SKNES II: The Bonaparte Legacy

<nuke> said:

SINCE BIRTH? DOES THAT MEAN *gasp* YOU WERENT BORN HERE?!?!!?!

Click to expand...

I was born in the US if that's what you're asking?

As it stands, the update is a bit under 50% done. However, for the next 4 days I will be away from the city and therefore will not have computer (let alone internet) access. I'd give an ETA of about August 10 for the update to get posted. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Well as long as it gets done, quality is what matters.

I'm going to be on vacation from August 7 to August 18. Most likely I'll have access to a computer and thus I'll be able to keep up, respond to diplomacy, send orders, etc. but in case I don't, you know why.

Hey,

OOC
Have anytime to work on the update?


Blaze Injun

Blaze Injun said:

Hey,

OOC
Have anytime to work on the update?


Blaze Injun

Click to expand...

Yah i have some RP stuff that ive wanted to do for this, I hope the update is up soon

Yeah, I'm back to work and it's more like 60-70% done. I'm confident I can finish within a day or two.

This update just does not want to get done. I'm really sorry about this.

Looking forward to it.

SouthernKing said:

Yeah, I'm back to work and it's more like 60-70% done. I'm confident I can finish within a day or two.

This update just does not want to get done. I'm really sorry about this.

Click to expand...

OOC: As somebody who does a lot of writing for friends in his free time, I know how you feel. No need to apologize. We'll just be happy when it gets here.

There's no rush Take as long as you need!

Thanks everyone All right, a little update on my progress: all I really have left to do are the various wars, which I'm purposely saving for last. A little teaser: I can tell you that there are at least five different ones.

Did Italy invade me?

Mwuhahahaha.

Wish I could kick Austria's ass. As it is, I'll have to provoke them.

SouthernKing said:

A little teaser: I can tell you that there are at least five different ones.

Click to expand...

I hope they are all in Europe.

International Democracy Conference
Honolulu, Great Britain

The British invited many of the nations of the world to the sun-drenched isles of Hawai'i for the International Democracy Conference. Initially, it was intended to be an outlet to discuss how best to bring democracy to the world; however, that changed quickly. The announcement that Moscow would be sending delegates understandably proved to be controversial; many countries, such as the Mexican Empire and Venezuela, outright refused to send delegates, while others, such as Brazil, showed up but made a point of obstructing the Soviets.

The host's presentation was largely about championing liberal democracy, and demonstrating the violent, undemocratic method that many Communist governments used to come to power. Yankees who were present at the conference protested loudly when Herbert Hoover showed up to speak as part of the British delegation. Most of Britain's allies and dominions showed up as well; however, few made their presence particularly known.

The Soviet delegation's presentations, which many were apprehensive about, stressed that democracy and colonialism were incompatible, and focused on continuing and accelerating the process of decolonization, encouraging the British, Germans, and others to let their colonies go as well as loosen ties with the dominions. The Colonial Conference that the British held themselves (see below) did under undercut the message somewhat. Amusingly, near the end of the Soviet presentation, a Brazilian angry that he was not getting his dinner threw a shoe at the Soviet speaker, then proceeded to storm out of the room. Elsewhere, the Soviets made something of a nuisance of themselves at the conference, interrupting the other presentations multiple times. Much to the irritation of the Brazilians, an Ecuadorian showed up to speak, facilitated by the Soviets.

Additionally, a Finnish delegation showed up to speak after the Soviets were finished, largely pushing points about the superiority of non-capitalist economic systems. Despite the Brazilians again being visibly irritated, the Finns were far better received than the Soviets, mainly because they were noticeably less disruptive.

The Indians also showed up, marginally supporting the Soviet points on decolonization, although they did suggest a transition period of home-rule as a dominion, similar to what Germany appears to be planning for its colonies. The Indian delegation also spoke in favor of the Yankee form of Socialism, which combines popular democracy with a non-capitalist economy.

The Brazilian delegation arrived accompanied by an entourage of scantily clad samba dancers, making quite the impression on the other attendees. This impression did not last long; as soon as the leader of the Brazilian delegation, Simon Duville, stepped up to speak, it was clear that he was inebriated. He proceeded to slam his shoe down on the table, then sang the Brazilian national anthem loud and off-key as he marched out of the conference hall and around Honolulu while housing a portrait of Getulio Vargas high above his head. The other Brazilian delegates did much the same, trashing the conference hall in their inebriation.

