Global News Report
YEAR OF REGIME CHANGE. The Year of our Lord 1922 has turned out to be one of the most climatic and eventual year politically for many nations. As the opening shots are fired for the European theater of what is being called the Second World War, elections have been held across the globe. American political scientists have said that if all republics are mantained, 1922 would still be the year in which the most elections were held for another hundred years. Globally many people have noticed a switch to more conservative political stances, as war hawks enter into government. Outside of republics a surprising amount of monarchs and other absolute rulers have died this year, leading to government change in a wide variety of nations, though many of the newly coronated monarchs have vowed to follow in their predecessors' footsteps. Throughout this issue look for the changes which have taken place throughout the world's governments.
SECOND WORLD WAR BEGINS. In addition to the tumultuous changes in government, 1922 has heralded the beginning of the Second World War in Europe. Caused over tenacious Russian claims to Turkey and Greece, the European League has begun limited fighting against the forces of the Common Front International. The Kaiser of Germany, a vocal advocate of peace, announced to the increasingly defunct Council of Nations that a war had begun in which "no man would be spared." Most of Europe is ready for the war, as war hawks dominate the government and media. Nationalists on both sides have claimed that their enemies would be defeated before Christmas. Despite the sentiments of the war hawks, a small minority in all nations involved remain steadfastedly opposed to the growing conflict. See insert for more details on the growing war. (+1% Dissent in all nations fighting the war)
North/Central American News Report
USA DEPLOYS FIRST AIRCRAFT CARRIER. Norfolk, USA. The USS Langley has been deployed this year, a converted cruiser which has been turned into an aircraft holding vessel. The long flat deck of the Langley allows for planes to take off from on board, creating a new weapon of naval warfare. The Langley has limited aircraft storage space and the amount of planes it carries is extremely limited. (USA gets free Light Carrier, nations may now build those types of ships, no research required except for Biplanes)
US DECLARES CENTRAL AMERICAN ARMS BLOCKADE. Vera Cruz, USA. Following the continuing escalation of the Central American War, the United States of America has declared an arms blockade of both the United Provinces and Nicaragua. President Coolidge has said that he will not allow foriegn interests to exacerbate the war even more and he has unilaterally forbid any weapons trade with either nations. The American public fully supports American involvement in preventing needless deaths in the jungles of Central America.
HAITIAN REBELLION CRUSHED. Port-au-Prince, USA. Though at the start of the year it appeared that united Haitian efforts could well mantain the sovereignity of the island, the United States used unorthodox tactics to end the rebellion. Two regiments of French speaking Liberian soldiers arrived on the island and infiltrated to the command post of the Haitian guerillas. After a ferocious firefight, the Haitian command lay dead and the guerillas broke into infighting. By November the United States Marines moved in with almost no resistance as the Haitians welcomed American rule over the anarchy which nearly gripped the island.
FIGHTING CONTINUES IN CENTRAL AMERICA. Forces of the UPCA have launched a massive counterattack against the military of Nicaragua. Slightly superior quality forces and larger numbers gave commanders in the United Provinces military call to launch an offensive into Honduras against the military of Nicaragua. The offensive began on schedule in May, but bogged down in early June with the arrival of newly trained reinforcements. The front has once more bogged down into a bloody stalemate.
Casualty List
UPCA: 5 Infantry Divisions
Nicaragua: 3 Infantry Divisions
South American News Report
AMERICAN ACCORD STANDS DOMINANT. Beunos Aires, Argentina. Final peace has been signed with the nation of Brazil, bringing the troubled nation into the American Accord as a satillite of Argentina. Southern Brazil has been turned over to Argentinan control as per the Treaty of Beunos Aires states. The victory of the American Accord over the believed Brazillian benemoth has led to both Ecuador and Venezuela being enticed to join the powerful new alliance. In theory this has united South America as a single bloc to stand against the rest of the world. The powerful new economy has lead to a significant industrial boom in Argentina and it has spilled over to the rest of the nations of the American Accord. (+2 Private Enterprise for Argentina, +1 Private Enterprise for all other nations of the American Accord)
CONSERVATIVES MAKE SWEEP IN SOUTH AMERICA. In nations across South America, the Conservative Party has almost gained full control of many governments. With the rise of the American Accord's power and the massive economic boom underway the standing conservative governments have all managed to mantain and even expand control over their nations. The nations in which the Conservative Party or its equivelants managed to win with high majorities were Peru, Argentina, and Bolivia. In Brazil the Conservatives were blatantly forced into obvious through the guns and money of the American Accord. This is indubitably one of the major causes of the raging Brazil Civil War.
