This is going to be a reboot of a timeline I started a little while ago. I didn't like the way it was going and decided that I would go a different way. This is a timeline that will show what might have happened had the French not demobilized in late July 1914. How things can change due to the stupidity of those at the top of the chain of command.
A Damn Foolish Thing: A (Rebooted) TL.
- Thread starter rick007
- Start date
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- belgium france world war i pod
A Damn Foolish Thing
By:
Cyrus P. Underwood.
Prologue
Europe today is a powder keg and the leaders are like men smoking in the arsenal...A single spark will set off an explosion that will consume us all...I cannot tell you when that explosion will occur, but I can tell you where...Some damn foolish thing in the Balkans will set it off.
-Otto von Bismarck at the Congress of Berlin, 1878.
****
University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, September 8th, 2014.
Robert Andrews was late he knew that. It was the first day of classes and he wanted to make sure that he was prompt. Never mind that the first day of any class was usually very short. It was as he was passing the Hiram Johnson Presidential Library that he saw his best friend, Simon Hughes. He was smiling.
"You won't believe what I just heard," he said as he came up to Robert and started walking with him.
"Don't have time, Si."
"Oh, you'll want to hear this. Sarah Jones is apparently going to be a part of your course this semester."
Robert looked at him with a cocked eyebrow.
Simon laughed. "I know it sounds farfetched but it's true: World famous actress Sarah Jones is coming to USC to study history."
Robert shook his head. "If she is, she wouldn't be taking a third year course. Unless she is as smart as they say."
Simon smiled. "Well, I suppose you'll have to find out. Anyway, I'll catch you later. My Phys. Ed. course is starting in fifteen minutes and I have to get there soon."
They said their goodbyes and Robert made his way to his course: Global History in the 20th Century 3WH3. That's when he saw Sarah Jones: she was shorter than he imagined about 5'-5'1". She had tan skin, with a short afro. As he got closer, no one was bothering her.
"Excuse me, is there anyone sitting here?"
She turned to look at him with beautiful Brown eyes. "No. Feel free."
Robert smiled at that. Maybe after class he would talk to her some more.
By:
Cyrus P. Underwood.
Prologue
Europe today is a powder keg and the leaders are like men smoking in the arsenal...A single spark will set off an explosion that will consume us all...I cannot tell you when that explosion will occur, but I can tell you where...Some damn foolish thing in the Balkans will set it off.
-Otto von Bismarck at the Congress of Berlin, 1878.
****
University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, September 8th, 2014.
Robert Andrews was late he knew that. It was the first day of classes and he wanted to make sure that he was prompt. Never mind that the first day of any class was usually very short. It was as he was passing the Hiram Johnson Presidential Library that he saw his best friend, Simon Hughes. He was smiling.
"You won't believe what I just heard," he said as he came up to Robert and started walking with him.
"Don't have time, Si."
"Oh, you'll want to hear this. Sarah Jones is apparently going to be a part of your course this semester."
Robert looked at him with a cocked eyebrow.
Simon laughed. "I know it sounds farfetched but it's true: World famous actress Sarah Jones is coming to USC to study history."
Robert shook his head. "If she is, she wouldn't be taking a third year course. Unless she is as smart as they say."
Simon smiled. "Well, I suppose you'll have to find out. Anyway, I'll catch you later. My Phys. Ed. course is starting in fifteen minutes and I have to get there soon."
They said their goodbyes and Robert made his way to his course: Global History in the 20th Century 3WH3. That's when he saw Sarah Jones: she was shorter than he imagined about 5'-5'1". She had tan skin, with a short afro. As he got closer, no one was bothering her.
"Excuse me, is there anyone sitting here?"
She turned to look at him with beautiful Brown eyes. "No. Feel free."
Robert smiled at that. Maybe after class he would talk to her some more.
Chapter 1
War is much too serious a matter to be entrusted to the military.
-Georges Clemenceau.
****
It's hard to imagine it now but there was a time when the French would have backed down from that war. However, the French, wounded by what happened to them in the Franco-Prussian War, decided to mobilize in late July 1914.[1] Germany responded by declaring war on France on July 29th. However, as the Germans were mobilizing their Western armies to strike through Belgium, France invaded Belgium first.
