Capto Iugulum

Dr Jules Leferre, Professor at the Sorbonne, has produced a map depicting the various public alliances and open power blocs around the world in 1901, using a variety of sources. Some included relationships between nations may be vague, approximate, or informal. More such maps may appear in the future as international relations continue to change.

Key:

The British-Brazilian bloc
The Spanish-American bloc
The Triple Alliance
The Krakow Pact
--------Austria (ties with both the Confederation and Poland) and North Italy (area of Confederate and Austrian influence)
The Three Emperors' League
Japanese-Arabian Economic Agreement
Persian bloc

Nations explicitly proclaimed neutral


Spoiler map :
 

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Well, based on what I wrote for the background and the prior NES: Persia has flirted with both Britain and Spain in the past. You really can go any way you'd like, so it's fair to clump you as a separate entity.
 
OOC: It appears that my personal schedule has grown to the point that I no longer have time to manage all the NESes I am in. Though this has consistently been my favorite NES, the short amount of time I have spent in South America has meant that the little time I have had for NESing has not been used here. As such, I feel that it would be appropriate if I were to drop out for right now. I hope to be back soon. :(

Also, Peru isn't really in any power bloc. They have ties with Spain and Brazil, dislike the USA, and don't feel strongly about Britain in any way.
 
@MusicLord: No worries, the door will be open, perhaps not as Peru, but I'm sure many other fascinating states will be available.

For the 6-7 of you who have not gotten in orders yet, the clock is ticking, as I will be posting the no order revisions post in about 2 and a half hours. After that you may have another two hours, but I wouldn't count on it.
 
Possibly, assuming I've not reached the point of no return for orders.
 
Eh. Too much homework this week. I'll join officially next update.
 
No more order revisions will be accepted beyond this point. I will still accept new sets of orders.
 
My orders will be late by a few hours, I overestimated how much work I'd have to do today.
 
Fortunately for our latecomers, I had to spend most of my day outside yesterday. No more orders of any type will be accepted beyond this point.
 
Global News Report​

INFLUENZA OUTBREAK SPREADS TO CONTINENTAL EUROPE. Paris, Franco-Burgundian Confederation. Last year's influenza epidemic which began last year in South America, has at last spread to continental Europe. At the same time, casualties continued to mount in already afflicted regions, killing thousands more in Brazil and spreading out of London to the rest of Britain. The epidemic apparently spread by trading vessels to Corsica and from there to Sardinia and the Italian peninsula. The influenza has also been felt across the whole of Western Europe, as many have come down with the dreaded disease. Some areas remain uninfected, but many are praying in fear of this blight upon humanity. Hopes remain that this winter will cause the disease to die down, as it had the previous winter, hoping to reduce the outbreak to less dramatic levels. Below is a list of the amounts of the deceased per nation (in Manpower). Following Picture is a shot from a French recovery ward in Paris.
Spoiler :

Argentina: -4
Austria: -4
Brandenburg: -2
Brazil: -11
Brittany: -4
Corsica: -4
Denmark: -5
Flanders: -6
Franco-Burgundian Confederation: -14
Genoa: -3
Milan: -2
Naples: -5
Netherlands: -5
Occitania: -7
Papal States: -6
Paraguay: -1
Portugal: -3
Sardinia: -4
Spain: -5
Tuscany: -3
United Kingdom of Great Britain: -10
Uruguay: -3


REUSACHTIG CRISIS BUILDS GLOBAL WAR TENSIONS. Amsterdam, Netherlands. The world seemed on the brink of war this year, as last year's sinking of the Dutch ship Reusachtig dominated discourse between the Triple Alliance and Brazil and Britain. Dutch demands for compensation from Brazil were outright rejected by the Brazilian government, and it seemed both sides were preparing for war. Ultimately, this seems to have amounted to nothing, as the Dutch failed to act upon threats, and have been lambasted in their own press for their failure to move. This has been partially due to the ambiguous results of a variety of investigations launched into the disaster. With the ship at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, no one can know for sure what sunk the vessel, thus all investigating parties have been forced to rely on witness testimony. The official reports of three nations remain that two Brazilian-looking sailors were seen near the engine room before the explosion. The ship most definitely sent out a request over the wireless for aid, and it was determined that nearby Brazilian ships lacked wireless sets for communication. Spanish ships on regular patrol around the Caribbean did hear the broadcasts, and managed to save the survivors of the sinking. With no one sure of the origin of the explosion, the tensions remain, but no one seems as eager for a full scale war.

ANTARCTIC CLAIMS MADE BY BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To the outrage of portions of the global community, the Brazilians, having launched the first successful expedition to the South Pole last year, have claimed tracts of the continent for themselves and their allies. The Brazilian government has claimed the majority of the landmass for Brazil, while granting sizeable portions to both Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain. This was immediately protested by a number of nations, but the protests quickly lessened when it was realized that the claims were fairly meaningless due to the hostility of the climate of the continent. The Brazilians and Argentines have begun plans to establish research posts on Antarctica but have found it very hard to find anyone willing to go there or any reasons why research would even be conducted there instead of warm established laboratories. Regardless, they have appeased those in the global community who cared by assuring them that scientific expeditions to the south would not be hassled, providing they asked permission.

BRAZIL AND BRITAIN INITIATE MAJOR SCRAPPING PROGRAMS. Liverpool, United Kingdom of Great Britain. After recent developments, the British and Brazilians have launched similar scrapping and building programs, bringing significant development to shipyards and port facilities. The result of this activity has been the elimination of the older coal ships and destroyers which have dotted the navy. Both nation's navies have reduced these ships to scrap and most of the raw material has been sold or repurposed to other industries. Old guns and so forth have been added to the new ships, reducing the cost of construction for the time being, as well as the old crews going to the newer ships. The new Trovão-class Destroyers have replaced these old ships, and are widely touted to be the fastest warships in the world. The British have also supplemented the massive new naval construction with their new Olympus-class Battleships, including the namesake and its two sister ships. The program has thoroughly established the British and Brazilian navies as those with the finest vessels in the world.

