100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

10th March 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: Germans re-occupy part of Corbeaux Wood and attack Bois-des-Buttes.

Eastern Front

German attacks repulsed east of Kosloff.

Political etc.

Prime Minister Asquith states the total number of non-combatant dead in Great Britain totals 3,153.

German casualty lists reveal that the total dead, wounded, and captured soldiers is now at 2,667,372 men.

Allied powers reject a U.S. proposal that would have disarmed civilian ships so they would not be targets of submarines.

French government introduces a bill which reduces age limits of commanders, in order to replace them with younger officers.

President Wilson orders the United States Army to cross into Mexico to get warlord Pancho Villa “dead or alive.”

Ship Losses:

Lieutenant Pustshin (Imperial Russian Navy) The torpedo boat struck a mine and sank in the Black Sea south of Varna, Bulgaria. Fifteen crew were rescued.

[Sailor Steve]

March 10, 1916:

Portugal:
Greek freighter SS Maria, 3,120 tons, travelling in ballast from Marseille to Barry, is wrecked near Sesimbra.

[Jimbuna]

11th March 1916

Western Front

Germans penetrate French positions near Reims. German forces capture 1,400 yards (1280m) of the frontline and push in 2/3rds of a mile.

Their first attack on Fort Vaux (Verdun) repulsed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians occupy Kerind (Persia).

Naval and Overseas Operations

British success at Kilimanjaro (Reata Nek).

Political etc.

French casualties are now around 2.5 million, which includes dead, wounded, and captured.

Britain blacklists 125 ships belonging to neutral nations on charges that they represent German capital or have aided Germany.

Neutrality of Scandinavian States reaffirmed at Copenhagen.

German memorandum to U.S.A. on submarine warfare.

President Carranza of Mexico protests the planned U.S. invasion, but is largely powerless to prevent it.

Ship Losses:

Gertrude (United Kingdom) The Thames barge foundered in the River Medway at Rochester, Kent with the loss of a crew member.

Zaandijk (Netherlands) The steamer was enroute from Philadelphia - Rotterdam with carrying a general cargo when it was attacked and damaged by UC 10 (Alfred Nitzsche).

[Sailor Steve]

March 11, 1916:

Celtic Sea:
Dutch freighter SS Zaandijk, 4,189 tons, bound from Philadelphia to Rotterdam with a general cargo, is damaged by a mine laid by Alfred Nitzsche in UC-10. Zaandijk will be repaired and returned to service.



Atlantic Ocean:
British freighter SS Horatio, 3,212 tons, catches fire and sinks in Leith Harbour, South Georgia Island, roughly nine hundred miles east of Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.

[Jimbuna]

12th March 1916

Western Front

There is no major infantry action at Verdun today, but heavy artillery exchanges continue to take place.

Southern Front

Italian artillery active on Middle Isonzo.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

General Gorringe succeeds General Aylmer.


Naval

USS Nevada, lead ship of the Nevada-class battleship, is commissioned into service.


Aviation

French ace Georges Guynemer makes his eighth kill today, making his exploits known in France and abroad.

Political etc.

Berlin announces potatoes will be rationed starting on March 20th, alongside bread the butter.

Mexican President Carranza warns the United States that their pursuit of warlord Pancho Villa could result in war between the two countries.

Ship Losses:

HMY Mekong (Royal Navy) The naval yacht was lost on this date.
Seyyar (Ottoman Empire) The banana boat was shelled and sunk in the Black Sea off Karasu by Russian warships.

[Sailor Steve]

March 12, 1916:

Air War:
0900 French pilot Noel Hugues Ann Louis de Rochfort and observer Jean Jacques Perrin, flying Nieuport 10 no. 640, shoot down an LVG two-seater. It is the first victory for both.

1130 German Ace Oswald Boelcke, in a Fokker E.III, brings down a Farman two-seater for kill number 10.

French ace Georges Guynemer, flying a Niuport 10, downs an LVG two-seater for victory number 8.

German pilot Otto Parschau, in a Fokker E.III, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 3.

German pilot Ernst Udet makes his first attack against the enemy. When he fires on a French Caudron two-seater, the observer gets lucky, but so does Udet. A bullet tears his goggles off, but somehow doesn't even graze him, leaving his face gouged by glass splinters but otherwise unharmed.



North Sea:
His Majesty's Yacht Mekong, 899 tons, is wrecked near Scarborough.



Black Sea:
Turkish freighter SS Seyyar, 2,875 tons, is sunk by gunfire off Karasu.

