Case Platinum/Brazilian Crusade

[Borys]

swamphen     
Posted: Dec 8 2006, 11:08 AM


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23 March

QUOTE

From: Admiralstab
To: 1SG

1. Prinz Henirich hereby detached from 1SG to form First Brazilian Squadron with Tanga Star
2. Remaining ships of 1SG not to enter Pôrto Alegre harbour.
3. 1SG proceed north into Caribbean. Recoal in Gran Colombia and await further orders.
4. Letters sends.



24 March 1904
entering Pôrto Alegre, Brazil

Kapitan zur See Jacobsen frowned as Prinz Heinrich approached the town of Pôrto Alegre. On their trip across the Atlantic they'd picked up quite the set of "camp followers". The Orange cruiser had departed a few hundred miles out of Cabinda, but the French battle squadron had hovered on the horizion ever since its appearance, had ported at Montevideo at the same time they had. They'd then followed them north, and now they had remained outside the lagoon leading to the port when the two Brandenburgian ships had entered.

It's almost as if they're blockading us, Jacobsen thought. But the Rohirrim ship is due to depart tomorrow, that might give them pause.

He returned his attention to the port. The Battleship of the Mark Brytta was moored at the opposite end of the harbour. A large plume of black, oily smoke was on the northern horizon, blowing north-west on the seabreezes, while a few, small plumes rose from within the town - one from what was obviously the site of a cathedral. He'd wanted to send only a small group of men ashore at first, as something was obviously up, however the commander of the troops had disagreed. Tanga Star would tie up, then send a few men ashore. This would provide for immediate backup if necessary.

***

There were other eyes watching the liner dock. The commander of a detachment of mixed company of Portugese and Indians eyed the ship apprehensivly. There had not been any orgianised resistance - the fool Palpaté had delivered as the Anahuac had promised. The arrival of the Germans had been rumoured for some time, and now it was a reality that would complicate matters.

Hopefully he could stall enough to convince them to leave. His men were wearing French Colonial Troops' uniforms, and there had been a very few mixed-blood officers in their ranks. He muttered a quick incantation to Tsar-On, and headed for the docks. He hated doing this with the pirates of the Mark in port, but allowing the Germans to get loose could ruin everything.

He didn't see that eyes other than those of his men had been watching him.

***

Oberst von Rudolf lead his squad of Sturmtruppen down the ramp with a frown. The town seemed deserted; no-one had approached the docks as they'd tied Tanga Star to the wharf, but now a small group of men in French uniforms were approaching.

Their leader, a tall man of apparant mixed Portugese and Indian ancestry in a colonel's uniform, pulled up and offered a quick salute. "Bonjour, gentlemen, and welcome to Pôrto Alegre!"

"Bonjour, Colonel..."

"Vargas, of the 4th Brazilian Corps. What brings Brandenburgers to our fine city?"

"Reports of Anahuac activity. We was lead to believe that there were no organised French units left in the colony, and that the German settlers here needed protection."

"I'm afraid you were mislead, monsieur. There is no Anahuac problem in Brazil, certainly not here in Rio Grande del Sul."

Rudolf motioned torwards the smoke smearing the northern sky. "What is the cause of all that then?"

"A forest fire, monsieur. I'm afraid it swept into Novo Hamburgo before it could be stopped, regretfully many people were killed. My condolences on the loss of your countrymen."

"And the cathedral?"

"Perhaps the preist became a little too enthuiastic in calling for cleansing fire from above, as it was struck by lightning from heaven during mass last Sunday."

***

The rebel officer was still slightly nervous, but pleased. He noticed the seeds of doubt being planted among the Germans; if he could convince them that nothing was wrong here, perhaps they would head back home, or at least go make a nuisance of themselves for someone else...

Suddenly, a shot rang out!

***

The German officers watched in surprise, then horror as the officer's head erupted in gore from the impact of the musket ball. At the same time, the "colonial troops" broke their quiet waiting. Some of them began raising their guns torwards the Brandenburgers, while others whirled around to locate the location of the sniper who'd killed their leader - one of them swearing in a language that some of the men, having served with the Legion Kondor, found all too familiar.

"Mein Gott, Anahuac!"

The "colonials" opened fire.
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Dec 8 2006, 05:03 PM


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March 23, 1904

Brytta, Battleship of the Mark, and Calmacil, Combat Cruiser of the Mark slowly steamed into Pôrto Alegre late in the afternoon. Brytta came to dock on one side of the harbor while Calmacil stayed in the lagoon so they would not take up too much dock space from commercial traffic. Upon docking they were met by local customs officials.

"Bonjour, gentlemen, and welcome to Pôrto Alegre!"

"Thank you. Brytta, Battleship of the Mark has come to show goodwill to the local peoples and prehaps allow the crew some shore leave time before we head off on the 25th."

"I would advise against too many men coming ashore at this time, Capitan. There is a fire that has swept into Novo Hamburgo and we don't need many visitors getting in the citizens way at this time."

The glow of a fire seem to confirm the man's tale. "Very well, I'll only send 30 at a time for shore leave while others of my crew will conduct business with the port."

The man looked a little nervous but answered, "That should be fine as long as your men don't wonder around too much."

"Why are you having problems? We've heard humors of Anahuac soldiers having penetrated Brazil."

"I'm afraid you were mislead, monsieur. There is no Anahuac problem in Brazil, certainly not here in Rio Grande del Sul."

"I see. Well I've not seen any myself on this trip, either." The captain turned back to his men to give orders then back to the customs official, "We'll start shore leave in the morning, if that is alright."

"Certainly."

After a bit the Captain and his officers and men returned to the Brytta. "Captain, we heard over the wireless that there are some Brandenburg and French ships just out of the lagoon."

"Send to Calmacil to setup to guard the harbor. Brandenburg and French don't mix well in most cases."

"Yes, sir."


March 24, 1904

The next day several men went ashore. Some went drinking, others went around the port. Others went pocking around to shops asking questions, politely, on duty for the Riddermark.

Two Brandenburgian vessels entered the port passing Calmacil early on. They docked across the harbor from Brytta.

"Captain, they seem to landing troops."

"Yes, yes they are."

"Should we do something?"

"Quietly bring the ship to Alert. I don't know what is about to happen, but with Brandenburg landing troops in a French port can't be good for the locals health."

"Sir."

"Signal Calmacil with covered flashers to be on alert as well."

Several minutes later a shot rang out, followed by several more shots.

"What is going on?"

"I don't know, sir, but there seems to be a fire stick fight in the town over that way."

"Signal the recall from shore leave, I want everyone back now."

"Sir."

A shrill whistle blew on the Brytta followed by the ship's horn to recall her crew.
(if that is standard procedure for a recall....I don't know exactly.)
.....................

Meanwhile a little closer to the fighting, six sailors were walking the town (asking questions politely) when the shot rang out. Since there orders were to find out what was going on locally, they moved to see if they could see the action. More shots range out followed by shouting in German and a foul language the older sailors had heard before during the war. "Sarumans."

The shrill whistle and the horn were heard in the distance. "Quick, back to the ship."
   
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swamphen    
Posted: Dec 8 2006, 08:49 PM


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evening 24 March
aboard Prinz Heinrich[/i], Pôrto Alegre[/i]

"...they began shooting in the direction the shot came from. We managed to disarm all but two, unfortunatly of those two one was the apparant Anahuac and when they turned their guns on us we had to shoot them."

"Have the prisoners talked?"

"A little. Seems they're some sort of mixed Portugese-and-native rebel force that has been receiving arms from the Anahuacs, they're the Eye's front men if you will. Reportedly the Anahuac themselves are here in low numbers, they pulled out of the town when the Rohirrim arrived. Tanga Star has disembarked all of the Sturmtruppen along with the 50mm guns, the town is fairly secure although we will definitly need your 240mm in support should there be any sort of push."

"Have any scouts been sent out?"

"Two parties were sent out, one moved into Gravataí and reports the situation as being similar to here, the Eye made tracks when the Mark arrived. However unfortunatly we do not have enough men at the moment to hold both there and Pôrto Alegre. Another patrol went north along the road to Canoas, halfway there they came under fire and retreated as per their orders."

"Very well. Hopefully the Anahuac will be too occupied elsewhere soon to bother with us, as it won't be until mid-May that additional forces arrive."

"Perhaps Brytta could remain a little longer? His heavy guns could help."

"Perhaps, it cannot hurt to ask."
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Dec 9 2006, 12:46 AM


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March 24, 1904

The Kingdom of Rohan will leave behind a detachment of Marines from Brytta to maintain order at the port since the local authority seem to have been removed by the Anahuac. Rohan will also leave the Calmacil on station here until the situation is resolved by the local government or the Republic of France. Resolution being the eviction of the Anahuac and the Followers of the Eye from this land. While Rohan would rather see the Followers of the Eye and the Anahuac especially removed from this world, the Captain of the Calmacil would be satified with their removal from the local area and back into the dark jungles that they have rumored to inhabit these days.

Calmacil will remain on station until a resolution is presented, or relieved. It will be at least 15 days before the Shadowfax can arrive to relieve Calmacil. Brytta has a schedule to keep and will leave on the 25th as planned unless the situation changes. Calmacil should have enough firepower to shell targets inland, or engage any vessel short of a battleship in direct combat, and even a battleship at the close ranges present here would be wise not to ignore the Calmacil.
   

[Borys]

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Maddox    
Posted: Dec 9 2006, 06:39 AM


Hegemon
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March 29 1904

Diplomatic dispatch to DKBs Emperor (the Emperor currently in Austria) and Rohans King.

QUOTE
"Your Majesty,

France does ask the pointed question why Welcomed warships of the DKB and Rohan did send in troops to kill or capture colonial troops in the small coastal town Pôrto Alegre in Brazil?

We of Glorious France hope that it all was a grave misunderstanding, and that the situation isn't the prelude to an invasion.

Minister Capet, with aknowledgement of Premier Palpaté"
   
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swamphen    
Posted: Dec 9 2006, 10:22 AM


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Diplomatic Note to the Empire of France from the DKB:

QUOTE

Honoured Monsieurs,

Our forces sent to Brazil are strictly for the purpose of ensuring the security and peace of the peoples there until the security situation there is resolved. Regretfully it seems that the local forces have been infiltrated, as the group that greeted our ships at the dock included at least one Anahuac and several working for those people. The fatalities were unfortunate, however one was the result of a yet unknown sniper in the town, unassociated with our forces, and the other two were killed in self-defense when they attempted to attack our men.

The remaining men are currently guests aboard Tanga Star, and should Franche desire it will be immediately transferred to your vessels in the area upon request.

