Western Front
Haig asks for an extra 20 fighter squadrons by the spring of 1917. RFC capture first Albatros D-1 fighter, forced down by a B.E. 2.
http://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/wp...Albatros-DI.jpg
Each BEF army forms anti-aircraft group under one commander with 36-64 guns each (until November 27).
Battle of the Somme: RFC helps knock out at least 10 German artillery guns (65 batteries engaged), destroys 3 German aircraft; 6 Martinsydes bomb Hirson station (Belgium). German night raid destroys 21 French aircraft at Cachy, 90 miles away.
British advance east of Beaucourt but lose some ground east of Butte de Warlencourt.
French regain ground east of Pressoir.
Eastern Front
Transylvania: Second Battle of Tirgu Jiu: Romanian retreat continuing; severe fighting south-east of Tolgyes, near Campulung, and in valleys of Aluta and Jiu.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arrabia: Six No 14 Squadron RFC aircraft land at Rabegh to support Arabs; airfield built.
Naval and Overseas Operations
A war aeroplane is used for the first time in India, as they are used by the British to beat back a raid from the Afghan frontier. Ultimately, this results in the defeat of Pathans near Shabkadar (Peshawar valley).
Political, etc.
Germany: First of 11 German armored car MG platoons formed, mainly for Eastern Front.
German blockade-runner submarine Deutschland leaves New London, Connecticut after conducting trade with the U.S.
Russia: Russia declares the creation of the Kingdom of Poland by Germany and Austria-Hungary as illegal and void.
Poland: German governors in Poland issue an edict recognizing Judaism as a religion in the civil law.
United States: Luis Muñoz Rivera, Puerto Rican writer and journalist who advocated for Puerto Rico’s autonomy, passed away:
http://imgur.com/cOFAKsk
Some New York hotels & restaurants announce that they will postpone New Year’s Eve celebration to Jan 1st, as Dec 31 falls on Sunday when alcohol is restricted.
60 border troops on the US-Mexican border desert their posts due to cold weather. They are all found and arrested.
Greece: Allies demand dismissal of Central Powers Ministers and surrender of war material.