100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

September 7:

Air War:
British ace Lanoe Hawker, back iin Bristol Scout C 1611, scores his seventh and final victory, shooting down an unidentified German aircraft.

French observer Omer Paul Demeuldre, riding in a Maurice Farman MF.11 with a "Sgt. Teulon" as pilot, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for his first kill.



North Sea:
Werner Fürbringer, in UB-2, scuttles fishing smacks Constance, 57 tons, and Emmanuel, 44 tons, bringing his score to 9 vessels and 655 tons.

Hans Valentiner, in UB-16, scuttles fishing smacks Emblem, 50 tons, and Victorious, 43 tons. His score is now 9 ships and 9,853 tons.



Bay of Biscay:
Walther Schwieger, commanding U-20, attacks French freighter SS Bordeaux, 4,604 tons, carrying 4,200 tons of barley from Saffi to Bordeaux, with his deck gun, then sinks her with a torpedo. Also sunk is British freighter SS Caroni, 2,652 tons, bound from London to Bordeaux with a cargo of stores. Schwieger's score is now 24 ships and 107,287 tons.

[Jimbuna]

8th September 1915

Western Front

Renewed German offensive in Argonne.

Eastern Front

Great Russian victory at Tarnopol and Trembovia (Sereth), 8,000 prisoners.

Battle of Vilna proceeding.

Southern Front

Italians assume offensive in Cadore (Dolom.), but are repulsed at Doberdo (Carso).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Situation at Ispahan reported threatening.

Aviation

Allies bomb Ostend, Nesle, Metz, etc.; Zeppelin raid east counties and London, 20 killed, 86 wounded.


Naval and Overseas Operations

French auxiliary cruiser "Indien" torpedoed off Rhodes.

Dover Straits
Leven, destroyer, C-class, 420t, Dover Patrol, dark night. In collision with transport carrying 2,000 troops, bow flattened, found drifting broadside in heavy swell in the direction of Boulogne by destroyer Viking, taken in tow stern-first into Dover assisted by destroyer Tartar and tug Lady Crundall.

Political etc.

Secret Socialist Meeting at Berne; French socialists refused participation.

British Admiralty Air Department re-organised.

Ship Losses:

SMS G12 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The V1-class destroyer collided with SMS V1 ( Kaiserliche Marine and was sunk in the North Sea by the detonation of one of her torpedoes.
Indien ( French Navy): The auxiliary patrol boat was sunk in the Aegean Sea off Rhodes, Greece by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
King Albert ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a submerged object and sank 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) north west of Ceuta, Spain.
Monarch ( United Kingdom): The cable layer struck a mine and sank in the English Channel 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) south of Folkestone, Kent with the loss of three of her crew.
Mora ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Bay of Biscay 68 nautical miles (126 km) west by south of Belle Île, Morbihan, France (46°50′N 4°40′W) by SM U-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

September 8:

Air War:
German pilot Emil Thuy, flying a two-seater with an unnamed observer, is credited with shooting down an unidentified "Enemy Aircraft" for his first kill.



North Sea: British cable ship Monarch is sunk by a mine laid by Herbert Pustkuchen and UC-5. Pustkuchen's score is now 7 ships and 8,942 tons.




Bay of Biscay:
Walther Schwieger, commanding U-20, sinks British freighter SS Mora, 3,047 tons, en route from Santander to Newport with a load of ore. Schwieger ends his fifth war patrol with 25 ships and 110,334 tons.



Aegean Sea:
Claus Rücker, in U-34, ends his third war patrol with the sinking of French auxiliary patrol boat Indien, 800 tons, riding at anchor outside the harbor at Rhodes. His score is now 10 ships and 23,987 tons.

[Jimbuna]

9th September 1915

Western Front

Heavy indecisive fighting in the Vosges.

German forces attack the French salient around Verdun, capturing 300 to 500 meters of ground and 2000 prisoners.

Eastern Front

Russians hold their own in north; return to their former positions on the Sereth (S.), 5,000 more prisoners; give way slowly in the centre.