What happened the final day was a verbal altercation followed by a physical brawl between the Brazilian and Soviet delegations after a drunken Brazilian threw his shoe at a Soviet. Within minutes, this escalated into a multinational melee and spilled into the street outside the conference hall, to the benefit of those standing outside. There were multiple injuries, and a single fatality: Simon Duville was killed after a Soviet attendee repeatedly bashed his head with a glass bottle.

In hindsight, the whole conference was not a very productive one.

Economic Growth
London, Great Britain

While it appeared that recovery from the 1929 London Stock Market Crash, the Great Depression, and its aftereffects was under way, 1938 has seen it decelerate. Economists are blaming the heightening of tensions on the European continent and the conflict in the Middle East as primary causes, as trade in both regions has seen disruptions.

EVENTS IN THE AMERICAS​

Canada Creates Mining and Energy Incentives
Ottawa, Canada

As a further stimulus into the recovering Canadian economy, Parliament has passed a measure that gives people and companies looking to get into the mining, resource, and energy sectors of the economy with tax breaks, subsidies, and other incentives. Coupled with momentum from the previous year's various stimulus packages, this has been enough to mitigate and even partly reverse the effects that the worldwide slowdown would have had on the Canadian economy. In fact some economists believe that the Canadian economy may be able to fully recover from the Great Depression by the beginning of 1941, putting Canada in an excellent position for the future.

Pro-Socialist Demonstrations in Missouri
St. Louis, Confederate States of America

Thousands of Missourian workers took to the streets in the first few months of 1938 to call for the Confederate government to reconsider its policy relevant to the state, or even outright cede it to the Yankees. Missouri was seized by the Dixies during the events of 1933, and has remained disputed territory between the CSA and USSA in the years since then. There is a significant pro-socialist element in Missouri, especially in the major cities and the areas adjacent to the Yankee border. That element has become increasingly disillusioned with what they believe to be an illegal Confederate occupation of the area, and is calling for change.
(+3% Dissent)

Mexican Civil War
Mexico City, Mexico

The situation for the Mexican Empire went from bad to worse almost immediately after 1938 started, as both the British and Dixies withdrew their pro-imperial expeditionary forces from the region from the one open coast. Neither the socialists nor their Yankee allies pressed the retreating foreigners, perhaps in fear of retaliation elsewhere. Now badly outnumbered and in an unideal position, it would take nothing short of a miracle for the Imperials to be able to turn the war around. That miracle did not come.

By February, the Socialists had begun a definitive push towards Mexico City itself, from north, south, and west. The Imperials elected to withdraw all the forces to defend Mexico City, with a small task force intended to keep the corridor between Mexico City and Veracruz open and to allow an avenue for exit if necessary. The socialists, with better planes, were able to punch what was left of the Imperial air force out of the sky.

The Battle of Mexico City itself began in late March as a column of Yankee armor reached the outskirts of the city from the north. The northern force quickly became bogged down as the fast-moving Yankee armor could not advance in the dense urban environment, and only after almost a month of intense building-by-building fighting and concurrent aerial bombardment, not helped by numerous imperial counterattacks, did the socialists finally manage reach the city center from the north. From the west, the situation was little better; unfriendly terrain outside the city meant that the advance was stalled far shy of the city center. The advance from the south, however, was more successful. By late April the imperial lines had collapsed, and, incidentally on May Day, the socialist forces entered the city center, securing the parliament building, the imperial palace, and other government buildings.

As the socialists pushed through, victorious, some members of the old government managed to escape the city and reach Veracruz in time, seeking asylum in Dixie. Prime Minister Marquez was not one of them, having hanged himself in his office rather than face a socialist tribunal. Empress Maria, however, was captured by the socialists, and socialist leader Raphael Espinoza has declared that she will face a trial by the Mexican people. With the leadership gutted, the Mexican Empire disintegrated and ceased to exist as a functional nation.

Veracruz itself fell a week later, as the Mexican socialists began the process of eliminating the various pockets of resistance. The socialists arrived before the fleeing Imperials could start the process of scuttling their fleet, enabling the socialists to capture it wholesale. Nevertheless, the Mexican Revolution is complete, and another piece of the Emperor Napoleon III Bonaparte's legacy is no more.

