If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium!

[John B.]

Well, having been smacked around in my last attempt KorutZelva appears to have decided that he needed some laughs and has taken up the gauntlet as the Entente. I've just done the second turn and, I apologize if the pictures are too small, it always takes me awhile to get these right.

The action so far: Germany, goaded past all rational endurance by unreasonable Belgian waffle taxes, has taken the traditional "let's beat up on the small guys" strategy and plunged into Belgium. I'm not sure if you can see it, but I've taken Brussels and Antwerp and a German Cav, unit made it into Lille. I'm not sure it will hold out but at least it damages the city. No French attacks thus far, the Germans killed a French corps on the first turn and have taken Nancy when the French pulled back.

No naval action but a German sub sneaking up the Norwegian coast and the English instituting the blockade. Germany is researching Inf. Weapons and Inf. Tactics.

[John B.]

Oh that last picture wasn't too bad. I'll work on the resolution issue.

Meanwhile, in the East, Russia plunged into German in a move that caught me by surprise. As a consequence I pulled back from East Prussia and sent corps eastwards. I've also headed into Southern Poland in a move that appears to have made Bulgaria happy. And whatever Sofia wants, Sofia gets.

You can't see it on this picture, but the Austrians gave up the Galician oil fields and are defending Lemberg. They did kill a Russian Army but there are lots and lots of Russian armies. The Second army is heading to Galicia to help out with that defense.

I sent two German corps and a German HQ to Serbia sticking with my original plan. I thought long and hard about sending them to Russia but I figured if I can take out Serbia that frees up corps for elsewhere. Killed a Serb garrison and damaged a Serbian corps.

The surprisingly interesting naval news comes from the Adriatic. I ran into a French Dreadnaught on turn one and sank it. Then, the French showed up and sank the A/H dreadnaught only to lose the second French dreadnaught in my turn. So, actually some use out of the A/H navay and, so far, no convoy line to Serbia.

A/H is researching infantry tactics and infantry weapons.

[John B.]

We are rounding out the end of August 1914. On the West Front, the Germans pushed deeper into Belgium and retook Lille. Each side has lost a Cav. Corps at Lille and the Belgian detachment held out when it should not have done so thus putting the Germans in a bad position. Also, I moved a new corps into Nancy but was unable to entrench which signals bad tidings for the Germans in that hex.

[John B.]

In Serbia I lost the last A/H DD (and no mines for me ) while butting my head against the wall at Belgrade. The Entente has set up convoy lines from France and Russia to Serbia so we'll have to see how long they can hold out. I do have the A/H sub on the French convoy line.

[John B.]

In East Prussia the Russians advance but other then Koingsberg I don't particularly care. I did kill a Russian Cav. that got to Danzig and sent more reinforcements this way.

[John B.]

Finally thing went pretty well for the Central Powers in Galicia. I lost Lemberg (I had several times where it came down to one more attack and my guess melted like strudel icing). But, in my turn the Russians lost two corps in the south and they have one surrounded.

No diplo. news to write home about. Germany and A/H each started to research trench tech.

Germans subs are heading out into the N. Atlantic and may hit convoys next turn.

[operating]

John B., What method do you use to post screen shots?

[John B.]

Operating, I winnowing it down but right now I've done jpeg shots. Next time I hope to remember to crop them to make them easier to view.

[John B.]

We're into September 1914 and there is good news and there is bad news if you're rooting for the home team. First, the bad news. my esteemed opponent has done a good job in stymieing my invasion of Belgium. Basically, I made it to Brussels and not much further. I did kill a Belgian corps this turn (because, why not) but otherwise I've taken forces away for greener fields elsewhere. I intended to move the artillery out this turn but dithered so that will delay things.

[John B.]

Serbia has been the largest disappointment with not much payoff for the forces sent there. Rather than pound my head against the wall again, I rebuilt and next turn I hope to have the German artillery here to take out Belgrade. At least the A/H sub sank some convoys heading to Serbian relief, but, this theater has been one of frustration.

[John B.]

However, things have gone from bad to better on the Eastern front. Russia lost two inf. corps, a cav. corps and a detachement this turn. In Poland I'm reconquering the parts of Germany that I lost and starting to think about an offensive towards Warsaw.

[John B.]

And in Galicia things are stable to better for me. My ever wily opponent sent his cav. crops deep into my territory to influence Romania. But, I've managed to cut it off and I killed a Russian corps to boot. Now, if I can polish off Serbia at some point, I can send more reinforcements here to keep the pressure on Russia.

Germany built a corps and put a diplo chit into Bugaria plus various strengthening units. German also put another research chit into trenches. A/H rebuilt a pre-dreadnaught and various forces.

[John B.]

It's the end of October 1914 and I pulled back a couple of hexes in Belgium. No sense defending forward when those hexes don't really help me too much. I'd pull back further but I'm getting an economic benefit from Antwerp and Brussels so no sense handing those back to the Entente for free.

[John B.]

Sorry, here is the picture for France.

[John B.]

Russia killed a German corps up near Konigsberg and I sent reinforcements and rebuilt my troops. He did run through my mine fields at the mouth of the Baltic with what I suspect are Russian raiders for the Swedish covoys.

[John B.]

In Galicia his Cav unit died (off screen) and I rebuilt my tired forces.

[John B.]

And, in Serbia I've got the hammer ready at last. The German artillery has 7 shells and there are lots of units ready to attack Belgrade. I hope this helps persuade Bulgaria to come on it. It and the Ottomans are stuck in the mid-40s. A/H rebuilt some forces and one of their pre-dreadnaughts. Otherwise, it was a quite turn.

[John B.]

Well that was extremely disappointing. 7 artillery shots and about 6-7 attacks and basically all I did was kill my own men even with much higher morale etc... Not sure what I'm doing wrong here. But, with no movement from either Bulgaria or Russia it's not likely that Serbia is going to fall.

[John B.]

No combat in Galicia but the A/H, with a little German help, is extending the flank and trying to see where this leads. Romania is at 31% so no risk soon of being cut off, but Italy may join the war soon and that will be bad!

[John B.]

Some Russian losses in East Prussia but, while I can't take Belgrade with artillery the Russians took Koingsberg without artillery. Grumble Grumble. On the bright side, I think I've now lasted longer than my last game. Nothing happened in France.