NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC
This is a closed RP for those involved in the 1900-2000 Alternate History Role play. To join, as room becomes available, check out this link

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=424002

This is a follow on thread from the first part of the war, which began here

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=437598&page=1&pp=15

try to keep ooc stuff in the military thread

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=427277


IC
In August 1905, the Austrian Hungarian Empire invaded Montenegro. Expecting to win a short little war, instead, the invasion triggered an explosion in Europe. Russia, eager to be the protector of the Southern Slavs, mobilized. Austria Hungary also mobilized, but only partially, and was stunned when shortly thereafter, the Russians crossed the border into Austrian controlled southern Poland. Italy, allied with Austria, quickly sent troops to aid the Austrians. However, the Russian offensive, huge in scope, over ran the Austrian border defenses and many of the Hapsburg troops, particularly units from Slovenia and Czechslovakia (using modern names) collapsed. Within a few weeks, by the end of October, the Russians had reached the Carpathian mountains. There the offensive ground to a halt in the rugged terrain.

Meanwhile, Serbia entered the war, and invaded Montenegro, to liberate it. They were easily and sharply rebuffed and driven back. An Austrian counteroffensive overran nearly a third of Serbia, including the capital of Belgrade by the start of the fall rains.

More nations joined in. Spain, honoring a treaty with Italy, agreed to send troops to aid Austria and declared war. Meanwhile, Rumania, eager to gain a large chunk of Austrian territory, declared war, and a combined Russian and Rumanian Army invaded Austrian Transylvania. But it was fall now, and the rugged terrain and poor weather slowed the advance to a crawl, just long enough for Spanish and Austrian troops to firm up a defense and bring the offensive to a halt. This offensive did however save Serbia, and a stalemate existed.

Now Turkey too entered the war, honoring a treaty committment with Russia, and let the Russian Black Sea fleet enter the Aegean Sea and into the Mediterranean. Near Sicily, Russian and Italian naval units clashed, without much result except for a decisive political disaster for the League (as Austria, Italy and Spain were know). Germany, before the war, had established a base in Sicily when it was allied with Italy. That base had not yet closed, and German warships were in the area. An accident of war changed the world. Torpedoes from an Italian submarine sank a German warship, and the Kaiser, interested in carving up Austria as well, chose it as an excuse for war. Germany mobilized and crossed the border into the Sudenland and the Tyrol. However, Germany moved too late in the year, and once again weather and rugged terrain prevented any decisive result. But the German entry into war had a disastrous effect for them in the Mediterranean. A long way from friends, the German Mediterranean Squadron was caught and destroyed by overwhelmingly stronger Italian fleet units and wiped out completely. The German base and its garrison at Syracuse fell soon after.

In France, the government fell when it refused to act, and the new government immediately mobilized. Convinced that now was the time to get Alsace and Lorraine back from the hated Germans, the French declared war and joined the League. An immediate offensive caught the Germans flat footed, and the French managed to drive deep into both Alsace and Lorraine, capturing the capitals of both in short order.

At sea, the Germans chose that moment to attempt to send in the best part of their High Seas Fleet into the Mediterranean to get revenge. However, the French were waiting, and at Trafalgar, the French gained not only a great victory at sea, driving off the German fleet, but also regained their naval pride at the very spot where a century before they had suffered disaster.

The war however was deadlocked all winter and into the early Spring of 1906. However, more Balkan nations had entered the war. Macedonia, tiny but determined was first. Then Bulgaria entered, strategically critical. Last was Greece, eager to join their co religionists the Russians. The Coalition had been formed, consisting of Russian, Rumania, Serbia, Macedonia, the Ottomon Empire, Greece, Bulgaria and Germany.

But now the rush to war became apparent. None of the warring powers expected a long war, and war production was still barely beginning. Ammunition shortages, particularly in artillery shells, and the limited number of heavier caliber guns, prevented the armies from launching offensives for now. The machine gun, light field piece, barbed wire and trench made mass infantry charges mere suicide, and the fronts were deadlocked. The rugged terrain across much of the front made things even worse. Only in the Rhineland was the ground open, and only in Serbia did terrain also lend itself for offensive operations. But it would be months more before the armies would have the tools they needed to continue.

The Italians and Russians dueled again in the Mediterranea, south of Greece, and both fleets were mauled without decisive result. But the League was willing to try again. This time an Austrian and Italian fleet, escorting an army, moved against Crete, the principal Coalition naval anchorage in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The Austrians repeated their historic victory of the Turks, not far from Lepanto, destroying the Turkish fleet, and setting the stage for a successful landing that captured Crete and destroyed a Turkish and Russian garrison.

The Germans made the next attempt to gain victory through naval power. The Germans had an alliance they had with Britian, which did not enter the war because of domestic considerations and a general unwillingness of the British people to supply their sons for the carving up of Austria Hungary for the benefit of Germany or Russia. But the British government was willing to look the other way while Russian and German ships steamed down the English Channel into French waters. The Germans announced a blockade. It wasn't very effective, at least so far, but now attrition warfare began at sea as light ships dueled frequently in the Channel and Bay of Biscay.

And so it is the Summer of 1906, and the war is 10 months old. Already nearly a million are dead, with many more wounded, maimed, or rotting in prisoner of war camps. Most of Europe is at war and the world watches to see what will happen next.

Top Secret Comminque to France
From: Emperor Guozu of China

Greetings.

I would like to offer a deal to the French people that will aid the French people immensely in the war and strife that France is suffering in the Great War. This deal will also enable us to produce far more profit and benefits in the long run for both of our people.

China would like to purchase your Indochina colony and possibly other French Asian holdings. I believe that the money will be quite useful as it will undoubtedly aid your economy, war production, and military maintainence. In addition, you will be able to re-deploy your troops from Indochina and your Asian holdings back to France. The extra boost in manpower should give France enough strength and power to overwhelm the Germans, assuring a French victory.

Please contact me if you are interested in discussing such a deal. It shall benefit us both immensely, and grant us great profitability in the long run.

Live well.
~Emperor Guozu

The German Fleet, seething after two loses at sea was desparate. While the Army had also done rather poorly, some secretly blamed the Kaiser's impatience, it had also made some progress in Austria. However, now a small rivalry between the Navy and Army had arisen to see who could better the French first. It was accepted and sometimes encouraged by the High Command, but fighting ouright was punished severely. The Army, with its plan to smash the French, was sure of superiority over the Navy. Zeppelins and airplanes were also being researched for uses in war. Ideas in Kiel, however, were different.

A sure-fire way to defeat the French was still unsure and plans were constantly being thought. However, after much debate, the older way of large battleships was decided to be a waste. Smaller ships such as Destroyers and Cruisers, argued many, were much more manouverable and effective, as seen in the Mediterranean and in the failure that was becoming the Blockade.

Changes in designs were ordered for the Navy. While several battleships were needed for coastal bombardment and fighting large battle, it was determined that Destroyers were the most important ship in the navy at this time. They could travel much faster and could escape bulky battleships. Also, they could still provide the firepower needed for blockades.

However, a key item was needed for the fleet. Firepower. With battleships becoming more and more useless, according to the Naval Command, some power was needed for battles against France. Therefore, a somewhat new idea was taken into consideration. Battlecruisers were to become much more abundant. With enough armor to protect from shells and large enough guns to do the job, it also had the speed to keep up with the Destroyers.

While several Dreadnoughts were still to be created, there was to be only a fourth of what was ordered several years ago. The other supply was to be put into more Destroyers and Battlecruisers. Another new thing was planned. Oil was to be used, instead of coal, to power the new ships. Hopefully, by next summer the new fleet would be ready to take on the French fleet. Until then, the war of attrition that was the Blockade continued.

Denmark also wishes France to up-hold the neutrality of the Scandanavia countries and hose of the low countries, especially Belgium. Denmark will also broker peace between any nations at war. Also Denmark hopes that none of it's few merchant ships going through the Suez and/or Giblatar.

The German Army has issued a statement declaring its invasion of the Czech lands a liberation, and promises that it has no claims on the territory. Germany is only interested in uniting the German peoples, but wishes the Czechs their freedom from Hapsburg oppression.

The British government is interested in sending non-combatant observers into this war. Basically this would entail an observer tagging along with an army or a fleet and gathering data on how modern battles are fought. Financial reparations would be given to any nation willing to accept observers.

These agents would be totally neutral and expect to be treated in accordance to international laws of neutrality though they are trained to expect to be in the line of fire whilst gathering data.

It is hoped that some nations may be willing to allow this to occur.

To All Nations of The World
-Allies, Enemies, and those who remain Neutral

Today people of the world I come before you with a heavy heart. The war my nation provoked has swept Europe and killed upwards of a million people. It has destroyed people’s homes and livelihoods. And it is time to end it once and for all.

Therefore I ask all nations involved to end this and return to pre-war borders before more of our sons die in a needless and bloody war. My troops will leave Germany, Montenegro and Serbia on the condition that all Coalition troops leave all countries not their own. I ask that Italian troops leave Austria-Hungary and the French leave Germany. In return I reiterate, that Coalition troops must leave nations that are not their own. The Ottomans must remove themselves from Bulgaria and Hungary. The Russians must pull out of Romania and Austria and so must the Germans.

I believe that only this way we can have peace. I admit that the conquest of Montenegro was wrong and I wish to rectify the situation by fixing it. Austria-Hungary is willing to atone for its sins and all nations must do the same. Russia long oppressed the serfs and even now holds the Ukraine economically hostage while working to Lithuanians in slave labor camps. The Germans shamelessly used an accident, horrible, but ultimately an accident, to join in the war for in reality they wanted nothing but to expand.

And Austria-Hungary? Our sin is perhaps the worse. We acted in a moment of blind anger at a collective people for the sins of one of their sons. What we did was wrong and we ask forgiveness for we have paid a price and have learned a horrible lesson that needs not to continue nor repeat. I ask all nations to help end this war. Not using violence. Not by continuing this war. But by doing what is right and ending this peacefully.

To all nations that have remained neutral I ask that you help end this as well. Peace is never easily achieved and only through pressure and calls for calm can we achieve it.

I hope that one day all leaders of the nations involved in this war can one day meet. Not as conquered and conquerors but as friends. This is what I dream of and this is what I ask all nations, whether you are Austria-Hungary’s allies, enemies, or you are not involved, help us achieve this goal.

Thank you,

His Imperial and Apostolic Royal Majesty Franz Ferdinand

Summer 1906, and the Coalition is ready to attack. Although still critically short of artillery ammunition, Germany launches a major offensive in the Sudenland aimed at Prague. For a month, the Germans launch attack after attack, and in places manage to gain several miles. At a heavy cost. Nearly 300,000 Germans fall, as do 150,000 Austrians, but in the end the attack is ended when the German formations are too gutted to continue.

Meanwhile, the Austrians have painfully assembled their best troops and most of their remaining stocks of ammunition to try to take the pressure off. Leaving the Italians and Spanish to hold the line in the Carpathians and Tyrol (along with the French 5th Army), they launch an offensive of their own up the Danube Valley. The terrain is flatter here than elsewhere on the front, and a 50 mile stretch of open ground is available.

The Germans are stretched thin here, and are caught by surprise by the offensive, and in a month the Austrians manage to drive forward 50 miles and take the German city of Passau. This also siphons off German reserves from the Sudenland and Tyrol fronts. But in the end, both the Austrian and German offensives merely result in more deadlock. Another 200,000 Austrians and 150,000 Germans fall in the Danube Valley.

But the bloodletting does have one useful result. While the Germans and Austrians were hammering away at each other in June, the Russians were building up for an offensive of their own in the southern Balkans. On July 11, the Russians launch a massive attack with 2 armies, along with the Serbian, Macedonian and Greek armies, aimed at Sarejevo and Belgrade.

The Austrians have thinned out this front and are caught by suprise, and quickly give way. In a month of hard fighting the Coalition manages to take both cities before Italian reserves arrive to knit together a front. Nearly 250,000 Austrian, 50,000 Italian, 400,000 Russian, 50,000 Serbian, 75,000 Greek and 25,000 Macedonian soldiers become casualties, but the Coalition has won a major victory.

By August though the fighting dies down again. Exhaustion has set in, and heavy casualties have severely depleted nearly everyone. Only the Turks and the Russian and Rumanian troops in Tranylsvania are at reasonable strength, and the offensives elsewhere have had a higher priority.

Nevertheless, the Turks launch an offensive anyway in southwestern Rumania aimed at the Tizna river, and the extremely thin Austrian line in this sector is overrun. The Turks manage to drive nearly 100 miles across a 100 mile front, and only the collapse of the logistics prevents further advance. Over 100,000 Austrians become casualties or are captured, and only the timely replacement of all Austrian forces in the Tyrol by the French allows the Austrians to put together an army to reknit a line of defense. However, this also causes the entire Austrian line to fall back, out of Transylvania, to the western shore of the Tizna, giving up a vast section of territory to the Rumanians and Russians, who pursue but can't catch the more rapidly retreating Austrian and Spanish troops.

The summer finally ends with this.

Final casualties summer 1906
Austria 800,000 casaulties
Italy 100,000 casaulties
Spain 100,000 casaulties
France 300,000 casaulties (also includes those in the Rhineland)
Russia 700,000 casaulties (all fronts)
Germany 600,000 casaulties (all fronts)
Serbia 50,000 casaulties
Macedonia 30,000 casaulties
Turkey 400,000 casaulties (includes colonial problems as well)
Greece 100,000 casualties

These horrific casaulties bring shock at home, even in the more autocratic societies, as too many mothers and wives are getting regret to inform you letters for the truth to be hidden.

http://www.comp-archaeology.org/CentralEuropeMapCAWEB.gif

For the Coalition at least there is the consulation that Serbia and Montenegro have been completely liberated, and that most of Bosnia has as well. The Rumanians have the comfort in having completely taken control of Transylvania. There are few other bright spots.

Meanwhile, the war spreads for the first time outside of Europe. French troops in West and Northwest Africa seize the weakly defended German colonies of Togoland and the Cameroons. French cruisers also blockade German East Africa and attack Coalition shipping in the Indian and South Atlantic Oceans. This forces the Coalition to shift cargos to neutral carriers, principally the British, and forces sizeable numbers of ships to retreat to neutral ports as well.

Roosevelt is appalled by the disaster in Europe, and how it continues to spread. He also has serious concerns about the future of Europe. He sends a proposal to the governments of the belligerent nations, and to the British.

"The United States urges that this horrible war come to an end. Therefore, the US government suggests that an immediate armistice go into effect, and that talks be held in a neutral location, to which New York City comes to mind as an ideal location, to discuss terms to bring about a permanent settlement.

The US government proposes that Montenegro regain its independence, that France regain Alsace and Lorraine, that Greece be given Crete, and that otherwise all nations return to the borders they had in January 1905, and that no reperations be paid or submitted for payment."

To All Nations of The World
-Allies, Enemies, and those who remain Neutral

Today people of the world I come before you with a heavy heart. The war my nation provoked has swept Europe and killed upwards of a million people. It has destroyed people’s homes and livelihoods. And it is time to end it once and for all.

Therefore I ask all nations involved to end this and return to pre-war borders before more of our sons die in a needless and bloody war. My troops will leave Germany, Montenegro and Serbia on the condition that all Coalition troops leave all countries not their own. I ask that Italian troops leave Austria-Hungary and the French leave Germany. In return I reiterate, that Coalition troops must leave nations that are not their own. The Ottomans must remove themselves from Bulgaria and Hungary. The Russians must pull out of Romania and Austria and so must the Germans.

I believe that only this way we can have peace. I admit that the conquest of Montenegro was wrong and I wish to rectify the situation by fixing it. Austria-Hungary is willing to atone for its sins and all nations must do the same. Russia long oppressed the serfs and even now holds the Ukraine economically hostage while working to Lithuanians in slave labor camps. The Germans shamelessly used an accident, horrible, but ultimately an accident, to join in the war for in reality they wanted nothing but to expand.

And Austria-Hungary? Our sin is perhaps the worse. We acted in a moment of blind anger at a collective people for the sins of one of their sons. What we did was wrong and we ask forgiveness for we have paid a price and have learned a horrible lesson that needs not to continue nor repeat. I ask all nations to help end this war. Not using violence. Not by continuing this war. But by doing what is right and ending this peacefully.

To all nations that have remained neutral I ask that you help end this as well. Peace is never easily achieved and only through pressure and calls for calm can we achieve it.

I hope that one day all leaders of the nations involved in this war can one day meet. Not as conquered and conquerors but as friends. This is what I dream of and this is what I ask all nations, whether you are Austria-Hungary’s allies, enemies, or you are not involved, help us achieve this goal.

Thank you,

His Imperial and Apostolic Royal Majesty Franz Ferdinand

To: Austrian ruler, Franz Ferdinand
From: Prime Minister Alexandre Veliki

I speak for my people, and probably all the Slavs when i wonder what you will do to repay the deaths of so many people? You call it a mistake, but words alone will not bring back the thousands of sons left dead by your ignorant invasion. I call for reperations to be made on any country that your troops invaded, if not every country you killed the sons of. That is the only way that your hollow apology be made solid. One million people have died because one person tried to kill(if that is even true) you? That is a childish and terrible response to such an act, I hope you feel the guilt of those one million deaths heavily on your hands. We hope you come to your senses before it is too late, and save millions more in lives.

To: Austrian ruler, Franz Ferdinand
From: Prime Minister Alexandre Veliki

I speak for my people, and probably all the Slavs when i wonder what you will do to repay the deaths of so many people? You call it a mistake, but words alone will not bring back the thousands of sons left dead by your ignorant invasion. I call for reperations to be made on any country that your troops invaded, if not every country you killed the sons of. That is the only way that your hollow apology be made solid. One million people have died because one person tried to kill(if that is even true) you? That is a childish and terrible response to such an act, I hope you feel the guilt of those one million deaths heavily on your hands. We hope you come to your senses before it is too late, and save millions more in lives.

The Government of Austria-Hungary is willing to do what ever it takes to end peace, including reperations to Montenegro if neccessary. We will not however, pay reperations to 'every country you killed the sons of.' We did not want war with Russia or with your nation, if you wish to call it that. We admit our mistake and offer to end the suffering and you insult us? My dear sir, you are nothing better than an ignorant pig farmer. Good day to you sir. Any negotiations including Austria-Hungary will be with civilized nations only. Appearently your nation will not be in attendence.

Roosevelt is appalled by the disaster in Europe, and how it continues to spread. He also has serious concerns about the future of Europe. He sends a proposal to the governments of the belligerent nations, and to the British.

"The United States urges that this horrible war come to an end. Therefore, the US government suggests that an immediate armistice go into effect, and that talks be held in a neutral location, to which New York City comes to mind as an ideal location, to discuss terms to bring about a permanent settlement.

The US government proposes that Montenegro regain its independence, that France regain Alsace and Lorraine, that Greece be given Crete, and that otherwise all nations return to the borders they had in January 1905, and that no reperations be paid or submitted for payment."

To: President Roosevelt
From: His Imperial and Apostolic Royal Majesty Franz Ferdinand

We find you offer of as a neutral location most suitable and I hope that, assuming the so-called 'Coalition' is willing to attend, we can have peace within the end of the year. As to the terms that your government suggests, I also agree that these terms would be favoraly to all, though I personally feel, as one civilized nationstate ruler to another, that Austria-Hungary should help rebuild Montenegro, assuming Austria-Hungary is in any position to help.

The British government adds it's voice to that of the Americans in asking for a diplomatic solution to this affair to be tried. An immediate armistice would halt any more bloodloss and would stabilise the region again.

Britain views the spreading of the previously domestic war to the colonies as a disturbing event and hopes that this war will not turn into a worldwide affair. Britain would like to reiterate that it is prepared to act against any force that may view to transgress upon it's territory regardless of any international consequences that may arise from British action.

From Kaiser Wilhelm:
To: President Theodore Roosevelt

I understand there has been much fault between our nations, especially over the country of Venezuela. As we have other plans, I believe that we may soon leave Venezuela, and perhaps our two nations can become more friendly.

Your calls for peace are also respectable. True this has been a bloodshed. However, it is a bloodshed caused by the warmongering of Austria-Hungary and Italy. If it were not for the Austrians vile attack of Montenegro, or the Italians double treachery against my fleet, this war would not have ever happened. What is more, the French have joined in and thrown their sons to the meatgrinder. And you expect Germany, who rightfully took Alsalce in 1870, to return it to them? I say no!

