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The Year 1917
In the Black Sea, Russian warships laid 120 mines off the Bosporus unobserved. On the following night, Russian light cruiser Pamyat Merkuriya, screening the force, was bombed unsuccessfully by a German aircraft.
During May, General N.N. Golovin estimated Russian casualties as of May 1917:
Killed and dead from wounds – 12,743 officers – 606,888 men
Gassed – 478 officers – 34,258 men
Wounded – 27,704 officers – 2,424,494 men
Missing in action – 3,709 officers – 151,725 men
Captured – 11,931 officers – 2,907,128 men
Died in prisoner of war camps – 294 officers - ??? men
Total – 66,154 officers – 6,226,005 men
Not included in these figures were the numbers of desertions from the Russian Army, which have been estimated from the beginning of the war to the abdication of the Tsar as 195,130 men (6,846 monthly average); from 14 March 1917 until 14 August 1917 some 170,007 men (34,001 monthly average). The period from 14 March – 28 May alone stood at 85,921 men. During the first twenty nine months of the war 726,200 wounded evacuees had failed to return to service. Many other men stayed home after their leaves had expired.
On 28 May, in the Black Sea, Russian seaplane carriers Regele Carol and Dacia (former Romanian auxiliary cruisers), supported by two torpedo boats, shelled coastal installations at Sinope and Samsum. Over three days they sank over 120 sailing ships.
In Rome, the Russian Ambassador reported to Petrograd that the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs was urging an immediate Russian offensive. One week later he sent another request, stating that the Austro-Hungarians were transferring strength from the Russian Front to the Italian Front.
In Warsaw, meeting of a Congress of Polish Soldiers, which decided in favor of a Polish Army and elected Jozef Pilsudski as its honorary commander.
In Poland, in Krakau, meeting of all Polish deputies from Galicia to adopt a resolution demanding the creation of a Polish state.
On 29 May, at Odessa, during a Congress of the Southwest Front, Kerenskiy explained Russia's war aims to the troops, stating, “… we prosecute the war in order to end it, and to end it quickly it is necessary to prosecute it vigorously.”
In the Black Sea, the Russians carried out a naval raid on the Turkish Anatolian coast.
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On 30 May, in Vienna, the Austro-Hungarian Parliament reassembled, being allowed to meet for the first time since the outbreak of war.
In the Black Sea, in operations that lasted until 14 June, German submarine UB.14 disembarked a group of agents and saboteurs along the Russian Caucasian coast.
On 31 May, at Petrograd, opening of an eight day Officers' Congress. There were 700 delegates in attendance. There were major differences of opinion between officers from the front and the rear.
At Vienna, Austro-Hungarian Emperor Charles promised a more liberal constitution.
During May, in Novocherkassk, opening of the First Krug (Parliament) of the Great Don Host. During June, General Kaledin was elected Don Ataman at the Second Krug, which called for control of all lands in the Cossack provinces. During May, on the Caucasian Front, opening of the First Congress of the Caucasian Army, dominated by Mensheviks and Socialist Revolutionaries. In Vladikavkaz, the opening of First Congress of Muslim Tribes.
During May, in Britain, arrival of the first groups of Russian airmen to receive training on British aircraft at Thetford, Northolt and Croydon airfields. About 78 finished training by 21 September. At least two were killed in accidents. Most returned to Russia.
During late May and early June, the Germans sent airships L.30 and L.37 from the North Sea to the Russian Northern Front. They were followed by four Army airships, including two six engine ships, the LZ.113 and LZ.120.
On 1 June, at Kronstadt Fortress, opening of a five day revolt by mutinous sailors, mostly socialists, which quickly collapsed after negotiations with the Provisional Government.
On 2 June, on the Southwest Front, the Czech Druzhina was now part of the Russian 11th Army, and was commanded by Russian Generals Dukhonin and Chekorov. They were placed in the front sector west of Zborov and later participated in the breakthrough in July.
At Petrograd, arrival of British War Cabinet member Arthur Henderson to replace Buchanan as British Ambassador to Russia. He soon realized that Buchanan had the situation well in hand, and on the 14th wrote Lloyd George to retain Buchanan in that post.
In the Black Sea, in operations that lasted until 18 August, three Russian submarines made patrols off the Bosporus, scoring only minor successes.
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