- Frederick Hart of Molong sends news from Minden in Germany, where he is a prisoner of war. Fred says he is “still alright” and that prisoners receive clothing and a weekly food parcel from the British Red Cross League, and bread and cheese from Switzerland. Prisoner in Germany
- Treasurer of the Commonwealth, Alexander Poynton, extends the deadline for investment in the Commonwealth War Loan to 14 February. The War Loan
- British forces on the Western Front repulse German attacks south of Serre, and take 48 prisoners east of Souchez. Successful raids are effected at Neuville, Loos and Ypres.
- German troops on the Eastern Front near Jakobeny attack and seize the new Russian positions and more than 1,200 prisoners
- German soldiers attack Hill 1050 on the Southern Front east of Monastir, gaining a footing at several points in the Italian front lines
- US Ambassador to Germany, James Watson Gerard, and his staff arrive in Switzerland from Berlin
- Austrian submarine U-35 bombs and sinks the American schooner SS Lyman M Law in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Cagliari, Sardinia. The crew of eight American and two British sailors are ordered to disembark prior to the attack; they are transported to Cagliari and released. American schooner Lyman M. Law is sunk
German submarines SM U-52 (right) and SM U-35 (left) meeting in the Mediterranean c1916. Image courtesy Der Weltkrieg 1914-1918 in seiner rauhen Wirklichkeit.
