News of the Mark - 1&2Q1901

[Borys]

 January 2, 1901

The Diplotatic Advisors to Asia have left today on Fengel, Battleship of the Mark to negotiate a settlement in the dispute between the Middle Kingdom and New Switzerland. Escorted by five cruisers, the delegation is expected to arrive by the 24th or 25th of January.

January 6, 1901

The Armies of Rohan and Gondor continue to quell loyalist forces in Hondoras and Mesoamerica. Former Anahuac soldiers and other followers of the Eye have staged attacks from the jungles and deserts against the Republic of Mesoamerica and the Territories of Rohan. Such strike are being dealt with in an expedient fashion. With the treaty between Mesoamerica and Rohan signed, the Lands of Cenral America are to be cleansed of the dark and chaotic influence of the Eye over the course of the next five years.

January 8, 1901

Battlebarge 11, former Anahuac Battleship has been moved to Vinyamar in New Beleriand. Her fate will be debated by the Navy, who will publish their recommendation for use of the vessel in April. No work on the vessel is expected to be done until such time as the yardmaster is informed as to the vessel's future purpose.

January 13, 1901

The war has effected many people of the Mark, and the events of the last two years as left many without family. The ware of the war has also been felt by the fleet. Many older ships were not as well taken care of by the navy so that what resources were avalible got to the front line ships and those ships actively being used in the open seas. Today orders arrived that several older vessels of the Mark are to be decommissioned and scrapped. On the list of vessels to receive this fate include: Erebor, Cruiser of the Mark, Lefnui, Adorn, Ringlo, and Poros, Sloops of the Marks, the two newly arrived but old and worn ACM belted cruisers Haddock and Goosefish, and finally the battle ravaged former ACM battleship Hawaii.

January 15, 1901

Eldacar, Famed Combat Cruiser of the Mark, will be transfered back home to Rohan. The King has personally requested that Lord Harlock return to his court for the expected visit of Premier Jardan of France. Afterwords it has been suggested that Lord Harlock personally train the next generation of ship captains. Eldacar should arrive in Mithlond on March 19th.

January 29, 1901

Reports from Port Arthor say that the Fengel and company arrived on the 25th without incident and that the negotiations between New Switzerland and the Middle Kingdom have begun.

February 4, 1901

Former citizens of the defunct ACM have begun to settle in New Rhun, Hondoras, and around Dol Amroth. While their numbers are not huge, they will be a new nation of peoples within Rohan, though at present seperated by great distances. They have taken the name 'Caniman' from the Chinook words for 'canoe' and 'man'.

February 14, 1901

Rohan has accepted the offer of the partly completed Paris, Battleship of France, as payment for use of the Canal Zone in the southern part of New Rhun. It has been suggested that it be made watertight and moved across the ocean to New Beleriand were it will be completed for the Fleet of the Mark to replace the recently scrapped battleship Helm Hammerhand.

February 27, 1901

Battleship Fengel and the negotiation party left Asia on the 24th and are reportedly on their way back to Rohan. (Word on the results of the negotiations will be posted in the New Swiss' and Middle Kingdom's News when the results of the negotiations are finished).

March 1, 1901

Elfwine, Battleship of the Mark has finished her repairs. Experiments suggest it may be possible to raise the second turret in future vessels so that the damage sustained by the Elfwine due to the blast of the main guns of "B" turret is avoided. Experiments on with the spare turrets for the scuttled Dwarven Battleship Balan will be done over the next several months.

March 7, 1901

Surveyors from New Switzerland have completed their inspection of the border area between New Beleriand and New Rhun and put forth a convincing project report for a new canal in that region of the world. Negotiations between Rohan, New Switerland and various other nations that intend to fund this project will continue for the next few month. If all goes according to schedule, the first digging and blasting will begin during the summer of this year.

March 17, 1901

Lord Harlock arrived in Mithlond late yesterday evening, much to the surprise of all, including his wife, Lady Shizuku Oyama of Mithlond. The Eldacar seems to have managed to race slighly faster than cruising speed to reach Mithlond three days early. Traveling with Lord Harlock were his wife's brother and the Lady Shinunora.

March 23, 1901

Scrapping of the former ACM battleship Hawaii was unexpectedly stopped yesturday. No word as yet as to why this was done.

