ELECTIONS HELD IN ECUADOR. Quito, Ecuador. Across the world, some criticism has been lobbied against the new proletarist government for the violent method with which it seized power from the prior dictator. High Overseer Erik Acero initially sneered at these accusations, but eventually ceded to foreign pressure and interests. In order to prove the justifications of proletarist rule over Ecuador, fair and free elections have been held throughout the nation. Acero's People's Party has been considered the front runner for the position of President, as they retain extensive popularity for overthrowing the old Martinez regime. Surprisingly, it seems that proletarism is not the choice of the people, and Acero was shocked as he was removed from political office. The new government has been formed as a republican party, and it seems that democracy has finally returned to Ecuador. The still liberal Democratic Party has usurped the proletarists and brought a new day to Ecuador despite all the proletarists had done. (+1 Stability)
JACKSONIAN CONTITUTION INSTALLED. Jefferson, Jacksonia. The Council of Republic in Jacksonia has proudly at last announced the conclusion of the constitutional convention, as the first elections are planned for 1915. The republican rights are to be preserved in the spirit of the first American republic which was overthrown during the War of the American Presidency in the 1840s. The Jacksonians have proven their commitment to this idea by accompanying the constitution with the Republic Acts of 1914. These acts have created basic civil rights for the average citizen of Jacksonia, including free press, free speech, and revolutionary new anti-discrimination laws, which have proven a great boon for the local black population. The people of Jacksonia are enthusiastic about the new constitution, but substantial opposition has risen against the various Republic Acts from conservative corners, and it's likely that the 1915 elections will not go uncontested from the leftover voices of the old Federal government.
THE VINLAND TRANSIT. Nya Stockholm, Vinland. The Vinlanders have had at least some luck this year, as various American nations have issued calls for their people to return. Vinland's government has cooperated with most of these calls, allowing an easy flow of people back south, and out of the troublesome new workforce underbelly they have created. The Allied Territories of America have called for the return of as many people as possible to help fight the scourge of the proletarists and the United American Republic, and have managed to get a few to stay in their western territories. Similarly, Jacksonia and Florida have had the siren calls of freedom and democracy for the these beleaguered people, much like the UAR. Therefore, many have begun moving south, and it seems that the worst of Vinland's troubles caused by these vagabonds are at an end. This has been further aided by the establishment of the colorful Vinlandskridningpolis, a predominantly mounted national police force. They have been specially designated to provide order and keep the peace in the larger western regions, though they are greatly resented in the numerous majority American towns which have sprung up overnight throughout the western provinces. (+1 Stability)
SCOTTSON SOLD TO VINLAND. Anchorage, Japan. An agreement has been set between the governments and Japan and Vinland which has resulted in much of the former American colony of Scottson being turned over to Vinland's control. The Vinlanders have purchased the region from the Japanese, allowing a more natural territorial border between the two regions. The agreement has been fairly well received by the Japanese, who would have had trouble controlling the region anyways, and the new border was officially set. The new Vinlander territories have seen an influx of American settlers, including some few who had previously left when the Japanese took control. Very few Vinlanders have actually moved into the area, and most keep calling the territory and cities by its American name rather than acknowledging it as part of Vinland.
GREAT LAKES REPUBLIC JOINS ALLIED TERRITORIES. Chicago, Allied Territories of America. As the United American Republic continued its assaults upon the Great Lakes Republic, the leaders of the latter nation grew desperate, and early this year they agreed to join the Allied Territories of America. This was born initially out of discussions of alliance, but ultimately the Allied Territories managed to twist the negotiations enough to corral a direct annexation. This has greatly aided in the fight against the UAR, as substantially more control and experience has been brought into the fight against the attackers from the east. The fighting has clearly intensified in the region, but now these self-proclaimed guardians of the old order continue the struggle against the movement spearheaded by the American Underground.
