100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

December 14, 1916

Air War:
German pilot Otto Brauneck, flying an Albatros C.III with an Oblt Geissler as observer, shoots down a balloon for victory number 2.



North Sea:
British freighter SS Burnhope, 1,941 tons, bound from Hartlepool for London with a load of coal, hits a mine laid by Herbert Breyer in UC-32. This is Breyer's first sinking.



Skagerrak:
Walter Roehr, in U-84, takes British freighter SS Aamot, 1,362 tons, travelling from Skien to somewhere in the UK with a load of nitrate, as a prize. This is Roehr's first score.

Norwegian ketch Lyn, 45 tons, carrying a load of quartz from Kragerø to Eydehavn, runs aground off Måkholmen.



Bay of Biscay:
Wilhelm Kiel, in UC-18, attacks two ships near the Ile de Noirmoutier.
Portuguese freighter SS Leca, 1,911 tons, carrying 3,200 tons of coal from Cardiff to Saint Nazaire. Sunk with 14 rounds from the deck gun.
British freighter SS Glencoe, 2,560 tons, travelling from Glasgow to Bordeaux with a load of coal. Attacked with the deck gun, finally sunk with a torpedo.
Kiel's score is now 17 ships and 16,037 tons.



Golfe du Lion:
British passenger ship SS Caledonia, 7,572 tons, en route from Bombay to London, hits a mine laid by Ernst Krafft in U-72. The damaged ship makes it safely into Marseilles.



Mediterranean Sea:
Hans von Mellenthin, in U-43, sinks two British freighters southeast of Malta:
SS Russian, 8,825 tons, travelling in ballast fro Salonika to Newport.
SS Westminster, 4,342 tons, also in ballast from Torre Annunziata to Aden.
Von Mellenthin's score is now 13 ships and 63,213 tons.



United States:
American freighter SS Bay Port, 1,400 tons, en route from Newport News to Boston with a load of coal, founders in the Cape Cod Canal.

[Jimbuna]

15th December 1916

Western Front

General Nivelle launches great attack on Verdun front (north of Douaumont); enemy front pierced to depth of two miles; Vacherauville, Poivre Hill (342), Louvemont and Les Chambrettes captured.

Eastern Front

Enemy success on Tarnopol Railway, west of Lutsk.

Romanian and Russians still resisting north of Buzeu, but retiring from Jalomitsa.

Strong Russian defence on Moldavian frontier.

Southern Front

Enemy bombarding Monastir.

Fighting on the Struma; repulse of Bulgars.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Naval aeroplanes bomb Razlovci, 37 miles east of Istip (Serbia).

British warships shell enemy at head of Gulf of Orfano (south-west of Kavalla).

In East Africa, fighting still proceeding round Kibata.

Political, etc.

British government bans the manufacture of hairpins to conserve metal.

Greek Government accepts Allies' Ultimatum.

Romanian treasures and gold reserves are evacuated to Russia for safekeeping (most of the gold reserves are never returned).

Russian Duma unanimously passes a resolution rejecting negotiations with Germany.

German Minority Socialists' manifesto against "oracular utterances"; demand Government should state peace conditions.

Ship Losses:

Amodeo (Italy) The barque was wrecked at Toulon, Var, France. Her crew were rescued.
Cecelia (Italy) The barque was wrecked at Toulon with some loss of life.
Constance Mary (United Kingdom) The schooner was scuttled in the English Channel 20 nautical miles (37 km) north east of Cape Barfleur, Seine-Maritime, France by SM UC-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Emmanuele Accame (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) off Cape Bengut, Algeria (37°02′N 3°58′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Naiad (United Kingdom) The full-rigged ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 25 nautical miles (46 km) south east by south of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly (49°42′N 5°51′W) by SM UB-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Powhatan (United States) Merchants' and Miners' Transportation Company ship collided with Telena ( United Kingdom) and sank on Thimble Shoal in Chesapeake Bay. She was salvaged and rebuilt as Cuba.
Rogn (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Bay of Biscay 18 nautical miles (33 km) off Groix, Morbihan, France by SM UC-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

"The Latest Air Raid" ─ Chicago Tribune cartoon.

[Sailor Steve]

December 15, 1916

Air War:
French pilot Joseph-Henri Guiguet, Flying a Nieuport, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 2.

German pilot Friedrich Manschott, flying for a reconnaissance squadron so probably in an eindecker, shoots down a Farman for victory number 1.

