SUBSIM Radio Room Forums



SUBSIM: The Web's #1 resource for all submarine & naval simulations since 1997

Go Back   SUBSIM Radio Room Forums > General > General Topics
Forget password? Reset here

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-03-14, 06:32 PM   #76
Tribesman
Stowaway
 
Posts: n/a
Downloads:
Uploads:
Default

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Great_...he_War/Redmond
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-14, 06:38 PM   #77
Oberon
Lucky Jack
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 25,976
Downloads: 61
Uploads: 20


Default

Such a shame that such bloodshed would occur two years later.
Oberon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-14, 05:34 AM   #78
Jimbuna
Chief of the Boat
 
Jimbuna's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: 250 metres below the surface
Posts: 180,310
Downloads: 63
Uploads: 13


Default

4th August

Germany begins its invasion of Belgium, focused against the town of Liège. 60,000 German troops are led by Otto von Emmich.

Around 40,000 Belgian troops under command of General Gérard Leman defend the Liège forts.

Great Britain protests in Berlin against German violation of Belgian treaty.

Bona and Philippeville (Algeria) bombarded by German cruisers "Goeben" and "Breslau".

British mobilisation orders issued.

Sir John Jellicoe takes command of British Fleet.
__________________
Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.
Oh my God, not again!!


GWX3.0 Download Page - Donation/instant access to GWX (Help SubSim)
Jimbuna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-14, 10:13 AM   #79
Sailor Steve
Eternal Patrol
 
Sailor Steve's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: High in the mountains of Utah
Posts: 50,369
Downloads: 745
Uploads: 249


Default

Following the German rejection of the British ultimatum concerning Belgium, Britain declares war at 2300 hours.

The United States government declares neutrality.
__________________
“Never do anything you can't take back.”
—Rocky Russo
Sailor Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-14, 10:22 AM   #80
Sailor Steve
Eternal Patrol
 
Sailor Steve's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: High in the mountains of Utah
Posts: 50,369
Downloads: 745
Uploads: 249


Default

As I mentioned earlier, several years ago I posted some of the events of the naval side of the war to another website. Now that the 100th
anniversary of those events has come, I'll be reposting them here, with some modifications as I uncover previously unknown (to me, anyway) stories.

The Goeben affair, Part 1

When war was declared the British had three battlecruisers in the Mediterranean sea: Indefatigable, Indomitable, and Inflexible, under the command of Admiral Sir Achibald Berkely Milne, known as 'Arky-Barky'. Under him was Rear-Admiral Thomas Troubridge, commanding four armoured cruisers , or heavy cruisers: Black Prince, Defence, Duke Of Edinburgh, and Warrior.

The Germans had one battlecruiser, Goeben, and one light cruiser, Breslau, under Rear-Admiral Wilhelm Souchon.

On 30 July Admiral Milne was informed that war might break out, and that his main tasks were to support French army movements from Algeria to Italy, and to attack Goeben, but only if he had 'superior forces'. Milne was not given permission to talk to the French until 2 August. When given that permission, Milne could not contact the French commander, Admiral de Lapeyrere, by wireless, so he sent one of his light cruisers to Bizerta to make contact.

On 3 August Milne was informed of the breakout of war between Germany and France, and of the British ultimatum. He also found that Goeben and Breslau were coaling at Messina. At this point the Admiralty War Staff decided that Souchon would not attack the French troop convoys, but would make a dash for Gibraltar and try to escape into the Atlantic. Milne was ordered to send Indomitable and Inflexible to Gibraltar to intercept Goeben.

On the morning of 4 August Souchon took his two ships and bombarded the French ports of Bône and Philippeville, and then headed east again. At 10:30 A.M. the two British battlecruisers, under the command of Captain Francis Kennedy, encountered the Germans fifty miles west of Galita Island. The two forces sailed right by each other, neither side willing to open fire because they were not technically at war. The British ships then turned around and began following the Germans. At 2:00 P.M. Captain Kennedy heard of the ultimatum, and apparently Admiral Souchon also got the word because he soon after took his ships to full speed in an attempt to escape the British. The British battlecruisers had been on station for quite some time, and due to fouled bottoms were not able to match the Germans' speed, and finally lost contact at 7:37 P.M. Meanwhile Milne recieved orders to respect Italian neutrality and not to come within six miles of the Italian coast.

