Why the Chinese play cricket (an Imperial Federation timeline)

[diestormlie]

Errrr they already had the split. You had the 800,000 strong conscript French Army, controlled, funded, equipped, trained and raised by the Ministry of War. And then you had the 116,000 strong professional volunteer Troupes Colonialis (45,000 of whom were recruited from Metropolitan France, the others from the colonies with the exception of North Africa). These were controlled, funded etc by the Ministry of Colonies. Two totally independent military forces. What's actually happened is they've now added a third totally independent military force, the 48,000 strong professional volunteer Garde Impériale.

Jesus.

 

[Miss Construction]

A very slight change, probably would slip under the radar if I didn't mention it, but I am. The cost I'd put on the Russian's building their railway from Finland to Narvik was way too high (as in you could buy a Gerald R Ford class super carrier for that high), I've slashed it significantly.

October 1907: With Russia's only access to the sea in Europe being via the Baltic and Black Seas, both of which could easily be blocked, Russian Foreign Minister Alexander Izvolsky negotiates an agreement with newly independent Norway to construct a railway from Oulu in the Duchy of Finland to the Norwegian port of Narvik. The new line is expected to cost of 125 million roubles {£11,849,573} and be completed by 1915, with another 50 million roubles {£4,739,829} required to upgrade the Helsingfors to Oulu line. The option of connecting to the existing line from Luleå in Sweden to Narvik, though far cheaper, is rejected due to Sweden's hostility toward Russia and pro German sympathies.

=McUpdate=

 

[Miss Construction]

Thanks for at last giving me hope!

I would strongly advise against being too hopeful sorry. That rail line from Narvik to Finland has geopolitical consequences like you couldn't imagine (nor would anyone at the time ITTL imagine). In the OTL Murmansk was probably the absolute worst place to send something if you wanted to get it into Russia. By 1917 there was a backlog of well over a years worth of critically needed British and French military cargoes to Russia built up in the port due to the Russians lacking the ability to move those cargos anywhere due to the appallingly poor transport infrastructure to the port. It was immeasurably quicker to send something from London to Vladivostok and then along the Trans Siberian to Moscow than if you sent it to Murmansk. But the Germans still went to considerable lengths attempting to close Murmansk as an entry point to Russia.

So the existence of a reasonable high capacity rail line to a year round ice free neutral port open to the Atlantic is definitely going to get their attention. They will want to close that entry point, How they will go about doing that, at this point I have absolutely no idea, but they will most definitely try and that changes the entire geopolitical situation in the Baltic. I can't say too much without spoilers, but already there are very clear signs the Danes and Norwegians are moving toward a strong defensive alliance, with the Danes abandoning their "Van kan der nytte" (what is the point) attitude to defence. As I so frequently say, when it comes to the Great War ITTL, everything is up in the air.

 

[Miss Construction]

Jesus.

It actually gets worse. The regular Army and Troupes Coloniales actually did try to coordinate. At least to the extent that they fired the same bullet from guns the other mob at least used a few examples of some variant of. But the person in charge of the newly independent Garde Impériale has no such concerns and will quite happily wander off and adopt a brand new rifle and cartridge lol.

 

[kelgar04]

It actually gets worse. The regular Army and Troupes Coloniales actually did try to coordinate. At least to the extent that they fired the same bullet from guns the other mob at least used a few examples of some variant of. But the person in charge of the newly independent Garde Impériale has no such concerns and will quite happily wander off and adopt a brand new rifle and cartridge lol.

You really want to drive the French logistics (or what passes for it) establishment straight for the fortified wine

 

[Miss Construction]

You really want to drive the French logistics (or what passes for it) establishment straight for the fortified wine

Well actually the emperor wouldn't, far too competent an officer. What he will do is adopt the most highly modified version of the Berthier developed yet.

