Children dressed as Allied soldiers run to bring the New Year, 1916. France carries the 1, the United Kingdom (in a kilt) and Belgium — his national roundel on his hat — the 9, Serbia and Russia the 1 of the decade, and Italy the 6. Japan, bearing a flag, hurries to catch up. A folding calendar card for 1916 by G. Bertrand.
Reverse: the calendar for 1916
Inside:
With best wishes for a happy Christmas with love from Wallis

1916

Modèle Déposé

P. Racine, Éditeur, Paris

From . . .

Registered Design

P. Racine, Publisher, Paris

Other views: Back, Interior, Interior, LargerBack

Tuesday, February 23, 1915

"Tuesday, February 23, 1915.

The Germans continue to make progress between the Niemen and the Vistula.

With a reference to the weariness of his troops and the exhaustion of his ammunition supply, the Grand Duke Nicholas had me discreetly informed a few days ago that he would be glad to see the French Army take the offensive with a view to preventing the transfer of German forces to the eastern front.

In acquainting the French Government with his desire, I took care to remind them that the Grand Duke Nicholas had not hesitated to sacrifice Samsonov's army on August 29 last in answer to our appeal for help. The reply has been exactly what I expected: General Joffre has just ordered a vigorous attack in Champagne."

Quotation Context

Entry from the memoirs of Maurice Paléologue, French Ambassador to Russia, for Tuesday, February 23, 1915. Victorious in the Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes, the Germans continued to drive the Russians back. Grand Duke Nicholas commanded the Russian armies; General Joffre the French.

In August 1914, German forces had substantially defeated Belgium, had defeated France in the Battle of the Frontiers, and pursued the retreating Entente Allies through northern France. Russia responded to France's urgent request for an offensive with an ill-prepared, ill-led invasion of East Prussia by the Russian First and Second Armies while the country was still mobilizing. German forces destroyed the Russian General Samsonov's Second Army in the Battle of Tannenberg at the end of August.

Since December, Joffre had been waging an on-going offensive in the First Battle of Champagne, and continued to do so into March, 1915. Although all combatant nations had inadequate munitions and weapons for the war, Russia's shell shortage was particularly severe. The country had inadequate manufacturing facilities, and awaited delivery of shells from Japan and the United States.

Source

An Ambassador's Memoirs Vol. I by Maurice Paléologue, page 291, publisher: George H. Doran Company, publication date: 1925

Tags

1915-02-23, 1915, February, Triple Entente, Entente Allies, Franco-Russian Alliance