March 29, 1901

Work on the new Combat Cruiser Calmacil proceeds at a good pace in New Beleriand. The new cruiser has been laid down in part to replace the heavy cruiser loses sustained during the war. Part of those loses have been displaced by the unexpected arrival of several former ACM belted cruisers in the last six months.

March 31, 1901

Comabt Cruiser Ostoher has finished her repairs and returned to the fleet on this day. Other vessels damaged in the war should be returning to active duty within the next six to nine months.
   
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RLBH    
Posted: Jan 17 2006, 02:36 AM


Hegemon
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The Confederate States of America will make its' ports available to the former Paris, should these be necessary during the ship's crossing of the Atlantic.
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Jan 27 2006, 09:25 PM


King of Rohan
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March 21, 1901

With the return of Fengel, Battleship of the Mark, and the negotiation party, the story can be told of what the Rohirrim think went wrong in Port Arthur.

According to the negotiator, both sides were asking for too much at first, and would not even settle on the actually ownership of the various dispted lands. The Swiss felt the treating under the threat of the railguns and troops was inappropreate, and the Middle Kingdom felt the Swiss were being greedy, shifty, underhanded Europeans. As the talks reged on and on for nearly a month Rohan finally proposed a set of compromises that were nearly accepted by both sides. Unfortunately, again the two sides bickered over minor (and not so minor) points until they had insulted each other greatly. The Negotiator even drwn is families short sword and jabbed the table to get the two sides to focus on the task at hand. Rohan finally settled on the following points for the two to work out, but as we have seen, to no effect.

QUOTE
1. You two decide to make war on each other. If that is your wish than say so and end these talks should they be a farce.

2. You could instead decide to end this by way that some in Rohan do. By choosing your two strongest warriors and having them tied together a wrist. They fight on a hill. However wins the fight wins the dispute. The winner gains the disputed territories and also pays the loser heavy compensation for their lose. The matter is ended at that point. I highly doubt either of your nations can handle the concept of winning the land and paying for it in this context, nor do I believe either of your nations to be willing to loose your lands to such a small contest of strength and will.

3. You could instead choose the more civilized approach and actually agree to the terms we have stated originally with minor modifications based on the actual conditions of this argument.

Territorial Declarations:

1.  The New Swiss will loses the territories of Hong Kong and Shanghai.  The Middle Kingdom will compenate them for the lose of the factories there until such time as the New Swiss can rebuild them elsewhere, at which time the New Swiss will sent the production of those new factories to the Middle Kingdom for a period of six months.  Both Cities will become "free ports" under Middle Kingdom control.  The Middle Kingdom will not fortify these cities but "Chinese" law will be enforced within the cities borders and all ship will be inspected.The law enforcement will be done by the the same institutitions as normal in middle kingdom cities. The New Swiss will gain tax benefits in these ports and be allowed to retain all their commercial facilities within the cities.

2.  Hainan will be considered a New Swiss territory under a 99 year lease with the option to purchase the island from the Kingdom at a later date.  The lease will be 1 MBP per quarter.

3.  Korea and Taiwan will be considered New Swiss territory by the Middle Kingdom.  In exchange for this the New Swiss will deliver one zeppelin to the Emperor of the Middle Kingdom.  With this will be a crew to operate the vessel and the Middle Kingdom will pay the salaries and upkeep on these to the New Swiss at the rate of 1 MBP per year until such time as the Emperor decides he doesn't want this "toy"anymore, at which time it should be either returned or destroyed, the crew returned to their home.  Also the New Swiss Navy will design and build two 2,500 tons normal displacement coastal defense short range cruisers for the Middle Kingdom.  Rohan might be persuaded to design the vessel itself, but the Swiss shall pay for their construction in all save its weapons.  Its weapons will need to be payed for by the Middle Kingdom.

4. Macau will be recognized as a Middle Kingdom city by the New Swiss.

5. Rohan suggests that the Middle Kingdom and New Switzerland sign a document that states they will not attack the other's nation or territories for a period of two years. This fifth provision is not required but highly suggested by the Kingdom of Rohan to allow both sides timw to see if the other four provisions are working to their satifaction.