(USSA: -10 Infantry III Brigades)
(Socialist Mexico: -5 Infantry III Brigades, -2 Artillery II Brigades, -25 Militia Brigades, +3 Destroyers, +2 Light Cruisers, +1 Heavy Cruiser)
(Mexican Empire: -6 Infantry III Brigades, -17 Militia Brigades, -2 Artillery II Brigades, -1 Fighter I Wing, -1 Interceptor I Wing, -Existence)

Self-Rule For Spanish West Indies?
Havana, Spanish Cuba

Members of the current center-left Spanish government, even before the Filipino rising later in the year, made several statements about a possible future move to give Spain's Caribbean possessions some form of devolved government of home-rule in the not-too-distant future. These statements have been received fairly well in said Caribbean possessions, where the last time a serious independence attempt was made ended up being an ill-fated rebellion in Cuba in 1898. People hope this may result in permanent change for the better, although there is some concern regarding the destabilizing influence the USSA could potentially have in the region.
(Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico: -3% Dissent)

Centroamerican Elections
Tegucigalpa, Federal Republic of Central America

The people of the Federal Republic of Central America went to the polls this year in order to determine who would run their country for the next four years. Juan Sagasta Batista's conservative administration had seen a deterioration of the FRCA's former economic competitiveness thanks to a breakdown of the the country's once thriving trade relationship with the United Socialist States of America. In the first round of voting, no candidate won a majority, with Sagasta and the socialist candidate Augusto Cesar Sandino finishing one-two. In the run-off election, after a heated battle, Sandino emerged victorious. The election of yet another socialist leader in the Americas is worrying to quite a few countries, but result is most concerning to the fledgling Yucatan Republic, which is now completely surrounded on land by socialist-friendly states. Sandino has promised to push for better relations with Chicago, and work to improve the lives of the Centroamerican people.
(+5% Dissent)

Elections in Colombia
Bogota, Colombia

The Colombian people went to the polls in the first half of 1938. Opinion of the social democratic government going into the elections was generally favorable, although there was moderate opposition to involvement in the Mexican Civil War, and Alfonso Lopez Pumarejo was easily re-elected. However, he did face some conservative opposition, from a pro-Brazil, anti-socialist lobby, who spent the election less trying to seriously win and more trying to be a general annoyance. The elections were also marred by a degree of violence at polling stations, especially in the southern and eastern parts of the country, against the government.
(+5% Dissent)

War in Ecuador
Quito, Ecuador

The Brazilian invasion of Ecuador continued in earnest this year. At the end of last year, the Brazilians had reached the outskirts of Quito, where Ricardo Paredes, the bulk of his government, and the remnants of the Ecuadorian military had holed up. In January, Brazil again called for the Ecuadorians to surrender their arms. Some Ecuadorian units, seeing that the fight was hopeless and not wanting to risk further death, did surrender, but most remained. The assault on Quito began earnestly; a brutal Brazilian bombing campaign against the city in order to smash its defenses. The army in the south rapidly moved up the coast to surround the capital. The Ecuadorians, even with Brazilian air superiority, were able to inflict significant casualties, thanks to superior weaponry, but it was in vain as the Brazilians made a slow but steady advance through the outskirts of the city, and by April it had fallen. With the fall of Quito, most of the rest of Ecuador was quick to collapse, although some scattered pockets of disorganized resistance remain.

Ricardo Paredes and some of the upper echelons of his government were able to escape to Colombia before Quito fell, and before they could be captured by the encroaching Brazilians. The Brazilian military has created a rough provisional government out of anti-communists from the lower echelons of the Ecuadorian civil service; Eloy Gaspar Ureta, one of the generals who led and was imprisoned after last year's failed coup against Paredes, has been given the country's leadership, for now. In Rio de Janeiro, President Vargas unveiled a monument to the Ecuadorian War, and to the lives lost in the defense of democracy against Communism.

(Brazil: -6 Infantry II Brigades, -2 Infantry III Brigades)
(Ecuador: -5 Infantry III Brigades, -2 Infantry IV Brigades, -2 Artillery II Brigades)

Crackdown on Peru-Bolivian Communists
Lima, Peru-Bolivia

The Peru-Bolivian government began campaigns against the "Communist threat" within the country. The campaign was twofold: one, the arrest of the leadership of all Communist groups within the country; and two, the distribution of anti-Communist propaganda. When the first was attempted, most targets had already gotten word of what was coming and were able to go underground in time. Several managed to be arrested anyway, and several Soviet nationals in the country were detained as well. Although they are now underground, the Communists pose even less of a threat than before. Some within the Liberal Party however are upset at what they see as an unlawful breach of civil liberties.
(+3% Dissent)

