Capto Iugulum: 1920 - 1939

EQandcivfanatic said:

Anyways, I may have become a bit sidetracked as I have received an e-mail that will require me to dedicate my attentions elsewhere for a little bit. More information on this as soon as I'm legally able to share. Fear not, for this entanglement only has to do with access to an electronic medium of entertainment and an addition related to an existing program to which I have acquired an offer of involvement in identifying errors. As this particular addition has me quite enthusiastic, it will likely divert my brainpower for a while, and I'm already having difficulty updating as I keep refreshing another page in the hopse that the information I need to begin has suddenly appeared.

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If it's from Secret Shopper, I've already gotten one of those. It's a pretty sweet deal; you get 400 bucks, and you just have to send another 600 off to an offshore bank account.

@ChineseWarlord

Welcome to NESing The nation of Argentina is also an ally of Paraguay. Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay are the historic core of the bloc known as the South American Allies.

Also it should be noted that Paraguay has a series of underground tunnels which it has been spending its money upon leading into key locations through Brazil, Peru, and Argentina. This is related to Code 5, which is a secret program designed to simultaneously overthrow all American governments and replace them with identical robots under the control of Rex'Xar, Warlord of the X'jnal race, come to end human life through an insidious plot.

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What the hell...?

Joke.

I think.

ChineseWarlord said:

What the hell...?

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It's obviously a joke...
The Venezuelan Government denies all involvement in this matter...

Yes, it's a joke, much like the Russian mind control experiments which have turned a number of American politicians into their mindless slaves.


Another brief interruption on the update. At long last, things are finally going my way, and I have been given a tentative job offer assuming I pass the background check (of which I have already passed four of in the past two years). Tonight I will be going to my in-laws to celebrate, as they have a bottomless fridge of liquor and are making steak this fine evening.

Vinlandic Naval Vessel Register, 1921

EQandcivfanatic said:

Yes, it's a joke, much like the Russian mind control experiments which have turned a number of American politicians into their mindless slaves.


Another brief interruption on the update. At long last, things are finally going my way, and I have been given a tentative job offer assuming I pass the background check (of which I have already passed four of in the past two years). Tonight I will be going to my in-laws to celebrate, as they have a bottomless fridge of liquor and are making steak this fine evening.

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That is great news to hear! Congratulations!

Originally Posted by EQandcivfanatic

Yes, it's a joke, much like the Russian mind control experiments which have turned a number of American politicians into their mindless slaves.

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I figured as much but still...

Anyway sorry if I sound
a)noobish
b)annoying
c)impatient
or d)all of the above
but WHEN THE H**L CAN I PM?! I'm getting bored!

Sorry to annoy and take up space, and please forgive my noobishness.

After 5 posts and 5 days or something like that.

Oops wrong thread.

ChineseWarlord said:

I figured as much but still...

Anyway sorry if I sound
a)noobish
b)annoying
c)impatient
or d)all of the above
but WHEN THE H**L CAN I PM?! I'm getting bored!

Sorry to annoy and take up space, and please forgive my noobishness.

Click to expand...

I could care less. We were all like that once. I can still be all at times

5 posts 5 days since join date! But I still don't know how to PM

Click on the persons username you want to PM and then click on "send a private message to <insert name>"

Just a quick update on my progress. The update is about 30 minutes away from being done, but unfortunately, I'm liable to be busy with pre-move stuff today and tomorrow, but we will definitely get things done early this week.

News from Europe​

DEATH OF THE KING OF BOSNIA. Sarajevo, Bosnia. Change has come into the tiny Eastern European nation of Bosnia, as the passing of King Tvrtko has brought an end to the first era of the monarchy of the young state. Under the reign of the deceased monarch, Bosnia achieved its independence first under Serbian guidance, and with the Russian intervention in that nation, Bosnia gained outright freedom. The monarchy has built up a considerable amount of support from the masses, having successfully rallied the population against the Serbs, who were seen to have attempted to annex the region directly. Recent economic efforts to bolster the nation's economy have been spearheaded by the nephew of the late king, and now the ruler, King Kulin. The new king has promised to follow his uncle's proud policies and has managed to secure the base of support that his predecessor had controlled. This has come at a time while the new king has been in search of a wife, and rumors have been abounding of a possible romance with a daughter of the Russian emperor who was presented to the court only a few weeks prior to the old king's death.

ELECTIONS IN PORTUGAL. Lisbon, Portugal. This year's elections for the Portuguese Parliament have been hotly contested, as in previous years, showing greater and greater disillusionment among the masses with the electoral process. Since the end of the Great War both the left and the right have had their chances to steer the nation in a new direction and to restore the stagnating economy. Unfortunately, well over a decade later, the Portuguese nation continues to struggle with the loss of its empire and wealth. The King's Honor Party has campaigned upon the changes it has made, and the modest growth Portugal has had in the past few years, but this has yet to appeal to the jaded population. A larger number of voters seem to be drifting towards more extremist groups of all types, from proletarists to militarists to the highly religious. Thankfully for the King's Honor Party, they have continued to retain a majority, but Parliament has become full of vicious struggles and delays as new and young members threaten to disrupt the status quo. (-1 Stability)

DEATH OF THE BRITISH KING. London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. King Richard IV passed away this year after struggling for years with varying illnesses related to his advanced age. King Richard assumed the thrones of Britain in 1900 with the death of his mother, the Queen Anne, and has ruled through the greatest era of British prosperity. Under his rule, the British people have seen a finalization of the "eternal conflict" with Spain, and the defeat and humiliation of the Spanish empire which has eluded British monarchs since the sixteenth century. King Richard ruled his people through the horrors of the Great War and has overseen the reconstruction following that epic conflict. The death of the king has been followed with a grim procession through London, and most agree that he was a most beloved and respected monarch. His son has been crowned the new King Henry XIII and has pledged that under his rule, the golden age of the British Empire will continue, and that Britain's greatest days lay ahead.

RIOT IN CAGLIARI. Cagliari, Sardinia. Violence erupted in the capital city of the island nation of Sardinia this year, as a group of unemployed laborers were spurred into riotous behavior. Though reports of the origin of the riots are unclear, it seems that the automobile of a wealthy member of the upper classes ran down a young girl in the streets, and this escalated into an attack upon the owner of the vehicle. The owner's bodyguards used firearms upon the crowd, and the violence only escalated from that point. The result was large sections of Cagliari falling into flames and disorder, until ultimately the military was called in to protect the wealthier neighborhoods of the city. The rioting in the poorer areas eventually petered out with nightfall and soldiers restored order to the streets. The damages so far are uncertain, but varying newspapers claim that this unrest was a sign of growing tensions between the poor and wealthy throughout Sardinia.

OCCITANIA ANNEXES AQUITAINE. Bordeaux, Occitania. The government of Spain honored a controversial agreement made during the late civil war this year as they officially turned over the province of Aquitaine to the Occitanian nation. The province has been long desired by the government in Toulouse, and it was the focus of substantial attacks and offensives during the Great War. In the nineteenth century, the province had become majority Spanish and remains that way to this day, creating a hostile population to the new government. Many citizens of Aquitaine remember the vicious Occitanian attacks during the Great War, including the use of chemical weapons upon civilian centers. The region was never touched during the recent civil war, and life had been fairly uninterrupted regardless of the fighting further south. The result has been the loss of the most profitable and peaceful province remaining under Spanish control in Europe, to a state which now has a large and angry minority of Spaniards. While the wealth of the region has begun to flow into Occitania's coffers, many believe that the agreement will only create more strife and bloodshed in Western Europe. (-1 Stability for Occitania and Spain)

BOSNIA BACKS OUT OF POLITICAL REFORM UNDER PRESSURE. Sarajevo, Bosnia. Prior to the death of King Tvkrto, the Bosnian government had announced plans for the establishment of an elected legislature. The move was abandoned after the Russian government clearly and succinctly reminded the region of the result of the similar attempts at reform in Serbia and Romania. The Russians backed their pressure with the deployment of fresh troops to the border of Serbia and Bosnia, to prevent the unwelcome influences of republicanism and liberalism from gaining a foothold in the Balkans. Faced with overwhelming military and political pressure, the kings of Bosnia have caved to Russian demands and backed down from their initiative for reform. Unfortunately this has severely discredited the government in the eyes of the people, who had been given false hope for at least basic representation.

