Italia News 1916 & 1917

[maddox]

Premier Galpoux, Minister Capet and entourage will attend.

[ctwaterman]

Sent to the Naval Attatche in the Consulates in Rome and Paris.  As well as scent directly to several smaller countries.

The Empire of Italia persuant to its goals of modernizing its cruiser fleet will be entertaining offers for the Purchase of the Following ships. SC-7. SC-8. SC-9. SC-10.
The ships are in good working order and are not due for a refit for several years.  

http://www.navalism.org/index.php?topic=1368.msg12859#msg12859

If you or your nation is interested please send your sealed bids to the nearest Italia Naval Attache at an Imperial Consulate near you.

[ctwaterman]

Rome Times and the Forum October 2nd 1916.

Yesterday in a Ceremony dating back in time  Prince Armedo Ferdinando Camila's Royal Procession traveled from the Imperial Palace to the Cathedral of San Giovanni in Latterno accompanied by the adulation of huge crowds lining the processional route.

Prince Armedo was anointed by Cardinal Chelsea and took the twin oaths to uphold and protect the Church of  Rome and to uphold and defend the laws and customs of the Empire.

Armedo the First was then Crowned,  Emperor of all Italia, King of Sardinia, King of Corsica, King of the Two Sicily's, King of Piedmont, King of Lombardy, Duke, Of Parma, Duke, of Modena, Duke of Verona, Duke of Tyrol, and hereditary protector of Papal States.

The Spokesman for the Imperial Palace indicated that Emperor Armedo would address the citizens, residents, and subjects of the Empire latter this week.

[ctwaterman]

Rome Times Editorial Page October 7th 1916

His Majesty Emperor Armedo Ferdinando Camilla, gave a speech before the Imperial Senate and gathered Nobles in the Curia of Rome yesterday.  The Highlights of the speech were calls upon the international community to work towards creating a more detailed body of international laws.  In addition the Emperor's own Gens has adopted 2 new families one Jewish and one Muslim and these two personages have been appointed to the Imperial Senate.  Both adoptee' served in the Legions, are Citizens, and are long standing members of their local Forums.   Excerpts from the Speech are included below where the Emperor also called for more unity within the Empire to create a peaceful, tranquil, and stable nation where all its citizens, residents, and subjects may prosper.

Senators, Peers, and honored guest of the Empire, We have come before you today to announce with a clear voice the future goals of our Empire.   The Empire desires no greater feat then to peacefully live and trade with out neighbors.   We will seek a peace, tranquility and above all stability within in our Empire and upon its borders.   To this end the Empire will extend its hand in friendship to all those who honestly and earnestly seek an honorable accord.

In addition the Empire is a nation of laws, and to this end the Empire will seek to work with other nations of the world to create a body of laws that even if they do not apply to all nations can at least be utilized as a guide to what is acceptable behavior among honorable nations.  We call upon the honorable and peace loving nations of the world to come together and to pick some spot where the representatives of all such nations may meet and discuss the formulation of a body of international law.  We do not think this will be an easy task, nations like people differ one from another with different beliefs and different desires.  But like all difficult tasks one cannot succeed unless one tries.

To the Citizens and Residents of the Empire, I say our goal as a nation begun under my Grandfather and his father is not yet accomplished.  The goal is in sight but it is a task we must continue, we must become a single unified nation and not a nation of principalities and local interests.  Towards speeding the completion of this task I announce the following, the Empires goal will be to provide Peace, Security and Equality under the Law to all its Citizens and Residents no matter their Race or Religion. 

To speed our task of seeking Equality for all our subjects the Gens of Camilla announces the following.  The Adoption of Avner Hebel Zadok former General of the Legion Hospital formations and appoint him Senator Emeritus to the Senate of Rome.  In addition the Gens of Camilla is also adopting Imam Yusuf Hayder the former chief Mullah of the North African Legions and Tunis and also appoint him as Senator Emeritus to the Senate of Rome.   These change are necessary for the strength and prosperity of the Empire and these two men are being both rewarded for faithful service to the Empire, but also being asked to continue that faithful service by representing the needs of their faiths and people within the Empire.

In conclusion the Empire is a living breathing nation and its people are the most important part of that nation.  To the many varied people of the Empire I say work peacefully one with another and together we will build a better future for all.

[Kaiser Kirk]

Nice speech. :)

[ctwaterman]

At least I didnt start with Freinds, Romans, Lend me your ears.... ;D

[ctwaterman]

October 20th 1916.
From:  Publius Rutilius Rufus, Empire of Italia Consul of Foreign Affairs.

To:  The United Kingdom of the Netherlands, Office of Foreign Affairs.

