The Great War (1914-1918) in real time

[lordroel]

Day 50 of the Great War, September 15th 1914

It is a quiet day for Maximilian von Spee's widespread squadron. He and his two armored cruisers, SCHARNHORST and GEISENAU, are en route from Appia to Suvarov Atoll, where Spee has ordered one of his colliers, SS O.J.D. AHLERS, to meet them. The crew of SMS EMDEN are enjoying a rest, having sighted no new targets. LEIPZIG is still underway from Mexico to the Galapagos Islands, DRESDEN is still at Hoste Island at Tierra del Fuego, KARLSRUHE is still avoiding HMS CANOPUS off the coast of Brazil, and KONIGSBERG is still holed up on the Rufiji River in Africa, awaiting parts for their repairs.

Photo: HMS CANOPUS



Balkan Front: Battle of Drina River

In Serbia, the Austro-Hungarian 5th Army has managed to secure several bridgeheads across the Drina River, though the Serbian defense remains intact.

Western Front: Battle of the Aisne

Along the Aisne, the Germans launch significant counterattacks, and hardest hit is the French 6th Army, pushed almost back to the river by nightfall, and neighbouring British divisions to the east also suffer, though I Corps is able to largely hold its gains of yesterday. North of Rheims the French 5th Army attacks this morning, but achieve only negligible gains. His 9th Army checked along the Suippes River, even the naturally-aggressive Foch writes of 'great resistance' to Joffre today.

The battles along the Aisne stretch westward to the Oise River between Compeigne and Noyon. Here the front lines peter out, and beyond to the west and north lies territory largely devoid of military forces. Indeed, moving north from Noyon one does not encounter a significant military force until Antwerp, where the Belgian Army is contained by German forces. The small military presence that does exist in this space consists of small cavalry detachments and a few reserve divisions, not nearly enough to hold any position in strength. For several weeks this area has been home to small skirmishes and hit-and-run raids, but as the armies grapple along the Aisne this void starts to draw the attention of both sides. It offers the potential of a decisive victory to the army that can arrive first and turn the flank of the enemy. The movement of forces into this gap becomes known as 'The Race to the Sea.' To a significant degree, it is a race of logistics - who can move the greatest forces the quickest. In this the French, with their intact railway network, have an advantage opposed to the Germans who are still repairing the lines damaged during their advance. However, the limits of logistics means that armies arrive a division or a corps at a time, instead of all at once, leading to piecemeal commitment of forces.

New Chief of the General Staff Erich von Falkenhayn formulates his strategy for further operations today. His focus remains on the Western Front, where 1st through 5th and 7th armies are to hold the present line, and launch counterattacks if able to tie down French forces. Believing that Nancy cannot be taken, the bulk of 6th Army is to depart Lorraine and head north. Some units are to support 1st Army on the western flank of the German line. He also desires to expedite the capture of Antwerp, to secure the northern flank of the German line and free the forces currently covering the city to redeploy elsewhere. Most of 6th Army, however, is to deploy in the area of Maubeuge to conduct operations westward and perhaps turn the northern flank of the French lines and achieve a decisive victory. Thus, despite the defeat of the Marne, Falkenhayn still believes that the German army can achieve a decisive victory in the west.

Joffre's gaze is also turning to the empty spaces on the map north of Noyon. Today he disbands the existing 2nd Army in Lorraine, its remaining forces absorbed by 1st Army to the south. Instead, General Castlenau is brought west where he will command a new 2nd Army that is to assemble in the vicinity of Amiens and the Somme River, consisting of units drawn from the old 2nd Army as well as from 1st Army and a cavalry corps drawn from 5th Army

Balkan Front:The Austrians expel the Serbian army from Bosnia

Things have not been going too well for Austria-Hungary. Two invasions of Serbia have now failed and Austro-Hungarian armies in Galicia have been shattered by the Russians. But in Bosnia-Herzegovina there is at last have a triumph to write home about. Serbian and Montenegrin forces had crossed into that restive province, but now they have been chased away again. The victorious Austro-Hungarians celebrate their victory by instituting bloody reprisals on any civilians they suspect of aiding or sympathising with the invaders.

South Africa: beginning of the Maritz Rebellion

Christian Frederick Beyers, Commandant-General of the Union Defence Force in South Africa, resigned from his commission in protest of the South African government's decision to provide military support to the British Commonwealth in thier fight against the Germans. Along with General Koos de la Rey, who served in the Boer War and was nominated to the Senate, Beyers traveled to an armory in Potchefstroom to meet with commanding officer Major Jan Kemp. Major Kemp and some 2,000 men under his command were supposedly sympathetic to Beyer's ideas. On the way to the meeting, De la Rey's car was fired upon by a policeman after it failed to stop at a road block set up to look for a fugitive criminal gang. De la Rey was hit and killed

[lordroel]

Day 51 of the Great War, September 16th 1914

SMS DRESDEN departs Hoste Island to rendezvous with SMS LEIPZIG.

DWARF versus NACHTIGAL

The British gunboat HMS DWARF steams up the Bimbia River, Kamerun and anchors in an effort to draw out the German colonial steamer NACHTIGAL, which has been making a nuisance of herself. The German vessel comes downriver and rams DWARF, but the gunboat survives; the German vessel does not.

Photo: HMS DWARF before the war



Balkan Front: The Austrians go bloody

Things have not been going too well for Austria-Hungary. Two invasions of Serbia have now failed and Austro-Hungarian armies in Galicia have been shattered by the Russians. But in Bosnia-Herzegovina there is at last have a triumph to write home about. Serbian and Montenegrin forces had crossed into that restive province, but now they have been chased away again. The victorious Austro-Hungarians celebrate their victory by instituting bloody reprisals on any civilians they suspect of aiding or sympathising with the invaders.

