Peshwar Lancers Redux: Kingdom of Hawaii

[chris N]

The Last Expedition to Alaska and the Canadian Northwest left Hawaii in late March for Victoria. There the team would carry out some training before moving north in late May for the place to land and move inland.
The Expedition had received reports last year of some white settlers still surviving in the Alaskan/ Yukon territories. The team would include 9 scientist, a doctor, 5 Hawaiian Marines, a Canadian Mountie, 2 Gurkha's and an American Lt Colonel, who had previously served in Alaska.
The expedition would used the converted Whaler and a Gunboat was also going with them.
The Expedition was expected to return to Hawaii by late September.

Meanwhile the Vice president of the Central American Republic was scheduled to arrive in Hawaii for a series of talks on matters of concern to both nations. It was expected that a Consulate would be opened in Hawaii as a result of the visit. Then In May an envoy from Jamaica was expected to arrive for talks with the Hawaiian government and for a conference with the Crown Representative.

[chris N]

The Royal Hawaiian Military went through some changes in the 1886-87 period as plans were put into effect for the nation going to war. Even though the population was continuing to grow there were only so many people that could be mobilized. The greatest effort was to turn the militia into a well equipped and trained organization that would allow expansion of the Army in time of war. The year 1886 saw the first attempt at training of Army units larger than a Battalion. A regimental and then Brigade level training was carried out. 1887 would see the first attempt at a division level exercise during the summer exercises.

The Royal Hawaiian Marines carried out its first battalion level exercise.

[altwere]

Chris this is great, keep it coming.
Only one small glitch. The Gulf stream goes up the Atlantic coast of north america.

[chris N]

You might want to check this out:

[chris N]

Hawaii's new Prime Minister had a long meeting with the Central American Republic' Vice President. They discussed the threat to his nation form his neighbors and the growing trade between both nations.
Hawaii had so far sold his nation two of the British built gunboats as they had been replaced with newer Hawaiian built ships. The Central American Republic was looking at purchasing a third gunboat and seeking assistance in partially disassembling it and moving it to the the eastern coast.

The Prime Minister had held talks with the Reform Party leadership regarding the trade agreement and the sale of additional arms to the Central American Republic.

In May the Envoy from Jamacia arrived to hold talks with Hawaii and at the same time to hold talks with the Crown's represenative in Hawaii.

[chris N]

The Envoy from Jamaica met with the Hawaiian Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister of the Navy and the Head of the Royal Hawaiian Intelligence Service. For the First time ever the Hawaiian Government found out everything that was currently happening in the United States. There was also a lot more information on history political leaders and corruption. The Hawaiians got a better idea as to how big a threat Mexico had become.
The information was more complete but there was still a lot of unknowns.
What was now indicated was that the man currently holding the office of President was at least allied with the Mexicans and was more likely a traitor .

[chris N]

The Royal Hawaiian Marines were continuing to carry out training exercises.Conducting amphibious landings was not something which anyone in the country knew about but they were learning. A company of Marines went to the Central American Republic for actual training in the Jungle.
Mistakes were made by the marines and as a result some died but everyone learned the lessons well. The unit also joined Central American soldiers on patrol near the border with Mexico. The helped to capture some smugglers.
It was then that a certain Hawaiian Marine Captain came up with a plan that could gain more intelligence about what was going on in Mexico.

[chris N]

The Royal Hawaiian Navy had decided to begin to carry out some missions near Mexico. It was thought that that it would be important to gain information about the size of the Mexican Military and its navy.

[chris N]

1887 seemed to be a busy year for the Hawaiians. The Joint Hawaiian-British Expedition to Alaska/Yukon Territory should provide scientist with more information as to the impact of the Fall on the World's weather and did any white settlers remain in the north.
Then there was the fact that Hawaii finally had a lot better idea of what was happening on the North American Mainland. It was not at all pleased that Mexico seemed to be using the tragedy for its own advantage.

[chris N]

It talks within the cabinet there was a lot of talk about whether Hawaii should get actively involved in the conflict that seemed to be taking place between the United States and Mexico. It would appear that the Hawaiian had a better idea as to what was happening than the people in the Eastern part of the United States.
The Prime Minister had just been brief on the secret mission of Captain Masters to the United States and his crew in the converted Whaler.
The Prime Minister was stunned at what his old fried had approved. It was daring but very risky.
Basicly the Hawaiian Military was providing different assements as to its ability. The Army chief reported that at the most they might be able to deploy a brigade of troops overseas. This force would consist of 3 battalions of Infantry, Artillery Battalion, troop of Cavalry and other support forces. It would take full mobilization and perhaps another siz months before that force could be doubled.
The Navy reported that it could do whatever was necessary. Additional ships were being added to the fleet and the navy had more capable ships than ever. Intervention against Mexico was possible without stripping forces from missions in the west.
The Commander of the Royal Hawaiian Marine Corps reported that he had 2 battalions available. They could conduct raids or rupport the army if it was sent,

[chris N]

The Cabinet decided that Hawaii would not get involved ti the Struggle between the US and Mexico for the time being. Never the less the Hawaiian Navy was given permission fo conduct landings on Mexican Islands off the Mexican Pacific Coast.

