Craven's Part in the Great War. John T. Clayton
stages of a long-drawn-out tragedy which would see Europe converted into a vast battlefield and cast a shadow over the whole world.
Austria, at the instigation of Germany, made the Sarajevo occurrence the pretext for beginning a war they had already planned and organized. Serbia was to be made a scapegoat, and Germany was to take advantage of the international situation thus created to launch her schemes for empire development. There was a month’s delay, probably to allow Germany to complete her preparations. On July 25th, Austria sent a note to Serbia charging her with complicity in the Sarajevo crime, demanding the suppression of all Serbian propaganda in the Dual Monarchy, and insisting that an investigation into the assassinations should be conducted on Serbian soil with the assistance of Serbian officials.
GERMAN DASH TO PARIS.
Serbia refused, and this was followed by a declaration on the part of Russia that she would permit no trifling in the Balkans. Meanwhile England was doing her utmost to pour oil on the troubled waters. One of her suggestions was a conference. This was turned down by Austria, who, on July 28th, declared war on Serbia. Thus began the hostilities which led to Armageddon. The challenge was taken up by Russia; in turn Germany declared war on both Russia and France; and finally Great Britain, determined not to tolerate the invasion of neutral Belgium, and refusing to contemplate the harrying of the French north coast, declared war on Germany. The fateful step was taken at 11 p.m. on August 4th.
Germany’s preparedness for war gave her a tremendous advantage at the outset. The first blow was aimed at Paris, and in attempting this coup the Hun armies over-ran Belgium, destroying and plundering some of its greatest treasures and committing crimes which horrified the world. For a time the advancing army was irresistible, but eventually the forces of Sir John French and General Joffre put a stop to the enemy progress and at the first battle of the Marne, commenced on September 6th, caused the Germans to retreat in disorder.
After the first onrush had been checked trench warfare was introduced, the line extending through Belgium, the north-east corner of France, Lorraine and Alsace, and thence to the Swiss frontier. Meanwhile, Lord Kitchener, realizing that the war must of necessity be a long and exhausting one, had commenced his great task of building up an army fit to take its stand with those of Continental Powers. There was a noble response and thousands of recruits were quickly trained and drafted out to play their part in the great adventure.
AFTER THE MARNE.
The relative positions of the Armies in 1915 altered little from those taken up after the battle of the Marne, but there were many historic events during that trying year—the capture by the British of Neuve Chapelle, the two battles of Ypres (in the second of which the Germans introduced poison gas), the heavy campaigning in the Argonne, the bombardment of Rheims, the French offensive in Champagne, and the British offensive at Loos.
During the winter of 1915–1916 Germany’s initial hopes of success began to grow less rosy. The British Army continued to grow; Italy and Rumania joined the Allies; and on almost every side the Central Powers began to feel pressure. The outstanding events during this period included the smashing by the British of an onslaught from Messines Ridge and the repulsing of an advance towards Albert. There was terrific fighting at Verdun (where the French displayed heroic qualities), and the great Allied offensive on the Somme. There was also a British victory on the Ancre, and “tanks” made their initial appearance.
ON THE WAY TO VICTORY.
One of the most tragic events of the war occurred on June 5th, 1916, Lord Kitchener being drowned while on his way to Russia. Politically there were happenings of great importance, one of the principal being the resignation of Mr. Asquith as Prime Minister and the acceptance of office by Mr. Lloyd George, whose work as Minister of Munitions had brought him into much prominence in matters relative to the conduct of the war.
Early in 1917 the United States, after long deliberation, threw in her lot with the Allied cause, followed by Central and South America. Later Greece, chiefly through the influence of Venezelos, compelled King Constantine, the friend of Germany, to abdicate and enter the war on the side of the Allies; while China and Siam followed the example of Japan and protested practically against German lust for world power. Throughout the year there was heavy fighting on the Western front. In April the British captured Vimy Ridge, in June they annexed Messines Ridge, and in November took part in a magnificent episode at Passchendaele. By these operations they became masters of commanding positions, and for the first time the feeling was encouraged that the Allies were on the way to victory.
GERMANS’ LAST BID FOR VICTORY.
One of the most noted successes in 1917 was that at Cambrai on November 20th, while in October the French brought the famous ridge road, the Chemin des Dames, within their lines. “Unrestricted” U-boat warfare was commenced by the Germans early this year, and was a source of considerable anxiety to the Allies. Internally Russia was in the throes of revolution. The Czar abdicated on March 15th and a republic was proclaimed on September 15th. This was followed by the Bolshevist coup d’état on November 8th, and an armistice on the Russian front on December 6th.
The winter of 1917–1918 was in the nature of the calm which precedes the storm. On March 21st, the Boche made his last desperate bid for victory, attacking on a 50-mile front between the Scarpe and the Oise. Results unlooked for by the Allies were the outcome. Peronne was captured in three days, and on March 25th the Germans had reached their original line of July, 1916, on this sector. This, for the Allies, was the blackest moment of the war, inasmuch as it brought within the range of possibility the achievement by the enemy of his original plan—the capture of the Channel ports and the consequent domination of British shores.
The Allies prepared for a great effort. In England the military age was raised to 51; General Foch was appointed commander-in-chief of the Allied armies; there were effective naval raids on Zeebrugge and Ostend; a million Americans were shipped to France; and by the beginning of June the German advance had been checked.
THE ARMISTICE.
The last German offensive began on July 15th on a 50-mile front before Rheims. It failed and was converted into an Allied victory. Thenceforward the Allies achieved victory after victory. At every point the enemy was forced back, Flanders was evacuated, a wedge was driven into the Boche line at Sedan, and along the whole line from Ostend to Switzerland the German position was so desperate that the Kaiser, faced with disaster in the field and naval mutiny and revolution at home, asked for an Armistice on October 6th.
Austria sued for peace on October 20th and surrendered to the Allies on November 3rd, while Turkey, having been granted an armistice on October 30th, threw down her arms subsequently. Following the proclamation of Bavaria as a Republic, and the renunciation of his throne by the Duke of Brunswick, and the suspension of payment by the Berlin banks, the Kaiser sued for peace. On November 9th he and the Crown Prince abdicated and the armistice terms of the Allies were accepted by the Germans two days later.
BRITISH TROOPS IN OTHER THEATRES.