Glen
Moderator
Now, Dear Readers, you have ushered in another Turtledove Victory for the DSA, but our work is not quite finished yet, for now we face the awesome task of competing in the ATL free-for-all that is the Best AH Timeline Poll!
Please Vote DSA HERE!
Please Vote DSA HERE!
Well, actually we won Best New 18th Century last year, so it's not actually overdue, but thank you for the support!
However, the amazing thing is, with the support of you, dear readers, we have upset the fabulous colosus that is Look to the West, to win this year in Continuing 18th Century - thank you one and all!!!
Glen
Moderator
So, quoted a bunch of stuff here on the Brazilians through OTL Bolivia discussion, and I was wondering if anyone had a proposed workable route.
The Panatel they had plenty of time to go through/around as this is within Brazil.
You mean Bolivia.
Note that while there will definitely be some hard times and hardships, they are actually traversing open scrub woodland, not desert (yes, I know the official bounds of the Gran Chaco include this area, but there's desert, then there's desert). Also note that there are in fact populated areas they go through. They aren't going to the sea, they are going to the inland edge of the Atacama to secure that area.
See above. They will also take from the native population - they will not be loved for this. Note too that they are not going all the way to the coast.
So? Its still one of the most terrible environments on earth for a large group of soldiers, and one very hard to send supply chains through. Going round north is a long way and pretty bare bones on the supplies and populations, going round south is the war zone.
Don't use modern population maps for the 18th century - the Chaco was pretty much empty till the turn of the century. You are also incorrect on the conditions - the driest bits of the chaco are the ones they are going to have to go through. You also have a rosy conception of what "Open Scrub Woodland" actually entails - its hard to move through whilst also being incredibly dry (especially during the dry season) and the in Chaco most water sources have problems with seasonality and salinity.
If you're saying they're occupying Bolivia you should have made that clear - though its a hell of an upwards slog. If this is a narrative ploy to make the Korsgaardists in Europe not collapse like the silly imperialists they are due to their inevitable supply problems I can think of better ways to go about it.
No one cares about securing the Atacama border with the mountains - there's a few via passes that ten men with explosives could shut down weeks before the arrival of an army, and in a united Spanish america timeline like this there's no point of even building the roads to Bolivia from the coast in the first place. The relevant connections for the Atacama are the naval one and the road south into Chile as the Peruvians found in the War of the Pacific
So? As soon as they depart potosi they are trying to keep an army together in several hundred kilometers of this:well before reach the true desert.
It is crossable but the logistical requirements would mean it would bear far more relation to an exploratory mission, i.e. a massive supply chain* to support a tiny number (like sub 100) at the "tip" than an actual military operation. That said coming out of the desert would give them one of the biggest cases of "surprise!" in the history of warfare.
*By massive supply chain I mean lots and lots of camels carrying water and fodder, look at the structure of some of the Australian exploratory expeditions.
*By massive supply chain I mean lots and lots of camels carrying water and fodder, look at the structure of some of the Australian exploratory expeditions.
No. There would be a handful left or supplies would be dreadfully expensive.
Glen
Moderator
Glen
Moderator
Okay, noted - let me ponder the most elegant way of disposing of this.
On a completely unrelated note - I am somewhat saddened that no one has commented on my Free Mexican Companies post - I was rather happy with that one....
Glen
Moderator
the companies might make for an interesting sub culture if they aren't welcome back in to Mexico. also is Castellanos supposed to have a tilde? if not i can think of some nasty insults involving the last for digits
It doesn't have a tilde so feel free to create some propaganda!
And yes, they could make an interesting subculture. Thanks!
Glen
Moderator
Despite the use of the term Republican, it is actually more like Totalitarians versus Democrats.
Glen
Congratulations on the Turtledove. Well earned. Been away a few days so just catching up now.
On the Brazilian invasion you could simply have it attempted and fail totally. Something like Korgaardistism could well see some 'brilliant leader' decide that its a valid operation and the determination and commitment to the cause of the devout Korgaarists will see them through mere material short-falls. After all its happened often enough in recent history.
The Mexican free companies are an interesting twist and could well be very important in the outcome of the following peace. If as seems likely the good guys come out on top, at least in the Americas, then they could form the core of a new free Mexican government. Think this is better than the alternatives of the victors having to occupy parts of it or a vengeful/nervous DSA deciding to remove a few border areas from Mexico and the lasting tension that could cause.
Steve
Congratulations on the Turtledove. Well earned. Been away a few days so just catching up now.
On the Brazilian invasion you could simply have it attempted and fail totally. Something like Korgaardistism could well see some 'brilliant leader' decide that its a valid operation and the determination and commitment to the cause of the devout Korgaarists will see them through mere material short-falls. After all its happened often enough in recent history.
The Mexican free companies are an interesting twist and could well be very important in the outcome of the following peace. If as seems likely the good guys come out on top, at least in the Americas, then they could form the core of a new free Mexican government. Think this is better than the alternatives of the victors having to occupy parts of it or a vengeful/nervous DSA deciding to remove a few border areas from Mexico and the lasting tension that could cause.
Steve
Pardon me for asking this, but what exactly is your distinction between Republican and Democrat? The only possible difference I could suggest is using "Democrat" to mean "Constitutional Monarchist" but your own use of the term "Republican" seems to have eliminated that possibility.