100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

June 10, 1917

Air War:
Slovakia-born Austro-Hungarian pilot Jozef Kiss, flying Hansa-Brandenburg D.I 28.37, shoots down an Italian Nieuport for victory number 4.



North Atlantic Ocean very far west of Brittany:
Karl Meusel, commanding U-155, sinks Canadian freighter SS Scottish Hero, 2,205 tons, bound from Sydney, Nova Scotia for Le Havre with a load of steel products; 440 miles west-southwest of Fastnet Rock. His score is now 2 ships and 3,874 tons.



Far west of Ireland:
Waldemar Bender, in U-43, sinks British freighter SS Haulwen, 4,032 tons, en route from Montreal to Manchester with a load of wheat; 250 miles west of Fastnet. His score is now 4 ships and 6,350 tons.

Thorwald von Bothmer, in U-66, sinks British freighter SS Bay State, 6,583 tons, hauling a general cargo from Boston to Liverpool. His score is now 21 ships and 61,480 tons.



Ireland:
British freighter SS Keeper, 572 tons, carrying a load of grain form Belfast to Limerick, goes missing with all twelve hands. Fate unknown.



North of Scotland:
Victor Dieckmann, in U-61, sinks two ships northwest of North Roma Island:
Russian freighter SS Betty, 2,683 tons, underway from Cardiff to Murmansk with a load of coal.
British freighter SS Ribera, 3,511 tons, travelling from Penarth to the White Sea with a load of coal.
Dieckmann's score is now 27 ships and 49,502 tons.



Celtic Sea, far south of Ireland:
Otto Wünsche, in U-70, sinks British freighter SS Galicia, 1,400 tons, underway from Malaga to London with a general cargo; 140 miles south-southwest of Fastnet. His score is now 70 ships and 160,311 tons.



English Channel:
Hans Howaldt, in UB-40, scuttles two French fishing boats between Cap Barfleur and Le Havre:
Henri Jeanne, 9 tons.
Madeleine, 7 tons.
Howaldt's score is now 29 vessels and 42,053 tons.



North Sea:
Karlgeorg Schuster, in U-60, sinks British freighter SS Clan Alpine, 3,587 tons, bound from Tyne to the White Sea with an unspecified cargo; 40 miles northeast of Muckle Flugga, the far northern tip of the Shetland Islands. His score is now 16 ships and 50,604 tons.

British freighter SS Dulwich, 1,460 tons carying a load of coal from Seaham to London, hits a mine laid off the Shipwash lightship by Ernst Steindorff in UB-12.
French naval trawler Jupiter I, 253 tons, hits a mine laid by UB-12 off Calais.
Steindorff's score is now 7 ships and 5,400 tons.



Barents Sea:
Georg Schmidt, in U-28, sinks two British freighters far northwest of Cape Teriberski:
SS Marie Elsie, 2,615 tons, en route from Penarth to Archangelsk with a load of oil.
SS Perla, 5,355 tons, headed from Genoa for Archangelsk with a load of coal and motor cars.
Schmidt's score is now 11 ships and 15,983 tons.



Bay of Biscay:
Kurt Ramien, in UC-48, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Solhaug, 1,217 tons, travelling in ballast from Bayonne to Lisbon, off Cape Peñas, on the northern coast of Spain. His score is now 33 ships and 53,468 tons.



Portugal:
Kurt Albrecht, in UC-53, sinks Portuguese schooner Santa Maria, heading from Oporto to Portuguese Guinea with a load of coal; off the Berlingues Islands. His score is now 8 vessels and 9,747 tons.
Albrecht also attacks Portuguese schooner Ligeiro, 285 tons, off Vianna, but the damaged shep reaches port safely.



West of Gibraltar:
Walter Forstmann, in U-39, sinks American tanker SS Petrolite, 3,710 tons, travelling in Ballast from Genoa to the United States. His score is now 158 ships and 332,438 tons. Petrolite had previously been damaged by Forstmann himself, on December 5, 1915, when a shot across the bow accidentally hit the ship.



Ionian Sea:
Ernst von Voigt, in UC-35, sinks French freighter SS Annam, 6,075 tons, 20 miles west of Sapientza Island. His score is now 67 ships and 33,380 tons.



