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Argentine Republic
We are more than glad to subscribe this military accord, that we see as a natural evolution from the ABC pact with Brazil and Chile. Forming a web of alliances with alike minded nations will safeguard our position amongst nations, while promoting the overall peace and prosperity.
On to more cheerful matters; in 1910 we will be celebrating the first centennial since the May Revolution, where we took our first steps towards independence and self Government. To commemorate the 100 years of our Nation's a grand scheme of celebrations are being planned, not only for our heroes of freedom, but to all the peoples that have come to make this soil theirs.
Looking at the success enjoyed by the Olympic Games, and while we are holding conversations with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, we formally announce our intention to hold a World Cup, inviting football teams from all the member associations of FIFA, to be held in the city of Buenos Aires during the fall of 1910.
OOC: TR is twitching like a march hair atm. Some people might be "unhappy" if the current tend continues...
République française
The Republic of France is pleased to announce the creation of the Atlantic Defense and Economic Network. The Six Founding Nations are to be France, Russia, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, and Chile. The newest two nations to our alliance are Portugal and the Netherlands. They have agreed to stand with the French in our attempts to create stability and peace in the world.
We would also like to announce we shall start construction on the Paris-Cadiz Railway as soon as possible, and that next year we await for the signature of Chile to begin construction of the Santiago-Buenos Aires-Rio de Janeiro Railroad.
January - December 1907
Europe
Europe
In the United Kingdom, the British Government, after constructing the first real practicable method of air transportation, passes a bill sending a lot of money to the young aviators, who try and try, but still cannot find an engine powerful enough to push the machine through the air extended periods of time. In the United States, the General Motors Corporation creates a new engine, which the British start to use.
[-35,000 Gold from the United Kingdom. +1.5 Air Levels to the USA. +1 Air Level to the United Kingdom in 1 turn.]
Across the British Empire, strongpoints such as Malta, Gibraltar, Ceylon, and the Suez Canal are invested into, using British-made guns in Southern England, they were all outfitted with large naval guns, and massive new fortifications. This move was seen as largely defensive, and many in the nation were suspicious as to why the British Government would do such a thing. Nevertheless, the construction went forward as planned.
[+1 Infrastructure level to the United Kingdom in 1 turn. -75,000 Gold from the United Kingdom.]
The British Isles, long the center of the world when it came to manufacturing, sees a rapid pace of modernization, where the House of Commons opens with a bill allocating funds and low-interest loans to some businesses and factories that will help them use electricity or improve their production ability. Factories all across the Isles, some built all the way back in the 1830s and not touched since, saw improvements as production was streamlined and new coats of paint put up. Thousands of workers stopped to work in horrid conditions, as the factories were safer, as they were refurbished to the Government's Standards.
[+50 Industry to the United Kingdom. -105,000 Gold from the United Kingdom.]
Social Reforms across the British Isles are massively successful, as the Government orders a top-down reevaluation of the entire Government, which streamlined the overall ability for the average British to deal with the Government, and new, old-age pensions were set up, as well as a minimal form of welfare, so if you should lose your job, the Government would give you some money, not enough to live, but enough to make sure you didn't lose your home until you got a new job. The initial investment was able to cover the first three years, but after that, it would seem it would grow to start being drag on the economy.
[-75,000 Gold from the United Kingdom. -5,000 Base Income from the United Kingdom in 3 turns.]
In the French Republic, the government orders a massive spending into air technology and the industry needed to make aircraft. The influx of money, which was given to the leading minds of the aeronautics industry, which in turn they used to invest, and copy, some designs from overseas. The French inventors took an engine from an American Chevrolet Car, and modified it to be lighter and slightly more powerful. The resulting invention was an aircraft engine, capable of keeping an aircraft up for at least half an hour.
[-90,000 Gold from France. +1 Air Level to France. +5 Industry to France.]
The French Aircraft that uses the modified Chevrolet Engine flying in Southern France.
The French Armed forces expand, with the French Parilment passing a bill to bring the country up to a more able fighting power. The old French Army was weak an innefficent, which was somewhat the cause of the loss in the Three Emperor's War. Although none said it, all the military experts in France knew that this was preparation for any future War with Germany.
[+400,000 Regulars to France.]
The Spanish Government, for the second year in a row, sends money to the Russian Empire to help them with their revolutions and the war they were in. The Spanish People, noticing the deteriorating situation in the country, began to lose faith in the Government, which seemed to care more about the people of Russia than the people of Spain.
[-20,000 Gold from Spain. +20,000 Gold to Russia. -2 Stability from Spain.]
Spanish Warships show up at the Bosporus Strait, to try and assist in cleaning it up, but a bad storm causes a ship to veer out of control, and slams into a sunken German ship, which unsettles its weapons cache, causing the ship to explode, bringing the Spanish Ship to the bottom of the Strait, clogging it up even more.
[-1 Large Ship from Spain.]
The Spanish Automobile Manufacturing industry, long plagued by bad engines, with demands from the Spanish Government, to invest and look into making a better engine. One company, La Royale creates an efficient, clean burning, electric engine, but the cost to make it is so enormous to make, that the Spanish Government sues for its money back, and the company goes under.
[-40,000 Gold from Spain.]
Efforts to reform the Government are not as impressive as it should have been, but it did accomplish removing some corrupt officials, which was able to save Madrid some money every year, but not even close to what they expected to get from it. Education reform as well stalls because many of the corrupt officials were, ironically, from the Education Department.