FIGHTING IN THE FORMER UNITED STATES. Charleston, United States of America. To the thankfulness of much of the North American population, the war which has erupted from the collapse of the United States of America has shifted solely over to the east of the Mississippi River, with a single exception. Treaties signed between various powers have led to a consolidation of most of the key factions in the struggle for power, and it seems that the main theaters have focused throughout the remaining territories of the old Federal government. The situation has been escalated to a degree with a major intervention from a coalition of forces from South America, led by Brazil and Colombia. The coalition has mostly entered the fight against the proletarists, and is fairly coldly welcomed by the remnants of the Federal government. This has been combined with a ruthlessly efficient blockade, which has begun to choke off foreign support for the black proletarist cause. As before, the conflict remains a fairly large one, and so it deserves a smaller section, provided below.
THE NEW BARCELONA FRONT. New Barcelona, Mississippi Proletarist Republic. Heavy fighting has continued throughout the southeastern part of the old state of West Florida, and the proletarist freedmen have been fighting with incredible ferocity. Through the early part of the year the fighting remained stalemated, as the Floridians were unable to penetrate the proletarist lines throughout the whole region. The proletarists effectively used machine guns to close off most routes of advance and artillery has proven mostly ineffective against their tactics, which resulted in an unusually fluid stalemate. The casualties continued to mount, until the South American invasion further east forced the withdrawal of over three quarters of the proletarist force to fight the new threat. This has allowed the Floridians to make some gains, but the local defenders have proven quite tenacious and have bleed the Floridians badly for every inch of ground.
Casualty Lists
Florida: 8 Conscript Brigades, 1 Infantry Brigade, 1 Cavalry Brigade (+1 Army Quality)
Mississippi Proletarist Republic: 7 Conscript Brigades
ARRIVAL OF THE SOUTH AMERICANS. Covington, Mississippi Proletarist Republic. A new threat has emerged to the survival of the proletarist states emerging in the southeastern remnants of the United States. A massive coalition of various South American nations, led by the anti-proletarist crusaders of the Brazilian government, has landed in the East Floridian panhandle, assuming the defense of the peninsula against the proletarist threat. With most of the Federal government's armies defending Charleston, the South Americans have been mostly on their own with little to no local support or guides. They have compensated with the deployment of light reconnaissance aircraft, which have frequently been useful in providing information about upcoming proletarist attacks. Aware that only thousands more South Americans would arrive as the year continued on, the Mississippi Proletarist Republic amassed everything it could from its own reserves and the support of its allies in Tennessee to launch a massive push against the Brazilians and their lackeys. The result was one of the largest battles in North American history as nearly four hundred thousand former slaves were thrown against the defenses of the South Americans in Florida. They possessed little artillery or heavy equipment, hoping to overwhelm the beachhead through sheer weight of numbers. After heavy fighting, and much bloodshed, the proletarists did manage to force the South Americans out of their initial beachhead in the panhandle, overrunning the makeshift airfields and supply depots. Unfortunately, they've been unable to advance much further, as substantial South American reinforcements, particularly from Colombia began to arrive in East Florida. The proletarist offensive was thus ground to a half, with only few gains made against the South American armies.
Casualty Lists
Argentina: 3 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade
Brazil: 10 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 3 Artillery Brigades, 1 M1 "Washington" Barrel Brigade, 1 Cannock-type Aircraft Squadron (+1 Army Quality, +1 Air Force Quality)
Colombia: 6 Conscript Brigades
Paraguay: 5 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade (+1 Army Quality)
Uruguay: 4 Infantry Brigades
Mississippi Proletarist Republic: 40 Conscript Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades (+1 Army Quality)
Tennessee Proletarist Republic: 24 Conscript Brigades
FIGHTING FOR VIRGINIA. Washington D.C., United American Republic. Last year the former national capital of Washington was the scene of the primary fighting between the Appalachian Proletarist Republic, the United American Republic, and the Federal remnants. This year, the state of Virginia has had a much more subdued contest of affairs. With their efforts to strengthen their position in the south, the Federal government withdrew most their forces from the region except for a beleaguered rear guard. This force was quickly overrun by the armies of the UAR early in the year, but they were brought to a halt as proletarist forces swarmed out of the mountains into the rest of eastern Virginia. There was initially no fighting between these forces, until later in the year, and the Federal armies continued to dig in and defend the northern approaches against proletarist and UAR armies.
