DEATH OF THE EMPEROR OF BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To the bereavement of the Brazilian people, the much loved Emperor Joao II passed away this year, quite unexpectedly, despite his old age. Emperor Joao II ascended to the Brazilian throne with the death of Empress Isabel in 1904, and helped lead his nation through the Great War and its aftermath. The Emperor's rule has been widely considered to be just, though he remained the symbol of oppression to Brazil's social and traditional proletarists. To them, however, the late emperor was a raging liberal compared to his son. The newly proclaimed Emperor Pedro III is a notorious reactionary, and is known to be incredibly more conservative than his father. This has been widely attributed to various ties he made during his education and his time serving in the military. While possessing numerous friends in the aristocracy and military, the new Emperor is despised among the nation's legislature for his radically right leaning views.
MORALISM ON THE RISE IN BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In the past few years, it has been noted of an increasing trend to moralistic ideals and politics throughout the nation of Brazil. This year, the movement has finally gained a plain face, as a religious radio station was opened by devout Catholics, and having the largest effective broadcast area in Brazil outside of the government. The new radio station has been called True Christian Broadcasting. Politically supported mostly by members of the nation's Conservative Party, the moralists have emerged as a backlash towards the rapidly changing world. The inclusion of new inventions, including a wild surge in radio stations and cinema, have been viewed as a tool of the devil for corrupting the Brazilian population. They have also been highly against immigrants, particularly from Protestant nations, as they offer their full support for Pope Paul IV and his philosophies. While the moralists have not truly yet crossed the boundaries into politics, they have become an outspoken minority, preaching their word of faith to all who would listen.
PROTESTS FOR LIBERTY IN COSTA RICA. San Jose, Costa Rica. Since gaining their independence from the oppressive New Spanish government of Managua, the regional governor of the former province of Costa Rica has retained absolute wartime powers. Refusing to relinquish these powers in the years since the war, Cesar Mencia has established himself as a tyrant among his people, enriching himself as the masses starve. The military has been allowed to decay and the population has become increasingly agitated towards the rule of the government. This year a series of massive protests were held against President Mencia, calling for him to resign and keep his promises of local democracy that he offered during the fight for independence. It seems that the president's rule could well be unraveling, and it is rumored that the military allowed the protests to continue undisturbed despite Mencia's call for arrest or suppression of the demonstrations. (-1 Stability)
ATTACKS BLEED OCCUPIERS IN ECUADOR. Quito, Ecuador. Colombian and Peruvian forces have begun facing more and more local resistance against their presence in Ecuador this year, as they faced a continued insurgency against them. The rebels have mostly supported the proletarist ideals, and remain the diehard radicals that refuse to support the currently triumphant liberals in the new constitutional process. They have vowed to continue their war against the invaders to the last and have begun operating from both within the major cities and in the jungles outside. It is apparent that they have been avoiding operations against new Ecuadorian troops, choosing instead to focus their firepower upon the foreign forces present. They have proven to be highly effective in their guerilla war, inflicting a growing casualty list upon both Peru and Colombia's armies.
Casualty Lists
Colombia: 2 Infantry Brigades
Peru: 2 Infantry Brigades
REPUBLICANS BUILD SUPPORT IN MAYAN REPUBLIC. Belize, Mayan Republic. After the daring escape from prison in 1917, the Mayan republican leaders fighting against the current military dictatorship have begun building new support both at home and abroad. They have found sympathetic ears to their cause in Aztlan, Honduras, and Jamaica, three steady democracies with a strong tradition. Local individuals have provided money and weapons to the republicans, pledging to provide what support they can within the laws of their own nations. On the home front, the continued oppression of the republicans has allowed the Mayan republicans to continue to build their armies and citadels in preparation for an uprising against the Ceh Peh government. The military junta in Belize has issued a dire warning to both the Aztecs and Hondurans about further involvement in their own political affairs, raising tensions throughout Central America.
