Western Front
Aerial picture of the trenches and soldiers on the Somme front: http://imgur.com/VBvfKn8

Eastern Front
Russia claims that in 1916, it captured 428,000 soldiers, 325 artillery guns, 1,661 machine guns, and 421 mortars and mine throwers.
Romania: Battle of Pralea: Further unsuccessful Romanian attacks between Casin and Susitsa valleys. Town of Nanesti and bridgehead of Fundeni carried by Makensen’s forces.

Southern Front
Kaiser Wilhelm at the Citadel in occupied Belgrade, the 1st German emperor to visit since Friedrich I Barbarossa http://imgur.com/vU1VRxu* © IWM (Q 27202)

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: 3rd Indian Division has cleared Khadalri Bend (south bank of Tigris below Kut); for 1,639 casualties since January 9.

Political, etc.
Germany: German Government send instructions to German Minister in Mexico (von Eckhardt) to negotiate alliance with Mexico and Japan against the United States (see February 28th). This is the infamous Zimmermann Telegram, which perhaps even more than unrestricted submarine warfare, brought the US into World War I. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimmermann_Telegram and https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.ph...page=transcript
United Kingdom: Silvertown (East London) munitions factory explosion (69 killed, 400 injured), heard in Salisbury, Wilts. https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...Muni-Fabrik.jpg (Ed note: uncertain if this is the particular munitions factory in question).

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Eastern Front
Romania: Battle of Pralea: Despite strengthening resistance, German-led forces capture the commune of Nănești, Romania from Russian and Romanian troops. After taking Fundeni, Germans decide to halt offensive at river Sereth.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: British bombers carry out an attack on an Ottoman munitions plant in Baghdad.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: British submarine E.36 collides with another submarine E.43 in the North Sea, resulting in E.36’s sinking with loss of all hands.
Eastern Mediterranean: French Salonika-bound transport Admiral Magon (5,566t) sunk by U-39 (Walter Forstmann).
East Africa: General Reginald Hoskins succeeds General Jan Smuts in command of British forces, East Africa (see February 19th, 1916 and May 30th, 1917). Official despatch from German East Africa reports progress in Rufiji valley region and west of Mahenge. Main and Kilwa Forces only 40 miles apart, Hoskins flies from Kilwa to GHQ in a BE2c. Only 15,000 fit troops against 8,400 Germans with 20 guns and 73 MGs. Smuts sails from Dar-es-Salaam for London.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Coffee rations in Budapest are cut to 125 grams per person for each month.
Russia: The Tsar addresses a rescript to Prince Golitzin laying down the main lines of his policy.
Turkey: More than 1000 Americans in Ottoman Syria and Palestine apply for evacuation out of the region.
Belgium: German occupation in Belgium sentences 30 Belgians to death for attempting to escape through the Netherlands and join the Belgian Army.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
Britain carries out a daylight raid on German trenches near Loos, destroying dugouts, inflicting casualties, & capturing prisoners.
Verdun: French repulse attacks north of Bois de Caurieres. (Again, probably nothing more than minor raids).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Persia: Ali Ihsan ordered to move troops to Baghdad, 44th Regiment leaves Kermanshah.

Political, etc.
Germany: Germany releases this propaganda poster, replying to Allied propaganda calling the Germans “Barbarians”. Banner headline reads, “We Barbarians!” Middle section, the columns represent Germany, England, and France, in that order. Rows are labeled, “Illiteracy rates per 10,000 citizens”; “median wages(?)” (ed note: not too sure about this one, it might actually read closer to “standard of living”); “books engraved” (i. e. published); “spending on social welfare”. Bottom of the poster highlights the many Nobel Prize winners for the years 1901-1915, compare the nationality of such, and especially highlights many of the German notables. https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ir-barbaren.jpg
(reported for yesterday): An explosion at a munitions laboratory in Spandau, Germany results in 10 deaths and 20 injuries.
Russia: Tsar Nicholas II issues an imperial rescript calling on all Russians to back the army to the fullest extent.
Russian General Aleksei Brusilov predicts that “during the coming year the enemy will be completely routed.”
France: The Bishop of Verdun, who had to flee the German advance, returns to the city and expresses assurances of coming victory.
Turkey: Ottoman Empire accuses France of coveting Syria and Britain of wanting to take over Mesopotamia (Iraq).
United States: Funeral of Admiral George Dewey, commander during the Battle of Manila Bay, in Washington DC: http://imgur.com/iPQV7jI
The U.S. cuts the number of guards on the US-Mexican border by 15,000, as demobilization of the Mexican expedition continues.
Herbert Hoover, head of the Belgian Relief Commission (and future US President), asks $200 million to aid civilians in occupied Belgium.
Switzerland: Some Swiss citizens living overseas are ordered to return home to serve in the Swiss Army, due to fears of a German invasion.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Under "Political, etc." the "We Barbarians" poster noted as an entry for Germany is really quite neat and well done.

