WWI Alt Hist Turn Thread

日本の帝国1904 (Empire of Japan 1904):

Big things are beginning to happen abroad for Japan in the 37th year of Meiji. An important deal is reached with the Qing Empire: Japanese investors will be allowed into Manchuria to invest in and develop Manchurian infrastructure, educate the populace, and take advantage of Manchuria's industries, along with 40,000 Japanese troops to protect their countrymen and uphold the peace, in exchange for last year's extradition of Kang Youwei and the other failed leader of the Hundred Days Reform and the forgiving of Chinese debt owed to Japan. (Laurent de Gouvion St. Cyr ) Meanwhile, the Trans-Pacific Trade Agreement (TPTA) is signed with the United States (António Salazar ) to help bring more prosperity to both countries. However, Japan must allow more democratic reforms, which it does: starting in 1905, all Japanese women shall be extended the right to vote, making Japan the third country in the world and the first major country to grant this right. Speaking of Japanese achievements, the work on the flying craft has been going well; with borrowed influence and designs from Western countries, the first major prototype is ready for a test flight; an 8 is required for the bare minimum of success, and above that will be a good success. 

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The prototype manages to fly 150 yards and safely land. Having a working protype in their hands, more work is done by Japanese aerodynamic specialists, and another, more refined, protype is developed. This time, a test flight of a mile is conducted; a 7 or more is needed for success.




The new prototype successfully completed its task again, and it is sent for more refining; a final test will be conducted to see if the craft can fly for several miles at a time without falling; a 6 or more will be needed for success.



Having the greatest success so far, the Japanese flying machine manages to fly for 10 miles and land without crashing. Humanity has finally done it; we have developed a way to fly. This invention is named the Hikōki (airplane), and dozens of hikokis are manufactured for use around Japan. 1904 is also the year that Korea is allowed representation in the Diet; it is granted 1/3 the seats that the native Janapese get. And finally, plans are made for Japanese involvement in Southeast Asia very soon. Troops are called into service and moved to Taiwan at the year's end; plans have yet to be finalized, but the Japanese Empire is about to be on the rise again very soon.

Military

The size of the Japanese Army is grown to 300,000 troops in preparation for next year's journeys.
150,000 troops in Taiwan
100,000 troops in Japan
50,000 troops in Korea
1 battleship and 4 submarines are produced, bringing the total number of ships to:
17 battleships
20 destroyers
24 submarines
While balloons are kept in some functions, they have been replaced with airplanes in many roles.

Economy

The American help boosts the Japanese economy this year, with more being able to be completed. By now, some parts of Korea are looking like Japan, but there is still years' worth of work to be done in rural Korea before it can be brought up to the rest of Japan's standards. The attempts to diversify Japan's agriculture have born a little fruit, with more different crops appearing beside rice in Japan's fields than ever. In addition, Japanese citizens are being paid to move to Korea and help cultivate a patch of farmland there and help with the modernization efforts as well.

World

Japan has made decent strides this year in cooperation with its neighbors. The government remains willing to work with its neighbors for a better Asia, but is still keeping a wary eye on Europe...

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Koninkrijk België/Royaume de Belgique/Königreich Belgien (Dutch, French, German respectively) 1904

Political

The agenda for this year is the rebellion in the Congo Free State, with additional light discussion on the Spanish Civil War and militarization. The Catholic Party pushed for a major reformation of the Congo Free State into the Belgian Congo, citing the causes of the rebellion being inhumane treatment of the Force Publique on its locals. The Labour and Liberal Party assented to also signing a declaration that the Congo Free State be reformed into the Belgian Free State. With near total support, the declaration is signed. The topic is switched to the Spanish Civil War. Although an agreement was made last year, recent development have lead the Federal Parliament to instead agree to observe combat techniques and maneuvers of New Spain. 100 observers are sent. The topic was then switched again to the military. The Federal Parliament continued to indecisively argue on the role of the military, and nothing was done. Rigorous training continued, however.

Economic

With the Belgian Congo formed, labor quotas are relaxed and workers are now paid properly. Although the economy slows as such, this will change on the long run as a result of increased productivity. Other rebellions are thus silenced as the need for one was defeated.

Military

The Force Publique in Lokolama are reinforced with 2,000 troops. With fresh reinforcements,Third Battle of Équateurville is launched. The Force Publique launches a 4-pronged attack from each side of Équateurville, though the defenders continue to resist bravely. A dice roll of 6 is needed for Force Publique victory.