 

[Miss Construction]

Navies 1907

======/

British Empire

Dreadnoughts

St Vincent class
20,500 tons, 10 x 12”, 9 (18) x 4”, 11” belt, 4” deck, 21 knots Tu WT Coal
- St Vincent, ordered 1907, laid down 2/1908, commissioned 9/1909
- Collingwood, ordered 1907, laid down 10/1907, commissioned 2/1909
- Vanguard, ordered 1907, laid down 4/1908, commissioned 4/1910
- Lord Nelson, ordered 1907, laid down 1/1908, commissioned 3/1910

Battlecruisers

Indefatigable class
19,200 tons, 8 x 12”, 8 (16) x 4”, 2 (4) x 18” TT dk, 7” belt, 2.5” deck, 26 knots Tu WT Coal, limited belt
- Indefatigable, ordered 1907, laid down 11/1907, commissioned 1/1910
- Incomparable, ordered 1907, laid down 2/1908, commissioned 4/1910

======/

United States

Dreadnoughts

Washington class
18,000 tons, 8 x 12", 7 (14) x 5”, 1 (2) x 21” TT uw, 10" belt, 2" deck, 20 knots TE WT Coal
- Washington, ordered 1907, laid down 12/1907, commissioned 9/1910
- North Dakota, ordered 1907, laid down 1/1908 commissioned 12/1910

======/

Japan

Battlecruisers

Ibuki class
19,500 tons, 8 x 12”, 8 (16) x 4.7”, 2 (4) x 18” TT dk, 7” belt, 2” deck, 26 knots Tu WT Coal, limited belt
- Ibuki, ordered 1907, laid down 3/1908, commissioned 11/1910
- Kurama, ordered 1907, laid down 4/1908, commissioned 1/1911

Light Cruisers

Chikuma class
5,000 tons, 5 (8) x 6”, 2 (4) x 18” TT dk, 3.5” belt, 2” deck, 26 knots Tu WT Coal
- Chikuma, ordered 1907, laid down 4/1908, commissioned 5/1911
- Yahagi, ordered 1907, laid down 6/1908, commissioned 7/1911

======/

Germany

Dreadnoughts

Nassau class
18,000 tons, 8 (12) x 11”, 6 (12) x 6”, 8 (16) x 3.5”, 1 (4) x 18” TT uw 1 bow 1 stn, 12” belt, 2” deck, 19.5 knots TE WT Coal
- Rheinland, ordered 1907, laid down 6/1908, commissioned 3/1911
- Posen, ordered 1907, laid down 7/1908, commissioned 2/1911

Battlecruisers

Von Der Tan class
19,000 tons, 8 x 11”, 5 (10) x 6”, 8 (16) x 3.5”, 1 (4) x 18” TT uw 1 bow 1 stn, 10” belt, 2” deck, 25 knots Tu WT Coal, limited belt
- Von Der Tan, ordered 1907, laid down 5/1908, commissioned 7/1911

======/

France

Battleships

Danton class
19,000 tons, 5 (6) x 12”, 4 (8) x 7.6”, 6 (12) x 3”, 1 (2) x 18” TT uw, 10” belt, 2” deck, 20 knots Tu SW Coal, short range, unreliable machinery
- Mirabeau, ordered 1907, laid down 11/1907, commissioned 8/1910
- Vergniaud, ordered 1907, laid down 1/1908, commissioned 9/1910
- Voltaire, ordered 1907, laid down 1/1908, commissioned 8/1910

Heavy Cruisers

Turenne class
15,500 tons, 8 x 9.4", 8 (16) x 3” 1 (4) x 18” TT uw 1 bow 1 stn, 7" belt, 2" deck, 26 knots Tu SW Coal, short range, unreliable machinery
- Turenne, ordered 1907, laid down 6/1908, commissioned 9/1911
- Vauban, ordered 1907, laid down 9/1908, commissioned 2/1912

Scout Cruisers

Coëtlogon class (built in US)
4,000 tons, 4 (6) x 5.4", 2 (4) x 18” TT dk, 2" slope, 1" deck, 24 knots Tu WT Coal
- Coëtlogon, ordered 1907, laid down 4/1908, commissioned 4/1910
- Suchet, ordered 1907, laid down 4/1908, commissioned 6/1910
- Troude, ordered 1907, laid down 6/1908, commissioned 12/1910
- Bayard, ordered 1907, laid down 6/1908, commissioned 2/1910
NOTE: US Amsterdam class (Chester group II)

