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.
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.
