On This Day - 20 October 1916

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)

Western Front

Heavy enemy attack on Schwaben and Stuff Redoubts (Thiepval plateau) repulsed.

Eastern Front

Mackensen attacks on whole line in Dobruja, gains ground on east and takes Tuzla.

Naval and Overseas Operations

East Africa: General Smuts reports enemy limited to south-east portion of Colony of which all ports and main lines of approach held by Allied.

Russian battleship "Imperatritsa Maria" sunk by internal explosion.

Political, etc.

Greek Government agree to withdraw half Greek troops concentrated at Larissa and practically to place Greek Army on peace footing.

German Note to Norway on her submarine policy.

Revolution in Abyssinia.