It does help that I speak German.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
Ferdinand Foch assumes temporary command of Eastern Army Group (until March 26) for Noël Castelnau, which is on Allied mission to Russia.
Foch’s CoS Weygand goes to Berne for secret talks with Swiss General Staff on steps against any German invasion of Switzerland.

Eastern Front
Airship LZ-97 raids Kishinev, Rumania.
Dobruja: 2 Bulgarian battalions cross south arm of Danube near Tulcea but thrown back on January 23, losing 337 PoWs.
Romania: Battle of Pralea: Following heavy artillery bombardment, German and Austro-Hungarian troops launch attacks on Russian lines along the Stokhid River.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Baltic: German submarine SM U-76 founders in bad weather and then collides with a Russian trawler, resulting in the submarine sinking.
North Sea: Two destroyer actions by night in North Sea. One German destroyer sunk and one (V-69) towed damaged into Ymuiden. One British destroyer lost. [ed note: I can find no evidence of a second action, nor any reference to a British destroyer being sunk. Nor was a German destroyer sunk outright. The High Seas Torpedo Boats {further note: The German Hochseetorpedoboote were the rough equivalent of destroyers in other navies, and often referred to as such} G-41 & V-69 were both damaged and collided during this action, but both made it to port.] Wikipedia has this to say: On 22 January 1917, 11 torpedo boats of the 6th Torpedo Boat Flotilla, including G41 left Helgoland to reinforce the German torpedo forces in Flanders. The British Admiralty knew about this transfer due to codebreaking by Room 40, and ordered the Harwich Force of cruisers and destroyers to intercept the German torpedo boats. During the night of 22–23 January, the 6th Flotilla encountered three British light cruisers (Aurora, Conquest and Centaur). The Germans attempted a torpedo attack against the British cruisers, but were driven off by heavy fire and broke off the attack behind a smoke-screen. V69, leader of the flotilla, and the only torpedo boat to succeed in launching any torpedoes, was hit by three shells, one of which jammed her rudder, forcing her to move in a circle. G41 collided with V69 twice in the resulting confusion, with the second collision caused one of V69's torpedoes to explode. Both torpedo boats were badly damaged as a result of the collisions, and G41 was hit two more times by British shells, knocking out the ship's aft gun and forward torpedo tubes before managing to lose the chasing British cruisers in the smoke. G41 managed to reach Zeebrugge via Dutch territorial waters, while V69 made for Ijmuiden in the Netherlands, where she was repaired, returning to Germany on 12 February.
East Africa: 150 German soldiers repel 125 KAR (King’s African Rifles) from Mpotora, west of Kilwa.

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: Britain announces that all men aged 18 years will be called up for home defense, lowering the age from the former 18 years & 7 months.
Italy: The Bank of Italy and other Italian banks lend Russia $50 million, which will be used to purchase Italian war supplies.
United States: Polish organization in the U.S. asks President Wilson to recognize the Kingdom of Poland, which was established by the Central Powers.
Rockefeller Foundation defends plan for a “modern school,” which will teach French and German instead of Latin and Greek.
Ammunition exports from the U.S. to Europe has passed more than $1 billion in value since the start of the war.
In a speech to the Senate, President Wilson proposes abandoning isolation and establishing a world league to maintain peace.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
French ace Guynemer destroys 5 German aircraft (until January 26).
10 RNAS Sopwiths bomb Burbach blast furnaces near Saarbrücken (one other raid February, repeated twice in March).

