[PON] Conflict in Europe - Diplomacy & News Thread

[Kensai]

Athens, Greece, June 1878

OTTOMAN INVADERS ENTER THE GREEK CAPITAL

Although our army was only a few days of march away from Attica, it was unfortunately too late for the defense of Athens. The Ottoman troops entered the almost unprotected city and took it. The incoming Greek army had to fight its own intact fortifications to regain it, getting many losses in the process. The Northwestern approach was intact, the Turks found perfect defensive cover. Fortunately, the Ottoman power has ceased being a threat for our overwhelming power as well. It is a matter of time. We warn the Ottoman troops that every single bit of destruction will be added to the final tally in the negotiations, the whole world is watching. If the Sultan behaves in a medieval way, it is almost certain our demands will send his country to the medieval ages as well.

---

Sea of Japan Trade Routes, June 1878

HUGE LOSSES TO THE AMERICAN MERCHANT INTERESTS

The force of Hainan has surrendered after fighting valiantly overwhelming Chinese forces, but we had our share of victories in the Far East trade routes where many American merchant ships were hit and destroyed as they carried supplies and resources to and from the Chinese mainland.

[Jonathan Pollard]

時事月報 (Current Affairs Monthly) April 1878

JAPS ERADICATED FROM HAINAN

The long-awaited offensive to clear the Japs from Hainan has resulted in a smashing victory. Over 15,000 Japs no longer pollute the island.

[ATTACH]22879[/ATTACH]

In other news, the Taiping uprising has been effectively squashed, with only two isolated pockets of fanatical resistance remaining. Ships that the Swedish government intends to sell to the Chinese have arrived at Canton. [OOC - I was unable to detect any Swedish naval presence at Canton harbor until I used the ChangeFaction SWE command.]

[nemethand]

First of all, we must reject any and all allegations about the Russia not receiving and answering Turkish envoys. We have heard, considered and answered all the submissions by the ottoman government. Obviously, those answer have all been unfavourable, otherwise the parties would have come to terms. (OOC - It may take longer than usual but I indeed try to answer any communication which I consider needing an answer from me. Apologies if it takes longer than expected.

Coming to terms is not an easy way with the Ottoman government. Anyone following their communication may notice that terms are being changed faster then one's underwear.

First, they said

1. Bulgaria was created but conquered in the ame round. I consider this part of your claims as done. Just not with the outcome that the Bulgarian anarchists had in mind.

2. Never

3. No Negotiatians with the greek

We are ready to make Bulgaria an autonomous Dominion of our realms and pay a ransom to the Russian crown.
Thats it. There will be no more suggestions on our behalf.

Then, their demands sounded something like that:

War Bulletin No 3

We therefore have sent the Czar a last dispatch, revoking all our offers up to date, formulating now our own wargoals:

1. Immidiate withdraw from our lands and waters and calling out an armistice.
2. Return of our rightful property Constanza as reparations.
3. A NAP of five years.
4. This agreement is not extended over any ally. (typically this has never been an issue in past negotiations)

Finally, this week we received an even newer request:

War Bulletin No 5

The Sublime Porte advises the public on our claims to end this war.

A.) Immediate measures
1. Russia and Greece take full responsiblity for the outbreak of the war and its ongoing course.
2. Demarcation line in the Caucasus will be the pre war border.
3. Russia will immediatly and directly withdraw all forces behind the river Danube.
4. Russia will withdraw all naval forces in the Mediteranean and the Black Sea into their respective stations.
5. Greece will withdraw all their troops north of Attica to Epirus for the time being.
6. The Ottoman Empire shall enter the city of Athens as bail. It will leave all private property intact.

B.) Consequential measures
1. Greece will withdraw all claims on Saloniki, Epirus, Thrace and Thessalia.
2. Greece will return the Islands of Crete and Rhodos to the Ottoman Empire as their just owner.
3. Greece will return the Island of Corfu to Great Britain as its rightfull owner or to the Ottoman Empire as administrtor.
4. Greece will hand over all naval vehicles to the Ottoman Empire.
5. Russia will return Constanza to the Ottoman Empire as its rightfull owner.
6. Russia will provide the Ottoman Empire with the burden of protecting their Arabian subjects.
6. The Greek government shall recieve all subjects of Greek origin, that the Ottoman government may decide to expell from its soil.

