The End of Peace (Map Game)

It's the Year 1870 and the world is on the verge of war. In Europe, the French Empire under Napoleon the Third prepares for war against Prussia, which has been provoking Napoleon for the past few years. In the United States, President Grant leads the nation through Reconstruction, but faces opposition by white militant groups. In China, the Qing Dynasty still continues to reign, but in a weakened state after decades of humiliation and faces three rebellions. Meanwhile, in South America, the continent sees the end to one of the bloodiest wars in history as the forces of the Triple Alliance close in on the forces of Francisco Lopez.

As the world continues to march into war, many wonder who will rise and who will fall after the End of Peace.

Rules

 * Don’t be an idiot.
 * Don’t be implausible.
 * Have fun.

Algorithm

 * Algorithm Page

Archives
1870-1879

Moderators

 * Mod: User:Colgan dog
 * Mod: User:Ycasto
 * Mod: User:Nkbeeching
 * Mod: User:AshokSurya (aka Dev)
 * Algorithm Mod: User:Stephanus rex

1880
Map Resources



Sign ups
Sign up rules are: Can’t be two nations at once, you can only put your name by one. To claim a country, please put your signature next to the country you wish to be. If your nation has a puppet, protectorate, colony or whatever, then you may put your name under them and play as them as well as your nation, just put the subjugated state’s turn underneath its master's turn. If someone wishes to play a colony, puppet, protectorate, etc. then ask the master nation’s player first.

Western Europe

 * United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland - Steph (talk)
 * Cape Colony - Steph (talk)
 * British Gold Coast - Steph (talk)
 * British Guyana - Steph (talk)
 * British Caribbean - Steph (talk)
 * British Aden - Steph (talk)
 * British Raj - Dev
 * Australia - Steph (talk)
 * New Zealand - Steph (talk)
 * Second French Empire - Th3Legnd27
 * French Algeria - Th3Legnd27
 * French Guyana - Th3Legnd27
 * French India - Th3Legnd27
 * Cochinchina - Th3Legnd27
 * French Caribbean - Th3Legnd27


 * Principality of Andorra -


 * Kingdom of Spain - BjornAndresen
 * Spanish East Indies - Erizium (talk)
 * Cuba -
 * Spanish Caribbean -


 * Kingdom of Portugal - AtomicSwagBloke
 * Angola - AtomicSwagBloke
 * Mozambique - AtomicSwagBloke

Central Europe

 * Kingdom of Denmark - Jefferson
 * Iceland - Jefferson
 * Greenland - Jefferson


 * German Empire - Adolf Coffee


 * Kingdom of the Netherlands - Robo games
 * Dutch East Indies - Robo games


 * Kingdom of Belgium -

Eastern Europe

 * Russian Empire - Tullin
 * Grand Duchy of Finland - Tullin

Southern Europe

 * Kingdom of Italy - Ycasto
 * Albanian Republic Protectorate - Williamcoll
 * Austro-Hungarian Empire - Colgan dog
 * Principality of Serbia - Person67
 * Romania - Jade090705
 * Kingdom of Greece - Xxgodzillaxx29

Northern Europe

 * Kingdom of Norway (In a personal Union with Sweden) -
 * Kingdom of Sweden (In a personal Union with Norway) - Ahoys123

Northern Africa

 * Kingdom of Morocco - Poofoster

West Africa

 * Republic of Liberia -
 * Kingdom of Cayor -
 * Ashanti Empire (In a personal union under the Fante Confederacy - presumed temporary) - Foothillball
 * Fante Confederacy (In a personal union with the Ashanti Empire - presumed temporary) - Foothillball
 * Kingdom of Jolof
 * Kingdom of Dahomey -
 * Empire of Bornu -
 * Dagbon Kingdom -
 * Kingdom of Dendi -
 * Sokoto Caliphate -
 * Toucouleur Empire -
 * Wattara Empire -

East Africa

 * Ethiopian Empire - Bender123
 * Sultanate of Zanzibar -
 * Ankule Kingdom -
 * Kingdom of Buganda -
 * Kingdom of Tooro -
 * Kingdom of Busoro -
 * Kingdom of Bunyoro -
 * Rwenzururu Kingdom -

Southwestern Africa

 * Kongo Kingdom -

Southern Africa

 * South African Free State (Transvaal+Orange) -

East Asia

 * Empire of the Great Qing (China) -
 * Kingdom of Great Joseon (Korea) (tributary of the Qing) -
 * Empire of Japan - With Blood and Iron (talk)

Southeast Asia

 * Great Nam (Vietnam) - Emperorkangxi
 * Kingdom of Siam - Tashaci
 * Burmese Empire -

South Asia

 * Kingdom of Nepal -
 * Kingdom of Sikkim -
 * Kingdom of Bhutan -
 * Emirate of Afghanistan -

West Asia

 * Ottoman Empire - KK
 * Sublime State of Persia - DRAFIGO13 (talk)
 * Emirate of Jamal Shamar -Zultan
 * Sultanate of Muscat and Oman -

North America

 * Dominion of Canada - Darkight1000
 * United States of America - Mr. Orwell
 * United Mexican States -

Central America

 * Republic of Guatemala -
 * Republic of Nicaragua -
 * Republic of Honduras -
 * Republic of El Salvador -
 * Republic of Costa Rica -

South America

 * United States of Colombia -
 * Republic of Venezuela -
 * Republic of Ecuador -
 * Empire of Brazil - Guilhermelcb (talk)
 * Republic of Bolivia -
 * Republic of Chile - w0h i'm back
 * Republic of Paraguay -
 * Republic of Argentina - Warrior
 * Republic of Uruguay -

Oceania

 * Kingdom of Hawaii - Bel of the illusions
 * Kingdom of Tahiti -
 * Kingdom of Bora Bora -
 * Tonga -

1880
The French citizens reject both of the proposals of the Germans and a majority of them take up arms against their German occupiers.

'''Adolf Wilhelm of the House of Nassau-Weilburg, is crowned Prince Apostol I of Bulgaria, the monarch of the new autonomous Principality of Bulgaria. His coronation ends with him getting into a carriage which drives by cheering crowds. He makes a speech in front of the Vrana Palace, the new royal palace, that talks about the struggles of the Bulgarian nation and how long it has taken for the Bulgarian people to reach this point, where they are now autonomous, self governing. Finishing his speech, Prince Apostle makes a prayer to God asking for a peaceful and prosperous future for Bulgaria, and eventually, independence.'''

With the treaty of Madrid on permanent standby, and Chile bankrupt, Argentina forces its hand on the Chileans and annexes the rest of Patagonia and Chile's colonies there.

The Portuguese begin to settle more of Angola and Zimbabwe reaching the southern shore of the Zambezi.

The revolts burn hotter in Cuba.

The Zagreb Earthquake destroys many buildings including the cathedral.

'''Brazil assumes its dominance and settles the disputed region by French Guiana. '''


