17. 1916-1919, The Great War: The Final Straw
With the Russian victory behind them, The Persian Army was quick to withdraw from Russia and reposition itself on the border of Ethiopia. On September 9th of 1916, Persia declared war once again. By October 4th, they controlled Gondar. Eight days later, the British finally declared war on Persia. China was quick to come to her ally’s defense and the world war continued.
Allied War Plans
As Persian forces were quickly subduing what little army the Ethiopians possessed, Abbas Ali instructed his western armies to converge on Delhi. With a few short victories, the hope was to cut Britain’s path through northeast India, forcing them to assault by sea. By November, The Persian Army was in control of most of Ethiopia and had taken both Delhi and Panipat. Once Agra fell the next month, a line was now set and the Indian front could move forward without fear of the British sneaking behind the lines. December 27th brought the annexation of Ethiopia and states were quickly set up to administer the building projects and other changes the Persians would bring. And Kanpur was taken setting the Persians up for a strong push the next year.
But 1917 brought Persia her first failures. The Persian Navy was simply inadequate to deal with His Majesty’s Royal Navy. Further, British reinforcements had arrived bringing the numbers of troops in India up considerably. Abbas Ali was twice forced to withdraw from battle in Jabalpur so that he could reinforce his own troops and attack again with sufficient numbers.
By this time, it called for a decision. The line in India was stalled at Kanpur. They could try to push through and break the strong British forces in Allahabad, thus hopefully meeting up with China, who was steadily approaching from the east, or they could go to the west and cut the interior off from the sea and thus further reinforcements. Abbas Ali decided on the latter. Leaving a strong enough force in Kampur, he pushed west into Jabalpur once more. This time, his numbers beat the British by three to one and he pushed them out on June 15th.
The hot summer months were greeted with Russia’s entrance into the European war on the French side and the Ottoman’s entrance on the German side, yet the United Kingdom was too busy in the south to enter herself. Several divisions were finally able to break the British in Allahabad and Abbas Ali ordered these men to dig in. The Chinese would eventually push the British towards them rather than the Persian Army chasing them around.
Yet the western drive was running into trouble. Seven divisions were defeated in August in Hoshangabad. Furious at his army’s performance, Abbas Ali called up fresh recruits of 100,000 more men. By December, they were armed and sent to the front. After taking control of Varanisi, and seeing the British reject a modest peace proposal, he sent them into Hoshangabad once more. Within a month, they had defeated the British and taken the province.
In February of 1918, peace would be made in Europe. Germany had reduced France to a mere shell of its former self, Spain was in economic shatters and Russia faced massive revolts at home. Germany took possession of 13 further French provinces and colonies, thus cementing her dominance of the continent. Persia, at that moment was attacking Bombay.
By March, Bombay and Surat had come under Persian control and a British officer defected to the Persian side. With his knowledge of war plans, the Persians were to move quicker down the coast. In May, Puce was taken. In June, it was Kolhapur. July saw Sholapur fall and in August it was Balgaum. British attacks in both Jabalpur and Varnisi, coming from protectorate lands were repelled with ease. Mangalore fell in September and Calicut in October.
China had sent several crack divisions for the Persians to use as guards while the bulk of her Army took control of the remaining British positions. By the end of the year, China and Persia controlled most of British India, the Army of the Sudan had taken the British colonies in Central Africa and Abbas Ali had 70,000 more men to throw at them. With further assistance from Chinese guards, partisans were kept minimized and it appeared only a matter of time before the British accepted defeat.
But the United Kingdom was proud. David Lloyd George, working with some of the best men available refused to give up the fight. In 1919, the British began a counteroffensive. They were able to gain a stronghold in Surat, on the northeast coast. Beating the Persians and retaking the province, they began ferrying more men in an attempt to cut the southern armies from the north. But Abbas Ali would deny them this hope. Pouring close to 500,000 men into Surat between January 28th and February 15th, he was able to claim victory and retake it by March.
Peace offer after peace offer was sent to the United Kingdom. Seven in all were sent and seven were turned down. By the final attempt, Abbas Ali was only asking for Agra, Panipat and Delhi. The British were having none of it. Adding to the trouble, the peoples of the various occupied territories in the Empire were beginning to show renewed signs of nationalism. Kurds, Afghanis, Baluchi, Egyptians and more would begin the process of revolting, forcing the army to move out of defensive positions and stay constantly on the march.
By July 15th, 1919 the war indemnities with Russia had run out. Even though they had suffered under rebellion, Abbas Ali would take no chance that they might resume war with Persia. He wanted to free his armies up to fight rebellion at home and possible invasion from the north. He sent word that he wished to meet with British diplomats in the Mediterranean to offer a possible deal and bring peace once again. Though skeptical of Ali’s motives, Lloyd George wished to end hostilities as well and, at the suggestion of Arthur Balfour, Henry Strachen was asked to travel with the diplomatic team. On July 22nd, the two sides met on the island of Crete hoping to come to a fair deal and conclude this terrible war.