It definitely causes some hardhsip in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to keep track of what has actually been asked. Nevertheless, we issue a short answer to the Ottoman government: we simply fail to see the reason for providing so many concessions, when receiving none in return. Since we do not consider our position forcing to accept some or all of your terms, we, again, must respectfully reject your offer.

Russia's terms have not undergone so many changes. In fact, they are still the very same as had been when this war was started:

1) The creation of free Bulgaria.

2) The transfer of Kars to Russia.

3) Compliance with Greek requests.

As soon as 1) through 3) are met, the hostilities are over.

Russian Chancery

[Citizen X]

First of all, we must reject any and all allegations about the Russia not receiving and answering Turkish envoys. We have heard, considered and answered all the submissions by the ottoman government. Obviously, those answer have all been unfavourable, otherwise the parties would have come to terms. (OOC - It may take longer than usual but I indeed try to answer any communication which I consider needing an answer from me. Apologies if it takes longer than expected....
Russian Chancery

Grand Vizier Mehmed Sadik Pasha[font=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif] writes Chancellor Alexander Gortschakow[/font]. Leaked to a British newspaper. Most likely a deliberate indiscretion.

Esteemed colleague,
we thank the Russian government for once more publically displaying our peaceful nature. Despite the ongoing war we have made offer after offer. The Russian Chancery knows quite well, that in our private correspondence with His Majesty, the Czar, we went above and beyond to make peace happen. We almost presented him a blank bill, on wich we only needed to write a figure onto. Alas, he insisted on the inheritance of Kars, otherwise this war would have been over months ago. We acknowledge the Czars diplomatic efforts, but talking must come to reasonable acting. Now we regret that, after making offers hasn't come to any avail, we came to the conclusion that making claims might bring us nearer to a solution.
It is known that we don't talk directly to the Greek. We therefore trust into this letter our grace to spare Athens from pillaging to make room for a lull of fighting, to allow for humanitarian work. Any attempt. However futile to dispatch our troops from their positions, will result in contrary orders.

[Citizen X]

Istanbul, Derâliye, June 1878

The Sublime Porte advises the public, that we leasing the island of Cyprus to the British Empire.


[ATTACH]22880[/ATTACH]

[Citizen X]

Istanbul, Derâliye, June 1878

War Bulletin No 6

The Sublime Porte advises the public on the great victories we have achieved this month.

In Attica the Lion of Arabia, Müshir Süleyman Pasha, has once more proven his worth. After a swift landing operation with his II Redif Corps he took the city and fortress of Athens, the capital of our enemies, the nest of snakes. A ferocious assault brought him into the city on the 3rd of June. The greek brought in two entire armies to take the city back so swiftly that a division of marines and the heavy artillery couldn't be brought into the city and were captured (ooc: damnit. I forgot to order them in). But who needs artillery, when he has such valiant soldiers. On the 5th and on the 11th the enemy vigorously tried our defences of the city and was repelled. The enemy lost 41000 men, 4 regiments seem to be totally annihilated, their flags being captured. We lost 6000 of our brave souls.

We also want to mention Ferik Hobart Pasha in this dispatch, who's talents as blockaderunner have made it possible for naval operations despite overwhelming enemy presence on the seas.

We have come to terms with the Serbian and the Montenegrinian government. We agreed upon the incidents of the past months being mere misunderstanings, based on ill advice on their part. We therefore gaciously allowed a return to the status quo ante, with the exception that the fortress of Belgrade was to be destroyed. Both governments excepted.

In the Caucasus, in anticipation of the fulfillment of our latest peace initiatve, our troops returned to the suggested prewar positions.

The fall of Crete is expected any day now but we are still experiencing stiff resistance.

The latest acknowledgement of our cause by governments around the globe has been gratefully recognized by His Imperial Majesty, Sultan Abdülhamit II., whom Allah may protect.

La illaha il Allah.

[Citizen X]

Istanbul, Derâliye, June 1878

As the support for the war has never been greater in our nation ( -nearly 200 NM actually) and the victorious end of the war is at hand, the Ottoman geovernment is already concerned of the postwar order. Being concerned of the stability of the region in the years to come, we express our wish for a reconstruction pool in wich all interested nations may pay for the aile of the wounds of the war. Mainly the Greek ordinary people shall not overly suffer from the bloodthirst of their leaders. Their destiny isn't looked upon without compassion and we have already commitments of 1000 pounds from the private sector for such a pool. We believe however, that other countries are called to carry the main burden of the reconstruction here.

