World War One Diary for Monday, June 3, 1918:
Western Front
Churchill visits BEF GHQ, Paris and Front until June 13. Fierce fighting between Soissons and Noyon. French retake Choisy Hill for 5th time. After 30-mile advance Germans reach the Marne: US 2nd and 3rd Divisions block the advance at ChateauÂ-Thierry, ‘Retreat hell! We just got here’ attr to Captain Lloyd S Williams USMC, Belleau Wood. Franco-American troops eliminate German Jaulgonne bridgehead (100 PoWs). Petain organizes reinforced French cordon round Aisne salient.
Aisne: Legion stiffens French defence northwest of Villers-Cotterets (night June 5-6 until around June 14). 27 Allied divisons have arrived since May 28.
Secret War
Western Front Â- ‘Le radiogramme de la victoire’: French intercept German Eighteenth ArmY ammo delivery message, hints at Montdidier offensive (June 9).
Eastern Front
Japan: Government approves Allied intervention in Siberia.
East Siberia: White Trans-Baikal Cossack Colonel Semenov retreats on Borsia after defeating Reds, similarly captures Gurks, 93 miles northeast on June 6, but retreats on June 10.
Middle East
Georgia: 2 German battalions from Crimea (217th Division) land at Poti.
Palestine: Limited imports allowed through Egypt.
Sea War
West Atlantic: U-boats sink 9 ships off New Jersey. SS Pinar del Rio sunk off Maryland on June 8.
Air War
Britain: Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) instituted.
Palestine: RAF raid Amman (and on June 4, 11 and 18).
Politics
Britain, France and Italy support national aspirations of Poles, Czechs and Yugoslavs.
Churchill first time flies to France, sees Haig and front until June 13.