The blindfolded US Secretary of War draws draft numbers in the lottery for the first American draftees, 20 July 1917. Image courtesy US War Department.
- US Secretary of War, Newton D Baker, blindfolded, draws the first number in the lottery for the first American draftees, as prescribed under the Selective Service Act 1917.
- The Leader publishes the latest casualty list. The list includes Narromine brothers Charles Henry Whiteley and Richard James Whiteley
- Alexander Fyodorovich Kerensky succeeds Prince Georgy Yevgenyevich Lvov as Prime Minister of Russia
- Record heat is recorded at Baghdad as the temperature exceeds 50.5 degrees Celsius
- The Leader publishes The Kaiser’s Revised Prayer
Mine Gott will you be mine partner,
You don’t know who I am
I am de German Kaiser,
De Emperor Will-I-Yam.You know I whipped dem Belgians
Und mitt bullets filled Russia full;
Und I’ll whip France and Italy
Und blow up Johnny Bull.Now all dem other nations,
I don’t give a dam;
If you’ll but be my partner
Und whip dot Uncle Sam.You know I got dem submarines,
All Europe knows that well;
But dot Edison got a patent now
Vot blows dem all to hell.Now Gott, if you do this,
Den you I will always love,
Und I will be emperor of de earth.
Und you emperor above.But Gott if you refuse me dis,
To-morrow night at ‘leven,
I’ll call my Zeppelins out
Und declare war on heaven.I wouldn’t ask this from you,
But it can be plainly seen,
Dot when Edison pushes dot button,
I got no submarine.