 * Albanian Republic (Italian Protectorate): Albania has been facing new elections which have been interrupted by the tremendous earthquake in Croatia, the government has sent its condolences to the victims and some humanitarian convoys to feed those whom have lost their homes. The elections have ended with a coalition of conservatives and reactionaries winning at the first turn. The new president is Besar Dragovoja, which aims to be closer with the Italian monarchy. The capital city has been moved, as decided by Italy, to the port town of Vlore. A renewal of the communication system has started, a new bicycle factory has been opened in Tirana. The government accepts to cede albania's southern region to the newly formed Epirus protectorate as requested by the Kingdom of Italy. No further updates are available.
 * Austria-Hungary: “A new decade a new empire” the Emperor says in his New Years speech. A Hungarian political party begins to get traction, it is a democratic socialist party that is also pro-tribalism and unionism, but despite this most citizens of Hungary support it for its stances of labor and its criticism of Hungarian politics and its role in the empire. The party is known as the Hungarian Labor Party and it denounces Hungary’s treatment of ethnic minorities and vows to end it and supports the further federalization of the empire. The HLP manages to gain three seats in parliament, a good start for a recently emerging party. With the war at an end, we begin reconstruction of our newly gained Bosnian territories; cities such as Banja Luka and Bijelijna begin massive reconstruction efforts, especially in Banja Luka which was left in ruins following the massive Austrian bombardment of the city during the Third Battle of Banja Luka and the fact it saw three battles which were the bloodiest of the entire Bosnian campaign. A memorial is erected in Banja Luka for the Austrian soldiers who fought in the Banja Luka battles. The Croatians are rewarded for their bravery and participation in the War of the Grand Coalition and are given more autonomy and influence in the empire as a result, which worries the current Hungarian administration. Veterans of the War, now called the Bosnian War or the Bosnian Campaign are given a big welcome home and are celebrated as heroes of the empire and soldiers of all ethnicities are treated as one and the same, victorious soldiers of the empire and are regarded with respect anywhere they go. The end of the Balkan Front of the War of the Grand Alliance, which is seen as when the Treaty of Pirot was siged, becomes a national holiday in Austria and becomes a unifying day of celebration for all ethnicities of Austria-Hungary. Trialism becomes more and more prevalent in many political circles and many Austro-Hungarian politicians begin to promote it and the overall idea of a federalized empire. With the end of the war, we extend out an olive branch to the Ottoman Turks, recognizing their control of Bulgaria and wishing to reestablish diplomatic ties, and also offer to help rebuild Bulgaria and other parts of the empire affected by the war. (OTTOMAN RESPONSE NEEDED) With the devastation of the Zagreb earthquake being fully realized, we immediately send humanitarian aid and have local troops help search and rescue lost civilians and rebuild the city, free counciling is opened for those traumatically affected by the earthquake, efforts are also made to rebuild the cathedral. The newly conquered lands in Bosnia are turned over to a temporarily military government and the land goes under the administration of the Territory of Bosnia and is overseen by a military governor until the territory has been rebuilt and integrated into the empire. Stjepan Jovanović, a Croat and commander of the Austro-Hungarian forces in the Bosnian Campaign, is declared the first Military-Governor of Bosnia. We send diplomats to the British requesting furthering of political and diplomatic ties and requesting aid in building up the Austro-Hungarian navy. We offer to better Diplomatic ties with Italy and to forget old conflicts as part of an ancient past. (ITALIAN RESPONSE NEEDED). We recognize the independence of the Kingdom of Serbia and offer to send aid and help them rebuild after the war.(SERBIAN RESPONSE NEEDED!) Ottoman troops in Bosnia are rounded up and sent home. Colonization of the South Tyrol region continues with a homestead act being enacted for the region. The population exchange between Serbia and Austria commences Serbs on the Austrian side of Bosnia are sent to Serbia, we do this humanely and we provide transportation for the Serbs, and if they have to walk, lots of food and water is provided to them along with many breaks. We also prepare for the influx of Bosniaks. For the Bosniaks already inside the country, we assure them that we aren’t here to convert them and in fact recognize Islam as a religion and also has Stjepan Jovanović, Military-Governor of the Territory of Bosnia, sends troops to protect mosques and Muslim preachers if requested. Bosniaks and Muslims as a whole are said to be included in the Equal Rights bill which was enacted a couple of years ago and has been enforced throughout the entire empire and any hate crime against a Bosnian or a Muslim will be treated like all other hate crimes and the perpetrator will be executed.
 * The United Kingdom: Unfortunately, the United Kingdom is overextended in its efforts to build its own navy and those of its allies.
 * United States: Wabash, Indiana becomes the worlds first electrically lit city and Thomas Edison tests out an electric railway. The US 1880 census is around 51,240,700 in population. The Army continues to be stocked with M1879 Remington's and the army will finally be fully stocked by January of 1881. The USS Chicago is completed and ten other cruisers are planned. Secretly spies are sent into Cuba and Puerto Rico. Increased working on West Coast shipyards leads to and increased push westward. It is speculated that by 1885, Washington and several Midwest states would be admitted into the Union. Washington itself in population has grown as plans for a west coast naval yard in Seattle. Another Virginia class is completed bringing the number on the east coats to three full-fledged modern battleships. More battleships are ordered to have a total of seven on each coast. By 1881 it is expected of two battleships on the west coast and five on the east. By November the election of 1880 comes around and President Hayes runs for reelection but its swiftly beaten by Democrat George Armstrong Custer. Custer is the youngest president in US history at 39 by time of election, his ability to appeal to younger voters helped greatly being an outdoorsman and adventurer.
 * The United Kingdom: The Zulu threat in South Africa is considered highly concerning. The defeats and close victories highlight the need for decisive action in this year. 35,000 Indian troops and 10,000 British troops are mobilized in the cape and begin preparations for a full-scale invasion of the Zulu. Knowing the Zulu to be masters of the terrain and weary of becoming surrounded and over-extended, General Chelmsford devises to build a large system of fortified outposts each with a garrison of 1,500 men, four Gatling Guns, and four cannons. The Army is split into three columns and begins the invasion in January. Meeting the Zulu in the battles of Kambula, Gingindlovu, and Ulundi the campaign is fraught with shortcomings for the British. The Martini-Henry rifles employed by British troops struggle to keep up with the vast waves of Zulu soldiers. One of the private companies raised to repel the Zulus employs Winchester Model 1873s and their high volume of fire proves decisive at the minor battle of Hlobane where some 675 British and Indian troops faced down over 16,000 Zulus. Although a defeat, the members of the 6th Natal Volunteer Regiment, armed with their Winchesters are credited with preventing the total destruction of the 9th Royal Indian Army Regiment. The Battle of Ulundi proves to be the fiercest fighting of the campaign. 2,000 British troops and 4,000 Indian troops attack the Zulu positions. During the fighting, B Company of the 80th Regiment of Foot is surrounded by Zulu forces and faces near obliteration. However, the 5th Infantry, Hyderabad Contingent, a regiment of the British Indian Army, rushes into action. The 5th punches a hole in the Zulu lines through hand-to-hand combat. In the process nearly 60% of Company C of the regiment is killed in brutal hand to hand combat, but the Zulu retreat having suffered at the hands of the brave Indian forces. General Chelmsford, observing the battle from a nearby hill personally receives the Indian Company praising their bravery. A war-correspondent on the scene takes down personal stories from several of the soldiers in the Indian unit which are published in newspapers around the empire. A particularly notable Sergeant in Company C, Rashid Ali, was wounded seven times, including two gunshot wounds and three spear wounds and still managed to drag his crippled comrade from the field of battle. Despite being of Indian descent he is personally invited to meet with the queen where he is granted a Victoria Cross for his exemplary service. The press surrounds the heroic deeds of the Indians with praises for several weeks after the fighting. Throughout the nation this has the effect of promoting India and its people in the eyes of the average British person. In Africa, the force from Benin arrives in Dahomey to demand a treaty similar to the one enforced in Benin. (Mod Response) Further west, the colony on Tombo Island is reinforced and the local tribes around it given the option to submit peacefully. Thus, between Tombo Island and Freetown, several dozen tribal leaders and elders are forced to accept British colonization. These efforts are also directed northward from Tombo Island toward Portuguese Guinea. (Colonization/Map Update) Far to the east, Arthur George Keith-Falconer, 10th Earl of Kintore leads an expedition from Aden to the Afar Sultans offering a treaty which would bring them under British protection and allow the British to establish a fort and trading post at both Obock and a site known as Djibouti. (Mod Response) In the pacific work continues to expand the colony around Port Moresby with the remainder of Papua New Guinea claimed by the crown, if not truly owned. (Colonization/Map Update) In Malaysia, the major sultans of the Maylay States are offered advisors from the United Kingdom. These include the important Sultanates of Brunei and Sulu in Borneo. (Both agreed to concessions in 1877-78 in OTL) (Mod Response) (Sorry for bolding everything) These advisors will help them modernize and also protect British commercial rights in the countries. With British influence over the Maylay States secured growing trade can flow smoothly and safely through the region. Canada is granted any remaining territories in North America outside Bermuda and the Caribbean. (Canada, have fun)
 * Mexico: The people grow more radical every day with some even wanting a monarch during the election a coalition is formed by Monarchists and the left-side who are laying foundations to a second Mexican Empire. The newly elected President Custer is invited to be the first to talk in the new Parliament. [USA response needed]
 * US: Both Custer and his Vice President Allen Thurman both respectfully decline to make a speech to the Mexican Parliament.
 * Persian Empire: With the war against the Ottomans being a victory for Persia, a great victory parade is held in our half of Baghdad. Meanwhile, the Autonomous Province of Kurdistan (Iraqi Kurdistan) is established - a subkingdom headed by King Mahmud Barzanji who reports to the shah. The shah renames the country to the Persian Empire now with our glory partly restored. Meanwhile, we offer the Ottomans rebuilding and an alliance. (OTTOMAN RESPONSE NEEDED) The King invites the king of Great Britain to discuss our relations and a possible trade deal. (BRITISH RESPONSE NEEDED) Work on rebuilding Persepolis is going greatly and is expected to be finished in 1890.
 * United Kingdom: Although Queen Victoria is unable to make the journey personally, she sends her son Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn along with a team of diplomats and negotiators to draft a trade deal.
 * Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek: As we officially become a British-German condominium massive investments to develop the region as well as immigrants flood our nation from both respective nations, opening our borders completely to them, accepting British with no suspicions or distrust as to their loyalties. Massive investments in industry, mining, agriculture and banking continue pour in from various foreign and local investors as our ideal pro-business environment attracts them by the hundreds. Interest for prime real estate on big cities suddenly grows as our nation develops. As a result growth has vastly accelerated into unprecedented levels. Our best estimates place it somewhere near 38% per year for this year - all thanks to very low taxation in general and our state's business friendly environment with little to none bureaucracy our nation is steadily turning into a tax heaven. Pretoria's university courses are expanded to scientific fields as well as mathematics and literature. Hundreds of new students sign up for these courses. Colonization of South West Africa region continue unhindered. The newly subdued and recently depopulated annexed Kingdom of Ndebele renamed to Nieuw Netherlands continues to be intensively colonized by immigrants. We start colonizing the Cape Colony borders near the Kalahari Desert from Angola all the way to the Orange Free State, effectively cutting off the Cape Colony from the interior of the Kalahari Desert, that we claim but leave unsettled for now. We also continue aggressively colonizing into the Portuguese claimed region in Zimbabwe, Greater Zambia and Nyasyland and the uncolonized interior bordering Portuguese Angola. However, native displacement due to the enormous flow of immigrants continues to cause some issues, luckily the region was very underpopulated to begin with, which roughly translates to easily dealing with the issue with the help of some additional kommando reinforcements. The fleeing natives continue to wreak havoc on the nearby tribes, pushing them even further. Another entire kommando (= battalion) is sent to secure the Dorsland Trekkers route and reinforce the borderline outposts, focusing further on fortification works at them. These brave male and female kommandos are granted the commercial rights of their borderline kommando outposts. Further kommandos are sent along the route to escort Trekkers when requested. Their job is to sell water, food and any other supplies to travelers, patrol their surroundings and enforce the law in these brave new lands. In the way essentially they create small communities as their surroundings are developed by non-kommando personnel settlers, investing in the safety that the borderline outposts provide. Civilization is spreading along that route. An intensive settling of the region from the Okavango swamps all the way to the sea bordering the Portuguese continues with all of the Dorsland Trekkers choosing to remain and settle in the area, embracing the prospect to exploit the privileges we provide them, while also being able to conduct trade with the Portuguese. Several new cities and towns continue to pop up along in the area from Okavango swamps all the way to the coasts of South West Africa as the area came to be called. Even though the landscape is rough with a mountain range separating the interior from the coastline even more passages crossing the mountain range are discovered and recorded by the authorities after more extensive exploration in the area. Meanwhile, new settlers continue to pour into the newly established cities of Lüderitz, Nieuw Rotterdam, Nieuw Valkenburg and Nieuw Bergen op Soom as they develop into prosperous port cities. All the cities in the South West Africa region experience vast growth with Grootfontein, Lüderitz, Nieuw Rotterdam, Nieuw Valkenburg, Nieuw Bergen op Soom, Krugersberg and Fransfontein leading the development. Many settlers continue to move into these cities. Taxation in the South West African colony is temporarily abolished for a ten-year period to give further incentives for more settlers to move in. Several immigrants create new non-Calvinist congregations for themselves linking them with the Catholic Church and the Moscow Patriarchate. The increasingly diminished role of Calvinism into the affairs of our state alarms the clergy, who turns more reactionary by the day. German military advisors help Comdt-General Kruger in his work of restructurking even further the kommando system, instilling discipline onto the kommandos and training them to use the new Mauser 1871 Infantry Rifles, Saxon M1873 Army revolvers, bayonets and the mobile C64 four pounder and the heavier C67 six pounder Krupp guns. The Homestead Act continues, achieving further success offering any white person, both miners residing in the land and newcomers the opportunity to get their own homestead, a farmstead that they can build their homes on. However, given that South African soil is difficult to cultivate, Boers farmers are given enormous tax breaks shall they assist newcomers and teach them the secrets of their soil, enable them to successfully cultivate their new farmsteads. The state also assists with relocation, providing shelter to reside while the settlers are building their new homes, as well as blankets, food, medical assistance should they require it. The French are warmly welcomed with open arms. They also learn about the bonds that connect our two nations, their French Huguenots ancestors that played a vital part in the history of our nation, as Huguenot descendants went on to establish themselves in positions of leadership in Afrikaner society. A lot of them enjoy their stay here and appreciate our appreciation of them, forming bonds with the local population and generally being open to integration and intermixing, some even going as far as doing some of the first mixed marriages with Boers. Citizenship grant is expedited to be provided along with the homestead grant. More than 175,000 new settlers of all kinds of nationalities such as Germans, British French, Italians, Russians and Spanish make ZAR their home. Our citizens have increased to 925,000 people according to estimates as no census has taken place yet. An investigation is conducted as to who was behind these inconceivable actions of brutally suppressing these poor people and a few arrests are made. Work on the interconnected railroad network project continues. The Pretoria-Krugersberg line is expected to be completed by the end of 1886 and the Lüderitz-Nieuw Rotterdam line is expected to be completed by the end of 1889. The Southeast Line linking our nation with Durban being worked over more intensively but still more loosely than the other two, is expected to finish and be inaugurated by the end of 1885. The relations continue to improve with the Orange Free State, while trade between us skyrockets since we've opened our common railroad network to the public. Now that the British have finally agreed to allow the unification of our brethren in the Orange Free State via a referendum on the issue of unification and given our vastly growing economic ties with the Orange Free State we ask them to conduct one such referendum across our domains to finally settle this question once and for all. [Mod Response]
 * Mod Response: The referendum is conducted and the domains overwhelmingly favor unification of the two states. (Done on discord by Dev) ~Bear
 * Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek Response: We rejoice at this historical moment with celebrations in every city, town and village across our domains and happily proceed with the unification of our people in this new era.
 * Kingdom of Spain: Spain is willing to accept most of Germany's terms about Morocco and basing rights, but not the reparations bit [German Response]. Elections are postponed this year due to the ongoing Moroccan Crisis and the German blockade. This year also sees the continuing of Spain's naval armament program, with construction continuing on three of eight ironclads, five protected cruisers out of 15, and ten corvettes out of 30. This first batch is expected to be complete by 1882. In Cuba, the strict occupation policy continues. Construction is also nearing completion on the Havana-Jagua railway line and the trans-island telegraph line. In the Philippines, trade increases with Japan which helps economic growth. The Spanish Pacific Squadron's strength will be increased once the new ships are completed. King Alfonso sees the Asia holdings as being very important for the Empire and will invest more in the Philippines. Factories in Spain are nearly complete and are opening next year. The land reform is judged to have been successful so far with more peasants buying land, and more schools are being opened, especially in rural areas.
 * Dominion of Canada: With the start of a new decade, Canada would get more immigrant due to the great coal war. Many people would move to Canada raising the Canadian economy. Canada would also raised it military building more ships. The country also would encourage its citizen to join the army or navy in case of war. Canada would also hire diplomatic and send on them on the boat to Mexico in order to agree with trade. When the diplomat arrives we would meet up Mexico president to talk for a trade alliance with Mexico. (Mexico response needed) Canada also requests to buy all of Hudson Bay from our boss, Britain. (Britain response needed) 
 * Mexican Response: We accept.
 * United Kingdom: We agree, and offer all other North American territories outside of Bermuda and the Caribbean to Canada. No payment necessary.
 * Canada: we agree with Britain and also decide to help them in South Africa and send soldiers there.
 * Nippon: The debate over the constitution continues as a more liberal wing of the constitutionalists break off in protest to Okubo's increasing centralization of power, and because of delays to implementing a constitution. This group under the leadership of Itagaki Taisuke form the Free and People's Rights movement or Freedom Party, advocating for increased civil liberties, for the full implementation of representative democracy, for an end to the unequal treaties which Japan is still subject to, and over the role of the military and to who it serves. Okubo and his supporters without the more liberal faction involved finally implement their plans making the institution of Kampaku a ten-year term after the Term of Okubo who is granted a 15-year term to oversee the Transitional government. The Council of Elders is created to oversee the full implementation of the creation of a legislative body. Meanwhile, the state bureaucracy in expanded to help run things and continue the implementation of reforms, This conservative approach is justified by the need to retain Kokutai (state structure), and to retain Japan's identity as it modernizes. The Slogan "Enrich the nation, Strengthen the Military" becomes ever more prominent, and becomes the centre piece government. Prefectural elections are held. however, to begin organizing local assemblies. Despite the efforts of the Army officers to push for further expansion the government decides to begin refocusing funds toward the navy as growing Japanese intrigues abroad bring up the demand for a proper naval force. Modernization and professionalization of the Army continues with a standing army of 300,000 and another 200,000 reserves from those who previously served. Thwe Winchester 73 is the main gun of the army, and efforts to develop a local lever action rifle of the same design begins, though some interest in taking in Bolt action mechanism. Designing blueprints for Artillery pieces based on the krupp breech load also begins. Training of a marine force based on the British model begins with a starting force of 20,000 picked from the most disciplined and strongest. With the help of British junior engineers and shipwrights work on creating four 4,500 ton protected cruisers and  one battleship begin, copying British designs. Efforts to develop a cruiser that fires torpedoes begin in an effort to make up for the lack of firepower of the Japanese navy at present. 25,000 troops are moved to the Ryukyus, and drilling begins to train them for amphibious assaults. Construction of coastal defences also begin. Industrialization continues as the textile, and steel industry grow. Development of the4 Chemical industry also begins as efforts to develop dyes and medicines locally begin. Construction of railways and expansion of electrical systems continue, the Railway between Osaka, and Tokyo is completed, and Nagasaki is connected to Kagoshima. More arsenals are built and diversification of their activities begin, as large scale production becomes viable. Japanese society continues to change drastically as Urban centres grow and thousands leave the country side. Osaka, Tokyo, Nagasaki, and other cities continue to grow in size and importance. Western Art starts to influence local artistic movements and many begin dressing more in western style clothing. Many, however, decide to retain their traditional garmets particularly those of the former samurai class, and many visibly retain their katanas, and hair buns, though talks about reopening the Sword ban start to spread. Western educated Japanese become a more common thing as well, and many of these people gain employment either in the growing public education system, in the government, or with the growing private sector. Japanese economic growth continues as domestic and foreign markets grow.The need for more resources to continue this growth lead to massive imports of raw materials. With the growing needs for materials the Meiji government start taking an interest in extending Japanese influence outside of the islands. With their new found ties in Philippines, some arms are smuggled to local interest groups, and efforts to begin connecting with other asian countries begin, to improve economic and military ties in asia. Secret Diplo to the USA, Okubo requests a meeting with the American ambassador to possibly discuss possible cooperation and coordination in the near future, taking note of the Custer's platform to expand, bringing the relative weakening of the spanish after their war with Germany.
 * President-Elect Custer agrees to work with the Japanese once he has taken office.


 * Russian Empire: Victory over the Caliph and his Empire. Romania Free, Romania Strong, Romania a Nation.One more do the Dacians have a coast the River delta.The Delta owned by Dacians and Russians, its flow controlled by Dacians and Russians. Fish from the Danube will all pass the Romanian and Russian lands. Boats will all pass through Romanian waters. THe russian government will even accept if the Romanians will start asking a minor fee for ships, So long as there is an exception for Russian ships. While in Armenia, the Turks have the Ability and chance to move out of kars,while smaller numbers of greeks and armenians are allowed to move to the city. This is the same for cities like Hopa,where people have one year to move from russian held lands and greeks in border areas being called up to come to Russian held Armenia and specifically the city of Kars and Hopi. With small subsidies for those that do move into Russian Armenia. With the end of the war comes the Promise of a Parliament, with in this year the exact criterea and seats being layed out. For the higher House there will be 195 seats with seats meant to represent three classes: Nobility, Clergy and Specialists. With the specialist class being the broadest and least specific class, they exist of Lawyers,economists,Engineers and more. With the nobilty roles in the upper house being inherited for Nobles, position appointed by the Orthodox church in Russia. The Specialists who are there mostly for the economy and matters to do with streamlining the economy and markets,for them there will be a list of Specialists needed in government. Where after all specialist are once again appointed by the Tsar. From all of these classes Ministers are Voted by who will advise the tsar in matters of the state.This Higher house will have the power of directing taxation, tariffs and subsidies. These Members will of Parliament will also be able to direct the religious institutions, Force standardisation, and Advise the Tsar. This Higher parliament will have one year of preparation where after it will officially open.It has also been decided that for the ease of foreign lawmakers and professionals that all documents will be translated into the french and dutch language within a week of official Document being released. For the Lower house it has been expected to come into working in max four years, with the biggest issue for this lower house being able to decide who can vote, and on what the lower house could vote on.
 * The German Empire: With the war with the Spanish reaching a conclusion by The Treaty of Tangier, the German Nation moves back into a period of peace as its focus continues to be the scramble for Africa. An offer is made to the Portuguese for the selling of their territory in Angola by the Kongo for 6.1 million reichsmark (MOD RESPONSE). we decide to assist in secret of the carlist coup with the german government doing all the measures needed to sustain secrecy (MOD RESPONSE). The German African Co. continue to push funding into New Holstein and Kamerun by expanding the territory. Incentivisation of German Moroccans to move south into German West Sahara and Mauritania arise. An irrigation network is developed to assist in the creation of arable land in the region. The Neemand and Henryland Colonies in Madagascar is established on the Northern Tip and Southern shoreline as well with settlers clearing land for the first homes and roads. New Holstein's Economic District continues to thrive with Market places and merchant businesses becoming wildly successful, especially in the produce market as more land clearing inland from the absence of natives since their wars that had decimated the population results in a growth of German Farmers and with the success as a result leading to the drive and increase of German Settlers. Lohmand (OTL Yaounde) is established as the capital of the Kamerun Colony. Talks of uniting the New Holstein, Kamerun, and Kongo colonies begin especially with the camps along Lake Chad growing into a zone of settlement especially with Native Cooperation made. The trekkers and Expeditioners inland have led to the charting of a mostly reliable map stretching from the River Kongo to Lake Chad with clearly charted paths made with workers hired from the African Co. to clear lands around the area and mark routes. The German African Co. Also funds the establishment of a new colony on the Ivory Coast with preliminary clearings made with docks and ports to be used by merchants. Forceful deportations of the resistance and arrests of leaders and organizers begin after the German Army and local law enforcement stationed in Greater Alsace-Lorraine and Dijon swiftly crush the rebellion. The German law enforcement agencies within the region begin working on an investigation to uncover any evidence of secret underground financing and also prevent further growth. German Loyalists are offered property recently put up for sale from the deported individuals. Rewards are also offered for anyone that could lead to direct arrests of suspects. German speakers in the region grow and mixed race marriages also rises. Germans continues to move into the territory at high rates with Dijon looking to have a solid German Majority pushing to the end of the 21st century. Defenses along the Demilitarized Region continues to grow with heavy entrenchments while concepts for other defense projects are also in the works for other neighboring states. An offer is made for the purchase of Greenland from Denmark costing 33.18 million reichsmark and also offering them a guarantee and a free trade agreement. Additionally, the offer of a gaurantee of no invasion and Our surplus of weapons manufactured totalling of a mixture from our weapons stockile is also offered. The Industries of Germany boom as resources and outputs reach surplus amounts causing a larger amount of exports of textiles and finished goods with more factories being made to use up more of the resources used for clothing and manufactured production. It is decided that the Conference in Brussels will be hosted in 1883.
 * Kingdom of Serbia: The newly independent Kingdom of Serbia begins to focus on recovery. We reject the population exchange with Austria- Hungary due to the difficulty of housing the large influx of people. We absorb our new borders to the south and to the west. Railway construction is increased through private finance initiative funded by taxes. While coal mining and industry are given tax breaks.

