European News Report
SCAPA FLOW LEASE ENDS. Glasgow, Scotland. New Englander troops turned over control of the base mistakenly known as Scapa Flow Naval Base on the northern tip of Scotland to Scottish soldiers. The lease deal was signed at the height of the Anglo-Celtic War back in 1912, when the government of the now defunct Celtic Union was desperate fro whatever funds and aid it could receive. The government of the Republic of New England announced that the base there no longer served a purpose as tensions have dramatically declined between that nation and the nations of Europe since the bases construction began. The lease was therefore terminated by agreement of both sides and the Eight Fleet was withdrawn to port in Boston for redeployment elsewhere. Members of the European community have applauded this act, showing as a hopeful sign of peace and prosperity in Europe.
HUNGARY BRINGS IN NEW LEADERS. Budapest, Hungary. As what happens in many expanding militaries, the bad news of less people working in the factories is accompanied by good news of leadership. The past few years have seen some incredible minds rise to the forefront of the Hungarian military. The Hungarian army capitalized on these bright new leaders, gently retiring older and less fit commanders. The new leaders have revitalized the fighting spirit of the Hungarian people, bringing new pride and ambition into the countrys national psyche. (+1 Army Quality)
DANISH ELECTIONS. Copenhagen, Danish Empire. The rising tensions in Europe displayed this year have been the key issue in Danish elections this year. The Dansk National Arbejderparti managed to retain its control over their reactionary core as well as the larger conservative supporters. Most conservative politicians have thrown their backing behind the Arbejderparti, giving them the majority they need to pass often controversial policies. The party has seen a bit of an internal divide based on foreign policy. Though, some retain a anti-French position, many are coming to believe that a communist victory in North America may prove to be a far greater blow against the empire in the long run. They have called for reinforcements for the Danish Caribbean, and even some limited intervention in the fighting on the mainland. (+1 Stability)
DUTCH ELECTIONS. Amsterdam, Republic of the Netherlands. The long ruling Moderate coalition in the Netherlands collapsed this year as issues within the empire and abroad have shattered the reigning party. The rising tensions in New Holland between Amsterdam and the local Boers were the first of the issues which shattered the party. The Conservative Party called for enforcement of regulations upon both the Boers and the non-Dutch speaking immigrants from North America. The Liberals wished for a more concillatory approach to both sides, and their lack of position hurt them in the elections. The next major issue was the continuing war in the Americas as the socialist armies continued their drives east. The threats placed upon Dutch colonies in the Caribbean have led to Conservative calls to reinforce the garrisons as well as to begin a major naval buildup. They have called for a wall of steel to safeguard the Netherlands and its colonies, citing that France and other powers now easily surpass Dutch naval strength. (-2 Stability)
GERMAN ELECTIONS. Munich, German Republic. As tensions rise in Europe, the German people have seemed to have grown increasingly tired of the failure of the government to do anything to ease relations with France. Nonetheless the Konservative Party has once again returned to power, though they have lost their majority in the national congress. The liberals have called for arms reductions agreements with France or any other method which could be made to restore stability in Europe. They have stated that the French have done nothing but promote peace in Europe, with only a few inane radicals riling less desirable elements of the nation. The Konservative government still maintains that military strength is vital to protect German security, but the divided congress speaks for itself. (-3 Stability)
DEATH OF THE TSAR. St. Petersburg, Russian Federation. The Russian Federation mourned the death of Tsar Nicholas II this year, considered by many to be one of then nations most important and influential leaders. Though the status of the Russian monarchy declined nearly to the point of figurehead position over the government under his reign, his graceful turning over of powers to the Duma is heralded as a example of great sacrifice for the nation. Granted power upon his fathers death in 1894, Nicholas II had seven children, though the first son died of hemophilia in 1919. His second son has been crowned Tsar Alexander IV at the incredible young age of seventeen as the final request of the departed monarch. Alexander IV, though young, has pledged to keep Russias strength intact and to follow the will of the president and Duma in whatever course they should choose to take for the Russian Federation and its people.
