Rohirrim Rider 1908

[Borys]

January, Mithlond

Freiherr Przewalski, the ancient Habsburg Ambassador, looked with respect at the Rohirrim Fechtungsmeister, who reminded him of the various Mongol tribesmen he had encountered on his travels in Central Asia.

- "Herr Tochira, I am honoured to be perfom an errand from my Monarch. This task concerns your person. Firstly, I would wish to present you with papers declaring you a Ritter of the Habsburgs." - He knew the man to be well traveled, but how wordly he did not know, so he tried to use terms close to a subject of the Horse Lords.
- "A Honorary Mounted Warrior, honoured with a place in the King's Own Eodred."
He was pleased to notice the man's pleasure.
- "The other matter is more mundane, but not less satisfying. I have brought with me your reward in gold, and a deed to 10 square kilometres of land in the Grossherzogtum of Parana.

[Ithekro]

January 6, 1908

The Marshals of the Mark have ordered another pair of belted cruisers for the Navy.  These vessels will be of the Silvertine-class and this as fast as just about any cruiser in the world today that isn't Swiss, and armed with enough firepower to deal with any known armored cruiser.  These vesssels will be named after the mountians Cloudyhead and  Redhorn.

January 13, 1908

Work on the NSS Constellation has been put on an indefinate halt until such time as the Mark becomes involved in the Pacific conflict, or the conflict ends.  Efforts at Forlond Yard have shifted over to work on Silvertine, Belted Cruiser of the Mark.

January 31, 1908

Rumors and facts of heavy losses of Swiss and Brandenburg vessels during the course of the war has had naval architects scrambling to project what the next generation of warships will need to look like in order to survive the type of war being witnessed across the ocean.

February 14, 1908

Territorial Magistrate William Justice Wind has granted the town of Rockridge a new sherriff to combat the increased lawlessness of that town and surrounding area.  General of Order Grant Lamarr of House Hedley has been reportedly the prime supporter of the new sherriff, a common man named Bart (no known family name nor title given).  Sherriff Bart is reported to be starting in Rockridge in a weeks time.

February 16, 1908

Austrian members of the King's Own Eodred have passed their trials and have been stationed outside of Edoras for their traditional guarding of the King and family.

Februay 17, 1908

Arcadia, Battleship of the Mark, has been sent out on a long range Pacific patrol with Starkhorn, Belted Cruiser of the Mark.  These vessels will keep an eye on local movements of engaged raiders and other vessels of the Pacific War combatants in the Eastern Pacifc.

February 21, 1908

Word that the Empire of Japan has entered the War against the Swiss have come at a rather odd pace.  With only 5 hours from the delivery of the declaration of war and the first full out invasion in Hainam, the timing of the Japanese war machine is to be admired, if questioned on how close the operation could have been launched before the declaration of war was given to the Swiss.  Had that happened the Japanese would have been accused of launching a sneak attack, which many nations, including Rohan, would find dishonorable.

February 22, 1908

The town of Rockridge has called for the removal of Sheriff Bart.  He appears to be a native of the Confederate States of America, or at least his family seem to have been liberated African slaves from many years ago.  The locals, several of Norman liniage, refuse to be under such a man.  There has been no official word on the matter from the Office of either Magistrate Wind or General of Order Lamarr.  The letter from Ms. H. Johnson on the matter was not suitable for printing.

Febraury 24, 1908

Arvedui, Dwarven Battleship of the Mark, has been sent to South America to keep the peace between Peru and Rohirrim Mapuche.  With the vessel goes the old Boromir, Armored Cruiser of the Mark.  These two warships, both veterans of the Anahuac War are to maintian the flag and honor of the Mark in Mapuche and keep Peruvian and Columbian eyes away from those lands under the protection of Theocro King.

March 1, 1908

The town of Rockridge has exploded into a region wide fist fight.  The town, under the leadership of Sheriff Bart had managed to drive the local criminal element into such a rage that all the local gang and thugs (and it appears many mercenaries of multiple backgrounds and nationalities) struck into a staged town for a confrontation with both the townspeople and the local railroad workers.  The fighting began on Wednesday and only ended yesterday evening.  The fight raged from a fake Rockridge into the neighboring town of Warner.  The appears the bandits were financed by General of Order Lamarr in an effort to drive the people of Rockridge from their town and then buy the land for the railroad line from the UKA to Rohan.  Sheriff Bart managed to track down Lamarr of House Hedley in the town of Grauman where he was forced to gun the General of Order down in the street Friday night.  The fighting gradually was contained by local tribal forces under orders from Magistrate Wind and directed by Sheriff Bart.  The conflict ended with Sheriff Bart riding off from Warner to return to the now peaceful Rockridge late last night.

