British Frustrated by Arab Inaction; The Arrival of a Legend-To-Be. Special to The Great War Project (8-11 October) By this time a century ago, the Arab Revolt in the Middle East — in the territories under the control of Hussein, the Sherif of Mecca — is four months old. For the Arabs and their British…
Tag Archive for Lawrence
IT’S NOW A TEN FRONT WAR
by Mike Shuster
Russians Mount Massive Offensive In Middle East, the Arab Revolt. British Lose a Leader Special to The Great War Project (2-5 June) It’s 2nd June, the day after the Jutland naval battle left thousands of sailors on both the British and German sides dead. The Germans launch “a massive attack,” reports historian Martin Gilbert, “on…
AFTER 145 DAYS, TURKISH SIEGE AT KUT ENDS
by Mike Shuster
Scale of British Surrender Unprecedented. Soldiers Starving; Locals Hanged; ‘The Trees Dangling With Corpses’ Special to The Great War Project (27-30 April) On this day, April 27th a century ago the British garrison at Kut, on the Tigris River in Iraq, opens negotiations with the Ottoman forces to surrender. Three British officers, including Captain T.E.…
CRISIS ON ALL FRONTS
by Mike Shuster
Both Sides Desperate to End War Enormous Preparations at Somme; Russian Front Collapsing; Starvation in Mesopotamia Special to The Great War Project (7-10 April) All the armies locked in battle are exhausted and desperate to end the war. So plans are underway on both the Eastern and Western Fronts, and in the Middle East, for…
BRITISH DESPERATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST
by Mike Shuster
Food Stores at Kut All But Gone; A Bribe for the Bey. In Contested Waters, Return of the U-Boats Special to The Great War Project (21-25 March) On this day a century ago, the British introduce a new weapon into the war at sea — the depth charge. A British ship drops an underwater explosive…
CLOAK-AND-DAGGER IN THE MIDDLE EAST
by Mike Shuster
Ottoman Officer Surrenders; Tells a Remarkable Tale Conspirators Plotting the Arab Revolt. Special to The Great War Project (22-23 August) War – overt and covert – spreads in the Middle East. In Mesopotamia (now Iraq) the British offensive to seize Baghdad from Ottoman forces bogs down. Elsewhere in the Middle East, the British are focusing…