[+200 Base Income to Spain.]
The Kingdom of Italy, now renamed to the State of Italy, experianced a shaky and odd peace, with the country going back to work, and the heavy-handed Government, run by the military, expanded factories, and provided subsidies to mines and farms, all to try and make Italy more self-sufficent. An economic boom in Southern Italy occurred, with factories being opened up, and land taken from farmers and given to other farmers, making the land plots bigger, and freeing up the population to go work in Factories.
[+5 Industry to Italy. -56,000 Gold from Italy. +1,000 Base Income to Italy.]
The Italian Army begins to consolidate it's control over the country, and reforms itself to be central to most points of life in Italy. As more people technically enter the army, some new ideas begin to flow. Surprisingly, they are very good ones, and will help Italy in the future.
[+3 Army Levels to Italy. -15,000 Gold from Italy.]
Shipyards across Italy are given orders from the Government to construct ships of all kinds. The Military's goal is to make Italy the dominate naval power in the Meditteranian, and challenge the might of the French Republic, and to generally police the area, as they felt they had the rightful claim to it.
[-45,000 Gold from Italy. +5 Large Ships in 3 turns. +15 Small Ships in 2 turns.]
The Berlin-Babylon Railway reaches the border of Austria, as Austrian workers take over the burden of construction. They demand higher wages than the German Workers, and the Berlin Government had no choice but to accept the demands of the Austrian Workers, as half of the German Workers had already gone home and could not be used to build the railway.
[Berlin-Babylon Railway (2/8). Cost Remaining (1,000,000/1,250,000). -150,000 Gold from Germany.]
The German Automobile Industry begins to pick up Government funds flow to them, as well as from Krupp Industries, where the company uses the idea of mounting weapons on automobiles. The efforts prove to be fruitless, but the Automobiles begin to roll off the assembly line quicker and more efficently.
[+5 Industry to the German Empire. -45,000 Gold from Germany.]
In the German Reichstag, Chancellor Reinhart von und zu Birckenfeld helps to pass a bill that reforms the welfare system, away from one that encourages people to slack off and be lazy, to one that encourages them to work, so they do not have to go on this system, one that puts them as workers in the Government for a small wage. Thousands of Germans go back to work as factories restart production at their highest levels.
[+2,000 Base Income to Germany.]
The German Reichstag, which houses the Parliament that passed these new laws.
In the Danubian Federation, Škoda Works declares that it shall begin the construction of new factories around the nation, but the first one was to be located outside Budapest, Hungary. Due to the lack of industrialization in the areas outside Budapest, Škoda Works felt that this would help move some people off their farms and further expand the city outwards.
[+2 Industry to the Danubian Federation in 1 turn.]
In Vienna, a new College of Aviation is founded. Using funds from some private landholders who donated to the Government, the Danubian Government purchased an Airplane from the British Empire and used it to base their aviation program around it. Hundreds of people signed up for this class, eager to help the Danubian Federation, and to advance the cause of the Danubian Air Force.
[+1 Air Level to the DF. -15,000 Gold from the DF. +15,000 Gold to the UK.]
A factory to produce airplanes for the College of Aviation.
Documentation is spread throughout the Federation that was intented to bring the other minorities closer into the fold. It was targeted at the Polish Population in the Danubian Federation. Even as the Army marched through and conquered the territory under rebel control, there was still the issue of dissatisfied Poles. This propaganda, and military occupation, helped to bring Galacia back into the fold, even with Independence-minded Poles still existing in the Danubian Federation.
[+1 Stability to the DF.]
Taxes across the Danubian Federation were lowered, mostly on the wealthy in the nation. Even though it did slow the intake of income, these wealthy people reinvested into expanding some mines and some farms, which helped to close the gap and even increase tax revenue to the Danubian Government.
[+1,000 Base Income to the Danubian Federation.]
Across the Ukraine, the Russian Empire spends massive amounts of money to reinvest and help raise the ravenged countryside. The costs spiral out of control, but old German Military Railroads are taken over, farms and mines are reopened, and roads are built. After all was said and done, the Ukraine was one of the most advanced parts of the Russian Empire, effectivly stopping any support for the Ukranian rebellion.
[+5,000 Base Income to Russia. +2 Infranstucture to Russia. -200,000 Gold from Russia.]
All across the Russian Empire, money was poured into the nation from the Government's coffers, with the intent of expanding farms and mines, and even opening new industrial centres. The money spent was nearing massive levels, but the Russian Officals pushed ahead, determiend that this was the best way to advance the nation into the modern era.
[+2,000 Base Income to Russia. +15 Industry to Russia. -350,000 Gold from Russia.]
The Russian Army takes the intiative in Northern Russia, and assaulted the Communists with everything they had. The Red Army of Karelia was crushed, and the Finnish Soviets also collapsed. The Communists in the East, however, only grew in power, as they expanded their territory and consoloated their control of what they had.
[-20,000 Regulars from Russia.]
The military expansion of the Greek Army continued with the recruitment of additional soldiers, as well as equipping them with the necessary tools of their trade. The government also established a parallel Hellenic Navy Marine Corps, some 1 000 strong.