Instead, Germany believes that the matter is different. For us to end this war Germany demands several things. First, the 1905 Franco-German border must be restored. Second, a Free Czech nation must be created. Third, the Base, and indeed the city of Syracuse must be handed to the German Empire. Fourth, the lands of Germanic Austria, including Tyrol must be handed over to German care to ensure that future warmongering doesn't take place. Lastly, German Colonies in Africa must be returned to it.

Only when such demands are made will Germany agree to peace. Until then, the blood of German sailors in the Mediterranean must be repaid, even if it be ten million times!

Sincerely,
Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and King of Prussia

Even with the calls for peace, German reserves are called up and sent to the Rhineland, Tyrol and the Sudenland.

Roosevelt is appalled by the disaster in Europe, and how it continues to spread. He also has serious concerns about the future of Europe. He sends a proposal to the governments of the belligerent nations, and to the British.

"The United States urges that this horrible war come to an end. Therefore, the US government suggests that an immediate armistice go into effect, and that talks be held in a neutral location, to which New York City comes to mind as an ideal location, to discuss terms to bring about a permanent settlement.

The US government proposes that Montenegro regain its independence, that France regain Alsace and Lorraine, that Greece be given Crete, and that otherwise all nations return to the borders they had in January 1905, and that no reperations be paid or submitted for payment."

Jacques Castet has agreed to be the represenative at these meetings, should they actually happen.

Open MEssage to the Leaders of the League, the Coalition, the UK and the US

It appears that Germany is unwilling to listen to the voice of reason and peace in this matter. The esteemed President Roosevelt has made an excellent suggestion that will give peace back to the world. But does Germany listen? No! They reject the generous offer nad instead demand more. They say they took Asalce in 1870, rightfully. I say we have taken it back rightfully! We will return Germany's colonies to them if they agree to PResident Roosevelt's meeting and the terms of peace. We will not surrender the Lorraine again! Never! We are willing to batter Germany into submission, if that is what it takes.

Jacques Castet


French has called up even more reserves and are also pouring them into the German Front.

The people of Romania rejoice at the news of the unification of Wallachian and moldovian Romania (older Moldovia not modern Moldovia) with Transelvanian Romania. Morale among the people soars as most Romanian are united under one king (and with time and good relations with Russia Besserabia may join them aswell fulfiling the dream of a true United Romanian kingdom.)

The king praises the efforts of soldiers and laborers of Romanians and allies alike, urging them to push on to maintain all what they have striven for and paid dearly and reminding them that the enemy will not rest untill they have restablished their imperiallistic grasp on Romanian lands.

In secret:
The king and parliment alike are worried about recent peace proposal by the US:
"The United States urges that this horrible war come to an end. Therefore, the US government suggests that an immediate armistice go into effect, and that talks be held in a neutral location, to which New York City comes to mind as an ideal location, to discuss terms to bring about a permanent settlement.

The US government proposes that Montenegro regain its independence, that France regain Alsace and Lorraine, that Greece be given Crete, and that otherwise all nations return to the borders they had in January 1905, and that no reperations be paid or submitted for payment."

Noting that this has made no provision for the rightful Romanian claims on Transelvania, Premier Cantacuzino sent telegrams to the league informing them that Romania will not particpate in any "armistice talks" unless: 1- most of the coallition is willing 2-Transelvania will not return to hungarian let alone austro-hungarian control.

Top Secret Comminque to France
From: Emperor Guozu of China

Greetings.

I would like to offer a deal to the French people that will aid the French people immensely in the war and strife that France is suffering in the Great War. This deal will also enable us to produce far more profit and benefits in the long run for both of our people.

China would like to purchase your Indochina colony and possibly other French Asian holdings. I believe that the money will be quite useful as it will undoubtedly aid your economy, war production, and military maintainence. In addition, you will be able to re-deploy your troops from Indochina and your Asian holdings back to France. The extra boost in manpower should give France enough strength and power to overwhelm the Germans, assuring a French victory.

Please contact me if you are interested in discussing such a deal. It shall benefit us both immensely, and grant us great profitability in the long run.

Live well.
~Emperor Guozu

Secret Communique to Emperor Guozo

From:The French Government

We might be willing to sell it, if we are allowed basing rights in Indochina for the next one hundred years. How much are you offering?

Jacques Castet

After the comments of the Austrian leader, Macedonia has decided not to make any agreements with the Austrians, and will fight on to liberate all the Balkans from the Austrian grasp. Should the Coalition reach an armistice, Macedonia will respect is, as we will any treaty that is reached, but will not drop out of the war before then.

America, do not mistake our stance, we do not want this war to go on any longer than it has to, but we will see the Slavic people liberated and freed from their tormentors.

Secret Communique to Emperor Guozo

From:The French Government

We might be willing to sell it, if we are allowed basing rights in Indochina for the next one hundred years. How much are you offering?

Jacques Castet

Secret Comminque to France
From: Emperor Guozu

Greetings.

China is prepared to allow France to refuel, resupply, and restock its ships at Indochinese harbors. In addition, French trade shall be encouraged, as China shall export Indochinese goods to France at a 50% discount with a possibility of a 75% discount in the future.

China is offering a payment of $100 million for Indochina. The money should be immensely useful in the rebuilding of your nation's infrastructure, military, and assets, as well as ease the burdens of budgets and deficits that warfare brings.

Please inform me as promptly as possible. Thank you.

~Emperor Guozu

Official German Statement

In a recent deal with the Roosevelt Administration, the German Empire has promised a withdrawl of all military personnel from Venezuela, and all debts to be considered paid. In return, the American Government has promised to let Germany take control of several helium deposits for its new Zeppelin Project. German troops are expected to begin evacuation this week and to finish withdrawl by Christmas. Two of the four Divisions are to be sent to German Southwest Africa, while the additional two will be sent to the front lines. German civil contruction and commercial ventures will continue, but no military presence is to say. Elections for representatives are being held in December with Colombian and Chilean troops keeping the peace. All will praise this step towards peace and friendship between America and Germany.

Fifty thousand tons of meat along with eighty thousand tons of wheat per month will be shipped to Russia's Pacific ports with transportation paid by the recipient, more food and different foods upon request. Upon arrival they are to be payed for in either cash or in gold at the price of pound for every pound of meat in cash or one pound for every 2.5 pounds of wheat in cash. In gold it is 1 pound worth of gold for every two pounds of meat and 1 pound worth of gold for every 4.5 pounds of wheat. In munitions we will provide ten thousand 75mm shells a month at forty thousand pounds. Fifteen hundred rifles will also be provided annually at the price of one hundred a fifty thousand pounds cash. These numbers will be increasing shortly once new factories come on line and old ones expand. By next year we hope to open up multiple new factories to further meet your needs. If any changes in orders are needed Australia will be mroe than happy to comply.

The Republic of Chile accepts the invitation to send peacekeepers to Venezuela. 2000 Infantry and MPs will depart upon German evacuation. At this time The Republic of Chile will resume normal diplomatic relations with the German Empire.

Alberto Molina
President

Colombia will begin moving in a Regiment to act as Police within Venezuela.

Talks with the German government are already underway to exclusively send supplies to the Coalition.

Ottoman Notice
We reject the Roosevelt Administration peace plan. We demand that Crete should return back to Ottoman rule, unless this demand is done. There will be no peace as far we care.

150,000 Spanish troops have arrived in Italy and Austria to fight under General de Aragon. They have travelled for a little more than a week on French rail lines and are now ready to fight. Included in the 150,000 are many artillery which will hopefully allow the League to take back land.

To: President Roosevelt
From: King Alfonso XIII

I agree to these peace talks and only ask that both sides not be forced to pay reparations as Austria only started war with Montenegro but Russia caused the evil cycle tha made the price for this war so high. If any should pay reparations it should be Russia. But I am not that harsh. I say that all attempts for reparations be shot down as neither side has won anything.

OOC: Since nothing has happened yet directly concerning my mercenaries...

Open Communique To: Kaiser Wilhelm II, Tsar Nikolai II, Kaiser Franz Ferdinand, and other Coalition and League leaders.

This war in Europe is not solving the problems that gave raise to it. Rather, it is slaughtering a generation of innocent men, and nothing more.

South Africa shares much blood with the German people, and we are saddened by the deaths of so many. However, we also understand all too well the oppression of foreign occupation. I feel that it is my duty as a descendant of French and German blood, and as one who has fought unjust foreign imperialism, to offer to broker peace between the warring powers.

I hereby invite representatives of the League and Coalition to Johannesburg, in order to resolve their differences peacefully, in a neutral nation. During this conference, I urge a ceasefire across the European continent, and in the various colonies of the warring powers. I suggest also plebiscites be held in Alasce-Lorraine, the Cezch lands, and any other territory in question, that the residents thereof may decide their destiny without bloodshed.

I hope the warring nations of Europe will accept my offer, and end this blood-letting.

[signed]Louis Botha
Prime Minister

With the permission of the British Government to use the Egyptian rail network, Grand Vizier Mehmed Ferid Pasha press the Sultan into allowing him to send about 60,000 troops made up of the 19th and 20th army cores. The Sultan give his permission for the mission to take out Italian Libya. The Ottoman forces began sending its troops in late summer and eary fall. They were dress in civilian clothing and their weapons were lock away in freight cars. By the time they reach the northern Libyan border, they began to get ready for the battle against Italians, they already send notice to the Muslims of Libya to rebel agains the Italians.They march their march to the Italian holdings in Libya, still dress in civilian clothing, and most of the troops not even Turkish, they were Arabs to make it easy for them dispear into the backgound. So to the Italians this was just one massive rebel army against their rule in the area.The army was marching to take out the Italians in North Africa and gain support of the local Muslims.r These troops were told to fight a war with guerilla tactics and try to draw out the Italians out their forts and into the sands where the Ottomans are at home and kill off the Italians.

Major Rodriguez spoke..."Thse men all seem to be of military age. We can not allow you to stop at this port please proceed to another or be detained but with a crew and passenger list of all Dutch and German men of military age this is absurd. We will give you fifteen minutes to leave or risk being detained."
With that they left...

To All Leaders Involved in the War and Peace of Europe

The words of the Kaiser Franz Ferdinand are beautiful and elegant, and filled with an honest sorrow for the suffering and murder that our collective actions have caused. We do not doubt His Majesty’s sincerity. Nor should our own be called into question. More than one strong man in Russia wept upon reading his words, and rightly so, for peace is pleasing to God.

But his proposal for peace is no such thing.

For so long as Slavs suffer the humiliation of Habsburg rule, the question of freedom for our race will yet remain to be contested between us. The bayonets of Sankt-Peterburg and Wien must ever be at the ready for so long as Slavs are traded about in Dalmatia and Istria like so much cattle on a ranch, or subjected to military invasion at a whim as in Bosnia-Hercegovina, or simply discriminated against in their own homeland, as in Bohemia and Moravia.

Nor is it merely a question of the Slavs. The proud Dacians, our friends and comrades, who in ancient times withstood against the legions of Rome for so long, have been divided in the main part by Magyar tyranny.

The Habsburg Crown is a Chimaera of the leftovers of Europe, a vestige of the aftermath of Napoleon’s failed project of Imperial Liberalism. It is high time that this Patchwork Empire be replaced with a new and more sustainable order, else the embers of the present conflict should only abide and flare out again and again until the world is bathed in such a tide of blood that all men might drown.

The very horror of this present conflict only shows the farsighted men among us what the future might yet hold, if a decisive conclusion is not wrought out of all this damnable savagery.

Because of this, and this only, does our resolve remain steeled.

There will be no possibility of peace on Franz Ferdinand’s terms. This is a statement of fact as much as policy. Indeed, and tragically, even more so. Habsburg power must be dismantled utterly. The races of Europe – whether German or Slav, Turk, Dacian, Latin, or any other – must be at last brought to the stations ordained for them by Almighty God.

This is our Sacred Mission, which we will fulfill or perish trying.

His Imperial Majesty by the Grace of God, Nikolai II Aleksandrovich Romanov, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias, King of Ukraine, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Finland, and of other lands

Major Rodriguez spoke..."Thse men all seem to be of military age. We can not allow you to stop at this port please proceed to another or be detained but with a crew and passenger list of all Dutch and German men of military age this is absurd. We will give you fifteen minutes to leave or risk being detained."

Captain Riebeeck nodded and answered. Ensign Jelle interpreted for him. "It seems then that we will have to find another port to hold our goods. Farewell, Major."

***

Half an hour later, with Tangier growing smaller on the horizon as the Noord Holland sailed back into the Atlantic, Major Riebeeck paced the deck of the ship, deep in thought. One of his lieutenants was on deck with him.

"A single battleship. No, just a bloody cruiser and we could take that city!"

Riebeeck frowned. "We don't have a cruiser, Mr. van der Meer. Although..." He smiled slowly as a plan formed in his head.

Denmark once again asks the French to respect the neutrality of the "Low Countries" and Scadinavia. I must especially get the promise of a non-agression act with Belgium.

Diplomatic Telegram (Wireless)
Coded:Yes
To: President Rosevelt, The Majesty of Greater Britian
From: The King of Denmark

I ask your great militarys to pre-pare for an defesion of Belgium if the French, mostly, decide to get an upper hand on Germany by attacking Germany through Belgium. This I fear, will be the start of a domino effect for all neutral countries of/in the world.
In all humblness,
The King of Denmark.

Offical Declaration of Neutrality

In response to the growing bloodshed across Europe between the Great Powers, the Kingdom of Belgium as of this day, October 12 of the year 1906, announces it's absolute and total neutrality in the porceedings of the conflict in question.

Any attempt to engulf and/or entice our nation into joining the conlflict in question will be promplty ignored. Furthermore, no Army besides the Army of Belgium is permitted to travel through the Lands of Flanders and/or Wallonia unless given permission by the proper authorities in Brussels.

We truly hope that all nations involved in this terrible conflict will cease their hostilities against one another so that the lives of many can be saved.

Singed,

His Excellency, King Albert I
Lord of Wallonia and King of Flanders
The Kingdom of Belgium

Secret Comminque to France
From: Emperor Guozu

Greetings.

China is prepared to allow France to refuel, resupply, and restock its ships at Indochinese harbors. In addition, French trade shall be encouraged, as China shall export Indochinese goods to France at a 50% discount with a possibility of a 75% discount in the future.

China is offering a payment of $100 million for Indochina. The money should be immensely useful in the rebuilding of your nation's infrastructure, military, and assets, as well as ease the burdens of budgets and deficits that warfare brings.

Please inform me as promptly as possible. Thank you.

~Emperor Guozu


Message to the Emperor of China

After much debate in PArliament the French government has decided not to sell it's Asian territories at this time. Thye are still valuable to us as a source of resources. We apologize for any inconvience.

Prime Minister Jacques Castet

Message to the Denmark and the Low COuntries
France will, of course, respect the nuetrality of all nuetral nations.

Message to the Emperor of China

After much debate in PArliament the French government has decided not to sell it's Asian territories at this time. Thye are still valuable to us as a source of resources. We apologize for any inconvience.

Prime Minister Jacques Castet

Message to the Denmark and the Low COuntries
France will, of course, respect the nuetrality of all nuetral nations.

Emperor Guozu mulled over the latest French comminque. and then called for his military advisor. Half an hour later, the Chinese military advisor, Sun Rui, appeared.

Guozu began speaking in a quiet and thoughtful tone of voice.

"It is just as I expected. The French have said that they were willing to sell their Asian possessions, then abruptly changed their minds. This kind of political backstabbing cannot be tolerated aganist China. If these Westerner Devils believe they can simply laugh at us while dismissing us out of hand, they are sadly mistaken.

France is currently at war with Germany, with high losses to its troops, morale, and supplies. This is the most opportune time for China to strike aganist the French, when they are at their weakest.

Henceforth, I order that China shall begin mobilizing one-fourths of its Army along Indochina borders, with the best available weapons and supplies. Do not attack yet, perhaps we could force the French into selling via intimidation."

Sun Rui nodded.

"It shall be done, Exalted One."

Communique to the Government of Japan
We have recieved word that the Chinese government has mobilized troops along the French Indo-China border. Can we count on your support if negotiations fail?

Prime Minister Jacques Castet

News from Indo-China
In response to the mobilization of Chinese troops along the Indo-Chinese border France has orderd troops in the region to the borders to defend the key passes, roads, and railway hubs. They have also called for Vietnamese volounteers to join the Colonial Troops in order to swell the armed forces in the region. Much of the recruiting methods focus on the age-old antagonization between the Vietnamese and Chinese nations.

Message to the Chinese Government
Remove your troops from our borders immediatly. The descision to sell our own assets is our own and we will not give in to intmidation. Any incursion across our borders will be seen as an act of war and be treated as such. The full might of the French Nation and her allies will fall on you should you attempt to invade. The Vietnamese people stand with us.

Prime Minister Jacques Castet

Communique to the Government of Japan
We have recieved word that the Chinese government has mobilized troops along the French Indo-China border. Can we count on your support if negotiations fail?

Prime Minister Jacques Castet

News from Indo-China
In response to the mobilization of Chinese troops along the Indo-Chinese border France has orderd troops in the region to the borders to defend the key passes, roads, and railway hubs. They have also called for Vietnamese volounteers to join the Colonial Troops in order to swell the armed forces in the region. Much of the recruiting methods focus on the age-old antagonization between the Vietnamese and Chinese nations.

Message to the Chinese Government
Remove your troops from our borders immediatly. The descision to sell our own assets is our own and we will not give in to intmidation. Any incursion across our borders will be seen as an act of war and be treated as such. The full might of the French Nation and her allies will fall on you should you attempt to invade. The Vietnamese people stand with us.

Prime Minister Jacques Castet

The Chinese Emperor, Guozu, grinned as he read the latest French message. He mulled it over for several minutes, while he awaited the arrival of writing material to begin a response to the insolent French.

"Perfect. Now we have the French nervous. They rightly believe that we may invade Indochina, but they wrongly believe when we will do so. Nervous enemies make many errors in judgement as opposed to a cool and level-headed enemy. Now lets increase the nervousness level, and see if it will make the French buckle. In addition, if I can goad the French people into declaring war aganist China, then the Chinese people will be in the right, and the French in the wrong. France will be seen as the agressor, not China."

Guozu began composing a message and after approximately an hour, it was completed and sent out to the French.

-----------------------------------------------------
Comminque to France
From: Emperor Guozu

I believe I must point out something to you, as your statements in your message are apparently false.

The French people are engaged in a titanic struggle in Europe, facing the German Empire and her allies. Therefore, you cannot bring your full might aganist China, as it will leave you wide open towards full attack from Germany and her allies.

I shall address the problem that you seem to have with Chinese troops. They are merely undertaking military excerises, and it so happens that the terrain near the Indochinese border is perfectly suitable for the training excerises. The Chinese troops are within Chinese borders, thus, they are not committing any acts towards Indochina. They are not attacking any one, nor do they have any intentions of harming any one for the time being. The only possible harm would be minor injuries amongst the soldiers in the training excerises.

Good day.
~Emperor Guozu

OOC: Just came back from a short trip. My, how things have changed.

IC:

Italy was not quite ready to end this war. More reserves were called, all ships under Italian construction were to be seized when completed (and returned to their owner after the war, in official statements), and Italian industry out a large emphasis on artillery.

Hand delivered notes were sent to Austria-Hungary, Spain, and France. Newly conscripted Italian reserves--complete with more artillery--would, coupled with the other three allies, launch a major offensive in Alsase-Lorraine and southern Germany. The idea is to shock the Germans with a well-coordinated and massive blow.

Meanwhile, the Italian and Austro-Hungarian navies would land marines in the Dodecanese Islands and attempt to defeat any Russo-Ottoman naval forces. Once taken, the islands would provide excellent bases from which to patrol the Aegean.

Communique to China:

The Kaiser has noticed China's need for Indochina. We, as Imperial people ourselves, completely agree! For one, it is called IndoCHINA! As we so believe that all Germans should be united under the Kaiser, so we believe that all Chinese cultures should be united under the Emperor. Therefore, as the weakling empire of Austria Hungary falls apart, Germany will promise logistical and perhaps soon military support, for certain promises of exclusive rubber trading right to Germany. The full extent can be decided at a later time. However, we, as friends of the Chinese people, hereby promise assistance as soon as it can be given.

Message to the Chinese Emperor
Very well. We will take your word that these troops are merely on exercises. However, we will be conducting exercises of our own on our side of the border. Perhaps we should have our troops work in concert and provide an excellent traing experience for both sides? I'm sure there is much we can teach your army of modern warfare.

