100 Years Ago Today [Archive] - SUBSIM Radio Room Forums

Oberon

07-29-14, 12:00 PM

29th July 1914.

A series of telegrams (later known as the 'Willy-Nicky conference') are dispatched between Berlin and St Petersburg, as Berlin seeks to prevent the Austria/Serbian war from spreading into a larger conflict.

29 July 1914, 1 a.m. Peter's Court Palais, 29 July 1914
Sa Majesté l'Empereur
Neues Palais
Am glad you are back. In this serious moment, I appeal to you to help me. An ignoble war has been declared to a weak country. The indignation in Russia shared fully by me is enormous. I foresee that very soon I shall be overwhelmed by the pressure forced upon me and be forced to take extreme measures which will lead to war. To try and avoid such a calamity as a European war I beg you in the name of our old friendship to do what you can to stop your allies from going too far.

29 July 1914, 1.45 a.m. (this and the previous telegraph crossed) 28 July 1914
It is with the gravest concern that I hear of the impression which the action of Austria against Serbia is creating in your country.
The unscrupulous agitation that has been going on in Serbia for years has resulted in the outrageous crime, to which Archduke Francis Ferdinand fell a victim. The spirit that led Serbians to murder their own king and his wife still dominates the country.
You will doubtless agree with me that we both, you and me, have a common interest as well as all Sovereigns to insist that all the persons morally responsible for the dastardly murder should receive their deserved punishment. In this case politics plays no part at all.
On the other hand, I fully understand how difficult it is for you and your Government to face the drift of your public opinion. Therefore, with regard to the hearty and tender friendship which binds us both from long ago with firm ties, I am exerting my utmost influence to induce the Austrians to deal straightly to arrive to a satisfactory understanding with you. I confidently hope that you will help me in my efforts to smooth over difficulties that may still arise.
Your very sincere and devoted friend and cousin
Willy

29 July 1914, 6.30 p.m. Berlin, 29 July 1914

I received your telegram and share your wish that peace should be maintained. But as I told you in my first telegram, I cannot consider Austria's action against Servia an "ignoble" war. Austria knows by experience that Servian promises ono paper are wholly unreliable. I understand its action must be judged as trending to get full guarantee that the Servian promises shall become real facts. This my reasoning is borne out by the statement of the Austrian cabinet that Austria does not want to make any territorial conquests at the expense of Servia.
I therefore suggest that it would be quite possible for Russia to remain a spectator of the austro-servian conflict without involving Europe in the most horrible war she ever witnessed. I think a direct understanding between your Government and Vienna possible and desirable, and as I already telegraphed to you, my Government is continuing its exercises to promote it.
Of course military measures on the part of Russia would be looked upon by Austria as a calamity we both wish to avoid and jeopardize my position as mediator which I readily accepted on your appeal to my friendship and my help.
Willy

29 July 1914, 8.20 p.m. Peter's Court Palace, 29 July 1914
Thanks for your telegram conciliatory and friendly. Whereas official message presented today by your ambassador to my minister was conveyed in a very different tone. Beg you to explain this divergency! It would be right to give over the Austro-servian problem to the Hague conference. Trust in your wisdom and friendship.
Your loving Nicky

http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/willynicky.htm#Tsar%20to%20Kaiser,%2029%20July%201 914,%201%20a.m.

Russia commences partial troop mobilization, Germany cautions against this and begins mobilization herself. Austria-Hungarian monitor warships begin shelling Belgrade.

Sailor Steve

07-29-14, 12:32 PM

July 29:

Bulgaria declares neutrality.

The German Navy begins to mobilize. Prince Heinrich tells his brother the Kaiser that King George V had said "We shall try all we can to keep out of this and shall remain neutral." Admiral von Tirpitz expresses doubts about Britain's neutrality, and Wilhelm replies "I have the word of a king, and that is good enough for me." Alan Palmer, in his book The Kaiser, Warlord of the Second Reich, calls Heinrich's reporting "innacurate".

Tsar Nicholas II signs a partial mobilization order, to go into effect August 4.

Austro-Hungarian warships begin to attack Belgrade.

The British First Fleet (later renamed the Grand Fleet) completes its move to Scapa Flow.

Dread Knot

07-29-14, 02:17 PM

Austro-Hungarian warships begin to attack Belgrade.

Seems like a strange carry-over from the last major conflict on the planet, that the first shots of anger are fired by Austrian river monitors little different from those employed in the American Civil War.

http://www.borzsony.hu/imagebase/f1cc1f1f/14.jpg

Tribesman

07-29-14, 02:36 PM

Nice newspaper Oberon.
But this comment in the article suggests the journalist doesn't know much about the period.
- As well as the dispositions noted above, page 6 also contains a “Special Daily Telegraph War Map” although what exactly it is meant to illustrate is a tad unclear – it seems to be more about the main rail routes in Eastern Europe than anything

Sailor Steve

07-30-14, 11:59 AM

July 30: After much deliberation, Tsar Nicholas II signs an order for full Russian mobilization.

The Netherlands declares neutrality.

Oberon

07-30-14, 01:12 PM

http://www.germanculture.com.ua/july/0708belgrade.jpg

http://www.fold3.com/image/53862790/

Sailor Steve

07-31-14, 02:31 PM

July 31

Berlin: German Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg sends a telegram to Austrian Foreign Minister, Count Leopold Berhtold, asking Austria not to mobilise against Russia. At the same time General Helmuth von Moltke advises Austrian General Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf to mobilise immediately.

Germany gives Russia an ultimatum to halt all war mobilisation. Russia refuses.

Germany asks France for a guarantee of neutrality. France refuses.

French Ambassador to Germany Jules Cambon and Belgian Minister Baron Beyens write to the American Ambassador, James W. Gerard, asking him to intervene. Gerard writes to Bethmann-Hollweg, asking "Is there nothing my country can do? Nothing that I can do towards stopping this dreadful war?" He recieves no reply.

Industrialist Walther Rathenau publishes an article in the Berliner Tageblat saying that without Germany's blind loyalty to Austria, that nation would not have been so bold in her war policy.

Paris: Socialist leader Jean Jaurès, who has been trying to organize a peace movement, is assassinated. Most of France fully supports a war with Germany.

The London Stock Exchange closes. Stock Markets in Berlin, Rome and Vienna have already closed. To prevent massive selling and a possible crash, the New York Stock Exchange also closes.

TarJak

07-31-14, 05:31 PM

http://m.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/to-our-last-man-the-pledge-that-placed-us-on-a-great-war-footing/story-fn59niix-1227007854960?nk=df33c049ec5efe93129278333ae6e3e0

On the evening of July 31, Australian prime minister, Joseph Cook told an audience at Victoria’s Horsham Town Hall that “when the Empire is at war, so is Australia at war”

Opposition leader, Andrew Fisher speaking at a separate event in Colac on the same evening, used a more memorable turn of phrase:
“But should the worst happen after everything has been done that honour will permit, Australians will stand beside our own, to help and defend her, to our last man and our last shilling.”

Sailor Steve

08-01-14, 12:05 AM

:rock:

Thanks, Grant, for more insight and yet another viewpoint. The more information the better. :sunny:

Jimbuna

08-01-14, 06:04 AM

1st August

The Netherlands orders general mobilization of the Dutch Army.

Germany cancels the sailing of steamships from its ports, trapping many tourists and expatriates in the country.

Germany gives Russia a time limit of 12 hours to reverse mobilization and France 18 hours for it to declare neutrality.

Sailor Steve

08-01-14, 09:23 AM

August 1

Belgium proclaims armed neutrality. Britain and France both agree. Germany says nothing.

France begins to mobilize its army. Huge cheering crowds greet the men, and flowers decorate the cannon as they roll on their way.

When it is reported that the French Ministry of War feels that Russia should invade Germany, General Nikolai Golovin says this "was the equivalent of asking Russia to commit suicide." Tsar Nicholas sends one last telegram to the Kaiser: "Our long proved friendship must succeed, with God's help, in avoiding bloodshed."

At 1700 hours Kaiser Wilhelm orders mobilization of all German forces, and declares war on Russia at 1910 hours. He is still hoping that Britain might remain neutral and convince France to do so as well, if he guarantees that he will not attack France. Von Moltke points out that the Schlieffen plan is already in effect, German troops are about to sieze railways in Luxembourg, and there is no way to stop it now. At 2300 hours Wilhelm gives the order for the German army to begin its march westward.

In Britain, King George V is still hoping that war might be averted. He sends a telegram to his cousin the Tsar: "I cannot help thinking that some misunderstanding has produced this deadlock. I am most anxious not to miss any possibility of avoiding the terrible calamity which at present threatens the whole world."

When the German ambassador to Russia handed the war declation to Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Sazonoff, the minister said "This is a criminal act of yours. The curses of all nations will be upon you." The ambassador, Friedrich Pourtalès, replied "We are defending our honor." Sazonoff said "Your honor is not involved. You could have prevented war with one word; you didn't want to."

Deciding that "St. Petersburg" is too German-sounding, the move is immediately begun to change that city's name to Petrograd.

HunterICX

08-02-14, 06:00 AM

Iron Maiden pulls off something epic :rock:
A dogfight with WW1 aircraft as part of the concert with the singer Bruce flying a DR1 replica

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq9c78qsExU

Oberon

08-02-14, 06:47 AM

Bruce is a boss. :yep:

Otto Fuhrmann

08-02-14, 07:59 AM

Iron Maiden pulls off something epic :rock:
A dogfight with WW1 aircraft as part of the concert with the singer Bruce flying a DR1 replica

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq9c78qsExU

I think that's the coolest thing I have ever seen.... :rock:

Jimbuna

08-02-14, 08:31 AM

2nd August

Dr. Charles H. Mayo predicts a lower death rate in this war compared to previous conflicts due to advances in medicine.

Skirmish at Joncherey occurs as German cavalry illegally enters French territory and engage a French patrol. Jules-André Peugeot becomes the first French soldier to die in WWI, killed by a sabre of a German cavalryman.

In St. Petersburg, thousands gather at the Winter Palace Square, holding flags, banners, icons and portraits of Tsar Nicholas II.

Germany and the Ottoman Empire ratify a secret alliance treaty.

Sailor Steve

08-02-14, 12:00 PM

August 2

German troops occupy Luxembourg.

Germany delivers an ultimatum to Belgium, demanding that the German army be allowed to move through Belgian territory. Belgium refuses.

The French government appropriates fifty aircraft being constructed for Turkey.

The British government seizes two battleships also being built under a Turkish contract. Britain tells France that if German ships attack French shipping in the North Sea that the Royal Navy will provide assistance.

Schroeder

08-02-14, 12:15 PM

What is the single low wing German aircraft in the video?
It is a Junkers CL1. http://www.airpowerworld.info/ww1-fighter-planes/junkers-cl1.htm

Schroeder

08-02-14, 02:39 PM

Junkers had build the first all metal aircraft in 1915 (Junkers J1). The first military all metal plane was the Junkers D1 which then lead to the CL1.

Sailor Steve

08-02-14, 03:11 PM

Gee, what else didn't happen 100 years ago today?

Fr8monkey

08-02-14, 03:11 PM

WWI: Every Day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wGQGEOTf4E

TarJak

08-02-14, 07:59 PM

August 3 , With the outbreak of war in Europe imminent, the Australian Government offered to place vessels of the Royal Australian Navy under control of the British Admiralty and to raise a force of 20,000 troops.

Australia missed the memo on the British declaration of war. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/01/australia-missed-the-memo-about-start-of-first-world-war-archives-reveal

Jimbuna

08-03-14, 06:10 AM

Gee, what else didn't happen 100 years ago today?

Agreed....try to stay on topic.

Only one reported post thus far but others will probably follow if thread derailments continue.

Jimbuna

08-03-14, 06:14 AM

3rd August

10,000 men in Boston are laid off as shipments to Russia and Austria have stopped.

Belgium refuses the German ultimatum, which demanded free passage of German troops through the country. King Albert of Belgium in response to Kaiser Wilhelm: “What does he take me for?” and orders bridges over the Meuse to be destroyed and commands Liége fortresses “to hold to the end…”

German General Staff expects Belgium to offer no resistance other than a small show of force.

Sailor Steve

08-03-14, 11:17 AM

August 3

British mobilization order is given.

Germany declares war on France. German troops march into Belgium.

In Munich, Austrian citizen Adolf Hitler petitions King Ludwig III of Bavaria to be allowed to join the Bavarian army. The petition is granted the next day.

Italy declares itself neutral, saying that Austria's declaration of war against Serbia is not part of the Triple-Alliance charter.

King Karol of Rumania wishes to join Germany and Austria-Hungary, but his elected government votes to declare neutrality.

Turkey declares armed neutrality.

Britain issues an ultimatum to Germany to respect Belgian neutrality. When this is announced at a cabinet meeting in Berlin Admiral Tirpitz says "All is then lost!"

Aktungbby

08-03-14, 12:45 PM

Agreed....try to stay on topic.

Only one reported post thus far but others will probably follow if thread derailments continue.

Agreed and fixed!:salute: On 3 August 1914, Germany declared war on France and broke the treaty by invading Belgium. As Foreign Secretary, Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Fallodon, stood at a window in the Foreign Office, watching the lamps being lit as dusk approached, he famously remarked: "The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit again in our time (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_lamps_are_going_out)". The British Cabinet would vote almost unanimously to declare war the next day... Those lamps have never been relit!

TarJak

08-03-14, 02:58 PM

Once the memo got through on 4 August Australia pledged a force of 20,000, to be placed at Britain's disposal, but by the end of the war over 400,000 Australians were in uniform.

Movement of German steamers in Australian harbours are noted and the lead up to the first shots fired by British Empire troops begins. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/90522816?

Tribesman

08-03-14, 06:32 PM

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Great_Speeches_of_the_War/Redmond

Oberon

08-03-14, 06:38 PM

Such a shame that such bloodshed would occur two years later.

Jimbuna

08-04-14, 05:34 AM

4th August

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

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

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

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

British mobilisation orders issued.

Sir John Jellicoe takes command of British Fleet.

Sailor Steve

08-04-14, 10:13 AM

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

The United States government declares neutrality.

Sailor Steve

08-04-14, 10:22 AM

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

The Goeben affair, Part 1

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

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

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

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

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

Souchon put into Messina to recoal, and was told by the Italians he had twenty-four hours to get the job done and leave.

August

08-04-14, 02:53 PM

100 years ago today my Great Grandfather, August Karl along with the other men of Altenbuch were saying goodbye to their families before marching off to answer their countries call. He would fight through the entire war before being killed in action on October 3rd 1918.
http://home.comcast.net/~rdsterling/pwpimages/Augustkarl.jpg

Sailor Steve

08-04-14, 07:00 PM

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Great_Speeches_of_the_War/Redmond
That's a great site, and a great speech. Thanks for the link. :sunny:

@ August: Family history is fascinating. I was going to say "cool", but it obviously wasn't for him.

TarJak

08-04-14, 09:29 PM

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

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

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

http://suchwaslife.blogs.slv.vic.gov.au/files/2014/07/First-shot.jpg

http://youtu.be/ajMD8AGBKOM

August

08-04-14, 10:41 PM

@ August: Family history is fascinating. I was going to say "cool", but it obviously wasn't for him.

Nor for the 37 million other people who died in that war either I guess. So ironic that they perished thinking they were fighting "the war to end all wars".

Oberon

08-05-14, 12:32 AM

Nor for the 37 million other people who died in that war either I guess. So ironic that they perished thinking they were fighting "the war to end all wars".

If only it had. I think old Harry Patch had the right idea:

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/2d/af/5f/2daf5fd606499168dac1475b6e3cf68b.jpg

Jimbuna

08-05-14, 07:38 AM

5th August

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

Liege: Fort Fleron silenced.

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

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

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

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

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

"Goeben" and "Breslau" reach Messina.

Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia.

Great Britain mobilises; Lord Kitchener made War Secretary.

Sailor Steve

08-05-14, 03:03 PM

August 5

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

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

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

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

The first serious battle began at Liége. Thirty-five thousand German troops attacked the twelve forts defending the city, and failed to make a dent in the defenses.

Sailor Steve

08-05-14, 03:09 PM

The Goeben affair, Part 2

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

Just before dark on 5 August Goeben and Breslau left Messina, heading south. Milne, with Indefatigable and Inflexible, was north of Sicily when he heard of Souchon's departure, so he headed west to cover Gibraltar while his enemy was heading south and east. Indomitable, meanwhile, was coaling at Bizerta.

Jimbuna

08-06-14, 06:09 AM

6th August

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

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

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

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

Liege: Forts Barchon, Chaudefontaine and Evequee silenced.

Longwy invested by the Germans.

Kingdom of Serbia declares war on the German Empire.

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

The Ottoman Empire closes the Dardanelles straits, closing off the Mediterranean from the Black Sea ports of Russia.

TarJak

08-06-14, 08:15 AM

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sailor Steve

08-06-14, 09:35 AM

August 6

German Vice-Admiral Count Maximilian von Spee leaves the port of Ponape in the Caroline Islands. His squadron consists of the new armored cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the light cruiser Nurnberg. The rest of Spee's squadron were far removed: the light cruisers Dresden and Karlsruhe were in the Carribean and a third light cruiser, Leipzig, was patrolling off the west coast of the United States. The last ship of the squadron, the light cruiser Emden, was dispatched to the Indian Ocean, and would soon be wreaking havoc all over that area.

SMS Karlesruhe meets the liner Kronprinz Wilhelm, 27,000 tons, with guns and equipment to convert her into an Armed Merchant Cruiser. Just as this operation is finished at British squadron is sighted. The two ships flee in opposite directions. Admiral Christopher Cradock ignores the liner and pursues Karlesruhe. though Cradock is losing ground he continues the pursuit, knowing that ahead HMS Bristol lies in wait. Just after dark Bristol sees the German ship and opens fire. Karlsruhe swings around and returns the compliment. In the dark it is a matter of luck to hit anything, even at 7,000 yards. Karlsruhe pulls away and by 2230 the German ship escapes into the darkness. Because Karlsruhe is getting low on coal Captain Köhler is forced to run at nine knots all the way to St. Thomas. This inadvertantly works to his favor as HMS Suffolk, racing to intercept Karlsruhe, crossed her path in the night and is now far beyond the interception point.

Spee's East Asiatic Squadron was originally based at Tsingtao, China, and had moved to Ponape when it started looking like war was inevitable. The ships were all fairly new, and had coaling stations on islands all over the Pacific.

Off the southeastern tip of the Arabian peninsula SMS Königsberg captures SS City of Winchester, a 6,601-ton British freighter carrying a large part of the 1913-1914 tea crop from Ceylon (Sri Lanka). The crew are transferred to the supply ship Zieten, and City of Winchester kept with the supply fleet until all her provisions and coal can be taken aboard the German ships.

The Goeben Affair, part 3

At 01:30 the light cruiser Gloucester, commanded by Captain Howard Kelly, sighted the Germans and reported their position. He continued to shadow the Germans all that day. Early in the afternoon Breslau began to zig-zag, apparently pretending to drop mines. Gloucester opened fire, and the two light cruisers engaged in a brief gun duel. Admiral Souchon turned his battlecruiser around and opened fire as well. Kelly turned his cruiser away, and at 14:45 sent this signal: "Have engaged at long range with Breslau and retreated when Goeben turned. I am now following again".

At 16:00 Kelly's ship was starting to run low on coal, so he sent a final report and turned around.

TarJak

08-06-14, 04:40 PM

7 August

VADM Sir George Patey, RN, wrote the first wartime order for the RAN, and for that matter the Commonwealth of Australia, whilst onboard his flagship, HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser). It was Operational Order No. 1, headed ‘Intention’.

Jimbuna

08-07-14, 06:08 AM

7th August

HMCS CC-1 and CC-2, the first two Canadian submarines, are commissioned.

Liege: Germany infantry penetrate the city.

Alsace invaded by the French.

British Expeditionary Force begins to land in France.

East Prussia: First Russian Army, under Rennenkampf, crosses the frontier in force.

Bosnia entered by the Serbians.

Germany: Kaiser issues proclamation to his people.

Great Britain: Prince of Wales inaugurates National Relief Fund.

Sailor Steve

08-07-14, 09:57 AM

Footnote: Future top British ace Edward Corringham "Mick" Mannock was working as a telephone engineer/inspector in Constantinople. He tried to book passage home but was arrested by the Turks before he could do so. After an aborted escape attempt Mannock became seriously ill and was finally repatriated.

August 7

Charles Prestwich Scott, Liberal anti-war editor of the Manchester Guardian, announces that he will not attend the latest protest meeting. "I am strongly of the opinion that the war ought not to have taken place and that we ought not to have become parties to it, but once in it, the whole future of our nation is at stake and we have no choice but to do the utmost we can to secure success."

The Goeben Affair, part 4

All through that night Rear-Admiral Troubridge raced south with his four armoured cruisers, accompanied by the light cruiser Dublin, commanded by Captain John Kelly, Howard's older brother. At 02:54 on 7 August, Troubridge sent a signal giving his course and speed, and included the message "Am endeavouring to cross Goeben's bows at 6:00 A.M.". Some time later Troubridge was approached by Fawcett Wray, captain of Troubridge's flagship, Defence. Wray asked the Admiral "Are you going to fight, sir? Because if so the squadron ought to know". Later, Wray again talked to Troubridge, explaining that he believed that an attack on Goeben would be suicide, even with four heavy cruisers. Troubridge replied "I cannot turn away now; think of my pride". Wray answered "Has your pride got anything to do with this, sir? It is your country's welfare that is at stake." Troubridge asked his navigator if there was any chance at all of getting close enough to even hit the German ship. The navigator said there was no chance whatsoever. When Troubridge called off the chase, Wray told him "Admiral, that is the bravest thing you have ever done in your life".

At 04:49 Troubridge telegraphed Milne that he had turned back. Milne replied "Why did you not continue to cut off Goeben? She was only going 17 knots, and so important to bring her to action".

At 08:30 Troubridge sent this reply: "With visibility at the time I could have been sighted from 20 to 25 miles away and could never have got nearer unless Goeben wished to bring me to action which she could have done under cicumstances most advantageous to her. I could never have brought her to action. I had hoped to have engaged her at 3:30 in the morning in dim light but had gone north first with the object of engaging her in the entrance of the Adriatic. I was too late to intercept her when she altered course to the southward. In view of the immense importance of victory or defeat at such early stage of a war I would consider it a great imprudence to place my squadron in such a position as to be picked off at leisure and sunk while unable to effectively reply. The decision is not the easiest of the two to make I am well aware".

Milne ordered Troubridge to take his force back to the Adriatic to watch the Austrians, and himself took up station again south of Sicily, still thinking Souchon would try to escape to the Atlantic.

At 17:00 hours on 10 August, Goeben and Breslau anchored off Cape Helles. Souchon asked for a pilot to guide him through the Turkish minefields, and then sailed up the Dardanelles to Constantinople. The Turks were overjoyed to have the German ships, as the two battleships they had under construction in England had just been siezed by the British, to become HMS Agincourt and Erin.

When informed of the escape of the German ships, First Sea Lord Prince Louis of Battenberg said "Not one of the excuses which Admiral Troubridge gives can be accepted for one moment. The escape of the Goeben must ever remain a shameful episode in the war". Admiral Lord John 'Jackie' Fisher (who had been First Sea Lord and would be again) called Milne "...a serpent of the lowest order", and said in a letter "Personally I would have shot Sir Berkely Milne", and added "...he had no excuse whatever for not surrounding Messina with all his entire force right round the harbour mouth-close up! As if international law mattered a d--n!! And the Italians would have loved him forever!"

The Admiralty decided to support Milne's actions, but he never held a command of any kind again.
http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1919/feb/26/admiral-sir-berkeley-milne

In Troubridge's case a court of inquiry decided that his actions were "deporable and contrary to the tradition of the British Navy...he had a very fair chance of at least delaying Goeben by materially damaging her". The Inquiry board recommended a court martial, and this was scheduled for November.

The court decided that the Admiralty had not proved its case, and he was aquitted of all charges. He also was never given another sea command, but he did go on to serve the RN in Serbia and then commanded the French squadron on the Danube river.

Howard Kelly later commanded the 8th Light Cruiser Squadron, then the British Adriatic Force, finally retiring as an Admiral after a distinguished career.

John Kelly went on to become Admiral Of The Fleet, and had a WW2 flotilla leader named after him.

TarJak

08-07-14, 06:50 PM

8 August 1914

Montenegro severs diplomatic relations with Germany.
"State of War" commences between Montenegro and Germany
Battle of Mulhouse. Mulhouse (Alsace) occupied by French forces
British forces cross frontier of Togoland and occupy Lome.
Swiss Government order Mobilisation.
Hostilities commence in East Africa.
H.M.S. "Astræa" bombards Dar es Salaam.

The Melbourne Leader reports on the return to Melbourne of the SS Pfalz:

AUSTRALIA'S FIRST SHOT. GERMAN STEAMER PFALZ FIRED UPON. VESSEL RETURNS TO MELBOURNE. A VALUABLE PRIZE. The first shot of the war, as far as Australia is concerned, was fired from Point Nepean fort at the Heads shortly after noon on Wednesday, when the German cargo steamer Pfalz was held up while passing out to sea. When the news reached Melbourne through an official wire from Queenscliff considerable excitement was aroused, as it was rumored that the vessel had cleared out to sea after being fired upon, and following so soon upon the news of the declaration of war between Great Britain and Germany, proved that Victorian defences were in readiness for active warfare.

The Pfalz left the Victoria Dock, where she had been unloading cargo during the past week, at 7.45 a.m., and, according to clearance papers taken out at the Custom House on Tuesday afternoon, was bound for Sydney and Brisbane. As customary, the services of river and deep sea pilots were requisitioned. Slow progress was made down the Bay, and it was noon be- fore the vessel arrived off Portsea. Here she was met by the pilot steamer Alvina, from which the naval authorities are conducting the examination of all outgoing shipping.

Upon naval officers boarding the Pfalz, her papers were found to be in order, and nothing of a suspicious nature apparent to warrant her detention. At the time the naval boarding party was unaware that war had been declared between Great Britain and Germany, while Captain Kuhlken and his crew were also oblivious of the grave turn of events since their departure from Melbourne.

Upon permission to leave the port being granted, the Pfalz, with her pilot still on board, headed towards the Rip. About ten minutes later, when in a direct line between Point Nepean and Queenscliff, those on board were startled by the report of a big gun fired from the fortress at Nepean. A puff of white smoke suddenly rose over the fortification, and a shell came screeching past, to fall into the water about 50 yards astern of the vessel. Spray was thrown up in all directions, and those on board were thrown into a state of alarm at the sudden attack upon them. Officers were surprised at the turn of affairs, and at a loss to understand the summons.

Fearful lest further shots might be fired, the vessel was stopped. Signals were then observed flying from Queenscliff, which soon enlightened the now thoroughly alarmed officers that they were to turn back. No time was lost in responding to this order, and at 1.30 p.m. Australia's first prize of war com- menced her return to Hobson's Bay. The pilot remained on board and assisted in the navigation till anchor was cast of Williams town at 5.15 p.m. Naturally the officers of the Pfalz were uncommunicative, but they are said to have raised no demur at their enforced return and take their "hold up" quietly. Last night the vessel was boarded by customs officials, who notified those on board of the existence of war between Great Britain and Germany, and carried out an inspection of the vessel's papers. They were accompanied by a guard of ten men from the naval depot at Williamstown. The men were fully armed, and their war- like appearance amply confirmed the Ger- man crew's fear of an outbreak of hostilities.

No demonstration was made on board when the, armed guard scrambled up the vessel's aide, and the crew stolidly accepted the situation in good grace. Looming grimly a short distance away was the Australian cruiser Pioneer, cleared for action and ready for any emergency. She had been cruising in the Bay during the afternoon and remained off Williamstown last night. Her presence no doubt had an awesome effect, no resistance was offered the naval party when the vessel's machinery was disarranged as a precaution agaiinst her departure during the night. No guard was placed, on the vessel, and the naval party came ashore on completing its task.

