1914-1924 'British interests; British honour; British obligations'

[SirCliveWolfe]

The agreement that the Allied powers have reached regarding the future of the Ottoman Empire is illustrated by this map (from Part L):

It is highly likely that these details will undergo a significant alteration given the gains of the British Army in Mesopotamia and Palestine; Russia has conquered a great deal of the territory that is to be appropriated to her (lest Constantinople) and will certainly insist on those parts of the agreement pertaning to her aggrandisement being adhered to.

Whether Russia will be in a position to insist on anything in the future remains to be seen.

Interesting, is this the historical agreement or something that you have reasoned at?

 

[Allenby]

Interesting, is this the historical agreement or something that you have reasoned at?

It is mostly historical, although to account for the presence of Greece in the Entente, she was promised the city of Smyrna and a portion of the Anatolian hinterland.

 

[SirCliveWolfe]

It is mostly historical, although to account for the presence of Greece in the Entente, she was promised the city of Smyrna and a portion of the Anatolian hinterland.

Hummm.. I thourght it was, well withous doing so well it may have to be changed substantialy.... would be interesting if Italy got that slice.

I have to say that I have really enjoyed the stroy so far... it was one of the AAR's that inspired me to write Dreams of Albion, I'm taking that from EUII to Viki to 1914 (hopefuly) to HOI2... I am wondering if you are going to write a sequal about a possible WWII?

Anyway enough of my blabber...

Sir Clive.

 

[Allenby]

I am wondering if you are going to write a sequal about a possible WWII?

If all goes according to plan, there should not be the need for another world war.

 

[Allenby]

Part LXXXIII – Over There

Having traversed the Atlantic Ocean, the Baltic docked at Liverpool on 21st March 1917. Down the gangplank strode the Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Force, Major-General Leonard Wood, followed by his staff. The creation of a vast army was planned, and Wood, the first of hundreds of thousands of Americans scheduled to land in Europe. An appreciative crowd watched as the Lord Mayor of Liverpool greeted Wood outside the town hall and a military band struck up ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ and ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’. Wood’s visit to Liverpool was just a passing one, for pressing business called in London. Here, the American general met Lloyd George and senior members of the Cabinet, before being received by King George V at Buckingham Palace. Over dinner, the King grandly declared to Wood his long held desire that the British and American people be united in a common struggle – the war against Germany, he said, was the perfect opportunity to undertake the majestic endeavour. The chief American military officer in Europe therefore found himself as an agent of Anglo-American relations, a role he fulfilled with enthusiasm. Regiments of the 1st Division were arriving in Britain by late March, and a number of American troops were reviewed by George V, Queen Mary and Field Marshal French, an event to which a large, curious crowd of Londoners attended.

King George V, Queen Mary and Field Marshal French review American troops​

Although a number of American units would train in Britain, the bulk of the regular army was due for France, and it was here that Wood and his considerable entourage travelled to next. Landing at St. Nazaire, Wood was received by a gracious French crowd, and the American general returned their patent enthusiasm with numerous salutes. The 2nd Division began the lengthy disembarkation process in the crowded port whilst Wood railed to Paris. Amidst cries of “Vive l’Amerique!” a battalion of Marines paraded through the French capital and Wood was taken to the tomb of the Marquis de Lafayette, the famed hero of the Revolutionary War. Whilst Parisians were thrilled at his presence, Wood, more reserved, gazed alongside his accompanying officers without expression at the Marquis’ resting place, respectfully saying nothing. Having met President Poincaré and the Prime Minister, Aristide Briand, Wood travelled to the front in order to become acquainted with his fellow commanders-in-chief.

American troops parade in Whitehall​

At Beauvais on 26th March, Wood talked at length with Nivelle, who disclosed the details of the imminent offensive to be carried out against the German Army on the western front. Nivelle’s plans had undergone a sudden, albeit necessary alteration in recent weeks. Having withstood a fearsome battering at the Somme-Avre campaign in 1916, the German Army executed an elaborate withdrawal in order to shorten the front line and release divisions for reserve duty throughout March 1917. It was on the Siegfriedstellung (or Hindenburg Line, as it became known to the British) that the German Army’s defensive posture on the western front hinged. In their midst, the retreating Germans left a trail of destruction, ruining the infrastructure and leaving numerous traps designed to take a toll on Allied servicemen as they occupied the vacuum. Commanding the Northern Group of Armies, General d’Esperey pleaded with Nivelle that the Germans be pursued with vigour, arguing that a spirited and suddenly executed offensive would keep the German Army off balance. Nivelle did not consent, and the German Army was given the opportunity to shorten the front line without interference, a matter that vexed d’Esperey and puzzled Wood. The American commander-in-chief noted the difficulties under which Nivelle was working, for he was evidently losing the support of his civil and military allies. The French government was facing a crisis of confidence, and in Briand, Nivelle found his only true supporter. Other Cabinet colleagues had lost faith in Nivelle’s planned offensive and were critical of his conduct over the German strategic withdrawal. Lyautey, the War Minister, gave half-hearted support to Nivelle, yet the famed colonial general still possessed strong reservations about the ability of the commander-in-chief and the planned offensive. The arrival of the first American troops in France and the public show of affection between Wood and Briand had a stabilising effect on the French government, which continued to ride the storm of criticism and remain in office. Relieving Nivelle of command at such a late stage was considered impossible by the government, and the French commander-in-chief’s position was kept temporarily firm by a successful public relations exercise in which he attended a game of American football between the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy with Major-General Wood. Nivelle had shown good humour at the occasion but hid a deeper concern for his position, fear that Wood could not help but notice. Departing Beauvais, Wood mused over the strife characterising the French war effort, convincing him of the necessity of the United States contributing to the waging of the war as quickly as possible.