Russia continues its counterattack in Galicia and captures Dubno. Russia claims that they have captured 17,000 men since September 3rd.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Wounding and death of British Vice-Consul at Shiraz (Persia).

Aviation







Naval and Overseas Operations

North Sea
BALAKANI, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 3,696/1899, Petroleum SS Co, London-reg, Mr F White, Port Arthur for London with oil fuel. Mined, laid by UC.1 (Egon von Werner), sank ½m SW of South Longsand Buoy, off Clacton (L/te - 51.31.15N, 01.20E; wi - ½m SW by S of, in 51.31.11N, 01.20.57E); six crew lost.

Montfalcone Dockyard shelled by Italians.

Van Rensburg and forty-two rebels sentenced at Pretoria.

Political etc.

Turco-Bulgarian Convention confirmed.

United States Government demand recall of Dr. Dumba.


Mr. Lloyd George stirs up Labour at Trade Unions Congress.

Ship Losses

Balakani ( United Kingdom): The tanker struck a mine and sank in the English Channel (51°31′N 1°22′E) with the loss of six of her crew.
Cornubia ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 75 nautical miles (139 km) south east by south of Cartagena, Murcia, Spain (36°46′N 0°15′E) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Devonian ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) north east of the Spurn Lightship ( United Kingdom) with the loss of nine of her crew.
L'Aude ( France): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) north north west of Oran, Algeria (36°23′N 0°59′W) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Ville de Mostaganem ( France): The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 70 nautical miles (130 km) north east of Mostaganem, Algeria by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

September 9:

"Very little news except that we had the monitors bombarding Ostend the day before yesterday. It was a fine sight from the air. A Frenchman was badly hit in the leg going out there, but went on, dropped his bombs and got back. He is not expected to live. Another Frenchman broke his leg this morning in an accident. Four new subs (sub-lieutenants) have turned up here and I am to go home as soon as they can fly the fast machines - it should be within 10 days. I ought to have gone home by rights about two weeks ago. Am flying over when I eventually do come. The last two machines that went over both crashed at Folkestone - shall probably do the same."
-Harold Rosher, letter to his father, September 9, 1915



Air War:
German pilot Oswald Boelke, flying a Fokker E.I, shoots down a Morane 'L' two-seater for his third kill.



North Sea: British tanker SS Balakani, 3,696 tons, hauling oil from Port Arthur to London, is sunk by a mine laid by Egon von Werner in UC-1. Werner's score is now 6 ships and 7,331 tons.



Mediterranean Sea: Walter Forstmann, in U-39, sinks British freighter SS Cornubia, 1,736 tons, carrying a cargo of beans from Alexandria to Clyde; and French freighters L'Aude, 2,232 tons, captured and sunk with the deck gun while travelling in ballast from Maseill to Oran; and Ville de Mostaganem, also travelling from Marseille to Oran with a load of empty barrels. His score is now 25 ships and 45,126 tons.

[Jimbuna]

10th September 1915

Western Front

Steenstraate and Ramscapelle heavily shelled by Germans.

Eastern Front

Enemy attacks north of Vilna, serious fighting in centre.

Russian success continued in southern Galicia.

Southern Front

Greek officers summoned to Athens.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Disquieting news from Persia; gendarmerie disaffected and German intrigue rife.

Naval and Overseas Operations

North Sea
Fearless, scout cruiser, Active-class, 4,000t, 1st DF leader, Harwich Force, sailing with battlecruiser force supporting minelaying operation in the Heligoland Bight on the night of 10th/11th. Collided with unidentified destroyer during mining,
Fearless sustained "considerable damage"; but apparently no deaths. Kindell confirms that Fearless was in collision with destroyer Hydra, also 1st DF and that the the cruiser lost two men killed with two more dying of injuries, and Hydra, one man killed.

Skirmish south of Songwe River (border of German East Africa).

Politics etc.

Lloyd George states Britain is not doing its best and requires more in the labor force, calling for 200,000 more arms makers.

