100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

April 20, 1917

The United States Navy begins testing their first airship, DN-1. Its first flight is a failure, the engine overheating and siezing. One week later the ship will make its second flight, and be damaged by a towing party. The decision will be taken to stop the program. The DN-1 is a failure, but the Navy will learn much from the fiasco, and soon be building a fleet of airships.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DN-1



Air War:
1458 Canadian RFC ace Billy Bishop, flying Nieuport 23 B1566, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 8.



North Atlantic Ocean, far west of Ireland:
Hellmuth Jürst, commanding U-43, sinks two ships roughly 300 miles west of the Irish coast:
Russian barque August, 1,596 tons, bound from Orange, Texas for Sharpness with a load of pitch pine.
British tanker SS San Hilario, 10,157 tons, carrying a load of petroleum from Mexico to Queenstown.
Jürst's score is now 28 ships and 70,550 tons.

Gerhard Berger, in U-50, sinks British freighter SS Emma, 2,520 tons, heading from Baltimore to Clyde with a load of Maize; 200 miles southwest of Fastnet. His score is now 18 ships and 63,213 tons.

Karlgeorg Schuster, in U-60, sinks British freighter SS Torr Head, 5,911 tons, hauling a general cargo from St. John, New Brunswick to Dublin; 160 miles west-northwest of Fastnet. His score is now 15 ships and 45,210 tons.

Hans Nieland, in U-67, torpedoes British freighter SS Portloe, 3,187 tons, en route from Bougie to Clyde with a load of phosphate; northwest of Fastnet. His score is now 20 ships and 33,861 tons.

Ernst Wilhelms, in U-69, torpedoes British freighter SS Annapolis, 4,567 tons, carrying a general cargo from Halifax to Liverpool; northwest of Ireland. his score is now 15 ships and 42,818 tons.



Ireland:
His Majesty's Trawler Loch Eye, 225 tons, engaged in minesweeping duties, hits a mine laid by Martin Schelle in UC-33, off Hook Point, near Waterford. His score is now 6 vessels and 6,609 tons.



Celtic Sea:
Walter Roehr, in U-84, sinks British freighter SS Malakand, 7,653 tons, en route from Calcutta to Dundee with a load of jute and general cargo; 145 miles west of Bishop Rock. His score is now 19 ships and 54,705 tons.



English Channel:
Egon von Werner, in UC-16, attacks auxiliary motor schooner Q-ship HMS Glen with his deck gun. The vessel is only damaged.



North Sea:
British auxiliar minesweeper HMS Nepaulin, 314 tons, hits a mine laid off the Dyck lightship by Ernst Steindorff in UB-12, bringing his score to 4 vessels and 3,933 tons.

Hugo Thielmann, in UB-16, scuttles Dutch motor fishing vessel Arie, 107 tons, off Egmond aan Zee, bringing his score to 2 vessels and 8,525 tons.



Kurt Bernis, in UC-41, sinks 3 ships:
British freighter SS Ballochbuie, 921 tons, travelling in ballast from Aberdeen to Sutherland; off May Island.
Norwegian freighter SS Ringholm, 705 tons, hauling ammonium nitrate from Bergen to Tonnay Charent; off St Abb's Head.
British Navy trawler HMT Othoona his a mine laid by UC-41 off Fife Ness.
Bernis' score is now 11 ships and 5,327 tons.

Kurt Tebbenjohanns, in UC-44, scuttles two British trawlers near Aberdeen, Scotland:
Erith, 168 tons, off Girdleness.
Grecian, 119 tons, off Longstone.
Tebbenjohanns' score is now 21 vessels and 15,102 tons.

His Majesty's Trawler Ruthin Castle, 275 tons, hits a mine laid off Skinningrove by Rudolf Seuffer in UC-50, bringing his score to 11 vessels and 11,535 tons.



Brittany:
Reinhold Saltzwedel, in UC-21, sinks Greek freighter SS Georgios, 3,124 tons, travelling from Port Kelah to Tees, 11 miles southeast of the La Vielle lighthouse. His score is now 62 ships and 90,642 tons.



Atlantic Ocean:
Hans Walther, in U-52, sinks British freighter SS Caithness, 3,500 tons, west of the Bay of Biscay (130 miles northwest of Cape Ortegal, Spain). His score is now 31 ships and 71,779 tons.

Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, in U-35, attacks three British freighters roughly 100 miles west of Gibraltar:
SS Lowedale, 2,260 tons, en route from Tyne to Tunis with a load of coal and coke.
SS Nentmore, 3,535 tons, carrying a load of wheat from Rosario to Gibraltar.
Passenger liner SS Leasowe Castle, 9,737 tons, is damaged by a torpedo but does not sink.
Von Arnauld's score is now 171 ships and 367,621 tons.



South Africa:
HMFM Trent, with HMS Severn in tow, is having a hard time making progress in the heavy seas and high winds.

[Jimbuna]

21st April 1917

Western Front

British gain ground east of Fampoux (east of Arras).

Eastern Front

Decree of Russian War Minister re: Army.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British capture Turkish front line at Istabulat (evacuated by Turks during night).

Cossacks repulse Kurds on Diala (north-west of Kasr-i-Shirin).

Naval

Two British destroyers are engaged by six German torpedo boats in the Dover Strait. British destroyers suffer damages and two German ships are sunk.

German submarine SM UC-30, credited with sinking 5 ships, hits a mine and sinks with all hands.

Political, etc.

In the ongoing offensives on the Western Front, Allied troops have captured 33,000 German prisoners and 330 artillery guns.

65,000 German shells have been fired on the city of Rheims since April 1st. French official calls it “abominable vandalism.”

In the first meeting of the new Spanish Cabinet, it announces the country will continue to maintain strict neutrality in the war.

Ship Losses:

Diadem (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 200 nautical miles (370 km) south west by west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-50 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Emile et Charlotte (France) The fishing vessel was sunk in the Bay of Biscay north east of the Île d'Yeu, Vendée by SM UC-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SMS G42 (Kaiserliche Marine) Battle of Dover Strait: The Großes Torpedoboot 1913-class torpedo boat was rammed and sunk in the Strait of Dover by HMS Broke ( Royal Navy) with the loss of 36 of her 83 crew.
SMS G85 (Kaiserliche Marine) Battle of Dover Strait: The Großes Torpedoboot 1913-class torpedo boat was torpedoed and sunk in the Strait of Dover by HMS Swift ( Royal Navy).
Gerda (Norway) The coaster was sunk in the North Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) south west of Sumburgh Head, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom by SM UC-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Giosue (Italy) The brigantine was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Tunis, Tunisia (37°53′N 10°06′E) by SM U-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Jedburgh (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the North Sea (35 nautical miles (65 km) north north west of Foula by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Peik (Norway) The coaster was sunk in the North Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) north of Coquet Island, Northumberland, United Kingdom by SM UC-44 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Pontiac (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 56 nautical miles (104 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock (50°31′N 10°09′W) by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew.
Sebek (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 145 nautical miles (269 km) north west of Tory Island, County Donegal (56°12′N 12°20′W) by SM U-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Skjold (Norway) The barque was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west north west of the Fastnet Rock (51°41′N 14°37′W) by SM U-61 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Telena (United Kingdom) The tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 170 nautical miles (310 km) west north west of the Fastnet Rock (51°16′N 14°00′W) by SM U-61 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SM UC-30 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UC II submarine struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 66 nautical miles (122 km) west of Nymindegab, Denmark with the loss of all 26 crew.
Ville de Dieppe (France) The barque was shelled and sunk in the Bay of Biscay west of the Île d'Oléron, Charente-Maritime (45°59′N 1°52′W) by SM UC-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived and were rescued by a French Navy submarine.
Warrior (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 37 (Otto Launburg) and sank in the Mediterranean Sea 7 nautical miles (13 km) north east of the Fratelli Rocks, Tunisia with the loss of a crew member.
Yeovil (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the North Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) north north west of Foula by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.

[Sailor Steve]

April 21, 1917

Air War:
0945 Yalta-born Russian pilot Pavel Argeyev, flying a Nieuport 17, shoots down a two-seater for victory number 2.

1728 German ace Lothar von Richthofen, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Nieuport 17 B1568 for victory number 9. 2nd Lt Alan Bertram is wounded, dies on April 27.

1730 Irish RNAS pilot Francis Casey, in Sopwith Pup N6182, is credited with two Albatros D.IIIs for victories number 3 and 4.

1730 German ace Kurt Wolff, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down BE.2e 1766 for victory number 17. Cpt Eric John Dauben Routh is wounded, 2nd Lt Alexander George Ridell MacKenzie unharmed; crashed on their own side of the lines.

1740 Canadian RNAS pilot John Malone, in Sopwith Pup N6208, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 5.

1745 German ace Karl Schäfer, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down Nieuport 23 A6797 for victory number 20. Lt F. Sadler is killed.

1745 Kurt Wolff scores his second victory of the day, shooting down Nieuport 23 A6755 for victory number 18. 2nd Lt Cecil Victor de Burgh Rogers is killed.

1830 French ace Henri Languedoc, in a Nieuport, shoots down Albatros D.III 2096/16 for victory number 7. Ltn Friedrich-Wilhelm is taken prisoner.

