Why the Chinese play cricket (an Imperial Federation timeline)

[Miss Construction]

~Jan-June 1887: Walking a fine line

January 1887: The reorganisation of the Indian army under the Wolseley Report is completed. The Presidential army are combined into a single unified force consisting of the single cavalry battalion Viceroy's Bodyguard, 22 dual battalion cavalry regiments, 72 dual battalion infantry regiments, the existing ten dual battalion Gurkha regiments, eighteen mountain artillery batteries and the Corps of Guides consisting of two infantry and two cavalry battalions and a single mountain artillery battery. With it widely expected a new British service rifle will be adopted shortly, the upgrading of the Indian army's weapons is delayed until this matter is settled.

January 1887: Since Italian unification in 1861, the new kingdom has been seeking to establish its own colonial empire. As part of this plan, control of the port of Assab was established in 1869. With the Egyptian withdrawal from Sudan they have extended their control to the former Egyptian port of Nassawa with tacit British approval. However this territory is also claimed by the Abyssinians. An Abyssinian force under Ras Alula of some 14,000 men moves to secure the region. They encounter a small Italian force of some 500-600 men at Dogali. Though well armed with modern rifles and artillery the Italians are eventually overwhelmed by weight of number with only a handful escaping alive. However Ras Alula has acted without Emperor Yohannes IV's permission and is ordered to halt. This will allow the Italians time to reinforce their position and prepare a full expedition to secure Eritrea.

February 1887: The Abyssinians under Yohannes IV's vassal Tekle Haymanot of Gojjam launch a successful counter offensive which drives the Mahdists from Abyssinia. However this is halted by Yohannes IV, fearing Haymanot may become too powerful and threaten his position, along with his growing concerns about Italian encroachment on his territory. As a result the Mahdist army is able to escape without crippling losses.

February 1887: The Guangxu Emperor has reached the age of majority and returned to China to begin his reign, despite his desire to remain in Britain and continue his education. Seeking both to increase the influence of her maternal family at court and establish her control over the Emperor, Dowager Empress Cixi attempts to force him to take her niece Jingfen of the Yehe Nara clan as his Empress. The Emperor however immediately detests her and exercises his power as Emperor to simply refuse. Cixi, fearing loss of her own power and is convinced his exposure to Western ideas will lead him to introduce radical reform. She capitalised on his wishes to continue his education and suggests he should return to Britain. Consequently he is allowed to return and enter the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich while Cixi begins attempting to gain sufficient support in the Qing court to have him deposed and replaced with a more 'suitable' Emperor. A secondary result of his admission to Woolwich will be Britain allowing Chinese cadets to attend British naval and military academies.

March 1887: In accordance with the compromise worked out between Lord Salisbury and Prime Minister Campbell-Bannerman, the Local Government Bill is reintroduced, modified to extended representative local government to all of the United Kingdom. Despite some opposition in the Lords, the compromise holds and the bill is passed into law. The first elections under the new law are to be held in September.

March 1887: Allan Hume a retired member of the Indian Civil Servant and prominent member of the moderate nationalist British Indian Association, recognising the massive inefficiency involved with shipping Indian to British textile mills, uses the Imperial Development Act to finance the construction of a huge textile mill in Bombay. With the advantages of lower labour costs and proximity to raw materials, the mill rapidly becomes one of the most successful in the Empire. Hume makes a point of employing as many Indians as possible in senior positions, as well as paying his employees well and providing extensive social support for them. His success will encourage other British, Indian and Anglo-Indian to follow his example.

April 1887: US anarchist exiles Lucy Parsons and Johann Most begin working with British anarchists such as Frank Kitz, Thomas Cantwell, Charlotte Wilson, and Henry Seymour as well as émigrés such as Peter Kropotkin and Francesco Saverio, aiming to resurrect the International Working People's Association. The British anarchists, who have just taken control of the Socialist League agree reform the IWPA with the aim of building contacts with anarchist groups in Europe.

April 1887: An obscure French police inspector, Guillaume Schaebelé, is arrested by German secret police on the German border will travelling to attend a meeting at the invitation of a local German police official. The arrest provokes fury in France and the affair quickly escalates, with provocative and inflammatory language flying on both sides. A proposal by French War Minister Georges Boulanger to issue an ultimatum demanding his release and apology is defeated in the French cabinet by a single vote, as is a similar proposal by Boulanger to mobilise an army corps, either of which would have almost certainly resulted in a war France was ill prepared for. Thankfully Schaebelé is released a week later, with the Germans stating while his arrest was justified, he was released on the grounds meetings between frontier officials were protected by mutually assured safe conduct. The French public however believe the Germans backed down because of Boulanger's hard line stance, and he quickly becomes a national hero. However, fearful his extreme position might provoke war, he is removed as War Minister in July and dispatched to the provinces. This however only serves to increase his popularity.

April 1887: Strategic thinking in the US navy has been increasingly moving away from its previous doctrine of focus on coast defence and commerce raiding in favour of the traditional battle fleet as advocated by Admiral Alfred Mahan. In a continued effort to expand the US navy to world rank, US Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Harrison presents his naval estimates to Congress. Yet again his program is cut back but he is successful in obtaining another pair of armoured cruisers, a single monitor, yet again supposedly just a 'repair,' three cruisers and twelve additional torpedo boats. There is also criticism of the time being taken to construct these new ships as only one cruiser and a single gunboat ordered since 1883 have so far entered service. Comparison is made with the British who in the same time have added four battleships, eight cruisers and numerous smaller vessels to their fleet.