Jacques Castet

Communique to the Government of Japan
We have recieved word that the Chinese government has mobilized troops along the French Indo-China border. Can we count on your support if negotiations fail?




To: President Jacques Castet
From: Japanese Foreign Ministry
RE: Indochina

Though it greives us that two of our allies through seperate treaties should want to fight a war against each other, we shall support France as long as China is the agressor in the situation. Furthermore, if at any time that you wish to sell any of your Asian/Pacific Territories Japan is looking to expand.


TO: ALL Beligerenant nations

No attacks upon any shipping within Japanese waters or spheres of control will be tolerated by the Japanese government. All shipping within Japanese waters will be considered Japanese shipping and will be responded in like if attacked.

Furthermore any belligerant shipping within these waters is subject to immediate search for supplies of war. All shipping with supplies of war is considered Contraband in Japanese Waters at this time.

All warships of Belligerent nations must register with the Japanese Government before moving through our waters.

Zones of Protection are too include(Within 100 miles of Japanese territories):
South China Sea
East China Sea
Yellow Sea
Sea of Japan
Sea of Okhotsk
Phillipine Sea

Washington Post January 1907
"In a discussion with reporters today, Secretary of State John Hay confirmed that the terms of the US-Japanese mutual defense treaty would indeed require the United States to come to Japan's aid should it be required. He specifically mentioned an example where if Japan was helping France defend Indochina, and one of the Coalition nations such as Russia or Germany declared war on Japan, that it would mean that the US would under the terms of the treaty be obligated to come to Japan's aid against those nations and China as well."

War news Fall - Winter 1906 - 07
The war is at a lull all during the autumn raids and winter snows (and rain) of October, November, December and January. At least in the principal theater of Europe. With everyone exhausted from the bitter fighting of the last 10 months, the armies settled down into what was essentially a seige on a continental scale.

However, significant reorganization went on, and more and more manpower was called up and sent to the front.

The fronts are as follows:

Western Front: Stretches from Luxembourg to Switzerland, with the 4 French and 4 German armies (each with 80 divisions) on a line running from near the Saar valley then over to the Rhine and along the Rhine to the Swiss border. Inactive for the last 6 months, more activity could be expected once spring weather arrived.

Alpine Front: Stretches from the Swiss border to the Danube River Valley in Tyrolia. 2 Italian armies face 1 German army (30 vs 20 divisions) in the most rugged terrain in Europe.

Danube Front: A 200 mile front in the best terrain along the Austrian border and part of that front now includes some German territory. 2 French, 1 Italian and 1 German Army (45 vs 20 divisions) face each other.

Sudentenland Front: Another rugged front with 2 Austrian and 2 German armies facing each other (30 divisions each).

Carpathian Front: Almost as rugged as the Alpine front (but not as bad as the Sudentenland Front). 2 Austrian Armies face 4 Russian Armies (20 vs 60 divisions)

Hungarian Front: Only the river holds this line together, and beyond is the vital city of Budapest. 3 Austrian armies face 5 Russian, 2 Turkish and 1 Rumanian Armies (45 divisions vs 100 Russian, 20 Turkish and 12 Rumanian divisions)

Balkan Front: Hilly but vital as it is the direct rail connection between Italy and Austrian. 2 Spanish and 2 Italian Armies (20 and 30 divisions) face the Serbian, Macedonian, Greek, and Russians (6, 3, 8, and 40 divisions)

In addition, the French have 10 divisions in reserve (plus 20 divisions worth of troops overseas), the Germans 10 divisions in reserve (3 divisions overseas), the Russians have 100 divisions in reserve and another 50 divisions occupying their Empire (and not available), and the Italians have 6 Divisions in Libya, and another 3 divisions in Crete, while the Turks and Greeks have several divisions worth of troops tied down in the Greek islands or holding ports, and another 20 Turkish divisions are busy holding down their empire.

In January, the Turks suddenly invade Libya, and it is very obvious they are coming out of Egypt. Although technically Egypt is Ottoman Territory, the British are holding it as a protecterate and this force of 10 divisions could not be supplied without the British allowing them to use their ports and railroads. Not that it matters. Although the Italians only have 4 divisions around the Derna/Tobruk area, they and the French control the sea, and the slow pace of infantry in desert conditions compaired to the rapid deployment of Italian and French Legion Estranger reinforcements arriving by sea through those 2 ports rapidly is decisive.

In a 3 week battle from January 2 until January 21, the Turkish Army is cutup, and then when the Italian and French marines land behind them along the coast road connecting the Turkish force to Egypt, they are cut off and forced to surrender. Nearly 100,000 Turkish prisoners are taken, although the French and Italian marines are badly mauled in the desperate Turkish attempt to break out. The Legion Estranger in particular distinguish themselves once again. However, the diversion does allow the Russian Pacific Fleet, which had steamed through the Suez Canal in the meantime, is able to safely reach Constaninople while the League fleet is diverted, as even the Austrian Fleet is drawn in to cover the Italian and French landing.

Final casualties
Entire Turkish Army destroyed 120,000 men
French casualties 12,000
Italian casualties 23,000

Meanwhile, in Persia and Arabia, French arms begin circulating amongst the tribes there, and in a daring raid, the Arabs even manage to briefly hold the Lebanonese port of Acre long enough for a sizeable number of French arms to get ashore. By the end of January, very large numbers of French and American rifles are circulating amongst the Arab tribes of Levant, the Syrian Desert and the Arabian Desert.

The Turkish Army and Navy has become shaky because of the disastrous defeats of the last year, with the officer corps in particular becoming restive.

Overall, the quality of the armies everywhere has fallen. Many divisions aren't fit for much more than holding the line at present, as they are full of green conscripts and just as inexperienced officers as most of the best officers and NCOs fell over the last year. This is particular apparent in the Austrian, Rumanian, and Italian armies, and to a lesser extent in the Russian, German and French armies. Some armies are particularly battered, with the Serbs unable to field much more than older men and teenagers, while the Greeks, Macedonians, and Turks are severely short on artillery and machine guns.

ooc: i have 150,000 troops on the alpine front...its in the same post as my acceptance of possible peace

With the news of the Ottoman defeat, the Italian military decided to play games with the intelligence organs of the world. A few prominent generals told the Washington Post (and other world newspapers) that Italy was going to launch a major counter-offensive by sea and finally defeat the Turks. The "plan" called for landing the Italian and French troops, complete with Libyan tribesmen, in the Levant, where the troops would push towards Kurdistan and Anatolia. Of course, quiet notes are sent to France saying that it would be best if the French government also make statements saying that they are preparing to finish off the Turks to decieve the enemy.

Headlines in Paris

GREAT VICTORY IN ITALIAN LYBIA!

Over 100,000 Turks Made Prisoner!

Our Brave Italian Allies Carry the Day!

Foreign Legion Distinguishes Itself Once Again!

Our brave Italian allies, assisted by our brave marines and the esteemed Foreign Legion have smashed the Turks in a month long battle. The Turks invaded Italian Lybia, thinking our allies weak and off their guard. Unluckily for the mthey were wrong! Our brave allies held off the Turkish hordes, buying time for the Legion and Italian troops to arrive by sea.

Weeks later our brave allies and our marines cut their supply lines and their line of retreat. Despite their desperate attempts to break out they were defeated and over 100,000 enemy troops were bagged. They are currently languishing in prison camps. This will teach the enemies of France and Italy not to underestimate us.

High Command Speaks of Massive Counter-Attack Against the Turk

French High Command has begun discussing the possiblity of deploying the Foriegn Legion, along with Italian troops and other Colonials, to the Middle East to smash the Turks and take them out of the war permenetly. It is also rumored that another army may be pulled from the line to bolster the attack.

With growing fears of invasion of the middle east, from the French or Italians. The Sultan order that whats left of the Ottoman Fleet will pervent the ports of Levant from taking over from foes of the empire. With that being said, the Sultan order the fleet to steam out of Istanbul and head out for Levant. The Sultan order every captain not to fall back, they must fight to the death and stop any invasion fleet from reaching the shores of Levant.

Here is what the Ottomans are sending to the area

Cruisers

Heibetnuma Class
Heibetnuma 30th January 1890

Lufti Humayun Class
Luft Humayun 16th August 1892

Light Cruisers
Arrogant class -4 ships

Protected Cruisers -7

Roon Class Armoured Cruisers -4

Destroyers

Berk I Efsan 1892
Tayyar 1893
Thornycroft "27 knotters" class -13

Torpedo Boats

Timsah 1885
Simir I Hidsum 1884
Mecidiye 1885-1890
Mahabet 1887
Gilyom 1886
Nasr 1888-1892
Ejder 1890
"140 footer" class- 10

Corvettes
Mariner class -2 ships
Nymphe class -2 ships

Parthini']Communique to China:

The Kaiser has noticed China's need for Indochina. We, as Imperial people ourselves, completely agree! For one, it is called IndoCHINA! As we so believe that all Germans should be united under the Kaiser, so we believe that all Chinese cultures should be united under the Emperor. Therefore, as the weakling empire of Austria Hungary falls apart, Germany will promise logistical and perhaps soon military support, for certain promises of exclusive rubber trading right to Germany. The full extent can be decided at a later time. However, we, as friends of the Chinese people, hereby promise assistance as soon as it can be given.

Top Secret Encrypted Comminque to Germany:

Greetings, friend.

China thanks our German friends for their offer of support and assistance, it will never be forgotten. China shall be more than willing to establish an exclusive rubber trade with Germany, as we believe Germany is far more honorable and trustworthy than the French. The French appeared to be repective to an offer from China to purchase Indochina, then they abruptly changed their minds and begun military mobilizations. Doesn't that strike you as odd and dishonorable?

We are continuing to build weapons factories and industrialize. Hopefully China will be able to be of serious assistance to Germany in the near future, through resource and support.

One hurdle remains. Should France declare war upon China, I am not sure whether Japan or the United States will respond or not. China has the potential to be much more powerful than Japan, as Japan has very little in way of natural resources, and the United States is halfway around the world with a population base approximately 1/3 of China. The worst the United States may be able to do is bombard the shore, and that's pretty much about it. Their infantry are not suited for the jungle and mountainous warfare in China, which should be their downfall.

Despite these issues, I am certain that the Chinese and German people shall emerge victorious, as we are both a hardy and strong people, capable of conquering hardships and shout out excitement from the top of the mountain.

Live and prosper,
~Emperor Guozu

The British government facing a slipping majority, reduced income and near revolt from many of the merchant sailors, decides that it has no option but to remove it's embargo on the League nations and decide once again to return to becoming a neutral nation and export willingly to any nation. Factories up their production quotas and the first British ships to arrive in Spain, Italy and France for almost a year are expected to arrive by the end of the week. Land trade routes through Italy to Austria-Hungary have been re-established and trade is hoped to be resumed with them shortly.

This announcement is likely to overjoy British industrialists and shippers who have seem their trade reduced dramatically by neutral countries. It is also likely to quieten any opposition in the house of commons which was in near uproar recently as the effects of the embargo were announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The German reaction is likely to be negative but the government has hoped that they will see that the embargo would be lifted by any opposition government that would come to power anyway so this step is just a preventionary measure.

Further to this there has been an increase in production of merchant vessels at all ports and dry docks around the country in a hope for a last minute attempt to boost British export power. This is in conjunction to expansion at the nation's factories, hastily built facilities have been put in place at many of the main producers (Including foodstuffs, arms and other equipment) as well as the taking on of extra workers from the ranks of the nation's unemployed to cope for the increased demand. This is expected to increase production rates and revenues from foreign sales.

Sorry for the double post chaps,

It seems that industrialists are not as pleased with the trade agreement as first hoped and are petitioning the government to repay all of their lost revenues due to the embargo. The government has stated that it cannot afford to do this and will find a way to reimburse the companies affected.

The government is planning a series of international industrial agreements. Factories are to be set up across the Empire for Industry, particular sites include:

- Food and Arms plants in South Africa
- Arms facilities in Egypt
- Introduction of modern agricultural practices to India and other British territories in the Far East
- Increased subsidies to farmers across the Empire who export food
- Conversion of some current military drydocks to merchant navy production. Resultant vessels are to be sold to the warring powers in Europe, military facilities will be expanded in Portsmouth to recompensate the Navy.
- Increased sale of old vessels to the warring powers.

The above is expected to be paid for out of initial government investment, it is hoped that once the practices are up and running they will pay for themselves from profits resulting from exports.



As a result of this policy the British Government is pleased to announce the sale of the following items to any foreign nation:

*Foodstuffs:
-Wheat, Corn, Oats from Europe,
-Rice and Wheat from the East,
-livestock: Sheep, Cattle, Goats from African territories

*Arms and ammunition
-Lee Enfield rifles from Britain, South Africa, Egypt.
-Artillery from the Royal Armaments factories in Britain [any calibre required]
-Webley and Scott pistols from Britain, South Africa, Egypt
-Any calibre of ammunition required for small arms (can currently accomodate .303 (British standard), .30 (USA), 7.92mm (German), 7.62mm (Russian), 6.5mm (Italian, Rumanian, Japanese), 7.65mm (Belgian, Ottoman), 8mm (Austria, France).
-Any other ammunition or rifle design can be accomodated but designs must be sent and a small surcharge incurred due to remachining.

*Merchant Navy Vessels
-Any size of type of vessel can be built to supplement your merchant fleet
-Cargo Freighters (Container carrying vessels)
-Tankers (for gas, oil or other fluid cargo)
-Coasters (Non-Ocean Going Vessels, suitable for coastal waters or the Mediterranean)

*Navy Vessels
-New vessels can be purchased and will include: Battleships, Cruisers (Armoured and Light), Destroyers, Torpedo Boats, Submarines, Corvettes. These vessels will take time to complete and will be fairly expensive.

-Older Vessels, the Navy is selling off some of it's older ships. This includes:

34 assorted Torpedo Gunboats from 1890-1894
Beagle class Corvettes 2 ships, 1889
Albert class Corvettes 2 ships, 1894
Phoenix class Corvettes 2 ships, 1895
Thornycroft "27 knotters" class Destroyers 16 ships 1895-1896
Protected Cruisers 28 assorted 1893-1894
HMS Trafalgar, HMS Victoria Battleships 1890
Royal Sovereign class 4 ships Battleships 1893

Please enquire on British News Thread (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=9498703) for prices etc.

The French government is pleased that the government of Britan has come to its senses and lifted the embargo.

The Arab people demand that the Otoman empire grants them indepedence from their foriegn rule. If we are not granted independence, there will be bloodshed!
-Hussein Achmed bin Ali

Diplomatic Message To Ottoman Empire:

It has come to our understanding that your army is short of experienced officers and artillery. We will, for a price, help you fix those problems. we can start providing six batteries of 75mm guns a month along with a number of officers and NCO's who have fought in the British army in campaigns from South Africa to China. For these servces we ask that we are paid in full up front and in cash.

Denmark will be happy to supply any European nation with artillery ammunition for all calibars and with grain, fish, or winter clothing and gear.

Australia

I'd make sure that the payments are made in gold or some other valuable metal, the currency in the warring nations is'nt worth a lot anymore and the Ottoman money would start to devalue beforeyou even managed to take it home, gold however won't.

Also make sure that all of your officers and NCOs are "official advisors" and get each one to sign a paper saying that he has volunteered his services tp the Ottoman Army and he is responsible for all his actions, not the Australian or British governments. I don't fancy being drawn into this war.

Yours,
The friendly British Government

Reply:

Recieving payment in gold had completely slipped from our minds and as such we must than you greatly for correcting us. In doing so you have surely saved us countless thousands that would benefit both our economies greatly.

Whatever NCO's and officers we send will of course not participate in actualy fighting, we have no wish to see such experienced men killed. Australia doesn't have a surplus in manpower to begin with. Though any knowledge they gain about modern warfare by witnessing the heavy fighting going on in the Balkans will be shared with their counterparts in the British army.

Dominion of Australia and Papua

Turkey
The Combined Black Sea and Pacific Fleet will depart the security of the Sea of Marmara to assist in the defense of the coasts of our Turkish allies [OoC: Are there any German U-Boots at Constanta we can use?]. Moreover, forty divisions of reserves, organized into two armies, will be dispatched immediately to the Ottoman Empire to help protect the Sublime Porte against all enemies foreign and domestic. The Don Cossack Host, of limited use on the European fronts, will also be placed at the Turks' disposal.
We may require certain petroleum rights as security in the event that we end up paying for Australia's offer of support (see below).

Britain
While Russia is certainly disappointed by the British decision to trade with both alliances, St. Petersburg understands that London has no critical interests at stake on the Continent that would not be served equally well or poorly by either a French or German victory. Colonial affairs may be another matter, but it is not Russia's place to tell Britain how to hold her Empire together against external threats.

China
While we respect and support your interest in restoring Chinese sovereignty over Annam, Tonkin, and Cochin-China [OoC: the word "Vietnam" was only used by nationalists at this point], we cannot aid the Middle Kingdom in any way at the present time. We will protest Japanese interference in your diplomatic affairs, of course, but it is our most earnest hope that a destructive conflict in Asia may be averted. We hope that this will not adversely affect the friendship between our Empires that we are trying to establish.

Japan
We protest the Japanese interference in Chinese diplomatic affairs, though it is our most earnest hope that a destructive conflict in Asia may be averted.

United States
Russia has no interest whatsoever in expanding her power in Asia. If Japan declares on the Russian Empire it will be an act of unwarranted aggression, one which we should hope that Mr. Roosevelt will be wise and humane enough not to support.

Australia
Russia will back Ottoman expenses in gold should it prove necessary.

Denmark hopes to stop anymore war and kindly asks the German and Chinese goverments to re-call any action taken against Indo-China. Also I ask Australia and Britian to support France in any action (Or China) in defensive nature since a war there will be a cause for concern for the more closer Pacific Islands (Like Singapore)>

To: Russia

We understand your disappointment at our change of heart but we thankyou for realising the great political pressure the government is under to once again reopen trade with all world nations. Prior to this decision the nation was on the brink of industrial revolt and the current government was losing power. This way we can supply the world (including our allies) whilst still maintaining order at home.

the Human cost of the Great War 1905 - March 1907
Casualties (generally, 40% are dead, 10% are permanently maimed and no longer able to serve, 10% are captured or missing, 40% return to duty within a year)

Coalition
Germany -- 1,450,000 plus 4 battleships, 20 protected cruisers, 1 armored cruiser, 20 destroyers, in addition, German Togo and Cameroon have been captured by the French, who also control most or all of Alsace Lorraine, while the Austrians have captured a small part of Bavaria

Russia -- 1,400,000 plus 1 battleships, 1 cruiser, 10 destroyers, 20 torpedo boats (although only 20% of casaulties return to duty for various reasons)

Turkey (Ottoman Empire) -- 600,000 plus 7 battleships, 3 protected cruisers, 15 destroyers (only 10% return to duty), has lost Crete

Rumania 150,000 (this army is no longer capable of offensive operations)
Macedonia -- 35,000
Greeks --- 100,000
Serbia -- 200,000 (this army is no longer capable of offensive operations)

League
Austria -- 1,500,000 plus 2 battleships, 1 protected cruiser, 10 destroyers, 10 torpedo boats, plus has lost Austrian Poland, one third of Hungary, Montenegro, Bosnia, Serbia,

Spain -- 150,000 (although ironically, this army has now improved as a lot of excess officers have become casualties or retired)

Italy -- 300,000 plus 2 battleships, 25 destroyers

France -- 650,000 plus 8 protected cruisers, 20 destroyeres, 10 torpedo boats,

In addition, the peacetime death rate in all countries has doubled for civilians for a number of different reasons (although this isn't really counted against you)

that works out to be 2.74 million dead by the way, more dead quicker than the Napoleonic Wars, the last time Europe tore itself apart.

With Spain needing a loan to help prop up its war effort, Italy did the best it could: it removed all trade barriers, taxes, etc. on Spanish goods and enacted small subsidies. In addition, new rifles, ammunition, etc. would be provided to Spain for free. A small sum of cash, enough to make a little difference, was also given to Spain.

As per communications with France and Austria-Hungary, the League issued statements to the effect that if the Poles joined forces with the League, they would be granted their own independent state composed of all German and Russian possessions in Poland, plus a part of Galicia. Arms and other items, though difficult to get into Poland, would be supplied as best they can. It is best, the statement says, for Poles to cross over into League controlled territory, where they will form independent Polish units for a Polish government-in-exile. (OOC: based upon telegrams with France and Austria-Hungary. If they decided to change their minds, this doesn't count)

Italy has also promised increased autonomy to the Sensussi (sp?) brotherhood in Libya, a nomadic group, if the group provides tribal warriors for the Italian army. The group, when still under Ottoman rule, had almost total independence of the Ottoman government, controlling a good portion of the eastern half of Libya.