I will instruct the Ministry of Information to provide details of the interviews made with these men, the contents of which I am sure will prove illuminating.

Wilhelm the Second, by the Grace of God, German Emperor and King of New Prussia

   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Dec 9 2006, 11:48 AM


King of Rohan
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April 3, 1904

To: French Foreign Minister's Office, and upper level national adminitration.

From: Theocro, King of Rohan

Honoured Monsieurs,

The Kingdom of Rohan, while conducting a good will tour of Brazil's coastal cities, had the misfortune to be in Pôrto Alegre when shots were fired within the city. Investigating the situation, the Captain of the Brytta, Battleship of the Mark, found no French forces within the city, and the local military, police, and customs offices run by a few Anahuac and what appear to be nationalist rebels. Seeing the situation in chaos, the Captain of the Brytta ordered a detachment of marines and his escorting cruiser to remain behind to maintain the peace and keep order until the current situation is resolved by the local government, or the Republic of France.

Hopefully what seems to be a rebellion against your colonial governement can be resolved in an orderly fashion. The appearance of an Anahuac leading at least one group of rebels is disturbing to the Kingdom of Rohan, and myself in particular. Having fought the Anahuac personally, I find them capable warriors, but not the be trusted or dealt with diplomatically. Only through the actions of the people of Mesoamerican did the War end without that entire country needing to be fought over against the Anahuac priests, army, and the emperor himself. I hope that Brazil will not fester like Mesoamerica did for centuries under the manipulations of the Followers of the Eye.

Signed,

Theocro
King of Rohan
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 10 2006, 04:45 PM


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OOC
Sorry for out of sync, but I am catching up and I think keeping all relevant posts to a single thread is good.

Trinidad, 22nd of March 1904

The Austrian Brasilian Crusade arrived. Recoaling and loading of fresh produce commenced imediatelly.

On the 24th the whole force - 3 battleships, four aroured cruisers and 4 troopships sailed SE.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 10 2006, 05:12 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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Sao Luis, Maranhao, 23rd of March 1904

Two Austrian small cruisers enter the harbor. The divison is led by Korvetten Kapitan Schlachtiger, whose bravery and wrecking of his ship at Tangier cost him several months ashore, and gave him a promotion to this post.

The cruiser division caries a half company (120 men) of the 8th AL.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 10 2006, 09:36 PM


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Sao Luis, Maranhao, 23rd of March 1904

The cruisers came as close to the shore as they dared, then cast anchor. Then they cast boats, which ferried the Auslaenders ashore. Cutiously, four groups of a dozen soldiers, each led by a junior Officer and accompanied by a priest and prominently displaying a Cross made their way into the city. Residents scurrying by were greeted with "Laudetur Iesus Christus!"
This brought disbelief and relief, maybe hope, to most faces. Some whispered back, others replied in full voice - "In saecula saeculorum. Amen!"
The patrols did not even ask for the way, they simply headed in the direction of the largest steeples they could see. Schlachtiger - with his ecclesiastic council of advisors - had assumed that a parish was the best place to check for information.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 11 2006, 01:10 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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The various landing parties stopped when they saw the empty, damaged churches. By this stage the news of their presence had started to circulate around the town. Some men and women started to walk up and address them in French of various quality. There was mutual relief when Castillian* or - even better - Gallego spoken by the soldiers proved a better medium of communication than the bad French of both sides. Some of the locals begged for a blessing, others demanded proof that the "priest" was a "genuine product". Some were agressive - demanding the "Imperialistic Opressors" to go away, as a New Dawn for the Common Man was Rising, free of Opression, full of Freedom. This in turn bred agression from other locals, emboldened by the presence of Cross bearing soldiers. In a street close to the main Praca a few men came forth, mostly middle aged or older, often with an air of authority (and looking as if they hadn't seen the sun for some time), and started conferring with the officer and sacerdote.
The officer sent an atttached seaman to a nearby roof with view of the harbor, to signal the ships. The Legionaires started to walk back towards the waterfront, which caused wails of dissapointment ...

To be continued.

* If the Anuhuac agents speak "Spanish", it would be the South American variety, immediatelly recognizable from European Castillian. Gallego (or Galhego) is the Portugues spoken in Galicia. With 30-40 thousand Spanish POWs in the AL, some MUST be Gallego speakers and were thus assigned to this mission.

CONTINUED:
My muse took French leave ...

The whole half company came ashore. With the assistance of local authorities (people, not institutions) volunteers started coming to the waterfront. After field Mass, the soldiers and volunteers armed with rifles off the cruisers swept the town and island, meeting weak opposition. In the clearing of some buildings - Customs, Police, etc., a hand grenade through the window served as an ersatz Ultima Ratio Regni. For the first time in several weeks in the evening the bells tolled for Vespers. This also was the death toll for Anuhuac supporters, chased down and shot or beaten to death by the vengeful locals. Mata-os bem mortos!** was the cry of the day.

In parallel to Acts of Justice being perpetuated across the town and island, Oberluetnant Pepicek oversaw the hoistening of two flags over the Camara Municipal.

** KIll'em well dead!
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Dec 11 2006, 02:14 AM


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OOC:

Just a note on the date, March 23, 1904 was a Wednesday.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 11 2006, 02:59 AM


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OOC
????
Any particular significance of Wednesday?
ADDED LATER:
Maybe I will hold an Auto da Fe on Sunday, teehee!
Borys

This post has been edited by Borys on Dec 11 2006, 04:46 AM
   
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Maddox    
Posted: Dec 11 2006, 05:10 AM


Hegemon
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OOC, not many Anuhuac or symphatisers will be nearby coastal villages.

This is deliberate , and has several reasons the Anuhuac leaders deem very good.

Most of the "rebels" fighting are groups of Portugese or natives fighting against the french oppressor.

We can safely say that most of the villages who see a "cleansing" are to be compared to attrocities happened after the liberation of Europe by the Allies with WW II
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 11 2006, 05:32 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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OOC
Brasil should have 20 million people. How many did you put there?
Please explain "Portuguese"?
Borys

[Borys]

Maddox     
Posted: Dec 11 2006, 06:04 AM


Hegemon
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Brazil was a Portugese colony untill France "bought it". The majority of the people are portugese or a mix of portugese and native indian.

And there are 20 milion people in Brazil. Even with the slaughter that is happening
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 11 2006, 06:09 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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OOC
OK - so Portuguese means local, Brasilian.
20 million? Good, good ...
Borys
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 11 2006, 06:20 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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Sao Luis, 24th of March

Korwetten Kapitan Schlachtiger (who landed the previous evening), takes charge of the town. He forms a makeshift council of those who yesterday helped take over the town. Auslaender Legion NCOs are appointed leaders of centenas (hundereds) of local volunteers. There about 2000 such volunteers. The younger, rasher ones are sent to patrol the island's coasts, while 4 "hundereds" of older men are used to patrol the streets, as police. Usually there is an AL soldier in the patrol, to add authority to it. Any looters are to be shot on the spot.
Lynchings are to stop, with suspects brought to the Camara Municipal to be locked up.

ADDED LATER
The cruiser with WT broadcasts - at prearranged hours - messages for the main body. As of yet the messages go into the aether, no confirmation of reception. But that was to be expected. The main body should be in the area on the 30th of March.

This post has been edited by Borys on Dec 11 2006, 09:31 AM
   
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Desertfox II    
Posted: Dec 11 2006, 09:18 AM


Hegemon
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QUOTE
Maybe I will hold an Auto da Fe on Sunday, teehee!

The Inquisition still around? That might anger some people.
   
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swamphen    
Posted: Dec 11 2006, 09:43 AM


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Nobody expects the Austrian Inquisition!
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Dec 11 2006, 11:34 AM


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OOC:

Essentially that mean that few locals will understand Spanish as a whole. Since it is similar to Portuguese they might understand to a point but not in detail.

And the note of it being Wednesday was just so you can plot out your church services. Easter Sunday being April 3rd. in 1904.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 11 2006, 12:05 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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OOC
The soldiers speak Spanish, the priests don't. The priests know a little Italian. But as this is before the Vaticanun Secondum Unholy Assault on Tradition, Mass is in Latin, in the Tridentine Rite. So no problem with the Service.
The problem is with the Sermon. A pity I didn't think about that and didn't pick up some Priests in Portugal. But maybe some local clerics survived and will resurface?
For the time being the sermons will be delightfully short smile.gif

Thank you for pointing out that this is the Great Week (not sure of English name). And this was Ash Wednesday, wasn't it? - CHECKED - THAT WILL BE NEXT WEDNESDAY
   
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P3D    
Posted: Dec 11 2006, 12:15 PM


Hegemon
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March 31 is Good Thursday, April 1 is Good Friday. April 2 is the Eastern Vigil.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 11 2006, 12:22 PM


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Ahoj!
You are correct. I looked at the wrong column:
http://www.smart.net/~mmontes/OrthEasttbl.html

Thank you, must ammend telgram to Sankt Peterburg.
Borys
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 12 2006, 05:21 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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Sao Luis, Maranhao, 25th of March

KK Schlachtiger was confused. The beaten up "Satanists" dragged to the city hall by the locals were a very mixed bunch. To be exact, three type of poeple. Some seemed to be good family men or idealist youth, spitting "Abaixo o imperialismo Frances! Liberdade para o Brasil!" at him. Others - partly idealist youths, partly degenerates with baseness burnt into their faces - promised him a slow and painful death ("Vais resar para morte, lixo estrangeiro!") or growled in a language which made Hungarian sound like the singing of Angels. And the third group - with the difficult to describe but easy to identify petty criminal look to them - simply abused the guards ("A tua avozinha fodia com todos os bodes na aldeia!").
What was the first group doing in that company - this was something he had to find out.

The city was now calm, the beaches patrolled. Some refugees were coming in from across the river and bay, from the "mainland". He'd better send some patrols there as well, to check if no hostile forces were gathering there.
With the coal in the harbor he managed to more or less fill the holds of one cruiser. Tomorrow she'll sail and check out develpments at the mouth of the Amazon - maybe there were some GC forces there.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 13 2006, 01:52 AM


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Trinidad, 25th of March 1904

The Crusade sailed to the SE, makig its customary 9 knots. The admiral ordered WT operators to listen to any signals from the Detached Cruier Division, although he did not expect to catch any signal for two days (or so the WT guys told him).

East End of the Strait of Magalhaes, 27th of March 1904
The Chica Caliente, after leaving the narrow and twisted channels of the strait, entered Atlantic waters. It accellerates and heads northwards, to Buenos Aires, to report to the Laplatabezirketappentkommandant.