======/

Austria-Hungary

Scout Cruisers

Admiral Spaun class
3,500 tons, 4 (7) x 4", 1 (2) x 18” TT aw, 3" belt, 1" deck, 27 knots Tu WT Coal
- Admiral Spaun, ordered 1907, laid down 5/1908, commissioned 11/1910

======/

Other Nations

Brazilian Amapa class light cruiser (built in Britain)
4,800 tons, 2 x 6”, 4 (8) x 4”, 1 (2) x 18” TT dk, 2” slope, 1” deck, 25 Knots Tu WT Coal
- Amapa, ordered 1907, laid down 8/1908, commissioned 8/1909
- Epirito Santo, ordered 1907, laid down 8/1908, commissioned 7/1910

Peruvian Almirante Grau class light cruiser (built in US)
4,300 tons, 5 (8) x 5", 1 (2) x 21” TT uw, 2" belt, 1" deck, 24 knots Tu WT Coal
- Almirante Grau, ordered 1907, laid down 4/1907, commissioned 11/1908
- Coronel Bolognesi, ordered 1907, laid down 11/1907, commissioned 4/1909

Netherlands De Zeven Provincien class coastal battleship
6,500 tons, 2 x 11”, 2 (4) x 6”, 5 (10) x 3”, 10" belt, 2" deck, 16 knots TE WT Coal
- De Zeven Provincien, ordered 1907, laid down 2/1908, commissioned 10/1910

 

[Miss Construction]

Well actually the emperor wouldn't, far too competent an officer. What he will do is adopt the most highly modified version of the Berthier developed yet.

Actually, that is something which often slips my mind and shouldn't. ITTL Napoleon IV served 25 years as an active duty officer in the Royal Artillery (hence his strong emphasis on the French Army's artillery during his reform efforts) eventually reaching the rank of Major General (unlike most European monarchs he actually earnt his military rank the hard way). He served as an artillery supply officer during the Second Afghan War, battery commander during Kitchener's Sudan Campaign, a brigade commander during the Second Boer War, plus has seen action when seconded to an Indian Army mountain battery. Almost certainly has picked a few mentioned dispatches and gallantry awards. He's a very competent officer, talented commander, good leader and generally all round knows his stuff.

 

[kelgar04]

Actually, that is something which often slips my mind and shouldn't. ITTL Napoleon IV served 25 years as an active duty officer in the Royal Artillery (hence his strong emphasis on the French Army's artillery during his reform efforts) eventually reaching the rank of Major General (unlike most European monarchs he actually earnt his military rank the hard way). He served as an artillery supply officer during the Second Afghan War, battery commander during Kitchener's Sudan Campaign, a brigade commander during the Second Boer War, plus has seen action when seconded to an Indian Army mountain battery. Almost certainly has picked a few mentioned dispatches and gallantry awards. He's a very competent officer, talented commander, good leader and generally all round knows his stuff.

Sound like when WW1 ITTL hits he maybe the French equivalent of King Albert I of Beglium providing a strong point for his people.

 

[Miss Construction]

Sound like when WW1 ITTL hits he maybe the French equivalent of King Albert I of Beglium providing a strong point for his people.

Well the whole point of setting up the Imperial Guard as his private army was the government trying to remove his influence over the army. Same reason the Current French war palns have the Imperial Guard off watching the Belgium frontier well away from their glorious invasion of Germany lol

 

[diestormlie]

Well the whole point of setting up the Imperial Guard as his private army was the government trying to remove his influence over the army. Same reason the Current French war palns have the Imperial Guard off watching the Belgium frontier well away from their glorious invasion of Germany lol

Methinks the French Government may run into some insufficient Élan and attaque à outrance issues.

 

[kelgar04]

Methinks the French Government may run into some insufficient Élan and attaque à outrance issues.

Understatement of the century though the Imperial Guard will be worth their collective weight in gold.

And won't that just grind the General Staffs gears

 

[Miss Construction]

Methinks the French Government may run into some insufficient Élan and attaque à outrance issues.