French pilot Jean Matton, in a Nieuport, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 2.



Celtic Sea:
Wilhelm Amberger, commanding UB-38, stops British sailing ship Naiad, 1,907 tons, bound from London for Buenos Aires with a load of cement and pipes. Amberger's score is now 3 ships and 3,046 tons.



English Channel:
Ralph Wenninger, in UC-17, scuttles British schooner Constance Mary, travelling from Caen to Swansea with a load of iron ore. His score is now 25 ships and 12,339 tons.



North Sea:
Ulrich Meier, in UB-17, starts his career with the capture of Norwegian coaster SS Birgit, 316 tons, off the Dutch coast near Hoofden.



Bay of Biscay:
Wilhelm Kiel, in UC-18, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Rogn, 1,028 tons, en route from Liverpool to Nantes with a load of coal and machinery, off the Isle of Groix. His score is now 18 ships and 17,065 tons.



Golfe de Lion:
Italian brig Cecilia, 310 tons, travelling from Civita Vecchia to Alicante, is wrecked near Toulon.



Mediterranean Sea:
Max Valentiner, in U-38, sinks Italian freighter Emmanuele Accame, 3,242 tons, carrying a load of wheat from Baltimore to Messina off Cape Bengut, near Algiers. His score is now 122 ships and 267,152 tons.

[Jimbuna]

16th December 1916

Western Front

French take Bezonvaux and Hardaumont. 11,000 prisoners and much war material captured.

Creation of the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps to serve in France alongside the rest of the Allies is announced.

Eastern Front

Russian positions between Kovel and Lutsk captured.

Romanian front enemy continues advance east and north-east.

In the Dobruja, Russians retire northwards.

Southern Front

Greece: Military evacuation of northern Greece begun under supervision of Allies.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Continued bombardment of enemy positions near Kut.

British Government recognises "King of the Arabs" as King of the Hejaz.

Naval and Overseas Operations

General Cunliffe's Nigerian brigade reaches Dar-es-Salaam.

Political, etc.

Russia dismisses German peace offer, stating it was a “sensational act of publicity calculated to prepossess the neutral powers.”

Government decides to take over Irish railways, to satisfaction of Irish public.

M. Bratinau forms Coalition Government (Romania).

Ship Losses:

Chassie Maersk (Denmark) The cargo ship was sunk in the Bay of Biscay south west of Brest, Finistère, France (47°05′N 7°49′W) by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Crathie (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was lost on this date.
English and Welsh Ground Lightship (United Kingdom) The lightship was run into by Welshman ( United Kingdom) and sank. Her crew were rescued.
USS H-3 (United States Navy) The H-class submarine ran aground in Humboldt Bay. She was salvaged in April 1917, repaired and returned to service.
Taki Maru (Japan) The cargo ship was sunk in the Bay of Biscay south west of Brest (47°03′N 7°35′W) by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

December 16, 1916

Air War:
Canadian RFC ace Arthur Knight, flying DH.2 2614, shoots down a German fighter for victory number 8.




Scotland:
His Majesty's Trawler Crathie, 225 tons, is wrecked off Berneray, in the Hebrides Islands.




Bay of Biscay:
Alfred Saalwächter begins his career in U-46 with the sinking of two Allied ships and the capture of a third:
Danish freighter SS Chassie Maersk, 1,387 tons, bound from Barry for Lisbon with a load of coal.
Japanese freighter Taki Maru, 3,208 tons, travelling from Cardiff to Livorno with an unspecified cargo.
Danish freighter SS Gerda, 775 tons, carrying a general cargo from Seville to London. Gerda is kept to carry the crews of the other two ships.
Saalwächter's opening score is 2 ships and 4,595 tons.



Canada:
Canadian steam launch Dawson, 17 tons, runs aground off Lockeport, Nova Scotia.

Canadian schooner Hazel, 71 tons, bound from Burgeo, Newfoundland for North Sydney, Nova Scotia, runs aground off North Sydney Harbour.

Canadian motor vessel Hippolyte, 12 tons, travelling from Barrington, Nova Scotia to Claxton Harbor, Georgia, USA, runs aground off Clark's Harbour, NS.

Canadian motor vessel Lily M. Hodge, 30 tons, runs aground off Lockeport, Nova Scotia.

Canadian schooner Lydia L, 14 tons, bound from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia for Tiverton, NS, runs aground off Little Wood Island.

