HAROLD ABBOT TITCOMB
SALISBURY HOUSE
LONDON E.C.

TELEGRAPH AND
CABLE, “TITCOMB, LONDON”
CODE, BEDFORD MCNEILL

GERMANY’S IRON INDUSTRY AND THE WAR.
From the point of view
Of air attack.

By

HAROLD ABBOT TITCOMB, B.A., E.M.

NOTE. The Writer of this Report on Germany’s Iron Industry is a member of a Sub-Committee of the American Committee of Engineers in London. This Sub-Committee was formed in September 1917, with the object of receiving and digesting any scheme or proposal helpful in solving the Submarine Problem, and forwarding any promising suggestions to the A.S.D., British Admiralty, and the U.S. Authorities.

Very few proposals have been received; and it appears probable that almost everything conceivable has been already proposed for dealing with Submarines after they have left their bases and are scattered over their fields of operations.

It occurred to the Writer that the Submarine Problem has a definite connection with many German Industries, among them Iron. This Report deals mainly with Germany’s Iron; but a similar study of other industries would be of great help in solving successfully the Submarine Problem. (See pages 7 and 44.)

LONDON, 14th December 1917

Copy No 5.

CONTENTS.

SUMMARY. Page
Coal and Iron. Iron more vulnerable than Coal………………………….…1.
Distance Tables…………………………………………………………………2.
Lorraine Iron Field….Its predominant importance: Enemy opinion……..…3.
Effective Bombing and Recommendations of F.W. Harbord………………4-5.
General. Other War Industries. Sources of Information…………………..6-7.

APPENDIX A. THE LORRAINE – LUXEMBOURG DISTRICT.
(1) The Iron Ore Deposits and Mines……………………………………….8
General Description and Geology: Nancy Basin: Mines………………..8
Water, Head-frames, Workmens’ Colonies. Open Pits…………………9
TABLE (1) Iron Ore production of Germany & Lorraine District……..10
TABLE (2) Where Lorraine Ore was smelted………………………….10
French Owned Mines should be bombed……………………………….11
TABLE (3) Detailed List Iron Mines & Production of Anxd Lorraine…12
TABLE (4) do do do do French do………13

(2) The Blast-furnace Works of the Lorraine Field………………………….14
TABLE (5) Detailed List, Equipment and Production Anxd Lorraine & Luxembourg Iron Works…………………………………………….. 15
TABLE (6) do do Equipment and Production French Lorraine Iron Works……………………………………………………………………16
Reason why Blast-furnace Works are especially liable to injury…….17-19
Detailed Plan and 2 Photographs of Works near Kneuttingen Lorraine Red Ref. Nos 9 and 10………………………………………………………..20
MAP
(3) Of Esch Region on Luxembourg Frontier and Photo of Works Ref
No.15……………………………………………………………………..21
Detailed plan of Gelsenkircener Works at Esch Ref No. 15……….…… 22
Do Section do Furnaces & Stoves…………………….. 23
Do Plan of Burbach-Eich-Dudelingen Works near Esch Ref No. 16…24

APPENDIX B. THE SAAR DISTRICT.
Coal Deposits and Coal Mines……………………………………………25
TABLE (7) Detailed List of Saar Iron Works, Production etc…………..25
Detailed Plan of the Works at Burbach…………………………………..26

APPENDIX C. THE WESTPHALIAN DISTRICT.
General Description. Other Industries. Harbours etc……………………27
Coal Fields and Coal Mines………………………………………………28
Westphalian Blast-furnace Works………………………………………..28
TABLE (8) Detailed list of Works. Equipment. Pig-iron Production29-30
MAP (5) The Vicinity of Ruhrort Harbour………………………………31
Detailed Plan of Krupp’s Rheinhausen Works Ref. No. 44………………32
4 Photographs of do do do do………………..33-34
2 Plans of Guttehoffsnungshutte at Oberhausen Ref No. 51……………35
Detailed Section through Power plant and Furnaces at Oberhausen……..36
Photograph of Blast-furnaces and Hot-blast Stoves at Oberhausen………36

