THE FIRST WORLD WAR CHRONOLOGY Abbreviations BP = Papers of Newton D. Baker, US Secretary of War, Library of Congress Manuscript Division, Washington, DC, by box and document number PP = Papers of John J. Pershing, Library of Congress Manuscript Division, Washington, DC, by box number PRO = Public Record Office PWW = Arthur Link, ed., The Papers of Woodrow Wilson, by volume and page number RG = Record Group, National Archives, Washington, DC, by record group and file number WO = War Cabinet Office of the Public Record Office 1914 August 1 Outbreak of World War I; German declaration of war on Russia 4 Wilson proclaims US neutrality 14 Battle of the Frontiers begins 26 Opening of the Battle of Tannenberg September 5 Opening of the First Battle of the Marne 14 Opening of the First Battle of the Aisne; start of trench warfare December 8 Battle of the Falkland Islands 21 First German air raid on Britain 1915 January 18 Japan's Twenty-One Demands on China February 4 Germany announces "war zone" in British waters 13 General Tasker H. Bliss appointed American Assistant Chief of Staff 15 Bliss suggests to Sec. of War Garrison that War College Division update Stimson Plan of 1912 (Bliss Papers, Box 189) 19 British begin naval action against the Dardenelles March 1 þ American citizen dies in sinking of first passenger ship, the British liner, Falaba þ Capt. George Van Horn Moseley of War College Divison suggests a plan for universal military training to Chief of Staff 11 þ Britain announces blockade of German ports þ With Wilson's consent, Secretary of War Garrison asks War College Division to update Stimson Plan of 1912, paying special attention to recommended strength of the army (RG 165/9053-1; PWW 34:4) April 22 Second Battle of Ypres begins 25 British landing on Gallipoli Peninsula 26 France, Russia, Italy and Britain conclude secret Treaty of London May 2 Opening of great Austro-German offensive in Galicia (Gorlice- Tarnow) 7 Lusitania sunk by German U-boat off Irish coast 9 Opening of the Second Battle of Artois on western front 23 Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary 25 Asquith reorganizes his liberal ministry as a coalition June 8 Bryan balks at second Lusitania note and resigns as American Secretary of State; succeeded by Lansing 29 First of twelve battles of the Isonzo begins on the Italian front July 10 War College Division fulfills Garrison's request of 11 March and issues the "Epitome of Military Policy," suggesting a total combined American force of 1 million troops (RG 165/9053-49) 21 Wilson sends notes to Secretary of War Garrison and Secretary of Navy Daniels directing them to draft a defense program (PWW 34:4-5) August Tumulty warns Wilson that Republicans will use the tariff and national defense as an issue in the 1916 campaign (Tumulty, Woodrow Wilson As I Know Him, Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Page & Co., 1921, 240-41) 2 Garrison returns "Epitome of Military Policy" to War College Division for revisions, ordering them to use 140,000 as the figure for the regular army -- the limit of available military housing (RG 165/9053-49) 10 Civilian military training camp started at Plattsburg 19 Two Americans die in sinking of Arabic off Ireland 21 The Washington Post carries story that General Staff is planning to send a force of 1 million soldiers overseas 24 Baltimore Sun carries story that General Staff is planning to send a force of 1 million soldiers overseas War College Division denies allegations in Wash. Post and Balt. Sun (RG 165/6966-152) American General Staff, in response to request from Secretaryo of War Lindley M. Garrison, devotes much of the year to preparing the "Statement of a Proper Military Policy for the United States" (War Department Annual Reports, 1915, Washington: Government Printing Office, 1916, 1:113-35) September 1 Arabic pledge be German Ambassador von Bernstorff 22 Opening of Second Battle of Champagne on western front October 3-5 Anglo-French force lands at Salonika, Greece December 4 Henry Ford's peace ship, Oskar II, begins voyage to Europe 15 Haig becomes Commander-in-Chief of BEF 1916 January 27 Wilson launches nationwide whistle-stop campaign to generate support for Preparedness and the Continental Army with three speeches in New York (PWW 36:4-19, 26-48, 52-73, 75-85, 87- 122) 31 War College Division warns its civilian employees "to engage in no discussion whatever concerning the progress of the European War" (RG 165/6966-176) February 3 Wilson delivers final speech of Preparedness campaign in