News from Europe​

NAVAL CONFRONTATION IN THE NORTH SEA. Aarhus, Denmark. Tensions between the already unhappy Triple Alliance and the British continued to mount this year with an unfortunate incident in the North Sea. A Danish fishing boat had been sabotaged and shot at by British fishermen competing over the same fishing grounds. A Danish destroyer squadron was dispatched to intercept and bring the offending fishermen to justice. They eventually caught up with the British several miles north of Scapa Flow, and were forced to fire at the British fishing vessel to bring them to a halt. The Danes boarded the British vessel, and it was at this time an investigating light cruiser from Scapa Flow encountered the three ships. Ordering the Danes to evacuate the fishing boat, the British fired a warning shot, but the shell proved to be misaimed and one of the Danish vessels was struck by the shell. The Danes returned fire, ultimately sinking the British cruiser, though one of their destroyers was lost in the fighting. The British fishing vessel was swamped in the process, and all but one of the fishermen drowned in the aftermath. He has returned home, loudly crying his innocence of any crime to the British papers, while the Danes have similarly paraded their own wounded fishermen from what they have called a "British act of piracy." The British survivors of the battle were picked up by British ships, long after the Danes had already departed. The result has been even worse tensions over the Channel after this deadly confrontation.
Casualty List
Denmark: 1 Early Destroyer
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 1 Early Light Cruiser

REVOLT BLOODILY CRUSHED IN AUSTRIA. Munich, Austria. A would-be proletarist revolution began this year as a proletarist group organized a full revolt in the city of Munich. This included the support of a number of soldiers from the region's regiments which marched to join the growing revolution. The Proletarian Republic of Munich was established and they soon expected the rest of Austria to rise up in their support. Unfortunately, they were gravely disappointed, as the rest of the nation failed to erupt in revolution against the monarchy. The Austrian army soon responded against the city, demanding its surrender after surrounding it with a barricade of regular army regiments from other regions of the empire. The proletarists refused to surrender, though they did allow the evacuation of those less than supportive of the rebellion. The result was a month-long battle in the city streets as the Austrian army systematically used artillery to demolish rebel strongholds. By the end of the month, the Austrians had restored order, but at a horrific cost to the city of Munich, which was devastated by the fighting. Needless to say, the government's response has dramatically weakened the proletarist cause for the moment in Austria, leaving many frightened at the possible outcome of an attempt at revolution. (-12 Infantry Brigades, -20 Manpower, +1 Stability)

LABOR DISPUTES CONTINUE IN CORSICA. Ajaccio, Corsica. Despite what many would call last year's satisfactory resolution to the Corsican labor crisis and reform, the argument seems to have not quite ended. Corsica's leading employers have begun efforts to break up the unions as they transfer and fire employees with union links, replacing them with new employees at higher wages to instill some new loyalty. The unions remain illegal despite last year's strikes, and the Corsican monarchy has refused to acknowledge the duplicity of the corporations in the current situation. So far it seems that the displaced workers have been blacklisted from employment throughout the island, leaving many of the worst rabble rousers unemployed and out of the work force. This seems to have had very little changing effect on the situation in Corsica, as the labor supporters have been unable to muster up larger support, but they have not yet given up on their efforts.

NATIONALIST PRESS OPENS IN GENOA AMID MOUNTING TENSIONS. Genoa, Genoa. The increasing growth of the local university and the employment of dozens of foreign professors and researchers has led to a growing intellectual support for Italian nationalism. The result has been the opening of the Italian National Press, a printing organization dedicated to the spread of the ideals and nationalist cause throughout the peninsula, starting in Genoa. They have called for Genoan support for a unified Italian state, pushing against outside oppressors such as the Franco-Burgundian Confederation and Austria. The movement has gained substantial local support, and it seems that even King Emmanuelle is an indirect patron of the press. Various interests have appealed to the government to shut the press down, but it has remained open for the time being, building support for a reunited Italy. This has led to King Giovanni II of Milan issuing an ultimatum for the Genoan government to shut down the press and renounce support for any Italian unity movement. This came on the heels of an incident in Milan where a similar press, claiming to be linked to the Genoan institution led to the assassination of several lower level government officials. The ultimatum also demands the arrest and turning over of a number of the University of Genoa's new professors, believed to be linked to the creation of the local press. The ultimatum has threatened war if Genoa does not comply.

DANISH ELECTIONS. Copenhagen, Denmark. To the surprise of many, the elections in Denmark have resulted in a dramatic shift in local politics. The main concern has been over the rising tensions between the Triple Alliance and the British and Brazilians. The Danish government has so far been fully behind the Dutch and French in their support against the belligerence of those two nations, more so after the Scapa Flow Incident early this year. While this has led to a surge among war hawks in Denmark, there have been those fearful of the pain and suffering a wide-scale war could create. The result has been a heavily divided and chaotic atmosphere in Danish politics and government. The elections held this year demonstrated that as the liberal Social Democratic Party ran against the reigning conservative Free People's Party. The liberals have pledged to avoid war as well as enact varied social reforms, while the conservatives have pledged to protect Denmark and its empire at any cost. The result has been highly heated debates and an increasingly polarized government. The nation's Parliament wound up heavily divided, with no clear majority by either of the leading parties. A number of minor parties, even including some social proletarists managed to gain some seats and the result was the formation of a coalition government leaning mostly towards the liberal cause. The new government has pledged to preserve the peace and enter negotiations with the British for compensation over the Scapa Flow Incident, as well as beginning some social reform. (-1 Stability)

KING OF FLANDERS DIES, SON BROUGHT TO THE THRONE. Brussels, Flanders. King Charles III of Flanders passed away this year, after several years of ill health and decline in his physical stature. Regardless, his support last year, led to a reform in the process of selecting a new monarch for the Western European nation, which has been put into its trial paces. The Flemish aristocracy have unanimously brought the throne, the second born son of King Charles III, as he has been viewed as the successor apparent for quite some time. The son is a noted conservative, though not highly motivated to involve himself in petty politics or the dealings of the nation's legislature. This has seemed as a fine trait for the nation, to isolate the monarch from any real affairs of state. The new King Leopold IV has taken this with his natural good humor, and remains a highly beloved figure among the Flemish people for his charitable acts and worldly behavior. (+1 Stability)

