The Great War Diary for Saturday, 12th May 1917. Pictured; 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. ITALIAN FRONT: The Tenth Battle of the Isonzo 12th May – 8th June 1917. The Italian bombardment began at dawn on 25-mile front with 1,058 heavy and 1,320 field guns versus 1,400 Austrian pieces and lasted for two days. At noon on 14 May the Italian infantry attack will begin. The Italians, deploying 38 divisions - against only 14 of the Austro-Hungarians - switch tactics once again. The previous three Isonzo battles had seen Cadorna concentrate short, sharp initiatives against closely defined targets, generally aimed at extending their sole bridgehead east of Gorizia. This time the Italians returned to the Kras plateau south-east of Gorizia, setting in train an infantry advance along a 27 mile front in order to achieve a breakthrough towards Trieste. The second aim of the offensive was to conquer Mount Škabrijel, thus opening the way to the Vipava Valley. Some fighting also took place in the northern sections of the front in the Julian Alps, where the Austro-Hungarians strengthened their positions along the Vršič mountain ridge. WESTERN FRONT: British storm most of Bullecourt, and Roeux trenches. Enemy's counter-attack fails. WAR IN THE AIR: Western Front: French ace Nungesser shoots down 2 of 6 Albatros fighters over Douai. WAR AT SEA: Heavy naval bombardment of Zeebrugge by Dover Division. The Royal Navy bombarded these ports in order to put the lock system out of action and used a smoke screen to hinder German observation. While the bombard failed in its task, the Germans stepped up defensive measures and as the war progressed, the front line drew ever closer to Ostend, bringing it within range of the Royal Marine heavy howitzer battery in France, forcing the Germans to transfer many of its facilities to Zeebrugge. One of the main objectives for the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) was the expulsion of the Germans from Flanders and to capture the ports of Zeebrugge and Ostend. (see 11th) German submarines sank 9 British cargo ships with the loss of 9 lives. POLITICS: The British government warns munitions workers not to strike and that anyone inciting strikes is liable to imprisonment for life. The Russian provisional government reportedly had plans to deport the czar and his family, but they were vetoed by the Petrograd Workers’ and Soldiers’ Soviet, which want to make sure all of the Romanov’s money is seized. Great Britain: Two new groups for attestation announced: 41 to 45, and 45 to 50. India: Bombs and seditious leaflets seized in Calcutta. Canada: Both Houses, Canadian Parliament, addressed by M. Viviani. AMERICAN NEWS Calls for Enlistment of Women Telephone Operators into Army Signal Corps U. S. Rifle Model of 1917 accepted Sources: http://www.firstworldwar.com/onthisday/1917_05_12.htm http://www.naval-history.net/WW1LossesBrMS1917.htm http://uboat.net/wwi/ships_hit/1838.html http://article.archive.nytimes.com/1917/05/12/102342330.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJBTN455PTTBQQNRQ&Expires=1494574273&Signature=nqHEYJvI8F%2FfNX4y7Dh84mtAo1c%3D

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