The future career of the detained vessel will be watched with interest in view of the outbreak, of hostilities between the two countries.. Should she be regarded as a prize she will be a valuable asset. She belongs to the Norddeutscher Lloyd, a wealthy German shipping line, and is a comparatively new vessel of ADMIRAL SIR JOHN CALLAGHAN K.C.B (In Command of First Battle Squadron.) 6557 tons gross register. Her value is esimated at about £95,000. A considerable amount of cargo, mainly German merchandise, is on board, consigned to Sydney and Brisbane owners. This is her second voyage to Australia, for which service she was built at the end of last year. Her master, Captain Kuhlken, is on his first visit to Australia. The Seydlitz, which cleared out of Sydney on Monday, also belongs to the same line. The Pfalz was the only foreign vessel in Melbourne, and it was rather unfortunate for her that news of the declaration of war was flashed to Queenscliff a few minutes before her arrival there. Had she left half an hour earlier she would probably have passed out through the Heads and out to sea before she could be intercepted.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/92038070

Jimbuna

08-08-14, 06:53 AM

8th August

Russian 1st Army under General Paul von Rennenkampf and 2nd Army under General Alexander Samsonov enter East Prussia.

Marcel Kerff, Belgian cyclist who got 6th in the 1903 Tour de France, is hanged by German troops on charges of spying.

British government requests its ally, Empire of Japan, to enter the war against Germany.

French General Louis Bonneau captures the town of Mulhouse.

German IX, X, and VII Corp under the command of General Karl von Einem is ordered into Belgium.

British government attempt to suppress the “alarming unrest” in India, as pro-independence sentiments grow.

British troops capture the port of Lome, German Togoland.

Tsar Nicholas lauds the zeal of the Russian people in a speech to the Duma and states the “enormous enthusiasm” is guarantee of victory.

Antivari (Montenegro) bombarded by Austrian fleet.

Switzerland mobilises and proclaims state of siege.

Sailor Steve

08-08-14, 09:52 AM

August 8

Austrian authorities arrest a suspected Russian spy in the town of Neumarkt (renamed Targ in 1919), in Galicia. His name is Vladimir Lenin. Austrian Social Democrat leader Victor Adler tells the government that if released Lenin would likely mount a propaganda campaign against the Tsar. The Austrian authorities let Lenin go and he moves to Switzerland.

August 9

SMS Karlsruhe steams into San Juan, Puerto Rico with only 12 tons of coal in her bunkers. It being a Sunday Captain Köhler has trouble buying coal. Matters are complicated further by British and French consuls claiming Köhler is violating neutrality by trying to purchase 1300 tons of coal. In the end Karlsruhe ends up with only 500 tons of poor-grade coal. The old German collier Patagonia is in port, and Köhler instructs her captain to proceed to St. Thomas and buy a load of coal there. At 2000 hours Karlsruhe gets under way.

TarJak

08-08-14, 06:54 PM

9th August, U-15 attempted to torpedo a battleship but at 0340 off Fair Isle, the cruiser BIRMINGHAM sighted and rammed U-15 sending her to the bottom with all hands. U-15 was the first U-Boat to be destroyed in WW1.

In the battle of Mulhouse, Parts of the XIV and XV Corps of the German 7th Army, arrived from Strasbourgand counter-attacked at Cernay. The German infantry then emerged from the Hardt forest, to advance into the east side of the city. French command broke down and the defenders fought isolated actions, before retiring as best they could, as the German attackers exploited their advantage.

The BEF begins embarkation for France.

Jimbuna

08-09-14, 12:08 PM

9th August

U.S. will allow European reservists to return home and fight as long as they are unarmed and not in uniform.

German XIV and XV Corp counterattack French troops at Cernay, who are forced to retreat.

German submarine SM U-15 is rammed by HMS Birmingham, causing it to sink. It is the 1st U-boat to be sunk.

Sweden and Norway both reaffirm their neutrality in the present war.

Ottoman Empire begins its mobilization.

Germany, by means of Holland, offers terms of peace to Belgium; they are rejected.

TarJak

08-09-14, 05:48 PM

10 AUGUST 1914

After evading British warships in the Mediterranean, the German battle cruiser Goeben and light crusier Breslau arrived off the entrance to the Dardanelles and requested Turkish permission to enter the straits. The Turks let the German warships through to Constantinople where they were nominally handed over to the Turkish navy.

Recruiting offices in Australia open to commence the build up ooh the 1st AIF (Australian Imperial Force).

At 0445 hours on the 10th August the French 14è Hussards (Hussars) moved out in the direction of Pillon and Arrancy (north east of Mangiennes). Advancing over the hill in front of the French lines they came across a large column of Germans coming down the far side of the valley towards Pillon. The Hussars deployed their machine guns and opened up on the German infantry at 1500 metres and thus began the first battle on French soil since the Franco-Prussian War.

An Australian Government Order-in-Council was gazetted placing all Commonwealth Naval Forces, including the Naval Board, under British Admiralty control, for the duration of WWI, (and was later repeated for WWII).

nikimcbee

08-09-14, 11:23 PM

TarJak

08-10-14, 12:03 AM

Comes from living in the future. ;)

nikimcbee

08-10-14, 12:57 AM

Comes from living in the future. ;)
I was going to post it on the 8th, but then people would whine that "it's not the 9th yet!", then I got busy at work and forgot about it.:haha:

Jimbuna

08-10-14, 07:35 AM

10th August

Japanese Emperor ends his vacation and returns to Tokyo in anticipation of war.

Battle of Mulhouse comes to an end as German troops recapture the town of Mulhouse, bringing an end to the French offensive.

Germany occupies the city of Liege.

Russians reach Tilsit in East Prussia.

Austrian First Army, under Dankl, enters Poland and advances towards Lyublin and Kyeltsi.

France severs diplomatic relations with Austria-Hungary, due to the presence of Austrian troops in Germany then declaresFrance declares a state of war.

Austro-Hungarian army enters Volhynia, Russian Poland and captures a few border towns.

Austro-Hungarian navy bombards the Montenegrin port in Bar.

Germans raid Cape Colony (from south-west Africa), but abandon Swakopmund and Luderitz Bay.

TarJak

08-10-14, 05:58 PM

11 August 1914

HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), and the Australia Squadron, under VADM Sir George Patey, RN, arrived in St Georges Channel, near Rabaul, on a search for ADML von Spee’s forces.

The German naval and merchant services code was captured from the German vessel HOBART, (merchant ship), at Port Phillip, VIC. The boarding officer, CAPT J. T. Richardson, RN, used a subterfuge to allow the German Captain to retrieve the codes from their hiding place. Richardson seized the books at gunpoint as they were about to be thrown overboard.

HMA Ships PARRAMATTA, YARRA, and WARREGO, (torpedo boat destroyers), launched a night torpedo attack on the German anchorage in Simpsonhaven, New Britain only to find the port was empty. During the day HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle- cruiser), captured the enemy ship SUMATRA whilst patrolling St Georges Channel.

The 4th Light Horse Regiment was formed as the divisional cavalry regiment for the 1st Australian Division. Belying traditional stereotypes, over 20 per cent of the original regiment were city dwellers from Melbourne.

Jimbuna

08-11-14, 02:12 PM

11th August

Republic of France declares war on the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Britain declares that general mobilization of its armed forces is complete.

German cruisers Goeben and Breslau are sold to the Ottoman Empire for 80 million Marks. They will be crewed by Germans.

"Goeben" and "Breslau" enter Dardanelles.

German press declares that the Battle of Mulhouse is Germany’s first victory in the war.

Fort de Lantin and Fort d'Évegnée, two of the Liège forts, falls to German troops.

Germany seizes around $25 million ($596 million today) in Russian assets that were held in German banks.

U.S. Army surgeons predict that the present war will be the “most humane ever waged” due to advances in medicine.

TarJak

08-11-14, 04:27 PM

12 August 1914

HMA Ships PARRAMATTA, YARRA, and WARREGO, (torpedo boat destroyers), landed parties at Rabaul.

HMAS ENCOUNTER, (cruiser), captured the German steamer ZAMBESI in St George’s Channel, New Britain.

Great Britain and France declare war on Austria-Hungary. Serbia is invaded by Austria-Hungary.

The "Dirty 500" arrived on Thursday Island to garrison against actions from German New Guinea: http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-11/dirty-500-queenslanders-honoured-in-wwi-tribute/5663436

Sailor Steve

08-12-14, 02:40 AM

August 11
SMS Karlsruhe arrives at Curaçao and manages to purchase 1100 tons of high-quality coal.

11 August 1914

HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), and the Australia Squadron, under VADM Sir George Patey, RN, arrived in St Georges Channel, near Rabaul, on a search for ADML von Spee’s forces.
August 12

SMS Emden rendesvous with Spee's squadron at Pagan Island, in the Marianas.

TarJak

08-12-14, 07:08 AM

August 12

SMS Emden rendesvous with Spee's squadron at Pagan Island, in the Marianas.

I can see where this is going...:D

Jimbuna

08-12-14, 07:22 AM

Yacht race for the America’s Cup is cancelled due to the war.

Belgium troops under Léon de Witte successfully defend the town of Haelen from German cavalry led by Georg von der Marwitz. Belgium suffers 480 casualties while Germany suffers 750 casualties and 300 captured.

Austro-Hungarian 5th and 6th armies, with 270,000 men, begin crossing the Serbian border across the Drina River.

Prince George of Serbia is wounded during an Austrian bombardment of Belgrade.

Great Britain declares war on Austria-Hungary.

Turkey reports purchase of "Goeben" and "Breslau".

TarJak

08-12-14, 07:26 PM

13 August 1914

Establishment of the Australian Red Cross to raise funds to purchase comfort supplies for Australian service personnel overseas. The Australian Red Cross was established by Lady Helen Munro-Ferguson. http://centenary.redcross.org.au/groups/minutes-first-meeting-1914

HMAS MELBOURNE, (cruiser), intercepted the collier ALCONDA off Rossel Island, and requisitioned her cargo of coal.

France declares war on Austria-Hungary

Egypt severs diplomatic relations with Germany

British naval forces bombard and raid Dar-es-Salaam

First Austrian invasion of Serbia begun: Austrians force passage of the River Drina

Germans seize La Garde.

Sailor Steve

08-13-14, 06:49 AM

August 13

Still at Pagan Island, Maximillian von Spee decides to take his squadron around Cape Horn and into the Atlantic. Karl von Müller, captain of the light cruiser Emden, is ordered to take his ship to the Indian ocean and do what damage he can to Allied shipping there.

Royal Flying Corps Number 2 Squadron, under the command of Major Charles James Burke, is ordered to be the first group of British pilots in France. Flying B.E.2s they took off from Dover at about 06:25. One of the pilots, Lieutenant Hubert Dunsterville Harvey-Kelly, managed to separate from the rest of the group and arrive ahead of the rest, making himself the first British pilot to land in France.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.D._Harvey-Kelly

While fighting at Dinant, a French Lieutenant is wounded in the knee. His name is Charles de Gaulle.

Jimbuna

08-13-14, 07:49 AM

German check at Eghezee; Neufchateau occupied by Crown Prince.

British naval forces bombard and raid Dar-es-Salaam.

Germany releases Archer Huntington, president of the American Geographical Society, who was detained on suspicions of spying.

Germany protests against the U.S. ban on wireless communications between America and Germany.

Life insurance companies in the U.S. refuse to offer business to reservists or Canadians due to war risk.

Austro-Hungarian navy begins its blockade of Montenegro.

Around 60,000 Dutch troops mass on the German border and large areas are flooded as a precautionary measure against an invasion.

Russia announces that its concentration of forces on the Galician frontier is complete and is ready for an offensive.

Queen Elisabeth of Belgium spends 6 hours today visiting wounded soldiers in military hospitals.

TarJak

08-14-14, 01:36 AM

14 August 1914

Lt Col Bolton ordered to raise 8th Battalion of the AIF with troops recruited from Ballarat, Ararat, the Western District and Surrey Hills Melbourne.

Battle of the Frontiers begins. This battle will last until September 5, 1914.The Battle of the Frontiers is the name for all fighting that took place during this time between the German and the French armies along the German-Belgian border and the German border to France. Over 2,000,000 troops were engaged.

France invades Lorraine. The French push back Germans in northern Alsace and bomb German airsheds at Metz.

Russians defeat Austrians at Sokal.

Austrians drive Serbians back and occupy Loznitsa.

Russia proclamation made promising reconstruction and autonomy of the "Kingdom of Poland".

British field marshal John French and General Wilson land in France

Jimbuna

08-14-14, 06:55 AM

Sir John French lands at Boulogne.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, assistant secretary of the Navy, announces that he will seek the Senate seat for New York.

Fort de Liers, Fort de Fléron, and Fort de Boncelles, three of the Liège forts, surrenders to German troops after heavy bombardment.

French 1st Army under Dubail and 2nd Army under Castelnau advance into Germany towards Sarrebourg, Lorraine.

German 6th and 7th Armies under Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria and General Josias von Heeringen fall back.

Austro-Hungarian 2nd and 5th Armies move towards Belgrade, but are opposed by the Serbian 1st, 2nd and 3rd Armies.

Grand Duke Nicholas, supreme commander of the Russian armies against the Central Powers, appeals to the Poles to support Russia.

Sailor Steve

08-14-14, 09:16 AM

August 14

The Voisin III was the first aircraft to be designed specifically as a bomber. On August 14, 1914 two of them carried out the first bombing raid. Bombs had been dropped by hand from Bleriot monoplanes back in the 1911 Italian campaign in Libya, but those qualified more as 'ground attack' than as actual bombing missions. In this case Lieutenant Antoine Cesari and Corporal Roger Prudhommeaux attacked the Zeppelin shed at Metz-Frescaty, each dropping a 155mm artillery shell adapted for the purpose. They missed the shed entirely.

German light cruiser SMS Dresden, operating off the coast of Argentina under the command of Kapitän zur See Fritz Emil von Lüdecke, stops the merchant SS Hyades. Von Lüdecke takes the crew on board his own ship, then sinks the British vessel.

Dresen's sister ship, SMS Emden, departs Pagan Island for the Indian ocean with collier SS Markomannia.

In the first surface naval action of the war, SS Gwendolen attacks SS Hermann von Wissman on Lake Nyasa (now lake Malawi) in Central Africa. It's a fascinating story.
http://www.historytoday.com/janie-hampton/victory-lake-nyasa

TarJak

08-14-14, 05:27 PM

Excellent story of the first naval engagement of the war Steve.

15 August 1914

The 1st Division AIF (Australian Imperial Force ) begins forming from recent recruiting across Australia.
When originally formed in 1914, the AIF was commanded by General William Bridges, who also assumed command of the infantry division.

Japan sends and Ultimatum to Germany demanding the removal of all German ships from Japanese and Chinese waters and the surrender of control of Tsingtao—the location of Germany’s largest overseas naval bases, located on China’s Shantung Peninsula—to Japan by noon on August 23

The 64 km channel between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans was officially opened. The Panama Canal saved ships making the 11,300 km voyage around Cape Horn. It had taken ten years to build across the isthmus between North and South America

Sailor Steve

08-14-14, 08:34 PM

The Panama Canal...
Wow! I've known about the canal my whole life. I've read about President Theodore Roosevelt taking it over from the French; I've read about Ferdinand de Lesseps, and I've read about the mosquitos and the malaria, and I've read about it taking ten years; but to this day I never made the connection associating that ten years with August 1914!

If you hadn't posted that I might still not have realized. :rock:

Sailor Steve

08-15-14, 08:02 AM

August 15

"The army wounded will have to be dealt with on the Continent, and, as far as can be seen at present, mainly at Brussels. Our institution, comprising a large staff of English nurses, is prepared to deal with several hundreds and the number is being increased day by day."
-Edith Cavell, letter to The London Times

"Yesterday's papers announced France's declaration of war against Austria. This morning comes the news that Montenegro has also declared her intention of wiping Austria off the map. Our daily query is now - 'Who has declared war to-day?'"
-Hugh Simons Gibson, secretary to the U.S. delegation in Brussels, diary entry

Jimbuna

08-15-14, 09:21 AM

15th August

Belgium: Reduction of forts at Liege completed; Germans checked at Dinant by the French.

Alsace-Lorraine: Passes of the Vosges in French hands.

South Africa: Meeting of disaffected Boers: Address by General Delarey.

British ocean liners announce they will resume regular service after assurances that the Atlantic Ocean is safe.

President Wilson states there are no immediate plans to censor domestic cables or wireless communications.

TarJak

08-15-14, 05:19 PM

16 August 1914

HMAS PIONEER, (light cruiser), captured the German merchant ship NEUMUNSTER, off Rottnest Island, WA

Members of the AN&MEF re-embarked at Thursday Island on Troopship 'Kanowna' to take part in the capture of German New Guinea.

With the significant aid of the howitzers and the Big Bertha gun (a 420mm siege howitzer) the Liege forts were finally taken by Germany on 16 August, General Leman having to be carried unconscious out of the besieged forts.

B.E.F. first contingent completes its landing in France. This was an Army of 4 Infantry Divisions, with another 2 divisions kept in England in case of an invasion.

French attacks considered successful in northern Alsace

General advance of Russian armies into East Prussia.

Austrians capture Shabatz (north-west Serbia), but Serbians check Austrian advance between Loznitsa and Shabats. Serbians defeat Austrians at Battle of Jadar.

Franco-British squadron enters the Adriatic sinking the SMS Zenta. On 16 August 1914 the combined Anglo-French Fleet under Admiral Auguste Boué de Lapeyrère, made a sweep of the Adriatic Sea. Zenta was escorted by a destroyer blockading the coast of Montenegro. She was trapped by seventeen French and British naval units consisting of battleships and armoured cruisers, which prevented her escape North. After allowing the destroyer SMS Ulan to get away, she was sunk by gunfire during the Battle of Antivari off the coast of Bar, Montenegro, with the loss of 179 lives. Surviving commander Paul Pachner, officers and crew swam ashore and were interned until 1916 (the Anglo-French Fleet did not attempt to rescue any survivors). The imprisoned crew were Croats from Blato na Korčuli, Šolta, Tisno, Biograd na Moru, Bogomolje, Rab, Imotski, Hvar, Trogir, Split, Šibenik, Vela Luka, Sali and Zadar and two Montenegrins from Grbalj and Perast.

Zapata and Pancho Villa over run Mexico Cit taking it from the forces of Carranza's Constitutionalist Army of Mexico.

Jimbuna

08-16-14, 09:08 AM

16th August

Belgium: Indecisive action at Wavre.

B.E.F. first contingent completes its landing.

French successful in northern Alsace (Schirmeck, etc.).

Serbian 1st Combined Division attacks Austro-Hungarian outposts on the slope of Cer Mountain.

Fort de Hollogne and Fort de Flémalle, the last of the Liège forts, falls

The Battle of Liège comes to an end with 5300 German casualties and 6000-20,000 Belgian casualties with 4000 prisoners.

Empire of Japan sends an ultimatum to the German Empire, demanding it must leave its colonies and concessions in the Far East by the 23rd.

2nd Lieutenant Evelyn Perry of the Royal Flying Corps dies in a training accident, making him the first British officer to die in France.

Italy withdraws its military contingent from Scutari, Albania to emphasize its neutrality in the war.

Sailor Steve

08-16-14, 10:53 AM

August 16

Adolf Hitler joins the German army. He will end up being a messenger, being wounded several times, and recieving more than one medal for valor.

Off the coast of Venezuela SMS Karlsruhe spots a merchant ship. The ship also sees them and runs northward. Captain Köhler decides that the risk of running into one of Cradock's ships is too great and breaks off the pursuit.

No. 5 Squadron RFC transfers from Gosport to Maubeuge. Last to arrive is Lieutenant Louis Strange. Strange had a life time of misadventures spanning two world wars and more. He won a couple of cross-country races starting in 1913, and his hard-luck story began on June 20, 1914, when he entered his Bleriot monoplane in a race from Hendon to Manchester. He won the first leg of the race, which made him lose the rest. The mayor of Manchester stood on one of the Bleriot's bracing wires to shake Strange's hand. Strange took off for the return trip, only to have the wire break, causing damage that forced Strange out of the race. His future with the army will be equally checkered.

TarJak

08-16-14, 05:39 PM

17 August 1914

HMAS Berrima, an auxiliary cruiser, was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy. Berrima was previously known as SS Berrima of the P&O Line.

Members of the AN&MEF from Victoria board a train leaving Flinders St Station in Melbourne, bound for Sydney to join others aboard HMAS Berrima with the aim of taking action against German New Guinea.

The 3rd Light Horse Regiment was raised in Adelaide on 17 August 1914. Although most of its recruits were enlisted in South Australia, one of the regiment’s three squadrons was composed of Tasmanians and was raised and trained in Hobart.

Work of medically examining volunteers for the 10th Battalion Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force began at the Parade Ground on King William Road in Adelaide. The pay for a private was 4s a day and 1s deferred pay while in Australia and 5s a day with 1s deferred pay plus rations while overseas. Criteria included height 5 feet 6 inches and age between 19 and 38 years. Two men aged 34 and 36, both ex-servicemen, walked from Port Pirie to enlist.

A tent city at Morphettville was set up to cope with the expected enlistments. This followed a large gathering of some 20,000 people in Elder Park on 10 August where the Governor, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Galway, spoke of the patriotic spirit of South Australians. A procession of 4000 children civil servants and retired soldiers, with bands playing, had marched down King William Street where flags flew from nearly every building. More speeches from the premier and other ministers all added to the stirring of patriotic fervour. Although the leader of the Labor party asked for sympathy for the German colonists who, he said, were ‘all Australians’ this appeal was not in all cases adhered to and many Germans were in interned at Torrens Island for the duration of the war. In all about eight per cent of South Australia’s male population of a quarter of a million served overseas in the armed services.

The Hobart Mercury published this article outlining the Australian Prime Minister's Monifesto, which discussed the struggle for national existence and what Australia's part in the War should be: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/10381637

The Battle of Stallupönen, fought between Russian and German armies on 17 August 1914, was the opening battle of World War I on the Eastern Front. It was a minor German success, but did little to upset the Russian timetables.

Russian 1st and 2nd Armies begin their advance into East Prussia, fulfilling Russia’s promise to its ally, France, to attack Germany from the east as soon as possible so as to divert German resources and relieve pressure on France during the opening weeks of the First World War.

The Russian 1st Army, commanded by Pavel Rennenkampf, and the 2nd Army, led by Aleksandr Samsonov, advanced in a two-pronged formation—separated by the Masurian Lakes, which stretched over 100 kilometers—aiming to eventually meet and pin the German 8th Army between them. For the Germans, the Russian advance came much sooner than expected; counting on Russia’s slow preparation in the east, they had sent the great bulk of their forces west to face France.

Renewed French advance, they take Marsal and Chateau-Salins.

Sir John French takes up his headquarters at Le Cateau.

12th Battalion, Royal Lancer's arrive in France. The intent is to operate this cavalry unit as a mobile strike force as part of the BEF.

Battle of the Jadar (between Shabats and Loznitsa) continued.

In Belgium, Government is transferred from Brussels to Antwerp.

Enrolment of Special Constables across Great Britain begins.

Dan D

08-16-14, 06:38 PM

Well yes. The planning of the Germans in WW I was according to the Schlieffen-Plan to beat the French on the Western front fast to then direct all troops against Russia. The Germans thought that Russia would need more time to fully mobilize its armies. They thought that Russia was harder to beat than France, obviously because of Russia's manpower. What Germany always feared was to have to fight a two-frontiers war in the West and in the East simultaneously That plan did not work out.
Russia mobilized its troops faster than „planned“ by the German High Command and began to invade Eastern German territory. It then became a reversed Schlieffen-Plan: first beat the Russians, then direct all troops to the West. This became possible when Germany made a seperate peace with Russia at Bresk-Litowsk, today Poland. But the troops then sent to the West to beat the Alllies in the West were not enough, even more so when the US entered the war in the West and sent fresh troops.

In WW II, you could say the Germans followed the same plan and did better.
They occupied all of Western Europe and tossed out the Brits from the Continent. So all according to the Schlieffen-Plan. Then they directed all their attention towards the East to beat the Soviet Union which was a bit over-optimistic. Smart minds in Germany at that time already knew that is would be impossible to beat the Soviet Union for Germany, just compare the sheer numbers between Germany and the Soviet Union.

Jimbuna

08-17-14, 06:12 AM

East Prussia: Russians defeat Germans at Stalluponen: Germans fall back on Gumbinnen.

Adriatic: Austrian cruiser sunk near Antivari.

All audiences for Pope Pius X are suspended due to his ill health.

Montreal millionaire J.K.L. Ross donates $500,000 (about $11.9 million today) to the government as war aid.

Heinrich Charles, President of the German-American Chamber of Commerce, warns that Japan could attack the U.S.

Serbian army attempts to retake the town of Šabac, occupied by the 2nd Austro-Hungarian Army, but fails.

Sailor Steve

08-17-14, 09:54 AM

August 17

Lieutenant Antoine Cesari and Corporal Roger Prudhommeaux, who had unsuccessfully attacked the Zeppelin shed at Metz on the 14th, are now on a mission to reconnoiter German positions in the city itself. Cesari's engine quits. Deciding that if he's going to be captured he should strike first, he glides over a fort and drops his bomb. Then his engine restarts, allowing to return home safely. Prudhommeaux also drops his bomb on the fort.

SMS Karlsruhe meets up with the collier Patagonia, south of Barbados.

IJNS Wakamiya is commissioned into the Japanese Navy as the world's first dedicated seaplane carrier. The Russian freighter Lethington was captured in 1905 and renamed Takasaki Maru, then renamed again to Wakamiya Maru.

TarJak

08-17-14, 06:19 PM

18 August 1914

ADML von Spee, C-in-C, German Pacific Fleet, recorded in his journal: ‘The AUSTRALIA is my special apprehension-she alone is superior to my whole squadron’.

Germans occupy Tirlemont.

French advance and cut line between Metz and Strasbourg at Saarburg.

Russian invasion from the east under Brusilov and Russki continues.

Austrians defeated at Shabats.

Jimbuna

08-18-14, 06:42 AM

German headquarters are moved from Berlin to Coblenz, on the Rhine.

Belgian government abandons their capital, Brussels, and moves to Antwerp. Foreigners are requested to leave the city.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Jr., fifth child of FDR, is born at Campobello Island, New Brunswick.

Austro-Hungarian Army launches a counterattack against Serbian forces near Šabac, but is defeated at the Dobrava River.

Serbian 2nd Army and 1st Combined Division launch their own offensive near the Cer Mountain.

Sailor Steve

08-18-14, 03:12 PM

August 18

German forces begin to shell the town of Haelen, where Belgian units are holed up following the loss of Liége. Haelen is quickly taken, and the Germans cross the Gette River. The main Belgian force is on the other side, and they hastily withdraw north to the Dilje River. The largest action of the day is fought at Margriethe-Houthem, after which the Belgians continue to retreat.

SMS Karlsruhe stops British freighter SS Bowes Castle. The ship's master insist that his cargo of nitrates is American, but since it is a war material Captain Köhler decides to sink the ship. the crew are taken onto Patagonia and Bowes Castle is scuttled.

TarJak

08-18-14, 06:05 PM

19 August 1914

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/SS_Berrima_in_build_at_Caird_and_Co_in_1913.jpg

The Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force departed Sydney on 19 August 1914; its mission was to capture German possessions in the Western Pacific and in German New Guinea.

This expeditionary force of 1500 men were embarked on the troop ship Berrima on the 19th August 1914 and after a short stay on Palm Island for training and acclimatisation proceeded on to annex New Britain. This was the first force ever to leave Australia with its own ships, under the command of Australian officers.