1881
A Native Rebellion occurs in Boer Southwest Africa.

An Armenia revolt occurs in Ottoman Armenia.

Spain now has a great general, an Admiral named Carlos Santiago.

'''Cuba continues to burn with revolts and riots everywhere in the country. Massive riots break out in Havana in which people storm the Captain General’s office and kill the Captain-General.'''


 * Romania: We establish the National Bank of Romania also due to the creation of several railroad in the country our first state own railroad company CFR is founded. Also, Carol I becomes our first king with his wife Elizabeth becoming Queen and now Romania is a kingdom. We should now be referred as the Kingdom of Romania. we also like to offer better political ties to Germany [German Response Needed].
 * German Response: We accept the offer with gratitude.
 * Zuid Afrikaansche Vrijstaat Dip: We ask the Kingdom of Romania for closer economic relations, to establish an embassy at their capital of Bucharest and offer them the possibility to establish their embassy in our capital, Pretoria. We can provide the Kingdom of Romania with a plethora of minerals (gold, diamonds, coal, chrome, platinum, paladium, copper, iron) and agricultural products (grapefruits, cereals, maze, green maze). We offer Romanian people the opportunity to settle in ZAV and be given their own homestead, in line with the homestead act. We offer Romanian investors the opportunity to invest in lucrative new mining ventures, booming industrial ventures and/or our planned grand railroad network.
 * Kingdom of Italy: The victorious Coalition War has further extended the Italian sphere of influence, with the establishment of the North Epirus Republic and the Albanian Republic, both just north of Greece. Intentionally only one large Republic of Albania with the capital in Tirana was planned, but the potential danger of the Greek minority in the south of the region. The Albanian capital city is in the city of Vlore now, the capital of the North Epirus is in Korytsá. The region is taken for its strategic value as much as for the rich coal reserves. The economy, especially the steel and gun production is declining slightly after the war, but the manufacturers of civil goods are flourishing like textiles, food production and the refinement of petroleum. The Jolof colony is exploited for its rich gold deposits, Italian miners and companies flock to the region to get this precious metal. SECRET A force of 900 desert troops is sent in the now unclaimed Fezzan region south of french Tripolitania along with some translators and diplomats. They arrive in the city of Houn, where they try to convince the local leaders of becoming an Italian protectorate, as the French pose an imminent threat to them (MOD RESPONSE NEEDED) Another force of Tuareg soldiers proclaim a Algerian-Tuareg protectorate under Italian rule in the oasis town of Ubari, with anything in between that and the Algerian border as part of the colony Secret End The colonial ambitions go further than just north Africa, as parts of Indonesia which aren't claimed yet, they are a target of Italian corporations. The first one to do so is the shipowner Gioacchino Lauro, who seeks to set up a port in the independent state of Aceh, along with buying up land on the small island of Simeulue. A meeting between him, a representative for Italy (who has learned a few islamic customs from Algeria) and the Sultan of Aceh is tried to be arranged (MOD RESPONSE ON THE OUTCOME), as Lauro wants to invest in the local industry and trade for spices. The fortifications between Nizza and the Swiss border are almost finished, with only artillery pieces missing at a few spots now. The social-democratic Unione Repubblicana Socialista gains popularity with increasing union memberships, both in the industrial and agricultural sector. The Christian Union, the Federation of Christian Laborers and Farmers gains a stronghold on the island of Sicily and in Calabria and Puglia. The Italian Worker Association (AOI) has the majority of the workers of Venice, Milan, Rome, Turin and Bologna organized at this point, posing more and more pressure for social reforms. The Liberali have their majority among middle-class employees of the non industrial sector as well as intellectuals, while the liberal-conservatives have a vast majority among the upper class and the nobility. The URS, supported by the unionists gain 15 seats in the lower house of the Italian parliament, with the majority being Liberal-conservative. In Corsica, the situation is completely different, where no clear majority exists, yet the Corse National Front (Frontu Nazionale de Corsu), a republican-democratic party, aligns with the Agrarian Party (Party of Corsican Farmers), a moderate left-liberal party to form the majority of the parliament. In the small town of Forli, the first unionist to become is elected: Alessandro fortis, who is also the first Jew to become a mayor in Italy. Though being moderate inside the URS, he is affiliated with a variety of republican anti-monarchist groups and the unions. An end of the rivalry with Austria is welcomed.
 * They Libyan tribes agree under the condition of more autonomy, the Sultan of Aceh agrees. (Done by Colgan on Discord)
 * France OCC: Quick note: I already invaded Fezzan before the mod response so it's too late
 * Empire of Mexico: The Referendum passed with the newly elected Emperor being crowned on the 13th of February. The President of France, Queen Victoria and the President of United States. [Response Needed]. He starts employment bills and asks Britain to buys Belize [Response Needed]. He commissions the Henry warship in the Yucatan.
 * Zuid Afrikaansche Vrijstaat Dip: We ask the Empire of Mexico for closer economic relations, to establish an embassy at their capital of Mexico City and offer them the possibility to establish their embassy in our capital, Pretoria. We can provide the Empire of Mexico with a plethora of minerals (gold, diamonds, coal, chrome, platinum, paladium, copper, iron) and agricultural products (grapefruit, cereals, maze, green maze). We offer Mexican people the opportunity to settle in ZAV and be given their own homestead, in line with the homestead act. We offer Mexican investors the opportunity to invest in lucrative new mining ventures, booming industrial ventures and/or planned grand railroad network.
 * Mexican Dip: We accept.
 * French Diplomacy: France refuses to acknowledge this Third Mexican Empire as the legitimate government of Mexico due to its ties to Prussia and its past war against the former French Puppet of the Second Mexican Empire as the French Republic recognizes Agustín de Iturbide  the adopted son of former Mexican Emperor Maximilian I as the true Mexican Monarch
 * Kingdom of Spain: Alfonso XII is determined to not allow the Moroccan Crisis set back his plans or damage the image of Spain, and is working with newly appointed Minister of the Navy, Admiral Carlos Santiago, to continue to rebuild the Spanish military might. After recent events, the Ministry of Overseas works to strengthen defenses of Spanish colonies. The total garrison in Cuba is raised to 150,000 troops while the total garrison in the Philippines is raised to 100,000 troops. The newly-completed factories in Spain are increasing rifle and artillery production, equipping the Spanish Army with the latest weapons. Fortifications are constructed at strategically important locations in Cuba, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and some of the Spanish Pacific Islands. The expansion of the Spanish Armada continues, with additionally the Navy Ministry ordering the conversion of the 15 ordered protected cruisers into armored cruisers after modifications to the hull, including the ones being already constructed right now. Construction is ongoing on three of the eight Pelayo-class battleships (expected to be completed next year), equipped with the recently developed Gonzalez Hontoria 16-cm naval guns, 28-cm guns, and an armored belt. The Emperador Carlos V-class and Infanta Maria Teresa-class armored cruisers, of which five out of 15  are under construction , are also equipped with the 16 cm guns and will be given a thick armored belt of iron, exchanging the faster speed and lighter armor of a protected cruiser for better protection of an armored cruiser. The ten steam corvettes are commissioned this year , having started construction in 1879. Another ten are laid down in their place and will be the last as the remaining ten are cancelled. This is because the Navy is nearing completion in developing a "torpedo boat destroyer" called Destructor-class destroyer, equipped with a variety of guns and torpedoes. It is planned that ten destroyers will be ordered starting from 1882, when experiments are expected to be completed and the last corvettes are commissioned. The naval yards at Cadiz, Bilbao, and Barcelona continue working to fulfill the orders on schedule, and the work force is expanded. The Spanish Navy's organisation is modified as the new ships approach completion, with a Home Squadron based at Cartagena, the Cuba Naval Station/Squadron in Havana and Santiago de Cuba, and the Pacific Naval Station/Squadron at Manila and Mindanao. Outside of that, the railways and telegraph line in Cuba are completed. A railway between Madrid and several major cities in Spain is planned to improve transportation, and telegraph lines are beginning to be laid down connected all major cities and towns over the next several years. The education program and land reform also continue. Elections take place, the 1881 general election sees the Partido Moderado maintain control over the majority of the seats in the Restoration Cortes. However, as part of the power-sharing agreement signed after the Third Carlist War, King Alfonso appoints Union Liberal leader Praxedes Mateo Sagasta as Prime Minister. The recent colonial adventure in Morocco may have been seen as a setback, but the domestic economic and education programs are seen as beneficial by many Spanish voters and the military buildup is also considered good for restoring Spanish pride. The King of Spain's colonial ambitions extend beyond Morocco, however, and the Spanish authorities in the Philippines are given more funding. Additionally, Spain reaches out to the King of Cambodia, asking to establish trade between his country and Spain, and assistance in developing their country and military, in exchange for Spain being granted a treaty port in their country. [Mod Response] The Spanish occupation policy in Cuba continues, all rioters and rebels are executed on the spot by the troops.
 * Okay those numbers are way to high, especially for a colonial force made up of primarily mainlander Spanish. Cut it down to like 20,000. Also with all the riots and revolts going on how were these projects in Cuba not destroyed or disrupted? Fix it. - mod
 * in response to the crackdown on the rioters and rebels, many more people revolt or join in the riots, actively resisting or even fighting the Spanish soldiers. In many areas the Spanish soldiers are overpowered and overwhelmed by the locals and are themselves attacked by the locals. The Spanish soldiers are brutally murdered with many cutting off their heads in public executions. The riots in Havana just get worse and worse with the entire city up in flames (figuratively speaking) due to the fact the police force there, primarily made up of natives, have either gone on strike or joined the rioters. The Spanish troops in Havana are overpowered and many of their barracks are stormed and the soldiers brutally murdered. Rebels enter the city and the rioters join forces with them and storm the local municipal building and write up a Declaration of Independence from Spain and the formation of the Republic of Cuba. The news of the Declaration spreads throughout the island. - mod
 * This is ridiculous, during the in OTL Spain had about 200,000 troops in Cuba, and in the first  in Cuba (1868-1878) Spain had 166,000 troops, so my numbers are significantly lower than OTL. Only 20,000? Moreover, the Cubans did not succeed in OTL during the Ten Years' War and struggled until the 1890s. What you just decribed is not very plausible to happen, especially since the brutal occupation policy that I also employed, as Spain in OTL, was effective in keeping control of Cuba until the Americans intervened in 1898. It is also true in OTL that Spain build a railway and telegraph line during this time in Cuba. Overall I don't think this scenario you wrote is plausible -- now, I don't have a problem with differences from OTL per se, but this does not sound reasonable given the circumstances and the way I responded to the rebellion.
 * You’re right about troop numbers, they may stay the same. We are still discussing the plausibility of the revolt though.
 * Bjorn, while the rest of your turn is some what plausible, the extremely rapid naval buildup is impossible given that Spain emerged from a civil war not even a decade ago and doesn't have the naval yards to build most of the ships you are saying are being built. Furthermore, constructing five cruisers simultaneously, while also building other ships is extremely expensive given that Spain does not have a large industrial base (its rather small at this point), does not have large coal reserves necessary for the refinement of iron ore, and does not have any history of producing the cannons you are mentioning. Unless you are purchasing these ships they simply cannot be completed. This has been an issue for a few turns. -  Steph (talk)
 * I am using Wikipedia's information on Spanish ships from this time period -- a few years ahead of time, albeit, but most of the ships I mentioned were built around late 1880s-early 1890s. Since everyone else is developing naval technology at an earlier pace than in OTL it seems reasonable. You have Japan developing a significant navy right now even though in the 1880s OTL they only had a coastal defence force. I have been reforming since the civil war and undertaking economic reforms more extensively from OTL.
 * Its 1881, so no you can't build ships a decade more advanced especially this decade when you go from what are basically civil war era ironclads to actual steel ships. Additionall, Spain didn't build most of its ships and purchased most of its cruisers in the Spanish-American War from Italy which hasn't happened. Also it takes years to build shipyards big enoug to build the ships you are talking about, and then it takes years to build the ships, that doesn't happen in the few turns its been since the civil war and since you started the build-up. Spain is doing better economically, yes I agree on that front, but not enough better to build the ships you are builing, especially simultaneously. -  Steph (talk)
 * In my defence all the ships I have right now are purchased from the Americans and Brits. I havent started building my own fleet yet. Also, I have had a lot and I mean a lot of British and American subsidies tyou can check my turns over the last ten turns. With Blood and Iron (talk) 00:16, July 3, 2019 (UTC)
 * also there is a reason I made a surprise attack on you. Also, in the 1870s, I have had a border skirmish with the russians already, and ive been threatened by the chinese so I used the external threats as a reason to fuel military growth since the 1870s. not to mention the satsuma rebellion proved the trajectory was right). With Blood and Iron (talk) 00:30, July 3, 2019 (UTC)
 * French Diplomacy: The French Republic having a common enemy with the Spanish accept the Alliance proposal sent two years ago.
 * Italian Dip: The Italian nation proposes to establish a friendship between Spain and Italy by giving lower taxes on importing Spanish goods.
 * Spanish Diplomacy: The Spanish government is glad that a military alliance with the French has been established in response to aggression from the German Empire. The Kingdom of Spain hopes to expand its relations with the French Republic in the coming years. Spain also agrees to the Italian proposal and will increase economic ties with the Kingdom of Italy.
 * Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek: We rejoice at this historical unification with our Oranje Vrijstaat brethren with celebrations in every city, town and village across our domains and happily proceed with the unification of our people in this new era. The unified state is renamed Zuid Afrikaanche Vrijstaat formally. However, the most common usage is just Vrijstaat. Massive investments in industry, mining, agriculture and banking continue pour in from various foreign and local investors as our ideal pro-business environment attracts them by the hundreds. Interest for prime real estate on big cities suddenly grows as our nation develops. As a result growth has vastly accelerated into unprecedented levels. Our best estimates place it somewhere near 45% per year for this year - all thanks to very low taxation in general and our state's business friendly environment with little to none bureaucracy our nation is steadily turning into a tax heaven. A Greek refugee from the Balkans, formerly a pirate that plundered and looted the Aegean with his fleet before his entire crew was executed by the Ottomans, then a local magnate using his large fortune to purchase or create several ventures such as a plantation, a tannery, a shipyard and some commercial ships in the island of Chios, got his land ravaged by the Ottomans for his support for the Greek independence cause, managing to flee with nothing to his name than his fearsome reputation and his amazing shipbuilding skills, having built or modified almost every ship he owned himself. He leads a consortium of investors into establishing our nation's first shipyard in Nieuw Bergen op Soom. Colonization of South West Africa region continue unhindered. Nieuw Netherlands continues to be intensively colonized by immigrants. We continue colonizing the Cape Colony borders near the Kalahari desert from South West Africa all the way to the Orange Free State, effectively cutting off the Cape Colony from the interior of the Kalahari Desert, that we claim but leave unsettled for now. We also continue agressively colonizing into the Portuguese claimed region in Zimbabwe, Greater Zambia and Nyasyland and the uncolonized interior bordering Portuguese Angola. However, native displacement due to the enormous flow of immigrants continues to cause some issues, luckily the region was very underpopulated to begin with, which roughly translates to easily dealing with the issue with the help of some additional kommando reinforcements. The fleeing natives continue to wreak havoc on the nearby tribes, pushing them even further. New settlers continue to pour into the newly established South West African cities of Lüderitz, Nieuw Rotterdam, Nieuw Valkenburg and Nieuw Bergen op Soom as they develop into prosperous port cities. All the cities in the South West Africa region experience vast growth with Grootfontein, Lüderitz, Nieuw Rotterdam, Nieuw Valkenburg, Nieuw Bergen op Soom, Krugersberg and Fransfontein leading the development. Many settlers continue to move into these cities. Taxation in the South West African colony is temporarily abolished for a ten-year period to give further incentives for more settlers to move in. Several immigrants create new non-Calvinist congregations for themselves linking them with the Catholic Church and the Moscow Patriarchate. The increasingly diminished role of Calvinism into the affairs of our state alarms the clergy, who turns more reactionary by the day. German military advisors help Comdt-General Kruger in his work of restructurking even further the kommando system, instilling discipline onto the kommandos and training them to use the new Mauser 1871 Infantry Rifles, Saxon M1873 Army revolvers, bayonets and the mobile C64 four pounder and the heavier C67 six pounder Krupp guns. We bloodilly surpress the native rebellion in South West Africa with three kommandos lead by Comdt-General Kruger. The army proceeds to punish them harshly for their rebellion either executing those tribes associated with the rebellion or forcing them to flee to avoid their certain deaths. The Homestead Act continues, achieving further success offering any white person, both miners residing in the land and newcomers the opportunity to get their own homestead, a farmstead that they can build their homes on. However, given that South African soil is difficult to cultivate, Boers farmers are given enormous tax breaks shall they assist newcomers and teach them the secrets of their soil, enable them to successfully cultivate their new farmsteads. The state also assists with relocation, providing shelter to reside while the settlers are building their new homes, as well as blankets, food, medical assistance should they require it. The French continue to integrate. Citizenship grant is expedited to be provided along with the homestead grant. More than 250,000 new settlers of all kinds of nationalities such as Germans, British French, Italians, Russians and Spanish make ZAR their home. Our citizens, also accounting the Orange Free State's 125.000 Boers and 50.000 mostly British white citizens, that we also grant them citizenship that the Orange Free State had previously denied them, have increased to 1.350.000 people according to estimates as no census has taken place yet. Work on the interconnected railroad network project continues. The Pretoria-Krugersberg line is expected to be completed by the end of 1886 and the Lüderitz-Nieuw Rotterdam line is expected to be completed by the end of 1889. The Southeast Line linking our nation with Durban being worked over more intensively but still more loosely than the other two, is expected to finish and be inaugurated by the end of 1885. The relations continue to improve with the Orange Free State, while trade between us skyrockets since we've opened our common railroad network to the public. With our sheer economic and military and given that we are closely related people might we demand that the state of Griqualand West agrees to its annexation, sending envoys to the Waterboer dynasty offering their the Griqua people equal rights with white people and offering to recognize Kaptijn Nicholaas Waterboer's proprietorship over the West Grinquan diamond fields as well as create a special administration unit named Kaptijnate centered around Griquatown where only Grinqua people would be allowed to live, allowing him to hold on to authority over a significant part of the area which he now rules, given his recent troubles with the white miners trying to take political control of his state, that has weakened his fading hold onto power. The white miners would be allowed to live only in one city that will be founded in a new location in the West Grinqua state thats not settled by Grinquas and the Waterboer dynasty and any other Grinqua having rights to the land would be properly compensated. [Mod Response]
