Western Front
Heavy snow and rain (plus hail on March 27).
Somme: Australians capture Lagnicourt (c.50 PoWs), 6 miles northeast of Bapaume.
Aisne: Heavy clashes occur between French and German forces around St. Quentin, with two towns falling to the French. French Third Army push back Germans beyond Barisis-Servais line and recapture Coucy-le-Chateau.
Eastern Front
German troops advance on Russian lines near Dvinsk (Daugavpils), aided by poison gas attacks, but only make limited gains.
Russians attacked south-west of Baranovichi (centre), retire on east bank of Shchara, losing 300 prisoners.
Southern Front
French artillery active on the Salonika (Thessalonica) Front in Macedonia:
http://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/index/170
Austro-Hungarians occupy Italian advanced trenches south of the Vipacco (Carso).
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
First Battle of Gaza begins (see 27th): Dobell’s British Eastern Force (39,000 men and 136 guns against 16,000 Turks with 74 guns) cuts off Gaza with 8500 cavalry and belatedly captures Ali Muntar Ridge above city, but ceases battle at nightfall. Late in the afternoon, on the verge of capturing Gaza, the Desert Column was withdrawn due to concerns about the approaching darkness and large Ottoman reinforcements. British incur 3,967 casualties including 246 PoWs and 2 planes; Turkish forces 2,447 casualties (837 PoWs) including 48 Austro-Germans, 2 guns and 1 aircraft.
Germans (8 Rumplers and a few Halberstadt fighters) outperform Royal Flying Corps (21 serviceable aircraft) in vital reconnaissance role during First Battle of Gaza (until March 28).
Political, etc
Russia: Russian War Minister warns that the “foe is at the gate,” pointing to the buildup of German troops threatening Petrograd.
Leon Trotsky leaves his exile in New York City and heads back to Russia:
http://imgur.com/CKc1WfZ
United Kingdom: Statement re: prisoners of war in House of Commons.
Mr. Bonar Law appeals to engineers on strike at Barrow to resume work.
Bread rises to 1s. per 4-lb. loaf, and new standard of flour applied to bakers.
United States: Pres. Wilson issues executive order putting the Navy at war strength. U.S. Navy recruiting station in New York City:
http://imgur.com/X5NoAvi
25 additional U.S. National Guard units are called out for Federal service today, putting the total at about 46,000 men so far.