SYDNEY MAIL 19th August, 1914. Page 14. The call to the Commonwealth : Types of New South Wales volunteers On Saturday afternoon 1100 New South Wales volunteers, who are to leave with the Australian Expeditionary Force, paraded at the Agricultural show ground, Sydney, and were inspected by Colonel Holmes, who expressed great satisfaction with the manner in which they bore themselves. Volunteers have offered from all parts of the State, and as only 6420 troops are required as the quota of New South Wales for the Expeditionary Force of 20,000 many must be disappointed. The men who are full of eagerness, include many South African campaigners. (Source Mitchell Library Sydney)

http://fffaif.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/anmef-at-randwick-aug-14.jpg

President Woodrow Wilson addressed Congress and made public the U.S. policy of neutrality. During his address he warned U.S. citizens against taking sides in the war for fear of endangering the wider U.S. policy.

Germans reach Dinant-Neufchateau line and occupy Louvain; Belgians, defeated at Aerschot, fall back towards Antwerp.

French re-enter Mulhausen and push on in Lorraine.

Austrians' advance checked near Kyeltsi.

Kaiser's alleged order for the destruction of "General French's contemptible little army".

Jimbuna

08-19-14, 04:54 AM

End of Battle of the Jadar; defeat of Austrians.

Japan requests the US Ambassador in Berlin to take over Japanese interests in Germany if Japan enters the war.

Peruvian destroyer Tenient Rodriguez becomes the first warship to pass through the Panama Canal.

President Wilson asks the American public to refrain from partisan acts or utterances over the war in Europe.

Belgian Army retreats from the Gette on Antwerp.

First unit of Indian Expeditionary Force "C" [This unit, the 29th Punjabis, was the first to leave India for any theatre of war.] leaves India for East Africa.

Mustaufi ul Mamalek appointed Persian Prime Minister.

Sailor Steve

08-19-14, 01:06 PM

The Belgian retreat from the Gette River continues. Belgian forces make a stand at Aarschot, and hold off the Germans for several hours before retreating. Reports are made of Germans shooting Belgian prisoners and then executing 150 Aarschot citizens.

"Europe, in her insanity, has started something almost unbelievable. In such times one realises to what a sad species of animal one belongs. I quietly pursue my peaceful studies and contemplations and feel only pity and disgust."
-Albert Einstein, director of the Institute of Physics, Berlin

TarJak

08-19-14, 06:18 PM

20 August 1914

The German cruiser MAGDEBURG was captured by the Russian Navy, after running aground in a fog in the Gulf of Finland. Code books recovered from the cruiser were rushed to London, where intelligence experts matched them with merchant service code books seized by the RAN on 11 August, from the German ship HOBART, in Port Phillip, VIC. By November 1914 all German naval wireless traffic was being intercepted and decoded orders passed to the British Fleet.

The Battle of Gumbinnen, initiated by forces of the German Empire on August 20, 1914, was the first major German offensive on the Eastern Front during the First World War. Because of the hastiness of the German attack, however, the Russian army emerged victorious.

Brussels evacuated by Belgians and occupied by Germans. General von Lüttwitz appointed Military Commandant of the city of Brussels.

Namur bombarded.

Powerful German counter-attack near Saarburg and Morhange drives French back. French evacuated Saarburg, and after heavy fighting before Mörchingen. General Foch's 20th Corps fell back with remainder of Second Army.

British concentration Avesnes-Le Cateau completed.

Disorderly flight of Austrians towards the Serbian frontier

Taveta occupied by the Germans: Uganda Railway attacked.

Death of Pope Pius X.

Jimbuna

08-20-14, 05:46 AM

Senator Hitchcock introduces a bill that would make loans to belligerent nations illegal under current neutrality laws.

Canada’s Liberal and Conservative parties unanimously approve its stand with Great Britain in the war.

Germany launches a counterattack against invading French troops in Lorraine, forcing them to retreat.

Battles of Morhange and Sarrebourg end.

Longwy invested by German forces.

First British Order in Council revising "Declaration of London" issued.

Sailor Steve

08-20-14, 09:33 AM

August 20:

Spee's squadron puts into Eniwetok for coal. SMS Nurnberg is sent to Honolulu for supplies.

SMS Emden arrives at Palau Island intending to rendesvous with a collier, but expected collier is not there and Emden is forced to use some of the precious supply on board Markomannia. That same day the mail packet Princess Alice arrives, and supplies are exchanged. That evening Emden, Markomannia and Princess Alice depart Palau. In the night Princes Alice falls behind with boiler problems. Von Müller attempts to tell Spee's squadron about the Japanese attitude via wireless. They get no answer from Spee, but are surprised to receive a reply from the old small cruiser SMS Geier. Geier had been at Singapore when the war started, and her commander, Korvettenkapitan Grasshof, had been hoping to meet with Spee's squadron. Von Müller instructed Grasshof to meet Emden, which was closer. They were close enough that they expected to find each other the next day.

TarJak

08-20-14, 07:43 PM

SMS Emden and SMS Geier meet near Palau. After a brief conference between the captains, the two ships went on their separate ways, Emden towards the Molucca Straits and Geier towards Angaur.

Belgians forced to abandon their trenches at Namur.

Battle of Charleroi, between Mons and the Meuse, between French and German troops begins.

British move towards Mons. A squadron of 120 cavalrymen belonging to the 4th Dragoon Guards were sent forward to reconnoitre the land ahead of the advancing British Expeditionary Force. The Dragoons spent a largely quiet night close to a main road that ran through the Belgian village of Casteau, just north east of Mons. There was only one scare when, at 2am, a horse was heard to approach. With orders to fire on anyone suspicious, the Dragoons readied themselves to shoot, only to discover, at the last moment, that the man was one of their own, unconcernedly smoking a cigar as he returned from a patrol.

Advance of Second Army under Samsonov; occupation (August 21-23) of Allenstein, Neidenburg, Soldau, Johannisburg, etc.

South Africa invaded by German troops.

Total solar eclipse seen across western Asia and northern Europe.

Bilge_Rat

08-21-14, 08:10 AM

august 21, 1914:

total solar eclipse occurs over Russia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_August_21,_1914

Jimbuna

08-21-14, 08:33 AM

British Government issue orders for the raising of the first New Army of six Divisions.

The Battle of Charleroi (21st - 23rd August 1914) was fought at the town of Charleroi between the French Fifth Army and the German Second and Third Armies. The French were moving north to the Sambre river and the Germans were continuing their advance to the south-west after the fall of Namur. The French Fifth Army could not hold on and a general withdrawal was ordered.

Brussels occupied by German forces.

The planned French thrust into Lorraine, totaling 19 divisions, started on August 14 but was shattered by the German 6th and 7th armies in the Battle of Morhange-Sarrebourg.

Longwy invested by German forces.

L/141916 Private John Parr, 4th Battalion, the Middlesex Regiment, was the first British soldier to die on the Western Front when he was killed while on patrol near Obourg. His battalion was in the hot of the action at Mons two days later when among many acts of great bravery were two that were sufficient for an award of the Victoria Cross.

Empire of Japan institutes stricter censorship as it prepares to declare war against Germany.

General Joffre’s headquarters at Vitry-le-François is abandoned and moved to Bar-sur-Aube.

Sailor Steve

08-21-14, 11:56 AM

August 21:

"The Grand Duke is determined to advance with full speed on Berlin and Vienna, more especially Berlin, passing between the fortresses of Thorn, Posen and Breslau."
-Maurice Paléologue, French minister to Russia, speaking of the confidence of Russian Chief of Staff Grand Duke Nicholas concerning a quick Russian victory.

Fighting with the 6th Württemberg Infantry Regiment in France, Leutnant Erwin Rommel sees his first action.

Late in the afternoon SMS Emden rendesvous with SMS Geier and her collier, SS Bochum. In a meeting between the captains von Müller and Grasshof decide that Geier is just too old and slow to be of any use. Her guns are too light and she can only make 12 knots, which is slower than many of the merchants that would be her targets. Grasshof reluctantly agrees and Geier is last seen steaming to the northeast as Emden resumes her course for the Indian Ocean. Von Müller later tells his officers that if Princess Alice's boilers had been in better shape they could have transfered Geier's guns and made an Armed Merchant Cruiser out of her.

Two Zeppelins are shot down by French ground fire. Z VII (Zeppelin factory number LZ 22) makes it back to Germany before crashing, but Z VIII (LZ 23) comes down immediately and is looted by French troops. This is the third German airship to be downed in August, Z VI (LZ 21) having been shot down on the 6th while conducting the very first Zeppelin raid, bombing Liège.

SMS Karlsruhe and SS Patagonia find a secluded harbor on the island of Maracá, off the coast of Brazil, and spend a leisurly three days coaling the cruiser.

TarJak

08-21-14, 05:00 PM

22 August 1914

HMAS' SYDNEY and BERRIMA rendezvous off Sandy Cape north of Brisbane. The two ships then proceeded north towards Palm Island.

the French Fourth Army advanced up a forest road through the Ardennes which led through the village of Bellefontaine. One regiment, led by Charles Mangin, headed onwards until, as they approached Tertigny, the Germans opened fire from neighbouring woodland. Bitter fighting followed; Mangin led a bayonet charge, while street fighting developed in Bellefontaine, which came under heavy shellfire. That evening, French survivors retired to the edge of the forest, having lost eight company commanders and more than a third of the regiment.

The fighting on this one day, the 22nd, cost the French army 27,000 men killed, in addition to wounded and missing in proportion. This was a much larger loss than the British suffered on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, which is often wrongly cited as the First World War’s high-blood-mark.

Elements of the 4th Dragoons were told by a farm worker of a German mounted patrol. An ambush was prepared, but the game was given away when one of the Dragoons horses was spotted by the Germans. The Dragoons gave chase and a short skirmish ensured with three Germans taken prisoner and no casualties on the British side except for a horse that was shot in the stomach. This was the first land action of the war for British troops in Europe for the war.

The SMS EMDEN sighted the straits of Molucca.

Sailor Steve

08-21-14, 06:17 PM

Dragons? Sighed? At least use a spell-checker. :O:

Good information, by the way. :sunny:

TarJak

08-21-14, 08:09 PM

I really shouldn't do updates from my phone. The auto spell function provides endless rubbish and unintended gibberish.

Jimbuna

08-22-14, 07:06 AM

I really shouldn't do updates from my phone. The auto spell function provides endless rubbish and unintended gibberish.

Rather, you should have attended school more often :)

Jimbuna

08-22-14, 07:13 AM

22nd August

Belgium: Evacuation of Namur begun; French defeated at Charleroi.

Alsace-Lorraine: French defeat, Luneville lost; General withdrawal.

Poland: Russians evacuate Kyeltsi.

Shabats and Loznitsa recovered by Serbians; Austrians defeated on Drina.

French General HQ reports “no serious opposition need be anticipated” in the Ardennes forest.

French 3rd Army, due to faulty intelligence, encounters unexpected heavy resistance at the Ardennes.

French guns are silenced by German artillery and the French army is routed. The Battle of Ardennes results in a decisive German victory.

The French 3rd Colonial Division suffers heavily, with 11,000 casualties out of the original strength of 15,000 men.

Italy orders general mobilization of its armed forces.

Austria-Hungary declares war on Belgium.

Sailor Steve

08-22-14, 11:24 AM

August 22:

German General Karl Wilhelm Paul von Bülow confirms reports of civilian executions when he posts the following statement around the city of Liège: "The population of Andenne, after manifesting peaceful intentions towards our troops, attacked them in the most treacherous manner. With my authorisation the general who commanded these troops has reduced the town to ashes and shot 110 persons." Meanwhile 50 people are executed in the village of Seilles and in Tamines 384 men, ranging in age from 13 to 84, are shot.

SMS Emden crosses the equator. Due to wartime the traditional 'crossing the line' ceremonies are not held.

The first significant contribution from aircraft in the war comes when RFC pilot Lieutenant Vivian Hugh Nicholas Wadham and observer Captain Lionel Evelyn Oswald Charlton bring back information about German troop strength and movement near Mons, enabling Sir John French to begin to withdraw his troops to a better defensive position. They were flying a parasol version of the Bleriot IX-2 and returned home with between 30 and 40 bullet holes in their aircraft. Wadham would be killed in action in January 1916 while Charlton would go on to achieve the rank of Brigadier General.

Lt. Louis Strange and his observer, Lt. L. Penn-Gaskell (I have not been able to confirm his first name) fitted a Lewis gun to the front of their Henri Farman F.20. On August 22 they were alerted to a flight of six German machines approaching at an altitude of 5,000 feet. Strange and Penn-Gaskell took off to intercept them, but due to the extra weight of the gun the Farman refused to climb higher than 3,500 feet, allowing the German patrol to fly off unscathed, and probably never even knowing they had been "attacked".

TarJak

08-22-14, 04:22 PM

Great update Steve.:up::salute:

TarJak

08-22-14, 04:49 PM

23 August 1914

Extract from a letter by Lance Corporal F.C. Mulvey, 2nd Light Horse, AIF, 23 August 1914.

I know no more than that I have sworn “to obey the King’s commands and fight his enemies wherever I am required”. I sincerely trust that you will look at my move in the right light, as you do most things, and recognise that out of a family of three sons, one can be spared for the defence of Australia and Australia’s fate is going to be decided on the continent and not out here. Of course we may never see the front; there are rumours and conjectures that we are bound for India or some such place to take the place of the regular troops there. I know that I have taken a serious step but this war is a serious matter and I feel convinced in my own mind that being suited in physique and occupation and being prompted by a sense of duty and spirit of adventure I can hardly do anything else but volunteer.
Private record: AWM 2DRL/0233

Japan formally declares war on Germany.

Jimbuna

08-23-14, 06:42 AM

23rd August

Battle of Mons begins: general German attack on the French from Charleroi to Dinant.

French begin to fall back from Sambre and Meuse; also in northern Alsace.

East Prussia: Germans evacuate Insterburg; at the Battle of Frankenau, Germans driven back.

Galicia: Russians take Brody and Tarnopol.

Tsing-tau blockaded and bombarded by the Japanese.

Germany: Hindenburg receives command in East Prussia.

Canada passes the War Measures Act which allows the government to intern “enemy aliens.” Nearly 4000 Ukrainians from Austria-Hungary, including women and children, will be interned in the camps.

The first test for the British Expeditionary Force: German troops begin assaulting British positions at Mons-Condé canal.

German airship "Z.-8" shot down in the Vosges.

Sailor Steve

08-23-14, 10:18 AM

August 23:

At the town of Dinant in Belgium, German soldiers are fired upon, apparently by civilians. In reprisal 612 citizens of Dinant are executed, the youngest being a 6-week-old baby held by its mother. An international outcry condemning Germany ensues.

The battle of Mons opens with a frontal attack by the Germans. The French are forced to withdraw, and the British, their left flank exposed, retreat as well.

In the East, Austro-Hungarian troops sweep out of Galicia into Poland, driving the Russians back.

SMS Emden meets a Japanese passenger ship. Knowing of the Japanese ultimatum to Germany, but unaware of whether war has been declared yet, Captain von Müller takes the reluctant decision to let the ship go. Just before dark Emden enters the Straits of Molucca.

August

08-23-14, 12:29 PM

August 23rd 1914 Lorraine France

My Great Grandfather August and his comrades in the 8th Bavarian Infantry Regiment, now a part of the 33rd Reserve Division, 5th Army (Crown Prince) are in action at Etain. It will not go well for them. By the 26th a sister company will be down to 75 men.

Jimbuna

08-24-14, 07:24 AM

24th August

General Retreat from the Line of the Sambre and the Meuse; British fall back from Mons; Germans massacre civilians at Dinant and occupy Tournai, but driven from Malines; French offensive north of Nancy.

Russians advancing in East Prussia.

Austrians advance in Poland beyond Kyeltsi.

Cattaro, Austrian Adriatic port, bombarded by Franco-British fleet.

British Lieutenant Maurice Dease is killed in action. He will become the 1st recipient of the Victoria Cross in WWI:
Nimy Bridge was being defended by a single company of the 4th Royal Fusiliers and a machine-gun section with Dease in command. The gun fire was intense, and the casualties very heavy, but the lieutenant went on firing in spite of his wounds, until he was hit for the fifth time and was carried away.

Though two or three times badly wounded he continued to control the fire of his machine guns at Mons on 23rd Aug., until all his men were shot. He died of his wounds.

~SALUTE~

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Dease
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/communities-ministers-attend-first-commemorative-paving-stones-ceremonies

China states it will not interfere with Japanese attacks on the German concession at Tsingtao.

Catfish

08-24-14, 12:35 PM

Moved to WW1 thread, tks Steve :salute:

Sailor Steve

08-24-14, 02:29 PM

August 24:

With the French retreating from Charleroi and the Ardennes and the British falling back from Mons, victory seems to be on the side of the Germans. As will become evident later, the Allied withdrawal is orderly, with much rearguard fighting, and is being done under the orders of superiors who are trying to reorganize a more effective defense. The troops are tired, but not demoralized, and the Germans are in much the same condition, so pursuit is slow and careful.

With the Japanese declaration of war on Germany Berlin restaurants start refusing to serve Japanese customers. Within a week Japanese civilians in Germany are being interred at the camp at Ruhleben, outside Berlin.

In an early "friendly fire" incident, the French airship Dupuy-de-Lôme is shot down by French ground troops.

Captain H.C. Jackson and Lieutenant E.L. Conran of No.3 Squadron make the first British bombing attack on three German aircraft parked near Lessines. As with many of these early attempts, they missed.

SMS Dresden captures SS Holmwood, a British cargo ship of 4223 tons, off the southern coast of Brazil.

SMS Karlsruhe departs Maracá Island for a rendezvous with the collier Stadt Schleswig at São João.

SMS Emden travels slowly southward through the Molucca Sea, planning to rendesvous with a collier at Timor in the morning hours of the 25th, when the cool morning air will make the work easier for the crew. Coaling usually involved loading bags of coal from one ship to another (done by hoist), breaking the bags open and dumping them down the coal chutes to the bunkers and then cleaning the coal dust from everywhere, a back-breaking all-day job. In this case Emden was carrying extra coal in bags tied down to the weather deck, so all that was needed was to get them on board and secure; still several hours of hard labor best done before the extreme heat of the day sets in.

TarJak

08-24-14, 07:02 PM

25 August 1914

The Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle of NZ, publishes an interesting article on the state of opposing naval forces in the Pacific and Far East: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=OSWCC19140825.2.6

The KING (is) pleased to give orders for the following promotion in the Most Honourable Order of the Bath:

To be an Ordinary Member of the Military Division of the Second Class, or Knights Commanders, of the said Most Honourable Order:
Rear-Admiral Archibald Gordon Henry Wilson Moore, C. V. O., C. B.

Japan declares war on Austria-Hungary.

SMS EMDEN steamed through the Sunda Strait picking up radio signals from Dutch warships and on hearing on Siamese radio station Singora of the capture of Liege and Namur, there was a great deal of celebration amongst the crew.

On passing the Tiger Islands that night, the radio office picked up news of the Japanese declaration of war on Dutch radio.

German troops stationed in the Belgian village of Louvain during the opening month of World War I burn and loot much of the town, executing hundreds of civilians.

By nightfall of the 25 August 1914 the retreating II Corps was being closely pursued by the German First Army. I Corps was some way away to the east, and although the newly-arrived 4th Division was moving up alongside II Corps it was clear that the disorganised and greatly fatigued units faced a calamity the next day if the withdrawal was forced to continue. Corps Commander Horace Smith-Dorrien ordered II Corps to stand and fight. The units of the Corps were arranged in the open downs to the west of the small town of Le Cateau.

Germans take Sedan; Maubeuge invested; Mulhausen again evacuated by the French.

Last Namur fort is silenced.

Austrian First Army defeats Russians at Krasnik and advances towards Lyublin.

End of First Austrian invasion of Serbia resulting in complete defeat of the Austrians with heavy losses.

Tepe in Cameroon occupied by the Allies.

Lord Kitchener's first speech as Secretary of State for War. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=CHP19140901.2.91

HMS HAMPSHIRE arrives in Hong Kong.

Antwerp bombed by Zeppelins. This was the first instance of bombing of a civilian population as opposed to purely military targets.

Sailor Steve

08-24-14, 08:34 PM

Loved the newspaper article.

"A cable last week stated that the Emden had tried conclusions with the Russian cruiser Askold off the coast of North China, and that both went to the bottom of the sea."
:rotfl2:

Gotta love the news that gets spread around in wartime. :sunny:

TarJak

08-24-14, 08:45 PM

I love Kitchener's speech: "As a soldier, I have no politics..."

Given what happened, maybe he should have.

Jimbuna

08-25-14, 05:25 AM

25th August

Serbian forces defeat the Austro-Hungarian invasion at the battle of Cer, expelling all enemy troops from Serbia.

4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards and 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers charge German guns at the Action of Elouges.

First use of aircraft for patrol purposes (over retreating British forces in France).

Battle of Malines begins.

Valenciennes taken by German forces.

Battle of the Mortagne (Vosges) begins.

Valenciennes taken by German forces.

First Battle of Krasnik (Poland) ends.

French Government issue new decree defining contraband.

Loss of three British trawlers:
Kesteven: scuttled in the North Sea 69 nautical miles (128 km) east north east of the Inner Dowsing Lightship by a Kaiserliche Marine torpedo boat. Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.
Lindsey: scuttled in the North Sea 70 nautical miles (130 km) east north east of the Inner Dowsing Lightship by a Kaiserliche Marine torpedo boat. Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.
Porpoise: scuttled in the North Sea 70 nautical miles (130 km) east north east of the Inner Dowsing Lightship by a Kaiserliche Marine torpedo boat. Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.

Sailor Steve

08-25-14, 10:32 AM

August 25:

The Belgian army begins a successful counter-attack on Louvain. In a panic German troops begin to burn the city. Among the buildings destroyed is the University Library, founded in 1426. Thousands of ancient manuscripts are lost forever. The bigger coup for Entente (Allied) propagandists is the partial burning of the city cathedral. Still more civilians are executed as snipers and spies.

SMS Emden and SS Markomannia arrive at the rendesvous point off Timor. Yet again the expected collier fails to appear, and again Emden has to use the dwindling coal supplies from Markomannia. Some of the crew are sent ashore to hunt for food. After coaling the ships set a course for the island of Tanah Jampeia.

On a lighter note, the first aerial 'victory' of the war took place when a trio of B.E.2c aircraft, led by Hubert Harvey-Kelly (the first British pilot to land in France for the war) encounted a lone Taube and proceeded to buzz the hapless German, none of them being armed. Panicked by the game of 'chicken', the German pilot landed in a field and disappeared into the forest. Harvey-Kelly took a trophy from the Taube and then burned it.

There is a further story that Harvey-Kelly discovered that the Taube had been disabled by pistol fire from an Avro 504, the 'gunner' being Cuthbert Euan Charles Rabagliati and the pilot C.W. 'Daddy' Wilson, and that Harvey-Kelly handed his trophy over to Wilson. If that story is true, the Rabagliati should be credited for the first 'kill' of the war, and perhaps ever. I could only find one source for that part of the story, so take it for what it's worth.

TarJak

08-25-14, 08:23 PM

26 August 1914

HMAS PIONEER, (3rd class cruiser), captured the German merchant vessel THURINGEN, off Fremantle, WA.

For long hours during the morning of 26 August, the British force at Le Ceteau, notably the field artillery, held overwhelming numbers of the enemy at bay and inflicted severe losses. British tactics were similar to those at Mons. The infantry produced intensive and accurate rifle fire, while the field artillery fired air-bursting shrapnel rounds on the unprotected enemy. Many field guns were fired at point-blank range over open sights. Some were withdrawn just as the enemy infantry closed in. For the second time in three days, the British force engaged withdrew just in time. Miraculously, the exhausted II Corps disengaged and withdrew towards the south during the afternoon. Smith-Dorrien's decision to turn II Corps around from retreat and to stand against the German advance at Le Cateau paid off handsomely. Heavy casualties were inflicted on the Germans and another delay imposed on their Schlieffen timetable. To the east, I Corps was able to move further away from the advance parties of the Germans. However, a rift grew between Sir John French (who had initially ordered a continuation of the retreat) and Smith-Dorrien as a result of this action. It was to have serious consequences in 1915.

The total British casualties at Le Cateau amounted to 7,812 of all ranks, killed, wounded and missing.
38 field guns were lost.

http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/PIX/death.JPG

The Rearguard Affair of Le Grand Fayt: an action associated with the Battle of Le Cateau : http://www.1914-1918.net/bat2A.html

The Battle of Tannenberg commenced: The morning of the 26th opened with the First Russian Army advancing west towards Königsberg, meeting little resistance. The troops that were formerly directly in front of them had moved to the south, facing the Second Army's right flank. There was still time to close the gap between the Russian armies and thereby threaten the German movements, which by this point were being reported back to Russian headquarters. Nevertheless, on the night of the 25th, the Russian field commander sent orders for the First Army to continue directly west to Königsberg, orders that were once again intercepted by the Germans.

Due to François' delays, XVII German Corps opened the battle proper. They met the two separated divisions of VI Russian Corps near Seeburg and Bischofstein, turning them both back toward the border in disarray. The right flank of the Second Russian Army was now open. In the meantime, the Russian advance toward Tannenberg continued to be blocked by XX German Corps in front of them. Their only success were in the center, where XIII Russian Corps advanced toward Allenstein unopposed.

Douai, Noyon, Longwy and Cambrai occupied by German forces.

First Battle of Lemberg (Galicia.) begins.

Battle of Zamosc-Komarow begins.

German forces in Togoland capitulate to the Allied forces.

The British cargo ship Holmwood was captured and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 180 nautical miles (330 km) east of Pernambuco, Brazil by SMS Dresden

The SMS Magdeburg ran aground in the Baltic Sea off Odensholm, Estonia. She was subsequently attacked by Admiral Makarov and Gromoboi (both Imperial Russian Navy) and sank with the loss of 15 lives.

The battle off Rio de Oro on 26 August 1914 began when the German raider Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse was caught by surprise in a harbor, taking on coal from three German and Austrian colliers. Highflyer, badly outgunning the German auxiliary cruiser, first demanded surrender, but the German commander argued that the British had violated Spain's neutrality.
The British disregarded this because the Germans had already violated Spain's neutrality by taking over a week to resupply in a neutral port. So a battle began, from 15:10 to 16:45 the two ships bombarded each other, sometimes dodging the shots. Eventually, Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse exhausted her ammunition and began to flee the battle. Now out of ammunition, running from several larger guns, the crew scuttled their ship and abandoned her to the Atlantic. The German sailors made it to shore and escaped into the Saharan Desert.

Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse became the first passenger liner to sink during World War I. For years, the wreck of the German commerce raider was identifiable because its starboard side remained above the waterline until the ship was scrapped in 1952. One Briton was killed and six others wounded. German casualties are unknown. British sources at the time insisted the German auxiliary cruiser was sunk by Highflyer's crew but eventually stories from the surviving German seamen began to circulate, thus ending Britain's claim. Despite whether or not the Germans scuttled their ship or whether the British sank the raider, the British were still responsible for the raider's end.

General Galliéni appointed Governor of Paris (see October 30th, 1915).

M. Messimy, French Minister for War, [Appointed June 14th, 1914.] resigns.

M. Delcassé succeeds M. Doumergue [Appointed August 3rd, 1914.] as French Foreign Minister.

A Memorial service was held at St Thomas Church, Orchard Street, Portland Square for the first two British pilots to die in the war, E.W.C. Perry and H.E. Parfitt. Their deaths on 16 August was later part of a major controversy over the attitude of the RFC to its pilots’ safety. Perry and Parfitt were among the last to take off from Amiens on 16 August. As they took off in their BE8 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Aircraft_Factory_B.E.8) (number 625), the aeroplane stalled at about 150 feet from the ground – losing speed from climbing too quickly or with too little power. The aircraft turned over on its side and fell to the ground, where it caught fire. Both men were killed. They were the first British airmen ever to die in a theatre of war; Perry was also the first British officer fatality of the war (the majority of British servicemen who died before or on 16 August died in the UK). They had a full military funeral in Amiens with flag-draped coffins escorted by soldiers and senior officers, as well as members of the RFC.