[Jimbuna]

13th March 1916

Western Front

German artillery increases its bombardment intensity west of the Meuse on Mort-Homme in preparation for an infantry attack.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Turks defeated near River Kalopotamus.

Aviation

Six French airplanes raid German positions north of Verdun, dropping 130 bombs.

Naval and Overseas Operations

H.M.S. "Fauvette" mined off east coast.

British occupy Moshi (German East Africa).

Ottoman War Office reports the British lost 5000 men in their attempt to relieve besieged British troops at Kut.

Political etc.

Portugal states it entered the war on the side of the Allies in fulfillment of the Anglo-Portuguese Treat of 1373.

[Sailor Steve]

March 13, 1916:
　
Air War:
1255 German ace Max Immelmann, flying a Fokker E.IV, wins a dogfight with Bristol Scout C 4678 for victory number 10. Major Victor Annesley Barrington Kennet is killed in action.

1300 German ace Oswald Boelcke, also in a Fokker E.IV, shoots down a Voisin two-seater for victory number 11.

1740 Max Immelmann shoots down BE.2c 4197 for victory number 11. The plane spins in out of control, killing Lt. Gilbert Denis James Grune and 2nd Lt. Edward Glover.

French pilot Alfred Victor Robert Auger, in a Nieuport 11, shoots down an LVG two-seater for victory number 1.

German pilot Rudolf Berthold, in a Fokker E.III, shoots down BE.2c 4151 form victory number 3. 2nd Lt. M.A.J. Orde and AM1 P. Shaw taken prisoner.

Bavarian-born German pilot Max von Mulzer, in a Fokker E.III, claims a Caudron two-seater - unconfirmed.
　

　
North Sea:
Dutch trawler Oceaan I, 214 tons, departs Ijmuiden on a fishing trip and is not heard from again.

[Jimbuna]

14th March 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: Germans penetrate line Bethincourt-Mort Homme. German troops launch an attack towards Mort-Homme near Verdun and captures Côte (Hill) 265, but Côte 295 is still held by the French.

Eastern Front

Great artillery activity on Riga front.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British re-occupy Sollum (Egypt) and scatter Senussi.

British air-raid on Sinai.

Political etc.

British government postpones conscripting married men aged 27 to 35 while so many single men still remain in reserved occupations.

British War Office warns its cavalry officers that U.S. shipments of oats, used to feed horses, contained deadly little pieces of steel.

Mr. Tennant introduces Army Estimates.

Greek government refuses Allied demands to cede control of its railroads in northern Greece and Macedonia.

President Wilson asks for an increase of 20,000 men for the U.S. Army to strengthen the U.S.-Mexican border.

General John J. Pershing takes control of thousands of U.S. soldiers prepared to cross the Mexican border to pursue Pancho Villa.

United States Army prepares to invade Mexico in order to track down and kill Pancho Villa.

[Sailor Steve]

March 14, 1916:
　
Air War:
1200 German pilot Hermann Göring, flying AEG G.II 49/15 with observer Lt. Graf von Sschaesberg and a gunner known only as "Boje", shoots down Caudron G.6 for victory number 2. Sgt Gaston Eugene Delpech and S-Lt Georges Thevenin reported missing.

1215 German pilot Hans Berr, in a Fokker E.II, shoots down a Caudron two-seater for victory number 2.

Russian pilot Viktor Georgiyevich Federov, flying a Caudron G.4 for the French Air force, and observer Pierre Lanero shoot down an unidentified "Enemy Aircraft", for victory number 1.

French pilot Jean Pierre marie Joseph de Gaillard de la Valden and observer "Soldat Breton", in a Maurice Farman, shoot down an Aviatik two-seater for victory number 1.

German pilot Gustav Leffers, in Fokker E.III 84/15, shoots down BE.2c 4163 for victory number 4. 2nd Lt James Campbell Cunningham and AM1 John Newton both KIA.


　
North Sea:
Dutch fishing ship Primavera departed Ymuiden on March 7. Last seen on March 14, not heard from again.
　
British trawler Carrington, 194 tons, departs Boston, Lincolnshire, and is not heard from again. This conflicts with a report filed four days later of Norwegian SS Torquay being lost after a collision with Carrington.

[Jimbuna]

15th March 1916

Western Front

French success south of Saint-Souplet (Champagne). French troops launch counterattacks with grenades and bayonets against German advances made at Verdun yesterday, but only make limited gains.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British troops recapture Sollum in western Egypt from the Senussi and pursue them with motor cars, cavalry, and the camel corps.

Political etc.

Lord Kitchener urges married men to enlist in the military, as the “position is an anxious one” due to falling recruiting numbers.

