The 4G Blog

<– Part 131 – January 21, 1917  | Part 132 – January 28, 1917 |  Part 133 – February 4, 1917 –>

Following Entente statements clearly listing terms of peace in response to US President Woodrow Wilson’s call for warring powers to declare such last month, Wilson has given a speech January 22 to the US legislature called “Peace Without Victory,” calling for the Central Powers to release their terms (to date, they have only mentioned a willingness to discuss peace), as well as stating the necessity of US involvement in such a peace, all with an eye towards forming a world-wide “League of Peace.”

The following day, Bulgarian forces attempting to advance into the Danube delta were halted with heavy casualties by the Romanian defenders.

<– Part 130 – January 14, 1917  | Part 131 – January 21, 1917 |  Part 132 – January 28, 1917 –>

A classified and encrypted telegram was sent from the German government to its ambassador in Mexico, a deviation from agreed-upon terms between the United States and German, whereby all telegrams using US cables would be plain-text. It remains to be seen what the telegram contained…

Several days later, on January 18, the Ottoman forces besieging Yanbu began their retreat after suffering heavy losses.

British forces fighting the Senussi renewed their campaign January 21, advancing towards a defended area held by Sayed Ahmed, supreme leader of the Senussia Order. The operation is expected to last one month,

British forces on the Ancre continue their slow advance, sapping forward during the night and connecting these new trenches to the older ones.

<– Part 129 – January 7, 1917  | Part 130 – January 14, 1917 |  Part 131 – January 21, 1917 –>

British firing line at Rafa

Construction of the British railway across the Sinai. Coupled with a water pipeline, this allowed British offensives to reach much farther into Ottoman land

German leaders formally announced their unrestricted submarine warfare policy January 9. On the Ottoman Palestine – Egyptian Sinai border, British troops attacked an Ottoman defensive position, losing 500 to the Ottoman 400, plus 1,400 prisoners. The recent railway has allowed the British to enter Ottoman land for the first time.

On January 10, the Allied governments released their peace objectives in response to United States president Woodrow Wilson’s request last month.

British flanking operations at Rafa

The following day, British troops went “over the top” at the Ancre zone and assaulted German positions. While movement was slow due to muddy ground made worse by shell explosions, most achieved their moderate gains, although some unwittingly went over German dugouts and were attacked from the rear.

Mametz, Western Front

<– Part 128 – December 31, 1916  | Part 129 – January 7, 1917 |  Part 130 – January 14, 1917 –>

Captain Selous

British defenders at Kibata received reinforcements January 1, including two howitzers, threatening the Germans in the heights above. The Germans withdrew January 6.

In German East Africa, British scouts under Captain Frederick Selous spotted German troops at Behobeho and engaged them January 3-4, before withdrawing. A German marksman killed Captain Selous, prompting the commander of German forces in East Africa, Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck, to send a letter of condolences. Selous was a personal friend of former US President Theodore Roosevelt, prominent British figure Cecil Rhodes (namesake of Rhodesia), and was the basis of the Allan Quartermain character.

On January 4, Russian-Romanian forces abandoned Măcin, then Brăila next day. At El Arish, in Africa, the British railway and water pipeline have reached the newly-conquered city, continuing preparations to turn it into a prominent base. In Hejaz, there are rumors of Hashemite guerillas near Ottoman railroads, leading some to suspect sabotage in the future.