Ottoman News, 1900 onward

[The Rock Doctor]

Long shall they mutter in the halls and the barracks about that disgraceful action.

[The Rock Doctor]

I might fill this in with more detail later, but I'm pressed for time this weekend so just want to spit out the essentials.  These items are subject to mod approval; I've sent them a plan and am awaiting a response.

October - December 1901

-The Ottomans contact and negotiate with the Baggara Arabs who make up a minority of the population of northwestern South Sudan (OOC:  That'd be Area #5 on the map in my Sandbox thread).  Negotiations go relatively well, and with the expenditure of some gifts and gold, the Baggara accept the sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire.

-With both the Dinka and Baggara accepting Ottoman rule, the Luo minority in the same area grudgingly also accept Ottoman rule.  The Ottoman Empire officially annexes Area #5 into the Empire (OOC:  Will show up in H1/02 report with 134,000 people, no IC).

-Fighting continues between the Ottomans (with Dinka auxilaries) and the Nuer further east (OOC:  Areas #1, 2).  The Ottomans make heavy use of their limited cavalry to raid Nuer cattle herds, either killing or herding away the animals.  In the latter case, some are given to the Dinka, others are collected at large, protected corrals.

-Meanwhile, Ottoman infantry conduct sweeps into the highlands, destroying Nuer villages and either destroying or making off with Nuer harvests.  This hurts the Nuer, but their situation is by no means desperate.  They get a few licks in on the Ottomans, though the latter's superior weaponry results in lopsided casualties in most cases.

-On December 15, 1901, the Battle of Mutlucan's Corral is fought.  The corral itself holds almost a thousand head of cattle, captured from Nuer herds over the past few months.  The Nuer have been spying on it and watching it grow in size.  Though elders caution against the probability of strong defences, younger Nuer men find the sheer quantity of cattle too tempting to ignore indefinitely and attack in force with almost three thousand men.

The Ottomans have based two companies of infantry, a troop of cavalry and a section of Maxim guns at the corral.  Outnumbered almost ten to one, the Ottomans make absolutely no effort to keep the Nuer from breaching the corral and making off with cattle; they just concentrate on shooting as many Nuer as they can.  The machine guns are lethal in a manner that even astonishes and appalls some of the Ottomans, particularly while the Nuer are crossing the open ground in their initial push for the corral.

Once inside the corral, the Nuer's priority is to make off with as many cattle as they can.  They don't engage the Ottoman troops; a few even kill their fellows during disputes over animals.  Around four hundred animals are driven out of the corral and far enough away that parties of Nuer can establish control and herd them away.

By the time the shooting dies down, the ground around Mutlucan's Corral is saturated with blood.  In addition to around two hundred dead and dying cattle - shot by Ottoman troops attempting to snipe Nuer rustlers - there are upwards of seven hundred dead or injured Nuer, the latter being unceremoniously dispatched with bayonets.  The Ottomans lose twenty-eight troops killed.

Before the Ottomans mark the end of the calendar year, the first triumphant Nuer warrior has provided a dowry of cattle in exchange for a particularly lovely wife.  Other young Nuer now look at the distant Ottoman corrals and wonder if they can repeat the same feat...

[The Rock Doctor]

January - March 1902

-In the Maghreb, a new brigade is raised for operations in the Sahara.  This [1895 Specialist] unit is camel cavalry, with Ottoman officers and senior non-commissioned officers.  Many of the troopers, however, are recruited from the various tribes inhabiting southern Maghreb and in particular the Sahara itself.  It is hoped that this recruiting strategy will draw in young men looking for adventure and travel - young men who might, alternately, be tempted to take up banditry.  Having those men in the brigade should also facilitate relations between the brigade and the tribal units in the area.

For the Ottomans, this is a case of "Back to the Future".  They had employed camel cavalry early in the 19th century, but modernization of the army in the latter part of the century was inspired by German mentorship and influenced by the successful war with Austria (involving not a single camel) and resulted in the replacement of camels with horses.  Should this brigade prove effective, the Ottomans may go back and re-equip some of their other cavalry units or perhaps raise additional camel cavalry brigades for operation in Egypt and Arabia.

-The submarine S-6 nearly flounders on January 22.  What should be a routine test-dive off Alexandria goes awry as water starts flowing through a top hatch.   Though several members of the crew initially panic, the boat's commanding officer - a relative veteran, having cut his teeth as a junior officer on the S-1 - manages to restore order and abort the dive.  By the time the boat re-surfaces, an estimated two tonnes of water is sloshing around the interior of the boat.

