Edge of Europe - A Belgian Interactive AAR

[Andre Massena]

Apparently Monsieur Renard cares little regarding actual traitors.

Lt General P.M. Pilon

A crowd of factory workers carries an effigy of Williams outside the Parliament building

Hang Williams! Burn the traitor!

 

[Jackbollda]

- To the Minister for the Interior - Please take steps to disband all militia operating within Belgium. Any units wishing to fight can be transferred to the Army which could use the reinforcements. Any man not willing to fight within the Army is to be disarmed and sent home where they will be of greater use in working on the farms and factories than in alarming the populace with reckless displays of bravado whilst the real action is miles away.

Action this day

Frederic Burke
Prime Minister

The Viscount sadly addresses his men, disbanding the Garde Civile...

Hommes de la Gendarmerie de Wallonie, j'ai le devoir de vous mettre en courant... notre Premier Ministre, Monsieur Frédéric Burke, nous a commandé de disperser aussitôt que possible.
Ainsi, je dois vous ordonner de laisser tomber vos armes...

The Viscount allows this sad announcement to ring for a moment, but then raises his head, eyes sparkling.

...Pour le moment.

C'est la tâche de tous les sujets Belgiques de resister les Français toujours, pour l'indépendence cherie, même si notre gouvernement nous interrompe-- chaque fois que vous resistez, vous souvenez-vous des pertes Belgiques! Vos pères, leurs pères, toutes vos lignes de sang, ils n'ont jamais cessé de guerrer pour préserver le sacre royaume d'Arenberg!

Et vous doivez faire le même. Oui, c'est bon que vous resistiez maintenant, mais il faudra encore reprendre les armes pour garantir notre future ensemble!

Ainsi, gardez vos armes! Agissez de la silence, frappez des ombres! L'organization de notre grande milice ne finira jamais. Je déclaire la fin des opérations ouvertes, mais pas la fin des opérations.

Si un froussard ne veut continuer, parlez maintenant.

~The Viscount

The Viscount formally ceases the operations of the Garde Civile, while promising that it will rise again.

"En me renversant, les Socialistes n'ont abattu que le tronc de l'arbre de la liberté, mais il repoussera car ses racines sont profondes et nombreuses."

((Salient details are in English.))

 

[atomicsoda]

An open letter to the good Member of Parliament,

Dear Monsieur,

I would ask of your excellency to inform me of my slander, for have I not spoken the truth plainly? Has not the armed force, known as the People's Army, served with honour and dignity during both the Flemish crisis and these early months of this most great and terrible war, with a complete and utter lack of recognition from the press and the government? Or does the good Member of Parliament find the valour and moral supremeness of the Fatherland's finest, the creme of the crop as it were, lacking in the face of the French and the Austrians, both of whom we all recognise to be contemptible, subhuman cretins not fit to breath the same air or stride upon the same earth as any true Belgianman? Monsieur, I must insist that if you continue to make lies of a commanding officer, and refuse to acknowledge the bravery and most noble and commendable sacrifice of the common Belgian, who I believe you rightly profess to serve, then I have no other choice but to ask you to forfeit your seat in favour of a man who will recognise such courage; perhaps you would do well to visit the front, perhaps even speak with the wounded men of the People's Army, most of whom your government refuses to provide with arms and equipment despite our best efforts.

Sincerely,

Pierre Maurice Pilon, Lt General and Commander of the People's Army

-

An open letter to Henri Renard, "the Traitor of Belgium"

You treasonous swine,

You and your contemptible lot of hens, who would see fit to command the war from your armchairs and safely shielded miles away from the front, are the most rotten ,despicable, and wholly disgusting creatures to curse the hallowed halls of the Belgian Parliament, quite possibly on a par with those disgusting monstrosities that our brave men in the front, the People's Army most of all, have been giving their lives fighting against in the defence of our Fatherland! You, who would seek to dismantle volunteers, farmers and merchants, veterans and commonfolk, all of whom are so wholly committed to the protection of the great Fatherland, our HOMELAND, is without question the most horrific thing I have ever heard! Will we tell the men in the recruitment halls to go home next? Or, God forbid, if the French dogs enter into the Fatherland's blessed and bountiful land, that any partisans rising up against those tyrants and beasts be dismissed and called traitors?

Sir, if any man deserves to be arrested, it is you; you are a cancer to the society of Belgium, whilst the likes of Thadee, Lebeau, and the People's Army devote their entire being to our just and noble cause! We will not tolerate the advancement of your defeatist and treasonous political agenda!