CC:  The Confederated States of America, The Deutcher Kaiserreich Brandenburg, The Republic of France, The Empire of Austria, The Empire of Iberia, The Republic of Gran Colombia, The Empire of Japan, The Middle Kingdom,   The Kingdom of Rohan, The Empire of Russia, The Republic of New Switzerland, The United Norman Kingdom, The United States of South America, The Kingdom of the Maori, and The East Sea Confederation, The Kingdom of Bavaria and Schweiz.

Sirs,

   I take pen today to inform you that relevant to article 29 of the Den Haag Convention II:  Laws of the high sea's the Empire of Italia is calling for Revision of this treaty.  The Empire feels that this treaty either needs significant rewrites to address issues recently revealed to be not covered or insufficiently covered by this Convention.   Due to the  current state of ongoing conflicts in the world the Empire feels that a  neutral setting more conductive to peaceful discourse be chosen and would suggest  either London,  or  perhaps Bern.   The Empire will also be informing the other signatory members of this Convention of this Letter and of our concerns.

Publius Rutilius Rufus, Empire of Italia Consul of Foreign Affairs.

[ctwaterman]

November 1st 1916
Rome Times:

The Empire of Italia announces the planned sale of 2 of its 1896 Scout Cruisers to the Kingdom of Siam.   Terms and expected delivery date were not publicly announced.

In addition Emperor today christened the newest Battle Ship in the Empire.  The IMS Imperator laid down in 1913 masses 27K tons and has a top speed of 23.5 knots.   Her 4 turrets carry 10 14" or 356mm guns make her a fine addition to the Empires Mediteranian fleet.   After some finishing work and crew training the Imperator is expected to start her shake down cruise in December and be ready to joint the Fleet some time in Early Spring 1917.

[ctwaterman]

November 28 1916 Rome Times:

In the first of what this Editor hopes will be a series of events the Empire yesterday announced that the Magistrate for North Africa will soon start a high level discourse with the Kingdom of Egypt.  The Emperor last month announced his hope to reach peaceful discourse with all those who wished an honest peace.   The Empire received notification that King Zafir wished to speak with the Italian Government and Sextus Aurelius Cotta the Imperial Magistrate for North Africa has been personally empowered by the Empire and the Senate to negotiate with the Kingdom of Egypt on trade and commerce issues.




Rome Times, December 2 1916

In conjunction with the Senate of Rome, the Rome Times, and L'aeronautica del randello marittima announces the establishment of a prize trophy for float or seaplane aircraft competing in a series of tests including Distance in sustained flight, fastest sustained speed over a 20km course.  The Trophy will be named the Calderara Cup, so named for reputed Italia Pilot Mario Calderara tragically killed in a 1914 test of an Italian Flying boat of his own design.

The first Caldera Cup races and air-show will be held in La Spezia  the week of May 28th through June 2, 1917.   The Cup if won by a single country 3 consecutive time will become the property of the nation so winning the cup.   An annual prize of 75,000 Denarius has been established for the winning pilot and his team.  In addition the country winning the race will be the host nation for the next race.

[ctwaterman]

Imperial Palace Rome November 30th 1916.

Actors:
Armedo Ferdinando Camila - Emperor of the Italia Empire.
Publius Rutilius Rufus - Consul of Foreign Affairs
Spurius Valerius Maximus - Consul of Military Affairs
Lucius Decumius - Commander of the Praetorian Guard

The meeting had been scheduled for months the  itinerary set for the discussion of the planned retirement of several of the men seated at the table.  And now a message from East Africa about the sinking of many small fishing boats being sunk  by large warships and then a Dutch War Ship limping home sunk nearly within sight of the new batteries at Balantyre.

Emperor Armedo was pacing the room re-reading the message from Titus Fabia Quintillius the Imperial Magistrate for Italia East Africa.

Emperor Armedo:  So gentlemen instead of our planned meeting which we will get to soon enough we have another crisis looming on our hands.   Waves the dispatch in his hands expressively.  I thought we had made it clear we did not want this war expanding.  We do not want it spreading to Africa or heaven forbid Europe?  So what are our options ?

Maximus:  The Military options while not preferable are complex.  We are currently still involved in an extremely extensive deployment moving refugee from the war in Kolkata to Ceylon, Tunis, and Somalia.   We are also aiding the Green Cross in helping them to ferry refugee to Ceylon and other ports that the Green Cross has designated.  We have a total of over 30 merchant vessels deployed for this action and are providing them with significant protection from a large number of our modern long range escorts.