Saint Louis 5 James Hay of House Military Affairs Committee informs Wilson that Continental Army will not get committee approval PWW, 36:134-35) 9 Secretary of War Garrison warns Wilson that he will resign of the President withdraws support for the Continental Army (PWW, 36:143-44) 10 Garrison resigns as US Secretary of War 21 Beginning of ten month Battle of Verdun 22 House-Grey Memorandum drawn up in London 23 Ministry of Blockade created in Britain 24 Acting Secretary of War Hugh L. Scott asks War College Division if any plans exist in the event "of a complete rupture" with Germany (RG 165/9433-1) 29 þ First British "blacklist" compiled þ War College Division responds to Scott's request of 24 February and explains that existing plans assumed a German invasion of North America (RG 165/9433-1) March 3-7 Gore-McLemore resolutions tabled in Congress 7 Newton D. Baker appointed Secretary of War 9 Pancho Villa's raid on Columbus, New Mexico 15 Pershing starts pursuit of Villa into Mexico 24 French passenger ship, Sussex, torpedoed April 4 American n naval and military attaches in Paris and London draft plan for mobilizing US shipping to carry an American army to Europe, but their plan is ignored (this plan did not survive, but is referred to in a memorandum of 14 November 1916, Record of the Joint Army and Navy Board) 24 Rebellion begins in Ireland on Easter Monday 27 Charles O. Squire, American Military Attache in London, sends to Sec. of War Baker a report of a discussion with Field Marshal Lord Kitchener, British Secretary of State for War, asking for American military participation in Europe (BP 1:64) May 4 Germany renounces submarine policy -- "Sussex Pledge" 19 Britain and France conclude the Sykes-Picot Agreement 31 Opening of Battle of Jutland June 3 National Defense Act authorizes five-year expansion of US Army, but at the same time drastically limits size and authority of US War Department General Staff 4 Beginning of the Brusilov offensive against Austria-Hungary July 1 Battle of the Somme opens; British suffer approximately 60,000 casualties on the first day 24 Enoch Crowder tries to persuade Baker that authority of US War Department General Staff should remain limited (War Department Annual Reports, 1916, Washington: Government Printing Office, 1917, 80-9) 29 US Marines land in Haiti 30 Black Tom Island munitions plant destroyed; German sabotage suspected August 29 Council of National Defense established under Army Appropriations Act 31 Germany suspends submarine assaults September 13 Baker rules that US War Department General Staff has authority for supervisory and planning role (War Department Annual Reports, 1916, Washington: Government Printing Office, 1917, 70-80) 15 Tanks introduced on the Somme battlefield by the British October 15 Germany resumes U-boat attacks under search and destroy rules November 7-9 Wilson wins reelection, which was in doubt until the California returns 17 Captain Edward Davis, American Military Attache to Athens, begins suggestion of an American offensive through Macedonia (RG 165/9910-1,2,3 & 4) 28 First Germany airplane raid on London 29 US occupation of Santa Domingo proclaimed December 5 Asquith resigns as Prime Minister; replaced by Lloyd George 9 War College Division calls for universal military training in report to Chief of Staff on "Proper Military Policy of the United States" (RG 165/9832-1) 12 Germans issue peace note suggesting compromise peace 18 Wilson requests statement of war objectives from warring nations in peace note; British offended by implication that their war aims are no more moral than Germany's 19 Chief of Staff Scott champions a peacetime draft in testimony to Senate (RG 165/9876-14) 1917 January 9 German leaders decide to launch unrestricted U-boat warfare 10 Allies state war objectives in response to Wilson's peace note of 18 December 12 Baker counsels Wilson against sending Gen. Wood to Europe to assist in preparing a history of the conflict, as such would appear to suggest close US involvement with the Allies 17 Chief of Staff Scott bemoans lack of preparedness in Franklin Dinner Speech in Philadelphia 27 Scott receives "Plan for a National Army" from War College Division calling for a regular army of 310,000, a civilian reserve of 2,500,000, and universal military training (RG 165/9876-9) 31 þ Germany announces resumption of unrestricted U-boat warfare; Bernstorf gives note to Lansing (PWW 41:74-9) þ Bliss points out to Scott political absurdity of univeral military training as contained in "Plan for a National