May 1887: The French introduce the Fusil d'Infanterie Modèle 1886 dit “Fusil Lebel” using revolutionary 8x50mmR Lebel small bore smokeless powder cartridge, instantly making all existing military rifles obsolete. Despite its radical new ammunition, the Lebel has been rushed into service at the insistence of War Minister Georges Boulanger and retains a number of obsolete features such as an eight round tubular magazine, heavily tapered rimmed cartridge which is simply a necked down version of the previous 11x59mmR cartridge, and action taken from the 1874 Gras rifle with the addition of two front locking lugs. Consequently the Mle 1886 Lebel will be very quickly outclassed by other designs. Despite his interference having seriously hampered the rifle, its revolutionary nature will be credited to Boulanger, even further increasing his support.

May 1887: Seeking to repeat his success with Peru, President Blaine attempts to negotiate a similar treaty with Argentina, hoping to capitalise on their growing rivalry with Chile to bring them into his anti Anglo-Chilean bloc. Though the Argentine President Julio Roca is warm to the idea, he is also acutely aware of the importance of Britain as a market for Argentine exports and especially continued British investment in the booming Argentine economy. With these matters in mind he politely declines the US approach.

June 1887: Despite his hopes that the promise of the introduction of representative local government would calm the situation, Campbell-Bannerman's attempts to negotiate an end to the Plan of Campaign land protests in Ireland have failed. While still rejecting calls for a new Coercion Act, he introduces the Public Order (Financial Accounts) Bill in an effort to end the unrest by starving it of money, The bill allows for the courts to freeze the accounts of any person or group in England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales found to be acting with the “intent to create public disorder.” The bill is opposed by both Irish parties and many within Campbell-Bannerman's own Liberal Party, however it is eventually passed in September with support from the Progressives and Conservatives. However the government holds off using its provisions, hoping the threat will be sufficient to restore order. In an effort to gather support with the Irish parties, he stresses to both William Shaw and Charles Parnell that their be no practical possibility of gaining sufficient support for further Irish reform as long as the unrest persists. While he is successful in convincing Shaw to speak against the Plan of Campaign, Parnell rejects this and the Irish Home Rule Party continues to publicly support it. However, Shaw's stand against the campaign will lead to another six MPs defecting from his Irish Reform Party to the Irish Home Rule Party.

June 1887: The breakup of Zululand into smaller chieftainships has led to continual fighting between the various chiefs. There have been several attempts to curb this bloodshed, including returning the Zulu king Cetshwayo to the throne in 1882, however none have proved successful. Cetshwayo's son Dinuzulu, who succeeded him in 1884, forms an alliance with the Transvaal Boers under Louis Botha to expand his territory. In return for their aid he grants them considerable territory. Concerned at the prospect of the Boers gaining access to the sea, the British formally annex Zululand as a colony.

 

[lusitano 1996]

China as a great power in the future is scary

 

[Miss Construction]

China as a great power in the future is scary

China has a long road ahead of it before it gets there

 

[mudhead]

an eight round tubular magazine, heavily tapered rimmed cartridge which is simply a necked down version of the previous 11x59mmR cartridge

The rim was needed to tip the cartridges at an angle within the magazine - otherwise the bullet noses would be rammed up against the centre fire primers, possibly with disastrous effects. Tube magazines only really worked with rimfire rounds, and no one wanted to go back to them.

Lots of small arms stuff in this - not that I'm complaining.

 

[L4a1]

The rim was needed to tip the cartridges at an angle within the magazine - otherwise the bullet noses would be rammed up against the centre fire primers, possibly with disastrous effects. Tube magazines only really worked with rimfire rounds, and no one wanted to go back to them.

Lots of small arms stuff in this - not that I'm complaining.

Tube magazines work fine with center fire cartridges as long as the bullets are flat nosed*. This only really becomes an issue with the introduction of spitzer bullets.
*Or are modern plastic tipped pointed bullets.

 

[Miss Construction]

The rim was needed to tip the cartridges at an angle within the magazine - otherwise the bullet noses would be rammed up against the centre fire primers, possibly with disastrous effects. Tube magazines only really worked with rimfire rounds, and no one wanted to go back to them.

Lots of small arms stuff in this - not that I'm complaining.

Tube magazines work fine with center fire cartridges as long as the bullets are flat nosed*. This only really becomes an issue with the introduction of spitzer bullets.
*Or are modern plastic tipped pointed bullets.

I believe chain fire was much less of a problem than was thought at the time. However people were kind of paranoid about it.

Yes there does seem to be a lot of small arms stuff. A lot more of it is ending up on the cutting room floor though. Basically I have the word count. And I'm trying to restrict it to significant small arms developments such the Mannlicher en-bloc clip, Lebel with smokeless powder and small bore, Commission rifle with rimless ammo, Mauser 1889 with stripper clips etc. The Lee Metford and Krag will also feature. But nothing else needs more than a passing mention till we get to automatic weapons

 

[Miss Construction]

~July-Dec 1887: Power plays

July 1887: Simultaneously with his attempt to bring Argentina into his anti Anglo-Chilean bloc, President Blaine has been making overtures to the Brazilians. Brazilian Prime Minister João Correia de Oliveira, like the Argentine President Roca is well aware of the importance of Britain to Brazil. With the ongoing South American Naval Arms Race and a growing issue with ill-discipline in the Brazilian military he is willing to entertain some form of assistance in reforming the military, though unwilling to enter a formal treaty arrangement. While far less than Blaine had desired, he agrees to to dispatch US military mission, hoping it will be just the fist step in wooing Brazil over. When the US mission arrives they are shocked at the politicisation of the Brazilian army, along with the lack of discipline and professionalism, reaching all the way to the most senior levels. It is particularly noticeable given the reputation for professionalism the Brazilians had during the 1860s and 70s. The US advisers will immediately set about trying to rectify this, but are seriously hampered by the level to which it reaches.

