Den Telegraaf, extra edition.

[The Rock Doctor]

To New Switzerland:

Gran Colombia accepts the offer to ascertain the health of civilians in Swiss custody.  Gran Colombia requests the opportunity to inspect the interned Peruvian vessels, their manifests, crews, and their cargo, including the reported gold. Gran Colombia will wish to see the moving picture film as soon as it is available.

To the Netherlands:

Gran Colombia requests the opportunity to inspect the Peruvian vessels, their manifests, crew, and cargo.  Gran Colombia requests the opportunity to ascertain the health of civilians from these vessels.  In the event that Swiss personnel are in Dutch custody, Gran Colombia requests access to those personnel.

To France:

Gran Colombia requests that France clarify whether the warships involved in the alleged incident were following instructions or acting without authorization.

To Firanj and Cairo:

Gran Colombia requests that it be given the opportunity to examine paperwork related to the civilian vessel's cargo and passengers.  Gran Colombia requests that Firanj or Cairo speak to the ownership of the gold reportedly discovered on the impounded vessels.

Gran Colombian diplomatic personnel and naval attaches in the Indian Ocean region will be ready to make use of the opportunities the above-cited nations agree to.

[maddox]

Good afternoon El Presidenté.

You requested information about the happenings in the Indian Ocean?

Yes Alex. I did. So, what is the French point of View? Your Premier Paixhans sounds like a young but competent man.

This situation means to France nothing more than a fleabite. The loss of 2 not so modern cruisers is painfull, but nothing compared to the gained information. New Swiss is actively piratical. And that when they accuse France of such deeds.
But it's annoying.  Firenj already announced that France is a paper tiger, Heathen and not worthy to associate with. The Caliphate just loaths the loss of the gold, but is keeping its displeasure silent. It seems the gold transported had more purposes than buying technology.
So, diplomaticaly seen France lost a serious part of credibility in the middle east.
Yes, that is the diplomatical part, but were the ships under orders or not?

Premier Paixhans is supporting the commanding officer of the task force. He did do his job to the extend of his capabilities available to him. Terrible and Indomptable have damaged or sunk 5 New Swiss cruisers.
That against a task force containing 6 cruisers and 5 destroyers. And 1 cruiser was hoisting the Indian flag, idealy positioned to take advantage of a sneak attack. Also, several sailors have identified the Black Pearl, a pirate ship commanded by the psychopath Jack Sparrow. This ship showed up shortly after the battle and got direct and personal communication with the remaining NS cruiser Baleo. Or they were late, or they just showed up to finish the job. The Black pearl has a comparable armament to a light cruiser or a large destroyer.

So yes, Terrible and Indomptable were under direct orders to protect the convoy. And they tried to do that job as good as they could. But to no avail. Lies and being outnumbered killed a lot of galant glorious French sailors.

[Desertfox]

OOC
It's that kind of mistakes that brings you a lot of trouble, Desertfox.

Which is why I asked for a NPC entry in The World. We don't even have the specs for Admiral Grau. Its easy to make mistakes when you have no information.



To Gran Colombia

The Gran Columbian request will be granted in its entirety.

OOC The moving pictures will take some time as they are still enroute to the home islands.

[maddox]

Almirante Grau, Peru/Agrival Armoured Cruiser laid down 1888 (Engine 1907)

Displacement:
   7.218 t light; 7.545 t standard; 9.127 t normal; 10.393 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   440,00 ft / 440,00 ft x 60,00 ft x 22,00 ft (normal load)
   134,11 m / 134,11 m x 18,29 m  x 6,71 m

Armament:
      2 - 11,00" / 279 mm guns in single mounts, 665,50lbs / 301,87kg shells, 1900 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, evenly spread
      2 - 6,00" / 152 mm guns in single mounts, 108,00lbs / 48,99kg shells, 1900 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts with hoists
     on side, evenly spread
      8 - 3,00" / 76,2 mm guns in single mounts, 13,10lbs / 5,94kg shells, 1888 Model
     Quick firing guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread
      4 - 0,50" / 12,7 mm guns in single mounts, 0,06lbs / 0,03kg shells, 1888 Model
     Machine guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread
   Weight of broadside 1.652 lbs / 749 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 150
   4 - 18,0" / 457,2 mm submerged torpedo tubes

Armour:
   - Belts:      Width (max)   Length (avg)      Height (avg)
   Main:   6,00" / 152 mm   340,00 ft / 103,63 m   9,30 ft / 2,83 m
   Ends:   5,00" / 127 mm   100,00 ft / 30,48 m   9,30 ft / 2,83 m
   Upper:   4,00" / 102 mm   340,00 ft / 103,63 m   8,00 ft / 2,44 m
     Main Belt covers 119% of normal length

   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   5,00" / 127 mm   5,00" / 127 mm      3,00" / 76 mm
   2nd:   4,00" / 102 mm   2,00" / 51 mm      2,00" / 51 mm
   3rd:   1,00" / 25 mm         -               -
   4th:   0,30" / 8 mm         -               -

