100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

10th July 1917

Western Front

After intense bombardment Germans gain ground to the east of the mouth of the Yser (Nieuport) and cut off and destroy parts of two British battalions, taking over 1,000 prisoners.

British counter-attack drives Germans from advanced positions gained near Lombartzyde.

Eastern Front

Capture of Halicz (Galicia) by Russians; enemy pursued across River Lomnica, 2,000 prisoners taken.

Political, etc.

Official statement gives British captures on all fronts since beginning of war as 117,772 prisoners and 759 guns.

German Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg: “We cannot declare our terms of peace. We must fight and conquer.”

Ship Losses:

Cedric (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 55 nautical miles (102 km) south by west of Suðuroy, Faroe Islands by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
City of Washington (United States) The coal barge came ashore at Key Largo, Florida and was wrecked.
Flamma (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by
UC 55 (Horst Rühle von Lilienstern) and was damaged in the North Sea off Hartlepool, County Durham. She was beached but was later refloated.
Garmoyle (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 14 nautical miles (26 km) south east of Mine Head, County Cork (51°49′N 6°52′W) by SM U-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of twenty crew.
Hildegard (United States) The barquentine was scuttled in the English Channel 10 nautical miles (19 km) south east of Start Point, Devon, United Kingdom by SM UB-31 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Jupiter (France) The trawler struck a mine laid by UB 12 (Ernst Steindorff) and sank in the English Channel with the loss of eleven of her crew.
Kansan (United States) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 69 (Erwin Waßner) and sank in the Bay of Biscay 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) east of Kerdonis Point, Belle Île, Morbihan, France (47°20′N 3°03′W) with the loss of four of her crew.
King David (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 360 nautical miles (670 km) north west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-49 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew.
Mabel (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean off Suðuroy by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Pacific (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean off Suðuroy by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Peridot (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean off Suðuroy by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Pretoria (United Kingdom) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 130 nautical miles (240 km) north by west of Hoy Head, Shetland Islands by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Romantic United Kingdom World War I: The trawler was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean off Suðuroy by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.[111]
Sea King (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) south by east of Suðuroy by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Seang Choon (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 10 nautical miles (19 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-87 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of nineteen lives.
Stoic (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean off Suðuroy by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Vale of Leven (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was lost on this date.
Yâdigâr-ı-Millet (aka Jadhigar-i-Millet) (Ottoman Navy) The S165-class destroyer was bombed and sunk at İstinye, Turkey in the Bosphorus (39°56′00″N 29°10′30″E) by a Royal Naval Air Service Handley Page aircraft with the loss of 26 of her crew. She was later refloated and scrapped.

[Sailor Steve]

July 10, 1917

Air War:
1745 Hungarian pilot Ferdinand Udvardy, flying Hansa-Brandenburg D.I 28.42, shoots down an Italian SPAD VII for victory number 1.

1750 Ferdinand Udvardy scores his second kill of the day, shooting down a Nieuport for victory number 2.

1950 Canadian RNAS ace Arnold Chadwick in Sopwith Camel N6369, and Canadian pilot Ronald McNeill Keirstead, in Camel N6362, share a victory over an Albatros V. Victory number 9 for Chadwick, number 1 for Keirstead.

1955 Arnold Chadwick scores his second victory of the day, downing another Albatros for number 10.

2030 Canadian RFC ace Andrew McKeever, in Bristol F.2b A7140 with 2Lt E V De G Dodd as observer, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 6.



North Atlantic Ocean, far west of Ireland:
Richard Hartmann, commanding U-49, sinks British freighter SS King David, 3,680 tons, bound from Brest for Archangelsk with a load of munitions and aircraft; 360 miles northwest of Fastnet Rock. His score is now 35 ships and 75,351 tons.



Ireland:
Carl-Siegfried von Georg, in U-57, sinks British freighter SS Garmoyle, 1,228 tons, en route from Cork to Glasgow; southeast of Mine Head. His score is now 44 ships and 56,831 tons.

Rudolf Schneider, in U-87, sinks British passenger ship SS Seang Choon, 5,807 tons, carrying a general cargo from Sydney to London; off Fastnet Rock. His score is now 44 ships and 56,831 tons.