Western Front: Battle of the Aisne

Along the Aisne River the day dawns with heavy rain and mist, and desultory attacks by the Germans and French around Craonne amount to nothing. Instead, the bulk of the day is spent throwing artillery shells at each other.

Falkenhayn, in conference with Bülow, agrees to the latter's proposals along the Aisne front between Soissons and Rheims.

SMS Emden goes coaling

In the Bay of Bengal, SMS EMDEN takes advantage of a perfectly clear, calm day to maker her first attempt at recoaling at sea. They rig makeshift fenders and pull up alongside their hired Greek collier PONTOPOROS. Then the trouble begins. Whereas the coal in MARKOMANNIA consisted of hard, rocky chunks easy to shovel, most of that from PONTOPOROS was fine and dusty. In the intense heat it clung to the sweat on the sailors' bodies, and when they dug a hole so it could be worked from both sides the hole immediately filled in again. After a few exhausting hours some Indian workers from the interred crew of CLAN MATESON were recruited as a relief shift. The work still took the better part of the day. To make matters worse it was discovered when they got underway that this coal produced a lot of smoke, making EMDEN visible at much greater distances, something they certainly didn't want in their line of work. Also the boilers had to be cleaned a lot more often, meaning more work for the crew and more downtime for the ship. Captain von Müller sends PONTOPOROS to Simular to await further instructions, with the promise that the Greek captain would be paid and his ship released as soon as they could transfer all her coal to MARKOMANNIA.

[lordroel]

Day 52 of the Great War, September 17th 1914

Admiral Souchon is appointed C-in-C of the Ottoman Navy.

Balkan Front: Battle of Drina River

The Serbians retreat from the Drina, leaving the Austrian bridgeheads well established in Serbian territory. A lengthy period of trench warfare ensues, lasting until the end of October.

Western Front: the race to the sea has begun

The French 6th Army attacks today along its front, reclaiming the ground lost to the Germans in recent days. 6th Army also undertakes the first attempt to outflank the German line from the north, as IV and XIII Corps are pushed northwards along the Oise River in the direction of Noyon. They soon run into the German IX Reserve Corps, just arrived from Belgium to cover the exposed flank of 1st Army, and their advance slows.

To the east, General Bülow launches the attack agreed to yesterday by Falkenhayn. Though the right of the BEF is able to hold, the Germans are able to push the French 5th Army southwards, capturing the high ground at Brimont, just 9000 yards north of Rheims.

Though most of the German 6th Army is to be redeployed to northern France, some units are to remain to hold the line in Lorraine. Today, those units are formed into Army Detachment Falkenhausen, named for its commander, General Freiherr von Falkenhausen, formerly commander of the Ersatz Corps. In this context, an 'army detachment' is precisely that - a detached portion of an army under a separate commander and assigned different tasks. It reflects Falkenhayn's intention that the front south of Nancy is to be largely quiet, as units are transferring to the open northern flank.

Photo: Machine gun position of the 1st Battalion, The Cameronians outside a wood at Venizel on the Aisne



SCHARNHORST and GEISENAU meet a collier

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

KARLSRUHE gets some coal

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

EMDEN on the prowl

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

Asian and Pacific Theatre of the Great War

The governor of German New Guinea has been facing an increasingly impossible situation in his defense of the colony since the landing of the Australians six days earlier. In addition to being overwhelming outnumbered and without any prospect of reinforcement, he feels he can no longer rely on the loyalty of his indigenous soldiers, and his German soldiers are increasingly waylaid by dysentry and malaria. As such, the German governor surrenders New Guinea to the commander of the Australian expedition, delivering the entirety of the colony, both its islands and the mainland, to Australian occupation.

[lordroel]

Day 53 of the Great War, September 18th 1914

YouTube (Welcome To The Dirt – The Beginning of Trench Warfare)



King George V grants royal assent to the Irish Home Rule bill; however, its implemention is suspended until the end of the war.

LEIPZIG at Galapagos

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

DRESDEN fails to catch a prize

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

EMDEN meets a Norwegian

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

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

Westen Front: advances by the French and redeployments by the Germans

The advance of the French IV and XIII Corps along the Oise River is halted today by the German IX Reserve Corps, aided by the arrival of II Corps, which was pulled from the Aisne front expressly for the purpose of extending the German flank northwards. An entrenched army needs fewer soldiers per mile to hold the line, which allows both sides to send forces into the open spaces north of Compiègne without fatally weakening their existing defensive positions. Indeed, this points to one of the paradoxes of trench warfare - it was adopted in September 1914 to facilitate, not hinder, further mobile operations by making more forces available to outflank the enemy. The problem, of course, is that this is equally true for both sides, so the 'mobile' formations created by both inevitably run into each other, and trench warfare replicates itself in order to provide further 'mobile' operations. Thus trench warfare spreads like a virus along the Western Front, ironically from a desire of both sides to continue a war of movement. It also feeds the perception of the generals that trench warfare is a temporary phenomenon (i.e. present only to facilitate future mobile operations, at which point trenches will no longer be needed) as opposed to becoming a permanent fixture.

Further east, German attacks near Rheims continue to push back the French defenders. Today the Germans seize high ground east of the city, including the forts at Berru and Nogent-l'Abbesse. The French X Corps, which had begun to march west to join the effort to envelop the German flank past 6th Army, is ordered to return to Rheims to contain the German push.

Joffre today scales back offensive operations along the Aisne River, it becoming clearer by the day that traditional frontal assaults by infantry on entrenched and prepared German positions are not achieving significant results. Meanwhile, General Castlenau's new 2nd Army begins to assemble near Amiens.