Army," but Scott presents to Baker anyway; Baker ignores universal military training provisions (RG 165/9876-13) February 1 þ Germany resumes unrestricted U-boat warfare þ Scott orders War College Division to consider possible avenues for overseas operation of US forces 2 þ Scott forwards Captain Edward Davis's plan for Macedonian campaign and his own idea for Holland offensive to War College Division (RG 165/9433-6) þ Theodore Roosevelt makes request to lead a division of volunteers to Western Front 3 þ US severs relations with Germany þ War College Division issues initial report to Scott; hints at foreign involvement of US troops and recommends that all US forces receive full training in America before departing (RG 165/9433-4) þ Baker asks War College Division to plan to raise a force of volunteers tentatively fixed at 500,000 (RG 165/9433-7) þ Baker refuses Roosevelt's request of 2 February 5 British General Staff estimates that no more than 250,000 American soldiers could be in Europe even after a year (WO 106/467) 6 Baker warns Wilson that "great suspicion would be aroused if compulsory military service were suggested at the outset before any opportunity to volunteer had been given" (BP 4) 7 þ Baker outlines steps taken so far to address crisis, but exclusively domestic and outside of public awareness (PWW 41:151-2, & 41:444-45; BP 2:3-5 & 8, & 4:13-14) þ Roosevelt repeats request to lead division of volunteers to Western Front þ British charge d'affairs in Washington, Colville Barklay, notes strong American public sentiment for domestic defense limited to purely American purposes (WO 106/467) 9 Baker repeats refusal of Roosevelt's requests of 2 & 7 February 13 Chief of British Imperial General Staff Sir William Roberston expresses grave doubts about American fighting capabilities (Woodward, The Military Correspondence of Field-Marshal Sir William Robertson, 149) 14 þ Scott receives from War College Division a plan for raising, equipping, quartering and training a force of 4,000,000 by conscription; some historians argue Wilson endorsed plan, but it is doubtful that he knew about it (RG 165/9876-29) þ House forwards to Wilson Hoover's plan for food administration and plan to allow Allies to recruit directly in the US; Wilson ignores latter part of suggestion (PWW 41:226-29; BP 4:37 & 37-2) 15 Rep. S. Hubert Dent (AL), Chair of House Military Affairs Committee, declares that 1917 Army Appropriations Bill will make allowance for only 135,000 soldiers 17 Charles A. Reppington of London Times claims the "direct military intervention of the United States in the war is not practicable" (Literary Digest) 20 War College Division responds to Baker's request of 3 February and revises plan of 14 February and admits political hazards associated with universal military training and offers alternative plan for raising 500,000 troops "under the provisions of existing law"; still, however, supports conscription 22 þ British MP Joseph A. Baker suggests that US could better serve Allies by providing food and armaments than by fielding an army (PWW 41:532-36) þ Wilson orders Baker to draft legislation to give President authority to "raise" (but not "use") an army, with provisions for conscription, if Germany commits an overt act while Congress is not in session; many historians claim this order came on 4 February, but they are incorrect 24 Great Britain releases Zimmermann Note to US 26 Wilson requests authority from Congress to arm US merchant ships (PWW 40:283-87) March 1 þ Zimmermann Note released to press by State Department þ Armed Ship Bill passes House 4 Senate adjournes without passing Armed Ship Bill; "Little group of willfull men" successfully filibuster 11 British capture Baghdad 12 Wilson announces arming of merchant ships by executive order (PWW, 41:372) 15 þ Culmination of "February Revolution"; Nicholas II abdicates þ War College Division presents plan for invoking Volunteer Act of 1914 to raise soldiers, but repeats call for conscription 19 Roosevelt repeats request to lead division of volunteers to Western Front 20 þ Wilson's Cabinet votes unanimously for war þ Baker again rejects Roosevelts requests of 2 & 7 February and 19 March; includes undated letter from Bliss advising that any US force remain in the US until fully trained (BP 1:60 & 3:59) 23 þ Thomas B. Hohler, Secretary of British Legation to Mexico, expresses concern that American effort of creating an army might undermine its ability to supply Allied needs (PWW 41:458-60) þ Roosevelt repeats request to lead