   - Armour deck: 1,00" / 25 mm

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, steam turbines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 27.625 shp / 20.608 Kw = 23,50 kts
   Range 12.000nm at 10,00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 2.848 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   466 - 606

Cost:
   £0,668 million / $2,671 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 207 tons, 2,3%
   Armour: 1.952 tons, 21,4%
      - Belts: 1.412 tons, 15,5%
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0,0%
      - Armament: 200 tons, 2,2%
      - Armour Deck: 341 tons, 3,7%
      - Conning Tower: 0 tons, 0,0%
   Machinery: 1.727 tons, 18,9%
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 3.043 tons, 33,3%
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1.908 tons, 20,9%
   Miscellaneous weights: 290 tons, 3,2%

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     10.440 lbs / 4.735 Kg = 16,2 x 11,0 " / 279 mm shells or 1,6 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1,26
   Metacentric height 3,5 ft / 1,1 m
   Roll period: 13,4 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 59 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0,28
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1,18

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
   Block coefficient: 0,550
   Length to Beam Ratio: 7,33 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 20,98 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 54 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0,00 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0,00 ft / 0,00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      25,00 ft / 7,62 m
      - Forecastle (20%):   14,68 ft / 4,47 m
      - Mid (50%):      14,68 ft / 4,47 m
      - Quarterdeck (15%):   14,68 ft / 4,47 m
      - Stern:      14,68 ft / 4,47 m
      - Average freeboard:   15,51 ft / 4,73 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 87,7%
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 110,6%
   Waterplane Area: 18.424 Square feet or 1.712 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 124%
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 108 lbs/sq ft or 528 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0,95
      - Longitudinal: 1,60
      - Overall: 1,00
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate

Rebuild County class following Agrivals guidelines.

Compared to Gloire.....  What is twice the size....

Displacement:
   11.974 t light; 12.522 t standard; 14.208 t normal; 15.558 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
   520,00 ft / 520,00 ft x 70,00 ft x 27,00 ft (normal load)
   158,50 m / 158,50 m x 21,34 m  x 8,23 m

Armament:
      2 - 10,83" / 275 mm guns in single mounts, 634,55lbs / 287,83kg shells, 1895 Model
     Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
     on centreline ends, evenly spread
      16 - 5,51" / 140 mm guns in single mounts, 83,72lbs / 37,97kg shells, 1895 Model
     Breech loading guns in casemate mounts
     on side, evenly spread
     8 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in any sea
      16 - 2,76" / 70,0 mm guns in single mounts, 10,47lbs / 4,75kg shells, 1895 Model
     Breech loading guns in casemate mounts
     on side, evenly spread
     4 guns in hull casemates - Limited use in any sea
      16 - 1,85" / 47,0 mm guns in single mounts, 3,17lbs / 1,44kg shells, 1895 Model
     Breech loading guns in deck mounts
     on side, evenly spread, 4 raised mounts
   Weight of broadside 2.827 lbs / 1.282 kg
   Shells per gun, main battery: 150
   4 - 18,0" / 457,2 mm submerged torpedo tubes

Armour:
   - Gun armour:   Face (max)   Other gunhouse (avg)   Barbette/hoist (max)
   Main:   6,00" / 152 mm   6,00" / 152 mm      6,00" / 152 mm

   - Armour deck: 6,00" / 152 mm, Conning tower: 12,00" / 305 mm

Machinery:
   Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 26.830 ihp / 20.015 Kw = 22,17 kts
   Range 9.000nm at 10,00 kts
   Bunker at max displacement = 3.036 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
   649 - 845

Cost:
   £1,353 million / $5,410 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
   Armament: 353 tons, 2,5%
   Armour: 3.068 tons, 21,6%
      - Belts: 0 tons, 0,0%
      - Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0,0%
      - Armament: 210 tons, 1,5%
      - Armour Deck: 2.707 tons, 19,1%
      - Conning Tower: 152 tons, 1,1%
   Machinery: 4.547 tons, 32,0%
   Hull, fittings & equipment: 3.855 tons, 27,1%
   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2.234 tons, 15,7%
   Miscellaneous weights: 150 tons, 1,1%

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
     8.038 lbs / 3.646 Kg = 12,7 x 10,8 " / 275 mm shells or 1,2 torpedoes
   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1,52
   Metacentric height 6,0 ft / 1,8 m
   Roll period: 12,0 seconds
   Steadiness   - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 60 %
         - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0,13
   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1,20

