Western Front
Meuse-Argonne Offensive: Battle of Champagne and Argonne (see October 15th): Over 1 million Americans (record 29 divisions) in action, US Second Army (Bullard) formed (HQ Toul) for Meuse-Moselle sector. AEF holds record of 101 miles front line.
Somme and Cambrai: British advance continues to last line of Hindenburg line (Hermann position) along river Selle; Home’s First Army fights its way along Sensee Canal to north until October 16. British 66th Division retakes Le Cateau.
France: FOCH’S ORDERS FOR FINAL ALLIED ADVANCES: Belgians advance on Bruges, BEF upon Maubeuge and Mons, and Franco-Americans upon Mezieres and Sedan, to cut German forces’ main lateral line of communication – Brussels-Maubeuge-Mezieres-Sedan railway and to drive Germans into forested hilly Ardennes.
A US communications detachment with a field telephone in action; line repairs is a constant task:
https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...s-det.jpg?ssl=1
A wounded American soldier enjoying chocolate and cakes given to him at Varenne-en-Argonne:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...646032190140416
British troops pose with captured German pickelhaube helmets: © IWM (Q 11367):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...721534925942784
Southern Front
Serbia: After 170-mile advance in 25 days Serbs recapture Nis from Germans who begin retreat to Krusevac and Knjazevac (night October 9-10). Field Marshal Kovess made Austro-German C-in-C Balkans (HQ Belgrade), decides on retreat behind Danube and Sava.
Bulgaria: British 26th Division reaches Livunovo (Struma valley) in advance on Radomir.
Italian Front: 21 divisions; 1,600 guns; 500 mortars and 2.4 million shells moved up for offensive since September 25.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Men of the Black Watch, led by pipers, enter the city of Beirut (Lebanon): © IWM (Q 12407):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...941371858165762
Naval and Overseas Operations
Aegean: Coastal submarine
UB-48 (Steinbauer) torpedoes French battleship
Voltaire (night October 10-11) near Cerigotto.
Political, etc
Germany: Kaiser and new liberal German Government demand that Navy halt U-boat attacks on passenger ships ‘since any incident that might disrupt the peace negotiations is to be avoided at all costs’. Scheer replies that Navy will demonstrate its ‘fullest loyalty’ by recalling all commerce-raiding U-boats.
United Kingdom: Minister of Munitions Winston Churchill with women workers at a shell filling factory near Glasgow: © IWM (Q 84079):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...676213705412609
United States: An airplane crash caused by a cadet’s overalls getting caught in the controls. Kelly Field, Texas:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...706437381898241
Finland: Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse, the brother-in-law to Kaiser Wilhelm II, is elected King of Finland:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...615691341594624