Faroe Islands:
Hans Rose, in U-53, sinks a fleet of eight British trawlers off Suðuroy:
Cedric, 197 tons, scuttled.
Mabel, 205 tons, scuttled.
Pacific, 235 tons, deck gun.
Peridot, 214 tons, scuttled.
Pretoria, 283 tons, deck gun.
Romantic, 197 tons, deck gun.
Sea King, 185 tons, scuttled.
Stoic, 200 tins, scuttled.
Rose's score is now 39 vessels and 106,104 tons.

Thomas Bieber, in UB-31, scuttles American barque Hildegard, 622 tons, travelling in ballast from Le Havre to St. Thomas; off Start Point. His score is now 7 ships and 28,125 tons.



North Sea:
British freighter SS Dulwich, 1,460 tons, heading from Seaham to London with a load of coal, hits a mine laid off the Shipwash lightship by Ernst Steindorff in UB-12.
French naval trawler Jupiter I, 263 tons, hits a mine laid by UB-12 off Calais.
Steindorff's score is now 7 vessels and 5,400 tons.

British freighter SS Flamma, 1,920 tons, travelling in ballast from London to Tyne, hits a mine laid off Hartlepool by Horst von Liilenstern in UC-55. The damaged ship is beached and later refloated.



Bay of Biscay:
American freighter SS Kansan, 7,913 tons, carrying a general cargo from New York to Saint Nazaire, hits a mine laid off Belle Isle by Erwin Waßner in UC-69. His score is now 66 ships and 101,071 tons. On December 18, 1916 Kansan had survived hitting a mine laid off Saint Nazaire by Wilhelm Kiel and UC-18.

[Jimbuna]

11th July 1917

Western Front

Great aerial activity on British front.

Eastern Front

Capture of Kalusz (western Stanislau, Galicia) by Russians.

Southern Front

Statistics of health of British army at Salonika published.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British column from Feluja (Euphrates) engages Turkish force up the river and inflicts considerable loss.

Despatch on operations in Mesopotamia published.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Report of British operations in East Africa published.

Political, etc.

Announcement of judicial enquiry into the conduct of all persons affected by Mesopotamia Reported.

Prussian Reform: Kaiser promises an equal franchise in the next elections to the Prussian Diet.

Sinn Fein candidate defeats Nationalist in East Clare election.

Former Tsar Nicholas of Russia appeals to the Provisional Government so he can buy bonds to fund the new government and war effort.

Large increase in the number of divorces in Britain is blamed on hasty weddings with “unhappy sequels” by soldiers going to the front.

Ship Losses:

Anglo-Patagonian (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay 20 nautical miles (37 km) west south west of Sables d'Olonne, Vendée, France (46°26′N 2°10′W) by SM UC-72 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew.
Brunhilda (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 7 nautical miles (13 km) south east of Start Point, Devon by SM UB-31 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Kioto (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 20 nautical miles (37 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock (51°07′N 9°51′W) by SM U-87 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Siracusa (Italy) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 24 (Kurt Willich) and sank in the Mediterranean Sea.
SM U-69 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type U 66 submarine reported that she was off the coast of Norway. The British claimed that she was depth charged and sank on 12 July by HMS Patriot ( Royal Navy but post-war evaluation casts doubt that U-69 was the victim. Lost with all 40 crew.
Vanda (Sweden) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea with the loss of one crew whilst in convoy from Lerwick, at (60°15′N 1°20′E) by SM U-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Vordingborg (Denmark) The cargo ship was scuttled in the English Channel 25 nautical miles (46 km) north east of Ouessant, Finistère (48°52′N 5°16′W) by SM UC-77 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

July 11, 1917

Air War:
Albatros fighters from Jasta 11 are engaged in combat with British aircraft. The combat is inconclusive, with no planes on either side being shot down, but Jastafuhrer Kurt Wolff is badly wounded in the hand. According to Norman Franks Under the Guns of the Kaiser's Aces, the fighters were Sopwith Triplanes from Naval 1, with Sub-Lt Herbert Rowley firing the shots that hit Wolff's plane, and Wolff crashed badly near some railroad tracks.


This may, however, be completely wrong. According to this discussion Wolff almost certainly landed at his home field without crashing, and the British planes may in fact have been a flight of four DH.5s from RFC No. 32 Squadron. A couple of primary sources are quoted and none of them mentions a crash. Whatever the case, Kurt Wolff's combat career is effectively over. He will fly again but not score another victory.

[Jimbuna]

12th July 1917

Eastern Front

Russian progress towards Dolina (Galicia).