No one knows why the French invaded Belgium. The Fourth Army just invaded without authorization and was thrashed for it.[2] This invasion caused the British to not intervene in the conflict, despite the pleas of the French and Russians. The Germans, seeing what a blunder they missed, decided to attack the French through Alsace-Lorraine instead.
-Custer's Luck: Military Blunders, Errors and Mistakes through the Ages by Louise Altman, Putnam, London, 1974.
While the British wanted to get into the war, the fact that the French were the ones that invaded Belgium put a crimp in that. Add to that what the Germans did next and, well, they decided not to get involved. By the time the Belgians had, belatedly, agreed to let the French go through their territory, the Germans had set up a defense for the inevitable French attack.
-The Proud Lion: Britain on the prowl by Field Marshall Sir Harry Jakes, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2019.
With the attack on Alsace-Lorraine, it was only a matter of time before it stalled. Which it did outside of the cities of Strasburg in the North and Diedenhofen in the South. Of course the Germans knew that this would happen as they were also fighting the Russians in the east. So they put any idea of a western offensive on hold for the time being and decided to concentrate on the Russians.
-Mitteleuropa: A History of Germany by Frederick Mann, trans. Richard Pegler, University of Berlin Press, New York, 2008.
****
September 8th, 2014.
Class had just ended and Robert and Sarah stood up.
"Do you want me to take your bag, Miss Jones?" he said.
She giggled. "I suppose I should have known."
Robert arched an eyebrow.
"You know who I am, don't you?"
Robert smiled. "You're Sarah Jones, rising actress. You turned down the role of Kayla Musgrove on Pierson's Landing to go to university. Why here and why a third year course?"
They start walking out of the classroom. "I turned down Kayla to go to University, yes. Why USC? Well I wanted to stay in California and away from my parents and their fighting. As for taking a third year course....it was something to get my mother off my back."
Robert looked at her as the a look of anger briefly marred her beautiful face. She turned to look at him.
"Well you know my name, what's yours?"
"Robert Andrews."
She smiled at that. "Good name."
****
Russia wasn't standing idly by while the Germans were preparing to fighting them. Though they were slower to mobilize, they did mobilize. However, they were fighting on multiple fronts: The Germans, the Austro-Hungarians and, eventually, the Ottoman Turks. By the end of August, things were mixed for Russia. Their invasion of East Prussia had stalled. However, their invasion of Galicia had been a success.
It was this last thing that was of great concern to the Germans especially. Obviously, something had to be done. It was this that lead to the creation of the German Ninth Army. While this army was used by the Austro-Hungarians, it didn't make much of a difference. At least not at first.
-Endeavor: A History of Russia by Johanna Wilson, University of Southern California Press, Los Angeles, 1990.
[1] This, then, is our POD.
[2] The leader of the Fourth Army at that time, General Fernand de Langle de Cary, thought he did have permission. It wasn't until after he invaded that he realized that he was wrong.
War is much too serious a matter to be entrusted to the military.
-Georges Clemenceau.
****
It's hard to imagine it now but there was a time when the French would have backed down from that war. However, the French, wounded by what happened to them in the Franco-Prussian War, decided to mobilize in late July 1914.[1] Germany responded by declaring war on France on July 29th. However, as the Germans were mobilizing their Western armies to strike through Belgium, France invaded Belgium first.
No one knows why the French invaded Belgium. The Fourth Army just invaded without authorization and was thrashed for it.[2] This invasion caused the British to not intervene in the conflict, despite the pleas of the French and Russians. The Germans, seeing what a blunder they missed, decided to attack the French through Alsace-Lorraine instead.
-Custer's Luck: Military Blunders, Errors and Mistakes through the Ages by Louise Altman, Putnam, London, 1974.
While the British wanted to get into the war, the fact that the French were the ones that invaded Belgium put a crimp in that. Add to that what the Germans did next and, well, they decided not to get involved. By the time the Belgians had, belatedly, agreed to let the French go through their territory, the Germans had set up a defense for the inevitable French attack.
