JANUARY 1917

POLITICAL

WESTERN EUROPE

EASTERN & SOUTHERN EUROPE

ASIA & AFRICA

NAVAL & MARITIME

MONDAY 1st JANUARY

DIPLOMACY

5th - Inter-Allied Conference assembles in Rome to discuss co-operation, and the questions of Macedonia, Greece, the command of the Salonika expedition, and to convene a shipping conference. (Discussions continued on the 6th and 7th.)

BRITAIN

3rd - General Sir Douglas Haig promoted Field-Marshal (see December 10th, 1915).

WESTERN FRONT

EASTERN FRONT

RUMANIA

3rd - Focsani taken by German forces.

5th - Braila taken by German forces.

6th - Last Russian and Rumanian forces evacuate the Dobrudja (see August 25th, 1916, and December 3rd, 1918).

EAST AFRICA

3rd - Action of Beho-Beho begins.

4th - Action of Beho-Beho ends.

Russian "Peresvyet"

MERCHANT SHIPPING

6th - "Inter-Allied Chartering Committee" established for chartering shipping (see December 3rd, 1916, and November 3rd, 1917).

ALLIED TROOP MOVEMENTS

3rd - First units of Portuguese Expeditionary Force land in France (see August 8th, 1916, and June 17th, 1917).

MINE WARFARE

4th - Russian battleship "Peresvyet" (left, reclassified as cruiser  - Photo Ships) sunk by mine off Port Said.

MONDAY 8th JANUARY

DIPLOMACY

10th - Entente Governments send joint reply to President Wilson's Note. Allied war aims outlined (see December 18th, 1916.)

10th - Belgian Government reply to President Wilson's Note placing themselves in hands of Allies (see December 18th, 1916, and September 15th, 1918).

11th - Austro-Hungarian and German Governments issue Note repudiating responsibility for continuance of war, and declaring that they will prosecute the war to successful end (see December 12th and 30th, 1916, and September 15th, 1918).

RUSSIA

8th - M. Tropov, Russian Premier, resigns and is succeeded by Prince Golitsin (see November 24th, 1916, and March 13th, 1917).

WESTERN FRONT

EASTERN FRONT

PALESTINE FRONT

9th - Action of Rafah. Last Turkish troops in Sinai recross the frontier (see January 26th, 1915).

MESOPOTAMIAN FRONT

9th - Battle of Kut, 1917, begins (see December 13th, 1916, and February 23rd and 24th, 1917).

JAPANESE NAVY

14th - Japanese battle cruiser "Tsukuba" (below - Photo ships) sunk by internal explosion in harbour.

U-BOAT WARFARE

9th - H.M.S. "Cornwallis" sunk by submarine in Mediterranean.

MONDAY 15th JANUARY

DIPLOMACY

17th - Inter-Allied Conference ("Commission de Ravitaillement") (Russia, France, Great Britain and Italy represented) assembles at Petrograd to discuss war policy, finance, supplies and co-operation (see February 20th).

19th - German Government send instructions to German Minister in Mexico (von Eckhardt) to negotiate alliance with Mexico and Japan against the United States (see February 28th).

WESTERN FRONT

EASTERN FRONT

EAST AFRICA

20th - General Hoskins succeeds General Smuts in command of British forces, East Africa (see February 19th, 1916, and May 30th, 1917).

NAVAL PRIZES

15th - Italy accedes to Franco-British Convention as to naval prizes (see November 9th, 1914).

MONDAY 22nd JANUARY

DIPLOMACY

24th - Greek Government make formal apology to the Allies for the occurrences of December 1st, 1916.

RUSSIA

27th - M. Pokrovski, Russian Foreign Minister resigns (see December 12th, 1916, and March 15th, 1917).

WESTERN FRONT

EASTERN FRONT

The Patrol Zones in the Mediterranean (Newbolt, Vol 4, pp276)

ALLIED NAVIES

24th - Allied Naval Conference held in London as to policy in Mediterranean (see November 30th). (Plan - left)

NORTH SEA

23rd - Harwich flotilla action with German 6th torpedo boat flotilla in the North Sea: H.M.S. "Simoom" sunk.

BRITISH COASTAL RAID

25th - Southwold and Wangford on the Suffolk coast shelled by German destroyers.

ARABIA

24th - Wejh captured by Arab forces (with RN support)  (link to part of British despatch)

MONDAY 29th JANUARY

WESTERN FRONT

EASTERN FRONT

U-BOAT WARFARE

31st - German Government announce forthcoming "unrestricted" submarine warfare and threaten to sink hospital ships (see February 1st).

MERCHANT SHIPPING

British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 211 ships of  380,000 tons gross. (Lloyd's War Losses)

FEBRUARY 1917

POLITICAL

WESTERN EUROPE

EASTERN & SOUTHERN EUROPE

ASIA & AFRICA

NAVAL & MARITIME

THURSDAY 1st FEBRUARY

DIPLOMACY

3rd - United States of America sever diplomatic relations with Germany (see April 6th).

TURKEY

4th - Sa'id Halim, Turkish Grand Vizier, resigns (Appointed in 1913): succeeded by Talaat Pasha (see October 13th, 1918).

WESTERN FRONT

EASTERN FRONT

EGYPT/WESTERN DESERT

3rd - Affairs in the Siwa Oasis (West Egypt.) begin (see 5th).

U-BOAT WARFARE

1st - German "unrestricted submarine warfare" begins (see January 31st).

1st - Norwegian Government forbid all foreign submarines to use Norwegian territorial waters (see October 13th, 1916).

MONDAY 5th FEBRUARY

WESTERN FRONT

EASTERN FRONT

EGYPT/WESTERN DESERT

5th - Affairs in the Siwa Oasis end (see 3rd and 8th).

8th - British operations against the Senussi come to an end (see 5th, and November 23rd, 1915).

MONDAY 12th FEBRUARY

DIPLOMACY

14th - British Government inform Japanese Government that they will support Japanese claims to German possessions north of the Equator if it is understood that Japan will support similar British claims south of the Equator (see December 16th, 1914).

AUSTRALIA

17th - Australian War Government formed.

WESTERN FRONT

EASTERN FRONT

U-BOAT WARFARE

13th - Scandinavian Governments' joint protest against German submarine warfare published.

MONDAY 19th FEBRUARY

DIPLOMACY

20th - Inter-Allied Conference ("Commission de Ravitaillement") at Petrograd dissolves (see January 17th).

WESTERN FRONT

25th - German forces withdraw from front line positions on the Ancre (see November 18th, 1916, and March 14th, 1917).

EASTERN FRONT

The British and German Dispositions in the Dover Straits, February 25-26, 1917 (Newbolt, Vol 4, pp353)

MESOPOTAMIAN FRONT

23rd - Kut reoccupied by British forces (see 24th, and January 9th).

24th - Battle of Kut, 1917, ends. Turkish Army retreats from Kut (see 23rd, and January 9th).

25th - The pursuit to Baghdad begins (see 24th, and March 11th)

U-BOAT WARFARE

25th - British S.S. "Laconia" (below - Photo Ships) sunk by submarine (see 27th).

STRAITS OF DOVER (plan - far left)

25th - German destroyer raid on Margate and Broadstairs - on the Dover Barrage (see March 18th).

MONDAY 26th FEBRUARY

DIPLOMACY

28th - German proposals to Mexico for alliance against the United States published in the American Press (see January 19th).

WESTERN FRONT

26th - Anglo-French Conference assembles at Calais to discuss operations, the co-operation of the armies and the co-ordination of operations by the French Commander-in-Chief (continued on 27th) (see March 12th).