Finally, in 1907 the Italian fleet will see the introduction of a plethora of new cruisers, destroyers, and dreadnoughts completed. The rush is on to find new crews, and it is hoped that these new ships (many of them technically foreign owned, but taken over with the outbreak of war) will help completely destroy the Ottoman and Russian navies.

The pompous twitterings the bloated Roman popinjay will not fool an honest Pole. Your honest Pole may look to the condition of his brothers in Ukraine, and compare that to how the prancing Italian jackanapes now lords it over the once-proud Slavs of Istria and Dalmatia.
Poland will not be freed at the hands of the Habsburgs--how much less at the grasping greedy hands of degenerate Latins?
Italians! An honest Pole would not suffer one to polish his boot!

(OOC: Istria and Dalmatia are not a part of Italy, I think. Unless Austria-Hungary just decides to _give_ me Istria and Dalmatia, our arrangement I believe was to move the border to the current modern-day border. In the telegrams with Austria-Hungary, the King spoke of how silly the demands of some of the Italian nationalists were (though he would demand Constantinople ;) ) by bringing up Istria and Dalmatia. Dalmatia and Istria, I believe, were former Venitian possessions. They were given to Italy, historically, after WWI. However, they were later given to Yugoslavia and therefore are not in modern day Italy.

The only lands in Italy that are not really Italian are those of South Tyrol, I believe. That province is German-speaking, and I plan on having them attempt to join with Austria sometime in the future. They already have more autonomy than other provinces.)

(OOC: Istria and Dalmatia are not a part of Italy, I think. Unless Austria-Hungary just decides to _give_ me Istria and Dalmatia, our arrangement I believe was to move the border to the current modern-day border. In the telegrams with Austria-Hungary, the King spoke of how silly the demands of some of the Italian nationalists were (though he would demand Constantinople ;) ) by bringing up Istria and Dalmatia. Dalmatia and Istria, I believe, were former Venitian possessions. They were given to Italy, historically, after WWI. However, they were later given to Yugoslavia and therefore are not in modern day Italy.

The only lands in Italy that are not really Italian are those of South Tyrol, I believe. That province is German-speaking, and I plan on having them attempt to join with Austria sometime in the future. They already have more autonomy than other provinces.)
I was under the impression that the very reason for the invasion of Montenegro was that Austria no longer had access to the Adriatic, which would not have been the case had Istria and Dalmatia been retained in Habsburg possession. If the two of you can clarify this, I'll just edit the previous post to say "Trieste and Gorizia," instead, and delete this one.

OOC: I was under the impression that the Turks in Libya were fighting guerilla tactics, not conventional warfare.

Damn it all.

IC: (Quick German views)

Britain: The Kaiser is very displeased with his fellow Teutonics' view of "alliance." While Germany can understand not wanting to throw her nation into war, such blatand disregard for her ally's problems is disturbing.

However, these matters can be dealt with. The Kaiser requests an audience with the British Parilament to discuss the matters at hand.

Italy: Such simpleminded peoples as yourselves can not understand the ways of politics. It is understood that the great majority of the new "art" has come from Italy and Germany believes that is what the Italians should stay in. If the Italians had stayed with what they do best, such a massive war would never had happened.

Meddleling with the firey bowl of Politics seems to have been something that is too much for the Italians to understand, as they believe that the trustworthy Pole is under oppression! For God's sakes, Prussia is a part of traditional Poland and they are the ones who rule Germany! Such is said that Italians should return to their painting and leave other matters to more mature nations.

Russia: Command of the troops in the Sudenland will be handed over to a joint Russian/German command. We are grateful of our allies' support in this war.

China: While Germany supports China's claim to IndoChina, we believe that now is indeed not the time to strike.

US: Germany, as was shown in the withdrawl of Venezuela and the Pacific, has no quarrel with the United States. We believe that unless the United States is attacked, it would be profitable and morally just for the US to stay out of such a ruthless war.

Germany has also begun to dispatch all of the Reserves and even some of the Landwehr. Most of the forces are sent to the Western Front with some headed to the Danube Front.

ooc
Although that was the Turkish plan, it was not the Italian and French plan for them to do so, and they had the forces to pull off the destruction of the Turkish Army. Along with the ruthlessly arid terrain of that part of the Sahara (we are talking the same area that historically Rommel spent nearly 2 years running around in, and supply is THE critical factor here). Basically, the Turks had to surrender or die of thirst once the French and Italians landed between them and the Egytian border.

Meanwhile

March April 1907
The Lull Before the Storm
The League and Coalition are both preparing for major offensives, on several different fronts, both at sea and on land. The Germans, French, and Italians are now using Blimps and Dirigibles for scouting deep inside the lines of their enemies, and are experimenting with arming their airships with bombs. At sea, the French and Germans have concentrated their fleets at Cherbourg and Keil, while light forces still routinely duel in the English Channel and southern part of the North Sea. The English Channel is effectively plugged at either end until one fleet destroys the other.

In the Mediterranean, the Austrians and Italians are preparing for a major move, while the Russians and Turks stick close to the Dardenelles for now. Greece, suddenly tired of war, pulls all but a couple of divisions out of the Balkan Front and even those refuse to conduct offensive operations. Rumors of a seperate peace are detected in Athens.

The Russians have pulled all but a few cruisers and destroyers from the Pacific, and essentially the League has free access to the Pacific and Indian Oceans and from there all the way around the Cape of Good Hope to Gibraltar and Spain. Meanwhile, the Coalition depends on British and American shipping for its Pacific and Indian Ocean needs.

Для Бога, для Отечества, и для Славы нашего Народа, Первод, Богатыры, к Победе!


The massed soldiers shifted around uncomfortably. They had already witnessed, and perpetrated, horrors far in excess of any that men should be subjected to. Their noncoms were indulgent, as usual, having been through the same Hell themselves.

The orders came down for the troops to stand at attention. Reluctantly, eventually, they complied, and finally a shining figure appeared on the reviewing stand before them.

Hardened men they were, one and all, but ancient superstition and the habit of centuries hushed the crowd as the totem of their purpose stood before them in the flesh. As if Christ Himself had sprung out of the ground and walked among them . . .

Nikolai II Aleksandrovich Romanov, Emperor of All the Russias, stood before his tired, awestruck, and shell-shocked men and nearly wept. He was not a man of great sympathy by nature, nor reflective, but even he could be overwhelmed by the sacrifices these men had made for his cause, sacrifices so evident in their eyes. Yet still they loved him [OoC: Socialist and anarchist agitators exist in the Army, of course, but the vast majority of soldiers at this time remain loyal, if only by habit of thought]. That, too, he could see in their haunted, haunting eyes. He swallowed. Thought again of his divine purpose.

Then he began to speak.

"Soldiers of the Empire," he said, "hear me!

"I look upon you now, and I see not weary men but heroes! Never in the world’s age has another king been as well pleased with his warriors as I am with you this day. For you have fought and won victories immeasurable, and served the Motherland with your strength, your courage, your cunning, and your indomitable will, through hardships no man before you has endured, so that no man who comes after shall have to.

"We stand today upon the threshold of a glory that shall outlast Time! Our Sacred Mission, to liberate our downtrodden brothers from the Foreign Yoke forever, is nearing completion. Today shall see the end of our vocation in victory for the Almighty or the triumph of the Fiend.

"I know where you stand, my comrades. For I am with you."

The Tsar paused, gathering strength in his voice.

"I am with you!" he cried.

"For God, for the Fatherland, and for the Glory of our Race, forward, champions, to Victory!"

The spell was cast. His men were ready. The end of the work, one way or another, was now, finally, upon them.

OoC: The Tsar is personally overseeing the main Russian offensive this time. His cousin remains in actual command, but the Emperor himself has decided he must remain visible to his men.

OOC: VP, check my thread, I have a few more trade offers for you.

To:Russian Government
From:Ottoman General Staff

We thank your nation for the troops to support the Ottomans in their time of need. Also your nation will get the petroleum rights to our petrol industry. We hopes these extra troops can support our forces in the war against the foes of our empires.

To:Australia

We will pay in gold(Russian Gold) for the officers and artillery. Please send as you can.

Reply to the Ottoman Government:

We are glad that you have agreed to do bussiness with us and wish you good luck in your upcoming campaigns. The price for each battery of guns which we will be shipping monthly will be one hundred thousand British pounds worth of gold with shipping costs to be payed for by the recipient. A few skeleton crews will be sent to help train your men in using their new artillery pieces. We have a roster of approximatly 500 officers and NCO's of mixed rank who will be sent over as advisors to train and organize your forces. While these men will accompany there units to the front after providing training they are not to participate in combat operations. These mens salaries are to be paid by your government along with a payment according to rank to the Australian government for each man, in gold of course.

Again we are glad to do bussiness with the Ottoman Empire and would to say that if there are any other needs you have we would be more than happy to provide.

first... the Australians won't make a difference for the Spring and Summer, as things are already in motion and I am gaming out April - June tonight and tomorrow.

secondly, don't expect any changes requested to occur at this point before July either (I have to have some kind of cut off to make this work)

thirdly, battles will be posted as I game them out, which is more or less in order although some occur at essentially the same time. So everything should be up tomorrow evening.

The Battle of Szolnok / Tiszna River

On April 21, the Russians opened up the biggest battle of the war so far. After weeks of diversionary maneuvers along the Carpathians and the Balkan Front, they had managed to persuade the League armies that any offensive was possible, but the Austrian generals stubbornly stuck to their guns, and they had 200,000 men (15 divisions) defending the primary battle area when the Russians launched their attack with 1 million men (60 divisions) and nearly 4,000 guns (although only 20% were 105 caliber or bigger and only a few dozen were siege guns).

The battle opened up with a massive 12 hour bombardment beginning at dawn. Light guns attacked the bulk of the front, but in the center, across from the city of Szolnok, dozens of rail and siege guns and hundreds of 150 mm and bigger pieces pounded the Austrian defenses. As night fell, the Austrians were hunkered down in their trenches convinced that the bombardment would continue all night.

Instead however, as the moon slipped below the horizon and a deeper darkness set in a few hours after dusk, the Russians moved forward by battalions and regiments across a 60 mile front, each group of soldiers carrying assault boats. In all, 20 divisions were the assault wave, each with 12 assault battalions and each battalion with 72 small assault boats of wood and canvas. As the shelling continued on the far bank, the assault waves began to cross.

Although far from perfect, as many battalions were delayed or got lost in the darkness and set off after the artillery let off, many more battalions managed to set off across the river before the artillery let up. It was the biggest river assault in history. It was also about to be the bloodiest.

Sharp eyed Austrian defenders spotted the waves and although the shelling had been heavy and most telephone wires had been cut, sufficient survived to enable artillery support to be called, while flares set off even more. A thunderous barrage erupted as 1,000 Austrian guns began to open fire on the river, and machine gunners inflicted dreadful execution on the assault teams that were delayed.

It was a horrible night, tens of thousands of Russian infantry were cut down in the river where most drowned. But several bridgeheads were established and by dawn pedestrian bridges were being set up for the next waves, while reserves were moved up to the points were a break in had occurred.

The fighting along the river continued for a week. Russian artillery reduced the city of Szolnok to heaps of rubble, while Russian and Austrian artillery continued to slaughter tens of thousands of men each day. But the overwhelming Russian numbers finally managed to push into the city of Szolnok and take the ruins, shattering the Austrian front.

However, the Austrians hadn’t been idle. Reserves were scrapped together and the other League armies spread themselves a little thinner to cover the line elsewhere. A desperate counterattack was launched, and the 50 mile bridgehead at Szolnok became over the next 8 weeks a hell on Earth. By the end of June, over 500,000 Russians and 250,000 Austrians had become casualties, but the Austrians still held. For now.

http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~legneref/landscap/europe/hungary/doc/hungary1.map.gif

The Ottoman General Staff send out orders for the Ottoman Units in the Hungary to aid the Russians in their attack against Austrians. They had least well over 100,000 troops to support their allies.

GB, I'm curious, how are you determining the outcomes of the battles? Are you using a computer program, a board game (like Risk), or what? :confused:

GB, I'm curious, how are you determining the outcomes of the battles? Are you using a computer program, a board game (like Risk), or what? :confused:

computer game called the Operational Art of War, which allows me to build my own scenarios for any war 1900 - 2005. Great War era battles are being played out on a brigade/divisional scale, 20 miles per hex, 1 week turns, weather rules in force, and supply rules. Some of these battles have been fought before. This is for land battles. Naval battles are being fought using a home tweaked variant of the old board game the War at Sea (Avalon Hill, 1977), using dice (which is more satisfying)

The Fury in the West: Moselle River Valley and Metz
http://www.abmc.gov/images/europer.jpg


Both the French and Germans were feverishly preparing for an offensive, and as it turns out, both plan to strike in the exact same place. As it happens, the French are ready to strike first and they do on May 12. The French attack with their 2nd and 4th Armies, 40 divisions with 1200 divisional and 500 army and corps guns. They open up with a bombardment that lasts for three straight days, converting the land into a moonscape of craters, cutting communications wires and bringing German plans to a halt. The Germans, who had massed their troops in preparation for their own offensive suffer far heavier losses than they expected.

On May 19, the French go over the top with 20 divisions (10 each from the 2nd and 4th Armies) charging across the broken landscape. This is when the failure of the bombardment becomes evident. The wire mostly survived the shellfire, while nearly all of the German dugouts did. Although the initial barrage caught many German troops in communications trenches, many more were dug in deep and they were intensely anger after the intense shelling. A firestorm of machine gun and rifle fire, and a hurricane of German artillery swept across the line.

The first day cost the French nearly 60,000 dead in an hour. But the fighting continued because in spots, they penetrated the German line. For a month the French offensive continued until the French assault armies were too burned out to continue. The French managed to penetrate only a mile deep into German territory across the entire 60 mile front. But the cost was horrific. All 40 French divisions were burned out, with nearly 400,000 casualties suffered. The Germans suffered too, with 35 divisions burned out wrecks and 350,000 casualties of their own.

But now they launched their attack. They picked the very same battlefield and they too hammered away for days with artillery, while trying out bombing runs with a dozen Zeppelins at French rail yards behind the front (although little damage is inflicted). By the end of June, they had managed to regain all of the ground lost and penetrated a mile into the French lines, and forced the French to commit their 6th Army and 7th Army, with their 30 relatively fresh divisions. However at this point 50 German and 50 French divisions were burned out wrecks and the offensive finally collapsed from exhaustion.

Total French and German casualties are essentially even, at 450,000 each, and only the timely commitment of reserves keeps the front of either army holding together.

Sacre Bleu! O.O

OOC: I'd like to personally thank Galveston Bay for putting all this time and effort into this. Without him this would be nothing. Thank you very much!

Luckily, the Germans are worse off having taken over a million casualties last year. They've got to be stretched thin...

computer game called the Operational Art of War, which allows me to build my own scenarios for any war 1900 - 2005. Great War era battles are being played out on a brigade/divisional scale, 20 miles per hex, 1 week turns, weather rules in force, and supply rules. Some of these battles have been fought before. This is for land battles. Naval battles are being fought using a home tweaked variant of the old board game the War at Sea (Avalon Hill, 1977), using dice (which is more satisfying)

Awesome! I'd like to use this Operational Art of War game to try to help develop my military strategy skills for another RP. I'm playing Sharina as a modernized China preparing to annex multiple NPC nations in Asia, like Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and even India.

Keep in mind, this would be in the 1970's - 2000's, though.

Me too!

Battle of Cap Griz – Nez (Dover Strait)
Admiral Tirpitz, recovered from his wounds off Trafalgar is determined to get revenge and the recent reopening of trade between France and England gives him even more impetious. The blockade isn’t working, mostly because its too costly to try to run cruisers and destroyers through the English Channel, and to time consuming to go through the Irish Sea or the Western Approaches.

He decides to take the combined German/Russian battefleet into the Channel itself, and destroy by gunfire the port facilities at Dunkirk, Calais, Le Havre and Cherbourg, and along the way engage and destroy the French battle fleet once and for all.

Although its risky, with the confined waters, he is confident his 26 German and 5 Russian battleships, along with 10 (2 Russian) armored cruisers, 10 Russian destroyers and 50 torpedo boats will be enough to carry through the mission. (Russian fleet commanded by Admiral Rozhestvensky).

Meanwhile, Admiral de Labeyrere, fully aware of the size advantage the Germans and Russians have, still wants to bleed them without risky decisive engagement. He has 18 battleships, including several brought out of reserve, and 10 armored cruisers, 40 destroyers and 40 torpedo boats, plus 5 submarines and 20 minelayers. He also has spies aboard Dutch, Danish, English and Belgian fishing boats working the Dogger Bank, as well as the inshore waters off the Hook of Holland, and has plenty of warning time when the Germans sortie.

On the morning of June 2 the German and Russian fleet left Bremerhaven and began steaming west into the North Sea. They were immediately spotted, and a wireless report flashed to the French command.

http://www.sea007.com/Info_WorldSea/images/Atlantic-EnglishChannel.gif

Moving west and then south at 12 knots, the Coalition fleet steamed all through the day and that night through the North Sea, purposefully slowing to avoid entering the Dover Straits during darkness. Meanwhile, the French prepared for battle and entered the English Channel and waited for dawn off the port of Le Havre.

At dawn the Coalition entered the narrow waters off Calais and immediately came under attack. Waiting were 5 submarines and a number of mines had been laid, while torpedo boats waited close inshore. Mines heavily damage the older battleships Wilhem and Weissenburg, and a pair of mine explosions rips the bottom out of the Hildebrand, which sinks quickly. Torpedoes from the submarines are less effective, and are fired from too far away and fail to score. Out of ammunition, the small submarines are forced to retire for Le Havre. Meanwhile, German and French torpedo boats fight it out while Coalition battleships duel with French coastal guns at Dunkerque and Calais. The torpedo boats, wary of approaching to close to the big battleships or coastal batteries and their powerful guns, fail to inflict much damage on one another, with only 10 French and 3 German torpedo boats suffering damage. However, the German torpedo boats are now out of torpedoes, and it is a long way home to rearm, while the French boats simply retire to Cherbourg to rearm, confident that they will have another try.

The fire between the fleet and land batteries is heavy, but the French are massively outgunned, and although they manage to damage the battleships Wirth and Hagan, one by one the French guns are destroyed. Soon the Coalition ships are firing into the harbors and several merchant ships are destroyed and both ports suffer heavy damage to facilities.

Satisfied, Tirpitz orders the fleet to continue to the next target. However he orders the 4 damaged battleships to retire, escorted by a torpedo squadron, confident he still outnumbers the French. Behind him he leaves the ports of Dunkerque and Calais in wreckage, and vast pillars of smoke can easily be seen in Dover by throngs of English civilians who watched the bombardment with unease.

However, an entire day was taken up by the bombardment, and it was now nightfall. The French, who had been waiting for this moment, ordered their destroyers to launch a torpedo attack, with the knowledge that the heavy Coalition ships were be confined to relatively tight waters, while their smaller shallower draft destroyers would have freedom to maneuver. The Germans weren’t defenseless though, having spent many hours of training for night battles, but the Russians had not had that training, and their portion of the fleet trailed astern. Steaming north, sticking to shallow water, the French destroyers managed to sweep around the Coalition fleet and came at it from the rear even as the French battleships closed in on the front of the fleet. Just a couple hours after dusk, two actions began, with the French and German battleships dueling a few miles southeast of Cap Gris-Nez, while the French destroyers and Russian battleship, cruiser and destroyer force fought a melee a few miles northeast of Cap Gris-Nez.

In the rear, the Russians and French pound each other, with gunfire wrecking 8 French destroyers and damaging 3 others, while gunfire sinks 5 Russian destroyers and damages 2. However torpedoes manage to heavily damage the Russian battleships Orel and a lucky hit causes the magazines of the battleship Suvaroff to detonate, utterly destroying that ship and Admiral Rozhestvensky.

