WORLD WAR - I - 1917

1917

January

• 1. Turkey declares its independence of suzerainty of European powers.
• 1. Ivernia, Cunard liner, is sunk in Mediterranean.

February

• 3. United States severs diplomatic relations with Germany. Count Von Bernstorff is handed his passports.
• 7. California, Anchor liner, is sunk off Irish coast.
• 13. Afric, White Star liner, sunk by submarine.
• 17. British troops on the Ancre capture German positions.
• 25. Laconia, Cunard liner, sunk off Irish coast.
• 26. Kut-el-Amara recaptured from Turks by new British Mesopotamian expedition under command of Gen. Sir Stanley Maude.
• 28. United States government makes public a communication from Germans to Mexico proposing an alliance, and offering as a reward the return of Mexico's lost territory in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
• 28. Submarine campaign of Germans results in the sinking of 134 vessels

March

• 3. British advance on Bapaume.
• 3. Mexico denies having received an offer from Germany suggesting an alliance.
• 10. Russian Czar suspends sittings of the Duma.
• 11. Bagdad captured by British forces under Gen. Maude.
• 14. China breaks with Germany.
• 15. Czar Nicholas abdicates. Prince Lvoff heads new cabinet.
• 17. Bapaume falls to British. Roye and Lassigny occupied by French.
• 18. Peronne, Chaulnes, Nesle and Noyon evacuated by Germans, who retire on an 85-mile front.
• 18. City of Memphis, Illinois, and Vigilancia, American ships, torpedoed.
• 19. Alexander Ribot becomes French premier, succeeding Briand.
• 21. Healdton, American ship, bound from Philadelphia to Rotterdam, sunk without warning; 21 men lost.
• 26-31. British advance on Cambrai.

April

• 1. Aztec, American armed ship, sunk in submarine zone.
• 5. Missourian, American steamer, sunk in Mediterranean.
• 6. United States declares war on Germany.
• 7. Cuba and Panama at war with Germany.
• 8. Austria-Hungary breaks with United States.
• 9. Germans retreat before British on long front.
• 9. Bolivia breaks with Germany.
• 13. Vimy, Givenchy, Bailleul and positions about Lens taken by Canadians.
• 20. Turkey breaks with United States.
• 22. President Wilson suggests to the belligerents a peace without victory.
• 31. Germany announces intention of sinking all vessels in war zone around British Isles.

May

• 9. Liberia breaks with Germany.
• 11. Russian Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates demands peace conference.
• 15. Gen. Petain succeeds Gen. Nivelle as Commander-in-Chief of French armies. Gen. Foch is appointed Chief of Staff.
• 16. Bullecourt captured by British in the Arras battles.
• 17. Honduras breaks with German.
• 18. Conscription bill signed by President Wilson.
• 19. Nicaragua breaks with Germany.
• 22-26. Italians advance on the Carso.

June

• 5. Registration day for new draft army in United States.
• 7. Messines-Wytschaete ridge in English hands.
• 8. Gen. Pershing, Commander-in-Chief of American expeditionary force, arrives in England en route to France.
• 18. Haiti breaks with Germany.

July

• 1. Russians begin offensive in Gallicia, Kerensky, Minister of War, leading in person.
• 3. American expeditionary force arrives in France.
• 6. Canadian House of Commons passes Compulsory Military Service Bill.
• 12. King Constantine of Greece abdicates in favour of his secondson, Alexander.
• 16-23. Retreat of Russians on a front of 155 miles.
• 20. Alexander Kerensky becomes Russian premier, succeeding Lvoff.
• 20. Drawing of draft number for American conscript army begins.
• 22. Siam at war with Germany and Austria.
• 31. Franco-British attack penetrates German lines on a 20-mile front.

August

• 1. Pope Benedict XV makes plea for peace on a basis of no annexation, no indemnity.
• 7. Liberia at war with Germany.
• 8. Canadian Conscription Bill passes its third reading in Senate.
• 14. China at war with Germany and Austria-Hungary.
• 15. Canadian troops capture Hill 70, dominating Lens.
• 19. Italians cross the Isonzo and take Austrian positions.
• 28. Pope Benedict's peace plea rejected by President Wilson.

September

• 3. Riga captured by Germans.
• 14. Paul Painleve becomes French premier, succeeding Ribot.
• 16. Russia proclaimed a republic by Kerensky.
• 20. Costa Rica breaks with Germany.
• 21. Gen. Tasker H. Bliss named Chief of Staff of the United States Army.
• 26. Zonnebeke, Polygon Wood and Tower Hamlets, east of Ypres, taken by British.
• 29. Turkish Mesopotamian army, under Ahmed Bey, captured by British.

October

• 6. Peru and Uruguay break with Germany.
• 9. Poelcapelle and other German positions captured in Franco- British attack.
• 17. Antilles, American transport, westbound from France, sunk by submarine; 67 lost.
• 23. American troops in France fire their first shot in trench warfare.
• 23. French advance northeast of Soissons.
• 24. Austro-Germans begin great offensive on Italian positions.
• 25. Italians retreat across the Isonzo and evacuate the Bainsizza Plateau.
• 26. Brazil at war with Germany.
• 31. Beersheba, in Palestine, occupied by British.

November

• 1. Germans abandon position on Chemin des Dames.
• 3. Americans in trenches suffer 20 casualties in German attacks.
• 6. Passchendaele captured by Canadians.
• 6. British Mesopotamian forces reach Tekrit, 100 miles northwest of Bagdad.
• 7. The Russian Bolsheviki, led by Lenin and Trotzsky, seize Potrograd and depose Kerensky.
• 8. Gen. Diaz succeeds Gen. Cadorna as Commander-in-Chief of Italian armies.
• 10. Lenin becomes Premier of Russia, succeeding Kerensky.
• 15. Georges Clemenceau becomes Premier of France, succeeding Painlove.
• 21. Ribecourt, Flesquieres, Havrincourt, Marcoing and other German positions captured by British.
• 23. Italians repulse Germans on the whole front from the Asiago Plateau to the Brenta River.
• 24. Cambrai menaced by British, who approach within three miles, capturing Bourlon Wood.

December

• 1. German East Africa reported completely conquered.
• 1. Allies' Supreme War Council, representing the United States, France, Great Britain and Italy, holds first meeting at Versailles.
• 3. Russian Bolsheviki arrange armistice with Germans.
• 5. British retire from Bourlon Wood, Graincourt and other positions west of Cambrai.
• 7. Finland declares independence.
• 8. Jerusalem, held by the Turks for 673 years, surrenders to British, under Gen. Allenby.
• 10. Panama at war with Austria-Hungary.
• 11. United States at war with Austria-Hungary.
• 15. Armistice signed between Germany and Russia at Brest-Litovsk.
• 17. Coalition government of Sir Robert Borden is returned andconsidered confirmed in Canada.