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: Battle of the Aa: German Eighth Army counter-offensive regains most ground lost between Lake Babit and Tirul Marsh (until January 25), taking 900 PoWs.
Romania: Battle of Pralea: In Romania, Bulgarian troops have crossed the Danube near Tulcea and have established a beachhead after driving away Allied troops. Another source directly contradicts, stating: Bulgarians driven back across Danube near Tulcea.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Allied London Naval Conference (until January 24) opened by Lloyd George who stresses its importance and appeals for unity. It agrees to withdraw 4 Royal Navy battleships from Mediterranean, Adriatic Squadron to use crews in smaller ships, likewise only HMS Lord Nelson and HMS Agamemnon to stay in Eastern Mediterranean; Anglo-French compromise on dispersed or fixed shipping routes in Mediterranean, to try both until next conference; British commander to be in command of Otranto Barrage under Italian C-in-C
North Sea: (Ah, here is the second destroyer action from yesterday): Harwich flotilla action with German 6th torpedo boat flotilla in the North Sea: H.M.S. Simoom sunk. Another source: A by Room 40 warned Harwich Force (3 cruisers and 14 destroyers) engages German 6th Torpedo Boat Flotilla (8 ships) and damages destroyers G41 and S5 in icy small hours bound for Zeebrugge. British destroyer Simoom sunk by S50 torpedo. German flotilla leader V69 driven damaged into Ymuiden (Holland) but not interned. And a third: German and British light flotillas clash twice in the North Sea. Britain loses a destroyer, while Germany loses a torpedo boat.

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: Britain rejects President Wilson’s attempts at mediating peace, stating there will be no “peace without victory.”
Labour Party approves acceptance of office by Labour Members in Ministry
Japan: Prime Minister of Japan states the country will resist any peace proposal that would reduce its armaments.
Japanese Foreign Minister promises that Japan will stop meddling in the affairs of China.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: Battle of the Aa: Further German advance in hard fighting near Lake Babit. Russians fall back.
Romania: Battle of Pralea: In Romania, Russian troops counterattack and destroy the Bulgarian beachhead established across the Danube. 337 Bulgarians are captured.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: Wejh captured by Arab forces. Fourhundred of Feisal’s regulars with 200 sailors from 3 British ships capture 200 Turks (until January 25) as Feisal and Lawrence (in Cairo on january 28) approach by land. T.E. Lawrence in Arab dress: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...-arab-dress.jpg

Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: Major Grawert’s 289 Germans surrender at Likuju in south. Major Otto’s 600 soldiers (46 casualties) beat Nigerians (64 casualties) at Ngwembe (until January 25) south of Rufiji.

Political, etc.
Germany: Railway chaos in winter freeze prevents all extra traffic (until February 5) despite mobile unloading teams.
United Kingdom: Allied Naval Conference continues in London as to policy in Mediterranean (see November 30th).
United States: U.S. government states it will allow armed merchantmen to cross the Panama Canal, as long as the weapons are only for defense.
Greece: Greek Government make formal apology to the Allies for the occurrences of December 1st, 1916.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
Verdun: German success at Hill 304; mile-long stretch of French trenches stormed, but French regain most of them on January 26.

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: German counteroffensive around Riga against Russian lines continues. 1700 Russians and 13 machine guns are captured.
Romania: Battle of Pralea: Snowstorms and cold weather halts Central Power armies’ advances in Romania, with only isolated fighting today.

Southern Front
Albania: Street scene in the French-occupied city of Korçë, Albania. Albanian volunteers in the background: http://imgur.com/zddTzKr

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Maude attacks Hai salient southwest of Kut on a mile front with 13th Division (1,135 casualties including 3 battalion commander, 2 Victoria Cross) and 114 guns; one source claims: only half captured trenches held against counter-attacks, while another says: Turkish counter-attacks recover a little ground. One Victoria Cross went to Robert Phillips ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Edwin_Phillips ); I am unable to track down the recipient of the second.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: White Star liner and Armed Merchant Cruiser Laurentic (350 killed) mined off Ireland, her gold cargo partially salvaged after Armistice.
North Sea: Southwold and Wangford on the Suffolk coast shelled by German destroyers.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: Grand Admiral Anton Haus argues to Emperor Charles for unrestricted U-boat war. Charles then sees German Admiral Holzendorff (which promises 42 U-boats in Mediterranean) and Zimmermann.
France: Paris jury acquits Josephine Barthélemy of infanticide, as she testified the child was due to a rape by a German soldier.
French workers at the Schneider Steel Works, the 2nd largest in France, end their strike, as their work is essential to the war effort.
United Kingdom: British government announces beer production will be restricted by 30% starting on April in order to conserve food supplies.
British Treasury is given new powers to seize foreign assets in order to strengthen the country’s finances.

