100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

May 1:

Air War: The precise date is unavailable, but it is around this time that Idflieg asks all the major aircraft manufacturers to look at the captured Morane of Roland Garros and see if they can copy his deflector plate system for shooting through his propeller. Several will try, but the initial success will come from the Fokker corporation. The M5K monoplane, itself an unlicensed version of Morane's model 'H', will be fitted with the world's first working synchronizer and put into service the following month.

Louis Strange doesn't give the exact date in his autobiography, but sometime right around the end of April and first of May he scores his second victory, which is unconfirmed.
It was out of the question to think of trying to mount Lewis guns on our B.E.2c's, and as the German anti-aircraft guns had grown more numerous while many German pilots became more daring when their aeroplanes were equipped with machine guns, we did not often fly without excitement of some sort or other. Many duels were fought in the air above Houthulst Forest, Menin, and Hollebecke, usually without any definite results, but one day Lieut. Awcock and I managed to account for an Aviatik which had attacked us six times.

It was getting late in the evening when we fought this Hun machine, and the setting sun sent out dazzling rays. After a certain amount of maneuvering I managed to get our machine between the sun and the enemy, meaning to have a shot at him when he came close enough. My patience was rewarded, for I was able to pounce on him when he had the sun in his eyes, and I do not think he saw me at all, for he let me fly under him at so close a distance that it was impossible to miss. Awcock only needed to fire one shot from the old, stripped rifle, and when we got clear we saw the Aviatik roll over and shoot down out of the sky in a vertical spin. We watched it until it disappeared in the hazy dusk over Houthulst Forest. We followed our vanquished foeman down, but failed to discover the wreckage of his machine ; in all probability it crashed in the wood itself, which at that time was a veritable armed camp. It was unhealthy for us to drop low, and so we were never able to get confirmation of this lucky hit. During this same period Strange is wounded by anti-aircraft fire:
Not long afterwards the gunner of a German Archie did his best to avenge our victory over his fellow-countryman, for a spent piece of one of his shells hit me in the leg. It made a nasty wound, which was not very deep, and so I did not report it when I got back to the aerodrome, but merely dosed it with iodine and bandaged it myself. My leg was stiff for some days afterwards, but otherwise I was none the worse for this amateur doctoring and achieved my main object, which was to avoid being sent back to the base for treatment and then posted to some other squadron when discharged. I was greatly attached to No. 6 Squadron and would have done anything to avoid a transfer. I greatly missed the Lewis gun of my old Avro in No. 5 Squadron, but after dint of much pleading I was given a scout machine like Hawker's. The Martinsyde S.1 scout is the preferred single-seat fighter of the RFC at this time, and is fitted with a Lewis gun mounted to the top wing.



New York: RMS Lusitania departs for Liverpool. On April 22 the German embassy had issued a warning that British ships would be attacked and anyone travelling on them did so at their own risk. Despite this the ship carries many American passengers. This notice was placed alongside the advertisement for Lusitania's sailing, published on the same day, May 1.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Lusitania_warning_zpspapcvspg.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Lusitania_warning_zpspapcvspg.jpg.html)



Atlantic Ocean: In the Western Approaches Erich von Rosenberg-Grusczyski in U-30 sinks two ships: SS Edale, 3,110 tons, bound from Rosario to Manchester with a load of wheat and linseed, and the French steamer SS Europe, heading from Barry to St. Nazaire with a load of coal. He also damages the American tanker SS Gulflight. His score is now 8 ships and 18,165 tons.

Walter Forstman, commanding U-39, sinks the Norwegian freighter SS Balduin, 1,059 tons, heading from Drammen to London with a cargo of lumber and wood pulp. He then stops and sinks the Swedish sailing vessel Elsa, 120 tons, travelling from Halmstad to Granton with a load of mine props.

Erich Haeker in UB-6 also scores his first sinking when he torpedoes the destroyer HMS Recruit.



German East Africa: At 0415 HMS Chatham sights the Moresby Point lighthouse at Mafia Island. At 0650 she anchors off Niororo Island. At 0830 she begins coaling from SS Cento.

HMS Hyacinth departs Niororo for Zanzibar. HMS Weymouth accompanies her on the trip.

HMS Kinfauns Castle departs Niororo for North Fanjove Island for Durban.
HMS Laconia anchors off Niororo Island, and notes Kinfauns Castle's departure.



Saudi Arabia: Suleiman Pasha, Sheik of Al Wajh, takes a liking to Hellmuth von Mücke and helps him collect the camels necessary for the next stage of their journey. Suleiman also tells von Mücke that he will personally conduct their caravan through his territory.

[Jimbuna]

2nd May 1915

Western Front

Second Battle of Ypres: German attack repulsed near St. Julien.

German forces launch a series of gas attacks on British positions at Hill 60 in Flanders but are unable to advance.

Eastern Front

Austro-Germans take Gorlitse and Ciezkowica and cross the Biala (Galicia).

Russians take Mt. Makovoka (near Styrj), but lose it again.

Southern Front

Dardanelles: Turkish attack and Franco-British counter-attack; British fail at Gaba Tepe.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Gallipoli Campaign
Albion, battleship, Canopus-class, 14,300t, 4-12in/12-6in, just returned from repairing damage sustained on 28 April, providing gunfire support with Agamemnon, Goliath, Prince George and Vengeance off southern beachheads, operating on French right. Hit badly by Turkish gunfire from Asiatic shore in evening, retired to Mudros again to make good the damage; one man DOW on this date, not known if he was wounded at this time. Next day Prince George, Majestic-class, c16,000t, 4-12in/12-6in, was holed on the waterline by a 6in shell from the Asiatic batteries, had to leave for Mudros, and then for Malta to dock.

Battle off Noordhinder Bank results in a British victory; 1 British naval trawler is sunk vs 2 German torpedo boats sunk.

Russian Black Sea fleet shells the forts on the Bosporus.

Union forces occupy the Otjimingwe (German south-west Africa).

Political, etc.

Turkish Minister of War sends British and French subjects into the danger zone at Gallipoli.

Clara Immerwahr, first woman to get a doctorate in chemistry in Germany, commits suicide. It is speculated that she was troubled by her husband Fritz Haber’s work on chemical weapons.
http://i.imgur.com/aAFJzu8.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/g0L72kf.png

Berlin lifts the restriction on the use of oxen for transport in the city, as many horses have been requisitioned for military use.

Ship Losses:

America ( Norway): The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 200 nautical miles (370 km) off Bergen, Nordland (57°20′N 1°09′W) by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her 39 crew were rescued by Sterling ( Norway).
Cruiser ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) south east of Aberdeen by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her eleven crew. The survivors were rescued by T. W. Stewart ( United Kingdom).
Ellida ( Sweden): The cargo ship was reported to have been torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea by a German submarine but probably hit a mine. All eighteen people on board were rescued by Jeno ( Denmark).
Martaban ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 22 nautical miles (41 km) east of Aberdeen by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Mercury ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 14 nautical miles (26 km) east by north of Girdleness, Aberdeenshire by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
St. George ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 65 nautical miles (120 km) east of Aberdeen by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived but were taken as prisoners of war.
St. Louis No.1 ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 60 nautical miles (110 km) east by north of the Isle of May, Fife by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Sunray ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 56 nautical miles (104 km) north by east of the Longstone Lighthouse by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

http://i.imgur.com/dVqnDx9.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/2V9Fisk.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

May 2:

North Sea: Walter Forstmann, in U-39, sinks the trawlers St. Louis No. 1, 211 tons, and Sunray, 165 tons, bringing his score to 4 ships and 1,555 tons.

Claus Hansen, commanding U-41, sinks the Norwegian steamer SS America, 3,706 tons, sailing from Boston to Bergen with a general cargo. Hansen then attacks a British fishing fleet, sinking four trawlers - Cruiser, 146 tons, Mataban, 148 tons, Mercury, 222 tons, and St. George, 215 tons.



Mediterranean Sea: Collier SS Kendal Castle is sent ahead of the monitors' convoy to make arrangements for coaling at Port Said. Her crew are under restriction: no shore leave and no one from outside to be allowed on board.



German East Africa: HMS Chatham moves to Niororo Island and takes on more coal from SS Cento. Later Chatham moves to Koma Island.

HMS Hyacinth and Weymouth arrive at Zanzibar.

HMS Kinfauns Castle departs Fanjove Point for Durban.

HMS Laconia moves from Niororo Island to Mafia Island and back again.



Saudi Arabia: Escorted by Suleiman Pasha and a contingent of his guard, Hellmuth von Mücke's party of German sailors set out on camelback for Al Ula, roughly 150 miles away.

[Jimbuna]

3rd May 1915

Western Front

Second Battle of Ypres: Withdrawal to new British line completed.

Germans again driven back.

Eastern Front

Germans continue to advance towards Mitau (Baltic Provinces); 8,200 prisoners reported.

German and Austro-Hungarian troops push back Russian forces in Galicia, capturing over 8000 prisoners.

Southern Front

Dardanelles: Turks unsuccessfully attack the French lines at Gallipoli.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Submarine E14 sinks a Turkish gunboat in the Sea of Marmora.

Swedish steamer Roxane was taken as a prize by U 41 (Claus Hansen) off Aberdeen and conducted to List (Sylt). Vessel later released.

Political, etc.

Italy denounces the Triple Alliance.

Advertisement in American papers states that ships flying the British flag are liable to destruction in the war zone.

Due to friction between the American Relief Commission & German authorities in Belgium, over 200 barges of food are laid up at Rotterdam.

Japanese Cabinet and War Council meets to consider using military force to force China to accept the 21 Demands.

The Gishun Maru becomes the first Japanese merchantman to enter New York Harbour.

Major John McCrae begins writing the poem “In Flanders Fields”
IN Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Ship Losses:

Bob White ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 125 nautical miles (232 km) east of Spurn Point, Yorkshire by SM U-9 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by the trawler Leonardo ( United Kingdom).
Coquet ( United Kingdom): The trawler was captured and scuttled in the North Sea 160 nautical miles (300 km) east north east of Spurn Point by SM U-9 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her nine crew were rescued by the trawler Etruscan ( United Kingdom).
Hector ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 160 nautical miles (300 km) east north east of Spurn Point by SM U-9 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her nine crew were rescued by the trawler Etruscan ( United Kingdom).
Hero ( United Kingdom): The trawler was captured and scuttled in the North Sea 150 nautical miles (280 km) east north east of Hornsea, Yorkshire by SM U-9 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by the trawler Leonardo ( United Kingdom).
Iolanthe ( United Kingdom): The trawler was captured and scuttled in the North Sea 140 nautical miles (260 km) east north east of Hornsea by SM U-9 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by the trawler Leonardo ( United Kingdom).
Minterne ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) south west of the Wolf Rock by SM U-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two or her 25 crew. The survivors were rescued by two fishing vessels.
Northward Ho ( United Kingdom): The trawler was captured and scuttled in the North Sea 125 nautical miles (232 km) east north east of Hornsea by SM U-9 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by the trawler Leonardo ( United Kingdom).
Oscar ( Norway): The sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea south west of Lindesnen, Vest-Agder (56°55′N 4°20′E) by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by the trawler Leonardo ( United Kingdom).
Progress ( United Kingdom): The trawler was captured and scuttled in the North Sea 155 nautical miles (287 km) east north east of Spurn Point by SM U-9 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her eleven crew were rescued by the trawler Etruscan ( United Kingdom).
Scottish Queen ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) east south east of Aberdeen by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Uxbridge ( United Kingdom): The trawler caught a mine in her nets and was sunk when it exploded. All nine crew were rescued by another trawler.

[Sailor Steve]

May 3:

North Sea: U-9 was the submarine used by Otto Weddigen to sink the armoured cruisers Aboukir, Cressy and Hogue. Johannes Spieß is now commanding U-9, and his first encounter is with a British fishing fleet. Spieß captures and scuttles seven trawlers: Bob White, 191 tons, Coquet, 176 tons, Hector, 179 tons, Hero, 173 tons, Iolanthe, 179 tons, Northward Ho, 180 tons, and Progress, 273 tons. His initial tally is 7 ships for 1,351 tons.

Erich von Rosenberg-Grusczyski, commanding U-30, sinks SS Minterne, 3018 tons, tavelling from Cardiff to Buenos Aires with a cargo of coal. His score is now 9 ships and 21,183 tons.

Walter Forstman in U-39 captures and scuttles the trawler Scottish Queen, 125 tons, bringing his score to 5 ships and 1,680 tons.

Claus Hansen in U-41 scuttles the Trawler Oscar, 107 tons, and takes the trawler Roxane as a prize. Roxane is later released. Hansen's total is now 6 ships and 4,562 tons.



Mediterranean Sea: The tugs Blackcock and Revenger catch up to the monitors' convoy, and Southampton returns to Malta. That evening the convoy arrives at Port Said. After several hours taking on coal and water the convoy enters the Suez Canal.



German East Africa: HMS Chatham has taken Weymouth's place watching the Rufiji Delta.

HMS Hyacinth is still at Zanzibar, the crew employed in painting the ship.

HMS Kinfauns Castle is en route to Durban.

HMS Laconia spends the day coaling and taking on stores for the seaplanes.

HMS Weymouth is also still at Zanzibar.



Saudi Arabia: Hellmuth von Mücke's caravan spends its first day crossing the desert.

[Jimbuna]

4th May 1915

Western Front

Second Battle of Ypres: French advance between Lizerne and Het Sas; Germans capture Zonnebeke, Wetshoek and Zevenkote.

Battle of St. Julien comes to a close as British forces withdraw towards new defensive lines closer to Ypres.

Eastern Front

Severe fighting in Galicia: Russians stand on the Visloka River. Austro-Hungarian and German troops continue their advance in Galicia and claim they have captured 30,000 Russian soldiers.

Southern Front

Dardanelles: British failure at Gaba Tepe.

Naval

The US Navy launches the USS Tucker, the lead ship of the Tucker-class destroyer.
http://i.imgur.com/k0SSqmc.jpg

Political, etc.

David Lloyd George states that if the war continues for another 6 months, it would cost £2.1 million (£150 million today) per day.

Irish Parliamentary Party protest the proposed taxation of spirits and beers, as it would disproportionately hurt Ireland’s industries.

Italy denounces the Triple Alliance.

Japanese Legation in Peking advises its citizens to leave the city; 100,000 Chinese troops prepare to defend the capital.

Ship Losses:

Elsa ( Sweden): The schooner was sunk in the North Sea south east of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her five crew were rescued by Sernebo ( Sweden).
Rugby ( United Kingdom): The trawler was captured and scuttled in the North Sea 100 nautical miles (190 km) east north east of the Spurn Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM U-9 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Vanadis ( Sweden): The coaster was shelled and sunk in the Baltic Sea by SMS Silvana ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

May 4:

North Sea: Johannes Spieß, commanding U-9, stops the trawler Rugby, 205 tons, allows the crew to abandon ship, then torpedoes her. This brings his score to 8 ships and 1,556 tons.

Walter Forstmann in U-39 sinks the Swedish sailing vessel Elsa, 329 tons, bound from Hälsingborg to Granton with a load of timber. His score is now 6 ships and 2,009 tons.



Saudi Arabia: Hellmuth von Mücke's caravan reaches the foot of the Hijaz mountain range. He notes that the wells in the mountains are much cleaner and better maintained than those in the desert. Suleiman Pasha informs the Germans that there is running water near the ridge they will cross on the way to Al Ula. The Arabs are surprised to see the Germans, due to their earlier experiences, dig trenches and throw up makeshift fortifications when they make the night's camp.

[Jimbuna]

5th May 1915

Western Front

Second Battle of Ypres: Germans gain a foothold on Hill 60.

Eastern Front

Germans bombard Grodno; are checked south of Mitau.

Russian troops begin retreating from the Carpathian passes, as the recent Austro-Hungarian & German advance threatens to cut them off.

Southern Front

Allied troops at Gallipoli, with the support of naval gunfire, fight back several counterattacks by Ottoman troops.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Turks reported severely beaten by Russians in Armenia.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Cunard Line announces it will resume service for the Mauretania on the New York to Liverpool line as the route is deemed safe.

Japanese warships enter Liaodong Bay to add further pressure on the Chinese government.

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

General Botha reports that retreating German troops in Southwest Africa have poisoned wells with arsenical cattle wash.

Political etc.

Premier Asquith states Britain will avenge all German crimes & is keeping record of all grievances so that proper punishment may be given.

Ship Losses:

Cathay ( Denmark): The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea either after striking a mine. All 43 people on board survived.
Earl of Lathom ( United Kingdom): The three-masted schooner was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 8 nautical miles (15 km) south west of Kinsale, County Cork by SM U-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine).[30][38] Her five crew were rescued by a drifter.
Sceptre ( United Kingdom): The fishing vessel was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) south east by south of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Straton ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east of Hartlepool, County Durham by SM U-9 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by the trawler Loch Katrine ( United Kingdom).

French soldiers pose behind an unexploded German shell, "weighing 900 kg and containing 300 kg worth of explosives"
http://i.imgur.com/EMtYEsZ.png

[Sailor Steve]

May 5:

Atlantic Ocean: Walther Schwieger in U-20 sinks the 132-ton sailing vessel Earl of Lathom, bound from Connah's Quay to Limerick. This gives hims a total of 6 ships and 20,646 tons.



North Sea: Johannes Spieß, in U-9, stops and sinks the trawler Straton, 198 tons. His score is now 9 ships and 1,754 tons.

Walter Forstmann in U-39 sinks the fishing vessel Sceptre, 166 tons. He now has 7 ships and 2,175 tons.



Suez Canal: As the monitors' convoy proceeds southward, the tug Sarah Joliffe is fired upon by Turkish troops. Her armoured deckhouse prevents any harm.



German East Africa: HMS Laconia moves from Niororo to Mafia Island. At 1330 hours Short Folder No. 119, flown by Lt. Watkins, departs on a flight to reconoiter SMS Königsberg.Though Watkins stays at what should be a safe distance, a lucky hit by an anti-arcraft gun destroys the Short's rudder.
1615 HMS Chatham recalls her libertymen ashor.
1619 Lt. Cull takes No. 122 aloft to look for the missing plane.
1630 A motorboat is sent to search.
1640 HMS Chatham weighs anchor and proceeds at 19 knots to help search for the missing plane.
Unknown time: Apparently Short 122 suffers some kind of failure, because 119 is left as a wreck and 122 is towed home.
1736 Lookouts aboard Chatham spot the missing plane.
1818 HMS Fly picks up both pilots and takes No. 122 in tow.
1945 HMS Laconia is informed of the position of the wrecked seaplane.
2020 The motorboat returns.



Saudi Arabia: As von Mücke's party passes the top of the mountains, he notes that the promised stream is not deep enough for bathing. "In fact, the water in the tiny rivulet that we saw did move, but any one of us could easily have stopped its flow for some time, by stepping into it with both feet."

[Jimbuna]

6th May 1915

Western Front

Second Battle of Ypres: British recover some trenches on Hill 60.

Eastern Front

Austria-Hungarian troops recaptures Tarnow (Galicia) and drive the Russians back across Wisloka River.

Southern Front

Dardanelles: 2nd Battle of Krithia begins as Allied troops again attempt taking the village, but is unable to advance more than a few hundred meters.
Sub-Lt Arthur Walderne St Clair Tisdall RNVR (Anson Battalion, RN Division) killed ashore on 6th, awarded Victoria Cross for gallantry.

Naval and Overseas Operations

North Sea
Two sorties towards the German coast were thwarted by dense fog and resultant collisions involving three destroyers:

Comet and Nemesis, H-class, 970t, 2nd DF Grand Fleet, two of eight destroyers escorting minelayer Orvieto from Scapa into Heligoland Bight. In collision, Nemesis "seriously damaged"; no casualties.

Lennox, L-class, c1,300t, 3rd DF, with Harwich Force of light cruisers and destroyers escorting seaplane carriers for attempted raid, fog so thick twice had to anchor. Lennox rammed by one of the carriers and Force recalled; no casualties.

Western Mediterranean
TB.92, torpedo boat, Thornycroft 140ft-type, 130t, 1894, 3-3pdr/3-14in tt, Gibraltar Patrol, with one or more TB's watching area to east of Gibraltar for expected U-boats entering the Mediterranean, sighted submarine. Torpedo fired at TB.92, 40 miles W of Alboran island, submarine dived and two attempts made to ram. Believed to be U.21 which left the Ems on 25 April, reaching Cattaro on 13 May.

Political etc.

Mr. Harcourt makes a statement as to poisoning of wells by Germans in south-west Africa.

Ship Losses:

Candidate ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in St. George's Channel 13 nautical miles (24 km) south by east of the Coningbeg Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM U-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Centurion ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in St. George's Channel 120 nautical miles (220 km) south of the Coningbeg Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM U-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Don ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 100 nautical miles (190 km) east by south of Spurn Point, Yorkshire with the loss of seven of her crew.
Merrie Islington ( United Kingdom): The trawler was captured and scuttled in the North Sea 6 nautical miles (11 km) north north east of Whitby, Yorkshire by SM U-9 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her nine crew survived.
Truro ( United Kingdom): The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 85 nautical miles (157 km) east north east of St Abb's Head, Berwickshire by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine).[30][44] Her twenty crew were rescued by Tanjeu ( Norway).

[Sailor Steve]

May 6:

Irish Sea, between Ireland and Wales: Walther Schwieger in U-20 sinks two big freighters - SS Candidate, 5,858 tons, heading from Liverpool to Jamaica with a General cargo, and then SS Centurion, 5,495 tons, bound from Liverpool to South Africa, also with a general (mixed) cargo. His score is now 9 ships and 31,999 tons.



Atlantic Ocean: At 1952 hours Captain William Thomas Turner of RMS Lusitania, en route from New York to Liverpool, receives a warning from the British Admiralty: "SUBMARINES ACTIVE OFF SOUTH COAST OF IRELAND."

When passengers attending the Seamen's Charities Concert express concern, Captain Turner tells the audience that there had indeed been a submarine warning, but that "On entering the war zone tomorrow we shall be securely in the care of the Royal Navy."

At 2030 there is a second Admiralty Warning: "TO ALL BRITISH SHIPS: TAKE LIVERPOOL PILOT AT BAR AND AVOID HEADLANDS. PASS HARBOURS AT FULL SPEED. STEER MID-CHANNEL COURSE. SUBMARINES OFF FASTNET." Turner orders that Lusitania maintain 21 knots unless fog is encountered, in which case he is to be awakened immediately. He also orders the lifeboats swung out, watertight bulkheads and portholes closed, lookouts doubled and the ship blacked out.



North Sea: Johannes Spieß, commanding U-9, stops the trawler Merrie Islington, 147 tons, and scuttles her, bringing his score to 10 ships and 1,901 tons.

Walter Forstmann in U-39 sinks the small freighter SS Truro, 836 tons, headed from Christiania to Grimsby with a load of wood, giving him 8 ships for 3,011 tons.



Red Sea: The monitors' convoy leaves the Suez Canal. Once in open water they begin to encounter a heavy following sea.



German East Africa: At 0635 HMS Chatham anchors above the wreck of Short 119 and sends divers down to examine the remains.

HMS Fly has spent all night towing Short 122 back to HMS Laconia. At 0735 they arrive and the seaplane is hoisted back aboard the armed merchant cruiser.



Saudi Arabia: As they descend the eastern slopes of the Hijaz Mountains Suleiman Pasha informs Hellmuth von Mücke that his territory does not quite reach Al Ula, and that the Sheik of that region is Suleiman's enemy. That Sheik is also unhappy with the Germans, as they had declined to hire his camels for the four hours they would be in his territory. Suleiman has put the word out to his people, and every few hours they are joined by another band of his followers. By the time they reach the desert again their party numbers more than four hundred men.

[Jimbuna]

7th May 1915

Eastern Front

Russians fall back to the Vistok, and retreat in the Carpathians.

Southern Front

The 2nd Battle of Krithia continues after Allied troops receive reinforcements, but they continue to face heavy Ottoman opposition.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Massacres of Christians in Ottoman Empire.

Naval and Overseas Operations

"Lusitania" torpedoed off south-west coast of Ireland; 1,198 men, women, and children drowned, including 124 U.S. citizens. (See http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?p=2312101#post2312101).

Political, etc.

Japan presents an ultimatum to China demanding agreement on 13 of the 21 Demands within 48 hours.

Sir Edward Grey sends a message to the Ottoman Government as to the placing of allied citizens in the danger zone.

Secretary of State Bryan states the US will not interfere in the current dispute between Japan & China unless US interests are threatened.

George Orson Welles is born in Kenosha, Wisconsin to Richard Head Welles and Beatrice Ives Welles.

Ship Losses:

Benington ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 180 nautical miles (330 km) south east of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Lusitania ( United Kingdom): Sinking of the RMS Lusitania: The ocean liner was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea off the Old Head of Kinsale, County Cork by SM U-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 1,195 of the 1,959 people on board.
HMS Maori ( Royal Navy): The Tribal-class destroyer struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Zeebrugge, West Flanders, Belgium.

So much more should have been added to this day but seriously short of real life time.

[iambecomelife]

A little something to commemorate a great anniversary... 100 years since "Lusitania" went down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sc6d8M-GlY

Let me know if you have sound issues...

[ABBAFAN]

There is a discrepancy between the causality figure in the two Lusitania passages. Incidentally I attended a memorial service at the Lusitania propeller this afternoon.

[Sailor Steve]

May 7:

Irish Sea, south of Ireland:

Morning: RMS Lusitania runs into a fog bank and slows to 15 knots, occasionally sounding her foghorn. Lusitania passes Fastnet Rock. Captain Turner notes in his log that they could not see this landmark.

1100: U- 20 is running at a depth of 20 meters when her crew hear propellers passing over head. Captain Walther Schwieger brings the boat up to 10 meters and raises his periscope. Rushing away is the old protected cruiser HMS Juno, 5,600 tons. Schwieger can only watch as the warship disappears into the fog.

1125: Another Admiralty warning is recieved: "SUBMARINE ACTIVITY IN SOUTHERN PART OF IRISH CHANNEL. LAST HEARD OF TWENTY MILES SOUTH OF CONINGBEG LIGHT VESSEL. MAKE CERTAIN LUSITANIA GETS THIS." At the same time Lusitania's lookouts sight the south coast of Ireland.

By 1200 hours the fog has lifted. Turner increases the ship's speed to 18 knots and orders a straight course so they can take their bearings when land is sighted. Schwieger, meanwhile, has surfaced U-20 to enjoy the fresh air and recharge the boat's batteries.

1240: Another wireless message is recieved: "SUBMARINE FIVE MILES SOUTH OF CAPE CLEAR, PROCEEDING WEST WHEN SIGHTED AT 10:00 A.M."

1300: Galley Head is sighted. Turner notes that they are further west than previously believed. He maintains his course and speed. About this same time the liner is spotted by the crew of U-20. Schwieger orders a dive and then watches as Lusitaina's course takes her safely away from his boat.

1325: Schwieger notes in his log "Have advanced eleven metres towards the steamer in hope it wil change its course along the Irish coast."

1330: Old Head of Kinsale is sighted by Lusitania's lookouts. Admiralty instructions are to maintain full speed when passing ports. Captain Turner decides that if he does this he will arrive at Liverpool before high tide, which will mean remaining outside the harbour for several hours, practically inviting an attack. Turner is also surprised that they have not been met by an escort vessel, which has been standard practice.

1335: Lusitania changes course to 87 degrees east. Schwieger notes in U-20's log "2.35 pm* Steamer turns, takes direction to Queenstown, and thereby makes it possible for us to approach for a shot. We proceed at high speed in order to reach correct firing position."

1410: U-20's log notes "3.10 pm Torpedo shot at distance of 700 metres, going three metres below the surface." Aboard Lusitania second officer Percy Hefford tells Captain Turner that the lookouts in the crow's nest report a torpedo wake approaching. Turner doesn't have time to give an order before the torpedo hits. Hefford goes below to make sure the portholes are secure.

At the subsequent inquest Turner stated "I at once gave an order to lower the boats down to the rails and I directed that women and children should get into them. I also had the bulkheads closed. I also gave orders to stop the ship, but we found that the engines were out of commission, and so could not reverse screws. It was not safe to lower boats until speed was off the vessel. As a matter of fact there was a perceptible headway on her up to the time she went down."

Schwieger's log notes "Hit steering centre behind bridge. Unusually great detonation with large cloud of smoke and debris shot above funnels. In addition to torpedo, a second explosion must have taken place. The ship stops and very quickly leans over to starboard, at the same time sinking by the bow. It looks as though it will capsize in a short time. There is great confusion on board. Boats are cleared and many of them lowered into the water. Many boats, fully loaded, drop down into the water bow or stern first and capsize. The boats on the port side cannot be made clear because of the heavy list."

Schwieger hands the periscope over to his first officer, who almost immediately says "My God! It's the Lusitania!" Schwieger takes the periscope back to confirm this for himself.

Later, in Wilhelmshaven, Schwieger will tell a fellow captain "It was the most terrible sight I have ever seen. The ship was sinking with unbelievable rapididty and there was a terrible panic on her decks. Desperate people ran helplessly up and down while men and women jumped onto the water and tried to swim to empy overturned lifeboats. The scene was too horrible to watch and I gave orders to dive to 20 metres, and away."

1411: Captain turner gives the order to swing Lusitania toward Kinsale, hoping to beach the ship. Quartermaster Robert Johnston attempts to do so, but the ship does not respond to the helm. Turner orders the engines reversed, but again there is no change. With the list steadily increasing the bridge crew abandon ship. Turner will later testify that at the time he believed himself to be the last person on board.

1428: Lusitania sinks in just 18 minutes.

Walther Schwieger is now Germany's leading U-boat ace, with 10 ships and 62,395 tons.



North Sea: Walter Forstmann in U-39 sinks the trawler Bennington, i31 tons, bringing his score to 8 ships and 3,142 tons.



Patrolling the Rufiji Delta, HMS Chatham recoals from the collier SS Zanoni.

HMS Kinfauns Castle arrives at Durban and recoals from lighters.



Saudi Arabia: Hellmuth von Mücke's caravan is now in sight of Al Ula. Suleiman Pasha has been sending out regular patrols to watch for an ambush by his rival Sheik. As they leave the mountains word is brought that this Sheik has been involved in a fight to the north, and is no threat.

Von Mücke decides to ride ahead to the town and telegraph for a train to pick them up. Suleiman Pasha accompanies him, along with his two sons and other officials of his court. When in sight of the town von Mücke stops to look with his binoculars. The Arabs are curious and von Mucke lets them all have a look.

Around noon they arrive at Al Ula, and von Mucke is surprised to find that arrangements have already been made. A special train is waiting for them. German and Turkish officers greet them with wine from the Rhine River area. When his men arrive there are flags flying and photographers snapping pictures. To their great delight they are provided with fresh uniforms, the first since the sinking of SMS Emden two days shy of six months previously.

*Apparently U-20's clocks are set to her home time zone. All of Schieger's logs are an hour ahead of Lusitania's.

Much of the information comes from this very well-written article.
http://www.rmslusitania.info/people/deck/william-turner/ (http://www.rmslusitania.info/people/deck/william-turner/)
The German side of the story is from The U-Boat War: 1914-1918, by Edwyn A. Gray

[Jimbuna]

8th May 1915

Western Front

Second Battle of Ypres: British lose Frezenberg Ridge under terrific shelling.

Eastern Front

Germans take Libau.

Further Russian retreat in Galicia.

Southern Front

2nd Battle of Krithia ends in an Ottoman victory as Allied troops suffer more than one-third casualties.

Naval

North Sea
Limewold, armed trawler, 189/1898, Grimsby-reg, hired 12/14, 1-6pdr, CO on shore sick, Acting Skipper C Bond i/c, on patrol. Shell burst close to the bows at 0430, 20 miles E of Peterhead, submarine spotted one and half miles away right astern and closing fast, turned and returned fire, claimed hit on waterline abreast of conning tower with fifth shot when range down to 600yds, submarine submerged.

Admiralty collier (and one steamship) captured and torpedoed by U.9 (Johannes Spiess):

DON, Admiralty collier, 939/1892, Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Co, Goole-reg, Mr W Adron, sailing Cromarty for Blyth in ballast. Sank around 0440, 7 miles E of Coquet Isle, off Amble (wi - in 55.21N, 01.20W).

Political etc.

German shops in Liverpool are attacks by mobs in anger over the Lusitania sinking.

Ship Losses:

Don ( United Kingdom): The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 7 nautical miles (13 km) east of Coquet Island by SM U-9 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Hellenic ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of three of her nine crew.
Lilian Drost ( Denmark): The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea (56°40′N 4°00′E) by SM U-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Queen Wilhelmina ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the North Sea off the Longstone Lighthouse by SM U-9 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was beached at Amble, Northumberland and was a total loss.

[Sailor Steve]

May 8:

Johannes Spieß, commanding U-9, sinks two British freighters: SS Don, 939 tons, bound from Comarty to Blyth in ballast, and Queen Wilhelmina, 3,590 tons, tavelling from Leith to Fowey, also in ballast. His score is now 12 ships and 6,438 tons.

Aboard U-36 Ernst Graeff scores his first victory, sinking the Danish freighter Lilian Drost, 1,966 tons, heading from Blyth to Copenhagen with a load of coal.



Saudi Arabia: Hellmuth von Mücke and his men say goodbye to Suleiman Pasha and board the special train assigned to take them from Al Ula across the Turkish Empire to Constantinople.

[Aktungbby]

^ Not(quite):huh: sunk: QUEEN WILHELMINA, 3,590/1898, Furness, Withy & Co, Sunderland, London-reg, Mr E Dickinson, Leith for Fowey in ballast. Hit and damaged 20 miles S by E of Longstone, Outer Farne Is (L - 20 miles N by W of), beached at Bondicar, 1½m SSE of Amble (55.19N, 01.26W), total loss (+L/te/un/wi) Crew loss reported as 0. :know:http://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyBritishBVLSMN1504.htm (http://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyBritishBVLSMN1504.htm)

[Jimbuna]

Precisely and as already posted:

She was beached at Amble, Northumberland and was a total loss.

[Jimbuna]

9th May 1915

Western Front

Second Battle of Ypres: British retake Wieltje. They fail in an attack on Aubers ridge (Neuve Chapelle).
http://i.imgur.com/GC2RKYs.jpg

2nd Battle of Artois begins as French forces launch an offensive against Germans at Vimy Ridge.
http://i.imgur.com/lJ0R1Dr.jpg

The leading division of the British New Armies leaves England for France.
http://i.imgur.com/ETj5Gem.jpg

Eastern Front

Germans defeated at Krakinow (Baltic Provinces).

Naval

Suez Canal area
FANNY, tug, no further information, probably civilian vessel but crew included at least three ratings from armoured cruiser HMS Euryalus. Lost in accidental sinking; three ratings drowned, two of them buried at Ismailia, near Suez.

Search for survivors of the Lusitania sinking are abandoned as Cunard officials believe all remaining living passengers have been rescued.

The U.S. Atlantic Fleet sails into New York City for review; questions are raised over U.S.’s war readiness.
http://i.imgur.com/7tDuWKu.png

Political etc.

President Wilson states he is “very earnestly but very calmly” considering the response to the Lusitania sinking.

Simon Lake, American pioneer of the submarine, predicts that German submarine warfare will decide the war.

German embassy in Washington DC receives a bomb threat; city police forces tighten security around the embassy.

King Wilhelm writes to the King of Italy to urge that Italy and Austria-Hungary settle their territorial disputes peacefully.

Chinese President Yuan Shikai is forced to accept the revised 21 Demands to avoid war with Japan.

[Sailor Steve]

May 9:

Red Sea:
0500 HMS Trent picks up wireless message between German warships. Worried that Königsberg may have managed to elude King-Hall's forces and be heading their way, Captain Fullerton orders the convoy to turn back toward the Suez Canal.
0800 Unable to raise Suez on the wireless, Fullerton reverses course and heads south again.
2359: A large ship is spotted approaching from astern. When in sight of the tugs the ship puts out its lights. After some panic the ship turns out to be the freighter Trioba, which had suffered a dynamo failure at the most inopportune time.



German East Africa:
1330 HMS Laconia launches Short No. 121 for another reconnaissance flight.
1425 Short 121 comes down some distance away.
1445 HMS Chatham weighs anchor and proceeds to Short 121's position.
1458 Laconia weighs anchor and proceeds to Short 121's position.
1525 Chatham sights Short 121.
1545 Chatham and HMS Fly guarding Short 121.
1614 Laconia anchors next to Short 121
1645 Short 121 hoisted aboard Laconia.

No information is given on why Short 121 failed to make it back to Laconia.

[Jimbuna]

10th May 1915

Western Front

French take cemetery of Neuville St. Vaast and part of Carency (north of Arras).

British repulsed on Aubers ridge.

Eastern Front

German retreat in Baltic Provinces.

Naval and Overseas Operations

North Sea
Dominion, battleship, King Edward VII-class, returning to Rosyth after cruise in northern North Sea with rest of 3rd BS, also 3rd CS, all Grand Fleet, divisions in line ahead, zigzagging at 15kts, had not yet met screening destroyers. (ge - 8th; Cn - May 1916) - unsuccessfully attacked by U.39 about 100 miles ENE of Firth of Forth, two torpedoes missed.

Submarine E14 sinks a transport in the Sea or Marmora.

Naval Convention signed between Great Britain, France, and Italy.

North Sea
Swedish steamer Björn 1,241 tons enroute to the UK from Göteborg with a cargo of timber was taken as a prize by U 36 (Ernst Graeff).
The same fate befell the Dutch steamer Niobe 654 tons to the same submarine that day.

Danish steamer Olga 798 tons was taken as a prize by U 39 (Walter Forstmann).

Aviation

Four German zeppelins raid Britain, dropping bombs on Southend, Westcliff-on-Sea, and Leigh.

Political, etc.

President Wilson on the "Lusitania". "There is such a thing as a man being too proud to fight," etc.

German government: “The German government desires to express its deepest sympathy at the loss of lives on board the Lusitania. The responsibility rests, however, with the British government, which…has forced Germany to resort to retaliatory measures.”

Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, is questioned in the House of Commons over the Lusitania sinking.

Italy gives the Austro-Hungarian government until midnight to accede to territorial demands or else negotiations will be terminated.

Stories appear of a Canadian soldier supposedly crucified by Germans; it is later used as Allied propaganda.
http://i.imgur.com/gCT1B6f.jpg

[Catfish]

Stories appear of a Canadian soldier supposedly crucified by Germans; it is later used as Allied propaganda.

^ "Supposedly", of course. There were also "rumours" of belgian babies being bayonnetted by german soldiers, parading with them through belgian cities.

Entente propaganda was pretty reluctant and civilised. Just as it is now, with "the west".

[Sailor Steve]

May 10:

Air War:
German observer Wilhelm Frankl, riding in an unidentifed two-seater with an unnamed pilot, shoots down a Voisin with a carbine. For this feat he will be awarded the Iron Cross, 1st class.

Louis Strange is flying a sortie in his new Martinsyde Scout when he encounters an Aviatik two-seater. His first attack in a single-seat fighter is almost his last. I have already posted this in my 'Models' thread, but his own account of the story is certainly worth repeating here.

But on May 10th, 1915, I reached 8,500 ft when going after an Aviatik belonging to von Leutzers Squadron from Lille Aerodrome. We were somewhere over Menin, and the Hun was still gaining height, though we were both near the tops of our respective ceilings. Not all the enemy aircraft were equipped with machine guns in those early days, but the German observer potted at me from the rear cockpit with a parabellum pistol, and as some of his bullets came unpleasantly close, I thought it high time to retaliate, and gave him a drum from my Lewis gun without much effect. But when I wanted to take off the empty drum and replace it with a full one, it seemed to jam, and I was unable to remove it with one hand, I wedged the stick between my knees and tugged at the obstinate thing with both hands. After one or two fruitless efforts, I raised myself up out of my seat in order to get a better grip, and I suppose that my safety belt must have slipped down at a critical moment. Anyhow, my knees loosened their grip on the stick just as the Martinsyde, which was already climbing at it's maximum angle, stalled and flicked over into a spin.

As I was more than half out of the cockpit at the time, the spin threw me clear of the machine, but I still kept both of my hands on the drum of the Lewis gun. Only a few seconds previously I had been cursing because I could not get that drum off, but now I prayed fervently that it would stay on forever. I knew it may come off at any moment, however and as its edge was cutting my fingers badly, I had to get a firmer hold of something more reliable. The first thing I thought of was the top of the center strut, which at the time was behind and below the Lewis gun, but as the machine was now flying upside down, I had sufficient wits left to realize that it was behind and above me, though where it was exactly I could not tell.

Dare I let go of the drum with one hand and make a grab for it? Well there was nothing else for it but to take the risk; I let go and found the strut all right, and then I released my other hand and gripped the strut on the other side. I was then in a more comfortable position, and at least I felt rather more part of my machine than I had done in my original attitude. My chin was rammed against the top plane, beside the gun, while my legs were waving about in empty air. The Martinsyde was upside down in a flat spin, and from my precarious position the only thing I could see was the propeller ( which seemed unpleasantly close to my face), the town of Menin, and the adjacent countryside. Menin and its environs were revolving at an impossible angle - apparently above me - and getting larger with every turn. I began to wonder what sort of spot I was going to crash on.

Then I got angry and cursed myself for a fool for wasting time on such idle speculations, while at the same time it dawned on me that my only chance of righting the machine lay in getting my feet into the cockpit. If I could manage it, I knew that I was bound to fall automatically into the cockpit.
when the machine came over. I kept on kicking upwards behind me until at last I got first one foot and then the other hooked inside the cockpit. Somehow I got the stick between my legs again and jammed on full aileron and elevator; I do not know exactly what happened then, but somehow the trick was done. The machine came over the right way up, and I fell off the top plane into my seat with a bump.

I grabbed at the stick with both hands and thanked my lucky stars when I got hold of it. Then to my surprise I found myself unable to move it. I suddenly realized I was sitting much lower than usual inside the cockpit; in fact, I was so low down I could not see over the edge at all. On investigation I found that the bump of my fall had sent me right through the seat, with the result I was sitting on the floor of the machine as well as on the controls, which I was jamming. The cushion had fallen out when the machine turned upside down, along with everything else that was loose or had been kicked loose when I was trying to find the stick with my feet. Something had to be done quickly, as although the engine had stopped through lack of petrol when the machine was upside down, it was now roaring away merrily and taking me down in a dive which looked likely to end in the wood to the north of Menin. So I throttled back and braced my shoulders against the top of the fuselage, and my feet against the rudder bar; then I pulled out the broken bits of seat and freed the controls. Luckily I found them all working all right, so that I was able to put up the machines nose and open the throttle again. I rose and cleared the trees on the Menin Road with very little to spare.

I did not trouble to climb anymore, but just flew back along the Menin Road. In my efforts to find the control stick with my feet, I had smashed all the instruments on the dashboard, and as I gazed at the damage, I wondered if I could ever make anyone realize how it had been done. I had only a very hazy idea myself as to what had really happened, but I felt happy to be alive, and thought it simply marvelous that I was still able to control the machine.

I hurried back to Abele, without worrying about the increasing strain on the small of my back or the futile shots that the Germans on the ground were sending after me. I went to bed early that night and slept for a good solid twelve hours; but; Lord, how stiff I was the next day! It took a long time before I was able to move about with any comfort.

During the recent trip to Germany which enabled me to make the acquaintance of von Leutzer, my opposite number, I told him the story of this incident. In reply he stated that one of their observers had returned that day with a report of a victory over a British machine, which went down in a spin into the wood on the north side of Menin. This observer was positive that he had seen the pilot thrown out of the machine, although did not fall clear of it, and on the strength of his evidence the Germans spent half a day vainly searching the wood for the wreckage of the machine. Von Leutzer added that the observer, who was known to be reliable and accurate in his statements, got very much ragged about the business for some time afterwards.
-Louis Arbon Strange, Recollections Of An Airman, 1933



North Sea:
Ernst Graeff, commanding U-36, takes two prizes - Swedish steamer SS Björn, 1,241 tons, carrying a load of timber from Göteborg to the United Kingdom, and the Dutch freighter SS Niobe, 654 tons, destination and cargo unlisted. Graeff will only recieve credit for Björn, as the prize court will later release Niobe. His score is now 2 ships and 3,237 tons.

Walter Forstmann in U-39 captures Danish steamer SS Olga, 798 tons. This ship will also be released by the prize court.



Red Sea: The day is extremely hot. Captain Fullerton aboard Trent tells the tugs' captains that he will send fresh meat and ice when the sea is calmer.

[Jimbuna]

11th May 1915

Western Front

Second Battle of Ypres: Germans bombard Ypres-Menin road.

French take fort and chapel of Notre Dame de Lorette.

Eastern Front

Germans evacuate Shavli.

Austro-German advance in Galicia.

Russians fall back to the San River.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russian progress in the district of Tabriz.

Naval and Overseas Operations

French take Eseka (Cameroons).

An early attempt to intercept an airship with a shipborne aircraft takes place in the North Sea when the Royal Navy seaplane tender HMS Ben-my-Chree tries to launch a Royal Naval Air Service Sopwith seaplane to attack a German Zeppelin sighted low on the horizon.
http://i.imgur.com/JWWl6Fd.jpg

Political etc.

Italian government orders all Italian officers and men in Switzerland to immediately return home and rejoin their regiments.

In a report to the House of Commons, Britain has lost 201 merchant vessels and 1,556 civilian lives due to enemy naval action.

Estimates show that U.S. insurance companies will pay up to $1.05 million ($25.1 million today) for the Lusitania sinking.

British newspapers attack U.S. neutrality with the phrase: “Too Proud to Fight.”

[Sailor Steve]

May 11:

Red Sea: Calmer seas allow the monitors' convoy to stop. Captain Fullerton sends the promised ice and meat to the tugs. The tugs have no form of air conditioning and older crew members begin to suffer when temperatures in the fire rooms reach 145 degrees fahrenheit (63C).

[Jimbuna]

12th May 1915

Western Front

French capture Carency.

Eastern Front

Germans occupy Kyeltsi (Poland).

Austro-German advance in Galicia and north of Uzsok Pass.

Austrian retreat south of Pruth.

