First Major War

[arandomperson123454]

I was Russia, and allied to NGF (because France stupidly broke their alliance with me even though I was at 200 relations to ally Austria instead), when NGF declared war on France to get Alsace-Lorraine (I think 1862ish?). It is me, NGF, and Denmark against France, Italy (not a GP), and Austria. We outnumber them slightly, but France somehow has the same army tech level as NGF and more troops. I have 145 brigades (4inf 1 hussar 4 art 1 eng mostly), but 20ish are in Hokkiado and 10 are in Africa. I am on mil tech 7, but the extra techs are on small arms, as I wanted to be ready to get machine guns, so I don't have the good artillery/tactics technologies. No battles have occurred yet. I can run a budget surplus with nearly all meeting needs even with 100% land stockpile at war, though probably not if I mobilize. I have 800k in cash. My navy is pretty bad, 40 commerce raiders in Finland and 20 in Sakhalin. What should I do? Should I mobilize? How does that work? Austria did. How much does mobilization hurt? I built level 1 forts along all of my border states. Should I invade Austria? Sit and defend?

Edit: We are winning, at 23%, but I think this will not continue. France is starting to march into NGF. I have won every battle against Austria thus far with them having more casualties each time (mostly by engaging with one stack and reinforcing with a second) and am sieging up their country, but France is coming. I have a budget surplus even after mobilizing and with 100% land stockpile. NGF is war leader. I don't really want them to get Alsace Lorraine. What should I do?

 

[Gurkhal]

If you don't want NGF to get A-L then perhaps you should just avoid France and let France maul your allies into peace without you having to face the French armies? Because if you don't want the war goals to be realized then its probably best to just, essentially, throw the fight.

 

[arandomperson123454]

Will NGF be smart enough to white peace though? I don't want France to siege up my stuff. They somehow have a bigger army than me (160 vs 130 brigades).
Edit: Somehow, we squished enough of Austria's military to win. As soon as the truce is over, I am breaking alliance with NGF. I do not want to fight France every 5 years to help them keep Alsace Lorraine.