Paris Temps

[maddox]

April 30th.


Ah monsieur Grange. I hope you have compiled the findings on Kolkata as you promised.

Yes Premier, and it ain't good at all.

Then tell me the bad news

We're losing Kolkata. The only reason we're not kicked out completely is the land itself, the great rivers are greatly hindering Bharat advance and the heavy artillery of our ships moored in the river does its job very well.
Also,we can retake Kolkata, but that will mean a heavy investment. More than I would recommend.

How big?

According to the first plans, and those work from the premisse we keep Kolkata city and the Hooghly river mouth, we'll need 20 modern corps. New ones, as the mainstay of our army is defensive minded, actualy thats another reason we're still there. The faster Bharat armies are less heavy, but better equipped for assaults, so it's a trade-off.
The Italian armored cars are doing great jobs, but there ain't enough of them, nor do we have the much needed experience. Luckely the Italians have send instructors with the cars.

20 more corps, expensive ones to boot. For a colony the size of a department of France?  For how long?

I'm afraid Premier, indefinitly.

What?

Unless we conquer Bharat , what would increase the need for the modern corps to 35 or 40, and an after conquest police force messuring tens of thousands. And then we'll end up with a population that is eager to cut throats. The Bharat peoples mind is poisoned with a multi deity religion, some of the deities advocate  death, destruction and chaos, and not neccesary in that order. We have gotten a taste of that  in the last year. We have seen how the Kolkatan hindu's jumped the bandwagon of Bharat sponsered violence.
No, conquering Bharat is an even stupider idea than letting Indochina go.

How do you mean. It was a democratic issue, and the people have spoken. I will not turn back that decision. Also, how does Indochina fits in the Kolkatan affair?

Pretty easy premier. You should have fired gouverner Sarrault ,just because he was committing treason to Glorious france, and should shown a firm policy concerning such fragmentation of our Great Country.
It would given a strong signal to the world that Paris ain't to be toyed with.
But no, you politicians went to the popularity contest. And that gave the world the idea that France is ripe for the Plucking. Bharat is just the first to do so.

What is done, is done. Glorious France won't come back on the Indochina decision.
Now, what can we do, realisticaly? It isn't an option to rase 20 modern corps to protect a colony.

Admiral Jarre's plan is one of the better ones we could, and actualy are implementing.
Our navy is far superiour to the Bharat navy. The only regular battle we had was a slaughter, and their real naval war succes was torpedoing Le Magnificent, with a sub that could have 2 sources, as Bharat didn't have those  in 1914, nor had any in build as far as we know. The OR never has hidden the sale of such vessels, and its possible that the Bharat subs are closely related to ours. The other source is northern, but it ain't clear. So I refrain from commenting on that.
Also, the Bharat raiders are hurting our commerce.

I know that, the ship owners are sending in complaints by the boatload. But the plan man, the plan. I need tangible solutions.

Admiral Jarre is using his Danton class ships to destroy all Bharat naval assets, and the airships to make Bharat clear they can "conquer" Kolkata, but can't win a war against France. That gives us a better  seat at the negotiation table.  Bharat gave the initial set to that with their insulting offer of $400 to take off the religious violence from our hands.

He's doing that on his own initiative?

Yes, what else can he do to protect Glorious France? He's one of Admiral Geons school, and these guys ain't know for twiddling tumbs.  Admiral Geon endorsed the actions, under the premisse that the responce time from paris is to slow to conduct a modern war. And I endorse those actions too.

Now it's your turn to take action. Get the beancounters and diplomats in gear and put on the pressure on Bharat to settle for a reasonable peace.  As seen, France can't hold Kolkata without a commitment impossibe to make atm. European France is vurnable enough as is, without committing more resources so far from home. 

To be continued

[Kaiser Kirk]

Hmm it's an interesting assessment, much of which rings true, but there appear to be aspects overlooked. 

The possibilities of fortifications and stirring trouble on the far side of Bahrat appear overlooked.  For that matter, the rivers mentioned are not only defensive barriers, but also supply chokepoints, which river gunboats could offset.

The port raid demonstrated the French navy can remove or severely impair the infrastructure supporting the raiders and subs, regardless of if they ever catch them...and odds are they will.

France has enough corps alone to conduct the battle, and if Nassau is fully activated, more than enough. Actually port capacity for supply transfer would likely become a problem- but as demonstrated the French navy can sweep the seas, and other ports can be obtained.