Further investigation indicates that the hatch had not been properly closed prior to diving, and the seaman responsible for this is court-martialed.  A charge of negligence is contemplated against the boat's commander, who also offers to resign.  Ultimately, no charge is laid and the officer's resignation is declined; the submarine flotilla's commanding officer can ill-afford to lose an experienced officer and believes the near-death experience will minimize the odds of future negligence on the skipper's part.

On the other hand, the Ministry of War decides to temporarily curtail submarine purchases, believing that this first generation of submariners needs a bit of time to learn and mature in their roles before crews are broken up and distributed amongst even more boats.

[The Rock Doctor]

April - December 1902

-In Africa, the war against the Nuer is reaching its peak.  Several thousand Nuer men have been killed or wounded, and many others are suffering some degree of difficulty as the Ottomans continue to confiscate cattle and crops and interfere with their replacement.  The small number of Nuer who have fared well through cattle raids are now more interested in hanging on to what they've taken than fighting for more.   Thus, by the end of the year, most Nuer tribes in [Area #1] have surrendered to the Ottomans, who declare the area annexed just before Christmas.

-Operations further afield continue; the Nuer in [Area #2] aren't done fighting, though they've got their hands full with the Ottomans and their Dinka neighbours.  Other tribes in the area have been approached by the Ottomans but nobody has agreed to anything yet.   The Nuer's fate, however, is weighing heavily on the leadership's minds.  They're not keen to be next.

-Exploration of the Sudd is now progressing somewhat faster, with major channels now charted for several dozen miles south.  The Ottomans have had limited contact with major tribals groups like the Azande, Bari, and Moru, with no negotiations being initiated.  The tribes have heard of events to their north, but do not necessarily have an accurate sense of things just now.

-Logistics along the Nile has managed to keep up with Ottoman operations, though only because they remain limited in scope.  A river port being built at Malakel is expected to improve matters somewhat, but extension of the railway from Khartoum - something that will take another four years or so to complete - will be necessary before the Ottomans can hope to attempt much more. 

-Elsewhere, the Ottomans are beginning to upgrade coastal defences at several key sites in the Mediterranean and Aegean.  The battery at Durres, Albania, the Ottoman's main naval port in the Adriatic - is getting a substantial increase in firepower, while others at Tobruk and Souda are acquiring cruiser-sized guns.

-Late word of a Japanese expedition to Somalia raises many eyebrows in Constantinople.  France (plus the Netherlands), Italy and now Japan have (or appear to be) clawing out footholds along the Somali coast.  While France, Netherlands, and Italy seem to be establishing coaling stations to link with more distal colonies, Japanese intentions are a little less clear.  Are they after improved access to European markets or do they have designs on more territory in the region?

Either way, Constantinople is generally of the view that it needs to reconsider its military and diplomatic priorities in the region.

[The Rock Doctor]

1903

-With the Ottomans and their Dinka auxiliaries relentlessly going after their crops and livestock, remaining Nuer tribes in [Area 2} finally surrender in the summer.   War, disease, and starvation have taken a toll on the tribes, who have lost in excess of 10% of their population over the past two years.

-The Ottomans declare the area, dubbed Jonglei, annexed; establishment of a military government will begin in 1904.  Courtyard gossip in Constantinople suggests that the region will fall under the same governorship as Bahr el Ghazal, at least in the medium term.

-Ottoman forces in the area cease offensive military operations, though exploration and patrols continue.  Also ongoing are the negotiations with the various tribes of so-called Equatoria.  Ottoman negotiators play good cop/bad cop here, reminding the tribal kings of Ottoman wealth on one hand and of Ottoman military prowess on the other. 

-The river port at Malakal is completed in the summer, which improves military logistics a fair bit.  The average Ottoman soldier on the street would, if asked, suggest that a campaign further up the Nile, into Central Equatoria will be next if the locals "don't come to their senses."

-Closer to home, Ottoman shipbuilders petition for an expansion to the Ottoman Navy, which ordered a grand total of 1,497 t of shipping this year and haven't laid down a capital ship since 1899.  Lobbyists note the expanding power of the Russian, Italian, French, British and even Greek navies, and the apparent Japanese conquest of a chunk of Somalia.  What if this presages an Asian attack on the Holy Lands?

The Ottoman government, for its part, notes that there will be new construction...soon.  When some things are done.  Really.