EASTERN FRONT

MERCHANT SHIPPING

26th - President Wilson in address to Congress asks for power to arm merchant ships (see February 21st, 1916, and March 12th, 1917).

U-BOAT WARFARE

27th - President Wilson states that he considers sinking of "Laconia" the "overt act" for which he was waiting (see 25th, and April 6th).

MERCHANT SHIPPING (cont)

British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 308 ships of  546,000 tons gross. (Lloyd's War Losses)

MARCH 1917

POLITICAL

WESTERN EUROPE

EASTERN & SOUTHERN EUROPE

ASIA & AFRICA

NAVAL & MARITIME

THURSDAY 1st MARCH

WESTERN FRONT

EASTERN FRONT

PERSIA

2nd - Hamadan (Western Persia) recaptured by Russian forces (see August 10th, 1916, and March 16th, 1918).

MINE WARFARE

1st - British hospital ship "Glenart Castle" (below - Photo Ships) damaged by mine between Havre and Southampton (see February 26th, 1918, when sunk).

MONDAY 5th MARCH

GERMANY

8th - Count-Zeppelin dies.

WESTERN FRONT

The Balkans (Newbolt, Vol 4, pp100)

EASTERN FRONT

BALKAN FRONT

11th - Allied Offensive in Macedonia to free Monastir begins (see 23rd). (plan-left)

MESPOTAMIAN FRONT

7th - Passage of the Diyala (near Baghdad) (7th/10th).

11th - Baghdad occupied by British forces (see February 25th).

PERSIA

11th - Kirmanshah (Western Persia) again taken by Russian forces (see July 1st, 1916, and February 25th, 1918).

H.S. "Glenart Castle"

MONDAY 12th MARCH

DIPLOMACY

14th - China severs diplomatic relations with Germany (see August 14th).

FRANCE

17th - M. Briand, French Premier, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, resigns (see 20th, and October 30th, 1915). General Roques, French Minister for War, resigns (see 20th, and March 16th, 1916).

RUSSIA

13th - Prince Golitsin, Russian Premier, removed from office by Revolutionary party (see 12th, 15th, and January 8th); General Byelyaev, Russian Minister for War, removed from office by Revolutionary party (see 12th, 15th, and January 17th).

14th - New Provisional Government proclaimed in Russia (see 12th, 22nd, and November 8th).

15th - Nicholas II, Tsar of Russia, abdicates (see 12th, and July 16th, 1918). Prince Lvov appointed Russian Premier (see 13th, 14th, and July 19th). M. Milyukov appointed Russian Foreign Minister (see 14th, January 27th, and May 16th). General Guchkov appointed Russian Minister for War (see 13th, 14th, and May 16th).

WESTERN FRONT

12th - Anglo-French Conference assembles in London to discuss relations of British and French commanders in the Western Theatre, and employment of prisoners of war in the fighting zone (see February 26th, 1917, and March 26th, 1918).

14th - German retreat from the Somme to the "Hindenburg Line" begins (see February 25th and April 5th).

17th - Roye occupied by French forces (see August 30th, 1914, and March 26th, 1918).

17th - Bapaume occupied by British forces (see September 26th, 1914, and March 24th. 1918).

18th - Peronne and Noyon occupied by Allied forces (see September 21st, 24th, and 25th, 1914; and March 24th and 25th, 1918).

AVIATION

17th - German airship "L.-30" destroyed at Compiegne when returning from raid on England.

EASTERN FRONT

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

12th - Russian Revolution begins (see 13th, 14th and 15th).

BALKAN FRONT

Allied Offensive in Macedonia continues.

Above and right - following raid of March 17-18, Dover Straits dispositions for Daytime and Light Nights

MESOPOTAMIAN FRONT

14th - Action of Mushaidiya.

PERSIA

17th - Karind (West Persia) occupied by Russian forces.

........ for Dark Nights - Bad and Fine Weather (Newbolt, Vol 4, pp366)

MERCHANT SHIPPING

12th - United States Government announce arming of all merchant vessels in the war zone (see February 26th).

RUSSIAN NAVY

16th - Mutiny breaks out in Russian Baltic Fleet (see 12th, and June 21st).

CRUISER WARFARE

16th - Action between German raider "Leopard" and H.M.S. "Achilles" and Armed Boarding Steamer "Dundee": "Leopard" sunk. (link to British despatches, RN awards and casualties.)

BRITISH COASTAL RAID (plan - below)

18th - German destroyer raid on Ramsgate and Broadstairs  - on the Dover Barrage (see April 26th).

 The British and German Dispositions in the Dover Straits, March 17-18, 1917 (Newbolt, Vol 4, pp361; also see plans - left)

MONDAY 19th MARCH

DIPLOMACY

22nd - Provisional Government in Russia recognised by Great Britain, France, Italy, United States of America, Rumania, and Switzerland (see 14th).

BRITAIN

20th - First meeting of British Imperial War Conference (see December 19th, 1916).

FRANCE

20th - M. Ribot succeeds M. Briand as French Premier and Minister for Foreign Affairs (see 17th, December 12th, 1916, and September 9th, 1917). M. Painleve appointed French Minister for War (see 17th, September 12th and November 14th).

WESTERN FRONT

German retreat from the Somme to the "Hindenburg Line" continues.

EASTERN FRONT

BALKAN FRONT (plan - below)

23rd - Allied Offensive in Macedonia ends (see 11th).

 Operations in the Aegean (Corbett, Vol 3, Map Case No.5)

PALESTINE FRONT

24th - British offensive into Palestine begins (see 26th).

PERSIA

25th - Qasr-i-Shirin (Western Persia) again taken by Russian forces (see June 20th, 1916, and July 8th, 1917).

CRUISER WARFARE

22nd - German raider "Moewe" returns to Kiel from her second cruise (see November 26th, 1916).

U-BOAT WARFARE

19th - French battleship "Danton" (below - Photo Ships)  sunk by submarine in Mediterranean.

21st - British hospital ship "Asturias" torpedoed off Start Point.

MONDAY 26th MARCH

DIPLOMACY

30th - Russian Provisional Government issue Proclamation acknowledging the Independence of Poland (see 14th, November 5th, 1916, and April 5th, 1917).

31st - The Emperor of Austria makes secret proposal, conveyed in a letter to Prince Sixte of Bourbon, to the French President (M. Poincare) to open conversations with a view to peace (see April 11th, 1918).

WESTERN FRONT

German retreat from the Somme to the "Hindenburg Line" continues.

EASTERN FRONT

PALESTINE FRONT

26th - First Battle of Gaza begins (see 27th).

27th - First Battle of Gaza ends (see 26th, and April 17th).

U-BOAT WARFARE

30th - British hospital ship "Gloucester Castle" torpedoed between Havre and Southampton, but towed in.

MERCHANT SHIPPING

British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 366 ships of 596,000 tons gross. (Lloyd's War Losses)

APRIL 1917

POLITICAL

WESTERN EUROPE

EASTERN & SOUTHERN EUROPE

ASIA & AFRICA

NAVAL & MARITIME

SUNDAY 1st APRIL

WESTERN FRONT

German retreat from the Somme to the "Hindenburg Line" continues.

EASTERN FRONT

MONDAY 2nd APRIL

DIPLOMACY

5th - British Government inform Russian Provisional Government of their adherence to the principle of an independent and united Poland (see March 30th and September 12th, 1916, and January 10th, 1917).

6th - United States of America declare war on Germany (see February 3rd).

7th - Cuba and Panama declare war on Germany.

8th - Austria-Hungary severs diplomatic relations with United States of America, (see December 7th).

WESTERN FRONT

5th - German retreat to the "Hindenburg Line" completed (see March 14th).