PARIS AND BURGUNDY ELECTIONS HELD IN CONFEDERATION ELECTIONS. Paris, Franco-Burgundian Confederation. As per the Confederation's constitution, elections were held this year in the realms of Paris and Burgundy to establish their elected legislature for the two chief regions of the nation. To one's surprise, the nature of the last few elections has been preserved this year, as the conservatives continue to maintain overall power. In fact, the power base seems to have shifted ever so slightly to the conservatives, as support for the conservative war hawks has grown. The French people seem to be in favor of supporting the army and navy growth, particularly believing that the conservative Party of Order remains the nation's best hope for security. This has helped stabilize the government even further, weakening the liberal cause and the Septembrist Party in the nation. (+1 Stability)

SCANDINAVIAN ELECTIONS. Stockholm, Scandinavia. Scandinavian politics have seen a brutal shift in policy and action this year, as the situation abroad seems to be developing a more hawkish government in the nation. The Liberal Party, while advocating peaceful foreign relations and reform, has found itself weakening due to what many consider a faltering approach to the murders in Pomerania. The current government is believed to be too weak for a increasingly tense political situation across the world, and the conservative Industry Party has slammed them across the board. Unfortunately, the Liberals have countered, claiming that the Industry Party seeks to further suppress the workers of Scandinavia and reduce what rights they have gained. The result has actually be some violence, and accusations of electoral fraud in various parts of Scandinavia. When the dust finally settled, the Industry Party has gained the majority, but there have been doubts cast upon the legitimacy of a good portion of regional elections. (-1 Stability)

DEATH OF THE EMPEROR OF SPAIN. Madrid, Spain. The Spanish empire mourned the death of Emperor Philip IX this year, after his failing health for the past few years led to his demise. Under the rule of Emperor Philip IX, the empire of Spain went through a few of its darkest years, as attempts at reform and growth were met with civil war. Numerous new imperial possessions would be added, and it is said by many that the departed emperor was the father of the modern Empire of Spain. Several days of mourning were declared as his son prepared to take up the Spanish imperial throne. The new Emperor Philip X, named for his father, is facing an immense gulf between him and his father, and most believe that he is hardly half the man his giant of a father was. He has been seen as weak and easy to bully by most of the diplomatic corps of Europe, and a conservative by nature. Overall, he has clearly enjoyed himself at lavish parties across the world more than participating in any affairs of state.

SPANISH GOVERNMENT ENDS STRIKE WITH REFORM. Madrid, Spain. The six month long strike of the Meat Workers' Union in Spain ended early this year as the leaders of the reigning Unión Liberal Española passed a series of work reforms. The move was heavily fought in the Imperial Senate by the conservative Comunión Tradicional Española which has hoped to preserve the rights and properties of Spain's leading businessmen. Regardless, the new reforms have established a minimum wage for workers in Spain, as well as legalizing the development of national worker unions. This has been seen as a major victory for the Spanish worker, as new unions are being put together across the peninsula. Numerous other reforms were passed, helping create newer and safer working conditions, but the expense has begun mounting in the government, which now seeks to preserve the new changes. Regardless, the strikes have ended and the nation has stabilized domestically, at least for the moment, as the workforce celebrates their victory. (+1 Stability)

NAPLES CLOSES PORTS TO SPANISH WARSHIPS. Taranto, Naples. The Neapolitan government has taken a stand alongside the Sicilian revolutionaries, claiming to offer at least some support for their cause. To this end, they have closed their coaling stations and ports to any Spanish vessels involved with the blockade and the offensive against Sicily. The Spanish ships have found this to be a severe inconvenience in blockading efforts on the northeastern part of the island, allowing a substantial amount of supplies and money to flow onto the island. It has been clear that trade has only increased between Sicily and the tip of the Italian peninsula with the outbreak of war, as Spanish military intelligence has noted that substantial new equipment and money has been bolstering the resistance. The Spanish government has claimed that it is clear that other nations besides Naples are involved, but have declined to mention who is suspected of this.

STALEMATE IN SICILY LEADS TO TREATY. Palermo, Sicily. The Spanish have launched a bid to retake the island of Sicily from the rebels who have seized control. The starting moves were the enacting of a naval blockade around the island, which has been met with only the most limited success. The Sicilians have rushed to conscript numerous new soldiers to fight against the invaders, rushing them to fight with new arms and munitions. The location of the Spanish invasion was anticipated quite easily as the massing of vessels proved to be easy to spot and the Sicilians immediately began preparing at the anticipated landing site. Some brief surprise was had when the Spanish began the attack at night, but the chaos of the effort was soon spotted and the Legion Hispania found themselves under intensive fire as they rowed to shore. Over half of the brigade failed to make it to shore, and half of those remaining landed on the wrong beaches and were mopped up with ease. The rest established a bare beachhead, holding out after attack after attack. The arrival of reinforcements was quite timely, but as before, faced with heavy casualties from artillery positioned well outside of the range of Spanish battleships. The Spanish have dug in, but have faced constant fire upon all areas within the new beachhead, and ships bringing in supplies are frequently sunk by the Sicilian guns. Sicilian attempts to destroy the beachhead continued throughout the whole year, but Spanish reinforcements, brought in haphazardly and battleship guns have managed to provide some limited support. The fight remained stalemated east of Palermo as neither side gave up any ground. The stalemate soon brought both sides to the negotiating table, and a treaty was established granting Sicily its independence as both sides sought to end the fighting. The treaty has assured the return of captured artillery equipment to Spain, as well as other seized arms and munitions. Spanish property rights continued to be respected and the eliminated tariffs created under the empire continue to remain in place, giving Spain some continued favored status. Regardless, it has been seen as only a slightly tarnished victory for the Sicilian people, as they celebrate their newfound independence. Below photograph showing a Spanish battleship firing in support of the beachhead on Sicily
Casualty Lists
Sicily: 2 Conscript Brigades, 2 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
Spain: 4 Infantry Brigades, 1 Legion Hispania, 2 Early Destroyers


SPANISH ELECTIONS HELD. Madrid, Spain. Spanish elections this year proved to be a heavily fought contest as the situations across the world led to an ample amount of subjects for debate and consideration by voters. Increasing information about the horrors of slavery in the United States of America have been brought out by the conservative Comunión Tradicional Española as they seek to discredit the reigning Unión Liberal Española. This has led to a small shift towards the conservatives as pictures are circulated of the so-called "superplantations" and the associated factory labor. The issue of reform also helped sponsor the growing rise of the conservatives, as they achieved significant financing from the wealthy of Spain. Lastly, the disastrous fighting in Sicily has begun to take its toll upon the Spanish politics, with the results being blamed as a sign of liberal weakness in military and imperial affairs. The result has been a surprisingly overwhelming sweep of the legislature by the Comunión Tradicional Española and they have established the largest majority in the history of the nation's young constitution. (+1 Stability)

