<– Part 173 – November 11, 1917  | Part 174 – November 18, 1917 |  Part 175 – November 25, 1917 –>

View from the peak of Monte Grappa towards the Austro-Hungarian lines

The Russian Bolsheviks took Moscow November 13 following a week of street fighting, in which nearly 700 civilians were killed by indiscriminate artillery fire. In spite of this, public opinion for the Bolsheviks is largely positive.

Italian forces have been ordered to hold the defensive line at Monte Grappa and on the Piave river, halting their retreat. Austro-Hungarian forces, with support from the German Alpenkorps, are attempting to take the summit.

In France, following a series of military blunders and political infighting, Georges Clemenceau has been named Prime Minister, replacing Painlevé. Clemenceau was a vocal critic of the (now previous) administration’s handling of the war, and is vehemently opposed to any peace settlement that does not benefit France.

The Judean Hills in 1917

In Palestine, at the Mughar Ridge, two corps of British Empire forces assaulted two Ottoman armies holding a defensive line approaching Jerusalem. British infantry advances, with cavalry charges, succeeded in breaking the Ottoman flanks & center, while a further cavalry maneuver by the British took the Turk’s rearguard position. The Turk’s link to Jerusalem has been cut. The British lost 1,200 while the Turks lost 10,000 in prisoners alone.

Sketch of British operations towards Jerusalem

The following day, November 14, the advancing Egyptian Expeditionary Force’s flank was caught out in the open by an Ottoman rearguard entrenched on a ridge. The New Zealand Mounted Rifles, around 1,500 strong, advanced against the similarly-sized force supported with machine guns and artillery. An Ottoman bayonet charge failed, while British cavalry AND infantry bayonet charges into hand-to-hand combat succeeded in breaking the center. The Allies lost 200 men to the Turk’s 500.

The British are forcing the advance into the Judean hills, despite the area favoring defense, to keep the Ottomans off-balance and unable to fortify their position.

“[A]ll the armies that have sought to take Jerusalem have passed this way, save only that of Joshua. Philistine and Hittite, Babylonian and Assyrian, Egyptian and Roman and Greek, Frankish Knights of the Cross, all have passed this way, and all have watered the hill of Amwas with their blood.”
— R. M. P. Preston, of the Desert Mounted Corps

On November 17, the ANZAC and British forces attacked the Ottomans at Nebi Samwil (“Tomb of Samuel”), a vital advance to Jerusalem. British forces have begun encircling Jerusalem and taking key supply lines into the city.

USS Nicholson in 1915

U-58’s crew abandoning ship

A German force of minesweepers, supported by several German cruisers, destroyers, and battleships was ambushed at the Heligoland Bight for the second time by several British cruiser squadrons. Despite losing one minesweeper, the German forces retreated, laying an ‘expert smokescreen.’ Maneuvering was difficult for both sides due to the naval minefields. One cruiser on each side was damaged.

While on convoy escort in the Atlantic, the US destroyers Fanning and Nicholson spotted the periscope of U-58 and dropped depth charges, forcing the sub to surface. After firing on the sub, it surrendered. The crew was taken prisoner as the sub sunk. These ships are the first to sink an enemy sub. The commanders of the vessels, Lt. Arthur S. Carpender and LtCdr. Frank D. Berrien, each received the Navy Cross.

On November 18, the British commander in Mesopotamia, General Maude, died of cholera. William Marshall has replaced him and halted operations for the winter.