Southern Front

Dardanelles: Cape Tekeh ("Gurka Bluff") captured by Gurkas.
Naval and Overseas Operations

The HMS Goliath is sunk by a Ottoman torpedo boat, resulting in 570 deaths.
http://i.imgur.com/M8kBRt6.jpg
GOLIATH, battleship, Canopus-class, 14,300t, 1898, 4-12in/12-6in/12-12pdr/4-18in tt, 18 kts, c750 crew, Pennant No.N.54, 8th BS Channel Fleet 8/14, later to Mediterranean, Capt Thomas Shelford. French forces under heavy attack inland of S-Beach, night of 12th/13th, Goliath and Cornwallis providing gunfire support, both anchored in exposed position in Morto Bay off Seddul Bahr village, Cornwallis astern of Goliath, destroyers Beagle, Bulldog, Pincher, Scorpion, Wolverine on patrol, night very dark, foggy around midnight, attacks were suspected. Turkish destroyer Muavenet-i-Miliet, partly German-manned and commanded by Lt-Cdr Rudoph Firle came down the Dardanelles, avoided Bulldog and Beagle around 0100, spotted the battleships and came round Eski Hissarlik Point under De Totts battery, challenged by Goliath at 0115 but steamed ahead and fired all three torpedo tubes as Goliath opened fire, one torpedo hit abreast fore turret, a second by the foremost funnel, and the third near after turret, ship immediately began listing badly to port and soon on beam ends, turned turtle, floated for a few minutes, then went down bow first; 505 lives lost - 20 officers including her Captain, 479 ratings and 4 canteen staff, 2 ratings DOW (Cn/He/ke - 570 men lost, 180 survivors). Wolverine and Scorpion tried to cut off the torpedo boat as it headed back up the Straits but failed.

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

Political, etc.

Report of Bryce Committee published.

Anti-Germans riots in England.

Sir Edward Grey reports that typhus fever is spreading among British POWs in several German camps.

Britain’s national guard is dubbed “Methusaliers” due to it being composed of men above fighting age.

Austria-Hungary orders all of its ships in Italian waters to leave for Austrian ports.

Ship Losses:

HMS Goliath ( Royal Navy): Naval operations in the Dardanelles Campaign: The Canopus-class battleship was torpedoed and sunk by Muâvenet-i Millîye ( Ottoman Navy) in the Dardanelles with the loss of 570 of her 700 crew.

[Sailor Steve]

May 12:

Air War: Lt. Harold Rosher was sent to England to fly a new BE.2c from Hendon back to Dunkirk. On this day he has his father meet him there for lunch. At 1500 hours Rosher takes off to fly the new machine back to France, but engine troubles force him to return. Rosher finds himself grounded for several days while mechanics try to determine the problem.



Red Sea: Collier Kendal Castle is sent forward to Aden to make preparations for the arrival of the monitors' convoy.

[Jimbuna]

13th May 1915

Western Front

Second Battle of Ypres: Very severe German bombardment. Cavalry, etc., hold on.

French complete conquest of Bois le Pretre.

Eastern Front

German and Austro-Hungarian troops under General von Linsingen make further advances in the Carpathians and capture 3650 Russians.

Russians retreat in Galicia.

Russians occupy Sniatyn (River Pruth).

Political, etc.

Premier Asquith announces in the House of Commons that all citizens of enemy countries of military age will be interned.

In another round of rioting, mobs destroy 150 German owned shops in East End in London.

Italy: Signor Salandra resigns.

German Sovereigns struck off the Garter roll. Kaiser Wilhelm’s membership in the Order of the Garter, the highest order of chivalry in the United Kingdom, is annulled.

While Julian Grenfell stands talking with other officers, a shell lands a few yards away, and a splinter hits him in the head. He is taken to a hospital in Boulogne, where he dies 13 days later. His poem "Into Battle" is published in The Times the day after his death.
http://i.imgur.com/4hJdwT4.jpg
Into Battle
BY JULIAN GRENFELL

The naked earth is warm with Spring,
And with green grass and bursting trees
Leans to the sun's gaze glorying,
And quivers in the sunny breeze;
And life is Colour and Warmth and Light,
And a striving evermore for these;
And he is dead who will not fight,
And who dies fighting has increase.

The fighting man shall from the sun
Take warmth, and life from glowing earth;
Speed with the light-foot winds to run
And with the trees to newer birth;
And find, when fighting shall be done,
Great rest, and fulness after dearth.

All the bright company of Heaven
Hold him in their bright comradeship,
The Dog star, and the Sisters Seven,
Orion's belt and sworded hip:

The woodland trees that stand together,
They stand to him each one a friend;
They gently speak in the windy weather;
They guide to valley and ridges end.

The kestrel hovering by day,
And the little owls that call by night,
Bid him be swift and keen as they,
As keen of ear, as swift of sight.

The blackbird sings to him: "Brother, brother,
If this be the last song you shall sing,
Sing well, for you may not sing another;
Brother, sing."

In dreary doubtful waiting hours,
Before the brazen frenzy starts,
The horses show him nobler powers; —
O patient eyes, courageous hearts!

And when the burning moment breaks,
And all things else are out of mind,
And only joy of battle takes
Him by the throat and makes him blind,
Through joy and blindness he shall know,
Not caring much to know, that still
Nor lead nor steel shall reach him, so
That it be not the Destined Will.

The thundering line of battle stands,
And in the air Death moans and sings;
But Day shall clasp him with strong hands,
And Night shall fold him in soft wings.

[Sailor Steve]

May 13:

United States President Woodrow Wilson sends an official protest over the Lusitania sinking to the German Ambassador, signed by Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan.
http://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Wilson's_First_Lusitania_Note_to_Germany



Middle East: The train carrying Helmuth von Mucke and his men passes from Saudi Arabia into Syria.

[Jimbuna]

14th May 1915

Western Front

Second Battle of Ypres: French and Belgians advance near Het Sas and Steenstraate.

Eastern Front

Battle of the San: Austro-Germans take Jaroslav.

Russians take Kolomea.

Political, etc.

Article in the "Times" on the shortage of munitions.

Internment of enemy aliens in Great Britain begins.

Viscount Haldane, Lord High Chancellor, states in the House of Lords the gov’t will consider methods other than volunteers to raise troops.

Pro-war mobs sweep Rome; troops are called in to protect the German and Austrian embassies and the Italian Chamber of Deputies.

King of Italy refuses to accept the resignation of Prime Minister Salandra, as the country prepares to enter the war.
http://i.imgur.com/4VhhjGz.png

The Shell Scandal Breaks
http://i.imgur.com/rnizyVV.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

May 14:

London: On May 12th retired Colonel Charles Repington sent a dispatch from the front to The Times, citing lack of an adequate supply of artillery shells as the cause of the loss of the battle of Aubers Ridge on the 9th. This dispatch is published on the 14th, leading to disastrous consequenses for the current British government.
http://extras.thetimes.co.uk/public/firstworldwar/2014/repington/telegrams.html



Syria: The special train carrying Hellmuth von Mücke and his men arrives in Damascus.

[Jimbuna]

15th May 1915

Western Front

Battle of Festubert: Successful British attack.

French occupy Het Sas.

Eastern Front

Russian left drives the Austrians on the Dniester.

Austria-Hungary’s 10th Army Corp approaches the strategic town of Przemysl.

Aviation

Secretary of the Navy Daniels approves a $46,000 contract to build the first dirigible for the US Navy.

Naval

Lord Fisher, First Sea Lord, Great Britain tenders his resignation.
http://i.imgur.com/zo2SZ7s.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/jMF69KS.jpg

North Channel
BERKSHIRE, Admiralty trawler, 133/1897, North Lincolnshire Steam Fishing, Grimsby-reg GY398, hired 1915 (D - 12/14) as patrol vessel, 1-4in, Admiralty No.995, Skipper Herbert Percy Fleet RNR (wi - A Bland, Captain). In collision with armed yacht Valiant II (1,885grt), sank at 1900 off Cushendall, Red Bay, Co Antrim (He - 6 miles E of Tor Cor Point, in Red Bay; wi - in 55.05N, 06W); no lives lost, crew rescued by armed trawler Alsatian.

Political, etc.

British government begins interning thousands of enemy citizens of military age.

Court of Inquiry into the Singapore Mutiny concludes; Britain executes 47 Indian troops for their part in the mutiny.
http://i.imgur.com/vwePram.jpg

Insurrection in Portugal. Military coup in Portugal overthrows Prime Minister Joaquim Pimenta de Castro’s government.
http://i.imgur.com/NU3OSF8.jpg

President Wilson takes a vacation onboard the Presidential yacht Mayflower for the weekend.
http://i.imgur.com/bmcPo5h.jpg

Ship Losses:

HMT Berkshire ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler was lost on this date.
Martha ( Denmark): The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) off Gregness, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom by SM U-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

L'Illustration's cover shows a drawing of a Lusitania corpse.
http://i.imgur.com/uPDl55v.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

May 15:

North Sea: Hans Schultheß, Commanding U-23, sinks the Danish freighter SS Martha, 1,182 tons, travelling from Arzew to Leith with a cargo of esparto grass, the fibers of which are used to make high-quality paper for books.



Yemen: The monitors' convoy has left the Red Sea and is anchored off Aden, on the south coast of Yemen. The second engineer of the liner Trent and one of the Severn's crew, being transported on that same ship, die from heat exhaustion. Some men from the tugs are moved to Trent for treatment by the ship's doctor.



German East Africa: HMS Chatham moves from Mafia Island to Zanzibar.

Admiral King-Hall's flagship, HMS Hyacinth, which has been anchored at Zanzibar for several weeks, begins patrolling the area between Zanzibar and Mafia Island, returning that afternoon.

HMS Kinfauns Castle is still at Durban.

HMS Laconia and Weymouth are both patrolling the area around Niororo Island. No seaplane activity is recorded during this period.

[Jimbuna]

16th May 1915

Western Front

Battle of Festubert: British advance continued.

German forces launch four counterattacks against French positions at Steenstrate, Belgium, but are repulsed.

Zeppelin raid on Calais.

British troops begin bombarding German positions south of Neuve Chapelle to assist the French offensive at Artois.
http://i.imgur.com/QqNEVQq.jpg

Eastern Front

Severe Austrian defeat between Kyeltsi and Ostrovyets (southern Poland).

Aviation

Two Royal Naval Air Service Avro 504s intercept the Imperial German Navy Zeppelins LZ 38 and LZ 39, badly damaging LZ39 with four 20-lb (9-kg) bombs dropped on its envelope from above.

Political, etc.

US entry into the war over the Lusitania sinking now seems unlikely, as President Wilson enjoys the weekend playing golf.

German & Austrian nationals in the US rush to get naturalized, resulting in a 50% increase in applications.

Italy: King Victor Emmanuel refuses to accept Signor Salandra's resignation.

Baron Burian states the concessions offered by Austria to Italy.

40,000 men demonstrate in Milan in favor of war; similar demonstrations are held in Florence, Naples, Messina, Bologna, Palermo, & Catania.

Street fighting engulfs Lisbon, Portugal, as troops attempt to consolidate their hold over the capital after yesterday’s coup.

Ship Losses:

SMS T78 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The S66-class torpedo boat struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of 26 of her crew.

Sir John French Reports Success.
http://i.imgur.com/tUBLSJQ.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

May 16:

Air War: Idflieg's Bavarian liason officer informs his superiors of firing trials to be held on the 19th or 20th.

Lt. Harold Rosher is informed by the mechanics that they cannot fully repair his BE.2's engine. Rosher decides to take the plane to France despite this warning.



Zanzibar: HMS Chatham departs the area, bound for Aden and eventually Gallipoli.

HMS Hyacinth and Weymouth depart Zanzibar for Tirene.

HMS Kinfauns Castle departs Durban for Simons Town, South Africa.

HMS Laconia patrols the channel between Niororo and Mafia Islands.



Syria: The train carrying Hellmuth von Mücke and his men arrives at Aleppo.

[Jimbuna]

17th May 1915

Western Front

Battle of Festubert: Ground consolidated.

German aircraft conducts an early morning raid against England, dropping 40 bombs on Ramsgate.
Aftermath of Ramsgate Zepellin raid (Newsreel footage).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAKiGpSMRTk&feature=youtu.be
http://i.imgur.com/O4BfbyR.jpg

Eastern Front

Austro-Germans cross the San.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians occupy Ardjiche on Lake Van (Armenia).

Naval

North Sea
German minefield covering a large area S of 56N, E of 02.30E in the Dogger Bank area laid by old light cruiser Hamburg; two U-boats and a large destroyer took part, supported by High Seas Fleet battlecruisers. To prevent its early discovery, four trawlers on fishing grounds in NW Dogger Bank area were captured by torpedo boat(s) and their crews taken prisoner.

SS Transylvania arrives at Greenock, Scotland; it is the 1st passenger liner since Lusitania to cross the Atlantic.
http://i.imgur.com/CjiwHZU.jpg

Political, etc.

Britain publishes the new casualty lists, which includes more than 2000 officers, the largest since the start of the war.

US Marine Corps orders a 30% increase in the number of guards at gunpowder depots to protect against “miscreants, lunatics or cranks.”

Signor Giolitti leaves Rome. Members of the Italian Chamber of Deputies rush to Rome to vote on the entry into the war.

João Pinheiro Chagas is appointed Prime Minister of Portugal. He is then shot & wounded.
http://i.imgur.com/kGM7tP1.png

[Sailor Steve]

May 17:

"I was up betimes yesterday morning, but did not get away from Hendon until about 7.0 a.m. I could only secure half a dozen biscuits and a cup of tea before leaving. It was very thick, and clouds about 4000 feet. I went via Harrow, Staines, and Redhill. Once at this last place, all you have to do is to follow the railway line, which runs straight as a die to Ashford. My engine was most alarming, making all sorts of weird noises, and I was kept very busy the whole way spotting the field I should land in if it petered out.

A pretty strong head wind made the going slow, and just after Redhill I ran into rain. I stuck it for half an hour, getting very wet and seeing hardly anything. Then the engine showed serious signs of giving up the ghost. What finally made me decide to come down was that I couldn't get any pressure in my petrol tank. I went on a bit and then chose a good-looking field with a road on one side and some houses at one corner. Here I landed in great style.

On getting down, the field was not quite so good as it looked from above, being on a slope and with a somewhat uneven surface. The usual crowd collected, despite the rain, and I soon had the machine covered up with tarpaulins and a territorial guard installed. I had breakfast with a Mr. and Mrs. R_____ close by, and afterwards went into headcorn, a mile away, and telephoned to the Admiralty, etc. I had lunch with the R_____s and five daughters (swish, I was all of a doo-da!), and then spent the whole afternoon trying to get my beastly engine to go. It's an awful dud.

I eventually took the air before an admiring crowd at about 5.0 p.m., and made for Folkestone soon after. it was a wretched evening, and though it had stopped raining, I had to come down to under 2,000 feet to avoid clouds. I caught a glimpse of Wye when passing Ashford. Made a very stunt landing here and met a R.F.C. officer I know. We came straight on to the Grand, and after a drink at the Metropole, I had a bath, then dinner and a smoke, and went to bed. To-day it is blowing a gale and raining cats and dogs. Am proceeding to Dover first opportunity."
-Lt. Harold Rosher, letter to his mother, May 17, 1915Otto Jäger, an Austro-Hungarian leutnant serving on the Russian front, is wounded a third time. The first time was on August 30, 1914. After returning to duty he was shot in the chest on March 21st, 1915. Once he had recovered from that wound the was shot yet again, this time through the lung. Following this wound Jäger will become a training officer, and the next year will apply for the flying service.



Gulf of Aden: The monitors' convoy ships, now stocked with ice chests and Arab stokers, departs Aden eastward for the Arabian Sea.



South Africa: HMS Kinfauns Castle reaches Simon's Town, and ceases to be part of the Königsberg operation.



The train carrying Hellmuth von Mucke and his men passes from Syria into Turkey.

[Jimbuna]

18th May 1915

Western Front

Battle of Festubert: British advance to La Quinque Rue-Bethune road.

Eastern Front

Austrians drive Russians from Sieniawa (San).

German and Austrian troops begin bombarding Przemysl forts. Austria claims they have captured 174,000 Russian prisoners.

Southern Front

Dardanelles: Turks attack at Gaba Tepe.

Major General Sir William Bridges is killed in action at Gallipoli while he was inspecting the front lines.
http://i.imgur.com/mEFKOyL.jpg

Naval

http://i.imgur.com/fqrn12v.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/vUWZyYl.jpg

Political, etc.

Lord Kitchener in the House of Lords insists on the importance of an adequate supply of munitions.

According to official lists from the German government, German dead and wounded now number 1.8 million men.

President Wilson conducts a fleet review at New York Harbor. Fleet is led by Admiral F.F. Fletcher.
http://i.imgur.com/UIF1pNy.jpg

Ship Losses:

Drumcree ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 11 nautical miles (20 km) north by east of Trevose Head, Cornwall (50°41′N 5°00′W) by SM U-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SMS V150 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The S138-class destroyer collided with SMS V157 and sank in the Jade Bight with the loss of 60 of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

May 18:

Celtic Sea, just west of Cornwall: Bernd Wegener, commanding U-27, sinks SS Drumcree, 4052 tons, travelling in ballast from Barry to Port Arthur. His score is now 4 ships and 16,112 tons.



As the monitors' convoy proceeds slowly to the coast of British Somaliland, Captain Fullerton once again sends Kendal Castle ahead to a an area of Italian Somaliland called Cloch, to find a safe refuge where the tugs can recoal on the fly.

[Jimbuna]

19th May 1915

Eastern Front

Germans take Lutkow (Galicia).

Russian forces are defeated at the crossing of the River San and lose the town of Sieniawa; Austria-Hungary captures 7000 men.

Southern Front

Dardanelles: Turks repulsed at Gaba Tepe.
42,000 Ottoman forces launch an attack against ANZAC forces at their beachhead in Gallipoli.
http://i.imgur.com/FvMZK1D.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/xw51QNm.jpg

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians take Van.

Naval

Victoria Cross - Lt-Cdr Martin Eric Nasmith (CO, HM S/M E.11) ordered to 'Go and run amuck in the Marmara', reached the Sea of Marmara on the 19th at the start of successful patrol through to early June, followed by two more. Awarded VC for his exploits.
He was 32 years old, and a Lieutenant-Commander in the Royal Navy during World War I, when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
During the period 20 May–8 June 1915 in the Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles, Turkey, Lieutenant-Commander Nasmith, in command of H.M. Submarine E.11, destroyed one large Turkish gunboat, two transports, one ammunition ship, three store ships and four other vessels.
When he had safely passed the most difficult part of his homeward journey he received information that a cargo of coal was heading towards Istanbul from the Black Sea. Realising that coal was essential for the morale of the besieged city, Nasmith turned back.
When the coal-carrying ship came into sight of the docks, a welcoming committee of municipal grandees soon formed, along with a happy crowd – water, electricity and rail transport had all suffered due to a lack of coal. Hardly had the ship berthed than it mysteriously blew up before the eyes of the astounded crowd. Nasmith successfully slipped out again.
Nasmith conducted combat operations in the Sea of Marmara for a three-month period. When his torpedoes ran low, he set them to float at the end of their run, so that he could recover them should they fail to hit a target. At one point, he captured a sailing dhow, and lashed it to the conning tower of E11 as camouflage, and went on to capture an ammunition ship using small arms. His penetration of the Golden Horn was the first time an enemy ship had done so in over 500 years. He also attacked a railway viaduct.
Nasmith's First Lieutenant, Guy D'Oyly-Hughes, and Second Lieutenant, Robert Brown, were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and all the rest of the crew were awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. Nasmith was promoted to Commander immediately and to Captain a year later.
http://i.imgur.com/E2sjiSA.jpg

Political, etc.

Winston Churchill resigns as First Lord of the Admiralty. Premier Asquith announces a non-partisan Cabinet will be created.

Age limit for recruits fixed at 40.

British government announces that all passports entering the country must now have a photograph attached.

German and Austrian embassies in Rome begin moving sensitive documents back to their home countries.

Ship Losses:

Chrysolite ( United Kingdom): The trawler was scuttled in the North Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) south west by south of Lerwick, Shetland Islands by SM U-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Crimond ( United Kingdom): The trawler was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) south west of Fair Isle by SM U-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Dumfries ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 13 nautical miles (24 km) north of Trevose Head, Cornwall by SM U-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
Lucerne ( United Kingdom): The trawler was scuttled in the North Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) north east by east of Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire by SM U-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

http://i.imgur.com/bziHkVb.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

May 19:

I have at last arrived safely at my destination. Yesterday was a rotten day, but I motored to Dover in the afternoon and from there into St. Margaret's Bay, where I saw the holes made by the Zepp bombs. they were most disappointing, being very small, one foot by six inches deep. They were incindiary and not explosive.

I took the air from Folkestone this afternoon at 3.15 and circled round for 15 minutes, getting to only 2,000 feet. At that I pushed off across the Channel. My engine developed a most appalling vibration, and I hardly hoped to reach the other side. I arrived at Calais at 1,500 feet, and struggled on up the coast here.

Things are much as usual. I am taking an 80 Avro out to an advanced base to-morrow morning, the B.E., of course, being useless... Please send the gramophone at once.
-Harold Rosher, letter to his father, May 19, 1915Air War: Anthony Fokker demonstrates the first working synchronized machine gun to a group of Iflieg officers at Döberitz. The test bed is one of the five M.5k monoplanes copied by Fokker from the Morane-Saulnier model H purchased the previous year.



Celtic Sea: Bernd Wegener, commanding U-27, sinks the freighter SS Dumfries, 4,121 tons, carrying a cargo of coal from Cardiff to Livorno, Italy, bringing his score to 5 ships and 20,233 tons.



North Sea: Hans Schultheß, in U-23, captures and sinks three more British trawlers - Chrysolite, 222 tons, Crimond, 173 tons, and Lucerne, 154 tons. His score is now 6 ships and 4,997 tons.



Gulf of Aden: At 1345 hours HMS Chatham comes across the collier Kendal Castle in Cloch bay. At 1400 the cruiser stops to communicate with the collier, and at 1415 is on her way again. It's not in Chatham's log, but according to one source*, Chatham also encountered the monitor's convoy itself and Captain Drury-Lowe sent a wireless message to Captain Fullerton: "Wish you the best of luck and success. Left Zanzibar 9 p.m., 16th. Strong SSW winds to Cape Guardafui and strong northerly currents all the way."

When the convoy reaches Cloch Bay they don't stop, but repeat the procedure used at Gibraltar, the tugs slipping their tow lines and recoaling in shifts as the convoy proceeds past the bay.



*Severn's Saga, by E. Keble Chatterton, Hurst & Blackett, Ltd. London, 1938

[Jimbuna]

20th May 1915

Western Front

Battle of Festubert continues: slight British advance.

Eastern Front

Von Mackensen bombards Przemsyl.

Southern Front

John Simpson (born in my home town South Shields), known for his use of donkeys to carry first aid and wounded soldiers at Gallipoli, is killed in action.

Political, etc.

Extraordinary powers granted to Italian Government.

Italian Green Book on negotiations with Austria published.

Italian Chamber of Deputies votes 407 to 74 to give full powers to the government to carry out war against Austria-Hungary.

[Sailor Steve]

May 20:

Turkey: The train carrying Hellmuth von Mücke and his men arrives in Ankara.



North Africa: The monitors' convoy rounds Cape Guardafui (Gwardafuy) and into the Arabian sea. Encountering the heavy winds and seas described by Captain Drury-Lowe of HMS Chatham, the daily average distance drops from 157 to 77 miles. Captain Fullerton takes the convoy close inshore in an attempt to avoid the hard going.



German East Africa: HMS Laconia anchors in Tirene Bay at Mafia Island. At 1300 Short Folder 121 makes its first reconaissance flight in some time, returning at 1450. At 1618 Laconia is underway back to Niororo Island.

[Jimbuna]

21st May 1915

Western Front

French capture White Road near Souchez.

Eastern Front

Beginning of Russian counter-offensive to cover evacuation of Przemsyl.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Turks retreat on Bitlis (Kurdistan).

Political, etc.

Italian Senate votes 262 to 2 to also give full powers to the government to carry out war against Austria-Hungary.

Austrian Note to Italy.

U.S.A. publishes Note to Great Britain on the blockade.

Ship Losses:

Angelo ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the Dogger Bank.
Glenholm ( United Kingdom): The full-rigged ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 16 nautical miles (30 km) west south west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Oceaan ( Netherlands): The schooner collided with Voltaire ( United Kingdom) in the Atlantic Ocean off the Longships Lighthouse and sank.
Sabrina ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 160 nautical miles (300 km) east nort east of the Spurn Lightship ( United Kingdom) with the loss of nine of her crew.

Extract from letter from Churchill to Bonar Law (leader of the Conservative Party), 21 May 1915, justifying his role as First Lord of the Admiralty.
http://i.imgur.com/4QiIoMg.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

May 21:

"Here I am, going strong at our advanced base, only five miles behind the firing line. I was up yesterday morning at four, but did not get away in the Avro until five, as it was very misty. I arrived here in due course. We have a ripping little villa at _____. It is a most interesting place; the King of the Belgians lives here. We were shelled the night before last, and a Taube came over this morning and dropped a bomb at the end of the aerodrome."
-Lt. Harold Rosher, letter to his father, May 21, 1915

Celtic Sea: Bernd Wegener, commanding U-27, sinks British freighter SS Glenholm, 1,968 tons, at the end of a long voyage from Iquique, Chile to Falmouth, carrying a cargo of nitrate. This will be his last sinking on this patrol. His score now stands at 6 ships and 22,191 tons.

[Catfish]

21st May 1915
...

Political, etc.

U.S.A. publishes Note to Great Britain on the blockade.

...



Yes, a very interesting note. Seldom quoted. :shifty:

[Jimbuna]

http://i.imgur.com/QnARgaj.jpg

http://net.lib.byu.edu/estu/wwi/comment/Clapp/Clapp2.htm

[Catfish]

^ Thank you, only have the german translation :)

[MGR1]

22nd of May, 1915:

The Quintinshill rail disaster occurred on 22 May 1915 near Gretna Green (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gretna_Green), Dumfriesshire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumfriesshire), Scotland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland) at Quintinshill, an intermediate signal box (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_box) with passing loops (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passing_loop) on each side on the Caledonian Railway Main Line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caledonian_Railway_Main_Line) linking Glasgow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow) and Carlisle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Carlisle) (now part of the West Coast Main Line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Coast_Main_Line)).

The crash, which involved five trains, killed a probable 226 and injured 246 and remains the worst rail crash (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_crash) in the United Kingdom in terms of loss of life.Those killed were mainly Territorial soldiers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_Force) from the 1/7th (Leith (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leith)) Battalion, the Royal Scots (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Scots) heading for Gallipoli (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallipoli_Campaign). The precise death toll was never established with confidence as the roll list of the regiment was destroyed by the fire.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quintinshill_rail_disaster

http://www.theroyalscots.co.uk/page/the-quintinshill-gretna-train-crash-22-may-1915

http://www.bbc.co.uk/timelines/z9w9d2p

http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=85

http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BoT_Quin1915.pdf

"CALEDONIAN:
May 22nd.- Double collision between passenger trains at Quintinshill, by which 224 passengers and three servants were killed, and 242 passengers and four servants injured.
This collision was found to be due to neglect of rules on the part of two signalmen at the Quintinshill signalbox...

This disastrous collision was thus due to want of discipline on the part of the signalmen, first by changing duty at an unauthorised hour, which caused Tinsley to be preoccupied in writing up the Train Register Book, and so diverted his attention from his proper work; secondly by Meakin handing over the duty in a very lax manner; and, thirdly, by both signalmen neglecting to carry out various rules specially framed for preventing accidents due to forgetfulness on the part of signalmen."West Coast Joint Stock Sleeper carriage from the London Express on fire, wagons from both goods trains are visible either side of the mainline occupying the passing loops:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/QuintinshillILN1.jpg

The Pilot, or Assisting Engine, of the Express, Dunalistair IV "Superheated" No. 140 after the accident. In the foreground can be seen the tender of the local train engine. The driver of this engine eventually died of his injuries a few years later.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/83163000/jpg/_83163601_hi027330945.jpg

The engine of the Troop Train, Dunalistair IV "Superheated" No.121. This locomotive was so badly damaged during the collision it was subsequently scrapped. Both enginemen were killed on impact.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Quintinshill_rail_disaster_-_Caledonian_McIntosh_220-121.jpg/640px-Quintinshill_rail_disaster_-_Caledonian_McIntosh_220-121.jpg

http://images.delcampe.com/img_large/auction/000/130/484/768_001.jpg

Mike.

[Oberon]

Quintishill was the train crash that should never have happened. There were safety regulations in place that should have prevented it from taking place, but due to a catalogue of errors at least 226 died, and 246 were wounded in what remains Britains worst railway disaster.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Quintinshill_animation_1.gif
The accident occurred owing to poor working practices on the part of the two signalmen involved; George Meakin, who had worked the night shift, and James Tinsley, who was to work the early day shift. If they had been working according to regulations, then Tinsley would have taken over from Meakin at 6.00 am. The two men, though, had developed an informal arrangement allowing whoever was working the early shift to arrive later. If the local passenger train from Carlisle to Beattock was due to be shunted at Quintinshill then the signalman at Gretna would advise whoever was working the early shift of this and the day signalman would hitch a ride on the local train to Quintinshill, thus saving himself the 1.5 miles (2.4 km) walk from Gretna. To avoid their malpractice being detected by company management, whoever was working the night shift would record all train movements after 6.00 am on a piece of paper rather than record them in the train register. When the day man arrived, he would copy the entries from the paper into the train register, making it appear that the shift change had occurred at the correct time.
On the morning of 22 May the night expresses were both running late so the local train had to be shunted at Quintinshill, and therefore Tinsley took advantage of the free ride on the local train to arrive there at about 6.30 am.

As the goods loop was occupied with the 4.50 am goods train from Carlisle, Meakin decided to shunt the local passenger train onto the Up main line Although not a preferred method of operation, this was not a dangerous thing to do if the proper precautions were taken. Out of the previous 21 occasions that the local train had been shunted at Quintinshill, on four occasions it had been shunted onto the Up line.

On this occasion neither of the important safety precautions were taken. Firstly, Kirkpatrick signal box (the preceding box in the Up direction) was not sent the "blocking back" signal which would have informed the Kirkpatrick signalman that the line was occupied and warned him not to send any more trains towards Quintinshill.

Secondly, the signalman at Quintinshill should have placed a signal lever collar over the relevant signal lever to stop himself from clearing the signal and allowing another train to proceed from Kirkpatrick.
The laxity of the fireman of the local train, George Hutchinson, in carrying out his duties under Rule 55 meant that Tinsley's and Meakin's failures went unobserved. Had Hutchinson carried out his duty correctly, he would have reminded the signalman that his train was standing on the Up main line and would have checked that a lever collar was in place before returning to his train. He did neither, and merely signed the train register, using a pen which Tinsley, who was intent on filling in the train register, handed over his shoulder without looking up, and left the signal box at 6.46 am. Also in the signal box, against the rules, were two other railwaymen (brakesmen from the two goods trains) whose presence may have distracted Tinsley and Meakin who was discussing the war with the two brakesmen.


At 6.34 am one of the signalmen (it was never established who) gave the "train out of section" bell to Kirkpatrick for the coal train which now stood in the up goods loop. After giving train out of section, this was the point at which the "blocking back" signal should have been given to Kirkpatrick but neither man did this.

At 6.38 am the first of the expresses from Carlisle passed Quintinshill heading north.

At 6.42 am Kirkpatrick "offered" the troop train to Tinsley. Tinsley immediately accepted this and four minutes later was offered the second northbound express from Gretna Junction. At 6.47 am Tinsley received the "train entering section" signal from Kirkpatrick for the troop train and offered it forward to Gretna Junction, having forgotten all about the local passenger train which was occupying the Up line. It was immediately accepted by Gretna Junction so Tinsley pulled "off" his Up home signal to allow the troop train forward. Had he placed a lever collar on this signal as he should have done (and as Hutchinson should have checked) then Tinsley would not have been able to pull the signal lever.
The troop train collided head on with the stationary local train on the up line at 6.49 am. Just over a minute later, the second of the express trains ran into the wreckage. The wreckage also included the goods train in the down loop and a train of empty coal trucks in the up loop. At 6.53 Tinsley sent the "Obstruction Danger" bell signal to both Gretna and Kirkpatrick, stopping all traffic and alerting others to the disaster.


http://img12.deviantart.net/b9a2/i/2015/116/d/9/quintinshill_diagram_by_jd_ripper-d497pzz.jpg

The results were horrific, many on the trains were killed outright by the high speed collision, and those that survived faced an inferno that would take a day to put out. Exacerbating the problem was the elderly design of the carriages involved, with obsolete Great Central Railway coaching stock being used to ferry the troops due to a rolling stock shortage brought on by the demands of the war. These carriages were lit by gas lamps, the gas for which was supplied from reservoirs underneath the carriage and had recently been topped up at Larbert station. This gas system, coupled with the poor survivability of the carriages meant that what stock didn't crumple up in the impact were totally incinerated.

http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/media/images/83115000/jpg/_83115194_06ceeb86-246a-451a-b6bc-add0fc47f25d.jpg

So hot were the flames that some bodies were never recovered, having been burnt into ashes, and since the roll call of the regiment was destroyed in the fire, no one was completely sure how many of the Scots Guards had been killed. Casualties in the other trains were relatively light, with only two killed in the local train and seven in the express, however two hundred and fifteen soldiers, at least, were killed in the troop train. Four children, their bodies barely recognisable, were recovered from the wreckage but when no-one came forward to report any missing children, they were buried in Glasgows western necropolis on the 26th.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/QuintinshillILN2.jpg

The surviving soldiers were evaluated by the medical board at Liverpool on the 23rd and all the enlisted ranks plus one officer were declared unfit for duty and returned to Edinburgh. In one last tragedy, on their return to Edinburgh they were mistaken for Prisoners of War by local children and pelted.
The two signalmen involved in the accident were found guilty of culpable homicide, Tinsley was sentenced to three years penal servitude, and Meakin to eighteen months imprisonment. Both were released from prison in December 1916, Tinsley returning to work on the Caledonian railway as a lampman and Meakin eventually working as a coal merchant near the scene of the crash in Quintishill.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r243/spoons34/Quintinshill/Rescue.jpg

[Jimbuna]

22nd May 1915

Western Front

Battle of Festubert: British advance south of Quinque Rue.

German air raid on Paris.

Naval and Overseas Operations

North Sea
Rifleman, destroyer, H-class, 2nd DF Grand Fleet, with other destroyers carrying out contraband control duties E and SE of Pentland Firth because of a U-boat threat to the usual armed boarding steamers. Grounded in fog, needed docking for repairs.

Gallipoli Campaign
Albion, battleship, Canopus-class, 14,300t, 4-12in/12-6in, providing gunfire support off the Anzac beachhead just south of Anzac Cove. Ran aground off Gabe Tepe on 22nd, under close-range fire by Turkish shore batteries and frequently hit, towed off by sister-ship Canopus on 23rd, left for Malta for repairs; reportedly one man killed and ten wounded, believed from Albion. Kindell only lists two Albion casualties around this time - two men wounded in a shore party on the 22nd who DOW on the 23rd.

Russian battleship "Penteleimon" torpedoed in the Black Sea.
http://i.imgur.com/Kifkjx1.jpg

Political, etc.

Britain offers £2500 (£178,900 today) for information leading to the destruction of German submarines in the Mediterranean.

The Daily Mail and The Times attack Lord Kitchener's record, particularly on the ongoing shell shortage crisis.

French Army grants 2.8 grams of tea and 380ml of wine to the daily rations of soldiers at the front.

A delegation of American women meet with von Jagow, German Foreign Secretary, at Berlin to advocate for peace.

Italian mobilisation ordered.

Hungary calls up members of the Landsturm, or militia, from age 18 to 50 for military examination.

Ship Losses:

Minerva ( Norway): The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) east by north of the Farne Islands, Northumberland, United Kingdom (55°50′N 0°40′W) by SM U-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

May 22:

"A Taube came right over the aerodrome this morning at about 7,000 feet. I at once went after it in the Avro, but got nowhere near.

First thing this morning I saw a Maurice (Farman) coming down vertically and spinning hard - lost sight of it behind the housetops - pilot and passenger badly hurt - was surprised to hear they were alive. It was a horrid sight.

Anxiously awaiting arrival of gramophone."
-Harold Rosher, letter to his father, May 22, 1915.


North Sea: Hans Schultheß, commanding U-23, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Minerva, 3,735 tons, bound from New York to Christiania with a general cargo. His score is now 5 ships and 8,495 tons.


Italian Somaliland: The monitors' convoy is now making such slow progress that the tugs don't have enough coal to tow the monitors the rest of the voyage. Captain Fullerton has the liner Trent take HMS Mersey in tow herself. The risky transfer of tow lines in heavy seas is accomplished with no trouble, and the convoy proceeds on their way.

[Oberon]

The first 15 mins of a documentary on Quintishill:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIs3t9fDOqY

[Sailor Steve]

Thanks MGR1 and Oberon for the insight into an incident I would never have heard of otherwise. :sunny:

[Jimbuna]

23rd May 1915

Western Front

Battle of Festubert: German attack repulsed.

Southern Front

Austrian attack in the Carnic Alps.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Submarine E11 sinks a gunboat in the Sea of Marmora.

Austria-Hungarian Navy launch attacks against the Italian port city of Ancona; Italian destroyers counterattack but cause little damage.

Political, etc.

Italy declares war against Austria.

Italy currently has around 1.7 million troops under arms or in training and 204 warships of various types.

Italian Note to the ministers of Italy in foreign countries on the denunciation of the Triple Alliance.

Germany announces it will stand by Austria-Hungary, but remains neutral towards Italy.

Allies warn Turkey on question of Armenian massacres.

French economist Edmond Thery estimates that the war will cost all belligerent nations $17.4 billion ($404 billion today) for the first year.

President Wilson writes he has never “doubted the loyalty and fidelity to our nation and our flag of the Americans of German derivation…”

Ship Losses:

Cromdale ( United Kingdom): The full-rigged ship ran aground at Bass Point, Cornwall.
SM UB-3 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The Type UB 1 submarine was lost in the Gulf of İzmir (cause unknown) 80 nautical miles (150 km) off İzmir with the loss of all fourteen crew.
http://i.imgur.com/puDE7Y9.jpg

[Jimbuna]

Thanks MGR1 and Oberon for the insight into an incident I would never have heard of otherwise. :sunny:

Aye, great stuff guys :sunny:

[Sailor Steve]

May 23:

"Turned out soon after five this morning and went up for an hour and a half waiting for Taubes. I chased several Allied machines, but found nothing hostile. had not been down twenty minutes before one came out. Later on in the morning two came right over the aerodrome. I went up in pursuit, but got nowhere near them. Things are pretty lively on the whole. Besides the regular artillery, there is an intermittent cannonade of anti-aircraft guns, either from us at the Taubes or from the Huns at us. The sky becoes absolutley dotted with little puffs of shrapnel, which are visible for half an hour at least.

This evening I went into the town. It's full of life, a band playing and all the shops open.

Babington flew my B.E. yesterday, and the beastly thing nearly caught fire. We are getting a new engine for it from Paris.
-Lt. Harold Rosher, letter to his father, May 23, 1915



Air War: The Nieuport 10 is officially submitted for testing. This apparently is a perfunctory test, as the N.10 is already in service with the Aviation Militaire and the RNAS.*



Turkey: The train carrying Helmuth von Mücke and his men arrives at the station at Haydarpasa Gari, across the bay from Constantinople (Istanbul). There they perform parade maneuvers to show that they have not lost their military bearing. Von Mücke then presents his men and their flag to German Admiral Souchon, the man who had himself delivered the battlecruiser Goeben to the Turks the previous August, and has been the commander of the Turkish Navy ever since.

"I report the landing squad from the Emden: Five officers, seven petty officers, and thirty men strong."**


*Nieuport 10-12 (Windsock Datafile 68, March 1998), by J.M. Bruce

**The story of Hellmuth von Mücke and his crew have been taken from The "Ayesha": Being the Adventures of the landing squad of the "Emden", by Kapitänleutnant Hellmuth von Mücke (English translation by Helene S. White), Ritter & Company, Boston, 1917

[Jimbuna]

24th May 1915

Western Front

Final German attack east of Ypres repulsed. German forces launch a gas attack on British troops near Hooge, a village located east of Ypres.

Ground east of Festubert made good.

French take Les Corneilles (north-west of Angres).

Eastern Front

Austro-Germans occupy Radyno (Galicia).

Southern Front

Italians advance on the Trentino and Carnic fronts, and occupy Caporetto and Cormons on the Isonzo front.

Switzerland sends reinforcements to the Canton of Ticino, which borders both Italy and Austria-Hungary.

Austro-Hungarian aircraft bombs several targets in Italy, including the military arsenal at Venice.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Austro-Hungarian fleet bombards Italian coastal cities in Ancona, inflicting heavy damage and dozens of casualties.
http://i.imgur.com/c1B6xQL.jpg

Political etc.

Thomas Edison announces the creation of a “telescribe,” which can record telephone conversations.

Ship Losses:

Claremont ( United States): The coaster came ashore at Coos Bay, Oregon and was a total loss.
Turbine ( Regia Marina): The Nembo-class destroyer was sunk in the Adriatic Sea by SMS Helgoland and two destroyers (all Austro-Hungarian Navy).

[Sailor Steve]

May 24:

Italian Somaliland: Having the liner Trent tow HMS Mersey has increased the day's travel so much that Captain Fullerton decides to have the collier Kendal Castle assist with towing HMS Severn. With the weather improving Fullerton lets the monitors' officers know that their ultimate goal is the Rufiji Delta and Königsberg.

[Jimbuna]

25th May 1915

Western Front

Close of the Battle of Festubert.

2nd Battle of Ypres comes to an end with some German gains east of Ypres.

Eastern Front

Austro-Germans take bridgehead of Zagrody on the San.

Southern Front

Italians capture Monte Altinino (Trentino).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians occupy Miandob (Persia).

Naval and Overseas Operations

First U-boat attacks on ships off Gallipoli by U.21 (Lt-Cdr Otto Hersing):

Vengeance, battleship, Canopus-class, zigzagging up from Mudros to meet sister-ship Canopus and relieve her as gunfire support ship off Anzac Cove, submarines were expected in the area and a periscope was spotted at 0730 off the Dardanelles entrance, it was also seen heading north and at one point passed between battleships Swiftsure and Agamemnon, then disappeared, sea calm and visibility good. Due east of Cape Kephalo, Imbros island at 1000, Vengeance spotted a torpedo coming towards her from shorewards, swung clear and continued on to Gaba Tepe. Alarms and sightings continued during the morning.

TRIUMPH, battleship, Swiftsure-class, 11,985t, building as Chilean Libertad, launched 1903, purchased by Admiralty before completion, 4-10in/14-7.5in/14-14pdr/2-18in tt, 20kts, c700 crew, China Station 8/14, later to Mediterranean, Capt Maurice Fitzmaurice, providing gunfire support for Anzac beachhead, under way off Gaba Tepe with nets down, light guns manned and watertight doors closed, destroyer Chelmer patrolling round her at 15kts. Periscope sighted at 1225 on Triumph's starboard beam, Chelmer dashed for it, Triumph started firing but a a minute later a torpedo fired by U.21 (J - U.51) passed through the nets and hit her, almost immediately took on 10° list and continued to heel over. Chelmer came under her stern walk to take off a large number of men, capsized 10min after being hit, floated bottom-up for 30min then sank bow first just NW of Gaba Tepe off Ari Burnu/Anzac Cove. The scene was apparently so dramatic and unexpected, ANZAC and Turkish troops reportedly stopped fighting and stood to watch her end; 3 officers and 52 ratings lost (Rn/Cn/He/ke - 3 officers, 70 men lost, over 500 survivors). With the U-boat threat, continuous battleship support was no longer possible, a severe blow to the Australian and New Zealand troops.

H.M.S. "Triumph" torpedoed off Gallipoli by U-21.
http://i.imgur.com/Ty2HSRs.jpg

American S.S. "Nebraskan" torpedoed.

Despite the British and Russian blockade against Germany, more than a 100 ships have managed to slip through.

Australian and Indian troop reinforcing Anzac Beach at Gallipoli.
http://i.imgur.com/3tTcWaT.jpg

Political, etc.

Prime Minister Asquith forms a new wartime coalition government by bringing in Conservatives.

Formation of Coalition Ministry; Nationalists approve refusal of Mr. John Redmond to take office.

Greece invites German and Austrian doctors into the country after King Constantine falls deathly ill.

Treaty between China and Japan.

Ship Losses:

Hernodia ( Sweden): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Sea of Åland off Söderarm.
Rijndam ( Netherlands): The ocean liner collided with Joseph J. Cuneo ( Norway) in the Atlantic Ocean 10 nautical miles (19 km) south of the Nantucket Shoals], United States. Two hundred and thirty passengers were rescued by USS Louisiana, USS Michigan, USS South Carolina and USS Texas (all United States Navy). Rijndam was subsequently repaired and returned to service.
HMS Triumph ( Royal Navy): Naval operations in the Dardanelles Campaign: The Swiftsure-class battleship was torpedoed and sunk in the Dardanelles by SM U-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 78 of her 803 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Chelmer ( Royal Navy).

http://i.imgur.com/9Yg5W2L.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

May 25:

Air War: Three Nieuport 10s are recorded as being in service with No. 1 Squadron RNAS.



Atlantic Ocean, southwest of Ireland: Claus Hansen, commanding U-41, torpedoes the American freighter SS Nebraskan, 4,409 tons, travelling in ballast from Liverpool to the Delaware Breakwater. The damaged ship survives the attack.



Agean Sea: Otto Hersing, in U-21, is now operating against British forces supporting the Gallipoli campagn. On this day he sinks HMS Triumph, 11,985 tons. His score is now 7 ships and 20,926 tons.



