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TarJak · 09-07-14, 07:06 PM

8 September 1914

Turkey refuses to close the Dardanelles to foreign ships despite strong German pressure to do so. The Treaty of Paris, 1856, and the Treaty of London, 1871, the signatories, England, France, Russia, Austria and Prussia had agreed that foreign war ships would be prohibited from entering the Dardanelles Straits while Turkey was at peace.

Early in 1914 the Germans sent their new and impressive battle cruiser Goeben, on a goodwill visit, a shrewd demonstration of the modern naval power of Germany. The Goeben lay at anchor off the Golden Horn on the Bosphorus for several weeks, while the Germans played on Turkey's fear that the Russians would seize the Dardanelles, and without German military protection would take them.

The Turk's acceptance of the Goeben'spresence was an implicit statement that Turkey was no longer 'at peace',
Turkey had placed orders with Britain some years beforehand for two modern Battleships, one was virtually complete. On 3rd August 1914, as the Turks were laying their mines in the Straits, Britain announced that it was taking over the Turkish Battleships ships for the Royal Navy, The Turks were shocked and dismayed and accused Britain of dishonesty.

Turkish anger was at its height when news came of Britain's declaration of war on Germany on 4th August 1914, This brought back into the Turkish scene the battleship Goeben, which had been in the Mediterranean with its escort, the cruiser Breslau.Chased by the Royal Navy, the German ships sought sanctuary through the narrow neck of the Dardanelles.

By the end of September Turkey had violated all treaty rights concerning the Dardanelles, no vessel of any kind was allowed to enter. Britain, France, America and other nations protested, but took no action. By closing the Straits, Turkey and Germany separated Russia from its allies and destroyed it militarily, for it could no longer receive supplies from overseas by the southern route.

In order to keep the German high command informed of his activities, Spee sent Nürnberg on 8 September to Honolulu to send word through neutral countries. Spee chose the ship because the British were aware she had left Mexican waters, and so her presence in Hawaii would not betray the movements of the entire East Asia Squadron. She was also ordered to contact German agents to instruct them to prepare coal stocks in South America for the squadron's use. Nürnberg brought back news of the Allied conquest of the German colony at Samoa.

09-07-14, 07:06 PM	#211
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	8 September 1914 Turkey refuses to close the Dardanelles to foreign ships despite strong German pressure to do so. The Treaty of Paris, 1856, and the Treaty of London, 1871, the signatories, England, France, Russia, Austria and Prussia had agreed that foreign war ships would be prohibited from entering the Dardanelles Straits while Turkey was at peace. Early in 1914 the Germans sent their new and impressive battle cruiser Goeben, on a goodwill visit, a shrewd demonstration of the modern naval power of Germany. The Goeben lay at anchor off the Golden Horn on the Bosphorus for several weeks, while the Germans played on Turkey's fear that the Russians would seize the Dardanelles, and without German military protection would take them. The Turk's acceptance of the Goeben'spresence was an implicit statement that Turkey was no longer 'at peace', Turkey had placed orders with Britain some years beforehand for two modern Battleships, one was virtually complete. On 3rd August 1914, as the Turks were laying their mines in the Straits, Britain announced that it was taking over the Turkish Battleships ships for the Royal Navy, The Turks were shocked and dismayed and accused Britain of dishonesty. Turkish anger was at its height when news came of Britain's declaration of war on Germany on 4th August 1914, This brought back into the Turkish scene the battleship Goeben, which had been in the Mediterranean with its escort, the cruiser Breslau.Chased by the Royal Navy, the German ships sought sanctuary through the narrow neck of the Dardanelles. By the end of September Turkey had violated all treaty rights concerning the Dardanelles, no vessel of any kind was allowed to enter. Britain, France, America and other nations protested, but took no action. By closing the Straits, Turkey and Germany separated Russia from its allies and destroyed it militarily, for it could no longer receive supplies from overseas by the southern route. In order to keep the German high command informed of his activities, Spee sent Nürnberg on 8 September to Honolulu to send word through neutral countries. Spee chose the ship because the British were aware she had left Mexican waters, and so her presence in Hawaii would not betray the movements of the entire East Asia Squadron. She was also ordered to contact German agents to instruct them to prepare coal stocks in South America for the squadron's use. Nürnberg brought back news of the Allied conquest of the German colony at Samoa.