July 1887: The poor initial British response to the Russian actions at Panjdeh has convinced Emir Mohammad Ayub Khan the British can not be relied upon and resolves to re-establish Afghan independence. After the Russian war scare the British garrison has been set at two battalions infantry, a squadron of cavalry, plus some support units, with around 200 troops in Kabul. Ayub has made extensive contacts with Afghan tribal leaders in preparation for his uprising, but also included his cousin Abdur Rahman Khan in his planning. Ayub launches his campaign by attempting to seize the British mission in Kabul and hold them as hostages, however Rahman forewarns the British who prepare a defence of the Residency. The assault on the Residency lasts twenty hours and results in the entire British garrison being wiped out. Meanwhile Brahman seizes the city of Herat and declares for the British. The British response is swift, with a field force under General Michael Biddulph organised to crush Ayab's revolt, while the remaining British forces concentrate on Khandahar.

August 1887: Campbell-Bannerman's government passes the Workplace Disputes Act. This act prohibits the firing or blacklisting of striking workers. The act is hailed as a major advance for workers rights, though attempts to include compulsory mediation is defeated by Conservative opposition in the Lords.

August 1887: At Italian instigation, Yohannes IV's vassals, Menelik of Shewa and Takle Haymanot of Gojjam, enter a defensive alliance. Fearing this is part of a plot to overthrow him, Yohannes IV crosses into Gojjam and devastates the region. This causes Haymanot to abandon the alliance and submit to the Emperor. However Menelik negotiates a secret treaty with the Italians who promise to supply him arms in return for his neutrality in any conflict with Yohannes IV.

August 1887: Since the end of the War of the Pacific, the Chileans have been attempting to strengthen their relationships with Colombia and Ecuador, both of whom have border disputes with Peru. These efforts were redoubled in the wake of the Panama Crisis and break with the US. These efforts are beginning to show signs of success. In the case of Ecuador, there has been an increase in military ties, with the Chileans sending instructors to train the Ecuadorian army and selling surplus military equipment. However, the Ecuadorians have adopted a cautious approach, mindful of the risks of antagonising the increasingly bellicose US government. On the other hand with the Colombians, grateful for Chilean intervention in the Panama Crisis and now highly suspicious of US intentions, these approaches have yielded far greater success. As a result a formal Treaty of Cooperation is signed, establishing a permanent Chilean military training mission in Colombia and the two countries agreeing to adopt a common policy in the event of “foreign threats.” This last being interpreted as meaning Peru and the US.

August 1887: Continued agitation in the press over the US naval building program finally forces the British to respond, albeit modestly. The 1887 program includes two new battleships, six 1st class protected cruisers and eight 3rd class cruisers. Additionally funds are provided to upgrade the defences and dockyard at Bermuda. The battleships are essentially repeats of the previous year's Trafalgar class with their main armament fitted in barbettes rather than turrets in an attempt to determine which approach is superior. It is found the reduction in weight will allow a higher free board, greatly improving sea keeping. As a result no further turret ships will be built for the Royal Navy.

September 1887: Emir Ayub Khan attempts to stop the British advance before they reach Jalalabad, However his forces are scattered at the Battle of Sangar, leaving the way to Kabul open. Ayub retreats toward Kandahar, to gather further reinforcements. Unfortunately he is hampered by the actions of his cousin, Rahman Khan and now secured much of western Afghanistan.

September 1887: Secretary of State for India Lord Northbrook attempts to begin the implementation of his 1879 report into the administration of India. He proposes to cabinet a bill reshaping the Indian Provincial Legislative Councils along the lines he recommended. Campbell-Bannerman is however aware such a bill would be fiercely opposed in Parliament and is unwilling to spark another constitutional crisis. He therefore arranges private discussions with Conservative leader Lord Salisbury and head of the Progressives Gladstone, as well as William Shaw and Charles Parnell of the Irish parties to determine what would possible. Eventually a deal is worked out, acceptable to all sides. The Indian Provincial Councils will be expanded to thirty six members, twenty of whom will be Indian. With eight of those directly elected. However the Provincial governors will retain a veto over all matters relating to law and order or finances, with the reserve power to act on these without Council approval if necessary. The requisite Indian Councils Bill will be introduced early in 1888 and passed into law near the end of the year. However, uncomfortable with the increasing radicalism of Campbell-Bannerman's government. Randolph Churchill resigns his position as Colonial Secretary. He is replaced by Charles Dilke.

October 1887: Despite the ships ordered from the French having already stretched their budget, continued US encouragement results in the Brazilians ordering two further protected cruisers from US yards. These ships are based on the USS San Francisco ordered in 1886 and currently under construction.