PAPACY ESTABLISHES MODERN MEDIA OFFICE. Rome, Papal States. Pope Paul VI has presided over the establishment of the Catholic Church's new Modern Media Office which is slated to cover evangelicalism using modern methods of mass communication. The radio broadcast of the royal wedding in Rio de Janeiro this year has made it apparent that it is now possible to get out information to a larger and larger group of people more quickly than ever before. Some theorists have equated it to the creation of the printing press but possibly even more significant. The Papacy has encouraged the construction of a new radio tower within Rome itself, to broadcast Catholic news and religious bulletins across southern Europe. The office will not solely be limited to Europe of course, and efforts have already begun in cooperation with Uruguay for a similar station to cover portions of South America. It is hoped that the technology of the new era will provide a chance for the reclamation of lost influence and territory for the Catholic Church.

THE LUXEMBOURG PROCLAMATION. Luxembourg, Franco-Burgundian Confederation. The Rhine-Rhone Pact, a defensive alliance and arrangement consisting of much of Western Europe, has made a landmark stand towards the ideals of peace and stability on the continent. With the League of Continental Nations mostly defunct and their headquarters stills sitting incomplete in Antwerp, the Rhine-Rhone Pact has taken upon themselves to create peace. The new Luxembourg Proclamation has been endorsed by the nations of the Rhine-Rhone Pact, signed by Sardinia, the Franco-Burgundian Confederation, the Netherlands, Occitania, and Spain. Numerous other nations have applauded the sentiment, and several smaller nations have followed suit saying that they will follow the ideals of the proclamation themselves. Included in this group are Corsica and Cechy-Morava. The Proclamation actually states that outside of direct attacks or threats upon the member states of the Rhine-Rhone Pact, that the signing nations are forgoing foreign interventions indefinitely. The declaration has been seen as one of quasi-neutrality, hoping to preserve the region from devastating and the "ruinous institution" of war.

RUSSIAN EMPEROR'S SPEECH OUTLINES NEW FOREIGN POLICY. Moscow, Russia. Emperor Mikhail of the Russian Empire gave a high publicized speech this year, directed at the international ambassador corps located within Moscow. In this speech he denounced British and German conspiratorial attempts to encircle the Russian Empire as a scheme to destroy it. He announced the new Curtain of Steel, a plan to create a massive defensive army under which Russia and its allies could shelter and rest easy from the fears of British aggression. The emperor has also announced plans for the creation of the Forum of Peace, which would consist of an Imperial Council guided by the Roman Empire and Russia, allowing the lesser satellite states of these two nations to voice their concerns to overall policies. Rather than the hodgepodge and anarchic attitudes and policies of organizations such as the League of Continental Nations and the Pan-American Democratic Accord, the Forum for Peace would be firmly and permanently moderated by Russia and its Roman allies. Plans for the construction of this organization have begun, and Bosnia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Turkey, Kurdistan, and Romania have all be invited to participate.

"NEW DECADE" PLAN ANNOUNCED IN SARDINIA. Cagliari, Sardinia. Even as the fires were still dying from the recent riots in Sardinia's capital, the government has begun to look towards the future. After a significant reshuffling of the cabinet, Prime Minister Luca Nalli has spoken about the "New Decade" policy planning and development. Substantial financing was dedicated from the year's budget to help sponsor this program, hoping to provide a fresh surge to the stagnated economy of the island nation. One of the primary segments of the new construction and efforts made here has been the development of a new tourist section of Cagliari, hoping to appeal to the surging middle class and wealthy of the Rhine-Rhone Pact as well as other rich individuals from across the world. Several luxurious new hotels and casinos have been built through the course of the year, and multiple gala events are prepared for the opening of these sites next year. The who's who of Europe are scheduled to attend, featuring a grand display at the largest of the hotel and casinos, the Sierra Madre. The rest of the financing has been dedicated to provided new work and expansion in the Sardinian colony of Tunisia, which has languished due to the local simmering rebellion. Overall though, it seems that the Sardinians have been unable to find much more to spend money on, despite the believed impending success of the tourist initiative.

TRANSIT EXPANSION EXPANDED TO CIVIL SPHERE IN SCANDINAVIA. Stockholm, Scandinavia. Efforts dedicated to the security of the proletarian workers' paradise of Scandinavia have shifted to an effort to improve the standard of living of the average worker in Stockholm. This year the military railroad dedicated to the supply and support of the Mannerheim Line was completed after several years of construction and financing. The new supply line is said to be inherently vital to any defense of the nation against invasion from Russia or across the Baltic Sea. The expertise derived from this project has been turned towards the construction of a new underground mass transportation line for Stockholm, and will provide a rapid and efficient way for workers to commute from their homes to their places of employment. The first lines have been completed by the end of this year, and some optimistically forecast the completion of the underground lines by the end of 1922.

BLOCKADE ENFORCED UPON BRITTANY. Brest, Brittany. After the tragic bombing in Dublin in 1920, it became nearly immediately revealed by British intelligence services that the Bretons were involved. Piles of evidence and data were provided not only by the British government but also from within the Rhine-Rhone Pact. The British people were outraged by foreign involvement in an attempt to spark a violent rebellion, and Parliament has been straining towards an outright declaration of war upon Brittany. The international community has intervened, calling for further investigation and the prevention of full hostilities. The British have therefore reduced the preparations for actual invasion to instead purely a naval blockade around the peninsula. The blockade has proven highly effective, sealing off the import of nearly seventy percent of Brittany's trade, much of which has now begun coming overland from the Franco-Burgundian Confederation instead. The government of Vinland has launched a neutral investigation of its own to determine the culpability of the Breton government in the affair. Needless to say, it was completely confirmed that the supplies, support and agents provided to the Welsh and Irish were definitely Breton. Investigations in Nantes were hindered, as many relevant files were missing or destroyed, and it seems that local authorities were less than eager to cooperate. While they may have exonerated the currently ruling liberal government of the liberal Blaid Ryddfrydol, it has become apparently that while the liberals may not have actually been involved in the planning and execution, they are certainly involved in attempting to cover it up. Vinland's investigators have therefore stated that there is no doubt that the Bretons were completely behind the botched operation and must accept a degree of responsibility for the deaths in Dublin.

CONFEDERATE PRIME MINISTER STEPS DOWN. Paris, Franco-Burgundian Confederation. Prime Minister Alexander Millerand stepped down this year, stating his growing old age and ill health as the reason for his resignation. The move has been graciously accepted by the rest of Parliament and the Septembrists have begun shuffling the ranks for a new majority leader and Prime Minister for the Confederation. The search was not long, finding Burgundian Friedrich Elbert as the ideal liberal candidate to lead the national Parliament. Widely known as a supporter of Millerand's policies and positions in the government, it has been a fairly simple and easy transition of politics. Political analysts have claimed that it's unlikely that the shift in management will affect the Confederation's position in Western Europe or its domestic policies. Prime Minister Elbert has confirmed as such in his first speeches from his position and continues to enjoy the support of the majority within Parliament.

News from the Americas​

ECONOMIC COMPETITION TURNS TO VIOLENCE IN ECUADOR. Quito, Ecuador. Since the intervention by Peruvian and Colombian forces, the nation of Ecuador has continued to face a slow but steady path to reintegration into the South American economic sphere. Unfortunately, this has been complicated by an increasingly vicious competition between businesses from Colombia and Peru. Both nations' businesses have been doing their best to enforce their ideals and will upon the border state, and this has begun to undermine local industry, as prices drop off a cliff. This year, the competing companies have turned to more violent measures, as they remain safely headquartered at home an immune to prosecution under all regional laws and jurisdictions. The Ecuadorian government, with its hands tied by the past treaties, has been struggling to maintain order, especially as the competing companies have begun flagrantly and brutally attacking, and allegedly even murdering their local rivals and competition.