Meanwhile, the German and French battleships steamed into a head on collision which swiftly merged into a melee. Heavy and medium caliber shells smashed into ships at nearly point blank range, barely 5,000 yards or less, and soon the sea was littered with burning ships. Six German and six French ships are blasted into sinking wrecks or simply blow up as their magazines are hit. Another six German and six French ships suffer hits as well. Among the dead is Tirpitz who is killed when the bridge of the Pommerin is smothered by 10 inch shells, and his death only preceeds that of his flagship by a few minutes. The two fleets manage to stagger apart, and Admiral Von Pohl, the senior surviving Coalition commander orders his 10 cruisers to launch a desperate torpedo attack. The underarmored cruisers are enveloped in shell splashes themselves and 3 of the German cruisers go down, but they manage to launch their torpedoes, and score a number of hits, including hits that cause the Republique, with Admiral de Labeyrere aboard, to explode, and sink another battleship as well.
His fleet heavily damaged, Admiral Von Pohl orders a retirement, as he is far from home and out of torpedoes and unsure of the situation in his rear. Meanwhile, the French battleships stagger off for Cherbourg, only 2 remaining undamaged and only 3 others battleworthy.

But Admiral de Lattre, commander of the French armored cruisers wasn’t done though. He ordered a charge at the German cruisers even as they broke off, and another melee erupted at close range. The French cruisers still had their torpedoes though, and they inflicted terrible damage, sinking all 7 German ships while losing only one armored cruiser of his own sunk, and 5 more damaged.

As dawn rose, the English and French shore dwellers were met with the horrible sight of bodies, wreckage and oil drifting ashore from the Solent to Dover and from Calais to Le Havre.

The Germans retreated back up the English Channel and then home through the North Sea to Bremerhaven, while the French fleet retired to Cherbourg. Hundreds of fishing boats, small craft and English warships swept the Channel looking for survivors, and retrieving the dead. The fiercest naval battle of the war had ended.

A draw.

French losses:
Sunk: 8 Battleships, 1 armored cruiser, 8 destroyers
Damaged: 9 Battleships, 4 Armored cruisers, 5 destroyers, 10 torpedo boats
Casualties: 12,000 men killed or missing, 8,000 wounded
Immediately available for action: 1 Battleship, 3 armored cruisers, 27 destroyers, 30 torpedo boats, 5 submarines
Dunkerque and Calais are closed for three months for repairs to port facilities, plus 23,000 civilians killed, 79,000 civilians injured

German losses:
Sunk: 7 battleships, 10 armored cruisers,
Damaged: 11 battleships, 3 torpedo boats
Casualties: 9,000 killed or missing, 11,000 wounded
Immediately available for action: 7 battleships, 47 torpedo boats

Russian losses
Sunk: 1 battleship, 5 destroyers
Damaged: 1 battleship, 2 destroyers
Casualties: 2,000 killed or missing, 1,000 wounded
Immediately available for action: 3 battleships, 3 destroyers

General Message to all World Leaders

So, this is how Germany fights? By attacking civilians who could not have caused the least harm to them? The German's are murders and barbarians! They have killed thousands of civilians and left many others homeless! France calls upon the world to condemn this barbarity!

End Message

France has ordered a day of mourning for all those killed in the Fleet Action and especially Admiral de Labeyrere who bravely led his outnumbered fleet to a strategic victory over the Germans. With the majority of their fleet sunk or damaged, they will no longer pose a threat to France. All ships are currently under repair.

The French government would also ask that any French sailors recovered by a neutral nation be returned to France.

secret IC
The US government offers France the sale of 2 Illinois class and 3 Maine class battleships in exchange for French Polynesia (outright transfer of territory) or Martinique and Guadalupe (Caribbean)

Concerned about the possibility of a German victory and wanting to see the Germans weakened as much as possible, Roosevelt brings the French Ambassador into his office and makes the offer personally. No public announcement is made.

The fact that the US Navy has 3 dreadnoughts and 2 battlecruisers nearly completed, another dreadnought and 2 more battlecruisers under construction, and several dreadnoughts planned makes the decision easy.

Secret IC:

The French ambassador, after a swift exchange of coded telegrams, is prepared to accept the offer of French Polynesia, provided the French are allowed to refuel there.

Secret IC:

The French ambassador, after a swift exchange of coded telegrams, is prepared to accept the offer of French Polynesia, provided the French are allowed to refuel there.

ooc
basically what happens is that the US accepts the offer, the Navy declares the 5 battleships surplus and sells them for a nominal fee for scrap to a French company, where they are then taken to Guadulupe with Navy crews for delivery and left there. Your crews come in by steamer, and take over the ships, complete with a load of surplus ammunition, coal and spare parts.

Later on, the US government announces that it has purchased French Polynesia from France for several million dollars which the French then used to purchase surplus US warships

As the US government already has a garrison in Tahiti, and a small squadron of warships, its a simple matter to hire the French civil government workers on contract until US civil government workers arrive

OOC: Great.

IC: As soon as the crews arrive, the battleships are ordered to steam for Erope and given new names. One of them is christened the Roosevelt in honor of the American president.

Russia is formally permitting Greece to withdraw from active operations against the League, providing that Athens promises to not give aid or comfort to Russia's enemies.

OOC: Great.

IC: As soon as the crews arrive, the battleships are ordered to steam for Erope and given new names. One of them is christened the Roosevelt in honor of the American president.

don't expect them to appear before sometime in the fall of 1907 by the way, these things take time.

OOC: I wasn't expecting them to arrive anytime soon. I'm just glad to have them.

IC:

In Tahiti the French garrison solomenly brings down the French flag and offer a salute as the American one is raised. They shake hands with their American counterpats and then board transports bound for Indochina nad then Europe. The departing gunships fire a salute as they leave the harbor.

France Announces Blockade of German Ports
The government of France has announced a blockade of German-owned ports. All ships carrying War Material to Germany will have their cargos impounded and be sent to France. Once the cargo is offloaded here the frieghters will be released. Foodstuffs and other materials vital for the civilians will be allowed through.

France Creates New Medal
France has created a new naval medal, which can be awarded to anyone enlisted in th French Navy. It is the Labeyrere Cross, awarded for actions above and beyond the call of duty or extreme bravery in the face of the enemy/peril.

OOC: Currently this is very much a paper blockade, although two destroyer squadrons have been deployed in the North Sea.

Spain is appauled at the German act of barbarity and offers the use of the Spanish Navy to help the French until their ships are completed or others arrive. We also offer the use of 50,000 men on the Alsasce-Loraine Front includeing 100 Arillery pieces.

IC:
Austria-Hungary fully promotes the freedom of the Polish people from the grasp of Russian tyranny so much so that it is willing to sacrifice its own territory and its own soldiers if necessary. It also calls for the complete independence of the Ukraine and of Lithuania if any dialogue with Russia is to be established.

ooc note:
Austria-Hungary is adopting a ten-state, federal based government but keeping the monarchy. You can find the full text here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9511571&postcount=33)

Spain is appauled at the German act of barbarity and offers the use of the Spanish Navy to help the French until their ships are completed or others arrive. We also offer the use of 50,000 men on the Alsasce-Loraine Front includeing 100 Arillery pieces.

The government of France accepts Spain's offer, but believes that the Germans will be unable to launch any major naval operations anytime soon.

Ottoman Update on the Fronts as of May 1908

The Sultan has appoint General Ismail Enver Pasha aka Enver Pasha has appoint to handle rebuilding and reorganize the Ottoman Officer core, in Turkey. He has been order to manger the defense of the homefront. Also a wartime hero from the Balkan Front, General Mustafa Kemal Pasha has been assign to the Middle Eastern Regions of the empire. He has standing orders to crushing the rebelllions in Arabia and Persia. Also he is order to build up the Ottoman Forces in the region, so that they counter any French or Italian Attack to the region.

Also the Sultan has order another 100,000 men to be draft into the army cores( they are mainly loyalist Arabs, Turks, loyalist Persians and Kurds.). These troops will be send to the Syria to support Ottoman army cores in the region.

To: Paris, France
From: Brussels, Belgium

Dear Sir(s):

Although we do understand and respect your decision to place a naval blockade on the German Empire, the Kingdom of Belgium simply cannot comply. For the past many decades, a large portion of both Government and Private revenue has been derived from the immense trade we conduct in Germany and the siezure of our ships bound for Germany would put an even greater strain on the Belgian Economy.

Thus, unless the French government is willing to pay full compensation to the Belgian Government and/or Belgian Private Entitey effected by the siezure of Belgian ships, I fear that we will be forced into further supporting the German Riech.

We hope you fully understand our position in this matter and we must rienforce the fact that we hope to still maintain warm relations with your government from now into the far future.

Signed,

Dr. Jean Le Clerqe
Foriegn Minister
The Kingdom of Belgium

To: Paris, France
From: Brussels, Belgium

Dear Sir(s):

Although we do understand and respect your decision to place a naval blockade on the German Empire, the Kingdom of Belgium simply cannot comply. For the past many decades, a large portion of both Government and Private revenue has been derived from the immense trade we conduct in Germany and the siezure of our ships bound for Germany would put an even greater strain on the Belgian Economy.

Thus, unless the French government is willing to pay full compensation to the Belgian Government and/or Belgian Private Entitey effected by the siezure of Belgian ships, I fear that we will be forced into further supporting the German Riech.

We hope you fully understand our position in this matter and we must rienforce the fact that we hope to still maintain warm relations with your government from now into the far future.

Signed,

Dr. Jean Le Clerqe
Foriegn Minister
The Kingdom of Belgium



To Dr. Jean Le Clerqu
We understand your situation, seeing as you are a small, nuetral nation standing in between our two warring nations. We are willing to pay the Belguim government and private entities for all material we confisticate bound for Germany. We will make this exception for you because of your precarious position and the longstanding relationship between our two countries.

Sincerely,

Jacques Castet
Prime Minister
The Republic of France

June - July 1907
The Combined League Fleet steams east past the southern coast of Crete. As it cleared the eastern point, the Austrian fleet, several battleships, a number of cruisers and dozens of destroyers turned north into the Aegean and steamed north toward the Dardenelles.

Meanwhile, the Italian fleet, also with battleships, cruisers and destroyers and escorting several dozen other ships, steamed east and south toward the coast of Lebanon.

With orders to avoid action, the Russians kept an eye on the Austrians but for several weeks both sides avoided action, the Russians staying in the Sea of Marmara, and the Austrians steaming outside of the Dardenelles.

Meanwhile, the several Turkish cruisers and destroyers found themselves in grave danger and in danger of being pinned against the Levantine coast. Most managed to escape, but a pair of destroyers was blasted to wreckage by a pair of Italian cruisers of the entrance of Beriut.

The Italian fleet steamed offshore while the first waves of Italian marines were towed ashore by tugs and steam launches pulling boats of all sort. There, on the beaches just outside of Beriut, they rushed ashore. The Turks, with only a weak corps of reservists holding the city, had almost no beach defenses and practically no harbor defenses. Within a couple of days, more Italians were ashore, elite Alpini and Carabarini regiments, and they pushed the few Turkish troops who stood (mostly local Syrians and Palestinians) out of the area with some naval gunfire support.

Meanwhile, Arab Rebels streamed in from the hinterland and linked up with the Italians. The Italians had a bridgehead into the heart of Turkish Levant, and a first class port.

More importantly, they were in easy striking distance of the principal supply route providing access to Turkish garrisons in Palestine and the eastern coast of Arabia to their homeland. If cut, those garrisons would be as isolated from Turkey as if they were on the moon.

The Battle of Szolnok / Tiszna River

On April 21, the Russians opened up the biggest battle of the war so far.

The fighting along the river continued for a week. Russian artillery reduced the city of Szolnok to heaps of rubble, while Russian and Austrian artillery continued to slaughter tens of thousands of men each day. But the overwhelming Russian numbers finally managed to push into the city of Szolnok and take the ruins, shattering the Austrian front.

However, the Austrians hadn’t been idle. Reserves were scrapped together and the other League armies spread themselves a little thinner to cover the line elsewhere. A desperate counterattack was launched, and the 50 mile bridgehead at Szolnok became over the next 8 weeks a hell on Earth. By the end of June, over 500,000 Russians and 250,000 Austrians had become casualties, but the Austrians still held. For now.

http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~legneref/landscap/europe/hungary/doc/hungary1.map.gif

June - July
The fighting continued, and more Russian reserves were commited, and gradually, they began to clear the city and push their way deeper into Austrian territory. After 3 weeks, the Austrian lines finally grew too thin and they broke.

With no other choice, the Austrian commanders ordered a full retreat. The entire front had become untenable, and with it, the Carpathian front in Slovakia had too. Over 60 Austrian divisions were in retreat, heading toward the Danube River in Hungary and a stand at Budapest, while other parts of the army retreated to the border between the Czech and Slovak areas to tie in with the new line. Meanwhile, the League troops in the Balkans were forced to give up all territory south of the Danube except for a line running along the Slovenian border to the Adriatic.

To stave off a route, the Austrians committed their cavalry reserves, 15 divisions in all, and they attacked again and again the advancing Russian and Turkish forces advancing in Hungarian plain, desperate to slow them down.

Another 50,000 Austrians became casualties, along with 40,000 Russians and 10,000 Turks, but the Austrians acheived their goal. By the time the Russian and other Coalition forces reached the new League lines they found the enemy had once again dug in for a stand. Territory had been gained, in huge amounts, but the Austrians still remained.

Слава Бога.

the horrific casualties over the last couple of years forces the belligerents to reorganize their armies..

First are the French, who shrink divisions from 12 battalions of infantry and an authorized strength of 18,000 to 9 battalions of infantry, plus a machine gun battalion and 12,000 men. This allows them to raise additional units, and fill out most of their other divisions as well, and they also categorize their divisions into static and assault units. The Austrians, even more hard pressed follow suit. The number of machine guns in a division now is 10 times what is was prewar, and now all corp level guns are 150 mm or bigger, while half of divisional guns are 105 mm. Soon the Generals in the other armies are urging similiar adjustments as they notice that the new division has the same or more firepower of the old division, but with a massive savings in personnel.

The French also pull back from the battered front they still hold to a line of fortifications they had prudently built all through the course of the last 6 months named the Charlemagne Line. This line, with its thick concrete strongpoints, deep dugouts, and belts of thick barbed wire, is an ideal place to wait for any German offensive, and it protects the land of Alsace and Lorraine seized so far. It also frees up considerable numbers of French divisions, who are able to move to the rear to rebuild for campaigns to come.

Response to the Message of Franz Ferdinand

With regard to "Lithuania," as His Imperial and Apostolic Majesty so names the General Government of Vilna, there is not a single Lithuanian in Russia's prison system who is not guilty of grave disloyalty to his or her natural sovereign. We should think that Franz Ferdinand, as a fellow Emperor, would understand the seriousness of that. It is beyond all comprehension that a man who wages war against a nation whose only crime was to give birth to his alleged assassin should say that proven insurrectionists ought to be appeased, at least apparently so long as their treason was committed against Romanovs rather than Habsburgs. Such duplicity is odious to God, and for that His Imperial and Apostolic Majesty must one day answer. But most importantly, the Lithuanian rebellion was of its nature an internal matter of no proper concern to any foreign potentate, quite unlike the gross violation of Montenegrin sovereignty which precipated the present conflict, and the repugnant and unjustifiable subjugation of Bosnia-Herzegovina which preceded it.

As for Ukraine, His Imperial and Apostolic Majesty seems strangely ignorant that the Dominion thereof is well-pleased by the continuation of its association with the All-Russian Imperial Commonwealth, and has been accorded rights and privileges within the framework of the Basic Law that provide for the full advantages of independence without the risks. His Imperial and Apostolic Majesty could as well insist that Britain "give up" her self-governing Dominions of Canada or Australia.

In Poland, His Imperial and Apostolic Majesty is clearly not aware that Russian arms have liberated Poland some time since, and her status within the All-Russian Imperial Commonwealth is nearly equal in privileges and rights to that of Ukraine, with the legal framework in place for the expansions thereof should the Poles themselves will it.

All, indeed, is as we have said. That we have come to free our people, and enslave none. We have liberated the people of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina with no expectation of reward but in Heaven. We shall do the same in Bohemia, Slovakia, and Slovenia. And more than that, we have fought on behalf of the Vlachs of Transylvania, who carry no ties of kinship to the Slavs but who love freedom no less fiercely.

What have the Habsburgs wrought? Italians and Spaniards spilling the blood of better men on soil far distant from their own native lands, only to prolong Wien's power no matter the cost. Remember, Russia did not ask great Germany to enter the war. Even of the Turks we only sought the passage of the Straits. We did not seek for mercenary help from among the most decadent haunts of the Mediterranean.

If any "dialogue" is to be established between Wien and Sankt-Peterburg (more in the former's interest now than the latter's), know first that we will not suffer to be lectured on liberty by a lunatic.

His Imperial Majesty by the Grace of God, Nikolai II Aleksandrovich Romanov, Emperor of All the Russias, King of Ukraine, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Finland, and of other lands

In France, a number of ethnic Poles who had been captured while serving in the German and Russian Imperial armies become the founding members of the Free Polish Army. Only a brigade at the moment, hopes exist that it will expand. However as it is becoming less hopeful that Austria will survive, few Poles are willing to face the possibility of execution for treason post war if Austria collapses. At best, with defeat, they are looking at permanent exile.

Nevertheless, some volunteer anyway.

Meanwhile, the Austrians find that ethnic Slavic units cannot be considered reliable when facing the Russians. They are forced to assign those units to line of communications duties or send them to fight the Germans, who most do not view as liberators no matter the rhetoric. However, some of the ethnic German units are also becoming unreliable when facing the Germans, they are sent to fight the Turks, or southern Slavs.

OOC: Gotta go to school but wanted to throw some propaganda out.

IC: Germany condemns France for starting the 9th Crusade. Germany thinks Muslims should band and kick out the Crusaders before they make a permanent spot of the Holy Lnad.

The French Government has no idea what the Kaiser is babbling on about. We have already promised autonomy to the Arabs.

Allah be praised! The Italians have come to the assistance of the Arab People!

The war was heating up with the Italian landings at Beriut. Australia didn't awant this war to end now, and the Italian landings threatened to knock the Ottoman Empire out of the war. That couldn't be alowed to happen, but Austrlia couldn't physically fight for the Turks. Other things could be done to help though and a shipment of 200 free machine guns was sent as quickly as possible to the Ottoman forces that would be fighting off the invasion. Many of the Australian advisors that had been training up the Turkish army the past few went down to help advise the Turkish army. They were specifically told not to participate in battle but they would help the Turks keep things running smoothily, especialy the artillery crews that had been sent. They would help the Turks position and target there guns, though they wouldn't fire them.

Turkey had also asked for Naval "advisors" and as Australia wasn't in much danger of going to war at the moment dozens of naval officers and NCO's were dispatched with the same deal as their army counterparts to help prepare new Turkish crews.

Back in Australia the textile industry was getting off its feet taking advantage of Australia's abundance of wool, leather and other cloth making materials. Now instead of just shipping leatehr and wool to the Russians and others already made uniforms and boots are being shipped at greater profit. The numbers are still small but it was a start and it was bringing more money and gold to Australia.

August - September 1907
French cruisers and gunboats operating out of Djibiouti and French Pondicherry (India) close off Turkish access to the Persian Gulf by blockading Basra. This forces Australian and South African mercenaries to either land at Kuwait (British territory) or Turkish controlled Arabia and walk several hundred miles to the nearest railhead or river barge, or come in through Egypt and take a British steamer to Constantinople or Smyrna.

Meanwhile, the Italians are blockading Turkish and Russian acces to the Mediterrean with ease as they control Crete and Beriut, and the blockade goes into effect. British and American shipping is firmly but politely inspected and contraband being transported results in ships being impounded under Prize rules. With plenty of other customers to deal with, the trade of war materials to Turkey and Russia via this route dries up.

The Russians are aware of the seriousness of this, and begin training up in the Black Sea, preparing for another round with the League Navies.

A French Army arrives in Beruit, the 10th, consisting of Algerian, Tunisian and Senegalese Colonial divisions, along with the bulk of the Legion Estranger and some Moroccan tribal mercenaries. Along with the Italian force that remains (3 divisions, the rest returned home) this gives the League a force of 10 first rate divisions and they have secured not only Beriut, but also Sidon and Tyre (which are held by 6 divisions, 2 divisions and 2 divisions each) while Arab irregulars control the strip of territory linking them together and raid Turkish garrisons further inland. These raids frequently cut the railroad connecting Turkey to its garrisons in Arabia.

