Chapter 602 If you can take action, don’t beep
It is the consensus of the whole world not to attack Russia in winter.
After entering winter, both Russia and the German-Austrian alliance reduced contact with ground troops. Fighting was still necessary, but the ground attack turned into an artillery battle.
The defense lines of the Russian army and the German-Austrian coalition were almost all established along the river. Since it was just winter, the river had not yet frozen, which further reduced the possibility of contact by ground troops.
Compared with the cold north, warm Belgium is obviously more conducive to the use of troops.
The German army used four newly formed mobilization armies in the direction of Ypres. The Ypres defenders were the British First and Fourth Armies.
The First Army and the Fourth Army were the main forces of the British army, but they failed to withstand the attack of the German recruits. With the help of the French Ninth Army, the British army stabilized its defense line.
The British army performed extremely poorly in this battle, which disappointed the French very much.
But with the arrival of the Canadian Corps and the Anzac Corps, the British army's combat power has been greatly improved, which gave the French hope again.
On November 5, Conrad regrouped and directed the Austrian army to cross the Rhine and launch an attack directly on Belgrade.
The Austrian army's 305mm field artillery was deployed on the other side of the Rhine River and bombarded Belgrade directly.
Austrian aircraft appeared on the battlefield for the first time and bombed Belgrade.
The Balkan War gave various countries a full understanding of the air force and increased investment in the air force.
The Austrian army is no exception, but due to its strength, the Austrian army did not have many aircraft equipped before the war broke out.
Now the military-industrial enterprises of the Austro-Hungarian Empire are at full capacity, not only producing aircraft, but also beginning to produce armored combat vehicles.
Once Austria-Hungary returned to the right path, the Kingdom of Serbia had no chance of winning.
On the 6th, the Austrian army captured Belgrade and their morale was greatly boosted.
Putnik was not prepared to defend Belgrade and withdrew the main force of the Serbian army to the southern mountains to prepare for a long-term battle with the Austrian army.
Conrad was very angry. The capital was occupied but he still refused to surrender and did not follow the rules.
George didn’t even expect Putnik to know about guerrilla warfare.
Putnik not only fought guerrillas with Conrad in the southern mountains, but also invaded Bosnia, causing Conrad to lose face.
Bosnia is also mountainous.
Dmit told George that Putnik had participated in the Rivne exercises as a military observer many times.
George can only say that opportunity always favors those who are prepared.
Taking advantage of winter, George was working hard to increase Constantinople's industrial capacity.
The arsenals left over from the Ottoman Empire are playing an increasingly important role and can already produce light machine guns and mortars.
After Fedorov arrived in Vladivostok, he improved his automatic rifle and launched a light machine gun that can be used by individual soldiers.
The range and vitality continuity of the light machine gun are not as good as the heavy machine gun. The only advantage is that it is lighter and can be carried away. It is more conducive to accompanying troop movements than the heavy machine gun.
Due to its excessive weight, the heavy machine gun is very troublesome to move and requires the cooperation of multiple people to use it normally.
The light machine gun can be issued to the squad level. After using the magazine to supply ammunition, it can prepare up to 50 rounds of ammunition, which is the same as the ammunition belt of the heavy machine gun.
There are two types of ammunition belts for heavy machine guns, one with 50 rounds and the other with 100 rounds.
Light machine guns produced in Constantinople are given priority to the Vladivostok Armored Division stationed in Constantinople.
Demeter didn’t quite understand. He believed that priority should be given to supplying frontline troops.
George tells the truth and must control the most powerful troops in his own hands. Only then can George have the ability to deter the Balkan countries.
After the Austrian army captured Belgrade, a large number of Serbs poured into Bulgaria, and they brought some security risks to Bulgaria.
Brusinov sent a telegram to George, hoping that George would order the border to be closed.
George disagreed.
It was the King of Serbia who made the mistake, not the Serbians.
Not only did George not close the border, but he also asked Polis to send people to properly resettle the Serbs who fled into Bulgaria. Population is strength these days.
Georgi sent a telegram that the Austro-Hungarian Navy was ready to move and harassed Greek ports many times. Georgi hoped that the Mediterranean Fleet would take action to destroy the Austro-Hungarian Navy.
The four "United Forces" class battleships of the Austro-Hungarian Empire have been put into service one after another. They are a maritime force that cannot be underestimated.
The Mediterranean Fleet has two dreadnoughts, one is a super-dreadnought, and its strength is similar to that of the Austro-Hungarian Empire fleet.
If you add the British Mediterranean Fleet, the Austro-Hungarian Empire would be dwarfed by comparison. Therefore, after the war broke out, the Austro-Hungarian Empire's fleet hid in the military ports in the Adriatic Sea and did not dare to take the initiative.
George was not too worried about the Austro-Hungarian fleet, but was worried about Italy.
After the war broke out, the Kingdom of Italy did not join Germany in declaring war on France, but remained in a wait-and-see state. The background of Italy joining the Allies was the conflict with France over Tunisia. Italy joined the Allies in order to seek support from Germany and Austria-Hungary.
