Western Front
Battle of the Somme: British 190th Brigade (63rd Royal Navy Division) with 2 Tank Mk I capture Beaucourt (Ancre) with 400 PoWs (5000 overall in this phase of the battle), driving major salient into German Ancre defences. Author Lieutenant-Sergeant H H Munro (‘Saki’) killed, aged 46, by sniper at Beaumont-Hamel. His last words: “Put that bloody cigarette out!”
http://imgur.com/IMLaY1R
RFC ranges 157 German batteries; No 15 Squadron observers direct gunfire that annihilates c.1350 German infantry.
German attack at Ablaincourt and Pressoir largely repulsed.
Eastern Front
Romanians retreat south of Vulkan Pass; and below Torzburg Pass; severe fighting in Prahova Valley (south of Predeal Pass).
Transylvania: Second Battle of Tirgu Jiu: German and Austro-Hungarian troops pierce Romania lines at Jiul Valley and advance 14 miles beyond the Romanian border.
Southern Front
Macedonia: Allies advance on Monastir.
Bulgars retreat on River Bistritza.
Naval and Overseas Operations
Aegean: U-73 mine (12 laid on October 28) in Zea Channel sinks 12,009t French armed liner
Burdigala. This ship was formerly the German-owned
Kaiser Friedrich.
Political, etc.
United Kingdom: Publication of White Paper re: U.S.A. "Black List" Protest of July 28.
Pensions Bill introduced.
Russia: Duma attacks on Prime Minister and by implication Tsarina, ‘Is this folly, or is this treason?’ (Miliukov).
Polish members of the Russian Duma denounce the German creation of the Kingdom of Poland.
United States: U.S government protests the German deportation and forced labor of Belgian civilians.
Special, 1910: Aviator Eugene Burton Ely performed the first takeoff from a ship, flying from a makeshift deck on the USS*Birmingham in Hampton Roads, Virginia, US.