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Even if the Central Powers do not DOW Belgium on the first turn, the UK always seems to mobilize and join the war by mid October 1914, and often earlier.

German naval movements in the North Sea and the North Atlantic can accelerate this, as per the warning that the CP player receives on the opening turn.

But if the Germans do not venture out into the North Sea, what else triggers an increase in UK mobilization and their eventual entry into the war?

It seems to tick up 1-3% every turn on its own.

There must be an event which drives that - but apart from the German Naval Movements event - I could not see one when I studied the Game Editor. Does anyone know what's at play here?

It is inbuilt i guess, you cannot stop it, just delay it.

Even in March on Paris, even if you don't DoW Belgium, England joins after 10-12 turns on its own.

There's a Mobilization_3 script that moves the UK 1-3% towards the Entente every turn. You can always turn this off or edit it if you wish to.

Just search the file for #NAME= UK->Entente (1914)

Incidentally, the historian Niall Ferguson in his book The Pity of War argued that invading Belgium probably only brought forward British intervention by a week or so. Bearing in mind that the UK started mobilizing its forces in July 1914, it seems plausible, but the game does make it later as one turn of extra neutrality would hardly be of any benefit to the Central Powers.

That's what I was looking for - thanks!

Michael

If France attacks Belgium while UK is neutral, will the UK avoid the damage to its national moral when it joins the war?

ORIGINAL: KorutZelva

If France attacks Belgium while UK is neutral, will the UK avoid the damage to its national moral when it joins the war?

That's correct but instead the UK will swing 25-35% towards the Centra Powers, which should delay its entry into the war for many turns (if the CP avoid other provocations to the British). See the mobilization crib sheet I posted on this Forum.