Austria declares war against Portugal.

6000 United States Army soldiers under General John J. Pershing cross the U.S.-Mexican border to hunt down Pancho Villa.

Berlin: Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz resigns as Navy Minister; Admiral von Capelle succeeds.

[Sailor Steve]

March 15, 1916:
　
Air War:
German pilot Hartmuth Baldamus, flying a Fokker E.III, shoots down a Caudron two-seater, killing both crew members. Victory number 1.


　
North Sea:
Norwegian coaster MV Borgund, 321 tons, bound from Bergen to Dieppe with a load of herring, goes missing after passing Kopervik. All eleven hands lost.
　
British trawler Holland, 291 tons, departs Boston, Lincolnshire, one day after Carrington, and also goes missing.

[Sailor Steve]

March 16, 1916:
　
Political:
General Joseph Gallieni resigns as French Minister of War; is rplaced by General Pierre Roques. Roques was the creator of the Armée de l'air (French air force).
　
South Wales coal dispute decided
　
Von Capell succeeds von Tirpitz as German Minister of Marine.
　
Sofia treason trial begins.



Western Front:
At Verdun five successive attacks on the city of Vaux are repulsed.



East Africa:
Sudan force advances from Nahud into Darfur.



Mexico:
American aircraft fly their first mission over foreign soil when Curtiss JN-3s of the 1st Aero Squadron carry out reconnaissance over Mexico.



English Channel:
Otto Wünsche, after a good start in U-25, is now Commanding U-70. He starts his first patrol in the new boat by torpedoing British frieghter SS Berwindale, 7,242 tons, bound from Galveston to Avonmouth with a load of wheat. The ship is only damaged, however, and manages to make port safely.

Later the same day Wünsche stops British brigantine SV Willie, carrying a load of cement in barrels from London to Cardiff, and then sinks her with his deck gun. Wünsche's score is now 22 ships and 14,330 tons.

Arthur Metz, new commander of UB-13, starts his career with the sinking of Dutch liner SS Turbantia, 13,911 tons, outbound from Amsterdam to Buenos Aires. Turbantia is lying at anchor off the North Hindon Light Vessel, fully lit up to avoid a mistaken attack by the British, waiting for dawn to come before proceeding. At around 0230 the liner's lookouts spot bubble trails, but there is nothing to be done with the ship anchored. as the ship begins to sink she sends out distress calls. Quick action by the vessels Breda, Krakstau and La Compine results in the rescue of all 80 passengers and 294 crew



Mediterranean Sea:
UC-12, under the command of Eberhard Fröhner, is laying a minefield off Taranto, Italy, when one of the mines detonates. UC-12 is sunk with the loss of all 15 crew. Later the Italians will raise the two halves of the boat and put her into service as X1.



Atlantic Ocean:
American freighter SS Kanawa, 2,182 tons, carrying a load of coal from Newport News to Rio De Janeiro, founders off Charleston, South Carolina, with the loss of seven lives.

[Jimbuna]

17th March 1916

Western Front

German troops launch five attacks against the village of Vaux and the nearby fort at Verdun, but are repulsed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Continued Russian advance west of Erzerum.

Duke of Westminster's armoured cars release 91 "Tara" prisoners at Bir-el-Hakim.

Political etc.

King George and Queen Mary visit the headquarters of the Irish Guards. The King praises their service at Mons and Ypres.

Kwangsi province (China) proclaims its independence.

Food prices risen 48% in Great Britain.

French Senator Jenouvrier states over 800,000 French children are now fatherless due to the war.

Two U.S. divisions in pursuit of bandit Pancho Villa have advanced 65 miles into Mexican territory.

Ship Losses:

Lindfield (Norway) The barque was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

Ask (Sweden) The steamer was torpedoed and damaged near the Noord Hinter LV whilst enroute from Westervik - London whilst carrying a cargo of timber by UB 6 (Ernst Voigt).

[Sailor Steve]

March 17, 1916:
　
Air War:
French pilot Maxime Lenoir, flying a Nieuport 10, wins a duel with a Fokker Eindecker for victory number 3.


　
English Channel:
Otto Wünsche, Commanding U-70, stops Norwegian barque SV Lindfield, 2,230 tons, bound from Portland, Oregon for Queenstown, Blackpool, Lancashire with a load of wheat, and sinks her. His score is now 23 ships and 16,560 tons.

　
　
North Sea:
Ernst Voigt, in UB-6, torpedoes Swedish freighter SS Ask, 1,041 tons, carrying a load of timber from Westervik to London. The damaged ship manages to put safely into port and is later repaired and returned to service.