HUNGARY BEGINS RETURN TO CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATION AMID MORE UNREST. Bucharest, Hungary. Last year it seemed that the nation of Hungary was about to break out into a full scale civil war between monarchists and proletarists. The violence of civil strife was prevented with the declaration of martial law and the reestablishment of order through use of the military. This year, attempts have begun to reestablish civil control, as some in authority believe that the threat has passed. Some regions have been restored, but the eastern and coastal parts of the nation continue to remain hotbeds of nationalist dissent. Violence and attacks have continued against army patrols and outposts, some quite successfully. This has been exacerbated in a reduction of funding for Hungary's secret police force, which now struggles to hold its control over several areas. In Hungary itself though and around Budapest, it seems the crisis has lessened, but the tensions remain as the government struggles to preserve order. (-3 Infantry Brigades, -5 Manpower)

HUNGARY BEGINS HIRING FOREIGN ADVISORS. Budapest, Hungary. As the nation struggles with stability issues, King Louis V has continued to seek any port in the raging storm. This has resulted in an effort to find the most capable advisors of all types from across Europe, to help guide the nation. Noted advisors have included ones from Spain and the Franco-Burgundian Confederation which have had similar problems over the past few decades. The result has been a collection of able leaders to help guide the king through the troubled times that surely still lay ahead. The first initiative this new group has been given and their orders are work on improving the infrastructure of the nation, especially in the less developed regions. The costs have been listed as fairly heavy, but the advisors have suggested spreading out the labor over five to six years, in order to allow for a easier conversion to new rails and roads across the nation.

BRITTANY BEGINS MILITARY CONSTRUCTION. Nantes, Brittany. Concerned about the ability of the neutral nation's army to protect itself from outside invasion, whether by sea or land, the Breton government has ordered the construction of several new facilities. These include a series of new training forts and camps across the nation to assist in the recruiting and training of new soldiers for the army and navy. This has been followed with the start of construction upon Brittany's first local military academies and officer training structure. In the past, Breton officers have frequently trained with the Confederation's officers, if they received any formal officer training at all. It is hoped that the new academic structure will make the Breton army more professional and successful in its operations.

NEW UNIVERSITY OF GENOA COMPLETED. Genoa, Genoa. As war clouds cross the border from Milan, construction has been at last completed upon the new campuses of the University of Genoa. The staff includes some of the finest theoretical and teaching minds of Europe, or at least those who could be convinced to leave their homes and institutions in other countries. Though they have yet to graduate a single class, most of the intellectual elite of Europe have lauded the efforts made by the Genoans. It is believed that the new university could well shape out to be the finest educational institution in Europe. Of course, there is some concern, that the ultimatum from Milan could disrupt the faculty, some of whom have been demanded to be arrested by the Milanese, not to mention the extreme disruption a war could bring to the university.

NEW ORGANIZATION DESTABILIZES POMERANIA AMID INVESTIGATION. Stettin, Pomerania. A group called the German Brotherhood has taken credit for the murders of Scandinavians and so-called Scandinavian sympathizers last year in Pomerania. Some are not quite sure if these achievements are accurate, as reports state that the Brotherhood was established only this year. The announcement came in the heart of a Scandinavian investigation into the murders, as gunfire led to the deaths of over half the investigating team when they were attacked in their headquarters in Stettin. The timely arrival of police forces stopped the firefight, but the assailants disappeared into the alleys, before they could be caught. The German Brotherhood has called for the creation of a nationalist German state and have proclaimed the Scandinavians and monarchy of Pomerania to be the first enemies of the German people. (-1 Stability)

ROMAN TROOPS FLOOD HUNGARIAN AND SERBIAN BORDERS. Sofia, Roman Empire. Allegedly in response to threats of revolt among the Bulgarians of the Roman Empire, the Roman army has mobilized massive forces into its northern provinces. This has greatly raised tensions in the region, as many of the troops now look across the borders into Serbia and Hungary. The Krakow Pact and Hungary in particular have begun to view this as another sign of the aggression of the League of the Three Emperors, particularly after the eruption of violence in Georgia. The leaders of Hungary have begun calling for a protest against the Roman masses near their border, and the armies throughout the region have been put on a high alert. Several incidents have fortunately been avoided, but with no many soldiers amassed, it seems that alarm could well be justified by the Hungarian forces.

SUFFRAGE REFERENDUM REJECTED IN NETHERLANDS. Amsterdam, Netherlands. A referendum was issued up this year in the Republic of the Netherlands to consider the possibility of women's voting rights in the Western European nation. The Dutch voters have rejected this referendum by over sixty percent, showing a clear failure for the effort. The reasons voters have stated they are against this proposal have been varied, but one of the greatest was due to the unfair advantage that such voting rights would give to married men. The fear has been that wives would vote the same way as their husbands, thus giving an edge to the married people of the Netherlands. Other reasons listed have been due to the inherent fragility of women, and inability to make decisions without collapsing into hysteria.

GOVERNMENT REFORM IN BRANDENBURG. Berlin, Brandenburg. King Charles Frederick II made history for Brandenburg this year, with the calling together of a new Reichstag to help managed and administer the nation. Though the government remains firmly in the control of the monarchy and the associated administrators from the aristocracy, the new Reichstag acts as an elected body to help the monarch weigh the attitudes and opinions of the people. The members of the Reichstag are elected from the masses of the various provinces of Brandenburg. The new parliamentary body has no real power, but the gesture has been noted by liberals in the nation as a true progressive step towards significant reform. Overall, the nation seems content with the new system, and are glad that the beloved monarch can now hear from the people. (+1 Stability)

ST. LEO'S CATHEDRAL COMPLETED. Rome, Papal States. The Papal States have completed the construction upon the new St. Leo's Cathedral in Rome, bringing a new glory to the Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIV himself held the first service in the new cathedral, bringing crowds of Catholic dignitaries from across Europe. The new cathedral has been applauded for its architecture, styled after the destroyed Cathedral of Milan which had been razed during the siege in the Italian Crusade. The new cathedral dominates a good portion of the Roman skyline, as they work to build up the infrastructure of the Church. The Catholic kings of Europe have been quite receptive, and it stands as perhaps the greatest feat of architecture in the twentieth century. Below, a street side view of the new St. Leo's Cathedral.

