CSA 1915 News

[Guinness]

January 1, 1915

The Nashville Tennessean

Vanderbilt Defeats Southern California for Rose Bowl Title

Los Angeles -- Before a crowd of over ten thousand, Vanderbilt today defeated Southern California 12-0 to complete an undefeated season.

Vanderbilt's defense allowed no points, and scored six of their own after recovering a Southern California fumble in the first half. Southern California's defense was equally stout,  holding Vanderbilt's vaunted single-wing offense to only six points of their, scored on "Pap" Winkle's 68 yard run from scrimmage early in the second half. Subtract that run, and both offenses combined for only 58 yards of offense.

Editor's note: The Vanderbilt gridiron squad will return to Nashville Wednesday, January 6. The University announced that a parade in their honor is being organized along Broadway and West End Avenue that afternoon.

OOC: Yes, in the Nverse, Vanderbilt is a football power.

[The Rock Doctor]

Doesn't sound like the most exciting game, though...

[Guinness]

Doesn't sound like the most exciting game, though...

Not noted was the broken nose tally: 6 for USC, and a remarkable 11 for Vandy. :)

OTL by 1915, the forward pass was not yet a common feature of football games, so relatively low scores were to be expected. For instance, both the 1916 and 1917 Rose Bowls were decided by scores of 14-0 (the Ivy League champs Brown and Penn respectively losing both).

Actually, I've had spinning in my mind a sort of UNK vs. CSA college bowl/championship idea for a while now that I really ought to hash out. It probably begins with a coin flip to see who's rules they play under...

[The Rock Doctor]

Make it a home-and-home affair:  higher combined score wins.

Seventeen broken noses would add to the interest level, I concede.

[Guinness]

Make it a home-and-home affair:  higher combined score wins.

That's a great idea!

[The Rock Doctor]

Just remember - wars having broken out over sporting events.

[Guinness]

"Well, that about does it, I think." The man wearing CPO stripes, took two steps back away from the erstwhile Sloop turned fishing boat, wiped the sweat from his brow and admired their work. This was probably the most interesting thing he'd done in the four years he'd been posted to Samana Bay.

"Looks just like the boat me papa runs back home, that's fo' sure." One of the sailors remarked in a thick Louisiana accent.

"Yes, we certainly took quite a few pages out of those Mezoamerican pirates' books! What do you think Lieutenant?"

Jonathan Wheeler, himself covered in sweat and paint like the others, could only stand and smile. "Yes, I think she'll do nicely. Now if I had any idea what the Navy planned to *do* with her...".

[Borys]

Make it a home-and-home affair:  higher combined score wins.

That's a great idea!

In case of tie, side which scored more points away from home wins.
If still a draw, have a penalty shoot-out.

Borys

[Guinness]

January 1, 1915

The Secretary of State of the Confederate States of America was wearing a heavy navy coat, and had exchanged his formal top hat for one of his wool hats he usually wore while driving his automobile in the winter.

He stood out on the open platform that wrapped around the back and sides of the Oklahoma's flag bridge, with his hands plunged deeply into the pockets of the coat. The early morning air was cold, the sky was a deep grey, and the seas weren't especially smooth. Wilson found that he felt considerably less seasick as long as he stood up on deck, out in the open air. A yeoman brought him a cup of coffee.

Wilson sipped his coffee, and observed the cruisers out in front of the Oklahoma, well out toward the horizon on either side of the bow. Closer still was the larger cruiser Hatchitigbee, now flying the flag of newly minted Rear Admiral James. Even Hatchitigbee rose and fell conspicuously in the building seas.

Before long, he saw Hatchitigbee's signal lamp flash for several seconds, then watched a sailor return a signal with the similar lamp on the port forward wing of the Oklahoma's flag bridge. Then Hatchitigbee and two of the four light cruisers nearer the horizon turned in unison to port. Wilson looked aft, past the Arizona and Spruce, and saw that Hatchitigbee's two sisters were making similar turns.

Admiral Wainwright appeared, himself wearing a great navy pea coat, as well as an officer's cap, and carrying his own cup of coffee. "Godspeed Admiral James" he said, as he watched the cruisers steam off to the south.

[Guinness]

January 2, 1915

The New Orleans Times-Picayune
Crowd Gathers, Calls for Confederate Support for Italy Against New Zion

New Orleans -- Thousands gathered this afternoon in Jackson Square for a rally in support of the Italian cause against New Zion. The crowd, chanting anti-Jewish slogans, listened as speaker after speaker denounced the Zionites, and in quick succession, Secretary Wilson and President Roosevelt.

