Italia News and Such 1918 - 19??

[Walter]

France was mentioned regarding the "Recent Intelligence reports Estimating size of new ship construction" post and not the "Imperial Senate Offices Rome:  February 1st 1918" post. So you can relax now. No need to worry about those pesky Zionists. :D

[Tanthalas]

France was mentioned regarding the "Recent Intelligence reports Estimating size of new ship construction" post and not the "Imperial Senate Offices Rome:  February 1st 1918" post. So you can relax now. No need to worry about those pesky Zionists. :D

and Rohan was ignored...

[ctwaterman]

I mentioned ESC, because I tend to keep an Eye on people in say Europe.  I mentioned UNK because they are my Ally and I know more about them, and I mentioned the DKB because well they are close to my borders in Ost Africa and I have been working with their design bureau to finish the Battle Ship I am finishing for them very very soon.

Japan is well Looks at Imperial Maps... why yes Japan right their next to the part that says here be Dragons in the Northern Pacific... hmmmm that might not be conicedence :)

Rohan is also so far away I did not figure I would bother getting detailed intelligence reports from well the Pacific for sure.   I should have mentioned the Dutch ships but their tonnage wasnt 35K + unless I missed one.

Charles

[TexanCowboy]

You were right. Let me forward you my plans.

[ctwaterman]

From: Bureau of Imperial Ship Repair & Construction.
To: Imperial Naval HQ Rome.

Sirs,
The plan for the long overdue refit of the 5 remaining Numidicus or HC-1906 class cruisers has now become critical.  The Numidicus herself has been in the reserve fleet while our Naval Architects studied the damage she took during the war with the Republic of Orange.  The need for these ships at the front has seen them in constant use since their construction and wear and tear is becoming a serious issue.

In addition it is apparent that the ships in question are becoming increasingly dated.  A simple Refit would leave the Empire with 5 slow and outdated cruisers with 6 10" guns.   Instead of a refit and a repair of the Numidicus this dept proposes that the ship undergo a rebuild.

The Proposed changes to the ships in question are to adopt the Confederate 9.2"/L50 380# Naval Gun as has been proposed for the next Generation of the Empire Armored Cruisers.   The Development of a Turret using three of the Confederate guns has been examined and should easily be made compatible to replace the triple 10" barbette of the older guns of the Numidicus class.   This will give the class a new more modern gun with a lighter shell but with greater elevation and range.

The next change is to re-engine the ships with a more modern Engine Design saving a small amount of weight but allowing for a ship 4 knot faster and with nearly double the range.  This speed increase will allow the ships to operate with the new mandate on ships for use with the Battle Line.  The Bulging of the ship has two effects.  The first and primary one was to increase stability and sea keeping.  The secondary effect is to test the effect of a small bulge in protecting against torpedo strikes using water or other liquid to fill this void created.

The Removal of the below deck Torpedo flats allowed the designers to slightly increase the number of shells per main gun while providing more protection and increasing the water tight integrity of the ship.  As you know one of the ships of this class was nearly lost to progressive flooding following a torpedo hit during the war with Orange.  Flooding of the Torpedo flat through wiring pipes and communication tubes were a primary factor in this instance.   The Architect examining the damage to the Numidicus indicate that if the Torpedo Flat had been hit directly the ship would have rapidly flooded and the pumps would have been insufficient to prevent the loss of the ship.  As such we are proposing an increase in the Damage control equipment on this and all future Imperial Ships.

The cost of this radical rebuild however is not inconsiderable.  The pure Denari cost alone is over half that of building an entirely new vessel incorporating all of these changes.  The savings in Heavy Construction Resources that the Naval Board has indicated as necessary however are substantial over those required to build an entirely new ship.   The Cost of this project would be approximately just under 6 Million Denarius and require just under 3 Thousand Tons of new equipment.  The resulting ship while not as capable as an entirely new vessel will be quite capable and usable for years to come with totally modern fire control, night fighting equipment, and operate as a test bed for several new technologies and pieces of equipment such as the ERAD equipments we wished to test from France, and as a test bed for our new turret design.