Canadian schooner Mariana, 33 tons, runs aground off Lockeport Harbour, Nova Scotia.

Canadian schooner Nellie J. Banks, 34 tons, runs aground off Lockeport Harbour, NS.

Canadian schooner Two Sisters, 86 tons, travelling from Economy, Nova Scotia, to New Brunswick, runs aground off Parrsboro, NS.



Atlantic Ocean:
American barque Brown Brothers, 801 tons, en route from Brunswick, Georgia, USA to Troon, Scotland with a load of railroad ties, was last seen 560 miles northwest of the Azores, and not heard from again. The owners claimed the ship was sunk by German raider SMS Möwe, but this was rejected by a court in 1927.

[Jimbuna]

17th December 1916

Western Front

German counter-attack near Verdun; they recover Les Chambrettes.

Eastern Front

Fighting continues in the Tarnopol region.

Romanians and Russians continue to fall back.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Strong enemy cavalry attacks checked south of Falahiya (Kut).

Naval and Overseas Operations

Fighting at Kibata continues.

Political, etc.

General Nivelle, new French commander-in-chief: “Victory is certain: I give you assurance. Germany will learn it to her cost.”

German government: “Germany will never give up Alsace and Lorraine while there is a German living.”

Germany reports it seized 60 million bushels of cereals in Romania to help alleviate food shortages in Germany.

A postcard from Chicago was flown in an aeroplane to New York, where it traveled by U-Boat to Germany, and it has now arrived in Berlin.

Ship Losses:

Alerte (France) The schooner was sunk in the English Channel 40 nautical miles (74 km) west of the Casquets, Channel Islands (49°42′N 3°25′W) by SM UC-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ason (Spain) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 27 nautical miles (50 km) west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom (49°40′N 7°00′W) by SM UB-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Athole (United Kingdom) The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 8 nautical miles (15 km) east by south of Tod Head, Aberdeenshire.
Bayhall (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 90 nautical miles (170 km) north by east of Cape Ortegal by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.
Cascais (Portugal) The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay south east of the Île d'Oléron, Charente-Maritime, France (45°51′N 1°26′W) by SM UC-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Imaculée Conception (France) The three-masted schooner was scuttled in the Bay of Biscay off the La Coubre Lighthouse, Charente-Maritime (45°49′N 1°34′W) by SM UC-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Margaret (United Kingdom) The drifter struck a mine laid by UC 21 (Reinhold Saltzwedel) and sank in the English Channel off Rye, East Sussex with the loss of six of her crew.
Michail Ontchoukoff (Denmark) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 11 (Benno von Ditfurth) and sank in the North Sea north by east of the Sunk Lightship ( United Kingdom) (51°50′45″N 1°37′30″E). Her crew survived.
Niord (Sweden) The wooden barquentine, en route from Kristiania to West Hartlepool, was burnt and sunk in the North sea[151]] by SM U-83 ( Kaiserliche Marine. Her crew survived.
Pascal (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 12 nautical miles (22 km) north of the Casquets (49°55′N 2°27′W) by SM U-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine with the loss of two of her crew. Her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.
Prima (Norway) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Bay of Biscay 10 nautical miles (19 km) off the La Coubre Lighthouse (45°50′N 1°31′W) by SM UC-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Prosper Leon France) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the Bay of Biscay off the Île d'Oléron (46°13′N 2°25′W) by SM UC-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Saint Yves (France) The three-masted schooner was scuttled in the Bay of Biscay off the La Coubre Lighthouse (45°49′N 1°34′W) by SM UC-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Sjofna (Norway) The coaster was sunk in the North Sea 130 nautical miles (240 km) off the Ryvingen Lighthouse, Vest-Agder (57°36′N 4°55′E) by SM U-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Tripoli (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea south west of Cape Carbonara, Sardinia by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

[Sailor Steve]

December 17, 1916

Air War:
German squadron Jagdstaffel 2 is officially renamed Jasta Boelcke in honor of its fallen commander.

1620 German pilot Julius Buckler, flying an Albatros D.II with Jasta 17, shoots down a Caudron for victory number 1.

German pilot Eduard von Dostler, flying a Roland C.II with an unnamed observer, shoots down a Nieuport fighter for victory number 1.



Celtic Sea:
Wilhelm Amberger, commanding UB-38, captures and then torpedoes Spanish freighter SS Ason, 2,083 tons, bound from Santander for Glasgow with a load of copper ore. His score is now 4 ships and 5,084 tons.