EASTERN FRONT

MESOPOTAMIAN FRONT

4th - Khanaqin (North-East of Baghdad) again occupied by Russian forces.

MINE WARFARE

3rd - H.M.S. "Jason" (below - Photo Ships), torpedo gunboat sunk by mine off west coast of Scotland.

MONDAY 9th APRIL

DIPLOMACY

9th - Russian Provisional Government (see March 14th) issue Proclamation to Allied Governments declaring in favour of self-determination of peoples and a durable peace.

10th - Bulgaria severs diplomatic relations with the United States of America.

11th - Brazil severs diplomatic relations with Germany (see October 26th).

13th - Bolivia severs diplomatic relations with Germany.

WESTERN EUROPE

9th - Battles of Arras, 1917, begin with Battle of Vimy Ridge (see 14th) and First Battle of the Scarpe, 1917 (see 23rd, and May 4th).

14th - Battle of Vimy Ridge and First Battle of the Scarpe end (see 9th).

EASTERN FRONT

US NAVY

9th - Admiral Sims, United States Navy, arrives in England (see June 18th).

MINE WARFARE

10th - British hospital ship "Salta" mined off Havre.

MONDAY 16th APRIL

DIPLOMACY

20th - Turkey severs diplomatic relations with the United States of America.

WESTERN FRONT

Battles of Arras, 1917, continue.

16th - French 1917 Offensive begins with the Second Battle of the Aisne (see 20th).

17th - "Battle of the Hills" (Champagne) begins. ("La Bataille des Monts," otherwise called the Third Battle of Champagne) (see 20th).

20th - French Offensive stopped (see 16th): Battles of the Aisne and of "The Hills" end (see 16th and 17th).

EASTERN FRONT

  The British and German Dispositions in the Dover Straits, April 20-21, 1917 (Newbolt, Vol 4, pp371)

PALESTINE FRONT

17th - Second Battle of Gaza begins (see 19th, and March 27th).

19th - Second Battle of Gaza ends (see 17th, and October 27th).

MESOPOTAMIAN FRONT

22nd - Action of Istabulat (21st/22nd).

H.M.S. "Broke"

JAPANESE NAVY

17th - Japanese flotillas join Allied forces in the Mediterranean (see February 8th, 1916, and November 15th, 1917).

U-BOAT WARFARE

17th - British ambulance transports "Lanfranc" and "Donegal" torpedoed and sunk in English Channel.

STRAITS OF DOVER (plan - far left)

20th - Second German destroyer raid on Straits of Dover (night 20th/21st). Action by the "Swift" and "Broke" (left - Photo Ships)  (see October 26th, 1916, and February 15th, 1918).

MONDAY 23rd APRIL

DIPLOMACY

27th - Guatemala severs diplomatic relations with Germany (see April 23rd, 1918).

FRANCE

29th - General Petain appointed Chief of French General Staff (see December 3rd, 1915, and May 15th, 1917).

PORTUGAL

25th - Dr. A. Augusto da Costa succeeds Dr. A. J. d'Almeida as Portuguese Premier (see March 15th, 1916, and December 10th, 1917).

UNITED STATES

28th - United States Congress pass Bill for raising 500,000 men (see 6th, and May 18th).

WESTERN FRONT

Battles of Arras, 1917, continue:

23rd - Second Battle of the Scarpe, 1917 (Arras) (23rd/24th) (see 9th, and May 3rd).

28th - Battle of Arleux (Arras) (28th/29th).

EASTERN FRONT

BALKAN FRONT

24th - First Battle of Doiran begins (first phase 24th/25th) (see May 9th).

MESOPOTAMIAN FRONT

24th - Samarra taken by British forces (23rd/24th).

BRITISH COASTAL RAID

26th - Second German destroyer raid on Ramsgate (night 26th/27th) (see March 18th).

28th - S.S. "Medina", sunk by "UB.31"

MONDAY 30th APRIL

WESTERN FRONT

Battles of Arras, 1917 continues.

EASTERN FRONT

BALKAN FRONT

First Battle of Doiran continues.

CAUCASUS FRONT

30th – Mush, Armenia,  occupied by Turkish forces (see August 24th, 1916).

MERCHANT SHIPPING

British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 458 ships of  882,000 tons gross. (Lloyd's War Losses) (see Diagram - below left)

MAY 1917

POLITICAL

WESTERN EUROPE

EASTERN & SOUTHERN EUROPE

ASIA & AFRICA

NAVAL & MARITIME

TUESDAY 1st MAY

DIPLOMACY

5th - Liberia severs diplomatic relations with Germany (see August 4th).

GREECE

2nd – Professor Lambros, Greek Premier, resigns and is succeeded by M. Zaimis (see October 10th, 1916, and June 24th, 1917).

WESTERN FRONT

2nd - Third Battle of the Scarpe, 1917 (Arras), begins (see 4th, and April 23rd).

2nd - Battle of Bullecourt (Arras) begins (see 17th).

4th - End of Third Battle of the Scarpe, 1917 (see 3rd) brings Battles of Arras, 1917, to an end (see April 9th).

4th - Craonne (Aisne) retaken by French forces (see September 1st, 1914, April 16th, 1917, and May 27th, 1918).

EASTERN FRONT

BALKAN FRONT

First Battle of Doiran continues.

5th - Battle of the Vardar, Macedonia begins (see 22nd).

June 1916 to April 1917 - Diagram showing the Progress of the Submarine Campaign in the Various Theatres of Operations (Newbolt, Vol 4, pp382)

US NAVY

2nd - First United States destroyer flotilla arrives at Queenstown (see June 18th).

MONDAY 7th MAY

WESTERN FRONT

Battle of Bullecourt continues.

10th - Major-General J. Pershing appointed to command United States Expeditionary Force (sec June 8th).

AVIATION

7th - First night air raid on London. Single aeroplane by moonlight (see November 28th, 1916, and September 4th, 1917, and May 19th, 1918).

EASTERN FRONT

BALKAN FRONT

Battle of the Vardar, Macedonia continues.

9th - First Battle of Doiran ends (second phase 8th/9th) (see April 24th, 1917, and September 18th, 1918).

ITALIAN FRONT

12th - Tenth Battle of the Isonzo begins (see June 8th).

MONDAY 14th MAY

DIPLOMACY

17th - Honduras severs diplomatic relations with Germany (see July 19th, 1918).

18th - Nicaragua severs diplomatic relations with Germany (see May 8th, 1918).

FRANCE

15th - General Foch succeeds General Petain as Chief of the French General Staff of French Ministry of War (see October 8th, 1914, and November 27th, 1917).

RUSSIA

16th - M. Kerenski succeeds General Guchkov as Russian Minister for War (see March 15th and November 8th). M. Tereshchenko succeeds M. Milyukov as Russian Foreign Minister (see March 15th and November 8th).

19th - Russian Provisional Government issue declaration repudiating a separate peace.

SERBIA

20th - Serbian Government transferred from Corfu to Salonika (see February 9th, 1916, and December 9th, 1918).

UNITED STATES

18th - Compulsory Service Act becomes law in the United States of America (see April 28th).

WESTERN FRONT

17th - Battle of Bullecourt ends (see 3rd).

15th - General Petain succeeds General Nivelle as Commander-in-Chief of French Northern and North-Eastern Groups of Armies (see April 29th, 1917, and November 19th, 1918).

19th - United States Government announce decision to send a Division of the United States Army to France at once (see June 25th).

EASTERN FRONT

BALKAN FRONT

Battle of the Vardar, Macedonia continues.

ITALIAN FRONT

Tenth Battle of the Isonzo continues.