Italian Somaliland: At 0300 hours the monitors' convoy runs into a heavy fog bank. By noon the fog has lifted, and Captain Fullerton discovers that the tugs T.A. Jollife and Revenger have disappeared. T.A. Jollife had been steaming independently, and had orders to proceed to Mombassa if separated from the convoy. Revenger, on the other hand, was helping tow HMS Severn. At 0600 hours Revenger had gotten sideways to Severn, slipped her tow line and started looking for Trent. Everyone is on the lookout for the missing tug, and at sunset Trent starts using her searchlights. At 2000 hours two green lights are sighted in the far distance. At 0915 three red lights, taken as a distress signal, are seen in the same quarter. Trent, still towing Mersey, slowly alters course to investigate. At 2200 Trent comes upon Revenger, which has two men injured while slipping the tow line in the fog earlier. The two injured men are taken aboard Trent. The convoy then returns to its original course.



German East Africa: HMS Hyacinth has returned to Zanzibar.

[Jimbuna]

26th May 1915

Eastern Front

Austro-Germans gain successes in severe fighting round Przemsyl.

Aviation

Maiden flight of larger non-rigid C-class Coastal airship at RNAS Station, Kingsnorth, Kent, designed for extended anti-submarine patrols.

Zeppelin raid on Southend.
http://i.imgur.com/08Ao0yi.jpg

Political, etc.

Unionist party meeting at Carlton Club decides in favour of the Coalition.

Ship Losses:

Betty ( Denmark): The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 132 nautical miles (244 km) east of the Longstone Lighthouse by SM U-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her 22 crew were rescued by Waldemarand ( Sweden).
Morwenna ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 72 nautical miles (133 km) south east by east of the Fastnet Rock (50°27′N 8°44′W) by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member. Survivors were rescued by the trawler Jacqueline ( Belgium).
M. Roosval ( Sweden): The barque was sunk in the North Sea east of the Shetland Islands, United Kingdom (56°53′N 2°30′E) by SM U-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew. Survivors were rescued by the trawler Tres Fratres ( Netherlands).

[Sailor Steve]

May 26:

Air War: The first French strategic bombing raid is carried out by 18 Voisin III aircraft, led Major Louis de Goÿs de Mézeyrac, against Ludwigshafen. De Goÿs himself is the squadron's only loss when he suffers an engine failure and is captured.



North Sea: Leo Hillebrand, commanding U-16, sinks the Swedish barque M. Roosval, 309 tons, bound from Oskarshamn to Sunderland with a cargo of boards. Later he torpedoes the Danish freighter Betty, 2,109 tons, carrying a load of coal from Blyth to Copenhagen.



Celtic Sea: U-16's former commander, Claus Hansen, now in U-41, sinks British freighter SS Morwenna, travelling in ballast from Cardiff to Sydney, Nova Scotia. Hansen's score is now 11 ships and 10,599 tons.



Italian Somaliland: Since the previous day an unexpected current has carried the monitors' convoy 25 mile out to sea. At noon Kendal Castle signals Trent that HMS Severn has developed a list. One of Severn's officers goes aboard to investigate, and finds two feet of water in the mess deck. Apparently some rivets have worked loose on the port side, allowing water in. Sailors are sent from Trent in relays to bail water out of Severn. This operation goes on all day and throughout that night.

[Jimbuna]

27th May 1915

Western Front

French take Les Quatre Bouquetaux (near Souchez).

Severe fighting in Bois-le-Pretre.

Eastern Front

Russians take Sieniawa (north-west of Jaroslau) and Kindowary (Shavli district).

Southern Front

Italians occupy Grado and Ala (Trentino).

Aviation

French airplanes bomb factories at Ludwigshafen, Germany in one of the first strategic bombardments in history. 203 bombs of a new type weighing 100 kg (220 pounds) are used.
http://i.imgur.com/oPJlKvu.jpg

Naval and Overseas Operations

H.M.S. "Majestic" torpedoed off Gallipoli.
http://i.imgur.com/pTVrhHz.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/1wxF4ei.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/oKichIe.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/bx54zRv.jpg

HMS Princess Irene explodes in the Medway Estuary due to a faulty primer on a mine. 352 people are killed.
http://i.imgur.com/eVY4xmD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/76SOVNN.jpg

Political, etc.

Admiral Sir H. Jackson appointed First Sea Lord.
http://i.imgur.com/YN8phNC.jpg

Portugal: President Arriaga resigns.

King Victor Emmanuel of Italy heads to the frontlines as Italy begins advancing into Austria-Hungary.
http://i.imgur.com/2CWYJJx.jpg

Ship Losses:

Cadeby ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 20 nautical miles (37 km) south west by south of the Wolf Rock, Ireland (49°40′N 6°10′W) by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMS Majestic ( Royal Navy): Naval operations in the Dardanelles Campaign: The Majestic-class battleship was torpedoed and sunk by SM U-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine) in the Dardanelles and sank with the loss of 49 of her 672 crew.
HMS Princess Irene ( Royal Navy): The minelayer, a converted ocean liner, exploded and sank in the River Medway off Sheerness, Kent with the loss of 350 lives.
HMT Rolulu ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler was wrecked on the Obb Rock, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides.

[Sailor Steve]

May 27:

Celtic Sea: Claus Hansen, commanding U-41, captures SS Cadeby, 1,130 tons, traveling from Oporto to Hull with a load of pitwood. After the crew have abandoned ship, Cadeby is sunk by gunfire. Hansen's score is now 12 ships and 12,729 tons.



Aegean Sea: Otto Hersing, in U-21, scores his second major warship in three days, sinking the pre-dreadnough battleship HMS Majestic, 14,900 tons. He then heads for home with a total of 8 ships and 36,826 tons.



Italian Somaliland: After bailing water from HMS Severn all night, at 0800 sailors start caulking the leaks with lead wire and oakum, all while being towed at 5 knots. The convoy then accelerates to their previous pace.

[Jimbuna]

28th May 1915

Western Front

French advance in the "Labyrinth" (north of Arras).

The Frot-Laffly Landship currently being tested by France.
http://i.imgur.com/EBN1k1J.jpg

Eastern Front

Russians take Bubie (Baltic Provinces).

Austro-German advance on Przemsyl continues.

Southern Front

New Zealand troops capture No.3 Post at Gallipoli and prepare for a Ottoman counterattack.
http://i.imgur.com/6UF6Ccq.jpg

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians occupy Vastan (on Lake Van).

Naval

English Channel
Admiralty collier (and two steamships) captured and sunk by U.41 (Claus Hansen):

SPENNYMOOR, Admiralty collier, 2,733/1915, Moor Line, Newcastle-reg, sailing Sunderland for Cardiff with pit timber, on maiden voyage. (L - 27th) - Sunk by torpedo 50 miles SW¼W of Start Point (L - 50 miles SW by W of); 5 lives lost including master.

American victims of Lusitania come home.
http://i.imgur.com/MEfMoep.jpg

Political, etc.

Prime Minister Asquith explains that all Liberalist aims have been suspended until after the war and will work with Conservatives.

200 butcher shops in Glasgow are forced to close today due to a shortage of cattle.

Dr. Bethmann-Hollweg denounces Italy in the Reichstag; Statement re: vodka.

Austro-Hungarian government arrests General Moritz von Auffenberg as a “serious political criminal:”
http://i.imgur.com/jbitq4V.jpg

The first elected President of Portugal Manuel de Arriaga announces he will resign.
http://i.imgur.com/nEnYqZN.jpg

Ship Losses:

Ethiope ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (49°39′N 4°16′W) by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine).[30][70] Her 32 crew were rescued by Wiltshire ( United Kingdom) and another vessel.
Mars ( Russia): The sailing ship was sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east of the Shetland Islands, United Kingdom by SM U-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Spennymoor ( United Kingdom): The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) south west of Start Point by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five crew.
Tullochmoor ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 52 nautical miles (96 km) north of Ouessant, Finistère, France (49°19′N 5°21′W) by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

May 28:

German Foreign Minister Gottlieb von Jagow sends an official response to President Wilson's May 13th letter about the sinking of RMS Lusitania.
http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/lusitania_germanresponse.htm



English Channel: Clause Hansen, commanding U-41, sinks three merchant ships: SS Ethiope, 3,794 tons, bound from Hull to Calabar with a general cargo, SS Spennymoor, 2,733 tons, traveling from Sunderland with an unnamed cargo, and SS Tullochmoor, 3,250 tons, carrying an unnamed cargo from Genoa to Tyne. His score is now 15 ships sunk for a total of 22,776 tons.



North Sea: Leo Hillebrand, in U-16, sinks the Russian sailing ship Mars, 251 tons, carrying a load of pit props from Halmstad to Ayr. Hillebrand now has 3 ships and 2,669 tons.



Italian Somaliland: The monitors' convoy crosses the equator, and logs a record daily run of 149 miles.



German East Africa: At 0854 hours HMS Laconia launches Short 122 on a reconnaissance flight. The plane returns at 1025.

[Jimbuna]

29th May 1915

Western Front

French take Ablain (Souchez).

Eastern Front

Russian counter-offensive forces Austrians to retreat in east Galicia.

Southern Front

Dardanelles: Turkish success at Gaba Tepe.

Ottoman Empire go on the defensive in the Caucasus and begins moving troops from Syria to reinforce Gallipoli.


Italians occupy Valona.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Germany advises neutral ships to have proper lighting during nighttime so that they are not mistakenly targeted by submarines.

Anglo-French take Njok (Cameroons).

Admiral Albert W. Grant is put in charge of all U.S. submarines of the Atlantic fleet to reorganize the force.
http://i.imgur.com/HoYX3jC.jpg

Political, etc.

Dr. Braga elected President of Portugal.
http://i.imgur.com/GTgdORq.jpg

Ottoman Minister of the Interior states the Empire will not declare war against Italy, but will do so if Italy aids Allies in Gallipoli.

President Poincare of France promises the National Anti-Alcoholic League that he will abstain from alcohol during and after the war.

Ship Losses:

Condor ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) north east of Scarborough, Yorkshire with the loss of all nine of her crew.
Cysne ( Portugal): The coaster was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) north west of Ouessant, Finistère, France by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Dixiana ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) north of Ouessant by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Glenlee ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 67 nautical miles (124 km) south south west of the Wolf Rock, Cornwall by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Merion ( United Kingdom): The ocean liner was torpedoed and damaged in the Mediterranean Sea by UB-8 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She sank on 31 May.
SMS T47 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The S43-class torpedo boat struck a mine and sank in the Baltic Sea.
SMS T51 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The S43-class torpedo boat struck a mine and sank in the Baltic Sea.

[Sailor Steve]

May 29:

"I went out to the War the other afternoon to see one of our anti-aircraft guns. We fired into the German trenches, and about two minutes later they replied with zest. Four or five shells whizzed over and burst about 30 yards behind us in a field. i picked up some fragments almost too hot to hold. We were within 1000 yards of the Huns and could see their and our own trenches rippingly through the glasses.

Have given up chasing Taubes. One can never get them. We have commandeered an old bathing hut for our office at the aerodrome, and have rigged up an awing outside, and bought deck chairs. You should see us all lying back in the sun with field glasses glued to our eyes, watching the various aeroplanes, with shrapnel bursting all around them. Our shooting is awfully bad on the whole.

Our villa is first-rate and oh! the gramophone has arrived safe and sound. Willing hands helped to unpack it, and we got it going in record time. It is immensely appreciated."
-Lt. Harold Rosher, letter to his mother, May 29, 1915



Celtic Sea: Clause Hansen, commanding U-41, finishes his second war patrol by sinking three more ships - Portuguese steamer SS Cysne, 623 tons, inbound from Oporto to Newport with an unspecified cargo, and British merchants SS Dixiana, 3,329 tons, traveling from Savanna to Le Havre with a load of cotton and pig iron, plus mixed goods, and SS Glenlee, 4,140 tons, carrying a load of coal from Barry to Aden. Hansen then heads for home.



Adriatic Sea, off the east coast of Italy: Egon Lerch, in Austro-Hungarian submarine U-12, sinks the Greek merchant SS Virginia, 1,065 tons, traveling in ballast from an unnamed port to Trieste. This his his only sinking - he has previously taken a series of small sailboats of unspecified tonnage as prizes, for an unspecified total, and putting the French battleship Jean Bart out of action for many months.



British Somaliland: the monitors' convoy has their fastest day yet - 153 miles. Wireless communication is established with the squadron at Rufiji, and Admiral King-Hall informs Captain Fullerton that the tug T.A. Joliffe has arrived safely. On the other hand HMS Severn has started to list again and now Mersey is down by the bow. In the afternoon the convoy is caught in a series of rain squalls, making it impossible to take land sightings.



German East Africa: HMS Laconia reports heavy rain during the afternoon, inhibiting patrols.

[Jimbuna]

30th May 1915

Western Front

Germans attack at Hooge.

French success near Souchez.

Heavy fighting occurs on the Yser Canal, resulting in slight Allied gains. French forces advance a quarter of a mile.

Eastern Front

Austro-Germans attack forts of Przemsyl.

Russian success on the San.

Southern Front

Dardanelles: British repulsed at Quinn's Post.

New Zealand troops are forced to retreat from No.3 Post in Gallipoli after a series of Ottoman counterattacks.

Italians make progress in Trentino.

Italian air raid on Pola.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Aegean Sea
MERION, Admiralty-owned dummy capital ship No 14, battlecruiser “Tiger”, ex-transatlantic liner, 11,621/1902, International Navigation, Liverpool-reg, conversion ordered 21/10/14, hired 1/12/14, converted at Harland & Wolff, Belfast with wood & canvas superstructure and guns, heavily ballasted to approximate proportions of a battlecruiser, armed with 1-3pdr, ready early 1915, based in Aegean from February 1915, heading for Mudros. (un – 29th) - Torpedoed by UB.8 (Ernst von Voight), sank off Mudros, island of Lemnos (D/dx - off Strati Is, S of Lemnos); 2 RNR officers and 2 MMR ratings killed. Note - C/D list her as purchased 30/5/15, the date of her loss; md - Lt von Voight reported attacking a large three funnelled ship at dusk, hit her with one torpedo abreast the forward funnel, but did not see her sink, nor did he identify her as a possible “battlecruiser”. Presumably torpedoed on the 29th, sank on the 30th.

Severe fighting in Cameroons.

British take Sphinxhaven (on Lake Nyassa, German East Africa).

Ship Losses:

Søborg ( Denmark): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) north east of the mouth of the River Tyne (55°49′N 0°22′E) by SM U-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

Les Annales cover showcases a drawing of the new Italian soldiers.
http://i.imgur.com/lhSrqnq.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

May 30:

Air War: The first Eindekker is shipped to Lt. Otto Parschau for testing. Parschau is serving with Feld-Flieger Abteilun 62 as an instructor teaching new pilots the intricacies of wing-warping. The aircraft is equipped with a Parabellum LMG 14 and carries Parschau's name on the side, as well as the designation A.16/15.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/E.I%20Parschau_zpsn0bsyk7m.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/E.I%20Parschau_zpsn0bsyk7m.jpg.html)



North Sea: Leo Hillebrand, commanding U-16, torpedoes the Danish freighter SS Søborg, 2,108 tons, traveling in ballast from Copenhagen to Newcastle. This ends his second war patrol with 4 ships and 4,777 tons.



Aegean Sea, near the Dardanelles: Ernst von Voigt, in UB-8, Torpedoes HMS Merion, 19,380 tons, a former passenger liner mocked up to represent the battlecruiser HMS Tiger.

[Jimbuna]

31st May 1915

Western Front

Fighting at Hooge.

French take Souchez refinery and advance in the "Labyrinth" (north of Arras).

Zeppelin raid on London.
http://i.imgur.com/H1VLbfD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/yykxpUQ.jpg

Eastern Front

Austro-Germans capture Stryj and the three northern fronts of Przemsyl.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British defeat Turks at Kurna (Tigris).

Naval and Overseas Operations

Germans capitulate to Anglo-French at Monso (Cameroons).

Italians attack Pola.

Political, etc.

British government prosecutes the London “Times” under the Defense of the Realm Act for reporting on military conditions in France.

Dissatisfaction in U.S.A. at German Note on the "Lusitania".

Riots in Ceylon.

Crowd of 30,000 people demonstrate in Bucharest, Romania in support of Italy’s entry into the war.

Ship Losses:

Montrosa ( Finland): The barque sank in the North Sea off the coast of Yorkshire, United Kingdom following an explosion. She probably struck a naval mine. Her fourteen crew were rescued by Brunia ( Sweden).

MERCHANT SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 71 ships of 121,000 tons gross (Lloyd's War Losses).

9 things you (probably) didn’t know about London’s first zeppelin raid in 1915
http://www.historyextra.com/article/military-history/9-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-londons-first-zeppelin-raid-1915-first-world-war

[Sailor Steve]

May 31:

Aegean Sea: It was noted yesterday that Ernst von Voigt, in UB-8, Torpedoed HMS Merion, a passenger liner converted to look like HMS Tiger. Merion didn't sink until the 31st, which gives us an opportunity to look at how well the ruse of remaking passenger ships to look like capital ships worked.

SS Merion as built.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Merion_zpsw2tk49sd.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Merion_zpsw2tk49sd.jpg.html)

What von Voigt fired his torpedoes at.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Merion%20as%20Tiger_zpspvjmdyuw.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Merion%20as%20Tiger_zpspvjmdyuw.jpg.html)



British East Africa: In the midst of overcast skies and rain squalls, dead reckoning places the monitors' convoy roughly 28 miles off the African mainland, east of Mombasa. Captain Fullerton decides that since they are close enough to not be in danger of running out of coal it is time for the tugs to start doing their job again. HMS Mersey is taken in tow by Sarah Joliffe and Revenger, and Severn by Blackcock. This operation takes three hours while the convoy drifts several miles northward.

An Examination Officer comes out from Mombasa in a steam launch and demands to inspect the convoy. Captain Fullerton urges him to leave the word "monitor" out of his report, and the Officer tells him that Severn and Mersey have already been reported by a passing Norwegian freighter, and everybody knows they are coming.*



German East Africa: HMS Laconia launches Short 121 on another reconnaisance flight, which lasted from 1000 to 1100 hours.

There is no log for HMS Laurentic during this period, but several ships note her departure. It is known that during this period (late May-early June) the armed merchant cruiser was dispatched to pick up four landplanes and their crews. This may have been her departure date, but it is uncertain.

*I mistakenly had this dated a day early. Today is the correct date for these events.

[Jimbuna]

1st June 1915

Western Front

Continued fighting in the "Labyrinth" (north of Arras).

French capture trenches at Souchez.

Eastern Front

Unsuccessful German gas attack west of Warsaw.

Austrian and German troops close in on Przemysl and capture three outlying forts.

Southern Front

Austrian aircraft bomb Bari and Brindisi.

Italians hold slopes of Monte Nero (across Isonzo), and advance in Adige Valley.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Turkish retreat on the Tigris, pursued by naval flotilla.

Aviation

The United States Department of the Navy awards its first contract for an airship – the DN-1-Class Blimp – to the Connecticut Aircraft Company.
DN-1 approaching its floating hangar at Pensacola.
http://i.imgur.com/TP65nUA.jpg

First flight of the Airco DH.2
http://i.imgur.com/2JJjD7g.jpg

Naval

Dover Straits
Mohawk, destroyer, F-class, 864t, 6th DF Dover Patrol, on patrol off North Foreland near NW end of net area. Saw mines close to her, could not get clear because of strong east-going tide, damaged in first UC-boat-laid field (UC.11 (Walter Gottfried Schmidt) in south entrance to Downs) in the Channel area, towed into Dover with upper deck almost level with the water; 5 ratings lost.

Political, etc.

Lord Kitchener made a K.G.

San Marino, the small republic inside Italian territory, debates on whether it should remain neutral or join the Allies.

The Tehcir Law, which authorizes the deportation of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, is officially enacted.

Berlin bans restaurants from serving table d’hôte meals; also advises them to serve more vegetables instead of meat to conserve food.

Parliamentary elections are held in Greece. Eleftherios Venizelos and his Liberal Party wins a landslide victory.
http://i.imgur.com/wykV3uy.jpg

Ship Losses:

HMS Mohawk ( Royal Navy): The Tribal-class destroyer struck a mine and was damaged in the English Channel with the loss of five of her crew.
SMS Pommern ( Kaiserliche Marine): Battle of Jutland: The Deutschland-class battleship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off Jutland by HMS Onslaught ( Royal Navy) with the loss of all 839 crew.
Saidieh ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Thames Estuary by SM UB-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eight of her 54 crew.
Victoria ( United Kingdom): The fishing vessel was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Isles of Scilly (50°36′N 6°20′W) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of six crew.

A French aviator helps load bombs on to his biplane, 1 June 1915.
http://i.imgur.com/BWRrGy5.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

June 1:

I don't have the exact dates, but sometime in late May/early June the first FE.2a is delivered to No. 6 Squadron, RFC.

Also sometime around this date Hellmuth von Mucke was appointed to command the 15th Torpedoboote Half-Flotilla.



"Have had quite a number of thrills since I wrote you last. Yesterday afternoon I reached an altitude of 10,400 feet on my Avro an a reconnaissance, which is my height record so far.

In the evening we had a 'phone message, 'Stand by to attack Zeppelin,' and on looking out, there it was as large as life a few miles out to sea and very high. we rushed up to the aerodrome and got off by 8.40 p.m. I went straight out to sea after it and got to 6000 feet in 15 minutes, but was never within ten miles of the thing. I wasn't overtaking it at all, but on the contrary it was gaining on me, and after half an hour I lost sight of it. The sun, of course, was right down by now and I steered home by various lights on shore, for the coast was quite invisible. Had some difficulty in picking out the aerodrome, although huge petrol flares were out, but made quite a good landing. I came in very flat but never saw the ground at all. I touched it when I thought I was still 50 feet up, and also caught the top of the hedge coming into the aerodrome - it was most deceptive.

We next had some dinner, but mine was spoilt through a message from the Commander, which contained instructions for me to drop bombs on an airship shed at Gontrode, near Ghent. The moon rose soon after midnight and at 1.30 a.m. I started off. things in general have a most depressing aspect at that hour of the morning. I went out to sea via Zeebrugge, and then cut inland. When I arrived at the place there was a thick ground mist and dawn was just breaking. I could not see the sheds at all, but two searchlights were going hard. I half circled round, when lo! and behold! I sighted the Zeppelin coming home over Zeebrugge. I turned off due east to avoid being seen, intending to wait until he came down and then catching him sitting. But my luck was out. One of the searchlights picked me up, and anti-aircraft guns immediately opened fire on me.

Then a curious thing happened. The Zeppelin sighted me (I think the searchlights were signalling) and immediately came for me. This was the tables turned on me with a vengeance, and the very last thing I ever dreamt of. It was a regular nightmare. I was only 6000 feet up, and the Zepp, which was very fast, must have been ten. without being able to get above it, I was, of course, helpless and entirely at the mercy of his maxim guns. I don't think I have been so disconcerted for a long time. We had 'some' race! He tried to cut me off from Holland, but I got across his bows. He was a huge big thing, most imposing, and turned rapidly with the greatest of ease. I hung around north of Ghent, climbing hard, and reached 8,500 feet, but the Zepp wasn't having any. He wasn't coming down while I was there, and I, on the other hand, couldn't get up to him, as he had risen to some fabulous height, so after a bit I pushed off home feeling very discontened at such an unsatisfactory ending. What else could I do? I wasn't going back on the chance of spotting the sheds, with anti-aircraft guns waiting for me below and a Zepp ready to pounce on me from above.

I disposed of my bombs in the sea before landing, and got back after three hours in the air - eventually got to bed at something after 6 a.m. Have been in to see the Commander to-day, and he was kind enough to tell me I had done all that was possible. He also gave ma a little job, which necessitates my getting away soon after midnight to-night. Pray the Lord my engine holds out!

P.S. - I hear the Zepp dropped bombs at _____. I must have followed him half-way across."
-Harold Rosher, letter to his father, June 1 1915



Celtic Sea: Claus Rücker, Commanding U-34, opens his second war patrol attempting to stop the British trawler Victoria, but the fishing vessel tries to run. Rücker then sinks the trawler with his deck gun. He now has 4 ships and 11,805 tons.



North Sea: Erich Haecker in UB-6 sinks the British steamer SS Saidieh, inbound from Alexandria to Hull with a cargo of cottonseed and onions. This gives Haecker 2 ships for 3,638 tons.



British East Africa: The tug Blackcock is only able to make about 2 knots towing HMS Severn alone. Captain Fullerton orders Revenger and Sarah Joliffe to tow Mersey at best speed to Chacke Chacke harbour at Pemba Island. At 0530 hours the rest of the convoy can see in the dawn the two tugs and monitor stopped in the distance. As the convoy closes they can see that both tugs are flying the flag signals "Aground". Fullerton takes Trent ahead at full speed and anchors as close to the tugs and monitor as the big liner can safely get. Fullerton and Mersey's skipper Lt. Commander Wilson take a motorboat to the tugs, to find Sarah Joliffe aground on a reef and Revenger floating free but with her tow line snagged in the coral. Mersey has about seven inches under her keel and the tide is going out. Fullerton orders Kendal Castle to take over towing Severn and Blackcock to attempt to rescue Mersey. Captain Weir takes his tug in as close as he dare get without going aground himself, and Blackcock pulls the monitor stern-first into deep water. Revenger's snagged line is freed, and she stays with Sarah Joliffe while the rest of the convoy moves south to Chake Chake. At 1420 hours Admiral King-Hall in HMS Hyacinth arrives with coal for the tugs, along with T.A. Joliffe to help with the towing. The convoy continues slowly while the two tugs are taking on coal.

All these operations take place in pouring rain.

[Jimbuna]

2nd June 1915

Eastern Front

Austro-German attack on Przemsyl.

Austrians beaten on the Dniester at Mikolajow.

Naval and Overseas Operations

North Sea
Arethusa, light cruiser, Arethusa-class, broad pendant, Harwich Force, on patrol with Undaunted on the lookout out for Zeppelins attacking England, light cruisers each carrying a seaplane. Sighted Zeppelin, seaplane took off but forced to return, opened fire on Zeppelin which made off. Several hours later, German seaplane came out of the clouds and dropped three bombs without hitting Arethusa.

Political etc.

German Ambassador Bernstorff meets with President Wilson to discuss Germany’s unrestricted submarine campaign.

Venice moves the Four Horses of St. Mark’s to a safer location due to Austro-Hungarian air raids.
http://i.imgur.com/1iH4DUo.jpg

Kitchener, British Secretary of State for War, is appointed as Knight of the Order of the Garter.
http://i.imgur.com/IC1K3G7.jpg

Germany announces that it has captured more than 300,000 Russian prisoners during the month of May.

Ottoman troops outside the Sultan’s Palace in Constantinople.
http://i.imgur.com/mMKG3nc.jpg

Ship Losses:

Cubano ( Norway): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 15 nautical miles (28 km) north east of the Flannan Isles, Outer Hebrides, United Kingdom (58°25′N 7°40′W) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Cyrus ( Denmark): The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea (56°45′N 2°00′E by SM U-14 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Delta B ( Belgium): The fishing vessel was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 12 nautical miles (22 km) south south west of the Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom (49°40′N 6°30′W) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Hirose ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 32 nautical miles (59 km) west of the Isles of Scilly (49°50′N 7°10′W) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Salvador ( Denmark): The sailing vessel was stopped and sunk in the North Sea 7 nautical miles (13 km) south west of Sumburgh Head, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Soeborg ( Denmark): The cargo ship was reported to have been torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 65 nautical miles (120 km) off the Farne Islands, Northumberland, United Kingdom.

[Sailor Steve]

June 2:

"Dear Mum,
Just a line to let you know how I fared last night. I left the aerodrome in the moonlight at one in the morning and I did not at all relish it. I went out to sea past Zeebrugge and cut in over Northern Belgium. Could see the lights of Flushing quite plainly, but it was quite hopeless to find my destination, owing to a thick ground mist, so I returned, dropping my bombs on Blankenberghe on the way. I was only away 1 3/4 hours, and it was just getting light as I got back. I landed with the help of flares and got to bed by 4 a.m.
Love to all.
Ever your loving son, Harold."
-Harold Rosher, letter to his mother, June 2, 1915Air War: Sometime in early June No. 6 squadron recieves their first Bristol Scout C. As senior flying officer Lanoe Hawker lays claim to the aircraft. Unwilling to face a recurrence of Louis Strange's escapade in the Martinsyde, the pair begin working on a new gun mounting. Strange concieves the idea of mounting the gun on the port side of the cockpit, angled out 30 degrees to clear the propeller. Hawker, who has a background in engineering, starts making the device.



North Atlantic, west of the Outer Hebrides, Scotland: Waldemar Kophamel, commanding U-35, captures the Norwegian freighter SS Cubano, 4,352 tons, outbound from Christiania to India with a general cargo, and sinks her with the deck gun.



Celtic Sea: Claus Rücker, in U-34, catches the Belgian trawler Delta B, 220 tons, and British trawler Hirose, 274 tons. Delta B is sunk with the boat's deck gun, and Hirose is scuttled.



North Sea: Max Hammerle, commanding U-14, sinks the Danish freighter SS Cyrus, bound from Burntisland to Copenhagen with a load of coal.

Constantin Kolbe, in U-19, begins his second patrol by stopping and sinking the Danish sailing vessel Salvador, travelling from Gothenburg to Bideford with a load of wood.



British East Africa: At 0520 in the tug T.A. Joliffe is secured alongside HMS Hyacinth for coaling. At 0600 Blackcock does the same. At 0735 the job is finished, and at 0810 the tugs proceed out of the harbour.

During the night the high tide allowed Sarah Joliffe to float off the reef with no serious damage, and at 1245 she and Revenger tie up to Hyacinth for their turn. Revenger takes on coal, but Sarah Joliffe only needs water. At 1345 the tugs cast off and at 1500 the three are underway at ten knots to catch up with the other ships.

At 1800 the cruiser and two tugs catch up with the other two tugs and proceed southward. It is still pouring rain.

[Jimbuna]

3rd June 1915

Western Front

British take trenches at Givenchy.

Eastern Front

Austro-Germans retake Przemsyl. More the 36,000 Russian soldiers are taken prisoner.
http://i.imgur.com/VZhexht.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/MAibo6v.jpg

Southern Front

Dardanelles: Turkish attack repulsed at Gallipoli.

Aviation

29 French aircraft conducts an early morning raid against the headquarters of Germany’s Crown Prince, dropping 178 bombs.

Naval

Mesopotamian Campaign - British-Indian forces advancing up the River Tigris from Kurnah/Al Qurnah captured Amara (note: not Kut al Imara/Amara or just Kut), sloops Clio, Espiegle, Lawrence (RIM) and Odin, armed tug Comet, armed launches Lewis Pelly, Miner, Shaitan, Sumana and stern wheelers Muzaffari/Mozaffir, Shushan took part.
Townshend sends the launch Shaitan ahead to ascertain whether Al 'Amarah is fortified. Although he has only a hundred sailors and soldiers in his company and is vastly outnumbered, Townshend bluffs. The town and a battalion of Turkish troops stationed there surrender.
General Townshend
http://i.imgur.com/3Pxi7h1.png

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Capitulation of Amara (Mesopotamia) to the British.

Political, etc.

Bill to create Ministry of Munitions introduced.

David Lloyd George, the new Minister of Munitions, warns that “Britain must equip or die.”

Estimates reveal that France has spent around $132 (about $3092 today) a second on the war.

Republic of San Marino declares war on the Empire of Austria-Hungary.

Ship Losses:

Boy Horace ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) south east of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Chrysoprasus ( United Kingdom): The fishing vessel was shelleded and sunk in the North Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) east north east of Papa Westray, Orkney Islands by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Dogberry ( United Kingdom): The trawler was stopped and scuttled in the North Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) east of Fair Isle by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
E & C ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) south east by east of Lowestoft (51°49′N 2°49′E) by SM UB-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Economy ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) south east of Lowestoft by SM UB-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ena May ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 66 nautical miles (122 km) south west by south of Sumburgh Head, Aberdeenshire by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Iona ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 22 nautical miles (41 km) south east of Fair Isle (59°13′N 1°12′W) by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Kathleen ( United Kingdom): The drifter was captured and scuttled in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east south east of Papa Stronsay Orkney Islands by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Lappland ( Sweden): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom by SM U-14 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Penfeld ( France): The coaster was sunk in the Bay of Biscay 50 nautical miles (93 km) north west of Ouessant, Finistère by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Strathbran ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) east south east of the Pentland Skerries by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Virginia ( Greece): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Adriatic Sea off Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy.

[Sailor Steve]

June 3:

Air War: Leutnant Max Immelmann is flying an LVG B.I with an unnamed observer on a photo reconnaissance mission when they are attacked by a French Farman MF.11 armed with a machine gun. Immelmann's plane is shot down but he manages to make it back to his own side of the lines before landing. For this he is awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class.



Celtic Sea: Claus Rücker, captain of U-34, sinks French freighter Penfeld, 793 tons, bound from Nantes to Cardiff with an unnamed cargo. His score is now 6 ships and 12,818 tons



North Sea: Max Hammerle, commanding U-14, torpedoes and sinks Swedish freighter SS Lappland, 2,238 tons, carrying a load of iron ore from Narvik to Middlesbrough.

Constantin Kolbe, in U-19, sinks a series of fishing boats and trawlers - Salvador, Danish fishing boat, 165 tons, British boats Chrysoprasus, 119 tons, Dogberry, 214 tons, Ena May, 90 tons, Kathleen, 92 tons, and Strathbran, 163 tons. Kolbe also sinks the British freighter Iona, 3,344 tons, travelling from Middlesbrough to Montreal with a general cargo. His score now stands at 8 ships and 5,488 tons.

Hans Valentiner begins his U-boat career in UB-16, capturing and scuttling three British fishing smacks - Boy Horace, 69 tons, E&C, 60 tons, and Economy, 69 tons.



German East Africa: A little less than three months after leaving Britain the monitors' convoy arrives at Mafia Island. By 1800 hours Trent is at anchor with Mersey and Severn tied up on either side. Before they can be sent into action they will have to be unbattened. The metal plates will have to be removed from the hatches and portholes, the breakers removed from the bow, and all the loosened rivets refastened. Then will come the gunnery drills to get the crews back in shape. It will still be some weeks before the two monitors are ready to face Königsberg.

[Jimbuna]

4th June 1915

Southern Front

British and French forces begin bombarding Ottoman lines to capture the village of Krithia in Gallipoli.
http://i.imgur.com/GYErTHx.jpg

Aviation

Zeppelin raid on east coast.
http://i.imgur.com/IpOMhRB.jpg

First flight of the Marinens Flyvebaatfabrikk M.F.1.
http://i.imgur.com/cI7CzzM.jpg

Political, etc.

Mr. Lloyd George speaks at Liverpool on the output of munitions.

Kaiser Wilhelm visits Archduke Friedrich, Supreme Commander of the Austro-Hungarian Army, to celebrate the Archduke’s birthday.

President Wilson’s cabinet becomes divided on how harsh the U.S. demands to Germany should be on submarine warfare issue.

Ship Losses:

Casabianca ( French Navy): The D'Iberville-class cruiser was sunk by the explosion of one of her mines in the Gulf of Smyrna.[24] There are 86 killed and 66 survivors.
Cortes ( United Kingdom): The trawler was scuttledin the North Sea 68 nautical miles (126 km) east north east of Wick, Caithness by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Dunnet Head ( United Kingdom): The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) east by south of Dunnet Head, Caithness (58°42′N 1°55′W) by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ebenezer ( United Kingdom): The trawler was sunk in the North Sea 117 nautical miles (217 km) south south west of the Out Skerries, Shetland Islands (58°31′N 1°21′W) by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Evening Star ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 68 nautical miles (126 km) east north east of Wick by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Explorer ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 73 nautical miles (135 km) north east by north of Buchan Ness, Aberdeenshire by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
George & Mary ( United Kingdom): The schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 15 nautical miles (28 km) south west of Eagle Island, County Mayo by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Inkum ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) south west of The Lizard, Cornwall (49°25′N 6°35′W) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Petrel ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 55 nautical miles (102 km) north east of Buchan Ness by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Yenisei ( Imperial Russian Navy): The Amur-class minelayer was sunk in the Baltic Sea (59°10′N 23°43′E) by SM U-26 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

June 4:

North Atlantic Ocean, off the west coast of Ireland: Waldemar Kophamel, commanding U-35, captures British schooner George & Mary, 100 tons, carrying a load of scrap iron and lead from Tralee to Glasgow, and sinks her with the deck gun. His score is now 5 ships and 6,638 tons.



Celtic Sea: Claus Rücker, in U-34, sinks the British freighter SS Inkum, 4,747 tons, bound from New York to London with a general cargo. This brings his score to 7 ships and 17,565 tons.



North Sea: Constantin Kolbe in U-19 attacks another fishing fleet, sinking trawlers Cortes, 174 tons, Ebenezer, 113 tons, Evening Star, 156 tons, Explorer, 156 tons, and Petrel, 182 tons, as well as the small steamer SS Dunnet Head, 343 tons, heading in ballast from Baltasound to Arboath. His score is now 14 ships and 2,682 tons.



Baltic Sea: Egewulf von Berckheim, in U-26, sinks the Russian minelayer Yenisei, 3,600 tons. This gives him 12 ships and 12,224 tons.



German East Africa: HMS Mersey's log records that work is begun breaking down the wooden braces in the mess decks and the breakwater on the forward deck. Also a working party is sent from HMS Hyacinth.

[Jimbuna]

5th June 1915

Western Front

Fighting continues north of Arras.

German counter-attacks on French east of Lorette Ridge repulsed.

Naval and Overseas Operations

U.14 sunk by trawler Oceanic II in North Sea off Peterhead.
http://i.imgur.com/k9jaWnj.jpg

Atlantic off SW Ireland
Inawilliam, or Ina Williams, Admiralty trawler, 337/1913, hired 4/15, 1-12pdr, Sub-Lt Nettleingham RNR, steaming towards Cahirmore Signal Station, few miles west of Berehaven. Large submarine came to the surface 1 or 2 miles away on port beam, Inawilliam, now 11 miles W of Mizen Head, headed for the U-boat which fired 4 or 5 rounds, then a torpedo which just missed, trawler fired back, hit her once or twice as she submerged and escaped.

Italian fleet bombards lighthouses and stations on the islands of the Dalmatian Archipelago, and Monfalcone.

3rd Battle of Krithia ends in an Ottoman victory as Allied troops fail to capture the village.

Political, etc.

Prime Minister Asquith finishes a four day tour of the British forces in France and returns to London.

Mr. Winston Churchill speaks at Dundee on the Dardanelles expedition.

New York State Government estimates that a million people have or will leave the state as immigrants are recalled to Europe to fight.

Ship Losses:

Adolf ( Russia): The schooner was sunk in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her six crew.
Bardolph ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 115 nautical miles (213 km) south by west of Sumburgh Head, Shetland Islands by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Curlew ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Fantassin ( French Navy): The Chasseur-class destroyer was rammed and damaged in the Ionian Sea by Mameluck ( French Navy). She was consequently scuttled by Fauconneau ( French Navy).
Gazehound ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east of Peterhead by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Japonica ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) east of Kinnaird Head, Aberdeenshire by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Persimon ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) east north east of Peterhead by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SM U-14 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The Type U 13 submarine was shelled and sunk in the North Sea off Peterhead, United Kingdom by HMT Oceanic II ( Royal Navy) with the loss of one of her 28 crew.

[Sailor Steve]

June 5:

"Babbington went home some days ago and Sippe is now in charge here. He has been unwell the last three days, so I am left in command of the station - four officers under me, over 30 men, machines, and seven or eight motors of various descriptions.

Have hopes of being given a Nieuport in a day or so. They are fast scouts, supposed to do over 90 miles per hour, and should get a Zepp with one with any luck. Don't know when I am rejoining Babbington."
-Harold Rosher, letter to his father, June 5, 1915



Air War: French pilot Maxime Alberte Lenoir, flying a Caudron with a "Lt. River" as observer, is credited with his first victory when they shoot down an Aviatik two-seater.



North Sea: Constain Kolbe, commanding U-19, attacks another fishing fleet, sinking the trawlers Bardolph, 215 tons, Curlew, 134 tons, Gazehound, 138 tons, Persimon, 255 tons, and Star Of The West, 197 tons. He also sinks the Russian sailing ship Adolf, 169 tons, carrying a load of salt from Middelsbrough to Arkhangelsk.



Max Hammerle, in U-14, approaches the British trawler Oceanic II. He fires a warning shot, intending to allow the crew to abandon ship before sinking her. In this case, however, the trawler is armed, and immediately opens fire. Hammerle orders an emergency dive, but a damaged flood valve prevents the boat from going down. More trawlers arrive on the scene and one of them, Hawk, rams the helpless u-boat. Hammerle orders the crew to abandon ship. Twenty-seven of them survive, the only fatality being Hammerle himself.



German East Africa: HMS Mersey's log notes that the crew are busy hoisting timber out of the monitor onto Trent, while the gunners are clearing and overhauling their guns.

[Jimbuna]

6th June 1915

Eastern Front

Enemy cross the Dniester at Zurawno, and continue their advance east of Przemsyl.

Aviation

Zeppelin raid on east coast (26 killed, 40 injured).
http://i.imgur.com/CHM6BNM.jpg

H.G. Hawker, Australian aviator, breaks the altitude record in Britain by climbing to 20,000 feet (6.1km).
http://i.imgur.com/27iZwIL.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/S2Qjhqw.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/pGn8ZW3.jpg

Naval

Aegean Sea
IMMINGHAM, Admiralty store carrier, ex-passenger steamer, 2,083/1906, Great Central Railway, Grimsby-reg, hired as accommodation ship 10/14, RFA store carrier from 4/15, Pennant No.Y8.50, described as "errand boy" between Imbros island and Mudros during Gallipoli campaign. In collision with hired screw minesweeper Reindeer 1,101grt, sank off Mudros, Lemnos island. Owners claimed £100,000 compensation but only awarded £45,000 by the Admiralty.

Political

German government orders U-boat commanders not to sink passenger liners without warning, even those under enemy flags.

British court dismisses government charges against the London “Times” that it divulged military secrets in its reporting.

King Constantine of Greece is in critical condition due to illness. His temperature is recorded at 40C (104F).

Count Leopold von Berchtold, former Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, offers his services as a volunteer driver on the Italian Front.

Ship Losses:

Arctic ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 77 nautical miles (143 km) south east by south of Spurn Head, Yorkshire by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her nine crew. Survivors were rescued by the trawler Jurassic ( United Kingdom).
Dromio ( United Kingdom): The trawler was scuttled in the North Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) north east by east of Buchan Ness, Aberdeenshire by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMS Immingham ( Royal Navy): The stores carrier was lost in the Mediterranean Sea on this date.
Star of the West ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea off Peterhead, Aberdeenshire by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by the trawler Shamrock ( United Kingdom).
Sunlight ( United Kingdom): The barque was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 20 nautical miles (37 km) south west of Galley Head, County Cork by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived; they were rescued by the trawler Indian Empire.

[Sailor Steve]

June 6:

Celtic Sea, south of Ireland: Waldemar Kophamel, commanding U-35, captures and sinks the steel barque Sunlight, 1,433 tons, carrying a load of molasses from Macoris to Glasgow.



North Sea: Constantin Kolbe, in U-19, captures and sinks two more trawlers - Japonica, 145 tons, and Dromio, 208 tons. The attack on Japonica must have come around midnight, since U-19's KTB has it listed as early on the 6th but British sources say late on the 5th, hence the discrepancy between listings here.



German East Africa: At Mafia Island HMS Mersey has a party busy pumping out water, the gunners are overhauling their guns, and the rest of the crew are setting up armour plating on the boat deck.

[Jimbuna]

7th June 1915

Western Front

French offensive near Hebuterne.

French progress north of Africa.

Repeated German counter-attacks repulsed north of the Aisne.

Aviation

Flight Sub-Lieutenant Warneford destroys a Zeppelin LZ 37 between Ghent and Brussels and is awarded the Victoria Cross.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01qb4mm
No. 1 Naval Aeroplane Squadron, 8th June 1915, official report by Flight Sub-Lieutenant Reginald Warneford
I left Furnes at 1:00 am on 7th June 1915 on Morane No. 3253 under orders to look for Zeppelins and attack the Berchem St Agathe Airship Shed with six 20 lb bombs.
On arriving at Dixmude at 1:15 am, I observed a Zeppelin apparently over Ostend and proceeded in chase of the same. I arrived at close quarters a few miles past Bruges at 1:50 am and the Airship opened heavy maxim fire, so I retreated to gain height and the Airship turned and followed me.

At 2:15 am it stopped firing and 2:25 am I came behind, but well above the Zeppelin; height then 11,000 feet, and switched off my engine to descend on top of him. When close above him at 7,000 feet altitude I dropped my bombs, and, whilst relasing the last, there was an explosition which lifted my machine and turned it over. The aeroplane was out of control for a short period, went into a nose dive, but control was regained. I then saw the Zeppelin was on the ground in flames.

The joint on my petrol pipe and pump from the back tank was broken and at about 2:40 am I was forced to land in enemy territory to repair my pump. I made preparations to set the machine on fire, but was not observed, so was able to effect a repair of the aircraft and after considerable difficulty in starting my engine single handed, was able to take off and head in a South Westerly direction.

I tried several times to find my whereabouts but was unable to do so, so I eventually landed and discovered I was at Cape Gris Nez, where I was given petrol by French soldiers. When the weather cleared I was able to proceed and arrived back at my Aerodrome about 10:30 am.
For the award of the Victoria Cross.

[ London Gazette, 11 June 1915 ], Over Ghent, Belgium, 7 June 1915, Flight Sub-Lieutenant Reginald Alexander John Warneford, Royal Navy ( 1 Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service ).


For most conspicuous bravery on the 7th June 1915, when he attacked and, single-handed, completely destroyed a Zeppelin in mid-air.
This brilliant achievement was accomplished after chasing the Zeppelin from the coast of Flanders to Ghent, where he succeeded in dropping his bombs on to it from a height of only one or two hundred feet. One of these bombs caused a terrific explosion which set the Zeppelin on fire from end to end, but at the same time overturned his Aeroplane and stopped the engine.

