THE INDOCHINA FRONT. Rangoon, United Kingdom of Great Britain. As the British reinforced themselves with forces from the Chinese theater, the Spanish were given time to analyze their position in Indochina. It was determined that that army was severely exposed in the center of British Indochina, and the Spanish stealthily redeployed their forces along the Ganges River, leaving behind only scattered volunteer rear guards to slow the British. The British remained unaware of this development until they began their push west, and the volunteers cost them surprisingly large amounts of time and troops, until they eventually hit Spanish prepared positions along the southern Ganges River. To the surprise of even the Spanish, the British attack across the Ganges was devastated, and the forces slaughtered in their crossing by the deadly accurate Spanish artillery corps. The Spanish further took a major toll upon British guns, and have so far managed to preserve control of the territory west of the Ganges.
Casualty Lists
Spain: 3 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 10 Conscript Brigades, 4 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 3 Artillery Brigades
THE GEORGIA FRONT. Maykop, Russia. The fighting in Georgia has mostly remained in the harsh mountains, as Polish special forces continue to move like ghosts against the Russian rear forces. They have successfully sabotaged artillery, blown passes, and wiped out whole regiments through cunning and surprise. The Poles have greatly helped in making the Russian advance this year costly, as they attempted to push further south into Georgia. Eventually though, the Russians managed to surround the Poles with nearly ten times their forces, and slowly destroy the Polish expedition, with heavy casualties. The Georgians have fought hard, even after their ally's defeat in the mountains. The Russians have found it slow going in their push towards Tiflis, continuing to be badly bled in their advance. Sheer numbers have led to at least a moderate amount of territory gained, though more costly than the Russian commanders had anticipated. The Georgians, running low on guns and armed soldiers have been forced back through the mountains and now fight a desperate defense of Tiflis itself.
Casualty Lists
Georgia: 22 Conscript Brigades, 10 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 9 Artillery Brigades
Poland: 1 Wojownicy Zimowe Brigade
Russia: 110 Conscript Brigades, 36 Infantry Brigades, 4 Cavalry Brigades, 14 Artillery Brigades
THE POLISH FRONT. Danzig, Poland. The fighting for Poland began with a major defeat for the Polish cause. The Polish special forces were betrayed by one of their own to the Russians for a large sum of money, and the Russian army anticipated their attempts to infiltrate behind the lines. The result was mass slaughter as the finest troops of the Polish army were destroyed by Russian forces. This disaster was compounded with the start of the Russian offensive. Outnumbered and still awaiting the arrival of British and American reinforcements, the main Russian armies crashed into the strongholds which had held them last year. Through overwhelming numbers, the Russians broke the Allied lines, and captured the key defenses that the British have used to plague them since the start of the war. Polish cavalry attempted to contain the breakthroughs, and were promptly mowed down and slaughtered by Russian machines guns. As the Russians poured across the Polish fields, the next major fight would be as the British and Americans hoped to rally the Poles at the battle for Bialystok. They employed barrels along the eastern frontier en masse, but by this point, the Russians were amply prepared, using artillery and grenades to destroy the vehicles when they inevitably broke down or ran out of gas. Regardless, heavy casualties were inflicted, but the Americans and British were forced to retreat, simply running out of ammunition as wave after wave of Russian soldier charged towards them. This victory effectively secured most of eastern Prussia, as the remnants of the American and British expeditions desperately dug in around the city of Danzig. With Poland's allies neutralized, the Russians would turn to one last battle, attempting to take the key industrial and economic center of Warsaw, which would devastate what remained of Polish production and strength. The Russians, ably commanded, engaged the Polish army, who's commander foolishly left his flank exposed. The Russians, barely, believing their luck, turned what could have been the start of more exacerbated trench combat, into a massive defeat of the Polish army in open battle. With the threat of being surrounded and destroyed in Warsaw apparent, the Polish army withdrew in what quickly became a rout towards Krakow. With only a few months left in the year, the Russians regrouped, and prepared themselves for a major assault to turn back the Hungarian invasion in the south.