[+10,000 Regulars to Greece. -6,000 Gold to Greece]
Unfortunately, the Athens-Larissa railway company was rapidly derailed once again. Consumer confidence in the project was at an all-time low after the repeated failures of the Greek government to handle the severe corruption that had befallen it or to even catch the culprits, and attempts to ‘prime the pump’ by the government failed.
[-500 Gold to Greece]
The increase in subsidies to the Greek chemical industry would help fund expansion, increasing their prospect of development. Knock-on effects were also had in the agricultural industry due to the increase in cheap fertilizers.
[+3 Industry to Greece. -15 000 Gold to Greece]
Venizelos, Manos, and Therissos, leaders of the Revolution, at Theriso
The concept of “enosis”, or unity, had been one that had long captured the imaginations of the Greek people. The Greek government’s moves to support enosis would carry dividends in the east, where many Greeks labored under the government of the Ottoman Turks. In Constantinople and Anatolia, the Greek population remained quiescent only under the eye of the Ottoman military. In Cyprus, however, the situation was worse. Under the nominal control of the Ottoman Turks, effective control and administration had remained in the hands of the British since 1878; initial hope that this would lead to independence or union as it had in the Ionian Islands had rapidly faded as the British retained all powers in the hands of their own High Commissioner, representing the government of London rather than that of Nicosia. With the Greek government’s moves, the movement for union took on an uglier air, and bands of brigands began to roam the countryside, attacking the Turkish minority. The legislative council, weak as it was, began to speak out openly in support of enosis, causing still greater political headaches for the High Commissioner.
[Severe unrest in Cyprus]
The Treaty of Athens oversaw the cession of Crete to Greece. This move towards unity greatly enhanced the prestige of the Greek government domestically, and people flocked to the banner in support of their government. The four Great Powers (Britain, Russia, France, Italy) that maintained permanent garrisons on the island as well as consulates, saw their influence with the now-disgraced High Commissioner Prince George and the now-dissolving government of the Cretan State greatly diminished by the new union, but people like Cretan Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos were unconcerned with their plight.
[-10 000 Gold; +400 Income to Greece. +10 000 Gold; -400 Income to Ottoman Empire. +1 Stability to Greece. Crete ceded to Greece]
Increasing trade with the Italians would see dividends for the Greek government as well. Though only a marginal increase for both nations, it was not entirely insignificant.
[+100 Base Income to Italy. +100 Base Income to Greece]
The nascent Serbian navy would begin the first of its military drills, attempting to improve its effectiveness. As the sailors familiarized themselves with the foreign equipment, their effectiveness increased.
[+1 Naval Level to Serbia.]
The port review of the Serbian government brought up several disturbing findings, not the least of which included systematic weaknesses in the port infrastructure necessary to handle ships of the size they were now operating. Serbian government officials would begin a full-scale investment to expand the ports pursuant to these findings, with the intent of turning .
[+2 Naval Levels to Serbia in 1 turn. -15 000 Gold to Serbia]
The Serbian review of their government for signs of corruption or inefficiency would find absolutely no problems with corruption in their government. None at all. Honest. Certainly, no one was siphoning off money from the naval expansion to line their own pockets; perish the thought.
[-300 Gold to Serbia]
The Serbian government’s attempt to push the development of electrical technology with Nikola Tesla at its head unfortunately ran into one tiny flaw – Nikola Tesla himself. He began to work, at considerable expense, on various long-distance wireless transmission-reception experiments, attempting to transfer electricity wirelessly and continuing his work at Colorado Springs, but was quickly distracted by unusual radio broadcasts that he claimed were coming from Venus or Mars, and would ascribe to denizens of those planets. This caused significant embarrassment to the Serbian government, and several lower-level government officials, independent of the Government’s position of full support to Tesla, would begin to obstruct his further research, which had provided absolutely no benefits of consequence to the Serbian government.
[-2 Prestige to Serbia. -1,000 Gold to Serbia.]
Romanian attempts to woo Danubian German Günther Burstyn to Romania failed miserably. A patriot and officer of the Danubian Army, he saw absolutely no reason to depart for Bucharest, in spite of the tempting Romanian offer for unlimited funds and engineers to work on his projects. However, the Romanian offer did inspire him, and he began work on improving his previously-rejected armored cars with weaponry, which he would propose to the Danubian army.
The Romanian government would also begin to beg its people to donate funds to the government, with moderate success. Flush with patriotism and the victory, people proved willing to open their pocketbooks to buy government bonds.
[+1,000 Gold to Romania]
North America
In the United States, President Roosevelt, after watching the conclusion of the Three Emperor's War, ordered that the American Army inspect and look at the tactics Germany used, and demanded that these tactics be taught as they appeared to be superior or at least something that can be learned from. A German General was paid to be brought over to the United States, and a training camp in North Carolina was put under his command, producing some of the best soldiers in the entire country. These tactics were spread to the rest of the Army, vastly improving the American Army.
[+5 Army Levels to the USA. -130,000 Gold from the USA.]
President Roosevelt attempts to push a bill through Congress that would establish an intelligence gathering organization. However, many Republicans, who feared that the increasingly Progressive President would use it to gather information on corporations and Party Insiders, filibustered the entire bill, and didn't allow it to pass. However, from the time the Government was completely shut down, several much needed bills were ignored completely, making many citizens angry at the Republican Party and the President for holding everything up.