Signed
Admiral Rica Chief of the Imperial Ship Repair and Construction Bureau.

[ctwaterman]

Early spring 1918

Emilio Giacoma Imperial Magistrate to the Habsburg Empire was having lunch with his younger brother Vice Admiral Atellus Giacoma at the Families Estates along the Adriatic coast.

Atellus – So Emilio what do you think of the new Boats they are asking me to find a use for.  I understand you were requested to show them to a Prince from one of the China's.

Emilio - *chuckles* yes brother I had a very productive and interesting series of discussions with a Prince Pu Lun of the Imperial Chinese family.   He was quite impressed with the Speed and Agility of the new 40 Ton MAS boats.  I believe they intend to license the technology.

Atellus - I myself have ridden in one and I would not want to take one out into heavy seas.  Perhaps you got a feel for how the Chinese intend to use these very small boats?

Emilio- Stopped and looked at his brother.  I believe Prince Pu Lun once described the Chinese philosophy as a Battle ship being equal to a man being attacked by a swarm of bees.  They intend to deploy large number of such boats to choke points and harbors to defend their coastline from nations with significantly larger navies.

Atellus- But how do they intend to force the enemy to Battle these MAS boats are not fast enough to run down modern Cruisers or Destroyers and any Battle Line they faced would have to be supported by such vessels?? I have been assigned to a group staff officers tasked with trying to do more with less and understanding what the Chinese want with such small boats might be crucial.   The first 75 such boats have already been or will soon be delivered the current plan is to use them simply for Harbor Defense and Anti-Smuggling Patrols.

Emilio- "Paused and sent a servant for a book" Prince Pu Lun was here during the Christmas Season and he enjoyed our customs of giving gifts.  The book I have just sent for was his gift to me.   It is a translation into French of an Ancient General.   Interestingly it is titled "The Art of War".   If I remember correctly the book was interesting but not really my specialty perhaps you should read it.

There is a quote I remember that I think is appropriate.  It goes like this "The contour of the land is an aid to the army; sizing up opponents to determine victory, assessing dangers and distance. Those who do battle without knowing these will lose."  I believe the Chinese intend to treat the ocean or more importantly their Coast line just like the army would treat a forest, or Gorge or a River.  The Ocean has terrain just like the land and they intend it appears from my reading of this book to use those terrain features not as impediments but to channel the enemy!

Atellus- "Nods as a Servant hands him the book" That is a very interesting insight brother.  My planning board had already reached some of the same conclusions as you just did.  The small boats were originally built to help comply with our Private Treaty with the Republic of Orange after the war with New Zion.  Both the Republic of Orange and the Empire agreed to reduce our Naval Forces in the Rift Sea.   The Republic of Orange agreed to limit their military shipping to 12 Thousand Tons and the Empire agreed to limit its tonnage to 24,000 tons because we actually have 2 Ports inside the Rift.   Looks at the Title of the Book he had just been handed. The Art of War by Sun Tzu, interesting title I will need to borrow this book brother.

Emilio- Just be careful with it Atellus you were never the best with books and this is a Royal Gift.

Atellus- *smiling* I will treat it gently and if it proves to as interesting as the title perhaps I will have it translated and reprinted.  But, as I was saying my planning board has found several other locations then the Straits of Balantrye in the southern rift sea where a large number of small boats might be useful.
 
The conversation continued quietly as the Servants brought Lunch and more wine.

[ctwaterman]

Nassau, CSA 1918
Sextus Aurelius Cotta, was taking an early breakfast before the next round of Nassau Conferences.  His primary Aid Julian brought him his latest messages from Rome.

The first letter was from Senator Appius Attilius Scapita, who was in charge of the Foreign Office until Sextus could return to Rome.   The letter was simple and to the point the Foreign Office had received an individual in Rome from the new Republic of Mexico.   And now the foreign office was trying to decide if the Empire should recognize the New Republic or simply accept their ambassador without comment.