 * Mod Response: Griqualand West agrees. (Done on discord by Ycastro) ~Bear
 * Third French Republic: With negotiations underway with the Germans and another Crisis having been averted 30,000 Men are withdrawn from New Brittany in order to ease the tensions with Lieutenant  Colonel Boulanger also sent to France after major disagreements with the Governor of New Brittany only to be promoted to Brigadier General with the support of his superior, Inspector-General of the Army Henri d'Orléans, duc d'Aumale. Meanwhile, efforts for the Monarchist Referendum collapse as the nation seems preoccupied with its rivalry with Germany and Italy. With a new strengthened French Army of a total of approximately 500,000 Men France, President MacMahon decides to halt the conscription and end future efforts to expand the Army not wishing to provoke Germany. Meanwhile, MacMahon also announces New Elections with him running for a Second Term as President of France as he also announces a new Constitutional Law limiting every Presidential Term to seven years. With the announcement of the elections many other Politicians announce their intentions to run for President such as Jules Grévy of the Opportunist Republicans, French General Paul de Ladmirault, Orelanist Henri d'Orléans, Duke of Aumale, the second last son of the Last King of France Louis Phillipe and another French General known for his involvement in the suppression of the French Commune Gaston, Marquis de Galliffet. The Elections are expected to take place in 1882 as many see this as a deciding factor in French Politics as the Elections will determine the future of France. Meanwhile, the French Navy nears the end of its First Naval Expansion Plan with four out of seven Armoured Cruisers five out of five Ironclads, ten out of ten Protected Cruisers and seven out 17 Italia-class type Ironclad Battleships complete with the First Naval Expansion Plan expected to be completed by 1883. In Foreign Matters, President MacMahon accepts the Spanish offer for a Military Alliance against Germany proposed in 1879 while also beginning making new plans for a new French Colonial Empire. With the area in Central Africa contested between France and Germany, MacMahon looks elsewhere for new colonies shifting his focus in Eastern Africa in order to expand around the Germans in Central Africa and unite the French Colonies in North Africa, Central Africa and East Africa. This Ambitious Project begins with 15,000 Foreign Legion Troops along with a small fleet of two Ironclads, one Protected Cruiser, one Armoured Cruiser and one Ironclad Battleship arriving at the Swahili Coast with the Foreign Troops landing at Mombasa in order to secure the area supported by the French Fleet. With the easy capture of Mombasa, the Foreign Troops proceed to push southward toward the city of Bagamoyo with the French Fleet surrounding Zanzibar Island to force the Sultan to surrender to France and accept French Sovereignty over the entirety of Zanzibar (Mod Response Needed). As Zanzibar is in the process of Colonization, France offers the Sultanate of Hobyo and the Majeerteen Sultanate to become French Protectorates separately offering both states protection and support for their expansionist Goals (Mod Response Needed). In addition to this, 5,000 Foreign Legion Troops along with 500 Recruited Local Troops and a few guides and translators move into the region of Fezzan to conquer the region and occupy the area as part of MacMahon’s Colonial Plan as the troops move toward the towns of Brak and Houn. Meanwhile, plans are made to land in Siam or Burma to replace the loss of Cochinchina in South East Asia to the Germans. With these developments the Bonapartist Efforts to have Napoleon IV return to France are successful as he arrives in France where he is greeted by his followers as the Bonapartes begins their plan for recovery. Meanwhile, many of Napoleon IV’s followers and even the former French Empress currently living in England begin proposing the marriage between Napoleon IV and Queen Victoria’s youngest daughter Princess Beatirce who is still unmarried and is suitable for the Young Imperial Prince (British Response Needed). (Secret) With Germany securing Morocco as a Protectorate and with the CEF gaining minor support from local tribes, a Force of 3,500 Men consisting of Mercenaries and Local Tribesmen secretly funded by the CEF and the League des Revanchists land in Morocco and begin a march toward Rabat recruiting more locals along the way expanding their force to 5,000 Men as they invade East Morocco. Meanwhile, La Ligue des Revanchists and the Ligue des Patriotes - two French Paramilitary groups with over 100,000 Members - begin aiding the French Rebels in German Territories and helps the French Rebels begin a Guerrilla Campaign against the Germans and organize one unified Group in which would soon been known as Le Front de Liberation Francais with over 100,000 People joining them. With this Phase One of the operation is put in motion with Monsieur G.E.B continuing to plan his takeover of France in order to lead the Nation in its War of Revanche against Germany and Italy. (End of Secret)
 * Zuid Afrikaansche Vrijstaat Dip: We ask the Third French Republic for closer economic relations, to establish an embassy at their capital of Paris and offer them the possibility to establish their embassy in our capital, Pretoria. We can provide the Third French Republic with a plethora of minerals (gold, diamonds, coal, chrome, platinum, paladium, copper, iron) and agricultural products (grapefruits, cereals, maze, green maze). We offer French people the opportunity to settle in ZAV and be given their own homestead, in line with the homestead act. We offer French investors the opportunity to invest in lucrative new mining ventures, booming industrial ventures and/or planned grand railroad network.
 * French Response: We accept.
 * Sultanate of Hobyo and the Majeerteen Sultanate both agree to become French Protectorates at the condition that France gives them 5,000 Modern Rifles while Queen Victoria accepts the proposal of marriage between Prince Napoleon IV and Princess Beatrice as the marriage is arranged to take place next year (Done by Steph on Discord)
 * United States: Shout the battle cry of freedom boys, President Custer has taken office. With that the American military starts to expand from a grand total of 300,000 men to Custer's grand hope of 800,000 active soldiers and marines. The navy also see's two new battleships on the East Coast going for a grand total of five modern battleships and now three modern cruisers. On the west coast there is four modern battleships and two modern cruisers. West Coast and East Coast dockyards are expanded and so are the ship orders to 25 cruisers and ten battleships for each coast. Migrants seeking work are brought to areas such as San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Diego. The army and marines, meanwhile, are fully equipped with the M1879 Remington bolt action. President Custer sends an envoy to the holy state of Japan asking for an alliance between the Empire of Liberty and the Empire of the Rising Sun. With the increased work on the navy the ship building process for at least the Chicago-class cruiser should be sped up with seven set to be complete by late next year with a total of seven shipyards (two West Coast, five East Coast) working on the ship. "Gentlemen of the house, of the senate, I stand before you today to ask that these United States do something about tyranny which has spread just off the shores of our continent. There is an island which has forever held our interests and to promote our enforcement of the Monroe doctrine. Which is why, to liberate these peoples I ask for a declaration of war on Spain." And with that speech, congress makes a unanimous declaration of war on Spain. 300,000 soldiers are mobilized for the campaign in Cuba and Puerto Rico. The modern fleet of battleships, three cruisers, six sea-going ironclads, four Grant-class ironclads, and 17 iron hulled ship of lines are detached to surround Cuba and soften up beach landings for an invading force. 30,000 men in Operation: Tropico are sent off to storm the beaches of Guantanamo Bay with an extra 100,000 men being transferred from Florida spit into two 50,000 men. One to land 15 miles east of Santa Fe near Havana, and the other to be landed at Cienfuegos. Our spies in Cuba report back intelligence on the Spanish army and their Cuban conscripts. We ask for the Cubans to join the US army in the liberation of Cuba form the Spanish and we also ask the Cuban conscripts to join us and not fight for their Spanish oppressors, for God and Glory comrades (Mod Response). With the Cuban people seizing Havana this makes the forces landing near Santa Fe some relief. Custer recognizes the new Republic of Cuba, but asks if they would like to become a commonwealth/protectorate of the United States (More Mod Rep and this stuff was done by Colgan in discord). Elements of the Pacific squadron including two modern battleships, two modern cruisers and two ocean-going ironclads and 10,000 marines to capture Spanish Guam. Guam is successfully captured. 2,000 marines are left on the island along with a two ironclads to provide naval support. The rest along with the modern Navy departs for the Philippines. These forces will serve under US commanders but will work in tandem with our Japanese allies in securing the colony for the Allied forces. News of the Guam victory, however, take a while to reach the US. Meanwhile, in Cuba, US forces destroyed the Spanish defenders with both sheer numbers and artillery fire. Three beachheads are established on each end of Cuba, and in the center. A young soldier begins to rise to prominence in the ranks. Being a cowboy from Dakota at the time, now sergeant Theodore Roosevelt will show his courage and valor in the obstacles of the Cuban campaign to continue. US troops march into Havana victoriously and are celebrated by the local populace. General Winfield Scott Hancock decree's by translator from the governors office, the Emancipation of Cuba, announcing the US will help in the freeing of Cuban slaves. Leader of the provisional Cuban government Jose Marti are is brought to America via the USS Virginia battleship as a show of honor to the newly proclaimed Republic of Cuba and is scheduled to meet with President Custer.
 * French Dip: Despite the French Republic currently in a Military Alliance with Spain, France declares full neutrality in the American-Spanish War.
 * Spanish Diplomacy: The 150,000 Spanish Army troops prepare to defend Cuba and Puerto Rico. Havana, Santiago de Cuba, and a few other key cities are fortified. The landings of the American troops are reported to the main headquarters. The Cuba Squadron of 15 ironclad warships remains in port at Havana, but is ready to fight with the help of coastal artillery if the American ships approach.
 * Nip Dip: The Meiji government agrees to the alliance proposition
 * Nippon: Industrial expansion continues as growing domestic and foreign demand grows, and as more factories and companies start to expand in number thanks to the growing availability of both private and public capital. With the help of the British and newly returned Japanese engineers who studied abroad a new design for a 4,700 ton cruiser equipped 320 mm guns as its main gun, and with 12 4" mk ii guns along with some smaller guns. All reinforced with 100 mm gun shield while the gun turrets have 300 mm defence, the Matsushima class is designed with the gun behind the super structure, instead of on the bow, its vital compenents are protected with rhardened steel, as are the main guns. several smaller armored cruisers are also designed using similar design structures but with 250 mm guns instead. With the current navy standing at 15 ironclads of 1,500 to 3,500 tonns, and four armored cruisers of 3,000 tons, protected by smaller steampowered frigates, cruisers. plans to begin building larger ships begin. designing of the torpedo cruiser continues as do efforts to begin creating a sub boat based on British and german blueprints. The Japanese navy is sent from The Ryukyus to Manila and on Imperial orders initiates a surprise attack on Manila habour attacking the Spanish fleet statuioned there and attempted to blockade the north of the Philippines. Mines are also planted outside spanish waters to impede a proper Spanish response. Furthermore large cargo ships purchased or borrowed from the Brits along with Japanese merchant fleets are sortied to land 30,000 japanese troops from Okinawa make a landing in the Llocos Norte region of Luzon at Pagudpud supported by naval artillery from one of the cruisers and three of the ironclads. Japanese agents who have been operating  in the Philippines ask the Natives they have been in contact with to begin their uprising to improve the chances of success of the japanese assalut on the spanish and help them achieve their independence promising full Japanese support for the revolutionaries. (mod response needed for success of surprise attack, and to spark the native uprising ) 
 * Spanish Diplomacy: The Spanish fleet sends six of its existing 7,000-ton ironclads, four of 3,000-ton protected cruisers, and ten of the new steam corvettes from the mainland to assist the Pacific Squadron. Together this force should have greater firepower than anything the Japanese can put up. Meanwhile, the 100,000 troops in the Philippines set up defensive lines on Luzon based on the existing fortifications, including in the Manila area.
 * so your facing off against both japan and the USA, I don't believe you have that kind of naval power as of right now a lot of your navy wouldve been damaged while facing the germans. and it takes a while for a newly industrialized power to build up ships. I've spent years just getting ready to start building large ships. how do you have all that this quickly and coming off a major defeat. With Blood and Iron (talk) 23:59, July 2, 2019 (UTC)
 * Nip War Effort: following the successful landing in Pagudpud (mod approved) the Japanese navy begins ferrying more troops over while the 30,000 entrentch in Illocos until. Overall command is given to Nogi Maresuke. Artillery and more firearms are brought over as well while the Japanese forces are expected to reach 120,000 by next year, with the 30,000 being reinforced by another 50,000 bringing their numbers up to 80,000. 
 * There were no naval battles with Germany. It wasn't really a major defeat, not an accurate characterisation of some battles in Morocco. Japan's navy in the 1880s was mostly a coastal defence force that doesn't really compare to the Spanish fleet. Spain has had the technology to build ironclads for some time now.
 * I've been developing differently then OTL and I know the differences. I have been heavily employing British support, and while your navy better OTL,.your numbers are still way off. your main focus would be the Americans. and it takes time to move ships across the world With Blood and Iron (talk) 00:20, July 3, 2019 (UTC)
 * Persian Empire: To rearm our army after the succesful war with the ottomans, we order 300,000 rifles from the UK (BRITISH RESPONSE NEEDED). Meanwhile, troops return to their normal borders with ten divisions being at the russian border. The shah holds a speech in the capital about this years natinal day parade.
 * Emirate of Jabal Sahammar: Muhammad bin Abdullah leads the Emirate and he counties his expansion by marching onto Al Qassem with 10,000 tribes men.(I think Al Qassem is the tiny grey state between me and the Saudis)
 * The United Kingdom: With the Zulu kingdom pacified the region is heavily garrisoned to keep the natives down. Meanwhile, with Dahomey pacified (in discord by Colgan), the small tribes between it and the Gold Coast and Ghana are put down and the region colonized. With the Guinea region’s coast under British control more expeditions are sent to subdue region up until the Portugese colony to the north and Liberia to the south. In Djibouti, the Afar Sultans accept the deal (Colgan in Discord), and a small protectorate is established in the region around the two ports. In asia the Maylay Sultans, Brunei and Sulu all agree to the protectorate status (Colgan once again). The experiences from the war with the Zulus prompt the Royal Armed Services to adopt a new, more modern weapon. With several of the Remington 1879s from the United States, the Commission for the Procurement of a New Infantry Rifle, determines on a straight-pull bolt-action rifle with a Lee type magazine system similar to the one found on the Remington. The gun, proposed by the Enfield factory, has a six round Lee detachable magazine, a straight pull bolt, and fires a .356 Winchester casing. (9.1 mm x 51.2 mm) (OTL Mannlicher 1886 with a Lee Box Magazine and a modified sight). The new rifle initially fails to impress the Commission for the Procurement of a New Infantry Rifle but after demonstrating a very high sustained rate of fire, able to provide nearly unprecedented rates of fire. The straight-pull action also allowed for continuous line of sight on targets. Trials on a cavalry carbine reveal that twisting the bolt downward rather than at a right angle improves ergonomics and rate of fire so it is decided that all rifles should feature this curved bolt handle. The Explosives Research Board is presented an improved formulation of nitrated cotton gelatinised by ether-alcohol with nitrates of potassium and barium. The smokeless powder proves impractical for rifled weapons, but is a step in the right direction. An envoy is sent to Denmark requesting that they refuse the German offer and offering to provide loans or funding to satisfy any needs that Denmark may have without the funds from Germany. (Mod Response) A second envoy, backed by a detachment of the Royal Navy arrives in Zanzibar, and sailing through the French fleet blockade, offers the Sultan the opportunity to become a British Protectorate instead of one to the clearly violent French.(Mod Response)
 * Zuid Afrikaansche Vrijstaat Dip: We petition for British investments in our railroad network as well as extending it to the north, in line with the Cape to Cairo vision. We also request investments in our mining sector and industrial sector.
 * Mod Response: The Sultan agrees to the British offer. Denmark accepts the British offer.
 * British Raj: The expansion of the industries around the Gulf of Khambat continues.