The logistics of the situation are such that although Turkey is closer than France and Italy to Lebanon geographically, the small railroad and rough or desert terrain makes the League forces closer logistically with their advantage of sea transport. Only able to support 20 divisions, including the divisions holding down Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, and Amman (all vital locations), plus smaller garrisons elsewhere, the Turks find themselves only able to really field 7 divisions in Lebanon to deal with the League, putting them at a disadvantage. With neither side having sufficient forces to really launch a major offensive, the war here consists of raids between Arabs supported by the League, and Arabs supported by the Turks and occasional special units brought in by both sides.

But the bulk of the Turkish Army now finds itself holding down the Empire and unavailable for offensive operations.

http://www.the-lebanon.com/lebanon_country/map/lebanon.gif

Western Front July 1907
Having beaten themselves bloody, the French and Germans pause and dig in. The French have the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 8th Armies, with 75 infantry divisions and nearly 2 million troops holding their positions, and the Germans have their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Armies with 72 divisions and nearly 2 million troops holding their positions. At sea, the German blockade of France is completely broken, while the French blockade of Germany remains only a mild annoyance, as most ships simply go to Denmark, Holland or Belgium and transship their cargos their.

Although the French have taken most of Alsace Lorraine, further offensives by either side promise to be extremely costly.

Central Front July 1907
The front remains static in Tyrolia, where the Italian 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Armies are dug in with 36 divisions and 900,000 men in the mountain passes, facing the German 7th and 8th Armies (24 divisions, 600,000 men). In the Balkans, although the Greeks have essentially pulled out of the war, the Serbs still have 12 divisions (200,000 men), the Macedonians have 4 divisions (60,000 men), the Russians have their 5th and 8th Armies (40 divisions, 1 million men) facing the Italian 6th, 7th and 9th Armies (30 divisions, 800,000 men), the Spanish 1st and 2nd Armies (300,000 men). The rugged terrain promises to make any further offensives in these fronts even more costly than those in the West.

In the Danube Valley on the border of Germany and Austria, the relatively open terrain offers the possibility of more movement. Here the Germans have their 9th, 10th and 11th Armies, with 60 divisions and a million men facing the Italian 12th Army (9 divisions, 250,000 men), French 9th Army (6 divisions, 100,000 men), and Austrian 5th and 6th Armies (36 divisions, 400,000 men). In the Carpathians, the Austrians still hold with their 1st and 2nd Armies, with 40 divisions and 1 million men, facing the Russians with their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Armies (80 divisions,2 million men) and German 14th and 18th Armies (30 divisions, 800,000 men). Here again the rugged terrain makes further offensive efforts certain to be costly.

But it is Central Hungary were the war may very well be decided. The Austrians have their 3rd and 4th Armies, heavily battered, but with 50 divisions, and all of their remaining best troops. In reserve behind them, the French 1st and 5th Armies have arrived, with 30 divisions of good French troops as well. However, the Russians have their 6th, 7th, 9th and 10th Armies (100 divisions), the Turks have their 1st and 2nd Armies (30 divisions) and the Rumanians have their army (12 divisions). Except for the Danube River, and the fortified city of Pest (the eastern side of Budapest), the terrain is open and made to order for war.

As soon as the Coalition is ready to strike.

Colonel Summer looked down at the maps one more time. One of the hundreds of officers and NCO's sent to train up the Turkish army months ago he was now stationed in Lebanon. He didn't mind the heat much and the pay was amazing, better than anything he ever hoped to get in Australia, added to that he couldn't complain about the women so his bad mood seemed unfounded. He was trying to draft plans to deal with the damned Italians and French who had apeared not to long ago and submit them to the Turks in hopes that they would agree. It seemed ironic that the Turks were able to field less men than the combined League but thats what they got for not taking care of their infrastructure. Turkey was short a bare three divisions, 7 Turkish divisions to 10 League divisions, not that bad, it ruled out pushing the League out of Lebanon but it wasn't a big enough advantage to break out of Lebanon either. Especially since Lebanon was entirely composed of mountains, and as such perfect for defending.

Damnit. There really wasn't much he could do, and what he really wanted to do was forbidden by Britians wish to stay out of the war. Defense it would be, on the map he marked three lines in Lebanon that ringed the League beachead. If the strength to push the League into the sea wasn't available then they'd have tp put everything they could into making sure they didn't break out of those cities. He started drafting his thoughts, other than just building up the defense he wanted to see the light, quick firing 75mm guns that Australia had been sending Turkey monthly put up on the mountain tops overseeing the League forces in the cities and low coastal areas. They wouldn't be able to bust up fortifications but they would be able to kill League troops and bust up attack very well, especially when there were Australian officers behind advising the Turkish crews. It was ironic, guns manufactured in Australia bought with Russian gold and in a few cases shipped on British ships fighting for a muslim Turkish army against a host of Black Africans, French, Italians and Arabs, it truly was a world war. Now he just had to see if the Turkish generals would accept his ideas or just throw them away.


OOC: The army NCO's and officers are already and have been for a few months, along with plenty of 75mm gun batteries but that supply in finate now that the route is cut.

General Piet Zalm was the officer in charge of the whole of the mercenary force which had been hired by the Ottoman Empire. Travel across Africa via the Cape-to-Cairo railway had severely limited his access to news, and with the Boers' arrival in Cairo he had been shocked to hear that the Italian army had landed soldiers in Lebanon.

Like many of his contemporaries, Zalm viewed Southern Europeans as somewhat...inept. After all, weren't the Italians the first and only European army to be defeated by black Africans, in their fiasco of an invasion of Ethiopia in 1896? Zalm did not know whether to laugh at or fear this apparently new resolve.

After unpacking the men and equipment from the train, Zalm left with two officers to inform the Ottoman government representative of their arrival. He wondered half-seriously if the Ottomans would decide to send his men against the Italians now, rather than against rebel Arabs.

OOC: Ottoman Khaif, you can go ahead and RP sending the mercenaries wherever you need them.

Cease-Fire Along the Western Front

France and Germany have agreed to a cease-fire in the Alsace-Lorraine area and in the North Sea and Atlantic. French troops will continue operations in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Roosevelt is elated at the news that the French and Germans have agreed to a cease fire. He rapidly orders telegrams sent to the other belligerents.

"If the Germans and French can stop fighting and agree to talk, surely the other powers can do so. Perhaps now, after all of the bloodshed, a conference can be held to bring about a general peace treaty and as an immediate first step, the United States government invites all of the nations at war to send representatives to Washington DC to sit in conference to discuss such a treaty.

But most importantly, the Government and People of the United States urge the people of Europe and their governments to come to a cease fire until such a conference has a chance to resolve the differences between you before more blood is shed needlessly.

The US government proposes an immediate cease fire in place, the halt of all offensive operations, the immediate exchange of prisoners, and the end of blockades.

Jacques Castet, Prime Minster of France, ahs responded to the American invitation with a positive attitude.

"France," he said, "is willing to go to the table in Washington DC, the capital of our esteemed friends, the Americans, and negotiate peace. However, one of those conditions must be the formation of an autonomous Arab state in the Middle East. We have promised as much to the Arab leaders there. We will keep our promise.

We also believe we have a satisfactory answer to the Alsace-Lorraine conflict...However, we will wait until we are actually at the table to hammer out details. Will the other nations of Europe cease this fighting and attempt to reconcile their differences?

We would also like to ask the Germans for an exchange of prisoners. We believe that they should be exchanged on parole; that is they will agree not to take up arms again in this conflict."

Official German Statement

Germany agrees to send representatives to DC, under command of Colonel Manfred Reichmann.

Germany is willing to discuss the possibility of an Arab state. However, Germany believes that Austria, which caused this war by the invasion of Montenegro, should be placed under protection of her Teutonic Brethren the Germans. However, this will all be discussed at a later time.

Germany will agree to the exchange of prisoners, but must demand that the German and Turkish troops that are held in Italy must be returned to Germany and will be taken care of there.

General Mustafa Kemal Pasha was to stop the French and Italian march in Ottoman Lands. He had with all the South African mercenary force to help his forces, and number of Australian officers to adviser his army. He order that his officers will follow the Australian plan of defense.(OOC see Alt Aus plan of defense for details). Also he order all the artllery units to follow the Australian plans to the teeth and follow any new orders from the Australians.

Also the General Staff order, the 22th and 23th Army cores under General Ismail Enver Pasha to support the Ottoman Army in Syria. He was order to move all his troops to that region. Nearly 60,000 more troops were on the way to Damascus to support the Ottomans lines. The Ottoman could only hope their allies to come to their aid and thanks to the Russians, the Ottomans have the use of the the Don Cossacks. They are told to hold the lines and wait for a massive change against the Italians and French.

Plus another 40,000 troops were being send from Persia to support the Ottoman forces in Syria. These troops had crush most of the Persian Rebels and were order to support the Ottoman forces in the region.

To:His Imperial Majesty by the Grace of God, Nikolai II Aleksandrovich Romanov, Emperor of All the Russias, King of Ukraine, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Finland, and of other lands
From:Sultan Abd-ul-Hamid II
Topic: Help your allies

Oh Czar of Russia, your allies the Ottoman Empire needs your help please send your troops to the Middle East to support my troops in defending and crushing the Italians and French forces. I fear if my forces are defeat at Syria, so goes my nation. Please I beg of you, send your troops to Syria and Tell you cousin in Germany, to fight those French. Tell them we need their help in fighting the French, if they sign that cease fire this means the death of the Ottomans. I beg of you to help us.

yours
Sultan Abdul Hamid II

Message to all warring powers

Topic:Cease Fire

The Ottoman Government here ask for cease fire between all warring powers. This war has been costly for all us, we ask for cease fire and then a peace summit to work out a peace treaty, We ask is that the French and Italians withdraw from our lands.

To Austria

We, By the Grace of God, Nikolai II Aleksandrovich, Sovereign Emperor of All the Russias, do formally and herewith demand:

That Austria-Hungary immediately cease to wage war against the Russian Empire and her allies.

That Austria-Hungary immediately cease to harbor and assist the enemies of Russia and her allies.

The abdication of Franz Ferdinand von Habsburg from all titles and offices not specific to the Crown of Hungary, absent the provinces Galicia, which shall be incorporated into the Dominion of Poland, in accordance with the Basic Law of the All-Russian Imperial Commonwealth; and the various provinces of Transylvania, which shall pass to the soveriegnty of the Kingdom of Romania.

That all of Austria, excepting the provinces of Carniola and Istria, and of those portions of Styria and Carinthia south of the Drava, shall pass to the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Prussia. The aforementioned territories shall become a free and independent Slovene state, associated with the Yugoslav Federation.

That the various provinces of Slavonia-Croatia become a free and independent Croat state, associated with the Yugoslav Federation.

That the House of Habsburg formally abandon and quit any and all claims upon Montenegro, which shall be restored to freedom and independence, associated with the Yugoslav Federation.

That Bohemia, absent the Sudetenland which shall pass to Prussia; and Moravia, shall become free and independent Czech and Slovak states, respectively.

That, inasmuch as the Crown of Austria-Hungary shall henceforth cease to be, said Crown formally repudiate all debts to, and agreements with, the enemies of the Russian Empire and her allies.

That the Crown of Hungary agree to honor a Mutual Non-Aggression Treaty of indefinite duration with every State and Power that has assisted the Russian Empire in quest to obtein freedom for her kinsmen.

Signed this 20th day of July, 1907

N.A. Romanov, Sovereign Emperor of All the Russias

To the Ottomans

My brother, your loyalty in the time of our testing has transcended the very confines of Faith, and mere words cannot begin to express how much it grieves and angers me to see these decadent swine daring to place their unclean feet upon your--our--most sacred lands. But though it fills me with loathing and rage, I have done all I can for now.
But hold fast, my friend. Russia's work here is nearing completion. I will not stand by and permit these defilers to assault the authority of the Caliphate. You will have all the power at my disposal, all the force I command. You are the Saladin of our age, and I shall not desert you. Soon, my friend.
Soon.

OoC: There really is nothing more I can do--believe me, I've been in constant contact with Galveston trying to cobble together everything I can to help you. Two Armies, the Kommandos, the Don Cossacks, and the Black Sea Fleet is just it. Anything more and I'll lose in the North, which would set us all back. I'm serious, though, about sending what I can when I can. You've been an invaluable and honorable ally, and I will not abandon you.

OOC: Vas Pokhoronim please get online, we need to talk, badly!

Lebanon Front

General Kemal order his troops to dig in the mountains, his engineers were doing the best they could do, by setting up the trench lines and set up the machine guns in key points in the Mountains, in matter of speaking they were sitting up kill zones for the French and Italians. Most of the troops under General Kemal were veterens from the fighting against the Austians in the Balkans. They were now the best of the best that Empire could send to this front. They were order to fight to the death, no retreat. General Kemal order the Persian and Arab Cores to began full raids and couter attacks on the Arab rebels and league troops. In return for the raiding and attacking League and rebel lines, they will get extra pay and lands for fighting for the Ottomans. The Ottoman General Staff, belive they must hold the line at all cost for the stake of the empire.

The Arabic Liberation Army has issued an order that any and all Arabs taken in arms against their Arabic brothers will be executed for treason. Any who desert will be welcomed and treated as true Arabs. If they truly believe in the dream of an independent and proud Arab nation, they will join their brothers.

A steady beat rang thru the mountains. The sound of shovels and picks breaking up the earth, striking again and again could be heard. Colonel Summer wasn't an engineer but he liked what he saw. Hundreds of Ottomans, made sure to be paid good money in British pounds, worked day in and day out fortifing the three lines that had once been pencil markings on a map. Lebanon was a defenders dream, dotted with mountains from one end to the other each mountain in turn dotted with natural bunkers in the caves they sported. Even without defenses it would be rough to try fighting thru this country.

Oddly enough it was the second line and not hte first that recieved top priority with the first and third lines following suit. The trenches came first, snaking around the varying peaks they were made to defend. Pillboxes and actual fortifications came next. It would have been preferable to use concrete but concrete wasn't exactly in a surplus around Lebanon so in the majority of cases stone was used which was something the area was abundant in. While not as strong or effective as concrete they could stop bullets and it was hoped the League wouldn't be able to drag any heavy artillery out here. Every machine gun and light artillery piece(105mm and down) the Turks could get there hands on were to be sent to beefen up the lines. There probaly wouldn't be time to truly fortify the area before the League started an offensive but every little bit help and even if only a few pillboxes were constructed it meant that many more League troops were going to be killed trying to take it.

Because of the general fear that the League might attack before the lines could be completed villages and houses were used. Buildings in Lebanon were built with stone as they had been for hundreds of year and because of that they made natural strongpoints. The occupants were "transferred" out of Lebanon and the buildings and villages up on the mountains used as mini forts. There were plenty of these on the lines themselves but even more in between, every mountaintop was to be a fortress, if the League wanted to break out they would have to spill blood on every one of those heights and on the slopes and valleys around them.


Shipments of weapons, especially machine guns and 75mm pieces would continue from Australia but at a much slower pace with the blocade now up. People were now looking into ways to try to get the supplies to the Ottomans faster as every day counted now. Furthermore the Australian government has anounced a new polciy regarding the stopping and siezing of neutral Australian shipping. If Australian trade is interfered with then trade will be halted with League nations and a protest filed with Great Britian. Furthermore if Australian ships are siezed then ships flagged to the nation that siezed Australian ships will be siezed in turn.

OOC: Just a note, I happen to be Lebanese. ;)

Galveston Bay here.. a couple of things... seizing neutral shipping carrying weapons of war is perfectly legal under the rules of war, and even Britian recognizes that (they have too, its in their best interest for blockades to be legal being the worlds principal sea power). Also, the Australian merchant marine is pretty small at this time.

Secondly, while digging in by the Turks and their advisors is well and good, the main fact is that the Italians and French hold the cities themselves, which are sufficiently dense enough that Turkish guns would be far enough away to be an annoyance at best. In addition, the Turks don't have the troop density to closely blockade these cities, as the League and associate rebels outnumber them in Lebanon, and the point I made about logistics is that aside from the roughly 150,000 Turkish troops (7 divisions worth) available as a mobile force, the rest of the Turkish troops in the Levant and western Arabia (13 divisions in addition) are tied down holding the empire, and taking them away will trigger additional revolts. The Turks can bring in more troops, but will suffer triple the usual casualty rate because of lack of supplies.

But the Turks can prevent further penetration of Lebanon by the force currently in place. Until the League decides to bring up reinforcements, which they can easily do by sea as long as they maintain control of the sea.

Central Front July 1907
The front remains static in Tyrolia, where the Italian 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Armies are dug in with 36 divisions and 900,000 men in the mountain passes, facing the German 7th and 8th Armies (24 divisions, 600,000 men). In the Balkans, although the Greeks have essentially pulled out of the war, the Serbs still have 12 divisions (200,000 men), the Macedonians have 4 divisions (60,000 men), the Russians have their 5th and 8th Armies (40 divisions, 1 million men) facing the Italian 6th, 7th and 9th Armies (30 divisions, 800,000 men), the Spanish 1st and 2nd Armies (300,000 men). The rugged terrain promises to make any further offensives in these fronts even more costly than those in the West.

In the Danube Valley on the border of Germany and Austria, the relatively open terrain offers the possibility of more movement. Here the Germans have their 9th, 10th and 11th Armies, with 60 divisions and a million men facing the Italian 12th Army (9 divisions, 250,000 men), French 9th Army (6 divisions, 100,000 men), and Austrian 5th and 6th Armies (36 divisions, 400,000 men). In the Carpathians, the Austrians still hold with their 1st and 2nd Armies, with 40 divisions and 1 million men, facing the Russians with their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Armies (80 divisions,2 million men) and German 14th and 18th Armies (30 divisions, 800,000 men). Here again the rugged terrain makes further offensive efforts certain to be costly.

But it is Central Hungary were the war may very well be decided. The Austrians have their 3rd and 4th Armies, heavily battered, but with 50 divisions, and all of their remaining best troops. In reserve behind them, the French 1st and 5th Armies have arrived, with 30 divisions of good French troops as well. However, the Russians have their 6th, 7th, 9th and 10th Armies (100 divisions), the Turks have their 1st and 2nd Armies (30 divisions) and the Rumanians have their army (12 divisions). Except for the Danube River, and the fortified city of Pest (the eastern side of Budapest), the terrain is open and made to order for war.

As soon as the Coalition is ready to strike.

The front remains static in Tyrolia, where the Italian 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Armies are dug in with 36 divisions and 900,000 men in the mountain passes, facing the German 7th and 8th Armies (24 divisions, 600,000 men). In the Balkans, although the Greeks have essentially pulled out of the war, the Serbs still have 12 divisions (200,000 men), the Macedonians have 4 divisions (60,000 men), the Russians have their 5th and 8th Armies (40 divisions, 1 million men) facing the Italian 6th, 7th and 9th Armies (30 divisions, 800,000 men), the Spanish 1st and 2nd Armies (300,000 men). The rugged terrain promises to make any further offensives in these fronts even more costly than those in the West.

In the Danube Valley on the border of Germany and Austria, the relatively open terrain offers the possibility of more movement. Here the Germans have their 9th, 10th and 11th Armies, with 60 divisions and a million men facing the Italian 12th Army (9 divisions, 250,000 men), French 9th Army (6 divisions, 100,000 men), and Austrian 5th and 6th Armies (36 divisions, 400,000 men). In the Carpathians, the Austrians still hold with their 1st and 2nd Armies, with 40 divisions and 1 million men, facing the Russians with their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Armies (80 divisions,2 million men) and German 14th and 18th Armies (30 divisions, 800,000 men). Here again the rugged terrain makes further offensive efforts certain to be costly.

But it is Central Hungary were the war may very well be decided. The Austrians have their 3rd and 4th Armies, heavily battered, but with 50 divisions, and all of their remaining best troops. In reserve behind them, the French 1st and 5th Armies have arrived, with 30 divisions of good French troops as well. However, the Russians have their 6th, 7th, 9th and 10th Armies (100 divisions), the Turks have their 1st and 2nd Armies (30 divisions) and the Rumanians have their army (12 divisions). Except for the Danube River, and the fortified city of Pest (the eastern side of Budapest), the terrain is open and made to order for war.

As soon as the Coalition is ready to strike.[/QUOTE]

August September 1907
With the cease fire in in the West, the Germans and French both rapidly ship their best troops elsewhere. The German 5th and 6th Armies reach the Danube area in early August, and the Germans launch an immediate offensive even as the League launches their own. It quickly becomes apparent that the Germans have more men and guns, and they concentrate on the Italian 12th Army, which after two weeks of fighting is shattered and collapses into a full route. This completely unhinges the League line, and the French are forced to retreat south, with the remnants of the Italians, while the Austrian 5th and 6th Armies retreat toward Vienna. News of defeat further east brings down morale further and on September 28, the retreat of the Austrians degenerates into a route.

