I had a TL idea bouncing around in my head. It is as follows:
1898: Tensions escalate in the Fashoda crisis between France and Great Britian. While there is no war, skirmishes badly hurt the relationship between the two nations.
1899: Boer war. While Britian is victorious, her status is hurt in the eyes of the international community. It is to such an extent that the leaders of Britian re-evaluate their position and seek a continental alliance.
1900: Since both France and Russia are not options, the Anglo-German alliance is signed in early 1900. Both nations send more troops than OTL to supress Boxer Rebellion as first joint military action, rather than the Eight Nation Alliance. Germany is given more free trade zones and Naval bases in China.
1902: British and German warships are sent to Venezuela to collect on a debt. The President of the United State, Rosevelt, demands the ships leave. Due to the alliance giving Germany British backing, Germany insists on collecting Venezuelan debts, as well as Naval bases in the Caribbean. A small indecisive naval skirmish occurs, and war almost breaks out. It is avoided however, by British negotiations between Germany and America. However, both Germany and Britian are viewed negetivly in the eyes of the American public. The USA embarks on a missive Naval expansion program.
1904: Russo-Japanese War. Russia is defeated by the Japanese, who gain a greater presence in Korea and East Asia. Rosevelt does not negotiate as in OTL.
1905: Japan joins the Anglo-German Alliance due to fears of Russian expansionism. The Alliance now includes Great Britian, Germany, Austria, and Japan, although Italy and the Ottoman Empire are on friendly relations; Italy due to a prior relationship and a part in the Venezuela Crisis and the Ottomans due to fear of Russian expansion.
1906: Attempted Revolution in Russia. Although it fails, liberal reforms are introduced, although the Czar controls foriegn policy.
1907: Due to fears of being encircled by the rival bloc, France and Russia make appeals to the USA to join the alliance. While the USA declines,a friendly relationship develops, with increased American investment in Russia and France. Russia also makes friendly appeals to the Persians. Russian influence had diminished in Perisa since the Revolution, and relations between the two nations got better after Russia made diplomatic overtures to the Shah(?) Driven by American captial, Russia emarks on a massive military expansion program.
1908: Skirmishes occur between Russian and British backed soldiers in Afganistan. It is small, and it is taken care of diplomatically.
1909: China, worried by Japanese expansionism, joins in the alliance with Russia and France.
1911: First Balkans war. The Balkan league defeats the Ottoman Empire. The Great Powers(mainly Britian and Germany) intervene to make sure the Balkan states do not leap on the Ottomans to badly, and there is no second Balkan war. Russia feels to weak to intervene.
1913: The Chinese Revolutionary alliance attempts to overthrow China. They fail due to Western support of the Quing, namely, from Russia. The Quing Dynasty, attempting to gain more public support, takes an anti-Anglo-German stance.
1915: An American warship is fired upon by a Japanese warship. An an intense anti-Japanese, primarily racist, feeling develops in America. America drifts closer to the Entente.
1916: The "Great Game", as the preceding years have been called, comes to a head. The Balkan League declares war on a belligerant Bulgria, wanting more power and believing the Austrian Empire to be collapsing. Austria joins the war, and the alliance system is enacted when Russia backs the Balkans.
Central Powers:
Britian, Germany, Austria, Italy, The Ottoman Empire, and Japan
Entente:
France, Russia, China, Persia, and (in 1917) the United States.
The Great War
1916: Germany and Italy invade France. By the end of 1916, France is already on her last legs, and although the Italian army was mostly fought back, the Germany army marched through the Rhineland(Belgium was vetoed by GB) and almost reached Paris. A stalemate ensues.
On the Eastern Front, a more mobile Russia launches an attack first against Germany. Despite vast nu,erical superiority, Russian forces are fighting on serveral fronts. While it was fought back, and eventually defeated, it took pressure off France. The Austrians do poorly against the Balkans, but hold their own, while the Ottomans are almost defeated outright by a three front war with Persia, the Balkans, and Russia.
The main Russian force is in Europe fighting the Germans, however, some forces are sent, with Persian support, into Afganistan. They plan to try and start a second mutiny in India. Furthermore, some forces are sent to Siberia to aid the Chinese against the Japanese, but it is a token force at best. The Japanese do well against the Chinese forces and advance into Manchuria.
1917: America joins the war on the side of the Entente do to a more militaristic standpoint than OTL. The Caribbean is quickly cleared of German and British naval bases, however, the Royal Navy is quicky deployed against the USA. American soldiers invade Canada.
Europe reaches a more or less stalemate, with the Germans transfering more and more soldiers to fight the larger Russian army. France, however, is defeated once the BEF moves to aid the Germans and Italians. the news is not all bad for the Entente, however: The Ottoman Empire, fighting on three fronts and facing an Arab rebellion, backs out of the war. The Balkans turn on the Austrians, whose multi-national army is poorly equipted, trained, and motivated. Nevertheless, the Balkan states are held back.
In Afganistan, more Persian soldiers join the front, which due to the difficult geography of the area, does poorly. However, the British are quickly becoming overstretched and have difficulty bringing supplies to the India. Rationing is implemented in India, and Indian soldiers fight against Russian ones. Mutiney becomes more and more likely.
In the Pacific, the American and Japanese Navies clash indecisivly. The last Germany and British enclaves are driven out of China. It is a great moral victory for China.
------------To be Countinued!
I don't really know where this is going. I thought it up an hour ago, doing research on the Internet as I went along. I will try to add more and update it, if there is interest and I am smart/willing enough!
Criticism is welcome.