) by SM UB-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Julia Frances (United States) The three-masted schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 100 nautical miles (190 km) off Lisbon, Portugal (38°01′N 11°28′W) by SM U-152 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Minnie (Canada) The brig was abandoned in the Bay of Biscay 15 nautical miles (28 km) off the Sisaragas Islands, Spain. Her crew were rescued.
Volonta di Dio (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea west of Sicily by SM UB-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

[Sailor Steve]

January 27, 1918

Air War:

1700 German pilot Hans Weiss, flying with Jasta 41, destroys a French observation balloon for victory number 4.

1730 German ace Fritz Pütter, with Jasta 9, shoots down a French Nieuport for victory number 10. Lt Raoul Belloc is killed.

Two Italian Hanriot HD.1 pilots share a victory over an Austrian "Scout":
Guglielmo Fornagiari,, victory number 5.
Antonio Riva, number 4.

Austrian ace Kurt Gruber, in Phönix D.I 228.24, shoots down a Nieuport fighter for victory number 8.

French ace Georges Madon, in a SPAD, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 21.

American pilot David Putnam, flying for France in a SPAD XIII, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for victory number 2.

[Jimbuna]

28th January 1918

Western Front

Aeroplane raid on London: 67 killed, 166 injured; one enemy machine down.

French make two small attacks in Champagne and one in Upper Alsace.

Air attacks by British on Roulers and other aerodromes.

German raid repulsed between Lens and Arras.

Eastern Front

Heavy fighting between Bolsheviks and Ukrainians at Lutsk.

Romanian Legation ordered to leave Petrograd.

Civil War in Finland: Helsingfors captured by Socialists and Russian troops.

Southern Front

Italians attack between Asiago and Brenta Valley and capture Col del Rosso and 1,500 prisoners.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

War Office reports further operations near Hejaz railway.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Further naval air attacks on Aertrycke and Engel.

H.M.S. "Hazard" sunk in collision in Channel.

Ankwalu (East Africa) occupied by British.

Political, etc.

U.S.A.: Mr. Baker makes statement on strength of Army.

Germany: Great strikes in Berlin, etc.

Ship Losses:

Djibouti (France) The passenger ship was sunk in the Mediterranean 8 nautical miles (15 km) off Cape Bengut, Algeria (37°06′N 3°55′E) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HMS E14 (Royal Navy) The E-class submarine was damaged by the premature explosion of one of her torpedoes. She was forced to surface and was sunk by coastal artilleray off Kum Kale, Turkey with the loss of 21 of her 30 crew. The survivors were taken as prisoners of war.
Elsa (Italy) The barquentine was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea (41°23′N 12°37′E) by SM UB-49 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HMS Hazard (Royal Navy) The Dryad-class torpedo gunboat collided with Western Australia ( United Kingdom) in the English Channel and sank.
Lysa (Italy) The brigantine was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea east of Sardinia (40°44′N 9°50′E) by SM UB-49 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HMML 55 (Royal Navy) The motor launch was lost on this date.
Neptuno (Portugal) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 140 nautical miles (260 km) off Lisbon (37°12′N 11°37′W) by SM U-152 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SM U-109 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type U 93 submarine struck a mine and sank in the English Channel (50°53′N 1°31′E with the loss of all 43 crew.
Urania (Italy) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sardinia (40°15′N 10°26′E) by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
W. H. L. (United Kingdom) The ketch was scuttled in the English Channel 8 nautical miles (15 km) south south east of Portland Bill, Dorset by SM UB-58 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.