Western Front
Germans flood Oise valley and La Fare (French near suburbs on March 24). Nivelle confesses to King Albert that ‘many people are against the offensive’.
French success at Artemps (south of St. Quentin).
New detachments cross Ailette; progress north of Soissons.
Some fighting on British front between Arras and Bapume-Cambrai road.

Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: Germans mass on Riga-Dvinsk front; seriously menaces Petrograd.
Romania: Russians lose trenches west of Moinesci near river Trotus.

Southern Front
Allied Offensive in Macedonia ends (see 11th).
Bombs on Mudros from German airship.

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Emperor Charles and Count Czernin meet Princes Sixtus and Xavier at Laxenburg Castle, drafts letter to Poincare (March 24).
Germany: German proclamation to Russian soldiers blames English for war & Tsar’s abdication.
United Kingdom: Lloyd George cables Russian Prime Minister Prince Lvov Revolution a portent for Prussian military autocracy.
Lord Devenport on food consumption; shortages looming.
United States: 13,000 people rally in Madison Square Garden in New York City to demand war against Germany.

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

Western Front
The Royal Flying Corps' first night-bombing squadron, No.100 Squadron, equipped with Royal Aircraft Factory FE2b aircraft, departs for France.
Somme: British troops occupy Roisel east of Peronne. Ruins at Peronne after British capture. German sign reads, “Don’t be angry, just be amazed.” http://imgur.com/wTig7iE © IWM (Q 78871)
Raiding party from the Scottish Rifles begin their attack on German lines near Arras: http://imgur.com/Cv2dXpy © IWM (Q 5101)
French occupy right bank of Oise from north of Vaudreuil to suburbs of La Fere and progress on east bank of Ailette Canal.

Naval and Overseas Operations
British destroyer HMS Laforey strikes a mine and sinks off Boulogne, France, resulting in the deaths of 59 of her 77 crew.
Britain announces that it will expand its mine zones to cover the mouths of the Weser and Elbe rivers of Germany.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British offensive into Palestine begins (see 26th).

Political, etc
Germany: Germany announces that bread rations will be cut by one-fourth starting on April 1st. Meat rations will be increased by 250 grams per week.
Russia: Russian Army proclaims loyalty to Provisional Government: Junior officer writes ‘There was a gulf between the troops and the officers which could not be bridged’.
Swearing of Russian troops on the new Provisional Government, which wanted to continue the Tsar’s war. But the loyalty of the soldiers is fragile. https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...daten.jpg?ssl=1
France: Government protests to neutrals against German devastation in newly evacuated French territory.
Bulgaria: Tsar Ferdinand of Bulgaria advises German Minister not to exploit Russia’s weakness by offensive (none planned on March 27).
United States: Council of National Defense creates Commercial Economy, and General Munitions Boards (March 31).
The 1917 Indianapolis 500 is canceled due to the war and disputes with local hotels.
Greece: Greek Government demands Italian troops’ withdrawal from Epirus. Allied Ministers return to Athens.

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

Western Front
Billy Bishop gains first of credited 72 victories. Only one of 6 Sopwith two-seater (No 70 Squadron) survive reconnaissance to Valenciennes (2 lost before on March 24).
Heavy fighting develops along the Western Front, as French and British troops approach the town of St. Quentin.
A British officer watches demolition work by the Royal Engineers at the Somme River: http://imgur.com/nM6ZXsb © IWM (Q 1928)
A delegation of Chinese students visit the Western Front at the town of Peronne: http://imgur.com/SgY0tOF © IWM (Q 1923)
395 shells on Reims.

Eastern Front
Western Russia: German gas attack in Dvinsk area repulsed, but attack on March 26 southwest of Baranovichi gains east bank of river Shchara and 300 PoWs.

Naval and Overseas Operations
French take Ouijan (Morocco).
Dunkirk bombarded from sea.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Qasr-i-Shirin (Western Persia) again taken by Russian forces (see June 20th, 1916 and July 8th, 1917).
Battle of Jebel Hamrin: Having bridged two canals on March 24, Keary GOC 3rd Indian Divisions’s 4,600 men (1,165 casualties) with 26 guns repulsed by 5,650 Turks and 24 guns (Ali Ihsan’s XIII Corps from Persia who cross to Diyala West bank on March 29).

