Western Front
Manfred von Richthofen (future Red Baron) earns his 5th aerial victory, making him a flying ace.
Battle of the Somme: French troops advance on a 5 km front, taking Bovent, outskirts of Ablaincourt, most of Chaulnes wood, and 1200 prisoners.
A different source, more details: In the south French Sixth Army resumes offensive (until October 21); woods captured northwest of Chaulnes and ground gained toward 3 villages with 1,400 PoWs on 3 1/2-mile frontage.

Eastern Front
Tsar’s order officially ends Brusilov Offensive.
Transylvania: Austro-German advance continues; Averescu takes over Second Army which halts in Predeal Pass (3,415 ft).

Southern Front
Eighth Battle of the Isonzo: Italians attack at 1450 hours in pouring rain, capturing in Austrian first line 5,034 PoWs, Hills 86 and 95, Mt Sober (east of Gorizia), Nova Vas village and Hill 144 (Carso). Futurist architect Antonio Sant’ Elia killed, aged 28.
Battle of the Carso commences; whole of Austro-Hungarian first line, Hill 208 and Nova Villa taken by Italians. 5,034 prisoners.
General Otto van Below made Army Group commander for Macedonia (until April 22, 1917; headquarters at Uskub = Skopje) to stiffen Bulgars, requests reinforcements (October 20); 6 battalions (3 Jäger) and 48 guns sent from Western and Eastern Fronts, formed into Division Hippel by mid-November. Another 6 battalions follow from Western Front.
Struma front, Seres railway cut by British, Bulgarians falling back to hills.
Serbs gain footing in Brod (Cherna front).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: New C-in-C India Monro (appointed October 1) at Basra, visits Tigris Front, cables GIGS (October 19) that forward positions easy to maintain.
Arabia: Feisal’s 7,000 Arabs retreat southwest from Bir Abbas to Hamra before Turkish advance from Medina (actually just 80 camel-men).
Sheikh Ahmed es Senussi leaves Baharia Oasis for Siwa.

Political, etc.
United States: 5-year-old Mart Payne, picking cotton in Comanche County, Oklahoma: http://imgur.com/BhHFKVK
The very first PGA Championship is held at the Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York.
Greece: Allied ultimatum for Greek Fleet’s surrender by noon (October 11) plus all but 3 coast batteries and Piraeus-Larissa railway, accepted on October 11.
Professor Lambros forms new Greek Ministry (see 3rd, September 29th, 1916 and May 3rd, 1917).

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Western Front
Battle of the Somme: French, after sharp fighting, repulse counter-attacks at Bois de Chaulnes (south of Somme) and take 1,702 prisoners.

Eastern Front
Transylvania: First Battle of Oituz (until October 27): Rumanian Fourth Army (Prezan) eventually halts Arz’s Austro-Germans on border (until October 22).

Southern Front
Italian front carried forward 2,000 yards in direction of Mt. Pecenka, attack on Veliki Hriak.
“Decisive” fighting in Mt. Pasubio region.
Italian line advanced to foot of Mt. Roite (farther border of Cormagnon).
French carry Bulgarian first lines west of Gevgeli.
Battle of the Carso: Italian troops claim the capture of 5,034 Austro-Hungarians as they advance on the Carso Plateau.

Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: 1/2nd KAR defeat c.76 Germans in Kilwa, push to Fort Kibata (seized October 14).

Political, etc.
Germany: King Otto of Bavaria passed away. He had been deposed in 1913 due to mental illness: http://imgur.com/EQ6nk7T
United Kingdom: PM Asquith-“This war cannot be allowed to end in some patched-up, precarious & dishonoring compromise masquerading under the name of peace.”
United States: In Bayonne, New Jersey, 10,000 strikers clash with police, resulting in the shootings of 4 policemen and 21 strikers.
Greece: Greek Government accept Entente demands: 2 battleships and armored cruiser Averatt stripped of shells and breech blocks, crews reduced to 1/3. Allies tow cruiser Helle, 19 destroyers and torpedo boats, 2 submarines and 12 auxiliaries to Keratsini. French hoist tricolour on them and occupy Salamis Arsenal (November 7).
Norway: Norway prohibits belligerent submarines from using her territorial waters. (Ban extended to all foreign submarines on February 1, 1917).