EVENTS IN EUROPE​

Tensions Along Franco-German Border
Brussels, France

After last year's swift invasion and annexation of Belgium by the French Fourth Republic, tensions along the now extended border between France and Germany have continued to escalate rapidly. The events had already begun in late January when several thousand Belgians attempting to flee the country and seek asylum in Germany attempted to cross the border. The French couldn't have this, and the French army swiftly moved to block the refugees from crossing the border before the bulk of them could get there. Some made it, but most did not, and dozens of Belgians were even shot and killed in their bid to reach Germany. This event will likely not repeat, as the colossal French military presence in Belgium is discouraging such activities. Additionally, the French government froze and nationalized all assets of German nationals within the country.
(France: -3% Dissent)

France Completes National Factories
Paris, France

The French government's "National Factories" program, a nationwide effort to put millions of previously unemployed Frenchmen back to work with the construction of new factories, was announced by Eugene Deloncle to have been completed this year, well in advance what many experts had predicted. The economic boost from the program's completion already has been noticeable, going so far as to rival the Soviet Union's, although it is likely that this is just one-off growth.

Spain Builds Forts in Pyrenees
Bilbao, Spain

Noting the French aggression towards Belgium, and the rapid cooling of Franco-Spanish relations, the Spanish have begun the construction of a line of fortifications along the heavily mountainous border between the two countries. Placed along strategic locations, incuding mountain passes and the coastline, the fortifications, once complete, will hopefully allow the Spanish military to repulse a French land invasion should such an event occur.

Portugal to Hold Elections
Lisbon, Portugal

The new Portuguese president, Domingos Oliveira, has declared that his country will be holding parliamentary elections in the autumn of 1938, on an effort to help bring an end to the turmoil that has wracked the country ocer the past several years. Oliveira has already declared that all Communist or Communist-affiliated parties will be barred from the elections, which has angered a small section of the populace. Regardless of what the Communists have to say, the decision has been met with much approval from the people, although some elements of the military are decidedly unpleased with the new developments.
(-4 % Dissent)

Skirmishes Along Polish-Soviet Border
Warsaw, Poland

A brief round of fighting occurred in May 1938 along the Soblieki Line between Poland and the Soviet Union, after shots were fired across the border. It was reported that the Soviets fired first, but these reports have been disputed, both by Moscow and several observers. The border incident has both governments - and many of their neighbors - increasingly on edge, especially as the situation in Western Europe continues to deteriorate.

Hungary Builds Border Defenses
Budapest, Hungary

Concerned about the threat the unfriendly right-wing states of Austria and Croatia might pose to Hungary in the event of war, the Hungarian government has begun the construction of fortifications and other defenses along its borders, especially along the borders with the aforementioned two countries. While border defenses already exist, the new ones are being designed to be of the most modern standard. The Hungarian government hopes that this will give the Hungarian military the critical edge if the country is invaded.

Elections in Slovenia
Ljubljana, Slovenia

The Slovene people went to the polls in 1938 in order to determine their leadership for the next four years. The country had effectively been in a state of national panic for the last few months, after the Croatian coup, with fears that an invasion might happen tomorrow. As a result, turnout was significantly lower than expected. Andrej Gosar encouraged all parties to form a "Unity Coalition" as this was clearly not a time for political bickering. The Conservative Party took up the offer, and agreed to join forces with the Liberals. Most other parties did the same, such that there was no real unified opposition, and Andrej Gosar easily ended up as the leader of Slovenia, again.
(+3% Dissent)

Slovenia Builds Border Defenses
Ljubljana, Slovenia

The tiny country of Slovenia, especially after last year's Croatian coup, has effectively become an island in a sea of unfriendly neighbors. In the increasingly likely event that Slovenia is invaded, it will indeed be quite difficult to defend it for long. To attempt to at least partially rectify this, the Slovenian government has passed a measure that provides for funding for the construction of border defenses around the entirety of the country. Some experts however believe that it is too little, too late, and that the resources could best be used elsewhere.

Croatian Leftists Flee to Serbia
Budapest, Serbia

With the recent purges of Communists in newly dictatorial Croatia, many Communist leaders were forced to go underground. This also soon became unpractical thanks to the spread of Croatian secret police, and in order to keep their movement alive, in early 1938, many Communists were somehow able to escape across the border and into Serbia. Serbia seems willing to tolerate their presence, and has refused demands by Ante Pavelic to extradite them, as it gives them a potential weapon to use in case Croatia and Serbia go to war.
(Croatia: -4% Dissent; Serbia: +2% Dissent)