ROMANIA ELECTIONS. Bucharest, Romania. A heated election took place this year in Romania, as the Liberal Party made a heated comeback into politics. Even while conservative movements continue to gain strength through the rest of the Balkans, the Liberal Party of Romania has secured a strong new hold on the Romanian government. The election was originally believed to be easily in the control of the Conservative Party, with friendly editors in the nations press and Congressional support. Despite their advantages, the Liberal Party won a victory after news broke of embezzlement and corruption within the Conservative Party during their term of office. The country was thrown into disarray upon this news, as people lost faith in their leadership. (-3 Stability)
PORTUGUESE ELECTIONS CANCELLED. Lisbon, Portugal. King Miguel III, with the approval of the standing parliament, has announced the indefinite closing of elections for the foreseeable future. The disorder and confusion caused by the electoral process has been stated as an unwanted nuisance for the stability and security of the Portuguese nation. The government has stated that the rise of tensions in Europe with the European Alliance of Nations and the Co-Axial Pact no longer allow for electoral political anarchy. The continuing revolt in Honshu has also been considered a major problem which cannot be handled by a democratic regime. For the security of the empire, the elections must be ended. (-1 Stability)
TRANSYLVANIA ELECTIONS. Blaj, Transylvania. This years elections in Transylvania proved to be a reaffirmation of the norm. The Conservative Party has once more dominated the national elections for the Congress, securing victory after victory on the platform of economic growth and military reform. The governments success in encouraging the economy in recent years easily allowed for success in the elections, gaining ultimate support from the population. The Conservative Party has pledged to make the armed forces worthy of being included in the overall Russian Imperial forces. (+1 Stability)
REVOLT IN BULGARIA. Sofia, Bulgaria. The government of Bulgaria has been faced with a major threat this year as republican advocates rose up against the monarchy. Last years unpopular granting of more authority to the king and his close associates in the national Duma was stated as the cause of the uprising. The fighting in Sofia was the harshest, though minor battles took place at almost every military base or major city in the country. Civilian casualties were heavy as military discipline broke down in some areas and strikes were made into densely populated zones. The massacres have been highly publicized as a breakdown of the Bulgarian military, which may well have been encouraged by the monarchy. (-3 Infantry Brigades, -15 Manpower)
DANES UNVEIL NEW SUBMARINE. Copenhagen, Danish Empire. The Danish Empire, home of the origins of the militarization of steam-powered craft, have made their first contribution to the naval arts since the mid-nineteenth century. The Haj Undervandsbåd, or the Shark Submarine is a marvel of modern engineering, combining the firepower of a light cruiser with the stealth of a long range submarine. Danish naval enthusiasts claim that this invention will revolutionize naval warfare and provide the answer to the aircraft question, a dispute over airpowers influence on war at sea. Theorists state that the ships of the future will travel under waves rather than above them to prevent detection by aircraft, and that surface travel will soon become an extinct phenomenon. The success of submarines in the ongoing war in the Americas seems to give some credence to this, though detractors still state that submarines will never be able to match the firepower of a modern battleship.
NUIT EN CRISTAL. Paris, France. In a cycle of unprecedented brutality throughout France, angry mobs have assaulted and shattered German, Dutch, and English business interests throughout the French nation. Reports claim that a large number of Germans were lynched or attacked by these mobs, and in the Alsace-Lorraine region, factories or businesses owned by German people were forced at gunpoint across the border. It is said that local authorities did little to hinder the massive civilian based attack against the people from the European Alliance of Nations, and several embassies in Paris were forced to close down as mobs surrounded the buildings. People have spoken out in support of the effort by civilians, calling it a brave attempt to prevent foreign domination by corrupt and decadent powers.
RUSSIA LAUNCHES HIGH WAY PROJECT. Moscow, Russian Federation. The Russian government has announced the onset of the Federation High Way Program, the creation of a continent spanning, automobile friendly road network stretching from Warsaw to Vladivostok. The new tsar has spoken in support of the project, calling it a modern new network which provide untold numbers of jobs and production throughout the country. The project is slated to take only six years of nonstop effort and government expenses, but it may drag out, depending on other needs of the nation. The first roads were completed this year running from Poland to St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Tsarityn, though over eighty percent of the nation still needs these new developments. The growing popularity of the automobile in the Russian Federation have silenced some critics, but some claim that the vast expense of developing and maintaining these roads across the whole of Russia will only do more harm than good.