Casualty Lists
Appalachian Proletarist Republic: 2 Conscript Brigades
United American Republic: 4 Conscript Brigades
United States of America: 3 Conscript Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
THE ILLINOIS FRONT. Chicago, Allied Territories of America. Some of the most modern heavy fighting in the ongoing crisis in the former United States has been between the Allied Territories of America and the United American Republic. The year started as the conflict continued between the Great Lakes Republic and the UAR's armies in Indianapolis, and an early drive towards Chicago initially caused much panic, leading to the annexation of the GLR into the Allied Territories. This proved to be a well construction feint, as the fighting in Indianapolis escalated and the UAR secured the city and the rest of Indiana with it. Further advances were made in southern Illinois, until the arrival of the main armies of the ATA brought the attacks to a screeching halt. The follow-up was a massive counterattack in the fall by the massively enlarged armies of the ATA, driving the UAR's forces back into Indiana and even back towards Detroit and Ohio. The offensive was highly successful, reclaiming a large amount of vital territory, before being halted by UAR reinforcements.
Casualty Lists
Allied Territories of America: 20 Conscript Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade (+1 Army Quality)
United American Republic: 29 Conscript Brigades, 4 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades (+1 Army Quality)
THE BATTLE FOR CHARLESTON. Charleston, United States of America . Though there was heavier fighting elsewhere in the eastern United States, most foreign observers were fixated upon the fighting for the new makeshift capital of Charleston. The Tennessee Proletarist Republic threw a massive force against the city in the hopes of destroying the key bastion of Federal power in the east. Even as their allies came under assault in the north and south, the proletarists remained dedicated towards attempting to take the city. The Federal forces, having been reinforced by new recruits and returning troops from the colonies, managed to entrench strong positions in the hills and mountains of the Carolinas, making any hopes for advance bloody at best. When the attacks came, a lack of modern equipment made the assaults haphazard and inefficient at best. The Federal forces were able to quickly respond to areas under threat of collapse and anticipated most routes of attack launched by the proletarists. The Rangers also managed to show their worth, devastating the proletarist ranks and inflicting heavy casualties, though they sustained heavy damage of their own. Regardless, the Carolinas clearly remain under Federal control, as the proletarist army was virtually shattered with proportionately light casualties for the Federal defenses.
Casualty Lists
Tennessee Proletarist Republic: 41 Conscript Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades (+1 Army Quality)
United States of America: 4 Conscript Brigades, 3 Infantry Brigades, 1 Rangers Brigade (+1 Army Quality)
ASSAULT ON APPALACHIA. Weston, Appalachian Proletarist Republic. New fighting broke out later in the year as the United American Republic took on their new enemies of the Appalachian Proletarist Republic. The UAR's forces, regrouping after their successful capture of Washington, began mustering for a push south once more to defeat the proletarists and secure Virginia for their cause. The attacks began fairly well, but as setbacks began to mount in the west, various assaults had to be abandoned as the fighting with the Allied Territories of America took greater urgency. The arrival of substantial reinforcements from the proletarists to the south further caused setbacks for the UAR, and they were only able to make a few minor gains throughout the latter parts of the year. Casualties were heavy for all parties involved, but the proletarists seemed to have gained the upper hand overall by the end of the year.