__________________
On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
German troops attack several miles of trenches near Verdun, but most gains, except at Hill 304, are reversed by a French counterattack.
British soldiers buying apples from a woman near the frontlines at Cambrin: http://imgur.com/Wg8CFWl* © IWM (Q 6461)

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: 14th Indian Division retakes Hai west bank sector, creeping advances until January 31.
British troops win 1,100 yards of Ottoman trenches southwest of Kut Al Amara.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Battleship U.S.S. Mississippi being launched from Newport News, VA: http://imgur.com/VH2Xnzb
Arctic: Minelaying U-76 rammed by Russian trawlers; she founders off Hammerfest.

Political, etc.
Austria-Hungary: At Pless Austro-German naval chiefs draft note declaring Mediterranean prohibited zone to Allied shipping, Austrian U-boats to operate beyond Adriatic.
Ausgleich Agreement (1867) with Hungary changed and renewed in latter’s favour for 20 years.
Germany: War spending to date estimated at £5 billions.
France: French government restricts the number of courses restaurants can serve to 4 (hors d’oeuvres or soup, 2 mains, and cheese or dessert).
United Kingdom: British labour unions, by a vote of 3 to 1, defeats a resolution in favor of an immediate offer of peace proposals to the Central Powers.
British labour unions unanimously adopt a resolution urging a creation of an “international league” to maintain peace after the war.
Compulsory loan or sale to Treasury of “certain” foreign securities.
Canada: National Steel Factory established at Toronto.
United States: Women suffragists protesting outside the White House in the rain: http://imgur.com/ujpvEDV
Netherlands: Dutch government bans armed merchantmen in the Dutch colonies, unless they are carrying food.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

And today, it France's turn to limit food in some manner. You might think there's a war on or something.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Maybe it's not war ... maybe it's so they can increase by 30% wine production?

Western Front
Somme: British take position near Le Transloy and capture 350-strong garrison.
At Verdun, German forces successfully defend their gains at Hill 304 against two French counterattacks.

Eastern Front
Dobruja: Russians carry Central Powers’ positions between Kimpolung and Jacobeny (Bukovina), and take 1,218 prisoners.
Romania: Field Marhsal von Mackensen distributing Iron Crosses in occupied Bucharest: http://imgur.com/xpEuNJI* © IWM (Q 52243)

Naval and Overseas Operations
Germany: U-boat leader Bauer orders his commanders ‘… unrestricted U-boat warfare is to force England to make peace and thereby decide the whole war. Energetic action is required and above all rapidity of action … expend only one torpedo on each ship stopped …’. Dover Straits route now compulsory to maximize time on station.
Atlantic: S.S. Artist torpedoed in a gale by German submarine; crew left to perish.

Political, etc.
Germany: Kaiser Wilhelm celebrates his 58th birthday. In the birthday message, he states the German people will obtain peace by the sword.
The celebration of Kaiser Wilhelm’s birthday in the arena at Bucharest: http://imgur.com/G4j2dvb* © IWM (Q 87106)
Russia: Nikolai Pokrovski, Russian Foreign Minister, resigns (see December 12th, 1916 and March 15th, 1917).
Japan: Government asks Britain to approve her assuming German rights in China (done February 16).
Count Date Munemoto, head of the Date clan and last Daimyo of the Sendai Domain, passed away: http://imgur.com/r5Etu8P

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

My ol' hometown (Sendai) for a year and a half in the mid-50s. Nice to catch a bit of history related to the city.

A bit more about Sendai from WikiLeaks ..

Sendai Domain was a Japanese domain of the Edo period. Most of its holdings were contiguous, covering all of present-day Miyagi Prefecture, small portions of southern Iwate Prefecture, and a portion of northeastern Fukushima Prefecture.

The domain's capital, and the ruling family's castle, were located in what became the modern city of Sendai. Ruled for the entirety of its history by the Date clan.

It constituted the largest domain in northern Japan, and one of the largest domains in the entire country, after the Satsuma Domain and Kaga Domain.

Sendai was the focal point of the Ouetsu Reppan Domei during the Boshin War. Unlike the nearby Aizu domain, Sendai survived the war largely intact, though with a severely reduced income. It was disbanded with the other domains in 1873.