October 1887: With the backing of President Blaine, US settlers stage a coup in Hawai'i attempting to force King Kalākaua into signing a new constitution, disenfranchising the vast majority of Hawai'ians. The King however refuses to yield. At this point Blaine orders US sailors at the Pearl arbour naval base to assist the settlers and the Hawai'ian monarchy is overthrown and a settler controlled republic declared. In an act which greatly increases tensions with the US, British Foreign Secretary Joseph Chamberlain refuses to acknowledge the legitimacy of the new Hawai'ian Republic, instead calling for a restoration of the monarch with negotiations between the King and settlers to resolve the crisis.

November 1887: With the current Enfield revolver introduced in 1880 proving extremely unsatisfactory in service, the British adopt the top break double action Webley revolver in 0.455” (11.55x19.3mmR) Webley. With its heavy slow moving bullet going against the European trend for smaller faster rounds, the Webley quickly develops a reputation as an effective “man-stopper” in colonial conflicts.

November 1887: Working in London with the support of British physicist Joseph Swan, Nikola Tesla develops a radical new AC induction motor. Swan immediately recognises the potential of this device to solve one of the major hurdles to the implementation of an AC power grid and sells his shares in Edison and Swan Electric Light Company to Edison so he work on this project exclusively. He founds a new company, Swan Electrical to develop Tesla's device, immediately applying for a patent in Britain, Europe and the US in his and Tesla's names.

December 1887: Campbell-Bannerman's hope that the threat of having their financial assets frozen would lead to the Irish Land League being willing to negotiate an end to the Plan of Campaign have proven false and, while the introduction of representative local government has helped ease tensions to a degree, unrest in Ireland is still posing a considerable problem, with violence becoming far more common. Seeing no other option he reluctantly instructs the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to bring a case against the Irish Land League and its leaders under the new act.

 

[Miss Construction]

Very very minor update, basically only for "correctness" I've given Mahdi Muhammad Ahmad's successor Abdullah Ibn-Mohammed his correct title of Khalifa rather than referring to him as a second Mahdi.

June 1885: Mahdi Muhammad Ahmad dies unexpectedly of typhus. He is succeeded by Abdullah Ibn-Mohammed, taking the title of Khalifa. However he is challenged by unrest and revolts, requiring several years to fully establish his control.

=McUpdate=

 

[Miss Construction]

Sorry I haven't updated in a few days. Been spending some quality time with my SO. Plus decided that 3rd Iteration RPG is useable with a little polishing, so been working on that too. Not sure what I'll do with it though lol.

 

[Miss Construction]

Well first off an apology. I haven't yet again abandoned this, I just got kidnapped by another writing, the rpg version of 3rd It of this actually. Probably did something like 50-60K words in four days. But that is going to take months to finish, so on the back burner and limited hours allocated. An update will follow this.

However there is something I just HAVE to share, and well here is full of nerdy and geeky goodness and some might actually understand. I spent several years at high school learning Latin. That was over 40 years ago and about all I can remember are things like “My that's a very large amount of corn.”

But during all that work on said rpg I decided I wanted to group incubi and succubi together as a single creature type. So I wanted a gender neutral name for them. A brief google hunt gave nothing useful. Soooo, with beating heart I fell back on my unbelievably rusty Latin. I started with Incubus from the Latin incubare 'to lie on.' then succubus from the Latin suc “under' and cubare 'to lie' giving succubare 'to lie under. Then braving the nightmare which is Latin inflection, starting with cubare and trying to apply the correct case etc I got accubare “to lie with or near' giving accubus as the gender neutral version.

Then of course I realised there are heaps of free Latin grammar sites online and I could have just looked it up. And well I did, and hey looks like I got it right. So after 40+ years I FINALLY got to use my high school Latin. Plus I got what I think is an acceptable mid to highish boss critta for my rpg

Accubi

Mundane mythology divides these creatures into succubi and incubi according to gender but in truth, they are the same kind of creature. A female accubus is no more different from a male accubus than a female human is different from a male human. Accubi are usually considered the most dangerous of all Otherworld creatures bring royalty. They are the least vulnerably to UV and water and their nature make them difficult to uncover. As with all Otherworld creatures, they need to drain virya to survive. But they alone rarely kill their victims in an attack, so unlike the other Otherworld nobility, they do not leave a trail of bodies in their wake. Being sexually intimate with an accubus drains 1D3 virya every minute. However an accubus will normally only drain a person to unconsciousness and then stop. However accubi are driven by a very intense sexual need. It is far from unknown for them to drain a lover to unconsciousness, still be unsatisfied, then lose control and drain their victim completely.

As with most Otherworld creatures, most mundane myths about accubi are just myths. They can not invade dreams nor are they solely motived by sexual desire. Also they are in fact bisexual, it is just humans traditionally are more open to heterosexual partners., Accubi can be and often are attentive and even caring lovers, though monogamy is not a trait of theirs. There are two reasons for this. Firstly they are motivated to secure a long term source of virya to sustain them. Killing or mistreating their victims is directly contrary to this. Secondly, as with all Otherworld nobles, they are drawn to power, However they shun the elaborate scheming and hunt for personal power of vampires. They prefer to gradually corrupt those humans who have power, binding their victims to do their bidding willingly. They seek power indirectly through their lovers.