General Kornilov crosses the Lomnica river.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Announced that Turks have been routed by King of Hejaz in northern Arabia, 700 killed, 600 prisoners.

Aviation

Donald Cunnell, British flying ace known for shooting down and wounding von Richthofen (Red Baron), is killed in action.

Political, etc.

Mesopotamia Debate: Mr. A. Chamberlain, Secretary of State for India, resigns.

With Peking surrounded by Republican troops, monarchist General Zhang Xun flees & the restored Emperor Puyi falls from power.

Ship Losses:

Balzac (Norway) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off Lerwick, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom (58°50′N 0°46′W) by SM UC-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Calliope (United Kingdom) The collier was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 150 nautical miles (280 km) north of Madeira, Portugal by SM U-155 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all 27 crew.
Castleton (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) south south west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly by SM U-87 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Claire (Belgium) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 250 nautical miles (460 km) north east of Bône, Algeria(40°01′N 06°05′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 26 crew.
Francesco (Italy) The brigantine was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) west of Marsala, Sicily (37°31′N 12°18′E) by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Fredrika (Sweden) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the North Sea whilst in convoy 50 nautical miles (93 km) off the Orkney Islands, United Kingdom (59°08′N 0°54′E) by SM U-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was subsequently taken in tow but foundered 9 nautical miles (17 km) east of Auskerry.
HMT George Milburn (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 42 (Otto Heinrich Tornow) and sank in the Irish Sea 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) south of Dunmore Point, County Waterford with the loss of eleven of her crew.
Grace (United States) The cargo ship was sunk in the Aegean Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north of Cape Phessos, Andros, Greece (38°11′N 24°41′E) by SM UC-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.
Lai (Norway) The auxiliary schooner was sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) west of Egersund, Rogaland by SM UC-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Leonardo G. (Italy) The vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) west of Marsala by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Maija (Russia) The schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal by SM UC-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Muirfield (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 350 nautical miles (650 km) north west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-49 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew. Two survivors were taken as prisoners of war.
Ondine (France) The schooner was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north of Denia, Spain by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). All six crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

July 12, 1917

North Sea:
Six British destroyers - HMAS Anzac, HMS Maenad, Moon, Morning Star, Norman and Patriot are on patrol, using kite balloons to try to spot U-boats. On July 12 Flt Lt O.A. Butcher, in a balloon towed by HMS Patriot, spots a U-boat at a claimed distance of 28 miles (52 km) Patriot closes the submarine and engages with her deck gun. The U-boat dives and Patriot drops depth charges. A small amount of oil is spotted, then an apparent underwater explosion and a larger oil slick. This is believed to be U-69, under the command of Ernst Wilhelms. U-69's last radio communication was logged on July 11, so this is certainly possible. On the other hand U-69 is claimed to have sunk her last ship on July 24. While either story may be true, U-69 was not heard from after July 11.

[Jimbuna]

13th July 1917

Western Front

Germany’s use of mustard gas against British forces around Nieuwpoort cause 2,143 casualties and silence British artillery guns.

Eastern Front

Further Russian progress around Kalusz (Galicia); 1,600 prisoners.

Political, etc.

Deputation on London Air Defences received by Prime Minister.

British government takes control over this year’s crops of wheat, barley, oats, rye, and potatoes to ensure proper food supply.

Ship Losses:

Afram (Denmark) The sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea 90 to 100 nautical miles (170 to 190 km) east of Girdle Ness, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom by SM UC-45 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Ascain (France) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 11 nautical miles (20 km) north of the Stiff Lighthouse, Ouessant, Finistère by SM UC-77 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Charialos Tricoupis (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Bantry, County Cork, United Kingdom (52°25′N 12°54′W) by SM U-58 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Ceres (Denmark) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Inistrahull Island, County Donegal, United Kingdom (56°00′N 12°00′W) by SM U-88 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
Gibel-Yedid (United Kingdom) The coaster was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 150 nautical miles (280 km) west of Ouessant by SM U-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Loanda (Portugal) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) off Cape Roca by SM UC-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

[Sailor Steve]

July 13, 1917

Air War:
0730 Canadian RFC pilot Douglas McGregor, flying SPAD VII B3488, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 5.

[Jimbuna]

14th July 1917

Western Front

German attacks repulsed in region of Lombartzyde (Nieuport).

French gain and hold against counter-attacks German trench system on Moronvillers, east of Reims.

