GODWIT, the name of wading birds of the genus Limosa, much esteemed for the table. The black-tailed godwit, L. limosa, or yarwhelp, formerly bred in the English fens. It is now only a visitor there but breeds commonly in Holland and thence across Europe to south Russia. The bird is the size of a large pigeon but with long legs and bill, the latter slightly upturned; the winter plumage is greyish-brown but the breeding dress is marked by bright bay. The tail is white for a third of its length and then black with a white margin. As in many waders, in spring the males circle in the air and utter a special call or song. The bar-tailed godwit breeds in Lapland and is a winter visitor and bird of passage over the rest of Europe. It is smaller than the preceding and the tail is barred with black and white throughout its length. Scientifically it is L. lapponica. The marbled godwit (L. fedoa) is very large; it is an American form, as is the smaller Hudsonian godwit (L. hudsonica). Both breed in the north and migrate south in winter, the second form reaching the Strait of Magellan. Two forms from Asia winter in Australia and New Zealand. GOEBBELS, JOSEF (1897- ), German politician, was born at Rheydt in the Rhineland on 29th October, 1897. He was educated locally and at various universities, receiving the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Heidelberg in 192o. In 1922 he joined the National Socialist Party, then in its infancy, and took a leading part in organizing the student movement. In 1926 he was placed by Hitler in charge of the Party organisation for Great Berlin. In 1927 he founded the periodical "Der Angriff" and in 1929 became head of the entire party propaganda. In 193o he entered the Reichstag. In after the advent to power of his party he received the newly-created post of Reich Minister of Enlightenment and Propaganda. Besides his important task of directing the opinions of others he is the author of several minor works of his own. (C. A. M.) GOEBEN, AUGUST KARL VON Prussian general of infantry, was born at Stade, Hanover, on Dec. to, 1816. He first saw active service with the Carlist army in Spain, after which he re-entered the Prussian service. Transferred to the staff of the IV. army corps in 1848, he formed a lasting friendship with his immediate superior, von Moltke. In 186o he was with the Spanish troops in Morocco, and took part in the battle of Tetuan. He became major-general commanding the 26th infantry brigade in 1863.
Von Goeben distinguished himself at Rackebiill and Sonderburg in 1864. In 1866, commanding the 13th division, he won further laurels at Dermbach, Laufach, Kissingen, Aschaffenburg, Gerch sheim, Tauber-Bischofsheim and Wurzburg. In 1870 he commanded the VIII. (Rhineland) army corps, and was victorious at Spich eren (Aug. 6) and Gravelotte (Aug. 18). On Jan. 8, 1871, he succeeded Manteuffel in the command of the I. Army, and a fort night later brought the war in northern France to a brilliant con clusion by the decisive victory of St. Quentin (Jan. 18 and 19, 1871). He commanded the VIII. corps at Coblenz until his death there on Nov. 13, 1880.
Goeben's memoirs are to be found in his works Vier Jalire in Spanien (Hanover, 1841), Reise-°and Lagerbrie f e aus Spanien and vom spanischen Heere in Marokko (Hanover, 1863) and in the Darmstadt Allgemeine Militllrzeitung. The cruiser "Goeben" bore his name.
See G. Zernin, Das Leben des Generals August von Goeben (2 vols., 1895-97) and A. von Goeben in Seinen Briefen (1903) ; H. Barth, A. von Goeben (1906) ; and for his share in the war of 187o-71; H. Kunz, Der Feldzug im N. and N.W . Frankreichs 187o-1871 (1889) , and the 14th Monograph of the Great General Staff (1891) .
"GOEBEN" AND "BRESLAU." The escape of the Ger man battle-cruiser "Goeben" and light-cruiser "Breslau" from Messina on Aug. 6, 1914; their flight to the Aegean Sea and the bold decision to make for Constantinople, turned what was for them a desperate situation into one of material advantage to Ger many. Their arrival at the Sublime Porte undoubtedly had a considerable influence when Turkey was hesitating whether or no to cast in her lot with the Central Powers.
French forces under Vice-Admiral de Lapeyrere: Battleshaps: One Dreadnought, fifteen older type. Armoured Cruisers: Six. Destroyers: Twenty four.