General Nivelle and Major-General Wood watch a game of American football, in which the U.S. Army triumphed 24-10​

Wood visited Field Marshal Haig on board his private train and mobile headquarters after his time with Nivelle. He found the dour Scot to be genial, letting the American general sample some of his finest brandy. Accompanying Wood was the commander of the 2nd Division, Major-General John Pershing, who Root had briefly considered appointing as the Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Force. Haig discussed many matters with his guests over dinner, and he assessed them thus in his diary

‘[Wood] appears to be a very capable man, is anxious to learn and fully realises the greatness of the task before him. I was much struck by Pershing’s quiet gentlemanly bearing – so unusual for an American…The CGS (Lieutenant-Colonel Harbord) is a kindly soft looking fellow…The AG (Lieutenant-Colonel Alvord) having served long in Manilla and other hot places, seems to be less alert mentally than the others. The ADC (Captain Patton) is a fire-eater, and longs for the fray.’

Like Nivelle, Haig’s position as commander was far from secure, although he still enjoyed the overwhelming support of the Unionist dominated Cabinet and the public, despite the machinations of Lloyd George. Unlike Nivelle, Haig was outwardly composed and exuded his typical determination that the war would be won. This impressed the American commanders and eased the discussion of how the AEF’s units would be deployed. It was inevitable that this awkward question would be raised, yet uncertainty shrouded American intentions. Wood assured Haig that he intended to carry out the instructions given to him by Secretary Root to involve American troops in combat at the earliest practical opportunity. The same matter had been raised earlier by Nivelle, but Wood had given the same reply without indicating what was implied by Root’s directions. To their relief, the French and British commanders would not have to wait long before the Americans clarified their position. President Roosevelt and Secretary Root concurred that it was beneficial to the war effort to involve the U.S. Army as soon as possible. Whilst a huge independent army was their ultimate aim, they recognised the necessity of training their green troops to western front standards and cooperating with the toughened French and British armies. Placing American units in the front line would not just be a gesture of good will – it was intended to make practical sense. This delighted Nivelle and Haig, who were eager to incorporate the freshly raised American units into their armies to make good the losses incurred in the costly operations of 1916. In particular, Nivelle pointed out that any successful offensive in 1917 would require exploitation, and that American troops would be conveniently situated to replace any depleted Allied units. With this in mind, Nivelle audaciously proposed that American units be integrated into the French Army. Under the arrangements Nivelle outlined, the independent American Army would cease to be, and Wood, responsible for the training of such units, would find himself in the role of a glorified drill sergeant. This prospect was odious to Roosevelt, Root and Wood, who had no intention of seeing American manpower transformed into cannon fodder for the French Army. Yet it highlighted a dilemma for the President, who intended to create an independent American Army in order to provide political leverage at any future peace negotiations but wanted to involve his troops in combat with all possible haste. It was impossible that large American formations could independently hold portions of the front line so soon after the United States’ entry into the war – if Roosevelt wished his units to join the fray quickly, some form of subservience to Allied command structures was necessary.

Wood desired an independent but battle hardened army​

It was here that good relations with the British were of use, for Haig was more sympathetic to American sensitivities than Nivelle, and recognised Roosevelt’s determination that the U.S. should eventually field an independent force. For the purpose of training American officers and men, the British commander suggested incorporating American battalions into British brigades and forming American brigades from those battalions once the necessary experience had been obtained. This process could be continued so that American divisions could serve in British corps, with American corps then serving in British armies until a substantial number of corps were sufficiently trained to compose an American army formation. After modifications were made to shorten the time in which an American army was expected to be fielded, the plan was accepted by both Wood and Washington D.C. To the French, who had cause to consider themselves left out in the cold by such close Anglo-American collusion, it was explained that most American troops would temporarily serve with the British on linguistic grounds. Nevertheless, to assuage the French, Wood promised Nivelle that a number of American battalions would serve with French brigades before forming their own units. This scheme began within a week of the agreement being made, with American officers of various ranks touring the front line to gain experience of trench warfare. Meanwhile, more troops from the United States had arrived in France, and by 8th April 1917, two divisions – Bullard’s 1st Division and Pershing’s 2nd Division, were preparing to attach their battalions to Allied brigades.

