Capto Iugulum

Global News Report​

SUMMIT OF BRITISH-AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP. London, United Kingdom of Great Britain. Early in the year, in an event marking a landmark change in relationships between the governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the United States of America, the new Union Jack regime welcomed President Wareing for a formal visit. The Republican President of the United States and the new Prime Minister apparently bonded over drinks and the event was extended into a cordial ball to celebrate a new era for relations between the two nations. The ball came only weeks before the world would break out into war, as the British clearly courted American favor for the coming conflict. Fortunately for the two, it seems that with the new alliance forged in war, this could truly be a new beginning for the British and American peoples.

WAR DECLARED BY ALL: THE GREAT WAR. Madrid, Spain. What began as a dispute over Spanish reparations to the nation of Colombia has erupted into a conflict on a global scale. Early in the year, the Spanish were implicated and accused of sabotaging the duly elected president of Colombia's efforts to restore order in the face of the civil war which recently ended. With the support of the United Kingdom and Brazil, the Colombians demanded significant compensation from Spain for the prolonged war. The Spanish refused, and were embargoed by the United Kingdom and its allies. This embargo ultimately led to a declaration of war as negotiations broke down between the two groups. The result was the Triple Alliance coming out in support of Spain, along with numerous other allies. The escalation was met with the entrance of the Krakow Pact onto Britain's side. The League of the Three Emperors then joined on the side of Spain, minus the crumbling Roman Empire. What began as a minor dispute on compensation has erupted into a full scale war taking place on virtually every continent. Only a few nations remain neutral, and the conflict is being fought on an epic scale as the forces aligned with Britain, called the Allies, amass their strength, to fight with the collection of alliances, known collectively as the Continental Powers. At home, people have applauded their sons and brothers marching off to war, as the conflict is widely supported among most peoples and nations. Nationalism has raised its head as the warriors of Europe and the Americas seek to prove their nation's superiority over all others. The Great War has brought new horrors to the battlefield, as new technologies are deployed en masse for the first time. This has included the horrific effects of gas warfare, used first by the Arabs in Egypt, and later deployed by the Triple Alliance and Krakow Pact. See the below special section for the full details on every theater of this Great War. Below, a photograph of a victim of a mustard gas attack in Brandenburg.


REFUGES OPENED TO VICTIMS OF THE GREAT WAR. Brest, Brittany. The Great War's outbreak threatens to displace countless thousands of people and destroy even more homes in its world spanning devastation. In Europe, the governments of Flanders and Brittany have opened their doors to shelter those fleeing the chaos resulting from the war in Europe. Similarly, the government of Vinland in North America has pursued an aggressive campaign to show the wide and free lands of their nation off for potential migrants. The program has only seen the tiniest level of success in all three nations. Brittany and Flanders remain too remote from any afflicted territories and between Vinland and Europe lay the greatest naval battles and commerce war in human history. Furthermore, most people have rallied in support of their nations, backing the governments in a war that will decide the fates of empires.

SPECIAL: The Great War​

THE SUEZ FRONT. Cairo, Spain. Before the Colombian financial dispute would erupt into the larger Great War, the forces of Spain were already embroiled in a brutal struggle over one of their most essential colonies. The Arabs, after successfully driving the Spanish out of the Holy Land launched a new offensive early in the year, hoping to push on to the Suez Canal. Amassed with fresh reinforcements from the reserve forces, the Arabs managed to take the initiative, pushing across the Sinai Peninsula and smashing the Spanish army. The Spanish managed to rally only a mile or so away from the Canal, as the first of numerous reinforcements began arriving from Iberia. The Arabs would have to meet the Spanish in battle one more time before actually reaching the Canal, which they did near Al Qanjarah. The result was a bloody stalemate, which would be prolonged over several months as the Arabs were unable to break through several strongholds, despite keeping the entire region constantly under traditional and gas fire from heavy guns. Thanks to artillery however, the Arabs managed to place the Canal under siege, badly damaging the locks once again, and hindering any reinforcement of the Spanish on the other side. With numbers weighing against them, the Spanish would withdraw across the canal in late April, ceding the eastern bank to the Arabs. Over the next several months, the Arabs would attempt one or two crossings, but would be badly bloodied by the entrenched Spanish defenses. By the last few months of the year, Arabs would find themselves badly outnumbered by Spanish forces in Egypt, and the Spanish attempted their own crossing of the wreckage of the canal. They would be equally bloodied as the Arabs had been before, failing to cross, and leaving the two sides to exchange artillery fire sporadically over the December holidays.
Casualty Lists
Arabian Empire: 9 Conscript Brigades, 13 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 4 Artillery Brigades
Spain: 20 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 6 Artillery Brigades

RESISTANCE ORGANIZED IN THE HOLY LAND. Jerusalem, Occupied Spain. The Sons of Arabia, while gaining substantial support among the Islamic population against the Spanish, have failed to open doors to the Christians and Jews throughout the Holy Land. A fairly substantial population of these people are present throughout the occupied Spanish colony, and they are less than thrilled about the recent invasion. To that end, the Holy Land Resistance has been established, as the Christian and Jewish population seek to expel the Arabian invaders. While some may be uncertain if they really wish to return to the rule of Spain, they are certain that it would be a better fate than a renewed Islamic occupation of the Holy Land. The Resistance has begun with a number of smaller thefts, attempting to steal supplies and munitions from the garrison forces. The Arabians have declared the organization illegal and have begun their best to quell this rebellious minority.

BATTLE OF BUSHEHR. Bushehr, Persia. Well before the great naval battles elsewhere across the world, the first truly significant naval battle of the Great War would take place in the Persian Gulf. Ordered to avoid combat with the Arabian Navy, Persian Navy would remain in its harbor in Bushehr, attempting to sit out the war. Unfortunately, it seemed that the Arabs were more than willing to seek out the Persian ships, even in the shelter of their port. With the risk of being sunk at their moorings, as soon as the coal pillars of the Arabian ships were spotted, and with nowhere to flee, the Persian admiral ordered his ships to battle, hoping to escape into the Indian Ocean through the Arab battle line. Unfortunately, the Persian would not get his wish, and the fleets were drawn into a brutal battle of attrition, as the Arabs sunk the initial screens and the main heavy cruisers of the fleet engaged. The casualties were heavy, but by the end of the battle, the Arabs had emerged victorious, but badly mauled. Two of their heavy cruisers were at the bottom of the Gulf, as were a significant number of their screening ships. The Persians suffered far worse, only two ships escaping the devastation and fleeing to safe harbor wherever they could find it. The result was clear, cemented Allied domination of the Persian Gulf and the trade routes which came from it.
Casualty List
Arabian Empire: 3 Early Destroyers, 1 Early Light Cruiser, 2 Early Heavy Cruisers
Persia: 6 Early Destroyers, 3 Early Light Cruisers, 2 Early Heavy Cruisers

THE PERSIAN FRONT. Baghdad, Arabian Empire. As the Arab armies swept forward in Egypt, they faced a significant second front as Persia, Spain's main ally in the region, declared war and began their invasion of the land between the rivers. The Persians, confident of victory, marched into the gateway into the heartland of Arabia, in the only truly passable regions between Basra and Ahvaz. Unbeknownst to them, the smaller portion of Arabia's armies were the ones advancing upon the Suez Canal. The majority of the Arab forces were entrenched only a few miles away from the Persian borders in the east. Therefore, when the Persians began their assault they ran into massive prepared defenses and planned zones of fire for Arabian artillery. Heavy explosives and mustard gas rained down upon the Persian troops as they slogged forward towards Arabian lines. It is said that over a dozen full brigades were wiped out within the first hour of the attack. Casualties continued to climb with very little gain as the Persians were decimated by the Arabian firepower. After only a day's fight, the Persians were clearly devastated and worn down, pulling back across the border. The Arabs soon followed with an attack of their own, upon the worn out Persian army, using freshly conscripted troops as well as a substantial amount of regular infantry. The Persians, despite their defeat, were not unprepared for the counterattack, as their artillery corps remained mostly intact. The Arabs fared slightly better than the Persians initially, taking the city of Abadan, but they found themselves facing a highly entrenched opponent. Further advances proved costly and impossible and both armies soon found themselves trying to outflank the other. The result was a number of horrifically bloody battles, leaving both sides worn down and entrenched just barely east of the Arab-Persian border, with their lines anchored upon the mountains in the north, and the Persian Gulf to the south.
Casualty Lists
Arabian Empire: 15 Conscript Brigades, 15 Infantry Brigades, 3 Cavalry Brigades, 6 Artillery Brigades
Persia: 58 Infantry Brigades, 4 Cavalry Brigades, 5 Artillery Brigades

ALLIES SEIZE THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS. Anchorage, United States of America. In one of the few collaborative Allied efforts in the North Pacific, the Japanese and American armies began capturing the Spanish controlled Aleutian Islands. These islands, part of the partition of the territory know popularly across the world as Aisuyochi, or Scottson to Americans, have been controlled by the Spanish for only a short period of time. The islands had miniscule garrisons, typically consisting of only a few dozen soldiers on the most heavily defended islands. Most of what garrisons there were immediately surrendered to the advancing Allied forces, rather than put up a certainly doomed fight. There were no casualties and the local Spanish government ordered the population not to resist in order to prevent any unneeded civilian casualties. The occupation has been fairly peaceful as the Allied troops secure the islands for their cause.

JAPANESE SEIZE EUROPEAN KOREA. Seoul, Japan. As Japan's opening move as a member of the Allies, their forces in Korea immediately began prepared assaults upon European positions in cessations throughout Korea. The territories were occupied during the Chinese wars of the 1850s, and the Japanese have been poised to invade them at a moment's notice. This was obvious when the French, Dutch, and Polish cities were occupied during their colonial war in the 1870s, opening the door for the Japanese. This year, they moved, calling for the cities to surrender and avoid any further suffering upon the residents or the soldiers themselves. The Scandinavians wisely evacuated their city of troops, bringing the local regiments to China and abandoning Korea to the Japanese, avoiding any major losses or damage. The Portuguese followed suit, pulling out of the city peacefully to reinforce their holdings in China. The Danish commander chose a different course, having received orders from Copenhagen to hold to the last man. Thanks to the eight regiments at his disposal, he immediately began preparing for a defense against the inevitable Japanese attack. As it turned out, he revealed himself to a be a bit of a tactical genius, and was able to repulse the first Japanese attack with minimal casualties. The Danish cessation in Korea would actually managed to hold on for three months, as the Japanese attacked and attacked, wearing them down slowly. As the Danes began to run out of ammunition, the Japanese at last would manage to break through and force their surrender. The Danes held out in Hwaseong for nearly five months with only six thousand troops and a few hundred local volunteers against over one hundred thousand Japanese soldiers. When they surrendered, less than four hundred still lived and the Japanese have since put them into prisoner of war camps after tasking them to bury the many dead of the city they fought so hard for.
Casualty Lists
Denmark: 2 Infantry Brigades
Japan: 5 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade

THE NAPLES RUN. Taranto, Naples. As the Great War engulfed the world as a whole, the Italian Peninsula was facing a threat of renewed local warfare, and the Brazilian fleet which had arrived the previous year's former safe harbor was no longer a shelter, but rather a trap. The Sardinians immediately wired, demanding that the Brazilians remain in harbor in Naples rather than attempting to escape elsewhere. The Sardinians set sail, attempting to prevent an escape by the Brazilian admiral to make it into the Atlantic Ocean through Gibraltar. Instead, the Brazilians surprised the Sardinians by heading south and then east, easily defeating the screening ships sent to guard that approach with the loss of only a single destroyer. The remaining Brazilian ships soon outran any Sardinian pursuit and escaping into the Adriatic and the shelter of Hungarian ports and guns. The Sardinians instead turned to supporting their offensive against the Neapolitans and the invasion of Sicily as the Brazilians drew another breath with their Hungarian allies.
Casualty Lists
Brazil: 1 Trovão-class Destroyer
Sardinia: 3 Early Destroyers, 1 Early Light Cruiser

TERROR OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC. Natal, Brazil. The closure of the Suez Canal by Arabian guns soon led to a desperate situation for the shipping of the Continental Powers. With the Panama Canal securely in the hands of the Allies, there remained only a single route to supply the colonies of the Far East. The result was that the ships of South America, a large number of them, began marauding throughout the entire South Atlantic Ocean. With no escorts or support, what has been termed "unrestricted commerce warfare" has begun as the Brazilians begin sinking or, preferably, seizing, every merchant ship flying neutral or enemy colors. While they have released those proven to be genuinely neutral vessels, any enemy ship is detained and its assets seized by the Brazilian Navy. The commerce raiders of South America have proven to be fairly effective and it's believed that only due to the sheer size of the ocean that only seventy percent of merchant vessels ever successfully run the gauntlet to the Far East.

