Western Front
Battle of the Selle (see 25th/26th): British attack resumed; advance of three miles after heavy fighting. 9,000 prisoners and 150 guns claimed in last two days. German counter-attack on Derivation Canal repulsed by Belgians.
Slight French advance in southern sectors.
French soldiers demonstrate the use of a 37mm trench gun: © IWM (Q 94769):
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...689124119142401
Canadian troops practice making an attack with tanks:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...719374391681024
American troops practice firing rifle grenades in France:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...780779719507969
A German observation post camouflaged as a destroyed house at La Bassée, France:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...052562238525440
A German coastal gun at Zeebrugge destroyed by the Germans during their retreat from the Belgian coast:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...082775060140033
Southern Front
Italy: Third Battle of the Piave (aka
Battle of Vittorio Veneto) begins in rain on Caporetto first anniversary at 0500 hours with 1,402-gun shelling on Mt Grappa sector and at 0700 hour Fourth Army infantry assault on 13-mile front gains little ground and 1,800 PoWs vs fierce, skilled defence. 2 British battalions seize northern half of Papadopoli island in river Piave and 6 Italian battalions Caserta island (night October 23-24) and take 350 PoWs, but Austro-Hungarian artillery destroys most bridges. On Asiago Anglo-French diversion takes 1,000 PoWs.
Austro-Hungarian Skoda Model 1914 149-mm-howitzer in action with Italian forces:
https://i2.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...front.jpg?ssl=1
600 Allied aircraft (including 93 Anglo-French) support final offensive; wreak havoc among fleeing Austro-Hungarian columns (especially from October 29-30). RAF drop 20,000lb bombs and fire 51,000 rounds, losing 7 aircraft (until November 4).
A large Italian gun being moved up towards the front:
https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday...022364017287168
Serbia: Serbs force Austro-Hungarians back in disorder along Morava.
Eastern Front/West Asia Border Theater
Armenia-Azerbaijan: By now new Turkish Government withdrawing 4 divisions from Armenia and Azerbaijan (Germany informed) and Enzeli advance abandoned, only 3 divisions left in Caucasus after early October advance north to Derbent. British successfully attack Turks at Fatha.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Syria: Aleppo taken by British forces.
Mesopotamia: British cavalry within four miles of Kirkuk (100 miles south-east of Mosul, Tigris river).
Naval and Overseas Operations
Germany: The German Admiralty gives the order for a final, all-out attack against the Royal Navy to take place on October 30-31, despite ongoing negotiations with the Allies for an armistice and increasing dissent among German sailors.
Political, etc
Germany: Growing desire in Germany for Kaiser to abdicate. German mark drops to 33 to the pound.
Emerging States: King of Montenegro issues manifesto in favor of a confederated Yugoslavia with autonomous States (see 29th, and November 7th and 23rd). National Council in Croatia meets.