stevep
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Post by stevep on Nov 26, 2019 11:52:48 GMT
Day 122 of the Great War, November 26th 1914Naval operations: sinking of BULWARKHMS BULWARK was the first of three London class battleships, commissioned in 1902. HMS LONDEN was launched first, hence the class name, but BULWARK was the first to be commissioned into service. The LONENS were follow-ons to the FORMIDABLE class, also a group of three. Differences mainly lay in internal details, and their appearance was almost identical. The biggest difference was in the armor layout. The previous CANOPUS class had carried only 6" on the main armor belt, on the assumption that Krupp Cemented armor was that much better than the previous Harvey Nickel Steel process. This was corrected in the FORMIDABLES, which carried 9" on the main belt. The forward armor was 3" thick, 2" of Krupp Cemented on a 1" mild steel backing. Aft was exactly half that - 1" Krupp on 1/2" mild steel. The three London class ships had the forward armor stepped - 7" from the forward magazine to the forward torpedo room, 5" from there to the bow, and 3" covering the stem. It was aboard BULWARK that the court-martial of Admiral Troubridge was conducted. After twelve years of service BULWARK was part of the Home Fleet's Fifth Battle Squadron, stationed at Sheerness, and was moored at number 17 bouy when at 0750 hours the aft turret was seen to explode. Eyewitness accounts vary as to whether there were two or three explosions in total. The later conclusion was that the aft magazine had exploded first, followed by the two 6" magazines. The commanders on the spot came to what was to them the obvious conclusion, and at 0938 they sent the following telegram to The Admiralty: "BULWARK blew up 7:50 this morning apparently magazine explosion. Further details later." The heavy loss of life is attributed to most of the crew being below having breakfast at the time. The few survivors were men who had been topside and suddenly found themselves in the water. Twelve seamen were saved, none of them officers. The exact number of men lost is impossible to determine due to the marching band of the gunnery school HMS EXCELLENT being on board playing at the time, and to the ship's logs being lost in the explosion. Only 30 bodies were recovered from the wreck. There was at first some confusion as to the cause. An officer and an enlisted man from HMS AGAMMEMON reported sighting a periscope at 0810. The Court of Inquiry later determined that they had seen a wake, and not the periscope itself. Another possibility was that a mine had broken free from its mooring and drifted into BULWARK. Also considered was a bomb planted by an enemy agent. These were all investigated and discounted, the biggest strike against all these theories being that no foreign government had claimed responsibility for the sinking, which whoever was responsible would almost certainly do. The Court of Inquiry was convened on the 27th, and the final conclusion, submitted on the 28th, was that BULWARK was destroyed "by the explosion of the after and possibly fore magazines and shell rooms." Though the loss of life was tragic, BULWARK was old, and though she might have been used for shore bombardment her loss had no practical effect on the Royal Navy at all.* Naval operations: Atlantic Ocean HMS INVINCIBLE and INFLEXIBLE sight the Abrolhos Rocks off Brazil at 0300 hours. At 0515 they sight the armored cruiser HMS KENT, and drop anchor at 0731. Also anchored there are the armored cruisers HMS CARNARVON, CORNWALL, DEFENCE, light cruisers BRISTOL and GLASGOW, and the armed merchant cruiser ORAMA. At 1650 they are joined by the colliers SS ARLINTON COUR and ERRINGTON COURT, but coaling is put off until the next morning. Naval operations: Indian OceanWith the approaching dawn a light offshore breeze springs up and the men of AYESHA are relieved from their laborious rowing. As they enter the harbor at Padang they are approached by a torpedo-boat destroyer. Being in neutral waters and not wishing to reveal themselves, they stow their machine guns and rifles below decks. The ruse is helped by the fact that the few clothes the men have left are all in tatters. The destroyer comes close aboard and AYESHA is watched by the ship's officers, all of whom seem to have their own binoculars. As AYESHA is anchored just outside the harbor they can make out the other ship's name. She is the Dutch destroyer LYNX. The destroyer moves off into the harbor, but rejoins AYESHA at dusk, shadowing her as she starts to move into the harbor at the stately speed of one knot. The Germans are of two minds. On the one hand they don't like the way the Dutch ship is following them, but on the other the waters are unfamiliar to them and any sudden movement by the destroyer will tell them that rocks are nearby. Later the men of AYESHA bring out a lantern and a piece of wood and signal "Why are you following us?" Lynx acknowledges the signal but does not reply, and later moves into the harbor to anchor for the night. Photo: JAKHALS, sister ship to LYNX, date somewhere in probably 1912
a) A bad failure not to investigate this further as it might have revealed that British standard cordite was less than stable as it aged.  One small typo with the D missing from the class name when its mentioned on the 2nd line.
b) Sturdee was very tardy in heading south and according to some accounts if one of his subordinate commanders hadn't pushed him to get a move on the Battle of the Falkland Is might have been Canopus in its defensive position fighting to prevent Spee's force entering Stanley harbour.
c) The answer to that question is that a ship obviously in poor condition but I presume showing no flag is entering the harbour but not asking for assistance or saying anything at all. Especially since there's a war on the Dutch are probably wondering what the group are up to at all. Since the Germans must be aware that virtually every base/colony in the Pacific has been mopped up already so what their trying to do I don't know. Internment in a neutral port is the best they can hope for I would have thought.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Nov 26, 2019 15:23:18 GMT
Day 122 of the Great War, November 26th 1914Naval operations: sinking of BULWARKHMS BULWARK was the first of three London class battleships, commissioned in 1902. HMS LONDEN was launched first, hence the class name, but BULWARK was the first to be commissioned into service. The LONENS were follow-ons to the FORMIDABLE class, also a group of three. Differences mainly lay in internal details, and their appearance was almost identical. The biggest difference was in the armor layout. The previous CANOPUS class had carried only 6" on the main armor belt, on the assumption that Krupp Cemented armor was that much better than the previous Harvey Nickel Steel process. This was corrected in the FORMIDABLES, which carried 9" on the main belt. The forward armor was 3" thick, 2" of Krupp Cemented on a 1" mild steel backing. Aft was exactly half that - 1" Krupp on 1/2" mild steel. The three London class ships had the forward armor stepped - 7" from the forward magazine to the forward torpedo room, 5" from there to the bow, and 3" covering the stem. It was aboard BULWARK that the court-martial of Admiral Troubridge was conducted. After twelve years of service BULWARK was part of the Home Fleet's Fifth Battle Squadron, stationed at Sheerness, and was moored at number 17 bouy when at 0750 hours the aft turret was seen to explode. Eyewitness accounts vary as to whether there were two or three explosions in total. The later conclusion was that the aft magazine had exploded first, followed by the two 6" magazines. The commanders on the spot came to what was to them the obvious conclusion, and at 0938 they sent the following telegram to The Admiralty: "BULWARK blew up 7:50 this morning apparently magazine explosion. Further details later." The heavy loss of life is attributed to most of the crew being below having breakfast at the time. The few survivors were men who had been topside and suddenly found themselves in the water. Twelve seamen were saved, none of them officers. The exact number of men lost is impossible to determine due to the marching band of the gunnery school HMS EXCELLENT being on board playing at the time, and to the ship's logs being lost in the explosion. Only 30 bodies were recovered from the wreck. There was at first some confusion as to the cause. An officer and an enlisted man from HMS AGAMMEMON reported sighting a periscope at 0810. The Court of Inquiry later determined that they had seen a wake, and not the periscope itself. Another possibility was that a mine had broken free from its mooring and drifted into BULWARK. Also considered was a bomb planted by an enemy agent. These were all investigated and discounted, the biggest strike against all these theories being that no foreign government had claimed responsibility for the sinking, which whoever was responsible would almost certainly do. The Court of Inquiry was convened on the 27th, and the final conclusion, submitted on the 28th, was that BULWARK was destroyed "by the explosion of the after and possibly fore magazines and shell rooms." Though the loss of life was tragic, BULWARK was old, and though she might have been used for shore bombardment her loss had no practical effect on the Royal Navy at all.