MORALISTS GAIN GROUND IN PARAGUAY. Asuncion, Paraguay. With True Christian Broadcasting reaching over borders from Brazil, Paraguay has seen a surprisingly larger political backlash towards new Argentine culture of the cinema. Though the broadcasting has only had limited effect in Brazil itself, it has turned many heads in Paraguay, as the local clergy offers its full support for the moralist ideology. The Catholic Church has gained continued support for the cause, and though the moralists remain a mostly apolitical ideology, they have been campaigning upon tighter restrictions for movies and a moral code for their production. So far the leaders of the reigning Social Democratic Party have been firmly against artistic and creative restrictions, even those imported from other nations. This liberal group has become the primary target of the moralists, who claim they are responsible for the moral decay of their nation.
AZTLAN BUYS PERUVIAN WARSHIPS. Acapulco, Aztlan. The new approach of the Aztec government towards international politics has not diminished the need to protect the Aztec coastline from invasion or attack. Similarly, the need to protect harbors and shipping remains all the more apparent after the blockades and wars seen since the end of the Great War. The Aztecs have thus maintained an agreement to purchase five older destroyers from the Royal Peruvian Navy, giving them a far larger coastal defense force. This has been maintained as a single part of a series of sales of ships from the Peruvian fleets, including the sending of ships as gifts to Ecuador, Vinland, and Japan. The Aztecs have put the ships into use to guard the mostly barren western coastline, providing escorts and aid to fishing boats and trawlers upon that previously undefended coast.
TREATY OF ATLANTA ENDS AMERICAN CONFLICT. Atlanta, United States of America. The American government has at last signed a landmark new treaty with the various governments of the negro proletarist republics. The border has been set, assuring the independence of the three surviving proletarist republics throughout the South. The victory has been clear, with the world's second successful slave rebellion after Jamaica in the nineteenth century. The new truce has granted control of the Atlanta area to the United States, and the Mississippi proletarists have pulled back from their furthest extent of advance and returned the territories to the Americans. The new treaty has allowed for the free passage, regardless of race, along the borders ,which some view as a possibility for future instability and legal issues. Still, the brutal battles which began in 1912 have been brought to a final end, and peace now reigns in North America as new nations are formed and people return to work.
ATA REJOINS THE UNITED STATES. Denver, United States of America. The signing of the Treaty of Atlanta has brought the end of the war in the South, allowing for the finalization of the return of the Allied Territories of America to direct Federal control. As previously recognized by Robert Wallace, the new government in Washington D.C. is the legitimate one known to the various leaders of the Allied Territories. Despite some initial resistance, a compromise has been formed that has allowed the military district system to remain intact for relevant regions. The various leaders and generals commanding these districts have been allowed to retain their commands and are immune to any legal proceedings relating to the recent crisis. The former Great Lakes Republic has been readmitted as legal states within the union, and preparations have begun for the various Congressional offices held by those states in 1920. The Treaty of Atlanta and the return of the Allied Territories has created a plethora of new political issues, which have begun to mount in preparation for next year's national and presidential elections.
BRAZIL FIRST ACT PASSED. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In order to improve the status and living of the people of Brazil, the national Congress has passed the Brazil First Act of 1919. The new act effectively doubles national spending into education and pension for the retired, showing that the government cares for the masses and is focused upon internal well being. The act also provides new money for subsidies towards science and industry, hoping to create new competition and inventions for the global market. To many, the new act seems to state that while the government has been focused abroad over recent years, that this is the beginning of a new direction to focus on the Brazilian people. The education has also placed an emphasis on teaching Portuguese to newly arrived immigrants, as well as helping people learn English for better communication and relations with the nation's close allies of Argentina and the United Kingdom.
UNITED PROLETARISM IN NORTH AMERICA. Chattanooga, United Proletarist Republics of America. The Appalachian, Mississippi, and Tennessee Proletarist Republics have established a unified state for their people this year, as the three governments have at last cemented their status with a new nation. The United Proletarist Republics of America consist of the three republics, and a new government consisting of fifteen elected deputies, five from each republic. The head of state is the new Chief Deputy, who in this case has been the former Tennessee leader Scipio who is widely respected and known as a war hero against the United States. The newly created nation has begun establishing new ties and relations worldwide, creating a fully forged state, though some tensions do remain within. The bulk of political power seems to rest in the hands of Tennessee, causing continuous clashes with representatives from Mississippi. All seem to be dedicated to the common cause however, as the personal friendships remain as created in the fires of war.