APPENDIX D. SIEGERLAND and MISCELLANEOUS.
Siegerland Manganiferous Iron Ore Field………………………………37
TABLE (9) Detailed List of Siegerland Blast-furnace Works…………..37
TABLE (10) Miscellaneous Blast-furnace Works in Western Germany…38

APPENDIX E.
Secret Memorial of the Six German Associations……………………….39
TABLE (11) General Condensed Table German Blast-furnace Works. Equipment and Pig-iron production………………………………………40
TABLE (12) Summary of Coal & Iron Production of Enemy Countries..41
TABLE (13) German Iron Ore Imports. Swedish Ores. Dr. Beumer..42-43
Study of other German Industries suggested. Photo…………………….44

Same address

My Dear Brother Sid,

Thanks very much for your kind letter received yesterday so pleased to hear that you were quite well.  I am still very well at present.

Glad you liked the photo alright, they all tell me I looked jolly fat and well.

I don’t think I have ever felt better than I do now, yes, there’s plenty of fresh air attached to this job, that’s one thing.

I was of course down at Deal when the last Air-Raid was on, I got up and looked out of the window, but did not dress.

I saw a Gotha in a searchlight, it was a decent sight, my word, they did give him some shells to get on with.

We have had it fairly easy this week so far, a bit different than last week.  Ha Ha.

Lord French came down here today and had a look at us, it was only a march past this time.  He then went on to Canterbury.

It as been rather a miserable day.  I hope it will be fine for the holiday.

I think I can safely say that I shall be home for Christmas, our Captain is trying jolly hard for us, especially as he wants the holiday too.

Well, Sid don’t forget to send one of your photos as soon as you get them.

I don’t think I have anything else to say this time.

So Goodbye Best Love

I remain

Your Affec Brother

Frank

With cover to Mr S.K. Springett, 29 Bath Road Dartford Kent

Postmarked Margate 5 PM 13 DE 17

Dec 7^th 17

Dear Father

How do you like this cold weather it makes one hop about when you put your head out of the blankets & have to break the ice to wash what do you say?

One good thing we can manage to keep comfortable in camp better than in the line we came out of the trenches last Tuesday night.

I received the two Pictorials together I could not understand not receiving the first one before but it appears it went to the 11^th the address is quite plain enough but I had one go there once before so I thought I would mention it; if you make the 0 plainer it will be quite alright.

No doubt you will think I am asking for several things at once, but I should be rather glad of some money as we are supposed to be out for a rest until after Xmas although it looks rather doubtful to me at present but if we are we sure to go back to a town or village & there will be a chance of buying eggs & chips & a few other luxuries & I think they manage to have a good bust up at Xmas considering all things.

Old Fritz is not very thoughtful he is making us waste a lot of matches just write a few lines & the whistle goes for lights out. I hope he has not paid you any visits lately.

How do the shops look in London I suppose they are not making much show this year.

I received a letter from Lilian this week glad they are all well.

Have you seen the Tank in Trafalgar Square I expect it is a bit cleaner than what they are in this country.  Are you going to buy any shares?

Well I think I must finish now; cannot tell you any fresh news.

I hope you are all in the best of health.  Glad to say I am tres bien.

With much love from

Your devoted

Son

FOR GOD, FOR KING & FOR COUNTRY

Y.M.C.A.

H.M. FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE

Friday Evening 1917

Same Address Deal

My Dear Brother Sid,

Just a few lines in haste hope they will find you in the best of health as it leaves me very well at present.

I have been down here since last Sunday but are going back tomorrow. “Thank Goodness for that”.

It is about 15 miles from Margate so you see it’s a decent little march.

I have just reckoned our marching up this week and by the time we get back to Margate it will be about eighty miles.  “Some boot leather gone.”  Ha Ha.

