100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

July 10:

German East Africa: The crews of the two monitors, now repaired, spend the morning once again at firing practice, and the afternoon stacking sandbags and preparing for battle.

[Jimbuna]

11th July 1915

Western Front

Despatch dated 15 June from Sir John French published, covering operations from 5 April to 30 May.

Eastern Front

Fighting on Lyublin front continues; Austrians lose nearly all ground gained in past week.

Enemy attacks on Zlota Lipa and Dniester repulsed.

Russians withdraw to right bank of Urzedowka.

Southern Front

Successful Italian offensive in Carnia region.

Venice bombed by Austrian aeroplanes for fourth time.

Naval and Overseas Operations

King George visits the grand fleet and praises the Royal Navy, stating it will triumph “whenever the day of battle comes.”

Destruction of "Konigsberg" completed on Rufiji River (German East Africa).
With the Königsberg’s sinking, the Allies now have full control over the Indian Ocean.

The final attack on Konigsberg was set for 11 July, this time the spotting procedures had been improved with lessons from the last attack. Mersey was to anchor in the same position as last time as a decoy whilst Severn went 1,000 yards upstream. Königsberg didn't fall for the decoy and soon switched target from Mersey to Severn, her shooting being close but causing no damage.

Severn hit Königsberg after twelve minutes killing a gun crew and during the next ten minutes Severn repeatedly scored hits. The aerial spotting was working well and the British fire was gradually "walked" along the length of the German cruiser. One of the planes was hit by shrapnel and forced to crash land, the crew being picked up by Mersey.
During the next hour Severn repeatedly hit Königsberg, causing several secondary explosions. Mersey then moved past Severn upstream and she too hit the German on a regular basis. With so much damage being inflicted on his ship and all guns out of action Loof gave the order to abandon ship and a scuttling charge sank the raider alongside the river bank. Königsberg lost twenty three killed and thirty five wounded. The wreck was heavily salvaged and all the guns used in the land campaign. The remains were eventually broken up in 1962.



Political etc.

US newspapers react negatively to the official German response towards the Lusitania sinking, calling it an “insolent and evasive message.”

The word “Jazz” makes the first appearance in reference to the musical genre in today’s issue of the Chicago Daily Tribune.

Of the 40,000 German national school teachers serving in the military, 4900 have been killed in action.

Sir John French’s 8th Despatch concerning operations of the BEF is published:
http://www.1914-1918.net/french_eighth_despatch.html

Ship Losses:

Hainton ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) north east by east of Hornsea, Yorkshire by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SMS Königsberg ( Kaiserliche Marine): The Königsberg-class light cruiser was scuttled in the Rufiji River, German East Africa following battle damage inflicted by HMS Mersey and HMS Severn (both Royal Navy). The wreck was scrapped in 1963-65.
Syrian ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) east north east of Hornsea by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

July 11:

Frank Holt (Eric Muenter), responsible for bombing the US Capitol building and attacking industrialist J.P. Morgan, is buried in Dallas, Texas.

Kansas City Star Newspaper July 12 1915
The Funeral of Frank Holt in Dallas
Dallas, Tex., July 11 - The body of Frank Holt, assailant of J P Morgan, was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Dallas late today. The Rev. J P Mussett of Fort Worth delivered the sermon at the grave. The funeral procession was composed of only a few carriages. However, a large number of friends of the Rev. O. F. Sensabaugh, Holt's father in law, congregated in the cemetery. The grave was covered with floral offerings from friends of Mrs Holt and Doctor Sensabaugh.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...&GRid=61457565



Air War: French Ace Adolphe Pègoud, flying a Morane 'N', shoots down an Aviatik two-seater for his sixth and final victory.



North Sea: Otto Wünsche, commanding U-25, stops and sinks trawlers Hainton, 156 tons, and Syrian, 176 tons, bringing his total to 15 ships and7,876 tons. He also damages a third trawler, Fleetwood, but when he orders the crew to abandon ship so he can sink her he finds that the vessel's boats are damaged, so he lets her go.