 
AUSTRIAN PORT EXPANSION COMPLETE. Trieste, Austria. Last year the addition of a large number of ships to the Austrian navy helped spur new development in the coastal city of Trieste. The Austrians have supported this by creating newer and newer infrastructure across the city, creating new docks and facilities for the administration of the fleet. The construction has not gone unnoted by other powers, especially as the substantial fleet docks allow for the creation of far larger ships than currently active. The fleet however is said to be reaching unsustainable levels for the Adriatic Sea. The government has pledged that this effort will continue to build up the economic base of Austrian Italy.

NEW DEFENSIVE ALLIANCE SIGNED. Krakow, Poland. The governments of Poland, Hungary, and Serbia have signed a new defensive agreement with the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The British have established this alliance amid a growing atmosphere of tensions internationally, and have found themselves with new friends in Eastern Europe. The recent loss of New Britain to the Russians has further spurred this decision, as bitterness remains high towards Moscow and its allies in the League of the Three Emperors. To Poland and Hungary, the addition of the British to their already established alliance has helped provide a naval counterbalance against at least the might of Scandinavia. To foreign observers this dramatic turn of events could well even the balance in any potential conflict between the Krakow Pact and the League of the Three Emperors.

News from the Americas​

STRIKES BUSTED THROUGHOUT ECUADOR. Quito, Ecuador. A number of large labor strikes were held in Ecuador this year, as a move to bring the dictatorial government to its knees. The workers have demanded an end to the so-called "emergency state" that has been in place since 1893. The state was established and a dictatorship formed after a series of brutal riots which had to be suppressed by the military. The strikers have hoped to bring the Martinez government to its knees and bring about new elections without the use of violence. Unfortunately, their corporate managers and the government felt differently, ordering them to return to work. When they failed to, the army was sent in to restore order, and numerous strikers were arrested and imprisoned. Work has been resumed, but the whole affair has distinctly destabilized the state as the army remains in place at major factories and train yards to make sure that work continues. (-1 Stability)

HARBOR STRIKES HALT SHIPPING IN NEW SPAIN. Tegucigalpa, New Spain. The New Spanish government has faced a rising problem late in the year with the closure of several of the nation's main ports due to a shipping strike. The workers have demanded immediate labor reform and higher pay for their work in the harbors. Furthermore, they have demanded the right to establish official unions and safety regulations for their labor. The New Spanish companies they have worked for attempted to solve the problem in house by hiring thugs to break up the strikes through violence. The strikers repulsed this effort as the police watched on without interfering in the affair. The results has been growing dissatisfaction and economic paralysis as the closure of national shipping continues. (-1 Stability)

BRUTAL CIVIL WAR RESULTS FROM COLOMBIAN ELECTIONS. Bogota, Colombia. Though the nation of Colombia has remained democratic for over fifty years, it seems that ambition can afflict itself upon any republic. Elections were scheduled to go forward this year, and have but in an immensely bloody manner. The elections proved to be highly erratic and concerns about the legitimacy of the elections in 1898 have led to most Colombian voters not trusting the polls this time. In each region of Colombia, factions supporting the various parties have literally fought for control, as portions of the army take each side. The moderate Party of Order has completely collapsed into warring factions, as the elections fell apart as well. Two different counts of the elections emerged, with a liberal candidate winning in one and the conservative winning in another. Both sides claim the other count to be illegitimate and the battle lines were soon drawn as a civil war broke out. The liberals are led by Abelardo Cabeza de Vaca, a noted union leader who has led the charge for reform against the Party of Order for nearly a decade. He has claimed that his fight is one for the people of Colombia, to establish fair treatment for all the workers. Francisco Martos has denounced his opponent as a proletarist, and claims that Colombia can't afford weakness in reform with the threat of the United States looming to the north. Negotiations have fully broken down as troops supporting Martos have secured the interior of the nation, while the ports and coastal provinces have risen in support of de Vaca. (-12 Manpower)

BRAZILIAN ELECTIONS. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The elections in Brazil were dominated this year by the rising tensions with the Triple Alliance, and the ever present threat of an attempted invasion. This has led to dramatic support for the hawks in the Party of Order which had resisted negotiations to pay any sort of compensation. The Brazilian government thoroughly denies any involvement in the Reusachtig Crisis, and has refused to pay, even if the event were an action by Brazilian linked saboteurs. This stand has endeared the current government to the population, swelling with nationalist pride and fervor. The Party of Order has clearly gained an even greater majority, establishing their government once more and building the support of the people. They are still detested in some regional areas though, especially Guyana, which continues to refuse participation with the Brazilian government, maintaining their trade ties with the Dutch and Scandinavia, despite the increased costs of international trade.

NUEVA LEON RENAMED. Tenochtitlan, Spain. A referendum was put to the Aztec people of the Spanish viceroyalty of Nueva Leon this year, which has shown a growing sense of pride in the Aztec culture and language. After last year's calls for the ending of the Hispanic name of the viceroyalty, the government in Madrid has answered. The result has been in a renaming of the colony to Aztlan, recognizing the true nature of the people of this particular realm of the empire. This has been seen as a major victory for Aztec nationalists, though they have remained fairly amicable towards Spanish rule at the moment. The hope remains that the new emperor will allow for a fairly amicable separation in the future, as the Aztecs remain proud of their culture and people, though they recall the Spanish liberation from oppression. They continue to argue that the Spanish should work with them in independence, in order to preserve the cordial relationship between the two peoples.

VINLAND GOVERNMENT HELPS FUND CIVIC PARKS. Sjöstad, Vinland. In a move to sponsor city beautification and improve the lot of its citizens, the federal government of Vinland has begun to support city regimes. Money has been provided to create areas of relaxation and recreation throughout the larger cities of the nation. The finest example to date has been the creation of the Axel Gyllenstjerna City Park of Sjöstad which features a substantial amount of relaxing pathways and ponds for contemplative relaxation. The park has proven wildly popular, though at nighttime has been said to be fairly dangerous. The police of the city have altered patrols to help the cause and protect the new paths in the new green spot in the center of the metropolis.