Aegean Sea:
Johannes Kirchner, in UC-34, sinks Greek sailing vessel Kleopatra, 160 tons, in the Doro Channel, between mainland Greece and the Isle of Andros. His score is now 7 vessels and 16,677 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Horst Obermüller, in UB-43, torpedoes British protected cruiser HMS Grafton, 7,350 tons; 150 miles east of Malta. The damaged ship makes port safely.

Wilhelm Marschall, in UC-74, sinks Egyptian sailing vessel Stylianos, 389 tons, somewhere between Malta and Port Said. His score is now 9 vessels and 28,902 tons.

[Jimbuna]

11th June 1917


Western Front

British progress on mile front south-east of Messines; La Potterie system captured.

Southern Front

French troops land at Corinth, and Franco-British force enters Thessaly.

Naval

Japanese destroyer Sakaki is torpedoed off Malta by Austro-Hungarian submarine U-27, resulting in 59 Japanese deaths.

Political, etc.

Canadian Premier Sir Robert Borden states Canada has suffered 99,000 casualties and thus conscription is necessary.

Sailors and Firemen's Union refuse to let Mr. R. Macdonald, etc., sail for Russia.

Abdication of King Constantine of Greece in favour of his second son, Alexander.

Petrograd Soviet issues statement opposing “an imperialistic war in the name of liberation of nations.”

Lord Northcliffe, owner of the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror, arrives in the U.S. to help coordinate British-U.S. cooperation.

Ship Losses:

Anglian (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 43 nautical miles (80 km) south west by west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly (49°22′N 7°12′W) by SM UC-75 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Benha (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) north east of Marsa Susa, Libya (33°45′N 24°10′E) by SM UC-74 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Breid (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) east by south of Noss, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom by SM UC-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
City of Perth (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 195 nautical miles (361 km) south south west of the Fastnet Rock (48°06′N 10°30′W) by SM U-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eight of her crew.
Huntsholm (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) east by south of the Owers Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Mar Cor (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Bishop Rock by SM UB-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Sibens (Russia) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean off the Santa Maria Lighthouse, Portugal (36°52′N 8°08′W) by SM UC-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Sigrun (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 180 nautical miles (330 km) west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-50 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Teviotdale (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 330 nautical miles (610 km) north west by west of the Fastnet Rock (52°20′N 18°27′W by SM U-43 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Wera (Russia) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 100 nautical miles (190 km) off Cadiz, Spain (35°11′N 8°11′W) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HMS Zylpha (Royal Navy) The Q-ship was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Ireland (51°20′N 11°00′W) by SM U-82 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member. She was taken under tow but sank on 15 June.

[Sailor Steve]

June 11, 1917

Air War:
1100 English RFC observer Arthur Noss, riding in Bristol F.2b A7137 with 2nd Lt H. Smithers as pilot, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 2.

2020 English RNAS ace Charles Booker, in Sopwith Triplane N5482, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 15.



North Atlantic Ocean, far west of Ireland:
Waldemar Bender, commanding U-43, sinks British freighter SS Teviotdale, 3,847 tons, bound from Havana for Queenstown with a load of sugar. His score is now 5 ships and 9,837 tons.

Gerhard Berger, in U-50, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Sigrun, 2,538 tons, en route from Philadelphia to Fleetwood with a load of wheat. His score is now 24 ships and 87,366 tons.

Welhelm Werner, in U-55, torpedoes British passenger ship SS Ausonia, 8,153 tons, hauling a general cargo from Montreal to Avonmouth. The damaged ship makes it safely to port.



Northwest of Ireland:
Alfred Saalwächter, in U-94, uses his deck gun to attack British freighter SS Thessaly, headed from Liverpool to Rosario with a general cargo. The damaged ship makes it safely to port.



Ireland:
Hans Adam, in U-82, torpedoes British Q-ship HMS Zylpha, 2,917 tons, off the southwest coast of Ireland. His score is now 14 ships and 28,987 tons.



Celtic Sea:
Otto Wünsche, in U-70, sinks British freighter SS City of Perth, 3,427 tons, underway from Alexandria to London with a general cargo; 195 miles west of Ushant. His score is now 71 ships and 163,738 tons.