German East Africa: Second attack on Königsberg.

0500: Crew of HMS Severn busy double-checking steel plate and hammock protection.

0750: HMS Severn casts off from HMFM Trent and ties line to tug Blackcock, which tows the monitor to reduce travel time to Rufiji.

0800: HMS Mersey casts off from Trent and ties line to tug Revenger.

0840: Admiral King-Hall transfers his flag from Hyacinth to Weymouth.

0935: HMS Hyacinth and Trent set out for Simba Wango entrance.

1027: Severn slips line to Blackcock and proceeds toward the delta.

1030: Mersey slips line to Revenger. Weymouth departs Tirene Bay for Kikunja entrance.

1115: Hyacinth notes aircraft overhead.

1135: Severn opens fire on shore positions and boat crossing the channel entrance. It is only later discovered that this was a British-built boat, salvaged from the wreck of SS Newbridge, which had been sunk as a blockship months earlier. The Germans had recovered the boat and fitted it with a mast and sails and used it to ferry provisions. On July 11th it was engaged in this task when Severn spotted her and opened fire. The boat's crew rowed for their lives and managed to reach the opposite shore unscathed.

1136: German shore positions open fire on Monitors. Mersey almost immediately receives hit aft, three men wounded.

1145: Severn enters Rufiji River via Kikunja channel.

1150: Mersey enters the mouth of the Kikunja channel, and opens fire on German shore positions.

1203: Hyacinth opens fire on shore positions.

1205: Weymouth moves to Kikunja entrance.

1212: Severn notes Königsberg opening fire. Shots fall short.

1215: Mersey opens fire on Königsberg, guided by the spotting plane of Lts. Cull and Arnold. Ship's log notes Königsberg's fire passing over.

1223: Severn anchors "five miles above Ras Simba Uranga."

1225: Hyacinth ceases fire on shore positions.

1230: Severn opens fire, notes Königsberg's fire is very accurate.

1239: Aircraft reports monitors are hitting Königsberg.

1245: Weymouth opens fire on shore positions.

1249: Cull and Arnold's plane is hit by German fire. The engine is damaged, and finally quits. Cull glides down toward Mersey.

1250: Mersey receives message from Lt. Arnold: "We ar hit. Send boat."

1252: Mersey sends boat to downed aircraft. Pilot and observer rescued.

1254: Monitors both note enormous explosion on Königsberg.

1300: Königsberg ceases fire.

1310: Weymouth anchors. Weymouth and Pyramus both fire on shore positions.

1315: Weymouth ceases fire on shore positions. Begins firing single shots at Pemba telephone station, one shot every five minutes. Gunboat Pyramus moves upriver.

1330: Mersey proceeds to position 7,200 yards from Köningsberg. Hyacinth notes large smoke cloud to southwest, presumed to be from Königsberg.

1340: Watkins and Bishop arrive in second spotting aeroplane. Aboard Königsberg Captain Looff gives order to abandon ship. His first officer, Kapitanleutnant Georg Koch, is ordered to place detonators under three of the ship's torpedoes.

1350: Severn sends message to Admiral King-Hall: "Königsberg has ceased firing. Am convinced she is total wreck. Five enormous explosions. She is burning hard now."

1400: Severn moves to position within sight of Mersey. Köningsberg's crew now safely ashore, the torpedoes are detonated and Köningsberg's back is broken.

1408: Mersey opens fire again.

1430: Captain Fullerton climbs to Severn's topmast, reports Königsberg heavily on fire.

1435: Mersey weighs anchor and moves downriver to rejoin Severn.

1445: Weymouth notes monitors report Königsberg destroyed. Orders monitors to retire.

1455: Severn weighs anchor and monitors proceed downriver together.

1500: Hyacinth weighs anchor and heads back to Tirene.

1530: Monitors pass the German shore positions unharmed, with Pyramus patrolling close to shore giving covering fire.

1540: Monitors are clear of Rufiji. Weymouth moves to escort them back to Mafia Island.

