- In Poland the northern flank of the Russian withdrawal is anchored by the fortress at Osowiec, and though the main body of the German 12th and 8th Armies continue to advance to the south, the Germans have been unable to capture Osowiec and potentially envelop the retreating Russian armies from the north. As was the case in February and March, the terrain surrounding Osowiec is difficult for the German heavy artillery to deploy in, and even the large-scale use of gas in an assault today fails to secure the fortress. In southern Poland, the armies under Mackensen attack northwards, but apart from local successes near Lubartow (by the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army) and Russka Wola (by the German 11th Army) they are unable to shatter the Russian lines.
- For the past month, the fighting on Gallipoli has been desulatory, reminiscent of the conditions of the Western Front. On the Entente side, General Sir Ian Hamilton has been waiting on the arrival of reinforcements from Britain before launching another attempt to break the stalemate, and over the past six weeks five divisions have arrived: two territorial divisions - 53rd and 54th - and three 'New Army' divisions - 10th, 11th, and 13th. While enthusiastic, none of these formations have any battle experience, the latter three in particular being drawn from the thousands of volunteers from the first weeks of the war. Their commanders also leave much to be desired: the best of the British officer class are on the Western Front, and thus Gallipoli must do with the leftovers which, given the tiny pre-war army, are meagre indeed. Most notably, the commander of IX Corps, comprising 10th and 11th Divisions, is 61-year-old Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Stopford, who had retired from the army seven years earlier due to ill health and has no obvious qualifications or experience for such an important command.
Hamilton's plan is centred on a major attack northward out of the ANZAC bridgehead tonight, with four columns undertaking a night march to seize the high ground at Chunuk Bair by tomorrow morning and unhinge the entire Ottoman line containing the ANZACs. For several months the ANZACs have been deliberately ignoring the northern side of the bridgehead precisely to get the Ottomans to think the sector unimportant, and it has largely worked: reconnaissance has indicated a paucity of Ottoman defences here. To keep Ottoman attention focused elsewhere, diversionary attacks are to be undertaken today by the ANZACs as well as VIII Corps on Cape Helles to draw Ottoman reserves southwards. The final element of the offensive is an amphibious landing at Sulva Bay this evening, undertaken by 11th Division of IX Corps. The objective here is to widen the ANZAC bridgehead to allow for additional reinforcements to land and give maneouvring space as the offensive pushes forward. The landings at Sulva, however, are in support of the central operation: the 'left hook' by the ANZACs out of their bridgehead. It is a complicated plan with many moving parts, which need to coordinate together to keep the Ottomans off-balance and maintain the momentum of the offensive.
- Austen Chamberlain, the secretary of state for India since the formation of the coalition government in May, approves the request of Lord Hardinge, the viceroy of India, for a further advance up the Tigris River to seize the town of Kut-al-Amara.
Showing posts with label ANZAC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ANZAC. Show all posts
Thursday, August 06, 2015
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
June 30th, 1915
- Over the past two days, the German 11th Army has been able to advance northwards into southern Russian Poland without encountering significant resistance, given the retreat of Russian forces opposite. By today, the greatest impediment to 11th Army's movement is the length of its eastern flank: the further north it goes, the longer the eastern flank becomes, which in turns requires greater forces to hold. By today, of the six corps belonging to 11th Army in the line, only two are still advancing to the north, while the remaining four hold the flank to prevent a Russian counterattack hitting a gap between it and the Austro-Hungarian 2nd Army to the south. The result is that a greater portion of responsibility for the actual advance falls on the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army to the west, the entirety of which can be committed to the advance.
Meanwhile the Russian 3rd Army takes up new defensive positions along the Wyznica and Por River, the former falling on the Kraśnik battle from August of the year before. It is clear to the Russians that the Germans intend to continue to advance between the Vistula and Bug Rivers, and reinforcements are ordered to assemble at Brest-Litovsk, including VI Siberian Corps and a division drawn from each of 5th and 10th Armies.
- After a week of artillery fire and probing attacks, the Italian 2nd and 3rd Armies along the Isonzo River begin their main attacks today, with the heaviest fighting undertaken by VII Corps moving against the Karst plateau. The Italians outnumber the Austro-Hungarians by a margin of more than two to one, but otherwise all of the advantages lay with the latter, even beyond the usual enjoyed by defenders in the First World War. The mountainous terrain of the region very much favours the defence; Italian infantry has to navigate barbed wire and shell holes while advancing (in some cases climbing) uphill. The Italians also lack the equipment of modern warfare that combat on other fronts has shown to be essential - not only is there a shortage of wire-cutters, but the infantry lacks even steel helmets. There was also no effort to co-ordinate or even plan the infantry advance; artillery bombardments would end minutes before assaults would begin, and soldiers were simply ordered to charge the enemy positions in tight formations that could hardly be more vulnerable to machine gune fire. Italian officers go into battle in colourful peacetime uniforms and badges of rank that made them obvious targets for snipers, and carried with them swords that are ludicrously out of place on the modern battlefield. These attacks have a predictable result, and Austro-Hungarian infantry report that the enemy infantry made easier targets of themselves than dummies on pre-war firing ranges. It takes a special level of ineptitude to make the Austro-Hungarian army look proficient, but the Italians are just getting started at the effort. Needless to say, today's attacks get nowhere while suffering heavy losses.
- The position of Romania has long been a concern of Prime Minister Tisza of Hungary, given that the Hungarian portion of the Dual Monarchy contains a significant Romanian neutrality. Earlier in the war, he had been concerned that Italian entry, coupled with defeats in the Carpathians, might trigger Romanian intervention. With Italian intervention being shown to be of no great significance and with the Russians continuing to retreat on the Eastern Front, Tisza's attention has returned to Romania, but this time with the mindset of coercing Romania into adopting a pro-Austro-Hungarian line. Today Tisza sends a memorandum to Conrad urging that after the completion of the campaign on the Eastern Front, forces earmarked for redeployment to the Western and Italian Fronts should first be concentrated on the Romanian frontier, at which point the Romanian government would be presented with an ultimatum to allow free transit of men and supplies to the Ottoman Empire or face invasion and annihilation.
- On Gallipoli the French undertake another small attack on the right flank of the line at Cape Helles. After another concentrated artillery bombardment which destroys the Ottoman trenches, French infantry sweep over a defensive position known as the Quadrilateral while suffering minimal casualties, though efforts to advance further are stymied. To the north, it is the Ottomans going on the attack, launching a surprise attack on the ANZAC lines just after midnight. The preparations for the attack do not go unnoticed, however, and as soon as the Ottoman infantry leave their trenches they come under murderous fire by the Australian 8th (Victoria) Light Horse, and are slaughtered for no gain.
Meanwhile the Russian 3rd Army takes up new defensive positions along the Wyznica and Por River, the former falling on the Kraśnik battle from August of the year before. It is clear to the Russians that the Germans intend to continue to advance between the Vistula and Bug Rivers, and reinforcements are ordered to assemble at Brest-Litovsk, including VI Siberian Corps and a division drawn from each of 5th and 10th Armies.
- After a week of artillery fire and probing attacks, the Italian 2nd and 3rd Armies along the Isonzo River begin their main attacks today, with the heaviest fighting undertaken by VII Corps moving against the Karst plateau. The Italians outnumber the Austro-Hungarians by a margin of more than two to one, but otherwise all of the advantages lay with the latter, even beyond the usual enjoyed by defenders in the First World War. The mountainous terrain of the region very much favours the defence; Italian infantry has to navigate barbed wire and shell holes while advancing (in some cases climbing) uphill. The Italians also lack the equipment of modern warfare that combat on other fronts has shown to be essential - not only is there a shortage of wire-cutters, but the infantry lacks even steel helmets. There was also no effort to co-ordinate or even plan the infantry advance; artillery bombardments would end minutes before assaults would begin, and soldiers were simply ordered to charge the enemy positions in tight formations that could hardly be more vulnerable to machine gune fire. Italian officers go into battle in colourful peacetime uniforms and badges of rank that made them obvious targets for snipers, and carried with them swords that are ludicrously out of place on the modern battlefield. These attacks have a predictable result, and Austro-Hungarian infantry report that the enemy infantry made easier targets of themselves than dummies on pre-war firing ranges. It takes a special level of ineptitude to make the Austro-Hungarian army look proficient, but the Italians are just getting started at the effort. Needless to say, today's attacks get nowhere while suffering heavy losses.
