100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

25th July 1917

Western Front

Intense artillery battle in progress in Flanders.

French repel German counter-attack north of the Aisne front.

Eastern Front

Russian retreat in East Galicia continues; towns evacuated, positions in Carpathians abandoned.

Russo-Romanian advance in southern Moldavia.

Political, etc.

Allied Balkan Conference in Paris opens. Representatives from the Allied governments meet in Paris to discuss the military situation. The status of the Balkans is also a focus.

Canada receives a $100 million loan from the U.S. in order to offset the heavy trade imbalance between the two countries.

The Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō Corporation (now known as Nikon) is established in Tokyo, Japan.

Due to Swiss neutrality, Berne has become a city of diplomats, with over 5000 embassy & legation staff of various countries operating there.

Exotic dancer and courtesan Mata Hari is condemned to death by a French military court on charges of spying for the Germans.


Ship Losses:

Baldwin (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Cabo Toriñana, Spain (43°05′N 9°19′W) by SM UC-69 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Dea (Norway) The barque was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean (60°20′N 4°01′W) by SM UC-49 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Janna (Netherlands) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) off the Nieuwe Waterweg by SM UB-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was later salvaged, repaired and returned to service.
Monkstone (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 240 nautical miles (440 km) west of the Isles of Scilly by SM U-82 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
RFA Oakleaf (Royal Fleet Auxiliary) The tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 64 nautical miles (119 km) off the Butt of Lewis (59°01′N 7°26′W) by SM UC-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Peninsula (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 235 nautical miles (435 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock (48°00′N 11°10′W) by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Purley (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 210 nautical miles (390 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock (48°08′N 11°35′W) by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Rustington (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 235 nautical miles (435 km) west by south of Ouessant, Finistère, France by SM U-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Spes Mea (Netherlands) The sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea off the Noord Hinder Lightship ( Netherlands) by SM UB-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Vaarbud (Norway) The barque was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) west north west of Ouessant by SM UC-62 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

July 25, 1917

Air War:
Four DH.5 pilots share a victory over an Albatros D.III:
Herbert James Edwards, Austalia, A9374, victory number 1.
William Raymond Fish, unknown, A9396, number 1.
2nd Lt J. Simpson, unknown, A9404, unknown.
Stephen Walter, England, A9407, number 5.

1730 Five Camel pilots team up to shoot down a German two-seater:
Fred Banbury, Canada, B3820, victory number 3.
Harold Mott, Canada, B3832, number 5.
John Pinder, England, B3870, number 3.
Oliver William Redgate, England, B3813, number 1.
Sub-Lt Snell, details unknown.
(This is Harlod Mott's last victory. In November he will be transferred home to Canada, heading the Crash Investigation team at the Aerial Gunnery School in Beamsvill, Ontario. He will survive the war and live until 1992.

1820 German ace Hans von Adam, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a SPAD VII for victory number 8.

1930 Three RNAS Camel pilots share a victory over a German seaplane:
Arnold Chadwick, Canada, N6369, victory number 11.
Albert Enstone, England, B3841, number 7.
Robert Keirstead, Canada, N6370, number 2.

French pilot Andre, Martenot de Cordou, in a Nieuport 24, shoots down a Rumpler two-seater for victory number 2.



North Atlantic Ocean, southwest of Ireland:
Hans Adam, commanding U-82, sinks British freighter SS Monkstone, 3,097 tons, bound from Shields for Gibraltar with a load of coal; 240 miles southwest of the Scilly Isles. His score is now 23 ships and 54,637 tons.



English Channel:
Max Schmitz, in UC-62, scuttles Norwegian barque Vaarbud, 362 tons, sailing in ballast from Le Havre to Brest; 40 miles north-northwest of Ushant. His score is now 12 vessels and 13,511 tons.



North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Bay of Biscay:
Leo Hillebrand, in U-46, torpedoes two British freighters far west of Brittany:
SS Peninsula, 1,384 tons, en route from London to Lisbon with a general cargo.
SS Purley, 4,500 tons, headed from Barry to Malta with a load of coal plus general cargo.
Hillebrand's score is now 34 ships and 77,522 tons.

Kurt Heeseler, in U-54, sinks British freighter SS Rustington, 3,071 tons, carrying a load of iron ore from Agulas to Cardiff; 235 miles west of Ushant. His score is now 5 ships and 19,872 tons.