Casualty Lists
Appalachian Proletarist Republic: 23 Conscript Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades (+1 Army Quality)
Tennessee Proletarist Republic: 18 Conscript Brigades
United American Republic: 22 Conscript Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
FLOODING CONTINUES IN ANGOLA. Namibe, Angola. Flooding that began last year continued again this year as unusually large amounts of rain have continued to raise the water level of local rivers to untenable levels. The problems have exacerbated the already rough situation in the more rural regions of Angola, as people have been unable to restore prosperity to their farms and continue to remain in camps maintained by the army. The resulting influx of citizens into the city and the withdrawal of over half of the Brazilian garrison has made the situation harder to control. The government has pledged to aid the displaced citizens as much as possible, providing funds for a reconstruction effort. Regardless, some naturalists believe that the flooding may well have led to a permanent rise in the average water levels of Angola's primary rivers. It is believed that the ecological devastation has set back Angola's agriculturally based economy substantially, causing instability all throughout the interior. (-1 Stability)
NEW REBEL ACTIVITY IN ALGIERS. Algiers, Spain. Though the Spanish had ruthlessly advanced through the Algiers region and crushed most rebel activity, there are definitely some lingering cells of resistance remaining. The Spanish army in the region had withdrawn a good bulk of its force to fight in Egypt and quell the uprising there, but they have faced several brutal attacks and ambushes throughout the Algiers region. After losing their base of support in the towns and villages, the Algerians have begun to rely on the heavy urban population and the nomadic desert tribes for arms and succor. These populations have proven more difficult for the Spanish to suppress due to obvious practical concerns, and the Algerians made a major strike this year against the Spanish artillery corps. During the Christmas celebrations later in the year, the Algerian rebels surprised and destroyed numerous artillery pieces and slaughtered their crews in the night. The attempt to pursue them met with similar ambush and disaster, marking the largest Algerian victory yet. Despite this successful attack, it is believed that the rebel cause continues to weaken as the Spanish continue a fairly efficient crackdown upon the population. (+1 Stability, -1 Infantry Brigade, -2 Cavalry Brigades, -3 Artillery Brigades)
LEGISLATURE ISSUES FORMAL IMPERIAL INJUNCTION IN KONGO. Haraldsholm, Kongo. With the talks on reunification with the proletarist government in Stockholm looming this year, the Scandinavian Imperial Rikstag in Kongo has issued a legal injunction to Emperor Harald II. They have called for the immediate and official end to any talks with the government in Stockholm, and an official declaration of the illegitimacy of the proletarist government. Included in the document has been a full list of the crimes of the proletarists, in their seizure of private property and the great wasteful projects instituted by the reigning government. They have furthermore admonished Syndic Mannerheim for his seeming defection to the radicals and his control of the government. The injunction is legally binding by the courts of the Imperial Scandinavian government in Kongo, and it seems that it will bring about an immediate halt to any negotiations with the proletarists. Even more reactionary members of the legislature have called for the severing of all ties with the proletarists and the beginning of an attempt to oust the new revolutionary government.
PERSIA KHAZAKS BEGIN NEW RAIDS. Tehran, Persia. The Persian government, hopeful after several years of silence from the rebellious Khazak tribal leaders, have found their hopes dashed as the Khazaks begin a new round of violence. This time, rather than fighting each other, they have begun directing their attacks upon the Persian army, especially along the border with Russia. The border is dubious at best, and the Khazaks have managed to use this to their advantage, finding support from their brethren under Russian rule. They have managed to use this as an unassailable base of operations, causing much trouble for the Persian soldiers and border security. The Persians have faced growing losses, but also managed to claim some victories with the defeat of several tribes too far south from the Russian border to benefit. The situation has not gotten much worse, but the Persians continue to find themselves constrained by the need to maintain a large border garrison with the Arabian Empire. (-2 Infantry Brigades, -1 Cavalry Brigade)
SPAIN CONTINUES CRACKDOWN IN EGYPT. Cairo, Spain. The situation in Spanish Egypt has deteriorated further, as the Spanish soldiers grow more disillusioned with their cause and more anxious to return home. The fighting has escalated to a new degree as the Egyptians continue to fuel their ambitions with growing amounts of supplies, which are marked as the products of proletarist Scandinavia. Concerned about the growing proletarist inclinations of both their soldiers and the Egyptians, this has led to escalated efforts to secure the border with Kongo, which has also conducted its own crackdown in the Abyssinian region. The fighting has intensified throughout the southern regions of Egypt, which continue to be the focus of the most well-armed and equipped rebels. The Spanish have reported some failure, including no less than a dozen fully equipped failed assaults on one stubborn rebel stronghold, costing over twenty thousand casualties in heavy battle throughout the region before it was finally overrun. (-8 Infantry Brigades, -1 Artillery Brigade)
JAPANESE OUTRAGED AT GUANGXI ARRESTS AND EXECUTIONS. Shanghai, Guangxi. A ring of Japanese smugglers was broken this year with the cooperation of British business and Guangxi government authorities. Over five dozen Japanese citizens were arrested and detained by the military of Guangxi for being involved in illegal opium shipments into China from Japan. With the trade highly regulated with Britain, and illegal with other nations, the Chinese frown upon this endeavor. Furthermore, the smugglers have been implicated in a number of murders of Guangxi officials in Shanghai, which provoked the mass takedown. Due to the murders, over half of the Japanese were executed for their crimes in the region, and the rest have been sentenced to life's servitude on a penal farm. The Japanese press at home has been outraged at the execution of these residents, and the result has been growing outrage towards the Chinese government of Guangxi. While no official demands have been made, this has caused tenser relations along the border between Japanese China and Guangxi.
