World War One Diary for Wednesday, March 14, 1917:

Western Front

Somme – MAIN GERMAN RETREAT TO THE HINDENBURG LINE begins (until April 5): German Second and First Armies involved. BEF Fifth Army follows cautiously including 4th (1st Indian) Cavalry Division.

Middle East

Mesopotamia – Battle of Mushahida Station (20 miles north of Baghdad, west of Tigris): Cobbe’s 7th Division (518 casualties) with 46 guns smashes Turk rearguard (800­-1,000 casualties) after night march from Baghdad (returns on March 17). British 40th Brigade occupies Kasirin (28 miles north of Baghdad, east of Tigris).

Home Fronts

Russia: Provisional Government proclaimed, meets Petrograd Soviet. Petrograd Soviet Order No 1 demoralize Army, orders elected committees to control weaponry and one representative per coy to Soviet; saluting off duty abolished. Tsar’s train stopped at Pskov.

Strikes and 30,000-strong march at Reval (until March 15).

France: War Minister Lyautey resigns because of Socialist hostility.