March 5, 1908

A Territorial pardon has been granted to the Waco Kid for his actions during the crisis in Rockridge.

March 6, 1908

San Francisco has turned in the vote of its citizens.  Umbar shall return to Rohan in July of this year.

March 18, 1908

Work of the Second Railroad from the UKA to Rohan resumed yesterday after much delay.  A new route that takes the line away from Rockridge has been suggested.

March 23, 1908

The first batch of Confederate destroyers was finished in both Ammon-In-Gelydh and Vinyamar, New Beleriand.  These five destroyers will be turned over to the Confederate Navy in La Paz on March 31.

(End part One)

[Ithekro]

March 30, 1908

The Mark issues this declaration of intent:

The 21 points of of Wynson.

The Kingdom of Rohan wishs to mediate a truce between the various hostile powers based on the war as it stands and factors that lead up to this war.

1.  Taiwan and Hainam will be removed from the United States of New Switzerland.  There they have two options at present, be placed under a nuetral protectorate until such time as they can be fully independent of either New Switzerland or the Middle Kingdom, or the two islands will be annexed by the Middle Kingdom.  (Observers note: If the two islands continue fighting as they are the term will be moot as they will be annexed by the Middle Kingdom eventually.)

2.  Buru is annexed by the Neatherlands.

3.  Timor and other pre-war Dutch islands are returned to the Neatherlands.

4.  New Guinea returns to its pre-war borders.

5.  Tinian and Aquijan are annexed by the Empire of Japan.  Saipan remains Swiss but is disarmed.  Tinian and Aquijan are also to remain disarmed.

6.  Tasmania is annexed by Brandenburg as a protectorate for five years.  After which time the residents may choose to rejoin the United States of New Switzerland, or any other power, become independent, or remain a protectorate for another five years to repeat the cycle.

7.  Swiss Samoa is annexed by Brandenburg.

8.  Swiss pay $5 to Firanji for the damages that lead up to this war.

9. Swiss pay $1 to Austria for vessel lost in combat

10. Swiss pay $3 to Brandenburg for vessels lost in combat

11. Swiss pay $5 to the Neatherlands for vessels lost in combat and an unwarrented declaration of war.

12. Swiss pay France $1 for illegally attacking French cruisers that lead to this war.

13.  The Middle Kingdom pays New Switzerland $2 for the unwarrented invasion of Swiss lands.

14. Japan pays New Switzerland $2 for the unwarrented invasion of Swiss lands.

15. Brandenburg pays $2 for the unwarrented invasion of Swiss lands.

16. Austria pays $2 for the unwarrented invasion of Swiss lands.

17. The Neatherlands will replace or repair all pre-war Swiss and foreign lands telegraph cables and stations damage or destroyed in this war.

18.  Brandenburg and Austria will be responsible for moving displaced Swiss civilains to  Swiss held lands in conjuction with Point 19 and 20.

19.  The Middle Kingdom shall allow Swiss citizens and former citizens to freely leave Hainam and Taiwan following the ending of this conflict.

20.  The Empire of Japan shall allow Swiss citizens and former citizens to freely leave Tinian and Aquijan following the ending of this conflict.

21.  The United States of New Switzerland shall be required to enforce international anti-piracy laws in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.  This includes bringing to justice its own privateers, raiders, and pirates.  This point shall be supervised by the Kingdom of the Neatherlands and report to the Kingdom of Rohan and the Republic of France as a neutral powers.


April 6, 1908

A mission is sent to Australia by Theocro King to get more information of the war in that region for the proposed peace talks in Mithlond in July.  Dwimorberg and Irensaga, Belted Cruiser of the Mark are dispatched for this task.

April 10, 1908

Representatives of France have asked to be able to go to Brithomber to review the records on the rebuilding of the former French warship Paris into the Rohirrim Battleship Arcadia.