The redeployment of the German 6th Army is planned today at a conference at OHL in Luxembourg between Falkenhayn and Rupprecht. The first corps will arrive on September 21st and bewill be tasked with sweeping away any French infantry between Roye and Montdidier. A second corps will arrive on September 23rd, and with further units trickling in subsequent days 6th Army as a whole is to turn the enemy flank. Rupprecht, however, is concerned that the French will be undertaking similar redeployments from east to west, and will benefit from having an intact railway system to move their units faster. Thus both Falkenhayn and Rupprecht agree that German attacks must be undertaken along the existing front line to tie down French forces and prevent them from redeploying in time to stymie 6th Army. In addition to further assaults between Compeigne and Rheims, two operations are planned in the Verdun sector. The first, to be undertaken by the Crown Prince's 5th army, is to attack into the Argonne Forest to the west of Verdun. The second is an offensive aiming to drive between Verdun to the north and Toul and Nancy to the south by capturing St. Mihiel and reaching the Meuse River. To facilitate the second operation, the left wing of the 5th Army, comprising those forces southeast of Verdun, is formed into Army Detachment Strantz, named for General Hermann von Strantz, commander of V Corps. By forming this detachment, there will be a separate command staff for each attack. In addition to forcing the French to keep significant forces in the east, the operations aim to isolate the fortifications around Verdun, which are the strongest in France and form a key 'hinge' of the French line.

Eastern Front: Ludendorff meets with Conrad in Galicia

General Ludendorff meets today with General Conrad at Neu Sandec in Austrian Galicia today. The relationship between the two allies is frosty at best - Conrad blames the failures of his armies in Galicia on a perceived lack of support from Germany, and spends much of the meeting lecturing Ludendorff. The German army, conversely, believes that Tannenberg demonstrates that it has done more than its share - if nothing else, Ludendorff is convinced of his own genius - and that Conrad and the Austro-Hungarian army have demonstrated particularly impressive ineptitude. Indeed, so dismissive are the Germans of their putative allies that they have not even bothered to inform Conrad that Moltke has been replaced by Falkenhayn.

Despite the atmosphere of recrimination, agreement is reached for the next stage of operations. The defeat of the Austro-Hungarian armies in Galicia potentially exposes German Silesia to Russian invasion, which necessitates a German response. Ludendorff convinces Falkenhayn that a major German force is needed immediately, so 8th Army in East Prussia is reduced to two corps and the remainder redeployed near Cracow to form a new 9th Army of four corps, a reserve division, and a cavalry division. At Ludendorff's insistence Hindenburg is to directly command 9th Army with himself as Chief of Staff, and while command of 8th Army is transferred to General Richard von Schubert, Hindenburg and Ludendorff are to remain in a supervisory role over their old command. Conrad, meanwhile, agrees to assign the Austro-Hungarian 1st Army to co-operate with the German 9th Army, while the rest of his armies, after completing their retreat, will, it is hoped, go back over on the offensive.

Falkenhayn's conception of the role of 9th Army is simply to occupy the Russians and help their Austro-Hungarian allies survive - his attention is still primarily on the Western Front, seeking a decisive decision there. Hindenburg and Ludendorff, however, believe that the most effective route to victory is on Eastern Front. Their plan for 9th Army is to undertake a major offensive to seize the Russian fortress at Ivangorod and advance on Warsaw, seeking to crush the Russian armies just as they had done at Tannenberg. They believe that they should have priority for reinforcements, and they begin bombarding not only Falkenhayn but also the Kaiser for additional units for the East. Falkenhayn thus finds the duo of Hindenburg and Ludendorff to be rivals, not subordinates, and the latter are able to leverage the prestige gained from Tannenberg to raise their profile. German high command is thus fundamentally divided on grand strategy, divided between West and East.

[lordroel]

Day 54 of the Great War, September 19th 1914

An Anglo-French force occupies the island of Lissa in the Adriatic.

Western Front: a cathedral under fire

At Rheims the return of the French X Corps stabilizes the line - though the Germans remain in control of the high ground north and east of the city, the French hold the fort at La Pompelle to the southeast. The hardening line leaves Rheims in French hands but easily within German artillery range. At the centre of the city sits historic Rheims Cathedral, whose construction began in 1211 and for centuries had been the location where the kings of France were crowned. The French today are using the cathedral to house German wounded, and its towers were draped in the flags of the Red Cross. Nevertheless, the cathedral is targeted by German gunners along with the rest of the city - at 4pm, a shell strikes the northwest tower, setting fire to the wooden scaffolding that had been erected in peacetime as part of the cathedral's restoration. The spreading fire melts the leaden roof, and molten lead ignites straw in the nave below, killing a dozen German prisoners. The fire also spreads to the Archbishop's Palace, consuming irreplaceable Roman and Gothic tapestries. Though the stone edifice of the cathedral remains, its interior is gutted, and medieval stain-glass windows are shattered. The devastation of Rheims Cathedral receives worldwide attention, and is seen as yet another example of German barbarism and disdain for Western civilization. The bombardment of the cathedral and the city will continue for years to come.

Photo: a German shell strikes Rheims Cathedral, Sept. 19th, 1914.



South West Africa Campaign: South African begins invasion of German South-West Africa

The first South African attack in German South-West Africa occurs today when Force C lands at Lüderitz on the coast. They encounter no resistance, as the Germans, fearing the guns of the Royal Navy, have abandoned the town and retreated inland. However, with three aircraft they are able to monitor the movements of the South African force.

