Excellent so far, although I fear for you aginst Colombia. Not because of their armies but because of the terrain. If you can't secure the Panama ithsmus before troops arrive you're gonig to have a bloody tough time digging them out.
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Ringelnatz- THey didnt mention which christmas it would be over by did they? 
gis- It's not russia but it has crap infrastructure and a narrow isthmus.
Dr. Gonzo- That may be a problem indeed.
Update probably tonight
gis- It's not russia but it has crap infrastructure and a narrow isthmus.
Dr. Gonzo- That may be a problem indeed.
Update probably tonight
December 25 1860
A passage from the Annual Intelligence Report to the Ministry of Defense.
Excerpts from Regarding Failure to defeat Colombia.
Evaluation:
I hope this Report finds you well... There are no doubts to the inevitability of victory over Colombia.... Panama captured..... elimination of narrow front allows the ability to spread out our superior army and prevents concentration of inferior colombian army. We have better equipment, more men. Superior in every aspect.
Everything except leadership.
General Pacheco is an inept, inbred idiot, he is completely inept which negates our superior firepower. He was a former general's aide which makes him completely obsessed with aspect of organization. His dragoon division has consitently failed to meet targets and timetables.... The much vaunted "Pacheco Plan" of his has failed completely at every level and may have cost as much as 3 months and 30,000 dead...
Suggestion: Reassignment to logistics or rear-area organizational duties.
General Torre, remarkable as it may seem, is even worse. Whereas Pacheco has the dubious advantage of superior organization and excels in some aspects of leadership(primarilly relating to logistics, organization etc...) Torre is a known man of dubious inclinations.... He is completely imoral and overcautious. Army Group "B" movement and morale lower than before he took command of unit....One good point.... natural caution endows defence bonus.
Suggestion: Immediate removal.
Conclusion: Despite setbacks and ineptness...Complete victory by March 1861.
A passage from the Annual Intelligence Report to the Ministry of Defense.
Excerpts from Regarding Failure to defeat Colombia.
Evaluation:
I hope this Report finds you well... There are no doubts to the inevitability of victory over Colombia.... Panama captured..... elimination of narrow front allows the ability to spread out our superior army and prevents concentration of inferior colombian army. We have better equipment, more men. Superior in every aspect.
Everything except leadership.
General Pacheco is an inept, inbred idiot, he is completely inept which negates our superior firepower. He was a former general's aide which makes him completely obsessed with aspect of organization. His dragoon division has consitently failed to meet targets and timetables.... The much vaunted "Pacheco Plan" of his has failed completely at every level and may have cost as much as 3 months and 30,000 dead...
Suggestion: Reassignment to logistics or rear-area organizational duties.
General Torre, remarkable as it may seem, is even worse. Whereas Pacheco has the dubious advantage of superior organization and excels in some aspects of leadership(primarilly relating to logistics, organization etc...) Torre is a known man of dubious inclinations.... He is completely imoral and overcautious. Army Group "B" movement and morale lower than before he took command of unit....One good point.... natural caution endows defence bonus.
Suggestion: Immediate removal.
Conclusion: Despite setbacks and ineptness...Complete victory by March 1861.
The First Colombo-Central American War.
With the outbreak of hostilities in February 10 1860 following a general mobilization of the army a day before, the Federal Republic of Central America was at war for the very first time. The paper strength of the Federal Army stood at 82,000 men of which 40,000 still had to be mobilized. Mobilization was expected to be complete by May 6. The 42,000 currently available troops would be expected to break the Colombian Army.
The Central American General Staff had come up with a plan. General Pacheco, a formal aide to Carrera had devised a plan to destroy the Colombian Army and occupy the narrow isthmus of Panama. It was called the Pacheco Plan:
The 30,000 infantry divisions would form an army corps. Colonel Aznar would command it and lead it to capture Penome and then move on to secure Panama. Meanwhile, General Pacheco would destroy the isolated enemy division at Santiago De Varagua.