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

Western Front
Raymond Collishaw is credited with first aerial victory. He goes on to become the Royal Naval Air Service's leading ace, with a total of 60 kills.
No 3 Wing RNAS, first British strategic bombing unit, flies first major operation from Luxeuil (Vosges) with 21 aircraft (3 lost) against Mauser small-arms factory in Oberndorf; 34 French aircraft (6 lost) participate. German fighters attack at the target and back.
Battle of the Somme: British attack on 4-mile front Eaucourt-Bapaume, gain 500-1000 yards. French claim to have taken 40,125 PoWssince July 1.

Eastern Front
Transylvania: German and Austro-Hungarian troops pursue the Romanian 2nd Army to the frontier.
Fierce fighting round Brod (Cherna front).
Carso front Bulgarian counter-attacks completely repulsed.

Southern Front
Eighth Battle of the Isonzo ends (see 9th). Italians push Austrians east of river Vallano. Operations suspended in evening after a claimed total of 8,200 PoWs taken in 2-mile advance for 24,000 casualties.
Salonika: British War Office committee ‘We have had to deal with a specially virulent … malarial infection in a body of troops unseasoned to tropical conditions’ (304 deaths to November 11, 1916.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Publication of Despatch of 12 August 1916 from Lt.-Gen. Sir P. Lake relative to operations in Mesopotamia, 19 January to 30 April 1916.

Political, etc.
Germany: At the German Reichstag, Socialist leader Philipp Scheidemann declares, “We declare openly and clearly that the nation wants peace.”
United States: Wilson Women’s Wagon”-women supporters of President Wilson’s reelection: http://imgur.com/pa7PHt8
Greece: Admiral Fournet demands Allied control of police, no Greek citizens to carry arms, no war material to Thessaly, but wheat exports can be resumed.

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

Western Front
Big Allied raid (40 aeroplanes) on Mauser factory at Oberndorf.
Battle of the Somme: A French armored car with a 47 mm gun near Sains-en-Amienois, Somme: http://imgur.com/TesBWEB* © IWM (Q 69716)

Eastern Front
Transylvania: Rumanian Second Army checks pursuers in Predeal (town falls) and Badza Passes, but Falkenhayn advances through Torzburg Pass to Rucar 6 miles inside Rumania. Rumanians forced from Transylvania except in northeast. Germans also enter gap between Rumanian Fourth Army and Lechitski.

Southern Front
British forces pushing forward on Struma front.
Successful British raids on Doiran front.
Fighting in Carso continues.

Political, etc.
Germany: Returns 30,101 British PoWs.
United Kingdom: Returns 39,020 German PoWs.
Russia: Worst month for strikes, 189 (177 political) involve 189,776 strikers.
Austria-Hungary: Archduke Charles of Hungary opens HQ for Romanian front at Grosswardein.
Norway: Norwegian Government issue orders prohibiting belligerent submarines from using Norwegian territorial waters.

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

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: French gains south of river on 1 1/4-mile front, capturing the hamlet of Genermont and 800 German prisoners.
French bombardment of Sailly-Saillisel (Bapume-Peronne road) commences.
British 39th Division finally captures Schwaben Redoubt.
A congested road at Fricourt, Somme, as staff cars, soldiers, and supplies head to the trenches: http://imgur.com/9mDBMjM © IWM (Q 5794)
Battle of Verdun: General Nivelle, French commander at Verdun, claims the French are firing 100 artillery shells to one fired by the Germans.


