On October 31st 2015, Dennis Cross published the latest instalment to his Centennial Countdown blog. Here’s his email summary of the posting:
“In October 1915 the World War continues to go badly for the Allies. General Sir Ian Hamilton, having failed to achieve his objectives at Gallipoli, is relieved of command; his replacement, General Sir Charles Monro, is asked for his opinion regarding the viability of further operations on the peninsula, and recommends withdrawal. France gains little ground in its offensive in Champagne and Italy mounts another unsuccessful attack on the Isonzo front. The German Army in Belgium executes British nurse Edith Cavell for assisting Allied soldiers trapped behind enemy lines. Austria-Hungary mounts another invasion of Serbia, this time assisted by Germany. Bulgaria chooses this moment to join the war on the side of the Central Powers; Allied forces in Salonika move to assist the Serbs. The diplomatic crisis over the loss of American lives on the Arabic appears to be resolved as the German government “disavows” the submarine’s actions and accepts liability for the death of American citizens. French Prime Minister Rene Viviani resigns and is replaced by former Prime Minister Aristide Briand. President Wilson, whose wife died in August 1914, announces his engagement to Mrs. Edith Galt, a Washington widow. He advocates “America First” in a patriotic address to the DAR, and former President Roosevelt denounces “hyphenated Americans” in a speech to the Knights of Columbus. The president announces his support for woman suffrage and votes in favor of a suffrage amendment in New Jersey, but opposes amending the federal Constitution. Mrs. Galt lets it be known that she is opposed to women voting, and New Jersey voters apparently agree, sending the measure down to defeat. German sabotage is uncovered in the United States. The Secretary of the Navy announces a major shipbuilding program, landslides force the closure of the Panama Canal, and the United States formally recognizes Venustiano Carranza as president of Mexico. A wireless voice transmission across the Atlantic is achieved for the first time in history; in addition to Paris, it is heard at receiving stations in San Francisco, Panama and Honolulu.”