5th May 1916
Western Front
Battle of Verdun: Germans gain a footing on Hill 304.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres
Russians defeat Turks at Sermil (Persia).
Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: The Grand Fleet waits at the entrance to the Skagerrak, hoping to lure out the High Seas Fleet with a seaplane raid on the Zeppelin base at Tondern. But Admiral Scheer does not respond to the provocation.
Aviation
Austro-Hungarian aeroplanes raid Ravenna, targeting barracks and a sulphur factory. A nearby naval clash is inconclusive.
Political, etc.
House of Commons passes the 2nd reading of the general military compulsion bill by a vote of 328 to 36.
Rioting occurs in Charlottenburg in Berlin due to revelations that butchers were withholding meat and selling them on the black market.
Three Swedish socialist editors are sentenced to jail for urging soldiers to strike if Sweden became involved in the war.
Major John MacBride, one of the leaders of the Easter Rising, is executed by the British.
Easter Rising leaders Joseph Plunkett, William Pearse, Edward Daly and Michael O’Hanrahan are executed by the British.
Constance Markievicz on trial: “…It does not matter what happens to me. I did what I though & right and I stand by it.”
Constance Markievicz is sentenced to death for her part in the Easter Rising, but the sentence is reduced to imprisonment due to her sex.
Ship Losses:
Harald (Sweden) The schooner was sunk in the North Sea by
SM UB-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.