Well at least the Emperor did manage to get rid of the generals beloved stand out blue coats and bright red trousers. So at least the long suffering poliu won't be going into battle with a target painted on him. That and get them to adopt a machine gun which actually works along with development of artillery other than those generals equally beloved 75mm Mle1897 (not that they have been adopted, but at least they're ready and waiting to be adopted)

Understatement of the century though the Imperial Guard will be worth their collective weight in gold.

And won't that just grind the General Staffs gears

Well for Louis-Napoleon's next trick he will get the other long service professional volunteer part of the French military, the Colonial Troops made part of the Imperial Guard. This takes his two infantry and one cavalry division and turns it into eight infantry and two cavalry divisions. An actual army's worth, even with two divisions worth of troops stuck out in the colonies..

 

[Miss Construction]

~Jan-March 1908: The king is dead

January 1908: Since his removal form as chair of the Conseil de la Défense Nationale, French Emperor Napoleon IV has used his position as head of the Imperial Guard to begin to reform the corps, while his supporters have arranged for the other French long service volunteer force, the Troupes Coloniales, to be added to the Guard. Already he has massively increased the ammunition allocation for musketry training and begun retraining both forces cavalry to focus on dismounted action, along with reducing the reliance on the 75mm Mle 1897 field gun in favour of howitzers and heavy weapons.

January 1908: The programs of Imperial economic integration coupled with the focus on developing and diversifying the Dominions and India has led to a slow but steady migration of industry from Britain to the Empire, a process which is gradually increasing. This has been particularly true for low skilled industries, which are increasingly relocating to India to take advantage of its vast pool of cheap labour and proximity to raw materials. This is producing growing concerns from British workers, fearing the loss of their jobs, with many calling for increased tariffs on Indian goods to halt the process. These calls are increasingly common in the Liberal Party's traditional working class heartland. With the Liberal government of Charles Dilke unwilling to abandon the hard won progress toward Imperial integration, an extensive social welfare program is introduced, including support for workers made redundant by industry relocation and retraining schemes to provide new forms of employment. The program will be implemented and administered by the five British Regional governments, with funding support from central government. Naturally this program will prove costly, requiring increased taxation in addition to expanding the existing compulsory workers insurance schemes.

January 1908: While the 1905 Tibetan uprising was quickly suppressed, 12,000 Xianfa troops remain and a program sinofication is now under way, with large numbers of Han Chinese being settled in the country. For some time the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso has been making preparations for a potential uprising in an attempt to gain full independence. Surplus weapons from the Chinese Civil War have been secretly obtained and stockpiled. While clandestine training by European mercenaries is being conducted to form a Tibetan militia. A minor incident between Tibetans and Han migrants near Lhasa quickly escalates and spreads after Xianfa troops intervene on the side of the settlers, causing Tibetan resentment to explode. The Dalai Lama seizes on this popular anger to launch his revolt. The rebellion initially catches the Xianfa unprepared, with several outpost overrun, allowing the Tibetans to capture stocks of machine guns and artillery. Xianfa Grand Chancellor Tan Sitong responds by ordering 20,000 troops under General Yang Zengxin into the country to suppress the uprising.

January 1908: In response to the passing of the Government of India Act last year, the radical anti Imperial Indian National Association forms the Indian Liberation Army (ILA), beginning a campaign of violence against British rule in India. In their first dramatic act, a bomb explodes in the Madras Sappers and Miners barracks in Bangalore, killing 15 British and 32 Indian troops. The bombing sparks massive outrage in both Britain and India, resulting in a crack down on the INA, with many of its leaders arrested or going underground.

February 1908: In the wake of the humiliation of surrendering yet more territory to the French, the Siamese begin a major modernisation of their military, instituting with a major navel program, calling for two coastal battleships, supported by numerous smaller vessels and submarines. With most senior Siamese naval officers actually being recruited from Denmark and Norway, they turn to Denmark for these vessels. As an initial step the old Danish coast defence ship Skjold is purchased as the Chao Phraya, while two F750T minesweepers and a small cruiser, also intended to serve as a royal yacht, are ordered from Danish yards.