As soon as the Greek government has given in to the demands of War Bulletin No 5, the money can flow.


(ooc: the ottomans had no less than five heads of government during 1878, thus a quick change in policy is lightly explained. I just don't have the time to properly roleplay that out)

[Kensai]

(I love it you are so confident that final victory will be Ottoman! see? no need to panic that TUR was compromised)

[Citizen X]

(I love it you are so confident that final victory will be Ottoman! see? no need to panic that TUR was compromised)

(There's still many ways that I can lose this war, but not as many as there were in the beginning)

[Jonathan Pollard]

時事月報 (Current Affairs Monthly) July 1878

SUBTROPICAL CHINA STRUCK BY BLIZZARD

The Chinese coast from the area north of Canton all the way north to Ningbo has been struck by an unheard-of weather anomaly. This late-June blizzard has caused severe disruption to the population of the affected areas. Scientists are at a loss to explain this phenomenon.

[ATTACH]22882[/ATTACH]

[Savoyard]

I've been having blizzards in the desert for a while now... I see them as sandstorms (Changes the landscape, bad visibility, and I sure as hell wouldn't want to be stuck in one)

See yours as a typhoon or something.

[Kensai]

It is monsoon period in Southwestern Asia, I think. This is greatly abstracted in the game. Learn to use the weather filter and you will notice many red areas. Especially important for land and ship movements as they sap cohesion and can even provide for hits.

---

Sea of Japan, June 1878

THE AMERICAN TRADE FLEET DISAPPEARED

The Americans will not be able to trade with the Chinese anymore given that we made their trade fleet flee from the area. This is also welcome as any US troop concentrations in Asia will have a hard time being resupplied, further putting a strain on the Chinese system.

---

Aegean Sea, June 1878

GREEK NAVAL VICTORY

We could not stop the Ottoman transport ships before they unloaded reinforcements to their comrades in Athens, but we managed to sink all of them once they were relieved of their cargo in the open sea. We should enforce a blockade of the city to speed up the surrender of the Turkish defenders. In other news, an Ottoman division landed and disarmed the local militia of Corfu.

[Citizen X]

GREEK NAVAL VICTORY

We could not stop the Ottoman transport ships before they unloaded reinforcements to their comrades in Athens, but we managed to sink all of them once they were relieved of their cargo in the open sea. We should enforce a blockade of the city to speed up the surrender of the Turkish defenders. In other news, an Ottoman division landed and disarmed the local militia of Corfu.

Yikes. Remember to always doublecheck your orders.

"A navy? The Greek have a NAVY??"
-Famous last quotes

[Jim-NC]

Great Britain had posted the red event, and the accompanying script (transferring ownership of Cyprus to Britain). I want to reverse it. Do I need to write a script (as both the Ottoman and British nations are human controlled, I don't think the red event should have fired)?

I don't want Cyprus yet.

[Citizen X]

I don't want Cyprus yet.

Hm. Why wouldn't you want Cyprus?

[Citizen X]

Istanbul, Derâliye, July 1878

War Bulletin No 7

The Sublime Porte advises the public, that a squadron of captured Greek ships, civilian of nature, had been sunk by an enemy task force before it could leave the harbour of Pireaus for open seas. Occupied by this the Greek fleet didn't notice Ferik Hobart Pasha who slipped on the other side of the isle of Salamis through the straits of Megara to bring more troops and supply to besieged Athens.

Fighting in Crete significantly boiled down. Only small pockets of resistance keep fighting. Population greets our troops as liberators.

Corfu fell into our hands with nearly no fighting.

La illaha il Allah.

[Boernes]

Hm. Why wouldn't you want Cyprus?

Sweden would more than gladly take it, if Britain has no need for it :P

[Jim-NC]

I said "yet". I would rather negotiate for it, then have it handed to me from a red event. The other issue with the red event is the automatic drop in relations with Russia, and the gain with the Ottomans. I want to reverse the whole thing. I guess I will have to write my own script. I would say that no dips should be spent, as this is correcting a script that consumed no dips.