Political, etc
Russia: General Mikhail Alexeiev made C-in-C by Provisional Government (until June 4) instead of Grand Duke Nicholas, Tsar’s choice (arrived from Caucasus on March 23) .
Following the overthrow of the Russian Tsar Nicholas II, Georgia's bishops unilaterally restored the autocephaly of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
Death penalty abolished and medals except St George Cross. All Tsar’s property and income transferred to State.
France: French government protests German “acts of barbarism and devastation” in occupied-French territory.
United Kingdom: Commons votes £60 million war credit.
Italy: National Board for War Invalids authorized.
Belgium: U.S. Legation at Brussels removed to Le Havre; Belgian relief work to be undertaken by other neutrals.
United States: U.S. Navy Secretary Daniels announces censorship rules that would prevent the press from criticizing the administration’s policies.

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

Western Front
Heavy snow and rain (plus hail on March 27).
Somme: Australians capture Lagnicourt (c.50 PoWs), 6 miles northeast of Bapaume.
Aisne: Heavy clashes occur between French and German forces around St. Quentin, with two towns falling to the French. French Third Army push back Germans beyond Barisis-Servais line and recapture Coucy-le-Chateau.

Eastern Front
German troops advance on Russian lines near Dvinsk (Daugavpils), aided by poison gas attacks, but only make limited gains.
Russians attacked south-west of Baranovichi (centre), retire on east bank of Shchara, losing 300 prisoners.

Southern Front
French artillery active on the Salonika (Thessalonica) Front in Macedonia: http://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/index/170
Austro-Hungarians occupy Italian advanced trenches south of the Vipacco (Carso).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
First Battle of Gaza begins (see 27th): Dobell’s British Eastern Force (39,000 men and 136 guns against 16,000 Turks with 74 guns) cuts off Gaza with 8500 cavalry and belatedly captures Ali Muntar Ridge above city, but ceases battle at nightfall. Late in the afternoon, on the verge of capturing Gaza, the Desert Column was withdrawn due to concerns about the approaching darkness and large Ottoman reinforcements. British incur 3,967 casualties including 246 PoWs and 2 planes; Turkish forces 2,447 casualties (837 PoWs) including 48 Austro-Germans, 2 guns and 1 aircraft.
Germans (8 Rumplers and a few Halberstadt fighters) outperform Royal Flying Corps (21 serviceable aircraft) in vital reconnaissance role during First Battle of Gaza (until March 28).

Political, etc
Russia: Russian War Minister warns that the “foe is at the gate,” pointing to the buildup of German troops threatening Petrograd.
Leon Trotsky leaves his exile in New York City and heads back to Russia: http://imgur.com/CKc1WfZ
United Kingdom: Statement re: prisoners of war in House of Commons.
Mr. Bonar Law appeals to engineers on strike at Barrow to resume work.
Bread rises to 1s. per 4-lb. loaf, and new standard of flour applied to bakers.
United States: Pres. Wilson issues executive order putting the Navy at war strength. U.S. Navy recruiting station in New York City: http://imgur.com/X5NoAvi
25 additional U.S. National Guard units are called out for Federal service today, putting the total at about 46,000 men so far.

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

Western Front
Aisne: French reach Aisne-Oise Canal north of Soissons. Allied advances on the Western Front continues near St. Quentin, with French forces taking 4 towns and British taking 3 towns.
A memorial to both German and French dead raised by Germans at Champlieu, France: http://imgur.com/aV40199 © IWM (Q 78230)
A wooden mock-up of a French tank prototype at La Seyne: http://imgur.com/babZ5YC © IWM (Q 70879)

Naval and Overseas Operations
Germany forms Long-range Ocean U-cruiser Flotilla with U-155; 5 boats by September 22. In or outside prohibited zones ships without lights to be sunk without warning. U-155 was converted from the commercial submarine Deutschland and was one of a class of 8 long-range U-boats. The boats were obsolete in the last year of the war, but were important as the first long-range subs ever: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...U-155.jpg?ssl=1