English Channel:
Otto Wünsche, in U-70, sinks British freighter SS Pascal, 5,587 tons, en route from Halifax to Cherbourg with an unspecicified. His score is now 28 ships and 34,474 tons.

Ralph Wenninger, in UC-17, scuttles French schooner Alerte, 176 tons, carrying a load of asphalt from Morlaix to Tréport. His score is now 26 vessels and 12,515 tons.

British drifter Margaret, 54 tons, hits a mine laid by Reinhold Saltzwedel in UC-21. His score is now 24 ships and 27,181 tons.



North Sea:
British trawler Athole, 112 tons, is fishing in a prohibited area off Tod Head when it hits a British mine.

Hugo Schmidt, in U-71, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Sjofna, 528 tons, travelling from Arendal to West Hartlepool with a load of pit props. His score is now 6 ships and 5,419 tons.

Bruno Hoppe, in U-83, stops and scuttles Swedish barquentine Niord, 123 tons, carrying a load of pit props from Kristiania to West Hartlepool. His score is now 11 ships and 23,915 tons.

Danish freighter SS Michail Ontchoukoff, 2,118 tons, carrying a load of maize from Rosario to Aarhus, hits a mine laid by Benno von Ditfurth in UC-11. Von Ditfurth now has 4 ships and 6,160 tons.



Bay of Biscay:
Alfred Saalwächter, in U-46, sinks British freighter SS Bayhall, 3,898 tons, carrying a load of sugar from Port Louis, Mauritius to Bordeaux, off Cape Ortegal. The crew are transferred to SS Gerda, captured the day before. Saalwächter's score is now 3 ships and 8,493 tons.

Wilhelm Kiel, in UC-18, sinks 5 ships:
Portuguese freighter SS Cascais, 835 tons, bound from La Pallice for Boucau; torpedoed of the Ile d'Oleron.
French fishing vessel Prosper Leon, 42 tons; scuttled off Ile d'Oleron.
French schooner Immaculée Conception, 246 tons; scuttled off La Coubre lighthouse.
French schooner Saint Yves, 325 tons, travelling in ballast from Bordeaux to Saint Malo; scuttled off La Coubre lighthouse.
Norwegian freighter SS Prima, 1,233 tons, carrying a load of coal from Port Talbot to Bordeaux; scuttled off La Coubre lighthouse.



Portugal:
Spanish broadside ironclad Numancia, 7,190 tons, was built in France for the Spanish Navy in 1864. The ship fought in the Chincha war against Chile and Peru in 1866. When Spain retreated, Numancia returned home through the Pacific Ocean and became the first ironclad ship to circumnavigate the Earth. The ship was decommissioned in 1912 and sold for breakup. Twice an attempt was made to two the ship from Cadiz to Bilbao. On the third attempt, December 17, 1916, the tugs towing Numancia were forced to abandon her in a storm. Numancia washed ashore at Sesimbra Beach and was abandoned. The crew was rescued, but the ship was declared a total loss.





Alboran Sea:
Italian freighter SS Primo, 3,468 tons, en route from Philadelphia to Genoa with a general cargo, founders off the Islas Hormigas, near Cartagena, Spain.



Tyrrhenian Sea:
Max Valentiner, in U-38, sinks Italian sailing vessel Tripoli, 56 tons, off Cape Carbonara, Sicily, raisiing his score to 123 ships and 267,208 tons.

[Jimbuna]

18th December 1916

Western Front

Zouaves recapture Les Chambrettes.

End of French offensive at Verdun.

Battle of Verdun ends in a French victory. France suffered 315,000-542,000 casualties, Germans suffered 281,000-434,000 casualties.

Eastern Front

Russian position between Kovel and Lutsk restored.

Romanians and Russians retreat towards Sereth line.

Braila and Galatz threatened.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British move round Sanna-i-Yat and reach Tigris above Kut, severing enemy's lateral communications and commanding river upstream of Khadairi Bend.

Political, etc.

German "Peace" Note of 12 December received at British and French Foreign Offices.

British government announces plans that it will end game preserves, as an effort to mitigate social class divisions.

Greek government issues an arrest warrant for Eleftherios Venizelos on charges of high treason and libel against the Greek General Staff.

General Hugh L. Scott testifies to Congress that the U.S. will require 3 million trained soldiers to adequately defend the U.S.