KARLSHURE remains silent

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

EMDEN does some practice

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

[lordroel]

Day 55 of the Great War, September 20th 1914

Admiral Thomas H M Jerram reports to London that he can do nothing about the news that Graf von Spee’s cruisers have been seen on September 14th off Samoa. All his available ships are taken up by the hunt for the EMDEN and by the need to protect the first troop convoy from Australia and New Zealand.

The Royal Marine Brigade lands at Dunkirk.

The French offensive on the Aisne continues. The Germans launch a fresh offensive in the Verdun and Reims area, the sector from which the French have been withdrawing troops to support their Aisne offensive.

"PEGASUS" versus "KONIGSBERG" 

At the outbreak of the war the German light cruiser SMS KONIGSBERG was based at Dar-es-Salaam in German East Africa, now Tanzania. She was armed with 10 105mm(4.1 inch) guns and was designed for 24 knots, making her significantly faster than the three old cruisers on the British Cape Station; HMS ASTRAEA (20 knots, two 6 inch and eight 4.7 inch guns), Hyacinth (19 knots, 11 6 inch guns) and Pegasus (21 knots, eight 4 inch guns).

On July 31st Fregattenkapitän Max Loof took KONIGSBERG to sea in compliance with his orders to attack enemy shipping at the entrance to the Red Sea. PEGASUS saw her leaving port, but could not keep up with her. Neither could Hyacinth, which encountered her in the dark two hours later.

HMS ASTRAEA bombarded Dar-es-Salaam on August 8th in order to destroy its wireless station. The Germans, fearing invasion, scuttled a floating dock across the harbour entrance, trapping the liner Tabora and the collier König inside, and preventing KONIGSBERG from entering.

Königsberg was bedevilled throughout her career by difficulties in obtaining coal. The Hague Convention entitled warships to refuel at neutral ports. A ship could visit each port only once every three months, but could take on enough fuel to return to the nearest port in her home country. This meant that a German ship could entirely replenish her coal supplies on each visit.

However, the British bought all the coal supplies in Portuguese East Africa, the only neutral source available to Königsberg. This left her having to coal from small German colliers or from captured ships. However, she managed to take only one merchant ship, the liner City of Winchester, which she captured on 6 August and sank a week later.

The British Official History says that she ‘must have had a narrow escape from the Dartmouth‘, a modern light cruiser armed with eight 6 inch guns and capable of 25 knots, around the time that she captured the City of Winchester.[1] She then overhauled her engines in the secluded Rufiji Delta, and the British heard nothing about her until 20 September.

Pegasus was then at Zanzibar, repairing problems with her machinery. At 5:25 am the armed tug Helmuth, a captured German vessel that was guarding the entrance to the harbour, challenged a ship that was heading for an entrance forbidden to merchant ships. The ship, which was Königsberg, raised the German ensign and increased speed. Helmuth failed to warn Pegasus.

Königsberg opened fire at 9,000 yards, immediately straddling Pegasus. The British ship fired back, but her shots fell short. After eight minutes all the guns of her broadside facing Königsberg were out of action. The German ship ceased fire for about five minutes, but then began firing again, before leaving half an hour after opening fire. She sank Helmuth on her way out

Pegasus was then still afloat, but capsized after an unsuccessful attempt to beach her. Naval-History.net lists 34 men killed and 58 wounded, four of whom later died. Königsberg also destroyed what turned out to be a dummy wireless station. However, she made no attempt to sink or capture the collier Banffshire, which carried several thousand tons of coal, or to damage the lighthouse or cable.

Drawing of "PEGASUS" versus "KONIGSBERG"

[lordroel]

Day 56 of the Great War, September 21st 1914

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

The French capture Noyons amid attacks and counterattacks on the Aisne and in Picardy. The German offensive south of Verdun dents the French lines in the vicinity of St. Mihiel.

Eastern Front: Russians isolate Przemysl

In Galicia, Conrad orders a further retreat, ordering his armies falling back to the Dunajec River, a tributary of the Vistula River. Here the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th armies are to entrench, with 1st Army being detached to co-operate with the German 9th Army assembling to the north. The pursuing Russian armies today isolate the Austro-Hungarian fortress of Przemysl, and the 150 000 defenders find themselves under siege. Otherwise, however, the advance of the Russians is slowing to a halt - September rains have turned the roads into mud, making rapid movement impossible. Further, the Russian armies are increasingly crippled by supply shortages - there are few railways connecting Galicia with Russia, meaning supplies have to be shipped by horse and cart.

Thus the retreating Austro-Hungarian armies are granted a brief reprieve from Russian pressure. However, the damage has been done - out of 1.8 million soldiers mobilized at the beginning of August, over 400 000 have become casualties in the fighting in Galicia alone. Moreover, casualties have been heaviest among the German regiments that constitute not only the elite but also the most loyal units of the Austro-Hungarian army. These losses cannot be replaced, and increasingly the army has to rely on the non-German regiments whose loyalty is always in doubt. Finally, many regiments have lost their pre-war junior officers, for whom the rank and file felt a sense of comradeship - replacement officers, unknown and often speaking only German, increase the sense of alienation among the masses of soldiers. As a result, the Austro-Hungarian army can never completely recover the strength lost in the Galician battles over the first two months of the war. Conversely, though the Russians have suffered heavy casualties - over a quarter of a million - their massive manpower reserves mean they can absorb far greater losses than the Austro-Hungarian armies could ever hope to.

British begin the naval blockade

As the British begin to formalize their naval blockade of Germany, a crucial question is what to do with neutral-flagged ships in the North Sea, whose cargo may be destined for Germany either directly or indirectly (unloaded at a neutral port and shipped overland to Germany). The desire to halt all trade with Germany needs to be balanced with the opinion of neutral countries, especially the United States, as Britain depends on foreign trade, especially of foodstuffs, for its economy. Today the British government publishes an expansion of its contraband list of items that will be seized if found on a neutral ship. Among the goods that will now be seized are rubber, magnetic iron ore, copper, and glycerine, all important components of munitions production.

