Western Front
Third Battle of Ypres: Continued lack of activity today, due to continued heavy rains.
Aisne: German guns fire 90,000 rounds phosgene gas shell (until October 22) at French in Ailette Basin near Laffaux; 1,200 gassed (110 deaths). Artillery duels northeast of Soissons on October 17.
Bruges dock raided by British airmen.
Eastern Front
Operation Albion: Germans cut off retreat of Russians from Oesel Island to Moon Island via Mole and capture 3,500 prisoners. Germans advance along Sworbe Peninsula.
Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: Battle of Nyangao and Mahiwa (until October 18): ‘An equatorial Gettysburg’ (largest battle of the war), c.4,950 British, 12 guns, 4 mortars, 147 MGs vs 3,000 Germans and c.3 guns. Wahle evacuates Mtana due to Nigerian Brigade and fights it north of Mahiwa. Lindi column drives German forces on Nyangoa by enveloping movement from north.
The Kashmiri Mountain Battery at the Battle of Nyangao and Mahlwa:
https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ahiwa.jpg?ssl=1
Political, etc
Germany: Ludendorff reports to War Office on OHL meetings with unions.
Germany extends conscription to 47-year-old men. Men previously declared unfit to serve will also be reexamined for service.
France: Margaretha Geertruida MacLeod, better known by her stage name of Mata Hari (an exotic dancer), shot at dawn (06:00) at the age of 41 by a French firing squad of Zouaves at Caserne de Vincennes on the outskirts of Paris, having been tried (and falsely convicted) as a spy. She refuses a blindfold and blows a kiss to the firing squad before the execution:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...593966059659265
Turkey: Kaiser Wilhelm in Constantinople with Ottoman Sultan Mehmed V and Minister of War Enver Pasha: © IWM (Q 70808)
United States: Shipping Board takes over private ocean-going ships.
Poland: Polish Regency Council appointed (see September 12th).