100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

10th August 1915

Western Front

Gains at Hooge consolidated.

British artillery and aircraft active on Belgian Coast.

Eastern Front

Vilna and Kovna being evacuated.

Novo Georgievsk and Brest Litovsk bombarded.

Germans reach Kaluszyn (east of Warsaw).

Russians dislodged north-west of Kock (Veprj); Lomja and Ostrov (Bug) in enemy hands.

Southern Front

Vigorous Italian offensive on Isonzo.

Italian advance in Ortler range (Upper Adige).

Feint landing at Karachali (Gulf of Saros, Gallipoli).

Colonel Mustafa Kemal leads a counterattack against Allied troops at Chunuk Bair, recapturing the ridge.


Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians pursue Turks on Upper Euphrates and capture important height in valley of Passin.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Dover Straits
Cleon, 266/1907, hired 5/15 and Equinox, 198/1899, hired 6/15 both Grimsby-reg Admiralty trawlers, at anchor close together in Dover Harbour. Zeppelin dropped bombs just after midnight, Cleon damaged, one landed near Equinox, exploded in water, funnel and sides riddled with shrapnel; three Equinox crew asleep in their bunks below were wounded; one rating died of wounds (dp - four asleep, two ratings killed outright, one dangerously wounded but recovered).

German fleet bombards Riga and is again driven off.

US battleships Louisiana and New Hampshire are dispatched to Veracruz, Mexico after reports of anti-US riots in the city.

Aviation

German zeppelins drop bombs on British warships in the Thames, the London docks, torpedo boats near Harwich, and other naval targets.

German zeppelin L 12 is brought down by antiaircraft fire over Dover and falls into the English Channel.



Political, etc.

New Japanese Cabinet formed.

America's reply to Germany regarding "William P. Frye" despatched.

Duma decides on enquiry into abuses connected with munitions.

Bucharest refuses to authorise transport of German munitions to Turkey.

Ship Losses:

Aura ( Norway): The coaster was sunk in the North Sea 13 nautical miles (24 km) off Marstenen, Nordland 60°05′N 4°45′E by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Esperance ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 17 nautical miles (31 km) east north east of Cromer, Norfolk by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
François ( France: The barque was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) west south west of the Fastnet Rock (50°40′N 10°51′W) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Morna ( Norway): The sailing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock (50°40′N 11°10′W) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Oakwood ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 45 nautical miles (83 km) south south east of the Old Head of Kinsale, County Cork by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Rosalie ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off Blakeney, Norfolk by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Utopia ( United Kingdom): The coaster was stopped, shelled and sunk in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) east of St. Abb's Head, Aberdeenshire by SM U-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

Henry Moseley, English physicist who made significant contributions in the field, is killed at Gallipoli at age 27.

[Sailor Steve]

August 10:

"I don't seem to be able to get away from this damn war. Last night "old man Zepp" came over here - "boucoup de bombs," - "pas de success." Two machines went up to spikebozzle him, but, of course, never even saw him. A sub(lieutenant) went up from Westgate and came down in standing corn. He turned over two somersaults. Have just heard that he has since died. I knew him slightly. We have a terrific big bomb hole in the middle of the aerodrome and numerous smaller ones at the back. Expect to be back in Dunkirk on Sunday next. "Pas de Dardanelles." We are going into khaki though."
-Harold Rosher, letter to his father from RN Flying School, Eastchurch, August 10 1915



Celtic Sea: Max Valentiner, commanding U-38, has moved to the south of Ireland. Here he sinks British freighter SS Oakwood, 4,279 tons, bound from Liverpool to Cienfuegos in ballast. His score is now 28 ships and 14,704 tons.

Waldemar Kophamel, in U-35, attacks the Russian schooner SV Baltzer, 343 tons, travelling from Gulfport to Cork with a load of timber. The stricken ship survives. Kophamel then stops and sinks the French barque François, 2,212 tons, carrying a load of grain, and Norwegian sailing ship Morna, 1,512 tons, carrying a load of wheat. The two ships are travelling in company from Portland, Oregon to Queenstown. His score is now 19 ships and 29,440 tons.



North Sea: Hans Walther, in U-17, stops and sinks tiny British freighter SS Utopia, 155 tons, bringing his score to 6 ships and 11,931 tons.