U-9 on the hunt

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

Graf Spee at Bora Bora

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

KARLSRUHE Captures the MARIA

Off the coast of Brazil SMS KARLSRUHE captures and sinks the Dutch freighter MARIA, 3,648 tons, with gunfire. Later that night or early the next morning she captures and scuttles the British steamer CORNISH CITY, 3,816 tons

EMDEN does some practice

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

KONIGSBRG still in hiding

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

Asian and Pacific Theatre of the Great War

The German forces on northeastern New Guinea had been defeated at the Battle of Bita Paka on September 11th, losing one German officer dead along with 30 indigenous Melanesian policemen. Most of the rest of the small German force had surrendered following the capture of the Bita Paka wireless station. Australian casualties were light, but made worse by the disappearance of the submarine AE1 three days later. The submarine’s wreck still has not been found.

After their defeat, the remaining German forces and administration withdrew 19 miles inland to Toma. However, they were followed by 200 Australians with a 12-pounder naval gun and besieged. The German governor, Eduard Haber, made terms with the Australians, and on the 21st all resistance surrendered.

Photo: Pictured - A squad of Australian troops

[lordroel]

Day 57 of the Great War, September 22nd 1914

KARLSRUH catches INGUASSU

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

Western Front: Air War-  attempted death from above

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

Western Front: The Germans and French clash in Picardy

Falkenhayn and Joffre are now pursuing the same strategy. Each has entrenched along the line of the Chemin des Dames by the Aisne river, releasing forces that can be used to try and turn the enemy’s open flank to the north west. An encounter battle now breaks out in Picardy as the French and German armies collide with each other. Neither side is able to make any headway against the determined enemy.

SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU strike at Papeete

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

Photo: The results of the bombing of Papeete by the German cruisers. Photographs published by the weekly Le Miroir of December 6, 1914.



EMDEN strikes at Madras

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

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

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

Photo: Oil tanks burning at Madras



The Attack of U-9

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

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

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

Drawing: ABOUKIR,CRESSY and HOUGE sinking



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

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

Postcard: U-9 and its victims 

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Day 58 of the Great War, September 23rd 1914

Eastern Front: Montenegrins and Serbians cross the Drina River

In the Balkans, a force of Montenegrins and Serbians cross the upper Drina River south of the Austro-Hungarian 6th Army and move into Bosnia. Their aim is both to inspire rebellion among the Slavic population of the region and relieve the pressure of the ongoing Austro-Hungarian invasion of Serbia.

A German in command of the Ottoman Navy

In Constantinople Admiral Wilhelm Souchon is today appointed Commander-in-Chief of the navy by the Ottoman government. Since the best warships of the navy are the two 'bought' from Germany, the appointment makes practical sense. It also reflects the continuing drift of the Ottomans into the German camp. Nevertheless, the Ottoman government clings to neutrality - some ministers hope to gain the advantages of German friendship without the risks of war with the Entente.

British Admiralty responds to GNEISENAU and SCHARNHORST

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

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

South West Africa: German forces repel an invasion

When Britain went to war with Germany, its overseas dominions did too. One of these is South Africa, from which British and South African troops prepared to invade the neighbouring German colony of South West Africa. But South Africa is restive. The Afrikaaners there remember the moral support Germany gave them in the Boer War. Many of them feel that they would be better off joining with the Germans and trying to overthrow British rule.

A Boer revolt is led by Manie Maritz. It attracts some support but not so much that it distracts the British from the main goal of invading South West Africa. However, when British and South African clash with the Germans in the arid borderlands near Sandfontein, the heavily armed Germans inflict a crushing defeat on the would-be invaders. The survivors limp back into the heart of South Africa.

Eastern Front: Russia begins the siege of Przemysl

The Russians now begin their siege of the Austro-Hungarian fortress town of Przemysl. They also send troops on after the rest of the Austro-Hungarian army, which is retreating in disorder over the Carpathians. But with so many Russian troops laying siege to Przemysl, their spearhead into the Carpathians is blunted.

Map: Przemysl and surrounding forts



Western Front: Battle of Picardy

By the end of September both sides in the West were committed to outflanking the other. On the 23rd yet another meeting engagement took place, this further north, in Picardy. Here the new German Chief of the General Staff, Falkenhayn, sent the Sixth Army to outmaneuver the French. The Germans attacked in the area of Picardy near St. Quentin and Amiens, hoping to envelop the French and drive them back out of the Somme valley.

However, the German offensive was stalled after very little progress by the French Second and Sixth Armies. At the cost of thousands of bodies, the two opposing sides stepped a little closer to the coast and total gridlock.

KONIGSBERG at Rufiji river

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

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

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Day 59 of the Great War, September 24th 1914

Western Front: a offensive at Roye

Finding the planned advance on Amiens blocked, General Rupprecht decides to attack on his left in an effort to isolate the French 2nd Army from Paris. XVIII Corps, joined in the line today by XXI Corps, launch a major offensive at Roye, and the French IV Corps is forced back over five miles. The ferociousness of the German attack forces the French 2nd Army onto the defensive. To the north of the German XXI Corps, I Bavarian Corps also comes into the line this evening, pushing the French out of Péronne.

Western Front: suggestions to move the BEF

General Henry Wilson, Deputy Chief of Staff of the British Expeditionary Force, suggests today that the BEF should be redeployed north to Flanders and Belgium, as by taking its place once again on the left flank of the Entente line it will be closer to the Channel ports from which its reinforcements and supplies are derived. Sir John French, however, is concerned that such a movement might leave the BEF exposed - at present such a move would leave it isolated, as the French front line stretches only to Picardy as of this date.

