Well, for those who don't know, I'm working again, and was out all day. I'll be finishing the update tomorrow night unfortunately, so we're a little delayed.
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Civilization 7 has been announced. For more info please check the forum here .
Capto Iugulum
- Thread starter EQandcivfanatic
- Start date
Global News Report
THE GREAT WAR CONTINUES. The Great War has continued this year, if not on the same massive scale that occurred last year. After the defeats of the Spanish and Dutch in the Caribbean, it seems that the war is quickly consolidating into fewer fronts. The size of the war has not diminished, however, as fighting continues in Africa, the Middle East, the Far East, and all across Europe. A number of fronts have devolved into stalemates as trench lines are improved and escalated, improving defensive positions and establishing platforms for attack. The war has still retained a mobile nature away from the fronts in Western Europe, as heavy fighting continues along all of Russia's western borders. The war at sea also remains an active theater, as the Continental Powers and the Allies struggle to dominate control of the Atlantic and other lesser seas. For now, it seems that the war could go either way, and as before, a full separate special section has been provided below to give true illustration of this epic conflict.
SPECIAL: The Great War
AMERICANS SEIZE REMAINING SPANISH PACIFIC. Guam, occupied Spain. The American navy and army has conducted a substantial campaign throughout the Pacific Ocean this year, geared at destroying the last Spanish holdings and forces in that ocean. With no Continental Navy or substantial forces available for the defense of these islands, the garrisons were clearly outmatched an incapable of standing up against the full American might arrayed against them. The American Third Fleet proved to be more than enough to decimate the aging Spanish defenses of the islands, capturing Midway and Wake Island early in the year, after last year's victory over Hawaii. The other islands of the Pacific surrendered one by one, as it became apparent of the futility of any major resistance against the American forces. By the end of the year's campaign, the United States of America dominates the whole of the Spanish Pacific from Hawaii to Guam to Fiji.
Casualty List
Spain: 1 Infantry Brigade
BATTLE OF THE BAY OF BISCAY. Bordeaux, Spain. The year opened with a truly wide naval battle, as the Allied fleet set sail south to engage and hopefully destroy the Spanish navy before it could link with any others. The result was a major naval battle in the southern portion of the Bay of Biscay, after Spanish patrols discovered the Allied fleet steaming towards Iberia. The Spanish rushed their local defenses to mass and engage the Allies, fearful of an invasion of northern Spain. This allowed Spain to set the terms of the engagement to meet the combined Allied fleet in battle, combined with reinforcements from Portugal. The Spanish fought well and hard, and inflicted substantial casualties upon the Allied forces. Despite this, the Allied warships inflicted heavier casualties upon the Spanish and Portuguese, devastating a number of their craft, and sending a half dozen battleships to the bottom of the Atlantic at a loss of substantially fewer of their own capital ships. Regardless, after several hours of battle, reports of a larger Continental fleet on the horizon led the British admiral to call for a withdrawal, sinking several more Spanish vessels in the process. The battle was a tactical draw, but the Continental Powers have proclaimed it as a victory, safeguarding the European coast from British raiders. Below Picture of sunken Spanish warships near the coast of Iberia
Casualty Lists
Argentina: 3 Trovão-class Destroyers
Brazil: 2 Trovão-class Destroyers, 1 Resiliência-class Battleship
Peru: 1 Zygmunt-class Destroyer, 1 Chościsko-class Light Cruiser, 1 Hercules-class Battleship
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 3 Trovão-class Destroyers
United States of America: 2 Early Destroyers, 4 Early Light Cruisers, 1 Early Heavy Cruiser
Portugal: 2 Early Destroyers, 2 Early Light Cruisers, 2 Joao-class Heavy Cruisers
Spain: 8 Early Destroyers, 5 Numancia-class Destroyers, 4 Early Light Cruisers, 4 Early Heavy Cruisers, 2 Eendracht-class Heavy Cruisers, 4 Hercules-class Battleships, 2 Conquistador-class Battleships
THE SUEZ FRONT. Cairo, Spain. The Spanish began the year with an artillery barrage that was soon devastated by the much larger Arabian artillery corps. The Spanish heavy guns were silenced, but the assaults were ordered to go ahead regardless. This proved to initially work in Spain's favor, as it was supposed by the Arabian commander that they would not advance without artillery superiority. Unfortunately, this assumption proved flawed, as the Spanish forced a bridgehead through sheer numbers, crossing the wreckage of the canal after the Legion Hispania caused significant disruption behind the lines. Casualties were heavy as inflicted by Arabian machine guns and artillery, but sheer force enabled a breakthrough on the canal's eastern beaches. The Spanish then fought a brutal battle across the Sinai Peninsula, slowing gaining control of the region. The heaviest fighting has been on the northern coast, with the desert providing a secure southern flank. The Arabian superiority in artillery cost the Spanish heavily, and combined with a long supply line, the Spanish advance was ultimately brought to a halt.
Casualty Lists
Arabian Empire: 9 Conscript Brigades, 8 Infantry Brigades, 3 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades
Spain: 6 Conscript Brigades, 48 Infantry Brigades, 3 Cavalry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
THE FALL OF TURKEY. Konya, occupied Turkey. Isolated from the other members of the Continental Powers and with no foreign support, the military government of Mastura Ganjavi has come under literal siege in Konya. The Kurds from the east and the Arabians from the south slowly closed in upon the city, pushing the best Turkish defenses back. The fighting grew heaviest as the Allied forces pushed into the outskirts of Konya itself, and the Turks began fighting building by building. Attacks further north by the Kurds would shatter the defenses around the remnants of Turkey outside of Konya, and soon the pocket within the Turkish capital was under attack from all sides. The fighting would reach the highest level of intensity in early June, as the Allies began their final offensive. The Turkish troops crumbled under the pressure of the Allied push, and Mastura Ganjavi would be forced to sign over the surrender of Turkey's remaining forces. This victory marks the first nation eliminated from the war, a member of the Continental Powers.
Casualty Lists
Arabian Empire: 6 Conscript Brigades, 7 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
Kurdistan: 9 Conscript Brigades, 10 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades
Turkey: 11 Conscript Brigades, 20 Infantry Brigades, 3 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades
BATTLE OF THE GULF OF TOMINI. Manado, Netherlands. The Allies and Continentals would engage in a substantial struggle for control of the Dutch East Indies this year, as the Japanese Second Imperial Fleet attempted to hunt down and destroy the Dutch navy. The Japanese managed to locate the main Dutch battle fleet in the Gulf of Tomini near the island of Celebes, and trap them in the gulf. To their surprise, the Dutch fleet was substantially larger than previously anticipated. The Dutch had brought together their whole fleet east of India together in an attempt to hold the East Indies back from the Japanese onslaught. Regardless, thanks to the possession of two more battleships than the Dutch, the Japanese admiral engaged in the only major capital ship battle outside of the Atlantic Ocean to date. Despite the minor Japanese numerical advantage, the Dutch manage to inflict heavy damage upon Japan's fleet. The Japanese would be hard-pressed to win the battle, but thanks to the numbers they possessed, the Dutch fleet would be forced into the ground or sunk by cannon fire. The Japanese triumphed, but at a cost which proved unfortunately high.
Casualty Lists
Japan: 6 Early Destroyers, 3 Early Light Cruisers, 1 Early Heavy Cruiser, 2 Yamato-class Battleships
Netherlands: 10 Early Destroyers , 2 Early Light Cruisers, 1 Early Heavy Cruiser, 2 Java-class Battleships
INVASION OF BRITISH GABON. Liberty Town, occupied United Kingdom of Great Britain. Fighting in Africa intensified this year as a number of new theaters were opened up for both sides, creating new advantages and setbacks. The Franco-Burgundian Confederation were the first to launch an offensive on the Dark Continent, invading the British Central African colony of Gabon and pushing towards the coast against the British garrison. The British fought well, but French forces deployed artillery and gas, which proved to be a major advantage. The British colonial forces were badly mauled, and the French troops advanced, taking the key coastal city of Liberty Town and securing full occupation of the colony. The French troops posted a minor garrison, and have established and integrated the region's transportation network into their own colonial possessions. As the fighting escalated to the south in the Kongo, however, few are certain how long the recent French gains will last.
Casualty Lists
Franco-Burgundian Confederation: 1 Cavalry Brigade
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 1 Infantry Brigade, 1 Cavalry Brigade
THE PERSIAN FRONT. Baghdad, Arabian Empire. In what is seen as a precursor to events on other theaters, fighting between the Arabians and Persians seems to have subsided to a slower pace. Limited attacks have been launched by both parties throughout the course of the year, but no real gains have been made as both armies dig in. Casualties have begun mounting but, with no real major offensives launched, most of the attacks and raids have been skirmishes at most. The most mobile fighting has been in the mountains as the Persian cavalry clashes with the Arabian and Kurdish horse soldiers along the mountain passes. The Persians have been coming out ahead in this fights, after significant experience in actions throughout the Khazak and Afghan regions in the years. The fighting continues to be light, and it seems that the Persians have been managing a successful raiding war, attacking supply lines and railroads in an effort to starve the Arabs on the front.
Casualty Lists
Arabian Empire: 8 Conscript Brigades, 10 Infantry Brigades, 3 Cavalry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades
Kurdistan: 1 Cavalry Brigade
Persia: 20 Conscript Brigades, 3 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades
SOUTH ATLANTIC COMMERCE WAR. Natal, Brazil. The Allies have continued to keep the South Atlantic closed to the shipping of the Continental Powers, as the ships of Brazil and its allies raid throughout the region. With no support or escorts, the success of the Allies continues to climb in numbers. The tonnage of Continental shipping sunk or seized by the Allies has mounted, particularly with the interception of a particularly large Portuguese transport fleet. The reinforcements were bound for New Zealand in an immense convoy, with no escorts, as the Portuguese fleet remained attached to the Spanish. The Brazilians soon jumped upon the convoy and tore it apart, easily sending the few ships to fight to the bottom of the ocean with no casualties. Over ten thousand Portuguese prisoners were taken and brought back to Brazil for internment for the remaining part of the war.
Casualty Lists
Portugal: 5 Cavalry Brigades
FIGHTING IN THE KONGO. Kabinda, Netherlands. Allied forces began attempts to advance further north in Africa, hoping to secure the rest of the Dark Continent from the control of the Continental Powers. Hoping for another rapid series of victories in Africa against the enemy, the British and their Argentine Allies attempted a push north. The attacks had varying successes along the coasts of the Scandinavian colonies. The Scandinavian Kongo itself managed to repulse the attackers with heavy casualties on both sides, holding back the British offensive, in good part thanks to the arrival of French veterans from the capture of Gabon. The Allies had more success upon the eastern coastline, with better territory for offensive action. The Scandinavian forces were driven back, but not destroyed, as the British secured the region and established control over the main population centers of the Scandinavian colony.
Casualty Lists
Argentina: 3 Infantry Brigades
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 4 Conscript Brigades, 2 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade
Franco-Burgundian Confederation: 1 Infantry Brigade
Scandinavia: 3 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades
THE HUNT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. Alexandria, Spain. The force which has been making constant headlines worldwide for its daring defeat of the Spanish fleet in the Mediterranean Sea and continued raiding of Spanish shipping, the Brazilian Buzato Fleet, would at last meet its match this year. The Brazilians conducted a series of raids throughout the regions, using their battleships to sink or capture any Spanish or Continental transports crossing the sea from Europe to the colonies in Africa. Events came to a head when the Arabians agreed to combine their newly acquired fleet in the sea with the Brazilian and Hungarian raiders. The cable was intercepted by the Continental Powers and given to Sardinia, which began a hunt to at last force the raiders into the open for the battle. Thanks to this knowledge, the Sardinians were able to block the Allied fleet's attempt to return to the Adriatic Sea and shelter within. At the Battle of Corfu, the Allies under Buzato attempted to punch through the newly formed blockade and reach shelter. Unfortunately, the Sardinians were well prepared and had planned for the attack. Though a battleship was lost in the battle, the Sardinians sunk the remnants of Buzato's task force, and not a single ship would make it through to Allied ports. Buzato himself apparently washed ashore into the Roman Empire, where he is currently being detained along with the surviving members of his task force.
Casualty Lists
Arabian Empire: 3 Early Destroyers, 2 Early Light Cruisers, 1 Early Heavy Cruiser
Brazil: 3 Trovão-class Destroyers, 2 Early Light Cruisers, 2 Resiliência-class Battleships
Hungary: 5 Early Destroyers, 1 Early Light Cruiser, 1 Early Heavy Cruiser
Sardinia: 5 Early Destroyers, 1 Numancia-class Destroyer, 2 Early Light Cruiser, 1 Early Heavy Cruiser, 1 Hercules-class Battleship
RAIDING IN THE BLACK SEA. Sevastopol, Russia. After last year's climatic naval battle between the Hungarians and Russians, the tone of the fighting in the Black Sea has subsided. The Russian and Hungarian navies have begun similar strategies, raiding trading routes between each other and their allies. The Russians have begun focusing upon blocking the arrival of reinforcements to Georgia from the other Allies of Europe, while the Hungarians have been dedicated towards seeking out the Russian submarines and destroying them. Both have met with very limited success, as the Black Sea is a large body of water and the Russian and Hungarian fleets have had only a few ships available each. The Hungarians have reported the first successful sinking of a submarine by a surface vessel, as their new destroyers employed new tactics to sink the submerged craft.
Casualty Lists
Hungary: 2 Early Submarines
Russia: 1 Nordenfelt-class Submarine
THE GEORGIA FRONT. Tiflis, Georgia. The fighting in Georgia proved to be incredibly heavy this year as the Russians attempted a general offensive through the rough terrain. The plans were badly disrupted by the Polish Wojownicy Zimowe, who used their training to move through the mountains, demolishing roads and passes, while inflicting incredible tolls upon the Russian forces pursuing them. The brigade achieved great distinction, destroying over half of the Russian artillery in the region, as well as causing the offensive to go off in bits and pieces, rather than a collective assault. The Georgians therefore were able to anticipate, ambush, and destroy the first wave with minimal casualties. Further Russian attacks met with similar devastation, and in some areas, the Georgians have even managed to reclaim territory lost year. The Russian army at one point verged on collapse, but rallied regardless, preserving at least some control over Georgian territory.
