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Jimbuna

09-17-14, 05:21 AM

17th September 1914

Western Front

The Aisne: Heavy fighting around Soissons.

Sir John French's second despatch (published 19 October).

Eastern Front

On the Eastern Front, Austrian forces steadily retreat from the advancing Russian 3rd and 8th armies fighting in southern Poland and along the Russian-Austrian border. The Germans then send the newly formed 9th Army to halt the Russians. This marks the beginning of a pattern in which the Germans will aid the weaker Austro-Hungarian Army.

Southern Front

Syrmia: Serbians evacuate Semlin.

Battle of the Drina ends.

Naval and Overseas Operations

British Naval Mission leaves Turkey.

Admiral Souchon (Imperial German navy) assumes control of Turkish navy.

German New Guinea and surrounding Colonies capitulate to Australian Expeditionary Force.

http://s27.postimg.org/p68310wrn/image.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/t2lex0hr3/full/)

South Africa: German raid near Nakob.

General Beyers dismissed from his command.

Political etc.

President Wilson receives a Belgian delegation to hear allegations of German war crimes.

The U.S. announces it will not seek indemnities from the new Mexican government for crimes committed under the Huerta regime.

Ship Losses:

Indrani ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 145 nautical miles (269 km) north by west of Cabo São Roque, Brazil by SMS Karlsruhe ( Kaiserliche Marine).

FISGARD II, repair ship, was central battery ironclad Invincible, 6,010t, 1869, 10-9in/4-6in, relegated to harbour service, boy artificers training ship, renamed Erebus in 1904, Fisgard II in 1906, based at Portsmouth with engines, steering gear and armament removed. She was one of two old Fisgard's scheduled to become repair workshops at Scapa Flow, 64 passage crew, being towed west-about by tugs Danube and Southampton, accompanied by Fisgard I, departed Portsmouth on 16th. Next day, off Portland in very heavy weather, water shipped through hawse pipes, machinery shifted to try to correct trim, both tug captains aware she was in distress but could not get her into Portland, finally heeled over on beam ends and foundered 5 miles off Portland Bill around 1620 (wi - 50.25N, 02.30W); one of four boats smashed during launching, 6 ratings and 11 dockyard personnel lost plus non-naval dockyard civilians – various contracted labourers from Portsmouth Dockyard (Rn - total of 23; He – 6 ratings, 11 dockyard labourers; dx/wi - 21). Fisgard I got into Plymouth. As Scapa Flow needed to be converted from an anchorage into a well-equipped fleet base, Fisgard II was a real loss to the Grand Fleet.

http://s24.postimg.org/i35g4ngqt/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

09-17-14, 12:18 PM

September 17:

At Suvarov (Suwarow) Atoll in the Cook Islands SMS Scharnhorst and Gneisenau meet with the collier O.J.D. Ahlers, but the sea is too rough for the difficult operation of manhandling bags of coal from one ship to the other. Admiral von Spee orders the group to proceed to the sheltered bay at Bora Bora.

Still lurking off the coast of Brazil, the lookouts aboard SMS Karlsruhe see a ship's lights approaching just before dawn. The captain of the collier SS Indrani had decided that since he was so far off the usual trade routes he should be safe keeping his lights on. Upon discovering that Indrani has 7,000 tons of coal aboard, Captain Köhler decides to keep her as a spare collier.

At about noon SMS Emden reaches the intersection between the Madras-Rangoon and Calcutta-Singapore trade routes and patrols the area for several hours. At nightfall the decision is taken to proceed to the Bay of Rangoon.

Jimbuna

09-18-14, 02:11 PM

18th September 1914

Western Front

The Aisne: Heavy fighting round Noyon and Reims.

General Ferdinand Foch is awarded the Grand Officer ribbon bar of the Legion of Honour for the Marne battle.

Eastern Front

Poland: Russians take Sandomierz.

General von Hindenburg appointed Commander-in-Chief of German Armies in Eastern Theatre.

Naval and Overseas Operations

South-west Africa: British occupy Luderitz Bay (which Germans had evacuated militarily on 10 August).

Political, etc.

Germany, France, and Britain discuss possible exchange of prisoners with the U.S. acting as an intermediary.

Prime Minister Asquith gives a speech at a recruiting meeting in Edinburgh.

The British-German Friendship Society in London is officially disbanded.

Suspensory Act of 1914 is given royal assent, which suspends the Acts for Irish Home Rule and Welsh Disestablishment until the war's end.

Ship Losses:

Montmagny ( Canada): The cargo ship collided with Lingan ( United Kingdom) in the St. Lawrence River and sank with the loss of fourteen of her crew.

Sailor Steve

09-18-14, 02:46 PM

September 18:

SMS Leipzig and SS Marie arrive at the Galapagos Islands. There they meet with the supply ship SS Amasis. There they maroon the captured crew of SS Elsinore, thinking it will be some time before the British sailors can be rescued and report the Germans' position.

SMS Dresden departs Hoste Island for the Pacific. Just a few hours after geting underway her lookouts spot the British freighter SS Ortega. Her captain, Douglas Kinnier, decides to make a run for it. He takes his 8,000-ton ship into the rocky uncharted waters of the Nelson Straight, knowing the German cruiser won't dare follow him. Ortega escapes and Kinnier reports Dresden's position. The Royal Navy later gave him a temporary commission just so they could award him with the Distinguished Service Cross.

Just off Rangoon Bay the lookouts aboard SMS Emden sighted smoke coming toward them in the early afternoon. Just before dark they intercepted the new ship. She turned out to be SS Dovre, a Norwegian freighter, headed from Penang to Rangoon. Her captain was friendly, spoke German, and offered to take the prisoners from Clan Matheson off his hands. He also told von Müller that he would steam slowly so he wouldn't arrive until late in the evening. He then gave them newspapers and told them that the French Cruisers Montcalm and Dupleix were docked at Penang. From the newpapers von Müller learned that the insurance companies were limiting shippin in the Bay of Bengal because of Emden's presence there.

Von Müller decided to head back toward Madras, since the British would be unlikely to look for him in a place he'd already been. During the night they picked up an open radio message confirming that 'QMD' was indeed HMS Hampshire. It was the first time they knew for certain what they had long suspected.

Jimbuna

09-19-14, 07:33 AM

19th September 1914

Western Front

The Aisne: Strong general German attacks: also on the Meuse forts (Verdun).

German 6th Army launches attacks around Flirey, France, located just south of Verdun.

First bombardment of Reims Cathedral by German artillery.

Eastern Front

300,000 Austro-Hungarian troops are on the Italian border in case Italy joins the Entente.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Admiral Troubridge recalled into enquiry into escape of "Goeben" and "Breslau".

Cattaro bombarded by French squadron.

First units of Indian Expeditionary Force "A" leave Egypt for Marseilles.

Political, etc.

Mr. Lloyd George's speech to Welshmen on German barbarities.

British and French Governments guarantee to Belgium the integrity of her colonies.

Secret agreement for mutual support concluded between Russian and Rumanian Governments.

Ship Losses:

Gamma ( Norway): The schooner was wrecked on Vlieland, Friesland, Netherlands with some loss of life.
Ocean ( Sweden): The schooner was wrecked on Vlieland. Her crew were rescued.

Sailor Steve

09-19-14, 09:30 AM

September 19:

"A great flood of luxury and sloth which had submerged the land is receding and a new Britain is appearing. We can see for the first time the fundamental things that matter in life, and that have been obscured from our vision by the tropical growth of prosperity."
-David Lloyd-George, Chancellor of the Exchequer, talking of Britain's newfound sense of sacrifice and determination in a speech at Queen's Hall, London, September 19, 1914

SMS Karlsruhe recieves a radio signal from the German consul in Pernambuco, Brazil, asking if they have seen SS Indrani. The consul had purchased her load of coal for use by German raiders and Indrani was now overdue. Captain Köhler has that cargo in hand but decides not to respond to the signal in case his reply is intercepted by the British. Since he already has the coal Köhler decides to keep Indrani as his personal collier.

In the Indian Ocean SMS Emden takes advantage of another beautiful day to practice recoaling at sea, from their faithful collier Markomannia. That night they pick up several wireless signals from 'QMD', and reckon from their strength that HMS Hampshire is no more than ten miles away.

Jimbuna

09-20-14, 08:55 AM

20th September 1914

Western Front

The Aisne: Heavy fighting round Noyon and Reims. Bombardment of Reims Cathedral.

Eastern Front

East Prussian Frontier: Russians abandon Augustovo: Germans lay siege to Osovyets.

Political, etc.

32-year-old Colonel George S. Patton of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) writes to his father from the Western Front in France, recounting his experiences during the American-led offensive against the Germans at Saint-Mihiel earlier that month.

China institutes martial law in several cities and provinces, as a precaution against a possible rebellion.

Naval and Overseas Operations

H.M.S. "Pegasus" disabled by German cruiser "Konigsberg" at Zanzibar.

PEGASUS, 3rd class or light cruiser, Pelorus-class, 2,135t, 1897, 8‑4in/8-3pdr QF/2-18in tt, 20kts, c224 crew, Cape of Good Hope Station in August 1914, sent to East Africa, Capt John Alexander Ingles, during searches for Königsberg (10-4.1in), Pegasus had developed machinery defects and put into Zanzibar to repair them, also partly to protect the port. Although there was no indication Königsberg was in the vicinity, armed tug Helmuth patrolled the South Channel, Pegasus's men slept at their guns at night and steam was kept at two hours notice as she lay off the town. Helmuth saw a vessel approaching at 0525, steamed out to warn her off and received two blank rounds, Königsberg opened fire from 9,000yds and straddled the outranged Pegasus, within 8min all engaged guns were disabled but after a five minute pause the shelling continued. Königsberg ceased fire at 0555 and withdrew having done little damage to the town itself. Although badly holed on the water line, Pegasus was still afloat with engines untouched, attempts were made to beach her, but she turned over and sank in Zanzibar harbour around 1415; 1 officer and 31 ratings killed, 1 officer and 1 rating DOW the same day, followed by one rating each on 26th, 27th, 6/10, 8/10, a total of 38 (Rn - 2 officers DOW, 24 crew killed, five more DOW, 55 wounded; ke - 31 lost), survivors rescued by boats from collier Banffshire. Königsberg returned to the Rufuji River delta and was not discovered there until the end of October.

SMS Königsberg
http://s2.postimg.org/gkif5ucmh/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

HMS Pegasus
http://s16.postimg.org/w2506n8f9/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Ship Losses:

HMS Pegasus ( Royal Navy): World War I: The Pelorus-class cruiser was shelled and sunk by SMS Königsberg ( Kaiserliche Marine) in Zanzibar harbour with the loss of 38 of her 224 crew. The wreck was scrapped in 1955.
USRC Tahoma (Ensign of the United States Revenue-Marine (1868).png United States Revenue Cutter Service): The cutter ran aground on an uncharted rock off of the Aleutian Islands.
HMS Yarmouth II ( Royal Navy): The ship was driven ashore between Margate and Westgate-on-Sea, Kent.

Sailor Steve

09-20-14, 12:55 PM

September 20:

Speaking of the pushing-back of the Germans to the Aisne river, Winston Churchill writes to a friend "Doom has fallen upon Prussian military arrogance. Time and determination are all that is needed."

Sometime after midnight, after several hours sailing southward and well away from HMS Hampshire, Karl von Müller alters course to the east for the port city of Madras (today called Chennai), 1145 nautical miles from Rangoon and not quite three days steaming for Emden at 12 knots. The intent is to raid an enemy port at the opposite end of the Bay of Bengal from previous operations.

Jimbuna

09-21-14, 07:04 AM

21st September 1914

Western Front

The Aisne: French recover Noyon and advance to Lassigny in effort to turn the German right wing.

Troyon again attack.

Eastern Front

East Prussian Frontier: Germans reach the Niemen.

Galicia: Russians take Jaroslau.

Political, etc.

Mr. Winston Churchill's Liverpool speech.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen:— It is well that the force and spirit of all classes and interests in the British Empire are all flowing together into one great channel, and moves forward to the realization of the whole strength of the British people. The times in which we live are terrible; the course of events has passed outside the boundaries of the most daring imagination. The actual facts are so stunning, the scale of all the phenomena presented to our view so vast, that we can only feel, each one of us, that we must just lay hold of the next obvious simple step which duty indicates. [Cheers.] How we shall reach the end we cannot see now. But the immediate step before us we can see quite plainly. [Cheers.]
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Great_Speeches_of_the_War/Churchill_(2)

Naval and Overseas Operations

Japanese warplanes and warships begin shelling German forts in Tsingtao, China.

German armed forces in New Guinea surrender to the Australian Expeditionary Force.

Ship Losses:

Belgian King ( United Kingdom): The cargo liner foundered in the Black Sea off Cape Kureli, Ottoman Turkey with the loss of 22 of the 120 people on board. Survivors were rescued by Princesse Eugenie ( Russia).
Cornish City ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 245 nautical miles (454 km) south west of the St Paul Rocks, Brazil by SMS Karlsruhe ( Kaiserliche Marine).

Sailor Steve

09-21-14, 11:24 AM

September 21:

A storm has been brewing off the Dutch coast, in more ways than one, for more than a day. The three old armored cruisers Aboukir, Cressy and Hogue, have been patrolling there, looking for German activity. By nightfall the storm as picked up to full gale force, and the squadron of destroyers escorting them has been sent home as the small destroyers of that time could not survive in such weather. Also in the area is a German submarine, U-9. In this weather she also cannot operate on the surface, so her captain, Otto Weddigen, has taken her to 100 meters to ride it out.

Graf Spee's squadron recoals in the lagoon at Bora Bora, part of the Society Islands and 124 nautical miles from Tahiti. Once the coaling is done Admiral von Spee sets course in that direction. Like captain von Müller, Spee, frustrated with his lack of success against the British and Australian squadrons, has decided to raid the port city of Papeete.

Off the coast of Brazil SMS Karlsruhe captures and sinks the Dutch freighter Maria, 3,648 tons, with gunfire. Later that night or early the next morning she captures and scuttles the British steamer Cornish City, 3,816 tons.

SMS Königsberg is back at her hideaway in the Rufiji river, but she is now in trouble. Her engines were already in need of overhaul, but the high-speed retreat after her attack on Pegasus has left her with burst pipes and damaged valves and guages. A machine shop would be needed to make repairs, as no spares are available anywhere in Africa.

The crew of SMS Emden spend the day at gun practice, in anticipation of a possible encounter with British warships during tomorrow's raid on Madras. Even if this didn't happen the Emden would still have to deal with the St. George Battery, a group of 5.9" guns. Though these were old they were still larger than Emden's 4.1" guns.

Jimbuna

09-22-14, 06:35 AM

22nd September 1914

Western Front

The Aisne: A day of comparative calm.

First Battle of Picardy begins.

Eastern Front

Galicia: Russians approach Przemysl.

Aviation

First use of wireless telegraphy from aeroplane to artillery.

Dusseldorf: sheds raided by British airmen.

Naval and Overseas Operations

South Africa: Botha assumes command in place of Beyers.

"Emden" bombards Madras.

"Scharnhorst" and "Gneisenau" bombard Pepeete (French Tahiti).

H.M.S.'s "Aboukir", "Hogue" and "Cressy" sunk by submarine.

Southern Force (Adm Christian) had the task of keeping waters south of Dogger Bank clear of German torpedo craft and minelayers, also to protect troop movements across the English Channel. Patrols were carried out by Harwich Force (Cdre Tyrwhitt) with light cruiser leaders and 1st and 3rd DF's in cooperation with submarines of 8th Overseas Flotilla, and supported by armoured cruiser Euryalus (flag), attached light cruiser Amethyst, and 7th CS or Cruiser Force C with armoured cruisers Bacchante (flag, Adm Campbell), Cressy, Aboukir, Hogue, based on the Nore. One patrol area was off the Dogger Bank and one in the Broad Fourteens off the Dutch coast, weather was so bad on 17th that both destroyer flotillas had to be ordered home, leaving only the Dogger Bank being watched by Euryalus, Hogue and Aboukir, with Cressy back home coaling and Bacchante in dock for repairs.

The Admiralty was already aware the armoured cruisers were not suitable for this work and plans were in hand to reassign the "Live Bait Squadron" to less risky duties. On the 19th, only the patrol in the Broad Fourteens was to be maintained, but the weather was still too bad for destroyers to come out. On the 20th, Adm Christian had to leave in Euryalus to coal and for repairs to his wireless, and was unable to transfer his flag to Aboukir because of heavy seas. Command therefore passed to Aboukir’s Capt Drummond, who was joined by the re-coaled Cressy. Still no destroyers could join them then or thoughout the 21st, but then Fearless (Cdre Tyrwhitt) and eight destroyers were able to leave Harwich. Early on the 22nd, Admiralty received message "Aboukir and Hogue sinking" and more ships were sent out.

Cruiser Force C, the three large or 1st class armoured cruisers (Cressy-class, 12,000t, 2-9.2in/12-6in/14-12pdr/2-18in tt, 21kts, c700 crew) was steaming abreast and unescorted in a northeasterly direction i.e. towards German bases at the time, two miles apart, at 10kts and not zig-zagging, although on the lookout for submarines and each with two guns loaded and crews closed up. Aboukir was torpedoed at 0630, Hogue started rescue operations but was then torpedoed herself, followed by Cressy, all sunk by U.9 (Lt-Cdr Otto Weddigen) in 52.18N, 03.41E, about 30 miles W by S of Ymuiden (dx - off Maas LV); over 1,460 men were lost including many old reservists and young midshipmen, more than the British losses at the Battle of Trafalgar, 60 officers and 777 men were saved in total by Dutch steamships Flora (170), Titan (147), Lowestoft sailing trawlers Coriander and J.G.C. (280) and ships of Harwich Force which arrived at 1045:

HMS Aboukir
http://s25.postimg.org/d2gkfgxkf/hms1.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

HMS Cressey
http://s25.postimg.org/5nr8n3bov/hms1.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

HMS Houge
http://s25.postimg.org/61x60fl67/hms1.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

U.9
http://s25.postimg.org/srwatf4dr/hms1.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Ship Losses:

HMS Aboukir ( Royal Navy): Action of 22 September 1914: The Cressy-class cruiser was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off the Dutch coast by SM U-9 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 527 lives.
HMS Cressy ( Royal Navy): Action of 22 September 1914: The Cressy-class cruiser was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off the Dutch coast by SM U-9 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HMS Hogue ( Royal Navy): Action of 22 September 1914: The Cressy-class cruiser was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off the Dutch coast by SM U-9 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Kilmarnock ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 31 nautical miles (57 km) east of Spurn Point, Yorkshire with the loss of six of her crew.
Mauritzia ( Sweden): The schooner was driven ashore on Öland and was wrecked.[18]
Rothenfield ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was sunk as a blockship in Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands.
Rio Iguassu ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 155 nautical miles (287 km) south west by west of the St Paul Rocks, Brazil by SMS Karlsruhe ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Urmston Grange ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was sunk as a blockship in Scapa Flow.
Zélée ( French Navy): The gunboat was shelled and sunk at Papeete, Tahiti by SMS Gneisenau and SMS Scharnhorst (both Kaiserliche Marine).

Sailor Steve

09-22-14, 11:33 AM

September 22:

Two Sopwith Tabloids, piloted by Major Eugene Gerrard and Lieutenant Charles Collett, mount a raid on the Zeppelin shed at Golzheim, outside Dusselforf. Gerrard has to land with an engine problem, but Collet manages to drop three bombs on the facility. One lands outside the shed, and the blast breaks some windows. The other two fail to explode. Meanwhile Lieutenant Reginald Marix in another Tabloid and Lieutenant-Commander Spenser Grey and observer Lieutenant Edward Newton Clare in a B.E.2 attempt to attack the sheds at Cologne but are forced to turn back due to increasingly bad weather.

The day dawns clear over the North Sea. According to the account given by Johann Spiess, first officer of U-9, they surfaced to find the sky completely cloudless. Spiess spots three small smoke columns in the distance and alerts captain Weddigen, who is at breakfast. Weddigen comes to the bridge and looks at the smoke for some time, then orders a dive. Over the next several minutes he makes repeated periscope observations. Finally he tells his crew "Three light cruisers. Four funnels. Probably Town-class boats." Speiss considers this to be revenge for U-15, as HMS Birmingham had been a Town-class cruiser.

The three ships keep on their course, directly for U-9's position. At 06:20 Weddigen orders one torpedo to be fired. The stopwatch counts out thirty-one seconds and the sound of an explosion is heard.

HMS Aboukir is hit on the starboard beam and immediately begins to list. The officers of Cressy and Hogue assume their sister ship has struck a mine, and rush to the rescue. Aboard U-9 the empty torpedo tube is reloaded. This same boat and crew had been the very first to reload a torpedo underwater, back in July, and they are skilled at the maneuver. At 07:55, range 300 yards, Weddigen sends both his torpedoes toward Hogue and orders full astern. With the tubes empty U-9 bobs to the surface and Hogue's guns open up on her as both torpedoes strike home. Weddigen and Speiss get their boat under control and underwater. At the same time Aboukir also sinks beneath the waves. Ten minutes later Hogue rolls over and disappears as well.

With his batteries getting low Weddigen orders the last bow torpedo loaded, but turns the boat around to give Cressy both stern tubes. Lookouts aboard the cruiser spot the wakes and the captain orders a turn-away to comb the torpedoes. The first misses but the second strikes home. Weddigen again turns his boat around and fires his last eel. It is a good shot, and Cressy begins to sink.

"The periscope revealed a fearful picture. The giant with four funnels turned slowly over to port. Men climbed like ants over her side and then, as she turned turtle completely, they ran about on her broad flat keel until, in a few minutes, she disappeared beneath the waves. We watched, fascinated, with a sense of tragic horror. For long minutes we were lost as if in some kind of a trance."
-Johann Spies

U-9 creeps slowly away until out of sight of the carnage she has created, then surfaces to recharge her depleted batteries. Weddigen then spends the night at the bottom of the Channel. On the morning of the 23rd they surface and head for Wilhelmshaven. It is only upon arriving in port that they find that, rather than the light cruisers they had supposed, they have actually destroyed three large armored cruisers. Otto Weddigen will become the first German Naval officer to win the Pour le Mérite.

In the Pacific, at dawn Maximilian von Spee and this armored cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau reach Papeete. The French have heard about Spee's visit to Appia, and they are ready. The fort opens fire on the two ships. They return fire and the fort's guns are soon quiet. Also silenced are the guns of the gunboat Zelée, which have been mounted ashore. Zelée herself and the captured German merchant Walküre are sunk. The governor of Tahiti orders their coal stores set on fire. Spee realizes the raid now has no point, and his ships turn away toward the Marquesas.

Off the coast of Brazil SMS Karlsruhe comes across SS Rio Iguassu, carrying coal to Brazil. The crew are taken aboard one of the supply ships and Rio Iguassu is scuttled. Later in the day Karlsruhe comes across SS Ascaro, carrying grain from Brazil to Italy. Since Italy is neutral the ship is allowed to proceed on its way.

In the Bay of Bengal SMS Emden mounts her raid on Madras just after dark. Captain von Müller has his men bathe and put on clean clothes to help prevent infections if they are wounded. The lifeboats are filled with water to help prevent fires if they are hit. At sunset the false fourth funnel is erected. The lights of Madras are sighted at around 20:00 hours. The officers are surprised - they had expected the city to be blacked out. At 21:00 the ship is cleared for action and speed raised to 17 knots. At 21:45 the ship is turned to port and stopped, about 3,000 yards from the city. The forward searchlight is turned on and the order given to open fire. Von Müller has ordered his gunnery officer, Lt. Gaede, to be sure that no shells land in the city. The target is the oil tanks at the port. The first salvo is long, but the second found its target. Flames erupt from the stricken oil tank, and fire is switched to the next in line. Two shells find their target, but nothing happens. The tank is empty. The third tank bursts into flame almost immediately. At this point the shore batteries open fire. Some shells fall with 100 yards or so, but Emden is not hit.

After 125 rounds von Müller gives the cease-fire order. Several oil tanks and some port buildings have been destroyed. Given the number of shells fired casualties were light. One shell hit the steamer Chupra at its dock. Joseph Fletcher has the dubious distinction of being the only merchant sailor ever killed by Emden. Von Müller orders the ship's lights turned so anyone looking can see the ship steaming away to the north. Once well clear of the city the lights are doused and Emden turns southward. Prince Franz Josef of Hohenzollern writes that in the morning they could see the smoke clouds sixty miles away.

Estimates of the fuel oil burned range from 300,000 to 425,000 gallons, at a cost of roughly 20 million gold marks. More importantly, citizens are fleeing the city and British guarantees of safety are now met with extreme skepticism. Merchants and bankers leave the city, wrecking its economy for weeks. Shipping is halted throughout the region. Karl von Müller and SMS Emden are becoming a legend.

"The escape of the Emden from the bay of Bengal is most unsatisfactory, and I do not understand on what principle the operations of the four cruisers Hampshire, Yarmouth, Dupleix, and Chickuma have been concerned. From the chart, they appear to be working entirely disconnected and with total lack of direction."
-First Sea Lord Winston Churchill

Bilge_Rat

09-22-14, 03:27 PM

20th September 1914

Political, etc.

32-year-old Colonel George S. Patton of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) writes to his father from the Western Front in France, recounting his experiences during the American-led offensive against the Germans at Saint-Mihiel earlier that month.

In september 1914, 28 year-old George S. Patton was a 2nd Lieutenant assigned to Fort Meyer, Virginia.

You are 4 years too early. Does'nt anyone proof read these posts? :D

Sailor Steve

09-22-14, 03:36 PM

Does'nt anyone proof read these posts? :D
It's difficult. I've had a few discussions about mistakes. When someone points out an error in mine I try to go back and fix it, or discuss why I think it's not a error. While I have the authority to edit other people's posts, I'm reluctant to do so for relatively minor reasons. On the other hand corrections such as yours are more than welcome, as they help remind us that having the facts correct in a thread such as this is the most important thing.

In this case you are correct about the date. It should be 1918 rather than 1914.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-officer-george-s-patton-writes-home-after-saint-mihiel-offensive

Bilge_Rat

09-22-14, 03:39 PM

Steve, I was only kidding. I love this thread.

Sailor Steve

09-22-14, 03:40 PM

Steve, I was only kidding. I love this thread.
I recognize that. It's still true, though. Corrections are always welcome. :sunny:

Jimbuna

09-23-14, 04:44 AM

In september 1914, 28 year-old George S. Patton was a 2nd Lieutenant assigned to Fort Meyer, Virginia.

You are 4 years too early. Does'nt anyone proof read these posts? :D

Obviously not me...I was only four years off :)

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-officer-george-s-patton-writes-home-after-saint-mihiel-offensive

Well spotted :sunny:

Jimbuna

09-23-14, 06:17 AM

23rd September 1914

Western Front

The Aisne: The battle extends northward along the River Oise.

Southern Front

Bosnia: Serbians and Montenegrins make progress towards Sarajevo.

Naval and Overseas Operations

British force joins Japanese army before Tsingtau. Force landed September 22nd; in action September 24th.

Political etc.

Marconi Wireless Company plans suit to challenge U.S. censorship laws on wireless communications.

Ship Losses:

Rebono ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) east by north of the Spurn Lightship ( United Kingdom) with the loss of a crew member.

Sailor Steve

09-23-14, 11:54 AM

September 23:

Based on the appearances of Graf Spee's armored cruisers at the Carolines, Samoa, and now Tahiti, Australian Admiral George Edwin Patey concludes that his guess that Spee was heading for South America was correct. The Admiralty reaches a different conclusion and wires him the following orders: "It is very probable that Gneisenau and Scharnhorst may repeat attacks similar to one at Papeete; they may be expected to return towards Samoa, Fiji and even New Zealand. Making Suva your base, search in these waters." The Admiralty's main concern is the safety of ANZAC troop convoys, and they consider the damage Spee might do if he continues eastward to be of less importance. First Sea Lord Winston Churchill writes "At any rate for several weeks we need not worry about their ships." Of course this also means that for several weeks Spee need not worry about Allied warships.

Since repairs to SMS Königsberg will take many weeks, Captain Looff sets up a telephone and telegraph network thoughout his area, intended to notify him of any British warships long before they can reach his hideaway. He also dismounts all his ship's smaller guns and begins to dig gun emplacements and trenches in case the enemy tries to land soldiers. Looff also is in contact with the wireless station at the German Southwest Africa city of Windhoek, so he has immediate access to his superiors in Berlin.

The nearest British ship to Zanzibar is HMS Chatham, escorting troop transports in the Red Sea. Captain Sidney Drury-Lowe recieves orders to proceed to Aden and recoal, then to head south and "...destroy the Königsberg at all costs." This message is also sent to the two new cruisers Dartmouth and Weymouth, but they are at Bombay and Port Said, so it will be two weeks before they can be in a position to search for Königsberg.

SMS Emden is proceeding southward, captain von Müller intending to try his luck around Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Before dawn they meet up with their collier, Markomannia. They pass the French port of Pondicherry (Puducherry) and the British port of Cuddalore, hoping to find some merchant shipping in the wide open bays which serve as harbors to those cities, but meet with disappointment.

Jimbuna

09-24-14, 07:28 AM

24th September 1914

Western Front

The Aisne: The battle tends to stalemate.

Peronne occupied by the Germans.

Eastern Front

Russian forces begin first invasion of North Hungary.

Fortress town of Przemysl, held by 138,000 Austro-Hungarian troops, comes under siege by 300,000 Russian troops.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Tsing-tau: British force arrives at Laoshun to assist the Japanese.

Naval and Overseas Operations

U.S. decides to keep the armored cruisers Tennessee and North Carolina in European waters to safeguard American interests.

Kaiser Wilhelm's Land (New Guinea): Australians occupy town of Friedrich Wilhelm.

Political etc.

Senator Sheppard of Texas proposes cutting pay of the President, Senators, and Representatives to decrease expenditures.

Sailor Steve

09-24-14, 10:10 AM

September 24:

Donald Swain Lewis and Baron Trevenen James of No. 4 Squadron, RFC, make the first recorded use of airborne wireless to direct artillery during the First Battle of the Aisne. Their radio log runs for forty minutes.

Sources vary as to the exact date. That given here previously, the 22nd, is possibly the correct one, and at least one source lists the 14th.

Jimbuna

09-25-14, 11:41 AM

25th September 1914

Western Front

The Aisne: Reims again bombarded.

Battle of Albert begun by the Germans to prevent encirclement.

Noyon and Lassigny taken from the French.

Camp-des-Romains and St. Mihiel on the Meuse taken by the Germans.

Eastern Front

East Prussian Frontier: Russians driven across the Niemen, which they proceed to defend.

Naval Operations

HMS Stag, destroyer, D-class, probably Forth-based 8th Patrol Flotilla. On patrol when two torpedoes fired at her off Isle of May, Firth of Forth, torpedo also fired at another destroyer.

Political, etc.

Hindenburg placed in command of combined Austro-German offensive in Poland and Galicia.

Premier Asquith makes a speech at the Mansion House, Dublin, urging the Irish to help defend “our common cause.”

James Whitney, Premier of Ontario, dies while in office.

Ship Losses:

Bankfields ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Gulf of Guayaquil by SMS Leipzig ( Kaiserliche Marine).
King Lud ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Indian Ocean 25 nautical miles (46 km) south south west of Point de Galle, Ceylon by SMS Emden ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Tymeric ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Indian Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) west by north of Colombo, Ceylon by SMS Emden ( Kaiserliche Marine).

Sailor Steve

09-25-14, 01:36 PM

September 25:

SMS Leipzig has left the Galapagos Islands and is again cruising the South American coast. On the 25th she is patrolling the coast of Ecuador and at 0800 hours runs into SS Bankfields, a British freighter registered at 3,768 tons and carrying 5,000 tons of sugar. By 0855 the boarding party has taken Bankfields. Her crew are transfered to Marie and the prize crew follows their cruiser further out to sea, where she is scuttled at 1530 hours. Leipzig and Marie then set course for the Lobos de Afuera Islands.

Cruising down the south-east coast of Ceylon, SMS Emden encounters SS King Lud, an English freighter, 3,650 tons, running in ballast. While carrying no cargo, the King Lud does have its own supply of stores, including grain and potatoes. Emden's stewards are sent over to supervise the transfer of the food stores. When this is done King Lud's seacocks are opened and scuttling charges are detonated. At 1600 hours, with the freighter mostly under the water, Emden takes her leave, setting a course westard toward the port city of Colombo.

At 2200 hours Emden is thirty miles south of Colombo. Avoiding the mistakes of Madras, Colombo has searchlights combing the sea. At 2100 the lookouts sight a merchant ship, lit up as if they had not heard of the German raider preying on their shipping lanes. Justifiably so, as it turns out to be the neutral Norwegian tanker SS Oceanis.

An hour later they come upon yet another ship, sailing out of Colombo and though darkened herself she is clearly marked out by the city's searchlights. At 2300 hours Emden intercepts SS Tymeric, a 3,500-ton English freighter carrying 4,000 tons of sugar. The ship is forced to follow Emden further out into the ocean, so she will be sunk far away from Colombo. No sooner is a prize crew on board than the English captain begins cursing his captors. Leutnant Lauterbach sends a boat back to the cruiser asking for permission to sink the freighter immediately. Permission is granted, and the scuttling crew is sent over. The British crew are forced to leave with minimal possession, leaving behind all the recently purchased Japanese souvenirs. The crew blamed their own captain for this, rather than the Germans, and some of them swore that they would get even with him later.

Before Tymeric could be scuttled lights were sighted approaching from a distance. This was almost certainly the Dutch mail packet Konigin Emma, which had already radioed the port requesting a pilot. The Germans waited quitely in the dark until she had passed, then set about sinking their captive freighter. It was shortly past midnight.

A side-note: The crew of the Emden had been lucky again. As they travelled down the east coast of Ceylon the Japanese cruiser Chikuma was proceeding up the west coast, on her way to join the hunt.

Jimbuna

09-26-14, 08:39 AM

26th September 1914

Western Front

The Aisne: Local combats only.

Battle of Albert: Fierce fight from Oise to Somme.

First Battle of Picardy ends inconclusively as the French fail to outflank the German forces.

Bapaume occupied by German forces.

St. Mihiel: Vain German efforts to cross the Meuse.

Siege of Antwerp begun by the Germans.

Indian troops land at Marseilles.

Eastern Front

East Prussian Frontier: Battle of the Niemen (26-28 September): Vain German efforts to cross.

Siege of Osovyets: Vain German assaults.

Galicia: Russians occupy Rzeszov.

http://s22.postimg.org/44eb2638x/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Tsing-tau: German outposts driven in.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Cheerful, destroyer, C-class, with patrol or local defence flotilla. On patrol when two torpedoes fired at her 3 miles W of Fidra island, in Firth of Forth.

South Africa: British reverse at Sandfontein.

Political etc.

U.S. Navy Secretary Daniels calls for more submarines and for the U.S. to “learn the lesson now being taught by the war in Europe.”

Sailor Steve

09-26-14, 12:07 PM

September 26:

Graf Spee and his armored cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau reach Nuku Hiva in the Marqesas, where they rejoin Nurnberg and their four supply ships. French authorities there can do nothing, as they have no defenses and no radio.

In the Indian Ocean the crew of SMS Emden are still up, enjoying the latest newspapers captured from SS Tymeric. Among the articles are the story of U-9 and the sinking of the three British armored cruisers. They also read the story of their own cruise, including a detailed account of the shelling of Madras.

"The Emden has had a momentous cruise. The ship's company have proved their gallantry. We admire the sportsmanship shown in their exploits as much as we heartily wish that the ship may be soon taken."
-London Daily Chronicle

Most entertaining of all is this advertisement: "There is no doubt that the cruiser Emden had knowledge that the Indus was carrying 150 cases of North-West Soap Company's celebrated Elysium Soap, and hence the pursuit. The men on the Emden and their clothes are now clean and sweet, thanks to Elysium Soap. Try It!"

At about 0100 hours another ship is sighted. Emden closes and a boarding party is sent over, led by Lt. Lauterbach and Lt. Zimmermann. The ship is SS Gryfevale, 4,437 tons, travelling in ballast. Captain von Müller decides to use this ship as his latest "dump", or holding place for his prisoners, since Markomannia is nearly out of coal and he needs to send her to Simeulue to get more from Pontoporos.

At dawn another ship is sighted. Even from a distance they can see the Dutch flag, so they watch her sail away. Some time later Emden picks up a radio exchange. A British ship asks the Dutchman if they've seen any sign of the German raider. The Dutch ship replies "For reasons of neutrality, answer refused." The crew of Emden are not sure if the ship had seen them. If so, then at least one neutral captain acted as he should.

Jimbuna

09-27-14, 06:51 AM

27th September 1914

Western Front

The Aisne: Battle dying down.

Battle of Albert: Heavy fighting continued.

Malines occupied by the Germans.

Siege of Antwerp begins:
After the fall of Liège on 16th August the Belgian King, Albert I, had ordered his 65,000 Belgian troops in the field to withdraw to Antwerp, where they joined with the 80,000 strong garrison holding the fortified city. During the late August battles in southern Belgium and northern France, as the French and the British Expeditionary Force were being pushed towards the Marne by the Imperial German armies, the Belgian troops in Antwerp had posed a threat to the German First Army of General von Kluck by attacking his rear columns. The Germans decided to take Antwerp to dispel this threat.

First Battle of Artois begins 'Race to the Sea':
Over the next few weeks from late September to the end of November 1914 the Allied and German Armies attempted to outflank one another, responding to each other manoeuvring their armies to make a stand or cover their exposed northern flank. Operationally it was not an intentional race to reach the French or Belgian coast before the other. However, the fight to capture the unoccupied ground on each other's northern flank, the German attempt to capture more French ground and reach Paris, against the French determination to hold up their enemy's advance resulted in the movement of the armies in a north-westerly direction towards the coast. Battles took place as the armies sidestepped one another towards the French-Belgian coast and the Channel ports of Calais, Dunkirk, Ostend and Zeebrugge. This period of fighting has become known as “The Race to the Sea”.

Eastern Front

Galicia: Russians press on towards Cracow and the Carpathian Passes.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Attentive, scout cruiser, Adventure-class, 6th DF leader, Dover Patrol. U.18, the first ever U-boat to pass through the Dover Straits, spotted Attentive off Dover and fired a torpedo which was narrowly avoided.

Admiralty collier (and two British steamships) captured by Emden, most of the crews transferred to SS Gryfevale :
BURESK, Admiralty collier, 4,337/1914, Buresk SS Co, London-reg, Mr Frederick Taylor, Port Said for Hong Kong with 6,000t high-grade Welsh coal. Captured 180 miles W by N¾N true from Colombo (L - in 07.55N, 76.50E; kp - 07.24N, 76.41E), retained as prison ship and collier under command of Lt-Cdr R Kloepper, coaled Emden in Nicobar Islands on 26 October, approached Keeling Island to coal her again, chased by HMAS Sydney after Emden was destroyed on 9 November and overhauled, but German prize crew were already scuttling her, boarding party found inlet valves opened and damaged (L - sunk by HMAS Sydney at Keeling Island).

Japanese forces advance in Tsingtao after a 14 hour battle with German forces.

Allied forces captured Duala, Cameroons; light cruiser Challenger, gunboat Dwarf, Niger Flotilla gunboats Ivy, Porpoise, Remus took part.

Ship Losses:

Foyle ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Indian Ocean 300 nautical miles (560 km) west by north of Colombo, Ceylon by SMS Emden ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Lacouna ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was driven ashore on Ferryland Head, Newfoundland and was wrecked. Her crew were rescued.
Ribera ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Indian Ocean 210 nautical miles (390 km) west by north of Colombo by SMS Emden ( Kaiserliche Marine).

Sailor Steve

09-27-14, 11:07 AM

September 27:

Group de Bombardment No. 1, the world's first bomb group, is organized in France under Major Louis de Goÿs.

In Africa HMS Chatham arrives at Mombasa, and Captain Drury-Lowe is relieved to find the city still under British control. On the other hand he is amazed to find German citizens roaming freely in the town, and he telegraphs the Governor of British East India to arrest all Germans in the colony, and have them interred at Nairobi. Before departing he sets up defenses with barbed wire and machine guns, and mines the entrance to the harbor.

In the Indian Ocean, at about 0300 hours lookouts aboard SMS Emden sight the lights of yet another ship apparently believing itself to be safe. Behind is another ship, blacked out. Captain von Müller immediately orders Emden cleared for action on the assumption that they are facing a warship. Upon approach it turns out that the second "ship" is actually a large cloud of smoke thrown out of the real ship while cleaning the fireboxes. Leutnants Levetzow and Gyssling go aboard and report that the ship is SS Buresk, 4,350 tons, chartered by the Admiralty and carrying 6,600 tons of prime Cardiff coal from England to Hong Kong. This is more coal than Markomannia carried when they departed Tsingtao on August 6, and it is the best in the world. Emden is now set for a good long time.

Von Müller now plans to use Markomannia's last coal reserves and abandon her. To this end Kapitanleutnant Klopper is made captain of Buresk, with Leutnants Schmidt and Gyssling as watch officers and Torpedomaschinist Wittkopf as Chief Engineer. Two machinist's mates, two sailors and three stokers are also sent over, with the bulk of Buresk's original arab crew being retained. The captain, Chief Engineer, Second Engineer, a Steward, and the Norwegian Cook all ask permission to remain with their ship. Von Müller finds this an odd request, since if they go aboard Gryfevale they will soon be free and remaining on Buresk means they will be prisoners for as long as their ship is needed. Still, a sailor's ship is his home and the request is granted.

Prince Franz Joseph of Hohenzollern gives a nice description of the ship's Sunday services. Protestant services are conducted by the senior Protestant officer, in this case the Captain himself, on the aft middle deck. Catholic services are held in the forecastle and conducted by the senior officer of that faith, the ship's adjutant Leutnant von Guerard. On this day he is on duty in the wireless room, and the worship service is run by Leutnant Hohenzollern. He describes the ship's band playing hymns and gives details of each service. Captain von Müller places great importance on these proceedings, since they break up the monotony of the weekdays. Afterward the crew are allowed as much freedom of activity as is possible in wartime.

On this particular Sunday the afternoon is interrupted by a message from Lt. Lauterbach aboard Gryfevale: "The captured ships' companies are making trouble through drunkenness. Some fighting. Have put a number of men in irons. Urgently request reinforcement." Apparently it started when an English sailor insulted a Chinese cook, and recieved a tureen of soup on his head in return. Von Müller takes Emden alongside the prison ship and hails Lauterbach with a megaphone. He orders the leutnant to confiscate the liquor, which is almost gone anyway. The English captains apologize for their men's behavior and get everything calmed down.

Emden's officers are eating their lunch of soup, corned beef with rice, and stewed fruit when they notice the ship is picking up speed. They rush to advantageous viewpoints and are rewarded with the sight of a smoke column far ahead. The search party and prize crew are organized under Oberleutnant Geerdes and Leutnant Schall. When they are close enough the new ship is ordered to stop and the prize crew sent across. The ship is English, SS Ribera, 3,500 tons, travelling in ballast. The Emden takes aboard as much of the provisions as she can hold, sending the rest to Gryfevale along with Ribera's crew. Kapitanleutnant von Gaede gets to use his guns again, and Ribera sinks quickly.

From Ribera's signal book it is discovered that she recently passed a British troop convoy consisting of around seventy ships and escorted by the battleship Swiftsure and the Russian armored cruiser Askold. The Emden's officers start thinking that maybe it's time to disappear again.

At nightfall they encounter yet another British merchant, this time SS Foyle, 4,147 tons, again travelling without cargo. As they are preparing to sink her another set of lights is spotted. Emden runs this new ship down, but it turns out to be the Dutch mail packet Djocja. Before letting her go Geerdes and Schall manage to buy some cigarettes from them. After the Dutch ship is out of sight Foyle is scuttled and left to sink.

Jimbuna

09-28-14, 07:14 AM

28th September 1914

Western Front

Yser: Germans retake Lobartzyde.

Neuve-Chapelle retaken by the British.

Malines taken by German forces.

Eastern Front

Russian counterattack at the Battle of the Niemen forces Germany to retreat back to the Prussian border.

Poland: Russians recover Lodz.

Galicia: Austrians defeated at Sambor.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Falcon, destroyer, C-class, 420t, 1-12pdr/5-6pdr/2-18in tt, 6th DF Dover Patrol, Lt Hubert Wauton, on anti-submarine patrol with destroyer Syren off Westende in NE Channel. Came under heavy, accurate shore-fire from Westende battery at c1230, returned fire and stayed on station, at 1400 between Nieuport and Ostend hit by 8in shell on port forward 6pdr muzzle, ship completely out of action and brought into Dunkirk by Acting Sub-Lt du Boulay; captain and 7 ratings killed, 2 ratings DOW, gunner and about 12 more ratings wounded.

Venerable, battleship, London-class, 5th BS Channel Fleet, Brilliant, old cruiser, Apollo-class (expended at Zeebrugge in 1918), Wildfire, old composite sloop, Nymphe-class, Rinaldo, old sloop, Condor-class, together with gunboat Bustard and three monitors, bombarding targets between Westende and Lombartzyde. Serious damage only avoided by continual course alterations although Wildfire badly hit on the waterline and sent home for repairs. In the afternoon Venerable ran aground but was helped off on rising tide by Brilliant with no damage, Brilliant (Rn/dp - one man killed, several wounded) and Rinaldo (Rn - 8 wounded) hit; only confirmed life lost was 1 rating in Rinaldo on 29th.

Lieut.-General Sir A. Barrett appointed Commander-designate of Indian Expeditionary Force "D" for Mesopotamia.

Aviation

Distinctive markings on German aircraft first reported.

Political, etc.

Great Britain: Resignation of Prince Louis Battenberg from office of First Sea Lord.

Trial of Archduke's murderers at Sarajevo.

Marconi Wireless Company sues the U.S. government for closing down a wireless station for not complying with censorship laws.

Ship Losses:

Anglo-Norman ( Norway): The barque was driven ashore at Kaipara Harbour, North Island, New Zealand and was wrecked. Her crew were rescued.
Agda ( Netherlands): The auxiliary schooner struck a submerged object and foundered in the Atlantic Ocean off Cabo da Roca, Portugal. Her crew were rescued by Khiva ( United Kingdom).
SMS Cormoran ( Kaiserliche Marine): The Bussard-class cruiser was scuttled at Tsingtao, China.
SMS T50 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The S7-class torpedo boat was wrecked in the Baltic Sea.
SMS Taku ( Kaiserliche Marine): The Taku-class torpedo boat was scuttled at Tsingtao.

British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 37 ships of 99,000 tons gross (Lloyd's War Losses)

Sailor Steve

09-28-14, 11:30 AM

September 28:

The Italian ship SS Ascaro, which had encountered SMS Karlsruhe off the coast of Brazil on the 22nd, arrives at St. Vincent in the Cape Verde Islands. Her captain breaks neutrality and immediately reports his encounter. This is the first real news of the German cruiser in more than three weeks.

HMS Chatham arrives in Zanzibar. Captain Ingles of the Pegasus has used his sunken ship's guns to fortify the city. There has been no news of SMS Königsberg since the attack. There are many rumors flying about, most of them conflicting. Captain Drury-Lowe decides to proceed southward along the East African coast to see what he can find.

Aboard SMS Emden plans are made for another prisoner release. The troublemaking captain and engineer from Tymeric are released from their confinement and transferred to Gryfevale with the rest of the prisoners. To the surprise of the Emden's crew the English prisoners give them nine cheers - three for the captain, three for the officers and three for the crew. Once Gryfevale is out of sight Emden heads south-west for the Maldive Islands, far out in the Indian Ocean.

Jimbuna

09-29-14, 05:50 AM

29th September 1914

Western Front

Yser: Germans take Ramscapelle.

The Belgians open the sluices of the canal.

Heavy fighting round Festubert (La Bassee).

Eastern Front

German offensive on the Niemen abandoned.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Egypt: Bedouin tribes raid the frontier.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Japanese troops occupy Enewetak Atoll, part of German New Guinea.

Political, etc.

Great Britain: Lord Fisher appointed First Sea Lord.

Turkey enters the war on the German side.

Total Shipping losses so far:

British mercantile losses number 94 vessels at 232,310 tons; German mercantile losses number 387 vessels at 1.14 million tons.

Sailor Steve

09-29-14, 12:45 PM

September 29:

Off the coast of Peru SMS Leipzig is having no luck. British ships all along the South American coasts are being ordered to stay in port while the German raiders are operating in the area. Captain Haun sends his supply ship Marie to Callao to drop off her prisoners. The crew of Bankfields immediately report Leipzig's last known position. By this time the marooned crew of Elsinore have escaped from Galapagos and have also reported their capture.

At 0800 hours in the Indian Ocean SMS Emden comes within sight of the Maldives. By 1100 they are navigating the narrow channels which separate the 1,200 islands. the bay at Minicoy is the chosen spot, and the coaling lasts from noon until about 2300. Emden leaves her supply ships at their quiet anchorage and spends the night patrolling the channels.

Jimbuna

09-30-14, 06:08 AM

30th September 1914

Western Front

Battle extends northwards round Roye and Arras.

Arras reoccupied by French forces.

New French army concentrated round Amiens and Lens.

French occupy Lille.

Antwerp: Waterworks destroyed. Preparations to evacuate the Belgian army from Antwerp to Ostend begins as German bombardment continues.

Eastern Front

Germans entrench south of Kyeltsi (south-west Poland).

Russian general Paul von Rennenkampf boasts that, “We’ll spend Christmas in Berlin.”

Political, etc.

Great Britain: Reply of British theologians to German published.

Naval

HMS Caroline, a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy, is launched (she is decommissioned in 2011).
http://s28.postimg.org/kufwcdia5/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

09-30-14, 11:50 AM

September 30:

At Tsingtao, China, IJNS Wakamiya is damaged by a mine and forced to return to Japan for repairs. Her three Henri Farman biplanes and their support crew are transferred to a shore base at Shazikou, in Laoshan Harbor.

Cruising down the coast of German East Africa HMS Chatham is passing Koma Island when her lookouts spot a party of white men in khaki uniforms, accompanied by armed natives. Captain Drury-Lowe anchors his ship nearby and fires a few rounds from the cruiser's three-pounder guns. The men ashore all run into the woods. Drury-Lowe sends a landing party, which destroys the wireless station they find there and capture the small sailing craft used for supply runs to the shore.

One German does not run away. He claims to be a planter, but his papers reveal that he is a German intelligence officer. Among the items abandoned by the fleeing Germans is a diary containing information on the signalling system used by Königsberg for advanced warning of British activity in the area. This involves the use of white flags, which Drury-Lowe has already seen along the shore from time to time. He telegraphs the governor at Dar es Salaam that any party seen using the white flags should be fired at without warning.

Drury-Lowe is now convinced that Königsberg is hiding somewhere in the area.

At Minicoy in the Maldives SMS Emden says goodbye to her long-time companion SS Markomannia. At dawn SS Buresk ties up alongside Markomannia and starts taking on all the spare oil and water needed for Emden's operation. At 1400 Emden starts taking in the last of Markomannia's coal supply. The men of Emden are allowed to write letters home, which will travel on the collier. At 1930 the coaling is done, and at 2030 Markomannia is sent on her way. The plan is for the collier to rendezvous with Pontoporos and take the last of her coal and pay off her captain, finally freeing the Greek ship to be on her way; then proceed to some neutral port to take on provisions, and finally meet up with Emden again around the first of November.

