Western Front
End of February British make first pigeon drops by balloon (after 3 agents so sent), 40% return rate by end of war.
Somme: British troops in the Somme capture Thilloy, Gommecourt, Puisieux, and Sailly-Saillisel, as the German retreat continues. British have captured 11 villages and 2,133 PoWs during February.
Eastern Front
Romanian counter-attacks in Bukovina partially successful.
Southern Front
Austrian “attacks” on Asiago Plateau and north of Gorizia repulsed.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Turkish losses in Mesopotamia in last three months estimated at over 20,000.
Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: In February British 10th (Minesweeping) Sloop Flotilla transferred from*Immingham*on East Coast (Humber) to Queenstown to meet mine threat off Southern Ireland, loses 2 ships in March.
7
Arethusa-class cruisers from*Harwich Force*and Grand Fleet converted to lay 70-74 mines each (February to November); carry out 35 operations (2,553 mines laid by November 1918).
Allied February shipping losses: 254 ships of 500,673t (German figure 520,412t) including record 105 British ships worth 313,486t. Mediterranean toll is 105,670t.
French destroyer
Cassini torpedoed in Mediterranean.
Political, etc.
Germany: Only 60,000 Auxiliary Service Law Volunteers (mainly women) instead of 200,000 hoped for. Women transport blanks for 15 cm shells in a national German ammunition factory:
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Russia: Duma member Kerensky calls for end to ‘medieval regime’.
France: Nivelle letter to government warns of ‘pacifist propaganda’ reaching troops.
Canada: Canadian government states it seeks a $150 million loan in order to fund the war effort.
India: Act forms Indian Defence Force (all British European subjects).
United States: German proposals to Mexico for alliance against the United States published in the American Press (see January 19th).
China: Allied Minister present Memorandum to Chinese Government.