In Aruba and Curaçao, President Roosevelt orders the construction of New Naval Bases on these islands, but a leaked document that showed that the President intended to annex these islands into the United States. The entire country, still angry over the holdup of the Government, rebukes the President, as the entire nation seems to take an anti-Colonialist agenda. The Naval Bases are canceled by members of the Navy Department, who were concerned with keeping the Republicans in power.
The proposed site of the naval base in Curaçao.
A GI Bill, that extended education to any soldier who served in the Three Emperors War or in the Philippines, is passed by the United States Congress, which is expected to create a small, but highly intelligent, class of hard working, very productive workers and business owners.
[-50,000 Gold from the USA. +15,000 Base Income in 5 turns.]
In Canada, the Prime Minister gives a grand speech, talking about how all Canadians fought bravely in the Three Emperors War, and that all of Canada must come together if they are to forge a new future. The citizens all come out in droves as the Prime Minister's speech is spread through the entire nation, and reprinted many times. His popularity soars, giving him more power in Parliament to get his agenda passed.
[+2 Stability to Canada.]
Budget Cuts in the Dominion of Canada are underway, all of which were hand-picked by economists, who knew where the waste, fraud, and abuse were. This, along with a reformation of the Tax Code and a cleaning out of the bureaucracy, the Canadian Government was reporting of record incomes to the Government.
[+2,500 Base Income to Canada.]
With the new found budget surplus, the Canadian Government enacts a slight policy of spending the new money. In the first areas, the Army Reform Act of 1907 passes the Canadian Parliament by a wide margin, allowing the military to have access to German Generals and War plans captured by Commonwealth forces, and it is put to good usage in the
Canadian Army.
[+4 Army Levels to Canada. -20,000 Gold from Canada.]
Following the Army Reform Act, the Canadian Government passes the Roads and Rails Bill of 1907, which has the express intent of creating a better system of roads in Southern Ontario. As construction started, money from the Commonwealth, British Banks investing in Canada, picked up most of the cost of this expansion, much to the surprise of the Canadian Officials.
[+1 Infrastructure to Canada in 1 turn. -5,000 Gold from Canada.]
Digging in the Canal Zone starts on the Atlantic End, as American Workers proudly pick up a shovel, and axe, or get behind the wheel of a digger and pound away at the dirt. President Roosevelt sent a message to the workers, congratulating them and saying that they are forging the path of progress with their sweat, and their work shall forever be remembered.
[-150,000 Gold from the United States. Canal Progress (2/9)]
South America
In Brazil, the Government attempts to set up a program of pensions to families of dead or incapacitated soldiers. The problem was that the previous Government, still deeply rooted in corruption, was unable to get this program working for the people, and instead most of the money was left in the Government's coffer, and very few families were able to get paid.
[-2,500 Gold from Brazil.]
The arid lands of the Brazilian Northeast are put under major scrutiny by the Brazilian Government, with new irrigation systems and water canals being constructed. However, government faults and a faulty construction with the intake valves, the entire canal was set up, but no water could flow into it due to the design flaws. In order to change it, the government concluded it would double the costs, and instead looked towards the Empress for an answer to continue or not.
[-75,000 Gold from Brazil. +1 Infrastructure to Brazil if they invest to fix the Canals]
In Southern Brazil, the Government undergoes an explosive effort to try and bring machines to the agricultural production of the nation. Factories are open as the Brazilian Government pays for the new effort. Production takes a massive upswing, but their inability to get goods to market hampers economic progress. Nevertheless, more people in Brazil had more food on their plates, but massive piles of non-edible goods piled up in towns and cities.
[+1,000 Base Income to Brazil. -10,000 Gold from Brazil. +2 Industry to Brazil.]
The shattered city of Rio de Janeiro, once held by corrupt officials, was almost completely demolished, and the area mostly leveled. The filth and grim of the old city was removed, and a brand new city was constructed on the ruins of the old one. A massive, European-style city was erected, with roads and bridges being the norm, and railways crisscrossed the city's grid, providing for excellent transportation. Dockyards were revamped, and special railway sidings for cargo to be loaded and unloaded were created. Overall, the city of Rio de Janeiro was a massive new, grand city. The first elections took place in the city, and the after a vote by the General Assembly, the City of Rio de Janeiro was renamed to the City of Brasília.
[+2,000 Base Income to Brazil. +2 Stability to Brazil. +5 Industry to Brazil.]
The last remaining oligarchic holdouts retreated from Brazil, and entered into the surrounding states, supported by the Anti-Brazilian League, while the Brazilian Army was successful in rooting out the rest of the Oligarchs, but they still had a framework outside of the country, and while they were lying low, it was possible that they could re-emerge as a national force.
A new team to search oil was sent to Comodoro Rivadavia and Neuquen, search began steadily, going from one place to another. Until finally the announcement was made: OIL! OIL! LOTS OF IT! BLACK GOLD! WE FOUND IT! Soon machinery was imported from Buenos Aires and sent to the rich oilfields. For this enterprise to be done, the government made a radical action. It created the first state owned oil company in the world, the Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales (YPF;"Treasury Petroleum Fields"), who's president Argentine military engineer Enrique Mosconi had the ideal of making Argentina independent from the rest of the world regarding energy. It is expected that for 1908 production shall reach 2.2 million barrel, or 30% of Argentina needs. With the oil industry booming thanks to the great demand of oil plus the steadily amount of qualified workforce to operate such machinery, new industry appeared, the ones to supply the new industry. Small villages soon turned into busy cities since thousands of people started migrating from Buenos Aires to the Patagonia in search for job, thus making the overcrowding of Buenos Aires less severe. Still, for the richness of the South to reach the main cities, investment in infrastructure has to be made.
