Richmond Times-Dispatch; Jan-June 1908

[Carthaginian]

I was using the numbers from marine infantry school which i knew figured army would be about the same guesse i was wrong =P

Well, Marine Infantry School teaches some pretty heavy stuff.
Army Infantry school teaches them how not to trip over their feet in the dark. ;)

There are some Army courses that'll bring you up to about the same speed as Marine Infantry School, but those are taken later on in your career. The Marines just plain have a more difficult job than the Army Infantry.

[Carthaginian]

*The Confederate Capital, Richmond, Virginia*

"Thad, come in! To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Mr. President, it would appear that the parties at war in the Pacific are back at the table again. The Swiss are balking at the possible loss of Tasmania and refusing to repay the Franj, but otherwise it appears that things might be successful. Sir- and this is just my opinion- I think they might just succeed in declaring peace this time."

"I hope so, Thad... 'cause this is the alternative that's been suggested to me."

Papers were shuffled across the desk, going from the President's hands to those of the Vice President. Thadious noticed his boss's hands were shaking as he drew them back.

"Sir, this would bode ill for us economically. We have good trade with the Alliance nations, and we're sunk in that joint canal venture with Rohan and the Swiss. It wouldn't be us bad if the war is over soon... but if it drags on another year or so, we might just be hurting."

"Thad, I've been told that if this war drags on for more than 6 months, the whole balance of power could be shifted on BOTH sides of the world as a result. In short- if the war continues beyond June of 1909, we may be FORCED to pick a side regardless of any action taken or not taken prior to then... and I think you know which side we'd be forced to come in on."

"Yessir, I'm aware of that."

"Very well, then. Set up a meeting with the economic advisors and see if you can telegraph the people on the attached list with invitations as well. Make it... oh, for next Tuesday. That should give enough time."

"Yessir."

"And Thad... ask Mr. Ingals in his telegraph about the completion dates for Nuevo Leon and Coahuila, and tell him we've finalized the proposed changes to Louisiana and Arizona. Additionally, tell him to be prepared to activate the contingency planning for the proposed Nuevo Leon #5; she'll be called New Mexico if construction begins, and will be completed to the original design."

"Yessir."

[Carthaginian]

*flyers seen posted in Atlanta, GA*

WORKERS UNITE
BROTHERS AND SISTERS
HEAR THE CALL
The rich white man is using you! He breaks your back doing his work, puting money in his pocket, while nothing fills the bellies of your children but pangs of hunger! He hates you for the color of your skin! You are only a beast of burdon to him!
IT IS TIME TO MAKE HIM PAY
Rally around the banner of the oppressed!
Make your voice be heard!
Vote Socialist in the 1910 election; by sharing our small influence, we can create a force powerful enough to flatten the mountian of class difference!!!

[Carthaginian]

Mr. Vice President... I have the latest forigen affairs reports in.

"That's good Billy... give 'em to me"

"It appears that the situation with Gran Colombia isn't as bad as we feared. We can probably step down to Option Alpha on the Gulf Stream project. Also, I think that we should green light Plan 3 for fleet development rather than Plan 4 or 5. The new long-range cruiser design studies are beginning to wrap up, and should be ready for presentation soon. We can discontinue the other design studies we had underway as precautions."

"That's good news.... it'll save Theo a pretty penny on his budget. What else you got for me?"

"Well, Sir, there is THIS..."

*the vice president furriously flips pages, skimming content and scanning graphs*

"You're shitting me, Billy. That fast?"

"Maybe even faster, Sir... it's a very sensitive equation. If the varriable is changed- our oil exports- then the possible answer changes proportionately. The greater the change in the varriable..."

"The greater the change in how long the war in the Pacific lasts.

Billy, I want you to alert General Pershing immediately, and First Sea Lord Anderson. Now, don't backtalk me... I know it's 11 PM. Tell General Pershing that Thad needs him here NOW. He'll handle getting word to Anderson. Since they are both in Alabama, it'll be about 2 days to get them here... that'll just give us time to get ready. Also, contact the embassies of the DKB, HK, the Dutch and the Japanese here in town, and I want a telegraph out IMMEDIATELY to the MK embassy in San Diego.

It's time to put an end to this damnable war.

Oh, and contact Rohan. Tell them that we are buy-out ready if they choose to go that route."

"Yes, Sir."

"Oh, and Billy... bring me a plug of tobacco... my nerves are starting to crave it."

"Bottom drawer, under the false bottom, Sir. A good aide knows how to plan."

[Desertfox]

Looking at that...

*flyers seen posted in Atlanta, GA*

This is good to know...

[The Rock Doctor]

*Spies furiously for GULF STREAM*

[Walter]

Here you go.

:D

[Carthaginian]

*Spies furiously for GULF STREAM*

IC:
In response to some rather informal queries from GC Intelligence, the CSA promises that a light brief on Gulf Stream will be delivered to the office of the President For Life himself later on in the week (when I get back from Drill this weekend). ;)

Until then... we offer the 'messengers' back to Gran Colombia, happy and well-fed on Creole and Texican cusine.
We recommend that they are offered a stateroom unto themselves... preferably one vented to the outside of the ship. :D

OoC:
Gulf Stream is the name of the general contingency plan for Gulf Command.
It contains:
1.) possible deployment strategies for current assets, including 'floating' assets for loan from the Atlantic and Pacific fleets.
2.) Projected construction plans and design studies for several sets of contingency plans based on current and future events.
3.) General warplan orders for a Gulf/Caribbean-centered conflict, focusing primarially on the historic rivalry with whatever the Mesoamericans are calling themselves this week. Baseline contingency plans also exist for the UKA, GC and even Rohan... though the latter is more on where it would be advantagous for the CSA to scuttle their ships in the face of overwhelming odds. ;)

[The Rock Doctor]

Good to know.  Nothing wrong with contigency planning.

May I recommend that in the event of war with Rohan, the CSA scuttle its fleet in the entrance to the New Beleriand Canal?

[Carthaginian]

Atlanta Constitution Journal
letter to the editor #5
-------------------------------------

Dear Editor:

All across our fair city, more of those deplorable socialistpropaganda flyers have begun appearing. Why, Sir, do these people believe that they have a right to steal from others with impunity simly because they do not wish to take responsibility for themselves and work? Is there nothing that our police forces r legislators can do to put a stop to this advocacy of government-sponsored theft?

Working for a Living

[Borys]

Habsburg Ambassador nods approvingly and sighs with understanding

[Carthaginian]

Habsburg Ambassador nods approvingly and sighs with understanding

OoC:
Unfortunately, I think this is just the begining of the CSA's problems with Socialists.
I doubt very seriously that they will triumph, but it's going to be a rather nasty time bringing them under control.

[Ithekro]

At least the governement and military are not weakened by war at this point.  Otherwise a Red revolution might stand a chance.  They might still succeed, but it will be on the political level (like in several non-communist counties that have socialist policies or parties that lean heavily in that direction), but it also depends on the national mindset and if the government type can work at all within the current framework (without being inflamitory or radical).

[Carthaginian]

*to Confederate Counsuls worldwide:

SABATEURS HAVE CUT MANY TELEGRAPH LINES ACROSS COUNTRY STOP RICHMOND SAVANNAH ATLANTA MOBILE AUSTIN MEMPHIS VICKSBURG SAN DEIGO HARDEST HIT STOP EXPECT COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES NEXT WEEK AT LEAST STOP ACT IN BEST INTRESTS OF CSA IN CRISIS STOP GOD SAVE DIXIE END




*am swapping ISPs; will be absent till at least next friday when new service picks up*

[Ithekro]

(What date is this news?)