division of volunteers to Western Front 24 þ Wilson states he will rely on draft only after volunteerism begins to wane þ Tumulty notes to Wilson a consensus among many leading journals in favor of strengthening the army, but mostly for domestic defense of the nation's boarders (PWW 41:462-64) 26 Baker forwards Roosevelt's request of 23 March to Wilson; Wilson reacts with amazement at Roosevelt's audacity (PWW 41:469-71) 28 þ Admiral Sims ordered to Great Britain as liason to Admiralty þ Wilson meets with Baker and formally approves exclusive reliance on draft to raise all soldiers beyond those to be formed in the regular army and National Guard (PWW, 41:500-01) 29 þ War College Division issues report to Scott: Calls for large force of between 500,000 and 1,000,000 -- and optimistically estimates that at least ten months would be required to ship a force of 500,000 to Europe once it was raised and trained, putting the earliest effects of US involvement in mid- to late-1918; openly plans to send US force overseas, but argues against offensives through Macedonia or Holland; repeats opposition to sending an untrained American army overseas (RG 165/9433-6) þ Wilson publicly calls for a national army to be "raised and maintained exclusively by selective draft" 31 General Munitions Board established by CND to coordinate war industry April German submarine campaign exacts heaviest damage of war: 881,027 gross tons, 500,000 of which are British 2 Wilson delivers war address to Congress at 8:32 pm (PWW 41:519-27) 6 þ US declares war on Germany þ Senator Thomas Martin of Virginia reacts to suggestion that US might send an army to Europe 10 Sir William Robertson advocates to Haig the dispatch of immediate American expeditionary force "to get some Americans killed and so get the country to take a real interest in the war" (Woodward, Military Correspondence of Field-Marshal Sir William Robertson, 169) 11 Wilson agrees to accept military missions from Britain and France (BP 4) 13 þ In note to Roosevelt, Baker claims that no American army will leave the US "until its members have been thoroughly seasoned" (BP 3:63) þ Chief of American Military Mission in Paris notes to War College Division that "all of the French are somewhat afraid of the efficiency of our military organization" (RG 165/10050- 2) þ British mission led by Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Arthur J. Balfour and Lieutenant General Tom Bridges leaves Liverpool for US 14 Committee on Public Information established by executive order 16 þ Lenin arrives in Russia þ Neville's offensive begins (Second Battle of the Aisne) 22 British Balfour mission arrives in Washington, DC 24 þ Wilson signs Liberty Loan Act þ US destroyers despatched overseas 25 Joffre delegation arrives in Washington, DC, from France 26 British and French delegations in US agree to coordinate efforts and pursue the goal of convincing US to dispatch an immediate expeditionary force to France 27 Joffre speaks at US Army War College and submits to Baker, Scott and Bliss a tentative plan designed by French General Staff and American Military Attache in Paris (Burk, Britain, America and the Sinews of War, 123; RG 165/10050-2) 30 British General Bridges suggests to Scott that Allies be allowed to recruit Americans directly into their ranks (WO 106/467) May 2 þ Baker informs Wilson that he rejected Bridges's plan for direct Allied recruitment in America (BP 4:109 & 110) þ Wilson, in private meeting, allows "General Joffre to take it for granted that [an immediate American expeditionary] force would be sent just as soon as we could send it" (BP 4:109; PWW 42:186-91) 8 Baker advises Wilson of General Staff's fears that Allies would continue to oppose an independent American army, but makes no mention of War College Divisions warning about the dangers of combat to untrained American troops in Europe (BP 4:123) 10 War College Division weakly repeats warning against sending untrained American troops overseas (RG 165/10050-8) 11 þ Wilson appoints American commission to Russia with Elihu Root as Chair þ Col. W.H. Johnston, advises Scott against sending an immediate expeditionary force to France (RG 165/10050-8) 14 þ Baker and Joffre draw up detailed plan for American cooperation with the French (The United States Army in the World War, 1917-1919, 2:5-10) þ Baker announces publicly that Pershing will command AEF 17 House receives letter from retired NY businessman and frequent visitor to the Western Front George G. Moore in which Moore advises that the US should