Casualty Lists
Poland: 31 Conscript Brigades, 102 Infantry Brigades, 29 Cavalry Brigades, 1 Wojownicy Zimowe Brigade, 35 Artillery Brigades, 2 M1 "Washington" Barrel Brigades
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 66 Infantry Brigades, 12 Artillery Brigades
United States of America: 8 Conscript Brigades, 14 Infantry Brigades, 5 Cavalry Brigades, 4 Artillery Brigades, 3 M1 "Washington" Barrel Brigades
Russia: 331 Conscript Brigades, 91 Infantry Brigades, 17 Cavalry Brigades, 17 Artillery Brigades
RUSSIAN COUNTERATTACK AGAINST HUNGARY. Kiev, Russia. The defeat and rout of the Allied armies in Poland has allowed even greater flexibility to the Russian armies in the south. As the roads turn to mud through the rain and first snows of winter, the Russians struck south, to defeat the Hungarians and advance to the Dniester River once more. With most of their armies scrambling to defend Danzig and Krakow, the Poles were able to put up only a limited amount of resistance as the Russians descended upon the Hungarians' northern flank. This proved disastrous for the Hungarians, still locked in combat around Odessa, and they were forced to shift a large number of troops back to the Dniester from the former front line. The Hungarians could not arrive quickly enough and the Russians drove back their flank and managed to establish bridge heads across the northern bends of the Dniester River. Reinforced Russian counterattacks upon Odessa were less successful, as the entrenched Hungarians managed to repulse the assaults with great difficulty.
Casualty Lists
Hungary: 10 Conscript Brigades, 29 Infantry Brigades, 4 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades
Poland: 6 Infantry Brigades, 3 Cavalry Brigades, 5 Artillery Brigades
Serbia: 7 Artillery Brigades
Russia: 58 Conscript Brigades, 6 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 7 Artillery Brigades
ATTACK UPON MOROCCO. Casablanca, Spain. The attacks upon Iberia's coast were not the last offensives to be launched by the Allies in the Atlantic Ocean. The Brazilian navy and army launched a fairly unilateral attack upon Spanish North Africa, hoping to open yet another new front on the Spanish empire. The Brazilians landed near the town of Safi, and the Spanish immediately began launching their plans of defense and counterattack. The Brazilians were thoroughly bogged down, facing an only slightly smaller Spanish force, which managed to pen in their army around the port town. The fighting was at a stalemate, as the Spanish lacked the ability to actually destroy the beachhead, and the British lacked the ability to break out. A significant turning of the tide would take place as the Spanish fleet, battered and bruised, sailed from the Battle of Lisbon to engage the Brazilian Home Fleet supporting the invasion. The battle proved to be desperate as the Brazilians used their new
Maryland-class flagship to hold far longer than any might of suspected and dealing substantial damage. Regardless, by the end of the battle, it was a clear victory, with the Brazilian battleship sinking to the depths under heavy fire. The Brazilian fleet was broke with this defeat and scattered into the Atlantic, eventually fighting their ways home through many skirmishes. The defeat at sea and the destruction of a supply convoy proved too much for the Brazilian forces in Morocco. With ammunition running short, the Spanish ultimately broke through the Brazilian lines, and managed to retake Safi, destroying the Brazilian invasion.