-It's a year of strong growth in the core Ottoman territories of Levant, Anatolia, Rumelia, and Egypt/Sudan.  The Levant is in particular good shape, with an average standard of living comparable to the major centres of Cairo and Constantinople.  Improved communications are a major factor here, as coastal traffic between Egypt and Anatolia will pass by, and rail and road linkages are slowly improving as well.

[The Rock Doctor]

H1/1904

-Things are calm-ish in the newly carved-out territory of Jonglei.   A basic government is established, drawing on bureaucrats from Egypt and Sudan.  Some bring their households along, while various entrepreneurs make their way south to try and establish themselves in the agriculture or infrastructure sectors.  The result is an influx of civilians that stretches available infrastructure to its limits but more or less offsets estimated Nuer fatalities in the region.  [OOC:  40,000 people in, same number estimated killed]

-Although the Ottoman garrisons in Bahr el Ghazal and Jonglei remain fully mobilized, they see little combat.  Starvation and surrender have left the Nuer too weak (for now) to consider any sort of resistance.  Bandits do roam the countryside, but after a couple of would-be raids on Ottoman civilian outposts are repelled with overwhelming and enthusiastic force, the criminals focus on stealing cattle from the hapless Nuer.

-All this being the case, the Ottoman military takes the opportunity to swap out some equipment in the cavalry corps' inventory.  This includes new horse-drawn artillery and issuance of new carbines, plus (in the case of Jonglei-based units) new horse tack that is better suited to the humidity.  [OOC:  Cavalry Corps is updated to Baseline]

-In Anatolia, the army's primary reserve unit, IV Corps, is also issued new material to bring it up to standard with the rest of the army.  Several forts in the western parts of the empire also benefit from re-equipment. 

-The government's heavy investment into research and learning since 1900 - a move that had drawn the criticism of industry leaders preferring a complete focus on electricity and railways - is starting to make its benefits clear.  Most significant is the announcement in April that Taylan Heavy Industries of Constantinople is set to begin limited commercial production of turbine machinery for ships.  Rumors indicate that the navy will be making use of this new technology not only in new battleships but also in prototype cruisers and destroyers. 

-On the other hand, the influx of educated workers to Constantinople in particular has had the effect of raising housing and living costs in the capital city.  Thousands opt to move west into adjacent Thrace, which raises some hackles amongst Bulgarian and Greek nationalists.  Some protests, arson, and vandalism are reported, but pro-Ottoman voices in the Bulgarian community and the presence of a great many soldiers in the area keep things from getting out of hand.

[The Rock Doctor]

Foreign Affairs

March 28, 1904

The Ottoman Empire is protesting a recent French announcement regarding ship deployments to the new French outpost at Djibouti.  "There is no conceivable need for France to deploy a trio of cruisers to this region.  It is a grossly disproportionate to whatever security risk may be posed by local bandits," a spokesman for the Sublime Porte told reporters.  "It will be necessary for the Empire to reconsider its own defensive deployments in the Red Sea should the French build-up persist or, Allah forbid, increase further."

July 15, 1904

The Ottoman Empire has expressed its regrets in respect to the unfortunate situation in Madagascar.  "While the loss of lives is unfortunate, reality is that governments must be responsible for the debts they incur, and must be held to account for the debts that remain outstanding.  Given how detrimental Venezuela's debt defaults proved to be just a couple of years ago, it is difficult to understand why the government of Madagascar felt it could hedge on debts owed to honest German investors," a spokesman for the Sublime Porte observed.

[The Rock Doctor]

June 21, 1904

"...and despite reports of some skirmishes along the American/Canadian border, talks between the British and Americans are still underway at last report.  The consensus from our embassies in London and Washington is that neither party is anxious to escalate matters and that a peace of some sort is to be expected in due course," Captain Akkas concluded.

The senior officers of the Ottoman Navy variously grunted, nodded, or pursed their lips before Fleet Admiral Kiraz spoke up.  "Thank you, Captain.  So the Americans and British have deigned to provide us with a large-scale demonstration of modern naval warfare, with many nuances and lessons to be learned...and the first steel for the Agir Dag is being laid next Thursday.  Given that we've already ordered almost six million ducats worth of material for her and her sister, it's safe to say we're not going to be making any last-minute changes to the design.   That said, and bearing in mind how little we know so far, any observations?"

