On This Day - 17 October 1917
Theatre definitions:
Western Front comprises the Franco-German-Belgian front and any
military action in Great Britain, Switzerland, Scandinavia and Holland.
Eastern Front comprises the German-Russian, Austro-Russian and
Austro-Romanian fronts. Southern Front comprises the
Austro-Italian and Balkan (including Bulgaro-Romanian) fronts, and
Dardanelles. Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres comprises
Egypt, Tripoli, the Sudan, Asia Minor (including Transcaucasia), Arabia,
Mesopotamia, Syria, Persia, Afghanistan, Turkestan, China, India, etc.
Naval and Overseas Operations comprises operations on the seas
(except where carried out in combination with troops on land) and in
Colonial and Overseas theatres, America, etc. Political, etc.
comprises political and internal events in all countries, including Notes,
speeches, diplomatic, financial, economic and domestic matters.
Source: Chronology of the War (1914-18, London; copyright expired)
Western Front
Great artillery activity north-east of Soissons.
Germans enter French trenches at Hill 344 (Verdun).
Eastern Front
German attempt to land on Dago Island (Riga) supported by naval guns is repulsed.
Government prepares to move to Moscow from Petrograd.
Naval and Overseas Operations
U.S. transport "Antilles" torpedoed: 67 lost.
East Africa: Column from Lukuledi Mission drives enemy eastward; two columns occupy Nyangoa.
Naval engagements Gulf of Riga.
German raiders sink nine merchantmen and two destroyers out of convoy off Bergen; 135 lost.
Political, etc.
Australian trans-continental railway joined up.
Holland replies to British Note re: transport of gravel and sand.