General area of the Mouth of the Amazon, 29th of March 1904
Following reception of WT messages, one of the Crusade's troopships is detached and speeds onward (ready to fall back on main body if threatened) to Sao Luis, to unload the whole 42th AL Batallion and more old rifles. A detachment of 4 artillery pieces too. In the evening the vessel catches up with the Main Body.

Buenos Aires, 30th of March 1904
Ettapenkomendant passes all news he is aware off, i.e. that the Brandenburgers are in Porto Alegre, but that they seem to be blokaded by the French. Council of War held between Ettapenkomendant, FK Rezunov, capitain of the Chica and Fr. Domeyko, battlaion commanders and senro company leaders. The suggestion from the informal head of the Maori half-company, that in case of doubt it is best "to slaughter a pig and read the entrails", is politely turned down.

In the morning of the 31st the ship sails, and heads East all day. After nightfall she turns and steams North and continues on that course throughout the day. After dusk she turns 90 degrees and at 19 knots heads for the coast, to reach Desterro (Florianopolis) at dawn of April the 2nd. The plan is to hide the ship between the island and the mainland, and calmly unload.

(pending further information from other apples in the air)
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Dec 13 2006, 09:42 PM


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April 8, 1904

Around noon, Brytta, Battleship of the Mark arrived at Sao Luis to find an Austrian flag flying under the French flag at the harbor entrance. "Oh, what is going on now?" asked the ship's Captain to no one in particular as the pilot boat came out to guide the battleship to the pier.

April 10, 1904

Early in the morning a large vessel arrived near the forces surrounding Pôrto Alegre. As the sun came over the horizon the flag of the White Horse on a Green Field was raised. The vessel flashed and telegraphed the local vessels, "To all vessels, this is Shadowfax, Battlecruiser of the Mark. We've come to relieve our Combat Cruiser. What exactly is going on here?"
   
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JohnnyReb    
Posted: Dec 13 2006, 09:53 PM


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(EEK - posted from the wrong account - oh well, it was bound to happen, best to get it out of the way I reckon.)
   
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swamphen    
Posted: Dec 13 2006, 09:57 PM


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From Prinz Heinrich: "City secure, occasional skirmishes with 'Portugese rebels' with Anahuac 'advisiors' on perimiter, believe them afraid of your marines. French cold but cordial."


There...that's better.
   
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Ithekro    
  Posted: Dec 13 2006, 10:02 PM


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OOC:
(It's them southern rebels giving the Brandenburgians trouble again, yep)

[Borys]

Borys     
Posted: Dec 14 2006, 07:40 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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Sao Luis de Maranhao, Brasil (?), 26th March - 8th of April

Korvetten Kapitan Schlachtiger, flying his "temporary detachment kommandant" pendant from the SMS Ferdinand busied himself like a good housewife.

After the Marie Theresia came back from her sortie to the mouth of the Amazon, he sent her to the nearest Gran Columbian base with a working telegraph, to report on own and Main Body progress. As he was not sure of the comunications at Manaus, he sent the cruiser to Trinidad. There it was to be made known to Gra Columbian and other "hombres de negocios" that there was business to be done in Sao Luis. There were bales of cotton in the port, as well as timber and other products.

The dried beef from port warehouses - incredibly not looted (being guarded by armed men of unknown faction was probably helpful) he had confiscated, under Laws of Siege. Food shortages were appearing, especially among the refugees from the surrounding countryside. These he ordered to be fed and sheltered at the priestless churches (the refugess headed for the chruches anyway). His chaplains could not replace the missing (probably martyred) parish clergy, but with the assistance of laymen, parish comittees and other involved individuals this issue was kept more or less under control.

He now had a slightly clearer picture of who his prisoners were. One third were Brasilians fighting to get the French out of Brasil - to create an independent Brasil, backed by the Anuhuac, one third were Brasilians fighting to get the French out of Brasil - to build an Anuhuac state, and one third were ruffians in for the loot and raping.

Group three he ordered executed - led out at dawn, quitely hanged and burried in a way as to cause the least sensation. The mass grave was on the edge of the camp he erected for the 42nd Batallion, thus out of limits to locals.

By now group one was split. Some still considered him a French lackey and thus potential object of struggle. Others had decided that between the French and Anuhuac, the Anuhuac seemed to be even worse. By the end of the month he had reached an agreement with men giving the impression of being leaders - in return for release they promised not to attack the Crusaders. They Swore to God and to the Virgin Mary, which was helpful. Father von Tschischwitz, the exorcist among his chaplains, was rather sure of their sincerity.

More sure of his position after reinforcement by the 42nd Baon, the anti-French militants who swore non-agression versus the Austaians were released on the 1st, on Good Friday. Most of the locals seemed to have taken this well, and some previously sour faces brightened up.
Some of the freed men immediatelly volunteered for the order keeping "centenas", explaining that this way they protect the town against the "bad men". And that after the Austrians LEAVE they can put the rifles to good use against the French. This did not not bother the Korvetten Kapitan - his orders used the term "secure the town as temporary coaling station". Possible French problems were none of his own ...

On the 3rd, among Easter celebrations, an Esselyian coalier arrived, bringing high quality Caerdydd coal.

After the Great Week was over, things practicaly became boring. The city and the island were secure and peaceful. Mixed "cenenas" and soldier patrols kept the town in order. In line with the Vienna Acord, the local volunteers were marked with a prominent green-yellow armband.

Having more soldiers, and with things in the city seeming to be under control he took measures to increase his area of control. As his countryside patrols were sometimes asked, or even begged to stay, he sent a half company to Alcantara (directly across the bay), and a platoon each to Cujapio, Rosario and Icatu - these three villages lay a small distance inland from the bay, on rivers emptying to it. The last thing he wanted was a swarm of pirogues or rafts comming out of those river mouths and swamping him without alarm. At each of these three outposts, which he later further reinforced with men from the centenas - on a 1 vigilante to 1 soldier basis, a stout rope was streched across the water - to make waterborne infiltration more difficult.

On the 8th lookouts reported a large warship coming.
The standing orders for such an occasion were to send the pilot, so he just checked his uniform, and left for the quay. Picking up a retinue on the way, he looked up at the mast to check if the proper flags were flying ...
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 14 2006, 07:55 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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City of Desterro, Island of Santa Catarina, 2nd and afterwards April 1904

For Fregatten Kapitan Rezunov this day, Great Sturday, was an Omnious Sign that God was smiling at the begining of his crusade.

The white walled city towards which the boats off the Chica Caliente sped in the morning sun reminded him of the previous occasion when he felt the adrenaline rush of going into action - Aden.
And again his Marine Infanterie will be the
lanzensptiz (speartip) of the Habsburg Empire. He will crush any opposition, with excutions cow any potential troublemakers into submission. By noon the city will be his. Unless there were some pockets of resistance to be broken, he will leave the boring business of occupation to the Foreigners, and take his boys to the mainland, for more fun. Maybe that priest, Domeyko, with whom he shared command (what kind of IDIOT* came up with such an idea), who he didn't trust to be adequately energetic against troublemakers, would meet with an accident ...

to be continued

* the "idiot" in question is the Governor of Catanduanes, von Tempelhoff, generaly acclaimed to be a good adminsitrator.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 14 2006, 07:00 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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Trinidad, 8th of April 1904

The SMS Kaiserin Marie Therese reaches this port and asks for access to cable. Will pass on information to Vienna and to the Colombians.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 14 2006, 07:36 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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Desterro, Santa Catarina Island, mainland, 2nd of April 1904 onwards

2nd
Sweep of town of town and island met with no resistance.
Bridgehead established on mainland established.
Chica Calienta unloaded during the day and through the night

3rd-5th
Maori half-company, with Marine platoon and AMC volunteers serving as interpreters, is landed on the mainland and begins trek to Porto Allegre, to check possibilities of contact with DKB - finds working train and moves south-west;
Railroad petters out after 150km, the c.200 strong "flying company" continues on foot;
about noon Chica Caliente completes off loading, leaves the Bahia Norte and sails due East;
Marine Infanterie impale several locals who "looked threathening";
Fr. Domeyko shoots Fregatten Kapitan Rezunov*, and in turn is killed by MI HQ staff;
Vicious battle with Marine Infanterie on one, and Auslander Legion and AMC volunteers on the other;

6th
Exhaustion brings about an undeclared ceasefire between the two Austrian forces


***************
OOC
* this Boromir vs Gandalf clash went the worst possible for both sides; a pity I have not the skill to write a story about it - any takers?;
The soldiers from both formations are innocent - all they know that
a/ their respected battalion commander was shot by the "other guy"
b/ the head of the expedition was shot by "the other batalion"

After the first loses on both sides the desire for revenge set in. Whispers of the Eye not to be discounted.
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Dec 14 2006, 08:09 PM


King of Rohan
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April 8, 1904

Brytta come into the harbor to tie up for her final stop on her Brazilian tour. Now there seemed to be something very wrong here. The ship's Captain was greeted by an Austrian at the gangway, "The Kingdom of Rohan, through the command of Brytta, Battleship of the Mark, might ask what is going on here? I was told this was a French Brazilian port and that I'm suppose to be on the watch for Anahuac, not Hapburgers."
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 14 2006, 08:34 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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KK Schlachtiger watched the behemoth approaching the quay with a smile. Partly with relief - the Rohirrim were low on the "Nations likely to shoot at you" list prepared by the Foreign Ministry. In a way the the Horse Lords' were God Sent - their expertise in a certain area could help him clear his dungeons.

He amiably saluted the full Captain who descended the gangway and blurted the questions at him.
- "That is correct, Captain ... This a French port, but due to their failure to protect the local population against the Followers of the Eye, it is the Crusaders who are providing Law, Order and Protection. You do not have to worry about the Anuhuac here, we've taken care of that. And as to our presence here - smile gets broader - nobody expects the Habsburgers ..."
- "Let me take you on a short tour of the town. And there is a matter I would like to discuss with you at my office. There is an issue which I am sure the warriors of the Mark know more about than I do, a humble navy officer of the KKK."

********
At the Camara Municipal
- "In the cells I have several dozen men, all labeled "Anuhuac agents". But the truth is that I cannot distinguish those who actualy SERVE the Satanists, and those who are USED by them. The locals are of no use in this regard - they are either as confused as I a, would burn them all rhe stake, or venerate as heroes. I've taken the risk and released some who swore proper Oaths of Good Behavior, but this lot seems to hate the French and us with equal fervor. Any suggestions on telling apples going bad from those totally degenerate?"
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 14 2006, 08:52 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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Kaapstadt, evening of 10 April 1904

The Chica Caliente arrives at the rede. An impatient Leutnant zur See takes a launch ashore.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 14 2006, 09:04 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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DKB cordon around Porto Alegre, evening, 8th April 1904

Contact with DKB patrols established. VERY strange "Austrians" come out of the hills - black skinned fellows, mostly of "guarde grenadier" size. Helpfully in front of them came German speaking Marine Infentersits - who looked like runts besides their dusky kameraden.

