<– Part 78 – January 16, 1916  | Part 79 – January 23, 1916 |  Part 80 – January 30, 1916 –>

SM U-11

January 18 saw the Austro-Hungarian submarine U-11 sink the Italian hospital ship King Albert. This follows rumors of a new British anti-submarine weapon, although details are unavailable at this time.

The Senussi campaign of Africa continues in earnest, as British aircraft identified the main Senussi camp on January 19. The British troops attacked three days later; after a day of flanks and counter-flanks, the Senussi trenches were overrun that afternoon by Sikh South African and New Zealand infantry. The main Senussi body then retreated, having suffered 700 casualties to the British 300,.

The fighting near Kut continues. On the 21st, following a two-day bombardment, the 10,000-man British 7th Division charged across flooded, open terrain towards 30,000 heavily entrenched Turkish soldiers near Hanna, suffering 2,700 casualties to the Ottoman’s 500. No medical care was provided as temperatures dropped below freezing during the night, further crippling British morale.

The Russian push to Erzurum continues at Koprukoy, where the Russians finally achieved a breakthrough after taking advantage of the lack of Turkish reserves. The Ottoman Third Army retreat following was organized, although several rearguard units were destroyed. 20,000 of the 65,000 Ottoman troops fell, compared to 12,000 of the 75,000 Russian Caucasus Army. Further south, in Persia, the Russian thrust under Baratov has taken Hamedan.

Rumors of a massive Ottoman victory over the British South Arabia troops have been traced back to a minor skirmish January 12, in which British scouts searching for the Ottoman army found said army. They sustained approximately 40 casualties after inflicting over 200 on the Turks and then withdrew, their mission accomplished. The Ottomans have trumpeted this into a victory over the entire British force. Minor fighting continues in the area.

The general retreat of German forces in German Kamerun has been confirmed. They are reported to be withdrawing into the colonies of neutral parties nearby, including Spanish lands.