On This Day - 21 March 1918
Theatre definitions: Western Front comprises the Franco-German-Belgian front and any military action in Great Britain, Switzerland, Scandinavia and Holland. Eastern Front comprises the German-Russian, Austro-Russian and Austro-Romanian fronts. Southern Front comprises the Austro-Italian and Balkan (including Bulgaro-Romanian) fronts, and Dardanelles. Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres comprises Egypt, Tripoli, the Sudan, Asia Minor (including Transcaucasia), Arabia, Mesopotamia, Syria, Persia, Afghanistan, Turkestan, China, India, etc. Naval and Overseas Operations comprises operations on the seas (except where carried out in combination with troops on land) and in Colonial and Overseas theatres, America, etc. Political, etc. comprises political and internal events in all countries, including Notes, speeches, diplomatic, financial, economic and domestic matters. Source: Chronology of the War (1914-18, London; copyright expired)
Second Battle of the Somme.
Great German offensive on 50-mile front between Sensee and Oise rivers.
British battle positions penetrated at various points, especially near St. Quentin.
Naval and Overseas Operations
Great activity off Flanders coast: Dunkirk bombarded by German destroyers, Ostend by British monitors; two destroyer actions, three enemy vessels sunk.
Official report of fighting 22 February 1918 at Msalu (Portuguese East Africa) and of occupation of Nampula by column from Mozambique.
Dutch shipping question to the fore.