* - I moved this to 24 hours later; the railroad ended after some 100 kilometers, so they had to walk 200 kilometers over the mountains - so I decided to give them 5 days
   
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swamphen    
Posted: Dec 14 2006, 09:13 PM


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After some uncertainty the Austrians and their Maori friends are taken to the Brandenburg leader, who details the plans for moving up the road to Novo Hamburgo (ooc: and the town in between I can't ever remember the name of) once XXI Corps arrives around 10 May. "Of course, should the Austrians be capable of providing forces to assist, we would be most grateful."
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Dec 14 2006, 09:18 PM


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April 8, 1904

"Any suggestions on telling apples going bad from those totally degenerate?"

"Unfortunately even with thousands of years of dealing with the Followers of the Eye, it is difficult to deturmine that very thing." The Captain looked around. "If this was the Third Age I'd say 'burn the orcs and we'll figure out the rest later', but this is 1904 of the Sixth Age...things are different now."

"Anything at all?"

"Well you could have high tea like the civilied Anahuac do and see if they have any upper class here, but even the Followers of the Eye are generally followers of a cause that blinds them with either fear or power." he thought about something for a moment, "I didn't have much contact with the Anahuac during the war, since that was the Armies job, but I seem to remember something. Can I see them?"
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 14 2006, 09:40 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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- "You'd like to have a look at the prisoners? Be my guest! Would you like to have them brought up? And singly or in batches?"
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Dec 14 2006, 10:49 PM


King of Rohan
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April 8, 1904

"If the cages are secure, I'd like to go down with a few of my men in proper uniform and flag bearer. You can come with us."

"To what end?"

"To see which react to the Riddermark being present. We've not seen the Anahuac at all when any Rohirrim or Westron ship enters a Brazilian port dispite confirmed rumors of them being present. It is like they are avoiding us or fear us now that we defeated their Empire. You will probably know which is which by their reaction to us. It is not a full assurance of the real ones and the followers of the real ones, but at least it will give you a good place to start. Oh and look for the ones that just stare with hatred...they will be the ex-soldiers or religious people. Well trained to cover their words, but their hate could burn the forests with a glance."
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 15 2006, 03:19 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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- "Yes, of course. ... But what of those recruited locally, who have turned their souls over to their Devilry? Would they know of the Rohirrim at all? Or do you feature in some perverse cathecism of theirs as the ... err .... hmm ... equivalent of the Devil?"
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 15 2006, 04:54 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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Desterro, 7th April
There was a tense cease fire, and a general feeling of increduility. All that killing A MISTAKE?! So the other guys were NOT traitors? So Benigno, Hans, Miguel, Wolfram - all dead because of a MISTAKE?

Porto Alegre, 9th April

The 23 year old Oberleutnant Mueller expressed gratitude for friendly reception, and promised to pass on the suggestion of corps level coordination to his superiors, this being slghtly beyond his brief.

After a good night in BEDS the mixed AL and Marine force set out again. They were accompanied by a section from the Feldtelgrafabteilung, and were to follow the cables to Desterro, fixing them on the way.

Mueller, bemused, wondered if again Italian speaking soldiers will be more useful than the Portguese speaking guides.

   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 15 2006, 07:24 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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Desterro, 9th of April

The main body arrived. The commander of the whole operation, Generaloberst Svetozar Boreovic was aghast and furious at what he found. The two Austrian battalions - with heavy losses - were eyeballing one another across fire slits. Many civilians had fled the city - most into the hills on the island, some to the mainland. Most of the supplies brought by Chica Caliente had been destroyed.

The presence of 3 full battalions, not to mention all the guns on the Schlachtshiffe and Panzerkreuzer, pacified the situation.

- "I've a good mind to order decimation* of those idiots! However, they've done that to one another already. And with the seniormost surviving officers in both units not the brightest Oberleutnants there are, a wonder they hadn't done more damage. By the looks of it the Navy guys started it - so starting tommorrow the Marine Infanterie will be amalgated into the Auslaender Batallion. Dissenters are to be shot immediately! And there are some jumbled reports of a further - fifth - whole company. Which is nowhere to be found! Unacounnted for - oh, what a mess! No Army officer would have allowed this to happen! The Navy should had never been allowed any land forces!"
- "There will be hell in Venna and Pola after I get a cable across from somewhere in Uruguay. And I must remind the Staff about the two flags .... "

As the Santa Caterina island was secure - of sorts - the freshly arrived forces and most supplies were to be unloaded on the continental side. Foot patrols set out immediately, and returned with reports of "a thousand 7 feet tall black skinned Austrian soldiers heading southwards" - which was of course rubbish. The dragoons were expected to began further ranging reconiasense in a day or two, after their horses had found their land-legs.

One of the cruisers set out south, looking for Brandenburgers.

* - contrary to popular belief, "decimation" means killing one man in ten, not "lots" or nine out of ten.


HEAVILY EDITED

[Borys]

swamphen     
Posted: Dec 15 2006, 11:30 AM


Großeadmiral Sumpfhühn
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QUOTE (Borys @ Dec 15 2006, 07:24 AM)
One of the cruisers set out south, looking for Brandenburgers.

(ooc)

On this date, you have -

GK Prinz Heinrich and OAL liner Tanga Star, in Pôrto Alegre.

PzK Prinz Adalbert and PzK Freidrich Karl, (presumably) coaling in a Gran Colombian port.


(And me, flailing away madly at a gnat, but that's nether here nor there. tongue.gif )
   
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P3D    
Posted: Dec 15 2006, 11:42 AM


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I think you should wait until Maddox returns before advancing too much ahead.
   
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swamphen    
Posted: Dec 15 2006, 12:02 PM


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Well I'm trying to do that, but I keep getting Bory'd. tongue.gif biggrin.gif
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 15 2006, 12:59 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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OOC
Ahoj!
I'm trying to bring up all my various threads up to the 9th.
Borys
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Dec 15 2006, 01:26 PM


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(OOC: reactions of the prisoners is up to you actually.)

April 8, 1904

"Oh I can't say what the Followers of the Eye fear, but I'll bring a color guard with both Rohan and Gondorian colors here and see what kinds of reations we get. You might find they think we are French imperialist, but most of the world knows Rohan's nature and after the last war, knows its colors. The Anahuac know us, and the peoples of the Americas know us."
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 15 2006, 03:38 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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- "Please call for your Colour Retinue. The gardens would be the best place for such a test."

Half an hour later, about 70 prisoners - squinting in the sun - are gathered in a half circle in the enclosed garden at the back of the Camara Municipal. They are closely watched by Austrian troops. The Foreign Volunteers hid from view the half a dozen or so Rohirrim officers and NCOs.

Schlachtiger, making use of the human screen, explained to the Captain of the Horse Lord's Navy:
- "To leave your judgement unclouded, I will not tell you which I suspect to be of what allegience. And I have a further test for the Evil Ones" - he gestured at a small tent set up near the wall of the Municipal building.

The Legionnaires stepped aside. The Rohirrim unfurled their green banner with the galloping horse. Schlachtiger and his staff saluted the fluttering standard, the oldest on this Earth. From some of the prisoners came snarls of hatred, even more hard glares, a few whimpers of fear, quite a few blank stares and shrugs of indifference, and some eyebrows raised in question ...

With rifle butts the snarls and glares were led aside. The Rohirrim assisted, pointing some overlooked snarls and glares, or clarifying doubts of the guards. The whimpers were also led away - but as a seprate group.

- "To the cells with them. We shall attend to them shortly."

Now Schlachtiger turned to the blanks and eyebrows, making a pause after every sentence, so that these could be translated into Castilian.
- "You have passed the first test. Now the second test. Enter the tent. Swear to priest you not Anuhuac. Do ritual. Wash hands in Blessed Water. Then free."

He bekoned at the tent, where at the entrance two censer bearers in vestments chanted quietly. swinging the censors gently.

The prisoner who balked immediately joined the cell bound group.

Singly, the prisoners passed through the incense cloud to the tent. There they knelt before the Priest, swore their fealty to the Mother Church, kissed the Ostensorium with the Holy Host, rose and walked to the next chamber of the tent, to wash their hands. Upon exiting - and not visible to those yet waiting for the procedure - a large guard clasped a hand over their mouths while another inspected their hands. Practicaly all were released from the giant's grasp and - with a calming pat on the back - led towards the building. Four, however, were gagged and led away in a less friendly manner.

- "Those with clear conscious do not expect a trap. The guilty ones see a trap everywhere - so they did not touch the Blessed Water - they expected it to reveal their Lie. And it did - but in a manner they did not expect."
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Dec 16 2006, 01:39 PM


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"That seemed...effective," mentioned the Captain of the Brytta. "Your second method would only work in counties based upon your faith as I understand it."

"The situation here doesn't seem as chaotic as it did when the Brandenburgians landed to the south of here, however I will wire my superiors about sending a vessel to be on station here until the French authorities have reestablished control of their colony. My ship will remain until relieved. Assuming a vessel is available, it shouldn't be more than a week."
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 16 2006, 05:30 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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- "I've read about this trick used among the followers of Mohamed. But your assistance was invaluable in weeding out the diehards."
Schlachtiger smiled - "It was chaos during the first two days or so."
- "A Vessel of the Riddermark will be welcome." (as it will help in keeping the French clean)

******************
Those found free of Anuhuac taint and after promising not to act against the Austrians are released. Those who did not were hanged.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 17 2006, 08:13 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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OOC
Notes on the reasons for the fratricidal fighting at Desterro, to make it understandable for outsiders:
- Army vs. Navy rivalry;
- the two formations have been cooped up together for almost a month, in very close conditions, and tempers are short in general;
- to the above short tempers add the following - two different batallions, from two diferent branches - that aggravated all the bad feeling that inevitably builds up in such condititions - being fresh off the boat - less than 24h, they were still mentally on it, and had not yet put aside/forgotten all the petty dislikes;
- the Marine Infanterie are veterans of the Aden fighting, and brutalized by the experience (this being reinforced by attitude of their batallion commander - Rezunov)

So, two groups of men, short tempered, with petty greviances against the other group, have their HQs (one of which is idolized) kill one another - so they throw themselves at one another.

