News from the Far East
FIRST AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS HELD. Sydney, Australia. The Australian Parliament opened up for elections for the first time this year as the people of the newest British Dominion turned out to determine their new government. The elections were a fairly cordial affair, and all involved parties managed to refrain from dirty tactics and manipulation of results. The nations political parties have been modeled after those of their mother nation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The priorities of the people seem quite different, and are apparently leaning in a more leftist direction. While the Labour Party has received some support, it has suffered from an inability to rally behind any charismatic force or proper leadership. On the other hand, the social proletarist Social Democratic Party has managed to achieve considerable success, pledging the extension of social welfare policies and the development of a strong, self-sufficient Australia. These have won over the electorate, granting the Social Democrats a majority with a coalition with Labour. The Social Democrat James Clay has been appointed the first prime minister of the Dominion of Australia. (+1 Stability)
HAWAIIAN ELECTIONS HELD. Honolulu, Hawaii. The Hawaiian elections for both Congress and the Presidency were held this year, as President Kaede Williams ran for reelection while representing the liberal Free Hawaii Party. The primary issue of concern was the falling numbers of tourist contributions and the overall faltering economy over the course of the year. Unemployment has been rising and many accuse the Free Hawaii Party of being unable or unwilling to make the changes needed to restore prosperity. President Williams has stated instead that it is due to the Free Hawaiians that the economy has not started failing sooner, due to the overall global recession. Unfortunately, this has not been enough for the voters, who still attribute blame for the current circumstances on the party in charge. Therefore, when the votes were counted, the Free Hawaii Party has lost both the majority and control of the president to the conservative Party of the Republic. The conservatives, led by the new President Michael Gee, have advocated a new economic order, establishing closer relationships with the American states, rather than maintaining those with Japan. They have argued that the current destructive wars on mainland of Asia are representative of a failing empire, and that Hawaii must chart a new course of its own.
ELECTIONS IN NEW ZEALAND. Akarana, New Zealand. Elections in New Zealand have once more been a fairly temperate affair, as the reigning Party of Rocha has managed to preserve its majority. The political party which has ruled the New Zealander nation since the establishment of its latest constitution has continued to dominate. They have lauded themselves for the continuation of prosperity, even while the rest of the world languished in a recession. Furthermore, they have shown themselves to be peaceful and provide new jobs, with the construction of a new port on the southern island. Though some have criticized their policies towards the native Maori population, the opposition still finds it difficult to get their voice heard amid the state controlled media.
FEAR BUILDS LOYALTY IN BRITISH INDOCHINA. Rangoon, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The ongoing wars in China and Inida have had ramifications throughout the rest of the Far East as well as in Britain and Guangxi. The British colony of Indochina, sitting upon the border of both China and India, has begun to fear the results of the growing instability along their frontiers. Recent successes by the Red Army and the late achievements and support for the Federalists in India seem to indicate a situation where Indochina could become surrounded by hostile forces. Many doomsayers have begun to emerge locally politically, claiming that the British rule in Indochina is threatened and that at any moment the foreign hordes could be ramming down the gates. While some would have thought this would only worsen the stability of the region, it seems that the British imperial subjects have grown closer together, working all the harder to preserve their security against outside threats. The gem of the British Empire remains united and prepared for any threats against it, despite the rise of these new rabble rousers. (+1 Stability in Indochina)
RED ARMY ATTEMPTS COUP IN GUANGXI. Xinjing, Guangxi. In what was a brilliant ploy by the Red Army to achieve a victory on their southern front, the rebellious group have played their final cards against Guangxi. Having long had support for their cause among the highest levels of Guangxis military corps, through the use of both this loyalty and blackmail, the Red Army spurred an attempt to topple the British backed government. After the plotting generals expended a good deal of known loyal regiments in futile attacks upon Red Army positions, they managed to get their own forces in place around Xinjing. The coup itself was executed flawlessly, catching all elements of the government by surprise and quickly cutting off communication with the rest of the nation. British guards detachments were overrun and Prime Minister Nathaniel Xilai and most of Parliament were captured. The Royal Guard of King John II has been consistent of the most loyal soldiers since the Fireworks Massacre, and in a vicious battle through the Royal Palace, they bought time for the Royal Family to escape the clutches of the Red Army. The Red Army had gained control of the city, but what followed was chaos throughout the nation. The military leadership in command of Xinjing ordered the army to stand down, and declared their support for the Red Armys cause. While some units did just that, surrendering their positions to the Red Army, a goodly number were rallied by both the British and leaders loyal to the deposed regime. As the front lines fell into chaos amid Red Army attacks as discussed below, the British and their supporters immediately marched upon Guangxi amid a wave of sabotage and constant fighting with renegade military units commanded by the Red Army. Reinforcements for both sides moved towards the city to support their chosen leader of Guangxi, while some regiments simply deserted as the chain of command became compromised. Led by the British themselves, royalist forces assaulted the Red Armys positions around the city in a bloody slogging match, coming to an end late in the year. When the smoke had cleared, Guangxis forces were badly mauled as was the British expedition sent to support them. The Guangxi Red Army was in even poorer shape, having used up their highest placed agents in Guangxi to launch this initiative. To the amazement of all concerned, Nathaniel Xilai and a good amount of Parliament actually survived the uprising.Though some low level fighting has continued in the countryside during the remainder of the year as other rogue regiments have been mopped up by the British, as of the new year, order has been restored and a grave internal threat to Guangxi has been dispersed.