Casualty Lists
Brazil: 12 Infantry Brigades, 6 Artillery Brigades, 10 Trovão-class Destroyers, 1 Early Light Cruiser, 1 Early Heavy Cruiser, 1
Lioness-class Battlecruiser, 1
Maryland-class Battleship
Spain: 3 Infantry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades, 3 Numancia-class Destroyers, 7 Vigilant-class Destroyers, 2
Eendracht-class Heavy Cruisers, 2
Chasseur-class Battlecruisers
News from Europe
BRAZILIAN FLU SPREADS IN EASTERN EUROPE. Sofia, Bulgaria. Eastern Europe remained fairly unaffected by the epidemic of the so-called "Brazilian Flu" which ravaged its way through Western Europe earlier in the century. The vast movements of troops from the west to the east to fight the Russian hordes in the Great War has led to a change in this status. This particular strain of influenza has been brought east predominantly by Hungarian and Serbian soldiers who contracted it during their time in the trenches in Brandenburg. Other sources include the British and American expeditionary forces that have begun making their presence known on the Polish front. From Hungary and Serbia, the influenza has spread heavily into the shattered remnants of the Roman Empire, striking particularly heavily in Bulgaria and Greece. Reports have also been made of the spread throughout Russia, but have been difficult to determine as the International Health Organization is kept off the front lines and out of Russian territory. As before, below is a listing of losses caused by the epidemic:
GERMAN BROTHERHOOD LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN IN CONFEDERATION. Cologne, Franco-Burgundian Confederation. The nation's effective acknowledgement of defeat in the Great War has led to quite a few bitter groups throughout the Franco-Burgundian Confederation. The German Brotherhood has exploited this, at last gaining a true foothold in Confederate territories. The Brotherhood has claimed that the Great War has demonstrated the political and military weakness of the Confederation's government, while showing the superiority of what a German nation could accomplish. In the wake of the dissatisfaction of the war, many who otherwise would have laughed and ignored the clear propaganda have instead turned a thoughtful ear towards them. The German Brotherhood has clearly begun growing rapidly in support throughout the eastern Burgundian provinces, among the Germanic population. The result has been growing ethnic tensions between the local French and German citizens of the Confederation, even between once peaceful neighbors. (-1 Stability)
ITALIAN REVOLUTION DEPOSES KING OF MILAN. Milan, Italian Republic. Recent conscription and the war with the newfound Italian Republic led to a dramatically severe situation in the tottering kingdom of Milan. Anger and low morale on the Ticino River front line turned into mutiny, as the newly conscripted soldiers refused to wage an offensive war on other Italians. Order and discipline quickly collapsed along the whole of the front, as soldiers turned their weapons upon each other. After several weeks of chaotic fighting, with most of the aristocratic officer corps dead, the rowdy remnants of the army had either deserted or become casualties. The result was a major disorderly mob of former conscripts marching upon Milan itself and demanding to join the Italian Republic. The mob would engage in a bloody conflict in the outskirts of the city with what was left of the Royal Guard, and the fighting would take them all the way to the palace, where they found that King Giovanni II had already fled. The fall of the government would lead to several chaotic months, and the Italian Republic's forces eventually restored order to the chaos, establish the region as a part of their newly growing nation. (-8 Conscript Brigades, -21 Infantry Brigades, -5 Cavalry Brigades, -7 Artillery Brigades; +1 Stability for the Italian Republic)
SARDINIAN INTELLECTUALS MAKE DECLARATION. Cagliari, Sardinia. The issue of Italian nationalism and the creation of an Italian nation has been at the top of many of the greatest minds in the region. Due to Sardinia's ongoing involvement in the wars upon the peninsula, the main thinkers and scholars of the island nation entered into dispute about Sardinia's place in the nationalist cause, if there indeed even was a place for them. The agreements proved to be surprisingly unanimous. The people at the conference pointed out that independent Sardinia has proven its strength against even stronger powers, carving out their own colonial empire over the course of the nineteenth century. Sardinia as an Italian state has been thoroughly rejected by the intellectual elite of the nation, and it seems to many that this declaration has echoed the thoughts of the people. This has been demonstrated as agitators calling for an Italian nation from the mainland have been frequently turned in to authorities, preventing their troublemaking from disrupting business. (+1 Stability)