PARAGUAY COMPLETES NEW UNIVERSITY SETUP. Asunción, Paraguay. After several years of hard work, the government of Paraguay has completed the construction and development of a new university system for their nation. The president has loudly touted this new university, claiming it to be on par with the finest schools of Europe and the Americas. New professors and teachers have been hired from across the world in order to bolster the ranks of the faculty in the nation. They have offered lucrative scholarships for bright young intellectuals from across South America, especially from their close friends and allies in Brazil and Argentina. Universities from other states have recognized this new system, offering substantial support by lending professors to the Paraguayan schools.

News from Africa and the Middle East​

CRISIS IN THE HOLY LAND. Jerusalem, Spain. This year another spate of violence caused by the Sons of Arabia has rallied a number of supporters for their cause for removing the imperial Spanish government. Several attacks against Spanish garrisons have actually had some limited success, allowing the Sons of Arabia to arm themselves even better against their enemies. Spanish propaganda has retaliated, as they claim that the Sons of Arabia intend to force Islam and oppression upon all the people of the Holy Land. This has alienated a good portion of the local Arab and Islamic populations which have begun offering more and more support for the Sons. The true crisis erupted when one of the leaders of the Sons of Arabia was captured by the Spanish in a raid, and it was revealed that the Arabian Empire was responsible for initial financing and support for the organization. The Spanish colonial authorities have denounced this perceived aggression, though it has swayed a number of local Arabs to appreciating the Arabs to the east. The Spanish army has been mobilized into defensive positions, as it seems a war could erupt at any time in the region. (-1 Stability in the Holy Land)

TUNISIAN RESISTANCE AGAINST SARDINIAN RULE. Tunis, Sardinia. The Sardinian government has faced a rising local threat against their rule over their sole colonial possession in Africa. A group of Tunisian rebels have proven more successful than most, attacking and killing a number of Sardinian patrols and camps throughout the region. The Tunisian guerillas have proven startlingly adept at their tasks, causing Sardinian patrols to be bolstered, weakening outposts. It seems that the Shadow of the Desert, as they call the leader of the group, has proven more than competent enough to evade the best efforts of the Sardinians to stop him. It is said that these fighters strive for an independent Tunis to be restored, as a major power once again, and this has won over support allegedly from influential local traders and merchants. Support for his cause has only grown throughout the year as the Tunisians win success after success against the reigning colonial government. (-1 Stability in Tunis)

NATIONALIST COUP RESULTS IN NEW KURDISH NATION. Cizre, Kurdistan. The nation of Cizre Bohtan was ruled until recently by a series of Turkish sultans previously put upon their throne by the now defunct Caliphate. The status of Cizre Bohtan has at last come to an end with a move by the military against Sultan Badr Beg II. After suffering through years of corruption and dissatisfaction with the regime, the hope has been to establish a government of the Kurdish people who make up the majority of the nation's population. This year elements among the Kurds of Cizre Bohtan's army made a bid for power to oust the sultan and establish their own government. The effort has proven successful, after a brief but bloody fight in Cizre against those loyal to the old regime, taking the sultan's palace and placing him under arrest. The old sultan and his family have been exiled to Turkey, as a new government is installed. Under the support from his fellow officers, the new nation of the Kingdom of Kurdistan has been proclaimed as the new King Mahmud is placed upon the throne. The hopes are this new nation will safeguard the interests of the Kurdish people and culture. (-4 Manpower, -4 Infantry Brigades, -2 Cavalry Brigades, -1 Artillery Brigade, +1 Stability)

RUSSIAN SETTLERS LEAD UNREST IN GEORGIA. Tiflis, Georgia. The recent addition of Georgia to the Krakow Pact has led to growing unrest between Russian settlers in northern Georgia and the rest of the population. The result has been growing violence throughout the region as the Georgians and Russians clash for control of various fertile regions. The Georgian army has been called in to restore order, only escalating the conflict, as they fight to preserve farmers against the encroaching Russian scourge. Numerous members of the Georgian nation have appealed to the monarchy to expel the Russians, claiming that they are destabilizing the region and attempting to secure the best farmlands for themselves. The government has heard these complaints, but seems uncertain in how to react due to Russian political pressure and the ominous cloud of the Russian army hanging overhead. (-1 Stability)

MILITARY GOVERNMENT OUSTS TURKISH SULTAN. Konya, Turkey. The army of Turkey made a surprisingly successful bid for power this year, against the highly unpopular Roman toady, Sultan Osman II. The sultan and his extended retinue had departed for Constantinople to attend the Imperator's Games and dine with the royalty of the Roman Empire. With the sultan gone, elements in the Turkish military have deposed what remained of the sultan's government in Konya. The new anti-Roman government has immediately sought ought new friends and allies and have turned their eyes south to the Spanish. To their surprise, the Spanish seemed receptive to alliance, and the Spanish emperor immediately recognized the legitimacy of the new Turkish regime and a new friendship has been formed. An official defensive alliance has been signed between Spain and Turkey, establishing the latter as a partner of the Spanish empire. This has of course led to outrage in Constantinople, as the Roman Imperator objects to this move by the Spanish government, meddling in a region of historically Roman interest. The army has assumed current direct control of Turkey, as they fear a Roman military response in the region. This has so far been accepted, as many fear a new Roman invasion of the nation. (+1 Stability, -1 Infantry Brigade)

News from the Far East​

NATIONAL CONGRESS ESTABLISHED IN INDIA. Delhi, Spain. A number of select Hindi intellectual leaders and elected individuals from across Spanish India met this year in Delhi, to discuss goals to establish a fully independent nation. The Indians have rallied together as they are mostly excluded from the Spanish government, which encourages participation only from Christian members of the nation. Many of the members of the new National Congress of India are highly educated and intelligent individuals, who believe that India has a far richer and more significant history and culture than Spain, and that the Spanish have no right to rule over the region. They have found substantial support predominantly among the Hindu population of India, and their almost exclusively Hindu organization has only alienated would-be Christian or Islamic supporters. The Indians have published their stated goals, including the end of any Spanish rule in India, and the establishment of a new democratic and fully independent Indian nation. The Congress plans to meet twice a year to consider approaches and manners to end the Spanish empire in India.