Eastern Front
Transylvania: Transylvanian frontier of Rumania crossed by German forces (see August 28th and September 29th).
Austro-Hungarians advance through Torzburg Pass and reach Rucar (six miles within Romania).
Frontier ridge at Predeal won by Bulgarians and town burnt.
Romanians have now withdrawn from Transylvania, except in north-east corner.

Southern Front
Macedonia: Allied frontal assault fails to take a single Bulgarian trench despite gas shell use; French 1,490 casualties, Russians 600. Sarrail has a final row with Cordonnier, cables Joffre (October 16) who agrees to recall him (October 19); General Leblois takes over (October 20).
End of offensive in Carso, Italians consolidate all positions, line advanced two miles; Italians claim 8,000 prisoners.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Black Sea: Russian submarine captures Turkish armed transport Rodosto.
Mediterranean: Royal Navy SNO Malta Rear-Admiral Ballard proposes ‘three convoys per week system’ to Admiralty who study it, but French C-in-C opposes.

Political, etc.
Germany: Germany admits its potato harvest this year has been disappointing and halts all trade in potato seeds until the situation is assessed.
Kaiser Wilhelm’s two slogans to his troops on the Eastern Front: “He [the enemy] shall not get through” and “He must be beaten.”
Romania: King Ferdinand of Romania appeals to the Allies to not let his country suffer the same fate as Serbia.
Greece: King Constantine of Greece on the country’s neutrality: “I prefer to lose my throne rather than endanger Greece.”

Also: Today is the 950th Anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, beginning the Norman Conquest of England.

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

Western Front
Lieutenant Norman Prince (5 victories), American creator of Esc Lafayette, dies of wounds.
Battle of the Somme: 333 German aircraft support First Army against 293 aircraft of RFC (Western Front totals RFC 563, German c. 885 of which 451 against the French).
One source claims British make progress in Schwaben Redoubt and Thiepval neighbourhood.
However, another states: German gains near Schwaben Redoubt and Thiepval. Rawlinson inspects Longueval, Delville Wood and High Wood and discerns stiffening German resistance. In the south of the battlefield General Micheler (French Tenth Army) complains of being starved of reserves and ‘reduced to the role of a watchdog for Fayolle’ (Sixth Army).

Eastern Front
General Berthelot arrives at Bucharest (French Military Mission left Paris October 1, eventually 1,200 strong); having seen Alexeiev (October 11) at Mogilev who urges Rumanians to hold river Sereth not the Carpathians.
Intense fighting at Rucar.
Artillery activity on Danube.
Südarmee’s Battle of Lower Narajowka begins (until October 22).

Southern Front
Seres shelled by British.
Stubborn fighting on Cherna front.
Mt. Pasubio, Italians continue to advance.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Sinai: British raid Magharah.

Political, etc.
France: French General de Castelnau: “We now have the Germans by the ears & will continue to shake their heads until their brains are addled…”
Russia: Alexeiev reports to Tsar only 1.4m reserves after November 1, ie under 5 months supply.
Canada: Canadian wheat crop drops by more than half compared to last year due to wartime demand and crop failures.
United States: Jim Barnes, English golfer, wins the first PGA Championship: http://imgur.com/qIednZt
Greece: Anti-Entente demonstrations in Athens.

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

Oh, no! Don't tell me nothing happened on the 16th! Woe is me and here I thought it went on through most of 1918.

jk ... I've just loved this series. So much information I had not known (apart from the almost infinite number of daily battles. Thanks GG!

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: Five Anglo-French aircraft destroy 2 German aircraft, extensive RFC night bombing.
British troops advance 200 yards in the Thiepval region, capturing two trenches and 300 German prisoners.
French gain footing in Sailly (two miles east of Morval).

