23rd December 1916
Western Front
Hostile activity in Champagne.
Eastern Front
Fierce struggle for Moldavian frontier positions.
Russians from Dobruja retire to Bessarabia, leaving some troops at Macin (Braila).
Southern Front
Bad weather last fortnight on Italian front.
Two successful British attacks along Doiran front (Macedonia).
Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres
British capture Magdhaba (Sinai), destroying practically whole Turkish force of 3,000. Further success to the south at Mitla Pass and Abu Aweigila.
Naval and Overseas Operations
Hostile naval night-raid in Straits of Otranto. No material damage.
Political, etc.
Count Czernin succeeds Baron Burian as Foreign Minister (Austria).
Austria-Hungary bans luxury imports, such as fruits, champagne, chocolate, silk, furs, toys, jewelry, perfumes, & musical instruments.
French government admits that the nation is facing a severe coal shortage due to the war and difficulties in transportation.
President Wilson offers to abandon America’s isolationist policy if it is done to bring peace in Europe.
Ship Losses:
Frigga (Sweden) The cargo ship, en route from Rauma, Finland to Stockholm, struck a mine and sunk in the Baltic Sea off the Valkyakari lightship. One crew member was killed in the explosion.
Marques di Urquijo (Spain) The cargo ship was sunk in the Bay of Biscay 50 nautical miles (93 km) north of Bilbao, Biscay (44°12′N 3°31′W) by
SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Thistleban (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by
U 73 (Gustav Sieß) and was damaged in the Mediterranean Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north north west of Alexandria, Egypt. She was beached but was declared a total loss.
William Middleton (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was damaged in the Bristol Channel 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) north north west of Lundy Island, Devon by
SM UC-45 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was beached, but was later repaired and returned to service.
Cover of the “Scientific American” showing “an observatory car suspended from a zeppelin airship.”
