1899
Europe
Félix Faure declared dead
On the morning of February 16, an aid discovered Faure, France’s President, lying dead on the floor, with his personal belongings on his desk strewn around the room, the initial thought was that he was assassinated. After the autopsy was performed the cause of death was set at apoplexy. The Senate of France then set out to vote for the new President, Émile Loubet was chosen as the new President with a vote of 483 to 279 votes from his only serious competitor Jules Méline. Immediately after his election Loubet reassured France’s neutrality in the German-American War, along with a new state of prosperity and stability for the French Republic.
(+1 Stability France, Émile Loubet head of state)
Russian Modernization programs
Russia far lagging behind the other European powers regarding industrial might has begun to modernize it’s economy to become less of a agrarian society and move towards a modern industrial society as seen in America, and Europe. The first of their modernization projects is called “Farms to Factories” it’s goal is to build a series of factories in the larger farming villages turning them into industrial centers, with a goal of attracting unskilled workers from the surrounding villages to build essential industrial goods for Russia. Another part of the Modernization are the tax breaks given to people who are going to start transportation type businesses, such as railroad or factory maintenance.
(+ 1 EP Russia)
Troubles in the Mediterranean
Following the outbreak of the German-American war the Italian navy positioned it’s self near the strait of Gibraltar stopping all merchant traffic from entering the Mediterranean. This act severely affected the flow of trade to many nations in the Mediterranean, it also generated massive negative affects to Italy’s world wide image in diplomacy, another side effect of this act is that many companies are boycotting Italian goods for blocking markets in the Mediterranean, causing damage to the Italian economy and massive riots and rallies through out the cities of Italy.
( -2 EP Britain, -2 EP France, -3 EP Italy, -1 EP Spain, -1 EP Greece, -1 EP Ottoman Empire; -2 Stability Italy)
2nd Turko-Russian war ends!
The 2nd Turko-Russian came to and end after the signing of the Treaty of London which stripped The Ottomans of Albania and Armenia making them protectorates of the empire. The Ottomans were also stripped of its Greek Lands (including Crete) handing them over to Greece. The victory was celebrated throughout Greece, the war was seen as a major victory for the Greeks over the Ottoman oppressors, many think this is a signal that the Ottoman Empire is near it’s end. While in Russia the peace was welcomed but many Russians did not see the point of the war in the first place and are just happy to see that this war is over.
(+1 Stability Greece, +1 Stability Russia, -1 EP Ottoman Empire, +1 EP Greece, +1 Stability Ottomans)
The Americas
The American-Quadruple war breaks out
Following a year of increased tensions between The United States and the Quadruple Alliance due the Maine’s explosion war has finally broken out. The war began with simultaneous invasions of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines by American land and naval forces, the invasion forces of Cuba faced staunch resistance by German and Spanish garrisons, while in the Philippines the Americans fared a bit better.
The invasion of Cuba began January 2nd with the bombardment of Havana by the American Caribbean task force, following the Bombardment 98,000 American troops began to row toward the Cuban shore on small wooden row boats. The Spanish and German defenders were expecting them though and the American landing force was met with fierce resistance, German and Spanish artillery rang out aiming for the defenseless wooden boats holding the American troops. After 3 hours of continued bloodshed the American general called off the invasion, after assessing the casualties, thousands of American troops had been killed or injured compared to roughly a thousand Germans and Spaniards, after seeing the bloodshed in Cuba President McKinley cancelled all invasion plans of Puerto Rico and Cuba until further notice.
German artillery firing at the American landing force
On the morning of January 1st the Spanish and German garrisons were awoken by the bombardment of their trenched positions by the American navy. After a few hours of naval bombardment the American invasion force began to row towards land, expecting similar resistance as seen in Cuba, barely any resistance was encountered, the reason for this was because the American naval force was already on route to The Philippines before the war had even started, and sufficient German and Spanish forces had not arrived yet allowing easy access to the beaches by the American forces. After the Americans had secured the beaches they began to advance inland towards the rebel occupied Manila, after weeks of intense fighting the Americans reached the outskirts of Manila (long since captured by the Spanish and their allies) they began to attack the city but were quickly repulsed. The Philippine campaign struggles on as the Americans are slowly pushed back by their lack of supplies and the continued resistance from German and Spanish forces.
Shortly after the American invasion of the Philippines the German Asiatic Fleet along with a couple thousand troops approached the American protectorate of Hawaii. The German fleet entered Honolulu Harbor and demanded the surrender of the islands, the Hawaiians refused and the Germans took action and soon occupied Oahu, Molokai and Maui. At about the same time another German force sailed north towards Alaska and captured Anchorage Alaska, effectively cutting the rest of Alaska from supplies, the colony quickly surrendered.
The German’s main goal of the war from the beginning was to force the American fleet to battle and destroy it, allowing them to control the seas and therefor the supply routes. A few naval battles occurred in the Caribbean the largest of them happening near Norfolk Virginia.