PROLETARISTS SPARK NEW BLOODSHED IN THE CARIBBEAN. Kingston, Jamaica. The establishment of the United Proletarist Republics of America have led to a disturbing series of events further south. On the islands of Cuba and Jamaica, various Freedman's Cadres have been spotted in involvement in local attacks. Hoping to rile local support immediately in rebellion against the governments of these two island nations, due to worsening economic conditions, it was hoped that these attacks would spur rebellion. In Cuba, the newly bolstered Cuban fleet, with their new ships from Brazil, managed to intercept and destroy or turn back the proletarist attackers. Some made it ashore, where they have continued to plague Cuban defense forces by guerilla attacks from the jungles. Jamaica proved a bloodier debacle as the Jamaican army essentially resisted an invasion and fought a hard won struggle against the proletarist attack. The army remained loyal and local support failed to materialize in both cases, causing an expensive pair of defeats for the proletarists.
Casualty Lists
Jamaica: 1 Infantry Brigade (+1 Army Quality)
United Proletarist Republics of America: 2 Freedman's Cadres
VENEZUELA BEGINS NEW DEFENSIVE LINE. Caracas, Venezuela. As new rhetoric emerges from Colombia, the Venezuelan government has grown increasingly concerned that the ambitious regime which brought down the proletarists in Ecuador and the Americans in Panama could turn more ambitious eyes to the east. In order to protect the provinces won from Colombia in the nineteenth century, plans and production has begun on a new defensive line said to rival that of even the Mannerheim Line in Europe. The fortifications include ample new border defenses and bunkers, as well as a selection of new coastal forts to protect against naval raids. While not actually as intensive as the Mannerheim Line, the new defense is slated to consist of numerous strong points to dominate any potential Colombian advance with overwhelming firepower. Current plans are for the completion of the line by 1925.
News from Africa and the Middle East
KING OF AZERBAIJAN DIES. Baku, Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani people mourned the death of their beloved King Samad this year, as he at last passed away after several years of ill health. The late king came to the throne in 1868, giving him only a little over fifty years of rule over the small nation in the Caucuses. During the course of King Samad's reign, Azerbaijan went through many tumultuous years, including a number of small border wars and skirmishes with neighboring Georgia. Since Georgia was annexed by Russia at the end of the Great War, King Samad preserved the nation's delicate position between the two expansionist power of Persia and Russia. In recent years, under the advisement of his son, the newly crowned King Ismail II, King Samad brought the nation closer to Persia, building new ties and a defensive agreement. King Ismail II is believed to be a highly devout Muslim, in possession of strong personal ties with the members of the Persian government.
ELECTIONS IN THE PONTIC REPUBLIC. Trebizond, Pontic Republic. Elections in the Pontic Republic proved to be a vicious affair this year, as the Party of Might faced considerable criticism for policy decisions made during the year. The critics of the conservative political group claimed that the new cultural memorial program did too much to once more create a divide between the Turk and Greek populations as well as being a major unneeded expense. This campaign against the newly begun program proved to be highly effective, giving the Party of Might a tough run for their money. The Party of Might still barely managed to retain their majority in government and control of the presidency, maintaining it from the liberal teeming masses. Unfortunately, the criticism of the government had an unfortunate effect, dividing national politics and making them a far more bitter affair. (-1 Stability)
ANTI-WAR RIOTS IN KURDISTAN. Cizre, Kurdistan. As the war against Turkey and the Roman Empire continues with no end in sight, the Kurdish people have had enough of fighting and bloodshed. With barely a break in battle since the end of the Great War, a large protest was held, featuring tens of thousands of wounded veterans and civilians marching against King Alaadin's insistence upon continuing the war against Turkey. The prevailing winds of opinion seem to be that the war has been lost, and that the Kurdish government should take its lumps from the failed battle. They have rallied against the King, and in their protests, a military response ultimately escalated the situation into violent overreaction. The Kurds have clearly begun to lose control at home, and desertions have begun to mount at a rapid pace in the armed forces, particularly upon the conscripted forces. King Alaadin has remained silent on the matter, but many foreigners believe that the growing internal pressure will force him to make a humiliating peace with the Turks. (-4 Conscript Brigades, -1 Stability)