Yes I have had a fairly decent time down here only of course it’s a jolly quiet place as usual.

Dear Sid just excuse this very such letter but I really haven’t got any more time to spare.

I will write a longer letter next time.

Goodbye

I remain

Your Affec Brother

Frank W

With cover to Mr S.K. Springett, 29 Bath Road Dartford Kent

Postmarked Deal 8 PM 7 DE 17

APPENDIX “B”

NARRATIVE OF THE OPERATIONS FROM NOVEMBER 30^TH – DECEMBER 3^RD 1917

1. NOVEMBER 30^TH.

• At 6.0 a.m. the Division was disposed as follows:-

59^th Inf. Bde.              Right Front Sector.

61^st Inf. Bde.               Left Front Sector.

60^th Inf. Bde.              In Reserve about FIFTEEN RAVINE                                                     and VILLERS PLOUICH.

• The 59^th Bde. had relieved the 60^th Inf. Bde. on the night of the 29^th/30^th.
• At about 7.0 a.m. the enemy opened a bombardment on the 12^th and 55^th Divisional fronts. Inter-communication between Battn and Coy. Headquarters on the 20^th Divisional front conclusively proves that up to 7.30 a.m. no events had taken place on our front, while at 7.15 a.m. an S.O.S. GRAND (37^th Bde., 12^th Div.) was received.  This clearly shows that the 20^th Div. Front was not attacked till at least half an hour after the attack on the 12^th Division.  At 7.30 a.m., however, the enemy shelling appeared to spread to our front and soon intensified.  Standing barrages were put down on the posts in the outpost line and another on the main line of resistance.  This barrage (which included smoke) lifted later on to the valley W. of the CAMBRAI Road.  A third barrage which included a proportion of “mustard gas” shells, fell on the Sunken Road leading from LA VACQUERIE to MASNIERES.  The bombardment was followed at about 8 a.m. by an infantry attack on the entire Divisional front.  The attack appeared to be launched in echelon from the left, the 55^th Division having been attacked first; a few minutes later the 12^th Div., then the 20^th Div.  the chief weight of the attack appeared to be thrown on the point of junction of the 12^th and 55^th Divisions.  The outpost line of the 20^th Div. was overwhelmed by a converging attack from RUE DES VIGNES and CREVECOEUR and driven back on the main line of resistance.  This line was then heavily attacked by machine gun fire from low flying aeroplanes which also dropped smoke bombs thus concealing the approach of the hostile infantry who advanced, in what appeared to be Artillery formation, in successive lines (8 to 12 of these lines were counted).  The leading line fired as it advanced.  Partly owing to the weight of the attack, and partly to the fact that the enemy had by this time penetrated the line of the Div. on the right to such a depth that the main line of resistance was entirely out-flanked, the 59^th and 61^st Inf. Bdes. were forced to fall back to a line running approximately as follows:- L.34.a.5.2. – L.34.c.8.9. – L.34.d.5.7. – R.5.a.2.8. – R.4.b.8.2. – R.10.b.2.8. – R.11.c.2.9.

Machine Guns on WELSH RIDGE succeeded in holding up the enemy advancing from the N.W. from the direction of QUENET FARM while the 91^st {92} F.A. Bde. in LA VACQUERIE VALLEY, (R.12.a & b) repulsed four attacks, firing at 200 yards range, but the gunners were finally overcome and forced to leave the guns after having removed the breech blocks.

The first indication that the enemy had broken through the front of the 12^th Division was noted from Div. H.Q.  Men could be seen retiring over the high ground about GONNELIEU.  A Staff Officer was sent at once to ascertain the position about GONNELIEU and GOUZEAUCOURT and met men of various labour units and Railway Construction Coys. falling back from the direction of LA VACQUERIE, GONNELIEU, and QUINTIN RIDGE to the main GOUZEAUCOURT – VILLERS PLOUCH Road.