Casualty Lists
Guangxi: 203 Conscript Brigades, 14 Infantry Brigades, 5 Cavalry Brigades, 9 Artillery Brigades, 1 P-27 Fighter Squadron (+2 Stability)
United Kingdom of Great Britain Ireland: 27 Infantry Brigades, 14 Artillery Brigades, 1 P-27 Fighter Squadron (+1 Army Quality)
TRIBAL FORCES LAUNCH RAID IN BORNEO. Balikpapan, Japan. While the Japanese continue to fight hard to maintain their control over their mainland Asiatic territories, they have faced new dissent in other territories abroad. The East Indies for example has begun to resent the greater presence that the Japanese present in comparison to the islands former Dutch overlords. The Japanese have been after the exploitation of far more resources and have disrupted life more than their predecessors. The result has been the growth of an interior resistance movement which has begun to rally a number of remote tribes and groups to their cause. The attacks they have been making have been highly effective, razing Japanese outposts and raiding their arsenals scattered throughout the island. Unfortunately, as successful as they have been, the raiders have not rallied much more support for their cause, as the Japanese controlled media has prevented word of their attacks from encouraging other similar activities. Still, Japanese military losses are mounting and the rebellion has appeared to grow better armed with each passing day. (-1 Infantry Brigade)
FILIPINOS BEGIN GUERILLA WAR. Manila, Japan. The rebellion in both the East Indies and in mainland China has taxed the Japanese army considerably, which has grown stretched throughout the larger empire. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the Philippines, where the garrisons are bare minimum in any given city and scattered throughout innumerable islands. The Japanese have struggled to maintain the barest presence in some regions, and it has been clear that what little they have is not enough. This year, rebel forces in the Philippines launched a number of highly successful attacks, and have even declared the de facto liberation of several islands. The Japanese continue to control the seas, however, and the liberation exists really only in isolated villages and towns away from Japanese gunboats and garrisons. The Japanese have nonetheless been experiencing heavy casualties throughout the islands and are finding it more and more difficult to maintain a managing presence throughout the entire Philippines. (-3 Infantry Brigades, -1 Artillery Brigade)
THE FIREWORKS WAR AND THE RED ARMY REBELLION. Peking, Japan. Another bloody year has passed in China, as the Red Army continues to fight hard against Japanese and British forces for independence. The year began as the nation of Guangxi launched a series of piecemeal and easily repulsed attacks, due to treason within and early warning received by the Red Army. Not long after this would-be offensive was rebuffed, began the debacle of a military coup, as discussed in depth above. The chaos inflicted by this failed coup created glaring gaps in the front lines, and quickly hung out British and Dominion forces to dry as they dealt with the confusion which emerged. Though the coup eventually failed, the Red Army launched a major counteroffensive, using a doctrine of nighttime attacks which took frontline units by surprise. The Red Army successfully pushed the Dominions forces back to the Yangtze, reclaiming the territory lost in the previous years campaign. Unfortunately, the Dominion did rally after dealing with the chaos in their own territories, and led by British forces, managed to stabilize the lines along the river, even while facing a near civil war within their own territory. Meanwhile, in the north, the Japanese sought to take the pressure off the British and began their own major offensive against the Red Army. Sabotage has begun to lessen, and Japanese authorities claim that they have made strong progress on wiping out Red Army cells in Manchuria and elsewhere behind the lines. The evidence seems to support that as the Japanese have advanced, despite determined efforts by the Red Army to hold every hamlet and position they claimed. The fighting was brutal and without mercy, especially in the fight for Peking, into which Japan threw its full might. With overwhelming manpower and forces, the Japanese have pushed further into the Red Armys territory, but a snails pace, as the Red Army doggedly holds onto each yard of territory under their control, relinquishing control only after theyve done as much damage as possible.