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The Force Publique take an easy victory, capturing Équateurville. Remaining rebels surrender to the Force Publique, and are reinstated into the now reformed workforce. The Force Publique begins recruiting in Belgian Congo to make up for losses and begin training.

Foreign Policy

Belgium continues its crusade for a cession of a small part of Tientsin for the reason of trade from the Qing (tagging Laurent de Gouvion St. Cyr ).·

Foreign: a new deal with the qing empire has been made. An 8 year lease of Hainan to italy for debt forgiveness, Italian assistance in development, and a student exchange program. Any person is welcome to live in italy. Programs to get men to join the army to earn money for there familys are introduced. They will be sent to italy to join. The number × 1800 is how many soldiers we will gain.

9D38o52o. 3600 soldiers joined. 1000 are to stay on the island, 2600 are to go to italy.

Army: plans to make a bullet proof vest is to be made, in hopes it will be worn by soldiers. A 5 or 6 will meen it is a success. ·

Imperial Russia 1904 (second attempt to post)

Domestic Matters

The famines ongoing for a few years now has pushed the peasantry over the edge. They rise up in revolts against the chaotic price gains amd drops. But to make things even worse... Many of the farms being abandoned by the revolters stops producing crops & livestock, clearly adding to the problem.

The Tsar passes a new law that where a Russian child is starving, the farmers are not allowed to stop producing. The penalty is death for causing so much starvation and dying. It is murder on a national level. Cold and predetermined to walk off a farm when one knows that there are children, women, and men starving out there.

The entire country furious with the rebelling peasants beats them with bludgeons in the streets. Quite frankly, all of this has gotten too far for the police to handle. The army is summoned to crackdown on the peasantry and to sate the violent urges of the mobs on eight hundred and fifty-seven occasions this year alone.

Blood stains the snow-covered roads, even in the capital city of St Petersburg.

Abroad Matters

Rumania (best75), Russia agrees to a preliminary expedition to survey oil fields.

Ottomans (Der Kaiserreich), we reaffirm that the Turkish region of Armenia falls fully within the sovereign protection of the Ottoman military while we adminstrate the civilian matters such as the Orthodox religion by sending an envoy from the Great Patriarchate of Moscow to the churches all over Armenia, on a mission of mercy and blessing.

Qing (Laurent de Gouvion St. Cyr), we send you a beautiful portrayal map of Russian culture next to the Chinese culture on the opposite sides of the portrait as a piece of fine art. A second copy is hung up at Moscow, at the central administration building. Complicated negotiations are still ongoing.

USA (António Salazar), we invite you to reconsider the course of action that you have taken lately. If we are to abide by the so-called "doctrine" you lay claim on, then you will be expected to follow through on the other side. You must not interfere with purely European matters. Leave it to ourselves to resolve this like civilized rulers.

Japan (Santa Anna), we fully recognize your authority to rule over Korea peacefully. We wish you a merry, long-lasting, and prosperous reign, and may your days be weighted more in the matters of happiness than the matters of sorrow.

Spain and Spain (Gaius Julius Caesar), we wish you two luck in your venture. Rest assured that I, the Imperial Ruler of all Russias and the associated empire, will not hastly interfere with your private matter, provided that not one Russian citizen is harmed in the process.

The Second Brazilian Empire, 1905:



Political:

The defeat at Acre has traumatized the nation. Dom Ludovico states the following to a roaring crowd in Rio de Janeiro:

"The Bolivians have gotten too big for their boots. It is ample time that we fulfill Queen Victoria's wish that Bolivia shall not exist any longer."

The crowd cheered, crying:

"Off to the Andes! Off to the Andes!"

Ludovico proceeds to confront the legislature, demanding to be allowed to personally lead an army against Bolivia to retake Acre.

The House of Representatives must make its decision. Due to the nationalist zeal present in Brazil, only a 3 is necessary for their approval for Ludovico to set out for Acre:
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The House votes 432-3 in favor of allowing Ludovico to lead the Third Army of Brazil, numbering 24,000, against Bolivia. Ludovico's wife, Vittoria, becomes the de facto leader while he's off to conquer. The Acre War is about to enter a new, and presumably the final, chapter.

Economic:

Tariffs remain high on all manufactured goods, with the exception of Austro-Hungarian ones due to their sending of military and industrial advisors. We still remain open to negotiations.

The monopolies continue to grow, and the nation grows ever more industrialized. By 1905, nearly 20% of all Brazilian arms are made inside Brazil. While this is not an amazing percentage, it is still progress. Economists estimate that by 1915, Brazil should be able to manufacture nearly 85% of its arms. Cities grow into metropolises. Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Villa do Ludovico, Natal and Porto Alegre are all booming cities. 