-The Proud Lion: Britain on the prowl by Field Marshall Sir Harry Jakes, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2019.
With the attack on Alsace-Lorraine, it was only a matter of time before it stalled. Which it did outside of the cities of Strasburg in the North and Diedenhofen in the South. Of course the Germans knew that this would happen as they were also fighting the Russians in the east. So they put any idea of a western offensive on hold for the time being and decided to concentrate on the Russians.
-Mitteleuropa: A History of Germany by Frederick Mann, trans. Richard Pegler, University of Berlin Press, New York, 2008.
****
September 8th, 2014.
Class had just ended and Robert and Sarah stood up.
"Do you want me to take your bag, Miss Jones?" he said.
She giggled. "I suppose I should have known."
Robert arched an eyebrow.
"You know who I am, don't you?"
Robert smiled. "You're Sarah Jones, rising actress. You turned down the role of Kayla Musgrove on Pierson's Landing to go to university. Why here and why a third year course?"
They start walking out of the classroom. "I turned down Kayla to go to University, yes. Why USC? Well I wanted to stay in California and away from my parents and their fighting. As for taking a third year course....it was something to get my mother off my back."
Robert looked at her as the a look of anger briefly marred her beautiful face. She turned to look at him.
"Well you know my name, what's yours?"
"Robert Andrews."
She smiled at that. "Good name."
****
Russia wasn't standing idly by while the Germans were preparing to fighting them. Though they were slower to mobilize, they did mobilize. However, they were fighting on multiple fronts: The Germans, the Austro-Hungarians and, eventually, the Ottoman Turks. By the end of August, things were mixed for Russia. Their invasion of East Prussia had stalled. However, their invasion of Galicia had been a success.
It was this last thing that was of great concern to the Germans especially. Obviously, something had to be done. It was this that lead to the creation of the German Ninth Army. While this army was used by the Austro-Hungarians, it didn't make much of a difference. At least not at first.
-Endeavor: A History of Russia by Johanna Wilson, University of Southern California Press, Los Angeles, 1990.
[1] This, then, is our POD.
[2] The leader of the Fourth Army at that time, General Fernand de Langle de Cary, thought he did have permission. It wasn't until after he invaded that he realized that he was wrong.
Crossed wires. Also he knew that his government was going to ask. He was just a little premature in his decision to go.
Chapter 2
You cannot be friends on any other terms than upon terms of equality.
-Woodrow Wilson, Address on Latin American Commercial Policy before the Southern Commercial Congress, Mobile, Alabama, October 27th, 1913.
****
September 11th, 2014.
"So what happened to the French general who invaded Belgium by accident?" Sarah Jones said.
It was the afternoon and both Robert and Sarah were in a tutorial for their history class.
"That is a good question, Sarah," said TA Johanna Rand. "He was recalled and never served on the front lines again. He died in the '20s." She looked at the clock. "All right, this session is over. Remember, hand in your outlines for your essays by October fifteenth. No excuses. And Robert?"
Robert looked at her. "Yeah?"
"I'll ask Professor Gaghan about letting you set something up for the Mars landing. But I think she has something else planned that day."
Robert nodded. "Alright."
As they left the classroom, Robert and Sarah looked at each other.
Sarah spoke first. "I think I will go with you to the movies tonight. Which one were you thinking?"
Robert shrugged. "Either The Iron Heel[1] or Louis, Louis[2]."
Sarah smiled. "Let's see Louis, Louis."
****
With the death of his first wife Ellen, [Woodrow] Wilson seems to withdraw from public life. By the time the war in Europe started, he was starting to come back with antitrust laws like the Clayton Antitrust Act[3]. However, foreign affairs would enter into Wilson's thinking. Not in Europe. Mexico was what was bothering Wilson. They were having another revolution, this one having started after the assassination of President Francisco Madero shortly before Wilson took office in 1913. Wilson didn't want to get involved, beyond having sent the U.S. Navy to Veracruz that April. However, things would not be smooth for Wilson.
-The Schoolmaster: A Biography of Woodrow Wilson by John Allen, Princeton University Press, Princeton, 2001.
