Western Front
Third Battle of Ypres: Germans regain a little ground southern end Houthulst Forest. In evening Germans' seventh counter-attack on Ypres front since 22nd repulsed.
Aisne: Battle of La Malmaison (‘Laffaux Corner’, until November 1): A second 1917 triumph for Petain’s carefully planned limited attack strategy. Maistre’s Sixth Army attacks with 8 divisions at 0515 hours in fog and cold, aided later by c.80 tanks, captures 3 villages and Fort Malmaison; 8,000 PoWs and 70 guns in 2-mile advance. A German division is heavily gassed and routed. French advance on Chavignon in Laffaux salient; Germans withdraw behind Oise-Aisne Canal.
Attack of French Schneider tanks:
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Verdun: Germans gain footing north-east Hill 344 but driven out.
Germany: OHL appreciation: ‘
The guiding principle of our general military situation remains…that the decision lies in the Western theater of war’; Major Wetzell of operations section submits proposals for a spring 1918 offensive on Western Front.
Lorraine: First American shot fired in a land theater of active operations. At 0605 hours by Sergeant Alex L Arch’s French-made 75mm gun of Battery C, 6th Field Artillery, 1st Infantry Division near Xanrey. First American wounded with AEF (a Second Lieutenant).
A Gordon Highlander soldier tending to his trench garden at Heninel, France: © IWM (Q 6131):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...421142102605824
Eastern Front
Operation Albion: Attempted German landing eight miles south of Verder repulsed. Germans have retired 20 miles since night October 21-22 from northeast of Riga, destroying bridges to shorten line. Russians follow up on October 24.
Southern Front
Isonzo: Strong Austro-Hungarian concentration towards Upper Isonzo and Bainsizza Plateau; Mt. Rombon to Bainsizza heavily shelled.
Political, etc
Russia: Bolshevik Central Committee votes 10-2 for Lenin’s armed uprising; Trotsky to organize 20,000-strong Red Guard (Petrograd armored car unit defects to Reds on October 24).
France: M. Louis Barthou succeeds M. Alexandre Ribot as French Foreign Minister (see September 12th and November 14th).
United Kingdom: Mr. John Redmond's motion on Irish Government.
United States: New York Police thwart Sinn Fein Easter 1918 Rising plot.