Eastern Front
Pripet: Last blow of Brusilov Offensive: Gourko’s Special Army attacks on 12-mile front towards Vladimir-Volinski (until October 17) but German artillery too powerful.
Carpathians: German and Austro-Hungarian forces defeat Romanian counterattacks in Transylvania, making the invasion of Romania nearly inevitable.
Austrian Seventh Army attacks Russo-Rumanian junction, Germans take Gyimen Pass (2364ft). Austro-German mountain troops fail to breakout across Rotenturm Pass (until October 18).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: Captain T E Lawrence of Arab Bureau lands at Jeddah from HMS Lama; meets Abdulla and Ali (October 17). So far Arabs have received 3,260 rifles, 32 MGs, 16 guns and 3,344t of food.

Political, etc.
Greece: Allies land reinforcements to keep order after anti-Allied Athens demos (October 15) and seize 3 more Greek warships.
Admiral du Fournet hands fresh Note to Greek Government.
Greek Prime Minister Spyridon Lambros submits a proposal to the Allies for Greece’s entry into the war.

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

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: French gain new group of houses in Sailly-Saillisel.
French gunners loading a 65 mm mountain artillery gun in Alsace: http://imgur.com/rzzJSId* © IWM (Q 108324)

Eastern Front
Romanians maintain positions at Rucar, but retreat in the Gyimes Pass (Mold.); enemy penetrate eight miles into Romania and reach Agas, 8 miles inside frontier, but Austrians beaten in Uzul Valley (and on October 27).
Russian attacks against Lemberg (Lvov) fail to break through, and a German/AH counterattack north of Korytnitsa nets 2 km of trenches and 1900 prisoners.

Southern Front
Macedonia: Fighting in Dobropolye region (north of Kaymakchlan).
Italy: Italians capture Tooth of Pasubio (Trentino).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
British raid and take Dakhla oasis (175 miles south-west of Asyut).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Adriatic: Italian SS Bermuda rams and sinks Austrian U-16, after latter sinks Italian destroyer Nembo off Albania.

Political, etc.
United States: Margaret Sanger establishes the first birth control clinic in the U.S. in NYC (her organization later evolves into Planned Parenthood).
China: German envoy Hentig enters, returns home (arriving June 9, 1917) via USA.

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

Busy day today, especially with non-war, political stuff:
Western Front
Battle of the Somme: Battle of the Transloy Ridges ends: British advance from 0340 hours north of Guedecourt and French take Sailly. French XXXIII Corps (Sixth Army) attacks south of Somme to broaden French salient at La Maisonnette (southeast of Biaches), but Germans push it back on October 21. Joffre urges a continued powerful BEF offensive (Haig and Rawlinson met on October 17 and had intended to suspend operations on October 20).

Eastern Front
Romanian troops counterattack German/AH forces and successfully drive them back to the Transylvanian border at several points.

Southern Front
Italy: In the Dolomites, Italian Alpine battalions capture an Austro-Hungarian fortress named the “Tooth of Pasubio.”
Serbia: Serbs capture Veljeselo 1 1/2 miles north of Brod, repel German counter-attack (over 350 casualties, and on October 20 and 22).

Naval and Overseas OperationsM
North Sea: HM submarine E.38 torpedoes small German cruiser München during brief High Seas Fleet sortie, last till April 23, 1918, peters out before Dogger Bank in rough seas and Scheer’s knowing British aware of it.
Alaunia, ex-Cunard liner, now a troopship, sunk. She struck a mine on 18 October 1916 in the English Channel off the Royal Sovereign Lightship of Hastings, East Sussex, laid earlier that day by SM*UC-16. After attempts to beach the ship and tow her to shore with tugs, her captain realized the ship was lost and finally gave the order to abandon ship. Two crew members lost their lives in her sinking.