Just off the coast of Marstenen, Norway, Otto Wünsche in U-25 sinks Norwegian freighter SS Aura, 396 tons, carrying a load of deals and boards from Bergen to London. His score is now 18 ships and 10,252 tons.

Otto Steinbrinck, in UB-10, torpedoes and sinks British freighter SS Rosalie, 4,243 tons, travelling from Tyne to San Francisco with an unspecified cargo. He then stops and scuttles fishing smack Esperance, 46 tons, bringing his score to 16 ships and 11,216 tons.

[Jimbuna]

11th August 1915

Ship Losses:

George Borrow ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) east north east of Cromer, Norfolk by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.George Crabbe ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 15 to 16 nautical miles (28 to 30 km) east north east of Cromer by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Humphrey ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 48 nautical miles (89 km) east by south of Cromer by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Illustrious ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 17 nautical miles (31 km) east by north of Cromer by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Leader ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) east by north of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ocean's Gift ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 16 nautical miles (30 km) east of Cromer by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Palm ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 17 nautical miles (31 km) east by north of Cromer by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Trevear ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 17 nautical miles (31 km) east by north of Cromer by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Welcome ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 17 nautical miles (31 km) east by north of Cromer by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Young Admiral ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 17 nautical miles (31 km) east by north of Cromer by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

August 11:

United States: There is an incendiary fire at the Westingouse Electric Plant at Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania.



Air War: British pilot Lanoe Hawker, flying FE.2b 4227 with a "Lt. N. Clifton" as gunner, shoots down an Aviatik two-seater at 0645 and half an hour later outfights a Fokker E.I. These are kills number 5 and 6, and make Hawker Britain's first ace.



North Sea: Erich Haecker, commanding UB-6, scuttles British fishing vessel Leader, 57 tons, bringing his score to 8 ships and 4,257 tons.

Otto Steinbrinck, in UB-10, encounters and scuttles an entire fleet of British fishing smacks: George Borrow, 62 tons, George Crabbe, 42 tons, Humphrey, 41 tons, Illustrious, 59 tons, Ocean's Gift, 60 tons, Palm, 47 tons, Trevear, 47 tons, Welcome, 59 tons, and Young Admiral, 60 tons. His score is now 29 ships and 11,693 tons.

[Jimbuna]

12th August 1915

Eastern Front

Russians evacuate Sokolov, Syedlets, Lukow (east of Warsaw); material evacuated from Riga.

Austro-German armies in touch west of Brest-Litovsk and form unbroken line. Germans driven back beyond Aa, south-west of Mitau.

German offensive in the north of the Eastern Front is halted by the Russian forts at Kovno (Kaunas).

Russians capture Kovarsk and Toviamy (west-south-west of Dvinsk).

Southern Front

Italians leaving Turkey.

Serbians retaliate for Austrian bombardment of Belgrade by bombarding Semlin and Panchevo.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russian left wing re-occupies Alashgerd (Armenia).

Aviation

Zeppelin raid on east coast; 29 victims.


Charles Edmonds, flying a Short 184, becomes the 1st person to launch an aerial torpedo attack. Short Type 184 seaplanes from carrier Ben-my-Chree carried out first ever aerial torpedo attacks, launching 14in torpedoes in the Dardanelles area against Turkish ships on the 12th and 17th, results in ships sunk or damaged is uncertain.


Naval and Overseas Operations

Naval engagement between German and Russian fleets near Oesel (Riga).

French cruiser shells and destroys German munition factory at Jaffa.

Gallipoli Campaign
Swiftsure, battleship, Swiftsure-class, 11,800t, 4-10in/14-7.5in and Grafton, ex-1st-class protected cruiser, Edgar-class, 7,350t, 2-9.2in/10-6in, now bulged or "blister ship", providing gunfire support off Suvla beaches. Swiftsure hit by 12-pdr field gun, 5 ratings lost and 10 wounded, one of whom died, Grafton off C-beach, S of Nibrunesi Point lost 9 ratings killed and 10 wounded.

Manica, kite balloon ship, 4,120/1900, hired 12/5/15, supporting Suvla landings. (da - 14th) - Torpedo fired by UB.8 from 500yds passed under her shallow draught (da - submarine sighted outside net, two torpedoes fired and missed Manica, hit net at acute angle and burst). Attack two days later on a similar vessels also unsuccessful.

Political, etc.

Under the Munitions of War Act, 345 British arms firms are put under government control.