retain the bulk of its army in America for training and should not follow up on initial expeditionary force immediately (PWW 42:372-74) 18 Selective Service Act signed by Wilson 22 House forwards Moore letter of 17 May to Wilson (PWW 42:372- 74) 23 Wilson forwards Moore letter of 17 May to Baker, adding that the letter "makes a considerable impression on me and I should very much like to discuss it with you when we have the next opportunity" (PWW 42:377) 24 þ Voyage of first Atlantic convoy to Great Britain begins þ Wilson meets Pershing for first and only time before departing for France, but says nothing on the subject of the expected role of American forces in the war (WWLL 6:85) 26 þ General Pershing and Harbord draft orders which are signed by Bliss, Acting Chief of Staff (Pershing My Experienes in the War, 1:37-40) þ Pershing receives orders signed by Baker and approved by Wilson (superseding those from himself through Bliss): "you are directed to cooperate with the forces of the other countries employed against [the] enemy; but in so doing, the underlying idea must be kept in view that the forces of the United States are a separate and distinct component of the combined forces, the identity of which must be preserved. This fundamental rule is subject to such minor exceptions in particular circumstances as your judgment may approve" (WWLL 6:88) 27 þ Baker critiques suggestions in Moore letter of 17 May and warns that any tardiness would open the US war effort to criticism from the Allies (BP 4:160) þ Baker tells Pershing he would give him only two orders, "one to go to France and the other to come home" (Palmer Newton D. Baker 1:180) 28 Pershing leaves New York harbor for France aboard Baltic 29 Rear Admiral Cleaves chosen as commander of convoy operations in Atlantic June 7 General Staff issues plan to ship American forces at a rate of 120,000 per month beginning in August; this rate of dispatch would not be realized until April 1918 (RG 165/10050-30) 14 Wilson, in his Flag Day Address, declares that the initial American Expeditionary Force will be followed by more soldiers as quickly as possible, and that these soldiers will not be held in the US for training (PWW 42:498-504) 15 Espionage Act 26 þ First US troops (1st Division) arrive in France þ F.C. Howe of US Department of Labor Immigration suggests an American campaign through Russia (BP 2:21) 28 Concurrent Resolution submitted to House of Representatives claiming that US soldiers could not constitutionally fight overseas (RG 165/10050-88) July 2 Pershing makes first request for a US army of 1,000,000 (PP 26; Pershing, My Experiences in the World War, 1:94-5, 118) 10 War College Division discounts suggestions of English war correspondent G. Gordon Smith on "The Political and Military Importance of the Balkan Front" (RG 165/10050-68) 11 Pershing suggests that figure of 1,000,000 is only initial size, and a total force of 3,000,000 should be the goal (Pershing, My Experiences in the World War, 1:101) 16 Start of July demonstrations in Petrograd against Provisional Government 19 Peace Resolution in favor of peace without annexations or indemnities passed by German Reichstag 28 War Industries Board established by CND; supersedes General Munitions Board 29 Baker states in private letter that, "to my mind the war, the settlement, and the reconstruction are the same thing, one and inseparable" (BP 2:51) 31 Passchendaele offensive (Third Battle of Ypres) opens in Flanders August 1 Papal peace proposal 10 þ Lever Food and Fuel Control Act þ Hoover appointed as Food Administrator 29 Wilson rejects Pope's call for negotiations with Germany September 1 Pershing establishes his general headquarters at Chaumont 6 Maj. Herbert H. Sargeant drafts plan for an American campaign through either Turkey or Bulgaria (BP 4:141) 22 Wilson forwards copy of Sargeant's plan of 6 September to Baker (BP 4:140) 28 War College Division discounts suggestions of an Eastern Campaign and supplies rationale for focusing American strength in the West (RG 165/10050-111) October 3 War Revenue Act; graduated income tax authorized 4 Baker forwards plan of Ameen F. Rihani for an American campaign through Turkey, as forwarded by Chamberlain, Chair of Senate Military Affairs Committee; Baker advises that this plan be ignored, and Wilson agrees (BP 4:160 & 160-E; PWW 44:361-62) 6 Trading with the Enemy Act; government controls all foreign trade 11 Baker forwards War College Division study of 28 September to Wilson (PWW 44:361) 24 Austro-German breakthrough at