1630: Monitors are again towed by tugs as they proceed to Tirene Bay.

1950: Severn ties up alongside Trent.

2030: Mersey ties up alongside Trent.

Sometime around sunset Königsberg's dead are buried and the surviving crew march off to join the forces of Colonel Lettow-Vorbeck. Most of the ship's guns were later salvaged and converted to field cannons, the heaviest German artillery in Africa. Max Looff was awarded the Iron Cross First Class, and 150 of his crew received the IC Second Class.

Mersey: Three wounded.
Königsberg: Twenty-two dead and forty-eight wounded. Among the wounded is the ship's captain, Max Looff.

In his final report Captain Looff includes the message "SMS Königsberg is destroyed but not conquered."

The isolation and destruction of SMS Königsberg has taken 255 days, tied down 27 British ships, and caused the consumption of 8,000 tons of coal.

[Jimbuna]

12th July 1915

Western Front

Crown Prince checked in Argonne after vigorous offensive.

German advance round Souchez and capture cemetery.

German attack in the "Labyrinth" (north of Arras) repulsed.

Eastern Front

Enemy offensive on the Bobr and Narev fronts (north-east of Warsaw).

Southern Front

Turkish trenches before Achi Baba captured.

Italian air raid on Pola.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Engagements reported between British-Belgian force and Germans on north Rhodesian frontier.

Political, etc.

State control of coal industry announced in Germany.

Austria-Hungary offers Romania parts of Bukowina and Bessarabia in exchange for neutrality and providing munitions for the Ottoman Empire.

Jervis Bay Territory is transferred to the Federal Capital Territory of Australia so that the capital at Canberra can have access to the sea.

Ship Losses:

Merlin ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) east south east of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Purple Heather ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 23 nautical miles (43 km) south east by east of Lowestoft by SM UB-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Speedwell ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 19 nautical miles (35 km) south east by east of Lowestoft by SM UB-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Woodbine ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was set afire and scuttled in the North Sea 18 nautical miles (33 km) south east of Lowestoft by SM UB-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

Picture of the German Crown Prince Wilhelm from today:

[Sailor Steve]

July 12:

North Sea: Erich Haeker, commanding UB-6, attacks a tiny fishing fleet. Scuttled are the fishing smacks Merlin, 47 tons, Purple Heather, 42 tons, Speedwell, 38 tons, and Woodbine, 29 tons. Another smack, Emerald, is damaged. Haeker's score is now 6 vessels sunk for 3,794 tons.



German East Africa: At 1130 Admiral King-Hall transfers his flag from HMS Hyacinth to the 1902 Second-Class Cruiser HMS Challenger.

The crew of HMS Mersey are employed stripping down the guns and removing sandbags. The crew of Severn are busy removing sandbags, oil drums and kerosene tins to the collier Kendall Castle, and bringing the ship's furniture back on board.

Aboard SMS Königsberg work begins on removing the six 10cm guns for use by Colonel Lettow-Vorbeck's army.

[Jimbuna]

13th July 1915

Western Front

New German offensive in Argonne. They capture French line at Vienne-le-Chateau and the height of La Fille Morte.

Eastern Front

Austrian advance across Dniester in Bukovina; German attack on Narev.

Russia prepares trenches on the Romanian border due to fears that they might join Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Southern Front

French advance to the Kereves Dere stream (Gallipoli).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Death of Sultan of Lahej from wound received during Turkish attack.

Naval

Barents Sea
T. R. Ferens, Admiralty trawler, 307/1913, Hull-reg, hired 5/15 as minesweeper, one of six trawlers fitted out at Lowestoft to sweep German mines laid in June in White Sea on the route to Archangel, departed 22 June, arrived Alexandrovsk, Murman coast on 6 July, started sweeping successfully. Mined, damaged off one of the headlands.

Political, etc.

Chancellor of the Exchequer McKenna announces Britain has raised £600 million for the war effort in the largest loan in history.

House of Commons warns Welsh coal workers that taking part in a strike would be in violation of the munitions of war act.