Meanwhile, along the Danube, the Russians and Turks attack with desperate enthusiasm, hoping that this is the last battle. Flanking to the south and north of Budapest, they get across the Danube and begin driving east, encircling the city, where the diehard Hungarian defenders vow to fight to the end. Impatient, the Russians assault that city, and a desperate and hideously costly fight rages all through September and continues into the next month.

In Austria, the Austrian Hungarian Army begins to come apart under the hammer blows. Over a million Austrians have fallen or surrendered in the last two months, and only 30 divisions (500,000 men) continue to answer orders. A new offensive in mid September into the Carpathians, along with a German offensive on the flanks finds nearly empty positions as the Austrian troops flee or surrender by the thousands, or simply throw down their weapons and shed their uniforms and trudge for home.

Only the fleet continues to hold out and they remain at Crete, hoping the Russians will come out and they can fight one last battle to uphold Austrian honor.

With the situation collapsing in Austria, the French, Italian and Spanish armies find themselves in a bind. With flanks and supply lines collapsing the League forces retreat into Slovenia, where at least a supply line can still be traced to Italy.

September ends with the Russians marching on Prague and past Budapest, and the Germans marching on Vienna, with the few remaining Austrian troops willing to fight conducting the best holding action they can.

Meanwhile, in the Med, the French 1st Army reaches Lebanon with another 12 divisions, relieving the 9th Army which is embarked, along with the Italian and French marines and that army lands at Haifa in Palestine on September 1, weakly defended by a pair of Turkish divisions. Heavy artillery fire from battleships drives the Turks back from the beaches, and although the initial landing force suffers grevious losses, they get ashore and drive the Turks out of the area. Another 9 French divisions come ashore, all veterans from Libya and Lebanon, and these troops secure Haifa, while cavalry is brought ashore. By September 23, French, Algerian, and Moroccon cavalry is driving deep into Palestine threatening Jerusalem itself, and has cut the railroad line leading south to Arabia. More Arabs join the French invasion and are rapidly armed. Only the Jews remain quietly in their homes, unsure if replacing centuries of Turkish toleration as people of the book is preferable to centuries of Christian persecution and possibilities for more.

Meanwhile, in Lebanon, the French push forward all along the front, stretching the Turkish lines as they are forced to extend to match them. Attempts by South African mercs to penetrate the lines find that well trained and thoroughly experienced French veterans of the Western Front are much tougher than the illtrained Austrians of the Serbian Front, and casualties rapidly increase in their Kommandos.

OoC: I'll be gone until fairly late tonight, just so everyone knows. Galveston Bay knows my plans (Hell, they're mostly right there anyway), so there shouldn't be any questions.

Galveston Bay here.. a couple of things... seizing neutral shipping carrying weapons of war is perfectly legal under the rules of war, and even Britian recognizes that (they have too, its in their best interest for blockades to be legal being the worlds principal sea power). Also, the Australian merchant marine is pretty small at this time.



OOC: Wow, I did not know that, scratch the end of my post then. Do you have MSN or AIM?

OOC; Due to NS being down, I'm going to be posting my orders here for now.

IC:

All French troops in Eastern Europe are pulling back to the Italian borders to secure the line and dig in.

"The Austrians are finished!" one French general remarks, "We should defend Italy and leave the Austrians to their fate. After all, we don't want to be cut off and left to the tender mercies of the Russians..."

On the Western Front the French troops trade with the Germans and occasionaly shout back and forth at each other. Work details are organized to continue improving the lines and begin work on something else...

In the Middle East the French continue their drive in Lebanon and towards Jeruseleam.

The French government has asked the leaders of Europe to consider peace negotiations.

Jacques Castet issued a statement from the Grench Government:

"The killing has gone on for too long. An entire generation of young men is being destroyed in the meat-grinder of war. As such, France would like to suggest a peace conference held on nuetral ground."

France has inquired as to wether the US would be willing to host peace talks.

Raids by Irregular Arab cavalry are to continue, while Arab volunteers are rapidly arming themselves and falling in for French training in conventional infantry and artillery tactics. In addition, more acts of sabotage are to be carried out on Trkish rail lines.

Spain would agree to a cease-fire and conference in Washington D.C. which would be attended by Spanish diplomats headed by Ministro de Asuntos Exteriores Juan Gonzalez Tomargo de Salazar.

King Alfonso XIII offers Italy and France to take their 50,000 men in France and place them in Lebanon as there is a cease fire on the Alsace-Lorainne. We belive that this would help greatly in a puch for Lebanon.

King Alfonso has ordered that all reserves be called up and begin regular training in case of deployment. The total number of men that have begun training is 450,000 which compose three more Spanish Armies. These Armies would be the ones sent to Europe or the Middle East as the others are needed to guard the nation against attack. (roughly three more armies and thats all ive got...)

IC:

King Vittorio Emanuele III appeared before a crowd in Rome today, declaring that, "Italian troops have fought bravely with their noble allies, and it saddens all of us to see the great Austro-Hungarian Empire occupied. But the Austrian defeat can be a lesson to the League; from it we shall learn to defend the Italian homeland from any attack, any assailer. Italy shall be defended, or Italy shall cease to exist. Italy shall not surrender. Remeber, Italians, the Roman blood of our ancestors! Call upon that blood and we shall forge a new Roman Empire, one in which the Huns have their cities ravaged!"

Of course, the Italian army falls back to the Alps, more men from the Alps are recruited, etc. The entire idea is that the Alps will make life hell for the Germans and Russians. Italy has asked what remains of the Austro-Hungarian military to join the League in the Middle East, to defend Austrian honor. Arab leaders are being asked to give a small piece of land to Austria-Hungary, simply for the "government-in-exile that controls something" effect.

Also, to Spain, Italy has agreed to send the troops to the Mid East.

To Italy,
We thank you for offering to transport our troops to help assail the vile Turkish overlords and allow the Arabs a free nation. We are glad to know that our troops will be giveing a oppressed people their rightful homeland.

The 5 French Armies along the Italian border are ordered to dig in in the mountains and create a line similar to the one in the West: An unassliable line of concrete blockhouses, deep dugouts, and trenches. Machine-guns are set up with over-lapping fields of fire, creating killing zones. Artillery is zerored in on key points. Moutain pases are blocked. The French are ready.

Meanwhile, in Lebanon, the French push forward all along the front, stretching the Turkish lines as they are forced to extend to match them. Attempts by South African mercs to penetrate the lines find that well trained and thoroughly experienced French veterans of the Western Front are much tougher than the illtrained Austrians of the Serbian Front, and casualties rapidly increase in their Kommandos.

General Zalm had, like all Boer officers, led from the front. That included leading raids behind enemy lines. His replacement, General Laurens Balkenende, realized very early on that the Boers would have to adapt, or die in this harsh war.

There were grumbles among the men, about being sent to fight battle-hardened Europeans rather than the loose rabble calling itself the Arabic Liberation Army. However, like all mercenaries, they were loyal to the paymaster, and so endured. The Australian and Turkish officers were quite capable, and had earned the respect of the Boers, a significant achievement for any uitlander.

With the addition of French troops, the League was stretching the Ottoman line almost to a breaking point. General Balkenende, even though this technically was not his war, could not help but feel the curse of the Boers. He did not have enough cavalry or infantry to effectively engage the Frenchs. Never enough, he thought. We never have enough, of anything. Not at the Witwatersrand, not at Ladysmith, not here.

Realizing that mounted soldiers were useless in the mountains of Lebanon, he had ordered his men to fight on foot. Following the Australian-Turkish defense plan, the mercenaries took up positions among the hills and along the peaks, where their formidable marksmanship skills would force the League troops to keep their heads down. It was not ideal, and would not be able to stop the League, but perhaps it could slow them down, and buy time for the Turks.

Three cavalry regiments, nearly half of Balkenende's decimated Boers, were kept in reserve, though against tens of thousands of French soldiers his 1800 would be little more than a distraction while the men on the hilltops got to their horses to get away.

OC: DOn't know how your men would respond to this but I believe the Frenchmen your Boers are fighting are Blacks from France's colonies.

Death of a Navy September 23, 1907

Off the coast of the island of Limnos, the Austrian fleet steamed into battle to prevent the Russians from entering the Aegean and threatening League operations in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

http://www.sea007.com/Info_WorldSea/images/Atlantic-AegeanSea.gif

With the knowledge that their homeland was being conquered as they steamed into battle, the bitter Austrian Hungarian sailors were determined to destroy the Russians and get some revenge for the death of their nation. They would fight until they could fight no more.

3 Semidreadnoughts, 4 battleships, 4 light cruisers and 25 destroyers steamed in the bright blue sunshine of a glorious Greek island fall day.

Meanwhile, Markarov was determined to gain a victory for his beloved Black Sea fleet and restore the prestige of the Russian Navy. He led a fleet of 12 battleships, 6 protected cruisers, 20 destroyers and 40 torpedo boats.

The battle was fiercely fought. It began with the light ships dueling and torpedoes and quick firing guns determined the day as cruisers and destroyers fought even as the battleships steamed toward each other. Within an hour, only a few of the Russian torpedo boats were still able to fight, and all of the other ships were damaged or sinking.

Austrian losses: 2 light cruisers, 14 destroyers sunk, 2 light cruisers, 11 destroyers damaged
Russian losses: 8 destroyers, 7 torpedo boats sunk, 3 protected cruisers, 12 destroyers and 8 torpedo boats damaged

As the batte lines opened up, it soon became apparent that the three Austrian Radetzky class semidreadnoughts far outclassed everything else, but Markarov ordered his ships to close despite the damage. The three Austrain ships destroyed 6 of the Russian battleships, while the other 3 sank 2 others and damaged the rest before the sheer numbers of Russian guns finally battered the Austrian fleet into sinking (all 7 battleships sunk) after 7 hours of fighting.

But although destroyed, the Austrians had permanetly crippled the Russians and ensured Italian and French dominance of the Mediterranean Sea, as only 4 Russian battleships were still afloat, and all required repairs.

It was the worst battle of the war, with 23 Russian and 23 Austrian ships sinking and 20,000 Russian and 25,000 Austrian casaulties (and most of them, nearly 70%, blown up or drowned)

The Austrian Hungarian fleet had a truly Wagnerian ending

OOC: There are many divisions of black colonials, but the majority of them are ethnic French.

With Austria's collapse, Italy took it upon itself to just occupy the entire Brenner pass, fortify it to no end, and place 800,000 troops there. Everything else that Italy has, in the European theater at least, save for 15 divisions, has been ordered to assist France in constructing fortifications and manning them. 5 divisions are being sent to the Middle East. The rest become reserves.

At home, nationalism had been stirred up by the fasci, and the FAR (group for revolutionary action) formed the Revolutionary Brigade, a small force of untrained civilians that purchased guns from the Italian army. Among those was a young Benito Mussolini. The Brigade, upon its creation, immediatly marched towards Germany, with the intent to meet the German army in combat and show the world that Italy is a force to be reckoned with. However, the Brigade has limited military training, no cohesive command structure, and a fatal belief that being Italian will protect them from the "inferior" Germans, complete with very few members and small amounts of ammo. I need not post the results of this combination....

ooc: when did austria collapse?!?!?!?!?!?!?! oh well might as well follow suit

IC: The Spanish 2nd Army has been ordered to the German-Italian border to assist the Italians and French in the war that will soon come to them. The 1st Army has been sent to Vienna to assist the Austrians in a defence against the Russians to stall them long enough for the Italians and French to build decisive defenses.

With the fall of the Austrian Empire, the Sultan orders all his troops in Europe to be recall to the Middle East. All 30 divisions were recall to the Home front. They put under the command of General Kemal, he was order to build up the defenses for Damascus,Hims,Halab, Amman and try to save Jerusalem from being conquered by the French. In Mecca and Medina, the Ottoman Forces began digging up lines of defense, they order by the Sultan himself to fight the death. Mecca and Medina must not fall to the Rebels or outsiders at all cost. All the major garrison were order to build trench defense lines and hold on.

In Ottoman Iraq, the Ottoman Division in the region were drafting around 120,000 troops, they were mostly loyal Arabs, Kurds, Persians were joining the Ottoman Army of Iraq, they along the Turkish Troops that were already station in Iraq, were order to march to Damascus and link up with General Kemal forces and defend the region from attack. The grand total with the Turkish troops factor in is around 150,000. They were answering their Khaif call for Jihad.

In the heartland of the Ottoman Empire, Turkey. The Sultan call upon every able body man to join the army and fight in the Jihad. They manger to get around 60,000 Turks and Kurds to join the Arm forces. Yet the Sultan also stated that if the Armenians fight for the Ottomans, they would be given lands and titles in the Empire. After saying that the Sultan got 40,000 Armenians to join the Army. The Army of Turkey, was set up and was order to march into Northern Syria and Iraq, and began setting up defense lines for the Ottoman Army.

Also the Sultan stated that any Arab that fights on the side of the French or Italians face damnation for turning his back against the Islamic State and the crime for aiding outsiders is a beheaded. For those fight for the state, they will be granted titles and lands as a reward.

ooc: isnt it caliph? and also can you please try to spell well because its hard to understand some things in there

ZLF, Jerusalem

A boy rushed into a dirty house, he passed on a note to a man sitting down at a table, the man was wearing a shirt with hitched up trousers, he took the note from the boy and took out a few coins which he passed to the boy who ran back out.

ZLF

The French draw near, we will conspire with them to take this city, be ready

Another small child, this one on a boneshaker bicycle, rode up to the encamped army, he passed over a note to one of the soldiers, it was hoped that it would reach the right person, the boy waited for the responding letter.

ZLF message to French army in Lebanon

We of the ZLF can assist your war efforts by taking Jerusalem from the inside, we far outnumber the Ottomans and have many willing to fight, your response is awaited.

(OOC: the French are in Lebanon moving onto Jerusalem right?)

ooc: isnt it caliph? and also can you please try to spell well because its hard to understand some things in there
OOC: Sorry about that I did that post in a rush, and also Caliph can be spell in many ways,one of them being Khaif.

ZLF message to French army in Lebanon

We of the ZLF can assist your war efforts by taking Jerusalem from the inside, we far outnumber the Ottomans and have many willing to fight, your response is awaited.

(OOC: the French are in Lebanon moving onto Jerusalem right?)


OOC: How can the ZLF have more Jews in Jerusalem, there is only one part of the city that's all Jewish, everything else is non Jewish. Beside the Ottoman Garrison in Jerusalem is petty big, and plus most of the Muslims would not stand by and allow the French and Jews to take the city.

OOC: How can the ZLF have more Jews in Jerusalem, there is only one part of the city that's all Jewish, everything else is non Jewish. Beside the Ottoman Garrison in Jerusalem is petty big, and plus most of the Muslims would not stand by and allow the French and Jews to take the city.


(OOC: I read on wiki, of the three religions in Jerusalem (and the 8,000 people) the Jewish were the largest group, i'm aware of the resistance factor, but dude i can at least assist the French to take Jerusalem, then when they leave, i can help occupy it, it won't be easy but it'll sure as hell be worth it)

(OOC: I read on wiki, of the three religions in Jerusalem (and the 8,000 people) the Jewish were the largest group, i'm aware of the resistance factor, but dude i can at least assist the French to take Jerusalem, then when they leave, i can help occupy it, it won't be easy but it'll sure as hell be worth it)
OOC: Alright then, remember if the Ottomans come back. Someone is going to get beaten up for this.

ooc: Spooty check your news....

His cousin had tried to confine his movements to a zone well out of range of the Hungarian guns. Yet he knew in his soul that God, Who had summoned him to this Great Work, would not now abandon him even as the task neared its completion, and he had said so. His cousin had then expressed concern that his presence on the lines would distract the men from their work, to which he had answered that it was more likely their resolve would be strengthened. Seeing that there was no shifting him, and given the disparity of rank between them, his cousin had relented, though grudgingly, and only by assigning the most experienced of the Life Guards to protect him.

Nikolai II Aleksandrovich, Sovereign Emperor of All the Russias, didn't really need the Life Guards to defend him, though. For he had the Almighty as an ally, Who was more than enough.

The Tsar had been right, too, about his effect on the men. Even as the cannonades thundered back and forth, the soldiers working the guns smiled and called out to him like a mascot.

"Batyushka!" (1) they cried. "Hey, Batyushka, give us your blessing!"

He blessed his men, and their weapons, and their mothers, and whatever else they asked for. He was generous, for victory was near and these were the men who had brought it about.

He had stopped near one of the hardest-working cannons he had yet seen, and the Corporal, a grizzled, gap-toothed man from Kazan, asked Nikolai to bless his daughter.

"She's stupid, you see, and wants to marry a--" He broke off as he suddenly detected a slightly different sound to the next incoming shell, and shouted to his Emperor, "GET DOWN!!!"

Nikolai was shocked by the shift in conversation.

"What?"

Suddenly he was piled on by three Life Guards. They were fast. They did their best.

They gave their lives.

Yet Nikolai's world changed in that instant to one of darkness and pain, before only darkness remained . . .

OoC: This has not yet been reported. The Tsar is not, in fact, dead, but he has been grievously wounded by schrapnel at the siege of Budapest.

(1) "Little Father," an affectionate diminutive term for the Russian Tsar.


Troop Dispositions, Et Alia

With the Italians pulling back to their own borders, the nearby Coalition forces under Russian command will move to occupy Slovenia, but no further. We won't even try to take Trieste. Russia will otherwise honor the ceasefire in Europe (giving notice to that effect), and chiefly use her infantry to occupy and pacify the lands of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. Field Marshal Romanov gives strict orders to Russian soldiers not to "molest" or otherwise harm or insult any of the locals, and this discipline is ruthlessly enforced. Gradually, as consolidation becomes more effective, the troops will be rotated back to Russia and stood down. I expect this to take some time, though.
Russian cavalry (largely inactive during most of the war, after all) and artillery, however, are now being dispatched to Ottoman lands to reinforce the Turkish line.
Admiral Makarov, despite losing the Fleet, is considered to have regained his honor.
Finally, Russia will accept the invitation to the Washington Conference. Our delegation will consist of Grand Duke Vladimir, Marshal Kuropatkin, and Premier Witte. In the absence of Witte, Pyotr Stolypin will be Acting Premier.

Spanish troops in Austria have been ordered back to Italy to allow the Russians to take control of Austria-Hungary and honor the cease fire in Europe. The 1st Army will now be sent to Lebanon to aid the French and Italians against the Ottomans and to free the Holy Land from those who surpress the eldest religions. We wish to allow the Jews to make Palestine their home and hopefully the will agree to religious toleration.

Seeing as how the Russians are honoring a ceasefire, Italy has declared a ceasefire with Russia.

However, the Revolutionary Brigade, in protest, crossess over into Russian-controlled territory, having not found any Germans yet. A Benito Mussolini draws his old rifle, fires a few shots, and then charges with bayonet, screaming random warcries.

OOC: Please, just kill the poor bastard already. We've got to end this war with at least one well-known dictator dead!

I know every nation is probably going to declare victory after the war, but let's suppose we all sign a treaty of peace, etc. etc. tommorrow. I propose, in the interest of funniness, that all of our nations try to be as politically correct as possible in the treaty. That is, no one lost. Austria-Hungary wasn't defeated; it simply exited the war. The Russian fleet didn't get decimated; it sustained a high loss of life. This isn't a war, it is a conflict. There are no blockades, there are simply "regions of limited commerce." Austria wasn't annexed; it was united with Germany. Alsace-Lorraine, also, was reunited with France.

To the French ,Spainish and Italiain Governments

We asked for cease fire one more time, the talk the terms for peace at Washington, but we must stop this bloody war now, too many lives have been lost and we ask for a cease fire once more.

Also we will accept the invitation to the Washington Conference, and are sending a number of Ministers and Viziers to work out the terms of the peace treaty.

Spain will agree to a middle east cease fire only if the Ottomans promise to allow the area of Palestine as a Jewish homeland and Nation. I have spoken with them and they have agreed to practice religious tolerance and allow all religions equal rights. We believe this is the best. Discussions on how the nation will be defended and other subjects of possible concern will be discussed in Washington D.C.

Palestine is not a Jewish homeland, its home to Muslims and Christans, therefore we are willing to grant the Jews some homerule. But we will work out the terms of a treaty at the peace summit.