TarJak

08-25-14, 08:24 PM

August 25:

On a lighter note, the first aerial 'victory' of the war took place when a trio of B.E.2c aircraft, led by Hubert Harvey-Kelly (the first British pilot to land in France for the war) encounted a lone Taube and proceeded to buzz the hapless German, none of them being armed. Panicked by the game of 'chicken', the German pilot landed in a field and disappeared into the forest. Harvey-Kelly took a trophy from the Taube and then burned it.

There is a further story that Harvey-Kelly discovered that the Taube had been disabled by pistol fire from an Avro 504, the 'gunner' being Cuthbert Euan Charles Rabagliati and the pilot C.W. 'Daddy' Wilson, and that Harvey-Kelly handed his trophy over to Wilson. If that story is true, the Rabagliati should be credited for the first 'kill' of the war, and perhaps ever. I could only find one source for that part of the story, so take it for what it's worth.

Interesting. I've got Harvey-Kelly's action dated on the 26th August 1914.:hmmm:

Sailor Steve

08-26-14, 01:46 AM

Interesting. I've got Harvey-Kelly's action dated on the 26th August 1914.:hmmm:
Wiki says the 26th. At least one poster on The Aerodrome forum also says the 26th. The book Aces High, by Alan Clark, which is the source I originally took the story from, says the 25th. The article from The Western Front association website, which is also the source for the Euan Rabagliatti version of the story, says the 25th. There seems to be evidence supporting both dates.

TarJak

08-26-14, 06:09 AM

Wiki says the 26th. At least one poster on The Aerodrome forum also says the 26th. The book Aces High, by Alan Clark, which is the source I originally took the story from, says the 25th. The article from The Western Front association website, which is also the source for the Euan Rabagliatti version of the story, says the 25th. There seems to be evidence supporting both dates.

Could simply be a date/time lapse in reporting. Primary sources may have been dated for both days depending on when they were written.

Jimbuna

08-26-14, 07:56 AM

26th August

Western Front

Elements of the newly forming French 6th Army begin to arrive in Amiens, on the far left of the Allied line

Smith-Dorrien decides that he is compelled to make a stand against the advancing Germans - the Battle of Le Cateau: British II Corps briefly checks the advance of Kluck’s 1st Army in hard fighting, loosing 8,000 men but managing to safely withdraw - scratch French forces block Kluck’s attempts to outflank the BEF to the west - Kluck believes that the BEF has been shattered

Louvain destroyed by the Germans.

Stunned by Haig’s excited report from Landrecies, John French has I Corps retreat south, away from II Corps; Chief of Staff Murray suffers a mental collapse

Joffre, Sir John French and Lanrezac hold a confused meeting at St. Quentin

Showing signs of panic, John French moves his headquarters to Noyon

The French liaison officer reports to GQG that the BEF has been crushed

German forces completely invest the bypassed fortress of Maubeuge

The Battle of the Meuse: de Langle’s French 4th Army holds off the German 4th Army along the Meuse south of Sedan

A gap opens between the French 4th and 5th Armies

End of French attempt to recover Alsace-Lorraine: French fall back in St. Die region.

Joffre disbands the Army of Alsace

Two German corps are transferred from the Western to the Eastern Front

Eastern Front

In East Prussia, the German 8th Army retook Soldau: Samsonov's communications cut, thus forcing an ever widening gap between the Russian 1st and 2nd Armies. This set the stage for the Battle of Tannenberg, 40 km southwest of Allenstein.

Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich visited General Zhilinskiy's NW Front HQ at Bialystok.

Galicia: Beginning of operations against Lemberg.

Southern Front

Novi Bazar evacuated by the Austrians.

Naval and Overseas Operations

In the Baltic Sea, the German cruiser Magdeburg ran aground in heavy fog on Odensholm island at the entrance to the Gulf of Finland. Unable to re-float her, the German Captain was forced to abandon ship. Russian destroyers soon found the ship, captured the commander and 56 crew. The boarding party discovered an invaluable German naval signal code book and cipher table, which were quickly copied and sent to the British.

Action between H.M.S. "Highflyer" and German armed merchant cruiser "Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse" off the Rio de Oro: latter sunk

Togoland conquered by the Allies: town of Atakpame occupied.

Politic, etc.

Messimy refuses to resign as War Minister, forcing the government to fall

M. Delcassé succeeds M. Doumergue [Appointed August 3rd, 1914.] as French Foreign Minister.

Michel is removed; Gallieni becomes Military Governor of Paris.

Ship Losses:

Admiral Sampson ( United States): collided with Princess Victoria ( United Kingdom) and sank in Puget Sound off Point No Point, Washington.
Holmwood ( United Kingdom): was captured and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 180 nautical miles (330 km) east of Pernambuco, Brazil by SMS Dresden ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse ( Germany): Battle of Río de Oro: The ocean liner was scuttled off Rio de Oro, Spanish Sahara following a battle with HMS Highflyer ( Royal Navy)

SMS Magdeburg
SMS Magdeburg ( Kaiserliche Marine): The Magdeburg-class cruiser ran aground in the Baltic Sea off Odensholm, Estonia. She was subsequently attacked by Admiral Makarov and Gromoboi (both Imperial Russian Navy) and sank with the loss of 15 lives.
Skeatti Sogeli ( Denmark): The coaster struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, United Kingdom.

Sailor Steve

08-26-14, 01:18 PM

August 26:

Two days after SMS Dresden captured SS Holmwood Captain Lüdecke decides to sink the British freighter. After removing the crew and taking what supplies they could use, Holmwood is sunk using scuttling charges.

SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse was one of the great pre-war passenger liners. Built in 1897, she once took the prize for the fastest liner on the seas. With the outbreak of war she was camoflaged, armed with six 10.5cm (4.1") guns, labeled an Armed Merchant Cruiser, and ordered to prey on Allied shipping. On August 7 she captured the fishing trawler Tubal Cain. After taking the crew aboard his own ship Captain Reymann sank the 227-ton trawler with gunfire. Her next victim was a little more substantial. On August 16 it was the 7,392-ton passenger/cargo ship SS Kaipara. Again Reyman took the crew on board his own ship before sinking the New Zealand-owned ship. Lastly Kaiser Wilhelm encountered the Nyanza, of 3,066 tons, later that same day. Again the crew were taken aboard Kaiser Wilhelm, and again the merchant was sunk. Sometime later Kaiser Wilhelm encountered two liners, SS Galician and Arlanza. Upon finding that they had women and children aboard, Reymann made the decision to let both ships go.

The 26th of August found Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse at the Spanish West African colony of Rio de Oro, taking on coal from two colliers, one German and one Austrian. Some sources say there was a third collier helping out. Some thirty British warships were on the lookout for Kaiser Wilhelm. The one that found her was HMS Highflyer, an old 2nd-class cruiser built in 1898, commanded by Henry Tritton Buller. As the British ship came in sight, Captain Reyman transferred his prisoners to the colliers and prepared his ship for battle. Buller called for Kaiser to surrender. Reymann claimed the protection of neutral waters. This claim was denied as Kaiser had already been in those same waters for several days, well beyond the 24-hour limit. The battle lasted from 15:10 to 16:45. Kaiser was no match for Highflyer's eleven 6" guns. The Germans scuttled their ship and the survivors made for shore.

An eyewitness account of the battle:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Kaipara_zps85b75383.png (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Kaipara_zps85b75383.png.html)

SMS Magdeburg was a German light cruiser operating in the Baltic Sea. Magdeburg had shelled the port of Libau on August 2 and the Dagerot lighthouse on the 12th. On August 17 Magdeburg had barely escaped a battle with two Russian armored cruisers, and only because the Russian commander thought that a pair of German armored cruisers were in the area. On August 26 Magdeburg's luck ran out when she ran aground near the Odensholm lighthouse. Despite efforts by the destroyer V26 to tow her off. The heavy Russian protected cruisers Bogatyr and Pallada showed up and began shelling Magdeburg with their multiple 8" and 6" guns. Despite attempts by Magdeburg's crew to destroy their ship the Russians captured the German ship, complete with code-books and cypher key, which were shared with the British Royal Navy.

Jimbuna

08-27-14, 06:21 AM

27th August

British fall back from St. Quentin.

Battle of Malines ends.

Namur: Last of the forts reduced.

British Marines landed at Ostend, accompanied by R.N.A.S. unit.

First Battle of Lemberg (Galicia) begins.

Lille occupied by German cavalry.

Mezieres occupied by German forces.

Russians capture Halicz and Tarnopol.

Joffre meets with Sir John French, BEF commander, to discuss the situation. The atmosphere is described as tense and uneasy. Language barrier complicates the meeting. French cannot understand English, Field Marshal French hardly any French.

French Prime Minister Viviani reforms the cabinet after three weeks of war.

First attack on Mora (Cameroons).

Ship Losses:

Barley Rig ( United Kingdom): The drifter struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of five of her nine crew. The survivors were rescued by the trawler St. Clair ( United Kingdom).
HMT Crathie ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) off the mouth of the River Tyne.
Ena ( Norway): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, United Kingdom. Her crew were rescued by a Royal Navy torpedo boat.
Gaea ( Denmark): The three-masted schooner struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of three of her six crew.
Gottfried ( Norway): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
HMT Thomas W. Irvin ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler struck a mine and sank with the loss of three of her twelve crew.

Tribesman

08-27-14, 06:36 AM

27th August.
Churchill and Kitchener both want some ammunition.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-28941528

Sailor Steve

08-27-14, 07:40 AM

August 27:

SMS Karlsruhe arrives at São João to find Stadt Schleswig waiting. She only has 800 tons of coal, so Köhler transfers that to Patagonia and sends Stadt Schleswig to São Luís with the crew of Bowes Castle aboard. Knowing that the British sailors will give away his position Köhler immediately sets course for Fernando de Noronha.

SMS Emden arrives at Tanah Jampeia, and yet again the expected collier is not there. What is there is HNLMS Marten Harpertszoon Tromp, a coast defense ship the equivalent of a small protected cruiser, still much larger than Emden, carrying a pair of 24cm (9.4") and four 15cm (5.9"), all larger than Emden's battery of ten 10cm (4.1") guns. Tromp also carries 15cm armor on the belt and 20cm on her turrets. The crew of Emden are preparing for action when they see the other ship is flying the Dutch flag. The battle flags are quickly lowered and Emden enters the bay peacefully, with Tromp following. A collier is in the bay, but hopes are dashed when she turns out to also be Dutch.

Captain von Müller goes aboard Tromp and returns with the news that a German collier had indeed been in the harbor but had been sent away, as the creation of a German coaling point would be a violation of Dutch neutrality. Emden and Markomannia leave the harbor and head north, with Tromp escorting them to the three-mile limit. As soon as the Dutch ship is out of sight the Germans turn southward toward the Lombock Straits. Since there is a good chance of the cruiser being sighted in the narrow straits, Captain von Müller orders the rigging of a false fourth funnel, which will hopefully make the ship bear a resemblence to the British Yarmouth when seen from a distance. The fake is made of wood and sailcloth and raised forward of the real funnels. According to radio reports intercepted later the funnel apparantly did its job.

Bilge_Rat

08-27-14, 08:22 AM

August 27:

"The Masquarader", written, directed and starring Charlie Chaplin and featuring Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle is released.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqTUqgLQ-BI

Sailor Steve

08-27-14, 01:36 PM

:rotfl2:

Brilliant! And what a relief from the goings-on of wartime.

TarJak

08-28-14, 05:11 AM

28th August 1914

This document was started: http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG0001003/

Sailor Steve

08-28-14, 09:22 AM

August 28:

Across the northeastern front the French and British are on the run, in what would later be called "The Great Retreat." The retreat is, however, not a rout. All across northern France desperate rearguard actions are being fought against the seemingly unstoppable Germans, and the Allies are only giving their ground slowly.

American consular secretary Hugh Gibson visits Louvain, and seeing the destruction of about one-fifth of the town, as well as the fire-damaged church, speaks to a German officer. "We shall wipe it out, not one stone will stand upon another! Not one, I tell you. We will teach them to respect Germany. For generations people will come here to see what we have done!"

With the retreat, Allied air bases are also being moved almost daily. At one of them, Lieutenant Louis Strange comes up with the idea of making his own homemade bombs from petrol, or gasoline. He and his observer take up their Farman and drop these on German troops near St. Quentin. "This action sent us home very well pleased with ourselves."

On August 23 Commodore Roger Keyes, commander of British submarine forces, proposed a plan to attack German torpedo boat patrols off Jutland, in the area the British called Heligoland Bight. After being turned down by the Admiralty staff, Keyes took the plan straight to the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill. Churchill called a meeting, consisting of First Sea Lord Prince Louis of Battenburg, Second Sea Lord Admiral Sir Frederick Hamilton, Chief of the Admiralty Staff Vice Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee and Commodore Reginald Tyrwhitt, commander of the Harwich Force, who would lead the attack.

The British main force was made up of two destroyer flotillas, comprising 31 destroyers and their two light cruiser leaders. These would be covered by six old armoured cruisers and five modern battlecruisers, who had with them four destroyers detached from the First Flotilla. Also along were eight submarines.

One person who was not informed until the last minute was the Commander-In-Chief of the Grand Fleet, Admiral John Jellicoe, since the Grand Fleet itself would not be involved. When Jellicoe was told of the plan, he immediately dispatched the First Light Cruiser Squadron, six ships, to help with the operation, but without telling anyone else.

German forces that day involved five light cruisers and nine destroyers on the spot, patrolling the outer area while a number of minesweepers did their job closer to shore. There were two more destroyer groups and six more light cruisers waiting in reserve.

At 0526 the British submarine E-9 spotted the German torpedo boat G-194 and fired a torpedo. It missed, and G-194 attempted to ram E-9. At 0650 G-194 was sighted by four destroyers of the First Flotilla. G-194 signaled for help as she ran from the British, and Rear Admiral Franz Hipper, thinking they had only four destroyers to deal with, sent the light cruisers Stettin and Frauenlob to help. At about this time the 10 ships of the German 5th Destroyer Flotilla showed up to help G-194 hunt submarines. When they saw that they were facing a light cruiser and several destroyers they tried to retreat.

The chase turned into a running battle, with the Germans desperately trying to escape. Nearby shore batteries were unable to help due to the morning fog. Soon the fight overtook the line of minesweepers, who also ran for their lives. At 0757 the two German light cruisers arrived on the scene, and Tyrwhitt had to let the smaller ships escape while he turned to deal with this new foe.

The destroyer Fearless almost immediately hit Stettin, destroying one of the cruiser's 4" guns. Stettin turned away and the destroyer did not give chase. (It should be remembered that the German light cruisers were armed with roughly the same size guns as the British destroyers, only more of them, while the British light cruisers also carried a 6" gun fore and aft.)

Tyrwhitt's flagship Arethusa was getting the worst of her fight with Frauenlob, having two of her 4" guns knocked out almost immediately, as well as the loss of her wireless and flooding in the engine room. Frauenlob was also hit several times, but suffered no critical damage. At 0830 Arethusa turned away, and Frauenlob did not give chase.

Meanwhile a group of British destroyers sank the German V-187. The British submarine E-4 fired a torpedo at Stettin and missed. Commodore Keyes, on board Lurcher, sighted two British cruisers, but in the fog he thought they were German and signalled the Battlecruisers. At 0930 a British submarine fired two torpedoes at the British cruiser Southampton. Fortunately they missed.

The Germans had sent three more cruisers, Ariadne, Cöln, and Strassburg, and these now arrived on the scene. At 1130 Mainz was attacked by Tyrwhitt's cruisers, and after a 20-minute action was sunk. Cöln and Strassburg attacked the British cruisers, but broke off when five of Beatty's battlecruisers, Invincible, Lion, New Zealand, Princess Royal and Queen Mary hove into sight. At this point the Germans beat a hasty retreat. Cöln was caught by the big guns and severely damaged, to be sunk later when the battlecruisers returned. Ariadne was spotted and sunk. Strassburg only escaped because her four-funnel configuration was similar to British cruisers, causing confusion for her attackers. Later three German battlecruisers came out, but by then the battle was long over.

The end result was a loss of four ships and 712 killed, 1,242 wounded and 336 taken prisoner for the Germans, with only severe damage, 35 killed and 40 wounded for the British. Technically a British victory, but marred by confusion and misleading signals. Neither side was happy with the result.

SMS Karlsruhe arrives at Fernando de Noronha and meets the suppy ships Asuncion, Rio Negro and Crefeld. There Captain Köhler finds he's had another lucky escape: less than two days earlier HMS Glasgow had been searching that area for the German raider. Köhler orders the other three ships to Rocas and Karlsruhe and Patagonia head southward.

Jimbuna

08-28-14, 02:45 PM

28th August

Western Front

Joffre orders the creation of a new force under Foch (which will later be designated the 9th Army) between the French 4th and 5th Armies

German forces take Montmédy, southwest of Sedan

The French fortress of Longwy, near Luxembourg, surrenders

Hard fighting north of Peronne, on the northernmost flank of the armies

British II Corps reaches the Somme, having retreated 35 miles from Le Cateau in a day and a half

British on line Noyon-Chauny-La Fere: British cavalry successful near latter.

In a rare old-fashioned cavalry charge, the British 12th Lancers ride down and spear German Uhlans at Cerizy

Haig’s proposal to coordinate an attack between his I Corps and the French 5th Army is refused by Sir John French, to the disgust of Lanrezac

The BEF abandons its forward base at Amiens

Violent meeting between Joffre and Lanrezac at Marle [830.AM]: Joffre gives direct orders for 5th Army to attack westward

The retreating French 5th Army reaches the upper Oise

Kluck begins to consider wheeling inward to catch 5th Army in the flank

Hausen’s German 3rd Army is advancing toward Rethel on the Aisne to Aug.29 - intense fighting at Signy-l’Abbaye

German forces take Fort Manonvillier, at Avricourt east of Nancy

The French 2nd Army renews its attacks in Lorraine

The French Belfort garrison advances slowly into southern Alsace

Refusing to divert troops for the defense of the capital, Joffre’s deputy Belin scoffs “What does Paris matter!”

Gallieni is given direct authority over Paris and decrees a ‘state of defense,’ intensifying work on the fortifications

Eastern Front

Russians beat Austrians at Lutzow (Galicia).

On the Northwest Front, the Germans halted the Russian 1st Army advance on Koenigsberg. The left wing of the Russian 2nd Army had fallen back 21 km without informing General Samsonov. In a disastrous defeat, the 2nd Army lost over 92,000 prisoners with over 30,000 killed, wounded or drowned at the Battle of Tannenberg. The Germans captured over 500 guns and 400,000 artillery shells. Germans losses were put at between 10-15,000 men.

German Zeppelin Z V, flying in heavy rain during a bombing raid on Mlava, was shot down by Russian ground fire, the entire crew was captured, while Z.V commander Hauptman Ernst Gruener was killed.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Battle of Bight of Helgoland: the German cruisers "Mainz", "Koln", and "Ariadne" sunk.

Ship Losses:

SMS Ariadne: Battle of Heligoland Bight: The Gazelle-class light cruiser was shelled and sunk in the Heligoland Bight by HMS Lion, HMS Queen Mary and HMS Princess Royal (all Royal Navy)
SMS Cöln : Battle of Heligoland Bight: The Kolberg-class light cruiser was shelled and sunk in the Heligoland Bight by HMS Lion, HMS Queen Mary and HMS Princess Royal (all Royal Navy) with the loss of 484 of her 485 crew.
SMS Mainz: Battle of Heligoland Bight: The Kolberg-class light cruiser was shelled and sunk in the Heligoland Bight by HMS Lion, HMS Queen Mary and HMS Princess Royal (all Royal Navy) with the loss of 89 of her 437 crew.
SMS V187: Battle of Heligoland Bight: The V180-class destroyer was shelled and sunk in the Heligoland Bight by Royal Navy warships.

TarJak

08-28-14, 09:09 PM

29 August 1914

In Australia’s first coalition operation, a New Zealand Expeditionary Force of 1400 troops landed at Apia, Western Samoa, covered by the guns of HMAS AUSTRALIA, and the cruisers HMAS MELBOuRNE, HMS PSYCHE, HMS PYRAMUS, HMS PHILOMEL and the French MONTCALM. With no troops to defend the islands, the German Administrator surrendered on 30 August. The wireless station and harbour facilities were thereafter denied to Von Spee’s squadron.

http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/files/hero_annex-4.jpg
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/interactive/nz-troops-arrive-annex-samoa-1914

The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser published this story about the capture of a Russian Volunteer Fleet Steamer by SMS Emden: http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/singfreepressb19140829-1.2.8.aspx

Meanwhile in the Indian Ocean, SMS EMDEN steamed sixty or seventy miles off the coast of Sumatra. Nothing unusual had happened for days and the crew spent most of their time in work detail. Upkeep was difficult in the tropics and though everything was done to keep the EMDEN neat and trim, she slowly deteriorated from the wear and tear of repeated coaling operations. Paint for touch ups had run out and much of the pain on the superstructure had started to turn a shabby rust colour. The First officer was still not pleased with the fourth "funnel" that had been fitted to disguise EMDEN as a British cruiser. He suggested to the skipper that a better one be built and once it was in place an untrained eye could mistake the EMDEN for a British cruiser such as the YARMOUTH. The MARKOMANNIA was ordered to come alongside EMDEN and assist with the alignment of the false funnel. With a boiler installed below, it would even provide a convincing puff of "smoke" when needed.

Despite there still being plenty of fresh water on board, fresh food was now becoming scarce and the cooks resorted to serving up corned beef in various disguises. Most troubling however was the shortage of soap. Soapsuds were used first to wash the crew, then the laundry and finally the ship. The Chinese laundrymen held to a tiny ration, turned out uniforms in an unsightly grey colour like that of the wooden decks.

Arras evacuated by the French forces.

First Battle of Guise begins. Following the fall of Charleroi and the British withdrawal from Mons, the French Fifth Army was also retreating south to the Oise river. The French made a counter-attack at the Battle of Guise (29th August 1914) in the area of St. Quentin and Guise to hold a line there north of the Oise river on 29th August. The position at Guise was, however, precarious and the order was given to withdraw. The French Fifth Army continued its retreat south across the river Oise, destroying the bridges behind it.

By the end of August the French and the German Armies had sustained some 300,000 casualties, including wounded or killed, on both sides. The German advance had successfully penetrated the French border in several places and was pressing on with its advance following on the heels of the French and British forces withdrawing in a south-easterly direction.

The Women’s Defense Relief Corps is formed in Britain. Though women’s rights organizations in Britain had initially opposed the country’s entrance into the First World War, they reversed their position soon enough, recognizing the potential of the war effort to gain advancement for British women on the home front. As early as August 6, 1914, just one day after Britain declared war on Germany, an article published in the women’s suffrage newspaper Common Cause stated that: "In the midst of this time of terrible anxiety and grief, it is some little comfort to think that our large organization, which has been completely built up during past years to promote women’s suffrage, can be used to help our country through the period of strain and sorrow."

In addition to the two nursing organizations that existed in 1914—the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) and the Voluntary Aid Detachments (VADs)—several new women’s organizations sprung into being over the course of the war. Created with the support of the British secretary of state for war, Lord Horatio Herbert Kitchener, the Women’s Defense Relief Corps came into being in late August 1914. The corps was made up of two divisions: a civil section, the goal of which was to substitute women for men in factories and other places of employment in order to free those men for military service; and a "semi-military" or "good citizen" section, where women were actively recruited for the armed forces. This latter group was trained in drilling, marching and the use of arms; its members were exhorted to protect not only themselves but their loved ones on the home front in case of possible invasion by the enemy.

Sedan taken by German forces.

German airship "Z.-5" brought down by gunfire at Mlawa (Poland).

Found this clear map that gives an overview of the Western Front from 1914-18:

http://www.greatwar.co.uk/places/images/Western-Front-battlefields-map.jpg

Jimbuna

08-29-14, 05:57 AM

British retire to line Compiegne-Soissons.

Germans occupy La Fere, Rethel, Amiens.

Joffre meets with Sir John French at Compiègne, but is unable to persuade him to halt the BEF’s retreat.

John French orders the main British base to be moved from Le Havre to St Nazaire.

The surrounded French fortress at Maubeuge is subjected to bombardment by German heavy artillery.

Distant gunfire can be heard in Paris.

Gallieni’s authority is extended to a twenty mile radius around the capital.

Cameroons: British reverse at Garua.

Samoa: German portion occupied by New Zealand troops.

Journalist J. Luckman for the NY Tribune and London Standard makes a claim that modern bullets cause “little pain” due to their small size.

First elements of the Canadian expeditionary force set sail towards Europe.

East Prussia: Battle of Tannenberg ends in the rout of Samsonov's Second Army.

On the Southwest Front, Ruzskiy's Russian 3rd Army defeated the Austro-Hungarian 3rd Army at Lutzow on the Zlota Lipa River, and continued their advance on Lemberg.

On the Southwest Front, Russian forces repulsed an Austro-Hungarian 2nd Army counter-offensive on the Gnila Lipa River in Galicia. The Austro-Hungarians lost 20,000 prisoners, with many killed in action. The Russian 8th Army captured Halicz, on the Dniester River.

Tsar Nicholas II approved a decision to establish the All-Russian Union of Towns and Cities, limiting its existence to the duration of the war.

Samoa: German portion occupied by New Zealand troops.

Ship Losses:

Dargai ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship ran aground on the English Bank, in the Atlantic Ocean off Montevideo, Uruguay and was wrecked. Her crew were rescued.

TarJak

08-29-14, 08:39 AM

Just found this that fits into 27th August: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-23/leslie-richmond-first-aust-born-soldier-killed/5685774?section=ww1

Jimbuna

08-30-14, 06:28 AM

30th August

Western Front

Lanrezac’s increasingly exposed French 5th Army belatedly receives orders to resume its retreat

Bülow asks Kluck to wheel inward - Kluck decides to disregard the BEF and turn the German 1st Army southeast away from Paris in order to roll up and destroy the retreating 5th Army

Charles Mangin is given command of a division in the French 5th Army

Large gaps have opened between the German right and center

Sir John French informs Joffre that the BEF won’t be able to fight for another ten days, although the British troops are in relatively good shape

British III Corps is formed under Pulteney

The Germans occupy Laon, Noyon and La Fère

Foch formally takes command of the detachment (which later becomes the 9th Army) forming in the gap between the French 4th and 5th Armies - Foch’s force crosses the Aisne

Joffre sacks Ruffey and installs Sarrail as commander of French 3rd Army

Moltke fails to end the German Lorraine offensive, though he knows that it’s stalled and that the French are transferring troops north

The French 2nd Army attacks around Luneville, to Aug.31

Joffre and Gallieni advise the divided French government to leave the capital as soon as possible

The first bombing of Paris by a German aircraft kills two civilians - the first black-out is enforced in the city

The French government suppresses German atrocity stories.

German Zeppelin LZ 20 is forced down due to ground fire; crew is captured.

Eastern Front

In East Prussia, Francois's German Corps took Neidenburg. The Russians began retreating to Ortelsburg. The Germans completed their rout of Samsonov's forces at Tannenberg. Samsonov's flanks had collapsed, his center had been surrounded, and his 2nd Army was almost completely destroyed at the Battle of Tannenberg, with the XIII, XV and XVIII Corps being literally wiped out. The badly mauled I and VI Corps managed to retreat south through Mlava and Mychinets. Over 70,000 Russians were killed, another 100,000 were made prisoner. General Samsonov committed suicide with his revolver in the woods. The Russian 1st Army was forced to retreat to the frontier. Russia's hope for a quick victory in East Prussia was dashed. It would not be a short war as many had hoped.

The first Austro-Hungarian invasion of Serbia was soundly defeated with heavy losses. Not to be denied, Austria-Hungary immediately began plans for a second invasion. A tenuous supply route existed through Serbia to Russia that enabled some limited military goods to flow both ways along the Danube River.