ARGENTINES INVADE THE FALKLANDS. Rio Gallegos, Argentina. In their opening moves of the war, the South American nation of Argentina launched their own independent offensive against the Spanish island possessions in the South Atlantic. The goal was to further close off Spanish shipping routes while restoring what many Argentines believed to be their rightful territory. The Falklands, still well fortified as Spain's primary shipping western route before the opening of the Panama Canal, did manage to put up a fight against the Argentine assault. Though they were severely outnumbered and outgunned by the ships of the Argentine navy, as well as the invading forces, they managed to inflict a surprising toll upon the attackers. Eventually, after a few days' fighting, the Argentines were able to force the Spanish garrison's surrender, securing the Falklands for their rule. The remaining Spanish South Atlantic islands would be seized by smaller task forces, and only briefly occupied by any Argentine troops. The Brazilians also participated in these efforts by securing the small Spanish outpost at St. Helena, to provide a resupply stop for the commerce raiding efforts in the South Atlantic.
Casualty List
Argentina: 2 Infantry Brigades
Spain: 1 Infantry Brigade

INVASION OF DENMARK. Copenhagen, Denmark. As both the Allies and the Continental Powers mobilized for war in Western Europe, it seemed that the edge would go to the nation which mobilized its reserves first. The Brandenburgers would manage to apparently pull this off as they did not even wait for the slightest reinforcement when they began a major attack upon Denmark. Thanks to the German population of Denmark, the Brandenburgers knew exactly where Danish artillery and defenses were positioned, and they were able to inflict a devastating toll upon the Danish heavy guns early in the battle. With little fire support, the Danish soldiers would be overrun, and driven back from their positions along the border with Brandenburg with heavy casualties. With support of kommando infiltration behind the Danish lines, disrupting supplies and logistics, the Danes scrambled to assemble troops to stop an invasion upon the Jutland Peninsula, after losing control of their slice of Germany. The rapid arrival of conscripts eventually helped slow the advance and bog it into a stalemate near the town of Flensburg. Though they manage to advance a few more miles, the Danish reinforcements and a fresh army arriving from Scandinavia would stop Brandenburg's advance in its path. As new offensives began later in the year against the Allies in southern Brandenburg, the Danes and Scandinavians would begin attacks of their own. The advancing northern armies would find themselves devastated by Brandenburg's artillery power, and though they would make a few localized advances, they suffered heavy casualties for every literal inch of ground. By the end of the year, a series of futile probes would result in a stalemate as winter began to settle in. Below photograph is of Brandenburg's artillery firing upon Danish positions at the start of the invasion.
Casualty Lists
Brandenburg: 40 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 6 Artillery Brigades
Denmark: 19 Conscript Brigades, 19 Infantry Brigades, 3 Cavalry Brigades, 13 Artillery Brigades
Scandinavia: 27 Conscript Brigades, 10 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 2 Artillery Brigades


AZTLAN INVADED. Tenochtitlan, Occupied Spain. The Spanish colony of newly renamed Aztlan stood little chance against the massive forces arrayed against it by the Americans and the Mayans. Faced with massive borders to patrol and defend, as well as poor logistics and no support from Europe, the Spanish had very small hopes of beating the majority of the United States Army. When the fighting began, Spanish troops were spread out along the border and each border fort and outpost was quickly overwhelmed by nearly ten times their number. The Spanish army in the north was thoroughly devastated, though they did manage a few minor regional victories, pulling back at least some troops in a orderly retreat, and inflicting surprisingly large casualties upon the Americans. In the south, they had a little bit more success, facing only a smaller, but still overwhelming portion of the Mayan army. The Mayans soon overwhelmed them, but paid a heavy cost. The fall of the border defenses soon meant the end of much organized resistance. Thanks to a larger army, the Americans would occupy the lion's share of Aztlan, but it is believed the fight may well continue. The remaining Spanish forces, after the defeat on the battlefield, were ordered to disperse, and have since fled into the hills to fight a guerilla war against the occupiers. Unfortunately, the occupying forces were able to find most of them, thanks to support and bribery of local guides. A few small remnants of Spanish regiments continue to lurk in the more rural regions of Aztlan, attacking and sniping at the occupying armies where they can.
Casualty Lists
Mayan Republic: 6 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade
United States of America: 7 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
Spain: 9 Infantry Brigades, 3 Cavalry Brigades, 4 Artillery Brigades

SIBERIAN FRONT. Krasnokamensk, Russia. Fighting erupted early in the year between the Russians and Japanese, soon after Japan began seizing the European cities in Korea. The Russians launched one or two minor probing attacks which would be repulsed by the Japanese border defenses, but no major offensives would ever be launched. Japan made their own attempts to secure superior positions along the border, as most of the fighting remained chiefly for the shores and islands of the Argun River. Neither sides appears to be gaining much of an advantage, and probes by both parties have been easily repulsed by defensive positions. At the moment it seems that the Japanese have the overall advantage in the skirmishes that have taken place, but all signs point to the continuation of this fairly lackluster stalemate between the two powers.
Casualty Lists
Japan: 3 Infantry Brigades
Russia: 4 Conscript Brigades

ATTACK THROUGH THE BAHAMAS TO HISPANIOLA. Santo Domingo, Occupied Spain. The fall of Cuba would create a worsening defensive position for Spain in the Caribbean, but as it turned out, may have actually benefitted the Spanish defenses. The Spanish began withdrawing their troops back to Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico early in the year, abandoning their positions in Bermuda and the Bahamas. The rebellion in Cuba would force the Spanish to withdraw from their defenses on that island as well, as the Americans amassed in southern Florida to begin their offensive against the Spanish possessions. The Bahamas were quickly captured by American forces, mostly marines from the warships, and the governor soon surrendered and ended any organized opposition to the American army. The true battle for the Caribbean would come on the island of Hispaniola, where the bulk of the Spanish army was assembled to fight the Americans. The Americans struck at the heart of the island, by attacking the harbor at Santo Domingo, in a major naval confrontation as their warships attempted to reduce the fortifications and the supporting Spanish ships. The battle was viciously fought, and an American battleship was even sunk by the Spanish forts' guns as were a number of screening vessels. Regardless, with the fall of the forts, the United States Army Rangers would land among the docks and secure a beachhead for the American invasion. The Spanish army would be scrambled from across the island, but attacks would fail to dislodge the Rangers, and the rest of the American army would slowly be offloaded. First attempts to push out of Santo Domingo by the Americans would be met with surprisingly heavy casualties. The Spanish were firmly entrenched with substantial artillery pointed upon the city, though they would be forced to withdraw by the second American assault, which managed to break the siege lines through sheer numbers. The Americans were then capable of securing the eastern, more profitable, portion of the island, defeating the Spanish in a few major battles, and securing their hold on half of the island. Thanks to the terrain of the island, the Spanish would be able to assemble two strong defensive positions in the passes to block the American attacks on the western half of the island. Unfortunately, the Americans grew wise about their tactics, and sent an amphibious force around the Spanish, allowing them to encircle and destroy the remaining Spanish forces. With the fall of Hispaniola, the Americans would quickly overwhelm the much smaller garrison at Puerto Rico and begin capturing both the Spanish and Dutch West Indies.
Casualty Lists
Spain: 6 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 5 Artillery Brigades, 6 Early Destroyers, 2 Early Light Cruisers
United States of America: 11 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades, 3 Early Destroyers, 2 Early Light Cruisers, 1 Early Heavy Cruiser, 1 Virginia -class Battleship

INVASION OF THE SOUTHERN WEST INDIES. Point Fortin, Occupied Netherlands. As American armies struggled with the Spanish on the island of Hispaniola, a new front opened up further south in the Caribbean. The Venezuelans, seeking to exploit the situation to seize the long contested Dutch islands of Trinidad and Tobago, attacked the Dutch holdings. With vastly superior numbers and a lack of any support for the cut off Dutch soldiers, most of the West Indies controlled by the Continental Powers simply outright surrendered to the Venezuelan armies. The island of Trinidad would put up a fight, however, as the Dutch garrison hoped to use their artillery and well trained troops to keep the Venezuelans from landing. Expecting an easy takeover like through the rest of the Caribbean, the Venezuelan army was actually surprised by the fire they took from the Dutch forces. The result would be a brutal slog across the island, and vicious combat between the two sides, leaving no innocent bystanders. The Dutch used the terrain to their advantage and hid among the civilian population. After months of heavy fighting, the island was devastated, but Venezuelan, as the last Dutch soldiers surrendered.
Casualty Lists
Netherlands: 2 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
Venezuela: 4 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade

ATTACK ON AQUITAINE. Bayonne, Spain. The heaviest initial fighting in Western Europe would take place over the Spanish province of Aquitaine, as the Occitanian army launched a surprising offensive against the Spanish forces. The Spanish army there, amassing for their own offensive, vastly outnumbered the Occitanian forces. Regardless, the Occitanians managed to start fairly well, thanks to advantages in mustard gas and new technologies, but the Spanish soon turned the tide of the offensive to benefit them. The Occitanians would only advance a few miles into Aquitaine before the full brunt of the local Spanish army would be turned upon them. The Occitanians were badly mauled and defeated, though they did manage to retreat in some semblance of order from their horrifically failed assault. The offensive did manage to delay Spanish plans, however, as they were forced to regroup and bring in fresh troops from the south, including a large number of Portuguese reinforcements.
Casualty Lists
Occitania: 49 Infantry Brigades, 4 Cavalry Brigades, 4 Artillery Brigades
Spain: 22 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 6 Artillery Brigades

