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La Provence, 1911 by Antonio Jacobsen. Image in public domain.

La Provence, 1911 by Antonio Jacobsen. Image in public domain.

  • German U boat U-35 torpedoes and sinks the French merchant cruiser, La Provence II in the Mediterranean Sea with the loss of nearly 1000 lives. 742 people were rescued, many of whom spent up to 18 hours in the water. The Sydney Morning Herald later publishes a survivor’s account of events:

There was no lamentation, and there was no panic, though the ship was sinking rapidly and the boilers exploding. Captain Vesco remained on the bridge, calmly giving orders, and finally cried, “Adieu, mes enfants.” The men clustered on the foredeck, and replied, “Vive la France.” Then the Provence made a sudden plunge, and the foredeck rose perpendicularly above the water.

  • The British Western Frontier Force led by Brigadier-General Lukin defeats Senussi tribesmen in action near Agagiya in western Egypt. Action of Agagia
  • HMAS Melbourne and her sister ship, HMAS Sydney patrol Brazilian waters for the German raider Pungo and the armed merchant cruiser Kron Prinz Wilhelm
  • Serbians, Montenegrins and Albanians withdraw from Albania
  • Russian forces occupy Ashkala in Armenia and Kermanshah in Western Persia