 * Russian Empire: The First house of Parliament is officialy introduced as the Upper house of the Duma. With 137 seats being filled with 18 seats being empty at this moment due to not yet finding enough specialists and some members just not Ariving in time to attend the first meeting of the Upper house of the Duma. With this first meeting of the Duma, Some call to go trough with the plans that were made for the Slavic congress in Kiev - a congress which should in their mind formalise its duties to all slavs. With some calling for the congres to allow if needed refuge in other slavic nations for opression, while others also want it to fund renovations and new building works with slavic style of architecture. While others want to fund literature, arts and music. While many disagree what should exactly be done, all members of the Duma in favour of the congress want one thing for sure.The members want to make the amouth of bloodshed between all slavs zero. While this is happening the russian empire sends diplomats to: The United kingdom, Germany, the netherlands, Spain and the united States. As the tsar wishes for their aid in establishing the lower house of the Duma, By the means of sending Mostly lawyers and jurists. (Player response)As one of the Biggest issues of the lower house of the Duma is deciding who will be able to vote and who not. As it has to be done in a organised and supervised manner. With the current situation the Russian Navy and Army once more work togheter to send a small force of 1,000 soldiers land near the city of Qandala, where after the Russian officers offer protection to those in the area, even when the Russians do have in interests in lands from Bosaso to Bereeda and even claim it for the Russian empire. as they see this territory as essential for the spread of the faith and the protection of trade for the russian empire. While in the Pacific ocean there was an issue with a ship going from new Caledonia to Mayotte. As the one ship went of course by accident where after the crew of 450 landed on a lightly inhabited island near a river the locals called Porlo. These lands were allready know but after this crew saw the potential of the natural habour and the posdibility of it as a stop between the russian held lands the crew Decided to First fly the flag of the russian navy and afterward that of the Tsar. While due to the Ottoman Situation in Armenia the Russian army is readied in smaller numbers on the borders, while at the same time calling on the ottomans for a resolution on the Armenian question to make so that the situation calms down, in manner where Armenians are treated fairly and will not be opressed by the ottomans.
 * The German Empire: Νow with the rise of resistance forces in Morocco, the German Army stationed in Morocco clashes with the rebellious forces and purge the whole group. With stability being restored in Greater Alsace-Lorraine by the new policies undertaken, the German loyalist French become highly respected individuals amongst the German Population. With the nation more unified than ever, much of the french guerilla campaigns are crushed with leaks investigations into the organizations and people responsible for the acts that had begun the year prior. The flood of Germans into Eastern Greater Alsace-Lorraine also leads to a heightened level of german culture but more so interestingly, a blend of the two cultures of the french burgundians and other unique groups blending with the newly arising German Born Generation creating something known as theAlsacian or Lorrainian German. With The Germans in control of Greenland, merchants find their way to more whaling routes but restrictions are put in place to prevent a declining whale population that had been recorded by the danish whaling companies on the island. The idea of establishing a naval base on the island is brought to the attention of the Admiralty. Focuses on continuing growth of the fleet arise in which eight more fast battleships and six more standard ironclad cruisers and torpedo boats are put up for construction as the fleet continues to grow. The rise up of some small groups of French Settlers that had pioneered inland portions of the German share of Africa are quickly disposed of with speedy trials, arrests and deportations. Military and Naval Presence grows in the territory with New Holstein and Kamerun having its own plans of having a West African Fleet. Madagascar interactions arise as the settlements on the island prove to be fruitful but things arise to fall short with multiple raids prompting german actions against the kingdom on the island seeing the perfect opportunity to seize more African Territory. The establishment of German Malagasy is made by the Colonial Government with the Malagasy Chancellor Viktor Braun being placed into power as a result with the accompanying of six battleships, five cruisers and four gunboats are made to seize naval access from the island as an army of 35,000 land on the island accompanied by horses and cannons with the latest weaponry made by the german imperial armory to seize the island completely. Meanwhile, territories such as Western Sahara and German Mauritania see their shoreline completely placed under control with a network of roads and ports established by settlers and cooperative natives alike within the region. The Ivory Coast Colony sees greater expansion and so do the other colonies of the Kongo, Kamerun, The Lake Chad Colony and New Holstein. The Council of Governors and citizens will vote on a referendum to unite the colonies under the growing movement to Establish German Middle Africa as a Colonial State. The colonial military begins to have barracks established in New Holstein and Kamerun while the Kongo only sees military presence as to help assist expansion especially along the river. The German Economy continues to boom.
 * Dominion of Canada: Canada would began to build a railroad to connect British Columbia to the rest of Canada and the Pacific. We would hire people from other parts of the world and they would also be allow to immigrant here. Canada would send more funds for building the Pacific railroad. Canada also began to bring more people here as jobs are now easier here thanks to the railroad. Also in the news a group of rebels in Manitoba increased as Métis were becoming angry with the government. Canada would increase military presence near Manitoba. Canada would also increase its navy and send them to South Africa due to the south African war.

1882
'''In its attempts to fight the American and Japanese navies, it becomes quickly apparent that the Spanish High Admiralty was unable to carry out their aggressive promises to the government. Most of the newly built ships are not armed or armored to specification, lacking several inches of armor along their belts. Furthermore, the armor that has been used is of poor quality and contains hugely problematic impurities. Several ships lack weapons except for obsolete breechloaders scrounged from coastal defensives, and are otherwise obsolete. This proves fatal when three of the Spanish Emperador Carlos V-class ships experience magazine detonations when facing off against an American fleet.'''

Spurred on by the war and a feeling of un-inclusion in the kingdom, protests hit major Czech and Slovakian cities demanding equal political rights in the kingdom.

'''The daring Japanese raid on Manilla proves indecisive but a tactical Japanese victory. Although the port remains firmly in Spanish hands thanks to the fortifications on its shores, the Japanese fleet manages to sink three Ironclad battleships, two cruisers, and four of the corvettes at anchor or in various states of readiness. However, Spanish shore batteries sink a Japanese cruiser and severely damage one of the large Japanese Ironclad battleships.'''

'''Jose Martí is declared President of the Republic of Cuba and immediately declares war on Spain, announcing the abolition of slavery. He announces the formation of the Ejército de Liberación (Army of Liberation) which takes lands and settlements near and around Havana.'''

Spanish troops manage to put down most of the revolts and riots in Cuba, but those that haven’t been put down yet declare loyalty to the government in Cuba and reorganize into using guerilla tactics against the Spanish.

Sheer amount of jungle and dieses halts present expansion by both Portugal and Transvaal into Zambia/Rhodesia.


 * Austria-Hungary: We begin to modernize the Austrian Army, seeing as it was very much unprepared for the coalition war which proved almost disasterly. We begin to promote and switch over to the lever-action rifle which is way more efficient in modern warfare. Funding for the army is increased to help give better equipment and uniforms and better training. Veterans are brought in from the Bosnian war to help train new recruits. We continue to send aid to Serbia and to help them rebuild from the war. Three Steel-class ships are built. In response to the protests in Bohemia and Hungarian Slovakia, we agree to their demands and expand the equal rights act we past a couple of years ago reaffirming that every minority within in the empire has a right to participate in politics and cannot be barred from it, we also pass laws giving more autonomy to Czechs and Slovaks in local and their respective kingdom’s politics. The Hungarian Labor Party grows in size and influence and is elected to numerous local offices within Hungary. We send diplomats to Germany and Serbia offering to create a Berlin-Vienna-Belgrade railway. (SERBIA AND GERMANY RESPONSE NEEDED). Reconstruction continues in Bosnia with most of the cities of Banja Luka and the other city I mentioned last turn being rebuilt. Colonization of Italian-speaking areas continues with the homestead act bringing in tens of thousands of Austrians each year.
 * Emirate of Jabal Sahammar: Following the conquest of Al Qassem. Muhammad bin Abdullah sends an envoy to the Ottoman Empire asking for a railroad system from Al Jawf to Damascus (OTTOMAN RESPONSE). Muhammad bin Abdullah begins to study forms of warfare conducted by nomadic Arabs. We send an envoy to Persia asking to purchases 200 modern rifles (PERSIAN RESPONSE).
 * Zuid Afrikaansche Vrijstaat Dip: We ask the Emirate of Jabal Sahammar for closer economic relations, to establish an embassy at their capital of Ha'il and offer them the possibility to establish their embassy in our capital, Pretoria. We can provide the Emirate of Jabal Sahammar with a plethora of minerals (gold, diamonds, coal, chrome, platinum, paladium, copper, iron) and agricultural products (grapefruits, cereals, maze, green maze). We also offer to sell to the Emirate of Jabal Sahammar our older stockpilled weaponry but still way better than most weapons used in the middle east, before our complete adoption of the modern German weaponry by our army. We also offer to send our military advisors to train the Emirate army with modern but flexible tactics and doctrines, since we share quite a few similarities such as our terrains, who unlike the European power's mass assault or entrenchment doctrines don't actually fit quite well to desert terrain.
 * Emirate Dip: we accept this and open thee embassy in a simple house in Al Jawf. We accept the Afrikaner arms and advisers who are sent to train nomadic troops. The new food and supplies are accepted.
 * Kingdom of Romania: This year the Bucharest Stock Exchange opened improving the nations economy. Also in an effort to raise the nations prestige, King Carol I opened the newly finished Peles Castle. We will offer a trade alliance with the Russian Empire [Russian Responds Needed]
 * United States: The navy celebrates itself on the Battle of Great Inagua Island. The Spanish fleet successfully defeated by modern American firepower with only an iron armored ship of line sunk. The Spanish fleet's defeat is also used as propaganda against Spanish soldiers. The navy's growing modern ship fleet is met with more ships coming from Philadelphia, Boston, and New York, southern ship builders are also contracted by the navy. Newport News for instance starts constructing the first American destroyers, after witnessing the effectiveness of these little ships against American ship of line's. The Rodgers-class destroyer (a smaller ship based on the Furor class of Spanish destroyers hull shape combined with elements of OTL Atlanta class cruiser's superstructure, and Bainbridge class hull width). 20 of these small ships are ordered by the USN from Newport News and the first will be completed by January of 1883. With beachheads secured all of the main landing groups are able to ship their heavy artillery and Gatling guns onto land. With this the First army and 2nd armies march on Colon while the third supported buy the navy marches on Santiago. Both cities are easily taken and the Spanish army is reduced to 100,000 in the center of Cuba. The newly organized 1st army has 100,000 men under Hancock's command. The 2nd Army of 50,000 men will strike from the south as both plan to meet up in Camaguey in central Florida. Seeing the shocking defeats the Spanish retreat to this city as they are tailed buy the blue coats of the US army.
 * Liberia: Attempts are made to manage the debt. To wean off Amero Liberian dominance laws are created making assimilation possible. Intermarriage is also encouraged. In exchange for assimilation, locals may get a better pay, job, or residency. A port is being built in Monrovia to increase trade activity. An opposition figure, D’wayne Knight Johnson proposes land reform as the method to save the nation. Modern agricultural techniques are taught and mechanization is encouraged. To prevent economic suffering, D’wayne Knight Johnson proposes only redistributing unused unrealized land. Meanwhile, factories are planned as industry is needed. However, this will take much time. Small scale production begins, notably of bamboo packaging.
 * Zuid Afrikaansche Vrijstaat Dip: We ask Liberia for closer economic relations, to establish an embassy at their capital of Monrovia and offer them the possibility to establish their embassy in our capital, Pretoria. We can provide Liberia with a plethora of minerals (gold, diamonds, coal, chrome, platinum, paladium, copper, iron) and agricultural products (grapefruits, cereals, maze, green maze). We offer the opportunity that Boer investors to invest in a railroad network in Liberia, using the experience we aquired from developing our own railroad network. We also offer to sell to Liberia our older stockpilled weaponry but still way better than most weapons used in the middle east, before our complete adoption of the modern German weaponry by our army. We also offer to give the credit. We also offer to send our military advisors to train the Liberian army with modern but flexible tactics and doctrines, since we share quite a few similarities such as our terrains, who unlike the European power's mass assault or entrenchment doctrines don't actually fit quite well to African terrain. Finally we offer them the possibility to become our protectorate to shield them from the upcoming partition of Africa.
 * Liberia Dip: We accept protectorate status and the other offers.
 * Persian Empire: The first major dockyard is being prepared to be built so that persia will finally be able to build ship on her won. Meanwhile, a munitions factory is built in the saladin region of iraq bringing jobs and money to that region. With the newly arrived guns from the uk we begin modernizing the army with brand new rifles and artillery. We send an emissary to the jabal sahmaar accepting their offer of buying 200 rifles from us. As a token of good faith the shah asks for permission to visit the small state. (JABAL SAHMAAR RESPONSE NEEDED)
 * Write your mod response requests in bold, please.
 * Vietnam: Emperor Tu Duc, though in his later years, continues to make reforms to modernize Vietnam. Education reforms are the main reforms made this year. Both of the main military academies planned are opened this year, with much celebration. Public education is also installed, with many schools being built in both cities and rural areas. In the Sip Song Chau Tai autonomous region, the University of Lai Chau begins construction, hopefully increasing literacy in the Tai autonomous region. The most talented young minds studying in Vietnam receive scholarships to study in Japan, another modernizing country of Asia. Universities are opened to the public, and education is made compulsory for children. The national economy also grows. Textile production is increased, along with other industries. More iron and coal mines are created, and mineral mining is developed. The national railroad running through many major cities is completed, and cargo begins to be transported between major cities by train. Quy Nhon becomes a major trade hub between Vietnam and other nations, including Siam and the western powers. In Quy Nhon, a naval arsenal is built. In Bắc Bình, a fortress is built to defend from a potential invasion of Annam. Emperor Tu Duc sends envoys to Japan and Russia, encouraging both nations to invest in Vietnam's economy. (JAPANESE AND RUSSIAN RESPONSE, PLEASE) He also requests to purchase ironclads from Britain. (BRITISH RESPONSE, PLEASE)
 * The United Kingdom: We agree to sell two older ironclad ships.