Hull form characteristics:
   Hull has a flush deck
   Block coefficient: 0,506
   Length to Beam Ratio: 7,43 : 1
   'Natural speed' for length: 22,80 kts
   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 45 %
   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50
   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): -5 degrees
   Stern overhang: 0,00 ft / 0,00 m
   Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
      - Stem:      14,00 ft / 4,27 m
      - Forecastle (20%):   14,00 ft / 4,27 m
      - Mid (50%):      10,00 ft / 3,05 m
      - Quarterdeck (15%):   10,00 ft / 3,05 m
      - Stern:      10,00 ft / 3,05 m
      - Average freeboard:   11,40 ft / 3,47 m
   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:
   Space   - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 129,4%
      - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 78,2%
   Waterplane Area: 24.386 Square feet or 2.265 Square metres
   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 94%
   Structure weight / hull surface area: 110 lbs/sq ft or 537 Kg/sq metre
   Hull strength (Relative):
      - Cross-sectional: 0,99
      - Longitudinal: 1,12
      - Overall: 1,01
   Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
   Room for accommodation and workspaces is cramped
   Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

[The Rock Doctor]

Since the French are quick to respond to El Presidente, further questions in the conversation:

"Did the French ships fire first?"

"Did the French ships signal the Swiss prior to engaging?"

I know, this is known OOC, but I don't think I've heard it in-character.

[maddox]

El presidenté. Paris assures me that everything possible for the French captains of both cruisers to avoid acts of aggression is done.

When the NS ships came in visual range, wireless and heliograph messages were send, stating that the convoy was under French protection as agreed upon by the agreements made when Firenj went independent.
The reply was the bogus story about the search for Agrival.
When the New swiss crossed the 10000 yards line imposed by the French cruisers 1 warning shot with a 140mm gun was fired. The reaction of the New Swiss was keeping steady on a ramcourse on the Terrible and Indomptable.
The captain of Terrible is open about the fact he fired the torpedo's first,. But knowing the NS it was just a matter of seconds before they would fire theirs. What happened about instantly. The destroyers made an attack run the second the NS cruisers flushed the deck tubes .

[Korpen]

To the Netherlands:

Gran Colombia requests the opportunity to inspect the Peruvian vessels, their manifests, crew, and cargo.  Gran Colombia requests the opportunity to ascertain the health of civilians from these vessels.  In the event that Swiss personnel are in Dutch custody, Gran Colombia requests access to those personnel.

To the Netherlands

Denied, the passengers are under the protection of the Netherlands, and we take that very seriously.
They have be victimised and brutalised, and We refuse to let them suffer being inspected like livestock, it both creates a secondary victimisation and stigmatisation as well as delaying the healing process.
The inspection and treating people like livestock went out of fashion in civilized countries centuries ago, so we are not surprise the Swiss, with their fascination of those barbaric eras are lining up the passengers for "inspection" like cattle. Nor would we be surprised if they made a point of showing of the teeth of the passengers...

The passengers will complete their journey to the Franji as soon as possible, in fact most of them are already reroute there. On Dutch keels, with strong escort. We intend to land them quietly to reduce the risk of suffering and risk of rejection from their families that might occurs due to the rapes.

[P3D]

Durban, Bureau of Orange Naval Intelligence

"The telegraph line to Christmas island is broken. The one towards Batavia still functions."
"Did we get any additional information from the Swiss?"
"Besides the intercepted encoded messages, unscrambled by our Christmas island crew? Not really. Now they are cut from the line of communication."
"I fear that further Swiss action would endanger that line of communication we still have to Batavia. I suggest a report and a plan of action to sent to Foreign Affairs, and to the Navy CinC, so they can prepare."

[Desertfox]

On what date was the telegraph line cut?

[P3D]

Say the night from 25 to 26th.

edit: Date moved 1 day back

[Desertfox]

One final question, what side? Tortugas to Keeling, or Keeling to Cocos? Or both?

[P3D]

Only to Christmas Island.

[Borys]

20th October
- What can the Habsburg Monarchy do for the Nederlandisher Kingdom? At this moment? - asked Aloise von und zu Lichtenstein of his Dutch interlocutor.
- I hear disqueiting news from Paris - he continued - apparently some circles of the French body politique are starting to perceive the Dutch as - to use an expression of our MK allies - "paper tigers". That the Kongo and Western part of NOI would nicely compensate France for the loss of Brazil. And make France regain - another Oriental expression - "face", if not honour. Even more disqueiting, or better to say - alarming - is the resurection of the idea of "Franch Natural Frontiers" - on the Rhein. From Basel to Rotterdam ...

[Borys]

Earlier that day
- Greetings, Freiherr Geon!
- Greetings, er ... Prince Lichtenstein!
- Not at sea, as I would have expected in light of current events?
- Oh, I am to set sail when the Great Napoleon has its bottom scrubbed. In a day or two I'm off to Toulon, and then - the High Seas.
- Austria is unhappy about a possible change in Balance of Power in the East Indies. And that she will go great lengths to either restore, or to rearrange it in a way which keeps the route to China open - meaning NOT in Swiss hands. Even French hands would be acceptable - "even" in light of sorry Habsburg exprience with the Suez Canal ...
- And I have heard disqueting things from Paris, Baron. Changes in Europe are unthinkable. Period. This is, you understand,  entre nous, amis, who care very much for the welfare of their countries, and for French-Habsburg friendship ...