[-40,000 Gold Argentina, +5 industry to Argentina, +3,000 base income WHEN Argentina develops 1 level of infrastructure]
Argentina and France signed a naval agreement were stipulated the selling of French warships to Argentina, among them two Battleships, three Armoured Cruisers and three Cruisers, plus the training required for Argentinean officers and the knowledge needed to develop modern naval facilities, all that for the cheap sum of 25,000,000 $. Many called them the deal of the decade.
[-25,000 Gold from Argentina, +25,000 Gold to France, +3 Naval Levels to Argentina, +2 Large Ships to Argentina, +6 Small Ships to Argentina, -2 Large Ships to France, -6 Small Ships to France.]
Though there weren't all great news to Argentina, the materials needed to finish the construction of the Transandine Railway connecting Argentina and Chile were directed to the development of the oilfields.
[-50,000 Gold from Argentina]
Finally the Banco Industrial Nacional (National Industrial Bank) was established. It's goal was to provide cheap loans to entrepreneurs who wished to set up industry. With the increasing demand of goods by the oil boom it didn't take much time to new industries to appear.
[-40,000 Gold from Argentina, +5 Industry to Argentina in 2 turns]
Chile tried to invest heavily on mining equipment, but the great demand Argentina programs made meant that there wasn't much left to work with, it had swallowed most of the South American demand for such equipment. Still something was left, but it costed a lot.
[-25,000 Gold from Chile, +1 Industry to Chile]
Military was also tried to be expanded, but again the amount of explosives Argentina imported meant that the market was dry of such goods, again here was something left.
[-25,000 Gold from Chile, +1 Military Level to Chile]
One last attempt to promote Chile's industry was made. And it proved disastrous, the idea was to reduce federal regulations on business, to promote further growth. But it backfired since business took opportunity to avoid paying taxes and to play with both the offer and the demand to increase their revenues thus making the consuming sector suffer the consequences. This of course angered a lot of people since they felt their government wasn't caring for them.
[-5,000 Gold from Chile per turn until this is solved, -1 Stability to Chile.]
Africa
In Northern Africa, the State of Italy orders an ultimatum to the Ottoman Empire: Give the Italian State Libya and there shall be no hostilies. Failure to do so shall result in a state of war between the two countries. The Ottomans refused, and the Italian State decalres War on the Ottoman Empire in the middle of 1907. Fighting between the two countries started with the Italian Navy searching and sinking an Ottoman Convy that was travling to Libya. The coast of Syria and Southern Anatolia were blockaded, sinking the Ottomans deeper into debt from loss of trade.
[-500 Base Income to the Ottoman Empire due to war. -3 Small Ships from the Ottoman Empire.]
The British Empire destined funds to establish new roads and rail-roads in the newly acquired colonies in Africa. Unfortunately tropical diseases as the made the work impossible to be done. It was noted that a local insect, the Tsetse fly had something to do with, since every person that was struck by it felt drowsy and died in the following weeks.
[-25,000 Gold from the UK]
The government of South Africa attempted to establish a modern rail-road to the newly discovered gold mines, but since the social conflicts between the British, Germans and Boers was never look into it social tension raised between the three people and none work could be started.
Another project was the expansion of the South African army, with the Great War over, South Africa found itself needing of a bigger army to defend it interests, and of course to aid it's motherland.
[+7,500 regulars to South Africa, -7,500 Gold from South Africa]
Attempting to gain more immigration was made with mediocre results, with the war over few people felt like leaving their homes to a new land far far away. Still some villages were able to be formed with some immigrants.
[+100 base income to South Africa]
Finally, the project that was most successful in the year of 1907 for South Africa, was also the most controversial. The Parliament approved some laws giving same rights of white people to black people, while progressive and all, the people of South Africa, specially the Boers hated the slight idea of seeing a "negroe" walking freely around their neighbourhood or having any position of real power. Accusation started growing against the Parliament calling them traitors to South Africa and it's "people". Some of them began organizing a new party, the Ossewabrandwag, not only their xenophobic tendencies with the negroes were quite popular, but also it was openly anti-British and pro-German. With the recent victory of Germany in Europe and many of them being from German ancestry they began seeing Germany as the sole superpower of the world. The Boers supported this party since they were still angry at the British for the atrocities committed by them during the Boer War. South Africa was slowly becoming a boiling point of politics.
[-3 Stability to South Africa, some rights acquired for black population, Ossewabrandwag (fascist) party formed and becoming popular]
In the Italo-Ethiopian War, now that Italy had cleared things back home, a new expeditionary army was formed composing of 80,000 regulars. Going through the Suez and the Atlantic they finally landed in Somalia, were an Ethiopian army was waiting for them. During the landings Ethiopians got the upper hand, but wave after wave of Italian soldiers overwhelmed them, pushing them back inland into Somalia were fighting continued. Raising Somalians troops, the Ethiopians were able to hold off the advanced of Italian troops, until both sides reached a stalemate. The war was becoming weary for both sides, since looses were amounting and no clear result was in the horizon.