RUSSIAN EFFORTS CAUSE NEW KHAZAK VIOLENCE IN PERSIA. Tehran, Persia. Over the past two years, the Russian army has been successfully hunting down and destroying Khazak towns and villages throughout their Central Asian possessions. This has directly led to a resumption of the war between the Khazak tribes and the Persian army further south. The Khazaks, fleeing the effective massacre of their communities by the Russians and their new weapons, have begun moving in greater mass than ever into Persia's northeastern provinces. They have overwhelmed a number of Persian border outposts through sheer numbers and surged the ranks of those who resisted Persian rule already. The fighting has been vicious and has continued to tear the countryside apart, as the Persian army struggles to maintain control on a region which had been at least momentarily pacified. (-7 Infantry Brigades, -1 Artillery Brigade)
PONTIC REPUBLIC COMPLETES INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT. Trebizond, Pontic Republic. The Pontic government was pleased to announce the completion of the anticipated Infrastructural Development Project this year. Slated as the second phase of a plan which had included the recent completion of the electrification of the Pontic countryside, the project has created numerous new railroads to provide transportation between the nation's main cities. It has also provided revitalized ports and new paved roads throughout the main towns and communities, creating better health and sanitation for the people living there. The success of this project has been followed with a third phase to develop the culture of the nation, including the construction of new statues and artistic creations sponsored by the government. Critics of the new phase state that it is nothing more than an unneeded expense which will drain the coffers of the government with no foreseeable benefits.
ARAB ATTACK RESULTS IN NEW WAR. Muscat, Oman. A new major war has erupted upon the Arabian Peninsula as a disastrous military endeavor by the Arabian Empire launched a bloody conflict. An attempt by the elite Arab Guard to scout out and spy the Omani defensive positions deep within Oman's borders turned into a full battle as both sides escalated into combat, and Arab forces launched a true invasion. Though the Arabs initially had some successes, the Omanis mobilized their armies with time to spear and drew the empire into a brutal fight of attrition through the narrow corridor of their advance. Ultimately, thanks to superior knowledge of the local terrain, Oman's forces managed to draw the Arab forces into a bloody salient, where they concentrated devastating firepower upon them. The Arab artillery was woefully outmatched in terms of qualities and numbers, and after only a few counter barrages, the Arab guns fell silent. The Omanis managed to push back to the border, and the Arabs only barely held their forces together without a rout. Further west, the fighting started between Oman's ally Yemen and the Arabian Empire later, as Yemen issued a declaration of war in support of their friends to the east. The heaviest fighting has been around the town of Jazan as the Yemeni attack was blunted as the Arabs deployed new weapons and tactics. Thanks to airborne reconnaissance, the Arabs were able to anticipate and respond to Yemen's attack, but they were unprepared for the sheer firepower brought against them. Ultimately though the weight of their artillery, the Yemenis were able to shatter the Arab armored detachment and break through the lines, capturing the city and pushing forward up the coast. As the final action of the year, the Omanis and Yemenis closed the Persian gulf to the Arabs with a major naval exercise, putting their new fleets into action. The ramshackle Arab fleet didn't stand a chance, as they only barely managed to scratch the paint of the enemy ships. Elsewhere, the submarines of Oman and Yemen have begun sinking any Arabian flagged transport ship, though they have clearly avoided the vessels of any neutral nation.
