Baltic Tidbit

[ledeper]

Meeting at the Military H.Q at Karlstad Autum 1908.
Military and political discussion between highranking Army and Naval officers,and Janine Rayner about recent events and the immediate future.
The Navy is represented by Adm. Randvaror,the Army by Cheif of Staff Col.Gen.Heinrich,Herzog zum Mecklenburg,and Janine Rayner.N=Navy,A=Army,R= Janine Rayner.
A:It Has been a hairy year,this one?
N+R:You are quite rigth,it was something of an experince,first jailed and accussed of fraud,then Halcyons treacherous coup attempt,and now parlamentery democracy and a president?,Yes an quite interesting year till now, we must admit.
A:Well;It was a good thing,that we did anticipate some sort of "foul behavior" by Halcyon.
R;You mean?
A:Our meeting in Bergen,last winther
R:Yes,I remember,It did puzzle me at the time.
A:Yes,We had our suspicions about Halcyon when he created the Huskarls,and it became apparent very soon that he had his own agenda, and with the arrest off the both of you and then later of the Gross-Admiral, we were compeled to act and stop the madness.
N:Good you did,at least it served from the embarresement of  have to divulge our secret program

A: yes that is a comfort,but now to the days agenda,miss Raynor ;please, can you give us a resume of our political status.
R:After your excellent move to appoint a constituonal commite and the following parlimentary election have somewhat given our nation a new kind of vigour.After the years turmoil in wake of the "red rebellion",the unrest in the working classes has decreased significantly,and I attribut it to the Socialist-party now being represented in Parlament.I have had talks with leading socialist leaders,and my impression is clearly that they support our "Neutrality with a firm fist"policy as long as military spending doesn`t overshadow the needs of the state as a whole
A:It may sound cynical,but are the socialist talking about somesort of alike the Roman "Bread and Circus"?
R(chukkle):Point taken! General;but not far from the point,The socialist want better housing,better schools and better hospital treatment.
N:Well,those are not unreasonable "wishes" .If it can ensure socialist cooperation towards our military goal for the future it should be feasible.
A:As long it doesn`t impair the military readyness I must agree,but that brings us to the main issue of this meeting!
Admiral?
A:Yes,Due to the rapid development in our naval technology the Navy has decided to sell must of our ligth cruisers to the Japanese navy,in exchange of of the tecnology of radar-technic to suplement our F.C.system,and 15$.
We intend  also to sell the two elder battle-ships Lyn and Styrka to U.N.K. in accordance to our upcoming settlement on New-Foundland andthis also gives us an accses to regular oil-supplies from U.N.K.and the technology of Amphibious landings,and teh swap concerning future breahthroghs and diverse land-techs.
A(nods):Yes,and with our tech-swap with Oranje,will upgrade our Cavalary from obsolete to baseline,but we are hesitant about creating cavalery-units in wiev of the developments in Italia in Armoured Cars,it may be wise tosomehow transform mounted cavalry to somekind of Automobile-cavalry,something,
I dont know,and futhermore we start to lack behind in our Rail-Artillery,so fund must be released to further developments!
N:I know that the Navy but a major strain to our develpment-budget,but by the end of 1911,at least,more funds will be available to Army development.
Also our fleet building continous with a steady pace with the Preussen nearly ready to be launched and her tree sisters to follow in the comming years together with new ligth cruiser to replace those sold to Japan.
I am also proud to tell that the Aurora Borealis will be ready in time to begin its expedition to the unchartered coast of North East Greenland.
BUT! The navy have a sort of luxury problem in the second half of 1911,due to that several teh-development are close to be concluded,therefore the Navy-Staff suggest we refrain from further battleship building,until the development of a 16" gun in a triple-turret!
A+R:What!
N:Yes,Unless were forced othervise,with four unit of the Preussen Class,Two Ultor Class and two reconstructed Isbree class we will have 8 battleships,all able to attain a max-speed of 23 Knots,and that should be sufficient as far as capital-ships.Our cruiser program will continue though,and a general improvement of harbour facilities are sketchy planned from 1910-1915.
A: You have a batlleship-contengencyplan,just in case?
N:Yes,Off course,plans do exist.
A+R:Good.
R:I presume the situation is well at hand,so until further, I will leave two of you gentlemen and head back to my labs(chukkle)

A+N:Goodnigth Miss Rayner.

A:No,Battleships?Why?
N:Because we will at the latest in 1911 build ships with 15" guns firing capped shells and engines pressing 20000hp instead of nowadays 12000hp!
A:Hmmmm,I see your point ,but from 15" to 16",How long will that take?
N:Worst case,further four years,but if push comes to show 15" guns is quite a capable gun
A:Agreed,and in any case,your the admiral(chukkle)

[Borys]

The Habsburgs are observing the situation in the North with interest and sympathy. Although the diminished role of the Monarchy is source of concern.