Ship Losses:

Boy Ernie ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 58 nautical miles (107 km) east of Cromer, Norfolk by SM UB-2 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Nimrod ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) east by south of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Presto ( Norway): The sailing ship was sunk in the North Sea 55 nautical miles (102 km) off Lindesnes, Vest-Agder (56°48'N 6°18'E) by SM U-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Wallsend ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship collided with another ship and sank in the North Sea 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) off the Gull Lightship'' ( United Kingdom).

[Sailor Steve]

September 10:

North Sea:
Reinhold Lepsius, commanding U-6, sinks Norwegian sailing vessel Presto, 206 tons, bound from Moss to Tyne with a load of pit props. His score is now 15 ships and 9,866 tons.

Werner Fürbringer, in UB-2, sinks fishing smack Boy Ernie, 57 tons. He ends his third war patrol with 10 fishing vessels and 702 tons.

Hans Valentiner, in UB-16, ends his third war patrol with the sinking of fishing smack Nimrod, 51 tons. He now has 10 vessels and 9,904 tons.

[Sailor Steve]

September 11, 1915:

Western Front: Zeppelin night raid on English east coast. No casualties.



Eastern Front: Russians take offensive on Dvina. German general von Bothmer orders counter-attack and Russian forces pull back.



United States: The Pennsylvania Railroad begins electric commuter rail service between Paoli and Philadelphia.



North Sea: Reinhold Lepsius, commanding U-6, sinks Norwegean bark SV Wansbeck, 462 tons, bound from Porsgrund to Leith with a cargo of pit props; and capturs freighter SS Randulf Hansen, 1,287 tons, carrying pit props from Fredrikstad to London, as a a prize. His score is now 17 ships and 11,615 tons.

[Sailor Steve]

September 12, 1915:

Western Front:
Heavy bombardments at points along the French front.



Eastern Front:
Vilna-Dvinsk railway cut near Svyentsyani.

Russians pressed back east of Grodno.



Southern Front:
Active fighting along Italian fronts.



Air War:

1011: Belgian Pilot Jan Olieslagers, flying a single-seat Nieuport 10 with gun mounted to the upper wing, shoots down an Aviatik two-seater for his first kill.



Jan Olieslagers with Nieuport 10 'Le Demon'.

French pilot Joseph Vuillemin, flying a Caudron with a "Lt. Dumas" as observer, is credited with bringing down an unidentified Enemy Aircraft for his first kill.



North Sea:

Reinhold Lepsius, commanding U-6, sinks Norwegean motor vessel MV Bien, 120 tons, bound from Arendal to Methill with a cargo of pit props. His score is now 18 ships and 11,735 tons. Bien was a three-masted sailing ship with a motor installed in 1910.

British freighter SS Ashmore, 2,519 tons, carrying a load of maize from Rosario to Rotterdam, is sunk by a mine laid by Erwin Weisbach and UC-3. Weisbach's score is now 5 ships and 4,170 tons.


Several websites have the following listing:

"Naval and Overseas Operations:
Belgian Relief ship "Pomona" sunk."

This seems to be in error, as according to a newspaper account from two days later Pomona was herself not sunk (and not a relief ship) but claimed to witness the sinking of a British steamer showing Belgian Relief markings.
https://news.google.com/newspapers?n...,2124698&hl=en

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

United States: The Pennsylvania Railroad begins electric commuter rail service between Paoli and Philadelphia.

My late folks, and currently a brother, live in and around Paoli and we all still ride that train into Philly from time to time: Now reffered to as the Keystone Corridor Living along the famed "Main Line" in the general Philadelphia area, of which the Paoli line also runs, is a very upscale rating with great social cachet to this day. "...an area of about 200 square miles (520 km2). The upper- and upper middle-class enclave has historically been one of the bastions of "old money" in the Northeast..." realtors still refer to it as a selling point in their for-sale property listings.