* Naval operations: Atlantic Ocean HMS INVINCIBLE and INFLEXIBLE sight the Abrolhos Rocks off Brazil at 0300 hours. At 0515 they sight the armored cruiser HMS KENT, and drop anchor at 0731. Also anchored there are the armored cruisers HMS CARNARVON, CORNWALL, DEFENCE, light cruisers BRISTOL and GLASGOW, and the armed merchant cruiser ORAMA. At 1650 they are joined by the colliers SS ARLINTON COUR and ERRINGTON COURT, but coaling is put off until the next morning. Naval operations: Indian OceanWith the approaching dawn a light offshore breeze springs up and the men of AYESHA are relieved from their laborious rowing. As they enter the harbor at Padang they are approached by a torpedo-boat destroyer. Being in neutral waters and not wishing to reveal themselves, they stow their machine guns and rifles below decks. The ruse is helped by the fact that the few clothes the men have left are all in tatters. The destroyer comes close aboard and AYESHA is watched by the ship's officers, all of whom seem to have their own binoculars. As AYESHA is anchored just outside the harbor they can make out the other ship's name. She is the Dutch destroyer LYNX. The destroyer moves off into the harbor, but rejoins AYESHA at dusk, shadowing her as she starts to move into the harbor at the stately speed of one knot. The Germans are of two minds. On the one hand they don't like the way the Dutch ship is following them, but on the other the waters are unfamiliar to them and any sudden movement by the destroyer will tell them that rocks are nearby. Later the men of AYESHA bring out a lantern and a piece of wood and signal "Why are you following us?" Lynx acknowledges the signal but does not reply, and later moves into the harbor to anchor for the night. Photo: JAKHALS, sister ship to LYNX, date somewhere in probably 1912 a) A bad failure not to investigate this further as it might have revealed that British standard cordite was less than stable as it aged. One small typo with the D missing from the class name when its mentioned on the 2nd line. b) Sturdee was very tardy in heading south and according to some accounts if one of his subordinate commanders hadn't pushed him to get a move on the Battle of the Falkland Is might have been Canopus in its defensive position fighting to prevent Spee's force entering Stanley harbour. c) The answer to that question is that a ship obviously in poor condition but I presume showing no flag is entering the harbour but not asking for assistance or saying anything at all. Especially since there's a war on the Dutch are probably wondering what the group are up to at all. Since the Germans must be aware that virtually every base/colony in the Pacific has been mopped up already so what their trying to do I don't know. Internment in a neutral port is the best they can hope for I would have thought.
Trying to get home, but in the next updates more answers to what will happen to the crew onboard AYESHA will be answer. Also i never knew that the WOLF-class destroyer of which the LYNX is a part of was built after a British design. |
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Nov 27, 2019 4:06:49 GMT
Day 123 of the Great War, November 27th 1914
YouTube (Iron, Steel and Oil - The Fight For Resources)
Eastern Front: German 47th Reserve Division begins to detrain
West of Krakow the German 47th Reserve Division, dispatched by Ludendorff southwards to assist the beleaguered Austro-Hungarians, begins to detrain today at Oderberg and Oswiecim.
Naval operations: Atlantic Ocean
At Abrolhos Rocks off the Brazilian coast Vice-Admiral Sturdee holds a conference of captains to plan the pursuit of the German East Asiatic Squadron. He intends to sail to the Falklands Islands and use it as a base should the Germans sail up the middle of the Atlantic, while also sending his light cruisers to inspect the various harbours and bays along the southeastern coast of South America in case the Germans attempted to remain close to shore. He also announces that the squadron will sail in two days' time. The captain of Glasgow objects, fearing that the Germans might try to reach the Falklands before the British. He manages to convince Sturdee to advance the date of departure to tomorrow, a decision, as shall be seen, of vital importance.
Naval operations: Gulf of Aden
Yesterday the convoy carrying the thousands of volunteers from Australia and New Zealand departed the port of Aden, a British colony on the southern tip of the Arabian peninsula near the mouth of the Red Sea. Their destination at that time remained England, where they were to encamp and undergo training on Salisbury Plain alongside the Canadian contingent. The experiences of the Canadians to date, however, show that Salisbury Plain leaves much to be desired. There are not nearly enough huts to house all of the soldiers, so most sleep under canvass. Further, the weather is terrible - near constant rain and cold temperatures not only make conditions miserable but impede the training regimen of the Canadians. The Australian representative at the British War Office, realizing the misery of the Canadians on Salisbury Plain, does not want the same conditions inflicted on the Australians and New Zealanders. He suggested to Lord Kitchener that the convoy be redirected to Egypt, where they will be able to train in more amenable circumstances. Kitchener agrees, and word reaches the convoy today that they are to be redirected to Egypt, where the Australians and New Zealanders will encamp just outside Cairo. At present there is still every intention that once sufficiently prepared they will be dispatched to the Western Front.
Naval operations: Pacific Ocean
Graf Spee has chosen to round Cape Horn rather than risk being caught in the Straight of Magellan. Rounding the Horn they encounter massive seas, and the ships are endangered by the extra top-weight of all the coal they are carrying on deck. Spee gives his light cruisers permission to jettison all the extra coal. One office aboard SMS LEIPZIG writes "The storm and sea grew steadily more violent. We steered out of the line because position was beginning to get dangerous. The heavy seas had shifted the deck cargo and all the scuppers got stopped up with coal so that water could no longer escape. At times there were three feet of water on deck and we were in imminent danger of capsizing. All hands had to turn to and shovel coal overboard. The men were standing all the time waist deep in water, which was very cold."
Naval operations: Indian Ocean
Overnight the Dutch destroyer LYNX returns to continue following the schooner AYESHA as it approaches Padang. The attention of LYNX is welcome in one sense, as given that the German crew of AYESHA have no charts of Padang they are able to know if their course will take them onto reefs by whether LYNX turns away. On the other hand, the attention is regretted by First Officer Mücke - it gives the impression, in his words, of a burly policeman bringing in a disreputable scoundrel, while also indicating that perhaps the Dutch have been expecting them. Twice Mücke signals LYNX as to why they are being followed, but the Dutch give no response. The Germans take some satisfaction, however, in the sight of their powerful escort forced to limit itself to the speed of one mile per hour so as to not overshoot AYESHA.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Nov 28, 2019 4:09:50 GMT
Day 124 of the Great War, November 28th 1914
Naval operations: Cape Horn
Spee's squadron has been turned back by the heavy seas. On the 28th the storm begins to fade and the seas begin to calm. The ships again attempt to begin the passage around the southernmost tip of South America.
Naval operations: Atlantic Ocean
While Sturdee's ships were coaling the armed merchant cruiser ORAMA stayed on guard duty. At 0705 hours she is the last of the group to be coaled. Sturdee takes command of Stoddart's light cruisers and at 1010 the ships begin to weigh anchor. By 1630 the group is at sea and on their way to the Falklands, where the men of HMS CANOPUS continue to set up defenses and prepare for a possible assault by Spee's forces.
Naval operations: German East Africa
SS KINFAUNS CASTLE arrives at Durban. The new seaplane is loaded aboard and the cargo ship immediately starts its return journey to the Rufiji River.*
Naval operations:Indian Ocean
The first great ANZAC convoy arrives at Aden, on the south coast of Yemen. They recoal and move into the Red Sea, bound for Port Said. The escort is commmanded by HMS HAMPSHIRE , and the three ships carrying the crew of SMS EMDEN are among the transports.