Faroe Bank:
Karl Petri, in UC-49, scuttles Norwegian barque Dea, 1,109 tons, travelling in ballast from Stavanger to Halifax and Baltimore. His score is now 5 ships and 22,180 tons.



North Sea:
Ulrich Meier, in UB-18, scuttles two Dutch sailing vessels near the Nieuwe Waterweg:
Janna, 145 tons, en route from Rotterdam to Le Havre with a general cargo.
Spes Mea, 75 tons, travelling in ballast from Dunkerque to Rotterdam.
Meier's score is now 7 vessels and 1,102 tons.



Spain:
Erwin Waßner, in UC-69, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Baldwin, 1,130 tons, carrying a load of groundnuts from Bathurst to Liverpool; just off Cabo Toriñana. His score is now 70 ships and 108,779 tons.

[Jimbuna]

26th July 1917

Western Front

Repeated German attacks north of the Aisne and at Mont Haut (Champagne) repulsed.

Eastern Front

Austro-Germans cross the Sereth and take Kolomea.

Naval

Germany loses submarine SM UC-61 after it runs aground north of Boulogne and the crew scuttle the ship.


Royal Navy cruiser HMS Ariadne is sunk by the German submarine UC-65 off Beachy Head


Aviation

Captain Phillip Bernard Prothero. Unit: 4th Battalion, Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders, attached to 5th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, died on this day.


Political, etc.

Announcement by French and German Governments of agreement as to treatment of prisoners.

Balkan Conference in Paris closes.

Spain lifts martial law in Valencia as calm returns following several days of demonstrations. Striking workers will return to work tomorrow.

Ship Losses:

HMS Ariadne (Royal Navy) The Diadem-class cruiser was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel off Beachy Head, East Sussex by SM UC-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 38 of her crew.
Bertha (Portugal) The schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Villa do Conde, Norte (41°20′N 8°58′W) by SM UC-69 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Blanchette (Italy) The schooner was captured and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Cape Corse, Corsica, France (42°57′N 9°43′E by SM U-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Carmarthen (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the English Channel 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) south east of The Lizard, Cornwall (49°57′N 5°08′W) by SM UC-50 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was taken under tow but sank at 50°00′N 5°07′W). Her crew survived.
Gesu E Maria (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean sea north of Cape Corse by SM U-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Locksley (Norway) The cargos ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Villa do Conde (41°23′N 8°51′W by SM UC-69 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ludgate (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by
UC 51 (Hans Galster) and sank in the Atlantic Ocean 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) south of Galley Head, County Cork with the loss of 24 of her crew.
Mooltan (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 53 nautical miles (98 km) north north west of Cape Serrat, Tunisia by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two lives.
Roberto Ivens (Portuguese Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 54 (Heinrich XXXVII Prinz Reuß zu Köstritz) and sank in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cape Espichel with the loss of fourteen of her crew.
Somerset (United Kingdom) The refrigerated cargo liner was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 230 nautical miles (430 km) west by south of Ouessant, Finistère, France by SM U-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SM UB-23 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UB II submarine was depth charged and severely damaged in the English Channel off The Lizard by HMS PC-60 ( Royal Navy). She put into A Coruña, Spain where she was interned.
SM UC-61 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UC II submarine ran aground at Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais, France (50°53′N 1°33′E) and was scuttled.
Venturoso (Portugal) The barquentine was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Villa do Conde (41°21′N 8°58′W) by SM UC-69 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

[Sailor Steve]

July 26, 1917

Air War:
1930 English RFC ace Noel Webb, flying Sopwith Camel B3756, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 9. German 10-victory ace Otto Brauneck is killed.

1945 German pilot Artur Muth, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down SE.5a A8925 for victory number 1. Scottish 8-victory ace Phillip Prothero is killed.
(Prothero always wore a kilt when flying in combat. According to The Prestwick War Memorial website, when asked the reaso for this he replied "You wouldna have me taken prisoner in disguise would you now laddie?"http://prestwickwarmemorial.btck.co....hilipBPROTHERO)



Ireland:
British freighter SS Ludgate, 3,708 tons. bound from Huelva for Garston with a load of iron ore, hits a mine laid by Hans Galster in UC-51 2 miles south of the Galley Head lighthouse. His score is now 7 ships and 11,383 tons.