Sticking points ranged from the New Swiss attempting to get out of direct payment (though ship construction contracts) for the huge backrent on the cities of Hong Kong and Shanghai (in excess of 800 MBP by our reckoning), the concept of armed forces in the "Chinese" cities, and the dispute over who owned what verses who owed what resulted in the New Swiss terminating the remaining progress. At which time Rohan left Port Arthur, seeing no chance left in establishing peace between these angry nations. Each side speaking one truth, but not in whole. The third edge of the sword of truth is the sharpest and most painful to sit on. Each side believing the other is too greedy or asking for too much for nothing in return. The guess is that the New Swiss feel they had nothing to loose, and the Middle Kingdom felt that the wrongs of the past must be corrected no matter the cost. They will both discover the harse reality of war, and that all that they hoped to gain, will be lost in the end.
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Jan 27 2006, 09:35 PM


King of Rohan
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March 26, 1901

An announcement was made today that a deal has been made with the government of New Switzerland. It seems that Rohan has been in negotiations for a new type of steam turbine for the next class of Battleship since shortly after the war ended and before the request for mediation between the Swiss and Middle Kingdom happened. Since the return of the delegation to Port Arthur, it has been learned that Rohan has agreed to purchase at least three or four new turbine sets from the New Swiss in exchange for the hulk of the former ACM battleship Hawaii and some other funds. However with a war having broken out, all work on this battleship will be done in Rohan's yards. Rohan doubts the ability of the New Swiss to deliver materials to rebuild their "new" battleship within the next year, if not two years. Rohan is still deturmining if they will release this ship upon completion to the New Swiss if they are still at war with the Middle Kingdom at that time, or hold onto the vessel until hostilities have reduced or the position on the war changes among the Lords of the Mark.
   
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The Rock Doctor    
Posted: Jan 27 2006, 09:58 PM


Hegemon
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The 21 March post certainly clarifies a few things...

   

[Borys]

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swamphen    
Posted: Jan 27 2006, 10:20 PM


Großeadmiral Sumpfhühn
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27 March

Großeadmiral Baron von Letters threw the Rohirrim newspaper, delivered by fast packet boat, down in disgust. "Here we are with the Swiss and Chinese kicking the schnitzel out of each other, when a perfectly workable solution was offered and refused."

"It is a shame," Kommodore von Hoban agreed from behind his desk in the Admiralstab's administrative office. "The Swiss act like fools," he added after a moment, "unable to live without there being some sort of international crisis."

"Indeed," agreed the Baron. "This one finally bit them. Of course the Chinese are not blameless in this matter either."

"Irrestible force, meet immovable object?"

"Exactly." The Baron lit a cigar. "And now the Americans have their lederhosen in a knot over Phoenix. Probably the French have a finger in that pie, though there's no way of proving it. But it wouldn't surprise me if somebody, somewhere, sees an opportunity and tries to snatch some far-flung Swiss Colony while they're distracted."

von Hoban nodded. "And if someone does try that, and the Swiss declare war on them too, where does that leave us?"

"I don't know," the Baron sighed. "We were fortunate in things working so that we could avoid getting, ah, 'shanghaied'" - he paused for a chuckle - "into this current boondoggle. Next time? Things may not work so well." A pause. "We're not ready for war, my friend. Four more years, perhaps. But now?"

"A war would certainly disrupt our construction schedule."

"Blow it out of the water, more like."

The Kommodore checked another folder. "What of the Legion Kondor?"

"I understand that the Swiss have virtually sewed them up, although Hammer insists he needs until July to get his men ready."

"And if one side starts losing badly?"

"That," the Baron said grimly, "remains to be seen."
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Jan 28 2006, 12:05 AM


King of Rohan
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And they wonder why Rohan is shaking their head at this situation, but there really is nothing Rohan can do about it now, short of going into another war. With less than half a year's time between one war and the next, and with the former Anahuac Imperial Territories not fully secured yet, Rohan is not in a position to make war in Asia...at least on land. At sea, that is a different tale, but with the losses from the last war not recovered yet, that is doubtful as well.