Western Front: French 2nd Army launches a second attack on the German lines
Nine days after the first attempt, the French 2nd Army launches a second attack on the German lines opposite, this time by two divisions of XIV Corps. Unlike the last attack, this one does accomplish something - the gain of three hundred metres.
Eastern Front: Russian 8th Army continues to push into the Carpathian Mountains
The Russian 8th Army, under General Brusilov, continues to push into the Carpathian Mountains against the weakening resistance of the Austro-Hungarian 3rd Army. The Russians have already seized the Lupkow-Beskid and Uzsok Passes, and early this morning Russian forces break through the Austro-Hungarian lines holding the Dulka Pass. The fighting in the Carpathians has been ferocious, with bitter cold and heavy snows adding to the misery of both sides. The Austro-Hungarians, though, have certainly received the worst of it, and if Brusilov's 8th Army can push all the way through the Carpathians they will be able to invade Hungary and march on Budapest, potentially knocking Austria-Hungary out of the war entirely. It is a moment of crisis for Austria-Hungary, as its fate hangs in the balance.
Serbian Campaign: Austro-Hungarian 5th Army encounters fierce Serbian resistance
In Serbia, efforts by the Austro-Hungarian 5th Army to cross the Kolubara River where it meets the Sava River have encountered fierce Serbian resistance, and in one counterattack the Serbs inflicted 50% casualties on the enemy. Nevertheless, given the retreat of his 1st Army General Putnik is concerned that his front line is overstretched, and orders his armies to pull back today. This retreat will expose Belgrade to attack, and Putnik orders its evacuation.
Naval operations: Indian Ocean
This morning AYESHA, crewed by EMDEN'S landing party, crosses into Dutch territorial waters as it approaches Padang. Now immune from enemy attack, First Officer Mücke orders the German war flag to be flown from the mast, announcing to all their identity. Early this afternoon, the Dutch destroyer LYNX approaches once more; this time Mücke orders the customary salute between warships to be given. The entire German crew stands at attention on deck, while Mücke and his officers salute; the Dutch respond with the same salute. Mücke then took one of AYESHA'S boats and visited LYNX, meeting with its captain. Here the German officer plays his hand to the full - he states unequivocally that AYESHA is a German ship of war, and thus is entitled to enter Padang's harbour for twenty-four hours for repairs and resupply. The thought of the old schooner AYESHA as a ship of war must seem laughable to LYNX'S captain; however, he is in no position to dispute the issue, lest he cause a diplomatic crisis. He informs Mücke that there is nothing preventing AYESHA from anchoring at Padang, but that the civil authorities might intern his ship and crew. Mücke replies that as a warship AYESHA can leave the port at any time, and adds in jest: 'I hope you and I will not get into a fight when I run out.' The response of the Dutch captain is not recorded.
After Mücke's return, AYESHA, as it enters the anchorage, is met by a boat carrying the harbour master. The latter is insistent that AYESHA drop anchor far away from other ships and docks, but Mücke can see that some of the merchants in the port are German and he has every intention of anchoring right beside them. As Mücke and Padang's harbour master argue, coincidentally the topsails of the schooner refuse to come down, no matter what the crew attempts. After much work they are finally furled, again coincidentally just as the ship comes up beside the docks and German merchants. After this 'good fortune' Mücke sends his senior lieutenant ashore to report to the German consul, while the men of the German merchants throw everything from cigarettes to German newspapers to the men aboard AYESHA (by international law, non-combatants are not allowed on combatant warships while in a neutral port).
The Dutch authorities are eager to intern AYESHA, wishing to avoid angering the British or Japanese should EMDEN'S landing party escape again. Further, the harbour master is Belgian, and thus hardly inclined to give the Germans any benefit of the doubt. The German consul at Padang had ordered supplies of all kind for AYESHA, but when some arrive at 7pm, they are accompanied by a Dutch neutrality officer, designated to ensure the laws of neutrality were upheld to the letter. He argues that Mücke should allow himself and his ship to be interned, but the Germans are unanimous in rejecting this advice. The neutrality officer then informs him that much of the ordered supplies cannot be transferred to AYESHA as they would enhance their fighting ability - this includes not only nautical charts but also clothing and soap. The Germans are willing to go without in order to continue their voyage. Finally the neutrality officer insists that nearby Japanese and English cruisers will undoubtedly catch them, and that they had already acquitted themselves honourably in executing their duty to Germany. Again, Mücke and his crew refuse. Given the apparent 'unreasonableness' of the Germans and with all arguments exhausted, the re-provisioned AYESHA weighs anchor at 8pm and departs Padang - after an eventful day, the voyage of EMDEN'S landing party continues.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Nov 29, 2019 8:30:47 GMT
Day 125 of the Great War, November 29th 1914Western Front: French army headquarters considering the next phase of the war on the Western Front At French army headquarters the Operations Bureau has been considering the next phase of the war on the Western Front, and submits a report to Joffre today. It states that the past month has shown that partial and local attacks are ineffective in the new conditions of trench warfare, and that thorough preparation and concentration of forces is essential to success in such conditions. As such, a general offensive is also discounted as dissipating the strength of the French army along the entire line. Instead, the preferred course is to focus offensive efforts at particular points of the German front. Ideally, several such concentrated offensives would occur more or less simultaneously, to overstretch the Germans and force the commitment of reserves that would be unable to meet other attacks. However, the Bureau also states that the French army lacks sufficient strength, not only in manpower but also in munitions, to undertake operations of such size simultaneously. The report concludes that the best chance of breaking the German line is in Artois, and argues that a strong attack towards Cambrai would, if successful, force the Germans to retreat to the Meuse River. The unspoken assumption in this report is that the French should be attacking. Given the experience of the past few months, which has shown the superiority of the defense, why are the French planning on major offensives? The reason is rather straightforward - the German army has occupied a good portion of north-eastern France, including Lille, and their present position threatens Rheims and still poses a threat to Paris. Joffre in particular and the French army in general feels a responsibility to liberate their countrymen and drive the invader from French soil. Thus the French feel a compulsion to attack that the Germans, on the Western Front, will never feel. Eastern Front: Grand Duke Nicholas and General Ruszkii of North-West Front meetGrand Duke Nicholas, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian army, General Ivanov of South-West Front, and General Ruszkii of North-West Front meet at the headquarters of the latter to discuss future operations. Ivanov is eager to keep pushing forward against Austria-Hungary, with 3rd Army moving on Krakow and 8th Army pushing through the Carpathians. He argues that given the strength of the German army, the 'way to Berlin lies through Austria-Hungary.' To continue his offensive, Ivanov needs Ruszkii's North-West Front to maintain their position in central Poland - if they retreat, the northern flank of South-West Front would become exposed. Ruszkii, for his part, wants to do exactly that - 2nd and 5th Armies have suffered a hundred thousand casualties in the fighting around Lodz, and the corps sent from the Western Front by Falkenhayn are now arriving opposite Lodz to reinforce the German 9th Army. Ruszkii argues that no invasion of Germany can be undertaken until East Prussia is occupied, as otherwise the Germans will always be able to counterattack the northern flank of any Russian advance westward, much as what has