Western Front
East of Vermelles and south of Neuve Chapelle hostile raids repulsed with heavy loss to both sides.
North of Gueudecourt British take German trench and 30 prisoners. British push forward cautiously.
Southern Front
Isonzo: Captain Benito Mussolini on Carso (Sector 144) in grenade or mortar shell accident, 4 killed out of 20 soldiers, has 44 pieces removed from his body. Visited by King at Ronchi hospital, moved to Milan, on crutches in August.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: 7th Indian Divison (1,332 casualties) storms and holds first two Sannaiyat lines against 7 Turkish counter-attacks as diversion to pin reserves; 88 Punjabis (in 11 pontoons) raid across Tigris, 4 miles east of Kut.
Naval and Overseas Operations
British merchant ships are now carrying phosphorus “smoke screens” to hide them from German U-Boats.
Channel:
U-21 (Otto Hersing) homeward bound from Mediterranean sinks 6 of 8 Dutch steamers (including Holt liner Perseus) in convoy off Falmouth, unaware these ‘easy kills’ have been granted ‘safe passage’ by Berlin.
Also, another report states: Seven Dutch ships sailing from Falmouth are attacked by submarine
U3, in spite of German guarantee of security; four are sunk. (In reality,
U-3 was never in active service: she served as a training vessel throughout the war.
SM U-21 was serving as
KuK U-36 during the time of her service in the Mediterranean [since Germany hadn’t technically reciprocated Italy’s declaration of war of 23 May 1915, German submarines in the Mediterranean were given freedom of action by being transferred in name to Austria-Hungary] The truncation of
KuK U-36 to
U-3 is mostly likely the source of the error).
Political, etc.
Germany: Strike at the Krupp works in Essen, Germany continues, with several thousand workers demanding higher wages and increased food rations.
German Foreign Affairs Secretary Zimmermann expresses confidence that Germany will achieve its aims with submarine warfare.
Allied Powers: Allied government ministers declare that captured German colonies in Africa and Asia will not be returned after the war.
France: 150 Renault FT-17 light tanks ordered.
United Kingdom: British War Office declares that military operations against the Ottomans have successfully prevented them from reinforcing Germany.
50 Sinn Feiners (Irish nationalists) are arrested by British authorities under the Defense of the Realm Act.
Formation of "Labour Corps":
http://www.1914-1918.net/labour.htm
Turkey: Turkey declares her agreement with Germany on policy of unrestricted submarine warfare.
Japan: Japanese businesses consider suspending shipping to Europe due to the U-boat threat, which has caused shipping costs to jump by 30%.
United States: Nationwide protests against high food prices continue in the U.S. One protestor is killed in Philadelphia.
U.S. House of Representatives vote 321 to 72 approving total prohibition of alcohol in 19 states.
U.S. Mint in Philadelphia weighing gold. $600 million of gold will be sent from Europe to the U.S. this February:
http://imgur.com/aSv6vkX
In U.S.A., war tension appears critical. German agents instigating many disturbances. (Refers to acts of sabotage; German agents were known to place time bombs on Europe-bound ships, and some were also arrested for attempts to place bombs in various harbors. What is wildly inaccurate is the charge that numerous labor actions were instigated by German agents.)
Switzerland: Swiss government seeks to use Genoa, Italy for exports & imports, as German ports are blockaded & French ports are threatened by U-boats.