1845 Two british aircraft from different units share a kill over an Albatros D.III:
English RNAS pilot Anthony Arnold, in Sopwith Triplane N5458, number 2.
Canadian RFC pilot Reginald Malcolm, in FE.2d A6383, number 6
Malcolm's observer, 2nd Lt J.B. Weir, unknown.

1850 Anthony Arnold scores his second victory of the day, shooting down another Albatros D.III for victory number 3.

1855 English RFC ace James Leith, in FE.2d A6383 with Lt G.M.A. Hobart-Hampden as observer, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 8.

1855 Australian RNAS ace Bob Little, flying Sopwith Triplane N5496, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 7.

2000 French ace Armand Pinsard, in a SPAD VII, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 9. Ltn Günther von der Hyde is killed.

German two-seater ace Karl Meyer, flying a Friedrichschave bomber with Obflgmstr Kastmer as observer, shoots down Royal Navy blimp C-17 for victory number 7.

Armand Pinsard gains his second victory of the day, shooting down an "Enemy Aircraft" for number 10.



North Atlantic Ocean, far west of Ireland:
Victor Dieckmann, commanding U-61, sinks two ships:
Norwegian barque Skjold, 1,592 tons, bound from New York for Glasgow with a load of drummed oil and grease.
British tanker SS Telena, 4,778 tons, en route from Philadelphia to Queenstown with a load of benzine.



Northwest of Ireland:
Otto Wünsche, in U-70, sinks British freighter SS Sebeck, 4,601 tons, barrying a general cargo from Liverpool to Alexandria. His score is now 55 ships and 85,578 tons. Sebek had been attacked six monthe earlier, on October 12, 1916, but had been refloated and returned to service.



Celtic Sea:
Hans Rose, in U-53, sinks British freighter SS Pontiac, 1,698 tons, heading from Liverpool to Genoa with a general cargo. His score is now 32 ships and 76,141 tons.



North Atlantic Ocean, far west of Brittany:
Gerhard Berger, in U-50, sinks British freighter SS Diadem, 4,307 tons, en route from Dakar to London with a load of rice. His score is now 19 ships and 67,520 tons.

Hans Walther, in U-52, attacks British sloop HMS Heather, 1,250 tons, with his deck gun. The sloop recieves minor damage but her captain is killed by a shell splinter.



North Sea:
Martin Schelle, in UC-33, scuttles two British trawlers off Foula Island, on the west side of the Shetlands:
Jedburgh, 165 tons.
Yeovil, 164 tons.
Schelle's score is now 8 vessels and 6,938 tons.

Kurt Tebbenjohanns, in UC-44, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Peik, 701 tons, carrying a general cargo from Newcastle to Arendal. His score is now 22 ships and 15,803 tons.

Karl Neureuther, in UC-55, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Gerda, 979 tons, en route from North Shields to Skien with a load of coke and bicarbonate of soda; off Sumburg Head, Shetland Islands. His score is now 2 ships and 1,348 tons.

UC-30 (Heinrich Stenzler) hits a mine off Esbjerg, Denmark. 27 lost, no survivors.



Bay of Biscay:
Reinhold Saltzwedel, in UC-21, sinks two vessels:
French fishing dundee Emile et Charlotte, 41 tons, scuttled off Il d'Yeu.
Norwegian barque Ville de Dieppe, 1,254 tons, travelling in ballast from La Pallice to New York. At 0900 UC-21 fires two rounds astern of Ville de Dieppe, both of which miss. The crew begin to abandon ship. Two French patrol planes fly overhead and the u-boat dives. Ten minutes later the aircraft are gone and UC-21 surfaces and resumes the attack. After 20 rounds the ship begins to sink and UC-21 departs for the open ocean. A french submarine discovers the crew in their lifeboats and towes them back to La Pallice. Saltzwedel's score is now 64 ships and 98,896 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Kurt Hartwig, in U-32, sinks Italian brigantine Giosue, 140 tons; Off Tunis, deck gun. His score is now 41 ships and 50,015 tons.

British freighter SS Warrior, 3,674 tons, carrying a load of coal from Cardiff to Alexandria, hits a mine laid off Fratelli Rocks, Tunisia, by Otto Launburg in UC-37. His score is now 20 ships and 48,425 tons.



Indian Ocean, off South Africa:
The weather has cleared somewhat, and HMFM Trent reports towing HMS Severn much easier.

[Jimbuna]

22nd April 1917

Western Front

British capture southern part of Trescault (east of Havrincourt Wood, below Bapaume-Cambrai road).

Germans bombard Reims; French repulse German attack on Moronvillers massif.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British attack Turks in retreat from Istabulat on west bank of Tigris and on west bank of Shatt-el-Adhaim.

Political, etc.

Arrival of British Mission, headed by Mr. Balfour, at Washington.

To conserve food, France orders all restaurants to have one meatless day per week. Butchers will also have to close by 1 pm.

Kaiser Wilhelm congratulates his son the Crown Prince for “steelhard” resistance against the French at the Aisne.

Ship Losses:

Arethusa (United Kingdom) The barque was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 15 nautical miles (28 km) north west of Eagle Island, County Mayo by SM UC-66 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Blaatind (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Civitavecchia, Lazio, Italy (42°28′N 10°59′E) by SM U-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew.
Capenor (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 21 (Reinhold Saltzwedel) and sank in the Bay of Biscay off La Pallice, Charente-Maritime, France (46°06′N 1°17′W). Her crew survived.
Giskø (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea (61°03′N 3°28′E by SM U-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Godø (Norway) The coaster was sunk in the North Sea 16 nautical miles (30 km) east of the Shetland Islands, United Kingdom by SM UC-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Maria S. (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea off Civitavecchia by SM U-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HMML 431 (Royal Navy) The motor launch was lost on this date.
Neepawah (Canada) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 120 nautical miles (220 km) south west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Nightingale (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea 26 nautical miles (48 km) south of Aberdeen by SM UC-44 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Percy Birdsall (United States) The schooner was sunk in the Bay of Biscay off the Gironde Estuary by SM UC-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Theodore William (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) off the Shetland Islands (60°45′N 0°13′E) by SM U-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Unione (Italy) The brigantine was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea off Civitavecchia (42°01′N 10°54′E) by SM U-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Valerie (Norway) The barque was shelled and sunk in the Bay of Biscay 30 nautical miles (56 km) west of the Cordouan Lighthouse, Charente Maritime by SM UC-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Vestelv (Norway) The full-rigged ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 14 nautical miles (26 km) off Tory Island, County Donegal, United Kingdom by SM U-93 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Woodward Abrahams (United States) The three-masted schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 407 nautical miles (754 km) west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-43 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

April 22, 1917

Air War:
No. 56 Squadron RFC sees its first combat in the SE.5. Albert Ball and four other pilots chase a Albatros two-seater. The SE.5 being new and still secret, they are under orders to stay two miles inside their own lines, and after firing three Lewis drums at the fleeing plane Ball and his group turn back, allowing the German plane to escape.

0705 Indian RFC pilot Edward Atkinson, flying Nieuport 17 A6624, shoots down an Albatros D.II for victory number 2.

0705 South African RFC pilot George Lawrence Lloyd, in Nieuport 17 A6776, shoots down a German observation balloon for victory number 1.

0715 English RFC pilot William Reed, in SPAD VII B1563, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for victory number 2.

0720 English RFC pilot Edwin Cole, in Nieuport 23 A6790, shoots down a German observation balloon for victory number 5.

0810 German pilot August Hanko, flying an Albatros D.II, shoots down Nieuport 17 A313 for victory number 1,

0930 German ace Heinrich Gontermann, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a British balloon for victory number 14. Gontermann will claim another balloon this day, but it is unconfirmed.

1120 Canadian RFC ace Billy Bishop, in Nieuport 23 B1566, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 9.

1130 German ace Kurt Schneider, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a British Balloon for victory number 6.

1145 Kurt Schneider shoots down a second British balloon for victory number 7.

1410 German ace Edmund Nathanael, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down a French balloon for victory number 10.

1445 Australian RNAS ace Roderic Dallas, in Sopwith Triplane N5436, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 10.

1705 German ace Manfred von Richthofen, in Albatros D.III 2253/17, shoots down FE.2b 7020 for victory number 46. Lts Waldemar Franklin and William Fred Fletcher are both wounded, but crash on their own side of the lines.

1710 German ace Kurt Wolff, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2b A5501 for victory number 19. Sgt John Kenneth Hollis is wounded and taken prisoner. Lt Bernard Joseph Tolhurst is killed.

1720 New Zealand RNAS pilot Thomas Culling, in Sopwith Triplane N5444, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 2.

1720 Irish RFC pilot William Earle Molesworth, flying Nieuport 17 B1569, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

1725 Roderic Dallas scores his second kill for the day, downing another Albatros D.III for victory number 11.

1750 French ace Albert Deullin, in a SPAD VII, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 14. It is uncertain, but Flg Albdrt Karzmarek and Uffz Karl Schulz of Schasta 10 were shot down and killed in the same area.

