Western Front
Richthofen (petrol tank and engine hit) leads fighters that shoot down 4 of 9 No 40 Squadron’s FE8s. The Royal Aircraft Factory F. E. 8 was a single-seat fighter with a monosoupape Gnome pusher engine. https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...2017/03/FE8.jpg
French repulse attacks in Champagne and north of Bois des Caurieres. French troops made advances in the Champagne front yesterday and today, taking 170 German prisoners.
Germany claims that during February, it lost 24 airplanes across all fronts, while the Allies lost 91 airplanes.

Asiatic and Theaters
Mesopotamia:Gertrude Bell letter to father ‘That’s the end of the German dream of domination in the Near [Middle] East … their place is not going to be in the sun’. Captain Reid’s 100 men cross river Diyala and repel six Turkish attacks (Reid gains Victoria Cross). South of Tigris Turks forced back to inner line.
Asia Minor: Russians attack retreating Turks near Sivas.
Persia: Turkish XIII Corps reaches Karind. Russian scouts advance south-west from Sakis; Sinnah (Persian Kurdistan) captured. Russians invite Persian Government to repossess reoccupied towns, Baratov reoccupies Kermanshah (March 11) and Karind (March 17).

Political, etc
Germany: Ludendorff warns War Minister and Chancellor home front having an ‘unhealthy influence upon the moral of the Army’.
Alfred Zimmermann: “[Germany] is prepared to place herself at the head of an alliance of states for the maintenance of the world’s peace.”
Russia: Food problem at Petrograd becomes urgent. Around 200,000 protesters flood the streets of Petrograd, demanding the end to the war and overthrow of the Tsar.
France: GQG, persuaded by Estienne, orders 1,000 Renault FT-17 light tanks. Prototype tested on March 14, order approved April 10.
World shortage of wheat foreshadowed by French Chamber.
United Kingdom: British loan of £40,000,000 to Romania.
Lord Devenport sanctions maximum food prices.
Due to food shortages, Britain conducts negotiations with Canada to buy its entire surplus wheat crop for 1917.
Canada: Canada bans women and children from traveling on ships that would pass through areas where submarines are active.
Netherlands: Dutch authorities officially notified by Germany that safety is guaranteed for shipping along a strip of North Sea from Holland to Norway.

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

Western Front
British capture Irles (on the Ancre); 292 prisoners.

Eastern Front
Romanians and Russians counter-attack to attempt to regain Magyaros Ridge (Moldavia) lost on 8 March.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: Royal Navy submarine G13 sinks UC-43 off Shetlands with loss of all hands. HMS ‘G 13’ was part of the 10th Submarine Fleet and was mainly used for sub hunting in the North Sea. https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...S-G13.jpg?ssl=1
Eastern Atlantic: Epic action between NZ Shipping Co SS Otaki (4.7-inch gun) (A Bisset Smith, posthumous Victory Cross) and German raider Möwe (15 casualties), 350 miles east of Azores. Otaki sinks after c.30 hits but hits Möwe 7 times.
Western Mediterranean: In tragic error troopship-escorting sloop HMS Cyclamen rams and sinks Italian submarine Guglielmotti (14 die) off Capraia Island.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: British bridge river Diyala and turn Turk west flank 3 miles from Baghdad. Khalil Pasha grudgingly lets subordinates evacuate city and leaves by train. 9,500 Turks with 48 guns retreat before 45,343 British with 174 guns; German radio station blown up.

Political, etc
Russia: Martial law declared in Petrograd as food riots and protests turn into a general strike (until March 19). The Tsar took action to address the riots on 25 February (O.S.) by wiring garrison commander General Sergey Semyonovich Khabalov, an inexperienced and extremely indecisive commander of the Petrograd military district, to disperse the crowds with rifle fire and to suppress the "impermissible" rioting by force. There were disturbances on on the Nevsky Prospect during the day and in the late afternoon four people were killed. Petrograd Soviet elected.
Turkey: Talaat Pasha obtains Chamber 3.5 million Turkish Pounds food board credit, promises radical solutions.
Romania: Romanian royal family and Romanian soldiers attending a service in Iasi: http://imgur.com/RnNYyzP © IWM (Q 76461) http://imgur.com/RnNYyzP

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

Western Front
Somme: French First Army reports 40 villages in flames, explosions in and south of Noyon.
Aisne: General Max von Boehn takes over Seventh Army (until August 6, 1918) from Richard von Schubert (in command since August 28, 1916).
Meuse: Georg Fuchs replaces Boehn (since February 2) in command of Army Detachment C at St Mihiel.
Continuous air fighting; loss of 26 Allied and Central Powers machines reported.