February 1908: Since the end of the Anglo-Ottoman War, former Khedive Abbas II of Egypt has been living in Europe, trying unsuccessfully to gain Great Power support for a renewed attempt to regain his throne. With the French government of Gabriel Hantaux anxious to challenge British control over Egypt they finally offer him support, hoping he can destabilise the country. He immediately accepts and begins recruiting agents to infiltrate Egypt.

February 1908: A panel of five leading constitutional jurists from throughout the Empire is appointed to draw up a report for the 1909 Brisbane Imperial Conference. Headed by Albert Dicey, the panel is charged with both examining the existing constitutional arrangements and giving options in order to avoid a repeat of the 1907 Constitutional Crisis.

February 1908: For most of the 19th century, republicanism in Portugal had been growing increasingly popular, inspired by the example of the Third French Republic. However the anarchy caused by the Dreyfus Affair and subsequent establishment of the Third French Empire has left many Portuguese republicans disillusioned and the movement has been in decline nearly a decade. With the first tangible benefits of Prime Minister José de Castro reforms new emerging, a group of radical republicans plot to assassinate King Carlos as a prelude to overthrowing the monarchy. In what will become known as the Lisbon Regicide, King Carlos is killed, with Prince Royal Luís seriously wounded. However the immediate wave of popular outrage at the regicide swiftly prevents any prospect of revolution and finishes republicanism as an influential movement in Portugal. Despite calls for the new King Luís II to dismiss de Castro due to his republican sympathies, Luís refuses preferring to allow him to continue his reforms.

February 1908: The Isan Crisis has highlighted the need to strengthen the French Navy, resulting in an ambitious program calling for fourteen dreadnoughts, four battlecruisers, eighteen light cruisers and forty destroyers to be ordered over the next eight years. Recognising the French shipbuilding industry's limited capacity, the program considerable investment investment to both increase capacity and expand existing slipways to allow for larger ships to be constructed. The first ships to be ordered are the two Impératrice Béatrice class battlecruisers and three Lamotte Picquet class light cruisers. Despite Eustace d'Eyncourt's dismissal as Assistant Director of Naval Construction and return to Britain last year, the Impératrice Béatrice class battlecruisers will still show his influence with their hull based previous Turenne and Edgar Quinet classes. Displacing 17,500 tons, they will mount six 12” guns in twin turrets, a superfiring pair forward with another aft and be capable of 26 knots, though their protection will be limited to that of the earlier Turenne class armoured cruisers.

March 1908: With Japanese finances still recovering from cost of the recent war Russia, Prime Minister Saionji Kinmochi resists pressure to increase naval expenditure, only authorising two new dreadnoughts and two light cruisers. The Settsu class dreadnoughts are simply improved versions of the earlier Satsuma class, with the improved armament layout of the British St Vincent class, with all five turrets located on the centreline. However significantly, despite retaining considerable British influence in their design, the class will be the first Japanese capital ships to be entirely produced domestically, as the previous Satsuma dreadnoughts and Ibuki battlecruisers main guns were imported from Britain. This clearly demonstrates the growing maturity of the Japanese shipbuilding industry.

March 1908: Since the six Cricket class coastal destroyers ordered by former Premier Wilfred Laurier in 1905 were completed early in 1907, no new warships have been ordered for the Royal Canadian Navy. This has left the Canadian Vickers yard in Montreal dependent on routine maintenance work and construction of merchant and fishing vessels, forcing them to lay of significant numbers of skilled workers, a fact which contributed to Laurier's fall in support in Quebec. In an effort to provide work for the yard new Premier Robert Borden orders a single scout cruiser, with further work promised in the future.

March 1908: In a continuing drive to improve their artillery park in light of the recent wars in Africa, Egypt and the Far east, the British introduce the 114mm 4.5” field howitzer, 152mm 6” 26 cwt heavy howitzer, and 152mm 100 pounder extra heavy gun. As with previous 13pdr, 18pdr and 5” guns, these weapons will use a significantly larger and more powerful shell than their European contemporariness, while possessing similar range and performance in other areas. Alongside these new pieces, the entire artillery doctrine is being revised, with destructive fire being largely abandoned in favour of rapid suppressive fire to force the enemy too seek cover while the infantry advance to engage. Additionally as a result of observations of the Chinese Civil and Russo-Japanese Wars, the army seeks to as much as double the stocks of war reserve ammunition. Unfortunately, the Liberal government of Charles Dilke is aggressively seeking to reduce expenditure to help fund heir ambitious program of social welfare reform. Thus the adoption of these new weapons and increases to war reserves is postponed for the moment to reduce military spending.