Note that the ship construction contract idea was Rohan's originally to pay the 800 or so MBP debt over a 50 year time frame (roughly 1 HBP a year in ships) Which is not that bad of a deal really. I'm not sure if the offer was misunderstood in the Middle Kingdom (thinking it was all commercial shipping which would not be reflected in sim terms), or if it was the extra stuff the New Swiss requested to make payments on with that (and maybe hold on to the cities) that soured the deal, and more or less ended these talks with the insistance of payment for the debt...which was disputed in the first place (the manner in which the cities came to be New Swiss was in flux, but seems that they were given it at the end of an Opium War, and the terms of the lease were not enforced for 50 years). Also that the Middle Kingdom believed it was giving too much away for very little in terms of handing over Korea and Taiwan, however the New Swiss do not recognized the "Chinese" claim to said lands...and to be honest neither does Rohan based on the local populations of those lands history with the Middle Kingdom.

But now it will be decided with blood and steel.
   
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swamphen    
Posted: Jan 28 2006, 10:50 AM


Großeadmiral Sumpfhühn
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("semi-IC": IC positions, stated OOC)

The DKB recoginised Korea, Formosa and Hainan as soverign territory of the United States of New Switzerland and Australia. Shanghai and Hong Kong were recognised as soverign territory of the Middle Kingdom, leased to New Switzerland. Macau was in the latter category leased to the ACM, however with their going kapoof it was considered to be a negiotiable point.

Of course it's now all a case of might making right.
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Jan 29 2006, 01:47 PM


King of Rohan
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The Middle Kingdom was not willing to negotiate for Macau, in any shape of form that came up during negotiation. Similarly, the New Swiss were not willing to negotiate for Korea, and to a lesser extent Taiwan.

Rohan's proposal was a compromise....no one would get exactly what they wanted, but would settle to main part of the dispute.

OOC:

The original proposals from the Middle Kingdom and then New Switzerland:

QUOTE
Here is the Middle Kingdom's list:

There is absolutely no claim possible on Macau, its harbour and its infrastructure.

The Kingdom wants:
For 99 year lease on Hong Kong and Shangai, he can pay 2 LBP per Q.

For 99 year lease on Hainan he can pay 1 MBP per Q

For 99 year lease on Taiwan he can pay 1 MBP per Q

For 99 year lease on N Korea he can give 2 Technologies now and 2 in 5 years.

For recognition of Swiss souvereignity over S Korea he can appease the population by a generous donation, something symbolic like a battleship that we can rename with some great expression like "Great Humaneness" or "Peaceful Clarity".


QUOTE
The New Swiss response:

Before everything else begins, we must demand that China removes at least half of her forces. Otherwise we see the talks as extortion. (China has at least 4 soldiers for every Swiss, too many for defensive purposes)

QUOTE
The Middle Kingdom says there is absolutely no claim possible by the New Swiss on the trade city of Macau, its harbour and its infrastructure.


If that is so, New Switzerland considers Korea and Taiwan non-negotiable.

The New Swiss counter proposal:

For a 99 year lease on Hong Kong and Shangai. The Swiss are to pay 2 LBP per Q.

For a 99 year lease on Hainan. The Swiss are to give 1 Technologies now and 1 more in the next 5 years. (China gives a list we pick)

For recognition of New Swiss sovereignty over Korea & Taiwan the Swiss will give a generous donation, something symbolic like a pair of cruisers that the Middle Kingdom can rename with some great expression like "Great Humaneness" or "Peaceful Clarity".


The New Swiss also have the following grievances:

1.- Macau. After we rightfully bought the ACM division in Macau (the ACM is simply a company) we offered to return Macau to its rightfull owners. We even offered to pay the ACM debts. Instead of replying to our proposal China simply declared Macau non negotiable, ignored the rest of the proposal, and sent 45,000 troops into Macau. This aggressive action is simply unacceptable to New Swiss.

2.- With the only casus beli being the abandon of negotiations. China immediately after the end of negotiations moves most of her armies into position around Hong Kong, Shangai, and Korea. We offered to host a continuation of negotiations in Phoenix. Such a large amount of troops can only be there for offensive purposes.

The New Swiss therefore demand an explanation and a apology.


As you can guess, the issues just got greater and greater after this. The debt was brought up, the New Swiss were expelled from the cities, and issues over the ship gift grew increasingly worse the more the two sides insulted each other in one fashion or another. Rohan at first tried to clean up the talks, make them more formal, but eventually that failed even, leading to the blade in the table incident.
   
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