ARGENTINE ELECTIONS. Buenos Aires, Argentina. Spirited presidential and congressional elections were held in Argentina this year as President James fought to hold his position as a Democratic candidate with a hostile National Conservative Congress. While most of the nation readily trends towards conservative ideals and speeches, and with the growing support of the Catholic voting bloc, the National Conservative Party has once more gained ground in Congress, building upon the rapidly mounting economic successes. President Juan James on the other hand has faced a split party, and support, though ironically, the same Catholics who voted for new conservative members of Congress have resolutely offered support for the current executive of Argentina. The recent papal visit to Argentina has strengthened Catholic support for the President, who continues to struggle against the restrictions and power of the conservative Congress. Politics have become more heated, and it seems that the liberal cause in Argentina is splitting and dying, despite the outspoken efforts of the president, leaving resentment in its wake. (-1 Stability)

ELECTIONS IN PUERTO RICO. San Juan, Puerto Rico. The fragile coalition of the Unity Party in Puerto Rico has at last fallen apart, despite the valiant attempts to hold it together by President Munoz. The recent dispute with Hispaniola created a divide among the Puerto Rican people, and the handling of the disagreement by the Pan-American Democratic Accord was less than popular among conservatives. This resulted in a split of the conservative element of the Unity Party, which has begun campaigning on a base less enthusiastic about the nation's relationship with the PADA and Brazil in particular. Unfortunately, these politicians hedged their bets on the wrong ideology for the Puerto Ricans, who mostly are content with the resolution of the Isla de Mona conflict. Therefore, most have elected to vote for representatives of the liberal Liberty Party, who have secured a substantial majority in the nation's Congress. President Alfonso Munoz continues to remain a popular president and he has once more won the majority vote and continues to reign as the nation's head of state.

AMERICAN MILITIAS BEGIN WAR ON CUBAN GOVERNMENT. Guantanamo, Cuba. The Cuban government has become increasingly ineffective within its own borders as the various unionist militias have begun seizing resources for their own. Though they have avoided much direct military conflict with the government, this has not been completed evaded, as the Americans use force and coercion to seize businesses and land from the Cuban people throughout the eastern provinces of the island. The Cuban army was sent in to restore order and protect the population, but in a disgraceful turn of events, the Cubans were soundly defeated in a battle west of the small town of Guantanamo. The forces sent to contain the Americans were routed, and most of the local remaining garrison no longer even pretends to take orders from the government in Havana. Americans across the island have begun scurrying to the banners of the east, preparing to take up arms against the Cuban government in the uprising that most believe is soon to arrive. (-2 Stability, -3 Infantry Brigades)

CRISIS VETERANS RIOT IN JEFFERSON. Jefferson, Jacksonia. Jacksonia was one of the more fortunate regions of the United States during the crisis which began in 1912. The state was spared the more devastating total war of the region east of the Mississippi River, but was not unscathed. Thousands were killed both in naval skirmishes and in a short but brutal war against the Utah Military District and the Allied Territories of America. These varying battles left many wounded or badly injured and they were released from military service to return home. Despite Jacksonia's moderate prosperity, these wounded warriors have found it nearly impossible to find employment and have rallied together to protest the lack of care from the government in the capital of Jefferson. Marching in protest in Jefferson, the regular army was called out to preserve order, and this unfortunately led to violence between the mob and the army. The rioting was vicious and left substantial regions inside the interior of the city damaged and aflame, and hundreds of arrests were made by police forces. The Progressive Party leadership and President Seward have been besieged for their handling of the protest, and the poor treatment of the nation's veterans. (-1 Stability)

ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT IN PERU. Lima, Peru. The Peruvian President Eduardo Perez was fired upon during a speech in the capital city of Lima this year, addressing the concerns of the nation. President Perez was lightly wounded, taking a bullet in the shoulder, but resumed the workings of the head of government only a few hours later. The would-be assassin was caught shortly after firing upon the president, and further investigations have revealed that he acted alone. The assassin was determined to be loosely affiliated with the anarchist movement in Peru, and felt that killing the president would be a step towards achieving the collapse of organized governance in the region. The trial for this heinous attack is slated to begin next year, though it has become complex as the anarchist continues to refuse to recognize the legitimacy of the Peruvian judicial system. Regardless, he has clearly failed in his effort, and President Perez has continue to represent the majority Conservative Party and has pledged that this failed attempt on his life will not dissuade him from his goals for the advancement of Peru.

PROTEST HELD AGAINST LATEST MORALITY LEGISLATION IN URUGUAY. Montevideo, Uruguay. The religious Morality Party has dominated the Uruguayan legislature, but throughout the course of the year, some of their policy choices have come under fire. This has culminated with the establishment of a law requiring a "Spiritual Adviser" for the presidency, which was only narrowly passed in the nation's Congress. The legislation requires a member of the Uruguayan Catholic clergy to maintain a permanent advisory role within the presidential cabinet, elevating a religious leader to a place of political significance. Several substantial protests were held this year, stating that the new laws give an uncomfortable amount of influence to the Catholic Church over the Uruguayan government. They have begun to call for the repeal of the Morality Laws, but as the Morality Party continues to hold the majority, it seems unlikely these protests will make much headway. The opposition parties, particularly the Party of Order and the Social Proletarist Party have begun rallying those alienated or alarmed by the Morality Party, and it seems like when the election season arrives in 1923, the Morality Party could face a very tight race. (-1 Stability)

EMPEROR OF BRAZIL MARRIES. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A gala wedding was held in Rio de Janeiro this year as Emperor Pedro III da Brasil married a daughter of the Vinlander King Ingvar Gyllensvärd. The marriage between the two royal houses has been trumpeted as a symbol of the growing friendship and partnership between Brazil and Vinland. Numerous important politicians and royal figures from around the globe were invited to attend to the ceremony and following reception, though most of the attending guests were restricted to those from member states of the Pan-American Democratic Accord. The marriage went off without a hitch, and the newlyweds have taken a honeymoon to the varied Brazilian islands in the Caribbean. The wedding was also interesting to note as the first such ceremony to be broadcast over radio waves, to listeners throughout Brazil. This was the first event of any major type to be broadcast live, and it had more than a few problems throughout the process. Regardless, this has been seen as a major victory for the radio industry which has thrived throughout the region.

BLOCKADE INSTITUTED AROUND MAYAN CONFLICT. Belize, Mayaland. As the Pan-American Democratic Accord has yet to properly or officially respond to the raging civil conflict on the Mayan Peninsula, a few nations have taken it upon themselves to react. Ships have been provided from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Florida to enact a blockade upon both factions to prevent foreign supply. Though each task force possesses its own rules of engagement, the result has been the closure of support for both the republican and militarist factions in the ongoing fighting. This resulted in a tense moment as Floridian warships turned back vessels from the United Proletarist Republics of America as they attempted to ship heavy weapons and equipment to the republican rebels. Future ships not carrying arms were ultimately allowed through, consisting mostly of unarmed passengers and various foodstuffs and supplies. The conflict continues to rage on despite the naval blockade, and the Mayan fleet remains bottled up in port, choosing not to challenge the PADA forces.