happened over the past month around Lodz. Nicholas is unable to mediate the dispute between two generals who are determined to attack as they see fit, as opposed to co-operating. The only thing the three are able to agree upon is to fire General Rennenkampf of 1st Army - criticized for being too slow to rescue 2nd Army at Tannenberg, he is now blamed for being too slow to cut off the German units east of Lodz. The fact he has a Gemran-sounding last name makes him an even more ideal scapegoat. Map: The Eastern Front from central Poland to Krakow, November 29th, 1914. Note II and XXIV Reserve Corps, two of the reinforcements from the Western Front, in the German line with 9th Army, and the Austro-Hungarians pushed back on Krakow at the far south. Caucasus campaign: difference of opinion emerges within the Ottoman leadership over future operations in the CaucasusA difference of opinion has emerged within the Ottoman leadership over future operations in the Caucasus in the aftermath of the Battle of Köprüköy. Enver Pasha, Minister of War and arguably the most important figure in the Ottoman government, wants the Ottoman 3rd Army to invade the Russian Caucasus. He is driven not only by the prospect not only of liberating Muslims from the Russian Empire but also of bringing more Turkic peoples within the Empire, advancing towards his vision of all Turks unified within the Ottoman Empire. The commander of 3rd Army, however, is conscious of the shortcomings of his soldiers - today he reports that X Corps is short 17 000 overcoats, 17 400 pairs of boots, 23 000 ground sheets, and 13 000 knapsacks. Enver's response is to dispatch Hafiz Hakki, an acolyte and the young deputy chief of the general staff, to provide a report more to his liking. Mesopotamian campaign: commander of Indian Expeditionary Force D dispatches a telegram to the Viceroy of IndiaToday the commander of Indian Expeditionary Force D dispatches a telegram to the Viceroy of India, giving his view of the military situation and the next steps he proposes to take. With the arrival of the final elements of 6th Indian Division, he believes that he has enough military force to take and hold Baghdad, but that such a move is not possible at present - there is insufficient water for an overland advance, while more boats would be required to transport IEF D by river. For the present, he intends to occupy Qurna just upriver at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Naval operations: Cape HornGraf Spee's squadron is slowly making its way toward the Pacific Ocean. Naval operations: Atlantic OceanEn route to the Falkland Islands, HMS INVINCIBLE investigates the freighter SS MILEPOOL. Naval operations: Indian OceanAt 3am, as AYESHA departs Panang, it is hailed by a rowboat just as it enters international waters. Aboard are two Germans, both reservists who had been in the Dutch East Indies when war began. The two - an officer and a chief engineer's mate - are eager to join AYESHA'S crew, and now that the schooner has departed Dutch waters they are legally able to. Both are accepted, though in the cramped conditions of the schooner the officer's 'bunk' is under the mess table. This evening AYESHA begins to be followed by the Dutch warship DE ZEVEN PROVINCIEN - evidently the Dutch now want to ensure that AYESHA leaves the East Indies and does not return. Photo: The DE ZEVEN PROVINCIEN shortly after completion in 1910
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Nov 30, 2019 8:48:46 GMT
Day 126 of the Great War, November 30th 1914
Western Front: trenches are only temporarily
To both sides on the Western Front, the trench system is both unprecedented and unexpected - neither side thought they would be fighting such a static war, and indeed expectations remain that trench warfare is but a phase which will soon pass. In the meantime, as both sides try to find tactical solutions to the problem of attacking trenches, they first draw on their experience and pre-war training, which suggests that trench warfare is most similar to the conduct of sieges, the latter involving prolonged fighting before extensive defenses. Thus in the initial months of trench warfare both sides attempt to apply the tactics for conducting sieges to operations on the Western Front. For example, today Joffre issues a communication to all army commanders instructing them to dig their trenches to within 150 yards of the German lines. This is precisely what the standard approach to siege warfare is, and Joffre hopes the order will have the same benefit - the closer the infantry are to the enemy when they attack, the less time it will take them to cross the killing zone between the lines and reach the enemy positions. While the order reflects the fact that generals did look for ways to break the deadlock that did not involve the repetition of the same tactics over and over again, it also is indicative how these same generals were in many ways prisoners of their own experience and training, whereas the conditions of trench warfare required entirely new ways of thinking on the battlefield.
Naval operations: a treasure for the British
A British fishing trawler in the North Sea makes a remarkable discovery when it hauls in its catch - a lead-lined chest in amongst the fish. The chest is from a German minelaying destroyer which had been sunk off the Dutch coast on October 17th, and within the chest is a treasure worth more than gold to the British Admiralty. It includes secret charts of the North Sea showing the operational grid the Germans use to plot the location of warships, and a codebook intended for communication with warships overseas. These two finds, in combination with earlier breakthroughs, allow the British to decypher German wireless signals, a vital advantage to the war at sea.
Eastern Front: Russian 3rd Army continues to advance westwards towards Krakow
As the Russian 3rd Army continues to advance westwards towards Krakow, the Austro-Hungarian Chief of Staff issues orders today for another offensive. Despite the battering 4th Army has taken in recent weeks, Conrad orders it back on to the attack - the movement of the Russian 3rd Army has opened a gap between it and the Russian 8th Army in the Carpathians to the southeast, and his intention is that the southern wing of 4th Army will move into this gap and then pivot northward to hit the southern flank of the Russian 3rd Army.
Serbian campaign: Serbian army completes its evacuation of Belgrade
The Serbian army completes its evacuation of Belgrade today as elements of the Austro-Hungarian 5th Army approach the city. General Potiorek has ordered his other units to halt, both to recover from the recent fighting and to resupply. The retreating Serbs had thoroughly destroyed transportation infrastructure as they retreated through November, and the Austro-Hungarians have outrun their supplies and are encountering all manner of shortages.
Mesopotamian campaign: Orders are issued for a detachment of Indian Expeditionary Force D
Orders are issued for a detachment of Indian Expeditionary Force D, including two and a half infantry battalions, to embark on four river steamers, where they will be escorted by two warships and two armed steamers up the Shatt al-Arab. Their orders are to land on the riverbank opposite of Qurna, clear that side of the river of the enemy, and then move on Qurna itself.
Naval operations: Indian Ocean
AYESHA sets a course westward into the Indian Ocean and, satisfied that the schooner is leaving for good, the Dutch warship DE ZEVEN PROVINCIEN halts its pursuit. The German crew are sailing to a point in the eastern Indian Ocean where they hope to rendezvous with a German merchant ship. While at Padang it was impermissible for any of the crew to meet with sailors from the German merchant ships alongside, First Officer Mücke happened to say several times quite loudly that his ship would be at this point in the Indian Ocean for several weeks. His hope is that one of the German merchant ships, motivated by patriotism, will meet them there and allow AYESHA'S crew to transfer to the steamer for the next stage of the journey back to Germany.
Naval operations: Atlantic Ocean
At 1527 hours HMS INFLEXIBLE is stopped to drop a target for live gunnery practice from INVINCIBLE. Firing begins at 1610. Second firing begins at 1645, and a third at 1723. At 1741 INFLEXIBLE recovers her target. At the same time INVINCIBLE also stops to run out a target. At 1805 INFLEXIBLE begins her first firing practice. Around 1930 the tow line becomes entangled in INVINCIBLE'S propellers. At 1934 the squadron is stopped while divers go overboard to check the damage.
