![A poster advertising the military call up of the Class of 1919 in France. It reads "Class of 1919. This poster must not be covered up or destroyed before 15 March 1918. Recruiting Board. Pursuant to Articles 16 and 17 of the Law of 21 March 1905 on Army recruitment, amended by the Law of 7 August 1913 and by the decree of the Minister for War dated 4 January 1918, the operations of the Recruiting Board of the Seine department, for the class of 1919, the deferred recruits from the classes of 1913 to 1918 and the exempted recruits from the class of 1918 will be carried out on the days and at the times indicated below: Visiting youths from the class of 1919, deferred recruits from the classes of 1913 to 1918 and exempted recruits from the class of 1918 [tables and text follow, explaining the actions required to comply with the new laws regarding conscription]. By the Prefect: The Secretary General of the Prefecture, L. Aubanel. Paris, 19 January 1918. The Prefect of Seine, M. Delanney." From the Art Collection at the Imperial War Museum, copyright image Art.IWM PST 6750,with my thanks.](http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/1918_jan.jpg)
January 1918
| Date | Events |
|---|---|
| 1 | Arab forces begin Actions for Et Tafile; lasts to 29 January |
| 2 | British government creates the Air Ministry: next day the new Air Council takes over the functions of the former Air Board |
| 4 | British hospital ship "Rewa" sunk in Bristol Channel after being torpedoed en route from Thessaloniki, Mudros, Malta and Gibraltarand bound for Avonmouth carrying wounded troops: 4 lives lost |
| 4 | Russian Bolshevik, French and Swedish governments formally recognise independence of Finland |
| 4 | British government makes statement to King of the Hejaz with regard to intentions for future status of Palestine |
| 5 | Negotiations suspended at Brest-Litovsk. Bolsheviks demand meetings are instead held in Stockholm but withdraw this on 8 January |
| 8 | British forces occupy Qasr-i-Shirin in western Persia |
| 8 | US President Wilson addresses Congress defining the "Fourteen Points" |
| 10 | British government sends reassurance to Russian Bolshevik government of support in creation of independent Poland |
| 10 | Danish and Norwegian governments formally recognise independence of Finland |
| 12 | Latvia declares independence |
| 13 | Estonia declares independence |
| 14 | German destroyers bombard Yarmouth on Norfolk coast of England |
| 20 | Naval action outside the Dardanelles, in Kusa Bay at Imbros: Turkish cruiser "Midilli" (formerly German "Breslau") and British monitors HMS "Raglan" and M28 are sunk; Turkish cruiser "Yavuz Sultan Selim" (formerly German "Goeben") is damaged by a sea mine (she was refloated on 27 January) |
| 22 | Russian Bolshevik government accuses Central Powers of falsifying reports of proceedings at Brest-Litovsk negotiations: the meetings are suspended next day but resume 30 January |
| 24 | German Chancellor Count Herling and Austrian Foreign Minister Count Czernin make public replies to statements on war aims made by President Wilson and British Prime Minister Lloyd George |
| 24 | Lieut-Gen. The Hon Sir Herbert Lawrence appointed Chief of the General Staff to the British Expeditionary Force |
| 27 | Turkish Dead Sea Flotilla seized by Arab camel forces at El Mezran |
| 27 | General Dunsterville's Mission (Dunsterforce) leaves Baghdad for north west Persia |
| 27 | Lieut-Gen. Sir Launcelot Kiggell resigns as Chief of the General Staff to the British Expeditionary Force |
| 29 | Russian Bolshevik government severs diplomatic relations with Rumania |
| Extremely cold winter on Western Front in France and Flanders |