Another mundane myth concerns cambion, children conceived by a human and accubus. These are not twisted demonic hybrids. They are volatile, passionate and have high levels of sexual desire. But they have no more innate tendency toward malice than any other human. On the other hand they do have an innate tendency toward magic. Some of the greatest Mages have been such cambion, Myrrdin is perhaps the most famous. Many Wild Talents are conceived in this manner.

They also have the ability to shapeshift, at least to a degree. They can alter their physical appearance to make make themselves more attractive to a potential victim, or to throw a Hunter off their trail. There is uncertainty as to how far this shapeshifting ability goes. No accubus has ever been seen in any form other than human, even after death they retain human form. If this is their natural form, it would make them truly unique among Otherworld creatures.

For all their power, accubi do have vulnerabilities. Curiously the most dangerous is their inability to be monogamous. An accubus will always have multiple lovers. This risks inflaming the very human trait of jealousy, and thus exposing their nature to nearby Hunters. Plus a mundane weapon is quite capable of killing an accubus. Their habit of losing control and totally draining their victim is another. The marks of such a death are subtle but unmistakable to any arcane. Another weakness is their nearly universal habit of almost entirely expending their virya before sex, if an accubus can be caught while having sex, their virya may well be very low. Unpolluted fresh water robs them of their ability to perform magic and leaves them senselessly intoxicated. If more than one quarter of their body is immersed, they will suffer 2D3 damage every action round. Direct sunlight causes them considerable pain, forcing them to continually squint unless in shade or wearing eye protection. The UV from sunlight will cause severe sunburn within an hour, and more intense sources, cause at least 1D3 damage per action round.

Characteristics
Physical: 1D3+1
Agility: 1D4+3
Mental: 1D3+2
Sensitivity: 1D3+2

Talents
Athletics: 1D3+2
Combat: 1D3
Cultural: 1D3+1
Intrusion: 1D4+2
Lore: 1d4+2
Musketry: 1D3
Perception: 1D6
Social: 1D3+3
Stealth: 1D6

Gifts
Charms: 1D4+3
Divination: 1D3+1
Illusion: 1D4+2
Kinemancy: 1D4+3
Scrying: 1D4
Viryamancy: 1D4
Warding: 1D6
Ziomancy: 1D3+3

 

[Miss Construction]

~Jan-June 1888: A question of security

January 1888: Emir Ayub Khan's army of 4,000 Afghan regulars supported by some 12,000 tribesmen is finally defeated by General Michael Biddulph at the Battle of Kandahar, bringing the Third Anglo-Afghan War to an end. With the country secure once more, the British are left to decide Afghanistan's fate again. As in 1880, the are calls for the country to be partitioned or formally annexed as a colony. Eventually it is decided the best course is to annex large portions and leave a rump state as a buffer with the Russians. The Baluch region are added to the Indian province of Baluchistan while most of the Pashtun regions will be combined with the Pashtun regions of the Punjab to create a new Indian province of Pashtunistan. Rahman Khan is installed as the new Emir of the rump Afghanistan, but under the authority of a British resident. The existing Afghan army is disbanded with a new force of eight infantry and one cavalry battalion to be recruited and three infantry regiments raised from Pashtunistan as part of the Indian army.

January 1888: With Gojjam having been devastated by Yohannes IV, the Mahdists renew their invasion. Talke Haymanot's forces are defeated at the Battle of Sarweha, leaving north west Abyssinia open to invasion. The Mahdists then sack the city of Gondar, enslaving thousands of Christians. Unable to stop the Mahdists, Haymanot appeals to Yohannes IV for assistance.

January 1888: Since the very early 1870s the Germans have desired to build a railway linking Berlin Baghdad. This will not only give them access to a warm water port on the Persian Gulf, it will enable them to exploit the vast oil reserves suspected to lie in Mesopotamia. While a rail connection from Berlin to Constantinople already exists, there is no link from Constantinople to Baghdad. The Ottomans are also keen and willing to subsidise such a project as it will greatly improve communications within the Empire. Work, funded by Deutsches Bank, begins on the first stage, Constantinople to Ankara.

February 1888: The US settler controlled Republic of Hawai'i appeals to the US for annexation. President Blaine asks Congress for a resolution authorising the immediate incorporation of the islands The resolution is passed five days later and Blaine declares the creation of the Territory of Hawai'i. The annexation greatly alarms the Pacific Dominions, and the Federal Council of Australasia meets in Hobart to discuss the matter. The Council resolves they, along with the individual Dominion governments, should petition the Imperial government expressing their concerns in the strongest terms. Campbell-Bannerman's cabinet discusses these petitions at length. The majority of cabinet are likewise concerned by the annexation and the increasingly hostile attitude of the Blaine administration. Nonetheless they are also mindful of the potential consequences of antagonising the US, especially regarding Canada. They resolve that a full response should only be made after consultations with the Dominions at the upcoming Imperial Conference. In the interim they issue a statement which neither accepts nor rejects the legitimacy of the US move, calling for the rights of the Hawai'ians to be respected and a speedy resolution of the fate of the Islands.