The plan worked well for Colonel Aznar. The miniscule resistance he faced was easily swept aside by his 30,000 strong army corps. The battle of Penome proved his steadfastness and determination:
By the battle of Panama, Colonel Aznar had been promoted to General Aznar and was theoretically equal in rank to General Pacheco:
For General Pacheco, things were more complicated, the small 1000 man division had inflicted heavy losses on his dragoon division. Even with the assistance of one of the mobilized reserve divisions he was still ultimately defeated:
General Pacheco was disgraced, although organizationally his Pacheco Plan worked as planned, his many tactical defeats led to Pacheco being labelled as "inept" by his contemporary peers. He spent the rest of the war on rear area guard duty.
The war proceeded quickly after the defeat of the Colombian Army at Panama. By February 16 1861, with the Colombian Army shattered and the whole country, with the sole exception of Santiago de Varagua occupied. Colombia sued for peace:
With the outbreak of hostilities in February 10 1860 following a general mobilization of the army a day before, the Federal Republic of Central America was at war for the very first time. The paper strength of the Federal Army stood at 82,000 men of which 40,000 still had to be mobilized. Mobilization was expected to be complete by May 6. The 42,000 currently available troops would be expected to break the Colombian Army.
The Central American General Staff had come up with a plan. General Pacheco, a formal aide to Carrera had devised a plan to destroy the Colombian Army and occupy the narrow isthmus of Panama. It was called the Pacheco Plan:
The 30,000 infantry divisions would form an army corps. Colonel Aznar would command it and lead it to capture Penome and then move on to secure Panama. Meanwhile, General Pacheco would destroy the isolated enemy division at Santiago De Varagua.
The plan worked well for Colonel Aznar. The miniscule resistance he faced was easily swept aside by his 30,000 strong army corps. The battle of Penome proved his steadfastness and determination:
By the battle of Panama, Colonel Aznar had been promoted to General Aznar and was theoretically equal in rank to General Pacheco:
For General Pacheco, things were more complicated, the small 1000 man division had inflicted heavy losses on his dragoon division. Even with the assistance of one of the mobilized reserve divisions he was still ultimately defeated:
General Pacheco was disgraced, although organizationally his Pacheco Plan worked as planned, his many tactical defeats led to Pacheco being labelled as "inept" by his contemporary peers. He spent the rest of the war on rear area guard duty.
The war proceeded quickly after the defeat of the Colombian Army at Panama. By February 16 1861, with the Colombian Army shattered and the whole country, with the sole exception of Santiago de Varagua occupied. Colombia sued for peace:
Peace, there is peace at last. I will never be the same again. I have seen too much. I have walked through the gates of hell and back. War diminishes us all. I can barely sleep at night, these nightmares don't end. The war has suddenly become unpopular, the people who are called up have become virtual outcasts of society. We died for them, we fought for them and now they suddenly hate us. Oh fickle fate!
There are people like me everywhere in this country, misfits of society that now rejects us:
It's in the newspapers now. The grand new "United States of Central America" How the new states "unanimously joined our glorious Federation":
Shit they even did a feature on those states. Cauca with it's "rich coffee plantations in Quibo" and it's "many fisheries at Buenaventura":
Cundimamarca with it's "hardworking industrious peoples who toil in the wheatfields and cofee plantations":
Mompos. Coffe plantations:
Panama, Fruit:
It sickens me to death, yet back I must toil in the Fruit orchards. Back to farming back to "normal life."
There are people like me everywhere in this country, misfits of society that now rejects us:
It's in the newspapers now. The grand new "United States of Central America" How the new states "unanimously joined our glorious Federation":
Shit they even did a feature on those states. Cauca with it's "rich coffee plantations in Quibo" and it's "many fisheries at Buenaventura":
Cundimamarca with it's "hardworking industrious peoples who toil in the wheatfields and cofee plantations":
Mompos. Coffe plantations:
Panama, Fruit:
It sickens me to death, yet back I must toil in the Fruit orchards. Back to farming back to "normal life."