English Channel:
Rudolf Seuffer, in UC-50, torpedoes British freighter SS Carmarthen, 4,262 tons, travelling in ballast from Genoa to Tees; 2 miles southeast of the Lizard. His score is now 16 ships and 20,351 tons.

Otto Steinbrinck, in UC-65, torpedoes British minelayer (former protected cruiser) HMA Ariadne, 11,000 tons, off Beachy Head. His score is now 185 ships and 194,669 tons.



North Sea:
French freighter SS Flore, 3,553 tons, en route from Archangelsk to Brest with passengers and general cargo, sinks following an explosion; east of Fetlar Island, in the Shetlands. It is probably due to a mine laid by Walter Gude in U-71, but not entirely certain. Gude is given credit for the sinking.
British freighter SS Ethelwynne, 3,230 tons, underway from the White Sea to Cardiff with a load of timber, hits a mine laid by U-71 off Fetlar. The damaged ship is towed to port.
Gude's score is now 5 ships and 6,147 tons.



Atlantic Ocean, west of the Bay of Biscay:
Kurt Heeseler, in U-54, sinks British freighter SS Somerset, 7,163 tons, carrying a load of meat from Buenos Aires to Le Havre; 230 miles west-southwest of Ushant. His score is now 6 ships and 27,035 tons.



Portugal:
Portuguese navy trawler Roberto Ivens, 281 tons, hits a mine credited to Heinrich XXXVII Prinz Reuß zu Köstritz in UC-54 12 miles south of Cascais. His score is now 4 ships and 3,735 tons.

Erwin Waßner, in UC-69, sinks three vessels off Villa do Conde:
Portuguese schooner Bertha, 107 tons, travelling in ballast, route unknown.
Norwegian freighter SS Locksley, 2,487 tons, carrying a load of coal from Liverpool to Gibraltar.
Portuguese barquentine Venturoso, 290 tons, en route from Lisbon to Rouen with a load of wine and preserves.
Waßner's score is now



Ligurian Sea:
Gustav Seiß, in U-33, scuttles two Italian sailing vessels north of Cape Corse, Corsica:
Blanchette, 280 tons.
Gesu e Maria, 196 tons.
Seiß' score is now 34 vessels and 142,449 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Gerhard Schulz, in UC-27, sinks British passenger ship SS Mooltan, 9,621 tons, en route from Malta to Marseille. His score is now 36 ships and 24,076 tons.

[Jimbuna]

27th July 1917

Western Front

Further fighting north of the Aisne.

Germans attacks on Champagne front repulsed.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Over 3,000 merchant ships armed (official statement).

Aviation

Flying a SPAD XII, Georges Guynemer shoots down a German DFW aircraft, becoming the first French ace with 50 victories.


Political, etc.

British & German governments ratify an agreement to regulate the treatment of prisoners. Repatriation of wounded prisoners will resume.

Mr R. Macdonald's motion to approve Reichstag "Peace Resolution" of 19 July defeated by 148 to 19.

Allied governments agree to end most of their occupation of Greece. An army and naval base will be maintained on Corfu.

Ship Losses:

Batavier II (Netherlands) The passenger ship was shelled and sunk in the North Sea off Texel, North Holland by HMS E55 ( Royal Navy).
Begona No.4 (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) west by north of the Fastnet Rock (51°15′N 11°45′W) by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew.
Bellagio (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the English Channel 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south of the Owers Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM UC-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was beached but was later refloated.
Belle of England (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 155 nautical miles (287 km) west north west of the Fastnet Rock (53°54′N 15°15′W) by SM U-95 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Candia (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 8 nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi) south of the Owers Lighthship ( United Kingdom) (50°32′N 0°26′W) by SM UC-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Carmela (United States) The auxiliary schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 25 nautical miles (46 km) south west of The Lizard, Cornwall, United Kingdom (49°38′N 5°37′W) by SM UC-62 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew of 20 survived and were picked up by HMS Attack on the same day .
Dirk (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was sunk in the North Sea 19 nautical miles (35 km) off Zandvoort, North Holland by SM UC-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Dirk van Duyne (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was sunk in the north sea 19 nautical miles (35 km) west north west of IJmuiden, North Holland by SM UC-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Frigido (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Gulf of Genoa by SM U-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Genova (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Gulf of Genoa 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) off Portofino, Genoa (44°18′N 9°15′E) by SM U-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Jan (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was sunk in the North Sea 19 nautical miles (35 km) west north west of IJmuiden by SM UC-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
John Hays Hammond (United States) The schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 350 nautical miles (650 km) north west of Ireland (56°54′N 14°18′W) by SM U-44 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Majoor Thompson (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was sunk in the North Sea 19 nautical miles (35 km) off Zandvoort by SM UC-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
President Commisaris van den Burgh (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was sunk in the North Sea off the Dutch coast by SM UC-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Sterna III (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was sunk in the North Sea 19 nautical miles (35 km) west north west of IJmuiden by SM UC-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

July 27, 1917

Air War:
0650 Canadian RFC pilot Earl Stanley Meek, flying Nieuport 17 B1551, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 1.

