Western Front
German airship
L-39 shot down by French anti-aircraft fire near Compiegne (night March 16-17).
Guynemer achieves first French ace’s triple victory and receives Russian Order of St George (4th class) from President Poincare.
Abortive German Navy airship operation against London; adverse weather. First sortie by 4 R-class ‘height climber’ Zeppelins at 17,000 – 19,000ft.
Somme: British occupy St Pierre Vaast Wood, dominating Peronne. First marching day of
Operation Alberich: 35 German divisions begin synchronized retreat to Hindenburg Line.
Southern Front
Austro-Hungarians destroy Italian defenses in San Pellegrino valley (Dolomites) and occupy positions there.
Naval and Overseas Operations
Action between German raider
Leopard and H.M.S.
Achilles and Armed Boarding Steamer
Dundee:
Leopard sunk 200 miles northeast of Faroes during attempted breakout into Atlantic.
Black Sea: Russian Fleet shells Derkos.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Russians dislodge Turks from summit of Naleshkian (Persia) and occupy Alliabad, engaging Turkish forces near Kerind.
Political, etc
Germany: German Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg states Germany will give more power to the people after the war.
Russia: Tsar Nicholas II announces his abdication of yesterday, bringing 3 centuries of Romanov rule over Russia to an end:
http://imgur.com/dp08csM . As related, Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich declines the Russian throne, realizing that he has little support as ruler:
http://imgur.com/79WaAPY. Russian 2nd Battleship Brigade (4 ships) leads revolution at Helsinki (night Mach 16-17, c.50 officers and NCOs killed) but no bloodshed at Reval (March 15) or elsewhere. Fleet has over 89,000 members of all ranks.
Winter Palace declared State property.
France: French Army agrees to send 5 of its officers to the U.S. to help train American soldiers.
United Kingdom: Despite German submarine warfare, British Board of Trade announces overseas trade in February increased by £4.5 million.
British labour leaders send telegram of sympathy to Russian labor party.
Acute potato famine in England.
Turkey: Turkish Senate approves agreement with Baghdad Railway Co.
Sheikh-ul-Islam again proclaims Holy War; general mobilization of Turks ordered.