Casualty Lists
Georgia: 19 Conscript Brigades, 6 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
Russia: 62 Conscript Brigades, 33 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 8 Artillery Brigades
THE DNIESTER FRONT. Odessa, Russia. The Dniester River continued to remain the front line between the bulk of the Hungarian and Russian armies this year, as the Hungarians parried the blows of the Russian attacks upon their territory. The Russians attempted multiple forced crossings throughout the year, and achieved some actual successes, breaking through the initial defensive lines. Though the Hungarians never lit up the river again like they did during the previous year's fighting, they still managed to eventually shell and destroy every Russian bridgehead. The casualties have been heavy for both sides, as the Russians made the Hungarians pay to retake the lost territory on the west bank of the river. The devastating fighting has been incredibly bloody, but the fact remains that both sides are locked in a stalemate. Several Hungarian raiding attempts were also launched across the river, and faced a large amount of casualties for their own.
Casualty Lists
Hungary: 41 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
Russia: 71 Conscript Brigades, 49 Infantry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades
THE POLISH FRONT. Warsaw, Poland. The heaviest fighting in Europe, and the world, this year took place in eastern Poland as the Russians launched the largest offensive the war has yet seen. A large number of attacks took place along the entire Polish-Russian border, as the Russians probed for a weakness in the Polish defenses. The Poles were overwhelmed, as they sent their reserves to what seemed like the main push in Prussia, only to face an even larger invasion of the province of Vitebsk. Holes would be broken through the Polish border defenses, and the feared Cossack cavalry poured through. The Polish cavalry was unleashed, creating a large number of cavalry battles throughout the region, including clashes with sabers reminiscent of an older era of warfare. The Polish armies soon fell apart as the Cossacks defeated their cavalry in battle, blinding the Polish forces in their own nation. The Poles were forced to retreat in the area, falling back west, where British positions in fortified strongholds in prepared positions would manage to secure the flanks, even after fending off Russian attacks upon their positions. The front has once more stabilized, but the damage to the Polish cause has been extreme at best and catastrophic at worst. Photograph below of Polish soldiers defending a new position near Minsk against the Russian invaders
Casualty Lists
Poland: 31 Conscript Brigades, 88 Infantry Brigades, 1 Wojownicy Zimowe Brigade, 17 Cavalry Brigades, 15 Artillery Brigades
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 16 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
Russia: 204 Conscript Brigades, 71 Infantry Brigades, 9 Cavalry Brigades, 7 Artillery Brigades
THE POLISH NAVY SETS SAIL. Gdansk, Poland. As larger naval battles raged elsewhere and the Polish army came under fire from an attack of epic proportions, a new naval theater opened up on the Baltic Sea. The Polish navy, having spent the last year preparing for this action and building new warships of great size and strength, has sortied against the Russian and Scandinavian fleets. The Continental Powers had been preparing for such an event for some time, and less than a day later, steamed to intercept the Polish navy. The two fleets would meet at about an equal distance between the Scandinavian island of Gotland and Poland, and the battle which resulted is known alternatively as the Battle of Gdansk or the Battle of Gotland, depending on which side you're on. The Poles, though inexperienced in naval battles since the destruction of their old fleets during the colonial war with the Confederation and the Netherlands, have at last managed to establish themselves as at least a quasi-maritime power. The Poles engaged head on with the slightly larger Continental fleet, and thanks to superior designs and equipment, managed to make up for their own lack of naval experience. The enemy ships present were the oldest of their respective fleets, and the Poles used their vastly superior engines and firepower to make circles around the enemy and level their capital ships. The Continental fleet was almost completely destroyed, with only a few light screening vessels escaping to various ports in Russia and Scandinavia. The victory has allowed the Polish vessels to rampage throughout the Baltic, wrecking a devastating toll upon local Scandinavian and Russian shipping.
Casualty Lists
Poland: 8 Zygmont-class Destroyers, 2 Chościsko-class Light Cruisers
Russia: 6 Early Destroyers, 2 Early Light Cruisers, 1 Early Heavy Cruiser, 1 Christine-class Battleship
Scandinavia: 14 Early Destroyers, 9 Early Light Cruisers, 5 Early Heavy Cruisers
OCCITANIA ATTEMPTS NEW OFFENSIVE. Orleans, Franco-Burgundian Confederation. After last year's disastrous attempt to take Aquitaine from the Spanish Empire, the Occitanians mostly fell back into defensive positions. This year, with little offensive activity upon that front, Occitania made a new bid to improve their position. After receiving numerous scouting reports throughout the winter that the French positions to their north were filled with poorly trained conscripts, the Occitanian army attempt to seize the provinces of Orleans, and drive to the Loire River. Unfortunately, the winter reports were only partially accurate. As it turned out, by the time of the spring offensive, the French lines had been filled with regular forces, and the conscripts had been circulated out to other theaters. The change had disrupted the defensive plans, which had not been updated by the time of the Occitanian attack. Therefore, some of the advances made actual headway, but overall the attack stagnated within only several weeks. The Confederation's positions were restored, with only a marginal gain for heavy casualties from the Occitanian force.
Casualty Lists
Franco-Burgundian Confederation: 14 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 3 Artillery Brigades
Occitania: 11 Conscript Brigades, 14 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades
AQUITAINE FRONT. Bordeaux, Spain. Despite the launching of a spring offensive by the Occitanians, most of the fighting near the Spanish province of Aquitaine has been fairly subdued. Both sides have been steadily entrenching and improving their defensive positions against the possibility of an attack by the other. While there has been no major offensives or attacks by either side, this has not meant that both armies have been inactive. A number of minor raids and attacks continued almost daily upon various parts of the line throughout most of the year. The Occitanians would begin inflicting some heavy casualties upon Spanish positions later in the year after a laborious effort in which they moved some destroyers onto the Garonne River. The destroyers proved temporarily effective, but in short order, Spanish artillery would be turned upon them, and they would be sunk, blocking river traffic. The fighting was heaviest along the river, but neither side has truly advanced from their positions for most of the year.
Casualty Lists
Occitania: 11 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade, 2 Early Destroyers
Portugal: 3 Conscript Brigades
Spain: 4 Conscript Brigades, 7 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
INVASION OF IRELAND AND THE BATTLE OF BANTRY BAY. Dublin, United Kingdom of Great Britain. The British islands suffered their first real invasion for the first time in hundreds of year, as a Scandinavian and Confederate force launched an attack upon Ireland. Moving from two different regions, the fleets managed to land forces around Bantry Bay, overwhelming the local British garrison. Expecting an uprising of Irish support, the Continentals were unpleasantly surprised to find themselves less than welcomed by the Irish people. The Irish seem apathetic at best, and at worst, some have actually been scouting and informing upon Continental movements to the British army. The Continental forces managed to establish a beachhead and successfully get the bulk of their army ashore, under the protection of the guns of the Continental fleets. The naval battles began as light and fast Allied screening groups easily devastated the ancient and doddering Continental screening vessels. With no light cruisers worthy of the name, the skirmishes took a major toll upon the Continental destroyer groups. On land, the British immediately rushed reinforcements across the Irish Sea, halting the Continental advances near Tralee and Cork, with vastly superior numbers. The fighting would stalemate, throwing the ball back into the court of the naval forces of the Continentals and Allies. Aware that further stalemate would only allow the Continental Powers to reinforce, and flush with the successes of the skirmishes so far, the Allies launched a true capital ship battle later in the year, as the combined naval forces of the Continental Powers met them in the Battle of Bantry Bay. Despite being once more outnumbered, the Allied fleet, under the command of a veteran British admiral, managed to outmaneuver the Continental fleets. Unbeknownst to the Continentals, while it seemed that they were engaging the main Allied fleet, a number of battlecruisers and screens smashed through the pitiful screening lines of the Continental fleet and outflanked the main battle fleet. By the mid-point of the battle, the Continental fleet was embarrassingly surrounded, with enemy fire coming from west, east, and south, and blocked by Ireland to the north. The Continental Fleet was destroyed piecemeal with their vessels penned in by the cleverly positions Allied forces. The Allies inflicted a devastating toll, and after two hours almost all of the capital ships of the Continental fleet were sinking or burning. Two Spanish heavy cruisers managed to escape the onslaught, as did a number of destroyers from the various Continental Fleets. Regardless, the Allied victory was clear and devastating, with their own losses comparatively minute compared to the tragic destruction of the bulk of the Continental Powers' fleets. With the defeat at sea, the Continental forces in Ireland were cut off from supplies, with little food or support arriving from the Irish population. Heavy fighting continued for a time, but when the scale of the Allied naval victory became clear, the Continental Forces surrendered, a devastating loss with the surrender of over one hundred thousand Continental troops on Ireland.
Casualty Lists
Spoiler :
THE INDOCHINA FRONT. Bangkok, United Kingdom of Great Britain. After the rapid and incredible Spanish advances of last year, it seemed for a time that the British position in Indochina was unraveling. This would be reversed this year, as the Spanish regrouped to continue their offensive eastward. The British, using a large amount of local conscripts as well as their own regular forces, managed to outright defeat the Spanish attacks. The heaviest fighting took place along the Burmese coast, as the British attempted to hold the key cities and population centers of the colony. The Spanish attempted several attacks throughout the year, and remained unable to breach the British lines and defenses. The British never had the opportunity to take the offensive themselves, as the Spanish continued to possess substantial strength of numbers as the fighting continued.
Casualty Lists
Spain: 6 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 5 Conscript Brigades, 1 Infantry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade
FIGHTING IN WEST AFRICA. Lagos, occupied Franco-Burgundian Confederation. In the largest combined Allied operation outside of the Europe to date, the Brazilians led an effort to drive the Confederation out of Africa. After spending months painstakingly assembling a massive force to claim the colony, they invaded from sea and land in an overly complex assault upon the colony. Thanks to previous raids, the French were more than alert prepared for an attack from the sea, and inflicted major casualties upon the Brazilian landing forces. Other advances overland were also badly mauled as the Brazilian buildup was obvious even to the most oblivious military mind. American, Argentine, Brazilian, and British troops attacked overland, successfully overrunning the undermanned French outposts through sheer numbers. Despite the massacre and devastation of Brazilian forces in their landing, the rest of the Allied forces would successfully occupy the colony, forcing the surrender of the Confederation forces, and spending most of the year actually landing the massive Brazilian forces. With little else to do, preparations were made for an invasion of Spanish Guinea, but thanks to the massive forces involved, only half of the Allied forces were even in position by the end of the year.
Casualty Lists
Argentina: 1 Infantry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade
Brazil: 3 Infantry Brigades, 4 Artillery Brigades
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 1 Cavalry Brigade
Franco-Burgundian Confederation: 3 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades
THE NORTHERN CHINA FRONT. Harbin, Japan. The defenses of the French forces in China proved to be only temporarily disrupted by the uprising by the local Chinese. The fighting continued to be heavy along the front lines during the uprising, as the Japanese attempted to exploit and aid the rebels. Unfortunately, at the time of the uprising, the Japanese massing of forces was not yet complete, still awaiting reinforcements from Japan and Korea. Late in July, the Japanese would finally launch their offensive against the Confederation's positions in China, only to find that they had been unexpectedly reinforced by the Dutch Chinese army. The combined forces failed to give way to the Japanese, stopping their advance on a solid wall of machine gun fire and gas warfare. The Japanese attempted a number of growing assaults, only to suffer more casualties with each attempt. The Dutch and Confederate soldiers even managed to launch several smaller counterattacks, relieving the pressure upon Peking and forcing back the main Japanese lines.
Casualty Lists
Franco-Burgundian Confederation: 19 Infantry Brigades, 4 Cavalry Brigades, 4 Artillery Brigades
Netherlands: 6 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 2 Artillery Brigades
Japan: 42 Conscript Brigades, 38 Infantry Brigades, 1 Kagemusha Brigade, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 11 Artillery Brigades
THE SOUTHERN CHINA FRONT. Hong Kong, United Kingdom of Great Britain. The fighting in southern China has taken a bit of a turn as both the British and Spanish conscript locally to bolster their forces against each other. The British have possessed a better position, trapping the Spanish front with their backs to the Yangtze River. The Spanish, reinforced by substantial local conscripts, as well as the Portuguese China army, have bolstered their defenses against a larger British army. The reinforcements proved to be of little use, and the British soon managed a breakthrough, destroying the Continental artillery corps, and punching a massive hole in Spanish lines. The Spanish and Portuguese armies were devastated and the British split their forces into pieces, and while a few made it back across the Yangtze, most surrendered or were destroyed by the British army. The surviving forces regrouped with the Scandinavian army, and were further reinforced by the Danes, providing at least a chance of holding the river line. Unfortunately, the British soon crossed near the coast, and turned the flanks of the whole Continental front. The Continentals were badly mauled, and by the end of the year, were fighting losing defenses throughout Danish China.
Casualty Lists
Denmark: 4 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade
Portugal: 2 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade
Scandinavia: 5 Infantry Brigades, 4 Cavalry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades, 3 Early Destroyers, 1 Early Light Cruiser
Spain: 13 Conscript Brigades, 4 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 9 Conscript Brigades, 11 Infantry Brigades, 4 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades, 1 Early Light Cruiser
INVASION OF INDONESIA. Brunei, United Kingdom of Great Britain. Before and after the Dutch defeat at the Battle of the Gulf of Tomini, the Japanese and British launched a campaign to take the Dutch East Indies away from the influence of the Continental Powers. The British would lead the charge, occupying the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. It was discovered there that the Dutch had been withdrawn to the central island of Java, consolidating their defenses. The first real battle in the East Indies was on Java, where a British force would be resolutely shattered and defeated by the Dutch defenders, who had been able to rush to the defense of the landing area. The British army was quickly surrounded and forced to a surrender to the much larger and better prepared Dutch forces on the island. While the British were dying at the hands of the prepared Dutch garrison, the Japanese were rampaging across the Dutch East Indies, claiming the Celebes, New Guinea, and countless other islands among them. Like the British, however, the Japanese would hit an equal barrier with their attempt to take Java from the Dutch. The Dutch forces were able to spot the Japanese fleet and prepare a warm welcoming on the beaches. The Japanese troops would be cut up by the Dutch firepower, and after suffering numerous casualties, the Japanese retreated back to their ships to lick their wounds.