1830 French ace René Dorme, in SPAD VII S392, shoots down a two-seater for victory number 20.

1830 Scottish RFC pilot William Patrick, in SPAD VII B1524, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 4.

1900 William Patrick gains his second victory of the day, shooting down another Albatros D.III for victory number 5.

1910 French pilot Alfred Auger, flying a Nieuport 17, shoots down a two-seater for victory number 4. Again the truth is uncertain but Uffz Gustav Richter and Ltn Erich Bersu of FlAbt 212 were shot down and killed in the same area on this day.

1910 Canadian RNAS pilot Harold Kerby, in Sopwith Pup N6160, shoots down an Albatros fighter for victory number 2.

2005 Edmund Nathanael shoots down a SPAD VII for his second victory of the day, number 11 overall.

2005 Kurt Wolff scores his second victory of the day, shooting down Morane 'P' A6727 for number 20.

2010 German pilot Reinhold Jörke, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a SPAD VII for victory number 2. There were two RFC SPADS brought down this day: A6682, wnd Lt F.C. Craig, taken prisoner; A6695, 2nd Lt K.R. Furniss wounded and captured, died from his wounds later. One of them was brought down by Nathanael, the other by Jörke, but there is no certainty as to which was which.

2020 German ace Karl Schäfer, flying an Albatros D.III shoots down FE.2b A820 for victory number 21. Lt. C.A. Parker survives crashing on his own side of the lines. 2nd Lt J.B.E. Hesketh dies from his wounds.

German pilot Ltn d R. Gerlt shoots down a Caudron G.4. MdL LeClerc and Lt Mersier are listed as Missing. This is apparently Gerlt's only kill, and though he will later command Jasta 19 his full name is not listed in any sources.

German pilot Friedrich Gille, in an Albatros D.II, claims a BE.2, but it is unconfirmed.

French pilot Pierre Pendaries, in a Nieuport, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 2.

English RFC aces Alan Wilkinson and Lawrence Allen, in a Bristol F.2a, shoot down an Albatros D.III. Victory number 19 for Wilkinson, number 7 for Allen.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...&postcount=167



North Atlantic Ocean, 407 miles west of Fastnet Rock:
Hellmuth Jürst, commanding U-43, stops and scuttles American schooner Woodward Abrahams, 744 tons, bound from Pensacola to Liverpool with a load of scored timber. His score is now 29 ships and 71,294 tons.



North of Ireland:
Edgar von Spiegel von und zu Peckelsheim, in U-93, stops and scuttles Norwegian sailing ship Vestelv, 1,729 tons, en route from Mobile to Liverpool with a load of Pitch Pine. His score is now 9 ships and 56,537 tons.



Ireland:
Herbert Pustkuchen, in UC-66, scuttles British barque Arethusa, heading from Gulfport to Claud with a load of pitch pine. His score is now 79 ships and 103,514 tons.



Celtic Sea:
Hans Rose, in U-53, sinks Canadian freighter SS Neepawah, 1,799 tons, carrying a load of pyrites from Huelva to Rouen. His score is now 33 ships and 77,940 tons.

Paul Hundius, in UC-47, attacks British Q-ship HMS Gaelic, 224 tons, with his deck gun off Mine Head. A sailing barquentine, Gaelic is only damaged.



North Sea:
Otto Hersing, in U-21, sinks two Norwegian freighters between Norway and the Shetland Islands:
SS Giskö, 1,643 tons, travelling from Ålesund to Hull with a general cargo.
SS Theodore William, 3,057 tons, en route from Narvik to Middlesbrough with a load of iron ore.
Hersing's score is now 35 ships and 107,678 tons.

Kurt Bernis, in UC-41, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Godø, 870 tons, heading from Levanger to London with a load of lumber. His score is now 12 ships and 6,197 tons.

Kurt Tebbenjohanns, in UC-44, stops and scuttles British fishing vessel Nightingale, 91 tons, bringing his score to 23 vessels and 15,894 tons.



Bay of Biscay:
British freighter SS Capenor, 2,536 tons, travelling in ballast from Nantes to Bilbao, hits a mine laid off La Pallice by Reinhold Saltzwedel in UC-21.
Meanwhile UC-21 sinks two other ships:
Americna freighter SS Percy Birdsall, 1,127 tons, travelling in ballast from New York to Bordeaux; scuttled.
Norwegian barque Valerie, 2,140 tons, in ballast from Bordeaux to St. Thomas; deck gun.
Saltzwedel's score is now 67 ships and 97,789 tons.



Tyrhennian Sea:
Gustav Seiß, in U-33, sinks three ships off Civitavecchia:
Norwegian freighter SS Blaatind, 1,641 tons, carrying a load of coal from Blyth to Civitavecchia.
Italian sailing vessel Maria S, 133 tons.
Italian brigantine Unione, 207 tons.
Seiß' score is now 21 ships and 131,323 tons.



Indian Ocean, off South Africa:
0900 HMFM Trent reports sea increasing again, from the beam.
1000 Trent reduces speed, reports HMS Severn rolling and taking on water.
1300 Trent reduces speed again, report sea "breaking badly" on Severn.
2000 Sea has decreased, towing improved but still with a high swell from the beam.
1159 Wind and sea moderate, skies clear, towing easy.

[Jimbuna]

23rd April 1917

Western Front

British capture rest of Trescault and greater part of Havrincourt Wood - Second phase of Battle of Arras begins.

British attack north and south of the Scarpe (Arras), capturing two villages.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British occupy Samarra (60 miles north of Baghdad), 937 prisoners.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Between Blankenberghe and Zeebrugge three British seaplanes attack five German destroyers and sink one.

Political, etc.

French government threatens to put German prisoners on board hospital ships if U-boats continue attacking those ships.

Diplomatic relations broken off between U.S.A. and Turkey (no state of war followed).

Ship Losses:

Acadian (Norway) The barque was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 65 nautical miles (120 km) north west of Tory Island, County Donegal, United Kingdom (55°44′N 9°30′W) by SM U-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Auriac (United Kingdom) The coaster was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) east south east of St Abb's Head, Berwickshire by SM UC-44 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Bandiera E. Moro (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) west of Tangier, Morocco by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Baron Stjernblad (Denmark) The coaster was sunk in the North Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north east of Eyemouth, Berwickshire by SM UC-44 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Boro (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Aegean Sea east of Rhodes, Greece by SM UB-42 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Calluna (Denmark) The barque was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of the Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom (48°51′N 8°38′W) by SM U-61 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Cenobic (Belgium) The fishing vessel struck a mine laid by UC 71 (Hans Valentiner) and sank in the English Channel off Le Tréport, Seine-Maritime, France with the loss of four of her crew.
Dykland (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 200 nautical miles (370 km) west north west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-50 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Eptapyrgion (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 150 nautical miles (280 km) west of the Isles of Scilly by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Imataka (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) south south west of the Daunt Rock by SM UC-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Lena (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of the Isles of Scilly (48°45′N 8°30′W) by SM U-61 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all 25 crew.
HMT Lena Melling (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the Elbow Lightship ( United Kingdom) (51°22′30″N 1°33′30″E) with the loss of eleven of her crew.
Marita (Norway) The full-rigged ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 110 nautical miles (200 km) west of St. Kilda, Inverness-shire, United Kingdom (58°21′N 10°34′W) by SM U-82 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Oswald (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 200 nautical miles (370 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-50 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Rose II (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 66 (Herbert Pustkuchen) and sank in the Irish Sea off Belfast, County Down (54°44′N 5°38′W) with the loss of six of her crew.
Savio (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Bay of Biscay 20 nautical miles (37 km) south east of Belle Île, Morbihan, France by SM UC-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Scot (Denmark) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 12 nautical miles (22 km) east by north of St Abb's Head (56°02′N 1°46′W) by SM UC-44 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Stegg (Norway) The coaster was sunk in the North Sea (60 nautical miles (110 km) east of Lerwick, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom (60°41′N 0°37′E) by SM UC-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Svanen (Denmark) The full-rigged ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) west north west of Muckle Flugga, Shetland Islands by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew.

[Sailor Steve]

April 23, 1917

Air War:
0630 Canadian RNAS pilot George Benson Anderson, flying Sopwith Pup N5194, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

0630 New Zealand RNAS pilot Harold Francis Beamish, in Sopwith Pup N6202, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

0630 Canadian RNAS ace John Malone, in Sopwith Pup N6208, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 6.

0645 English RFC ace Albert Ball, in Nieuport 17 B1522, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for victory number 32.

0715 John Malone scores his second kill of the day, shooting down another Albatros D.III for number 7.

0745 John Malone gains number 3 of the day, another Albatros D.III for number 8.

0800 New Zealand RNAS pilot Thomas Culling, flying Sopwith Triplane N4333, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 3.

0800 Australian RNAS ace Roderic Dallas, in Sopwith Triplane N5436, shoots down and Albatros two-seater for victory number 12.

0814 German ace Kurt Schneider, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an FE.2b for victory number 8.

1030 Canadian RNAS pilot Lloyd Breadner, in Sopwith Pup N6181, shoots down a Gotha G.II bomber for victory number 4.

1140 English RFC pilot Herbert Ellis, in Nieuport 23 A6789 and Lt K. MacKenzie, in Nieuport 17 B1548, share the downing of a Halberstadt two-seater. Number 2 for Ellis, unknown for MacKenzie.