[Sailor Steve]

September 13, 1915:

"Am back in England at last and am expecting to get two weeks' leave in a day or so. I got here at medday yesterday, having flown over from Dunkirk on a Nieuport. Drove out to Margate yesterday afternoon with Spenser Grey. Shall probably go out again on the 1st December."
-Harold Rosher, letter to his father from the Hotel Burlington, Dover, September 13th, 1915



Western Front:

Numerous French air raids in the South.

Sir Percy Scott placed in command of aerial defences of London.

Two Zeppelin raids on Kentish and Essex coasts; 7 persons injured.



Eastern Front:

Desperate fighting from the Dvina to the Vilia, and vigorous German offensive towards Dvinsk (battle of Meiszagola).

Romania orders partial mobilization.



Southern Front:

Bulgarians and Macedonians called to the colours.

Political, etc.

Relations of Romania with Central Powers critical.

Further revelations by New York World of German intrigues.



Air War:
0740 English pilot Eustace Osborne Grenfell, in a single-seat Morane 'L' parasol, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for his first kill.



North Sea:

Reinhold Lepsius, commanding U-6, sinks Norwegean motor vessel MV Norte, 216 tons, bound from Drammen to London with a cargo of staves. His score is now 19 ships and 11,951 6ons.

French Schooner Josephine Mary collides with another ship and sinks while travelling fromBriton Ferry, Glamorgan to La Rochelle.

[Sailor Steve]

September 14, 1915:

"Just a line to let you know my probable movements. Though I am due for two weeks' leave, it seems improbable that I shall get it just yet awhile, but shall not be returning to Dunkirk until December 1st, when I shall remain out there for two months.

I have just taken over the 1st Lieutenant's job on this station, and this is keeping me busy no end. I am the senior officer, bar the C.O., in fact second in command, and am responsible for everything going on at the station, i.e. all executive work etc. It is, of course, all new to me, and I find myself at sea every now and again. It is, however, a great opportunity. You should see me take parades (divisions, we call them), swish!

Please send me on, as soon as possible, my new monkey jacket and new pair of trousers, also new hat. My present uniform is most disreputable, covered in oil, etc., and must be scrapped at the earliest opportunity."
-Harold Rosher, letter to his father, September 14th 1915



Western Front:
Flanders: 2nd Canadian Division moves to France from Folkestone.



Eastern Front:
Continued pressure by German forces on northern sector; Russians successful in Rovno and Tarnopol (Galicia) districts.



Southern Front:
Various small successes on either side of Italian front.



Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres:
Persian Government begins to deal with dangerous situation in Ispahan.



Naval and Overseas Operations:
Small British success at Maktau (East Africa).



Political, etc.:
Extensive contraband trade in Holland revealed.

Entente Powers hand last note to Bulgaria, offering part of Macedonia.

British Parliament reassembles after summer recess, begins discussing financing and recruitment for the war.



His Majesty's Trawler City of Dundee is lost in a collision with Dutch freighter Patroclus, with the loss of one warrant officer and six ratings. Her commander, Lt. Albert Coles, barely survives being entangled in the signal halyards.



German East Africa:
HMS Severn and whaler Echo have spent the last several days investigating signal fires near the mouth of the Simba Uranga river.

0405 HMS Severn and whaler Echo depart Tirene Bay.

0430 General Quarters sounded.

0515 Severn and Echo enter mouth of Simba Uranga.

0520 Echo, following 1,000 yards behind Severn, is fired upon by a German cannon. Lt. C.J. Charleton, commanding Echo, returns fire with Echo's 3pdr and machine guns.

0525 Captain Fullerton signals Echo to retire out of the river.

0530 Echo comes under fire while departing the river mouth. The small vessel is hit by nine shells. Two of them burst in the engine room. Despite a cracked cylinder Echo maintains headway. Another hit severs steam pipes and three more hit the bridge. Despite all this there are no severe casualties. A recovered shell fragment reveals that one of the guns used by the Germans is a 3pdr from patrol boat Adjutant, captured by the Germans the previous February 6th.

0531 Severn passes the wreck of SS Newbridge, sunk as blockship last November. Severn's foremast catches and breaks a telephone wire running from Newbridge to the shore.