Political, etc.
Germany: Austrian Baron Burian suggests peace initiative to von Bethmann-Hollweg at Pless, Kaiser approves it on October 25. Both ministers also agree to proclaim Polish independence as soon as possible.
United Kingdom: Men of 41 called up.
British government orders all shops to close at 7pm (8 on Saturday) to conserve electricity, starting October 30. Liquor sales are exempt.
Samuel Paull Andrews, the first working class man to become Member of Parliament in New Zealand, passed away: http://imgur.com/XQTEdnW
France: Dr Benes achieves an agreement with French to separate CzechPoWs*from other Austrian ones.
United States: “A Daughter of the Gods,” the 1st American film with $1 million budget & nude scene, is released (film is now lost): http://imgur.com/6Yj0RB6
Newspapers carry some of the first pictures of the “tank” made public: Newspapers carry some of the first pictures of the “tank” made public: http://imgur.com/ZycQORr
10,000 barbers in Harlem and Brooklyn go on strike to protest against long working hours.
Nikola Tesla testifies in federal court that he has found a way to “isolate” energy in the air to control and use it.
Egypt: New gold pound coinage removes Sultan of Turkey’s image.

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

Western Front
All quiet on the Western Front.

Eastern Front
Dobruja: Battle of Topraisar-Cobadinu (until October 21): Mackensen breaks through causing Rumanian retreat astride Russians and takes Tuzla on coast (October 20).

Southern Front
Italy: Sharp fighting Tooth of Pasubio (Trentino), Austro-Hungarian counter-attacks repulsed.
Serbia: Serbian troops break through Bulgarian lines in their drive toward Monastir, capturing 2 villages.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Adriatic: Austria’s most successful U-boat, U-27 (first of class of 8 coastal boats), launched at Pola, commissioned February 14, 1917.
East Africa: Last German post north of Central Railway cleared. Deventer contacts Northey. German attacks in Iringa and river Ruhuje districts.

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: Chancellor of the Exchequer McKenna states Britain is paying the U.S. $10 million a day for supplies needed for the war effort.
House of Commons passes a bill that would exclude Germans from becoming Rhodes Scholars.
France: French returns of prisoners.
Conference of Allies at Boulogne whereat Venizelos' National Provisional Government in Crete receives recognition.
United States: Polio epidemic in New York City dies down, as today is the 1st day in 4 months without a death. 2375 people died in the city in those months.

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

Western Front
Battle of the Somme: Coldest day of battle so far. British repulse heavy counter-attacks on Schwaben and Stuff Redoubts.
Battle of Verdun: Nivelle commits 603 guns (including two 15.7-in rail guns against forts) and 15,000t of shells to shelling 3 1/2-mile front; they silence all but 100 of c.450 German guns (until October 24) using 530,000 x 75mm and 100,000 x 155mm shells.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Black Sea: Russian battleship "lmperatritsa Mariya" destroyed by internal explosion at Sevastopol.
East Africa: General Smuts reports Germans limited to south-east portion of Colony of which all ports and main lines of approach held by Allies.

Political, etc.
France: Anglo-French Conference held at Calais to discuss Greek participation in the war.
Ethiopia: Revolution in Abyssinia.
Greece: Greek Government agree to withdraw half Greek troops concentrated at Larissa and practically to place Greek Army on peace footing by October 25.
China: Germany protests to government over French hiring of 30,000 Chinese laborers.

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

Western Front
RFC helps engage 184 targets and bombs extensively. Germans bomb Querrieu, Gorbie and Amiens (night October 20-21).
Battle of the Somme: British advance taking 5,000 yards of trenches (with 1,018 PoWs) between Schwaben Redoubt and Le Sars plus 39th Division captures Stuff Trench.
French 120 mm guns in action near Feuilleres, Somme: http://imgur.com/pJFjIUc* © IWM (Q 79014)

Eastern Front
Transylvania: Falkenhayn drives Rumanian Second Army 12 miles across frontier at Törzburg Pass, Austrians 7 miles inside across Bodza Pass.
Austrians seven miles within Romanian frontier through Buzeu Pass.
In other Passes, Romanians hold their ground.
Dobruja: Romanians retiring; Autro-Hungarians take Toprosari and Kobadinu.

Southern Front
Weather breaks and fighting in the Cherna region dies down.