Casualty Lists
Japan: 5 Infantry Brigades
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 4 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
Netherlands: 2 Infantry Brigades
THE BRANDENBURG FRONT. Hanover, Brandenburg. As elsewhere around the world, the front between the Atlantic Ocean and Austria proved to be locked in stasis by the technology of modern warfare. The front running throughout much of western Brandenburg has been the scene of escalating skirmishes and battles, though the overall situation remained a stalemate. Neither side launched any major offensive, beyond a massed attack by the Serbian army, which only gained a little ground on the southern flank of the front lines. Both sides have otherwise remained fairly quiet, as the raids and fighting remain on a fairly consistent scale. Casualties therefore have been somewhat low, at least based upon the standards of other fronts. Neither side is quite sure what to make of this, though press at home in all relevant nations have demanded action to defeat the dastardly enemy.
Casualty Lists
Brandenburg: 23 Conscript Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
Hungary: 10 Conscript Brigades
Serbia: 2 Conscript Brigades, 12 Infantry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades
Franco-Burgundian Confederation: 15 Conscript Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades
Netherlands: 10 Conscript Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
THE JUTLAND FRONT. Copenhagen, Denmark. Much like the fighting to the south, the warfare on the Jutland Peninsula has been fairly subdued compared to last year and the fighting in other theaters. Neither the Danes or the Brandenburgers seemed eager to push forward, and the conflict has been restricted to smaller skirmishes and probes throughout the whole of the year. Some of these little battles have been fairly bloody, but no advances have been made by Brandenburg or the Continental Powers. Later in the year, with a good portion of the Scandinavian army withdrawn to fight in Ireland, the Brandenburgers began to be a little more aggressive, but they found that the remaining soldiers and the Danish army were more than enough to discourage any major offensive. Therefore, the front has changed little, with lower casualty rates to show for it. Below photograph is of Danish forces posing in a trench during a lull in combat
Casualty List
Brandenburg: 10 Conscript Brigades
Denmark: 6 Conscript Brigades
Scandinavia: 3 Conscript Brigades
RAIDS UPON THE SCANDINAVIAN COAST. Oslo, Scandinavia. The major defeat at the Battle of Bantry Bay opened up the doors for aggressive Allied action throughout the North Sea. The Scandinavians felt the brunt of this during the latter part of the year as the British used the rough weather to mask raids upon the Scandinavian ports on the Norwegian coast. The raids proved devastating against the coastal defenses remaining, as Lioness-class battlecruisers blasted through destroyers. The worst was the raid upon Oslo, which set much of the city afire, as well as devastating the local shipyard and the ships under construction there. The raids were repeated up and down the coast, as rapid moving Allied fleets engaged and destroyed port facilities and coastal patrols manned by the Scandinavians. Despite all this, a few days before Christmas, a beacon of hope would shine out for Scandinavia at Bergen. As per their operations, a Lioness-class Battlecruiser and escorts began shelling the facilities, only to at last meet their match as a new Chasseur-class Battlecruiser at last entered into service. Billed as the answer to the problems caused by the new British battlecruiser, the ship has proven faster, if with lighter armaments than the British ship. The British raiders were utterly destroyed, ending the year on a sour note for the Allied cause in the North Sea.
Casualty Lists
Argentina: 1 Trovão-class Destroyer
Brazil: 2 Trovão-class Destroyers
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 3 Trovão-class Destroyers, 1 Lioness-class Battlecruiser
Scandinavia: 8 Nordenfelt-class Submarines, 5 Romanos-class Destroyers, 1 Chasseur-class Battlecruiser
FIGHTING IN MANCHURIA. Harbin, Japan. After a year's worth of stalemate, the Russian army in the Far East at last began a belated offensive against the Japanese in Manchuria. The attack was poorly coordinated and unsupported by any significant forces, running into well prepared Japanese defenses. The offensive was badly bloodied by the Japanese, who held back the advance and preserved their control over the region. The attack came late in the year as the first snows were beginning to fall, and the Russians found themselves only reluctantly advancing against a numerically inferior Japanese army. The Japanese were more than capable of resisting the Russian attack, having witnessed their assembly before they launched the offensive. Regardless, the fighting has been minor compared to actions undertaken by both armies, and foreign observers believe that this shows that both armies remain mostly committed in other theaters.
Casualty Lists
Japan: 3 Conscript Brigades
Russia: 9 Conscript Brigades
THE HOME FRONTS London, United Kingdom of Great Britain. The major casualties and fighting across the world has seen an overall continuation of support for the war effort in most nations. Despite the brutality and ferocity of modern war, it seems that civilians on the home front in both the Allied and Continental nations firmly believe in their cause and hope for victory. Rationing has been enacting in some nations due to the problems caused by the war and the overall disruption of foreign trade across the globe's oceans. Furthermore, following the success of the bond program in the United Kingdom, both Allies and members of the Continental Powers have followed suit with similar programs of their own. Among these are the United States of America, the Franco-Burgundian Confederation, Scandianvia, and the Netherlands. All the bond efforts have had varying degrees of success, providing more financial support for the war. With the mixed military successes of the year, it seems that no one has really sustained an insurmountable defeat, and the fighting will continue to rage onward. Regardless of the direction, the people of the world are each convinced of their cause's righteousness and the inevitability of their victory. As before, below is provided the various non-economic statistical changes caused by the war and the fighting around the world.
BLIGHT LEADS TO FOOD SHORTAGES IN BRITAIN. Ulster, United Kingdom of Great Britain. In a nation besieged by war, the British have suffered a major blow this year as domestic crops have reached a thirty year low in production rates. To blame for this catastrophe has been a new agricultural blight and a number of bad storms which has ruined much of the year's crop yield. Thankfully, with the sea lanes still open, no one is starving, as food is shipped in from the lush fields of the United States and Argentina. The Allied nations have done well to provide the needed foodstuffs to keep the British in the war, keeping the threat of blockade at bay through the year's various naval battles. Farmers are uncertain what this will mean for next year's crops, as the blight is still at large. The government has encouraged civilians to grow their own crops and vegetable gardens, as it seems that the food situation may become tighter as the war continues. Unfortunately, the lack of food has not made the government popular, particularly in Ireland, which has been the worst hit of the islands. (-1 Stability)
RIOTS IN VENICE. Venice, Austria. As the newly established Italian Republic gained some momentum this year and Naples appeared to be on the verge of overwhelming the hated Pope, the effects have been felt elsewhere across the peninsula. In Austria, the Venetians have once more begun clamoring to support the cause of Italian nationalism and the university would be the center of a revolt against Austrian rule. They have denounced Austria's support for the Papacy and begun a full uprising, barricading the campus and seizing guns from their hidden spots. The Austrian military was forced to fight its way back into the city to restore order, facing heavy casualties as they attempted to overwhelm barricades. Some of this has been attributed to four machine guns somehow acquired by the nationalists. These guns had a devastating toll upon the Austrian forces in the narrow city streets, causing hundreds of deaths in only a few short minutes. The Austrians ultimately overwhelmed the nationalists through sheer numbers, pushing back onto the university's campus and disbanding classes for the rest of the year. (-2 Infantry Brigades)
DISSENT TURNS TO VIOLENCE IN NAPLES. Naples, Naples. The Neapolitan government, continuing its cries of nationalism and war against the Papacy, has faced new dissent among its own ranks. A significant part of the old officer corps are less than enthusiastic about the war and recent compromises made with the Sicilian republicans. They have demanded a halt to the war and the crushing of the republican and leftist causes throughout Italy before Naples' own territorial ambitions are pressed. They have outright spoken against the war, and in order to contain what could turn into a mutiny, the arrest of the dissenting officers was ordered by King Ferdinand II. Unfortunately, these men rallied their own troops into a mutiny against the monarchy, pledging to support the Catholic cause against the nationalist cause. The officers proved fairly successful at first, but with the diversion of troops from the front lines, the Neapolitan regulars overwhelmed the mutineers and reestablished control over the rest of the army. Still, dissent remains heavy as the more religious of the warriors of Naples are losing enthusiasm for the ongoing war. (-3 Infantry Brigades, -3 Cavalry Brigades, -1 Stability)
INQUISITION CRACKS DOWN IN PAPAL STATES. Rome, Papal States. The Papal Inquisition has once more been unleashed upon the people of Italy, arresting agitators and securing support for the war effort against Naples. The Inquisitions diverse weaponry against the revolutionaries includes fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope, and nice red uniforms. The papacy has pledged to secure the stability of his nation and has met with surprising success. A number of would-be revolutionary leaders have been arrested or detained by the Inquisition, leading to a near destruction of local dissident movements. Furthermore, a substantial shipment of support from the Italian Republic was intercepted, and its assets seized and added to the papal arsenals and treasury. The Inquisition has continued to consolidate the domestic position of the Papal States, hoping to secure a strong home defense against any future invasion. (+1 Stability, +10 EP to bank from seized supplies)
MAJOR ARRESTS OF DISSIDENTS IN RUSSIA. Moscow, Russia. The Russian secret police have successful launched a major operation geared towards destroying any organized resistance on the home front against the monarchy. A number of republicans and proletarists have been identified and arrested by the Russian government, and were immediately imprisoned. After the operations were complete and Russia was purified of the leftist dissent, a new program was introduced to help bolster the operations of the army. Those arrested have been organized into punishment battalions, designed to assist in the clearing of mines and other obstacles between Russian lines and the forces of the enemy. These dissidents are made to serve Mother Russia by expending their lives as punishment for their crimes. The sting has been somewhat lessened with vague promises of freedom in the unlikely situation that they survive their service in the war. (+1 Stability)
DANISH ELECTIONS LEAD TO MILITARY COUP. Copenhagen, Denmark. The elections in Denmark this year were immediately chaotic with the occupation of over half the nation's population by Brandenburg. The result has been a full breakdown of the constitutional structure of the Danish government, which has been struggling ever since the war began. The elections were confused and no one was quite sure what would happen with the standing individuals, and the king did very little to help the situation. As no clear government would be formed and elements like proletarists attempting to seize power and rioting in Copenhagen, the military grew considerably anxious. As no solution remained in sight, and the Danish and Scandinavian armies managed to hold the lines against the Allies, the army considered its options to end the home turmoil. Under the support of the lead commander of the Danish Army, General Lars Jensen, the army has disbanded the legislature and eliminated King Christian IX from any public appearances. The military has declared absolute control for the duration of the emergency, in order to keep the fight against the Allies organized. The coup went forward with success, and the army officer corps has supported the move, and the Danes have strove to maintain their position on the battlefield. (+1 Stability)
LACK OF ELECTIONS SPARKS DISSENT IN THE CONFEDERATION. Paris, Franco-Burgundian Confederation. The Great War has enabled an element of the constitution of the Franco-Burgundian Confederation which has sparked immense internal debate. The primary elections for control of the Confederation in Paris and Burgundy were not held this year due to the continuation of the war. This has been met with substantial anger from the population. The liberals in the government have begun establishing a platform calling for constitutional reform upon the conclusion of the war, saying that the needs of the military should not outweigh the needs of the people. The liberals have demanded immediate promises for electoral reform and have begun building substantial support among the people. Various newspapers have begun demonstrating their own outrage toward the government, railing against the conservative bias of the constitution and demanding reform. So far though, the average man seems dedicated to the war with Brandenburg and the Allies, keeping the nation together on a united front.
PORTUGUESE ELECTIONS. Lisbon, Portugal. The Portuguese government has seen a major shift this year as the moderate Centrist Party fell apart in the year's national elections. The collapse was due to a shift in polarization in the nation's political party, as the liberal and conservatives parties gained strength against the moderate center. The liberals have managed to make the most headway, pledging social reform and eventual peace with honor for the Portuguese people from the Great War. The liberals have not outright opposed the war effort, but they have called for a reduction of military expenses and at least some effort at negotiations to end the conflict. The Portuguese Social Democratic Party has led the charge and has gained full majority control of Portugal's parliament. They possess substantial support, as the horrific images and casualty lists from the Aquitaine continue to arrive in the newspapers on the home front. (+1 Stability)
REFORM FOR SCANDINAVIAN ELECTIONS. Stockholm, Scandinavia. The Scandinavians had their elections this year, after last year's push for increased recognition of seats from Finland. The Scandinavian central government ceded to these claims, opening up a number of new seats for the elections in the Finnish provinces. The result was a major influx of new political speakers and a major opportunity for all political parties to gain ground. The liberals found the most supporters among the new Finnish members of the Rikstag, but they found the Finns heavily divided with influence from nationalists and proletarists divided any unified support they could have had. The Industry Party has continued to dominate the government, pledging support to the Continental Powers' cause and a strong industry and military to push the successes of the Scandinavian people even further. (+1 Stability)
BRITTANY DISBANDS CAVALRY. Nantes, Brittany. In a move surprising military thinkers in other nations, the Breton Army has disbanded its cavalry arm, eliminating horse-mounted riders entirely from their plans and doctrines for warfare. The Breton government has stated that the evidence of observers with armies on the front lines has suggested that the day of the horseman is over as machine guns tear charges to shreds. The move has freed up substantial veteran recruits to enter into service with the infantry or artillery, helping build up other Breton forces. Some opposition has emerged to the move, claiming that cavalry could still fill a vital role of reconnaissance, claiming that its ignorance by Russian troops in last year's fighting in Poland cost them the battles. Regardless of the dissent, the reform has been completed as the Bretons push to ever modernize their armed forces.