MERCHANT SHIPPING

17th - The British Admiralty, following on a Cabinet decision, appoint a Committee, in conjunction with the Ministry of Shipping, to draw up a plan to convoy merchant ships (see June 14th and July 2nd).

NORTH SEA

14th - German airship "L.-22" destroyed in North Sea by British warships.

ADRIATIC

15th - Action between Austrian and British naval light forces in the Straits of Otranto: 14 British drifters sunk.

MONDAY 21st MAY

HUNGARY

23rd - Count Tisza, Hungarian Premier, resigns (Appointed June 10th, 1913.) (see June 15th, 1917, and October 31st, 1918).

WESTERN FRONT

AVIATION

25th - First great aeroplane raid on England (Kent and Folkestone) to cause heavy casualties. Total 290, over half civilians (see December 21st, 1914, and July 20th and August 5th, 1918).

EASTERN FRONT

BALKAN FRONT

22nd - Battle of the Vardar ends (see 5th).

ITALIAN FRONT

Tenth Battle of the Isonzo continues.

U-BOAT WARFARE

26th - British hospital ship "Dover Castle" sunk by submarine in the Mediterranean.

MONDAY 28th MAY

DIPLOMACY

28th - Anglo-French Conference assembles in London to discuss the deposition of King Constantine of Greece and the occupation of Athens and Thessaly (continued on 29th) (see June 11th).

PERSIA

29th - Vossuq ed Douleh, Persian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, resigns (see August 29th, 1916, June 6th, 1917, and August 7th, 1918).

WESTERN FRONT

EASTERN FRONT

ITALIAN FRONT

Tenth Battle of the Isonzo continues.

EAST AFRICA

30th - General van Deventer succeeds General Hoskins in command of British forces in East Africa (see January 20th).

MERCHANT SHIPPING

British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 374 ships of  609,000 tons gross. (Lloyd's War Losses)

JUNE 1917

POLITICAL

WESTERN EUROPE

EASTERN & SOUTHERN EUROPE

ASIA & AFRICA

NAVAL & MARITIME

FRIDAY 1st JUNE

DIPLOMACY

3rd - Italy proclaims Protectorate over an independent Albania.

WESTERN FRONT

EASTERN FRONT

ITALIAN FRONT

Tenth Battle of the Isonzo continues.

MONDAY 4th JUNE

DIPLOMACY

9th - Russian Provisional Government refuse a German proposal for an unlimited armistice.

PERSIA

6th - Ala es Sultaneh again appointed Persian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (see May 29th and November 24th, 1917, and January 19th, 1918).

WESTERN FRONT

7th - Battle of Messines, 1917, begins (see 14th; also November 1st, 1914).

8th - Major-General Pershing arrives in England (see 13th, and May 10th).

EASTERN FRONT

4th - General Brusilov succeeds General Alexeiev as Russian Commander-in-Chief (see September 5th, 1915, and August 1st, 1917).

BALKAN FRONT

8th – Janina, Greece occupied by Italian forces.

ITALIAN FRONT

8th - Tenth Battle of the Isonzo ends (see May 12th).

British Bombardment of Ostend (Newbolt, Vol 5, pp46)

ROYAL NAVY

5th - German daylight aeroplane raid on Sheerness and the Naval establishments on the Medway.

5th - British bombardment of Ostend (plan - left)

MONDAY 11th JUNE

DIPLOMACY

11th - Santo Domingo severs diplomatic relations with Germany.

16th - Haiti severs diplomatic relations with Germany (see July 12th, 1918).

HUNGARY

15th - Count Esterhazy appointed Hungarian Premier (see May 23rd and August 9th).

GREECE

11th - Entente Governments present demand to Greek Government for abdication of King Constantine (see 12th, and May 28th).

12th - King Constantine of Greece abdicates in favour of his second son, Prince Alexander (see 11th).

WESTERN FRONT

13th - Major-General Pershing arrives in France (see 8th, find May 10th).

14th - Battle of Messines, 1917, ends (see 7th; also April 10th, 1918).

17th - Portuguese troops in action on Western Front for the first time (see August 8th, 1916, and January 3rd, 1917).

AVIATION

13th - Great German daylight aeroplane raid on London; 157 killed and 432 injured (see November 28th, 1916, and July 7th, 1917).

14th - German airship "L.-43" destroyed in the North Sea.

17th - German airship "L.-48" destroyed by aeroplane at Theberton in Suffolk.

EASTERN FRONT

BALKAN FRONT

12th - Corinth and Larissa occupied by Entente forces.

MERCHANT SHIPPING

14th - The British Admiralty formally approve scheme for convoying merchant ships (see May 17th and July 2nd).

U-BOAT WARFARE

Dispositions for the British Anti-Submarine Operations, June 15-24, 1917 (Newbolt, Vol 5, pp55)

MONDAY 18th JUNE

AUSTRIA

18th - Count Clam-Martinitz, Austrian Premier, resigns (see 23rd, and December 21st, 1916).

23rd - Dr. Ernst Ritter von Seidler appointed Austrian Premier (see 18th, and June 21st, 1918).

GREECE

24th - M. Zaimis, Greek Premier, resigns (see May 3rd and June 26th).

WESTERN FRONT

19th - General Currie appointed to command Canadian troops in France.

EASTERN FRONT

US NAVY

18th - Admiral Sims, United States Navy, hoists his flag at Queenstown as acting C.-in-C. Irish Command (see April 9th and May 2nd).

RUSSIAN NAVY

21st - Mutiny breaks out in the Russian Black Sea Fleet at Sevastopol (see March 16th, 1917, and May 1st, 1918).

MONDAY 25th JUNE

DIPLOMACY

27th - Diplomatic relations severed (by Greece) with Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey. Declaration of War by Provisional Government against Germany and Bulgaria of November 23rd, 1916, becomes effective for the whole of Greece. "State of War" also begins between Greece and Austria-Hungary and between Greece and Turkey (see 26th).

GREECE

26th - M. Venizelos appointed Greek Premier (see 24th and 27th, and October 5th, 1915).

27th - M. Venizelos assumes power at Athens.

WESTERN FRONT

25th - First contingent of United States troops arrives in France (see May 19th).

EASTERN FRONT

29th - Russian Summer Offensive begins (see July 18th).

PALESTINE FRONT

28th - General Allenby succeeds General Sir A. Murray as General Officer Commanding in Egypt (see March 19th, 1916).

U-BOAT WARFARE

27th - French cruiser "Kléber" (below - Photo Ships) sunk by submarine, off Brest.

MERCHANT SHIPPING

British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 352 ships of 708,000 tons gross. (Lloyd's War Losses)

JULY 1917

POLITICAL

WESTERN EUROPE

EASTERN & SOUTHERN EUROPE

ASIA & AFRICA

NAVAL & MARITIME

SUNDAY 1st JULY

CHINA

1st - Manchu Emperor (Hsuan-Fung) restored in China (see June 6th, 1916, and July 6th and 7th, 1917).

WESTERN FRONT

EASTERN FRONT

Russian Summer Offensive continues.

MONDAY 2nd JULY

DIPLOMACY

2nd - Agreement signed at The Hague for the exchange of combatant and civilian British and German prisoners of war (see May 13th, 1916).

CANADA

6th - Conscription Bill carried in Canadian House of Commons (see October 12th).

CHINA

6th - Li-Yuan-Hung, President of China, resigns and is succeeded by Feng-Kuo-Chang (see June 6th, 1916, July 7th, 1917, and October 11th, 1918).

7th - Manchu Emperor abdicates (see 1st and 6th).

WESTERN FRONT

AVIATION

7th - Severe aeroplane raid on England (Margate and London; casualties 250, mostly civilian: last on London by daylight) (see November 28th, and August 22nd, 1916, and May 19th and July 20th, 1918).