In spite of this he succeeded in landing safely in hostile country, and after 15 minutes started his engine and returned to his base without damage.
http://i.imgur.com/FUFMjjN.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/jLKUir0.jpg

Naval

German Minefield - Auxiliary minelayer Meteor laid large minefields on the 7th/8th along the North Russian Murman coast at the entrance to the White Sea to interrupt the flow of munitions to, and cargoes from Russia. SS Arndale was the first ship sunk; three more went down in the same month. Six Lowestoft minesweeping trawlers arrived in July to sweep them, and continued until November

Zeppelin Airwar - RNAS aircraft of No.1 Sqdn bombed and destroyed Army airship LZ.38 (Production No. LZ.38) in her shed at Bruxelles Evere, Belgium; Victoria Cross - Flight Sub Lt Reginald Alexander John Warneford RNAS (also No.1 Sqdn), destroyed German Zeppelin LZ.37 (Production No. LZ.37) in the air near Ghent, Belgium. He was killed in a plane crash ten days later

Orkneys
Duke of Albany, Admiralty armed boarding vessel, 1,997/1907, hired 30/10/14, returning to Scapa in thick fog. Grounded on Lother Rock in the Pentland Firth at 0400, refloated with considerable damage seven days later.

Political etc.

U.S. Ambassador Page presents King George a medal cast in New Orleans to celebrate 100 years of peace between the U.S. and Britain.

British Coalition Cabinet agrees to pool their salaries to promote more unity between the ministers. Average salary is £4246 a year.

Ship Losses:

Djeyhun ( Ottoman Empire): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Sea of Marmara off Nagara Point, Turkey by HMS E11 ( Royal Navy).
Glittertind ( Norway): The coaster was sunk in the North Sea 28 nautical miles (52 km) off Whitby, Yorkshire, United Kingdom (58°55′N 0°10′E) by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Menapier ( Belgium): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 2 nmi (3.7 km) off the Tongue Lightship ( United Kingdom) (51°28′05″N 1°35′15″E) by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seventeen crew.
Nottingham ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 70 nautical miles (130 km) north east of Spurn Point, Yorkshire by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by the trawler Onward ( United Kingdom).
Pentland ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 75 nautical miles (139 km) east north east of Hornsea, Yorkshire by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Saturn ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 86 nautical miles (159 km) north east of Spurn Point by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Superb ( Norway): The barque was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) west of the Fastnet Rock (51°15′N 10°45′W) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Trudvang ( Norway): The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 64 nautical miles (119 km) south west by west of the smalls Lighthouse (51°08′N 6°45′W) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Velocity ( United Kingdom): The trawler was sunk in the North Sea 75 nautical miles (139 km) north east of Spurn Point by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

June 7:

"Big haul last night. Warneford caught a Zepp at 6,000 feet and did it in, and another was caught in its shed by Wilson and Mills.

There was also a huge fire at the hospital here last night. All the wounded men were got out, and the sands were strewn with them in beds, etc."

-Harold Rosher, letter to his mother, June 7, 1915Air War: At 0215 hours Reginald Alexander John Warneford, flying solo in an unarmed Morane-Saulnier 'L' parasol, brings down LZ.37 by dropping bombs on it (see Jimbuna's post above).

French pilot Eugene Gilbert scores his 4th victory. Gilbert is flying a Morane, either 'L' or 'N', and his victim is listed only as an 'Enemy Aircraft'.



Atlantic Ocean, southwest of Ireland: Claus Rücker, commanding U-34, sinks Norwegian sailing ship Superb, 1,515 tons, travelling from Buenos Aires to Queenstown with a cargo of grain. His score is now 8 ships and 19,080 tons.



Celtic Sea, between Ireland and Wales: Waldemar Kophamel, in U-35, sinks the Norwegian freighter Trudvang, 1,041 tons, bound from Pomaron to Dublin with a load of pyrite (Iron sulfide, AKA "Fool's gold"). This brings Kophamel's score to 7 ships and 9,112 tons.



North Sea: Otto Wünsche, in U-25, sinks Norwegian freighter Glittertind, 717 tons, carrying a load of pit props from Hälle to Hartlepool. Wünsche then attacks a fishing fleet, capturing and sinkng the British trawlers Nottingham, 165 tons; Pentland, 204 tons; Saturn, 183 tons; and Velocity, 186 tons.

Otto Steinbrinck, in UB-10, sinks the Belgian freighter Menapier, 1886 tons, en route from Algiers to Middlsbrough with a load of iron ore. Steinbrinck ends his first war patrol with 2 ships and 3,906 tons.



German East Africa: At Mafia Island HMS Mersey's crew are still busy with the same operations: Pumping water out of the chain locker, mounting guns and putting up armour plating.

[Aktungbby]

Air War: At 0215 hours Reginald Alexander John Warneford, flying solo in an unarmed Morane-Saulnier 'L' parasol, brings down LZ.37 by dropping bombs on it (see Jimbuna's post above).

Better!: my album :O::http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/08/15/article-2394716-1B4F57E6000005DC-95_634x416.jpg And his new Centennial Memorial plaque at Highworth! http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/media/images/83471000/jpg/_83471509_20150607_113959-1.jpghttp://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-33035725 (http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-33035725):salute:

[11sero10]

it was a terrible time ...

[Jimbuna]

8th June 1915

Western Front

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

Eastern Front

Stanislau recaptured by Austrian forces.

Naval

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

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

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

Russia begins salvaging operations of the Ottoman cruiser Mecidiy after it was sunk outside of Odessa.
http://i.imgur.com/fAgCl1w.jpg

Political, etc.

Ministry of Munitions Bill amended.

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

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

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

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

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

Ship losses:

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

http://i.imgur.com/blPKnYZ.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

June 8:

"We are now in tents. Great news about Warneford, isn't it? He certainly deserves a V.C. Am going to fly a Nieuport to-morrow."
-Harold Rosher, letter to his father, June 8th, 1915Celtic Sea: Waldemar Kophamel, commanding U-35, stops and scuttles British sailing vessel Express, 115 tons. Next is French sailing vessel La Liberte, 302 tons, carrying a load of coal from Swansea to Bougie. He then torpedoes the British freighter SS Strathcarron, 4,347 tons, bound from Barry to an unlisted destination with a cargo of coal. Finally is the sailing vessel Susannah, 115 tons, also carrying coal from Preston to Thuro. This brings Kophamel's score to 11 ships and 13,991 tons.



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

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

[Jimbuna]

9th June 1915

Eastern Front

German attacks repulsed in the Shavli district.

Austro-Germans pressed back to right of the Dniester.

Southern Front

Italians occupy Monfalcone (Isonzo front).

Naval and Overseas Operations

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

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

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

Political, etc.

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

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

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

Robert Lansing is made the interim Secretary of State of the U.S..
http://i.imgur.com/RW5CUY5.jpg

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

Ship Loses:

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

[Sailor Steve]

June 9:

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

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



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

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

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



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



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

[Jimbuna]

10th June 1915

Western Front

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

Eastern Front

Austro-Germans driven back near the Dniester at Zurawno.

Naval and Overseas Operations

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

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

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

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

Anglo-French take Garua (Cameroons).

Political etc.

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

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

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

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

Ship Losses:

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

[Sailor Steve]

June 10:

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



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



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



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



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

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

[Jimbuna]

11th June 1915

Western Front

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

Eastern Front

Austrians lose 16,000 prisoners at Zurawno.

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

Naval and Overseas Operations

Second American Note on the "Lusitania" published.

Aviation

North Sea – First-ever use of reconnaissance seaplanes with battlefleet at sea: Sopwith Baby seaplanes from HMS Campania observe movements of ‘hostile’ squadrons in British Grand Fleet exercises.
http://i.imgur.com/BJDyXtP.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/X3L6RWa.jpg

Political, etc.

Mr. Lloyd George speaks at Bristol on munitions.

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

General Ricciotti Garibaldi and his three sons enlist in the Italian army.
http://i.imgur.com/TFjLpF7.jpg

Bernhard Dernburg, official spokesman for Germany in the U.S., leaves the country and returns to Germany.
http://i.imgur.com/05PxcR2.png

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

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

Ship Losses:

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

[Sailor Steve]

June 11:

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



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

SS Otago, built 1882
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Otago_zpsm4n9mint.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Otago_zpsm4n9mint.jpg.html)




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

[Jimbuna]

12th June 1915

Eastern Front

Austro-Germans cross the Dniester at Kolomea.

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

Southern Front

Italians make progress in the Carnic Alps.

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

Malborghetto bombarded.

Naval

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

Political, etc.

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

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

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

Ship Losses:

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

[Sailor Steve]

June 12:

Mr Homer H. Ladd of Watertown, Massachussetts sends a telegram to President Wilson concerning British Leyland liner Colonian flying the United States flag from May 30-June 2. Mr Ladd receives confirmation of telegram and note that it will "be brought to the attention of the President." This begins a series of letters between Ladd and interim Secretary of State Robert Lansing concerning British violations of neutral rights.
https://books.google.com/books?id=0no-AQAAMAAJ&pg=PR3-IA17&lpg=PR3-IA17&dq=ss+colonian+1915&source=bl&ots=COI1qraJI5&sig=ccYwiyugo-e0xixqpTHD6QqD7MI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xB93VYqVENGUyATf34KgDw&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=ss%20colonian%201915&f=false

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



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



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



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



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

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




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

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

[Jimbuna]

13th June 1915

Western Front

French repulsed at Souchez.

Success of the French south-east of Hebuterne.

Eastern Front

Austro-Germans attack successfully from the San to Mosciska.

Russian counter-attack on the Styr and Tysmienice.

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

Naval

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

Political, etc.

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

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

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

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

E.M. House, President Wilson’s personal representative to Europe, leaves London with important messages and reports.
http://i.imgur.com/kp9G4pP.jpg

Zbigniew Dunin-Wasowicz, leader of the Polish Legions fighting for Austria, is killed at the Charge of Rokitna.
http://i.imgur.com/CicreBb.jpg

Ship Losses:

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

http://i.imgur.com/tsF4jMO.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/KYRXwVF.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

June 13:

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

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Fokker%20E.II_zps6ujmtorv.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Fokker%20E.II_zps6ujmtorv.jpg.html)

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



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



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

[Jimbuna]

14th June 1915

Western Front

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

Eastern Front

Russians fall back towards Grodek line (Lemberg).

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

Southern Front

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

Naval

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

Ship Losses:

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

Colley O'Donnel Grattan, whole-plate glass negative, 14 June 1915.
http://i.imgur.com/GLPx6mR.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

June 14:

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



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

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

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

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

[Jimbuna]

15th June 1915

Western Front

French airmen bomb Karlsruhe.

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

Eastern Front

German advance on right bank of San.

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

Aviation

Zeppelin raid on north-east coast.
http://i.imgur.com/6pP0Zri.jpg

Political, etc.

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

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

Ship Losses:

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

[Sailor Steve]

June 15:

Air War: The first Fokker M5K/MG, factory number 191 (probably E.1/15), leaves the factory. The date on which Idflieg gave the aircraft the military designation E.I is unknown. Otto Parschau's plane, deliverd May 30, was still designated A.III and numbered A.16/15.

Maxime Lenoir of France, flying a Caudron with an unnamed observer, is credited with shooting down a German balloon. This is Lenoir's second aerial victory.



Celtic Sea: Bruno Hoppe, commanding U-22, begins his second war patrol by torpedoing British freighter SS Strathnairn, 4,336 tons, bound from Penarth to Archangelsk with a cargo of coal. Hoppe's score is now 3 ships and 5,389 tons.



German East Africa: The log of HMS Weymouth notes that at 0400 Bosun James Flynn was cautioned for coming on board drunk the previous night.

At 0915 HMS Severn receives two maxim machine guns from the cruiser Hyacinth, plus five gun stands and spare parts. At 1015 she sets out for anchoring and mooring trials, then at 1405 puts out to sea, drops off a target and begins gun trials. She drops anchor back in port at 1755.

At 1115 HMS Mersey receives a visit from Admiral King-Hall and his staff, who leave the monitor at 1220. At 1630 Mersey puts out for a trial run. The starboard rudder is found to be out of alignment, and the ship stops to make adjustments, returning to port at 1830.

[Jimbuna]

16th June 1915

Western Front

British advance north of Hooge, and east of Festubert.

French gain ground in severe fighting north of Arras.

French advance in the Vosges.

Eastern Front

Continued fighting east of the San.

Aviation

H.J. Tennant, British Under Secretary for War, reports that airplanes with “great carrying capacity” are being built to counter Zeppelins.

Naval

Kaiser Wilhelm awards the captain of the U-boat that sank the Lusitania with the Order Pour le Merite.

Political, etc.

Mr. Lloyd George takes the oath as Minister of Munitions.
http://i.imgur.com/osa5ect.jpg
The old War Office building on Whitehall, London. It housed the directorates and staffs that were so vital to recruitment, movement, supply and top-level military decision-making.

The Allies offer Bulgaria territory in Macedonia if it joins the war against the Central Powers.

Ship Losses:

Trafford ( United Kingdom): The coaster was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) west south west of the Tuskar Rock by SM U-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

Welt im Bild cover shows German soldiers shooting at an enemy plane.
http://i.imgur.com/PFW80Gv.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

June 16:

Air War: Otto Parschau completes tour as instructor at FFA 62, Douai. He and his aircraft are now released for combat duty.



Celtic Sea: Bruno Hoppe and U-22 stop the tiny British freighter SS Trafford, 215 tons, travelling from Newport to Sydney with a cargo described as "light". This likely means that there was no cargo but the ship was also not ballasted. After the crew is allowed to abandon ship Trafford is sunk with fire from U-22's deck gun.

Later U-22 stops SS Turnwell, 4,264 tons, bound from Liverpool to New York with an unspecified cargo. The crew abandon ship and the crew of U-22 open the ship's valves and detonate scuttling charges. After the u-boat departs the ship fails to sink. Turnwell's crew reboard their ship and manage to get her safely to port.



German East Africa: The crew of HMS Mersey spend the day "...preparing ship for battle." Between 1630 and 1800 gunnery practice is held, firing four rounds from each gun at a target prepared by the tug Sarah Joliffe.

Meanwhile the crew of HMS Severn are still putting up armour plating. At 0900 the ship is swung about for calibrating the compass.

[Jimbuna]

17th June 1915

Western Front

French carry Buval Bottom (north of Arras).

Germans set fire to and evacuate Metzeral (Alsace).

Eastern Front

Russians announce enemy loss of 120,000 on Dniester during the last month.

Russian forces begin withdrawing from Galicia in the face of the combined German and Austro-Hungarian offensive.

Southern Front

Italians complete capture of heights on left bank of the Isonzo, dominating Plava.

Aviation

Shortly after a ceremony in Paris in which he receives the French Légion d'honneur for shooting down the Zeppelin LZ 37 on June 7, Royal Naval Air Service Flight Sub-Lieutenant Reginald Warneford dies in the crash of a new Farman biplane during takeoff from Buc, France.
http://i.imgur.com/XtlykNJ.jpg

Political etc.

Former Secretary of State Bryan states that the war in Europe was caused by the false philosophy of “might makes right.”

Sir Edwin A. Cornwall remarks in the House of Commons that 3 of the present Ministers have secretaries of German origin.

In Munich, Army expropriation of beer causes supplies to drop to one-third of the prewar levels.

[Sailor Steve]

June 17:

Air War: Eugene Gilbert, flying a Morane-Saulnier 'L' parasol with machine gun firing through deflector plates, shoots down an unspecified German two-seater. This is Gilbert's fifth and final victory, making him France's (and the world's) second ace.

Only ten days after being the first pilot to bring down a Zeppelin, Reginald John Alexander 'Rex' Warneford dies in a plane crash in Paris, along with his passenger, American journalist Henry Beach Newman.
https://cemeteryclub.wordpress.com/2014/08/04/the-uncomfortable-hero/



German East Africa: In the morning HMS Mersey and Severn both conduct firing trials to calibrate their guns. In the afternoon Severn's crew are again busy setting up armour plate and painting the ship.

[Jimbuna]

18th June 1915

Western Front

French army ends offensive operations in Artois after suffering more than 100,000 casualties, ending the 2nd Battle of Artois.

Eastern Front

Official report issued on the Russian operations during the past month on the Dniester.

German forces launches an offensive into Russian Poland and captures the town of Tarnogrod.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Austrian warships raid the Adriatic coast of Italy.

Political etc.

Total Allied prisoners of war held by Germany and Austria-Hungary now number 1.61 million.

Russian War Ministry orders the military expropriation of munition factories in order to improve ammunition supplies.

Ship Losses:

Ailsa ( United Kingdom): The coaster was captured and sunk in the North Sea 12 nautical miles (22 km) south of Arbroath, Forfarshire by SM U-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

June 18:

Air War: The second Fokker M5K/MG, s/n 4/15, is retained at the factory for testing.

French pilot Victor Louis Georges Sayaret, in a Voisin, is credited with shooting down an unidentified enemy aircraft for his first aerial victory. The other crewmember seems to be unknown, as is whether Sayaret is pilot or observer.



North Sea: Hans Walther, commanding U-17, sinks the small British steamer SS Ailsa, 876 tons, Bound from Trondheim to Leith with a cargo of wood. Walther finishes his first war patrol with 3 ships and 7,008 tons.



Aegean Sea: German Submarine UB-15, which has been operating in the Aegean Sea and sank the Italian Submarine Medusa, is handed over to the Austrian K.u.K., becoming SM U-11.



German East Africa: At 0500 hours HMS Severn receives 300 rounds of 1" practice ammunition. The crew are then employed rigging armour plating and cleaning the ship. At 1645 a target is laid out and light gun practice held.

At 0540 the tug Sarah Joliffe brings still more armour plates to HMS Mersey. At 1655 Mersey carries out aiming practice.

At 0911 HMS Laurentic arrives with four new landplanes to help with reconnaissance duties - two Caudrons and two Maurice Farmans. A landing strip has been constructed on Mafia Island and everything is ready for them.

[Jimbuna]

19th June 1915

Western Front

French gain ground near Souchez.

French bombard Munster (Alsace).

Eastern Front

Austro-Germans attack the Grodek line (Galicia); Russians retreat.

Naval

The SM UC-5 (a German U-boat that will sink 29 ships during its career) is commissioned into the German Navy.
http://i.imgur.com/6jtXhs9.jpg

North Sea
Birmingham, light cruiser, Birmingham-class, 2nd LCS Grand Fleet, with sister-ship Nottingham, 3rd CS including Argyll and Roxburgh and just four screening destroyers making sweep from Rosyth across North Sea between the 18th and 21st. Attacked by U.32 without success, one of a series of attacks by four U-boats.

Liberty, destroyer, L-class, 3rd DF, with Harwich Force on patrol for Zeppelins attacking England. Liberty stopped to pick up a dog that had fallen overboard, bombed and nearly hit by a German seaplane.

Political, etc.

Conference at Boulogne between Mr. Lloyd George and M. Albert Thomas, French Under Secretary for War.

Former Secretary of State Bryan attacks President Wilson and Roosevelt, stating they are foes of peace.

Benjamin F. Isherwood, former U.S. Navy admiral and Engineer-in-Chief of the Navy during the Civil War, has passed away.
http://i.imgur.com/1qvn1de.jpg

Ship Losses:

Dulcie ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 6 nautical miles (11 km) east of Aldeburgh, Suffolk by SM UB-13 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.

[Sailor Steve]

June 19:

"There is no mistaking the battle line in this part of the world - a long, narrow winding blighted patch of land, extending roughly N. and S. as far as the eye can see. In the middle of it two rows of trenches, in places only 50 yards apart, stand out very conspicuously. These are our first line and that of the Huns. Behind each are the second and third lines, with little zigzag communicating trenches between.

Terrible trouble with machines. I crashed an undercarriage the other day and cannot get an engie to go. Isn't it terrible news about Warneford? he fell out of his machine, not being strapped in. Babiington is in hospital. Hes foot is giving him trouble again, so fear we shall not get away with him yet awhile."

-Harold Rosher, letter to his mother, June 19, 1915Homer H. Ladd receives telegram from Secretary of State Lansing, asking if he can supply witnesses to misuse of the American flag aboard British liner Colonian. Ladd replies immediately, giving already-obtained statements from Thomas G. O'Hare, Pheas H. Bond and Charles Goldberg, all testifying to having seen the British liner flying the American flag.
(See June 12 above)



Air War: Third Fokker M5K/MG, s/n 5/15, leaves factory. It is delivered to FFa 6b, where it is assigned to Lt. Kurt Wintgens.



North Sea: Walther Gustav Becker begins his career commanding UB-13 with the sinking of SS Dulcie, 2,033 tons, bound from Dunston to Havre with a load of coal.



German East Africa: At 0830 Admiral King-Hall again visits HMS Severn. At 0930 target practice is held for the 1" anti-boarding guns and the .303 machine guns. At 1500 the crew begins putting up more armour plating.

At 1530 HMS Mersey again conducts target practice.

[Aktungbby]

June 19:


Air War: Third Fokker M5K/MG, s/n 5/15, leaves factory. It is delivered to FFa 6b, where it is assigned to Lt. Kurt Wintgens.








https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Fokker_M5K-MG_E5-15.jpg/1920px-Fokker_M5K-MG_E5-15.jpg

[Jimbuna]

20th June 1915

Western Front

Further French advance near Souchez.

German counter-attacks on the heights of the Meuse repulsed.

French air raid against Karlsruhe hits the castle of the Prince of Baden. The Queen of Sweden was also staying there.

Eastern Front

In the past 7 weeks, Austro-Hungarian and German forces have pushed back Russian troops 150 miles (241 km) in Galicia.

Southern Front

Italians consolidated their positions in the Monte Nero region.

Naval and Overseas Operations

H.M.S. "Roxburgh" cruiser damaged by torpedo.
North Sea
Argyll and Roxburgh, armoured cruisers, Devonshire-class, 10,850t, 4-7.5in/6-6in, 3rd CS, Nottingham, light cruiser, Birmingham-class, 2nd LCS, all Grand Fleet, as the 3rd CS sweep continued, more torpedo attacks took place: Roxburgh, Argyll and Nottingham all missed by U.17, Nottingham missed for a second time by U.6. Before the latter attack, Roxburgh (Capt C Foot), zigzagging at high speed was hit well forward in the bows by U.38 (Max Valentiner) (Cn - U.39) at 1400 in 56.47N, 00.38E, maintained speed at 14kts returning to Rosyth, met by destroyers of 1st DF and escorted in. Considerably damaged, repairs were not completed until April 1916.

Political etc.

Russia states that the recent anti-German riots in Moscow caused more than $20 million in damages. Number of fatalities is not known.

Ship Losses:

Anda ( Norway): The barque ran aground on the Ridings Rocks, Bahamas and was wrecked. Her crew survived.
Nuria ( United Kingdom): The cargo liner was driven ashore and wrecked near Colombo, Ceylon.
Premier ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) north north east of Cape Wrath, Sutherland by SM U-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

The U.S.S. Arizona (made famous during the Pearl Harbor attack) is launched.
http://i.imgur.com/AjunPv1.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Du8ZxhH.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/mC2T4rS.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

June 20:

Celtic Sea: Bruno Hoppe, commanding U-22, stops the British trawler Premier, 169 tons, allows the crew to abandon ship and then sinks her with his deck gun. Hoppe ends his second war patrol with 5 ships and 5,773 tons.



North Sea: Max Valentiner, in U-38, torpedoes the armoured cruiser HMS Roxburgh, 10,850 tons. The damaged cruiser manages to make port safely. It will be a year before Roxburgh can return to duty.



German East Africa: HMS Laconia reports the transfer aboard of several RNAS ratings and petty officers from HMS Laurentic.

At 1045 HMS Duplex supplies HMS Severn with petrol tins, sandbags and armour plates.

At 1518 HMS Duplex brings 3,000 empty kerosene tins to HMS Mersey. The purpose is added bouyancy in case the monitor is hit below the waterline.

[Jimbuna]

21st June 1915

Western Front

French repulse German counter-attacks north of Arras.

French gain ground in Lorraine.

Eastern Front

Austro-Germans take Zolkiew and Rawa Ruska.

Austrians repulsed at Nizniow (Dniester).

Southern Front

Gallipoli: French troops attack at Kereves Dere, gaining two hundred yards but sustaining twenty-five hundred casualties. The Turks' casualties number six thousand.

Political, etc.

House of Commons approves an unlimited internal war loan to meet the budget deficit for this year.

New York City Police raid a warehouse and find 100 rifles and 1.4 million rounds of ammunition, which were intended for Germany.

Rudyard Kipling, English writer, addresses a crowd of 10,000 people stating an “unbroken Germany” makes life intolerable for all humans.

General Christian De Wet, a Boer who led a rebellion against Britain in South Africa, is convicted of high treason.
http://i.imgur.com/lC3QF3V.jpg

Ship Losses:

Carisbrook ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 70 nautical miles (130 km) south by west of Start Point, Sanday, Orkney Islands by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Sigurd Hund (Norway): The steamer enroute from Fredrikstad - Glasgow with a cargo of whale oil was taken as a prize by U-33 (Konrad Gansser) at position 59° 15'N, 2° 30'E.

[Sailor Steve]

June 21:

Air War: The fourth Fokker M5K/MG, s/n 2/15, leaves the factory.

At 1945 hours English pilot Lanoe George Hawker, flying Bristol Scout C number 1609, shoots down a DFW two-seater for his first kill. This is accomplished with a Lewis gun on the port side of the cockpit, mounted rigidly in a frame set so the gun fires 30 degrees outward, avoiding the propeller altogether. The mounting is was designed by Louis Strange and built by Hawker himself.

Bristol Scout C No. 1611, Hawker's second fighter, showing the 30-degree gun mounting.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Scout%20C%201_zpsj6lebknc.png (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Scout%20C%201_zpsj6lebknc.png.html)



North Sea: Konrad Gansser, commanding U-33, captures the small Norwegian steamer SS Sigurd Hund, 453 tons, bound from Fredrikstad to Glasgow with a load of whale oil, and takes her as a prize, bringing his total to 7 ships and 10,185 tons

Max Valentiner, in U-38, Sinks the British freighter SS Carlsbrook, 2,352 tons, travelling from Montreal to Leith with a cargo of wheat. His score is now 4 ships and 5,798 tons.



German East Africa: At 0500 hours the day begins for the crew of HMS Mersey, again laying steel plates and painting the ship. At 0545 HMS Hyacinth comes alongside and her shipwrights board Mersey. At 1600 the monitor is moved and ties up to HMFM Trent. At 1800 Hyacinth anchors alongside, and her shipwrights return to their cruiser. At 2000 several tanks are found to be leaking, and at the order of Admiral King-Hall 5.25 tons of parafin and 3 tons of fuel oil are pumped overboard.

At 0600 the crew of HMS Severn are busy cleaning the ship and stowing kerosene tins. At 0800 they begin anew the task of installing armour plating. At 0930 Severn moves alongside Trent and the crew begin taking aboard ammunition and provisions. At 1730 Severn casts off and anchors.

[HailRider]

I recently found your thread. I must say I wish I had discovered it earlier. I have been reading the NYTimes daily, from 100years ago, for the past year and a half. This thread will help me see what actually occurred, and complement my readings.

In case anyone is interested, I am posting interesting articles from the NYtimes on my blood:

http://www.perceptiveart.com/thegreatwar

[Aktungbby]

HailRider!:Kaleun_Salute:

[Jimbuna]

I recently found your thread. I must say I wish I had discovered it earlier. I have been reading the NYTimes daily, from 100years ago, for the past year and a half. This thread will help me see what actually occurred, and complement my readings.

In case anyone is interested, I am posting interesting articles from the NYtimes on my blood:

http://www.perceptiveart.com/thegreatwar

Welcome to SubSim matey, please feel free to add to this thread....the more the merrier :sunny:

[Jimbuna]

22nd June 1915

Western Front

German gains recovered by French on the heights of the Meuse.

French occupy Sondernach (Lorraine).

Eastern Front

Russian forces begin retreating from Lemberg (Lviv), the capital of Galicia, as Austro-Hungarian forces advance to 6 miles from the city.

Southern Front

Italians repulse Austrian attacks at Freikofel (Trentino).

Naval and Overseas Operations

English Channel
QUAIL III (He – Quail II), Admiralty trawler, 162/1897, Kelsall Brothers & Beeching, Hull-reg H236, hired 1915 (D - 11/14; He - 1914) as minesweeper, 2-3pdr, Pennant No.645. (Other sources – 23 June, perhaps because her loss was close to midnight on the 22nd) - In collision with tug Bulldog, sank at 2340, 7 miles SW of Portland Bill, Dorset (wi - in 50.30N, 02.30W), no lives lost.

Political etc.

Ferenc Békássy, a Hungarian poet and member of King’s College, is killed in action.
http://i.imgur.com/mlTcXMM.jpg

Ship Losses:

Leo Usikanpunski ( Russia): The sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

Kiew (Denmark): The steamer (1,115 tons) was taken as a prize in the North Sea by U 32 (Edgar von Spiegel von und zu Peckelsheim) but later released and apparently released. Taken as prize then released. Taken as a prize again by surface ship on January 18, 1916 and retained.
http://i.imgur.com/B6vap8X.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

June 22:

Air War: The fifth Fokker M5K/MG, s/n 3/15, leaves factory. It is shipped to FFA 62 at Douai, and earmarked for Oswald Boelke.



North Sea: Max Valentiner, in U-38, sinks the Russian sailing ship Leo (also given as Leo Usikanpunski), 269 tons, travelling from Moss to Canada in ballast. Valentiner now has 5 ships and 6,067 tons.



German East Africa: At 0840 hours HMS Severn anchors offshore for gunnery practice. At 1500 Severn ties up to the collier Kendal Castle, hands off 18 oil drums and receives 1,000 petrol tins.

At 1035 HMS Mersey receives another 1,000 kerosene tins from T.A. Joliffe. At 1220 the monitor anchors offshore for gunnery practice.

[Jimbuna]

Eastern Front

Austro-Germans checked on the Zurawno-Demeszknowiec line (Dniester front).

A combined Austro-Hungarian and German army captures Lemberg (Lviv), capital of Galicia, from the Russians.

Russian prisoners being led through Lemberg.
http://i.imgur.com/m3kUeKi.png

Naval

U.40 sunk by decoy combination trawler Taranaki/submarine C.24 off Aberdeen, first success by decoy ship against a U-boat.

Atlantic off NW Scotland
Bush, Admiralty trawler, 221/1908, Milford-reg, hired 5/15, 1-12pdr, Skipper G King, on patrol off Hebrides about 8 miles NNW of Butt of Lewis, two drifters fishing nearby, wind blowing hard, "considerable sea". Shell landed nearby and submarine sighted, returned fire, third shot fell near the U-boat which submerged, Bush slightly damaged by the six shells fired at her; Admiralty awarded £60 to the crew.

Aviation

The Royal Flying Corps decreed all aircraft with covered fuselages were to use the tricolor roundel, previously used on just the wings, on fuselage sides.

Political, etc.

Lloyd George, as Minister of Munition, orders a seven day campaign to recruit enough men to fill positions at armament factories.

Carl Frederick Muller becomes the 2nd man to be executed in the Tower of London for spying.

French government declares it will not issue passports to Americans of German origin due to the fear of spies.

Robert Lansing is officially made the new U.S. Secretary of State.
http://i.imgur.com/RW5CUY5.jpg

Ship Losses:

Elizabeth ( United Kingdom): The drifter was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east north east of the Out Skerries, Orkney Islands by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Four ( United Kingdom): The drifter was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) north east by east of the Out Skerries by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Josephine ( United Kingdom): The drifter was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) north east by east of the Out Skerries by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Piscatorial ( United Kingdom): The drifter was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 41 nautical miles (76 km) east north east of the Out Skerries by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Quail III ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler collided with Bulldog ( United Kingdom) and sank in the English Channel 7 nautical miles (13 km) south west of Portland Bill, Dorset. Her crew survived.
Research ( United Kingdom): The drifter was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 42 nautical miles (78 km) north east of the Out Skerries by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Truma ( Norway): The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea south of the Shetland Islands, United Kingdom (59°54′N 0°09′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Tunisiana ( United Kingdom: The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the North Sea off Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She ran aground on the Barnard Sands and was a total loss. Her crew survived.
SM U-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The Type U 31 submarine was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off Eyemouth, Berwickshire, United Kingdom by HMS C24 ( Royal Navy) with the loss of 38 of her 41 crew.
Uffa ( United Kingdom): The drifter was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east north east of the Out Skerries by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ugiebrae ( United Kingdom): The drifter was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) east north east of the Out Skerries by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

June 23:

Former President Theodore Roosevelt writes a letter to Oscar King Davis condemning President Wilson's policy regrarding the sinking of RMS Lusitania.
https://www.gilderlehrman.org/collections/9794d126-f8cb-45dc-ac66-829113211463



Air War: Anthony Fokker demonstrates the E.II prototype at Douai.



North Sea: Max Valentiner, commanding U-38, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Truma, 1,557 tons, bound from Archangelsk to London with a cargo of wood. Valentinere then attacks a fishing fleet, sinking drifters Elizabeth, 97 tons; Four, 84 tons; Josephine, 85 tons; Piscatorial, 84 tons; Research, 89 tons; Uffa, 79 tons; and Ugiebrae, 79 tons. This brings his total to 14 ships and 8,142 tons.

Hans Valentiner, in UB-16, sinks British freighter SS Tunisiana, 4.220 tons, travelling from Montreal to Hull with a load of grain. His score is now 5 ships and 7,445 tons.

Note: I have searched every source I can find, and there is no mention of any relationship between the two captains with the same last name.

U-40, under the command of Gerhardt Fürbringer, surfaces to attack the trawler Taranaki. The British submarine C-24, commanded by Frederick Henry Taylor, is submerged nearby awaiting an event like this. The captain of Taranaki calls the captain of C-24 on a cabled telephone connection to inform him that the German boat is only fifteen hundred yards off his port beam. As the British sub starts to maneuver, the tow-rope release jams. Captain Taylor calls Taranaki to release the cable at her end. The cable snakes to the bottom, taking C-24 down with it. Taylor regains control of his boat, but now the cable has fowled his propellers. C-24 finally slips free and makes it to periscope depth. At 0955 C-24 fires a torpedo which sends U-40 to the bottom. Only captain Furbinger and one petty officer survive.



German East Africa: At 1400 hours HMS Mersey again holds gunnery practice.

Aboard HMS Severn the crew spend the day putting up armour plate and painting the ship.

[Aktungbby]

June 23:Air War: Anthony Fokker demonstrates the E.II prototype at Douai.
The first production E.II on the day?! https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Fokker_EII_WNr_257.jpg/300px-Fokker_EII_WNr_257.jpg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fokker_EII_WNr_257.jpg)
The synchronizer>https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/Fok_E_I%27s_U-0_%26_Stangensteuerung.jpg/220px-Fok_E_I%27s_U-0_%26_Stangensteuerung.jpg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fok_E_I%27s_U-0_%26_Stangensteuerung.jpg) being synchronized>https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Fokker_synchdisc.jpg/220px-Fokker_synchdisc.jpg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fokker_synchdisc.jpg):D

[Jimbuna]

24th June 1915

Western Front

Germans repulsed in an attack on the heights of the Meuse.

Eastern Front

German and Austro-Hungarian armies force several crossings across the Dniester River to push the Russians eastward.

Political, etc.

British memorandum on neutral commerce handed to U.S. Ambassador. British Foreign Office sends an official reply to the US, stating there is no substantial grievance with its blockade on Germany.

Mr. Asquith announces forthcoming bill on the registration and organisation of national resources.

Ship Losses:

Commander ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east north east of the Out Skerries, Orkney Islands by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Drumloist ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the White Sea.
J. M. & S. ( United Kingdom): The drifter was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 42 nautical miles (78 km) east north east of the Out Skerries by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Kyanite ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship came ashore at Hot Point, Cornwall. All but two of the crew were taken off by the tug Victor.
Lebanon ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east north east of the Out Skerries by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Monarda ( United Kingdom): The drifter was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 41 nautical miles (76 km) east north east of the Out Skerries by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Primrose ( United Kingdom): The drifter was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) north east by east of the Out Skerries by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Quiet Waters ( United Kingdom): The drifter was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) east of the Out Skerries by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Star of Bethlehem ( United Kingdom): The drifter was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east north east of the Out Skerries by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Viceroy ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) east north east of the Out Skerries by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Vine ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) north east by east of the Out Skerries by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

June 24:

"Very little news. From what I can see, we are likely to be down here for at least another two weeks. I don't much mind, as in a way I would sooner be here for a little. The change though has rather worn off. Am not a bit comfortable, my billet being a horrible dirty place, with all sorts of weird odours. Food pretty fair, but none too clean, and all eating utinsils invariably very dirty."
-Harold Rosher, letter to his father, June 24, 1915

Air War: The first 'production' Fokker E.I, 8/15, leaves the factory.



North Sea: Max Valentiner, commanding U-38, finds another British fishing fleet and uses his deck gun to sink the trawlers Commander, 149 tons; Lebanon, 111 tons; Viceroy, 150 tons; and Vine, 110 tons; plus the drifters J.M. & S., 78 tons; Monarda, 87 tons; Primrose, 91 tons; Quiet Waters, 63 tons; and Star of Bethlehem, 77 tons. Valentiner ends his second war patrol with a total of 22 ships and 9,134 tons.



German East Africa: At 0915 HMS Mersey and Severn weigh anchor and head out for blind-firing practice over Barakuni Island.

At 1706 HMS Hyacinth records an aircraft flying over Mafia Island. This is the first recorded observation of the testing of the newly-arrived landplanes.

[Jimbuna]

25th June 1915

Western Front

Continued fighting north of Arras and on the heights of the Meuse.

French airmen bomb railway station at Douai.

Eastern Front

Russians fight a rearguard action at Bobrka.

Russia reinforces the line at the Dniester River, but falls back on in Poland.

Southern Front

Austrians repulsed in the Carnic Alps.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Bukoba (German port on L. Vict. Nyanza), destroyed by British column.

Aegean Sea
Heroic, Admiralty armed boarding steamer, 1,869/1906, hired 18/11/14, 2-12pdr, believed blockading Turkish coast, lowered two boats under command of Lt Macdonald and Sub-Lt William to examine five schooners at 1350. Maxim fire opened up from shore on the boats at 1400, boats recalled and covering fire given, men picked up and boats hoisted in around 1430, no doctor aboard, headed back and anchored by HMS Vengeance to transfer wounded; 3 ratings DOW (pg - 12 wounded, AB Wilson died). "Dardanelles: A Midshipman's Diary" reports for 26 June that "several Greek schooners have been seized and brought in (to Mudros) recently by our cruisers and boarding steamers in charge of a midshipman."

Gallipoli Campaign - Sea of Marmara
E.12, submarine, E-class, 667/807t, 5/9/14, 1-6pdr/5-18in with 10 torpedoes, Lt-Cdr Bruce, penetrated Dardanelles and now operating in eastern part of Sea of Marmara after spending two days repairing main engines, entered Gulf of Mudania and came across two small steamers towing five sailing vessels, turned out to be decoy vessels. Only 10yds from first steamer when a bomb was thrown which failed to explode, fired on with rifles and small masked gun, two towed vessels joined in and tried to foul E.12's propellers. E.12 returned fire, got clear and sank the two steamers and two of the towed sailing vessels. Engine problems now returned; one rating slightly wounded.

Political etc.

Riot occurs at the Amherst Internment Camp in Canada, resulting in five injuries and one prisoner death.

France charges that German spies are forging U.S. passports. U.S. government will investigate the claim.

Germany issues a statement disputing the claim that poison gas is inhumane.

By a vote 492 to 1, the French Chamber of Deputies pass a $1.12 billion appropriation bill to cover government expenses for 3 months.

Russian Council of Ministers decides to appoint a commission to carry out autonomy for Poland, even as German troops advance in the region.

U.S. Postoffice Department orders all mail to the Nordic countries to bypass the UK due to its censorship policies.

President Wilson meets with Edward M. House, his chief advisor on European affairs.
http://i.imgur.com/gByZRni.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

June 25:

German East Africa: HMS Mersey and Severn conduct gunnery practice in the morning. In the afternoon Severn's crew are putting up armour plating and both ship's crews are busy painting.

[Jimbuna]

26th June 1915

Western Front

Battle of the Argonne begins; Crown Prince attacks.

Eastern Front

Russians repulse heavy German attacks on Bukaczowce-Halicz front (eastern Galicia), but retreat.

Aviation

U.S. government announces plans to form a military air fleet with 4000 men and issues call for volunteers.

Political, etc.

Bishop of London calls the present conflict a “holy war” in response to the Pope’s position that war is unjustifiable.

Vladimir Sukhomlinov resigns as the Russian Minister of War for failing to provide enough munitions & other failures.
http://i.imgur.com/Pl1GdnG.jpg

He is replaced by Alexei Polivanov.
http://i.imgur.com/OJRPzS1.jpg

Dutch government issues order preventing the press from reporting on German zeppelin flights for 24 hours.

German government suspends the publication of the Socialist newspaper “Vorwaerts” for appealing for peace.

Ship Losses:

Campania ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 60 nautical miles (110 km) north of Hoy Head, Orkney Islands by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Torpedinere 5 pn ( Regia Marina): The torpedo boat was sunk in the Gulf of Venice by SM UB-1 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

[Sailor Steve]

June 26:

Celtic Sea: Walter Forstmann, commanding U-39, begins his second war patrol by stopping and sinking the trawler Campania, 167 tons.



Adriatic Sea: Franz Wäger, in UB-1, torpedoes the Italian Torpedo Boat Toredinier 5 Pn. This us UB-1's only sinking, and she is still on her acceptance trials. After this she will be handed over to the Austro-Hungarian Navy as U-10.



German East Africa: HMS Mersey and Severn are again practicing indirect firing over Barakuni Island. Other crew members aboard Severn are still rigging armour plate.

[Aktungbby]

POOR Alexei P. http://i.imgur.com/OJRPzS1.jpgknew how to take care of business; Estimating that he had an estimated 1,000,000+ soldiers without rifles which were 'more precious than gold' he turned to America...https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Win1895advert.jpg about 300,000 were made on Russian military contract between 1915 and 1917. Of those, about 293 000 rifles reached the Russia before the revolution broke out. Small numbers of Winchester 1895 rifles, chambered for 7.62x54 mm R ammunition and fitted into military-type stocks, Compared to contemporary military-type bolt action rifles, Winchester M1895 rifles were slightly faster to operate, thanks to its lever-action system; in Russian pattern these rifles also were fitted with clip guides, which allowed for faster reloading. http://www.guns.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/1895_musket_with_bayonet_cleaning_tool_and_russian _stripper_clip_belt_pouches-1.jpghttp://www.gunsandammo.com/files/2011/10/Russians_winchester.jpgWHAA!!! you want a helmet now I suppose Comrade!http://www.guns.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/russ_soldier_w_winchester_1914-193x300.jpg http://www.nramuseum.org/media/940645/russian%201895.pdf (http://www.nramuseum.org/media/940645/russian%201895.pdf) (some Commie Winchester propaganda) @ Jimbuna: a lot of these made it into the Spanish Civil War!

[Catfish]

June 25:
German East Africa: HMS Mersey and Severn conduct gunnery practice in the morning. In the afternoon Severn's crew are putting up armour plating and both ship's crews are busy painting.

As much as i like the thread, it continuously takes me wonder how only the Entente side is being quoted, and discussed. Not one word what the Koenigsberg crew did, what they did with the only german plane in DOA, that german civilian ships were attacked in neutral harbours (e.g. Mozambique) by english waships, how the crews managed to survive or flee to the Rufiji Delta, what the real 'African Queen' Graf Goetzen did a.s.o. a.s.o.

If i only had time ... and yes i still like it all the same :yep:

[Sailor Steve]

Not one word what the Koenigsberg crew did, what they did with the only german plane in DOA, that german civilian ships were attacked in neutral harbours (e.g. Mozambique) by english waships...
You're reading more into it than there is. If I leave out the doings on one side it's because I don't have that information. If you'll recall, I gave much more information on Graf Spee and other German activities when I had it. Most of my day-to-day information is coming from the ships' logs, which I don't have for the Germans. You haven't mentioned that I've been posting a lot more on the German side of the air war. Whatever information is there I put up.

If i only had time ...
There is so much more detail available. I've been hoping that someone interested would step up and chronicle details of the land war from both sides. So many good stories are going missing.

Now, I will say this for what I hope is the last time. This thread is for chronicling this days happenings. Please keep all discussions, thoughts, complaints and ideas here (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=214909). It's what that thread is for.

[Jimbuna]

As much as i like the thread, it continuously takes me wonder how only the Entente side is being quoted, and discussed. Not one word what the Koenigsberg crew did, what they did with the only german plane in DOA, that german civilian ships were attacked in neutral harbours (e.g. Mozambique) by english waships, how the crews managed to survive or flee to the Rufiji Delta, what the real 'African Queen' Graf Goetzen did a.s.o. a.s.o.

If i only had time ... and yes i still like it all the same :yep:

I'll also add that my article on the Emden was actually one I found that supported the German side of events....when I come across an article with differing views from those of the Entente I will and do report them but my time is also limited and I can only post those that more or less 'jump out' at you.

I'll echo what Steve said...

Now, I will say this for what I hope is the last time. This thread is for chronicling this days happenings. Please keep all discussions, thoughts, complaints and ideas here. It's what that thread is for.

...and invite as many contributors as is possible but would ask for sensible and specific input.

[Jimbuna]

27th June 1915

Western Front

French repulse German attacks on the heights of the Meuse and at Metzeral.

Hand to hand fighting occurs on the French salient north of Arras, called “the Labyrinth.” Flamethrowers & poison gas are deployed.

Eastern Front

Germans occupy Halicz, and advance to the Bug.

Russians retreat from the line of the Dniester to Gnila-Lipa line.

Russian attacks break down north of Przasnysz.

Southern Front

Dardanelles: British carry four Turkish lines near Krithia.

Serbians capture island of Michaiska (Danube).

Naval and Overseas Operations

St George's Channel
Admiralty squadron supply ship (and two, probably three other vessels) attacked by U.24 (Rudolf Schneider):

INDRANI (2), 3,640/1888, Donaldson Line (Donaldson Bros, managers), Glasgow-reg, hired 4/8/14 as RFA, probably not commissioned, Pennant No.Y9.7, sailing Glasgow for Montreal with general cargo. Captured by U.24, sunk by torpedo 40 miles W of The Smalls, E of Milford Haven (L/te/un/wi - 36 miles SW of Tuskar Rock, off Rosslare; L/te/wi - also in 51.45N, 06.50W).