Failed Military Coup in Romania
Bucharest, Romania

As the new Communist government in Romania set about collectivizing and socializing the economy, there was decided. One general, backed by anti-Communist elements in the military, attempted to lead his soldiers into the capital in an attempt to overthrow Stefan Foris and restore "legitimate rule" to the country. Fighting erupted in the streets, but the general in question was killed before he reached the parliament building, causing the coup to fall apart. This is not the only item of note in Romania; one of King Boris III's aides revealed that the king fears for his safety, and several violent altercations have broken out in Parliament. It is clear that the current "dual system" arrangement is a temporary one at best.
(-3 Infantry III Brigades, -1 Infantry IV Brigades, -1 Artillery II brigades)

King Boris Takes Absolute Power
Sofia, Bulgaria

Seeing as both Greece and Romania have fallen to communist governments, and as the Communist movement within Bulgaria continues to grow in strength, King Boris III has elected to intervene and take a more heavy-handed approach to maintain order; he dissolved the country's legislature and took absolute power himself. Boris, supported by much of the military, quickly began the process of rounding up Communist-affiliated groups within the country, and most have been forced to go underground. There was significant concern that a repeat of America or South Africa might occur in Bulgaria; however, it did not. Despite some minor fighting and widespread mutiny, by June order reigned supreme. Boris has promised a new, brighter future for Bulgaria, free from the "twin evils" of liberalism and communism.
(+8% Dissent; -3 Infantry III Brigades, -2 Artillery II Brigades)

The Epirus Conflict
Ioannia, Greece

The Communist regime in Athens continued to attempt to solidify its control over the country, especially in Epirus, where an anti-communist insurgency had been brewing for the better part of a year. The year began with an all-out propaganda war against the Italians, who the Greeks claimed were supporting the insurgency. Government media portrayed the Italians as evil imperialists who oppressed the Greeks and stole from Greek culture, from the days of the Roman Empire all the way to the present day. In Epirus itself, anti-Italian marches were held in the cities, in an effort to show Italy that Greece would not bow down to them.

On the battlefield, the government took a far more direct approach, ramping up their military forces and raiding insurgent strongholds. The government forces took no prisoners, shooting all insurgents on sight, even those who attempted to surrender. While the insurgency continues in the region's rugged terrain, it has drastically decreased in scope.
(-5% Dissent, -3 Infantry III Brigades, -1 Artillery II Brigade)

Ivan Smirnov Under Fire
Moscow, Soviet Union

A number of intense political debates have erupted within the leadership Communist Party of the Soviet Union regarding Ivan Smirnov and his approach to foreign policy. Smirnov has come under attack by two factions, one of whom supports alignment with the LDN over alignment with the Axis, and the other of whom supports the reverse. This is unusual for the traditionally rather opaque Soviet leadership, as the current arguments are quite public. It also shows that there is significant distrust of Ivan Smirnov within the Party, even from some of his former supporters, and his days in his current position may be numbered.
(+3% Dissent)

EVENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA​

Assassination of the Caliph
Constantinople, Ottoman Empire

A wave of assassinations swept through the heartland of the Ottoman Empire in the first months of 1938, as a worrying number of regional politicians, religious leaders, and a few military leaders were killed off. Even as law enforcement attempted to contain the crisis, they could not stop the assassination of Sultan Abdul Mejid II in June 1938. The leader of the Sublime Porte and Caliph of Islam was shot thrice in the chest by one of his own guardsmen, and passed away in a Constantinople hospital days later after doctors failed to revive him.

The guard in question was arrested and was found out to have been affiliated with a Communist group, which in turn seemed to have been given support from Moscow. Panic and rumors spread about Communist "infilitration" within the Sublime Porte. The task of addressing these problems now falls to the Prince Ahmed Nihad, who has been styled as Sultan Ahmed IV. Most analysts believe that the Porte's pan-Islamist machinations will not significantly change.
(+7% Dissent)

War in Arabia
Mecca, Saudi Arabia

The sands of Arabia were tainted by war when in March 1938, the Ottoman Empire invaded Saudi Arabia. The invasion commenced with the stated intention of reclaiming the Muslim holy sites in Mecca and Medina. They were half On land, the Turks attempted to directly move towards Medina. The Saudi army, which had massed near the border, put up a significant resistance, mounting several counterattacks over the course of March and April, and vast swathes of desert along the border were fought over. Nevertheless, the Ottomans by May had gained the clear upper hand, achieving air superiority throughout most of the region and, thanks to larger numbers and greater mechanization, were largely able to defeat the Saudis on the ground, breaking through the desert and into the mountainous Hedjaz. The Ottomans captured Medina in early June and had already begun moving towards Mecca. Along the way, the Ottomans made a show of breaking up and arresting Wahabbist clerics, both in its own Arab-majority territories and in occupied Saudi Arabia.