ATTACK UPON FRENCH CHINA. Peking, Franco-Burgundian Confederation. The largest war in the Far East proved to be the vicious fighting between the Continental Powers, predominantly the Franco-Burgundian Confederation, and Japan. While most of the Confederation's allies protected the coastal cities, with varying degrees of success, the French would stand the brunt of Japan's wrath in China. The Japanese army from Manchuria would launch an early offensive, hoping to break through the French positions. Though one or two regional successes were had, the French held firm, inflicting a heavy toll upon the Japanese armies. Later assaults would do no better, as the Japanese were badly bled with extensive casualties for no real gain. The French commanders felt confident that with their overwhelming superiority in artillery and training, that they could hold the current Japanese army indefinitely. Japanese attacks would continue throughout the year, and to the surprise of the French, the use of the deadly Japanese Kagemusha would lead to a breach in the French lines. Though it was hard fought, the Japanese would advance a ways forward, and by the end of the year, Peking and the surrounding area would fall under siege by the Japanese army. Below illustration of the elite Kagemusha and their battle flag as they descend upon French forces
Casualty Lists
Franco-Burgundian Confederation: 28 Infantry Brigades, 5 Cavalry Brigades, 8 Artillery Brigades
Japan: 25 Conscript Brigades, 44 Infantry Brigades, 9 Cavalry Brigades, 1 Kagemusha Brigade, 10 Artillery Brigades


INVASION OF HAWAII. Honolulu, Occupied Spain. The only major activity that would take place for the Spanish empire in the Western Hemisphere, after the fall of the Caribbean would be the doomed defense of Hawaii. The American Pacific Fleet, after spending several months preparing for the long journey, set sail, and easily sunk the Spanish light cruiser sent to raid their advance. The American fleet ultimately arrived in the Hawaiian Islands and began their fight against the Spanish garrison. The Spanish managed to put up a substantial fight for Pearl Harbor and the surrounding island, bleeding the Americans, hoping to preserve control of that port. The American numbers and naval strength would make this a foregone conclusion, however, as they ultimately would overwhelm or shell any Spanish strongpoint into oblivion. The Spanish would surrender after only a three week campaign, though they did manage to inflict some reasonable casualties upon the American forces.
Casualty Lists
Spain: 2 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade, 1 Early Light Cruiser
United States of America: 2 Infantry Brigades

FIGHTING IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN. Alexandria, Spain. The escape from Naples would be only the first stage of the odyssey of the Brazilian fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. They would continue to make headlines after receiving shelter in Hungarian ports. Combined with Hungarian support ships, the Brazilians ventured out into the Mediterranean Sea to raid Spanish supply lines to the front upon the Sinai Peninsula. They quickly began inflicting massive damage, indiscriminately sending the ships of the Continental Powers to the bottom of the sea. A Spanish fleet in Alexandria, originally tasked with passing through the repaired Suez Canal to fight the Arabians, would find their task impossible with Arabian guns firing upon the canal zone. The admiral requested permission and received approval to hunt down the Brazilian fleet and restore sanity to the region. Using his own considerable fleet, he would manage to strategically cut the Allied fleet off from their ports of call in Hungary near the gateway to the Adriatic sea. The Battle of Othonoi would be the result as the Allied ships began moving to smash the Spanish and return to port. The result would be an overwhelming victory for the Allies, as the battle was anticipated by the Allied commander. Soon after the main battle fleets began exchanging fire, the Spanish were surprised by a heavy cruiser in their rear, catching them under constant fire from two sides. The Spanish fleet would be utterly devastated by the Brazilian admiral's tactics, and with the sinking of their flagship and remaining heavy cruisers, what was left of the Spanish fleet fled in numerous directions, most of whom would be caught and destroyed by the quicker Brazilian destroyers.
Casualty Lists
Brazil: 1 Trovão-class Destroyer, 1 Early Light Cruiser
Hungary: 1 Early Destroyer, 1 Early Light Cruiser, 1 Early Heavy Cruiser
Spain: 7 Early Destroyers, 4 Early Light Cruisers, 3 Early Heavy Cruisers, 1 Hercules-class Battleship

BATTLES IN THE BLACK SEA. Sevastopol, Russia. The Black Sea has become the scene of a brutal commerce and naval war between Hungary and Russia. The Russians have begun doing their best to cut the vital trade over the sea between Georgia and Hungary, while the Hungarians were attempting to sever overseas trade to the key port of Sevastopol. The result was a series of lower level battles between skirmishing naval forces, including the first battle between submarines. The battle began with an odd happenstance when a Russian and a Hungarian submarine collided, and the other vessels emerged to see what happened. the fight quickly turned one-sided as the vastly superior Russian submarine remaining sunk three Hungarian submarines all on its own. The Russian submarines would continue to dominate commerce, along with their surface fleet until what appeared to be a lopsided battle began. It was reported that a mere six vessels were steaming towards Sevastopol, four of them elderly Georgian destroyers, one of which was sunk by a Russian submarine. The entire Russian fleet came out to do battle, only to find an unpleasant surprise. The rapidly moving new Hungarian battlecruisers evaded fired and then unleashed a whirlwind of their own firepower, utterly destroying five screening ships in the first volley. The new battlecruisers tore a hole through all of the Russian screening vessels, while barely obtaining a scratch. When they engaged the Russian flagship, the battleship found itself surprisingly outgunned and unable to do much more than take fire, until eventually it began sinking and struck its colors. In this lopsided naval battle, a mere two Hungarian vessels would utterly smash the Russian Black Sea fleet. While they lost most of the Georgian ships, they would soon sail home, though one would be sunk by a Russian submarine's torpedo before it could reach harbor.
Casualty Lists
Georgia: 3 Early Destroyers
Hungary: 8 Early Submarines, 1 Lioness-class Battlecruiser
Russia: 1 Early Submarine, 7 Early Destroyers, 2 Early Light Cruisers, 1 Early Heavy Cruiser, 1 Christine-class Battleship

INVASION OF GEORGIA. Tiflis, Georgia. As the first part of three major Russian invasions throughout the course of the year, the Georgians would face the massive wrath of the Russian army. Thankfully a lack of cavalry for the Russian army meant that the Georgians were more than capable of scouting and anticipating the movements of the Russian forces. They were fully prepared and in position, quickly allowing them to decimate the Russian artillery corps and deluge the advancing infantry in fire. The Russians would experience extremely heavy casualties in the battle of Sochi, blocking the easy coastal approach into Georgia. After running into the impenetrable brick wall of Georgian defenses anchored on the coastline, the Russians would continue frequent, though futile assaults. They eventually would attempt other advances through the mountains, which were also heavily defended. They managed to make some headway regardless, but at a heavy price as they claimed what they viewed as rightful Russian territories.
Casualty Lists
Georgia: 5 Conscript Brigades, 21 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 4 Artillery Brigades
Russia: 49 Conscript Brigades, 30 Infantry Brigades, 10 Artillery Brigades

INVASION OF HUNGARY. Bucharest, Hungary. The second largest front of the war this year would be on Hungarian soil as the Russian army began an attempted invasion of Hungary, along what is popularly known as the Dniester Front. The initial Russian attack began with a major artillery bombardment which proved to be effective, though the Hungarians managed to inflict their own fair share of damage upon the Russian guns. The crossing the Dniester soon began, and the artillery inflicted heavy tolls, but a few bridgeheads were established on the far bank as the Russians slowly built up and drove the Hungarians back from the river. At this point, with the Russians drawn across the river, the Hungarians made their bid to restore the border, as countless gallons of petroleum were dumped into the Dniester River which was set aflame. The resulting chaos led to tens of thousands of deaths and the temporarily cutting of the Russian supply lines. At this point, the full wrath of the Hungarian artillery was unleashed, devastating the Russian soldiers, along with ample amounts of mustard gas. The Russian forces were annihilated after a prolonged battle, with only a few thousand ever managing to retreat back across the river. Further attempts would be made by the Russians to cross as the year progressed, but each attempt was met with heavy casualties. Below photograph, Russian engineers fighting the fire on the Dniester while under artillery fire from the Hungarians
Casualty Lists
Hungary: 43 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 15 Artillery Brigades
Russia: 70 Conscript Brigades, 111 Infantry Brigades, 29 Artillery Brigades


INVASION OF POLAND. Warsaw, Poland. The war's largest armies clashed in the fields of eastern Poland this year, as the Russians attempted to cut off eastern Poland from the west. The heaviest fighting would take place near Lida in the north and Mazyr in the south. The Russians, hoping to split Poland in two, would instead find the heaviest prepared positions, assembled painstakingly over two years by the best British military engineers. The Russians charged straight into minefields and prepared zones of artillery fire, into which British guns poured mustard gas and high explosives, while devastating the Russian artillery corps in both areas. Neither Russian advance was able to make any headway, being torn apart in wave after wave of attacks. The Poles and British were more than amply prepared for just this attack, and would not be budged even from the first line of defenses. The Russians dug in along the border themselves, as they continuously massed and attacked, hoping to achieve victory through brute force.
Casualty Lists
Poland: 7 Conscript Brigades, 38 Infantry Brigades, 3 Cavalry Brigades, 4 Artillery Brigades
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 9 Infantry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades
Russia: 101 Conscript Brigades, 120 Infantry Brigades, 23 Artillery Brigades

THE INVASION OF BRITISH INDOCHINA. Rangoon, United Kingdom of Great Britain. The British and Spanish, the initiating belligerents of the war to many, fought only in a few remote theaters across the world. For the Spanish, the most emphasis was upon the invasion of what's widely known as British Indochina, stretching from India to Vietnam. The Spanish forces in India were painstakingly gathered for this offensive, to drive back the British and deprive them of their most lucrative colonial possession. The initial fighting was fairly limited, as the British cavalry fought stalling actions against the Spanish with less than impressive success. The Spanish soon secured what existed of British India, when the first main battle would be fought for the city of Dhaka. The Spanish forces were significantly larger and after a pitched battle, overwhelmed and drove back the British army once more. Ultimately only time stopped the Spanish, as entering the rough terrain of Burma force their assault to slow, giving the British at last a chance to breathe and regroup.
Casualty Lists
Spain: 6 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 2 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 2 Artillery Brigades

THE INVASION OF SPANISH CHINA. Hong Kong, United Kingdom of Great Britain. Despite the outbreak of global war, for some reason, the Spanish garrison in China was extremely sluggish when it came to mobilization. Most of the soldiers on this fairly lazy duty, including the commanding general were unprepared for the war itself, and didn't truly recognize that conflict had arrived. Therefore, they were unacceptably taken by surprise when the British army launched an assault from the south. Using scouts and informants the British were able to identify and eliminate the majority of Spanish artillery at the onset of the battle. The Spanish commander, who had been expecting an attack from either the Chinese or upon the coastline, was ill-prepared for the British assault that shattered his forces. The British inflicted heavy casualties while initially scattering Spanish resistance. At Wenzhou, the Spanish managed to regroup and rally their routed forces, and fight a last desperate struggle to hold onto the colony late in the year. After his superior officer was relieved, the new Spanish commander maintained a surprising defense, allowing the Spanish to at least preserve a small hold on China.
Casualty Lists
Spain: 6 Infantry Brigades, 3 Cavalry Brigades, 4 Artillery Brigades
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 7 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade

THE TURKISH FRONT. Konya, Turkey. For the early part of the year, Turkey remained isolated from the heavy fighting taking place much to the south on the Sinai Peninsula. Both Turkey and Kurdistan, as smaller entrants into the war, awaited the completion of the mobilization of infantry before the true battles began. Prior to the heaviest fighting later in the year, there were only a few limited skirmishes as the Turks parried Arab or Kurd forays and reconnaissance into their territory. In August, the Arabs and Kurds launched a combined offensive into Turkey, hoping to crush the smaller nation and be able to turn their armies on more pressing foes. The attack was an astonishing success as spies and patrols managed to accurately map out the Turkish defenses, leading to a devastation of their emplaced guns and troops. Both the Kurds in the east and the Arabs in the south broke the Turkish lines after heavy fighting, but ultimately routing their forces. The Turks would just barely rally later in the year, as Konya fell under siege by the combined Allied army. With their sea access cut off and their navy captured by the Arabs, the Turkish government is struggling to preserve their position as the capital comes under constant artillery fire from their enemies.
Casualty Lists
Arabian Empire: 11 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
Kurdistan: 8 Conscript Brigades, 14 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 2 Artillery Brigades
Turkey: 8 Conscript Brigades, 12 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 7 Artillery Brigades

ALLIED INVASION OF ORANJIEN AND BEYONDCape Town, United Kingdom of Great Britain. The continent of Africa has hardly escaped the fires of war, but for a few months it seemed like it might. The lack of any real hostilities between Britain and the Continental Powers in South Africa last for a time, but was promptly altered with the arrival of an Allied expeditionary force. Substantial amounts of soldiers had come from Argentina and Brazil to drive the Europeans out of their possessions in South Africa. The Danish colony of Oranjien was the first to fall, being caught utterly by surprise by the massive Allied army upon their doorstep. Their armies put up a pitiful fight before surrendering to the far superior army arrayed against them. The Spanish would face the assault next, fighting a delayed action across the continent, ultimately resulting in defeat. With full naval support from the Allied fleets, the Spanish quickly lost control of the coast, but still managed to inflict surprisingly substantial casualties upon the Allies before retreating to rally with the Dutch army in Kabinde. In Kabinde, the Allies were at last forced to stop with the Continental Powers' army managing to inflict substantial casualties in the siege of their last stronghold in the colony. The Dutch possession would be overwhelmed, but only at the very tail end of the year.
Casualty Lists
Argentina: 5 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
Brazil: 3 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 1 Infantry Brigade
Denmark: 2 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade
Netherlands: 1 Infantry Brigade, 1 Cavalry Brigade
Spain: 2 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade

ATTACK UPON THE PHILIPPINES. Manila, occupied Spain. Though they would be bogged down in their war effort in China, the Japanese would show their true martial strength to the world with the invasion of the Philippines. Landing on the north of Luzon, the Spanish had nothing but a scrap garrison and a few thousand local volunteers to resist the advance south towards Manila. While the Spanish army, what of it there was, fought in the jungles of northern Luzon, the main Japanese fleet cornered the Spanish Pacific Fleet in the Battle of Manila Bay. The Japanese, with a large number of battleships and heavy cruisers, managed to reduce the local fortifications, as well as assure the complete destruction of the Spanish fleet. The Spanish acquitted themselves well, however, and a Japanese battleship would be sunk along with one of their heavy cruisers and a number of screening ships. The victory at Manila Bay allowed the Japanese to land troops directly in Manila itself, cutting off the supplies of the Spanish army to the north. The Spanish were soon surrounded and forced to surrender to the Japanese army. This victory granted the Japanese control of the Philippines, dramatically weakening the Continental Powers' cause in the Far East.
Casualty Lists
Japan: 6 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade, 7 Early Destroyers, 2 Early Light Cruisers, 1 Early Heavy Cruiser, 1 Yamato-Class Battleship
Spain: 3 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 2 Artillery Brigades, 6 Early Destroyers, 2 Early Light Cruisers, 1 Early Heavy Cruiser

THE PACIFIC NAVAL WAR. Singapore, United Kingdom of Great Britain. The Great War's naval activities in the Pacific Ocean were significantly less dramatic and climatic than battles which took place elsewhere across the world. In this particular ocean, most of the battles have been ship to ship as two contradictory goals take place amid the seas. The Japanese and British have done their utmost to hunt down and destroy all of the ships of the Continental Powers in the Far East, and have made only limited headway on this over the course of the year. The various other powers have begun raiding Japanese supply lines throughout the region and overall making a nuisance of themselves. Despite this, excluding Manila, the fleets remained dispersed throughout the plethora of islands in the Far East, with only a few small battles occurring in the larger commerce war. The greatest problem for the Allies has been the Dutch battleship fleet, which has been reinforced from the Chinese squadron. So far, the Japanese have not managed to track this particularly devastating fleet down to the ground.
Casualty Lists
Franco-Burgundian Confederation: 1 Early Destroyer
Netherlands: 1 Early Heavy Cruiser
Scandinavia: 1 Early Destroyer
Japan: 3 Early Destroyers, 2 Early Light Cruisers

THE BRANDENBURG FRONT. Berlin, Brandenburg. The largest fighting in Western Europe would begin along the border between Brandenburg and the Triple Alliance states to its west. The Triple Alliance would, despite some supply delays and interference by the German Brotherhood, be able to launch its offensive first. With Brandenburg's regular army tied down in Denmark, the Triple Alliance was confident about the ability of their forces to overrun the mostly conscript Brandenburger brigades. Unfortunately, the Allies had more than enough time to bring in a massive amount of forces from the east, as the Serbians and Hungarians sent considerable expeditionary forces to combat the invasion. The Continental Powers soon ran into a metaphorical brick wall, as the Hungarians used their superior numbers of artillery and prepared defenses to halt the advance. The Allies were also the first to deploy mustard gas, though the Triple Alliance were able to respond in kind. The fighting was heavy, and with the Continentals unable to bypass the Hungarian positions, they attempted to outflank the enemy lines, only to run into further strong defenses to the north and south. In the north, Brandenburg's conscript army acquitted itself well, badly mauling the Dutch army as well as the attached French forces. Though the French have pushed a few dozen miles into Brandenburg, it seems that the combined Allied forces have stopped them. Below Picture, Brandenburger soldiers preparing for the Dutch offensive in the north.
Casualty Lists
Brandenburg: 39 Conscript Brigades, 1 Kommando Brigade, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades
Hungary: 12 Conscript Brigades, 34 Infantry Brigades, 5 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades
Serbia: 3 Conscript Brigades, 9 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade
Franco-Burgundian Confederation: 67 Conscript Brigades, 93 Infantry Brigades, 4 Cavalry Brigades, 6 Artillery Brigades
Netherlands: 14 Conscript Brigades, 18 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 2 Artillery Brigades


THE OCCITANIA FRONT. Toulouse, Occitania. After the defeat of the attempted invasion into Aquitaine, the Occitanian army was sent reeling back into their home land, to prepare for the inevitable counter attack. Due to the obvious concentration of the Spanish and Portuguese armies to their west, it soon became apparent where the primary offensive would come. The Occitanians hastily assembled what defenses they could to resist the oncoming storm. Some minor skirmishing would take place in the Pyrenees, where occasional Spanish attempts to push through the mountains led to severe damage from the Occitanian defenses. Limited skirmishing would also take place along the northern Occitanian border between their reserves and the French conscripts, but the heaviest fighting would come in late September when the Spanish unleashed their offensive. The resulting artillery duel would prove to be fairly evenly matched and neither side would be able to gain a significant advantage. That would be the last good fortune had for the Spanish offensive. The Occitanian defenses were barely scathed by the artillery barrage and the Spanish ran full into the entrenched positions on good terrain. The Continentals managed to gain a few miles though, but were halted on the secondary defensive positions established by the Occitanians, bringing their whole attack to a screeching halt less than a month after it began.
Casualty Lists
Occitania: 7 Conscript Brigades, 34 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 7 Artillery Brigades
Franco-Burgundian Confederation: 4 Conscript Brigades
Portugal: 10 Conscript Brigades, 11 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 2 Artillery Brigades
Spain: 14 Conscript Brigades, 50 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 4 Artillery Brigades

OCCUPATION OF MOZAMBIQUE. Cape Town, United Kingdom of Great Britain. After the triumphantly successful Allied campaign along the western coast of South Africa, the British began moves to crush the last Continental holding in the region. The British, with overwhelming numbers and support, moved against Portuguese Mozambique and faced relatively little resistance. The British managed to invade and drive the Portuguese border forces back with fairly little trouble. The Portuguese garrison has not been able to get any support or supplies with the logistical troubles in the Suez Canal and the South Atlantic. Ultimately, when it became clear that no supplies were going to materialize, the Portuguese surrendered, giving up the colony to the British.
Casualty Lists
Portugal: 1 Infantry Brigade, 1 Cavalry Brigade
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 1 Cavalry Brigade

CONQUEST OF WEST AFRICA. Conakry, United Kingdom of Great Britain. Africa's theater of war expanded ever further at the end of the year as the British consolidated the growing the dominance of the Allies on the continent. The British first targeted the weakly defended Scandinavian holdings, which only had an under strength brigade to their name. The colony was surrendered to the British by its governor, with few soldiers to defend it, leaving the Dutch the only possible resistance to the British colonial power play. The Dutch put up at least a decent fight in their colony of Goudkoust, temporarily holding the much larger British army back. Without any heavy guns, the Dutch were soon smashed into pieces, with their formations and positions wrecked beyond repair. The British soon accepted the surrender of the colony as well, securing a position in West Africa.
Casualty Lists
Netherlands: 1 Infantry Brigade, 1 Cavalry Brigade
Scandinavia: 1 Infantry Brigade
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 1 Infantry Brigade

OCCUPATION OF BERMUDA. Charleston, United States of America. As a quiet precursor to the arrival of the Great Allied Fleet in Britain, one more Caribbean island would have to be taken by the Allied powers. Abandoned early by the Spanish army and navy, Bermuda was bereft of any real defenses early in the year, as the Spanish sought to defend more valuable colonies. The vital naval base at Bermuda was therefore undefended, and the Americans saw the chance to secure the overseas trade and supply lines with the British Islands. The island was unoccupied except for a limited guard force, which did not resist the American occupation. The control of the island has given the American government substantial breathing room, particularly with their defeat of the Spanish in other theaters.