JACKSONIAN CONTITUTION INSTALLED. Jefferson, Jacksonia. The Council of Republic in Jacksonia has proudly at last announced the conclusion of the constitutional convention, as the first elections are planned for 1915. The republican rights are to be preserved in the spirit of the first American republic which was overthrown during the War of the American Presidency in the 1840s. The Jacksonians have proven their commitment to this idea by accompanying the constitution with the Republic Acts of 1914. These acts have created basic civil rights for the average citizen of Jacksonia, including free press, free speech, and revolutionary new anti-discrimination laws, which have proven a great boon for the local black population. The people of Jacksonia are enthusiastic about the new constitution, but substantial opposition has risen against the various Republic Acts from conservative corners, and it's likely that the 1915 elections will not go uncontested from the leftover voices of the old Federal government.
THE VINLAND TRANSIT. Nya Stockholm, Vinland. The Vinlanders have had at least some luck this year, as various American nations have issued calls for their people to return. Vinland's government has cooperated with most of these calls, allowing an easy flow of people back south, and out of the troublesome new workforce underbelly they have created. The Allied Territories of America have called for the return of as many people as possible to help fight the scourge of the proletarists and the United American Republic, and have managed to get a few to stay in their western territories. Similarly, Jacksonia and Florida have had the siren calls of freedom and democracy for the these beleaguered people, much like the UAR. Therefore, many have begun moving south, and it seems that the worst of Vinland's troubles caused by these vagabonds are at an end. This has been further aided by the establishment of the colorful Vinlandskridningpolis, a predominantly mounted national police force. They have been specially designated to provide order and keep the peace in the larger western regions, though they are greatly resented in the numerous majority American towns which have sprung up overnight throughout the western provinces. (+1 Stability)
SCOTTSON SOLD TO VINLAND. Anchorage, Japan. An agreement has been set between the governments and Japan and Vinland which has resulted in much of the former American colony of Scottson being turned over to Vinland's control. The Vinlanders have purchased the region from the Japanese, allowing a more natural territorial border between the two regions. The agreement has been fairly well received by the Japanese, who would have had trouble controlling the region anyways, and the new border was officially set. The new Vinlander territories have seen an influx of American settlers, including some few who had previously left when the Japanese took control. Very few Vinlanders have actually moved into the area, and most keep calling the territory and cities by its American name rather than acknowledging it as part of Vinland.
GREAT LAKES REPUBLIC JOINS ALLIED TERRITORIES. Chicago, Allied Territories of America. As the United American Republic continued its assaults upon the Great Lakes Republic, the leaders of the latter nation grew desperate, and early this year they agreed to join the Allied Territories of America. This was born initially out of discussions of alliance, but ultimately the Allied Territories managed to twist the negotiations enough to corral a direct annexation. This has greatly aided in the fight against the UAR, as substantially more control and experience has been brought into the fight against the attackers from the east. The fighting has clearly intensified in the region, but now these self-proclaimed guardians of the old order continue the struggle against the movement spearheaded by the American Underground.
FIGHTING IN THE FORMER UNITED STATES. Charleston, United States of America. To the thankfulness of much of the North American population, the war which has erupted from the collapse of the United States of America has shifted solely over to the east of the Mississippi River, with a single exception. Treaties signed between various powers have led to a consolidation of most of the key factions in the struggle for power, and it seems that the main theaters have focused throughout the remaining territories of the old Federal government. The situation has been escalated to a degree with a major intervention from a coalition of forces from South America, led by Brazil and Colombia. The coalition has mostly entered the fight against the proletarists, and is fairly coldly welcomed by the remnants of the Federal government. This has been combined with a ruthlessly efficient blockade, which has begun to choke off foreign support for the black proletarist cause. As before, the conflict remains a fairly large one, and so it deserves a smaller section, provided below.