Naval operations: Red Sea
The first ANZAC convoy arrives at Suez. The men of EMDEN are taken off the two transports and onto HMS HAMPSHIRE. The senior officers remain aboard SS ORVIETO. When the British sailors hear of this they are miserable, having been under the impression that they would be returning to England with their prisoners.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Dec 1, 2019 7:03:55 GMT
Day 127 of the Great War, December 1st 1914Eastern Front: new German units begin an attack to the south of LodzYesterday the southern wing of the German 9th Army, comprised mainly of units recently arrived from the Western Front, began an attack to the south of Lodz, and today are joined by the northern wing of the Austro-Hungarian 2nd Army. The objective is to break through the Russian 5th and 4th Armies and outflank the Russian position at Lodz. Map: The Eastern Front, December 1st 1914. Eastern Front: Battle of Limanowa-Lapanow opens today south of KrakowThe Battle of Limanowa-Lapanow opens today south of Krakow. The Austro-Hungarian XIV Corps, southern-most of 4th Army's corps and on the outside of the advance and turn into the Russian 3rd Army's flank, is still assembling its units, so the formations already present launch attacks today to keep the enemy away from its deployment zone. Eastern Front: elements of the Russian 8th Army seize the town of BartfeldIn the Carpathians elements of the Russian 8th Army seize the town of Bartfeld. After weeks of desperate fighting, the commander of the Austro-Hungarian 3rd Army holding the Carpathians informs Conrad today that his units will need a period of sustained rest before being capable of further operations, and will be unable to hold its present positions if the Russians continue to apply pressure. As such, 3rd Army commander considers whether preparations ought to begin for a retreat as far south as Budapest. Naval operations: Cape Horn Spee's squadron "rounds the Horn" and officially passes into the Atlantic Ocean. The weather remains relatively calm. Naval operations: Atlantic Ocean As midnight passes divers are still in the water attempting to clear the tangled tow-line from INVINCIBLE'S starboard outer propeller. At 0220 the line is reported as "partly cleared". Work continues throughout the day until 1640, when the decision is taken to proceed without that propeller. At 1753 the squadron proceeds with INVINCIBLE running at 1/2 speed on three propellers. Naval operations: Suez Canal During the trip from Suez to Port Said the officers from EMDEN still aboard SS ORVIETO are locked in their cabins "like criminals". Still, Leutnant Hohenzollern reports, they can see through the portholes that the entire length of the canal is fortified, with walls, batteries and trenches everywhere to be seen and fully manned with Indian and Sudanese troops. Hohenzollern also says that the second half of that journey was at night, so his confinement was easier to take. Naval operations: Indian Ocean The schooner AYESHA is wandering about the Indian Ocean without direction, now having no place to go. At one point they encounter a storm and hear loud noises from the forecastle. The pigs penned up there have no grip on the deck and are sliding as a group from one side to the other, smashing into the bulkheads. The men have some loose timber and nails, so they nail slats to the deck, providing some grip for the pigs' hooves.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Dec 2, 2019 4:13:57 GMT
Day 128 of the Great War, December 2nd 1914
Eastern Front: Falkenhayn, Hindenburg and Ludendorff meet at Breslau
Falkenhayn, Hindenburg, and Ludendorff meet at Breslau today with Conrad and other military officials from both countries, with the Kaiser also in attendance. In discussing future operations on the Eastern Front, Falkenhayn informs Conrad that the Germans aim to push the Russians over the Vistula and San Rivers, with the principal role being played by the German 9th Army, for which reinforcements are still arriving. The German Chief of Staff expects the Austro-Hungarians to pin down Russian forces opposite their lines to prevent them from redeploying northwards to meet the main German thrust. Falkenhayn also states categorically that no further reinforcements will come from the Western Front.
This news is disappointing to Conrad, who hoped for more significant German redeployments to the East, specifically to aid the Austro-Hungarians. While not arguing with the overall premise of German strategy, Conrad does inform his German counterparts that his armies are about to undertake their own offensive actions south of the Vistula River.
Eastern Front: three Austro-Hungarian cavalry divisions under General Julius Nagy begin their advance
Southeast of Krakow, three Austro-Hungarian cavalry divisions under General Julius Nagy begin their advance today. Situated on the right of XIV Corps, they are to cover the southern flank of 4th Army as it advances to meet the Russian 3rd Army. One division heads towards Neusandez, a key town through which the Russian 8th Army can most easily send reinforcements to the Russian 3rd Army once the main battle begins.
Serbian campaign: Austro-Hungarian 5th Army occupies Belgrade
In the early hours of this morning, elements of the Austro-Hungarian 5th Army occupy Belgrade, encountering no opposition from the Serbian army. The news of the capture of the Serbian capital is greeted with widespread celebrations in Vienna, and is applauded by its German ally.
There are storm clouds on the horizon, however. For the past several days, soldiers of the Serbian 1st Army have been able to rest while being resupplied, and their morale has recovered from the November retreat. Fresh shipments of artillery shells have also reached 1st Army's artillery batteries. The commander of 1st Army orders a counterattack for tomorrow, and inspires General Putnik to instruct the entire Serbian army to go over onto the offensive.
South Africa - Maritz rebellion: De Wet is captured by government soldiers
Christian De Wet's commando, one of the leading forces in the Boer Rebellion, has been decimated by desertion over the past few weeks since its defeat at Mushroom Valley, many being enticed by a promise of a government pardon. Today its disintegration is completed when De Wet himself is captured by government soldiers. At the same time, another of the rebel leaders, J. C. G. Kemp, and five hundred Boer rebels join forces with S. G. Maritz's force just inside the frontier of German South-West Africa, where the latter retreated after its defeat at Kakamas on October 24th.
Naval operations: Cape Horn
Spee's squadron encounters the British four-masted barque DRUMMUIR, carrying 2,800 tons of Welsh coal to San Francisco. SMS LEIPZIG performs the investigation, then takes her in tow, as this is more than the light cruisers jettisoned during the storm. The squadron anchors off Picton Island in the Beagle Channel, and the coal is transfered to BADEN and SANTA ISABEL, while the crew is taken aboard the collier SEYDITZ. Spee then decides to stay at Picton Island for three days, to give his crews some rest.
Naval operations: Atlantic Ocean
Sturdee's squadron makes its slow way south. HMS INVINCIBLE conducts range-finding excersizes.