0900 Four RFC DH.5 pilots share in the downing of an Albatros two-seater:
Arthur Conningham, Austalia, A9179, victory number 7
Herbert Edwards, Austalia, A9372, number 2.
Lt E. Pownall, unknown, A9396, unknown.
Lt G.A. Wells, unknown, A9374, unknown.

0900 German pilot Jakob Wolff, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Bristol F.2b A7134 for victory number 4. 2nd Lt J. Chapman and Lt W.B. MacKay are both taken prisoner. Wolff is also wounded during this fight, and this is his last aerial victory. Wolff is one of the oldest combat pilots flying at this time, 48 years old.

1415 Five RNAS Camel pilots share in the destruction of a German seaplane:
Louis Drummond Bawlf, Canada, B3805, victory number 1.
Harold Beamish, New Zealand, N6377, number 2.
Aubrey Beauclerk Ellwood, England, B3781, number 1.
Joseph Fall, Canada, N6364, number 12.
James Glen, Canada, B3782, number 6.

2030 French ace Georges Guynemer makes his first foray in the new cannon-armed SPAD XII, and shoots down an Albatros fighter for victory number 49.

[Jimbuna]

28th July 1917

Western Front

Successful British raids.

Eastern Front

Further Russian retreat in Galicia; enemy reach Russian frontier.

Romanian advance in Moldavia continues.

Naval

German submarine SM UB-20, which sank 13 ships during its career, hits a mine and sinks with 13 crew deaths.

Aviation

British air raid into Belgium.

Political, etc.

Royal Warrant authorising formation of "Tank Corps".

Imperial and Prussian Cabinets reconstructed.

War Industries Board is established by the U.S. government to facilitate the purchase of war-related goods.

In Kingsland, London, an attempt to hold a peace meeting in a church is broken up by an angry mob, which included wounded veterans.

Ship Losses:

Atlas (France) The barque was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 200 nautical miles (370 km) west of the Fastnet Rock (51°35′N 15°31′W) by SM U-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all hands.
Glenstrae (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 66 nautical miles (122 km) south west by south of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly (48°40′N 6°55′W) by SM UC-62 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Hildur (Norway) The coaster was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) off Cape Sisargos, Spain by SM UC-69 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Neptunus I (Netherlands) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea off IJmuiden, North Holland by SM UC-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Rigmor (Denmark) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 16 nautical miles (30 km) off Holmengrå, Hordaland, Norway (60°49′N 4°05′E) by SM U-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Saint Emilion (France) The cargo ship was sunk in the English Channel 12 nautical miles (22 km) west by south of Dungeness, Kent, United Kingdom by SM UC-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
SM UB-20 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UB II submarine struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Zeebrugge, West Flanders, Belgium (51°21′N 2°38′E) with the loss of all 13 crew.

[Sailor Steve]

July 28, 1917

Air War:
0815 German pilot Emil Schäpe, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Sopwith Camel A6216 for victory number 2. 2nd Lt J.B. Hine is taken prisoner.

2050 French ace Georges Guynemer, in a SPAD XII, shoots down a DFW C.V for victory number 50.

[Jimbuna]

29th July 1917

Western Front

Furious artillery battle in progress in Flanders and in region of Lens.

Eastern Front

Russians offer resistance in the region south of the Dniester, but retirement in Bukovina continues.

Romanian advance continues in Moldavia; all objectives and many prisoners taken.

