Allies vs. Skynet

[John B.]

The Russian offensive into Galicia continued. I believe that the tally included two A/H infantry corps and an A/H cavalry corps as the Dual Monarchy continues to suffer very heavy losses to the Russian steamroller. The Russians did reinforce a couple of corps that had taken heavy losses and continued to move troops in from Moscow including two Siberian Corps. With the Russian rail network overstretched bringing replacements to the front, no room was left for these distant reserves and they have to hoof it forward.

[John B.]

Oh darn it, I think I saved the East Prussia map over the Galicia map. I really wish they would increase the file size from 200K to 1 meg as it is on other AAR sections. In any event, in East Prussia the Russians did take Gumbinnen and pushed forward. Some Russian formations are fighting at half strength as replacements have been directed to Galicia but Russia wants to put as much pressure on the Central Powers as it can to give them too many targets. We'll see how well this works.

[John B.]

Here is the Galicia map.

[John B.]

In Northern France/Belgium the Entente did surround and kill the German Infantry and Cavalry corps and then made a straight line defense rather than press their luck. I may have moved the Belgians too far forward so if Ypres falls I might not get the free Beligan Corps. We'll see, but if I can hold northern France the extra industrial resources from Lille will be very helpful.

[John B.]

Here is what is going on in Alsace.

[John B.]

And Serbia. A/H clearly wants to put a lot of effort into eliminating this southern boil and Serbia wants to tie down as many A/H units as possible to help in Galicia. To that end, Serbia fed replacements into it's lines and only launched a limited counter attack on its far right to weaken the far left A/H corps and help weaken it's attack on more vulnerable sectors.

[John B.]

Rolling into October more blood was shed. Here in France the Germans pressed their attacks through the rain and killed two French corps. The German artillery got off six shots but these were largely ineffectual. The German also reached the coast and put heavy damage on the French cavalry corps that was up there.

Churchill offered to form a naval division but that was politely declined ("he just wants to lead attacks" Asquith was heard to say).

The French did decide to form a French Foreign legion corps.

The Russians opted to keep two corps down by the Ottoman border rather than to transfer them to Best Litovsk. There has been very little heard from the Ottomans. They're at 81% pro-Central Powers and been there for awhile. Russia is enjoying the extra 30 MMP it's getting per turn through the Straits and the German ambassador stands on the shore counting every ship that passes through

[John B.]

In Russia the Germans rushed two corps into East Prussia.

In Galicia the Central powers mainly built up their forces rather than attacked but Russia spots an opportunity at Czernowitz to isolate a German corps. The Russians have also moved their bomber unit to commence attacking Lemberg.

Attacks in Serbia put pressure on the Serbs but the line held with heavy losses on both sides.

[John B.]

The first half of October 1914 now belongs to the ages and the Tsar, sensing a problem with his probe into East Prussia fell back to more defensible positions. One of the German corps was vulnerable, but it was not worth keeping the Russians in such a vulnerable situation.

[John B.]

Down in Galicia, the Russians opted to send sevearl reserve corps to bolster the front and to keep the offensive going. Just two corps received replacements. The Germans were cut off in Czernowitz (just off the bottom right hand corner of this map) and an A/H detachment was slapped around.

The Serbs settled for reinforcing their front and praying for rain & snow!

[John B.]

In France, the French took over the defense of Ypres and destroyed the German corps that made it to the coast, but it took a lot more effort than was originally thought. A fresh British corps landed in France and the blockade was tightened a bit more.

Britain hosted several parties at its Washington embassy and made discrete contributions to American journalists.

[John B.]

October 25, 1914 is upon us. In France the German launched more than 4 attacks on Ypres and lost heavilly. No doubt this will go down in history as the Kindermord as waves upon waves of German troops were unable to dislodge the French corps. https://www.historynet.com/massacre-of- ... ocents.htm The Germans wound up taking more than 10 casualties to the 6 suffered by the French and Ypres still breathes free!

The Ottoman Empire returned the passports to the British, French, and Russian ambassadors and the British opted to send the Anzacs to Egypt.

Churchill sent the Invincible to the South Atlantic to hunt down raiders.

[John B.]

In East Prussia, as the Tsar feared, the Germans launched a counter attack and pushed the XX corps back across the river. Gumbinen is still in Russian hands, however, and replacements are expected momentarily while the garrison puts shoulder to spade.

[John B.]

The German army also launched an offensive into Poland. The Russian corps looks doomed. It can only retreat one hex and if it does so it can't get any replacements. It may decided to stand and die to tie up German moves. Many a tear will be shed by the young ladies of St. Petersburg in the coming days

[John B.]

Galicia is a sea of armies. It appears that the Kaiser insisted that the Germans take over the defense of Lemberg but it's only fortified on three sides and right now it's vulnerable to a potential encirclement. The destruction of that German corps may be welcomed in certain circles in Vienna where there are already grumblings about the high handed manner in which they're being treated by Falkenhayen.

Czernowitz is almost completely cut off and at supply level 4. So another German corps is threatened with destruction.

[John B.]

It's December 1914 and the Allies just finished there turn. A large number of Russian replacements were directed towards the E. Prussia front to replace the losses from the invasion and the troops dug in. A minor spoiling attack was launched in from the north to weaken the frontline German corps and make it less effective if it decides to attack.

[John B.]

In Galicia the siege of Czernowtiz continues. It's at supply level 4. The heavy rains did not seem to slow the Russians down and an A/H detachment was destroyed. But, miscommunication with the 1st Siberian corps led to it attacking Lemberg rather than the weak A/H corps to its front thus preventing Lemberg from being completely surrounded.

A Russian corp moved into Warsaw. In Serbia more replacements were sent to the front.

[John B.]

The Germans lost two corps in France. The one on the coast was a tougher nut to crack than reported and the French Corps in Ypres is pretty weak. The British corps launched it's own spoiling attack and the French were able to destroy another German corps on the front (it was where the empty hex is).

The British, concerned that Italy had shown no movement at all towards the Entente sent a diplomatic mission to Rome which held lavish parties and subsidized many editorials. France rebuilt one of its shattered corps.

[John B.]

It's now November 21, 1914 and there were big doings afoot! First, the Germans launched a very heavy offensive on Verdun and were slaughtered in droves. It appears that at the end they had lost 10 strength points spread over four corps to no loss at all for the Germans. A young officer Capt. Maginot was noted taking notes on the effectiveness of fortifications against an all out attack.

In the north (not pictured) the Germans did roughly handle the BEF corps on the coast but its last few men made it back and preserved it from total destruction. But, Ypres was not attacked and now can be reinforced.

German agents are rumored to be lining pockets in Morocco and spreading the news that the Ottomans have declared a holy war against the infidel Entente.

[John B.]

Serbia, however, is facing catastrophe. The Central Powers were able to dangle promises of huge swathes of Serbian territory to Bulgaria and they have lured it into the war. As you can see, Serbia is about to be stabbed in the back and has no choice but to flee southwards and hope that it can block the Bulgarians from surrounding them and destroying the entire Serbian and Montenegran army. At the same time, A/H submarines sank all of the ships carrying supplies from France to Serbia. Grim days indeed!