[-10,000 regulars to Italy, Italy controls half of Somalia]
Asia
In the Ottoman Empire, the deadlock in the Parliament that had crippled the Ottoman Empire for the past couple of years had finally come to a close. This occurred after Sultan Abdul Hamid II gave a rousing speech in Parliament, telling the Parliament that its inability to work together was “preventing the Ottoman Empire from reaching its full potential,” urging Parliament “to come together, to show the world the might of the Ottomans.” This powerful speech was met with a loud applause from many Parliament members, and almost immediately they went back to work. Previous legislation that had expired was quickly re-instated, with some of the glaring inefficiencies in said laws being removed. This sudden burst in activity jump started the Ottoman economy yet again, and many citizens were relieved that action was yet again being taken inside of the government.
[All base income penalties removed, +500 base income to the Ottoman Empire, +1 Stability to the Ottoman Empire]
The Ottoman Parliament agreeing to come together.
After his resounding success in rallying Parliament, Sultan Abdul Hamid II sought to tackle his next issue, the Babylon project. Progress had been slow ever since the start of this ambitious project, as the Sultan lacked funds due to the recent deadlock. So it was for this reason that he asked many foreign investors to give funds to help begin the process, and encouraged others to set up new industry and business in the future. As good as the intentions were, many European governments saw this as a groveling of sorts, and their already low opinion of the Ottoman Empire dropped further. Furthermore, many investors were hesitant to put so much money in a project that had barely been developed.
[-10 Prestige from the Ottoman Empire]
Sultan Abdul Hamid II also desired to entice Chemical Synthesizers to come to the Ottoman Empire and set up businesses. In order to do this, he cut all taxes on the Chemical industries down to an astonishing low 0.5%. However, the recent turmoil in the Ottoman Empire left many investors and owners reluctant to begin their trade in such a seemingly dangerous place, especially when there are much safer and prosperous markets in Europe. One venturous businessman did decide to take the chance and establish a plant, but his company quickly went under, and the Ottoman government was forced to subsidize him.
[-20,000 Gold from the Ottoman Empire, -2,500 Base Income from the Ottoman Empire]
After being blocked off with the decayed carcasses of French and German ships for the last couple of years, the Ottoman Empire finally got around to cleaning the Bosphorus Strait. Progress was steady, with Ottoman workers able to clear ¼ of the debris that rested in the bottom. Most of the funding was given by the Russian Empire, who pledged earlier to fund 25% of the project.
[Bosphorus Cleanup ¼ Complete, -125,000 Gold from Russia]
Further to the East, in Qing China, the Guangxu Emperor set about improving the infrastructure of his nation, ordering the construction of a railroad from Guangzhou to Beijing, in an attempt to connect the numerous seaside ports that dotted the Chinese coast. Unable to solicit a foreign company to build the railroad for him, he instead decided to try and build the rail-line domestically, employing thousands of Chinese from the country-side. However, it soon became apparent after a few months that the government lacked both the proper logistics and the necessary skilled workers to complete the task. Fortunately for the Qing Empire, the project was cancelled before the project became too expensive.
[-5,000 Gold from the Qing Empire]
Seeing as his navy was considerably weaker than his self-professed rivals, the French and the Japanese, he set about changing the organization of the Chinese Navy, instead of the seemingly tougher task of actually constructing more advanced ships. In order to do this, he dissolved the Regional Fleet System and regrouped the navies under the command of a general Admiral Staff directly loyal to the Emperor. Many Chinese Admirals, already distrustful of Beijing, saw this as a direct threat to their power over the local towns and cities. Taking large amounts of flak from the Navy, the Guangxu Emperor had to quickly renounce his dissolution, lest he face a coup.
[-1 Stability from the Qing Empire]
Despite the failures in reorganizing the navy and the construction of the rail-line, he was still determined to create a national postal service. Initially he had planned to use the Guangzhou-Beijing line, but after its cancellation, he was forced to reconsider his options. He then discovered that many roads between the ports and cities had not been paved, and that a somewhat functioning postal service could be operated should these roads be paved. Within months, many parts of Qing China had seen raved roads for the first time, not only lowing for the creation of the postal service, but for an increased throughput of goods in general.
[+1 Infrastructure to Qing China, -20,000 Gold from Qing China]
Finally, the Sino-Japanese war had come to an end, with the signing of the Treaty of Osaka. The Qing Empire released the state of Manchuria as a puppet of the Japanese Empire of the East. Given the abundance of resources in the area, the Qing Empire naturally lost a chunk of income.
[-500 Base Income, -20 Prestige from the Qing Empire, +250 Base Income, +20 Prestige to Japan]
In April of 1907 approximately 350,000 Chinese soldiers surged forward into French Indochina. Expecting massive resistance from the remaining French remnants, they were surprised to find the major defense positions abandoned, meeting only small rearguard forces, sometimes purely comprised of conscripted locals. Easily brushing these aside, the large Chinese force advanced quickly down the Indochinese coast, until they reached hue. After suffering horrendous casualties while attempting, the Chinese commander came to the realization that a large contingent of French Soldiers were defending Hue, which had become heavily fortified. Instead he opted to lay siege to the city. While the Chinese Army had managed to seal of the city’s and routes, occasional supplies would manage to slip down the river under the cover of the night. The city would have to be taken soon, as thousands of recently recruited French soldiers began to pour into Indochina.