German thrust on Chemin des Dames and Cerny partially resisted north of the Aisne.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Successful British raid on Turks near Gaza.

Political, etc.

Herr von Bethmann Hollweg resigns; succeeded as German Imperial Chancellor by Dr. Michaelis.

U.S. House of Representatives votes to send 22,000 aeroplanes and 100,000 airmen to Western Front.

The King and Queen return from visit to Western Front.

Sir Douglas Haig made K.T.

Ship Losses:

Bonus (Finland) The vessel was sunk in the Baltic Sea off Mäntyluoto by SM UC-58 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Chalkydon (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 600 nautical miles (1,100 km) west of Gibraltar (34°10′N 17°25′W) by SM U-155 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Emanuel (Denmark) The schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Orkney Islands, United Kingdom (59°35′N 6°00′W) by SM U-96 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived; they were rescued by HMS G12 ( Royal Navy).
Exford (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 180 nautical miles (330 km) west by south of Ouessant, Finistère, France (46°48′N 8°50′W) by SM U-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of six crew.

[Sailor Steve]

July 14, 1917

Air War:
0720 German ace Erwin Böhme, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Nieupot 17 A6783 for Victory number 13.

[Jimbuna]

15th July 1917

Western Front

German assault on captured positions on Mont Haut (Moronvillers) defeated.

Eastern Front

Enemy opposition stiffening in Galicia; slight enemy success south of Kalusz.

Southern Front

Italian raid in the Carso, 275 prisoners.

Aviation

British air raid on Belgium.

U.S. House of Representatives pass a $640 million amendment to construct 22,000 new warplanes.

Octave Lapize, French fighter pilot and cyclist who won the 1910 Tour de France, is shot down and killed in action.


Political, etc.

Crisis in Russia: resignation of four Ministers of Cadet Party, as protest against recognition of the Ukraine.

Republic of China accuses Germany of helping monarchist forces in their attempt to restore the Qing Emperor.

Ship Losses:

Atalante (France) The barque was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea south east of the Balearic Islands, Spain by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Dinorwic (United Kingdom) The three-masted schooner was scuttled in the English Channel 10 nautical miles (19 km) south by east of Hastings, East Sussex by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Dudhope (United Kingdom) The full-rigged ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 200 nautical miles (370 km) west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-49 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ebenezer (United Kingdom) The brig was scuttled in the English Channel 25 nautical miles (46 km) north west of Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, France by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Mariston (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 82 nautical miles (152 km) west of the Fastnet Rock (50°52′N 11°38′W) by SM U-45 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 28 crew.
HMS Redbreast (Royal Navy) The fleet messenger was sunk in the Aegean Sea by SM UC-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 44 lives. One of the survivors was taken as a prisoner of war.
Torcello (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 160 nautical miles (300 km) south west by west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly by SM U-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Trelissick (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 80 nautical miles (150 km) south west by west of Ouessant, Finistère, France (47°28′N 6°28′W) by SM UC-72 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but three of them were taken as prisoners of war.

[Sailor Steve]

July 15, 1917

Air War:

1610 English RFC pilot Kenneth Montgomery and observer Robert Cyril Purvis, flying a Sopwith 1½ Strutter shoot down an Albatros D.III. Victory number 2 for Montgomery, number 1 for Purvis.

1820 German pilot Kurt Jacob Germany, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a DH.4 for victory number 1.

2110 German ace Hans Bethge, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Sopwith Camel B3758 for victory number 9. Sub-Lt F. Bray is killed.

2120 German pilot Rudolf Franke, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Sopwith Camel N6332 for victory number 4. Lt W.E. Grosset is taken prisoner.

[Jimbuna]

16th July 1917

Western Front

German counter-attacks repulsed at Moronvillers (Champagne).

Eastern Front

Russian withdrawal in Galicia; Kalusz evacuated.

Russia announces the capture of 36,773 prisoners in the first 13 days of the Kerensky offensive.

Naval and Overseas Operations

6 German steamers intercepted off Dutch coast, 2 driven ashore, damaged by gunfire, 4 captured.

Aviation

British aeroplanes conduct a raid on German targets in Belgium, including a chemical factory in Zeebrugge and railways in Ostend.

George Bernard Shaw predicts that, “This war will be won in the sky and not in the trenches.”

Political, etc.

Disorders in Petrograd engineered by Maximalists commence.

