AUGUST 4 - AUGUST 11, 1914
WAR!
"On the idle hill of summer,
Sleepy with the flow of streams,
Far I hear the steady drummer
Drumming like a noise in dreams.."
- A.E Housman, 1896 -
London, England
“Do you know how much I love you?” Margarete said, still clutching his hand.
“I will be safe away from the frontline, dear.” John lied.
“General Cecil requires me for my intelligence, not for my youthful athleticism.”
She laughed.
A tear landed on his hand.
“Why must we have war? Whatever good will come of this?”
“One day we will have peace, my dear.”
he replied. “Our sons and daughters will grow up spoiled at the prosperity we leave behind.”
“Empty words.”
“I know.”
“Come back to me.”
“Yes, my dear.”
She wrapped her arms around him in a very unlike British manner and cried on his pristine uniform.
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“Field Marshall Kitchener, sir.”
“General Cecil. At ease.”
Kitchener entered the office. His steely eyes and imposing height radiated an authority few could match.
“How is France, sir?” Cecil said as he picked up a large dossier from his desk.
“A right sordid mess, Cecil, a right sordid mess.” Kitchener replied as he sat down.
“So let’s get to work, shall we?”
AUSTRIA-HUNGARY INVADES SERBIA:
“Yes, sir.” Cecil pointed at the Kingdom of Serbia.
“The Austria-Hungarians launched their invasion on the 8th, a rather fumbling affair, if I may say so myself. A few smaller skirmishes have been waged on their borders. Roughly a thousand casualties, 60% being Serbians. It appears the Austro-Hungarians are having some issues transporting their troops fast enough.”
“Terrible terrains as well.”
“Most certainly, sir. Plenty of hilltops and mountains.
GERMANY DECLARES WAR ON RUSSIA:
And it didn’t take the Germans long to declare war.”
“I’ve read the newspapers.”
“Of course, sir” Cecil replied.
“Well, yesterday the Germans won the battle of Czestochowa, a thousand Russian casualties, sir. They are scrambling about like mad.”
“If only that was the extent of the Russian disaster.”
“Oh, whatever do you mean, Sir?”
THE BATTLE OF POMERANIAN BAY:
Kitchener threw a stack of papers down on the desk. A list of names with red lines etched across them.
“The madmen are attempting to lose their own navy. Or whatever is left of it.”
“Good Lord..”
- Armored cruiser - Pallada - SUNK
- Pre-dreadnought battleship - Tsarevich - SUNK
“Yesterday the German Grand Fleet went hunting for a fight in the Baltic seas. Our North Sea blockade is now fully operational, so I’m surprised we did not catch wind of this operation. In any case, The German High Seas Fleet intercepted a Russian squadron, and engaged them. Heavy losses on both sides, but the Germans came out of it with 1000 seamen lost. The Russians are looking at closer to three times that. As reinforcement closed in, the German fleet broke off, and disappeared
.”
“So the Russians are losing on land, and sea?”
“Very much so, Cecil.”
“But we have our own Grand Fleet patrolling the North Sea, sir. And it is costing an awful lot of oil. We were hoping to lure out the High Sea Fleet, but they’ve proven to be a tad bit more clever than we gave them credit for.”
“That might be so” Kitchener replied.
“But we’ve also commandeered 9 merchant ships headed for Germany. The blockade is working wonderfully in preventing supplies from reaching their docks.”
“Well, in other news, sir: Following the declaration of war, Germany began an invasion of Belgium, as they denied their troops military access in order to reach France.”
“Again, Cecil, this was in the last briefing.”
“Ah, yes sir.” Cecil replied.
“But they seem to be stuck in Liege. The fortifications there have slowed the German advancements to a halt. It’s rather remarkable. Marvellous bastards, the Belgians. It is giving us plenty of time.”
“August 8th, In response to the attack on Belgium, our government declared war on the Germans and their allies. The General Mobilisation has gone far better than we could ever imagine, Sir. The men are lining up, ready to do their duty, just as you hoped.”
“We’ll see where we are next year.” Kitchener said gravely.
THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE IN FRANCE:
“The BEF has been separated into 2 corps” He continued as he threw a map of France down on the desk.
“General Haig is located at Dunkirk, while II Corps and our HQ, under General French’s command has been tasked with moving into Lille and setting up operations.”
“And what of the French? I see plenty of movement”
“The French are madder than the Russians.” Kitchener grunted.
“Belgium is lost, and if we pull in to save it we will be lost as well.”
“And the last 8 divisions from Britain?”
“They will reinforce when needed.”
“What sort of war are you fighting, Sir?”
“A long one.” Kitchener answered cryptically.
THE EMPIRE BEGIN MOBILISATION:
“Does Asquith know about your plans?”
Kitchener’s steely eyes pierced through Cecil’s soul.
“Cecil. Are you questioning my decisions?” He asked with a reserved tone.
Cecil coughed, flabbergasted.
“Of course not, sir, of course not.” He hurried over to the large map on the wall and shifted Kitchener’s focus away from France. By pointing down at Africa.
“We have begun mobilising the rest of the empire, sir. We have looked at the numbers, and there is a tremendous potential of manpower…”
“South-Africa?” Kitchener grumbled.
“What could you possibly do with South-Africa that will not cause another rebellion?”
“Well, it’s not just South-Africa, sir” Cecil pointed at the other British colonies in Africa.
“We have several militias and garrisons we can move into minimally defended German colonies. We also have the French troops to aid us, as well as preventing any German reinforcements by cutting off the Mediterranean sea.”
CLAIMING GERMAN PAPUA NEW GUINEA:
“Ah,” Kitchener replied.
“That reminds me. Certain measures have been made in the Pacific to seize German positions.”
“Oh?” Cecil replied.
“What sort of measures?”
“Nothing drastic.” Kitchener answered.
“A small garrison from New Zealand has been tasked with securing Papua New Guinea. Nothing the Germans shall ever be able to contest.
A NEW, BETTER CHINA FLEET:
Also, the East Indies Squadron has been sent to link up with the China Fleet in Hong Kong. The Germans are only dangerous one place in the Pacific, and that is Tsingtao… or Qingdao, or whatever the hell they call it now. Churchill and his boys want to lay siege on it.”
“Well, that’s good and all, sir, but it’s in France the war will be won.” Cecil said.
“You’re very much on the money, Cecil. And we’ll need every last man.”
“Millions, sir?”
“Every last drop of blood, I fear.”
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Belgrade, Serbia
A large explosion hit the building. The world trembled as grey clouds of dust filled the air. Vlad fell over and cowered under a cafe table.
“We have to keep moving!!” Bete yelled at the top of his lungs.
The Austro-Hungarians had begun shelling the capital from afar. Every hit was random but aimed to disrupt and cause chaos in the city.
“I’m so tired, brother…” Vlad laid on the street amongst the rubble.
“So tired..”
Bete grabbed the younger brother by the arm and threw him over his shoulder.
“We are getting out of here.”
As they begun walking they spotted three Serbian soldiers running down the street.
“What the hell are you two doing out of your uniforms” one of them barked.
“We just arrived.” Vlad answered quite confused, attempting to stand on his own.
“That’s sir to you.” The man barked before turning to one of the other soldiers.
"Marko, find these clowns some uniforms.”
“Yes, sir.” Marko replied.
“Do you know how to fire a rifle?” The man asked, before correcting himself.
“Ah, never mind, we don’t even have enough rifles for ourselves. I’m Captain Pavlović. Now fuck off and don’t let me see you two in my company without a uniform. We’re moving out in an hour.”
“What? Where?”
“North, we’re going to kick Franz Joseph in the ass.”