Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 September 18

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Today's featured article
The Second Ostend Raid was the latter of two failed attempts by the Royal Navy to block the channels accessing the Belgian port of Ostend in 1918. The German Navy had used the port since 1915 as a base for their U-boat activities during the battle of the Atlantic and the strategic advantages conferred by the Belgian ports in the conflict were very important. A successful blockade of these bases would have forced German submarines to operate out of more distant ports, such as Wilhelmshaven, on the German coast. The ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge provided sea access via canals for the major inland port of Bruges, which was used as a base for small warships and submarines. The Ostend Raid was largely a failure as a result of heavy German resistance and British navigational difficulties in poor weather. In anticipation of a raid, the Germans had removed the navigation buoys and without them the British had difficulty finding the narrow channel into the harbour in poor weather. When they did discover the entrance, German resistance proved too strong for the operation to be completed as originally planned. British casualties in the raid were heavy, compared to minimal German losses. Despite its failure, the raid was presented in Britain as a courageous and daring gamble which came very close to success. (more...) Recently featured: Gumbo – Sherman Minton – Bodiam Castle Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that Haines Shoe House (pictured) is right by a shoe-shaped doghouse on Shoe House Road? ... that water-filled holes in the trunk of Platypodium elegans are an important habitat for the larvae of giant damselflies? ... that William Butler Yeats loathed Robin de la Condamine's performance in his The Shadowy Waters, but could not fire him because all the actors were working for free? ... that Prince Mahidol used to teach medicine at Windsor Palace before it was demolished to make way for the National Stadium? ... that John Danowski coached the Duke Blue Devils men's lacrosse team to its first NCAA national championship in 2010? ... that inhaling spores from the devil's snuff-box can cause the respiratory disease lycoperdonosis? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
The United Nations General Assembly accepts the credentials of the National Transitional Council to represent Libya in the assembly's current session. A race plane (pictured) crashes into a crowd of spectators at the Reno Air Races in the U.S. state of Nevada, killing nine people and injuring 69 others. Helle Thorning-Schmidt is designated to become the first female Prime Minister of Denmark after a centre-left opposition coalition wins the Danish parliamentary election. In a court case concerning the theft of Kevlar-related trade secrets, DuPont is awarded US$920 million in damages. At least 96 people are killed and more than 100 others are injured in an explosion and resultant fire at a fuel pipeline in Nairobi, Kenya. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
September 18: National Day in Chile 324 – Constantine the Great decisively defeated Licinius in the Battle of Chrysopolis, establishing Constantine's sole control over the Roman Empire, and ending the Tetrarchy. 1879 – The Blackpool Illuminations (modern example pictured) in the English seaside town of Blackpool, billed as "the greatest free light show on earth", were switched on for the first time. 1939 – The Nazi propaganda radio programme Germany Calling began broadcasting to audiences in England and the United States. 1974 – Hurricane Fifi struck Honduras, destroying 182 towns and villages in the first 24 hours, and ultimately causing over 8,000 deaths. 2001 – Five letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to various media outlets in the United States. More anniversaries: September 17 – September 18 – September 19 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now September 18, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A panoramic view of the Pelion Range in Tasmania's Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, as seen from Cradle Mountain. Part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the park is located in the Central Highlands, 165 km (103 mi) northwest of Hobart. Visible from left to right are: Lake Ayr, Cathedral Mountain, Mount Pelion East, Mount Ossa, Mount Thetis, Mount Achilles and Mount Pelion West.

Photo: JJ Harrison

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