THE MAYAN CIVIL WAR. Belize, Mayaland. The fighting for control of the Mayan Republic has been brutal and significant, but the war has fortunately been trending towards an early conclusion. A major assault launched early in the year by the government of Ceh Pech proved successful in driving back republican forces along the Atlantic coast. The offensive was launched using both reserves and overwhelming artillery fire, smashing the rebel front line. Though the fighting was brutal, the volunteers of the republican forces broke under the relentless assault of the military's regulars. This highly successful offensive secured full control of the Atlantic coastline for the militarists, and was a major, and possibly decisive defeat for the republican cause. Barely pausing to take a breath, the militarists launched a series of hammer blow attacks against the republicans, shattering the front a multiple points along the whole border. The use of concentrated artillery and judicious use of the regular forces secured a surprisingly effective victory. As the rebel lines were smashed, the republicans found themselves trapped and soon were surrounded and besieged in their last strongholds in the southwest. The final assault by the militarists was going to be a clear success and the rebels did their best to fight on despite the odds. Regardless of the valiant last stand, the republican rebellion has been clearly crushed, and the various rebel leaders have been publically executed for their crimes, rather than imprisoned due to their previous escape. After the loss of tens of thousands of lives, it seems that Ceh Pech's authority is now uncontested and absolute throughout the whole of the Mayan borders.
Casualty Lists
Mayaland (Militarist): 12 Conscript Brigades, 4 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 8 Artillery Brigades (+1 Army Quality, +3 Stability)
Mayaland (Republican): 22 Conscript Brigades, 2 Infantry Brigades, 13 Artillery Brigades

BLOOD AND CHAOS IN VENEZUELA. Caracas, Venezuela. Major political turmoil has taken place in the South American nation of Venezuela this year, as a series of events have led to the decimation of those who could have led the country. A naval exercise in Barbados turned bloody as the dining invited leaders of the Venezuelan military were gunned down by the Presidential Guard, having been selected as the primary political opponents of General Felipe Trujillo's democratic agenda. This vicious slaughter gutted the apparatus of state, as most of those killed were those who had been responsible for the actual running of both the military and nation. The attack was initially blamed on proletarist movements, sparking reprisals against the proletarists, which in turned sparked proletarist reprisals against other movements. To make matters worse, with no signs of any approved successor, General Trujillo suffered a fatal heart attack, leaving no executive leadership in charge of Venezuela. With most political party leaders dead or involved in street wars against each other, the new pro-democracy military leaders proving themselves highly incompetent, and the military leaders who could have claimed power under the old system dead, there was no one left to rule. Even the bureaucracy and government quickly shut down, as no one remained who knew how to operate it. With no government existing and no new constitution, all the varied political parties and factions soon began squabbling and violence was the rule of the day throughout Venezuela. Ultimately a cabal of military leaders managed to unify the army and navy and restore order, only after substantial bloodshed and loss of life. Most democratic political parties have completely fallen apart and any advances towards democracy have failed, as most of the democratic advisers sent from PADA have been killed in the chaos or fled. (-1 Navy Quality, -3 Stability, -8 Infantry Brigades, -2 Cavalry Brigades, -1 M1916 VB Brigade, -4 Artillery Brigades, -35 Manpower)

PADA HAS SECOND WAVE OF EXPANSION. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Hosted for the year in the nation of Brazil, the Pan-American Democratic Accord has had an impressive second wave of new members and participants. With invitations extended to multiple other democracies throughout the Western Hemisphere, PADA has seen increased interested, particularly with the successful resolution of the Isla de Mona dispute and activities with the Mayan Civil War. In total six more nations have joined with PADA, as invitations were accepted by a variety of American governments. Those which have joined the young organization are Nicaragua, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia, and Aztlan. This has given almost complete legitimization of the organization, as it includes the majority of nations throughout the Americas, excluding only a few troubled states in Central and South America, as well as the proletarists in North America.

PAPAL KNIGHTHOOD FOR URUGUAYAN PRESIDENT. Rome, Papal States. President Roberto Lonzo of Uruguay travelled to Rome this year to accept one of the highest honors granted by the Catholic Church. For his services as the leader of Uruguay's Morality Party and the recent Morality Laws passed by Uruguay's Congress, Pope Paul VI has acknowledged President Lonzo as a hero of the Catholic cause. As a sign of recognition, the pope has bestowed a papal knighthood upon President Lonzo, the first elected official to ever receive this honor. The pope spoke about Lonzo's efforts in preserving traditional morals and faith throughout South America and has encouraged him to keep up the good fight to maintain the dignity, strength, and honor of the Catholic Church. A celebration was held upon the president's return home, and the award has done much to build support among the base of the Morality Party, though it has been acknowledged as another step towards the alienation of non-religious voters in Uruguay.

PADA RESOLVES ISLAND DISPUTE. Punta Cana, Hispaniola. The Pan-American Democratic Accord was able to stretch its legs for the first time since its formation as the governments of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola stepped aside to allow a international committee to resolve the dispute over Isla de Mona. As noted last year, both states have claimed the island, but no historical or financial security has been declared in favor of either. With no easy solution in sight, the two nations have turned to PADA to mediate and resolve the ongoing dispute. Spearheaded by the ambassador from Vinland, it seems that the dispute has been clearly resolved, as both nations have agreed to joint custody over the island, providing cooperative security and defense. A committee was established for the overall management of both government and civilian claims for construction, while the island itself has been declared an international natural preserve. In the mean time, further research has indicated that the island may not be as suitable for a naval or air force pace as previously believed, and it seems that all parties involved are more than content to let the island remain an island free of human inhabitation and development.

SECURITY COMMITTEES ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. Chicago, United States of America. Under the direct encouragement and personal project of President Zachary Jacobs, American citizens have been authorized to establish so-called "Liberty Vigilance Committees." Veterans of the recent crisis and civil war have been suggested to join and work with these new committees to work against the spread of proletarist influences. The national media has offered its full support for the movement, and newspaper magnate Herman Zwebiel of the Chicago Onion has announced the setting aside of over twenty percent of his profits to the equipment and financing of the committees in Chicago and northern Illinois. The governors of the military districts have also begun privately financing and supporting these committees, but it has been made clear that these are private entities, solely acting as a militia for the defense of the nation against spies and infiltration from the United Proletarist Republics of America.

ECUADOR ELECTRIFIED. Quito, Ecuador. Thanks to the cancellation last year of the university project, substantial funds were redirected towards the electrification of the countryside in Ecuador. The finances and resources were provided for the construction of new power stations and facilities throughout the nation. It can now be clearly stated that modern electrical marvels can now be used in all of Ecuador, providing light and previously unknown luxury to even the poorest people of the nation. The new lines and infrastructure has created many new jobs and extensive employment, and the government has been applauded for the dedication to the program. Some concerns have arisen, however, from the delay in the project caused by the war with Colombia and Peru, which has created inconsistencies in the system. The government has announced plans to analyze these claims and to address any issues that may have been created by the temporary delay to the completion of the project caused by the war.

REUNIFICATION TALKS STALLED IN CENTRAL AMERICA. Managua, Nicaragua. While both the currently elected and democratic governments of Nicaragua and Honduras agree in principle about the reunification of the United States of New Spain, it seems that the talks to achieve this have reached a stumbling point. With no secure democratic constitution implemented in Nicaragua, Interim President Manolo Ortiz's legitimacy as leader of the nation is in dispute. Furthermore, no agreement has been made upon the actual structure of a constitution, as the Hondurans have begun arguing for a nation which allows greater autonomy for the provinces, while the Nicaraguans hope for a strong central government. Present over the whole negotiations has been the inability of representatives from Costa Rica to attend, as they remain adamant in their refusal to participate in any new reunified New Spain. The negotiations have been slated to continue into 1922, but very few have much hope, and it seems that the dream of reunification may soon fade.

News from Africa and the Middle East​

DEATH OF THE SCANDINAVIAN EMPEROR. Haraldsholm, Kongo. The government of the Kongo has faced yet another loss of the emperor as Emperor Christian, who had only taken power in 1918 passed away this year. The emperor died after contracting malaria during a journey to survey new construction sites in the jungles on a tour of the varied regions of the African empire. The title of Empress was granted to his sister, Christina, who was proclaimed Empress Christina II of the Scandinavian Empire. The Empress' reign was short-lived and only a few months later she abdicated the position, stating heated disagreements with the Riksdag and Chancellor Sandström in particular. The empress has left the Kongo and travelled instead to Vinland, where she has taken residence with King Ingvar. Her younger still brother has been crowned as Emperor Harald III, and as he is only ten years of age, rules under a regency led by several members of Kongo's Riksdag and the late Emperor Christian's cabinet.