P.M. Pilon, from the front to the cushioned couch of Monsiur Renard

M. Renard, sipping whisky and smoking a cigar while enjoying the company of nubile young women, reads the traitors letter. "Bah People's Army. He sounds like a dirty communist."

 

[Jackbollda]

Maybe we should make the RU illegal. it is clear their views are out of the touch with Belgium and they seek to destroy our constitution. If anyone is a traitor it is the RU.

In the state opera, during intermission, The Viscount finds Renard. He then slaps the Walloon minister roughly with his glove.

You bastard, I challenge you to a duel!



((Coordinated.))

 

[atomicsoda]

In the state opera, during intermission, The Viscount finds Renard. He then slaps the Walloon minister roughly with his glove.

You bastard, I challenge you to a duel!



((Coordinated.))

I accept. We shall fight with swords under one man pleads for mercy. ((Valyrian Steel preferably))

 

[Jackbollda]

I accept. We shall fight with swords under one man pleads for mercy. ((Valyrian Steel preferably))

Walking away haughtily, The Viscount grimaces, and considers the situation.

"I was expecting hand pistols... now I must brush up my epée. Hah. I have the truce day to get refreshed.

It's just like the Congo!"

 

[ThunderHawk3]

((The vote is now closed, but I'm not presently in a position to take a tally or update.))

 

[Davout]

((Whilst we wait))

The Belgian population thronged to the new Palais de Cinematheque which were springing up in every city and major town, to marvel at the footage of the Winter Offensive. Never before had the graphic images of the front line been brought to life at home.

[video=youtube;F7UK3ISdYY4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7UK3ISdYY4[/video]​

*****************************************************
The Prime Minister rubbed his weary eyes before reaching for another folder. One more report, then I will go to bed, he thought.

Burke startled at the firm, precise rap at the door which could only mean his Private Secretary, Jacques Henri. "I apologise for disturbing you, Prime Minister. Your wife has sent a message. She has asked that you read it urgently."

Burke looked at his watch to check the time and then realised the date. No date Mabel was chiding him for missing his own birthday dinner. Then Frederic noticed the look on Jacques' face, even more sombre than usual, and a sense of foreboding sent a shiver through his body.

"Is it Etienne?", Burke enquired. Before Jacques could reply, Burke answered his own question. Of course not, Xavier would have come himself to break the bad news if Burke's son had fallen in battle. "What does she say?"

Jacques avoided Burke's gaze and proffered the note. "It is best that you read for yourself, Prime Minister," as he then moved to leave Burke in private to consider the news.

Burke unfolded the note as if it were a bomb liable to explode at any second. As he scanned the paper, a tear formed, unfamiliar in a man who had steeled himself to grim news so recently, before running its course down his cheek and landing on the page.

******************************************************
The Bruges Courant
2 March 1904

Obituaries

Sir Edmund Burke KL (5 December 1818-29 February 1904) - Former Minister for Commerce for 20 years and more lately serving as a Senator, passed away peacefully in his sleep. Sir Edmund developed an interest in industry and commerce from his close family acquaintance, the former Prime Minister, Michel Daret, during his exile during the Damseaux rebellion in 1837. He later gained an abiding love of the sea as he built up his family's clipper business, trading at all ports around the world, including Australia, where he met his late wife. During the Beauffort insurrection, Sir Edmund conducted smuggling operations through his contacts in Bruges before eventually returning with the Poissonist exiles to restore the Monarchy and Government. Sir Edmund then devoted the balance of his life to public service and in particular, rebuilding and expanding Belgium's industrial heartland. He wrote numerous treatises on the so called Burkist principles of State intervention to regulate and encourage industrial growth. He is survived by 2 daughters, 3 sons (including the Prime Minister, Frederic Burke), 12 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. The funeral will take place at Sint-Pieters where he will be interred near the mausoleum which he built for the bodies of his father, General Patrice Burke, and the 300 men from 2nd Division, who died in the rearguard in 1848.

 

[ThunderHawk3]

((Tally. You will notice the votes or the four or five people who forgot to list their party were not counted.))