Souchon put into Messina to recoal, and was told by the Italians he had twenty-four hours to get the job done and leave.
__________________
“Never do anything you can't take back.”
—Rocky Russo
Sailor Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-14, 02:53 PM   #81
August
Wayfaring Stranger
 
August's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 22,630
Downloads: 0
Uploads: 0


Default

100 years ago today my Great Grandfather, August Karl along with the other men of Altenbuch were saying goodbye to their families before marching off to answer their countries call. He would fight through the entire war before being killed in action on October 3rd 1918.
__________________


Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

Last edited by August; 08-04-14 at 03:07 PM.
August is online   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-14, 07:00 PM   #82
Sailor Steve
Eternal Patrol
 
Sailor Steve's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: High in the mountains of Utah
Posts: 50,369
Downloads: 745
Uploads: 249


Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tribesman View Post
That's a great site, and a great speech. Thanks for the link.

@ August: Family history is fascinating. I was going to say "cool", but it obviously wasn't for him.
__________________
“Never do anything you can't take back.”
—Rocky Russo
Sailor Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-14, 09:29 PM   #83
TarJak
Fleet Admiral
 
TarJak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 17,052
Downloads: 150
Uploads: 8


Default

August 5 1914 At around 12:40 Melbourne time, the first shot fired by British empire troops were used to prevent the escape of the SS Pfalz.

No. 6 gun of the battery at Fort Nepean in the Mornington Peninsula, fired the first shot across the bows as the Pfalz was steaming out of Port Philip Bay.

http://www.thefirstshot.com.au/full-page/




Last edited by TarJak; 08-19-14 at 05:55 PM.
TarJak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-14, 10:41 PM   #84
August
Wayfaring Stranger
 
August's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 22,630
Downloads: 0
Uploads: 0


Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailor Steve View Post
@ August: Family history is fascinating. I was going to say "cool", but it obviously wasn't for him.
Nor for the 37 million other people who died in that war either I guess. So ironic that they perished thinking they were fighting "the war to end all wars".
__________________


Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.
August is online   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-14, 12:32 AM   #85
Oberon
Lucky Jack
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 25,976
Downloads: 61
Uploads: 20


Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by August View Post
Nor for the 37 million other people who died in that war either I guess. So ironic that they perished thinking they were fighting "the war to end all wars".
If only it had. I think old Harry Patch had the right idea:

Oberon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-14, 07:38 AM   #86
Jimbuna
Chief of the Boat
 
Jimbuna's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: 250 metres below the surface
Posts: 180,310
Downloads: 63
Uploads: 13


Default

5th August

Henry Hadley, an English civilian shot by a Prussian officer, dies. He is sometimes considered the “first British casualty” of WWI.

Liege: Fort Fleron silenced.

Captain Brinckman demands the surrender of the Liège forts. Belgian troops under General Léman refuses.

Moltke-“Our advance in Belgium is certainly brutal, but we are fighting for our lives & all who get in the way must take the consequences.”

SS Königin Luise, a German auxiliary minelayer, is sunk by Royal Navy destroyers, becoming the first German ship sunk in WWI.

Kingdom of Montenegro declares war on the Austro-Hungarian Empire in solidarity with Serbia.

German embassy in St. Petersburg is burned by angry crowds; Germany seizes Russian assets.

"Goeben" and "Breslau" reach Messina.

Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia.

Great Britain mobilises; Lord Kitchener made War Secretary.
__________________
Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.
Oh my God, not again!!


GWX3.0 Download Page - Donation/instant access to GWX (Help SubSim)
Jimbuna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-14, 03:03 PM   #87
Sailor Steve
Eternal Patrol
 
Sailor Steve's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: High in the mountains of Utah
Posts: 50,369
Downloads: 745
Uploads: 249


Default

August 5

The Schlieffen Plan goes into effect. In 1893, alarmed by an alliance between France and Russia, German Chief of the General Staff Count Alfred von Schlieffen developed a plan to capture France quickly, before Russia could mobilize her huge armies. The plan involved invading through Belgium and The Netherlands with 90% of the Geman army, violating the neutrality of both those countries, then into France to quickly capture Paris. The remaining German forces would guard the French and Russian borders. Then, after capturing France, the main armies would rush eastward to the Russian border.

When Schlieffen retired in 1906 his successor, Helmuth von Moltke, modified the plan, believing that Russia could mobilize more quickly than previously thought. Moltke's plan placed 15% of the army on the eastern border, and 25% in Alsace-Lorraine, leaving 60% to attack Belgium. The Netherlands were left out of the plan, since Moltke thought Britain would not go to war over Belgium if Dutch neutrality was still respected.

