[Ennath]

April 23, 1915
Western Front Awaiting resumption of the German advance, Allied troops have been told to hold wet cloths over their noses and mouths, as the gas used has been identified as chlorine, a water-soluble gas. Reinforcements augment the line as the Germans pause. At Cassel, General French visits Foch, who assures him that more reinforcements are en route. Artillery support, however, is limited due to the French losses of the previous day. Unapprised of this circumstance, General French agrees to launch a counterattack. It commences at 4:15 PM but is quickly stalled by German machine gun fire which inflicts terrible losses.
The Germans counterattack at Les Eparges.
Mediterranean Sub-Lt. Rupert Brooke, the 27 year old English poet, dies on this St. George’s Day of blood poisoning aboard a French hospital ship at Skyros.
Cameroon The British declare a blockade of Cameroon.

April 23, 1916
Western Front, Verdun German attacks at Le Mort Homme are repulsed.
Egypt The Turks in Sinai raid Katiya and destroy two British outposts.
Mesopotamia In desperation to help Townshend hold out, the paddle steamer Julnar sets out after dark with 270 tons of supplies in an attempt to sweep past the Turkish guns on the banks of the Tigris. The boat makes it all the way to Magasis, about four miles below Kut, where steel hawsers the Turks have stretched across the river ensnare the boat’s rudder. Turkish fire kills or wounds most of the crew and the survivors are taken prisoner.

April 23, 1917
Western Front, Arras The British complete the capture of Trescault. To assist the French effort on the Aisne front, Haig resumes the offensive and the 2nd phase of the Battle of Arras opens. The British attack at 4:45 AM on a 9-mile front north and south of the Scarpe. Only a minimal advance is expected. Although they manage to capture Gavrelle and push east from Monchy-le-Preux, German resistance is firm along most of the line and counterattacks through the night hold the advance to one or two miles.
Western Front, Aisne Nivelle receives a note from President Poincaré expressing doubts about the possibilities of further success for his offensive. Government officials are appalled by the heavy losses at the Aisne front – 134,000 so far.
Russia The armed forces discharge all men over 43.
Mesopotamia The British advance at Istabulat and, meeting no resistance, push on to the Samarra Railway Station, capturing 16 engines and 250 supply-laden trucks. The three-day attack has cost 2228 casualties, the Turks have lost 4400.
North Sea British seaplanes attack five German destroyers off the Belgian coast, sinking one.
Diplomatic Relations The United States breaks relations with Turkey.

April 23, 1918
Belgium One minute after midnight, the Vindictive reaches the mole, although not at the spot originally intended since the ship’s smoke cover was dispersed by winds, leaving her exposed to German fire. Tucked against the jetty by two ferry boats, the cruiser unloads the landing parties, but her guns are useless in support because of her position. Splayed by German fire, the block ships cannot reach their intended sites for scuttling. The crews release the charges to sink the ships and escape to a waiting launch. Only one of two submarines in the operation arrives on time and purposely smashes headlong into the mole’s cross braces. The crew escapes to a skiff and blows up the submarine, rending a 100-foot gap in the jetty. The Vindictive, under tow by one of the steamers, withdraws into open water. The raid at Ostend fails as the two ships sent to block the port lose their way because the Germans have removed one marker buoy and moved another. One ship runs aground and the second plows into it. The daring British operation, the first modern commando raid, results in 500 casualties and fails in its objective – the Germans are able to quickly dig a new channel at Zeebrugge – but boosts Allied morale.
Allied Command Foch and Haig agree on a system of roulement proposed by Foch by which weary British divisions will replace French divisions at quiet sectors of the front, freeing French troops for service as a general reserve. Four British divisions will begin the move, three being transferred by mid-May to the Aisne River sector to serve with French 6th Army, under Denis Duchene and one to Henri Gouraud’s 4th Army near Chalons.
Finland Elements of the White Army reach the Russian frontier.
Russia The Soviet government protests the union of Bessarabia with Rumania.
Newfoundland A conscription bill is introduced.
Ireland A general strike supports the anti-conscription campaign.
Diplomatic Relations Guatemala declares war on Germany.

April 23, 1919
Hungary Rumanian troops occupy Debrecen.

April 23, 1920
Turkey Mustafa Kemal organizes a Grand National Assembly in Ankara, establishing a provisional government and declaring the Sultan a “captive” of the Allies. A few days earlier, the Ottoman government has organized the Forces of Order to fight the Nationalist movement. Initially successful, they approach Ankara, but soon fall apart. They are disbanded on June 25, on advice from the British.