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The rulers of the Central Powers — Kaisers Wilhelm and Franz Joseph, Tsar Ferdinand, and Mohammed V — surrounded by the Allies: Belgium, Britain, France, Italy to the west, the Balkan states of Montenegro, Serbia, and Greece, where Britain and France ensure Greek participation in the war, and Russia its strength bolstered by Japan's munitions supplies. Out to sea, the British, French, and Italian navies stand guard, with that of Russia in the distance. Portugal likely stands at the lower left. By 1916, Serbia was already occupied by the Central Powers.
What do you want here? Turkish and British child soldiers on the Suez Canal. After crossing the Sinai Peninsula during January, 1915, a Turkish army of approximately 12,000 soldiers reached the Suez Canal on February 2, and tried to cross after nightfall, but were driven back. On the 3rd, the British crossed the canal, and struck the Turkish left flank, driving them back. By February 10, the Turks had evacuated the Peninsula.
Relief map of Great Britain and Ireland, the North Sea, English Channel, and Atlantic Ocean, with northwestern Europe: France, Belgium, Holland, and Scandinavia. The war-zone outlined on the map was declared on February 4, 1915. On May 7, the Lusitania entered the war zone southwest of Ireland.
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.
German pencil sketch of a devastated Church in Fresnoy, likely Fresnoy-le-Grand, dated, February 6, 1915 by K. Marx (?), addressed to Paul Marx.
"On the left bank of the Vistula, in the region of Sochaczev, the Russians are engaged in a series of partial, short attacks which correspond closely with what the Grand Duke Nicholas has called 'as active a defense as possible.' In the Bukovina they are slowly retreating owing to the shortage of ammunition." ((1), more)
"The main army of the Turks, which had now dwindled to 12,000 men, arrived at the canal on February 2d. A skirmish near Ismailia Ferry was suddenly terminated by a violent sandstorm. After nightfall, however, the Turkish Army hauled some 30 pontoon boats to the banks of the canal at Toussoun, 12 miles below Ismailia, and attempted to cross. The British troops opened fire with maxim guns, which took a heavy toll in lives. The Turks brought several batteries of field guns into action, but failed to silence the British batteries." ((2), more)
"Next day [February 3, 1915], the British, supported by land and naval artillery, crossed the canal at Serapeum and attacked the Turkish left flank. By late afternoon a third of the Turkish Army was in full retreat, leaving 500 prisoners and many dead behind them. The guns of a Turkish warship in the adjacent lake then opened a lively fire, damaging a British gunboat. During the night, the Turks stole away, and so ended the battle of the Suez Canal. By February 10th, the Sinai Peninsula was cleared of the enemy." ((3), more)
"The waters round Great Britain and Ireland, including the English Channel, are hereby proclaimed a war region.On and after February 18th every enemy merchant ship found in this region will be destroyed, without it always being possible to warn the crews or passengers of the dangers threatening.Neutral ships will also incur danger in the war region, where in view of the misuse of neutral flags ordered by the British Government, and incidents inevitable in sea warfare, attacks intended for hostile ships may affect neutral ships also.The sea passage to the north of the Shetland Islands, and the eastern region of the North Sea in a zone of at least 30 miles along the Netherlands coast, are not menaced by any danger.Berlin, February 4th [1915] von Pohl, Chief of Marine Staff" ((4), more)
"I haven't the slightest doubt about the victory of our armies, on one condition — that there's the closest co-operation between the Government and public opinion. That co-operation was perfect at the beginning of the war : I must admit, unfortunately, that it is threatened now. . . . You're uneasy about the abuses and anachronisms of Tsarism. You're right. But can any substantial reform be ventured upon during the war? Certainly not! . . . It is Tsarism alone that constitutes our national unity. Cast away that life-giving principle and you'll see Russia at once fall apart and dissolve." ((5), more)
(1) Entry from the memoirs of Maurice Paléologue, French Ambassador to Russia, for Monday, Febuary 1, 1915. The ammunition shortage which affected all combatants at the end of 1914 and early 1915 was particularly acute for the Russians. With inadequate production capacity, they imported shells and weapons from Japan and the United States. On the Vistula River, the Russians faced the German Army. In the Bukovina, they were retreating before Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf's winter offensive, one costly to both sides.
An Ambassador's Memoirs Vol. I by Maurice Paléologue, page 271, publisher: George H. Doran Company, publication date: 1925
(2) A Turkish army of 65,000 men advanced from Constantinople to the Sinai Peninsula to seize the Suez Canal from the British. Before its arrival, and after a November 21, 1914 skirmish between the British and 2,000 Bedouins, the British had enhanced their defenses of the canal, in part by breaking through the canal dyke to flood the desert to the east. British gunships and French warships patrolled the Bitter Lakes and flooded land through and along which which the canal ran. The Turkish force had been significantly diminished by the time it reached the canal.
King's Complete History of the World War by W.C. King, page 139, copyright © 1922, by W.C. King, publisher: The History Associates, publication date: 1922
(3) After the attack on February 2-3, 1915, the Turks did not again seriously threaten the Suez Canal, although they attempted to lay mines in the Canal and connecting waterways. Only one mine damaged a ship, the liner Teiresias, on June 30. Many of the Turkish troops who could have threatened the Canal were redeployed to defend against the Allied invasion on the Gallipoli Peninsula,which began in April.
King's Complete History of the World War by W.C. King, page 140, copyright © 1922, by W.C. King, publisher: The History Associates, publication date: 1922
(4) On November 5, 1914, Great Britain declared the North Sea a war area, and extended its blockade of Germany. Although this angered neutral nations — most importantly the United States — it increasingly deprived Germany of needed materials and supplies. Fearing loss of its surface ships to superior British ships, Germany relied on its submarines to enforce its own war region.
The Great Events of the Great War in Seven Volumes by Charles F. Horne, Vol. III, 1915, p. 56, copyright © 1920 by The National Alumnia, publisher: The National Alumni, publication date: 1920
(5) Entry from the memoirs of Maurice Paléologue, French Ambassador to Russia, for Friday, February 5, 1915 about a discussion he had with Krivoshein, the Russian Minister of Agriculture, and, in Paléologue's estimation, with the Foreign Minister, one of the 'most Liberal' cabinet members, and 'most devoted to the Alliance' with France and Great Britain. Earlier in the conversation he reported that Grand Duke Nicholas, commander of the Russian armies, was confident, and would continue his offensive against Berlin when he had adequate ammunition.
An Ambassador's Memoirs Vol. I by Maurice Paléologue, pp. 272, 273, publisher: George H. Doran Company, publication date: 1925
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