Eastern Front
Russian gas attack east of Mitau fails.

Southern Front
Albania: Spring campaign in Macedonia begins (until May 21: French 76th Division advances from Koritza on Resna but blizzard and Austrian-paid Irregulars force suspension on March 19. Snow continues into April.
Salonika: Sarrall and Venizelos at a review.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: FALL OF BAGHDAD (population over 150,000). British troops enter before 0900 hours, find 600 sick and wounded Turkish soldiers. (another source says More than 9000 Ottoman soldiers are captured during the battle. Not actually a contradiction: the first figure refers to the number of soldiers actually in Baghdad itself, the latter to the number of Turkish PoW during the overall battle). Maude lands from steamer at 1530 hours. His troops have marched 110 miles in 15 days.
British troops march into Baghdad: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ghdad.jpg?ssl=1
Kirmanshah (Western Persia) again taken by Russian forces (see July 1st, 1916 and February 25th, 1918).

Political, etc
Germany: Siegfried Heckscher, German Reichstag member, predicts that after the war “Japan’s life interests demand…that she draws nearer to Germany.”
Russia: Mikhail Rodzianko to the Tsar: “The situation is serious. The capital is in a state of anarchy. The Government is paralyzed.” Strikers' food demonstrations and rioting increase in Petrograd; Government agrees to hand over food question to local bodies.
Fourth Company of the Pavlovski Replacement Regiment becomes the first military unit to mutiny in Petrograd, but are quickly disarmed: During the late afternoon of 11 March [O.S. 26 February] the Fourth Company of the Pavlovski Replacement Regiment*broke out of their barracks upon learning that another detachment of the regiment had clashed with demonstrators near the Kazan Cathedral. After firing at mounted police the soldiers of the Fourth Company were disarmed by the Preobrazhensky Regiment.
On the 11th March [O.S 26 February ] the center of the city was fenced off. That evening Golitsyn used a (signed, but not yet dated) ukaze [“Imposition”, “Edict” or “Decree” having the force of law] declaring that his Majesty had decided to interrupt the Duma until April, leaving it with no legal authority to act.
Student militias in Petrograd: http://imgur.com/PNofOmx
France: Sugar-cards (rationing) in Paris.
United Kingdom: (Listed for yesterday): Captain Charles Bathurst, the Assistant Food Controller of Britain, warns that the lack of food could result in the loss of the war.
China: Chinese Congress votes overwhelmingly to cut off diplomatic ties with Germany due to its unrestricted submarine warfare.

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

Western Front
French gain ground in eastern Champagne.
British raid near Arras.
Soissons bombarded with incendiary shells.
A British fighter pilot, James McCudden, wins the Military Cross. His final tally of medals also included the Victoria Cross, a Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and a bar to his Military Cross, and the Military Medal. McCudden was one of the most decorated combatants of World War One.

Eastern Front
Russia: Tsar Nicholas's initial response on 12 March [O.S. 27 February], perhaps based on the Empress's earlier letter to him that the concern about Petrograd was an over-reaction, was one of irritation that "again, this fat Rodzianko has written me lots of nonsense, to which I shall not even deign to reply". Eventually, the Tsar leaves STAVKA for Petrograd.
By now CoS Alexejev convinced no offensive to support Nivelle possible; only by the end of July.
Galicia: Successful German raids near Zloczow-Tarnopol railway, Brzezany and on river Narajowka.