[Citizen X]

Istanbul, Derâliye, July 1878

War Bulletin No 8

The Sublime Porte advises the public, that in the East the long awaited attack on our homeland has begun. The first wave on Van and Batumi was ill coordinated and sloppily executed. It got repelled from our heroic soldiers, allthough they faced a 5:1 superiority.

In Batumi Ferik Ismail Hakki Pasha stood fast against forces under the command of Eduard Totleben on 28th July. Three flags were captured and nearly 30.000 enemies killed or captured. Van saw heavy fighting two days later, when Ferik Efrif Pasha crushed an attack under Fjodor Radetzky. A quarter of the enemy army didn't leave the field. It appears as though the enemy tries to cut off Kars by flanking maneuvres. The commanding genaral Müshir Osman Nuri Pasha prepares "for a very long campaign".

In the West we await a similar attack on our fortresses around the Bosporus soon. The enemy amasses troops in Rumelia. Constantinople's population is advised to stay calm.

We can expect the surrender of the Greek any day now. We defeated the remnants of their army on several occasions in the past two weeks. On the 1st July in Attica. An entire cavalry division got annihilated, their flags captured, followed on the 13th against another Greek force. Two flags were captured. On the 29th Patras fell into our hands again. We also liberated the city of Janina. The operartions were lead by Müshir Ahmed Eyib Pasha and Müshir Süleyman Pasha.

La illaha il Allah.

[Kensai]

GREEK FORCES MAKE A TACTICAL RETREAT

The Greek High Command denies Ottoman propaganda of "imminent defeat". It is true that communications have been slow due to the loss of Athens, Greek capital and logistics center, but we are far from beaten. The conflict continues without due, as the Turkish forces spread and stress their armies into the unknown. Poor Ottomans, if the Russian war machine wakes up it will be over before they know it. We have now a better estimate of the Ottoman naval forces stationing in the port of Athens. The ships are mostly old wooden or wooden screw models, with only a handful of ironclads. The Ottomans have also captured some Greek ironclads in the shipyards, but these should be far from ready.



---

AMERICANS LAND ON FORMOSA

A large American expeditionary force has landed on the island of Formosa, war zone and claimed area for the Empire of Japan. The Americans have entered Japanese soil! Now, it's gonna be messy.

[Kensai]

[color="#FF0000"][OFF-TOPIC - PART OF POSTS MOVED TO GENERAL THREAD][/color]

GREEK DEFEATS ON LAND, VICTORY IN SEA

A surgical strike by the Ottoman Armies retook Thessaloniki as our army was abandoning it to help our hard hit corps in Thessalia and Epirus. The defeats were almost expected as the loss of Athens has put our forces in great logistical strain, unable to reinforce them with troops. As we cannot do this alone, our only hope now is if Russia frees us from the Ottoman aggression. Admiral Palaskas brought the only good news this past fortnight as he bombarded the Turkish armies in Epirus and managed to cripple the Turkish fleet, albeit some losses in ships.

[Kensai]

OKUBO TOSHIMICHI'S PLEDGE

The Japanese Home Lord condemns the American occupation of the island of Formosa. It is almost certain to the Japanese government that there has been an offer from the Chinese government to the American for such a hefty help. We want the world (especially Great Britain and Austria-Hungary) to take notice. The last time the Americans were in the Far East were against the Chinese, departing it only when their situation became hopeless there. Toshimichi has taken much flak lately for the direction of the war as the extra aggressiveness has not paid off. Is the veteran politician's star fading away?

[Sir Garnet]

Comments of a Mlitary Attache and Observer Reflecting the Troop Movements and Engagements in the Balkans from Late May through the Orders of Early August of the Year of Our Lord 1878, Exclusive to the Times are reported in the General Thread #1067

[Kensai]

Korean Peninsula, August 1878

KOREAN REVOLT

The Koreans have probably heard of the news of the American occupation in Formosa and revolted these past few days. However Korea is not a territory will be abandoning anytime soon. This is a great opportunity for the Imperial Japanese Army to bring in the peninsula the newly conscripted formations. The revolt shall be put down in a matter of days.

[Kensai]

Tokyo, Japan, September 1878

WHAT IS PRESIDENT HEYNES DOING?