After Markomannia is out of sight Emden and Buresk set a course for the Chagos Archipelago, roughly 300 miles south of the Maldives.

Jimbuna

10-01-14, 07:55 AM

1st October 1914

Western Front

First Battle of Arras begins.

Battle round Roye: Vain German efforts to break French line.

St. Mihiel: French destroy bridge made over Meuse.

Antwerp: Fort Waelhem silenced.

B.E.F. begins to leave the Aisne and move west and the north.

Eastern Front

East Prussian Frontier: Russians recover Augustovo and begin a nine-days' attack (Battle of Augustovo) on the retreating Germans.

Political, etc.

Italy: Protest against Austrian mine-laying. Austria agrees to stop the usage of floating mines in the Adriatic.

Turkey: Closing of the Dardanelles.

Naval Operations

Baltic Operations - Submarines E.1 and E.9 broke through into the Baltic, known as the Baltic Flotilla.

Ship Losses:

Westland ( Norway): The cargo ship sank in the Kalmar Strait off Öland, Sweden with the loss of a crew member.

Sailor Steve

10-01-14, 10:21 AM

October 1:

While his crews are enjoying R&R in the Marquesas, Maximilian von Spee reduces his supply train by sending SS Holsatia and O.J.D. Ahlers to Honolulu, each ship carrying a full set of reports for Berlin. They also carry messages to be forwarded to the German Consulate at San Francisco, giving his coal requirements for his planned stops at Juan Fernandez and Valparaiso, where he intends to refuel on his way to South America. He then sends SS Titania to Easter Island to make sure the area is safe for his planned rendezvous with his light cruisers. His only remaining support ships are the fast 14-knot transports Yorck and Göttingen.

Naval Command at Berlin sends a message to Captain Johannes Haun of SMS Leipzig, ordering him to give up his patrol off Peru and join SMS Dresden at Easter Island.

SMS Karlsruhe is having no luck prowling the Brazilian coast, so Captain Köhler sends his supply ship Crefeld to search forty miles to the east.

In the Indian Ocean SMS Emden will spend more than a week cruising slowly through the Maldives toward Diego Garcia. Her boilers and engines are in need of repair, and until they can find a safe shelter for a complete overhaul she will alternate her engines, running on one while what repairs can be made at sea are performed on the other. The gun crews are in constant training, and the boiler stokers are also trained in gunnery while half the boilers are down for servicing.

Jimbuna

10-02-14, 06:35 AM

2nd October 1914

Western Front

Battle round Arras: French hard pressed.

Antwerp: Belgians retire across the Nethe: Germans occupy Termonde.

Eastern Front

East Prussian Frontier: Russians recover Mariampol.

Southern Front

Bosnia: Serbians and Montenegrins renew their advance towards Sarajevo.

Naval and Overseas Operations

East Africa: British victory at Gazi.

Indian Expeditionary Force "E" formed in Egypt from details of Indian Expeditionary Force "A".

Dover Straits: B.3, submarine, B-class, Dover Patrol 4th Flotilla. Attacked by U-boat S of Goodwins, torpedo missed, may have been U.18 (Rn/Mn/D/ge)

H.M.S. "Cumberland" captures nine German liners, etc., in Cameroon River.

Thursday morning. H.M.S. Cumberland,' Captain Cyril Fuller, has captured no less than nine German liners (eight belonging to the Woermann Line and one to the Hamburg- Amerika Line) off the Cameroon River in West Africa. The total tonnage taken is thirty-one thousand. The vessels, we are told, were in good order, most of them containing general outward and homeward cargoes, including considerable quantities of coal. It is further announced that the German gunboat ' Soden ' has been captured and commissioned, and it is expected that the floating dock and another Government. vessel which had been sunk can be raised. No date is given for the capture, but it is assumed that this great haul was due to the fact that on the announcement of war all the German vessels on the West Coast took refuge in the Cameroon River.

http://s30.postimg.org/s0hr971ht/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Political, etc.

Great Britain: Mr Asquith's speech at Cardiff disclosing German proposals to Britain in 1912.

Sailor Steve

10-02-14, 10:37 AM

October 2:

Captain Haun of SMS Leipzig has heard nothing of Graf Spee's main squadron for almost two months. On her way to Easter Island to renezvous with Dresden, late in the evening they recieve a message from that very ship: "My position Mas a Fuera Island. Intend to proceed to Easter Island to get in touch with the Cruiser Squadron." Haun now knows that his appointment is not just with a fellow light cruiser, but with Spee himself. The message is very faintly heard by the wireless operator aboard Scharnhorst, so Spee also knows that his two Pacific cruisers are still at large.

Jimbuna

10-03-14, 06:11 AM

3rd October 1914

Western Front

Ypres occupied by the Germans.

Antwerp: Fall of outer defences: Legations leaving.

British army begins to leave the Aisne and to move northwards.

First units of British Royal Naval Division (Marine Brigade) arrive at Antwerp.

Limited blackout efforts are instituted in London as a defensive measure against zeppelin attacks.

Eastern Front

Beginning of First Austro-German invasion in force for capture of Warsaw.

Germans take over command of Austrians.

Retreat of Austro-Hungarian forces in Galicia ends.

Maramaros-Sziget taken by Russian forces.

Naval and Overseas Operations

North Sea: British Admiralty notifies the laying down of a defensive mine-field.

First contingents of Canadian and Newfoundland Expeditionary Forces leave for England.

Ship Losses:

Dawdon ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) north west by west of the Wandelaar Lightship ( Belgium) with the loss of ten of her crew.
Kate B. Ogden ( United States): The schooner was abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Newfoundland. Her crew were rescued by Margelisborg ( Denmark).

Jimbuna

10-04-14, 06:44 AM

4th October 1914

Western Front

Rapid German advance towards the Coast: Germans occupy Lens, Comines, Poperinghe, Bailleul, etc.

Lille bombarded by Germans.

First Battle of Arras ends.

Eastern Front

Poland: Rapid Austro-German advance against Russian centre.

Austro-Hungarian counter-offensive in Galicia begins.

Southern Front

Bosnia: Serbians and Montenegrins driven back from the Sarajevo region.

Political, etc.

France reports that the war has cost $7 million per day, or $420 million ($9.99 billion today) in the first 60 days.

Provisional Government under Essad Pasha set up in Albania at Durazzo.

Ship Losses:

Munin ( Norway): The cargo ship caught fire at Lisbon, Portugal and was beached.

http://s28.postimg.org/fm4608m4t/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

10-04-14, 08:40 AM

October 4:

A British wireless station intercepts a very faint signal: Von Spee is in the central Pacific and is on his way to Easter Island.

August

10-04-14, 10:03 AM

Pte John Henry Hargreaves
Friday, 03 October 2014 00:00
...
3 October 1916

My great grandfather was KIA on the same day two years later.

Jimbuna

10-05-14, 06:54 AM

5th October 1914

Western Front

Antwerp: Germans force the line of the Nethe at Duffel.

Three British Naval Brigades reach Antwerp.

Aviation

Sergeant Joseph Frantz and Corporal Louis Quenault of the French Escadrille VB24 are the first aviators in history to shoot down another aircraft with gunfire, downing a German Aviatik B.II with machine gun fire from their Voisin III over Jonchery, Reims.

Naval and Overseas Operations

North Sea

Two Admiralty minesweeping trawlers sweeping in company near the North Hinder lightship, off the Belgian coast, disappeared with all hands, believed mined and sunk. Neither vessel was seen to sink, but other ships in the area reported an explosion at 1930, followed 15 minutes by another, perhaps when the surviving sweeper went to the assistance of the first.

DRUMOAK, Admiralty trawler, 208/1902, North of Scotland Steam Fishing, Aberdeen-reg A516, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, unarmed, Admiralty No.342, Skipper Robert Smith Ellington RNR. Believed mined and sunk (H/D/He - off Belgian coast; L/C/wi - off River Tyne estuary, in 55.01N, 01.22.45W); Skipper and 9 ratings lost. Note: “Wreck Index“ refers to discrepencies in WW1 records which place her loss off the Tyne as well as the Belgian coast.

PRINCESS BEATRICE, Admiralty trawler, 214/1912, North Shields-reg SN202, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, unarmed, Admiralty No.287, Skipper Alexander Hall RNR, serving with Dover Patrol. Mined, sank off Belgian coast; Skipper and 10 ratings lost.

Japanese government states it will continue to occupy the Shandong railway for the duration of the conflict despite Chinese protests.

Political, etc.

President Wilson calls for “Peace Sunday” to pray for an end to the current conflict.

President Poincare, accompanied by the Premier and War Minister, leaves Bordeaux to visit the front lines.

Kaiser Wilhelm promises a special decoration for the first aviator to attack London.

Albania: Essad Pasha nominated head of a Provisional Government.

Ship Losses:

Ardmount ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) east by south of the Wandelaar Lightship ( Belgium).
HMT Drumoak ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the West Hinder Lightship ( Netherlands).
HMT Princess Beatrice ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler struck a mine an dsank in the North Sea off the West Hinder Lightship ( Netherlands).

Sailor Steve

10-05-14, 10:17 AM

October 5:

"Haggard, hollow-eyed, exhausted, craving the rest they may not have, these glorious heroes revive as if by magic under the knowledge that other troops are coming to help theirs in this gargantuan struggle for Antwerp. The yellow khaki seems to sweep along with the blue uniforms like sunlight."
-Australian Louise Mack, describing the arrival of British troops to aid in the defense of Antwerp, October 5th, 1914

Following in the wake of Louis Strange's failed attack with an armed Farman, others are making the effort. One such crew are pilot sergent Joseph Frantz and observer caporal Louis Quenault, who mount a Hotchkiss gun to their Voisin LA. Over a period of several weeks they attempt to attack German observation aircraft, eleven times in all with no luck. Finally, on October 5th, they manage to achieve the first aerial shoot-down in history.

Their victim is an Aviatik B.I flown by feldwebel Wilhelm Schlichtling with leutnant Fritz von Zangen (German two-seaters at the time had the officer in the rear seat, giving commands to the pilot, who was his subordinate). At a little after 08:00 hours they catch the Aviatik and begin their attack. Quenault empties both clips on his Hotchkiss, a total of 48 rounds. When von Zangen attempts to return fire with a carbine, Frantz keeps his plane below the enemy, out of his line-of-sight. After the machine gun is empty, and as Quenault is getting his own carbine ready, the Aviatik suddenly rolls over and plunges to the ground. Schlichtling and von Zangen are both killed in the crash, which is found by French troops who have been watching the fight from below.

Surprisingly Joseph Frantz and Louis Quenault both survived the war, Frantz dying in 1979 and Quenault at some earlier, but seemingly unknown, date.

https://imgur.com/lr9hCao

Following the interception of a wireless transmission giving Graf Spee's destination as Easter Island the admiralty is finally convinced that Spee plans to round Cape Horn and move to the Atlantic. For more than a month Rear Admiral Christopher 'Kit' Cradock has been trying to get the ships together to move into the Pacific after Spee. He had been promised the use of the old battleship Canopus and the newer armored cruiser Defence. At the last minute the decision was made to keep Defence at Malta. Cradock is waiting on Canopus to make her slow way to Port Stanley in the Falklands.

Off the Brazilian coast SS Crefeld sights a smoke column in the distance, and signals SMS Karlsruhe, some forty miles to the west. Captain Köhler rushes his ship to investigate, and after a two-hour chase catches SS Farn, carrying 6,000 tons of 1st-class Welsh coal. Since he has plenty of coal already Köhler puts a prize crew aboard Farn and sends her to join his supply ship Asuncion.

Off the coast of German East Africa the new light cruisers Dartmouth and Weymouth, along with the old protected cruiser Fox, join HMS Chatham in the search for SMS Königsberg.

Jimbuna

10-06-14, 06:18 AM

6th October 1914

Western Front

Arras heavily bombarded by the Germans.

Units of British 7th Division disembark at Ostend and Zeebrugge to co-operate with Belgian army.

Antwerp: Germans capture Lierre.

Eastern Front

Poland and Galicia: Russians fall back along the whole front in face of German advance.

Ship Losses:

Niceto de Larrinaga ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 100 nautical miles (190 km) south by west of the St Paul Rocks, Brazil by SMS Karlsruhe ( Kaiserliche Marine).
SMS S13 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The S13-class destroyer suffered an on board explosion and sank in the North Sea.
SMS T116 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The S90-class torpedo boat was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea by HMS E9 ( Royal Navy) with the loss of eleven of her crew.

Sailor Steve

10-06-14, 07:56 AM

October 6:

Off the coast of Brazil, SMS Karlsruhe has more success. SS Niceto de Larrinaga, 5018 tons, is en route from Buenos Aires to London with a cargo of wheat. She is stopped by Karlesruhe, her crew put aboard the supply ship Crefeld and the ship scuttled.

In his quest to find SMS Königsberg, captain Drury-Lowe assigns his newly-arrived ships to four different search areas covering more tha 1,500 miles of East African coastline. In an effort to fool any Germans who might see them, Drury-Lowe has all numbers, funnel stripes and names painted over, to make it hard to tell how many ships are in what area.

Jimbuna

10-07-14, 08:10 AM

7th October 1914

Western Front

Antwerp: Evacuation begun: Germans force the passage of the Scheldt and threaten the retreat of the Allies.

Eastern Front

Maramaros-Sziget retaken by Austrian forces.

Galicia: Russians forced back to the San.

Hungary: Withdrawal of Russian raiders.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Marshall Islands in Pacific Ocean occupied by Japanese.

German Pacific Possessions - Japanese forces occupied Yap island, in effect taking possession of the Caroline Islands, including such future bases as Truk.

Political, etc.

Belgium: Seat of Government moved from Antwerp to Ostend.

China sends another protest against Japan for violating its neutrality by occupying railway stations in Shandong.

Ship Losses:

La Correntina ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 320 nautical miles (590 km) east by north of Montevideo, Uruguay by SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Lynrowan ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 90 nautical miles (170 km) south south west of the St Paul Rocks, Brazil by SMS Karlsruhe ( Kaiserliche Marine).

http://s30.postimg.org/9ubg2d7r5/image.png (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

10-07-14, 12:04 PM

October 7:

"As it exploded I shut my eyes, clenched my hands, and sank to the floor by my bedside, saying to myself, 'God, I'm dead!' And I thought I was too. The enormity of that sound-sensation seemed to belong to a transition from this world to the next. It scarcely seemed possible to pass through that noise and come out alive."
-Louise Mack, describing a shell which landed not far from her residence in Antwerp

In the mid-South Atlantic SMS Karlsruhe comes upon her second victim in as many days. This ship is the British ship SS Lynrowan, 3,384 tons, carrying a mixed cargo consisting mainly of wheat and oats, bound from Buenos Aires to Liverpool. The ship's master, Arthur Jones, and his crew are put aboard Crefeld and Lynrowan is sent to the bottom.

At Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands Sir Christopher Cradock is still waiting for Canopus to arrive when he recieves a message from the Admiralty. The message intercepted on the 4th was in code and had to be decyphered. On the 5th the news was sent to Cradock, and only now arrived. The decoding was possible because of the Australian capture of SS Pfalz back on August 5th (post #84).

The Admiralty message includes these instructions: "It appears that Scharnhorst and Gneisenau are working across to South America. You must be prepared to meet them in company, possibly with a 'Dresden' scouting for them. Canopus should accompany Glasgow, Monmouth and Otranto, the ships to search and protect trade in combination. If you propose Good Hope to go, leave Monmouth on east coast."

Cradock replied: "Have ordered Canopus to Falklands where I intend to concentrate and avoid division of forces. Have ordered Glasgow, Monmouth, and Otranto not to go north of Valparaiso until German cruisers located. Does Defence join my command?" It seems the Admiralty had not yet informed Cradock of their decision to keep HMS Defence on the east side of the Atlantic.

Jimbuna

10-08-14, 06:52 AM

8th October 1914

Western Front

General Foch takes supreme command of the Allied armies defending the Coast.

Fighting at Roye.

Antwerp: The city bombarded: Belgians and Naval Brigades leave (being cut off and losing 2,000 interned in Holland).

Sir John French's third despatch (published 19 October).

Eastern Front

East Prussia: Russians take Lyck.

First Russian invasion of North Hungary ends.

Aviation

RNAS Sopwith Tabloid bombed and destroyed Army airship Z.IX/Z.9 (Production No. LZ.25) in shed at Dusseldorf.

Air Vice Marshal Reginald Leonard George Marix CB DSO (1889–1966) was a British aviator originally with the Royal Naval Air Service and later to reach a high rank in the Royal Air Force. He is credited with being the first pilot to destroy a Zeppelin, when in 1914 he bombed the airship sheds at Düsseldorf.
Marix joined the Royal Naval Air Service in 1912 and was one of the early naval aviators he gained his aviators certificate in January 1913. On 8 October 1914 he was one of three Sopwith Tabloid aircraft that attacked the airship shed at Düsseldorf, Marix dropped a bomb from 500 feet onto the shed and succeeded in destroying Zeppelin LZ25 of the Imperial German Army, the first recorded destruction of dirigible by an aircraft. In 1916 he was testing an aircraft near Paris when it broke up in mid-air injuring Marix, he had to have his left leg amputated. Although no longer an active flyer he moved across to the newly formed Royal Air Force in 1918 when it was formed. During the second world war he rose to the rank of Air Vice Marshall until he retired in 1945.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Tsing-tau: Japanese capture "Prince Heinrich" hill.

Naval and Overseas Operations

British submarine E.9 sinks German destroyer S.126 at mouth of Ems.

Ship Losses:

Cervantes ( United Kingdom) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 100 nautical miles (190 km) south by west of the St Paul Rocks, Brazil 0°40′S 29°40′W by SMS Karlsruhe ( Kaiserliche Marine).

Catfish

10-08-14, 11:46 AM

^ Ah yes, LZ 25 tactical Z.IX, i have a report from Oberingenieur Max Elias about several flights in that Zeppelin, there were some hair-raising incidents like some finger-thick spurts of fuel running over the exhausts, leaking gas cells and almost-losses of the entire ship :huh:

Z.IX was not really a war ship, bit they had orders to bomb the fortresses, and since they had no aerial bombs yet they used modified artillery ammunition..
I have never heard though about L.9 bombing any royal palace (?) :hmmm:

Sailor Steve

10-08-14, 12:48 PM

According to the squadron leader, Spenser Douglas Adair Grey, there were only two Tabloids in the air that day. After several days of fog and rain, on the 8th Grey decided to go ahead with the mission despite the weather. He took off for Cologne at 1320 in Tabloid 167, and Marix took off for Dusseldorf at 1330 in number 168. Grey could not find the Zeppelin sheds at Cologne, so he bombed the railroad station instead. His and Marix's attacks are listed in the report filed by Grey on October 17th.

October 8:

In the mid-Atlantic SMS Karlsruhe meets her third British victim in three days. SS Cervantes, 4,635 tons. She was headed from Callao to Liverpool with a general cargo, under the command of Master E.J. Holton. Like Lynrowan before her the crew of Cervantes is put aboard Crefeld and the ship scuttled.

Sailor Steve

10-08-14, 01:02 PM

I have never heard though about L.9 bombing any royal palace (?) :hmmm:
That's because he quoted a single Wiki source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Zeppelins.

A different Wiki page says On the night of 24/25 August Z IX bombed Antwerp, dropping bombs near the royal palace and killing five people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeppelin

That article cites the 1973 book Giants in the Sky: History of the Rigid Airship, by Douglas H. Robinson, and makes no mention of any condemnation. A further article says nine were killed and a newspaper article commemorating the event four years later claims that only six bombs were dropped and ten people were killed. That story does say the Commander of Z-IX had orders to bomb the royal palace and that the event sent "shudders of horror throughout the world". The article itself tends to the sensational side of reporting.
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9A00E3DE1439E13ABC4E51DFBE668383609EDE

Aktungbby

10-09-14, 02:22 AM

http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/photo_albums/timeline/Sopwith%20Tabloid.htm (http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/photo_albums/timeline/Sopwith%20Tabloid.htm) http://www.bcmh.org.uk/archive/articles/RNASAntwerpPollard.pdf (http://www.bcmh.org.uk/archive/articles/RNASAntwerpPollard.pdf) Exactly, I did note the discrepancies but went with the likely reason he may have been awarded the Croix d' Guerre, ie: avenging some potentate's outrage at damage to a palace! I also noted that Lt Marix attacked the airship shed single-handedly as in the two links above as opposed to the OP that mentions three Tabloids. FYI: the second link points out that Marix's father was a reporter-possibly present at the Lincoln assassination and that the young Marix may "have inherited a journalist's touch in his memoirs" The same link also states that on 8/25/14, 10 bombs had been dropped killing 12 people 'raising an international storm of protest as an act of barbarism'. As with other posts in this thread, the nascent multiple-sourced combat reporting of aerial warfare's dawn is at best inaccurate 100 years later and not to be entirely regarded by a subaltern 'with a reporter's touch! Naturally the ability to write good reports can also lead to the rank of Air Vice Marshall and an award of Companion of the Order of the Bath. No doubt though: he lit up 1,000,000 cubic feet of hydrogen! "He released his bombs and as he pulled out of his dive, has saw enormous sheets of flame pouring out of the shed. It was a magnificent sight" Truly 'worthy of his spurs' IMHO:salute:

Jimbuna

10-09-14, 07:33 AM

9th October 1914

Western Front

Last forts of Antwerp taken by German forces.

Merville, Estaires, Armentières, and Hazebrouck taken by German forces.

Menin occupied by German forces.

Eastern Front

First German offensive against Warsaw. Battles of Warsaw and Ivangorod begin.

Przemysl relieved by advancing Austrian forces.

East Prussia: End of Battle of Augustovo: Germans defeated.

Poland: Austro-Germans approach Ivangorod: beginning of a twenty-days' struggle.

Political, etc.

Italy: Cabinet crisis: resignation of General Grandi, Minister for War.

Naval Operations

Royal Arthur, large cruiser, Edgar-class, 7,700t, 10th CS Grand Fleet on Northern Patrol. Off Peterhead, approaching Swedish SS Tua (345grt), rammed and sank her with two men drowned, survivors taken into Cromarty. Damage not known.

Ship Losses:

Pruth ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 90 nautical miles (170 km) south by west of the St Paul Rocks, Brazil by SMS Karlsruhe ( Kaiserliche Marine).

Sailor Steve

10-09-14, 12:24 PM

October 9:

In the Atlantic ocean, at 0100 hours, SMS Karlsruhe encounters her fourth victim in a row. SS Pruth is another British steamer, rated at 4,408 tons, bound from Argentina to St. Vincent with a cargo of 2,800 tons of barley and 8,800 tons of nitrate. At 0600 the crew are transfered to Crefeld, then at 0800 the prisoners aboard SS Rio Negro are also sent to Crefeld. Two separate scuttling charges are detonated at 1030 and 1045, and Crefeld sinks by the stern at 1120.

At 1500 Karlsruhe stops a Spanish cargo ship, examines her papers and cargo, an lets her go.

SMS Emden and SS Buresk enter the harbor at Diego Garcia at 0700 local time. Emden is badly in need of cleaning, but since there are no facilities for this activity she is careened in the harbor by the flooding of storage compartments on one side and then the other. Weeks of collected barnacles are scraped from her bottom, and a fresh coat of paint is applied to her upper works. This is done by 1400 hours, and from then until midnight coal is taken aboard from Buresk.

While all this is taking place a native boat rows out to Emden carrying the assistant manager of the local oil company. After some whiskey and soda the man informs them that this is the first he has heard that there is a war on. There is no wireless and the only regular shipping is a sailing vessel which brings them supplies from Mauritius once every three months. The have had no news of the outside world since July. The officers of Emden casually lie to the manager, telling him that they are part of a unified maneuver involving the navies of England, France and Germany, and that they will be on their way in two days.

At this point the manager himself comes aboard with the same questions. Captain von Müller tells him that they have just survived a severe storm, and the manager replies that he suspected as much from the cruiser's appearance. The oil company manager then asks von Müller if it would be possible for Emden's mechanics to take a look at his motorboat. The captain obliges and Maschinistmaat Kluge and his crew quickly have the boat running. The manager then asks von Müller to have dinner ashore. When the captain politely refuses the manager sends Emden a gift of a large pig, a pile of fish and another load of fresh fruit. Not wishing to be indebted to someone who is technically an enemy, von Müller sends the oilmen some whiskey, wine and cigars in return.

Due to the tropical heat Emden is only able to take aboard 400 tons of coal, so the operation is scheduled to continue in the morning.

Jimbuna

10-10-14, 06:44 AM

10th October 1914

Western Front

Hazebrouck and Estaires captured by British forces.

Antwerp capitulates to German forces.

Belgians check German pursuit at Melle.

Lille again bombarded by the Germans.

Battle of La Bassée begins.

Eastern Front

Poland: Germans occupy Lodz.

Hungary again raided by Russians.

Political, etc.

Romania: Death of King Carel. Succeeded by his nephew Ferdinand.

Protocol signed by United States of America and Panama as to use of Panama Canal by ships of belligerent Powers.

Ship Losses:

Alma A. E. Holmes ( United States): The schooner collided with Belfast ( United Kingdom) in Massachusetts Bay (42°26′06″N 70°44′54″W) and sank. Her crew were rescued by Belfast.

http://s7.postimg.org/5axsjcmkb/image.png (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

10-10-14, 11:08 AM

October 10:

SMS Dresden, along with her collier SS Baden, is the first of Spee's cruisers to arrive at Easter Island.

In the western South Atlantic SMS Karlsruhe turns back towards San Roca, where Asuncion and Farn are waiting with coal. Crefeld and Rio Negro are becoming overcrowded with prisoners, and it's time to send at least one of those ships to a neutral port. At 0300 hours Emden stops a merchant ship that turns out to be Italian, and neutral. By 0400 the process of examining papers and cargo is complete, and the ship is allowed to proceed on its way. At 0930 Crefeld is sent to scout the area. At 1745 she returns and the little group is on its way again.

At 0600 hours at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean SMS Emden resumes her coaling from SS Buresk. The task is completed at 1000, and at 1100 the ships are underway again. They head northwest until out of sight of land, then turn north toward the Australia-Aden trade route.

Jimbuna

10-11-14, 07:47 AM

11th October 1914

Western Front

Battle of Flanders begins, a desperate struggle for the coast lasting for some six weeks.

Merville retaken by British forces.

Paris heavily bombed.

Cavalry fighting near Hazebrouck.

Eastern Front

Poland: Germans take Sochaczew.

Galicia: Russians forced to raise the siege of Przemsyl, which is reprovisioned from Cracow.

Austrians recover Jaroslau.

Political etc.

Germany imposes a $100 million ($2.38 billion today) tax on Antwerp for the cost of its capture.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Dutch coast: Cdre Tyrwhitt took Harwich Force's First Flotilla to sea at 0400 on the 11th to patrol close inshore and try and prevent German submarines reaching Antwerp and using it as a base. Third Flotilla took over on the 13th. Between these two dates, two 1st DF, I-class destroyers, both presumably taking part, were attacked by U-boats off the Dutch coast:

German gunboat "Komet" (below as HMAS "Una" - Australian War Memorial) captured by H.M.A.S. "Nusa" near Talassia, Neu Pommern. Last act of hostilities in Australasian waters. Also last episode in conquest of German Pacific possessions.

http://s28.postimg.org/d90k95a59/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Russian cruiser "Pallada" sunk by German submarine U-26 in Baltic. Single torpedo hit amidships and the ship exploded and sank with no survivors.

http://s4.postimg.org/6p6t7r9ul/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Ship Losses:

Condor ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 215 nautical miles (398 km) north north east of Cabo São Roque, Brazil by SMS Karlsruhe ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Pallada ( Imperial Russian Navy): The Bayan-class cruiser was torpedoed and sunk in the Gulf of Finland off Osmussaar, Estonia by U-26 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all 597 crew.

http://s28.postimg.org/j21w1lnz1/image.png (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

10-11-14, 12:29 PM

October 11:

Kapitanleutnant Egewulf Freiherr von Berckheim, commanding U-26 out of Kiel, has been stalking a Russian Armored Cruiser squadron. The previous day he attempted an attack but the ships turned away and he was unable to give chase. On the 11th they were again in his vicinity and this time they came close enough for another try. Berckheim fired a single torpedo at Pallada, 7,775 tons, which exploded under one of her magazines, destroying the ship completely in a matter of seconds.

Off the coast of Brazil the British freighter SS Condor, 3,053 tons, is making her way south. She departed Fernandina, Florida, on September 25th with 4,000 tons of mixed cargo, bound for several South American ports. At 1515 she is sighted by SS Farn, one of Karlsruhe's captured supply ships. Farn approaches Condor flying the Red Ensign of the British merchant service. About six miles away is Karlsruhe's other suppy, ship, Asuncion, flying no flag at all. Condor's master, a mister S. Purdy, sends a signal to Farn asking if she has seen any British cruisers. The head of Farn's prize crew responds that he didn't receive the signal properly, and asks Condor to come closer, as they are having engine troubles. Suddenly Farn lowers her British flag and raises the German naval ensign.

At this point Karlsruhe appears in the distance. The prize crew aboard Asuncion, thinking the cruiser is British, tries to flee. it takes a few minutes to realize their mistake and return to the scene. At 1545 Karlsruhe is alongside Condor and a boarding party discovers that the freighter's cargo includes 800 barrels of engine oil, 2,000 cases of condensed milk, and a quantity of dynamite. There is some question as to whether the ship can be sunk, as the cargo is mostly neutral. It is finally decided that the bulk of the cargo is necessary to Karlsruhe's continued operation, and it will be offloaded and the ship scuttled the next day. By 2200 hours the crew of Condor are aboard the already crowded Crefeld and operations cease for the night.

As SMS Emden proceeds northward along the west side of the Maldives the weather begins to pick up as monsoon season is beginning. HMS Hampshire is only a few hundred miles to the east heading toward Diego Garcia, as Captain Grant knows of the coaling station there and suspects that von Müller might make for there as a quiet, out-of-the-way place to replenish his supplies.

Jimbuna

10-12-14, 07:53 AM

12th October 1914

Western Front

Ostend and Zeebrugge evacuated by the Allies.

Reims evacuated by Germans.

Lille capitulates to German forces.

Ghent evacuated by Belgian forces and occupied by German forces.

Eastern Front

Russian forces are forced back from the fortress of Przemyśl after an Austro-Hungarian offensive.

Prince Oleg Konstantinovich of Russia is killed in action.

http://s21.postimg.org/e0mvmetif/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Naval and Overseas Operations

South Africa: Martial law proclaimed throughout the Union.

Ship Losses:

Markomannia ( Kaiserliche Marine): The cargo ship was captured and scuttled off Simaur Island, Sumatra by HMS Yarmouth ( Royal Navy).

http://s3.postimg.org/rspn9oss3/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

http://s30.postimg.org/8okyhhme9/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

10-12-14, 10:21 AM

October 12:

Maximilian von Spee arrives at Easter Island with his armored cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, the light cruiser Nürnberg, and their supply ships Yorck and Göttingen.

In the South Atlantic the crew of SMS Karlsruhe are busy transfering stores from the captured SS Condor. The boats from Crefeld are needed for this operation, so the plan to send her to a neutral port with her prisoners is delayed yet another day.

In the Indian ocean the previous day's high winds have developed into a full-blown storm. In these conditions SMS Emden crosses the equator at 1800 hours.

SS Markomannia had been sent on September 30 to meet the Greek ship Pontoporos and pay off her captain. They are just preparing to transfer the remaining coal when they run afoul of HMS Yarmouth, under Captain Henry Lake Cochrane. At 0700 a boarding party takes Markomannia, with 1800 tons of coal aboard. After the German crew is taken aboard Yarmouth and Pontoporos is checked for proper nationality, Markomannia is scuttled. At 1235 she recieves a few 6" rounds from Yarmouth, and sinks at 1310. Pontoporos is sent to Singapore with 5,000 tons of coal still aboard.

Yarmouth's log for October 12th
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/YarmouthLog_zpsd478b3b1.png (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/YarmouthLog_zpsd478b3b1.png.html)

Jimbuna

10-13-14, 06:40 AM

13th October 1914

Western Front

Ypres occupied by the Allies, who attempt an offensive.

Lille and Ghent occupied by the Germans.

Heavy fighting between Bethune and La Bassee.

Battle of Armentières begins.

Eastern Front

East Prussia: Germans recover Lyck.

Battle of Chyrow (Galicia) begins.

Naval and Overseas Operations

First appearance of a German submarine on the Southampton-Havre troop-transport route reported.

Dover Straits

Humber and Severn, river monitors, Humber-class, Dover Patrol, ordered to escort transports back from Ostend, evacuation had already taken place and turned back for Dover. Attacked at close range by U-boat half way across, but missed.

South Africa: Open rebellion of Lt.-Col. Maritz.

Political, etc.

Belgian government is established in Havre, France as most of the country falls to German troops.

http://s28.postimg.org/aa710v4jx/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Aktungbby

10-13-14, 11:54 AM

Battle of Armentières begins. From which we get the immortal classic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzb7yMOW5OA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzb7yMOW5OA) It's a bit of a protest song along class lines; I'd never actually heard the whole thing before today!:D There are a few variations of the song it seems: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui7r5q3ntV8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui7r5q3ntV8) :03:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Situation_map_La_Bass%C3%A9e_to_Armenti%C3%A8res%2 C_19_October_%E2%80%93_2_November_1914.jpg

Sailor Steve

10-13-14, 12:09 PM

October 13:

While leading his platoon in the attack on the village of Méteren, Lieutenant Bernard Law Montgomery, age 26, is shot through the chest. A soldier rushes to his aid, but is shot himself and collapses on top of Montgomery. German fire focuses on the pair. Montgomery is hit in the knee, but the soldier is killed and his body absorbs the majority of the bullets. Graves were dug for both of them, along with the other British soldiers killed that day, but as biographer Alun Chalfort put it in his book Montgomery of Alamein, "With characteristic lack of co-operation he declined to die and when the time came for the unit to move they had to take him with them." The soldier who died saving Montgomery's life has never been positively identified.

Having finally off-loaded all the supplies onto SMS Karlsruhe, SS Condor is scuttled. At 1630 hours SS Crefeld, with 419 prisoners aboard, is dispatched to the Canary Islands, with orders not to put into Tenerife until the 22nd.

Fighting monsoon winds and rain all the way, SMS Emden is still heading north for the Indian trade routes while HMS Hampshire is still heading south for Diego Garcia.

Jimbuna

10-14-14, 07:36 AM

14th October 1914

Western Front

Bailleul occupied by the Allies.

Bruges occupied by the Germans.

Eastern Front

East Prussian Front: Germans take Mlava.

Poland: Germans announce occupation of all the country up to the line of the Vistula and are only 12 miles (19km) from Warsaw.

West Africa

Yabasi (Cameroons) captured by Allied forces.

Naval

Auxiliary cruiser minelayer Berlin, 17,324grt, 2-4.1in sailed from Germany for operations around British Isles.

Aviation

The Imperial Japanese Navy attempts air-to-air combat for the first time, as a naval airplane joins three Imperial Japanese Army airplanes in an attempt to attack a German reconnaissance plane during the Siege of Tsingtao. The German aircraft escapes.

Political etc.

In New York, St. Patrick’s and St. Alphonsus’ Cathedrals are bombed, injuring a priest. Police suspect I.W.W. militants.

http://s24.postimg.org/jfyq441l1/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

10-14-14, 11:51 AM

October 14:

SMS Leipzig arrives at Easter Island along with the supply ships Abyssinia, Amasis, Anubis and Karnak. Spee's fleet is now complete except for the three cruisers operating independently.

Still heading north in the Indian Ocean, SMS Emden recieves a wireless message confirming the locations of the British cruisers Hampshire, Duke of Edinburgh, Chatham, and Weymouth. Also recieved is news of the fall of Antwerp to Geman forces and of the Russians being driven back to Warsaw.

Jimbuna

10-15-14, 07:31 AM

15th October 1914

Western Front

Ostend and Zeebrugge occupied by the Germans.

The Allied lines extended to the Coast.

Belgian coast-line reached by German forces.

First units of Canadian and Newfoundland Expeditionary Forces land in England.

Eastern Front

Poland: First Battle for Warsaw begins along all the line of the Vistula (till 23rd).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Tsing-tau: The beginning of the end. Non-combatants allowed to leave.

Political etc.

Germany will seek a $2.5 billion loan ($59 billion today) to finance the war and other spending.

Naval and Overseas Operations

South Africa: Rebels routed at Ratedraai.

North Sea: HMS Hawke, a Royal Navy cruiser, is sunk by the German submarine U-9, causing 524 deaths.
http://www.theguardian.com/century/1910-1919/Story/0,,126442,00.html
http://s23.postimg.org/f587k3iaj/d3_ZUt_Ne.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

U9
http://s27.postimg.org/eaxgyyzbn/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

North Sea

Edgar-class protected cruisers Crescent (flag, Adm de Chair), Edgar, Endymion, Theseus, Hawke and possibly Grafton of 10th CS, detached from Northern Patrol and patrolling a line between Peterhead and the Naze. HMS Crescent left for Cromarty for engine repairs and to coal, weather too bad to transfer flag and command passed to Edgar. Around 1320 on the 15th, Theseus, 80 miles offshore and zigzagging at 13kts sighted a torpedo passing 200yds astern in 57.50N, 00.33E, believed fired by U.9 although U.17 was in the area. Edgar wirelessed all ships to steam northwest at full speed, but no reply received from Hawke. Adm Jellicoe, C-in-C ordered out flotilla leader Swift and a division of destroyers for Hawke's last reported position in 57.47N, 00.12E. By this time Hawke had been lost:

Ship Losses:

HMS Hawke ( Royal Navy): The Edgar-class cruiser was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea by U-9 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 524 of her 594 crew.

http://s30.postimg.org/716ujbm81/980159_101006142359_IMG_2300.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Aktungbby

10-15-14, 11:32 AM

15th October 1914

Western Front

Ostend and Zeebrugge occupied by the Germans.

The Allied lines extended to the Coast.

Belgian coast-line reached by German forces.

And that'll be about it except for the occasional 'big push'... for four years of futility! http://www.westpoint.edu/history/SiteAssets/SitePages/World%20War%20I/WWOne10.gif

Sailor Steve

10-15-14, 12:01 PM

October 15:

"It is really extraordinary how unpopular we are."
- Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz in a letter to his wife, October 15, 1914, following a visit to Antwerp

On October 13 Otto Weddigen, who had sunk the three old cruisers Aboukir, Cressy and Hogue back on September 22, set out from Wilhelmshaven in his U-9 to patrol the area off Scapa Flow in company with U-17, commanded by Johannes Feldkirchner. On the 15th Weddigen sights the British 10th Cruiser Squadron. There is no way to catch them, so Weddigen watches the juicy targets steam away. Then the cruisers slow down and begin to turn, then come to a full stop. HMS Endymion lowers a cutter into the water, apparently intending to exchange mail with HMS Hawke. U-9 races to get close enough for a decent shot. Finally Weddigen orders his boat stopped and makes ready his bow tube. Hawke is still hoisting the cutter aboard when Weddigen gives the order to fire at a range of 500 yards. The torpedo hits the cruiser under the forward funnel. HMS Hawke sinks in eight minutes. Theseus and Endymion depart the area immediately.

Details of the crew vary. A Wiki article says that the crew comprised 544, and that 524 died. It also says that 70 were rescued. Edwyn Gray also gives the crew as 544, and says that 52 were picked up by the trawler Ben Rinnes, and 21 survived on a raft until they could be rescued. Whatever the case, Otto Weddigen was now by far the leading u-boat ace, adding Hawke's 7,350 tons to his previous score for a total of 43,350.

Later Feldkirchner in U-17 has a shot at Theseus, but misses badly.

SMS Emden reaches Miladhunmadulu atoll, near the north end of the Maldives. The weather is perfect, and at 1100 hours Emden begins taking on coal from SS Buresk. At a little after 1500 the job is finished and the ships depart for Minikoi, off the west side of the southern tip of India.

HMS Hamphshire arrives at Diego Garcia and Captain Grant is told that Emden departed five days earlier. Grant immediately sets course back to Colombo.

Jimbuna

10-16-14, 07:07 AM

16th October 1914

Western Front

Aubers, Armentieres, Neuve Chapelle and Warneton occupied by the Allies.

Belgians driven out of Forest of Houthulst.

Battle of the Yser begins with German attack on Dixmude.
http://s28.postimg.org/5fdsm7uyl/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
Battle of the Yser begins: The Belgian army halts the German advance, but with heavy losses.

http://s18.postimg.org/cjyqbjfxl/image.png (http://postimage.org/)
British, Belgian and French troops fraternising in a French village.

Eastern Front

Poland: Germans within seven miles of Warsaw, which the Russians prepare to evacuate.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Tsing-tau: General attack begins.

Naval and Overseas Operations

H.M.S. "Yarmouth" sinks the "Emden's" collier, "Markomannia".

http://s10.postimg.org/qs53cfrvd/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
http://s24.postimg.org/5vqs7q1id/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Cattaro bombarded by the Allied fleets.

North Sea
Swift, leader, 4th DF Grand Fleet, dispatched from Scapa Flow with division of destroyers on 15th to search for missing Hawke. Reported U-boat near position where Hawke was last heard from, but no ship, searched all night and at 0900 spotted a raft with an officer and 20 men, reportedly attacked a number of times, and only by manoeuvring at high speed and screened by the other destroyers was it possible to rescue them. Search continued until the following morning when Swift returned to Scapa Flow.

Nymphe and Alarm, part of a division of four 2nd DF, H-class destroyers, Grand Fleet, with Lyra, Nymphe, Nemesis, Alarm steaming in line abreast on patrol off E entrance to Scapa Flow a few hours after the attack on Swift. U.9 attempted bow and stern shots around 1330, Nymphe sighted a periscope, gave the alarm and attempted to ram, torpedo missed her bow by feet, crossed ahead of Nemesis, and Alarm had to turn rapidly to port to avoid it.

New Zealand Expeditionary Force leaves New Zealand for France.
http://s30.postimg.org/c5ds5ejwh/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
The main body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, some 8000 troops, finally departs New Zealand for Australia where they will join with the First Australian Imperial Force.

Indian Expeditionary Force "B" leaves India for East Africa.

First units of Indian Expeditionary Force "D" leave India for the Persian Gulf.

Political, etc.

Funeral for King Carol of Romania takes place in Bucharest, with 80,000 people viewing the body at state.

Italy: Death of Marquis di San Giuliano, Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Canadian troops arrive in England.

Ship Losses:

Benmohr ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Indian Ocean 65 nautical miles (120 km) north west of Minicoy, India by SMS Emden ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Clan Grant ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Indian Ocean 150 nautical miles (280 km) west of Minicoy by SMS Emden ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Ponrabbel ( United Kingdom): The dredger was shelled and sunk in the Indian Ocean 20 nautical miles (37 km) north west of Minicoy by SMS Emden ( Kaiserliche Marine).

http://s23.postimg.org/74n0t1haj/image.gif (http://postimage.org/)

Bilge_Rat

10-16-14, 10:12 AM

Naval and Overseas Operations

H.M.S. "Yarmouth" sinks the "Emden's" collier, "Markomannia".

http://s24.postimg.org/5vqs7q1id/image.jpg

that's too bad, it was a regular cast member in our little thread.

Sailor Steve

10-16-14, 10:38 AM

H.M.S. "Yarmouth" sinks the "Emden's" collier, "Markomannia".
You have this same listing for the 12th, post #393, complete with the same picture. I also have the Yarmouth's log for that date, which I believe to be the correct one.

On the other hand...
North Sea
Swift, leader, 4th DF Grand Fleet, dispatched from Scapa Flow with division of destroyers on 15th to search for missing Hawke. Reported U-boat near position where Hawke was last heard from, but no ship, searched all night and at 0900 spotted a raft with an officer and 20 men, reportedly attacked a number of times, and only by manoeuvring at high speed and screened by the other destroyers was it possible to rescue them. Search continued until the following morning when Swift returned to Scapa Flow.
An awesome piece of information I did not know. Thanks for that.

Nymphe and Alarm, part of a division of four 2nd DF, H-class destroyers, Grand Fleet, with Lyra, Nymphe, Nemesis, Alarm steaming in line abreast on patrol off E entrance to Scapa Flow a few hours after the attack on Swift. U.9 attempted bow and stern shots around 1330, Nymphe sighted a periscope, gave the alarm and attempted to ram, torpedo missed her bow by feet, crossed ahead of Nemesis, and Alarm had to turn rapidly to port to avoid it.
That one I did have, but couldn't post because to my frustration the book doesn't give the date.

Jimbuna

10-16-14, 11:47 AM

You have this same listing for the 12th, post #393, complete with the same picture. I also have the Yarmouth's log for that date, which I believe to be the correct one.

I've double checked and it does appear to be 12th. From a different site (I'll not post the picture of the log as you already have).

Ship: Engaged: 0700 German sts "Marcomannia": --fired 1 blank & 1 shell across bow
Ship: Met: 0700 Stopped Boarded "Marciminaunia" Embarked Officiers & crew
Ship: Met: 0935 Boarded "Pontoporia" Embarked crew 2 Officers, 12 men
Ship: Sunk: 1310 "Mackomammia" Sunk
Other: Co as reqte to examine steamer
Other: Chaped co S40E
Other: .50 Sighted steamer on Starb bow. Co as reqte to close 12 kts. 6.10 Sighted 2 steam ships on port bow. 6.40 Inc to 200 revs. 7.00 Closed Greek St "~" and German str "Marcomannia"
Ship: Engaged: German Str "Marcomannia": 1 blank and 1 shell across bow
Other: 7.00 Stopped. Boarded Marcomannia in position Tg Sangina N81 W, Penja S74W Hulawan S64W distance of Hulawan 14,500 yds. Embarked officers and crew of "Marcommania"
Other: 9.17 Fired explosive charge in Marcomannia
Other: 9.35 Boarded "~" - embarked prize crew of "Emden" from "~" - 2 officers, 12 men.
Other: 11.35 Fired second explosive charge in "Marcomannia"
Other: 12.22 Proceeded to lay off "Markomannia"
Other: 12.30 Stopped. 12.35 Opened fire on "Markomannia" with F.X. 6" - fired 4 rounds by ~.
Ship: Sunk: "Markomannia"

Sailor Steve

10-16-14, 12:37 PM

October 16:

"Thirteen meters. At that instant a tremendous roar struck our ears like some overwhelming thunder. The boat rocked as if she would turn over. Through an unscreened port in the rear of the conning-tower I could see a black shadow that loomed and disappeared. The destroyer had charged straight over the top of our conning-tower. We had gone clear by half an inch. A second more and we would have got the full murderous impact of the ram bow."
- Johann Spiess, 1WO of U-9, describing the attempted ramming by HMS Nymphe
(Thanks for the correct date, Jim) :sunny:

Minicoy (known in the native language as Maliku and called Minikoi by the Germans) is the northernmost Island in the Maldives, located roughly 500 km west of the southern tip of India. There is a lighthouse there to guide shipping through the area. SMS Emden sighted this light at 22:30 on the night of October 15th and began to patrol the area. Around midnight a ship's lights were sighted. As Emden approached at high speed the lookouts spotted a shape in the dark following the freighter. As had happened during the capture of Buresk it was assumed to be a blacked-out warship and Emden was cleared for action. Also as before it turned out to be a smoke cloud left by the merchant.

Lt. Lauterbach takes a boarding party and reported back that the ship is SS Clan Grant, 3,948 tons, carrying a mixed cargo from England to Colombo. At 0700 the ships stop and Emden's steward, Leutnant Barber, is sent with a crew of seventeen to see what is aboard the captured ship. Barber discovers a treasure-trove: Live cattle, cakes, flour, crockery, a crate full of typewriters, several cases of cigarettes, supplies of tools, bricks for lining boilers' fireboxes, machine oil. The heads of other departments are sent over to see what they can take for use by their sections.

While this is going on smoke is spotted in the distance. Von Müller leaves his division officers to their tasks and sets off to investigate this new vessel. When Emden is close enough the bridge crew see the mast, and determine that it is of a type only used by monitors and torpedo boats. When the "clear for action" order is about to be given the officers notice that though the mast is of that type, the rest of the hull is all wrong. Upon closer approach they are greeted by the very odd sight of a dredger, far further out to sea than such a vessel should be. The order is given for the small craft to follow the cruiser back to its little convoy.

When they have rejoined the other ships Leutnants Lauterbach and Schall are sent aboard. There they find the crew of the vessel waiting to leave their craft with bags already packed. The captain explains that their ship is the deep-sea dredger Ponrabbel, en route from England to Tasmania. The first such ship to make the voyage had been lost in a storm with all hands, so captain and crew had demanded all their wages in advance. They had nearly gone down themselves in the same storm Emden had encountered just a few days earlier, and when they realized that the approaching cruiser had to be Emden, and having heard of von Müller's treatment of his prisoners they were more than ready to leave their dangerous tub behind.

Leutnant Gaede opens fire with his guns and Ponrabbel turns turtle after only three shots. She floats there "like a great whale", until a few more shots from the 4" guns release the trapped air inside, and the dredger joins the earlier one at the bottom of the sea. The crew was more than happy to be aboard Buresk, crowded though she was.

It takes several trips in the boats to bring back all the desired supplies, but eventually scuttling charges are placed and Clan Grant also sees her last day afloat.

The rest of the day is uneventful, until about 2300 hours, when lights are sighted, The ship is stopped and Lauterbach and Schall lead a boarding party over. This new capture is SS Ben Mohr, 4,806 tons, carrying a valuable cargo of locomotives, bicycles, engines and machinery. Her crew are immediately sent to Buresk and the scuttling party begin to lay their charges. Leutnant Klopper, acting commander of Buresk, sends an urgent message to Emden. He is running out of space to put new prisoners, and is in desperate need of matresses and provisions. Ben Mohr is quickly dispatched and Emden continues her patrol to the west of Minicoy.

Jimbuna

10-17-14, 07:27 AM

17th October 1914

Western Front

Herlies captured by the Allies: End of the offensive of the Allies.

Armentières recaptured by Allied forces.

Heavy German counter-attacks impose a strenuous defensive for a period extending to 17 November.

First units of Australian Imperial Force embark for France.

Eastern Front

German troops are now 7 miles (11km) from Warsaw, their farthest advance into Poland.

Crisis of Battle of Warsaw: Russian reinforcements reach the city and save it from capture.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Undaunted, light cruiser, Arethusa-class, 3rd DF leader, Capt Cecil Fox, and Lance, Lennox, Legion, Loyal, destroyers, I-class, c970t, 1913/14, 3-4in/1-2pdr/4-21in tt, 1st Div, 3rd DF, all Harwich Force, off Dutch coast on patrol for German flotilla movements, on station in the Broad Fourteens at 1400, then 50 miles SW of Texel. Smoke sighted and four German 400t torpedo boats spotted, Undaunted signalled “General Chase” and by 1630 all four - S.115, S.117, S.118, S.119 had been sunk by gunfire (dx - 40 miles SW of Texel), British destroyers slightly damaged; Loyal had an officer and two ratings seriously wounded, one of the ratings dying; Legion had two ratings wounded.
http://s3.postimg.org/7z62qaw1v/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Naval Intelligence - Following the sinking of four German torpedo boats, naval signal code books, mainly for use by flag officers were dragged up on 30/11/14 by British trawlers. This was the third major German code book capture.

Leda, minesweeper, ex-Alarm-class torpedo gunboat. Entering Scapa Flow and reported torpedoes fired at her, subsequently found to have been a destroyers' accidental discharge.