Southern Front
British advance on Doiran front.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: Q-ship Privet sinks U-85 (Petz) off Start Point near Plymouth (UC-68 blows up on own mines there on March 13). US SS Algonquin torpedoed without warning. The crew survives.
British submarine HMS E.49 hits a mine off the Shetland Islands and sinks with the loss of all 30 crewmembers.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Tripoli: Italians occupy Bukamez (west of Tripoli).
Mesopotamia: Soldiers of the 1st Australian Wireless Signal Squadron enjoy a meal following the capture of Baghdad: http://imgur.com/e8Diopd

Political, etc
Russia: Russian February Bourgeois Democratic Revolution begins. Starting with the Volinsky Regiment, the garrison of Petrograd begin to mutiny one by one. Eventually, the whole 17,000-strong Petrograd garrison joins crowds. http://imgur.com/8LSrdVs
Temperature 0°F.
Duma prorogued at first: then some delegates decided to form a Provisional Committee of the State Duma, led by Rodzianko and backed by major Moscow manufacturers and St. Petersburg bankers. However, the Duma refused to head the revolutionary movement as a whole. Its first meeting was on the same evening and ordered the arrest of all the ex-ministers and senior officials. In the Marinsky Palace the Council of Ministers of Russia, assisted by Rodzyanko, held its last meeting. Protopopov was told to resign and offered to commit suicide. The Council formally submitted its resignation to the Tsar.
No bread or transport. Only 2 regiments and the police loyal to Tsar in sporadic street fighting.
Students and army deserters fire on police in Petrograd: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...reien.jpg?ssl=1
Petrograd protestors burn symbols of the Russian monarchy: http://imgur.com/yvfrKtv
United Kingdom: Anglo-French Conference assembles in London to discuss relations of British and French commanders in the Western Theatre and employment of prisoners of war in the fighting zone (see February 26th, 1917 and March 26th, 1918).
Bread order makes sale by weight compulsory.
British Lieutenant General Smuts states German colony in East Africa is immensely rich and suggestions to return it is “preposterous.”
Canada: Third War Loan opens.
United States: United States Government announce arming of all merchant vessels in the war zone (see February 26th).
112 labor unions in the U.S. meet in Washington, D.C. to discuss how to aid the American war effort if it was to enter the war.
Mexico: The 1917 Mexican general election is held. Venustiano Carranza is elected President with 97.9% of the vote: http://imgur.com/2RyKgp1

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

Western Front
Somme: British advance guard now 11 miles from Bapaume. Further gains east and northeast of Gommecourt.
Aisne: Germans repulsed at Hill 185.
Meuse: Fighting near St Mihiel.
“Lively” fighting north-east of Soissons.

Eastern Front
Bulgarians bombard Galatz from the Danube.

Southern Front
Field hospitals at Vertekop (Serbia) bombed: two British nurses and others killed.
British line south-west of Doiran advanced 1,000 yards.

Naval and Overseas Operations
USA: Navy Department authorizes armed merchant ships to take action against U-boats.
France: Parliament Commission de la marine de guerre urges anti-U-boat directorate and priority to patrol craft.
Norwegian relief ship Lars Fostenes, carrying grain, torpedoed outside blockade zone.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Russians take Kermanshah (Persia) after two days' fighting.
Another column approaches Bana (140 miles north-west of Kermanshah).
British 30 miles north of Baghdad.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Impending cabinet crisis in Austria-Hungary.
Russia: On 13 March (O.S. 28 February), at five in the morning, the Tsar left Mogilev, (and directed also Nikolay Iudovich Ivanov to go to Tsarskoe Selo) but was unable to reach Petrograd as revolutionaries meanwhile controlled railway stations around the capital. Around midnight the train was stopped at Malaya Vishera, and turned back. In the evening of 14 March Nicholas arrived in Pskov. In the meantime the units guarding the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoe Selo either "declared their neutrality" or left for Petrograd and thus abandoned the imperial family. The Provisional Committee declared itself the governing body of the Russian Empire. [13 March] http://imgur.com/HMp343H Nicholas II, Tsar of Russia, abdicates. [14 March]. Prince Georgy Lvov appointed Russian Premier. Pavel Milyukov appointed Russian Foreign Minister. General Alexandr Guchkov appointed Russian Minister for War. "Chief among them [the Aims of the Provisional Government] was the desire to bring the war to a successful conclusion in conjunction with the Allies; and the very cause of their opposition was the ever deepening conviction that this was unattainable under the present government and under the present regime. The socialists had formed their rival body, the Petrograd Soviet (or workers' council) on the 27th of February [O. S.; 12 March]. Izvesteya paper first published. Crowd storms military Hotel Astoria but British present save many Russian officers. Revolutionaries execute captain of cruiser Aurora, refitting in the Baltic, crew elect first ship committee. Mutiny at Kronstadt naval base (just west of Petrograd proper; mutiny lasts until March 14) kills c.40 officers and NCOs, 162 officers arrested. Fleet C-in-C first main one to accept Provisional Government (on March 14).
Emblems of the Russian royal family are torn from shops and thrown into the Fontanka Canal, Petrograd: http://imgur.com/69vkG5h
France: Political crisis in France grows serious, as the Opposition Party refuses to vote due to disagreements with PM Briand on military decisions.
United Kingdom: In London Haig and Nivelle sign clarifications of command spheres.
Government takes over all quarries and mines (non-coal).
First WAAC (Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps) enrolled, mainly ex-Women’s Legion.
General Smuts sworn of the Privy Council.
Statement on mastery of air in House of Commons.
Government intends to stand by new Indian cotton duties.
Australia: The explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, while speaking in Sydney, states he seeks war service, as all able-bodied Britons should fight.

