Confederate News Catch-up for 1905

[Carthaginian]

1 JAN 1905 - an explosion explosion rocks the city of Richmond, killing 20 and wounding 105 others gathered for a New Year's ball. Responsibility for the bombings is claimed by a newly resurgent 'Black Widows.' A similar attack in the city of Atlanta is prevented, with more than 20 Negros captured in conjunction with the failed attack.

22 JAN 1905 - The Confederate Congress, in response to intense pressure from Virginia, repeals the declaration that the old ironclad Virginia is to remain on the active fleet list, thus forbiding any new ship from being named after the Dominion of Virginia. This change was scheduled to take place at exactly 12:00 on the 23rd. A second bill was passed- hot on the heals of the first one- naming the next battleship scheduled to enter the fleet Virginia- a new 'all big gun' design like the NSS Dreadnought- with the time of comissioning set for 'immediately after the final chime of noon on the 23rd of January, 1905.' Thus, the name Virginia will not lie idle.Also, iron from the two previous Virginias will placed in the keel of the new vessel.

9 FEB 1905 - It has recently been released that the Negros captured in conjunction with the New Year's Day attack in Atlanta were taken to Fort Stewart, Savannah for questioning by military authorities. Initial 'interviews' reveal that the 'Black Widows' have adopted the teachings of Karl Marx, touting the necessity of a 'Worker's Revolution' to bring the wealthy to their knees and give political power back to the people.'

10-11 FEB 1905 - Socialist Party members stage several rallies- many of them shut down as illegal- in the eastern CSA, calling for workers of all creeds and colors to 'prepare for revolution.' Negro Socialists are among the most militant at the demonstrations, seeing this as a chance to end Segregation.

21 FEB 1905 - Despite there being fully another 2 years before the next Congressional elections, noted Negro Socialist Alvin K. Turner announces his intention to run for office in the House of Representatives. The Atlanta area immediately becomes polarized. Most Negro voters want to see a Negro candidate win, regardless of his political affiliation. White voters, and a few more educated, affluent or religious Negros oppose Turner on the grounds of his race, his hard-core socialist policies or his Marxist disbelief in God.

28 FEB 1905 - The Democratic Party of the Confederacy and the Republican Party of the Confederacy hold a joint meeting in Montgomery, Alabama to discuss the 'rising Socialist threat' and how their parties can best rise to confront it without compromising their basic founding principles (read: their hold on the two-party power system).

02-10 MAR 1905 - Infuriated with the racist agenda of some of the more influential members of both parties, a contingent of 8 Democrats (the more racist of the two parties) and 15 Republicans from several Western States resign from their parties and return home. The men remain in communication over the next week or so, attempting to formulate a plan to bring reforms in Desegregation similar to those found in their States to the Confederacy at large. In the end, they announce their intentions to form an new political party in time for the 1907 elections- the Confederate Party.

14 MAR 1905 - Thadeous Devereaux (Republican) of Louisiana, the only Negro Senator in the CSA and a former officer in the Louisiana State Militia, openly resigns from the Republican Party, stating: "I can no longer serve a party which is willing to base any of it's policy on race-related inequalities, or which will cooperate with any party that does." Many Louisiana voters- regardless of race- echo this sentiment, and happily support his foundation of the Equality Party. Throughout the East, many military and former military voters follow Devereaux's withdrawal with interest, seeing him as 'one of their own.'

25-27 MAR 1905 - Devereaux is on his way to the Capital in Richmond when a bullet narrowly misses him, striking one of his aides instead, necessitating the amputation of his right arm. The aide, a young white man named Johnathon Gibbons, had served under Devereaux in the Militia, and Devereaux immediately makes arrangements for the State to pay for his surgical costs, and offers him convalescent pay while he recovers. When the arrangements fall through, Devereaux foots the bill personally. Letters of support from soldiers, sailors and marines begin to flow into Devereaux's offices in both Richmond and Baton Rouge, many containing donations for his support of Gibbons. A leter form an Alabama Provost soldier stated:
"In the streets we see stark color- white, red, yellow, brown and black. When you get into uniform, however, you realize that it all blurs into a comfortable shade of gray and all you see is a man who's life depends on you, and upon whom your life depends."
Similar statements of support come from all corners of the Confederate military.