The bad effects, however, also show. Child labor is rampant and illiteracy plagues the nation. The monopolists also begin plotting to overthrow the governments, establishing the Plutocrista Organization, a terrorist organization aimed at killing the Emperor and the Royal Family and establishing a junto where the monopolists hold total power. 

Social:

Immigration from Iberia and Eastern Europe continues, swelling to 124,000 this year. Talks of a potential quota to be set on immigration begin as many Brazilians in the cities are finding it difficult to find employment with the growing numbers of immigrants. Nativist sentiment results in the founding of the Nativistos, a political party aimed at blocking immigration.

Diplomacy:

After setting out from Rio in January, Ludovico and his army reaches Acre by June. By now, 1,000 of his men have fallen out of action due to disease and malnutrition in the Amazon. Despite the depleting ranks, Ludovico's charisma keeps the army together.

Once the 23,000 Brazilians reach Acre, they are faced against 14,000 Bolivian troops (1,000 had also died from malnutrition and disease). Taking back Acre will be difficult, as Ludovico faces entrenched Bolivian forces with fresh supplies and more cannon than his army. The Brazilian advantage is in morale: The Brazilian troops are determined to avenge the First Battle of Acre and Ludovico effectively rallies his men. 

It will take a 6 to win the Battle due to the extremely high morale of the Brazilians and the clear numerical advantage.

A narrow victory. The Bolivians fired their cannon at the Brazilian troops, resulting in 4,500 Brazilian casualties and nearly pushing the Brazilians back. Still, the Third Army pushed on, taking the Bolivian positions and turning the cannon on the opposing army. From there, the Battle was won. 3,200 Bolivians casualties had resulted from the battle as well, with a further 1,000 captured.

Despite the close nature of the battle, the Third Army wishes to push on. Dom Ludovico famously takes the Bolivian flag over Acre, stuffs it in a cannon, and has it fire ahead of the retreating Bolivian army, along with the message:

"You forgot something"

Following a brief respite at Acre, Ludovico and the Third Army push South towards La Paz, the capital. While approaching the city, a private of the 19,500 strong army reports of a Bolivian force of 17,000 at the village of San Borja. Ludovico orders for a scouting mission to find out the enemy plan to potentially exploit it. 

The scouting mission of 5 men will more than likely not succeed, meaning a 9 will be required.


The scouting mission is a failure, and 3 of the men are captured. One of them spills information about the Brazilian army. Ludovico, fearing this may happen, decides to launch a pre-emptive attack before the Bolivians can exploit the new information they acquired. 

The Brazilians have the element of surprise, the slight numerical advantage, and a great amount of morale, but they have also been rushed into battle. The Bolivian morale is simultaneously high as they are fighting for their homeland and have knowledge of the Brazilian army. 

It will take a 7 to win the Battle of San Borja.


A slight defeat, only 500 Brazilians casualties and 600 Bolivian. The Bolivians keep the battlefield.

Ludovico, however, decides to exploit the fact that the majority of the Bolivian army is at San Borja to seize control of La Paz itself. Rallying his men for one last advance, Ludovico marches 18,800 Brazilians toward La Paz. The Bolivians didn't expect this, and are recovering from the Battle of San Borja. Only 3,000 militia guard the city.

It will take a 5 to win the Battle of La Paz:


A narrow victory as the president of Bolivia is nearly escorted out of the city, but is intercepted by a 300 man Brazilian cavalry regiment. 

Ludovico proceeds to meet with President Jose Manuel Pando on Bolivia at the Presidential Palace in La Paz (Isamel Montes is still in command in the war because the Acre War is still ongoing). Ludovico forces him at gunpoint to accept the Treaty of Palacio Quemado.

Treaty of Palacio Quemado:
-All Bolivian territory East of the Andes, including Acre, is to be ceded to the Second Brazilian Empire
-Bolivia will renounce all claims to this land
-Bolivia shall be made a puppet state of the Second Brazilian Empire
-Pando shall be made the new Prince of this state
-Pando must swear an oath of allegiance to the Second Brazilian Empire and tell all Bolivian army units to abandon resistance

Dom Ludovico has Jose Manuel Pando proclaim himself Prince of the Principality of Andea, the new name for Brazil's puppet state of Bolivia. Prince Jose then issues a proclamation requesting for an end to hostilities. All but 3,000 Bolivians agree to end resistance.

The Bolivian War was over.·········