$19.5 million ($460 million today) worth of British gold arrives at New York City under heavy guard as payment for US exports.

10,000,000 francs in gold deposited in one week in Banque de France.

700,000 steel “head shields” are distributed to the French army pending the manufacture of helmets.

U.S.A. reply to Austria affirms export of munitions of war not against laws of neutrality.

King Albert made Colonel-in-Chief of 5th Dragoon Guards.

Ship Losses:

Grodno ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Arctic Sea 98 nautical miles (181 km) north west of the Lofoten Islands, Norway (68°55′N 9°08′E) by SM U-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived
Jacona ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) north north west of Troupe Head, Banffshire with the loss of 29 of her crew.
Osprey ( United Kingdom): The coaster was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) north east by north of Nush Terrah, County Kerry by SM U-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Sunflower ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) east by north of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-5 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

August 12:

"Have just arrived here from Eastchurch, having been suddenly recalled, and am now told to be ready to cross to Dunkirk in half an hour - no gear, dirty linen, "pas de leave" - what a life!

Shall try hard to get some leave in a week or so's time. anyhow I must get my khaki outfit."
- Harold Rosher, letter to his father from the Hotel Burlington, Dover, August 12, 1915



Atlantic Ocean: Rudolf Schneider, Commanding U-24, has moved from the North Sea to the west coast of Ireland. It is here that he uses his deck gun to sink the small British freighter SS Osprey, 310 tons, travelling from Baltimore, Ireland, to Cleggan with a load of salt. His score is now 17 ships and 49,497 tons.



Norwegian Sea: Bruno Hoppe, in U-22, sinks British freighter SS Grodno, 1,955 tons, bound from Archangelsk to Hull with a general cargo, bringing his score to 7 ships and 15,668 tons.



North Sea: Wilhelm Smiths, in UB-5, stops British fishing smack Sunflower, 60 tons. After allowing the crew to depart the sailing boat is sunk with scuttling charges. Smiths' score is now 2 vessels and 844 tons.

[mako88sb]

12th August 1915

A bit late but I just found out about this after watching the movie "All the Kings Men". http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK...-Sandringhams/

[Jimbuna]

13th August 1915

Western Front

German attacks in Argonne repulsed.

Germans bombard Raon l'Etape (Argonne).

Eastern Front

Field Marshal von Hindenburg takes command of the German army attacking Kovno (Kaunas) after previous failures by his subordinates.

Germans thrust back after three days' fighting from Vlodava (on the Upper Bug).

Southern Front

Italian progress on the Carso and advance in Sexten valley (Carn.).

Battle of Krithia Vineyard at Gallipoli ends after a series of futile British attacks, who suffer more than 4000 casualties.


Naval and Overseas Operations

Austro-Hungarian submarine U.III sunk by Italian and French warships in Strait of Otranto.

HMT Royal Edward, a British transport, is sunk by the UB-14 in the Aegean Sea. 935 lives are lost.


Persian Gulf
Juno, ex-2nd-class cruiser, Eclipse-class, 5,600t, 5-6in/6-4.7in, was 11th CS, arrived Persian Gulf in July, Capt D Wake. Shore party casualties were recorded for August. Apparently German-inspired trouble led to decision to occupy the whole of the island of Bushire on the Persian side of the Gulf, carried out by a small joint naval/army force commanded by Capt Wake on 13th/14th; 4 ratings killed on 13th, 1 officer DOW on 14th, 1 rating on 16th, ship presumably not damaged.

Political, etc.

German military authorities in Belgium advise Germans to leave the country due to food shortages in the coming winter months.

Bulgarian Premier, M. Radoslavov, explains Bulgaria's aims, etc., to American press.

Ship Losses:

Amethyst ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 7 nautical miles (13 km) east south east of Lowestoft, Suffolk. Her crew survived.
Cairo ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 34 nautical miles (63 km) south south west of the Tuskar Rock (51°44′N 6°33′W) by SM U-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Campania ( United Kingdom): 1915 Galveston hurricane: The ocean liner was driven ashore at Galveston, Texas, United States. She was refloated on 21 August.
Curaçao ( United Kingdom): The schooner was wrecked on Cayman Brac with the loss of all hands.
Eaton Hall ( United Kingdom): 1915 Galveston hurricane: The cargo ship was driven ashore at Galveston.
E.M.W. ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 29 nautical miles (54 km) north east by east of Cromer, Norfolk by SM UB-5 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Harlesden ( United Kingdom): 1915 Galveston hurricane: The cargo ship was driven ashore at Galveston.
Hawkhead ( United Kingdom): 1915 Galveston hurricane: The cargo ship was driven ashore at Galveston.
J.W.F.T. ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 29 nautical miles (54 km) north east by north of Cromer by SM UB-5 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ribston ( United Kingdom): 1915 Galveston hurricane: The cargo ship was driven ashore at Galveston.
HMT Royal Edward ( United Kingdom): The troopship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Kandeloussa, Greece (36°31′N 25°51′E) by SM UB-14 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 935 of the 1,596 people on board.
Summerfield ( United Kingdom): The coaster struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) east of Lowestoft with the loss of three of her crew.
Sverige ( Sweden): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) south east of Lowestoft. Her crew survived.
SM U-3 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy): The U-3-class submarine was depth charged, shelled and sunk by Bisson ( French Navy) with the loss of seven of her 21 crew.

George Joseph Smith, an English serial killer who was identified using new techniques in forensics, is executed.

[Sailor Steve]

August 13:

"Got aboard and were off by 8.0 p.m. last night - our ship a comic old tramp with absolutely no accommodation. It took us 6 hours to make Dunkirk and we were not allowed off until 8.0 a.m. this morning. Spent the night walking about or trying to get a little sleep on deck - thank God! it was not rough. We are all "fed to the teeth!" In all probablilty we shall remain out here another six months now.

The Zepp that was bombed from here had actually been towed right into Ostend harbour. Every one that went had his machine hit, and one man is missing. This place was bombarded again last night with the big gun. Expect we are in for a merry time."
- Harold Rosher, letter to his mother, August 13, 1915



Celtic Sea: Rudolf Schneider, Commanding U-24, has moved to the southeast coast of Ireland. Here he sinks the British freighter SS Cairo, 1,671 tons, bound from Glasgow to Huelva, Spain, with a general cargo. This brings his score to 18 ships and 51,168 tons.



North Sea: Wilhelm Smiths, in UB-5, stops and scuttles a pair of fishing smacks - E.M.W., 47 tons, and J.W.F.T., 60 tons, bringing his score to 4 vessels and 951 tons.



Aegean Sea: Heino von Heimburg, in UB-14, sinks Canadian troopship HMT Royal Edward, 11,117 tons, travelling from Alexandria to Mudros. Estimates of the lives lost vary from a low of 866 (Gray) to a high of 1,865 (Gilbert). Von Heimburg's score is now 2 ships and 21,235 tons.

[Jimbuna]

14th August 1915

Western Front

19 French aeroplanes bombard Valley of Spada (St. Mihiel, Meuse).

Eastern Front

Russian sortie from Kovna repulsed.

Enemy force Nurzec (C.) crossing.

Russians attack near Czernowitz (Bukovina).

Aviation

First flight: Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.9


Naval and Overseas Operations

The SS Eastland, whose sinking led to 844 deaths, is righted and raised.


WORSLEY, Admiralty trawler, 309/1913, E C Grant, Grimsby-reg GY814, hired 1914 as minesweeper (D - 7/15 as auxiliary patrol vessel), 1-3pdr, believed Harwich-based, Lt James Feetham RNR. On patrol with a second trawler along the Suffolk coast between Sizewell and Shipwash LV, mined under the bridge at 1800, laid by UC.6 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow) the previous day, broke in two and sank in under two minutes, one mile N of Aldeburgh Napes buoy, off Suffolk (WI - in 52.09N, 01.36.30E); Lt Feetham lost.

Political etc.

Britain warns US aviators not to cross the Canadian border, reminding them that Canada is currently at a state of war.

Romania again refuses to allow German ammunition to pass through the country to Turkey. 4 new Romanian divisions are mobilized.

Ottoman ambassador to Germany Mahmud Muhtar Pasha is recalled after reporting that Germany and Austria were exhausted by war.

Russia's Council of Ministers approves plan to allow women to be admitted to universities without need for special permissions.

