Western Front
French GQG moves from Chantilly to Beauvais. General Louis Rucquoi becomes Belgian CoS (after death of Félix Wielemans).
Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: Battle of the Aa: Russian troops attack German trenches in the swamps southwest if Riga, capturing two lines of trenches and several hundred prisoners.
Dobruja: Last Russian and Rumanian forces evacuate the Dobrudja (see August 25th, 1916, and December 3rd, 1918). (Also reported for yesterday).
Romania: Central Power armies begin moving toward the Romanian city of Galați after the fall of Brăila. 5 villages are captured.
Naval and Overseas Operations
"lnter-Allied Chartering Committee" established for chartering shipping (see December 3rd, 1916 and November 3rd, 1917).
British Royal Navy orders 6 Anchusa-type ‘Flower’-class convoy sloops for June and September completion (2 more on January 13 and remaining on February 20 and 21), enter service from June 1917 to June 1918.
https://i1.wp.com/ww2-weapons.com/w...lower-class.jpg
Political, etc.
United Kingdom: British news film “Topical Budget,” showing bob sleighing in Canada, among other news:
http://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/index/5413
Labour Congress opposes Military Service Bill.
Italy: There will be no fetes or banquets during the Allied war conference in Rome, and all meals will conform to ration requirements.
Japan: Japan starts arming its merchant ships with 10-inch guns in order to protect them against German submarines.
United States: U.S. Senate votes 48 to 17 to approve President Wilson’s attempts to mediate a peace in Europe.
Deans of 95 medical schools in the U.S. endorse universal military training for young men.
Netherlands: The Dutch government states it has taken no steps to promote peace in Europe, believing it would be worthless in the present circumstances.