Herman Glimpf, in UB-20, torpedoes British freighter SS Knight Companion, 7241 tons, bound from Dunkerque for Barry Roads; ten miles from the Lizard, just outside the western entrance to the Channel. the damaged ship makes port safely.

Max Viebeg, in UB-32, sinks Italia freighter Mar Cor, 3.257 tons, travelling from Cardiff to Dakar, off Bishop Rock. His score is now 22 ships and 32,882 tons.

Johannes Lohs, in UC-75, sinks British freighter SS Anglian, 5,532 tons, carrying a general cargo from boston to London; west-southwest of Bishop Rock. His score is now 19 ships and 13,138 tons.



English Channel:
Hans Howaldt, in UB-40, attacks three British freighters near the Owers lightship. Only one of them is sunk:
SS Eustace, 3,995 tons, travelling in ballast from London to Barry; damaged.
SS Huntsholm, 2,073 tons, travelling in ballast from Dieppe to Southampton; sunk.
SS Margarita, 2,788 tons, carrying a load of coal from Hull to Madras; damaged.
Howald's score is now 29 ships and 44,126 tons.



North Sea:
Kurt Bernis, in UC-41, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Breid, 1,062 tons, carrying a load of pit props from Fredrikshald to West Hartlepool; off Noss Head, Scotland. His score is now 15 ships and 7,952 tons.



Sea of Åland:
Karl Vesper, in UC-58, sinks Swedish ketch August, 120 tons, en route from Ornö to Finland with a load of feldspar; off the Unterstens lighthouse. His score is now 19 vessels and 16,776 tons.



Portugal:
Kurt Albrecht, in UC-53, scuttles Russian sailing vessel Sibens, 323 tons, bound from Cadiz to Chatham, New Brunswick with a load of salt; off the Santa Maria lighthouse, Cascais. His score is now 9 vessels and 10,070 tons.



West of Gibraltar:
Walter Forstmann, in U-39, scuttles Russian sailing vessel Wera, 476 tons, en route from Fowey to Saville; 100 miles off Cadiz. His score is now 158 vessels and 332,804 tons.



Aegean Sea:
Robert von Fernland, in Austrian U-27, topedoes Japanese destroyer Sakaki between Cerigotto and Meles. The damaged ship makes safe port. This is von Fernland's last attack. He will survive the war and almost all of the next, dying on April 19, 1945.



Mediterranean Sea:
Wilhelm Marschall, in UC-74, sinks British freighter SS Benha, 1,878 tons, travelling from Limassol to Leith with a load of carob; northeast of Marsa Susa. His score is now 10 ships and 30,780 tons.

[Jimbuna]

12th June 1917

Western Front

British advance on two-mile front east and north-east of Messines.

Southern Front

Allied forces occupy Larissa (Thessaly) and Corinth.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Fort of Salif (Red Sea) destroyed by British naval forces.

Political, etc.

Labour Leader Ramsay Macdonald give up plans to visit Russia due to popular opposition toward his pacifist views.

Ship Losses:

Alexandre (France) The barque was set afire and sunk in the English Channel off Fécamp, Seine-Maritime by SM UC-69 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Alfred (United Kingdom) The schooner was scuttled in the English Channel off Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais, France by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Alwyn (United Kingdom) The ketch was scuttled in the North Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) south east of Girdleness, Aberdeenshire (57°05′N 1°55′W) by SM UB-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Amakura (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 180 nautical miles (330 km) north west of Tory Island, County Donegal by SM U-94 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
HMT Carew Castle (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 47 (Paul Hundius) and sank in the Bristol Channel off Hartland Point, Devon (50°58′N 4°36′W) with the loss of three of her crew.
Gaita (Russia) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) off Cape Spartel, Morocco (35°55′N 6°52′W) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Moreni (United States) The tanker was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 17 nautical miles (31 km) south east of Tabarca, Spain (37°52′N 0°14′E) by SM U-64 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four crew.
Premier (United Kingdom) The tug broke in two at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and was a total loss.
Polyxena (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 57 nautical miles (106 km) west of the Fastnet Rock (51°06′N 11°05′W) by SM U-95 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seven of her crew.
Symra (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) south west of Huelva, Portugal by SM UC-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
South Point (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) south west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly (49°43′N 7°00′W) by SM UB-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

June 12, 1917

Air War:
Canadian 8-victory RNAS ace Langley Smith is killed attacking a formation of 16 Gotha Bombers. No. 4 Naval Squadron had just received the first Sopwith Camels. Fellow pilots say Smith's plane lost a wing and broke up in mid-air.

