April 21, 1915

Tags

1914, 1915, Argonne, artillery, Belgium, British Army, British Chancellor of the Exchequer, British Expeditionary Force, Committee of Imperial Defence, France, Great Britain, Hill 60, House of Commons, Lloyd George, munitions, Shell Crisis of 1915, St Mihiel, Ypres

Extremely violent efforts by the Germans to retake Hill 60. The French line is slightly advanced in the St. Mihiel area. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, speaking in the debate on the output of munitions, says that the Committee of Imperial Defence has always proceeded upon the assumption that the Expeditionary Force would be six divisions. After eight months of war there are more than six times as many men out there. Taking the figure 20 as representing our output of artillery ammunition in September, the output in the succeeding months was:- October, 90; November, 90; December, 156; January 186; February, 256; and March, 388. The production of high explosives has been placed on a footing which relieves us of all anxiety.

December 4, 1914

Tags

1914, Antwerp, Argonne, Belgian Prime Minister, Belgium, British Army, British Empire, British Expeditionary Force, Charles de Broqueville, decoration, dispatches, France, General Botha, German Army, Germany, Great Britain, headquarters, King Albert I, King George V, Maritz Rebellion, monarchy, Order of the Garter, South Africa, Vermelles

The King inspects the General Headquarters, and visits the Headquarters of the Belgian Army and invests King Albert with the Order of the Garter,and decorates the Belgian Premier. Germans, specially active in the Argonne, are repulsed. The Allies are improving their hold on Vermelles. Dispatches covering the close of the defence of Antwerp are published. General Botha‘s sweeping operations round Reitz, culminate in the capture of 700 rebels and the surrender of 200 more.

December 1, 1914

Tags

1914, Allies, Battle of Lodz, British Army, British Empire, British Expeditionary Force, casualties, Chile, Christiaan de Wet, Coloured books, Cracow, decoration, Distinguished Service Order, France, French Army, French President, French Prime Minister, General Joffre, Germany, Great Britain, headquarters, India, Indian Army, Indian Expeditionary Force, King George V, Mafeking, Mahikeng, Maritz Rebellion, medal, monarchy, Poland, Raymond Poincare, Rene Viviani, riot, Russia, South Africa, Valparaiso, Yellow book

The 120th day of the war. The King, who left England for the General Headquarters of the Expeditionary Force on November 20, visits the Indian troops and the wounded. General Joffre is invested with the Order of the Grand Cross of the Bath. M. Poincaré and M. Viviani dine with the King. The Allies advanced appreciably at two points. Russians progressing near Cracow. Anti-German riots at Valparaiso. The Yellow Book issued by the French Government, and its translation, undertaken at the request of the latter, published by The Times. Fifty-eight appointments to the Distinguished Service Order. De Wet surrenders, 100 miles from Mafeking. The Times Red Cross Fund amounts to £688,743.

October 1, 1914

Tags

1914, Antwerp, Austria, Austria-Hungary, Austro-Hungarian Navy, Belgium, British Expeditionary Force, Commander-in-Chief, Field Marshal, Flanders, Fort de Lierre, Fort Koningshooikt, fortress, Germany, Italy, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Lierre, monarchy, propaganda, Sir John French, weapons

Germans, having temporarily silenced the Koningshoyckt and Lierre forts, attempt to rush the Belgian trenches, but are repulsed. Text of the Kaiser‘s message about “General French’s contemptible little Army” published in The Times. Italian Government protests against Austrian mine-laying in neutral waters.

September 24, 1914

Tags

1914, air raid, Aisne, animals, Belgium, Black Maria, British Expeditionary Force, China, Cracow, dog, First Battle of the Aisne, Flanders, Galicia, German Empire, Germany, Great Britain, Jack Johnson, Krakow, morale, Ostend, Petrograd, Poland, Qingdao, race to the sea, Russia, St Petersburg, stalemate, Tsingtao, United States of America, weapons, Zeppelin

Growing irritation is noticed in America at German efforts to provoke feelings inconsistent with the neutrality of the United States. The tendency of the battle of the Aisne to become more like a siege is emphasized in an official account issued by the War Office. The buoyant spirits of the British troops are shown by their nicknames of the heaviest German shells as “Jack Johnsons” or “Black Marias.” The diminished efficiency of the German armies is apparent in many ways. A dog was killed as the result of a Zeppelin attack on Ostend. A British Expeditionary Force arrives at Laoshan Bay to participate in the movements against the Germans at Tsingtao. Petrograd communiqués report the Russian capture of fortified positions in the advance towards Cracow.

September 21, 1914

Tags

1914, Aga Khan, bombardment, British Empire, British Expeditionary Force, British politics, British Red Cross, casualties, cathedral, Commander-in-Chief, Craonne, First Lord of the Admiralty, France, fundraising, Germany, Great Britain, India, India Office, Indian Army, Indian Expeditionary Force, Islam, Liverpool, race to the sea, recruitment, Reims, Reims cathedral, Sir John French, speech, St John Ambulance, The Times appeal, Winston Churchill

The Times appeal for the British Red Cross Society and the St. John Ambulance Association has produced just over a quarter of a million sterling (£251,000) to date. The repulse of further German counter-attacks is reported by Sir John French. “Violent fighting” continues in the Craonne district. The French Government sends a protest to the neutral Powers against the wanton destruction of Reims Cathedral. The India Office announces in a further list of offers of help by Indian notables that the Aga Khan had volunteered for service even as a private in the Indian Expeditionary Force. Mr. Churchill, at Liverpool, declares that if the German Fleet would not come out to fight it would be “dug out like rats in a hole.”

September 13, 1914

Tags

1914, Aisne, Allies, British East Africa, British Empire, British Expeditionary Force, First Battle of the Aisne, Germany, Great Britain, HMS E9, Imperial German Navy, invasion, Kenya, Lithuania, Neman, Niemen, Royal Navy, Russia, Seredzius, SMS Hela, Soissons, Sredniki

German invasion of British East Africa announced. German cruiser Hela sunk by British submarine E 9. Allies force the passage of the Aisne near Soissons. Germans defeated by Russians on the Niemen near Sredniki.

September 9, 1914

Tags

1914, Allies, British Army, British Empire, British Expeditionary Force, Champagne, Commander-in-Chief, Dominions, Field Marshal, First Battle of the Marne, Germany, Great Britain, Imperial Service Troops, India, Indian Army, Indian princes, King George V, Marne, Miracle of the Marne, monarchy, Sir John French

Dispatch of 70,000 Indian troops, and patriotic action of Indian Princes announced. King’s Message to Dominions acknowledging assistance rendered in naval forces, troops, and supplies. Sir John French‘s second Report published. Allies continue to repel the Germans.

September 6, 1914

Tags

British Army, British Expeditionary Force, Champagne, Commander-in-Chief, Field Marshal, First Battle of the Marne, Germany, La Ferte-sous-Jouarre, Marne, Miracle of the Marne, Royal Naval Division, Royal Navy, Sir John French

Germans announced to be crossing the Marne at La Ferté-sous-Jouarre. Sir John French‘s Report issued. Admiralty announces organization of a Royal Naval Division.

August 26, 1914

Tags

1914, Allies, attack, Belgium, British Army, British Expeditionary Force, Cambrai, France, German Empire, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain, Guignies, Landrecies, Le Cateau, Togo, Togoland, Tournai

British forces engaged at Tournai and Guignies. Main British Army holding line Cambrai-Le Cateau. Landrecies engaged all day. Germans make fierce attack on Landrecies, and suffer great losses. Conquest of Togoland by the Allies.