Western Front
German raids near Loos, Mericourt, Beaumont and on other portions of front fail.
German troops again advance at Cambrai against British lines, taking 450 prisoners.
Flanders: BEF strength 1,907,906 (1,192,668 on January 3, 1917). British 4th Tank Brigade formed.
Verdun: French repulse raid at Beaumont, and Chaume Wood flamethrower attack (January 12 and 13), make successful raid to southeast on January 16. Max von Gallwitz in command of Army Group for duration of war.
In January RFC No 19 Squadron first to receive Sopwith Dolphin high-altitude fighter, No 141 Squadron at Rochford, Essex gets and crashes one but used only as day fighter.
Britain: Total air defences have 376 aircraft, 469 anti-aircraft guns, 622 searchlights, 258 height-finders and 10 sound locators.
Eastern Front
German soldiers toasting the New Years. The sign reads, “Comrades in the East already drink for peace.” © IWM (Q 88021):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...900254300573696
Southern Front
The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in Salonika is re-equipped with Royal Aircraft Factory SE5As, Bristol Monoplanes and Sopwith Camels to replace the Nieuport 27s previously operating in this theatre. This marked the beginning of British air supremacy on this Salonika front.
Austrians bomb Bassano, Treviso and Mestre (Venice).
Successful British raid across Piave river.
Austrians driven from Zenson.
Naval and Overseas Operations
H.M.S.
Arbutus and
Grive (small vessels) reported torpedoed.
Britain: Depth charge production up to 4,647 per month, escorts armed with 30-40 each, use 1,745 per month from June.
Germany: Now 21 German MTBs in service, 14 in Flanders.
Channel: Vice-Admiral Roger Keyes takes over Dover Patrol from Admiral Reginald Bacon.
Biscay: Acting on Room 40 intercepts, armed boarding steamer HMS Duke of Clarence captures Spanish ship Erro Berro (sinks in tow) before she transfers wolfram (ore-producing tungsten) to 2 U-boats which are ambushed unsuccessfully.
Mediterranean: 2 U-boat Flotillas formed, 1st at Pola, 2nd at Cattaro, 7-8 boats on operations in January, including coastal subamrines
UB-49 and
UB-48 together.
Baltic: Estimated 40,000 sailors have left Russian Fleet for home or interior land fighting.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arab forces begin Actions for Et Tafile (see 28th).
British advance continues north of Jerusalem.
Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: In January door locks and latches being removed for metal.
Poster calling on the population to support arms production by delivering metal objects:
https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...cling.jpg?ssl=1
Germany: Kaiser Wilhelm in his New Year’s address: “Trusting in our righteous cause and in our strength, we face the year 1918 with firm confidence and iron will. Therefore, forward with God to fresh deeds and fresh victories!”
In January 2.3m exempted workers, half Field Army eligible.
During January Fokker wins first competition to find obsolescent Albatros fighter replacement.
Russia: Reported German peace term cause consternation in Russia and denounced as annexationist.
France: Inter-allied War Purchases Committee meets in Paris.
In January Seine freezes over for first time in 120 years.
Eastern France: Germans exact 92 million francs from Lille (until October 17).
United Kingdom: M. Litvinov appointed Bolshevik Plenipotentiary in London.
RFP 106%, up 10% during 1917. Sugar rationing (1/2 lb per person per week) plus compulsory
meatless day (two from January 25). Local lard rationing of 2 oz per person per week for 1.5 million people.
British government announces it will house the Air Board offices at the British Museum. This results in controversy and protests, as it would make the museum a military target.
India: Calcutta: All-India Moslem Association formed.
Turkey: 40,594 non-military 1918 deaths in capital (22,244 in 1914)
Belgium: M. Paul Hymans succeeds Baron de Broqueville as Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs (see August 4th, 1917).