Historical Events in February 1917

Feb 3 US liner Housatonic is sunk by German submarine, on the same day that US President Woodrow Wilson breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany

Feb 5 The last of the American troops commanded by General John Pershing leave Mexico; President Carranza will be assassinated within the next year

Feb 10 Johanna Westerdijk installed as the Netherlands' 1st female professor
Feb 12 1st edition of Joseph Patterson and Sidney Smith's strip "The Gumps"

Feb 13 Dutch exotic dancer Mata Hari is arrested in Paris on suspicion that she is a German spy

Feb 15 San Francisco Public Library (Main Branch at Civic center) dedicated
Feb 16 1st synagogue in 425 years opens in Madrid
Feb 17 In Australia, Nationalist Party takes over a coalition government
Feb 18 1st major strike of the Russian "February Revolution" starts at the giant Putilov factory in Petrograd [NS=Mar 3]
Feb 20 Jerome Kern, Guy Bolton & P.G. Wodehouse's musical "Oh, Boy!" premieres in New York
Feb 21 British troopship SS Mendi sinks off Isle of Wight, 646 die
Feb 21 Train near Chirurcha, Romania, catches fire & explodes; hundreds die
Feb 22 German Navy torpedoes 7 Dutch ships
Feb 24 German plan to get Mexican help in WW I exposed (Zimmerman telegram)
Feb 24 Red Sox sell Smokey Joe Wood, his arm dead at 26, to Cleve for $15,000
Feb 26 1st jazz records recorded - "Dixie Jazz Band One Step" and "Livery Stable Blues" by Original Dixieland Jass Band for the Victor Talking Machine Company

Feb 26 Russian February Revolution: Tsar Nicolas II orders army to quell civil unrest in Petrograd - army mutinies [NS Mar 11]