African/Middle Eastern News Report
LIBERIA ELECTIONS. Forsythville, Liberia. Elections in Liberia turned into quite a debacle this year as a vicious and divisive campaign was launched between liberals and conservatives. Rising issues such as increased national crime and the poor state of the nations infrastructure were the key talking points of the Liberal Party. They promised to the people to revitalize the nations economy and strength by the development of large scale internal construction programs, modernizing the nation and bringing it into the twentieth century. The Conservatives denounced these programs, calling them socialist in nature and a major detriment to industrial and commercial development in Liberia. The Conservative Party ultimately won victory in the elections, gaining control of the government once again, but the damage was done. The Liberal candidate stirred up enough emotion and disorder, that the call for reform may not be able to be put back into the political box. (-3 Stability)
REVOLT IN SOUTHERN AFRICA. Zimbabwe, France. French and Danish colonial authorities in what was the Zulu Empire prior to the Great War faced a new threat as a small alliance of tribes rose in rebellion this year. The bulk of the rebellion took place in French territory, though some of the local tribes from the Danish Empire joined in as well. The initial localized garrisons were easily overwhelmed by the rebels, who took them by surprise. Despite the initial success, retaliation came quickly from both colonial overlords. Danish and French troops, working with limited cooperation, interspersed by suspicion towards each other, managed to smash the Zulu uprising with limited casualties. An unfortunate side effect of the uprising was the rise of tensions between France and Denmarks local forces, who entered into full scale confrontation. The French forces met against the Danes somewhere along the border, and claiming that they were on French soil entered into battle. Two divisions from each side were involved in the fight, and one Danish division was left badly mauled by the superior French army. (-1 Stability in both French Zululand and Danish Zululand)
Casualty List
France: 2 Infantry Brigades
Danish Empire: 8 Infantry Brigades
KURDISH-PERSIAN WAR. Tehran, Persia. Sparked by last years invasion of northwestern Persia by Kurdish military forces, a small conflict continues to simmer in the Middle East. Without orders from Tehran and desperate for action against the invading Kurdish forces, the local Persian army launched an offensive against the Kurds, underestimating numbers, but still hoping for victory. They were soon slaughtered by the Kurdish forces, which were well prepared thanks to biplanes sent into the skies for recon purposes. The Kurdish armies have mobilized to the new borders, threatening full invasion of Persia if the standing government does not see reason and concede Kurdish claims on the occupied territory.
Casualty List
Kurdistan: 4 Infantry Brigades
Persia: 7 Infantry Brigades, -1 Stability
Asian/Pacific News Report
KYUSHU REVOLT. Kagoshima, Portugal. Japanese resistance continued against Portuguese authorities this year as a movement led by local samurai gains in strength against the occupiers. Reinforcements continue to arrive on the island, including rumors of Korean involvement as well, though such involvement has been denied by Portuguese colonial leaders. Portugal has pledged to maintain the security of the island within the empire and to preserve national control over one of the larger gems of the countrys imperial possessions. The Portuguese garrison launched several offensives against the samurai bastions in the countryside, but have been met only with disaster after disaster against the rebels. New travel codes and restrictions are being passed over the island as the Portuguese government struggles to maintain order. (-1 Stability in Kyushu, -4 Infantry Brigades)
NEW HOLLAND CLOSES PORTS TO IMMIGRANTS. Sydney, Republic of the Netherlands. Militias led by Boer residents in the Dutch possession of New Holland halted ships heading to port filled with immigrants this year. Part of the Homestead Act, the government has been sponsoring relocation for people from North America and Europe, providing land and support for their landing. The Boer residents who had arrived before have opposed this with much ferocity and have assembled militias to maintain order. The local government has refused to allow further residents any access to their territory, and have mobilized the militia, seizing government arsenals to make their points clear. The government of New Holland has stated: We shall not be dictated by Amsterdam as to who will settle our land. The Boers have demanded the repealing of the Homestead Act or have threatened secession from the empire. The immigrants have been forced onto New Zeeland as the crisis continues to escalate between imperial and local authorities. (-5 Stability in New Holland, -2 Stability in New Zeeland, -1 Stability in the republic of the Netherlands proper)
