<– Part 53 – July 25, 1915  | Part 54 – August 1, 1915 |  Part 55 – August 8, 1915 –>

On July 26, the Turks achieved their second victory at Manzikert in 850 years with a victory over the heavily outnumbered Russians. The following day, the Russian army launched a counter-attack at Kara Killisse, where the scored a victory on July 31. Otherwise, the Russian forces are in retreat across the sector. Meanwhile, in northern Italy, the second stage of fighting at the Isonzo continues.

The Mariotte, shortly before her last voyage.

July 26 saw another humiliation for the Entente, with the French submarine Mariotte becoming entangled in wires at a minefield inthe Dardanelles, stuck on the surface, and forced to be scuttled. Fortunately for the Entente, though, her captain was able to destroy sensitive documents after the Turkish guns firing on the stricken sub ceased fire when she signaled her surrender.

Across war-stricken Europe, nations are reacting to the United States’ note of last week, declaring that any sinking of an American ship would be regarded as ‘deliberately unfriendly.’ This action is clearly in response to last month’s sinking of the RMS Lusitania. Whether Germany (the clear target of the note) bears heed remains to be seen, although the United States certainly seems to be on the path towards war.