Ship Losses:

Arran (United Kingdom) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 110 nautical miles (200 km) east of the Longstone Lighthouse, Northumberland (56°06′N 1°40′E) by SM UB-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Buki (Russia) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 27 (Karl Vesper) and sank in the Baltic Sea off Naissaar, Estonia (59°34′N 24°25′E).
Dramatist (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 490 nautical miles (910 km) off Flores, Pernambuco, Brazil by SMS Möwe ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Eugene Gaston (France) The brig was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 15 nautical miles (28 km) north west of the Le Four Lighthouse, Ouessant, Finistère by SM U-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Flimston (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 21 nautical miles (39 km) north by east of Ouessant (48°48′N 5°08′W) by SM U-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but two of them were taken as prisoners of war.
Herø (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 100 nautical miles (190 km) west south west of Lindesnes, Vest-Agder (56°52′N 5°19′E) by SM U-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Hirondelle (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north east of the Le Four Lighthouse by SM U-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Maria Louis (France) The schooner was scuttled in the English Channel 35 nautical miles (65 km) north west of Île Vierge, Finistère (49°17′N 5°02′W) by SM UC-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Opal (United Kingdom) The coaster was sunk in the Irish Sea off the Isle of Man by SM U-80 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of twelve crew.
Quo Vadis (France) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the English Channel south of The Lizard, Cornwall, United Kingdom (49°38′N 5°08′W) by SM UC-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Sieka (Netherlands) The sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea (56°43′N 4°35′E) by SM U-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived; they were rescued by SM U-71.
Vague (France) The schooner was scuttled in the English Channel 35 nautical miles (65 km) north of Île Vierge (49°11′N 4°52′W) by SM UC-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

December 18, 1916

Air War:
1445 French ace Marcel Viallet, flying a Nieuport, shoots down a Halberstadt fighter for victory number 8.

French pilot Marcel Hauss, also in a Nieuport, claims an "Enemy Aircraft", but it goes unconfirmed.

Bohemia-born Austro-Hungarian pilot Otto Jindra, in Hansa-Brandenberg C.I 63.06, destroys an Italian observation balloon for victory number 9. This is Jindra's last aerial victory. He will fly all through 1917 without scoring again. In January 1918 he will briefly command FLIK 11, then be assigned to command bombing group Fliegergruppe G. Before he can assume this position Jindra will be severely injured in a flying accident and sit out the last part of the war. He will help found the Czech Air Force, and serve as its first commander. Otto Jindra will die in 1932 at age 36.



Irish Sea:
Alfred von Glasenapp, commanding U-80, sinks British freighter SS Opal, 599 tons, bound from Llanulas for Belfast and Glasgow with a load of limestone, off the Isle of Man. His score is now 2 ships and 4,877 tons.



English Channel:
Otto Wünsche, in U-70, stops and scuttles 3 ships north of Ushant:
French brig Eugene Gaston, 184 tons, travelling from Vannes to Swansea with a load of pit props.
French schooner Hirondelle, 148 tons, carrying a load of coal from Britton Ferry to Nantes.
British freighter SS Flimston, 5,751 tons, en route from Buenos Aires to London with a load of maize.
Wünsche's score is now 31 ships and 40,557 tons.

Ralph Wenninger, in UC-17, captures and scuttles 3 French schooners near the west end of the Channel:
Maria Louis, 108 tons, bound from Vannes for Cardiff with a load of pit props.
Quo Vadis, 110 tons, carrying a load of coal from Swansea to Mortagne sur Gironde.
Vague (or Le Vague), 167 tons, route and cargo unknown.
Wenninger's score is now 29 vessels and 12,900 tons.



North Sea:
Hugo Schmidt, in U-71, sinks 2 ships:
Norwegian freighter SS Herø, 1,106 tons, travelling from Fredrikstad to London with a load of timber.
Dutch sailing vessel SS Sieka, 119 tons, carrying a load of pit props from Christiana to West Hartlepool.
Schmidt's score is now 8 ships and 6,644 tons.
This is Schmidt's last sinking. He will command U-97 from May until October 1917, stay in the navy after the war, be promoted to Korvettenkapitän in 1924 and Fregattenkapitän in 1929, and live until 1964.

Walter Roehr, in U-84, sinks Swedish freighter SS Malcolm, 2,100 tons, bound from Sandesund for Grimsby with a load of pit props. His score is now 2 ships and 3,562 tons.

Theodor Schultz, in UB-34, scuttles British trawler Arran, 176 tons, raising his score to 5 vessels and 2,468 tons.