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
First Battle of Gaza ends (see 26th, and April 17th). Ottoman counterattacks recaptured Ali Muntar and a portion of Green Hill, but the 1/7th Battalion of the Essex Regiment, (161st Brigade, 54th Division), retook the positions before consolidating and re-establishing their posts. Meanwhile the Ottoman force, appeared on Sheikh Abbas and shelled the rear of the British position, "including his reserves, medical units and transport camels." The Turkish artillery batteries at Sheikh Abbas targeted all the tracks across the Wadi Ghuzzeh, employed by the Egyptian Camel Transport Corps, who were at the time attempting to supply food, water and ammunition, to the forward units. Turkish presence and severe command confusion among the British eventually prompted the withdraw of all efforts to attack Gaza.

Political, etc
Russia: Petrograd Soviet appeals to peoples of the world for peace.
Grand Dukes and Princes renounce hereditary rights, formally pledging their support to the new government and to turn over crown lands to the state.
France: French Chamber votes for calling up of 1918 class in April.
A French soldier writes ‘Victory is smiling on our arms.’
United Kingdom: Commons debate on the blockade.
United States: Wilson tells Edward House war decided: ‘What else can I do?’.

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

Western Front
5 Halberstadt fighters shoot down 3 FE2bs (No 25 Squadron) covering BE2 artillery observation aircraft.
Foch hands back command of Eastern Army Group to Castelnau.
Verdun: French troops “recapture” Hill 304.
French repulse Germans in Maisons de Champagne, but lose a few trenches.
British established along Bapume-Cambrai road beyond Beaumetz.
Ground gained round Croiselles-Arras.
German long-range gun shells Soissons.

Eastern Front
Germans report that spring thaw prevents fighting on large scale.
Russian attacks on Magyaros Ridge (Moldavia) fail.

Southern Front
Unsuccessful Austro-Hungarian attacks in the Carso.
Naval and Overseas Operations
Two British destroyers reported to have been sunk recently.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Gaza: British troops retreat from Gaza. British forces suffered 532 dead, while Ottomans suffered around 300 dead.
Macedonia: 10 KG 1 bombers attempt raid on Snievche airfield (No 47 Squadron Royal Flying Corps) but are intercepted by 4 Sopwith 1-1/2-Strutters, 1 Sopwith triplane & and BE 12 (Murlis Green) and chased all the way back to their Hudova base. Just 150 Sopwith Triplanes were built and served only with Royal Navy Air Service units as a counter vs Albatros fighters. In summer 1917 the famous Canadian Collishaw destroyed 18 German aircraft only in June: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...plane.jpg?ssl=1

Political, etc
Germany: Hindenburg and Ludendorff in Berlin food talks with Austrians.
Russia: All Romanovs have taken oath of loyalty to Provisional Government.
France: France prohibits all foreign imports unless a special permit is received from the Minister of Finance.
United Kingdom: Electoral reform debate in House of Commons: Asquith announces conversion to female suffrage (Lloyd George announces bill on March 29).
India: Viceroy asked if 100,000 troops could be raised to relieve British.
United States: The Cabinet offers President Wilson a plan of action for war, which will have 10,000 regular troops as the first U.S. units to go to France.
Argentina: Export of wheat from Argentina prohibited.

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

Western Front
Manfred von Richthofen scores 4 victories (total 10 in March).
Attack of German “Albatros” [ed note: Although titled “Albatros”, the aircraft in question are clearly Halberstadt] fighters over the Western Front: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...aeger.jpg?ssl=1
British troops capture four more villages near St. Quentin. French forces recapture trenches at Verdun.
A church vault opened in Misery, France by Germans in search of metal © IWM (Q 1936)
The devastated town of Misery, France after its capture by the Allies: pic.twitter.com/n6q8VTVpXN
German retreat slackens.

Eastern Front
(Listed for yesterday): Near Berezhany, Russian troops explode a mine underneath German trench and conduct a raid, capturing 20 German prisoners.

Southern Front
Heavy Austrian attacks in the Carso repulsed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Action of Duqma (‘the burning Marl’): Caley’s 13th Division (514 casualties including Second Lieutenant Slim wounded) defeats but fails to trap 3,000-strong Turk 52nd Division (over 380 casualties) against Tigris.

