SEPTEMBER 1 - SEPTEMBER 8, 1914
THE ENEMY BREAKS THROUGH AT HIRSON
“We are about to engage in a battle on which the fate of our country depends.”
- French General Joffre, 1914 -
“This battle is the decisive one. If I had to give my life today to gain victory, I would relinquish it with rapture, as thousands of our comrades in arms have already done.”
- German General von Moltke, 1914 -
South of Petrovgrad, Austria-Hungary
"Marko!" Vlad screamed over the sound of artillery.
"Hurry up!"
The young soldier threw himself over the rocks and landed safetly with the rest of the men.
"Holy mother of God." Marko kissed the cross hanging around his neck and looked up into the skies
"Thank you, my Lord and Saviour."
"Where is the Captain?" Bete shouted.
Marko looked around confused.
"Where am I?"
"You're back." Vlad pulled out his water canteen and handed it to the battered and worn out soldier.
"They've breached the frontline and separated the regiment in half."
Bete grabbed the young soldier by the collar
"Where is Captain Pavlovic?" He shouted.
Marko had an expression of suddent realisation.
"He was pinned down by the crossroads." He slapped himself on the forehead.
"I was the only one who got out."
"Is he still alive?" Bete shouted.
"Is the captain still alive?"
"I... I think so. He, he... He was alive when we made a run for it." Marko coughed up gravel dust.
Bete grabbed the water canteen and Markos extra ammunition.
"Get your stuff, we're going back."
He leaped out from behind the rocks, his footsteps quick and with intent as he headed for the captain's last whereabouts.
"I barely made it out of that hell hole!" Marko yelled to Vlad as he also leaped over, following his older brother into combat.
"For fuck sakes” he cursed.
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." he kissed his cross again. Sitting alone behind the rocks.
"He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters."
The earth trembled as dirt flew up into the air. An artillery shell had hit too close for comfort. Dust covered the landscape.
"Fine, fine!" He yelled to the skies.
"You've made your point!"
Then the young soldier leaped out from behind his precious cover, to follow the two brothers, back into the fray.
=========================
Calais, France
The car hurried down the open landscape of France. The leaves where turning into orange and yellow now. The morning had brought with it a light carpet of dew. Cecil and Kitchener had arrived in France a few hours ago, and now they were headed to the front.
“Did you hear the news of Petrograd?” Kitchener broke the silence.
“Pardon me?”
“It’s what they’ll call St. Petersburg from now on.” He replied.
“The Tsar found the old name too German sounding, so they have officially changed it.”
“How odd.” Cecil declared.
“To change the name of a city in the blink of an eye. Imagine if we were to do the same to London, simply to appease the public.”
“Whatever wins the war.”
“Ah, we’re one step closer, sir.” Cecil replied.
“Now that the Japanese empire has decided to join us.”
“Yes,” Kitchener said.
“Our, ehm, closest ally… At least this should take care of Tsingtao, not to mention the German raiders in the Pacific.”
“Speaking of, our ships in the Pacific reorganized in Hong Kong into the new China Fleet. They arrived in Tsingtao a few days ago and are currently patrolling the area to ensure no German ships enter or leave the ports.”
THE PUBLIC AND VIKING BANK:
“We could use all the good news we can get.” Kitchener replied.
“With the bloody cockup the navy has done so far.”
“Well, it appears the public is responding to it as well as one could hope for.”
“We’ve hushed down the blunders, so every English man can see why the Germans need a proper trashing.”
“Yes, remember Viking Bank.”
“As long as they remember it the way we want them to.”
FRENCH AND CHURCHILL’S FUTURE:
“And what of Churchill and Fisher?” Cecil asked.
“If it was up to me, we’d ship them to Australia.” Kitchener grumbled.
“But knowing those two gentlemen, they’d be running the place in a matter of months. They have survived the House of Commons, now it remains to be seen if they will survive the Prime Minister. They better sink some Germans if they wish to retain their positions.”
“Perhaps we can ask for Admiral Boué de Lapeyrère instead?”
“Glad to see you’ve found your sense of humor.” Kitchener remarked dryly.
“Well, he did save our arses out there, pardon my French. Admiral Callaghan and his Support Fleet barely avoided the massacre in the North Sea only to be attacked by German raiders. Thank Heavens for the French navy, coming to our rescue.”