CIVIL WAR IN BRAZIL. Leading from the disputed election in which the Conservative Party won a rigged election, the far left of Brazil has rallied behind the Communists in rebellion against the standing government. The military, which had been disbanded by the conservatives, have risen in support of the populace, as out of work veterans join in the uprising. The navy has also agreed to support the rebels. The communists control almost the entire nation, easily gaining the support of the few who live in the jungles and along the borders of Peru and Bolivia. Only the token military forces of the government remain loyal, holding on to a bare strip of land along the coast line.
European News Report
FASCIST PARTY TAKES THE REIGNS IN ITALY. Rome, Italy. The newly formed Fascist Party of Italy, a popular war hawk organization, has gained the majority in Italy's leadership and the party's leader, Benito Mussolini, has become the nation's youngest premier in history. Mussolini has vowed to lead Italy to victory over the nations of Russia and Germany in the growing conflict of the Second World War. The Fascist Party is based mostly on the political and economic thoughts of Petain's Lisist Party in France which failed due to the collapse of the French Empire. Many have called for the King of Italy to give Mussolini absolute power in order to more efficiently manage the war effort.
PRESIDENT COLLINS INAUGURATED IN EIRE. Dublin, Eire. Following a heated election campaign conservatives led by Michael Collins won the day with a slim majority in Eire. President Collins was heavily backed by the war hawks of the Irish Congress and by most Irish businessmen as well. Collins has vowed to aid the European League in the growing conflict of the Second World War.
LISISTS REVIVE IN FRANCE. Paris, France. Despite the disrepute which fell upon the Lisist Party following the loss of the French Empire, the Party has managed to gain enough of a vote to return Petain as President. Closely aligned with both the Kaiser's regime in Germany and the Fascist Party under Mussolini in Italy, Petain has pledged to keep the battered French Republic out of the expanding global war. He has also begun a new campaign to sale the maitanence of French roadways to private corporations, particularly German ones. He paid an insult to the Chinese government when in a speech he placed the animals of France as a higher race than the people of China. The Chinese ambassador replied by comparing French wine to goat excrement.
FERDINAND I DIES IN BULGARIA. Sofia, Bulgaria. Following the natural death in bed of Ferdinand I, Boris III has been coronated as the new king of Bulgaria. The new monarch has vowed to follow a more secularist and reformist path alongside Russia. He has also pledged to regain rightful Bulgarian claims to eastern Greece and southern Romania. The nationalists of Bulgaria have lauded the new king for his proclamations and many hope to see an age of Bulgarian glory following the Second World War.
OTTO II CROWNED IN HUNGARY. Budapest, Hungary. In a twist of irony Hungarian King Charles VI died within hours of his monarchical counterpart Ferdinand I of Bulgaria. King Otto II, his son and successor, has pledged to reform the government and society of Hungary, pledging to establish a republic and new reforms. He has spoke well of the European League and many believe Otto II to sympathize with the League over the Common Front International.
NEW SERBIAN KING CROWNED. Belgrade, Serbia. King Alexander I, successor to Petar I, has been proclaimed King of Serbia. Like Boris III of neighboring Bulgaria, Alexander I is a Serbian radical nationalist who has pledged to extend Serbian claims and rights upon its neighbors. Areas claimed by Alexander are Albania, northwestern Greece and parts of German and Italian occupied Slavic regions from Dubrovik to Sarajevo.
