Western Front
Aisne: Germans demolish irreplaceable medieval castle of Coucy-le-Chateau, 10 miles north of Soissons, to remove potential observation post.
A house set on fire by retreating Germans explodes in Mons-en-Chausee, France:
http://imgur.com/B1IoSPp © IWM (Q 1907)
Artois: BEF preparatory bombardment for Arras offensive opens.
British soldiers with French children in the newly-liberated village of Vraignes on this day. In the background is the German goodbye “Gott strafe England’ (‘God punish England’; this is, BTW, where the English word “strafe” comes from):
https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ignes.jpg?ssl=1
Department of Oise entirely liberated.
French take Tergnier and cross St. Quentin Canal. French carry railway junction of Jussy (east of Ham).
German casualties reported at 4,148,163 (to end of February).
Naval and Overseas Operations
Germany: Raider
Möwe returns to Kiel.
British hospital ship
Asturias torpedoed without warning during night of 20-21 March: 41 lost.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
The Victoria Cross is awarded to Lieutenant F.H. McNamara of No.67 (Australian) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, the only Australian airman to be so decorated. The Victoria Cross is awarded for his rescue of a downed fellow pilot, Captain D.W. Rutherford, after a bombing attack on a railway across Wadi Hesse at Tel el Hesi in Palestine.
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/images/...s/pc76-23-5.jpg
Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Princes Sixtus and Xavier in Vienna until March 25.
Russia: Ex-Tsar Nikolai Romanov reviews troops at STAVKA, urges loyalty to Provisional Government and war’s continuation.
Appointment of Grand Duke Nicholas to supreme command of army annulled.
Casualties at Petrograd 2,500.
Proclamation by Provisional Government. [the one promulgating freedoms]
France: M. Paul Painlevé appointed French Minister for War (see 17th, September 12th and November 14th).
United Kingdom: First meeting of British Imperial War Conference attended by dominion and colonial officials, to discuss the war and the empire’s future. (see December 19th, 1916).
At the House of Commons, former Premier Asquith defends the late Lord Kitchener’s part in the Battle of Gallipoli.
Ministry of National Service formed.
Romania: CoS General Iliesca blames Russia for autumn 1916 disasters.
United States: US Cabinet agree war inevitable, Wilson summons Congress for April 2, 1917.
American Note to General Carranza (Mexico) published.
China: Chinese Navy takes over 2 interned German river gunboats before declaration of war (on August 14, 1917); 20 interned steamers (21,000t) already seized on March 14.