April 17, 1908

After some debate with diplomats the points that reference payments will be be shifted to payments to the Green Crossin the Wynson document.

April 30, 1908

Several merchantmen have been reported missing in the last several months all long the Eastern Pacific trade routes.  Naval experts suggests a serious increase in raider activity by Swiss, Brandenburg, and Japanese Forces is to blame for this.  Rohirrim Privateers of the Mark  and other naval vessels have been authorized to engage raiders attacking ships flying the Westron Merchant Flag or the Rohirrim Naval Ensign.

May 4, 1908

Another deal with the Confederate States of America has been confirmed for the construction of several more batches of destroyers in the coming years.  It seems the Confederate shipbuilding industry cannot keep up with the demand, but the Riddermark yards can accept payment from a foreign power that is not at war for new construction.  These vessels will be slightly delayed as the Mark has pressing issues int he yards to complete several large cruisers and capital ships within the next year or two.

May 17, 1908

Reports from Australia indicate that Tasmania is still contested land but not solidly held bby Austria nor Brandenburg forces at this time.  large defensive formations are reported on both sides and advances are measured in just a few miles one way or another with heavy loses for little gained.  However another report indicates that the lands of Northern Australia have been invaded by Dutch and Austrian forces after a Dutch campaign on Timor has more or less left that island in Dutch hands again after over six months of Swiss rule.   The report also tells of rumors that Hainam has surrendered to the Middle Kingdom earlier this month.  New from that region have not been very forthcoming so confirmation seems to be slim.  Taiwan and Saipan are also said to be in dire straits.

May 19, 1908

The Wynson Document has dropped the points that refer to payments at this time in order to get all the parties involved to the Peace Conference.

May 29, 1908

Minrimmon, Protected Cruiser of the Mark, reports having encountered a pair of Swiss Cods operating in the South Pacific near Easter Island 18 days ago.  The two ships seems a little put out by being watched by an armed nuetral vessel, but they left the local freighters alone while the ship of the Mark was present.

June 2, 1908

Reports from Archorage say that it was attacked on Sunday by Japanese and Brandenburg vessel yet again.  This report indicates that two cruisers, one Japanese and one Brandenburgian, were sunk by a minefield.  The Swiss Battleship Alaska has reportedly been heavily damaged over the last six months and may not be combat worthy anymore if merchant witnesses can be believed.  The Mark is not pleased by the large use of mine warfare in this recent war.  "Locally mines are not used because they tend to either not work, or get sweep out to sea and then find neutral ships some hundreed miles away to sink rather than defend one's own ports," states Eormil Eorlson, Marshal of the Northern Seas.

June 9, 1908

Reports from Brandenburg have suggested the use of several armed merchant cruiser by the Swiss as well as merchants fitted with torpedoes being used to lure raiders and warships into combat ranges.  The Privateers of the Mark ahve been issued warning about these civilian warships that do not seem to have Letters of Marque from New Switzerland.  If such a vessel is found it will be detained and searched for this letter to be sure the Swiss are following the known conventions of the Sea prior to those of the Hague.

June 12, 1908

Rohirrim Naval sources report that Swiss merchants have been flying the national standards of several other nations in the last few months.  It is unclear if these ships have been registered in this new countries or if the Swiss are simply flying foreign flags randomly to avoid Brandenburg, Dutch, and Japanese raiders.  Rohan also wonders how many of these reflagged ships are also armed and could be acting as raiders themselves while flying the flag of a neutral power.

June 18, 1908

Eormil Eorlson, Marshal of the Northern Seas, has stated that Dwimorberg and Irensaga, Belted Cruiser of the Mark have returned to Rohirrim waters with their full reports on the Pacifc War.  A Peace Conference has been stated to start for all involved factions and any other power that wishes to observe.  This conference will be held in Mithlond starting on July 6, 1908 of the Sixth Age.

June 23, 1908

The Snowmane, Battlecruiser of the Mark, was completed today in Mithlond.  She has begin trials and will be sent off to the fleet as soon as she is able.

June 24, 1908

Denethor, Armored Cruiser of the Mark, has been sent to France from Brithombar with French naval architects and engineers from  Isengard Arms to discuss how the twin turrets from the Paris were converted to triple turrets on Arcadia.