Casualty Lists
Guangxi: 121 Conscript Brigades, 5 Artillery Brigades
Japan: 132 Conscript Brigades, 5 Infantry Brigades, 6 Artillery Brigades, 1 C-1293 Fighter Squadron (+1 Army Quality, +1 Air Force Quality)
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland: 8 Infantry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades
Red Army of China: 173 Conscript Brigades, 18 Infantry Brigades, 1 Equality-type Armored Brigade, 23 Artillery Brigades, 1 Tridente-class Submarine, 1 RM-24 Fighter Squadron (+1 Army Quality, +1 Navy Quality, +1 Air Force Quality)
THE INDIAN CIVIL WAR. Bombay, India. The war between the Federalists and Regionalists in India has taken a new turn this year, as the attention of the fighting has been fixated on the Regionalist drive upon Bombay. Led by well-trained forces from Kalinga, the Regionalists have focused their efforts on depriving the Federalists of the center of their political and economic power. The Federalists in turn threw everything they had into the desperate defense of the city, and slowed the advance to a crawl, despite some territorial losses in the north as they stripped that areas defenses to win the fight in the south. The tide truly began to shift in the summer, as the Indians received new aid from Russia, including the feared T-20 tank and numerous older aircraft. With these new weapons in tow, the Federalists managed to overwhelm Kalingese air power, and throw back the advancing forces. Behind their armored shield, the Federalists pushed the Regionalists back on both fronts, reclaiming some lost ground, but at heavy costs. The fighting continued throughout the year, with the Regionalists on the defensive, though eventually, as casualties mounted, the Federalists were slowed and stopped by mid-November.
Casualty Lists
India (Federalist): 77 Conscript Brigades, 12 Infantry Brigades, 1 T-20 Armored Brigade, 4 Artillery Brigades, 1 RM-24 Fighter Squadron (+1 Army Quality, +1 Air Force Quality)
India (Regionalist): 80 Conscript Brigades, 10 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades (+1 Army Quality)
Kalinga: 18 Conscript Brigades, 6 Infantry Brigades, 3 Cavalry Brigades, 7 Artillery Brigades, 1 Sim27 Fighter Squadron (+1 Army Quality, +1 Air Force Quality)
THE KOREAN RED ARMY REBELLION. Seoul, Japan. When most people think of the Red Army Rebellion, they immediately associate it with the ongoing uprising in China. To those more aware of current affairs, it also reminds them of the ongoing war in Korea which is proportionately just as bloody. The focus of this war has been almost entirely upon the siege of Seoul, where the remnants of the Japanese garrison were trapped last year. Both sides have been rushing troops to the siege lines around the city, and the fighting has been harsh as the Koreans have attempted to storm the Japanese positions multiple times. Thanks to Japanese air and naval power, the perimeter has held, and the Japanese have been able to reinforce more quickly and in great mass. They responded by pushing slowly out of Seoul, and the Koreans have fought from heavily entrenched positions to prevent such gains. The Japanese have advanced, albeit with heavy casualties, solely due to their possession of tanks and planes, while the Koreans have none. The Koreans have had more luck pushing north, threatening Manchuria, but the local garrison stopped them before they could push too deep into the interior. The tide does seem to have shifted to the Japanese, but the going has been slow and the Koreans have fought to defend their lands with great tenacity.
Casualty Lists
Japan: 39 Conscript Brigades, 1 Type-92 Armored Brigade, 2 Artillery Brigades
Korea: 54 Conscript Brigades, 6 Artillery Brigades (+1 Army Quality)
CHINA ANNOUNCES NEW BIRTH POLICY. Lanzhou, China. The bloodshed of the Fireworks War with Guangxi has had lasting ramifications for the people and soldiers of the government of China. The heavy losses have led to a shortage of young Chinese men, and the demographics have been heavily shifted just by the fighting and losses. The government has therefore begun looking for a solution and has found it through the magical means of sex and bribery. Laws have been passed by Marshal Yehao Ma to provide funds and financial support for families with more children. They have encouraged more births and immigration to the greatest extent possible, promising direct funds and limited long-term support for anyone who gives birth to a son. While there is some concern about the social consequences of the program, it has been deemed a necessity for China, after the heavy losses of the Fireworks War and concerns about another rematch with the British or Japanese.
Financial Section
ITALY ENDS BRAZIL EMBARGO. Naples, Italy. The controversial embargo against Brazil that had been spearheaded by Germany continues to remain in effect in only a few European nations. While most abandoned the embargo over the past two years, the Italians have continued to maintain it, if only in name. This year, the embargo was officially brought to an end, and Italy has once more begun to welcome the restoration of Brazilian imports and commerce. The Italians have opened another large market to Brazil, but most believe that the other companies that have begun doing business are too firmly entrenched to be driven out by Brazilian corporations. The Italian withdrawal from the embargo now marks only Russia, the Roman Empire, and Germany remaining as members of the pact, as well as most of Eastern Europe. As one of the few remaining amicable agreements between Russia and Germany, a number of political observers believe that the recent rising tensions between those two powers could result in a total failure of the embargo within the next few years.
