<– Part 41 – May 2, 1915  | Part 42 – May 9, 1915 |  Part 43 – May 16, 1915 –>

On May 3, the major offensive at Gallipoli continues as minor skirmishes, with each side dug in. Meanwhile, in eastern Europe, the opposite has happened, as the minor skirmish at Gorlice–Tarnów has escalated into a major offensive by the German and Austro-Hungarian armies, pushing Russia farther and farther back.

Two days later, the Battle of St. Julien, part of the offensive around Ypres (the second major battle there), has wound down, with the Germans seemingly unable to press their advantages against rapidly-assembled reinforcements.  The British also face probing attacks at the Suez canal, where the superbly-named German Colonel Kreß von Kressenstein was spotted personally leading a charge. In Mesopotamia, the British have begun an advance up the Tigris river.

Louis Botha, prime minister of the Union of South Africa, has succeeded in taking Windhuk, the capital of German South-West Africa. To the north, the Germans are holding back a combined French & British advance on Jaunde, the capital of German Kamerun. Incidentally, France continues fighting the “Zaian Confederacy” of Berber tribes in Morocco, supported by the Germans, with minor skirmishing across the Oum er Rbia River

A German map of the area around Ypres, across the northern border of France, showing advances in the past few weeks. Note St. Julien near the center. The Frezenberg Ridge nearly due south of St. Julien, approximately halfway between Ypres and Zonnebeke

On May 6, the Allied troops at Gallipoli attacked a second time aimed at Krithia, but again their advance was thwartde by dug-in Ottomans not sighted by aerial reconnaissance, and the attack was called off two days

Entrenched Ottoman machine gunners. They were an unwelcome surprise to the ANZAC troops who stumbled onto them.

later. The Ottomans faced additional (marginal) success to their north-east, as the Imperial Russian forces began an advance through the Tortum Valley towards Erzurum. Although the Ottoman counter-attack was successful in some areas, the southern thrust by the Russians seems to be gaining strength.

On May 7, the British passenger liner Lusitania was torpedoed by a German submarine (identified as U-20), causing the death of nearly 1,200 civilians. 128 of those were Americans.  World opinion has rapidly turned against Germany; the captain of the sub is being condemned as a war criminal, and many Americans are now loudly clamoring for a declaration of war on Germany. Time will tell if the declared American neutrality will continue.

May 8 saw a renewed German offensive at the Frezenberg Ridge, about one mile south of St. Julien. The Allies are being pushed back, and only a small force of Canadian troops is keeping this from becoming a disastrous rout for the Allies. The Germans also see more success on the Eastern front, as a Russian attempt to hold the line at the Łupków Pass has failed. German forces have crossed the Wisłoka river in south-eastern Poland.

Earlier today, May 9, the Entente launched a massive attack in Artois – quickly dubbed the Second Battle of the same – with an attack by the British at Aubers Ridge. As happened at Krithia, insufficient reconnaissance by the Allies has resulted in a repulse of those forces, although other attacks in the area continue.