[-8,000 Regulars from the French Third Republic, -75,000 Regulars from Qing Empire]
Also of note is the fact that the French Concessions in China were seized, still with high casualties to invading Chinese Forces, and that the once bothersome Tongmenghui rebel strongholds were overwhelmed with a surge of 400,000 Chinese Soldiers.
[-15,000 Regulars, -125,000 Conscripts from the Qing Empire, -2,500 Regulars from the French Third Republic, Tongmenghui Rebels Crushed]
In Tokyo, Emperor Meiji, in a rare public address preached about a new coming era of peace for Japan, following the previous six years of constant war. He spoke of the new prosperity that would result from the recent acquisition of the new protectorates in Korea and Manchukuo. He also spoke of the "New Step Forward" and his desire for Japan to become a dominate industrial power in the world.
[+2 Stability to Japan]
The Government also began a program to encourage entrepreneurs to found new businesses and railroad companies, in an attempt to harness the new resources from Manchuria. In particular, attempts were made to emulate the success of General Motors in the United States. However, these businesses quickly collapsed as less expensive and superior quality American cars, among other goods, began to be imported in large quantities.
[-20,000 gold from Japan, +1,000 base income to the USA]
There were also attempts made by research teams to study European weaponry and use the technological secrets gathered from these weapons in designing new weapons to be used by the Imperial Army. However, many of the researchers were extremely xenophobic, and believed they could design better weapons. Unfortunately, it was only discovered that these weapons had several flaws after they were issued to troops.
[-1 Army Level for 1 turn to Japan, -20,000 Gold from Japan]
A group of Japanese Yakuza.
The government, in an effort to increase stability and order, began a project to build parks throughout the larger cities however; in the process of constructing these parks the homes of many of the poorer residents of these cities were demolished. To make matters worse, the compensation that had been set aside for these individuals was pocketed by corrupt officials and yakuza.
[-30,000 Gold from Japan, -1 Stability from Japan.]
The year was also marked by the return of many soldiers from the front lines to their families, the first such reunion in six years for many. The government made several attempts to recruit the former conscripts into the regular army, yet after facing many years of war, most conscripts voiced an over whelming desire for peace. This would latter erupt into a peace movement with support across the country.
[-150,000 Conscripts from Japan, Japanese population will look less favorably on new wars]
One of Britain’s Dominions, Australia, had decided to take steps to further increase her access to government revenue. On March 27th, legislation was passed that created a committee to reform the Australian tax system. This committee removed some of the more cumbersome wording of the Tax Laws, reduced some of the redundancies, and generally reduced a majority of the inefficiencies that existed within the code at the time. Also, the taxes were adjusted so that the more prosperous sections of commerce would have higher taxes, and the struggling ones lower, in order to relieve the burden on some of the less fortunate sectors of the economy. All-in-all, these new improvements to the tax code increased the tax income of Australia, giving her a new range of opportunities.
[+1,000 Base Income to the Australian Commonwealth]
After the encouragement received from the successes of the reformed tax codes, the Australian government set about increasing the industrial prowess of their nation. After much careful consideration, the Australian government decided to provide cash incentives in Victoria, due its immense wealth of natural resources. Unfortunately, it was all for naught, as a great deal of industries retroactively applied it to themselves, due to a poorly written clause. This came at a great cost to the Australian government, and the entire law was stricken.
[-25,000 Gold From the Australian Commonwealth]
Recently, the British Dominion of Australia had received a large number of former British colonies, including New Zealand and New Guinea, in an act of goodwill from the British Empire. By 1907, it had not been determined how these new areas would be integrated into Australia. Prime Minister Alfred Deakin decided that it would be best to admit them as equal provinces, their citizens possessing the same right of those of Australians. Many Kiwis and New Guineans were still resentful at what they saw as betrayal from the British Empire, and peaceful protests were held in Wellington and Port Moresby for days. Furthermore, many Australians didn’t consider the new territories as equals, especially New Guinea, which was still mainly inhabited by the natives of the area.
[-1 Stability from the Australian Commonwealth]
By October of 1907, rumors had been swirling that there were large gold deposits located in Western Australia, with some prospectors becoming immensely wealthy in a matter of days. Desperate to reverse the course that this year was on, Prime Minister Alfred Deakin ordered a survey of Western Australia be partaken. The results of the survey were astounding, indicating that not only were there large deposits of gold, but of iron ore and other key minerals as well. Urban legend has it that after the news, Prime Minister Alfred Deakin was seen at his favorite local bar, wearing a sombrero and drinking an ice cold beer. Permits were immediately given out and construction was commenced on the large shafts that begun to spring up throughout the area. Many started migrating to the west, looking for employment and the fleeting opportunity to become rich, fondly reminding some of the California Gold Rush.
[-2,000 Gold from the Australian Commonwealth, +7,000 Base Income to Australia]
A Mine in the Commonwealth of Australia.
Finally, in Persia, Sultan Mozaffar al-Din Shah Qajar sought to integrate the multiple religious and ethnic minorities that resided within Persia into Persian society. He launched a large propaganda campaign; using posters to urge those with different customs to abandon their beliefs, promising a new level of prosperity should they do so. However, forgotten by the Sultan, many Persians could not read, rendering many of the posters useless. Even those that could read simply ignored the posters, opting to continue their traditions.
