Why the Chinese play cricket (an Imperial Federation timeline)
- Thread starter Miss Construction
- Start date
In a word, yes. And it is going to get worse.
Without putting too fine a point on it, future historians ITTL will come to regard Hantaux as one of the worst leaders France has had. Unfortunately the true extent of the damage he's doing will not become apparent for some time, after the Great War in all likelihood. His only saving grace is the Germans will fail to capitalise on the truly massive opportunity he is presenting them with. The combination of French and German arrogance in the run up to TTL's Great War will have an immense and lasting impact on Imperial foreign policy, leaving the Empire deeply averse to involvement in European affairs.
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At the end of the day any treaty is only valid if the signatories feel it in their best interest to comply. If the object of a given treaty is no longer felt to be in the national interest or if the cost of complying with a treaty is deemed to be greater then any benefit gained then a nation will find a way to either redefine the treaty to remove the pain point or to exit/repudiate the treaty.
Exactly this. In 1914 even before a single German soldier had set foot in Belgium, the British government had given themselves an 'out' from their guarantee of Belgian neutrality. As I said, while the British made a lot of propaganda from the "scrap of paper" comment, it was not inaccurate. A treaty, any treaty, is only worth the paper it is written on. If a country wants to ignore a treaty, they will, history is full of examples of exactly this.
Ottoman Navy 1870 to 1904
Battleships
Messudieh class (built in Britain)
9,100 tons, 6 (12) x 10" BL central battery, 2 (3) x 7” BL, 12" Iron belt, 2" Iron deck, 14 knots SE FT Coal
- Messudieh, ordered 1870, laid down 7/1872, commissioned 10/1880
- Memdouhied, ordered 1870, laid down 5/1872, purchased by Britain 7/1878
Hamideh class (built in Britain)
6,600 tons, 2 (4) x 9" BL central battery, 5 (10) x 6”, 2 x 14” TT aw, 9" Iron belt, 1" Iron deck, 13 knots SE FT Coal
- Hamideh, ordered 1870, laid down 3/1872, commissioned 7/1892
Messudieh class (rebuilt)
9,100 tons, 2 x 9.2", 6 (12) x 6”, 7 (14) x 3”, 8" Harvey belt, 2" Harvey deck, 16 knots TE WT Coal, main battery never fitted
- Messudieh, ordered 1870, laid down 7/1872, commissioned 10/1880, rebuilt 1892, begun 5/1893, recommissioned 11/1903.
Protected Cruisers
Medjidieh class (built in US)
3,300 tons, 2 x 6”, 4 (8) x 4.7”, 4 (8) x 4”, 1 (2) x 18” TT uw, 4" slope, 1.5" deck, 22 knots TE WT Coal
- Medjidieh, ordered 1900, laid down 11/1901, commissioned 5/1904
Abdul Hamid class (built in Britain)
3,800 tons, 2 x 6”, 4 (8) x 4.7”, 4 (8) x 4”, 1 (2) x 18” TT uw, 4" slope, 1.5" deck, 22 knots TE WT Coal
- Abdul Hamid, ordered 1900, laid down 4/1902, commissioned 4/1904
Unprotected Cruisers
Heibetnuma class
1,500 tons, 2 (3) x 6.7" BL, 3 (6) x 4.7”, 1 (2) x 14” TT aw, 0" belt, 0" deck, 14 knots TE FT Coal
- Heibetnuma, ordered 1880, laid down 7/1881, commissioned 11/1893, disposed 4/1911
Lutfi Humayun class
1,500 tons, 2 (3) x 6.7" BL, 3 (6) x 4.7”, 0" belt, 0" deck, 14 knots CE FT Coal