BRITTANY GRANTS FEMALE SUFFRAGE. Nantes, Brittany. In yet another shocking domestic move, the Breton government has granted voting rights to adult women throughout their nation. This has afforded new rights and created a large bloc of new voters to participate in the Breton democratic tradition. The reform was heavily opposed in Parliament, as the conservatives resisted the bill as long as possible, creating massive debates over the political reform. Substantial concern was raised over the overwhelming support this would give the liberal government, and anger was brought about at the suggestion that the liberals were simply trying to pack the government with their supporters. The result has been growing political tensions between left and right, despite the rejoicing among women who had previously pushed for suffrage laws to be enacted. (-1 Stability)
FLANDERS TO OBSERVE EUROPEAN GREAT WAR FRONTS. Brussels, Flanders. The Flemish government, in part due to its role for hosting the International Health Organization as well as force behind the Calais Convention, has taken a new role in the ongoing Great War. The Flemish government has dispatched civilians in yellow uniforms to take up the role of observers throughout a number of fronts in Europe in the Great War. They have been tasked to monitor those participating in the Calais Convention to make sure that the wounded are treated properly in the aftermath of battle. The International Health Organization has also supported this effort, in order to monitor disease epidemics that may fester among the armies in the muddy fields of the war. Some casualties have been reported among these brave volunteers, particularly during the frequent artillery barrages that make up most of the casualties suffered by both sides. Regardless, the role of these observers is mostly ignored if they have complaints, except for token gestures to fix any mild problems.
BRANDENBURG ANNEXATION AND SCANDAL. Berlin, Brandenburg. King Charles Frederick II of Brandenburg announced the immediate annexation of the territories take from Denmark into a new province of the Kingdom of Brandenburg. The proclamation came only weeks before an allegedly true telegram from the head diplomat of Brandenburg was published by Danish and Dutch newspapers, claiming that Brandenburg intended on annexing the Netherlands, Denmark, and much of the Franco-Burgundian Confederation. The effort has been mostly seen as expanded propaganda for the cause of the Continental Powers, and has received very little credible support elsewhere. The publishing of the telegram has been seen as irrelevant to any part of the ongoing Great War, beyond some further support for the Dutch regime on the home front.
Casualty Lists
Spain: 6 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 5 Conscript Brigades, 1 Infantry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade
FIGHTING IN WEST AFRICA. Lagos, occupied Franco-Burgundian Confederation. In the largest combined Allied operation outside of the Europe to date, the Brazilians led an effort to drive the Confederation out of Africa. After spending months painstakingly assembling a massive force to claim the colony, they invaded from sea and land in an overly complex assault upon the colony. Thanks to previous raids, the French were more than alert prepared for an attack from the sea, and inflicted major casualties upon the Brazilian landing forces. Other advances overland were also badly mauled as the Brazilian buildup was obvious even to the most oblivious military mind. American, Argentine, Brazilian, and British troops attacked overland, successfully overrunning the undermanned French outposts through sheer numbers. Despite the massacre and devastation of Brazilian forces in their landing, the rest of the Allied forces would successfully occupy the colony, forcing the surrender of the Confederation forces, and spending most of the year actually landing the massive Brazilian forces. With little else to do, preparations were made for an invasion of Spanish Guinea, but thanks to the massive forces involved, only half of the Allied forces were even in position by the end of the year.
Casualty Lists
Argentina: 1 Infantry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade
Brazil: 3 Infantry Brigades, 4 Artillery Brigades
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 1 Cavalry Brigade
Franco-Burgundian Confederation: 3 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades
THE NORTHERN CHINA FRONT. Harbin, Japan. The defenses of the French forces in China proved to be only temporarily disrupted by the uprising by the local Chinese. The fighting continued to be heavy along the front lines during the uprising, as the Japanese attempted to exploit and aid the rebels. Unfortunately, at the time of the uprising, the Japanese massing of forces was not yet complete, still awaiting reinforcements from Japan and Korea. Late in July, the Japanese would finally launch their offensive against the Confederation's positions in China, only to find that they had been unexpectedly reinforced by the Dutch Chinese army. The combined forces failed to give way to the Japanese, stopping their advance on a solid wall of machine gun fire and gas warfare. The Japanese attempted a number of growing assaults, only to suffer more casualties with each attempt. The Dutch and Confederate soldiers even managed to launch several smaller counterattacks, relieving the pressure upon Peking and forcing back the main Japanese lines.
Casualty Lists
Franco-Burgundian Confederation: 19 Infantry Brigades, 4 Cavalry Brigades, 4 Artillery Brigades
Netherlands: 6 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 2 Artillery Brigades
Japan: 42 Conscript Brigades, 38 Infantry Brigades, 1 Kagemusha Brigade, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 11 Artillery Brigades
THE SOUTHERN CHINA FRONT. Hong Kong, United Kingdom of Great Britain. The fighting in southern China has taken a bit of a turn as both the British and Spanish conscript locally to bolster their forces against each other. The British have possessed a better position, trapping the Spanish front with their backs to the Yangtze River. The Spanish, reinforced by substantial local conscripts, as well as the Portuguese China army, have bolstered their defenses against a larger British army. The reinforcements proved to be of little use, and the British soon managed a breakthrough, destroying the Continental artillery corps, and punching a massive hole in Spanish lines. The Spanish and Portuguese armies were devastated and the British split their forces into pieces, and while a few made it back across the Yangtze, most surrendered or were destroyed by the British army. The surviving forces regrouped with the Scandinavian army, and were further reinforced by the Danes, providing at least a chance of holding the river line. Unfortunately, the British soon crossed near the coast, and turned the flanks of the whole Continental front. The Continentals were badly mauled, and by the end of the year, were fighting losing defenses throughout Danish China.
Casualty Lists
Denmark: 4 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade
Portugal: 2 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade
Scandinavia: 5 Infantry Brigades, 4 Cavalry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades, 3 Early Destroyers, 1 Early Light Cruiser
Spain: 13 Conscript Brigades, 4 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 9 Conscript Brigades, 11 Infantry Brigades, 4 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades, 1 Early Light Cruiser
INVASION OF INDONESIA. Brunei, United Kingdom of Great Britain. Before and after the Dutch defeat at the Battle of the Gulf of Tomini, the Japanese and British launched a campaign to take the Dutch East Indies away from the influence of the Continental Powers. The British would lead the charge, occupying the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. It was discovered there that the Dutch had been withdrawn to the central island of Java, consolidating their defenses. The first real battle in the East Indies was on Java, where a British force would be resolutely shattered and defeated by the Dutch defenders, who had been able to rush to the defense of the landing area. The British army was quickly surrounded and forced to a surrender to the much larger and better prepared Dutch forces on the island. While the British were dying at the hands of the prepared Dutch garrison, the Japanese were rampaging across the Dutch East Indies, claiming the Celebes, New Guinea, and countless other islands among them. Like the British, however, the Japanese would hit an equal barrier with their attempt to take Java from the Dutch. The Dutch forces were able to spot the Japanese fleet and prepare a warm welcoming on the beaches. The Japanese troops would be cut up by the Dutch firepower, and after suffering numerous casualties, the Japanese retreated back to their ships to lick their wounds.
Casualty Lists
Japan: 5 Infantry Brigades
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 4 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
Netherlands: 2 Infantry Brigades
THE BRANDENBURG FRONT. Hanover, Brandenburg. As elsewhere around the world, the front between the Atlantic Ocean and Austria proved to be locked in stasis by the technology of modern warfare. The front running throughout much of western Brandenburg has been the scene of escalating skirmishes and battles, though the overall situation remained a stalemate. Neither side launched any major offensive, beyond a massed attack by the Serbian army, which only gained a little ground on the southern flank of the front lines. Both sides have otherwise remained fairly quiet, as the raids and fighting remain on a fairly consistent scale. Casualties therefore have been somewhat low, at least based upon the standards of other fronts. Neither side is quite sure what to make of this, though press at home in all relevant nations have demanded action to defeat the dastardly enemy.
Casualty Lists
Brandenburg: 23 Conscript Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
Hungary: 10 Conscript Brigades
Serbia: 2 Conscript Brigades, 12 Infantry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades
Franco-Burgundian Confederation: 15 Conscript Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades
Netherlands: 10 Conscript Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
THE JUTLAND FRONT. Copenhagen, Denmark. Much like the fighting to the south, the warfare on the Jutland Peninsula has been fairly subdued compared to last year and the fighting in other theaters. Neither the Danes or the Brandenburgers seemed eager to push forward, and the conflict has been restricted to smaller skirmishes and probes throughout the whole of the year. Some of these little battles have been fairly bloody, but no advances have been made by Brandenburg or the Continental Powers. Later in the year, with a good portion of the Scandinavian army withdrawn to fight in Ireland, the Brandenburgers began to be a little more aggressive, but they found that the remaining soldiers and the Danish army were more than enough to discourage any major offensive. Therefore, the front has changed little, with lower casualty rates to show for it. Below photograph is of Danish forces posing in a trench during a lull in combat
Casualty List
Brandenburg: 10 Conscript Brigades
Denmark: 6 Conscript Brigades
Scandinavia: 3 Conscript Brigades
RAIDS UPON THE SCANDINAVIAN COAST. Oslo, Scandinavia. The major defeat at the Battle of Bantry Bay opened up the doors for aggressive Allied action throughout the North Sea. The Scandinavians felt the brunt of this during the latter part of the year as the British used the rough weather to mask raids upon the Scandinavian ports on the Norwegian coast. The raids proved devastating against the coastal defenses remaining, as Lioness-class battlecruisers blasted through destroyers. The worst was the raid upon Oslo, which set much of the city afire, as well as devastating the local shipyard and the ships under construction there. The raids were repeated up and down the coast, as rapid moving Allied fleets engaged and destroyed port facilities and coastal patrols manned by the Scandinavians. Despite all this, a few days before Christmas, a beacon of hope would shine out for Scandinavia at Bergen. As per their operations, a Lioness-class Battlecruiser and escorts began shelling the facilities, only to at last meet their match as a new Chasseur-class Battlecruiser at last entered into service. Billed as the answer to the problems caused by the new British battlecruiser, the ship has proven faster, if with lighter armaments than the British ship. The British raiders were utterly destroyed, ending the year on a sour note for the Allied cause in the North Sea.
Casualty Lists
Argentina: 1 Trovão-class Destroyer
Brazil: 2 Trovão-class Destroyers
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 3 Trovão-class Destroyers, 1 Lioness-class Battlecruiser
Scandinavia: 8 Nordenfelt-class Submarines, 5 Romanos-class Destroyers, 1 Chasseur-class Battlecruiser
FIGHTING IN MANCHURIA. Harbin, Japan. After a year's worth of stalemate, the Russian army in the Far East at last began a belated offensive against the Japanese in Manchuria. The attack was poorly coordinated and unsupported by any significant forces, running into well prepared Japanese defenses. The offensive was badly bloodied by the Japanese, who held back the advance and preserved their control over the region. The attack came late in the year as the first snows were beginning to fall, and the Russians found themselves only reluctantly advancing against a numerically inferior Japanese army. The Japanese were more than capable of resisting the Russian attack, having witnessed their assembly before they launched the offensive. Regardless, the fighting has been minor compared to actions undertaken by both armies, and foreign observers believe that this shows that both armies remain mostly committed in other theaters.
Casualty Lists
Japan: 3 Conscript Brigades
Russia: 9 Conscript Brigades
THE HOME FRONTS London, United Kingdom of Great Britain. The major casualties and fighting across the world has seen an overall continuation of support for the war effort in most nations. Despite the brutality and ferocity of modern war, it seems that civilians on the home front in both the Allied and Continental nations firmly believe in their cause and hope for victory. Rationing has been enacting in some nations due to the problems caused by the war and the overall disruption of foreign trade across the globe's oceans. Furthermore, following the success of the bond program in the United Kingdom, both Allies and members of the Continental Powers have followed suit with similar programs of their own. Among these are the United States of America, the Franco-Burgundian Confederation, Scandianvia, and the Netherlands. All the bond efforts have had varying degrees of success, providing more financial support for the war. With the mixed military successes of the year, it seems that no one has really sustained an insurmountable defeat, and the fighting will continue to rage onward. Regardless of the direction, the people of the world are each convinced of their cause's righteousness and the inevitability of their victory. As before, below is provided the various non-economic statistical changes caused by the war and the fighting around the world.