- The position of Romania has long been a concern of Prime Minister Tisza of Hungary, given that the Hungarian portion of the Dual Monarchy contains a significant Romanian neutrality. Earlier in the war, he had been concerned that Italian entry, coupled with defeats in the Carpathians, might trigger Romanian intervention. With Italian intervention being shown to be of no great significance and with the Russians continuing to retreat on the Eastern Front, Tisza's attention has returned to Romania, but this time with the mindset of coercing Romania into adopting a pro-Austro-Hungarian line. Today Tisza sends a memorandum to Conrad urging that after the completion of the campaign on the Eastern Front, forces earmarked for redeployment to the Western and Italian Fronts should first be concentrated on the Romanian frontier, at which point the Romanian government would be presented with an ultimatum to allow free transit of men and supplies to the Ottoman Empire or face invasion and annihilation.
- On Gallipoli the French undertake another small attack on the right flank of the line at Cape Helles. After another concentrated artillery bombardment which destroys the Ottoman trenches, French infantry sweep over a defensive position known as the Quadrilateral while suffering minimal casualties, though efforts to advance further are stymied. To the north, it is the Ottomans going on the attack, launching a surprise attack on the ANZAC lines just after midnight. The preparations for the attack do not go unnoticed, however, and as soon as the Ottoman infantry leave their trenches they come under murderous fire by the Australian 8th (Victoria) Light Horse, and are slaughtered for no gain.
Friday, May 08, 2015
May 8th, 1915
- After several days of artillery bombardment by both sides, the German XXVII Corps launches an attack at 1030am this morning against the British 28th Division holding the eastern face of the Ypres salient. Though the Germans are able to get into the forward British trench, the attack grinds to a halt.
- It is during lunch today that U.S. President Woodrow Wilson is first informed of the sinking of the passenger liner Lusitania yesterday afternoon. By evening the president knows that over a thousand lives have been lost, a number that includes over a hundred American citizens. The attack calls for a response from the American government, a burden that Wilson takes entirely as his own. This evening he slips out of the White House and walks along Pennsylvania Avenue alone in a light rain. For his entire adult life Wilson has been driven by a stern and absolute Presbyterian faith, one that has inspired his life of public service and is the foundation of his political creed. How the sinking of Lusitania fits with his moralistic view of the world is the question the American president now grapples with. Later this evening Wilson returns to the White House and retreats to his study, deep in thought.
- In a sharp attack today the German 11th Army seizes the heights between Besko and Frysztak just to the west of the Wislok River in Galicia, while to the north the German Guards Corps secures a bridgehead across the Wislok and to the south X Corps threatens to drive a gap between the Russian XXIV and XXI Corps. The loss of the high ground in particular deprives the Russian 3rd Army of its best defensive positions in the area, prompting General Dimitriev to once again request permission to withdraw his battered army behind the San River. Once again, however, Russian army headquarters refuses, despite the fact that the line they had ordered 3rd Army to hold is now in German hands. Dimitriev thus turns to the planned counterattack of XXI Corps as the only hope to relieve the pressure on his army, though the corps will not be in position to advance until tomorrow evening.
- This morning General Hamilton orders yet another attack towards Krithia on Cape Helles. The warships offshore have done their best to destroy the Ottoman defences, but in the roughed terrain it is practically impossible to precisely strike well-concealed positions; in one case, naval fire practically cut off the top of the cliff at Gully Spur, but the machine guns the bombardment was aiming for remained in place. This time it is the New Zealand Brigade that bears the brunt of the fighting, advancing against withering fire and suffering heavily. By early afternoon the attack had collapsed, but another is ordered at 4pm, in which the entire Entente line, spearheaded by 2nd Australian Brigade, was to fix bayonets and charge the enemy line. The attack, like the others before it, is a dismal failure, and by nightfall the survivors are ordered to entrench where they are.
Today's futile attacks are the last gasp of the 2nd Battle of Krithia. The Entente forces have suffered 6500 casualties over three days of fighting, and nowhere have advanced more than 500 yards, and Krithia remains out of reach. Tonight Hamilton cables Kitchener, begs for reinforcements, and offers his appraisal of the situation on the peninsula:
- It is during lunch today that U.S. President Woodrow Wilson is first informed of the sinking of the passenger liner Lusitania yesterday afternoon. By evening the president knows that over a thousand lives have been lost, a number that includes over a hundred American citizens. The attack calls for a response from the American government, a burden that Wilson takes entirely as his own. This evening he slips out of the White House and walks along Pennsylvania Avenue alone in a light rain. For his entire adult life Wilson has been driven by a stern and absolute Presbyterian faith, one that has inspired his life of public service and is the foundation of his political creed. How the sinking of Lusitania fits with his moralistic view of the world is the question the American president now grapples with. Later this evening Wilson returns to the White House and retreats to his study, deep in thought.
- In a sharp attack today the German 11th Army seizes the heights between Besko and Frysztak just to the west of the Wislok River in Galicia, while to the north the German Guards Corps secures a bridgehead across the Wislok and to the south X Corps threatens to drive a gap between the Russian XXIV and XXI Corps. The loss of the high ground in particular deprives the Russian 3rd Army of its best defensive positions in the area, prompting General Dimitriev to once again request permission to withdraw his battered army behind the San River. Once again, however, Russian army headquarters refuses, despite the fact that the line they had ordered 3rd Army to hold is now in German hands. Dimitriev thus turns to the planned counterattack of XXI Corps as the only hope to relieve the pressure on his army, though the corps will not be in position to advance until tomorrow evening.
- This morning General Hamilton orders yet another attack towards Krithia on Cape Helles. The warships offshore have done their best to destroy the Ottoman defences, but in the roughed terrain it is practically impossible to precisely strike well-concealed positions; in one case, naval fire practically cut off the top of the cliff at Gully Spur, but the machine guns the bombardment was aiming for remained in place. This time it is the New Zealand Brigade that bears the brunt of the fighting, advancing against withering fire and suffering heavily. By early afternoon the attack had collapsed, but another is ordered at 4pm, in which the entire Entente line, spearheaded by 2nd Australian Brigade, was to fix bayonets and charge the enemy line. The attack, like the others before it, is a dismal failure, and by nightfall the survivors are ordered to entrench where they are.
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| The aftermath of the attack of 2nd Australian Brigade at the 2nd Battle of Krithia, May 8th, 1915. |
Today's futile attacks are the last gasp of the 2nd Battle of Krithia. The Entente forces have suffered 6500 casualties over three days of fighting, and nowhere have advanced more than 500 yards, and Krithia remains out of reach. Tonight Hamilton cables Kitchener, begs for reinforcements, and offers his appraisal of the situation on the peninsula:
The result of the operation has been failure, as my object remains unachieved. The fortifications and their machine-guns were too scientific and too strongly held to be rushed, although I had every available man today. Our troops have done all that flesh and blood can do against semi-permanent works and they are not able to carry them. More and more munitions will be needed to do so. I fear that this is a very unpalatable conclusion, but I can see no way out of it.
Sunday, May 03, 2015
May 3rd, 1915
- Yesterday evening the German XXVI Reserve Corps, having assembled sufficient gas cylinders, launched an attack between Pilkem and St. Julien northeast of Ypres. However, the effectiveness of the gas was limited by gusting winds and the primitive gas masks now available to the British and French soldiers, and the attack was repulsed. Nevertheless, the continued German pressure has convinced the British that the Ypres salient, now squeezed from the north by the German gains of the past two weeks, cannot be held on present lines. The decision is made to evacuate the easternmost portion of the salient stretching from Fortuin east to Grafenstafel, south to the Polygon Wood, and west to almost Hooge. The orders having gone out, the withdrawal begins tonight.
- At 530am this morning just over a thousand French artillery pieces, including almost three hundred heavy guns, open fire on German positions in Artois between Lens and Arras. This bombardment is the first phase of the next major French offensive on the Western Front. Despite earlier failures in the 1st Battle of Champagne, 1st Battle of Artois, and the Battle of the Woevre, Joffre believes that the French army has learned important lessons regarding the conduct of operations in the conditions of trench warfare, and has now acquired the proper weaponry, such as heavy artillery, to mete out sufficient damage to ensure success. The objective of the offensive is to break through the German lines and seize the high ground at Vimy Ridge, followed by a pursuit that would force the Germans to abandon Douai. To accomplish this, the French 10th Army, under newly-appointed General d'Urbal, has been assigned six infantry and one cavalry corps. Three of these corps - XXXIII, XX, and XVII - will undertake the primary advance towards Vimy Ridge, while XXI Corps will attack and seize the heights at Notre-Dame de Lorette. D'Urbal had argued for a brief preliminary bombardment of four hours to preserve the element of surprise, but the lesson Joffre believes the failed offensives earlier in the year has shown is that a prolonged and thorough artillery bombardment is essential to achieve success. The artillery is thus to fire for four days until the infantry attack goes in on the 7th. Sir John French has also agreed that the BEF will launch an co-ordinated attack to the north to draw off German reserves and support the French offensive.