With the Russian victory behind them, The Persian Army was quick to withdraw from Russia and reposition itself on the border of Ethiopia. On September 9th of 1916, Persia declared war once again. By October 4th, they controlled Gondar. Eight days later, the British finally declared war on Persia. China was quick to come to her ally’s defense and the world war continued.
Allied War Plans
As Persian forces were quickly subduing what little army the Ethiopians possessed, Abbas Ali instructed his western armies to converge on Delhi. With a few short victories, the hope was to cut Britain’s path through northeast India, forcing them to assault by sea. By November, The Persian Army was in control of most of Ethiopia and had taken both Delhi and Panipat. Once Agra fell the next month, a line was now set and the Indian front could move forward without fear of the British sneaking behind the lines. December 27th brought the annexation of Ethiopia and states were quickly set up to administer the building projects and other changes the Persians would bring. And Kanpur was taken setting the Persians up for a strong push the next year.
But 1917 brought Persia her first failures. The Persian Navy was simply inadequate to deal with His Majesty’s Royal Navy. Further, British reinforcements had arrived bringing the numbers of troops in India up considerably. Abbas Ali was twice forced to withdraw from battle in Jabalpur so that he could reinforce his own troops and attack again with sufficient numbers.
By this time, it called for a decision. The line in India was stalled at Kanpur. They could try to push through and break the strong British forces in Allahabad, thus hopefully meeting up with China, who was steadily approaching from the east, or they could go to the west and cut the interior off from the sea and thus further reinforcements. Abbas Ali decided on the latter. Leaving a strong enough force in Kampur, he pushed west into Jabalpur once more. This time, his numbers beat the British by three to one and he pushed them out on June 15th.
The hot summer months were greeted with Russia’s entrance into the European war on the French side and the Ottoman’s entrance on the German side, yet the United Kingdom was too busy in the south to enter herself. Several divisions were finally able to break the British in Allahabad and Abbas Ali ordered these men to dig in. The Chinese would eventually push the British towards them rather than the Persian Army chasing them around.
Yet the western drive was running into trouble. Seven divisions were defeated in August in Hoshangabad. Furious at his army’s performance, Abbas Ali called up fresh recruits of 100,000 more men. By December, they were armed and sent to the front. After taking control of Varanisi, and seeing the British reject a modest peace proposal, he sent them into Hoshangabad once more. Within a month, they had defeated the British and taken the province.
In February of 1918, peace would be made in Europe. Germany had reduced France to a mere shell of its former self, Spain was in economic shatters and Russia faced massive revolts at home. Germany took possession of 13 further French provinces and colonies, thus cementing her dominance of the continent. Persia, at that moment was attacking Bombay.
By March, Bombay and Surat had come under Persian control and a British officer defected to the Persian side. With his knowledge of war plans, the Persians were to move quicker down the coast. In May, Puce was taken. In June, it was Kolhapur. July saw Sholapur fall and in August it was Balgaum. British attacks in both Jabalpur and Varnisi, coming from protectorate lands were repelled with ease. Mangalore fell in September and Calicut in October.
China had sent several crack divisions for the Persians to use as guards while the bulk of her Army took control of the remaining British positions. By the end of the year, China and Persia controlled most of British India, the Army of the Sudan had taken the British colonies in Central Africa and Abbas Ali had 70,000 more men to throw at them. With further assistance from Chinese guards, partisans were kept minimized and it appeared only a matter of time before the British accepted defeat.
But the United Kingdom was proud. David Lloyd George, working with some of the best men available refused to give up the fight. In 1919, the British began a counteroffensive. They were able to gain a stronghold in Surat, on the northeast coast. Beating the Persians and retaking the province, they began ferrying more men in an attempt to cut the southern armies from the north. But Abbas Ali would deny them this hope. Pouring close to 500,000 men into Surat between January 28th and February 15th, he was able to claim victory and retake it by March.
Peace offer after peace offer was sent to the United Kingdom. Seven in all were sent and seven were turned down. By the final attempt, Abbas Ali was only asking for Agra, Panipat and Delhi. The British were having none of it. Adding to the trouble, the peoples of the various occupied territories in the Empire were beginning to show renewed signs of nationalism. Kurds, Afghanis, Baluchi, Egyptians and more would begin the process of revolting, forcing the army to move out of defensive positions and stay constantly on the march.
By July 15th, 1919 the war indemnities with Russia had run out. Even though they had suffered under rebellion, Abbas Ali would take no chance that they might resume war with Persia. He wanted to free his armies up to fight rebellion at home and possible invasion from the north. He sent word that he wished to meet with British diplomats in the Mediterranean to offer a possible deal and bring peace once again. Though skeptical of Ali’s motives, Lloyd George wished to end hostilities as well and, at the suggestion of Arthur Balfour, Henry Strachen was asked to travel with the diplomatic team. On July 22nd, the two sides met on the island of Crete hoping to come to a fair deal and conclude this terrible war.