- Lutfi Humayun, ordered 1880, laid down 3/1882, commissioned 6/1894, disposed 4/1911
Greek Navy 1870 to 1904
Battleships
Spetsai class (built in France)
4,800 tons, 2 (3) x 10.8" barbette, 3 (5) x 6” BL, 2 (4) x 3.4”, 1 (3) x 14” TT aw 1 bow, 12" Steel belt, 2" Steel deck, 17 knots TE FT Coal
- Spetsai, ordered 1887, laid down 2/1888, commissioned 10/1894
- Psara, ordered 1887, laid down 10/1888, commissioned 5/1896
- Hydra, ordered 1887, laid down 4/1888, commissioned 2/1895
Unprotected Cruisers
Nauarchos Miaoulis class (built in France)
1,800 tons, 3 (4) x 6.7" BL, 3 (6) x 4.7”, 1 (3) x 14” TT aw 1 bow, 0" belt, 0" deck, 13.5 knots TE FT Coal
- Nauarchos Miaoulis, ordered 1878, laid down 9/1878, commissioned 2/1883
Battleships
Messudieh class (built in Britain)
9,100 tons, 6 (12) x 10" BL central battery, 2 (3) x 7” BL, 12" Iron belt, 2" Iron deck, 14 knots SE FT Coal
- Messudieh, ordered 1870, laid down 7/1872, commissioned 10/1880
- Memdouhied, ordered 1870, laid down 5/1872, purchased by Britain 7/1878
Hamideh class (built in Britain)
6,600 tons, 2 (4) x 9" BL central battery, 5 (10) x 6”, 2 x 14” TT aw, 9" Iron belt, 1" Iron deck, 13 knots SE FT Coal
- Hamideh, ordered 1870, laid down 3/1872, commissioned 7/1892
Messudieh class (rebuilt)
9,100 tons, 2 x 9.2", 6 (12) x 6”, 7 (14) x 3”, 8" Harvey belt, 2" Harvey deck, 16 knots TE WT Coal, main battery never fitted
- Messudieh, ordered 1870, laid down 7/1872, commissioned 10/1880, rebuilt 1892, begun 5/1893, recommissioned 11/1903.
Protected Cruisers
Medjidieh class (built in US)
3,300 tons, 2 x 6”, 4 (8) x 4.7”, 4 (8) x 4”, 1 (2) x 18” TT uw, 4" slope, 1.5" deck, 22 knots TE WT Coal
- Medjidieh, ordered 1900, laid down 11/1901, commissioned 5/1904
Abdul Hamid class (built in Britain)
3,800 tons, 2 x 6”, 4 (8) x 4.7”, 4 (8) x 4”, 1 (2) x 18” TT uw, 4" slope, 1.5" deck, 22 knots TE WT Coal
- Abdul Hamid, ordered 1900, laid down 4/1902, commissioned 4/1904
Unprotected Cruisers
Heibetnuma class
1,500 tons, 2 (3) x 6.7" BL, 3 (6) x 4.7”, 1 (2) x 14” TT aw, 0" belt, 0" deck, 14 knots TE FT Coal
- Heibetnuma, ordered 1880, laid down 7/1881, commissioned 11/1893, disposed 4/1911
Lutfi Humayun class
1,500 tons, 2 (3) x 6.7" BL, 3 (6) x 4.7”, 0" belt, 0" deck, 14 knots CE FT Coal
- Lutfi Humayun, ordered 1880, laid down 3/1882, commissioned 6/1894, disposed 4/1911
Greek Navy 1870 to 1904
Battleships
Spetsai class (built in France)
4,800 tons, 2 (3) x 10.8" barbette, 3 (5) x 6” BL, 2 (4) x 3.4”, 1 (3) x 14” TT aw 1 bow, 12" Steel belt, 2" Steel deck, 17 knots TE FT Coal
- Spetsai, ordered 1887, laid down 2/1888, commissioned 10/1894
- Psara, ordered 1887, laid down 10/1888, commissioned 5/1896
- Hydra, ordered 1887, laid down 4/1888, commissioned 2/1895
Unprotected Cruisers
Nauarchos Miaoulis class (built in France)
1,800 tons, 3 (4) x 6.7" BL, 3 (6) x 4.7”, 1 (3) x 14” TT aw 1 bow, 0" belt, 0" deck, 13.5 knots TE FT Coal
- Nauarchos Miaoulis, ordered 1878, laid down 9/1878, commissioned 2/1883
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Despite those ships French origins, the Greeks did rather well with them historically lol
Says more about their skill tbh worked on French designed and built merchant ships RL. They were a massive bloody pain in the Ass.