DEATH OF THE KING OF CORSICA. Ajaccio, Corsica. The peaceful kingdom of Corsica mourned the loss of its protector this year, with the death of King Pasquale. King Pasquale has ruled Corsica since his father died in 1861, and has overseen over forty years of peace and relative prosperity for the small island nation. The Corsican government has seen very little change in the past forty years, despite the ongoing problems with labor and economic concerns. King Pasquale preserved good relations with Sardinia and the nations of continent, keeping Corsica isolated and neutral from the affairs of Europe. Despite this, the late king has preserved absolute control over the nation until his dying day, turning over control to his son, the newly crowned King Sampiero III. The new king is known to be of a more moderate ideology, and there are considerable hopes that his rise to power will mean a dawn of a more free and democratic Corsican society. (+1 Stability)
POLITICAL TURMOIL AMID DUTCH ELECTIONS. Amsterdam, Netherlands. The end of the Great War has brought with it extreme political turmoil to the Republic of the Netherlands. The reigning Party of Freedom has faced major backlash during the election campaigns this year, as the party has utterly collapsed, gaining most of the blame for losing the war. The most conservative members of the party have broken away, establishing the new National Party of the Republic, a nationalist group playing off the discontent with the resolution of the Dutch role in the war. The Party of Freedom quickly fell apart, leaving behind only a few members left in the legislature. The collapse of the reigning party led to chaos in the political system as the control of the position of Stadtholder opened to virtually any political group. The greatest issue has been forces against the corruption and failures of the Triple Alliance and virtually all past domestic and foreign policies. Therefore, lobbying upon a platform of political isolation, redevelopment, and social responsibility, the Socialist Party managed to secure the position of Stadtholder through the popular vote. Unfortunately they were unable to secure the majority in the legislature which has become heavily divided between a wild assortment of political parties. (-1 Stability)
SPANISH ELECTIONS. Madrid, Spain. The Great War rages onward and Spanish politics revolve around it, as the people of Spain now fight virtually alone, with only Russia and a few scattered allies. Despite the setbacks the war has given the Spanish people, a hardy determination remains on the home front, as the people remember their history of thoroughly smashing their nation's enemies over the centuries. The Comunión Tradicional Española continues to build upon the support of the population, which still hungers for a victory over the treacherous Allied powers. Heartening stories of success on the battlefield further reinforced their determination to fight the raging global conflict. The conservative leaders have regained power, though they did lose a little bit of minor ground to a disillusioned few who feel that the war could be unwinnable.
BRITISH ELECTIONS. London, United Kingdom of Great Britain. As with so many other nations, the Great War became the focus of British politics this year, and the Labour Party began advocating the end of the war as part of a political platform. This proved to be a risky bid in politics, as the Union Jack Party continues to advocate the war and the humiliation of the ancient Spanish enemy. The Labour Party has managed to gain some ground though, becoming the official part of the opposition to the Union Jacks, further advocating a number of imperial and domestic reforms to society. The Union Jacks still control the majority in Parliament, as the British population supports the ongoing conflict. The withdrawal of the Triple Alliance and Scandinavia from the war has seemed to show the shift in the conflict to Britain's favor. To that end, the British people have turned out in full support for the war and the Union Jacks. (+1 Stability)
PAPAL-NAPLES WAR. Rome, Papal States. The fighting in the Italian Peninsula has declined since the cease fire between Sardinia and Naples, as well as Austria's effective withdrawal from the conflict. Regardless the fighting between the forces of the Papacy and Naples has continued unabated, even with Austria no longer actively participating after their defeats last year. The war began very badly for the Papacy as an attempt to outflank Neapolitan lines via the sea turned into a massacre. The outflanking force was spotted and as they landed, they came under immense artillery and machine gun fire, slaughtering the invaders. The Neapolitans stayed well out of range of naval cannon, while constantly pouring more fire into the amphibious force. The Papal troops were ultimately forced to surrender, devastating their invasion and handing the Neapolitans an easy victory over the Pope's armies. On the traditional front, the Papacy's armies attempted an offensive to push back, with the cavalry once more attempting to lead the way by cutting supply lines. Thus ended the Papal Cavalry Corps, slaughtered easily by the Neapolitan cavalry, outnumbered and outgunned. The traditional attacks proved more difficult, and though the Neapolitan artillery was decimated by the far larger Papal artillery corps, the artillery proved incapable of shattered the defensive positions of the main Neapolitan army. As Papal troops went forward, they were mowed down by the Neapolitan infantry, and unable to breach the lines. The Neapolitans attempted counter attacks at the now-smaller Papal forces, and they were also bloodily repulsed in the trenches by the Pope's armies with heavy casualties on both sides, mostly due to their complete lack of artillery after the previous assault by the Pope.