February 1888: Against expectations, the case under against the Irish Land League under Public Order (Financial Accounts) Act proves to be far less straight forward than thought. The case hinges on the precise wording of the act, specifically the phrase “intent to create public disorder.” The Land League's lead advocate, Charles Russell, argues while the Plan of Campaign may have created public disorder, this was not the Land League's intent. Their intent was to bring about peaceful negotiations. The case is heard by Lord Morris in the Court of Queen's Bench. In a lengthy decision Lord Morris finds Russell's argument on intent is highly persuasive. But while public unrest was likely not the original intent, the Land Leagues rejection of all attempts to reach a compromise as unrest grew is proof of intent as the campaign continued. Consequently he grants the government's petition to freeze the accounts frozen. While the Land League will try to evade the order by using proxies, the government will have the order extended to include these. With this, Campbell-Bannerman's response to Irish unrest will eventually prove successful, as the Land League unable to continue its campaign as finances become critical. The Plan of Campaign will be over by the end of the year. Despite the government's apparent victory, the affair will considerably increase support for the radical nationalists in Ireland.

March 1888: German Emperor Wilhelm I dies and is succeeded by his liberal son Frederick III. Many expect him to launch a program of reform, transforming Germany into a democratic constitutional monarchy like Britain. However he will himself die 99 days later, leaving the throne to his authoritarian son Wilhelm II.

March 1888: General Garnet Wolseley is appointed as Adjutant-General of the British army. In one of his first acts he orders the purchase of 240 Maxim machine guns chambered for the 0.45” (11.43x60mmR) Machine Gun cartridge. With no clear doctrine for using these new weapons, he order one attached to each infantry or cavalry battalion and the remaining 60 formed into ten batteries each of six guns with the Royal Artillery. It is hoped this will eventually determine whether the machine gun should be treated as an artillery piece or a small arm. The existing stocks of manually operated Gatling, Gadrner and Nordenfelt machine guns are to be issued on the same scale to the territorials and yeomanry.

March 1888: Faced with the difficulties of laying the undersea telegraph cable from Vancouver to Sydney required to complete the All Red Line, the Trans Pacific Cable Company is formed to deal with the challenge. The British government takes a 30% shareholding, Canada 15%, the Pacific Dominions and Fiji another 15%, with the remaining 40% floated for private investors. The new company orders the design of a class of two new cable ships. These ships are to be specifically designed for the task and fitted with the latest cable laying technology. While these vessels are being constructed, work begins on establishing a repeater station on uninhabited Fanning Island in the Gilbert and Ellis group.

March 1888: With some 20,000 troops now in Eritrea, the Italians have been slowly moving to occupy the region. Yohannes IV has been massing his forces to oppose them, ordering his vassal Menelik to guard against them while he gathers his army. But when word reaches him of the Mahdist invasion and he abandons his campaign against the Italians, ordering Menelik to contain them. However due to their secret alliance with Menelik, the Italians are able to occupy large parts of Eritrea virtually unopposed.

April 1888: With relations between the US and British continuing to deteriorate, the Blaine administration is able to gain authorisation for another two armoured cruisers and six other cruisers in the 1888 naval program. These vessels are heavily influenced by French practice, including prominent ram bows. However questions are beginning to be raised as to whether the rapid US naval build up is itself contributing to the worsening relations with the British.

April 1888: Italian physicist Galileo Farraris punishes a paper describing an AC induction motor very similar to Tesla's. Joseph Swan quickly obtains the patent rights to the device. With it a practical AC power distribution system is developed, Swan commissions Sebastian de Ferranti to oversee the construction of the worlds first central power station. Unlike DC power stations, the Deptford station will be able to supply power to large area without a significant voltage drop. This system will rapidly displace DC power systems in Britain and the Empire.

April 1888: Campbell-Bannerman has been a long time supporter of women's suffrage. Feeling he has sufficient backing in Parliament to implement it in at least some form, he introduces the Representation of the People (Women) Bill. The bill would enfranchise women who meet the same property qualifications as men, or who's husbands qualify for the vote. However, as Women's suffrage is highly controversial, it sets the age of eligibility for women at thirty. Though Campbell-Bannerman has underestimated the level of support, not anticipating the opposition of many Irish MPs, he is still able to get the bill narrowly passed by the Commons. However it is rejected by the Conservative dominated Lords. While the result is deeply disappointing for the Women's suffrage movement and Campbell-Bannerman personally, he is unwilling to trigger a constitutional crisis over the power of the Lords. Fortunately however, Lord Salisbury is equally as concerned by the prospect of such a crisis and assures the Prime Minister this power will be only used sparingly, on matters the Conservatives consider critical.

May 1888: Brazilian Minister of War Deodoro da Fonseca, after receiving a large bribe, orders 120,000 Lebel rifles for the Brazilian army for 150 francs {£6.91}, well over their regular price. The contract stipulates delivery should be made within the year.

June 1888: Despite the 1881 boundary treaty theoretically having resolved the issue of control of the Straits of Magellan, the dispute has reignited. The Argentines, supported by the US, have adopted an interpretation of the treaty which places the approaches to the Atlantic end of the the Straits in their territorial waters. Consequently tensions between Argentina and Chile are again increasing, fueling the ongoing South American Naval Arm Race, In a continued effort to strengthen their fleet, Argentina orders two more cruisers. Despite President Blaine's continuing efforts to have orders placed in US yards, the ships are to be built at Armstrong Mitchell in Britain. The Veinticinco de Mayo class are based on the cruiser Piedmonte under construction by Armstrong Mitchell for the Italians and featuring an armament entirely of quick firing guns.

 

[Analytical Engine]

Grrr to the Lords, always holding things up.

 

[Stark]

These tiny subplots (like my favorite All Red Line) really make the timeline alive. Great stuff

 

[Miss Construction]

Grrr to the Lords, always holding things up.