April-June 1908: Long live the king
~April-June 1908: Long live the king
April 1908: The US Congress again rejects the navy's calls for modern cruisers, with the annual estimates only authorising two dreadnoughts and six modern destroyers. Nevertheless the Florida class are a marked improvement over previous classes, displacing 20,000 tons, with improved protection and ten 12” guns. With Congress refusing to authorise new cruisers, in a move reminiscent of the 1880s 'repairs' of Civil War monitors, the navy is successful in obtaining approval to 'refit' the existing two New Orleans class cruisers. Ostensibly to correct stability issues, they will receive a full rebuild, with their machinery replaced with modern turbines, increasing their speed to 25 knots, and a new armament of the latest 5” weapons.
April 1908: Agreement is reached at the Dano-Norwegian security meeting in Copenhagen to standardise smalls arms on the 6.5x55mm Nordic round used by Sweden and Norway. Along with this an improved rifle is to be introduced. The m/1908 weapon will be based on the Krag-Jørgensen rifle already in service in both countries, but features a Danish style side opening loading gate for charger loading, revised furniture and a 60cm barrel. While this will require both countries to convert their existing rifles, the cost will be greater for the Danes, due to their current 8x58mmR round. With the Danish Folketing having reverted to its traditional pacifist stance, this generates considerable controversy, with only 5,000 new rifles along with the conversion of 20,000 existing rifles authorised. In an effort to ease this controversy, the Norwegians agree to adopt the Madsen light machine gun, with eight issued per battalion. While the Danes also intend to issue the weapon on the same scale, pacifist sentiment in the Folketing will again prevent funding.
April 1908: With survey work for the Oulu to Narvik railway completed, it is clear the line's construction will be a far more formidable challenge than anticipated. In light of this, the contract is awarded to the US Great Northern Railway Company due to their experience crossing the Continental Divide, with engineer John Stevens in charge of the project.
April 1908: In February, British Home Secretary Henry Campbell-Bannerman was forced to retire due to declining health, with Federalist David Lloyd George taking his portfolio. Sadly his condition continues to deteriorate, leading eventually to his death.
May 1908: Despite some early successes, the poorly trained and equipped Tibetan militias where no match for the veteran Xianfa troops, with them rapidly regaining control of Tibet, forcing the Dalai Lama to flee to Zheng China. With order restored, a new compliant government under Choekyi Nyima, the 9th Panchen Lama is installed. With the Tibetan Revolt seemingly over, Grand Chancellor Tan Sitong orders the garrison reduced and a local constabulary raised to suppress the remnants of the rebellion.
May 1908: After fruitlessly searching for oil in Persia since 1901. the Burmah Oil Company is on the verge of abandoning its concession when they finally strike oil. In order to exploit this new large field the Anglo-Persian Oil Company is founded.
May 1908: The Banking Crisis of 1907 is just the latest in a long series of cyclical financial crisis's which have plagued the US since the Civil War. In an effort to finally end this damaging boom and bust cycle, Congress passes the Aldrich–Vreeland Act to study the financial industry in the US with the aim of bringing stability to the US banking industry.
May 1908: Needing to rebuild their navy after the Russo-Japanese War, the Russians announce a major naval expansion program. Unfortunately, limited domestic yard space will force them to order some of these vessels overseas, beginning with two battlecruisers for the Far East. In a development which stuns the world the contract is won by Canadian Vickers, who have engaged Eustace d'Eyncourt as lead designer. D'Eyncourt's Moskva class displaces 21,000 ton with eight 12” guns, 8” belt and is capable of 26 knots, though he chooses conventional machinery over the advance types he encountered in French designs.
May 1908: The German Blücher class armoured cruisers ordered in 1906 was intended to consist of three ships. With the expectation the British Invincible class would be armed with 9.2” guns, the class was designed with 8.2” guns. The British battlecruisers however were armed with 12” guns, rendering the design obsolete. While the first two ships were too far advanced to be altered by the time the German navy became aware of the Invincibles true armament, the third ship was delayed a year to allow a new design prepared. The Von Der Tann is a 19,000 ton battlecruiser with eight 11” guns, in one twin turret fore, another aft and two offset wing turrets, for an eight gun broadside. With a 10” belt and capable of 26 knots due to the use of turbine engines, she appears a superior warship compared with the Invincible class. She will also be followed later in the year by the first of two Molkte class battlecruisers with ten 11” guns. However, as with all German capital ships so far, a significant factor in their apparent superiority is their extremely limited crew facilities, preventing them undertaking combat operation of more than a few days duration.