EASTERN FRONT

Russian Summer Offensive continues.

British Anti-Submarine Operations, July 5-8, 1917 (Newbolt, Vol 5, pp122)

ARABIA

6th - Aqaba occupied by Arab forces.

PERSIA

8th - Russian forces begin withdrawal from Western Persia: Qasr-i-Shirin evacuated (see May 7th, 1916, March 25th, 1917, and January 8th, 1918).

MERCHANT SHIPPING

2nd - First regular convoy of merchant ships sails from Hampton Roads (Va.) (Experimental convoys had been tried in May. Convoys outward from Great Britain did not start till August.) (see May 17th and June 14th).

U-BOAT WARFARE (also plan - far left)

4th - Ponta Delgada (Azores) shelled by a German submarine.

4th - Concerted attack by German submarines on United States transports defeated.

MONDAY 9th JULY

GERMANY

14th - Herr von Bethmann-Holweg, German Imperial Chancellor, resigns (appointed July 14th, 1909): succeeded by Dr. Michaelis (see October 30th).

15th - Dr. Artur von Zimmermann, German Foreign Minister, resigns (see November 21st, 1916, and August 5th, 1917).

WESTERN FRONT

EASTERN FRONT

Russian Summer Offensive continues.

MESOPOTAMIAN FRONT

11th - British attack on Ramadi (11th/14th).

ROYAL NAVY

9th - H.M.S. "Vanguard" (below - Maritime Quest) sunk by internal explosion in harbour.

MONDAY 16th JULY

DIPLOMACY

22nd - Siam declares war on Germany and Austria-Hungary.

BRITAIN

17th - Proclamation issued changing name of British Royal House to Windsor.

GERMANY

19th - The Reichstag passes Resolution as to German War Aims (see January 24th, 1918).

RUSSIA

19th - M. Kerenski succeeds Prince Lvov as Premier of Russia temporarily (see March 15th and August 6th).

WESTERN FRONT

EASTERN FRONT

18th - German Counter-offensive on the Eastern Front: Battle of East Galicia begins (see 28th, and June 29th).

RUMANIA

22nd – First phase of Battle of Marasesti begins (see August 1st).

EAST AFRICA

19th - Action of Narungombe.

ROYAL NAVY

9th - Sir Edward Carson, First Lord of the Admiralty, Great Britain, tenders his resignation (see December 12th, 1916, and September 6th, 1917).

MONDAY 23rd JULY

DIPLOMACY

25th - Full Inter-Allied Conference assembles in Paris to discuss the Balkan situation, with military, naval and political committees to discuss plans in view of a probable collapse of Russia (Conference continued on 26th).

27th - Agreement concluded between French and Italian Governments defining respective zones of influence in Asia Minor (see August 18th).

BRITAIN

28th - Tank Corps formed in British Army (see September 15th, 1916).

WESTERN FRONT

EASTERN FRONT

24th - Stanislau (see August 10th, 1916) and Tarnopol in Galicia retaken by Austro-German forces (see 18th).

28th - Battle of East Galicia ends (see 18th).

RUMANIA

First phase of Battle of Marasesti continues.

MONDAY 30th JULY

WESTERN FRONT

31st - Battles of Ypres, 1917 (British), begin with Battle of Pilckem Ridge (see August 2nd and November 10th, 1917, and May 25th, 1915).

EASTERN FRONT

30th - Zaleszezyki (Galicia) recaptured by Austro-German forces (see June 12th, 1916).

RUMANIA

First phase of Battle of Marasesti continues.

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)

AUGUST 1917

POLITICAL

WESTERN EUROPE

EASTERN & SOUTHERN EUROPE

ASIA & AFRICA

NAVAL & MARITIME

WEDNESDAY 1st AUGUST

DIPLOMACY

1st - The Pope sends Note to belligerent Governments appealing for peace (see July 30th, 1915).

4th - Liberia declares war on Germany (see May 5th, 1917, and April 10th, 1918).

BELGIUM

4th - Baron de Broqueville resigns as Belgian Minister for War (appointed February 28th, 1914) and succeeds Baron Beyens as Minister for Foreign Affairs (see January 18th, 1916, and January 1st, 1918). Lieut.-General A. de Ceuninck appointed Minister for War (see November 21st, 1918).

WESTERN FRONT

Battles of Ypres, 1917, continue:

2nd - Battle of Pilckem Ridge (Ypres) ends (see July 31st).

EASTERN FRONT

1st - General Kornilov succeeds General Brusilov as Russian Commander-in-Chief (see June 4th and September 8th).

3rd - Czernowitz (Bukovina) retaken by Austro-German forces (see June 17th, 1916).

RUMANIA

1st - End of first phase of Battle of Marasesti (see July 22nd).

GERMANY NAVY

3rd - Mutiny breaks out in German Fleet at Wilhelmshaven (see November 3rd, 1918).

CRUISER WARFARE

2nd - German commerce raider "Seeadler" wrecked  (below - Photo Ships) on Mopelia Island, Pacific (see November 22nd, 1916).

MONDAY 6th AUGUST

HUNGARY

9th - Count Esterhazy, Hungarian Premier, resigns (see 21st, and June 15th).

RUSSIA

6th - M. Kerenski definitely appointed Prime Minister of Russia (see July 19th, September 10th, and November 8th).

WESTERN FRONT

Battles of Ypres, 1917, continue.

EASTERN FRONT

RUMANIA

6th - Second phase of Battle of Marasesti begins (see 1st, and September 3rd).

MONDAY 13th AUGUST

DIPLOMACY

14th - China declares war on Germany and Austria-Hungary (see March 14th).

18th - British, French, and Italian Governments conclude provisional arrangement with regard to future policy in Asia Minor (see May 16th, 1916, and July 27th, 1917).

FRANCE

17th - M. Cochin succeeded by M. Metin as French Under-Secretary for Blockade (see March 20th, 1916, and November 16th, 1917).

WESTERN FRONT

Battles of Ypres, 1917, continue:

15th - Battle of Hill 70 (Lens) begins (see 25th).

16th - Battle of Langemarck, 1917 (Ypres), begins (see 18th).

18th - Battle of Langemarck, 1917 (Ypres), ends (see 16th).

EASTERN FRONT

RUMANIA

Second phase of Battle of Marasesti continues.

ITALIAN FRONT

17th - Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo begins (see September 12th).

MONDAY 20th AUGUST

BRITAIN

21st - Ministry of Reconstruction formed in Great Britain.

HUNGARY

21st - Dr. Wekerle appointed Hungarian Premier (see 9th and April 17th, 1918).

WESTERN FRONT

Battles of Ypres, 1917, continue:

20th - "Second Offensive Battle" of Verdun (French) begin (French name and dates.) (see December 15th, 1917, and December 18th, 1916).

25th - Battle of Hill 70 (Lens) ends (see 15th).

AVIATION

21st - German airship "L.-23" destroyed in North Sea.

22nd - Last German aeroplane raid on England by daylight (see July 7th and September 2nd).

EASTERN FRONT

RUMANIA

Second phase of Battle of Marasesti continues.

ITALIAN FRONT

Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo continues.

MONDAY 27th AUGUST

WESTERN FRONT

Continuing:

Battles of Ypres, 1917.

"Second Offensive Battle" of Verdun.

EASTERN FRONT

RUMANIA

Second phase of Battle of Marasesti continues.

ITALIAN FRONT

Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo continues.