THE NORTH ATLANTIC CAMPAIGN. London, United Kingdom of Great Britain. The cornerstone of both sides strategies for the year seemed to rely upon the conducting of a major naval campaign in the North Atlantic around the British Islands. The British immediately set sail out of their southern ports to group in a major fleet in the western ports of the island. The French navy immediately sailed to stop the British fleet's escape from the Channel, as the Dutch and Scandinavians hurried from the north. Unbeknownst to the French, the British admiral was luring them into a trap. An awaiting British fleet arrived from the west, capturing the French in between the two task forces. The result was a catastrophic defeat as the French admiral lost his nerve and ordered a retreat. The tides would seemingly turn as the Scandinavian, Dutch, and Danish fleets began a campaign of raiding and shelling the British coastline, ending with a raid upon Scapa Flow. At this point, the British saw a chance to even the odds upon prepared ground. Issuing the broadcast "They shall not pass!" from his flagship, the British admiral used Shetland and Orkney to force the Continentals into a battle of his choosing. The result was a bloodbath, as the British ships, rather than giving ground in the fight, were sunk in a massive battle of attrition. The main British battle fleet was destroyed, with a solitary battleship escaping along with a few screening vessels. They managed to take out a heavy toll upon the Continent Powers' warships, bring nineteen capital ships down, as well as many other screening vessels, and no ship left without damage. Upon the defeat of the main British fleet, the Continental Powers' own combined fleet was badly mauled and most had return for repairs. In this time fleets from Argentina, Brazil, and the United States of America began amassing with the British in the Irish Sea. The combined Continental Fleet, consisting of nearly two hundred warships, moved against the combined Allied fleet, and a great battle erupted. After seven hours and the sun went down, the fighting was still growing, and became even more chaotic in the darkness. By noon on the next day, the last surviving admiral of the Continental fleet ordered a withdrawal, with countless vessels and sailors tossed in the seas. When the Peruvians arrived a month later, they arrived to a Europe in repair, as the great fleets recovered from the climatic Battle of the Irish Sea. Below Photograph, The front of the Continental Battle line as it sales towards Scapa Flow
Casualty Lists
Denmark: 16 Early Destroyers, 4 Numancia-class Destroyers, 5 Early Light Cruisers, 2 Early Heavy Cruisers, 1 Eendracht-class Heavy Cruiser, 5 Java-class Battleships, 1 Conquistador-class Battleship
Franco-Burgundian Confederation: 12 Early Destroyers, 7 Early Light Cruisers, 2 Early Heavy Cruisers, 7 Java-class Battleships, 1 Conquistador-class Battleship
Netherlands: 27 Early Destroyers, 6 Numancia-class Destroyers, 8 Early Light Cruisers, 5 Early Heavy Cruisers, 8 Eendracht-class Heavy Cruisers, 8 Java-class Battleships, 2 Conquistador-class Battleships
Portugal: 8 Early Destroyers, 2 Dragoa-class Destroyers, 3 Early Light Cruisers, 3 Joao-class Heavy Cruisers
Scandinavia: 29 Romanos-class Destroyers, 4 Early Light Cruisers, 5 Early Heavy Cruisers, 9 Christine-class Battleships
Spain: 15 Early Destroyers, 8 Numancia-class Destroyers, 8 Early Light Cruisers, 6 Early Heavy Cruisers, 6 Eendracht-class Heavy Cruisers, 11 Hercules-class Battleships, 2 Conquistador-class Battleships
Argentina: 5 Trovão-class Destroyers, 4 Zygmunt-class Destroyers, 1 Early Light Cruiser, 1 Early Heavy Cruiser, 1Resiliência-class Battleship
Brazil: 9 Trovão-class Destroyers, 2 Zygmunt-class Destroyers, 6 Early Light Cruisers, 4 Early Heavy Cruisers, 3 Resiliência-class battleships, 1 Olympus-class Battleship
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 29 Trovão-class Destroyers, 17 Early Light Cruisers, 15 Early Heavy Cruisers, 2 Lioness-class Battlecruisers, 26 Summit-class Battleships, 5 Olympus-class Battleships
United States of America: 17 Early Destroyers, 5 Zygmunt-class Destroyers, 8 Early Light Cruisers, 4 Early Heavy Cruisers, 2 Ziemowit-class Heavy Cruisers, 6 Virginia-class Battleships


THE HOME FRONTS. Paris, Franco-Burgundian Confederation. The Great War is one truly unlike any other that has taken place in human history. The entire world is at play, as fighting rages across almost every continent, affecting the lives of all. Very few nations remain neutral, but none are unaffected by what the Parisian government declared to be a "total war." Many nations have begun mass conscription of soldiers to serve, as the casualties grow ever higher and regular armies are consumed by the fire of machine guns and mustard gas. The militaries of all nations are learning valuable nations, hoping that their soldiers will live long enough to put them into practice. Below are all the stat changes caused by combat experience:

News from Europe​

EARTHQUAKE IN BULGARIA. Sofia, Bulgaria. A fairly sizeable earthquake took place in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia this year, causing significant damage and taking over three thousand lives. Overall though, the damage has been fairly light as these sort of disasters go, and the Bulgarian military government has immediately set to work fixing the damage. The loss of life has been regrettable, but the incident has been highly overshadowed by the onset of the Great War and the previous Constantinople Event, which did substantially more damage. Some scientists have theorized that the earthquake and related aftershocks are somehow tied to the Constantinople Event, which left millions dead. The prevailing theory, with no ability to actually access the impact site, is that the striking of Constantinople triggered the earth to have these aftershocks, and they have confidently predicted more in the years to come. (-1 Manpower)

GERMAN BROTHERHOOD EMERGES IN POLAND. Konigsberg, Poland. The organization known as the German Brotherhood has made its appearance in Poland, as numerous flyers and publishing press have opened up throughout Prussia. They have denounced the Polish government and called for the German people of Prussia to struggle against Polish rule. The German Brotherhood of Poland has claimed to be a portion of the larger organization, striving for a united German state. So far, with war erupting, this conflicts with other Brotherhood statements, calling for support for Brandenburg against the Continental Powers. To many this seems that there could well be dispute among the leadership of the German Brotherhood, as the German nationalists struggle to find a new voice. Regardless, this has severely strained the relationship between Poland and Brandenburg, at a moment when close ties are needed to defeat the common enemy of the Continental Powers.

COUP ATTEMPT CRUSHED IN POMERANIA. Stettin, Pomerania. Radical elements of the military in Pomerania attempted to depose the standing government this year, led by former members of the German Brotherhood. Displeased with the Brotherhood's democratic stance and peaceful approach towards gaining control of the nation, their leaders in the military attempted to seize power by force to join the Allied cause in the Great War. The coup was unanticipated, and the republican government was very nearly overthrown. The rebels seized Stettin, but as it turned out, most of the military remained loyal to the republican cause, if not most of the officer corps. The loyalist forces responded quickly in what turned into a melee street battle throughout the interior of Stettin. The fighting proved vicious and lasted for several weeks until the rebellious military leaders were crushed and imprisoned. The leaders have been executed for treason, and this whole affair has substantially diminished the position of the German Brotherhood in Pomerania. (+1 Stability, -4 Infantry Brigades, -1 Artillery Brigade, -3 Manpower)

FINNISH LEADERS DEMAND MORE REPRESENTATION. Helsinki, Scandinavia. The outbreak of the Great War has given what many view to be an opportunity for political gain at home. In Scandinavia this has clearly emerged with the Finnish Letter, in which key members of the Finnish bureaucracy and domestic government have called for a greater representation in the Rikstag. The Finnish people, according to these writers, are severely underrepresented in Scandinavian government, and deserve a greater share of power. They have insisted that the Scandinavian government cede more seats to the Finnish provinces to make up for the lack of influence with the monarchy, which remains dominated by the Swedes and Norwegians. The Finns have found themselves increasingly resented by other members of the government, due to their exploitation of the grand war against the Allies. Some minor fights have taken place, though there has been no significant injuries or deaths among the belligerent individuals. (-1 Stability)

IRISH CONTINUE CALLS FOR AUTONOMY. Dublin, United Kingdom of Great Britain. The British government, despite the eruption of war with the Continental Powers, still faces some troubles on the home front. The Irish have continued their persistent calls for reform involvement Ireland's role in the larger United Kingdom. They have called for self rule and larger autonomy from the British empire as a whole, claiming that they should be given the right to rule themselves. The British government under the Union Jacks have been less than enthusiastic about ceding any sort of reforms to the Irish, and the result has been growing tensions in Parliament. The British papers have called the Irish "papist traitors" for their failure to stand united with the rest of the United Kingdom against the forces of Spain and its allies. So far it seems that reform is unlikely, and the Irish people continue to grow more and more unruly against the British government. (-1 Stability)

ELECTIONS IN FLANDERS. Brussels, Flanders. Elections have taken place for control of the legislature and real position of the government this year in the European nation of Flanders. The Flemish people have spoken, and they have clearly emerged in favor of the standing Social Republican Party. As a truly epic war erupts across the continent of Europe, the Flemish masses have plainly stated that they want no part of it. The Social Republican Party has continued to preach neutrality, as well as their ties with the Dutch government. They have pledged that the Flemish people will not know war, keeping the children and masses safe from the marauding hordes enveloping every aspect of life throughout the region. The people have turned out in droves to support Flemish neutrality, as they continue to be the respectable cornerstone of civilization, calling for the humane treatment of the wounded and prisoners of war. (+1 Stability)

SARDINIA WITHDRAWS FROM TUSCANY. Pisa, Tuscany. After last year's disastrous military confrontation between Tuscany with the Sardinian invasion, the Sardinians have finally withdrawn. The tensions were high as the Tuscan military government demanded compensation for the losses caused by the Sardinian invasion. The Sardinians refused, claiming that the Tuscan military unlawfully used force to respond when they could have used diplomatic means. The tensions were more or less defused however with the withdrawal, as there remained no capacity for either to further provoke tensions. The Tuscan military government took a beating with this development though, losing some credibility as the Sardinians saved face with their retreat. The Tuscan population has quickly lost faith in the military, spurring events which occurred later in the year, and influencing the convention on the future of the nation. (-1 Stability for Tuscany)

WAR IN SOUTHERN ITALY. Rome, Papal States. The rest of the world became consumed by the outbreak of the Great War, and meanwhile another smaller war has broken out on the Italian Peninsula. The full support for Italian nationalism which emerged from Naples soon provoked a response to the Papacy, calling for the Neapolitan monarchy to renounce their statements. After refusing an ultimatum from the Pope, the Neapolitans soon found themselves at war with the Papacy, Austria, and Sardinia. They seek to crush the nationalist cause before it truly began an uprising that could unsettle the status quo on the peninsula. The war began at sea as the Neapolitans attempted to break free to maraud the Papal coasts and the other coastal communities of their enemies. The escape of the Brazilians, however, would ensure that the focus of the Sardinian navy would lead to the utter and immediate crushing of the Neapolitan fleet. Unfortunately the Sardinians failed to learn from the lessons of the past few years and attempted a naval assault upon Sicily. The Sicilians, having received even more artillery than they had possessed in the fight against Spain, were more than prepared to receive invaders. The Sardinian landing was slaughtered and none of the nine brigades which made it on the beaches would ever leave, before the assault was called off. The fighting in Sicily though, was only a sideshow for the larger war. The Neapolitans opened the war with a barrage of mustard gas canisters across the Papal army, causing immense confusion and death. With no equipment or doctrine prepared for this sort of warfare, the Pope's forces were soon routed in battle. Cavalry clashes became common between the two armies, as the forces of Naples drove towards Rome itself. Ultimately the papal cavalry gained in the advantage, and to the surprise of many, managed to get loose behind Neapolitan lines. The devastation wrecked upon supplies forced Naples army to halt, allowing the remaining Papal forces to regroup and reassemble only about fifty miles within the border. The defenses of the Pope would be bolstered with the arrival of an expeditionary force from Austria, dramatically improving the situation. The new army soon began a counterattack, despite the heavy losses among the cavalry and the disruption caused by the enemy's mustard gas. This attack succeeded, but with heavy casualties, as the Austrian and Papal army managed to push back into Naples, bleeding for every inch of ground.
Casualty Lists
Naples: 71 Infantry Brigade, 10 Cavalry Brigades, 22 Artillery Brigades9 Early Destroyers, 3 Early Light Cruisers, +1 Army Quality, -1 Navy Quality
Austria: 6 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades, +1 Army Quality
Papal States: 67 Infantry Brigades, 12 Cavalry Brigades, 20 Artillery Brigades, +1 Army Quality
Sardinia: 9 Infantry Brigades, 2 Early Destroyers, +1 Navy Quality

BULGARIAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. Sofia, Bulgaria. As the Roman Empire continues to crumble, a lackluster war for freedom continues by the Bulgarians against a portion of the Roman legions. The fighting has been mostly focused on driving the Bulgarians off the coast, and restoring regular communication with the forces stationed around the ruins of Constantinople. The fighting has been heavy as the Bulgarians efficiently use artillery to forestall the Roman advances. Ultimately, through sheer numbers, the Aegean Railroad was reclaimed by the Roman army, allowing them to link up with the wreckage of the old capital. The fighting would subside for the rest of the year, as the Romans were forced to reevaluate the loyalty of their armies and reinforce the garrisons of other provinces after the Opsikion Rebellion. A limited assault was launched towards Sofia, but the Bulgarian forces were more than capable of repulsing this minor offensive.
Casualty Lists
Bulgaria: 22 Conscript Brigades, 4 Artillery Brigades
Roman Empire: 10 Conscript Brigades, 29 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 5 Artillery Brigades

NATIONALISM ASSUMES POLITICAL POWER IN TUSCANY. Florence, Tuscany. The ongoing tensions which led to war between the Papacy and Naples once more brought the ideals of Italian nationalism top to the minds of political thinkers in Tuscany. The commanding general, Adamo Rossi, was said to have been a hardened nationalist in his youth, before joining the military. After consulting with his advisers, the military government of Tuscany has pledged its support for the establishment of a nationalist state, particularly after the disruptive events in Genoa. The Tuscan army has pledged to determine its new allegiance, whether to the growing cause of the Neapolitan monarchy or to the liberal nationalists who have seized power in Genoa. The Tuscan generals have rolled the die and it is hoped a new Italian state will soon be formed.

GENOESE DECLARE NEW KINGDOM OF ITALY AFTER COUP. Genoa, Italian Republic. The Genoese nearly faced the trauma of a devastating civil war, as a revolt was spurred from the University of Genoa, after the closing of the Italian National Press last year. While elements of the army were prepared to fight the uprising, King Emmanuelle declared his personal support for the nationalist cause, and was even prepared to abdicate his throne to the rebels. After his abdication, the monarchy was ended and a new republic was declared by the victorious nationalists. While the situation is temporary, the former king has been selected as the head of the new committee formed to manage the nation during the course of the revolution. The start of the Great War and a similar coup in Tuscany, soon led to a new cause emerging, and the Italian Revolution was declared by the members of Genoa's Nationalist Committee. They have appealed to all the Italian people to rise up in support of their cause, declaring themselves to be the true Italian state. Reception to this has been mixed, however, with many Italians seeing Naples as a better candidate due to their support of the Sicilians and war with the Papacy. Regardless, a new day has begun for the Italian people. (+1 Stability)

DEBATE ERUPTS AMONG AUSTRIAN ITALIANS. Venice, Austria. The recent war that has begun between Naples and the Papacy plus the new revolution in Genoa have led to a severe split among the Italians who live within Austrian borders. At the University of Venice this year, an informal debate was had among the liberal nationalists of the community over which nation could be declared the champion of the Italian cause. The debate was mostly indecisive as strong cases have been made for both powers. By the end of the discussion, there became an apparent champion behind which the people of Venice could throw their support. The Kingdom of Naples, with its successes in battle against the Pope and its support for the Sicilians despite the threat of the wrath of Spain, appeared to be the true hero of the Italian people. The nationalists of Austria have therefore declared that they recognize Naples as the rising Italian state, not the presumptuous republic in Genoa.

MUTINY IN THE PAPAL ARMY. Terracina, Papal States. Near the end of the year, as the Papal forces drove slowly into Naples, they faced a major disruption among their forces. The increasing tension of the nationalist cause and the so-called Italian Revolution taking place to the north, have led to a major mutiny in the Papal army. The soldiers, rather than serving the Pope, were instead convinced to lead an attempt to secure Rome for a new Italian state. The officer corps has remained loyal to the Papacy, but the enlisted of the main army have not, leading to the killings of officers in the field rather quickly, and spiraling out of control into a full scale revolt among the troops. The effort was further confused by Neapolitan artillery fire on the front, and chaos reigned as the entire front line would be disturbed by nearly thirty thousand mutineers. The Austrian army would ultimately be forced to be the ones to quell the uprising, which became a vicious battle as they struggled to restore order. Thankfully, the Austrians were enough to reestablish the Pope's authority over the army, but the hold on the front lines has become tenuous at best.
Casualty Lists
Austria: 7 Infantry Brigades
Papal States: 10 Infantry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades

TUSCANY JOINS NEW ITALIAN REPUBLIC. Florence, Italian Republic. The Italian Revolution has been off to a fairly groundbreaking start. After continuous negotiations between the Nationalist Committee in Genoa and General Adamo Rossi in Florence, the realms of Tuscany and Genoa were joined as one. The Tuscan army has pledged its loyalty to the new Italian Revolution led from Genoa, and has offered its full support for any future expansions. The government and infrastructure of the two nations has been combined, as they prepare for a new offensive to extend the Italian Revolution ever further. The combination of the two nations has been met by widespread scorn and condemnation for the disruption and evil of the Italian nationalist cause. Pope Leo XIV has condemned the move, threatening to excommunicate all involved for their efforts to disrupt the peninsula even more through their depraved goals.

INVASION OF MILAN. Milan, Milan. The unification of Tuscany and Genoa under the banner of the newly forged Italian Republic has caused more than a little concern among the government of King Giovanni II. In early October, as the eyes of the world were focused upon the great battles in Europe and the North Sea, the Italian Revolution would exported by force for the first time. The Milanese were attacked by the newly combined Italian army, and they found that their positions were mapped out and given to the Italians by their own citizenry. Would be Italian nationalists acted as spies for the invading revolutionary army, giving the invading forces all the information they would need to conduct a successful attack. Therefore the initial offensive proved to be wildly successful, resulting in a rout of the Milanese border forces. The Italians would enjoy substantial victory over the first few weeks until being bloodily halted upon the Po River. The Milanese were more than capable of blocking the crossings, while using artillery power to devastate the enemy units. A stalemate has emerged upon the river line, as both sides gear up for a full year's fighting ahead in 1906.
Casualty Lists
Italian Republic: 8 Conscript Brigades, 12 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades
Milan: 11 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 5 Artillery Brigades

RADIO SPIRE CONSTRUCTED IN LONDON. London, United Kingdom of Great Britain. The outbreak of the Great War has not caused scientific progress to stagnate, despite the fears of many intellectuals. Instead, some theaters of science continue to make leaps and bounds, partially due to the needs of wartime. One such example of this has been the construction of the massive Empire Radio Spire in London, which is being used to help coordinate the activities of defensive fleets around Britain. The British have successfully used this to keep informed well before the enemy about the results of the battles in the North Atlantic Ocean. The British have therefore been able to respond more immediately about the ongoing struggle of the Great War, with this project helping to spur wireless research for the uses of the military.

POMERANIA INTRODUCES FIRST PENSION SYSTEM. Stettin, Pomerania. The Pomeranian government made a historic passing of new policy this year, establishing the world's first pension system for aging workers. With life expectancy on the rise with new forms of healthcare and better standards of living across the world, the social proletarists running Pomerania have chosen to make an effort to take care of those too old to work. They have therefore enacted a national pension fund to help pay for those who could not take care of themselves after they have passed working age. The Pomeranian pension is set to accumulate over the next few years, and will be used to provide a safe standard of living to all workers who reach the age of seventy. The leftists of Pomerania have applauded the development, stating that it is a progressive step for workers all around the world.

Brought to you by the Dutch Department of War​

News from the Americas​

CUBA DECLARES INDEPENDENCE. Havana, Cuba. The Great War has been seen by some in Cuba as the final stage of Spanish rule over the island. As American troops pour into Aztlan and the Bahamas, it was seen as a matter of time before the liberation would arrive from Spanish rule. The withdrawal of substantial Spanish forces to the defenses in Hispaniola from other islands made the Cubans recognize that their opportunity for freedom had arrived. Under the leadership of the key members of the Cuban independence movement, the arsenals and equipment of Havana were quickly seized after only a brief struggle. The Spanish governor of Cuba was arrested, while most of the government managed to flee the vengeful Cubans. The Spanish port of Guantanamo managed to hold against several Cuban assaults, but with the American fleet approaching, the local commander ordered a retreat to Hispaniola. Despite later American setbacks in their campaign, their mere presence has helped the Cubans gain their freedom. Political advisers have been invited to Havana, as a constitutional convention begins to establish a proper Cuban government. Photograph below of victorious Cuban rebels posing near Guantanamo
Casualty List
Cuba: 4 Conscript Brigades
Spain: 1 Infantry Brigade


SCANDAL IN JAMAICA. Kingston, Jamaica. The Jamaican government has suffered through a scandal this year, as the president was implicated in major embezzlement from the nation's coffers. An investigative reporter with the Kingston Press published proof and evidence that theft from the government was taking place on a massive scale. The president was shown to have taken the lion's share of wealth from the nation's treasury, while fabricating reports on the status of the Jamaican economy. Immediately, clamor has begun for the removal of the president from office, due to the severe corruption. As yet, the president has remained free and in office, while the Congress has been deadlocked in debates on how to proceed. The Jamaican constitution does not allow for the removal of a president until the end of his term of office, and the nation's judicial system has been in flux as the debate erupts in the press and among the Jamaican public. (-1 Stability)

PRESS CRITICIZES THE WAR IN MAYAN REPUBLIC. Belize, Mayan Republic. The outbreak of the Great War and the Mayan Republic's involvement in the conflict has led to worsening tensions between the nation's leading political parties. The liberal Home Defense Party has accused the reigning conservative Democratic Party of conducting the type of imperialism the Mayans fought against Spain to end. The owner of the Mayan Republic's papers has proven to be heavily sympathetic towards the Home Defense Party, publishing only articles in their favor. This has further exacerbated the situation, as the Mayan people become divided, and Congress slogs through debates. The liberals have demanded that the territories taken from Spain in Aztlan be given independence at the end of the war. They have stated that to occupy the region would be a severe hypocrisy conducted by the conservative regime. The conservatives have just as ferociously argued that the region is an important buffer against future colonial threats. Regardless of the right answer, the press in the Mayan Republic has helped to stalemate Congress, which remains stuck in debates and petty arguments, a critical situation with elections later in the year. (-1 Stability)

PERUVIAN CONSERVATIVES DENOUNCE WAR. Lima, Peru. The declaration of war upon Spain caught many veterans of the Peruvian political system by surprise. There existed very little support for the war against the Spanish among the conservative base of the ruling Party of Order, and it threatens to tear that political party into pieces. They have further denounced the Party of Order, which had pledged neutrality from global power plays and blocs during the 1904 elections. The conservatives, while not on the side of Spain, have expressed their belief that the raging conflict is not one in which Peru should participate. They have further used the evidence of the mounting casualties in Europe as a sign of why Peru should not be in the war at all. Some few radical conservatives even have claimed that Peru would be better off siding with the Spanish against the corruptive influence of Brazil and Argentina, but they remain firmly in the minority.

