The 4G Blog

<– Part 166 – September 23, 1917  | Part 167 – September 30, 1917 |  Part 168 – October 7, 1917 –>

Fighting at the Menin Road Ridge ended September 26, following a German counterattack exhausting itself regaining some ground. The British forces lost 20,000 men to the Germans 28,000, 3000 of whom are prisoners.

British operations at Ramadi. The first advance was east-west along the river; the second battle was from the south.

Following the end of that battle, fighting flared up at nearby Polygon Wood September 26, with another successful British offensive campaign. The Allied forces lost 21,000 in the one day of fighting to the 13,500 Germans. Although the British forces have proven themselves superior in offensive operations, fresh German defenders were encountered. Both sides are scrambling to eliminate the enemy’s advantage.

From September 28-29, British forces in Mesopotamia marched on Ramadi, following a failed attack two months ago. That attack failed due to intense heat (measuring 160 degrees in sunlight, and responsible for half of British casualties), as well as an advance alongside the Euphrates river. This time, an attack from the south, with forces cutting off Ottoman paths of retreat, was successful. The British suffered 1,000 (mostly minor) casualties, to the Turks’ 3,500 (primarily prisoners).

<– Part 165 – September 16, 1917  | Part 166 – September 23, 1917 |  Part 167 – September 30, 1917 –>

Map of British objective lines

On September 20, British forces launched their third attack at Passchendaele, this time at the Menin Road Ridge in the Ypres salient (Flanders). They are using a new method called “leapfrogging,” wherein waves of infantry stop when reaching their objective, secure it, and then prepare to act as reinforcements for the next wave as it passes them. Heavy artillery was brought into the region and used to devastate German lines – many of the German defenders were so dazed from the artillery that they surrendered en masse as the British arrived. Coupled with air superiority plotting out German reinforcement point and routes, anti-air guns keeping German planes away, and the repositioning of German forces away from the area due to a mistaken belief that British offensive operations had concluded, the Allies succeeded in reaching their objectives in nearly all areas within several hours. Additionally, the leapfrog tactic of securing gains quickly has resulted in German counter-attacks failing quickly.

<– Part 164 – September 9, 1917  | Part 165 – September 16, 1917 |  Part 166 – September 23, 1917 –>

Paul Painlevé, the new French Prime Minister

The former Prime Minister Ribot

The French Prime Minister, Alexandre Ribot, resigned September 12 following a summer of failures (most notably of the Nivelle Offensive), the mutinies of vast portions of the French army, the resignation of his cabinet following the dismissal of the Interior Minister, and other seeming-failures in foreign affairs & achieving peace. He has been replaced by Paul Painlevé.

The Eleventh Isonzo also ended September 12, with both sides too exhausted to continue fighting. Although the Italians did gain some ground, the Second Army is split across the Isonzo river, which is a seriously weak point in their line. Altogether, the Italians lost 158,000 men to the Austro-Hungarians’ 115,000.

On September 13, following a lull in the British attacks, the Germans transferred 2 infantry divisions, 25 artillery brigades, and 7 air units away from Passchendaele, expected a cessation of attacks.

<– Part 163 – September 2, 1917  | Part 164 – September 9, 1917 |  Part 165 – September 16, 1917 –>

At Jugla, the Russian 12th Army has finished its retreat, with cover provided by a now heavily-depleted forces of the Latvian Rifles. Although outnumbering the Germans nearly 4:1, the Russians lost 25,000 soldiers to the Germans’ 5,000.

Sailors from the beached SMS Seeadler, the last vestiges of Germany’s Pacific Fleet, captured the French schooner Lutece. The German captain and a few forces, sailing for Fiji, have been captured, leaving these sailors alone to continue the war. The captured French ship was seen sailing towards Easter Island.

The Romanian defense at Marasesti has ended successfully, as mounting losses for the Central Powers have led the German commanders to call off the offensive. 65,000 Germans and similar numbers of Austro-Hungarians have become casualties, compared to 53,000 losses for the Russo-Romanian armies, shared relatively evenly between both nations.

The world’s socialists are holding yet another large, anti-war conference, this one in Stockholm.

<– Part 162 – August 26, 1917  | Part 163 – September 2, 1917 |  Part 164 – September 9, 1917 –>

The Germans have launched an enormous offensive at Jugla, towards Riga, beginning September 1. An enormous artillery bombardment pushed back the Russians, and the Germans quickly crossed the Daugava river. The Russians hurriedly rushed the Latvian Rifles to halt the assault, and the Latvians have held back the entire German army – together with the Germans’ planes, flamethrowers, and gas – for the last 26 hours as the Russian army retreats. The Rifles should be able to withdraw by tomorrow morning.

On the Isonzo, both the Italians and the Austrians continue to suffer heavy casualties. At Passchendale, both sides have paused to consolidate their gains and treat casualties.