Italy agrees to send naval support to the Allied fleet operations in the Dardanelles.

Coast of Asia Minor opposite Chios bombarded by H.M.S. "Hussar".

Ship Losses:

Edith ( United Kingdom): The schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 10 nautical miles (19 km) south east of Capel Island, County Cork by SM U-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Indrani ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in St. George's Channel 36 nautical miles (67 km) south west of the Tuskar Rock by SM U-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Lucena ( United Kingdom: The coaster was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south of Capel Island by SM U-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

President Wilson with his granddaughter today.
http://i.imgur.com/yyH8QU2.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/I3y7cFj.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/MjIWIYl.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

June 27:

Air War: Austro-Hungarian crew of pilot Gottfried Freiherr von Banfield (Croatia) and observer Heribert Stroble Edler von Ravelsberg (Austria), in a Lohner 'T' flying boat, destroy an Italian balloon. Victory number 1 for both.

While returning from bombing a Zeppelin shed near Rhinefelden, French pilot Eugene Gilbert, the world's second ace, suffers an engine failure and is interned in Switzerland.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/LPDF_40_aviateur_Gilbert_zpsxhryt2ph.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/LPDF_40_aviateur_Gilbert_zpsxhryt2ph.jpg.html)



Celtic Sea: Rudolf Schneider, commanding U-24, starts his third war patrol with multiple attacks. British sailing vessel Edith, 97 tons, is stopped and sunk while carrying a load of plaster of paris from Silloth to Cork. SS Indrani, 3,640 tons, is sunk while en route from Glasgow to Montreal with a general cargo. SS Lucena, 243 tons, is stopped and sunk while carrying coal from Branton to Bantry.

[Jimbuna]

28th June 1915

Western Front

French advance at Souchez.

Eastern Front

Continued Russian retreat in Galicia.

German and Austro-Hungarian troops push against the San River line from the south towards Warsaw.

Southern Front

Dardanelles: British attack Achi Baba.

Allied bombardment begins on Gully Spur at Gallipoli, starting the Battle of Gully Ravine.

Naval and Overseas Operations

SS Armenian is sunk by a U-boat off the coast of Cornwall, resulting in 29 deaths, mostly Americans, & the loss of its cargo of 1400 mules.
http://www.warmule.org/ss-armenian
http://i.imgur.com/AMRr66F.jpg

German warships bombard Windau (Baltic).

Political etc.

German military government of Belgium agrees that Belgians can keep wheat and rye crops for civilian use.

Italy breaks off relations with the Ottoman Empire.

Today marks the one year anniversary of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria.

Ship Losses:

Armenian ( United Kingdom): The White Star Line-owned cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (50°40′N 6°24′W) by SM U-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 29 crew. Survivors were rescued by President Stevens ( Belgium).
Dumfriesshire ( United Kingdom): The barque was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 25 nautical miles (46 km) off the Smalls Lighthouse by SM U-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

June 28:

Celtic Sea: Off the coast of Cornwall Rudolf Schneider, commanding U-24, sinks the British sailing ship Dumfriesshire, 2,622 tons, bound from San Francisco to Dublin with a load of barley. He then sinks SS Armenian, 8,825 tons, carrying a cargo of mules from Newport News to Avonmouth. His score now stands at 10 ships and 35,158 tons.



German East Africa: HMS Mersey's gun crews spend the morning carrying out signal excercises with the land-based aeroplanes.

HMS Severn does the same in the afternoon.

[Jimbuna]

29th June 1915

Western Front

German artillery target Soissons Cathedral, claiming that the French set up an observation post there.

Eastern Front

Austro-Germans advance towards the Vistula and the Bug.

Russians repulse an attack near Halicz.

Russians are forced back along a 250 mile front. Several more towns in southern Poland fall to Austro-Hungarian and German forces.

Southern Front

Dardanelles: Turkish counter-attacks repulsed with heavy loss.

Political, etc.

David Mason, member of the House of Commons, asks Premier Asquith to outline specific requirements of Britain’s terms of peace.

National Registration Bill introduced by Mr. Walter Long.

Ship Losses:

Cambuskenneth ( Norway): The full-rigged ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 26 nautical miles (48 km) south west by south of Galley Head, County Cork, United Kingdom by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Glynymel ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship broke in two at Devonport, Devon whilst discharging a cargo of coal.
Kotka ( Norway): The sailing ship was damaged in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) south west by west of the Bull Rock Lighthouse, County Cork by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was beached but was later refloated, repaired and returned to service.

Austro-Hungarian soldiers in a captured Russian trench in Galicia.
http://i.imgur.com/5B40dhD.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

June 29:

Celtic Sea: Rudolf Schneider, commanding U-24, sinks SS Scottish Monarch, 5,043 tons, bound from New York to Manchester with a general cargo. His score is now 11 ships and 40,201 tons.

Walter Forstmann, in U-39, sinks Norwegian sailing ship Cambuskenneth, 1,924 tons, travelling from Portland, Oregon to Queenstown with a cargo of wheat. He then damages Norwegian sailing ship Kotka, 952 tons, en route from Stockton Springs, Maine (US) to Cork with a load of timber. The damaged ship is beached and later refloated. Forstmann's score is now 10 ships and 5,233 tons.



German East Africa: At 0520 HMS Severn casts of from Trent and anchors for firing practice at 0600. At this time the stern anchor is lost overboard, along with a reel of 3" wire. Firing practice is continued anyway, along with aircraft spotting. At 0920 Severn anchors over the location of the stern anchor and begins recovery operations. The anchor and wire are recovered at 1000. The crew spend the afternoon stowing wire hawsers and petrol tins and cleaning the guns.

HMS Mersey follows Severn at 0550. At 0620 she is moored in postition, and starts firing practice and aeroplane spotting at 0700. Conditions are described as "unfavourable", and Mersey secures at 0740, and weighs anchor at 0755. By 0825 she is tied up alongside Trent. The afternoon is spent cleaning guns and loading stores.

[Aktungbby]

http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/ships/1892/CAMBUSKENNETH_310.jpg
On June 29th, 1915, the Cambuskenneth almost had reached their destination Queenstown in Ireland. But in the late evening, about 8 o'clock p.m. the crew heard a cannon shot. No crewmate was able to determine where the shot was fired. But then they saw spraying water only about 300 feet away - it was U 39. The mate of the Cambuskenneth confided to the submarine by signs: "Hier sind Deutsche an Bord. Wir schicken ein Boot." (Here are Germans aboard. We'll send a boat).
So the mate and two of the Germans, Hein and Löffler, rowed in a life-boat to the submarine. The commander of the submarine gave orders that all Germans had to come aboard the u-boat, while all other crew mates had to board a life boat. The seven Germans>http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/windjammer-to-submarine/images/b/b2/Crew_%2896dpi%29.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/250?cb=20120228204247
When all crew members had left the Cambuskenneth, she was sunk by five shells of the deck cannon by U 39.
The Cambuskenneth has been only four hours away from their destinatinon when she was sunk - after a journey which lasted 138 days. http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/windjammer-to-submarine/images/3/34/Cambuskenneth_%2896_dpi%29.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/250?cb=20120220174400<This photo of the Cambuskenneth was taken by Captain Poyser, the 3rd officer of the "Statesman" - a ship which passed by on June 23rd, 1915 - only six days before the Cambuskenneth was sunk by U 39. The crew is just asking by flag signals whether the first world war is still enduring.:timeout: Nothing like finding out first hand:dead:???!!!

[Jimbuna]

30th June 1915

Western Front

Failure of German attacks at Bagatelle (Argonne) and Metzeral.

Eastern Front

Germans cross Gnila Lipa line.

Austro-German advance from Tomashov.

Germans claim 150,650 prisoners in June.

Southern Front

Dardanelles: French take six lines of Turkish trenches.

General Henri Gouraud, commander of the French forces at the Dardanelles, is wounded and loses his right arm.
http://i.imgur.com/dmrIK1c.jpg

Naval

North Sea
LIGHTNING, destroyer, A-class, 320t, 1895, 1‑12pdr/5‑6pdr/2‑18in tt, 27kts, Pennant No.N.23, Nore Local Defence Flotilla, Lt James Cavendish. Floating mine spotted by destroyer Vulture in the morning near Kentish Knock LV in Thames estuary, and more reported in the afternoon by the light vessel. Vulture and Lightning ordered out to sink them, three were exploded around 2000, and as the destroyers searched for more, Lightning suffered a large explosion which lifted her out of the water and broke her back. Mine, laid by UC.1 (Egon von Werner) that morning, forepart sank off Kentish Knock LV (wi - in 51.04.22N, 01.19.02E; dx - off Wielingen LV, Zeebrugge); 15 ratings lost (He – 14 died). After part remained afloat, secured between trawlers Javelin and Libra, and taken back to Sheerness, but not worth repairing and broken up. Note: the first submarine mines were laid by UC.1, 2, 3, 11 in the Harwich and Dover areas.

Irish Sea
THISTLE IV, Admiralty drifter, 71/1906, Inverness-reg INS163, hired 5/15 as net tender, Admiralty No.2861. Rammed by Elder-Dempster liner Tarquah (3,859grt) in belief the vessel was a U-boat, sank off Great Orme's Head, Llandudno (wi - in 53.22N 03.52W); no lives lost.

Political, etc.

News of the German sinking of the SS Armenian, which resulted in 22 American deaths, causes US-German relations to deteriorate.

Germany urges Austria-Hungary to cede land to Romania to ensure its continued neutrality.

Welsh miners' dispute settled.

Changes in Russian Cabinet.

Ship Losses:

HMS Lightning ( Royal Navy): The Janus-class destroyer struck a mine in the Thames Estuary off the Kentish Knock lightship ( United Kingdom). She broke in two, the bow section sinking with the loss of fifteen of her crew. The stern section was towed to Sheerness, Kent where it was later scrapped.
Lomas: ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 65 nautical miles (120 km) west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly (49°30′N 8°15′W) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Scottish Monarch ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) south of the Ballycotton Lighthouse, County Cork (51°10′N 8°00′W) by SM U-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of fifteen of her seventeen crew. The survivors were rescued by the trawler 483 ( United Kingdom).
HMT Thistle IV ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler collided with another vessel in the Irish Sea off Great Orme Head, Caernarfonshire and sank.
Thistlebank ( Norway): The barque was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 25 nautical miles (46 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock (51°09′N 9°50′W) by SM U-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SM UC-2 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The Type UC 1 submarine struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Lowestoft, Suffolk, United Kingdom.

MERCHANT SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 128 ships of 131,000 tons gross (Lloyd's War Losses).

http://i.imgur.com/Uo7U4aN.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

June 30:

Celtic Sea: Rudolf Schneider, commanding U-24, sinks Norwegian barque SV Thistlebank, 2,411 tons, bound from Bahia Blanca to Queenstown with a cargo of wheat. His score now stands at 12 ships and 42,612 tons.

Walter Forstmann, in U-39, sinks British freighter SS Lomas, 3,048 tons, travelling from La Plata to Belfast with a load of maize (corn). His score is now 11 ships and 8,281 tons.



German East Africa: HMS Laconia records a forequarter of beef lost overboard while hoisting aboard from tug Revenger.

The crews of HMS Mersey and Severn spend the day coaling and cleaning.

[Jimbuna]

1st July 1915

Eastern Front

Germans (Mackensen) occupy Zamosc (near Upper Bug).

Germans (Linsingen) cross Gnila Lipa south of Rohatyn (Galicia).

Russians evacuate bridgehead near Tarlov (Vistula).

Aviation

German Leutnant Kurt Wintgens, flying a production prototype of the Fokker Eindecker fighter armed with a Parabellum MG14 gun, achieves the first aerial victory using a synchronization gear which allows a machine gun to shoot through a turning propeller without hitting its blades.
http://i.imgur.com/ILa46la.jpg

Naval and Overseas Operations

Otavi (south-west Africa) occupied by General Botha.

North Sea
Cameo, Admiralty trawler, 172/1898, Hull-reg, hired 2/15, 1-12pdr (ap - 3pdr), Skipper Albert Sayers, on patrol with trawlers Sea Ranger and Eastward Ho!, all Peterhead-based. July - Cameo sighted U-boat, headed in its direction and was fired at, returned fire and hit three times, Eastward Ho! came up and submarine headed away on the surface; skipper wounded and awarded DSC, gunner the DSM.

Hampshire, armoured cruiser, Devonshire-class, 7th CS Grand Fleet. Reported a torpedo fired at her in Moray Firth, confirmed as attacked by U.25. Twelve destroyers and local patrol vessels sent to hunt for the attacker, but without success.

Atlantic off NW Scotland
Patuca, Admiralty armed merchant cruiser, 6,103/1913, hired 21/11/14, 10th CS Northern Patrol, on line C to NW of Hebrides on lookout for the blockade-running Swedish SS Oscar II, sighted and stopped early morning. Oscar II hit Patuca crushing her own bows and then crashed alongside, hull-to-hull before Patuca's propeller holed the Swede's engine-room. Patuca's plates bulged and propeller flange bent, made seaworthy with collision mats, shoring and cement infill, made for Clyde as ordered at 14kts. Oscar II taken in tow by AMC Digby and ABS Royal Scot, assisted by destroyers Fury and Staunch, but sank after two days.

Atlantic off SW England
Two auxiliaries (and three more British vessels) captured and sunk by U.39 (Walter Forstmann) off Cornwall:

CAUCASIAN, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 4,656/1899, Petroleum SS Co (Lane & Macandrew), London-reg, Mr F Robinson, London for New Orleans with creosote. Sunk by gunfire 80 miles S of Lizard Point (L - 60 miles SW of).

INGLEMOOR, Admiralty collier, 4,331/1912, Moor Line (W Runciman & Co), London-reg, Mr A Stonehouse, Barry for Malta with coal and general cargo. Sunk by torpedo 75 miles SW by W of Lizard Point (L - 60 miles SW of).

Political, etc.

British Commission on trade with Sweden arrives Stockholm.

Total German casualties to date, reckoned at 1,700,000, of which 306,000 killed, and 500,000 permanently disabled.

Italian government orders its consuls in the Ottoman Empire to leave as soon as possible.

France suffers from decreasing birthrates, which was 1000 per day in 1914, but recorded only 356 births in the week of June 6 to 12.

U.S. sees a positive trade balance of $1 billion, a record, mostly due to increased exports in foodstuffs.

Ship Losses:

Caucasian ( United Kingdom): The tanker was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 80 nautical miles (150 km) south west of The Lizard, Cornwall by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her 38 crew survived.
Craigard ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) south west by south of the Wolf Rock, Cornwall (48°18′N 6°10′W) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Gadsby ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 25 nautical miles (46 km) south south west of the Wolf Rock (49°23′N 5°52′W) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Inglemoor ( United Kingdom): The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 75 nautical miles (139 km) south west by west of The Lizard by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her 33 crew survived.
L. C. Tower ( United Kingdom): The schooner was intercepted, set afire, and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Fastnet Rock (50°56′N 10°04′W) by SM U-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Richmond ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 54 nautical miles (100 km) south west by west of the Wolf Rock 49°11′N 6°10′W) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Sardomene ( Italy): The full-rigged ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 35 nautical miles (65 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Welbury ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

http://i.imgur.com/pOR72wf.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

July 1:

Air War: Lt. Kurt Wintgens, flying from Feldflieger Abteilung (FFA) 6b in Fokker M5k/MG E.5/15, attacks a Morane-Saulnier 'L' parasol two-seater. Convinced he has shot the enemy plane down, Wintgens files a claim. Since the Morane landed behind its own lines this claim is denied and listed as 'u/c' (unconfirmed). Capitaine Paul de Peuty and Sous-Lieutenant de Boutiny report the attack. Both Frenchmen were wounded and their engine damaged, but de Peuty managed to land the Morane safely. Whether this should be listed as an official victory is questionable, and today the 'unconfirmed' status still stands.

Kurt Wintgens in the cockpit of E.5/15
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Wintgens_zpsgc7fl8la.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Wintgens_zpsgc7fl8la.jpg.html)



Celtic Sea: Rudolf Schneider, commanding U-24, captures and burns British sailing ship SV L.C. Tower, 518 tons, bound from Parrsboro, Nova Scotia to Newport, Wales, with a load of deals (boards). He then torpedoes Italian sailing ship Sardomene, 2,000 tons, heading from Bunbury to London with a cargo of java wood. He then sinks SS Welbury, 3,591 tons, carrying a load of sugar from Kingston, Jamaica to Queenstown. Schneider's score is now 15 ships and 48,721 tons.

Walter Forstmann, in U-39, sinks British tanker SS Caucasian, 4,656 tons, en route from London to New Orleans with a load of creosote. Next is SS Craigard, 3,286 tons, travelling from Galveston, Texas to Le Havre with a cargo of cotton. He then sinks SS Gadsby, 3,497 tons, carrying a load of wheat from Sydney, Nova Scotia to London. Fourth is SS Inglemoor, 4,331 tons, bound from Barry to Malta with a load of coal plus general cargo. Last is SS Richmond, 3,214 tons, en route from Gulfport to Boulogne with a cargo of sleepers (a sleeper is a heavy timber piece used as foundation flooring). All this brings Forstmann's score to 17 ships and 27,625 tons.



German East Africa: In the morning HMS Mersey and Severn practice gun drills. In the afternoon the crews practice blind firing with signals from the aircraft.

[Jimbuna]

2nd July 1915

Western Front

German success near Four de Paris (Argonne); severe fighting; enemy repulsed near Blanleuil.

Eastern Front

Austrians (Archduke Josef Ferdinand ) occupy Krasnik; heavy Austro-Russian engagements between Vistula and Bug.

Southern Front

Great battle for Carso Plateau begins.

Italians nearing Tolmino (Jul.).

Italian mountaineers succeed in blowing up electric works supplying power and light to Austrian forts defending Trentino.

Naval and Overseas Operations

German cruiser "Pommern" sunk by British submarine in Danzig Bay.

SMS Albatross, German cruiser, is run aground after an engagement with Russian ships in the Battle of Aland Islands.
http://i.imgur.com/YgfAtkf.jpg

Political, etc.

Munitions Bill sent to House of Lords after third reading.

John D. Redmond, leader of the Irish Nationalist Party, states 120,741 Irishmen have enlisted, including 70,000 Catholics.

Ship Losses:

Boudougnat ( Belgium): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel south of Lizard Point, Cornwall, United Kingdom 949°11′N 5°36′W) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Eva ( United Kingdom): The schooner departed Wicklow for the River Mersey. Presumed foundered in the Irish Sea with the loss of all hands. Wreckage from the vessel washed up on Anglesey.
Hirondelle ( France): The sailing vessel was sunk in the English Channel 40 nautical miles (74 km) north of Ouessant, Finistère (49°10′N 5°46′W) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
17 OS ( Regia Marina): The PN-class torpedo boat struck one of her own mines and sank in the Adriatic Sea off the Istrian Peninsula, Austria-Hungary.
SMS Albatross ( Kaiserliche Marine): Minelaying Cruiser was severely damaged off the island of Gotland in a battle with Russian cruisers and forced to beach herself in neutral Swedish waters. The ship was salvaged after the war, in 1921.

[Sailor Steve]

July 2:

Washington D.C.: German-American teacher Eric Muenter, under the assumed name Frank Holt, hides a bomb containing three sticks of dynamite in the US Capitol. Finding the Senate chamber locked, Muenter plants the bomb and timer in the Senate reception room under a telephone switchboard. The bomb explodes at 2340, but causes no casualties. By this time Muenter has fled to New York, where he manages to place a second bomb aboard SS Minnehaha, loaded with munitions for Britain.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/1280px-Senate_Bombing_July_2_1915_zpsd125hmx4.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/1280px-Senate_Bombing_July_2_1915_zpsd125hmx4.jpg.html)




English Channel: Walter Forstmann, Commanding U-39, stops and sinks French schooner SV Hirondell, 183 tons, bount from La Rochelle to Swansea with a load of pitwood. He then sinks Belgian freighter SS Boduognat, 1,411 tons, carrying pit props from Bayonne to Barry. Lastly he attacks SS City Of Edinburgh, 6,255 tons, but the damaged steamer makes it safely to port. Forstmann's score now stands at 19 ships and 29,219 tons.



German East Africa: At 0535 hours HMS Mersey and Severn weigh anchor and head for Barakuni Island. By 0600 they are again practicing indirect fire, with the landplanes based at Mafia spotting for them. By 0800 they are back at their anchorage. At 1005 Mersey receives 1,200 sandbags brought by dhows. At 1600 the two monitors are again at gunnery practice with full charges and lyddite shells.

[Jimbuna]

3rd July 1915

Eastern Front

Russians leave Gnila Lipa for Zlota Lipa (Galicia).

Southern Front

Dardanelles: Turks lose 5,159 k. and 15,000 prisoners in last five days.

Naval and Overseas Operations

South Africa's offer of volunteer contingent announced by General Smuts.

Political etc.

Russia authorizes a $500,000,000 issue of treasury obligations in order to finance the war and other expenditures.

President Wilson receives extra guards at the White House. Increased security is seen at the State, War, and Navy Buildings.

Ship Losses:

Fiery Cross ( Norway): The barque was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) west south west of the Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom (48°55′N 7°25′W) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Larchmore ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) south west of the Wolf Rock, Cornwall (48°54′N 6°28′W) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Renfrew ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 85 nautical miles (157 km) south west by west of the Wolf Rock by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

July 3:

New York: "Thomas P. Lester" (Frank Holt, aka Eric Muenter) knocks on the front door of millionair industrialist J.P. Morgan. Morgan's butler, Stanley Physick, answers the door. When Physick refuses to let Muenster in, he pulls a pair of pistols and demands entrance. The butler takes Muenster to the library, while Morgan and family are in another room. Muenster searches the house until he finds them in the dining room with the British ambassador. Muenster fires four shots, wounding Morgan in the leg and stomach. Morgan still manages to grab Muenster and Physick hits him on the head with a lump of coal. Another servant takes the pistols and a stick of dynamite from Muenster's pocket, which is placed in a bucket of water. Police arrive and arrest the perpetrator. "Holt" makes a confession, which leads police to suspect him of the Senate bombing the night before. Morgan's wounds turn out to be minor. Muenster also claims that he has placed bombs on several ships, all timed to go off on July 7.
http://drvitelli.typepad.com/providentia/2013/04/the-erich-muenter-saga-part-2-of-2.html



Celtic Sea: Walter Forstmann, commanding U-39, sinks three more ships - Norwegian sailing barque SV Fiery Cross, 1,448 tons, bound from Philadelphia to Le Havre with a load of oil; British freighter SS Larchmore, 4,355 tons, carrying a load of coal from Cardiff to Bombay; and SS Renfrew, 3,488 tons, travelling in ballast from Marseille to Barry. This brings his score to 22 ships and 38,510 tons.



German East Africa: at 0910 HMS Mersey holds firing practice for the machine gun crews. The rest of the crew are busy organizing and placing sandbags around the ship.

The crew of HMS Severn spend the day stowing 2,000 new petrol tins and placing sandbags.

[Jimbuna]

4th July 1915

Western Front

Battle of the Argonne dies down; Crown Prince fails to break the French lines.

Eastern Front

Austro-Germans reach the Zlota Lipa.

Southern Front

Heavy attack by Turks against Naval and 29th Divisions repulsed (Gallipoli).

Serbians enter Durazzo (Albania).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Lahej (near Aden) attacked by Turks.

Naval and Overseas Operations

French liner "Carthage" torpedoed and sunk off Cape Hellas.
http://i.imgur.com/8oSphyB.jpg

Atlantic off S Ireland
Anglo-Californian, cargo ship, nitrate carrier converted to horse transport, 7,333/1912, Lawther Latta & Co/Nitrate Producers SS, not armed, Montreal for Avonmouth with 927 horses for Western Front, 150 crew, master, Lt Frederick Parslow RNR aged 60. U.39 (Walter Forstmann) (dx - U.38; ge - U.20 or U.39) surfaced about 0800 a mile or more away on port beam 90 miles SW of Queenstown (L - in 50.15N, 9W; dx - 50.10N, 09W), ship turned stern on and went to full speed, reached 14kts, submarine opened a steady fire about 0900 frequently hitting, Anglo-Californian continued to manoeuvre in an attempt to escape while transmitting SOS’s. Ordered at 1030 by the U-boat to stop and abandon ship, the master decided to do so, then in response to his signals, destroyers Mentor and Miranda requested him to delay as long as possible. He got under way again, but now U.39 opened a heavy fire wrecking the bridge, all the port-side lifeboats and hitting the superstructure. By the time the U-boat had closed to 50yds, the master was dead and the Germans fired on anything that moved. Throughout the action, the master's eldest son, Fred Parslow was at the wheel or what remained of it. When the destroyers arrived, U.39 dived away and Anglo-Californian was brought into Queenstown on the 5th; 21 lives lost including Lt Frederick Daniel Parslow RNR who was awarded the Victoria Cross. His son and the chief engineer received the DSC and others MID. Sunk 9 June 1918.

Frederick Daniel Parslow
http://i.imgur.com/0p0u3TA.jpg

Political etc.

Negotiations to exchange incapacitated wounded German and French soldiers succeed, and it will take place in Switzerland.

Gunther Plüschow escapes the POW camp in Donington Hall in Leicestershire (he is the only German POW in both world wars to escape Britain).

PM Asquith’s daughter Violet announces engagement to Sir Maurice Bonham Carter (grandparents to Helena Bonham Carter).
http://i.imgur.com/2hgc1aL.jpg

Ship Losses:

Carthage ( France): The passenger ship was sunk off Cape Helles, Turkey by SM U-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine). There were no casualties.
Oscar II ( Sweden): The cargo ship collided with another vessel in the Atlantic Ocean 80 nautical miles (150 km) west of the Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, United Kingdom and was abandoned by her crew.
Sunbeam ( United Kingdom): The three-masted schooner was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 16 nautical miles (30 km) east of Wick, Caithness by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

July 4:

New York City: A bomb explodes at the New York Police Headquarters building. Police suspect this is related to Holt/Muenter, and that he has accomplices.



Air War: Oswald Boelcke, flying a two-seater for FFA 62 (probably an LVG C.II) with Heinz von Wühlisch as observer, engages in a running battle with a Morane 'L' parasol two-seater. Von Wühlisch shoots down the enemy plane, killing both air crew. He is awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class and Boelcke is promised the unit's first Eindecker.

Kurt Wintgens claims another Morane, but this is also listed as "Unconfirmed."



Celtic Sea: Otto Wunsche, commanding U-25, starts his career stopping and sinking the British schooner SV Sunbeam, 132 tons, travelling from Leith to Kirkwall with a load of coal.

Walter Forstmann ends his second war patrol with an unsuccessful attack on British freighter SS Anglo-Californian, bound from Quebec to Avonmouth with a cargo of horses.
(see Jim's post above for details).



Aegean Sea: Otto Hersing begins his 5th war patrol in U-21 by sinking the French freighter SS Carthage, 5,601 tons, off Cape Helles, Gallipoli. While watching the ship sink U-21's periscope is spotted by the crew of a trawler. The trawler attempts to ram, but Hersing takes his boat deep - right into a mine. The damage is extensive but minor, and temporary repairs are made. Hersing takes U-21 up the Dardanelles to Constantinople, where she will be out of the war for the next seven months.



German East Africa: The crews of the two monitors spend the day stowing more petrol tins. All their personal effects are collected and taken to HMFM Trent.

[Jimbuna]

5th July 1915

Western Front

Fierce fighting at Souchez, Arras, and on Meuse.

German forces recapture of mile of trench along the Moselle River. Germany claims to have taken 1000 French prisoners.

Eastern Front

Severe enemy defeat between Vistula and Bug, and their offensive between Veprj and Bug repulsed.

Northern movement of Austro-Germans from Galicia towards Kholm-Lyublin line suspended.

Austrian defenders at Fort Hensel celebrate the 1000th Italian shell that hit the fort by singing songs such as the “God Save the Kaiser.”

Southern Front

Sir Ian Hamilton's despatch issued describing Turkish counter-attacks beaten off 30 June to 2 July.

Turkish attempt to dislodge British from Gallipoli Peninsula defeated.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British evacuate Lahej and retire to Bir Nasr, then to Aden, after attack by Turks.

Naval

Mesopotamian Campaign
Sumana, armed launch-tug, 2-3pdr, Lt W Harris, supporting advance along River Euphrates towards Nasiriya. Turkish shell cut main steam pipe during the day, out of action, back next day.

Political, etc.

Statement concerning German violation of neutral mails on Swedish mail steamers.

Lord Fisher appointed Chairman, Inventions Board.

Ship Losses:

Peik ( Norway): The cargo ship struck a mine possibly laid by UC 3 (Erwin Weisbach) and sank in the North Sea 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) off the Longsand Lightship ( United Kingdom). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

July 5:

The New York Tribune publishes a letter from "Frank Holt" (Erich Muenter) describing his attack on the Morgan household and giving his reasons.

Mineola, NY, July 5 - Following is the text of a letter mailed Sunday from the Minola jail by Holt. It was addressed to his father in law, Rev O F Sensabaugh of Dallas, Texas, and explains the scope of Holt's plans:

"Mineola, July 4, 1915, --Dear Father Sensabaugh; I heard last night that you had telegraphed for particulars, but as I had already written and telegraphed Leona and as the papers gave your interview I did not think you needed any more particulars. The papers must have had plenty of them. How terrible it all looks and how different from my plans. What can I say to console you and the family?

It is too much all at once. My heart and brain are in such agony that words cannot express. I fear you wish to come here, but I hope you will not do that. I am well taken care of and the grand jury cannot meet until September. I am held without bail on plea without guilt and so I just wait, though I wish death might come to end it at once. Life under these conditions is unspeakable horrible.

Yet I think I did right. Only my plans did not come out as I intended. I went to the Morgan home in order to force him to use his great influence to stop the shipment of explosives. That's why I took some explosives with me in order to be able to demonstrate to him what the use of machines of murder mean, but I did not wish to hurt anyone. I wanted him to be in the same danger (him and his family) that we are imposing on Europe. I wanted to send him out to the manufacturers and men of influence to plead with them for real American neutrality while I held his wife and dear childre in some upper room of the house.

I found the three children in the parlor and asked them to come upstairs with me. They came. No objection. I walked ahead. That was my mistake. If I had been behind them all might have been different now.

When I reached the top of the stairs Mrs Morgan came screaming toward me and Mr Morgan behind her. Now, instad of stopping and giving me a chance all went off in an explosion of excitement. No chance for explanation, Mr Morgan jumped at me, althought I held a revolver in each hand. This physical courage overruled my moral courage. I rolled on the hall floor. I tried to shoot in the air, but some one grabbed my hand and pressed it down; at least that is the only reason for Mr Morgan's being touched.

Of course, all was over in a few moments and I was unconscious for a while. Soon I was in their hands and learned to my sorrow that Mr Morgan was hurt, for he was to go out and do the work I could not do.

The slaughter must be stopped and we must stop helping it on. The people must rise to the realization of their best interests and demand an embargo on arms. Let us hope it will come soon. If not our children will suffer the consequences, if not our own generation.

I have tried to do my duty, now the rest of the country must do theirs.

God bless you all. I am in His hands, so don't worry about me.
Affectionately,
FRANK"An article from the same day claiming that "Frank Holt" is the same Erich Muenter suspected in the death of his wife nine years earlier.

July 5, 1915 The Daily Herald newspaper
THINKS HOLT IS ERICH MUENTER
MORGAN ASSAILANT AND FORMER HARVARD PROFESSOR BELIEVED ONE

Chicago, July 5

Information pointing to Frank Holt, the would be assassin of J P Morgan, as Erich Muenter, a former University of Chicago, student, who disappeared from Harvard following the death of his wife in 1906, was given to a newspaper here yesterday by a college associate in Muenter's Chicago days, who says he knew of Muenter rehabilitating himself as Holt. The informant added that he had known him as Holt in Vanderbilt University and Cornell.

The informer, who anonymity was pledged by the newspaper, was quoted as saying:

"Frank Holt, who shot J P Morgan, is the Erich Muenter who took his degree A. B. at the University of Chiago in 1899, and later fled from Cambridge, Mass following the death of his wife, and has since been a fugitive."

SAYS HE IS NATIVE GERMAN

"There is no doubt about Muenter and Holt being the same man. He has been hidden all those years through a remarkable rehabilitation under the name of Holt.

Muenter was born in Germany but since his rehabilitation has claimed to have been born in Texas of German parentage. For a time he taught German in Chicago private preparatory institution. He also taught German in Radcliffe College for Women.

His wife was a German-American woman as I remember her. She was about to give birth to her third child when her death occurred. Muenter ran away from Cambridge with the two children and brought them to Chicago, where he turned them over to Mrs Muenter's parents. Then, still undetected by the authorities he went to Mexico.

He worked for a while in Mexico City as a stenographer. He shaved his full beard and wore a soft hat instead of the derby he had affected as Muenter. A reward of $1,000 for his arrest has never been claimed. While a fugitive he issued a review of his case suched? in sarcastic terms and mailed it to some of his acquaintances." http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=61457565



German East Africa: HMS Laconia hoists the two Short seaplanes #121 and 122 overboard, where they are towed to shore at Mafia Island.

HMS Mersey's crew spend the day stowing ammunition and petrol tins, and rigging up voice pipes. In the afternoon all the mess tables and stools are handed off to HMFM Trent.

The crew of HMS Severn are likewise engaged in rigging up more armour plate, plus hammocks and awnings for extra protection.

At 1840 HMS Severn casts off from Trent. Mersey follows at 1905. At 2227 the two monitors anchor 7 1/2 miles offshore from the mouth of the Kikunya River.

[Jimbuna]

6th July 1915

Western Front

German success at Vaux Fery (Meuse).

French recapture position on heights of the Meuse.

British capture trenches near Pilkem.

Eastern Front

Archduke Josef Ferdinand beaten near Krasnik.

Russians take 15,000 prisoners between Krasnik and Lyublin.

Marshy lands between the Vistula and Bug rivers slow down the German and AH advance in Poland, but Russia continues to retreat.

Southern Front

Battle for Carso plateau developing.

Naval and Overseas Operations

South Africa's offer of Imperial Contingent gratefully accepted by Government.

Barents Sea
AFRICAN MONARCH, Admiralty collier, 4,003/1898, Monarch SS Co, Glasgow-reg, Cardiff for Archangel with coal, general cargo. Mined, laid by Meteor, sank at entrance to White Sea around 1½m E of Toryaneff Is and 9 miles S of Cape Orloff; two crew killed.

Orkneys
STRATHGARRY, Admiralty trawler, 202/1906, Aberdeen Steam Trawling & Fishing, Aberdeen-reg A97, hired 6/15 (D/He - as boom defence vessel; wi - armed patrol trawler), Admiralty No.5, based at Scapa Flow, Skipper Isaac McFarlane RNR. Ships of 2nd Battle Squadron returning to Scapa Flow anchorage at 0330, passing through boom, battleship Monarch collided with and sank her (wi - in 58.45N, 03.05W); no lives lost (He – one man drowned).

Off NW Scotland
EDISON, Admiralty trawler, 196/c1896, Hull-reg H430, F & T Ross, hired 1915 as minesweeper (D - 12/14; wi - as armed patrol trawler), Admiralty No.395, Sub‑Lt Frederick Townend RNR who had only joined ship that day, now night-time, heading along NW shore of Isle of Lewis, bound for Carloway. Ran aground on Port Arnol, Lewis, may have steered wrong course or compass affected by new gun installation, but apparently not keeping sufficient look-out. Trawler wrecked (wi - exact position unknown, “somewhere on the Isle of Lewis”, around 58N, 06W); no lives lost.

German East Africa and Rufigi Delta
Mersey (Cdr R Wilson) and Severn, river monitors, Humber-class, 1,520t, 2-6in/2-4.7in/4-3pdr, 140 crew, after operations off Belgian coast, both ships were due for service in the Dardanelles in March 1915. Sailed 28 April from Malta with fleet messenger Trent, four tugs and a collier, reached Aden 15 May and Mafia Island 3 June, made good defects, fitted with extra protection and exercised with spotting aircraft. German light cruiser Königsberg moored down the Kikunja channel, northernmost tributary of Rufuji delta and 10 miles from the sea. Mersey and Severn entered the channel at 0520 on 6th, immediately came under 3pdr, pom-pom and machine gun fire from shore defences, both hit, but undamaged, whalers Echo, Fly, Childers swept and sounded ahead, light cruisers Weymouth and Pyramus followed in support. By 0630, 6 miles or 11,000yds from Königsberg, anchored, waited for spotting aircraft and opened fire, Königsberg also had spotting station nearby and replied with salvoes. Neither monitor hit for an hour until at 0740, shell struck Mersey's foremost 6in gun shield and put gun out of action, shortly holed near the waterline and pulled back 1,000yds. Severn continued for half an hour, then both ships waited until a second spotting aircraft arrived at 1330, returned to original position and fired until 1530, Königsberg hit around 6 times. Withdrew to prepare for next attempt five days later; Mersey’s casualties were 4 ratings killed, 2 DOW and 2 wounded.

Political, etc.

Anglo-French Conference at Calais.

Eric Muenter, German-American who bombed the U.S. Capitol and attempted to assassinate JP Morgan, commits suicide in jail.

President Wilson warns Germany that the U.S. will not back down on its demands concerning the Lusitania sinking.

Explosion at the Canadian Explosives Company, which produces munitions for Britain, at Beloeil, Quebec results in 6 deaths and 8 injuries.

Lawrence Hargrave, English engineer known for his aeronautical work, has passed away (on left).
http://i.imgur.com/urAMJY5.jpg

Ship Losses:

HMS African Monarch ( Royal Navy): The collier struck a mine and sank in the White Sea with the loss of two of her crew.
HMT Edison ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler was wrecked in the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides.
Ellen ( Denmark): The three-masted schooner was scuttled in the North Sea 60 nautical miles (110 km) south west of Lindesnes, Vest-Agder, Norway (57°18′N 6°25′E) by SM U-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Strathgarry ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler was lost on this date, lost in collision with battleship Monarch.

[Sailor Steve]

July 6:

New York: Frank Holt (Eric Muenter) commits suicide by climbing the railing of the second floor outside his jail cell and diving head-first to the concrete floor below.



North Sea: Rudolf Schneider, commanding U-24, stops and sinks the Danish schooner Ellen, 169 tons, Heading from Tønsberg to Liverpool with a load of timber. Schneider now has 16 ships and 48,890 tons.



German East Africa:

0410 HMS Mersey and Severn weigh anchor and head toward Rufiji Delta.

0500 General Quarters sounded aboard Mersey and Severn.

05?? About this time Kapitanleutnant Paul M. Koohl, in charge of German shore forces at Kikmiguni, sees the British force approaching and calls Captain Looff on the shore telephone.

0516 HMS Laconia weighs anchor.

0525 Aeroplane flown by F/C Harold E.M. Watkins takes off from Mafia Island with six bombs.

0530 German shore forces at Kikmiguni Point open fire on monitors with field guns.

0532 HMS Hyacinth weighs anchor and proceeds to the mouth of the Rufiji Delta.

0535 Admiral King-Hall transfers his flag to HMS Weymouth, which has a shallower draft than Hyacinth.

0540 Severn returns fire with light weapons. Second aeroplane, F/C John T. Cull and Sub-Lieutenant Harwood J. Arnold, takes off to act as spotter for monitors.

0545 Mersey returns fire with smaller weapons, silencing rifle and machine gun fire.

0550 Mersey and Severn enter Rufiji River.

0600 F/C Watkins drops his six bombs on Königsberg. No serious damage.

0614 Mersey sinks a German cutter seen in a nearby creek.

0617 S/L Arnold signals Severn that he is ready to begin spotting.

0620 Severn anchors in position for firing.

0624 Laconia takes up station off Rufiji River mouth.

0625 Mersey anchors in position for firing. HMS Pioneer sinks a boat at the mouth of the Simba Uranga channel.

0630 Weymouth runs aground crossing the bar into the Rufiji Delta.

0635 Weymouth is free and proceeds into mouth of Rufiji River to lend fire support to the monitors, in company with whalers Echo, Fly, Childers, and Pyramus.

0648 Severn opens fire on Königsberg, directed by spotting aeroplane.

0657 Königsberg opens fire with five of her 10.5cm guns.

0705 S/L Arnold reports Severn's first hit on Königsberg. This shell penetrates the officers' galley, killing one.

0710 Hyacinth records hearing the monitors open fire.

0735 Königsberg salvoes falling dangerously close to Mersey.

0737 Near miss by Königsberg destroys one of Mersey's motor boats.

0740 Mersey hit by 10.5cm shell on forward 6" gunshield. Four killed and five wounded. Mersey weighs anchor and moves position.

0745 Lt. Blackburn and Assistant Paymaster Badger show up in second aeroplane to take over spotting duties.

0755 Mersey drops anchor in new position.

0800 Weymouth, Pyramus and smaller craft proceed to the mouth of the Kikunja channel.

0815 Weymouth opens fire on shore positions.

0820 Severn records Königsberg's fire very accurate.

0840 Lt. Cull takes his spotting aeroplane back to Mafia Island to refuel.

0843 Severn ceases fire.

0850 Mersey opens fire again. Severn weighs anchor and moves position.

0930 S/L Arnold rides with Major Robert Gordon in a third aeroplane to take over spotting again.

0946 Severn anchors in new position. At this time a German spotting party is seen up a tree on a small island half a mile away. Apparently they are signalling the telephone station on Pemba, which in turn calls Königsberg with the information. Severn's 3pdr guns open fire.

0957 Severn opens fire again.

1000 Severn records Königsberg's fire diminishing. This is likely because the lookouts at Pemba cannot see the monitors in their new location.

1017 Blackburn and Badger take their aeroplane home to refuel.

1100 Königsberg ceases firing. This coincides with a hit from Severn which penetrates the German cruiser's hull below the waterline, starting a fire which lasts seven hours.

1117 Blackburn and Badger again take over spotting duties.

1130 Mersey shifts positions again to reduce range, notes spotting plane wireless signals not being recieved. Weymouth records seeing Caudron aeroplane passing overhead. All support ships move out to sea and anchor.

1134 Severn weighs anchor and shifts positions again.

1205 Gordon and Arnold return home to refuel.

1213 Severn opens fire again.

1235 Blackburn's aeroplane suffers engine troubles and heads for home.

1300 Severn ceases fire again.

1330 Lts. Cull and Arnold return in their Caudron to resume spotting duties.

1339 Severn shifts positions again.

1345 Severn delays re-mooring due to sighting floating object, at first thougt to be a possible mine.

1430 Severn opens fire again.

1445 Königsberg opens fire again. Admiral King-Hall transfers back to Hyacinth.

1525 Mersey ceases fire.

1527 Severn ceases fire.

1530 Mersey and Severn weigh anchor and head down-river.

1545 Severn loses one of her anchors overboard.

1550 Cull and Arnold head for home.

1605 Mersey hit by field-gun fire from Kikmiguni Point.

1650 Monitors come out of Kikunja into open sea.

1706 Laconia weighs anchor and proceeds to sea.

1750 Severn and Mersey tie up alongside Trent.

1759 Laconia anchors off Mafia Island.

1815 Duplex and whalers move to night stations.

1830 Mersey proceeds to deep water for funeral services.

Captain Loof has lost four men killed and thirty-five wounded.

[Jimbuna]

7th July 1915

Eastern Front
Von Mackensen held up near Krasnostav.

Southern Front

Italians attack bridgehead at Gorizia and are repulsed.

Naval

The Italian cruiser Amalfi is sunk by the Austro-Hungarian submarine U-27 off the coast of Venice.
http://i.imgur.com/YNKmDaB.jpg

Political etc.

1st Chantilly Conference takes place between military leaders of Britain, France, Belgium, Italy, Serbia, and Russia.

Captain Henry Pedris is executed by the British on charges (later proven false) for inciting racial riots in Ceylon.
http://i.imgur.com/B6q70L1.jpg

Ship Losses:

Amalfi ( Regia Marina): The Pisa-class armored cruiser was torpedoed and sunk at Pola, Austria-Hungary by SM UB-14 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 67 of her 684 crew.
Cheshire ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 508 nautical miles (941 km) east by south of Spurn Point, Yorkshire with the loss of eight of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

July 7:

New York: A bomb explodes aboard ocean liner SS Minnehaha, being used as a munitions transport. The device was nowhere near the weapons and ammunition, and damage is minimal. Eric Muenter (aka Frank Holt) is suspected, as in his confession he claimed he planted a bomb on either SS Philadelphia or Saxonia.



Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: There is an explosion at the Harrison Brothers benzol plant. Sabotage is suspected.

Pompton Lakes, New Jersey: Another explosion takes place at the Du Pont Chemical plant. Again suspected to be the work of saboteurs.



Adriatic Sea: Heino von Heimburg, commanding UB-14, torpedoes and sinks Italian armored cruiser Amalfi, 10,118 tons.



German East Africa: The monitors spend the day repairing damage, beginning at 0400 when the crew of HMS Mersey hoist aboard the boat which had been sunk by a shell from SMS Königsberg. Mersey had towed the sunken boat all the way back to Mafia Island. Meanwhile HMS Severn has divers overboard clearing her fouled starboard propeller.

An aeroplane sent to reconnoiter Königsberg brings back information that the German cruiser appears to be heavily damaged, but is still very much afloat.

[Jimbuna]

8th July 1915

Western Front

French success at Fontenelle (Vosges).

British repulse German attack south-west of Pilkem.

Eastern Front

Austrian troops withdraw to heights north of Krasnik after defeat on Urzedowka.

Southern Front

Monticello taken by Italians (Trentino).

Naval and Overseas Operations

Union troops reach Tsumeb (German south-west Africa), releasing all prisoners captured by enemy.

Political, etc.

Order in Council passed to increase Canadian Expeditionary Force to 150,000 men.

Germany sends an official reply to the US concerning the protest over the Lusitania sinking.
http://i.imgur.com/pP34Dbu.png

Snead Iron Works in Jersey City receives an order for 50,000 lances to be produced for the Russian cavalry.

French Chamber of Deputies debate on how to deal with pensions for Senegalese soldiers who have multiple wives.

France & Germany agree to swap certain non-combatant prisoners, which includes doctors, chaplains, apothecaries, nurses, & stretcher bearers.