SPECIAL: Fighting in the Former United States
THE NEW BARCELONA FRONT. New Barcelona, Mississippi Proletarist Republic. Heavy fighting has continued throughout the southeastern part of the old state of West Florida, and the proletarist freedmen have been fighting with incredible ferocity. Through the early part of the year the fighting remained stalemated, as the Floridians were unable to penetrate the proletarist lines throughout the whole region. The proletarists effectively used machine guns to close off most routes of advance and artillery has proven mostly ineffective against their tactics, which resulted in an unusually fluid stalemate. The casualties continued to mount, until the South American invasion further east forced the withdrawal of over three quarters of the proletarist force to fight the new threat. This has allowed the Floridians to make some gains, but the local defenders have proven quite tenacious and have bleed the Floridians badly for every inch of ground.
Casualty Lists
Florida: 8 Conscript Brigades, 1 Infantry Brigade, 1 Cavalry Brigade (+1 Army Quality)
Mississippi Proletarist Republic: 7 Conscript Brigades
ARRIVAL OF THE SOUTH AMERICANS. Covington, Mississippi Proletarist Republic. A new threat has emerged to the survival of the proletarist states emerging in the southeastern remnants of the United States. A massive coalition of various South American nations, led by the anti-proletarist crusaders of the Brazilian government, has landed in the East Floridian panhandle, assuming the defense of the peninsula against the proletarist threat. With most of the Federal government's armies defending Charleston, the South Americans have been mostly on their own with little to no local support or guides. They have compensated with the deployment of light reconnaissance aircraft, which have frequently been useful in providing information about upcoming proletarist attacks. Aware that only thousands more South Americans would arrive as the year continued on, the Mississippi Proletarist Republic amassed everything it could from its own reserves and the support of its allies in Tennessee to launch a massive push against the Brazilians and their lackeys. The result was one of the largest battles in North American history as nearly four hundred thousand former slaves were thrown against the defenses of the South Americans in Florida. They possessed little artillery or heavy equipment, hoping to overwhelm the beachhead through sheer weight of numbers. After heavy fighting, and much bloodshed, the proletarists did manage to force the South Americans out of their initial beachhead in the panhandle, overrunning the makeshift airfields and supply depots. Unfortunately, they've been unable to advance much further, as substantial South American reinforcements, particularly from Colombia began to arrive in East Florida. The proletarist offensive was thus ground to a half, with only few gains made against the South American armies.
Casualty Lists
Argentina: 3 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade
Brazil: 10 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 3 Artillery Brigades, 1 M1 "Washington" Barrel Brigade, 1 Cannock-type Aircraft Squadron (+1 Army Quality, +1 Air Force Quality)
Colombia: 6 Conscript Brigades
Paraguay: 5 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade (+1 Army Quality)
Uruguay: 4 Infantry Brigades
Mississippi Proletarist Republic: 40 Conscript Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades (+1 Army Quality)
Tennessee Proletarist Republic: 24 Conscript Brigades
FIGHTING FOR VIRGINIA. Washington D.C., United American Republic. Last year the former national capital of Washington was the scene of the primary fighting between the Appalachian Proletarist Republic, the United American Republic, and the Federal remnants. This year, the state of Virginia has had a much more subdued contest of affairs. With their efforts to strengthen their position in the south, the Federal government withdrew most their forces from the region except for a beleaguered rear guard. This force was quickly overrun by the armies of the UAR early in the year, but they were brought to a halt as proletarist forces swarmed out of the mountains into the rest of eastern Virginia. There was initially no fighting between these forces, until later in the year, and the Federal armies continued to dig in and defend the northern approaches against proletarist and UAR armies.
Casualty Lists
Appalachian Proletarist Republic: 2 Conscript Brigades
United American Republic: 4 Conscript Brigades
United States of America: 3 Conscript Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
THE ILLINOIS FRONT. Chicago, Allied Territories of America. Some of the most modern heavy fighting in the ongoing crisis in the former United States has been between the Allied Territories of America and the United American Republic. The year started as the conflict continued between the Great Lakes Republic and the UAR's armies in Indianapolis, and an early drive towards Chicago initially caused much panic, leading to the annexation of the GLR into the Allied Territories. This proved to be a well construction feint, as the fighting in Indianapolis escalated and the UAR secured the city and the rest of Indiana with it. Further advances were made in southern Illinois, until the arrival of the main armies of the ATA brought the attacks to a screeching halt. The follow-up was a massive counterattack in the fall by the massively enlarged armies of the ATA, driving the UAR's forces back into Indiana and even back towards Detroit and Ohio. The offensive was highly successful, reclaiming a large amount of vital territory, before being halted by UAR reinforcements.