Four Russian members of the Cabinet quit over disagreements on the future status of Ukraine.

Japan blacklists companies in neutral countries that does trade with Germany.

Ship Losses:

HMT Asama (Royal Navy) The trawler, operating as a Q-ship, was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 190 nautical miles (350 km) due west of Lundy Island, Devon by SM U-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Cyrus (Russia) The three-masted schooner was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Hebrides, United Kingdom (57°53′N 10°35′W) by SM U-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Firfield (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Gulf of Patras 10 nautical miles (19 km) north west of Cape Papas, Greece (37°42′N 25°47′E) by SM UC-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Henry R. James (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 10 nautical miles (19 km) east by north of the Île de Batz, Finistère, France (48°49′N 3°46′W) by SM UC-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 24 of her crew.
Khephren (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 178 nautical miles (330 km) east of Malta (36°15′N 18°00′E) by SM U-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Lamia L. (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Ireland by SM U-49 and SM U-58 (both Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Porto di Adalia (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 150 nautical miles (280 km) east of Malta (34°40′N 18°40′E) by SM U-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Ribston (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 85 nautical miles (157 km) west of the Fastnet Rock (50°52′N 11°38′W) by SM U-45 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 25 crew.
Tamele (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 65 nautical miles (120 km) west by south of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-87 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Timor (Netherlands) The coaster was scuttled in the North Sea 18 nautical miles (33 km) south of the Noord Hinder Lightship ( Netherlands) by SM UC-64 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Valentia (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) west by south of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly by SM UC-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.
Vesta (Denmark) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north of Scotland by SM U-88 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

July 16, 1917

Air War:
0910 Scottish RFC pilot Matthew Frew and English observer George Ai Brooke, flying Sopwith 1½ Strutter A1020. shoot down an Albatros D.III. Victory number 3 for Frew, number 1 for Brooke.

1440 Canadian RNAS ace Frederick Armstrong, in Sopwith Camel B3808, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 6.

1447 German pilot Fritz Kieckhäfer, in a Roland D.II, destroys an observation balloon for victory number 1.

2010 German ace Hermann Hermann Göring, in Albatros D.III 2049/16, and Canadian RFC pilot Robert Gordon Jardine, in SE.5 A8931, shoot each other down. Jardine's oil tank is destroyed and Göring's engine is badly damaged. both crash-land safely on their own side of the lines.

Scottish RFC ace William Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick, in a SPAD VII, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 21.
This is Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick's last aerial victory. He will be promoted to Major and put in command of No. 80 Squadron. Surviving the war, he will leave the RAF in 1919, and become a professiona air surveyor in Africa, Burma, Iraq and South America. William Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick will die in a flying accident on September 20, 1933 when his DH.84 stalls on takeoff.

[Jimbuna]

17th July 1917

Western Front

Successful British raids in the Ypres sector.

French regain positions north-west of Verdun lost during last 18 days.

Eastern Front

Russians hold their positions in Galicia against German counter-thrust.

Naval

British submarine C34 is sunk by the German submarine U-52 off Fair Isle in Shetland.


Political, etc.

Continued disorder in Petrograd. Demonstrators flee on Nevsky Prospekt, after Russian Provisional Government forces open fire with machine guns.

Royal Proclamation changing name of Royal House and family to Windsor.

Changes in the Government announced.

Chinese revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen arrives in Canton (Guangzhou) to establish a new government in opposition to Premier Duan Qirui.

Resolution in favour of extension of Canadian Parliament passed.

Ship Losses:

HMS C34 (Royal Navy) The C-class submarine was sunk off the Shetland Islands (59°51′N 1°05′W) by SM U-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eighteen of her nineteen crew. The survivor was rescued by U-52.
Coquimbo (France) The full-rigged ship struck a mine and sank in the Bay of Biscay off La Rochelle, Loire-Atlantique with the loss of seven of her crew.
Haworth (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 94 nautical miles (174 km) west of the Fastnet Rock (50°47′N 11°55′W) by SM U-45 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMS Newmarket (Royal Navy) The auxiliary minesweeper) was torpedoed and sunk in the Aegean Sea south of Icaria, Greece (37°17′N 26°15′E) by SM UC-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 44 of her crew. Three of the survivors were taken as prisoners of war.
Virent (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the Mediterranean Sea (35°40′N 14°45′E) by SM U-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was beached but was refloated on 19 July. Subsequently repaired and returned to service.