Mexico was tearing itself apart by the middle of 1914. [Victoriano] Huerta's government was considered illegitimate by the Wilson administration, eventually leading to Huerta being exiled in July, 1914. The various factions were trying to coalesce, which they did, more or less. Though both Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata never really trusted [Venustiano] Carranza to keep his word on anything they were still in a loose alliance with him.
Then on August 20th, 1914, as Carranza was entering Mexico City, he was assassinated.[4] No one knows who fired the shot but the general consensus is that it might have been a rogue Zapatista or Villista. Now it fell to Alvaro Obregon to stop the revolution and stitch Mexico back together.
-The Last Days of the Wild West: A History of the Mexican Revolution 1910-1916 by Hugo Gonzales, trans. Victoria Ingham, National Autonomous University of Mexico Press, Mexico City, 1999.
[1] A 1908 novel written by Jack London, it's an early example of Dystopian literature. Here it's adapted into a movie taking place in TTL's modern day.
[2] A TTL movie based on The Man in the Iron Mask story. It's a comedy.
[3] The Clayton Antitrust Act was one of the things that keeps the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) going. I'm oversimplifying, of course. Regardless, both the FTC and the Clayton Antitrust Act wouldn't come into being until the Fall of 1914.
[4] There was no assassination attempt on Carranza in 1914 in OTL that I'm aware of. I thought that since the alliance was frying at the seams anyway....
You cannot be friends on any other terms than upon terms of equality.
-Woodrow Wilson, Address on Latin American Commercial Policy before the Southern Commercial Congress, Mobile, Alabama, October 27th, 1913.
****
September 11th, 2014.
"So what happened to the French general who invaded Belgium by accident?" Sarah Jones said.
It was the afternoon and both Robert and Sarah were in a tutorial for their history class.
"That is a good question, Sarah," said TA Johanna Rand. "He was recalled and never served on the front lines again. He died in the '20s." She looked at the clock. "All right, this session is over. Remember, hand in your outlines for your essays by October fifteenth. No excuses. And Robert?"
Robert looked at her. "Yeah?"
"I'll ask Professor Gaghan about letting you set something up for the Mars landing. But I think she has something else planned that day."
Robert nodded. "Alright."
As they left the classroom, Robert and Sarah looked at each other.
Sarah spoke first. "I think I will go with you to the movies tonight. Which one were you thinking?"
Robert shrugged. "Either The Iron Heel[1] or Louis, Louis[2]."
Sarah smiled. "Let's see Louis, Louis."
****
With the death of his first wife Ellen, [Woodrow] Wilson seems to withdraw from public life. By the time the war in Europe started, he was starting to come back with antitrust laws like the Clayton Antitrust Act[3]. However, foreign affairs would enter into Wilson's thinking. Not in Europe. Mexico was what was bothering Wilson. They were having another revolution, this one having started after the assassination of President Francisco Madero shortly before Wilson took office in 1913. Wilson didn't want to get involved, beyond having sent the U.S. Navy to Veracruz that April. However, things would not be smooth for Wilson.
-The Schoolmaster: A Biography of Woodrow Wilson by John Allen, Princeton University Press, Princeton, 2001.
Mexico was tearing itself apart by the middle of 1914. [Victoriano] Huerta's government was considered illegitimate by the Wilson administration, eventually leading to Huerta being exiled in July, 1914. The various factions were trying to coalesce, which they did, more or less. Though both Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata never really trusted [Venustiano] Carranza to keep his word on anything they were still in a loose alliance with him.
Then on August 20th, 1914, as Carranza was entering Mexico City, he was assassinated.[4] No one knows who fired the shot but the general consensus is that it might have been a rogue Zapatista or Villista. Now it fell to Alvaro Obregon to stop the revolution and stitch Mexico back together.
-The Last Days of the Wild West: A History of the Mexican Revolution 1910-1916 by Hugo Gonzales, trans. Victoria Ingham, National Autonomous University of Mexico Press, Mexico City, 1999.
[1] A 1908 novel written by Jack London, it's an early example of Dystopian literature. Here it's adapted into a movie taking place in TTL's modern day.
[2] A TTL movie based on The Man in the Iron Mask story. It's a comedy.