 

[kelgar04]

January 1908: Since his removal form as chair of the Conseil de la Défense Nationale, French Emperor Napoleon IV has used his position as head of the Imperial Guard to begin to reform the corps, while his supporters have arranged for the other French long service volunteer force, the Troupes Coloniales, to be added to the Guard. Already he has massively increased the ammunition allocation for musketry training and begun retraining both forces cavalry to focus on dismounted action, along with reducing the reliance on the 75mm Mle 1897 field gun in favour of howitzers and heavy weapons.

Hmm also gives him a solid core of Vetrans as well to focus on as well. Though the French still use Armoured cavalry in the mainline army before WW1 it maybe wise for the Imperial Guard dispelling that notion really quickly.

January 1908: The programs of Imperial economic integration coupled with the focus on developing and diversifying the Dominions and India has led to a slow but steady migration of industry from Britain to the Empire, a process which is gradually increasing. This has been particularly true for low skilled industries, which are increasingly relocating to India to take advantage of its vast pool of cheap labour and proximity to raw materials. This is producing growing concerns from British workers, fearing the loss of their jobs, with many calling for increased tariffs on Indian goods to halt the process. These calls are increasingly common in the Liberal Party's traditional working class heartland. With the Liberal government of Charles Dilke unwilling to abandon the hard won progress toward Imperial integration, an extensive social welfare program is introduced, including support for workers made redundant by industry relocation and retraining schemes to provide new forms of employment. The program will be implemented and administered by the five British Regional governments, with funding support from central government. Naturally this program will prove costly, requiring increased taxation in addition to expanding the existing compulsory workers insurance schemes.

This could bite him in the ass in the future welfare spending is always a good thing especially for people who are unable to work or losing out to industries abroad for the likes of retraining. Though on the flipside a higher tax will lead to overall dissatisfaction and if the schemes are mis managed then it will hamper them and give the opposition ammo to go after him and may force the worst possible outcome and have to set up internal tariffs in the Empire.

Ideally he probably wants to try and encourage more light manufactuing and specalised heavy industries within the Home islands as well as looking st ways to increase the productive of various low skilled industries in the UK though isneill he more of the British companies area maybe see how mechanization could enhance an area.

February 1908: Since the end of the Anglo-Ottoman War, former Khedive Abbas II of Egypt has been living in Europe, trying unsuccessfully to gain Great Power support for a renewed attempt to regain his throne. With the French government of Gabriel Hantaux anxious to challenge British control over Egypt they finally offer him support, hoping he can destabilise the country. He immediately accepts and begins recruiting agents to infiltrate Egypt.

Well if the French want the British onside they have a funny way of showing it they really must want to win the British over by causing unrest.

Though as a question how do you plan to get around the guarantee Britian has with Belgium to defend them?

February 1908: For most of the 19th century, republicanism in Portugal had been growing increasingly popular, inspired by the example of the Third French Republic. However the anarchy caused by the Dreyfus Affair and subsequent establishment of the Third French Empire has left many Portuguese republicans disillusioned and the movement has been in decline nearly a decade. With the first tangible benefits of Prime Minister José de Castro reforms new emerging, a group of radical republicans plot to assassinate King Carlos as a prelude to overthrowing the monarchy. In what will become known as the Lisbon Regicide, King Carlos is killed, with Prince Royal Luís seriously wounded. However the immediate wave of popular outrage at the regicide swiftly prevents any prospect of revolution and finishes republicanism as an influential movement in Portugal. Despite calls for the new King Luís II to dismiss de Castro due to his republican sympathies, Luís refuses preferring to allow him to continue his reforms.

Well this has set the cat amongst thr pigeons it also means when WW1 Protugal eon't get involved in WW1 simce Britian isn't there to persuade them. So they will probably stay neutral though I have to wonder if theynwill start bringing british officers to modernize their navy and army given how everything is heating up.