Spoiler

RU: [56]

Military Honors and Declarations Act, 1904: 4/0/0 [56, 0, 0]
Wartime Unity and Secret Police Act: 4/0/0 [56, 0, 0]

BSU: [35]

Military Honors and Declarations Act, 1904: 3/0/1 [26, 0, 9]
Wartime Unity and Secret Police Act: 0/4/0 [0, 35, 0]

NDP: [27]

Military Honors and Declarations Act, 1904: 1/0/0 [27, 0, 0]
Wartime Unity and Secret Police Act: 0/1/0 [0, 27, 0]

KKP: [28]

Military Honors and Declarations Act, 1904: 2/0/0 [28, 0, 0]
Wartime Unity and Secret Police Act: 0/2/0 [0, 28, 0]

LDP: [27]

Military Honors and Declarations Act, 1904: 1/1/0 [13, 13, 1]
Wartime Unity and Secret Police Act: 0/2/0 [0, 27, 0]

SDP: [27]

Military Honors and Declarations Act, 1904: 1/0/0 [27, 0, 0]
Wartime Unity and Secret Police Act: 0/1/0 [0, 27, 0]

Totals:
Military Honors and Declarations Act, 1904: 11/1/1 [177, 13, 10] (93.1% PASS)
Wartime Unity and Secret Police Act: 4/9/0 [56, 144, 0] (28.0% FAIL)

((With any luck I'll be able to update tonight.))

 

[DensleyBlair]

((Sorry TH; I don't suppose I could trouble you for a quick précis of our financial situation as of the update? As ever, I'd be most obliged. ))

 

[ThunderHawk3]

((Sorry TH; I don't suppose I could trouble you for a quick précis of our financial situation as of the update? As ever, I'd be most obliged. ))

((Receipts:
Poor: 1514 (75%)
Middle: 682.516 (75%)
Rich: 912.911 (75%)
Total: 3109.8

No other receipts

Industrial subsidies: 144.0

Overseas maintenance: 24.4

National Stockpile:
Land: ~2340 100%
Navy: ~110 100%
Construction: 0 100%
Total stockpile: 2454.2

Education: 222.1 (85%)
Admin: 523.6 (85%)
Social: 82.3 (80%)
Military: 360.4 (75%) <- ((??? - Don't know how this happened, was sure I set it to 100%, will fix))

Total expenditures: 3786.7

Tariffs: 0%

Net: -676.9

Treasury: 55.36k

No loans))

 

[DensleyBlair]

((Thanking you kindly.))

---

Prime Minister,


Please find attached the most recent reports of our financial situation. We still are managing to maintain a healthy surplus in spite of the deficit, which has increased due to higher military spending, though we would do well to consider implementing bond schemes sooner rather than later. Taking out loans is, of course, another option, though should, I feel, be delayed until any bonds we sell have been exhausted, lest we find ourselves entangled too far in debt.

May we see victory soon,

The Rt. Hon. J. B. H. van der Wyngaert
Viscount of Sint-Niklaas
Secretary of State for Finance​

---

Receipts

Taxation

Upper band: £912.91 (75%)
Middle band: £682.52 (75%)
Lower band: £1,514.00 (75%)

Total: £3,109.80

Other receipts: £nil

Total revenue: £3,109.80


Expenditures

Industrial subsidies: £144.00
Overseas maintenance: £24.40
Land: ~£2,340 (100%)
Navy: ~£110.00 (100%)
Construction: £nil (100%)
Education: £222.10 (85%)
Admin: £523.60 (85%)
Social: £82.30 (80%)
Military: £480.53 (100%)

Total expenditures: £3,926.83


Projected Daily Balance: ~£-817.03

Existing Treasury Balance: £55.36k

 

[Jack LEagle]

I presume what the Honorable Secretary of State for Finance means by 'foreseeable future' is 68 days, because that's how long we have until the Treasury is empty, at current rates of taxation and expenditure.

Interesting to note, if we funded Social Services at 100%, rather than 80%, we would drop the Treasury's zero-point from 68 days to 67.

Since a prudent course would be to borrow at the most favorable rates we can obtain until the necessity for wartime expenditures has passed (may it be soon!), and since the cost increment is so small, I suggest we up the SS rate to 100% as a small reward to the segment of the population that is suffering the most.

Pieter Hendrickx, Deputy from Brussels

 

[DensleyBlair]

I presume what the Honorable Secretary of State for Finance means by 'foreseeable future' is 68 days, because that's how long we have until the Treasury is empty, at current rates of taxation and expenditure.[...]

((Mea culpa. I must have accidentally added an order of magnitude during my working...

The above statement had been edited slightly.))