Spain will agree to a middle east cease fire only if the Ottomans promise to allow the area of Palestine as a Jewish homeland and Nation. I have spoken with them and they have agreed to practice religious tolerance and allow all religions equal rights. We believe this is the best. Discussions on how the nation will be defended and other subjects of possible concern will be discussed in Washington D.C.
Spain, which has a rather brutal history with the Jews, ought not to dictate such terms to the Sublime Porte. It is unreasonable.
Peace is within sight, so why should the Spanish seek to prolong the bloodshed by imposing conditions on a simple ceasefire? After all, if the Washington talks don't work out, we can all go back to killing each other soon enough.

-Marshal A.N. Kuropatkin, Minister of War

To Whom It May Concern,

The various mercenary units employed in Europe will abide by all cease-fires and agreements made by their respective employers. Also, the Afrikaner Broederbond asks to send a representative to the peace talks in Washington, though said representative will act solely as an obeserver, given South Africa's neutral status in this war.

Sincerely,
Janick deBeer
Brigade Adjutant, SA Mercenary Kommandos

An Arab delegation, headed by Hussien Achmed bin Ali, will acompany the Fench to Washington DC in order to insure that Arab independence is attained.

Jerusalem
A young Arab man rides a bicycle into the Jewish quarter, and deposits a small parcel at the home of a known member of the ZLF. Inside is a letter and plans for an uprising to sieze the Holy City from the Ottoman Turks. Hopefully, the ZLF will accept this alliance.

One of the terms that France will not back down on is the creation of an Independent Arab state consisting of Plaestine, Lebanon, Jordan, and the Arabian Penisula. We will see you gentlemen in Washingon.

OOC: Do we just wait for the Summit to began?

October 1907
The French, with 9 divisions, quickly seize control of the entire coast of Palestine including Gaza and Haifa, and advance inland. Although the Turks fought hard when they could, they only had 3 divisions and some irregulars to fight with in the short time available, and by Halloween, the French have taken Bethlehem, Samara and Nazarath and having reached the Jordon River and Sea of Galilee, while further south they are approaching Jerusalem from the north and south and east. At that point, Turkish resistance solidified, and the French advance stalled.

For now.

Casualties to date Lebanon and Palestine (including earlier fighting)
French 22,000
Italians 14,000
Turks 34,000 plus 30,000 POWs
Arab Irregulars (anti Turk) 4,000
Arab Irregulars (anti Western) 3,000
South Afrikaaners 1,000

usual rate of 1 to 3 killed vs wounded applies
French have 21 divisions in Lebanon and Palestine, the Italians have 4, plus about 10,000 Arab Irregulars and a few hundred Jewish and Christian irregulars

The Turks hav 9 divisions on the front in Lebanon, 5 on the front in Palestine, 5 holding down Syria and Jordon (which isn't called that yet), 3 holding down Mecca/Medina/Jiddah, 9 in Iraq, 12 in Persia, 5 in eastern Arabia, and they cannot fully supply the 22 divisions in Lebanon/Western Arabia/Palestine. They have also lost 7 divisions already to disintegration or combat destruction.

Basically, without access to supply by sea, the Turks literally cannot create a bigger army in the area, while the Westerners (the Newest Crusade) can supply everything they have plus probably about 10 more divisions.

for map purposes and reference purposes, by November 1 the French control what in our time line would be the 1949 borders of Israel less the Negev desert region and there isn't a Tel Aviv yet. In addition, they control all territory within 30 miles of Beruit, Acre, and Tyre in Lebanon, and have driven the Turks out of the Bekaa valley and coastal strip between those cities (although no one really controls it at the moment). Deep penetration raids have cut the Damascus/Mecca railroad repeatedly and prevent rail traffic unless very heavily escorted, and that basically means the Turks in western Arabia are stuck. Anti Turkish Irregulars have taken the Red Sea port of Aquapa (spelling?)

Basically the Arabs are either anti Turkish (which means they will work with the French) or Anti Western (which means they will work with the Turks) but don't really like either no matter the side they pick.

ooc
by the way, will start a Washington Peace Conference Treaty on Monday, January 1908

OOC: Is the cease fire in effect yet, do the fact we have send our guys to the Summit?

The US urges all nations to accept an immediate cease fire in place, on all fronts, to give the Peace Conference a chance to work.

ooc
We haven't heard from the Austrians yet, although as a player I can't imagine he is too pleased.

ooc: can the peace conference be saturday or sunday because i was hopeing that my foreign minister who is heading the delegation would be elected because of sucess in the conference...

for the Peace Conference....

Prepare a public initial bargaining position to post in the thread (which as I will create Sunday after all, this gives time for the various diplomats to actually get to Washington after all)

also telegram me privately what you will settle for. It is possible that spying will reveal plans or parts of plans, and this will make the conference more realistic if I know what is really going on vs what everyone is demanding

OOC: Please, just kill the poor bastard already. We've got to end this war with at least one well-known dictator dead!

Johann Gazvoda was not a typical Slovene.
For one thing, he hated Austrians.
For another, he hated Catholics.
In fact Johann didn’t much care for anybody, so maybe he was a typical Slovene.
He didn’t like the Russians much, either, but he’d suspected when their call first came that getting paid to shoot Austrians (and other Catholics and fools) would be a damn sight better than moving coal for the rest of his life in Novo Mesto. And he’d been right. Mostly, at least. It was still hard, horrible work, with a lot of humiliation and not nearly enough pay. But it had a lot more job satisfaction.
But the war was over. His unit has finally come to the Italian border, beyond which they were apparently not to cross, and he was on what was only sentry duty, arguing with some damnfool idealistic half-Croat named Brosz who thought that peace would bring a great opportunity to rebuild their country and make it great.
'You’re a damn fool," Johann told him. "America’s the place to be these days. This 'Yugoslavia' the Russians are blathering about will never hold together. I’m bugging out as soon as I can."
Brosz was about to reply when suddenly several shots rang out and both men hit the dirt.
"The Italians are attacking!" Brosz hissed.
"Then why aren’t they using machine-guns?"
"I don’t--look!"
Running up the road and flourishing his bayonet came a square man dressed all in black, screaming incomprehensibly in Italian.
"It’s just the one?" asked Brosz in disbelief.
Johann sighted and shot, and blood splashed from the invader’s head. His body fell into the dust, twitched a little, and then was still.
"What do you mean?" answered Johann. "I don’t see anybody."

For the Ottoman Government, the war was taking its total on them. The Sultan order the Army of Turkey, to remain in Turkey. They began building the defense works for Southern Turkey and Kurdistan. As for the Army of Iraq, they were order to stay in the region and build up the regions defenses. It was becoming hopeless for the Ottomans, but the Sultan said if peace talks don't work out, we will fight to the bitter end.

The French have agreed to a cease-fire on all fronts until the conference is settled.

The man tore open the letter, he read quickly before stopping and re-reading, "wait here messenger!" The man responded, he took up some partchment and a pen, after scribbling down he passed the note onto the messenger, "send this back!"

ZLF

We will assist you in taking the holiest of cities, but in return you must allow us the Zionist's to Administrate the City, it is hoped that you find these terms acceptable.

ooc: WTF?! I miss a few days, cause between school and cross country I don't have enough time, and my freakin' nation is defeated. Well, I guess thats progress for ya. Anyway, all Austro-Hungarian units are ordered to any friendly nation and to seek asylum their if possible, but are only allowed to join in their host nation's defense if they themselves are threatened or they wish to volenteer Otherwise they are to go to the Austrian Naval base at Saracyuse (sp?) and to wait transport there. The few remaining ships of the Austro-Hungarian fleet however, takes on several special persons and large amount money and other valubles and are ordered to Korea. Can you say government in exile?

ooc: WTF?! I miss a few days, cause between school and cross country I don't have enough time, and my freakin' nation is defeated. Well, I guess thats progress for ya. Anyway, all Austro-Hungarian units are ordered to any friendly nation and to seek asylum their if possible, but are only allowed to join in their host nation's defense if they themselves are threatened or they wish to volenteer Otherwise they are to go to the Austrian Naval base at Saracyuse (sp?) and to wait transport there. The few remaining ships of the Austro-Hungarian fleet however, takes on several special persons and large amount money and other valubles and are ordered to South America specifically Nicaragua. (I know you guys didn't think I was making those seemingly random posts for nothing) Can you say government in exile?

OOC: What about your advisors in Korea?

ooc: make sure you go to the washington conference im pretty sure the league will ask for you to be replaced of austria-hungary but only austria-hungary and unfortunately the coalition will prolly ask for many limits in your armed forces and economy and so on...but what can you do

Real quick, crappy post:

Germany agrees to cease fire w/ everyone. And a random Italian was shot. German units move to occupy Austria.

And the Kaiser orders the Tzar to Berlin.

World Zionist Organisation Announcement

We of the WZO ask that we send a delegate to the Washington Confrence, we wish to back up the Zionist Liberation Front's actions with peaceful negotiation of the lands in Zion, we hope that we are allowed to attend.

Signed

Theodor Herzl

(OOC: oki, i wasn't sure which nation to ask if the WZO could attend so if anyone could back to me)

Spain agrees to a cease fire and asks the WZO delegation to come to the conference along with the ZLF which will come with our delegation.

Parthini']Real quick, crappy post:

Germany agrees to cease fire w/ everyone. And a random Italian was shot. German units move to occupy Austria.

And the Kaiser orders the Tzar to Berlin.
"Orders" the Tsar to Berlin? Is this the beginning of some strain in our victorious alliance?
Besides, the Tsar is indisposed (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9524507&postcount=147). Only Germany is made aware of this, and only reluctantly.

Australia wishes to have a representive present at the peace summit. While we were not one of the belligerents in this great conflict we were directly and indirectly affected.

mesage to the ZLF
For now, we propose joint administration. Is this acceptable? For the moent, though we may gain our goal peacefully.

ZLF

A division of the Town seems more acceptable, but i suggest we wait until the Washington confrence before we begin deviding lands that still belong to the Ottoman empire

The British government officially requests a place to be set aside for a British deputation at the conference. Whilst not participants we feel that we should be involved in the rebuilding of Europe and to support British interests. It is believed that the dominions (Canada, South Africa and Australia) might wish to send a group of officials as well and we ask that a place is set aside for these groups in addition.

OOC: What about your advisors in Korea?ooc: they will remain there until the washington conference is over after that however, they will must likely either return to what remains of AH or if AH is completly destroyed than move to south america.

ooc: make sure you go to the washington conference im pretty sure the league will ask for you to be replaced of austria-hungary but only austria-hungary and unfortunately the coalition will prolly ask for many limits in your armed forces and economy and so on...but what can you do I'm definetly going but I don't have high hopes, hence the contigence plans. I am going to try to assure that Austria-Hungary, if only those to regions remain together.

ooc: kordo do you have aim i have a possible map although i need help on what AH actually owns because its from 2005

ooc: alright my aim is jaffa879

Russia will welcome the presence in Washington of the delegations of the British Empire and her Dominions of Australia and South Africa.
As for the Arabs and Jews, however, their organizations represent no government that Russia nor any other state is legitimately bound to recognize, and we will not negotiate with terrorists and insurgents, let alone the running dogs of French and Italian imperialists.

ooc: alright my aim is jaffa879
GET ONLINE!!!!!!!!

Russia will welcome the presence in Washington of the delegations of the British Empire and her Dominions of Australia and South Africa.
As for the Arabs and Jews, however, their organizations represent no government that Russia nor any other state is legitimately bound to recognize, and we will not negotiate with terrorists and insurgents, let alone the running dogs of French and Italian imperialists.

The government of France, however, does recognize the Arabs. As such they will be attending as our guests. They have a legitimate stake in the Middle East. We have promised them Independence from Turkish rule.

Allow me to remind you of something: Our logistics are currently much better then yours. While we can supply all of our troops by sea you and the Ottomans must use bad roads and railways, all the while being constantly plauged by attacks from the Arabic Liberation Army.

But, let us save such talk for the conference.

Meanwhile, on the Italian border, French troops allow Austrian troops and refugees through their lines, expressing sympathy for their plight.

OOC: Is the Vietnam issue with China, over or is China still planning to attack?

The government of France, however, does recognize the Arabs. As such they will be attending as our guests. They have a legitimate stake in the Middle East. We have promised them Independence from Turkish rule.

Allow me to remind you of something: Our logistics are currently much better then yours. While we can supply all of our troops by sea you and the Ottomans must use bad roads and railways, all the while being constantly plauged by attacks from the Arabic Liberation Army.

But, let us save such talk for the conference.

Meanwhile, on the Italian border, French troops allow Austrian troops and refugees through their lines, expressing sympathy for their plight.
You may speak with whomever you like. Russia is not bound by the promises of her enemies, and we will not sit at the same table with rebels.

OOC: Is the Vietnam issue with China, over or is China still planning to attack?

OOC: After an angry letter from America and the promise of support to France from Japan they backed down...for now.

You may speak with whomever you like. Russia is not bound by the promises of her enemies, and we will not sit at the same table with rebels.

They are the friends of France and will be guests. If you wish, they will remain observers and not take part in the negotiations. We will represent their interests. Is this permissible?

ooc: they will remain there until the washington conference is over after that however, they will must likely either return to what remains of AH or if AH is completly destroyed than move to south america.


OOC: Hmm....I would've liked to hire them as permanent staff, but they're your guys, after all.

OOC: Hmm....I would've liked to hire them as permanent staff, but they're your guys, after all.

If you could go on chatzy, we can discuss it.

If you could go on chatzy, we can discuss it.

I know what that is, but I'll need the link.

http://www.chatzy.com/684093003041

Washington Treaty thread
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=9529208#post9529208

By orders I mean, the Kaiser requests and offers the best medical care in the world (arguably) to the Tzar. I'm not trying to rule Russia :p

Parthini']By orders I mean, the Kaiser requests and offers the best medical care in the world (arguably) to the Tzar. I'm not trying to rule Russia :p
Germany get on Chatzy, now! We really need to talk right now.

They are the friends of France and will be guests. If you wish, they will remain observers and not take part in the negotiations. We will represent their interests. Is this permissible?
Yes. This is perfectly reasonable.

Romania of course abides with the ceasefire and will send a representetive to washington

These events (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9531290&postcount=17) were also posted in the Washington Conference (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=440593&page=1&pp=15), along with a very hard line the Russians are taking. Since I have to be prepared for the peace talks to collapse, I'm posting them here as well.

Provisional Civil Governments and Transfers of Sovereignty

Governing councils will be formed in Czechoslovakia (Bohemia absent the Sudetenland, and Moravia) and Yugoslavia (Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Macedonia) consisting of local politicians who are willing to pledge their loyalty to independent government. Galicia is divided between Poland and Ukraine, in accordance with the Basic Law of the All-Russian Empire and Commonwealth. Transylvania will be formally handed over to Romanian sovereignty, while sovereignty in Austria and the Sudetenland will pass to the Crown of Prussia. The only officially "occupied" territory therefore remains Hungary (modern borders), and if local politicians there approach the Russian military government peacefully requesting independence, the Magyars will receive the same treatment and status as Czechslovakia and Yugoslavia.

The Provisional Governments of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia will be empowered to write their own constitutions and to handle matters pertaining to their own internal security (see below).

General Amnesty

All Austro-Hungarian Prisoners-of-War who are willing to pledge loyalty to the new governments of their native lands will be released on parole. Those who refuse to take a Loyalty Oath will still be released, but to join the refugees entering Italy.

Troop Dispositions

Troop rotations home are suspended. Though the effects on morale will not be good, nevertheless Russian armies are recently victorious, and if they’re told the truth (i.e., that the League wants to undo all their hard work) they’ll probably for the most part be just as outraged at the League as the Russian leadership. The cavalry will continue to be shipped to the Ottoman Empire, as will most of the artillery. Some of the latter will be held back, however, as the harbors and mountain passes of Macedonia, Montenegro, Dalmatia, and Slovenia will be heavily fortified in case of an anticipated League attack.

The Provisional Governments of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, as well as Polish and Ukrainian Galicia, will be given full authority to raise and train their own militia and police forces, and the occupying forces here will be withdrawn to other fronts quickly (see below).

Those Armies thus freed from garrison duties will be dispatched, in order of priority (and experience), first to the Ottoman Front, then to the fortified positions in the Balkans, and finally to the German Front. Russian engineers will continue to enter Ottoman territory to help with fortifications, and also to improve the conditions of the road and railway systems.

Internal Imperial Reforms

Lithuanian conscript-laborers are beginning to be freed to Australian custody, and the mining and railway concerns on which they worked, in a gesture to placate the Labor movement, are being leased by the government to profit-sharing co-operatives. It is believed that these enterprises will be far more efficient than the slave-labor system previously employed, and the start-up capital for them has already been provided by the State, while land reform and returning veterans will make up for any labor shortages.

On the other hand, regulations will be loosened and tax-breaks provided to encourage more rapid development of heavy industry, particularly steel production and (surprise, surprise) munitions manufacturing.

Further reforms are discussed, but tabled until after the Imperial Commonwealth Elections in January.

French Troop Movements
On all fronts French troops continue to dig in and fortify their positions. An army is transferred from the Alps back to the Western Front.

When news of the abandonment of Austria reached the remaining army units in that embattled country, morale collapsed. Even the NCOs and most of the officer corps despaired. They saw no way to defend their Empire any longer. Units fell apart as first the junior enlisted, and then many of the officers trudged for home. Even some of the generals gave up in despair.

Although the political leadership may not know it yet, the idea of the Hapsburg Empire was over.

In Prague, Zagreb, and the other cities and towns of the Empire, local leaders took power, usually supported by troops from the local area. Imperial officials either joined them, or resigned and went home, or in some cases, if particularly odious, met summary justice.

Even in Austria, the same thing occured. Mobs began marching on the apparatus of government and they quickly brought it down. Usually without much of a struggle. The people had spoken. The Hapsburg Empire, the survivor of the Holy Roman Empire that lasted nearly 1,000 years, was gone.

The Generals in Hungary and Austria were realistic men. They knew the troops wouldn't fight, or at least, too few would, and the that Russians and Germans now crushingly outnumbered them since the other League troops had retreated.

One of them, General Conrad, had been reading up on General Robert E. Lee, whose former home hosted the peace conference. He learned from Lee's decision to surrender to Grant instead of drawing out the war indefinitely through terrorism and brigandage. The other generals and admirals agreed.

A note was sent to the Germans and Russians
"All Imperial Troops that remain under the authority of the General Staff will surrender unconditionally, or, if preferred, will disarm and return to barracks or their homes. No resistance will be offered. Although the civilian government is acting unwisely, the Army and Navy have a responsibility to the people. We will not continue this war."

and so, with the agreement in Washington DC and the surrender of the Hapsburg Army, the Great War finally came to an end

Millions dead, Europe changed forever, and vast amounts of treasure and blood spent.

the Human cost of the Great War -- casualties

Coalition
Germany -- 1,500,000 (585,000 dead) plus 9 battleships, 20 protected cruisers, 11 armored cruisers, 30 destroyers

Russia – 2,300,000 (1,035,000 dead) plus 9 battleships, 1 cruiser, 20 destroyers, 30 torpedo boats

Turkey (Ottoman Empire) – 1,500,000 (825,000 dead) plus 7 battleships, 3 protected cruisers, 15 destroyers, has lost Crete

Rumania 200,000 (75,000 dead)
Macedonia -- 50,000 (20,000 dead)
Greeks --- 100,000 (45,000 dead)
Serbia -- 250,000 (123,000 dead)

League
Austria – 2,000,000 (800,000 dead) plus 9 battleships, 2 light cruisers, 1 protected cruiser, 24 destroyers, 10 torpedo boats

Spain -- 200,000 (80,000 dead)
Italy -- 500,000 (185,000 dead) plus 2 battleships, 30 destroyers

France – 1,000,000 (370,000 dead) plus 8 battleships, 1 armored cruiser, 8 protected cruisers, 30 destroyers, 20 torpedo boats,

In addition, the peacetime death rate in all countries doubled for civilians for a number of different reasons

Monetary cost
actual Great War was $2.5 Trillion in current US dollars (figure 30% of that figure in 1908 dollars)
This Great War cost less, as no British or American involvement, lasted a year less

So final amount $1.5 Trillion in 2000 Dollars, or $600 Billion by 1908 dollars

League spent slightly more (325 Billion vs 275 Billion for Coalition)

actual break down by country will be posted on economic thread later today

for a total amount of debts, check here



http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9549729&postcount=134