Gulf of Finland:
Russian freighter SS Buki, 3,879 tons, hits a mine laid by Karl Vesper in UC-27 near the island of Naissar (German Nargen). His score is now 5 ships and 11,504 tons.



Bay of Biscay:
American freighter SS Kansan, 7,913 tons, carrying horses and a general cargo from Boston to Saint Nazaire, hits a mine laid by Wilhelm Kiel in UC-18 off Saint Nazaire. The damaged ship makes port safely.

[Jimbuna]

19th December 1916

Eastern Front

Enemy's advance from the west checked 30 miles from Braila.

Russians in the Dobruja fall back towards Braila.

Political, etc.

U.S. War Department orders 4000 Vickers machine guns for the cost of $5.5 million ($121 million today).

Mr. Lloyd George's first speech as Premier on Government control of Shipping, National Service, etc.

Lloyd George rejects German peace offer, stating there will be no peace until Germany atones for wrongs and ceases to be a menace.

German assurance given re: Captain Blaikie.

British Government prepared to recognise agents of Venizelist (National) Government.

Greek Government protests re: Venizelist occupation of islands under Allies' protection.

British safe conduct granted to Austria-Hungary Ambassador (Count Tarnowski) from U.S.A.

Ship Losses:

Ansgar (Norway) The sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea by SM UB-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Falk (Norway) The coaster was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) west of Cape Finisterre, Spain by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Gerda (Germany) The depôt ship was scuttled on this date. A former Danish coaster, she was captured on 16 December in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Finisterre (47°07′N 7°45′W) by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Kornmo (Norway) The barque was sunk in the North Sea by SM UB-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Liverpool (United Kingdom) The coaster struck a mine laid by U 80 (Alfred von Glasenapp) and sank in the Irish Sea 11 nautical miles (20 km) south east by east of the Chicken Rock, Isle of Man (53°49′N 4°23′W) with the loss of three of her crew.
Nystrand (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 170 nautical miles (310 km) south west of Lyngør, Aust-Agder (56°47′N 6°08′E) by SM U-81 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ocean (France) The three-masted schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) west north west of Ouessant, Finistère by SM UB-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Sno (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) west of the Isla de Alborán, Spain by SM U-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

December 19, 1916

Irish Sea:
British freighter SS Liverpool, 686 tons, bound from Liverpool for Sligo eith a general cargo, hits a mine laid by Alfred von Glasenapp in U-80. His score is now 3 ships and 5,563 tons.



English Channel:
Wilhelm Amberger, commanding UB-38, scuttles French schooner Ocean, 339 tons, off Ushant. His score is now 5 ships and 5,423 tons.



North Sea:
Raimund Weisbach, in U-81, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Nystrand, 1,397 tons, travelling from Uddevalla to Hartlepool with a load of pit props. His score is now 8 ships and 21,854 tons.



Theodor Schultz, in UB-34, sinks two ships and captures a third:
Norwegian sailing ship Ansger, 926 tons, en route from Kambo to West Hartlepool with a load of pit props; sunk.
Norwegian barque Kornmo, 591 tons, carrying a load of pit props from Langesund to Middlesbrough; sunk.
Danish freighter SS Bretland, 1,229 tons, is taken as a prize, but later released by the prize court.
Schultz's score is now 7 ships and 3,985 tons.



Spain:
Alfred Saalwächter, in U-46, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Falk, 948 tons, carrying a load of coal from Cardiff to Oporto, off Cabo Fisterra (Cape Finisterre). The crew are transferred to SS Gerda. Later in the day the captured crews are all landed ashore and Gerda, captured on the 16th, is scuttled. Saalwächter's score is now 5 ships and 10,216 tons.



Alboran Sea:
Heinrich Metzger, in U-47, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Sno, 1,823 tons, en route from Cardif to Oran with a load of coal. His score is now 7 ships and 14,435 tons.

[Jimbuna]

20th December 1916

Eastern Front

Severe fighting west of Brody (Galicia).

German advance on Braila.

Southern Front

Fierce local encounters Cherna bend (Monastir).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Turks evacuate El Arish (northern Sinai) and fall back 20 miles south-east of Magdhaba.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Germans retire from Nangadi (East Africa).

British troopship Itonus is sunk by the German submarine SM U-38 off Malta, resulting in 5 crew deaths.