Political, etc
Germany: Bethmann-Hollweg declares no German intention of meddling in Russian home affairs nor to be blamed for Sino and US hostility.
Russia: Provisional Government acknowledges Poland’s independence.
In the Russian Duma, workers, soldiers, and politicians urge Germans and Austro-Hungarians to overthrow their monarchies.
United Kingdom: It is announced that after April, Britain will forbid the use of petrol for private motors due to shortage of supply.
Speech by Mr. Bonar Law; 100,000 men from India needed.
Military Service (Review of Exemptions) Bill passed.
Spain: Spanish government suspends all constitutional guarantees in its provinces due to a threat of popular unrest and revolt.
Sweden: Hamarskjold (Conservative) Ministry in Sweden resigns.

Correction: yesterday's post included "Macedonia" in the "Egyptian/Asian" Theaters. Macedonia includes parts of six Balkan countries: the Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia and Kosovo. Thus, it should have been included in the "Southern Front"

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

Western Front
Somme: Heavy rain. British occupy 8 villages (4 more on March 31) towards Cambrai.
French infantry and cavalry push German troops out of Château de Coucy and find the medieval castle demolished by German forces.

Southern Front
Salonika: Due to investigations into Black Hand and internment of 180 suspect officers at Bizerta (Tunisia), General Bojovic abolishes Serb Third Army and splits its formations between the other two armies.
Naval and Overseas Operations
British hospital ship Gloucester Castle torpedoed by UB-32 between Le Havre and Southampton, but towed in.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: British Cavalry Division occupies Delli Abbas, Keary occupies Jebel Hamrin (March 31).
Palestine: War Cabinet telegram makes Jerusalem Murray’s objective.

Political, etc
Germany: At the German Reichstag, Arthur Zimmermann again admits that his telegram offering alliance with Mexico against the U.S. is genuine.
German Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg declares, “Germany never desired war against the USA and does not desire it today.”
Electoral Reform debate in Prussian Parliament.
Australia: People of Brisbane, Australia watching the movie “Why We Went to War,” shown during a recruitment campaign: pic.twitter.com/54fuzYMDlA

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

Western Front
In March Royal Flying Corps losses 120 aircraft. German fighters claim 60 Allied aircraft in February and March for loss of 7. [Take note of these figures: they’re about to get a lot worse].
Eight villages along the Siegfriedstellung (Hindenburg Line) fall to British troops. French forces also gain north of Soissons.

Naval and Overseas Operations
For March Allied shipping losses 556,775t or 310 ships (German official figures 564,497t or 281 Allied ships including 61,917t in Mediterranean). Of 1,200 British collier March sailings (convoyed) to France only 3 ships lost. 3 U-boats lost.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British and Russian troops meet up at the town of Qasr-e Shirin, Persia © IWM (Q 25197)
British occupy Deli Abbas (River Diala).

Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: The Emperor of Austria, Karl Hapsburg, makes secret proposal, conveyed in a letter to prince Sixte of Bourbon, to the French President (M. Raymond Poincaré) to open conversations with a view to peace (see April 11th, 1918).
Germany: Army ration strength 7,630,456.
Social Democrats in the German Reichstag declare that a republic is inevitable, causing cries of “treason” in the chamber.
Russia: Pig iron production down 17.6% compared to first quarter of 1916.
Russian government offers Poland “freedom” and self-government and condemns German efforts to create a Polish state.
France: During March French order 150 Renault FT-17 light tanks. French government introduces a bill to provide 300 million francs for agricultural aid, especially in areas affected by the fighting.
French politician Denys Cochin declares France will “war to the bitter end” due to Germany’s destruction of occupied French areas.
United Kingdom: Only 9 weeks supply of wheat and grain in country. Now 300 War Pensions committees (68,269 widows pensions granted). First WAAC draft arrives in France (6,023 by March 12, 1918).
Order limiting output of beer in United Kingdom issued.
Italy: War costing £30 millions per month (£730 millions so far).
United States: Dunk, the first elephant to reside at the National Zoo in Washington DC, passed away: pic.twitter.com/U7xRdChOEf
U.S. Bureau of Mines conducts a census for engineers and scientists so they will not be sent to the front if the U.S. enters the war.
A “Patriotic Rally” in Philadelphia as the U.S. prepares to go to war: pic.twitter.com/s1GMDuACCp