Most of these men were unarmed, and as none were acting under definite orders, those who were ordered to hold the bank of the GOUZEAUCOURT – VILLERS PLOUICH Road.

Meanwhile the 60^th Inf. Bde. (then in Reserve) was ordered to move as follows:-

1 Battalion to LA VACQUERIE

3 Battalions to reinforce the QUINTEN RIDGE – GONNELIEU line.

When however it was reported that the 20^th Div. front had been broken, 2 Battns of this Bde. were ordered to move to the HINDENBURG Line; 1 to LA VACQUERIE; and 1 to GONNELIEU.

The 2 Battns ordered to the HINDENBURG line were however by this time engaged in fighting about GONNELIEU and QUINTEN RIDGE and could not be extricated.   Thus the Divisional Reserve were not available to make a counter attack on the 20^th Divisional front, or to recapture the lost guns.

• At 11.40 a.m. the situation was as follows:-

The Reserve Bde held a line, R.31.d.5.5. – N.W. outskirts of          GONNELIEU – LA VACQUERIE, with elements of the 12^th Div.    between it and the right of the 59^th Inf. Bde., while the 59^th and 61^st Inf.   Bdes. held a line approximately the same as described in para.1. (c).

The enemy had by this time penetrated as far as        GOUZEAUCOURT from the direction of GAUCHE WOOD, and the         situation was critical.

• At 12 noon orders were issued for one Battn of the 60^th Bde. to make good the summit of QUENTIN RIDGE about R.31.d. and R.32.a., and if the enemy were found in occupation to counter attack and drive him off. Owing to heavy M.G. fire and also to the fact that the situation on the right flank was so obscure, one Coy. from the Battn. carrying out the attack had to be sent to GOUZEAUCOURT (which was then in the hands of the enemy), and the attack was unable to gain the top of the Ridge.  The Coy. detached towards GOUZEAUCOURT however did good work in mowing down the enemy retiring S. from GOUZEAUCOURT before the counter attack of one Bde. of Guards.  No artillery was available to support this attack.

• At 4.45 p.m. the situation was as follows:-

The line ran approximately from L.34.central – R.5.a. – R.10.a. – R.17.a. – R.16.d.5.0. – LA VACQUERIE – N.W. outskirts of GONNELIEU – GOUZEAUCOURT with a gap about R.10.b&d.

As no troops were available to fill this gap, the III Corps was asked for reinforcements, and two Battns. were allotted to the Div. from the 6^th Div., the C.O’s reporting at Div. H.Q. (This was not done).

One Battn. (the 2/6^th Sherwood Foresters) was sent to the 59^th Inf. Bde. and located in the HINDENBURG Main Line in R.10.c. and R.16.b. while the other Battn. (1^st Buffs) was used by the 60^th Inf. Bde. to fill a gap in R.21.

• The line remained more or less the same as indicated above during the remainder of the day, while the enemy made periodical attacks up the LA VACQUERIE Valley.

DECEMBER 1^st.

2. (a). At 1 a.m. the 60^th Inf. Bde. (less 1 Battn. holding LA VACQUERIE), were ordered to attack from QUINTEN MILL to GONNELIEU inclusive with a view to re-establishing the line of the Ridge. The attack was met by heavy M.G. fire, and although the right pushed forward, the left encountered a hostile attack launched simultaneously with our own and failed to gain ground.

(b). At 2.10 a.m. Div. H.Q. was transferred from VILLERS PLOUICH to Q.29.central (QUEEN’S CROSS).

(c). At 7.0 a.m. the Guards Division carried out an attack and seized the high ground between QUINTEN MILL and GONNELIEU including the latter, but a hostile counter attack about 10.0 a.m. drove them from the village itself.

(d). At about 6.0 p.m. on the evening of December 1^st, two Coys. of the 11^th D.L.I. (Pioneers), who were then under B.G.C. 61^st Inf. Bde. were placed at the disposal of the 59^th Inf. Bde., who put them under the command of the O.C. 11^th K.R.R.C. in the HINDENBURG Line and R.10.c.