ADDED LATER:
- also, the Marine Infanterie look down at the "bunch of darkies" of the AL - the legonnaires are mostly Filipinos
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 26 2006, 07:29 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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Strait of Gibraltar, 16th of April 1904

The two oldest Panzerkreuzer of the KKK - SMS Pola and SMS Wien, in the company of 3 freighters, are seen racing westwards across the strait at 7 knots.
   
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swamphen    
Posted: Dec 26 2006, 09:40 PM


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(ooc)
Still dealing with fallout from various things in RL, so...

(ic)
Report, 15 April
Commander Sturmtruppen, Pôrto Alegre

Situation nominal. Anahuac remain cowed by Mark but also remain in northern cities. Continues reports that Novo Hamburgo burghermeister on Anahuac payroll. No further change expected before arrival of XXI Corps.*


(ooc)
* ...barring French intervention, this is how DKB affairs in Brazil will remain until mid-May.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 27 2006, 05:32 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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Brasil 10th April 1904 onwards

10th, Desterro
The 19th AL Baon sent south to Imbituba, to take control of port and railhead. Unloading of troopships. One Panzerkreuzer assigned as cover.

11th, Kaapstadt
After recoaling the Chica Caliente sails East. Her objective - Aden. ETA 21st April. After recoaling will pick up one AL batalion and sail to Dar es Salaam, trying to join some DKN transports going to Brasil.

12th, Desterro
The emptied troopships leave Desterro and sail north, in the company of two Panzer Kreuzer. Speed is 9 knots, destination is Sao Luiz. ETA the 22nd April. They will drop off a half-company on the Ilha do Mel, at the mouth of the Bahia Paranagua. With small boats, the detachment is to reconnaitre the situation in the bay, and especially in the port and city of Paranagua itsef. The city is the railhead for the line leading to Curitiba.

24th, Sao Luiz
Recoaled troopships leave Sao Luis with their escort. Out of sight of the land and random other ships, in the evening the troopships will leave the Panzer Kreuzers and make a run for the Azores, at 20 knots. Rende-vouz with the fast cruisers at Ponta Delgada on the 30th. The plan is to make the run along the middle of the Atlantic, thus lessening chances of running into possibly unfriendly warships.
The Panzer Kreuzer offer assistance to the Gran Colombians.

2nd May, Sao Luiz
The SMS Pola and SMS Wien and the three escorted freighters reach Sao Luiz.



At Sao Luiz the existing force - one battalion (c.1000 men, 4 guns) and local vigilantes (c.4000), plus two small slow cruisers - protect the town and approaches. One small cruiser will return with news from Trinidad.

At Desterro a perimeter on the mainland is established; horse patrols sent towards Blumenau and other population centres in the interior.
The port of Imbituba hopefully taken, and patrols along the RR sent inland - possibly cable communication with Porto Allegre established.
Boat patrols from Ilha do Mel try to establish what is going in Paranagua and maybe even Curitiba.
At all three locations weapons distributed to those who look reasonably dependable to fight the Anahuac.

Will write (hopefully) entertaining in-depth stories later.
Revision possible pending Hand of God events.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Jan 2 2007, 09:33 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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May 1904

While France struggles with its internal issues ...

Alerted through Kaapstad and Trinidad in late march and early April, Vienna is more or less up to date with progress in Brasil. Chartered freighters with non-military supplies (food, coal, etc.) have been alerted in their points of sailing that their destinations should be either Sao Luis de Maranhao, or Desterro at Santa Catarina. The preferred flags as Essylean, Riddermark, CSA, USA.

Sao Luis de Maranhao
On 2-3rd May the freighters unload some military stores. The old and not rebuilt SMS Pola is left on station for fire support, thus freeing the small cruisers for patroling the mouith of the Amzon, liason with the Colombians, etc.

The SMS Wien and the freighters recoal and sail for Desterro.

The batalion of the Auslaender Legion sends patrols in search of Anahuac into the countryside, and trains the 3000 local volunteers. These, now calling themselves "Cacadores" (jaeger, rifles, striltsy, chausseurs, etc.) also participate in those patrols. Contact is established with the local landlords, titled "coronel", and their private armies. Those verified as non-Anahuac are given weapons and ammunition. Sometimes company strong expeditions are launched, either in support of anti Anahuac "coronels", or as "flying columns" on search and destroy missions. However, the main purpose of Sao Luis de Maranhao is to serve as coaling station for the short ranged Austrian warships, practicaly bereft of coal after the Atlantic crossing.


Santa Catarina and Parana
In early May contact with DKB forces established, with cable line repaired between Desterro and Porto Allegre. By end of month the original 4 battalions have grown to eight, with one arribving on the Chica Caliente from Aden, the other three coming from Malta.
The forces now number about 8000 bayonets, 1000 sabres in the Composite Dragoner Regiment, and 1000 in the Auslander Artillerie Regiment, with 24 light guns. Eforts are directed in securing the southern litoral of Santa Catarina, and raise local militia. The general objective is to create a perimeter along the watewrshed, along the peaks and passes of the Serra do Mar, to protect the coastal region from intrusions from the plateu.

Military supplies brought on the 12th by three freighters escorted by SMS Wien.
Build up is slow, with a further 20000 men expected in June.

A lone freighter under the Siamese flag arrived on the 5th, and unloaded - apart from rice - 4 elephants (with handlers) purchased by the Kreigsminsterium for "jungle operations" in Brasil. General Boreovic took a liking to the animals and was seen visting units on the perimiter riding in a howdah. Work on converting Nordenfeldt anti-torpedo boat cannon into elephant-back mounts is progressing.


HEAVILY EDITED AND EXPANDED

This post has been edited by Borys on Jan 2 2007, 02:39 PM
   
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swamphen    
Posted: Jan 3 2007, 07:16 PM


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(ooc: should we assume that by this point KWII is safely through Suez and on his merry way home?)

14 May
Pôrto Alegre

The Gran Colombian operations in the north of the country seemed to have distracted the Anahuac, as the skirmishes with the Sturmtruppen and the Mark's Marines had fallen off to virtually nothing over the past two weeks. Scouting parties had determined that the "Anahuac junta" controlling the northern towns in the province had either melted away or, apparantly, sensed that the wind was now blowing in a different direction - at least for the moment -; the burghermeister in Novo Hamburgo still had a few bodyguards of rather questionable pedigree, however the only serious action now was the occasional skirmish with the "Portugese rebels" on the boundary with the interior.

Still, one couldn't be too careful, and despite civilian trade and communications seemingly being on their way to normalisation, the Sturmtruppen hadn't fanned out very far from Pôrto Alegre, just in case. However that was expected to change soon, as the reports said that XXI Corps, with their Rohirrm "escort", was due to arrive tomorrow...
   
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Borys    
Posted: Jan 4 2007, 07:13 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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Instruction from MarineAmt to Etappenkommandanten (officers or officials in charge of arranging supplies)

Several queries have been made on the subject of preferences for flags of freighters chartered for hauling supplies, so to clarify the matter:
- avoid French vessels;
- the more powerful the country's fleet is, the better;
- either New Swiss are to be treated like anybody else;
- haggle for rates, but remember that some sort of premium for proximity to warzone are a reasonable expectation on the part of the shippers;

Linienschiffkapitan von Kugelmilch

[Borys]

Borys     
Posted: Jan 5 2007, 04:49 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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Desterro, May 1904

To provide more firepower for land units some brand new shipboard 0,433 machine guns were landed.
After trying various improvised mounts, none of which worked satisfactorily, a desperate Wachtmeister* Hryhoryj Hnatio nailed the whole shipboard mount on top of a horse drawn wagon. He called it a tachyanka, which was Germanized as Tatschanka for general army use.



* Senior Sargeant in Cavalry or Trains
   
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Borys    
Posted: Jan 6 2007, 05:41 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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Desterro, 1st of June 1904
Cable to Pola
Send more winter coats. It is snowing in the mountains here.
http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagem:Neve_santa_catarina.jpg
   
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Borys    
Posted: Jan 8 2007, 07:17 AM


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Desterro, June

Austrian forces have grown to about 40,000 men. These are organized into four Auslaender Legion Brigades, each with attached Heer cavalry.
Cavalry had expanded to six Expeditionary Composite Regiments (800 sabres in each). Some platoons (troops) have been issued with experimental steel tube lances. Quite enthusiastically received in platoons composed of Uhlan volunteeers, not so in others.
- "Gott in Himmel! What is this, the Middle Ages or what?!? This is the XXth century, fer Chrissakes!"
Attempts at joint cavalry-elephant tactics failed. Apparently Siamese horses had something special to them, something lacking in other equines.
The cavalry got their mounts on the spot. The horses had been herded in by wild Uruguayan gauchos. Some were retained as instructors, to teach the Austrian cavalrymen Spanish commands to their chargers.

The coastal area of Santa Catarina had been secured, up to the watershed in the Serra do Mar. Patrols in mountains were grateful for military issue ponchos, very useful in the below freezing conditions.

After a terrible row between von Boyna-Boreovic and the admiral in charge of the Crusade's naval units, the remanents of the Marine Infanterie Battalion were extracted from the ranks of the AL. There was bit of a problem where to use this unit. With the scarcity of bayonets in the area not using it was not an option. Desterro was out of the question, due to the impaling incident of April. Parangua was too close to the Heer HQ in Curitiba. So the marines ended up in the mountains around Blumenau. The contact with locals was good, as these were fresh immigrants, and mostly Germans or other nationalists from Habsburg lands to boot. The share this station with the V/99.
ONE FULL BRIGADE + 1 CAVALRY REGIMENT FROM RIO GRANDE DO SUL BORDER TO BLUMENAU VALLEY

After cautious probes the port and city of Paranagua had been occupied, to the oohs and ahhs of all Naval officers at the sight of the deep bay sorrounded by mountains.
- "Like Cattaro, but better!" - was the oft heard compliment.
ONE FULL BRIGADE + 1 CAVALRY REGIMENT FROM BLUMENAU VALLEY TO BORDER OF SAO PAULO + SMS Pola permanently in Paranguga Bay (SMS Pola is shownig her age - on good days she makes 12 knots and can fire OVER half of her artillery)

Paranagua was the starting point of the elephant led advance up the mountains which culminated by the taking of the capital, Curitiba. There von Boyna-Boreovic made history (and his photographs newspaper front pages) by entering the city riding a palankin on one of the force's tuskers.
With a railway line to the coast, Curitiba now overshadowed Desterro as base for land operations. Two Brigades were stationed there, gathering supplies for the planned sweep of the platue between the littoral mountains and the Parana river. They also waited for the cavalry to out its rider&mount act together
TWO FULL BRIGADES + 4 CAVALRY REGIMENTS AROUND CURITIBA

The freshly arrived tender SMHS Kugelschreiber is assisting in keeping the smaller ships in shape, and with repairs&maintanence of some common mechanisms on the larger vessels.