1145 Albert Ball scores his second kill of the day. Has said disparaging things about the new SE.5 fighter, but he decides to give on a chance. In A4850 he shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 33. This is the first victory for the SE.5.

1200 German pilot Arthur Schorish, flying an Albatros, shoots down an unidentified "Sopwith" for victory number 4.

1200 German ace Paul von Osterroht, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a "Sopwith" for victory number 7.

1800 German 7-kill ace Paul von Osterroht, in an Albatros D.III, is shot down and killed in a fight with Sopwith Pups of No 3 Squadron RNAS. I can find no record of who was awarded the victory.

1205 German ace Manfred von Richthofen, in Albatros D.III 2253/17, shoots down BE.2f A3168 for victory number 47. 2nd Lt Eric Arthur Welch and Sgt Amos George Tollervey are both killed.

I observed an artillery flyer, approached him unnoticed, and shot at him from the closest range, until his left wing came off. The machine broke to pieces and fell near Mericourt.
-Manfred von Richthofen

1210 German ace Lothar von Richthofen, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down BE.2g A2876 for victory number 10. 2nd Lt Charles Maurice Crow is killed, 2nd Lt Eustace Thomas Turner is wounded; the plane coems down on their own side of the lines.

1520 English RFC pilot James Martin Child, flying SPAD VII B1537, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for victory number 1.

1530 Canadian RFC ace Billy Bishop, in Nieuport 23 B1566, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for victory number 10.

1559 Billy Bishop gains his second kill of the day, shooting down an Albatros D.III for number 11.

1630 Welsh RFC pilot Arthur Jones-Williams, in Nieuport 23 A6721, claims two Albatros D.IIIs for victories 2 and 3.

1730 Lloyd Breadner scores his second kill of the day, shooting down an Albatros D.III for number 5.

1730 Canadian RNAS pilot Alfred Carter, flying Sopwith Pup N6179, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 2.

1730 Irish RNAS pilot Francis Casey, in Sopwith Pup N6182 shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 5.

1730 Canadian RNAS pilot Harold Kerby, in Sopwith Pup N6160, is credited with two Albatros D.IIIs for victories 3 and 4.

1730 English RFC pilot Edmund Zink, in FE.2b A823 with oberserver 2nd Lt George Beaumont Bate, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 4.

1800 Alfred Cartter scores his second victory of the day, shooting down an Albatros D.III for number 3.

1800 German 7-kill ace Paul Osterroht is shot down and killed in a fight with Sopwith Pups of No 3 Squadron RNAS. No one is sure who won the actual victory, though Alfred Carter is in the right place at the right time.

1820 German pilot Hermann Göring, in Albatros D.III 2049/16, shoots down FE.2b A823 for victory number 4. 2nd Lt Edmund Leonard Zink is wounded, but manages to land the plane on his own side of the lines. 2nd Lt George Beaumont Bate is unharmed.

1900 German ace Kurt Schneider, flying an Albatros D.III, claims an FE.2b and a DH.2 for victories 9 and 10.

1900 Canadian RNAS pilot Arthur Whealy, in Sopwith Pup N6194, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 2.

1925 German ace Heinrich Gontermann, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an RE.8 for victory number 15.

French pilot Jean Derode, in a Nieuport, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 3.

English RFC pilot Fred Holliday and observer Anthony Wall shoot down an Albatros D.III. Victory number 2 for both.

Four Bristol F.2as share a kill over an Albatros D.III:
Roger Bolton Hay, number 1; Unknown observer, unknown.
Fred Holliday, number 3; Anthony Wall, number 3.
William Price, number 3; Maurice Benjamin, number 3.
William Winkler, number 2; Ernest moore, number 2.

French pilot Edmond Pillon, in a Nieuport, shoots down LVG C.V 5155/16 for victory number 3. No details on crew.



North Atlantic Ocean, far west of Ireland:
Gerhard Berger, commanding U-50, sinks two British freighters 200 miles west of Fastnet Rock:
SS Dykland, 4,291 tons, bound from Halifax for Falmouth with a load of timber.
SS Oswald, 5,185 tons, heading from Sabine, Texas to Liverpool with a load of sulphur.
Berger's score is now 21 ships and 76,996 tons.



North of Ireland:
Hans Walther, in U-52, stops and scuttles Norwegian barque Acadia, 1,556 tons, travelling in ballast from Dublin to Delaware Breakwater. His score is now 32 ships and 73,335 tons.

Hans Adam, in U-82, scuttles Norwegian sailing ship Marita, 1,759 tons, en route from Buenos Aires to Arhus with a load of Maize. His score is now 11 ships and 17,874 tons.



Ireland:
Paul Hundius, in UC-47, sinks British freighter SS Imataka, 1,776 tons, heading from Demerera to Le Havre and Liverpool with a load of sugar, rum and meat. His score is now 38 ships and 41,736 tons.
Hundius also attacks British schooner Tommi, 138 tons, travelling from Charlestown, Cornwall to Preston with a load of sugar, but the damaged vessel makes safe port.



Irish Sea:
His Majesty's Trawler Rose II, 213 tons, hits a mine laid off Belfast by Herbert Pustkuchen in UC-66, raising his score to 80 vessels and 103,728 tons.



Celtic Sea:
Hans Rose, in U-53, torpedoes British freighter SS Eptapyrgion, 4,307 tons, carrying a load of oats and meat from Montevideo to Falmouth. His score is now 34 ships and 82,244 tons.

Victor Dieckmann, in U-61, sinks two ships off the Scilly Isles:
Danish barque Calluna, 1,405 tons, heading from Aalborg and Cardiff for New York with a load of chalk.
British freighter SS Lena, 2,463 tons, carrying a load of government supplies from Huelva to Bristol. Lost with all 25 crew, listed as Missing.
Dieckmann's score is now 21 ships and 37,339 tons.



English Channel:
Belgian fishing boat Cenobic, 16 tons, hits a mine laid by Hans Valentiner in UC-71 off Le Treport. His score is now 45 vessels and 36,570 tons.



North Sea:
Karlgeorg Schuster, in U-60, stops and scuttles Danish sailing ship Svanen, 1,807 tons, en route from Baltimore to Aarhus with a load of maize; off Muckle Flugga, Shetland Islands. His score is now 15 ships and 47,017 tons.

Kurt Bernis, in UC-41, sinks Norwegian coaster SS Stegg, 463 tons, carrying a load of pit props from Arendal to Tyne; 60 miles off the Shetland Islands. His score is now 13 ships and 6,660 tons.

Kurt Tebbenjohanns, in UC-44, sinks 3 ships off the east coast of Scotland:
British freighter SS Auriac, 871 tons. bound from Rouen for Leith with a load of empty drums; off St. Abb's Head.
Danish freighter SS Baron Stjernblad, 991 tons, en route from Hull to Copenhagen with a general cargo; torpedoed off Eyemouth.
Danish freighter SS Scot, 1,564 tons, travelling in ballast from Copenhagen to Burntisland; scuttled off St. Abb's Head.
Tebbenjohanns' score is now 26 ships and 19,320 tons.

Erich Haecker, in UC-79, takes Danish freighter SS Ydun, 645 tons, as a prize. The Prize Court declares it illegal and releases the ship to its owners.



Bay of Biscay:
Gustav Buch, in UC-36, sinks Italian freighter SS Savio, 1,922 tons, hauling a load of coal from Clyde to Genoa, off Belle Ile, Brittany. His score is now 11 ships and 13,561 tons.



Atlantic Ocean, 50 miles west of Tangier:
Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, in U-35, sinks Italian freighter SS Bandiera E Moro, carrying a load of iron ore from Spain to Glasgow. His score is now 172 ships and 369,707 tons.



Aegean Sea:
Fritz Wernicke, in UB-42, sinks Italian sailboat Boro, 15 tons, east of Rhodes. His score is now 6 vessels and 3,995 tons.

[Jimbuna]

24th April 1917

Western Front

Severe fighting from Croisilles to north of Gavrelle (Arras).

South of Bapaume-Cambrai road British advance to St. Quentin Canal near Vendhuil and capture Bithem.

Southern Front

British night attack on western side of Lake Doiran (north-west of Salonika).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Retreat of Turks up Shatt-el-Adhaim towards Jebel Hamrin.

Aviation

German ace Fritz Otto Bernert scores 5 victories in a single day in a span of 20 minutes, despite having a paralyzed left arm.

Jagdstaffel 11 members in France. Commander Manfred von Richthofen (Red Baron) is seated in his Albatross.


Political, etc.

300,000 copies of President Wilson’s war address to Congress are printed and will be air-dropped on German trenches on the Western Front.

Arrival of French Mission (Marshall Joffre and M. Viviani) in New York.

Ukraine demands autonomy.

Sen. Costa (Democrat) becomes Premier in Portugal.