AUSTRALIAN PARTY GAINS GROWING SUPPORT. Perth, United Kingdom of Great Britain. The Australian Party for Home Rule continued to lobby for significant reform to the imperial management of the continent by the British. They have continued to loudly argue for a more elective society in Australia to manage their own internal affairs. They have called for the establishment of an Australian Congress to administer the day to day affairs of the colony, away from direct British control from London. So far the calls have been ignored by the British governor, as they continue to hold out hope of preserving full colonial control. The Australian party has thus gained growing support, mostly in the western part of the continent, where they have found those most sympathetic to their cause. The Australians hope that they will soon be able to achieve at least limited local independence, striving for political victory.

KOREANS RESIST JAPANESE RULE. Seoul, Japan. The Japanese have begun facing a rising underground insurgency against their rule in Korea, which has been in place for nearly fifty years. A group of Koreans left out of work by the destruction of their livelihoods by the current modernization project, have begun assembling support for a guerilla army. The Japanese have begun immediately cracking down upon this would be uprising, but have not met with much success. The Koreans' knowledge of the terrain and limited support in the cities have meant that they have been able to disappear and conceal themselves in most cases. The Koreans have won several small skirmishes against the Japanese, threatening to destabilize the colony even further against Japan's rule over the peninsula. The Japanese have offer immense reward, and the few who have been captured have been executed for their crimes against the army. The brutal methods of execution have shocked European observers, but they do seem to have at least some effect against those considering rebellion.

CHINA AND RUSSIA ESTABLISH NEW RELATIONS. Lanzhou, China. The new government in China led by Shi Au Gau has continued to be frequently rebuffed diplomatically to the European powers to the east. This has resulted in an official change of the status between China and their northern Russian neighbors. Under the full support of the Russian emperor, an embassy has been established in Lanzhou, recognizing the official government. This has also included the full opening of borders between the two nations, and plans even for a railroad across the rough terrain have been considered. General Shi Au Gau has frequently had close relations with the Russian officer corps and this has been seen as a natural progression of the relationship. The exchange of ambassadors has continued the rising strong relationship between the two states, securing a solid peace for the central parts of the Asian continent.

RUSSIANS ENLARGE EASTERN ARMIES. Ivangrad, Russia. In the easternmost portions of the Russian empire, the Russian army has increased its regimental size by over five hundred percent. Thousands of new soldiers, artillery pieces, and horses have been sent east by Moscow to reinforce the local garrison and army. The effort has been officially acknowledged as a major drive to establish a secure position throughout the region, but has also been seen as a possible prelude to aggression. The resulting army vastly outnumbers the French and Japanese forces it borders, bringing new tension to the already uncomfortably close to war region. The Japanese have issued an official protest, calling the move a prelude to invasion. It is believed that the close proximity of these massive Russian forces could very well herald a new war in China.

FRENCH AND JAPANESE DEMILITARIZE BORDER TO REDUCE TENSIONS. Peking, Franco-Burgundian Confederation. After unconfirmed reports of skirmishes last year, the Japanese and French have established an agreement to reduce the rising tensions along their mutual colonial borders in China. The agreement has been to demilitarize areas of two miles in each direction from the border, pulling back troops from areas threatened with war. This has emerged as both sides have begun a gradual buildup of soldiers in the region, threatening a larger conflict to emerge. Of course, many have questioned the wisdom of this policy with the new agreements between China and Russia and the deployment of massive Russian armies to the area.
 
Financial Section​

ECONOMIC FLUCTUATION REPORT. Madrid, Spain.
Spoiler :

Arabian Empire: +1 EP
Argentina: +1 EP
Austria: -1 EP
Brandenburg: +2 EP
Brazil: +3 EP
Brittany: +1 EP
China: +5 EP
Corsica: -2 EP
Flanders: -1 EP
Franco-Burgundian Confederation: +1 EP
Genoa: +2 EP
Georgia: -3 EP
Hungary: -2 EP
Japan: +3 EP
Naples: +3 EP
Netherlands: -2 EP
New Spain: +1 EP
Occitania: +1 EP
Papal States: +2 EP
Paraguay: +1 EP
Peru: +1 EP
Poland: +3 EP
Pomerania: +3 EP
Portugal: +2 EP
Roman Empire: -3 EP
Russia: +5 EP
Sardinia: +1 EP
Scandinavia: -2 EP
Sicily: +2 EP
Spain: +2 EP
Turkey: +4 EP
Tuscany: +1 EP
United Kingdom of Great Britain: +5 EP
United States of America: +2 EP
Vinland: +2 EP


Political Cartoon, from Vienna in Austria​


Advertisements From Around the World​


The Sports Page​

FIRST LONG RANGE AUTOMOTIVE RACE HELD IN NEW SPAIN. Managua, New Spain. After the success of the enclosed race upon a former horse track in Naples, the government of, surprisingly, New Spain has taken an interest. As a manner of testing new cars and engines, they have sponsored a race through the mountains and across the bumpy roads of the jungles of New Spain. Unfortunately, few automotive designers seem that eager to participate, and some vehicles simply fell apart once arriving in the tropical climate. Only two automotive vehicles actually completed the full race, mostly at a far slower pace than that in Naples. Both vehicles frequently broke down, and one of the previously travelling vehicles actually crashed into one of the positioned fuelling stations. There were no survivors.

BALOMPIE WORLD CUP. Berlin, Brandenburg. Despite the tense political atmosphere in Central Europe, the Brandenburger-hosted Balompie World Cup was held this year, to find the best team from those who participate in this sport. Participating teams from nine different nations joined in the festivities, and from the contest, the Spanish team emerged the most triumphant. This was hardly a surprise to most of the observers, as the Spanish team was put together from the finest athletes from across the empire. The sport, considered to be widely one of Spanish origin, is still unsurprisingly dominated by its creators on the field. The lackluster participation from other nations still leads many to suspect that this tradition will not continue, as the results have caused less enthusiastic nations such as Vinland to seek out local sports to bolster the national pride.

THE IMPERATOR'S GAMES. Constantinople, Roman Empire. A collection of private games have been created for the enjoyment of the Imperator and a select few among the upper elite of the Roman government. The so-called "Imperator's Games" feature a large number of selected and militarist sports as well as those which have been selected for the 1904 Olympics in Oslo. The focus has been on establishing a spirit of competition in the military, as those selected have been only of volunteering soldiers from across the empire. The games proceeded well ahead, attended by the most influential and wealthy people of the empire, and were enjoyed by all present. The soldier who emerged victorious has been given significant recognition as a sporting hero of the whole Roman Empire, and has been selected to lead the team which the Roman Empire will send to Oslo in a mere two years.