Western Front: Germans capture the town of St.-Mihiel

South of Verdun Army Detachment Strantz occupy the town of St.-Mihiel and cross the Meuse River to capture Chauvoncourt.

Eastern Front: Russians begin to withdrawn from the front lines in Galici

The Russian 4th, 5th, and 9th armies begin to withdrawn from the front lines in Galicia for their redeployment to Ivangorod and Warsaw as part of the planned Russian offensive into Germany. Due to the length of time it will take the armies to move up the east bank of the Vistula through the fall mud, Ivanov does not anticipate being in position to launch his attack until October 10th. However, the circuitous line of march of the Russian armies masks their redeployment from German and Austro-Hungarian reconnaissance.

PARRAMATTA captures the MEKLONG and BRASS MONKEY

HMAS PARRAMATTA captures the German merchant vessels MEKLONG and BRASS MONKEY, in Mioko Harbour, New Britain.

Photo: HMAS Parramatta leaving harbour, circa 1913-14.



KORMORAN arrives at Port Alexis

The German armed merchant cruiser KORMORAN, (CMDR Zuckschwerdt), arrives at Port Alexis several hours before the Australian armed merchant cruiser BERRIMA. The German ship hid in a side channel until BERRIMA departed.

Asian and Pacific Theatre of the Great War: Siege of Tsingtao

British forces (1,369 troops and 350 mules) arrive at Laosshun to assist the Japanese siege of Tsing-tau while Australian troops occupy the town of Friedrich Wilhelm, New Guinea.

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Day 60 of the Great War, September 25th 1914

YouTube (The Russian War Machine And The Race To The Sea)



Western Front:a French fort comes under atack

Just south of St.-Mihiel sits the fort of Camp des Romains, and today it comes under attack by German forces. After an overwhelming bombardment German infantry storm and capture the fort. The fall of Camp des Romains solidifies the German hold on the St.-Mihiel salient, though French reinforcements prevent further gains. Army Detachment Strantz has carved out a large salient, piercing the fort line between Verdun and Toul and, thanks to its bridgehead over the Meuse at Chauvoncourt, severing one of the two remaining rail lines connecting Verdun to the rest of France.

Photo: A portion of the ruined fort at Camp des Romains after its capture by the Germans.



South West Africa campaign

A South African patrol of one hundred twenty men under Captain E J Welby is attacked by Germans at Sandfontein, Namibia, a group of three wells and a couple of dilapidated buildings at the foot of a one hundred fifty foot high conical-shaped kopje (hill), twenty four miles from Raman’s Drift and inside German territory. Lieutenant Colonel R C Grant is sent with a squadron of the 1st South African Mounted Rifles and two thirteen-pounders with a machine gun section of the Transvaal Horse Artillery to reinforce Captain Welby.

A German force of about 35 Europeans and 150 natives with 2 maxim guns attack a body of the East African Mounted Rifles (30 members of C Squadron) in the Ingito Hills, Kenry, between the Magadi railway and the frontier. After one hour of severe fighting the enemy is repulsed retiring hastily towards Longido.

CUMBERLAND sits of Duala

A small British naval force centred on the cruiser CUMBERLAND sits today off of Duala, the most important port on the coast of German Kamerun, having spent the past several weeks clearing German obstructions from the shipping channels. Its commander issues an ultimatum demanding the surrender of Duala, the capture of which is central to British strategy, especially in light of the defeat over the past month of efforts to advance into the colony overland from Nigeria - the denial of ports by which German commerce raiders can be resupplied.

Photo: British Monmouth-class armoured cruiser HMS CUMBERLAND somewhere before 1914



Eastern Front: Montenegrins and Serbs return to Serbia

The force of Montenegrins and Serbs that crossed into Bosnia two days ago returns to Serbia today, after General Potiorek utilized fortress troops and units of the Austro-Hungarian 6th Army to threaten their flank. In halting this move, however, the use of part of 6th Army has meant that the push into Serbia has come to a halt.

LEIPZIG leaves the Galapagos

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

The British give a warning to the Ottomans

The British inform the Turkish government “that knowing German methods” any Turkish warship coming out of the Dardanelles under present conditions will be regarded as having the intention of attacking British interests.

Western Front: The Battle of Albert begins

The French and Germans are still pressing each other in Picardy but without making any head way. While that battle continues, each side sends troops further to the north to try and turn the other’s flank. Now they clash near the town of Albert, in the Somme valley. But again, neither is able to make serious headway against the other.

Map: the course of the "Race to the Sea" during 1914 following the Battle of the Aisne. Allied front line and movement is shown in red, German front line and movement shown in blue. Three of the battles that occurred during or after the "race" are shown boxed.



EMDEN strikes again

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

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

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

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

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Day 61 of the Great War, September 26th 1914

A landing party from HMAS SYDNEY, destroys the German wireless station at Angaur in the Palau Islands.

Western Front: Germans capture the main town of the region - Varennes-en-Argonne

West of Verdun, the offensive of General Mudra's XVI Corps comes to a halt, having advanced approximately eight kilometres along a twenty kilometre stretch of the front over the past week. The Germans have captured the main town of the region - Varennes-en-Argonne - and more importantly have seized the heights at Vauqois. From this position artillery observers are able to keep watch on the Verdun to Paris railway line, and guns in the rear are now close enough to hit a portion of the tracks. Once observers have pinpointed the coordinates, it becomes possible for German artillery to hit trains attempting to pass to Verdun. This limits train movement to night, and only when the track has been repaired after prior bombardments. This effectively severs the last rail line to Verdun - though it can be reached by road from Bar-le-Duc, it strains the supply situation at the most important French fortifications on the Western Front.