A Dream Worth of Tireless Endavour-The Panama Canal
Dreams, Sometimes dreams have a funny way of becomming reality. The construction of a canal accross Central America was dismissed as dreams. Pipedreams to be exact, illusions, fantasies. In the aftermath of the First Colombo-Central American War, the Three Kings, deciding to reassert their control over parliament approved of a motion to start constructing a canal accross Panama. It would take 5 years and was expected to be completed by 1867. It was to be "A dream worthy of Tireless endavour" Little did the Three Kings know that their predictions would prove to be prophetic.
Work proceeded at a fairly sedate pace, the problem was that Central-America did not have a robust industry needed to undertake such a massive task. The Central American Railway system was overloaded with construction material flowing from the Industrial area of Guatamela. There was a tragic train wreck in Neuva Segovia that resulted in a massive fire which decimated the year's fruit harvest. The damage would take years to fix.
The main result of this was the realization that an espionage service would be essential to close the widening intellectual gap between Central America and the Great Powers.
In a futile attempt to accelerate the progress of the Panama Canal, the Three Kings decided to employ a conscription service taking young men out of their farms in the fallow season. Unfortunately bureacratic misshaps resulted in many not being able to return in time causing an agricultural reccession.
The Canal was finally completed in January 7 1870, 3 years late and with an unprecedented cost in lives, money and equipment. It is estimated that more men died to build the canal than in the Central-American Columbian War.
But finally the Dream had been realized, the two oceans of the pacific and atlantic were now connected.
As if to mark the end of an Era, the Three Kings disappeared. It is unknown where they went off to or what happened to them but they were now gone. The Federal Republic of Central America faced an uncertain future.
Dreams, Sometimes dreams have a funny way of becomming reality. The construction of a canal accross Central America was dismissed as dreams. Pipedreams to be exact, illusions, fantasies. In the aftermath of the First Colombo-Central American War, the Three Kings, deciding to reassert their control over parliament approved of a motion to start constructing a canal accross Panama. It would take 5 years and was expected to be completed by 1867. It was to be "A dream worthy of Tireless endavour" Little did the Three Kings know that their predictions would prove to be prophetic.
Work proceeded at a fairly sedate pace, the problem was that Central-America did not have a robust industry needed to undertake such a massive task. The Central American Railway system was overloaded with construction material flowing from the Industrial area of Guatamela. There was a tragic train wreck in Neuva Segovia that resulted in a massive fire which decimated the year's fruit harvest. The damage would take years to fix.
The main result of this was the realization that an espionage service would be essential to close the widening intellectual gap between Central America and the Great Powers.
In a futile attempt to accelerate the progress of the Panama Canal, the Three Kings decided to employ a conscription service taking young men out of their farms in the fallow season. Unfortunately bureacratic misshaps resulted in many not being able to return in time causing an agricultural reccession.
The Canal was finally completed in January 7 1870, 3 years late and with an unprecedented cost in lives, money and equipment. It is estimated that more men died to build the canal than in the Central-American Columbian War.
But finally the Dream had been realized, the two oceans of the pacific and atlantic were now connected.
As if to mark the end of an Era, the Three Kings disappeared. It is unknown where they went off to or what happened to them but they were now gone. The Federal Republic of Central America faced an uncertain future.
I see you've been preparing for the opening of the Panama channel for quite a bit of time
On the other hand the clock is ticking, and you seem to have quite a bit of industrialization left to do - lest you truly intend to forgo industrialization and take what you want by force.
On the other hand the clock is ticking, and you seem to have quite a bit of industrialization left to do - lest you truly intend to forgo industrialization and take what you want by force.
The Second Colombian-Central American War.
The disappearance of the Three Kings and the new Panama Canal left the Federal Republic facing an uncertain future. The Federal Parliament, which had reasserted itself against the Three Kings nearly a decade ago resumed a leading role. The Liberal Party was the leading party in parliament and it fell up to them to lead the nation.
Progress continued in Central America the factories kept producing, the schools continued educating, the labourers kept working and the army kept drilling.
Drilling for a war that would come soon. Ecuador and Colombia signed a defensive alliance in October 2 1872. This alliance seemed to the parliament an obvious attempt at building an alliance to take on the Republic. The Army was mobilized in December 1872 and preparations were made underway for war. The General Staff had learnt lessons in the previous war, the now realized that mobilization would have to be fully completed to fight an effective war.