Ship Losses:

Albis ( Norway): The coaster was sunk in the Barents Sea 60 nautical miles (110 km) west north west of Stat (62°20′N 3°15′E) by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Bona Fide ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) east north east of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-4 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Gloria ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 55 nautical miles (102 km) east by north of Aberdeen by SM U-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Princess Caroline ( United Kingdom): The carho ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 14 nautical miles (26 km) north by east of Kinnaird Head, Aberdeenshire with the loss of four of her crew.
White City ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea off Cromer, Norfolk by SM UB-5 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Worsley ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Aldeburgh, Suffolk with the loss of a crew member.

[Sailor Steve]

August 14:

Norwegian Sea: Otto Wünsche, commanding U-25, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Albis, 1,381 tons, bound from Archangelsk to Immingham with a load of pit props. His score is now 19 ships and 11,663 tons.



North Sea: Karl Groß, in UB-4, stops and scuttles British fishing smack Bona Fide, 69 tons. This is his last sinking, and his final score is 4 ships and 10,942 tons.

Wilhelm Smiths, in UB-5, scuttles fishing smack White City, 45 tons. His score is now 5 ships and 996 tons.



German East Africa: The crew of HMS Severn are again busy installing armour plating.

[Jimbuna]

15th August 1915

Western Front

Violent bombardment on Yser front.

Eastern Front

1,730 Russians taken prisoners outside Kovna. Losice, Biala, and Mazyrecze (west of Brest) captured; enemy crosses Bug east of Droghiczyn.

Russian line broken at Bransk (on Nurzec), 5,000 prisoners taken.

Southern Front

Venice bombarded by seaplane.

Naval

Russian minelayer Ladoga is sunk after hitting a German mine in the Baltic.


HM Armed Smack Inverlyon, a converted fishing boat, lures and sinks the German submarine UB-4.


Political, etc.

Lieutenant General Sir Frederick Stopford is dismissed for the failure of the Suvla Bay Landing. He slept through the initial landings.

It is national registry day in the UK. Everyone between 15 and 65 must register their age, occupation, marital status, & nationality.

Cholera in Hungary.

Japan suspends all German trademarks, patents, and other industrial design privileges for the duration of the war.

Ship Losses:

Ladoga ( Imperial Russian Navy): The minelayer struck a mine and sank in the Baltic Sea off Örö, Sweden with the loss of five of her crew.
Marie ( Denmark) The three-masted schooner was sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) off Kinnaird Head, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom by SM U-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Sverige ( Sweden): The cargo ship was beached at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. She broke in two and was a total loss.
SMS T46 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The S43-class torpedo boat struck a mine and sank in the Gulf of Riga.
SM UB-4 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The Type UB I submarine was shelled and sunk in the North Sea off Lowestoft, Suffolk, United Kingdom (52°43′N 2°18′E) by HM Armed Smack Inverlyon ( Royal Navy) with the loss of all fourteen crew.

[Sailor Steve]

August 15:

North Sea: Hans Walther, commanding U-17, sinks Danish schooner Marie, 158 tons, bound from Falkenberg to Granton with a load of wood. He also captures Swedish freighter SS Götaland, 3,538 tons, as a prize, but the ship is later released. Walther's score is now 8 ships and 12,219 tons.



Karl Groß, in UB-4, spies another group of fishing smacks. Groß approaches one of them and commands the crew to abandon ship. The intended victim is His Majesty's Armed Smack Inverlyon. Her commander, RN gunner Ernest Jehan, waits until the u-boat is only 30 yards away, then raises the White Ensign and opens fire with his 3-pdr gun. The bridge crew, including Groß, are killed. Another group of shots sends the u-boat to the bottom, taking the rest of her 15-man crew with her.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Martin_Jehan



German East Africa: Work continues preparing HMS Severn for another raid.

[Jimbuna]

16th August 1915

Eastern Front

Russian army withdrawn to Brest-Osovyets-Kovna line.

Byelostok (Grodno) partially evacuated.

Kovna bombarded; breach made in defences.

Austrians cross Krzna (Brest).

Germans repulsed fro Mitau (Riga).

Southern Front

Montenegrin success on border against Austrians.

Admiral de Robeck's despatch of 1 July 1915 on Dardanelles landing 25-26 April 1915 received.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians enter Van (Armenia).

Russian communique announces defeat of Turks and occupation of Kep (Euphrates); Turks driven back near Olti (Transcaucasia).

Naval and Overseas Operations

U.24 shelled Harrington area of Whitehaven, Cumberland and damaged benzol and naphtha works, which were out of action for four days.