African/Middle Eastern News Report
DEMOCRATIC REFORMER TAKES CHARGE IN SOUTH AFRICA. Pretoria, South Africa. With the death of Louis Botha, long time Boer nationalist Jan Smuts was named as his successor to the leadership of the Boer Republic. Announced as one of his first reforms, Smuts has announced the consolidation of the former Boer Republic, the former UCS possession of South Africa, and the island of Madagascar as the Republic of South Africa. Smuts has also proclaimed South Africa's declaration of war against the German Empire and the other nations of the Common Front International, claiming the liberation of Africa from colonial rule was at hand. Smuts has promised the people of southern Africa that following the Second World War fresh and free elections would be held to establish a new African democracy.
PERSIA SUSPENDS ELECTIONS. Tehran, Persia. In a heatedly debated move the Pan-Islam Party, led by Ahmed Qajar, has disbanded the Persian Congress and declared suspension of elections. Furthermore the Pan-Muslims have declared martial law in more secularist regions, as republicans rise up against the government. Qajar favors unification with Dar-al-Islam and is a war hawk, hoping that the Brotherhood of Islamic Nations will soon begin a jihad against the nations of the west. (+10% Dissent for Persia)
Asian/Pacific News Report
NEW CHINESE EMPEROR CORONATED. Peking, China. Despite the shellfire from Nipponese guns and the continuing seige of the city, Emperor Puyi has been coronated. The son of aging Empress Longyu who died last year due to the stress caused by the Nipponese assualt now rules under the Empress' husband, who has become regent. Puyi vowed in a firey speech to continue the war until the Nipponese are driven from Chinese soil. (-1% Dissent)
NATIONALISTS CONTINUE TO GAIN SUPPORT IN NIPPON. Tokyo, Nippon. The 1922 elections within the East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere have resulted in the Nationalists continuing to gain support from the general populace. The Liberals continue to lose ground against both the Nationalists and Constitutionalists though they mantain a prescense in the Kokkai. The Chinese War continues to dominate Nipponese politics and some foreign observers suspect that if the war is not won soon, the Nipponese could see a drastic shift in government as the people turn away from the current leaders toward more radical outlets.
LIBERALS WIN IN VIETNAM. Saigon, Vietnam. In a heavily disputed election the Liberal Party has taken the reigns of Vietnamese government from the long standing Indpendance Coalition. The Liberal Party promises numerous changes to Vietnamese government, pledging a victorious end to the war and a new program of domestic care. The main backing to the Liberals has demanded that the war be brought to an end at the soonest possible date, as long as the peace is honorable and the sovereignity of neighboring Siam is mantained. Despite these demands it is apparent that Vietnam is ready to fight to mantain their freedom.
UCS ADMITS AUSTRALIA. Winchester, UCS. Following the Treaty of New Delhi which brought about the end of the war for the UCS (see insert for more details), only the matter of Australia remained for debate between Germany and the UCS. As a comprimise the Commonwealth States have purchased Northern Australia from the German Empire to be paid within three years. The people of northern Australia rejoice as they rejoin their former brothers within the old British Empire. (-5% Dissent for the UCS, plus you get most of Australia's military and economy)
Global News Ticker
ITALIAN ARCHEOLOGISTS DISCOVER KING TUT'S TOMB INTACT IN EGYPT. (-1% Dissent for Italy)
CONSERVATIVES WIN GOVERNMENT IN BELGUIM FOLLOWING DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST EUROPEAN LEAGUE.
SOCIALISTS WIN REELECTION IN WALES WITH SHRINKING MAJORITY.
PRESIDENT COOLIDGE ANNOUNCES APPROVAL OF NEW US MILITARY SPENDING BILL. (+6% Dissent for increased taxes)
US ARMY ANNOUNCES DEPLOYMENT OF FIRST MONOPLANES IN MILITARY. (+1 free Fighter Squadron)
YEARS OF TOUGH TRAINING BEARS FRUIT FOR GREEK MILITARY (+1 to Military Quality)
KKK SLAUGHTERS 2,000 IN CHICAGO'S NEGRO DISTRICT, OVER 10,000 WOUNDED; KKK USED MILITARY WEAPONS. (+1% Dissent for USA)
SPECIAL: World War 2!
