Western Front
Successful French attack on 7.5-mile front north-west of Chateau Porcien (west of Rethel).
Western Front, Air: German fighters (2 lost) turn back No 107 Squadron’s D.H.9s (1 escort lost) from Mariembourg, but bombed on October 30.
Germany: 14 Independent Air Force aircraft bomb 9 different targets (night October 29-30, over 40 casualties).
British General William Birdwood being welcomed in Lille after the city was recaptured from the Germans:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...595216491261954
American 14-inch gun firing near Thierville, France: © IWM (Q 56650):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...851907090804736
Southern Front
Italy: AT 0830 HOURS AUSTRIANS SEEK ARMISTICE: Captain Ruggera takes white flag to Italian lines at Serravak in Adige valley.
Third Battle of the Piave (aka
Battle of Vittorio Veneto): Calabria Brigade storms Mt Asolone (Grappa), but loses it to Austrians; Italians suspend operations in sleet and fog after 24,500 casualties. All 21 Italian Eighth Army bridges rebuilt as Austrian guns fall silent (night October 28-29) and British troops cross river Monticana by intact bridge after beating 2-division counter-attack. Italians play for time as Austrian collapse worsens. French troops capture Segusina with 3,000 PoWs and 18 guns. Austrian GHQ announces decision ‘to evacuate the Veneto … to show its goodwill towards peace’. Italian general 5-mile advance captures Conegliano and Susegana.
Seaplane squadron commander Lieutenant Casagrande Eugenio completes last of 15 agent landing and recovery operations behind Austrian Piave lines since July 30.
Wounded Italians receive front-line medical aid during the Battle of Vittorio Veneto:
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Albania: San Giovanni di Medua occupied by Italian forces (see January 25th, 1916).
Salonika: Lieutenant-General T M Bridges arrives to be British Military Mission Chief to Franchet d’Esperey.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Syria: EEF has 4,345 motor vehicles and 1,523 motor cycles.
Palestine: Armenian orphans at an orphanage in Palestine:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...836823710949378
Mesopotamia: Battle of Sharqat (see 30th): Pursuit of Turks continues: position cut-off and captured. British 7th Cavalry Brigade (c.3,100 strong) storms Cemetery Hill on foot taking 990 PoWs and 12 MGs as 3,000 men of 17th Division (509 casualties) make slow progress vs 4000 Turks.
Naval and Overseas Operations
Allied Naval Council prepares naval armistice terms (until November 4).
North Sea: High Seas Fleet prepares for*‘death or glory sortie’, but already passive resistance hampering it in all battleships and 3 small cruisers. Red Flags hoisted in battleships
Thüringen and
Helgoland.
Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: Archduke Joseph charged by Emperor Karl with scheme for independence of Hungary.
Arz cables Hindenburg that Austrian Army in Italy finished, over half divisions refuse to fight.
France: Indictment of Caillaux in French Senate.
Canada: 5th War Loan.
Emerging States: Yugoslav National Council at Agram repudiate Imperial policy and declare the independence of the Yugoslavs; independence of Croatia and Yugoslav lands agreed to by Croat Congress (see 5th, 21st, 26th and November 7th and 23rd).