September 27th-October 3rdUnited Kingdom begins a recruitment campaign.
The United Kingdom joins the war on the side of Serbia!Austria-Hungary focuses its budget and economy on the military.
France reimplements conscription.
Serbia starts a propaganda campaign.
The German Empire takes a loan from Switzerland of 10,000,000.00 Francs at 6% interest with a deadline of 25 years, payment also including raw materials.
Austria-Hungary attempts to rile up the remaining civilian population into working to support the military.
The Republic of France begins producing Light Machine Guns.
Ottoman Empire goes into Partial Mobilisation.
Ottoman Empire blocks all trade through the Dardanelles.
Greece upgrades into Full Mobilisation.
Greece increases its propaganda efforts.
Belgium begins Partial Mobilisation.
Belgium begins fortifying.
The Republic of Portugal begins producing Heavy Artillery.
Battles of Picady & Champagne - September 29th-October 2nd
Following the stunning French defeat at the Battles of the Frontier, the French Northern Army went into a hasty retreat. The mighty German army, emboldened by their awesome victories the week before, continued their steady advance towards Paris. The Germans, growing closer with every passing minute, assumed that the greater portion of the Northern Army had fled, and did not assume another battle was to be fought.
But battles there were. The French, rallying as many troops as they could for a desperate defense, held their ground in the path of the oncoming German invaders. Smaller contingents of soldiers also wheeled around the flanks, putting the Germans into a three-way fight. The French, not to be thrashed again for taking the offensive, assumed defensive positions and prepared to take on the impact of the German army.
And what an impact did the German army make. Artillery guns pounded away at the stationary French, demolishing and obliterating the wide area in which any Frenchmen were located. However, the French returned this favor with artillery of their own, brought to the front from Paris along with a significant amount of reinforcements. The battle began with a duel of heavy artillery and cannon, a duel which neither side seemed to be able to win.
Those who clearly were not the winners, however, were the infantry of both armies. The pitched battle began on all fronts with massive infantry and cavalry attacks with close artillery support. Men from both sides were cut down in droves, in the hundreds and thousands as the armies clashed on the field. Men were left bleeding or dead on the fields as the mobile formations of both sides tried desperately to outmaneuver and outgun one another. Bullets whizzed overhead, shells pounded the Earth rampantly and men threw themselves towards the enemy!
At the end of this great battle, Germany was left the clear winner. However, this battle proved to be shockingly bloody. From this engagement alone, a total of 134 thousand men were killed from both sides, 73 thousand Frenchmen and 61 thousand Germans respectively. While the German advance on Paris was not stopped completely, the recent delaying action of the French did just that; delay! With the French continuing their retreat towards Paris, the Germans counting their dead and pursuing the fleeing Frenchmen, this Northern Front appears to only be getting bloodier with every passing week.
The German advance continues, only now blunted and missing a staggering amount of men. The French as well retreat home missing many of their previous comrades. The war has only been going for a small number of weeks, yet the death toll is already appalling. Truly, this is the beginning of something more evil, vile, cruel and inhumane, something nobody would've ever created in their worst nightmares.
This is industrialised warfare.
Italian Advance - September 29th-Ongoing
The unopposed Italian push into Southern France finally appears to have sponsored a reaction from the French.
A large army of French troops, spread out over a defensive front, has begun to advance towards the Italian "Bulge" in Southern France. The Italian troops continue to use the time they have unopposed however, and capture key provinces in South-Eastern France. Nice, Marseilles, and Swiss-border provinces are among those occupied by the Italians.
This new French opposition in the South is a pleasant surprise for the Italians. Will Europe see the same types of action as seen in Northern France? Or will the French finally pull a victory out of their deck of cards?
The Blockade of Austria - September 29th-Ongoing
Trade from the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas has stopped for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Reports surface that a significant Greek Navy has blockaded key ports in Triest and Croatia, cutting off Austria-Hungary from the rest of the world's economy.
Already, the pain from this blockade can be felt throughout the whole of Austria-Hungary, as civilian goods become increasingly scarce for the common man. Whether a result of the many sanctions against Austria-Hungary, the lack of manpower to work in her economy, the blockade of Austria's key trading ports, or a combination of factors, one thing remains clear: it is working.
While the effects of these economical attacks are acute at best, the threat of losing the economical war seems increasingly possible for Austria-Hungary. Now would be a bad time for a holiday in Vienna.
Conquest in the Congo! - October 1st-Ongoing
While the war in Europe appears, for now, to be in favor of the Central Powers, a new theatre of war has just opened up this past week: Africa! Startling reports surface from the German Congo and Guinea of large French military forces swiftly invading and occupying key German colonies. The scant German defense can all but flee in the face of the superior numbers of the French Colonial forces. Frenchmen, Moroccans, Africans and colonials alike all press upon the German colonies, helpless and defenseless.
Even more startling reports, however, comes from much more South of German Congo. In German South East & West Africa, a sudden rise in vicious attacks on German outposts and key military installations has been noticed.
Troops of an unknown origin, unsigned and devoid of any markings detailing their nationality, have been spotted throughout the whole of the German colonies. The troops appear to be of a Western nation, or at least fight like one. Reports of their efficiency and lightning fast guerrilla warfare echo throughout the German colonies.
While the Battle for Europe may be in Germany's favor, the new African front appears to be, for now, anything but.
Battle of the Seas! - Ongoing
While Germany gains consecutive victories over the fleeing French in Northern France, the naval war between the Central and Entente powers has finally begun!
Large numbers of German ships and U-Boats pour into the many seas surrounding Europe. Shipping and trade is harassed in an effort to disrupt each side's war efforts, and it appears the Entente is going to do something about it.
Unspecified numbers of ships are rumored to be heading for and around the Northern coast of Germany. Indeed, to add weight to these rumors is the sudden surge in naval skirmishes between the German and Russian navies in the Baltic.
Furthermore, the mighty and grand French navy has been spotted around the Northern coasts of Belgium! A series of small skirmishes occurred between the French and German navies, however nothing major has happened as of now. The French navy has begun their blockade of Belgian ports, as a result of the breaking of Belgian neutrality and alliance to the German Empire. What Belgium may choose to do as a result is anybody's guess.
While these small-scale duels have only resulted in negligible results, a feeling of dread lingers over the waters of Europe. Naval warfare is not the same as it was in the days of Nelson and Napoleon. Yes indeed, things have changed.
