<– Part 102 – July 2, 1916  | Part 103 – July 9, 1916 |  Part 104 – July 16, 1916 –>

Mecca, one of the holiest cities of Islam, was captured by the Arab rebellion on July 4 from the Ottoman Empire. Undoubtedly, this insurgency in the heart of the empire will draw attention away from the Russian front. The Russian advance towards Erzincan continues, as the Ottomans face offensives on multiple fronts.

The Battle of Kostiuchnowka. The Polish Legion is blue (in multiple lines), the Russian Army is red, and the Hungarian forces are green. The black line is a railroad.

The Allied offensive at the Somme, a shifted focus from Verdun, has been gaining ground in several places near Albert. The village of La Boiselle was captured June 7 following fighting since the 3rd, and thrusts towards Mametz Woods and Ovilers seem poised for success as well. Allied prongs also shifted towards Contalmaison and the Trones Woods on the 7th and 8th, respectively.

Due to this shift of focus to the Somme, fighting at Verdun has simmered down somewhat, although a German artillery barrage earlier today on the French defenders of Fort Souville – a key position and high ground – indicates a renewed focus by the Central Powers.

The Russian Brusilov offensive was delayed at Kostiuchnowka by the Polish Legions, an element of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Fierce fighting July 4-6 by the Legions delayed the Russian sufficiently that the remainder of the Austro-Hungarian army was able to withdraw orderly. However, the legions suffered serious losses, as 2,000 of the 5,500 (or 7,300, due to differing reports) were lost to the 13,000+ Russians, who lost the same.