Brandenburg Gazette

[swamphen]

1 January 1906
Brandenburg Gazette

In response to the turbulence of the last year, the Kaiser has approved the establishment of the Reichsicherheitsdienst. The RSD will be assigned to monitoring those issues that arise within the Reich, which previously have not been within the remit of the security forces, the Abwehr being aligned torwards monitoring external issues...


21 January 1906
Brandenburg Gazette

Following a year of off-and-on work, interrupted by the crippling shipyard strike following the former Kronprinz Wilhelm's attempted palace coup and continious delays in the supply of their engines, work has resumed on the construction of the Kreigsmarine's world-leading "Schlachtkreuzers". Scharnhorst is hoped to be completed early next year, while the Ersatz Hildebrande should be commissioned sometime in 1908.

[swamphen]

15 April
Dar-es-Salaam Chronicle

The Reichstag has voted funds to construct a line of fortifications along the land border with the Orange Republic, former Portugese Mozambique, following the various incidents with disease spreading from their lands and their continued aggressive actions in the region. The design selected for the fortifications is reportedly known as plan "G", hence the project is being referred to by some as the "Gustav line"...

4 July
Brandenburg Gazette

Following the unhappy events of last year, the Kaiser has at last proclaimed Prinz Eitel Freidrich as his official heir...



(BTW, anybody up for taking the one-time kronprinz Willie as an exile?)

[Walter]

(Plenty of space in the Empire of Japan if you want to dump him there :D )

[Borys]

Peking. He can form a hunting duo with Franz Ferdinand ...

[P3D]

Kronprinz Wille as an exile? Hm...

[swamphen]

(NB: the No-Longer-Kron Prinz will, most likely, find himself stuck in Japan for all time.  8) )

26 July
Brandenburg Gazette

In a small ceremony today at the Krupps shipyard the schlachtkreuzer Ersatz Hildebrand was at long last launched and formally given the name Gneisenau. The vessel, having suffered from last year's strikes and engine delays, is expected to be completed in January 1908...

[swamphen]

11 August
Neue Kiel News

Although detailed information on the trials is considered a state secret, reportedly the experimental installation of the Huelsmeyer "Sehenden Auge" device on the minelayers Nautilus and Albatross has resulted in "results satisfactory within the parameters of the device", according to a Kreigsmarine officer, who went on to say that the device "is of limited utility in warfare in its current state, although Herr Huelsmeyer is optimistic regarding potential future development of the apparatus, however it does show promise for assisting in avoiding collisions with other vessels when in sea fog, as is often encountered at these latitudes." The trials have resulted in the device being designated as Operational Standard for those new vessels that are capable of accepting its admittedly rather substancial weight penalty.

With trials complete, Albatross has been released from domestic duties and is expected to sail for Ost Afrika sometime next month...

[swamphen]

18 September
Brandenburg Gazette

A spokesman for the Foreign Mininstry has confirmed that the Reich will be participating in the Dutch-initiated 'Conference on the Law of the Sea'. He declined to confirm that the Reich has concerns about some of the preliminiarily-discussed proposals, or that the Kaiser has directed the Foreign Ministry to seek grounds for a rapproachment with the Baltic Confederation...


9 October
Brandenburg Gazette

With great pomp and ceremony the keel of the schlachtschiffen "F", expected to be christened as Kaiser Wilhelm II, was laid today at the Krupps-Brandenburgia Shipyard. The vessel, which will displace over 20,000 tons and carry an armament of ten twelve-inch rifles, will become the flagship of the High Seas Fleet upon its commissioning.

HSF commander Großesadmiral Baron von Letters stated that the planned second vessel of the class, "G", will not be constructed due to industrial limitations. "This is a prime example of why the current system, in which the Reichstag authorises ships by class, is broken. Currently there are four of these battleships, eight light cruisers, and twelve destroyers authorised for the 1906-1908 period. And we do, in fact, have enough money in the budget to cover them. However the capacity of our steel industry is not up to the task at this time for constructing such a fleet. In fact, while working out our 1907 plans we found that we had to cut both the crusiers and destroyers by half, and even then we will only be able to put a minimum of work into "F" over that year, as the Scharnhorst class battlecruisers have priority for completion.