It seems to the Japanese government that President Heynes rushed to declare war to our fair nation. Who knows what promises did the Chinese make for him to take the decision to completely destroy relationships with Nippon in such a war. The American public's faith in this unwanted and unwarranted war is plummeting. Strikes can be seen around the American country, most recently in our joint mine operations in California. Instead of investing his time and efforts for the interior problems of his country, President Heynes opted for war. We are very interested to see where this will get him in the long run, we might as well fight this war after all (if British mediation fails). Maybe soon enough the entire American production will implode by itself.

OOC: Hehe, it is tough to be a liberal democracy and wage war at the same time. A plummeting NM will be sapping productivity and battle readiness of American troops soon. As I mouseover over Sacramento and San Fransisco, production has stopped. Contentment issues, coolbean?

[coolbean]

Tokyo, Japan, September 1878

WHAT IS PRESIDENT HEYNES DOING?

It seems to the Japanese government that President Heynes rushed to declare war to our fair nation. Who knows what promises did the Chinese make for him to take the decision to completely destroy relationships with Nippon in such a war. The American public's faith in this unwanted and unwarranted war is plummeting. Strikes can be seen around the American country, most recently in our joint mine operations in California. Instead of investing his time and efforts for the interior problems of his country, President Heynes opted for war. We are very interested to see where this will get him in the long run, we might as well fight this war after all (if British mediation fails). Maybe soon enough the entire American production will implode by itself.

U.S. STATEMENT ON THE WAR WITH JAPAN

Long burned into the collective consciousness of Americans are the Fields of Sournia, in quiet Southern France. It was early in the war between France and Germany, and France suspected its long time ally of Spain was about to stab them in the back. An American Expeditionary Force was deployed and rushed to the area. It was there, in the Fields of Sournia, where the newly arrived expeditionary troops failed to stop the invading Spanish armies, and where America failed to live up to its defensive alliance with the Citizens of France. With only outdated maps available and little understanding of French - and still shaking off their sea legs from the long journey across the Atlantic - the American Expeditionary Force more or less bumped into the numerically superior Spanish armies. The American II Corps reported contact with unkown Spanish units, drawing in the entire American Expeditionary Force on the flanks, while the Spanish likewise concentrated their armies and were quickly able to collapse around the Americans in a three mile wide semi-circle. The Americans numbered only around 10,000 and were outnumbered five to one. After suffering 6,243 casualties of dead and wounded, the order to retreat was passed down by the commanding officer, Gen. Phillip Sheridan.

The Spanish went on to rampage across Mediterranean France - America had let down the French, it was an immense national shame that has yet to be purged. The 3,154 white crosses under an American flag in Southern France are a symbol of the national will to help our Sister Republic and our allies, and the cries of "Remember Sournia!" are a statement that America will never let them down again.

With the Japanese invasion of China - the answer in America was clear. We will help our ally in their time of need. We don't expect the Japanese or anyone else to understand it, nor do we demand them to. But the American people will not allow an ally to suffer again without giving their all to help.

The first Japanese assertions that Korea, Formosa, and Hainan, and then just Korea and Formosa, and now only that Korea is their rightful territory to the contrary, all of these territories are Chinese and have been unjustly invaded. The tepid Japanese control over Korea has been proven correct recently. The 'Rape of Seoul' has finally spurred a Korean uprising. It has been published in Japanese newspapers (excerpt below) that there have been competitions between officers as to how many Korean civilians they can decapitate.

To a lesser extent, Japan has also shown its desperation in targeting unarmed American merchant vessels. Although personnel casualties have resulted, exactly zero vessels have been lost, contrary to Japanese allegations. All ships are currently operating at full capacity in the Chinese trade zone, with the Japanese warships apparently losing interest in hunting them down.

The decline in relations with Japan started when it unjustly invaded Russian and German territory. It was an aggressive war America couldn't support. Are relations soured with Japan? Yes. But it started with aggressive Japanese foreign policy.



TRANSLATION: "Incredible Record —Mukai 106 – 105 Noda— Both 2nd Lieutenants Go Into Extra Innings"

OOC: Hehe, it is tough to be a liberal democracy and wage war at the same time. A plummeting NM will be sapping productivity and battle readiness of American troops soon. As I mouseover over Sacramento and San Fransisco, production has stopped. Contentment issues, coolbean?