Swift, flotilla leader, Grand Fleet. Reported another U-boat attack off Scapa Flow.

First British submarines ("E.-1" and "E.-9") enter the Baltic.
http://s11.postimg.org/qdfn3m87n/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

German submarines attempt raid on Scapa Flow.

Grand Fleet - Because of the U-boat threat to undefended Scapa Flow, the Grand Fleet started moving to temporary bases in western Scotland and northern Ireland, further away from the North Sea area of operations.

The Japanese cruiser Takachiho is sunk by the German torpedo boat S-90, with the loss of 271 men.
http://s24.postimg.org/rvmggebcl/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Ship Losses:

SMS S90 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The S90-class torpedo boat was scuttled at Tsingtao, China.
SMS S115 ( Kaiserliche Marine): Battle off Texel: The torpedo boat was shelled and sunk in the North Sea off Texel, North Holland, Netherlands by HMS Lance, HMS Legion (1914), HMS Lennox, HMS Loyal and HMS Undaunted (all Royal Navy).
SMS S117 ( Kaiserliche Marine): Battle off Texel: The torpedo boat was shelled and sunk in the North Sea off Texel by HMS Lance, HMS Legion (1914), HMS Lennox, HMS Loyal and HMS Undaunted (all Royal Navy).
SMS S118 ( Kaiserliche Marine): Battle off Texel: The torpedo boat was shelled and sunk in the North Sea off Texel by HMS Lance, HMS Legion (1914), HMS Lennox, HMS Loyal and HMS Undaunted (all Royal Navy).
SMS S119 ( Kaiserliche Marine): Battle off Texel: The torpedo boat was shelled and sunk in the North Sea off Texel by HMS Lance, HMS Legion (1914), HMS Lennox, HMS Loyal and HMS Undaunted (all Royal Navy).
Takachiho ( Imperial Japanese Navy): The Naniwa-class cruiser was torpedoed and sunk in Jiaozhou Bay by SMS S90 ( Kaiserliche Marine with the loss of 271 of her 274 crew.

French soldier’s room unchanged 96 years after his death in first world war
Parents kept room as it was the day he left, and stipulated when they moved that it should not be changed for 500 years.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/14/french-soldier-room-unchanged-first-world-war

http://s8.postimg.org/s9qlhel45/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

10-17-14, 12:50 PM

October 17:

"Here was a pretty kettle of fish. The great Fleet was homeless and insecure, like American colonists chased by stealthy Red Indians. We hid in the creeks and bays of the west Scottish coast. Loch-na-Kiel was alloted to the battle-cruisers. Beatty called a meeting. How to improvise our security? Fishing nets and wire hawsers were stretched across the harbour entrance; picket boats were in constant patrol behind them. Admiralty conferences took place. And so the long study of this new and serious problem for the Navy began in earnest."
- Alfred Ernle Montacute Chatfield, Admiral Beatty's flag captain, later Admiral of the Fleet, commenting on the dispersal of the Grand fleet; from his book The Navy and Defense (1942)

In the mid-Pacific Admiral von Spee's squadron is finishing up coaling and sorting of stores, preparing to depart the Easter Island area.

In the Atlantic SMS Karlsruhe is looking for more victims, with no luck.

At the Falkland Islands Admiral Cradock is still awaiting the arrival of HMS Canopus before he sets out to look for Spee.

On the East African coast SMS Königsberg is still anchored at Salale, in the Rufiji River, still waiting for parts to repair the damaged engines. The four British cruisers are still watching the coastline for any clue of the German ship's whereabouts.

In the Indian Ocean the officers of SMS Emden spend a quiet day dividing the previous day's haul. Every department aboard the ship has a large amount of supplies to sort out and store.

Jimbuna

10-18-14, 07:31 AM

18th October 1914

Western Front

The Yser held by the Belgians against the Germans: struggle from Lombartzyde to Keyem.

Roulers occupied by the Germans after fierce three-days' battle.

Eastern Front

Galicia: Beginning of a desperate but vain effort of the Austrians to cross the San.

Political etc.

Germany levies a $1 million ($23.8 million today) tax on Ostend, Belgium for the cost of its capture.

Hiram Maxim reveals invention of anti-Zeppelin incendiary bullet.
http://s7.postimg.org/jkex5442j/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Naval and Overseas Operations

Belgian Coast: British monitors under Admiral Hood aid the Belgians in the Battle of the Yser.
Dover Patrol was only made a separate command under Rear-Adm Hood on the 12th, and in spite of bad weather that prevented sailing any sooner, by the 17th ships were off the Belgian coast, ready to support the Belgian and French armies in their attempt to halt the Germans along the River Yser, west of Ostend and Zeebrugge. That day four scout cruisers including Attentive (flag, Adm Hood), 20 destroyers and three monitors sailed, Adm Hood reaching Nieuport about midnight to establish communications. Next day - the 18th, Attentive and the monitors, Foresight and her four destroyers bombarded German positions and played a major role in holding their infantry attacks:

Attentive, Adventure-class, Foresight, Forward-class, scout cruisers and 6th DF Leaders, Humber, Mersey, Severn, Humber-class monitors, Amazon, Mohawk, Nubian, E-class destroyers, 6th DF. Heavily engaged by shore-based artillery, some shrapnel damage; Mersey lost one Royal Marine on the 20th and Severn, one officer ashore on the same day.
http://s13.postimg.org/vhgp1j15z/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
Loss of British submarine E.3 announced by German wireless.
HMS E3 left Harwich on the 16th October 1914 to patrol an area off Borkum. At the same time U27 was patrolling off the mouth of the Ems.
At 1025 on the morning of 18 October U27 sighted E3 on the surface and was able to approach unobserved firing her torpedoes at a range of approximately 300 yards.
The resulting explosion broke E3 in half and sent her immediately to the bottom.
This was the first successful submarine to submarine engagement.
http://s18.postimg.org/lwl4eryah/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

HMS Fox (log entry)
At Mombasa
Lat -4.07, Long 39.65
8.20am: German prisoners of war left ship for Nairobi
am: Performed Divine Service
11.00am: One seaman discharged to hospital
3.00pm: collier BURBRIDGE secured alongside
5.00pm: British Prize crew ratings from late German tug ADJUTANT joined ship.
http://s28.postimg.org/mtzwnokyl/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Ship Losses:

HMS E3 ( Royal Navy): The E-class submarine was torpedoed sunk and in the North Sea off Borkum, Denmark by SM U-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all 28 crew.
Glanton ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 195 nautical miles (361 km) south west of the St Paul Rocks, Brazil (approximately 1°S 4°W) by SMS Karlsruhe ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.
Troilus ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Indian Ocean 170 nautical miles (310 km) east of Minicoy, India by SMS Emden ( Kaiserliche Marine).

http://s2.postimg.org/a47uk0ytl/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

10-18-14, 12:08 PM

October 18:

"I dreamt that people from the Land of Chimes
Arrived one autumn morning with their bells,
To hoist them on the towers and citadels
Of my own country, that the musical rhymes

Rung by them into space at meted times
Amid the market's daily stir and stress,
And the night's empty star-lit silentness,
Might solace souls of this and kindred climes.

Then I awoke; and lo, before me stood
The visioned ones, but pale and full of fear;
From Bruges they came, and Antwerp, and Ostend,

No carillons in their train. Foes of mad mood
Had shattered these to shards amid the gear
Of ravaged roof, and smouldering gable-end."

Thomas Hardy, 'On The Belgian Expatriation', October 18, 1914.

"It seems certain that the reply to this weapon must be looked for in other directions than in building submarine boats ourselves, for it is clear that one submarine boat cannot fight another."
-George Lord Gochen, First Lord of the Admiralty, 1895-1900

U-27, commanded by Bernd Wegener, spots British submarine E-3 cruising on the surface, and sinks her with a single torpedo. Wegener, like Weddigen, will have a u-boat flotilla named for him.

Graf Spee departs Easter Island with his two armored cruisers, three light cruisers and several support ships.

HMS Canopus finally arrives at Port Stanley. Captain Grant tells Admiral Cradock that it will require five days to clean his boilers and repair a malfunctioning engine. He also reports that even after repairs his ship will not be able to make more than 12 knots. Cradock signals the Admiralty "I fear strategically the speed of my squadron cannot exceed 12 knots, owing to Canopus, but shall trust circumstances will enable me to force an action."

In the Atlantic SMS Karlsruhe makes another capture. This time it is SS Glanton, 3,021 tons, travelling from Barry to Montevideo with 3,800 tons of coal. Unwilling to use more men for a prize crew, Captain Köhler opts to sink the ship. Some oil and rope are taken aboard, the crew sent to Rio Negro, and Glanton scuttled. Two other ships are sighted that day, but they both turn out to be neutral.

In the Indian Ocean SMS Emden is having a typical Sunday. Church services have been held for both Catholic and Protestant sailors, and the officers are relaxing in the wardroom when smoke is sighted in the distance. As Emden approaches it is seen that the funnel of the ship is blue, a sure indication that she belongs to the British Blue Funnel Line. SS Troilus is a brand-new freighter on her maiden voyage, rated at 7,562 tons, carrying copper, tin, zinc and rubber from Colombo to England. The value of the cargo is estimated at 25 million marks.

The ship is boarded at 1500 hours. Among the passengers is a lady who knows Leutnant Lauderbach from his days as captain of the liner Staatssekretär Kredtke. The lady, who is not named in Hohenzollern's account, expresses amusement at being captured on the high seas, and tells a delightful story of her adventures. When war broke out the ship on which she was travelling turned back to Hong Kong. After weeks of waiting she finally managed to get aboard a ship to Singapore. From there she caught another ship, but it was turned back because of the fear of Emden. Later still she managed to reach Colombo. Finally she got aboard Troilus, only to find herself captured by Emden, and by Mr. Lauterbach himself. The lady is most philosophical about it, her only regret being the necessity of travelling back to Colombo and start yet again.

The captain of Troilus turns out to be another story altogether. He angrily complains that he has always travelled the main shipping lanes with no trouble whatsoever. This time the Naval Staff at Colombo advised him to travel thirty miles north of the main route, which of course took him straight into the arms of Emden. The raider's officers are delighted to hear this, because they now know exactly where the cargo ships are being directed. The only officer who is not happy is Leutnant Klopper, temporary commander of Buresk, who complains that he has no room for more crew and passengers, particularly for a lady who should be in a private cabin. Not wishing to waste time, Captain von Müller has Troilus follow along.

The little convoy is heading east when, at 2100, they come across the steamer St. Egbert, 5,596 tons, carrying a cargo of sugar and piece goods from from Colombo to New York. Though the ship is British, the cargo is neutral. This gives one advantage, as the ship can now be used as a second dump in which to put the overflow of captives. Leutnant Geerdes, who had led the boarding party this time, is ordered to follow Emden with his prize.

Jimbuna

10-19-14, 07:05 AM

19th October 1914

Western Front

The Yser: German attacks on Lombartzyde repulsed.

B.E.F.: Transfer from Aisne to Flanders completed.

First Indian units reach the Flanders front.

Sir John French's despatches of 17 September and 8 October published.

First Battle of Ypres begins: Sir Henry Rawlinson unable to occupy Menin.
Still hoping to score a quick victory in the West, the Germans launch a major attack on Ypres in Belgium. Despite heavy losses, British, French and Belgian troops fend off the attack and the Germans do not break through. During the battle, the Germans send waves of inexperienced 17 to 20-year-old volunteer soldiers, some fresh out of school. They advance shoulder-to-shoulder while singing patriotic songs only to be systematically gunned down in what the Germans themselves later call the "massacre of the innocents." By November, overall casualties will total 250,000 men, including nearly half of the British Regular Army.
http://s24.postimg.org/4gndd4eud/image.png (http://postimage.org/)

Eastern Front

Poland: Germans cross the Vistula at Josefov, etc.

Battle of Warsaw ends.

Political, etc.

New Naval Decoration, the Distinguished Service Medal, established.

Nine Kings Of Europe
http://s27.postimg.org/i6x40ln37/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
Interesting photo from before the war, the Kaiser enjoyed that visit to Britain before the war, one person had put up a sign on the road which caught his attention and he used it in a speech : Blut ist dicker als Wasser. which translates to Blood is thicker than water, a particularly apt quote as Germany and Britain were engaged in a Naval Race, and the Kaises and the king were cousins.

This is from a website : Rare Historical Photos, the explanation reads, :

In May 1910, European royalty gathered in London for the funeral of King Edward VII. Among the mourners were nine reigning kings, who were photographed together in what very well may be the only photograph of nine reigning kings ever taken. Of the nine sovereigns pictured, four would be deposed and one assassinated. Within five years, Britain and Belgium would be at war with Germany and Bulgaria. Only five of the nine monarchies represented in the photo still exist today.

Standing from left to right: King Haakon VII of Norway, King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, King Manuel of Portugal, Kaiser Wilhelm II of the German Empire, King George I of The Hellenes (Greece) and King Albert I of the Belgians (Belgium). Seated, from left to right: King Alfonso XIII of Spain, King-Emperor George V of the Great Britain and King Frederick VIII of Denmark.

There are several family relations in that picture. For instance, Frederik VIII of Denmark (bottom right) was the father of Haakon VII of Norway (top left), while Wilhelm II of Germany (top, 3rd from the right) was first cousin of both George V of the United Kingdom (bottom center), and Queen Maud of Norway who was wife to Haakon VII of Norway and sister to George V of the United Kingdom – which made Haakon VII of Norway and George V of the United Kingdom brother-in-laws. George V of the United Kingdom’s and Queen Maud of Norway’s mother was incidentally Alexandra of Denmark, sister to Frederik VIII of Denmark. This means that Frederik VIII of Denmark was also the uncle of George V of the United Kingdom.

George was a grandson of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and the first cousin of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. The funeral of Henry VII was the last time all of the great European monarchs would meet before the First World War, the same war that would end most of the monarchical lines of Europe for good. Imagine, they all knew a war was coming, all knew it was going to be between them. Looking at this picture really makes one realize how much the First World War was the result of national egos embodied by monarchs. And just how full of nonsense they were with any sense of honor or duty to their states.

Naval Operations

Indian Ocean One possible Admiralty collier (and another British steamship) captured by Emden:

Exford, collier (kp - Admiralty chartered), 4,542/1911, Tatem Steam Navigation Co, Cardiff-reg, sailing UK for India with 5,500t Welsh coal. Sighted at 0030 (L - in 08.27N, 74.49E; kp 8.39N, 75.07E), stopped about 0100 using siren and signal lamp, retained as collier. Emden currently in company with British steamships Buresk, Troilus and St Egbert, later that day at 1900, released St Egbert with prisoners. Exford recaptured by armed merchant cruiser Empress of Asia, arrived Singapore 11 December.

Ship Losses:

Chilkana ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Indian Ocean 110 nautical miles (200 km) east north east of Minicoy, India by SMS Emden ( Kaiserliche Marine).

http://s30.postimg.org/7ojzx7bu9/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

10-19-14, 01:28 PM

October 19:

Indian Ocean: Shortly after midnight a new set of lights is sighted. SMS Emden gives pursuit. The ship is stopped, and this time it is Leutnants Levetzow and Hohenzollern who lead the boarding party. The captured ship is discovered to be SS Exford, 4,542 tons, chartered for the British Admiralty and carrying 5,500 tons of prime Cardiff coal. Levetzow takes command of the ship and follows in with the group. Due to problems with the engine telegraph Exford spends the night being alternately too slow and too fast.

It is even worse for Leutnant Geerdes in St. Egbert. In the dark the group encounters a rain storm, and when it passes Emden is nowhere to be seen. Geerdes decides to stop and wait for daylight. He posts guards at key points, expecting that the prisoners might use this as an opportunity to retake the ship. As the sun is rising Geerdes proceeds on his way. Fortunately for him von Müller has stopped the group to wait for St. Egbert to catch up. At 0700 they are reunited.

At this point von Müller decides to redistribute the prisoners. Leutnant Lauterbach is in charge of Troilus, with ship's Adjutant Lt. Guerard and ten men. With him is also First Officer Kapitanleutnant von Mücke. Commanding St. Egbert is After-Battery Officer Lt. Geerdes, with Lt. Fikentscher and another ten men. Aboard Exford is Second Gunnery Officer Lt. Levetzow, with Second Torpedo Officer Lt. Hohenzollern and ten more men. Emden still retains Captain von Müller, First Gunnery Officer Lt. Gaede, First torpedo Officer Lt. Witthöft, and two junior leutnants.

At 0900 this moving about of prisoners is still going on when smoke is sighted. Emden hoists aboard one of her boats and sets off to investigate. When the ship is overtaken and stopped a small prize crew crosses over under the command of Lt. Zimmermann. This latest victim is SS Chilkana, 5,220 tons, with a mixed cargo bound from England to several Indian destinations. While the two ships are returning to the group the last of the English prisoners from Exford are transferred to St. Egbert, leaving a contingent of Chinese stokers who will work for the Germans if paid. The captain of Troilus asks for permission to take his harmonium, a type of small organ, to St. Egbert with him. Von Mücke grants this.

Chilkana is now stripped of her holdings, including an up-to-date wireless set and a store of chemicals useful to Emden's doctors. St. Egbert is designated the new provision ship, and von Mücke and Lauterbach take up residence there. Hohenzollern gives a humorous description of boats piled high with "...whole hams, sausages, tinned goods of all kinds, sacks of table linen, whole baskets filled with plates, cups, tea and coffee pots, saucepans and frying-pans, knives, forks and spoons. Other boats
carried tea, chocolate in all its forms, cases of bottled beer, hundreds of boxes of condensed milk, and many other good things."

He also describes "Drinks, crockery, knives and forks, and linen, of which there was plenty in the Chilkana, were also divided between Emden and Buresk."

While all this is taking place on one side of Emden, on the other the cruiser is firing salvo after salvo at the now-empty Troilus, with very little effect. All the ships have their engines running to maintain station, but at one point Levetzow aboard Exford signals Emden "Please go full ahead. My engines do not function astern." Emden is forced to cease her firing and move out of the way of the freighter. Von Müller replaces Levetzow and Hohenzollern with Navigator Kapitanleutnant Gropius and Lt. Schall. Hohenzollern returns to Emden just in time to witness an engaging sight. There are several sharks in the water, and Lt. Gaede is shooting at them with a rifle. At one point Gaede loses his white pith helmet overboard, and the sharks decide it might be good to eat. The largest shark is about to swallow the helmet when Gaede kills him. The shark sinks out of sight and his fellows follow him, looking for a quick lunch.

At 1600 the last provisions are offloaded from Chilkana, and scuttling charges are prepared. At 1630 the charges are set off. Emden fires a few rounds and the ship sinks quickly. Meanwhile Troilus has still not sunk. Many more salvoes are fired, and at 1800 the ship finally goes down.

At this point St. Egbert, her prisoners and her neutral cargo are sent on their way, with orders not to put in at any Indian port. Leutnant Geerdes has this wrong. Captain von Müller wants the prisoners ashore at some small port, where the locals will have a hard time providing them all with food and shelter. By 1830 all the boats are hoisted aboard and Emden heads after St. Egbert to correct the order. The freed merchant then sets course for Cochin, but not until her captain has thanked von Müller for his hospitality. Von Müller heads southeast, then while still within sight of St. Egbert he turns north. After the merchant is completely out of sight Emden turns south again.

German East Africa: Captain Drury-Lowe takes HMS Chatham into the Lukuledi River, following a report of a German ship sighted at Lindi. There he finds the merchant ship SS Präsident. The ship has white crosses on her hull, which is red. Drury-Lowe exchanges letters with the governor of Lindi. The governor says that Präsident is serving as a hospital ship, but the captain notes that the markings do not conform to the Hague Convention. First Officer Commander Raymond Fitzmaurice is sent to board the suspect vessel with an armed party. They find no sign of doctors or medical facilities. Fitzmaurice has his men completely disable Präsident's engines, rendering the ship useless. A search of the ship turns up papers revealing that Präsident has been running supplies for Königsberg. These papers also show that the German cruiser is at Salale. The bad news is that Salale is not shown on any British chart, so the German's location is still unknown. There are also charts of the Rufiji river area, but as far as anyone knows that delta is too shallow for any cruiser. Drury-Lowe decides to investigate anyway. His problem now is that the delta is twenty miles across, with eight separate channels leading to the river itself. Also the Germans have removed all the bouys and markers, so there is no telling where a passage deep enough might be.

Jimbuna

10-20-14, 05:55 AM

20th October 1914

Western Front

Still hoping to score a quick victory in the West, the Germans launch a major attack on Ypres in Belgium. Despite heavy losses, British, French and Belgian troops fend off the attack and the Germans do not break through. During the battle, the Germans send waves of inexperienced 17 to 20-year-old volunteer soldiers, some fresh out of school. They advance shoulder-to-shoulder while singing patriotic songs only to be systematically gunned down in what the Germans themselves later call the "massacre of the innocents." By November, overall casualties will total 250,000 men, including nearly half of the British Regular Army.

Battle round Arras: fierce German attack repulsed.

Poelcapelle captured by the Germans.

Indian Expeditionary Force (Cavalry, Meerut and Lahore Division) reaches the front.

Heavy fighting near La Bassee.

Eastern Front

Poland: German attacks in front of Warsaw weakening: Russians begin to take the offensive.

Battle of Ivangorod ends.

Political, etc.

Germans report 149,000 French, 107,000 Russian, 32,000 Belgian, and 9,000 British prisoners.

British losses to date 57,000, including sick.

Naval Operations

First merchant vessel sunk by German submarine U-17 (British S.S. "Glitra").

Belgian Coast
Amazon, Viking, destroyers, F-class, c1,100t, 2-4in/2-18in tt, in company with other 6th DF destroyers and monitors of Dover Patrol, and five French destroyers, in action against German shore targets. A 4in gun on Viking burst and she retired disabled, Amazon (flag, Adm Hood) badly holed by return fire during bombardment of batteries near Lombartzyde just north of Nieuport, put out of action, sent home for repairs; no lives lost.

Ship Losses:

Glitra ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was stopped in the North Sea 14 nautical miles (26 km) west south west of Skudenes, Rogaland, Norway by U-17. She was searched under prize rules and her crew were allowed to take to the lifeboats before she was scuttled.

http://s7.postimg.org/ivabu0717/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

10-20-14, 01:00 PM

October 20:

"Once we have arrived at our destination, I shall write to you straight away and send you my address. I hope we shall get to England."
- Private Adolf Hitler, letter to his landlord on being sent to the front, October 20, 1914

Johannes Feldkirchner, commanding U-17, is fourteen miles off the Norwegian coast when he spots a lone freighter. He surfaces and orders the steamer's crew to abandon ship. It is SS Glitra, 866 tons, carrying a load of coal, oil and iron plates from Grangemouth to Stavanger. After the crew are safely away a boarding party scuttles the ship. Glitra is the first merchant ever to be sunk by a u-boat.

In the Indian Ocean, at about 0100, lookouts aboard SMS Emden spot the lights of a ship in the distance. Captain von Müller decides to ignore it, as his crew are completely exhausted from the previous day's work. At 0200 another ship is sighted, going the opposite direction at high speed. Again von Müller ignores the vessel, thinking it may be a warship. Sometime later they find out that the British Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Empress of Russia was patrolling the area. About 0300 a third ship passes by, and again it is avoided.

Sometime during the night Emden loses contact with Buresk, but with the coming of daylight the two are reunited.

Late in the morning SS St. Egbert arrives at Cochin with her load of passengers. Once again word spreads of the gentlemanly treatment shown by Karl von Müller to his captives.

Oberon

10-20-14, 02:52 PM

https://38.media.tumblr.com/c36d9e64fb4ea0ba466d327d86ea6725/tumblr_ndgrigu5hw1qcmr4fo1_500.jpg

A German soldier shares his meal with a young girl, date and location unknown.

Aktungbby

10-20-14, 06:14 PM

October 20:

"Once we have arrived at our destination, I shall write to you straight away and send you my address. I hope we shall get to England."
- Private Adolf Hitler, letter to his landlord on being sent to the front, October 20, 1914
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1974-082-44%2C_Adolf_Hitler_im_Ersten_Weltkrieg.jpg Probably in the company of: his war comrades of the Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment 16. From left to right: standing: Sperl (Munich), lithographer (?), Max Mund (Munich), gilder, sitting: Georg Wimmer (Munich), tram worker, Josef Inkofer (Munich), Lausamer (killed in action), Adolf Hitler, lying: Balthasar Brandmayer (Bad Aibling), bricklayer.

Sailor Steve

10-21-14, 03:22 AM

A couple of fascinating pictures. :yep: :rock:

Jimbuna

10-21-14, 07:38 AM

21st October 1914

Western Front

The Yser: Critical day: Dixmude heavily bombarded and assaulted.

Arras also heavily bombarded and attacked.

The Argonne: French recovery begins.

Battle of Langemarck (Ypres) begins.

Indian Expeditionary Force reaches the frontlines. Sikh soldiers in France:
http://s2.postimg.org/4ienht415/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Eastern Front

Poland: Germans begin retreat from Warsaw: Battle of Kasimiryev: Russki annihilates the Germans who had crossed the Vistula.

Political, etc.

State sale of alcohol is abolished in Russia. Vodka and hard liquor has already been banned.

Great Britain: Reply to manifesto of German professors published.

Ship Losses:

Cormorant ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Thames Estuary 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) east of the West Gabbard Lightship ( United Kingdom).
Svithiod ( Sweden): The passenger ship collided with Mimosa ( United Kingdom) at Stockholm and sank with the loss of two lives.
PEROLA (Sweden): The schooner was on voyage in ballast from Fredrikshavn to Ystad, stranded and wrecked about 100 meter NO Udbyhöj båk.

http://s3.postimg.org/bdjs3r6v7/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

The conflict, called the Great War by those involved, was the first large-scale example of modern warfare - technologies still use in battle today were introduced in large scale forms then, some (like chemical attacks) were outlawed and later viewed as war crimes. The newly-invented aeroplane took its place as an observation platform, a bomber, and an anti-personnel weapon, even as an anti-aircraft defense, shooting down enemy aircraft. Here, French soldiers gather around a priest as he blesses an aircraft on the Western Front, in 1915.
http://s11.postimg.org/l3amp08yr/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

10-21-14, 02:32 PM

October 21:

"In my opinion the enemy are vigorously playing their last card and I am confident they will fail."
- Sir John French, telegram to Lord Kitchener, October 21, 1914

"We pull forward, get our first glimpse of this battlefield, and have to get used to the terrible scenes and impressions: corpses, corpses and more corpses, rubble, and the remains of villages. The bodies of friend and foe lie tumbled together. Heavy infantry fire drives us out of the position which we had taken up, and this is added to by increasingly heavy British artillery fire. We are now in an area of meadowland, covered with dead cattle and a few surviving, ownerless cows. The ruins of the village taken by assault are still smoking, trenches hastily dug by the British are full of bodies."
- Herbert Sulzbach, German artilleryman, diary entry on his first day in battle, October 21, 1914

British and French cavalry fall back from Passchendaele. They are not under fire, but seek the security of the area near Ypres. There they begin digging trenches. The Germans see this and reply in kind. It will be only a matter of weeks before these are connected to the trenches in the south.

Indian Ocean: Sometime before noon SMS Emden's little convoy stops. Engineering Officer Haas is sent to SS Exford to check her engines and boilers, which are in need of an overhaul. Captain von Müller takes this opportunity to again rearrange the disposition of his officers in the various ships, and to better sort out the captured supplies and equipment. Exford is then dispatched to a rendezvous point, with orders to stay there until Emden shows up or her supplies are exhausted. If the latter happens they are to take the ship to the nearest neutral port.

Jimbuna

10-22-14, 07:17 AM

22nd October 1914

Western Front

The Yser: Struggle for Dixmude continued.

Battle round La Bassee: Beginning of a severe ten-days' effort of the Germans to break through.

Battle of Ypres: Germans capture Langemarck.
In a bitter two-day stretch of hand-to-hand fighting, German forces capture the Flemish town of Langemarck from its Belgian and British defenders during the First Battle of Ypres.
The trench lines built in the fall of 1914 between the town of Ypres, on the British side, and Menin and Roulers, on the German side—known as the Ypres salient—became the site of some of the fiercest battles of World War I.
The battle was a vigorous attempt by the Germans to drive the British out of the salient altogether, thus clearing the way for the German army to access the all-important Belgian coastline with its access to the English Channel and, beyond, to the North Sea.
The German forces advancing against Ypres had a numerical advantage over the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), as General Erich von Falkenhayn was able to send the entire German 4th and 6th Armies against the BEF’s seven infantry divisions (one was held in reserve) and three cavalry divisions. For reinforcements, Sir John French, commander of the BEF, had only a few divisions of Indian troops already en route to Flanders; in the days to come, however, these replacement troops would distinguish themselves with excellent performances in both offensive and defensive operations.

Eastern Front

Czernowitz (Bukovina) reoccupied by Austrian forces.

Naval and Overseas Operations

German minefields - minelayer/auxiliary cruiser Berlin, carrying 2,000 moored contact mines laid large field about 19 miles E of N of Tory Island, off N Ireland on night of 22nd/23rd.

"Emden's" third list of captures announced.

Egypt: UK orders all foreign vessels out of the Suez Canal.

South Africa: Rebels routed at Keimoes.

Political etc.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, assistant Secretary of the Navy, states 18,000 more men are needed for the navy if the U.S. enters a war.

United States Government issue Circular Note to belligerent Governments stating that they will insist on existing rules of International Law.

Prussian Diet passes a war bill granting a credit of 1.5 billion marks or $375 million ($8.9 billion today).

PRINCE MAX OF HESSE LEFT DEAD ON FIELD; Wounds in Back Start Rumor that Kaiser's Nephew Was Shot by His Own Men.

Ship Losses:

Ida ( United Kingdom): The ketch foundered in the English Channel off the Yaverland Battery, Isle of Wight. Her crew were rescued by Magnet ( United Kingdom).
Rochelle ( United States): The cargo ship ran aground at the mouth of the Columbia River and was a total loss.
ALICE (Sweden): The steamship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea on a voyage London – Gothenburg with a cargo of coal.

Military reburials for WW1 soldiers in northern France

A reburial service has been taking place in northern France for 15 British World War One soldiers, exactly one hundred years after they were killed in battle.
Their remains lay undiscovered until 2009, when their bodies were found in a field near the Belgian-French border.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29724028

THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE
~SALUTE~

Henry May (VIctoria Cross)
Henry May VC (29 July 1885 – 26 July 1941) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
http://s11.postimg.org/ig24o5ks3/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
On 22 October 1914 in France, May rescued the then Lieutenant, Douglas Alexander Graham. May dragged him 300 yds whilst under fire. Earlier in the same day May had voluntarily attempted a rescue of a heavily wounded man, who died before May could reach him.

The citation was published in a supplement to the London Gazette of 16 April 1915, dated 19 April 1915, and read:

War Office, 19th April, 1915.
His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officer, Non-commissioned Officer and Men for their conspicuous acts of bravery and devotion to duty whilst serving with the Expeditionary Force: —
[...]
No. 7504 Private Henry May, 1st Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).
For most conspicuous bravery near La Boutillerie, on 22nd October, 1914, in voluntarily endeavouring to rescue, under very heavy fire, a wounded man, who was killed before he could save him, and subsequently, on the same day, in carrying a wounded Officer a distance of 300 yards into safety whilst exposed to very severe fire.

http://s17.postimg.org/4n8qms6wv/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Prussian guard infantry in new field gray uniforms leave Berlin, Germany, heading for the front lines. Girls and women along the way greet and hand flowers to them.
http://s30.postimg.org/gsgiywdrl/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

10-22-14, 01:10 PM

October 22:

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands: Admiral Cradock decides he can waste no more time waiting for Canopus. He sends a signal to the Admiralty: "Good Hope left Port Stanley via Cape Horn. Canopus following on 23rd via Magellan Straights with three colliers for west coast of South America."

He leaves a letter with Governor Sir William Allardyce for Admiral Sir Hedworth Meux, with this note "I will give you all the warning I can if the German squadron eludes us; and only in case of my 'disappearance' will you send the letter to Meux. I mean to say, if my squadron disappears - and me too - completely. I have no intention after forty years at sea of being an unheard victim." The letter to Meux is lost, but in an earlier letter Cradock had told his friend "I will take care not to suffer the fate of poor Troubridge."
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2231358&postcount=95

Indian Ocean: The crew of SMS Emden put on their dress uniforms and celebrate the birthday of Kaiserin Augusta Victoria, wife of Wilhelm II, with speeches by the captain and first officer. This is followed by a 21-gun salute to Her Majesty. Later in the day they enter the Bay of Bengal, but stay away from the known shipping routes.

Jimbuna

10-23-14, 07:58 AM

23rd October 1914

Western Front

The Yser: Germans take Lombartzyde, but are again repulsed from Dixmude.

Allies lose ground near La Bassee.

Battle of Ypres: Furious attacks near Langemarck.

Eastern Front

Poland: Germans abandon siege of Ivangorod: Russians everywhere advance and harrass the retreat. They retake Jaroslau.

Political etc.

President Wilson signs the War Revenue Bill, which will raise taxes to cover losses in commerce caused by the war.

93 prominent German intellectuals endorse the Manifesto of the Ninety-Three, which declares their support of Germany.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Mesopotamian Campaign - Because of increasing Turkish hostility, British/Indian forces were dispatched to protect British oil interests in the Persian Gulf area, and arrived off Bahrein ready to land.

Ship Losses:

Hurstdale ( United Kingdom): The refrigerated cargo liner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 205 nautical miles (380 km) south west of the St Paul Rocks, Brazil (approximately 1°S 4°W) by SMS Karlsruhe ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.
TEMES (I) Austrian-Hungarian monitor, sank after hitting a mine in the Save. The ship was salvaged some time later, repaired and re-commissioned at Budapest on April 23, 1917.

http://s10.postimg.org/3yvxw4ljd/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Between 1914 and the war's end in 1918, more than 65 million soldiers were mobilized worldwide - requiring mountains of supplies and gear. Here, on a table set up outside a steel helmet factory in Lubeck, Germany, a display is set up, showing the varying stages of the helmet-making process for Stahlhelms for the Imperial German Army.
http://s7.postimg.org/bn3kfoex7/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

10-23-14, 11:54 AM

October 23:

Falkland Islands: HMS Canopus completes her repairs and sets out to follow Cradock in Good Hope. There is no hope of catching up, as the aging battleship is still making only 12 knots.

Atlantic Ocean: SMS Kalrsruhe comes across the British freighter SS Hurstdale, 2752 tons, carrying 4,644 tons of maize from Rosario to Bristol. Again everything the crew can use is taken off her victim and the ship is scuttled and her crew taken aboard Rio Negro. Later in the day they intercept SS Annie Johnson, which is examined and released when she turns out to be Swedish.

Indian Ocean: The crew of SMS Emden spend the day in Action Stations drills and gunnery practice, with SS Buresk towing a target.

Jimbuna

10-24-14, 06:30 AM

24th October 1914

Western Front

Battle of Langemarck 1914 (Ypres), ends.

The Yser: French recover Lombartzyde.

Indian troops arrive near Bethune.

Battle of Ypres: Germans occupy Polygon Wood, but fail at Gheluvelt.

Battle round Arras at its height.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Britain is employing 70 warships to hunt for 9 German cruisers, including the Emden, which is credited for sinking 20 British vessels.

Belgian Coast

Myrmidon, destroyer, B-class, with patrol flotillas and Wildfire, old composite sloop, Nymphe-class, two of the various unsuitable vessels operating as gunboats in support of the Alled armies. U-boat attack failed.

Belgian steamer MARIE HENRIETTE ran ashore on Sands "Les Casquets" off Barfleur during the night. Lights and beacons having been shut and captain Rombouts not advised of this. Was used as hospital ship for the casualties of the Yser Battle.

South Africa: Overt rebellion of Beyers and De Wet. Boer rebels in South Africa are defeated by British forces, forcing General Manie Maritz to seek refuge with German forces.

Political, etc.

Britain prohibits the importation of sugar, due to reports that German and Austrian sugars are coming in through neutral countries.

Pope convinces Germany to treat captured French Army priests as officers.

United States demands the release of American oil tankers that were seized by British ships on suspicions of providing oil to Germany.

German soldiers celebrate Christmas in the field, in December of 1914.
http://s27.postimg.org/58a8fixhv/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

http://s9.postimg.org/uoa28twr3/image.png (http://postimage.org/)
GERMAN BULL: "I know I'm making a rotten exhibition of myself; but I shall tell everybody I was goaded into it."

Sailor Steve

10-24-14, 10:23 AM

German soldiers celebrate Christmas in the field, in December of 1914.
In October? :-?

No, I don't have anything to report today.

Jimbuna

10-25-14, 08:17 AM

In October? :-?

No, I don't have anything to report today.

I'm not making the cartoons or pictures date specific :)

Jimbuna

10-25-14, 08:41 AM

25th October 1914

Western Front

Vain German efforts to break through the Allied lines at Dixmude, Ypres, La Bassee and Arras.

German troops cross parts of the Yser in Belgium as heavy battle continues along the river.

Vermelles re-occupied by the Germans.

Eastern Front

Germans in full retreat in Poland.

Naval and Overseas Operations

South Africa: Rebels routed at Calvinia.

Destruction of German submarine by H.M.S. "Badger" announced (unconfirmed).
http://s29.postimg.org/xg91r6onb/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Naval Aviation - Only 11 years after the Wright brother's first successful powered flight, the Royal Navy attempted to attack Zeppelin sheds at Cuxhaven using "aircraft carriers", but the seaplanes were unable to take off from the water. Seaplane carriers Engadine and Riviera took part escorted by Harwich Force:

North Sea
During the attempted Cuxhaven Raid, two Harwich Force ships encountered U-boats:

Fearless, scout cruiser, Active-class, leader 1st DF (broad pendant, Cdre Tyrhwitt). Believed attacked by submarine, possibly off Ems River, two torpedoes reported missed.

Badger, destroyer, I-class, c990t, 1st DF, Lt-Cdr G Freemantle. Ran down U.19 in pitch dark and believed to have sunk her off the Dutch coast. Although badly damaged the submarine reached port; Badger’s own bows “bent up”.

Political, etc.

Cheap Iron Cross replicas are sold in London to be hung around the necks of dogs and horses.

Sir Charles W.H. Douglas, British Chief of the Imperial General Staff, dies from strain and overwork.

http://s28.postimg.org/ymdesdqa5/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Germany: General von Moltke, Chief of the German General Staff, "unwell", his duties undertaken by General von Falkenhayn.

United States Marines and Sailors posing on unidentified ship (likely either the USS Pennsylvania or USS Arizona), in 1918.
http://s21.postimg.org/3zd62eqqf/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

http://s28.postimg.org/hou0h9gst/image.png (http://postimage.org/)
"I say, old girl, do let me carry something."

Sailor Steve

10-25-14, 12:44 PM

October 25:

South Atlantic: Captain Köhler of SMS Karlsruhe, realizing that his released captives will almost certainly give away his position, heads north. With Cradock heading for the Pacific and British forces searching for him south of the equator, Köhler feels he will be safe attacking shore bases in the Caribbean. He dispatches his supply ships Asuncion, Hoffnung (ex-Indrani) and Rio Negro to meet him at a later date, keeping only Farn as his collier.

Sailor Steve

10-25-14, 03:32 PM

1918.

1918
What's wrong with these numbers?

Aktungbby

10-25-14, 06:36 PM

I'm not making the cartoons or pictures date specific :)

Sorry Steve; I'm just following Jimbuna's lead here and only as to the narrowing of a particular vessel's identity....nuthin' more:03:

Sailor Steve

10-25-14, 08:47 PM

I know. I'm just trying to keep the thread on track. :sunny:

Jimbuna

10-26-14, 07:06 AM

What's wrong with these numbers?

I'm not making the cartoons or pictures date specific.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2255124&postcount=357

Sorry Steve; I'm just following Jimbuna's lead here and only as to the narrowing of a particular vessel's identity....nuthin' more:03:

Well don't, check the phrase above my sig, although in all honesty it was there before you joined the community so obviously not intended for you.

Jimbuna

10-26-14, 07:44 AM

26th October 1914

Western Front

Yser: German progress stopped: attack on Pervyse repulsed.

Heavy fighting round Ypres, La Bassee and Arras.

Naval and Overseas Operations

U-boat Warfare - First U-boat attack without warning. French liner Amiral Ganteaume carrying Belgian refugees mistaken for troopship and torpedoed by U-17 (whilst other sites such as www.uboat.net credits U-24) off Cape Gris-Nez, reached port.

On 26th October 1914 Kapitänleutnant Johannes Feldkirchener, commanding U-17, attacked the French ferry the Admiral Ganteaume without giving any warning. The ship was carrying over 2,000 Belgian refugees and 40 people died. Bulwell man Thomas McClune was aboard the SS Queen when it came to the aid of the stricken ferry. He left an account of his participation in the rescue of the survivors.

"I was sitting by the taffrail on the starboard side of the Queen, along with a few friends, when I saw a huge volume of smoke, and water rise around the Admiral Ganteaume, which at the moment would be about 360 yards ahead of us. The smoke and water rose to a height of 80 or 100 feet, and immediately it had subsided the Admiral Ganteaume hoisted her signal of distress. Then we heard our captain pipe, 'All hands on deck,' and we knew something serious had happened to the Ganteaume. Everyone at once said 'She has struck a mine'.

"Unable to get near enough on one side, Captain Carey, with superb seamanship, swung his boat right round.

"As the Queen made her way across the 'nose' of the Ganteaume the steward came to me and asked me if I were willing to help, as the Ganteaume had struck a mine. I replied, 'Yes,' and saw an attempt to lower the Queen's boats. The sea apparently was too heavy and Captain Carey drew his ship alongside the ill-fated vessel. As we did so, five Belgian soldiers dived from the Ganteaume. Four of them immediately sank and did not reappear. The other swam a short distance and then he sank.

"The Ganteaume lowered a boat full of people, but as soon as it touched the water it dived straight down and we saw no more of the occupants.

"The scenes on the French vessel were simply beyond description. Men and women were fighting; others climbing into the rigging and sliding down ropes into the water. As soon as we got close alongside her there was an immediate rush for the Queen. The sea was rather high, and the boats heaved to and fro and it was impossible to run a bridge across. The passengers from the Ganteaume had simply to jump from one boat to the other. Some of them missed their footing or failed to hold the taffrail and they either dropped into the water or were crushed between the boats.

"I took my stand with the steward and helped him to catch the babies as they were thrown from the Ganteaume. I had a terrible experience in this work. As the last child was thrown the boat heaved away, and I just touched the child's shawl. The little one fell short of the ship and was crushed between the two vessels as they came together again. A man who jumped from the other boat missed his foothold, and though he held the ropes his legs were crushed.

"The rescue work of Captain Carey and his crew was magnificent, and I do not think there would have been a life lost if there had been no panic.

"After the terrified people had all got on board they shrank in horror to the opposite side of our boat with the result that it began to list very seriously. Accordingly they were instructed to distribute themselves more evenly but before they could be induced to do so they had to be dragged apart. They clung to each other in an ecstacy of terror. Then came the most pitiful scene of all. Children had been separated from their parents, husbands from their wives, and our first care was to restore the children to their parents. I shall never forget the spectacle as we conducted the little ones round the boat and one by one they were identified.

"Nearly all the men, women and children had their faces and hands and clothes blackened by the flying soot from the Ganteaume. Nearly all were soaked with water. The scenes on arrival of the Queen at Folkestone were also indescribable. On all sides people shouted, 'Vive L'Angleterre!'.

"Food was quickly provided for them but no-one who passed through the awful tragedy will ever forget their terrible tragedy".
http://s22.postimg.org/yc9ca2x5d/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)Kapitänleutnant Johannes Feldkirchener

Edea (Cameroons) occupied by French forces.

South Africa: Maritz driven into German territory.

Cameroons: Allies occupy Duala.

German forces begin an unprovoked invasion of Angola (Portuguese West Africa).

Political etc.

Count von Bernstorff, German ambassador to the U.S., states that an attack against Canada is not a violation of the Monroe Doctrine.

Ottoman Empire assures ambassadors of Britain, France, and Russia that it will remain neutral in the war.

General Sir .J. Wolfe Murray appointed Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Great Britain.
http://s23.postimg.org/9y56dlfp7/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Ship Losses:

Buresk ( Kaiserliche Marine): The collier was scuttled in the Pacific Ocean off the Cocos Islands.
Manchester Commerce ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Atlantic Ocean 20 nautical miles (37 km) off Malin Head, County Donegal with the loss of fourteen of her 44 crew. Survivors were rescued by the trawler City of London ( United Kingdom).
Vandyck ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 690 nautical miles (1,280 km) west by south of the St Paul Rocks, Brazil by SMS Karlsruhe ( Kaiserliche Marine).

http://s28.postimg.org/y44zq16cd/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

In the Dardanelles, the allied fleet blows up a disabled ship that interfered with navigation.
http://s14.postimg.org/tpajp55i9/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

http://s28.postimg.org/qfw1drmn1/image.png (http://postimage.org/)
UNCONQUERABLE

THE KAISER: "So, you see--you've lost everything."
THE KING OF THE BELGIANS: "Not my soul."

Sailor Steve

10-26-14, 11:47 AM

October 26:

Jim has already posted a fine report on the sinking of SS Amiral Ganteaume, including the controversy over which u-boat did the deed. According to Edwyn A. Gray's The U-Boat War, 1914-1918, it was U-24 under Rudolf Schneider. Gray cites Schneiders defense of his act, claiming he thought it was a troopship, "...but his subsequent career suggests that he neither knew nor cared"* I tend to accept this account, not because I like the book, but because Feldkirchner of U-17 seems to have been more civilized than that.

*Gray, page 67

Pacific Ocean: Von Spee's squadron arrives at Más Afuera, in the Juan Fernández Islands. The next few days will be spent coaling.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2255560&postcount=64

Atlantic Ocean: SMS Karlsruhe captures SS Van Dyck, a 10,000-ton passenger ship bound from Buenos Aires to New York with a mixed cargo, including gold and silver bullion, mail and 1,000 tons of frozen meat, as well as 200 passengers. The passengers were put aboard the supply-ship Asuncion, and she was dispatched to Para, Brazil. The rest of the day is spent stripping the ship of supplies, and Captain Köhler decides to put off her sinking until the next day.

SMS Emden recoals at Nancowrie Island, part of the Nicobar chain. They find the harbor not only beautiful but well protected from storms. During the coaling operation SS Buresk is stripped of her name-plates, making her more difficult to recognize. She is then sent to a rendezvous point west of Sumatra, and, like Exford, told to wait until Emden shows up or her supplies run out, in which case she is to make for the nearest neutral port. Emden then sets a course for Penang at 12 knots.

Meanwhile, at Sabang, a group of islands off northern Sumatra, SS Glenturret sends a message to Penang requesting a boat to offload 20 tons of explosives when they arrive there on the 28th.

Jimbuna

10-27-14, 07:49 AM

27th October 1914

Western Front

Yser: Belgians, with French aid, maintain unbroken the front Nieuport-Dixmude.

Neuve Chapelle taken by the Germans.

Germans pushed back east of Nancy.

Eastern Front

Poland: Russian victory along the line Petrokov-Radom.

Naval and Overseas Operations

South Africa: Beyers defeated by Botha at Commissie Drift, near Rustenburg.

H.M.S. "Audacious" sunk by mine off the northern Irish Coast.
http://s29.postimg.org/j8tik9qsn/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
AUDACIOUS (above, sinking), dreadnought, King George V-class, 25,700t, 1912, 10-13.5in/16-4in/3-21in tt, 21kts, c900 crew, Pennant No.54, 2nd BS Grand Fleet, Capt Cecil Dampier. With most of Grand Fleet now in Lough Swilly, the eight dreadnoughts of 2nd BS sailed from Loch na Keal, Isle of Mull on the 26th for firing practice, rendezvousing at 0500 on 27th with light cruiser Liverpool, tugs Plover and Flying Condor, and towed targets 30 miles N by W of Tory Island (Rn/gf - 55.45N, 08.30W). Four hours later, steaming in line ahead, the squadron was just turning to port in fairly heavy seas, Audacious at number three. Explosion port side aft around 0900, 20 miles N¼E of Tory Island (dx - 18 miles N3ºE of Tory Is; gf - 55.34N, 08.30W), came to a stop with port engine-room flooded and centre engine-room partly flooded, not known if mined or torpedoed, rest of squadron steamed away and called for assistance. Damage comparatively light but progressive flooding made her increasingly difficult to manage as the weather worsened. Liverpool circled and the tugs closed in as she began to settle by the stern, then stopped going down and moved ahead slowly under own power. Around 1300, White Star liner Olympic arrived in response to the SOS and tried to take her in tow, but she was now badly down by stern, hard to manage in the seas and the towline parted. Fleet collier Thornhill tried and also failed. Until 1600 it was hoped she could be saved, but by the time battleship Exmouth arrived to tow her in, Audacious' stern was awash and the remaining crew taken off by 1915. At 2045 she capsized and floated upside down for 15min before an immense ammunition explosion sank her at 2100 (in believed loss position: ke/wi - 17 miles N¼E of Tory Island in 55.33.34N, 08.12.30W, although there may some discrepency between the explosion position and distance made before going down), mining confirmed by the sinking of SS Manchester Commerce the previous afternoon, field laid by Berlin on 22/23 October; no lives lost, remaining survivors rescued by Olympic using her lifeboats. Audacious was a major loss to Adm Jellicoe and the Grand Fleet. The Admiralty tried to hide her loss and withheld information from the British press, but a photograph taken by an American on board Olympic soon appeared around the world. Wreck lies capsized in general depth of 200ft.

Liverpool, light cruiser, Bristol-class, 1st LCS Grand Fleet, standing by. When Audacious finally blew up, debris landed on Liverpool's deck; one petty officer killed.

"Emden" captures Japanese ship "Kamasaka Maru". (Widespread, unfounded rumour).

Boer Generals Christian de Wet and Christian Frederick Beyers rises up in revolt against the British in South Africa.

Political, etc.

Portugal: Naval Reserves called up.

Gavrilo Princip and 22 others are found guilty for the killing of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Ship Losses:

HMS Audacious ( Royal Navy): The King George V-class battleship struck a mine and sank in the Atlantic Ocean 25 nautical miles (46 km) off Tory Island, County Donegal. All 900 crew were rescued by HMS Liverpool ( Royal Navy), Olympic ( United Kingdom and Thornhill ( United Kingdom).
ÖRNEN (Sweden): The steamer was mined and sunk in the North Sea whilst on a voyage Gothenburg - Groningen with a cargo of wood. 5 men and 1 woman lost.

British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 36 ships of 92,000 tons gross (Lloyd's War Losses).

The USS Fulton (AS-1), an American submarine tender painted in Dazzle camouflage.
http://s28.postimg.org/xiwi7zy71/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

http://s1.postimg.org/tl332jzwv/image.png (http://postimage.org/)
DOCTOR: "Your throat is in a very bad state. Have you ever tried gargling with salt water?"

SKIPPER: "Yus, I've been torpedoed six times."

Sailor Steve

10-27-14, 09:02 AM

October 27:

Pacific Ocean: Graf Spee's squadron is still anchored at Más Afuera when they are joined by SMS Prinz Eitel Friedrich. An ocean liner converted to Armed Merchant Cruiser, she has spent the last two months in Australian waters avoiding Admiral Patey's squadron and having no success at all. Spee doesn't have extra coal for the new ship, so he dispatches her to Valparaiso with SS Göttingen for more coal, with Nürnberg as escort.