"How can Secretary Wilson advocate negotiating with these murderers?" asked Jean Lefite, councilman from the Third Ward in a speech before the crowd.

Other speakers called on President Roosevelt to declare his support for Italy. "Are they not our allies? Are they not just in their cause?" asked Jefferson Lewis Tunney, who recently campaigned for Sheriff and lost.

There were calls for order as well. Monsignor Talbot, rector of St. Louis Cathedral, spoke of restraint. "While the Italian cause is just, Jesus taught us all to turn the other cheek, and to love thy neighbor as thyself. I remind all of you of your duties toward others as Christians not to fall prey to your baser instincts and to seek justice at the expense of your neighbors here in New Orleans."

The City and Sheriffs's department though, took no chances, positioning armed officers and deputies outside noted Jewish businesses in the city.

[Guinness]

January 3, 1915

The Atlanta Journal
Without Truth There Can Be No Justice

Many call for Zionite heads to roll. Many here in Atlanta call for reprisals against local Jews. Many across the nation call for President Roosevelt to declare his support for the Italian Empire in the brewing conflict. All are wrong.

We cannot know the true intention of the Italians, but it should be clear to all that the "evidence" presented by them in making their case for war on New Zion is not only flimsy, but lies. War founded on such lies is immoral, and no way to find justice for the Pope's assassination two years ago.

We appreciate Secretary Wilson's attempt to head off Italian aggression through peaceful negotiation, and are chagrined that they failed. We wonder: had President Roosevelt and Secretary Wilson made a strong statement that they would not support Italian aggression would the Secretary's efforts might not have born more fruit?

Possibly now, before the Italians have ventured too far down the road of war, if the Confederacy would declare openly it's intent to remain neutral, and condemn Italian aggression, the Italians might step back from the brink. We can only hope that our leaders in Richmond would have the courage to do so, before it is too late.

[Guinness]

January 3, 1915

The day was bright and cold as the 1st Division of the 1st Infantry Corps gathered on their parade ground at their base just outside Charlotte. The men, carrying all their gear, then were dismissed from the ranks by company to board the trains lined up on the rail spur at the southern end of the base.

The barracks of the 2nd Division were largely located along the short march from the parade ground to the waiting trains. The 1st Division men had more than a few good natured taunts for the brothers: "Y'all just stay here now and mind the shop! We'll be back soon enough!", or "There's a reason we're the First division, and y'all are the Second". Over the past year's intensive training, quite a rivalry between the two halves of the Corps had emerged.

The men boarded the trains by company, stowed their gear wherever they could, and were generally in good spirits. Toward the aft end of each train, horses and artillery were also loaded, as well as the myriad of other items and cargo required by an Infantry division if it were to go into action.

As each train pulled out, patriotic songs tended to break out. Of course, all this esprit de corps masked the trepidation felt by all of them. "Do you think Teddy'll really send us to Africa?" One young soldier asked his sergeant, who was an old man by the standards of the Division at twenty-three. "Africa!" The sergeant exclaimed. "Of course not. I'm sure this is just one more exercise. We'll probably get to Norfolk and turn right around and come on back."

[Guinness]

January 4, 1915

The following item appeared today in every newspaper in the CSA:

All persons serving on active-duty in the Army or Navy are hereby ordered to report to their commanding officer immediately. All leave for such persons is cancelled.

All persons serving in reserve in the Army or Navy should report to the closest armory as soon as possible to be counted, and to receive instructions on where to report should the call for reservists be issued.

[The Rock Doctor]

5 January 1915

Delivered to the CSA Government through Rohirrim Intermediaries:

Dear President Roosevelt,

It has come to my attention that a general mobilization of your armed forces is in progress.

As a neighbour which has not always enjoyed cordial relations with the Confederate States of America, this development is of some interest to us.  Please consider this to be a request for further information on your intentions. 

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Rey Alizandro

[Guinness]

5 January 1915

A reply also through Rohirrim Intermediaries:

Rey Alizandro,

I understand your concern. Let me take this opportunity to reassure you that any military activity within the CSA is not directed in anyway toward Grand Columbia.

It is true that we have canceled leaves and put our reservists on notice that they may be mobilized in the near future. These actions are purely precautionary and related only to the troubling recent events surrounding the assassination of the Pope.

Please accept my apologies if we have alarmed you through these actions.