 * Nippon: Having successfully established a bridge head in the Philippines, Japanese forces swell to 120,000 and begin entrenching themselves heavily while artillery and supplies are brought over. With the Raid on Manila hurting the Spanish fleet the government ghains massive propaganda coup. However, the reality shows that without the element of surprise the Japanese navy would've likely suffered a major defeat. The navy is tasked with protecting the supply lines from Japan to Luzon using Okinawa and other islands as way points to ensure that the bigger Spanish ships can't catch Japanese ships out of position Torpedo boats are also heavily ermployed along with mines. A request is also made to the Americans to help out the Japanese to secure Naval supremacy (American response). Having secured the lines Nogi leads 70,000 men through the interior  while while the remaining 50,000 steadily advance just behind and slightly to the east to prevent an enveloping menevuer by the spanish and to allow for reserves to be in place to help out once the fighting starts. The army's target is Lingayen. As they Advance, Artillery shells Spanish Positions ahead of them, and Japanese troops ready to assault the Spanish lines. Another 80,000 into the island begin with the merchant fleet bringing new troops and supplies. Strict orders are given to not piollage or assault the natives and only target Spanish troops or positions so as to the Filipinos that the Japanese army is not here as conquerors. Once more the Filipinos are called upon to revolt and assist the japanese as they said they would to help gain their own country. (mod response) 
 * Zuid Afrikaansche Vrijstaat: After our unification with Oranje Vrijstaat and Grinqualand West, we understand the need to reorganize the administration of our territory more effectively. As such 6 provinces are established. Those are the Transvaal province, Oranje province, the South West Africa province, the Nieuw Netherlands province and the Grinqualand West province. The only one white settlement rule is enforced in Grinqualand West as promised, to the satisfaction of the Grinqua people. They are also compensated for the land that the white settlement was established as agreed. Massive investments in industry, mining, agriculture and banking continue pour in from various foreign and local investors as our ideal pro-business environment attracts them by the hundreds. Interest for prime real estate on big cities suddenly grows as our nation develops. As a result growth has vastly accelerated into unprecedented levels. Our best estimates place it somewhere near 38% per year for this year - all thanks to very low taxation in general and our state's business friendly environment with little to none bureaucracy our nation is steadily turning into a tax heaven. Our nation's first shipyard in Nieuw Bergen op Soom secures a lot of contracts for 10 coastal patrol boats and 2 small coastal patrol ships allowing it to grow in size, revenue and make a lot of profits. Settling of South West Africa province continue unhindered. Nieuw Netherlands province continues to be intensively settled by immigrants. We continue colonizing the Cape Colony borders near the Kalahari desert from South West Africa all the way to the Orange Free State, effectively cutting off the Cape Colony from the interior of the Kalahari desert, that we claim but leave unsettled for now. We halt our efforts to agressively expand into the Portuguese claimed region in Zimbabwe, Greater Zambia and Nyasyland and the uncolonized interior bordering Portuguese Angola, given the problems we've encountered. We expand/colonize the region to our north OTL western Zambia and east Angola pushing the border further to the north. New settlers continue to pour into the newly established South West African cities of Lüderitz, Nieuw Rotterdam, Nieuw Valkenburg and Nieuw Bergen op Soom as they develop into prosperous port cities. All the cities in the South West Africa region experience vast growth with Grootfontein, Lüderitz, Nieuw Rotterdam, Nieuw Valkenburg, Nieuw Bergen op Soom, Krugersberg and Fransfontein leading the development. Many settlers continue to move into these cities. Taxation in the South West African province is temporarily abolished until 1883 period to give further incentives for more settlers to move in. Taxation in the Nieuw Netherlands province is temporarily abolished for a ten year period until 1890 to give further incentives for more settlers to move in. Several immigrants create new non-Calvinist congregations for themselves linking them with the Catholic Church and the Moscow Patriarchate. The increasingly diminished role of Calvinism into the affairs of our state alarms the clergy, who turns more reactionary by the day. Several nationalist elements supported by reactionary Calvinist clerical cicles and urban real estate magnates pressure the government into stopping African immigration into the Vrijstaat. It finally pays off as some border patrols are established, manned by kommandoes, attempting to keep African immigration in check. Under the supervision of the German military advisors, Comdt-General Kruger restructures even further the kommando system into a more professional one, instilling discipline onto the kommandos and training them to use the new Mauser 1871 Infantry Rifles, Saxon M1873 Army revolvers, bayonets and the mobile C64 four pounder and the heavier C67 six pounder Krupp guns. The Homestead Act continues, achieving further success offering any white person, both miners residing in the land and newcomers the opportunity to get their own homestead, a farmstead that they can build their homes on. However, given that South African soil is difficult to cultivate, Boers farmers are given enormous tax breaks shall they assist newcomers and teach them the secrets of their soil, enable them to successfully cultivate their new farmsteads. The state also assists with relocation, providing shelter to reside while the settlers are building their new homes, as well as blankets, food, medical assistance should they require it. The German and French immigrants continue to integrate. Citizenship grant is expedited to be provided along with the homestead grant. Around 285,000 new white settlers of all kinds of nationalities such as Germans, British, French, Italians, Russians and Spanish make ZAV their home. We also accept roughly around 5.000 Spaniards fleeing from Spanish war-torn colonial possessions. Our citizens have increased to 1.540.000 white people and 2.400 Griquas according to estimates as our first census is successfully conducted. Work on the interconnected railroad network project continues. The Pretoria-Krugersberg line is expected to be completed by the end of 1886 and the Lüderitz-Nieuw Rotterdam line is expected to be completed by the end of 1889. The Southeast Line linking our nation with Durban being worked over more intensively but still more loosely than the other two, is expected to finish and be inaugurated by the end of 1885. The relations continue to improve with the Orange Free State, while trade between us skyrockets since we've opened our common railroad network to the public. We offer the 1.100 Griqua people on the newly annexed by the British, Griqualand East the opportunity to join their brethren in Griqualand West province and enjoy the equal rights with white people their brethren already enjoys, providing them with citizenship shall they agree to immigrate to our land. [Mod Response] We petition for investments to expand our railroad system to the north, given its use for both the British Empire in their Cape to Cairo railroad vision and the German Empire in their own african railroad ventures. We also request both Empires for any used but still operational ironclads. [BRITISH & GERMAN RESPONSE] 
 * Mod Response: The 1.100 Griqua people in British Griqualand East agree to immigrate in the Griqualand West province. (Done on discord by Coglan) ~Bear
 * Third French Republic: With the Presidential Elections under way, France continues to face increased opposition to its attempts to establish a Colonial Empire with the unconquered Territories in Southern Zanzibar became a British Protectorate and with French Troops encountering Italians in the Fezzan region currently in the process of Colonization in the city of Houn revealing Italian attempts to halt French Colonial Expansion. This further infuriates the nation and as a result Presidential Candidates MacMahon, Gaston, Marquis de Galliffet and Paul de Ladmirault join forces and the last 2 candidates suddenly withdraw their candiatures in favor of MacMahon who has grown increasingly  Revanchist due to German and Italian Attempts to halt French Colonialism and despite Britain also having a part in this the Revanchist sentiment is still directed towards Italy and Germany. As a result of the withdrawal of the 2 Military Candidates, only 3 Candidates remain Jules Grévy of the Opportunist Republicans, Henri d'Orléans, Duke of Aumale of the Orleanists and Patrice de MacMahon. As the Presidential Campaign begins, MacMahon reveals his Revanchist Agenda announcing openly his plans for Remilitarization and Revenge against Germany and Italy while Jules Grévy  and Henri d’Orleans prefer to normalize relations with Italy and Germany and abandon any future colonial plans as they prefer to stick with the Horn of Africa, Trioplitania and Fezzan and the French Occupied Territories in Zanzibar. However in the end of the elections Henri d’Orleans surprisingly comes on top with an overwhelming 48% of the vote with MacMahon gaining 38% and Grévy with only 14% and with these results Henri d’Orleans surprisingly becomes the 3rd President of the Third French Republic. As Henri becomes the President of France, the 5,500 Troops in Fezzan continue pushing south towards the city of Murzuk in order to finalize their campaign in Fezzan and force the Tribes present to submit to French Rule. Meanwhile with Zanzibar becoming a British Protectorate, French Troops are ordered to halt their advance at Bagamoyo and begins the process of establishing a New Colony while 3,000 Foreign Legion Troops land in Eritrea to secure the region and establish a New Colony as France secure the entire Horn of Africa. Meanwhile the First Naval Expansion Plan continues as  all Ironclads and Protected Cruisers are completed with 6 out of 7 Armoured Cruisers and 12 out 17 Italia-class type Ironclad Battleships complete with the First Naval Expansion Plan expected to end in 1884 as President Henri begins making plans for a Second Naval Expansion Plan. Efforts to reduce Revanchism sentiment towards Germany and Italy begins as President Henri begins reversing past Militarization efforts by reducing the size of the Army and increasing the size of the Garde Mobile reducing the Army to 225,000 Men while increasing the Garde Mobile to 190,000 Men as the National Guard is also increased to 70,000 Men. Meanwhile plans to modernize the French Army are made as we switch to Early Bolt-Action Weapon and Rifled Muzzle Loader Artillery in order to improve the French Army. Meanwhile President Henri d’Orleans declares that a new referendum will take place in 1883 on the topic of restoring the French Monarchy with him as Monarch. In addition to these talks of the restoration of the Monarchy the marriage of Napoleon IV and Princess Beatrice takes place this year as the Bonapartes expect this to continue the lineage of Napoleon III and soon allow the return of the Bonapartes in power while also increasing the possibility of good relations between the Bonapartes and the British Monarchy. (Secret) With the failure of the CEF expedition in Morocco, the CEF shift’s it’s focus in provoking rebellion in German Central Africa by recruiting French settlers that have been deported by the Germans and many Warriors from the African Tribes while also recruiting support from the African Tribes in order to instigate a massive revolt against German Colonialists and restore France’s former colonies in the area. Meanwhile La Ligue des Revanchistes and La Ligue des Patriotes send more Agents into Alsace-Lorraine in order to spread more Anti-German Propaganda as both Paramilitary Groups join forces to form La Ligue des Revanchistes Patriotiques (LRP) lead by Paul Déroulède who states that the LRP will not stop supporting the resistance against Germany until Aslace-Lorraine is liberated along with other French Territories illegally occupied by Germany as the LRP  begins absorbing the remnants of the French Resistance in German occupied territories soon prepared for a large-scale uprising at the order of Monsieur G.E.B (End Secret). Meanwhile War Minister Jean-Baptiste Billot appoints Brigadier General Boulanger director of infantry at the war office allowing Boulanger to begin minor Military reforms to morale and efficiency in the French Army.