The issue with the Lords will sooner or later come to a head. In the OTL it was 1911. I suspect a lot sooner ITTL

 

[Miss Construction]

These tiny subplots (like my favorite All Red Line) really make the timeline alive. Great stuff

The South American Naval Arms Race is liable to be a fun one. I also like the anarchist communist rivalry bubbling along. Canada trying to get free trade with the US

 

[Analytical Engine]

The issue with the Lords will sooner or later come to a head. In the OTL it was 1911. I suspect a lot sooner ITTL

David Lloyd George intensifies.

 

[Miss Construction]

David Lloyd George intensifies.

The ground work for reform was actually laid by Campbell-Bannerman in 1907. Only what he wanted was WAY more radical than what Asquith brought in. Under CB's plan the Lords would have been essential stripped of all legislative functions. Allowed to debate a bill for a couple of months, but if they hadn't passed it by then, the Commons would have been able to just ignore them. Sadly he dies in 1908. However ITTL he's already PM and pushing for the opportunity to pull it off. The once he's had so far the Tory's basically backed down in return for some token alterations to the bill in question. he just needs to get the Lords to reject a bill sufficiently popular to guarantee him an election win if he goes to the polls. Looking down the TL with what I've written, it looks like the issue will be women's suffrage and it'll happen in the second half of the 1890s.

 

[Miss Construction]

~July-Dec 1888: Unpleasant surprises

July 1888: The Toronto Imperial Conference is dominated by the Hawai'ian situation. The hostile and expansionist policies of the US and Germany, combined with the recent Russian war scare have left the Pacific Dominions deeply concerned by matters of security. They call for a firm stand against US and German expansionism plus a substantial increase in the Australian Squadron. The Canadians are also concerned by security. However they argue strongly against any actions which might be perceived as hostile by the US, instead suggesting a far more conciliatory approach, seeking to improve relations. They claim the proposed increase in naval strength in the Pacific would in fact only worsen the situation. Queensland Premier Samuel Griffith has obtained a copy of the suppressed 1879 Carnarvon report into the navy. The revelations of the report spark outrage in every Dominion delegations, will allegations the Imperial government has betrayed its responsibilities. Attempted explanations by Colonial Secretary Charles Dilke and Foreign Secretary Joseph Chamberlain that the report was commissioned under the Disraeli government and that the naval estimates have increased since the Liberals took power are ignored. Eventually Jan Hofmeyr, part of the Cape Colony delegation proposes a solution. He suggests the Imperial government to embark on a serious program to renew the navy, including sustained construction to restore its strength. However the Australian Station should be only modestly bolstered to avoid US hostility, but steps should be taken to ensure it can be rapidly reinforced in a crisis. The Imperial government should also assist the Dominions in strengthening their own defences, to reaffirm their commitment to Imperial security, both to foreign powers and the Dominions.

July 1888: The Hofmeyr compromise is accepted by Conference as a solution, albeit somewhat reluctantly by the British, with the Pacific Dominions agreeing to contribute to the cost of the new ships for the Pacific. However all the Dominions argue that Imperial security is a matter of concern for the entire Empire, and the Imperial government should no longer act without regard to the Dominions, a position again accepted by the British. This will become the Toronto Doctrine in the Imperial constitutional framework. However both Chamberlain and Dilke express some concern. They point out international crises develop very quickly and the Imperial Conferences are only held biennially. This provokes some talk of holding the conferences annually, but it is argued this will not resolve the issue. Chamberlain suggests the formation of a permanent Imperial Security Council of Dominion and Imperial representatives with binding powers in a crisis. The Dominions are open to the possibility but unwilling to give it binding powers. Agreement is nevertheless reached to form such a council, but without binding powers. The revelations of the Carnarvon Report further increase the Dominions mistrust of the Imperial government left from the 1884 Sydney Conference, though the Imperial commitment to respect Dominion concerns in future does limit the damage. At the close it is decided the next conference should be held in 1890 at Durban in Natal Colony.

August 1888: During Lord Salisbury briefing after the Toronto Imperial Conference, the the Carnarvon Report, which the Dominions agreed to keep suppressed, features prominently. Campbell-Bannerman is reluctant to risk the arrangement with the Conservatives regarding reform legislation by releasing the highly damaging report. It is agreed a new report should be commissioned. Progressive MP and former First Lord of the Admiralty George Goschen is appointed to prepare the new report. Given the importance of the conference, Lord Salisbury suggests in future the Opposition also be represented at Imperial Conferences, a suggestion to which Campbell-Bannerman readily agrees.

August 1888: With the Plan of Campaign now clearly failing due to financial pressure and confident of Lord Salisbury's sincerity in his commitment to limiting blocking of legislation in the Lords, Campbell-Bannerman, in consultation with the Irish Reform Party, introduces further reforms to deal with the unrest in Ireland. Thus the Purchase of Land (Ireland) and Congested Districts (Ireland) Bills are introduced. The first provides a £40 million {£46,244,411} fund for the government to purchase land in Ireland to be resold to tenants. It also empowers the Irish Land Court to sell bankrupt estates to tenants, providing loans for this purpose. The second bill establishes Congested District Boards to deal with poverty and overcrowded living conditions, particularly in the west of Ireland. These boards will engage in public works to improve infrastructure, encourage the adoption of modern agricultural techniques, work to improve fisheries and sponsor the development of local manufacturing and other industries to increase employment. Both bills easily pass in the commons, and true to Lord Salisbury's word, also pass the Lords in late November. It is noticeable the Irish Home Rule Party was not consulted in the drafting of these laws due to their support for the Plan of Campaign.

