100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

24th May 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: Germans capture Cumieres and regain Fort Douaumont. Around 1000 surrounded French troops at Fort Douaumont are forced to surrender. French losses reach 5,400 in the past 3 days at Verdun.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians capture Mamakhatun (Armenia).

Naval

Passengers onboard the Italian liner Stampalia go into panic after they mistake a whale for a U-boat.

Political, etc.

Sir Edward Grey speaks in House of Commons on peace terms.

Members of the Wilson administration believe that certain interests are trying to bring about a war between the U.S. and Mexico.

War orders helps expand U.S. manufacturing output, which is now double that of any other country.

Meeting of the Russian Duma breaks up in turmoil after a Conservative Party member claims, “Hebrews are betraying us in the war.”

Ship Losses:

Aurrera (Spain) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Corsica, Italy (43°16′N 8°25′E) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Zanrak (Denmark) The barque ran aground at Sumboe, Faroe Islands. Her crew were rescued.

[Sailor Steve]

May 24, 1916

Air War:
'A' Flight, No.70 Squadron take the first Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutters to France. These are the first Allied planes with a synchronizer and first British two-seater with the observer in the rear cockpit and the Lewis gun mounted on a ring.



Ligurian Sea:
Walter Forstmann, commanding U-39, sinks Spanish freighter SS Aurrera, 2,845 tons, bound from Glasgow for Livorno with a load of coal.



South Africa:
British monitor HMS Mersey leaves Durban harbour under own power for hull trials and test firing of fore and aft 6" guns.



Norwegian whaler Natal, 90 tons, out of Saldanha Bay for Capetown on a whaling expidition, runs aground at Robben Island.



German East Africa:
British troops capture and destroy the Ulenge lighthouse; observed by HMS Severn.



Australia:
Australian ketch Premier, 135 tons, tavelling from Newcastle, New South Wales, to Nambucca River, is wrecked off Wellington Rock.

[Jimbuna]

25th May 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: German attack between Haudromont Wood and Thiaumont Farm.

Southern Front

Infantry battle for Buole Pass (Trentino) begins and lasts six days.

Austrians take Bettale.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Two Italian battalions land at Moraisa (west of Sollum).

Naval and Overseas Operations

German retreat in German East Africa; British occupy Same, Rufu lager, Lembeni, and Ngulu.

Political, etc.

2nd Military Service Act of 1916, which extends conscription to married men, is given royal assent. Congratulatory message from the King.

Mr. Lloyd George undertakes settlement of the Irish question.

Jane Dieulafoy, a French archaeologist, explorer, & author known for her works on Persia, has passed away. During the Franco-Prussian War, she dressed up as a man to fight along with her husband.


Ship Losses:

Fratelli Bandiera (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) south east of Hyères, Var, France (42°23′N 5°28′E) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Rita (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea south of Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

May 25, 1916

Mediterranean Sea:
Walter Forstmann, commanding U-39, sinks Italian freighter SS Fratelli Bandiera, 3,506 tons, bound from New York for Genoa with a load of flour, and Italian brigantine Rita, 200 tons, route and cargo unknown. His score is now 64 ships and 144,592 tons.

Italian barque Anna M, 817 tons, travelling in ballast, departs Genoa for Baltimore and is not seen again.



German East Africa:
Portion of battleship HMS Vengeance daily log:
1120 Altered course as required to investigate floating object.
1145 Stopped. Took in tow portion of pontoon bridge.
1600 Stopped. HMS Thistle took pontoon in tow.

[Jimbuna]

26th May 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: French regain part of Cumieres trench between Haudromont Wood and Thaumont Farm: repulse Germans between Avocourt Wood and Mort Homme.

Southern Front

Austrians capture Monte Civaron (Trentino).

Bulgaro-Germans occupy Fort Repel (Greek Macedonia), Greek Government acquiescing.

Political, etc.

Prime Minister Asquith appoints Lloyd George to negotiate for Home Rule in Ireland.

U.S. government protests to the French and British governments over the seizures of mail on the high seas.

New York City Police seize 7 German notes written in code and bearing the stamp of the German Embassy.

Germany establishes a new office to censor phonograph records that are being sent out of the country.

Ship Losses:

Denewood (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 3 (Günther Kreysern) and sank in the North Sea off Aldeburgh, Suffolk (52°13′25″N 1°47′00″E). Her crew survived.
El Argentino (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 1 (Kurt Ramien) and sank in the North Sea 7 nautical miles (13 km) south east by south of Southwold, Suffolk (52°12′45″N 1°49′10″E). Her crew survived.
Volharding (Belgium) The barge was scuttled in the North Sea north of the Noord Hinder Lightship ( Netherlands) by SM UC-6 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Evaristus (Belgium) The barge (GRT 130 tons) was sunk by a German submarine 18 miles off Nordhinder LV lighter. There are no further details.