German casualties - 2000
German Ships sunk
Light cruiser - SMS Amazone - SUNK
Light cruiser - SMS Undine - SUNK
Light cruiser - SMS Kolberg - SUNK
Light cruiser - SMS Mainz - SUNK
Light cruiser - SMS Cöln - SUNK
5 destroyers (1 Squadron) - SUNK
“Well if you ask Churchill, he will tell you it’s all apart of his grand plan.” Kitchener grumbled.
“Or, how about, SMS Magdeburg, Sir?” Cecil pushed on.
“She’s been giving us quite the headache in Africa.”
Kitchener looked out the window.
“Attacked Admiral King-Hall off the coast of South Africa. 450 casualties. HMS Astraea was almost torn to shreds.”
“Army, Cecil.” Kitchener replied.
“We’re the army.”
“Very well, sir” Cecil pulled out another folder from his suitcase.
“The invasion of Cotonou, and Maun are proceeding as planned. The Germans are putting up some resistance, but we expect them to break soon enough. Especially in Cotonou, where we are joined by several French divisions in surrounding them.”
“Splendid.”
“Unfortunately the good news does not stretch to Serbia, where Austria-Hungary, who might have buggered up the initial invasion, are finding more success in their second attempt. With reinforcements from Germany, they pushed into Cetinje, which cancels any plans we might have had for troop deployment in Serbia, as it’s the only port there. Also Uzice has been captured, as well as retaking Petrovgrad-.”
“Nothing we didn’t already plan for.” Kitchener replied.
“You’re right, sir.” Cecil flipped through a few pages.
“The Russians seem to be doing well in Mesopotamia.”
“Better than us.” Kitchener replied.
“The Battle of Trabzon ended on the 4th, and Russian forces are now poring in over the border. Also they’ve occupied northern parts of Persia.”
“Ah, yes. and now the Ottoman army are invading southern Persia. Kuwait have been told to advance after them, but they cannot be trusted with the task. We are shipping in troops from India as fast as we are able, but the Ottoman build up in Jerusalem is more critical. We are outnumbered 3:1.”
“And we cannot rely too much on the Russians, either.” Cecil nodded.
“No, now that Warsaw has been captured by Germans.” Kitchener replied.
“And with Lublin lost, their small counter-attack seem doomed.”
“Yes, thankfully They are doing a better job in Austria-Hungary. Tarnopol has withstood the south offensive, and even dished out a few solid counter-attacks to send the enemy running.
I’ve heard rumors, sir… of some…. civil issues within the German-occupied areas of Belgium.”
Cecil changed his tone.
“Continue.”
“Well, according to a few American journalists the Germans have begun fighting with the civilians. Shots were fired, and the German army is retaliating by ransacking towns and rounding up suspects. there’s even been rumours of molestation of the women there.”
“Hmm,” Kitchener twirled his mustache.
“We’ll tell the newspapers to run with it. Let the world see how utterly mad these Huns are, what-what.”
“The counter-attack on Brussels, which begun a few days ago, looks promising. Costly, perhaps, but promising.”
“If we can re-take Brussels,” Ketchener mused.
“We will outflank Mons, and the whole German offensive will be lost.”
“Perhaps so, sir.” Cecil replied.
“But the French have taken quite the beating. Longwy has turned into a mud hole of misery. 26 000 casualties this week alone.”
“well, unlucky for us that the enemy broke through in-between Longwy and our army.”
“Pardon me, sir?” Cecil replied in shock.
“I received word half an hour ago that the German army broke through at Hirson.”
“Good lord!”
“The French are mounting a counter-attack as we speak.”
“And what do we do?”
“Well, we bloody well should help.”
“Good lord, I must say, I‘m quite unsure why I’m needed for this trip, sir. We sent Captain John Robertson for this sort of thing.”
“You’ve made your complaints heard before.” Kitchener replied.
“It’s only a small inspection before we launch our counter-attack. besides, Captain Robertson has been missing for a few days. It appears Haig sent him to the frontlines with his own company.”
“Madness!” Cecil gasped again.
“Haig must be having a field day with this one.” Kitchener grumbled.
The car hurrying down the open landscape of the French country road.
=========================
Lille, France
Lieutenant Hammond studied Captain Robertson from afar. The man flipped through a few maps on the table while he puffed on his pipe, all snug in his own little world, warming his hands on his tin cup filled with tea.
“What do you reckon?” Corporal Grimsley interrupted.
“I reckon he’s not very interested in his command.” Hammond replied bluntly.
“Barely spoken to any one of us.”
“Perhaps he’ll warm up after a bit.”
“He doesn’t have a lot of time then, Grimsley.” Hammond removed his helmet.
“We’re moving into Hirson tomorrow.”