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News from Europe
BLIGHT LEADS TO FOOD SHORTAGES IN BRITAIN. Ulster, United Kingdom of Great Britain. In a nation besieged by war, the British have suffered a major blow this year as domestic crops have reached a thirty year low in production rates. To blame for this catastrophe has been a new agricultural blight and a number of bad storms which has ruined much of the year's crop yield. Thankfully, with the sea lanes still open, no one is starving, as food is shipped in from the lush fields of the United States and Argentina. The Allied nations have done well to provide the needed foodstuffs to keep the British in the war, keeping the threat of blockade at bay through the year's various naval battles. Farmers are uncertain what this will mean for next year's crops, as the blight is still at large. The government has encouraged civilians to grow their own crops and vegetable gardens, as it seems that the food situation may become tighter as the war continues. Unfortunately, the lack of food has not made the government popular, particularly in Ireland, which has been the worst hit of the islands. (-1 Stability)
RIOTS IN VENICE. Venice, Austria. As the newly established Italian Republic gained some momentum this year and Naples appeared to be on the verge of overwhelming the hated Pope, the effects have been felt elsewhere across the peninsula. In Austria, the Venetians have once more begun clamoring to support the cause of Italian nationalism and the university would be the center of a revolt against Austrian rule. They have denounced Austria's support for the Papacy and begun a full uprising, barricading the campus and seizing guns from their hidden spots. The Austrian military was forced to fight its way back into the city to restore order, facing heavy casualties as they attempted to overwhelm barricades. Some of this has been attributed to four machine guns somehow acquired by the nationalists. These guns had a devastating toll upon the Austrian forces in the narrow city streets, causing hundreds of deaths in only a few short minutes. The Austrians ultimately overwhelmed the nationalists through sheer numbers, pushing back onto the university's campus and disbanding classes for the rest of the year. (-2 Infantry Brigades)
DISSENT TURNS TO VIOLENCE IN NAPLES. Naples, Naples. The Neapolitan government, continuing its cries of nationalism and war against the Papacy, has faced new dissent among its own ranks. A significant part of the old officer corps are less than enthusiastic about the war and recent compromises made with the Sicilian republicans. They have demanded a halt to the war and the crushing of the republican and leftist causes throughout Italy before Naples' own territorial ambitions are pressed. They have outright spoken against the war, and in order to contain what could turn into a mutiny, the arrest of the dissenting officers was ordered by King Ferdinand II. Unfortunately, these men rallied their own troops into a mutiny against the monarchy, pledging to support the Catholic cause against the nationalist cause. The officers proved fairly successful at first, but with the diversion of troops from the front lines, the Neapolitan regulars overwhelmed the mutineers and reestablished control over the rest of the army. Still, dissent remains heavy as the more religious of the warriors of Naples are losing enthusiasm for the ongoing war. (-3 Infantry Brigades, -3 Cavalry Brigades, -1 Stability)
INQUISITION CRACKS DOWN IN PAPAL STATES. Rome, Papal States. The Papal Inquisition has once more been unleashed upon the people of Italy, arresting agitators and securing support for the war effort against Naples. The Inquisitions diverse weaponry against the revolutionaries includes fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope, and nice red uniforms. The papacy has pledged to secure the stability of his nation and has met with surprising success. A number of would-be revolutionary leaders have been arrested or detained by the Inquisition, leading to a near destruction of local dissident movements. Furthermore, a substantial shipment of support from the Italian Republic was intercepted, and its assets seized and added to the papal arsenals and treasury. The Inquisition has continued to consolidate the domestic position of the Papal States, hoping to secure a strong home defense against any future invasion. (+1 Stability, +10 EP to bank from seized supplies)
MAJOR ARRESTS OF DISSIDENTS IN RUSSIA. Moscow, Russia. The Russian secret police have successful launched a major operation geared towards destroying any organized resistance on the home front against the monarchy. A number of republicans and proletarists have been identified and arrested by the Russian government, and were immediately imprisoned. After the operations were complete and Russia was purified of the leftist dissent, a new program was introduced to help bolster the operations of the army. Those arrested have been organized into punishment battalions, designed to assist in the clearing of mines and other obstacles between Russian lines and the forces of the enemy. These dissidents are made to serve Mother Russia by expending their lives as punishment for their crimes. The sting has been somewhat lessened with vague promises of freedom in the unlikely situation that they survive their service in the war. (+1 Stability)
DANISH ELECTIONS LEAD TO MILITARY COUP. Copenhagen, Denmark. The elections in Denmark this year were immediately chaotic with the occupation of over half the nation's population by Brandenburg. The result has been a full breakdown of the constitutional structure of the Danish government, which has been struggling ever since the war began. The elections were confused and no one was quite sure what would happen with the standing individuals, and the king did very little to help the situation. As no clear government would be formed and elements like proletarists attempting to seize power and rioting in Copenhagen, the military grew considerably anxious. As no solution remained in sight, and the Danish and Scandinavian armies managed to hold the lines against the Allies, the army considered its options to end the home turmoil. Under the support of the lead commander of the Danish Army, General Lars Jensen, the army has disbanded the legislature and eliminated King Christian IX from any public appearances. The military has declared absolute control for the duration of the emergency, in order to keep the fight against the Allies organized. The coup went forward with success, and the army officer corps has supported the move, and the Danes have strove to maintain their position on the battlefield. (+1 Stability)
LACK OF ELECTIONS SPARKS DISSENT IN THE CONFEDERATION. Paris, Franco-Burgundian Confederation. The Great War has enabled an element of the constitution of the Franco-Burgundian Confederation which has sparked immense internal debate. The primary elections for control of the Confederation in Paris and Burgundy were not held this year due to the continuation of the war. This has been met with substantial anger from the population. The liberals in the government have begun establishing a platform calling for constitutional reform upon the conclusion of the war, saying that the needs of the military should not outweigh the needs of the people. The liberals have demanded immediate promises for electoral reform and have begun building substantial support among the people. Various newspapers have begun demonstrating their own outrage toward the government, railing against the conservative bias of the constitution and demanding reform. So far though, the average man seems dedicated to the war with Brandenburg and the Allies, keeping the nation together on a united front.
PORTUGUESE ELECTIONS. Lisbon, Portugal. The Portuguese government has seen a major shift this year as the moderate Centrist Party fell apart in the year's national elections. The collapse was due to a shift in polarization in the nation's political party, as the liberal and conservatives parties gained strength against the moderate center. The liberals have managed to make the most headway, pledging social reform and eventual peace with honor for the Portuguese people from the Great War. The liberals have not outright opposed the war effort, but they have called for a reduction of military expenses and at least some effort at negotiations to end the conflict. The Portuguese Social Democratic Party has led the charge and has gained full majority control of Portugal's parliament. They possess substantial support, as the horrific images and casualty lists from the Aquitaine continue to arrive in the newspapers on the home front. (+1 Stability)
REFORM FOR SCANDINAVIAN ELECTIONS. Stockholm, Scandinavia. The Scandinavians had their elections this year, after last year's push for increased recognition of seats from Finland. The Scandinavian central government ceded to these claims, opening up a number of new seats for the elections in the Finnish provinces. The result was a major influx of new political speakers and a major opportunity for all political parties to gain ground. The liberals found the most supporters among the new Finnish members of the Rikstag, but they found the Finns heavily divided with influence from nationalists and proletarists divided any unified support they could have had. The Industry Party has continued to dominate the government, pledging support to the Continental Powers' cause and a strong industry and military to push the successes of the Scandinavian people even further. (+1 Stability)
BRITTANY DISBANDS CAVALRY. Nantes, Brittany. In a move surprising military thinkers in other nations, the Breton Army has disbanded its cavalry arm, eliminating horse-mounted riders entirely from their plans and doctrines for warfare. The Breton government has stated that the evidence of observers with armies on the front lines has suggested that the day of the horseman is over as machine guns tear charges to shreds. The move has freed up substantial veteran recruits to enter into service with the infantry or artillery, helping build up other Breton forces. Some opposition has emerged to the move, claiming that cavalry could still fill a vital role of reconnaissance, claiming that its ignorance by Russian troops in last year's fighting in Poland cost them the battles. Regardless of the dissent, the reform has been completed as the Bretons push to ever modernize their armed forces.
BRITTANY GRANTS FEMALE SUFFRAGE. Nantes, Brittany. In yet another shocking domestic move, the Breton government has granted voting rights to adult women throughout their nation. This has afforded new rights and created a large bloc of new voters to participate in the Breton democratic tradition. The reform was heavily opposed in Parliament, as the conservatives resisted the bill as long as possible, creating massive debates over the political reform. Substantial concern was raised over the overwhelming support this would give the liberal government, and anger was brought about at the suggestion that the liberals were simply trying to pack the government with their supporters. The result has been growing political tensions between left and right, despite the rejoicing among women who had previously pushed for suffrage laws to be enacted. (-1 Stability)
FLANDERS TO OBSERVE EUROPEAN GREAT WAR FRONTS. Brussels, Flanders. The Flemish government, in part due to its role for hosting the International Health Organization as well as force behind the Calais Convention, has taken a new role in the ongoing Great War. The Flemish government has dispatched civilians in yellow uniforms to take up the role of observers throughout a number of fronts in Europe in the Great War. They have been tasked to monitor those participating in the Calais Convention to make sure that the wounded are treated properly in the aftermath of battle. The International Health Organization has also supported this effort, in order to monitor disease epidemics that may fester among the armies in the muddy fields of the war. Some casualties have been reported among these brave volunteers, particularly during the frequent artillery barrages that make up most of the casualties suffered by both sides. Regardless, the role of these observers is mostly ignored if they have complaints, except for token gestures to fix any mild problems.
BRANDENBURG ANNEXATION AND SCANDAL. Berlin, Brandenburg. King Charles Frederick II of Brandenburg announced the immediate annexation of the territories take from Denmark into a new province of the Kingdom of Brandenburg. The proclamation came only weeks before an allegedly true telegram from the head diplomat of Brandenburg was published by Danish and Dutch newspapers, claiming that Brandenburg intended on annexing the Netherlands, Denmark, and much of the Franco-Burgundian Confederation. The effort has been mostly seen as expanded propaganda for the cause of the Continental Powers, and has received very little credible support elsewhere. The publishing of the telegram has been seen as irrelevant to any part of the ongoing Great War, beyond some further support for the Dutch regime on the home front.
CEASE FIRE IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE. Athens, Roman Empire. After several weeks of small scale fighting between the Bulgarian rebels and the Roman Empire, a ceasefire has been reached between the Imperator and the rebellion. A route to reform has been suggested, in creating a decentralized collection of independent provinces, rather than a full restoration of the Roman Empire. The newly formed organization would be known as the United Roman Republics, and negotiations have been initiated to determine the exact terms of such a group. The recent successful coup in Opsikion and the provincial revolt of Chaldia could well upset the balance, as the governments in both of these former provinces seem disinterested in any regime that suggests republicanism. Regardless, negotiations have begun in good faith among all four of the standing governments in the former Roman Empire. Hopes remain high among all the interested parties that at the very least peace can be achieved among the warring factions. (+1 Stability in Roman Empire, Bulgaria, Opsikion, and Chaldia)
THE WARS IN ITALY. Rome, Papal States. What began as a conflict solely between Naples and the Papacy has clearly escalated to a much larger scale as other nations increase their involvement. The newly forged Italian Republic has continued to struggle onward against Naples, offering an inviting target to Sardinian invasion. Austria has continued to back the Papacy against Naples, helping to preserve control and the front lines in southern Italy. The fighting has been heavy across the peninsula, and increasingly more confused with each new participant. The war has slackened only a little as Sardinia signs a cease fire with Naples for the time being, and focuses its wrath upon the newly formed republic. Due to the increased complexity of the conflict, all the various theaters of war are covered in the special section below, while statistical changes related to the conflict are provided with this article.
FIGHTING IN SOUTHERN ITALY. Naples, Naples. The heaviest fighting and largest armies of the wars are those along the border of the Papal States and Naples. The casualties have mounted, particularly as what began as a successful strategy of raiding by both sides has turned into a number of local disasters. Attempts to use cavalry to sow disorder behind the lines have been met with catastrophic failure by both sides with the consolidation of the front lines. The result has been utter devastation, particularly within the papal cavalry corps which was slower to change doctrine, ending with the annihilation of much of the cavalry with few casualties for the enemy. The Neapolitans were the first to launch a major attack, attempting to reclaim territory lost in the Austrian offensives last year. The attack proved astonishingly successful, as Italian spies were able to accurately map out the whole of the Austrian artillery defensive positions. This allowed the Neapolitans to accurately destroy over half of the Austrian artillery corps in the opening of battle. Combined use of artillery and gas in concentrated amounts, as well as a major assault soon led to the collapse of the Austrian army on the front lines. The Austrian rear was overwhelmed and Papal troops were forced to assault what used to be their own defenses, before falling back themselves. The mauling of Austria's army led to the Papal forces taking up most of the lines, and they were able to inflict heavier casualties as they were forced back. The Neapolitans managed to continue a slow advance for the remainder of the year, pushing their way back into the Papal States and resisting counterattacks by the enemy army.
Casualty Lists
Austria: 21 Infantry Brigades, 4 Cavalry Brigades, 10 Artillery Brigades
Papal States: 8 Conscript Brigades, 29 Infantry Brigades, 6 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades
Naples: 41 Infantry Brigades, 8 Cavalry Brigades, 7 Artillery Brigades
THE TICINO FRONT. Milano, Milan. The Italian Republic struggled this year to liberate the Italians of Milan for their cause, finding that the people were less than eager to risk their lives with rebellion for the republic. Though they would managed to find some scouts and spies to aid with an offensive, the Ticino River remained a formidable obstacle for any Italian attacks against the Milanese. Regardless, the Italian Republican Army began their attempts to cross the river, meeting major resistance, and being badly mauled by Milanese machine guns and artillery. The Italians did manage to silence most of Milan's heavy guns, but were unable to establish a lasting bridgehead on the other side of the river. Milan's army proved competent and able to resist the attack, maintaining their independence from the Republic so far. The later Sardinian attack further laid to rest any future hopes of the Republic crossing the river, as forces were sent south, and the offensive across the Ticino River was canceled. Below picture of Milanese soldiers preparing to repulse yet another Italian assault
Casualty Lists
Italian Republic: 17 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 2 Artillery Brigades
Milan: 7 Conscript Brigades, 5 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 4 Artillery Brigades
SARDINIA INVADES GENOA. Genoa, Italian Republic. As the newly formed Italian Republic was engaged in a death struggle along the Ticino River with Milan, a far graver threat emerged from the south. The Sardinians, having made their peace with Naples, launched an offensive against the fledgling republic. The Italian fleet, and the four destroyers it possessed, was annihilated, bringing only a solitary Sardinian destroyer down with it. The Sardinians would manage to overwhelm what few defenses existed west of Genoa, taking the port of Savona. With little room for the invaders to maneuver, the Italians were able to rush in troops and deploy freshly recruited conscripts to block the Sardinian advance upon the capital. The Sardinians, faced with a significant amount of Italian reinforcements, were unable to breach the defenses established, despite their greater numbers. With the veterans of the campaign against Milan against them, the untested Sardinian soldiers faced untold slaughter at the hands of artillery and machine gun fire. The front soon stalemated, with the Sardinians in tantalizing reach of Genoa itself.