 

[Somberg]

Official Report on the Health of Belgian Industry​

From the Office of the Minister of Commerce​

Since our entrance into the Great War, our industrial capacity has been fully mobilized to support the war effort. Production is up and all but one of our factories are generating a profit. However, none of our factories have yet to reach full employment. As such the Ministry of Commerce recommends that the Ministry of the Interior conducts a campaign to encourage every able-bodied Belgian to aid in the war effort and work in one of our numerous factories ((set foci in Flanders and Wallonia to encourage craftsmen)). It is of great importance that our industrial might is being used to its full potential if we are to ensure that we maintain the upper hand we currently possess against the French. Enclosed below is a list of the financial situations of all our factories along with any other relevant information.

Flanders:

Paper Factory

Daily Profit: +£0.503
Subsidized: Yes
Full Employment: No

Regular Clothes Factory

Daily Profit: +£53.49
Subsidized: Yes
Full Employment: No

Glass Factory

Daily Profit: +£180.40
Subsidized: Yes
Full Employment: No

Liquor Factory

Daily Profit: +£123.46
Subsidized: Yes
Full Employment: No

Regular Furniture Factory

Daily Profit: +£12.20
Subsidized: Yes
Full Employment: No

Cement Factory

Daily Profit: +£85.57
Subsidized: Yes
Full Employment: No

Wallonia:

Steel Factory

Daily Profit: -£0.258
Subsidized: Yes
Full Employment: No

Ammunition Factory

Daily Profit: +£196.10
Subsidized: Yes
Full Employment: No

Small Arms Factory

Daily Profit: +£81.74
Subsidized: Yes
Full Employment: No

Canned Food Factory

Daily Profit: +£221.35
Subsidized: Yes
Full Employment: No

Liquor Factory

Daily Profit: +£126.71
Subsidized: Yes
Full Employment: No

Glass Factory

Daily Profit: +£14.63
Subsidized: Yes
Full Employment: No

 

[Andre Massena]

((What's the point of the finance minister if he's just repeating the facts the king gives him? :laugh)

 

[Davout]

To the Minister of Finance

Firstly, I commend you on keeping Belgium's finances in such excellent shape given the dire circumstances which we faced and continue to live under. The comments which I am about to make are merely corrections to reflect the terms agreed for the previous budget and no doubt arose from clerical errors caused by the tremendous pressure which your staff has had to operate under, particularly after we reduced the Civil Service budget in the last round of budgeting.

I note that your Department's most recent report that the Civil Service failed to fully comply with the last budget in respect of full funding for both the military and social security payments.

Obviously, failing to fully fund our Army and Navy at a time of war could be catastrophic. Whilst I understand the pressures which your Ministry is under pressure to slow the erosion of our surplus, please ensure that the relevant persons are made aware that these payments are vital to keeping the war machine rolling and the sooner we achieve victory, the sooner we can return to prosperity which will refill our coffers.

Similarly, I note that there was a failure to implement the agreed 100% social benefits payments. As you and I discussed last time, these payments play an important role in maintaining morale at home and giving the soldiers and sailors peace of mind that their loved ones are being looked after by the State. As M. Hendrickx has reminded us, the cost of 100% funding is minimal in the overall budget whereas its effect on national unity is immeasurably greater. I ask that you amend the Budget to reflect this prior observation, and again remind your staff of the need to implement the Budget as has been set.

Action this day

Frederic Burke
Prime Minister

 

[DensleyBlair]

((What's the point of the finance minister if he's just repeating the facts the king gives him? :laugh)

((I make the facts in the first place. ))

Prime Minister,


It is indeed regrettable, though fully understandable, that these clerical errors have arisen. I wish to restate fully my commitment to our social program, and therefore feel it makes perfect sense to adjust our budget provisions so that spending levels are at 100%. As you note in your letter, this should already be the case when one considered plans formulated last year, so the sooner we can rectify our low relative spending, the better. An inquiry will be prosecuted to determine the source of the error, encompassing also the near-catastrophic fault in the implementation of the military budget.

As I have noted also, though we will be able to last another couple of months, our treasury is dwindling and it would therefore be wise to consider issuing war bonds. Such a scheme will therefore be devised immediately ready for implementation upon the occasion that our surplus expires. I trust this will meet with your approval.

The Rt. Hon. J. B. H. van der Wyngaert
Viscount of Sint-Niklaas
Secretary of State for Finance​

 

[Davout]

To the Minister of Finance

I confirm my agreement with the Budget, to be amended as per your most recent correspondence. Perhaps you may wish to organise a tour of the Front for those members of the Civil Service who are found to have been responsible for short changing the military budget, so that they can gain a first hand experience of the impact of their clerical errors.

Frederic Burke
Prime Minister

 

[Jack LEagle]

I applaud the decision of the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Finance to fully fund our social programs.

Well done, gentlemen!

Hendrickx