At this same time Admiral Cradock, aboard HMS Good Hope, has rendezvoused with his other armoured cruiser Monmouth and light cruiser Glasgow at the Chonos Islands off the coast of Chile. The other two ships had been prowling the area looking for any signs of Spee and his squadron. He receives a message that Canopus has made it to Punta Arenas, in the Straight of Magellan. Cradock decides that the old battleship will never be able to keep up, so he sends a message to The Admiralty: "With reference to orders to search for enemy and our great desire for early success, consider it impracticable on account of Canopus's slow speed, to find and destroy enemy squadron. Consequently have ordered Defence to join me after calling at Montevideo for orders. Canopus will be employed convoying colliers. From experience of 6 August respectfully suggest not to oppose depredations of Karlsruhe. May they continue until he meets vessel of superior speed."

It is obvious from this that Cradock still has not been informed that HMS Defence is not coming to join him. He has also not been told that he is not expected to engage Spee unless convinced he has a superior force.

In London First Sea Lord Winston Churchill sends a copy of this message to First Lord of The Admiralty Prince Louis of Battenburg, along with a note of his own: "This telegram is very obscure and I do not understand what Cradock intends or wishes. The situation on the west coast seems safe. If Gneisenau and Scharnhorst have gone north they will meet Idzumo, Necastle, and Hizen, and will be forced south on Glasgow and Monmouth who have good speed and can draw them on to Good Hope and Canopus, who should keep within supporting distance."

Atlantic Ocean: The crew of SMS Karlsruhe finishes stripping SS Van Dyck of her provisions and the merchant is scuttled.

Indian Ocean: SMS Emden has increased her speed to 15 knots in order to reach Penang during the night. Shortly before noon Captain von Müller briefs his officers on his plans for the attack and drills them on expected action for every possible emergency. Meanwhile the men are busy clearing the ship for action. During the previous day's coaling all extra coal had been cleared from the ship's decks. The ship has been scrubbed clean. Extra ammunition is stacked alongside the guns. At 1700 hours the entire ship's company, except for necessary personel at each station, is called to the quarterdeck. Von Müller briefs his enlisted men on what he expects of them. He then instructs them that every man will have a bath and clean clothes before going into action the following day. At 2000 hours speed is increased to 17 knots. Until midnight the standard watch is set. After that the ship is on full war watch, with extra lookouts and guns manned by skeleton crews. The plan is to arrive off Penang at dawn.

Jimbuna

10-28-14, 06:47 AM

28th October 1914

Western Front

Yser: Germans retake Lombartzyde.

Neuve Chapelle retaken by the British.

Eastern Front

Poland: Russians recover Lodz.

Czernowitz (Bukovina) reoccupied by Russian forces.

Galicia: Austrians defeated at Sambor.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Belgian Coast
Falcon, destroyer, C-class, 420t, 1-12pdr/5-6pdr/2-18in tt, 6th DF Dover Patrol, Lt Hubert Wauton, on anti-submarine patrol with destroyer Syren off Westende in NE Channel. Came under heavy, accurate shore-fire from Westende battery at c1230, returned fire and stayed on station, at 1400 between Nieuport and Ostend hit by 8in shell on port forward 6pdr muzzle, ship completely out of action and brought into Dunkirk by Acting Sub-Lt du Boulay; captain and 7 ratings killed, 2 ratings DOW, gunner and about 12 more ratings wounded.

Venerable, battleship, London-class, 5th BS Channel Fleet, Brilliant, old cruiser, Apollo-class (expended at Zeebrugge in 1918), Wildfire, old composite sloop, Nymphe-class, Rinaldo, old sloop, Condor-class, together with gunboat Bustard and three monitors, bombarding targets between Westende and Lombartzyde. Serious damage only avoided by continual course alterations although Wildfire badly hit on the waterline and sent home for repairs. In the afternoon Venerable ran aground but was helped off on rising tide by Brilliant with no damage, Brilliant (Rn/dp - one man killed, several wounded) and Rinaldo (Rn - 8 wounded) hit; only confirmed life lost was 1 rating in Rinaldo on 29th.

German cruiser SS Emden raids Penang, British Malaysia, sinking a French destroyer and a Russian cruiser. 135 Allied sailors are killed.
French destroyer MOUSQUET shelled by gunfire of German cruiser EMDEN in Malay waters, off entrance to Penang harbour in Strait of Malacca (05.38 N, 100.25 E). On patrol off north entrance to Penang harbour during the Allied ocean-wide hunt for the German cruiser EMDEN. Among the ships at anchor was Russian cruiser ZHEMCHUG. As EMDEN totally surprised and sank her, MOUSQUET returned to the sound of gunfire and was herself destroyed by the EMDEN’s guns around 07.44hrs; many of her crew died including the CO, Lt Théroinne.

Royal Navy destroyer flotilla sank four German torpedo boats off the Texel.

German steamer MICHAEL JEBSEN scuttled at Tsingtao (Qingdao) with ELLEN RICKMERS and DORENDART.

Political, etc.

Great Britain: Resignation of Prince Louis of Battenberg from office of First Sea Lord.

Ship Losses:

Maria Christiana ( Netherlands): The lugger struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) north west of IJmuiden, North Holland with the loss of all ten crew.
Mousquet ( French Navy): Battle of Penang: The Arquebuse-class destroyer was shelled and sunk off the Straits Settlement by SMS Emden ( Kaiserliche Marine), which rescued 33 survivors.
Zhemchug ( Imperial Russian Navy): Battle of Penang: The Izumrud-class cruiser was torpedoed and sunk off the Straits Settlement by SMS Emden ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 89 of her 354 crew.

Sailors aboard the French cruiser Amiral Aube pose for a photograph at an anvil attached to the deck.
http://s29.postimg.org/d9z5qk89z/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

http://s12.postimg.org/x33mzyzj1/image.png (http://postimage.org/)
German propaganda cartoon stating the British were camouflaging military installations and even ships and dirigibles as churches so that the Germans would not fire on them.

Jimbuna

10-28-14, 08:01 AM

A survivor of the crushing Battle of Tsushima during the Russo-Japanese war in 1905, the Russian light cruiser Zhemchug remained in the Pacific Ocean to show the flag of the Tsar in the warm waters of that region. When World War One erupted in 1914 the 3,100-ton Zhemchug took part in early convoy operations in the Pacific. Her general enemy was the German Pacific squadron of Kaiser Wilhelm II and her particular nemesis was the 3,364- ton German light cruiser Emden. The Emden had separated from the Kaiser's pacific squadron and raided the warm waters far from the European battlefields for months, sinking more than a dozen merchant ships and attacking British colonies. The two ships were well matched on paper; both were relatively new fast ships of a modern design capable of the same speed. The Zhemchug was armed with 8x4.7 inch (120mm) naval guns versus the Emden’s comparable armament of 10x 4.1 inch (105mm) guns.
In her search for the Emden the Zhemchug was brought to the Malaccan Straits where she stalked the Nicobar and Andarman Islands to no avail. Coming up empty handed the Zhemchug put into the Malaysian port of Penang on October 26, 1914. Feeling his ship safe in an allied harbor her Captain, Baron Cherkassov, departed his ship for leave ashore. The good baron left his ship in a deplorable state considering the Emden was thought to be in the region. The ship had no officers on watch as well as no lookouts posted. She was docked to where only one of her guns were able to fire on the harbor entrance, where any enemy would come from, and all of her 120mm ammunition save for a dozen rounds, was locked up. The keys to the ships magazines had been taken ashore with her senior officers for safekeeping. Worse still a number of local prostitutes were taken aboard the ship, further downgrading her crew’s effectiveness.

In the predawn hours of October 28, 1914, another cruiser slowly entered the approaches to Penang. It flew the white ensign of the Royal Navy and had altered her appearance to look like the British cruiser HMS Yarmouth. The mysterious cruiser observed the Zhemchug lying at anchor with her lights on and no protective searchlights or torpedo boats around her. The mysterious cruiser in question was in fact the SMS Emden herself. The German cruiser, under the command of Korvettenkapitän Karl von Müller, quietly crept towards her sleeping target who had just days before been hunting for her. At 0515 and a range of just 400m she struck her British flag and ran up the Imperial German naval ensign while fired her torpedo tubes point blank into the Zhemchug. Working up steam the Emden sped past the stricken cruiser, turned sharply and re-engaged her. She raked the decks of the Russian cruiser at a range of just 700m as she passed with every gun capable of firing doing so. A second torpedo from the Emden finished the Zhemchug off, with the stricken ship settling in 30m of water. The unharmed Emden went onto sink a French destroyer also in the harbor and trade shots with the old French cruiser D'Iberville before making good her escape. The Emden, scourge of the Pacific would find itself sunk by the Australian cruiser Sydney less than a fortnight later.

The sinking of the Zhemchug was a traumatic experience for the Russian Pacific Squadron and virtually ended the Russian effort in that ocean during the war. Eighty-nine officers and men were killed and more than a hundred of the survivors were seriously wounded. These figures were very heavy indeed when you consider the Zhemchug complement was 354 men. Eighty-two of the bodies were recovered and interned in western road cemetery in Penang. The remaining crew was returned to Russia on the auxiliary cruiser Orel who had salvaged some of the Zhemchug 120mm guns in December 1914. Captain Baron Cherkassov as well as his second in command, Senior Lieutenant Kulibinu, was arrested on return to Russia. The two disgraced officers were court-martialed for negligence and summarily stripped of all their ranks and privileges as well as being given a 3 year and 18 month prison sentences respectively. Tsar Nicholas II also went so far as to decree that the Baron was to be sentenced to perpetual bachelorhood, it being forbidden for him to marry so that he could not perpetuate his disgraceful family name.

To this day passing Russian ships drop wreaths in the Malaccan Straits and the harbor of Penang to those men of the cruiser Zhemchug. Russians still gather at the monument to the fallen men of the Zhemchug in the western road cemetery at the end of October every year.

https://suite.io/christopher-eger/w9y27m

http://s9.postimg.org/7171bden3/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

10-28-14, 02:29 PM

October 28:

Pacific Ocean: Graf Spee's squadron departs Más Afuera for the coast of Chile.

In London the Admiralty sends a telegram to Admiral Cradock: "Defence is to remain on east coast under orders of Stoddart. This will leave sufficient force on each side." So the admiral charged with facing Spee is finally told that he won't be getting the extra ship he was counting on. Unfortunately the message won't reach Cradock until November 1.

Atlantic Ocean: During the night lookouts aboard SMS Karlsruhe sight a ship travelling fully lit up. When the ship is stopped it turns out to be SS Royal Sceptre, an old freighter carrying a load of Brazilian coffee. The cargo is owned by a neutral country, so Captain Köhler decides to let her go.

Indian Ocean: Sometime after midnight the false fourth funnel is hoisted aboard SMS Emden. At 0200 hours lookouts sight the lighthouse at Penang. They also see a freighter hove to in the channel. The crew are awakened and fed a good breakfast. Speed is reduced to 11 knots, as the harbor channel is tricky. Leutnant Lauterbach has been there several times before, when he was a merchant captain, so he is piloting the ship.

The mystery freighter is SS Glenturret, who had notified Penang two days earlier that she would be arriving this day with a load of explosives. Glenturret is waiting on a pilot boat to guide them into the port. At 0430 they sight the pilot boat. The pilot boat passes close by Emden, apparently mistaking her for a British cruiser, and heads for the freighter.

At 0450 the ship is cleared for action. Both torpedo tubes are loaded on the chance that the French armored cruisers Dupleix and Montcalm might be in port. Emden is no match for even one of those ships, and it will be necessary to torpedo them immediately if she is to survive the encounter. When Emden enters the harbor itself they find many ships, but only one warship. This is Zhemchug, a Russian light cruiser about the equal of Emden.

At 0505 torpedo officer Lt. Witthoeft is told to prepare to fire. At 0518 the German Naval ensign is raised and the order given. The range is 380 yards. Witthoeft fires his torpedo, which hits Zhemchug well below the waterline. The stern of the target is seen to lift completely out of the water. At the same time Emden's 10cm guns open fire on the hapless Russian cruiser's forecastle area, the idea being to disable the crew before they can man their own guns. The forward area of Zhemchug is burning heavily, but the ship is still afloat. Emden is brought about and the port torpedo tube readied by Lt. Hohenzollern.

A few of Zhemchug's crew manage to open fire. The shells pass over Emden and hit a Japanese freighter anchored further out in the harbor. Emden's guns soon silence those of the Russian ship. At 0528 Witthoef fires the port torpedo from 700 yards. The target is struck under the bridge, and apparently detonates a magazine, for the ship is literally blown in half. Four minutes later the smoke clears, and all that can be seen of Zhemchug is her masts rising out of the water. Von Müller decides not to pick up survivors, as several boats can be seen rowing out to do exactly that.

At this point a small vessel comes into sight at the harbor entrance. Thinking it might be a torpedo boat, von Müller orders full speed toward the new ship. At a range of 6,000 yard Emden fires a salvo, then ceases when it is recognized as an unarmed patrol boat. One shell did hit the Sea Gull's funnel, but no one was harmed. Von Müller had planned on attacking the French destroyer Fronde, the gunboat D'Iberville and as many merchants as they could sink, but now Emden is headed toward the harbor entrance so he decides to continue outward.

As the cruiser is traversing the channel leading to the sea, KptLt. von Mücke calls the crew to the fantail and gives a description of the action for the men whose stations were below decks. The gun crews are cleaning their guns. At 0700 a ship is sighted ahead. The ship is again prepared for action. On approaching the new ship it can be seen that she is a freighter, flying the yellow flag which indicates she is carrying explosives. Emden orders Glenturret to stop and Lt. Lauterbach takes a boarding party across. Now another vessel comes into sight, and is clearly seen to be a warship. Lauterbach is recalled, but before departing he asks the captain of Glenturret to convey his apologies to the port officials for firing on Sea Gull and for not helping pick up survivors from Zhemchug.

The new ship can be seen to be a French destroyer, and fire is opened at 4,700 yards. Emden's first two salvoes miss, but realizing her danger Mousquet turns directly into the third. Two shells strike the fleeing destroyer, one of them in the boiler room. The ship is enveloped in a cloud of steam. Mousquet fires a torpedo at Emden, which misses, and her guns open fire as well. They also miss, and after twelve salvoes from Emden the French ship is a floating wreck. The crew seem unwilling to surrender, so Emden opens fire again. After ten more salvoes Mousquet sinks bow first Apparently she hit bottom, and for awhile the stern is standing high above the water. Finally she settls and disappears. Emden's boats are able to pick up a lieutenant and thirty-six sailors. Hohenzoller gives a vivid account of the ship's doctors trying to treat the wounded. Two of them have lost a leg and one man is slowly dying, wounded in the stomach with his intestines exposed.

The unwounded French captives, upon being treated well, tell their story. They had seen Emden entering the harbor, but the false funnel had done its job and they had thought the cruiser was English. The had no idea what was going on until they heard a torpedo explode. They had rushed into the channel to find out what had happened. The fourth funnel had worked again and they approached Emden, still mistaking her for a British ship. Their first hint at their mistake came when Emden opened fire. Some of the crew did everything possible to fight back, but when some men were blown overboard some others thought they had jumped deliberately, and followed suit. Mousquet's captain lost both his legs to shrapnel, and ordered his men to lash him to the bridge railing, so he could go down with his ship.

The French lieutenant was severely wounded in the foot, and this has to be amputated. His spirits are raised when he is told how many of his ship's crew were saved, and he fills Emden's officers in on events that have transpired in the rest of the world. They only now find out about the loss of Markomannia.

Then a new ship appears. This is the French destroyer Pistolet, sister to Fronde and Mosquet. Her captain wisely uses his superior speed to stay out of range of Emden's guns, and starts to shadow the German cruiser. Emden runs away at 22 knots. Later in the morning they pick up an open wireless message: "Emden at Penang!" At 1030 messages start coming in from warships in the region, saying they have recieved the distress call and are converging on the areal. A message sent by Pistolet tells how Emden "assassinated" her sister ship. The destroyer continues to follow the cruiser, constantly relaying her position. Emden finally loses Pistolet in a rain squall, then changes her course.

At 1600 hours Emden again changes course, heading for the Nicobar Islands. At 1800 the islands come into sight. At this point some worry arises on the part of the French prisoners that they are to be marooned there. The crew reassure them that this is not going to happen. At 2000 the port engine starts running hot and has to be shut down. Emden has had a busy and productive day. The only regret is that they were unable to sink all the merchants in the harbor.

The attack has serious repercussions for the Allies. It turns out that Zhemchug had been patrolling the area, looking for Emden. When they told the British they needed to put into harbor for repairs, they were advised to anchor broadside to the harbor entrance, and keep their guns armed and manned. They had done none of these things. The captain was not aboard his ship, apparently spending the night with a woman he had met (some sources say she was his wife). There were only twelve rounds of ammunition at the guns, which were not manned. There is also a story that among Zhemsug's casualties were sixty Chinese prostitutes. Zhemsug's captain, Baron Cherkassov, and first officer Lieutenant Kulibin were later court-martialed. They were both convicted and reduced to the rank of common seaman. The baron was sentenced to three years in prison and Kulibin eighteen months.

In Australia the Anzac troop convoy, which had originally planned to depart on September 22 is held up for the third time. The first had been over worries about Emden and the second when Graf Spee's squadron had been sighted at Samoa. Now they are delayed yet again.

Jimbuna

10-29-14, 08:57 AM

29th October 1914

Western Front

Yser: Germans take Ramscapelle. The Belgians open the sluices of the canal.

Heavy fighting round Festubert (La Bassee).

Battle of Gheluvelt (Ypres) begins.

At the Battle of Ypres, Gefreiter Adolf Hitler rescues a man under fire, which will earn him an Iron Cross, 2nd Class.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Egypt: Beduin tribes raid the frontier.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Turkish fleet attacks Odessa, Novorossisk, and Theodosia, and sinks Russian destroyer, etc. The Russian ports of Sevastopol, Novorossiysk, and Feodosia are also raided by Ottoman ships.

Political, etc.

Great Britain: Lord Fisher appointed First Sea Lord.
http://s27.postimg.org/lcns1v97n/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Turkey enters the war on the German side. Ottoman Empire has 300,000 regular troops and 400,000 irregulars. Navy is largely outdated, except for 2 recently secured German cruisers.

Ship Losses:

Donetz ( Imperial Russian Navy): The gunboat was sunk at Odessa by Ottoman Navy gunboats.
Kazbek ( Russia): The cargo ship struck two mines and sank in the Black Sea off the Takil Lighthouse with some loss of life.
Kubanetz ( Imperial Russian Navy): The gunboat was sunk at Odessa by Ottoman Navy gunboats.
Our Tom ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) south east of the mouth of the River Tyne with the loss of two of her crew.
Rosella ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) south east of Southwold, Suffolk with the loss of three of her crew.
Yalta ( Russia): The passenger ship struck a mine and sank in the Black Sea off the Takil Lighthouse.
BLANKA (Sweden): Steamer on voyage Umeå - Hull with a cargo of wood, grounded and wrecked at Rattray Head on the Scottish east coast.

http://s28.postimg.org/4o721hfyl/image.png (http://postimage.org/)

German propaganda cartoon from the periodical Simplicissimus, Munich portrays the British Lion (traditional symbol of Britain) as infested with Japanese fleas. The message it conveys is that the British are being influenced towards war by the Japanese diplomatic maneuvers.

Sailor Steve

10-29-14, 12:01 PM

October 29:

"I can proudly say our regiment fought like heroes. I was made lance-corporal and was saved by a near miracle."
- Adolf Hitler, letter to his landlord (see Jim's post above)

Black Sea: Battlecruiser Yavuz Sultan Selim (ex-Goeben) and light cruiser Midilli (ex-Breslau) bombard the seaports of Odessa, Sevastapol and Theodosia. The attack is coordinated by Admiral Wilhelm Souchon. The German crews are wearing Ottoman uniforms, including fezes. The ships are flying the Turkish flag, and apparently Souchon's plan is to force Turkey to join the war on the side of the Germans. Souchon writes his wife "I have thrown the Turks into a powder keg."

Pacific Ocean: SMS Prinz Eitel Friedrich, Göttingen and Nürnberg arrive at Valparaiso. The armed merchant cruiser and the collier enter the harbor for information and to purchase coal. Nürnberg remains on patrol outside the harbor.

At this time Cradock's squadron is approaching Chiloé Island just a few hundred miles to the south. Cradock sends Glasgow to Coronel to check for messages from the Admiralty, and the armed merchant cruiser Otranto is sent to Puerto Montt for information on Spee's location.

Another few hundred miles south of them is Canopus, making her slow way with the squadron's supply ships.

Indian Ocean: Two of the more seriously wounded of Mousquet's crew have died during the night. At 0800 hours Captain von Müller has his men fall in wearing dress uniforms. He makes a speech honoring the fallen Frenchmen as heroes, and they are buried at sea with full military honors, including a rifle salute led by Lt. Schall. The rest of the day is spent preparing the ship for the possibility of another warship encounter. During the night a third wounded French sailor dies.

Jimbuna

10-30-14, 08:55 AM

30th October 1914

Western Front

German troops launch its final attack in the Battle of Yser against Belgian and French troops.

Yser: Germans forced by floods to retreat.

Ypres closely pressed by the Germans.

Germans press back French along the Aisne.

Eastern Front

Poland: Russians defeat Germans at Bakalaryevo.

Stanislau (Galicia) taken by Russian forces.

Serbian forces begin retreat from the line of the Drina.

Naval and Overseas Operations

British hospital ship "Rohilla" wrecked off Whitby.
http://s10.postimg.org/4jf2bnci1/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
ROHILLA, Admiralty hospital ship, ex-passenger liner, 7,891/1906, British India Steam Navigation Co, Glasgow-reg, hired 6/8/14, total of 229 on board including 100 medical staff, a Catholic priest and an injured naval gunner from Scapa Flow, Mr Neilson in command, sailed Leith Docks 29th for Dunkirk to pick up wounded troops from Western Front, severe SE gale with heavy seas. Possibly struck the Whitby Rock (wi - also possibly mined, although this appears unlikely at this stage in the war), at 0410 driven on to the The Scar rocks 600yd offshore, S of Whitby (wi - in 54.29.21N, 00.35.42W), broke her back; Whitby, Redcar and Upgang lifeboats launched in appalling conditions and saved some of those onboard, Tynemouth lifeboat Henry Vernon rescued over 50 after pouring oil on the water. Ninety lives lost - 62 crew and 28 naval medical staff, but 138 were rescued (wd - 86 lost, 143 saved including the Master and all nurses). Wreck remains lay in depths of 20-50ft. Sister hospital ship Rewa was torpedoed in 1918.

Belgian Coast

Vestal, old sloop, Condor-class, 980t, 6-4in/4-3pdr, taking part in bombardment of Westende area. Hit on forecastle about 1100 by same 8in battery that hit Falcon, possibly disabled; 1 rating killed.

"Konigsberg" discovered hiding in Rufiji River delta (East Africa) by HMS Chatham. (Possibly 31st).

Naval skirmishes continue off the coast of Russia following the Ottoman Empire’s attack on Russian ports yesterday.

South Africa: Rebels routed at Schuit Drift.

Aviation

Eight zeppelins are reportedly sighted heading to Belgium, where zeppelin sheds are being constructed.

Political, etc.

A £2.4 billion bill is proposed by Prime Minister Asquith in order to fund the war.

Great Britain: Trial of the German spy Karl Lody begins.

Great Britain and France sever diplomatic relations with Turkey. British and French Ambassadors demand passports.

Italian Cabinet resign. New Cabinet formed. Signor Salandra remains Premier.

Ship Losses:

HMHS Rohilla ( United Kingdom): The hospital ship struck Whitby Rock, off Saltwick, Yorkshire and sank with the loss of 85 of the 229 people on board. Survivors were rescued by Bradford, Henry Vernon, John Fielden, Queensbury, Robert and Mary Ellis and William Riley of Birmingham and Leamington (all RNLI FLAG.png Royal National Lifeboat Institution).

http://s18.postimg.org/xryyes2fd/image.png (http://postimage.org/)

German propaganda cartoon from the periodical Simplicissimus showing a lone German knight standing firm against monster-headed waves. The image portrays the resolve of the Germans to defend their stronghold in China. It was published before the fall of Tsingtao.

Sailor Steve

10-30-14, 12:44 PM

Two days ago, plus one hundred years, Prince Louis of Battenburg was let go as First Sea Lord. One day ago he was replaced by John Arbuthnot 'Jacky' Fisher. Battenberg had been a good leader during peacetime, but when war came he ran into trouble. First and foremost was that he was German. He had a strong German accent and had steadfastly refused to change his family name. He still owned his properties in Germany. His sister Irene was married to the Kaiser's brother, Heinrich, who was Commander of Germany's Baltic Fleet. There were high-ranking officers who called him 'The Hun'. Comments by such men fostered letter-writing campaigns calling for his removal from office. This despite the fact that he was born in Austria, and had been a British citizen since 1868, when he joined the Royal Navy at age fourteen.

"Blood is said to be thicker than water, and we doubt whether all the water in the North Sea could obliterate the blood-ties beween the Battenbergs and the Hohenzollerns when it comes to a question of a life and death struggle between Germany and ourselves."
- John Bull, October 24, 1914

Despite the fact that it was Battenberg who kept the fleet mobilized and therefore safer that it might have been, he was blamed for pretty much every failure, including the sinking of Audacious.

On the 29th Battenberg wrote to Churchill "I beg of you to release me. I am on the verge breaking down & I cannot use my brain for anything."

Fisher, on the other hand, was an inveterate fighter. He welcomed criticism and was more than happy to return it in kind. He had a long and distinguished career in the Navy, starting in 1854. At every stage of his career he had been responsible for reforms and improvements in the way the Royal Navy did things. He had been First Sea Lord before, from 1904 to 1910, during which time he was the man behind HMS Dreadnought and the modern fleet. Now he has been recalled by Churchill to take up that post again, against the wishes of many, including King George V himself. It was Fisher who had taught Churchill the ins and outs of naval strategy and the First Lord of the Admiralty told Prime Minister Asquith he would resign if he did not get Fisher, and in the end he won.

October 30:

John Fisher reports for duty as First Sea Lord. His first act is to override the earlier decision to keep HMS Defence in the Atlantic, and he sends a message dispatching that ship to aid Cradock in his search for Spee.

Pacific Ocean: HMS Good Hope and Monmouth depart Chiloé Island to rendezvous with Glasgow and Otranto. Just one hour later Canopus arrives at the Island. Then a very odd thing happens. When captain Grant asks Junior Engineering Officer Lt. Sydney Start about the state of the engines, Start is puzzled. There is nothing wrong with the engines. When Grant asks for Senior Engineer Cmdr. William Denbow, Start replies that Denbow has been in his cabin the entire voyage, and could not possibly know the state of the engines. Start further informs his captain that the engines are in good shape and can make the same 17 knots they made when the ship was new. Denbow is sent back to England with a doctor and finally invalided from the navy.

Grant doesn't inform Cradock of this because he believes the Admiral wouldn't slow down for him anyway.

Meanwhile SMS Prinz Eitel Friedrich, Göttingen and Nürnberg have left Valparaiso. The armed merchant cruiser goes its own way, looking for British shipping to sink, while the other two hurry to catch up with the rest of Spee's squadron.

German East Africa: Sometime during the previous week Captain Drury-Lowe of HMS Chatham has come across an old copy of the Handbuch der Ostküste Afrikas, which mentions the village of Salale as being on the Rufiji river. There isn't a precise location, but Drury-Lowe now knows roughly where SMS Königsberg is hiding. On the morning of the 30th he anchors Chatham four miles off the mouth of the river, knowing that there are German agents watching who will report his position to Captain Looff.

Indian Ocean: At 0630 SMS Emden comes across the English freighter SS Newburn, 3,000 tons, bound from England to Singapore with a cargo of salt. Upon investigation it turns out that the company which owns the salt is German. Leutnant Lauterbach relays the information to Captain von Müller. When the reply is given Lauterbach tells Newburn's Master, J.R. Matthews, that his ship is free to go if they will take the French sailors to Khota Raja, on Malaya, which is know to have a good hospital and is only a few hours away. Matthews is more than happy to agree, and the Frenchmen are transferred to the freighter, and precise instructions are given by Doctor Schwabe for the care of the wounded. The last to go is the Lieutenant whose leg had been amputated. The Emden's crew were later saddened to hear that this officer had died in the hospital at Khota Raja. At 0900 Emden stops again to bury the French sailor who had died the night before.

Jimbuna

10-31-14, 07:43 AM

31st October 1914

Western Front

Yser: French recover Ramscapelle.

Ypres: Crisis of the great battle. Germans take Gheluvelt and break the British line. The Worcesters save the situation and recover Gheluvelt.

Eastern Front

Bukovina: Russians re-occupy Czernowitz.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Lord Kitchener sends to Sherif of Mecca conditional guarantee of Arabian independence.

Final phase of the Siege of Tsingtao begins, as Japanese artillery begin bombarding German forts.
http://s10.postimg.org/wqu5te1jt/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Naval and Overseas Operations

H.M.S. "Hermes" (cruiser) sunk in Straits of Dover.
Dover Straits

HERMES, sometimes classed as seaplane carrier, 2nd class or light cruiser, Highflyer-class, 5,650t, 1898, 11‑6in/9‑12pdr/2‑18in tt, 20kts, 450 crew, converted at Chatham in 1913 to depot ship for Naval Wing of Royal Flying Corps, subsequently Royal Naval Air Service with launching platform forward & stowage platform aft for 3 seaplanes, although only 2 carried, commissioned 5/13, after trials and manoeuvres, paid off 12/13. Equipment reinstalled 8/14, recommissioned as RNAS transport and supply ship 31/8, serving with Nore Command, Capt Charles Lambe. Arrived at Dunkirk from Portsmouth the previous evening to unload seaplanes, departed morning of 31st, but at 0930 ordered to return because of submarine alarm. Ten minutes later, destroyer Liberty reported Hermes had been torpedoed twice by U.27 (Bernd Wegener), sank two hours later near Outer Ruytingen Bank, 8 miles WNW of Calais (wi - in 51N, 01.20E); 1 officer and 20 ratings lost (Cn/ge - 22 lost; He/ke - 44 casualties, 400 survivors). Short Folder seaplane No.82 sank with her, but others were taken off by ferry Invicta.
http://s13.postimg.org/53m1z9kh3/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

German light cruiser "Konigsberg" located in Rufiji River.
http://s28.postimg.org/hixl7vmnx/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

First units of Indian Expeditionary Force "B" arrive at Mombasa.

General Stewart succeeded in command of British forces in East Africa by General Aitken.

Political, etc.

British Government issue orders for hostilities to commence against Turkey.

Former President Roosevelt warns that the U.S. is unprepared to face an invasion by a European power.

Italy: Resignation of Salandra Cabinet.

Occupation of Saseno (Albania).

Ship Losses:

HMS Hermes ( Royal Navy): The Highflyer-class cruiser was torpedoed and sunk in the Straits of Dover (56°06′18″N 1°50′18″E) by U-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 22 of her 450 crew.
TORGRIM, (Sweden): The steamer stranded and wrecked at Rattary Head, Scottish east coast.

http://s30.postimg.org/4vh03ptqp/image.png (http://postimage.org/)
This Italian cartoon from the Numero in Turin shows Germany and Austria seated next to a smaller figure. The name on the middle chair used to be Italy but it has been crossed out and replaced with Turkey. It refers to the fact that originally Italy was a member of the Triple Alliance between Austria, Germany and Italy and should, pursuant to its treaty obligations, have fought on the side of the Germans. Instead, Italy (the weaker of the three parties) remained neutral and eventually entered the war on the side of the Allies. The cartoon comments on the fact that the Germans and Austrians have found a replacement in Turkey, also a weaker power that they can manipulate.

Sailor Steve

10-31-14, 12:44 PM

October 31:

"There is nothing left for me to do but go up and be killed with I Corps."
- Sir John French, on seeing hundreds of British wounded withdrawing from Gheluvelt

"You must not talk of dying, but of winning."
- General Ferdinand Foch, in reply

English Channel: Bernd Wegener of U-27 scores his second kill, sinking the old cruiser HMS Hermes, which had recently been converted to a seaplane tender. Wegener now has the third-highest u-boat score after Weddigen and Berkheim, with 6,325 tons.

Pacific Ocean: HMS Otranto rejoins Cradock's squadron. HMS Glasgow is at Coronel, and signals that German supply ships have been seen in the area. She has also intercepted signals between SMS Leipzig and one of Spee's colliers. Cradock orders Glasgow south to meet him off Arauco Bay the following day.

German East Africa: During the night Captain Drury-Lowe moves HMS Chatham south to the Kiomboni peninsula. In a bold move he sends two cutters ashore to raid Kiomboni village. They capture the village chief and two other men, and take them back to Chatham for questioning. The chief, Ali bin Turemi, tells his captors he saw a three-funneled warship pass by at the beginning of September. The second native tells much the same story, including an account of having seen six ships anchored at Salale just three days earlier. When shown a photograph of SMS Königsberg all three men agree that one of the ships at Salale looks just like the ship in the picture. Drury-Lowe moves Chatham as close to land as he dares in the receding tide. Five miles up the river his lookouts can see mast-tops in among the trees. Königsberg has been found.

Drury-Lowe sends a signal to Dartmouth and Weymouth to join him. He then attempts to wreck Captain Looff's communications by shelling the German wireless station on Mafia island.

One interesting point is that the three natives told their British captors that they did not want to be returned to shore, as the Germans beat them and made them dig trenches and build fortifications. Ali bin Turemi will become a scout for the British.

Indian Ocean: At 0430 lookouts aboard SMS Emden spot a ship in the darkness. To their relief it turns out to be their captured collier, SS Buresk. They were worried Buresk might have been recaptured, leaving them without coal, or worse, that there might be an enemy warship lying in wait for them.

Jimbuna

11-01-14, 07:43 AM

1st November 1914

Western Front

Battle of Ypres continued with great violence: Germans capture Messines, Hollebeke and Wytschaete.

Khudadad Khan becomes the first Muslim soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross.
Finding himself among the few surviving members of a force sent to repel a German advance at Ypres, a soldier manned a single machine gun to prevent the enemy making the breakthrough it needed.
Continuing to fire until he was the last man remaining, his actions helped to ensure that two vital ports used to supply British troops with food and ammunition from England, remained in Allied hands.
http://s24.postimg.org/ni1q5dl85/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Eastern Front

Poland: German retreat continued.

Austria invades Serbia. This is the third attempt to conquer the Serbs in retaliation for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This attempt fails like the two before it, at the hands of highly motivated Serbs fighting on their home ground. The Austrians withdraw in mid-December, after suffering over 220,000 casualties from the three failed invasions.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Martial law proclaimed in Egypt.

Tsing-tau: The "Bismarck" forts silenced. H.M.S. "Triumph" assisting the Japanese.
http://s27.postimg.org/tk38xer5v/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Naval and Overseas Operations

U-boat Warfare - Chief of German Naval Staff proposed a submarine blockade of Britain, rejected by German Chancellor; small German UC-type coastal minelaying submarines ordered for delivery in sections by rail; first one launched April 1915.

Venus, old light cruiser, Eclipse-class, 5,600t, Ireland-based 11th CS. November - Lost foremast in gale, presumably British Isles waters.

Battle of Coronel (Pacific): H.M.S.s "Monmouth" and "Good Hope" lost in fight with von Spee's German squadron.

Aware that Adm von Spee's East Asiatic Cruiser Squadron was heading across the Pacific for South American waters, the Admiralty ordered Adm Cradock who had been working his way down the east coast of South America searching for German raiders and merchantmen, to concentrate a strong-enough squadron off the southern coast of Chile. His main force, two old armoured cruisers Good Hope (Flag) and Monmouth, newly-commissioned with large numbers of reservists, were no match for the worked-up 8.2in-armed Scharnhorst and Gneisenau with their crack gunnery, neither were light cruiser Glasgow and armed merchant cruiser Otranto for German light cruisers Leipzig, Dresden, later joined by Nurnberg. Old 12in-gunned battleship Canopus was some 300 miles behind convoying British colliers. The four British ships were now heading in a northerly direction, 15 miles apart but only searching for the expected Leipzig, Glasgow nearest the Chilean coast some 50 miles W of Coronel. Smoke was sighted at 1620, Glasgow confirmed it was not one German light cruiser but two armoured cruisers, and shortly fell back on Good Hope, Cradock tried to force the action while the setting sun was behind him blinding the Germans, but they declined. Instead von Spee waited for the sun to set leaving the British ships silhouetted and his own ships lost in the dusk before opening fire around 1900, strong winds and heavy seas meant the British lower casemate guns could not be worked. In a short time both Good Hope and Monmouth had been overwhelmed and sunk, and Glasgow damaged but along with Otranto managed to escape. Two days later Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Nurnberg entered Valparaiso for 24 hours, and on 8 December, the whole squadron appeared off the Falklands Islands.

GOOD HOPE, large or 1st class armoured cruiser, Drake-class, 14,150t, 1901, 2-9.2in/16-6in/12-12pdr/2-18in tt, 23kts, c900 crew, Pennant No.P.16, joined 6th CS Grand Fleet 8/14, to South Atlantic, Capt Philip Franklin, flagship Rear-Adm Sir Christopher Cradock. Engaged by Scharnhorst - 8-8.2in guns versus 2-9.2in, third salvo put forward 9.2in out of action followed by serious hits to the forepart, upper bridge and foretop, repeatedly hit amidships setting her on fire, after turret hit twice, large explosion between mainmast and after funnel at 1950, flames reaching 200ft, ship left silent and dead in the water. Von Spee lost contact around 2000 and ordered his light cruisers to search for the two large British ship that were presumably damaged and finish them with torpedoes, Good Hope was not found but went down around this time, her end not seen in the darkness and the driving rain; 926 lives lost - 52 officers, 871 ratings and 3 canteen staff, no survivors.
http://s1.postimg.org/mu570hblr/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
MONMOUTH, large or 1st class armoured cruiser, Monmouth or County-class, 9,800t, 1901, 14‑6in/9‑12pdr/2-18in tt, 23 kts, c678 crew, Pennant No.D.28, joined 5th CS West Africa station 8/14, then South America station, sent to Pernambuco to join flagship Good Hope, Capt Frank Brandt. Engaged by Gneisenau which stayed out of range of Monmouth's 6in guns, foremost 6in turret blown off and forecastle on fire, hit by between 30 and 40 shells, many amidships, after part on fire and tried to break away to the west, found by 2100 by light cruiser Nurnberg which had just reached the area of battle, Monmouth flooded, down by the bows and listing so far to port the port guns could not bear. Nurnberg stayed on that side and opened fire, then stopped to allow Monmouth to strike, she did not and the German re-opened fire, Monmouth capsized around 2120; 734 lives lost - 42 officers and 692 ratings, no survivors except 4 men previously landed on Albrohos Rocks as lookouts who escaped the action, the seas were too rough for Nurnberg to lower boats.
http://s30.postimg.org/r7oohz7ep/hms_monmouth.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
Glasgow, light cruiser, Bristol-class, 5,300t, 2-6in/10-4in, South America station, Capt John Luce. Initially engaged by Leipzig, then by Dresden, hit total of five times, about 1919 by unexploded 4.1in shell from Leipzig on conning tower support, then badly damaged by a 4.1in shell port aft on the waterline. Glasgow found the mortally damaged Monmouth but had to leave her around 2020 to locate and warn Canopus; no lives lost. However, Glasgow did lose about 50 parrots, pets of the crew that were released prior to the battle but refused to leave the ship, only ten survived.
http://s27.postimg.org/3xdvcirk3/hms_glasgow.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Political, etc.

Turkey: British Ambassador (Sir Louis du Pan Mallet) leaves Constantinople.
http://s15.postimg.org/i65bgldzf/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Ship Losses:

Frederica ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and set afire at Novorossisk, Russia by Hamidiye ( Ottoman Navy). She was consequently scuttled.
HMS Good Hope ( Royal Navy): Battle of Coronel: The Drake-class cruiser was shelled and sunk in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Chile by SMS Scharnhorst ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all 900 crew.
HMS Monmouth ( Royal Navy): Battle of Coronel: The Monmouth-class cruiser was shelled and sunk in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Chile by SMS Gneisenau and SMS Nürnberg (both Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all 678 crew.
KINAHADA (Turkey): Steamer, sunk by Royal Navy destroyers HMS Wolverine and HMS Scorpion in the Gulf of Izmir.
Beyrut (Turkey): Survey vessel, sunk by Royal Navy destroyers HMS Wolverine and HMS Scorpion in the Gulf of Izmir.
The crew of both ships are given time to abandon before the vessels are sunk by gunfire.

http://s21.postimg.org/rkski63vr/image.png (http://postimage.org/)
In this Italian cartoon, German soldiers are shown fixing up a devastated Belgian city and re-paving the shell-pocked roads with skulls of their Belgian victims. Alleged German atrocities against the civilian population of Belgium were fertile ground for Allied war propaganda. On the other hand, German war propaganda blamed Belgium and Britain for the war.

Sailor Steve

11-01-14, 12:37 PM

November 1:

Pacific Ocean: Shortly after noon HMS Glasgow rejoins Cradock's squadron. The Admiral has his ships spread out in line abreast, twenty miles apart. There was little confidence aboard the British ships. Good Hope was armed with two 9.2" guns, the only guns in the squadron capable of hurting Spee's big ships. The rest of her battery and all of Monmouth's were 6" guns, more than capable of dealing with the light cruisers but useless against the 15cm (5.9") armor of the modern armored cruisers. Of Monmouth and her sisters Jacky Fisher had once said "Sir William White designed the 'County' class but forgot the guns. With their wretched pea-shooters they can neither fight nor run." Further, have of those 6" guns were mounted close to the waterline, where they were useless in any but the calmest seas.

HMS Otranto was an ocean liner that had been armed with eight 4.7" guns, ideal for capturing other merchants but hardly a true warship. Finally there was the light cruiser Glasgow, the only modern ship in the squadron. With two 6" and ten 4" guns she could handle either of Spee's light cruisers, but not both.

SMS Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, on the other hand, were new, modern armored cruisers carrying eight 21cm (8.2") guns each, and a backup battery of six 15cm (5.9") guns, both faster than either of Cradock's big ships.

At 1630 Cradock's squadron is still in their spread-out formation when lookouts aboard Glasgow see smoke to the east. Captain Luce turns his ship to starboard and increases her speed, signalling the rest of the squadron. Good Hope is nearly forty miles away when she receives the signal. When the mystery ship is close enough to be recognized as SMS Leipzig, more smoke columns are spotted behind her. Soon they are seen to be large, four-funneled cruisers. Luce turns his ship around and signals "Enemy armoured cruisers in sight." All three ships hurry to form up with Good Hope.

The same thing is happening on the other side. Leipzig's lookouts had spotted Glasgow, then the rest of Cradock's squadron. Captain Haun had signalled Spee that the enemy were in sight. Both sides had thought they were about to trap a single light cruiser, and now both admirals know that the battle they had been anticipating was actually here.

Spee has his ships close up in line astern, with Scharnhorst in the lead with Gneisenau, Leipzig and Dresden following. Cradock changes course to east-by-southeast and form up with Good Hope in the lead, followed by Monmouth, Glasgow and Otranto. At 1745 the two groups are about 34,000 yards (17 miles) apart, and Spee alters his course to west-by-southwest, so they are now converging on an almost-parallel course, allowing them to close but still keep their broadsides open. Both groups are heading into a rough swell, making it difficult to keep the guns on target.

At this point Cradock could still have broken off and retreated to join up with Canopus, about 300 miles behind, and Spee would not have had the speed to catch him in that time. Possible, but not something Cradock would have ever done. He had been awarded not only by his King but also by the Kaiser for his bravery in the Boxer Rebellion. It had been said of him that "Cradock was constitutionally incapable of refusing or ever postponing action, if there was the slightest chance of success."

Cradock's plan was to keep the sun at his back, so as it was setting it would blind the German gunnery officers while highlighting their ships for his own gunners. Spee was aware of this, and he knew that once the sun was down the British ships would be outlined in the glow of the sunset while his own ships would now be in darkness. Using his superior speed Spee held the range at 15,000 yards. At 1804, with the sun still up, Cradock turned his ships 45 degrees to port to close with Spee. The German admiral immediately made the same turn, maintaining his distance.

At 1818 Cradock signalled Canopus "I am going to attack the enemy." Captain Grant sent back the message that he was still 250 miles away.

At 1830 Spee returned to his earlier course, allowing Cradock to close. At 1934 Spee gave the order to open fire. According to Luce aboard Glasgow the range was 12,000 yards. Spee reported that he opened fire at 11,260 yards At that range Cradock had only his two 9.2" guns. Spee had twelve 21cm guns available on the broadside. At 1939 the first hits were observed aboard Good Hope. Luce notes that the Germans got the range quickly and it was only a matter of minutes before both British armored cruisers were on fire forward.

At 1953 at a range of 6,500 yards, Spee notes seeing that Monmouth's forward turret is gone and there is a fire in its place. When the range is down to 5,300 yards Spee assumes the British are going to launch torpedoes, and orders a turn away.

At 1950 Luce sees a huge explosion aboard Good Hope. At 2023 The German ships are close enough for Spee to see this same fire. At 2026 it has become too dark for accurate firing and Spee orders his ships to cease. At 2030 Spee orders his light cruisers to find and sink the enemy ships with torpedoes. Glasgow is on the run and escapes sight of the enemy at 2050. Nürnberg is unable to find Good Hope, but Monmouth is finished off with gunfire at 2158. Aboard Glasgow Luce observes "about 75 flashes". He gives the time as 2120.

In their actual reports Spee's and Luce's times are off by an hour. This is probably because they approached the scene from different time zones.
http://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Graf_von_Spee's_Report

Meanwhile SMS Prinz Eitel Friedrich encounters SS Colusa, but the freighter escapes.

Atlantic Ocean: SMS Karlsruhe coals one last time from SS Farn, and the now-empty collier is sent to find a neutral port. There are still SS Rio Negro and Hoffnung (ex-Indrani) to draw supplies from. Inspired by Emden's exploits Captain Köhler has decided to try his hand at harbor-raiding in the West Indies, starting with Barados and then Martinique.

German East Africa: Captain Drury-Lowe takes HMS Chatham back to the mouth of the estuary where he had seen Königsberg's masts. When high tide comes he moves the ship as close to shore as possible. The rangefinders give the range to the masts as 14,500 yards. Drury-Lowe opens fire with his 6" guns, knowing that this is right at their extreme range. When the shells fall short Drury-Lowe orders tanks flooded to give Chatham a five-degree list. He is still short. Captain Looff raises Königsberg's anchors and moves her two miles further upstream.

Indian Ocean: Aboard SMS Emden the usual Sunday services take place. Afterward Captain von Müller calls all hands aft. In an impromptu ceremony he hands out promotions to about forty of his men, and apologizes that he could not promote everybody. Then there is a celebration held over the anniversary: It is three months to the day since they departed on this voyage. It is estimated that the engines have made ten million revolutions, they have travelled thirty thousand nautical miles and consumed about six thousand tons of coal.

Australia: The first ANZAC convoy finally departs Albany. Seventeen troop ships are escorted by the light cruisers HMAS Melbourne and Sydney, and armoured cruiser HMS Minotaur.

Jimbuna

11-02-14, 09:12 AM

2nd November 1914

Western Front

Battles of Messines and Armentières end.

Battle of La Bassée ends.

Germans withdraw from nearly the whole of the left bank of the Yser, and concentrate for attack on Ypres.

British lines pierced at Neuve Chapelle, which the Germans re-occupy.

Eastern Front

East Prussia re-entered by Russian forces.

Battle of Chyrow ends.

Caucasus Front

Russian troops in the Caucasus launch an offensive into the Erzurum Vilayet, Ottoman Empire.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Austrian cruiser "Kaiserin Elizabeth" sunk in Tsingtau harbour. Her guns were removed to provide a shore battery and then she was scuttled at Tsingtao.
http://s8.postimg.org/wkfvee42d/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

North Sea proclaimed by the British Admiralty to be wholly a military area from 5 November.

First units of Indian Expeditionary Force "F" leave India for Egypt.

British force begins attack on Tanga (German East Africa).

Political, etc.

Turkey: Russian and French Ambassadors leave Constantinople.

Great Britain publishes an account of Turkish provocations.

The Russian Empire declares war on the Ottoman Empire.

Government of India announce immunity of the Mussulman Holy Places during hostilities with Turkey.

"State of War" commences between Serbia and Turkey.

Ship Losses:

SMS Kaiserin Elisabeth ( Austro-Hungarian Navy): The Kaiser Franz Joseph I-class cruiser was scuttled at Tsingtao, China.
Van Dyck ( United Kingdom): The refrigerated cargo liner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean (approximately 1°S 4°W) by SMS Karlsruhe ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.

http://s30.postimg.org/gg4xvhvox/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

11-02-14, 12:55 PM

November 2:

Eugene Gilbert and a captain de Vergnette, in a Morane 'L' 2-seat parasol, bring down a German 'Taube'

Pacific Ocean: Spee's squadron puts into Valpariaso. SMS Dresden and Leipzig are sent west to search for the surviving British ships. HMS Glasgow and Otranto are on their way south to Cape Horn.

Indian Ocean: SMS Emden arrives at the Poggy Islands, off the coast of Sumatra. At 0900 hours Emden starts to recoal from SS Buresk. During this process they suffer the only serious accident of the entire voyage. A hoist breaks loose and several sacks of coal are spilled. One of them lands on Torpedo Obermatrosse Possehl, breaking his left thigh. Ship's surgeon Doctor Luther sets and splints the leg immediately. The officers quickly conclude that the hoist was set properly and the accident was nobody's fault.

At noon Emden is approached by a small boat. On board is a Dutch army captain, and his only purpose is to make sure the Germans are outside the three-mile limit. Emden's officers assure him this is so, and invite him aboard for a glass of whiskey and soda. The only news they get from him is that Portugal has declared war on Germany. At 15:00 he departs, and at 17:00 the coaling is done and Emden sets course for the Sunda Straights.

Jimbuna

11-03-14, 09:34 AM

3rd November 1914

Western Front

Allies occupy positions on the Yser, abandoned by the Germans.

Fighting on the Aisne (Vailly, Chavonne, etc.).

Eastern Front

Poland: Russians defeat Austro-Germans at Kyeltsi, which they recover.

Southern Front

Dardanelles Forts bombarded by British and French fleets.

Cattaro bombarded by Montenegrins.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Armenia: Bayazid occupied by Russians.

Arabia: Akaba on Red Sea bombarded and occupied by British.

Naval and Overseas Operations

http://s28.postimg.org/6l08twtj1/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
The German squadron leaving Valparaiso on 3 November 1914 after the battle, SMS Scharnhorst and Gneisenau in the lead, and SMS Nürnberg following.
In the middle distance are the Chilean cruisers Esmeralda, O'Higgins and Blanco Encalada, and old Chilean battleship Capitán Prat.