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

Western Front
German forces withdraw from the Somme sector to the Siegfried Stellung (Hindenburg Line) (see February 25th and April 5th). German Second and First Armies involved. BEF Fifth Army follows cautiously including 4th (1st Indian) Cavalry Division.

Southern Front
Monastir front “lively” (ed note: there’s that word again; personally, I can’t see military action as ‘lively’ it is way more likely to be quite deadly): Austrians attack west and Italians advance east of town.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Crew of the German merchant raider SMS Möwe returns from their 2nd raiding voyage, having sunk or captured 25 ships: http://imgur.com/jtXqtDS

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Action of Mushaidiya Station. 20 miles north of Baghdad, west of Tigris: Cobbe’s 7th Division (518 casualties) with 46 guns smashes Turk rearguard (800-1,000 casualties) after night march from Baghdad (returns on March 17). British 40th Brigade occupies Kasirin (28 miles north of Baghdad, east of Tigris).
Turks hurrying north to position at Mushaidiya (20 miles north of Baghdad).

Political, etc
Russia: New Provisional Government proclaimed, meets Petrograd Soviet. Petrograd Soviet Order No 1 ordering soldiers to obey their officers as long as it did not contradict the Petrograd Soviet; also orders elected committees to control weaponry and one representative per company to Soviet; saluting off duty abolished. Another source claims this order is to “demoralize Army”.
Soldiers guarding the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoe Selo abandon their posts and leave the Russian royal family.
Tsar’s train stopped at Pskov.
Strikes and 30,000-strong march at Reval (until March 15).
Moscow, Kharkov and Odessa declare for Provisional Government.
France: War Minister Hubert Lyautey resigns because of Socialist hostility.
United Kingdom: Both Houses accept India's war contribution of £100,000,000 and authorize increase in cotton duties.
United States: New York City mayor urges its citizens to sign a declaration of “unconditional loyalty” to the United States.
China: German minister at Peking handed his passports. German merchant ships in Shanghai are seized by China.

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

Western Front
British progress on 2.5 mile front between St. Pierre Vaast Wood and Saillisel (north of Somme).
German delaying attack east of Achiet-le-Petit.
French progress between Avre and Oise.

Southern Front
Turkish concentration in Asia Minor contemplated.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Channel: Dover Patrol destroyer Foyle mined,
Red Sea: British sloop Odin intercepts minelayer Iltis (originally a prize of the raider Wolf; 26 German PoWs) in Gulf of Aden where she laid 25 mines (swept by Somali-manned tugs within 2 months for 1 ship lost).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Action of Mushaidiya Station: British take Mushaidiya; Turks in full flight towards Samarra (Tigris).