[3] The Clayton Antitrust Act was one of the things that keeps the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) going. I'm oversimplifying, of course. Regardless, both the FTC and the Clayton Antitrust Act wouldn't come into being until the Fall of 1914.
[4] There was no assassination attempt on Carranza in 1914 in OTL that I'm aware of. I thought that since the alliance was frying at the seams anyway....
Chapter 3
The war decided in the first twenty days of fighting, and all that happened afterwards consisted in battles, which, however formidable and devastating, were but desperate and vain appeals against the decision of Fate.
-Winston Churchill.
****
September 12th, 2014.
"What do you know about me?"
Robert looked from his sandwich. "What do you mean?"
Sarah twisted in her chair. "I don't mean to sound arrogant. But I'm in a lot of magazines. So what do you know about me?"
Robert put down his sandwich. "I don't read the magazines. I just know you from the movies you're in. Though you have been in them since you were 14."
"Oh."
They sat in silence for a moment. Robert leaned forward. "There is one other thing."
Sarah looked up.
"Your parents fight. Constantly. That's why you leapt at the first chance to act in the movies."
Sarah sighed. "That's true. My father, Harry Jones is African-American. My mother, Fan, immigrated from Vietnam in the mid-80s. They were married soon after, one of those Green Card marriages."
"So they didn't love each other?"
"I think they did. In the beginning. Let's talk about you though."
Robert leaned forward. "My dad's Jonathan Andrews."
****
In June 1914, England and Ireland had reached an agreement on Home Rule. By mid-October, that agreement was starting to be implemented. Ireland would finally get to rule itself. However, there was still the catch that Ireland still had to recognize the English Crown as their sovereign. But that didn't seem to matter much at the time. On 15 October, 1914, Ireland was finally granted Home Rule.
-Ireland: A History by Reagan Jennings, University of Dublin Press, Dublin, 2001.
By the end of 1914, Russia was fighting a three front war. Germany and Austria-Hungary to the west and the Ottoman Empire to the south. By this time, Russia was feeling the effects of not completely industrializing. More and more men and material were heading to the three fronts. It also didn't help that the Imperial Russian High Command was not as coordinated one might think. They started losing battle after battle. On November 14th, 1914, the Commander in Chief Grand Duke Nicholas, Czar Nicholas II's cousin, was replace by the Czar himself. Now the course was set.
-Endeavor: A History of Russia by Johanna Wilson, University of Southern California Press, Los Angeles, 1990.
With things going well on the Eastern Front, Kaiser Wilhelm II decided to make a move against the French on the Western Front. The Battle of Strasbourg began with an artillery bombardment on November 17th, 1914. It was soon followed by an infantry attack that forced the French into retreat. However, the next day the French counterattacked and forced the Germans back to their original positions and so on until December 1st, when the Germans used poison gas, its first use in modern warfare. It was the first break on the Western Front.
-Mitteleuropa: A History of Germany by Frederick Mann, trans. Richard Pegler, University of Berlin Press, New York, 2008.
Recent breakthroughs made by the Germans on the Western Front of the conflict in Europe have stalled outside of Verdun. It is not clear at this time whether there will be any new advancements made before the armies settle in for the winter. What is clear is that the war will not be over by Christmas, like many have predicted.
-New York Times editorial, December 4th, 1914.
****
Sarah looked at Robert for a few minutes. "Your dad's the commandant of the Marine Corps?"
"Don't get me started."
"But people want him to run for president in 2016."
Robert put his head in his hands. "I know. But dad would never leave the Corps."
Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
Robert nodded. "He always told me 'Son, the only way I'll leave the Corps is in a body bag.' I expect he's going to get a rude awakening if they do decide to force him out."
Sarah laughed at that. "Come on, we have to get to class."
****
January 1st, 1915.
The war is going far smoother than hoped. However, I wish for something more than being in a cavalry unit. I have seen the airplanes that are flying through the air. I wonder if I can go there. But for now I have my duties.