MERCHANT SHIPPING

British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 208 ships of 523,000 tons gross. (Lloyd's War Losses)

SEPTEMBER 1917

POLITICAL

WESTERN EUROPE

EASTERN & SOUTHERN EUROPE

ASIA & AFRICA

NAVAL & MARITIME

SATURDAY 1st SEPTEMBER

WESTERN FRONT

Continuing:

Battles of Ypres, 1917.

"Second Offensive Battle" of Verdun.

AVIATION

2nd - First German aeroplane raid on England by moonlight by more than one aeroplane (see 4th, and May 7th).

EASTERN FRONT

1st - Battle of Riga begins (see 3rd and 5th).

RUMANIA

Second phase of Battle of Marasesti continues.

ITALIAN FRONT

Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo continues.

MONDAY 3rd SEPTEMBER

DIPLOMACY

4th - Anglo-French Conference assembles in London to discuss the question of military assistance to Italy (see 25th).

FRANCE

9th - M. Ribot, French Premier and Foreign Minister, resigns (see 12th, and March 20th).

RUSSIA

8th - General Kornilov heads revolt against Russian Provisional Government and marches on Petrograd (see 10th and 13th, and August 1st).

WESTERN FRONT

Continuing:

Battles of Ypres, 1917.

"Second Offensive Battle" of Verdun.

AVIATION

3rd - Severe aeroplane raid on Kent by moonlight (casualties about 230, mostly military).

4th - German aeroplanes for the first time raid London by night in force (see 2nd).

EASTERN FRONT

5th - Battle of Riga ends (see 1st and 3rd).

3rd - Riga captured by German forces (see 1st and 5th, and October l6th).

RUMANIA

3rd - Battle of Marasesti ends (see August 6th).

ITALIAN FRONT

Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo continues.

ROYAL NAVY

6th - Sir Eric Geddes appointed First Lord of the Admiralty, Great Britain (see July 19th).

BRITISH COASTAL RAID

4th - German submarine bombards Scarborough, Yorkshire.

MONDAY 10th SEPTEMBER

DIPLOMACY

11th - First party of repatriated British prisoners reaches England from Switzerland (see May 13th, 1916).

12th - Central Powers proclaim grant of temporary Constitution to Poland (see April 5th and October 15th, 1917, and January 10th, 1918).

FRANCE

12th - M. Painleve succeeds M. Ribot as French Premier (see 9th, and November 14th). M. Ribot reappointed French Foreign Minister (see 9th, and October 23rd).

RUSSIA

15th - Russia proclaimed a Republic by the Provisional Government (see 10th).

WESTERN FRONT

Continuing:

Battles of Ypres, 1917.

"Second Offensive Battle" of Verdun.

EASTERN FRONT

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

10th - M. Kerenski assumes Dictatorship of Russia (see August 6th and November 8th) and issues proclamation declaring General Kornilov a traitor (see 8th and 13th).

13th - General Kornilov's revolt collapses (see 8th, 10th and 14th).

14th - General Kornilov surrenders to the Provisional Government (see 13th).

ITALIAN FRONT

12th - Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo ends (see August 17th).

MONDAY 17th SEPTEMBER

DIPLOMACY

20th - Council of Trans-Caucasian peoples, i.e., Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Daghestan, proclaim Trans-Caucasia a federal Republic (see April 22nd, 1918).

21st - Costa Rica severs diplomatic relations with Germany (see May 23rd, 1918).

WESTERN FRONT

Continuing:

Battles of Ypres, 1917:

20th - Battle of the Menin Road Ridge (Ypres) begins (see 25th).

"Second Offensive Battle" of Verdun.

EASTERN FRONT

22nd - Jakobstadt (Baltic) stormed by German forces (21st/22nd).

MONDAY 24th SEPTEMBER

DIPLOMACY

25th - Anglo-French Conference assembles in Boulogne to discuss an Italian offensive and the extension of the British front in France (see 4th).

WESTERN FRONT

Continuing:

Battles of Ypres, 1917:

25th - Battle of the Menin Road Ridge (Ypres) ends (see 20th).

26th - Battle of Polygon Wood (Ypres) begins (see October 3rd).

"Second Offensive Battle" of Verdun.

EASTERN FRONT

MESOPOTAMIAN FRONT (plan - below)

28th - Action of Ramadi (28th/29th).

Lower Mesopotamia (Corbett, Vol 3, Map Case No.1)

MERCHANT SHIPPING

British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 200 ships of  350,000 tons gross. (Lloyd's War Losses)

OCTOBER 1917

POLITICAL

WESTERN EUROPE

EASTERN & SOUTHERN EUROPE

ASIA & AFRICA

NAVAL & MARITIME

MONDAY 1st OCTOBER

DIPLOMACY

5th - Peru severs diplomatic relations with Germany.

7th - Uruguay severs diplomatic relations with Germany.

WESTERN FRONT

Continuing:

Battles of Ypres, 1917:

3rd - Battle of Polygon Wood (Ypres) ends (see September 26th).

4th - Battle of Broodseinde (Ypres).

"Second Offensive Battle" of Verdun.

6th - Major-General Pershing, Commanding United States Army in France, promoted General (see June 13th).

EASTERN FRONT

U-BOAT WARFARE

2nd - H.M.S. "Drake" (below - Navy Photos) sunk by submarine in the North Channel.

MONDAY 8th OCTOBER

CANADA

12th - Canadian War Cabinet formed.

12th - Compulsory Service Act comes into operation in Canada (see July 6th).

EGYPT

9th - Hussein Kamel, Sultan of Egypt, dies. Succeeded by Prince Ahmed Fuad, his youngest brother. (See December 19th, 1914).

WESTERN FRONT

Continuing:

Battles of Ypres, 1917:

9th - Battle of Poelcapelle (Ypres).

12th - First Battle of Passchendaele (Ypres) (see 26th).

"Second Offensive Battle" of Verdun.

EASTERN FRONT

Operations in the Baltic (Corbett, Vol 3, pp61)

MINE WARFARE

10th - British hospital ship "Goorkha" damaged by mine off Malta.

BALTIC (plan - left)

11th - German operations against the Baltic Islands begin (see 12th).

12th - Osel Island, Baltic, captured by German forces. Operations not completed until the 16th. (see 11th and 18th).

MONDAY 15th OCTOBER

POLAND

15th - Polish Regency Council appointed (see Septembor 12th).

WESTERN FRONT

Continuing:

Battles of Ypres, 1917.

"Second Offensive Battle" of Verdun.

AVIATION

19th - Squadron of 11 German airships attack England, ("L.-44" shot down at St. Clement; "L.-45" shot down at Larague; " L.-49 " shot down at Bourbonne-les-Buins on October 20th; " L.-50 " brought down in the Mediterranean on October 21st.) (Last airship raid on London.) (See May 31st, 1915, and August 5th, 1918.)

EASTERN FRONT

Intercepting Dispositions Ordered by the British Commander-in-Chief, October 15, 1917 (in anticipation of German operations. Newbolt, Vol 5, pp150) 

ARABIA

21st - Turkish attack on Arab stronghold at Petra repulsed.

EAST AFRICA

16th - Action of Nyangao, German East Africa,  begins.

19th - Action of Nyangao ends.

Gulf of Riga

NORTH SEA

17th - German cruisers raid convoy in North Sea and sink British destroyers "Strongbow" and "Mary Rose" (see December 12th). (see plan - far left)

BALTIC (plan - left)

16th - Naval action in Gulf of Riga. Russian battleship "Slava" (below - Pat Gariepy) sunk (see September 3rd).

18th - Moon Island and Dago Island, Baltic captured by German forces (see 11th and 12th).

20th - German conquest of the Baltic Islands completed (see 11th, 12th and 18th).

MONDAY 22nd OCTOBER

DIPLOMACY

26th - Brazil declares war on Germany (see April 11th).