Ship Losses:

Anna ( Russia): The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) north east by east of Kinnaird Head, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Guido ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 27 nautical miles (50 km) north east of Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire (58°03′N 1°28′W) by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Marion Lightbody ( Russia): The four-masted full-rigged ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (50°53′N 8°43′W by SM U-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

[Sailor Steve]

July 8:

Air War: French pilot Jean Pie Hyacinthe Paul Jerome Casale, Marquis de Montferato, flying a Morane 'L' parasol, shoots down an Enemy Aircraft for his first kill.



Celtic Sea: Walther Schwieger and U-20 begin their fourth war patrol with the sinking of Russian sailing ship SV Marion Lightbody, 2,176 tons, bound from Valparaiso to Queenstown with a load of barley. His score is now 11 ships and 64,571 tons.



North Sea: Otto Wünsche, in U-25, sinks Russian cargo ship SS Anna, 2,000 tons, heading from Arkhangelsk to Hull with a cargo of deals and battens. He then sinks British freighter SS Guido, 2,093 tons, carrying a general cargo from London and Hull to Achangelsk. This brings his score to 12 ships and 6,433 tons.



German East Africa: At 0545 the tug Blackcock pulls alongside HMS Mersey to take off the officers and a burial party for a fifth crewman who died from his wounds while undergoing treatment aboard HMFM Trent. Meanwhile parties of carpenters and shipwrights come aboard to repair the damage.

Aboard HMS Severn the day is spent removing empty cartridges and bringing aboard fresh ammunition, while a diver is busy clearing the fouled starboard propeller.

[Jimbuna]

9th July 1915

Eastern Front

Austrian offensive on Zlota Lipa repulsed.

Southern Front

Italians capture Malga Sarta and Costa Bella (Trentino).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Bomb thrown at Sultan of Egypt.

Naval and Overseas Operations

South-west Africa conquered; German troops surrender unconditionally to General Botha. The colony is annexed to the Union of South Africa.
http://i.imgur.com/zRW5BFa.jpg

Attempted torpedo attack on Cunarder "Orduna".
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C07EEDB1739E233A2575BC1A9619C94 6496D6CF
http://i.imgur.com/gmQqWy4.jpg

Political, etc.

Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of Commerce ratified at Lisbon.

Lord Kitchener appeals for more recruits at Guildhall.

Mr. Walter Long makes statement on conscription.

French government issues an order prohibiting the export of gold except by the Bank of France.

A bomb is thrown at the Sultan of Egypt while he was going to prayer, but the bomb fails to explode.

Carl Walther, German gunsmith and founder of Walther Arms, has passed away.

Ship Losses:

Ellesmere ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in St. George's Channel 48 nautical miles (89 km) south west of the Smalls Lighthouse by SM U-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of one of her 22 crew. Survivors were rescued by the trawler Osprey ( United Kingdom).
Leo ( Russia): The tanker was sunk in St. George's Channel 48 nautical miles (89 km) south west of the Smalls Lighthouse (51°07′N 7°10′W) by SM U-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seven of her twenty crew.
Meadowfield ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in St. George's Channel 50 nautical miles (93 km) south west of the Tuskar Rock by SM U-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Noordas ( Norway): The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) east of Aberdeen, United Kingdom (56°58′N 1°07′W) by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her sixteen crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

July 9:

Celtic Sea: Walther Schwieger, commanding U-20, sinks three ships: British freighters SS Ellesmere, 1,170 tons, bound from Valencia to Manchester with a load of fruit, and SS Meadowfield, 2,750 tons, carrying copper ore from Huelva to Clyde; and Russian freighter Leo, 2,224 tons, travelling from Philadelphia to Manchester with a general cargo. Schwieger's score is now 14 ships and 70,715 tons.



North Sea: Otto Wünsche, in U-25, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Nordass, 1,111 tons, en route from Blyth to Petschora with a cargo of coal, bringing his score to 13 ships and 7,544 tons.



German East Africa: The monitors spend the day taking on coal. HMS Severn still has divers trying to clear the fouled propeller.

[Jimbuna]

10th July 1915

Eastern Front

Austrians counter-attack on Bistritza (Krasnik).

General Russki, Commander in Chief, Northern front.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Turks attack Russians near Karaderbent (Transcaucasia).

The Battle of Manzikert begins as Russian forces push west from the city against Ottoman forces.

Naval and Overseas Operations

General Botha makes known terms of surrender in south-west Africa. Lord Kitchener cables congratulations and invites him to England.
http://i.imgur.com/hYYfifB.jpg

Political, etc.

Lord Kitchener speaks at the Guildhall in London, asking for recruits. He warns that the war will last a long time.

U.S. exports Germany fell from $20 million in May 1914 to just $400 in May 1915, largely due to the Allied blockade.

The Vatican has implemented blackouts and moved art treasures due to the possibility of air raids on Rome.

[Sailor Steve]

July 10:

German East Africa: The crews of the two monitors, now repaired, spend the morning once again at firing practice, and the afternoon stacking sandbags and preparing for battle.

[Jimbuna]

11th July 1915

Western Front

Despatch dated 15 June from Sir John French published, covering operations from 5 April to 30 May.

Eastern Front

Fighting on Lyublin front continues; Austrians lose nearly all ground gained in past week.

Enemy attacks on Zlota Lipa and Dniester repulsed.

Russians withdraw to right bank of Urzedowka.

Southern Front

Successful Italian offensive in Carnia region.

Venice bombed by Austrian aeroplanes for fourth time.

Naval and Overseas Operations

King George visits the grand fleet and praises the Royal Navy, stating it will triumph “whenever the day of battle comes.”

Destruction of "Konigsberg" completed on Rufiji River (German East Africa).
With the Königsberg’s sinking, the Allies now have full control over the Indian Ocean.

The final attack on Konigsberg was set for 11 July, this time the spotting procedures had been improved with lessons from the last attack. Mersey was to anchor in the same position as last time as a decoy whilst Severn went 1,000 yards upstream. Königsberg didn't fall for the decoy and soon switched target from Mersey to Severn, her shooting being close but causing no damage.

Severn hit Königsberg after twelve minutes killing a gun crew and during the next ten minutes Severn repeatedly scored hits. The aerial spotting was working well and the British fire was gradually "walked" along the length of the German cruiser. One of the planes was hit by shrapnel and forced to crash land, the crew being picked up by Mersey.
During the next hour Severn repeatedly hit Königsberg, causing several secondary explosions. Mersey then moved past Severn upstream and she too hit the German on a regular basis. With so much damage being inflicted on his ship and all guns out of action Loof gave the order to abandon ship and a scuttling charge sank the raider alongside the river bank. Königsberg lost twenty three killed and thirty five wounded. The wreck was heavily salvaged and all the guns used in the land campaign. The remains were eventually broken up in 1962.

http://i.imgur.com/WPWrYuW.jpg

Political etc.

US newspapers react negatively to the official German response towards the Lusitania sinking, calling it an “insolent and evasive message.”

The word “Jazz” makes the first appearance in reference to the musical genre in today’s issue of the Chicago Daily Tribune.

Of the 40,000 German national school teachers serving in the military, 4900 have been killed in action.

Sir John French’s 8th Despatch concerning operations of the BEF is published:
http://www.1914-1918.net/french_eighth_despatch.html

Ship Losses:

Hainton ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) north east by east of Hornsea, Yorkshire by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SMS Königsberg ( Kaiserliche Marine): The Königsberg-class light cruiser was scuttled in the Rufiji River, German East Africa following battle damage inflicted by HMS Mersey and HMS Severn (both Royal Navy). The wreck was scrapped in 1963-65.
Syrian ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) east north east of Hornsea by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

July 11:

Frank Holt (Eric Muenter), responsible for bombing the US Capitol building and attacking industrialist J.P. Morgan, is buried in Dallas, Texas.

Kansas City Star Newspaper July 12 1915
The Funeral of Frank Holt in Dallas
Dallas, Tex., July 11 - The body of Frank Holt, assailant of J P Morgan, was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Dallas late today. The Rev. J P Mussett of Fort Worth delivered the sermon at the grave. The funeral procession was composed of only a few carriages. However, a large number of friends of the Rev. O. F. Sensabaugh, Holt's father in law, congregated in the cemetery. The grave was covered with floral offerings from friends of Mrs Holt and Doctor Sensabaugh.http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=61457565



Air War: French Ace Adolphe Pègoud, flying a Morane 'N', shoots down an Aviatik two-seater for his sixth and final victory.



North Sea: Otto Wünsche, commanding U-25, stops and sinks trawlers Hainton, 156 tons, and Syrian, 176 tons, bringing his total to 15 ships and7,876 tons. He also damages a third trawler, Fleetwood, but when he orders the crew to abandon ship so he can sink her he finds that the vessel's boats are damaged, so he lets her go.



German East Africa: Second attack on Königsberg.

0500: Crew of HMS Severn busy double-checking steel plate and hammock protection.

0750: HMS Severn casts off from HMFM Trent and ties line to tug Blackcock, which tows the monitor to reduce travel time to Rufiji.

0800: HMS Mersey casts off from Trent and ties line to tug Revenger.

0840: Admiral King-Hall transfers his flag from Hyacinth to Weymouth.

0935: HMS Hyacinth and Trent set out for Simba Wango entrance.

1027: Severn slips line to Blackcock and proceeds toward the delta.

1030: Mersey slips line to Revenger. Weymouth departs Tirene Bay for Kikunja entrance.

1115: Hyacinth notes aircraft overhead.

1135: Severn opens fire on shore positions and boat crossing the channel entrance. It is only later discovered that this was a British-built boat, salvaged from the wreck of SS Newbridge, which had been sunk as a blockship months earlier. The Germans had recovered the boat and fitted it with a mast and sails and used it to ferry provisions. On July 11th it was engaged in this task when Severn spotted her and opened fire. The boat's crew rowed for their lives and managed to reach the opposite shore unscathed.

1136: German shore positions open fire on Monitors. Mersey almost immediately receives hit aft, three men wounded.

1145: Severn enters Rufiji River via Kikunja channel.

1150: Mersey enters the mouth of the Kikunja channel, and opens fire on German shore positions.

1203: Hyacinth opens fire on shore positions.

1205: Weymouth moves to Kikunja entrance.

1212: Severn notes Königsberg opening fire. Shots fall short.

1215: Mersey opens fire on Königsberg, guided by the spotting plane of Lts. Cull and Arnold. Ship's log notes Königsberg's fire passing over.

1223: Severn anchors "five miles above Ras Simba Uranga."

1225: Hyacinth ceases fire on shore positions.

1230: Severn opens fire, notes Königsberg's fire is very accurate.

1239: Aircraft reports monitors are hitting Königsberg.

1245: Weymouth opens fire on shore positions.

1249: Cull and Arnold's plane is hit by German fire. The engine is damaged, and finally quits. Cull glides down toward Mersey.

1250: Mersey receives message from Lt. Arnold: "We ar hit. Send boat."

1252: Mersey sends boat to downed aircraft. Pilot and observer rescued.

1254: Monitors both note enormous explosion on Königsberg.

1300: Königsberg ceases fire.

1310: Weymouth anchors. Weymouth and Pyramus both fire on shore positions.

1315: Weymouth ceases fire on shore positions. Begins firing single shots at Pemba telephone station, one shot every five minutes. Gunboat Pyramus moves upriver.

1330: Mersey proceeds to position 7,200 yards from Köningsberg. Hyacinth notes large smoke cloud to southwest, presumed to be from Königsberg.

1340: Watkins and Bishop arrive in second spotting aeroplane. Aboard Königsberg Captain Looff gives order to abandon ship. His first officer, Kapitanleutnant Georg Koch, is ordered to place detonators under three of the ship's torpedoes.

1350: Severn sends message to Admiral King-Hall: "Königsberg has ceased firing. Am convinced she is total wreck. Five enormous explosions. She is burning hard now."

1400: Severn moves to position within sight of Mersey. Köningsberg's crew now safely ashore, the torpedoes are detonated and Köningsberg's back is broken.

1408: Mersey opens fire again.

1430: Captain Fullerton climbs to Severn's topmast, reports Königsberg heavily on fire.

1435: Mersey weighs anchor and moves downriver to rejoin Severn.

1445: Weymouth notes monitors report Königsberg destroyed. Orders monitors to retire.

1455: Severn weighs anchor and monitors proceed downriver together.

1500: Hyacinth weighs anchor and heads back to Tirene.

1530: Monitors pass the German shore positions unharmed, with Pyramus patrolling close to shore giving covering fire.

1540: Monitors are clear of Rufiji. Weymouth moves to escort them back to Mafia Island.

1630: Monitors are again towed by tugs as they proceed to Tirene Bay.

1950: Severn ties up alongside Trent.

2030: Mersey ties up alongside Trent.

Sometime around sunset Königsberg's dead are buried and the surviving crew march off to join the forces of Colonel Lettow-Vorbeck. Most of the ship's guns were later salvaged and converted to field cannons, the heaviest German artillery in Africa. Max Looff was awarded the Iron Cross First Class, and 150 of his crew received the IC Second Class.

Mersey: Three wounded.
Königsberg: Twenty-two dead and forty-eight wounded. Among the wounded is the ship's captain, Max Looff.

In his final report Captain Looff includes the message "SMS Königsberg is destroyed but not conquered."

The isolation and destruction of SMS Königsberg has taken 255 days, tied down 27 British ships, and caused the consumption of 8,000 tons of coal.

[Jimbuna]

12th July 1915

Western Front

Crown Prince checked in Argonne after vigorous offensive.

German advance round Souchez and capture cemetery.

German attack in the "Labyrinth" (north of Arras) repulsed.

Eastern Front

Enemy offensive on the Bobr and Narev fronts (north-east of Warsaw).

Southern Front

Turkish trenches before Achi Baba captured.

Italian air raid on Pola.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Engagements reported between British-Belgian force and Germans on north Rhodesian frontier.

Political, etc.

State control of coal industry announced in Germany.

Austria-Hungary offers Romania parts of Bukowina and Bessarabia in exchange for neutrality and providing munitions for the Ottoman Empire.

Jervis Bay Territory is transferred to the Federal Capital Territory of Australia so that the capital at Canberra can have access to the sea.

Ship Losses:

Merlin ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) east south east of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Purple Heather ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 23 nautical miles (43 km) south east by east of Lowestoft by SM UB-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Speedwell ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 19 nautical miles (35 km) south east by east of Lowestoft by SM UB-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Woodbine ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was set afire and scuttled in the North Sea 18 nautical miles (33 km) south east of Lowestoft by SM UB-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

Picture of the German Crown Prince Wilhelm from today:
http://i.imgur.com/l5Hl3aV.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

July 12:

North Sea: Erich Haeker, commanding UB-6, attacks a tiny fishing fleet. Scuttled are the fishing smacks Merlin, 47 tons, Purple Heather, 42 tons, Speedwell, 38 tons, and Woodbine, 29 tons. Another smack, Emerald, is damaged. Haeker's score is now 6 vessels sunk for 3,794 tons.



German East Africa: At 1130 Admiral King-Hall transfers his flag from HMS Hyacinth to the 1902 Second-Class Cruiser HMS Challenger.

The crew of HMS Mersey are employed stripping down the guns and removing sandbags. The crew of Severn are busy removing sandbags, oil drums and kerosene tins to the collier Kendall Castle, and bringing the ship's furniture back on board.

Aboard SMS Königsberg work begins on removing the six 10cm guns for use by Colonel Lettow-Vorbeck's army.

[Jimbuna]

13th July 1915

Western Front

New German offensive in Argonne. They capture French line at Vienne-le-Chateau and the height of La Fille Morte.

Eastern Front

Austrian advance across Dniester in Bukovina; German attack on Narev.

Russia prepares trenches on the Romanian border due to fears that they might join Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Southern Front

French advance to the Kereves Dere stream (Gallipoli).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Death of Sultan of Lahej from wound received during Turkish attack.

Naval

Barents Sea
T. R. Ferens, Admiralty trawler, 307/1913, Hull-reg, hired 5/15 as minesweeper, one of six trawlers fitted out at Lowestoft to sweep German mines laid in June in White Sea on the route to Archangel, departed 22 June, arrived Alexandrovsk, Murman coast on 6 July, started sweeping successfully. Mined, damaged off one of the headlands.

Political, etc.

Chancellor of the Exchequer McKenna announces Britain has raised £600 million for the war effort in the largest loan in history.

House of Commons warns Welsh coal workers that taking part in a strike would be in violation of the munitions of war act.

Orville Wright, inventor of powered flight, states it would by folly for the U.S. to fight in a war as its air capabilities are limited.

Nine American youths cross the border into Canada in order to enlist. US State Department contacts Canada to have them discharged.

Richard Mohun, US explorer and diplomat, has passed away. He acted as an intermediary in the 40 minute long Anglo-Zanzibar War.

Ship Losses:

Lennok ( Russia): The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 35 nautical miles (65 km) north north east of Muckle Flugga, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom by SM U-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

German postcard from 1915 titled “Kaiser Wilhelm and his Generals”:
http://i.imgur.com/7EKFwHw.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

July 13:

North Sea: On his way back to Germany Walther Schwieger, commanding U-20, sinks Russian freighter SS Lennok, 1,142 tons, bound from Archangelsk to London with an unspecified cargo. Schweiger ends his fourth war patrol with a total of 15 ships and 71,857 tons.



German East Africa: The crew of HMS Mersey spend the day removing sandbags from the ship.

The crew of HMS Severn are also busy offloading sandbags and petrol tins to the collier SS Kendall Castle.

[Jimbuna]

14th July 1915

Western Front

Germans attack Belgians on Yser canal and are repulsed.

Eastern Front

Russians fall back towards Narev.

Great Austro-German offensive from Baltic to Bukovina begins.

Enemy capture Przasnysz (Narev).

Southern Front

Montenegrins repulse Austrian attack at Grahovo (Montenegro).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Turks driven from Nasriya (Euphrates) by British force from Kurna.

Political, etc.

A Dominion Premier (Sir R. Borden, Canada) for the first time attends meeting of the British Cabinet.

National Registration Bill passes House of Lords.

A. Bonar Law, British Secretary for the Colonies, announces Allied forces have occupied 450,000 square miles of former German colonies.

France celebrates Bastille Day. President Poincare makes a speech stating the war must go on until the future is made safe.

Kaiser Wilhelm reassures a group of bankers, who are worried about the wartime economy, that the war will end by October.

Ship Losses:

Rym ( Norway): The cargo ship struck a mine (Possibly laid by UC-1 Egon von Werner) and sank in the North Sea 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) off the Shipwash Lightship ( United Kingdom) with the loss of a crew member.
Vivid ( Belgium): The fishing vessel struck a mine (Possibly laid by UC-3 Erwin Weisbach) and sank in the English Channel off Calais, France.

[Sailor Steve]

July 14:

German East Africa: The crews of HMS Mersey and Severn spend the day coaling their ships and removing petrol tins. Severn receives a visit from Admiral King-Hall.

[Jimbuna]

15th July 1915

Western Front

Failure of Germans in attempt to reach left bank of Yser results in heavy losses.

Eastern Front

New German offensive towards Riga develops.

Germans storm line south of Zielovna (near Przasnysz), and force Russians to retreat towards the Narev.

Southern Front

Italian offensive in Upper Cadore develops (Dolomites).

Naval

Germany apologizes for the deaths of Americans on the steamer Nebraskan, but states submarine warfare will continue.

North Sea

AGAMEMNON II, Admiralty trawler, 225/1907, Consolidated Steam Fishing & Ice, Grimsby-reg GY187 (He – Hull), hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.19, Harwich-based, Skipper Frederick Sibley RNR. With other Harwich sweepers clearing minefield discovered that morning, and in fact laid that morning by UC.1 (Egon von Werner). Lt-Cdr Hugh Archer of HMS Actaeon, Sheerness Torpedo School, embarked and in command of operation. Recovering sweep when a mine fouling the wire was pulled into the ship and exploded, sank off the Shipwash Sands, off Orford Ness (wi - in 51.57N, 01.36.45E); 9 ratings lost.

Political, etc.

150,000 Welsh miners go on strike, bringing all the coal mines in South Wales to a standstill.

Austria-Hungary protests U.S. arms shipments to the Allies, stating they question American “neutrality.”

National Registration Act becomes law in Great Britain.
http://i.imgur.com/34r4FqV.jpg

Ship Losses:

HMT Agamemnon II ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC.1 (Egon von Werner) and sank in the North Sea off the Shipwash Lightship ( United Kingdom) with the loss of nine of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

July 15:

United States: There is an explosion at the Central Railroad grain elevator at Weehawken, New Jersey. Sabotage is suspected.



Air War: Kurt Wintgens, still in E.5/15. files a third claim, again a Morane 'L' parasol. This time the enemy plane comes down on the German side of the lines. This is the first confirmed victory for Wintgens, and the first official victory for an eindecker and for a synchronized gun.



German East Africa: At 0700 hours a diving party is employed examining the bottom of HMS Mersey.

Aboard HMS Severn the crew is cleaning the ship. In the afternoon, aboard both monitors the job of removing all the armour plate begins.

At 1507 HMS Hyacinth departs Zanzibar for a new assignment elsewhere.

At 1700 hours shore parties start loading aircraft stores from the airstip onto HMS Laconia.

[Jimbuna]

16th July 1915

Western Front

German attack in Lorraine (forest of Parroy) and in sector of Fontenoy (west of Soissons).

Eastern Front

Between Vistula and Bug Germans attack Russians on the Wolitsa, and Russians repulse Archduke north of Krasnik.

Russians defeat Austrians on east bank of Dniester and capture 2,000 prisoners.

Political etc.

French army begins equipping troops with short knives for use in trench warfare, as bayonets are too unwieldy in the narrow trenches.

Austro-Hungarian government publishes the “Red Book,” which details Allied crimes against prisoners of war.

Henry Morgenthau Sr, US ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, sends a telegram about the “extermination” of Armenians.
http://i.imgur.com/qf38vtF.jpg

Ship Losses:

Balva ( Russia): The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea (59°45′N 4°05′E by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

July 16:

There is an explosion and fire at the Aetna plant at Sinnemahoning, Pennsylvania. Five workers are killed.



North Sea: Constantin Kolbe, in his last patrol in U-19, attacks the Royal Navy trawler HMT Cameo. Only one shell hits the trawler before the attack is called off.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2329013&postcount=113

Claus Hansen begins his third war patrol in U-41 by sinking the Russian freighter SS Balva, 1,165 tons, bound from Leith to Arkhangelsk with a cargo of coal. Hansen now has 17 ships and 24,504 tons.



German East Africa: The crews of HMS Mersey and Severn spend the morning removing armour plating to HMFM Trent and bringing back their ships' fittings. In the afternoon they move to Niororo Island to allow parties to go ashore for recreation.


[edit] Apparently this patrol was not Kolbe's last patrol in U-19. It seems he made three more, all without so much as seeing an enemy ship.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2329026&postcount=114

[Jimbuna]

17th July 1915

Eastern Front

Heavy fighting between Vistula and Bug.

Mackensen continues offensive on the Wolitsa.

Southern Front

Serbians evacuate Durazzo (Albania) at request of Italians, but keep neighbouring strategical points.

Naval and Overseas Operations

"Lusitania" report issued by Lord Mersey. (The full report has never been made public).
http://www.rmslusitania.info/primary-docs/mersey-report/

https://firstworldwarhiddenhistory.wordpress.com/2015/05/11/lusitania-6-lord-merseys-whitewash/

Political, etc.

Two spies condemned to death at Westminster Guildhall.

Since the start of the war, food prices in London have increased by 35%. In Berlin, the prices have risen by 69%.

Signing of secret treaty between Turco-German Allies and Bulgaria.

Ship Losses:

General Radetzky ( Russia): The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 65 nautical miles (120 km) north east of Lerwick, Shetland Islands United Kingdom (60°04′N 1°52′E) by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

The USS Ohio (pictured) and the USS Missouri passes through the Panama Canal today, the first battleships to do so.
http://i.imgur.com/tiMNUUU.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

July 17:

North Sea: Claus Hansen, commanding U-41, sinks Russian freighter SS General Radetzky, 2,118 tons, bound from Arkangelsk to London with a load of timber. His score is now 18 ships and 26,622 tons.



German East Africa: Admiral King-Hall removes his small fleet, including the two monitors, from Niororo and Mafia Islands to Zanzibar.

[Jimbuna]

18th July 1915

Western Front

German attack at Souchez repulsed.

Frank Tarr, English rugby player for the Leicester Tigers who won four caps for England, is killed in action at Ypres.
http://i.imgur.com/GI9GdZU.jpg

Eastern Front

Mackensen captures Krasnostav.

Windau (Courland coast) captured.

Russians retreat from north and west of Warsaw and on entire front of Vistula and Bug.

Southern Front

2nd Battle of the Isonzo begins, as Italian Field Marshal Luigi Cadorna orders another offensive with heavier artillery support.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Turks reported to have ordered Greeks to evacuate Aivali (north of Smyrna).

Naval and Overseas Operations

Italian cruiser "Giuseppe Garibaldi" torpedoed. She departed Brindisi to bombard the Ragusa Vecchia area the following morning. Shortly after beginning the bombardment at 04:00, Giuseppe Garibaldi was struck by one torpedo, on the starboard side near the aft boiler rooms, fired by the Austro-Hungarian submarine U-4. She sank within minutes on an even keel, although only 53 crewmen were killed. The remaining 525 were rescued by three destroyers left behind to rescue survivors as the division immediately retreated to avoid further attacks.
http://i.imgur.com/6XvbI4A.jpg

A German U-boat targets the liner SS Orduna, which is carrying several Americans, but misses.
http://i.imgur.com/SoejDZp.jpg

Political, etc.

Prince Hohenlohe-Langenburg, German ambassador at Constantinople, received by King Ferdinand at Sofia.

Ship Losses:

Batoum ( United Kingdom): The tanker was damaged in the North Sea 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) south by east of the Southwold Lighthouse, Suffolk by SM UB-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of six of her crew. She was beached but was later refloated, repaired and returned to service.
Giuseppe Garibaldi ( Regia Marina): The Giuseppe Garibaldi-class cruiser was torpedoed and sunk in the Adriatic Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) south east of Dubrovnik, Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (42°28′N 18°15′E) by SM U-4 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy) with the loss of 53 of her 559 crew.

[Sailor Steve]

July 18:

Ralph Wenninger, commanding UB-17, begins his career by torpedoing British tanker SS Batoum, 4054 tons, bound from Killingholme to Harwich with an unspecified cargo. The ships is beached and survives the attack.



Adriatic Sea: Rudolph Singule, in U-4 (Kaiserlich und Königlich Marine), sinks the Italian Armored Cruiser Giuseppe Garibaldi, 7234 tons. This is Singule's first sinking, though on June 9th he had damaged the British light cruiser HMS Dublin.



German East Africa: HMS Mersey receives a visit from Admiral King-Hall. The crews of both monitors spend the day cleaning their ships and spreading awnings to protect from the tropical sun.

In the morning all ships send parties ashore for off-duty personel wishing to attend the admiral's Sunday church service.

[Jimbuna]

19th July 1915

Western Front

German attack near Les Eparges (Verdun), repulsed with heavy losses, also west and south-west of Souchez.

Eastern Front

Russians concentrating on Narev.

Germans attacking north and south of Warsaw.

Fiercest fighting on Lyublin-Kholm line.

Southern Front

Italian success on Carso plateau after two days' fighting: capture of M. San Michele.

Total casualties in Dardanelles to 30 June, 42,434, announced in House of Commons.

Political, etc.

Lloyd George, Minister of Munitions, goes to Wales and urges coal miners to end their strike, as it endangers the war effort.

Workers of the Krupp arms factories threaten to strike. German military warns drastic measures would be employed if agreement is not reached.

President Wilson ends his vacation and returns to Washington to confer about the German submarine campaign.

Venizelist movement gains ground as opposed to Germanophil policy of Gournaris.

Bulgaria again declares neutrality.

Value of the Russian ruble drops drastically, as it remains unable to ship exports through the Baltic and the Dardanelles.

Ship Losses:

Capella ( Sweden): The brigantine was intercepted and scuttled in the North Sea by SM U-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Nordlyset ( Norway): The sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea 60 nautical miles (110 km) west of Lindesnes, Vest-Agder (57°30′N 6°30′E) by SM U-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Oklahoma ( United States): The uncommissioned Nevada-class battleship was severely damaged by fire at Camden, New Jersey. She was subsequently repaired and entered service in May 1916.

Katherine Stinson becomes the first woman to perform the loop in an airplane:
http://i.imgur.com/kGqiCXY.jpg

Albert Jacka becomes the first Australian to win the Victoria Cross during the First World War.
http://i.imgur.com/XEzC1Fw.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

July 19:

United States: There is an incendiary explosion at the Du Pont Chemicals plant at Wilmington, North Carolina.



Air War: At 1425 hours French pilot Georges Guynemer, flying a single-seat Morane 'L' parasol, shoots down an Aviatik two seater for his 1st aerial victory.



North Sea: Reinhold Lepsius and U-6 begin their second war patrol by stopping and sinking Swedish sailing brigantine SV Capella, 422 tons, bound from Halmstad to West Hartlepool with a cargo of pit props. His score is now 4 ships and 5,354 tons.

Ernst Graeff, commanding U-36, begins his second war patrol by sinking Swedish sailer SV Nordlyset, 82 tons, carrying pit props from Arendal to Granton. This brings his score to 3 ships and 3,319 tons.



German East Africa: The crew of HMS Mersey spend the day removing armour plate and bringing ammunition aboard from the tug Blackcock.

HMS Severn has several native shipwrights and handlers installing fixtures and removing plating, while the ship's crew are painting the ship and stowing ammunition. Some are aboard HMS Laconia handling the same.

[Jimbuna]

20th July 1915

Western Front

French advance up valley of the Fecht towards Munster (Alsace).

Eastern Front

Stubborn Russian defence of Lyublin-Kholm railway.

Heavy fighting south of Ivangorod.

Russians evacuate positions west of Groitsi and retreat north of Novogorod (Warsaw region).

Germans break through Russian line on the Bubissa (north).

Southern Front

Italians attack round Gorizia and capture of 500 prisoners on Carso.

Naval

Russian torpedo boat destroyers catch an unguarded Ottoman supply convoy on its way to Trebizond, sinking several ships.

The German submarine U-23 is sunk by the HMS C27. The U-27 had sunk 5 British ships and 2 neutral ships during its service.
http://i.imgur.com/NYXmqZ8.jpg

North Sea
RHIANNON, Admiralty yacht, 126/1914, hired 15/9/14 as auxiliary patrol vessel, 2-3pdr, Pennant No.055, Lt-Cdr George Wellburn RNR. On patrol in Thames Estuary between Longsand and Kentish Knock sands with Admiralty trawler Strathspey, approaching wreck of Norwegian steamer Peik mined and sunk on 5 July. Detonated mine which destroyed the forepart of the vessel, leaving after part afloat before it too sank, off Longsands, off Clacton (wi - in 51.40N, 01.29E). The mine had not been left over from the field that sank Peik and which had been swept; it had been laid by UC.3 (Erwin Weisbach); Cdr Wellburn, 1 officer, 1 rating and 2 MMR killed by explosion.

Political, etc.

Welsh miners strike settled.

Ship Losses:

HMY Rhiannon ( Royal Navy): The naval yacht struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the Longsand Lightship ( United Kingdom) with the loss of five of her crew.
SM U-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The Type U 23 submarine was torpedoeed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (58°55′N 0°14′E) by HMS C27 ( Royal Navy) with the loss of 24 of her 34 crew.

[Sailor Steve]

July 20:

United States: Paul Koenig, head of the Hamburg-American Steamship Line's bureau of investigation, makes a report to Franz von Papen, German Military Attache to the United States, with regard to a payment of $150 to a man demonstrating a small bomb made to resemble a lump of coal.



North Sea: Hans Hans Schultheß, commanding U-23, makes the first attack of his third war patrol. The victim is a decoy, HMT Princess Louise, towing a British submarine, HMS C-67. C-67's captain, Lieutenant-Commander Claude Congreve Dobson, slips his tow line and torpedoes U-23. The U-boat loses 24 of her crew, with Oberleutnant zur Zee Schultheß and 9 others being taken prisoner.His final score is 5 ships and 8,495 tons.



German East Africa: Both monitors now have local laborers aboard transfering the armour plating to dhows for use elsewhere.

[Aktungbby]

July 20:

United States: Paul Koenig, head of the Hamburg-American Steamship Line's bureau of investigation, makes a report to Franz von Papen, German Military Attache to the United States, with regard to a payment of $150 to a man demonstrating a small bomb made to resemble a lump of coal.



I wonder f he paid an additional royalty (as Vicker's did Krupp for shell-fuze patents after the war!!!) http://armingallsides.on-the-record.org.uk/case_studies/vickers-and-krupp/ (http://armingallsides.on-the-record.org.uk/case_studies/vickers-and-krupp/) to the estate of Thomas Edgeworth Courtenay who invented the device he called a coal torpedo. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/98/CoalTorpedo.jpgThe purpose of the coal torpedo was to burst the pressurized steam boiler (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiler), which had the potential to cause a tremendous secondary explosion. Boiler explosions were not uncommon in the early years of steam transportation, and often resulted in the complete destruction of the vessel by fire. In action, the coal torpedo would leave little evidence that a boiler explosion was due to sabotage.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Sultana_Disaster.jpgThe official count by the United States Customs Service (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Customs_Service) was 1,800 out of 2,427 passengers. Many were recently released Andersonville prisoners. Final estimates of survivors are about 550. Robert Louden (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Louden), made a death bed confession of having sabotaged Sultana by a coal torpedo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_torpedo). Louden, a former Confederate agent and saboteur who operated in and around St. Louis, had the opportunity and motive to attack it and may have had access to the means. (Thomas Edgeworth Courtenay (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Edgeworth_Courtenay), the inventor of the coal torpedo, was a former resident of St. Louis and was involved in similar acts of sabotage against Union shipping interests.) Supporting Louden's claim are eyewitness reports that a piece of artillery shell was observed in the wreckage. Still the biggest war-time ship disaster in American history; lost to history in the wake of Lincoln's assassination the day before. [wiki] http://armingallsides.on-the-record.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Vickers-debacle2.jpg (http://armingallsides.on-the-record.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Vickers-debacle2.jpg)Vickers shells: Every one stamped with 'Krupp Patent Zünder'!

[Jimbuna]

21st July 1915

Eastern Front

Russian troops launch a counterattack at Narew and South of Ivangorod in the north. However, Germans reach the Vistula south of Warsaw.

Russian offensive round Sokal expels enemy from right bank of Upper Bug.

Southern Front

Italians advance at Plava (Julian).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British force reach Euphrates from Kurna and captures Turkish troops.

British re-occupy Sheikh Othman (Aden).

Naval

North Sea
BRITON, Admiralty trawler, 196/1906, John Lewis, Aberdeen-reg A101, hired 2/15, armed, Admiralty No.1170, patrol vessel, 13 crew, Skipper Peter Christie RNR, probably Harwich-based, guardship for outer group of unarmed minesweepers ordered to sweep area around Longsand LV where HMS Rhiannon was lost the day before, most of the crew below having their evening meal. Mined at 1715, mine laid by UC.3 (Erwin Weisbach) on 5 July, “stern broke off, the bow went up into the air and was then hidden by a column of water and smoke. When this cleared away there remained of the ship nothing”, sank 13 cables SW of Longsand LV, off Clacton (wi - in 51.40N, 01.29E); Skipper and 10 ratings lost (wi - all 13 crew lost; He/ap - three crew saved).

Eastern Mediterranean
DOROTHEA, naval motor boat, ex-high speed pleasure motor boat, 33grt, 60ft, 11kts, hired 1914, serving with Motor Boat Reserve as HM Motor Boat No 203, 2-3pdrs, also rifles/small arms, manned by RNVR crew, reached Mudros around now as deck cargo, due to serve with flotilla of six motor boats carrying out local patrol duties off Turkish coast including Smyrna (Izmir) area, Lt Henry Holloway RNVR in command. Probably destroyed before she went into action, taking on fuel, spillage and explosion, burnt out; no lives lost.

Political etc.

United States warns Germany that taking another American life “will be considered an unfriendly act.”

France court-martials four anarchists accused of circulating flyers that urges peace and for soldiers to desert.

Belgium observes the 85th anniversary of its independence. The day is a solemn occasion, in contrast with the festivities of past years.

Ship Losses:

Dorothea ( Royal Navy): The motor boat was lost in the Mediterranean Sea on this date.
HMT Briton ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the Longsand Lightship ( United Kingdom) with the loss of eleven of her crew.
Madonna ( Sweden): The barque was intercepted and scuttled in the North Sea by SM U-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Fortuna ( Sweden): The sailing ship was intercepted and scuttled in the North Sea by SM U-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Anvers (Norway): The steamer was taken as a prize between Skagerrak and Firth of Forthwhilst location 56° 30'N, 1° 30'E whilst enroute from Fredrikstad - London with a cargo of timber by U 6 (Reinhold Lepsius).

Serbian artillery defending Belgrade.
http://i.imgur.com/ZYyww3P.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

July 21:

United States: President Wilson issues his third protest over the sinking of RMS Lusitania and other ships which cost American lives. This one is more harsh, and insists that submarine operations can be conducted according to rules of war, and further similar attacks will be considered "unfriendly".
http://www.rmslusitania.info/primary-docs/wilson-notes/us-protest-3/



Doctor Heinz Albert writes a letter to his wife refering to his association with German Military Attache Franz von Papen "...in the field known to you." Albert has come to the United States with a letter of credit from the German government for $4,000,000, and has been involved with German Ambassador Johann Heinrich Graf (Count) von Bernstorff in several plots intended to sway American influence away from the British.



"I flew my old B.E. back here yesterday, as it has been hot stuffed. I admit it is rather a dud, but I had no wish to exchange it for a Voisin. After some little trouble I persuaded the Commander to let me have a Morane instead, and tried quite a nice one this morning, the first time I have flown one since I smashed. They are beastly unstable things, and I fully expect to turn this one over before the week is out. The Commander is keeping me here for a few days' rest before returning to the R.F.C. Dunkirk is quite a lively place nowadays. The Huns have dropped bombs on the aerodrome twice in the last week, but fortunately none of the lads were killed."
-Harold Rosher, letter to his father, July 21, 1915
This is an extension to Rosher's letter of June 24. Apparently he was unable to finish and mail it for almost a month.



North Sea: Reinhold Lepsius, commanding U-6, stops Swedish sailing barque SV Madonna, 455 tons, bound from Halsingborg to West Hartlepool with a cargo of pit props. Lepsius allows the crew to abandon ship and then sinks her. Later he stops Norwegian freighter SS Anvers, 862 tons, carrying a load of timber from Fredrikstad to London, and takes her as a prize. his score is now 6 ships and 6,671 tons.



German East Africa: Aboard both monitors work continues with the crews cleaning and painting ships while native workers removing armour plates.

[Jimbuna]

22nd July 1915

Western Front

French positions east of Metzeral (Alsace) attacked, captured, and finally evacuated by enemy.

French gain near Bagatelle (Argonne).

Eastern Front

Russians cleared from left bank of Vistula above Ivangorod.

Enemy storms Miluny (Warsaw) and attacks Narev bridgehead at Rojan.

Southern Front

Austrians hold bridgehead of Gorizia against fierce attacks.

Italian capture 1,500 prisoners on Carso.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Announced that 30 Turkish officers with arms cargo sailed for Tripoli; Italians demand war on Turkey.

Naval

In the past 7 days, there has been no British shipping losses due to German activity. This is the first time since the start of the war.

Atlantic off NW Scotland
One armed merchant cruiser attacked (and two trawlers captured and sunk) off Hoy Head, SW Orkneys by U.36 (Ernst Graeff).

Columbella, Admiralty armed merchant cruiser, 10th CS. Attacked by U.36, W of Orkneys.

Political, etc.

Mr. Roosevelt denounces his countrymen as accessories after the fact to Germany's crimes in Belgium.

Belgian and Serbian consulates evacuate Warsaw. The US will take over those country’s functions if the city falls to Germany.

Turkish portion of Dedeagach railway ceded to Bulgaria with territory (600 square miles) between river Maritza and frontier.

Ship Losses:

King Athelstan ( United Kingdom): The trawler was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 100 nautical miles (190 km) west by north of Hoy Head, Orkney Islands (60°20′N 5°00′W) by SM U-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Rubonia ( Russia): The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Shetland Islands, United Kingdom (60°20′N 5°19′W) by SM U-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Star of Peace ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 100 nautical miles (190 km) west of Hoy, Orkney Islands by SM U-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

Sir Sandford Fleming, Canadian inventor and engineer who proposed the worldwide standard time zones, has passed away.
http://i.imgur.com/KVcT73l.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

July 22:

Atlantic Ocean, north of Scotland: Ernst Graeff, in U-36, stops and sinks two British trawlers - King Athelstan, 159 tons, and Star of Peace, 180 tons. He also sinks Russian freighter SS Rubonia, 3,664 tons, carrying a load of coal from Cardif to Archangelsk. His score now stands at 6 ships and 7,272 tons.



North Sea: Reinhold Lepsius, commanding U-6, stops and sinks Swedish sailing ship Fortuna, 203 tons, bound from Halmstad to West Hartlepool with a cargo of pit props. His score is now 7 ships and 6,874 tons.

[Jimbuna]

23rd July 1915

Eastern Front

Fortresses of Rojan and Pultusk stormed and river Narev crossed by Germans.

Russians overtaken and defeated near Shavli (Courland).

Southern Front

Italians advance along Luznica Ridge (Julian).

Innsbruck bombed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Italian garrisons massacred in revolt of Senussites in Tripoli, German and Turkish officers in command.

Naval and Overseas Operations

English Channel
WATERLILY, Admiralty drifter, 82/1907, Banff-reg BF595, hired 5/15 as net drifter, Admiralty No.2171, Skipper George Slater RNR. Fitted out at Devonport and now sailing for Granton to take up duties, in collision with trawler Ouse at 0500 off St. Alban's Head, Dorset (wi - in 50.30N 02.00W) and foundered; no lives lost.

Austrian warships bombard Ortona and the Tremiti Islands (Adriatic).

Political etc.

Oswald Flamm, German shipbuilder and Geheimrat, claims that the British orchestrated the Lusitania sinking in order to draw the US into war.

U.S. government makes public its 3rd note to Germany over the U-boat campaign; calls German replies “unsatisfactory.”
http://i.imgur.com/cxknyd9.png

Ship Losses:

Agios Georgios ( Greece): The cargo ship collided with Regina d'Italia ( Italy) in the Mediterranean Sea off Tarifa, Andalusia, Spain. She was towed to Tangier Bay by Gibel Derba ( United Kingdom and beached.
Danae ( France): The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 80 nautical miles (150 km) north west of Cape Wrath, Sutherland, United Kingdom by SM U-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Fimreite ( Norway): The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Shetland Islands, United Kingdom (60°17′N 8°43′W) by SM U-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her twenty crew survived.
Hermione ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) north by west of Hoy, Orkney Islands by SM U-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by Cairnsmore ( Norway).
Honoria ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) north by west of Hoy by SM U-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine).[64] Her crew were rescued by Cairnsmore ( Norway).
Parkwood ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground in Merzen Bay. She broke in two the next day and was a total loss. Her crew survived.
Sjomanden ( Norway): The cargo ship was driven ashore 20 nautical miles (37 km) west Vardø, Finnmark. She later sank and was declared a total loss.
Sutton ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) north by west of Hoy by SM U-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by Cairnsmore ( Norway).
HMT Waterlily ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler collided with another vessel and sank in the English Channel off the Isle of Wight.

[Sailor Steve]

July 23:

Lt. Harold Rosher is sent back to Britain to attend a conference.



Atlantic Ocean, north of Scotland: Ernst Graeff, commanding U-36, sinks French freighter SS Danae, 1,505 tons, bound from Liverpool to Arkhangelsk with an unspecified cargo, and Norwegian freighter SS Fimreite, 3,819 tons, carrying a load of iron ore from Wabana to Immingham. He then encounters a small British fishing group and sinks trawlers Hermione, 210 tons, Honoria, 207 tons, and Sutton, 332 tons. Graeff's score now stands at 11 ships and 13,345 tons.

[Jimbuna]

24th July 1915

Western Front

German attack near Hooge repulsed.

Dunkirk bombarded.

French capture positions in Ban de Sapt (Vosges).

Southern Front

Austrian attacks on Luznica Ridge (Julian) repulsed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Turks defeated outside Nasriya (Euphrates).

Naval

Mesopotamian Campaign - British-Indian forces forces advancing from Kurnah/Al Qurnah along the increasingly shallow River Euphrates drove the Turks out of Nasiriya, which was occupied next day. Old stern-wheelers Shushan, Muzaffri and Messudieh (all manned and armed respectively by deeper-draught sloops Espiegle, Odin and launch tug Miner) and armed launch Sumana took part.

U.36 sunk by Q-ship Prince Charles in Atlantic off N Scotland, first success by submarine decoy ship working alone; Prince Charles was not believed damaged in the action.

Political, etc.

Oswald Flamm, German shipbuilder and Geheimrat, claims that the British orchestrated the Lusitania sinking in order to draw the US into war.

Strikes and German outrages in munition factories irritate public opinion in U.S.A.

Ship Losses:

Activity ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) east north east of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-12 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Anglia ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 25 nautical miles (46 km) north west of Sulisker by SM U-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Cassio ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) north by west of Hoy, Orkney Islands by SM U-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by Cairnsmore ( Norway).
Eastland ( United States): The passenger ship capsized at Cicero, Illinois, with the loss of 844 lives. She was later salvaged, repaired and returned to serivice as USS Wilmette.
Grangewood ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) east north east of the Flugga Lighthouse, Shetland Islands by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Henry Charles ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) east north east of Lowestoft by SM UB-12 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Kathleen ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) east north east of Lowestoft by SM UB-12 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Perseus ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of ten of her crew.
Prosper ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) east north east of Lowestoft by SM UB-12 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Roslin ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) north by west of the Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides by SM U-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Strathmore ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) north by west of the Butt of Lewis by SM U-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SM U-36 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The Type U 31 submarine was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off North Rona, Outer Hebrides, United Kingdom by HMS Prince Charles ( Royal Navy) with the loss of eighteen of her 34 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Prince Charles.
Pass Of Balmaha (United States): The sailing vessel (1,571 tons) was in the Shetland Isles area enroute from New York - Arkhangelsk with a cargo of cotton whrn she was taken as a prize by U-36 (Ernst Graeff) and was sent to Cuxhaven. Retained and commissioned as disguised raider Seeadler.