[Sailor Steve]

May 26, 1916

North Sea:
British freighter SS El Argentino, 6,809 tons, travelling in ballast from Hull to London, hits a mine laid by Kurt Ramien in UC-1. Ramien's score is now 2 ships and 10,159 tons.

British freighter SS Denewood, 1,221 tons, bound from Tyne for London with a load of coal, hits a mine laid by Günther Kreysern in UC-3. This is Kreysern's first sinking.

Otto Ehrentraut, in UC-6, comes across Belgian tug Lauwersoog, towing Volharding, 1000 tons, a lighter converted to a barge, from Rotterdam to London. Ehrentraut stops the tug with machine gun fire. After he has scuttled the barge he lets the tug go. This is Ehrentraut's first sinking.



Durban, South Africa:
The crew of HMS Mersey begin dismantling equipment in preparation for towing back to Mafia Island.

[Jimbuna]

27th May 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: French take trenches south-west of Mort Homme.

Southern Front

Austrians take Monte Moschicce (north of Asiago) by storm.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russian troops repel an Ottoman attack from Mosul, Iraq with the use of bayonets and a cavalry charge.

Naval

German submarine SM UC-3 hits a mine and sinks off the coast of Belgium with all hands. It was responsible for sinking 22 ships.

Political, etc.

Declaration of M. Sazonov on the alliance and Russian aims.

Speech by President Wilson on the War. Wilson administration gives up plans to make the U.S. Navy second in the world behind Britain, as it would cost too much.

Death of General Gallieni.


Ship Losses:

Lincairn (United Kingdom) The collier struck a mine laid by UC 10 (Alfred Nitzsche) and sank in the North Sea 8 nautical miles (15 km) north by east of the Shipwash Lightship ( United Kingdom) (52°08′N 1°53′E). Her crew survived.
Mar Terso (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off the Balearic Islands, Spain (39°08′N 5°02′E) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Moravia (Italy) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea.
Trunkby (United Kingdom) The collier was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) south by east of Port Mahon, Spain by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SM UC-3 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UC I submarine struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Zeebrugge, West Flanders, Belgium with the loss of all eighteen crew.

[Sailor Steve]

May 27, 1916

North Sea:
British freighter SS Lincairn, 3,638 tons, bound from Tyne for Gibraltar with a load of coal, runs on a mine laid by Alfred Nitzsche in UC-10. His score is now 15 ships and 29,036 tons.

UC-3 (Günther Kreysern) hits a mine off Zeebrugge. All 18 crew are lost.



Gulf of Riga (Baltic Sea):
Russian minesweeper N-5, 509 tons, hits a mine and sinks in the Irbenskij Strait.



Mediterranean Sea:
Walter Forstmann, commanding U-39, sinks Italian freighter SS Mar Terso, 3,778 tons, carrying a load of coal from Newport to Savona; and British freighter SS Trunkby, 2,635 tons, heading from Newport to Cette, also with a cargo of coal. His score is now 66 ships and 151,005 tons.

[Jimbuna]

28th May 1916

Western Front

Germans bombard British line between La Bassee Canal and Arras.

Southern Front

Austro-Hungarian troops ready 2000 artillery guns to push out Italian troops from the Adige and Asiago.

Aviation

First flight: Sopwith Triplane flown by Harry Hawker.


Political, etc.

London newspaper “The Times” criticize U.S. efforts to negotiate peace: “Compromise between right & wrong is impossible.”

Greece protests the Bulgarian invasion at Fort Roupel. 100,000 Allied troops in Greece prepare to meet the new threat.

German occupation in Belgium convicts 10 Belgians of espionage and executes three. The other 7 are given life sentences.

Ship Losses:

Lady Ninian (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 106 nautical miles (196 km) north east of Algiers, Algeria by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
St. Louis (France) The schooner foundered in the English Channel. Her crew were rescued by São Miguel ( Portugal).

[Sailor Steve]

May 28, 1916

The Sopwith Scout prototype goes to A Squadron, No 5 Wing, RNAS for testing. Called the Scout by the RFC and Type 9901 by the RNAS, the plane will receive its popular nickname after Brigadier General W. Sefton Rancker sees it for the first time: "Good God! Your 1-1/2 Strutter has had a pup!"

Sopwith test pilot Harry Hawker takes the prototype Triplane on its first flight.



Air War:

French pilot Andre Jean Delorme and observer Edmond Barthe, in a Caudron G.4, shoot down an Eindecker for victory number 1

North Atlantic Ocean:
French schooner St. Louis, 336 tons, carrying a load of salt from Cadiz, Spain to St. Pierre Et Miquelon, Newfoundland, Canada, founders off Graziosa, in the Azores Islands.