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

Western Front
During the first week of April, the Royal Flying Corps loses 75 aircraft in combat over the Western Front. The aircraft and tactics of the German Jagdstaffeln (Fighter Squadrons) are shown to be greatly superior to those of the Royal Flying Corps and its French and Belgian allies. By the end of the month the British air services lose 150 aircraft and 316 aircrew in what would become known as 'Bloody April'. The French and Belgian air services lose an additional 200 aircraft.
Another source says: Only the exploits of Collishaw, Dallas, Little and the Sopwith Triplanes of RNAS ‘Black Flight’ hold promise the tide will eventually turn. Royal Flying Corps has 754 aircraft (41 squadrons) in France.
BEF establishment strength 1,893,874 men (including 139,353 Anzacs and 130,255 Canadians).
Somme: British Fourth Army capture Savy with Savy Wood 4 miles west of St Quentin, and begin an indiscriminate bombardment of the area. French President Poincare visits liberated area.
British troops manning a 9.2-inch howitzer to bombard German positions near Arras, France: © IWM (Q 6460) https://t.co/bvkbQmreo5
Aisne: French push back Germans to Vauxaillon northeast of Soissons.
Champagne: Germans shell Reims (25,000 shells in one week).

Southern Front
Bulgar-Germans bombard Monastir (asphyxiating shells).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: APRIL SHIPPING LOSSES (373 Allied ships) REACH RECORD MONTHLY TOTAL OF 545,200t (world-wide losses 873,754t). Now 120 German U-boats in service. In April British Aircraft join seaplanes on anti-U-boat patrols.
USA: 600,000t German merchant shipping (interned since 1914-1915) seized by US.
U.S. armed cargo ship Aztec is torpedoed by the German submarine SM U-46, resulting in 28 crew deaths.
Mediterranean: In April Japanese 2nd Detached Squadron (Rear-Admiral K Sato), cruiser Akashi and 8 wartime-built destroyers arrive (c.April 17), based at Malta (made public by lord R Cecil on May 24). Cruiser Idzumo arrives with 4 more destroyers in August, 2 Royal Navy destroyers turned over in June.
Adriatic: Austrian U-30 lost by unknown cause in Otranto Straits (or following day).
Baltic: In April Bolsheviks claim 1,400 members aboard 22 ships.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Russians progress towards Khanikan (85 miles north-east of Baghdad).
Turks retreat towards Kasr-i-Shirin (Persia).
British and Russian cavalry officers at Kizil Robat, Mesopotamia, which fell unopposed: © IWM (Q 25199) https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...5050112/photo/1

Political, etc
France: Paul Langevin tests his first quartz transmitter for detecting submarines in laboratory tanks, it kills fish in its path.
United Kingdom: British Government decide to interfere in Barrow strike.
They adhere to principle of an independent Poland.
United States: Thousands of pacifists, carrying tulips, march to Washington D.C. to protest against the U.S. entering the war.
Scott Joplin, African American composer and pianist known as “King of Ragtime Writers,” passed away: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...3789698/photo/1

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

Western Front
Aisne: French rangefinder and counter-battery work begins for 4,544 guns (3 million shells) but hampered by weather and German air opposition.
Artois: BEF capture 9 villages (6 fall to 7th Division and 4th Australian Division with 700 killed and 240 PoWs for 1,000 casualties) between Arras and St Quentin, and advance to north-west, at Templeux.
British troops manning a 4.5-inch howitzer near Arras, France: © IWM https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...8367106/photo/1
France: Petain meets Prime Minister Ribot for first time at dinner.
The ruins of Monchy, France after its capture by the Allies: © IWM https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...7610882/photo/1

Eastern Front
Russian troops attack on a five-mile front on the Northern Romanian border at Oituz Valley, but fail to make substantial gains.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Mediterranean: 13 German and 2 Austrian U-boats at sea.