The Army was fully prepared by March 18 1873. War was declared, there was no excuse given and there were no protests from any of the Great Powers. The Panama canal gave the Republic new leverage in dealing with the Great Powers. War was declared and the Army moved quickly towards Quito, the capital of Ecuador where the war would be decided.
Meanwhile other troops would launch diversionary raids in Colombia to distract the Colombian Army.
The Battle of Quito was underway by April 18 1873.
The numerically outnumbered Ecuadorian Army was going to be inevitably defeated and when they did eventually lose as they did by September 14 1873 Ecuador and Colombia would have no fighting forces left.
The rest of the conflict was predictible. The Federal Army marched accross the two nations slowly occupying the nation with no real resistance. By February 1 1873 Colombia sued for peace:
By franciscovich at 2007-11-03
Ecuador followed 9 days later:
By franciscovich at 2007-11-03
The Federal Republic of Central America was once again triumphant. Peace would now follow.
The disappearance of the Three Kings and the new Panama Canal left the Federal Republic facing an uncertain future. The Federal Parliament, which had reasserted itself against the Three Kings nearly a decade ago resumed a leading role. The Liberal Party was the leading party in parliament and it fell up to them to lead the nation.
Progress continued in Central America the factories kept producing, the schools continued educating, the labourers kept working and the army kept drilling.
Drilling for a war that would come soon. Ecuador and Colombia signed a defensive alliance in October 2 1872. This alliance seemed to the parliament an obvious attempt at building an alliance to take on the Republic. The Army was mobilized in December 1872 and preparations were made underway for war. The General Staff had learnt lessons in the previous war, the now realized that mobilization would have to be fully completed to fight an effective war.
The Army was fully prepared by March 18 1873. War was declared, there was no excuse given and there were no protests from any of the Great Powers. The Panama canal gave the Republic new leverage in dealing with the Great Powers. War was declared and the Army moved quickly towards Quito, the capital of Ecuador where the war would be decided.
Meanwhile other troops would launch diversionary raids in Colombia to distract the Colombian Army.
The Battle of Quito was underway by April 18 1873.
The numerically outnumbered Ecuadorian Army was going to be inevitably defeated and when they did eventually lose as they did by September 14 1873 Ecuador and Colombia would have no fighting forces left.
The rest of the conflict was predictible. The Federal Army marched accross the two nations slowly occupying the nation with no real resistance. By February 1 1873 Colombia sued for peace:
By franciscovich at 2007-11-03
Ecuador followed 9 days later:
By franciscovich at 2007-11-03
The Federal Republic of Central America was once again triumphant. Peace would now follow.
A very interesting "what-if" scenario here. It would be very interesting to see Central America hit World Power status. Regardless, I'll be following this one
That canal certainly aided prestige. And some profitable wars fought. The USCA rolls on.
Progress, Peace and Pax CentroAmerica
1873-1890
By franciscovich at 2007-11-08
The United States of America in 1890
The Federal Republic of Central America from 1873-1890 experienced an unpreceedented rate of peace and prosperity previously unknown in Latin America. A constitution was drafted in 1875 that, in an unpreecedented move, removed the role of the executive concentrated in one person. The Parliament would fulfil the role of Executive and Legislative branches and a newly set up Supreme court would fulfil the role of Judiciary and act as a balance against the strong Parliament. The Federal Republic of Central America was formally renamed as the United States of Central America
By franciscovich at 2007-11-08
The emblem of the United States of Central America Supreme Court
The Politcal Balance of power rested firmly at the hands of the Partido Liberal over this long period. Liberalism and Laissez faire dominated the Central American intellectual current. Paricularly important were ideas of linear evolution. The view that the USCA was progressing slowly, yet inexorably and inevitably gained currency among the ruling elite. Bruno Hildebrand was by far the most influential theorist in the USCA. The previously traditional Academic Circle was replaced by a Industrialist-Science circle with a strong Hildebrandian influence.