First Bombardment of British Coast - Raid on Gorleston

German 1st Scouting Group of battlecruisers (Adm Hipper) raided Gorleston/Great Yarmouth apparently with the main aim of covering the laying a minefield off Yarmouth. Although an attack was anticipated in the southern North Sea area, the only ships that encountered the Germans were minesweeping gunboat Halcyon and patrol destroyers Lively and Leopard, all of which came under fire from heavy guns around the same time that Yarmouth was shelled. Three submarines headed out of Gorleston for the sound of the guns but one was mined, more destroyers of the Yarmouth Patrol came out too late to take part, and Harwich force failed to intercept:

Halcyon, minesweeper, ex-Dryad-class torpedo gunboat, 1,070t, originally 2-4.7in/3-18in tt, Lowestoft-based, sweeping off Smith’s Knoll, about 20 miles NE of Yarmouth. Sighted large warships about 4 miles S of Cross Sands LV, steamed towards them and made challenge, fired at by 11in and other guns and turned away, made report at 0700, escaped with minimum damage by frequent course changes and under cover of smokescreen laid by Lively; one rating DOW (Rn/Cn/D/dk/dk/dx/nb/nh/ty)

Lively, B-class, 435t and Leopard, C-class, 400t, both destroyers armed with 1-12pdr/5-6pdr/2-18in tt, patrol or local defence flotillas, probably Yarmouth Patrol, Lively 2 miles SW of Halcyon, Leopard astern of Lively near Scroby Buoy. Spotting Halcyon's plight, Lively laid a smokescreen between her and the enemy, all three ships came under heavy fire and were chased by the Germans until fearful of possible British minefields they turned east.

D.5, submarine, D class, 495/620t, 1911, 1‑12pdr/3‑18in tt with 6 torpedoes (Cn - contrary to other sources, only D.4 was fitted with a gun), 14/9kts, 25 crew, Pennant No.I.75, Harwich-based 8th Flotilla, Lt-Cdr Godfrey Herbert, moored off Gorleston with D.3 and E.10, all under orders, D.5 for Terschelling. Put to sea at 0815 to intercept the German warships (H/C - 3 October), at 1030, mined aft off Great Yarmouth (He - about two miles SE of South Cross lightship; dx - 2 miles S of South Cross Sand buoy), and sank in less than a minute. As this was away from the scene of German minelaying, it was probably a drifting British mine; 1 officer and 20 ratings lost, 5 survived including the bridge party, CO and three crew picked up by local fishing drifter Faithful and a fifth by drifter Homeland. Crew of Faithful awarded £75 for saving life in dangerous waters.

Light cruiser Kolberg laid a line of mines 5 miles long in Smith's Knoll passage, probably as the German force left the area, but the laying was spotted by a Lowestoft fisherman and reported by 1100. As they returned to base, armoured cruiser Yorck was mined and sunk in a defensive field in Jade Bay. A number of British vessels were lost in the Yarmouth minefield, including three fishing vessels the same day.

British submarine D.5 sunk by a mine in fight with cruisers.
Sister-ship D1
http://s9.postimg.org/8uvzno68f/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Dardanelles - In advance of a declaration of war, an Anglo-French Squadron bombarded the Turkish outer forts, British battlecruisers Indefatigable, Indomitable and French battleships Suffren, Vérité took part.

Grand Fleet ordered back to Scapa Flow.

Northern frontier of German East Africa first crossed by British troops.

Political, etc.

Kaiser Wilhelm appoints Erich von Falkenhayn as the new Chief of the German General Staff, replacing Helmuth von Moltke who is sacked due to the failure of the Schlieffen Plan.
Erich von Falkenhayn
http://s27.postimg.org/pwpu3h5hv/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Serbia breaks off relations with Turkey.

Bulgaria declares intention to remain neutral.

Kingdom of Montenegro declares war on the Ottoman Empire.

Baron Sonnino appointed Italian Foreign Minister.
http://s13.postimg.org/mro0ryafb/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Ship Losses:

Copious ( United Kingdom): The drifter struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with the loss of nine of her ten crew.
HMS D5 ( Royal Navy): The D-class submarine struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Great Yarmouth with the loss of twenty of her 25 crew.
Fraternal ( United Kingdom): The drifter struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Great Yarmouth with the loss of six of her ten crew.
HMT Ivanhoe ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler ran aground and was wrecked off Leith, Lothian.
Will and Maggie ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 17 nautical miles (31 km) north east by north of Lowestoft, Suffolk with the loss of three of her crew.

http://s9.postimg.org/634hvv3bj/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

11-03-14, 10:48 AM

November 3:

London: The Admiralty receives a message sent from the British consul at Valparaiso on the 1st, saying that Graf Spee's squadron has been sighted. A message is immediately sent to Admiral Cradock: "Defence has been ordered to join your flag with all dispatch. Glasgow should keep in touch with the enemy. You should keep in touch with Glasgow, concentrating the rest of your squadron including Canopus. It is important you should effect your junction with Defence at the earliest possible moment subject to keeping touch with the enemy."

Later Churchill would comment "We were already talking to the void."

Atlantic Ocean: SMS Karlsruhe crosses the equator on her way north to raid Barbados.

German East Africa: HMS Dartmouth and Weymouth join Chatham at the Rufiji estruary where Königsberg has been sighted. Weymouth's coal bunkers are nearly empty, so Captain Drury-Lowe sends her as far up-river as she can go, which turns out to be about two miles. Her guns still cannot reach Königsberg.

Indian Ocean: SMS Emden reach the Sunda Straights and begins patrolling. Cruising up the entire area and back again produces no contacts. While disappointed the crew realize that the reason is their own "fault". They are having no success now because their previous successes have driven British shipping from the Indian ocean. There are no new targets because they are all hiding in their harbors, afraid to come out. They do intercept a wireless message saying that SS Newburn has reached Khota Raja and the surviving French sailors from Mousquet are safe.

The first ANZAC convoy out of Albany is joined by a group that had departed Wellington on October 18th - 10 more ships accompanied by the Japanese battlecruiser Ibuki.

Jimbuna

11-04-14, 07:05 AM

4th November 1914

Western Front

Lombartzyde recovered by the Allies.

Battle of Ypres continues.

Eastern Front

Galicia: Austrians defeated at Jaroslau; loss of 19,000 prisoners and 40 guns in twelve days.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Armenia: Russian advance from Caucasus; Diadin occupied.

Russian forces cross frontier of Turkey-in-Asia and seize Azap.

Naval and Overseas Operations

German cruiser "Karlsruhe" sunk in the Atlantic by internal explosion.
As Karlsruhe steamed to Barbados on the night of 4 November, a spontaneous internal explosion destroyed the ship. The hull was split in half; the bow section quickly sank and took with it Köhler and most of the crew. The stern remained afloat long enough for 140 of the ship's crew to escape onto the attending colliers. Commander Studt, the senior surviving officer, took charge and placed all of his men aboard the liner Rio Negro. He scuttled the second collier and steamed north for Iceland. The ship used the cover of a major storm to slip through the British blockade of the North Sea, and put in at Ålesund, Norway. Rio Negro then returned to Germany by early December. The Admiralstab, unaware of the loss of Karlsruhe, coincidentally radioed the ship to order her to return to Germany. Germany kept the loss of the ship a secret, and the British continued searching for her until they learned of her fate in March 1915. Köhler's widow christened the cruiser Karlsruhe, the third to bear the name, at her launching in August 1927.
http://s4.postimg.org/7d6yieirx/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Belgian Coast Operations - Bombardment of Lombartzyde near Nieuport by old gunboats Bustard and Excellent.

Admiralty blockships - Admiralty accounts refer to 49 merchantmen bought during the war for use as blockships for a total sum of £424,249. Dittmarr lists 41, nine of which were not expended for this purpose. An additional one is listed in Colledge, three more in “Wreck Index”, four have been located at Gallipoli, two ex-dummy battleships were expended as blockships and a possible one more gives a total of 43 merchant ships. Apart from ex-battleship Hood (following), six old cruisers were expended during the Zeebrugge/Ostend raids.

English Channel

HOOD, Admiralty blockship, ex-turret battleship, 14,150t, 1891, 380ft, removed from effective list 1911, fitted with first experimental anti-torpedo bulges 1913, on sale list 8/14. Scuttled in South Ship Channel, Portland Harbour, Dorset to fill gap in the defences (wi - in 50.34.08N, 02.25.12W). Wreck lies upside down in around 50ft, with keel only a few feet below the water at low tide.

East Africa: British reverse at Tanga.

Political, etc.

Moratorium in Great Britain ends.

Persia refuses to join Turkey in war against the Entente.

Women’s suffrage amendment fails to pass in Ohio, Nebraska, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Ship Losses:

HMS Hood ( Royal Navy): The Royal Sovereign-class battleship was sunk as a blockship in Portland Harbour, Dorset.
SMS Karlsruhe ( Kaiserliche Marine): The Karlsruhe-class cruiser suffered an internal explosion and sank in the Atlantic Ocean (11°07′N 55°25′W with the loss of 133 of her 373 crew. Survivors were rescued by Rio Negro ( Kaiserliche Marine).

http://s30.postimg.org/nahzz648h/image.png (http://postimage.org/)
Kaiser: "My poor bird, what has happened to your tail feathers?"
German Eagle: "Can you bear the truth, Sire?"
Kaiser: "If it's not for publication."
German Eagle: "It's like this, then. You told me the British lion was contemptible. Well—he wasn't!"

Sailor Steve

11-04-14, 01:48 PM

November 4:

London: The report from the British consul at Valparaiso on the battle at Coronel finally reaches the Admiralty. The sources were all German so the report is met with scepticism. There is no mention of Canopus, and Cradock certainly would not have gone into battle without his battleship. So far the news is limited at best. Nothing has been heard from any of the British ships. Within a few hours Churchill and Fisher are already planning what to do next. First of all "Urgent" telegrams are sent to Admiral Archibald Stoddart, commanding the Fifth Cruiser Squadron off the east coast of South America, tasked with finding SMS Karlsruhe. "Carnarvon, Cornwall should join Defence off Montevideo. Canopus, Glasgow, Otranto have been ordered, if possible, to join you there. Kent from Sierra Leone has also been ordered to join your flag via Abrolhos. Enemy will most likely come on to the Rio trade route. Reinforcements will meet you shortly from England."

A second message was sent to the Governor of the Falkland Islands: "German cruiser raid may take place. All Admiralty colliers should be concealed in unfrequented harbours. Be ready to destroy supplies useful to enemy and hide codes effectively on ships being sighted."

The third "Urgent" telegram is to Admiral John Jellicoe, Commander-In-Chief of the Grand Fleet: "Order Invincible and Inflexible to fill up with coal and proceed to Brerehaven with all dispatch. They are urgently needed for foreign service. Admiral and flag captain Invincible to transfer to New Zealand." Jellicoe and Admiral David Beatty, commander of the Battlecruiser Squadron, both protest that they need those ships to maintain superiority over the German High Seas Fleet. Churchill sends a personal message to Jellicoe explaining why he needs the ships, and as Churchill wrote later, "Sir John Jellicoe rose to the occasion and parted with his two battle cruisers without a word."

Atlantic Ocean: Captain Erich Köhler of SMS Karlesruhe gives his officers the details of his plan to raid Barbados. His plan is to enter Bridgetown Harbour and do whatever destruction comes to hand, then proceed to Fort de France at Martinique. The French cruiser Condé was earlier reported to be at Bridgetown, so there is a chance of a good score. They expect to arrive at their target at dawn the next day.

At 1830 hours Köhler and the watch officer, Lt. Althaus, are on the bridge. Most of the crew have just finished their dinner and are listening to the ship's band play on the forecastle. Without warning a thunderous explosion rips through the forward part of the ship. In the after sections the immediate assumption is that the ship has been torpedoed. As the smoke clears it can be seen that the entire forward part of the ship, including the bridge, is gone. Köhler, Althaus, and somewhere between 244 and 259 of her crew are killed instantly or go down with the wreckage. First officer Kapitänleutnant Ferdinand Studt is in the after section when the explosion happens. With that part of the ship taking water and listing to port, Studt organizes the remaining crew to get the lifeboats overboard and gives the order to abandon ship. There is no fire yet, but oil is leaking into the sea, and that is the first danger.

Rio Negro and Hoffnung (ex-Indrani) are already approaching the stricken cruiser. In a few minutes 18 officers, including Studt, and 112 petty officers and men are taken aboard the two supply ships. At 1857 what is left of SMS Karlsruhe disappears beneath the waves.

Studt takes command of Rio Negro and transfers all of Karlsruhe's surviving crew to that ship. He orders them to remove anything with the name "Karlsruhe" - shoulder patches and cap ribbons - from their uniforms, and tells them that if another ship is encountered they are to stay out of sight below decks. All the coal from Hoffnung is transferred to Rio Negro. All the captured merchant seamen are also taken aboard Rio Negro, as Studt cannot allow them to enter a neutral port to tell their story if his plan is to work. Once this is done he sends Hoffnung away with an all-German prize crew, with orders to sink the ship and take her lifeboats to a neutral port, and at all costs to keep their mouths shut.

Studt's plan will work, and work well. Rio Negro will slip through the Allied blockade by way of Iceland and then the Norwegian coast, finally sailing into Hamburg in early December. Allied forces will continue searching for the long-lost ship until March 1915, four months, until finally some of the wreckage washes up on the shore of St. Vincent, almost 500 miles from the scene of the accident.

It will never be possible to determine precisely what happened to Karlsruhe. Theories run from a torpedo (but there were no submarines of any type in the area) to a mine (unlikely) to the most likely guess of a spontaneous magazine explosion. It would happen more than once during the war. Batches of powder were not always mixed properly, and if unused could easily deteriorate. Still, it's all guesses.

German East Africa: Captain Drury-Lowe sends a message SS Newbridge to join him at the mouth of the Rufiji River. The flat-bottomed collier is ideal for what he has in mind.

Indian Ocean: Aboard SMS Emden Captain von Müller comes up with a new plan. This time he will attack the Australian wireless station at the Cocos/Keeling Islands.

Jimbuna

11-05-14, 07:16 AM

5th November 1914

Western Front

Germans repulsed at Le Quesnoy-en-Santerre (Roye).

Eastern Front

Poland: Germans in retreat move their headquarters back to Chenstokhov.

Southern Front

Montenegro: Invasion by Albanians checked.

Naval and Overseas Operations

North Sea

MARY, Admiralty trawler, 256/1906, J Marr & Son, Fleetwood-reg FD84, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.361, Skipper William Stephen Greenaway RNR, sweeping Yarmouth field laid near Smith’s Knoll Buoy by German Kolberg with trawlers Columbia and Driver. (He – 3rd; all other sources, including casualties – 5th). Mined just after 1000, after part destroyed, fore part settled and sank with two minutes (wi - in 52.35N, 01.54E); Skipper and 7 ratings lost, 6 survivors rescued by Columbia and Driver.

Attack on Tanga ends, British force repulsed.

Political, etc.

Great Britain declares war on Turkey and annexes Cyprus.

Kaiser removed from Navy List.

Italy: Salandra Cabinet reconstructed.

Two Japanese aviators, scheduled for an exhibition flight over Honolulu, are stopped by U.S. officials who fear they are spying on German ships.

Belgian Government reject Papal mediation.

Ship Losses:

HMT Mary ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Cromer, Norfolk with the loss of eight of her fourteen crew. Survivors were rescued by HMT Columbia and HMT Driversunk (both Royal Navy).
DRAMMEN (Norway): The steamer was a small cargo vessel which sank west of Steilene on the west side of Nesoddlandet in Akershus county after a collision with the French steamship UNION III with a cargo of beer, wine and other goods.

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Sailor Steve

11-05-14, 10:55 AM

November 5:

"It was the happiest day of my life. True, most of my comrades who had earned it just as much were dead."
- Adolf Hitler, letter to his landlord after being awarded the Iron Cross Second Class for his part in the fighting at Wytschaete

The world's third aerial shootdown, and the first for Germany, comes when a Rumpler B.I flown by Richard Flashar with a gun manned by an observer known only as 'Demuth' claim to shoot down a "Parasol". The claim is accepted though the victims are not verified. One possible candidate is a plane flown by Adjutant Rodeau and Soldat Vernier of Escadrille V21, both killed. The 'V' suggests a Voisin, which is a biplane, but they could have been a Morane 'L' parasol. The loss was listed as being brought down by anti-aircraft fire, but it could have been Flashar and Demuth, and the French might never have known.

Richard Flashar will fly consistently throughout the war, and rise to command a squadron twice, but will only score one more victory during the war.

Britain: The battlecruisers HMS Invincible and Inflexible depart Invergordon for Devonport, where they will meet their new, and as yet unnamed, Admiral.

Indian Ocean: SMS Emden ends her patrol of the Sunda Straights and sets course for a pre-planned rendezvous with the collier SS Exford.

Jimbuna

11-06-14, 07:10 AM

6th November 1914

Western Front

Ypres: Fierce German attacks repelled: heavy fighting round Klein-Zillebeke.

Eastern Front

Galicia: Line of the San once more in Russian hands: Austrians in retreat towards Cracow.

Keupri-Keui (Armenia) taken by Russian forces.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Tsing-tau: Central fort stormed and 200 prisoners taken.
Japanese troops launch a final assault against German troops in Tsingtao, China.
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The Khedivate of Egypt comes to an end as Britain deposes Abbas II of Egypt, who was seen as pro-Ottoman.
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In the Persian Gulf, a major British offensive begins as the 6th Indian Division invades Mesopotamia. The objective is to protect the oil pipeline from Persia. Two weeks later they capture the city of Basra.
http://s29.postimg.org/p85x08h9z/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Naval and Overseas Operations

British submarine "B.-11" proceeds two miles up the Dardanelles. First warship to enter Straits.
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Belgian Coast Operations - Bombardment of Westend and Lombartzyde by monitor Humber and old gunboat Bustard

Mesopotamian Campaign - British/Indian forces started to land in Mesopotamia from the Persian Gulf supported by old battleship Ocean (Capt Hayes-Sadler), sloops Odin, Espiegle, and including Government yacht Lewis Pelly, launch-tugs Garmsir, Sirdar-I-Naphti, Mashona, Miner, all manned, armed and commissioned by HMS Ocean. Royal Navy Battle Honour - MESOPOTAMIA 1914-17.
Odin, sloop, Epiegle-class, 1,070t, 6-4in/4-3pdr, Capt Hayes-Sadler in command and crewed by Espiegle, with convoy carrying Anglo-Indian expeditionary force, entered Shatt-el-Arab and came under Turkish fire. Odin in 40-minute duel silenced a 4-gun battery at Fort Fao or Al Faw guarding the Shatt-el-Arab entrance, hit twice and later fired on by riflemen from trenches. Espiegle hit entrenchments further upstream opposite Abadan.

Political, etc.

Turkey severs diplomatic relations with Belgium.

French Government issue declaration modifying list of contraband.

Great Britain: The spy Lody shot at the Tower.
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Lody was the first spy to be executed at the Tower.

Below is the text of a letter written by Carl Hans Lody on the eve of his execution to the Grenadier Guards, thanking them for their professionalism in looking after him. Lody also allegedly shook the hand of each of the men in the firing squad before his execution.

London Tower, November 5th 1914

To the Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion G Guards, London

Sir

I feel it my duty as a German officer to express my sincere thanks and
appreciation to the guards and sentries being and having been my guardians.
Although they never neglected their duty they have shown always the utmost
courtesy and consideration towards me.

If it is within the frame of reglements I wish this may be made known to them.

I am, Sir, with profound respect
Carl Hans Lody
Senior Lieutenant Imperial German Naval Reserves II

Emperor Wilhelm and Prince Henry of Prussia are both removed as honorary admirals of the Royal Navy.

Ship Losses:

SMS T25 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The S7-class torpedo boat collided with SMS T72 ( Kaiserliche Marine) and sank in the North Sea.
S 13 ( Kaiserliche Marine): German large torpedoboat sunk by accident in the North Sea after a torpedo explosion.

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Sailor Steve

11-06-14, 10:10 AM

November 6:

One of Jacky Fishers first orders as First Sea Lord was the removal of the Chief-Of-Staff, Vice Admiral Sir Frederick Charles Doveton Sturdee. Sturdee was one of the old Beresford men, and had been one of the players at the inquest that led to Fisher's resignation in 1910. Sturdee had become Beresford's Chief-Of-Staff and owed a large part of his advancement to Beresford's influence at Court and in the Admiralty, so there was no way Fisher was going to have him remain part of his own staff. For his own part, Sturdee actually had King George on his side, and the King wanted Sturdee to be the new First Sea Lord. Sturdee refused to resign, and Churchill wasn't willing to actually fire him, which left them at an impasse.

Churchill finally hit on what to him was the perfect solution: Send Sturdee to be the new commander of the South Atlantic Squadron! Fisher agreed immediately. He had described his subordinate as "...a pedantic ass, which Sturdee is, has been, and always will be!", and had the hope that Sturdee would make a mess of things and lose his squadron of not his life, and be forced to live with that shame. The general feeling in the Admiralty was that Sturdee had mishandled the situation with Spee, and what had happend to Cradock was Sturdee's fault, so it was proper that he should be given the task of making it right.

German East Africa: SS Newbridge joins Captain Drury-Lowe's squadron at the mouth of the Simba Uranga channel in the mouth of the Rufiji River, and work is started converting the ship to her new purpose. Armor plate is added to the bridge and sandbags are piled around the fantail area. The German cruiser won't be able to see her as she makes her way upriver, but she will certainly come under rifle and machine-gun fire on the trip.

Jimbuna

11-07-14, 07:39 AM

7th November 1914

Western Front

Lombartzyde again captured by Germans.

Heavy German attacks on the Allies at Givenchy (La Bassee) and Arras.

German attacks near Roye and Vimy repulsed.

Southern Front

Russians bombard Turkish ports in the Black Sea.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Siege of Tsingtao comes to an end as Japanese and British troops capture the German concession in China. 727 Allied troops are killed. Germany suffers 199 killed and more than 3000 are taken prisoner.
Japanese commanders and foreign observers at Tsingtao
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Mesopotamia: British force lands in Persian Gulf.

Naval and Overseas Operations

South Africa: Union troops defeated by De Wet at Doornberg.

Ship Losses:

JAGUAR German gunboat scuttled in Tsing Tao.

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© IWM (Q 57328)
The 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment being transported by bus through Dickebusch on their way to Ypres, 6 November 1914.

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Sailor Steve

11-07-14, 01:56 PM

November 7:

Indian Ocean: Emden and Buresk reach their rendezvous point, but SS Exford is nowhere to be seen. Emden begins patrolling the area, looking for the missing collier.

Meanwhile the First ANZAC Troop Convoy is travelling northwest through the Indian ocean.

Jimbuna

11-08-14, 08:40 AM

8th November 1914

Western Front

Battle along line Dixmude-Ypres-La Bassee-Arras continued: German attacks repulsed.

French continue to advance in the Argonne, and occupy Vregny (Aisne).

Eastern Front

East Prussia: Russians re-enter Eydtkuhnen and Stalluponen: they advance into the Imperial forest of Rominten.

Southern Front

Serbia: Third Austrian invasion begun: advances on three lines, viz., towards (i) Nish, (ii) Shabats, (iii) Valyevo.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Japan assumes the occupation of German concession of Tsingtao, China until the end of the war.

Mesopotamia: Fao on Persian Gulf occupied by British.

Naval and Overseas Operations

South Africa: Rebels routed at Sandfontein.

Russians sink four Turkish transports in Black Sea.

Ship Losses:

ATLE (Sweden): Steamer mined and sunk about 7 miles. SO t. O from Cross Sands lightship, on a voyage London - Goteborg. 6 men killed.
TURRET CHIEF (United Kingdom): Steamer ran ashore near Keweenaw Point, Lake Superior when on a voyage Midland, Ontario – Fort William in ballast.

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Sailor Steve

11-08-14, 10:51 AM

November 8:

London: Back on August 26th SMS Magdeburg was grounded and and destroyed in the Black Sea. Among the items captured were two copies of the Signalbuch der Kaiserlichen Marine, the German Naval Code Book. The Russians later passed one of them to the British. On October 17 the sinking German destroyer S-119 jettisoned her codebooks, which were recovered by a British trawler. All of this reached the Admiralty by the first of November, who began preparing a new decoding division. At its head was Sir Alfred Ewing, and it operated autonymously. One of the few department heads in on the secret was the Director Intelligence Division, Captain William Hall. On November 8 the new department set up shop in the Admiralty building, and took its informal name from its new location - Room 40.

HMS Invincible and Inflexible arrive at Devonport, where they are joined by Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee. They will have to stay there for a few days to make some minor repairs and stock up on coal, ammunition and enough food for a three-month cruise. The Devonport yard commander, Rear Admiral Godfrey Mundy, signals the Admiralty that the ships will be ready to sail at midnight on November 13th. Fisher is said to have exclaimed "Friday the 13th. What a day to choose!"

Churchill writes a letter to the overall Commander at Devonport, Admiral Sir George Egerton: "Ships are to sail on Wednesday 11th. They are needed for war service and arrangements must be made to conform. If necessary, dockyard men should be sent away in the ships to return as opportunity may offer. You are held responsible for the speedy dispatch of these ships in a thoroughly efficient condition." Egerton takes a train to London to protest in person to Fisher. Fisher replies that as far as he cares the workmen can be thrown overboard if the repairs aren't finished by the time the ships sail.

Indian Ocean: SS Exford finally reaches her rendezvous with Emden and Buresk. KptLt. Gropius explains that his navigation was thrown off due to a discrepancy between his chronometer and Emden's. Captain von Müller had planned to attack the radio station at Cocos at dawn on the 8th, but now he is forced to postpone it for twenty-four hours. Gropius is returned to Emden and Lauterbach put in charge of Exford. Leutnants Fikentscher and Schall are also brought back to Emden; as leading signal officers they will be needed in the operation at Cocos.

Emden, Buresk and Exford now turn to the southwest. At 1600 hours Exford is sent away with orders to loiter off Socotra Island, near the Red Sea. Von Müller briefs his officers on the next day's operations. KptLt. von Mücke is to lead the shore party, with orders to destroy the wireless station and it's generators, then tear up the cable so it can't be too easily repaired. Then the raiding party is organized. Under von Mücke are Lts. Gryssling and Schmidt, leading a squad of thirty sailors, fifteen technicians and two signalmen.

At 1900 Buresk is dispatched to wait thirty miles north of Cocos for instructions. Emden then steams slowly toward the target, timing her arrival for dawn on the 9th.

Meanwhile the ANZAC convoy is some 150 miles away, heading for Cocos.

Jimbuna

11-09-14, 08:15 AM

9th November 1914

Western Front

Ypres: Violent German attacks: British position again in danger.

Eastern Front

Poland: Germans evacuate Kalish and Chenstokhov, etc.

Silesia entered by Russian cavalry, rail cut at Pleschen.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Armenia: Battle of Kroprukeui.

Naval and Overseas Operations

"Emden" destroyed at Cocos Island H.M.A.S. "Sydney". (See post: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2259319&postcount=83)
German light cruiser SMS Emden headed for the Cocos Islands to destroy the cable and wireless station on the smaller Direction Island, appeared at 0550 and a warning was immediately sent out by cable station superintendent. Emden anchored and sent armed party ashore which destroyed the installations over the next two and half hours. Around 0630, the warning signal had been intercepted by light cruiser HMAS Melbourne escorting an Australian troop convoy only 50 miles away to the north, sister-ship Sydney was detached to investigate. Arriving off Cocos at 0915, Sydney sighted Emden which opened accurate fire at 0940 from 9,500yds, Sydney's after control station was soon hit. Making the most of her longer-range guns, Sydney brought down Emden's foremost funnel, foremast, then second funnel and third, the badly damaged Emden headed for the northerly North Keeling Island and ran aground at 1120. Sydney left to pursue the escaping collier SS Buresk, captured some time before. Schooner Ayesha was seized by German landing party after Emden left them ashore to go and fight Sydney, sailed to Padang, Dutch East Indies, and on to Turkish-occupied Yemen. The Germans then travelled overland to Constantinople.

Sydney, Royal Australian Navy, light cruiser, Chatham-class, 6,000t, 8-6in/4-3pdr/2-21in tt, Capt John Glossop, Australian Fleet. Slightly damaged; 3 ratings killed, 1 DOW and 12 wounded. Royal Navy Single Ship Action - Sydney v EMDEN 1914.
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Hellmuth von Mücke and 53 men escape on the Syesha, a derelict schooner they repaired, & return to Germany.
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"Geier", German cruiser, interned by U.S.A. at Honolulu.
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SMS Kronprinz, a König class battleship, is commissioned into the German Imperial Navy.
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Political, etc.

Mr. Asquith's Guildhall speech setting forth the aims of the Allies: "We shall never sheathe the sword," etc.

President Yuan Shikai of China is forced to look towards the U.S. for loans as European funds are closed off due to the war.

Ship Losses:

SMS Emden ( Kaiserliche Marine): Battle of Cocos: The Dresden-class cruiser was shelled and damaged in the Indian Ocean by HMAS Sydney ( Royal Australian Navy). She was beached on North Keeling Island with the loss of 134 of her 360 crew.
AYESHA, British sailing vessel 123grt, captured by crew of German light cruiser EMDEN, off N Keeling Island, later scuttled 15th Dec 1914.

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Sailor Steve

11-09-14, 02:44 PM

November 9:

Devonport, Britain: Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee hoists raises his command flag aboard HMS Invincible, and personally takes charge of the preparations for the voyage to South America.

German East Africa: The preparations aboard SS Newbridge are complete, and plans are made to take the collier upriver, where she will be sunk to block the channel and prevent SMS Königsberg from using that route to escape. She will be accompanied by the armed steamship Duplex, a steam picket boat and two steam cutters.

Indian Ocean: During the night the radio crew of SMS Emden picked up several wireless messages between the station at Cocos and a British warship, call sign 'NC'. They assumed from the strength of the signals that the ship was at least two hundred miles away.

In fact the new mystery ship was HMS Minotaur, a new armoured cruiser and leader of the ANZAC Convoy's escort. She had the other ships on strict radio silence, so anyone listening would assume she was travelling alone. She was also a lot closer than von Müller had guessed.

At 0600 hours, with her false fourth funnel in place, SMS Emden enters the harbor at Direction Island, the largest of the Cocos/Keeling group. Earlier Emden's officers had discussed just shelling the wireless station and being done with it, but Captain von Müller said he wished to cause as little loss of life as possible, so the station would be wrecked by hand. The steam pinnace and two cutters are lowered and manned, with Kptlt. von Mücke is commanding the party from the pinnace, which tows the two cutters behind, with Lts. Gryssling and Schmidt each in charge of one. Each cutter has two machine guns. The three boats reach the shore shortly before 0700.

The weather is perfect, and von Müller sends a message to Buresk to come to the island so Emden can recoal. The cruiser's boilers are shut down. The crew of the wireless station intercept the message, and ask what ship is sending the signal. Emden doesn't answer, so the Australian wireless crew send out a distress call: "Foreign ship in harbor!" At this point von Mücke and party break into the wireless station and take the crew prisoner. They then proceed to wreck everything in sight with axes. Next is the big wireless aerial mast, which is toppled with dynamite. What none of the Germans know is that while the Australians were sending an open signal about "foreign ships" they were also sending a coded message through the cable: "SOS! Emden is here!"

HMS Minotaur is trying to raise the station, but by this time the mast is down and the crew made prisoners. Vice-Admiral Herbert King-Hall sends a signal via lamp to Captain Mortimer Silver aboard HMAS Melbourne, advising him that Emden is at Cocos. It is Silver's job to decide which escort to send. Captain Kanji Kato of IJNS Ibuki insists that his battlecruiser is the logical choice for the task, carrying four 12" and eight 8" guns, but Silver decides that HMAS Sydney is four knots faster than Ibuki and he wants her big guns to help protect the convoy. Sydney leaves the convoy at 0700 and heads for Cocos at 25 knots. At this rate it will take her two hours to get to Direction Island.

Von Mücke's last task is to destroy the trans-Malaysian wireless cable. The buried portion is easy enough to find, but it is important to make sure it can't be repaired easily, so a part of it must be raised from the water and cut, and the broken ends dragged to water deep enough that it can't be seen from the surface. The Germans find the underwater cable easily, but run into trouble trying to snag it with grappling hooks and drag it to the surface by hand. Finally they manage to raise the cable from the mud, and several men jump into the water to maneuver it by hand. Two cables are raised to the boat and cut apart in this manner, but they are unable to find the third. A small storehouse containg spare parts is blown up.

At 0900 the smoke of a ship is spotted approaching from the north. At first this is thought to be Buresk. Leutnant Guerard goes to Emden's crow's nest and confirms this to be so. At 0915 a message is sent to von Mücke to hurry his work and come back aboard Emden. Von Mücke had planned to also blow up the small schooner in the harbor, but this will have to be left undone. At this point Guerard reports that the approaching ship has the tall masts of an English warship. Almost at the same time the ship raises the White Ensign. Von Müller calls his ship to Action Stations, and the task of building steam in the boilers is begun. Normally this could take a couple of hours, but the boilers are still warm and at 0930 Emden weighs anchor and gets underway.

During the fifteen minutes it takes to get steam up, von Müller sounds the ship's siren to recall the landing party. Von Mücke has his crew aboard the boats and the steam pinnace is towing its companions seaward when he sees Emden's flag drop to half-mast, the signal that she is weighing anchor. Then he watches the cruiser start building up speed. Not knowing what is going on, von Mücke at first assumes that Emden is going out to meet Buresk. Von Mücke continues to follow, but finally gives up when he realizes that Emden is now making at least 16 knots, and his boats can only make about 4 knots.

At 0940 Sydney's Captain, John Glossop, executes a 90-degree turn to starboard, bringing the ships onto a parallel course, at a range of ten thousand yards. Von Müller immediately orders Lt. Gaede to open fire. Emden's second or third salvo (reports vary) strikes Sydney, and a lucky shell takes out her rangefinder. This leaves Sydney shooting wide, and Emden continues to score hits. At 0950 Sydney suffers a hit on one of her guns, and burning shell casings threaten to start a fire which could blow up the ship. Fast-thinking members of the gun crew fill a large tub with water and toss the red-hot casings in with their bare hands. By 1000 Sydney finally starts to score hits, one of which destroys Emden's wireless room, and another wrecks the forward gun.

Von Müller orders a turn to starboard in an attempt to close the range. Glossop uses his superior speed to maintain his distance. Emden's steering gear fails at this point. The backup hand-steering mechanism is also out of order, and the ship must be steered by its engines. After reporting this to the bridge, KptLt. Gropius goes aft to help with the gun there. He and most of the gun crew are blown overboard by the explosion of a 6" shell from Sydney. Orders to both engine rooms and gun crews must now be given by voice tube, so if the orders are received at all it is a least a minute before they are carried out. The forward funnel takes a hit, and since the support cables had been detached for coaling it immediately falls over. The resulting smoke covers the ship, and the loss of draft to the boilers reduces the ship's speed to twenty knots. The officers who had been in charge of range-finding go aft to help with the guns, and are soon killed.

At 1020 a shell penetrates the torpedo room which is below the waterline. Lt. Prinz Franz Joseph von Hohenzollern leads the repair team, and by 1025 the torpedoes are again ready to fire. At 1045 the mast is carried overboard, taking with it Lt. Guerard and Signalman Metzing. At 1100 the torpedo room takes another hit, and with water and gas both flooding into the room Lt. Hohenzollern leads his men in an evacuation. He then makes his way to the forward magazine, where he finds Lt. Geerdes wounded and Kptlt. Gaede dying.

With all of his guns out of action and power rapidly failing von Müller directs that the ship be grounded on the reefs of North Keeling. At 1115 this is accomplished. At 1120 Sydney ceases fire and sets off to find Buresk. Von Müller gives permission for anyone so desiring to jump overboard and swim to shore. The surviving officers set about flooding the boilers and wrecking the remaing guns, destroying the ship's books and tending to the wounded. Hohenzollern leads a team of men to the aft section, trying to find survivors. They end up climbing over piles of spilled coal and finding routes around red-hot compartments. Finally all of the wounded are taken forward to be treated as best as possible. It is then seen that several of the men who did leap overboard have been smashed on the reefs. Among these are the ship's chief surgeon, Dr. Schwabe.

At 1150 Sydney overtakes Buresk. Kptlt. Klopper knows he can't escape, so the process of scuttling the ship is begun. Signal books are destroyed. Valves are opened. At 1300 the collier is ordered to stop. A prize crew orders them to follow, but it is too late. Buresk is already sinking.

With no boats left on the wreck, an attempt is made to float a line to the men who did make it ashore, with no success. Then the two best swimmers aboard try to get a line ashore, but are forced by the reefs to turn back. Time is spent using pistols and clubs to kill the seagulls which keep trying to attack the most severely wounded.

Around 1600 hours Sydney returns to the wreck. She flies a flag meant to order Emden to surrender. A signalman aboard Emden uses flags to say "No signal book aboard", meaning they can't read Sydney's messages. Sydney twice signals "Do you surrender?" Upon receiving no reply, the British cruiser opens fire on the wreckage of Emden. Von Müller quickly gives permission for anyone who wishes to jump overboard. Someone then realizes that in their haste to beach the ship they have forgotten to lower the ship's flag. This is quickly done, and a white flag raised. Upon seeing this Sydney ceases fire. Then one of Buresk's boats is sent to tell von Müller that the British will return with help the next day.

When the shore party realized their ship was going into battle, they returned to the beach. Von Mücke rounds up the enemy signalmen and disarmed them. They then set to work digging ditches and constructing shore defenses. The officers also keep an eye on the battle raging in the distance. While watching the proceedings at sea von Mücke decides he can put up no more than a token defense if the Australian cruiser should decide to come to the island later. He decides to see if the schooner in the bay might be of any use. Going alone in the steam pinnace he finds the schooner in fairly good condition, manned only by her captain, J. Partridge, one sailor and Edmund and Roscoe Clunies-Ross, sons of the island's owner. From them he learns that the craft is called Ayesha, after Mohammed's favorite wife. As they are taken ashore Partridge tells von Mücke "I wish you a safe journey, but her hull is rotten."

When von Mücke returns to shore to gather his men the English and Australians try to tell him that the schooner is old and rotten, and not to trust her at sea. They also warn of the British and Japanese warships waiting to capture them. Then they seem to have a change of heart and start helping the Germans stock the little ship with supplies.

As Ayesha is preparing to get underway von Mücke climbs the mast. He can see Emden and Sydney still firing in the distance. Then he has the steam pinnace tow the schooner out of the bay. Once clear of the reefs the steam launch is set free, engine still running. It makes its own way into the darkness and is gone.

Jimbuna

11-10-14, 02:11 PM

10th November 1914

Western Front

Flooding around the Yser River, originally done to slow the German attack, now hampers the Allied advance.

Yser: Germans take Dixmude.

Ypres: Germans take St. Eloi.

Eastern Front

East Prussia: Russians re-enter Goldap.

Przemysl again isolated by Russian forces.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Arabian Coastal Operations - British-Indian forces bombarded and stormed Sheikh Said, southern Arabia and destroyed defences, armoured cruiser Duke of Edinburgh & troops of 29th Indian Infantry Brigade take part.

"Konigsberg" blocked up in Rufiji River.

German East Africa
NEWBRIDGE, Admiralty blockship, ex-collier, 3,737/1906, 342ft, Temperley SS Co, London-reg, purchased 1914, originally for use at Dover, sent to East Africa, filled with crushed rock and dynamite charges, 14 volunteer crew, Cdr Raymond Fitzmaurice. This was the first operation against the trapped German cruiser Koenigsberg. In the early morning, under fire but under cover of 6in cruiser gunfire, reached scuttling position 8 miles down the Ssuninga channel of the Rufuji river delta where it met the Ssimba-Uranga arm, swung across the river and anchored bow and stern, charges fired at 0550 and settled to the bottom. This still left two navigable channels - the northern Kikunja and the southern Kiomboni - by which Koenigsberg could reach the sea 10 miles away.
http://s28.postimg.org/598vklaq5/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

http://s18.postimg.org/s84kjr2ll/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
A German Naval landing party preparing to leave Direction Island.

Political etc.

Hotels in Italy owned by British companies fire all German staff members.

Americans entering Germany must now have permission from the German embassy in D.C. or the consulate in New York City.

Ship Losses:

Speculator ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the coast of Norfolk with the loss of five of her crew.

http://s21.postimg.org/g7viw8dnr/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

11-10-14, 03:42 PM

November 10:

German East Africa: Shortly before dawn the little convoy prepares to enter the Simba Uranga entrance to the Rufiji river. The collier SS Newbridge has had her bridge armored, but the only other protection from potential German gunfire is a pile of sandbags around her fantail. Her escort is the small armed steamer SS Duplex, which carries two 3-pounder cannon, the steam pinnace from the old battleship HMS Goliath, carrying two 14-inch torpedoes, and the steam cutters from the three cruisers. These last also have steel plates and sandbags to protect their crews as best as possible.

At 0500 the ship and the boats move out. At 0520 the sun starts to rise, and German shore emplacements open up with their 4-pounder guns. Fire is returned by the two 3-pounders on Duplex. Machine guns start shooting at the three cutters. At the river's mouth HMS Chatham tries to lend support with her 6-inch guns.

At 0540 Newbridge reaches her designated position. Commander Raymond Fitzmaurice gives the order to drop anchor. The current swings the big ship across the channel and the stern anchor is let go. Several of the anchor crews are wounded by the rifle and machine gun fire from the shore, but none are killed. The crew below open the seacocks. One of the cutters comes alongside to take off the crew. The detonator and wire attached to the explosive charges inside the ship are taken into the boat as well. Once they are well away the charges are detonated and Newbridge settles by the bow. The ship is also carrying a load of gravel to ensure a solid bottoming. Soon the hull is completely underwater and only the superstructure, funnel and masts are showing.

Duplex and the cutters set off back down the river at high speed. Fire from the shore continues until they are in sight of Chatham and the cruiser's 6-inch shells begin finding targets. At this point they are only 13,000 yards from SS Somali, and Drury-Lowe directs his fire at the collier. Soon Königsberg's supply ship is a burning wreck. The fire will continue to burn for two days. Convinced that Königsberg is no longer a threat, the Admiralty soon orders Dartmouth and Weymouth to other duties.

Indian Ocean: Overnight the men of SMS Emden have hardly slept. New fires have broken out and had to be dealt with. At dawn an international distress signal is hoisted in the belief that HMS Sydney will not return for them, and they must hope for a passing ship to help them. Several of the wounded have died during the night. The crew spend the rest of the morning trying to communicate with the islands.

At 1300 Sydney appears with her boats ready for lowering. First the severely wonded are taken off, then the lightly wounded, next the enlisted, the officers, and finally the captain himself departs. Von Müller has insisted that no special favors be accorded him, but Glossop sends his personal gig anyway. This sign of respect von Müller cannot refuse. The whole process takes four hours. Soon all are aboard Sydney and the British cruiser returns to the harbor for the night.

Out at sea von Mücke and his party begin to take stock of their new vessel. Thirty meters in length, rated at 97 tons, Ayesha's foremast can carry two square sails, while the main and mizzen are rigged fore-and-aft only. She was made to carry her captain and five sailors, but now she is crowded with fifty men. The cabin can hold six; the rest have to sleep in the cargo hold. Fortunately the little ship is carrying no cargo. The men make the best of their situation and cut up a spare sail to start making hammocks. Below decks there are two small cabins which are used to store what food they have. In the fantail is another small chartroom. It becomes the habitation of the petty officers. The deckhouse has three cabins. Von Mücke takes one and his two leutnants occupy the other. The smallest becomes their mess deck, wine storage, navigation room and office for the officer on watch.

The biggest problem is the tiny galley. It has nowhere near the facility to cook for fifty men. Their solution is to create a makeshift fire pit in the middle of the galley and cook over that. Cooking has to be done with salt water, as they have barely enough fresh water to drink as it is. There are four small tanks, but the original occupants had only ever needed one, so the other three are quite stagnant. Since it often rains in that part of the world, the crew are not overly worried.

Jimbuna

11-11-14, 09:31 AM

11th November 1914

Western Front

Ypres: Some British trenches penetrated by the Prussian Guard, but recovered.

Eastern Front

Memel (East Prussia) occupied by Russian forces.

Southern Front

Serbia: The Serbians in retreat; their headquarters moved from Valyevo to Kraguyevats.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Mesopotamia: British outposts attacked at Saniya.

Battle of Basra begins as Ottoman troops counterattack British troops in Iraq.

Sultan Mehmed V of the Ottoman Empire declares a jihad against the Allies, urging all Muslims to fight.
http://s14.postimg.org/63jntavu9/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Naval and Overseas Operations

H.M.S. "Niger" sunk by German submarine U-12 in Dover Straits.

NIGER, minesweeper, ex-Alarm-class torpedo gunboat, 810t, 1892, 2-4.7in/4-3pdr/3-18in tt, 19kts, c90 crew, converted to minesweeper 1909, retained guns, fitted with kite winch & gallows on quarterdeck, now with Downs Boarding Flotilla, Dover Patrol, Lt-Cdr Arthur Muir. At anchor off Deal Pier as supervising vessel for local examination service, with two merchant steamers anchored nearby. Torpedo fired from direction of South Sand Head by U.12 (Walter Forstmann), track spotted at 600-800 yards on port beam, orders given to put port engine astern and helm over, but torpedo passed between the two steamers and hit amidships under the bridge at 1210. Ship settled by the head, slowly capsized to port and at 1230 sank bow first 1½m from Deal Pier (wi - in 51.13.12N, 01.26.29E); 15 ratings lost (He – 1 man killed; ke/wi - all 8 officers and 77 ratings saved), survivors rescued by North Deal and Kingsdown lifeboats, 47 landed at Deal, remainder by tugs at Ramsgate.
http://s7.postimg.org/uagmv938b/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)http://s28.postimg.org/421boc8r1/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

North Atlantic off Northern Scotland
Crescent (flag, Adm de Chair) and Edgar, old 1st-class protected cruisers, Edgar-class, 7,350t, 10th CS on Northern Patrol, steaming to SW of Foula Island to watch Fair Isle Channel for two reported minelayers, encountered full westerly gale with high and breaking seas, ordered to return to Scapa Flow but impossible to turn ship without risk of capsizing. Crescent lost boats and deck fittings, deck and sides began to give and open up, fires in foremost boiler put out by rising water, bridge smashed and Admirals sea cabin swept overboard, big gun broke loose in after turret and only stopped by filling the turret with hammocks. Edgar similarly damaged. Adm de Chair described it as "quite the most appalling gale I ever experienced in all my years at sea" and did not expect to survive; Edgar lost one man overboard. Half of the 10th CS sent to Clyde for refits, but inspections were so unfavourable all seven "Edgar's" of the 10th old Training Squadron paid off on 20th to be replaced by converted liners - armed merchant cruisers.

Political, etc.

Great Britain: Parliament opened; the King's Speech.

Prime Minister of Bulgaria states the country enjoys friendly relations with both sides of the war and will remain neutral.

Ship Losses:

HMS Niger ( Royal Navy): The minesweeper was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel off Deal, Kent by SM U-12 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.

http://s30.postimg.org/4xxpmjzch/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

11-11-14, 12:25 PM

November 11:

Britain: HMS Invincible and Inflexible depart Devonport for the Cape Verde Islands.

German East Africa: Things are at a standstill for the men of SMS Königsberg and those aboard HMS Chatham. With the northernmost channel successfully blocked there is only one escape route left open for the German cruiser. This won't do a lot of good since their only supply of coal was burned up the previous day. For both sides the biggest enemy will become boredom. Kapitan Looff makes plans to create a parade ground ashore where his men can be kept busy. Captain Drury-Lowe can at least take his ship out on maneuvers.

Drury-Lowe has a new idea on how to deal with his enemy, and wires London to enquire whether there might be a monitor or two available for his use. These ships were designed for shore bombardment, carrying high-elevation guns which can easily reach Königsberg's position. Upon being told that it might be possible the English captain then starts looking around for a way to direct the guns at such a distance, where the enemy cannot be seen at all.

Indian Ocean: HMAS Sydney returns to North Keeling Island to pick up the men who had made it ashore from Emden two days earlier. They are exhausted, hungry and thirsty. Once aboard Sydney they are fed and given medical treatment, then the cruiser returns to Direction Island for the night.

Jimbuna

11-12-14, 10:16 AM

12th November 1914

Western Front

Ypres again fiercely attacked by the Germans; latter take Lombartzyde.

Orders issued for all British aeroplanes on Western front to bear distinguishing marks.

Eastern Front

Galicia: Przemsyl again invested by the Russians.

Russian troops advance against German and Austrian positions in East Prussia and near Krakow, but face fierce resistance.

East Prussia: Russians again enter Johannisburg.

Southern Front

Montenegrins defeated at Grahavo (Bosnian frontier).

Naval and Overseas Operations

South Africa: De Wet defeated at Mushroom Valley.

Political, etc.

Kaiser Wilhelm issues documents urging German soldiers to defend their hearths and homes from France and Russia.

Turkey: Formal declaration of war against the Triple Entente.

Victor Franke becomes the commander of the Schutztruppe, the German colonial armed forces.
http://s4.postimg.org/ddy1a4159/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Ship Losses:

Duchesse de Guiche ( France): The coaster foundered in the English Channel off Le Havre, Seine-Maritime with the loss of eleven of her crew.

http://s30.postimg.org/mbq5az0dd/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

11-12-14, 11:09 AM

November 12:

German East Africa: Captain Drury-Lowe has decided that the only way to spot for the monitors (if they ever arrive) will be from the air. There are no naval aircraft in the region, but there is a civilian airman in Durban who owns a Curtiss flying boat. Local Admiralty officials offer to purchast the plane and give its owner, Dennis Cutler, a commission in the Royal Navy if he will maintain and fly it for them. Cutler agrees, and begins repair work to prepare his plane for its new task.

Indian Ocean: Two more of Emden's wounded die. The surviving crew are somewhat amazed to learn that Sydney's shore party had landed without opposition on the evening of the 9th, and that their own party had gotten away in the schooner Ayesha. Nothing has been heard of them since that night.

Jimbuna

11-13-14, 01:12 PM

13th November 1914

Western Front

The French recover Tracy-le-Val.

French marines capture the Belgian town of Dixmude, and Allied forces regain most of the positions on the River Yser.

Eastern Front

East Prussia: Russian advance threatens Thorn.

Galicia: Russians occupy line of Dunayetz and threaten Cracow.

Naval and Overseas Operations

French troops are defeated at El Herri by Moroccan tribesmen opposed to their rule. Over 600 French soldiers are killed.

Lieut.-General Sir A. Barrett takes over command of Indian Expeditionary Force "D" in Mesopotamia.
http://s15.postimg.org/tax9jqyd7/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Political etc.

Britain releases new casualty lists: 57,000 casualties among all ranks, 2420 among officers.

British officials protest to Chile after the German warships Leipzig and Dresden are seen resupplying in Valparaiso.

Hungarian government grants increased autonomy to ethnic Romanians in order to secure their loyalty.

Dutch Government protest against modifications of the Declaration of London.

Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, is placed in an asylum after he was found in a demented state.
http://s27.postimg.org/unzcwfmcj/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

http://s10.postimg.org/pfw11eeax/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

11-13-14, 02:31 PM

November 13:

Pacific Ocean: Graf Spee sends SMS Dresden and Leipzig from Más Afuera to Valparaiso to dispel rumors that those to ships had been sunk at Coronel. Unfortunately this also tells the British that Spee's squadron is still off the coast of Chile.

German East Africa: SS Kinfauns Castle arrives at Durban to transport newly-minted Lieutenant Dennis Cutler and his Curtiss flying boat to Niororo.

Indian Ocean: HMAS Sydney is still anchored in the bay at Direction Island. Early in the morning yet another severely wounded German crewman dies. Captain Glossop sends a message ordering the armed merchant cruiser HMS Empress of Russia to come to the Cocos to transport the prisoners to Colombo.