- Today the American tanker Gulflight, carrying a load of oil from Texas to Rouen, is torpedoed by a German submarine. Though it does not sink, two panic-stricken crew members jump overboard and drown, and tonight the tanker's captain dies of a heart attack. It is the first American ship attacked since the declaration of unrestricted submarine warfare. It will not be the last - at the same time Gulflight is struck, the Cunard passenger liner Lusitania is two days out from New York, en route to Liverpool.
- In Courland the German 6th Cavalry Division reaches the town of Mitau in Courland. Here the retreating Russians have halted and established strong defensive positions. Unable to ouflank the enemy, here the German advance halts, and the front settles down along the Dubissa River. However, in addition to the ground won, the German advance has achieved its larger strategic purpose - General Alexeyev of North-West Front has sent several divisions from elsewhere to Courland to contain the enemy advance.
- The German and Austro-Hungarian advance at Gorlice-Tarnow continues today, and by this evening the Germans have advanced eight miles. Given the ongoing success, Mackensen sets new objectives further east, instructing his commanders to reach the Wisloka River. At this point the primary impediments to the German advance are the management of the large number of prisoners taken and the difficulties hauling supplies over the ground destroyed by the artillery bombardment.
On the Russian side, both IX and X Corps of 3rd Army have been severely battered: over the two days of fighting the available strength of the latter has fallen from 34 000 to 5000, while to the north a second-line division of IX Corps has simply disintegrated. A five-mile gap has opened between the two corps, and the Russian survivors are falling back in disorder. The meagre reserves available nearby have been pushed into the battle to no effect, and two regiments force-marched into the gap simply disappear. General Radko Dimitriev (interestingly, a Bulgarian), commander of the Russian 3rd Army, hopes to hold the heights at Biecz to use as the springboard for the intervention of the approaching III Caucasian Corps, and sends in half of 63rd Division to reinforce the Russian defences. All this accomplishes is the destruction of the division, and by this evening the heights are in German hands.
- In the Hungarian Parliament the opposition has brought forward a motion to grant the right to vote to all soldiers over the age of twenty, in an effort to encourage the rank-and-file of the Austro-Hungarian army and give them more of a stake in the fighting. Prime Minister Tisza, however, rejects the proposal outright, seeing in it the first step to universal suffrage, which is entirely unacceptable. Today Tisza is denounced in parliament by Mihály Károlyi, a leading figure of the Independence Party, who argues that the realities of modern war require a recognition of the sacrifices being asked by the men of Hungary. It is just one example of the tin ear of the leadership of Austria-Hungary towards the importance of public morale in modern war.
- In Libya ongoing resistance to the imposition of Italian rule over the colony seized from the Ottoman Empire in 1912 has limited Italian control to coastal regions. To prevent a complete collapse, Chief of Staff Cadorna orders today the dispatch of ten thousand soldiers to Libya. The necessity comes at a very inopportune moment, given that the Italian army is supposedly preparing and concentrating for a war against Austria-Hungary.
- Overnight the ANZAC attack at Gallipoli has continued, and though isolated units are able to gain some ground, elsewhere the Ottomans stop the attack cold. At 130am, despite having no indications that the operation was proceeding satisfactorily, the local commander commits two reserve battalions from the Naval Division, which only succeeds in raising the casualty total. Soon the stream of wounded coming back down Monash Gully impairs efforts at any further advance. A few men manage to scale the heights to the east, but are driven back after coming under friendly fire. By mid-afternoon all of the ANZAC forces are back to their starting line of the night before, having accomplished nothing of any importance.
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| The line at Ypres prior to the British withdrawal. |
- At 530am this morning just over a thousand French artillery pieces, including almost three hundred heavy guns, open fire on German positions in Artois between Lens and Arras. This bombardment is the first phase of the next major French offensive on the Western Front. Despite earlier failures in the 1st Battle of Champagne, 1st Battle of Artois, and the Battle of the Woevre, Joffre believes that the French army has learned important lessons regarding the conduct of operations in the conditions of trench warfare, and has now acquired the proper weaponry, such as heavy artillery, to mete out sufficient damage to ensure success. The objective of the offensive is to break through the German lines and seize the high ground at Vimy Ridge, followed by a pursuit that would force the Germans to abandon Douai. To accomplish this, the French 10th Army, under newly-appointed General d'Urbal, has been assigned six infantry and one cavalry corps. Three of these corps - XXXIII, XX, and XVII - will undertake the primary advance towards Vimy Ridge, while XXI Corps will attack and seize the heights at Notre-Dame de Lorette. D'Urbal had argued for a brief preliminary bombardment of four hours to preserve the element of surprise, but the lesson Joffre believes the failed offensives earlier in the year has shown is that a prolonged and thorough artillery bombardment is essential to achieve success. The artillery is thus to fire for four days until the infantry attack goes in on the 7th. Sir John French has also agreed that the BEF will launch an co-ordinated attack to the north to draw off German reserves and support the French offensive.
- Today the American tanker Gulflight, carrying a load of oil from Texas to Rouen, is torpedoed by a German submarine. Though it does not sink, two panic-stricken crew members jump overboard and drown, and tonight the tanker's captain dies of a heart attack. It is the first American ship attacked since the declaration of unrestricted submarine warfare. It will not be the last - at the same time Gulflight is struck, the Cunard passenger liner Lusitania is two days out from New York, en route to Liverpool.
- In Courland the German 6th Cavalry Division reaches the town of Mitau in Courland. Here the retreating Russians have halted and established strong defensive positions. Unable to ouflank the enemy, here the German advance halts, and the front settles down along the Dubissa River. However, in addition to the ground won, the German advance has achieved its larger strategic purpose - General Alexeyev of North-West Front has sent several divisions from elsewhere to Courland to contain the enemy advance.
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| The German advance in Courland towards Mitau, late April and early May, 1915. |
- The German and Austro-Hungarian advance at Gorlice-Tarnow continues today, and by this evening the Germans have advanced eight miles. Given the ongoing success, Mackensen sets new objectives further east, instructing his commanders to reach the Wisloka River. At this point the primary impediments to the German advance are the management of the large number of prisoners taken and the difficulties hauling supplies over the ground destroyed by the artillery bombardment.
On the Russian side, both IX and X Corps of 3rd Army have been severely battered: over the two days of fighting the available strength of the latter has fallen from 34 000 to 5000, while to the north a second-line division of IX Corps has simply disintegrated. A five-mile gap has opened between the two corps, and the Russian survivors are falling back in disorder. The meagre reserves available nearby have been pushed into the battle to no effect, and two regiments force-marched into the gap simply disappear. General Radko Dimitriev (interestingly, a Bulgarian), commander of the Russian 3rd Army, hopes to hold the heights at Biecz to use as the springboard for the intervention of the approaching III Caucasian Corps, and sends in half of 63rd Division to reinforce the Russian defences. All this accomplishes is the destruction of the division, and by this evening the heights are in German hands.
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| German officers in the ruins of Gorlice, May 1915. |
- In the Hungarian Parliament the opposition has brought forward a motion to grant the right to vote to all soldiers over the age of twenty, in an effort to encourage the rank-and-file of the Austro-Hungarian army and give them more of a stake in the fighting. Prime Minister Tisza, however, rejects the proposal outright, seeing in it the first step to universal suffrage, which is entirely unacceptable. Today Tisza is denounced in parliament by Mihály Károlyi, a leading figure of the Independence Party, who argues that the realities of modern war require a recognition of the sacrifices being asked by the men of Hungary. It is just one example of the tin ear of the leadership of Austria-Hungary towards the importance of public morale in modern war.
- In Libya ongoing resistance to the imposition of Italian rule over the colony seized from the Ottoman Empire in 1912 has limited Italian control to coastal regions. To prevent a complete collapse, Chief of Staff Cadorna orders today the dispatch of ten thousand soldiers to Libya. The necessity comes at a very inopportune moment, given that the Italian army is supposedly preparing and concentrating for a war against Austria-Hungary.
- Overnight the ANZAC attack at Gallipoli has continued, and though isolated units are able to gain some ground, elsewhere the Ottomans stop the attack cold. At 130am, despite having no indications that the operation was proceeding satisfactorily, the local commander commits two reserve battalions from the Naval Division, which only succeeds in raising the casualty total. Soon the stream of wounded coming back down Monash Gully impairs efforts at any further advance. A few men manage to scale the heights to the east, but are driven back after coming under friendly fire. By mid-afternoon all of the ANZAC forces are back to their starting line of the night before, having accomplished nothing of any importance.
Saturday, May 02, 2015
May 2nd, 1915
- At 6am this morning the artillery bombardment of the Russian line between Tarnow and Gorlice intensifies, with 370 light and 144 medium and heavy artillery batteries raining fire on the enemy. At 9am they are joined by almost a hundred trench mortars, their plunging fire ideal for landing shells in trenches and penetrating bunkers for maximum damage. Finally, at 10am infantry from ten divisions of the German 11th Army, as well as eight divisions of the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army to the north, begin their advance.