0615 Australian RNAS pilot Richard Minifie, flying Sopwith Triplane N5446, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 5.

0820 American ace Raoul Lufbery, in a Nieuport with N.124 (Escadrille Lafayette), shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 10.

0835 English RNAS pilot Reginald Soar, in a Sopwith Triplane, shoots down an Aviatik two-seater for victory number 4.

0855 Three RNAS Triplane pilots share a victory over an Aviatik two-seater:
Charles Booker, England, number 16.
Charles Jenner-Parsons, St. Vincent, number 2.
Reginald Soar, England, number 5.

0900 French ace René Fonck, in a SPAD VII, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 6. Hptmn Eberhard vbon Seel is killed.

1015 French ace Lucien Jailler, flying a Nieuport, shares a victory over a German two-seater with a Sgt Hanote. Victory number 12. This is Jailler's last victory. He is reassigned to a flight school as an instructor. He died from an illness in 1921.

1100 German pilot Kurt Wittekind, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down RE.8 A5207 for victory number 2. 2nd Lt W. Turnbull and Lt W.B. Protheroe are both killed.



North Atlantic Ocean, far northwest of Ireland:
Alfred Saalwächter, commanding U-94, sinks British freighter SS Amakura, 2,316 tons, bound from Liverpool to Demerara with a general cargo; 180 miles northwest of Tory Island. His score is now 11 ships and 19,079 tons.



Ireland:
Wilhelm Werner, in U-55, torpedoes British freighter SS Coronado, 6,539 tons, carrying a general cargo from Montreal to Liverpool; 15 miles south of Galley Head. The damaged ship makes port safely.



Cornwall:
His Majesty's Trawler Carew Castle, 256 tons, hits a mine laid of Hartland Point by Paul Hundius in UC-47. His score is now 45 vessels and 47,837 tons.



Celtic Sea:
Athalwyn Prinz, in U-95, sinks British freighter SS Polyxena, 5,737 tons, en route from Australia to Queenstown with a load of wheat; off Fastnet Rock. His score is now 2 ships and 9,958 tons.

Max Viebeg, in UB-32, torpedoes British freighter SS South Point, 4,258 tons, travelling in ballast from London to Newport News. His score is now 23 ships and 37,140 tons.



English Channel:
Hans Howaldt, in UB-40, scuttles British schooner Alfred, 130 tons, sailing from Howdon-upon-Tyne to Cannes with a load of coal. His score is now 30 vessels and 44,256 tons.

Erwin Waßner, in UC-69, sinks French barque Alexandre, 697 tons, by setting her on fire; off Fécamp. His score is now 56 ships and 76,760 tons.



North Sea:
Günther Krause, in UB-41, scuttles British ketch Alwyn, 73 tons, en route from Sunderland to Banff with a load of coal; off Girdleness. His score is now 4 vessels and 4,814 tons.



Golfo de Cadiz:
Kurt Albrecht, in UC-53, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Symra, 3,005 tons, carrying a load of coal from Liverpool to Gibraltar; 5 miles southwest of Huelva, Spain. His score is now 10 ships and 13,075 tons.



Tangier:
Walter Forstmann, in U-39, scuttles Russian schooner Gaita, 396 tons, off Cap Spartel, bringing his score to 159 ships and 333,230 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Robert Moraht, in U-64, uses his deck gun to sink American tanker SS Moreni, 4.045 tons, en route from Baton rouge to Livorno with a load of benzine; off Tabarca Island, near Polo, Spain. His score is now 21 ships and 59,625 tons.

[Jimbuna]

13th June 1917

Western Front

Britain claims 7,432 German prisoners and 47 artillery guns were captured in the past 6 days in Flanders.

Southern Front

Austrian attack on Mt. Ortigara repulsed.

Trikala and Volo (Thessaly) occupied by Allies.