In 1895, Italy invaded Abyssinia in North Africa. Its two allies, Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, did not give Italy any help, which disappointed Italy very much.
Germany and Austria-Hungary were even more disappointed.
From the perspective of Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, there was no reason why the Italian army equipped with modern weapons could not defeat Abyssinia, whose weapons and equipment were still in their primitive state.
So even without the help of Germany and Austria-Hungary, Italy should take Abyssinia cleanly.
Italy was so unsatisfied that it lost troops and generals. It was also forced to sign a city alliance, recognize the independence of the Abyssinian Empire, and pay a sum of money in exchange for the captured Italian officers and soldiers.
At this point, Italy has completely become the laughing stock of the world. It is not only wildly ridiculed by the French, but also despised by its allies.
France's support for Abyssinia was the main reason for Italy's defeat of Abyssinia.
So not only is the UK a troublemaker in Europe, but the French are also very good at stirring up trouble.
After the defeat of the Abyssinian Empire, Italy began to adjust its policies and ease its relations with France.
France robbed Tunisia from the Italians and disturbed the Italians in Abyssinia. In order not to offend the Italians to death, France invested in Italy and gave loans to the Kingdom of Italy. These all effectively eased France. relations with Italy.
After easing relations with France, the Kingdom of Italy discovered that the Austro-Hungarian Empire still occupied part of Italy.
As a result, Italy's position began to become ambiguous.
The contradiction between France and Italy has eased. There is no fundamental contradiction between Britain and Italy. The Russian Empire and Italy are even more incompatible.
So what was the original intention of Italy joining the Allies?
By this time the Italians had forgotten all about it.
The commercial trade between Amur and Italy is very close, and Italy is one of the most important overseas markets for Amur goods.
Although the Kingdom of Italy is not strong, there is a characteristic of the Italians that George likes very much, and that is carpe diem.
Italians have a strong demand for luxury goods from the East, and the cosmetics and food produced in Amur are also very popular in Italy.
European luxury brands have not yet taken off these days, so high-end products from Amur have occupied the Italian market at an extremely fast speed.
At this time, no one knew what the Italians, who had not yet joined the war, were thinking.
George knew that Italy was a weakling in both world wars, so Italy would definitely participate in the war, and would participate in the war by joining the Allied Powers.
George was hesitating whether to send a telegram to Nicholas to remind Nicholas of the possibility of winning over the Kingdom of Italy.
However, considering Italy's performance in Abyssinia and Tripoli, George was worried that if the Kingdom of Italy joined the Entente, the Entente would also send 50 divisions to protect Italy.
Considering Georgi's request, George still sent a telegram to Rakitski, ordering the Mediterranean Fleet to strengthen patrols of the Greek coast to protect the safety of the Greek coastline.
This would also be good for the Mediterranean fleet.
Marmara Island, the home port of the Mediterranean Fleet, is too far from the Adriatic Sea.
In order to better protect the Greek ports, the Kingdom of Greece will provide a port for the Mediterranean Fleet to use.
Ports are simply not worth mentioning for the Kingdom of Greece. Except for Piraeus and Thessaloniki, Georgi let George choose at will.
Piraeus is only 9 kilometers away from Athens. If the Mediterranean fleet stationed in Piraeus, it would be equivalent to putting a gun on the chest of the Kingdom of Greece.
Thessaloniki is the largest port on the Aegean coast, and it is impossible for Russian troops to enter.
George selected the port city of Corfu on the island of Corfu for the Mediterranean fleet.
Corfu Island covers an area of 580 square kilometers. It is the second largest island in the Ionian Islands. It guards the gateway to the Adriatic Sea. Controlling it is equivalent to locking the Austro-Hungarian fleet in Asia. Within the Adriatic Sea.
Corfu is only 100 kilometers away from Italy.
Sending the Mediterranean Fleet to Corfu is also a deterrent to the Kingdom of Italy.
Corfu's natural conditions are very good, but its port facilities are not complete and the city is small, so it does not have the ability to host the Mediterranean fleet.
For the Mediterranean Fleet to be stationed, port facilities must be renovated in Corfu, and port facilities such as military camps, warehouses, and hospitals must also be built.
Considering the huge investment in upgrading port facilities, George simply asked the Mediterranean Fleet to sign a contract with the Kingdom of Greece to lease the entire Corfu Island.
Georgi was very happy and exchanged an island for the safety of the coastline of the Kingdom of Greece. Georgi thought it was a good deal.
What's more, this is not a cession, just a lease. Corfu still belongs to the Kingdom of Greece.
What George did not expect was that the Mediterranean Fleet's lease of Corfu immediately aroused opposition from the Kingdom of Italy.
The Mediterranean Fleet's control of Corfu is also a threat to the Kingdom of Italy. How can others sleep soundly beside the bed?
George ignored the Italians. If you have the ability, come hit me. If you don’t have the ability, stop talking nonsense.
(End of this chapter)