1888 - Like German, Like Son
Europe
...is aflame. Just as the Spring of 88 started the Austrian scientists presented to the world the Mausen '88 repeating rifle. This gun can be fired 10 times before reloading as opposed to the 7 times of a simular British model, and has higher range and accurasy. What is even more incredible, the gun is very cheap to make, and by the Fall the entire Austrian Army is equiped with these new guns. Right after this modernization the Army desided to test its guns, and in the first weeks of September the Austrian Army crossed Serbia's border and opened fire on the Serbian Army. The Serbs returned fire bravely, this tiny country had an army that was equiped no worse than the Austrian army itself, and Austrian generals continue to be impressed by the quality of the Serbian supplies. However the Serbs were outnumbered greatly and Belgrade fell just as the winter rolled around. Thousands of Partisans ran to the South in hopes of creating a new Army to fight these Austrian invadors. Just a few hundred miles to the west, the Montenegrians are letting themselves be known. Constant raides across the border from the Ottoman Empire took a huge toll on the Austrian Army and industry in the region, but when the partisans are confrunted by the army they retreat into the safety of the Ottoman Empire.
While this was going on in the Balkhans something just as interesting was happening in the Baltic. In July a German fleet opened fire on a Swedish patrol sinking the Swedish ship. Everyone considered this to be a mistake, but within two weeks the German fleet was attacking any Swedish ship in sight. Denmark announced its help for the Swedish, but right after that the French fleet arrived and after an engagement the Danes retreated to Copenghagen. By August the German army landed in Sweden and crossed the border of Denmark. The Chancelor commented that Stockholm would be a nice borthday present for his wife whos birthday is on August 28th, but hearing that the Swedes gave Germans hell in Stockholm. On the 27th and 28th the Germans launched a massive assault, but the Swedes fought for every street and house, and by the night of the 28th Germans still held just the outskirts of the city. It took at least a week longer to take it. However even with that disapointing performance the Germans occupied most of Sweden and Southern Norway befoe winter, and now the Swesish partisans are gathering in the mountains of Norway, preparing for the German push that is sure to come next sprint.
In Denmark and interesting incident occured. When the Germans were ready to invade the islands they found the Russian fleet blockading Denmark, and no negotiations with the Russians helped the Germans to gain access. Some german officers suggested "Showing the Ruskies who rules the world", but the Admiral desided that its best to hold back and not cause an international incident. The Islands of Denmark remained free.
German economists warn the conselor that such strain on economy might lead to bad results in the future.
Asia
...is no less aflame. China calls for volunteers to defend the country, and almost 2 million men respond. These untrained, unarmned peasants now make up the last hope of China remaining independant.
France invades southern China as a "punishing mission" for the invasion of Luang Probang. Fased with a huge army of volunteers the French open fire and the volunteers run, but the constant partisan attacks slow the French down drastically.
Enormous volunteer armies are stationed outside Shanghai and Hong Kong. These armies inflict almost no casualties on the British, however they do slow down the advance of the Europeans.
Peace with Russia brings some quite to the Northern part of China, but the Cixi volunteer army is not disbanded and it continues to fight the Chinese volunteers that have been sent there to stop them.
Chinese make a daring move seizing the British and French embassies in China against all protests by the diplomats. Secret papers are seized, diplomats are put in jail, and the world is outraged by such barbarity of the Chinese people. The British railroad is also seized, and China attempted to make the workers continue the project, however the British engineers refuse to coopearate and the works have stopped.
Africa
...is not very quite either, but is not aflame. Transvaal expands with their army punishing any natives who resist. The expansion goes easy, except now more than half of the population within the borders are natives, which might pose some internal problems.
France underates a huge colonial expansion by its troops. Within a year French colonial posessions are almost doubled, but most of the land is desert or jungle, being of little actual use to the European country.
America
...is working. USA continues its massive naval build up, and is almost ready to challange UK for the strongest antion on the seas. Some find this alarming, but US has not made any agressive moves yet.