Falkenhayn has also ordered attacks to be undertaken along the Aisne River to pin the Entente armies there and prevent the further movement of units north. Launched primarily by 7th Army, the attacks fail to make significant progress while suffering heavy casualties, especially in fighting with the British Expeditionary Force, and have no substantial impact on Joffre's redeployments.

Kamerun Campaign: Germans abandon Duala

At Duala in German Kamerun, the small German garrison abandons the city and retreats inland. They well understand that holding the port in the face of British naval power is impossible, but they do not intend to retreat far, in order to continue to pose a threat to the anticipated British occupation of Duala and force the British to continue to maintain a significant presence to hold it.

Western Front: the Indians arrive

The Lahore Division of Indian Expeditionary Force A arrive in Marseilles today, having sailed from India via the Arabian Sea and the Suez Canal. IEF A also includes a second division - the Meerkut Division - and a cavalry brigade, which are scheduled to arrive in France in several weeks, their delay resulting from the presence of the German light cruisers Emden and Königsberg in the Indian Ocean. Each division consists of three infantry brigades, which in turn contain one British and three Indian battalions. These units are drawn from the peacetime Indian Army, and are being deployed to France to serve with the British Expeditionary Force.

Photo: Indian soldiers parade in Marseilles



Scharnhorst and Gneisenau reach Nuku Hiva

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

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

South West Africa campaign: an advance guard of Force A crosses the river at Sandfontein

Along the Orange River on the southern border of German South-West Africa, an advance guard of Force A has crossed the river at Sandfontein, consisting of three hundred men and two artillery pieces. Though the South African government has learned that the main German force is not opposing the recent landing at Lüderitz but rather moving on the Orange River, but has not informed General Henry Lukin, commander of Force A. Thus his advance guard is unsupported, and the Germans today sweep down and, having encircled the South Africans, capture the entire force after a brief firefight.

The defeat reflects the hasty improvisations necessary to put the three forces into the field at an early date, and the lack of adequate communications between them. This is overshadowed, however, by Lukin's insistence that Force B ought to have advanced simultaneously, in order to divide the German defenders. General Maritz of Force B insists that his force is still unready to move, being insufficiently trained. Such disobedience does not reflect well on his loyalty to the South African government, despite the collapse on the 15th of the first acts of insubordination. Defense Minister Smuts now faces the prospect of dealing with a recalcitrant general with a body of soldiers under his command.

Photo: Cameroon-Company in German Southwest Africa during the war



Western Front: Churchill visits the headquarters of the British Expeditionary

Winston Churchill today visits the headquarters of the British Expeditionary, and while there the First Lord of Admiralty discuss future operations with Sir John French. Churchill assures the Field Marshal that should the BEF be redeployed to Flanders and Belgium, it would be supported by the Royal Navy via the Channel. This assurance calms French's fears, and he now agrees that the BEF should be moved north.

EMDEN spots a Dutch ship

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

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

Western Front: The French and Germans keep trying to outflank each other

Fighting near Albert in the Somme valley continues to rage as the French and Germans batter away each other. But neither is breaking through. Further south, each side realise that their attacks in Picardy are not going to achieve anything. They dig trenches, freeing up men to be marched north to try and slip around the enemy’s open flank. But they keep encountering each other, failing to break through and then digging more trenches and sending more men north. It is all a bit repetitive.

The line is curving a bit, as though the French were almost but not quite managing to turn the German position. The French have the advantage of a still fully functional rail network on their side, while the Germans are having to repair track destroyed by the retreating French. But while the German line is curving back somewhat, it is still continuous and the French are not looking like they are going to be able to start rolling up the enemy.

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Day 62 of the Great War, September 27th 1914

Western Front: German XIV Reserve Corps advances on Albert

The German XIV Reserve Corps comes into the line north of II Bavarian Corps, and begins to advance on Albert. Opposite them the French XXI and X Corps are arriving north of the Somme River.

CHATHAM comes to Africa

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

EMDEN gets some nice Cardiff coal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kamerun Campaign: Douala falls to the combined British-French force

Germany’s West African colony Kamerun has a short coastline on which the capital, Douala, lies. Although the Germans have seen off a British land invasion from Nigeria, the coast proves more vulnerable to Allied attention. A combined Franco-British fleet now forces its surrender. The allies are free to gobble up the entire coastal region. But although Douala was the colony’s administrative and commercial centre, the defeat does not hurt the Germans as much as might be thought. They have already retreated their main forces into Kamerun’s interior, there to prolong the struggle for as long as possible.

Western Front: The Germans begin to advance on Albert

The German XIV Reserve Corps comes into the line north of II Bavarian Corps, and begins to advance on Albert. Opposite them the French XXI and X Corps are arriving north of the Somme River.

Eastern Front: German attempt to cross the Niemen River

After a day spent bombarding Russian positions, elements of the German 8th Army attempt to cross the Niemen River this morning. However, the pontoon bridges are blasted by Russian artillery, and the crossings fail to secure bridgeheads at great cost.

Western Front: Belgian army continues to hold the fortifications at Antwerp

The Belgian army continues to hold the fortifications at Antwerp, the 'national redoubt', but there are growing concerns about the state of its defenses. There are two rings of forts surrounding Antwerp on the southern bank of the Scheldt River - an outer line of eighteen forts between seven and nine miles from the city, and an inner line of older forts. However, the forts have not been modernized, and are vulnerable to high-arcing plunging fire, precisely the type the Germans had used at Liège and Namur. Thus the Belgians realize that to hold Antwerp for a prolonged period of time in the face of a German effort to capture the forts requires that the German siege mortars be kept out of range. For the past two days, two divisions of the Belgian army have sortied south of the city to push the Germans back, but despite local successes the Belgians have been forced back to the first line of forts south of Antwerp. Their sortie, at least, has helped convince the besieging Germans that the north bank of the Scheldt to the west of the city is too well-defended to attack, leaving an overland line of communication between Antwerp and Flanders.