OOC
As I am using 40,000 plus some local vigilantes to hold some 60,000 square kilometeres (two Belgiums smile.gif), with a population of 100-150,000 (?) people, I am not exactly thick on the ground

The 2nd AL Korps is composed in large part of Balkans' tribesmen, with lavish helping of Austrian veterans from the Spanish Civil war, plus some odd-balls like the Filipino battalion, one or two Spanish battalions, the Maoris, etc.

It is a mostly rifle armed force, with below OTL average artillery. This is due to several considerations:
1 - the Austrians think they will be fighting jungle bunnies;
2 - the Austrians know they will be operating mostly in roadless terrain;
3 - the AL was designed as a colonial force (see point a);
4 - the Anahuac are not expected to have artillery - jungle bunnies or not, their supply base is to the north of the Amazon and there simply is NO WAY they could had brought any significant amounts of artillery with them from there;
5 - the French sent their troops from Brasil to Africa, so common sense says that they took their artillery with them;
   
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swamphen    
Posted: Jan 10 2007, 08:16 PM


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1 June
HQ Expeditionary Force Platinum, Pôrto Alegere, Brazil

The offloading of XXI Corps had gone surprisingly smoothly. The "blockading" French had made the customary rude noises but had in the end not interfered. The presence of the Rohirrm "battlecruiser" was often invoked as a potential reason for this. Whatever the cause, the now full-strength "EFP" had quickly moved into the surrounding countryside. The cities along the coast were more-or-less secure, and they had - so far - only encountered occasional skirmishes in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul.

Now they would turn northwestwards, into western Santa Catalina. Reports were that the 'Portugese rebels' were perhaps present in somewhat greater force here...
   
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Borys    
Posted: Jan 11 2007, 12:55 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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OOC
About the "greater force of Portuguese rebels". I did some checking around. With Brasil having a population of 20 million, as historical, the whole "regiao sul" (three southernmost states) of Brasil at this time is not exactly overpopulated. I estimate the population of those 580,000 square kilometers (a little larger than than France) to be half a million people. At best - 1 million, across all those three states. And most of them would be on the coastal plain/ mountain foothills - the plateau between the mountains and the Parana river has a population density similar to that of the Sahara smile.gif

Your area of operations - Rio Grande do Sul and the interior of Santa Catarina - is some 310-330,000 square kilometers - the size of Poland or Germany. And you have 60,000 troops ...
I'm in the same situation, mind you.


Borys
   
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Borys    
Posted: Jan 11 2007, 08:48 PM


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Parana front, 1st-10th June 1904

Military engineers are supervising hired civilians in laying a semi-provisional track between Desterro and Imbituba , towards the Ferrovia Thereza Cristina railroad there. Another group is extending the sourthern line towards Porto Allegre. They gladly used the exisiting railroad bridge at Tubarao. They left the re-gauging for later, as there was enough rolling stock as to have no need to use what they brought with themselves. As they lack heavy equipment, they are taking the scenic route around the Serra Gerral, following the Rio dos Porcos valley south, instead of through it. The plan is to follow the coast until the land gets almost flat, and then veer at right angles to the coast and go inland straight to Porto Allegre.

Surveyors are busy sketching possible routes for railways from Desterro northwards, towards Parangua, and a possible route across the mountains, towards the Sao-Paolo line railhead at Rio Negro, on the other side of the mountain range. But the terrain was difficult.

Starting along the railroad from Curitiba, not far after passing Balsa Nova the Habsburg crusaders had reached the still being built Sao Paolo - Rio Grande railway. They were much impressed by the amount and quality of engineering works necessary to cross the coastal montain range. A good thing that they did not have to do it themself. The southern portion of the Sao Paolo - Rio Grande do Sul line pettered out at Rio Negro, on the border with Santa Catarina. Yet it still was a useful point for searching the mountains for posible Anahuac forces, while the same was done from the east, by forces moving inland from Desterro and now based at Blumenau.
The northern line was extremally useful - it led to the frontier with the province of Sao Paolo. And it went in an arc around yet another branch of the Serra do Mar. A small garisson was established at Serges, just on the border. However, the main base of operations was to be a town with the impossible name of Jaguariaiva.

From Jaguariaiva the troops were to advance down the valley of the Itirana, to reach the Paranapanema river, which finaly would lead them to the Parana river.
There was much ground to be covered across the the empty and frigid Planalto Serrano.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Jan 12 2007, 08:19 AM


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Seges, 13th of June 1904

In the morning a small unit which had arrived the day before by train from Curitiba rode north. It was led by a young Rittermeister Mscislaw Blaszczykowski. The detachment numbered 70 men, volunteers from the Combined Regiments, some cart drivers, Gaucho guides and 3 junior NCOs from the FeldTelgrafAbteilung, selected on their riding skills. And a naval officer, with a bag of instruments. The carts were of the local design for use in rough terrain patern, with two high wheels and drawn by a single horse. The carts carried some supplies, and two dismantled 1,5" Nordenfeldt rapid fire guns. All riders had two mounts, and the carts also had a spare horse. They had some 500 miles to cover, which they hoped to do so in a fortnight or less.

The Seventy Riders soon disapearred from sight, heading for the border with the province of Sao Paolo. Strangely, they no longer carried uniforms, but civilian wear which made them look like gauchos at a distance.
   

[Borys]

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Borys    
Posted: Jan 13 2007, 05:13 PM


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Jaguariaiva,13 the July 1904

The 1st Halb-Brigade of the 9th Brigade of the Auslaender Legion, with scouting screen provided by the 5th Ersatz Kavallerie Regiment, set out in the direction of Cambara, some 100 miles away to the north. They were to follow the edge of the valley of the Itarara River, to its junction with the Paranapanema.
Behind them the 13th Feldeisenbahnbau Abteilung would lay a light railroad, hopefully at the rate of 4 miles a day. *
Other Halb-Brigades, each with cavalry regiment, set out from Senges and Piraido Sul, on paralel courses and within support distance, for a broad sweep of the Sao Paolo - Parana pronvincial border area.
The fourth demi-brigade was left at Jaguariaiva and Senges as reserve and as cover of communication lines.

* this is what I brought 400 miles of Decauville system 1' 11 1/2" track to Brasil for
   
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Borys    
Posted: Jan 15 2007, 01:26 AM


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OOC
Seems my population estimates were a bit off smile.gif
I said half a million, or one million at best.

According to the 1900 Census, these three states had populations of:
- Parana - 327,000
- Rio Grande do Sul - 926,035
- Santa Catarina - 320,289

If anybody is interested:
http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Brazil

Borys
   
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Borys    
Posted: Jan 15 2007, 03:34 AM


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Andira, Parana, July 20th 1904

The three Halb-Brigaden finally reached the Bandeirantes-Andira-Cambara line, several kilometers from the mighty river Paranaparanema. Along the way they had been rarely fired upon. On the other hand, harasement by telegrams from the HQ had been a several times daily occurence - always on the "move faster" theme.

The Oberst commanding the expedition, Ferenc Miklos, decided to give his troops some rest [REST FROM WHAT!!! screamed the telegram from Curitiba]. The rightmost unit, the 2nd/VIII HB was to remain at Andira and wait for the engineers. The RR's progress was much slower than the infantry's - 3 versus 10 miles a day.

He decided to move his main force another 85 miles west, to someplace called Arapongas. It was supposed to be a major settelment. That, in these parts, was comparable to a populous Bohemian village, of course.

Arapongas, Parana, July 31st 1904
Miklos entered the "city". His cavalary had been there for 4 days already, though. Still, he decided to spend a fortnight here, using patrols to scout ot the land and invite gauchos to bring their beef to town. Even though his soldiers groaned at the sight of beef, the truth is that most of them had never eaten so well all their lives.

He had the cable, of course, as it was fast to lay [WHY SO SLOW???? FORCE MARCH FORWARD!] but it would be a good thirty to fourty days before the RR caught up with him.

So he decided to spend all of August here. It was 230 miles from there to Curitiba, and 145 to the nearest rail station at Ponta Grossa (the point where the RR made a 90 turn and changed direction from north-westernly to north-easternly).

Aldeia Nova (Nove Selyo), Santa Catarina, July 1904

Mustafa Hadjiyevic looked at the thatched houses and thought to himself, how very much like back "home". The hamlet even an onion-domed church, just like in the neighboring village of Crny Vrh. The trees and birds may be different, but the mountains were the same.
- Pashla von habsburska svoloch!*
Even the people were the same!
He cheerfuly returned the insult:
- Yebi ti majku!,#
happy to have found yet another village with ex-subjects of the Habsburgs.

* - please take your leave, oh servant of the Habsburgs!
# - I and your mother are having quality time together!
   
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Borys    
Posted: Jan 15 2007, 05:35 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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Iguatana, Minas Gerais, Brasil, 1st August

Silent yet alert, a group of some 150 horses and half that men rode down the rivulet that further north was to become the mighty Rio do Sao Francisco.
By now all Blaszczykowski's men had faces cured by the sun and wind, and their horses - even though hardy Sertao born half-wild breeds, were begining to show their ribs. They had gained knowledge of several Central European languages - which exactly depending upon the rider's nationality. Various accidents had taken most of the detachment's carts. Some supplies had to be abandoned or were lost, like the Nordenfeldt 2 pounder washed away when fording the Rio Grande just 2 days before.

At Ribeirao Preto the Rittermeister had faced a dilema - they had reached a railway leading inland and cut the telegraph there. But it seemed to be "not north enough" for a route taken by the French politician. Using his gaucho guides as interpreters, he grilled the station's personel. None had noticed any unusual transport over the last few weeks. And it would be so un-French not to have a high official not to make a noise when traveling. Not that Habsburg officals were any better, he smiled to himself. And the cable about Palpatine's departure he had studied back at Curitiba said "with retinue". So he decided to press on, unto the valley of the Sao Francisco river. The latest maps had a railhead there - at Lagoa da Prata. They should get to Silber See - he translated the place's name for himself - the next day afternoon. Even if "Palpi" had not passed through there, they will rest the horses a few days, before heading downstream.