German fleet attacks at entrance of Gulf of Riga.

North Sea
JAPAN, Admiralty trawler, 205/1904, H L Taylor, Grimsby-reg GY28, hired 1915 (D - 8/14; He - 1914) as minesweeper, Admiralty No.42, Lt Richard Harcourt RNR i/c, Skipper Arthur Barber RNR, believed Harwich-based, sailed from Lowestoft or Harwich, sweeping with HMT Touchstone for UC-laid mines, both vessels clearing sweeps at 1915. Winch boat Japan heaved in sweep wire and saw it was fouled by a mine (laid by UC.6, Matthias Graf von Schmettow) only 30yd away, by the time the winch-man’s warning had been heard and acted on, the mine was only 3-4yd distant, insufficient headway was kept on using the trawler’s engines, mine blew up port-side between bridge and foremast, sinking her within 30sec off S end of Shipwash shoal, off Harwich (wi - three entries - in 51.53.28N, 01.34.29E, in 51.57N, 01.36.45E and in 51.52.40N, 01.37E); five ratings killed (He – 4 killed), two of the bodies were picked up by HMT Lord Roberts and Touchstone and landed at HMS Ganges, survivors rescued from the water within 15min.

Eastern Mediterranean
B.6, (Lt C MacArthur) and B.11 (Lt N Holbrook), submarines, B-class, 287/316t, 2-18in tt, Mudros-based, from Alexandria with ABS Heroic for patrol off the Libyan/Egyptian border, information received that Turkish arms would be smuggled to Senussi tribesmen by German U-boats. Lt Holbrook attempted to land in a small boat under a flag of truce near Sollum, became suspicious and pulled back to B.11, shore group opened fire and riddled casings and bridge screens of both submarines with bullets; Lt Holbrook hit in the face by a ricochet, on B.6, ERA killed and fell overboard, CERA badly wounded, Coxswain slightly.

Gallipoli Campaign
LUNDY, Admiralty trawler, 188/1908, Hull Steam Fishing & Ice Co, Hull-reg H993, hired 5/15, 1‑3pdr, Admiralty No.1791, patrol vessel, Skipper Henry Charles Taylor RNR, in Suvla Bay, alongside SS Kalyan, taking on ammunition. Anchorage came under fire and master of the Kalyan decided to move position, slowly, with Lundy still secured. As more shells landed, one of them nearby, Kalyan increased speed and turned slightly, Lundy failed to hear the shouted warnings, her stern was dragged under the stern of the larger ship, the hull holed by the propeller, and she flooded and sank; one ratings lost (He - the engineer dying 'of shock' in the process); crew got away in their boat(s).

Political, etc.

Manifesto on National Service signed by notable men of all parties in England.

Venizelist candidate elected President of Chamber; Greek Government resigns.

Ship Losses:

Linnea ( Imperial Russian Navy): The auxiliary minesweeper struck a mine and sank in the Baltic Sea off Worms Island.
HMT Japan ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the Shipwash Lightship ( United Kingdom) with the loss of five of her crew.
HMT Lundy ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler collided with another vessel and sank in the Dardaneles.
Romulus ( Norway): The coaster was sunk in the North Sea 100 nautical miles (190 km) west south west of Lindesnes, Vest-Agder (56°30′N 3°50′E) by SM U-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine).[80] Her crew were rescued by Else ( Denmark).
Serbino ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Baltic Sea off the Worms Lighthouse by SM U-9 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Tello ( Norway): The cargo ship was captured and scuttled in the North Sea (57°00′N 5°03′E) by Götaland Germany), which had a prize crew on board from SM U-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

[Sailor Steve]

August 16:

North Sea: Hans Walther, commanding U-17, sinks Norwegian freighter Romulus, 819 tons, bound from Halmstad to West hartlepool with a load of pit props. The prize crew aboard SS Götaland, on their way to List, stop and sink Norwegian freighter SS Tello, travelling from Göteborg to Sunderland with pit props and sleepers (props to support wooden flooring). This brings his score to 10 ships and 14,256 tons.



Baltic Sea: Johannes Spieß, in U-9, torpedoes British freighter SS Serbino, 2,205 tons, carrying a load of machinery and steel from Riga to Petrograd. His score is now 12 ships and 8,635 tons.



German East Africa: The crew of HMS Severn continue re-installing armour plating on the monitor.