PROLETARIST STRIKE FORCES REFORM IN VENEZUELA. Caracas, Venezuela. The outbreak of the Great War has given more ammunition to the eternal struggle between labor and management in the South American nation of Venezuela. In order to secure worker rights reforms and social welfare, the Venezuelan Proletarist Union has led a strike of railway workers in the nation. They managed to shut down the nation's railroads for nearly two weeks before the government was eventually brought to the negotiating table. The need of the transportation and supplies for the war effort was of the primary concern and the government has agreed to both recognize the proletarist parties as well as the unions in exchange for the end of strikes until the conclusion of the war. They have also pledged to consider worker reform and put a bill through Congress upon the conclusion of the conflict. In exchange, they have asked that the unions do their best to prevent any further strikes in cooperation with the national government. (+1 Stablity)

ELECTIONS IN ARGENTINA. Buenos Aires, Argentina. The growing cascade of declarations of war in the middle of the year would spark a surprising change in the government of Argentina. Though many proclaimed affinity for the British and Brazilian cause, a large number of representatives from the reigning Democratic Party seemed less than certain about the call to war from their allies. The National Conservative Party would take advantage of this as the election season approached, and they used a swell of nationalism and pride to build up support for a united war effort. They have paraded campaign posters of Argentine soldiers marching through Madrid and Paris as a recruitment scheme for the army as well as for their own cause. Unfortunately, this has led to an upset in politics, throwing the standing political status quo into doubt. The conservatives have managed to use this to force their way into political control of the government, but have caused some damage to the nation's stability in the process. (-1 Stability)

MAYAN ELECTIONS. Belize, Mayan Republic. The Great War and the resulting press fiascos between the reigning Democratic Party and their opposition from the Home Defense Party has led to an interesting campaign season for this year's elections in the Mayan Republic. To the surprise of many, a major upset took place in the nation's elections, as both the Home Defense Party and the Democratic Party were discredited in the eyes of the nation. The workers turned out in support of a surprisingly effective campaign by the Socialist Party, calling for workers rights and reform. They have also pledged to integrate the Aztec workers into a new economic system for the nation, gathering the support of war hawks. Their victory was sealed when they pledged to continue the war, as they claimed it was essential for the development of the eventual global workers' state. (+2 Stability)

PARAGUAY ELECTIONS. Asuncion, Paraguay. As in so many other places around the world, the main issue in Paraguay is the onset of the Great War, which has engulfed the globe in flames. The Paraguayan Social Democratic Party found itself under siege, as the conservatives of the National Order Party accused them of being unprepared and unable to lead the nation in conflict. As notorious warhawks, the National Order Party has called for the full support of Brazil and Argentina in the growing war. The hawkish perspective has managed to develop the conservative cause, as an outpouring of nationalism has given support to the war effort. Elections soon came and went, and the National Order Party toppled the long standing Social Democratic Party, bringing a more militaristic regime into office. The declaration of war soon followed against Spain, as the Paraguayan army begins to be enlarged to a greater standing within the Allied powers.

COMPENSATION PAID TO NEW YORKERS. New York City, United States of America. After the devastation caused to the largest northeastern metropolis, New York City, in the 1904 Riots, the American government has done its best to respond. A fund was established to compensate those who lost property and lives during the catastrophe, which left many dead or injured. The American government has offered it as a way to help keep the victims of the crimes of the army silent for the time being. The program has been a reasonable local success, but proletarists and other radicals have pointed to it as a further sign of the inherent corruption of the American government. The outbreak of the Great War has kept cynics quiet for now, but the lingering resentment against the military regime has not yet disappeared.

MILITARY ACADEMY EXPANSION COMPLETE IN NEW SPAIN. Managua, New Spain. A lengthy five year project geared towards building and reforming the military education system in New Spain was at last completed this year. Though it was briefly halted for a year due to internal political disputes, the outbreak of the Great War quickly sped the project to completion. There have been some final hiccups in the effort as the larger war has made it significantly harder to find veteran teachers from other nations, as initially conceived of by the government. Most former officers from Britain or Spain have returned to service, leading new regiments in the ongoing conflict, while retirement has been halted completely for the duration. The New Spanish government has had to make do with theorists, but the mere construction of such training apparatus is hopefully enough to spur superior training among the nation's officers anyways.

VINLANDERS VOLUNTEER FOR SCANDINAVIAN SERVICE. New Stockholm, Vinland. The Great War has led to mixed feelings about Scandinavia and Vinland's relation to it in North America. Some few have espoused the desire to join with the American coalition against Spain and its allies, but cooler heads have prevailed in New Stockholm. Vinland's official assurance of neutrality have meant that its merchant marine between North America and Europe remains undisturbed, even as the commerce war escalates in the Atlantic Ocean. There do remain some in Vinland, however, that miss the old country and favor it in the war. Several thousand young men have volunteered to return and fight for the Scandinavian cause. They were sent without fanfare or any support from Vinland's government, training while in route and joining the Scandinavian army as some first material support from the New World for the Continental Powers. (+1 Infantry Brigade for Scandinavia)

COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT DECLARES EMERGENCY POWERS. Bogota, Colombia. The nation of Colombia, around which the whole of the Great War has begun, came under little scrutiny as the aforementioned conflict grew. Therefore, it came as little shock when President Francisco Martos declared unlimited emergency powers over Colombia for the duration of the ongoing war with Spain. The president has claimed that with the immense threat to freedom the Continental Powers pose, the nation must steel itself for the conflict to come. He has stated that the Colombian nation will not shirk their efforts and will provide everything needed to help the Allies triumph. President Martos has declared that new elections will be held at the end of the war, when the emergency has passed. Rather than facing any opposition to this declaration, a number of newspapers have been closed down and would be critics have been arrested, doing little to bolster any popularity he may have had. (-1 Stability)

News from Africa and the Middle East​

ROMAN GENERAL DECLARES NEW STATE OF OPSIKION. Cius, Opsikion. The situation in the Roman Empire continues to deteriorate as another blow was struck against the official imperial government in Athens. The Roman General Hesiod Zorbas has declared the independence of the imperial province of Opsikion. With the support of his soldiers and officers, he has refused to recognize the authority of the Athens government of the new imperator. It has widely been declared that the death of the imperator and his heirs in the Constantinople Event represents the true end of the Roman Empire. General Zorbas has declared himself a new leader of a Greek state, and pledged a strong and independent state. Imperator Panagiotis has denounced this shallow power play by General Zorbas, declaring him to be a traitor to the empire. Unfortunately this has also cut significant land ties with the province of Trebizond, which also seems to be on the verge of rebellion. (+1 Stability for Roman Empire)

REVOLT IN ADDIS ABABA. Addis Ababa, Scandinavia. The city of Addis Ababa, a center of learning, trade, and education well before the arrival of the imperial government of Scandinavia, rose up in revolt against their colonial masters. Tired of oppression and rule from the Scandinavian government, the Abyssinians have attempted to fight for their freedom. The hope among the revolutionaries was that the revolt could spark an invasion by the Allied powers to help assure their freedom. Unfortunately, with the nearest Allied forces thousands of miles away this was a faint chance at best. Most of the countryside remained quiet as Scandinavian troops surrounded and besieged the city after it was overrun by the rebels. The fighting was brutal but swift. The Scandinavian army quickly overran the rebel defenses and declared martial law over the city, inflicting military justice against those who rebelled against the empire. (-2 Infantry Brigades)

KURDISH REPUBLICANS ARRESTED EN MASSE. Cizre, Kurdistan. The onset of war with Persia and Turkey has led to immediate action domestically as well, as the monarchy attempts to silence his internal opposition. A dramatic series of arrests took place this year as the military rounded up the most outspoken advocates of a democratic Kurdish state. King Mahmud has claimed that Allah himself has granted him the right to rule the Kurdish people, and that calls for democracy and republican activities are treasonous to the government. He has further stated that the Kurdish people are obligated to contribute fully to the war effort, in order to preserve the nation's freedom and economic prosperity. The pledge has been made that all Kurds will soon be liberated and placed under the enlightened rule of the king, as impending victory approaches over the Turks and Persians. The effort to round up would-be resistance leaders has proven surprisingly successful, as none of the primarily democratic leaders managed to escape the nets of the government. They have been imprisoned, with their ultimate fate to be determined at the conclusion of the Great War. (+1 Stability)

OPPOSITION RISES IN YEMEN. Sana'a, Yemen. The government of Sultan Abdul Rashid has come under criticism this year for his political and financial support for the Arabian Empire. Recent independent press has been filling the cities of Yemen with stories about alleged Arabian atrocities, particularly at the hands of the Sons of Arabia. The financial support for the war against the Empire of Spain seems to be choosing the greater of two evils, not the lesser, to the opponents of the Sultan. The Sultan, surprisingly has not acted against the new press and organizations mobilized against his policies, refusing to even acknowledge their claims or position. So far it seems that the government will push forward with its support for the Arabian government, and some believe this to be the growing influence of the Sons of Arabia in Yemen, though no evidence exists linking that organization to the Yemeni monarchy.

SUEZ CANAL TEMPORARILY REOPENED. Cairo, Spain. The war has continued throughout the Middle East, but amid it all, early in the year, the Spanish assembled a hasty crew and finances for the clearing of the Suez Canal. Damaged in last year's attack by the Persian navy, the canal's closure has been devastating for Spain's local and global economies. The Spanish therefore spared no expense in the repairs to the locks and in clearing the scuttled Arabian vessels from the canal area. The canal's repairs were completed in late July, as Spanish merchant ships, avoiding Allied marauders, are once more able to trade with India and beyond. So far with the completion of the canal repairs, the Spanish viceroyalty has pledged that the canal will not be closed to Spanish shipping, ever again. The army has failed to back up his claim, as the fighting continues in the Holy Land against the Arabian Empire. The Arab advances have already thoroughly leveled the canal once more, as the region remains hotly contested.