March 1908: With Japanese finances still recovering from cost of the recent war Russia, Prime Minister Saionji Kinmochi resists pressure to increase naval expenditure, only authorising two new dreadnoughts and two light cruisers. The Settsu class dreadnoughts are simply improved versions of the earlier Satsuma class, with the improved armament layout of the British St Vincent class, with all five turrets located on the centreline. However significantly, despite retaining considerable British influence in their design, the class will be the first Japanese capital ships to be entirely produced domestically, as the previous Satsuma dreadnoughts and Ibuki battlecruisers main guns were imported from Britain. This clearly demonstrates the growing maturity of the Japanese shipbuilding industry

Intresting tech development also that will worry both North and South Chinese states since a heavily armed Japane with Imperial ambitions is a major threat to both of them. Southern Chinese may look at more vessels from Britian.

March 1908: Since the six Cricket class coastal destroyers ordered by former Premier Wilfred Laurier in 1905 were completed early in 1907, no new warships have been ordered for the Royal Canadian Navy. This has left the Canadian Vickers yard in Montreal dependent on routine maintenance work and construction of merchant and fishing vessels, forcing them to lay of significant numbers of skilled workers, a fact which contributed to Laurier's fall in support in Quebec. In an effort to provide work for the yard new Premier Robert Borden orders a single scout cruiser, with further work promised in the future.

A scout cruiser will go a long way though they will need a few more Destroyers on both coasts as well as cruisers.

March 1908: In a continuing drive to improve their artillery park in light of the recent wars in Africa, Egypt and the Far east, the British introduce the 114mm 4.5” field howitzer, 152mm 6” 26 cwt heavy howitzer, and 152mm 100 pounder extra heavy gun. As with previous 13pdr, 18pdr and 5” guns, these weapons will use a significantly larger and more powerful shell than their European contemporariness, while possessing similar range and performance in other areas. Alongside these new pieces, the entire artillery doctrine is being revised, with destructive fire being largely abandoned in favour of rapid suppressive fire to force the enemy too seek cover while the infantry advance to engage. Additionally as a result of observations of the Chinese Civil and Russo-Japanese Wars, the army seeks to as much as double the stocks of war reserve ammunition. Unfortunately, the Liberal government of Charles Dilke is aggressively seeking to reduce expenditure to help fund heir ambitious program of social welfare reform. Thus the adoption of these new weapons and increases to war reserves is postponed for the moment to reduce military spending.

Makes sense though with no direct involvement in WW1 their will be less stress unless during exercise quality issues get turned up. Though not building up any major stock will hurt both the Imperial corps and the other armed forces of the empire

 

[Miss Construction]

Hmm also gives him a solid core of Vetrans as well to focus on as well. Though the French still use Armoured cavalry in the mainline army before WW1 it maybe wise for the Imperial Guard dispelling that notion really quickly.

This gives the French two armies, the three million strong mass conscript force wedded to the Attaque à Outrance doctrine and the 180,000 strong long service professional Imperial Guard which has shifted far more to the British fire and movement doctrine. The difference in the performance of the two forces will have a huge impact.

This could bite him in the ass in the future welfare spending is always a good thing especially for people who are unable to work or losing out to industries abroad for the likes of retraining. Though on the flipside a higher tax will lead to overall dissatisfaction and if the schemes are mis managed then it will hamper them and give the opposition ammo to go after him and may force the worst possible outcome and have to set up internal tariffs in the Empire.

Ideally he probably wants to try and encourage more light manufactuing and specalised heavy industries within the Home islands as well as looking st ways to increase the productive of various low skilled industries in the UK though isneill he more of the British companies area maybe see how mechanization could enhance an area.

Yep the long 30 year domination of British politics by the Liberal Party is slowly coming to an end. This migration of industry was inevitable given the policy of developing the Dominions and Empire. Long term it's actually a good thing, and result in an overall improvement in the efficiency of Imperial industry. But short term it will hurt in Britain. Basically watch this space.

Well if the French want the British onside they have a funny way of showing it they really must want to win the British over by causing unrest.

