It is a World War
Given the food shortages of the later war years, the Admiralty, in what might be seen as a self defeating move, banned neutral fishing vessels from using British ports. In an interesting counterpoint the German High Command prepared for a blockade of these islands.
On 02 February the war spilled onto the Suez Canal, an obvious strategic target, as the Turks reached the Sinai. At the same time they invaded the Aden Protectorate. By 04 April the Turkish forces were repelled and, more by luck than judgement, a huge strategic blow foiled.
To continue the international theme the first Canadian Divisions cross from Britain to France. This happened some two days before the ill-fated Lusitania docked in Liverpool flying the US flag.
Wider afield the 5th Light infantry of the Indian Army mutinied at Singapore. The war reached East Prussia with the battle of Masuria. Russia and Germany head to head.
In Africa the French occupy part of Cameroon and the South African forces advance on Windhoek. Whilst the British and French decide how to carve up Uganda and the Congo. More problems embedded for later generations.
On the 18th the German blockade of Britain began At the end of the month war took another lurch into horror when the Germans employed “liquid fire” for the first time. Thus napalm as it became to be known entered the arena as a weapon of war. In America the controversial film “The birth of a Nation” premiered in Los Angeles. Directed by Richard Griffiths it chronicles the lives of two families through the time of the Civil War and post war reconstruction. Highly controversial owing to its portrayal of black men (some played by white actors in blackface) and the portrayal of the Ku Klux Klan (whose original founding is dramatised) as a heroic force. Controversial, certainly but also successful. Although a silent movie it remained the highest grossing film for the next 25 years.
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