By franciscovich at 2007-11-08
Bruno Hildenbrand
Also prevelant were views of meritocracy and populism. It was felt that the best and brightest of the lower classes could and did rise to the top. Elections became over the top popularity contests with candidates sometimes giving away cash in an effort to win the vote of the lower classes.
By franciscovich at 2007-11-08
"Election Time" as satirized by the Partido Socialista newspaper
However with progress came the inevitable stirrings of dissatisfaction, the Partido Socialista only set up in 1888 immediately gained 10% of the vote, alarming many elements of the ruling elite.
By franciscovich at 2007-11-08
Socialist Party logo-in english.
Immigration continued as before throughout this period, there were two new destinations for the immigrats. Caco and Mompos which had seen the construction of a Clipper Shipyard and a Cement factory respectively with the aid of private initiative. Unlike before however, these new immigrats were mostly of German or Jewish origin. Whether they were Catholic Germans trying to escape the escalating Kulturkampf or Jewish Socialists trying to avoid political persecution in Bismarckian Germany, the USCA lent an open hand to them.
By Franciscovich at 2007-11-08
Immigrants arriving from Germany
By the year 1890 the United States of Central America was by far, the most advanced and prestigious Latin American country. The country was looking forward confidently into the future aware of the potential of the nation and a growing feeling of national consciousness.
But there was a dark side to all this, middle class historians inevitably paint a rosy picture of this decade.
Next Update: "Despair, Alienation and Poverty-the dark side of 1873-1890"
1873-1890
By franciscovich at 2007-11-08
The United States of America in 1890
The Federal Republic of Central America from 1873-1890 experienced an unpreceedented rate of peace and prosperity previously unknown in Latin America. A constitution was drafted in 1875 that, in an unpreecedented move, removed the role of the executive concentrated in one person. The Parliament would fulfil the role of Executive and Legislative branches and a newly set up Supreme court would fulfil the role of Judiciary and act as a balance against the strong Parliament. The Federal Republic of Central America was formally renamed as the United States of Central America
By franciscovich at 2007-11-08
The emblem of the United States of Central America Supreme Court
The Politcal Balance of power rested firmly at the hands of the Partido Liberal over this long period. Liberalism and Laissez faire dominated the Central American intellectual current. Paricularly important were ideas of linear evolution. The view that the USCA was progressing slowly, yet inexorably and inevitably gained currency among the ruling elite. Bruno Hildebrand was by far the most influential theorist in the USCA. The previously traditional Academic Circle was replaced by a Industrialist-Science circle with a strong Hildebrandian influence.
By franciscovich at 2007-11-08
Bruno Hildenbrand
Also prevelant were views of meritocracy and populism. It was felt that the best and brightest of the lower classes could and did rise to the top. Elections became over the top popularity contests with candidates sometimes giving away cash in an effort to win the vote of the lower classes.
By franciscovich at 2007-11-08
"Election Time" as satirized by the Partido Socialista newspaper
However with progress came the inevitable stirrings of dissatisfaction, the Partido Socialista only set up in 1888 immediately gained 10% of the vote, alarming many elements of the ruling elite.
By franciscovich at 2007-11-08
Socialist Party logo-in english.
Immigration continued as before throughout this period, there were two new destinations for the immigrats. Caco and Mompos which had seen the construction of a Clipper Shipyard and a Cement factory respectively with the aid of private initiative. Unlike before however, these new immigrats were mostly of German or Jewish origin. Whether they were Catholic Germans trying to escape the escalating Kulturkampf or Jewish Socialists trying to avoid political persecution in Bismarckian Germany, the USCA lent an open hand to them.
By Franciscovich at 2007-11-08
Immigrants arriving from Germany
By the year 1890 the United States of Central America was by far, the most advanced and prestigious Latin American country. The country was looking forward confidently into the future aware of the potential of the nation and a growing feeling of national consciousness.
But there was a dark side to all this, middle class historians inevitably paint a rosy picture of this decade.
Next Update: "Despair, Alienation and Poverty-the dark side of 1873-1890"
The dark side...bah! I think it's time the USCA took on some new territory once again.