Diary March 12, 1915

03-1915, Diary WWI, War Diary, Year 1915 / 1 minute of reading

German 21-cm howitzer — A German gunner peers into the sight of a 21-cm howitzer. The Germans had a powerful siege park for forts but was initially inadequate to defeat extensive trench systems.

Diary for Friday, March 12, 1915:

Western Front

Flanders – Neuve Chapelle: 16,000-strong German counterattacks from 0500 hours, easily repulsed by IV and Indian Corps; III Corps takes L’Epinette. Fighting until nightfall when Haig orders entrenching on line won, but only a slight salient 2,000 yds wide and 1,200 yds deep has been pushed into German line. Total British casualties: 11,652 men (4,200 of Indian Corps). German casualties including 1,700 PoWs. Germans bombard Ypres.
Champagne: Reinforced French Fourth Army offensive storms part of Grey Trenches, but no gains on next day.

Middle East

Dardanelles: Royal Navy Division reaches Lemnos. French 1st Division arrives on March 15.

African Fronts

Cameroons: French Mission at Duala (until March 18) to arrange mid-October Allied advance on Yaunde after rainy season.

Sea War

Channel: First Q-ship vs U-boat encounter is bloodless: U29 ignores Vienna south of Scilly Islands, latter rescues the crew of scuttled Andalusian.
Palestine: French cruiser St Louis shells Gaza.

Politics

Britain: Government formally accepts Russian claim of March 4 to Constantinople.

Secret War

Germany: British agent ‘Frey’ enters Germany from Switzerland but proves fraud by end of 1915.

About The Author

Kretaner

My name is Norman 'Kretaner' and since my childhood I am interested in history and strategy games. Later, I have learned programming and the development of computer games, and finally with the Internet, also web design. I'm in the fortunate position to combine all my interests with my work and to live on a place of my choice, on Crete. All information, figures, specifications and statistics used here had been compiled from a variety of sources and the large, over decades collected, library of the author about military history, WW2 and weapons.