JIHAD DECLARED BY SUNNI FAITH. Mecca, Arabian Empire. The religious leaders of Sunni Islam have come together and declared a full holy war upon the government of Spain and those who support them. They have declared that Spain stands against the freedom and practice of Islam, and must be extinguished in order to preserve freedom for their faith and brothers. After recent events in Algiers, this has seemed more than a mere power play by the Arabian government to the Islamic people. The only year old exile of clerics and Spanish attempts to replace them with their own puppets has been further fuel for the fire. Clerics across the whole of the Islamic world controlled by Spain have begun urging the masses to fight against the Spanish government as part of the Great War that now rages. Spanish authorities have already begun reporting higher levels of unrest throughout areas with large Sunni populations and have requested more resources to contain this dissent. (-1 Stability in all Sunni Islamic Spanish and Continental Power colonies)

Brought to you by the British War Department​

News from the Far East​

NEW ZEALAND INDEPENDENT MOVEMENT ESTABLISHED. Nova Lisboa, Portugal. Ever since the gaining of Portugal during the War of the American Presidency, the islands have become a popular place for migrants dissatisfied with the rule of the home country. Many came to the islands to seek out a place from which they would not be disturbed to lead a more remote existence. The islands have thrived on trade with nearby Australia and South America, and have been less than thrilled with the outbreak of the Great War. As the war threatens the lifeblood commerce of the Portuguese islands, the local citizenry have helped organize the New Zealand Independent Movement. The Movement has pledged to earn the freedom of New Zealand from Portuguese imperial rule. The colonial government has declared the movement illegal so far, though this requires ratification from the regime back in Lisbon. The Movement has gained substantial support from the local population, if not among the actual leadership of the colony. (-1 Stability)

VIETNAMESE FREEDOM PARTY FORMED. Saigon, United Kingdom of Great Britain. The outbreak of the Great War has given strength to a number of movements which may never have taken hold in peacetime. One of these is the newly established Vietnamese Freedom Party out of Saigon in the British colony of Indochina. The Vietnamese intellectuals have begun assembling in meetings and gatherings to begin planning how best to establish a free state. A number of these individuals are believed to be varying assortments of proletarists, both social and traditional. The organization has been declared illegal by the British governor of Indochina and several arrests have been made. Fortunately for the British rule, the Party seems divided upon itself, as the leaders cannot agree on what sort of state should be formed if independence was achieved. They have spent nearly as much time arguing among themselves as they have acting out against the British government, losing them popular support with the masses.

REBELLION AMONG PERSIAN AFGHANIS. Kabul, Persia. The Persian government in the eastern provinces had to fight back a rebellion this year, as the initial withdrawal of troops to fight the Arabian Empire opened the doors for unrest. The Afghanis, who have been treated as second class citizens within the Persian Empire for decades, have at last hoped to achieve independence. They rose up in the city of Kabul, assembling a surprising amount of soldiers and forces in the initial uprising against the imperial government. The Afghanis managed to oust the local garrison with some minor difficult before the arrival of a major Persian detachment from the west. The Persians, thanks to actually having artillery, managed to level the fortifications around the city, and push into the city's interior. Kabul was devastated in the fighting as the Persian fought against both local militia and angry citizenry. Despite the battle victory, the entire region around Kabul remains seething with unrest, and some believe that another uprising could take place throughout the region. (-1 Stability, -4 Infantry Brigades, -1 Cavalry Brigade, -1 Artillery Brigade, -8 Manpower)

RIOTING IN TOKYO. Tokyo, Japan. The key economic and industrial center of Japan, Tokyo, suffered through a major riot this year, as a strike turned violent. The strike was organized by labor activists to exploit the outbreak of the Great War to achieve greater gains for the working classes of Japan. Unfortunately, the government responded harshly, deploying the military to quell the strike and get the local docks working once again. The dock workers fought back, leading to more military reinforcements being brought in to keep the peace. The result was severe bloodshed throughout the city, and the Tokyo Dock Massacre has been portrayed in foreign press as a sign of Japanese barbarity. The strike was dismantled but the resulting fires and deaths in Tokyo mounted severely as the fighting was drawn out over several days. The Proletarists of Japan have denounced the government's response and have found themselves with at least a few new supporters for their cause. (-2 Manpower)

FIGHTING ERUPTS BETWEEN RIVALS IN CHINA. Lanzhou, China. A minor border war erupted between two lesser generals in China this year as General Shi Au Gau has done his best to maintain the peace. The fighting started over control of a series of major farms and towns throughout the southern regions of China. The generals were disputing over who actually controlled the food supplies and soon mobilized their own armies from the borders to settle the matter. While the central government in Lanzhou attempted to bring both parties to the negotiating table, both of the rival stalwartly refused negotiations and began fighting. The region was immediately devastated and General Shi Au Gau soon began mobilizing his own loyalists to intervene. The main army of China was brought in to restore order, and in a series of battles, smashed the unruly generals and established peace throughout the region once more. This has done much to consolidate the control of the central government in Lanzhou, with the two quarrelling generals imprisoned, to be executed at some point in the next few years. (+1 Stability, -37 Infantry Brigades, -4 Cavalry Brigades, -6 Artillery Brigades)

Financial Section​

MILAN ESTABLISHES NATIONAL BANK. Milan, Milan. King Giovanni II of Milan has made a strong financial reform this year with the establishment of the Milanese National Bank. The outbreak of war with Genoa has made a strong financial base essential to the emerging war effort, hoping to establish stronger control of the economy. Social proletarists have applauded the effort by the king, as a step forward to establishing a strong central government. At the same time, corporations have viewed this as a positive step to help them expand their financial and economic operations both domestically and internationally. The Milanese government has begun setting new lower interest rates through the bank, hoping to establish a better atmosphere for industrial and commercial development. The financial community hopes that new munitions and arms industries will make investment even more worthwhile, as Milan's monarchy fights for its very existence.

MAJOR FINANCIAL REFORM PASSED IN BRITTANY. Nantes, Brittany. After last year's laws weakening the control of the monarchy in Breton politics, the new liberal government has thrown its lot into increasing government control in economic matters. In what some people are calling nearly proletarist measures, the Breton government has nationalized a number of what they are calling vital businesses. This includes hospitals, power stations managing the newer applications of electricity, and all munitions and weapons producing factories. The factory owners have been compensated for their losses, but there remains persistent grumbling especially from the arms manufacturers who were looking at large profits with the outbreak of the Great War.

BRAZIL OFFERS TAX CUTS TO ARMS INDUSTRY. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Great War has dramatically shifted the economic priorities of a large number of nations, and the Brazilians are no exception. The Brazilian government has ordered massive tax cuts to arms and munitions industries, to help spur development and reduce overall costs of production. The proposed "arsenal plan" will help Brazil manufacture ever greater numbers of smalls arms and equipment for Allied forces to use around the world. The program has so far been an astonishing success, with the major recruitment and growth of most of the Allied armies. New customers include nations across both American continents as well as throughout Europe. Some doubt remains about long term success, with the Spanish and Scandinavian navies still at large and threatening trade.

WAR BOND SYSTEMS CREATED. London, United Kingdom of Great Britain. In a move that hasn't taken place in any nation since the War of the American Presidency, the government of Great Britain was the first to offer war bonds for sail. The new bonds offer investment opportunities for the people of the British islands, as well as directly helping to finance the war effort against the evil Continental Powers. The first war bonds were offered during the War of the American Presidency by the Scott government, and there has not been a situation since when they have been used en masse elsewhere. Several other nations have followed suit, mostly among the Allies, including in Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay. It is hoped that his new system will work as well for the Allies as it did for the Americans over fifty years ago.

DUTCH SEIZE ALLIED ASSETS. Amsterdam, Netherlands. The outbreak of the Great War has left most financial assets of the belligerent powers untouched, if unable to coordinate with their liaisons in the homeland. The Dutch have taken a new step in the definition of total war as they have declared that the assets of any citizens of the Allied states in the Netherlands now belong to the Dutch government. This has included countless funds in Dutch banks, industries owned by foreign business, and any commercial traders or merchant vessels with Allied flags in harbor. The move has been hotly disputed, as the conservative party calls foul, claiming that it could disrupt standard economic flow after the war is won. The Dutch government has declared that it is needed to prevent the supply of aid and finances to the nation's enemies.

AUSTRIAN ARMS INDUSTRY REBORN. Vienna, Austria. The starting of the Great war has been a godsend for the heavy industry sector of Austria. After some attempts by the government to spur employment and production by increasing arms production failed miserably, the surplus arms have been languishing, unused in numerous warehouses across the nation. In the space of a month this year, these warehouses emptied, bound for the countless new conscripted regiments of the Franco-Burgundian Confederation. The Austrians have further managed to reopen a large number of the defunct factories, and have begun selling new munitions and arms to the Continental Powers, dramatically improving their wealth and position. The effort has been seen as a thankful new dawning for Austrian industry, bolstering their economic position and sending more people to work.

ECONOMIC FLUCTUATION REPORT. London, United Kingdom of Great Britain.

Brought to you by the Scandinavian War Press​

Damn... I had hoped that I would be able to do better in more places... looks like now EQ (or the RNG) has chosen to f**k me after the two previous victories in CIEN.

Though, those Cubans don't know who they are f**king up with.

I'd say it's more of a matter of being outnumbered and outgunned almost everywhere than me or the RNG chosing to screw you over, Milarqui.

To: Sardinia
From: Naples

We have never wished to jeopardize your nation and cause conflict. However, you have sided with the lying Pope. Naples would like to offer a cease fire agreement between our two nations as Naples hasn't wished to ever war with you. Let us spare the lives of our people between each other.

OOC: hmm, my generals are apparently complete idiots. *sigh* I guess 2 years of planing was not enough. ah well, I'll slug it through.
and yhea, I expected it to be to much, but better for the generals to be able to draw upon it if they needed to, then to have to little logistics.

@TerrisH: There's really only one route for any offensive effort along your border, that wouldn't require going along narrow mountain paths. They aren't idiots, just constrained by the situation, and the fact that the Arabs have been 100% prepared for any offensive you could have made.

Well that didn't go to plan. At all. Of course, karma turns to bite Milarqui when I'm on his side. Also, the mental image of these ridiculous amounts of ships all crammed into the Channel and the Irish sea so tightly they can barely move is pretty brilliant.

Great update EQ! REMEMBER HWAESONG!

Super awesome update EQ! Go get a soda. This is way exciting.

Amazing update. Made a good day better!

Even though this year wasn't the best it could have been worse and I'm pleased enough with the Naval Battle

Good update

it's more to the fact that they didn't seem to even conceive that they might be ambushed and just walked straight into the trap. despite having the enemy under observation for the past 2 years. hence the idiot part. It seems every NES I'm in that I send in military orders, the troops compleatly ignore common sense and get slaughtered.

Common sense is against military regulation.

To: World
From: United States of America

We wish to announce that we recognized the sovereignty of the Cubans and will support them and guarantee their independence.

We also wish to state that we support the efforts for a unified Italian state, though we favor neither the Italian Republic nor the Neapolitans in their efforts to unify Italy. We recommend that the Neapolitans and the Italian Republic meet and negotiate a unification so that the Italian Revolution to unify Italy isn't ironically divided.

To: Cuba
From: United States of America

We congratulate you on your independence from Spain. We are willing to send advisers to Cuba to begin the creation of a Cuban government and military.

TO: Cuba
FROM: Brazil
CC: USA

Brazil would be willing to send aid to the Cuban government and advisers from our naval and industrial sector.

To: Cuba
CC: World
From: The United Kingdom

We recognize Cuba as a sovereign and independent state.

To: The Italian Republic
From: Naples
CC: The United States

Naples obviously should be the lead nation in the unification, we are pleased there are other Italian nations that see there should be a unified Italy. So we agree with the United States, would the Italian Republic be will to unify with Naples?