Orville Wright, inventor of powered flight, states it would by folly for the U.S. to fight in a war as its air capabilities are limited.

Nine American youths cross the border into Canada in order to enlist. US State Department contacts Canada to have them discharged.

Richard Mohun, US explorer and diplomat, has passed away. He acted as an intermediary in the 40 minute long Anglo-Zanzibar War.

Ship Losses:

Lennok ( Russia): The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 35 nautical miles (65 km) north north east of Muckle Flugga, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom by SM U-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

German postcard from 1915 titled “Kaiser Wilhelm and his Generals”:

[Sailor Steve]

July 13:

North Sea: On his way back to Germany Walther Schwieger, commanding U-20, sinks Russian freighter SS Lennok, 1,142 tons, bound from Archangelsk to London with an unspecified cargo. Schweiger ends his fourth war patrol with a total of 15 ships and 71,857 tons.



German East Africa: The crew of HMS Mersey spend the day removing sandbags from the ship.

The crew of HMS Severn are also busy offloading sandbags and petrol tins to the collier SS Kendall Castle.

[Jimbuna]

14th July 1915

Western Front

Germans attack Belgians on Yser canal and are repulsed.

Eastern Front

Russians fall back towards Narev.

Great Austro-German offensive from Baltic to Bukovina begins.

Enemy capture Przasnysz (Narev).

Southern Front

Montenegrins repulse Austrian attack at Grahovo (Montenegro).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Turks driven from Nasriya (Euphrates) by British force from Kurna.

Political, etc.

A Dominion Premier (Sir R. Borden, Canada) for the first time attends meeting of the British Cabinet.

National Registration Bill passes House of Lords.

A. Bonar Law, British Secretary for the Colonies, announces Allied forces have occupied 450,000 square miles of former German colonies.

France celebrates Bastille Day. President Poincare makes a speech stating the war must go on until the future is made safe.

Kaiser Wilhelm reassures a group of bankers, who are worried about the wartime economy, that the war will end by October.

Ship Losses:

Rym ( Norway): The cargo ship struck a mine (Possibly laid by UC-1 Egon von Werner) and sank in the North Sea 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) off the Shipwash Lightship ( United Kingdom) with the loss of a crew member.
Vivid ( Belgium): The fishing vessel struck a mine (Possibly laid by UC-3 Erwin Weisbach) and sank in the English Channel off Calais, France.

[Sailor Steve]

July 14:

German East Africa: The crews of HMS Mersey and Severn spend the day coaling their ships and removing petrol tins. Severn receives a visit from Admiral King-Hall.

[Jimbuna]

15th July 1915

Western Front

Failure of Germans in attempt to reach left bank of Yser results in heavy losses.

Eastern Front

New German offensive towards Riga develops.

Germans storm line south of Zielovna (near Przasnysz), and force Russians to retreat towards the Narev.

Southern Front

Italian offensive in Upper Cadore develops (Dolomites).

Naval

Germany apologizes for the deaths of Americans on the steamer Nebraskan, but states submarine warfare will continue.

North Sea

AGAMEMNON II, Admiralty trawler, 225/1907, Consolidated Steam Fishing & Ice, Grimsby-reg GY187 (He – Hull), hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.19, Harwich-based, Skipper Frederick Sibley RNR. With other Harwich sweepers clearing minefield discovered that morning, and in fact laid that morning by UC.1 (Egon von Werner). Lt-Cdr Hugh Archer of HMS Actaeon, Sheerness Torpedo School, embarked and in command of operation. Recovering sweep when a mine fouling the wire was pulled into the ship and exploded, sank off the Shipwash Sands, off Orford Ness (wi - in 51.57N, 01.36.45E); 9 ratings lost.

Political, etc.

150,000 Welsh miners go on strike, bringing all the coal mines in South Wales to a standstill.

Austria-Hungary protests U.S. arms shipments to the Allies, stating they question American “neutrality.”

National Registration Act becomes law in Great Britain.