Aviation

Daylight aeroplane raid on London: 162 killed, 432 injured.

Political, etc.

Serious explosion in munitions factory at Ashton-under-Lyne.

Ship Losses:

Aghios Nicolaos (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Aegean Sea west of Icaria by SM UC-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Biagio (Italy) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea off Cape Camaret, France (43°19′N 6°59′E) by SM U-72 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Candace (Norway) The barque was sunk in the North Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) south west of Utsira, Rogaland by SM U-62 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Cederic (Norway) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north west of Tory Island, County Donegal, United Kingdom (55°22′N 12°03′W) by SM U-94 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Darius (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 210 nautical miles (390 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of fifteen crew.
Ernestine (France) The schooner was sunk in the Bay of Biscay 6 nautical miles (11 km) west north west of Cap Ferret, Gironde by SM UC-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Eugene F. Moran (United Kingdom) The tug foundered 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) off St. John's, Newfoundland.
Kelvinbank (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 100 nautical miles (190 km) north of Cape Wrath, Sutherland by SM U-69 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of sixteen of her crew.
Manchuria (United States) The passenger-cargo ship collided with the monitor USS Amphitrite ( United States Navy) in New York Harbor. After her crew abandoned ship and were rescued by two section patrol boats (both United States Navy) and a motor sailer (flag unknown), Manchuria was towed and beached off Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York. She was refloated, repaired, and returned to service.
USS McCulloch (United States Navy) The patrol vessel, a former cutter ( United States Coast Guard), collided with Governor ( United States) and sank in the Pacific Ocean 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) northwest of Point Conception, California.
Santo (Italy) The barque was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Cape Camarat, France by SM U-72 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Silverburn (United Kingdom) The coaster was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south of Aberdeen (57°04′N 1°54′W) by SM UB-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
St. Andrews (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) west of Cape Spartivento, Calabria, Italy by SM UC-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.
Storegut (Norway) The four-masted barque was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 235 nautical miles (435 km) south west of Land's End, Cornwall, United Kingdom (48°23′N 10°28′W) by SM U-82 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Sylvia (Norway) The sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea 70 nautical miles (130 km) west of Olmestad by SM U-62 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

June 13, 1917

Air War:
0845 English RFC pilot Harry George Ernest Luchford and Scottish observer James Tennant, flying FE.2d A6516, shoot down an Albatros D.III. Victory number 1 for Luchford, number 2 for Tennant.

2000 English RNAS pilot Anthony Arnold, in Sopwith Triplane N6290, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 5. This is Arnold's last victory. He will transfer to instructory duties, then command No. 79 Squadron. Rising to the rank of Wing Commander in 1936, he will later leave the service and work for a bank until his death in 1954.



Ireland:
Alfred Saalwächter, Commanding U-94, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Cederic, 2,344 tons, bound from New York for Liverpool with a general cargo; off Tory Island. His score is now 12 ships and 21,423 tons.



Celtic Sea:
Kurt Heeseler, in U-54, sinks British freighter SS Darius, 3,426 tons. en route from Villaricos to Tyne with a load of iron ore. His score is now 2 ships and 4,949 tons.

Hans Adam, in U-82, uses his deck gun to sink Norwegian freighter SS Storegut, 2,557 tons, headed from Philadelphia to Le Havre with a load of oil and paraffin wax. His score is now 15 ships and 31,544 tons.



Faroe Bank:
Ernst Wilhelms, in U-69, sinks British freighter SS Kelvinbank, 4,072 tons, carrying a general cargo from Liverpool and Glasgow to Archangelsk; 100 miles north of Cape Wrath, Scotland. His score is now 28 ships and 87,004 tons.



North Sea:
Ernst Hashagen, in U-62, sinks two Norwegian sailing vessels off Utsira Island:
Candace, 395 tons, carrying coal from West Hartlepool to Uddevalla.
Sylvia, 148 tons, hauling coal from Blyth to Stavanger.
Hashagen's score is now 29 vessels and 39,363 tons.



Günther Krause, in UB-41, uses his deck gun to sink British coaster SS Silverburn, 284 tons, hauling a load of coal from Sunderland to Peterhead. His score is now 6 ships and 5,098 tons.