FRANCE

23rd - M. Barthou succeeds M. Ribot as French Foreign Minister (see September 12th and November 14th).

ITALY

25th - Signor Boselli, Italian Premier, resigns (see 29th, and June 15th, 1916).

WESTERN FRONT

Continuing:

Battles of Ypres, 1917:

26th - Second Battle of Passchendaele (Ypres) begins (see 12th, and November 6th and 10th).

"Second Offensive Battle" of Verdun.

23rd - Battle of La Malmaison (Aisne) begins (see November 1st).

EASTERN FRONT

ITALIAN FRONT

24th - Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo begins: Austro-German offensive (see December 26th).

28th - Gorizia retaken by Austro-German forces (see 24th). Udine (Venetia) captured by Austro-German forces (see 24th).

PALESTINE FRONT

27th - Third Battle of Gaza begins (see April 19th and November 7th).

MONDAY 29th OCTOBER

GERMANY

30th - Count Hertling succeeds Dr. Michaelis as German Imperial Chancellor (sea July 14th, 1917, and September 30th, 1918)

ITALY

29th - Signor Orlando appointed Italian Premier (see 25th).

WESTERN FRONT

Continuing:

Battles of Ypres, 1917.

"Second Offensive Battle" of Verdun.

Battle of La Malmaison.

EASTERN FRONT

ITALIAN FRONT

Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo: Austro-German offensive continues.

MERCHANT SHIPPING

British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 192 ships of 479,000 tons gross. (Lloyd's War Losses)

NOVEMBER 1917

POLITICAL

WESTERN EUROPE

EASTERN & SOUTHERN EUROPE

ASIA & AFRICA

NAVAL & MARITIME

THURSDAY 1st NOVEMBER

BRITAIN

1st - Ministry of National Service formed in Great Britain (see December 19th, 1916).

WESTERN FRONT

Continuing:

Battles of Ypres, 1917.

"Second Offensive Battle" of Verdun.

1st - Battle of La Malmaison ends (see October 23rd).

EASTERN FRONT

ITALIAN FRONT

Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo: Austro-German offensive continues:

3rd - Arrival of French troops in Italy announced (see 4th).

4th - Arrival of British troops in Italy announced (see 3rd, and June 30th, 1918).

MERCHANT SHIPPING

3rd - Agreement concluded between British, French and Italian Governments for provision of tonnage for the Allied food programme (see November 10th, 1915, January 6th and December 3rd, 1917).

NORTH SEA

2nd - Raid by British naval light forces on the Kattegat (see April 15th, 1918).

MONDAY 5th NOVEMBER

DIPLOMACY

7th - Allied Conference at Rapallo. Inception of Supreme War Council (see 27th).

RUSSIA

8th - Bolshevik coup d'etat in Petrograd. M, Lenin and M. Trotski assume power. Former succeeds M. Kerenski as Premier and latter succeeds M. Tereshchenko as Foreign Minister (see 13th, May 16th, and August 6th).

WESTERN FRONT

"Second Offensive Battle" of Verdun continues.

6th - Passchendaele captured by British (Canadian) forces (see October 26th, 1917, and April 16th, 1918).

10th - Second Battle of Passchendaele ends (see October 26th) and Battles of Ypres, 1917, end (see July 31st, 1917, and September 28th, 1918).

EASTERN FRONT

ITALIAN FRONT

Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo: Austro-German offensive continues:

7th - General Cadorna relieved of the command of the Italian Armies (see May 23rd, 1915, and November 27th, 1917). Succeeded by General Diaz.

11th - Austro-German forces reach the Piave (see October 24th).

PALESTINE FRONT

7th - Third Battle of Gaza ends (see October 27th).

MESOPOTAMIAN FRONT

5th - Action of Tikrit.

6th - Tikrit occupied by British forces (see 5th).

MONDAY 12th NOVEMBER

FRANCE

14th – M. Painleve, French Premier and War Minister, resigns (see 16th, and September 12th). M. Barthou, French Foreign Minister, resigns (see 10th, and October 23rd).

16th - M. Clemenceau appointed French Premier and War Minister (see 14th). M. Stephen Pichon appointed French Foreign Minister (see 14th). M. Jonnart succeeds M. Motin as French Minister for Blockade (First Minister: formerly Blockade was under an under-Secretary.) (see 23rd, and August 17th).

WESTERN FRONT

"Second Offensive Battle" of Verdun continues.

EASTERN FRONT

RUSSIAN CIVIL WAR

13th - Kerenski's forces defeated by Bolsheviki near Petrograd (see 8th and 15th).

15th - M. Kerenski flees from Petrograd (see 13th).

ITALIAN FRONT

Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo: Austro-German offensive continues.

PALESTINE  FRONT

3th - Action of El Mughar.

16th - Jaffa taken by British forces.

17th - Battle of Nebi Samwil begins (see 24th).

MESOPOTAMIAN FRONT

18th - General Sir S. Maude, Commander-in-Chief in Mesopotamia, dies at Baghdad (see August 28th, 1916): succeeded by Lieut.-General Sir W. E. Marshall.

JAPANESE NAVY

15th - Japanese Government unable to comply with request of British Government that two Japanese battle cruisers should join the Grand Fleet in the North Sea (see February 8th, 1916, and April 17th, 1917).

NORTH SEA

17th - Light cruiser action off Heligoland. (see Plans - below far left and below)

MONDAY 19th NOVEMBER

DIPLOMACY

20th - Ukrainian People's Republic proclaimed (see January 3rd, November 15th, and December 26th, 1918).

21st - Armistice pourparlers begun by Russian Bolshevik Government with Central Powers (see 8th, 27th and 30th).

FRANCE

23rd - M. Lebrun succeeds M. Jonnart as French Minister for Blockade (see 16th).

PERSIA

24th - Ain ed Douleh succeeds Ala es Sultaneh as Persian Prime Minister (see June 6th, 1917, and January 19th, 1918).

WESTERN FRONT

"Second Offensive Battle" of Verdun continues.

20th - Battle of Cambrai, 1917, begins (see 30th, and December 3rd).

EASTERN FRONT

ITALIAN FRONT

Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo: Austro-German offensive continues.

See  17th above right - Plan Illustrating the Orders Issued on November 16, 1917, to the Forces Detailed for the Operations in the Heligoland Bight (Newbolt, Vol 5,  pp166)

PALESTINE FRONT

24th - Battle of Nebi Samwil ends (see 17th).

EAST AFRICA

25th - German force under Colonel von Lettow-Vorbeck effects passage of the Rovuma and defeats Portuguese force at Ngomano. German operations in Portuguese East Africa begin (see December 1st, 1917, and September 29th, 1918).

AVIATION

21st - German airship "L.-59" leaves Yambol (Bulgaria) for East Africa.  (Evidence for this event rests on German statements only.)

23rd - German airship "L.-59" reaches East Africa, but turns back without alighting.

25th - German airship "L.-59" returns to Yambol from flight to East Africa.

Extract from Mine Chart Issued to Vice-Admiral Commanding Light Cruiser Squadrons on November 17, 1917  (Newbolt, Vol 5,  pp168)

Extract from Mine Chart Issued to Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron  (Newbolt, Vol 5,  pp168)

MONDAY 26th NOVEMBER

DIPLOMACY

27th - Members of Supreme Council appointed - General Sir H. H. Wilson, General F. Foch, General Cadorna, and General Bliss (see 7th).

27th - First meeting of Russian and German delegates behind German lines to arrange for armistice (see 21st and 30th).

28th - Estonia declared independent by the local Diet (see January 13th, 1918).

29th - First meeting of Great Inter-Allied Conference opens in Paris.

