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Nations across Europe are mobilizing for war. Screenshot actually is after the Central Powers move, so German troops have already entered Belgium and attacked at the Liege fortresses.

French troops are formed into five armies, primarily in Alsace and Lorraine - not with the intent to defend, but to attack, attack, attack, following Plan 17.

Belgian forces are mobilizing, with some forces already manning the fortresses near Liege, Namur and Antwerp - all built up in the years since the Franco-Prussian War in 1870-71, with the awareness that in a future war either France or Germany might decide to trample across Belgium to get at their foe, rather than fighting in the more rugged terrain in Alsace and Lorraine.

House rules for the scenario state that all French troops capable of attacking must do so on turn 1. I pondered that and decided that 'all' means 'all.' Including HQs. The French corps HQs are actually quite substantial forces. See the example here.

Along the French/German border almost all units are capable of moving forward to the border and launching an attack.

Across the rest of Europe, Africa, and Asia, almost all Entente forces are still mobilizing. Small ready forces in Serbia and Russia are capable of action.

In Serbia, core of the army located in Belgrade will hold until a better picture can be obtained of enemy dispositions. Belgrade is the obvious target, but it is known that Austrians have committed two armies to attack Serbia, probably will attack from Bosnia also.

All along the Russian borders with Austria-Hungary and Prussia, mobilization is still underway. Only two divisions of the 1st Army are fully supplied and ready to advance. It will be no more than a cautious advance to safeguard the mobilization.

Elements of the BEF is moving to port for transport to France and Belgium. The biggest part of the BEF is still mobilizing.

Plan 17 was carried out on turn 1 as faithfully as could be, to devastating effect - for the French. The attacks took place over three separate rounds, with only very minor territorial gain, and egregious losses. Battle reports indicated that French forces lost 3 or 4 times more than the enemy.

Light rifle squad losses were staggering.

Beyond the losses, it is apparent that advancing every unit like that has perhaps created vulnerabilities in the line that the enemy can exploit.

August 8, turn 2

After the German August 8th turn 2,

The advance through Belgium is ahead of the historical schedule, with both Liege and Namur taken. Farther south the enemy has taken advantage of France's disastrous advance beyond vital defensive positions, to take Sedan.

As bad as the German advances in Belgium are, their complete disruption of French forces to the south is even worse. There is now a 75 km breach in the French line around Luneville.

The only positive for the French - High Command has called off Plan 17.

In the second week of the war, in the West, all Belgian and almost all French units are in reorganization mode. The few units capable of action in Alsace and Lorraine are attempting to plug gaps in the line.

There is a total of 2 divisions currently active across the rest of northern France. They have moved forward to the Somme and Aisne River areas to blow bridges and begin establishing a line of defense.

Turn 3, week of August 15

France is bringing in reinforcements by sea and train to try to stem the tide of German troops. The BEF has most of two corps on French soil also. The biggest problem right now is the collapse of the armies in Alsace and Lorrain, where most units are incapable of action, still in reorganization.

In Prussai, the Russian 1st Army tried to steal a march on the Germans, and take Gumbinnen before the enemy was capable of reaction. That was a major mistake, as all of 1st Army was not even ready for action. End result is that the Germans reacted much more swiftly than expected, and are close to destroying a big part of 1st Army.

By the way, attacking entrained troops is no guarantee of success, as a Russian cavalry brigade discovered in an attempt to cut the German rail lines to Gumbinnen.

2nd Army is probing northward south of the Massurian Lakes region.

All Russian armies facing Austria-Hungary are still mobilizing.

Serbian forces are also in late mobilization stage, but for the most part in position to counter any Austrian attacks.

Turn 8
Sept 19

The French sieve (can't call it a front line) in Alsace and Lorraine has been forced to retreat deep into France. Only the 1st Army anchored in difficult terrain and the Swiss border has held to some extent, but it has taken heavy losses just like the other French Armies.

Belgium is completely lost.

The BEF took up positions within Belgium, but were outflanked on both the north and south of their lines, as French and Belgian forces there crumbled. Thus the BEF has been forced to fall back. As the situation worsened on their front, elements of the BEF attempted to escape through the one remaining port in Belgium at Bulougne.

The rest of the BEF is still fighting to cross the Somme just to the west of Abbeville. The German thrust to Abbeville, cutting the last rail connection to France, was a decisive stroke, making any attempt by the BEF to establish a line in Belgium impossible. That and the fact that zero supplies were coming in from Bulougne.

The Allies could perhaps have held onto the last bit of Belgian territory, but after Abbeville was taken by the Germans, there were absolutely no supplies coming into the port at Bulougne. [players note: neither I nor Cfant can figure out why - anyone know?]

Six weeks into the war and only now has there been much action on the Serbian Front. Too late, the Serbian Army attempted to exploit apparent holes in the Austrian defense, in order to cut off roads and railroads leading towards Belgrade. These were just light probes, intended to simply delay the Austrian buildup, but ran smack into the first strong elements of that buildup.

Northern Prussia

Northwest Army has railed in to take over for the slowly rallying 1st Army, that was mauled by the Prussian 8th Army.

The Germans have left meager forces to guard against 1st Army, moving their 8th Army southwest to in turn maul the Russian 2nd Army.

That looks like it leaves the Russians an opportunity to regain some of their losses in the north.

The Russian 10th Army has served the same purpose as the Northwest Army, taking position to stop the Germans advance against the Russian 2nd Army.

The Russians are slowly learning to use cavalry for recon probes and screens. Hopefully placing those probes on limited combat orders will help them escape from being mauled themselves.