Ship Losses:

Adalia (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 85 nautical miles (157 km) north east of Muckle Flugga, Shetland Islands by SM U-94 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Anitra (Norway) The barque was sunk in the North Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) off Hvidingsö by SM U-96 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Bestwood (United Kingdom) The collier collided with Leander ( United Kingdom and sank in the Irish Sea off the South Bishop Lighthouse.
Cesarevitch Alexei (Russia) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 8 to 10 nautical miles (15 to 19 km) east of Lerwick, Shetland Islands by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Gyldenpris (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off A Coruña, Spain by SM UC-69 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Ingeborg (Denmark) The cargo ship was torpeoeded and sunk in the North Sea 85 nautical miles (157 km) off Lerwick (60°16′N 1°25′E) by SM U-94 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Manchester Commerce (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed, shelled and sunk in the Strait of Gibraltar (35°52′N 6°16′W) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Okhla (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Indian Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) west of Bombay, India with the loss of nine of her crew.
Saint Marcouf (France) The cargo ship was sunk in the Irish Sea 6 nautical miles (11 km) south east of the Arklow Lightship ( United Kingdom) (52°53′N 5°50′W) by SM UC-75 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SM UB-27 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UB II submarine was probably rammed and sunk on this date by HMS Halcyon ( Royal Navy) with the loss of all 22 crew.
Whitehall (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 270 nautical miles (500 km) west by north of the Fastnet Rock (50°05′N 16°28′W) by SM U-95 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.

[Sailor Steve]

July 29, 1917
Air War:
0520 Canadian RNAS ace Arthur Whealy, flying Sopwith Triplane N5490, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 6.

0610 Arthur Whealy scores his second kill of the day, shooting down another Albatros for victory number 7.

0640 German pilot Wilhelm Mattheus, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an RE.8 for victory number 2.

0650 Canadian RFC observer Gerald Bell, in an FE.2b with Lt E.A.H. Ward as pilot, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 3. This is Bell's last victory as an observer before going into single-seat pilot training.

0650 Canadian ace RFC pilot Carleton Clement and Welsh observer Llewelyn Davies, in FE.2b A7174, shoot down a German two-seater. Victory number 9 for Clement, number 5 for Davies.

0755 German pilot Alois Heldmann, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down SPAD VII B1696 for victory number 2.

0805 German ace Adolf von Tutscheck, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down SE.5a A8937 for victory number 21. 2nd Lt William Henry Gunner is killed.

0845 German pilot Herbert Schröder, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a SPAD VII for victory number 2.

1025 German pilot Rudolf Wendelmuth, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Sopwith Camel B3780 for victory number 2. Lt H.O. McDonald is taken prisoner.

1320 German pilot Max Kahlow, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down French Nieuport 23 534 for victory number 2. MdL Octave de Gintestet is listed as Missing.

German pilot Hans Kummetz, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down French Nieuport 23bis 3714 for victory number 5. Sgt Soleyman Nazare-Aga is taken prisoner.



North Atlantic Ocean, far west of Ireland:
Athalwin Prinz, commanding U-95, sinks British freighter SS Whitehall, 3,158 tons, bound from Montreal for Ipswich with a load of flour and wheat; 270 miles northwest of Fastnet Rock. His score is now 4 ships and 16,993 tons.



Irish Sea:
Johannes Lohs, in UC-75, sinks French freighter SS Saint Marcouf, 1,117 tons, carrying an unnamed cargo from Clyde to Rouen; just off the North Arklow lightship. His score is now 20 ships and 15,800 tons.



English Channel:
UB-23, commanded by Hans Ewald Niemer, is depth-charged by British patrol boat HMS PC-60, just of the Lizard. The boat surrenders and is interned at Coruña, Spain. Niemer will be repatriated at the end of the war and live until 1954.



North Sea:
Karlgeorg Schuster, in U-60, sinks Russiean freighter SS Cesarevitch Alexei, 2,387 tons, en route from Archangelsk to Liverpool with a general cargo. His score is now 21 ships and 63,472 tons.

Heinrich Jeß, in U-96, sinks Norwegian barque Anitra, 593 tons, heading from Newport, Wales to Christiania with a load of coal; 20 miles off Hvidingsö. His score is now 18 ships and 35,670 tons.

Alfred Saalwächter, in U-94, torpedoes two ships 85 miles off Lerwick:
Danish freighter SS Ingeborg, 1,207 tons, travelling from Göteborg tp Rouen with a general cargo.
British freighter SS Adalia, 3,847 tons, en route from Archangelsk to London with a load of timber and passengers.
His score is now 16 ships and 32,585 tons.