Ship Losses:

Amulree (United Kingdom) The barque was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) north by east of Tory Island, County Donegal (56°10′N 8°40′W) by SM U-81 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Anglesea (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean[348] 160 nautical miles (300 km) south west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly (48°56′N 10°17′W) by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Barnton (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay 40 nautical miles (74 km) west by south of Pointe de Chassiron, Île d'Oléron, Charente-Maritime, France (45°40′N 2°12′W) by SM UC-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of fourteen of her crew.
Bien Aime Prof. Luigi (United Kingdom) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape St. Vincent, Portugal (36°53′N 9°10′W) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Clan Galbraith (Norway) The four-masted barque was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean west of Ireland (52°30′N 14°00′W) by SM U-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Cordelia (Sweden) The barque was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean[353] (51°08′N 15°13′W) by SM U-43 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Eos (Denmark) The three-masted schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of Ireland (52°40′N 14°45′W) by SM U-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ferndene (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 150 nautical miles (280 km) west of the Bishop Rock by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of nine crew.
Heather (United Kingdom) The drifter was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 14 nautical miles (26 km) west by nort of the Bishop Rock (49°52′N 6°48′W) by SM UC-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Kenilworth (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 36 (Gustav Buch) and sank in the Atlantic Ocean 3.5 nautical miles (6.5 km) west by south of Point St. Mathieu, Finistère, France (48°17′N 4°48′W) by SM UC-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
La Providence (France) The schooner was sunk in the Loire Estuary by SM UC-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HMT Margate (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea off Spurn Head, Yorkshire by SM UC-50 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of thirteen of her crew.
Marie Blanche (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the English Channel 30 nautical miles (56 km) north of Cherbourg, Seine Maritime (50°08′N 1°37′W) by SM UB-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Mayfly (United Kingdom) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 75 nautical miles (139 km) north east by east of Scarborough, Yorkshire by SM UC-50 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.
Metropolis (Norway) The four-masted barque was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean south west of the Isles of Scilly (48°30′N 11°15′W) by SM U-61 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Minister Tak van Poortvliet (Netherlands) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) off IJmuiden, North Holland (52°42′N 3°32′E) by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Nordsøen (Denmark) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape St. Vincent (37°02′N 8°54′W) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Plutus (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 9 nautical miles (17 km) north West of Trevose Head, Cornwall (50°41′N 5°07′W) by SM UC-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss if a crew member.
Thistleard (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 135 nautical miles (250 km) west north west of Tory Island (55°10′N 12°00′W) by SM U-82 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Torvore (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape St. Vincent (37°00′N 8°54′W) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Upton Castle (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the North Sea 60 nautical miles (110 km) east of the Longstone Lighthouse, Northumberland by SM UC-29 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Valkyrian (Sweden) The three-masted schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Ireland[370] by SM U-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Vestdal (Norway) The full-rigged ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 280 nautical miles (520 km) west of Ireland (52°19′N 15°18′W) by SM U-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Vilhelm Krag (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) west of the Pildale Lighthouse, Portugal (37°03′N 8°44′W) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

"Another German Victory" (Western Mail cartoon).

[Sailor Steve]

April 24, 1917

Air War:
The German Luftstreitkräfte has developed new units, called Schutzstaffeln, using specially designed two-seaters to escort reconnaissance flights. The Schustas are also being used for ground attack flights. On April 24, 1917, Hauptmann Eduard Zorer, commander of Schusta 7, takes a Halberstadt CL.II on a mission to strafe British trenches to distract them from shooting at German forces attacking across No-Man's Land. This is considered to be the birth of Close Air Support.
http://www.historynet.com/first-ground-pounders.htm

0720 English observer Francis Richard Cubbon, riding in FE.2d A6392 with Lt R.E. Johnson as pilot, claims two Albatros D.IIIs for his first two victories.

0722 French pilot Edmond Pillon, in a Nieuport, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 4. Identity of his opponent is uncertain, but Vfw Rudolf Rath is shot down and killed at this time.

0805 German pilot Heinrich Lorenz, aircraft unknown, shoots down Sopwith Pup A6175 for victory number 2. 2nd Lt R.S. Capon is taken prisoner.

0815 Australian RNAS ace Roderic Dallas, in Sopwith Triplane N5436, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 13.

0830 German ace Otto Bernert, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Sopwith 1½ Strutter A1002 for victory number 20. 2nd Lt L.C. Halse and AM2 W. Bond are both killed.

0840 Otto Bernert scores his second kill of the day, shooting down BE.2e 7195 for victory number 21. Lt G.E. Hicks is taken prisoner. There is no mention of an observer, so these planes from No 9 Squadron RFC may have been on a bombing mission, with the obersvers left behind to increase the bomb load.

0840 Australian RNAS pilot George Simpson, in Sopwith Triplane N5460, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 2.

0842 Otto Bernert downs his third enemy for the day, another BE.2e, A2937, number 22. 2nd Lt F.A. Matthews is killed.

0845 Otto Bernert gains his fourth victory of the day, shooting down BE.2e A2941 for number 23. Lt C.L. Graves is killed.

0850 Otto Bernert scores his fifth kill of the day, a DH.4, for number 24. Details unknown.

0900 German ace Heinrich Gontermann, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Sopwith Triplane N5467 for victory number 16. 2nd Lt E.J.B. Walker is killed.

0910 German ace Walter Göttsch, flying an Albartros D.II, shoots down an FE.2b for victory number 9.

0910 German pilot Werner Junck, in an Albatros D.II, shoots down an FE.2b for victory number 1.

0940 German ace Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an FE.2d for victory number 12. Details unknown.

1010 Canadian RNAS pilot Alexander MacDonald Shook, in Sopwith Pup N6200, shoots down a Fokker D.II for victory number 1.

1012 German pilot Paul Felsmann, in an Albatros D.III, claims a SPAD for victory number 2. Uncertain, but French Sgt Xavier Boiteaux-Levret was shot down and killed at this time and place in Nieuport 23 2937.

1040 Irish RFC pilot William Molesworth, in Nieuport 17 B1569, destroys a German observation balloon for victory number 2.

1110 A trio of SE.5s share a German two-seater:
Leonard Monteagle Barlow, A4858 victory number 1.
Cyril Marconi Crowe, A4860, number 1.
2nd Lt M.A. Kay, unknown.

1115 Malayan RNAS pilot Thomas Gerard, in Sopwith Triplane N5440, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 3.

1120 Thomas Gerard claims his second kill of the day, shooting down another Albatros D.III for victory number 4.

1200 Irish RFC pilot Thomas Hazell, in Nieuport 17 A6738, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for victory number 2.

1200 Australian RNAS ace Bob Little, in Sopwith Triplane N5469, and Scottish RFC pilot Ian Napier, in Nieuport 23 A6778, run across a DFW C.V and shoot it down. Ltns Huppertz and Neumuller are taken prisoner. Victory numver 8 for Little, number 2 for Napier. According to Above The Trenches a Lt Brevis, flying a Nieuport with Napier, was also credited.

1515 Scottish RFC pilot Gerard Joseph Constable Maxwell, flying SE.5 A4863, shoots down an Albatros D.II for victory number 1.

1605 German pilot Albert Haussmann, in an Albatros D.II, shoots down a Nieuport 17 for victory number 2.

1640 French pilots Rober de Marancour and Cpl Lejeune both in SPAD VIIs, share a victory over a German two-seater from FlAbt 222. Ltns Werner Hecht and Hugo Schneider are both killed. Victory number 4 for Marancour, number 1 for Lejeune.

1650 Three RNAS Sopwith Pups share a victory over a DFW C.V:
Francis Casey, Ireland, N6182, victory number 6.
John Malone, Canada, N6208, victory number 9
Herbert Travers, England, N6169, victory number 5.

1720 French pilot Marcel Laurent Henriot, in a Nieuprt, shoots down a "Scout" for victory number 1. Ltn Walter Rudatis and Ltn Karl Jaeger of FFA 253 are both killed.

1725 French-American ace Raoul Lufbery, in a Nieuport, shoots down an Aviatik two-seater for victory number 9.

1750 English RFC pilot Alexander Roulstone, flying FE.2b 5347 with 2nd Lt E.G. Green as observer, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 2.

1800 French pilot François Marie Noel Battesti, in a Nieuport, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 1.

1910 German pilot Ernst Udet, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Nieuport for victory number 5.

German ace Eduard von Dostler, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Caudron for victory number 6.

South African RFC pilot Robert Norwood Hall, in a Nieuport, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 1.

Four Bristol F.2bs share a victory over an Albatros D.III:
Roger Bolton Hay, England, number 1; Lt V.G. Nutkins, unknown.
Fred Holliday, Australia, number 3; Anthony Wall, England, number 3.
William Price, England, number 3; Maurice Benjamin, South Africa, number 3.
William Winkler, Scotland, number 3, Ernest Moore, England, number 3.

Fred Holliday and Anthony Wall shoot down a German two-seater; victory number 4 for both.

Irish RFC pilot Victory Huston, flying a Bristol F.2a with observer Lt E.A. Foord, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 4.

French ace Georges Madon, in a Nieuport, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for victory number 9. Uncertain, but Ltn Friedrich Krawolitzke and Vfw Otto Hartung of FAA 252 are both killed about this time and place.



North Atlantic Ocean, far west of Ireland:
Hellmuth Jürst, commanding U-43, stops and scuttles Swedish barque Cordelia, 613 tons, bound from Pascaguola for Newport, Wales with a load of pitch pine. His score is now 30 ships and 71,907 tons.