 * Korea: The Chaoxian Celue ("Strategy for Korea") document is presented to King Gojong and his court by Kim Hong-jip, who in turn, received it from Chinese diplomat Huang Zunxian. While King Gojong was impressed by the document and its contents and ordered the production and distribution of copies to officials, many conservatives were outraged by the prospect of establishing an alliance with Western powers or fostering more cordial relations with Japan – Korea's traditional adversary. As a result, some began to orchestrate a coup to install the more reactionary members of the imperial family onto the throne – forcing the King to respond by executing one prominent official and banishing the remaining conspirators. In spite of some opposition, the document eventually becomes the basis of the Korean foreign policy; upholding (at least nominally) Korea's status as a tributary state of the Qing, while also being open to other foreign powers, especially in the realm of trading relations. The construction of a Gothic-style Catholic cathedral is approved in the central Myeongdong neighboorhood of Seoul; this is in spite of initial disdain from the King, who sought to avoid spiting conservatives within the court. However, he – with convincing from Queen Min and several foreign advisors – later realizes the potential value of a greater Christian presence within Korea, as it could foster more cordial relations with Western powers and therefore attract financial investment. Despite this, distrust of foreigners – especially Catholic missionaries, persists. Additionally, there are complaints of unpaid wages within the soldiery – particularly within regular army members (who are distinct from the ~25,000-man elite corps), the majority of whom are rural conscripts. All of these recent events, alongside the circulating but ultimately false rumor of the future incorporation of Russian officers into the Korean army structure, culminates in a violent five-day uprising now-referred to as the "Imu Mutiny". Prominent foreign dignitaries, especially those of Japanese and Russian descent, are protected within the confines of the Imperial Palace; although protesters attempt to break into the latter. The incident is quickly pacified due to the superior firearms of the royalists. General Choi Ik-hyeon is relieved of his duties after being discovered to be involved in circulating the rumors (and therefore, inciting the event), though he and his colleagues (which consist of those who have also studied under the tutelage of Yi Hang-no) exploit temporary disorder within the capital to initiate anti-Russian movements across the countryside, with the main goal of ousting any foreign ideas from the country and reinstating traditional neo-Confucian values. In particular, they oppose the legalization of Christianity, which they attribute to an inept "effeminate" King. They are also generally wary of Queen Min, and her vast influence within national affairs despite her status as a consort. The fortification of Busan and Ganghwa island continues – sea-facing walls are erected, while coastal batteries and light-houses are also built. Textiles such as cotton, silks, and linen are exported (though the raw textile fibers are imported); industrial machinery is imported to maintain global competitiveness. The railway boom stimulates mining (coal and iron ore) and ferrous metallurgy (processed iron and steel), as well as the manufacturing of locomotives. Telegraph lines are constructed.


 * Russian Empire: The first laws have been passed by the higher house of the Fuma, is a law regarding russian rail width that this law requires new rail roads to use Standard european Gauge (1,435 mm). They also look into what the best manner is to change from the russian Broad gauge (1,524 mm) to the Standard European Gauge (1,435 mm). While at the same time, these specialists begin looking into the ways the russian railroad system should improve and subsidised by the by government. With one of the most ambitious plans being a train road from Moscow to Vladivostok. While at the same time this is happening, it has been decided that the age for voting would become 23 as of the moment, with the one exception that soldiers can vote from the moment they turn 21. With the Situation in Romania we offer the Romanian government and King a former Military defence and offensive alliance ; where both side will aid eachother in offencive wars and join the other in defensive wars (Note if not requested there can be an opt out).This alliance will be open for others to join if they do desire. Africa the explorers of 1,000 are get new blood with another 4,000 soldiers coming to the aid of the first arivals.They set out to the neighbourging tribes offering them protection under the Russian crown(Mod Response). While the island  that soldiers by accident landed on and on purpose claimed by those after finding out that one one else did, Rename the Island after the first european to visit the islands Willem Cornelisz. With the new name of the Island being Cornelis island. Armenians in the ottoman empire are still suffering and the tsar and his army call on the ottoman Caliph to recognise the independence of a Christian armenia (Player response). As the acts of ottomans are seen as anti-Christian, and Islamic oppression by many orthodox russians,armenians and even the small comunity of greeks in armenia.

1883
Since the Spanish haven’t made an algo, the Cuban forces make significant gains against the Spanish

'''In the Philippines, a revolutionary secret society known as the Katipunan leads an uprising against the local Spanish government in what they call a revolution. Philippine revolutionary fighters team up with the advancing Japanese forces in fighting the Spanish army.'''

'''The Armenia Revolt continues and gets worse due to no player response to it. Armenian rebels begin making assassination attempts on high ranking members of the Turkish military and political elite. The Armenian rebels request Russian aid.'''


 * Mexican Empire: During a protest in the town of Durango and small skirmish occurs between the Anarchist and Centrist claiming 6 lives including Agustín Arango's. Not able to provide for their kids Maria M. Arambula sends them off to an orphanage. The Emperor offers Britain 4.000.000 pesos, lower export price and a trade alliance in exchange for Belize. [British Response Needed]. The Emperor also invites the French President offer to repair relations. [French Response Needed].
 * French Response : France agrees to repair relations with the Mexicans as President Henri d'Orleans recognizes Henri I of Mexico as the legitimate Mexican Emperor
 * United Kingdom: We will agree to sell Belize to the Mexican government should they allow extensive British investment in Mexico, as well as greatly reduced export taxation and prices. Furthermore, the exchange will have to be carried out over a five year period ending in 1890 and shall gaurantee the British nationals living in Belize are granted the full protection of the law.
 * Mexican Empire: We accept and invite Henry's Grandmother Victoria to the ceremony [Response Needed].
 * Argentina: President Domingo Faustino Sarminento consolidates his territories and gives limited autonomy to eastern territories. Meanwhile plans are made to improve relations with America and Brazil. Industrial development continue, with the Fine Soil being utilized to it's full extent. Attempts are made to encourage European immigrants, with free unused land provided.
 * Zuid Afrikaansche Vrijstaat Dip: Given the good relations between our nations for an entire decade and the bonds we've shared with the Argentine people, we offer them an alliance.
 * Argentina Dip: The alliance is accepted.
 * Kingdom of Romania: King Carol I at a held a speech this year talking about how he wants Romania to become the industrial powerhouse of the Balkans. Right after this speech Romania starts developing industries all over the nation especially in the Danube Delta region which is predicted to improve the economy.To improve education we will develop schools in the country.this recent action has recently lead to the creation of a new university called Traian National College.We also accept The Russian Empire offer of an Military Defense and Offensive Alliance. 
 * Untied States: More battleships and cruisers are launched, along with 3 of the first new destroyers. The total number of battleships is 12. 5 on the west coast and 7 on the east coast. Cruisers number 13 with 5 on the west coast and 8 on the east coast. An extra 70,000 men are sent to Cuba. With the surrounding of the remnants of the Spanish army in Cuba, President Custer offers Spain peace with the United States and Japan in return by seceding Cuba, Guam, and Puerto Rico to the Untied States, and the Philippines and the Spanish Mariana's to Japan and recognize the Republic of Cuba (Spain Response). The usage of Modern artillery against the Spanish have also shown the future of US ordinance expulsion will be used in simply annihilating enemy positions with a preliminary bombardment from heavy guns of all caliber. European affairs concern President Custer, greatly, who seeks to enforce the Monroe Doctrine. He sends 3 battleships of the North Atlantic fleet along with 4 cruisers and 2 of the new destroyers along with a small assortment of Ironclads up north to Maine and sail all the way up to Scotland, one to flex US power in the North Atlantic, and two to ward of German ambition for Greenland and the Great White North. A vote in the supreme court barely fails to find parts of the Civil Rights of 1875 to be unconstitutional. The distance between navally supporting our Japanese allies in the Philippines and from California is putting a strain on the USN, while they can still operate at such distances, this strikes up the need in the war department for a mid Pacific naval base to maintain naval contact with Asia. With Liberia now a US protectorate, and no Spanish naval threat to stop the USN, 5,000 Marines depart Georgia and arrive in Monrovia to form a garrison. In minor news, Alabama becomes the first to create and antitrust law and the Brooklyn bridge is finally opened.
 * Zuid Afrikaansche Vrijstaat Dip: We offer to give Liberia to the United States as protectorate if they'd give us free access (We'll still pay the dues) to Liberian ports for a century.
 * President Custer, eager to see the expanding union, agrees to the status of Liberia as an American protectorate, even though officially the US still does not recognize Liberia.
 * Kingdom of Italy: The administration in Cyrenaica is highly alerted when they hear of the French intervention in Fezzan, immediately 400 men are sent to the Libyan tribes, telling them there are bounties for French men captured alive, or their uniforms when returned to Italian officials. The soldiers themselves are colonial troops with special uniforms and training, the officers have a basic education in Arabic and Berber to communicate with them. The tribes are told that the Italians simply need their land to connect Algeria with Cyrenaica by connecting the various oasis towns with more or less safe roads, while the French want to enslave them. SECRET The tribes are handed out leftover but reliable guns from previous wars, to overwhelm the French forces. The bounties are negotiated with the various tribal leaders, to form forces of their own and spread anti-french uprisings in the rest of Libya. MOD RESPONSE PLEASE SECRET END The Italian navy patrols permanently between Sicily and the north African possessions by Italy, permanently at high alert. (more to be added)
 * Mod Response: The tribes agree with the Italians.
 * French Response : With bounties being placed against the French Army positioned in Fezzan, a second force of 2,500 Foreign Legion Troops along with 1,000 Spahis and are sent to Tripolitania in order to crush the resistance in Fezzan and prevent any potential uprising in the Fezzan Area
 * Zuid Afrikaansche Vrijstaat: President Pretorius finally retires from politics after a long and successful reign as his dream of unifying the Voortrekker states has been realized. Comdt-General Paul Kruger wins the election virtually unopposed as he is regarded as a war hero and a valiant general who made the unified Voortrekker dream come into fruition. An all time high nationalistic atmosphere prevails as well as anthems and songs about regaining the Cape at some point. Several investors begin to take great interest in the adoption of the electricity and experiment with it, seeing its success in the US. They create a joint venture and hire several scientists to imitate the invention, while they are also send to the US and Britain to witness it first-hand. Finally they decide to create a hydroelectric dam in the Orange River called the Oranje River Project (ORP). Before its construction begins they decide start a second similar project in the Vaal River called the Vaal River Project (VRP). Their construction is expected to be over by the end of 1888, as the investors decided to rush the projects. Electrical cables are installed in the Orange Vrijstaat and the Transvaal provinces and coal is used to produce energy due to its cheap nature. Lighting used starts to be adopted by households and commercial businesses as well as the industry. In general electricity starts to be adopted by more consumers every day. Massive investments in industry, mining, agriculture and banking continue pour in from various foreign and local investors as our ideal pro-business environment attracts them by the hundreds. Interest for prime real estate on big cities suddenly grows as our nation develops. As a result growth has vastly accelerated into unprecedented levels. Our best estimates place it somewhere near 32% per year for this year - all thanks to very low taxation in general and our state's business friendly environment with little to none bureaucracy our nation is steadily turning into a tax heaven. Our nation's first shipyard in Nieuw Bergen op Soom continues to secure a lot of contracts for 12 coastal patrol boats and 4 small coastal patrol ships allowing it to grow in size, revenue and make a lot of profits. Settling of South West Africa province continue unhindered. Nieuw Netherlands province continues to be intensively settled by immigrants. We continue colonizing the Cape Colony borders near the Kalahari desert from South West Africa all the way to the Orange Free State, effectively cutting off the Cape Colony from the interior of the Kalahari desert, that we claim but leave unsettled for now. We halt our efforts to agressively expand into the Portuguese claimed region in Zimbabwe, Greater Zambia and Nyasyland and the uncolonized interior bordering Portuguese Angola, given the problems we've encountered. We expand/colonize the region to our north OTL western Zambia and east Angola pushing the border further to the north. New settlers continue to pour into the newly established South West African cities of Lüderitz, Nieuw Rotterdam, Nieuw Valkenburg and Nieuw Bergen op Soom as they develop into prosperous port cities. All the cities in the South West Africa region experience vast growth with Grootfontein, Lüderitz, Nieuw Rotterdam, Nieuw Valkenburg, Nieuw Bergen op Soom, Krugersberg and Fransfontein leading the development. Many settlers continue to move into these cities. Taxation in the South West African province is temporarily abolished until 1883 period to give further incentives for more settlers to move in. Taxation in the Nieuw Netherlands province is temporarily abolished for a ten year period until 1890 to give further incentives for more settlers to move in. Several immigrants create new non-Calvinist congregations for themselves linking them with the Catholic Church and the Moscow Patriarchate. The increasingly diminished role of Calvinism into the affairs of our state alarms the clergy, who turns more reactionary by the day. Nationalist elements supported by reactionary Calvinist clerical cicles and urban real estate magnates continue to put pressure on the government into stopping African immigration into the Vrijstaat. It finally pays off as more border patrols are established, manned by kommandoes, attempting to keep African immigration in check. The same circles also ponder regarding the idea to introduce condoms to the black people in order to reduce their fertility rates and portray the use of condoms as a habit of the black people exclusively, appealing on racism to keep this foreign trend from spreading here. They go forth with their idea and meet limited success especially among British and liberals, however the urban black communities largely adopt its use, because of the financial burden childrens are, unlike the rural black communities who need the extra hands their kids would provide them. As British and liberals are largely based in the urban places and with excessive propaganda targeting their cities as well as witnessing the spread of condoms among their black neighbours they start doubting their stance regarding contraception more each day passing. With the vacation of the Comdt-General office by Paul Kruger to seek the presidency, once he won a new Comdt-General is appointed the talented officer Christiaan Rudolf de Wet. Under the supervision of the German military advisors, Comdt-General Kruger restructures even further the kommando system into a more professional one, instilling discipline onto the kommandos and training them to use the new Mauser 1871 Infantry Rifles, Saxon M1873 Army revolvers, bayonets and the mobile C64 four pounder and the heavier C67 six pounder Krupp guns. The Homestead Act continues, achieving further success offering any white person, both miners residing in the land and newcomers the opportunity to get their own homestead, a farmstead that they can build their homes on. However, given that South African soil is difficult to cultivate, Boers farmers are given enormous tax breaks shall they assist newcomers and teach them the secrets of their soil, enable them to successfully cultivate their new farmsteads. The state also assists with relocation, providing shelter to reside while the settlers are building their new homes, as well as blankets, food, medical assistance should they require it. The German and French immigrants continue to integrate. Citizenship grant is expedited to be provided along with the homestead grant. Around 300,000 new white settlers of all kinds of nationalities such as Germans, British, French, Italians, Russians and Spanish make ZAV their home. We also accept roughly around 10.000 Spaniards fleeing from Spanish war-torn colonial possessions. Our citizens have increased to 1.850.000 white people and 3.500 Griquas according to estimates. Work on the interconnected railroad network project continues. The Pretoria-Krugersberg line is expected to be completed by the end of 1886 and the Lüderitz-Nieuw Rotterdam line is expected to be completed by the end of 1889. The Southeast Line linking our nation with Durban being worked over more intensively but still more loosely than the other two, is expected to finish and be inaugurated by the end of 1885. The relations continue to improve with Argentina, while trade between us increases steadily, as Krugersberg mostly links up with Buenos Aires. We petition for investments to expand our railroad system to the north, given its use for both the British Empire in their Cape to Cairo railroad vision and the German Empire in their own african railroad ventures. We also request both Empires for any used but still operational ironclads. [BRITISH & GERMAN RESPONSE] (More to come)
 * United Kingdom: We agree to invest heavily in the ZAR rail system. Government financing is directly used to begin work on a rail line to bridge from Capetown to Dar es Salaam. Further spur lines will be built to connect major cities in and across the ZAR to the Cape Colony.
 * Nippon: Upon clearing the Mountainous terrain of the Illocos region the Imperial army find the Spanish line at Lingayen. The 120,000 Japanese troops get into position as they steadily bring in the the aritllery and supplies weither by ship or along the mountanious terrain. The Filipino Revolutionaries are organuized into auxiliry units making up some 20,000 extra troops, they are armed with winchesters. Many of the Japanese troops carry some form of blade for close combat. Following the example set during the Satsuma rebellion heavy usage of Artillery is employed with heavy artillery barrages targeting spanish digouts before IJA forces advance on their positions. After brutal fighting the japanese manage to break the Spaniash line albiet r3cieving some concerning casualties, and with the Revolutionary and American support begin pushing inland. The Japanese navy works in conjunction with te American fleet to keep sea lanes open. Realizing the weakness of the IJN plans to ghasten the expansion of the Japanese navy begin in earnest with construction of the dry docks in Osaka, Nagasaki, andf Tokyo nearing completion (been working on this for a while). Meanwhile Mining activities in northern Honshu expand and now in Hokkiado and Karafuto begin. Expansion of the steel mills also begin. Saigo Takamori is released from prison after serving a 6 year sentence. upon his release he in a suprising turn of events joins the Freedom Party (freedom and people's movement) and publishes a book where he speaks of the foolishness of his previous actions in military insurrection however he reinforces his beliefs that while japan must modernize, it must also keep true to its cultural roots along with preservation of Japan's Identity through the Yamato Dynasty, furthermore and more surprisingly in a change of heart he embraces democratic rule and comments that only through honoring the dignity of the people and by exporting the ideals of the new japan to the rest of asia will Japan prosper. His book is titled "Atarashi Kazi" (The new Wind).  With the war in the Philippines ongong Saigo and the Freedom movement support the war to protect Japanese interests but stress that the government should not attempt to follow  in the Path of the Europeans and establish colonies, with the movement advocatibng for helping the Filipinos establish their own nation state. Saigo Also criticizes the other leaders of the meiji restoration for sidelining the emperor. Japanese investors show and interest in further investments in Vietnma howevwer this nmust await till after the end of the war. Japan once more offers peace terms to the Spanish in conjunction with their American allies. The philippines will be reorganized into an indepndent state under Japanese supervision, and Palau, Las Marainas, and Las Carolinas will be ceded to Japan. (mod response)
 * Emirate of Jabal Sahammar: Following the conquest of Al Qassem. Muhammad bin Abdullah sends an envoy to the Ottoman Empire asking for a railroad system from Al Jawf to Damascus (OTTOMAN RESPONSE). Muhammad bin Abdullah begins to study forms of warfare conducted by nomadic Arabs, mostly working on forms of raiding and assassinating commanders. Afrikaner weapons and advisers are put to train loyal tribes. We accept the Persian rifles and allows a Persian envoy into the country.
 * The United Kingdom: The global capital of finance, London banks return record profits. Investment in Japan, ZAR, Egypt, Persia, and Denmark, as well as the various colonies of the Empire shows its returns. With Imperial coffers flush with cash the government diverts funding to the development of heavy industry in the United Kingdom proper and the development of an all-steel modern navy of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers. The Naval Act of 1882 is passed which calls for the construction of 12 new all-steel battleships armed with BL 12-inch Mk I Naval Guns, these ships are the first Royal Navy Battleships to feature a new line of advanced breech loading rifled naval artillery. The first class of the planned ships is the Admiral class which feature an in-line turret arrangement with two twin-gun turrets. They also feature a smattering of 1-lb, 3-lb, and 6-lb rapid-fire guns for use against destroyers and cruisers at close range. Several cruiser hulls are laid down, including three Orlando class Armored Cruisers with plans for a total of 9, and three Calypso class with plans for 12. In addition to the larger ships a flotilla of destroyers is planned and enters construction with two completed this year. These Type 1 Destroyers are relatively advanced compared to earlier torpedo boats. Sir Charles Parsons develops the first commercially viable steam-turbine and establishes a company to begin production and marketing of the new electricity generators. The navy immediately takes interest in the generators and begins tesing them for use in ships to drive the propeller shaft. In Africa 15,000 troops are assembled in the Gold Coast. Armed with the new Lee-Enfield Model 1882 the troops march north into the Ashanti Empire to extend the scope of British control in the region. (Algo Coming) Meanwhile, another 2,000 men are deployed to Guinea to assert the empire on the natives inland from the colony there. Finally, Egyptian troops are encouraged to sortie out into the desert and establish a claim on the lands up to a line of longitude due south from the southernmost border of Egypt and Italian Cyrene. (Colonization/Claims) 
 * Third French Republic/Kingdom of France : Despite the rise of a less Revanchist Regime, France still faces opposition from both Germany and Italy this time in Fezzan in which Italian Troops have placed a bounty on French Troops and in response , President Henri has increased the size of the French Force in Fezzan from 5,500 Men to 8,500 Men in order to counter Italian Efforts. With the Local Tribes being armed with modern weapons with many tribes rebelling against French Rule Governor Louis Tirman of French Tripolitania has sent a request for more troops while the restored Army of Africa is placed under the command of Joseph Simon Gallieni in order to crush the Fezzan revolt. Meanwhile President Henri sends diplomats to negotiate with the Tribes in order to find a peaceful solution while also sending delegates to Italy to request that they end supplying the Tribes (Mod and Italian Response Needed). Meanwhile the expansion in the Horn of Africa proceeds very well with All of Somalia and Eritrea secured under French rule as the Colony of French East Africa is formed composed of France’s recent acquisitions in East Africa such as Northern Zanzibar , Somalia and Eritrea with plans made to invade Yemen to secure control of the Gulf of Yemen. As the Colonial Expansion continues , President Henri d’Orleans announces the 1883 Referendum on the return of the Monarchy in which voters are asked whether they approve the restoration of the Monarchy with Henri d’Orleans as King of France as Henri VI of France. The Referendum was approved by 82.6 % of voters with a turnout of 85.3 %. As a result of the Referendum President Henry d’Orleans is proclaimed King of France as Henri VI by his Orelanist supporters and by the National Assembly resulting in the dissolution of the Third French Republic and the formation of the Kingdom of France. Immediately King Henri VI calls for Parliamentary Elections to establish a new Government in which results with the Armand de Mackau of the Monarchist/Conservative Union of the Rights being elected as Prime Minister of France with the Monarchist Majority reaching a gaining 307 Seats compared to the Republican Opposition with 148 Seats. With the National Assembly dominated by Monarchists supporting him Henri VI faces little opposition as his solidifies his position as King of France. With the First Naval Plan nearing completion with the last set of Ironclad Battleships set to be complete by next year with 9 Bourbon Class and 6 Bonaparte-Class Ironclad Battleships already complete with both ships having a tonnage of 9,000 tons with another 2 Bonaparte-Class Battleships set to be completed next year. King Henri VI orders a Second Naval Expansion Plan to begin next year in which is expected to be completed by 1890 though the number of Ships ordered is yet to be determined. (Secret) Meanwhile the CEF under orders from G.E.B begin sending Agents to Liberia , German Middle Africa and to the South African Free State to recruit African Mercenaries in order to create a Colonial Anti-German Army to oust the Germans from Middle Africa and establish an Independent Pro-French Nation in the Area while LRP continues spreading Anti-German Propaganda in order to inspire the French People enslaved in the German acquired territories in Northeastern France while also finishing up the absorption of the remaining Rebel cells in the area in order to continue their growth in numbers as the LRP reaches a total of 300,000 Members throughout all of France and parts of Germany and Italy. With Italy spreading Anti-French propaganda in French North Africa , the CEF decides to counter this by spreading Anti-Italian Propaganda in Italian Algeria by sending agents to convince the many tribes in Algeria to rise up against the Italians as CEF agents approach Mohamed El- Mokrani member of the Ait Abbas Dynasty and offer him support in a revolt against Italy promising to send him weapons and equipment (Mod Response Needed) (End Secret).
 * Some tribes agree to rise up, the rest don’t as they’ve heard horror stories of French treatment of natives as Mohamed El- Mokrani and the Atis Abbes Kingdom agrees (Done by Colgan on Discord)