The war was also fought at sea, as the much larger and better equipped Ottoman fleet sailed through the Suez Canal and set up a blockade of the Saudi coast, easily smashing the fledgling Saudi navy with highly superior numbers and vessels, in addition to ample air support. The blockade has begun to negatively affect the Saudi economy as petroleum exports have been cut off. As there was minimal troop presence there the Ottomans landed marines near Dammam in late May, securing the majority of the area's oil fields, and were approaching Riyadh itself by the end of June.

Despite being vastly overshadowed by the recent turmoil in Europe, many people across the globe are nevertheless paying close attention to the conflict, as it has disrupted the Middle East and Persian Gulf trade, especially in petroleum, and if the conflict continues, it could severely disrupt this Islamic year's hajj.

(Ottoman Empire: -5 Infantry III Brigades, -1 Mounted Brigade, -1 Artillery II Brigade, -1 Desert Brigade, -1 Destroyer, -1 Fighter Wing)
(Saudi Arabia: -9 Infantry III Brigades, -2 Mounted Brigades, -1 Artillery II Brigade, -2 Desert Brigades, -4 Destroyers, -1 Fighter Wing)

British Colonial Conference
Cairo, Egypt

Britain in 1938 hosted another conference, about a month before the notorious International Democracy Conference in Honolulu. This conference was a purely domestic one, and focused on the future of Britain's colonial possessions. Thousands of people, representing all corners of the British Empire, showed up, and Oswald Mosley personally inducted the conference, promising a "road map to colonial self-governance," and methods of making improvements in health, sanitation, education, and standards of living. Success stories of people from throughout the British Empire were also demonstrated. This conference, unlike the utter farce that was Honolulu, was seen as producing positive results.

Rise of Nationalist Sentiment in Portuguese Colonies
Luanda, Portuguese South Africa

Despite the turmoil that has enveloped the motherland in the last few years, there has been little activity in Portugal's African colonies, primarily due to a lack of any native nationalist sentiment whatsoever. That, however, appears to be changing. In Guinea, Angola, and Mozambique, nationalist organizations have formed calling for Portugal to leave Africa, as soon as possible. Several newspapers have taken note of how Portugal's colonies remain by far the poorest and least developed in Africa, and are indeed some of the poorest and least developed places on Earth. There have been vague suggestions from a few public figures, both Portuguese and African, of holding a referendum for independence alongside the coming Portuguese elections, but such talk has been few and far between. The general consensus is that, for numerous reasons, the colonies are unable to manage themselves.
(Portuguese South Africa, Portuguese West Africa: +5% Dissent)

Rhodesian Elections Delayed
Salisbury, Rhodesia

While the Provisional Government of Rhodesia had promised elections to happen in the first months of 1938, those elections have been postponed. The exact nature of what Rhodesia will become after the war, and what its relationship with London will be, is still not finalized, and Godfrey Huggins has stated that once that is done, then elections can be held. For the time bring though, Rhodesia will continue to be under the rule of the Provisional Government that has ruled it since the beginning of the current conflict.

New Government in South Africa
Cape Town, South Africa

In early 1938, Jan Smuts, in accordance to his country's agreement with London, ceded absolute power and stepped down from his post in favor of a parliamentary government. The new government is a broad coalition determined to bring the rebellious eastern areas back under the control of South Africa proper, and is led by one Charles Robberts Swart. Swart has stated that elections will be held once fighting in the area comes to an end and peace is restored.
(-6% Dissent)

War in South Africa
East London, South Africa

The war in South Africa between the rebellious Socialist Union of Transvaal-Botswana and the British Commonwealth continued in 1938.

The Commonwealth began the year with a more intense bombardment, using newly crated bombers that are the heaviest ever built. With no air defenses to speak of, the socialists were helpless, and they suffered heavy casualties. As this bombardment continued, by mid-February the Commonwealth forces in Botswana began moving forward, and after some brief fighting were able to easily smash through the perimeter defenses west of Johannesburg, forcing the socialists to break and retreat to Johannesburg itself.

In the north, army units flying the Rhodesian flag lightly attacked the socialists, doing little but tying the socialists down. Commonwealth units in the south near Bloemfontein did much the same, and after having weakened the enemy significantly, slowly crept forward towards the town. After about a week of fighting, Bloemfontein fell in late March.