Publius Rufus:   Diplomatically we do not want to push the Dutch and the Leipzig treaty any further then we have to.   There really is nothing to be gained  in that direction.   On the other hand we have very close ties to the  DKB and are currently building a Battle Ship for them.   With the Dutch scheduled to move out of the Congo in the next few months there moving ships into the area to attack civilian shipping can only be viewed as an escalation.

Emperor Armedo:   I see so do we have sufficient forces to deal with the threat that the Dutch Frigates operating off East Africa present to our shipping lanes.   The disruption of shipping along that coast will adversely effect our economy.  Coal, Iron Ore, Gold, Diamonds and many other resources necessary for the Empires well being all flow either through the Rift Sea or along the coast of East Africa?

Maximus:   We have sufficient forces present so far it only appears as if the Dutch are using their older second line ships in the African waters.   We have a large number of patrol aircraft that we can utilize to begin aggressive patrolling along the coast out to say 50 miles.  We can activate more Cruisers and Destroyers and begin more active patrolling of the North and South Entrances to the Rift Sea.  And we can begin a cycle or patrolling with the Battle Fleet between say Mogadishu and Nacala.  Its time for some exercise  in that regards anyway.

Emperor Armedo:  Excellent Lord Maximus excellent indeed, lets make that happen.   And Lord Rufus perhaps you could choose one of your potential replacements and send him to talk to the Dutch.   We have a problem to resolve does anyone have any idea what the status of the Dutch Sailors are in Balantyre?

Publius Rufus:  Pauses while he thinks. An Excellent suggestion  your Majesty I will have to put some lawyers on  that question.  I can remember any single peace of International treaty that deals with the treatment of Belligerent Sailors currently in the possession of a non warring power?   I do believe that utilizing Lawyers and a few diplomats in this matter might well be the cheaper method of sending a message.  It appears that nobody not even the Dutch responded to our message concerning the sorry state of International Law of the High Sea's.   Perhaps a case study will be more effective in garnering the support and interest we are looking for.

[Kaiser Kirk]

.  It appears that nobody not even the Dutch responded to our message concerning the sorry state of International Law of the High Sea's.   Perhaps a case study will be more effective in garnering the support and interest we are looking for.

sorry, it's on the "to do" list, just been coming up short of time and energy.

[ctwaterman]

well that Ok, Now we have a Case study...

Having Obeyed Article 10 Sections A and B of the Den Haag Convention II of the High Sea's and rescued persons found adrift or in distress on the High Sea's what is the legal responsibility of  Non Belligerent Empire of Italia to such persons.

Do we Inter them ????
Do we hand them over to the Dutch ?????
Do we hand them over to the DKB ?????

Are they Entitled to the rights of POW's under the Convention on War and treatment of wounded ?????

So many legal questions so much fun to be had.  ;D

[Walter]

I suppose you could intern them if they are a threat to you nation, but otherwise, since you are neutral in the conflict, the proper response is to brainwash them and make them part of your community send them back to the proper nation... and they are entitled to the rights of POWs only if you make them POWs meaning that if you do not, you can abuse them anyway you want and can you should treat them as guests to your nation.
:)

[Korpen]

Do we Inter them ????
Do we hand them over to the Dutch ?????
Do we hand them over to the DKB ?????

Usually many of those questions are addressed in the declaration of neutrality. Such as this:
http://www.navalism.org/index.php?topic=3686.msg39573#msg39573
As a note the Netherlands will hold powers (unless they have said something else in their declaration) who have declared themselves neutral to similar standards. In addition to the purely naval constraints in that declaration the Kingdom expects that neutral do not allow transits of tools of war or troops over their territory or interior waters.

But the normal is for them to be interned, which is not the same as a POW; if one would make a comparison to a penal system then a POW is in prison and an internee is in a half-way house.

So hand them back would be unexpected, to hand them over to the DKB would be de facto be paramount to a declaration of war.
It happened during WW2 at least that there were sometimes "internee exchanges" were neutral powers (read: Sweden) set free equal numbers of interned from both sides.

[ctwaterman]

Oh I know the difference between Intern and POW but the current rules mean I would have to pay them :)  And being a naturally Cheap SOB....  :o

My point seems to be what should a beligerent expect from a Neutral the standard in the game has verried greatly.

And as a case point the Empire has made no statements of Neutrality or otherwise concerning the war.  We have simply tried to Ignore it while keeping to a few core values.   

We are obviously trying to gather support for some sort of meeting on the laws of war and rights of beligerents and Neutrals.... and well we have been handed a test case.

Rest assured your sailors will be comfortably stored until after the lawyers are done with the case or until after the war which ever comes first Im betting on the war ending first :)