Consul Cotta, sat thinking while drinking a very good cup of Coffee heavy with cream.   There were serious political ramifications to this decision.  On the one hand the New Republic of Mexico had a former bandit as its President hardly a mark of distinction.  On the other hand it was pretty clear the Confederates and President Wilson were at least partly behind the establishment of the New Republic.   The Flip side of the whole matterwas that the So Called Free Press in Richmond and Atlanta and other such cities were busy bashing the Republic of France.   He wondered why Republic had so little control over their press.  He chuckled mentally as he remembered reading last week's copy of the "Forum" and how little control the Empire had over that Rag and other like it throughout the Empire.  Short of publicly burning the "Forums" Offices down which had happened in the past controlling rumor mongers appeared to be a task for all governments.  Well the decision was not critical perhaps it would be best to feel out the Representatives from France and the UNK on the matter before formally recognizing the New Republic as a favor to the President Wilson.

Next was some news from the NUS it appeared that the representatives from the disparate Nations in the south of South America had reached an agreement and were going to unify.   This was a much more important decision to make considering the proximity of the Imperial Province of Uruguay to the New South American power.   That would require a much more delicate touch and quite possibly even a personal visit.  Formal recognition of the New NUS would be forthcoming immediately.

The last letter concerned the current negotiations.  It seems he was being given permission to open discussion on a new set of International Agreements.  He was to use the Nassau treaty members as a sounding board before directly approaching the other nations of the world.   While the Empires call for a new round of Den Haag conventions had been rebuffed, ignored or simply over looked in the turmoil of the 3rd Pacific War the Emperor was firm in his resolve to form a body or codex of international laws or rules to form a frame work for international relations.   So he would broach the subject of a "Curia of Nations" to the Nassau treaty members sometime in the afternoon after Lunch.

With his paperwork done and a 2nd cup of excellent Coffee in his hand he began to mentally prepare his speech for latter in the day.

[ctwaterman]

Offices of the Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Rome Early Summer 1918.

Present:
Senator Appius Attilius Scapita
The Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs - Beremgario Lucciano Tullus
Chief Magistrate for the Imperial Courts Rome - Alarice Genovesi Albus

Senator Scapita -  I have called this meeting to deal with a looming diplomatic incident.   Magistrate Albus your court will soon receive a petition from a foreign corporation most likely with the backing of that nations government.   They are attempting to sue the Caproni and most likely the Macchi corporations for Patten Infringement.  I need both your advice Magistrate Alba and yours as well Deputy Tullus.

Magistrate Albus - This would be a case of unheard of precedence.   The Empire as a matter of common courtesy and treaty recognizes patents, copy rights, and most trade marks filled in our Nassau treaty partners' but we simply do not have any laws covering the recognition of patents issued in I believe New Switzerland.

Senator Scapita - Indeed the Wright Corporation of New Switzerland is suing the Caproni corporation and I have sent for the head Lictor of the Caproni Corporation to explain this all to one of my secretaries.  But for now we only need concern ourselves with the Diplomatic and not the Legal ramifications of the case.

Deputy Tullus -  To that end Senator I can speak freely.  The Empire was recently ignored when we called for a re-opening of the Den Haag conventions and a review of currently existing International Law.   It serves the purpose of the Empire to allow this case to go forward even if it hurts one of our most valued suppliers' of Military Aircraft.

The Emperor was very specific in his desire to convene a meeting of nations to discuss international law and ways for nations to settle their disputes short of war.  In any event the Swiss Law suit is being viewed as an opportunity to showcase to the International community the need for some form of International agreements on Copyrights, Patents, and possibly an International Court to settle such disputes in an unbiased manner.

Senator Scapita - That's all well and good Deputy Tullus but what about Caproni and its stockholders.   I have been assured they acted in good faith paying the Inventor of the first flying boat for the right to use his designs even if they had radically changed and improved upon those designs??