 * Russian Empire:Situation in Spain continues to get worse and worse, the Russian Higher house of the Duma Recognises the Republic of Cuba. While with Romania the Alliance gains formality as the Black sea Alliance , with both Promising to defend eachother in the face of war .They also promise to begin unifying equipment so equipment can be used by both without any trouble.The proces of industrialisation continues with new railroad from Aleksandrovka to the city of Krasnodar and beyond to the Georgian coastall city of Batumi.allthough these railroads are not yet done when at the end of the year.While at the same moment the navy and army expand the colony in the Horn of Africa to the city of Haylan where the Collonel ask if they do desire to be under the Russian crown , Even as some see it as more of a demand due to the fact that the russians have the technological Advantage .The russians ask so as they need their resources for the development of the russian coastal holdings (Mod Response).While the Plans for the establishment of a Lower house of the Duma have to be suspended for the moment due to the fear of war . As they are needed in plausible administation of ocupied lands. Since War is coming , many soldiers around 100 000 go into Romania to prepare for this war with the soldiers training ,building bridges and helping the Romanians with some extra training and explaning the plans for the war to come.New flags are made , Uniforms are being cleaned ,boots are being shined .The Russian army on army 200 000 strong begin to give Weaponry to the Armenians , and to the ponts who do request so. We ask for the Caliph to come to the Negoation table for one last time to prevent what will come (Ottoman Response).The Berdan will once more be tested in war , Not only by the Russ but by the Dacian and Armenian . the berdan '68 is given to soldiers all acros romania and armenia. Some guns even going to the Ponts in the Pontus allthough in smaller numbers. With many cossacks are being recruited once more using asking and half demanding Russia to give them the Martini–Henry rifle shotgun for use on their horses , and on foot.
 * French Response : With Russia interfering in French East Africa we demand Russia withdraws from the Horn of Africa in which had been claimed by the French and sends a task force of 4 Ironclad Battleships, 3 Protected Cruisers , 3 Armored Cruisers and 7 Ironclads and a force of 10,000 Foreign Legion Troops while also having our Protectorates in Somalia mobilize 3,500 Men against the Russians


 * The German Empire: with the establishment of German Madagascar following the fall of the kingdom, disease rapidly spreads across the island killing thousands of people and even affecting the soldiers sent to secure our claims. This of course subsides over time but the populations of the Madagascar Capital dwindle with a loss of 45% of the population as a result of supply shortages, a drought and the rapid spread of disease. The German Settlements and enclaves littered across the shorelines are also affected as well but to a lesser degree due to better hygiene and away from the jungles that have been seen to be the culprit of the outbreak with it being labelled as Jungle Fever. Meanwhile along Western Sahara and Mauritania, native cooperation and alliances have forged a greater area of control under the Empire for the region. With our alliance with Mexico, we offer them support in infrastructural developments. At the mouth of the Kongo, the settlement within the region is expanded inward to connect the other settlements inland with the Establishment of German Mittelafrika. New Holstein and Cancun are expanded inward as expeditions across the region and land clearings allow for the development of new arable lands for settlement. In the homeland of Germany, things continue to go well economically with the increase of militaristic based expansion and naval based expansion with the construction of 8 more battleships to add to the German Fleet in the coming years in addition to the already other constructed ships. 7 more torpedo boats, 14 gunboats and 6 cruisers are also put up to be constructed with our military already numbering over a million strong. The Kiel Canal is completed which connects the Baltic and North Sea Fleets. The idea of constructing a railroad in the future stretching from Tangier to Timbuktu and down the Adaleen in New Holstein gains traction but unfortunately without proper control over the region just yet, the project only reaches the construction of a railroad stretching from Tangier to Casablanca. The peace within Greater Alsace-Lorraine that we have been waiting so long to achieve is made. Mittelafrika's native population becomes quite accustomed to the friendly German Nature and as a result, the influence that the german culture has spreads to them. The Imperial Mittelafrikan Military begins to be developed outside of the already placed troops their to establish a self sustaining army that can defend itself under the German Crown. The Tower of Bismark (ATL Eiffel Tower) is proposes and accepted to be constructed with the massive project of turning Pariser Platz into the heart of what The Empire has to offer with grand architecture and general importance. More proposals begin to flood in as a result.

1884
The Japanese economy becomes increasingly dependent on financing from the United Kingdom after decades to rampant borrowing and spending by the Japanese government.

Spain surrenders to America and Japan and the independence forces of the Philippines and Cuba.

Portugal offers to Germany for a price, the Congo River mouth in return for the money offered and some German military knowledge.


 * Mexico: Henry uses the gold from Belize to 6 top of the line British Naval ship [Response Needed]. He also sends an envoy to the France in hopes to closer the relations[Response Needed]. He adds an honorary seat on the Parliament for the the Boers Republic [Response Needed]. He sends an invitation to Guatemala to join the Empire with extra Autonomy and a 5 council of Minister only united by an Emperor, it would be beneficial for them for protection and prosperit.[Mod Response Needed]. Henry increases Military and builts 2 Henry Warships. They approach Brazil with a Trade Alliance [Response Needed]. He starts on Architectural preparation for a Grand Mexican Railroad from Chihuahua to Belize [when we will own it].
 * United Kingdom: We would like to remind Mexcio that Belize is still a British colony until 1890 and that the process to tranfer control of the territory will not begin until 1885. Finally, while there is some gold in Belize, it has never been extracted on a commercial scale because it is largely aluvial gold and thus can only be extracted by panning or sluicing which is inefficient and slow. We also agree to sell three older Ironclads.
 * Mexico: We accept but would like to speed up the process by 2 years for 1.000.000 pesos[Response Needed].
 * The United Kingdom: We decline to speed up the process.
 * Zuid Afrikaansche Vrijstaat Dip: We're deeply honored by this action and send some of our finest statesmen and well regarded figures to attend the Mexican parliament and/or participate when asked to and to serve as ambassadors between our people.
 * The United Kingdom: Investment in India is ramped up, specifically to build up the transportation infrastructure in the country. Over the last few years India-Mania has gripped a large portion of the nation, following the heroic service of Indians in the Zulu War. Indian style restaurants spread quickly in the United Kingdom, adding to the public exposure. Meanwhile, a small but growing group of Hindus appears in London, but remains largely a small fringe group. Further, in Australia, government investment is increased, kicking off a building boom as several dozen factories are opened across the country. With Australia’s large Iron Ore reserves, plans are developed to construct several steel-mills and turn north-western Australia into the Steel capital of the Southern Hemisphere. A small organization of supporters of the integration of the Empire into a Federation begin petitioning Parliament to grant a level of home rule to all of the far flung colonies and Ireland and create an Imperial Parliament to rule over the entirety of the Empire. They argue that it would allow for a stronger British state with greater global influence while spreading the burden of collective defense of the Empire more evenly to the colonies. Work continues on the Naval Act of 1882. Meanwhile, the admiralty are approached by Sir Charles Parsons who presents his steam turbine as a potential power plant for Royal Navy Ships. Although the turbines are currently too large, the Admiralty agree to support Parsons’ attempts to miniaturize and simplify his technology and grant him three years and several thousands pounds to bring them results. In Africa 15,000 troops are assembled in Zanzibar and begin a campaign of conquest inland. Territory up until the great series of lakes is claimed in the name of the queen and troops are quick to enforce unequal protectorate treaties on local native tribes across Tanzania. The Goal of this year’s expansion is to reach Lake Victoria so that colonization of the Nile can begin in earnest. (Colonization/Claims) Cecil Rhodes raises and leads a part of some 600 volunteers north through the ZAR to begin work on a rail line through to Dar es Salaam. However, they unwittingly enter Portugese claimed land in their efforts. After discovering their mistake an envoy is sent to Lisbon to negotiate the purchase of Portugese territories in Africa north of the ZAR for which the United Kingdom will gaurentee Portugese rule over Lake Malawi and construct a rail spur to join Portugal to the Trans-African rail line. Additionally 250,000 pounds are offered to sweeten the deal. (About $6,000,000 in 2019) Laywers and Jurists are sent to Russia as requested a few years back. (Russia Notice)
 * German Empire: Germany accepts the Portuguese offer. WIP.