Western Front
Verdun – FINAL CRISIS: 30,000 Germans attack at 0600 hours, capture Hills 320 and 321, Thiaumont and Fleury (stormed by Bavarians, French 129th Division destroyed), enter Froideterres Work’s ditches, but Alpenkorps and 103rd Divisions fought to a standstill and French 407th Regiment covers vital Fort Souville. Nivelle Order of the Day ‘On ne passe pas’ (‘They shall not pass’), Petain telephones GQG (Grand Quartier General, French GHQ) at 1200 hours and 1500 hours that Eastern bank evacuation may be necessary (3 days required to save c.400 guns), but Joffre gives him 4 more divisions.
Champagne: German trench raids.
Eastern Front
Brusilov offenmsive – Bukovina: Keller’s III Cavalry Corps retakes Kimpolung with 2,060 PoWs and 7 MGs after 67 1/2-mile advance south. All of Bukovina in Lechitski’s hands by June 25.
Sea War
Adriatic: In Straits of Otranto Austrian U15 sinks French destroyer Fourche and Italian AMC (armed merchant ship) Citta di Messina. Daytime cruiser protection for Otranto Barrage withdrawn.
North Sea: ÂSS Brussels (Fryatt) bound from Holland to Tilbury stopped by German torpedo boats. Captain Fryatt taken to ZeeÂbrugge and thence to Ruhleben internment camp; courtÂmartialled at Bruges for his ramming exploit of March 28, 1915, shot as franc-tireur on July 27.
Atlantic: World’s first mercantile submarine Deutschland (Koenig) makes 17-day transatlanÂtic crossing Kiel-Baltimore with dyes, chemicals, precious stones and mail. Returns to Bremen (August 2-24) carrying assorted non-ferrous metals, rubber, nickel and tin (subs max range is 25,000 miles).
Air War
Verdun: Victor E Chapman first American volunteer fighter pilot with Escadrille Americaine killed by Fokker E.
Secret War
Many MI1c reports captured in SS Brussels. Collapse of over 40 train-watching posts in occupied France and Belgium.