At the same time, the northern forces reached Johannesburg itself. Urban fighting broke out in the city, with Commonweath artillery in the hills supporting infantry fighting street-by-street. Progress was slow but steady through late March and early April. The arrival of Commonwealth support on the southern flank sealed the fate of the battle, and Johannesburg fell by the end of April.

With their remaining forces too thinly spread, with Johannesburg fallen the socialist provisional government surrendered, and the Socialist Union of Transvaal-Botswana disintegrated. Scattered pockets of resistance remain throughout the region however, and the de facto independent nations of kwaZulu and Swaziland remain untouched.

(Great Britain: -2 Infantry III Brigades, -2 Infantry IV Brigades, -2 Artillery II Brigades, -1 Motorized Brigade, -1 Light Tank I Brigade)
(Australia: -2 Infantry IV Brigades, -2 Artillery II Brigades)
(Rhodesia: -5 Militia Brigades)
(South Africa: -2 Infantry IV Brigades, -4 Militia Brigades)
(Transvaal-Botswana: -36 Militia Brigades, -Existence)

EVENTS IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC​

Afghanistan Creates Royal Protection Agency
Kabul, Afghanistan

The Shah of Afghanistan has established what he calls the "Royal Protection Agency." It can be said that, for all intents and purposes, the Shah is the Afghan government, and frequently that government has been disrupted by numerous coups in the last few decades. With the Royal Protection Agency, a modernized guard force loyal to the Shah, the Shah hopes that he can be safe from any threats, be they from Communists, tribal leaders, or bandits.
(-2% Dissent)

Elections in India
Delhi, India

India held one of its first national elections post-independence. Even with a less than 60% turnout, the 1938 Indian election was perhaps the single largest democratic election in world history; almost 200 million votes were cast. The Socialist Party, led by C. Rajgopalchari, was re-elected in a relatively easy victory, with a majority even greater than previously; their government over the past several years has been by and large successful in establishing India as an autonomous entity from Great Britain, although some concern was raised over a center-left to left-wing government aligning itself with a far-right government in London. The endorsement of the party by the ever-popular Mohandas K. Gandhi certainly did not hurt matters. The only real opposition came from Hindu nationalists, who were to disunited to make a significant difference.
(-5% Dissent)

India Creates Religious Councils
Karachi, India

One of the first actions of the re-elected socialist government was the creation of councils of religious leaders in areas that were majority Muslim. Delhi has announced that the councils will form the basis of the religious part of local governments that are to be instituted within a short period of time. Similar councils will be formed out of other religions, such as Buddhists in Burma and Sikhs in Punjab. Some secularists and Hindu nationalists have denounced the measure; the former claim that religion should stay clear of government, even in Muslim, Buddhist, or Sikh majority areas, while the latter are speaking out against what they believe is the government's pandering to minorities. C. Rajgopalchari has also said in a nations address that people of minority faiths will be far better off working with the government rather than against it.
(+2% Dissent)

Communist and Anti-Communist Activity in China
Beijing, China

In January 1938, close friends and relatives of some high-profile KMT members opposed to Weng Wenhao began receiving threatening letters from organizations claiming to be Communists. Weng'a government jumped into action, offering to investigate in exchange for said members' support. Those that refused to support Weng were swiftly arrested on charges of treason and conspiracy against the government for being "Communist sympathizers." Several managed to escape Weng's police; some turned up seeking asylum in Hong Kong, Corea, Japan, or Siam, while others simply vanished, possibly into the Chinese underworld. During the process, it also was made public through several state media outlets that it had been discovered that certain anti-Weng elements were being funded by sources in Great Britain and the Netherlands; whether or not their respective governments are involved is unknown.

Even before the "Letters Incident," as it came to be called, there had been widespread calls upon Weng Wenhao's government to take action. In the waxing months of 1938, take action was what they did. A major sting operation began into Communist organizations within the country, with law enforcement managing to infiltrate those organizations and promptly. Additionally, a number of Soviet nationals in China were arrested and extradited on charges of drug trafficking. In some communities, the KMT has also used less harsh methods, by investing in and giving modern equipment to some poor rural communities.

Regardless of whether the threats are real or not, they are serving to solidify Weng's grasp on the Chinese government and nation.