On the Southwest Front, the Austro-Hungarian 1st Army had penetrated 100 kilometers into Southern Poland. In Galicia, the Russian 8th Army broke through Austro-Hungarian lines near Halicz (Galich).

Naval and Overseas Operations

Cameroons: British occupy Nsanakong.

Political, etc.

Intended to encourage enlistment, the ‘Amiens dispatch’ appears in the London Times, describing the BEF as “grievously injured” and retreating - the first open intimation of the gravity of the situation, stunning the British public rebuttal, anonymously written by Churchill, is printed by the government.

1,300 women march down Fifth Avenue in New York City in protest against war.

Ship Losses:

Rion ( United Kingdom): The tanker was run in to by Serrana ( United Kingdom) and seriously damaged in the English Channel 9 nautical miles (17 km) south south west of Newhaven, East Sussex. She was consequently beached 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) west of Newhaven.

TarJak

08-30-14, 07:59 AM

30 August

VADM Sir George Patey, RN, in HMAS AUSTRALIA, arrived of Samoa, and the official surrender of German Samoa took place. The squadron comprised AUSTRALIA, HMA Ships MELBOURNE, and PSYCHE , and HM Ships PYRAMUS and PHILOMEL.
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/files/styles/fullsize/public/images/german-samoa.jpg?itok=KSrQDtFL

RAN and RN officers arrive on Samoa carrying the demand for surrender.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/assets/pictures/16096/eight_col_Raising_the_union_jack_in_Samoa_photogra phed_on_29_August_1914_by_Alfred_James_Tattersall_ ATL_Ref_PA1_q_107_32_1.jpg
The raising of the Union flag at Government Building in Apia.

On board SMS EMDEN, as was usual for a Sunday, church services were held on deck. Later that evening, heavy radoi traffic between allied warships was picked up. The vessel transmitting the most, was passing on orders for others to follow and signed off QMD. Muller assumed that it was the British armoured cruiser HAMPSHIRE. War bulletings from the Siamese station at Singora and the Dutch coastal station could be heard almost nightly. Some of the news from neutral Siam was cause for joy. Due to rapid advances by the Germans, the French government had to relocate to Bordeaux. The army was making progress. When would the EMDEN get their chance?

Sailor Steve

08-30-14, 08:55 AM

The first bombing of Paris by a German aircraft kills two civilians - the first black-out is enforced in the city
This mission was performed by Leutnant Ferdinand von Hiddessen, flying a Rumpler Taube. He dropped four small hand-held bombs weighing 5 pounds each, and a case full of leaflets. The papers read "The German Army stands before the gates of Paris. You can do nothing but surrender." Von Hiddessen would later be shot down and taken prisoner, but would survive the war and live until 1971.

Taube
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Taube_zps4208d854.png (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Taube_zps4208d854.png.html)

A later painting of the event
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/VonHiddessen_zps03a118f6.png (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/VonHiddessen_zps03a118f6.png.html)

As is common everywhere, the calling up of young men to war in Austria was not always popular:
"These simple, starving, bewildered lads and men, who have had nothing but misery all their lives, are being driven to their deaths, or crippled, and nobody gives a tuppeny damn about it afterwards. The streets are filling with pitiful women, who are already pale and ill, but still have the strength of soul not to let their menfolk see how it affects them. Today, in my street, there was a woman who fell on her husband's neck like one demented, because he was having to leave, carrying his few worldly goods in a piece of sacking. Yet the recruits are docile, and grateful for a friendly look"
-Oskar Kokoschka, painter, in a letter to a friend. Quoted from The First World War, by Martin Gilbert, p.46

Later that evening, heavy radoi traffic between allied warships was picked up. The vessel transmitting the most, was passing on orders for others to follow and signed off QMD. Muller assumed that it was the British armoured cruiser HAMPSHIRE.
The first such message had been intercepted on the night of August 13. There was some debate about the identity of the sender. The officers of Emden at first thought it was HMS Minotaur. Only later did they decide it was likely Hampshire, and they still weren't sure until they had been taken prisoner and had it confirmed by their captors.

Jimbuna

08-31-14, 05:33 AM

31st August

Western Front

In August alone, the French Army has suffered over 200,000 casualities, including 10% of its officers

The British Marines evacuate Ostend

The bypassed French garrison of Givet surrenders after being bombarded by German heavy artillery

Kitchener receives a report from Sir John French that the BEF will retreat behind the Seine, effectively taking it out of the war - the “perturbed” Cabinet and Kitchener order him to cooperate with Joffre - John French angrily refuses

Kluck’s 1st Army begins to turn southeast, away from Paris, abandoning attempts to outflank the Allied left; the Schlieffen Plan is crumbling - the German turn is detected by British aerial reconnaissance; the first uncertain reports reach Joffre

Kluck takes Compiègne and crosses the Oise River

French 5th Army learns that the gap between it and the BEF is being penetrated by a German Cavalry Corps that crossed the Oise at Bailly and is moving eastward to cut off the French retreat over the Aisne - Lanrezac orders 5th Army to retreat south over the Aisne in forced marches - after a rapid advance, the German cavalry halts just before severing the main French road to the south

Foch forms a defensive line on the Retourne, north of Reims. French Army holds the line Aisne-La Vesle-Reims-Verdun.

Battle of the Grande Couronne of Nancy (31st-11th Sept.)

Joffre’s deputies argue for continuing the retreat beyond the Seine before counterattacking

A German aircraft drops leaflets on Paris announcing that the German Army will arrive in three days

Eastern Front

East Prussia: Samsonov commits suicide during Russian rout; Rennenkampf forced to begin a retreat to the frontier.

Galicia: Austrian line broken near Halicz.

Tsar Nicholas II ordered St. Petersburg be officially renamed Petrograd to confirm its Russian identity.

During August, German Airship Z IV flew a number of valuable reconnaissance missions over Mlava, Gumbinnen, Insterburg, and Tilsit. The Germans used reconnaissance by their aircraft and airships in East Prussia to good advantage, while the Russian commanders largely ignored the reports of their airmen.

At the beginning of September 1914, the disposition of German forces on the Russian Front consisted of seven Corps, two Landwehr Divisions, two Cavalry Divisions, one Cavalry Brigade, and reserves at Koenigsberg and Posen. German Armeeflugparks (air parks) were located at Posen and Graudenz.

In early September, the Germans had seven Feldfliegerabteilung (FFA) (flying sections) serving on the Northwest Front, while the Austro-Hungarians had seven Fliegerkompagnie (Fliks) on the Southwest Front.

The Russians had nine KAO's (Corps flying detachments) on the Northwest Front, plus another five on the Southwest Front. There were also Fortress AO's (flying detachments) at Kovno, Grodno, Osovets, Novogeorgievsk and Brest Litovsk.
http://www.carto1418.fr/target/19140831.html

Ship Losses:

Floriston ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean and was beached at Point Riche, Newfoundland.
Strathroy ( United Kingdom): World War I: The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 100 nautical miles (190 km) north north east of Cape São Roque, Brazil by SMS Karlsruhe ( Kaiserliche Marine).

British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc. in the month - 46 ships of 67,000 tons gross (Lloyd's War Losses)

TarJak

08-31-14, 07:49 AM

31 August 1914

The First Lord of the British Admiralty, Winston Churchill, asked the Chief of the British Imperial General Staff to draw up a plan ‘for the seizure of the Gallipoli Peninsula by means of a Greek army of adequate strength, with a view to admitting a British fleet to the Sea of Marmara’. The Greeks produced a detailed plan for the capture of Gallipoli which would involve approximately 60,000 troops. Churchill felt that Turkey was unlikely to remain neutral between Britain and Germany and that the Turks would enter the war on the German side.

The first battle of Garua ended with the British being pushed out of Kamerun and into Nigeria. Nigerian troops reportedly fled, leaving British officers alone in the trenches. As the British force fled the Germans continued their counter-attack, pushing them out of Kamerun completely and pursuing them into Nigeria for days afterwards. The majority of the officers of the British units were killed, including the commanding officer, Colonel MacLear. Forty percent of the native Nigerian troops were lost. The Germans suffered relatively minor losses in comparison.

The action at Garua, as well as battles in other areas along Kamerun's northwestern border with Nigeria, turned out to be relatively successful for the Germans. They were able to repulse each British thrust that came at them during the opening days of the conflict, and even put themselves in position to threaten Calabar, the main port in eastern Nigeria. The victory at Garua enhanced the morale of German Askaris significantly and stalled Allied advances into northern Kamerun until mid-1915, when the Second Battle of Garua resulted in British victory.

Cardiff Rugby Committee, its former player and now president, Mr. W. T. Morgan in the chair, met, and passed the following resolution –

That this Committee of the Cardiff Rugby Club unanimously resolve, in view of the present crisis in the history of the British Empire, to cancel all fixtures for the season 1914—15. Furthermore the Committee urge on playing and subscribing members of the Club, as well as footballers generally, and spectators of Amateur Rugby Football in the District, to do everything in their power for the good of the Empire.”

The committee decided to hand over to the Marquis of Bute, with the consent of The Welsh Rugby Union and the Cardiff Cricket Club, all the structures on the Cardiff Arms Park, to be used in any way His Lordship might direct. Further, they agreed to offer his lordship their services, individually and collectively, for any work he may invite them to reform.

The UK's Daily Telegraph had to face up to a serious situation for the Allies:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11064335/Daily-Telegraph-August-31-1914.html

“We have just passed through the most critical week in the history of Europe and or democracy since the Napoleonic era. We are about to enter upon another even more critical.” This was E. Ashmead-Bartlett’s summation of what no amount of praise for the courage of the Allied troops could camouflage – a very serious situation with the Germans breaking into France having forced the Allies to retire a relatively considerable distance. Pages 6, 7 and 8 cover the situation was best they can, and seek to stress that our men are still in a position to stop this advance.

Sailor Steve

08-31-14, 08:02 AM

A fair picture of the situation throughout August 1914.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/5FrontiersNorth_zpsc9d5230f.png (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/5FrontiersNorth_zpsc9d5230f.png.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/6FrontiersSouth_zps9a5a867d.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/6FrontiersSouth_zps9a5a867d.jpg.html)

And the war in the East.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/3EasternFront_zpsc239f31f.png (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/3EasternFront_zpsc239f31f.png.html)

A far better set of maps - maybe the best there are - are available in the book The Historical Atlas of World War I, by Anthony Livesey. It is copyrighted material, and not available on the web, so if you want to see them you'll have to buy the book. I highly recommend it, as I believe it is the best atlas of its kind available.
http://www.amazon.com/Historical-Atlas-World-Henry-Reference/dp/0805026517/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409489874&sr=1-1&keywords=the+historical+atlas+of+world+war+i

In the UK it is available in its original format as The Viking Atlas of World War I.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Viking-Atlas-World-War/dp/0670853720/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=1-1&keywords=the+viking+atlas+of+world+war+1

If it looks like something you might want, be sure to use the link at the top right of the page, and Onkel Neal will get a cut at no extra cost to you.

August 31:

SMS Karlsruhe captures SS Strathroy, carrying 5,000 tons of prime Welsh coal. A prize crew takes the prize to join Karlsruhe's three colliers at Rocas.

TarJak

08-31-14, 08:23 AM

Lovely maps Steve.

TarJak

08-31-14, 06:23 PM

1 September 1914

The battle of Nery in the opening weeks of the Great War began when the advancing Germans surprised the 1st British Cavalry Brigade quartered in the small French town. Chaos ensued, and the British took time to organise their defence, but eventually struck back with two batteries of the Royal Horse Artillery especially distinguishing themselves. The Queen s Bays cavalry regiment charged in classic style, and the Germans, mistakenly believing themselves outnumbered, withdrew with heavy casualties. Though tiny by later Great War standards, the affair at Nery , in which three VCs - two of them posthumous - were won, was a textbook example of guns and horses teaming up to turn defeat into victory.

During the morning the British 5th Cavalry Brigade moved to the west bank of the Oise about 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Cérizy (Moÿ-de-l'Aisne). Around noon German cavalry appeared on the road from St. Quentin and were engaged by a party of cavalry with a machine-gun 0.5-mile (0.80 km) east of Cérizy supported by a section of Royal Horse Artillery. The party of cavalry was forced back but German attempts to enter La Guinguette Farm were repulsed. In the afternoon, two German cavalry squadrons appeared and were engaged. The Germans dismounted and then their horses bolted, followed by the riders. The British immediately pursued around the eastern flank and met mounted cavalry near Moy and a party of lancers forced the Germans to dismount with rifle-fire and stampeded their horses. Mounted cavalry got within 50 yards (46 m), charged and inflicted 70–80 casualties with– swords and lances for a loss of five killed. The British gathered c. 30 wounded and estimated that the total German loss was 300 casualties. The Germans had expected to meet a weak infantry detachment and attacked with three dismounted squadrons, intending to charge with three more. A troops of Dragoons was overrun by British cavalry but the Germans eventually managed to disengage and withdraw behind a hill north of the woods; during the evening the British retired to the south.[ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Retreat#cite_note-FOOTNOTEEdmonds1926215.E2.80.93216-20)

Air reconnaissance on the fronts of the VII Corps and X Reserve Corps on 31 August reported that the British were retreating south of the Aisne towards Crépy-en-Valois. The five Jägerbattalions of the II Cavalry Corps were sent towards Crépy on 1 September and encountered the 13th Brigade of the 5th Division, which began to retire at 10:00 a.m. A German attack began from Béthancourt, about 4 miles (6.4 km) from Crépy and mainly met the West Kents on the left flank. The 119th Battery of the XXVII Brigade RFA was about 100 yards (91 m) from the British line and fired 150 shells in five minutes, when the Germans had approached within 1,400 yards (1,300 m). By noon the British had fallen back and German cavalry patrols probed forward without infantry. On the right flank, the 2nd Duke of Wellingtons at a crossroads near Raperie, were able to withdraw, under cover of the other two batteries of the XXVII Brigade. The 1st Army had attempted to trap British rearguards at Crépy and Villers-Cotterêts but they had slipped away. Air reconnaissance revealed that British columns were moving south from the area south-west of Villers-Cotterêts, south of Crépy and from Creil.

The 6th Division of the III Corps crossed the Aisne at Vic on 1 September and engaged the 3rd Cavalry Brigade at Taillefontaine, about 5 miles (8.0 km) north-west of Villers and drove it slowly back towards the village
At 10:00 a.m. the 4th Guards Brigade was attacked by a mixed force of cavalry, infantry and artillery, which was repulsed until another attack at 10:45 a.m. and got round the western flank and advanced on an open area from Rond de la Reine to Croix de Belle Vue and filtered through gaps in the line of the 3rd Coldstream Guards, who fell back slowly, with the 2nd Grenadier Guards on the right. By 2:00 p.m. the British had retreated to the northern fringe of the village during hand-to-hand fighting. The British retreat began again at 6:00 p.m. and Villers-Cotterêts was captured late in the night, after the British had retired to the south and south-west. By the end of the day the 1st Army headquarters had abandoned hope of cornering large British forces south of Verberie, Crépy-en-Valois and Villers-Cotterêts.

A retired Admiral, Charles Fitzgerald, conceived the notion of the White Feather movement in Folkestone. Local women are encouraged to join in the shaming of non-combatants, with more or less success.

General Russian withdrawal towards the Bug.

St. Petersburg renamed "Petrograd".

In Galicia the Battle of Lemberg goes against the Austrians.

The Imperial Japanese Navy seaplane carrier Wakamiya arrives off Kiaochow Bay, China, to participate in operations during the Siege of Tsingtao. It is the first combat deployment of an aviation ship by any country.

No. 3 Squardon RNAS was formed at St Pol. This formation was later renamed to No. 203 Squardon RAF when the RAF was formed in 1918. Among its notable Officers Commanding were Canada's first ace, Redford Mulock; Lloyd S. Breadner, future Air Marshal of the Royal Canadian Air Force; Raymond Collishaw, sixth scoring ace of the war; and Tom F. Hazell, the Royal Air Force's tenth scoring ace of the war. The squadron produced a number of other notable aces, including Leonard Rochford; Arthur Whealy; James Alpheus Glen; Edwin Hayne; William Sidebottom; Frederick C. Armstrong; Joseph Stewart Temple Fall; Harold F. Beamish; future Air Marshal Aubrey Ellwood; John Joseph Malone; John Denis Breakey; Frederick Britnell; Francis Casey; Australia's highest scoring ace, Robert A. Little; Harold Spencer Kerby; Alfred Williams Carter; and Herbert Travers.

Eleven of the squadron's 23 aces were Canadian. The squadron claimed about 250 aerial victories during World War I.

Jimbuna

09-01-14, 06:06 AM

1st September

Western Front

Soissons bombarded and occupied by Germans. The Germans take Soissons and Craonne

French 5th Army crosses the Aisne despite the extreme fatigue of its troops

Pétain takes command of the 6th Division in the 5th Army

The German 1st Army clashes with the French 6th Army and with the retreating BEF south of Compiègne at Néry (where British Battery L fights to its last shell and its last two men), at Crépy-en-Valois, and at Villers-Cottérêts: large-scale cavalry losses cripple the Germans’ ability to scout on their right flank. Both sides fought dismounted and British reinforcements arrived and completely routed the German 4th Cavalry division.

Action at Villers-Cotterets: British 4th (Guards) Brigade checks German advance.

In a tense conference in Paris, Kitchener confronts the sullen Sir John French and orders him to cooperate with the French Army

The gap between the corps of the BEF is finally closed after a week

The panicky British headquarters retreats rapidly from Dammartin: a shaken Henry Wilson orders his staff to “Drive like hell for Paris.”

Joffre receives more reports that the German 1st Army is shifting southeastwards, including evidence from a bloodstained map that was retrieved from a dead German staff officer, but it is not until Sep.03 that this crucial change in direction is clearly confirmed by Allied intelligence

GQG issues General Order No. 4, calling for a continued Allied retreat followed by a counterattack on the German center using troops from Paris

Kluck’s German 1st Army is within thirty miles of Paris

Joffre places the 6th Army under Gallieni’s command

Paris is again bombed by a German aircraft

The French government decides to leave for Bordeaux by the next day

The frightened Paris Prefect of Police resigns “for reasons of health”

Eastern Front

On the Southwest Front, the Russian 4th Army checked the Austro-Hungarian 1st Army's drive before it could reach Lublin. The Austro-Hungarian 3rd and 2nd Armies were retiring west of Lemberg along the line of the Wereszyca River.

In Galicia, the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army briefly occupied Komarov and drove southeast towards Rava Russka to do battle with Ruzskiy's 3rd Russian Army, which was already closing in on Lemberg (Lvov).

East Prussia: General Russian withdrawal towards the Bug.

Asia & Africa

First unit of Indian Expeditionary Force "C" arrives at Mombasa.
General J. Stewart takes over command of British forces in East Africa.

Political, etc.

German ambassador to the US declares, “The war is over. Germany has won….Germany did not desire war; her wish has always been for peace.”

Russia: St. Petersburg renamed "Petrograd".

Naval:

British warships stop two American liners off Hong Kong and detains 60 German and Austrian passengers.

TarJak

09-01-14, 07:07 PM

2 September 1914

Viscount Edward Grey cables the Japanese Government on behalf of the Admiralty requesting that they "send a division of the Japanese Navy to cooperate with the British and French fleets primarily in the Mediterranean and ultimately in the decisive theatre of the naval war."

Despite not wanting to send their ships so far afield, the Japanese used the invitation as an excuse to expand their influence in the Pacific. They agreed to assume larger responsibilities in the Pacific and to send a cruiser squadron to the 'South Seas' to try to locate the German warships and to destroy the German bases in the North Pacific islands.

British forces withdraw to Chantilly-Nanteuil.
Malines bombarded by the Germans.

In Galicia the Battle of Lemberg ends with a rout of the Austrians, who lose 130,000 men.

In Poland the Austrian advance is checked at Lyublin.

Japanese troops landed for the attack on the fortress in Tsing-tau.

The French government leaves Paris for Bordeaux.

Jimbuna

09-02-14, 05:59 AM

2nd September

Action at Villers-Cotterets: British 4th (Guards) Brigade checks German advance.

Soissons bombarded and occupied by Germans.

Martha, the last passenger pigeon, has died at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Battle of Zamosc-Komarow ends.

Ship Losses:

Ajax ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the mouth of the River Humber with the loss of nine of her crew.
HMT Eyrie ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler was lost on this date.
Fittonia ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the mouth of the River Humber with the loss of seven of her crew.

Sailor Steve

09-02-14, 12:26 PM

September 2:

Just before midnight on the 1st a German officer driving from von Kluck's headquarters to his division heads takes a wrong turn and is killed by a French patrol. His despatch case is taken to Colonel Marie Bertrand Alfred Fagalde of French Intelligence. Fagalde discovers a map showing the exact location of von Kluck's forces as well as the German general's exact plans for the following day. Von Kluck's plan is not to move south toward Paris, but south-east to attack the weak point where British and French armies meet.

On the 2nd the BEF reach the Marne River. "The troops have quite recovered their spirits and are getting fitter every day, and all they want is the order to go forward and attack the enemy - but that is not possible with the present rearward move of the French Army."
-General Sir Horace Lockwood Smith-Dorrien, diary

A German cavalry patrol captures The Times correspondent Arthur Moore. He will be released in just a few days.

At the same time as thousands of Belgian refugees are approaching Paris from the north, one-third of the city's population - almost a million people - are fleeing to the south, along with the French government.

In the village of Senlis, Mayor Eugene Odent and six other citizens are taken to a field and executed.

"It is the stern necessity of war that the punishment for hostile acts falls not only on the guilty, but on the innocent as well."
-Field Marshall Baron Wilhelm Leopold Colmar Freiherr von der Goltz, German Governor in Brussels

TarJak

09-02-14, 05:37 PM

3 September 1914

SMS EMDEN approached the island of Simeulue during the evening hoping to meet the coaling ship Ulm in Langini Harbour. The continued loud radio traffic from the British ship using the call sign QMD, puzzled the crew. The ship must have been in close proximity and later that evening they learned that evening had been the second time the EMDEN had escaped being located by enemy forces. The first had been in the Yellow Sea when EMDEN trailed the French squadron. The second was when QMD had apparently searched Langini Harbour as the EMDEN was navigating the islands to the North on the way to Langini. Luckily for EMDEN, QMD had been 24 hours too early.

The AN&MEF and the ships associated with transporting them were making final preparations in Port Moresby for their departure for Rabaul. The force would sail on 7 September 1914 with the objective of capturing the German radio station on Rabaul.

Germans reach and begin to cross the Marne. They occupy line Ville sur Tourbe-River Suippe-Chateau Thierry. Germans evacuate Lille.

Lemberg, capital of Galicia, occupied by the Russians, who capture much booty.

H.M.S. "Speedy" destroyed by a mine. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=PBH19140909.2.14.3.2 http://ww1photos.com/CasualtyLists/Casualty_List_The_Graphic_4th_Sep_1914.pdf

Election of Pope Benedict XV.

Prince Wilhelm of Wied, Albania leaves for Venice. With Albania in a state of civil war since July 1914, Greece occupying the south of the country, the great powers at war with one another, his regime collapsed, and so Prince William left the country on 3 September 1914 originally heading to Venice. Despite leaving Albania he did so insisting that he remained head of state. In his proclamation he informed the people that "he deemed it necessary to absent himself temporarily."

Jimbuna

09-03-14, 05:22 AM

3rd September

Western Front

Germans evacuate Lille.

At Senlis, near Paris, French composer Magnard is killed in his burning house after shooting two German cavalrymen

German cavalry reaches Ecouen, only eight miles from Paris

A French Cavalry Corps is organized to protect the left flank of the French 5th Army, exposed by the rapid retreat of the BEF

The main bodies of the BEF and 5th Army retreat over the Marne

Joffre sacks the overwhelmed Lanrezac, replacing him with the tough, energetic d’Esperey as 5th Army commander - d’Esperey tells a reluctant corps commander “There is to be no more discussion. You will march; march or drop dead.”

Kluck’s German 1st Army reaches and begins to cross the Marne: they occupy line Ville sur Tourbe-River Suippe-Chateau Thierry.

Reims is abandoned by the French as an open city and is occupied by Bülow’s 2nd Army

Rupprecht’s German 6th Army launches a renewed offensive on the Moselle in Lorraine

Gallieni publicly proclaims that he will defend Paris “to the end.”

Gallieni learns that the German Army is turning away from Paris and he makes plans to attack its exposed flank, conferring with his Chief of Staff.

Canadian Automobile Machine Gun Brigade, the first mechanized unit of the British Army, is formed.

Eastern Front

Lemberg, capital of Galicia, occupied by the Russians, who capture much booty.

In the Baltic Sea, the Russians began fortifying the Aaland Islands and Moon Sound, stationing torpedo boats and submarines in those areas, while simultaneously increasing the guard on the critical Irben Straits.

Political, etc.

Woodrow Wilson announces he will run for a second term as President of the United States.

French Government inform united States Government that they will observe "Declaration of London" subject to certain modifications.

The Paris Bourse closes

Rome: election of Pope Benedict XV.

Albania: Prince Wilhelm of Wied leaves Albania.

Naval and Overseas Operations:

H.M.S. "Speedy" destroyed by a mine: SPEEDY, minesweeper, ex-Alarm-class torpedo gunboat, 810t, 1893, 1 or 2-4.7in/4-3pdr/3-18in tt, 19kts, c90 crew, converted to minesweeper 1909, retained guns, fitted with kite winch & gallows on quarterdeck, Lieutenant Commander Edward Miller Rutherfoord. Rescuing Lindsell's survivors, but mined herself. Whole of after part blown off including rudder and propellers, flooded and sank an hour later, 30 miles off the Humber (dx - 12 miles NNE of Outer Dowsing LV; wi - in 53.34N, 00.10E); 1 rating lost.

Ship Losses:

HMT Lindsell ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of five of her crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS Speedy ( Royal Navy).
Maple Branch ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 250 nautical miles (460 km) south west of the St. Paul Rocks by SMS Karlsruhe ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Shirotaye ( Imperial Japanese Navy): The Asakaze-class destroyer was wrecked in the Yellow Sea (approximately 36°00′N 120°30′E) whilst involved in a battle with SMS Jaguar ( Kaiserliche Marine.
HMS Speedy ( Royal Navy): World War I: The Alarm-class torpedo gunboat struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of one of her 91 crew.

Sailor Steve

09-03-14, 10:26 AM

September 3:

At Pontoise German soldiers blow up a bridge over the Seine River. General Joseph Simon Gallieni, military governor of Paris, issues a proclamation: "I have received the order to defend Paris against the invader. This order I shall fulfill to the end." The newly-formed 6th Army under General Michel-Joseph Manoury is assigned to entrench its 80,000 men around Paris in support of Gallieni. Manoury had led the 14th Infantry Division's failed attempt to block von Kluck at Proyart on August 29th. General Joffe orders Gallieni to have Manoury's mobile units to attack von Kluck's right flank if the opportunity arises.

A British aerial reconaissnce report confirming von Kluck's movement to the south-east is forwarded from General French to General Joffre. This allows Joffre to make plans for a counter-attack on von Kluck's left flank. Joffre orders the attack to begin the following day.

It was later claimed that Joffre had high praise for the RFC: "The British Flying Corps had played a prominent, in fact a vital part, in watching and following this all-important movement on which so much depended. Thanks to the aviators he had been kept accurately and constantly informed of Kluck's movements. To them he owed the certainty which had enabled him to make his plans in good time."

SMS Karlsruhe captures and scuttles SS Maple Branch, but not before removing part of a cargo of ship's stores and livestock.

Off the coast of German East Africa, Captain Looff of SMS Königsberg hides his ship up the Rufiji River to overhaul her engines. This will take a very long time, as German supply ships have to elude the British patrol boat Pegasus. Fortunately for them Pegasus was the only ship the Royal Navy has in the vicinity, and she is old and worn out.

Jimbuna

09-04-14, 07:11 AM

4th September

Western Front

Belgians open dykes and stop a German advance on Antwerp.

