Once again it’s time to round up the major headlines of this month from 100 years ago. While the real Battle of the Somme continued to rage, audiences in Britain went to theaters to experience it on the screen. In the US, several steps were taken to conserve natural resources and even towards future decolonization, and the Cub Scouts got their start this month as well.
World War I
The Battle of Romani begins August 3 and ends August 5. British Imperial troops secure victory over a joint Ottoman-German force.
Portugal joins the Allies, August 7.
Peru declares neutrality, August 21
Germany declares war on Romania, August 28.
Italy declares war on Germany, August 28.
Migratory Bird Treaty between Canada and the United States signed, August 16.
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson signs legislation creating the National Park Service on August 25.
As a step towards future autonomy, the United States passes the Philippine Autonomy Act on August 29.
Robert Baden-Powell publishes The Wolf Cub’s Handbook in the U.K. during August of this year, establishing the basis of the junior section of the Scouting movement, the Wolf Cubs (modern-day Cub Scouts).
The premiere of the movie “Battle of the Somme” in London is on August 10. In the first six weeks of general release (from 20 August) 20 million people view it.
The first episode of the series “Homunculus” is released in Germany on August 18.