Western Front
Severe fighting from Croisilles to north of Gavrelle; minor British setbacks. South of Bapaume-Cambrai road minor British advance to St. Quentin Canal near Vendhuil and capture Bithem.
Five of Richthofen’s fighters survive attacks by 20 Royal Flying Corps fighters.
Formation of first German Kampfstaffel or ‘Battle Flight’ special ground attack with MGs and hand grenades in support of infantry attack.
Jagdstaffel 11 members in France. Commander Manfred von Richthofen (Red Baron) is seated in his Albatros © IWM (Q 42283):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...0389124/photo/1
Royal Field Artillery firing their 18-pounder guns at Monchy-le-Preux. German shelling can be seen in the background © IWM (Q 6294):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...1994240/photo/1
Southern Front
Salonika: First Battle of Lake Doiran begin (first phase 24th/25th) (see, May 9th). The assault began with a bitter four-day artillery barrage in which the British fired about 100,000 shells. As a result, the earthworks and some wooden structures in the front positions were destroyed. The Bulgarians also opened fire from the batteries between Vardar and Doiran. Vladimir Vazov ordered fire day and night on the Allied positions. The initial several-hour struggle between the British and Bulgarian batteries was followed by a one-hour Bulgarian counter-barrage in which 10,000 shells were fired. British 22nd and 26th Divisions attack on 2 1/2-mile front at 2145 hours but, under 147 Bulgar guns (including German 5.9-inch naval gun battery) and 33 searchlights, never penetrate beyond first line of concrete defences on steep round hills. British losses 3,163; Bulgarian and German 835+ (22 PoWs) soldiers, including in 7 counter-attacks.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: General Cobbe occupies Samarra (60 miles north of Baghdad, railway station occupied on April 23), takes 340 sick and wounded Turkish soldiers. Marshall drives 2,000 Turks east over Adhaim taking 160 PoWs but heat halts operations.
Political, etc
Russia: Ukraine demands autonomy.
France: 155mm GPF gun first test fired (at Paris).
300,000 copies of President Wilson’s war address to Congress are printed and will be air-dropped on German trenches on the Western Front.
United Kingdom: British government will insure cargoes of neutral ships from German submarines between Europe and Americas in order to facilitate trade.
United States: Arrival of French Mission (Marshall Joffre and M. Viviani) in New York.
Liberty Loan Act $7 billions ($3 billion for Allies). With wild enthusiasim and waving flags on the Broadway is US going to war:
https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...adway.jpg?ssl=1
Portugal: Sen. Costa (Democrat) becomes Premier in Portugal.