Casualty Lists
Italian Republic: 13 Conscript Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades, 4 Early Destroyers
Sardinia: 12 Conscript Brigades, 9 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 2 Artillery Brigades, 1 Early Destroyer
NEW GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED IN CUBA. Havana, Cuba. The liberation of Cuba has been seen as one of the major blows to the Spanish empire that has emerged through the course of the Great War. The Cuban people began efforts to establish a governing convention and new constitution, as advisers and consultants arrived from the Allied Nations. The result was ideological competition between the Brazilian and American advisers, who recommended drastically different types of government. The Cubans ultimately selected a republican government, forgoing the militarist recommendations of the United States of America. A republican constitution was formed, modeled upon those of Venezuela, New Spain, and the Mayan Republic. The first elections are scheduled to be held in 1907, as the government works to establish a functioning bureaucracy and the nation's status in the Great War is undetermined. (+1 Stability)
NEW COUP IN CHILE. Santiago, Chile. The rule of reactionary general Pedro Mendez has come to an end in Chile this year, as elements of the military led a coup to depose him. Dissatisfied with the corrupt government of Mendez, which had seized power in their own coup in 1900, the military made their move to establish a new regime. Unfortunately, General Mendez was unwilling to go quietly, managing to anticipate the coup and mobilize loyal forces. The result was a brutal street battle in Santiago, as the loyalists fought to contain the uprising and preserve the government of Mendez. The rebels eventually managed to crush the loyalist forces after a vicious battle lasting more than a week. The new government has rallied around a liberal champion, Dominic Rodriguez. The general has pledged to work towards establishing a new republic for Chile, ending the instability which has blighted Chile for the past few decades. Politicians from Argentina and Peru have applauded the effort, which seems to be nearing at last an opportunity for peace in the troubled state. (+1 Stability, -3 Infantry Brigades)
COUP ATTEMPTED CRUSHED IN ECUADOR. Quito, Ecuador. Ecuador, which nearly entered the Great War due to rising tensions with Peru, has suffered through domestic turmoil this year as hawkish generals attempted to seize power. Allegedly encouraged by leaders of the Continental Powers, elements of Ecuador's military launched a coup to depose President Felix Martinez. Thanks to a number of loyal officers who had been approached to join the coup, the president's guard was warned and loyal forces were rushed to Quito. The loyalists managed to properly defend the city and block any access to the area to the mutineers, limiting the battle to the countryside surrounding the urban population. The fighting proved heavy as the loyalists attempted to round up and arrest or eliminate the conspirators against the government. Regardless, the operation was a success, achieving the elimination of most of President Martinez's rivals throughout Ecuador. The President has already pledged to avenge this heinous attack, but throwing in his lot with the Allies against the Continental Powers. (+1 Stability, -2 Infantry Brigades)
RIOTING IN MANAGUA. Managua, New Spain. The New Spanish government has faced growing internal dissent as unemployment caused by the construction of the Panama Canal and the Great War continues to climb. The government seems incapable or unwilling to actually do anything to help the woes of the New Spanish people, and countless thousands remain out of work. The result has been increased poverty in the cities, particularly Managua which has attracted the development of massive slums around the urban center. These slums would become the source of substantial unrest and riots this year, causing extensive damage and destruction throughout the region. The police of Managua were overrun and their stations burned or otherwise trashed by the rioters, and the military was forced to be called in to restore order. The result was growing violence throughout the city, and reports of numerous massacres by the army have emerged to foreign press. The disorder continues, as the army struggles to maintain control over the nation's capital. (-1 Stability, -2 Manpower)
AMERICAN UNDERGROUND ESTABLISHED. New York City, United States of America. Reports have emerged to foreign press about the establishment of the new illegal organization known as the American Underground. As transportation networks grow more connected and larger across the nation, the result has become the consolidation of a number of dissident political groups. Led by the illicit Democratic Americans Party, the movement has gained substantial support throughout the Great Plains and the American Northeast. The American Underground has pledged to restore the old Constitution of the United States that had been destroyed by the Scott government after the War of the American Presidency. They have, however, failed to gain a foothold in the South and have also become vicious enemies with the proletarists, who they compete with regularly for influence. Regardless, the movement has become easily the worst threat against the reign of the military government in Washington. (-1 Stability)
ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT GROWS IN VENEZUELA. Caracas, Venezuela. The Venezuelan government has come under political siege this year with a growing political movement calling for the end of involvement in the Great War. The anti-war movement claims that warfare is wrong in its very nature and that the Venezuelans ought to take what they have and stay out of the brutal conflict burning the European continent and the rest of the world. The images of violence and stalemate which have emerged from the Brandenburg Front and other regions have only added fuel to the fire as lobbyists continue arriving in Caracas in the hopes of discouraging the current government from its course. No major political party has taken up arms with this cause, both refusing to dishonor commitments with the United States of America. The social proletarists are so far the only ones embracing the ideal of ending the war, and have gained at least a little political strength through this struggle.
NEW SPAIN RESPONDS TO PANAMA CANAL. Managua, New Spain. The economic devastation of the Great War has been nothing compared to the major recession caused in New Spain by the Panama Canal. The canal has shattered the infrastructure system which had existed in New Spain to transport goods, created originally in the nineteenth century by the Rivera Transport Scheme. The riots earlier in the year have shown the frustration of the New Spanish people with the worsening economic situation, despite a mild recovery caused by New Spain's very limited involvement in the Great War. Later in the year, the government has announced plans for the government sponsored construction of new infrastructure to provide work and employment for the people. This has been accompanied by a major propaganda campaign about the glory of New Spain, but it rings hollow with so many workers unemployed and the situation seeming to only get worse with each passing month.
CUBA ESTABLISHES NAVY. Guantanamo, Cuba. The establishment of a new republic in Cuba has given new hope and life to the Cuban nationalists, but without Spain's official recognition and the ever changing tides of the Great War, it is feared that independence may be short lived. With this in mind, the interim president of Cuba has declared war upon Spain officially, and declared common cause with the Allied nations. Therefore, the Cuban government has begun constructing new warships out of the old Spanish shipyards at Guantanamo. The Cubans have pledged to commit what forces they can to the Allied cause of bringing down the Spanish empire, in order to assure their own security. Though the president does face electoral challenge next year, the establishment of a navy has been viewed as a priority by all in Cuba. The new Cuban navy will be the first line of defense at any future attempt to subjugate the Cuban people to imperialism once more.
CHALDIA DECLARES INDEPENDENCE. Trebizond, Chaldia. Following the unrest caused by last year's secession of Opsikion from the Roman Empire, the rest of the imperial possessions continue to remain a bit shaky. Therefore, as the fate of the empire seems quite uncertain, yet another province has broken away from the Imperator's grasp. General Anthimos Stavridis has seized power through his own army in the province of Chaldia, ruling from the major trading center of Trebizond. The general has so far recognized the cease fire proclaimed among the three other factions, as negotiations for Rome's future continues. The new state has proven to be fairly successful, though it faces problems from a large Turkish minority as well as various other ethnicities. Furthermore, it has gained substantial support from the kingdoms of Georgia and Azerbaijan, which welcome it as another successor state. Regardless, the new Chaldian nation seems less than willing to participate in the ongoing negotiations, likely to wind up remaining independent of any successor state to the larger empire that existed before the Constantinople Event.
ABYSSINIAN LIBERTY MOVEMENT ESTABLISHED. Addis Ababa, Scandinavia. After last year's disastrous uprising, those who fought in it have become known as heroes and martyrs to the people of Abyssinia. The result has been the formation of the Abyssinian Liberty Movement, an underground organization dedicated to obtaining the freedom of Abyssinia from the oppressive rule of Scandinavia. The intellectual base of the native peoples continues to remain strong, despite the destruction of the locally run universities in Addis Ababa during last year's revolt. The movement has begun mustering all weapons and arms in order to establish a trained force for guerilla operations against the Scandinavians as soon as possible. Some limited strikes and robberies have begun of Scandinavian arsenals throughout the region, as troops are withdrawn to fight the British in the Kongo. The Abyssinians have pledged not to rest until every last Scandinavian is either dead or fleeing back to Europe. (-1 Stability)
PAN-ARABS CALL FOR OMAN TO ENTER WAR. Muscat, Oman. The Sons of Arabia have begun making their efforts felt in places other than the Holy Land this year. The Omani government has been besieged by a propaganda campaign calling for immediate involvement in the Great War on the side of the Arabian Empire. The Sons of Arabia have been citing the common cause and the call for jihad against the Spanish, hoping to bring Oman's reserves onto the appropriate side. The campaign has actually shown some success, as rumors indicate that Abdul bin Sultan could be sympathetic to the Allied cause in the Middle East. Other reports suggest the opposite, as it is indicated that past negotiations between the two powers have only led to a rise in tensions and dislike between the two sultans. So far it seems that the Omani sultan has not made up his mind, but has been continuously balancing the demands of both sides of the debate, remaining above any divisive fray in the court.
ANTI-REPUBLICANS SEIZE POWER IN OPSIKION. Cius, Opsikion. The recent negotiations which have begun among the major political players in the former Roman Empire have led to some concern among the more conservative leaders of Opsikion. The preliminary negotiations with Bulgaria have led to the suggestion that a republican state could be formed as a result of the cease-fire and situation throughout the rest of the region. This was later confirmed in council by General Zorbas, who began assembling support for a transformation to a republic. The sequence of events was viewed with horror by Zorbas' peers, who began making a power play of their own. The result was the murder of General Zorbas and the formation of a new military government, after the prior general's betrayal by his friend and fellow leader, Theofilos Manatos. The new leader of Opsikion has rejected any deal which would establish a republican regime in his province, and has vowed to keep control of the local government in the hands of the military. The neighboring state of Chaldia has applauded this move, and the two states are becoming close friends and allies in the ensuing negotiations with Bulgaria and the Imperator. (+1 Stability)
REVOLT IN CHINA. Peking, Franco-Burgundian Confederation. As Peking remained under siege after last year's advances by the Japanese, the French colonial authority began realizing its position was increasingly unstable. The local population, swayed to action by Japan's successes to date, have begun adopting a less enthusiastic stance towards European colonial rule. Under Japan's encouragement, Peking and the surrounding territories erupted into a full scale revolt against the Confederation's rule. As fighting continued to rage on the front lines, some Japanese artillery did manage to provide support for the rebels, and the French found themselves engaged in a brutal war on two fronts. Though the fighting on the front lines would go poorly, the French did manage to destroy the rebellious Chinese, but at a heavy cost. The French managed, at least temporarily, to restore order and preserve their supply lines against the relentless Japanese foe. (-5 Infantry Brigades, -5 Cavalry Brigades, -2 Artillery Brigades; -30 Manpower)
CEYLON INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT CREATED. Colombo, Netherlands. Inspired by the Indians under Spanish rule, and given their opportunity by the ongoing Great War, the leading intellectuals and politicians of the island colony of Ceylon have made a major stride towards independence. Gathering collectively, these people have formed the Ceylon National Congress, establishing a body with which to issue an unified voice against the colonial masters. The Ceylon National Congress has pledged to free the island from imperial rule, and give the full rights of people to the island, while driving the Dutch out. So far the Congress has determined to useful peaceful and political means to achieve this goal, and the predominant leaders have continued to state that Ceylon remains dedicated to the war against the Allied Nations. It is hoped by the leaders of the Congress that through the support of the government in Amsterdam, ultimately, a free state of Ceylon will be established after the war.
REVOLT IN VIETNAM. Hanoi, United Kingdom of Great Britain. The advance of Spanish forces in Burma proved to have major effects for the British elsewhere in Indochina. Spurred, perhaps preemptively, by rumors of the successes of the Continental Powers, a major rebellion was launched in the city of Hanoi. Hoping to spur the rest of the population to rebel, the local leaders of the Vietnamese nationalist movements found themselves with a populace highly reluctant to support them. Outnumbered and outgunned, the Vietnamese attempted to fight the British, establishing several major strongholds throughout the city of Hanoi. The British were soon in the city in force and managed to crush each pocket with relative ease, restoring their authority. The Vietnamese were badly mauled and most of their leaders were slain during the fighting, gutting the nationalist movement. The British have enacted martial law and continue to preserve order throughout all of Vietnam. (+1 Stability, -1 Infantry Brigade)
KHAZAKS BEGIN RAIDING IN PERSIA. Ashgabat, Persia. With the bulk of the Persian army deployed to the west, fighting against the Arabian Empire, this has left holes in their security throughout the rest of the empire. The Khazaks have begun renewing their tribal feuds and raids, attacking both their local rivals and the Persians alike. Therefore there has been growing violence throughout the Khazak provinces and along the border with Russia. The army has done its best to corral the renegade Khazaks, attempting to intercept and destroy any raiding parties attempting to attack other towns or villages. Regardless, the Persians in the region have found themselves very badly stretched, attempting to control too much land with too few soldiers. There have been mounting losses among the Persian cavalry, and the Khazaks continued to maraud and fight each other throughout the course of the year. (-1 Stability, -1 Cavalry Brigade)
PURGE LAUNCHED IN CHINA. Lanzhou, China. After last year's infighting and disputes, the central government of China, organized around General Shi Au Gau, has begun ending the petty disputes. The effort has been to at last fully centralize the military in Lanzhou, reining in the disputing warlords and rival generals. The effort turned into a bloodbath as very few of the subordinate generals ceded their power willingly to the general. The result was a number of pitched battles throughout China, as Shi Au Gau struggled to establish military control over the whole of the Chinese army. Ultimately, as the army fought among itself in these brutal battles, the central army of Lanzhou did manage to establish full authority over the remaining independent warlords. The effort, though it was achieved with great struggle, has proven successful. The army of China at last fully reports to the central government in Lanzhou. (+1 Stability)
THE WARS IN ITALY. Rome, Papal States. What began as a conflict solely between Naples and the Papacy has clearly escalated to a much larger scale as other nations increase their involvement. The newly forged Italian Republic has continued to struggle onward against Naples, offering an inviting target to Sardinian invasion. Austria has continued to back the Papacy against Naples, helping to preserve control and the front lines in southern Italy. The fighting has been heavy across the peninsula, and increasingly more confused with each new participant. The war has slackened only a little as Sardinia signs a cease fire with Naples for the time being, and focuses its wrath upon the newly formed republic. Due to the increased complexity of the conflict, all the various theaters of war are covered in the special section below, while statistical changes related to the conflict are provided with this article.