Aboard the schooner Ayesha worries about stagnant water are alleviated by an approaching storm. The bad water has already been dumped out and the tanks cleaned. A spare sail is spread out over the main hatch to catch the rainwater. A hole is cut in the middle to guide the rain into the hatch, and underneath a man is stationed with a clean gasoline can, of which the schooner has several to collect the water. When the can is full it is passed along to the water tanks. Also the crew attach molding strips around the deckhouse roof, with two gutters to carry the water there to still more waiting cans. The fifty men aboard now have an adequate supply of drinking water. To flavor this are a few bottles of lime juice kept in stock by the former captain.

The fresh water is needed for drinking, and the type of soap they have will not disolve in salt water. Someone comes up with the idea of stopping up the scuppers with rags so the water is trapped on the deck. The rolling of the vessel leaves the water running back and forth on the deck, and the men use this for a rolling bath, and there's the rain to shower in.

One thing the men of Ayesha do not suffer from is boredom. The sails are old and rotten, and those who know how are put to work mending them and teaching those who don't. It turns out that several of the men have sailed before and some of them are experienced fishermen. The former captain had not lied; the hull is indeed old and rotten. There is nothing they can do about this except hope it holds out. The ship is constantly leaking, and the pump is worn out. A couple of engineers take it apart and replace the faulty rubber seals with oil-soaked rags. This does the trick and the pump is soon doing its job again.

During the storm one of Emden's cutters, which they are towing behind, crashes into Ayesha's stern, breaking out a plank. Von Mücke decides to cut the cutter loose rather than risk a repeat of this incident. Sometime later the other cutter will free itself and disappear in the night, leaving them with the two jolly-boats, enough to hold five of them.

Jimbuna

11-14-14, 07:36 AM

14th November 1914

Western Front

The Battles round the Yser and Ypres dying down.

Eastern Front

East Prussia: Russian advance checked.

Poland: Beginning of a new and powerful German invasion along the Vistula from Thorn as base.

Naval and Overseas Operations

South Africa: Rebels routed at Bultfontein.

Keupri-Keui (Armenia) retaken by Turkish forces.

Sultan of Turkey as Khalif proclaims Jehad against those making war on Turkey or her allies.
http://s17.postimg.org/7kidhhsmn/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Political, etc.

Japanese Cabinet decide against despatch of troops or warships to Europe.

Death of Field Marshal Earl Roberts in France.
http://s30.postimg.org/9c4wtbypt/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

http://s28.postimg.org/ulb4bko59/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

11-14-14, 12:35 PM

November 14:

The first Vickers F.B.5 Gunbus, No. 861, is delivered to RNAS Eastchurch.

Pilot Max Hesse and observer Otto Jindra are shot down near Krolik Woloski, Poland by Russian cavalry. After counting 180 bullet holes they collect everything they can carry, burn their aeroplane and walk back to their own side of the lines. Jindra will go on to become the second-highest Austro-Hungarian ace.

The Philadelphia Public Ledger publishes photograph of HMS Audacious sinking. This is the first the Germans know of it.

Indian Ocean: HMS Empress of Russia arrives to take the men of SMS Emden to Colombo. Being a former passenger liner she is well suited to act as a hospital ship. Empress and HMAS Sydney depart Direction Island for the last time.

Jimbuna

11-15-14, 09:43 AM

15th November 1914

Western Front

Battle of Ypres: Last serious attack of the Germans (made by the Prussian Guards) beaten off.

Eastern Front

Poland: Russians retreating before the strong German advance from Thorn, take up the line Gombin-Lodz.

Battle of Cracow begins.

Southern Front

Serbia: Austrians continue to advance: the Serbians fall back south-eastwards.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Mesopotamia: Skirmish between Turks and British at Sahain.

Political etc.

U.S. bans airships and the usage of wireless in the Panama Canal Zone for all the belligerent nations.

Ship Losses:

Kenilworth (United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground on the Black Middens, in the North Sea off the coast of Northumberland. Her crew were taken off by lifeboats.
HMT Parthian, Admiralty trawler, Grimsby-reg, 202/1911, hired 8/14. In collision with and sank SS Vera, 2,391grt off Norfolk coast (wi - 4 miles E of Cley-next-the-Sea, in 52.58.15N 01.09.30E).
SS Vera (United Kingdom): The cargo ship was wrecked in a collision with HMT Parthian.

http://s27.postimg.org/go6b9iisz/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

11-15-14, 12:57 PM

November 15:

Pacific Ocean: Graf Spee and his squadron - the armored cruisers SMS Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, the light cruiser Nürnberg and the colliers SS Baden and Santa Isabel - depart Más Afuera for Cape Horn. The squadron is limited by the colliers to a maximum of eight knots. Believing the smaller SS Titania to be unable to round the horn safely, Spee has her scuttled. The armed merchant cruiser SMS Prinz Eitel Friedrich is left behind to send random messages, hoping to fool the Allies as to their location.

German East Africa: SS Kinfauns Castle arrives at Niororo with Lt. Cutler and his Curtiss flying boat. It will take Cutler several days to make repairs, and Midshipman Arthur Noel Gallehawk is assigned to be his assistant.

Indian Ocean: Around 1000 hours HMAS Sydney and HMS Empress of Russia steam into the harbor at Colombo. Around noon The unwounded men of SMS Emden are transferred to the armed merchant cruiser. The first officer of Empress reads aloud an order from the King of England that the German officers are to keep their ceremonial swords. The honor is accepted gratefully and no one points out that said swords are lying in the wreck at North Keeling Island. They are then informed that they will travel to England aboard Empress of Russia. Later in the day this changes. Empress will be remaining in Colombo, and the men of Emden are moved to Australian troop transports which are bound for Britain anyway. The wounded are taken to a hospital ashore.

Captain von Müller, Leutnant Fikentscher, Lt. Hohenzollern and Doctor Luther are taken aboard SS Orvieto along with thirty of their men. The remaining officers and men are placed in two other transports. The only officer to remain in Colombo is Oberleutnant sur See Geerdes. Each officer has his own cabin on the upper deck, and are allowed excercise periods. Still, they are always accompanied by armed guards.

Jimbuna

11-16-14, 10:20 AM

16th November 1914

Western Front

Rains and floods put a term to the struggles on the Yser: Fighting dies down round Ypres.

Germans fail to cross the Aisne at Vailly.

Prince Edward crosses the channel and arrives in France with the 1st Grenadier Guards.
http://s4.postimg.org/z73uiy6ql/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Eastern Front

Poland: Russian rearguards defeated at Vlotslavek and Kutno.

Second German offensive against Warsaw. Battle of Lodz begins.

Caucasus Campaign

Bergmann Offensive ends in an Ottoman victory, as Russian troops are forced back to their border.

Southern Front

The villa of Danilo, the Crown Prince of Montenegro, at Antivari is bombed by Austrian aeroplanes.

Naval and Overseas Operations

South East Pacific

NORTH WALES, Admiralty collier, 3,691/1905, North Wales Shipping Co, Newcastle-reg, Mr George Owens, sailing Cardiff (kp - Tyne)/Juan Fernandez for Falkland Islands with coal. Captured by Dresden, sunk by bombs 360 miles SW¼W true of Valparaiso (L/Mn - in 37.30S, 77W); crew to tender Rhakotis, landed a month later at Callao.

First units of Indian Expeditionary Force "F" land in Egypt.

"Berlin", German auxiliary cruiser, interned at Trondhjem.
http://s27.postimg.org/r1jxwf71f/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Political, etc.

Turkey: Sultan at German instigation, proclaims the "Holy War".

Great Britain: Mr. Asquith moves War Credit for £225,000,000.

Official German casualties pass half million, with recent lists adding up to the total to 535,000 men.

Ship Losses:

North Wales ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Pacific Ocean 360 nautical miles (670 km) south west of Valparaiso, Chile by SMS Dresden ( Kaiserliche Marine).
ANDREA (Sweden): The steamship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea when on voyage Törefors - Hull with a cargo of wood.

http://s8.postimg.org/cu7edsag5/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

11-16-14, 11:18 AM

November 16:

Germany: The New Fatherland League is created by Georg Nicolai, with the help of his friend Albert Einstein. The League's purpose is to promote an end to the war and "A just peace without annexations". The League will also advocate the creation of a worldwide organization to prevent future wars.

Pacific Ocean: SMS Dresden and Leipzig start on their way to meet the rest of Spee's squadron. They encounter the freighter SS North Wales and scuttle her.

Jimbuna

11-17-14, 01:38 PM

17th November 1914

Western Front

End of the first Battle of Ypres; stationary warfare now the rule.

Current situation on the Western Front
http://s27.postimg.org/oa495p0qr/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Eastern Front

Poland: Violent conflicts round Plotsk.

Galicia: Russians begin to recover over Carpathian Passes.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Mesopotamia: Turks decisively routed at Sahil.

Naval and Overseas Operations

German cruiser "Friedrich Karl" sunk by mine in the Baltic. Hits two mines, the ship takes 5 hours to sink and all except 8 members of the crew are rescued.
http://s24.postimg.org/68le56mj9/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

A boat launched by the USS Tennessee is fired upon by Ottoman forts in the Gulf of Smyrna; American captain warns the Ottomans.

Libau (Baltic) bombarded by German squadron.

Trebizond bombarded by Russian squadron.

Aviation

The first Imperial German Navy shipboard air operations take place, when the armored cruiser Friedrich Karl embarks two seaplanes with which to scout Russian ports in the Baltic Sea. One is still aboard when Friedrich Karl strikes a mine and sinks.

Political, etc.

Great Britain: Mr. Lloyd George introduces his first War Budget totaling £450 million.

Prince Edward of Britain is appointed as Aide-de-Camp to Sir John French; the Prince's request to serve at the front is denied.

General Hugh L. Scott becomes the new U.S. Army Chief of Staff.
http://s9.postimg.org/t4cybn86n/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Ship Losses:

SMS Friedrich Carl ( Kaiserliche Marine): The Prinz Adalbert-class cruiser struck a mine in the Baltic Sea off Memel, East Prussia and sank with the loss of eight of her 586 crew.
Mateus ( Russia): The schooner foundered in the Bay of Biscay. Her crew were rescued by Diciembre ( Spain).

http://s29.postimg.org/lc44dxc8n/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

11-17-14, 02:43 PM

November 17:

HMS Invincible and Inflexible stop at St. Vincent in the Cape Verde Islands. For six days Admiral Sturdee has been steaming at a comfortable 15 knots, in order to conserve coal and keep his stokers rested. Sturdee has also been broadcasting his position daily on an open channel, and German agents are tracking his every move. He doesn't start coding his messages until he finds out that his ships' call signs are being broadcast from West African stations, and that one of them carried the news that an officer aboard Invincible had just become a father. After this Sturdee signals his ships that "The utmost harm may be done by the indiscrete use of wireless. The key is never to be pressed unless absolutely necessary."

Indian Ocean: SS Orvieto departs Colombo for Aden, with HMS Hampshire as escort.

Jimbuna

11-17-14, 02:55 PM

^ Just the first of many examples of just how incompetent this guy (Sturdee) could be I should imagine. Looking forward to reading about his further bloopers at the Falklands.

Jimbuna

11-18-14, 10:40 AM

18th November 1914

Western Front

Fighting limited to artillery duels and local skirmishes.

Eastern Front

East Prussia: Russians defeated at Soldau.

Poland: Russians in retreat towards Lovich.

Galicia: Austro-German offensive from Cracow.

Three Austro-Hungarian divisions cross the Danube and moves against Belgrade, Serbia; fall of the capital is declared imminent.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Armenia: Turkish offensive compels Russians to retreat.

Political etc.

Re-transfer of French Government from Bordeaux to Paris begins.

Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz advocates the bombing of London with massed Zeppelin attacks.

Naval and Overseas Operations

"Goeben" and "Breslau" engaged by a Russian squadron in Black Sea: the "Goeben" damaged.
In a dense bank of fog, Breslau joined her consort. The two German ships were almost on top of the Russian Fleet, when the fog cleared and suddenly the antagonists were in each other′s view at less than 4,000 yd (3,700 m) range. Instantly, the guns of both sides opened fire. Goeben—with Breslau sheltering behind her—found herself sailing past the entire line of the Black Sea Fleet. A 12 in (300 mm) shell from a Russian battleship tore through the armour of Goeben′s 5.9 in (150 mm) casement, killing the six-man gun crew and detonating the ammunition. Only swift flooding of a magazine prevented a bigger explosion, but the Russian flagship Evstafi was hit four times by Goeben, killing 33 men, and the Russian battleship Rostislav were badly damaged. The Black Sea Fleet quickly hid itself again but continued to threaten the Turkish Black Sea coast for the rest of the war.
http://s27.postimg.org/8bbluo983/SMS_Goeben.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
SMS Goeben
http://s18.postimg.org/t1y4loik9/SMS_Breslau.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
SMS Breslau

Ship Losses:

Dirigo ( United States): The coaster foundered in the Pacific Ocean.
Petrel ( United Kingdom): The schooner foundered at Castletown, Isle of Man. Her crew were rescued.
Seymolicus ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the coast of Norfolk with the loss of nine of her crew.
Thistle ( United Kingdom): The cargo liner ran aground in the River Foyle, County Londonderry. Her passengers were taken off. She was refloated the next day.

http://s7.postimg.org/z6j0zh0cb/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

11-18-14, 12:32 PM

November 18:

Indian Ocean: Aboard the three-masted schooner Ayesha the men have settled into a routine. Every morning at 0600 hours they are awakened, or rather one of them is. There are so many crowded into the little ship's hold that it is only required to wake the man nearest the door. His rowsing will disturb the next man, and so on until they are all up. If there was rain during the night the men line up to wash using the water collected in the two jolly-boats. They have no toothbrushes, and only one comb among the entire company. There is one rusty razor for anyone who wishes to shave.

After cleaning themselves they turn to cleaning the ship. Some haul up seawater in buckets to scrub the deck while others go aloft to find new rents in the old sails and sew them up as needed. Meanwhile the cook prepares the only food available for breakfast - rice, coffee and tea. With nothing else to do all day von Mücke has the men experienced in sailing to teach their skills to the ones who have never sailed. This primarily involves the stokers, and they are taught to steer the ship, climb the rigging and follow the compass. The only chart aboard is used to show everyone where the ship is each day.

Lunch is again rice. There are some accomplished fisherman on board, but the only bait they have is rice, and nothing is ever caught. After that the men take turns playing with the handful of card decks, conversing or just taking a nap to while away the time. Supper is the same. The evenings are devoted to singing. There is no set time for sleep; they just drop off when they feel like it. The night watch consists of the helmsman and one lookout on the bow. It is up to them to make sure they are relieved at the proper time.

Jimbuna

11-19-14, 09:32 AM

19th November 1914

Eastern Front

Poland: Mackensen captures Piontek and opens the way to Lodz.

Russian troops in Poland are forced to retreat up the Vistula River in the face of strong German and Austrian attacks.

Southern Front

Serbia: Austrians take Valyevo: Serbians retreat.

Political etc.

U.S. Secretary of the Navy Daniels warns the U.S.S. Tennessee not to retaliate against Ottoman fire on U.S. boats.

Theodor Kocher, Nobel Prize winner, announces a powder that can stop blood flow in wounds, & donates samples to both Germany and France.

Ship Losses:

Madeira ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship foundered in the Bay of Biscay 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Brest, Finistère, France. Her crew were rescued by Mars ( Norway).

http://s8.postimg.org/e7o8fcl6d/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

11-19-14, 11:55 AM

November 19:

Britain: The Monitors HMS Humber, Mersey and Severn are moved from the Medway to the Wash, over concerns that the Germans might invade there. The ships were built for the Brazilian government in 1913-14. With the outbreak of war they were taken into the Royal Navy. These flat-bottomed vessels each carry one 6" gun forward, a 4.7" aft and 12-pounders on each side. Their shallow draft and very low freeboard make them difficult to handle in a wind, and are intended for use on the rivers.

German East Africa: The Curtiss flying boat is ready, and Lt. Cutler makes his first reconnaisance of SMS Königsberg. The takeoff is made from a sheltered bay on Niororo Island. Cutler only has about 50 minutes of fuel, so a single pass is all he will get. At 4,000 feet he flies up the Rufiji River. The sky turns out to be too cloudy and Cutler doesn't find Königsberg. On the way back he gets lost in the clouds and lands in the bay at Okusa Island. Aboard HMS Chatham the worry grows as Cutler's hour of flight time passes. After three more hours the cruiser's men are convinced that Cutler has been shot down or has crashed somewhere in the jungle. A few hours later the plane is discovered at Okusa. Cutler has been waiting all this time, thinking he was at Niororo.

The plane has developed a radiator leak which cannot be repaired, plus some hull damage in the landing. At this point someone recalls seeing a Ford automobile at Mombasa, with a radiator of similar size. HMS Fox is sent to make the 1,000-mile round trip to fetch it.

Jimbuna

11-20-14, 08:50 AM

20th November 1914

Western Front

Sir John French's fourth despatch published dealing with Battle of Ypres.

Eastern Front

Poland: German attacks on Russian line from Lovich to Skiernievitse.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Egypt: The Bikanir Camel Corps beats off the Turks on the coast towards Port Said.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Admiralty announces extension of mine-field in North Sea.

Northern British waters:
Achilles, armoured cruiser, Warrior-class, 13,550t, 6-9.2in/4-7.5in/26-3pdr, 2nd CS Grand Fleet, at gun practice. Lyddite shell detonated in 9.2in gun, 11 gun crew injured, all survived.

HMS Canopus, Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, 9am: Marines landed at wireless telegraph point.

Political etc.

French President Poincare issues a decree striking off the names of all Germans in the Legion of Honor.

British, Belgian, and French Governments withdraw proposal for neutralisation of African free trade zone in view of altered situation.

Japanese Prime Minister Okuma requests the Diet to approve a larger military and navy.

U.S. contractor companies challenge the law prohibiting alien laborers from working on public works.

Ship Losses:

Lord Carnarvon ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with the loss of ten of her crew.

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Sailor Steve

11-20-14, 12:12 PM

November 20:

Atlantic Ocean: HMS Invincible and Inflexible stop to rig out targets for gunnery practice. After stopping again to re-stow the targets they run into a rain squall.

British East Africa: HMS Fox reaches Mombasa. The motorcar in question is not hard to find, and the radiator is quickly commandeered.

Jimbuna

11-21-14, 07:59 AM

21st November 1914

Western Front

British airmen raid Zeppelin factory at Friedrichshafen (left of Constance).
Four RNAS Avro 504’s carrying four 20 lb (9 kg) bombs each bombed Zeppelin sheds at Friedrichshafen, Navy airship L.7 (Production No. LZ.32) survived the attack. While one aircraft was shot down, the raid was successful, with several direct hits on the airship sheds and the destruction of the hydrogen generating plant.
http://s8.postimg.org/6xn8e9wt1/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
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Eastern Front

Poland: Germans attack Russians at Lovich.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Britain and Italy reach an agreement to send Italian warships to Egypt to protect Italian citizens in the country.

Egypt: Skirmish at Katiya, near Suez Canal.

Mesopotamia: Basra occupied by British forces from India.

Naval Operations

HMS Invincible, 10am: HM King Neptune held his court. Carried out customary rites crossing the line.

Ship Losses:

HMT Spider ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler was driven ashore at Lowestoft, Suffolk and was wrecked. All thirteen crew were rescued by the lifeboat Kentwell (RNLI FLAG.png Royal National Lifeboat Institution).

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Sailor Steve

11-21-14, 02:12 PM

November 21:

Western Front: Preparations have been in the works since late October for a third British raid on a Zeppelin shed. this time the target is Friedrichshafen, and the Zeppelin factory itself. Four specially prepared Avro 504s are taken to Belfort, France in crates and assembled for the task. The raid is planned for November 14th, but bad weather keeps the flight grounded for another week. On the morning of the 21st the planes are started, but one has an engine problem and cannot make the trip.

Shortly before 1000 hours the three planes take off for their mission, piloted by Squadron Commander Edward Featherstone Briggs, Flight Commander John Tremayne Babington and Flight Lieutenant Sidney Vincent Sippé. The three are spotted as soon as they cross into German territory, and anti-aircraft and ground gunners are waiting for them. The manage to drop eleven bombs. Babbington later reported that he saw smoke from one bomb and thought he had scored a direct hit. Only three of Sippé's bombs released, and he reported one near miss, but there was little damage. Squadron Commander Briggs is shot down, wounded and taken prisoner. In all the raid accomplishes little other than a propaganda coup.

Pacific Ocean: Graf Spee's squadron anchors in the Bahia San Quintin, about two-thirds of the way from Valparaiso to Cape Horn. It is a rocky bay surrounded by high cliffs and glaciers, and recoaling must be done in freezing weather. It will take five days, during which time the crew will make many trips ashore to explore the region. Graf Spee himself will go ashore with his son Otto to examine the local fauna. He will then write a letter to his wife "But the only living things I found there were pretty little birds."

Atlantic Ocean: Admiral Sturdee's squadron crosses the equator. The traditional 'King Neptune' ceremonies are held to initiate the newer men. HMS Inflexible is dispatched to investigate a suspect ship. It turns out to be the British collier SS Essex Abbey.

German East Africa: HMS Fox returns to Niororo Island with its precious cargo. The radiator fits the Curtiss' engine easily, and preparations are made for a second flight.

Indian Ocean: Life aboard the schooner Ayesha isn't always boring. They face several tropicals storms during their voyage, and the danger is always present that the rotten hull will simply fall apart. All that can be done is to reef the sails and put the ship's head into the wind. The storms always bring heavy rain, so the task itself is never easy or comfortable.

One particular storm comes upon the little vessel unexpectedly, washing over the men while they are still taking in the sails. The mizzen topsail is ripped loose from its lines and is left blowing in the violent wind like a huge flag. The strain threatens to break the mizzen topmast, and there is nothing the crew can do about it except hope for the best. The ship is rolling heavily and the sky is almost as dark as night. Suddenly the wind stops as the eye of the storm passes. The sea is still quite heavy and the men of Ayesha are still helpless against the possibility of the ship capsizing or losing all three of her masts. Lightning is flashing everywhere and St. Elmo's Fire is dancing around the mast heads. Then the storm returns, and finally passes, leaving them to return their scattered stores to their proper places and begin anew the task of re-sewing the old tattered canvas.

Even worse are the times when Ayesha is becalmed. The wind may have died, but the seas are still heavy, and with no way to keep her head into the wind the ship rolls constantly, making life extremely uncomfortable. On one such day the duty lookout reports smoke in the distance. Von Mücke and his crew are split between excitement over the prospect of being rescued and fear that the unknown vessel might be the Enemy. For several hours they try to discern the nature of the ship, with no luck, and finally the smoke disappears over the horizon.

Then there are the times when the weather is random. As they move into the region where the Southeast and Northwest Monsoons meet they are faced with random winds shifting unexpectedly, blowing from forward one minute and aft the next. On one such occasion they are forced to deal with icy gusts from the north and hot rain from the south at the same time. It is well that they have experienced sailors on board, and that the time spent training the men who have never sailed has been well spent.

Jimbuna

11-22-14, 10:55 AM

22nd November 1914

Western Front

First Battle of Ypres comes to an end with an Allied victory, but with heavy losses on both sides.

Trench warfare established along the whole front; artillery duels and, later, local raids.

Eastern Front

Poland: Germans approach Lodz; heavy fighting begins.

Galicia: Russians defeat Austrians (6,000 prisoners) on front Cracow-Chernstokhov.

Southern Front

Serbia: Austrians pressing from Valyevo; Serbians in retreat towards south-east.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Armenia: Russians occupy Koprukeui.

Political etc.

Russian police makes several arrests, including members of the Duma, on suspicious of being part of a revolutionary plot.

War Office assume control of the British operations in East Africa.

Ship Losses:

HMT Condor ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea.

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Sailor Steve

11-22-14, 12:04 PM

November 22:

Airwar: After his failure with the Farman in August, Louis Arbon Strange and observer Francis Gordon Small score Britain's first shoot-down. Strange has rigged a crossbar and rope contraption to their Avro 504. At 7,000 feet over Armentieres Strange and Small encounter an Aviatik two-seater. Strange has to outfly the German, keeping his own plane in front, as the mounting only lets the Lewis gun shoot to the rear. Small is wounded in the forearm while changing a drum. Eventually the German pilot is forced to land his plane on the Allied side of the lines, and both men are captured.

German East Africa: Dennis Cutler makes his second reconaissance of SMS Königsberg. This time he finds the German cruiser, anchored a mile further upriver than last reported. Upon landing back at Niororo the Curtiss boat's hull is damaged beyond repair. Captain Drury-Lowe has been informed of a new seaplane at Durban, and, following the Admiralty's instructions to destroy Königsberg "...at all costs", he sends Kinfauns Castle on the long journey to fetch it.*

* Some sources give November 22nd as the date for the first, aborted mission, and the 25th for this one. Those sources do not mention the radiator problem.

Jimbuna

11-23-14, 09:43 AM

23rd November 1914

Western Front

Ypres heavily bombard by the Germans, much damage done to the Cathedral and Cloth Hall.

British trenches near Festubert attacked; some lost, but recovered.

Major operations are put on hold in the Western Front as winter conditions set in. 475 miles (764 km) of trenches divide Western Europe. Less than half of the British Expeditionary Force’s original 160,000 members remain unwounded. So far in the war, France has suffered 306,000 dead, Germany 241,000 dead, and Belgium 30,000 dead.

Eastern Front

Poland: Russian line shattered by Mackensen between Rzgov and Kolyushki, south-east of Lodz: critical situation.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Mesopotamia: British troops make formal entry into Basra.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Zeebrugge bombarded by British squadron.
Belgian Coast Operations - Old Duncan-class battleships Russell and Exmouth, 6th BS bombarded Zeebrugge, but inflicted little damage.

U-boat Warfare – the loss of British SS Malachite in the English Channel was the first U-boat (U.18) sinkings since SS Glitra a month earlier take place.

North Sea
Garry, destroyer, E-class, 660t, Scapa Flow Local Defence Flotilla, Cdr W Wilson. U.18 rammed and damaged by trawler Dorothy Grey off Scapa Flow in Pentland Firth, then rammed and sunk by Garry (un – in 58.41N, 02.55W).

Political, etc.

Portugal: Congress authorises the Government to intervene on side of Allies when and how it deems proper.

Ship Losses:

Malachite ( United Kingdom): The coaster was shelled and sunk in the English Channel 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) north by west of Cap de la Heve, Seine-Maritime, France by SM U-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ormesby ( Russia): The cargo ship was wrecked on the Orlow Banks.
SMS S124 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The destroyer was rammed and damaged in the North Sea by Anglo-Dane ( United Kingdom) and was consequently beached on the Swedish coast.
SM U-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The Type U 17 submarine was rammed in Hoxa Sound (58°41′N 2°55′W) by HMT Dorothy Grey ( Royal Navy) and was consequently scuttled due to damage received with the loss of one of her 25 crew.

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Sailor Steve

11-23-14, 12:53 PM

November 23:

Otto Hersing in SMS U-21 comes across the British freighter Malachite, 718 tons, in a heavy mist. Hersing follows the accepted procedure of examining the ship's papers and cargo, then allows the crew to abandon ship before sinking the vessel with his 10.5cm deck gun. This is Hersing's second sinking (the first being HMS Pathfinder on September 5) for a total of 3,658 tons.

Heinrich von Henning, commanding U-18, has decided to explore Scapa Flow. He has travelled unopposed to the Hoxa boom, and has found the Royal Navy base to be empty of warships. He is navigating back underwater through the rocks of South Ronaldshay when his periscope is spotted by a British destroyer. Von Henning goes to full speed and dodges the ships trying to ram him, but every time he puts the 'scope up yet another British ship fires on it. Finally the trawler Dorothy Grey succeeds in ramming the u-boat. The periscope, steering gear and forward hydroplanes are all out of commission. Blind and unable to steer von Henning surfaces his boat. They are rammed a second time, by the destroyer HMS Garry. The crippled boat is forced to the bottom of the bay, where a strong current drags her onto the rocks. The pressure hull starts to buckle. The crew make a white flag from a sheet and a broom handle. The secret papers are burned and the ballast tanks blown. The boat hits the surface and the crew swarm out of the hatches. U-18 immediately sinks again. All but one of her 23 men make it to the water, where Garry picks them up. Von Henning will spend the rest of the war in a POW camp, having scored no sinkings in his short career.

Pacific Ocean: The collier SS Luxor joins Spee's squadron at Bahia San Quintin. She brings word from the Kaiser that Spee himself has been awarded the Iron Cross, First Class and that more than three hundred IC2s are to be distributed among Spee's men at his discretion. Spee leaves the task to his ships' captains, and to the admiral's embarrassment both his sons are among the recipients. Captains Maerker and Schönberg both assure him that his boys were chosen with complete impartiality. Spee writes his wife "It was very nice to see how happy they were. Heinrich was especially glad as he had not thought it possible that he would qualify for an award."

Atlantic Ocean: At 0240 hours HMS Invincible sights the lighthouse at Rocas Atoll, off the coast of Brazil.

At 1100 hours HMS Inflexible stops and examines the freighter SS Samuel.

Indian Ocean: At dawn Kptlt. Helmuth von Mücke orders the schooner Ayesha cleared for action. They know they are approaching land, and have to prepare for any eventuality. The four machine guns are test-fired and rifles are distributed among the crew. At 1000 hours land is sighted, right on schedule. By 1600 many islands are in sight and the little vessel is approaching Seaflower Channel. With no charts von Mücke is reluctant to enter the channel in the dark, so he heaves the schooner to. Having no anchor, he turns her head into the wind and furls his sails, slowly drifting in the night.

Jimbuna

11-24-14, 10:00 AM

24th November 1914

Eastern Front

Poland: Arrival of Russian reinforcements saves situation; heavy fighting round Strykov and Lodz.

Political, etc.

Great Britain: Royal Warrant increasing pay of subordinate Army officers.

Canadian Minister of Militia reports the office received over 100,000 requests from U.S. citizens to fight in the Canadian military.

Ottoman Empire prevents all subjects of the Allied powers, with the exception of children under 18, from leaving Ottoman territory.

Italian Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and members of the military meet in Rome for a secret discussion.

Benito Mussolini is expelled from the Italian Socialist Party.
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Ship Losses:

Hanalei ( United States): The passenger ship ran aground on the Duxbury Reef, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, and was wrecked with the loss of eighteen lives.

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Sailor Steve

11-24-14, 02:19 PM

November 24:

Atlantic Ocean: Admiral Sturdee stops his ships twice to investigate merchants for contraband cargo. First is SS Epsilon at 0550, then SS Quinlan of Zindane at 0945.

Indian Ocean: The schooner Ayesha spends the day slowly sailing through the Seaflower Channel, with several men in the mast-tops looking for reefs. Having no charts of the channel Kptlt. von Mücke is forced to be careful of the many reefs said to populate the channel. That night they encounter one final rain squall, and are yet again forced to wrestle their little ship to keep her into the wind. Because of all this rain they have no shortage of fresh water to drink, so their case of seltzer water is shared among the crew as a reward for getting all this way intact.

Jimbuna

11-25-14, 09:12 AM

25th November 1914

Western Front

Arras bombarded by the Germans.

Eastern Front

Poland: Three German Divisions nearly encircled at Lodz, escape through delay of Rennenkampf.

Hungary raided by Russian cavalry.

Political, etc.

It is announced that British army officers will receive a 10 to 25 percent increase in pay.

8 Victoria Crosses are awarded to British soldiers, putting the total up to 18 for this war.

Poland: Polish National Council issues in Warsaw a manifesto emphasising necessity of a thorough defeat of the Germans.

Naval Operations

North Sea
D.2, submarine, D class, 489/603t, 1910, 1‑12pdr/3‑18in tt with 6 torpedoes, 14/9kts, c25 crew, Pennant No.I.72, Harwich-based 8th Flotilla, two days earlier on 23rd running on the surface in heavy seas, her commanding officer Lt-Cdr Jameson was washed overboard. Next day with replacement Lt-Cdr Clement Head in command, D.2 sailed for patrol off Borkum island, Ems estuary, nothing more heard from her, “overdue, presumed lost”. On or around 25th (ke - possibly 25th; J - 1 December) - Lost, cause unknown, perhaps mined or accident (C/Cn/D/bw/dx - may have been sunk by gunfire of German torpedo boat or patrol craft off Western Ems on 25th); 4 officers and 22 ratings lost.

Ship Losses:

HMS D2 ( Royal Navy): The D-class submarine was rammed and sunk by a German patrol boat off Borkum, Denmark with the loss of all 25 crew.

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Sailor Steve

11-25-14, 01:03 PM

November 25:

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands: Since her arrival on November 12th the crew of HMS Canopus have been busy establishing a defense for the islands. The ship's main rangefinder has been placed on top of one of the nearby hills, guarded by a squad of Royal Marines. Several other machine-gun posts have been established, and are being supplied by the steamer SS Crown of Galicia. SS Samson is acting as collier for the battleship.

At 1045 Captain Heathcote Grant has the ship's stern hauled around to 25° west. From 1100 to 1245 the two guns in the forward turret are involved in live-firing practice.

Atlantic Ocean: Admiral Sturdee again stops his ships to investigate the steamers SS Vesuvio of Italy and SS Pennsylvania of Denmark.

Indian Ocean: Early in the morning the crew of Ayesha sight the Padang lighthouse. By dawn they discover that the current has carried the five miles further offshore. The breeze is also against them, and with the state of the hull and the sails it is impossible to tack upwind. When the wind dies altogether the two jolly-boats are put out and attempt to tow the schooner to land, but to no avail. Though the Emden's two cutters are long-since lost, the oars are still aboard Ayesha. These are tied together in pairs and used to row the schooner herself. Some progress is made, but not nearly enough, and nightfall finds them still rowing.

Jimbuna

11-26-14, 09:09 AM

26th November 1914

Western Front

German attacks on Missy-sur-Aisne and along the Yser Canal repulsed.

Eastern Front

Bukovina: Austrians again evacuate Czernowitz.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Four Royal Navy ships bombard German positions at Zeebrugge, Belgium.

North Sea
BULWARK Old battleship, London-class, 15,700t, 1899, 4-12in/12-6in/18-12pdr/4-18in tt, 18kts, c750 crew, Pennant No.95, 5th BS Channel Fleet, originally Portland-based, transferred to Sheerness on 15th, Capt Guy Sclater, believed returned from patrol, moored at No.17 Buoy, in Kethole Reach off Sheerness in the River Medway, loading ammunition from lighters alongside. Suddenly blew up at 0753 with "an appalling explosion... when the smoke cleared she had entirely disappeared" (wi - in 51.25.21N, 00.39.16E), sabotage was originally suspected but in mid-December the court of enquiry established that ammunition had accidentally ignited, probably caused by careless handling of black powder charges on upper deck; 792 lives lost - 50 officers, 738 ratings and 4 canteen staff (Rn/He/wi - 738 lives lost, 12 survivors; dx - 746 lost). Wreck lies in 30ft marked by two buoys. Bulwark was only the first of five large British warships destroyed by internal explosions, probably due to cordite problems, followed by minelayer Princess Irene and armoured cruiser Natal in 1915, dreadnought Vanguard in 1917, and monitor Glatton in 1918.
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Political etc.

French citizens have bought 700 million francs ($110 million) worth of war bonds.

Kaiser Wilhelm awards the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class to Archduke Charles Francis, heir of Austria-Hungary.

Ship Losses:

HMS Bulwark ( Royal Navy): The Formidable-class battleship was sunk in the River Medway off Sheerness, Kent by an internal explosion with the loss of 738 of her 750 crew.
Nygaard ( Norway): The cargo ship ran aground at Esbjerg, Denmark. She sank on or about 6 December.
Primo ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the English Channel 6 nautical miles (11 km) north west by north of Cap d'Antifer, Seine-Maritime, France by SM U-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SM U-21
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Sailor Steve

11-26-14, 12:13 PM

November 26:

HMS Bulwark was the first of three London class battleships, commissioned in 1902. HMS London was launched first, hence the class name, but Bulwark was the first to be commissioned into service. The Londons were follow-ons to the Formidable class, also a group of three. Differences mainly lay in internal details, and their appearance was almost identical. The biggest difference was in the armor layout. The previous Canopus class had carried only 6" on the main armor belt, on the assumption that Krupp Cemented armor was that much better than the previous Harvey Nickel Steel process. This was corrected in the Formidables, which carried 9" on the main belt. The forward armor was 3" thick, 2" of Krupp Cemented on a 1" mild steel backing. Aft was exactly half that - 1" Krupp on 1/2" mild steel. The three London class ships had the forward armor stepped - 7" from the forward magazine to the forward torpedo room, 5" from there to the bow, and 3" covering the stem.

It was aboard Bulwark that the court-martial of Admiral Troubridge was conducted.

After twelve years of service Bulwark was part of the Home Fleet's Fifth Battle Squadron, stationed at Sheerness, and was moored at number 17 bouy when at 0750 hours the aft turret was seen to explode. Eyewitness accounts vary as to whether there were two or three explosions in total. The later conclusion was that the aft magazine had exploded first, followed by the two 6" magazines. The commanders on the spot came to what was to them the obvious conclusion, and at 0938 they sent the following telegram to The Admiralty: "Bulwark blew up 7:50 this morning apparently magazine explosion. Further details later."

The heavy loss of life is attributed to most of the crew being below having breakfast at the time. The few survivors were men who had been topside and suddenly found themselves in the water. Twelve seamen were saved, none of them officers. The exact number of men lost is impossible to determine due to the marching band of the gunnery school HMS Excellent being on board playing at the time, and to the ship's logs being lost in the explosion. Only 30 bodies were recovered from the wreck.

There was at first some confusion as to the cause. An officer and an enlisted man from HMS Agammemnon reported sighting a periscope at 0810. The Court of Inquiry later determined that they had seen a wake, and not the periscope itself. Another possibility was that a mine had broken free from its mooring and drifted into Bulwark. Also considered was a bomb planted by an enemy agent. These were all investigated and discounted, the biggest strike against all these theories being that no foreign government had claimed responsibility for the sinking, which whoever was responsible would almost certainly do.

The Court of Inquiry was convened on the 27th, and the final conclusion, submitted on the 28th, was that Bulwark was destroyed "by the explosion of the after and possibly fore magazines and shell rooms."

Though the loss of life was tragic, Bulwark was old, and though she might have been used for shore bombardment her loss had no practical effect on the Royal Navy at all.*

English Channel: Otto Hersing of U-21 scores his third kill, allowing the crew of SS Primo to abandon ship before sinking her with his deck gun. The British freighter is registered at 1,366 tons, bringing Hersing's score to 5,024.

Atlantic Ocean: HMS Invincible and Inflexible sight the Abrolhos Rocks off Brazil at 0300 hours. At 0515 they sight the armored cruiser HMS Kent, and drop anchor at 0731. Also anchored there are the armored cruisers HMS Carnarvon, Cornwall, Defence, light cruisers Bristol and Glasgow, and the armed merchant cruiser Orama.

At 1650 they are joined by the colliers SS Arlington Court and Errington Court, but coaling is put off until the next morning.

Pacific Ocean: Graf Spee's squadron departs Bahia San Quintin for Cape Horn. In a message to Admiral Hugo von Pohl Spee says that his two armored cruisers have roughly half their ammunition remaining.

Indian Ocean: With the approaching dawn a light offshore breeze springs up and the men of Ayesha are relieved from their laborious rowing. As they enter the harbor at Padang they are approached by a torpedo-boat destroyer. Being in neutral waters and not wishing to reveal themselves, they stow their machine guns and rifles below decks. The ruse is helped by the fact that the few clothes the men have left are all in tatters. The destroyer comes close aboard and Ayesha is watched by the ship's officers, all of whom seem to have their own binoculars. As Ayesha is anchored just outside the harbor they can make out the other ship's name. She is the Dutch destroyer Lynx. The destroyer moves off into the harbor, but rejoins Ayesha at dusk, shadowing her as she starts to move into the harbor at the stately speed of one knot. The Germans are of two minds. On the one hand they don't like the way the Dutch ship is following them, but on the other the waters are unfamiliar to them and any sudden movement by the destroyer will tell them that rocks are nearby. Later the men of Ayesha bring out a lantern and a piece of wood and signal "Why are you following us?" Lynx acknowledges the signal but does not reply, and later moves into the harbor to anchor for the night.

*Information on the inquiry into the loss of HMS Bulwark comes from the article 'H.M.S. Bulwark', by Stuart Ball, Warship International volume XXI, number 4, 1984.

Armor detail information on the Formidable and London class battleships is from British Battleships: 1889-1904, by R.A. Burt, Naval Institute Press, 1988.

Jimbuna

11-27-14, 08:52 AM

27th November 1914

Western Front

Reims town and cathedral again bombarded.
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Naval

Royal Navy acquires the RMS Campania (it will later be converted into an aircraft carrier).
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Political, etc.

Defense of the Realm Consolidation Act, which expands the British government’s wartime powers, is passed.

U.S.A.: President Wilson condemns bombardment of unfortified towns.

General von Hindenburg promoted Field-Marshal.
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Ship Losses:

Khartoum ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) east south east of Spurn Point, Yorkshire.

http://s4.postimg.org/67w1kx2vx/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

11-27-14, 11:09 AM

November 27:

"Wish I were back dodging street cars on Broadway for excitement. Am that tired of being shot at! I've already been hit in the cap and bayonet."
-William Thaw, American volunteer in the French Foreign Legion , letter home, November 27, 1914

Pacific Ocean: Graf Spee has chosen to round Cape Horn rather than risk being caught in the Straight of Magellan. Rounding the Horn they encounter massive seas, and the ships are endangered by the extra top-weight of all the coal they are carrying on deck. Spee gives his light cruisers permission to jettison all the extra coal. One office aboard SMS Leipzig writes "The storm and sea grew steadily more violent. We steered out of the line bcause position was beginning to get dangerous. The heavy seas had shifted the deck cargo and all the scuppers got stopped up with coal so that water could no longer escape. At times there were three feet of water on deck and we were in imminent danger of capsizing. All hands had to turn to and shovel coal overboard. The men were standing all the time waist deep in water, which was very cold."

Atlantic Ocean: Sir Doveton Sturdee's squadron spends the day coaling at the Abrolhos Rocks. Sturdee calls a meeting with his captains. When he tells them that he intends to stay at Abrolhos for three days before departing for the Falklands. After the meeting is adjourned captain Luce of Glasgow asks for a private audience.
"I hope you don't mind me coming over sir, and please don't imagine I am questioning your orders, but thinking it over I do feel we should sail as soon as possible."
"But damn it Luce, we're sailing the day after tomorrow. Isn't that good enough for you?"
Luce is convinced that Spee might attack Port Stanley, and says he believes they should get there first.
"Very well, Luce. If you believe it's that important, we'll sail tomorrow.

Indian Ocean: Yet another day passes with no wind, and the Dutch destroyer Lynx patrols around Ayesha, which is again being rowed, and with the current against them seemingly getting no closer to the harbor.

Jimbuna

11-28-14, 10:48 AM

28th November 1914

Western Front

Germans concentrate large forces for attacks on Arras.

Eastern Front

Poland: Germans severely defeated near Brzezany.

Galicia: Russians once more secure Carpathian Passes.

Southern Front

Serbia: Battle between Austrians and Serbians at Lazarevats.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Egypt: Turkish advance in force towards Suez Canal announced.

Naval Operations

German East Africa Campaign - German shipping and harbour installations destroyed at Dar-es-Salaam; old battleship Goliath, old light cruiser Fox, gunboat Duplex, ex-German tug Helmuth took part, bombardment continued on the 30th. For his part in the operations at Dar-es-Salaam, Cdr Henry Peel Ritchie of HMS Goliath was awarded the Victoria Cross, the first naval one of World War 1.
http://s27.postimg.org/z5s8tcbsj/image.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/8xh43yrov/full/)http://s27.postimg.org/vsk06mi7n/image.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/capcqol9r/full/)

Political etc.

British scientist Sir Oliver Lodge recommends that German spies should be shot and British delinquents should be hanged.

It is estimated that the annual cost of Canada’s war effort will reach $100 million ($2.37 billion) a year.

Ship Losses:

Fiore Del Mare (Albania): The sailing vessel of 13 tons was taken as a prize off Montenegro by k.u.k U4.
http://s12.postimg.org/vu79fpafx/download.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

http://s24.postimg.org/bdprqv2ol/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

11-28-14, 01:39 PM

November 28:

Cape Horn: Spee's squadron has been turned back by the heavy seas. On the 28th the storm begins to fade and the seas begin to calm. The ships again attempt to begin the passage around the southernmost tip of South America.

Atlantic Ocean: While Sturdee's ships were coaling the armed merchant cruiser Orama stayed on guard duty. At 0705 hours she is the last of the group to be coaled. Sturdee takes command of Stoddart's light cruisers and at 1010 the ships begin to weigh anchor. By 1630 the group is at sea and on their way to the Falklands, where the men of HMS Canopus continue to set up defenses and prepare for a possible assault by Spee's forces.

German East Africa: SS Kinfauns Castle arrives at Durban. The new seaplane is loaded aboard and the cargo ship immediately starts its return journey to the Rufiji River.*

Indian Ocean: The first great ANZAC convoy arrives at Aden, on the south coast of Yemen. They recoal and move into the Red Sea, bound for Port Said. The escort is commmanded by HMS Hampshire, and the three ships carrying the crew of SMS Emden are among the transports.

At the other side of the Indian Ocean the schooner Ayesha finally manages to make her way into the harbor at Padang, Sumatra. At noon they are worrying about the reefs in the area when they are approached by a Malay sailboat, which carries a native pilot. Kptlt. von Mücke explains to the pilot that they have no money but are to be considered a German warship and payment will be made through the Consul there. The pilot accepts this without question.

At this point the destroyer Lynx again comes alongside. Von Mücke has his flag run up the mast and the men lined up on deck. The officers salute as Lynx passes, and the Dutch ship returns the honor. Von Mücke puts on his dress uniform, which he has kept stowed away for such an ocassion, and takes one of the jolly-boats to the other ship. The Dutch captain greets him at the gangway, and von Mücke explains that they are a landing party from SMS Emden, on their way to Padang with His Imperial Majesty's Ship Ayesha, purpose being to make repairs and replenish supplies. The Dutch captain says that they are welcome to enter the harbor, but they might not be allowed to leave again, and that his orders are to accompany them. Von Mücke replies that they are an Imperial German warship and will leave when they feel like it. The Dutch captain responds that these are matters to be decided by their superiors ashore, and it was none of his business.

As Ayesha sails into the harbor she is met by a tug carrying the Harbor Master, who shows them where to anchor. Von Mücke explains that he would rather anchor further inside the harbor, his real intention being to stop as close as possible to the German and Austrian merchants there. He finally gets his way, and Ayesha drops anchor. Leutnant Schmidt is sent ashore to contact the German consul. The schooner is quickly surrounded by boats from the merchants Choising, Kliest and Rheinland, whose crews toss them a wealth of items they had long been without: Cigars, cigarettes, tobacco, watches, clothing, poems, letters, and old newspapers.

The Dutch officials at first refuse to accept von Mücke's claim that Ayesha is a warship. He in turn says that he only answers to his superiors in Berlin. The Dutch have a 'Neutrality Officer', who immediately sends a telegram to Batavia for instructions. Meanwhile von Mücke asks the harbor master for essentials: water, food, rope, sailcloth, clothes, nautical charts, and necessities such as soap, tooth brushes and hair brushes. He explains that under the rules of neutrality his ship must leave the harbor within twenty-four hours of her arrival, and he needs these things before he goes. At around 1900 hours they receive the food and water, but nothing else. The Neutrality Officer tries to convince them that their best plan would be to allow themselves to be interred. Von Mücke insists on sailing, with or without charts, and at 2000 hours Ayesha ups anchor and raises her sails.

*One of the things I find amazing is the way information is spread. I have some very good sources on the hunt for SMS Königsberg, but not one of them even mentions the operation by HMS Goliath against Dar Es Salaam, even though it involved Fox and Duplex, both of which had been part of the Rufiji River operations. Nice post, Jim. :sunny:

Jimbuna

11-29-14, 08:55 AM

29th November 1914

Western Front

Ypres: Strong German attack repulsed.

Argonne: French complete recovery of nearly all territory taken by the Germans 15 September - 21 October.

Eastern Front

Poland: Germans bombard Lodz.

Southern Front

Serbia: Evacuation of Belgrade by the Serbians begins. Serbia begins the evacuation of Belgrade as Austria-Hungarian forces approach.

Naval and Overseas Operations

German submarines appear about Havre, etc.

Italy sends a cruiser to the coast of Syria in order to protect its citizens in the region.

Political, etc.

The King leaves England on a visit to the Army in France.

President Poincare, the Premier, and the Speakers of the Houses make a tour of the front lines in the Argonne region.

US: Ex-President Roosevelt criticises the US for its "tame and spiritless neutrality" in the war.
http://s9.postimg.org/47x3rjurz/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Ship Losses:

Albany ( Germany): The cargo ship was destroyed by fire at Syracuse, Sicily, Italy.

http://s29.postimg.org/vauypidtz/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

11-29-14, 11:10 AM

November 29:

Cape Horn: Graf Spee's squadron is slowly making its way toward the Pacific Ocean.

Atlantic Ocean: En route to the Falkland Islands, HMS Invincible investigates the freighter SS Milepool.

Indian Ocean: At around 0300 hours the schooner Ayesha passes into international waters. Kptlt. von Mücke has been in bed less than an hour when he is awakened by the watch officer, Lt. Schmidt, with the news that a German boat is nearby in the dark. Von Mücke comes on deck, cursing Schmidt for being delusional, when he is confronted by a a boat full of men. Two of them come aboard and present themselves as a reserve officer and a Chief Engineer's Mate. Their presence is welcome, even if it means more overcrowding aboard the schooner. The boat departs and Ayesha is once again on her way. The day passes calmly with a fair wind and evening finds them back in the Seaflower Channel.

Toward dusk they are alarmed to see a steamship approaching, in a place steamships normally avoid for lack of lighthouses. Worried that it might be a warship, von Mücke orders all sails set and desparately tries to get back into Dutch waters. Soon they come into sight of a coral island and get as close to the shore as possible, where the bigger ship cannot go. Then the mystery ship begins to exchange lamp signals with another, which the men of Ayesha cannot see. Apparently the second warship has been told to patrol further to the south, while the one they can see begins to wander about the area in some sort of search pattern. Then the wind dies, making it impossible for Ayesha to escape the area before daylight.

With the dawn nothing has changed, and the men of Ayesha can still see their antagonist in the distance. Then the warship sights the schooner and comes running to investigate. It turns out to be the Dutch Armored Ship De Zeven Provincien. Ayesha is still in Dutch waters and the Panserschipt merely wants to make sure they leave. This they promptly do with all haste. Ayesha is once again alone on the high seas. At least they now have plenty of food, including ten live pigs which they keep penned up inside the bow area.

Jimbuna

11-30-14, 09:17 AM

30th November 1914

Western Front

King George visits British Front.

Artillery duels round Dixmude, Ypres, and Arras.

Eastern Front

Battle of Lodz increasing in intensity.

Serbian Front

Belgrade evacuated by retreating Serbian forces.

Political, etc.

Pacific statements by Crown Prince.

French Yellow Book, a collection of diplomatic communications blaming Germany for the war, is published:
http://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/The_French_Yellow_Book

Ship Losses:

SMS S124 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The S90-class torpedo boat collided with Anglodane ( Denmark) and sank in the Baltic Sea with the loss of a crew member.