Rear Admiral Rodman shakes hands with Admiral Sir David Beatty, commander of the Battlecruiser Fleet​

The imminent retirement of the King Edward VII-class of pre-dreadnoughts to provide manpower for newly constructed destroyers and submarines placed the Admiralty in a minor predicament. Serving with the Channel Fleet, these ships required replacement to provide the southern coast of England with sufficient protection. It was decided that the oldest dreadnoughts serving with the Grand Fleet, Dreadnought, Bellerophon, Superb and Teméraire would fill the void left by the King Edward VII-class, yet Jellicoe protested at this diminution of his numerical strength without compensation. With the agreement of the Cabinet, the First Lord of the Admiralty, Austen Chamberlain invited the American government in February 1917 to send a battle squadron to serve with the Grand Fleet. The Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral William Benson was instinctively hostile to Chamberlain’s proposal, believing that the American fleet should be concentrated, not dispersed, so that it could defend America from a potential attack by Germany in the event that Britain and France should lose the war. Furthermore, he argued that the possibility of war with Japan necessitated the maintenance of navies in both the Pacific and Atlantic, not the creation of another command post in the North Sea. Benson’s attitude surprised no one, for he had once made it clear that he would ‘as soon fight the British as the Germans.’ For this reason, Roosevelt overruled Benson and emphasised his opinion that the dreadnoughts of the United States Navy should participate in the war both to contribute to the effort at sea and to prevent institutional inertia. The navy was close to the President’s heart, having served as Secretary of the Navy under William McKinley and commissioned the country’s first dreadnoughts during his first term as President. For Roosevelt, the opportunity to involve them in the struggle for the supremacy of the North Sea was too good to miss, and Bainbridge Colby, the Secretary of the Navy, sent the Canadian-born Admiral William Sims to London in March in order to discuss the arrangements for sending a battle squadron. Sims and the Admiralty worked quickly and productively, and within a week, Colby was able to give orders to a battleship division to sail for Scapa Flow.

King George V visiting the Grand Fleet​

On 6th April, visible to Admiral Jellicoe on the bridge of Iron Duke were six dreadnoughts flying the American flag on the horizon, belching black smoke. In the vanguard was New York, armed with fourteen inch guns and serving as Rear Admiral Hugh Rodman’s flagship. Following closely were Texas, Florida, Delaware, Wyoming and Arkansas. The newly named Third Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet had arrived at Scapa Flow, to a tumultuous welcome from waiting Royal Navy vessels. An American officer, impressed at the vast lines of dreadnoughts, commented how ‘spread out below me, swinging aimlessly to the whims of the eddying currents, lay the Grand Fleet.’ The American ships were manoeuvred alongside Iron Duke, and Admiral Jellicoe was quick to come aboard New York to personally welcome Rodman and his crew. Jellicoe described Rodman as a ‘tall, bluntly-spoken, amiable Kentuckian’ whilst Rodman noted that his new chief was a ‘quiet and genial Englishman’ – it was clear that they would be able to work together pleasantly. The American ships were soon being versed in Royal Navy signals and manoeuvring orders, crucial to the Third Battle Squadron’s successful integration into the Grand Fleet. Although inexperienced in gunnery, Jellicoe was confident that his American squadron would be of great value – although he had lost Dreadnought and the Bellerophon-class to the Channel Fleet, the arrival of the American ships had raised the numerical and qualitative strength of the Grand Fleet. The morale of the fleet was raised by the visit of King George V and Queen Mary, and in a gracious trans-Atlantic gesture, Rodman raised a flag signal reading ‘God Save the King.’ George toured a number of vessels, including New York, before remaining to dine on board Iron Duke with Jellicoe, Rodman and Beatty, who had brought his Battlecruiser Fleet to Scapa Flow for the visit. The King’s presence worked to boost the spirit of the fleet and was yet another triumph for Anglo-American relations. His visit to the Grand Fleet was undoubtedly a great success, and as he boarded the royal train at Thurso on 12th April, Lord Stamfordham presented him with the most recent reports from the western front, which he read thoroughly before attending to his stamp collection. A few days before, the French and British armies launched their colossal offensive against the German Army.