The Russian line they assault, despite ample warning, is almost comically unprepared to defend itself. As General Ivanov of South-West Front has decreed an imminent revival of the Carpathian offensive, the focus of Russian commanders in the region is to the south, not the west from which the Germans are attacking. Indeed, to help facilitate the Carpathian offensive 3rd Army has taken over responsibility for the western end of the Russian line in the mountains, and the attention of its commander is firmly fixed there. Thus 3rd Army has assigned only two corps - IX and X - to defend the western face of the Russian line while the rest of the army is deployed south and east of the Wistoka River. Most of the army's reserves are also to the south and are poorly-positioned to respond to an attack from the west. The line held by IX and X Corps has also been quiet since the end of December, and thus there is little expectation that any significant fighting might occur here. As such, the Russian trenches are extremely primitive, even by the standards of the Eastern Front - perhaps one or two thin strands of barbed wire in front of one thin trench that is little more than a ditch. No provision had been made for reserve positions - indeed, when the commander of X Corps requested permission to build a reserve position, he was told that if he has the manpower to spare for trench-digging he must have more manpower than he needs, and one regiment was withdrawn from each of X Corps' divisions. Most of the formations in these two corps were also second-rate, with infantry often armed with antiquated rifles they did not know how to use. Russian tactics were also disastrous - in both corps their available infantry were concentrated in the front-line, making the men vulnerable to bombardment as well as leaving few reserves in case of emergencies. All told, for all the skill the Germans show and will show in preparing and executing offensive operations at Gorlice-Tarnow, it was also the case that the region was perhaps the most vulnerable to precisely the sort of overwhelming attack that descends on them this morning.
The preliminary bombardment largely obliterates the primitive Russian defences and a third of the Russian defenders are killed by artillery fire in the hours before the attack. Most of the rest are reduced to a state of shock, such that the attacking German infantry encounter only sporadic resistance - one German corps manages to take four thousand prisoners in the first hour of combat. When the Russian survivors attempt to retreat, they have to escape over open ground, where they are vulnerable to further artillery bombardment. Further, because there are no reserve defensive positions, once pushed into the open the Russians are unable to halt the momentum of the retreat and rally in new trenches. By late afternoon the ruins of the town of Gorlice are in German hands and a gap has opened between the retreating remnants of IX and X Corps while the German 11th and Austro-Hungarian 4th Armies continue to surge forward. The Russian response, delayed by the temporary absence of 3rd Army commander, is sluggish, and the only substantial measure is convincing General Ivanov to release III Caucasian Corps to 3rd Army. The advance elements of the corps, however, are only as far west as Jaslo this evening, which is still twenty kilometres behind the front - though granted, the front line is rapidly moving in their direction.
- This evening the Ottomans attempt another attack on the British and French lines on Cape Helles. This time the Entente are waiting for them, and when the Ottomans move into the open to attack they are cut down by rapid fire from French 75mm guns.
Meanwhile, the heavy resistance at Cape Helles, combined with a slackening of Ottoman artillery fire, convinces the commander of ANZAC forces to the north that the Ottomans have thinned their lines to hold the British and French before Krithia. To take advantage of this perceived weakness a night attack is ordered. An artillery bombardment commences at 7pm, and shortly thereafter Australian and New Zealand battalions are ordered to advance, hoping to secure the high ground beyond Monash Gully relieve the Ottoman pressure on the Nek. However, the attack miscarries almost immediately - some of the battalions are not in position to attack when the advance begins, and the Ottomans have effectively entrenched to take advantage of the rough terrain.
- At 8am Emden's landing party departs El Wegh on the Red Sea, travelling inland towards the village of El Ula on the Hedjaz railway. As they leave the coast and enter mountains, they are escorded by Suleiman, Sheikh of El Wegh.
The Russian line they assault, despite ample warning, is almost comically unprepared to defend itself. As General Ivanov of South-West Front has decreed an imminent revival of the Carpathian offensive, the focus of Russian commanders in the region is to the south, not the west from which the Germans are attacking. Indeed, to help facilitate the Carpathian offensive 3rd Army has taken over responsibility for the western end of the Russian line in the mountains, and the attention of its commander is firmly fixed there. Thus 3rd Army has assigned only two corps - IX and X - to defend the western face of the Russian line while the rest of the army is deployed south and east of the Wistoka River. Most of the army's reserves are also to the south and are poorly-positioned to respond to an attack from the west. The line held by IX and X Corps has also been quiet since the end of December, and thus there is little expectation that any significant fighting might occur here. As such, the Russian trenches are extremely primitive, even by the standards of the Eastern Front - perhaps one or two thin strands of barbed wire in front of one thin trench that is little more than a ditch. No provision had been made for reserve positions - indeed, when the commander of X Corps requested permission to build a reserve position, he was told that if he has the manpower to spare for trench-digging he must have more manpower than he needs, and one regiment was withdrawn from each of X Corps' divisions. Most of the formations in these two corps were also second-rate, with infantry often armed with antiquated rifles they did not know how to use. Russian tactics were also disastrous - in both corps their available infantry were concentrated in the front-line, making the men vulnerable to bombardment as well as leaving few reserves in case of emergencies. All told, for all the skill the Germans show and will show in preparing and executing offensive operations at Gorlice-Tarnow, it was also the case that the region was perhaps the most vulnerable to precisely the sort of overwhelming attack that descends on them this morning.
The preliminary bombardment largely obliterates the primitive Russian defences and a third of the Russian defenders are killed by artillery fire in the hours before the attack. Most of the rest are reduced to a state of shock, such that the attacking German infantry encounter only sporadic resistance - one German corps manages to take four thousand prisoners in the first hour of combat. When the Russian survivors attempt to retreat, they have to escape over open ground, where they are vulnerable to further artillery bombardment. Further, because there are no reserve defensive positions, once pushed into the open the Russians are unable to halt the momentum of the retreat and rally in new trenches. By late afternoon the ruins of the town of Gorlice are in German hands and a gap has opened between the retreating remnants of IX and X Corps while the German 11th and Austro-Hungarian 4th Armies continue to surge forward. The Russian response, delayed by the temporary absence of 3rd Army commander, is sluggish, and the only substantial measure is convincing General Ivanov to release III Caucasian Corps to 3rd Army. The advance elements of the corps, however, are only as far west as Jaslo this evening, which is still twenty kilometres behind the front - though granted, the front line is rapidly moving in their direction.
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| The German offensive at Gorlice-Tarnow, May 2nd to 6th, 1915. |
- This evening the Ottomans attempt another attack on the British and French lines on Cape Helles. This time the Entente are waiting for them, and when the Ottomans move into the open to attack they are cut down by rapid fire from French 75mm guns.
Meanwhile, the heavy resistance at Cape Helles, combined with a slackening of Ottoman artillery fire, convinces the commander of ANZAC forces to the north that the Ottomans have thinned their lines to hold the British and French before Krithia. To take advantage of this perceived weakness a night attack is ordered. An artillery bombardment commences at 7pm, and shortly thereafter Australian and New Zealand battalions are ordered to advance, hoping to secure the high ground beyond Monash Gully relieve the Ottoman pressure on the Nek. However, the attack miscarries almost immediately - some of the battalions are not in position to attack when the advance begins, and the Ottomans have effectively entrenched to take advantage of the rough terrain.
- At 8am Emden's landing party departs El Wegh on the Red Sea, travelling inland towards the village of El Ula on the Hedjaz railway. As they leave the coast and enter mountains, they are escorded by Suleiman, Sheikh of El Wegh.
Thursday, April 30, 2015
April 30th, 1915
- Today advancing German cavalry divisions seize the town of Shavli in Courland, which had been set on fire by the retreating Russians.
- For all that the Germans have done to maintain secrecy regarding the upcoming offensive on the Eastern Front, they can do nothing about the 'loyalty' of their ally: today deserters from the Austro-Hungarian army inform the Russians who capture them that a major attack will occur between Gorlice and Tarnow on May 2nd.
- Responding to pleas from General Hamilton for reinforcements, General John Maxwell, commander of British forces in Egypt, suggests the twelve battalions of the ANZAC Light Horse and Mounted Rifle Brigades be sent to Gallipoli to fight as dismounted infantry.
- For all that the Germans have done to maintain secrecy regarding the upcoming offensive on the Eastern Front, they can do nothing about the 'loyalty' of their ally: today deserters from the Austro-Hungarian army inform the Russians who capture them that a major attack will occur between Gorlice and Tarnow on May 2nd.