-The Diaries of Manfred von Richthofen Vol. I Ed. and Trans. by Rudolph Stein, University of Berlin Press, 2002. [1]
With Obregon now in power, the civil war that was raging throughout Mexico started to slow. By early 1915, most of the fighting had stopped. However, Pancho Villa and Obregon still had differences that couldn't be ignored. On March 15th, 1915, Villa started another raid in the north. By the time it was over, Mexico had had enough. Mexican and Villa's forces met at the Battle of Celaya a month later. With the full weight of the Mexican army against him Villa was defeated and captured. But it was not the end of Pancho Villa.
-The Last Days of the Wild West: A History of the Mexican Revolution 1910-1916 by Hugo Gonzales, trans. Victoria Ingham, National Autonomous University of Mexico Press, Mexico City, 1999.
With things calming down in Mexico, Wilson was beginning to turn his focus back to domestic affairs. He pulled out of Veracruz for a start. However, there were voices in the country asking Wilson to intervene in Europe. While the thought of a German dominated Europe did frighten Wilson there wasn't much he could do. After discussing it with the British ambassador, Wilson decided to be neutral as well.
-The Schoolmaster: A Biography of Woodrow Wilson by John Allen, Princeton University Press, Princeton, 2001.
At the time the United States was in the grips of a recession. While Wilson sending some aid to the French and Russians it wasn't enough. As the recession entered its second year, people started to blame the Democrats. While there was improvement in 1915, it was slow. Wilson started to think about introducing what we would call austerity. Fortunately, he was talked out of it. At least for the time being.
-Highs and Lows: The United States Economy through the Ages by Professor Victoria Levingston, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1999.
Things were moving slowly on the Eastern Front. Then on March 4th, 1915, General Alexei Brusilov went on the offensive. In a three pronged attack, Brusilov managed to push the Germans and the Austro-Hungarians back. However, in doing this he overstretched himself and this caused the Russians supply lines to nearly break. It was just what the Germans were hoping for. On April 17th, 1915, the German VIII Army, under the command of General Otto von Below, hit the right flank of the Russian II Army, under the command of General Vladimir Smirnov hard. For two days both armies fought. Though the Germans were forced to retreat, the Russians did stop their advance.
-Endeavor: A History of Russia by Johanna Wilson, University of Southern California Press, Los Angeles, 1990.
[1] Von Richthofen wouldn't join the Imperial German Air Force until a few months later.
The war decided in the first twenty days of fighting, and all that happened afterwards consisted in battles, which, however formidable and devastating, were but desperate and vain appeals against the decision of Fate.
-Winston Churchill.
****
September 12th, 2014.
"What do you know about me?"
Robert looked from his sandwich. "What do you mean?"
Sarah twisted in her chair. "I don't mean to sound arrogant. But I'm in a lot of magazines. So what do you know about me?"
Robert put down his sandwich. "I don't read the magazines. I just know you from the movies you're in. Though you have been in them since you were 14."
"Oh."
They sat in silence for a moment. Robert leaned forward. "There is one other thing."
Sarah looked up.
"Your parents fight. Constantly. That's why you leapt at the first chance to act in the movies."
Sarah sighed. "That's true. My father, Harry Jones is African-American. My mother, Fan, immigrated from Vietnam in the mid-80s. They were married soon after, one of those Green Card marriages."
"So they didn't love each other?"
"I think they did. In the beginning. Let's talk about you though."
Robert leaned forward. "My dad's Jonathan Andrews."
****
In June 1914, England and Ireland had reached an agreement on Home Rule. By mid-October, that agreement was starting to be implemented. Ireland would finally get to rule itself. However, there was still the catch that Ireland still had to recognize the English Crown as their sovereign. But that didn't seem to matter much at the time. On 15 October, 1914, Ireland was finally granted Home Rule.
-Ireland: A History by Reagan Jennings, University of Dublin Press, Dublin, 2001.
By the end of 1914, Russia was fighting a three front war. Germany and Austria-Hungary to the west and the Ottoman Empire to the south. By this time, Russia was feeling the effects of not completely industrializing. More and more men and material were heading to the three fronts. It also didn't help that the Imperial Russian High Command was not as coordinated one might think. They started losing battle after battle. On November 14th, 1914, the Commander in Chief Grand Duke Nicholas, Czar Nicholas II's cousin, was replace by the Czar himself. Now the course was set.