(e). During the night of the 1^st/2^nd December no further attack was made by the enemy on the Divisional front.  The Guards Division took over the front held by the 60^th Inf. Bde. from QUINTIN RIDGE to GONNELIEU, while the 183^rd Inf. Bde. 61^st Div., relieved the 12^th K.R.R.C. in LA VACQUERIE, thus releasing the whole of the 60^th Inf. Bde. who were withdrawn to FIFTEEN RAVINE – VILLERS PLOUICH Area.

1. (a) During December 2^nd the enemy confined his attacks to LA VACQUERIE where he was repulsed three times by the 183^rd Inf. Bde.

(b). On the night of December 2^nd/3^rd the 183^rd Inf. Bde. relieved the 59^th and 61^st Inf. Bdes., whilst the 184^th Inf. Bde. went into Divl Reserve at about R.8., the command passing from G.O.C. 20^th Div. to G.O.C.61^st Div. at 7 a.m.

(c). At 8.0 a.m. on December 3^rd the Div. was disposed as follows:-

59^th Inf. Bde.              FIFTEEN RAVINE, VILLERS POULICH area.

60^th Inf. Bde.              SOREL

61^st Inf. Bde.               FINS

The line as actually handed over to the 61^st Div. ran approximately as follows:-

L.35.b – R.5.a. – R.11.c. – R.17.c. – R.22.b. – R.21.b. – R.20.d. –                           R.20.c. –R.26.d.

DECEMBER 3^rd.

4. Div. H.Q. moved from Q.29.central to SOREL, and was established at SOREL at 7 a.m. December 3^rd.

WAR DIARY Of  2/6^th Sherwood Foresters For November 1917

Place       Date    Hour                                                Summary of Events and Information

1.11.17                                                          Fighting Strength  Officers 31

Other Ranks 810

AVION   1.11.17 to 6.11.17  Battn occupied British Support Line.  Battn H.Q.s S.6 Central (LENS CANAL, 3^rd Edition).

CARENCY 7.11.17 1.0 am.  Battn moved from Support Line to ALBERTA CAMP, X.17.a.8.3. (Sheet 36B).

8.11.17 to 13.11.17 Battn. on Working Parties.

DUISANS 14.11.17  9.0 am.            Left CARENCY and marched to DUISANS.  L.8.b. (Sheet 57C)

15.11.17 to 18.11.17   Battn training carried out.   Reserve Signallers, Lewis Gunners, etc under Specialists training.

HENDECOURT 19.11.17 5.0 pm.    Left DUISANS for No 3 Camp HENDECOURT.

Ref Map 57 c

GOMIECOURT 21.11.17 9.0 pm.    Left HENDECOURT for GOMIECOURT.  A.28.b.5.3. Arrived 12 M-N

23.11.17 1.0 pm.        Battn marched to ACHIET-LE-GRAND. (G.10.C)  Entrained for FINS W.12.c. & marched to 25.11.17       EQUANCOURT (W.10.b.1.7) where Battn billeted.

QUEENS X   26.11.17  6.0 PM.        Battn marched from EQUANCOURT to QUEENS CROSS Q.28.D.4.4.  Attached to 6^th Division.

26.11.17  1.o pm.         Marched to Hindenburg Support Line.  In trenches R.1.a.4.3. to R.1.b.8.4.  Attached to 6^th Div.

27.11.17           Battn on Working Parties.

QUEENS X   28.11.17  10.0 pm.       Marched to QUEENS CROSS Q.28.d.4.4.

29.11.17  1.30 pm.       Battn marched to Hindenburg Support Line Old British Line R.7.d.

30.11.17           Commenced to dig defensive line HIGHLAND RIDGE R.1 & R.7  Moved to join 20^th Division in HINDENBURG line R.16.b.  Battn in Reserve.

