Western Front
During January 4 German
Jagdstaffeln (fighter squadrons) formed, another 6 in February.
German attacks fail on the Ancre near Beaucourt and west of Serre.
Total of German prisoners taken by British in France during January is 1,228, including 27 officers.
Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: East of Jakobeny Germans attack three times by night against previous lost positions, but are repulsed with heavy loss.
Naval and Overseas Operations
During January U-boats have sunk 180 ships (51 British, 63 Allied, 66 neutral including 34 Norwegian) worth 328,391t (British 109,954t), 2 U-boats lost. U-boat toll in Mediterranean is 75,541t.
Political, etc.
Germany: Government informs US Government it will not ‘leave any means whatever unturned [ie unrestricted U-boat warfare] to hasten the end of the war. Since the Allies have rebuffed Germany’s attempt to reach an understanding by negotiation … The Imperial German Government must therefore abandon the limitations … imposed upon itself …’.
GERMANY DECLARES UNRESTRICTED U-BOAT WAR and threatens cross-Channel hospital ships (alleged munition cargoes). Bernstorff orders sabotage of German ships [that is, so they could not be seized and used by the US or Allies] in US ports.
Germany announces zone in which all shipping liable to be sunk as from Terschelling (Holland) north to Udsive (Norway) then northwest to Faroe Islands and down longitude 20° West 350 miles west of Ireland to Cape Finisterre. Zone also includes whole Mediterranean excluding Balearic Islands and seas east of Gibraltar as far as Spain’s heel. A 20-mile channel left for ships sailing to Greece until January 11, 1918. Archangel added to barred zone on March 1917. Scheer Order of Day says whole Navy must support U-boats.
German approval for the new development ‘U-boats go forth’:
https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...oote-heraus.jpg
Count Kuno von Westarp, Conservative leader in the Reichstag, states Germany will seek territories and reparations after winning the war.
United Kingdom: Commodore Godfrey Paine appointed Fifth Sea Lord and Director of Air Services (succeeding Rear-Admiral Vaughan-Lee).
Turkey: Legal and literary faculties of Stamboul (Istanbul) University in Constantinople nominates Kaiser Wilhelm for the Nobel Peace Prize.
United States: U.S. Secretary of State Lansing announces normal diplomatic relations with U.S. and Mexico will be resumed immediately.
New York Department of Health orders all New York restaurants and lunch counters to obtain a license to ensure sanitation.