Naval operations: Suez Canal
The ANZAC convoy reaches Port Said, and the EMDEN officers still aboard SS ORVIETO are transferred to HMS HAMPSHIRE. They are happy to find their reception there far different. The British sailors welcome them as fellow seamen and brother officers. Captain Grant gives up his own cabin to the German officers, and allows them free movement about the weather deck and then takes orders for new civilian clothes, including warm coats for the English climate.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Dec 3, 2019 4:05:28 GMT
Day 129 of the Great War, December 3rd 1914Western Front: Joffre receives a message from Grand Duke Nicholas, Commander in Chief of the Russian ArmyToday Joffre receives a message from Grand Duke Nicholas, Commander in Chief of the Russian Army. The latter complains that inadequate pressure by the French on the Western Front has allowed the Germans to transfer significant forces to the Eastern Front, and that if further redeployments occurred the Russian army would have to cease offensive operations and dig entrenchments similar to those in the West. Eastern Front: Fighting in Poland- In central Poland the Russian III Caucasian Corps begins to move northwards towards Belchatow, occupied today by Austro-Hungarian cavalry, in order to strike the southern flank of the advance of the right wing of the German 9th Army and the left wing of the Austro-Hungarian 2nd Army. Radio messages indicating the planned counterattack are intercepted, however, which allows the Austro-Hungarian 2nd Army to plan an attack of its own to pre-empt the Russian operation. As the front north of Krakow has settled into trench warfare, the Austro-Hungarian 1st Army is able to order the redeployment of its 27th Division northwards to assist 4th Army. - South of Krakow today the right wing of the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army, under the overall command of General Joseph Roth and consisting of XIV Corps and Nagy's cavalry divisions, push eastward today after defeating the Russians at Dobra yesterday, and capture Limanowa. However, though the southern flank of the Russian 3rd Army has given way, its centre stymies further Austro-Hungarian attacks today. Map: The Battle of Limanowa-Lapanow, December 1914. Serbian campaign: a Serbian counteroffensive is launched- When the Serbian counteroffensive is launched this morning, it strikes the Austro-Hungarian armies at a particularly opportune moment. The occupation of Belgrade has stretched it to the northeast, leaving 6th Army with a longer front to cover. Moreover, the Austro-Hungarian supply situation is dire, as both food and ammunition are scarce, and the infantry are tired from the constant advance of the past month. The destruction of bridges and roads by the retreating Serbs has also held up heavy artillery, and thus most of the line cannot count on artillery fire for support. Thus when the infantry of the Serbian 1st Army attack out of the morning mist at 7am, they are able to immediately shatter the lines. By nightfall all three corps of the Austro-Hungarian 6th Army are on the retreat. The response of General Potiorek is sluggish, as information is scarce and he believes only one corps of 6th Army has been seriously engaged. Map: The Serbian counteroffensive, December 3rd to 12th, 1914. Western Front: Prince Emich von Leiningen, visits a German POW campSir Roger Casement, with the company of German Prince Emich von Leiningen, visits a German POW camp to encourage Irish prisoners to join the German side. He is met with stiff resistance and mockery. He will visit on the following two days and one more time in January, and will finally write "I will not return to Limburg to be insulted by a handful of recreant Irishmen." Casement was known as a reformer and defender of both African and Indian natives against abuses by the Empire, but has by this time joined the Irish Nationalists and is working with the Germans. Naval operations: Port Said, Egypt The ANZAC convoy starts disembarking its troops for training in Egypt. HMS HAMPSHIRE departs for England with the prisoners from EMDEN. Captain Grant allows his prisoners to read the official despatches from the British war office, and they learn for the first time of Graf Spee's victory at Coronel. Photo: Australian soldiers arriving at Alexandria, December 3rd, 1914. Naval operations:Cape Horn Still at Picton Island, the men of Graf Spee's squadron begin decorating their ships for Christmas. Some of the officers try their hand at duck hunting, but with no success. Spee himself spends his evenings aboard GNEISENAU, playing bridge with Captain Maerker and visiting his son Heinrich. Naval operations: Port Stanley, Falkland Islands The crew of HMS CANOPUS spend the day sending provisions to the several batteries they have set up in the hills overlooking the sea and rigging a telephone line to the lookout station on the highest hill. At 1750 hours the anchors are raised and the ship slowly backed to a better position. At 1900 this is done and the four anchors placed so the ship cannot drift. Naval operations: German East Africa SS KINFAUS CASTLE arrives back at Niororo with the new seaplane. Dennis Cutler immediately takes off with Commander Raymond Fitzmaurice as observer, and they find that KONINGSBERG has again moved. During the next week Cutler will make four more flights and report back to Captain Drury-Lowe that all the the German cruiser's 5cm guns have been removed and the ship has been placed in such a way that she can quickly dash down either of two channels.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Dec 4, 2019 4:00:48 GMT
Day 130 of the Great War, December 4th 1914YouTube: (Mission Accomplished? - The Austro-Hungarian Empire Conquers Belgrade)Western Front: second of the major French offensives opens- The second of the major French offensives opens today with the attack in Champagne by 4th Army. Advancing against a twelve-kilometre front approximately forty kilometres east of Rheims, the operation is undertaken by four corps - from west to east, XII, XVII, I Colonial, and II. Two primary assaults are to be undertaken by XII and XVII Corps, while supporting assaults will be launched by I Colonial Corps. The hope at 4th Army headquarters is that by having two main attacks, each controlled by a separate corps command, will double the chances of success. In support the French have over seven hundred artillery pieces of varying calibers, a number that would have been all but unthinkable before the war. The operation in Champagne also mirrors the operation in Artois in dividing the attacks into phases, to allow for sufficient concentration of artillery fire. The objective is to secure a breach in the German line, and to do so the plan is to constantly feed fresh soldiers into the battle in order to maintain the momentum of the attack. This tactic, which comes to be known as 'continuous battle', seeks to break through the enemy line by maintaining constant pressure to wear the opponent down, as opposed to overwhelming the enemy with a massive concentration of infantry and artillery at a single point. Today, in the first phase of the attacks, both XVII and I Colonial Corps attack precisely at 930am. Despite the heavy artillery barrage, the advancing infantry find the enemy's barbed wire and trench lines largely intact, and are unable to secure anything more than small, local gains. Western Front: Indian Corps comes under intensive artillery and mortar fireUnlike most of the other small attacks by British and French forces in Flanders this month, the failed assault of the Indian Corps results in a swift and powerful German attack that aims to do more than simply recover lost ground. At dawn, the front held by the Indian Corps comes under intensive artillery and mortar fire, and at 9am the portion of the line near Givenchy, held by the Sirhind Brigade of the Lahore Division, is targeted by ten explosive mines, each of 50kg of gunpower, planted by the German VII Corps opposite. The trench lines are shattered; some Indians are buried alive, while the already-waterlogged ground is turned into waist-deep mud. German infantry from two battalions of 57th Regiment then surge forward, and though the defending Gurkhas and Afridis fight desperately, they are forced backwards. Givenchy is lost to the Germans, and the position of the Indian Corps is such that Sir John French orders General Haig to dispatch a brigade to reinforce the line at Givenchy. There are also reports of Indian soldiers, primarily Baluchis, fleeing the battlefield in panic and discarding their rifles. In practice the number of cases were few, often limited to those situation where all of both the British and Indian officers had been killed, but the reports appear to give sustenance to the belief of some that Indian soldiers are not capable of fighting in the cold winter of Flanders and in the conditions of modern industrialized warfare. Map: The front near Givency.  Eastern Front:commander of the Austro-Hungarian 3rd Army argues that his eastern wing should be reinforced To revive his faltering offensive, the commander of the Austro-Hungarian 3rd Army argues that his eastern wing should be reinforced, concentrating eight or nine infantry and five cavalry divisions here, with the objective being to outflank the entirety of the enemy's position in Galicia and reach Przemysl. Conrad agrees, and orders the advance on Tarnow, which has not made any progress anyway, suspended. Instead, 4th Army and the western wing of 3rd Army are to stand on the defensive until the forces destined for the eastern wing are assembled. Caucasus campaign: Ottoman 3rd Army is about to launch Enver Pasha's invasion of the Russian CaucasusWhile the Ottoman 3rd Army is about to launch Enver Pasha's invasion of the Russian Caucasus, the Ottoman 4th Army, based in Syria and Palestine, is planing an invasion of Egypt, and just as 3rd Army's operation is linked to the pan-Turkic vision of Enver, 4th Army's advance is to be associated with the call to jihad, hoping that it will inspire the Egyptian population to rise up in support of the Ottoman invasion. Thus 4th Army is to be given the full trappings of a religious crusade - today a holy flag brought from Mecca is paraded through Jerusalem, after which it is to accompany 4th Army, along with a number of Islamic clerics. Naval operations: Atlantic Ocean Captain Tufton Percy Hamilton Beamish records in the log of HMS INVINCIBLE that Sturdee's squadron is 835 nautical miles from Port Stanley. Naval operations: Port Stanley, Falkland Islands At 1430 hours preparations begin to careen HMS CANOPUS to extend the range of her 12" guns. By 1730 this process is complete, and the ship cannot be moved further. Naval operations: Mediterranean Sea SMS HAMPSHIRE a message from the War Office that the EMDEN prisoners are not to go to Britain after all, but rather be interred at Malta.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Dec 5, 2019 4:12:37 GMT
Day 131 of the Great War, December 5th 1914
Eastern Front:fighting in Poland
- After a day of heavy fighting the Russian counterattack in central Poland by III Caucasian Corps has stalled, and the arrival of the first elements of 27th Division gives the commander of the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army confidence that the enemy will not be able to break through. However, the delay imposed on the Austro-Hungarian advance has given the Russians time to move additional reinforcements into the area. Further to the north, efforts by the centre and left of the German 9th Army, though inflicting losses and grinding forward, have been unable to break through the Russian 1st and 2nd Armies at and north of Lodz.