Skagerrak:
Karl Ruprecht, in UB-33, takes Swedish coaster SS Gertie, 257 tons, underway from Gothenburg to Hull with a load of iron and steel, as a prize. His score is now 2 ships and 807 tons. This is Ruprecht's last sinking. He will survive the war and leave the naval service in 1920.



Bay of Biscay:
Kurt Ramien, in UC-48, scuttles French schooner Ernestine, 160 tons, carrying a load of wood from France to England; off Cap Ferret. His score is now 34 vessels and 53,628 tons.



Ligurian Sea:
Ernst Krafft, in U-72, sinks two Italian sailing vessels off Cape Camarat (south of Cannes):
Santo, 622 tons; gun.
Biagio, 276 tons, scuttled.
Krafft's score is now 19 vessels and 30,133 tons.



Sicily:
Alfred Klatt, in UC-38, torpedoes British freighter SS St. Andrews, 3,613 tons, carrying a load of grain from Karachi to Marseille; off Cape Sparviento, the southernmost tip of Sicily. His score is now 23 ships and 24,688 tons.



Aegean Sea:
Johannes Kirchner, in UC-23, sinks Greek sailing vessel Aghios Nicolaos, 120 tons, off the island of Icaria. his score is now 8 vessels and 16,797 tons.

[Jimbuna]

14th June 1917

Western Front

German withdrawal between St. Yves and the Lys.

Successful British attacks near Messines, and on Infantry Hill (east of Monchy-le-Preux).

End of Battle of Messines.

Naval and Overseas Operations

German Zeppelin L 43 is brought down by British fighter aircraft over the North Sea.

Political, etc.

Arrival in Petrograd of Senator Root and U.S. Mission.

Count M. Esterhazy becomes Hungarian Prime Minister.

Waldemar von Nostiz, writer for a German newspaper in Cleveland, Ohio, is arrested by federal agents for writing pro-German editorials.

Troops loyal to Li Yuanhong, the pro-German President of China, occupies Peking after dissolving the Chinese parliament.

Ship Losses:

Angantyr (Denmark) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea south east of Aberdeen, United Kingdom by SM UB-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
HMS Avenger (Royal Navy) The armed merchant cruiser was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Shetland Islands (60°22′N 4°35′W) by SM U-69 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Aysgarth (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 430 nautical miles (800 km) west north west of Cape Finisterre, Spain (42°50′N 18°52′W) by SM U-155 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.
Carthaginian (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by U 79 (Otto Rohrbeck) and sank in the Atlantic Ocean 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) north west of the Inishtrahull Lighthouse, County Donegal (55°28′00″N 7°21′30″W). Her crew survived, they were rescued by a Royal Navy destroyer.
Cedarbank (Norway) The four-masted barque was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (60°22′N 2°45′E by SM U-100 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all 26 crew.
Dart (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 6 nautical miles (11 km) south south west of the Ballycottin Lighthouse, County Cork by SM UC-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew.
Hasting (Sweden) The coaster was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south of Ouessant, Finistère, France (48°18′N 5°37′W) by SM UC-69 ( Kaiserliche Marine).[188] Her crew survived.
Highbury (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 100 nautical miles (190 km) west south west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly (48°25′N 10°28′W) by SM U-82 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all 40 crew.
Kankakee (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea by a Luftstreitkräfte aircraft.
New Zealand Transport (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Aegean Sea 8 nautical miles (15 km) south east of Serphopulo Island, Greece by SM UC-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.
Nirefs (Greece) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 36 (Gustav Buch) and sank in the Atlantic Ocean 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) off the La Vielle Lighthouse, Ouessant.
Ortolan (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 100 nautical miles (190 km) west south west of the Bishop Rock (48°09′N 9°45′W) by SM U-82 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.
Perfect (Norway) The sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea east of the Shetland Islands (60°58′N 2°18′E) by SM U-66 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Vigoureuse (France) The schooner was scuttled in the English Channel 20 nautical miles (37 km) north of the Casquets, Channel Islands by SM UB-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Wega (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 20 nautical miles (37 km) west by south of the Royal Sovereign Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

June 14, 1917

American aviation pioneer Thomas W. Benoist, founder of the world's first scheduled airline and the world's first aircraft parts distribution company, dies after striking his head on a telephone pole while stepping off a streetcar in Sandusky, Ohio.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_W._Benoist

[Jimbuna]

15th June 1917

Western Front

German counter-attack south-east of Ypres repulsed.