SS Eastland
http://i.imgur.com/StkbKlF.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

July 24:

Atlantic Ocean, north of Scotland: Ernst Graeff, commanding U-36, stops American windjammer (steel-hulled sailing ship) SV Pass Of Bahama, 1,571 tons, bound from New York to Arkhangelsk with a load of cotton, and takes her as a prize. The vessel will be commissioned into the German Navy as the raider Seeadler.

Graeff then stops and boards Danish freighter SS Luise. While the boarding party are jettisoning her cargo another ship is sighted. Graeff orders the ship to stop. When U-36 is 600 meters away the crew of HMS Prince Charles drop their disguise, raise the Union Jack and open fire. U-36, the very first victim of a Q-Ship, is sunk. Luise moves to pick up the survivors, and Prince Charles opens fire on the Danish vessel, thinking it to be a German supply ship. Once this is resolved the British ship helps pick up the survivors. Kplt. Graeff and 15 of his men are rescued, but 18 more are lost. Lt. Mark Wardlaw will recieve the DSO for this action, and the civilian crew of Prince Charles will be awarded a prize of £1,000. Ernst Graeff's final score is 16 ships and 15,486 tons.
(U-boat.net has Graeff's total as 17,140 tons, but this includes SS Niobe, taken as a prize but later released)



North Sea, near the Shetland Islands: Claus Hansen, in U-41, sinks British freighter SS Grangewood, 3,422 tons, heading from Arkhangelsk to La Havre with a cargo of wheat, bringing his score to 19 ships and 30,044 tons.

Much further south, near Lowestoft, Hans Nieland begins his career in UB-12 by stopping and scuttling four British fishing smacks: Activity, 56 tons, Henry Charles, 41 tons, Kathleen, 59 tons, and Prosper, 45 tons. His starting score is 4 vessels for 201 tons.

[Jimbuna]

25th July 1915

Eastern Front

Enemy reaches Posvol and Poneviezh district on the Dvina.

Russian Government evacuates factories at Riga and Warsaw.

Enemy troops cross Narev above Ostrolenka.

Southern Front

Italians progress on Lower Isonzo.

Barracks at Verona bombed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Nasriya shelled, attacked and occupied by British troops under General Gorringe.

Naval and Overseas Operations

North Sea
E.16, submarine, E-class, 667/807t, 1-12pdr/5-18in tt, Cdr C Talbot, sailed Yarmouth 24th for Ems, next morning kept under by air patrols. Apparently trapped in anti-submarine net near Borkum Riff LV, struggled to surface to find Zeppelin overhead, bombs dropped as she struggled clear, got free an hour after first entanglement.

German submarines sink 6 French and British ships in the last 24 hours, after a brief lull in shipping attacks in the past few days.

U.S.A. steamer "Leelanaw" torpedoed.
http://i.imgur.com/DUM0ayf.jpg

Q-ships to be commissioned as ‘naval tenders’ so as not to be pirates under Hague Convention.

French occupy Lomie in Cameroons; rising in Zemen district, Germans retreat.

Aviation

Lanoe Hawker shoots down 3 German planes in an engagement over Passchendaele (he will become the 1st British ace).
http://i.imgur.com/J8KcvHn.jpg

Political etc.

British Government guarantee to Greece eventual cession of Mitylene by Turkey.

American Red Cross announces it will cease work in Europe on October 1st due to the lack of funds.

Russian prisoners of war held by Germany and Austria-Hungary surpass 1.5 million men.

U.S. Asiatic fleet offers to help Chinese authorities for relief work in the Canton delta, which is suffering from unprecedented floods.

Ship Losses:

Celtic ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 70 nautical miles (130 km) north by west of Hoy, Orkney Islands (59°53′N 1°18′W) by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Cydonia ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 70 nautical miles (130 km) north by west of Hoy (59°53′N 1°18′W) by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Emblem ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 60 nautical miles (110 km) north by west of Hoy by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Firth ( United Kingdom): The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 9 nautical miles (17 km) north of the Shipwash Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM UB-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew.
Gadwall ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 70 nautical miles (130 km) north by west of Hoy (59°53′N 1°18′W) by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
G. P. Harbitz ( Norway): The barque was intercepted, set afire and scuttled in the North Sea (56°35′N 2°33′E) by SM U-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her twelve crew were rescued by Else ( Denmark).
Harboe ( Norway): The schooner was set afire and sunk in the North Sea by SM U-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her nine crew were rescued by the trawler Hercules ( Netherlands)
Honoria ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 100 nautical miles (190 km) west north west of North Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Leelenaw ( United States): The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 60 nautical miles (110 km) north west of the Orkney Islands (59°58′N 4°50′W) by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Sognedalen ( Norway): The sailing ship was sunk in the North Sea (56°26′N 2°26′E) by SM U-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

Political cartoon published in Life, depicting alleged German atrocities.
http://i.imgur.com/28oQCpF.png

http://i.imgur.com/5ozqjQC.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/CHr4DkC.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

July 25:

United States: A munitions train is wrecked at Metuchen, New Jersey. Sabotage is suspected.



Britain: Having attended his conference, Lt. Harold Rosher is granted two days' leave to visit his family.



Air War: No. 11 Squadron deploys to France totally equipped with Vickers F.B.5s, making it the world's first fighter squadron.

Lanoe Hawker, now flying Bristol Scout C 1611, attacks a trio of Albatros two-seaters. One is damaged and forced to land, the second crashes in Allied territory with both crewmembers killed, and the third manages to escape. These constitute Hawker's second and third victories. For this action he will become the first pilot to be awarded the Victoria Cross.



North Sea: Reinhold Lepsius, commanding U-6, sinks Norwegian sailing ships SV G.P. Harbitz, 673 tons, bound from Dynekilen to West Hartlepool with a cargo of pit props; SV Harboe, 388 tons, sailing from Holmestrand to Sunderland, also carrying pit props; and SV Sognedalen, 644 tons, carrying a load of planed wood from Fredrikstad to Middlebrough. His score is now 10 ships and 8,579 tons.
Claus Hansen, in U-41, finds another fishing fleet and sinks British trawlers Celtic, 264 tons, Cydonia, 259 tons, Emblem, 157 tons, Gadwall, 192 tons, and Honoria, 179 tons. Moving west out of the North Sea he sinks the American freighter SS Leelenaw, 1,923 tons carrying a load of flax and hemp from Arkhangelsk to Belfast. Hansen's score now stands at 25 ships and 32,918 tons.

Erich Haecker, in UB-6, finishes his third war patrol by sinking the small British freighter SS Firth, 406 tons, heading from Treport to Methil in ballast. His score is now 7 ships and 4,200 tons.



British East Africa (Kenya): HMS Laconia has been at Kilindini Harbour, Mombasa, for the past three days, offloading aircraft and aviation stores. This morning the RNAS pilots and mechanics leave the ship for new assignments.

[Aktungbby]

July 25:


Lanoe Hawker, now flying Bristol Scout C 1611, attacks a trio of Albatros two-seaters. One is damaged and forced to land, the second crashes in Allied territory with both crewmembers killed, and the third manages to escape. These constitute Hawker's second and third victories. For this action he will become the first pilot to be awarded the Victoria Cross.
It has since been argued that shooting down three aircraft in one mission was a feat repeated several times by later pilots, and whether Hawker deserved his Victoria Cross has been questioned. However, in the context of the air war of mid-1915 it was unusual to shoot down even one aircraft, and the VC was awarded on the basis that all the enemy planes were armed with machine guns.
On a further note; Hawker's aircraft and 30-degree offset machine gun (outside the propeller arc-Hawker's own idea) were not exactly conducive to such shooting as with a 'through the propeller' interrupter mounted firing gun. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ef/Lanoe_Hawker%27s_No_1611_Bristol_Scout_C.jpg/220px-Lanoe_Hawker%27s_No_1611_Bristol_Scout_C.jpg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lanoe_Hawker%27s_No_1611_Bristol_Scout_C.jpg) photo enlarges Note fixed angle of pilot's gun on his Bristol Scout C #1611...that's tough combat against three armed Albatross C I's with rear observer 7.5 Parabellum machine guns. The more so when the torque of a rotary Gnome 7 Lambda engine is thrown into the equation... While the German C.I was operated mainly in a reconaissance and observation role, it also had some success as an early fighter aircraft- Oswald Boelcke (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oswald_Boelcke) claimed his first victory while flying a C.I with Lt. von Wühlisch as the gunner. Bottom line: Hawker deserved his VC!:salute:

[Jimbuna]

26th July 1915

Western Front

Attacks by Crown Prince in Argonne checked.

French success on Lingekopf (Alsace).

Eastern Front

Enemy held on Narev line, fierce fighting east of Rojan; Zeppelin captured by Russians.

Germans repulsed at Shlok (Riga), warships co-operating.

Southern Front

Italians occupy crests on Julian front and capture Monte Sei Busi; and attack Plateau of Doberdo.

Great fire in Constantinople.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Announced that Nejd (north-east Arabia) has proclaimed its independence and put Turkish garrisons to flight.

Naval and Overseas Operations

French operate against Lagosta (Adriatic) destroying Austrian submarine supply station, etc.

Italians land and capture Pelagosa Island (centre of Adriatic).

North Sea
German destroyer V.188 torpedoed and sunk by submarine E.16, 50 miles N of Terschelling.
http://i.imgur.com/yE9OuF1.jpg

French submarine Mariotte was sunk in the Dardanelles by the Ottoman Navy. She rounded Cape Helles on the surface, but dived to avoid being spotted by a searchlight about an hour later and attempted to pass underneath a minefield near Çanakkale. The boat became entangled in the cables and when she surfaced in an unsuccessful attempt to free herself, she was immediately engaged by a Turkish gun battery at close range. Mariotte could not submerge because her conning tower had been penetrated by shells so her commander, Lieutenant de vaisseau Auguste Farbre decided to scuttle the boat and surrender. The Turks ceased fire when he signaled his surrender and so his crew was able to destroy documents and equipment before opening the seacocks to sink the submarine. The wreck lies off Cape Nara near a Turkish naval base at a depth of 5 meters
http://i.imgur.com/7coUpXM.jpg

Political, etc.

Great Britain's reply to American Note of 30 March received in Washington.

Canada's recruits up to date, 140,000.

German Army announces that “warm underclothing, gloves, & wristlets” have been provided for soldiers in the event of a winter campaign.

National Association of Liquor Dealers, Restauranteurs, and Hotelkeepers of France protest recent government stance against alcohol.

Ship Losses:

Cimba ( Norway): The clipper ran aground in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and was wrecked.
Elna ( Denmark): The three-masted schooner was sunk in the North Sea (56°53′N 2°46′E) by SM U-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Emma ( Sweden): The coaster was sunk in the North Sea 130 nautical miles (240 km) east north east of the Longstone Lighthouse by SM U-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Marie ( Denmark): The schooner was sunk in the North Sea (56°59′N 2°52′E) by SM U-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Mariotte ( French Navy): The submarine was sunk in the Dardanelles by the Ottoman Navy. Thirty-one crew were taken as prisoners of war.
Neptunus ( Denmark): The sailing ship was sunk in the North Sea (56°59′N 2°05′E) by SM U-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
SMS V188 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The V138-class destroyer was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea by HMS E16 ( Royal Navy) with the loss of five of her crew.

Irish playwright and intellectual, George Bernard Shaw, celebrates his 59th birthday.
http://i.imgur.com/OQSI21n.jpg

[Betonov]

Jim it's not the Isonzo, it's called Soča :stare:

[Sailor Steve]

On a further note; Hawker's aircraft and 30-degree offset machine gun (outside the propeller arc-Hawker's own idea) were not exactly conducive to such shooting as with a 'through the propeller' interrupter mounted firing gun. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ef/Lanoe_Hawker%27s_No_1611_Bristol_Scout_C.jpg/220px-Lanoe_Hawker%27s_No_1611_Bristol_Scout_C.jpg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lanoe_Hawker%27s_No_1611_Bristol_Scout_C.jpg) photo enlarges Note fixed angle of pilot's gun on his Bristol Scout C #1611...that's tough combat against three armed Albatross C I's with rear observer 7.5 Parabellum machine guns.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2322925&postcount=870


While the German C.I was operated mainly in a reconnaissance and observation role, it also had some success as an early fighter aircraft-Oswald Boelcke (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oswald_Boelcke) claimed his first victory while flying a C.I with Lt von Wühlisch as the gunner.http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2326290&postcount=905

[Jimbuna]

Jim it's not the Isonzo, it's called Soča :stare:

Back in 1915? :hmm2:


The Isonzo is located today in present-day Slovenia. During the First World War however the sixty-mile long river ran north-south just inside Austria along its border with Italy at the head of the Adriatic Sea and then (as now) was flanked by mountains on either side.

http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/isonzo.htm

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_isonzo1.html

http://www.worldwar1.com/itafront/ison1915.htm

[Sailor Steve]

July 26:

North Sea: Reinhold Lepsius, commanding U-6, sinks Danish sailing ships Elna, 78 tons; Marie, 173 tons; and Neptunus, 143 tons; all bound from Christiania to Leith carrying planed boards. Lepsius also sinks Norwegian freighter SS Emma, 687 tons, headed from Göteborg to Tyne with a load of pit props. This brings his score to 14 ships and 9,660 tons.

[Jimbuna]

27th July 1915


Western Front

French capture position above Lingekopf.

Soissons and Reims bombarded.

Eastern Front

Enemy captures Goworowo (east of Rojan).

Warsaw attacked on three sides.

Austrians lose heavily in attack near Majdan-Ostrowski and on front Terriatin-Annopol (Cholm region).

Fighting for the Pruth south-east of Poltusk proceeding.

Romanian government seizes fifty carloads of German munitions in defiance of German demands to allow passage of arms.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians forced back by Turks near Mush (Asia Minor).

Naval and Overseas Operations

Three Danish schooners torpedoed by German submarine.

Railway from Ancona to Pesaro bombarded from sea.

Political, etc.

Mr. Asquith announces total military casualties to 18 July, 830,995; naval 9,106.

Baron Michelham offers ten £1000 prizes to British airmen who shoot down a zeppelin.

French Chamber agrees to necessity of Parliamentary control for army.

Ship Losses:

Iceni ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) east of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-13 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Salacia ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) east of Lowestoft by SM UB-13 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Westward Ho! ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) south east of Lowestoft by SM UB-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Betonov]

Back in 1915? :hmm2:



Back in 15, period

[Sailor Steve]

July 27:

United States: Two bombs are discovered aboard SS Arabic.



North Sea: Walther Becker, commanding UB-13, sinks British fishing smacks Iceni, 57 tons, and Salacia, 61 tons, bringing his total to 3 ships and 2,151 tons.

Hans Valentiner, in UB-16, stops and scuttles British smack Westward Ho. His score is now 6 ships and 7,492 tons.

[Jimbuna]

28th July 1915

Today marks the one year anniversary since the start of the Great War.

Western Front

Air-raid on St. Omer.

Eastern Front

Germans cross Vistula between Warsaw and Ivangorod.

Russians repulsed south-west of Gora Kalvariya (south of Warsaw).

Austrians repulsed beyond the Kamienka (Upper Vistula).

Southern Front

Austrians repulsed in Carnia.

Italian offensive in Cordevole Valley (Ventian Alps) progressing.

Italians evacuate positions just west of Gorizia.

Naval

Adriatic:
2 Austrian cruisers, 6 destroyers and torpedo boats sailed from Sebenico and shell Italian-held Pelagosa island and land 108 troops (12 casualties) who are repulsed for 2 weeks.

Political, etc.

Final debate on Compulsory Service; Mr. Asquith reviews situation.

Mr. Lloyd George speaks on munitions.

Germany announces it will publish secret Belgian documents that supposedly proves that Britain “enticed” France & Russia to oppose Germany.

Ship Losses:

Mangara ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off Aldeburgh, Suffolk by SM UB-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eleven of her crew.
Trondhjemsfjord ( Norway): The steamer was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north west of the Shetland Islands, United Kingdom (61°08′N 3°27′W) by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her passengers and crew were rescued by the sailing ship Glance (flag unknown).
Young Percy ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) east by north of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-13 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

July 28:

"In the last weeks heavy demands have been made on me. As of 16 July, I departed from Abeilung 62 and am now at the BAO in Ghistelles. I have already had three combats with your 100 hp machine. Unfortunately after a few shots, the gun jammed. Enough to drive one crazy. The Parabellum gun is going to bring me to my grave. The five aircraft that were delivered to Douai with the MG 08 have proven to be excellent. My students there have not experienced a jam up to now. Yesterday, I was in Lille in Freyburg's Abeilung, and there an offizierstellvertreter had a combat during which 540 rounds were fired without stoppage."
-Otto Parschau, instructor at Brieftauben Abteilung Ostend ("Carrier Pigeon Section" - a code name for Germany's first bombing unit), letter to Anthony Fokker, July 28, 1915. The "100 hp machine" is the prototype E.II, delivered to Parschau after Fokkers demonstration tour.

"Have had a ripping journey back. The country down to Folkestone was just too lovely for words, especially around Ashford. Saw Milverton on the way. Had a first-rate crossing, and was met by one of the Rolls at Boulogne, so your wire arrived all right. Had lunch at the "Folkestone" before starting back, and then a topping run here. Went out to see the lads at F____ in the evening. Sippe is back again and Baillie in great form. He sends his chin chins, and I gave him yours.
A Hun came over at midnight last night and bombed us. His eight bombs fell nearly a mile away, though."
-Harold Rosher, letter to his father sent upon rejoing his squadron in France



United States: Another mysterious explosion at the Du Pont plant in Wilmington, North Carolina.



Air War: Welsh pilot Lionel Wilmot Brabazon Rees and Scottish gunner James McKinley Hargreaves, in Vickers FB.5 1649, are attacked by an eindecker and shoot it down, giving the pair their first victory. Later in the year Rees will be awarded the Military Cross for this and two other victories. The citation for this fight reads "On 28 July he attacked and drove down a hostile monoplane despite the main spar of his machine having been shot through and the rear spar shattered."



Atlantic Ocean, between the Faroe and Orkney Islands: Claus Hansen, commanding U-41, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Trondhjemsfjord, 4,350 tons, bound from New York to Bergen with a general cargo. Hansen ends his third war patrol with 26 ships and 37,268 tons.



North Sea: Walther Becker, in UB-13, stops and sinks British fishing smack Young Percy, bringing his total to 4 ships and 2,196 tons.



Hans Valentiner, in UB-16, sinks British freighter SS Mangara, 1,821 tons, carrying iron or from Bilbao to West Hartlepool. His score is now 7 ships and 9,763 tons.



German East Africa: At 0300 hours the tugs Sarah Joliffe and Revenger set out to sea. At 0445 Admiral King-Hall's flagship HMS Challenger follows. At 0900 the three arrive at Guani Island, where they are joined by the gunboats Echo and Rattler. With the two gunboats acting as minesweepers, the group proceeds to Kibondo Island. At 1500 the group is met by the gunboats Fly and Salamander. At 1630 they anchor off Ras Kipakoni for the night.

[Jimbuna]

29th July 1915

Western Front

Artillery action Souchez and Soissons sectors, around Arras, etc.

Nancy bombed.

Eastern Front

Line of Lyublin-Kholm railway cut by enemy.

German troops break through Russian positions west of the Veprj.

Unsuccessful enemy attempt to advance between Narev and the Orz.

Russian military admits that Warsaw will be evacuated instead of risking encirclement by German troops.

Southern Front

Strong Italian offensive in Cordevole valley.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Austrians attempt to recapture Pelagosa.

American Note to Germany concerning the "Leelanaw" reported.

Political, etc.

Mr. Lloyd George speaks at conference of mining industry.

U.S. government protests Germany for using forged U.S. passports for spying in Allied countries.

Ship Losses:

Princesse Marie Jose ( Belgium): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 1.5 nmi (2.8 km) off the Shipwash Lightvessel ( United Kingdom) by SM UB-4 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

“Uninjured Figure in Wrecked Church” from Fromelles, France, taken today.
http://i.imgur.com/2j294yD.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

July 29:

Karl Karl Groß, commanding UB-4, sinks Belgian freighter SS Princess Marie Jose, 1,954 tons, bound from Dunston to Bordeaux with a load of coal. Karl Groß's score is now 3 ships and 10,883 tons.



German East Africa: At 0030 Admiral King-Hall's makeshift task force is joined by another gunboat, HMS Pioneer. At 0200 the group stops at Lindi bay. Armed parties are transfered to Echo and Rattler. Their purpose is to finish an old job: Back on October 19th of the previous year Captain Drury-Lowe of HMS Chatham had discovered the German transport SS Präsident at Lindi, disguised as a hospital ship. Commander Raymond Fitzmaurice had disabled the ship's engines. Now Admiral King-Hall has recieved word that the German freighter's engines have been repaired and the ship has been moved into Lukuledi Creek, where she is being stocked with wood for fuel. King-Hall intendes to destroy the freighter entirely. The attacking force is lead by Commander Richard Orlando Beaconsfield Bridgeman.

At 0500 the group of ships enters the bay with the two acting minesweepers ahead and Pioneer and the tugs behind. At 0630 the water becomes too shallow for Challenger to proceed further, and Commander Bridgeman leads the smaller vessels up the river. Bridgeman takes Echo and Fly up Lukeledi Creek, sending other ships back to Challenger. He finds Präsident in good working order and 16-pound guncotton charges around the ship. Präsident's engines are destroyed, and her wireless, and sufficient holes are blown in her sides to sink the ship. At 1535 Echo and Fly exit the Lindi River and at 1735 Challenger leads the smaller ships toward home.

[Jimbuna]

30th July 1915

Western Front

British line pierced at Hooge by enemy using "flame-throwers".

45 French aeroplanes bomb Freiburg (Baden), Pfalzburg (Lorraine), and petrol factories at Pechelbroon, etc.

Eastern Front

Russians fall back along entire line, only resisting north of Grusbieszow (lower Bug).

Evacuation of Warsaw continues.

Austrians occupy Lyublin.

Southern Front

Italian offensive in Trentino resumed.

Italians bombard forts in and around the Cadore valley and Sexten (Carn.).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Turkish success reported in Grsbudo Hills (Armenia).

Cholera among Turkish troops at Constantinople.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Leyland liner "Iberian" torpedoed.
http://i.imgur.com/4DdYtvl.png

Political, etc.

Political crisis and resignation of Japanese cabinet.

Pope addresses letter to heads of belligerent States.

Australian Federal Government proposes War Tax.

Dutch government passes a new Landsturm bill that increases the size of the army from 330,000 men to 550,000.

Beer production in Germany has been reduced by 60% since the start of the war due to the shortage of barley.

Charles Becker is executed for the murder of Herman Rosenthal. He is the 1st U.S. police officer to be executed.
http://i.imgur.com/KxHf6Di.jpg

Ship Losses:

Achieve ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) east by north of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Athena ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) east by north of Lowestoft by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Coriander ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) east south east of Lowestoft by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Fitzgerald ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) east south east of Lowestoft by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Iberian ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 9 nautical miles (17 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock (51°15′N 9°36′W) by SM U-28 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seven crew.
Prospector ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 28 nautical miles (52 km) east north east of Lowestoft by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Quest ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) east north east of Lowestoft by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Strive ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) east by north of Lowestoft by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Tors ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 43 nautical miles (80 km) east of Spurn Point, Yorkshire with the loss of eight of her crew.
Venture ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 27 nautical miles (50 km) east north east of Lowestoft by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

"Liquid Fire" (German flamethrower attack at Hooge).
http://i.imgur.com/txhgNuk.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/IgSOTJ2.jpg

[Aktungbby]

JULY 30 1915: U28 sinks the the British Steamer Iberian. The cargo ship was shelled, torpedoed and sunk off the coast in the Atlantic Ocean 9 nautical miles (17 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock with the loss of seven crew. Kapitan Freiherr Georg-Günther von Forstner, described the encounter thusly:
“On July 30, 1915, our U-28 torpedoed the British steamer Iberian, which was carrying a rich cargo (trucks and jeeps primarily) across the North Atlantic. The steamer sank so swiftly that its bow stuck up almost vertically into the air. Moments later the hull of the Iberian disappeared.”
“The wreckage remained beneath the water for approximately twenty-five seconds, at a depth that was clearly impossible to assess, when suddenly there was a violent explosion, which shot pieces of debris — among them a gigantic aquatic animal — out of the water to a height of approximately 80-feet.”
http://i2.wp.com/americanmonsters.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/U-28_monster_etching1-300x178.jpg?resize=300%2C178 (http://i1.wp.com/americanmonsters.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/U-28_monster_etching1.jpg)“At that moment I had with me in the conning tower six of my officers of the watch, including the chief engineer, the navigator, and the helmsman. Simultaneously we all drew one another’s attention to this wonder of the seas, which was writhing and struggling among the debris.”
“We were unable to identify the creature, but all of us agreed that it resembled an aquatic crocodile, which was about 60-feet long, with four limbs resembling large webbed feet, a long, pointed tail and a head which also tapered to a point. Unfortunately we were not able to take a photograph, for the animal sank out of sight after ten or fifteen seconds.” “…the description of an animal estimated at 20 metres in length, seen by me and some of the crew of the submarine U28 on 30 July 1915 in the Atlantic Ocean; was sighted on the starboard side, about 60 nautical miles south of Fastnet Rock, off the southwest corner of Ireland, after the sinking of the British steamer Iberian.”
“This animal was hurled some 20 or 30m into the air by an underwater explosion about 25 seconds after the sinking of that vessel, thrown full length from the water. It is possible that this was caused by the detonation of an explosive device on board, the existence of which we assumed was concealed in the ship’s papers, or from a small boiler explosion… This explosion certainly could have been the result of a detonation, but in my opinion only the bursting of the spaces deep inside the ship could have produced such air pressure.The animal was about 20 meters long and crocodile-like in shape, with pairs of strong front and hind legs adapted for swimming, and a long head that tapered towards the nose...
Our senior engineering officer, marine engineer Romheis, watched the animal for 10 to 15 seconds at a distance of about 150 to 100m in bright sunshine with the aid of powerful glasses." http://www.americanmonsters.com/site/2010/11/u-28-abomination-atlantic-ocean/ (http://www.americanmonsters.com/site/2010/11/u-28-abomination-atlantic-ocean/) [I]Some skepticism is in order: U-28's logbook makes no mention of the monster sighting...61 surviving British crewmen saw no monster and the U-28's only other survivor, cook Robert Maas, never said a word about it.:hmmm: :doh: http://blogs.forteana.org/node/93 (http://blogs.forteana.org/node/93) http://blogs.forteana.org/system/files/U28+KTB.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

July 30:

Air War: At FFA 62, Douai, Oswald Boelke takes Max Immelmann for a check-ride in the squadron's two-seat Fokker A.II (M.5L) trainer.



Celtic Sea: Georg-Günther von Forstner, commanding U-28, begins his second war patrol with the sinkings of British freighter SS Iberian, 5,223 tons, bound from Manchester to Boston with a general cargo. This brings his score to 10 ships and 30,731 tons.



North Sea: Otto Steinbrink, in UB-10, begins his third war patrol with an attack on a British fishing fleet, scuttling fishing smacks Achieve, 43 tons, Athena, 45 tons, Coriander, 46 tons, Fitzgerald, 51 tons, Prospector, 59 tons, Quest, 46 tons, Strive, 63 tons, and Venture, 44 tons. His score is now 10 ships and 4,303 tons.



German East Africa: Admiral King-Hall's attack force returns from Lindi to Tirene Bay, at Mafia Island.

[Jimbuna]

31st July 1915

Western Front

End of big movement lasting ten days, of German troops from Eastern to Western front.

Eastern Front

Germans cross the Aa (Riga), after tow days' fighting.

Desperate fighting and German advance on Kamienka front (Vistula).

Russians ejected from positions near Kurow (Lyublin).

Kholm occupied by Germans.

Southern Front

Riva (and Garda) bombarded by seaplanes, Austrian positions there taken.

Aviation

John Aidan Liddell, English pilot & Victoria Cross recipient, is mortally wounded, but manages to fly back to base.
http://i.imgur.com/RhOq4KN.jpg

Naval

Atlantic off SW England
Two Admiralty fleet messengers sailing in company from Glasgow under sealed orders, bound for Dardanelles, heavy seas with SW force 8 gale blowing, sunk by U.28 (Georg-Günther Freiherr von Forstner) off the Scillies.
TURQUOISE, ex-coaster, 486/c1892, Glasgow-reg, W Robertson, hired 2/7/15, Pennant No.Y4.30, 15 crew, Lt John McNicol RNR, sailing for Bizerta in ballast. In the afternoon sighted surfaced submarine on starboard bow which rapidly approached, ordered to stop but attempted to ram, U.28 opened fire around 1600 making several hits, ship immediately abandoned and sank at 1615, 60 miles SW of Scillies (wi - attacked in 49N, 07.08W, sank 40 miles SW of, in 49.00N 07.00W); one life lost, probably Merchant Navy (He/wi - chief engineer killed by gunfire, two crew wounded), survivors picked up by patrol trawler, landed at St Mary’s next day.
NUGGET, ex-coaster, 405/1889, Glasgow-reg, W Robertson, hired around 23/7/15, Pennant No.Y4.38, 15 crew, Lt Charles Amburger RNR. U.28 approached at speed and ordered crew to abandon ship in spite of conditions, when close enough Nugget went to full-speed and tried to ram, U-boat opened fire hitting the hull with 14 shells, sank at 2100, 45 miles SW of (wi - in 49.05N 06.58W); no lives lost, all crew picked up by Dutch sailing vessel Annetta at 2200, transferred next morning at 0545 to patrol boat, landed at St. Mary's next day at 1030.

Political, etc.

French Note on German outrages at Roubaix published.

M. Radoslavov declares Bulgaria has no intention of joining Central Powers or of attacking Serbia.

US Department of Labor announces that any immigrants who fight in Europe will lose their progress in the naturalization process.

German Province of Brandenburg expropriates all supplies of copper, brass, and nickel. Pots and pans can still be kept, but cannot be sold.

Ship Losses:

Galicia ( United Kingdom): The passenger ship struck a mine and was damaged in English Channel 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) off the North Goodwin Lightship ( United Kingdom). She was beached but was later refloated, repaired and returned to service.
Gypsum Queen ( United Kingdom): The schooner was abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean (approximately 48°N 23°W). Her crew were rescued.
HMS Nugget ( Royal Navy): The fleet messenger was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 45 nautical miles (83 km) south west of the Isles of Scilly (49°05′N 6°58′W) by SM U-28 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMS Turquoise ( Royal Navy): The fleet messenger was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) south west of the Isles of Scilly (49°00′N 7°08′W) by SM U-28 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Prince Albert ( Belgium): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the English Channel off the Shipwash Lightvessel ( United Kingdom).

MERCHANT SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 101 ships of 112,000 tons gross (Lloyd's War Losses).

[Sailor Steve]

July 31:

"More excitement. I was due for an anti-aircraft patrol this morning, and just as I was ready, a little before 4.0 a.m., a Hun machine came over and bombed us. Three bombs fell within a hundred yards of me. I went up after him at once, but lost sight of him in the air, so continued the usual patrol. When I got back, I found that six other machines had followed the first. arriving about fifteen minutes after. None of their bombs did any damage at all. They seem determined to strafe this place. A regular cloud of machines goes up after them whenever they appear, but we haven't had much luck as yet.

Expect to be stationed at Dover again in about ten days, for a little while anyhow. The Commander seems to think I don't look fit enough to go out to the Dardanelles. Apparently they are being bowled over with dysentery."
-Harold Rosher, letter to his father, July 31 1915Air War: At FFA 62, Douai, Max Immelmann makes five solo landings in the trainer, then practices aerial gunnery against ground targets in one of the unit's armed eindeckers.

While on a reconnaissance patrol flying out of St. Omer in an RE.5 over Ostend, John Aidan Liddell is wounded in the thigh, his leg being broken. Liddell passes out, but regains consciousness and manages to get his crippled aircraft back to base, saving the life of his observer. Liddell's leg is amputated, but the wound becomes infected. He is awarded the Victoria Cross on August 23, while still in the hospital. Liddell dies one month to the day later, on August 31.

French pilot Charles Eugene Jules Marie Nungesser and observer Roger Pochon take of in their Voisin III and attack a formation of Albatros two-seaters. After shooting one down, scoring their first victory, Nungesser is placed under house arrest for insubordination, due to his being assigned to non-flying duties at the time. After eight days Nungesser is released and given a medal.



Celtic Sea: Georg-Günther von Forstner, commanding U-28, captures and sinks two small British messengers headed from Glasgow to the Mediterranean - Nugget, 405 tons, and Turquoise, 486 tons. His score is now 12 ships and 31,622 tons.

[Jimbuna]

1st August 1915

Western Front

Artillery duels in Artois, valley of the Aisne, north-west of Reims, and in western Argonne; enemy attacks repulsed here.

British retake some trenches at Hooge.

Eastern Front

Mitau (Riga) evacuated, and captured by Germans. Latter held on Blonie line, west of Warsaw; they progress on the Narev.

Austrians capture Novo Alexandria station (Ivangorod).

Southern Front

Enemy counter-attacks on Mr. Medetta (Carn.) and is repulsed.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Galata bridge (Constantinople) blown up by British submarines.

Orkneys
AORANGI, Admiralty blockship, 4,268/1883, 389ft, Union SS Co, Dunedin (NZ)-reg, chartered as non-commissioned RAN supply ship 8/14, purchased by Admiralty 1915 for use at Scapa Flow. August - Scuttled as part of No.1 Barrier, Kirk Sound, between island of Lamb Holm & Mainland (wi - in 58.53.26N, 02.51.42W).

Aviation

Western Front – ‘FOKKER SCOURGE’ BEGINS: Im­melmann scores first Fokker EI victory, over Douai, with his first MG burst in anger, wounds British BE2c pilot (1 of 9 raiding airfield) forcing him to land. Im­melmann awarded Iron Cross 1st class.

Political, etc.

Kaiser and Tsar each issue manifesto on first anniversary of war. Former swears that his conscience is clear.

Great Britain orders motor-boats in U.S.A.

Karl Helfferich, German economist, estimates that the cost of the war exceeds the total sum of all gold mined in the last 500 years by 50%.

More than half the world’s population lives under nations currently at war, and around 21 million men are under arms.

Ship Losses:

Alert ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was set afire and sunk in the North Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south east of the Newarp Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Benvorlich ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay 50 nautical miles (93 km) west of Ouessant, Finistère, France by SM U-28 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Clintonia ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay 30 nautical miles (56 km) south west by west of Ouessant by SM U-28 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of ten crew.
Fulgens ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) off Sea Palling, Norfolk by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Koophandel ( Belgium): The cargo ship was torpedoed, shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (48°41′N 8°25′W) by SM U-28 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Lark ( United Kingdom): The fishing vessel was sunk in the North Sea off Lowestoft, Suffolk by a Kaiserliche Marine submarine.
Ranza ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay 50 nautical miles (93 km) south west of Ouessant by SM U-28 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.

Max Immelmann
http://i.imgur.com/b9aBbyF.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

August 1:

United States: Wolf von Igel, undersecretary to the German Embassy in New York, leases office space at 60 Wall Street. From here all German espionage in the United States will be directed.



Air War: A flight of British BE.2cs bomb the German aerodrome at Douai. Oswald Boelke, in Fokker M5K/MG E.3/15, and Max Immelmann, in production E.I E.13/15, take off in pursuit. When they attack Boelke's Parabellum gun jams after a handful of rounds are fired, and, unable to clear it, he is forced to abandon his attack. Immelmann's Spandau gun also jams, but holding the stick between his knees and using both hands he manages to clear the stoppage. Again on the attack, Immelmann singles out BE.2c no. 2003, Lt. William Reid, flying without an observer due to the extra weight of the bombs. Reid attempts to defend himself with his pistol, but is wounded twice in the left arm. He dives to the ground with Immelmann on his tail and firing the whole time. Reid's engine fails and he lands behind German lines. Immelmann lands and takes Reid prisoner. In his report Immelmann notes that the British aircraft was hit three times in the propellor, twice in the gravity tank, once in the main fuel tank, and that the fuel gauge, rpm gauge, wind speed indicator, clock, oil pressure gauge, wireless equipment and windscreen are all destroyed. The plane was hit eight times in the fuselage, four times in the wings, and the undercarriage and bomb racks are also hit, as well as the aileron control cable and left wheel.

In a later letter to Anthony Fokker Immelmann will write "You also have a part in this success, for without you we would not have had the aircraft, therefore I wish you the heartiest of luck. I would rather have a 100-hp machine. Would this not be possible?"

For a long time it was believed that this was the very first eindecker victory. It was not until the 1980s that historian Alex Imrie turned up the evidence showing that Kurt Wintgens was almost certainly the first to score a kill in the Fokker eindecker.



Celtic Sea: Georg-Günther von Fortsner, commanding U-28, sinks British freighters SS Benvorlich, 3,381 tons, at the end of a long voyage from Manila to London in ballast; Clintonia, 3,830 tons, bound from Marseille to Tyne in ballast; Ranza, 2320 tons, outbound from Tyne to Gibraltar with a load of coal; and Belgian freighter SS Koophandel, 1,763 tons, travelling from Swansea to Savona with a cargo of coal. Von Forstner's score is now 16 ships and 42,403 tons.



North Sea: Otto Steinbrinck, in UB-10, stops and sinks fishing smack Alert, 59 tons. He then torpedoes British freighter SS Fulgens, 2,512 tons, carrying a load of coal from Hartlepool to London.

[Aktungbby]

Lt. William Reid, flying without an observer due to the extra weight of the bombs. Reid attempts to defend himself with his pistol, but is wounded twice in the left arm. He dives to the ground with Immelmann on his tail and firing the whole time. Reid's engine fails and he lands behind German lines. Immelmann lands and takes Reid prisoner .http://www.switzerland1914-1918.net/blog/researching-individual-prisoners-of-war-and-internees-using-newly-release-records (http://www.switzerland1914-1918.net/blog/researching-individual-prisoners-of-war-and-internees-using-newly-release-records) The story did not end there for Lt Reid :" Reid "was interned both in POW camps and Switzerland, having been deemed by the Germans to be unfit to be of any use in further active service." He add “He married his Swiss-Italian nurse whilst in Switzerland and on his return to England he taught the Queen’s father to fly, at RAF Cranwell."

[Sailor Steve]

I had to do a quick edit of yesterday's events, as I inadvertently left out the first victory for Charles Nungesser.

[Oberon]

After spending half of last month on the fire trenches at Cape Helles, the 5th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment are tired and dirty. Whilst they had not seen any direct combat, they had received semi-frequent shell fire from the Turks, and the effects of the climate had started kicking in with dysentry, dirt and lack of sleep being reported factors in the batallion war diary.
On the 28th July, the men were relieved by the Lancashire Fusiliers and the Royal Fusiliers, making their way back to Gully beach to bivouac and enjoy a clean up and wash. The weather was hot, and the men received orders to move within 24 hours which were soon countermanded that the move was delayed another 24 hours, giving the men ample time to wash clothes and themselves during the cooler day of the 29th.
The day after that at 8:30pm the men paraded on V beach and then embarked onto crowded destroyers and minesweepers to their new destination of Mudros bay where the HQ and a hundred men arrived at 5am the next day, the rest of the battalion arriving in half hour intervals after and bivouacking in a nearby stubble field.

Which brings us to today:

1915-08-01

Regiment. 5th Wiltshire
Location Lemnos, Mudros Bay
Entry

The Battalion is still resting at EAST MUDROS;
After the Church Parade at which the whole of the 40th Bde were present, Gen Travers addressed the troops and expressed his satisfaction at their conduct at CAPE HELLES and his confidence for the future.


(all information from - http://www.thewardrobe.org.uk/research/war-diaries/search )

[Jimbuna]

2nd August 1915

Western Front

Fighting in the St. Hubert region (Argonne).

Les Eparges (Verdun) bombarded.

Enemy attacks position on the Linge and Barrenkopf ridge (Vosges).

German success at Hill 213 (Argonne). Germany again deploys flamethrowers.

Eastern Front

Russians retreat east of Ponevyej (Dvinsk).

Germans claim 9,000 prisoners taken near Lomja (east bank of Vistula), and at Ivangorod.

The Leczna-Kholm line, Russians lose 2,000 prisoners and evacuate their positions.

Southern Front

Italian offensive near Mt. Sei Busi (Carso) progresses: beaten back on Polazzo plateau.

Aviation

Building upon 1913 flying-off experiments aboard HMS Hermes, an aircraft takes off from a platform aboard a fully operational British aviation ship for the first time, when a Sopwith Baby equipped with wheeled floats takes off from HMS Campania.
http://i.imgur.com/KyzpGdI.jpg

Naval and Overseas Operations

Atlantic off SW England
PORTIA, Admiralty fleet messenger, ex-coaster, 494/1906, Liverpool-reg, South Wales & Liverpool SS, hired c23/7/15, Pennant No.Y4.36, Lt-Cdr Langton Bromwell (Rtd). Captured by U.28 (Georg-Günther Freiherr von Forstner), sunk by gunfire 70 miles S of Scillies (He – SW of); no lives lost. The third fleet messenger sunk in three days by U.28

The new German Derfflinger class battlecruiser is named the SMS Hindenburg after the Field Marshal.
http://i.imgur.com/nNZqvvR.jpg

Political, etc.

At Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa’s funeral, Patrick Pearse, an Irish Nationalist, declares, “Ireland unfree shall never be at peace.”

German War Ministry announces they occupy 29,000 square km in Belgium, 21,000 in France, 130,000 in Russia, and 10,000 in French Alsace.

Ship Losses:

Bencore Head ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship collided with Batiscan ( United Kingdom) off Cape Salmon, Quebec, Canada and was consequently beached.
HMS Portia ( Royal Navy): The fleet messenger was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) south of the Isles of Scilly by SM U-28 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
http://i.imgur.com/MAlqT6F.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

August 2:

Air War: British pilot Lanoe Hawker is now flying a two-seater - FE.2b 2864. He and his gunner, a Lt. Payze, shoot down an unidentifed German two-seater. This is Hawkers 4th victory.



Celtic Sea: Georg-Günther von Forstner, commanding U-28, sinks British fleet messenger HMS Portia, 494 tons. His score is now 17 ships and 42,879 tons.

[Oberon]

There was no entry for the 2nd August 1915, so we move to the 3rd...

At 11a.m the Battalion moved to the Egyptian Pier and embarked on H.M.T 'Sania' Lt H.B.L. Braund and 2Lt J.P.M Carpenter left at E. MUDROS in charge of details, composed chiefly of men suffering from dysentery, of which there was a very considerable outbreak during their stay at Lemnos.

[Jimbuna]

3rd August 1915

Western Front

German night attacks in Argonne repulsed.

Eastern Front

Russians retire north of Lomja; Germans cross Narev.

Mackensen victorious near Kholm.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Turks claim Alashgerd (Armenia) retaken from Russians.

Naval and Overseas Operations

French battleships bombard Sighadjik (Smyrna).

Russians sink number small vessels in raid on Anatolian coast.

Political, etc.

Britain denies US demands to stop the blockade of neutral ports, citing the US blockade of the South during the Civil War.

Britain announces that after August 30th, no coal may be shipped anywhere except to British possessions and protectorates.

Reply of Entente Powers to Bulgarian Note of June 14 (text secret).

Parliamentary control for French army established.

Russian Duma unanimously adopts a resolution declaring it will not conclude peace before victory was complete.

Ship Losses:

Costello ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 95 nautical miles (176 km) south of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly (49°02′N 8°30′W) by SM U-28 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.


John Cook, American Civil War veteran who received the Medal of Honor at age 15, has passed away.
http://i.imgur.com/w1M9O19.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

August 3:

Celtic Sea: Georg-Günther von Forstner, commanding U-28, sinks British freighter SS Costello, 1,591 tons, bound from Liverpool to Genoa with a general cargo. His score is now 18 ships and 44,470 tons.

[Jimbuna]

4th August 1915

Eastern Front

Germans threaten Warsaw; civilians evacuate; Blonie-Nadarzyn line (15 miles west of Warsaw) abandoned by Russians. Latter evacuate Ivangorod.

Southern Front

Castle of Lizzana (Rovereto) destroyed by Austrians.

Italians occupy Col di Lana (Cordevole, Ventian Alps).

Naval and Overseas Operations

French battleships bombard Spelia and Scalanova (opposite Samos).

Russia claims to have sunk 900 Ottoman vessels in the Black Sea, putting strain on Constantinople’s food supplies.

North Sea
C.33 (below, sister-boat C.38 - Navy Photos), submarine, C-class, 290/320t, 1910, 2‑18in tt with 4 torpedoes, 13/7½kts, c16 crew, Pennant No.I.63, Rosyth-based 7th Flotilla, Lt Gerald Carter. Trawler Weelsby, renamed Malta for decoy purposes, left Harwich on 31 July to meet up with C.33 for anti-U-boat patrol off the Norfolk coast, but failed to repeat the earlier successes of C.24 and C.27. At 2015 on the 4th, C.33 slipped her tow to return to harbour independently, last signal at 2150 - "have nothing to communicate", then failed to arrive, “overdue, presumed lost”. (declared lost on the 5th) - Lost, cause unknown, no wreckage found, probably mined in British field near Smith’s Knoll, alternatively an accident as no German claims were made for her sinking; 3 officers and 14 ratings lost, no survivors. Destroyer Firedrake sailed at dawn on the 5th but failed to find any trace of her, declared lost.
http://i.imgur.com/KQBV8dp.jpg

Political, etc.

Ignatius TT Lincoln, former British Member of Parliament, is arrested in the US on charges of spying for Germany.
http://i.imgur.com/NwtRc8c.jpg

St. Paul Cathedral in London holds the national intercession service to mark the one year anniversary of the war.

French Ministry of War estimates that there has been 14.4 million military casualties, with 5.3 million deaths, on all sides of the war.