0545 Severn sights boat rowing toward Salale. Full speed ordered.

0555 Boat captured with one European and four natives. The European is a Spanish petty officer working for the Germans, S.E. Diaz y Rodriguez. He and his native party were on their way to Salale to puchase provisions for the German coast-watchers.

0610 Severn sights and opens fire on steamer Wami. Wami escapes up Fissini Creek.

0615 Severn stops off Salale. Motor launch sent up Fissini Creek. Severn opens fire and destroys several iron storage sheds at Salale.

0700 Motor launch returns. Severn starts down river.

0755 Severn comes under fire at mouth of Simba Uranga. The monitor is hit several times by 3pdr shells.

0805 Severn ceases fire. Rodriguez would later comment on the oddity of being captive on a British warship, fired upon by his German friends using a captured British gun.

0825 Captain Fullerton sends fleet surgeon to Echo.

0845 Surgeon returns, reports one man slightly wounded.

1255 Severn and Echo arrive back at Tirene Bay, Mafia Island.

[Sailor Steve]

September 15, 1915:

Western Front:

Lord Kitchener states eleven new Army divisions sent to France; 17 miles more French front taken over.



Eastern Front:

Fighting west and south of Dvinsk.

Germans aim at dividing Russian Vilna and Dvinsk groups; Germans under von Mackensen advance on Pinsk; driven back across Strypa in the south.



Southern Front:

Removal of Turkish heavy artillery from fortresses to Gallipoli.



Political, etc.

Agitation in Bulgaria against Germanophile policy.

Lord Kitchener anxious about falling off of recruiting.

Mr. Asquith makes speech on Vote of Credit.
http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/c...9150915_HOC_58



North Sea: Lookouts aboard British submarine HMS E-16 sight smoke in the distance. Approaching, the smoke is seen to be coming from the paraffin engines of a German U-boat. E-16 fires two torpedoes at U-6. According to the German watch officer, Oberleutnant zur See Beyer, he managed to dodge the first torpedo but was unable to escape the second. The five men of the watch crew survived, but the other 24, including her commander, Oberleutnant z.S. Reinhold Lepsius, went down with their ship.



Black Sea: Wilhelm Werner, commanding UB-7, torpedoes SS Patagonia, 6,011 tons, travelling in Ballast from Odessa to Nicolaieff. Patagonia was a British freighter acting as a Russian naval transport at the time of her loss.

[Sailor Steve]

September 16, 1915:

Eastern Front:

Despite the situation at Vilna-Dvinsk becoming critical, the Russians manage to hold out.

Pinsk occupied by Germans.



Political, etc.

Taff Vale Railway dispute ended.

Prorogation of Russian Duma till 14 November.



Firth of Forth, Scotland: HMS Warspite runs aground, suffering minor damage. She will be out of action for two months.



North Sea: British freighter SS Africa, 1,038 tons, bound from London to Boulogne with a general cargo, runs afoul of a mine laid by UC-6 under Matthias von Schmettow. Two crew members are lost. The ship survives the explosion and is beached, but upon investigation is listed as a total write-off. Von Schmettow now has 6 ships and 4,145 tons.


Baltic Sea: Russian auxiliary minesweeper Linnea is sunk by a mine laid by UC-4, commanded by Karl Vesper. Vesper's score is now 2 ships and 6,875 tons.

[Sailor Steve]

September 17, 1915:

Eastern Front:

Vilna and Dvinsk dangerously threatened; Russians retire between Vilia and Pripet Rivers, but check enemy about Rovno.

Von Mackensen reports the capture of 2,500 Russian soldiers south of Pinsk.



Mediterranean Sea, about 20 miles south of Crete: Waldemar Kophamel, commanding U-35, sinks French freighter SS Ravitailleur with his deck gun, then tows the ship's lifeboats to shore. Ravitailleur, 2,815 tons, was bound from Malta to Cyprus with a cargo of coal. Kophamel's score is now 20 ships and 32,226 tons.