OOC - Yes. Sacramento and San Francisco have been on strike for two and a half years. It has nothing to do with the war with Japan, and everything to do with the game being wildly unclear as to why citizens strike and what to do to get them back to work. As a side note, I am extremely surprised that American NM has gone down to 91 - while still higher than Japan's NM, it is incredible to me that it can go down that much especially considering every battle (while all victories for the U.S.A. there can be debate as to that for the one sea battle) has resulted in a change of 0 NM. While it should be hard to be a liberal democracy and wage war at the same time, it shouldn't be impossible. Goes to show I still am naive as to the background systems of this game.

[Jim-NC]

Britain and the Ottoman Empire agree to compensation for sale of Cyprus

As an update to our previous news story, Britain has agreed to compensate the Ottoman Empire for the sale of Cyprus. (OOC - the sale was a red event). The Ottoman Empire has been granted the rights to build a coal mine in Britain, and British merchants have agreed to pay their Turkish counterparts for exploitation of the island.

(OOC - I have posted the transfer script in the other thread).

[Kensai]

(liberal democracies, F1-wise, have the hardest time to make their people content, they need a very healthy internal market as well as laws that improve society all the time to offset the rapid decline in contentment and rise in militancy... NM is falling as it is normal to fall each turn when there is a stalemate without major victories or losses, people get tired of war... unless war resilience kicks in... this is a genius mechanism, in my opinion, as it makes engaged countries not to be interested in long futile wars that decelerate them in respect to the rest of global competition)

A NEW HOME LORD

A new Home Lord, Ito Hirobumi, has been appointed to lead the Emperor's government. Okubo Toshimichi has been forcibly made to retire in order to avoid inking of his name. Toshimichi was the right hand of the Emperor in his ascent in power and architect of the first decade of modernization of Nippon, has been personally congratulated by the Palace in a lavish ceremony and celebrations that lasted 10 days, to coincide with the celebrations of the first decade since the Meiji restoration.

Toshimichi will be remembered as the man who stopped the Shogunate and the samurai revolts, as well as the lord who managed to protect Japan fall victim of European colonization itself. His modernization policies have been countless, his impact in the Japanese industrial revolution immeasurable. It was only this last year or two that his reputation got tarnished by the reversal of the Chinese expedition's fortunes. His most prominent supporters maintain that it was not his fault after all, it was the threats of old friends of USA and France that were responsible for this evolution.

Ito Hirobumi has convoked a meeting of the Privy Council to discuss the further moves needed to regain what has been lost in Formosa and elsewhere. The Korean revolt was only a nuisance ignited by Chinese spies and propaganda. It will be over soon.

(argh, a turnoff, this is not the photo of Ito, but the last Shogun, I will correct the image before posting my F1 screen)

PS. I have added in the Misc Files folder the corrected files so Ito Hirobumi's face appears in your own game as well, please install accordingly. For the first decade, as with Okubo Toshimichi, his official title is "Home Lord", the Prime Ministry was adopted later in the 80s. Will be adding Greek PM Koumoundouros soon. These are small aesthetic changes, just to make your game look cooler.

[Kensai]

Athens, Greece, September 1878

THE GREEK PATRIOTS

After passing the whole summer hiding and regrouping in the mountains of Epirus, the Greek Royal army of more than 70000 men with many horses and salvaged cannons moved Southwards to regain its capital. Athens is being administered by a crafty Ottoman head of 3 divisions worth of militia (some 40000 men). On paper we outnumber them and better equipped, but we should be careful as the Turks are still quite psyched up from their previous victories. We do not want a Pyrrhic victory.

We should thank our Russian friends for all this. Their rule of the seas, their presence in mainland Greece and especially their support in the city of Thessaloniki are of paramount importance to take our country back!

[Ojodeaguila]

USA interventionist politics:

1. USA must stop his interventions in Europe and Asia if USA wants to be legitimated to defend all America form the European interventions.

2. The Spanish government defend the Japanese occupation of Korea to secure his investments in the zone after the collapsing of the last Chinese government, after this effort to pacify the Korean peninsula, we support his just claim in Korea.

3. The Spanish government denounce the sale of Puerto Rico and other Spanish islands in the pacific to USA, the USA used the corruption of an illegitimate government to take this lands and the restorated King, Alfonso XII cant accept the sale of spanish lands to other nations.