Small British advance near Bullecourt.

Southern Front

Italians carry position on Corno Cavento (west Trentino) and repulse attack on Mt. Ortigara.

British withdraw on wide front from advanced positions in Struma Valley.

Aviation

British airplanes conduct a morning raid on the airdrome at St Denis Westrem near Bruges, Belgium.

Political, etc.

British public demands the government to provide better warning for airplane raids after the recent devastating attacks by the Germans.

Lord Rhondda's appointment as Food Controller announced.

Andrew Bonar Law announces all Irish prisoners taken during the Easter Rising will be released.

Haiti breaks off relations with Germany.

Ship Losses:

Addah (United Kingdom) The Elder Dempster 4,397 grt cargo/passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay 35 nautical miles (65 km) south west of Penmarc'h, Finistère, France (47°24′N 5°00′W) by SM UC-69 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of nine of her crew, whilst en route from Montreal to Cherbourg. The sinking is notable because when the submarine surfaced Oberleutnant zur See, Erwin Waßner ordered firing on the Captain's boat, hereby killing 8 men. The master's boat's stern was blown off, but the U-boat continued firing at the swimming men as their lifeboat was sinking. The Chief Officer's lifeboat was also targeted and again some men were wounded badly. When the U-boat finally disappeared, the Captain and others made it for the second lifeboat.
Albertine Beatrice (Netherlands) The barque was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 200 nautical miles (370 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock (48°02′N 10°57′W) by SM U-82 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Assunzione (Italy) The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Mediterranean Sea east of Bône, Algeria (37°00′N 8°00′E). Her crew survived.
Clio (Sweden) The sailing vessel struck a mine and sank in the Baltic Sea off Vaasa, Finland.
Espinho (Portugal) The coaster was torpedoed, shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (37°34′N 9°06′W by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Eugène et Eugènie (France) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Loire Estuary by SM UC-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Kristianiafjord (Norway) The passenger ship was wrecked off Cape Race, Newfoundland. All 1,144 passengers and crew were rescued.
USS Olympia (United States Navy) The protected cruiser ran aground in Long Island Sound off Block Island. Her crew were taken off. She was later refloated, repaired and returned to service.
Pasha (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Strait of Messina (37°52′N 15°27′E) by SM UC-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.
Teesdale (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was damaged in the English Channel 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) off Bolt Head, Devon by SM UB-31 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew. She was later refloated.
HMT Towhee (Royal Navy) The naval trawler sank in the English Channel.
Wapello (United Kingdom) The tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 14 nautical miles (26 km) west south west of the Owers Lightship ( United Kingdom) (50°30′N 0°57′W) by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
Westonby (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 195 nautical miles (361 km) south west by south of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-82 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

*Reserved*

[Jimbuna]

16th June 1917

Political, etc.

U.S. completes issuing $1.9 billion worth of Liberty Bonds to finance the war effort.

Following the abdication of Greek King Constantine, the Allies begin lifting the food blockade of Greece.

Peace terms of German Socialist delegates to Stockholm published.

Opening in Petrograd of All-Russian Congress of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates.

Ship Losses:

Carrie Hervey (United Kingdom) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 52 nautical miles (96 km) south east by south of the Armen Rock (47°16′N 4°03′W) by SM U-50 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Emsli Tunisia (Tunisia) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Gulf of Gabès by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Esperanza (Spain) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Algiers, Algeria by SM UC-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Fallodon (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean off Mine Head, County Cork by SM U-61 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was beached but was later refloated, repaired and returned to service.
Inge (Denmark) The three-masted schooner was scuttled in the North Sea 175 nautical miles (324 km) off Hanstholm (56°21′N 3°09′E) by SM UB-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Jessie (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 260 nautical miles (480 km) west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly by SM U-82 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
John D. Archbold (United States) The tanker was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 85 nautical miles (157 km) south west of Penmarc'h, Finistère, France (47°47′N 6°01′W by SM UC-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.
Kamouma (Tunisia) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Gulf of Gabès by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Kibira (Tunisia) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Gulf of Gabès by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Kornsø (Denmark) The auxiliary schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north west of the Orkney Islands, United Kingdom by SM U-62 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
La Tour d'Agon (France) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Bay of Biscay 35 nautical miles (65 km) off the La Coubre Lighthouse by SM UC-69 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Liberté (Tunisia) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Gulf of Gabès by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Metlaoni (Tunisia) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Gulf of Gabès by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Roald Amundsen (Norway) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 6 (Werner Löwe) and was damaged in the North Sea 0.3 nautical miles (560 m) west of the Tongue Lightship ( United Kingdom) with the loss of three of her crew. She was beached but was later refloated, repaired and returned to service.

[Sailor Steve]

*Reserved*

[Jimbuna]

17th June 1917

Western Front

Germans capture French trenches near Hurtebise.

Portuguese in action for first time.

Southern Front

Austrian attacks on Asiago Plateau (Trentino) and Vodice repulsed.

Italian advance near Jamiano (Carso).

Aviation

Two Zeppelins raid Kent and the eastern counties, resulting in three deaths and 16 injuries. One Zeppelin is shot down.


Political, etc.

Russian Duma announces a resolution for an immediate offensive by Russian troops against the Germans.

Germany announces it will allow neutral ships stuck in British ports to safely leave on July 1st.

Germany moves prisoners of war at least 30 kilometers from the frontlines to keep them away from artillery range.

Ship Losses:

Aghios Georgios (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) west of Malta (35°37′N 13°49′E) by SM UC-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Anjou (French Navy) The auxiliary minesweeper struck a mine laid by UC 48 (Kurt Ramien) and sank in the Adour at Bayonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques (43°35′N 1°32′W). Her crew survived.
Antonios M. Mavrogordatos (Greece) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 7 nautical miles (13 km) south of the Wolf Rock, Cornwall, United Kingdom (49°55′N 5°59′W) by SM UC-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Argentina (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Gulf of Gabès off Djerba, Tunisia by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Bell Angelina (Italy )The fishing vessel was sunk in the Gulf of Gabès by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Fornebo (United Kingdom) The tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) north of Cape Wrath, Sutherland by SM U-78 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Fraser (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 65 (Otto Steinbrinck) and sank in the English Channel off Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais, France with the loss of twelve of her crew.
Giuseppe S. (Italy) The fishing vessel was sunk in the Gulf of Gabès by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Gunhild (Denmark) The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the Barents Sea 22 nautical miles (41 km) off Holmengrå, Finnmark, Norway (60°45′N 4°19′E) by SM U-100 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of six of her crew.
Lizzie Westoll (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 120 nautical miles (220 km) north west by west of the Fastnet Rock (51°39′N 12°44′W) by SM UC-42 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Luigina (Italy) The fishing vessel was sunk in the Gulf of Gabès by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Nostra Madre (Italy) The barque was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) east of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Raloo (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in St. George's Channel 6 nautical miles (11 km) south east by east of the Coningbeg Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM U-61 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three crew.
San Antonio V (Italy) The fishing vessel was sunk in the Gulf of Gabès by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Stanhope (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 7 nautical miles (13 km) south west by west of Start Point, Devon (50°08′N 3°45′W) by SM UB-31 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 22 of her crew.
HMS Tartar (Royal Navy) The Tribal-class destroyer struck a mine laid by UC 65 (Otto Steinbrinck) and was damaged in the English Channel off Boulogne with the loss of 45 of her crew.
Tosto (Norway) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 49 (Karl Petri) and sank off Noup Head, Westray, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom. Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

June 17, 1917

Five Zeppelins of the German Naval Air Service set out on a high-altitude raid on London. Only two of them reach Britain. L42 bombs a munitions dump, killing three civilians and injuring fourteen civilians and two members of the Royal Navy and causing £29,000 damage, and makes it safely home. L48 bombs an open field near Harwich and is then shot down by Lt L.P. Watkins, RFC, killing fourteen crew members and injuring three, one of whom dies later. Naval Airship Service deputy commander Viktor Schütze is among the dead.