Map: The defenses of Antwerp, September 1914

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Day 63 of the Great War, September 28th 1914

A Italian reports the KARLSHURE

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

CHATHAM at Zanzibar

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

EMDEN releases some troublemakers

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

South Africa: Prime Minister Louis Botha gives a speech

In a speech today South African Prime Minister Louis Botha declares that if South African forces do not attack and occupy German South-West Africa, then the British will bring in other Imperial forces, such as the Australians or Indians, to undertake the operation. The statement is aimed at Boers uneasy with the invasion, suggesting that since it is going to happen it might as well be done to the benefit of South Africa directly.

Asian and Pacific Theatre of the Great War: Siege of Tsingtao

As they approach Tsingtao, Japanese forces seize today the first defensive line. They had been thinly held, however, and the Germans conduct an orderly retreat to the second defensive line in the Hai Po valley.

Western Front: The Germans set their sights on Antwerp

The siege of Antwerp begins in earnest today with the first major bombardment of its forts by the Germans. Falkenhayn has decided that Antwerp must be captured to ensure the security of the German right wing as it extends northwards into Flanders. Commanding the besiegers is General Hans von Beseler, whose III Reserve Corps consists of second-rate divisions and brigades, and is deemed insufficient to cross the Scheldt River to the west of the city to invest it completely. However, von Beseler also has at his disposal 173 heavy guns, and it is expected that the artillery will repeat its performances at Liège and Namur and crush the fortifications from long-range. Specifically, the first to be targeted are the forts of Wavre and Waelham to the south of Antwerp, to breach the outer defense line and allow the infantry to advance. The German bombardment is able to proceed entirely unmolested, as the Belgian artillery pieces lack the range to hit the German mortars. The attack is thus little more than target practice.

Western Front: The French solidified a defensive line east of Albert

After initial setbacks, the French XXI and X corps have solidified a defensive line east of Albert along a line Maricourt-Fricourt-Thiepval. Realizing that 6th Army has been checked before Amiens, Falkenhayn today orders Rupprecht to attack to the north towards Arras in another effort to get around the flank of the Entente line.

Eastern Front: Germans fall back from Niemen River

Having failed to cross the Niemen River, the German 8th Army begins a withdrawal back towards the German border, as maintaining their current position would leave them in an exposed salient while not diverting Russian forces from Poland and Galicia. The Russian 1st and 10th armies begin a pursuit of the retreating Germans, and General Rennenkampf of the former shows energy that had been lacking in August.

Eastern Front: Germans begins its advance northeast today in the direction of Ivangorod and Moscow

Having completed its assembly north of Krakow, the German 9th Army begins its advance northeast today in the direction of Ivangorod and Moscow. As of yet Ludendorff has no idea that the Russians are redeploying four armies to precisely the same place.

Map: The Eastern Front, September 28th to November 1st, 1914.

[lordroel]

Day 64 of the Great War, September 29th 1914

Western Front: moving the BEF

Field Marshal Sir John French informs Marshal Joffre of his intention to relocate the British Expeditionary Force to the far left of the Entente line in Flanders and Belgium. The latter is cautiously accepting of the move - the logic of placing the British closer to their supplies and reinforcements is not lost on him. Joffre remains concerned, however, about Sir John French's intentions - will placing him at the end of the line and so close to Britain reawaken his desire for self-preservation over co-operation? Also, Joffre tells French that the redeployment must be undertaken one division at a time, as the bulk of the French railways are occupied with the transfer of French corps north to 2nd Army, and that on arrival the British must be prepared to go into battle at once, as opposed to waiting for the entire BEF to arrive before advancing.

LEIPZIG near Peru

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

Western Front: Belgian Fort Wavre is evacuated

Just south of Antwerp, Fort Wavre has been so damaged by constant German bombardment that at 6pm its garrison is evacuated. This, plus the destruction done at Fort Waelham, demonstrate unmistakably to the Belgian government that the survival of the fortifications protecting Antwerp can be measured in days. As such, the Belgian army begins to make preparations to evacuate the city. They intend to establish a new base at Ostend on the Channel coast, and withdraw through the corridor between the Dutch border and the Schelde River. Two pontoon bridges at Antwerp itself allow some to cross to the north bank of the river, and though a railway bridge twelve miles west of Antwerp is within range of German artillery, trains are able to pass at night with their lights extinguished. Today, the first to leave Antwerp are the wounded, untrained, and prisoners - the field army itself will remain as long as control of the city can be reasonably contested. To cover the retreat corridor, the Belgian 4th Division is at Termonde on the Schelde, and Belgian cavalry patrol the river line. These intentions are conveyed by the Belgian Prime Minister to the British and French governments, emphasizing that the decision to withdraw the government and field army from Antwerp will come when the Germans break completely through the first line of forts and are in position to attack the inner defenses of the city.

EMDEN at the Maldives

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

Western Front: Maud-huy's flanking manouevre

As the number of corps assigned to the French 2nd Army increases, the northernmost are formed into a separate detachment under the command of General Louis de Maud-huy. While Castlenau will continue to supervise the fighting in Picardy and along the Somme, Maud-huy's assignment is to execute an flanking manouevre, pivoting on Arras. As of today Maud-huy's detachment consists of X Corps north of Albert, four cavalry divisions southeast of Arras, and reserve infantry divisions at Arras and Lens respectively.