The troops of the German right, the French left and the BEF are in extreme stages of fatigue: ~a British officer writes “I would never have believed that men could be so tired and so hungry and yet live.” - Kluck reports to OHL that “the 1st Army… has reached the limit of its endurance.”

Advance of German First Army towards Paris diverted in a south-easterly direction.

Ignoring orders, Kluck pushes his 1st Army over the Marne

The BEF receives 20,000 replacements

The new 5th Army commander d’Esperey informs his staff that he will shoot any officer who fails in his duty

German 2nd Army erroneously reports that the French are falling back in disorder

The First Battle of the Marne (prelude). French and British aviators confirm that the German 1st Army’s right flank is exposed - without authorization, Gallieni begins preparations for an attack from Paris by the French 6th Army against Kluck’s 1st Army - GQG is informed of Gallieni’s proposed counterattack and debates the plan - d’Esperey meets with Henry Wilson at Bray and persuades him to support a counteroffensive, although the BEF continues to retreat - Gallieni confers with indecisive British Chief of Staff Murray at Melun and draws up plans for a counterattack - d’Esperey dictates a concise, well-conceived plan for a counteroffensive - Joffre commits to a general counter-offensive - Joffre receives d’Esperey’s plan and uses it as the basis for the Battle of the Marne - Joffre agrees to move the attack up to Sep.06 under pressure from Gallieni - Joffre signs General Order No. 6 for a counterstroke against the German right flank - Joffre learns that Sir John French is waffling about the proposed counterattack
Rupprecht and the Kaiser refuse to allow Moltke to transfer troops from 6th Army to the threatened German right wing

The Battle of Grand Couronné (4th - 13th September 1914) took place in the Meuse-Meurthe area of Lorraine between the French Second Army and the German Sixth Army. Following on from the failure of the French to hold the German advance at the Battle of Lorraine the French Second Army occupied an arc of high ground on a series of hills near Nancy. The German Sixth Army was aiming to capture the city, a prize which would be worthy of a grand entrance by Kaiser Wilhelm II himself. Indeed, he arrived in his Royal Train to observe the German attack and to attend a victory parade in the captured city. The Germans caused damage to villages and to Nancy by artillery bombardments, but did not succeed in capturing the city. Pont-à-Mousson and Lunéville were re-occupied by the French and Nancy was securely held in French territory for the duration of the war.

Still optimistic, an OHL intelligence officer tells German 5th Army “We are advancing triumphantly everywhere”

Moltke fears a counterattack, and orders the German right to halt entirely abandoning the Schlieffen Plan.

Aviation

Dogfight occurs over the skies of Paris between German and French fliers, but no losses occur.

Eastern Front

In north Poland, von Hindenburg's 8th Army advanced against remnants of General Schneidemann's Russian 2nd Army. In heavy fighting the Germans took Mlava.

On the Southwest Front, the Russians began organizing a government of occupation for conquered regions in Galicia. Tsar Nicholas II issued an Imperial decree extending to the whole duration of the war the prohibition of the sale of alcoholic beverages.

Political, etc.

Great Britain: Mr Asquith at Guildhall justifies Britain's entry into the war.

German Government agree to observe "Declaration of London" if other belligerents conform thereto, and issue their list of contraband.

In Berlin, Princess Blucher writes “Nothing is talked of but the expected entry into Paris.”

...............Triple Entente 'No Separate Peace' Agreement...............
From the French Yellow Book.

With the war underway there was concern among the Entente Powers that none among them should attempt to negotiate a separate peace with the Central Powers, thus gravely weakening the ability of the remaining belligerents to continue the war.
Thus the 'No Separate Peace' agreement came about, agreed by Britain, France and Russia in Paris on 4 September 1914, barely a month into the war.

Declaration of London

M. Delcasse, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to the French Ambassadors and Ministers abroad.

Paris, September 4, 1914

The following declaration has this morning been signed at the Foreign Office at London:

"The undersigned duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments hereby declare as follows:

"The British, French, and Russian Governments mutually engage not to conclude peace separately during the present war.
The three Governments agree that when terms of peace come to be discussed, no one of the Allies will demand terms of peace without the previous agreement of each of the other Allies."

Signed:
Paul Cambon
Count Benckendorff
Edward Grey

This declaration will be published today.
Delcasse

Naval and Overseas Operations

German Government agree to observe "Declaration of London" if other belligerents conform thereto, and issue their list of contraband.

Ship Losses:

Indian Prince ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 240 nautical miles (440 km) east by north of Pernambuco, Brazil by SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm ( Kaiserliche Marine).

Sailor Steve

09-04-14, 11:32 AM

Dogfight occurs over the skies of Paris between German and French fliers, but no losses occur.
Source please? Since no one has successfully mounted a machine gun to an airplane yet, I'm curious as to what they were "dogfighting" with. Pistols?

nikimcbee

09-04-14, 02:29 PM

5th Sept.

First blood is drawn.

U-21 sinks HMS Pathfinder.
http://www.cityofart.net/bship/hms_pathfinder_sinking.jpg

HMS Pathfinder
http://www.edinburghs-war.ed.ac.uk/system/files/Pathfinder%2001.jpg

http://www.uboat.net/media/wwi/men/commanders/hersing_otto.jpg

Otto Hersing

http://www.uboat.net:8080/media/wwi/boats/types/u19.gif
U-21

100 years later...
http://www.aquanautscuba.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/3D-K7-K17-SUBS1-300x179.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEf_mGZ_iMw

Sailor Steve

09-04-14, 04:15 PM

Aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself?

Sailor Steve

09-04-14, 04:16 PM

September 4:

At 0600 SMS Emden moves into the bay at Simalur. Once again they are disappointed by the absence of the expected collier, and once again Emden has to take coal from Markomannia. At 0900 the ships are in position and coaling begins. This lasts all through the daytime heat, and at 2300 hours the job is still not done. The crew knock off, planning to continue early in the morning. The ship's second torpedo officer, Prince Franz Joseph of Hohenzollern, wrote an amusing account of sleeping on in a hammock on deck with his assistant, Lt.z.S Schall on a mattress underneath. The Prince was awakened by a loud yowling sound in the wee hours of the night. Upon investigation he discovered that the ship's cat had given birth to four kittens, between the legs of the still-sleeping Lt. Schall.

TarJak

09-04-14, 11:53 PM

4 September

The cruiser HMS PSYCHE, (later HMAS PSYCHE), and survey ship HMS FANTOME, (later HMAS FANTOME), joined the contraband patrol in the Bay of Bengal.

TarJak

09-04-14, 11:58 PM

5 September 1914

British and French forces dig in and cease their retreats along the Western Front.

Battle of the Ourcq (Maunoury's 6th Army) begins at mid-day.

Reims and Pont-a-Mousson occupied by the Germans.

Austrians defeated by Russians at Tomashov.

Germans attack Abercorn in East Africa.

H.M.S. "Pathfinder" sunk by German submarine.

Wilson liner "Runo" blown up by a mine.

Agreement of London signed: Great Britain, France, and Russia pledge themselves to make no separate peace with the Central Powers.

Jimbuna

09-05-14, 05:48 AM

Source please? Since no one has successfully mounted a machine gun to an airplane yet, I'm curious as to what they were "dogfighting" with. Pistols?

Or fists, bricks and rope even.

Enemy pilots at first simply exchanged waves, or shook their fists at each other. Due to weight restrictions, only small weapons could be carried on board. Intrepid pilots decided to interfere with enemy reconnaissance by improvised means, including throwing bricks, grenades and sometimes rope, which they hoped would entangle the enemy plane's propeller.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogfight

Jimbuna

09-05-14, 06:21 AM

5th September

Western Front

End of the Retreat from Mons

Lille evacuated by German forces

The German 1st Army reaches Claye, ten miles from Paris

Kluck receives orders to halt and face toward Paris, but most of 1st Army continues advancing south

Advancing to its attack positions on the Ourcq, French 6th Army unexpectedly collides with Kluck’s right flank near St. Soupplet east of Paris: the first battle of the marne to sep.10: Kluck is alerted to the danger to his right wing

GQG pulls further back to Chatillon-sur-Seine - Joffre tells his staff “Gentlemen, we will fight on the Marne.”, and issues a proclamation to his troops, concluding with “Under present conditions no weakness can be tolerated.”

Colonel Hentsch from OHL persuades Kluck to withdraw north of the Marne

Joffre forcefully confronts the vacillating Sir John French, and exclaims “…the honor of England is at stake!”; with tears in his eyes, Sir John finally agrees to cooperate in a counteroffensive

The final day of retreat by the BEF; British forces turn about and begin advancing eastwards

(to Sep.06) After a prolonged bombardment, German forces storm four of the bypassed Maubeuge forts

An advance party of Kluck’s 1st Army reaches the Villiers-St. Georges area, a few miles north of the Seine near Provins: the furthest-south German penetration into France of World War I

Battle of the Ourcq (Maunoury's 6th Army) begins at mid-day. 5 - 9 September, 1914
The advance towards Paris of five of the German Armies stretching along a line from Verdun to Amiens was set to continue at the end of August 1914. The German First Army was within 30 miles of the French capital. By 3rd September the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F.) had crossed the Marne river in a retreat to the south and was in a position east of Paris between the French Sixth and French Fifth Armies. However, the commander of the German First Army made a fateful change to the original directive of The Schlieffen Plan, making an assumption that the Allies were not in a position to hold out against an attack on Paris from the east. The original Schlieffen Plan directive had been for German forces to attack Paris from the north in an encircling manoeuvre. Launching an attack east of Paris on 4th September the German First Army made progress in a southerly direction. However, the change to the Schlieffen Plan now exposed the right flank of the German attacking force. From 5th to 8th September the French Armies and British First Army carried out counter-attacks against the German advance on a line of approximately 100 miles from Compiègne east of Paris to Verdun. The Battle of the Ourcq River was carried out by the French Sixth Army against the German First Army of General von Kluck.
On 9th September the German First Army began to pull back as the British First Army moved in on its left flank. With no option but to make a fighting withdrawal, all the German forces in the Marne river region retreated in a northerly direction, crossing the Aisne to the high ground of the Chemin des Dames ridge.
The First Battle of the Marne was a strategic victory for the Allied Forces. It marked a decisive turn of events for the Allies in the early weeks of the war and Germany's Schlieffen Plan was stopped in its tracks. One of the famous events in the crucial defence of Paris is that 600 Parisian taxis were sent from the city carrying French reinforcement troops to the fighting front.

Foch’s forces become fully independent of French 4th Army and are officially constituted the 9th Army

German 6th Army takes Reims and Pont-á-Mousson, north of Nancy

A General Directive from OHL details Moltke’s halt order of Sep.04

Eastern Front

On the Southwest Front, the Austro-Hungarians were defeated by the Russians at Tomashov, in Kholm province in Poland. The Russian 5th Army moved in the rear of the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army at Rava Russka.

Naval and Overseas Operations

East Africa: German forces cross frontier of North Rhodesia. Defence of Abercorn

H.M.S. "Pathfinder" sunk by submarine in the North Sea (first British warship so destroyed).

Wilson liner "Runo" blown up by a mine.

Political, etc.

The "Pact of London," otherwise known as the "Entente Treaty" was signed between Great Britain, France, and Russia, each agreeing they would not make a separate peace with the Central Powers. German forces were now only 16 km from Paris.

Prussian War Minister Falkenhayn writes: “Only one thing is certain: our General Staff has completely lost its head.”

When asked the line of retreat from in front of Paris, Gallieni replies “Nowhere;” he gives secret orders to destroy vital resources and bridges in Paris in the event of defeat

Noted French Catholic-socialist-patriot-poet Charles Péguy is killed in action by German rifle fire near Villeroy.

Ship Losses:

HMS Pathfinder ( Royal Navy): The Pathfinder-class cruiser was torpedoed and sunk in the Firth of Forth by SM U-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 256 of the 270 people on board.
Runo ( United Kingdom): The passenger ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of 29 of the 300-plus people on board.

Sailor Steve

09-05-14, 08:19 AM

Or fists, bricks and rope even.
I read the article and was prompted to join the discussion group for that page. The complaints discussions are quite lengthy, as there are a great many errors on that page. I asked for help with a [Citation needed] note for that sentence, since I've been hearing that story since I was a kid, and have yet to find a single instance of anyone actually claiming to have done any of those.

As for the dogfight mentioned, the Wiki article does make reference to a fight between a Serbian and an Austro-Hungarian pilot with a pistol in late August, with good reference, but I can't find anything about a fight over Paris on September 4th.

Sailor Steve

09-05-14, 09:23 AM

September 5:

In order to make desperately-needed engine repairs HMS Dresden puts into a secluded bay at Isla Hoste, at the very tip of South America, on her way from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, where Kpt.z.s von Lüdecke hopes to join von Spee's squadron.

A further note on U-21 and HMS Pathfinder: Ten u-boats had been sent out on the very first war patrol. They had sunk nothing, and only eight had returned. On August 14th three of them - U-19, U-21 and U-22 - had been sent out again to patrol between Scotland and Norway. They had sighted a cruiser and a destroyer but hadn't been able to attack.

The German high command decided to try a new tactic. Rather than going in large groups the u-boats would now be sent out alone, or at most in pairs. The commanders responded by making trips to every British North Sea port, and periscopes were sighted almost daily. At one point a periscope was seen off Scapa Flow and Admiral John Jellicoe ordered every ship at the base to put to sea. This would infect the fleet so badly that it would come to be known as "periscopitis". On the side of the u-boats there are stories of the boats stopping at the Orkney Islands and huntin wild goats and sea birds.

At one point U-20 and U-21 made a sweep into the Firth of Forth, but could not reach the main anchorage.

On September 5th Kapitänleutnant Otto Hersing had just surfaced U-21 for a battery recharge off the Isle of May, at the mouth of the Firth of Forth, when the light cruiser Pathfinder was sighted. He immediately dove the boat, but was forced to watch as the cruiser sailed away. Hersing surfaced and resumed charging the batteries. The weather worsened and the waves were rising when a ship was spotted. It was Pathfinder, patrolling in a pattern that brought her right back into U-21's sights. Hersing waited until the right moment and fired a single torpedo. It struck Pathfinder behind the bridge and apparently set off a magazine. The ship sank in just four minutes and the era of modern submarine warfare had begun. HMS Pathfinder was the first ship ever sunk with a self-propelled torpedo.

In Langini Bay at Simalur SMS Emden resumed coaling at 0600 hours. The job needed to be finished quickly as the Dutch regulations only allowed one 24-hour stop by beligerent warships every three months. At 0800 Emden was approached by a small steam yacht flying the Dutch flag. A local government official came on board and insisted that Emden leave immediately, as her 24 hours were long past. Captain von Müller called for senior engineer Friedrich Ellerbroek, and pointedly asked him when the engines would be ready for sea. Ellerbroek caught on immediately and said repairs would take at least two more hours. Von Müller invited the official in and offered him whisky and soda. The crew had the coaling finished by 1100 and Emden was on her way, steaming south-eastward until the island was completely out of sight, then turning north toward the trade routes from Khota Raja to Colombo.

Sailor Steve

09-05-14, 01:13 PM

September 5 - Some interesting addenda:

On August 30th a special edition of The Times contained a dispatch from correspondent Arthur Moore. The story mentioned the "terrible defeat" suffered by the British Army at Mons and described the the troops as "the broken bits of many regiments." On September 5th First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill wrote a letter to the owner of The Times. "I think you ought to realise the harm that has been done by Sunday's publication in The Times. I never saw such panic-stricken stuff written by any war correspondent before, and this served up on the authority of The Times can be made, and has been made, a weapon against us in every doubtful State."

Prime Minister Asquith asked Churchill to write a letter for publication, describing the retreat in detail. Churchill wrote "There is no doubt that our men have established a personal ascendancy over the Germans, and they ar conscious of the fact that with anything like even numbers the result would not be doubtful." Of course the numbers were not even close to even, but the British were only a small part of the Allied army at that time.

The Belgian underground was doing their part. They had torn up so much of the railway system that the Germans had to devote 26,000 railroad workers just to try to make repairs, and they were losing ground. The distance from the rail head to the front line was 20 miles on August 25th. By September 4th the German 2nd Army had to move men and equipment more that 100 miles to get to the fighting.

At the beginning of the Battle of the Marne General Joffre wrote "At the moment when the battle upon which hangs the fate of France is about to begin, all must remember that the time for looking back is past; every effort must be concentrated on attacking and throwing the enemy back."

"I visited the Divisions and found the men very elated at the idea of moving forward rather than backward."
-General Sir Horace Lockwood Smith-Dorrien, diary

Among the first French troops to attack the German line were 5,000 Moroccans. As they came under heavy fire a French battalion charged to their rescue. First killed was the French Captain. Lieutenant Charles-Henri de la Cornillière led the soldiers forward until he himself was mortally wounded. As his men started to shout "The lieutenant is killed!" and show signs of panic, de la Conrillières dying words were "Yes, the lieutenant has been killed, but keep on firm!" This incident became famous among French patriots.

It was also on September 5th that the Daily Opinion first ran the picture of Lord Kitchener, drawn by Alfred Leete.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Kitchener1_zps168c6412.png (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Kitchener1_zps168c6412.png.html)

It would later become the legendary recruiting poster:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Kitchener2_zps7149453f.png (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Kitchener2_zps7149453f.png.html)

TarJak

09-05-14, 08:19 PM

6 September 1914

Some 30 miles northeast of Paris, the French 6th Army under the command of General Michel-Joseph Manoury attacks the right flank of the German 1st Army, beginning the decisive First Battle of the Marne at the end of the first month of World War I.

After invading neutral Belgium and advancing into northeastern France by the end of August 1914, German forces were nearing Paris, spurred on by punishing victories that forced five French armies into retreat after the Battles of the Frontiers at Lorraine, Ardennes, Charleroi and Mons. In anticipation of the German attack, the anxious French government appointed the 65-year-old General Joseph-Simon Gallieni as the military governor of Paris. Gallieni, predicting that the Germans would reach Paris by September 5, did not wish to sit idly back and wait for invasion. In the first days of September, he managed to convince the French commander in chief, Joseph Joffre, to spare him an army—Manoury’s 6th Army—from the front in order to aggressively defend the capital.

At the same time, General Alexander von Kluck, at the head of the German 1st Army, was disobeying orders from its own headquarters to double back and support General Karl von Bulow’s 2nd Army, thus protecting itself from possible attacks from the French on its right flank, from the direction of Paris. Not wanting to subordinate himself to Bulow’s command, Kluck ordered his forces to proceed in their pursuit of the retreating French 5th Army, under General Charles Lanrezac, across the Marne River, which they crossed on September 3. When Gallieni learned of Kluck’s move that morning, he knew the French 6th Army—the new army of Paris—had been given its opportunity to attack the German flank. Without hesitation, he began to coordinate the attack, urging Joffre to support it by resuming the general French offensive earlier than army headquarters had planned.

On September 4, Helmuth von Moltke, chief of the German general staff, learned that Kluck had disobeyed orders, and that his troops—exhausted and depleted of resources, having outrun their lines of supply over the course of their rapid advance—had crossed the Marne. Fearing the attack from Paris on the 1st Army’s exposed flank, Moltke ordered that the march of the 1st and 2nd Armies towards Paris be halted in order to face any threat from that direction. The order came too late, however, as Gallieni had already readied his army for an attack, and Joffre—with help from the British minister of war, Lord H. H. Kitchener—had obtained the promised support of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), commanded by Sir John French, for the French 5th and 6th Armies in their renewed offensive against German forces at the Marne.

On the morning of September 6, the 150,000 soldiers of Manoury’s 6th Army attacked the right flank of the German 1st Army, whose turn to meet the attack opened a 30-mile-gap between Kluck’s forces and Bulow’s 2nd Army. Acting quickly, the French 5th Army—under a new leader, General Louis Franchet d’Esperey, appointed by Joffre to replace Lanrezac—and divisions of the BEF poured into the gap and simultaneously attacked the German 2nd Army. Fierce fighting continued over the next several days, with Manoury’s exhausted army managing to hold its ground only after being reinforced on September 7 by a corps of 6,000 rushed from Paris in taxi cabs. After Franchet d’Esperey’s 5th Army launched a successful surprise attack on the German 2nd Army, Moltke ordered a general German retreat on September 9. Over the next few days, Allies slowly pushed the Germans back towards the Aisne River, where the 1st and 2nd Armies dug in, beginning the entrenchment of positions that would last well into 1918.

The Allied check of the German advance during the Battle of the Marne made the struggle one of the most decisive battles in history. Events at the Marne signaled the demise of Germany’s aggressive two-front war strategy, known as the Schlieffen Plan; they also marked the end of the general belief, held on both sides of the line, that the conflict that broke out in the summer of 1914 would be a short one. As the historian Barbara Tuchman wrote as a conclusion to her book The Guns of August (1962): "The Battle of the Marne was one of the decisive battles of the world not because it determined that Germany would eventually lose or the Allies ultimately win the war but because it determined that the war would go on. There was no looking back, Joffre told the soldiers on the eve. Afterward there was no turning back. The nations were caught in a trap, a trap made during the first thirty days out of battles that failed to be decisive, a trap from which there was, and has been, no exit."

Aktungbby

09-05-14, 10:18 PM

http://www.firstworldwar.com/maps/graphics/maps_11_marne1914_5_(1600).jpg

Jimbuna

09-06-14, 05:50 AM

6th September

Western Front

General fighting all along the line, from the vicinity of Paris to Lorraine

A copy of Joffre’s order of Sep.04 falls into German hands - Moltke notifies his armies that they’re facing a general French counteroffensive

The advancing I Corps on the right of the BEF begins to engage Kluck’s 1st Army - British II Corps begins to advance across the Grand Morin River

Battle of the Marne: General offensive by French and British.

Foch’s 9th Army and Langle’s 4th Army are heavily engaged from Sézanne to Vitry le François: Foch is pushed south of the St. Gond Marshes

A German attack briefly routes the left flank of Sarrail’s 3rd Army, stalling its planned offensive and taking Revigny

German advance also checked at Beauzec, near Verdun, and at Jezanville, near Pont-a-Mousson.

Along most of its front, the cautiously advancing French 5th Army easily pushes back the German 2nd Army’s right wing to Sep.07, taking Courgivaux - in 5th Army’s left wing, Petain takes Montceaux-les-Provins after hard fighting

Germans reach Provins, the most southerly point of their advance.

Northeast of Paris, after some initial gains by French 6th Army, Kluck’s right flank holds its ground; heavy fighting at Etrépilly

In response to pressure from the French 6th Army, Kluck skillfully transfers two of the four corps advancing southeast of Paris to his right flank; Bülow weakens his right - a dangerous gap is developing between the German 1st and 2nd Armies

The German 7th Army is disbanded; part is sent to the right flank near Paris

Eastern Front

In Poland, the centre of General Dankl's Austro-Hungarian 1st Army was broken at Krasnostav by the Russian 5th Army, forcing them to fall back to the San River.

In Poland, the General P.A. Lechitskiy's Russian 9th Army was moving south of Ivangorod toward Sandomir.

In Galicia, the Russian 8th Army was advancing on Grodek, southwest of Lemberg. Heavy fighting continued through the 12th.

Southern Front

Serbian Invasion of Syrmia begun: the Save crossed at Novoselo: Obres occupied: failure to take Mitrovitsa.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Cameroons: British reverse near Nsanakong.

Affair of Tsavo (East Africa).

Political, etc.

Great Britain: The Admiralty announce organization of a Royal Naval Division.

War Minister Sukhomlinov reported to the Tsar that “a list of the most important measures of the War Ministry from 1909 to March 1914 fell into the hands of German intelligence through Pashkevich and Dumbadze.” Both men were friends of Sukhomlinov. The Tsar paid no attention to the report.

The American military attaché in Paris reports “mutterings against the leaders of the government and army”

Ship Losses:

Argonaut ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea by two cruisers and four destroyers (all Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.
Chameleon ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea by two cruisers and four destroyers (all Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.
Imperialist ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the mouth of the River Tyne with the loss of two of her crew. Survivors were rescued by the trawler Rhodesian ( United Kingdom).
Lobelia ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea by two cruisers and four destroyers (all Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.
Harrier ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea by two cruisers and four destroyers (all Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.
Pegasus ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea by two cruisers and four destroyers (all Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.
Pollux ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea by two cruisers and four destroyers (all Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.
Rideo ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea by two cruisers and four destroyers (all Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.
Rhine ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea by two cruisers and four destroyers (all Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.
Seti ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea by two cruisers and four destroyers (all Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.
Valiant ( United Kingdom): World War I: The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea by two cruisers and four destroyers (all Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.

Sailor Steve

09-06-14, 12:50 PM

September 6:

Maximilian von Spee's squadron arrives at Kiritimati, or Christmas Island, some 1162 nautical miles south of Hawaii, to find SMS Nürnberg waiting for them, having returned from Honolulu with supplies and news of the war in Europe. Spee then dispatches Nürnberg to destroy the wireless station at nearby Tabuaeran, or Fanning Island. Part of the news Nürnberg had brought was of the capture of German Samoa by New Zealand forces on August 29th. Spee decided to take Scharnhorst and Gneisenau to see what could be done.

At the siege of Tsingtao the first attack ever made from an aircraft carrier is launched from IJNS Wakamiya. A Farman seaplane is lowered into the water by crane, takes off and proceeds to bomb the Austro-Hungarian cruiser Kaiserin Elisabeth and the German gunboat Jaguar. As with prior attempts in the European war, the 12-pound bombs all miss. Meanwhile Wakamiya's other three planes carry out more successful attacks on radio stations and supply huts.

In the Indian Ocean SMS Emden encounters heavy rain squalls. This is a relief as water supplies have been running low and there has been only enough for drinking, so the men and their clothes have been going unwashed. Every available container is put out to collect the rainwater. After showers and laundry the crew sets about scrubbing their ship clean for the first time in weeks.

TarJak

09-07-14, 04:18 AM

7 September 1914

A joint Australian army-navy expedition, the AN&MEF sailed for German New Guinea from Port Moresby embarked on board the auxilliary cruiser HMAS BERRIMA, escorted by HMAS AUSTRALIA, HMAS SYDNEY, HMAS ENCOUNTER, HMAS WAREGO, and HMAS YARRA, together with submarines HMAS AE1 and AE2.

On 2 September Sydney, Encounter, Berrima and Aorangi received orders to sail for Port Moresby where they arrived on 4 September to take on coal and oil and rendezvous with the remainder of the RAN fleet, the Kanowna and several colliers. While in Port Moresby the ANMEF’s military commander, Colonel W. Holmes, inspected the men of the Kennedy Regiment who, although full of enthusiasm, were deemed to be unprepared and ill-equipped for active service. Consequently he recommended that they be returned to their home state. It transpired that the matter was resolved for him when the firemen in the ship in which they were embarked, the Kanowna, mutinied, refusing to carry out their duties. This demonstration was centred on them having not volunteered for overseas active service. Kanowna was subsequently ordered to proceed directly to Townsville, taking no further part in proceedings.

The rest of the force, then comprising Sydney, Encounter, Parramatta (Lieutenant W.H.F. Warren, RAN), Warrego (Commander C. L. Cumberlege, RAN) Yarra (Lieutenant S. Keightley, RAN), AE1, AE2, Aorangi, Berrima, the oiler Murex and collier Koolonga sailed on 7 September bound for Rossel Island and a rendezvous with HMAS Australia which took place two days later. There Admiral Patey, Colonel Holmes, Captain Glossop, Commander Stevenson and Commander Cumberlege, of the destroyer flotilla, discussed the final plans for the attack on German New Guinea culminating in the release of an operational order for an attack on Rabaul.