30th - Austro-Hungarian Government accept Bolshevik proposals to negotiate for an armistice and peace (see 21st, and December 3rd).

BRITAIN

29th - Air Force (Constitution) Act, 1917, comes into operation in Great Britain (see December 21st, 1917, and January 3rd, 1918).

WESTERN FRONT

Continuing:

"Second Offensive Battle" of Verdun.

Battle of Cambrai:

30th - The German counter-attacks at Cambrai begin (see 20th, and December 3rd).

EASTERN FRONT

ITALIAN FRONT

Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo: Austro-German offensive continues.

EAST AFRICA

28th - German force under Captain Tafel surrenders to the British in the Mwiti Valley, German East Africa.

ALLIED NAVIES

30th - Allied Naval Conference formed in London (see January 24th).

MERCHANT SHIPPING

British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 146 ships of 303,000 tons gross. (Lloyd's War Losses)

DECEMBER 1917

POLITICAL

WESTERN EUROPE

EASTERN & SOUTHERN EUROPE

ASIA & AFRICA

NAVAL & MARITIME

SATURDAY 1st DECEMBER

DIPLOMACY

1st - Permanent Allied Supreme War Council inaugurated (see November 7th, 1917, and February 3rd, 1918).

WESTERN FRONT

Continuing:

"Second Offensive Battle" of Verdun.

Battle of Cambrai.

EASTERN FRONT

2nd - Suspension of hostilities between the Russian and German Armies begins (The actual suspension of hostilities took place on dates fixed by the local Army Commanders in anticipation of truce arranged between the official negotiators) (see 8th).

ITALIAN FRONT

Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo: Austro-German offensive continues.

EAST AFRICA

1st - The last German forces driven out of German East Africa into Portuguese territory (approximate date) (see November 25th).

U-BOAT WARFARE

Diagram Showing Organisation of Local Patrols Falmouth and Devonport, c December 1917  (Newbolt, Vol 5,  pp197)

MONDAY 3rd DECEMBER

DIPLOMACY

3rd - First session of armistice delegates (also known as "Truce Delegates" and "Peace Delegates.") at Brest-Litovsk—Bolshevik Russia, and Bulgaria, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey (see 6th, and November 30th).

6th - Finland declares independence (see January 4th, 1918)

7th - United States of America declare war on Austria-Hungary (see April 8th).

7th - Ecuador severs diplomatic relations with Germany.

9th - Armistice ("Truce of Focsani") signed between Rumania and Central Powers (see 6th, and November 10th, 1918).

WESTERN FRONT

"Second Offensive Battle" of Verdun continues.

3rd - Battle of Cambrai, 1917, ends (see November 20th, 1917, and October 8th, 1918).

EASTERN FRONT

6th - Truce arranged between Russia and Bulgaria, Central Powers and Turkey from 7th to 17th. Negotiations suspended (see 3rd and 13th).

7th - Truce between Russia and Central Powers comes into operation officially (see 2nd and 6th).

8th - All hostilities on the Eastern front suspended (see 2nd).

RUMANIA

6th - Hostilities between Rumania and Central Powers suspended (see 9th and 10th, and March 5th, May 7th, and November 10th, 1918).

ITALIAN FRONT

Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo: Austro-German offensive continues.

PALESTINE FRONT

9th - Jerusalem surrenders to British forces (see 11th).

U.S.S. "Texas" (Photo Ships),

Austro-Hungarian "Wien" (now coast defence ship - Photo Ships)

MERCHANT SHIPPING

3rd - Allied Conference in Paris resolve to establish an Allied Maritime Transport Council (see January 6th and November 3rd, 1917, and February 15th, 1918).

US NAVY

6th - United States Battleship Division (including U.S.S. "Texas", left), under Rear-Admiral Rodman, joins Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow.

COASTAL FORCES WARFARE

9th - Italian naval raid on Trieste harbour (night 9th/10th). Austrian battleship "Wien" (left) sunk.

MONDAY 10th DECEMBER

DIPLOMACY

10th - Panama declares war on Austria-Hungary.

13th - Armistice negotiations on Russian front resumed (see 6th and 15th).

15th - Armistice signed at Brest-Litovsk between Russian Bolshevik Government and Bulgaria, Central Powers and Turkey, to begin at noon December 17th, and terminate January 14th, 1918 (see 13th and 22nd).

16th - Cuba declares war on Austria-Hungary.

RUSSIA

11th - Russian Constituent Assembly meet in Petrograd (see 13th).

13th - Russian Constituent Assembly dispersed by Bolsheviki (see 11th, and November 8th, 1917, and January 19th, 1918).

WESTERN FRONT

15th - "Second Offensive Battle" of Verdun (French) ends (see August 20th).

RUMANIA

10th - Hostilities between Rumania and the Central Powers cease (see 6th).

BALKAN FRONT

14th - General Sarrail recalled from Salonika (see 22nd, and January 16th, 1916).

ITALIAN FRONT

Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo: Austro-German offensive continues.

PALESTINE FRONT

11th - General Allenby makes formal entry into Jerusalem (see 9th).

NORTH SEA

12th - German destroyers raid British convoy in the North Sea and sink H.M.S. "Partridge" (see October 17th).

U-BOAT WARFARE

12th - Funchal (Madeira) shelled by German submarine (see December 3rd, 1916).

14th - French cruiser "Château Renault" (below - Photo Ships) sunk by submarine.

MONDAY 17th DECEMBER

DIPLOMACY

17th - British Government give the King of the Hejaz (see December 15th, 1916, and February 4th, 1918) written assurance of the future independence of the Arab people.

17th - Armistice between Russia and Central Powers begins (see 15th).

22nd - Peace negotiations between Russian Bolshevik Government and Bulgaria, Central Powers and Turkey opened at Brest-Litovsk (see 15th, and January 5th, 1918).  

22nd - Secret Convention signed at Brest-Litovsk between Germany and Russian Bolshevik Government concerning Poland.

23rd - Independent Moldavian Republic (Bessarabia) proclaimed at Kishinev (see April 9th, 1918).

BRITAIN

21st - British Government issue Order in Council instituting the Air Council (see November 29th, 1917, and January 3rd, 1918).

WESTERN FRONT

22nd - Lieut.-General Sir B. C. Maxwell, Quartermaster-General, B.E.F; France, resigns (see 23rd, and January 27th, 1915).

23rd - Lieut.-General Sir T. E. Clarke, appointed Quartermaster-General, B.E.F., France (see 22nd).

With the signing of the Brest-Litovsk Treaty, the Eastern Front as a heading is no longer generally used. (Hostilities recommence in 1918)

BALKAN FRONT

22nd - General Guillaumat appointed Allied Commander-in-Chief at Salonika (see 14th, and June 6th, 1918).

ITALIAN FRONT

Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo: Austro-German offensive continues.

PALESTINE FRONT

21st - Battle of Jaffa begins.

22nd - Battle of Jaffa ends.

MONDAY 24th DECEMBER

FRANCE

28th - French Foreign Minister in speech outlines French War Aims (see January 5th, 1918).

WESTERN FRONT

ITALIAN FRONT

26th - Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo ends (see October 24th).

PALESTINE FRONT

26th - British defence of Jerusalem begins.

30th - British defence of Jerusalem ends.

ROYAL NAVY

26th - Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, First Sea Lord, Great Britain, resigns (see 27th, and December 4th, 1916).

27th - Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss appointed First Sea Lord, Great Britain (see 26th).

MONDAY 31st DECEMBER

WESTERN FRONT

MERCHANT SHIPPING

British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 182 ships of  409,000 tons gross. Total for 1917 – 3,267 ships of  6,350,000 tons gross  (Lloyd's War Losses)