Fighting Strength

Officers  32  Other Ranks  806.

December 1917

Western Front

The British were forced onto the defensive along the Bourlon Ridge during the Battle of Cambrai on the 28^th November 1917. By the 3^rd December 1917 the Germans had captured La Vacquerie and the British withdrew to the east bank of the St. Quentin canal. The British hold of Bourlon Wood was now precarious as the Germans had captured Bonavis giving them a line looping from Quentin Ridge to Marcoing. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig ordered a partial retreat and by the 7^th December 1917 all British gains were abandoned except for a portion of Hindenburg Line around Havrincourt, Ribécourt and Flesquiéres. The cost of the battle was high with both British and German forces taking casualties in the region of 40,000 men on each side. However, the initial British success showed that even the strongest trench systems could be overcome by a surprise attack using the capacity to combine infantry, artillery, tanks and aircraft in attacks. The German counter-attack also confirmed the effectiveness of Artillery, trench mortars and the evolving storm-trooper tactics.

……………….

All further engagements on the Western Front settled into quietness owing to the inclement weather of the winter. However, in the spring of 1918 hostilities would begin again.

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Other Theatres

At the Italian Front on the 4^th December 1917, the Second Battle of Monte Grappa began. The Austrian chief of staff General Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf tried to take Monte Grappa through the Piave Line during the second phase of the Battle of the Piave. The Austrian heavy artillery lagged behind the attacking force and the men were exhausted. The Austrian high command, accepting the advice of the Germans, suspended the operation on the 24^th December 1917. The Caporetto Offensive was finally ended on the 30^th December 1917. The Germans gradually withdrew their military forces from Italy to prepare for their large spring offensive of 1918 on the Western Front. All of the German forces had withdrawn by the 30^th December 1917.

……………..

The United States of America declared war on Austria-Hungary on 7^th December 1917. The United States had declared war on Germany on the 6^th April 1917. The declaration was at the request of the President Woodrow Wilson. Both the Chambers of the US Congress were in favour of the war against Germany. The U.S. House of Representatives voting 373 to 50, and the U.S. Senate 82 to six in favour. The US had not engaged in any warfare against the Austro-Hungarian nation and therefore the declaration of war against Germany did not include Austro-Hungary. However, Wilson was worried about the Austro-Hungarian involvement in Italy, and American military planners believed it might soon be necessary to deploy American forces to shore-up Italian defences against robust Austrian gains. On the 7^th December 1917, the House Joint Resolution 169 was adopted by the House of Representatives in a vote of 365 to 1, and by the Senate in a vote 74 to 0. The president signed the declaration later that day. Two days later, Austro-Hungary terminated diplomatic relations with the United States and requested, in a diplomatic note delivered to the chargé d’affaires of the United States embassy in Vienna, that American diplomats depart the country.

The 1917 Canadian federal election was held on the 17^th December 1917, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons. The election resulted in Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden’s Unionists government being re-elected with a strong majority. His party had secured 153 seats, while the opposition Sir Wilfred Laurier’s Liberals secured 82 seats.  The election was fought mainly on the issue of conscription, and the disagreement on whether men should be conscripted to fight in the war. It also brought out many issues regarding relations between French and English Canadians. After the Battle of the Somme, Canada was in desperate need to replenish its supply of soldiers. However, there were very few volunteers to replace them. The recruiting effort had failed, and Canada turned to its only unused option, which was to introduce conscription. Almost all French Canadians opposed conscription, as they felt their loyalty was to Canada, not France or England. Generally English Canadians supported the war effort because of their ties to the British Empire. A considerable rift was caused between the French and English Canadians owing to the conscription crisis of 1917. The Military Service act was passed, after Borden announced, on the 29^th August 1917, that he would introduce the act allowing the government to conscript men across the country if the Prime Minister felt it was necessary.