September 1888: With British assistance, the Qing begin construction of a modern arsenal capable of manufacturing small arms and small artillery pieces at Hanyang in the Hubei province.

September 1888: The policies of encouraging the development of Imperial markets has led the increasing importance of Imperial markets over those of Europe, gradually leading to refocusing of British attention away from Europe towards the Empire, particularly the huge market of India. This trend will greatly strengthen Britain's policy of 'splendid isolation' and avoiding European entanglements.

October 1888: In preparation for the upcoming Imperial Conference Natal Colony is granted responsible government, This leaves Fiji as the only Dominion without responsible Government.

October 1888: Seeking to limit British control over the Suez Canal, the French are able to gain sufficient support from the other Great Powers to pressure Britain into a conference in Constantinople over control of the canal. The resulting Suez Convention neutralises the canal, establishes an international commission to take actual control of the waterway, and guarantees access to all nations in peace and war. However the British only reluctantly accept the convention with the major reservation that it will not prevent them taking any action they feel necessary to defend or maintain public order in Egypt. This last reservation effectively prevents the convention having any legal effect.

October 1888: With most observers predicting incumbent Blaine will win a second term in the upcoming US Presidential elections and feeling they are falling behind the South American Naval Arms Race, the Chileans order another two protected cruisers from Armstrong Mitchell. Designed by Phillip Watts, the Angamos class will feature two 8” and ten 6” quick firing guns to outclass the Argentine ships ordered earlier in the year, also designed by Watts. This last aspect causes considerable anger in Argentina, with claims of corruption and duplicity on both the Chilean and British parts.

November 1888: Since the beginning of the 1880s, Argentina has seen unprecedented levels levels of foreign investment. In particular as much as 30% of British investment overseas has gone to Argentina. This, coupled with a shift from extensive to industrial agriculture has created a booming economy. However much of this investment has been speculative and created a massive investment bubble. Also the Argentine banks have allowed their cash ratios to fall to alarming level, often around 5-8% instead of the usual average of around 34% contributing to the fragility of the Argentine financial sector. Finally Banco Constructor de la Plata, one of the leading Argentine banks, defaults and collapses. The collapse leads to series of payment crises, with many other banks now also facing collapse. A consortium of international banks led by Barings Bank in London, intervenes. Pumping in cash in an effort to halt the collapse.

November 1888: In close election Grover Cleveland defeats incumbent US President James Blaine to become the first Democrat President since the Civil War. While the campaign focused primarily on domestic matters, such as civil service reform and the monopolistic practices of the 'robber barons,' for the first time foreign affairs featured heavily with the country evenly split between those supporting Blaine's aggressive approach and those concerned it is leading the US into conflict with the British. Eventually Cleveland's calls for domestic reforms won enough of the electorate over to give him the Presidency, though facing a Republican controlled Senate.

November 1888: The French Navy commissions the submarine Gymnôte. Designed by engineer Gustav Zédé, the Gymnôte is armed with two fixed 14" torpedo tubes and powered by a 41kW electric motor, the Gymnôte will be the worlds first practical military submarine. An experimental vessel, the Gymnôte will be subject to constant modifications throughout her career before being decommissioned in 1907 and turned into a museum ships at Toulon.

December 1888: Desperate to develop a match for the French Lebel rifle, the Germans hastily design the Gewehr 1888 'Commission Rifle.' Chambered for the 7.92x57mm Patronne 88 smokeless round, the first rimless military cartridge. The rifle however is unremarkable. An amalgam of several different designs, the rifle uses the action from the Mauser Gewehr 1871 modified by Louis Schlegelmich to feature front locking lugs, a barrel taken directly from the Lebel with a steel barrel jacket designed by Armand Mieg and finally a Mannlicher en-bloc clip for rapid loading. As the result of a patent dispute over the en-bloc clip with Österreichische Waffenfabriksgesellschaft (ÖWG, Austrian Arms-Manufacturing Company) who hold Mannlicher's patent on the clip, ÖWG will manufacture the rifle, with the exclusive right to produce it for export. There the bolt will be further modified by Otto Schönauer to resolve its outstanding issues and used for an entire family of rifles. While the Gew 1888 will be the world's most advanced rifle at adoption, its hasty design results in a number of serious problems, and like the Lebel, it will soon be outclassed.

 

[Miss Construction]

Well as I push forward, it looks like the Great Rapprochement which occurred between the British and the US in the late 1890s in the OTL is just not going to happen. It appears every time it gets off the ground, something happens to shoot it down. Big change is the Brits are just less willing to throw the Canadians under the bus to improve relations with the US and the US isn't willing to reduce protectionism to allow improved trade with the said Canadians.

 

[Miss Construction]

A minor change to the formation of the British trained Egyptian army. It became necessary to separate out which units were recruited from Egyptians and which from Sudanese

June 1886: The British begin reforming and retraining the Egyptian army. The new army is intended to include eight Egyptian and four Sudanese dual battalion infantry regiments, two dual battalion cavalry regiments, a single camel battalion, and eight artillery batteries. The new army is similar to the Indian with British officers in command of Egyptian troops. Like the Indian army however, the Egyptians will be equipped with obsolete British weapons.

=McUpdate=