Deputy Tullus - Its simple Senator we will allow the case to proceed and Magistrate Albus and the other judges will here the case and no matter what the outcome the Empire will see that Caproni and its Stockholders do not suffer from the case!

Magistrate Albus -  In any case the Patent Infringement case will likely reach this court sometime next year.   The courts are very busy and several of the lower courts will have to reject the case due to lack of jurisdiction before it reaches the high bench.

Senator Scapita - Excellent, I will talk with my fellow Senators and assure them everything is being handled appropriately and allow you two to handle the problem until Consul Cotta returns from Nassau.  

[ctwaterman]

October 1918

Maria Pia, Countess of Genoa had a very important appointment this afternoon one could almost call it a matter of state.  Today she was having Tea with Beatriz Massimo the wife of the Principe of Roviano.   Now tea was normally not a matter of state but some things just had to be discussed in a civilized setting.  So with her guards in attendance Maria Pia waited in her sitting room for her guest to arrive.

The Butler announced the Arrival of Maria Pia' guest in a booming Voice.  Beatriz Massimo Di Roviano.

Maria Pia rose and greeted her guest as the servants busied themselves with serving a proper afternoon tea.


Maria -  My dearest Beatriz it is so good to see you, did you have a good trip to Rome.

Beatriz - The train ride was boring this time of year but Rome is always lovely to visit.

Maria - *Pouring tea for he guest*  so how is your family.

Beatriz - *sipping her tea* my family is doing very well and yours.

Maria - *smiling at the opening* My family is doing very well, and family is what we really need to discuss.

Beatriz - Really and how can I help you with family.

Maria - It is a bother I know but it appears my Husband and Son are to busy running the state to consider the needs of all their female family members.   I myself have 2 daughters both married but Husbands Brother and two sisters I am their emissary so to speak!

Beatriz - *smiles* ah I see and your nieces are now all coming of age then.

Maria - *sipping her tea and nods*  I see you would see directly to the heart of the matter.   My Husbands brothers Wife and his Sisters would like you to be our Emissary to the Court of Iberia.   We know you have not been back for a while but winter in Madrid is even warmer then Winter here in Rome?

Beatriz - *sipping again*  Agreed it has been awhile since I last saw my brother and sisters and the shopping in Madrid is fabulous?

Maria -  *smiles*  Yes the shopping is excellent and despite all the Nieces we must not forget that I still have a single unmarried son, the state will not wait for him to make up his mind forever already the Daughters of all the Blooded Families of Italia prowl the halls or the Palace.

Beatriz - *sips tea* so your are looking abroad for his marriage then?

Maria - Yes, a foreign marriage of state would be best we are still looking and any help in that arena would be greatly appreciated.

The Two woman continue to sip tea and quietly discuss the Royal Families of Spain, Bavaria, the Habsburg Empire and Italia particularly all the Sons and Daughters of marriageable age.

[miketr]

Palacio de la Zarzuela, outside of Madrid
Early December 1918

Emperor Jaime and his sister Princess Beatriz Di Roviano

"I really like this palace and have often given some thought to having it as my residence but the protocol sticklers would have a fit if I wasn't in the Palacio Real de Madrid.  So my dear sister what has brought you back to Spain?  It is always nice to see you and my nieces." Jaime asked.

"I am looking into arranging a marriage or two."   Beatriz answered.

Jaime smiled, "Ah looking for some suggestions.  I could be of some help but I figured you would want to talk to Elvira as she is far more involved with society and could better give you pointers for Iberian Nobility."

Beatriz smiled slightly, "I had planned to talk to Elvira but I wanted to talk to you first about a marriage for you brother."

Jaime for one of the few times of his life was struck speechless.

Beatriz reached out and took her brothers hand into her own, "I know how deeply you loved Mathilde but it's been twelve years.  You have mourned for longer than you knew her, its time to move on with your life Jaime."

"I... I don't know what to say Beatriz.  From time to time the government has suggested I consider remarrying but I always put them off.  What has prompted your involvement?"