"Therefore, I have directed my staff to prepare a complete plan for shipbuilding over the 1907 to 1911 period. A Five Year Plan method, taking into account materials availability, not just money, is in my opinion the way that we must take, and I intend to make all future budget requests to the Reichstag in this method."

[swamphen]

15 October
Neue Kiel News-Press

Police are investigating a bizzare murder. Discovered two nights ago on Seydlitz Allee in the industrial district, a man beheaded, with apparant electical burns on the body and, oddly, on the surrounding buildings.


17 October
Brandenburg Gazette
Also sent to a variety of the world's newspapers - except those in Orange, of course

"Great Opportunity for Frontiersmen, Adventurers and Those who Look to Get Away From It All!

"The Deutsches Kaiserreich Brandenburg promises citizenship and land to those who wish to settle in Zambia...

"Land will be alotted at a baseline of 500 acre plots, with an additional 250 acres for married couples, an additional 250 acres for every male child, and an additional 100 acres for every female child...

"Do not be scared by reports of Disease in Afrika. The "Kronje's Disease" has been tamed, and while it is true that there are areas infested by the Tse-Tse Fly, the land available has been carefully screened to avoid these areas...

"Do not be afraid of Restless Natives. The native peoples of Afrika are Noble and Honourable when treated with Respect, and YOUR land has been carefully prepared so that it is not part of tribal lands...

"There are large mineral deposits, both being exploited and awaiting discovery. There are vast herds of game animals for the enjoyment of the Great White Hunter...

"Of course we must remind you that the Land available is not infinite If you wish to be a part of this Great Adventure, you must act NOW...

"Come to Afrika, the Land of Opportunity!"

[swamphen]

the following appears in naval and military publications in Vienna, Beijing, Mithlond, Antananarivo, Bucharest, Firmanj, Cartagena, Edo, Amsterdam, Moscow and Madrid:

"Krupp's of Brandenburg is ready, willing and able to supply your military needs. Complete naval vessels, naval components including turbines of up to 12,000 shp, guns of 350mm, 305mm, 240mm, 170mm, 150mm, 105mm, 88mm and 50mm, armour plate and others, army and coastal defense guns, and much more.

Contact Krupps at 948 Kaiserfreidrichsdamm, Neue Brandenburg"

[The Rock Doctor]

Bogota?  You mean Cartagena.

The murder in Neue Kiel is disturbing.  Hopefully there will be only one.

As for the Convention on the Laws of the Sea - are we doing that as a discussion thread at some point, or what?

[swamphen]

Bogota?  You mean Cartagena.

Fixed, thanks.

The murder in Neue Kiel is disturbing.  Hopefully there will be only one.

;D

[swamphen]

21 October
Dar-es-Salaam Observer

Kapiri Glass Products GmbH has announced its intention to begin trading on the Brandenburg stock exchange (symbol KGPZ). The company, located in Kapiri Mposhi, Zambia, intends to operate mines for silica and feldspar for the production of glass...


30 October
Brandenburg Gazette

The Reichstag today authorised the construction of 700 kilomters of railway in Zambia, to be constructed on the metre gauge, running from the current Imperial Gauge line at Kapiri Mposhi south to Lusaka and then south-west to Livingstoneburg, along with several spur lines. The route is intended to provide access to land for the recently announced immigration programme, as well as access to market for the mineral resources of southern Zambia, including coal, feldspar, barite, and others...

(ooc: I found this to be interesting reading)

[swamphen]

Date: 31 October 1906
From: OKW
To: Weissenstab

It is the decision of the Admiralstab that future Kreigsmarine naval artillery procurement shall standardise on the following calibres.

410mm**
380mm**
350mm
305mm
280mm*
240mm*
200mm*
150mm
105mm
88mm
50mm

As well as 37mm and 7.7mm Hotchkiss and Maxim types.

* Development funded in FY1907
** Future development

In addition, you are requested to study the feasibility of replacing the Gran Colombian model 194mm guns of the "Roon" type großer kreuzers with 200mm weapons.

-----

Date: 31 October 1906
From: OKW (KM)
To: Krupps (Naval Arsenal)

Per directions of the Admiralstab, you are authorised to begin production winddown of the 170mm/45 Model 1899 naval rifle upon completion of sucifficent weapons for Festung Heligoland, export, and spares requirements.

[swamphen]

(space reserved for catching up)