A good thing that, with all the anarchy in the Brasilian interior, without a closer inspection they passed off as yet another bunch of brigands. The ponchos they were wearing, delivered by an USA freighter from Peru to Paranagua, helped immensly in this. And seeing that they are armed to the teeth, nobody dared took a closer look. Even groups of armed men kept their distance.


outside of Lagoa da Prata, Minas Gerais, Brasil, 3rd of August, afternoon

Cautiously moving down river, the Kampfgruppe reached the said railhead. And scouts reported that they had found what they were loooking for - there was an end station - new and very "frontierlike". And there was a cable running across the river from it. Blaszczykowski ordered a river fording above the "town".
The force made camp well out of sight of both the "town" around the station and of the cable, putting up sentries. The Rittermeister planned to spend two days in the bush, giving the horses some much needed rest. An observation post was set up with a view of where where the cable was cut - the rupture being made to look natural - to observe reactions to loss of communication.

This post has been edited by Borys on Jan 18 2007, 09:04 AM
   
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swamphen    
Posted: Jan 16 2007, 08:36 PM


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(Finally getting back in gear here...will try to catch up over the next few days)
   
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P3D    
Posted: Jan 16 2007, 09:44 PM


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(Depends on actual DKB activities, but I find it unlikely to go to war with them - at least in Q2 ninja.gif )
   
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Borys    
Posted: Jan 19 2007, 05:38 AM


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Arapongas, Parana, 3rd August 1904

IF YOU PLAN TO SIT THERE ON YOUR ASS ALL MONTH BUY ALL THE HORSES AND CATTLE YOU CAN. BUILD STABLES AND BARRACKS FOR TEN THOUSAND HORSES AND MEN. MAKE LOCAL STYLE TWO WHEEL ONE HORSE CARTS.
General Svetozar von Boyna-Boreovic
   
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swamphen    
Posted: Jan 19 2007, 09:18 PM


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engage Wayback Machine

mid July
Imperial Palace, Neue Brandenburg

"Well it certainly took long enough, but it's good to be home. I have heard some interesting things about your actions in my absence, my son."

"I hope they all met with your approval, father."

"Well I cannot say I approved of them all...but it would not be right of me to strictly disapprove of them either, not having been here 'on the spot'. Ah if only you could know how it felt to be standing there, so close and yet so far away... But anyhow. There is much we must discuss, regarding French, Anahuac and other annoying matters. Beginning with that meddlesome Prinz Arthur in Kenya. Tell me, my dear Kronprinz, how much do you like Afrika?"

*********

late July
somewhere in west-central southeastern Brazil

The latest skirmish with the "Portugese rebel irregulars" had produced a few prisoners. One had had some interesting information: "many men, many Anahuac" lay to the North. Well of course, but "not far to the north". This presented the commander of I Division, XXI Corps a quandry: he was supposed to link up with the papist Habsburgs not far to the north-east in a few days. But if he went north, glory might await. Decisions, decisions...

In the end, Prussian discipline won out. He cast a dissipointed eye north, and ordered his men north-east.

powerdown Wayback Machine

[Borys]

Borys     
Posted: Jan 26 2007, 06:59 AM


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Middle of Winter, Brasil

28th July, Andira, Parana
Light RR reaches Andira. Stockiling of supplies begins.

4th August, Paranagua, Parana
1st Kuirassier Brigade and some loose tropers disembark from fast convoy. The heavy cavalry brigade takes train to Ponta Grossa, and from there trots across the forest-steppe to Arapongas. The troopers are given local horses and form further two regiments of Horse. During the stay in Curitiba - to allow the horses to regain composure after the transatlantic crossing - the Kuirasiers held a parade, impressing locals with shiny helments. Some of the big men sported green shoulder badges, with a white horse and fancy lacework - almost like a script - on them.

5th-6th August - Lagoa da Prata, Minas Gerais
Rittermeister's Blaszczykowski's Kampfguppe burns the railroad station, kills French and disperses Brasilian telegraph and rail personell. Intercepted cyphered (taken as proof of this being "the cable") and non-cyphered messages go into saddlebag. The Kampfgruppe heads south.


Last week of August - Arapongas, Parana
Light military RR and Kuirassier Brigade reach the "town".

   
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Borys    
Posted: Jan 26 2007, 10:10 AM


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15th September, Parana

The main body of the 1st Kavallerie Korps finally arrived, and sucked in the Horse Regiments which had been formed on the spot. The Korps was deployed in a 100 mile arc along the northern frontier of the Province.

Three Korpsgruppe were formed - Ost, Zentrum, West, each consisting of a Cavalry Division and a Brigade from the Auslander Korps. 24 Squadrons and 8 Battalions each. 8000 sabres and 8000 bayonets, some light artilery pieces and some heavy machine guns on tatschanka's. With accompanying trains, spare horses and herds of cattle serving as mobile food supply, each group numbered about 25000 men and several times that number of animals. The formations looked like marauding tribes from the Age of the Fall of Rome. Like the armies of Ghengis Khan. Like Alexander heading further and further East in his pursuit of Darius. Like Crusaders setting out for the Holy Land ...

Each Korpsgruppe was to operate independently, yet keeping within support distance of the other. To cover more ground yet not to crowd available tracks and to make finding pasture easier, each Gruppe was further divided into two columns, half a day's march away.
After crossing the Paranapanema over prepared bridges and fords, the six columns were to march across the Braslian savanna, the Sertao (although initially through coffee plantations), in a north easternely direction, seeking out the enemy of the Cross.

Curitiba, main square

- "All ye men of Faith and Valour! Let us accept the Lord's Blessing!" - Boreovic's command was relayed by the bellows of officers and NCOs. As one, the hundereds of assembled soldiers droped to their right knee. Priests of various denominations passed through the gaps between the units, lavishly distributing Blessed Water, incense smoke, the Host, and spoken blessings.

The commander climbed into the howdah of his favourite elephant. Svetozar turned towards his troops.
- "All ye men of Faith and Valour! - he repeated. - "Raise your banners high!"
This brought forth not the customary eclectic mix of colours, but a uniform and simple pattern repeated on all banners. A straight black cross on white. No more, no less.
- "We march to destroy the forces of Satan. We shall be the Lord's Punishment! God's Puryfing Flame! The merciless branding iron cleansing the wound! We shall march and destroy the Forces of Darkness! We shall find and kill the servants of Satan! We shall win or DIE! And so help us God!"
And the Orthodox Croat general raised the cry from 800 years ago:
- "DEUS VULT!" - "GOTT WILL ES SO!" - "TAKO HCE BOH!"
- "GOTT WILL ES SO!", "GOTT WILL ES SO!" the chant continued while the army marched out, following the lead of its general on his gigantic mount.

EDITED FOR TYPOS




This post has been edited by Borys on Jan 26 2007, 07:36 PM
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Jan 26 2007, 07:47 PM


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OOC:
The lone Austrian "Erui Gweth" is on the move. Interesting news.
   
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swamphen    
Posted: Jan 27 2007, 09:03 PM


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(note - will have battle DKB vs "Portugese communist rabble" smile.gif 18 September - *scribble scribble*)
   
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Borys    
Posted: Jan 31 2007, 06:42 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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September 1904

The SMS Wien sailed from Paranagua north, collected the SMS Pola at Sao Luis and took course for the Lesser Antiles. They were replaced on station by the SMS Kronstadt and SMS Budapest respectively.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Feb 2 2007, 05:33 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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The Habsburg Kreuzfahrer who headed northwards have simple orders.
1 - head north, north-east, across the Brasilian plateu covered with savannah type vegetation - the sertao;
2 - stay in contact with friendly units on flanks;
3 - live off the land;
4 - fire back at anybody who fires at them; interrogate all encountered people - those who refuse to say the Lord's Prayer and/or display Anuhuac markings are to be killed;
5 - trust in God, the Lord of Hosts;
6 - do not look back;

   
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Maddox    
Posted: Feb 2 2007, 06:50 AM


Hegemon
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September 3th 1904 Petropolis Brazil

Mon general, the corps Zouaves is ready, the orders recieved from the ministery of defence are clear. And the trains to carry the heavy division are available at last.

Lets surprise the Gran Colombians. Lets get going to Manaus, and get premier Palpaté back to France.

Mais Oui Mon general. If all goes well, we don't need to fight. If it goes bad, we'll have backup from an unexpected Ally. The navy.

I'll inform Admiral Cavat that we are under way. I hope his light units will get to Manaus
   
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Borys    
Posted: Feb 2 2007, 07:06 AM


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OOC
You do know that to get from Petropolis to Manaus, by land, will take several months? Or is N-verse Brasil very, very dfferent from OTL brasil in 1904?

EDITED:
2800 km. This is almost like from Brussels to Antioch - it took the Crusaders about two years ....

Borys
   
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The Rock Doctor    
Posted: Feb 3 2007, 09:01 PM


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OOC: The following wireless transmission is relayed on or around the same time.

TO: GEN GEOLOG, MANAUS
FRM: DEFMIN, CARTAGENA

FRENCH COMMUNICATION ASSERTS FRENCH CONTROL OVER ALL BRAZIL STOP FRANCE INTENDS TO INTERVENE AT EL DORADO VIA MANAUS STOP EXPECT NAVAL AND ARMY FORCES TO ENTER AMAZONAS VIA RIVER SHORTLY STOP

GRANCOMGOV WILL CONSIDER FRENCH ENTRY INTO AMAZONAS AN ACT OF WAR STOP YOU ARE AUTHORIZED AND REQUIRED TO USE LETHAL FORCE TO MAINTAIN GRANCOM CONTROL OF AMAZONAS AND REPEL FRENCH INTERVENTION STOP REPORT FIRING INCIDENT ASAP SO GRANCOMGOV CAN ISSUE DECLARATION OF WAR WITHOUT DELAY STOP


General Geolog set the sheet of paper down with a slightly trembling hand and fought the urge to shoot something. "I want all senior commanders in this room in thirty minutes", he growled to his orderly. "No excuses."

As the orderly scurried out of the room, he sat back in his chair and looked plaintively at the ceiling. "Why do you do this to me? Have I been a bad Catholic?"


OOC: Maddox: As I am still travelling, you'll have to indulge me a couple of days to really figure out how Gran Colombia is going to try and pull this off.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Feb 7 2007, 04:40 AM


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In early October one of the Kreuzfahrer columns came across the site of a skirmish of several weeks past. There were about one hundered rotting human corpses and twice that many horse carcasses. Although thoroughly looted, a quick search revealed some broken Austrian army issue equipment, or items of evidently Austrian origin. This, which was not known to the unit which found the site, were the remains of Rittermeister Blaszczykowski's detachment, wiped out in an Anuhuac ambush. The bodies were given a mass burial, just in case these had been Habsburg troops, and not bandits with stolen or captured Austrian equipment.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Feb 10 2007, 04:28 PM


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Gott will es so! went the battlecry as the riders charged the last band of Anuhuac. The foot slogging defenders were chopped down or run through by lances. But one managed off a shot through the lower body of one of the kuirassier.