ELECTIONS IN ORANJIEN. Christiansburg, Oranjien. Elections were held for both the Oranjian Congress and the presidency this year as the nation held its constitutionally mandated electoral process in line with the Argentines. The elections this year proved to be a heated contest, as President Aleksander Jensen came under attack for failing to provide for the security of the small African nation. The conservative opposition claimed that the recent natural disasters and political instability in Angola represent a clear threat to the borders of Oranjien. This has led to most of the border provinces electing conservative candidates, but has not proven to be sufficient to oust President Jensen from office. The result has been a political shift in Congress as the National Conservative Party has secured a majority against the presidency and the opposition leader has pledged to pass legislation to bring Oranjien's army and navy up to a more substantial and relevant level. (-1 Stability)

EXPLOSION CLAIMS LIVES OF ALGERIAN LEADERS. Algiers, Spain. In a stroke of luck for the Spanish imperial government in North Africa, it seems that the Algerian rebellious movement has accidentally decapitated itself. A massive explosion was reported in the heart of the city of Algiers, and further investigation with the Spanish military revealed the existence of a rebel arsenal, including even heavy weapons. Unfortunately, some of the explosives contained there proved to be highly volatile, and were ignited by a stray spark of unknown origin. The explosion took place during a meeting of the local leadership of the Algerian liberation forces, and almost all were killed, and the remaining were arrested by the Spanish imperial forces responding to the fires. This has been lauded as a major coup for the Spanish, effectively destroying the local resistance without the slightest effort by the government. Most believe that this tragedy of lost lives is likely to bring peace to the Spanish colonies in North Africa for at least a few years. (+1 Stability)

MILITIA CLASHES WITH BRITISH ROYAL ARMY. Kimberley, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. In the small community of Kimberley, in British South Africa, colonial tensions with the British government have at last resulted in growing violence. The local commander of the British garrison faced an open revolt against his rule by the local militia, which levied claimed of corruption against him and no action was taken by the South African governor. Ultimately, when it became viewed that the corruption had reached intolerable levels, the militia was mobilized to place the British leader under arrest. Aware of the plot against him, the British officer mobilized his own command and a vicious battle took place in the streets of Kimberley. The fighting was brutal and left hundreds dead or injured, and the British officer was killed in the fighting. The governor of South Africa has stated that the uprising was a direct assault upon British rule of law and deployed more forces to the region, while appealing for reinforcements from London. Tensions continue to simmer between the local population and British leadership, as it seems the fate of the colony is unclear. (-1 Stability)

REVOLT IN MADAGASCAR. Antananarivo, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. As British forces become embroiled in new theaters of conflict it seems that the empire is beset upon all sides by enemies. Similarly, there has been a revolt on the island of Madagascar, which has launched a full blown uprising against the British government. With most of Britain's resources dedicated towards the war with Arabia and the blockade upon Brittany, very little could be contributed towards aid to the garrison charged with preserving order on the island. The revolt therefore was able to secure large portions of the northern part of the island, and made a strong effort towards seizing the colonial capital of Antananarivo. The British garrison for their part, made a strong effort, and under the brilliance of the local commander managed to preserve their holdings while being outnumbered nearly three to one. Not only did they preserve their positions, but in the holding of the capital managed to break the spine of the rebellion. Though the garrison suffered heavy casualties throughout the rest of the year, the British have managed to crush the areas in open revolt, though numerous rebels are believed to have fled into the interior, continuing a guerilla war against the sorely stretched British garrison. (+1 Stability, -2 Infantry Brigades)

DESERTIONS RISE IN KURDISH ARMY. Cizre, Kurdistan. Despite the end of the war against Turkey last year, the Kurdish government has continued to maintain nearly sixty thousand conscripts in uniform. These were individuals who were drafted allegedly for the duration of the conflict, and have since failed to be returned to their homes and families. The conscripts have become highly dissatisfied with the current state of affairs, and a truly massive amount of desertion has been reported among these forces. It has been estimated that nearly ten percent of the Kurdish conscript forces have simply abandoned their posts and returned home. Most have taken their weapons and ammunition with them, possibly making the already volatile political situation in the nation even worse. The fears exist within the monarchy that the high level of desertion could be a precursor to open rebellion, and the state of emergency which was declared during the war with Turkey has been announced to be continued indefinitely until the critical situation has passed. (-4 Conscript Brigades)

SONS OF ARABIA IMPLICATED IN OMAN BOMBING. Muscat, Oman. The ongoing war between the Arabian Empire and a major coalition has not been without its hiccups and failures for the nations seeking to end Arabia's attempts at local unification. The nation of Oman has frequently been under siege from within as the Sons of Arabia and other political groups have begun to resist growing British influence in the nation. This year a British supply ship and merchant vessel was bombed in the harbor of Muscat, as it was taking on fuel for a return trip to the British Isles. The bombing killed half a dozen dockworkers and the two members of the ship's crew that had remained on board. The bombing was acknowledged as an act by the remnants of the Sons of Arabia, as they have attempted to sabotage the war effort against the Arabian Empire. As the ship was mostly empty, the effort has been deemed mostly a failure, but some see it as a sign of growing Omani antipathy towards the British forces in the area.

PONTIC VOULI REJECTS PROPOSED REFORM. Trebizond, Pontus. President Platonas Thedoras faced a rejection of an attempt to work across the aisle with the liberal elements within the Vouli. Legislation was proposed this year to create a third executive position of Prime Minister which would be held only by Greeks. This legislation failed to pass in the Vouli, which rejected it outright, as it was accused of undermining the very basis of the national constitution by creating a strong executive branch that would overwhelm the legislative powers of the Vouli. The Vouli, which consists of the majority Party of Might has also voted against the proposed Social Insurance Initiative, and has voted it down as an unneeded cost to the management of the government and nation. Elements of the conservative Party of Might have begun discussing the removal of President Thedoras as their representative, and the shuffling of the position to a leader more in line with the party's political beliefs. The year was not one of total failure, however, as the Vouli did agree to increased government financing for provincial cultural projects, including the establishment of a national balompie league in the area, as the sport has become highly popular throughout the nation.

PONTIC NEWSPAPER PUSHES PRO-ROMAN AGENDA. Trebizond, Pontus. A new Pontic newspaper has opened up for service in the city of Trebizond with substantial backing from local and foreign investors. The newspaper has loudly espoused its ties with the new government in Constantinople, and has begun lobbying on behalf of reunification with the old empire. Most of the population of Pontus has viewed this new paper as what it is, a clear propaganda machine working on the behalf of the Imperator. There are a few, Greeks especially, who have begun to come around to the paper's line of thinking, and have become truly outspoken on the possibility of reunifying. The newspaper has argued that Roman strength has been secured and that the Roman and Greek peoples are the one and the same. They have loudly preached about the rising phoenix of Constantinople, and have stated that the Greek people must join together to bring about a true restoration and rejuvenation of the empire. Members of the Vouli have begun arguing for the closure of the paper, especially within the majority Party of Might, as the newspaper's activities are claimed to be closely bordering upon treason.

TURKEY SECURES ARABIAN FLEET. Mersin, Turkey. Early this year, the crews of the remaining ships of the Imperial Arab Navy evacuated their vessels and turned them over to Turkish control in the port of Mersin. The port has acted briefly as the safe refuge for the few Arabian ships that were not sunk early in the war by the Omani and Yemeni navies. The fall of the Holy Land and the reinforcement of Dumyat has sealed the fate for any escape from the Mediterranean Sea and rather than risk the ships getting capture by Arabia's enemies, they have chosen a different fate. The crews are being briefly interned at hotels in Mersin, to be repatriated to Arabia at the conclusion of the war. In the meantime they have remained in Turkey, teaching the Turks about modern methods of naval warfare and how to properly use the ships they have been given. This has done much to expand Turkish knowledge of war on the seas, and it seems that this has gone a long way to improving the efficiency of the Turkish National Navy. (+1 Navy Quality for Turkey)

ARABIAN WAR CONTINUES. Riyadh, Arabia. Coalition forces continue to fight to dismantle the Arabian Empire as attempts at peace and pressure from other powers failed to stem the onslaught. The Arabians have refused to accept the punitive offers levied to them from the invading powers, and the invaders have even escalated the size of the forces in the region. New troops have been brought in from Italy and across the British Empire, as the armies push upon the weakening Arabian forces. With massive numbers brought in and some technical superiority remaining for the Arabians, it seems that the bloodletting will continue at least for another year, as the offensives continue against the entrenched Arab armies. Though talks have been made for peace, it seems that barring a Russian invasion of Persia or other larger war, that this conflict will end only with the final destruction of the Arabian Empire. As before, a special section has been provided below to do justice to the varied theaters of conflict.

