February 1918: General Allenby builds on the success of his victory at Jerusalem by moving on Jericho, while the final move to end a shattered and fractious Russia’s involvement in the Great War is launched. In Germany, the crew of a commerce raider return home as heroes, while U-boats continue to add to their deadly tally.
WAR AT SEA:
5 February: The British liner SS Tuscania, sailing in convoy from Hoboken to Liverpool with 384 crew and 2,013 American soldiers on board, is torpedoed off Northern Ireland by UB-77. The U-boat had been stalking the convoy and fired two torpedoes under the cover of darkness. One of these hit, and Tuscania sank 7nm north of Rathlin Lighthouse. Most on board were rescued by the destroyers HMS Mosquito and Pigeon, but 210 were lost.
26 February: The British hospital ship HMHS Glenart Castle is sunk in the Bristol Channel by UC-56. The ship, which fishermen said was clearly marked and well lit, was torpedoed at 04:00, the blast wrecking most of her lifeboats. Those few boats which did get away were swamped. At least 162 were killed (including 99 patients), with 32 survivors. After the body of one junior officer was recovered with two bullet wounds it was suspected UC-56 had fired on those in the water.
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