Beatriz gave a brief squeeze of her bothers hand and then sat up straight in her chair as she talked, "Two reasons first is because your ministers are right, you need to remarry to secure the throne.  You have but one child Jaime and I love Fernando dearly but what if something happens to him?  We have no brothers and Uncle Alfonso disqualified himself when he converted to take the throne of Greece.  Succession passes down the male line, you know Spain's history Brother and what would happen if you tried to make one of Blanca's sons your heir."

Jaime gave an unhappy nod as he was well aware of the Carlist Wars of Succession as he fought in the last one personally.  Jaime nodded and looked back at Beatriz, "You said two reasons?"

"Yes but it is related to the first as the Italian Emperor has requested that you consider a young lady." Beatriz handed over a small framed photo.

Jaime looked at the Photo and flipped it over and read the reverse side, "Lidia Luigia Gabrielle, Duchess of Pisa b 1897."

"She looks like a nice enough young woman but why would she want to marry a 48 year old man.  I am old enough to be her father or at least an uncle." Jaime smiled.

"Besides becoming the Empress of Iberia?"

"Besides becoming Empress."

"Well so far she has rejected all suggestions from her relatives and is set on finding her own husband.  As I recall you refused a number of suggestions before settling on Mathilde."

Jaime chuckled, "So two stubborn people will make a good match?"

"Perhaps or perhaps not all that I am asking is that you meet the lady."  Beatriz 

Jaime reached into his shirt, took out a locket and looked at the tiny faded photo of Mithilde and then glanced at the one of Lidia, "I should visit Rome or Vienna again soon, and perhaps it wouldn't hurt to meet this Duchess of yours."

[ctwaterman]

Rome Times:  December 1st 1918


The Rome Times, and L'aeronautica del Randello Marittima announce that official applications for participation in the 1919 Caldera Cup.  Dates for the Caldera Cup are to be the 4th and 5th of July 1919 weather permitting alternate Dates are the 11th and 12th of July.  The Historic and Picturesque City of Venice was chosen to host this years race.

Per discussions among the judges at the races 2 years ago a triangular course each consisting of 50 Nautical Miles, 92.6 Km or 57.5 miles has been laid out and will have 2 of the legs over the scenic Gulf of Venice.  It is hopped that a longer course will allow for greater separation among the planes registering to join the race.

[TexanCowboy]

Romania will be entering the Kituk Larvota_{OLT Sopwith Tabloid}. This plane will be flown by Commander Alexandru ?erb?nescu, the finest pilot in the Romanian Navy, with over 2,000 hour's of flight time.

[ctwaterman]

Early Morning Marsala Air Base Sicily January 1st 1919.

Actors:
Commander Caesar
Commander  Fulco Di Calabria


Commander Caesar:     So Fulco it has been a while since school!  How are your wife and children?

Commander Di Calabria: The wife and family are quite fine.  I see Old Maximus still has you running his errands instead of out here flying with the rest of us?

Commander Caesar:   *sighs* I think it is his way of punishing me for using my influence to get the Aquila refitted into a test bed instead of a real ship.  You know I would much rather be either here flying or with the one of the active squadrons.

Commander Di Calabria: So what exactly is it that has gotten you to leave your luxurious Rome office and come down here to Sicily in winter?

Commander Caesar:    I believe you already know we need to start preparing for the next Caldera cup race.   I need to see if there is anything more you need or any prototypes I can push development on for you.

Commander Di Calabria: Well the best plane we have is still probably the MPB.1 we have improved horsepower and center of gravity and unladen it has an endurance of almost 6 hours.   We do have a new prototype Flying boat style fighter that might also meet the needs of this race.  It was designed to escort any long range patrol aircraft and turned out to be quite fast as well.

Commander Caesar:   So we do not have anything to compete with the Japanese Ki-11r that plane was easily the fast plane at the last race and if competently flown would have easily won.
Commander Di Calabria:  We can honestly hope nobody else pays all that much attention to the rules because I doubt the Ki-11r would even complete the new course.