PERSIANS BEGIN OPEN WAR UPON KHAZAKS. Ashgabat, Persia. Fresh recruits from across Persia have been sent into a new war in the east, even as the old one against Arabia rages onward. The Khazaks have long been a thorn in the side of Persian governments of all types, and the current program has been focused on the total rounding up of all Khazak forces and their relocation to a settlement or imprisonment upon the coast of the Caspian Sea. The effort has been directed at a total sweep of all Khazak territories and roaming areas and the final destruction of their still quasi-nomadic lifestyle throughout the region. To the surprise of many observers the Persians proved ruthlessly efficient and capable, smashing the largest Khazak forces and creating reliable fortified observation posts. The Khazaks have essentially been eliminated as a threat through this operation, though it is likely a temporary measure as tribes and families continue to flee across the border from the Russian Empire. Resettlement has begun and the government has promised construction of a new Khazak city along the Caspian Sea, but most agree that the current situation is not much more than a massive internment camp for the whole of the regional Khazak nation. (+2 Stability, -4 Infantry Brigades)

AZERBAIJAN CRUSHED UNDER RUSSIAN INVASION. Baku, Russia. War came to the Caucuses this year as the army of Azerbaijan allegedly attacked peaceful Romanian forces stationed with the Russian army in the region to discourage British or Persian aggression. The Azerbaijanis were said to have attacked and devastated a Romanian regiment, inflicting heavy casualties and destroying local infrastructure before retreating back into their own borders. The Russians have responded by mobilizing the local army and their Romanian allies into a full scale assault upon Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijanis managed to fight fairly well, using their partially completed defensive lines to establish strongholds to devastate Russian attacks. The new use of the T-20 tank has proven highly effectively, as virtually no weapons possessed by the Azerbaijanis have been able to penetrate its armor or match its speed. The Russian advance was inexorable as they drove relentlessly south, simply smothering any strongpoint with overwhelming numbers and firepower. By November the last pockets of resistance were crushed, and Russia declared the annexation of Azerbaijan into the United Russian Empire for the betterment of its people.
Casualty Lists
Azerbaijan: 7 Conscript Brigades, 49 Infantry Brigades, 4 Cavalry Brigades, 12 Artillery Brigades
Romania: 5 Infantry Brigades , 1 Artillery Brigade
Russia: 81 Infantry Brigades, 14 Artillery Brigades (+1 Army Quality)

KONGO ALLOWS BLACKS TO SERVE IN MILITARY. Haraldsholm, Kongo. The Imperial Scandinavian government has announced glorious and proud news for the native peoples of Africa. The black and native populations are now eligible to be called up to serve in specialized and segregated units for the cause of the Emperor of Scandinavia. Registration has begun to take place across the empire, as the government begins attempts to bring more manpower into the available pool beyond the quickly dwindling source of refugees and volunteers from the fatherland. The policy has been less than popular with the black population, though it has been noted that a large amount of the natives seem highly enthusiastic about the possibility of receiving military arms and training from their overlords. The army has stated that it is highly confident that the natives will be highly reliable and useful soldiers, for the ultimate reclamation of the fatherland from proletarist control. Some limited concerns have been made about the possibility of the skills being taught being turned against the government, and already it has been noted that a large amount of guns and munitions seem to be going missing among the native population and volunteers who have joined and promptly deserted with their firearms. (-1 Stability)

SPECIAL: The War in Arabia​

FIGHTING IN MESOPOTAMIA. Riyadh, Arabia. The earliest fighting in the year took place between Persian and Arabian forces throughout the deserts of the peninsula. With very few and old roads to act as supply lines, the Persians have been severely strained in their abilities to advance, and were ordered to push directly towards Mecca and Medina, through the worst terrain in the region. The Arabs were more than prepared for this route of advance and laid ambush after ambush, devastating the Persian artillery corps. When the Persians actually assaulted Arabian positions, the Arabs had plenty of intelligence on the route of advance, and devastated the attack. The Persians were badly mauled, and an Arabian counterattack overran the Persian army and broke the center of their line. The resulting rout led to a loss of plenty of territory gained in last year's offensive. The Arabs have pushed back towards the Tigris and Euphrates and have reclaimed Kuwait from the Persians. The Persians managed to bring their reserves from further north, and stopped the advance, but only at the great cost of this overall defeat.
Casualty Lists
Arabia: 8 Conscript Brigades, 8 Infantry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades (+1 Army Quality)
Persia: 27 Infantry Brigades, 18 Artillery Brigades (+1 Army Quality)

THE NORTH RED SEA FRONT. Yanbu, Arabia. Due to Russian threats, there was a substantial reshuffling of forces throughout the Holy Land and Syria, as Italian reinforcements were brought in to take up German positions. A substantial German force remained in Arabia, however, and focused upon redirecting their forces together, while allowing the Italians to hold positions and preserve order in occupied territories. Throughout the process, the Arabians took advantage of the inherent confusion of the situation to launch some minor and successful attacks, inflicting harsh casualties upon the Italians. The Arabs were forced to withdraw after most of these attacks, leaving the territories under European control, while winning some small battles. The main fighting came much later in the year as the Germans led the push along the Red Sea Coast against the Arabian armies. Overwhelming air superiority led to the crushing of the remnants of the Arab Imperial Army Air Corps, but the Arabs proved stubborn. Though the Germans provided their troops with current information and substantial artillery support, the Arabs put up dogged resistance for every inch of land. To the surprise of many, they seemed to fight to the last, and few prisoners have been taken. The casualties have been incredibly high for each scrap of land, and Yanbu was captured at the end of the year with massive casualties for the Italian and German armies.
Casualty Lists
Arabia: 20 Conscript Brigades, 10 Infantry Brigades, 3 Cavalry Brigades, 4 Artillery Brigades, 1 P-16 Fighter Squadron
Germany: 25 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade, 2 M1916 VB Brigades, 1 Verband FTA1-2 Fighter Squadron (+1 Army Quality, +1 Air Force Quality)
Italy: 51 Infantry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades (+1 Army Quality)

THE SOUTH RED SEA FRONT. Sana'a, Yemen. The coalition forces have had their greatest indisputable victories along the southern Red Sea coastline as the armies of Yemen, backed by their British allies, have pushed north and captured Mecca and Medina. The fighting was heavy, but it seems that a surprising number of local Arabian forces were not as enthusiastic about their cause as elsewhere. Under Yemeni pressure, the Arab lines broke and British attacks on the coastal flanks helped seal the victory. The Arabs were quickly routed in the first few days of the year's offensive and the advance did not stop or even slow until heavy fighting began around Yanbu, as the Germans and Italians moved in from the north. As the other coalition forces fought for the vital port city, the Yemenis disengaged and instead focused on securing their desert flanks. The small villages and communities in the area were seized and most roads were secured from Arabian control. This has securely blocked any hopes for Arabian recapture of the area as logistics are proving impossible conduct with coalition control of all local major roads and byways.
Casualty Lists
Arabia: 18 Conscript Brigades, 4 Infantry Brigades, 4 Artillery Brigades
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland: 4 Infantry Brigades, 4 Artillery Brigades
Yemen: 9 Conscript Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades (+1 Army Quality)

THE OMANI FRONT. Muscat, Oman. For the early parts of the year, fighting on the border of Arabia and Oman was fairly subdued, as the Omanis lacked the forces and capacity it needed to make any push without British reinforcements. As the year progressed fresh British troops were brought in from across the empire, and the armies were amassed for an offensive taking place shortly after the revitalized German offensive towards Yanbu. Oman's armies mostly withdrew from the front lines with the arrival of British forces, providing only limited artillery and infantry support due to the heavy losses it has suffered in the war to date. The British launched a major attack, but found themselves floundering as the Arabs were well prepared for the offensive, inflicting heavy casualties. Ultimately sheer weight of numbers won out as the Arabs were pushed back out of their entrenched positions. They were forced back to a secondary defensive line, where they have once more embroiled the British in a bloody fight of attrition and heavy casualties. Thankfully, as the year progressed, the Arab armies diminished while the British grew stronger, and by the end of the year, cracks have begun to show among the Arabian forces as they reach a fraction of the size they began the campaign with.
Casualty Lists
Arabia: 16 Conscript Brigades, 4 Infantry Brigades, 4 Artillery Brigades
Oman: 3 Conscript Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades (+1 Army Quality)
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland: 37 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 10 Artillery Brigades (+1 Army Quality)