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Eastern Front

On the 15^th December 1917, a preliminary armistice was signed between the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) on the one side and the Central Powers on other. The RSFSR was led by Vladimir Lenin who had successfully revolted against Alexander Kerensky’s ineffective Provisional Government. The armistice took effect two days later, on the 17^th December 1917. By this agreement Russia de facto exited the Great War. The armistice was preceded by two ceasefire agreements. The first was a local agreement reached at Soly on the 4^th December 1917 between the Russians and Germans on the Eastern front. It superseded any local ceasefires or truces already agreed to, and was to in effect from 6^th to 17^th December 1917. A fuller ceasefire encompassing all the Central Powers was signed at Brest-Litovsk on the 5^th December 1917, the day after the agreement with Germany at Soly. The preliminary armistice, whereby hostilities ceased, lasted until the 17^th February 1918.

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Middle East

By the 1^st December 1917, the fighting for Jerusalem was almost over. The Turkish Seventh Army attacked Nebi Samwill and were repulsed with heavy losses. The Turkish Army had failed to win any ground as a result of their counter-attacks, and the advancing British troops were successfully replacing their tired comrades who were well entrenched close to Jerusalem. Tired British forces were relieved by the 2^nd December 1917. Both sides began to adjust and improve their lines. The British increased the number of attacking forces, and by the 7^th December 1917 had arrived at the Turkish defence line located in Bethlehem.  Bad weather prevented any further advance. The following day the Turkish army had retired, and on the evening of the 8^th December 1917 the British continued their advance to find the way completely cleared of Turkish defenders. During almost continuous rain on the 8^th December 1917, Jerusalem ceased to be protected by Turkish troops. The British launched the final advance taking the heights to the west of Jerusalem on the 8^th December 1917. The Turkish Seventh Army retreated during the evening and the city surrendered the following day, through a letter to the British from the mayor of Jerusalem Hussein Al Husseini. The letter stated that Turkey hoped the British would protect the holy places. The Turkish Army briefly held the Mount of Olives on the 9^th December 1917 but were overwhelmed by the 60^th Division the following afternoon. On the 11^th December 1917, two days after the official surrender and exactly six weeks after the fall of Beersheba, General Sir Edmund Allenby, commander of the Egyptian expeditionary Force (EEF), made his formal entry into Jerusalem on foot through the Jaffa Gate. He entered on foot rather than on horse to show his respect for the holy place. Among the units to accompany him on his formal entrance were the Australian 10^th Light Horse Cavalry and a representative troop of New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade. Allenby was the first Christian conqueror of Jerusalem since the Crusades. Many of Allenby’s soldiers were deeply conscious that they were fighting on sacred soil, and some viewed themselves as modern-day crusaders, but their leader was aware that many of his soldiers and workers were Islamic and therefore played down any notion of a crusade. One final Turkish attack against the British on the 29^th/30^th December 1917 was repulsed and all the British objectives were secured along the whole front. The Capture of Jerusalem gave the Allies reason to celebrate, as the Great War now was drifting into temporary stalemate. The Western Front had slowed down owing to the severe winter weather conditions. On the Italian Front both sides were exhausted, and  Russia was seeking an armistice with Germany on the Eastern Front.

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Timetable December 1917

Western Front

1^st to 7^th Dec               Battle of Cambrai

————————————-

Other Theatres

4^th to 24^th Dec             First Battle of Monte Grappa

30^th Dec                       Caporetto Offensive ended

………..

7^th Dec                         The United States declare war on Austria-Hungary

………..

17^th Dec                       Canadian Prime Minister Borden wins an enlarged government majority

—————————————

Eastern Front

15^th Dec                       Russia signs a preliminary armistice with Germany

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Middle East

1^st/2^nd Dec                              British troops attack tired forces after the attack on Nebi Sawill

7^th/8^th Dec                 British break the Turkish line

9^th Dec                           British capture Jerusalem

11^th Dec                         Allenby officially enters Jerusalem

29^th/30^th Dec                All British objectives secured along the front line

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