(-5% Dissent)

Rebellion in the Philippines; Chinese Intervention
Manila, Philippines

In a sequence of events few saw coming, parts of the Spanish possessions in the Philippines rose up in revolt in early 1938. The rebellion began with minor uprisings in and around Manila and several other cities on Luzon, in reaction to police brutality, and by March law enforcement had lost control over the Manila area. This would likely have stayed a relatively unimportant local affair had China not used the opportunity to move in in force in order to "liberate the isles from Western oppression," as one KMT official had put it, sending virtually her entire navy to blockade the Philippines. The Spanish navy was engaged in Manila Bay, and easily defeated, thanks to air superiority from a Chinese carrier and greater Chinese ship numbers. The rest of the fleet was forced to go into port i the south for safety. This was followed by landings of large numbers of Chinese troops in the Manila area, who spread throughout Luzon to help the Filipino rebels. The Spanish attempted to run to the hills and fight irregularly, but immense numerical inferiority meant that they were rapidly washed out.

Bolstered by the Chinese military support, the rebellion accelerated and spread rapidly, occupying almost all of Luzon and Visayas. Northern Borneo and Mindanao remain firmly in Spanish possession, but the Chinese presence means that it will be rather difficult for the Spanish to reclaim the others islands. The leadership of the newly declared Filipino provisional government has fallen to Manuel Quezon, a noted Filipino independence activist who has been noted for his close ties with China.

(Philippines: -1 Infantry III Brigade, -4 Militia Brigades)
(China: -6 Infantry III Brigades, -1 Infantry IV Brigade -2 Artillery I Brigades, -4 Destroyers, -1 Light Cruiser, -3 Submarines)
(Spain: -5 Infantry III Brigades, -3 Destroyers, -2 Light Cruisers, -2 Submarines)

Corean Elections
Seoul, Corea

The people of Corea went to the polls in 1938. Syngman Rhee's government had generally been praised by popular opinion for its work in recovering the Corean economy from the depths of the Great Depression. However, the campaign was fraught with allegations of corruption against the Conservative government, with some claiming that they had taken bribes from large businesses or had connections with the Corean underworld. Nevertheless, the Conservatives were re-elected handily, with an even larger margin then before.
(-2% Dissent)

Corea Acquires Carrier
Busan, Corea

The Corean Navy acquired its first carrier in 1938, purchasing one from its close ally Japan. Called the COS Beotkkot, meaning "cherry blossom," the hope is that the carrier will enable the country's navy to operate in a more blue-water capacity, as well as to better defend itself at sea from the growing might of China to the west. A crowd of several thousand showed up in the southern city of Busan to watch the new carrier arrive in port, and to watch several military aviators take off and land from its flight deck.


Australia Acquires East Timor
Dili, Australian East Timor

In 1938, Portugal agreed to sell its possessions in East Timor to nearby Australia for a small sum. The region, a vestige from the Age of Discovery and and the days when Portugal ruled the Spice Islands, had become increasingly strategically useless and difficult to maintain in recent years, especially with the turmoil at home. It remains unclear what exactly Australia's plans for the newly gained region are, but the Independence Party has already announced that the denizens of East Timor will be granted rights equal to every other Australian, including the right to vote in the next election. Most of East Timor has celebrated the transition, as it is a far better situation than Portuguese rule.

Australia Lowers Taxes, Lowers Minimum Wage
Canberra, Australia

In an effort to jump-start the Australian economy, the government has passed two pieces of legislation. The first has lowered taxes, which the government says is to give the people more personal money to spend. The second lowers the minimum wage, which the government claims will increase hiring. The legislation has seen its fair share of opposition, especially from unions, but also from outraged MPs of the Independence Party opposed to the fiscally conservative legislation. The legislation also threatens to begin undermining the power of said unions, as many have recently begun taking to hiring non-unionized migrants from the Dutch East Indies who are willing to work for less. What is certain is that the Australian economy did grow in the first part of 1938, although what hand the legislation had in that is uncertain.
(+4% Dissent)

OOC​

As usual, if there are any mistakes, let me know and I will fix them.

Gem Hound has asked me to NPC Austria in his stead until he returns, that nation is currently NPC but is reserved.

I realized I'd underestimated the Philippines' economy totals; those have been tweake, and Spain has been compensated 20 banked EP that they should have had.

Okay, so I'd like some feedback. I'm thinking of changing the update style such that the headlines are removed; the text will likely look the same, but the headlines won't be there. If this is the case, I can include more in the update, including minor stuff I wouldn't mention otherwise, since I don't have to headline everything. I'm not sure what people like though, and I can do either.

Nice update. I'm pretty sure that I withdrew my troops from Mexico, but that makes little differwnce anyway. I acrually like the headlines, a tually, and would prefer to keep them.

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics notes that it has previously guaranteed the security of Spain and Saudi Arabia. Stay tuned while we decide what an appropriate response would be to the unprovoked invasions of these countries.