The American fleet was approaching Virginia after hearing reports of German raids on small towns in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, also it was suggested that German naval forces were bombarding Philadelphia, New York, and Boston causing a massive influx of fear throughout the American East. The American Navy was sent to intercept the German fleet and stop these “Unfair” tactics.
On the 15th of March aboard the American flagship the Uss New York sailors spotted a large force of German dreadnoughts and cruisers in the distance. Admiral George Dewey ordered the American fleet to steam towards the German force at full speed. Once they were in range the American dreadnoughts formed a battle line and began to fire upon the German ships, The battle lasted roughly 1 hour and 36 minutes with the Germans the tactical winner though losing more ships, the Americans retreated back to Norfolk ashamed.
American dreadnoughts ready to fire at the German navy
( -15 American Infantry Divisions, -1 American Artillery Regiment, -2 American Cavalry Divisions, - 3 American Dreadnoughts, 6 American Cruisers, 3 American Destroyers; -8 Spanish Infantry Divisions, 2 Spanish Cavalry Divisions -3 Spanish Cruisers; -5 German infantry divisions, -1 German cavalry division, -4 German Dreadnoughts, -4 German Cruisers, -3 German Torpedo Boats; -Italian infantry division; -1 Austrian infantry division, - 1 Austrian Dreadnought, -4 Austrian Torpedo Boats)
(- 2 Stability USA)
The Mexican Revolution
Following Mexico’s declaration of war against the Quadruple alliance, a large coalition of powerful Mexican politicians began to form a plan to oust Diaz from the Presidency before he drives Mexico into the ground. The plan went off without a hitch, the coalition’s forces moved to convince the military to support them instead of Diaz, the majority of them did choose to support the revolutionaries. Soon after the revolution began the Presidential Palace in Mexico City was raided and Diaz captured and arrested, with a trial to occur sometime next year. The new Mexican government setup Bernado Reyes as President and he immediately discussed peace with the Quadruple Alliance seeing the war as a deathtrap for America, Reyes also began to organize for new elections to be held next year after the country was deemed secure and stable again.
(+1 Mexican Stability)
Brazil's form of manifest destiny
Brazil long the most powerful nation in South America began to see it’s self able to emerge as a continental if not worldwide power. Top Brazilian authorities and even many citizens of the country now see Brazil’s opportunity to rule South America, many see America as having fallen from it’s place of power, with Brazil to take it’s place. Many Brazilians want to see their country stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific and the building of their national railroad only furthers this belief.
(+1 Stability Brazil)
Nicaraguan Canal
While North America was amidst in the claws of war, the British Nicaraguan Company began to dig the first parts of the Nicaraguan Canal, massive explosions were heard throughout the country as whole mountains and hills were gone in an instant. The project progressed rapidly as thousands of tons of dirt and rock were moved and carried away, the project is already ahead of schedule and the British investors are pleased to see this.
Construction of the Nicaraguan Canal begins
Rebellion in Panama
Colombia long occupying the isthmus of Panama has begun to feel the wrath of local rebels yearning for freedom from Colombia, the rebellions started in mid June, it is only beginning to heat up.
(-1 Stability Colombia)
Asia
Developments in Japan
A massive Japanization program in Formosa has begun, the Japanese government hopes to make the inhabitants of Formosa assume a more Japanese life style rather than Chinese. Schools begin to teach and offer lesson in Japanese, and the government gives incentives such as better jobs and pay to workers who can speak Japanese.
(+1 EP Formosa)
Persian Governmental Reforms
A new government is beginning to be developed in Persia. The government is supposedly based on the American and British systems of government with a few twists to them. The new system will be introduced into the government after the Shah is dead (plus 50 years). Many of the higher classes view this as a threat to their wealth but majority of Persians agree to these reforms and are aching to see it occur faster.
Ottoman Reforms
A series of reforms and internal development projects are to be introduced in The Empire. The first of them is a modernization and improvement of the Ottoman Army, basing it on the European models, a new form of conscription is to also be introduced based on the current French system. The second of the Ottomans internal development projects is a railway stretching from Baghdad to Constantinople, it expected to take roughly 2 years to complete and is expected to increase economic progress and stability in these regions.
The third of their reforms is a governmental one to make it govern more efficiently.
(+1 Ottoman Stability, +1 Ottoman EP)
Africa
Belgian exploitation of the Congo
The Belgian government begins a second round of exploitation of The Congo Free state, the main resources they are looking for are diamonds. The main area they search are the Bakwanga region in the Central Congo. Another valuable resource they are exploiting is rubber, this valuable resource will be harvested by creating large rubber farms and selling the crop throughout the world for a large profit.
(+1 EP Congo)
Belgian resource hunters in the Congo
Map:
Notes-
Sorry for the long delay..
Also this update is much shorter then the previous one, as some people didn't give me much to work with "Build a railroad here" etc..
Front page and stats will be updated by tonight or tomorrow.