Casualty Lists
Arabian Empire: 8 Conscript Brigades, 22 Infantry Brigades, 1 Arab Guard Brigade, 4 Cavalry Brigades, 1 WJVM-1 Brigade, 18 Artillery Brigades, 1 Early Submarine, 3 Early Destroyers, 2 Early Light Cruisers, 1 Early Heavy Cruiser (+1 Army Quality, +1 Air Force Quality)
Oman: 9 Conscript Brigades, 4 Infantry Brigades, 3 Cavalry Brigades, 6 Artillery Brigades (+1 Army Quality, +1 Navy Quality)
Yemen: 19 Conscript Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 5 Artillery Brigades (+1 Army Quality, +1 Navy Quality)
OPSIKION RECONSTRUCTION COMPLETE. Cius, Roman Empire. During the crises which followed the Constantinople Event, the region which would be the most hard fought over would be the province of Opsikion. Having temporarily declared independence and preserved this independence for several years, they put up a strong fight against the forces of the new Imperator. The end of the war brought about the latest attempt at reconstruction which has been an ongoing process over the past six years. The reconstruction was finally announced as complete this year, even as the fighting began in Albania against Roman rule. The Imperator lauded the work of the engineers and individuals responsible for the success of the reconstruction, and stated that it is a symbol of the new times and the growing restoration of Roman glory and power.
KURD-TURK WAR CONTINUES. Konya, Turkey. The war between the Turks and the Kurds has continued, once more at a fairly subdued pace after the failure of last year's offensive by Kurdistan. As the Kurdish military faces troubles at home, the front line along the Euphrates has diminished and both powers have retained their standing positions. The fighting has been fairly mild and lacking in significant developments, consisting mostly of minor skirmishes along the river line. The Romans have continued to aid the Turkish defense, preserving their forces and hoping to secure a peaceful settlement. Despite the decline in actual military combat, it seems that the conclusion of hostilities is nowhere in sight as both parties continue to fail to secure an amicable treaty. Local ambassadors remain secure in the prediction that the fighting may well continue indefinitely until, at best, a minor cease fire or truce is enacted or even enforced upon them.
Casualty Lists
Kurdistan: 3 Conscript Brigades
Turkey: 4 Conscript Brigades
CONSTRUCTION OF SUEZ CITY BEGINS. Suez City, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The British colony of Dumyat, obtained in the aftermath of the Great War, has given them control over the essential Suez Canal, providing substantial economic benefits to the empire. Locally, however, the colony has remained fairly unproductive on its own and lacked most of the basic shipbuilding and commerce facilities. In order to rectify this shortcoming of Britain's newest colony, the British have begun the construction of a new port city in the region. The newly claimed "Suez City" is slated to be provided with the latest in shipyard facilities and infrastructure. New roads are being built with automobiles in mind, as well as railroad junctions for trade with the rest of the colony. The schedule has the project being completed in one to two years, allowing for a vital new commercial center for the British Empire.
DUTCH LAUNCH SECOND ATTEMPT TO RECLAIM HOLLANDIA. Mombasa, Hollandia. As the war in Europe wound down, the Dutch prepared yet a second expedition to make an effort to reclaim the wayward colony of Hollandia. Deploying an even larger force to achieve this success, the Dutch once more confidently marched off to planned victory against the colonials. Unfortunately, the battle they had to face was hardly a pushover, and despite being veterans of battle against German reserves, they were hardly prepared for the determined resistance of the Hollandians. In a surprising display of arrogance the Dutch once more attempted to land on the exact same fortified beach they had taken last year. The beach, as before, was already marked by colonial artillery experts and the preplanned fields of fire devastated the Dutch invasion. Once again, through sheer force of will the Dutch expanded their beachhead, only to find themselves outnumbered and surrounded. As before, the Dutch expedition, having proceeded in the same manner, was destroyed, forced to leave behind substantial heavy equipment and suffering major losses.
Casualty Lists
Hollandia: 4 Conscript Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade (+1 Army Quality)
Netherlands: 6 Infantry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades, 1 M1916 VB Brigade
KONGO COMPLETES PORT EXPANSION. Haraldsholm, Kongo. Though the death of the Emperor delayed labor on the new port expansions in Haraldsholm, work was begun once more this year. The work has also been completed, greatly expanding the capacity for shipping through the key western coast port for the Kongo Colonial Society. The port of Haraldsholm has been substantially enlarged, allowing for the largest freighters and shipping to take place, and increasing the nation's capacity for trade. New agreements with Argentine businesses have begun to further open the doors of the interior of Africa to South American commercial interests, bringing growing new wealth and the free market to the Scandinavian empire. Military experts state the expansion will further help naval projection in the Atlantic Ocean, in preparation for the war many believe must come to retake the fatherland.