- Responding to pleas from General Hamilton for reinforcements, General John Maxwell, commander of British forces in Egypt, suggests the twelve battalions of the ANZAC Light Horse and Mounted Rifle Brigades be sent to Gallipoli to fight as dismounted infantry.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
April 25th, 1915
- Early this morning the newly-arrived British 10th Brigade attempts a counterattack against St. Julien in the Ypres salient. The British infantry are able to advance right up to the edge of the houses, but are halted by heavy machine-gun fire. To the east, after five hours of constant fighting, 8th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry is forced to yield its position at Grafenstafel at 7pm, but the extra day has allowed further reinforcements to arrive, and the fall of Grafenstafel does not imperil the British line. The right wing of the German XXVII Reserve Corps is able to push forward against 2nd Canadian Brigade, but does not break through. By this evening, sufficient reinforcements have arrived to pull the battered 2nd and 3rd Canadian Brigades out of the line, replaced by elements of the Lahore Division and numerous British battalions. The British have also reestablished a continuous front from the Yser Canal east to just south of Grafenstafel. The Germans for their part recognize that the opportunity for further significant gains is slipping away; 4th Army commander issues orders this afternoon to abandon further attempts to push west of the Yser Canal as now beyond their capabilities, and instead concentration on collapsing the salient east of Ypres.
- The decline of the Austro-Hungarian army is such that an incident today shows that some of its soldiers cannot even surrender correctly. The entire 28th Regiment, composed largely of Czechs and on the Carpathian front, attempts to surrender to the Russians opposite. Instead, when they enter the 'enemy' trench announcing their surrender, they find it full of German soldiers. One can imagine the reaction of the Germans to the surrender of their allies. Afterwards, eight officers will be executed for treason and every tenth men in regiment shot to teach the others a lesson.
- In the dark of night the British and ANZAC landing forces approach the Gallipoli shores, and at 1am the boats are lowered from the steamers and the soldiers begin to transfer to their landing craft. These boats are not landing craft in any sense of the word; in most cases, they are simple rowboats, which are to be towed close to the beaches by steamers or destroyers. They wait until the full moon sets just before 3am, and begin their run into shore.
On the southern end of Gallipoli the British conduct their landings at five beaches: Y, X, W, V, and S running counterclockwise around the tip of Cape Helles. At Y, X, and S beaches, the initial landings have gone well, but the other two are nearly disastrous. At W beach, the shore is crisscrossed with barbed wire and Ottoman trenches, and the naval bombardment has not succeeded in clearly them away. When the Lancashire Fusiliers land, they take terrible casualties fighting their way up the beach. The worst, however, is at V beach. Here the British attempt an innovative means of landing two thousand infantry from the Hampshire Regiment and the Munster Fusiliers. The infantry are packed aboard the collier River Clyde, and the plan is for the ship to ground itself near the shore, at which point the soldier will pour out of several specially-cut exits in the side of the ship, make their way down gangplanks, and move ashore. In addition, eight rowboats towed by small steamers are to carry the Dublin Fusiliers to shore. When the landing is launched, it is a complete disaster. There are three complete lines of barbed wire and several Ottoman trenches and machine guns positions. When River Clyde hits bottom and the infantry begin to move out of the hull, Ottoman fire is concentrated on the exits, and fearful casualties are suffered, most never reaching shore. A similar fate befalls the men landing by boat, caught in the wire and shot down. Those who survive are pinned to the beach throughout the day, unable to make any progress. The debacle at V beach imperils the entire landing, and forces from S beach in particular attempt to push inland and dislodge the Ottoman defenders at V beach from landward, but are unable to reach their beleaguered comrades.
To the north the ANZACs are landing as well. In the run into shore, the first wave had gotten lost in the pitch darkness, and a midshipman commanding one of the rowboats decides, entirely on his own responsibility, to shift northwards and the others, lacking higher direction, simply follow suit. The landing boats also bunch together, and come ashore north of their target beach near Gaba Tepe. Instead, they land around the lesser point of Ari Burnu and the small cove to the south, which will shortly be rechristened Anzac Cove. The first wave hits the beach at 430am, and encounter little defensive fire from the Ottomans, the latter unable to target effectively in the darkness. The ANZACs quickly move inland, finding themselves facing steep cliffs and rough scrub which slows the advance; if they march along hilltops they are highlighted against the sky and are easy targets, whereas if they descent into the gullies and ravines they are hidden but also entirely lost. The outnumbered Ottomans, meanwhile, fall back and use the terrain to maintain an effective harassing fire. Nevertheless, the ANZACs are ashore, and despite casualties and the difficult terrain, elements are pushing inland, and by 930am a half company of 11th Battalion is reaching towards the high ground at Chunuk Bair to the northeast of the landing beach.
It was at this point, with the Australians, in spite of difficulties, advancing towards the centre of the peninsula, that the situation is transformed by the intervention of one man - Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Kemal. Indeed, if ever a man was matched to the hour, it is he, and his actions this day will make his reputation and launch him on the path to become the most important figure in the history of 20th-century history. Today, Kemal is commander of 19th Division, inland east of Gaba Tepe. At 8am he receives orders to send a battalion against the ANZAC landing, but Kemal perceives that this is no mere diversion, but rather a substantial force whose advance must be checked if Gallipoli is to be held. He thus orders an entire regiment, along with a battery of artillery, to move against the ANZACs as quickly as possible. Kemal accompanies the force, and when he encounters other Ottoman soldiers fleeing and without ammunition, he orders them to fix bayonets and return to the fight. The imperative at the moment was to halt the ANZAC advance, and nothing else matters. He gives to his commanders the order that will become famous:
On the Asiatic shore the French diversionary attack goes ashore at 930am, far too late to actually distract the Ottomans from the main landings which are already underway on Gallipoli. The French skirmish with Ottoman forces and take five hundred prisoners, but otherwise accomplish nothing of significance. On Gallipoli itself, the British and ANZACs are ashore, but otherwise their situation is tenuous at best. At Cape Helles the failure at V beach has completely upset General Hamilton's plan; instead of pushing inward, they are still struggling to get off the beach itself. To the north, the ANZACs have been pushed back into a narrow beachhead, contained by the perfectly-timed counterattack led by Mustafa Kemal. It is only the first day and the Entente plan has gone badly off the rails.
- As the British and ANZACs land and die at Gallipoli, the Russian navy decides to make an appearance, bombarding the Ottoman forts at the entrance to the Bosphorus. The attack makes no real difference, in line with the Russian contribution to the Dardanelles campaign to date.
- Meanwhile, amidst growing concern over the situation in the Aegean, and increasingly frustrated with the hesitancy of the Austro-Hungarian navy, the German navy has decided to dispatch U21, an ocean-going submarine, to the Mediterranean to attack the British and French warships off the Dardanelles. As U21 does not have the range to reach the Aegean on its own, a supply ship has been been chartered from a port in northern Spain and will rendezvous with the submarine to allow it to refuel.
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| The line at Ypres at midnight, April 25th, 1915. |
- The decline of the Austro-Hungarian army is such that an incident today shows that some of its soldiers cannot even surrender correctly. The entire 28th Regiment, composed largely of Czechs and on the Carpathian front, attempts to surrender to the Russians opposite. Instead, when they enter the 'enemy' trench announcing their surrender, they find it full of German soldiers. One can imagine the reaction of the Germans to the surrender of their allies. Afterwards, eight officers will be executed for treason and every tenth men in regiment shot to teach the others a lesson.
- In the dark of night the British and ANZAC landing forces approach the Gallipoli shores, and at 1am the boats are lowered from the steamers and the soldiers begin to transfer to their landing craft. These boats are not landing craft in any sense of the word; in most cases, they are simple rowboats, which are to be towed close to the beaches by steamers or destroyers. They wait until the full moon sets just before 3am, and begin their run into shore.
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| The Entente Landings at Gallipoli, April 25th, 1915. |
On the southern end of Gallipoli the British conduct their landings at five beaches: Y, X, W, V, and S running counterclockwise around the tip of Cape Helles. At Y, X, and S beaches, the initial landings have gone well, but the other two are nearly disastrous. At W beach, the shore is crisscrossed with barbed wire and Ottoman trenches, and the naval bombardment has not succeeded in clearly them away. When the Lancashire Fusiliers land, they take terrible casualties fighting their way up the beach. The worst, however, is at V beach. Here the British attempt an innovative means of landing two thousand infantry from the Hampshire Regiment and the Munster Fusiliers. The infantry are packed aboard the collier River Clyde, and the plan is for the ship to ground itself near the shore, at which point the soldier will pour out of several specially-cut exits in the side of the ship, make their way down gangplanks, and move ashore. In addition, eight rowboats towed by small steamers are to carry the Dublin Fusiliers to shore. When the landing is launched, it is a complete disaster. There are three complete lines of barbed wire and several Ottoman trenches and machine guns positions. When River Clyde hits bottom and the infantry begin to move out of the hull, Ottoman fire is concentrated on the exits, and fearful casualties are suffered, most never reaching shore. A similar fate befalls the men landing by boat, caught in the wire and shot down. Those who survive are pinned to the beach throughout the day, unable to make any progress. The debacle at V beach imperils the entire landing, and forces from S beach in particular attempt to push inland and dislodge the Ottoman defenders at V beach from landward, but are unable to reach their beleaguered comrades.
