War Brides: A Play in One Act (WWI Centenary Series). Marion Craig Wentworth
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      WAR BRIDES

      A Play in One Act

      BY

      MARION CRAIG WENTWORTH

      Illustrated With Photographs From The Play As Presented By Mme. Nazimova

      Copyright © 2016 Read Books Ltd.

      This book is copyright and may not be

      reproduced or copied in any way without

      the express permission of the publisher in writing

      British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

      Contents

       Introduction to the World War One Centenary Series

       A Timeline of the Major Events of World War One in Europe

       World War One in Literature

       In Flanders Fields

       War Brides

      Introduction to the World War One Centenary Series

      The First World War was a global war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. More than nine million combatants were killed, a casualty rate exacerbated by the belligerents’ technological and industrial sophistication – and tactical stalemate. It was one of the deadliest conflicts in history, paving the way for major political changes, including revolutions in many of the nations involved. The war drew in all the world’s great economic powers, which were assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies (based on the Triple Entente of the United Kingdom, France and the Russian Empire) and the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. These alliances were both reorganised and expanded as more nations entered the war: Italy, Japan and the United States joined the Allies, and the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria joined the Central Powers. Ultimately, more than 70 million military personnel were mobilised.

      The war was triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, by a Yugoslav nationalist, Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo, June 28th 1914. This set off a diplomatic crisis when Austria-Hungary delivered an ultimatum to Serbia, and international alliances were invoked. Within weeks, the major powers were at war and the conflict soon spread around the world. By the end of the war, four major imperial powers; the German, Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires—ceased to exist. The map of Europe was redrawn, with several independent nations restored or created. On peace, the League of Nations formed with the aim of preventing any repetition of such an appalling conflict, encouraging cooperation and communication between the newly autonomous nation states. This laudatory pursuit failed spectacularly with the advent of the Second World War however, with new European nationalism and the rise of fascism paving the way for the next global crisis.

      This book is part of the World War One Centenary series; creating, collating and reprinting new and old works of poetry, fiction, autobiography and analysis. The series forms a commemorative tribute to mark the passing of one of the world’s bloodiest wars, offering new perspectives on this tragic yet fascinating period of human history.

      Amelia Carruthers

      A Timeline of the Major Events of World War One in Europe

1914
28th JuneFranz Ferdinand Assassinated at Sarajevo.
29th JuneAustro-Hungary send despatch to Vienna accusing Serbian complicity in the killing.
5th JulyKaiser Wilhelm promises German support for Austria against Serbia.
20th JulyAustria-Hungary sends troops to the Serbian frontier.
25th JulySerbia mobilises its troops, Russia sends troops to the Austrian frontier.
28th JulyAustria-Hungary Declares war on Serbia.
29th JulyAustrians bombard Belgrade and German patrols cross the French border. Britain warns it cannot remain neutral.
1st AugustGermany declares war on Russia. Italy and Belgium announce neutrality. French mobilisation ordered.
3rd AugustGermany declares war on France and invades Belgium (Schlieffen plan). Great Britain mobilises.
4th AugustBritain declares war on Germany and Austria-Hungary (after ultimatum to stand down). US declares neutrality. Germany declares war on Belgium.
6th AugustFirst British casualties with the HMS Amphion sunk by German mines in the North sea. 150 men dead.
7th AugustFirst members of the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) arrive in France.
11th AugustStart of enlisting for Kitchener’s New Army ‘Your King and Country Need You’.
20th AugustBrussels is evacuated as German troops occupy the city.
23rd AugustThe BEF started its retreat from Mons. Germany invades France.
26th AugustRussian army defeated at Tannenburg and Masurian Lakes. BEF suffers over 7000 casualties at the Battle of Le Cateau –forced to retreat.
6th SeptemberBattle of the Marne starts; checks German advance, but at the cost of 13,000 British, 250,000 French and 250,000 German casualties.
19th OctoberFirst Battle of Ypres.
29th OctoberTurkey enters the war (on Germany’s side).
22nd NovemberTrenches are now established along the entire Western Front.
8th DecemberBattle of the Falkland Islands.
1915
19th JanuaryFirst Zeppelin raid on Britain (Great Yarmouth and Kings Lynn – killing 5).
18th FebruaryBlockade of Great Britain by German U-boats begins. All vessels considered viable targets, including neutrals.
22nd AprilSecond Battle of Ypres begins Widespread use of poison gas by Germany.
25th AprilAllied troops land in Gallipoli.
2nd MayAustro-German offensive on Galicia begins.
7th MayThe Lusitania is sunk by a German U-Boat – creating US/ German diplomatic crisis
23rd MayItaly declares war on Germany and Austria
31st MayFirst Zeppelin raid on London, killing 35 and shaking morale.
30th JuneGerman troops use flamethrowers for the first time, against the British at Hooge, Ypres.
5th AugustGermany captures Warsaw from the Russians.
21st AugustFinal British offensive in the Dardanelles (Scimitar Hill, Gallipoli). They lose, and suffer 5000 deaths.
25th SeptemberStart of the Battle of Loos and Champagne. The British use gas for the first time, but the wind blows it over their own troops, resulting in 2632 casualties.
31st OctoberSteel helmets introduced on the British Front.
15th DecemberSir Douglas Haig replaces Sir John French as Commander of the BEF.
1916
8th JanuaryAllied evacuation of Helles marks the end of the Gallipoli campaign.
21st FebruaryStart of the Battle of Verdun – German offensive against the Mort-Homme Ridge. The battle lasts 10 months and over a million men become casualties. (Finishes 18th December, the longest and costliest battle of the Western Front).
9th MarchGermany declares war on Portugal. Six days later, Austria follows suit.
31st MayBattle СКАЧАТЬ