Queen Mary in discussion with Beatty’s flag captain, Ernle Chatfield​

 

[SirCliveWolfe]

If all goes according to plan, there should not be the need for another world war.

So your not going to give them darned Frenchies a good licking then? Afterall it is traditional

Nice update that you managed to slip in there without me noticing it!

EIDT: After reading I see that we are becoming very chummy with the Yanks at the cost of the French... that has to be good!!

 

[unmerged(45769)]

How many US units are in France right now? Let's hope those Marines get stationed at Belleau Wood again

 

[VILenin]

Yes, Anglo-American relations seem to be quite rosy. We'll see what happens when it coes time for the post-war settlement. And curse cliffhangers! I want to know more about the massive offensve against the German Army you so tantalizingly slipped in at the end of the update.

 

[SirCliveWolfe]

Yes, Anglo-American relations seem to be quite rosy. We'll see what happens when it coes time for the post-war settlement. And curse cliffhangers! I want to know more about the massive offensve against the German Army you so tantalizingly slipped in at the end of the update.

Oh yes.... cliffhangers are really annoying, perhaps Allenby's update may give others writing TGW AAR's a spur to update

 

[VILenin]

Oh yes.... cliffhangers are really annoying, perhaps Allenby's update may give others writing TGW AAR's a spur to update

Erm, eh-hem, well I, uh, was, um... o I'll get to work, I guess.

 

[Sir Humphrey]

War Plan Red. Remeber that... Great Anglo-American update.

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

If all goes according to plan, there should not be the need for another world war.

Oh... then we are going to miss the great fun

 

[Lord E]

Great to see a new update Allenby, good work. Good the see the Yankees arriving in Europe, now it is time to crush the Germans first, and then as Sir Clive says it is time to honour the proud British tradition and give the Frogs a good licking…
Shall be interesting to see what this offensive is and how it is carried out, maybe we shall see the war end by Christmas.

 

[unmerged(11031)]

Pah you should have bled the American army on the Front then invaded the States!

lol

Berlin before Christmas?

 

[unmerged(15723)]

Pah you should have bled the American army on the Front then invaded the States!

lol

Berlin before Christmas?

Considering the talk/action ratio lately I seriously doubt that this war will ever end.

 

[unmerged(28894)]

My money's on Plan 1919.

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

My money's on Plan 1919.

Mine too, but I guess that 1917 is a bit too early for that, as it has been stated before .

 

[Allenby]

So your not going to give them darned Frenchies a good licking then? Afterall it is traditional

Friends can quickly become enemies, but if you believe in the democratic peace theory, a Anglo-French clash in the future is very unlikely, especially given the war weariness of both.

How many US units are in France right now? Let's hope those Marines get stationed at Belleau Wood again

Two divisions so far. Don't hold out any hope of them fighting as unified units before 1918, though.

Yes, Anglo-American relations seem to be quite rosy. We'll see what happens when it coes time for the post-war settlement. And curse cliffhangers! I want to know more about the massive offensve against the German Army you so tantalizingly slipped in at the end of the update.

France may find the close nature of Anglo-American relations alarming and may feel that any peace dictated to the Central Powers will be too Anglocentric and not give sufficient attention to French interests. Nevertheless, if they still have a vast army at the end of hostilities, they would be too strong to ignore.

War Plan Red. Remeber that... Great Anglo-American update.

Thanks, H!

Oh... then we are going to miss the great fun

Miss out the needless bloodshed, surely?

Great to see a new update Allenby, good work. Good the see the Yankees arriving in Europe, now it is time to crush the Germans first, and then as Sir Clive says it is time to honour the proud British tradition and give the Frogs a good licking…

Thanks, E man! What is it with this unsatiable desire to fight the French?

Pah you should have bled the American army on the Front then invaded the States!

lol

Berlin before Christmas?

The same question as was posed in 1914, 1915 and 1916? What might be the answer in 1917?

Considering the talk/action ratio lately I seriously doubt that this war will ever end.

Let's see if we are to experience some action soon or only Admirals debating back and forth.

After all this time, you haven't changed.

My money's on Plan 1919.

Mine too, but I guess that 1917 is a bit too early for that, as it has been stated before

'tis rather. See above.

 

[SirCliveWolfe]

Friends can quickly become enemies, but if you believe in the democratic peace theory, a Anglo-French clash in the future is very unlikely, especially given the war weariness of both.

We shall see

if they still have a vast army at the end of hostilities, they would be too strong to ignore.

Very wise as ever mr Allenby

Thanks, E man! What is it with this unsatiable desire to fight the French?

Its Britishness inst it?

 

[Sir Humphrey]

I remeber a quote from someone a while ago "Use the Americans to chew up German ammunition stocks".