As Britain began to mobilize the German admiralty informed von Moltke that they believed they could prevent British troopships from reaching France. Moltke replied "This is not necessary, and it will even be of advantage if the Arimies of the West can settle with the 160,000 English at the same time as the French and Belgians." The Kaiser's Order of the Day for August 4 said his First Army would "...exterminate the treacherous England, walk over General French's contemptible little army."

As German troops moved into Belgium they were met with sniper fire. Believing the attack came from the village of Hervé they fell on the town and destroyed most of the houses and the church, killing many of the villagers in the process. The Belgian Government protested, and the German government counter-protested, both citing the Hague Convention of 1907. Ultimately the Belgian government would forbid its citizens from resisting the Germans.

The first serious battle began at Liége. Thirty-five thousand German troops attacked the twelve forts defending the city, and failed to make a dent in the defenses.
__________________
“Never do anything you can't take back.”
—Rocky Russo
Sailor Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-14, 03:09 PM   #88
Sailor Steve
Eternal Patrol
 
Sailor Steve's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: High in the mountains of Utah
Posts: 50,369
Downloads: 745
Uploads: 249


Default

The Goeben affair, Part 2

Admiral Milne's orders had not changed. Assuming Souchon would either attack the French convoys or attempt to reach the Atlantic, Milne sent his battlecruisers to the middle of the Meditteranean, halfway between Sicily and Tunisia. On the afternoon of 5 August he was ordered to cover the Adriatic Sea, to "prevent the Austrians leaving or the Germans entering". For this purpose he dispatched Troubridge with his four armoured cruisers.

Just before dark on 5 August Goeben and Breslau left Messina, heading south. Milne, with Indefatigable and Inflexible, was north of Sicily when he heard of Souchon's departure, so he headed west to cover Gibraltar while his enemy was heading south and east. Indomitable, meanwhile, was coaling at Bizerta.
__________________
“Never do anything you can't take back.”
—Rocky Russo

Last edited by Sailor Steve; 08-06-14 at 08:59 AM.
Sailor Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-14, 06:09 AM   #89
Jimbuna
Chief of the Boat
 
Jimbuna's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: 250 metres below the surface
Posts: 180,310
Downloads: 63
Uploads: 13


Default

6th August

German zeppelin drops bombs on Liège, killing 9 civilians, the first ever civilian casualties due to aerial bombardment.

Belgium asks for French reinforcements, but only Sordet’s cavalry Corp, as a recon force, is sent.

General Leman is forced to leave Liège and take refuge in Fort Loncin on the western side of the city.

6000 German troops penetrate the Liège forts, and German troops again demands surrender; Belgian troops again refuse.

Liege: Forts Barchon, Chaudefontaine and Evequee silenced.

Longwy invested by the Germans.

Kingdom of Serbia declares war on the German Empire.

HMS Amphion, a scout cruiser, strikes a German mine off the Thames Estuary laid by the SS Königin Luise, killing 150 men, the first Royal Navy ship to be sunk in WWI.

The Ottoman Empire closes the Dardanelles straits, closing off the Mediterranean from the Black Sea ports of Russia.
__________________
Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.
Oh my God, not again!!


GWX3.0 Download Page - Donation/instant access to GWX (Help SubSim)
Jimbuna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-14, 08:15 AM   #90
TarJak
Fleet Admiral
 
TarJak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 17,052
Downloads: 150
Uploads: 8


Default

A proposal for an Australian expeditionary force was completed by Brigadier General William Throsby Bridges and his staff officer, Major Cyril Brudenell Bingham White.

White proposed a force of 18,000 men (12,000 Australians and 6,000 New Zealanders). This proposal was approved by Prime Minister Cook but he increased the offer to the British to 20,000 men to serve in any destination desired by the Home Government.

On 6 August 1914, London cabled its acceptance of the force and asked that it be sent as soon as possible.

Following a request by the British government on 6 August 1914—the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF) began forming.

The objectives of the force were the German stations at Yap in the Caroline Islands, Nauru and at Rabaul, New Britain.

The AN&MEF comprised one battalion of infantry (1,023 men) enlisted in Sydney, 500 naval reservists and ex-sailors organised into six companies who would serve as infantry and a further 500 men from the Kennedy Regiment, a Queensland militia battalion that had volunteered for overseas service and had been sent to garrison Thursday Island.

Last edited by TarJak; 08-06-14 at 08:27 AM.
TarJak is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:31 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 1995- 2024 Subsim®
"Subsim" is a registered trademark, all rights reserved.