Bay of Biscay:
Erwin Waßner, in UC-69, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Gyldenpris, 2,667 tons, carrying a load of iron ore from Aguilas to Cardiff; juss off Coruña. His score is now 75 ships and 115,291 tons.



Tangiers:
Walter Forstmann, in U-39, torpedoes British freighter SS Manchester Commerce, 4,144 tons, carrying government stores and coal from Cardiff to Gibraltar; off Cape Spartel. An 18-year-old wireless operator is the only casualty. Captain Robert Smith orders the crew to abandon ship. U-39 surfaces next to the lifeboats. The u-boat fires eight shells into the stricken ship, and she sinks. The survivors are picked up by a patrol boat out of Gibraltar less than an hour later. Forstmann's score is now 165 ships and 345,290 tons.

[Jimbuna]

30th July 1917

Western Front

Heavy artillery fire on the Aisne front.

Eastern Front

Fall of Zaleszczycki and Sniatyn.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Sharp fighting reported in East Africa; enemy driven from River Lugungu (half-way between Lake Nyassa and sea).

Announcement of H.M.S. "Ariadne" torpedoed and sunk, 38 lost.

Political, etc.

Stores, hotels, restaurants, and cafes in Berlin are ordered to cut down lights by four-fifths due to coal shortages.

Ship Losses:

Amor (Denmark) The three-masted barque was shelled and sunk in the North Sea (56°55′N 3°36′E) by SM UC-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Canis (Norway) The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the Barents Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) west of Holmengrå, Finnmark by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew.
Carlo (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Strait of Gibraltar off Tangier, Morocco (35°24′N 6°25′W) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Eolo (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (53°54′N 15°15′W) by SM U-95 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Ganges (Italy) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 8 nautical miles (15 km) off Cape Spartel, Morocco (35°43′N 6°00′W) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Hansa (Germany) The cargo ship collided with a trawler and sank in the Baltic Sea off Landsort, Sweden.
Kildin (Russia) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea off Lerwick, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom (61°47′N 0°35′W) by SM U-94 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Manchester Inventor (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 80 nautical miles (150 km) north north east of Muckle Flugga, Shetland Islands (61°27′N 0°38′W) by SM U-94 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Souma (Russia) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea north north east of Muckle Flugga (61°34′N 0°55′W) by SM U-94 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

[Sailor Steve]

July 30, 1917
Air War:
1900 Australian RFC ace Arthur Coningham, flying DH.5 A9179, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 9.
1905 Arthur Coningham scores his second victory of the day, another Albatros D.V, for victory number 10.



North Atlantic Ocean, far west of Ireland:
Athalwyn Prinz, commanding U-95, sinks Italian freighter SS Eolo, 1,679 tons, bound from Clyde for Genoa with a load of coal. His score is now 5 ships and 18,672 tons.



Norwegian Sea:
Alfred Saalwächter, in U-94, sinks three ships north-northeast of Muckle Flugga, Shetland Islands:
Russian freighter SS Kildin, 1,640 tons, en route from Arkhangelsk to Lerwick with a load of timeber.
British freighter SS Manchester Inventor, 4,112 tons, carrying a load of flax from Arkhangelsk to Belfast.
Russian freighter SS Souma, 2,200 tons, headed from Arkhangelsk to Lerwick with an unnamed cargo.
Saalwächter's score is now 19 ships and 40,537 tons.



North Sea:
Karlgeorg Schuster, in U-60, torpedoes Norwegian freighter SS Cansis, 526 tons, en route from Tyne to Bergen with a load of coal, off Holmengrå, Norway. His score is now 22 ships and 34,225 tons.

Gustav Deuerlich, in UC-40, uses his deck gun to sink Danish barque Amor, 196 tons, carrying a load of coal from Methil to Odense. His score is now 8 vessels and 5,583 tons.



Morocco:
Walter Forstmann, in U-39, sinks two ships off Tangier, near Gibraltar:
Italian freighter SS Carlo, 5,572 tons, carrying a load of coal from Newcastle to Savona.
British freighter SS Ganges, 4,177 tons, en route from Barry to La Spezia with a load of coal.
Forstmann's score is now 167 ships and 355,669 tons.

[Jimbuna]

31st July 1917

Western Front

Third Battle of Ypres begins. British and French attack on 15-mile front in Flanders; take 12 villages and claim 5,000 prisoners.

French make successful attack south of La Royere, west of the Chevregny Ridge (Aisne).

