An Italian postcard of the Industry of War. Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany squeezes gold from France and Belgium, filling sacks of money he provides to his ally Emperor Franz Josef of Austria-Hungary who feeds his guns to fire at Tsar Nicholas of Russia who vomits up troops. On the bottom right, Serbia, Montenegro, and Japan join the battle against Germany and Austria-Hungary. To the left, Great Britain flees to its ships. King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy surveys it all, serenely neutral until May 1915. Germany taxed Belgium and occupied France heavily during its occupation, in money, in food and other necessities, and in human life and labor. Austria-Hungary borrowed heavily from Germany to support its war effort. The enormous manpower of Russia was a source of consolation for its allies, and of trepidation to its enemies. Some suspected Great Britain would take its small army and return to its ships, home, and empire.
Le Industrie della GuerraThe Industry of War
"Today is the Emperor's name day. A thanksgiving service has been held at Our Lady of Kazan. All the court dignitaries, ministers, high officials, and the diplomatic corps have attended in full dress. The public throng the far end of the nave between the two noble rows of columns in pairs.In the dazzling blaze of the candelabra and candles, the glittering of the ikons — one mass of gold and precious stones — the national sanctuary is a superb edifice. Throughout the service the anthems followed each other with a wealth of melody, perfection of execution, breadth and solemnity which attained the highest pitch of religious emotion.Toward the end of the ceremony I singled out Goremykin, the President of the Council, and drawing him behind a pillar I taxed him with the inadequate military support given by Russia to our common cause."
Entry from the memoirs of Maurice Paléologue, French Ambassador to Russia, for Saturday, December 19, 1914. On December 17, Grand Duke Nicholas, commander of the Russian Army, told Paléologue he had to suspend operations because of his heavy losses in troops, and because 'the artillery had used up all its ammunition.' The next day Paléologue wrote, 'I learn this morning that the infantry is short of rifles!' From the Army Chief of Staff at the Ministry of War, Paléologue heard that senior military officials had been misled on the weapons available for the war effort, and learned details of Russian manufacturing inadequacies, of orders placed with Japan and the United States for 1,000,000 rifles, and of the exhaustion of Russian artillery reserves. At the service celebrating Tsar Nicholas II's name day, Paléologue addressed his concerns in the company of the British ambassador to Russia, and the Russian Foreign minister. Ivan Goremykin, Chairman of the Imperial Council of Ministers, weakly defended his country and its Army's Chief of the General Staff.
An Ambassador's Memoirs Vol. I by Maurice Paléologue, pp. 221-224, publisher: George H. Doran Company, publication date: 1925
1914-12-19, 1914, December