The officers glanced about and Vice-Admiral Oguz cleared his throat.  "I get the impression the American line lacked the speed necessary to keep within range of their intermediate battery.  At a glance, that seems to vindicate the all-big-gun design we're pursuing, but that's only really true if our ships can control the range.  Against the Italians, at least, this is no sure thing.  I want to re-iterate what I've previously stated, that using turbines at this early stage of their development is a mistake that will cost our ships control of range."

"There will be more powerful turbines available in due course," Vice-Admiral Saka, in charge of construction, observed.  "If anything, we made a mistake in not committing fully to turbines right away.  Leaving the Agir Dags with mixed propulsion is akin to sending a man to run a race with one shoe."

"Gentlemen, we've been through this often enough," Admiral Kiraz interjected.  "And the ship has sailed, so to speak.  We have at least a year to monitor developments before we need to commit to our next capital ship."

"Which needs to be a new set of armored cruisers," Rear-Admiral Oztas noted to the surprise of nobody at all, given his position as commanding officer of scouting units.  "We are not effective in that category, against the Italians, the Russians, or the French.  Now we've got to keep the Japanese in mind as well."

"I don't think the Japanese have designs on the Holy Land," Oguz grunted.

"They went to a lot of trouble for a coaling station," Oztas replied.  "And the French have quite the presence of their own now.  Really, we need a new cruiser squadron to keep an eye on the Horn of Africa."

"We are of course keeping cruisers in mind," Admiral Kiraz said dismissively.

"I have a team doing some design work as we speak," Saka confirmed.  "All turbine-fired, naturally."
 
"We really ought to re-consider the cut to the torpedo-boat order," Rear-Admiral Mingir spoke up.  "As part of the potentially smaller battleline, I'd very much like the option of making an escape under the cover of a torpedo attack."

"The order wasn't cut, per se," Kiraz clarified, "We're just re-designating the second dozen boats as an option rather than a commitment."

"I'm just saying, I don't like the lack of commitment to more torpedo-boats, or submarines for that matter."

Oguz rolled his eyes and reached for his cigar case.  "Let's not start on those infernal contraptions, hey?  No warship should be designed to sink.  It's bad luck."

Still seated at a corner of the table, Captain Akkas pursed his lips and wished that he'd scored a sea-going slot rather than a role in the sausage-making that was Ottoman naval policy development...

[The Rock Doctor]

September 22, 1904

"Japan, Italy, and France staking claims in eastern Africa; Spain and France contesting the west while the Italians slip in," Ajri Nur Pasha mused, "Interesting times, interesting times."

"It would be unfortunate if France and Spain were to come to blows," said Sefik Efendi, the Minister of State.

"You and your conferences..." Ali Omurtak, the Minister of War muttered.

"A conference resolved the Austrian business," Efendi retorted as he struggled to light his pipe.

The Pasha waved them off, or perhaps waved the smoke away.  "It's the west coast.  Not our circus, not our monkeys.  They will sort themselves out.  Clearly, however, European interest in Africa has increased.  I suggest we contemplate whether we need to alter our own plans."

"The Italians are along the west coast because they know we can shut down their access through Suez and the Red Sea," Omurtak said.  "The others are just empire-building.  A bit surprising that the Spaniards are suddenly as active as they are."

Efendi shook his head.  "Spain had its knees cut off several years back.  It was no doubt quite embarassing for them.  A response like this was to be expected."

"Western Africa is to be Spain's new legs?" the Minister of Commerce, Serkan Candemir, mused.

"What?" the Pasha said.

"Spain's new legs.  Because its knees were cut off," Candemir clarified.

The Pasha furrowed a bushy white brow.

"Never mind," Candemir added.

"Again, gentlemen, perhaps we need to contemplate our own plans," the Pasha repeated.  "Let's start farthest east.  Arabia.  The local tribes are the sultan's vassals, yet remain nominally independent.  Should this arrangement continue to exist?"

"It's worked fine till now," Efendi replied.  "Why would that be an issue?  The only outsiders in the regions are the British, and we've an agreement with them.  There's no reason anybody else should seek a foothold in the Holy Lands."

"Agreed...mostly," Omurtak said.  "It wouldn't be a bad thing if we were to secure the coast between Mesopotamia and Qatar."

"What about the southern coast?" Candemir asked.  "There might be other powers looking to establish enclaves..."

"I think if that were the case, we wouldn't be seeing the various land grabs in Africa," Efendi said.  "The southern coast doesn't have much to offer anybody besides grouchy Yemenis and their khat plantations."