Eastern Front

Enemy extends his hold on Galician front and stands on west bank of Zbrucz on front of over 30 miles.

Russians retiring in Czernovitz region.

Political etc.

In the Dundee by-election, Minister of Munitions Winston Churchill defeats Edwin Scrymgeour 78.2% to 21.8%.

Russian Provisional Government again states it has no aims of annexation and conquest.

Chinese Cabinet considers entering the war on the side of the Allies after Siam (Thailand) declared war on Germany.

Ship Losses:

Alcides (Norway) The barque was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north west of Ireland (55°05′N 17°05′W) by SM U-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all 23 crew.
Belgian Prince (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean 175 nautical miles (324 km) north west of Tory Island, County Donegal by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was scuttled the next day with the loss of 40 crew.
Carolvore (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Strait of Gibraltar 6 nautical miles (11 km) off Cape Roche, Spain (36°13′N 6°16′W) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
USS Chingachgook (United States Navy) The patrol vessel was damaged beyond repair by the explosion of her gasoline tank at New York.
Del Norte (United States) The cargo ship ran aground at Point Arena, California and was a total loss.
Empress (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by
UC 63 (Karsten von Heydebreck) and sank in the North Sea 4.5 nautical miles (8.3 km) east by south of the Withernsea Lighthouse, Yorkshire (53°45′N 0°08′E) by SM UC-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five of her crew.
Fremona (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 10 nautical miles (19 km) north by west of the Île de Batz, Finistère, France (48°55′N 4°11′W) by SM UC-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eleven of her crew.
Madeleine (France) The full-rigged ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 190 nautical miles (350 km) west of Madeira, Portugal (33°45′N 22°50′W) by SM U-155 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eleven of her crew. Survivors were rescued by Santa Cecilia ( United States).
Motano (United States) The tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 20 nautical miles (37 km) south east of Start Point, Devon, United Kingdom by SM UC-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 24 of her crew.
Orubian (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 160 nautical miles (300 km) north west of Eagle Island, County Mayo (54°47′N 14°05′W) by SM U-82 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
HMS Quernmore (Royal Navy) The escort vessel was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 160 nautical miles (300 km) west north west of Tory Island (54°50′N 13°11′W) by SM U-82 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Regina (Greece )The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea by SM UC-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Shimosa (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 220 nautical miles (410 km) north west of Eagle Island (55°14′N 15°05′W) by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seventeen crew.
Snowdonian (United Kingdom) The collier was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 245 nautical miles (454 km) south by east of Santa Maria Island, Azores, Portugal (33°44′N 22°22′W) by SM U-155 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ypres (United Kingdom) The coaster was shelled and sunk in the Strait of Gibraltar 2.75 nautical miles (5.09 km) off Cape Roche (36°15′N 6°14′W) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

MERCHANT SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 270 ships of 568,000 tons gross. (Lloyd's War Losses)

[Sailor Steve]

July 31, 1917
Air War:
0530 Italian ace Francesco Baracca, flying a SPAD VII, shoots down a Hansa-Brandenburg C.I for victory number 15.

1215 Canadian RFC pilot D'Arcy Fowlis Hilton, in Nieuport 17 B3494, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 1.

1300 Venezuelan pilot Carlos Otto Meyer Baldó, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an RE.8 for victory number 1. Baldó, born in Maracaibo, moved to Hamburg with his family in 1908. As a pilot for Germany he uses the name "Karl Meyer".

1340 German ace Walter Göttsch, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down an FE.2d for victory number 14. Lt C.H. Bedlam and 2nd Lt W.H. Watt are taken prisoner.

1445 German ace Kurt Wüsthoff, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down an FE.2d for victory number 6

1830 D'Arcy Hilton scores his second victory of the day, destroying a German observation balloon for number 2.

Italian pilot Alessandro Buzio, probably flying a Nieuport 17, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 1.



North Atlantic Ocean, far west of Ireland:
Leo Hillebrand, commanding U-46, sink British freighter SS Shimosa, 4,221 tons, travelling in ballast from Le Havre to Canada. His score is now 36 ships and 84,150 tons.

Kurt Heeseler, in U-54, sinks Norwegian barque Alcides, 2,704 tons travelling in ballast from Liverpool to Savannah, Georgia. There are no survivors, and the ship is listed as Missing. His score is now 7 ships and 29,739 tons.

