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Apologies about the several month hiatus, I have been hemmed in by uni and work but now I have a bit more time on my hand to resume writing this TL. Here is the next update!

1908 Global Theatre Part Two - Split

July: With their economy booming, the Ottomans are able to pay off a part of their public debt early. They are also able to begin a modernisation program of their military.

July: Battle of Beijing: The Japanese resume their advance on Beijing in a frontal assault believing that their superiority in artillery will allow them to easily breakthrough. The Imperial Japanese Navy is brought in for coastal bombardment for added firepower. However, the Republican Chinese repel the attacks with heavy casualties.

July: Having been continually fighting a war for most of the past several years, along with the costs of maintaining the occupation of Manchuria and Pacific Russia, war weariness is starting to show in Japan. Anti war demonstrations begin to organise.

August: Battle of Beijing: The Japanese finally breakthrough through sheer volume of firepower the Republican lines and enter Beijing, but house to house fighting is fierce, with Japanese casualties skyrocketing.

August: Battle of Shandong: In an attempt to divert Republican reserves from Beijing, the Japanese attack in the direction of Jinan. Despite early advances, the assault stalls after a few days.

September: Despite pressure to launch an attack north to help the Japanese, the Revolutionary Chinese instead opt to recuperate their forces for an ambitious planned campaign to reunify China in the next year.

September: Battle of Shandong: The Battle of Shandong ends with the Japanese calling off their offensive.

October: Battle of Beijing: Beijing finally falls to the Japanese but has basically been destroyed by house to house fighting. The Japanese do not attempt to renew the offensive but instead dig in to lick their wounds.

October: As news of the horrific losses reach home, the anti-war protests in Japan rapidly swell in size. As the Japanese economy has already been strained by the war, the government is fearful that the protests will paralyse the economy. A cease fire is agreed upon with the Republican Chinese, but a peace agreement is never made, leaving the Japanese in occupation of Beijing.

November: With news of the Japanese ceasefire, the Revolutionary Chinese have no choice but to enter in a ceasefire with the Republicans. China is effectively left split into two for the next several years.

November: William Howard Taft is elected 27th President of the United States.

December: The Ottomans enter into a military and economic pact with Turkestan.