Part X: Diplomacy 1908-1911, The USA, and Algeria
In Algeria, much investment took place in military matters. In Alger’s, a dockyard was set up to service any warships which might be based at Alger’s in the future. A large dry-dock 140 metres long was built, along with two 80 metre docks and between 1907 and 1915, six torpedo boats were built, and manned with French officers and Arab crews. Two pre dreadnought battleships were sent to Alger’s, along with several destroyers, creating Alger force. A schooner caught smuggling which was taken into Alger’s was outfitted with a spare 120mm naval gun, and used as coastal patrol boat. A French captain in Alger’s saw the military use of such a vessel, and began to aculeate a small stock pile of elderly naval weapons. A small factory was set up to produce naval shells, and by 1915, Alger’s was an effective naval dockyard. For a normal Arab, to work in the dockyard was a decent job, as it was better paid than many jobs, though compared to Europeans, it was rather poor and the French would only recruit Arabs “Who show some attitude to work”, or who gave a bribe. In 1913, a mosque was built in the dockyard, in the words of a (white) foreman ‘to appease the moslems’. In western Algeria, a small oil field was found and Extraction efforts began in 1909. A railway was constructed to bring the oil to Alger’s and Oran, were it could be shipped to mainland France.
The international reaction to the Bulgarian civil war varied. Russia was upset by the loss of its ally, and decided to support the royalist government, hoping one day that the royalists may be able to reconquer Bulgaria. Austria-Hungary were terrified that its many nationalities may get ideas about having a revolution, and provided aid to Romania, who were equally as scared. The Turkish empire was scared, but thought the revolution would collapse in on its self. France was not too bothered, though maintained solidarity with its Austrian allies. Germany, Italy and Britain watched carefully from the side lines, and all three, despite being concerned about the effects it would have on the region, recognised it as the official government of Bulgaria, deciding in the words of Winston Churchill, the president of the board of trade, ‘That Is better to see the beast and know its deeds, than to blow out the candle, and hope it disappears’. Serbia and Greece kept a careful eye on Bulgaria, but were pleased it would not be a threat in the near future.
Theodore Roosevelt on a steam shovel
The USA, under President William Taft, followed a policy of isolation from European affairs. It had no intention of getting involved in the European alliance system. However, behind closed doors, the US hoped that if a war did come about, the central powers would be able to quickly win, as not to damage American trade, and that Britain would help maintain global stability, as the world’s greatest naval power. The US was also quite fond of some of France’s Caribbean islands, and with the Panama Canal getting nearer to completion, making sure Central America was firmly in Americas sphere of influence was important. The sale of the Panama Canal workings to the USA in France was considered to be a good move, as the USA was a neutral country and the money could be better spent on other things. [1]
William Taft
In 1909, morocco was annexed, by Spain and France. Britain and Germany decided to support the annexation, in return for a little more land in the Congo. It also prevented the tactically important north coast of morocco going to the French.
By 1910, a Cairo to Kenya railway had be completed, connecting the northern British colonies to each other. In South Africa, a line was being constructed which would connect Katanga to South Africa, making access easier. The connecting line though German Africa was being planned, and the cape to Cairo railway was expected to be completed by 1916.
The Balkan powers of Serbia and Greece agreed to join the triple alliance as junior partners in 1910. A pro Austrian coup in Romania, led by carol I, against a pro central powers government in 1909 successfully overthrew the government, allowing king carol more control of the country, which was leaning far more on Austria-Hungary, for protection against Bulgaria, which was a large threat in the eyes of many of the Romania aristocrats. By 1911, Romania was effectively an Austrian puppet.
Carol the First of Romania
In Europe, the French army, by cancelling two Bonaparte class battleships, were able to invest in a large quantity of new armaments. The Lebel Model 1886 rifle was replaced as the main service rifle by the Lebel model 1910, which used a different but more effective Cartridge, as well as several small changes designed to make the weapon easier to make and easier to use.
[1] - America is almost unchanged partly because the events in Europe have had little effect there.