Overall interesting though :)

[Guinness]

Probably all true, but you are assuming a few things::

1. That Nassau would hold together if other members were asked to contribute troops. The CSA (for instance) was happy to join to gain the defense of the power of France. Having to run to France's aid is another matter politically.

2. That the French have the stomach to fight an extended battle on the sub-continent. Possibly they've become too decadent and complacent? Certainly Kolkata is a long way from the power center in Paris...

[Kaiser Kirk]

Granted I did not consider those factors, I was focusing on the military aspects.

When considering such political bits though, it's been 2 (?) years since the signing of the treaty, no profound political changes in that time. Presumably France signed the document with the expectation that if a foe invades French soil, the other signatories will abide by their agreement.

As for the morale strength, that could come into play, but usually after losses, stalemate and a couple years of fighting. At this stage, it's a distant war involving the professionals. The mobilization will bring it home to the populance. It helps that there should be moral outrage over the Thugees, the unprovoked nature of the attack and that Kolkatta is a large chunk of the French economy.

[P3D]

Granted I did not consider those factors, I was focusing on the military aspects.

When considering such political bits though, it's been 2 (?) years since the signing of the treaty, no profound political changes in that time. Presumably France signed the document with the expectation that if a foe invades French soil, the other signatories will abide by their agreement.

As for the morale strength, that could come into play, but usually after losses, stalemate and a couple years of fighting. At this stage, it's a distant war involving the professionals. The mobilization will bring it home to the populance. It helps that there should be moral outrage over the Thugees, the unprovoked nature of the attack and that Kolkatta is a large chunk of the French economy.

France would definitely ask for help if the war would be in Europe. France asking for help against Bharat is a definite sign that they are not a superpower anymore.

[Kaiser Kirk]

I wasn't viewing it that way. If France signed Nassau to secure the homeland...one has to wonder secure it from whom?

The Europe I saw at the time of Nassau, whom could France not defeat on her own? The Pyrennes are held by fortresses, with another at Sedan, leaving 35 in France proper, the largest and best equipped army in Europe. That is before adding the colonial forces which 'historically' were used to reinforce the homeland.

[Logi]

The way I see it. France wouldn't ask for help in Europe. If the homeland can't be defended how can one expect to defend its colonies? In a war in Europe, if France was truly concerned about being seen as a superpower it wouldn't ask for help.

[Carthaginian]

People have a way of screaming for alliances when their homeland is troubled.

Great Britain was happy to remain in 'splendid isolation' as long as they had undisputed rule of the seas surrounding their little patch of heaven. As Germany began to grow a fleet in the late 1890's and early 1900's, they started clamoring for allies. When the race got tight in the early 1910's, they even signed an alliance with someone that was a blood enemy for over 600 years!
Until 1918, people spoke only of the conflict between England and France; afterwards, they spoke only of the alliance between them. All this change simply because one felt their homeland endangered by sea, the other felt their homeland endangered by land.

[ctwaterman]

*evil grin*

I believe threatening Bharat from the West was considerd.

Long term the question is all about Economics how large a force would  be necessary for France to hold Kolkata and suppress insurection.  And addition how much would it take to Force Bharat to accept a peace deal they didnt at least like.  Bharat has a very large army and a very large manpower pool to draw from????

OOC: I Belive Kaiser Kirk is correct if France is willing to commit to a very long war of attrition and invoke its alliance even more then it already has then maybe Kolkata could be retained.  But at what cost and more importantly how muck of Kolkata has already been blown up ??????

[maddox]

may 4th

Le Monde.

Again, the incompetents "democraticaly chosen leaders" in Paris have spawned the next plan to rob the People of France of their well deserved means of living.
Not content to lose French Indochina to the Imperialistic Capitalist President Sarrault, the actions of Paris by means of the army and navy conspired to provoke Bharat to harsh messures.
the result of all these ill informed, badly tought out and plainly idioticaly decisions. WAR. And even that was scandalously moronicaly planned.  Kolkata , the gem of the Hooghly River, the source of Indian Riches that makes the lives of all French people better was ill prepared for the modern military answer of Bharat to the provocations of Premier Galpoux.
The persieved "Defensive Treaty of Nassau" also fails to deliver. Some token efforts from Italia and the United Norman Kingdom ,and that's it.
Net result, with the French economical development crippled, and a very inadequate military response, the Galpoux Government is already planning to sell kolkata, so the politicans can line their huge pockets  with the pittance Bharat is proposing.