Otto Wünsche, in U-70, sinks four ships:
Norwegian barque Clan Gailbraith, 2,168 tons, carrying a load of lubricating oil and wax from Philadelphia to Birkenhead; scuttled.
Danish schooner Eos, 179 tons, en route from Darien to Fleetwood with a load of pitch pine; scuttled.
Swedish schooner Valkyerian, 233 tons, sailing from Pensacola to Fleetwood with a load of pitch pine; deck gun.
Norwegian sailing ship Vestdal, 1,690 tons, hauling a load of timber from Pensacola to Greenock; deck gun.
Wünsche's score is now 59 ships and 89,848 tons.



West of Scotland:
Raimund Weisbach, in U-81, sinks British barque Amulree, 1,145 tons, carrying a load of Coal from Liverpool to Santos. His score is now 30 ships and 78,048 tons.

Hans Adam, in U-82, sinks British freighter SS Thistleard, 4,136 tons, bound from Tocopila and Norfolk for Clyde with a load of nitrate; 135 miles west-northwest of Tory Island. His score is now 12 ships and 22,010 tons.



Celtic Sea:
Hans Rose, in U-53, sinks two British freighters 150 miles west of Bishop Rock:
SS Anglesea, 4,534 tons, en route from Boston to Le Havre with a load of steel and oats.
SS Ferndene, 3,770 tons, carrying a load of graphite and meal from Table Bay to London.
Rose's score is now 36 ships and 90,548 tons.

Victor Dieckmann, in U-61, scuttles Norwegian barque Metropolis, 1,811 tons, heading from Philadelphia to Le Havre with a load of drums of lubricating oil; west of the Scilly Isles. His score is now 22 ships and 39,150 tons.
Dieckmann also attacks British freighter SS Thirlby, 2,009 tons, travelling from Gibraltar to Dunkerque, with his deck gun, but the ship escapes.

British freighter SS Kenilworth, 2,735 tons, hauling a load of patent fuel from Cardiff to La Pallice, hits a mine laid off Point Saint Mathieu, Brittany by Gustav Buch in UC-36.
Meanwhile Buch himself stops and scuttles French schooner La Providence, 272 tons, travelling from Swansea to La Rochelle with a load of coal.
Buch's score is now 13 ships and 16,568 tons.

Paul Hundius, in UC-47, sinks two vessels:
British drifter Heather, 58 tons; scuttled off Bishop Rock.
British freighter SS Plutus, 1,189 tons, travelling in ballast from Rouen to Barry; sunk off Trevose Head.
Hundus' score is now 40 ships and 42,983 tons.



English Channel:
Thomas Bieber, in UB-31, attacks French barquentine Saint Jacques, 415 tons, travelling in ballast from Saint Servan to Cardiff; off Portland Bill with his deck gun. The ship is beaced at Portland Roads and refloated.

Max Viebeg, in UB-32, sinks French sailing vessel Marie Blanche, 359 tons, off Cherbourg, bringing his score to 13 ships and 9,061 tons.



North Sea:
Erich von Rohrscheidt, in UB-10, torpedoes Dutch Freighter SS Minister Tak Van Poortvliet, 1,106 tons, en route from Hull to Harlingen; off Ymuiden. His score is now 2 ships and 2,519 tons.

Ernst Rosenow, in UC-29, scuttles British trawler Upton Castle, 145 tons, off Longstone, bringing his score to 11 vessels and 10,576 tons.

Rudolf Seuffer, in UC-50, sinks two ships off Spurn Point:
British naval trawler HMT Margate, 162 tons; deck gun.
British trawler Mayfly, 199 tons; deck gun.
UC-50 also shells HMT Gaul, 270 tons, but the naval trawler does not sink.
Seuffer's score is now 13 vessels and 11,896 tons.

Erich Haecker, in UC-79, takes Norwegian coaster SS Harald Haarfager, 475 tons, in the Skagerrak as a prize. The Prize Court later releases the ship back to its owners.



Bay of Biscay:
Reinhold Saltzwedel, in UC-21, sinks British freighter SS Barnton, 1,858 tons, travelling from Bilbao to Tyne with a load of iron ore, southwest of Pointe de Chassiron. His score is now 68 ships and 99,647 tons.



Portugal:
Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, in U-35, sinks four ships off Cape St. Vincent:
Italian sailing vessel Bien Aime Prof. Luigi, 265 tons, en route from Fowey to Genoa with a load of china clay; scuttled.
Danish freighter SS Nordsøen, 1,055 tons, carrying a load of herring from Bergen to Genoa; scuttled.
Norwegian freighter SS Torvore, 1,667 tons, headed from Swansea to Naples with a load of coal.
Norwegian freighter SS Vilhelm Krag, 3,715 tons, travelling in ballast from Genoa to Barry.
Von Arnauld's score is now 176 ships and 376,409 tons.

[Jimbuna]

25th April 1917

Western Front

German attack on Hurtebise Farm (Vauclere Plateau, Chemin des Dames) repulsed.

Southern Front

British success at Lake Doiran.

Naval and Overseas Operations

German destroyer flotilla bombards Dunkirk: repulsed by French and British patrols.

French destroyer Étendard is sunk by the German destroyer in the North Sea off Dunkirk, France, resulting in the loss of all hands.

Political, etc.

The United States approves to give Great Britain a loan worth $200 million (about $4.57 billion today) for the war effort.

A small riot occurs in Petrograd, as a crowd attacks a gathering of Lenin’s followers. Several of the rioters are arrested.

Ship Losses:

Abosso (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 180 nautical miles (330 km) west by north of the Fastnet Rock (57°10′N 14°58′W) by SM U-43 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 65 lives.
Baigorry (France) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Bay of Biscay 15 nautical miles (28 km) south south east of Belle Île, Morbihan (47°04′N 2°54′W) by SM UC-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ballarat (United Kingdom) The troopship was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean 24 nautical miles (44 km) south by west of the Wolf Rock, Cornwall (49°33′N 5°36′W) by SM UB-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was taken under tow but consequently sank (49°51′45″N 5°19′00″W). Her crew and the troops on board survived.
Elisabeth (Denmark) An attempt was made to scuttle the schooner in the Atlantic Ocean 70 to 80 nautical miles (130 to 150 km) south west of Ireland (51°02′N 12°05′W) by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). The derelict ship was discovered 180 nautical miles (330 km)) north west of the Fastnet Rock on 30 April by SM U-81 ( Kaiserliche Marine), which also attempted to scuttle her, but she was kept afloat by her cargo of Pitch Pine. Although declared a constructive total loss, she was subsequently repaired and returned to service.
Elizabeth (Netherlands) The lugger was scuttled in the North Sea (52°36′N 3°40′E) by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Este (Denmark) The barque was sunk in the North Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) west of Egerø, Norway (58°25′N 3°48′E) by SM UB-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Étendard (French Navy) The Branlebas-class destroyer was torpedoed and sunk by an Imperial German Navy destroyer in the North Sea off Dunquerque, Nord, France, with the loss of all hands.
Glenesk (Norway) The barque was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 75 nautical miles (139 km) west north west of Eagle Island, County Mayo, United Kingdom by SM U-81 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Havila (Denmark) The barque was sunk on the Atlantic Ocean 15 nautical miles (28 km) east north east of North Rona,United Kingdom by SM U-58 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Hawthornbank (Denmark) The barque was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 35 nautical miles (65 km) north by east of North Rona by SM U-58 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of nine crew.
Heathfield (Norway) The barque was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 53 nautical miles (98 km) west by north of Eagle Island by SM U-81 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Hesperides (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 130 nautical miles (240 km) north west of the Fastnet Rock (52°00′N 13°50′W) by SM U-69 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Hirondelle (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay 13 nautical miles (24 km) south by east of Belle Île, Morbihan, France by SM UC-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Invermay (United Kingdom) The barque was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) north west by north of Eagle Island (54°40′N 11°00′W) by SM U-81 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Laura (United Kingdom) The schooner was set afire and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 150 nautical miles (280 km) west north west of the Fastnet Rock (51°20′N 13°30′W) by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Stephanosis (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 180 nautical miles (330 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-82 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of six of her crew.
Sokoto (Denmark) The barque was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 15 nautical miles (28 km) north east by north of North Rona by SM U-58 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Swanmore (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean 230 nautical miles (430 km) west north west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-43 and SM U-93 (both Kaiserliche Marine) She was then torpedoed and sunk by SM U-50 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eleven crew.

[Sailor Steve]

April 25, 1917

Air War:
0810 12-victory German ace Sebastian Festner is killed in combat. Possibly ground fire, possibly Lt Charles Roland O'Brien and 2nd Lt Joseph Leslie Dickson in Sopwith 1½ Strutter A8232.

Line patrol 08:15, 6,000 feet Oppy - 4 German Nieuports painted red, double front gun.
When East of Oppy I was attacked by four HA one getting on my tail. I stalled and spun. As I pulled my machine out of the spin I saw in front of me a Sopwith (Lt Veitch) diving with an HA on its tail. I at once dived on the HA firing my front gun. I saw my tracer hitting the HA who went down in a spinning nosedive. I was unable to watch him down to the ground as the other 3 HA were preparing to attack.

This seems to have been O'Brien and Dickson's only victory.

