Western Front
Flanders: Successful German trench raids near Laos, west of Messines and northeast of Ypres.
Champagne: Nivelle’s instructions issued for general offensive. German attack gains the plans, 858 PoWs and trenches from French salient west of Maisons de Champagne.
British War Office states its forces have advanced ¾ of a mile on a 10,000-yard front in the Somme front since the start of the year.
Eastern Front
In Romania, Austro-Hungarian forces announce the capture of 1,223 Russian prisoners, three artillery guns, and 12 machine guns.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Decisive day of Battle of Kut. Turks driven from right bank of Tigris. British clear Dahra Bend until February 16, take 1,995 PoWs for 503 casualties. Heavy rain on February 17 prevents further southern bank operations.
Arabia: Lawrence’s secret despatch on ‘Feisal’s Table Talk’ appears in Arab Bulletin.
Naval and Overseas Operations
Eastern Mediterranean: U-39 (Forstmann) sinks unescorted Italian Salonika-bound transport
Minas (870 of 1000 on board die) west of Cape Matapan, French transport
Athos also sunk on February 17 by
U-65 (Fischel) 200 miles east of Malta.
Germany: Light cruiser
SMS Nürnberg II completed at Kiel, last of 4-strong class finished since August 12, 1916 to serve with High Seas fleet Scouting Forces.
Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Cargoes of captured Romanian grain arrive in Austria-Hungary, but will not go to civilians; instead, they will go to its army & Germany.
Due to heavy snows and coal shortages, Vienna’s theaters, restaurants, and streetcars are ordered to close earlier in the day.
France: Octave Mirbeau, the French journalist, critic, and writer, passed away:
http://imgur.com/HOxF48C
French government institutes maximum prices for milk, butter, and cheese to control rising food costs.
United Kingdom: Interview with Sir Douglas Haig published.
British Government take over all coal mines in the U.K. for the period of the war.
Belgium: Germany reverses its order, allowing U.S. relief corps to continue operating in occupied Belgian areas.
In Brussels, the U.S. Minister is ordered by the Germans to lower the U.S. flag over the Legation.
United States: (Listed for yesterday): U.S. National Woman’s Party sends over 1000 valentines to legislators and President Wilson, urging them to give women the vote.
Netherlands: The Netherlands accepts 250 refugee children from occupied France. Several hundred more are expected to arrive soon.