Naval and Overseas Operations
British submarine torpedoes German cruiser, Kolberg class, in North Sea.

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: Dublin accepts a $2 million loan from a firm in Boston in order to rebuild the city after the Easter Uprising.
Austria-Hungary: Prince Henry of Prussia, the brother of Kaiser Wilhelm II, is named the grand admiral of the Austrian navy, an honorary title.
Karl von Stürgkh, Premier of Cisleithania (Austria), is assassinated by Social Democratic politician Friedrich Adler: http://imgur.com/hg7z9oi
Italy: Italian government orders all street lights and lights in stores, hotels, and cafés to be dimmed at 10:30 pm to save electricity.
United States: Despite the U-boat threat, 5 liners leave New York City today for Europe, carrying 1,800 passengers.

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

Western Front
Two German aircraft (1 lost to Dunkirk RNAS) drop 4 bombs on Sheerness (no casualties); 1 aircraft’s drops 3 bombs on Margate and wounds 2 people (October 23).
48 Anglo-German air combats, RFC lose 2 aircraft, claim 7.
French troops with a 145 mm naval gun at Hardecourt-aux-Bois: http://imgur.com/006k3DA* © IWM (Q 78049)

Eastern Front
Dobruja: Constanza (Dobrudja) captured by German and Bulgarian forces.
Galicia: Stiff fighting north of Halicz (until October 23).

Southern Front
Macedonia: Bulgars reinforced by Germans, counter-attack; everywhere repulsed and lose ground (Cherna front).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Sinai: Affairs in the Dakhla Oasis end (see 17th).

Naval and Overseas Operations
A squadron of German navy destroyers off Heligoland: http://imgur.com/3Nw0Zhh
East Africa: Portuguese now 8 miles north of river Rovuma. Major Kraut storms NRFF Hill at Mkapira and invests position (until October 30) until beaten over river Ruhuje after 124 casualties, 1 gun and 3 MGs lost.

Political, etc.
Belgium: In occupied Belgium, Ghent University is transformed into a Flemish academy by the Germans (nicknamed Von Bissing University).

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

Western Front
Weather breaks, fog and rain restricts flying until October 25 and on October 27 in general. However, in Germany,13 Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutters of No 3 Wing RNAS damage 3 Thyssen blast furnaces at Hagendingen, north of Metz.
Aeroplane raid on Margate; two injured.
Battle of the Somme: British capture 1,000 yards of trenches towards Transloy.
French forces capture Ridge 128.
New Zealand Prime Minister William Massey and Deputy PM Sir Joseph Ward visiting the Somme: http://imgur.com/L6F5KHv* © IWM (Q 1483)
Battle of Verdun: Germans evacuate battered Fort Douaumont as untenable (night October 23-24). 

Eastern Front
Romania: Battle of Tirgu Jiu (until October 29) south of Vulcan Pass which Falkenhayn storms (October 24) despite snow.
A combined German-Bulgarian force under General Mackensen captures the strategic port city of Constanza in southern Romania.
Oil tanks burn in Constanza, Romania after shelling by German and Bulgarian troops: http://imgur.com/mHrhpeH* © IWM (Q 72737)
Battle in Halicz dies down.
Germans claim total repulse of Russians from west bank of Narajowka.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Sir C. Dobell takes over command of Eastern (Sinai) force.

Naval and Overseas Operations
British mine-sweeper HMS Genista, sunk, fighting the German U-57.
East Africa: Major-General Wahle ambushes British force, breaks through to Lettow between Northey and Iringa in next 3 weeks; captures 50 British soldiers and 2 guns at Ngominji, southwest of Iringa on October 29.

Political, etc.
United Kingdom: Sir Edward Grey urges neutral nations to create a united “league” aimed at stopping future wars.
Canada: Canadian Premier appeals for more volunteers as “the climax of the war is rapidly approaching.” 370,000 Canadians have enlisted so far.

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