Two points had been chosen for the landings, one at Rabaul, the seat of Government, the other at Herbertshöhe on the Gazelle Peninsula, New Britain. It was decided that the naval contingent should undertake the landing at Herbertshöhe. Patey’s orders were that should a preliminary reconnaissance of Blanche Bay reveal it to be empty of enemy ships, Parramatta was to examine the jetty at Rabaul and report whether Berrima could berth there. Sydney, which had embarked 50 men of the naval contingent prior to sailing from Port Morseby, would meanwhile transfer 25 of them to the destroyers Warrego and Yarra for landing four miles east of Herbertshöhe. The remaining 25 remained in Sydney to be landed at Herbertshöhe along with a 12 pounder gun. From there they would proceed inland to locate and destroy the enemy wireless stations. Intelligence indicated that two enemy wireless stations were operating in the area, one inland from Kabakaul at Bitapaka and the other at Herbertshöhe.

http://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/styles/content_image_full_width_no_sidebar/public/Blanche%20Bay%20New%20Britain%20%282%29_0.jpg?itok =_GX-VY9i

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/18/SMS_Nurnberg.png

Elsewhere in the Pacific, a three funnelled warship flying the French flag, dropped anchor just off the North-West corner of Fanning Island, a low coral atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Two boatloads of men rowed ashore. they were from the German cruiser NURNBERG and the proceeded to wreck the cable station on the island. They harmed noone, but a demolition crew blew up the generators and accumulators and used axes to smash up the control room instruments and batteries. The landing party also looted all the gold sovereigns from the superintendent's safe where they found Alfred Smith's treasure map showing where he had hidden the spare instruments and the Fanning Island Volunteer Reserver's arms and ammunition. These were duly dug up and destroyed.

http://atlantic-cable.com/stamps/Other/Fanning_Island_Cable_Station.gif

Meanwhile, the NURNBERG's companion ship, the Bremen class crusier LEIPZIG, had earlier hauled up the Fanning-Fiji cable, but dragged it out only as far as the shallow reef, where fortunately for the British, it could quite soon be dredged up and reconnected.

Jimbuna

09-07-14, 05:42 AM

7th September

Sir John French, commander in chief of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), begins his first official dispatch from the Western Front during World War I, summarizing the events of the first several weeks of British operations.

"The transport of the troops from England both by sea and by rail was effected in the best order and without a check," French began. "Each unit arrived at its destination in this country [France] well within the scheduled time." The decision to send British troops to fight in France had been made on August 5, 1914—the day before Britain’s formal declaration of war on Germany. Initially, the BEF deployed only 100,000 men, the largest number that the small, professionally trained army could put in the field. On August 23, some 35,000 soldiers of the BEF saw action for the first time against the Germans at the Mons Canal, in southwest Belgium near the French border. The Battle of Mons—the fourth of the so-called Battles of the Frontiers—stalled the German advance by one day, ending nonetheless in a British retreat.

French subsequently took his men out of the front line, planning to let them rest behind the Seine River west of Paris. Under pressure from his French counterpart, General Joseph Joffre, as well as his own government, to rejoin the fray and offer support to the beleaguered French forces, he capitulated. As he recounts at the end of his first dispatch: "On Saturday, September 5th, I met the French Commander in Chief at his request, and he informed me of his intention to take the offensive forthwith, as he considered conditions very favorable to success." The offensive began the following morning, as British and French forces halted the German advance in the decisive Battle of the Marne.

Naval Operations:

Naval operations started against Duala, Cameroons, with armoured cruiser Cumberland (Cn - returned to UK January 1915), old light cruiser Challenger (Cn - left for East Africa in 1915), gunboat Dwarf, local converted gunboats of the Niger Flotilla - Alligator, Balbus, Crocodile, Ivy, Moseley (believed Mole), Porpoise, Remus, Vampire, Vigilant, Walrus taking part.

http://s14.postimg.org/ksb06wn41/image.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/8do86kvlp/full/)

Escape of Goeben - light cruiser Gloucester shadowed Goeben & Breslau off Cape Matapan, Greece.

Ship Losses:

Revigo ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea. Her crew were rescued by the trawler Andromeda ( United Kingdom).

Sailor Steve

09-07-14, 10:18 AM

September 7:

With the railway lines choked and 10,000 reserves stuck in Paris, On September 6 General Joseph Galieni suggests using taxis. A fleet of taxicabs is hastily organized and on the 7th somewhere between 600 and 1,000 cabs transported the infantry to the front. They kept their meters running and were later reimbursed the sum of 70,012 francs. The troops arrive in time to help General Manoury fend of a heavy German attack, preventing a possible breakthrough.

Kaiser Wilhelm visits the front lines, but when within sound of the artillery fire his escort decides the danger from capture by a French cavalry patrol is too great, and the Kaiser is hastily driven back to the rear area.

"Terror often overcomes me when I think of this, and the feeling I have is that I must answer for this horror."
-General Helmuth von Moltke, describing the number of deaths at the Battle of the Marne in a letter to his wife on September 7, 1914

"It is now certain that England is bringing over great numbers of troops from Asia."
-Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, letter home the same day

SMS Emden arrives at the Khota Raja-Colombo steamship route. After a day's cruising and seeing nothing, von Müller decides to move on to the Colombo-Rangoon route, crossing the Negabatang-Khota Raja line along the way.

TarJak

09-07-14, 07:06 PM

8 September 1914

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sailor Steve

09-07-14, 09:44 PM

Spee sent Nürnberg on 8 September to Honolulu to send word through neutral countries.
I believe that date to be incorrect. I have Spee dispatching Nürnberg from Eniwetok on August 20, and she met the squadron at Christmas Island on September 6. She raided Fanning on the 7th. It may be possible that Spee sent her to Honolulu a second time, but I doubt it. I could be mistaken of course. I should have a definitive answer by Tuesday.

TarJak

09-07-14, 10:24 PM

Quite possible. I've found a number of conflicting references to actual dates. Where possible I try to find two or more to back it up, but that's not always possible.

Jimbuna

09-08-14, 10:23 AM

8th September

German troops are forced back over the river Marne as French and British troops advance.

General Foch at the Marne Battle: “My centre is giving way, my right is in retreat, situation excellent. I attack.”

A census is conducted in Paris in order to ascertain how many people must be fed if the city comes under siege.

Thomas Highgate becomes the first British soldier to be executed for desertion (he is pardoned in 2006).

On 5 September 1914, the first day of the Battle of Marne, Thomas Highgate, a 19-year-old British private, was found hiding in a barn dressed in civilian clothes. Highgate was tried by court martial, convicted of desertion and, in the early hours of 8 September, was executed by firing squad. His was the first of 306 executions carried out by the British during the First World War.
http://www.historyinanhour.com/2013/09/08/thomas-highgate-first-british-soldier-executed-during-world-war-one/

Ottoman ambassador to the U.S. warns that Britain is trying to drag America into the war.

A German Zeppelin commanded by Heinrich Mathy, one of the great airship commanders of World War I, hits Aldersgate in central London, killing 22 people and causing £500,000 worth of damage.

RMS Oceanic of the White Star Line runs aground off the Isle of Foula.

Ship Losses:

Kamerun ( Germany): The cargo ship was scuttled at Duala, Kamerun. She was subsequently refloated, repaired and entered British service as Cameronia.
HMS Oceanic ( Royal Navy) The armed merchant cruiser ran aground off Foula, Shetland Islands. All on board were rescued by the fishing trawler Glenogil ( United Kingdom and transferred to HMS Alsatian and HMS Forward (both Royal Navy. Oceanic was wrecked in a storm on 29 September.

Sailor Steve

09-08-14, 11:14 AM

September 8:

In surprise night raid a French cavalry unit attacks a German airfield near La Ferté-Milon and then moves on to von Klucks headquarters. Four years later von Kluck said "All members of the Staff seized rifles, carbines, and revolvers, so as to ward off a possible advance of the French cavalrymen, and extended out and lay down, forming a long firing line. The dusky red and clouded evening sky shed a weird light on this quaint little fighting force. These bold horsemen had missed a goodly prize!"

SMS Leipzig puts into Guaymas, Mexico, in the Gulf of California (or Sea of Cortez), to take on coal. Leipzig has been partrolling off Mexico since the start of the war. A couple of sources say Leipzig sank a British merchant a week or so later, but don't give the name or any other information.

SMS Emden reaches the trade route between Colombo and Rangoon, and again spends the day cruising without sighting an enemy ship. Finally von Müller gives the order to set course for the Colombo-Calcutta route.

Pyotr Nikolayavich Nesterov was the first pilot to perform a loop, on September 9, 1913, in a Nieuport IV monoplane. Almost exactly one year later, on September 8, 1914, Nesterov took off in Morane 'G' number 281 to attack an Austrian Albatros B.II flown by by Franz Malina and commanded by Baron Friedrich von Rosenthal. According to witnesses on the ground Nesterov appeared to fire a pistol at the enemy aircraft, then attempted to ram it by putting his wheels through the fabric of the Albatros's upper wing. The attack was successful, but Nesterov's plane was also damaged and all three men died. It was the first "kill" ever, if somewhat pyrrhic in nature.

Most sources date the incident as either the 25th or 26th of August. I tend to credit the ones citing the 26th, as they are also the only ones which mention that Russia was still using the "Old Style" Julian Calender and that the date for the rest of Europe was September 8th.

Sailor Steve

09-08-14, 03:39 PM

Sorry to drag this off-topic, but the book came a day early! It is Graf Spee's Raiders: Challenge to the Royal Navy, 1914-1915, by Keith Yates. I read a borrowed copy many years ago, and I'm wondering why I waited until now to buy my own. The book is filled with explanations and anecdotes. It leaves out a lot of the personal details such as the ship's cat, but it supplies everything I've been looking for.

Anyway, here's what I've found. Nürnberg did indeed depart for Honolulu from Eniwetok, but on August 22 rather than the 20th as I had thought. She rejoined the fleet on September 6th and never went to Hawaii again. I followed and read the source for the Leipzig at Fanning Island story, and Yates gives a precise log and map for Leipzig's cruise, and she was never anywhere near Fanning or Christmas Islands, sailing down from Mexico and meeting the squadron at Easter Island. It was the cargo ship SS Titania which had dredging and cutting equipment and severed the cable at Fanning.

I'll be going back and editing my older posts to match this new information.

Jimbuna

09-08-14, 03:57 PM

And I should bloody well think so!! :O:

TarJak

09-08-14, 04:51 PM

I won't. I couldn't be arsed.;)

TarJak

09-08-14, 08:31 PM

HMAS MELBOURNE, (cruiser), landed a party of 4 officers and 21 petty officers, under LCDR M. A. Blanfield, on Nauru, to dismantle the German wireless station on the island. They did not occupy the island, and the formal surrender did not take place until two months later when Australian officers, embarked in the merchant ship SS MESSINA, accepted the German surrender.

En route to the Colombo-Calcutta freighter route, at about 2300, the SMS Emden spotted a white light to the North about 4 degrees to starboard. The Emden, pressed forward at high speed, ordering the Markomannia to follow at 14 knots. General quarters was sounded as the Emden did not know whether the light belonged to a warship, a freighter or some other vessel. It was some time before the ship they were chasing took shape in the darkness and what they finally saw as a merchantman with one funnel. With steam up, the crew were dismayed to find that their "smokeless" Hungshan coal issued a rain of sparks from the funnels spoiling their chance of remaining undetected until the last minute. The freighter however, did not seem to notice what was closing in on her stern. Two warning shots were fired by Emden and the cruiser signalled for her to stop engines and not use her wireless. Leutnant Lauterbach and his barding party armed with rifles and pistols, pulled alongside the stationary freighter. A radioman and signaller were part of the boarding party and the Emden waited tensely as the minutes ticked by until the message "Greek steamer Pontoporos." was received.

The signal continued: "Loaded with 6500 tons of Indian coal for the British en route from Bombay to Calcutta." Muller decided to seize the cargo as contraband. A prize crew for watch and engine duty was dispatched to the Pontoporos, where Lauterbach, on orders from Muller, proposed to the Greek captain that he join the Emden under a German charter with generous compensation. The captain heartily agreed to that. Emden now had a lot of coal, and her presence in the Indian Ocean would not be revealed. Unfortunately the Ponotporos could only make 9 knots.

Jimbuna

09-09-14, 06:13 AM

9th September

Western Front:

Marne...On 9th September the German First Army began to pull back as the British First Army moved in on its left flank. With no option but to make a fighting withdrawal, all the German forces in the Marne river region retreated in a northerly direction, crossing the Aisne to the high ground of the Chemin des Dames ridge.

The First Battle of the Marne was a strategic victory for the Allied Forces. It marked a decisive turn of events for the Allies in the early weeks of the war and Germany's Schlieffen Plan was stopped in its tracks. One of the famous events in the crucial defence of Paris is that 600 Parisian taxis were sent from the city carrying French reinforcement troops to the fighting front.

Air Warfare:

Russian aviator Pyotr Nesterov dies after intentionally ramming an Austrian plane....he was also the first person to fly an aerial loop.

Political etc.

U.S. Democrats propose a tax on beer as part of the war tax. It will be raised to 50 cents a barrel ($11.91 today).

In a letter written to the government of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, United States Secretary of State Robert Lansing demands the recall of Constantin Dumba, the Austro-Hungarian ambassador in Washington, D.C.

Von Bethmann-Hollweg lays out the Septemberprogramm, which lays out German plans for European domination after the war.

Ship Losses:

Swedish SS Tua (345grt), rammed by Royal Arthur, large cruiser, Edgar-class, 7,700t, 10th CS Grand Fleet on Northern Patrol, off Peterhead. Sunk with two men drowned, survivors taken into Cromarty.
Chesterfield ( United Kingdom): The sloop was driven ashore at Spurn Point, Yorkshire and wrecked. Her crew were rescued.

Aktungbby

09-09-14, 12:18 PM

http://www.westpoint.edu/history/SiteAssets/SitePages/World%20War%20I/WWOne09.gifInteresting take on what cost Germany the war in the first month: " The Battle of the Marne as the last set-piece battle fought on rules of classical strategy. Superior French command and control (And taxis:up:) decided this battle; Moltke was content to remain in headquarters hundreds of miles from the front and let his armies execute a rigid plan while Joffre successfully coordinated his armies in a coherent strategy in real time. Joffre surely had a better understanding of what Kluck was doing-good aerial observers- than Moltke did as his transfers from the Marne to the Ourcq were transparent from ground level. Modern warfare had clearly not yet reached a stage where managing the actions of hundreds of thousands of men was impossible." Moi? Flexibility over rigidity? In better detail: the tide turns...http://www.theartofbattle.com/battle-of-the-marne-1914.htm (http://www.theartofbattle.com/battle-of-the-marne-1914.htm) http://www.firstworldwar.com/maps/graphics/maps_12_marne1914_6_(1600).jpg

Sailor Steve

09-09-14, 01:06 PM

September 9:

The First Battle of the Masurian Lakes begins in East Prussia as von Hindenburg's 8th army, having decisively defeated Samsonov at Tannenberg and pushed Rennenkampf's 1st Russian army north for two days, goes on the attack. Rennenkampf orders yet another withdrawal.

Indian Expeditionary Force "A" begins to arrive at Suez.

Belgium: King Albert's army attacks German forces outside Antwerp. Kaiser Wilhelm orders the capture of the port city.

The Marne: When French troops fall back under a German assault General Foch tells his officers they must rally their men and renew the fight. "You say you cannot hold on, and that you cannot withdraw, so the only thing left is to attack." The weary French troops do rally and return to their positions, then advance, only to find the Germans gone.

When German troops leave the village of Varreddes on the north bank of the Marne river, they take 20 elderly hostages as security for 20 wounded soldiers they were forced to leave behind. When two of them fall down exhausted, they are shot. Yet another has his skull crushed. Another man in the village is beaten by an officer until a shell lands on the house, killing the German. The 70-year-old Frenchman dies from his injuries dies two days after the French army retakes the town.

TarJak

09-09-14, 11:11 PM

10 September 1914

The Australian government was advised that it was' very likely that Japanese ships and destroyers may cruise in the Pacific around Marianne and Caroline islands in order to hunt down the German squadron. In the following two weeks, Vice-Admiral George Patey, in command of HMAS Australia which was helping the Commonwealth's troops to take control of German New Guinea, endeavoured to contact the Japanese squadrons in order to plan a joint sweep through the North Pacific islands. Patey realised that the Japanese and Australian roles would have to be rationalised at some point.

SMS Emden, in company with Markomannia and Pontoporos steamed west by northwest to reach the sea-lane between Colombo and Calcutta. At about 0900 from the north, smoke was spotted and the cruiser accelerated towards the source of the smoke. As the target became visible, it was clearly not a purpose built warship, but structures that could be seen on the deck indicated that it may have been a converted auxiliary cruiser. It was however flying a blue British flag instead of the White Ensign which would have marked a warship. As the ships closed, it became clear that the strange structures were not gun emplacements. As they drew near, Emden fired a warning shot and signalled the merchant to stop and not use their wireless. The message not to use the radio as repeated by megaphone when the ships were within shouting distance. Out of the stern porthole of the freighter, smoking papers flew overboard as the captain destroyed important documents that must not fall into enemy hands.

On the British flag, the sign of the Indian government was displayed indicating that they had chartered the vessel.

The ship was boarded by a search and prize led by Leutnant von Levetzow. According to its papers, it was the British 3.413 ton Indus, built in 1904 which was plying a course between Calcutta and Bombay. Property of the shipping company James Nourse, the Indus had been chartered by the Indian government to take on troops in Bombay and had already been converted for troop carrying duties. The structures on the deck turned out to be horse stalls. Muller, running short on all sorts of provisions, ordered loading of what ever could be removed from the freighter, during this time the Markomannia and Pontoporos caught up.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/hif/b/b3/IndusSS.jpg

Muller ordered the crew of the Indus to be transferred to the Markomannia which was completed at around 1pm that afternoon and that scuttling charges be prepared for sinking the ship. At 3pm, ten shots were fired and the scuttling charges were used to finish her off. Mr George Reed, Second Officer of the Indus, remarked that the marksmanship of the Emden was poor.

Jimbuna

09-10-14, 05:31 AM

10th September

Western Front

Battle of the Marne ended. Germans retreat on west and centre.

Pont-a-Mousson evacuated by Germans.

Eastern Front

Poland: Dankl defeated in second Battle of Krasnik, Archduke Joseph defeated at Opole.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Emden makes first appearance in Bay of Bengal.

Political etc.

Senator Stone urges Americans to support neutrality: “Why should any American at this time attack the Kaiser...& offend the German people?”

German and Austrian representatives expelled from Egypt.

Ship Losses:

Indus ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was captured in the Indian Ocean (11°00′N 83°45′E) by SMS Emden ( Kaiserliche Marine) and was scuttled after all her crew had been taken on board.

Sailor Steve

09-10-14, 10:02 AM

September 10:

In France the Battle of the Marne comes to an end. French and British forces have successfully stopped the German advance on Paris, and pushed the German armies back 40 miles. The Germans dig in at the Aisne River and start building the first of the trenches.

In East Prussia the Battle of the Masurian Lakes continues. Russian General Rennenkampf uses two of his two divisions in an attempt to hold back the two armies led by Hindenburg and Ludendorff while the rest of his army escapes.

SMS Karlsruhe returns to her supply ships at Rocas, the departs with the to fastest, Crefeld and Rio Negro. The intent is to station the vessels 20 miles to either side of the cruiser. If a merchant is spotted the collier will approach first, hiding the presence of a German cruiser in the vicinity. It will also apprise Köhler of the presence of British warships before they can see him, increasing the chances of a quick escape.

"What pleased us most, however, was that she was carrying an almost fantastic amount of soap...Our upper deck looked like a colossal warehouse. There were stocks, or at least samples of everything. There were towels, soap, linen, tinned foods, fresh meat, live hens and ducks, drinks, nautical instruments, charts, pencils, and some very welcome oilskins with which we could re-equip the cutters' crews and the watches against bad weather."
- Franz Joseph, Prince of Hohenzollern, 2nd Torpedo officer aboard SMS Emden, describing the sinking of SS Indus.

TarJak

09-10-14, 05:10 PM

Nice touch Steve.

TarJak

09-10-14, 06:13 PM

11 September 1914

The AN&MEF, supported by men from Australian warships, landed at Kabakaul, German New Guinea, (New Britain), to seize the German wireless station there. HMA Ships AUSTRALIA, SYDNEY, ENCOUNTER, PARRAMATTA, YARRA, WARREGO, AE1 and AE2supported this landing, and stood by to repel any German warships. The brigade forced their way inland, encountering strong resistance from German native troops lead by German Army Reserve officers, as the RAN advanced to seize the German wireless station. Five RAN and RN naval personnel were killed or died of wounds; LCDR C. B. Elwell, RN; AB W. G. V. Williams; AB J. E. Walker; AB H. W. Street; Signalman R. D. Moffatt; Also killed was Captain B. C. A. Pockley of the Australian Army Medical Corps. AB Williams was the first to be killed, and thus had the dubious honour of being the first Australian to be killed in action during WWI. LEUT T. A. Bond, RANR, distinguished himself in the advance by single handedly capturing 30 native troops, and was later awarded the DSO, which, although not gazetted until 1916, was technically the first decoration awarded to an Australian during WWI
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-j860e_2Vg/VA4oDPJo5oI/AAAAAAAAB-4/fDhQ4mHTsQg/s1600/A04003%2BAN%26MEF.JPG

The Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (ANMEF) began recruiting on 11 August, consisting of a battalion of 1,000 infantry and a small battalion of 500 naval reservists and time-expired RN seaman. The force left Sydney on 19 August aboard the transport HMAT Berrima, a liner requisitioned from P&O, after a period of training near Townsville. The force sailed for Port Moresby to await the arrival of supporting RAN vessels. On 7 September the force, now including Australia, the cruisers Sydney and HMAS Encounter, the destroyers Parramatta, Warrego and Yarra, and the submarines HMAS AE1 and HMAS AE2, sailed for Rabaul. Meanwhile, on 9 September Melbourne landed a party on Nauru to destroy the wireless station, whereupon the German administrator promptly surrendered. On 11 September a force consisting primarily of naval reserve personnel was put ashore at Kabakaul to seize the wireless station located inland at Bitapaka. The landing force experienced strong initial resistance, and was forced to make small group attacks through the thick jungle to outflank the enemy. The wireless station was captured and destroyed. This attack resulted in Australia’s first combat casualties of the war—four sailors of the landing force and an attached Army doctor—Able Seaman Walker (he served as Courtney but was re-buried under his real name by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission), Able Seaman Williams, Able Seaman Street, Able Seaman Moffatt, and Captain Pockley (Australian Army Medical Corps). The other fatal casualty suffered during the operation was Lieutenant Commander Elwell, Royal Navy.

https://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/items/ACCNUM_SCREEN/A02544.JPG
German native troops under the command of the German army in New Guinea.

At 6:00 am, Australia escorted Berrima into Karavia Bay, where the former lowered her picket boats to sweep for sea mines. On completion Australia returned to sea to protect the approaches to the bay and cover the unfolding operation ashore.

The initial landings, in what would became Australia’s first joint force operation, took place at dawn on 11 September 1914 when 25 petty officers and men under the command of Lieutenant R.G. Bowen, RAN, were landed from the Australian destroyers at Kabakaul with instructions to seize the wireless station at Bitapaka. With Bowen were Midshipman R.L. Buller, RANR and Captain B.C.A. Pockley of the Australian Army Medical Corps. They were soon reinforced by Gunners S.T.P. Yeo and C.F. Bacon and ten men sent ashore from Warrego and Yarra who were put to immediate use maintaining communications between the advancing landing party and the beach.

Bowen’s party was soon striking inland through dense jungle to secure their objective when a scouting party, having deviated from the main road, found itself directly in the rear of the German first line of defence comprising three Germans and 20 native soldiers. The German in charge, Sergeant-Major Mauderer, was shot and wounded by Petty Officer G.R. Palmer, RANR, and after a short skirmish the enemy surrendered.
The wounded Mauderer was given first aid before being directed by Lieutenant Bowen to walk ahead of the main body of Australians and announce in German that 800 troops had landed and that his comrades should surrender. Bowen’s deception was rewarded, for word filtered back to the commander of the German defences, Captain von Klewitz, that a superior force had landed.

Believing himself outnumbered, Klewitz consequently ordered a withdrawal of his forces inland, resulting in the break down of the entire scheme of German coastal defence. This left only Bitapaka’s defenders offering active resistance. At this juncture Captain Pockley drew Bowen’s attention to the worsening condition of Mauderer who he subsequently treated in the field, resulting in the amputation of his badly wounded hand.
Following this initial skirmish Bowen reassessed his party’s position sending Midshipmen Buller back to Kabakaul with the prisoners and instructions to send up reinforcements. Fifty nine men were subsequently drawn from the two destroyers, 14 armed with rifles and the rest with cutlass and pistols under the command of Lieutenant G.A. Hill, RNR.

This force reached Bowen’s group at about 10:00 am to find them halted by a series of enemy trenches, under fire from snipers positioned in the trees and with two of their number lying mortally wounded.

The first to have fallen was Able Seaman W.G.V. Williams who formed part of the communications link between Bowen’s party and the beach. After observing natives in a coconut plantation beside the road Williams called up the man next to him, Stoker W Kember, to investigate. As Kember did so Williams covered him. The natives were found to be hoeing among the palms seemingly presenting no threat. Williams then went ahead and was shot in the stomach from a concealed position in the bush. Kember rushed to his aid, carrying him for nearly half-a-mile back along the road.
Captain Pockley had just finished treating Mauderer when he learned that Williams had been shot. Escorted by Officer’s Steward A.O. Annear, the two set off to find the injured sailor. On locating him he instructed Kember and another to evacuate the injured man to the rear, at the same time removing his red-cross brassard and tying it around Kember’s hat to afford him a measure of protection. Pockley and Annear then set about returning to the front but also came under fire. After taking cover Pockley tried to move forward again but was shot and seriously wounded. Some time later he was evacuated and transferred to the Berrima where both he and Williams died later that afternoon.

Meanwhile Bowen and Hill agreed on the next phase of the operation and set about outflanking the enemy. However, as the new advance began Bowen himself was seriously wounded by a sniper, leaving Hill to take command and renewing a call for reinforcements.

At Kabakaul, Hill’s request for support was received by Commander Beresford who ordered No: 3 Company (Lieutenant O.W. Gillam, RANR) and No: 6 Company (Lieutenant T.A. Bond, RANR) of the Naval Reserve as well as a machine gun section (Captain J.L. Harcus) to land. Beresford himself then relocated ashore and was accompanied by Captain R.J.A. Travers, an Army intelligence officer.
Lieutenant Commander C.B. Elwell, RN was also landed taking command of half of No: 3 Company and pushing ahead at best possible speed. Lieutenant Gillam followed with the other half in support. The conditions ashore were becoming increasingly difficult. The sun was high in the sky, the day windless, the heat stifling and the road dusty which made for hard going in the jungle terrain.

As Elwell’s party advanced Able Seaman J.E. Walker (who enlisted and was known at the time as Able Seaman Courtney) was shot dead near a sharp bend in the track becoming the first Australian to be killed in action during the Great War. Two of Gillam’s men, Signalman R.D. Moffatt and Able Seaman D.S. Skillen were also hit, Moffatt succumbing to his injuries the next day. It was around this time that Gillam’s men also discovered the presence of wires laid through the bush that was correctly assumed to lead to a land mine buried beneath the road on which they were advancing. The wires were subsequently cut and a serious threat to the advance removed.

At about 1:00 pm, Elwell’s party arrived at Hill’s position who was receiving enemy fire coming from a trench positioned ahead of him. There Elwell assumed command ordering Hill to take charge of a flanking movement on the left whilst he took charge of a similar movement on the right.

Elwell slowly led his men forward until they were less than eighty yards from the German positions. There they fixed bayonets and charged in the face of rapid enemy fire. Elwell, sword in hand, was shot and killed leading this charge, leaving Hill to continue the attack with Lieutenant Gillam, whose timely arrival with the remainder of 3 Company carried the day.