Mediterranean Sea:
Walter Forstmann, commanding U-39, uses his deck gun to sink British freighter SS Lady Ninian, 4,297 tons, bound from Newport News to Livorno with a load of steel rails and oats. His score is now 67 ships and 155,302 tons.

[Jimbuna]

29th May 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: Germans gain a footing in trench north-west of Cumeires, but are repulsed on Hill 304.

Southern Front

Italians evacuate Asiago; Austrians cross Posina, west of Arsiero.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

White Paper containing General Townshend's views on the advance from Kut published.

Naval and Overseas Operations

War Office announces new invasion of German East Africa from Rhodesia and Nyassaland.

Political, etc.

At the House of Commons, it is revealed that 2,166 Britons have been killed or wounded due to German sea and air raids.

British Foreign Office denies German statements as to the Bosnian crisis.

President Wilson works with Democratic Party leaders to push for a “league of nations” for permanent peace.

National Stock Yards at St. Louis announces it has sold 205,492 horses to the Allied powers since the war started.

President Wilson signs an executive order adopting a new flag of the President of the United States:


Charles Edison, son of inventor Thomas A. Edison, is fined $25 for speeding. He was going 33 miles per hour.

Kaiser Wilhelm and his wife board a streetcar and pay the fare of ten pfennings during his visit at Elbing, Prussia.

Ship Losses:

Baron Vernon (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 56 nautical miles (104 km) north east of Algiers (37°37′N 3°58′E) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her 24 crew survived.
Elmgrove (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 96 nautical miles (178 km) north east of Algiers (38°10′N 4°22′E) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Southgarth (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 60 nautical miles (110 km) north north east of Algiers (38°12′N 4°09′E) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

May 29, 1916

Air War:
0800 English pilot Albert Ball, flying Nieuport 16 5173, shoots down an LVG two-seater for victory number 2.
0830 Ball downs a second LVG for number 3.



Mediterranean Sea:
Walter Forstmann, commanding U-39, sinks three British freighters:
SS Baron Vernon, 1,779 tons, travelling in ballast from Savona to Seville;
SS Elmgrove, 3,018 tons, travelling in ballast from Toulon to Huelva;
SS Southgarth, 2,414 tons, travelling in ballast from Marseille to Benisaf.
Forstmann's score is now 70 ships and 162,513 tons.

[Jimbuna]

30th May 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: French retreat from Bethincourt-Cumieres road towards Chattancourt; deliver a counter-attack.

Southern Front

Bulgars occupy Rupel Pass.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Major-General Barnardiston's despatch on Tsing-tauoperations, September-November 1914 published.

Naval and Overseas Operations

British intelligence picks up on increased German fleet activity. Admiral Jellicoe prepares to meet the Germans.

North Sea: Royal Navy’s Room 40 gives early warning of German Fleet sortie and that 16 U-boats are at sea. Main body of Grand Fleet (Jellicoe) leaves Scapa and Invergordon at 2200 hours. Bat­tlecruiser Force (Beatty) leaves Rosyth.

The British Grand Fleet head out into the North Sea.


British occupy Neu Langenburg (Lower Nyassa), and force Germans to retreat from Mikotsheni (German East Africa).

U.S. Embassy in Russia reports that 17,000 Austro-Hungarian POWs in Russia have died due to poor treatment.

Germany justifies its invasion of Greece, stating that aside from a Greek fort, the country’s neutrality was “otherwise” respected.

Ship Losses:

Baron Tweedmouth (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) east by north of Cape Carbon, Algeria (37°10′N 5°15′E) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Dalegarth (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 12 nautical miles (22 km) north east of Cape Corbelin, Algeria (37°18′N 4°44′E) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Hermesberg (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Bougie, Algeria (37°07′N 5°27′E) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Julia Park (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) north of Cape Carbon (37°03′N 5°14′E) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Rauma (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea north of Cape Carbon (37°08′N 4°57′E) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

May 30, 1916

Air War:
German airman Kurt Jentsch, in a two-seater, claims a Farman and a Caudron, both unconfirmed.



Mediterranean Sea:
Claus Rücker, commanding U-34, sinks British freighter Julia Park, 2,900 tons, travelling from Liverpool to Alexandria with a load of coal. His score is now 44 ships and 124,225 tons.

Walter Forstmann, in U-39, sinks four ships:
British freighter Baron Tweedmouth, 5,007 tons, bound from Clyde to Alexandria with a load of coal, captured and sunk by gunfire.
British freighter Dalegarth, 2,265 tons, carrying a load of magnesite from Limni to Glasgow.
Italian freighter Hermesberg, 2,884 tons, route and cargo unspecified.
Norwegian freighter Rauma, 3,047 tons, travelling from Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, to Palermo with a load of coal.
Forstmann takes over as the leading U-boat ace with 74 ships and 175,716 tons.