CHINESE CONSCRIPTION WELL UNDERWAY. Peking, Chinese Empire. Following the 1921 edict to arm and send out all Chinese men available for combat purposes, an estimated 120 Irregular Divisions are preparing to be deployed over the next 4 years. These raw recruits are generally very poorly armed and usually have been used as cannon fodder by Chinese generals. They have not yet been used in this conflict and the Chinese military has seen the old combined with the new as Chinese soldiers armed with swords and machetes charge into battle alongside the Longyu tank. (+30 Irregular Divisions to China)
SERBIANS SWEEP INTO ALBANIA. The Serbian military, after spending the opening months of the war rearming with new Nipponese weapons, has launched a sweeping offensive at Greek Albania. Unprepared for this sudden blow, the Greek Army was routed back into Greece proper by the Serbs. The Serbs launched the offensive in the hopes of outflanking the main Greek defensive line along the Serbian and Bulgarian borders. Already the CFI nation has managed to make it partially into northwestern Greece despite stalwart Greek resistance and air superiority. Only persistance strafing and the loss of all scout aircraft has prevented the Serbs from making greater gains than they already have.
Casualty List
Serbia: 2 Infantry Divisions
Greece: 1 Infantry Division
AFRICAN UNION ENTERS THE WAR. In a move surprising the Common Front International, the two nations of the African Union have joined the Second World War alongside the Sino Alliance and the European League. Abyssinia and the newly reformed Republic of South Africa have launched a twin assualt against German possessions in Africa. The Ethiopians have already advanced as far south as Zanzibar, crushing the minute German forces in the region, consisting of two patrolling cavalry divisions. Isayu V has already proclaimed the newly acquired regions as part of "the accelerating power of Imperial Abyssinia." In the south, Boer forces have cornered a German cavalry division in their advance, forcing them to surrender or they would be lost to the perils of the jungle. Most of the southern German possessions have already fallen to the South African advance. Portugal has also made several advances along the coast against minor resistance, driving northward. Despite the victories of the African Union, the superior quality of German forces has inflicted casualties upon the forces of both nations. The people of Germany are somewhat disappointed by the apparantly imminent loss of the colonies, though they have been mollified by the great successes in Europe.
Casualty List
Abyssinia: 3 Infantry Divisions
South Africa: 1 Infantry Division
Germany: 3 Cavalry Divisions
NATION OF MANCHUKO ESTABLISHED. Mukden, Manchuko. Manchuko, formally known as the Federal Republic of Manchuria, has been established by Nipponese military authority in regions occupied by Common Front International forces. The new government has held elections, which have oddly enough brought in a government which is heavily pro-Nippon. The majority of Chinese citizens in the new nation are mostly against the new regime and much underground resistance has begun. Only the President's minor hired militia force manages to keep the lid on growing dissent in the fragile new nation.
UCS EXITS THE GROWING CONFLICT. New Delhi, UCS. As Commonwealth dissent grew against the war, the United Commonwealth has signed a treaty at New Delhi confiming their exit from the Sino Alliance. The Treaty of New Delhi has also officially ended the war between the Common Front International and the Union of Commonwealth States. By November of 1922 Nipponese forces have withdrawn from Commonwealth Ceylon and other islands in the Indian Ocean. The agreement between the UCS and Germany sealed the Treaty with the official admission of the Australian rebels to the Commonwealth. The Brotherhood of Islamic Nations has also withdrawn from Pakistan and Western India, promising to abide by the terms of the white peace. However, the leadership of Dar-al-Islam has denounced the nations of the Common Front for not abiding to previous agreements and the Caliph has stated "If the Common Front does not abide by the terms of the agreement than neither shall we." The Muslim forces have also withdrawn from western China after a brief skirmish with Chinese militia.
SEIGE OF PEKING CONTINUES. Nipponese forces continue to be held outside of Peking as Chinese forces crush the amphibious attempt to encircle the city. Chinese forces, using a hastily assembled armored division, hit the Nipponese hard in late October. Using overwhelming numbers and support, Chinese troops managed to force the withdrawl of the surviving divisions which evacuated under heavy naval and air cover. A Nipponese attempt to reach the beachhead from the north failed as they ran into seemingly endless lines of militia and infantry. Furthermore, the use of burning rubber and poison gas as screening tools and a real life "fog of war" has prevented airborne Nipponese scouts from accurately tracking or strafing Chinese forces on the move. Other advances have been moderately successfully as several cities have fallen in the Nipponese advance from Manchuria. Superior Nipponese quality has managed to allow the front to be mantained, although the need for forces in Indochina has weakened their ability to continue the offensive in the north.