Casualty Lists
Naples: 36 Infantry Brigades, 10 Cavalry Brigades, 7 Artillery Brigades
Papal States: 4 Conscript Brigades, 60 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 5 Artillery Brigades
SARDINIAN-REPUBLICAN WAR. Genoa, Italian Republic. While the fighting rages still further to the south, the Sardinians have remained locked in battle against the newly formed Italian Republic, which has been strengthened by the collapse of the government in Milan. Regardless, earlier in the year, before the collapse of the Milanese government, the Italians continued to preserve a force along the Ticino River. Fortunately, the collapse of Milan's army would come before the Sardinians were prepared for their offensive, resulting in only minor skirmishing along the front west of Genoa earlier in the year. The Italians would rush nearly the whole of their army to hold back the Sardinian threat, entrenching and preparing for the offensive everyone knew was coming. Through sheer force and the support of naval artillery, the Sardinians would push back the Italian lines, with heavy casualties on both sides. The fighting would actually drag into Genoa itself, as the Italian defenders began using the buildings as strongholds and the fight increasingly became a confusing melee. The city was devastated by artillery fire from both sides, but after nearly five months of fighting by Christmas, over ninety-five percent of the city was in Sardinian hands and thoroughly wrecked, and with it, half of the former kingdom of Genoa.
Casualty Lists
Italian Republic: 18 Conscript Brigades, 6 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 8 Artillery Brigades
Sardinia: 31 Conscript Brigades, 6 Infantry Brigades, 3 Cavalry Brigades, 6 Artillery Brigades
LACK OF SECRET POLICE ENCOURAGES UPRISING IN SERBIA. Belgrade, Serbia. The Serbian monarchy authorized a major reduction in government spending this year, as they shut down most of the nation's secret police through budget cuts. The result has been the creation of a great opportunity for Serbia's oppressed dissidents, especially as some are released or escaped from former secret police facilities. The anti-Hungarian pan-Slavic movement, which has been growing in Serbia for decades, has proven that it possesses the resources to wage an uprising against the Serbian monarchy. Declaring the nation free of Hungarian influences at last, barricades were constructed and a number of government buildings were seized in the center of Belgrade. The headquarters of the hated secret police was stormed, and those captured there were viciously executed, hung from lampposts throughout the city. The return of Serbian troops from Brandenburg proved enough to end of the uprising, attacking and retaking the barricades, though with surprisingly heavy casualties.