[-3,000 Gold from the Sublime State of Persia]
Due to the creation of a series of steel factories, the Sublime State of Persia could now divulge in the creation of heavy infrastructure. Initially, the Sultan desired to create an extensive rail network, connecting Tehran, Mashhad, Karaj, Esfahan, and Tabriz, but fierce opposition from his cabinet forced him to reconsider the route. The railroad, built from Tabriz to Esfahan, passing through Tabriz, would connect the major steel factories. Work on the rail-line progressed quickly, and the contractors working on the project estimated that it would be completed by the end of next year.
[+2 Infrastructure in 1 Turn to the Sublime State of Persia, -60,000 Gold From the Sublime State of Persia]
A train on the new Persian Railway System.
The rapid expansion of the Persian railways had made the Sultan cocky, leading him to believe that government investment was superior to that of private enterprise. For that reason, his government personally took over the re-tooling process of the major armament factories in an attempt to speed up the process. The official in charge had made a fatal flaw in the designs, causing many rifles to be defective. Even worse, many of the defective rifles were handed out to the Persian Army. It took months before the Sultan had realized his mistake, and by then the retooling process had to be restarted yet again.
[-1 Army Level from the Sublime State of Persia, +2 Army Levels take 2 more turns now]
Understanding that his army would be overwhelmed should it be attacked, The Persian Government made inquiries into various gun manufactories about purchase of various weapons. However, the majority refused, unwilling to sell their secrets to a foreign power.
In India, the Army crosses the border into French-occupied India, where the Indian Government proclaims that they are liberating the people from French rule. The natives of that area, however, were fully against this act of Indian Aggression, and many rose up to defend their French Rulers. It was to no avail, as the Indians slaughtered their own people, marching in and forcing bread down the throats of the civillians, with hope that they'd settle down. The French Government was astonished at such a thing, and demanded that the British Government repremand the Indian Government and assist them in taking back their rightful land. The people of India, however, were not happy by this turn of events, and protests broke out all across the country.
[-1 Stability from India. -20 Prestige from India.]
In the Dominion of India, the electoral system was expanded to males above the age of 18, not tied to any type of class or caste, just what age they were. Many of the nobles in Indian society became uppity about this, and demanded that the Government change their stance or else. They were simply shot, and the entire programme was advanced. The reform passed on March 17, 1907 and was enacted the next month. The nobility was angry, but the lower classes where highly supportive of it.
Speeches across the India by key members of the cabinet and generally good speakers are held, ones in which the Government called for all Indians to join as one, and try to help the country advance economically. The overal notion was acceptable, but there will still some factions that disagreed and didn't want to help the new Government. However, the majority of the country came together to support the homeland.
[+1,000 Base Income to India.]
A new industrial centre is opened in Delhi, funded fully by the Government. New factories are set up and thousands of Indians go to work to help produce goods for their mother country. The costs do get out of hand though, but it was all fine, considering the new output of Delhi, advancing the Indian Economy forward.
[-55,000 Gold from India. +4 Industry to India in 1 turn.]
Sikkim and India sign an agreement, where Sikkim agrees to join the Dominion of India. The Prince was allowed to keep his position, and all the citizens of Sikkim were offered equal protection under Indian law. The people of Sikkim were grateful and happy to be welcomed into this Dominion, feeling safer and stronger because of it.
[+400 Base Income to India. Sikkim annexed by India.]
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This is not the End. The End for a Revolution is never. Men may die but a Revolution never will. We will continue the fight until Victory or the end of time itself. We are in the Right. We Ukrainians will not be opressed by the Russians any more. We will prove ourselves the stronger. We will last until the end fighting on for a Cause we know is right. Freedom is always a just cause. When history Judges us it will see us as Hero's fighting for an Impossible cause. We are Not a doomed band of Lunatics. We are true men fighting for a Righteous cause and making history with everyday. The Ukrainian Revolution will never end until the Formation of a True Ukrainian Free Republic.
Fellow Russians, revolutionaries we might have lost the North, but we still have the West! We must push forward through Siberia, onto the aristocrats of St. Petersburg!
- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
OOC: Looks, like were going to loose, but I rather play as another peaceful nation that can actually do something things domestically and on the international stage... Is that possible? Sorry for asking.
- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
OOC: Looks, like were going to loose, but I rather play as another peaceful nation that can actually do something things domestically and on the international stage... Is that possible? Sorry for asking.
Bulgaria is open. So is Northern Epirus, if you wanted to play in Europe.
Australia is also open, and a good choice.
Australia is also open, and a good choice.
OOC: Could I please play as Australia now? And Thandros, I know good for you but playing as the RSSR, is not really a good time for me.
People of China! Today has been a great year, we have founded the Chinese postal service so now your mail may be delivered across China quickly and reliably. Our attempt to construct a railway stretching along the entire coast has failed but we will try again and succeed. Meanwhile the Imperial Admirals have refused to accept the reforming of the navy. They will be dealt with. Glory to China and her people!
The Australian Commonwealth, would like to announce its pleasure in its new industrial and tax reforms. Furthermore, we would like to thank the British Empire for giving our nation the territories of New Guinea and New Zealand, they will become equals and have the same rights as Australians. A gold rush! I am glad to have found gold in our nation!
- Prime Minister Alfread Deakin, the Australian Commonwealth
- Prime Minister Alfread Deakin, the Australian Commonwealth