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| British Landings at Cape Helles, April 25th, 1915. |
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| The merchant ship River Clyde aground off V Beach at Cape Helles. Note the 'sally ports' cut in the side of the ship and the gangway leading from them. |
To the north the ANZACs are landing as well. In the run into shore, the first wave had gotten lost in the pitch darkness, and a midshipman commanding one of the rowboats decides, entirely on his own responsibility, to shift northwards and the others, lacking higher direction, simply follow suit. The landing boats also bunch together, and come ashore north of their target beach near Gaba Tepe. Instead, they land around the lesser point of Ari Burnu and the small cove to the south, which will shortly be rechristened Anzac Cove. The first wave hits the beach at 430am, and encounter little defensive fire from the Ottomans, the latter unable to target effectively in the darkness. The ANZACs quickly move inland, finding themselves facing steep cliffs and rough scrub which slows the advance; if they march along hilltops they are highlighted against the sky and are easy targets, whereas if they descent into the gullies and ravines they are hidden but also entirely lost. The outnumbered Ottomans, meanwhile, fall back and use the terrain to maintain an effective harassing fire. Nevertheless, the ANZACs are ashore, and despite casualties and the difficult terrain, elements are pushing inland, and by 930am a half company of 11th Battalion is reaching towards the high ground at Chunuk Bair to the northeast of the landing beach.
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| The Anzac landing on April 25th, 1915. |
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| Infantry unloading on the beach at Anzac Cove, April 25th, 1915. |
It was at this point, with the Australians, in spite of difficulties, advancing towards the centre of the peninsula, that the situation is transformed by the intervention of one man - Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Kemal. Indeed, if ever a man was matched to the hour, it is he, and his actions this day will make his reputation and launch him on the path to become the most important figure in the history of 20th-century history. Today, Kemal is commander of 19th Division, inland east of Gaba Tepe. At 8am he receives orders to send a battalion against the ANZAC landing, but Kemal perceives that this is no mere diversion, but rather a substantial force whose advance must be checked if Gallipoli is to be held. He thus orders an entire regiment, along with a battery of artillery, to move against the ANZACs as quickly as possible. Kemal accompanies the force, and when he encounters other Ottoman soldiers fleeing and without ammunition, he orders them to fix bayonets and return to the fight. The imperative at the moment was to halt the ANZAC advance, and nothing else matters. He gives to his commanders the order that will become famous:
I don't order you to attack - I order you to die. In the time that passes until we die, other troops and commanders can take our places.After midday Kemal's force drives into the advance elements of the ANZAC force moving towards Chunuk Bair. The ANZACs had hardly expected an Ottoman counterattack, and the complete disorganization of the landing forces, with fragments of battalions mixed up with each other, prevent any overall direction for their advance. Kemal's counterattack has been perfectly timed, hitting the ANZACs before they could entrench and sort out the organizational chaos, and the ANZACs are shattered. They are pushed back from Chunuk Bair and lose their intermediate positions on Battleship Hill and Baby 700, yielding the high ground to the enemy. The Ottomans are only barely held at the Nek, which nevertheless leaves most of the beach now under Ottoman fire. The ANZACs have committed all of their reserves, and the numbers of wounded grow. Indeed, some of the wounded 'evacuated' to the beach are shot a second time as they wait to be taken offshore. This evening the ANZAC commander warns General Hamilton that their position may not be tenable if the Ottomans push hard again tomorrow. Hamilton's response is that the ANZACs must hold on - an evacuation would surely be a greater catastrophe - and famously writes 'You have got through the difficult business, now you have only to dig, dig, dig, until you are safe.' In future the ANZACs will come to call themselves 'diggers'
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| The disposition of Ottoman forces during the Entente landings, April 25th, 1915. |
On the Asiatic shore the French diversionary attack goes ashore at 930am, far too late to actually distract the Ottomans from the main landings which are already underway on Gallipoli. The French skirmish with Ottoman forces and take five hundred prisoners, but otherwise accomplish nothing of significance. On Gallipoli itself, the British and ANZACs are ashore, but otherwise their situation is tenuous at best. At Cape Helles the failure at V beach has completely upset General Hamilton's plan; instead of pushing inward, they are still struggling to get off the beach itself. To the north, the ANZACs have been pushed back into a narrow beachhead, contained by the perfectly-timed counterattack led by Mustafa Kemal. It is only the first day and the Entente plan has gone badly off the rails.
- As the British and ANZACs land and die at Gallipoli, the Russian navy decides to make an appearance, bombarding the Ottoman forts at the entrance to the Bosphorus. The attack makes no real difference, in line with the Russian contribution to the Dardanelles campaign to date.
- Meanwhile, amidst growing concern over the situation in the Aegean, and increasingly frustrated with the hesitancy of the Austro-Hungarian navy, the German navy has decided to dispatch U21, an ocean-going submarine, to the Mediterranean to attack the British and French warships off the Dardanelles. As U21 does not have the range to reach the Aegean on its own, a supply ship has been been chartered from a port in northern Spain and will rendezvous with the submarine to allow it to refuel.
Sunday, April 12, 2015
April 12th, 1915
- After several days of artillery bombardment, a renewed French assault is launched at 10am against a four kilometre stretch of the German line west of Maizeray. This operation was one of the methodical attacks promised by General Dubail to Joffre on the 10th. However, the advancing infantry make no progress whatsoever. General Augustin Gérard, commander of the army detachment that launched the attack at Maizaray, blames the failure on the artillery bombardment, which cut only some of the wire and left the Germand defences and artillery positions largely unmolested. Moreover, the prior months of 'stagnation' on this front had given the Germans time to establish a formidable defensive position, with wire barriers up to five hundred metres deep in places and concrete casemates to protect their infantry. Gérard's report to Dubail concludes that 'to continue to seek a penetration of the enemy line in this region with quickly prepared attacks, one risks . . . ruining an excellent infantry and destroying its confidence without [achieving any] results.'
- Joffre sends a lengthy communication to Grand Duke Nicholas at Russian army headquarters today, in which he emphasizes the important of co-ordinating offensive operations between the French and British in the west, the Russians in the east, and the Serbs in the Balkans. If simultaneous attacks can be launched, the Germans and Austro-Hungarians will be tied down on all fronts and the possibility increases of securing a substantial victory. The French Commander-in-Chief also seeks to reassure Grand Duke Nicholas, in the face of German redeployments from west to east since November, that the French army has done and is doing everything in its power to attack the Germans.
- Enver Pasha is eager to see a land link opened between the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary, which would allow the free flow of munitions and supplies and relieve many of the desparate shortages now existing in the Ottoman army. As the conquest of Serbia the means by which this link can be achieved, the Ottoman War Minister writes to Falkenhayn today to offer to place two Ottoman corps at the disposal of the Bulgarian army, should the latter join in an offensive against Serbia undertaken by Austria-Hungary and Germany.
- Over the past week the men of the ANZAC Corps have been arriving on the island of Lemnos, having been assigned to participate in the amphibious operation against the Gallipoli peninsula, and today the ocean liner Minnewaska, carrying the divisional and corps command staff, moors in the immense anchorage at Mudros.
- In Lower Mesopotamia the now-expected Ottoman attack on the British defensive position at Shaiba opens this morning when a dozen Ottoman artillery pieces commence firing at dawn. From 9am through nightfall, the Ottoman infantry, aided by Arab irregulars, launch a series of attacks on the British line from the south, but are halted by barbed wire and machine-gun fire, and the British and Indians suffer only five dead and sixty-six wounded. To the east, the Indian 30th Brigade, is slogging through the ruins of Old Basra between Basra and Shaiba. With news arriving of the Ottoman attack, and an overland advance impossible given the knee-deep flood waters, General Nixon orders the brigade back to Basra. There they collect eighty boats, sufficient for brigade headquarters and the 24th Punjabis, and after 4pm begin moving up the river towards Shaiba. Though sailing under fire, they arrive at the British line between 830pm and midnight.
- Joffre sends a lengthy communication to Grand Duke Nicholas at Russian army headquarters today, in which he emphasizes the important of co-ordinating offensive operations between the French and British in the west, the Russians in the east, and the Serbs in the Balkans. If simultaneous attacks can be launched, the Germans and Austro-Hungarians will be tied down on all fronts and the possibility increases of securing a substantial victory. The French Commander-in-Chief also seeks to reassure Grand Duke Nicholas, in the face of German redeployments from west to east since November, that the French army has done and is doing everything in its power to attack the Germans.