1030 German ace Karl Allmenröder, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down BE.2e 7191 for victory number 7. Lt T. Thomson and 2nd Lt A.M. Turnbull are both killed.
(per Jasta War Chronology. According to The Aerodrome website the victim was RE.8 A3212; possibly Sgt F.C. Smith and Lt E.J. Dillnutt.)

1040 German ace Karl Schäfer, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2b A837 for victory number 22. 2nd Lt C.V. Darnell and AM2 G. Pawley are both killed.

1900 English pilot William Price and South African observer Maurice Benjamin, in a Bristol F.2a, shoot down an Albatros D.III. Victory number 4 for both.

2030 Karl Schäfer scores his second victory of the day, shooting down Bristol F.2a A3352 for victory number 23. 2nd Lts W.J. Clifford and H.L. Tomkies are both killed.



North Atlantic Ocean, far west of Ireland:
Hellmuth Jürst commanding U-43, sinks British passenger liner SS Abosso, 7,782 tons, bound from Bathurst for Liverpool with passengers, mail, and General cargo 65 lives lost. Local time is just before midnight on the 24th. Jürst's score is now 31 ships and 70,689 tons.

Gerhard Berger, in U-50, torpedoes British freighter SS Swanmore, 6,373 tons, en route from Baltimore to Liverpool with a general cargo. Eleven lives are lost. Berger's tally is now 22 ships and 83,369 tons.

Hans Rose, in U-53, stops British schooner Laura, 335 tons, carrying a load of deals from Halifax to Liverpool, and sets her on fire. His score is now 37 vessels and 90,883 tons.
Rose also stops Danish schooner Elisabeth, 217 tons, travelling from New Brunswick to Cardiff with a load of pitch pine. After the crew has abandoned ship Rose scuttles her, but the ships does not sink and becomes derelict.

Ernst Wilhelms, in U-69, sinks British freighter SS Hesperides, 3,393 tons, headed from Buenos Aires to Liverpool with a general cargo. His score is now 16 ships and 46,211 tons.

Hans Adam, in U-82, sinks British freighter SS Hackensack, 4,060 tons, carrying a load of sugar from Cienfuegos, via Halifax, to Queenstown. His score is now 13 ships and 26,070 tons.



Ireland:
Raimund Weisbach, in U-81, stops and scuttles three ships off Eagle Island:
Norwegian barque Glenesk, 1,369 tons, travelling in ballast from Greenock to New York.
British barque Heathfield, 1,643 tons, en route from Gulfport to Liverpool with a load of timeber.
British barque Invermay, 1,471 tons, carrying a load of maize from Buenos Aires to Londonderry.
Weisbach's score is now 33 ships and 82,531 tons.



North of Scotland:
Kurt Wippern, in U-58, sinks three Danish barques off North Rona Island:
Havila, 1,421 tons, bound from Buenos Aires for Svenborg with 2,367 tons of maize.
Hawthornbank, 1,369 tons, en route from Buenos Aires to Svendborg with a load of maize
Sokoto, 2,259 tons, carrying a load of phosphate from Baltimore to Aarhus.
Wippern's score is now 7 ships and 7,475 tons.



Celtic Sea:
Max Viebeg, in UB-32, torpedoes British trropship HMS Ballarat, 11,120 tons, carrying troops, copper, antimony and a general cargo from Melbourne to the United Kingdom; just off the west end of the English Channel. The ship sinks while under tow in an attempt to save her. His score is now 14 ships and 20,181 tons.



North Sea:
Erich von Rohrscheidt, in UB-10, scuttles Dutch lugger Elizabeth, 147 tons, travelling from Saint Vallery to Rotterdam with a load of stones and planster. His score is now 3 vessels and 2,666 tons.

Ludwig Schaafhausen, in UB-34, uses his deck gun to sink Danish barque Este, 1,420 tons, carrying a load of oilcake from Galveston to Aalborg. This is Schaafhousen's only sinking. He served out the war in an unknown capacity and left the naval service in 1920. Ater that nothing is knowm.



Bay of Biscay:
Reinhold Saltzwedel, in UC-21, sinks French freighter SS Baigorry, 2,161 tons, bound from Bayonne for an unknown destination. His score is now 69 ships and 101,808 tons.

Gustav Buch, in UC-36, torpedoes British freighter SS Hirondelle, 1,648 tons, carrying a general cargo from London to Bordeaux; southeast of Belle Ile. His score is now 14 ships and 18,216 tons.

[Jimbuna]

26th April 1917

Western Front

German attacks on Gavrelle (Arras) and Chemin des Dames (Aisne) repulsed.

Southern Front

British repulse Bulgar night attack (26-27 April) on Hill 380 (Doiran-Vardar front).

Naval and Overseas Operations

German Naval raid on Ramsgate, night 26-27 April; two killed, three wounded.

Political, etc.

Preliminary conferences between the U.S. government and the French war mission begin in Washington D.C.

French Socialists refuse to send representatives to Stockholm Conference on 15 May.

Germany begins calling up men previously exempted by the draft due to their work in vital industries. Women will take their place.

Ship Losses:

Active (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the North Sea 65 nautical miles (120 km) east by south of the Longstone Lighthouse by SM UC-50 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Agnes Cairns (United Kingdom) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the English Channel 8 nautical miles (15 km) north east of Alderney, Channel Islands by SM UC-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Aigle (France) The brigantine was scuttled in the English Channel 11 nautical miles (20 km) south west of Start Point, Devon, United Kingdom by SM UC-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Alhama (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UB 12 (Ernst Steindorff) and sank in the English Channel off Calais, Pas-de-Calais, France. Her crew survived.
Amsteldijk (Netherlands) The trawler was sunk in the North Sea off the Haaks Lightship ( Netherlands) (52°56′N 4°10′E) by SM UC-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by the trawler Voorbode ( Netherlands.
Athole (United Kingdom) The auxiliary ketch was shelled and sunk in the English Channel 20 nautical miles (37 km) south of the Owers Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM UC-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Augusta (Italy) The barque was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea north east of Cap Bon, Tunisia (37°22′N 11°31′E) by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Boy Dennis (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the English Channel 10 nautical miles (19 km) south south west of Start Point, Devon by SM UC-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Bretagne et Vendée (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the English Channel off Alderney (49°51′N 2°04′W) by SM UC-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Chertsey (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) north of Algiers, Algeria (36°52′N 3°05′W) by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ehrglis (Russia) The sailing vessel was set afire and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (51°50′N 17°49′W) by SM U-43 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Gennarino (Italy) The three-masted schooner was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea off Cap Bon (37°26′N 11°26′E) by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Harflete (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed, shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 200 nautical miles (370 km) north west by west of the Fastnet Rock (51°54′N 14°48′W) by SM U-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Hekla (Norway) The three-masted schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 120 nautical miles (220 km) north west of the Slyne Head Lighthouse, County Galway, United Kingdom by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Hektoria (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (50°38′N 18°40′W) by SM U-43 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
John Lockett (Norway) The barque was scuttled in the English Channel 25 nautical miles (46 km) south of The Lizard, Cornwall, United Kingdom (49°32′N 5°05′W) by SM UC-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Kong Oscar II (Norway) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Seine Estuary by SM UB-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Monitor (United Kingdom) The schooner was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) south by east of Cap d'Antibes, Alpes-Maritimes, France (43°11′N 7°52′E) by SM U-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Plantin (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 72 (Ernst Voigt) and sank in the English Channel 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) east of Anvil Point, Dorset with the loss of nine of her crew.
HMT Repro (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 41 (Kurt Bernis) and sank in the North Sea off Tod Head, Aberdeenshire (56°53′N 2°08′W) with the loss of thirteen of her crew.
Rio Lages (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 155 nautical miles (287 km) north west by north of the Fastnet Rock (51°38′N 12°52′W) by SM U-69 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.
Telefon (Norway) The sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea (54°57′N 1°48′E) by SM UC-50 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Vauxhall (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 110 nautical miles (200 km) north west by west of the Fastnet Rock (51°45′N 12°30′W) by SM U-69 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.

[August]

April 26th 1917 Ghent Belgium

The 8th Bavarian Infantry Regiment having suffered severe losses during the battle of Arras (the second and third battalions had been rendered combat ineffective) had been sent, along with the rest of the 14th Bavarian Infantry Division, to a rest camp behind the lines to recover and resupply. Today they boarded trains for the eastern Front.

[Sailor Steve]

April 26, 1917

United States:
The Pacific Aero Products Company is renamed the Boeing Airplane Company.

Air War:
0615 French pilots Armand de Turenne, René Montrion and a Cpl Conan share a victory over an Albatros C.V. Number 2 for de Turenne, munber 1 for Montrion.

0920 German ace Julius Buckler, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a French observation balloon for victory number 6. The observer, Sgt S.C. Saudet, is killed.

1100 Italian ace Francesco Baracca and pilot Luigi Gorini, both in Nieuport 17s, share a victory over a Hansa-Brandenburg C.I. Number 8 for Baracca, unknown for Gorini.

1150 German ace Heinrich Gontermann, in an Albatros D.III, destroys a British observation balloon for victory number 17.

1530 Canadian RNAS pilot Arnold Jacques Chadwick, in Sopwith Pup N9899, shoots down an Albatros D.II for victory number 1.