Spoiler :
SPECIAL: The Wars in Italy
FIGHTING IN SOUTHERN ITALY. Naples, Naples. The heaviest fighting and largest armies of the wars are those along the border of the Papal States and Naples. The casualties have mounted, particularly as what began as a successful strategy of raiding by both sides has turned into a number of local disasters. Attempts to use cavalry to sow disorder behind the lines have been met with catastrophic failure by both sides with the consolidation of the front lines. The result has been utter devastation, particularly within the papal cavalry corps which was slower to change doctrine, ending with the annihilation of much of the cavalry with few casualties for the enemy. The Neapolitans were the first to launch a major attack, attempting to reclaim territory lost in the Austrian offensives last year. The attack proved astonishingly successful, as Italian spies were able to accurately map out the whole of the Austrian artillery defensive positions. This allowed the Neapolitans to accurately destroy over half of the Austrian artillery corps in the opening of battle. Combined use of artillery and gas in concentrated amounts, as well as a major assault soon led to the collapse of the Austrian army on the front lines. The Austrian rear was overwhelmed and Papal troops were forced to assault what used to be their own defenses, before falling back themselves. The mauling of Austria's army led to the Papal forces taking up most of the lines, and they were able to inflict heavier casualties as they were forced back. The Neapolitans managed to continue a slow advance for the remainder of the year, pushing their way back into the Papal States and resisting counterattacks by the enemy army.
Casualty Lists
Austria: 21 Infantry Brigades, 4 Cavalry Brigades, 10 Artillery Brigades
Papal States: 8 Conscript Brigades, 29 Infantry Brigades, 6 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades
Naples: 41 Infantry Brigades, 8 Cavalry Brigades, 7 Artillery Brigades
THE TICINO FRONT. Milano, Milan. The Italian Republic struggled this year to liberate the Italians of Milan for their cause, finding that the people were less than eager to risk their lives with rebellion for the republic. Though they would managed to find some scouts and spies to aid with an offensive, the Ticino River remained a formidable obstacle for any Italian attacks against the Milanese. Regardless, the Italian Republican Army began their attempts to cross the river, meeting major resistance, and being badly mauled by Milanese machine guns and artillery. The Italians did manage to silence most of Milan's heavy guns, but were unable to establish a lasting bridgehead on the other side of the river. Milan's army proved competent and able to resist the attack, maintaining their independence from the Republic so far. The later Sardinian attack further laid to rest any future hopes of the Republic crossing the river, as forces were sent south, and the offensive across the Ticino River was canceled. Below picture of Milanese soldiers preparing to repulse yet another Italian assault
Casualty Lists
Italian Republic: 17 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 2 Artillery Brigades
Milan: 7 Conscript Brigades, 5 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 4 Artillery Brigades
SARDINIA INVADES GENOA. Genoa, Italian Republic. As the newly formed Italian Republic was engaged in a death struggle along the Ticino River with Milan, a far graver threat emerged from the south. The Sardinians, having made their peace with Naples, launched an offensive against the fledgling republic. The Italian fleet, and the four destroyers it possessed, was annihilated, bringing only a solitary Sardinian destroyer down with it. The Sardinians would manage to overwhelm what few defenses existed west of Genoa, taking the port of Savona. With little room for the invaders to maneuver, the Italians were able to rush in troops and deploy freshly recruited conscripts to block the Sardinian advance upon the capital. The Sardinians, faced with a significant amount of Italian reinforcements, were unable to breach the defenses established, despite their greater numbers. With the veterans of the campaign against Milan against them, the untested Sardinian soldiers faced untold slaughter at the hands of artillery and machine gun fire. The front soon stalemated, with the Sardinians in tantalizing reach of Genoa itself.
Casualty Lists
Italian Republic: 13 Conscript Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades, 4 Early Destroyers
Sardinia: 12 Conscript Brigades, 9 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 2 Artillery Brigades, 1 Early Destroyer
News from the Americas
NEW GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED IN CUBA. Havana, Cuba. The liberation of Cuba has been seen as one of the major blows to the Spanish empire that has emerged through the course of the Great War. The Cuban people began efforts to establish a governing convention and new constitution, as advisers and consultants arrived from the Allied Nations. The result was ideological competition between the Brazilian and American advisers, who recommended drastically different types of government. The Cubans ultimately selected a republican government, forgoing the militarist recommendations of the United States of America. A republican constitution was formed, modeled upon those of Venezuela, New Spain, and the Mayan Republic. The first elections are scheduled to be held in 1907, as the government works to establish a functioning bureaucracy and the nation's status in the Great War is undetermined. (+1 Stability)
NEW COUP IN CHILE. Santiago, Chile. The rule of reactionary general Pedro Mendez has come to an end in Chile this year, as elements of the military led a coup to depose him. Dissatisfied with the corrupt government of Mendez, which had seized power in their own coup in 1900, the military made their move to establish a new regime. Unfortunately, General Mendez was unwilling to go quietly, managing to anticipate the coup and mobilize loyal forces. The result was a brutal street battle in Santiago, as the loyalists fought to contain the uprising and preserve the government of Mendez. The rebels eventually managed to crush the loyalist forces after a vicious battle lasting more than a week. The new government has rallied around a liberal champion, Dominic Rodriguez. The general has pledged to work towards establishing a new republic for Chile, ending the instability which has blighted Chile for the past few decades. Politicians from Argentina and Peru have applauded the effort, which seems to be nearing at last an opportunity for peace in the troubled state. (+1 Stability, -3 Infantry Brigades)
COUP ATTEMPTED CRUSHED IN ECUADOR. Quito, Ecuador. Ecuador, which nearly entered the Great War due to rising tensions with Peru, has suffered through domestic turmoil this year as hawkish generals attempted to seize power. Allegedly encouraged by leaders of the Continental Powers, elements of Ecuador's military launched a coup to depose President Felix Martinez. Thanks to a number of loyal officers who had been approached to join the coup, the president's guard was warned and loyal forces were rushed to Quito. The loyalists managed to properly defend the city and block any access to the area to the mutineers, limiting the battle to the countryside surrounding the urban population. The fighting proved heavy as the loyalists attempted to round up and arrest or eliminate the conspirators against the government. Regardless, the operation was a success, achieving the elimination of most of President Martinez's rivals throughout Ecuador. The President has already pledged to avenge this heinous attack, but throwing in his lot with the Allies against the Continental Powers. (+1 Stability, -2 Infantry Brigades)
RIOTING IN MANAGUA. Managua, New Spain. The New Spanish government has faced growing internal dissent as unemployment caused by the construction of the Panama Canal and the Great War continues to climb. The government seems incapable or unwilling to actually do anything to help the woes of the New Spanish people, and countless thousands remain out of work. The result has been increased poverty in the cities, particularly Managua which has attracted the development of massive slums around the urban center. These slums would become the source of substantial unrest and riots this year, causing extensive damage and destruction throughout the region. The police of Managua were overrun and their stations burned or otherwise trashed by the rioters, and the military was forced to be called in to restore order. The result was growing violence throughout the city, and reports of numerous massacres by the army have emerged to foreign press. The disorder continues, as the army struggles to maintain control over the nation's capital. (-1 Stability, -2 Manpower)
AMERICAN UNDERGROUND ESTABLISHED. New York City, United States of America. Reports have emerged to foreign press about the establishment of the new illegal organization known as the American Underground. As transportation networks grow more connected and larger across the nation, the result has become the consolidation of a number of dissident political groups. Led by the illicit Democratic Americans Party, the movement has gained substantial support throughout the Great Plains and the American Northeast. The American Underground has pledged to restore the old Constitution of the United States that had been destroyed by the Scott government after the War of the American Presidency. They have, however, failed to gain a foothold in the South and have also become vicious enemies with the proletarists, who they compete with regularly for influence. Regardless, the movement has become easily the worst threat against the reign of the military government in Washington. (-1 Stability)
ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT GROWS IN VENEZUELA. Caracas, Venezuela. The Venezuelan government has come under political siege this year with a growing political movement calling for the end of involvement in the Great War. The anti-war movement claims that warfare is wrong in its very nature and that the Venezuelans ought to take what they have and stay out of the brutal conflict burning the European continent and the rest of the world. The images of violence and stalemate which have emerged from the Brandenburg Front and other regions have only added fuel to the fire as lobbyists continue arriving in Caracas in the hopes of discouraging the current government from its course. No major political party has taken up arms with this cause, both refusing to dishonor commitments with the United States of America. The social proletarists are so far the only ones embracing the ideal of ending the war, and have gained at least a little political strength through this struggle.
NEW SPAIN RESPONDS TO PANAMA CANAL. Managua, New Spain. The economic devastation of the Great War has been nothing compared to the major recession caused in New Spain by the Panama Canal. The canal has shattered the infrastructure system which had existed in New Spain to transport goods, created originally in the nineteenth century by the Rivera Transport Scheme. The riots earlier in the year have shown the frustration of the New Spanish people with the worsening economic situation, despite a mild recovery caused by New Spain's very limited involvement in the Great War. Later in the year, the government has announced plans for the government sponsored construction of new infrastructure to provide work and employment for the people. This has been accompanied by a major propaganda campaign about the glory of New Spain, but it rings hollow with so many workers unemployed and the situation seeming to only get worse with each passing month.
CUBA ESTABLISHES NAVY. Guantanamo, Cuba. The establishment of a new republic in Cuba has given new hope and life to the Cuban nationalists, but without Spain's official recognition and the ever changing tides of the Great War, it is feared that independence may be short lived. With this in mind, the interim president of Cuba has declared war upon Spain officially, and declared common cause with the Allied nations. Therefore, the Cuban government has begun constructing new warships out of the old Spanish shipyards at Guantanamo. The Cubans have pledged to commit what forces they can to the Allied cause of bringing down the Spanish empire, in order to assure their own security. Though the president does face electoral challenge next year, the establishment of a navy has been viewed as a priority by all in Cuba. The new Cuban navy will be the first line of defense at any future attempt to subjugate the Cuban people to imperialism once more.
Brought To You By the Hungarian War Committee
News from Africa and the Middle East
CHALDIA DECLARES INDEPENDENCE. Trebizond, Chaldia. Following the unrest caused by last year's secession of Opsikion from the Roman Empire, the rest of the imperial possessions continue to remain a bit shaky. Therefore, as the fate of the empire seems quite uncertain, yet another province has broken away from the Imperator's grasp. General Anthimos Stavridis has seized power through his own army in the province of Chaldia, ruling from the major trading center of Trebizond. The general has so far recognized the cease fire proclaimed among the three other factions, as negotiations for Rome's future continues. The new state has proven to be fairly successful, though it faces problems from a large Turkish minority as well as various other ethnicities. Furthermore, it has gained substantial support from the kingdoms of Georgia and Azerbaijan, which welcome it as another successor state. Regardless, the new Chaldian nation seems less than willing to participate in the ongoing negotiations, likely to wind up remaining independent of any successor state to the larger empire that existed before the Constantinople Event.
ABYSSINIAN LIBERTY MOVEMENT ESTABLISHED. Addis Ababa, Scandinavia. After last year's disastrous uprising, those who fought in it have become known as heroes and martyrs to the people of Abyssinia. The result has been the formation of the Abyssinian Liberty Movement, an underground organization dedicated to obtaining the freedom of Abyssinia from the oppressive rule of Scandinavia. The intellectual base of the native peoples continues to remain strong, despite the destruction of the locally run universities in Addis Ababa during last year's revolt. The movement has begun mustering all weapons and arms in order to establish a trained force for guerilla operations against the Scandinavians as soon as possible. Some limited strikes and robberies have begun of Scandinavian arsenals throughout the region, as troops are withdrawn to fight the British in the Kongo. The Abyssinians have pledged not to rest until every last Scandinavian is either dead or fleeing back to Europe. (-1 Stability)
PAN-ARABS CALL FOR OMAN TO ENTER WAR. Muscat, Oman. The Sons of Arabia have begun making their efforts felt in places other than the Holy Land this year. The Omani government has been besieged by a propaganda campaign calling for immediate involvement in the Great War on the side of the Arabian Empire. The Sons of Arabia have been citing the common cause and the call for jihad against the Spanish, hoping to bring Oman's reserves onto the appropriate side. The campaign has actually shown some success, as rumors indicate that Abdul bin Sultan could be sympathetic to the Allied cause in the Middle East. Other reports suggest the opposite, as it is indicated that past negotiations between the two powers have only led to a rise in tensions and dislike between the two sultans. So far it seems that the Omani sultan has not made up his mind, but has been continuously balancing the demands of both sides of the debate, remaining above any divisive fray in the court.