"Again, agreed...mostly," Omurtak added, "But securing a buffer east of Aden would not be a bad thing.  Not that we're doing much with the place as it is, mind you."

"Eastern Africa?" the Pasha queried.

"We have a plan.  It's behind schedule, but I don't see a need to revise it," Efendi said, looking to Omurtak, "Unless it wouldn't be a bad thing to grab a buffer."

The Minister of War shrugged.  "Further south or east?  No.  It's all disease-ridden jungle.  Let somebody else die there.  The west?  Eh..."

"No buffers?" Efendi pushed.

"I don't know," Omurtak said.  "I can imagine the French and Spanish eventually pushing inland.  Assuming they rolled up the various kingdoms and sultanates like Bornu, Ouaddai, and Darfur, could they build up the infrastructure necessary to threaten our position in Sudan?  Would they even bother?"

"You're the military man," the Pasha said.  "You tell us."

"My gut instinct is no," Omurtak said.  "And I don't believe the Italians would bother.  Whatever issues we may have with them, I consider them pragmatic enough to focus on matters of import to them, rather than expensive gestures of antagonism directed our way."

"Any disagreements?" the Pasha asked.

The Minister of the Interior raised a hand.  "I think they'll push inland.  If they do, war with one or more of the central African kingdoms may follow, and as our own action along the Nile have shown, that will bring infrastructure in its wake."

"Perhaps some diplomacy might be in order," Efendi said. 

"Back to conferences..." Omurtak grumbled.

"Not at all, Minister," Efendi replied.  "Let us look to our deals with Ethiopia as an example..."

[Walter]

"The southern coast doesn't have much to offer anybody besides grouchy Yemenis and their khat plantations."

Sounds like something for China. :)

[Walter]

... and reading it again, should "September 22, 1905" not be 1904?

[The Rock Doctor]

Maybe I'm on a different calendar than you guys.

[Walter]

Well, the Ottomans should be using the Rumi calendar at this point of time so you actually need to subtract 13 days and 584 years (according to wiki) so you would end up with the year 1320 and not in 1905. :)

[The Rock Doctor]

I fear I'd just confuse myself and you guys would start complaining about Ottoman aircraft carriers showing up in the 1340s.

[The Rock Doctor]

October 10, 1904:  Malakal, Sudan

The R-33 was alive with activity as Private Evran followed his comrades towards the gangway.  A plume of black smoke belched skyward from the boat's two smokestacks, while deckhands waited to take in the ropes holding her to the pier and gunners stood by the machine guns at each corner of the superstructure.  Other men were inspecting the larger 50mm quick-firing guns sited fore and aft, while a man in officer's dress watched from the boat's charthouse.

"Main deck, head inside," a deckhand said as Evran set foot on the boat's deck.  He followed the other troopers into the boat's blocky superstructure, noting that Sergeant Sezer was blocking the central corridor.

"Port side, find a bunk, stow your kit," the sergeant repeated, waving them through an open door, and so Evran continued that way.

The room in question was perhaps four and a half metres wide and two and a half high.  Apart from a narrow corridor along the inside wall, the room was dominated by rows of bunks - two wide, two long, three high, with perhaps a metre and a half of space between each.  Small windows along the outside wall let in bright streams of sunlight that illuminated drifting dust and hair - probably horsehair, from the smell of things.

The upper and middle sets of bunks had been claimed, so Evran stoically claimed a lower bunk at the far end of the room where foot-traffic would at least be lighter.  Two sets of kit had already been stuffed under the bunk by those who'd be sleeping above him, making it a tight squeeze for his own gear.   "How long are we gonna be stuffed in here?" he asked aloud.

"Ten days," Private Badran said, "Or so's I heard."

"Heading down to a place called Gor," Private Zhelev added from above. 

"In the Sudd?" Evran asked.

"South of it," Zhelev replied.

"South of it?  I thought there was no way through it," Evran protested.

"The Nile has to come from somewhere, right?" Zhelev noted.

From the top-most bun above Evran, Corporal Mahlab called out, "The mermaids charted out the main channel of the river last year.  We're heading down to a spot called Bor...not Gor...to start building a fortified depot before the next big push up-river."

"There's only a hundred of us, Corporal.  What if the natives get pissy?" Badran asked.

"One of the smaller boats is gonna stay put while we establish our perimeter.  It's got machine-guns and a cannon.  Worse comes to worst, there's room for most of us to climb aboard," Mahlab said.

"Oh, well, that's reassuring," Evran said.