[chris N]

Hawaiian and Central American Republic Warships made a Naval show of force off the coast of Mexico. It was a clear signal that the two countries were sending the government of Mexico a clear signal to stop messing with other nations.

[chris N]

The Show of Naval Force off of the coast of Southern Mexico was a clear signal that if Mexico attempted to continue its expansion it would pay a terrible price. Two Hawaiian warships were joined by the two Central American Republic Gunboats. It was the largest display of naval forces in the region. The Hawaiian had also moved some of their steel warships into the area but they had not been seen by the Mexicans.

[chris N]

While events were playing out in the area of the coast of Mexico another expedition was being mounted. After more than a month plus of training the expedition to Alaska and the Yukon was underway. The Whaling convert and the Hawaiian Gunboat head North. It was hoped that this time they would be able to answer the question of whether there were still any while settlers left in the frozen North. In addition readings of temperature and snowfall would also give an indication of how bad things were. The Scientist were hoping that they would be better able to see how long this might last. There was an arguement between experts over how long the effects of the fall would last. Some believed that after 20 years the impact would lessen while there was another group that believed that it would be until the early part of the 20th century that conditions would allow a slow movement back to the north.

[chris N]

Heading north in the converted whaler things seemed to be going well. The captain had been working on this project since the last expedition had come to an end. His crew was a mixture of Royal Hawaiian Naval Personnel and Civilians. Many of those civilians were Scandinavians who had served in whalers before the Fall. Everyone had been in last years expedition.
The Captain had gotten to know all of the Scientist quite well. The Colonel was once again with them. His story was an interesting one as he had been in Alaska before the Fall. At that time he was a Major of Engineers and had managed to make his way south. He had been rescued in Vancouver and had been taken back to Hawaii.
He had been exhausted and had only recover after months of time. He had accepted a post as an instructor at the military academy and had latter learned that he had been promoted to Lt Colonel by the US Army. By that time he was married to an Hawaiian girl with a child on the way.

He had been involved in the project that Captain Majors Royal Hawaiian Navy had headed up and still wonder how it had gone.

Well they were just four days from the site that the first landing would take place.

[chris N]

The First Landing took place and the team of Scientist went ashore along with the Mountie, 2 Gurkha's and the 5 Royal Hawaiian Marines. The going was tough and the team was forced to spend more time than they had thought. The team was determined to get a lot of data as well as answers to the important question of whether there were any white settlers left.

[chris N]

After nearly two weeks of trekking through terrain that was often time full of ice and snow they were approaching the settlement of Skagway.
The Mountie took out a pair of binoculars and scan the horizon. He could see the settlement. A number of the of the building had collapsed but what was interesting was that there was smoke coming from at least one of the buildings perhapse more. Constable Frasier spoke to the Hawaiian Lt and the Gurkhas . It would take at least another two-three hours to reach it but tonight they would be indoors.
The question was who was in the settlement.

[chris N]

What greeted the party was a sight that was unbelievable. There were people still alive in the frozen waste. a lot of the settlement was wrecked by all of the snow. The people that were there were stunned to find a party of scientist and soldiers had come to the town. Slowly they were able to find out the story of what had happen, Most of the people had attempted to flee to the south but others had decided to tough it out. fortunately there was a lot of canned goods and they were able to fish and hunt. Even so the population began to shrink as malnutrition resulted in deaths due to a lack of fruits and vegetables. By the time the party arrived the number of people still left was down to 25..
A Naval Medic was with them and he did what he could for everyone.
There was one more place that they had to go but they left behind some of their food.

[chris N]

The Scientist were looking at the information and the evidence that they had gather. There was some question as to whether the people in the settlement could have lasted as long as they did. Still evidence indicated that a large amount of the population had fled to Alaska and then to the lower 48 states so it was possible that enough stocks of foods could have been available to allow say 100 people to last for a considerable time.There was also evidence that there had been some hunting and fishing . Still weather and an inability to grow enough food had led to a reduction in the population. If the team had not discovered the settlers it would be likely that in a year or two the population might have declined to as little as six.

[chris N]

The Expedition arrived at Juneau, Alaska. Once again the expedition found a tiny population. There were about 70 people living in the community. They also had been able to hunt and fish. There was some co-operation with the native population and this may have helped the survival rate.
As far as they knew there was no other whit population in Alaska.
It was decided that it would be better to evacuate the settlers from the Canadian town to Juneau. The Hawaiian gunboat was able to get close enough to the port to land additional supplies.