Political, etc
Germany: Sixth War Loan opens.
Russia: Nicholas II, Tsar of Russia, abdicates (see 12th, and July 16th, 1918). https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...us-II.jpg?ssl=1 He did so on behalf of himself and his son, Tsarevich Alexei. In the afternoon at 3 o'clock Nicholas nominated his brother, the Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, to succeed him. The next day the Grand Duke realised that he would have little support as ruler, so he declined the crown. Prince Lvov appointed Russian Premier (see 13th, 14th and July 19th). M. Milyukov appointed Russian Foreign Minister (see 14th, January 27th, and May 16th). General Guchkov appointed Russian Minister for War (see 13th, 14th, and May 16th). Alexandr Kerensky Justice Minister; Guchkov War and Marine Minister. (One highly suspect source claims: Political and religious amnesty declared plus widespread freedoms. Immediate preparations for Constituent Assembly (universal suffrage) announced. However, another more realistically states: the Provisional Government lacked support from the population. The Provisional Government was an alliance between liberals and socialists who wanted political reform. Their goals were to set up a democratically elected executive and constituent assembly. Or, IOW, these ‘widespread freedoms’ were to happen at some unspecified point down the road). Ukrainian National Rada formed at Kiev.
France: Army has received 160 tanks (208 by April 1).
French Chamber pass summertime bill.
United Kingdom: British news film showcasing a snow sculpture exhibit in Geneva: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/1060023444
Turkey: (special 1921): Talaat Pasha, considered the main perpetrator of the Armenian Genocide, was assassinated by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.
United States: U.S. railway men threaten strike.
Switzerland: Vladimir Lenin in forced exile, gets news of Revolution, envisages train journey through Germany (March 19), publicly opposes new Provisional Government (March 27).

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

Snow sculptures were pretty neat. Hadn't seen those before.

Western Front
German airship L-39 shot down by French anti-aircraft fire near Compiegne (night March 16-17).
Guynemer achieves first French ace’s triple victory and receives Russian Order of St George (4th class) from President Poincare.
Abortive German Navy airship operation against London; adverse weather. First sortie by 4 R-class ‘height climber’ Zeppelins at 17,000 – 19,000ft.
Somme: British occupy St Pierre Vaast Wood, dominating Peronne. First marching day of Operation Alberich: 35 German divisions begin synchronized retreat to Hindenburg Line.

Southern Front
Austro-Hungarians destroy Italian defenses in San Pellegrino valley (Dolomites) and occupy positions there.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Action between German raider Leopard and H.M.S. Achilles and Armed Boarding Steamer Dundee: Leopard sunk 200 miles northeast of Faroes during attempted breakout into Atlantic.
Black Sea: Russian Fleet shells Derkos.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Russians dislodge Turks from summit of Naleshkian (Persia) and occupy Alliabad, engaging Turkish forces near Kerind.

Political, etc
Germany: German Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg states Germany will give more power to the people after the war.
Russia: Tsar Nicholas II announces his abdication of yesterday, bringing 3 centuries of Romanov rule over Russia to an end: http://imgur.com/dp08csM . As related, Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich declines the Russian throne, realizing that he has little support as ruler: http://imgur.com/79WaAPY. Russian 2nd Battleship Brigade (4 ships) leads revolution at Helsinki (night Mach 16-17, c.50 officers and NCOs killed) but no bloodshed at Reval (March 15) or elsewhere. Fleet has over 89,000 members of all ranks.
Winter Palace declared State property.
France: French Army agrees to send 5 of its officers to the U.S. to help train American soldiers.
United Kingdom: Despite German submarine warfare, British Board of Trade announces overseas trade in February increased by £4.5 million.
British labour leaders send telegram of sympathy to Russian labor party.
Acute potato famine in England.
Turkey: Turkish Senate approves agreement with Baghdad Railway Co.
Sheikh-ul-Islam again proclaims Holy War; general mobilization of Turks ordered.