British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc. in the month - 20 ships of 20,000 tons gross (Lloyd's War Losses).

http://s13.postimg.org/b8yqqwoyf/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

11-30-14, 12:35 PM

November 30:

Atlantic Ocean: At 1527 hours HMS Inflexible is stopped to drop a target for live gunnery practice from Invincible. Firing begins at 1610. Second firing begins at 1645, and a third at 1723. At 1741 Inflexible recovers her target. At the same time Invincible also stops to run out a target. At 1805 Inflexible begins her first firing practice. Around 1930 the tow line becomes entangled in Invincible's propellers. At 1934 the squadron is stopped while divers go overboard to check the damage.

Red Sea: The first ANZAC convoy arrives at Suez. The men of Emden are taken off the two transports and onto HMS Hampshire. The senior officers remain aboard SS Orvieto. When the British sailors hear of this they are miserable, having been under the impression that they would be returning to England with their prisoners.

Catfish

11-30-14, 02:46 PM

http://s13.postimg.org/b8yqqwoyf/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

What does this to have with WW1, apart from painting a certain picture ? :hmmm:

Jimbuna

12-01-14, 02:29 PM

What does this to have with WW1, apart from painting a certain picture ? :hmmm:

Absolutely nowt...just realised it is in relation to WWII :doh:

Jimbuna

12-01-14, 02:58 PM

1st December 1914

December 1914 - The Western Front in Europe stabilizes in the aftermath of the First Battle of Ypres as the Germans go on the defensive and transfer troops to the East to fight the Russians. The 450-mile-long Western Front stretches from the Channel Coast southward through Belgium and Eastern France into Switzerland. Troops from both sides construct opposing trench fortifications and dugouts protected by barbed wire, machine-gun nests, snipers, and mortars, with an in-between area called No Man's Land. The Eastern Front also sees its share of trenches as troops dig in after the Russians hold off the Germans in Poland and the Austrians hold off the Russians at Limanowa. The 600-mile Eastern Front stretches from the Baltic Sea southward through East Prussia and Austria to the Carpathian Mountains.

Western Front

Vermelles, near Bethune, recovered by the French.

King George visits Indian troops; confers G.C.B. on General Joffre.

Eastern Front

Battle of Limanova-Lapanov begins.

Fierce fighting in the suburbs of Lodz.

Fighting between Serbian and Austria-Hungarian troops reach the Serbian capital of Belgrade.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Armenia: Russians capture Sarai and Bashkal.

Naval and Overseas Operations

The first Australian aviation unit to leave for active service is sent to New Guinea.
http://s27.postimg.org/60oxpqour/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

First units of Australian and New Zealand Expeditionary Forces arrive at Suez.

South Africa: Surrender of De Wet.
http://s8.postimg.org/8ep5oopol/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Political etc.

Alfred Thayer Mahan, U.S. Navy admiral and influential strategist, has died.
http://s10.postimg.org/4q4nkpxp5/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

King George V visits the front at Flanders, which is the first visit of a British monarch to a battlefield in 171 years.

King Albert and President Poincare are also at the Western front, while Kaiser Wilhelm and Czar Nicholas are at the East.

Maserati, the Italian luxury car manufacturer, is established in Bologna, Italy.

George Bernard Shaw urges the Irish to fight against Germany, but holds reservations about serving under Britain.

Ship Losses:

Anna ( Italy): The cargo ship was destroyed by fire in the Atlantic Ocean 10 nautical miles (19 km) south of the Wolf Rock, Cornwall, United Kingdom. Her crew were rescued; eight of them by Mira ( United Kingdom).
Val de Saire ( France): The schooner, sprang a leak in the Atlantic Ocean off the Tuskar Rock, Ireland and was abandoned. Her ten crew were rescued by Wexford ( United Kingdom) and the Rosslare Lifeboat.

http://s27.postimg.org/py4i9k3f7/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

12-01-14, 03:48 PM

December 1:

Cape Horn: Spee's squadron "rounds the Horn" and officially passes into the Atlantic Ocean. The weather remains relatively calm.

Atlantic Ocean: As midnight passes divers are still in the water attempting to clear the tangled tow-line from Invincible's starboard outer propeller. At 0220 the line is reported as "partly cleared". Work continues throughout the day until 1640, when the decision is taken to proceed without that propeller. At 1753 the squadron proceeds with Invincible running at 1/2 speed on three propellers.

Suez Canal: During the trip from Suez to Port Said the officers from Emden still aboard SS Orvieto are locked in their cabins "like criminals". Still, Leutnant Hohenzollern reports, they can see through the portholes that the entire length of the canal is fortified, with walls, batteries and trenches everywhere to be seen and fully manned with Indian and Sudanese troops. Hohenzollern also says that the second half of that journey was at night, so his confinement was easier to take.

Indian Ocean: The schooner Ayesha is wandering about the Indian Ocean without direction, now having no place to go. At one point they encounter a storm and hear loud noises from the forecastle. The pigs penned up there have no grip on the deck and are sliding as a group from one side to the other, smashing into the bulkheads. The men have some loose timber and nails, so they nail slats to the deck, providing some grip for the pigs' hooves.

Jimbuna

12-02-14, 11:14 AM

2nd December 1914

Western Front

Germans try to cross Yser on rafts, south of Dixmude; decisively repulsed.

French occupy Lesmenils (Moselle) and Burnhaupt (Alsace).

Eastern Front

Hungary: Russians occupy Bartfeld.

Russian General Rennenkampf is blamed for failing to encircle the German divisions in the ongoing Battle of Lodz.

Battle of Cracow ends.

Southern Front

Serbian Field Marshal Radomir Putnik, seeing Austria-Hungarian forces overextended, orders a counterattack.

Austria-Hungarian Army captures Belgrade, Serbian capital, on the 66th anniversary of Emperor Franz Joseph’s reign.
http://s21.postimg.org/k3yuf251z/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Political, etc.

Speech by Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg blaming Britain for the war.

Ireland: Seditious paper seized in Dublin.

Ship Losses:

Drummuir ( United Kingdom): The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) east by north of Cape Horn, Chile by SMS Leipzig ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HMT Tom Tit ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler was wrecked at Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

http://s18.postimg.org/rimio3guh/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

12-02-14, 04:03 PM

December 2:

Cape Horn: Spee's squadron encounters the British four-masted barque Drummuir, carrying 2,800 tons of Welsh coal to San Francisco. SMS Leipzig performs the investigation, then takes her in tow, as this is more than the light cruisers jettisoned during the storm. The squadron anchors off Picton Island in the Beagle Channel, and the coal is transfered to Baden and Santa Isabel, while the crew is taken aboard the collier Seydlitz. Spee then decides to stay at Picton Island for three days, to give his crews some rest.

Atlantic Ocean: Sturdee's squadron makes its slow way south. HMS Invincible conducts range-finding excersizes.

Suez Canal: The ANZAC convoy reaches Port Said, and the Emden officers still aboard SS Orvieto are transferred to HMS Hampshire. They are happy to find their reception there far different. The British sailors welcome them as fellow seamen and brother officers. Captain Grant gives up his own cabin to the German officers, and allows them free movement about the weather deck and then takes orders for new civilian clothes, including warm coats for the English climate.

Jimbuna

12-03-14, 10:45 AM

3rd December 1914

Western Front

French progress towards Altkirch (Alsace).

The Kurpp factory in Essen, Germany, is bombed by allied planes.

Southern Front

Serbia: Battle of the Ridges (Rudnik Malyen) begins.

Political, etc.

British Government agree to Japanese request that Australia should not occupy German islands north of the Equator.

Germany agrees to release British Admiral Neeld (retired) who was caught inside the country when war was declared.

Italy: Prime Minister defines attitude towards the war.

Kaiser Wilhelm and Archduke Charles of Austria-Hungary confer in Breslau in Silesia.

Dublin newspaper “Irish Freedom,” which was pro-German and opposed enlistment, is raided by British police.

http://s16.postimg.org/xtl7a0d11/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

12-03-14, 01:22 PM

December 3:

Western Front: Sir Roger Casement, with the company of German Prince Emich von Leiningen, visits a German POW camp to encourage Irish prisoners to join the German side. He is met with stiff resistance and mockery. He will visit on the following two days and one more time in January, and will finally write "I will not return to Limburg to be insulted by a handful of recreant Irishmen."

Casement was known as a reformer and defender of both African and Indian natives against abuses by the Empire, but has by this time joined the Irish Nationalists and is working with the Germans.

Port Said, Egypt: The ANZAC convoy starts disembarking its troops for training in Egypt. HMS Hampshire departs for England with the prisoners from Emden. Captain Grant allows his prisoners to read the official despatches from the British war office, and they learn for the first time of Graf Spee's victory at Coronel.

Cape Horn: Still at Picton Island, the men of Graf Spee's squadron begin decorating their ships for Christmas. Some of the officers try their hand at duck hunting, but with no success. Spee himself spends his evenings aboard Gneisenau, playing bridge with Captain Maerker and visiting his son Heinrich.

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands: The crew of HMS Canopus spend the day sending provisions to the several batteries they have set up in the hills overlooking the sea and rigging a telephone line to the lookout station on the highest hill. At 1750 hours the anchors are raised and the ship slowly backed to a better position. At 1900 this is done and the four anchors placed so the ship cannot drift.

German East Africa: SS Kinfauns Castle arrives back at Niororo with the new seaplane. Dennis Cutler immediately takes off with Commander Raymond Fitzmaurice as observer, and they find that Königsberg has again moved. During the next week Cutler will make four more flights and report back to Captain Drury-Lowe that all the the German cruiser's 5cm guns have been removed and the ship has been placed in such a way that she can quickly dash down either of two channels.

Jimbuna

12-04-14, 08:11 AM

4th December 1914

Western Front

French strengthen hold on Vermelles, and capture Langemarck in Belgium.

Eastern Front

Galicia: Russians advancing more on Cracow, occupy Vieliczka.

Naval and Overseas Operations

South Africa: Rebels heavily defeated near Reitz by Botha.

HMS Caroline, a Royal Navy C-Class light cruiser, is commissioned.
http://s27.postimg.org/ru5pv9wer/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

General Wapshare succeeds General Aitken in command of the British forces in East Africa: latter recalled.

First action of Qurna (Mesopotamia) begins.
Attacks mounted up the Shatt-el-Arab to take the strategic town of Kurnah/Al Qurnah 46 miles N of Basra at the confluence of the Euphrates and Tigris, surrendered on the 9th. Amphibious landing and fire support provided by sloops Espiegle, Odin, armed paddle steamer Lawrence (RIM), armed launches Lewis Pelly, Miner, Shaitan and two river steamers mounting 18pdr field guns:

Miner, armed launch-tug, 50/1880, in service from 11/14, 1-12pdr/1-3pdr/1mg. Came under heavy fire from the shore off Kurnah, holed, returned downsteam and beached; no lives believed lost.

Portuguese Expeditionary Force leaves Lisbon for Angola.

Political, etc.

Belgium: King George visits Belgian headquarters and confers K.G. on King Albert.

Delegates of English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish football associations recommend that international football matches should be abandoned.

French Parliament is called to meet in Paris; most of the government had been evacuated before the Marne Battle.

Ship Losses:

Bellevue ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was captured and scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean by SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm ( Kaiserliche Marine).

http://s11.postimg.org/hb4we4n7n/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

12-04-14, 12:50 PM

December 4:

Atlantic Ocean: Captain Tufton Percy Hamilton Beamish records in the log of HMS Invincible that Sturdee's squadron is 835 nautical miles from Port Stanley.

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands: At 1430 hours preparations begin to careen HMS Canopus to extend the range of her 12" guns. By 1730 this process is complete, and the ship cannot be moved further.

Mediterranean Sea: SMS Hampshire receives a message from the War Office that the Emden prisoners are not to go to Britain after all, but rather be interred at Malta.

Jimbuna

12-05-14, 07:30 AM

5th December 1914

Western Front

Reims once again bombarded.

French airmen bomb air sheds at Freiburg-in-Breisgau.

Southern Front

Serbia: Austrians defeated on the Ridges with loss of 15,000 prisoners and 19 guns.

Naval and Overseas Operations

South Africa: Rebels offer to negotiate; Botha demands unconditional surrender.

Political etc.

Premier Tisza of Hungary returns from his trip to Germany, where he had unsuccessfully lobbied for more military support.

Italian Parliament votes 413 to 49 for confidence in the present government.

New York Tribune releases a report stating the U.S. Navy is unprepared for war, having only one submarine fit for service.

Britain informs the U.S. that all cargo from the country will be put under inspection after unreported copper shipment was discovered.

France calls on 300,000 of its 18-year-olds to report for conscription.

John Beatty, former U.S. brigadier general during the Civil War and an Ohio Representative, has died.
http://i.imgur.com/bbZS4BH.jpg

Ship Losses:

Charcas ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was captured and scuttled in the Pacific Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) south by west of Valparaiso, Chile by SMS Prinz Eitel Friedrich ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Harlington ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was driven aground in the North Sea on the Middle Sunk Sands. All fifteen crew were rescued by the Clacton Lifeboat.
Waterloo ( Norway): The cargo ship foundered in the English Channel off The Lizard, Cornwall, United Kingdom with the loss of fourteen of her seventeen crew. The survivors were rescued by Cloch ( United Kingdom).

http://i.imgur.com/H9PkL7y.jpg

Sailor Steve

12-05-14, 12:31 PM

December 5:

Mediterranean Sea: Captain Henry Grant of HMS Hampshire records that he is 286 nautical miles from Malta.

Pacific Ocean: The Armed Merchant Cruiser SMS Prinz Eitel Friedrich was left behind when Spee's squadron headed for the Pacific, her duty being to send false wireless messages so the British would think Spee was still prowling the area off Chile. On December 5th she encounters the British merchant SS Charcas, 5,067 tons. The crew are taken aboard Prinz and the ship is scuttled with explosive charges.

Atlantic Ocean: Around 0525 Sturdee's squadron runs into a heavy fog, which will stay with them most of the daylight hours, finally lifting at 1715. Beamish records that they are 570 nautical miles from Port Stanley.

German East Africa: Dennis Cutler attempts another reconnaisance flight, but the water is too rough for the seaplane to lift off.

Jimbuna

12-06-14, 10:34 AM

6th December 1914

Western Front

Port city of Dunkirk is bombarded by long-range German artillery positioned around 22 miles away.

Eastern Front

Poland: Russian troops withdraw from Lodz due to a shortage of ammunition, but German troops are unable to push into Warsaw.
http://i.imgur.com/1OLaEi5.jpg

Southern Front

Serbia: Austrians in disorderly flight from the Ridges towards the frontier.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Damaged German submarine U.16 enters Esbjerg Harbour (Denmark).

Political, etc.

French Cabinet returns to Paris after it had been evacuated to Bordeaux before the Battle of the Marne.

Indian princes donate £1.25 million ($4 million) to the British war effort.

The Pope tries to bring about a Christmas Truce.

Rumanian Government decline to guarantee Greece against German attack.

http://i.imgur.com/UlSeokz.jpg

Sailor Steve

12-06-14, 11:48 AM

December 6:

Cape Horn: Admiral Spee holds a meeting of his senior officers aboard SMS Scharnhorst. Captains Schultz of Scharnhorst, Maerker of Gneisenau, Haun of Leipzig, Lüdecke of Dresden and the majority of Spee's staff all recommended avoiding the Falklands. They wanted to go either straight to Buenos Aires, where 25,000 tons of coal await them, then to New York and thence to Germany, or straight across the Atlantic to the Cape Verde or Canary Islands and then home.

Spee wanted to tweak the noses of the British by raiding and destroying their prime Western South Atlantic station. His Chief-of-Staff Captain Fielitz and Captain Schönberg of Nünberg are enthusiastic about Spee's idea. They have also received a message from the German agent in Punta Arenas that there are no Allied warships in Port Stanley. Maerker continues to oppose the attack, but he is overruled and the squadron gets underway on the afternoon of the 6th.

Atlantic Ocean: Sturdee's squadron is 276 nautical miles from Port Stanley.

Mediterranean Sea: HMS Hampshire arrives at Grand Harbour, Malta, at 1010 hours. At 1050 the German prisoners start to go ashore. From 1400 to 1630 the ship recoals, and at 1730 she is underway to her next assignment.

Prince Franz Joseph of Hohenzollern writes that the import of being prisoners of war hadn't really sunk in until they were ashore at Malta. So far they had been treated with respect by the enemy naval officers, but now they were just prisoners in a prison. On the other hand the prisoners already there give them a rousing cheer when they find out that this is the crew of the fabled Emden.

Captain von Müller is given his own room. Leutnant Hohenzollern is offered his own quarters due to his royal status, but refuses. He shares lodgings with Kapitanleutnant Klopper, Oberleutnant z.S. Witthoeft and Leutnant z.S. Schall. The next room is shared by Stabsarzt Dr. Luther and Marine-Oberingenieur Ellerbroek. The third houses Marine-Ingenieur Andresen, Leutnant z.S. Fikentscher and Marine-Ingenieur Haas.

This is the beginning of four long years of confinement.

German East Africa: HMS Kinfauns Castle once again hoists Dennis Cutler's seaplane over the side, and once again it fails to take off. This time it is due to engine problems.

[edit] The story of SMS Emden comes from Graf Spee's Raiders, by Keith Yates (as mentioned before), from a variety of websites and articles and from ship's logs.

The personal story is from Emden: Meine Erlebnisse auf S.M Schiff Emden (Leipzig: Eckstein, 1925), (Emden: My Experiences in S.M.S. Emden (New York: H. Howard Watt, 1928)) , by Franz Joseph, Prinz von Hohenzollern-Emden.

Jimbuna

12-07-14, 10:20 AM

7th December 1914

Western Front

Vain German efforts to cross the Yser near Pervyse.

Indian Expeditionary Force completed by arrival of Sirhind Brigade from Egypt.

Eastern Front

Second Battle for Warsaw begun by the Germans.

Russian attacks in East Prussia.

Galicia: Northern sector of the forts of Cracow bombarded by the Russians.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Mesopotamia: British success at Mezera.

Turks driven back south of Batoum (Transcaucasia).

Naval and Overseas Operations

Allied warships respond to the shelling of Dunkirk by bombarding German positions in Belgium.

Mesopotamian Campaign
Shaitan, armed launch, 1-3pdr, taken up 11/14, Lt-Cdr Elkes RNR, continuing operations to take Kurnah. Disabled by heavy fire; commander killed and 1 rating DOW, both on HMS Ocean's books.

South Africa: Rebel General Beyers defeated at Bothaville and drowned on his flight in the Vaal River.

Political, etc.

Germany calls on the 2nd line of the landstrum (militia) to report for active service by December 20th.

Paris Bourse, the main stock exchange, reopens after it had been closed due to the War.

Pope Benedict urges a truce between the belligerent nations during the Christmas holidays.

Japanese government in Korea orders a ban on the smoking of opium.

http://s10.postimg.org/5vtuumt95/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Sailor Steve

12-07-14, 11:56 AM

December 7:

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands: At 0700 the alarm is raised as several ships are sighted approaching the Islands. By 0900 there is relief as the approaching warships are seen to be British. HMS Invincible anchors at 1026 and divers are immediately put into the water to deal with the fouled propeller. By 1100 all the ships are at anchor, the light cruisers in the inner harbor at Port Stanley and the heavy ships in the outer harbor at Port William. HMS Carnarvon, Bristol and Glasgow are refueled immediately with the others to begin the following morning.

Sturdee holds a staff meeting in the evening, saying he intends to divide the force into two groups. The two battlecruisers will sail late the next day and search around Cape Horn, with the light cruisers leaving on the 9th and searching the Straight of Magellan.

At this moment Spee's squadron is eight hours away, heading for the Falklands.

German East Africa: Dennis Cutler makes another reconaissance flight, and reports that nothing has changed regarding SMS Königsberg.

Jimbuna

12-08-14, 08:43 AM

8th December 1914

Western Front

Long-distance bombardment of Fumes by the Germans.

Southern Front

Austrians completely defeated south of Belgrade (Battle of Rudnik Ridges).

Naval and Overseas Operations

South Africa: Collapse of rebellion; 1,200 rebels surrender.

Italy reinforces its colony of Libya by sending eight battalions of infantry.

Battle of Falkland Islands, Admiral Sturdee sinks most of German squadron in the South Atlantic off the coast of Argentina. Von Spee and two sons serving in his squadron are killed.
With news of the British defeat off Coronel, battlecruisers Invincible (flag, Vice-Adm Sturdee) and Inflexible, 2nd BCS Grand Fleet were ordered to the South Atlantic sailing from Devonport on 11 November. At this time it was not known if von Spee would head round Cape Horn, go north to Panama Canal, or even turn back into the Pacific. Of the ships in the South Atlantic, old battleship Canopus reached the Falklands on the 12 November and remained at Port Stanley as guardship, berthed on the mud, while armoured cruisers Carnarvon (flag, Rear-Adm Stoddart), Cornwall, Kent, and light cruisers Bristol, Glasgow sailed for a rendezvous at Abrolhos Rocks which Adm Sturdee reached on the 26th. On this same day Adm von Spee, after coaling off the southern Chile coast, sailed to attack the Falkland Islands and destroy the facilities there. Fortunately for the British, they were so delayed rounding Cape Horn that Adm Sturdee was able to reach there first, arriving the morning of 7 December, by which time armed merchant cruiser Macedonia had joined. His plan was to coal, allow Bristol to repair her engines, then sail by the 9th for Cape Horn before von Spee came east.

The first German ships were sighted from Sapper Hill at 0750. At this time Macedonia was on patrol off Port Stanley and had not coaled, Invincible and Inflexible were coaling, only Carnarvon and Glasgow had finished refuelling, and Cornwall, Kent and Bristol were still waiting, Cornwall also had an engine opened up at 6 hours notice and Bristol was still repairing hers with fires drawn. As Gneisenau and Nurnberg approached to shell the wireless station, Canopus fired four shells at extreme range around 0915, fragments of one or perhaps a ricochet possibly hit Gneisenau, they turned away to join the German flagship and the squadron headed SE away from the Falklands at full speed. Kent had left the harbour by 0915, Glasgow weighed to join her, Inflexible, Invincible and Cornwall sailed out at 1000, followed by Carnarvon and then around 1100 by Bristol which with Macedonia was diverted to search for the German colliers, sinking two out of three southeast of the Falklands.

Invincible and Inflexible in the lead opened fire on the lagging Leipzig at 1251, then realising there was no escape, von Spee ordered his three light cruisers to scatter south at 1320 while the two armoured cruisers headed NE to cover their retreat. At this time, the two British battlecruisers joined by the slower Carnarvon engaged armoured cruisers Scharnhorst (flag, sunk 1617) and Gneisenau (sunk around 1800). Armoured cruiser Kent went after light cruiser Nurnberg (action started 1615, sunk 1927), sister ship Cornwall after Leipzig, and light cruiser Glasgow after Dresden (which escaped). Because Glasgow could only gain on Dresden slowly, she transferred her attention to Leipzig to give Cornwall time to catch up, Glasgow opening fire at 1453, Cornwall coming into action around 1615. After Leipzig was sunk (at 2123), Glasgow went after Dresden again but with her speed reduced lost the German in the mist and rain.

Battlecruisers, Invincible-class, 20,080, 8-12in/16-4in/4-18in tt:

Invincible, initially ranged on Gneisenau, hit by about 20 mainly 8.2in shells, foremast strut carried away, one 4in gun out of action and one bunker flooded; no killed or wounded.

Inflexible, Capt Phillimore. Initially ranged on Scharnhorst, hit three times, little damage; 1 rating lost, 2 slightly wounded.

Armoured cruisers:

Carnarvon, Devonshire-class, 10,850t, 4-7.5in/6-6in/2-18in tt. Engaged in action with Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, no reported hits; no killed or wounded.

Kent, Kent-class, 9,800t, 14-6in/10-12pdr/2-18in tt, Capt Allen. In action with Nurnberg, hit 38 times, wireless room wrecked but little structural damage because of armour; 5 ratings lost, three more DOW (nb - 4 killed, 12 wounded).

Cornwall, Kent-class, 9,800t, 14-6in/10-12pdr/2-18in tt, Capt Ellerton. In action with Leipzig, hit 18 times, two bunkers flooded, listed to port; no killed or wounded.

Light cruiser:

Glasgow, Bristol-class, 5,300t, 2-6in/10-4in/2-18in tt, Capt Luce. In action with Leipzig, hit twice, one boiler damaged; one rating lost, 1 DOW, 4 wounded.
SEE: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2267072&postcount=84

Political, etc.

Great Britain: Trial of Ahlers for high-treason commenced.

Belgian Prime Minister Baron de Broqueville meets with Lord Kitchener, British Secretary of State for War, in London.

Ship Losses:

SMS Gneisenau ( Kaiserliche Marine): Battle of the Falkland Islands: The Scharnhorst-class cruiser was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Falkland Islands by HMS Inflexible ( Royal Navy) with the loss of 598 of her 764 crew.
SMS Leipzig ( Kaiserliche Marine): Battle of the Falkland Islands: The Bremen-class cruiser was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Falkland Islands by HMS Cornwall and HMS Glasgow (both Royal Navy) with the loss of 270 of her 288 crew.
SMS Nürnberg ( Kaiserliche Marine): Battle of the Falkland Islands: The Königsberg-class cruiser was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Falkland Islands by HMS Kent ( Royal Navy) the with the loss of 327 of her 334 crew.

SMS Scharnhorst ( Kaiserliche Marine): Battle of the Falkland Islands: The Scharnhorst-class cruiser was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Falkland Islands by HMS Inflexible ( Royal Navy) with the loss of all 860 crew.

http://i.imgur.com/kyrh6Od.jpg

Sailor Steve

12-08-14, 12:09 PM

December 8:

German East Africa: HMS Kinfauns Castle hoists Cutler's seaplane overboard at 1144. Once again it fails to take off. At 1315 they try again. This time the plane takes off only to come down five miles away. The tug Helmuth is sent after it, taking it in tow at 1520. At 1720 the plane is hoisted back aboard.

Rockstar

12-08-14, 12:26 PM

100 years ago today December 8th was a Tuesday.

Jimbuna

12-09-14, 10:39 AM

9th December 1914

Eastern Front

Battle for Warsaw; heavy fighting round Mlava and Petrokov.

Russian forces suffer heavy casualties in the suburbs of Cracow against Austria-Hungarian troops.

Southern Front

Serbians re-occupy Valyevo.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Mesopotamia: Turks evacuate Kurna.

British troops capture Al-Qurnah, Iraq from Ottoman forces and now control most of the Euphrates Delta.

Political, etc.

President Poincare and Premier Viviani return to Paris from Brodeaux; Paris once again becomes the de facto capital of France.

Germany files an official protest to the US, accusing British troops of using illegal expanding bullets.

Ahlers convicted.
http://www.sunderlandecho.com/history-nostalgia/world-war-one-a-traitor-in-sunderland-1-6799029
http://i.imgur.com/D9FPEpT.jpg

Ship Losses:

Emma ( Sweden): The cargo ship ran aground on the Knavestone Rock, in the North Sea off the coast of Northumberland, United Kingdom. She sank on or before 13 December.
SM U-11 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The Type U 9 submarine struck a mine in the North Sea off the coast of Belgium (51°06′N 1°09′E) and sank with the loss of all 26 crew.

HMS Inflexible picking up German sailors. 215 German sailors are captured.
http://i.imgur.com/1KkOQAV.jpg

The Royal Navy's first aircraft carrier, HMS Ark Royal, is commissioned.
http://i.imgur.com/vZPX2oI.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/LncRy3s.png

Sailor Steve

12-09-14, 01:50 PM

December 9:

English Channel: The monitors HMS Humber, Mersey and Severn are anchored off Hunstanton following more fears of a possible invasion.

South Atlantic: Admiral Sturdee begins a sweep southward looking for SMS Dresden, the only German warship to escape the previous day's battle. HMS Kent, missing for twenty-four hours, shows up at Port Stanley. Her wireless had been destroyed in the fight and she had been steaming slowly to conserve coal.

Captain Lüdeke meanwhile has taken Dresden to Scholl Bay in the Cockburn Channel, well out of the way and mostly uncharted.

Jimbuna

12-10-14, 07:58 AM

10th December 1914

Western Front

Ypres once again attacked fiercely, but vainly, by Germans.

The French begin a series of attacks along the Western Front against the Germans in the Artois region of northern France and Champagne in the south. Hampered by a lack of heavy artillery and muddy winter conditions, the French fail to make any significant gains and both offensives are soon suspended.

Eastern Front

Austrians defeated near Cracow with loss of 4,000 prisoners.

Naval and Overseas Operations

German submarines attack Dover.

Batum (Georgia) bombarded by the "Goeben" and "Breslau".

Political, etc.

Insurance rates for shipping drops after the decisive British naval victory at the Falkland Islands.

Germany: Von Falkenhayn definitely supersedes von Moltke.

Field-Marshal von der Goltz leaves Germany to take over control of the Turkish Army.

http://i.imgur.com/Fzy3Xro.jpg

Sailor Steve

12-10-14, 02:31 PM

December 10:

English Channel: The expected invasion not happening, HMS Humber, Mersey and Severn are sent back to Harwich. Heavy seas are encountered, and Humber reports serious damage.

Cape Horn: Captain Lüdeke sends men ashore at Sholl Bay to fell trees and cut wood, hoping it will help supplement the 160 tons of coal he has left aboard SMS Dresden.

German East Africa: At 1257 HMS Kinfauns Castle hoists the seaplane overboard. Due to engine problems Cutler is flying alone. At 1304 Cutler is still on his waywhen the engine fails altogether. Cutler puts his plane down in the river. This is spotted aboard Kinfauns Castle and Lt. Gallehawk sets out immmediately with an armed party in the steam launch. The tug Helmuth follows. One version of the story has Cutler swimming to shore and being captured by the Germans. Another says that Cutler was trying to burn the plane when the enemy waded into the river and captured him. Either way Dennis Cutler became a Prisoner Of War and would remain so for the next three years.

Gallehawk manages to reach the plane and take it under tow, all the while under heavy fire. From 1455 to 1515 Helmuth is engaged in a running battle with German soldiers on the river banks. At 1619 Kinfauns Castle's lookouts sight the tug, steam launch and seaplane coming out of the mouth of the river. At 1815 the rescue party reported that Lt. Cutler is missing, possibly drowned or eaten by crocodiles. At 1913 the plane is hoisted back aboard Kinfauns Castle.

Jimbuna

12-11-14, 08:02 AM

11th December 1914

Eastern Front

Poland: Russians repel German attacks north of Lovich.

Naval and Overseas Operations

"Goeben" having been repaired after damage of 18 November, bombards Batoum.

Northern British waters
Cockatrice, destroyer, K-class, c1,300t, 4th DF Grand Fleet, on patrol in "very bad" weather. Unable to maintain station, with other destroyers forced to run for shelter, "suffered some"/"badly" damaged.

Political, etc.

400,000 French youths aged 19-20, forming the class of 1915, begins military training.

Germany states it would be willing to observe a Christmas truce if the Allied powers agreed as well.

Romania forbids export of metals and textile material.

Dr. B. L. Machado Guimarães, Portuguese Premier, resigns.

Joseph Smith III, son of Joseph Smith and Prophet-President of Mormonism, has died.
http://i.imgur.com/IN0H1vn.jpg

Ship Losses:

Earl Howard ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 90 nautical miles (170 km) north east by north of the Spurn Lightship ( United Kingdom) with the loss of nine of her crew.
Rosaleen ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground in Oxwich Bay. Her crew were rescued.[10] She was refloated on 15 December.

http://i.imgur.com/KNf9Cbk.jpg

Sailor Steve

12-11-14, 09:15 AM

December 11:

Pacific Ocean: SMS Prinz Eitel Friedrich captures the French barque Jean, 2,207 tons, carrying a load of coal. Because of this Captain Mase Thierichens decides to retain Jean as a collier for the ocean liner turned armed merchant cruiser.

Cape Horn: The crew of SMS Dresden are still cutting wood when the ship is approached by Chilean destroyer Almirante Condell with the message that the 24-hour neutrality rule applies even in this remote bay. Captain Lüdeke tells the Chilean captain that he is in need of coal and provisions and would like to go to Punta Arenas for those items. The destroyer's captain sends a message to Admiral Cuevas for further instructions. Cuevas sends back granting the Germans 24 hours to fulfill their needs.

Atlantic Ocean: HMS Invincible and Inflexible return to Port Stanley.

German East Africa: Deprived of his eyes in the sky Captain Drury-Lowe of HMS Chatham begins using the local native spy Boombi again. This is dangerous work for which the villager will later be amply rewarded. The Admiralty begins looking around for new airplanes to send to the Rufiji Delta. HMS Kinfauns Castle is dispatched to Mombasa to dispose of the damaged seaplane.

Jimbuna

12-12-14, 09:01 AM

12th December 1914

Eastern Front

Galicia: Austro-German counter-offensive from Hungary begins; the Dukla Pass carried and the Russians at Cracow threatened.

Southern Front

Serbia: Austrians utterly defeated, re-cross the Drina.

Bosnia: Vishegrad taken by Montenegrins.

Political etc.

British General Baden-Powell (retired) warns that Germany could invade Britain with 90,000 troops.

I.R.S. reports that in 1913 there were 44 Americans who were making more than $1 million a year ($23.7 million today).

Sir Henry Howard is appointed the first British envoy to the Vatican since the Reformation.
http://i.imgur.com/zna2ESm.jpg

Ship Losses:

Ispolnitelni ( Imperial Russian Navy): The Lovki-class destroyer was sunk in the Baltic Sea off Gotland, Sweden by the explosion of her own mines.
Kildalton ( United Kingdom): The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Pacific Ocean 870 nautical miles (1,610 km) south west by south of Valparaiso, Chile by SMS Prinz Eitel Friedrich ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Letuchi ( Imperial Russian Navy): The Lovki-class destroyer was sunk in the Baltic Sea off Gotland by the explosion of her own mines.

http://i.imgur.com/1KaCTsJ.jpg

Sailor Steve

12-12-14, 11:35 AM

December 12:

Pacific Ocean: SMS Prinz Eitel Friedrich captures the British steel sailing barque Kidalton, 1,784 tons, carrying a general cargo from Liverpool to Callao. Her crew are put aboard the captured barque Jean and the ship scuttled with explosives.

Atlantic Ocean: SMS Dresden arrives at Punta Arenas. The American collier Minnesota refuses to sell them coal. They are forced to settle for low-grade coal from the German ship SS Turpin. Knowing that the British consulate will inform the Admiralty of their visit, Captain Lüdeke refuels his ship and departs again as quickly as possible.

German East Africa: HMS Kinfauns Castle arrives at Port Kilindini.

Jimbuna

12-13-14, 10:54 AM

13th December 1914

Western Front

Germans withdraw from the Yser Canal.

Eastern Front

Battle for Warsaw raging.

Galicia: Battle for Cracow ending owing to Austro-German offensive from Hungary.

Southern Front

Serbia: Rout of the Austrians completed.

Naval and Overseas Operations

British submarine B11 enters the Dardanelles and sinks Turkish battleship "Messudiya".
http://i.imgur.com/l8NPf4a.jpg

Ship Losses:

Mesûdiye ( Ottoman Navy): The ironclad was torpedoed and sunk in the Dardanelles by HMS B11 ( Royal Navy) with the loss of 37 of her 673 crew.
Silurian ( United Kingdom): The coaster ran aground at Oporto, Portugal. She broke in two and was a total loss. Her crew were rescued by the salvage vessel Leixões ( Portugal).

http://i.imgur.com/hg68z2z.gif

Sailor Steve

12-13-14, 12:19 PM

December 13:

London: The Admiralty sends a message to Admiral Sturdee ordering him to return to Gibraltar with the two battlecruisers, leaving Captain Stoddart to search for SMS Dresden with his light cruiser squadron.

Port Kilindini, Mombasa: HMS Kinfauns Castle offloads the damaged seaplane. The plane will finally end up in the museum at Durban.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/CutlerandCurtiss_zps8958ae2c.png (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/CutlerandCurtiss_zps8958ae2c.png.html)
The second Curtiss postwar, with Dennis Cutler in the cockpit.

Jimbuna

12-14-14, 10:04 AM

14th December 1914

Western Front

Ypres again attacked by Germans.

Allied demonstrations on Flanders front begin. Attack on Wytschaete.

Eastern Front

Russian forces are forced to retreat from Hungary back into Galicia after an Austria-Hungarian counterattack.

Aviation

A Royal Naval Air Service Avro 504 of the Eastchurch Squadron drops four 16-lb (7.25-kg) bombs on the Ostend-Bruges railway in Belgium.
http://i.imgur.com/j3mi1ba.jpg

Naval and Overseas Operations

SMS Dresden arrives in Punta Arenas, Chile, after it escaped from the Royal Navy, following the Battle of the Falkland Islands.

German armed merchant cruiser "Cormoran" (ex-Russian S.S. "Ryasan") interned at Guam.
http://i.imgur.com/KOyM3n9.jpg

From yesterday:
http://i.imgur.com/C8eygMJ.jpg

Political, etc.

Publication of Mr. Bonar Law's letter to Mr. Asquith on 2 August.

Kaiser Wilhelm remains bedridden due to illness after a visit to the frontlines and surgery is considered.

Giovanni Sgambati, Italian pianist and composer, has died.
http://i.imgur.com/2tWDECJ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/iAdxdNp.jpg

Sailor Steve

12-14-14, 11:20 AM

December 14:

The Admiralty, London: The secret decoding department known as 'Room 40' begins to intercept German transmissions indicating that a raid by German warships will take place two days later.

Cape Horn: SMS Dresden reaches Hewett Bay, near the Gonzalez Channel on the west end of the Straights of Magellan.

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands: German prisoners from Spee's squadron are transferred from HMS Invincible, Inflexible and Canopus to SS Crown of Galicia.

Indian Ocean: SMS Ayesha sights the German freighter SS Choising, 1,567 tons, under Captain F. Minkwitz. Choising has been looking for the schooner in order to take the last of Emden's free sailors aboard. Rain is pouring down, and Kptlt von Mücke decides they should travel to the south-west until calmer weather allows the schooner's crew to board the freighter.

Port Kilindini, Mombasa: HMS Chatham departs for the Rufiji River delta.

Jimbuna

12-15-14, 07:30 AM

15th December 1914

Western Front

Allies cross Yser Canal and advance from Nieuport towards Lombartzyde.

Eastern Front

Poland: Heavy fighting round Sokhachev.

Battle of Lodz ends.

Southern Front

Serbia: Austrians evacuate Belgrade, re-cross Save, and bring their third invasion to an end after loss of 28,000 prisoners, 70 guns, etc.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Syria: Alexandretta bombarded by H.M.S. "Doris".

Aviation

German airship sighted off East Coast of England (first appearance of hostile aircraft in vicinity of British Isles).

Naval and Overseas Operations

Two Royal Navy warships are sent through the Straits of Magellan to pursue the German warship SMS Dresden.

Westeinde bombarded by British fleet.
Belgian Coast
Revenge, later renamed Redoubtable, old battleship, Royal Sovereign-class, 15,580t, 4-12in/10-6in/7-18in tt, on sale list 8/14, now bombarding ship, Dover Patrol, with dreadnought Majestic and two or three gunboats, bombarding gun positions on Belgian coast around Zeebrugge. Revenge badly hit probably by 8in shell. Returned next day without Majestic because of the risks, again hit by 8in shell, badly damaged below the waterline, had to retire for docking. No lives lost.

Orkneys
Expecting a German raid somewhere along the East coast of England through the intelligence work of Room 40 (the Yorkshire Raid next day), the Admiralty ordered 2nd BS and 1st LCS from Scapa Flow, Adm Beatty's 1st BCS and available destroyers from Cromarty, and 3rd CS from Rosyth to rendezvous and sweep south, heavy seas were encountered:

Conqueror, dreadnought, 2nd BS. Lost 3 ratings, swept overboard.

Boadicea and Blanche, scout cruisers, Boadicea-class, 3,800t, attached to Grand Fleet battle squadrons, sailed with 2nd BS early in the day. Boadicea's bridge carried away by the seas in Pentland Firth, reportedly several men swept overboard and drowned, forced to return and sent to Clyde for repairs, Blanche less seriously damaged and repaired at Scapa; no lives listed as lost.

Result of enquiry into loss of H.M.S. "Bulwark".

Political etc.

U.S. Merchant Marine is increased by 101 ships under the Act of Congress passed after the outbreak of the War.

http://i.imgur.com/tf9jIp3.jpg

Sailor Steve

12-15-14, 01:16 PM

December 15:

The Admiralty, London: Further interceptions by Room 40 indicate that the Germans plan to raid Harwich and the Humber early on the 16th with five battlecruisers, plus light cruisers and destroyers. The British make plans to intercept them with four battlecruisers under David Beatty, six battleships and a destroyer flotilla led by Vice-Admiral George Warrender, the 3rd Armoured Cruiser Squadron of four ships under Rear-Admiral W.C. Pakenham and the First Light Cruiser Squadron of six ships led by Commodore William 'Barge' Goodenough. There are also eight submarines waiting for Hipper's group. Admiral John Jellicoe expresses a desire to bring the entire Grand Fleet, but is turned down, so Warrender will be senior officer on the spot.

Because of Room 40's knack for gathering information like this, its organizer and head, Sir Alfred Ewing, will later become known as 'The Whitehall Sherlock Holmes'.

English Channel: HMS Humber, Mersey and Severn leave Harwich. Mersey and Severn are headed for Dunkirk while Humber is bound for the dockyard at Chatham to repair the damage taken in the storm on the 10th.

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands: The Admiralty had hoped that Captain Lüdeke had taken Dresden to Punta Arenas for intenment. When Admiral Sturdee informs them that the German cruiser recoaled and immediately departed he receives new orders: "Object is destruction not internment. Press your chase." Sturdee replies that he will set out for Devonport in Invincible on the 16th, but Inflexible will remain behind for two more weeks to help with the search.

From 0400 to 2230 Invincible takes on 2200 tons of coal. Inflexible spends the day at sea, stopping and investigating suspect ships. At 1400 hours Canopus brings up all her anchors except for one. The old battlship is now upright again and ready to be moved.

German East Africa: Captain Drury-Lowe of HMS Chatham receives a message from the Admiralty saying they are sending him RNAS Expeditionary Squadron Number 4. This actually consists of two new and untried Sopwith seaplanes.

Indian Ocean: The weather grows worse. Because of the differing nature of the ships, Ayesha and Choising must take different directions in the storm. Von Mücke signals Minkwitz that when the weather clears they will rendezvous on the lee side of the nearest island. That night the storm grows even worse.

Oberon

12-15-14, 09:49 PM

http://www.thisishartlepool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Bombardment-of-Hartlepool-16.jpg

16th December 1914

The German High Seas Fleet attacks the coastal towns of Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby in an attempt to draw the Grand fleet out into battle. The plan almost works, with a smaller portion of the Grand fleet under Admiral Beatty almost running into the High Seas Fleet, but Admiral Ingenohl feared that the Grand fleet was greater in number and turned his ships away, not wanting to risk the German navy.
The raid left behind 137 fatalities and 592 casualties, and only served to harden British resolve against Germany.

Interviews from the survivors of the raid can be listened to here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-30484951

Jimbuna

12-16-14, 09:30 AM

16th December 1914

Eastern Front

Russians end their retreat and make stand on Bzura-Ravka-Pilitza line (30 miles south-west of Warsaw).

Naval and Overseas Operations

Hartlepool, Whitby and Scarborough bombarded by German warships.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-tees-30149597
(1) Fleet encounter

German 1st SG battlecruisers and 2nd SG light cruisers escorted by destroyers sailed to attack the Yorkshire coast. Battlecruisers Seydlitz, Moltke and armoured cruiser Blucher were to bombard Hartlepool, battlecruisers Derfflinger and Von der Tann to bombard Scarborough, and light cruiser Kolberg to lay up to 100 mines off Flamborough Head. Both the German and British battlefleets were out in support of their forces. Coming south in anticipation of this attack the seven 4th DF destroyers screening Adm Beatty's battlecruisers - Lynx, Ambuscade, Unity, Hardy of 1st Div and Shark, Acasta, Spitfire of 2nd Div, met destroyers from the German light cruiser screen in the Dogger Bank area, in c54.10N, 03.00E at 0515. When challenged, they opened fire damaging Lynx and Ambuscade, the remaining destroyers then sighted cruiser Hamburg close by at 0553. This time Hardy and Shark opened fire and it was Hardy's turn to be damaged.

All K-class destroyers, c1,300t, 3-4in/2-21in tt:

Lynx, Cdr R Parry. Hit several times, not too badly damaged. Unity initially stood by, before she made for Leith for repairs; no lives lost, 1 man wounded.

Ambuscade, Lt-Cdr G Coles. Holed forward, had to leave the line around 0550 with 5ft of water in mess-deck, crippled and called for assistance. After seeing Lynx out of danger, Unity searched for Ambuscade and escorted her into Leith; no lives lost.

Hardy, Lt-Cdr L Crabbe. Wireless shot away, holed on waterline, bridge wrecked, severely damaged by 0600 with steering gear disabled and had to turn out of line, managed to proceed at 0620 and limped into port escorted by Spitfire; 2 ratings killed, 1 officer and 14 men wounded.

(2) Attack on Hartlepool

As Seydlitz, Moltke and Blucher approached at dawn, they were spotted by patrol destroyers Doon, Waveney, Test and Moy, a division of the 9th DF already at sea about 5 miles NE of the port; scout cruisers Patrol and Forward and submarine C.9 were unable to leave harbour because of the low state of tide. The destroyers came under 11in fire around 0800, three of them being hit by shell fragments with Doon suffering casualties, then the Germans opened fire on the Hartlepool defences consisting of 3-6in guns. Both C.9 and Patrol came out at this time, followed by Forward, but Patrol was badly hit. In return, the shore batteries hit Moltke and Blucher several times:

Doon, E-class, 615t, 4-12pdr/2-18in tt, Lt-Cdr H Fraser. One rating killed and one DOW (Rn - 3 killed, 6 wounded).

Patrol, Pathfinder-class, 2,940t, 9-4in/2014in tt, leader, 9th DF, Capt Alan Bruce. Worked her way out of the tidal harbour under fire, once clear, hit by two 8.2in shells from Blucher, then straddled by the battlecruisers 11in. Ran hard aground near South Gare breakwater, probably saved from destruction by the shore batteries, badly holed but reached the Tees safely; 4 ratings lost, 7 wounded.

Two merchantmen were damaged and two fishing vessels sunk in the docks during the Hartlepool bombardment.

(3) Attacks on Scarborough and Whitby

Three German ships appeared off the defenceless town of Scarborough just before 0800, battlecruisers Derfflinger and Von der Tann opened fire, while light cruiser Kolberg went to lay mines off Flamborough Head. The two battlecruisers then headed north for Whitby, and opened fire on this equally defenceless port just after 0900, departing after 10min and ignoring two tramp steamers passing to the south. Four fishing vessels were damaged in Scarborough during the bombardment.

Although the retreating German ships were sighted by ships of the Grand Fleet's 1st LCS and 2nd BS in the low visibility, they could not be brought to action.
http://i.imgur.com/amhtJg3.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/5669SsW.jpg

Political etc.

Creation of a Women’s Volunteer Reserve is discussed in London to mobilize women for the British war effort.

Ottoman Sultan blames the Allies for the war, stating Russian warship attacked Turkish ship in the Black Sea, and declares it a Holy War.

Japanese Foreign Minister declares Japan will not give up German islands occupied north of the Equator.

Ship Losses:

Constance ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea off Hartlepool, County Durham by Kaiserliche Marine warships.
Elterwater ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) east of Scarborough, Yorkshire with the loss of six of her crew.
HMT Margaret ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler was lost on this date.
Princess Olga ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) east north east of Scarborough.
Wayside Flower ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea off Hartlepool by Kaiserliche Marine warships.

Aktungbby

12-16-14, 01:47 PM

http://www.heughbattery.com/images/bombardment/heugh-battery2.jpgIndeed! Shells from the ships were fired at such short range that their fuses did not have time to set, so many failed to explode on impact, or skittered away into the town because they were running horizontally rather than falling downwards.The British had one important advantage: German ships used three main codes for which codebooks were issued to their ships. Copies of these books had been obtained from sunk or captured vessels without the Germans' knowledge. Codebreakers had now reached the point where they could read German messages within a few hours of receiving them. Sufficient information had been gathered on the evening of 14 December to tell that the German battlecruiser squadron would shortly be leaving port. However, the information did not suggest that the whole German fleet might be involved. Hartlepool was a more significant target than the resort town of Scarborough. It had extensive civilian docks and factories and was defended by three BL 6 inch Mk VII naval guns (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BL_6_inch_Mk_VII_naval_gun) on the seafront: two at Heugh Battery and one at Lighthouse Battery. The guns were manned by 11 officers and 155 local men of the Durham Royal Garrison Artillery (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Durham_Volunteer_Artillery) were warned at 04:30 of the possibility of an attack and issued live ammunition. During the following battle, two factors counted in the towns’ favor. The first was the recent camouflaging of the Heugh Battery. A false extension caused the enemy ships to fire high, so that many of the shells missed their target. The second was that in the time between the Germans’ spying out the area and their attack, one of the buoys in the harbour had been moved nearer to the shore. This caused the German ships to come in much closer to shore than they needed, given the range of their guns. At 07:46, they received word that large ships had been sighted and, at 08:10, a bombardment of the town began. They found their shells had no effect on the armoured sides of the ships, so instead aimed at masts and rigging. The accuracy of the third gun was sufficient to oblige the cruiser SMS Blücher to move behind the lighthouse to prevent further hits. Two of her 6-inch guns were disabled, while the ship's bridge and another 8 in (200 mm) gun had been damaged... the Heugh battery had fired 123 rounds mainly at the Blucher smashing her fore-bridge, damaging some of her guns and killing nine and wounding four. For their bravery the Gun Captains at the Heugh battery were awarded the first ever pair of Military Medals and the Lighthouse Gun Sergeant won the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Controversially, the commander also won a number of awards but his subordinates who actually fought the action went unrewarded thanks to their German ancestry.:stare: At 08:50, the German ships departed-in effect: loss of surprise due to radio intelligence, poor German gunnery, damage to Blücher (later sunk at Dogger Bank) made the 40 minute tactical draw a strategic propaganda failure for the Germans. The BL 6 Mark VII had left its mark on the German fleet! The 6-inch Mk VII gun, provided the main coast defence throughout the British Empire, from the early 1900s until the abolition of coast artillery in the 1950s. 103 of these guns were in service in World War I in coastal defences around the UK. The Hartlepool Heugh Battery aquitted itself admirably; 4 battery soldiers died in the attack and the battery is today a museum. http://www.heughbattery.com/bombardment.html. http://www.heughbattery.com/images/bombardment/Pt-theo-Jones.jpg Mark VII coastal battery http://nepeanhistoricalsociety.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/bl-6-inch-gun-mk-vii-c1943.jpg?w=467&h=275SMS BLÜCHER http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f4/SMS_Blucher_circa_1914.png/1280px-SMS_Blucher_circa_1914.png

Sailor Steve

12-16-14, 02:12 PM

December 16:

North Sea: Armed with the advance knowledge given by the decoding center at Room 40, the British battlefleet sets out to intercept the intended German raid. What the British don't know is that High Seas Fleet commander-in-chief Friedrich von Ingenohl is following Hipper's battlecruisers with twenty-two battleships, fourteen of them the newest and best. The plan is to bombard the port cities of Hartlepool, Whitby and Scarborough. In part the timing is planned to take advantage of the two British battlecruisers dispatched to the Falklands.