- South of Krakow further attacks by the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army fail to gain ground, the only significant success being achieved by the German 47th Reserve Division, which had begun to enter the line alongside XIV Corps yesterday. The line of 4th Army now resembles an 'L', with XIV Corps and Nagy's cavalry along the bottom and the remainder of the army along the side.
- There have been no significant Russian attacks in the Carpathians for the past three days, and the reason for the sudden passivity is revealed to the Austro-Hungarian 3rd Army today through wireless intercepts indicating that the headquarters of the Russian VIII Corps is at Neusandez. Confirmation is received when cavalry moving east towards Neusandez encounter Russian infantry and are thrown back. This clearly indicates that elements of the Russian 8th Army are moving to reinforce 3rd Army south of the Vistula River, and these forces, if they can continue westward past Neusandez, may be able to attack the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army from the south - Roth's group attempting to outflank the Russian 4th Army may be outflanked itself.
Naval operations: Mediterranean Sea
Captain Henry Grant of HMS HAMPSHIRE records that he is 286 nautical miles from Malta.
Naval operations: Pacific Ocean
The Armed Merchant Cruiser SMS PRINZ EITEL FRIEDERICH was left behind when Spee's squadron headed for the Pacific, her duty being to send false wireless messages so the British would think Spee was still prowling the area off Chile. On December 5th she encounters the British merchant SS CHARCAS, 5,067 tons. The crew are taken aboard PRINZ and the ship is scuttled with explosive charges.
Naval operations: Atlantic Ocean
Around 0525 Sturdee's squadron runs into a heavy fog, which will stay with them most of the daylight hours, finally lifting at 1715. Beamish records that they are 570 nautical miles from Port Stanley.
Naval operations: German East Africa
Dennis Cutler attempts another reconnaisance flight, but the water is too rough for the seaplane to lift off.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Dec 6, 2019 2:58:22 GMT
Day 132 of the Great War, December 6th 1914Eastern Front: Joffre sends a reply today to Grand Duke Nicholas' telegram - Joffre sends a reply today to Grand Duke Nicholas' telegram of the 3rd, assuring the commander-in-chief of the Russian army that the French will shortly resume major offensive operations, once weapons appropriate to the new conditions resembling siege warfare are assembled. At the same time he receives another report from the Operations Bureau recommending attacks in Artois and either Champagne or near Verdun. This encapsulates the basic framework of the operation Joffre and his staff now begin to plan - a drive by the French 10th Army from the vicinity of Arras towards Cambrai, and an advance in Champagne east of Rheims by the French 4th Army from Suippes to Rethel. - Overnight Russian forces at Lodz have abandoned the city and retreated eastward, and when wireless intercepts reveal the situation to the Germans, elements of 9th Army occupy the city. The retreat, however, is not a precipitate withdrawal - the advance of the right wing of the German 9th Army and the Austro-Hungarian 2nd Army had resulted in Lodz forming a bulge in the front, and by retreating the Russians can shorten their line and establish themselves on defensible positions on the Bzura and Rawka Rivers west of Warsaw. Indeed, for the past several days the centre and left of the German 9th Army has been battering itself against the Russian positions on the lower Bzura to no avail. Further, the Russian forces opposite the Austro-Hungarian 2nd Army remain in place, frustrating the hope for a further advance. By abandoning Lodz, the Russians are in a better position to defend the remainder of Poland. Photo: German soldiers marching through Lodz, December 6th, 1914. - Southeast of Krakow further Austro-Hungarians attacks by Roth's forces on the Russian defences fail to achieve a breakthrough or turn the enemy's southern flank. However, the continued pressure convinces the commander of the Russian 3rd Army to pull back the two corps that still faced westward between Wisniowa and Wieliczka. Meanwhile reconnaissance reports from elements of the 10th Cavalry Division report significant Russian forces in Neusandez, but General Roth's focus remains the attack northwards - he has been ordered to continue the offensive in this direct irregardless of the threat to his own flank. Map: Operations of the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army during the Battle of Limanowa-Lapanow, December 6th to 9th, 1914. - To the southeast the commander of the Austro-Hungarian 3rd Army is planning an operation aimed at recapturing Bartfeld, lost on the 1st. Though his army is exhausted, the apparent redeployment of elements of the Russian 8th Army westwards has opened a window of opportunity to go over to the attack. However, today Conrad orders the left wing of 3rd Army to advance on Neusandez to support the offensive of 4th Army. The commander of 3rd Army knows his force is not capable of attacking Bartfeld and moving to Neusandez simultaneously, so he asks Conrad which operation he should undertake first. In an evasion typical of Conrad, he replies that the choice is at 3rd Army's discretion. Romania: Romanian Prime Minister Bratianu refuses a Entente requestRomanian Prime Minister Bratianu refuses today an Entente request to guarantee the independence of Greece against Bulgarian aggression. Caucasus campaign: Ottoman raid in RussiaA small Ottoman force of twenty-four Russian-speaking cavalrymen attempt a raid today near Odessa on the Black Sea coast. Landing at Akkerman and dressed in Russian uniforms, their objective is to cut a key railway before escaping into neutral Romania. The attempt is a complete failure as every Ottoman soldier is rounded up shortly after making landfall. Mesopotamian campaign: reinforcements reach the detachment of Indian Expeditionary Force D encamped just south of QurnaEarly today reinforcements reach the detachment of Indian Expeditionary Force D encamped just south of Qurna on the opposite bank. Reconnaissance has revealed that Ottoman soldiers numbering over a thousand have reoccupied the trenches to the north that the British had captured and then evacuated on the 4th. The local British commander decides that these Ottomans will need to be defeated to secure the west bank of the river, the necessary prerequisite to then crossing the river to seize the town of Qurna itself. Map: Capture of Qurna 3–9 December 1914 Naval operation: Cape HornAdmiral Spee convenes a meeting of his captains as the German East Asiatic Squadron continues to anchor off Picton Island. Believing that the Falklands Islands are unprotected, he proposes an attack on Port Stanley to destroy the wireless station, burn any stocks of coal (the bunkers of his ships now being full), and capture the British governor to balance the British seizure of the governor of German Samoa. Only the captain of Nürnberg supports the plan - the other captains wish to avoid the Falklands and pursue Entente shipping off the River Platte. Spee, however, overrules his captains and they sail this afternoon to attack Port Stanley on the morning of December 8th. It is a fateful, and for many a fatal, decision. Naval operation: Atlantic OceanSturdee's squadron is 276 nautical miles from Port Stanley. Naval operation: Mediterranean SeaHMS HAMPSHIRE arrives at Grand Harbour, Malta, at 1010 hours. At 1050 the German prisoners start to go ashore. From 1400 to 1630 the ship recoals, and at 1730 she is underway to her next assignment. Prince Franz Joseph of Hohenzollern writes that the import of being prisoners of war hadn't really sunk in until they were ashore at Malta. So far they had been treated with respect by the enemy naval officers, but now they were just prisoners in a prison. On the other hand the prisoners already there give them a rousing cheer when they find out that this is the crew of the fabled Emden. Captain von Müller is given his own room. Leutnant Hohenzollern is offered his own quarters due to his royal status, but refuses. He shares lodgings with Kapitanleutnant Klopper, Oberleutnant z.S. Witthoeft and Leutnant z.S. Schall. The next room is shared by Stabsarzt Dr. Luther and Marine-Oberingenieur Ellerbroek. The third houses Marine-Ingenieur Andresen, Leutnant z.S. Fikentscher and Marine-Ingenieur Haas. This is the beginning of four long years of confinement. Naval operation: German East AfricaHMS KINFAUNS CASTLE once again hoists Dennis Cutler's seaplane over the side, and once again it fails to take off. This time it is due to engine problems.
