Chapter 3 - Jan 1938: Japan Versus the World
In Spring of 1937, Prime Minister Graham Gough dismissed his advisers from his office. The war in China was not yet over, and True China was determined to hold on. Despite the US's desire for the Anglo Alliance to remain neutral, Gough would have none of it. He agreed to send expeditionary forces to aid Wu China, 5 divisions in fact. Regardless of politics, he knew it would be disastrous for Japan to rule China, and having a strong ally in Asia would help greatly. He also knew it would be tough to get an alliance secured, since they were part of the Stali Pact. He would have to settle for a Japanese defeat, then work on a British-Chinese alliance later.
Just before the Wu united China, American intelligence discovered that the British went behind their backs to aid the Stali Pact. President Jacobweller assumed it was to quicken the civil war and end the bloodshed there, but even after True China's fall, British troops remained in service to Imperial China.
Today, in 1938, Jacobweller prepares for the upcoming election. Campaigning takes up much of his time, and his competition is fierce. The Republican candidate, a man called Alexander Dunaden, points out his lack of action in the crisis in Asia, or indeed anywhere in the world. He has allowed fascists to take control in Lotharingia and China to be united under imperialists rather than republicans, all with no resistance from the US. What was he supposed to do, Jacobweller thinks, start a Great War? He led troops in the war in South America, and that alone was enough to turn him into a pacifist. He would not be the one to bring about the second Great War.
As 1938 begins, many great powers have begun playing a part in the conflict. Hungary and Arabia send volunteer troops to Japan and Korea to fight, and Carinthia provides equipment. Lotharingia, now ruled by the Fascist Party, does not throw support to either side. And in mid January, the Fascist Party undergoes a change. Many people in leadership are replaced, bringing the Volksreich into power. The party is headed by Auguste van Meenen, who promises the people of Lotharingia a dedication to justice so fierce, that he would die before letting his country down. He says he will throw down their enemies and obliterate all who seek to keep their country from their ultimate destiny. What he fails to do is specify who these enemies are and what exactly Lotharingia's destiny is. A maniac now rules the most powerful nation in the world.
The Jin capital of Fenzhou finally falls in February of 1938. The rest of the Jin are pushed out of their homelands and into Korea, and the waves of Russian soldiers are now making slow progress in pushing the enemy back.
Hungary declares war on the minuscule nation of Serbia in late February. It is a wonder that Serbia still exists, seeing as they have been surrounded by the gargantuan Hungary for so long. Very little help arrives for Serbia, it seems the war in Asia and the growing tyranny out of Lotharingia has overshadowed this small war.
Auguste van Meenen arranges a conference on March 30th. Invited are King Knezich of Hungary, Sultan Uthman of Arabia, Prime Minister Gratz of Carinthia, and President Potocki of the Polish Republic. Meenen proposes a pact between the five nations, a replacement to the Blue Alliance he currently leads. It will be a Covenant of steel. Sultan Uthman and PM Gratz are convinced quickly, agreeing to such an arrangement, but King Knezich and President Potocki are not so easily swayed. For now, Hungary and Poland will remain neutral, but Arabia has joined Carinthia and Lotharingia. The Blue Alliance is dismantled and, in its place, the Covenant of Steel is born.
Not too long ago Japan and Korea were about to be pushed off the continent altogether. Come April, the East Asia Conference begins pushing back the Russians and Chinese. The Chinese, wearied from the civil war, show weakness, and they are pushed out of Korea. The Russians fair slightly better, but they too are pushed back somewhat.
Summer begins, but the problems in Europe never end. Meenen of the Volksreich sends an ultimatum to King Hamelin of Picardy. Give Lotharingia the small state of Vlaanderen or he will invade. The Vlaanderen, he says, was once a state of Lotharingia, and the German minority is greatly abused by their Picardian oppressors. The historians will have to be consulted to determine whether Vlaanderen was ever a state of Lotharingia.
No nations are willing to defend Picardy. With little choice in the face of such an enemy, Hamelin accepts the demand. Perhaps this will sate Meenen's thirst for conquest.
In July, the Covenant of Steel draws in the Dutch Rijk, a small Fascist nation along the coast of the North Sea. It does not bring with it much firepower, but its few factories will be well used by the Volksreich in any future wars.
The election takes place on July 1st, 1938. Alexander Dunaden of the Republican Party is declared the winner by a small margin. Dunaden is a much harder man than Jacobweller, and he promises a tougher stand against the enemies of America. As Dunaden is sworn in, Amos retires to his family home in Texas, shaking his head and thoroughly relieved he is too old for the draft.
The Hungarian-Serbian war ends later that month, and Hungary annexes Serbia's small eastern state.
President Dunaden's first act as president is promoting General Michael Saqquara to General of the Army. This is the first time in many years since there has been a five star general, and there has never been one while the nation was at peace.
His second is to authorize American troops in Asia. Without a declaration of war, two armies of 4 divisions each are readied to be sent against Japan.
General TheButterflyComposer leads the 1st Expeditionary Forces in China, while General BPM leads the 2nd in Russia. It is time to take these Fascists down.