Ship Losses:

HMS C33 ( Royal Navy): The C-class submarine struck a mine in the North Sea off Great Yarmouth, Norfolk and sank with the loss of all sixteen crew.
Challenger ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 23 nautical miles (43 km) east by north of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-12 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Grimbarian ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 56 nautical miles (104 km) east by north of Spurn Point, Yorkshire with the loss of six of her crew.
Heliotrope ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 23 nautical miles (43 km) off Lowestoft by SM UB-12 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Midland Queen ( Canada): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) south west by west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-28 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

August 4:

Belgium: British nurse Edith Cavell is arrested and charged with helping more than 200 prisoners to escape. Her trial will not begin until October 7th. (Some sources say her arrest was on the previous day, August 3rd)



Celtic Sea: Georg-Günther von Forstner, commanding U-28, sinks Canadian freighter SS Midland Queen, 1,993 tons, bound from Sydney, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, to Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, with a cargo of steel. Von Forstner ends his second war patrol with 19 ships and 46,463 tons.



Hans Nieland, in UB-12, sinks British fishing smacks Challenger, 50 tons, and Heliotrope, 28 tons, bringing his score to 6 fishing vessels and 270 tons.

[Jimbuna]

5th August 1915

Western Front
Heavy fighting in the Vosges and at Hill 213 (Argonne).

Eastern Front

Capture of Ivangorod by Austrians.

Germans enter Warsaw.
http://i.imgur.com/7kxYJq2.jpg

Southern Front

Italian airship captured at Pola.

Progress on the Carso by Italians.

General Maurice Sarrail takes control over French operations in the Dardanelles.
http://i.imgur.com/f1kLfiL.jpg

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians capture Turkish positions near Olti and Sarikamish (Transcaucasia) and repel counter-attacks.

Naval

North Sea
Industry, store carrier, 1,460 tons/497grt, 1901, Admiralty-owned. In collision with Dutch SS Zeeland off Wold LV. Sunk c19 October 1918.

Atlantic off W Ireland
CLEMENTINA, Admiralty yacht, 469/1887, hired 22/9/14, 2-6pdr, Pennant No.025, Examination Service, Capt Thomas Walker (retired Vice Admiral). Closing the SS Adam Smith (299grt) for examination off Tor Cor Point (C/D - off Tor Point) in the early morning, in collision, holed, and flooded from the stokehold aft. To prevent her sinking, run aground and beached nearby. Salvage was abandoned, sold for breaking-up where she lay; no lives lost at this time, but an Assistant Engineer RNR died on 20 September 1915 possibly from injuries sustained. Note: location is confirmed as South Tor Cor or Torcor Point, Co Galway.

Political, etc.

Strike in Belgian coal district.

Germans fire on strikers.

Russian Ministry of Munitions proposed.

Duma votes 35 million roubles for refugees.

Kaiser Wilhelm announces a conference in Berlin that will discuss autonomy for Poles in the conquered parts of Russian Poland.

Ship Losses:

HMY Clementina ( Royal Navy): The armed yacht collided with another vessel in the English Channel off Torpoint, Cornwall and was beached. She was a total loss.
Hans Emil ( Denmark): The schooner was sunk in the North Sea (57°07′N 4°08′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Nereide ( Regia Marina): The Nautlius-class submarine was torpedoed and sunk in the Adriatic Sea (42°23′N 16°16′E) by SM U-5 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy) with the loss of all nineteen crew.
Vanadis ( Denmark): The sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea 56°49′N 5°02′E by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

August 5:

North Sea: Max Valentiner and U-38 begin their third war patrol with the sinking of Danish sailing ship Hans Emil, 106 tons, bound from Halmstad to Granton with a load of pit props; and Norwegian SV Vanadis, 484 tons, from Kristiania to West Hartlepool, also with pit props. His score is now 24 ships and 9,724 tons.



Adriatic Sea: Georg von Trapp, in Austro-Hungarian U-5, sinks Italian submarine Nereide, 225 tons, bringing his score to 2 ships and 12,631 tons.

[Oberon]

4th August 1915
The arrival at ANZAC during the early hours of this morning was quiet and unmolested and the Battalion immediately proceeded to quarters in WHITE VALLEY. Here they remained without incident, except occasional severe shellings, a few men being wounded, until the evening of Friday.

6-7th August 1915
[6th - 7th] On that evening (Friday) at 8p.m the Battalion moved from White Valley accompanied by the S.W.Bs. Route taken was through Rest Gulley and over the cliffs through the cutting, reaching the shore again beyond Ari Burnu. Thence they were sniped and encountered considerable shrapnel fire. Finally a position was taken up on DAMAJELIK BEIR A,B & C companies take up position from Track 92 N8 to KNOLL 92 O 8-9 inclusive D company in Bde reserve in Gulley S. of Pt. 40 This position was taken with but slight opposition. Number of prisoners taken during the operation by the SWBs and WILTS is estimated at 250 (Reports agree that a number of the prisoners taken on this occasion were old men and very willing to fall into our hands. There was every indication of a hasty retirement of those previously occupying the ground. The fires in the cottages were warm and there were signs throughout of recent habitation. Excellent honey and water was found here. HBLB) Officer casualties on march from ANZAC Lieut A.G.O. Wigmore R.A.M.C (wounded slightly) Lieut A.C Belcher (killed)

[Jimbuna]

6th August 1915

Eastern Front

Germans repulsed at Osovyets (Neuve Chapelle).

Archduke Joseph Frederick enters Lyublin.

Southern Front

Two divisions effect surprise landing at Suvla Bay and attack with Anzacs on right, and southern force on Achi Baba.

Battle of Lone Pine begins as Australian troops advance as part of a diversionary attack.
http://i.imgur.com/hx0QUqc.jpg

Naval

North Sea
LEANDROS (L/Lr/D/dq - Leander; D - but renamed Leandros), Admiralty trawler, 276/1907, Lindsey Steam Fishing, Grimsby-reg GY.260, hired 8/14 as Leander, minesweeper, Admiralty No.18, Dover Patrol, Skipper Walter Richmond RNR. Mined, laid by UC.5 (Herbert Pustkuchen) three days earlier, sank off North Knock Sand Buoy, off Thames Estuary (wi - in 51.43N, 01.38E); 7 ratings lost (He – 5 died).

Political, etc.

345 British establishments declared "Controlled" under Munitions of War Act.

Combined Entente Note to Balkan States.

Bulgarian Government negotiate fresh loan for 400,000,000 francs with Austro-German banks.

Agreement concluded between Japan and China substituting Japanese authority for German in Tsingtau customs.

Benjamin F. Tracy, Medal of Honor recipient and former US Secretary of the Navy, has passed away.
http://i.imgur.com/YWPdyqE.jpg

Ship Losses:

C.E.S. ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 42 nautical miles (78 km) east north east of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Fisherman ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 37 nautical miles (69 km) east north east of Lowestoft by SM UB-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Hesperus ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 37 nautical miles (69 km) east north east of Lowestoft by SM UB-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ivan ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 42 nautical miles (78 km) east north east of Lowestoft by SM UB-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Leandros ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of seven of her crew.
Maj ( Sweden): The coaster was sunk in the North Sea (56°58′N 6°48′E) by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ocean Queen ( United Kingdom): The trawler was scuttled in the North Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) north west of Muckle Flugga, Shetland Islands by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Westminster ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea (60°38′N 0°12′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by the drifter Maria Josepha ( Netherlands).
Xmas Rose ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea off Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

http://i.imgur.com/87YujBA.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/UIkgzWO.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/RSoDSZ0.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/MW6kLOz.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/UjfniGL.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

August 6:

Norwegian Sea: Max Valentiner, commanding U-38, has moved out of the North Sea. West of the Shetland Islands he sinks the British trawlers Ocean Queen, 185 tons, and Westminster, 252 tons, bringing his total to 26 ships and 10,161 tons.



North Sea: Otto Wünsche starts his third war patrol in U-25 by sinking Swedish freighter SS Maj, 920 tons, bound from Göteborg to Hull with a load of pit props. His score is now 16 ships and 8,796 tons.

Otto Steinbrinck, in UB-10, scuttles British fishing smack Xmas Rose, 27 tons, bringing his score to 13 ships and 6,901 tons.

Ralph Wenninger, in UB-17, scuttles fishing smacks C.E.S., 57 tons, Fisherman, 24 tons, Hesperus, 47 tons, and Ivan, 44 tons. His score is 4 fishing boats for 162 tons.

[Jimbuna]

7th August 1915

Western Front

German attacks in Argonne and Vosges repulsed with heavy losses (estimated 4,000).

Eastern Front

Russians repulse Germans near Riga.

Enemy attacks Kovna; Russian retreat behind Jara.

Enemy attacks with gas near Osovyets.

Sierok (northern Georgievsk) occupied.

Enemy reaches Vistula near Pienkow.

Southern Front

Gallipoli: Very heavy fighting and losses; little progress; frightfully hot.

New Zealand forces attempt to take the summit of Chunuk Bair are also repulsed with heavy casualties.

Australian forces attack Ottoman lines on a hill codenamed “Baby 700,” but suffer heavy casualties and are repulsed.
http://i.imgur.com/Z2P8rxU.jpg

Italian artillery reaches Ercavallo Peak (Trentino).

Naval

German Minefield - Moray Firth field of nearly 400 mines laid by German auxiliary minelayer Meteor (1,912grt, ex-British Vienna seized Hamburg 4/8/14), night of 7th/8th to foul the approach to Cromarty and the Grand Fleet base of Invergordon, discovered the morning of the 8th by a minesweeping trawler.

Gallipoli Campaign
Scourge, destroyer, G-class, c1,100t, one of ten destroyers taking part in Suvla landings, each one carried in 500 troops on deck with another 500 in a towed X or motor lighter, Scourge landed her men on C-beach, S of Nibrunesi Point. Now trying to get some of the lighters off the ground, hit in engine-room by Turkish shell around 0830 and had to retire for repairs; casualties uncertain, but one rating lost.

X-lighters, ramped self-propelled landing craft, X.1-series, designed for Dardanelles, launched 4-7/15, 160t, could carry 500 troops, carried K numbers, also known as K-boats, motor lighters, nicknamed "beetles". At least 10 lighters, numbered K.1-10 took part in the Suvla landings, some of which may not have got off, others damaged by gunfire.

Political, etc.

King George of Britain establishes the Naval General Service Medal, which will be awarded for service in minor naval operations.

Romania mobilises 10 classes of reservists.

Ship Losses:

Geiranger ( Norway): The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 70 nautical miles (130 km) east south east of Sumburgh Head, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom (59°33′N 1°39′E) by SM U-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Norman ( Norway): The barque was sunk in the North Sea 18 nautical miles (33 km) off Arendal, Aust-Agder (58°15′N 9°24′E) by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

http://i.imgur.com/76AmskQ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/OlOhmQX.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

August 7:

North Sea: Rudolf Schneider, commanding U-24, starts a new war patrol with the sinking of Norwegian freighter SS Geiranger, 1081 tons, bound from Patschora to Southampton with a load of timber. His score is now 16 ships and 49,187 tons.

Otto Wünsche, in U-25, sinks Norwegian barque SV Norman, 1,060 tons, carrying pit props from Göteborg to Hull. His score is now 17 ships and 9,956 tons.

[Jimbuna]

8th August 1915


Eastern Front

Germans attack Kovna, repulsed with heavy losses.

Novo Georgievsk cut off in the east.

Praga (Warsaw) occupied.

Mackensen forces Russians back across the Veprj.

Southern Front

Monfalcone dockyard (northern Adriatic) bombed.

Night raid by Austrians into Italian positions in Trentino.

British attack on Anafarta (Gallipoli) repulsed.

ANZAC offensive at Gallipoli begins to falter due to strong Ottoman defenses and counterattacks.

Doolan Downing, New Zealand rugby player with 26 caps, is killed in action at Chunuk Bair.
http://i.imgur.com/drpJOfz.jpg

New Zealand troops captures Chunuk Bair at Gallipoli after heavy naval bombardment.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Bushire (Persian Gulf) occupied by British as reprisal for two officers killed there on 12 July.

Naval and Overseas Operations

German Fleet attacks Riga and is repulsed.

THE RAMSEY, (J/C - Ramsey), Admiralty armed boarding steamer, 1,443/1895, Isle of Man Steam Passenger Co, Douglas-reg, hired 28/10/14, 2-12pdr, Pennant No.M.14, attached to Grand Fleet, Lt-Cdr Harry Raby RNR (Rn - Lt P Atkins RNR; gf - refers to Acting-Lt Atkins RNR as senior surviving officer), on patrol SE of Pentland Firth. After laying mines in the Moray Firth (see 7 August), Meteor, flying the Russian flag, met The Ramsey around 0600 c70 miles ENE of Kinnaird Head in 58.20N, 00.05W "but nearer to Cromarty". The Ramsey signalled the stranger to stop, closed to about 80yds to lower a boat when the German ensign was hoisted and Meteor (c2-8.8cm/2tt/375 mines) attacked with gunfire and torpedoes, The Ramsey sank in three minutes (J - torpedoed; J/D - SE of Pentland Firth; C - off Firth of Forth; dx - off Moray Firth); 53 lives lost - 5 officers including Cdr Raby, 23 ratings and 25 MMR (He – 65 lives lost, 33 survivors; gf - 54 lives), 4 officers and 39 men taken prisoner, Meteor headed back to Germany, but was scuttled next day and the British POW's released.

BEN ARDNA, Admiralty trawler, 187/1912, R Irvin, Aberdeen-reg A517, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.289, Dover Patrol. Engaged in sweeping, mined at 1330, mine laid by UC.1 (Egon von Werner) three days before, sank quickly about ¾ mile E of Elbow Buoy, off North Foreland/Broadstairs, Kent; 2 ratings lost. Note: Lloyds lists her as fishing when sunk, not in Admiralty service.

Norwegian Sea
INDIA, Admiralty armed merchant cruiser, ex-passenger ship, 7,940/1896, 18 kts, Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co, Greenock-reg, hired 13/3/15, Pennant No.M.81, 10th CS, Northern Patrol, c300 crew, Cdr William Kennedy i/c, master, Lt Richard Groundwater RNR. On patrol off Norwegian coast to intercept iron ore carriers sailing from Narvik for Germany via Rotterdam, with attached hired trawlers Saxon and Newland also 10th CS for inshore duties. Swedish SS Gloria sighted at 0830, India intercepted, boarded and searched her, details of Gloria wirelessed in. Other ships were sighted and followed, at noon ordered to send Gloria into Kirkwall, and proceeded to search for her. Now 1740, alarm gong sounded, and torpedo track seen approaching, could not be avoided and struck starboard side aft near No.3 gun, fired by U.22 (Bruno Hoppe), ship immediately started to settle by stern. Of the four starboard and three port boats kept lowered for such an emergency, six were successfully manned but with ship's way still on, a port boat capsized and on the starboard side the boats were fouled or stove in, ship sank in five minutes, 6-7 miles NNW of Heligver Light near Bodo (te - in 67.30N, 13.20E; ke - mined off Helligvaer/Hellevoer island); 121 lives lost - 11 officers, 53 ratings including some Royal Marines and 57 MMR, number of crew buried ashore in Norway (Mn - 9 officers and 107 men lost, with 189 men saved including the captain; of the latter, 19 officers and 138 men either went down with the ship and came up again or had to dive over the side before rescue; He – 166 lives lost; ke/wd - 10 officers and 150 ratings lost, 141 survivors including Cdr Kennedy), survivors picked up by Swedish SS Gotaland and HM Trawler Saxon, and landed in Norway where they were interned.

Ottoman battleship Hayreddin Barbarossa is sunk by the British submarine HMS E11, resulting in 258 deaths.
http://i.imgur.com/YsRM4Ra.jpg

Political, etc.

Princess Mary, daughter of King George, is detained for four hours by French authorities, as her entourage had forgotten their papers.

German unsuccessful peace tentatives to Russia through Denmark.

Naval General Service Medal instituted.

Russian Minister of Finance orders commercial schools to replace German with English as a compulsory subject.

Ship Losses:

Arbor Vitae ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) north east by north of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Barbaros Hayreddin ( Ottoman Navy): The Brandenburg-class battleship was torpedoed and sunk in the Sea of Marmara off Bolayır, Turkey by HMS E11 ( Royal Navy) with the loss of 253 of her 568 crew.
Benarthur ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a mine and was damaged. She was beached but was a total loss.
Berk-i-Satvet ( Ottoman Navy): The gunboat was torpedoed and sunk in the Dardanelles by a Royal Navy submarine.
HMT Ben Ardna ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the English Channel with the loss of two of her crew.
Glenravel ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the North Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) north of Kinnaird Head, Aberdeenshire (58°07′N 2°01′W) by SM U-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMS India ( Royal Navy): The armed merchant cruiser was torpedoed and sunk in the Norwegian Sea off Bodø, Nordland, Norway by SM U-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 160 of the 311 people on board.
Malmland ( Sweden): The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) east by south of Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire (57°35′N 1°39′W) by SM U-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SMS Meteor ( Kaiserliche Marine): The auxiliary cruiser was scuttled in the North Sea. All on board were rescued by Royal Navy cruisers.
SMS T52 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The S43-class torpedo boat struck a mine and sank in the Gulf of Riga.
SMS T58 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The S58-class torpedo boat struck a mine and sank in the Gulf of Riga.
HMS The Ramsey ( Royal Navy): The armed boarding steamer was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (See Naval Operations section).
SM U-12 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy): The U-5-class submarine struck a mine and sank in the Venetian Lagoon with the loss of all seventeen crew.

http://i.imgur.com/lJve8jt.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/XQLPO6y.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

August 8:

Norwegian Sea: Bruno Hoppe begins his third patrol in U-22 by sinking armed merchant cruiser HMS India 7,940 tons, off the coast of Norway, bringing his career total to 6 ships and 13,713 tons.



North Sea: Hans Walther, commanding U-17, begins his second war patrol by sinking British freighter SS Glenravel, 1092 tons, bound from Belfast to Leith with a general cargo; and Swedish freighter SS Malmland, 3,676 tons, carrying iron ore from Kirkwall to Middlesbrough. His score is now 5 ships and 11,776 tons.



Otto Steinbrink, in UB-10, stops and scuttles the 26-ton fishing smack Arbor Vitae, bringing his total to 14 ships and 6,927 tons.



Adriatic Sea: Egon Lerch and Austro-Hungarian U-12 are on their fourth war patrol. On August 6th the Italian destroyer Rosolino Pilo struck an underwater object near the entrance of the lagoon surrounding Venice, Italy. On the 8th workeers dredging the area to find the object hear an explosion. Divers sent down to look for the source discover the wreck of U-12 with her stern blown off. Egon Lerch and the other 16 men in his crew are all lost.
August 8:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM_U-12_(Austria-Hungary%29

SM (K.u.K.) U-12
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/SMU-12_zps3f2arise.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/SMU-12_zps3f2arise.jpg.html)

Egon Lerch and crew after damaging Jean Bart in December 1914.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/SMU-12_Gruppe_zpsokxwypgg.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/SMU-12_Gruppe_zpsokxwypgg.jpg.html)

The wreck of U-12 after salvaging in 1916.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/SMU-12_Wrack_zpslnks2ujv.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/SMU-12_Wrack_zpslnks2ujv.jpg.html)

[Oberon]

8th-9th August 1915

This line (at DAMAJELIK BEIR) was held during Sunday - casualties Capt J.W Greany (slightly wounded) Lieut G.D Bidwell (seriously wounded) At 7p.m of Sunday evening this line was taken over by the 4th South Wales Borderers and the trenches begun by us during Sunday completed. We learn that they were attacked in this position on the following day and were completely successful in holding it. Move into CHAILAK DERE and here remain until after dark. Then move into AGHYL DERE in rear of the HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT. At this period we were attached to 38th Bde. Casualty on march Capt F Spencer (wounded)

[Jimbuna]

9th August 1915

Western Front

British recapture trenches at Hooge.

French air-raid on Saarbrucken.

Eastern Front

Osovyets evacuated and destroyed by Russians.

Night attack on Kovna fortress; Germans lose three battalions in Russian counter-attack.

Germans advance east of Warsaw.

Southern Front

Heavy Anzac losses; Turks getting stronger.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Jerusalem-Beersheba railway opened.

Turkish attacks at Olti and Passin (Armenia) repulsed.

255,000 Armenians from Van migrate into Transcaucasia.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Gadji (Cameroons) reported evacuated by Germans after French operations.

North Sea
LYNX (Lynx had three funnels; below, two-funnelled sister-ship Ardent - Navy Photos), destroyer, K-class, c1300t, 1913, 3-4in/2-21in tt with 4 torpedoes, 29kts, 73 crew, Pennant No.H.71, 4th DF Grand Fleet, Cdr John Cole, on patrol with two other destroyers in Moray Firth, SE of Helmsdale. Around 0600 or 0630, explosion under No.1 boiler room, bridge area destroyed and back broken, fore part sank almost straightaway and stern half ten minutes later. Mined, laid by Meteor off Moray Firth (He - in 58.07N, 02.38W; wi - in 58N, 03W), "position stated to be 2 miles to the northward of the mine-field as then located"; Cdr Cole, 1 officer and 61 ratings lost (Rn/gf - 3 officers and 21 men survived; He/ke/wi - 70 lost including captain, 26 survivors), survivors picked up by SS Vocana later that morning.
http://i.imgur.com/FFURhNC.jpg

Aviation

Zeppelin raid on east coast; one airship destroyed at Dunkirk.
http://i.imgur.com/MqCd9Xq.jpg

Political, etc.

Italian Consuls throughout Turkey preparing to leave.

Germany indefinitely postpones the census scheduled for this year due to fears it would reveal war losses.

British Foreign Office notifies embassies that all foreign residents in Britain will have to register under the National registration act.

Ship Losses:

HMS Lynx ( Royal Navy): The Acasta-class destroyer struck a mine and sank in the North Sea. There were 26 survivors from her crew, which numbered about 100.
Thrush ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) west of Eagle Island, County Mayo by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

August 9:

British freighter SS Asuncion de Larrinaga catches fire on voyage after departing New York. Sabatoge suspected.



Air War: German pilot Kurt Wintgens, still in Fokker M5K/mg E.5/15, shoots down a Voisin two-seater for his third kill. The date of his second is lost to the records.



Atlantic Ocean: Max Valentiner, in U-38, has moved from the North Sea and into the Atlantic. Off the northwest coast of Ireland he sinks the British trawler Thrush, 264 tons. His score is now 27 ships and 10,425 tons.

[Oberon]

10th August 1915

1a.m (01.00) Battalion moves away in single file less D company and part of B company (The history of this party will be given separately as far as possible. H B L B) Order of march C - Machine guns - A - B companies "Move by a steep and winding course to a cup-shaped deformation at the head of the Gulley to the right and some distance in front of our salient." (Words of 2 Lieut R.W.M. Dewhurst one of the few officers on the march who subsequently survived.) The Battalion was guided, as far as I am able to ascertain by a New Zealand Officer.
Here they arrived two hours before sunrise (circa 0.300) and the men were told to dig into dugouts and make themselves comfortable as the position was quite safe. Men therefore removed equipment and rifles. This position I take it to be just N. of the H in Chunuk Bair and the march to it from the Aghyl Dere must have been via the APEX (Ref. Gallipoli Map 1.20,000 Koya Dere) (Circa) 4.30 a.m.
As soon as it was light machine guns opened on the men lying in their dug outs. About 1/4 of an hour later there was a rush of Turks from both sides of the depression which drove the men, unarmed and unequipped down the gulley (SALZLI BEIT). The bottom of the gulley commanded by machine guns and so escape was cut off.
Three courses were possible:-
1. To rush past the machine guns down the Sazli Beit, this was tried but in nearly all cases proved fatal.
2. To climb the northern slope of the ravine under fire and try to escape over the top. This was done in a few cases with success.
3. Hide in Gulley till night, this also was done with more success. (A party of 5 men was rescued from the Gulley having been there 16 days - ie:- from Aug 10 - Aug 26th. They reported numbers of men who were wounded, were unable to get away and died of exhaustion and starvation. H.B.L.B )
Parties arrived on the Beach in fours, fives, and some carried bodies during the 11th, 12th and 13th unarmed, unequipped and demoralised. The Battalion when mustered on the Beach mustered roughly 420 (This includes 76 men lately arrived as Details from Lemnos.)
Officer casualties:- Lt Col. J Carden (missing) 2nd Lieut J.E.R Firmin (killed) 2nd Lt G Gamman (missing) Maj. F Ricketts (killed) 2nd Lieut W.Y. Radcliffe (killed) Lieut A.J Hinxman (missing) Maj. W.S Hern (killed) 2nd Lieut C.G.C Fisher-Brown (missing) Capt & ADJ A.C Belcher (killed) Lieut A.W. Huckett (missing) Lieut F.E Hill (wounded) Lieut Brown (wounded - attached) 1a.m (0100)
After the Battalion had marched off (A. C and part of B). D company under Major Hern relieved the Gurkhas with the Royal Irish Rifles in reserve. The position was attacked at dawn on Tuesday (10th) morning and through the retirement of the regiments on right and left. D company are left 'in the air'. Major Hern and Lieut J.E.R Firmin killed but remainder hold on until surrounded and are forced to retire into Gully. Here reorganised and sent up to a counter attack - unsuccessfully and with large loss. Lieut Gamman killed - several wanton attacks attempted with handfuls of men.
At night men retire from Gully, some taking refuge with 38th Bde. Tuesday August 10th - Sunday August 15th Reorganisation of Regiment Officers Lt J.C Bush Lt R.W.M Dewhurst Lt H.B.L Braund Lt J.C McDonnell Lt J.H Moore Lt W.R Wrigleg (sic) [Wrigley] Joined as M.O. Capt C.V Single (A.A.M.C).


Personal notes.

I found my great-grandfathers war records a couple of years ago on ancestry.co.uk, it was at this point I realised that he had served at Gallipoli with the 5th Wiltshire Regiment and had been wounded there. The entry for his gun shot wound to the left leg indicates that the date it occured was the 10th August, however the date of the entry itself is marked 26th August.

http://i.imgur.com/bgDvxdB.jpg

This leads me to believe that he was one of the men mentioned in the above diary who hid in the Gulley for sixteen days. Further research has found the following entries for winners of the DCM: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Conduct_Medal)

9213 Pte WJ Head.
For conspicuous bravery and resource. Private Head was one of a party of seven, who became seperated from their regiment during the fighting on the 10th August 1915 at Chunuk Bair and who remained within the enemy's lines for over fifteeen days . Although wounded three times between 10th and 26th of August , he collected food for his wounded comrades from the bodies of the dead, this being the sole and very slender supply. He displayed the finest qualities of endurance and leadership in keeping up the spirits of the survivors in most trying conditions. (LG 16.11.15)

9416 Pte R Humphries
For conspicuous gallantry between the 10th and 26th August 1915, ay Chunuk Bair . Private Humphries was one of a party who were lost outside our lines for over a fortnight, at the end of which time, although greatly exhausted and weakened by privation , he, with the greatest bravery , made his way in, and so brought about the rescue of his comrades, In the course of his return he was constantly exposed to heavy fire, and only succeeded with the utmost difficulty. He did not hesitate at once to return and act as a guide to the relieving party. (LG 16.11.15)

11574 L/Cpl AG Scott
For conspicuous gallantry between the 10th and 26th August 1915, ay Chunuk Bair . Lance-Corporal Scott was one of a party who were lost outside our lines for over a fortnight, at the end of which time, although greatly exhausted and weakened by privation , he, with the greatest bravery , made his way in, and so brought about the rescue of his comrades, In the course of his return he was constantly exposed to heavy fire, and only succeeded with the utmost difficulty. He did not hesitate at once to return and act as a guide to the relieving party. (LG 16.11.15)

And the battalion diary entry for the 25th August 1915 notes:

This Diary of the fortunes of the 5th (Service) Battalion. 5th Wiltshire Regiment is continued by H.B.L Braund, Lieut and Acting Adjutant since Capt A.C.S. Belcher, Adj. Killed in action 10.8.15
Owing to the events to be detailed herein there has been a considerable hiatus in the compilation of this diary due to the temporary disorganisation of the Regiment and the incompleteness of the narrative will be due to this cause.
H.B.L Braund Lieut 5th Wilts 25.8.15.

Two men L/C Scott. Pte A Humphries arrive in hospital having escaped from Sazli Beit after 16 days confinement, almost without food. Immediate organisation of search party under Capt Greany - unsuccessful on night of 25th - successful on night of 26th. Men discovered in an exhausted condition, two badly wounded. Congratulation from General.

I cannot begin to contemplate the conditions that my great-grandfather and his colleagues must have gone through in nearly a fortnight, and I have immense gratitude for my existence to Privates Humphries, Head and Lance Corporal Scott.

Thank you. :salute:

[Jimbuna]

10th August 1915

Western Front

Gains at Hooge consolidated.

British artillery and aircraft active on Belgian Coast.

Eastern Front

Vilna and Kovna being evacuated.

Novo Georgievsk and Brest Litovsk bombarded.

Germans reach Kaluszyn (east of Warsaw).

Russians dislodged north-west of Kock (Veprj); Lomja and Ostrov (Bug) in enemy hands.

Southern Front

Vigorous Italian offensive on Isonzo.

Italian advance in Ortler range (Upper Adige).

Feint landing at Karachali (Gulf of Saros, Gallipoli).

Colonel Mustafa Kemal leads a counterattack against Allied troops at Chunuk Bair, recapturing the ridge.
http://i.imgur.com/zDT3zUs.jpg

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians pursue Turks on Upper Euphrates and capture important height in valley of Passin.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Dover Straits
Cleon, 266/1907, hired 5/15 and Equinox, 198/1899, hired 6/15 both Grimsby-reg Admiralty trawlers, at anchor close together in Dover Harbour. Zeppelin dropped bombs just after midnight, Cleon damaged, one landed near Equinox, exploded in water, funnel and sides riddled with shrapnel; three Equinox crew asleep in their bunks below were wounded; one rating died of wounds (dp - four asleep, two ratings killed outright, one dangerously wounded but recovered).

German fleet bombards Riga and is again driven off.

US battleships Louisiana and New Hampshire are dispatched to Veracruz, Mexico after reports of anti-US riots in the city.

Aviation

German zeppelins drop bombs on British warships in the Thames, the London docks, torpedo boats near Harwich, and other naval targets.

German zeppelin L 12 is brought down by antiaircraft fire over Dover and falls into the English Channel.

http://s12.postimg.org/6hg6bcc3h/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Political, etc.

New Japanese Cabinet formed.

America's reply to Germany regarding "William P. Frye" despatched.

Duma decides on enquiry into abuses connected with munitions.

Bucharest refuses to authorise transport of German munitions to Turkey.

Ship Losses:

Aura ( Norway): The coaster was sunk in the North Sea 13 nautical miles (24 km) off Marstenen, Nordland 60°05′N 4°45′E by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Esperance ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 17 nautical miles (31 km) east north east of Cromer, Norfolk by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
François ( France: The barque was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) west south west of the Fastnet Rock (50°40′N 10°51′W) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Morna ( Norway): The sailing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock (50°40′N 11°10′W) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Oakwood ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 45 nautical miles (83 km) south south east of the Old Head of Kinsale, County Cork by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Rosalie ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off Blakeney, Norfolk by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Utopia ( United Kingdom): The coaster was stopped, shelled and sunk in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) east of St. Abb's Head, Aberdeenshire by SM U-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

Henry Moseley, English physicist who made significant contributions in the field, is killed at Gallipoli at age 27.
http://i.imgur.com/esHWbaJ.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

August 10:

"I don't seem to be able to get away from this damn war. Last night "old man Zepp" came over here - "boucoup de bombs," - "pas de success." Two machines went up to spikebozzle him, but, of course, never even saw him. A sub(lieutenant) went up from Westgate and came down in standing corn. He turned over two somersaults. Have just heard that he has since died. I knew him slightly. We have a terrific big bomb hole in the middle of the aerodrome and numerous smaller ones at the back. Expect to be back in Dunkirk on Sunday next. "Pas de Dardanelles." We are going into khaki though."
-Harold Rosher, letter to his father from RN Flying School, Eastchurch, August 10 1915



Celtic Sea: Max Valentiner, commanding U-38, has moved to the south of Ireland. Here he sinks British freighter SS Oakwood, 4,279 tons, bound from Liverpool to Cienfuegos in ballast. His score is now 28 ships and 14,704 tons.

Waldemar Kophamel, in U-35, attacks the Russian schooner SV Baltzer, 343 tons, travelling from Gulfport to Cork with a load of timber. The stricken ship survives. Kophamel then stops and sinks the French barque François, 2,212 tons, carrying a load of grain, and Norwegian sailing ship Morna, 1,512 tons, carrying a load of wheat. The two ships are travelling in company from Portland, Oregon to Queenstown. His score is now 19 ships and 29,440 tons.



North Sea: Hans Walther, in U-17, stops and sinks tiny British freighter SS Utopia, 155 tons, bringing his score to 6 ships and 11,931 tons.

Just off the coast of Marstenen, Norway, Otto Wünsche in U-25 sinks Norwegian freighter SS Aura, 396 tons, carrying a load of deals and boards from Bergen to London. His score is now 18 ships and 10,252 tons.

Otto Steinbrinck, in UB-10, torpedoes and sinks British freighter SS Rosalie, 4,243 tons, travelling from Tyne to San Francisco with an unspecified cargo. He then stops and scuttles fishing smack Esperance, 46 tons, bringing his score to 16 ships and 11,216 tons.

[Jimbuna]

11th August 1915

Ship Losses:

George Borrow ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) east north east of Cromer, Norfolk by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.George Crabbe ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 15 to 16 nautical miles (28 to 30 km) east north east of Cromer by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Humphrey ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 48 nautical miles (89 km) east by south of Cromer by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Illustrious ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 17 nautical miles (31 km) east by north of Cromer by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Leader ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) east by north of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ocean's Gift ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 16 nautical miles (30 km) east of Cromer by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Palm ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 17 nautical miles (31 km) east by north of Cromer by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Trevear ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 17 nautical miles (31 km) east by north of Cromer by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Welcome ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 17 nautical miles (31 km) east by north of Cromer by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Young Admiral ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 17 nautical miles (31 km) east by north of Cromer by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

August 11:

United States: There is an incendiary fire at the Westingouse Electric Plant at Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania.



Air War: British pilot Lanoe Hawker, flying FE.2b 4227 with a "Lt. N. Clifton" as gunner, shoots down an Aviatik two-seater at 0645 and half an hour later outfights a Fokker E.I. These are kills number 5 and 6, and make Hawker Britain's first ace.



North Sea: Erich Haecker, commanding UB-6, scuttles British fishing vessel Leader, 57 tons, bringing his score to 8 ships and 4,257 tons.

Otto Steinbrinck, in UB-10, encounters and scuttles an entire fleet of British fishing smacks: George Borrow, 62 tons, George Crabbe, 42 tons, Humphrey, 41 tons, Illustrious, 59 tons, Ocean's Gift, 60 tons, Palm, 47 tons, Trevear, 47 tons, Welcome, 59 tons, and Young Admiral, 60 tons. His score is now 29 ships and 11,693 tons.

[Jimbuna]

12th August 1915

Eastern Front

Russians evacuate Sokolov, Syedlets, Lukow (east of Warsaw); material evacuated from Riga.

Austro-German armies in touch west of Brest-Litovsk and form unbroken line. Germans driven back beyond Aa, south-west of Mitau.

German offensive in the north of the Eastern Front is halted by the Russian forts at Kovno (Kaunas).

Russians capture Kovarsk and Toviamy (west-south-west of Dvinsk).

Southern Front

Italians leaving Turkey.

Serbians retaliate for Austrian bombardment of Belgrade by bombarding Semlin and Panchevo.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russian left wing re-occupies Alashgerd (Armenia).

Aviation

Zeppelin raid on east coast; 29 victims.
http://i.imgur.com/yMTzlJ3.jpg

Charles Edmonds, flying a Short 184, becomes the 1st person to launch an aerial torpedo attack. Short Type 184 seaplanes from carrier Ben-my-Chree carried out first ever aerial torpedo attacks, launching 14in torpedoes in the Dardanelles area against Turkish ships on the 12th and 17th, results in ships sunk or damaged is uncertain.
http://i.imgur.com/oqFZDqQ.jpg

Naval and Overseas Operations

Naval engagement between German and Russian fleets near Oesel (Riga).

French cruiser shells and destroys German munition factory at Jaffa.

Gallipoli Campaign
Swiftsure, battleship, Swiftsure-class, 11,800t, 4-10in/14-7.5in and Grafton, ex-1st-class protected cruiser, Edgar-class, 7,350t, 2-9.2in/10-6in, now bulged or "blister ship", providing gunfire support off Suvla beaches. Swiftsure hit by 12-pdr field gun, 5 ratings lost and 10 wounded, one of whom died, Grafton off C-beach, S of Nibrunesi Point lost 9 ratings killed and 10 wounded.

Manica, kite balloon ship, 4,120/1900, hired 12/5/15, supporting Suvla landings. (da - 14th) - Torpedo fired by UB.8 from 500yds passed under her shallow draught (da - submarine sighted outside net, two torpedoes fired and missed Manica, hit net at acute angle and burst). Attack two days later on a similar vessels also unsuccessful.

Political, etc.

Under the Munitions of War Act, 345 British arms firms are put under government control.

$19.5 million ($460 million today) worth of British gold arrives at New York City under heavy guard as payment for US exports.

10,000,000 francs in gold deposited in one week in Banque de France.

700,000 steel “head shields” are distributed to the French army pending the manufacture of helmets.

U.S.A. reply to Austria affirms export of munitions of war not against laws of neutrality.

King Albert made Colonel-in-Chief of 5th Dragoon Guards.

Ship Losses:

Grodno ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Arctic Sea 98 nautical miles (181 km) north west of the Lofoten Islands, Norway (68°55′N 9°08′E) by SM U-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived
Jacona ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) north north west of Troupe Head, Banffshire with the loss of 29 of her crew.
Osprey ( United Kingdom): The coaster was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) north east by north of Nush Terrah, County Kerry by SM U-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Sunflower ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) east by north of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-5 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

http://i.imgur.com/bpGAK3I.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

August 12:

"Have just arrived here from Eastchurch, having been suddenly recalled, and am now told to be ready to cross to Dunkirk in half an hour - no gear, dirty linen, "pas de leave" - what a life!

Shall try hard to get some leave in a week or so's time. anyhow I must get my khaki outfit."
- Harold Rosher, letter to his father from the Hotel Burlington, Dover, August 12, 1915



Atlantic Ocean: Rudolf Schneider, Commanding U-24, has moved from the North Sea to the west coast of Ireland. It is here that he uses his deck gun to sink the small British freighter SS Osprey, 310 tons, travelling from Baltimore, Ireland, to Cleggan with a load of salt. His score is now 17 ships and 49,497 tons.



Norwegian Sea: Bruno Hoppe, in U-22, sinks British freighter SS Grodno, 1,955 tons, bound from Archangelsk to Hull with a general cargo, bringing his score to 7 ships and 15,668 tons.



North Sea: Wilhelm Smiths, in UB-5, stops British fishing smack Sunflower, 60 tons. After allowing the crew to depart the sailing boat is sunk with scuttling charges. Smiths' score is now 2 vessels and 844 tons.

[mako88sb]

12th August 1915

A bit late but I just found out about this after watching the movie "All the Kings Men". http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/The-Lost-Sandringhams/

[Jimbuna]

13th August 1915

Western Front

German attacks in Argonne repulsed.

Germans bombard Raon l'Etape (Argonne).

Eastern Front

Field Marshal von Hindenburg takes command of the German army attacking Kovno (Kaunas) after previous failures by his subordinates.

Germans thrust back after three days' fighting from Vlodava (on the Upper Bug).

Southern Front

Italian progress on the Carso and advance in Sexten valley (Carn.).

Battle of Krithia Vineyard at Gallipoli ends after a series of futile British attacks, who suffer more than 4000 casualties.


Naval and Overseas Operations

Austro-Hungarian submarine U.III sunk by Italian and French warships in Strait of Otranto.

HMT Royal Edward, a British transport, is sunk by the UB-14 in the Aegean Sea. 935 lives are lost.
http://i.imgur.com/lDEkEC7.jpg

Persian Gulf
Juno, ex-2nd-class cruiser, Eclipse-class, 5,600t, 5-6in/6-4.7in, was 11th CS, arrived Persian Gulf in July, Capt D Wake. Shore party casualties were recorded for August. Apparently German-inspired trouble led to decision to occupy the whole of the island of Bushire on the Persian side of the Gulf, carried out by a small joint naval/army force commanded by Capt Wake on 13th/14th; 4 ratings killed on 13th, 1 officer DOW on 14th, 1 rating on 16th, ship presumably not damaged.

Political, etc.

German military authorities in Belgium advise Germans to leave the country due to food shortages in the coming winter months.

Bulgarian Premier, M. Radoslavov, explains Bulgaria's aims, etc., to American press.

Ship Losses:

Amethyst ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 7 nautical miles (13 km) east south east of Lowestoft, Suffolk. Her crew survived.
Cairo ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 34 nautical miles (63 km) south south west of the Tuskar Rock (51°44′N 6°33′W) by SM U-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Campania ( United Kingdom): 1915 Galveston hurricane: The ocean liner was driven ashore at Galveston, Texas, United States. She was refloated on 21 August.
Curaçao ( United Kingdom): The schooner was wrecked on Cayman Brac with the loss of all hands.
Eaton Hall ( United Kingdom): 1915 Galveston hurricane: The cargo ship was driven ashore at Galveston.
E.M.W. ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 29 nautical miles (54 km) north east by east of Cromer, Norfolk by SM UB-5 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Harlesden ( United Kingdom): 1915 Galveston hurricane: The cargo ship was driven ashore at Galveston.
Hawkhead ( United Kingdom): 1915 Galveston hurricane: The cargo ship was driven ashore at Galveston.
J.W.F.T. ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 29 nautical miles (54 km) north east by north of Cromer by SM UB-5 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ribston ( United Kingdom): 1915 Galveston hurricane: The cargo ship was driven ashore at Galveston.
HMT Royal Edward ( United Kingdom): The troopship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Kandeloussa, Greece (36°31′N 25°51′E) by SM UB-14 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 935 of the 1,596 people on board.
Summerfield ( United Kingdom): The coaster struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) east of Lowestoft with the loss of three of her crew.
Sverige ( Sweden): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) south east of Lowestoft. Her crew survived.
SM U-3 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy): The U-3-class submarine was depth charged, shelled and sunk by Bisson ( French Navy) with the loss of seven of her 21 crew.

George Joseph Smith, an English serial killer who was identified using new techniques in forensics, is executed.
http://i.imgur.com/4UGoHmI.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

August 13:

"Got aboard and were off by 8.0 p.m. last night - our ship a comic old tramp with absolutely no accommodation. It took us 6 hours to make Dunkirk and we were not allowed off until 8.0 a.m. this morning. Spent the night walking about or trying to get a little sleep on deck - thank God! it was not rough. We are all "fed to the teeth!" In all probablilty we shall remain out here another six months now.

The Zepp that was bombed from here had actually been towed right into Ostend harbour. Every one that went had his machine hit, and one man is missing. This place was bombarded again last night with the big gun. Expect we are in for a merry time."
- Harold Rosher, letter to his mother, August 13, 1915



Celtic Sea: Rudolf Schneider, Commanding U-24, has moved to the southeast coast of Ireland. Here he sinks the British freighter SS Cairo, 1,671 tons, bound from Glasgow to Huelva, Spain, with a general cargo. This brings his score to 18 ships and 51,168 tons.



North Sea: Wilhelm Smiths, in UB-5, stops and scuttles a pair of fishing smacks - E.M.W., 47 tons, and J.W.F.T., 60 tons, bringing his score to 4 vessels and 951 tons.



Aegean Sea: Heino von Heimburg, in UB-14, sinks Canadian troopship HMT Royal Edward, 11,117 tons, travelling from Alexandria to Mudros. Estimates of the lives lost vary from a low of 866 (Gray) to a high of 1,865 (Gilbert). Von Heimburg's score is now 2 ships and 21,235 tons.

[Jimbuna]

14th August 1915

Western Front

19 French aeroplanes bombard Valley of Spada (St. Mihiel, Meuse).

Eastern Front

Russian sortie from Kovna repulsed.

Enemy force Nurzec (C.) crossing.

Russians attack near Czernowitz (Bukovina).

Aviation

First flight: Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.9
http://i.imgur.com/ZpL3EKz.jpg

Naval and Overseas Operations

The SS Eastland, whose sinking led to 844 deaths, is righted and raised.
http://i.imgur.com/UbQuiCe.jpg

WORSLEY, Admiralty trawler, 309/1913, E C Grant, Grimsby-reg GY814, hired 1914 as minesweeper (D - 7/15 as auxiliary patrol vessel), 1-3pdr, believed Harwich-based, Lt James Feetham RNR. On patrol with a second trawler along the Suffolk coast between Sizewell and Shipwash LV, mined under the bridge at 1800, laid by UC.6 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow) the previous day, broke in two and sank in under two minutes, one mile N of Aldeburgh Napes buoy, off Suffolk (WI - in 52.09N, 01.36.30E); Lt Feetham lost.

Political etc.

Britain warns US aviators not to cross the Canadian border, reminding them that Canada is currently at a state of war.

Romania again refuses to allow German ammunition to pass through the country to Turkey. 4 new Romanian divisions are mobilized.

Ottoman ambassador to Germany Mahmud Muhtar Pasha is recalled after reporting that Germany and Austria were exhausted by war.

Russia's Council of Ministers approves plan to allow women to be admitted to universities without need for special permissions.

Ship Losses:

Albis ( Norway): The coaster was sunk in the Barents Sea 60 nautical miles (110 km) west north west of Stat (62°20′N 3°15′E) by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Bona Fide ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) east north east of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-4 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Gloria ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 55 nautical miles (102 km) east by north of Aberdeen by SM U-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Princess Caroline ( United Kingdom): The carho ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 14 nautical miles (26 km) north by east of Kinnaird Head, Aberdeenshire with the loss of four of her crew.
White City ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea off Cromer, Norfolk by SM UB-5 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Worsley ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Aldeburgh, Suffolk with the loss of a crew member.