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

Western Front
Roye occupied by French forces (see August 30th, 1914 and March 26th, 1918).
Bapaume occupied by British forces (see September 26th, 1914 and March 24th, 1918). imgur.com/1vigRqS © IWM (Q 1822)
Germans blow up all public and commercial buildings and leave secret huge mine under the mairie (explodes on March 27, killing 2 French deputies and British staff). BEF occupies 13 villages. British Lucknow Cavalry Brigade ordered forward.
British troops with French inhabitants of Bouvincourt, sitting around a fire: http://imgur.com/Hjc994X © IWM (Q 1896)
Aisne: German Seventh Army evacuates Crouy for position 5 miles to north; French can enter Lassigny.
Future French ace Renė Fonck fights off 5 Albatrosses, destroying 1 (his second kill).
German aircraft drops 4 bombs near Dover submarine pens.
Allies bomb Frankfurt in reprisal for destruction of Bapaume. Germans send many prisoners into war zone as reprisal.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: HM sloops Migonette and Alyssm (March 18) mined and sunk off southwest Ireland.
U.S. cargo ship Vigilancia is sunk by the German submarine SM U-70, resulting in the deaths of 15 American crew.
Channel: 16 German destroyers raid Ramsgate and Broadstairs (night March 17-18) also sink destroyer HMS Paragon (10 survivors) and torpedo destroyer Llewellyn.
East Africa: Hoskins asks for 15,000 porters per month to replace wastage plus 500 American light lorries (200 promised for mid-May), orders 300 new KAR (mainly ex-German Askari) to leave Morogoro by rail for Tabora. They leave there for south on March 23.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Karind (West Persia) occupied by Russian forces.
Royal Flying Corps Flight moves from Rabegh up coast to Wejh.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Franz Brentano, influential German philosopher, psychologist, and priest who taught Sigmund Freud and many others, passed away.
Russia: C-in-C Russian fleet Nepenin resigns, is shot and murdered by lone sailor. Vice-Admiral Maksimov elected in his place; restores order with 2 Provisional Government envoys.
Russian Provisional Government pledges universal suffrage, freedom of speech, amnesty for prisoners & other reforms: http://www.firstworldwar.com/source...provgovt.htmAnd but the final paragraph: “The Provisional Government wishes to add that it has no intention whatsoever of taking advantage of the military situation to delay in any way the carrying through of the reforms and the measures outlined above.” proved to be only the ghost of a promise.
France: General Pierre Roques, French Minister for War, resigns (see 20th and March 16th, 1916).
United Kingdom: Albert Hall meeting in favor of national service for women.

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

Western Front
German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line continues on a front of 70-miles, yielding 400-600 square miles & 70 villages to the Allies.
Somme: Péronne and Noyon occupied by Allied forces (see September 21st, 24th and 25th, 1914; and March 24th and 25th, 1918).
BEF GHQ Intelligence summary reports wells at Barleux southwest of Peronne poisoned with arsenic. French reoccupy Noyon (population 12,000; streets mined and booby-trapped, explosions till mid-April). British 48th Division occupies Peronne and BEF Chaulnes. Allies enter Nesle together.
British officers studying maps after entering the French town of Peronne: http://imgur.com/iEW3d3o © IWM (Q 4957)
Verdun: German ‘attacks’ in Avocourt-Mort Homme sector ‘repulsed’ (until March 19).
Great air activity.

Southern Front
Salonika: Two attempted KG1 raids broken up by Royal Flying Corps fighters; Captain Murlis Green in BE12 shoots down 1 bomber, damages another.
After five days' fighting French capture 1,200 Bulgarians, a mile of trenches north-east, and village of Svegovo, north of Monastir.
French troops sleeping in the frontlines of Florina and Monastir (Bitola), Macedonia after an attack: http://imgur.com/z6mKJah

Naval and Overseas Operations
American steamer Illinois is sunk by the German submarine SM UC-21. Its crew were saved: http://imgur.com/6KBVjIA © IWM (Q 58104)
German crew of the SM UB-6 scuttle their own submarine, after it had run aground in Dutch territory and interned by the Dutch government.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Armenia: Mustafa Kemal appointed C-in-C Turk Second Army (Deputy since March 5) in new Army Group Caucasus (Ahmed Izzet Pasha), only 40,000 strong, and still typhus-ridden. Russians reoccupy Van.
A Turkish staff officer with a ten-year-old boy soldier who has his slain father’s rifle and medal at the Caucasus front: https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ldier.jpg?ssl=1
Mesopotamia: British occupy Baquba (35 miles northeast of Baghdad) after 240 lorried infantry with 4 armoured cars fail to seize bridge there on March 14.

Political, etc
Russia: Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church removes the Tsar’s chair from their conference rooms, symbolizing break with the monarchy.
The Russian Duma in session in the aftermath of the February Revolution: http://imgur.com/dnrbM3G
Russian Press urges loyalty to Allied cause; commission inquires into delinquencies of former ministers; food question, in hands of Zemstva, etc., becomes less acute.
United States: Political cartoon showing women suffragists on a steamroller labeled “Progress”: http://imgur.com/5LWcQcd
Loretta Perfectus Walsh becomes the 1st woman to enlist in the U.S. Navy and also the 1st woman to join the US military in a non-nurse role.