Below Photograph is of dissatisfied miners before leaving to join the uprising in Belgrade (-2 Infantry Brigades, -1 Stability)
CONSTITUTION RESTORED IN DENMARK. Copenhagen, Denmark. The Danish military government under Lars Jensen assumed power last year with the promise of winning the war against Brandenburg and its allies. The Treaty of Tuileries was seen as a betrayal of this promise, both by the military government and Denmark's allies in the Triple Alliance. The anger and outrage led to major protests and the discrediting of the military government, and King Christian IX has stepped in to appease the masses and restore order. Lars Jensen has resigned in utter disgrace from both the army and government, and the king has proclaimed the restoration of the constitution with immediate elections. The Social Democratic Party, despite their involvement in actually conducting Denmark's involvement in the Great War, managed to win the majority. They won on a platform of claiming that they would have won if the military had not interfered with the civilian conduct of the fight. They have further pledged a period of peace and prosperity, to help rebuild the shattered Danish empire and nation. These platforms have given hope to Danes as they struggle to recoup the great losses they suffered in the Great War. (+1 Stability)
HUNGARY ESTABLISHES NEW MILITARY HONOR. Budapest, Hungary. As the fighting raged along the Dniester and later in Odessa, the Hungarian monarchy created the new Királyi Rend, known in English as the Royal Order. The new medal is the highest honor that can be granted to soldiers for heroism and conduct in battle, and King Louis V heard the first appeals for recipients throughout this year. Five dozen elite soldiers, having proven their prowess in battle against the Russian armies, were awarded the medal this year, hoping to encourage others to similar feats of strength. The efforts of individual Hungarian soldiers have been strengthened, as the soldiers struggle to achieve the fame and prestige that comes with victory. On the other hand, there is much apathy, as the soldiers on the front are less than enthusiastic about shiny metal that reveals their positions to snipers on the battlefield.
SCANDINVIA BEGINS PORT REPAIR WORK. Oslo, Scandinavia. The intense damages done by last year's raiding by the British upon Scandinavian harbors along the Norwegian coastline have been the most overt sign of the damages done to Scandinavia in the course of their involvement in the Great War. The Scandinavian government has therefore begun expending enormous effort in repairing the port facilities and creating new modern structures at each of the ports. The government has claimed that this is an essential move for the Scandinavia economy, in order to recover from the devastation the war has caused. The hopes remain that the Scandinavian program will aid in a post-war economic boom, and is slated to be completed within the next two to three years.
RIOTS AMID SCANDINAVIAN POLITICAL TURMOIL. Stockholm, Scandinavia. The end of the Great War and the defeat of Scandinavian arms has sent a major shock throughout the system of Scandinavia's political system. The Industry Party has been greatly discredited and fell apart throughout the course of the year, and new elections were demanded for the Rikstag. The various coalitions in existence have fallen apart and a number of disputing rival parties have emerged, regional and of extremist ideologies, all competing for control. The Industry Party has all but disbanded, leading to the creation of two major successors, the more moderate National Vanguard Party and the Scandinavian Strength Party. The National Vanguard has done very well in gathering some influence from disaffected liberals, while the Scandinavian Strength Party appeals to the more conservative base, calling for the continuation of Industry Party economic policies, while beginning major military reform and buildup. Against these two parties the social proletarist National Labor Initiative has also picked up speed in their campaigns, and the Liberal Party has struggled to once more make its views heard. Heated political debates turned into rioting in Stockholm as the elections neared, resulting in the deaths of thousands as various proponents fought in the streets against each other. No one was prepared to offer a prediction upon who would emerge victorious in the elections, but it was more than obvious that none of the parties were prepared to offer compromise. To the world's surprise most of Scandinavia's leaders have managed to remain in their place with the new Scandinavian Strength Party. They have convinced the people that their economic policies work, while pledging to restore the great strength of the army and navy. They were unable to achieve a majority in the Rikstag, but were able to gather enough other support from conservative and reactionary parties to establish a functioning coalition government. (-4 Manpower, -1 Stability)
NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM CREATED IN SCANDINAVIA. Stockholm, Scandinavia. The new Scandinavian Strength Party has already launched their first key program in maintaining the strength of the military. The creation of the National Service Program offers soldiers who have been conscripted over the years the opportunity to be given employment until they are probably integrated back into civilian life. The conscripted soldiers have also been given the chance to join the regular military, rather than being immediately demobilized and sent home. The Scandinavian government has pledged that they will remain forever a supporter of the army, and have stated that this program is the first of many to maintain and develop the great power of the Scandinavian military.