Caporetto on Italian front November 2 Lansing-Ishii Agreement 11 In response to Wilson resubmitting Sargeant's plan of 6 September to Baker for consideration, Baker again forwards War College Division study of 28 September to Wilson (BP 4:234) 7 þ Bolsheviks seize power in Russia þ Allied Supreme War Council created at Rapollo, Italy 20 British launch surprise tank attack at Cambrai December 7 United States and Austria-Hungary at war 9 Jerusalem captured by British 22 Central Powers and Soviets open peace negotiations at Brest- Litovsk 1918 January 5 Lloyd George's war aims address to Trades Union Congress 8 Wilson's Fourteen Points speech to joint session of Congress February 11 Wilson's Four Principles speech to joint session of Congress March 3 Soviet Russia and Central Powers make peace with Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 4 Bernard M. Baruch appointed head of War Industries Board 5 British landing at Murmansk in North Russia 21 Germans launch first of their great 1918 assaults against British (Battle of Picardy) 26 Doullens Agreement gives General Foch "co-ordinating authority" over the western front April 5 þ War Finance Corporation established to finance war industries þ Japanese landing at Vladivostok 8 National War Labor Board appointed to mediate labor conflicts 9 Germans launch second assault of their 1918 offensive (Battle of the Lys) in British sector of Armentieres 14 Foch appointed Commander-in-Chief of Allied forces on western front May 16 Sedition Act; amendment to Espionage Act of 1917 25 German U-boats make their first appearance in US waters 27 Third phase of 1918 German offensive (Third Battle of the Aisne) begins in French sector along Chemin des Dames 28 28th Regiment of US 1st Division goes into action at town of Cantigny June 6 2nd Division captures Bouresches and southern part of Belleau Wood 9 Opening of fourth phase of 1918 German offensive (Battle of the Matz) in French sector between Noyon and Montdider 17 Artist Bernhardt Wall sends to Wilson an etching depicting the President in a military uniform, but Wilson reacts to suggestion of militarism (PWW 48:557, etching illustrated in PWW 48:358-59) July 2 Allied Supreme War Council supports intervention in Siberia 6 Wilson agrees to American intervention in Siberia 15 Opening of last phase of German offensive (Second Battle of the Marne) 18 Allied counterattack seizes strategical initiative from Germans; nine US divisions participate August 3 Large-scale Allied intervention begins at Vladivostok 8 Battle of Amiens opens; Ludendorf's "Black Day" for German army 10 1st US Army organized under Pershing September 4 American troops land at Archangel in North Russia 12 United States launches St. Mihiel offensive 19 Opening of British offensive in Palestine (Battle of Megiddo) 26 Meuse-Argonne offensive opens; greatest offensive of war for US forces 27 Wilson's Five Particulars speech in New York City 29 Bulgaria signs armistice October 3-4 Germans and Austrians send notes to Wilson requesting an armistice 12 Pershing forms 2nd Army under command of General Bullard 21 Germany ceases unrestricted U-boat warfare November 3 Mutiny of the German fleet at Kiel 5 Congressional elections result in Republican control of Congress 11 Armistice goes into effect at 11 am 18 Wilson announces that he will attend peace conference personally December 13 Wilson aboard the liner George Washington arrives at Brest, France 14 Khaki Election in Britain 1919 January 5 Sparticist (Communist) revolt begins in Berlin 18 Peace negotiations start at Paris 25 Peace conference accepts principle of League of Nations February 6 Germany National Assembly meets at Weimar 14 Draft Convenant of League of Nations completed 24 Wilson arrives at Boston aboard George Washington 28 Lodge starts campaign against League of Nations March 4 þ Founding of Comintern (Third International) at Moscow þ Lodge intruduces Republican Round Robin 13 Admiral Kolchak begins his offensive against Bolsheviks in Russian Civil War 14 Wilson returns to Paris after a month's absence April 3 Wilson becomes sick with influenza 7 Allies evacuate Odessa 23 Wilson appeals directly to Italians in an effort to gain their support for his views on peace settlement 24 Italian Premier Orlando walks out of peace conference over Fiume issue May 6 Peace conference disposes of Germany's colonies 7 Treaty of Versailles submitted to German delegation June 21 German High Seas Fleet scuttled at Scapa Flow 28 Treaty of Versailles signed in Hall of Mirrors at Versailles