The now overwhelmed defenders reluctantly agreed to the unconditional surrender of both the German forces and the wireless station. This was negotiated by Lieutenant Commander Beresford who then called for Lieutenant Bond, with No: 6 Company to be brought up to advance with Captain Harcus and his machine gun section to secure the wireless station. Also in their company were Captain Travers, the intelligence officer, and two German prisoners, who preceded the party carrying a white flag of truce.

During their advance to the wireless station Bond’s party encountered a series of enemy trenches. They successfully used the German speaking captives to negotiate the surrender of two of these but met resistance at a third constructed at the top of a steep cutting at the side of the road. There, one of the German captives, Ritter, attempted to rally those who had already surrendered and a brisk exchange of fire followed during which two of Bond’s men, Able Seamen J.H. Tonks and T. Sullivan were wounded and Able Seaman H.W. Street killed. Ritter and several of the natives fighting for the Germans also died in this exchange.

Leaving Harcus and his machine gun section to cover his advanced Bond accompanied by Captain Travers, Corporal C.C. Eitel, an interpreter from the machine gun section, and the remaining German, Kempf, walked on towards the wireless station. On the way they captured a German cyclist carrying a message to the Bitapaka garrison and a horseman who was ordered to go ahead to the wireless station with news of the German surrender and a message that further resistance was futile.

At a police barracks 1000 yards from the wireless station a group of eight Germans and twenty native troops was encountered. The Germans were armed with magazine pistols and the latter with rifles. Through Kempf they were ordered to surrender but they refused to comply. At this point Lieutenant Bond warned Travers to stand by with his revolver before turning quickly towards the Germans and snatching their pistols from their holsters. So surprised were they by Bond’s sudden and daring action they were unable to defend themselves. The immediate surrender followed and the prisoners marched off toward the wireless station which was found to be abandoned.

For his courage and quick-thinking Bond became the first Australian decorated during World War I, receiving a Distinguished Service Order.

News of the successful capture of the wireless station did not reach Admiral Patey until 1:00 am on 12 September. At 3:00 pm on 13 September the British flag was hoisted at Rabaul. The ceremony was held in an open space overlooking the harbour where the Australian fleet could be seen riding at anchor.

Within a few weeks most of the German territories in the area, including Bougainville and the Admiralty Islands, had been occupied without further opposition, at a cost of six dead and four wounded.

http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/items/ACCNUM_SCREEN/P03078.004.JPG
Members of the Australian Navy and Military Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF) bringing Captain (Capt) Brian Colden Antill Pockley, the medical officer, on board HMAT Berrima, his face is covered by his pith helmet.

Capt Pockley was wounded after he set out to find Able Seaman (AB) W. G. V. Williams who had been wounded by enemy fire during an Australian advance. Capt Pockley found AB Williams with Leading Stoker W. Kember who had carried him for nearly half a mile. Capt Pockley removed his red cross brassard and tied it to Leading Stoker Kember's hat, sending him to the rear with the wounded man, as he was returning Capt Pockley was fired upon and wounded. He was later picked up by an ambulance cart and carried to HMAT Berrima, where he and AB Williams died during the afternoon. AB Williams was the first Australian shot in the First World War and Capt Pockley was the first medical officer of the Australian Forces killed in the course of his duty.

The SS ESTURIA was chartered as a destroyer depot ship. She transferred to the RN in 1917

Jimbuna

09-11-14, 08:05 AM

11th September

Western Front

Pursuit of the Germans from the Marne: the French recover Epernay, Chalons, etc.

Eastern Front

Galicia: Russians close in on Grodek.

Overseas Operations

Bismarck Archipelago: Australian expedition captures Herbertshohe.

Battle of Bita Paka, fought on the island of New Britain, ends in an Australian victory against German troops. Australia suffers 12 casualties; Germany suffers 42 casualties and 75 captured. This is Australia’s 1st major engagement in the war.

Political etc.

Marconi Wireless Company protests that the U.S. censorship of wireless communications is illegal.

British Government issue orders for the raising of the second New Army of six divisions.

At Zimmerwald in Switzerland, delegates to the First International Socialist Conference call for an immediate end to the First World War.

Ship Losses:

Dwarf, 1st-class gunboat, Bramble-class, 710t, 2-4in/4-12pdr, West Africa Station, taking part in operations against Duala, Cdr F Strong. Opened fire on German launch towing a lighter on the Duala River estuary, shelled by two field guns at Yoss Point, returned fire and gained hits, but badly hit on the bridge; one rating died of wounds.

Elsinore ( United Kingdom): The tanker was shelled and sunk in the Pacific Ocean 260 nautical miles (480 km) south west by west of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico by SMS Leipzig ( Kaiserliche Marine).

Lovat ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was captured and scuttled in the Indian Ocean 260 nautical miles (480 km) east of Madras, India by SMS Emden ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.

Kabinga ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was captured and scuttled in the Indian Ocean by SMS Emden ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.

Sailor Steve

09-11-14, 11:17 AM

September 11:

General Rennenkampf barely eludes an encirclement by General von Hindenburg, abandoning the Masurian Lakes region and retreating toward the Russian border.

New Zealand light cruisers and transports depart Samoa to join Admiral Patey's fleet at Rabaul, just three days before von Spee's two Armored Cruisers arrive.

En route from Mexico to the Galapagos Islands, SMS Leipzig encounters the 6,542-ton British freighter SS Elsinore. The Elsinore is scuttled after her crew are transfered to the chartered collier SS Marie.

The officers of SMS Emden oversee the division of the goods taken from SS Indus the previous day. According to Prince Franz Joseph, first mate von Mücke "Sat like a Pasha on his treasures, and allotted them to the various divisions." They discovered that many of the articles were of no use, and since they were fast running out of room much of the haul was thrown overboard. As the crew was finishing their lunch another ship was sighted. SS Lovat was a 6,012-ton British freighter equiped as a troop ship and bound for Bombay. The Emden now being loaded with supplies Captain von Müller took only newspapers from this fresh catch. As before the crew of the Lovat were allowed to pack their possessions for transfer to the Markomannia, and the ship was sunk in the same manner as the Indus had been. Like that ship, the Lovat took a very long time to sink. So long, in fact, that she had still not quite gone down when darkness fell and Emden left her behind.

From the captured newspapers the crew of the Emden discovered that the war was almost over, Germany was on the verge of collapse and all that remained was the mopping up. Of course they recognized it for the propaganda it was, since they had previously read about the destruction of their own ship! On the other hand, a conversation overheard on Markomannia between the officers of Indus and Lovat indicated that there were more empty troopships following behind the first two. Emden lay in wait, and sure enough at about 22:00 hours a ship was sighted heading their way, fully lit up as if there were no war.

It was SS Kabinga, 4,657 tons, bound for Bombay, Port Said and eventually New York. The cargo was mostly American, and sinking the ship would mean paying reparations for the lost goods. Also the captain of the Kabinga had his wife and children with him. These two factors convinced von Müller to take the ship as a prize rather than sink her. The growing fleet continued on its way.

TarJak

09-11-14, 07:39 PM

12 September 1914

Rabaul was occupied, unopposed, by troops from HMAS Berrima. The German administration fled inland to Toma, but faced with an advance by Australian troops from Herbertshohe, supported by gunfire from HMAS Encounter, they surrendered German New Guinea on 17 September. In coming months Australian vessels and troops were dispatched to search and occupy Germany's other territories including the New Guinea mainland, New Ireland, the Admiralty Islands, the Western Islands, Bougainville, and the German Solomons.

At nightfall on 12 September the main infantry battalion was landed at Rabaul to capture the town and the surrounding settlements. Rear Admiral George Edwin Patey, serving as commander-in-chief of the Australian fleet, sent a letter to his sister the following day writing: “We have now taken Rabaul and Herbertshöhe without opposition…” On that same day Private John Axtens wrote in his diary: “Proclamation read & flag hoisted at Rabaul.”

TarJak

09-11-14, 08:06 PM

BTW, I've got several sources saying Kabinga was captured on 12 Sept not the 11th.:arrgh!:

Sailor Steve

09-12-14, 02:37 AM

BTW, I've got several sources saying Kabinga was captured on 12 Sept not the 11th.:arrgh!:
Several? I'd love to see them.

Prince Franz Joseph says they sighted Kabinga's lights at 22:00 the same night as the sinking of the Lovat. Yates says Emden left Lovat to sink "as darkness fell" and sighted Kabinga's lights "...four hours later...". Given Yates's scholarship (in his bibliography he cites 114 sources by my count, including the books on Emden and Ayesha written by First Officer Helmuth von Mücke) I tend to trust him. Of course depending upon how long it took to catch Kabinga the capture could easily have been made after midnight which would indeed make it the 12th.

TarJak

09-12-14, 03:03 AM

Most of them are just summary mentions and therefore are probably just copies of Wikipedia but there's a couple on sites I've found to be very reliable and carefully researched. I also found two news articles from 1914 which both mention the Kabinga being captured on the night of the 12th.

This is one such site: http://cinnamonandcoffeeblossoms.wordpress.com/2014/08/17/the-swan-of-the-east-the-sms-emden/

This one is also a good secondary source example being a newspaper article from the period: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=CHP19141030.2.23

Another news paper article from the period: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/15539086

Jimbuna

09-12-14, 06:47 AM

12th September

Western Front

The Battle of the Marne ends with an Allied victory. Allies suffer 263,000 casualties while Germany suffers 256,000 casualties.

Battle of the Aisne begins:
From 12th September 1914 the German Army began to “dig in” on the high ground of the Chemin des Dames ridge on the north bank of the river Aisne. The Germans dug defensive trenches with the intention of securing the position and preventing any further possibility of withdrawal. This battlefield area witnessed the beginnings of entrenched positions and the change from a mobile war to a static deadlock between the opposing forces. From this date the entrenchments would gradually spread along the whole length of the Western Front, would become deeper and more impregnable and would characterize the siege warfare fighting of the Western Front for the following three and a half years.

During the First Battle of the Aisne (12th - 15th September 1914) the German right wing could not be dislodged by the Allied forces of the French Sixth Army, the British Expeditionary Force and the French Fifth Army. The consequence of the Germans establishing entrenched positions on the Chemin des Dames ridge was that the Allied armies were unsuccessful in making a frontal assault on it. They were, therefore, compelled to look for open ground on either flank of the German position. A French assault on the German First Army's exposed right flank (i.e. the northern flank) caused the Germans to move their Seventh Army from Alsace to protect this exposed right/northern flank.

Troyon: Germans compelled to raise siege.

Luneville rec-occupied by the French.

Belgian sortie from Antwerp threatens German communications.

Eastern Front

Galicia: End of Battle of Grodek and Rava Russka: total defeat of Austrians; Grodek captured.

Poland: Austrians try to cross the San under heavy fire.

Naval and Overseas Operations

East Africa: Germans defeated near Kisi.

Political etc.

A contest for world circumnavigation by airplane, with a prize pool of $1.2 million ($28.6 million today), is called off due to the war.

W. Churchill: “It is our life against Germany’s. Upon that there must be no compromise or truce. We must go forth unflinchingly to the end.”

Ship Losses:

Killin ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was captured in the Indian Ocean 410 nautical miles (760 km) north east by north of Madras, India by SMS Emden ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was scuttled the next day. Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.

Sailor Steve

09-12-14, 12:14 PM

This is one such site: http://cinnamonandcoffeeblossoms.wordpress.com/2014/08/17/the-swan-of-the-east-the-sms-emden/
That article also has Killin being sunk on the 14th while every other source says the 13th.

This one is also a good secondary source example being a newspaper article from the period: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=CHP19141030.2.23
It does mention the 12th for Kabinga, but in the balance is the account by Hohenzollern, who was there. On the other hand if Killin was captured on the morning of the 12th and not sunk until the morning of the 13th, that would mean they waited more than 24 hours between capture and sinking. While such a delay is certainly possible, Hohenzollern doesn't mention it. It's certainly possible he left out a date where nothing of import took place.

While I trust Yates' research over anybody's I've seen so far, contemporary accounts are always of value.

[edit] On the other hand, this site also agrees with your references to the 12th-13th:
http://www.naval-history.net/WW1Book-MN1a-Merchant_Navy_in_WW1_Hurd.htm#IV

Sailor Steve

09-12-14, 12:41 PM

September 12:

Captain von Müller of Emden places guards on board Kabinga, intending to transfer prisoners during the day, and everyone finally gets to sleep. About three hours later, in the wee hours of the morning, the alarm is sounded again. This vessel is the English collier Killin, with 6000 tons of coal aboard. Since searching and sinking the ship would have to be done in daylight, Killin joined the fleet and everyone got to bed again.

Due to the discrepancies in the accounts, this incident may indeed have taken place on the night of the 12th and morning of the 13th. As I mentioned in the previous post that while Yates states that Kabinga was captured on the same night as Lovat was sunk, i.e. the 11th-12th, and that Killin was captured the same morning, even he puts off the sinking of the Killin until the 13th. I find this suspect, as he also makes it one continuous narrative - capture in the early morning, sinking by sunlight later the same day.

TarJak

09-12-14, 03:53 PM

That article also has Killin being sunk on the 14th while every other source says the 13th.

It does mention the 12th for Kabinga, but in the balance is the account by Hohenzollern, who was there. On the other hand if Killin was captured on the morning of the 12th and not sunk until the morning of the 13th, that would mean they waited more than 24 hours between capture and sinking. While such a delay is certainly possible, Hohenzollern doesn't mention it. It's certainly possible he left out a date where nothing of import took place.

While I trust Yates' research over anybody's I've seen so far, contemporary accounts are always of value.

[edit] On the other hand, this site also agrees with your references to the 12th-13th:
http://www.naval-history.net/WW1Book-MN1a-Merchant_Navy_in_WW1_Hurd.htm#IV
This is why history is so hard to get right. Particularly if you rely on the internet.

12 September

On this day the war reached the Falklands. Governor Allardyce received a message from Captain Milward, HM Consul in Punta Arenas, and what it contained made very uncomfortable reading. It reported that the German steamer Santa Isabel had loaded with livestock and large quantities of foodstuffs, and had left heading east along the Straits. Although the name Dresden had not been mentioned, it was clear to both Milward and Allardyce that this was the ship for which the supplies were intended. And if she was heading east it very likely meant that Dresden was hiding somewhere along the Atlantic coast south of the Plate and was thus within striking distance of the Falklands. The Volunteers were put on full-alert.

TarJak

09-12-14, 10:50 PM

13 September 1914

The Union flag was hoisted over Rabaul for the first time as Admiral Patey took the official surrender from the German administration in Rabaul:
http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/items/ACCNUM_SCREEN/ART03618.JPG

At 3:00 pm on 13 September the British flag was hoisted at Rabaul. The ceremony was held in an open space overlooking the harbour where the Australian fleet could be seen riding at anchor.

The former South Australian gunboat, HMAS PROTECTOR, captured the German merchant ship MADANG, off Herbertshohe, New Britain.

Australian forces capture Bougainville unopposed.

British SS Diplomat (7,615 tonnes) sunk by HIMS Emden 480 miles NE from Madras.

Dreadnought Battle Fleet at Loch Ewe.

Four day's battle N of Brussels begun.

Battle of the Aisne opened.

Reims and Soissons recaptured by Allies.

French Sixth Army crossed Aisne; British at Venizel and between Venizel and Missy, at Vailly, Chavonne, Pont-Arcy and Bourg.

Nancy-Vosges sector cleared.

Germans checked on River Niemen, but reached Prusso-Russian frontier at Eydtkuhnen.

Japanese captured Kiaochow railway station.

"Hela", German cruiser, sunk by British submarine E-9

Stanley: Allardyce concluded that Dresden was mostly likely holed up at San José on the Argentine coast and, if an attack on the Falklands was contemplated, then it was imminent. He wrote: '... I reckoned that the Santa Isabel would take from two and a half to three days to reach San José, about half a day to transfer her provisions to the Dresden, and that the Dresden ...would take something under two and a half days to reach the Falkland Islands, so that we might expect her arrival on the 14th or 15th of this month.'

Dresden was at that time hiding amongst the islands around Cape Horn and coaling from the Baden which was accompanying her.

Jimbuna

09-13-14, 06:05 AM

13th September

Western Front

Allies recover Soissons and force the passage of the Aisne there.

Amiens recovered by the French.

Germans begin to drive the Belgians back into Antwerp; Battle along line Aerschot-Malines.

Eastern Front

East Prussia: Russians turn on their pursuers and defeat them at Sredniki near the Niemen.

Asiatic

Tsing-tau: Japanese capture the railway at Kiao-chau town.

Political, etc.

British Government issue orders raising third New Army of six divisions.

Irish nationalist seeks German support...Former British diplomat Sir Roger Casement secretly meets with Franz von Papen, the German military attaché, to seek Germany’s support in the effort to win independence from British rule for Ireland.

Germany: Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg's reply to Mr. Asquith's Guildhall speech of Sept. 4 published.

Germany announces that they currently have 218,410 Allied prisoners of war.

The new Mexican government under President Carranza requests the U.S. to end its occupation of Veracruz.

United States submits an informal inquiry to Germany on possible talks with the Allies to end the war.

Naval

North Sea - Submarine E.9 (Lt-Cdr Max Horton of WW2 Battle of the Atlantic fame) sank German old light cruiser Hela off Heligoland - the first British submarine success.

Ship Losses:

Diplomat ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was captured and scuttled in the Indian Ocean 480 nautical miles (890 km) north east of Madras, India by SMS Emden ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were taken as prisoners of war.
Hela ( Kaiserliche Marine): The Gazelle-class cruiser was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea southwest of Heligoland by HMS E9 ( Royal Navy) with the loss of two of her 178 crew.

Sailor Steve

09-13-14, 10:44 AM

September 13:

All of the Emden's English captives, numbering well over 100 by now, are transferred from Markomannia to Kabinga, a laborious job requiring they be rowed in Emden's cutters in a fairly high sea. Meanwhile scuttling charges have been laid in Killin and the seacocks opened. At about 1000 hours Killin was sunk. Hohenzollern gives vivid descriptions of mast and ventilators breaking loose in other ships, rising into the air with loud cracking sounds and then falling back into the sea. In Killin's case it's the funnel which launches itself upward and then falls.

That same afternoon another ship is sighted, which turns out to be another English freighter, SS Diplomat, 7615 tons. Von Müller decides to sink her immediately, and First Torpedo Officer Robert Witthoeft was given the job.

As Diplomat was sinking yet another smoke plume was seen in the distance. This was found to be a neutral ship, the Italian steamer Loredano, bound for Calcutta. Captain von Müller tries to get the Italian Captain to take the English prisoners, now numbering 200 with the fresh captures, with him. Captain Giacopolo refuses to do so, even for money. Von Müller lets the ship go, and upon reaching Calcutta Giacopolo immediately alerts the British to Emden's presence.

At 2200 hours that night Emden runs into another steamer. When this also turns out to be Italian, SS Dandolo, von Müller wishes them well and sends them on their way.

[edit] I've gone back and edited all my posts starting with August 6, adding in the adventures of SMS Karlsruhe.

TarJak

09-13-14, 09:02 PM

14 September 1914

HMA Submarine AE1, (LCDR T. F. Besant, RN), was lost with 2 officers and 32 ratings, while patrolling off the Duke of York Island. The cause of the submarine's loss was never established.

http://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/Last_known_image_of_AE1_9_Sep_1914_Yarra_and_Austr alia_in_the_background_0.jpg
The last known image of HMAS AE1

His Majesty’s Australian Submarine AE1 was launched in the yard of Vickers Ltd at Barrow-in-Furness England on 22 May 1913. She commissioned at Portsmouth on 28 February 1914 under the command of Lieutenant Commander T F Besant, RN. She was the first of two E Class submarines built for the fledgling Royal Australian Navy.

Accompanied by her sister AE2, under the command of Lieutenant Commander H G Stoker, RN, AE1 reached Sydney from England on 24 May 1914, manned by Royal Navy officers and with a mixed crew of sailors drawn from the Royal Navy and RAN.

At the outbreak of World War I, AE1 joined the naval forces assigned to the capture of the German Pacific colonies. With AE2, she took part in the operations leading to the occupation of German New Guinea, including the surrender of Rabaul on 13 September 1914.

The following day, at 7.00 am the destroyer HMAS Parramatta (I) left her night patrol ground off Raluana Point and proceeded at slow speed in the direction of Cape Gazelle to rendezvous with AE1 and conduct a patrol in St George’s Channel to the south and east of the Duke of York Islands. The two vessels met off Herbertshohe at 8.00 am and exchanged signals before proceeding to Cape Gazelle where they arrived at approximately 9.00 am. A further exchange of signals followed during which Parramatta advised AE1 that her ‘orders were to search to the south’ard with submarine and anchor off Herbertshohe at 5.30pm’.

Parramatta then proceeded independently in a southerly direction while AE1 advanced in a north-easterly direction. The weather was hazy and visibility was observed to be between 9 and 10 nautical miles, at times decreasing to 5 miles. Parramatta reported that AE1 was obscured by the haze for some time, as was the nearest land. Given these conditions, Parramatta’s Captain, Lieutenant W H F. Warren, RAN, considered it advisable not to lose sight of the submarine for too long.
At 12.30 Parramatta turned to the north-west and by 2.30 she was close to AE1 when the submarine asked by signal: ‘What is the distance of visibility?’ Parramatta responded: ‘About 5 miles’. At 3.20 the submarine was lost sight of and Parramatta altered course and steamed in the direction she was last seen. No sign of AE1 was found and it was considered that she must have steamed back into harbour without informing Parramatta. Consequently Parramatta proceeded to the north-west and rounded Duke of York Island before heading to Credner Island, later anchoring off Herbershohe at 7.00 pm.

By 8.00 pm the submarine had not returned and Parramatta and HMAS Yarra (I) were ordered to search for her. HMAS Sydney (I), on her way to the west coast also received instructions to keep a lookout and later HMA Ships Encounter (I) and Warrego (I) also joined the search together with launches from Rabaul and Herbertshohe. No trace of AE1 was ever found, not even the tell-tale shimmer of escaping oil on the water.

The loss of AE1 with her entire complement of 3 officers and 32 sailors was the RAN’s first major tragedy and it marred an otherwise successful operation to seize the German possession in New Guinea and the South Pacific. It is not known what caused AE1 to disappear without trace and since her loss in 1914 several searches have been conducted to establish her whereabouts. Regrettably none of these have been successful. The search continues to this day. http://news.navy.gov.au/en/Sep2014/Fleet/1387/Yarra-continues-the-search-for-AE1-HMAS-Yarra-AE1-Rabaul-Centenary-of-Anzac.htm#.VBT3LqN-9_8

Nice video explaining the significance of the AE1 in our military history: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-10/jeremy-fernandez-explains-the-significance-of-ae1/5733164?section=ww1

TarJak

09-13-14, 09:09 PM

14 September

HMAS ENCOUNTER, (cruiser), shelled German positions at Toma, New Britain. This was the first occasion a ship of the RAN had fired on an enemy.

HMAS WARREGO, (torpedo boat destroyer), captured the German steamer NUSA at Kavieng.

Dresden, In hiding behind Cape Horn, finished coaling from Baden.

Acting on planted information, Good Hope, Monmouth, Glasgow and Otranto converged on Southern Brazil in search of Dresden. For the first time all the ships that would fight at Coronel were functioning as a unit. Cradock was now convinced that Dresden was well south and ordered his ships back to the Plate to coal.

At Port Stanley the mood was tense. If Allardyce was correct this was the first of the two days on which they might be attacked by Dresden.

At dawn Scharnhorst and Gneisenau charged into the harbour at Apia (the capital of what had been German Samoa) only to find it empty of shipping. As they continued along the coast a boat came out with two German planters on board who gave details of the Allied landing and related how the German Governor had been badly treated before being taken into custody. When the squadron later swooped on the Falklands, one of their intentions was to capture the Governor in reprisal for the perceived mistreatment of their Governor at Samoa. As they left the island they made a feint to the NW then, once out of sight, headed east. For over three weeks von Spee had kept his enemies guessing. Now as he steamed away he could hear Apia radio reporting the attack.

On this day Cradock at last had some good fortune when AMC Carmania found the German AMC Cap Trafalgar off the Brazilian island of Trinidad and sank her after a brutal battle lasting an hour and a half.

Sailor Steve

09-13-14, 09:37 PM

HMA Submarine AE1, (LCDR T. F. Besant, RN), was lost with 2 officers and 32 ratings, while patrolling off the Duke of York Island. The cause of the submarine's loss was never established.
A fascinating story I had never heard. :rock:

TarJak

09-13-14, 10:14 PM

A fascinating story I had never heard. :rock:

Until this year there wasn't much awareness of the story here either. AE2's loss in 1915 in the Dardenelles had tended to overshadow AE1.

Jimbuna

09-14-14, 08:49 AM

14th September

Western Front

Battle of the Aisne begins (continued till Sep. 28).

Germans halt on the Aisne and north of Reims.

Heavy fighting round Missy and Vailly.

Moltke's last orders at Aisne: "The lines so reached, will be fortified and defended." Open warfare ends and trench warfare begins.

Commander John French orders the BEF to entrench in the face of heavy German fire in the Battle of Aisne.

Erich von Falkenhayn replaces Moltke as the Chief of the General Staff of the German Army.

Eastern Front

Russian invasion of Prussia ends in a crushing defeat. Despite a 3:1 numerical superiority, they suffer 9 times the losses of the Germans.

Poland: Russians force the passage of the San in pursuit of Dankl's beaten army.

Political etc.

New York bankers announces that they will boycott any loan requests that come from Germany.

Spanish Prime Minister Dato states that Spain will remain neutral for the duration of the war.

Naval and Overseas Operations

HMAS AE1, the 1st submarine to serve in the Australian Navy, sinks with all hands for unknown reasons.

South Africa: Union forces surprise and defeat German's at Raman's Drift.

"Cap Trafalgar" sunk by H.M.S. "Carmania" (east coast of South America).
Carmania, Admiralty armed merchant cruiser, ex-passenger ship, 19,524/1905, Cunard SS Co, Liverpool, hired 8/8/14, 8-4.7in, Capt N Grant, South American Station, taking part in southerly sweep for German raiders, coming down from NE at 16kts to examine Trinidada Island. Discovered Cap Trafalgar (2-4in/6 pom-poms) coaling from two colliers. German made off southwards while colliers dispersed, but then turned west and began to close at 18kts, range down to 8,500yds by 1210, Carmania fired a shot across the bows, Cap Trafalgar replied, and when only 7,500yds apart both ships opened rapid accurate fire. Range continued to shorten until Cap Trafalgar could use short-range pom-poms, Carmania turned away full circle until she was chasing by which time her bridge was on fire, but the German was also on fire forward with a slight list. As a stern chase developed Cap Trafalgar slowly pulled away and by 1330 was out of range, but the fire was gaining and list increasing. Fifteen minutes later she capsized and sank in 20.10S, 29.51W.

Carmania was badly damaged with five holes on the water line and fore-bridges destroyed, fires came under control, made for Abrolhos Rocks, met next afternoon in response to her SOS by light cruiser Bristol which stood by until arrival of armoured cruiser Cornwall; 6 men killed, 4 DOW, 26 wounded.

http://s11.postimg.org/s6gakl49v/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

Ship Losses:

HMAS AE1 ( Royal Australian Navy): The E-class submarine was lost in the Pacific Ocean with the loss of all 35 crew.

SMS Cap Trafalgar and HMS Carmania
Cap Trafalgar ( Kaiserliche Marine): Battle of Trindade: The auxiliary cruiser was sunk at Trinidade, Brazil in a battle with Carmania ( Royal Navy) with the loss of 51 of her 330 crew.
Clan Matheson ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Bay of Bengal 60 nautical miles (110 km) south west by south of the mouth of the Hoogli River by SMS Emden ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by Dovre (flag unknown).
Highland Hope ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 190 nautical miles (350 km) south west of the St Paul Rocks, Brazil by SMS Emden ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Trabboch ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Indian Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) south west by south of the mouth of the Hoogli River by SMS Emden ( Kaiserliche Marine).