NationStates Jolt Archive

News from French Indochina

The new Viet Nam government has delcared independence from it's old colonial ruler of France, calling their country the Republic of Viet Nam. The government, headed by President Phan Boi Chau is backed by a constition that is based on the U.S. one. The government is run by a president that is elected very six years and is limited to one term. There are two houses of congress: the senate and the house. Many of the leadrs in the new government are Europen or American educated Vietnamese.

Phan Boi Chau made a speech in Saigon, the new capital, to a crowd of cheering Vietnamese. He swore the Vietnam would no longer be a colony of the European powers and would determine it's own destiny. He also announced the formation of a Vietnamese army, called the Vietnamese Republican Army. The VRA is armed mostly with percussion cap or old flint-lock, black-powder weapons. They have little in the way of modern artilllery, although they do have several 19th century cannon.

Chau also asked for help from the major European powers and America in getting the country on it's feet.He was primarily concerned with getting the VRA equipped with modern weapons and industrializing the nation. He has also asked help from China, their neighbor to the north. He also asked the French government to begin removing it's troops, as per the treaty signed several years ago.

The VRA was rumored to be moving into position around French garrisons.

The German Empire supports the Vietnamese people in the quest to disgard the yoke of French Imperialism. The Kaiser has much respect for the people of the East and is willing to assist them in their craving for freedom.

Should the Vietnamese people wish to purchase modern weaponry, German Manufacturers are more than willing to assist Vietnam, by substancially lowering prices on older models.

The Vietnamese government is pleased by the response from Germany and Kaiser Wilhelm. They are willing to pay for modern weaponry, especially modern artillery, machine-guns, and rifles. We are also interested in any naval vessels you are willing to sell.

Message to the Kaiser

The Vietnamese government is prepared to buy any weapons you can offer and is willing to pay in raw materials, such as rubber, and bullion. We would also like to ask that you send several instructors to train a contigent of our own soldiers in their use so that they can train the rest of the military.

If you're business people are interested we can provide sites for factories and labor. We need to industrialize!

President Phan Boi Chau

ooc
Galveston Bay here, the war moderator... the French player is unavailable, so for the year 1904 the Vietnamese can build a political structure, and even hold rallys etc, but declaring independence is a little unfair since the other player isn't here to react to it.

However, unless there is a thread to the contrary, assume the French reinforce their troops and begin making arrests and shooting anybody armed. They do have nearly 50,000 troops as a garrison after all.

Getting arms in will require Chinese help (possible), otherwise, the French control the ports and the roads, and all communications to the outside world. The rule is that the first year a player isn't available, his troops are assume to defend the status quo.

Although Germany would dearly love to mess with the French, Germany simply doesn't have a way to get in arms directly to any local rebels.

IC
The US ignores the Vietnamese rebellion, after all, it just finished ending the Philippine Insurrection a mere two years ago and it doesn't want the Filipinos to get any ideas.

German Business is always willing to open markets in the east, and would be more than willing to assist Vietnam industrialize, especially in the vast amounts of rubber farms that are throughout Vietname. We would also like to give out several scholarships to very intelligent Vietnamese students so that they can attend German Universities, and then may pass on German knowledge to the Vietnamese people.

Militarily, German would like to offer 50,000 Mauser 98 Rifles and 50 7.7 cm Artillery guns. Also, nearly 3 dozen Prussian Officers and NCOs will soon arrive in Vietnam to train the army. At this time, no ships are available for purchase. Perhaps in the future, such things may be furthered.

The German People praise such a momentous cooperation between the German Empire and the fledgeling Republic of Vietnam.

The British also choose to ignore the goings on in Indo-China, it is a French concern not ours and we have nothing to gain from investing in such a small and poor market.

OOC: time to do something

IC: The Japanese Government is treaty bound and very willing to reinforce French Garrisons in Indo-China to aid in their fight against their rebellious Subjects. The Japanese Military will begin mobilization of 25,000 troops and willing be sending three Battleships to Hanoi.

Newsflash

Fighting has erupted in French Indo-China between the Vietnamese Republican Army and the French garrisons. Several small skirmishes have resulted in casualties for both sides. The VRA is sticking mostly to the forests and rural areas, where they can use their numbers and local knowledge to their best advantage. Self-Declared President Phan Boi Chau and the Vietnamese Independent Government have fled north to avoid arrest and are currently hiding somehwere on or near the Chinese border.

OOC: Sorry, it was late when I posted and then my dad kicked me off the computer, so I couldn't revise it. Should we just assume that the French Troops listen to the Japanese?

IC: Secret Tg

From: Germany
To: The Vietnamese Republic

Let me revise what I said. Should your independance be fully recognized by the French, German Businessmen would be most delighted to assist your country in Industrializing.

Militarily, we will begin discussing with the Chinese if we can find a way to smuggle in the promised guns and officers. Perhaps with the situation in Venezuela coming to an end, we may be able to assist you with German soldiers.

Telegram to German Government

We would welcome any and all assistance you can provide.

--- Offical Belgian Communique ---

At this time, the Belgian Government shall make no statement pertaining to the rebellion in French Indo-China. However, we suggest that the French take hold of the situation swiftly and mercilessly, so as to prevent further insurrection in other French regions of the world.

OOC: quick question, what arms do you have and how did you even organize to get them? And judging by how the other player played france I think we should wait on the Current french player to decide on whether or not he's gonna honor the old treaty.

OOC: quick question, what arms do you have and how did you even organize to get them? And judging by how the other player played france I think we should wait on the Current french player to decide on whether or not he's gonna honor the old treaty.

The troops are armed with everything from bows and swords to percussion cap black-powder firearms. A few have modern, bolt action rifles. The most common weapons are a personal flint-lock, percussion cap, or match-lock musket/rifled musket or a bow and/or spear/sword other hand-to-hand weapon. As of now there are a few thousand "offical" volounteers under arms, with other rag-tag irregular groups scattered through-out the country.

There isn't really a uniform weapon and those with similar weapon types are usually grouped together in ad-hoc units.