Ship Losses:

HMT Agamemnon II ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC.1 (Egon von Werner) and sank in the North Sea off the Shipwash Lightship ( United Kingdom) with the loss of nine of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

July 15:

United States: There is an explosion at the Central Railroad grain elevator at Weehawken, New Jersey. Sabotage is suspected.



Air War: Kurt Wintgens, still in E.5/15. files a third claim, again a Morane 'L' parasol. This time the enemy plane comes down on the German side of the lines. This is the first confirmed victory for Wintgens, and the first official victory for an eindecker and for a synchronized gun.



German East Africa: At 0700 hours a diving party is employed examining the bottom of HMS Mersey.

Aboard HMS Severn the crew is cleaning the ship. In the afternoon, aboard both monitors the job of removing all the armour plate begins.

At 1507 HMS Hyacinth departs Zanzibar for a new assignment elsewhere.

At 1700 hours shore parties start loading aircraft stores from the airstip onto HMS Laconia.

[Jimbuna]

16th July 1915

Western Front

German attack in Lorraine (forest of Parroy) and in sector of Fontenoy (west of Soissons).

Eastern Front

Between Vistula and Bug Germans attack Russians on the Wolitsa, and Russians repulse Archduke north of Krasnik.

Russians defeat Austrians on east bank of Dniester and capture 2,000 prisoners.

Political etc.

French army begins equipping troops with short knives for use in trench warfare, as bayonets are too unwieldy in the narrow trenches.

Austro-Hungarian government publishes the “Red Book,” which details Allied crimes against prisoners of war.

Henry Morgenthau Sr, US ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, sends a telegram about the “extermination” of Armenians.


Ship Losses:

Balva ( Russia): The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea (59°45′N 4°05′E by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

July 16:

There is an explosion and fire at the Aetna plant at Sinnemahoning, Pennsylvania. Five workers are killed.



North Sea: Constantin Kolbe, in his last patrol in U-19, attacks the Royal Navy trawler HMT Cameo. Only one shell hits the trawler before the attack is called off.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...&postcount=113

Claus Hansen begins his third war patrol in U-41 by sinking the Russian freighter SS Balva, 1,165 tons, bound from Leith to Arkhangelsk with a cargo of coal. Hansen now has 17 ships and 24,504 tons.



German East Africa: The crews of HMS Mersey and Severn spend the morning removing armour plating to HMFM Trent and bringing back their ships' fittings. In the afternoon they move to Niororo Island to allow parties to go ashore for recreation.


[edit] Apparently this patrol was not Kolbe's last patrol in U-19. It seems he made three more, all without so much as seeing an enemy ship.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...&postcount=114

[Jimbuna]

17th July 1915

Eastern Front

Heavy fighting between Vistula and Bug.

Mackensen continues offensive on the Wolitsa.

Southern Front

Serbians evacuate Durazzo (Albania) at request of Italians, but keep neighbouring strategical points.

Naval and Overseas Operations

"Lusitania" report issued by Lord Mersey. (The full report has never been made public).
http://www.rmslusitania.info/primary...mersey-report/

https://firstworldwarhiddenhistory.w...eys-whitewash/

Political, etc.

Two spies condemned to death at Westminster Guildhall.

Since the start of the war, food prices in London have increased by 35%. In Berlin, the prices have risen by 69%.

Signing of secret treaty between Turco-German Allies and Bulgaria.

Ship Losses:

General Radetzky ( Russia): The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 65 nautical miles (120 km) north east of Lerwick, Shetland Islands United Kingdom (60°04′N 1°52′E) by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

The USS Ohio (pictured) and the USS Missouri passes through the Panama Canal today, the first battleships to do so.

[Sailor Steve]

July 17:

North Sea: Claus Hansen, commanding U-41, sinks Russian freighter SS General Radetzky, 2,118 tons, bound from Arkangelsk to London with a load of timber. His score is now 18 ships and 26,622 tons.



German East Africa: Admiral King-Hall removes his small fleet, including the two monitors, from Niororo and Mafia Islands to Zanzibar.