Political, etc
Russia: Measures passed include equal rights for women. Legal and religious curbs, 8 hour day for workers on April 6. Not one of these measures was actually enforced.
United Kingdom: US and British flags fly from Victoria Tower, Westminster.
Speeches of Sir R, Boden and Lt.-Gen. Smuts re: Empire and War.
British Government give Barrow strikers 24 hours to resume work; threaten violent repressive measures if orders not carried out.
United States: President Wilson calls a special session of Congress. Champ Clark is voted as the new Speaker of the House by a vote of 217 to 205: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...6475268/photo/1 Wilson‘s war message to Congress: ‘The world must be made safe for democracy’. President Woodrow Wilson addresses Congress this day, asking those present to support war against Germany: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...l1917.jpg?ssl=1
Gold in the U.S. Treasury has reached $3 billion, mostly due to inflow from Allied countries buying U.S. goods.

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

Western Front
France: GQG (Grand Quartier Général, the French high command) moves north from Beauvais to Compiegne.
Somme: French occupy 7 villages south and southwest of St Quentin (until April 4). (Another source says only 4).
British forces seize height overlooking Cambrai. (Another source adds: British capture Henin-sur-Cojeul (south-east of Arras), and Maissemy (St. Quentin), and occupy Ronssoy Wood (north of Templeux). It is possible that these three “villages” are the “missing” 3 from the note about the French re-occupations of seven villages.)
German artillery fire more than 2000 shells at the cathedral city (and strategic rail center) of Rheims, France, causing several civilian casualties.
German “night attack” west of St. Quentin fails. Yet another probable trench raid, inflated into a valiantly-resisted attack by the British propaganda, just so they could claim a success on the Western Front.
Reconnaissance photo of the Siegfriendstellung (Hindenburg Line) taken by the British 11th Squadron: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...8595840/photo/1

Eastern Front
Pripet: Linsingen’s Germans cross river Stokhod, take 10,000 PoWs in Russian Tobol bridgehead.

Naval and Overseas Operations
The minesweeper H.M.S. Jason is sunk by a mine off west coast of Scotland.
Brazilian steamer Parana torpedoed by German submarine in Channel.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Royal Flying Corps BE2c damaged by German Fokker E (9 aircraft newly arrived). Another BE2c (flown since November 1915) shot down by Halberstadt fighter over Samarra April 15), but RFC new Bristol Scout destroys a Halberstadt on April 22. German Lieutenant Emil Meinecke poses beside his Halberstadt fighter after a hard air combat with British aircraft in the Middle East. Meinecke was flying for the Turks: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...urkey.jpg?ssl=1
Russian cavalry occupy Kasr-i-Shirin and Khanikin.

Political, etc
Germany: German government declares that President Wilson’s message will have no impact on its conduct of the war.
Kaiser Wilhelm and Emperor Charles meet at Homburg.
Russia: Russian Provisional Government forms War Committee, and repeals anti-Jewish legislation.
Canada: Leon Trotsky is detained by Canadian authorities at the Amherst Internment Camp, as he was deemed dangerous to the Allies.

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

Western Front
Artois: BEF 2,000-gun Arras barrage begins including gas shells, wreaks great destruction on 12-mile front. The crew of a British 12-inch howitzer prepares to open fire at the beginning of the Battle of Arras: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...Arras.jpg?ssl=1
Aisne: German raiding party captures copy of division order at Mt Sapigneul giving movements of 3 corps on right of French Fifth Army. Nivelle told on April 7.
Amidst violent snow squalls, French soldiers reach the outskirts of St. Quentin. 4 other villages are taken. (Another source says only three).
British capture Metz-en-Couture (towards Cambrai).

Eastern Front
German troops use 13 waves of chlorine gas against Russian troops and force them to retreat across the Stokhid River.

Naval and Overseas Operations
North Sea: Royal Navy decides to convoy Scandinavian ships carrying imported wood pulp.
Belgian relief ship, Trevier, torpedoed off Scheveningen.
Western Mediterranean: British liner City of Paris (122 lives lost) sunk by UC 35 south off Nice.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Khanaqin (North-East of Baghdad) again occupied by Russian forces.