June 30, 1908

Snowmane, Battlecruiser of the Mark has been send to San Francisco to be part of the turn over cerimony involving the transfere of the California Navy to the Navy of the Mark on July 6, 1908.  California will become a part of Rohan on that date.  Battleships Maros (ex-Thorin) and Pellardur (ex-Durin) will return to their Rohirrim names, but be placed in reserve, to be sold or scrapped within the next year.

[Carthaginian]

The Confederate States of America rejoice in the addition of new territory to the domain of Theocro King, and send their best wishes for the future prosparity of the Mark. The Confederate Navy also thanks the shipwrights of the Mark for their assistance in the maintanance of our defensive forces. We thank the Mark for their cooperation in the building of the TR-187 class of torpedo rams and welcome them into our fleet; we also eagerly await the delivery of the TR-200 class ships that were agreed to next be produced.

Our Several States are, however, disturbed by the rumors of Swiss vessels displaying neutral flags in the conducting of the business of war, and wish to investigate these alligations further with the forces of the Mark if Rohan wishes the cooperation. We would be willing to dispatch C.S.S. Davis to the Pacific in order to facilitate this investigation, as she is among the most powerful and longest ranged cruisers in our forces.

[swamphen]

The Waco Kid, eh?  :D

And the use of false flags by the Swiss would make us very angry, very angry indeed...

[Desertfox]

Yes once again I get blamed for something the Germans started...

[swamphen]

Not my Germans.  ;)

[Desertfox]

I seem to recall a certain DKB Shipping Line flying Madagascar colors... ;)

[Ithekro]

Since most of the Swiss traffic that would possibly be observed is in the Eastern Pacific, it is logical that someone would notice.  Not that the Japanese care whose flag is flying when a ship nears one of their blockades.

[Ithekro]

The primary question is if the countries whose flags are being flown have been informed that that their flags are flying on Swiss ships, or if in fact the Swiss ships have been registered in foreign ports within the last few months in a effort to make them safer than if they were still registered as Swiss ships.  (Like most freighters and passanger liners of today being registered in Panama, Nigeria, or Liberia rather than their native counties).

[Walter]

Yes once again I get blamed for something the Germans started...

Well, you're the evil one so it is obvious to blame the Swiss. :)
But I guess we could change that...
(at least i'm trying to change that (somewhat) with the order to sink all vessels closing in on Saipan)

And the use of false flags by the Swiss would make us very angry, very angry indeed...

I guess the best DKB approach would be to ignore the colours the ships are flying. Sink them! Sink them all! Let Davy Jones sort them out! :)
*KABOOOM*
Whoops! That was a DKB vessel!!! :D

Not that the Japanese care whose flag is flying when a ship nears one of their blockades.

Sink them! Sink them all! Let Davy Jones sort them out!
*KABOOOM*
Whoops! That was a Japanese vessel!!! ;D

There was an international warning, so any nation who guides its ships too close to the blockade and loses those ships due to gunfire from the Japanese warships can only blame themselves for ignoring that warning.

[swamphen]

I seem to recall a certain DKB Shipping Line flying Madagascar colors... ;)

Ah, but none of our armed vessels do. Everyone knows the Big Bad Evvvvillllll Swissmen, on the other hand...
:P

[swamphen]

And the use of false flags by the Swiss would make us very angry, very angry indeed...

I guess the best DKB approach would be to ignore the colours the ships are flying. Sink them! Sink them all! Let Davy Jones sort them out! :)
*KABOOOM*
Whoops! That was a DKB vessel!!! :D

Not that the Japanese care whose flag is flying when a ship nears one of their blockades.

Sink them! Sink them all! Let Davy Jones sort them out!
*KABOOOM*
Whoops! That was a Japanese vessel!!! ;D

Sink them! Sink them all! Let Davy Jones sort them out!
*KABOOOM*
Whoops! That was Davy Jones' vessel!!!

[Walter]

Sink them! Sink them all! Let Davy Jones sort them out!
*KABOOOM*
Whoops! That was Davy Jones' vessel!!!

Don't worry! We'll just blame the Swiss!!! ;D

[Tanthalas]

Italia would view the Firing on of any of our ships merchantman or warship as an act of war (just a warning to all sides we are taking the neutral sea approach here as we are neutral with all powers involved).  That said Italia is allowing Use of her ports by all powers involved in the current conflict (not that it really matters we aren't really anywhere close to the fighting =P)