Around midnight the German destroyer S33 becomes separated from her flotilla. At 0014 she breaks radio silence and attempts to contact SMS Straßburg. Getting no response her captain, Oblt.z.S Buddecke, tries again at 0021, 0047 and 0043. Finally Straßburg orders them to cease. Somehow the British wireless operators fail to intercept any of these transmissions.

At about 0400 hours S33 runs into four British destroyers only 150 metres ahead. Buddecke turns to a parallel course and apparently the enemy take him for one of their own. Twenty minutes later S33 turns to the east and escapes.

Sometime later V155 is sent by SMS Roon to investigate a suspected target. At 0515 she sights a ship in the dark and Oblt.z.S. Carl sends a recognition signal by blinker lamp. The other ship gives the wrong reply. Carl realizes that this is a group of British destroyers only 200 metres away. V155 moves away and at 0625 sends an open signal: "Enemy torpedo boats in sight!" This is two divisions of Beatty's - Lynx, Ambuscade, Unity,Hardy, Shark, Acasta and Spitfire. One of them turns on a searchlight to look for the German boat. After a short search the light is turned off, and one of the British destroyers opens fire in the dark. The group then moves to a half-circle formation and accelerates toward V155, and all of them open fire. Carl returns fire with his stern gun at a range of 2000 metres. At 0648 Carl sends a message to his squadron giving his situation. By 0557 Lynx has taken several hits and falls back with a damaged rudder. The rest follow suit. Oblt. Carl sends a report on the situation, but will not find his squadron until 0730.

SMS Hamburg has heard V155's message and is rushing to join with V158 and V160 in company. Hamburg runs into the destroyers V155 was running from, and in the ensuing fight Hamburg takes a lot of minor damage, but the British destroyers are fairly well beaten up in return. The two German destroyers are fired upon but take no damage, and cause none in return.

SMS Roon now approaches the fight accompanied by five destroyers. Around 0612 they sight ships from 1200 metres. Unable to tell whether they are friend or foe, Kpt.z.S. von Karpf hesitates until the other ships are lost in the fog. The ships they had sighted were Lynx and Unity, answering a call from Ambuscade. Between this time and 0900 there are several confused actions, and shots exchanged, but neither side scores any more hits.

During this time Admiral Ingenohl receives several reports which lead him to believe that there are British submarines nearby, and that Jellicoe is waiting for him with the Grand fleet. He sends a message to Hipper to go ahead and bombard the target cities, and turns his battleships for home.

Hipper's battlecruisers come into sight of Hartlepool at 0714 hours. They have been fighting a heavy swell which has caused their light cruisers and destroyers to fall behind. At 0745 they are close enough to see their objectives. The lighthouse spots them and reports them as British. At 0800 four British destroyers appear out of the mist. These are under no delusions as to the nature of the German ships, which immediately open fire. Doon, Waveney, Test and Moy attempt to attack with torpedoes, but gunfire from Seydlitz, Moltke and Blücher drive them off with severe damage.

At 0830 the three heavy ships open fire with their 15cm and 8.8cm guns on the lighthouse and several factories and shore batteries, at a range of about 6,000 metres. Having been forewarned, the batteries return fire. It doesn't take long before Blücher is hit four times. One hit takes out two of the 8.8cm guns, and one destroys some radio aerials. Around 0837 Seydlitz takes three hits, causing a lot of minor damage. Moltke takes a severe hit and opens up with her 28cm guns, soon silencing the fort. The bombardment ceases at 0846. The attack has lasted sixteen minutes, and the three German ships have fired 1150 shells of all calibres. Three Gasworks were destroyed, plus and engine house and a water tower. Two different dockyards were hit and several ships damaged on the ways, still under construction. Railway buildings and tracks were also damaged.

According to the German side the destruction of houses could not be helped as they were built close to the facilities and even the gun batteries. Also it would seem that the number of civilian casualties were 86 killed and 424 wounded, the rest listed being military personel and workers at the damaged targets. Still a large loss of innocent life. Whatever his actual intentions, the commander of the German battlecruiser squadron will afterward be known to the British press as "Baby-killer" Hipper.

Meanwhile the southern group under Kontreadmiral Tapken is firing at other land targets. Derfflinger and Von der Tann are shelling military bases at Scarborough while the light cruiser Kolberg is laying mines. Long after the bombardment is finished the citizens are still crowding the railroad station, attempting to flee. The two battlecruisers move on to Whitby, where they open fire at 0900 hours. Six minutes later they are finished.

As soon as the bombardment started Beatty and Warrender started receiving signals about the attacks. Realizing they had been chasing light cruisers and destroyers, they immediately turned around to chase after Hipper. Jellicoe ordered out a squadron of eight old pre-dreadnough battleships to help close the trap. Soon the 4th Battle Squadron is underway. Jellicoe directs Beatty and Warrender to close on the gap in the minefield near the southwestern edge of Dogger Bank. The raging winds there have exposed the shallow bottom, and the two forces must pass to the north and south of the bank, leaving a 13-mile gap between them. The two commanders spread their ships in a wide search patter, 35 miles from end to end.

At 1125 lookouts on HMS Southampton sight the German light cruisers and destroyers. Commodore Goodenough orders Birmingham to join him and they close on the enemy force. Believing the two ships to be adequate to deal with the enemy force, Beatty orders the light cruisers to return to their positions in the line. He doesn't give any names, so Captain Miller of Birmingham assumes this means his ship as well. Goodenough also reluctantly turns back.

The Germans realize they are in serious trouble when they sight the tall tripod masts of Beatty's battlecruisers, and are amazed when they see the big ships turn away. Contact with the Germans was never re-established.

Beatty blamed Goodenough for breaking off the attack. Jellicoe blamed his superiors for overruling his wish to send out the Grand Fleet. Fisher agreed with him.

Higher-ups on both sides were pulling their hair out in frustration.

Fisher: "Had you heard the Prime Minister last night talking of Beatty missing the German battlecruisers yesterday, you would have thought that England's last hour had come!"

Tirpitz: "On December 16th, Ingenohl had the fate of Germany in his hand. I boil with inward emotion whenever I think of it."

Germany: SMS Glyndwr is commissioned as the first German seaplane carrier.

Pacific Ocean: HMS Inflexible is proceeding up the coast of Chile in her quest for SMS Dresden.

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands: At 0440 HMS Canopus weighs anchor and moves to her original berth near the navy yard. HMS Invincible weighs anchor at 1400 hours and begins her journey home.

Indian Ocean: The previous day's storm has grown even worse in the night. Towards dawn an exceptionally heavy wind carries away all of Ayesha's forward sails. Once the sun is up the wind begins to die. Spare sails are brought up and rigged. By the time the schooner has reached the rendezvous point the wind has died altogether and Ayesha is becalmed. Choising has appeared, and Von Mücke signals her to take the schooner in tow and proceed to the lee of the nearest island. While under tow the crew of Ayesha begin the task on taking down all the sails and rigging. All the provisions and arms are brought on deck. The figurehead, representing the prophet Muhammad's favorite wife, is taken, as well as the schooner's wheel.

When they reach the quiet lee side of the island the two vessels are tied together. All the provisions and armament and the two souvenirs are transfered to the steamship, and two holes are bored through the little schooner's hull. At around 1600 hours Ayesha is cut loose, but when Choising moves away the schooner moves with her, as though still tied together. After a few minutes the smaller ship's bow finally pulls away. The freighter stops a few hundred metres away so the crew can bid a final fairwell to their home for the past five weeks. The little ship slowly sinks by the stern. Suddenly the iron ballast breaks loose and tumbles aft. The ship pitches up vertically, and at 1658 Ayesha slips beneath the waves.

In thirty-seven days at sea they have traveled 1,709 nautical miles together.

Jimbuna

12-17-14, 09:35 AM

I enjoyed that :cool:

Jimbuna

12-17-14, 09:57 AM

17th December 1914

Western Front

Armentieres bombarded by Germans.

Eastern Front

Poland: The Germans occupy Petrokov.

Battle of Lowicz-Sanniki ends.

Battle of Limanova-Lapanov ends.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Armenia: The Turks recover Koprukeui and begin to force the Russians back.

Aviation

Herbert Dargue and Joseph Mauborgne make the first two-way radio communication between an airplane and a ground station.

Naval

North Sea
Bellona, scout cruiser, Boadicea-class, 3,800t and Broke, flotilla leader, Faulknor-class, 2,000t, both Grand Fleet, following Scarborough Raid and before returning to Scapa Flow, Grand Fleet carried out battle practice with Harwich Force. Both in collision and "seriously damaged", escorted to Rosyth by cruiser Devonshire; no lives lost.

Political, etc.

Britain officially ends Ottoman suzerainty over Egypt and announces intentions to make it a British protectorate.

Greek and Ottoman relations deteriorate after a Greek naval attaché in Constantinople is sentenced to death on charges of spying.

Italy: Prince Bulow reaches Rome as German ambassador extraordinary.
http://i.imgur.com/c3jKGpN.jpg

Ship Losses:

HMT Lorenzo ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler was wrecked in Hoy Sound, Orkney Islands.

Australian 15th battalion marching through Melbourne today.
http://i.imgur.com/vnKbVLA.jpg

Sailor Steve

12-17-14, 11:08 AM

December 17:

War In The Air: French pilot Eugene Gilbert becomes the first to be credited with two aerial victories, again flying a Morane-Saulnier 'L' parasol. This time it is a Soldat Bayle manning the gun, and the victim is listed only as "Enemy Aircraft".

Pacific Ocean: HMS Inflexible meets the light cruisers Bristol and Glasgow, and the three ships patrol together for the day, taking up station ten miles apart.

Indian Ocean: On their first full day aboard SS Choising Kptlt von Mücke and his officers discuss their options for the future. They had originally planned to make for Tsingtao, but from newspapers they have just learned that the colony has fallen. Next was to try to join SMS Königsberg, of which all they knew was "somewhere in the Indian Ocean". From Choising they learned first that Königsberg had been sunk, which was not true, and then that she was bottled up in the Rufiji River. Even if they could somehow manage to reach the cruiser they would just be fifty more mouths to feed. The only plan for the moment is to head south to avoid the worst of the monsoon region.

Jimbuna

12-18-14, 09:24 AM

18th December 1914

Western Front

Indian troops begin an attack on the Germans round Givenchy (La Bassee); a five days' battle commenced.

French pressure towards Peronne.

Eastern Front

Galicia: Austrians recover Lupkow Pass over the Carpathians.

Battle of the Rawka-Bzura begins.

Naval and Overseas Operations

U.5 lost, either mined or accident, off the Belgian coast around this date.

German cruiser "Friedrich Karl" reported lost in Baltic.

HMS Calliope, a C class light cruiser of the Royal navy, is launched.
http://i.imgur.com/snGOKgM.jpg

Political, etc.

Egypt: Hussein I proclaimed Sultan.
http://i.imgur.com/7nr6RlJ.jpg

Ottoman Empire allows the departure of consular representatives and citizens of neutral countries from Syria.

Meeting of three Scandinavian Kings at Malmo.

Great Britain: Conviction of Ahlers quashed.

One French Senator and three Deputies have been killed in action; several others remain trapped in German-occupied territory.

President Wilson approves the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act, which regulates and taxes opiates and Coca products.

Ship Losses:

Jubilee ( United Kingdom): The schooner was driven ashore at Orfordness, Suffolk and was wrecked with the loss of one of her three crew.
Kelvindale ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground on the Anegada Reef, Tortola, Virgin Islands. She was refloated on 28 December but found to be severely damaged.
Kisagata Maru ( Japan): The cargo ship collided with a hopper barge at Moji-Ku, Kitakyūshū and sank. She was declared a total loss.
Rivulet ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a rock off the Hole in the Wall Reef, Abaco, Bahamas and foundered.
SM U-5 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The Type U 5 submarine sank in the North Sea off the coast of Belgium with the loss of all 29 crew.
West Cock ( United Kingdom): The tug collided with Needles ( United Kingdom) in the River Mersey at Liverpool, Lancashire and sank with the loss of two of her crew.

http://i.imgur.com/SlQ9p6p.jpg

Sailor Steve

12-18-14, 10:33 AM

December 18:

The Admiralty, London: First Sea Lord Fisher sends a message to Admiral Sturdee demanding to know why Sturdee had not sunk SMS Dresden along with the rest of Spee's squadron.

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands: HMS Canopus departs The Falklands to return to Europe.

Pacific Ocean: HMS Bristol and Glasgow part company with Inflexible. The two light cruisers put into Vallenar, Chile for coal.

Jimbuna

12-19-14, 10:22 AM

19th December 1914

Western Front

Allied forces attempt an attack against German lines in Flanders and are supported by the Royal Navy.

Allied airmen bomb German airsheds at Brussels.

Germans counter-attack at Givenchy and Festubert.

Eastern Front

Galicia: Desperate sortie by Austrian garrison of Przemsyl repelled by Russians.

Aviation

Allied airplanes bombard German Zeppelin sheds in Brussels with 12 bombs.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Turkish Coastal Operations - independent harassing action near Alexandretta by old light cruiser Doris.

North Sea

Three days after the Yorkshire Raid, minesweeping gunboats Skipjack, Gossamer, Jason, on passage from Sheerness to Scapa Flow to rejoin Grand Fleet, were ordered to sweep from Flamborough Head north to Scarborough to determine the extent of the minefield laid by the German Kolberg, but only found two mines off Scarborough. Grimsby-based Admiralty-hired minesweeping trawlers were then sweeping closer inshore, and a number of mines were swept up or detonated in sweeps. As Skipjack joined them, Orianda was mined and sunk close by, and two more damaged, all off Scarborough. Skipjack and the rest of the sweepers anchored until the tide rose:

ORIANDA, 273/1914, Grimsby-reg GY291, hired 9/14, Admiralty No.99, Lt Hubert Boothby RNR. Went down within 10min with engines at full ahead, the tip of her masthead the last part to disappear (do - c1 mile SE of Scarborough Castle; wi – wreck lies in 54.15.17N, 00.18.32W); 1 rating lost. Wreck stands upright and remains in one piece.

Passing, 459/1913, Grimsby-reg GY877, hired 8/14, 1-12pdr or 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.58, later 1542, Lt G Parsons. Badly holed (ap - first to be mined), down by the bows, badly on fire, steam-pipe severed and blowing off steam. Assisted by sweeping partner, then towed stern-first across Cayton Bay by paddle minesweeper Brighton Queen (SNO), beached on Scarborough Sands; no lives lost. Salvaged and put back into service.

Star of Britain, 228/1908, hired 9/14, Aberdeen-reg, Lt C Crossley RNR. Leaking badly from mines exploding close alongside, in danger of sinking but saved; no lives lost.

South Africa: Captain Fourie and Lieutenant Fourie condemned for high treason.

Political etc.

Germany lifts ban on the Polish language and awards military contracts to Polish-owned firms in order to win their support.

Prime Minister Salandra of Italy expresses hope that 1915 will mirror 1815, when the Napoleonic Wars ended and brought peace to Europe.

U.S. declines to protest the bombardment of British towns by German warships, as it wishes to remain uninvolved in European affairs.

British Government declare Khedive Abbas Hilmi deposed, and proclaim Prince Hussein Kamel Pasha as Sultan of Egypt.

Ship Losses:

HMT Orianda ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Scarborough, Yorkshire with the loss of a crew member. Survivors were rescued by HMS Brighton ( Royal Navy).
Tritonia ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Atlantic Ocean 22 nautical miles (41 km) north west of Tory Island, County Donegal.

http://i.imgur.com/gR8v0Ly.jpg

Sailor Steve

12-19-14, 01:42 PM

December 19:

Pacific Ocean: HMS Bristol and Glasgow travel down the coast of Chile, investigating all the inlets and coves along the way. HMS Inflexible proceeds southward, planning to return to The Falklands and then for home.

Indian Ocean: Hellmuth von Mücke has SS Choising repainted to look like a Dutch merchant.

Jimbuna

12-20-14, 10:42 AM

20th December 1914

Western Front

Battle of Givenchy continued.

First Battle of Champagne begins.

Furious German attacks on Indian troops.

German troops abandon the Belgian town of Diksmuide in the face of the Allied advance.

Eastern Front

Poland: Russians holding the Bzura against heavy German assaults.

Galicia: Russians begin to counter-attack and to recover the Carpathian Passes.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Armenia: Russians defeat the Turks near Lake Van.

Naval and Overseas Operations

French submarine Curie is sunk by Austria-Hungary outside of Pola; three of her crew are killed, the rest are captured.
http://i.imgur.com/KX3xFb1.jpg

North Sea
Two hired auxiliaries mined in the Kolberg-laid Scarborough field:

Valiant, Admiralty yacht, 1,855/1893, hired 18/11/14, Cdr C Barlow RNR (Adm Rtd), heading for Cromarty. Mined off Filey about 0900, propellers and rudder blown off, two trawlers brought her into Scarborough. Next day, taken in tow by yacht Eileen for the Humber and on to Isle of Wight for repairs; no lives lost.
GARMO, Admiralty trawler, 203/1900, Ocean Steam Fishing, Grimsby-reg GY1165, hired 11/14, believed as patrol vessel (He – minesweeper), armed, Admiralty No.810, Skipper Thaddeus Gilbert RNR, on patrol rather than minesweeping (He – minesweeping). Mined about an hour after Valiant, turned right over and sank off Scarborough (wi - 3.5 miles SE of Scarborough Castle, in 54.15.12N, 00.17.06W); skipper died of injuries from the explosion and five ratings lost, survivors saved by HM Drifter Principal.

Dover Straits
Two Admiralty blockships, purchased for scuttling in the gap between Admiralty Pier and Southern Breakwater at Dover:
MONTROSE, passenger-cargo liner, 7,207/1897, 443ft, (D - 4,452grt, 365ft), famous for carrying murderer Dr. Crippen and his mistress across the Atlantic in 1910 only for them to be arrested after the captain had sent a wireless message ahead, Canadian Pacific Railway, London-reg, purchased 28 October, fitted with large gantries for hanging anti-torpedo nets, filled with cement and ready for scuttling. (wi – 28 December 1916) - Broke loose from moorings within the harbour during a gale, drifted through the entrance and on towards Goodwin Sands, grounded near East Goodwin LV on South Sand Head (wi - in 51.14.56N, 01.34.12E).
LIVONIAN, 4,017/1881, 420ft, Glasgow-reg, Allan Line SS, purchased 1914. Shortly after loss of Montrose - Scuttled on west side of entrance.

South Africa: Captain Fourie shot; his brother's sentence commuted.

Political etc.

Germany announces measures to intern all Frenchmen in the country between the ages of 16 and 60.

Kaiser Wilhelm’s health improves after several days of illness; he visits a reserve hospital at Potsdam.

Former President Taft states he is glad President Roosevelt’s Progressive Party has declined in power after the 1912 election.

Ship Losses:

Curie ( French Navy): The Brumaire-class submarine was scuttled at Pula, Austria-Hungary. She was later refloated and entered service as U-14 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy).
HMT Garmo ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of five of her crew.
Montrose ( United Kingdom): The ocean liner was wrecked on the Goodwin Sands, Kent.

http://i.imgur.com/Up8Ae5F.jpg

Sailor Steve

12-20-14, 11:58 AM

December 20:

South America: HMS Invincible reaches Montevideo. Admiral Sturdee replies to Fisher's message, explaining that he had assumed that Lüdeke would have tried to coal Dredsen in secret rather than openly sail into a neutral port.

Jimbuna

12-21-14, 08:32 AM

21st December 1914

Western Front

British troops aid the Indians at Givenchy to repel the Germans.

Eastern Front

Poland: Vain German efforts to cross the Bzura.

Aviation

First German air raid on England. Aeroplane drops bombs in sea near Dover.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Jasin (East Africa) occupied by British forces.

Political etc.

Georges Weill, a missing German Deputy of Metz, is found serving in the French Army.
Picture from 1933
http://i.imgur.com/6ZJNQAY.jpg

Pope Benedict XV orders that all bishops in belligerent nations should provide chaplains to POWs who can speak the prisoners’ language.

Bulgaria assures Britain, France, and Russia that it will remain neutral in the War.

Kings of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark agree to stand together and preserve their neutrality in the war.

http://i.imgur.com/mpaaciZ.gif

Sailor Steve

12-21-14, 11:29 AM

December 21:

Dover, England: Kptlt.z.S. Stephan von Prandzynski, flying a Friedrichshaven FF.29 two-seat floatplane, attempts to drop two hand bombs on the Admiralty Pier at Dover. Both miss widely, exploding in the bay. It is the first recorded German air raid on Britain.

- Walter J. Boyne, The Influence of Air Power Upon History; Pelican Publishing Company, Louisiana, USA, 2003

(Some sources give the plane as a Taube monoplane. This is the only source I could find which gives the name of the pilot.)

Meditteranean Sea: In the Strait of Otranto, which separates the Adriatic and Ionian seas and Italy from Albania, Austro-Hungarian submarine K.u.K. SM U-12, commanded by Egon Lerch, puts one torpedo into the French battleship Jean Bart. The torpedo hits the bow, missing the magazine but destroying the wine locker. Jean Bart will spend three months at Malta undergoing repairs.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/JeanBartTorpedo_zps49788a87.png (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/JeanBartTorpedo_zps49788a87.png.html)

Pacific Ocean: HMS Bristol and Glasgow are still steaming slowly down the Chilean coastline, serching every possible bay and river that might hide SMS Dresden.

HMS Inflexible begins her passage around Cape Horn on her way back to Port Stanley. At one point she is less than 50 miles from Dresden's actual hiding place in Hewett Bay.

Atlantic Ocean: Underway from Montevideo to the Abrolhos Rocks, HMS Invincible stops to investigate SS Ague, a British freighter.

Indian Ocean: Aboard SS Choising, Kptlt von Mücke and his officers come to two decisions. First is that with the discovery from newspapers of the declaration of war between Turkey and Britain their best plan of action would be to try to reach the Ottoman Turkish Empire. Second is that painting Choising in Dutch colors might raise questions if they encounter a Dutch warship. Von Mücke orders the ship to be repainted to represent an Italian Merchant. The name "Shenir, Genoa" is painted on the stern and artistic crewmen are put to work making an Italian flag.

Jimbuna

12-22-14, 10:32 AM

22nd December 1914

Western Front

Battle of Givenchy begins to die down; British positions held.

French make progress towards Noyon.

Eastern Front

Fresh sortie from Przemysl repulsed by Russians.

German army that invaded northern Poland is forced to retreat from the Vistula River and back to the Prussian frontier.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Raid by rebels under Maritz; loyal Boers defeated.

Political, etc.

France: Meeting of the Chambers; M. Viviani makes statement concerning the war. Premier Viviani declares France will not stop fighting until its lost territories are restored and Belgium is liberated.

French General Joffre announces that 24 generals have been forced to retire due to unfitness and/or incompetence.

Great Britain: Admiral Sir G.A. Callaghan appointed to the Nore.

Ghent, Belgium, is ordered to provide a million cigars, a million cigarettes, and 90,000 pounds of tobacco for German troops for Christmas.

In St. Petersburg, it is reported that 4 consecutive days have passed without an arrest for drunkenness, which is a record.

Ship Losses:

Brazil ( United Kingdom): The steam barge was in collision with Megantic ( United Kingdom) at Liverpool, Lancashire and sank. Her crew were rescued.

German Submarine "U-10" at full speed.
http://i.imgur.com/44P2oyh.jpg

Sailor Steve

12-22-14, 11:10 AM

December 22:

Pacific Ocean: HMS Bristol and Glasgow are still investigating the Chilean coastline. Commodore Stoddart orders Kent and Orama to the Pacific to join in the search, while Newcastle and IJNS Asama and Idzumo move down from the north to be placed under his command.

Tierra del Fuego: SMS Dresden is seen by a passing schooner. Captain Lüdeke orders the ship moved. They search several inlets, finally settling on a small bay that is unmarked on the charts and has no name.

Atlantic Ocean: HMS Invincible stops to investigate another freighter, which turns out to be the British SS Palmer. She also records sighting several sailing vessels.

HMS Inflexible sights Cape Saint John, Isla de los Estados, Argentina. She is past the Horn and officially back in the Atlantic.

Jimbuna

12-23-14, 11:10 AM

23rd December 1914

Western Front

Belgians cross the Yser and establish themselves on right bank of Dixmude.

Eastern Front

Poland: Germans succeed in crossing the Bzura at two points.

Galicia: Russians compelled to raise the siege of Cracow.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Egypt: Arrival of Australian and New Zealand troops at Cairo.

Political, etc.

Captain Piper, commander of the SMS Yorck, is court-martialed and sentenced to two years imprisonment for losing the ship. The SMS Yorck was sunk after hitting a friendly mine off Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
http://i.imgur.com/wAheCgF.png

French Parliament votes in a $1.7 billion ($40.1 billion today) appropriation bill for the coming half-year.

In a Christmas message to the belligerent nations, Pope Benedict declares, “Lay down your arms!”

Ship Losses:

Ocana ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 75 nautical miles (139 km) north east by east of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire with the loss of nine of her crew.

http://i.imgur.com/MdmSZxO.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/aZwxFVN.png

Sailor Steve

12-23-14, 01:19 PM

December 23:

Pacific Ocean: HMS Bristol and Glasgow arrive back at Vallenar Road and recoal. Armoured Cruiser HMS Kent spends the day patrolling the same area. HMS Newcastle is on her way south to Valparaiso.

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands: HMS Inflexible arrives at Port William and recoals.

Jimbuna

12-24-14, 08:52 AM

24th December 1914

Western Front

British bomb German airsheds at Brussels.

Dover bombed by German aeroplane.

French successes at Perthes-les-Hurlus (Champagne) and Consenvoye (Meuse).

Eastern Front

Reported rising of Romanians in Transylvania.

Armenian volunteers (pictured) are deployed by Russia in the battle of Sarikamish against the Ottomans:
http://i.imgur.com/0qcrV0m.png

Naval and Overseas Operations

Portguese Colony of Angola (south-west Africa) invaded by Germans.

Ship Losses:

Oceana ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of all but one of her crew.

Political, etc.

Morocco: Great Britain recognises French Protectorate.

Japan states it has not been asked by the Allies to send troops to Europe, but has sent arms to Europe valued at $5 million.

Fifty Filipinos are caught by police and charged with plotting an uprising against U.S. rule.

134,000 German and 225,000 Austrian prisoners claimed by Russia to date.

“Soldiers Themselves May Call Xmas Truce” from the NY Tribune:
http://i.imgur.com/SsHfXyv.png

Sailor Steve

12-24-14, 01:08 PM

December 24:

Dover: A second raid by a Friedrichshaven FF.29 is successful to a point. A bomb falls in the garden of a Dover citizen, causing about £40 worth of damage. No one is hurt.

It is the first bomb ever to fall on English soil.

Falkland Islands: HMS Inflexible departs Port William for Europe.

Oberon

12-25-14, 08:12 AM

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02962/Soldiers_of_the_5t_2962581b.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODTSp61_qEs&feature=player_detailpage#t=82

Jimbuna

12-25-14, 12:07 PM

25th December 1914

Unofficial ceasefire along the Western Front is reported. Thousands of soldiers leave their trenches to fraternize.

Football matches and exchanges of gifts occur along the Western Front. British and German soldiers.

German and British troops near Ypres decorates their trenches with Christmas trees and candles and begin singing carols.

http://i.imgur.com/3CgyyIZ.png

http://i.imgur.com/nAfXIDP.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/bLRAi3s.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/IFDlRwZ.jpg

Sailor Steve

12-25-14, 03:03 PM

December 25:

Western Front:

After dark on the 24th German troops start singing Christmas Carols. German and British troops both applaud and shout Christmas greetings to each other.

"A scout named F. Murker went out and met a German patrol and was given a glass of whisky and some cigars, and a message was sent back saying that if we didn't fire at them they would not fire at us.
-Sir Edward Hulse, Scots Guards

Hulse also wrote that at 08:30 four Germans approached the British lines. He went to meet them. "Their spokesman started off by saying that he thought it only right to come over and wish us a happy Christmas, and trusted us implicitly to keep the truce. He came from Suffolk where he had left his best girl and a 3 ½ h.p. motor-bike."

The opposing troops start meeting in No-Man's Land and exchanging gifts of chocolate and tobacco. At one point a game of football is begun, which the British say they lost 3-2. Other units arrange to organize parties to bury the bodies of their fallen comrades. All through the British areas of the lines, and a small part of French and Belgian sectors, this goes on. It is almost always the Germans who initiate the impromptu proceedings.

"Most peculiar Christmas I've ever spent and ever likely to. One could hardly believe the happenings."
-J. Davey, sapper

"I think I have seen one of the most extraordiary sights today that anyone has ever seen. About 10 o'clock this morning I was peeping over the parapet when I saw a German, waving his arms, and presently two of them got out of their trenches and came towards ours. We were just going to fire on them when we saw they had no rifles so one of our men went out to meet them and in about two minutes the ground between the two lines of trenches was swarming with men and officers of both sides, shaking hands and wishing each other a happy Christmas. For the rest of the day nobody has fired a shot and the men have been wandering about at will on the top of the parapet and carrying straw and firewood about in the open. We have also had joint burial parties for some dead - some German and some ours - who were lying out between the lines."
-2nd Lt. Dougan Chater, letter to his mother

"No shooting was exchanged all day, and last night absolute stillness."
-Victor Chapman, American member of the French Foreign Legion

On other parts of the front there is no truce. At Alsace the French Foreign Legion continues fighting, and regular French and German troops are battling each other at Steinbach.

At Wittenberg, near Berlin, Russian prisoners start dying from an outbreak of typhus.

War In The Air:

Yet another British raid on the Zeppelin sheds, this time at Cuxhaven. It is too far for land-based planes to fly, so a force of three seaplane tenders, HMS Empress, Engadine and Riviera make the attack, escorted by a force of light cruisers, destroyers and submarines.

Seven aircraft are involved, all of them various types of Short floatplanes, each carrying three 20-pound bombs. There were nine intended, three from each carrier, but two are unable to take off. The seven planes begin their journey in weather that is just above freezing. Due to heavy fog the group cannot find their intended target, and proceed to drop their bombs on targets of opportunity. They find part of the High Seas Fleet anchored at Schilling and drop their bombs there. No hits are scored. Three of the planes made it back to their tenders, three landed near the island of Nordeney and their crews were picked up the British submarine E-11, and the last ditched in the sea. The pilot, Flt. Lt. Francis E.T. Hewlett, was listed as missing but was actually picked up by the Dutch trawler Marta van Hattem.

The naval force was attacked by two Friedrichshaven floatplanes and the Zeppelin L-6, but also suffered no damage.

England, Thames Estuary: Yet another attack by a Friedrichshaven FF.29 is foiled when Lt. M.R. Chidson and observer Cpl. Martin, in a Vickers FB.4 (forerunner of the famous FB.5 Gunbus) attempt to shoot it down. Martin's Lewis gun jams, but he has nine phosphorous rounds for his carbine. The German plane dives away and the British pilots report it as a kill, but it turns out later that the plane made it home safely.

Lieutenant Louis Strange leaves his squadron Christmas party, climbs into his Avro 504 alone, crosses enemy lines and drops a soccer ball on the opposing German airfield.

Pacific Ocean: Stoddart's light cruisers spend Christmas Day combing the Chilean coast for SMS Dresden.

Strait of Magellan, Cape Horn: The crew of Dresden name their hiding place Weihnachts (Christmas) Bay.

German East Africa: The crews of HMS Chatham and SMS Königsberg exchange Christmas greetings via wireless. One of the British messages refers to the fact that they are stuck at sea during the holiday:

"Kony we wish you the best of good cheer;
but blame you for stopping our Xmas beer."

Jimbuna

12-26-14, 01:50 PM

26th December 1914

Western Front

French airmen bomb German airsheds at Frescati, near Metz.

French progress in Alsace, above Cernay.

Eastern Front

Poland: Germans abandon attempt to capture Warsaw by direct attack across the Bzura.

Naval

North Sea

Two auxiliaries lost in gales:

FAIR ISLE, Admiralty trawler, 192/1909, R H Charlton, Granton-reg GN70, hired 1914 as minesweeper (wi - patrol trawler), 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.263, (wi - A Wilson, Capt). Ran aground at 1815 in heavy weather in Sinclair Bay, N of Wick, Caithness (wi - in 58.30N, 03.07.30W), abandoned as wreck; no lives lost. Salved and refloated 1917, repaired as Grimsby GY820, rehired April 1917 by Admiralty as minesweeper, in service to 1920.

TOM TIT, Admiralty trawler, 169/1904, Kelsall Brothers & Beeching, Hull-reg H35, hired 11/14 as minesweeper (D/He - auxiliary patrol vessel), Admiralty No.424, Skipper John CarIton RNR. Driven ashore around 1030 in gale and wrecked near Peterhead, N of Aberdeen (wi - in 57.30N, 01.46W); no lives lost from Tom Tit, but local lifeboat Alexander Tulloch was wrecked while assisting and lost three of her crew.

German battlecruiser GOEBEN. Late on the 21st, Russian minelayers, with long range cover provided by the Russian Battle Squadron, lay a field just off the Bosphorus. Two days later, the Russians attempt a blockship operation against Zonguldak. As German light cruiser BRESLAU sails to meet the GOEBEN returning from escorting troop transports to Trebizond, she encounters the blockships, sinking two. GOEBEN returns on her own to Constantinople, and as she does, hits two of the earlier-laid, Russian mines only a mile off the Bosphorus entrance on the 26th. Badly damaged, she is largely out of action until May 1915, a severe blow to the Turkish Navy.

Aviation

German Zeppelin drops 14 bombs on Nancy, in the first Zeppelin attack against a French city.

Germany launches a second aerial attack on Britain; this time over Sheerness.

Political etc.

British authorities raid a spirit supply firm on the suspicion that it aided German submarines and aircraft by providing fuel.

France debates on whether or not to employ Japanese troops in the Western theater.

Czarist Russia gives the Empire of Japan Sakhalin Island in exchange for heavy weaponry.
http://i.imgur.com/uCZFOwS.png

Ship Losses:

HMT Fair Isle ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler was lost on this date.
Leersum ( Netherlands): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Filey, Yorkshire, United Kingdom with the loss of two of her twenty crew.
Linaria ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) north north east of Filey.

Sailor Steve

12-26-14, 03:12 PM

December 26:

Cape Horn: HMS Bristol and Glasgow enter the Strait of Magellan in their search for SMS Dresden.

HMS Carnarvon, operating out of Bahia Fortescue, stops the German freighter SS Sierra Cordoba, carrying supplies for Dresden. The British armoured cruiser can do nothing as they are in Chilean territorial waters and are being watched by a destroyer from that country. After dark Sierra Cordoba manages to elude Carnarvon.

Atlantic Ocean: At 0527 HMS Invincible anchors at Abrolhos Rocks. HMS Canopus arrives there at 0852.

Jimbuna

12-27-14, 07:58 AM

27th December 1914

Western Front

Germans bombard St. Die (north Vosges), Belgians take German trenches and prisoners east of Lombartzyde.

Eastern Front

Poland: Germans defeated by Russians at Skiernevitse.

Russians occupy Carpathian passes again.

Naval

North Sea

Five ships of the Grand Fleet damaged in collision or by heavy weather:

Monarch and Conqueror, dreadnoughts, Orion-class, 25,870t, 1911, 2nd BS, returning to Scapa Flow with the Fleet, entering narrow entrance of the Pentland Firth in the dark and a whole gale. Monarch stopped to avoid a patrol trawler, and Conqueror rammed her. Monarch's stern stove in, reached Scapa, left on 29th for repairs at Devonport, returned 20 February 1915; no lives lost. Conqueror fractured stempiece and badly damaged starboard forepart, extensive underwater injuries, brought into Scapa, special salvage plant sent up from Liverpool, patched up by around 18 January, arrived Invergordon 24th for further work, headed south for full repairs, not back in action for a considerable time; no lives lost. With the loss of Audacious, 2nd BS Grand Fleet was down from 8 to 5 ships.

Hope, Redpole, Ruby, destroyers, H-class, 970t, 2nd DF. All damaged by the gale force conditions, sent to dockyards for repairs; HMS Hope lost one man drowned.

SUCCESS, destroyer, B-class, 425t, 1901, 1‑12pdr/5‑6pdr/2‑18in tt, 30kts, 63 crew, Pennant No.D.24, possibly serving with Forth-based 8th Patrol Flotilla, Lt William Pennefather, sailed from Aberdeen on the 26th after coaling and heading for Rosyth, port shaft appeared damaged and run at slower speed than starboard one, weather bad with fog. No account taken of the defective shaft, the strength of the wind, and approaching the coast at night. Ran aground off Fife Ness (wi - on Cambo Sands, Kingsbarns, just NW of Fife Ness, in 56.18N, 02.37.36W) around 0500, still on the 27th. Progressively flooded, including engine room and most compartments by 31st, and abandoned; no lives lost, crew believed taken off on the 27th by two local lifeboats, Not refloated, later heavily salvaged, only keel remains buried in the sand.

Ship Losses:

Niggem ( United Kingdom): The coaster foundered in the Mediterranean Sea whilst on a voyage from Alexandria, Egypt to Barcelona, Spain. Eight of her crew survived.
HMS Success ( Royal Navy) The B-class destroyer foundered in the North Sea off Fife Ness.

Political etc.

Governor General Harrison of the Philippines admits that there is an insurrection ongoing in the colony.

Charles Martin Hall, the man who brought aluminium to the world, died.
http://i.imgur.com/r8NEXbo.jpg

Sailor Steve

12-27-14, 11:28 AM

December 27:

England: A large group of anti-war Christians hold a four-day meeting at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. One of the main topics of discussion is International Morality (coming to the aid of France) versus Christian Morality (war is evil).

Germany: Sir Roger Casement's recruiting drive has netted a total of fifty-five Irish prisoners, of whom only ten are considered trustworthy. Casement signs a secret treaty with German Foreign Minister Gottlieb von Jagow, stating that in the event of a German naval victory over Britain his small contingent will land in Ireland with a supporting group of German soldiers.

Atlantic Ocean: HMS Invincible underway for Pernambuco , Brazil.

HMS Bristol and Glasgow anchor at Port Tamar, at the western end of the Strait of Magellan.

Jimbuna

12-28-14, 09:08 AM

28th December 1914

Western Front

Village of St. Georges, near Nieuport, recovered by the Belgians and French.

Eastern Front

Poland: Germans in retreat; entrench west of Bzura.

Southern Front

Montenegrins repel Austrians at Grahovo.

Overseas

End of organised rebellion in South Africa.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Armenia: Turks repulsed from Sarikamish; they begin a disastrous retreat.

Naval and Overseas Operations

North Sea: Drifting German mines destroy eight vessels.

Ship Losses:

Hemisphere ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was captured in the Atlantic Ocean 400 nautical miles (740 km) north east of Pernambuco, Brazil by SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was scuttled on 8 January 1915.

Political etc.

London authorities warn that civilians should take cover whenever they hear the firing of guns or explosives.

USS North Carolina threatens to shell the town of Tripoli, Syria unless Ottoman authorities permit British and French consuls to leave.

http://i.imgur.com/GMVgfp6.jpg

Sailor Steve

12-28-14, 12:12 PM

December 28:

Cape Horn: HMS Bristol and Glasgow investigate several bays inside the Strait of Magellan - Xaultiqua Gulf, which includes Lagartiga Island, Port Gomez, Gaharino Bay, Termino Cou and Sphinx Island; Cape Cooper Key, Marsh Basin, Arathorn Bay, Snowy Inlet, Bahia Fortescue, Rupert Island, and finally anchoring at Port Bower.

HMS Newcastle meanwhile is patrolling the ocean reaches off Valparaiso.

Atlantic Ocean: HMS Invincible's log contains a list of items destroyed during the fight with Spee's squadron on the 8th - 12 signal flags, 6 fire buckets, 5 blocks of wood, 1 hatchet, 3 deck clocks, 1 iron claw, 4 coaling whips, 11 coaling ropes, 8 life bouys, 2 megaphones, 6 large hazelwood fenders, 2 wood buckets, 2 large and 1 small fenders, 20 brooms, an unspecified number of coal shoots, 2 searchlight cases and 3 gun cases.

Invincible also encounters the Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Celtic.

Jimbuna

12-29-14, 01:51 PM

29th December 1914

Western Front

French beat off German attempts to recover St. Georges.

Success at Apremont (Arg.).

Eastern Front

Galicia: Austrians in retreat; hard pressed by Russians.

Battle of Sarikamish (Caucasus) begins.

Southern Front

Albanians, incited by Austrians, attack Montenegrin posts and are repulsed.

Naval and Overseas Operations

British squadron active on Belgian coast.

Political, etc.

British gov. orders that alien residents of belligerent nations should leave the coastal towns adjoining Tyneside district and Sunderland.

U.S.A.: Note presented to Great Britain concerning treatment of American commerce.

British Government send memorandum to United States Government in defence of British blockade policy.

Figures reveal that the total loss of shipping due to the War amounts to $40.2 million, with $10 million falling on Scandinavia and Holland.

British naval experts state that the German navy is engaging in a “reckless war on commerce.”

Ship Losses:

Apollo ( United Kingdom): The tug sank at Harwich, Essex during a storm.

http://i.imgur.com/9riH2bg.gif

Sailor Steve

12-29-14, 04:01 PM

December 29:

Cape Horn: HMS Bristol and Glasgow investigate the region from Bahia Fortescue to Punta Arenas. Their sister HMS Newcastle is working her way down the coast of Chile while the armored cruiser HMS Kent patrols the area around Coronel.

Atlantic Ocean: At 1108 HMS Invincible arrives at the port of Recife, at Pernambuco, Brazil. At 1625 she weighs anchor and departs for St Vincent.

Jimbuna

12-30-14, 10:33 AM

30th December 1914

Western Front

Dunkirk attacked by German aeroplanes.

Eastern Front

Poland: Germans fight violent rearguard actions at Bolimov and Inovlodz.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British Consul at Hodeida (Red Sea) not yet released by Turks.

Political etc.

Germany announces that Belgian borders will be closed off to all unauthorized personnel, starting on January 1st.

British India’s government announces it will restrict wheat exports to only British possessions.

Russian Commander-in-Chief (Grand Duke Nicholas) suggests a British expedition against the Turks to ease Russian situation in the Caucasus.

Train carrying hundreds of soldiers returning to the front crashes in Stengel, Germany.
http://i.imgur.com/WfEUdPT.png

Ship Losses:

Giuseppe Vicava ( Italy): The barque ran aground in the Atlantic Ocean 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) off Pensacola, Florida, United States.
Ivy ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of all five crew.
Stranton ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship collided with Benvorlich in The Downs and foundered. All eighteen crew survived.

Sailor Steve

12-30-14, 02:11 PM

December 30:

Cape Horn: HMS Bristol and Glasgow move from Punta Arenas to Sholl Bay, where they encounter HMS Carnarvon.

Atlantic Ocean: HMS Inflexible communicates with armed merchant cruiser HMS Celtic, which had also encountered Invincible two days earlier.

Jimbuna

12-31-14, 02:05 PM

31st December 1914

Western Front

Artillery duels on whole front; especially round St. Georges, La Bassee, Roye and Verdun.

French recover port of Steinbach (Alsace).

Eastern Front

Poland and Galicia: Austro-German retreat.

Hungary: Once more raided over the Passes.

Southern Front

Serbia: Preparations to meet new Austrian invasion.

Overseas, Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Indian Expeditionary Force "C" (East Africa) absorbed into Indian Expeditionary Force "B".

Egypt: Preparations to meet expected Turkish attack complete.

Political, etc.

RMS Lusitania is paying $50,000 ($1.18 million today) per trip as premium for its war insurance.

Greek Prime Minister declares that the nation is ready to mobilize at any moment necessary.

Karl Liebknecht, German socialist member of the Reichstag, calls on British socialists to unite and urges “war against war.”

Prussian losses to date, 753,000.

Naval

British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 26 ships of 49,000 tons gross. Total since outbreak of war - 165 ships of 324,000 tons gross (Lloyd's War Losses).

Ship Losses:

Daito Maru No.2 ( Japan): The cargo ship foundered in the East China Sea off Port Hamilton, Korea with the loss of 24 of her 32 crew.
Jean ( France): The barque was set afire and sunk 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) off Easter Island by SMS Prinz Eitel Friedrich ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Manja Maru ( Japan): The cargo ship collided with Tosan Maru at Tokyo and sank.

http://i.imgur.com/9NvjYAT.png

Sailor Steve

12-31-14, 05:21 PM

December 31:

The Admiralty, London: Sometime between his receipt of the reply from Admiral Sturdee on December 18th and the end of the month First Sea Lord Admiral Fisher sends a message to Admiral Jellicoe, citing what he calls "Sturdee's criminal ineptitude in not sending a vessel to Punta Arenas after the action on December 8." Fisher has not yet replied to Sturdee himself.

Pacific Ocean: Back on December 11th the armed merchant cruiser SMS Prinz Eitel Friedrich captured the French Barque Jean, and kept her as a collier. Now the coal has run out. Jean is scuttled by gunfire and all the captured crews are put ashore at Easter Island.

Cape Horn: HMS Bristol and Glasgow take their search to the narrows around the area of Punta Dungenes, at the Atlantic (east) entrance to the Strait of Magellan. HMS Carnarvon searches the area of Bahia Willes, south of Punta Arenas.

Jimbuna

01-01-15, 08:42 AM

1st January 1915

Western Front

French take a wood near Mesnil-les-Hurlus, Champagne.

Eastern Front

German troops make another attempted crossing across the River Bzura in order to advance towards Warsaw.

Russians advance on the Uzsok Pass and in the Bukovina.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Heavy fighting at Sarikamish (Russian Armenia).

Ottoman troops begin readying for an attack against the Suez Canal and prepares pontoon bridges for crossings.

Naval and Overseas Operations

HMS Formidable, a pre-dreadnought battleship, is torpedoed twice by the U-24 and is sunk.
FORMIDABLE, battleship, Formidable-class, 15,800t, 1898, 4-12in/12-6in/18-12pdr/4-18in tt, 18kts, c800 crew, Pennant No.50, 5th BS, Capt Arthur Loxley, flagship Vice-Adm Sir Lewis Bayly, Commander-in‑Chief, Channel Fleet, Squadron based at Sheerness but now less HMS Bulwark. Sailed 30 December for firing practice off Portland, escorted by six Harwich Force destroyers as far as Folkestone where they turned back as the Channel was believed free of U-boats, now only accompanied by attached light cruiser Topaze of 5th BS and Diamond of 6th. Reaching Portland at daybreak on New Year's Day, 6th BS did not enter harbour but exercised 25 miles from Portland Bill for most of the day, Adm Bayly decided to stay at sea and to be ready for further exercises next day, headed for a position south of the Isle of Wight. Abreast of the Needles at 1900, and in accordance with Fleet Orders that if there was any possibilty of a submarine attack a course change should be made just after dark, the squadron turned back with the two cruisers following, sailing a straight course for Start Point, Devon ready to turn again, Formidable now at rear, sea rough, night cloudy with visibility two miles. Torpedoed by U.24 (Rudolph Schneider) starboard side abreast foremost funnel at 0220 (He - 0230), engine-room flooded and ship listed 20° to starboard, at 0230 Formidable was seen to fall out of line, Topaze came up to find her lowering launch, pinnace and two barges, one of which capsized in the now violent seas. About 0305 a second torpedo hit port-side abreast after funnel, rising sea and wind and intense darkness made rescue difficult for Topaze and Diamond. With bows now awash, Formidable began to heel rapidly to starboard around 0445, settling by the bow, abandon ship was ordered and she sank (dx - 21 mile E of Start Point; ke - 25 miles off Portland; wi - off Start Point, in 50.13.12N, 03.03.58W); 547 men drowned or died of exposure - 34 officers including Capt Loxley, 511 ratings and 2 canteen staff (He - 35 officers and 512 men died, and 233 survived; ke - 233 survivors), Topaze took off 43 men from the barge, Diamond rescued 37, the launch got clear, picked up more men, then was found at noon near Berry Head by Brixham trawler Provident and her crew of 4 who took off all 71 in gale-force winds before the launch sank. Another boat drifted ashore near Lyme Regis with 46 men.
http://i.imgur.com/EE50AVF.jpg

Political, etc.

Institution of the Military Cross announced (Warrant of 28 December 1914).

Following St. Petersburg's example, Moscow also puts a ban on all alcoholic drinks inside the city.

Ship Losses:

HMS Formidable ( Royal Navy): The Formidable-class battleship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 20 nautical miles (37 km) off Start Point, Devon by SM U-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 512 of her 780 crew. Seventy-one of the survivors were rescued by the fishing trawler Provident ( United Kingdom).
Mary Agnes ( United Kingdom): The schooner was driven ashore at Rosslare Strand, County Wexford. Her crew were rescued.
Obidense ( Norway): The cargo ship foundered in the North Sea on the Shipwash Sands. All 44 crew were rescued by the Harwich Lifeboat, a Royal Navy destroyer and a British collier.
Otto ( Russia): The three-masted schooner ran aground at Weymouth, Dorset United Kingdom and was declared a constructive total loss. She was rebuilt at Whitstable, Kent in 1918 and sold to a Belgian buyer.

http://i.imgur.com/o9ojBTk.jpg

Sailor Steve

01-01-15, 12:42 PM

January 1, 1915:

English Channel: Kapitanleutnant Rudolf Schneider of U-24 has been following the British 5th Battle Squadron since the previous morning. He has counted eight battleships escorted by two light cruisers. There are no destroyers in sight. He is greatly frustrated because the enemy's cruising speed of 10 knots is much faster than he can make submerged, and he doesn't dare surface in during daylight hours. At nightfall he loses sight of his targets. He then surfaces to recharge his badly depleted batteries.

Squadron Commander Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly records "At 7 PM the fleet turned 16 points (90 degrees) in accordance with an Admiralty Fleet Order requiring an alteration of course soon after dark in areas where a submarine attack was possible. At 2 AM, when near Start Point, the Fleet turned 16 points in succession." The squadron has now reversed its previous course and is heading strait back towards U-24.

Schneider sees the group looming out of the dark and orders an immediate dive. At 0150 he fires his first torpedo, which misses. Since the night is moonless and dark he decides to take the risk and surfaces. At full speed he circles around the rear of the British squadron and rushes forward to gain a good position. At 0225 Schneider fires his second torpedo at the last battleship in line, the old pre-dreadnought HMS Formidable. The big ship is hit amidships and immediately begins to take on a list. At 0315 U-24 fires a third torpedo and Formidable takes a second hit. At 0445 HMS Formidable rolls over onto her back and sinks beneath the waves.

The loss of Formidable will have serious repercussions at the Admiralty, with yet another round of leading admirals trying to place the blame on each other.

Cape Horn: HMS Bristol and Glasgow make their way back into the Strait of Magellan, anchoring at Punta Eugenia, on the Chilean (southern) side of the channel.

German East Africa: British Captain Sidney Drury-Lowe of HMS Chatham sends German Kapitanleutnant Max Looff of SMS Königsberg a New Year's greeting in German: "Wir wünschen Ihnen ein glückliches neues Jahar und hoffen, Sie bald zu sehen." ("We wish you a happy new year and hope to see you soon.")

Looff replies in English, "Thanks. Same to you. If you want to see me I am always at home."