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stevep
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Post by stevep on Dec 6, 2019 10:10:58 GMT
Day 132 of the Great War, December 6th 1914- Southeast of Krakow further Austro-Hungarians attacks by Roth's forces on the Russian defences fail to achieve a breakthrough or turn the enemy's southern flank. However, the continued pressure convinces the commander of the Russian 3rd Army to pull back the two corps that still faced westward between Wisniowa and Wieliczka. Meanwhile reconnaissance reports from elements of the 10th Cavalry Division report significant Russian forces in Neusandez, but General Roth's focus remains the attack northwards - he has been ordered to continue the offensive in this direct irregardless of the threat to his own flank.- To the southeast the commander of the Austro-Hungarian 3rd Army is planning an operation aimed at recapturing Bartfeld, lost on the 1st. Though his army is exhausted, the apparent redeployment of elements of the Russian 8th Army westwards has opened a window of opportunity to go over to the attack. However, today Conrad orders the left wing of 3rd Army to advance on Neusandez to support the offensive of 4th Army. The commander of 3rd Army knows his force is not capable of attacking Bartfeld and moving to Neusandez simultaneously, so he asks Conrad which operation he should undertake first. In an evasion typical of Conrad, he replies that the choice is at 3rd Army's discretion.Naval operation: Cape HornAdmiral Spee convenes a meeting of his captains as the German East Asiatic Squadron continues to anchor off Picton Island. Believing that the Falklands Islands are unprotected, he proposes an attack on Port Stanley to destroy the wireless station, burn any stocks of coal (the bunkers of his ships now being full), and capture the British governor to balance the British seizure of the governor of German Samoa. Only the captain of Nürnberg supports the plan - the other captains wish to avoid the Falklands and pursue Entente shipping off the River Platte. Spee, however, overrules his captains and they sail this afternoon to attack Port Stanley on the morning of December 8th. It is a fateful, and for many a fatal, decision.
Now why do I get the feeling this isn't going to end well for the Austrian army? At times you might almost wonder if Conrad was a foreign agent he shows so much incompetence!
If Spee had moved faster it would have been interesting with Canopus in position and able to fire indirectly from a hidden position against the approaching Germans and I think also a light cruiser and some minefields also aiding the defences. However it would have left Spee and his forces still at large, assuming he pulled back without serious losses.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Dec 7, 2019 6:35:09 GMT
Day 133 of the Great War, December 7th 1914
Eastern Front: General Mackensen desires a pause in operations for his 9th Army
With the occupation of Lodz, General Mackensen desires a pause in operations for his 9th Army, given that it has been in constant combat for a month in poor weather and with few supplies, and he also recognizes that the Russians have withdrawn to a strong defensive position along the Bzura and Rawka Rivers. Ludendorff, however, insists that the advance continues, with the objective of seizing Warsaw by the end of the year. He believes that warfare in the East is more mobile than the West, and while generally this is the case, it ignores the specific situation that 9th Army now faces, fighting a defensive line where the Russians have entrenched in strong positions. Thus 9th Army continues to attack the Russian 1st, 2nd, and 5th Armies opposite, attempting to force river crossings and achieve the breakthrough Ludendorff still believes is possible.
Eastern Front: Russian 3rd Army pulls its two exposed corps back eastward over the Stradomka River
- The Russian 3rd Army pulls its two exposed corps back eastward over the Stradomka River today, a maneouvre that removes the possibility of the southern wing of the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army enveloping and annihilating these corps. Though Conrad is funnelling reinforcements to Roth's group, General Ivanov of South-West Front is doing the same - in addition to the two corps drawn from 8th Army, two additional corps are coming from 9th Army. Further, the Russian VIII Corps at Neusandez is already attacking westward towards Limanowa against the exposed flank of Roth's group, which remains orientated northwards.
Meanwhile, the Russian 8th Army in the Carpathians consists of little more than XII Corps, as General Brusilov has sent the remainder westward to support the beleaguered 3rd Army. This means that when several divisions on the eastern wing of the Austro-Hungarian 3rd Army attack today, the Russian defenders are pushed back. However, poor weather and logistical challenges has delayed the planned Austro-Hungarian attack against Bartfeld, while no forces have been yet dispatched towards Neusandez.
Serbian campaign: Serbian parliament issue a declaration on its war aims
With the tide turning against Austria-Hungary, the Serbian parliament is emboldened today to issue a declaration on its war aims; namely, to liberate all Serbs, Croatians, and Slovenians (known collectively as the South Slavs) within Austria-Hungary and unite them into a single kingdom under Serbian leadership.
Mesopotamian campaign:detachment of Indian Expeditionary Force D sent against Qurna advances on the opposite river bank
In Lower Mesopotamia the detachment of Indian Expeditionary Force D sent against Qurna advances on the opposite river bank today, clearing Ottoman units out of several trench positions. By late afternoon the British are on the river opposite Qurna, and spent the rest of the day exchanging fire with the Ottoman garrison of the town.
The Viceroy of India also telegrams London today, endorsing a proclamation at Basra that British occupation of the region will be permanent, and governed as a province of India.
Naval operation: Cape Horn
Port Stanley, Falkland Islands: At 0700 the alarm is raised as several ships are sighted approaching the Islands. By 0900 there is relief as the approaching warships are seen to be British. HMS INVINCIBLE anchors at 1026 and divers are immediately put into the water to deal with the fouled propeller. By 1100 all the ships are at anchor, the light cruisers in the inner harbor at Port Stanley and the heavy ships in the outer harbor at Port William. HMS CARNARVON, BRISTOL and GLASGOW are refueled immediately with the others to begin the following morning.
Sturdee holds a staff meeting in the evening, saying he intends to divide the force into two groups. The two battlecruisers will sail late the next day and search around Cape Horn, with the light cruisers leaving on the 9th and searching the Straight of Magellan.
At this moment Spee's squadron is eight hours away, heading for the Falklands.
Naval operation: German East Africa
Dennis Cutler makes another reconaissance flight, and reports that nothing has changed regarding SMS KONINGSBERG.
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stevep
Fleet admiral
Posts: 24,843
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Post by stevep on Dec 7, 2019 10:40:38 GMT
Day 133 of the Great War, December 7th 1914Naval operation: Cape HornPort Stanley, Falkland Islands: At 0700 the alarm is raised as several ships are sighted approaching the Islands. By 0900 there is relief as the approaching warships are seen to be British. HMS INVINCIBLE anchors at 1026 and divers are immediately put into the water to deal with the fouled propeller. By 1100 all the ships are at anchor, the light cruisers in the inner harbor at Port Stanley and the heavy ships in the outer harbor at Port William. HMS CARNARVON, BRISTOL and GLASGOW are refueled immediately with the others to begin the following morning. Sturdee holds a staff meeting in the evening, saying he intends to divide the force into two groups. The two battlecruisers will sail late the next day and search around Cape Horn, with the light cruisers leaving on the 9th and searching the Straight of Magellan.At this moment Spee's squadron is eight hours away, heading for the Falklands. Naval operation: German East AfricaDennis Cutler makes another reconaissance flight, and reports that nothing has changed regarding SMS KONINGSBERG.
I have read a lot on a naval site that is critical of Sturdee but not heard of this before! He seems to have no idea of concentration of force. The BCs would probably be OK if they ran into Spee's force but wouldn't be able to chase more than two of them, probably the armoured cruisers as OTL. However if the light crusiers had run into the Germans they could suffer badly. Bloody idiot!!!
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One small typo with the D missing from the class name when its mentioned on the 2nd line.