Half of the troopers dismounted to, the rest holding the loose horses. They checked the bodies for written matter and ammo. The wachtmeister examined the wounded trooper, sniffed around his damage and grimly shook his head.
- "Yer a gonner, Reinhard. I can smell shit, he got ya in the gut. You've seen others. Ye'll be dead in three days, too weak to scream in pain. 'Ere's me Browning. Ye up to it, or do you wanna 'urt?"

He saw a tearful nod, took out his pistol, classped and shook the other's hand, said something quietly, got up and turned away. He never told anybody about the whimper he heard just before the pistol shot.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Feb 12 2007, 02:54 AM


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Aranaponga November 1904

The major in charge of the Wiener Eisenbahnbauabteilung was livid. Instead of being issued with 100 miles of 1" 11 1/2' Decauville track, the Hoch und Deutschmeister corps was issued 100 miles of 18 inch track. To be used at sieges, designed to carry hand-pushed wagons with shells for the heavy guns.

Finally somebody had a bright idea - to lay two 18 inch tracks side by side, spacing them appropriately, and to run the 1" 11 1/2' trains BETWEEN them. Even if this was not enough to bring the rails to the Parana River, this would provide troops with rail transport 50 miles beyond the present point, to a place caled New Hope (Nova Esperanca).
   
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Borys    
Posted: Feb 13 2007, 04:28 PM


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Curitiba, 10th November 1904

After Boreovic had dissapeared in the bush, Hans Schmytke, a civilian official of the Foreign Minisitry was appointed High Imperial Commissioner for Parana and Santa Katarina. He was now looking at the newest set of orders from Vienna.

Santa Katarina at present was a success story. Both the coast and mountains were Anuhuac frei, so the AL Brigade and attached odds and ends (15000 men) now served more as policemen than fighting troops. He also was glad that he could report the light railway from Imbituba to Porto Allegre to be complete, same as that from Imbituba to Desterro. Even if the traffic could only be light, due to provisional nature of track and bridges (thank God for abundant lumber), it was still something. The reopening of the mines in Santa Katarina was proceeding quickly, but some things simply took time - it would take several more weeks of pumping out the water to open the seams to exploitation. Maybe in the summer of next year the mines would start producing worthwhile quantities of coal.

But the schwerpunkt was in the North. He was ordered to commence construction of the RR between Desterro and Parangua. And a line through the Mountains from Desterro to Rio Negro. He was to make do with whatever he had, with construction troops to arrive in some 6 weeks. His mind turned to an US businessmen, representative of Ferrocarril Oeste, pushing his services ... yes, he will hire the Americans for the coastal line, and use the prefab narrow military tracks for the inland route.

But these were still sideshows. The main effort was to go on the construction of a normal gauge line across Parana, from Ponta Grossa to the Big River. It would first run like the string on a bow, connecting the two ends of the military line running in an arc along the border, then from Aranaponga to the Parana river.

He was to secure the Austrian controlled areas, even if he had less than 100,000 men to adminsiter an area equal to that of Hungary. He decided to assign one Division to Paranagua, with one Brigade in the mountains preparing positions blocking access to the bay.
The other Division would sit astride the RR to Sao Paolo, at Jaguariaiva. With detached Brigade which - together with whatever cavalry he had, plus the AL Halb-Brigade - roamed the platau up to Aranaponga.

He was to expect the Szent Istvan corps by December 10th, with advance parties being delivered by fast troopships sooner. The big convoy was to bring the neccessary railroad running and building equipment too.




   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Feb 13 2007, 05:01 PM


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Swamphen - Maybe as the year 1904 comes to a close, we should have a map of just who controls what in Brazil. Effective control with troops as oppose to actual control (France)
   
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Borys    
Posted: Feb 13 2007, 05:39 PM


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OOC
Ahoj!
Habsburgs, effective control of:
- Eastern half of Santa Catarina (coast and mountains)
- two thirds of Parana - coast, mountains, half of plateau (even though there are some patrols there, I do not think I control the area along the Parana River; but I will scream murder that I do smile.gif )
- city and environs of Sao Luiz de Maranhao

I hope Swamphen will not mind:
The DKB controls Rio Grande do Sul and western half of Santa Catarina, most likely rather thin on the ground in places.

We each "control" some 270,000 square kilometers with some 80-100,000 troops each.
Population - the DKB is lording over 1 million, the Habsburgs over 500,000.

Borys

[Borys]

Maddox     
Posted: Feb 14 2007, 02:49 AM


Hegemon
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France is just exherting its power. And currently 120 000 men are marching up in 3 columns originating from Petropolis.
1 Corps Elite legionairs is being shipped from France to Manaus, to make the rules clear to the Anuhuac. But diplomatical issue's will make the date of arrival unclear.
Another 4 corps Zouaves are being transported from Africa.

If needed, another 4 corps can be removed from Africa without increasing the danger to the defensive position.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Feb 14 2007, 04:18 AM


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OOC
QUOTE
1 Corps Elite legionairs is being shipped from France to Manaus, to make the rules clear to the Anuhuac. But diplomatical issue's will make the date of arrival unclear.
Another 4 corps Zouaves are being transported from Africa.


So, 100,000 BRT needed for Manaus and 400,000 BRT needed for the Africa-Brasil run.
500,000 BRT = the merchant marine of several quite large countries.

Shipping rates are sky high!
Ship operators are very, very happy!

Borys
   
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Maddox    
Posted: Feb 14 2007, 10:01 AM


Hegemon
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OOC

Borys, I didn't say it is immediatly.

Why do you think the 2 corps in Indochina are not being reinforced?
   
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Borys    
Posted: Feb 14 2007, 11:36 AM


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OOC
Oh, I didn't notice the lack of immediately ... smile.gif

But still the return rate on investments in ships must be quite high.

Borys
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Feb 14 2007, 01:52 PM


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Rohan only has two small contingents of marines and a pair of cruisers between the two ports held by the Austrians and Brandenburgians, plus probably a naval patrol of the coastal regions on "show the flag" type missions in an effort to keep the Anahuac from making their escape via the sea, and hopefully keeping the civilians hopeful in the face of "evil".
   
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Borys    
Posted: Feb 15 2007, 01:30 AM


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Mid November 1904

The Austrian BattleSquadron - SMS Frankreich, SMS Tegetthoff and SMS Jan Sobieski, in the company of the small cruiser SMS Ferdinand leave Paranagua and steam along the coast northwards. They are last seen near the Fernando de Noronha Island, on a 30 degree course. The small cruiser SMS Maria Theresie is believed to have joined them.
Quite a few khaki uniforms were noticed on the decks, most likely the MarineInfanterie Battalion is on board.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Feb 15 2007, 08:33 AM


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outside El Dorado, November 1904

Major Helmut Brunner and Kapitan Hans Kloss were sweating. It was hot and damp. The air iteslf seemed undecided as to what physical form to adopt - gas or liquid.
The change of scenario from their previous war - the snow draped Rocky Mountains - was so striking that almost eerie. But the mistakes they observed were the same - the defenders behind cover, and brave men running at them with bayonets. Just like the Habsburg infanterie had charged stone and brick houses in Spain almost two years ago.
In the Rockies the defenders had used rock emplacements, here - blokhause made of thick logs. Logs so thick that artillery had to be moved forward to break them up. With HE shells or solid shot. And shrapnel shells in the dense vegetation was useless - often firing ranges were too short for the fuses to burn. Or the dense canopy caught - or slowed down - the shrapnel. On the other hand - wood splinters from HE explosions were deadly. Just like in olden days aboard ships.
This was noted, as well as the general inadequacy of direct fire.
Grenades were useful - as usual. Colombian soldiers watched with interest and possibly envy how the Kaiserjaeger suppressed and stormed blokhausen, greatly assisted by their grenades. Fuses were a problem, however - the grenade's design had NOT forseen such humidity and duds were frequent.
   
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swamphen    
Posted: Feb 15 2007, 03:59 PM


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Area of DKB control is right, but there's only about 50,750 men of the Reich - XXI Corps (~50,000 men), the Bushrangers (~500 men), and a few hundred or so Sturmtruppen.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Feb 15 2007, 04:08 PM


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OOC
I thought you had elements of two corps.

Borys
   
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swamphen    
Posted: Feb 15 2007, 04:15 PM


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That was an error on my part in the reports, I had changed it and forgot to change it back...sorry.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Feb 21 2007, 07:59 PM


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Bom Jesus da Lapa, Bahia, Brasil, 24th of December 1904

It was raining. And it had been raining almost daily over the last three months or so. Which was absolutely normal, as in the Brasilian interior summer was the rainy season. It made the savannah, or sertao green, thus feeding cattle which was the foundation of the local economy. And it also fed the Crusade's horses. However, the big military horses brought over from Europe were showing signs of lack of grain in their diet. The scrawnier free-range horses bought by the army in Uruguay and USA were in much better shape, this being their fare since going off mother's milk.

The Koenig von Riddermark Kurrasier Regiment no. 1 was trudging down the valley of the Sao Franciso. Their uniforms had been burnt brownish by the sun burning fiercly on them between the showers, their faces tanned by the wind and sun, their eyes dulled by the seemingly endless trek. The Crusade had been on the march since mid September, about one hundered days ago.

The leading platoon heard shots. They spurred their horses forward. In the broken terrain they suddenly entered a gorge where a group of men was attacking the entrance to a cave. The cave entrance was adorned with a large sign of the cross, and defended by men looking like peasants. And commanded by a priest.

- "Gott es wille!" resounded in the gorge as the cavalarymen charged the attackers. Surprise made the combat short.

- "Milagre! Milagre! Gracas sejam a Deus! Cavalheiros do Cristo!" - came mixed cries from the defenders.

The defenders approached them with hope and tears in their eyes, bade them dismount and to go towards the priest standing in the entrance, with a cross raised in both hands. In their excitment the locals spoke very fast which - combined with the local accent - for the present moment eliminated the chances of verbal communication.

The troopers genuflected before the priest and followed him inside. Their jaws dropped, and quite a few dropped to their new. Inside the cave was a church. A whole sanctury, with votes of thanks adorning whole patches of the rock walls. Centuries of reveration of the Good Lord looked upon them.

The church was full of scared women huddling their children. Some were weeping, frightened by the poorly hidden fear of their mothers and the shooting outside.

- "Estes senhores vao matar nos?"* - asked one of the wee ones.

TO BE CONTINUED
***********************************


* will those gentelmen kill us all?