Casualty Lists
Allied Territories of America: 20 Conscript Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade (+1 Army Quality)
United American Republic: 29 Conscript Brigades, 4 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades (+1 Army Quality)
THE BATTLE FOR CHARLESTON. Charleston, United States of America . Though there was heavier fighting elsewhere in the eastern United States, most foreign observers were fixated upon the fighting for the new makeshift capital of Charleston. The Tennessee Proletarist Republic threw a massive force against the city in the hopes of destroying the key bastion of Federal power in the east. Even as their allies came under assault in the north and south, the proletarists remained dedicated towards attempting to take the city. The Federal forces, having been reinforced by new recruits and returning troops from the colonies, managed to entrench strong positions in the hills and mountains of the Carolinas, making any hopes for advance bloody at best. When the attacks came, a lack of modern equipment made the assaults haphazard and inefficient at best. The Federal forces were able to quickly respond to areas under threat of collapse and anticipated most routes of attack launched by the proletarists. The Rangers also managed to show their worth, devastating the proletarist ranks and inflicting heavy casualties, though they sustained heavy damage of their own. Regardless, the Carolinas clearly remain under Federal control, as the proletarist army was virtually shattered with proportionately light casualties for the Federal defenses.
Casualty Lists
Tennessee Proletarist Republic: 41 Conscript Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades (+1 Army Quality)
United States of America: 4 Conscript Brigades, 3 Infantry Brigades, 1 Rangers Brigade (+1 Army Quality)
ASSAULT ON APPALACHIA. Weston, Appalachian Proletarist Republic. New fighting broke out later in the year as the United American Republic took on their new enemies of the Appalachian Proletarist Republic. The UAR's forces, regrouping after their successful capture of Washington, began mustering for a push south once more to defeat the proletarists and secure Virginia for their cause. The attacks began fairly well, but as setbacks began to mount in the west, various assaults had to be abandoned as the fighting with the Allied Territories of America took greater urgency. The arrival of substantial reinforcements from the proletarists to the south further caused setbacks for the UAR, and they were only able to make a few minor gains throughout the latter parts of the year. Casualties were heavy for all parties involved, but the proletarists seemed to have gained the upper hand overall by the end of the year.
Casualty Lists
Appalachian Proletarist Republic: 23 Conscript Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades (+1 Army Quality)
Tennessee Proletarist Republic: 18 Conscript Brigades
United American Republic: 22 Conscript Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
News from Africa and the Middle East
FLOODING CONTINUES IN ANGOLA. Namibe, Angola. Flooding that began last year continued again this year as unusually large amounts of rain have continued to raise the water level of local rivers to untenable levels. The problems have exacerbated the already rough situation in the more rural regions of Angola, as people have been unable to restore prosperity to their farms and continue to remain in camps maintained by the army. The resulting influx of citizens into the city and the withdrawal of over half of the Brazilian garrison has made the situation harder to control. The government has pledged to aid the displaced citizens as much as possible, providing funds for a reconstruction effort. Regardless, some naturalists believe that the flooding may well have led to a permanent rise in the average water levels of Angola's primary rivers. It is believed that the ecological devastation has set back Angola's agriculturally based economy substantially, causing instability all throughout the interior. (-1 Stability)
NEW REBEL ACTIVITY IN ALGIERS. Algiers, Spain. Though the Spanish had ruthlessly advanced through the Algiers region and crushed most rebel activity, there are definitely some lingering cells of resistance remaining. The Spanish army in the region had withdrawn a good bulk of its force to fight in Egypt and quell the uprising there, but they have faced several brutal attacks and ambushes throughout the Algiers region. After losing their base of support in the towns and villages, the Algerians have begun to rely on the heavy urban population and the nomadic desert tribes for arms and succor. These populations have proven more difficult for the Spanish to suppress due to obvious practical concerns, and the Algerians made a major strike this year against the Spanish artillery corps. During the Christmas celebrations later in the year, the Algerian rebels surprised and destroyed numerous artillery pieces and slaughtered their crews in the night. The attempt to pursue them met with similar ambush and disaster, marking the largest Algerian victory yet. Despite this successful attack, it is believed that the rebel cause continues to weaken as the Spanish continue a fairly efficient crackdown upon the population. (+1 Stability, -1 Infantry Brigade, -2 Cavalry Brigades, -3 Artillery Brigades)