Aviation

Arthur Gerald Knight, British ace with 8 victories, becomes Manfred von Richthofen’s (Red Baron) 13th victory.

Political, etc.

President Wilson backs Germany’s peace move and suggests all the belligerent countries to state their terms.

Greek government protests that the Allied nations and Greek rebels are seizing Greek islands.

Ship Losses:

Eva (Denmark) The schooner was sunk in the North Sea 80 nautical miles (150 km) east north east of Hartlepool, County Durham, United Kingdom by SM UB-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Hildawell (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 32 (Herbert Breyer) and sank in the North Sea off Sunderland, County Durham with the loss of 22 of her crew.
Itonus (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 60 nautical miles (110 km) north west by west of Malta (36°12′N 13°16′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five crew.
Mereddio (Sweden) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea[182] (56°28′N 3°50′E) by SM UB-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Otarie II (France) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the Bay of Biscay 24 nautical miles (44 km) west of La Coubre, Gironde by SM UC-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Saint Antoine de Padoue (France) The trawler was sunk in the Bay of Biscay off Bordeaux, Gironde by SM UC-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

Austro-Hungarian and German Jewish soldiers celebrate Hanukkah at the front.

[Sailor Steve]

December 20, 1916

Air War:
1050 English RNAS pilot Reginald Rhys Soar, flying Sopwith Pup N5181, shoots down a Halberstadt fighter for victory number 1.

1115 Australian RNAS pilot Bob Little, in Sopwith Pup N5182, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 3.

1120 French ace Charles Nungesser, in a Nieuport 17, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 21. This is probably 5-victory German ace Kurt Haber, who was killed this day.

1130 German ace Manfred von Richthofen, in Albatros D.II 491/16, shoots down DH.2 7927 for victory number 13. Canadian 8-victory ace Arthur Gerald Knight is killed.

1130 Reginald Soar shoots down another Halberstadt for victory number 2.

1200 German pilot Paul Bona, probably in an Albatros D.II, claims an FE.2b, but it is unconfirmed.

1200 English RFC pilots Kelvin Crawford in DH.2 6008 and Selden Long in DH.2 A305 share a victory over an Albatros D.I. Number 3 for Crawford and 4 for Long.

1205 English pilot Edwin Benbow, flying FE.8 7627, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for victory number 5.

1345 German ace Hans Imelmann, in an Albatros D.II, shoots down FE.2b A5452 for victory number 6.

1345 Manfred von Richthofen scores his second win of the day, shooting down FE.2b A5446 for victory number 14. Lt Lionel Georg D'Arcy and 2nd Lt Reginald Whiteside are both killed.

1420 English pilot John Quested, flying FE.2b 7016 with Lt F.D. Lutyens as observer, shoots down an Albatros D.I for victory number 6.

1430 French pilot Joseph Giguet, in a Nieuport, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 3.

1630 German ace Hans Karl Müller, in an Albatros D.II, shoots down a Caudron for victory number 8.

French ace Lucien Jailler, in a Nieuport, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 6.



North Sea:
Theordo Schultz, in UB-34, sinks two Allied ships off Hartlepool:
Danish schooner Eva, 109 tons, travelling from Frederiksvaerk to West Hartlepool with a load of timber.
Swedish freighter SS Mereddio, 1,372 tons, carrying a load of timber from Norrsundet to Bulougne.
Schultz's score is now 9 ships and 5,466 tons.

British freighter SS Hildawell, 2,494 tons, bound from Bilbao for Middlesbrough, hits a mine laid by Herbert Breyer in UC-32 off Sunderland. His score is now 2 ships and 4,435 tons.

Norwegian freighter SS Mauranger, 1,024 tons, departs Pomaron for Goole and is not heard from again. Sixteen lives lost.



Bay of Biscay:
Ralph Wenninger, in UC-17, sinks two French fishing vessels:
Trawler Otarie II, 109 tons, on a fishing trip; shelled with deck gun off the moouth of the Gironde River.
Fishing vessel Saint Antoine de Padoue, 32 tons, sunk off Bordeaux.
Wenninger's score is now 31 ships and 13,041 tons.



Gulf of Cadiz:
Russian schooner Johannes, 191 tons, in route from Liverpool to Seville with a load of coal, runs aground at Bonanza, north of Cadiz.



Mediterranean Sea:
Max Valentiner, in U-38, sinks British freighter SS Itonus, 5,340 tons, carrying a load of tiles from Marseille to Sydney; west of Malta. The ship's master is taken prisoner. Valentiner's score is now 124 ships and 272,548 tons.



