FRANCO-GERMAN WAR BEGINS IN EARNEST
Following the surprise French offensive last fall, the war between the French Third Republic and the German Empire has expanded. Along the length of the Rhine Valley, French and German armies have maneuvered around one another, each attempting to gain the upper hand. At the moment, German forces have successfully regained control of Bavaria, while the French have strengthened their position in Burgundy and Picardy. The French takeover of the United Kingdom was halted in order to redirect French naval elements into the Channel and towards the North Sea, a German naval strongpoint.
France has also taken the opportunity to take the City of Tunis from Italian control, answering a dispute between the two powers that has lasted for the past twenty years.
No public declaration has been made to this effect, but a Franco-Austrian alliance against Italy -- and possibly also against Germany -- may be in development. As French and German forces entangled themselves along their broad front, Austrian forces have invaded the Duchy of Warsaw and now occupy it, even though it falls under Germany's declaration subsuming Russia under its authority.
Austrian forces also struggled to reorganize themselves while maintaining their position in Venice. Unfortunately for them, Italy was able to attack with sufficient strength to dislodge them.
GERMAN TROOPS MARCH INTO PETROGRAD -- BRITISH FLEET SIGHTED IN BARENTS SEA
Continuing the German acquisition of European Russia, elements of the German Army have secured the capital of the Russian Empire and re-established order. All of Russia up to the Ural Mountains are now under German control. The Ottoman Empire has disbanded its army stationed in Siberia, opening a window for Germany to push eastward.
Unexpectedly, elements of the k.u.k. Army have entered Warsaw and taken control of the Polish homeland. A rogue British fleet, remnants of the British Second Fleet, has been sighted in the Barents Sea, with some warships sailing as far as the port city of Arkhangelsk. The newly-installed German authorities have assured the civilian population that these "English pirates" will not be a danger.
THE EVER VICTORIOUS ARMY ENTERS BAGHDAD, MOSUL; BURNS BASRA
Chinese forces have crossed the Zagros Mountains and taken control of Mesopotamia. The governors of Baghdad and Mosul, lacking military support, have sworn allegiance to the Son of Heaven. The governor or Basra, anticipating the return of the Turkish army sent southward into the Nejd, chose to resist. The Ever Victorious Army set fire to the city, pushed towards the city center, and executed the governor publically.
The three vilayets of Mosul, Baghdad, and Basra, will be combined into a unified Chinese administration under the name of Chien Er Ho Region (間二河域).
CHINESE TOPPLE "LORD OF THE MONGOL STEPPE"
The Russian warlord, known simply as the Lord of the Mongol Steppe, has been toppled by the Ever-Victorious Army as it concluded its invasion of Mongolia.
CHINESE ROLL THROUGH NAGOYA
The Ever-Victorious Army has continued its conquest of Honshu, the central island of the Japanese homeland, pushing up along the eastern coast from its landing point in Osaka. At the moment, the bulk of the invasion force is passing through the Chubu Region, its apparent target being Tokyo and the surrounding Kanto region.
With conquest and assimilation on its mind, the Ever-Victorious Army is leaving detachments in every city it passes through, replacing local officials with Chinese mandarins and instituting full-scale government usage and education of the Chinese language.
Retreat Orders for the following units:
- France: Army in Munich (MUN). Can retreat to: Ruhr (RUH), Bohemia (BOH).
- Austria: Fleet in Venice (VEN). Can retreat to: Trieste (TRI), Apulia (APU).
- Italy: Fleet in Tunis (TUN). Can retreat to: Ionian Sea (ION), Tripolitania (LIB).
- India: Army in Cambodia. Can retreat to: Annam (ANN).
Retreat orders are due by Friday, 14 June 2012 at:
20:20 Eastern Daylight Time
00:20 UTC+0 (Sat, 15 Jun)
01:20 British Summer Time (Sat, 15 Jun)
02:20 Central European Summer Time (Sat, 15 Jun)
If I receive all retreat orders before the deadline, we will proceed to the next round immediately.