That's the whole problem, Hantaux's government in France is firmly convinced they don't need the British and in fact they believe trying to court the British has been styming French colonial expansion. Hantaux is doing huge damage to French interests.

Though as a question how do you plan to get around the guarantee Britian has with Belgium to defend them?

Sigh, the harsh reality is, the British guarantee of Belgium neutrality was like all treaties, only worth the paper it was printed on. While the British in the OTL made a bucket load of propaganda over the "scrap of paper" comment, it was not inaccurate. If the British wanted to renege, they could and would have found a way. This is another watch this space thing.

Well this has set the cat amongst thr pigeons it also means when WW1 Protugal eon't get involved in WW1 simce Britian isn't there to persuade them. So they will probably stay neutral though I have to wonder if theynwill start bringing british officers to modernize their navy and army given how everything is heating up.

Portugal is broke, they'd love to modernise their navy, but they simply can't afford it. The current Portuguese government's priority is restore political and economic stability. Once they've done that, then they'll look at other priorities.

Intresting tech development also that will worry both North and South Chinese states since a heavily armed Japane with Imperial ambitions is a major threat to both of them. Southern Chinese may look at more vessels from Britian.

Again, the issue is money. The Boxer and Chinese Civil Wars have left both the Northern and Southern Chinese on the verge of bankruptcy. Plus they're facing a major hostile power (each other) so the focus will be primarily on their army rather than navy. But then again, the South's naval dominance during the civil war did have an impact, so the North will likely invest some money, however the South is far more fiscally prudent so their build up will have to wait.

A scout cruiser will go a long way though they will need a few more Destroyers on both coasts as well as cruisers.

The RCN at this point has in commission two 2nd class protected cruisers, two scout Cruisers, eight destroyers (all designed for seakeeping rather than raw speed) and six coastal destroyers/torpedo boats. It's a respectable force. But almost all are based on the Atlantic coast and lack the range required for operating in the Pacific. This urgent order was a stop gap to keep the shipyard working. It will be followed by further orders, specifically for both the Artic and Pacific

Makes sense though with no direct involvement in WW1 their will be less stress unless during exercise quality issues get turned up. Though not building up any major stock will hurt both the Imperial corps and the other armed forces of the empire

Those social programs are starting to bite.

 

[carbon1923]

the radical anti Imperial Indian National Association forms the Indian Liberation Army (ILA), beginning a campaign of violence against British rule in India

And this is how India is driven further into Britain's influence. Terrorism isn't the best idea more making the victims support you.

 

[Miss Construction]

Though as a question how do you plan to get around the guarantee Britian has with Belgium to defend them?

It's worth pointing out in the OTL the British cabinet decided on 29th July 1914 that their guarantee of Belgium neutrality did no obligate Britain to a military response in the event of a German invasion. And ITTL the Anglo-French Entente has not only failed to eventuate, the French have deliberately chooses a policy of colonial confrontation with the Empire and is now actively supporting nationalist terrorist movements. in the colonies. On top of which you have the decision last year that in the event of a European war, the Imperial government will not act without first consulting the Dominions. All this means ITTL, it wouldn't be hard for the Empire to stop short of a declaration od war.

 

[Miss Construction]

And this is how India is driven further into Britain's influence. Terrorism isn't the best idea more making the victims support you.

Especially when the moderate Indian nationalists can point to real progress being made, including the acceptance by the British that some for of Indian government is necessary and inevitable.

 

[kelgar04]

It's worth pointing out in the OTL the British cabinet decided on 29th July 1914 that their guarantee of Belgium neutrality did no obligate Britain to a military response in the event of a German invasion. And ITTL the Anglo-French Entente has not only failed to eventuate, the French have deliberately chooses a policy of colonial confrontation with the Empire and is now actively supporting nationalist terrorist movements. in the colonies. On top of which you have the decision last year that in the event of a European war, the Imperial government will not act without first consulting the Dominions. All this means ITTL, it wouldn't be hard for the Empire to stop short of a declaration od war.

So basically the French have lost a potentially powerful ally who can make up for their lacks in the maritime sector all for some small border provinces and starting a pissing match over Egypt.