Canada:
Canadian schooner L.T. Whitmore, 240 tons, is just starting a voyage from Port Greville, Nova Scotia to Tralee, Kerry, Ireland, when she is consumed by fire off Spencer's Island, Nova Scotia.

[Jimbuna]

31st May 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: Fierce fighting between Mort Homme and Cumieres; French take a work south-west of Mort Homme.

Much artillery activity on Vimy Ridge.

Southern Front

Austro-Hungarian troops capture the towns of Asiago & Arsiero from the Italians. 30,388 Italians were captured in the last 2 weeks.

French occupy Poro (Salonika front).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

New Zealand troops raid Bir Salmana (20 miles east of Katiya), Mamakhatun retaken by Turks.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Battle of Jutland. See: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...82#post2408382

Germans retreat from Mombo on Tanga railway towards Hendeni (German East Africa); British occupy Bwiko and Belgians Usumbara.

Political, etc.

Premier Asquith in the House of Commons states he thinks a German invasion is unlikely, but still has to be prepared.

Allies protest to Greece against Bulgarian occupation of Fort Rupel.

Sir C. Dobell's and Brigadier-General Cunliffe's despatches of 1 March 1916 (27 September 1914 to 29 February 1916), and 16 March 1916 (14 August to 16 February) published.

Ship Losses:

HMS Black Prince (Royal Navy) Battle of Jutland: The Duke of Edinburgh-class cruiser was shelled and sunk in the North Sea off Jutland, Denmark by SMS Friedrich der Grosse, SMS Nassau, SMS Ostfriesland and SMS Thüringen (all Kaiserliche Marine) and sank with the loss of all 857 crew.
HMS Defence (Royal Navy) Battle of Jutland: The Minotaur-class cruiser was shelled and sunk by SMS Derfflinger and four destroyers (all Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss off all 893 crew.
SMS Elbing (Kaiserliche Marine) The Pillau-class cruiser collided with SMS Posen ( Kaiserliche Marine) and was damaged. She was subsequently scuttled the next day. SMS S53 ( Kaiserliche Marine) rescued 477 crew, the remaining survivors were rescued by a Dutch trawler.
HMS Indefatigable (Royal Navy) Battle of Jutland: The Indefatigable-class battlecruiser was shelled and sunk by SMS Westfalen Kaiserliche Marine) and other battleships with the loss of 1017 of her 1019 crew.
HMS Invincible (Royal Navy) Battle of Jutland: The Invincible-class battlecruiser was shelled and sunk by SMS Derfflinger and SMS Lützow (both Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 1,026 of her 1,032 crew.
HMS Nestor (Royal Navy) Battle of Jutland: the Admiralty M-class destroyer was torpedoed and sunk.
HMS Nomad (Royal Navy) Battle of Jutland: The Admiralty M-class destroyer was shelled and sunk with the loss of eight of her 80 crew. Survivors were rescued by the Germans and became prisoners of war.
HMS Queen Mary (Royal Navy) Battle of Jutland: The Queen Mary-class battlecruiser was shelled and sunk by SMS Derfflinger ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 1,266 of her 1,284 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Laurel, HMS Petard and HMS Tipperary (all Royal Navy).
SMS S35 (Kaiserliche Marine) Battle of Jutland: The S31-class destroyer was sunk.
HMS Shark (Royal Navy) Battle of Jutland: The Acasta-class destroyer was shelled, torpedoed and sunk by SMS S54 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Six survivors were rescued by a Danish ship.
HMS Tipperary (Royal Navy) Battle of Jutland: The Faulknor-class destroyer leader was shelled and sunk by SMS Westfalen ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 185 of her 197 crew.
SMS V27 (Kaiserliche Marine) Battle of Jutland: The V25-class destroyer was sunk.
SMS V29 (Kaiserliche Marine) Battle of Jutland: The V25-class destroyer was sunk.
SMS V48 (Kaiserliche Marine) Battle of Jutland: The Grosses Torpedoboot 1913-class torpedo boat was shelled and sunk by HMS Shark, HMS Valiant and another ship (all Royal Navy) with the loss of 90 of her 91 crew.
HMS Warrior (Royal Navy) Battle of Jutland: The Duke of Edinburgh-class cruiser was shelled and damaged by SMS Derfflinger and four destroyers (all Kaiserliche Marine). She foundered the next day due to damage sustained. HMS Engadine ( Royal Navy) rescued 743 survivors.

MERCHANT SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 68 ships of 109,000 tons gross. (Lloyd's War Losses) (see Diagram below).