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

Western Front
Allied forces capture another 62 French villages from the Germans, who are continuing their planned withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line. Over 170 villages taken by Allies in three days.
French advance beyond Ham (Somme) and take Chauny (Oise).
Heavy German “attacks” between Avocourt Wood and Hill 304 (Verdun) “repulsed”.

Eastern Front
Bavarian cavalry withdrawing after fighting a rearguard action near Chauny: http://imgur.com/YBmV25W © IWM (Q 69959)

Southern Front
Germans re-occupy railway station at Poroj, previously entered by British.
Renewed activity in Pass of Tonale, in areas of Pasubio, Asiago, Tolmino, east of Gorizia and on Carso.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mediterranean: U-64 sinks modern French battleship Danton (296 lost) southwest of Sardinia. The French battleship Danton (completed March 1911) was classified as a ‘Semi-Dreadnought’ with 18,400 tons and just 4 x 12-inch main guns plus 12 x 9.4-inch guns. https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...anton.jpg?ssl=1
Kaiser Wilhelm II approves announcement that Allied hospital ships in Mediterranean no longer to be spared except in neutral corridor under strict conditions. [ed note: The Germans were, by now, convinced that the Allies were using Hospital Ships as very thinly-disguised troop transports, and the actual wounded carried by them, and the medical staff of doctors, orderlies, and nurses on board was what today would be called “human shields”.]

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Maude’s proclamation to Baghdad promises Arab freedom. British take Falluja (west of Baghdad) ending Turkish control of Euphrates sluice gates.
Capture of Deltawa and Sindia.

Political, etc
Germany: (Special 1911): Socialist German politician Clara Zetkin established the first International Women's Day.
Russia: Petrograd Soviet Executive Committee appoints commissars to all units. Parade of military schools in Palace Square, Petrograd after the Revolution: http://imgur.com/uRNhh76
Workers in Petrograd are ordered by the Committee of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates to resume work in the factories. Back pay will be given for days during the Revolution.
Attempted murder of Aleksandr Kerenski.
France: Alexandre Ribot is named the new Prime Minister of France: http://imgur.com/1UETxTm
United Kingdom: Lloyd George in the House of Commons congratulates the “free people” of Russia, but he is jeered by Irish Nationalist MPs.
British Government opens relations with M. Miliukov, but Government not officially recognised.
Financial statement by Mr. Bonar Law in House of Commons.
United States: Roosevelt criticizes Wilson’s inaction over submarines: “We have been content to shelter ourselves behind the fleet of a foreign power.”
President Wilson settles U.S. railway strike; eight hours day legalized.

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

Western Front
Aisne: Germans demolish irreplaceable medieval castle of Coucy-le-Chateau, 10 miles north of Soissons, to remove potential observation post.
A house set on fire by retreating Germans explodes in Mons-en-Chausee, France: http://imgur.com/B1IoSPp © IWM (Q 1907)
Artois: BEF preparatory bombardment for Arras offensive opens.
British soldiers with French children in the newly-liberated village of Vraignes on this day. In the background is the German goodbye “Gott strafe England’ (‘God punish England’; this is, BTW, where the English word “strafe” comes from): https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...ignes.jpg?ssl=1
Department of Oise entirely liberated.
French take Tergnier and cross St. Quentin Canal. French carry railway junction of Jussy (east of Ham).
German casualties reported at 4,148,163 (to end of February).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Germany: Raider Möwe returns to Kiel.
British hospital ship Asturias torpedoed without warning during night of 20-21 March: 41 lost.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
The Victoria Cross is awarded to Lieutenant F.H. McNamara of No.67 (Australian) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, the only Australian airman to be so decorated. The Victoria Cross is awarded for his rescue of a downed fellow pilot, Captain D.W. Rutherford, after a bombing attack on a railway across Wadi Hesse at Tel el Hesi in Palestine. http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/images/...s/pc76-23-5.jpg