Political, etc
United Kingdom: Speeches of General Robertson and Admiral Jellicoe to Trade Unions re: sacrifice required from nation, after the Barrow strike repressed.
British Food Order for hotels, etc. British Flour Order. [ed note: I have no further details on these two orders, other than that they are rationing measures.]
United States: Former President Theodore Roosevelt praises President Wilson’s war message and states he hopes to lead troops again.
Senate votes war resolution 82-6.
Switzerland: Vladimir Lenin and Zürich councillor Platten negotiate with German Berne Ambassador Romberg.

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

Western Front
Royal Flying Corps at Arras bombing starts with attacks against observation balloons (only 5 destroyed until April 8). No 100 Squadron RFC bombs Douai airfield (‘Richthofen Circus’ base), 4 hangars damaged (night April 5-6) repeated twice (April 7-8) with new 1-prd pom-pom strafing; Frankl in Albatros of Jasta 4 shoots down a BE2c in first planned night interception.
A German observation balloon is prepared for launching: https://i0.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...tklar.jpg?ssl=1
RFC loses 75 aircraft (105 crew, until April 9), another 56 crashed or written off. Bristol Fighter two-seater flies first offensive patrol, 4 of 6 shot down by Richthofen’s 5 Albatros DIIIs. British airman’s April life expectancy 23 days.
Somme: German withdrawal to the Siegfriedstellung (Hindenburg Line) completed. (Also listed for earlier last month). Another source reports: Allied pursuit of retiring Germans has been impeded by bad weather, collapse of roads, demolitions, booby traps and rearguards. But now most German outposts have been driven in and Allies face Hindenburg Line.
German troops counterattack French lines northwester of Rheims and claims the capture of 800 French prisoners.
A German dummy artillery gun captured by the French Army © IWM (Q 78878): https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...4359936/photo/1
Germans bombard French north of Urvillers.
Aeroplane raid on Kent and Ramsgate, no casualties.

Southern Front
Macedonia: KG 1 bombs and destroys munition train and dump at Karasuli by Lake Ardjan north of Salonika.

Political, etc
Russia: In Petrograd, the victims of the February Revolution are buried in the Field of Mars.
Manifesto of M. Guchkov (Russian War Minister) to soldiers to do their duty.
France: General Lyautey appointed to Morocco.
United Kingdom: British Government inform Russian Provisional Government of their adherence to the principle of an independent and united Poland (see March 30th and September 13th, 1916, and January 10th, 1917).
Rejected and some disabled men to be re-examined for military service. Assistant Chief Commissioner Thomson finds ‘a good deal of ignorant alarmism [about industrial unrest], especially among the generals present’.
Britain issues the “food hoarding order,” which prohibits anyone form hoarding food beyond what is needed for individual consumption.
Romania: King Ferdinand proclamation promises land and civic rights to peasants (and Army order on May 6).
United States: The U.S. Capitol is lit up as the Senate votes to declare war against Germany: https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...1720576/photo/1
A military budget of $3.5 billion (about $66 billion today) is introduced in Congress as the U.S. prepares for war.
U.S. government states it will not sever relations or declare war on Germany’s allies for the time being unless they act first.
Simon N. Patten, economics professor at the University of Pennsylvania, is dismissed by the university due to his “pacifist activism”.
Netherlands: Dutch Note to British Government opposing armed merchantmen.

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

Western Front
Heavy German artillery hit British and French troops as they continue their slow advance around St. Quentin, France.
France: President Poincare and generals meet in train at Compiegne to reconsider offensive. Nivelle threatens to resign, but given approval provided attack called off after 48 hours, if expected gains not forthcoming. 5,350 guns now bombarding German positions east of Vauxaillon (north-east of Soissons) to north of Reims.
Mannock posted to No 40 Squadron. 5 Sopwith Pups of No 3 (Naval) Squadron destroy all of 4 Halberstadt fighters.

Political, etc
United States: US House of Representatives passes war resolution at 1300 hours,. The vote is 373 to 50. United States of America declares war on Germany (see February 3rd). The text of US president Wilson’s declaration of war: https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...f-war.jpg?ssl=1 . The US seizes 87 German ships in her ports (14 Austrian ships seized on April 9).

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