News from the Far East​

PLAGUE RAMPAGES THROUGH ALL OF CHINA. Lanzhou, China. Fear and death have been made at home throughout what was once the full empire of China. The Japanese, Tibet, the free Chinese, and the Guangxi Chinese have been set upon by a massive and seemingly unstoppable outbreak of bubonic plague. The crowded and primitive conditions of most cities throughout the region have caused this outbreak to escalated in severity and potency, and the death toll has been estimated to have stabilized around four million, though millions more remain ill or likely infected from the plague. The disease is believed to have emerged in Guangxi, within the formerly British city of Hong Kong, and spread rapidly from there. British imperial authorities have instituted quarantine around local possession and elsewhere around the world, ships arriving from Guangxi have been burned in port rather than allowed entry. The Japanese have suffered the worst from the recent outbreak, as the lose trading ties has allowed the plague to spread to the home islands as well as the more remote parts of the empire. Outbreaks have been reported as far east as Hawaii, though that republic has also begun to institute a quarantine to prevent greater spread of the sickness. Despite British efforts to contain the sickness, it has also burned a path through Indochina, and reports began to emerge from India about the spread of the disease, where over seven hundred have already died by the end of the year.
Estimated Casualties


DEATH OF THE KING OF GUANGXI. Guangzhou, Guangxi. To the bereavement of the noble families of British China, the King Henry of Guangxi died after contracting the bubonic plague during the recent outbreak of this feared illness. The king's death has led to his son taking the throne, and adopting the name of Richard, for the late British king, who he had been a great admirer of. The late King Henry's rule was as uneventful as it was short, having only secured the throne from his father in 1919. The king's death was unexpected and most believe his son is too young and rash to properly rule the state as his father and grandfather had. The new king is the latest of the Qing dynasty, and as with his father, learned English as his first language and was educated in London. He served during the last part of the Great War in the British army in China as an officer, though he never saw combat. The new king is still a bit of an unknown in regional politics, and Guangxi's Parliament is still unsure how much of a role in governance he may attempt to take. (-1 Stability)

DEATH OF THE DALAI LAMA. Lhasa, Tibet. The people of Tibet mourned this year with the death of the eleventh incarnation of the Dalai Lama, and the search immediately began for his reincarnation to lead the people and faith. The High Lamas sought out the signs of the newly reincarnated Dalai Lama and after several months of searching, they were fortunate to find the one believed to be who they sought. The young boy selected was able to choose the old possessions of the passed spiritual and political leader of Tibet and this was taken as a sign of his past life. The new Dalai Lama has been returned to Lhasa, where he has taken up his position, while being educated and surrounded by those of the government.. As usual, these events have proceeded fairly smoothly, and the people have high hopes for the twelfth life of the Dalai Lama. The devout have taken this as a sign that the tranquility and the peace that has blessed Tibet for nearly seventy years will not be tarnished.

RED ARMY ATTACKS IN GUANGXI. Anqing, Guangxi. In recent years the Japanese colonial authorities in China have been besieged and stymied by the rise of a traditional proletarist group calling themselves the Red Army. This organized has pledged to overthrow the imperialist occupiers and to create a China for the peasantry rather than for the wealthy or aristocracy. Prior to the Great War the movement had had only limited support against the European colonial regimes, but have managed to muster far more enthusiasm for a war against the Japanese. The Red Army has only now begun to turn their gaze to the south, hoping to rally a total Chinese movement against the Qing kings of Guangxi. Stating that the Qing monarch is a puppet, and rallying support against the English language education in the nation, the Red Army has managed to find a considerable amount of allies within the interior of Guangxi. This year, the Red Army has launched its first operation in Guangxi independent of its bases of support in Japanese China. A small Guangxi force stationed not too far south from the Japanese border was surrounded, attacked, and destroyed by the Red Army. Some reports have members of the Guangxi forces deserting in the heat of battle, and even turning upon their officers. Overall, this has proven to be a major propaganda coup for the Red Army, and a legitimate military victory against Guangxi. (-1 Stability, -1 Infantry Brigade, -1 Artillery Brigade)

FILIPINO REBELS CRUSHED IN MAJOR BATTLE. Aparri, Japan. Given some time to build up their strength in recent years, the rebels in the Philippines have benefited from the Japanese focusing on affairs in the Americas and China. As the Japanese governor of the Philippines appealed for more support and forces, this was not forthcoming, and he became aware that he would have to deal with local unrest with the resources at hand. This year the Filipinos launched an open revolt in the city of Aparri against the local Japanese garrison and managed to secure the whole of the city. Using old Spanish equipment among other, more recently obtained, supplies, the rebels managed to defeat the local Japanese forces. Concerned about his reputation, the Japanese governor managed to muster the whole garrison of the islands and bring the full force to bear upon the rebellion. Despite the rebels possessing almost equal numbers, they were outmatched by the skill and firepower of the Japanese army. The revolt was totally crushed, and it is believed that nearly half of the Filipino nationalist leaders were killed in the fighting. It seems that the Japanese have won a period of at least some quiet from the nationalists in the Philippines through their force of arms. (+2 Stability, -2 Infantry Brigades, -1 Artillery Brigade)

Financial Section​

DENMARK CONDUCTS BANKING REFORM. Copenhagen, Denmark. The Folketing has passed a series of conclusive new banking and financial legislation this year, as the Danes begin scrutinizing and revising their financial system. Similar to reforms undertaken earlier in the century by the Flemish government, the recent annexation of Flanders into the greater Netherlands has resulted in the effective loss of that particular safe haven for clandestine banking. The Danes have sought to exploit the gap in the market which has been created, and the new laws have accordingly made it substantially harder for foreign governments and businesses to investigate financial and banking transactions undertaken in Denmark. The Banking Security Bill is slated to create a similar effect that it did in Flanders, providing new employment in banking as well as a net income of foreign currency and wealth. Opponents of the bill have stated that the Danish European political position could be made untenable with the new legislation, as a restrictive banking system could anger those seeking to enforce financial laws in other nations.

RUSSIAN ECONOMIC BLOC RAISES TARIFFS ON UK. Constantinople, Roman Empire. Due to the recent invasion of Arabia by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and its assorted allies, tensions have once more begun to mount between the British and Russians. In response to the invasion of the Middle East, Russia and the Roman Empire have progressively begun raising tariffs on British goods and trade. This has dramatically reduced the feasible market for British goods, particularly as South American states move to pick up the slack. The British have responded with limited tariffs of their own, as a new economic war begins to escalate between Western and Eastern Europe. It is hoped that within the next few years the economic situation will normalize, as most observers forecast an end to the Arabian war within the next year or two.

RUSSIA AND BRAZIL LOWER MUTUAL TARIFFS. Novgorod, Russia. As a sign of warming relations between the democratic New World and the Russian bloc of Eastern Europe, the governments of Brazil and Russia have passed new economic legislation. The new agreements have mutually reduced tariffs within both nations for trade and imports with the other, hopefully to encourage new markets by both economies. It is hoped that the Russian populace will now be able to purchase the massive amount of new and modern consumer goods from South America while the raw resources flow out of Russia to the Brazilian industry base. The legislation was heavily fought over in the Brazilian House of Commons as many find it abhorrent to work with the Russian Empire after their brutal slaughter of the native German population of Prussia. It only passed with the slimmest majority, and it's likely that the election of a new party could quickly see the end of the new tariff agreement.

HOLLANDIA STOCK MOVE BLOCKED. Amsterdam, Netherlands. Facing a continuing problem of the exploitation of the nation's population and resources by Dutch companies, the Hollandian government began an attempt to purchase majority shares in these corporations. The move was quickly anticipated and responded to by the largest of the companies, most of which have more income and financial security than the entire Hollandian nation. Therefore, the Dutch companies were able to easily cooperate and outbid the Hollandian attempt to reduce their influence. Having substantially more money to spend, the Dutch companies blocked any attempts at takeover and continue to posses their unfaltering grip upon the economic systems and commerce of Hollandia. Some protests were even made by the Dutch companies in Amsterdam, claiming that Hollandia was overreaching their bounds, as they attempted to secure control of companies which exist in greater size outside of Hollandia than within it. For the time being it appears that the Hollandian government has been blocked from the purchase of any further shares, keeping the various corporations in private hands.