ANTI-REPUBLICANS SEIZE POWER IN OPSIKION. Cius, Opsikion. The recent negotiations which have begun among the major political players in the former Roman Empire have led to some concern among the more conservative leaders of Opsikion. The preliminary negotiations with Bulgaria have led to the suggestion that a republican state could be formed as a result of the cease-fire and situation throughout the rest of the region. This was later confirmed in council by General Zorbas, who began assembling support for a transformation to a republic. The sequence of events was viewed with horror by Zorbas' peers, who began making a power play of their own. The result was the murder of General Zorbas and the formation of a new military government, after the prior general's betrayal by his friend and fellow leader, Theofilos Manatos. The new leader of Opsikion has rejected any deal which would establish a republican regime in his province, and has vowed to keep control of the local government in the hands of the military. The neighboring state of Chaldia has applauded this move, and the two states are becoming close friends and allies in the ensuing negotiations with Bulgaria and the Imperator. (+1 Stability)
News from the Far East
REVOLT IN CHINA. Peking, Franco-Burgundian Confederation. As Peking remained under siege after last year's advances by the Japanese, the French colonial authority began realizing its position was increasingly unstable. The local population, swayed to action by Japan's successes to date, have begun adopting a less enthusiastic stance towards European colonial rule. Under Japan's encouragement, Peking and the surrounding territories erupted into a full scale revolt against the Confederation's rule. As fighting continued to rage on the front lines, some Japanese artillery did manage to provide support for the rebels, and the French found themselves engaged in a brutal war on two fronts. Though the fighting on the front lines would go poorly, the French did manage to destroy the rebellious Chinese, but at a heavy cost. The French managed, at least temporarily, to restore order and preserve their supply lines against the relentless Japanese foe. (-5 Infantry Brigades, -5 Cavalry Brigades, -2 Artillery Brigades; -30 Manpower)
CEYLON INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT CREATED. Colombo, Netherlands. Inspired by the Indians under Spanish rule, and given their opportunity by the ongoing Great War, the leading intellectuals and politicians of the island colony of Ceylon have made a major stride towards independence. Gathering collectively, these people have formed the Ceylon National Congress, establishing a body with which to issue an unified voice against the colonial masters. The Ceylon National Congress has pledged to free the island from imperial rule, and give the full rights of people to the island, while driving the Dutch out. So far the Congress has determined to useful peaceful and political means to achieve this goal, and the predominant leaders have continued to state that Ceylon remains dedicated to the war against the Allied Nations. It is hoped by the leaders of the Congress that through the support of the government in Amsterdam, ultimately, a free state of Ceylon will be established after the war.
REVOLT IN VIETNAM. Hanoi, United Kingdom of Great Britain. The advance of Spanish forces in Burma proved to have major effects for the British elsewhere in Indochina. Spurred, perhaps preemptively, by rumors of the successes of the Continental Powers, a major rebellion was launched in the city of Hanoi. Hoping to spur the rest of the population to rebel, the local leaders of the Vietnamese nationalist movements found themselves with a populace highly reluctant to support them. Outnumbered and outgunned, the Vietnamese attempted to fight the British, establishing several major strongholds throughout the city of Hanoi. The British were soon in the city in force and managed to crush each pocket with relative ease, restoring their authority. The Vietnamese were badly mauled and most of their leaders were slain during the fighting, gutting the nationalist movement. The British have enacted martial law and continue to preserve order throughout all of Vietnam. (+1 Stability, -1 Infantry Brigade)
KHAZAKS BEGIN RAIDING IN PERSIA. Ashgabat, Persia. With the bulk of the Persian army deployed to the west, fighting against the Arabian Empire, this has left holes in their security throughout the rest of the empire. The Khazaks have begun renewing their tribal feuds and raids, attacking both their local rivals and the Persians alike. Therefore there has been growing violence throughout the Khazak provinces and along the border with Russia. The army has done its best to corral the renegade Khazaks, attempting to intercept and destroy any raiding parties attempting to attack other towns or villages. Regardless, the Persians in the region have found themselves very badly stretched, attempting to control too much land with too few soldiers. There have been mounting losses among the Persian cavalry, and the Khazaks continued to maraud and fight each other throughout the course of the year. (-1 Stability, -1 Cavalry Brigade)
PURGE LAUNCHED IN CHINA. Lanzhou, China. After last year's infighting and disputes, the central government of China, organized around General Shi Au Gau, has begun ending the petty disputes. The effort has been to at last fully centralize the military in Lanzhou, reining in the disputing warlords and rival generals. The effort turned into a bloodbath as very few of the subordinate generals ceded their power willingly to the general. The result was a number of pitched battles throughout China, as Shi Au Gau struggled to establish military control over the whole of the Chinese army. Ultimately, as the army fought among itself in these brutal battles, the central army of Lanzhou did manage to establish full authority over the remaining independent warlords. The effort, though it was achieved with great struggle, has proven successful. The army of China at last fully reports to the central government in Lanzhou. (+1 Stability)
Brought to You By the Dutch War Department
Financial Section
HUNGARY NATIONALIZES CONTINENTAL ASSETS. Budapest, Hungary. Following a move similar to that of the Netherlands last year, the Hungarian government has nationalized any remaining assets owned by the Continental Powers within their nation's borders. This has included several factories, as well as the seizure of a number of merchant ships which had already been detained in port at the start of the war. The move has been seen as retaliation for the Dutch nationalization orders, but has had far less effect of any kind. The fact remains that most Continental assets had already been withdrawn during the buildup to the war, leaving very little for the Hungarians to actually nationalize in the second year of the conflict. The declaration has applied to ships taken by the Hungarians during the shipping wars in the eastern Mediterranean and Black Seas, but has very rarely been put into use. It's believed by most economists that the Hungarian nationalization is nothing more than a political move to show Hungary's commitment to the ongoing war.
CONFEDERATION NATIONALIZES ALLIED ASSETS. Paris, Franco-Burgundian Confederation. In an effort similar and even more futile than that which took place in Budapest, the Franco-Burgundian Confederation has nationalized any remaining assets owned by citizens of the Allied nations in their territories. The effect has been less than minimal, with no substantial Allied assets remaining anywhere within the Confederation or its empire across the world. As the Allies occupy more Confederate territories, the proclamation becomes even more meaningless. Most economists agree that the whole effort, while thoroughly patriotic has had no effect on the Confederation's wartime economy or its production for the front, nor has it had any detrimental effect to the Allied cause.
ECONOMIC FLUCTUATION REPORT. London, United Kingdom of Great Britain.
Spoiler :
The Sports Page
MILAN OPENS BALOMPIE LEAGUE. Milano, Milan. Even as artillery fires across the Ticino River, King Giovanni II of Milan has begun striving to remind his people of a more peaceful time in a disunited Italy. The result has been the royal establishment of the Milanese Balompie League, hoping to distract the people from the war with the official recognition of the sport. Though Milanese teams have existed before the current date, only eight have been officially recognized by the new League. The hopes had existed that they would be able to participate in the previously planned World Balompie Cup in Spain this year. Unfortunately, the ongoing Great War has prevented the competition taking place, and Milanese fans of the supports have been consoled with the games of their own league at home.
Random Stat Changes and Fluctuations and Minor Technological Advances
Superior officers give major boost to Hungarian military: +1 Army Quality, +1 Navy Quality
Flemish Naval officer corps proves particularly incompetent: -1 Navy Quality
Manpower boom in the Italian Republic: +12 Manpower
United States of America designs the new Maryland-class Battleship, shares construction rights with Poland, Mayan Republic, New Spain, Occitania, Hungary, Poland, Georgia, Serbia, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, Brandenburg, Venezuela, Arabian Empire, Japan, United States of America, and Kurdistan.
United States of America designs the new M1 "Washington" Barrel, shares construction rights with Poland, Mayan Republic, New Spain, Occitania, Hungary, Poland, Georgia, Serbia, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, Brandenburg, Venezuela, Arabian Empire, Japan, United States of America, and Kurdistan.
Sardinia gives Small Arms Improvement Level One to the Papal States.
Netherlands gives Small Arms Improvement Level Two to the Papal States.
Franco-Burgundian Confederation designs the new Chasseur-class Battlecruiser, shares construction rights with Netherlands, Denmark, Scandinavia, Russia, Portugal, Sardinia, and Spain.
Franco-Burgundian Confederation shares Gas Warfare Level One with Russia, Scandinavia, Spain, Portugal, and Persia
Franco-Burgundian Confederation shares Small Arms Improvement Level One with Austria and Persia.
Franco-Burgundian Confederation shares Artillery Improvement Level One with Spain, Portugal, and Persia
Franco-Burgundian Confederation shares construction rights for the Conquistador-class Battleship with Scandinavia.
Scandinavia shares designs for the Nordenfelt-class Submarine and Submarine Improvement Level One with Spain, Denmark, Franco-Burgundian Confederation, and the Netherlands.
Peru shares designs for the Hercules-class Battleship with Poland, Mayan Republic, New Spain, United Kingdom of Great Britain, Occitania, Hungary, Poland, Georgia, Serbia, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brandenburg, Venezuela, Arabian Empire, Japan, United States of America, Kurdistan, Naples, and, Brazil.
Diplomatic Pouch
To: Spain and assorted puppet allies of the Continental Powers
From: Ecuador
We hereby declare war, due to your obvious interference once more in our internal politics. We will fight alongside our South American brethren until your taint has been scoured from the earth.
OOC
@Gem Hound: Just one small correction based on your orders. The technology is not quite there for plastic ammunition at this point. That is all.
@Nailix: Only one small thing with your orders. I'd say the unit movements you're referring to are a bit larger than a squad size. Armies would be better names for them.
@erez87: Spending a lot into education is a good idea, don't think otherwise, BUT you are incorrect in expecting immediate effects or even noticeable effects. Most of science is done in the background of the NES, and will change gradually. There will be no immediate and obvious effects to spending into education. Military tech is just that, tech researched by the military. The education stat has no effect upon the tech tree.
The rules for armored vehicle development have been changed with the design of our first armored vehicle. It is now possible to create modified designs and slowly upgrade an already extant armored vehicle design. This is designed to be more expensive per point, but the improvements will be introduced to your units in the field immediately. In terms of stats they do count as new units, and allies with the original unit will have to receive the construction rights in order for their own armored brigades to be upgraded.
@Quisani: You WAY underestimated the cost of armored brigades. The appropriate amount available has been produced.
@Bair the Normal: The railroad you suggested already exists, but could use some modernization. That project would be about 90 EP total.
World Map
Attachments
Milarqui
Deity
OOC: Damn.
To: Perú, United States of America
From: Empire of Spain
Your honour is little, and your idiocy is great. We hope you like your future place in the 9th Circle of Hell.
To: Ecuador
From: Empire of Spain
We fail to see how your shortcomings and complete inability to manage yourselves is our fault.
To: Perú, United States of America
From: Empire of Spain
Your honour is little, and your idiocy is great. We hope you like your future place in the 9th Circle of Hell.
To: Ecuador
From: Empire of Spain
We fail to see how your shortcomings and complete inability to manage yourselves is our fault.
Luckymoose
The World is Mine
To: Rome, Opsikion & Chaldia
From: Bulgaria
First, we wish to pass congratulations to Chaldia on forming it's own government in lieu of bowing to the Empire. This is a heroic and honourable day when the Roman Peoples can stand independent. The Proxy Roman Empire Government in Greece has agreed to a cease fire so that we all can negotiate a way to live independently while still carrying the spirit of Rome forward into the new Century.
Secondly I must clarify this;
"The recent successful coup in Opsikion and the provincial revolt of Chaldia could well upset the balance, as the governments in both of these former provinces seem disinterested in any regime that suggests republicanism."
This is obviously a miscommunication among us, as the original name of the proposed organisation was the "United States of Rome" and allowed full Domestic control for each State. A way for us to rule ourselves while staying a part of a new political entity binding the remains of the Empire together. It was the Original Opsikion Government under General Zorbas that suggested the Republic name that caused the confusion. If there was any fear of a enforced Republicanism it was from the Opsikions themselves. Either way I hope we three Rebel States can enforce a new way forward on the remains of the Roman Empire in Greece.
To: Hungary, Serbia & Georgia
From: Bulgaria
Thank you for your support in the Civil war, both the overt and the covert. Hopefully when this is over and we have rebuilt ourselves we can look forward to better relations
From: Bulgaria
First, we wish to pass congratulations to Chaldia on forming it's own government in lieu of bowing to the Empire. This is a heroic and honourable day when the Roman Peoples can stand independent. The Proxy Roman Empire Government in Greece has agreed to a cease fire so that we all can negotiate a way to live independently while still carrying the spirit of Rome forward into the new Century.
Secondly I must clarify this;
"The recent successful coup in Opsikion and the provincial revolt of Chaldia could well upset the balance, as the governments in both of these former provinces seem disinterested in any regime that suggests republicanism."
This is obviously a miscommunication among us, as the original name of the proposed organisation was the "United States of Rome" and allowed full Domestic control for each State. A way for us to rule ourselves while staying a part of a new political entity binding the remains of the Empire together. It was the Original Opsikion Government under General Zorbas that suggested the Republic name that caused the confusion. If there was any fear of a enforced Republicanism it was from the Opsikions themselves. Either way I hope we three Rebel States can enforce a new way forward on the remains of the Roman Empire in Greece.
To: Hungary, Serbia & Georgia
From: Bulgaria
Thank you for your support in the Civil war, both the overt and the covert. Hopefully when this is over and we have rebuilt ourselves we can look forward to better relations
To: Spain
From: Peru
We are as surprised by the leak of the Hercules battleship as you are. For whatever reason, perhaps someone in your alliance attempted to frame us.
We also would like to remind you that, as of right now, our navy is not actively seeking conflict with yours.
From: Peru
We are as surprised by the leak of the Hercules battleship as you are. For whatever reason, perhaps someone in your alliance attempted to frame us.
We also would like to remind you that, as of right now, our navy is not actively seeking conflict with yours.
Quisani
Gaming Person
OCC:
Wow. Yeah, that was a typo on my part.
Wow. Yeah, that was a typo on my part.
Gem Hound
Deity
Oops, I think I said plastic instead of rubber...
Luckymoose
The World is Mine
They had to copy my design 5 years later because my design is still the best. 
All right, well, that's a quiet week's of posts. Consider this the less than 48 hour warning. As with last week, going to try to get started early on Wednesday.
Circuit
Writing Letters
Probably because no one has any diplo because we all know this is TO THE DEATH!!!
erez87
Lord of Random
to Sardinia:
from The Italian Republic:
Your attempts to continue and attempt to lengthen your king's reign is pathetic. Soon you will fall as well.
from The Italian Republic:
Your attempts to continue and attempt to lengthen your king's reign is pathetic. Soon you will fall as well.