-Endeavor: A History of Russia by Johanna Wilson, University of Southern California Press, Los Angeles, 1990.
With things going well on the Eastern Front, Kaiser Wilhelm II decided to make a move against the French on the Western Front. The Battle of Strasbourg began with an artillery bombardment on November 17th, 1914. It was soon followed by an infantry attack that forced the French into retreat. However, the next day the French counterattacked and forced the Germans back to their original positions and so on until December 1st, when the Germans used poison gas, its first use in modern warfare. It was the first break on the Western Front.
-Mitteleuropa: A History of Germany by Frederick Mann, trans. Richard Pegler, University of Berlin Press, New York, 2008.
Recent breakthroughs made by the Germans on the Western Front of the conflict in Europe have stalled outside of Verdun. It is not clear at this time whether there will be any new advancements made before the armies settle in for the winter. What is clear is that the war will not be over by Christmas, like many have predicted.
-New York Times editorial, December 4th, 1914.
****
Sarah looked at Robert for a few minutes. "Your dad's the commandant of the Marine Corps?"
"Don't get me started."
"But people want him to run for president in 2016."
Robert put his head in his hands. "I know. But dad would never leave the Corps."
Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
Robert nodded. "He always told me 'Son, the only way I'll leave the Corps is in a body bag.' I expect he's going to get a rude awakening if they do decide to force him out."
Sarah laughed at that. "Come on, we have to get to class."
****
January 1st, 1915.
The war is going far smoother than hoped. However, I wish for something more than being in a cavalry unit. I have seen the airplanes that are flying through the air. I wonder if I can go there. But for now I have my duties.
-The Diaries of Manfred von Richthofen Vol. I Ed. and Trans. by Rudolph Stein, University of Berlin Press, 2002. [1]
With Obregon now in power, the civil war that was raging throughout Mexico started to slow. By early 1915, most of the fighting had stopped. However, Pancho Villa and Obregon still had differences that couldn't be ignored. On March 15th, 1915, Villa started another raid in the north. By the time it was over, Mexico had had enough. Mexican and Villa's forces met at the Battle of Celaya a month later. With the full weight of the Mexican army against him Villa was defeated and captured. But it was not the end of Pancho Villa.
-The Last Days of the Wild West: A History of the Mexican Revolution 1910-1916 by Hugo Gonzales, trans. Victoria Ingham, National Autonomous University of Mexico Press, Mexico City, 1999.
With things calming down in Mexico, Wilson was beginning to turn his focus back to domestic affairs. He pulled out of Veracruz for a start. However, there were voices in the country asking Wilson to intervene in Europe. While the thought of a German dominated Europe did frighten Wilson there wasn't much he could do. After discussing it with the British ambassador, Wilson decided to be neutral as well.
-The Schoolmaster: A Biography of Woodrow Wilson by John Allen, Princeton University Press, Princeton, 2001.
At the time the United States was in the grips of a recession. While Wilson sending some aid to the French and Russians it wasn't enough. As the recession entered its second year, people started to blame the Democrats. While there was improvement in 1915, it was slow. Wilson started to think about introducing what we would call austerity. Fortunately, he was talked out of it. At least for the time being.
-Highs and Lows: The United States Economy through the Ages by Professor Victoria Levingston, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1999.
Things were moving slowly on the Eastern Front. Then on March 4th, 1915, General Alexei Brusilov went on the offensive. In a three pronged attack, Brusilov managed to push the Germans and the Austro-Hungarians back. However, in doing this he overstretched himself and this caused the Russians supply lines to nearly break. It was just what the Germans were hoping for. On April 17th, 1915, the German VIII Army, under the command of General Otto von Below, hit the right flank of the Russian II Army, under the command of General Vladimir Smirnov hard. For two days both armies fought. Though the Germans were forced to retreat, the Russians did stop their advance.
-Endeavor: A History of Russia by Johanna Wilson, University of Southern California Press, Los Angeles, 1990.
[1] Von Richthofen wouldn't join the Imperial German Air Force until a few months later.