August 21, 1914: Only three weeks ago, the war began when the Austro-Hungarian Empire invaded Serbia, and already, armies from a half-dozen antions are embroiled in combat on the European continent. By August 20, 1914, the Central Powers of Germany and Austro-Hungary are at war with the Allied nations of France, Russia and the United Kingdom (including Canada and other British colonies). Austro-Hungary has conquered Serbia, and Germany has invaded Belgium and Luxembourg on its way to France. Opposing them are the French army and British Expeditionary Force, who arrived on the continent only a week ago. This week, British and French troops are in battle with German soldiers in the Battle of the Frontiers, a series of battles along the eastern border of France. The German army has invaded Belgium in an attempt to outflank the French Army (a tactic also attempted by Germany nearly four decades later in World War II). The French and British counterattacked in the south, pushing the Germans back but losing some of northern France. This back-and-forth battling over the same ground would characterize the rest of the war. At the same time, recruiting efforts in Canada desperately try to find enough men to honor the offer of troops made by the Canadian government to His Majesty King George.The first Canadian volunteers begin to arrive at their training camp in Valcartier, Quebec.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 20:50:26 +0000
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