Sea War
Mediterranean: Austrian saboteurs blow up and capsize Italian battleship Leonardo da Vinci in Taranto (248 dead). Italy makes no public announceÂment but 1917 raid in Zuerich on Austrian consulate proves sabotage.
Adriatic: 4 Franco-Italian destroyers pursue 2 Austrian destroyers to within 15 miles of Cattaro and survive U4 ambush on return.
Western Front
Battle of the Somme: Very hot day (88°F). German attack on Delville Wood repelled.
Verdun: French capture 2,550 PoWs and Fleury (until August 3), lose it and regain it on August 4.
Eastern Front
Germany: Hindenburg appointed to command whole front (he and Ludendorff visit Kovel and Lemberg on August 3, but Austrians then withdraw consent).
Western Russia: German gas attack in Smorgoni area fails (and on August 22).
Middle East
Armenia – Turk Offensive (Âuntil August 15): Kemal’s XVI Corps attacks 9,000 Russians at Mus and Bitlis.
Air War
Britain: 6 Zeppelins raid East Anglia (night August 2-3, 1 civilian casualties) despite Vindex Bristol Scout attack (first carrier home defence operation).
Somme: RFC helps range 19 batteries and finds 6 MG emplacements.
Occupied Belgium: 6 BE2s and 3 Moranes (1 lost) in 5-hours long-Ârange attack on Brussels Zeppelin sheds (4 near misses); 16 RNAS aircraft strike St Denis Westrem airfield (southwest of Ghent) and RFC bomb Coutrai and Bapaume stations.
