World War One Diary for Saturday, October 27, 1917:

Southern Fronts

Isonzo: Cadorna orders general retreat at 0230 hours, already widely happening on jammed roads. German Alpenkorps and 2 other divisions reach river Torre beyond Cividale. Cadorna accepts Foch’s offer from October 26 of 4 French divisions.

Middle East

Palestine: 218 British guns shell Gaza (until October 31, Allied naval bombardment from October 29); 8th Mounted Brigade holds Turk 3rd Cavalry Division reconnaissance in force north of El Baqqar.

Arabia: Maulud’s 550 Arabs near Petra repel 4 Turk battalions, cavalry regiment and 10 guns from Maan.

Western Front

Flanders: French and Belgian troops penetrate up to 1 3/4 miles astride Ypres-Dixmude Road.

Air War

Ypres: Royal Flying Corps and balloons help engage 116 German batteries and over 200 other targets. 2 German airfields bombed. Night bombers strike 7 more and 3 railway stations and other targets (night October 27-28).

Palestine: RFC aircraft patrol in pairs to cover Allenby’s concentration, Bristol Fighter destroys German two-seater plane before it can return with vital photos on October 30. Air photography has plotted 131 Turk batteries.