11-31 MAR 1905 - All told, some 15 more members of both the Democratic and Republican parties withdraw, joining the Confederate Party. Among them is Virginia Senator and former CS Army officer Brig.Gen. Washington Parke Custis (Ret.)

03-5 APR 1905 - Devereaux is contacted by Custis about joining the Confederate Party, which supports legalized equality between all races. Devereaux spends tow "agonizing, sleepless nights" in debate with himself, and then accepts the suggestion of his fellow soldier.

24 APR 1905 - On Memorial Day, the new Confederate Party holds a rally to honor all the Confederacy's fallen troops, and to drum up support among military and former military voters. Thousands attend, and the popularity of the Confederate Party among the military- long one of the most respected Confederate institutions- becomes apparent.

[Carthaginian]

09-21 MAY 1905 - Reports of a renewed illegal cross-border shipments of arms from Mesoamerican Socialists to socialist sells within the Confederacy begin to filter in from Texas Ranger stations along the Rio Grande. The Rangers are placed on 'Highest Alert' but advised to 'prosecute to drive off' rather than their prefered method of shooting to kill.

28 MAY 1905 - Alvin Turner, the Socialist Party presidential hopeful, holds a rally in downtown Atlanta denouncing the Confederate government for allowing Segregation to continue, and declaring religion as 'simply another way to enslave men.' Though his popularity among true sociaist supporters grows, this speech does little to endear him to the fence-sitters who regard their faith as the most important aspect of their lives.

05 JUL 1905 - Confederate Party members met for their first convention in Flagstaff, Arizona. They formed an agreement upon the platform of their party, and enumerated their positions on the various issues facing the Confederacy. Largely, they favored: equal rights for all races, removal of property requirements or poll taxes to vote, a rejection of any socialist ideals and a stronger, more offensive military- especially a more powerful Navy, seen as the only way to free the Confederacy from it's 'continental cradle' and allow it to participate in international politics on a greater scale.

17 JUL 1905 - Confederate torpedo rams patrolling the Texas coast spot a small, unidentified fishing trawler approaching the beach. When ordered to 'heave to,' the ship turns away and makes all possible speed towards the DRM. When the rams reach a convenient distance to force the ship to comply, it explodes, scuttled by it's crew, in a manner far too violent for a fishing trawler.

21 AUG 1905 - The Jenny XII, a shrimp boat out of Corpus Christi, reports being fired upon by 'an unknown vessel sporting a banner of solid red' which fled when the Jenny XII  proved to be too swift for them to catch. The ship appeared to be a wooden fishing boat, but could have been anything, the Jenny XII's skipper reported.

19 SEP 1905 - A second incident occurred where a patrolling torpedo ram group discovered an 'unidentified fishing boat'; this time, however, the vessel had already came close to shore and launched boats. With the speedy rams blocking their path of escape, the crew abaonded ship and made for the shore with the ram's guns firing warning shots at them. Within 5 minutes, the boat itself exploded. The crew had long escaped when one of the rams' crew was able to make landfall, but they had been forced to abandon their cargo- several hundred Spanish-style bolt-action rifles and a trio of old Gatling guns, now badly damaged by the fire and explosion. The Gatling guns were old Confederate pieces, but the rifles were all new and stamped as being from the DRM.

21 SEPT 1905 - Upon returning to base, the captain of the torpedo rams that caught the arms smugglers ashore complained of his squadron's inability to communicate effectively with authorities ashore. Better communication and coordination would have, he argued, allowed the smugglers to be caught, identified, and interrogated.

22 NOV 1905 - Immediately before the close of Congress before the Thanksgiving holiday, the approval to lay down a new type of cruiser was given. The official name of the ships is the Mobile-class, and they are to be of a revolutionary design, concentrating on heavy guns rather like the new Virginia-class battleship, and removing the intermediate 55-pounders in favor of more anti-torpedo boat armament. They are also, thanks to being 100% oil fired and possessing refrigerated stores, able to steam for 'more than a month continuously' without need of refueling. They are to be laid down in Mobile, Alabama next year, and to be completed by the end of next year.