And that in the second year of the Galpoux government. Still 3 years and 7 months to go. How far can Glorious France decay in that time?

Floating or sunk again den of decadence?

Le Magnificent. In 1902 the most fantastic, ultra large showpiece of French industry, in 1905 the epithome of wasted money, and in 1912 already almost sunk in a war action. because the Ligne de France leased that opulent floating palace to a beligrent in the latest Pacific war. The new fangled weapon, called Sous-marine has proven the worth. That lesson isn't learned. France has 10 dirt cheap submarines, and a gazilion hidiously expensivebattleships ,equaly vurnable as the den of decadence Le Magnificent.
And the Kolkatan war shows the same lesson. Sending in a large liner into harms way, filled with civilians, and again those pesky submarines prove the worth. Again the great moneypit is resting her ample bottom in mud.
Sunk in a legit war action by a brave Bharati submarine crew, who cannot know if the grotesque liner is carrying civilians or disguised troops.

[Kaiser Kirk]

the Galpoux Government is already planning to sell kolkata, so the politicans can line their huge pockets  with the pittance Bharat is proposing.

Very interesting accusation.

[maddox]

Not common knowledge.
March 4th morning
A shadowy corner in the mid class brothel Chez Loulou.

On the table, a can of coffee, 2 cups, a faux silver sugar/milk set and  an ashtray.

You can't be serious.

I'm deadly serious.

After Indochina ,Polynesia?  Why?

Rather simple. The treasury is bare, and the army expansion in Kolkata is sapping all the last reserves scraped up to hand out the dole in this financial periode.  Also, I expect that the next financial periode will see a serious reducement in economical development and upkeep of France.

Won't the retired wealthy and powerfull complain? I can imagine, if one of the more radical states takes over, that those people will be pressured in paying taxes. Now inhabitants of Polynesia don't have too. That was a sceme of Jardan to make Polynesia more intereseting for industrial endeavors and immigration. It never panned out. The French industrialists did want to keep it prestine for their own use. So, what they couldn't buy, they rented.

I know, I was aide to Minister of foreign Affairs Rimauld at the time. I couldn't see the disadvantage in that. And there isn't any atm. Maybe it just needs a new campagne....  Thanks for the idea.

What idea?

Simple, if there is to much public talk about the advantages of living in Earths paradise, Galpoux can't sell it.  Not without ruining his own carreer.

I see.  I guess I'm off to Rome now.

Yes Mustapha, the airship at the airfield will leave in 3 hours, and that gives you just enough time to get there.  I could get Desiré to drive you there. The Chez Loulou African Rally Panhard is at your service.

[maddox]

Paris Temps
March 25 Saturday edition.

Polynesia , Les isles Paradise.

The forgotten opportunity, Minister Rimaulds Legacy.

A declaration of the Jardan Governement made march 23th 1900 made the paradise on earth into a economical development zone. Unfortunatly, the plans never have risen to the expected hights.
Even now the paradisical islands are vestiges of the stone age, with a few enclaves of modern living and a stain of militaristic grandeur at Papeete.
To remind the people of France, the terms of the development plan, in plain language.

French Citizens immigrating can get a grant equal to their investment.
Civilians immigrating can get a grant to the equivalent of a house suited for a family, depending on the familial setup-by the set standards of the Public housing commitee- and the initial investment.
Every economical endeavor set up is exempt of taxes for 5 years, and the next 15 years, taxes are half of the nominal.

The terms to gain these advantages.
Speaking, reading and writing of the French Language.
A grasp of French law, culture and mores.
A deposit equal to the travel from Polynesia to the country of origin. This deposit will be made available after 10 years without restrictions.
New Swiss are not accepted.

[maddox]

July 28 1916.


You what? Those Southern Commie Gooks are treathening us?

Yes premier Galpoux.  The exact wording is

"The war will resume in full scale, the Republic of China will not rest until Asia is secure from the greedy Westerners."

Oh. Let us see about that.  Those Chatte-oeil smartass  forgot that our Fleet in the Bengal gulf is at full warfooting and Admiral Jarre has blood in his eye.
Get Admiral Geon here as fast as possible. Even if you have to fire him from the DeCreme's main gun.

[P3D]

"Mon President, we could not fit the Admiral into the 38cm gun. We'd need larger guns to do so."

OOC

It is a bit unorthodox to start getting rid of the Westerners by attacking a country under local rule, esp. when one already has borders with Westerners.