VARUKORGBOLL GAINS MOMENTUM IN US AND VINLAND. Sammanström, Vinland. Under the support of the governments of Vinland and the United States of America, a number Varukorgboll clubs in both nations have held a collective competition. A number of teams participated, and the events took an incredible turn in the United States of America as the team from Duluth gained significant grounds in the competition. The American public grew increasingly enraptured with what has been butchered linguistically and called "Varook Ball" in the American press. Numerous teams have sprung up across the nation, thought ultimately the competition itself was won by the Vinlander team from Vattenby. The hopes are that future competitions will demonstrate American superiority, and the team from Duluth has vowed that next year they will triumph.

The Cultural Center​

The Wondrous Wizard of Oz
By Frank L. Baum, the three collected novels in the series of the Wondrous Wizard of Oz have found immense popularity among the American people. The first depicts the arrival of a young girl from the state of West Florida as her house is picked up by a tornado and deposited in the strange land of Oz. To get home, she sails down the Emerald River and meets up with a scarecrow, a tin man, and a black bear to find the Great Wizard of the Golden City. The following encounter and book involves her adventures in slaying the Evil Witch of the South, and the resulting shenanigans in the Golden City. The final book depicts other journeys around the world of Oz and the eventual return of the girl to her home. They have proven to be highly popular in the United States, and have found readers across the world, even in Britain and other states no very enthusiastic about American culture.

The Trials of Venice
A series of three traditionally styled Japanese plays have become highly popular among the masses of the Japanese people. Known collectively to Westerners as the "Trials of Venice" the plays depict life in the Italian city of Venice amid the three Venetian Wars of the nineteenth century. This has emerged from a fascination with European history among the elite of Japanese society, and has proven popular when transformed into a Japanese art style. The three plays, The Skies of Venice, The Shores of Venice, and The Swords of Venice are considered to be modern masterpieces by aficionados of Japanese plays.

La Guerra De Los Mundos
Written by author Leandro Moro, this Spanish novel is considered to be the first of its kind and has been unrivaled except by the works of British author Henry Verne in the 1870s. La Guerra De Los Mundos is a story about an invasion from Mars, landing in a rural region of Spain. Humanity fights against the invasion but is eventually overwhelmed as Madrid falls to the invaders. Eventually only microscopic bacteria leads to the aliens' defeat. The novel has proven immensely popular throughout Spain and portions of the empire, especially enjoyable to those who like reading about dead Spaniards. Below a picture of the Spanish-produced novel


Random Stat Changes and Fluctuations and Minor Technological Advances

Spain completes research into Cruiser Improvement Level One and Destroyer Improvement Level One.

Japan and the Arabian Empire complete collaborative research into Small Arms Improvement Level One.

Naples completes research into Destroyer Improvement Level One.

Roman Empire completes designs upon the new Romanos-class Destroyer.

Russia completes research into Artillery Improvement Level One, shares technology with Scandinavia and the Roman Empire.

Sardinia completes research into Destroyer Improvement Level One.

Scandinavia completes research into Battleship Improvement Level One.

Brandenburg completes research into Gas Warfare Level One.

Franco-Burgundian Confederation and Netherlands complete collaborative research into Cruiser Improvement Level One, technology shared with Denmark.

Franco-Burgundian Confederation and Milan complete collaborative research into Small Arms Improvement Level One, technology shared with Netherlands and Denmark.

Poland completes research into Gas Warfare Level One.

Denmark completes research into Destroyer Improvement Level One, shares technology with Netherlands and the Franco-Burgundian Confederation.

United Kingdom of Great Britain creates new Olympus-class Battleship designs. Designs shared with Argentina and Brazil.

United Kingdom of Great Britain shares the technology of Destroyer Improvement Level One with Argentina.

Diplomatic Pouch

To: Any Interested Parties
From: Portugal

We are now selling construction rights to our Joao-class Heavy Cruisers for a mere 40 EP to any interested navies. Alternatively, we will offer the construction rights to these fine warships for any one technology.

To: Hungary
From: Serbia

We are interested in cooperating in your ongoing military research in an effort to speed the improvement of both of our armed forces.

To: Britain
From: Denmark

We apologize for the outcome of the events in the Scapa Flow Incident, and hope that there is no need for this to erupt into war, which we have no recently avoided in South America. Therefore, we offer to reimburse your navy for the costs of the lost vessel and to provide funds for the widows of the slain sailors. We hope that this will however, open up discussion about fishing rights and territories throughout the North Sea.

OOC

Starting with this update, I'll be including the links to all updates on the front page. No worries, I'll be taking care of this from here on out, though I know I'm a bit behind the times on that. Better late than never.

Some of you may notice the new "Social Expenses" cost under Spain's domestic policies. I bring up this internal matter, because Social Expenses are the cost of having programs and administrations in place to administer the social welfare of your people. Yes, there is a cost to reform, and it is based on what reforms you have passed and how many people you have. As with education, the number in parenthesis is the recommended cost for such expenses, but you can set it to be however much you'd like.

Double A has dropped from the NES due to business and conflicting schedules. Poland is now under the control of Haseri.

MusicLord has dropped from the NES as well for scheduling in RL. Peru is now open to be taken.

@SouthernKing: The EP cost for your proposed project is 550 EP.

@Lord_Iggy: My recommendation would to be to include your city spotlights on the thread. I don't save the PMs, though I do save the names of the cities. It just seems like a waste to only include it in your orders, though I do appreciate it.

Once more, I'd like to thank contributors for this political cartoon and all of the inspirations for the cultural center for this update. As before, I encourage anyone who wants to get something in, whether it's for your nation or someone else's.

World Map
 

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A final note, which I wanted to keep separate of the update itself. Please notice that the next update will take place Tuesday, not Wednesday. Adjust your order schedules appropriately. Furthermore, I will be out of town all weekend, and will be unable to regularly answer questions until I return Sunday or Monday. I will do the best I can with what will be available to me, but no promises, so ask what you can tonight or tomorrow morning.
 
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