1600 German ace Kurt Schneider, flying an Albatros D.III, destroys an observation balloon for victory number 11.

1635 German ace Kurt Wolff, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down BE.2g A2806 for victory number 21. Lt Humphrey Brian Thomasson Hope and 2nd Lt Lawson Ellis Allan are both killed.

1720 English RFC pilot James Green, in FE.2b 5247, with 2nd Lt H.E. Freeman-Smith as observer, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 4.

1730 English RNAS pilot Charles Booker, in Sopwith Triplane N5482, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 4.

1830 German ace Lothar von Richthofen, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down BE.2c 2826 for victory number 11. 2nd Lt William Samuel Spence and Lt William Archibald Campbell are both killed.

1905 Scottish RFC ace William Patrick, flying SPAD VII B1524, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 6.

1915 Irish RNAS ace Francis Casey, in Sopwith Pup N6182, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 7.

1915 Canadian RNAS ace John Malone, in Sopwith Pup N6202, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 10.

1915 English RFC pilot Harold Leslie Satchell, in FE.2d A5149, with AM2 M. Todd as observer, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

1920 English RFC ace Albert Ball, in SE.5 A4850, shoots down an Albatros D.III and thnn a Siemens-Schuckart D.I for victories 34 and 35.

1920 English RNAS pilot Herbert Ellis, flying Nieuport 17 B1519, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 3.

1930 German ace Karl Allmenröder, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down BE.2g A2859, shoots down BE.2g A2859 for victory number 8. 2nd Lt W.K. Mercer is wounded but manages to crash on his own side of the lines. Pvt Pea is unharmed.

German pilot Erich Hahn, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down SPAD VII 1447 for victory number 4. French 7-kill ace René Doumer is killed.

Italian pilot Attilio Imolesi, in a Nieuport, claims a Hansa-Brandenburg C.I, but it is Unconfirmed.



North Atlantic Ocean, far west of Ireland:
Hellmuth Jürst, commanding U-43, sinks two vessels in the open ocean:
Rusian sailing vessel Ehrglis, 238 tons, bound from Pensacola for fleetwood; set on fire.
Norwegian freighter SS Hektoria, 5,002 tons, en route from Philadelphia to Birkenhead with a load of oil.
Jürst's score is now 33 ships and 75,929 tons.

Hans Rose, in U-53, scuttles Danish schooner Hekla, 169 tons, carrying a load of pitch pine from Darien to Fleetwood. His score is now 38 vessels and 91,052 tons.

Ernst Wilhelms, in U-69, sinks two British freighters:
SS Rio Lages, 3,591 tons, headed from Cienfuegos to Queenstown with a load of sugar.
SS Vauxhall, 3,629 tons, hauling a load of phosphate rock from Sfax to Dublin.
Wilhelms' score is now 18 ships and 53,431 tons.

Otto Wünsche, in U-70, sinks British freighter SS Harflete, 4,814 tons, carrying a load of sugar from Cienfuegos to Queenstown. His score is now 60 ships and 94,552 tons.



English Channel:
British freighter SS Alhama, en route from Bayonee to Dunkerque with a load of pit props, hits a mine laid by Ernst Steindorff in UB-12, raising his score to 5 ships and 5,677 tons.

Reinhold Saltzwedel, in UC-21, scuttles British fishing boat Boy Denis, 41 tons, off Start Point, Devon, bringing his total to 70 vessels and 101,949 tons.

Paul Hundius, in UC-47, scuttles two vessels off Start Point:
French brigantine Aigle, 172 tons, carrying scrap steel from Saint Malo to Briton Ferry.
Norwegian freighter SS John Lockett, 842 tons, travelling in ballast from Le Havre to Savanna-la-Mer, Jamaica.
Hundius' score is now 42 ships and 43,997 tons.

Otto Steinbrinck, in UC-65, sinks three vessels off Alderney Island:
British sailing vessel Agnes Cairnes, 146 tons, en route from Portsmouth to Guernsey with a load of coal; scuttled.
British motor barge Athole, travelling in ballast from Le Havre to Shoreham; deck gun.
French dandy Bretagne Et Vendee, 79 tons.
Steinbrinck's tally is now 157 vessels and 145,808 tons.

His Majesty's Drifter Plantin, 84 tons, hits a mine laid off Anvil Point, Isle of Purbeck by Ernst Voight in UC-72, bringing his score to 42 vessels and 13,252 tons.



North Sea:
Kurt Siewert, in UB-16, begins his u-boat career with an attack on Norwegian freighter SS Kongsli, 5,826 tons, travelling from Portland, Maine to Rotterdam with a load of grain, off IJmunden. The damaged ship is beached and later refloated and repaired.

Wilhelm Amberger, in UB-38, sinks Norwegian barque Kong Oscar II, 842 tons, travelling in ballast from Le Havre to Barbados; off Cap de la Hève. His score is now 14 ships and 14,307 tons.

British auxiliary minesweeper HMPMS Mercury, 378 tons, hits a mine laid by Benno von Ditfurth in UC-11, off the Sunk lightship. The vessel is only damaged, and returns to service after repairs.

His Majesty's Trawler Repro, 230 tons, hits a mine laid off Tod Head by Kurt Bernis in UC-41. His score is now 14 vessels and 6,890 tons.

Rudolf Seuffer, in UC-50, sinks two vessels:
British trawler Active, 149 tons.
Norwegian freighter SS Telefon, 777 tons, en route from Fredrikshald to West Hartlepool with a load of pit props.
Seuffer's score is now 15 ships and 12,882 tons.

Karl Neumann, in UC-67, sinkss British freighter SS Chertsey, 3,264 tons, carrying a load of coal from Tyne to Alexandria; north of Algiers. His score is now 24 ships and 24,380 tons.



Ligurian Sea:
Gustav Seiß, in U-33, scuttlds British schooner Monitor, 138 tons, travelling in ballast from Livorno to Cadiz. His score is now 22 vessels and 131,461 tons



Mediterranean Sea:
Gerhard Schulz, in UC-27, scuttles two ships off Cap Bon (between Tusisia and Sicily):
Itallian barque Augusta, 686 tons, bound from Tunis to Alexandria with a load of phosphate.
Italian schooner Gennarino, 248 tons, travelling from Tunis to Italy with a load of phosphate.
Schulz's score is now 8 vessels and 8,725 tons.

Karsten von Heydebreck, in UC-63, sinks Dutch trawler Amsteldjik, 186 tons, off the Haaks lightship, bringing his total to 7 vessels and 2,316 tons.

[Jimbuna]

27th April 1917

Western Front

French offensive on the Aisne checked.

Political, etc.

British imports in March decreased by £5.1 million, in part due to the German submarine warfare.

Speech of Mr. Lloyd George re: present position and future policy. In a speech, Premier Lloyd George states victory is in sight and declares Ireland must be won over.

Mexican government warns its German residents to not congregate at the U.S.-Mexican border or else they will face arrest.

Guatemala breaks diplomatic relations with Germany.

Talaat Pasha, the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, states they will not seek territorial annexations after the war.

Ship Losses:

HMT Agile (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by
UC 11 (Benno von Ditfurth) and sank in the North Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) east of the Sunk Lightship ( United Kingdom) with the loss of three of her crew.
HMS Alfalfa (Royal Navy) The collier was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) off the Isles of Scilly (49°15′N 6°20′W) by SM UB-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 30 crew.
Beemah (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) south west by south of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly by SM UB-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.
Burrowa (United Kingdom) The four-masted barque was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) west of the Isles of Scilly by SM UC-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Dromore (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 140 nautical miles (260 km) west of Tory Island, County Donegal (56°30′N 11°40′W) by SM U-58 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Dunmore Head (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 135 nautical miles (250 km) west of Tory Island (56°12′N 12°00′W) by SM U-62 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Glencluny (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) north west of Cape Sigli, Algeria by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew.
Good Hope (United Kingdom) The ketch was shelled and sunk in the English Channel 15 nautical miles (28 km) north north west of Barfleur, Manche, France by SM UC-72 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Inveramsay (United Kingdom) The barque was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north west of Ireland (56°00′N 11°30′W) by SM U-62 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all hands.
Jessie (United Kingdom) The schooner was scuttled in the English Channel 7 nautical miles (13 km) west of Portland Bill, Dorset by SM UB-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Karuma (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north of Cape Sigle (37°09′N 4°50′E) by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
Langfond (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (58°49′N 10°53′W) by SM U-58 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Mafalda (Italy) The brigantine was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea (43°06′N 7°40′E) by SM U-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Manchester Citizen (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 240 nautical miles (440 km) north west of the Fastnet Rock (52°30′N 15°40′W) by SM U-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Margaret B. Rouss (United States) The schooner was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 42 nautical miles (78 km) south of Monaco by SM U-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Nidelven (Norway) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 29 (Ernst Rosenow) and sank in the North Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) north east of Coquet Island, Northumberland, United Kingdom (55°29′N 1°27′W) with the loss of three of her crew.
Ragnhild (Norway) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 29 (Ernst Rosenow) and sank in the North Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) north of the mouth of the River Tyne (55°16′N 1°22′W) with the loss of two of her crew.
Uranus (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-81 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Verjø (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 10 nautical miles (19 km) north of the Stiff Lighthouse, Ouessant, Finistère, France by SM UC-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of ten of her crew.