Simonstown, South Africa:
After 32 days of cleaning, painting and repairs, light cruiser HMS Hyacinth enters drydock.



Atlantic Ocean:
German raider Möwe stops and scuttles French barque Nantes, 2,785 tons, en route from Iquique to London with 3,350 tons of saltpeter.

[Jimbuna]

21st December 1916

Eastern Front

Northern Russia: Fighting south of Dvinsk. Also on south Galician rivers.

In Dobruja, Russians drive Bulgars into Lake Ibolota (Babadagh).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British occupy El Arish.

Turkish base removed from Shumran to Baghela (Tigris); but shipping at latter bombed by British.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Two British T.B.D.'s sunk by collision in North Sea off the Orkney Islands, the destroyers HMS Hoste collides with another destroyer HMS Negro and both sink. At least 55 are killed.

Political, etc.

Germany and Russia both agree to give better treatment to their prisoners of war.

German newspaper “Tageblatt” says British demands for reparations after the war are “impossible.”

Ship Losses:

HMS Hoste (Royal Navy) The Parker-class destroyer leader collided with the Admiralty M-class destroyer HMS Negro off the Orkney Islands. Both vessels sank, HMS Negro with the loss of all 80 crew.
Modig (Norway) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 46 (Friedrich Moecke) and sank in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) south south east of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, United Kingdom (53°56′N 0°13′E). Her crew survived.
Murex (United Kingdom) The tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 94 nautical miles (174 km) off Port Said, Egypt (32°20′N 31°00′E) by SM U-73 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
HMS Negro (Royal Navy) The M-class destroyer was lost on this day (see HMS Hoste above).
Norseman (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck the Maids Rocks, in the Irish Sea off Larne, County Antrim and sank. Her crew were rescued.
Skiftet (Russia) The ship struck a mine laid by UC 27 (Karl Vesper) and sank in the Baltic Sea south of the Åland Islands, Finland (59°58′N 20°08′E) with the loss of 86 lives.
HMT St. Ives (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 17 (Ralph Wenninger) and sank in the English Channel off St. Anthony Head, Cornwall (approximately 50°06′N 5°00′W) with the loss of eleven of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

December 21, 1916

Air War:
1100 German pilot Werner Voss, flying a Fokker D.III, shoots down BE.2d 5782 for victory number 3. Lt Darold W. Davis is wounded and captured, 2nd Lt William Martin Vernon Cotton is killed. Davis would later recount lying wounded in No Mans Land for three days before being picked up by German forces, and also that Voss visited him in the hospital several times.

French pilot André Delorme, in a Nieuport, shoots down a Halberstadt two-seater for victory number 4.



English Channel:
His Majesty's Trawler St. Ives, 325 tons, hits a mine laid by Ralph Wenninger in UC-17, off Falmouth. Wenninger's score is now 32 ships and 13,366 tons.



North Sea:
Dutch freighter SS Themis, 897 tons, departs Newcastle for Amsterdam and is not heard from again. Presumed to have hit a mine.

Norwegian freighter SS Modig, 1,704 tons, bound from Tyne for Rouen with a load of coal, hits a mine laid by Friedrich Moecke in UC-46. His score is now 4 ships and 8,887 tons.

While on operations with the Grand Fleet, Parker class destroyer leader HMS Hoste develops engine trouble. 'M' class destroyer HMS Negro is assigned to escort Hoste back to Scapa Flow. In the dark Negro runs into Hoste, causing two depth charges to roll off Hoste's stern. Hoste's stern is blown off, sinking that ship and the second charge goes off under Negro, wrecking her engine room and causing her to quickly sink. Negro loses 5 officers and 46 men, with 29 rescued. Hoste loses only 4, thanks to the heroic efforts of HMS Marvel, which takes off 8 officers and 126 men despite repeated bumpings in the heavy seas.



Baltic Sea:
Russian coaster SS Skiftet, 336 tons, hits a mine laid by Karl Vesper in UC-27. His score is now 6 ships and 11,840 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Gustav Seiß, in U-73, sinks British Tanker SS Murex, 3,564 tons, travelling in ballast from Mudros to Port Said.
Seiß's score is now 12 ships and 90,424 tons.



Harima-nada Sea, Japan:
Japanese freighter Michi Maru, 1,483 tons, sinks off Awaji Island following a collision.