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Princes Sixtus and Xavier in Vienna until March 25.
Russia: Ex-Tsar Nikolai Romanov reviews troops at STAVKA, urges loyalty to Provisional Government and war’s continuation.
Appointment of Grand Duke Nicholas to supreme command of army annulled.
Casualties at Petrograd 2,500.
Proclamation by Provisional Government. [the one promulgating freedoms]
France: M. Paul Painlevé appointed French Minister for War (see 17th, September 12th and November 14th).
United Kingdom: First meeting of British Imperial War Conference attended by dominion and colonial officials, to discuss the war and the empire’s future. (see December 19th, 1916).
At the House of Commons, former Premier Asquith defends the late Lord Kitchener’s part in the Battle of Gallipoli.
Ministry of National Service formed.
Romania: CoS General Iliesca blames Russia for autumn 1916 disasters.
United States: US Cabinet agree war inevitable, Wilson summons Congress for April 2, 1917.
American Note to General Carranza (Mexico) published.
China: Chinese Navy takes over 2 interned German river gunboats before declaration of war (on August 14, 1917); 20 interned steamers (21,000t) already seized on March 14.

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

Western Front
Oise: French Third Army occupies Tergnier on Crozat Canal, fights its way across on March 22.
German Army completes Operation Alberich, the planned withdrawal of around 25 miles (40km) to the Siegfried Stellung (Hindenburg Line).
(Listed for yesterday): Canadian forces begin preliminary bombardment and trench raiding of Vimy Ridge: http://imgur.com/cVkmteV
A British soldier lifts a damaged figure of Christ at Le Barque, France: http://imgur.com/Xti2WuH © IWM (Q 3874)
French civilians greet British soldiers in the ruins of Mons-en-Chausee: http://imgur.com/8pZ78DU © IWM (Q 1874)

Eastern Front
Germans active near Lida (Beresina), in Galicia and on Romanian front.

Southern Front
Fighting by French, lasting for over a week, frees Monastir from daily bombardment. Central Powers make serious counter-attack but are repulsed.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: US tanker Healdton sunk (20 die) by U-boat in Holland safety zone.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Russians continue to pursue Turks from Sakiz (Persia) towards Kermanshah.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Government empowered to seize all supplies and fix prices (likewise in Hungary on March 23).
Germany: Philipp Scheidemann, leader of the Socialists in the German Reichstag, warns that Prussia must learn from the Tsar’s fate in Russia.
Russia: Ex-Tsar Nikolai Romanov arrested at Mogilev. Munitions and food problem in Petrograd being satisfactorily dealt with. Proposed eight hours day.
France: Vote of confidence in French Chamber.
United Kingdom: The first British guided missile anti-tank weapon is designed by Professor A.M. Low and begins flight trials at Upavon. The tests are unsuccessful.
Belgium: German decree partitions country with centers at Brussels and Namur; Flemish official language in West, French in Walloon districts.
United States: French Military Mission sails for New York.

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

Western Front
(Listed for yesterday): Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia’s plane is brought down over France. He is injured & captured by Australian troops: http://imgur.com/evonpd0
British troops cross the Somme River across a newly-constructed pontoon bridge at Peronne: http://imgur.com/TfGal3X © IWM (Q 5834)
German lines on the Western Front stiffens, and begin launching counterattacks against British and French positions.
French progress north of Tergnier (Oise) and north of Soissons, despite stiffening defence.
French refugee children at a British field kitchen in Nesle: http://imgur.com/i2ikzoD © IWM (Q 5806)
Heavy snow storms.

Eastern Front
German aircraft shoots down Russian Morane Parasol (No 317) into German wire southwest of Dünaburg.
German troops attack Russian positions near the city of Lida (today named Vilna)along a front of 2.5 miles, but are driven back in a counterattack.
Russians eventually retake lost trenches near Lida.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Archangel route in danger zone.
British danger zone in North Sea extended towards Holland and Jutland from 2 April.

Political, etc
Germany: Interior Minister Dr. Karl Helfferich give Reichstag speech which praises Auxiliary Service Law, states food restrictions not serious, health surprisingly good, infant mortality lower than peacetime.
(Listed for yesterday): Alfred Einhorn, German chemist who 1st synthesized procaine (Novocain), passed away: http://imgur.com/smsKiwf
Russia: Provisional Government in Russia by now recognized by Great Britain, France, Italy, United States of America, Romania, and Switzerland (see 14th).
The former Tsar was reunited with his family and placed in Protective Custody by the Provisional Government at the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoye Selo.
France: Decree forbids imports except essential foods.
United States: The Arion Society, a German-American music society, condemns the mayor of New York for urging people to sign a “loyalty” pledge to the U.S.

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