<– Part 56 – August 15, 1915  | Part 57 – August 22, 1915 |  Part 58 – August 29, 1915 –>

August 17 saw an attempted invasion of the Island of Palagruza in the Adriatic. An Austro-Hungarian landing force was repulsed by the Italian defenders, who were then fired upon by several Austro-Hungarian cruisers and destroyers. One Italian submarine torpedoed a cruiser.

Details of “The Baralong Incident” against U-27, on August 19, 1915.

Just south of Ireland, the SS Arabic, an English-flagged ocean liner, was sunk by a German U-Boat on August 19. Several Americans went down with it; an American response is expected.

Later that day, the HMS Baralong, frustrated at their inability to rescue SS Arabic’s crew (they picked up the distress call from 70 miles away) came across the U-boat U-27 opening fire on a freighter to scuttle it (the crew had been ordered off in lifeboats). The Baralong, flying the US flag, signaled that she would rescue the freigher’s crew. As the U-boat set a course to intercept, the two ships were blocked from each other’s view by the freighter. Baralong replaced her flag with the Union Jack, opened her gun ports, and opened fire on the U-boat as it appeared, with 34 shells fired at 600 yards sufficient to destroy the U-boat. Fearing the German crew would attempt to reach the freighter and scuttle her, the captain of the Baralong ordered the Royal Marines onboard to shoot the Germans in the water as they swam to the freighter. The legality of this incident remains to be seen. Although no mention has been made in the British press, Americans who had been aboard the freighter have given interviews to media, and German sentiment is opposed to the Baralong’s action of shooting sailors loose in the water.

A Turkish commander at Scimitar Hill, Mustafa Kemal.

The Entente forces have had another disappointing week at Gallipoli, with the actions at Sari Bair and Chunuk Bair both having ended with Ottoman victory.  Another attack was launched at Scimitar Hill yesterday, August 21, together with an attack on Hill 60. Some gains have been made at ANZAC cove and Cape Helles, but not to the degree the Allies wished.