- Enver Pasha is eager to see a land link opened between the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary, which would allow the free flow of munitions and supplies and relieve many of the desparate shortages now existing in the Ottoman army. As the conquest of Serbia the means by which this link can be achieved, the Ottoman War Minister writes to Falkenhayn today to offer to place two Ottoman corps at the disposal of the Bulgarian army, should the latter join in an offensive against Serbia undertaken by Austria-Hungary and Germany.
- Over the past week the men of the ANZAC Corps have been arriving on the island of Lemnos, having been assigned to participate in the amphibious operation against the Gallipoli peninsula, and today the ocean liner Minnewaska, carrying the divisional and corps command staff, moors in the immense anchorage at Mudros.
- In Lower Mesopotamia the now-expected Ottoman attack on the British defensive position at Shaiba opens this morning when a dozen Ottoman artillery pieces commence firing at dawn. From 9am through nightfall, the Ottoman infantry, aided by Arab irregulars, launch a series of attacks on the British line from the south, but are halted by barbed wire and machine-gun fire, and the British and Indians suffer only five dead and sixty-six wounded. To the east, the Indian 30th Brigade, is slogging through the ruins of Old Basra between Basra and Shaiba. With news arriving of the Ottoman attack, and an overland advance impossible given the knee-deep flood waters, General Nixon orders the brigade back to Basra. There they collect eighty boats, sufficient for brigade headquarters and the 24th Punjabis, and after 4pm begin moving up the river towards Shaiba. Though sailing under fire, they arrive at the British line between 830pm and midnight.
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| The British position at Shaiba, west of Basra, and the Ottoman advance and retreat, April 1915. |
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| Machine gunners of the 120th Rajputana Rifles, 18th Infantry Brigade, in a trench at Shaiba, April 12th, 1915. |
Wednesday, December 03, 2014
December 3rd, 1914
- Today 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Today the troop convoy from Australia and New Zealand arrives at Alexandria. The soldiers begin to disembarck, and the first move by train to Cairo where their encampment is located.
- Having rounded Cape Horn, yesterday the German East Asiatic Squadron came across and seized an English sailing vessel with 2800 tons of coal, and this morning the squadron anchors off Picton Island. Admiral Spee, cognizant of the uncertainty of access to coal in the Atlantic, decides to take the time to parcel out the seized coal among his five ships.
- 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.
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| The Battle of Limanowa-Lapanow, December 1914. |
- 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.
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| The Serbian counteroffensive, December 3rd to 12th, 1914. |
- Today the troop convoy from Australia and New Zealand arrives at Alexandria. The soldiers begin to disembarck, and the first move by train to Cairo where their encampment is located.
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| Australian soldiers arriving at Alexandria, December 3rd, 1914. |
- Having rounded Cape Horn, yesterday the German East Asiatic Squadron came across and seized an English sailing vessel with 2800 tons of coal, and this morning the squadron anchors off Picton Island. Admiral Spee, cognizant of the uncertainty of access to coal in the Atlantic, decides to take the time to parcel out the seized coal among his five ships.
Thursday, November 27, 2014
November 27th, 1914
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Saturday, November 01, 2014
November 1st, 1914
- Despite the ground gained yesterday east of Ypres, Army Group Fabeck failed to achieve the desired breakthrough. General Fabeck decides that while the offensive will continue, its focus will shift slightly. After failing to exploit the temporary breach in the British line at Gheluvelt yesterday, today's attacks will be launched between Messines and Wytschaete.
On the Entente side, the French plan three attacks, to be undertaken in large part to relieve the pressure on the British - the first from north of Wytschaete, the second from Zonnebeke, and the third a diversionary attack by the rest of IX Corps. Each of these attacks fail to accomplish anything today, but they also speak to the growing importance of French forces in the Ypres salient. The past two week have severely reduced the BEF's strength - of its eighty-four infantry battalions, nine have fewer than a hundred men, while another thirty-one have between one and two hundred. In comparison, a full battalion would have just over a thousand men. There are also very few reinforcements in Britain that can be sent immediately to the front - the only regular army units not yet in the fight are the battalions of 8th Division, assembling in Britain after being located around the Empire on the outbreak of war.
The main German attack begins at 1am by nine battalions of the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division. At Wytschaete the British are outnumbered twelve to one, and by 245am the village is in German hands. More importantly, as the battle continues German units begin to infiltrate between British positions on the ridge between Wytschaete and Messines, as the defenders here are too few to man an entire trench line at once. Those British soldiers who remain on the ridge at dawn realize they are in danger of encirclement, and pull back. By 735am the Germans are in possession of the middle part of the high ground. This outflanks the British defenders still clinging to the village of Messines itself, and they are ordered to retreat at 9am. The British fall back to the next line of high ground to the west, while shelling their former trenches at Messines to impede the German occupation of them. A British counterattack manages to re-enter Wytschaete later in the day, but otherwise the Entente line here has been pushed back. On the other hand, the German victory is merely a tactical one, as though the British retreat they are not routed, and a new defensive line stands in the Germans' way.
- Behind the front, Lord Kitchener is meeting President Poincarè, Joffre, and Foch at Dunkirk to discuss the course of the war. Kitchener informs them that there are no substantial British reinforcements available until the spring of 1915, as he will not send untrained men into battle. However, subsequently the size of the BEF will expand rapidly as the 'New Armies' of wartime volunteers come into the field. Also, know of the sometimes-testy relationship between Joffre and Sir John French, Kitchener offers to replace the latter with General Sir Ian Hamilton. Joffre declines, believing (ironically, given his own record) that changing the BEF's commander in the middle of a battle would not work out. Unfortunately for Kitchener, this offer very quickly reaches the ears of Field Marshal French, which earns Kitchener the enduring emnity of the latter.
- By today the German 9th Army has fallen back to the line from which it had started its advance into Poland just over a month ago. Despite Ludendorff's claims of success, and the generally confused nature of the fighting, the Battle of the Vistula River is a Russian victory - it can hardly be otherwise when the Germans were the attackers and they end the battle where they started. Nevertheless, the past month have shown the continuing logistical and command problems plaguing the Russian army - the attempt to pursue the retreating Germans has completely broken down, and today it is formally called off.
As for Falkenhayn, his attention remains firmly fixed on the Western Front, and is willing to leave matters on the Eastern Front in the hands of Hindenburg and Ludendorff. As such, Hindenburg is today appointed commander-in-chief of all German forces in the east, with Ludendorff as his chief of staff and the command to be known as Ober Ost. General Mackensen is also promoted to take command of 9th Army.
- With the entry of the Ottoman Empire into the war almost inevitable after the events in the Black Sea, the Shah of Persia, its eastern neighbour, declares the neutrality of his state. The statement, however, is more theoretical than practical. Though Persia is nominally independent, both Britain and Russia have significant interests and influence within it. The newest dreadnoughts burn oil, not coal, and with the oilfields of southern Persia being a key source for the Admiralty, the British government controls them through owning a majority share of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. To the north, Russia already has five thousand soldiers garrisoning Persian Azerbaijan, seeing the endemic instability of the region as necessitating Russian control. The Shah himself is only 17 years old, and lacks an effective army to maintain internal order. Persian neutrality means little when major combatants sees their interests as necessitating intervention within its borders.
- At Coronel the British light cruiser Glasgow slips out of port at 915am, and meets the rest of Craddock's squadron just after 1pm. The four ships then spread out in a line, sailing north in search of the supposedly-isolated Leipzig. The German East Asiatic Squadron is doing much the same thing in pursuit of Glasgow, except moving south. At 420pm Leipzig and Glasgow sight each other, drawing both squadrons together.
Upon confirming the presence of the entire German East Asiatic Squadron, Craddock knows that his force is markedly inferior to the Germans. He decides, however, to fight - first, his armed merchant liner Otranto was not fast enough to escape; and second, he felt bound by the Admiralty's orders to engage the enemy. Craddock turns his squadron around so that both forces are sailing southwards, roughly parallel to each other. With the sun setting to the west, Craddock hopes to force an action when the sun is blinding the eyes of the German gunners, giving the British a window of opportunity. At 618pm Craddock aboard Good Hope signals the rest of his ships to follow him in closing with the Germans.
Spee, however, knows just as well as Craddock the impact the setting sun can have, and when the British ships turn to close the gap, he orders his ships to simply turn as well, maintaining the distance between the two squadrons. Thus the sun sets without a single ship being fired, and now all of the advantages are with the Germans - the British are now silhouetted against the twilight sky. At 650pm the Germans turn towards the British, and open fire at 704pm.
