A Swiss postcard of 'The European War' in 1914. The Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary face enemies to the east, west, and south. Germany is fighting the war it tried to avoid, battling Russia to the east and France to the west. Germany had also hoped to avoid fighting England which came to the aid of neutral (and prostrate) Belgium, and straddles the Channel. Austria-Hungary also fights on two fronts, against Russia to the east and Serbia and Montenegro to the south. Italy, the third member of the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary, declared neutrality, and looks on. Other neutral nations include Spain, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania. Japan enters from the east to battle Germany. The German Fleet stays close to port in the North and Baltic Seas while a German Zeppelin targets England. The Austro-Hungarian Fleet keeps watch in the Adriatic. Turkey is not represented, and entered the war at the end of October, 1914; Italy in late May, 1915.
Image text: Der Europäische KriegThe European WarReverse:Kriegskarte No. 61. Verlag K. Essig, BaselKunstanstalt (Art Institute) Frobenius A.G. Basel
Anzac Cove, Ari Burnu, from John Masefield's 'Gallipoli.'
Image text: View of Anzac, looking towards Suvla.
Re-elect President Woodrow Wilson! An October 18, 1916 cartoon from the British magazine Punch. The German sinking of ships that killed American citizens and sabotage such as the July 30, 1916 attack that destroyed the Black Tom munitions plant in Jersey City, New Jersey, were not enough to make Wilson call for a declaration of war on Germany, much to the distress of Great Britain and the other Entente allies. The date on Wilson's desk calendar is October 8, 1916, a day on which German submarine U-53 sank five vessels — three British, one Dutch, and one Norwegian — off Nantucket, Massachusetts. One of the British ships was a passenger liner traveling between New York and Newfoundland.
Image text: Re-elect President Woodrow Wilson! An October 18, 1916 cartoon from the British magazine Punch. The German sinking of ships that killed American citizens and sabotage such as the July 30, 1916 attack that destroyed the Black Tom munitions plant in Jersey City, New Jersey, were not enough to make Wilson call for a declaration of war on Germany, much to the distress of Great Britain and the other Entente allies.Text:Bringing it home.President Wilson. 'What's that? U-boat blockading New York? Tut! Tut! Very inopportune!'Vote for Wilson who kept you out of the War![Calendar date:] October 8, 1916
Postcard image of London under an airship raid. In the distance, a fire burns near Tower Bridge, another to the east, south of the Thames. The Schütte-Lanz was a competitor to the Zeppelin, and used a wooden rather than metal frame. After an original painting, 'Schütte-Lanz' over London by Jo. Ruep.
Image text: Reverse:Luftfahrerdank o.m.b.h. Charlottenburg 2. "Schütte-Lanz" über LondonNach einem Original-Gemälde von Jos. Ruep.Thanks to Airmen o.m.b.h. Charlottenburg 2."Schütte-Lanz" over LondonAfter an original painting by Jo. Ruep.
"Russian Poland, December 18, '14.In the name of Christianity I send you these words.My conscience forces me as a Christian German soldier to inform you of these lines.Wounded Russians are killed with the bayonet according to orders.And Russians who have surrendered are often shot down in masses according to orders, in spite of their heartrending prayers.In hope that you, as the representative of a Christian State, will protest against this, I sign myself,A German Soldier and Christian.I would give my name and regiment, but these words could get me court-martialed for divulging military secrets." ((1), more)
"Saturday, 18 December 1915: On 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. watch this morning. Went out about 5 a.m. to waken officers and saw a great glare in the direction of Anzac. Evidently the heads burning all stores etc. Seems fairly cheeky though. Four aeroplanes up at once, evidently reconnoitring. At 9 p.m. most of the boys got away. Everything going satisfactorily—only occasional burst of fire disturbing the night. Turks been working hard all day improving fire trench. Password Malta. . . . Burnt all our intelligence department stuff such as old messages etc." ((2), more)
"On 18 December 1916 [Woodrow Wilson] sent identical notes to the Allies and Central Powers, inviting each to state its war aims fully and frankly as a step towards negotiations.In his note Wilson observed that publicly stated objectives of both sides were 'virtually the same' in that both claimed to seek security for weaker states and for themselves and a stable order that would eliminate future wars. There was a double purpose behind this statement. One was to undercut secret agreements among the Allies for a division of the spoils if the Central Powers were defeated. The other was to force both sides to state goals in such a way as to maximize the chance of agreement." ((3), more)
"London had never been attacked by the light of so small a moon. With the onset of winter the Germans had another means of finding the city at night. A light snowfall had fallen on England. Against a white background, the darkly etched course of the Thames was clearly visible from the air. . . .The press, complying with the ban on 'lurid' air raid stories, gave scant attention to the damage. The destruction was actually the worst since the devastating Zeppelin raid of September 1915. Thirteen fires raged in London, one being visible over fifty miles away to the returning German crews. Despite the property losses, there were only twelve dead and sixty-six wounded. The barrage fire injured nineteen others, two fatally." ((4), more)
(1) A letter published in Germany claiming to be by a German soldier and eyewitness.
The Great Events of the Great War in Seven Volumes by Charles F. Horne, Vol. II, 1914, p. 411, copyright © 1920 by The National Alumnia, publisher: The National Alumni, publication date: 1920
(2) Excerpt from the diary of New Zealander C.J. Walsh during the evacuation of the Allied positions at Suvla Bay and Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli peninsula. Walsh's boat cast off at 1:52 AM on Monday December 20. On December 9 Walsh heard rumors that all positions would be evacuated. The order that no outgoing mail was allowed had seemed to add substance to the rumors.
Men of Gallipoli: The Dardanelles and Gallipoli Experience August 1914 to January 1916 by Peter Liddle, page 263, copyright © Peter Liddle, 1976, publisher: David and Charles, publication date: 1976
(3) President Woodrow Wilson's claim that publicly stated objectives of both the Entente Allies and the Central Powers were 'virtually the same' infuriated the French and British, and brought King George of the United Kingdom to weep publicly.
Woodrow Wilson: World Statesman by Kendrick A. Clements, page 164, copyright © 1987 by G. K. Hall & Co.; 1999 by Kendrick A. Clements, publisher: Ivan R. Dee, Publisher, publication date: 1987
(4) Thirteen Gotha bombers and one Staka Giant set out to attack London the night of December 18, 1917 with the Staka and seven of the Gothas reaching the city. A British pilot, Captain Gilbert Murlis-Green, hit an engine of one Gotha which ended in the English Channel. Seven of the Gothas were damaged on landing in Belgium, two of them destroyed.
The Sky on Fire by Raymond H. Fredette by Raymond H. Fredette, pp. 176, 177, copyright © 1966, 1976, 1991 by Raymond H. Fredette, publisher: Smithsonian Institution Press, publication date: 1991