Commander Caesar:  *smiling*  I see you point Fulco!  So the longer course will eliminate all the small fast float plane fighters that do not have the endurance to stay aloft for at least 3 or more hours.   Running the engines at full power for nearly an hour did have some very un-desired consequences during the last race.

Commander Di Calabria:  Exactly Sextus my friend exactly!  This race will not likely go to the swiftest but to the most reliable and efficient.  We should aim for a new engine that can run at the same horsepower as those involved in the last race but do so while only running at say 50 or even 75 of its maximum horse power.  I would recommend it be able to do so for at least 4 hours.  We probably will not set any new speed record but we will finish the race and anyone who tries to sprint the new 150 Nautical mile course is going to run out of gas or burn out an engine.

Commander Caesar:   So we will be able to enter only slightly improved aircraft but endurance and reliability will be more important this year then it was over the much shorter course of last year?  Then we have a plan and we will put it to the test.

[ctwaterman]

December 1918-

Imperial Naval Budget Conference Rome
Present -
Spurius Valerius Maximus - Consul of Military Affairs
Lucius Cornelius Sulla - Grand Admiral Imperial Marina

Beginning at midnight on the Twelfth of July, in the Year of Our Lord Nineteen-hundred and Nineteen, we the undersigned Nations do hereby swear in the spirit of cooperation and peace to the following limitation: that no warship in excess of 35,000 tons light displacement shall be constructed- in our facilities nor for our nations in facilities of nations not herein undersigned- save up to two warships which shall not exceed 40,000 tons light displacement as agreed upon by the aforementioned undersigned Nations.

Ships of 40,000 tons light displacement may be refitted or reconstructed as the owners of such vessels see fit, so long as their total displacement does not exceed 40,000 tons light displacement.

Provisions shall be made 1.) for the possible accidental overrun of a ship's tonnage in the amount of no greater than 1% of the maximum tonnage (350 tons or 400 tons) and 2.) replacement of any ship of between 35,000 tons and 40,000 which is lost in combat.

Maximus- Well that is a very interesting treaty Admiral!  Do you believe it will actually survive.

Sulla- Actually I think it has a better chance then most.  The problem I foresee is that two very important nations are not signatories', neither the Rabble that calls it self a Government in New Switzerland nor the Dutch signed the treaty.

Maximus- *pauses to consider*  well that does cause a problem the Dutch if I recall correctly started this with their ever spiraling Armored Frigates and their desire for Bigger and Faster.  And the New Swiss well what can I say for them to depart from there history of a very large cruiser force would be unusual.  If they start producing only a few very large fast battle ships I am sure their neighbors Iberia, and Brandenburg will take notice.  So that brings us to future budget plans ?

Sulla-  Indeed it does, I would like to actually lay 2 New Battle Ship but I understand the need for Modernization of the Legions and for the build up in our light forces.  My recommendations would be to continue building more modern cruisers to cover of foreign stations.

Maximus-  So one Battle Ship in the next year or so, the usual batch of Subs, Small Destroyers, and MAS boats, and as many cruisers as we can fit into the budget?

Sulla- Agreed, Battle Fleet is at acceptable levels as long as the refits next year are pushed through.  Modernization to the Fire Control Systems and a refresher in gunnery will be necessary.  Has their been any news in our attempt to find a new target hulk ?

Maximus- No I received your request but nobody appears to be selling anything that would fit your requirements and certainly not at an affordable price.  Me might have to postpone the planned exercise unless we can find a suitable ship.

Sulla-  I hope something can be found we need to test all the innovations we have put into the fleet.

Maximus-  Agreed, now about these budget requests for another of this Air Plane Carriers ??

*Fade to Black*

[ctwaterman]

March 1st 1919 - The Rome Times

The Imperial Office of Foreign Affairs announced Yesterday that it was holding High Level discussion with representative of the Republic of Orange in Paris.   While progress has been slow the Foreign Office Spokesmen said it has been agreed that the Empire will issue travel papers to allow a team from Republic of Orange to participate in this summers Caldera Cup.