NEW FIGHTING IN AFGHANISTAN. Kabul, Afghanistan. The warlords which make up the hodgepodge nation of Afghanistan have opened upon another round of combat this year, as the various leaders attempt to seize power from the standing government. The government has managed to maintain its control over the nation, smashing a variety of warlords for the first time. Rather than standing aside and allowing local disputes to be resolved the existing warlord of Kabul determined that the time had arrived to take an active approach against his enemies. The full might of Kabul was levied against the rest of the nation and after a brutal years worth of combat, Afghanistan rests under a centralized government for the first time in many years. Though held together by brute force, many hope that Afghanistan may finally be entering the world as a nation prepared for the twentieth century. (-11 Infantry Brigades, -10 Artillery Brigades, +3 Stability)
RIOTING IN CHINA. Lanzhou, Republic of China. Several cities burst into rioting and extreme civil violence throughout the Republic of China this year. No specific cause has been attributed to the increased unrest and civil disorder, but it seems that there may be underlying elements to the overall nation. The continued high unemployment levels in the cities and the dramatic changes caused by the Reconstruction Program are believed to be key to discontent in the main urban centers of China. The changes promised by the government continue to leave more people disheartened as they fail to materialize instantly, and they find themselves without jobs or even food, starving in the cities when they had relative plenty in the fields. European observers have caused these disruptive riots: The birthing pains of a modern nation in the Far East. (-1 Stability, -2 Manpower)
Review of the Arts
Crezth!
Type: Moving Picture
Genre: Horror
Producer: Beria Productions
Running Time: 93 minutes
Summary: The first of its kind, this was the key of two major monster films this year, a film focused on a remote Siberian village terrorized by a horrific ice being. Called the abominable crezth by the victims, the citizens of the village are killed one by one. A few haggard survivors flee the scene to a nearby military base, as the beast pursued them. The few who made it to the base discovered the garrison fighting against other crezths, and the beasts are ultimately destroyed. The film terrified audiences across the Russian Federation and has been met with strong support for the emerging horror genre.
Egyptian Summer, Russian Winter
Type: Moving Picture
Genre: Romance
Producer: Beria Productions
Running Time: 119 minutes
Summary: This film was a tear-jerking romance filmed on locations not just in Kinograd sets but in Egypt, around the Pyramids and another notable sites. A typical romance in plot and development, the film was the most notable for the astonishing production values, boasting the largest budget in Kinograds short history. Using historical Egyptian sites alone for less than half of the screen time, cost the company overwhelming amounts of money in customs charges and payments to Egyptian government officials. Viewers treated to the film stated that they were highly impressed with what some are calling the future of moving pictures.
The Sports Page
EUROPEAN CUP. Marseilles, France. A French team has tasted victory once again in the European Cup this year, despite last years influx of Russian teams into the organization. None of the newly formed Russian plethora of football clubs made it into the final game this year, as it became a competition between Germans and French. The Marseilles Football Club faced off against the Munich Football Club, in one of the most violent games in football history. The events of the Nuit en Cristal were fresh in the minds of both teams, which almost sparked a boycott of the games, though the measure failed in the German Republic. Over thirty fouls were recorded through the course of the game, and by the end both teams were short of players as more people were kicked off the field. The final score of the game was three points to two in Marseilles favor, sparking a post game victory riot in which over fifty Germans and twenty Frenchmen were injured in fighting.
FOOTBALL INTRODUCED TO CHINESE MILITARY. Ghangzhou, Republic of China. The Chinese government has introduced a controversial new element into the army of the Republic, bringing Western football as a teambuilding exercise for the national military. Giving divisional teams to the various armies has promoted competition among the soldiers of China, providing greater team spirit and will to the military. This move has been hit with some controversy from the increasing opposition groups to the KMT. A growing force to maintain some tradition in the government has denounced the further Westernization of China, claiming that the country has been straying too far from its roots in the establishment of the new order.
Political Cartoon from New Orleans, Empire of Louisiana
Diplomatic Pouch
OOC
@Nailix, personally I found Sand Runner to be a rather lame name for a heavy tank. Therefore I determined to call it the Pharaoh type tank.
@Those concerned: remember, the more special forces brigades you build, the less effective they are overall. They are the elite of the military and the more you make, the more watered down the overall pool gets.
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