Italian forces: Battleships: Three Dreadnoughts, three older type.
Austrian forces: Battleships: Three Dreadnoughts, three older type. German forces under Rear-Admiral Souclion: Battle-cruiser: "Goeben." Light-cruiser: "Breslau." The preliminary warning sent out on July 27 to Admiral Milne, then at Alexandria, directed him to return to Malta and after completing with fuel and stores, to remain there for the purpose of watching the entrance to the Adriatic. These orders were subsequently overridden by a series of telegrams from the Admi ralty. The first task given to Milne was to assist the French in transporting their African army. A lack of international co-opera tion is here evident, as the French Commander-in-Chief knew nothing of these plans. Then followed orders to prevent the "Goeben" entering the Adriatic ; to guard British trade in the East Mediterranean and to watch any Austrian ships which' emerged from the Adriatic.
On July 31 the Italian Government announced its' intention to remain neutral, but this important fact was not communicated to Milne until Aug. 4 when he was further instructed to observe, strictly, the neutrality and allow no British warship to approach within 6 miles of the coast of Italy. A severe handicap this to any operation in or near the Straits of Messina.
"Goeben's" Activities.—Admiral Souchon left Messina at I A.M. Aug. 3 and made a dash to the African coast where, on the following morning, he fired a few shots into the towns of Bona and Philippeville. He then made off to the eastward, and, by a stroke of luck, narrowly missed meeting the French 1st Squadron, but he was sighted and followed by the "Indomitable" and "Indefatigable." No hostile action could, however, be taken, as war with Germany had not then been declared by Great Britain. Superior speed, aided by hazy weather, enabled Souchon to evade the British ships, and he returned to Messina where our ships could not follow if Italian neutrality was to be strictly observed.
Declaration of War.—At 7.02 P.M. on Aug. 4, Milne was informed the ultimatum would expire at midnight. When hos tilities commenced at that hour the "Indomitable" and "Inde fatigable" were between Sicily and Sardinia; the "Inflexible" was in the Malta Channel steering to join her consorts; Troubridge, with the armoured cruisers, was near Cephalonia and the 'Goeben" was approaching Messina, where she arrived, with the "Breslau" at 4 A.M. Aug. 5. Her presence there became known to Milne at 5.3o P.M. Aug. 5, and during that night the British battle cruisers patrolled between Bizerta and Sardinia.
"Goeben's" Escape.—Since Austria still hesitated to declare war against Great Britain, Souchon was given permission to act as he thought best. About 6 P.M. Aug. 6, Milne decided to close the northern entrance of the Straits of Messina, and, when off the north-west point of Sicily, he received news from the "Gloucester" that the "Goeben" and "Breslau" were leaving Messina by the southern entrance. Souchon made the bold deci sion to run for the Dardanelles. He steered to the northward, as if for the Adriatic, until II P.M. and then shaped a course for Cape Matapan, being shadowed throughout the night and the next day by the "Gloucester." Troubridge steered north to intercept the German ships, but at midnight, realizing that their first course was only a feint, turned and proceeded south at full speed. Troubridge had decided not to risk his cruisers against the "Goeben's" 11-inch guns in a day light action, and finding it impossible to intercept her before daylight, he abandoned the chase.
Milne took his battle-cruisers to Malta, coaled, and left again at midnight, Aug. 7, for the Aegean. A false alarm of war with Austria, sent out by the Admiralty, induced Milne to alter his dispositions and wasted 24 hours. When the chase was resumed. it was too late to overtake the "Goeben" and "Breslau," which ships, having coaled at the island of Denusa, reached the Darda BIBLIOGRAPHY.-Emil Ludwig, Die Fahrten der Goeben and der Bibliography.-Emil Ludwig, Die Fahrten der Goeben and der Breslau (1916) ; C. Doenetz, Die Fahrten der Breslau im Schwarzen Meer (1917) • M. Farnaise, L'Aventure du Goeben (1917) ; Adml. Sir Berkeley Milne, Flight of "Goeben" and "Breslau" (192I) ; J. S. Corbett, History of the Great War, Naval Operations, vol. i. (1921). (See also WORLD WAR: BIBLIOGRAPIiY.)