Craddock never had a chance. Despite the rough seas, the excellent marksmanship of Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, honed to near-perfection in peacetime gunnery exercises, is immediately obvious. The third salvo of Scharnhorst strikes Good Hope, destroying one of its 9.2-inch guns, and henceforth the German armoured cruisers pour accurate and rapid fire on Good Hope and Monmouth. The British attempt to fire back, but most of their 6-inch shells fall short and the single 9.2-inch gun remaining operational on Good Hope can hardly hope to win the battle by itself. In less than an hour Good Hope is reduced to a flaming wreck, and having absorbed thirty-five hits from Scharnhorst, explodes and sinks at 750pm. Monmouth survives only an hour more, sinking at 858pm. As Spee's focus is naturally on the two largest opponents, both Glasgow and Otranto are able to make their escape in the night.
All aboard Good Hope and Monmouth, including Craddock, are lost. On the German side, only Gneisenau was hit even once by shells that exploded, and it suffered no serious damage and only three sailors were slightly wounded. Glasgow manages to warn Canopus sailing north with the squadron's colliers of the disaster, and the survivors escape southwards. The German East Asiatic Squadron has won a notable and completely-lopsided victory at the Battle of Coronel, the first significant defeat of British warships at the hands of the enemy for a century.
- As in Canada, the outbreak of war saw thousands of volunteers come forward in Australia and New Zealand. However, the continued presence of German cruisers in the Pacific and Indian Oceans required that the convoy carrying the volunteers be delayed until sufficient escorts could be assembled. Today, protected by British, Australian, and Japanese warships, thirty-eight transports carrying almost 21 000 Australian and just under 8500 New Zealand soldiers departs Australia today. Their destination is Egypt, where they will undergo training.
On the Entente side, the French plan three attacks, to be undertaken in large part to relieve the pressure on the British - the first from north of Wytschaete, the second from Zonnebeke, and the third a diversionary attack by the rest of IX Corps. Each of these attacks fail to accomplish anything today, but they also speak to the growing importance of French forces in the Ypres salient. The past two week have severely reduced the BEF's strength - of its eighty-four infantry battalions, nine have fewer than a hundred men, while another thirty-one have between one and two hundred. In comparison, a full battalion would have just over a thousand men. There are also very few reinforcements in Britain that can be sent immediately to the front - the only regular army units not yet in the fight are the battalions of 8th Division, assembling in Britain after being located around the Empire on the outbreak of war.
The main German attack begins at 1am by nine battalions of the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division. At Wytschaete the British are outnumbered twelve to one, and by 245am the village is in German hands. More importantly, as the battle continues German units begin to infiltrate between British positions on the ridge between Wytschaete and Messines, as the defenders here are too few to man an entire trench line at once. Those British soldiers who remain on the ridge at dawn realize they are in danger of encirclement, and pull back. By 735am the Germans are in possession of the middle part of the high ground. This outflanks the British defenders still clinging to the village of Messines itself, and they are ordered to retreat at 9am. The British fall back to the next line of high ground to the west, while shelling their former trenches at Messines to impede the German occupation of them. A British counterattack manages to re-enter Wytschaete later in the day, but otherwise the Entente line here has been pushed back. On the other hand, the German victory is merely a tactical one, as though the British retreat they are not routed, and a new defensive line stands in the Germans' way.
- The Kaiser arrives near the front today, visiting several cavalry divisions near Courtrai and Lille. The British intercept several messages regarding his journey, but misinterpret his itinerary to suggest that he will be much closer to the front. British artillery prepare an appropriate welcome at the villages where they think the Kaiser will be during the day.
 |
| The fighting around Ypres, November 1st to 4th, 1914. |
- Behind the front, Lord Kitchener is meeting President Poincarè, Joffre, and Foch at Dunkirk to discuss the course of the war. Kitchener informs them that there are no substantial British reinforcements available until the spring of 1915, as he will not send untrained men into battle. However, subsequently the size of the BEF will expand rapidly as the 'New Armies' of wartime volunteers come into the field. Also, know of the sometimes-testy relationship between Joffre and Sir John French, Kitchener offers to replace the latter with General Sir Ian Hamilton. Joffre declines, believing (ironically, given his own record) that changing the BEF's commander in the middle of a battle would not work out. Unfortunately for Kitchener, this offer very quickly reaches the ears of Field Marshal French, which earns Kitchener the enduring emnity of the latter.
- By today the German 9th Army has fallen back to the line from which it had started its advance into Poland just over a month ago. Despite Ludendorff's claims of success, and the generally confused nature of the fighting, the Battle of the Vistula River is a Russian victory - it can hardly be otherwise when the Germans were the attackers and they end the battle where they started. Nevertheless, the past month have shown the continuing logistical and command problems plaguing the Russian army - the attempt to pursue the retreating Germans has completely broken down, and today it is formally called off.
As for Falkenhayn, his attention remains firmly fixed on the Western Front, and is willing to leave matters on the Eastern Front in the hands of Hindenburg and Ludendorff. As such, Hindenburg is today appointed commander-in-chief of all German forces in the east, with Ludendorff as his chief of staff and the command to be known as Ober Ost. General Mackensen is also promoted to take command of 9th Army.
- With the entry of the Ottoman Empire into the war almost inevitable after the events in the Black Sea, the Shah of Persia, its eastern neighbour, declares the neutrality of his state. The statement, however, is more theoretical than practical. Though Persia is nominally independent, both Britain and Russia have significant interests and influence within it. The newest dreadnoughts burn oil, not coal, and with the oilfields of southern Persia being a key source for the Admiralty, the British government controls them through owning a majority share of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. To the north, Russia already has five thousand soldiers garrisoning Persian Azerbaijan, seeing the endemic instability of the region as necessitating Russian control. The Shah himself is only 17 years old, and lacks an effective army to maintain internal order. Persian neutrality means little when major combatants sees their interests as necessitating intervention within its borders.
- At Coronel the British light cruiser Glasgow slips out of port at 915am, and meets the rest of Craddock's squadron just after 1pm. The four ships then spread out in a line, sailing north in search of the supposedly-isolated Leipzig. The German East Asiatic Squadron is doing much the same thing in pursuit of Glasgow, except moving south. At 420pm Leipzig and Glasgow sight each other, drawing both squadrons together.
 |
| The approach of the German East Asiatic Squadron to Chile and the Battle of Coronel, November 1st, 1914. |
Upon confirming the presence of the entire German East Asiatic Squadron, Craddock knows that his force is markedly inferior to the Germans. He decides, however, to fight - first, his armed merchant liner Otranto was not fast enough to escape; and second, he felt bound by the Admiralty's orders to engage the enemy. Craddock turns his squadron around so that both forces are sailing southwards, roughly parallel to each other. With the sun setting to the west, Craddock hopes to force an action when the sun is blinding the eyes of the German gunners, giving the British a window of opportunity. At 618pm Craddock aboard Good Hope signals the rest of his ships to follow him in closing with the Germans.
Spee, however, knows just as well as Craddock the impact the setting sun can have, and when the British ships turn to close the gap, he orders his ships to simply turn as well, maintaining the distance between the two squadrons. Thus the sun sets without a single ship being fired, and now all of the advantages are with the Germans - the British are now silhouetted against the twilight sky. At 650pm the Germans turn towards the British, and open fire at 704pm.
Craddock never had a chance. Despite the rough seas, the excellent marksmanship of Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, honed to near-perfection in peacetime gunnery exercises, is immediately obvious. The third salvo of Scharnhorst strikes Good Hope, destroying one of its 9.2-inch guns, and henceforth the German armoured cruisers pour accurate and rapid fire on Good Hope and Monmouth. The British attempt to fire back, but most of their 6-inch shells fall short and the single 9.2-inch gun remaining operational on Good Hope can hardly hope to win the battle by itself. In less than an hour Good Hope is reduced to a flaming wreck, and having absorbed thirty-five hits from Scharnhorst, explodes and sinks at 750pm. Monmouth survives only an hour more, sinking at 858pm. As Spee's focus is naturally on the two largest opponents, both Glasgow and Otranto are able to make their escape in the night.
All aboard Good Hope and Monmouth, including Craddock, are lost. On the German side, only Gneisenau was hit even once by shells that exploded, and it suffered no serious damage and only three sailors were slightly wounded. Glasgow manages to warn Canopus sailing north with the squadron's colliers of the disaster, and the survivors escape southwards. The German East Asiatic Squadron has won a notable and completely-lopsided victory at the Battle of Coronel, the first significant defeat of British warships at the hands of the enemy for a century.
 |
| The Battle of Coronel, November 1st, 1914. |
- As in Canada, the outbreak of war saw thousands of volunteers come forward in Australia and New Zealand. However, the continued presence of German cruisers in the Pacific and Indian Oceans required that the convoy carrying the volunteers be delayed until sufficient escorts could be assembled. Today, protected by British, Australian, and Japanese warships, thirty-eight transports carrying almost 21 000 Australian and just under 8500 New Zealand soldiers departs Australia today. Their destination is Egypt, where they will undergo training.
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