17th June 1916
Western Front
Battle of Verdun: Heavy German attacks repulsed on Mort Homme; French take some trenches on Hill 321; Germans checked at Thiaumont.
Eastern Front
Russians occupy Czernowitz; gain ground west of Kolki (Lutsk) and repel attacks near Buczacz.
Germans retake Svidniki.
Southern Front
Italians repulse counter-attacks at Monfalcone (Isonzo).
Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres
British within 200 yards of Sanna-i-Yat and five miles east of Kut (Mesopotamia).
Aviation
Italian troops press on against the Austro-Hungarian lines in Trentino. Italian bombers drop 160 bombs and 60,000 steel darts.
First flight: Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8.
The first French ace, Jean Navarre, is shot down and wounded, ending his combat career with 12 confirmed kills.
Jean Navarre inspecting a captured German plane.
Naval and Overseas Operations
Sir P. Crewe appointed to Lake Command (East Africa).
Political, etc.
Greek demobilisation begun.
Death of General von Moltke, late Chief of General Staff.
German military governor of Roulers, Belgium orders civilians to stay indoors in the afternoons as punishment for feeding Russian prisoners.
U.S. Naval Board reports that factories making farm tools can be easily converted to make artillery shells.
Ship Losses:
Poviga (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 72 nautical miles (133 km) off the Porquerolles (41°45′N 6°30′E) by
SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.