FINANCIAL FLUCTUATION REPORT. Novgorod, Russia.
The Sports Page
1936 OLYMPIC GAMES. Tenochtitlan, Aztlan. The eyes of the sporting world turned this year to the former capital of the Aztec people, the city of Tenochtitlan. A growing economic and commercial hub, the city has proven to be a well chosen location for the new games. The Aztec athletes themselves demonstrated the prowess and skills of their people quite ably, acquiring a decent number of medals. The biggest development in the Games as a whole has been the inclusion of varukorgboll as a sporting event, and proved to be the most highly anticipated of the games. Similarly, these have been the first Olympic Games to be completely recorded by cameras, as Argentine filming companies have pledged to make the films available to wider markets. The film reels themselves have had a popularity all of their own, and it seems likely that the 1940 Olympic Games will receive similar treatment. All participating athletes were commended for their skills and abilities, and the games were widely considered one of the finer ones to have taken place in the events young history.
BALOMPIE WORLD CUP. Seville, Spain. As scheduled, a number of teams from nations across the world have descended upon Spain to participate in the Balompie World Cup. These restored competitions have sought to determine the best national team at one of the oldest sports popular globally. This year, despite rigorous competition and harsh weather conditions, the two teams which emerged to the final match were from Portugal and Spain. The two Iberian teams were matched against each other and proved able and willing to play a strong and highly entertaining game. The Portuguese started well, but eventually, the odds and numbers began to tilt in favor of the Spanish, who emerged triumphant. Unfortunately the World Cup was highly overshadowed by the 1936 Olympic Games, and the balompie events there were far more popular among the sports enthusiasts.
The Cultural Center
Makassar
Produced in Rosario like most great films,
Makassar is a story about an Argentine sailor during training and his service leading up to the Battle of Makassar during the Pacific War. The film has been well received throughout South America, though has had problems finding a global audience. It has been most noted for being the first film to be granted access to actual military equipment, as the Argentine Navy provided full support. They have allowed the filming to take place upon actual naval vessels, which used military planes and equipment to provide better effects. The film on this merit alone has made it highly successful, as one of the most acclaimed military based pictures in recent Rosario history.
Moses
One of the first films put into production after the new Argentine film rating system was passed, this film appeals to both modern artistic and traditional values. Starring some of the finest actors of the Argentine film industry, this epic film chronicles the life of Moses, the famous Hebrew prophet. Possessing some of the finest special effects yet seen on the silver screen, and including a dramatic soundtrack of traditional, classical, and modern music, the film has been an enormous hit almost everywhere. It has been especially huge in Brazil and Spain, reaching audiences of all demographics, and making more money total internationally than the next five films combined. Many are pointing to
Moses as the penultimate film of this age of movie making and cinematography.
Random Stat Changes and Fluctuations and Minor Technological Advances
Brazil designs the
Galáctica-class Fleet Carrier.
Turkey upgrades the Equality-type Medium Tank design into the T.35M KalkanHeavy Tank.
Italy designs the Cacciatore-class Light Cruiser.
Argentina designs the AndAer JF-1936 Fighter.
Korean soldiers demonstrate exceptional adaptability and skill in battle: +1 Army Quality for Korea.
Galician sailors excel in naval drills: +1 Navy Quality for Galicia.
Danish soldiers successfully lose fifteen pounds on their diet: +1 Army Quality for Denmark.
Pilots in Hispaniola demonstrate great skill in air drills: +1 Air Force Quality in Hispaniola.
There aintnoparty like a Rio party: +1 Stability in Brazil.
Colombian people accept new player for their nation with minimal chagrin and light mourning for the people of Catalonia: +1 Stability for Colombia.
Only the strong have survived in years of war in the Costa Rican army: +1 Army Quality.
Diplomatic Pouch
To:
Chokweland
From: Kongo
We are quite concerned at your recent aggressive actions. Further untoward expansion and aggression towards your neighbors will be met with an appropriate response from us, and our allies.
OOC
Per his request, qoou has been dropped from Colombia. Immaculate has assumed direct control immediately.
@Nailix: Because you did not provide a specified EP amount for the new policy, I have started you off with a contribution of 5 EP a year.
@Lokki242: Small arms, at this time, are not under the control of the player. Therefore I have banked the funds you dedicated to such a cause. Sorry.
@karikon, I just wanted to commend you for sticking with your projects for so long. I know it can be tedious to keep with such programs and not see any real results immediately. You have my commendation for just sticking it out as long as you have. +10 EQ Points for you.
Bombshoo has been dropped from Puerto Rico due to inactivity.
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