Western Front
British storm most of Bullecourt, and Roeux trenches. German counter-attack fails. From another soruce, reported as: At the Arras battle, German troops armed with flamethrowers attack British lines in Bullecourt, but a counterattack drives them back.
French ace Nungesser shoots down 2 of 6 Albatros fighters over Douai.
Southern Front
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo begins (see June 8th): Artillery activity on Julian front from Tolmino to the sea. Two-day Italian barrage begins at dawn on 25-mile front with 1,058 heavy and 1,320 field guns vs 1,400 Austrian pieces. General Capello gives Badoglio, aged 45, II Corps due to previous commander’s inadequate artillery preparation.
Italian heavy 305mm howitzer, known as a ‘heavy mortar on a De Stefano carriage’. This distinctive system featured four large solid iron wheels running on rails to absorb the recoil:
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Italians bomb Prosecco (north of Trieste).
Naval and Overseas Operations
Heavy naval bombardment of Zeebrugge by Dover Division, etc. This was a failed attempt to close up the canals leading from the Flanders U-boat bases to the North sea. The British would make several other such attempts later in the war. 3 Dover Patrol monitors (total 6 x 15-inch guns), and with air cover among 41 ships, shell Zeebrugge for 73 minutes from 28.000 yards, for 1 hour but vital locks not hit although 19 of 250 shells land within 15 yards.
Mediterranean: 6 Australian destroyers (3 from Singapore) being sent to Mediterranean.
Political, etc
Austria-Hungary: AH Emperor Charles pleads Austrians to “hold on, & in this we shall doubtless be successful, through encountering great hardships.”
Russia: Russian socialists call for a world peace congress and demand the resignation of Foreign Minister Milyukov, who promised continuation of war.
France: A Committee of the French Chamber of Deputies submits a report recommending Germany be forced to pay a large indemnity after the war.
United Kingdom: Two new groups for attestation announced: 41 to 45, and 45 to 50. {ed note: “Attestation” in this case means, subject to possible (voluntary) call-up for national service.}
Britain announces all horses not needed for military or agricultural work will be put on rations after May 21.
Official figures show British food prices has risen by around 94% since the start of the war.
200,000 British weavers in northern England threaten to strike on May 26 if their pay is not raised.
India: Bombs and seditious leaflets seized in Calcutta.
Canada: Both Houses, Canadian Parliament, addressed by M. Viviani.
Minor Allies: Haitian Congress votes down a declaration of war against Germany, but adopts a resolution condemning Haitian deaths due to U-boats.