Casualty List
Nippon: 3 Infantry Divisions
China: 7 Militia Divisions
BANGKOK FALLS TO CFI. Bangkok, Occupied Siam. Despite the arrival of Chinese weapon designs and the deployment of poison gas on the front, Siam has lost its capital to the forces of the Common Front. The regular military forces defending the city were wiped out by combined German and Nipponese actions, as the minor German force advanced up Malaysia against light militia resistance. The Nipponese proceeded to land east of the city and the combined force trapped and destroyed Siam's regular military. The remnants of the Siamese militia and Rama VI have fled into the jungles of the north to make the fight there alongside the Vietnamese. Despite this most of the population has begun calling for an end to the war and the monarch is hard pressed to surrender his army to the Common Front.
Casualty List
Nippon: 1 Infantry Division
Siam: 1 Militia Division, 2 Infantry Divisions
NIPPON DECLARES END OF BLOCKADE. Due to the end of the fight against the UCS and the opening of their ports to free trade and the impossible logistics, Nippon has declared an end to the blockade of the Chinese coast. Despite this claim the Nipponese still mantain their occupation of Hainan and the Nipponese navy continues to hunt for their smaller Chinese counterpart. Also at sea the Chinese submarine fleet has begun striking at Japanese merchant shipping between Manchuria and Japan itself. Nipponese attempts to hunt down the raiders have so far beared no fruit for the Nipponese Navy.
HEAVY FIGHTING AT CONSTANTINOPLE. Forces of the European League and the Common Front International have become locked in epic battle along the Bhosperous Straits. Forces of Italy, Spain, and Portugal have landed southwest of Constantinople and have become locked in battle against larger Russian and Bulgarian armies in the region. Partially supplied from the sea and from Greece, the League forces have managed moderate success in reaching the outskirts of the city. Most fighting is now occuring in the heart of the metropolis as the battle bogs down into stalemate. Buildings are used as markers and now victories are marked in yards rather than miles, as both sides fight for the city that started the war. Elsewhere the European League's position is held by Italian navy supremacy, allowing supplies to continue to reach the expeditionary force.
Casualty List
Bulgaria: 2 Infantry Divisions
Russia: 4 Infantry Divisions
Spain: 1 Infantry Division
Portugal: 1 Infantry Division
Italy: 1 Infantry Division
GERMANS ASSUALT MILAN. In an astonishing turn of events, the new government of France allowed German military forces to stage a massive attack against Western Italy. With virtually no organized force in the region, German forces quickly captured Genoa and already have begun pushing on Milan. Though a small force of Italians has returned from the Levant to help the defense of Italy, overwhelming German numbers have so far won the day. The year has ended with Italian forces beginning to make a desperate stand a few miles west of the great northern Italy industrial center.
Diplomatic Pouch
To: Sino Alliance
From: Brotherhood of Muslim Nations
We would like peace at status quo, pre-war borders. We have no desire to assist the imperialist nations against the just rule of the newly crowned Emperor.
OOC
Early Tank tech has been changed, it is now sharable though the effect is far less than it was for those who spent more.
@Warman17, gave modern tech to all your allies in war, excluding of course Romania and Switzerland from that group. Also the forces of Portugal and Spain are yours to command
@Tyrion, Scotland and Wales will follow your orders militarily for the duration of the war.
@propagandist, you may pick either Brazil to play as in your civil war, and if you lose you may play as the winner.
About Irregular Divisions, consider them on par with a Militia Division of a nation with a Military Quality of 1. Only a very few of the unlucky individuals in one of these divisions actually has a gun, and most use machetes and some few who have guns actually use muzzle loaders over a hundred years old. If you gain any of these, beware that they last only the duration of the conflict and the more that die, the more trouble you'll have after the war with your own people.
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