Wilhelm Werner, in U-55, torpedoes British freighter SS Belgian Prince, 4,765 tons, carrying a load of blue clay from Liverpool to Newport News; 175 miles west-northwest of Tory Island. The ship refuses to go donw, and will be scuttled the following day.

Hans Adam, in U-82, torpedoes two British ships 160 miles 150 miles northwest of Eagle Island:
Freighter SS Orubian, 3,876 tons, en route from Liverpool to Colón, Panama with a general cargo.
Escort ship HMS Quernmore, 7,302 tons, heading from Liverpool to Baltimore.
Adam's score is now 25 ships and 65,815 tons.

Athalwin Prinz, in U-95, attacks British freighter SS Beacon Grange, 4,237 tons, carrying a load of coal from Liverpool to Rio de Janeiro. The ships continues on its journey with mild damage.



English Channel:
Paul Hundius, in UC-47, sinks two ships northwest of Ile de Batz:
British freighter SS Fremona, 3,028 tons, en route from Montreal to Saint Nazaire and Leith with a load of grain, flour and lumber.
American tanker SS Motano, 2,730 tons, heading from New York to Portsmouth with a load of fuel oil.
Hundius' score is now 50 ships and 59,392 tons.



North Sea:
Britisn freighter SS Empress, 2,914 tons, en route from Tyne to Southend with a load of coal, hits a mine laid by Karsten von Heydebreck in UC-63. His score is now 21 ships and 8,292 tons.



Spain:
Walter Forstmann, in U-39, sinks two ships off Cape Roche, up the coast from Gibraltar:
Norwegian freighter SS Carolvore, 1,659 tons, carrying a load of fruit from Valencia to Liverpool.
British coaster SS Ypres, 305 tons, travelling from Cadiz to Gibraltar with a general cargo.
Forstmann's score is now 169 ships and 357,633 tons.



Atlantic Ocean, far west of Morocco:
Karl Meusel, in U-155, sinks two ships between the Azores and Madeira:
French sailing ship Madeleine, 2,709 tons, travelling with 1,800 tons of ballast from Bordeaux to Sydney.
British freighter SS Snowdonian, 3,870 tons, carrying a load of coal from Barry to Freetown.
Meusel's score is now 15 ships and 39,383 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Erich Wiesenbach, in UC-22, sinks Greek sailing vessel Regina, 70 tons. This is his first sinking.

[Jimbuna]

1st August 1917

Western Front

Germans counter-attack, retake St. Julien and regain some positions in Ypres-Roulers railway district.

French gains on west bank of Yser Canal.

Eastern Front

Enemy advance on Czernowitz; occupy positions near Bessarabian frontier. Russians retiring east; south of Dniester to Romanian frontier, Russians retiring rapidly. Enemy now holds 50 miles on west bank Zbrucz.

Political, etc.

The Pope sends out Peace Note.


Ship Losses:

Alcyon (United Kingdom) The coaster was shelled and sunk in the English Channel 45 nautical miles (83 km) north north west of the Roches-Douvres Lighthouse, Côtes-du-Nord, France by SM UB-31 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Alexandre (France) The four-masted barque was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 400 nautical miles (740 km) north of the Azores, Portugal (33°33′N 23°15′W) by SM U-155 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Giacinto Pullino (Italian Royal Navy) The captured Pullino-class submarine sank in the Adriatic Sea whie under tow to Pola by Austro-Hungarian forces. Her wreck was refloated in on 28 February 1931 and scrapped in 1931.
Karina (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 17 nautical miles (31 km) south south west of Hook Point, County Waterford by SM UC-75 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eleven lives.
Laertes (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 1.25 nautical miles (2.32 km) south of Prawle Point, Devon by SM UB-31 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 14 of her crew.
HMHS Letitia (Royal Navy) The hospital ship ran aground and sank in Portuguese Cove, Nova Scotia, Dominion of Canada with the loss of one life. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Llandudno (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 110 nautical miles (200 km) west by north of Porquerolles, Var, France by SM U-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
HMT Nina (Royal Navy) The naval trawlers truck a mine and sank in the English Channel off Prawle Point with some loss of life.
Otowa (Imperial Japanese Navy) The protected cruiser ran aground off Daiō, Mie (34°14′N 136°35′E). She sank on 10 August.
Rokeby (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by U 72 (Johannes Feldkirchner) and sank in the Mediterranean Sea 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) south west of Porquerolles. Her crew survived.