LEGISLATURE ISSUES FORMAL IMPERIAL INJUNCTION IN KONGO. Haraldsholm, Kongo. With the talks on reunification with the proletarist government in Stockholm looming this year, the Scandinavian Imperial Rikstag in Kongo has issued a legal injunction to Emperor Harald II. They have called for the immediate and official end to any talks with the government in Stockholm, and an official declaration of the illegitimacy of the proletarist government. Included in the document has been a full list of the crimes of the proletarists, in their seizure of private property and the great wasteful projects instituted by the reigning government. They have furthermore admonished Syndic Mannerheim for his seeming defection to the radicals and his control of the government. The injunction is legally binding by the courts of the Imperial Scandinavian government in Kongo, and it seems that it will bring about an immediate halt to any negotiations with the proletarists. Even more reactionary members of the legislature have called for the severing of all ties with the proletarists and the beginning of an attempt to oust the new revolutionary government.
PERSIA KHAZAKS BEGIN NEW RAIDS. Tehran, Persia. The Persian government, hopeful after several years of silence from the rebellious Khazak tribal leaders, have found their hopes dashed as the Khazaks begin a new round of violence. This time, rather than fighting each other, they have begun directing their attacks upon the Persian army, especially along the border with Russia. The border is dubious at best, and the Khazaks have managed to use this to their advantage, finding support from their brethren under Russian rule. They have managed to use this as an unassailable base of operations, causing much trouble for the Persian soldiers and border security. The Persians have faced growing losses, but also managed to claim some victories with the defeat of several tribes too far south from the Russian border to benefit. The situation has not gotten much worse, but the Persians continue to find themselves constrained by the need to maintain a large border garrison with the Arabian Empire. (-2 Infantry Brigades, -1 Cavalry Brigade)
SPAIN CONTINUES CRACKDOWN IN EGYPT. Cairo, Spain. The situation in Spanish Egypt has deteriorated further, as the Spanish soldiers grow more disillusioned with their cause and more anxious to return home. The fighting has escalated to a new degree as the Egyptians continue to fuel their ambitions with growing amounts of supplies, which are marked as the products of proletarist Scandinavia. Concerned about the growing proletarist inclinations of both their soldiers and the Egyptians, this has led to escalated efforts to secure the border with Kongo, which has also conducted its own crackdown in the Abyssinian region. The fighting has intensified throughout the southern regions of Egypt, which continue to be the focus of the most well-armed and equipped rebels. The Spanish have reported some failure, including no less than a dozen fully equipped failed assaults on one stubborn rebel stronghold, costing over twenty thousand casualties in heavy battle throughout the region before it was finally overrun. (-8 Infantry Brigades, -1 Artillery Brigade)
News from the Far East
JAPANESE OUTRAGED AT GUANGXI ARRESTS AND EXECUTIONS. Shanghai, Guangxi. A ring of Japanese smugglers was broken this year with the cooperation of British business and Guangxi government authorities. Over five dozen Japanese citizens were arrested and detained by the military of Guangxi for being involved in illegal opium shipments into China from Japan. With the trade highly regulated with Britain, and illegal with other nations, the Chinese frown upon this endeavor. Furthermore, the smugglers have been implicated in a number of murders of Guangxi officials in Shanghai, which provoked the mass takedown. Due to the murders, over half of the Japanese were executed for their crimes in the region, and the rest have been sentenced to life's servitude on a penal farm. The Japanese press at home has been outraged at the execution of these residents, and the result has been growing outrage towards the Chinese government of Guangxi. While no official demands have been made, this has caused tenser relations along the border between Japanese China and Guangxi.