ECONOMIC FLUCTUATION REPORT. Novgorod, Russia.

The Sports Page​

CITY SELECTED FOR 1924 OLYMPIC GAMES. Brussels, Netherlands. The International Olympic Committee met this year to discuss and finalize the choice for the 1924 Olympic Games and announced their decision towards the end of the year. The decision was hard fought but was made easier when it was clear that Marseilles had an almost unanimous lack of support for it as a city choice. The decision eventually came down to only Constantinople and Nya Stockholm, as both cities were considered to be feasible candidates for the games. The determining moment came with the Russian announcement of the intent to send athletes to the games for the first time since 1912. It was therefore decided that it was only appropriate that the Olympic Games returned to the Roman Empire for the second time, the first being in Athens in 1900. The reconstruction of the city since the Constantinople Event has gone well, and many believe that the newly rebuilt urban center is more than ideal for the games and the terrain available for them has already been set aside.

The Cultural Center​

De Olyckliga
A work of the Revolutionary Theatre, the operatic piece "De Olyckliga," or The Unfortunates, written by the infamous Revolutionary pamphleteer and playwright Henrik Ibsen, chronicles the tale of a select few of the proletariat of Stockholm in the months and weeks leading up to the December Coup. Heralded as the layman's version of the "Revolutionary Manifesto", De Olyckliga puts the Revolution in human terms for theatergoers both inside and outside of the Workers' Commonwealth. The opera has proven surprisingly popular outside of Scandinavia, finding receptive audiences on the stage throughout Western Europe. While most do not buy into the ideology and meaning behind the performance, the skillfully composed music by Ibsen's partner has secured the opera a lasting place on the European cultural scene. Most critics of the opera have declared this piece to be the most lasting cultural contribution ever provided by Scandinavia to modern Western culture. Outside and inside of Europe, the opera has been banned for its revolutionary outlook and message, especially considering its proletarist origins.

On the Evolution of the Human Mind
In one of the most controversial scientific debates since the positing of the theory of evolution by Spanish biologist Orestes Clua, German writer Victor Frankenstein has suggested the next step in human evolution. Having spending nearly ten years researching what he has called "geisthandwerk," he has begun to theorize that humanity is development a paranormal potential. Using interviews of Great War veterans and those who have experience what has been called psychic phenomenon, especially fortune tellers, he has stated that it could be that humanity is evolving a new and possibly frightening connection through the mind. While Clua had been excommunicated for his controversial beliefs, Frankenstein has been laughed out of most scientific conferences and the community overall seems to widely shun him for his efforts. A small sect of the scientific community has acknowledged that there could be validity to the idea that bears for further research.

What We Do for the World
Professor of History at the University of Natal, John Potter, released a work this year entitled, “What We Do For The World”, which is a historical survey of Brazil’s goodliness around the globe. It details the changes to the constitutions of the United States, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Angola and Colombia as examples of what Brazilian influence can do to combat tyrants and dictators. The main focus of this work is to show how powerful Brazil’s influence has been in Angola, where the rights of man and woman are upheld by Brazilian soldiers, defending the local government from the Proletarists and Savage Dictators that wish to destroy the order and equality that Brazil has brought. This work is highly biased towards Brazil, only showing the successes of the Brazilian government worldwide, but has been sucked up by the thriving middle-class nonetheless and has been accepted as standard for Brazilian history classes. Needless to say, the work has had little to no success elsewhere and is frequently and openly mocked throughout scholarly circles both within and without Brazil.

Random Stat Changes and Fluctuations and Minor Technological Advances

Paraguayan River Guard shows extreme incompetence in drills: -1 Navy Quality for Paraguay.

Aztecs design Aviones Aztecas-Combatiente 1 (AAC-1) Mercurio.

Brazil designs new P-21 Fighter.

Netherlands designs Koolhoven F.K '21 Type Fighter.

Russia designs new H-1921 Close Air Support Bomber.

Scandinavia designs Luneburg-class Submarine.

USA designs Continental Union Army 1921.

OOC

Now, you may have noticed a slight delay in the posting of this update. This is due to an advancement in my RL status, as I am no longer unemployed. I am moving across the state in the few weeks, but don't know the exact details yet. Due to this, we'll attempt to keep up the schedule, but don't be surprised if the next update is similarly delayed in its posting. My current goal is at least another 3 updates before the end of 2012. Overall though, I am anticipating 40-45 updates for 2013, so we have a fun year ahead of us!

It should be noted that the basic spending for airborne units has been adjusted as I noted some errors. This of course only applies to post-1920 aircraft. This has been reflected in reduced spending for several nations, resulting in fewer aircraft produced for the relatively contributed EP.

@SamSniped: It is theoretically plausible for players to develop new modules, but as stated in the rules, any specific research developments and technologies must be run by me first. I suggest via Private Message, and I once more state that I will quite probably shoot down over half of the ideas sent to me.

@Grandkhan: All NPCs backed out of the deals you made for various sales. No EP was sent. Any shortfall was taken out of your expenses. The light cruisers were not built. The remaining EP has been banked. Also Mobility in Doctrine isn't just about tanks and so forth. It's about infantry brigades becoming motorized too.

@Tycho: The suggestions made by your fellow players are as good as I can recommend in regard to economic policies and developments. Though I'll point out that economics is never as simple as any one person can possible think, and that no theory is 100% correct. Similarly, not all policies work for every nation. Also, the amount of Joao-class heavy cruisers could not be built as you did not possess enough EP to buy ten of them.

@Nintz: While I could provide you with an actual census, that'd be way more work than I'd like to do. To answer the specific question you asked: The territory in question could be sold to either power without the locals caring too much. A bigger concern may be the economic ramifications, especially to businessmen back in Madrid, specifically the shipping magnates.

@JoanK: You have some very bad luck. You picked the worst possible moment to do what you wanted to do in your orders. Going to state that they weren't bad orders, just incredibly ill-timed.

@Terrence888: There are no mid-term elections in Florida, all are handled in the same year.

@momo1000: The proposed railway project has already been done and already exists to the level that you want to create. Therefore, that EP was banked and that section of your orders was ignored.

@Agent 89: You had more than enough money to complete all the initiatives. It should be noted that due to the highly developed nature of your nation, that any marshland that could be drained has been drained and developed, probably decades ago. The money which would have been used for that has instead simply been used to update or improve any old systems. Regardless, there's really not much more to spend on with this project. Simple fact is that if there's resources on the island of Sardinia that can be exploited, they already have. You're at pretty much a state of maximum development and exploitation for the whole of the island.

@Lord of Elves: You forgot the bonus point in submarine design, therefore a portion of the money you would have spent has been refunded.

@Bair_the_Normal: You were 20 EP short of converting to the new doctrine. It's 1 EP per brigade plus 20 additional EP. The shortcoming was taken out of the infrastructure project.

World Map

The Tehran-Mumbai Pact

The United Principalities of India and the Islamic Kingdom of Persia agree to the following terms:

1. In the interest of preserving peace in the Middle Eastern region, the United Principalities of India and the Islamic Kingdom of Persia will extend their current five-year non-aggression pact one decade further, with, at the end of that decade, the option to renew the pact.

2. If any nation is to attack either signatory without what is deemed a proper casus belli, the other signatory nation will respond by a declaration of war on the offending nation.

3. The United Principalities of India and the Islamic Kingdom of Persia will agree to a mutual lowering of tariffs on domestic goods.

4. The United Principalities of India and the Islamic Kingdom of Persia will assist each-other in both their domestic and military projects and designs, if assistance is directly asked for.

Click to expand...

OOC: Fun update. Nice one too. And the reactions to this pact will be fun to see. And congratulations, EQ, for acquiring a job!

Great update as usual EQ.