These final years – the late ‘20s and early ‘30s – were mostly focused on military improvements, in the expectation that another Great Power might try to play “king of the hill” or that perhaps we might decide to undertake yet another great military adventure.
In March of 1929, Siam finally established a trading post and coaling station at Cabinda, on the Atlantic coast of Africa, immediately north of the Portuguese colonies and somewhat south of the Ottoman port on the Atlantic which so vexed us. At least our cordon across the belt of Africa prevented any further moves south by the Turks. The remainder was left to Siam, unless the Portuguese wished to contest it. Immediately, a Naval Base began construction in order to fully support expansion and operations along the Atlantic shores.
As you may (or may not) recall, the British were able to slip the neighboring country of Burma out of our Sphere of Influence some time back, and Burma’s value to Siam was frankly too small to bother getting them back.
Perhaps it was more British intrigue, or perhaps it was Burmese jealousy in wanting the attention of their grand neighbor once more, but their government surely sanctioned the mass demonstrations in the streets which eventually spilled over into our embassy. After some heated deliberations, Siam decided that it would “entrust” the Burmese government with the responsibility of restoring order, with a hint that if they did not…
These years were not without other troubles in our efforts to maintain our Sphere of Influence. There were just too many members in our Sphere to adequately guard each, and too many other Great Powers vying for so many of these same countries. We were still endeavoring to expand our Sphere to the Two Sicilies, and so our attention was focused elsewhere. These distractions meant that, despite the fact that we had built up a tremendous stock of goodwill with the Chinese court, the Russians were able to surprise us by removing China from the Siamese Sphere!!!
At the top of the screenshot, you can see the diplomatic situation immediately afterward. Russia had spent her influence, and Siam still had hers. But the obvious answer – to use our 100 points of Influence to restore China to our Sphere again – was complicated by the fact that Spain had almost enough to challenge us as well! If we intended to ever have China back in our Sphere, we would have to do some more foundation-building. We expelled Spain’s envoys, and set to work rebuilding the Influence there to fend off Russia, Spain, the French and the Americans, all of whom now believed China to be “in play.”
As a “consolation prize” we kicked the Turks around some more, in Sicily, by embarrassing their delegation at court. They came back quickly, but this situation had weakened their standing there, and thereby accelerated our efforts.
Please forgive the crowded nature of the screenshot, but I wanted to show you the Product-production situation around the world in 1928. As of that date, no country in the world was producing Barrels (Tanks), Clipper Convoys, or Radios.
Siam was among the top 5 producers of no fewer than 34 of the remaining 43 Goods, including most of those considered industrial or high-tech in nature! Ironically, considering Siam’s naval and maritime nature, Fish was not among these.
Siam, in 1928, was the world’s top producer of Rubber, Tropical Wood, Fabric, and Coffee. Typically, if Siam was the 2nd highest producer, the UK was first. The UK dominated the military industries (mostly shown in the upper left), while Siam trailed sadly. But since the UK was not necessarily hostile to Siam, we were able to purchase from them for our needs.
Other items of note: Siam is a close 2nd to the UK in Steel production, and the USA is a distant 5th. I don’t know how the Ottomans managed 4th. To support this Steel industry in Siam, though, much Iron must be imported (not all of it) from the USA. One of the world’s most important industries, in a time when navies held the balance of power, were Steamers, and the UK and Siam dominated that industry completely, Siam coming in a close 2nd in production. The USA and France, together, were the world’s only producers of Automobiles and Aeroplanes.
In January, 1930, the Socialists gained effective control of the Upper House again. We used this opportunity to enact Unemployment Reforms.
Now… Many readers had speculated about how we might use that Casus Belli against the Ottoman Empire. Many had also suggested that we should endeavor to connect our Levant territories (Palestine, etc.) with our Anatolian territories.
Siam had ended its war with the Ottoman Empire in November of 1924. In November of 1929, the truce came to an end, and we believed the time was ripe to again march against our most bitter foes.
As suggested, parts of the connecting territory between Anatolia and Palestine were our first concern. We laid claim to portions of old Babylon, west of the Tigris River. The Two Sicilies still controlled Syria, but they were no longer allies of the Turks, thanks to our diplomatic manipulations. Other puppets of the Turks did join the war, however, including the Serbians and the Greeks.
By the end of 1929, the first major battle at Rutbah had been won, and Siamese troops spread throughout the regions of Babylon and Anatolia.
A major naval battle was also won, destroying several Turkish transports in the Mediterranean. Another battle soon after sunk another 14 ships, for 24 total. The Ottoman Navy was already almost gone.
Siamese troops moved aggressively toward the west coast of Turkey and the Bosporous. Gen. Suriyawongeo was ordered to march to within sight of the straits at Uskidar, but not to advance (as he was known to be inept on the offensive, but capable in defense). The Turks did not immediately give battle, and so Siam's armies sieged and conquered.
A landing was made against Athens, and another against Montenegro, in the Adriatic Sea. Other armies marched east toward Persia, and more were landed upon the Persian coast from the Gulf.
Already, by the end of January, enough Warscore had been accumulated that we decided to add a second Wargoal -- Kuwait. The intent was to acquire a friendly Persian Gulf port to connect with our Omani possessions through the Persian Gulf. An army could, for instance, start at Jaffa on the Mediterranean coast, and march through Irak to Kuwait and take ship there. Or vice versa. This removes the necessity of using the Red Sea transit, which always passes by French possessions.
We accepted the Infamy for this expansion of the war, bringing us up to approximately 100 Infamy, I think (this is off the top of my head, but I think it's close).
As vast as the Ottoman lands are, this war is certain to continue for a time. But we have seen nothing yet to make us doubt our complete domination on the battlefield. It should be another easy war, unless the French decide to intervene. Or someone else.
