On This Day - 23 April 1918
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
Violent artillery fire from Avre river to Albert, followed by heavy infantry attacks at Albert and in region between Somme and Avre.
Paris raided by one aeroplane, which is brought down.
Special despatch from Sir Douglas Haig mentions 14 divisions: 102 German divisions employed against British alone during great offensive.
Eastern Front
Finland: Finnish Western White Army reported to have reached Russian frontier.
Bolshevik Government against protests against union of Bessarabia and Romania.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres
Palestine: War Office reports progress in Hejaz.
Bayazid (Armenia) occupied by Turks.
Naval and Overseas Operations
Naval aircraft bomb docks at Zeebrugge and Ostend.
Durazzo (Albania) bombed by Naval aircraft:- only one warship seen in harbour.
Political, etc.
Newfoundland: Conscription Bill introduced.
Japan: Viscount Motono succeeded by Baron Goto as Foreign Minister.
Hungarian Premier on Emperor's letter.
Major-General Bridges, Military Adviser to Lord Reading in U.S.A.
Guatemala declares war on Germany.