May 1908: With most of the rest of the world's major navies either having laid down their first dreadnoughts or about to, the Italian Navy orders their first, the Dante Alighiere. The ships is revolutionary in several ways, introducing triples turrets, mounting her twelve 12” guns in four such mounts, one forward, one aft and two amidships. In addition she foregoes the normal casement mounted secondary armament, carrying her sixteen 4.7” guns in eight twin turrets, four on each side. And finally she also mounts two 3” anti aircraft guns.
June 1908: Capitalising on the massive outpouring of national and international support after the Lisbon Regicide, Portuguese Prime Minister José de Castro proposes the introduction of a radical new constitution aimed at ending the instability which has characterised Portuguese politics sine the 1840s. Based upon the Brazilian model, the new constitution will introduce universal male suffrage and a Constitutional Court to advise the King on the use of his reserve powers, along with guaranteeing civil rights, the separation of church and state, free public education and a reformed judicial system. While fiercely opposed by conservatives, the popular sympathy generated by the regicide results in its adoption in the following referendum, with over 70% support. The new constitution will prove an important step in reform in Portugal.
June 1908: Despite a massive police hunt over the past two years, Brazilian socialist revolutionary Paulo Azevedo has eluded capture, while all the time continuing to gather supporters for his MRS from the growing urban working class. These supporters have engaged in a series of increasingly bold attacks and bombings, targeting business men, government officials, judges, military personal and police, seeking to undermine Brazil's fragile stability. In an effort to combats these terrorists Empress Isabel signs the Lei Imperial de Segurança Pública or Imperial Law of Public Safety. The law creates the Polícia de Segurança Imperial (PSI) or Imperial Safety Police, a dedicated body tasked with combating terrorists and political sedition. Unlike the vast majority of police in Brazil, the PSI will have nationwide jurisdiction and sweeping powers to allow them to counter the growing terrorist movement.
June 1908: In the wake of the Isan Crisis, seeking both to undermine the Japanese relationship with the British and gain an ally to support French expansion in Asia, French Prime Minister Gabriel Hantaux and Japanese Ambassador to France, Shin'ichiro Kurino negotiate a treaty regarding their respective spheres of influence China. The treaty guarantees both will respect the other's possessions in the region, reaffirms their commitment to the 'Open Door' policy and maintaining China's territorial integrity. However the treaty also declares the have a special interest in maintaining order in areas of particular importance. The treaty also includes two secret annexes. The first defines these areas as Manchuria for Japan and Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan for France. The second is an agreement that in the event of war between France and Germany, Japan will enter the war to seize Germany's Asian and Pacific possessions as well as protecting French colonies in the region. Even without knowledge of these secret annexes, the treaty causes alarm in Britain, with concerns raised regarding French ambitions in China and Japan's commitment to continued British, US and Japanese cooperation in Asia.
June 1908: While the Xianfa believe the Tibetan Revolt to be over, with only minor mopping up remaining, The Dalai Lama has been attempting to convince Zheng Emperor Shikai to support the revolt. Seeing an opportunity to destabilise his competitor for control over China, Emperor Shikai agrees to provide arms and training for Tibetans to conduct a guerilla campaign against the Xianfa forces occupying the country. However he refuses to commit Zheng troops directly, fearing the potential of reigniting the Chinese Civil War.
April 1908: The US Congress again rejects the navy's calls for modern cruisers, with the annual estimates only authorising two dreadnoughts and six modern destroyers. Nevertheless the Florida class are a marked improvement over previous classes, displacing 20,000 tons, with improved protection and ten 12” guns. With Congress refusing to authorise new cruisers, in a move reminiscent of the 1880s 'repairs' of Civil War monitors, the navy is successful in obtaining approval to 'refit' the existing two New Orleans class cruisers. Ostensibly to correct stability issues, they will receive a full rebuild, with their machinery replaced with modern turbines, increasing their speed to 25 knots, and a new armament of the latest 5” weapons.
April 1908: Agreement is reached at the Dano-Norwegian security meeting in Copenhagen to standardise smalls arms on the 6.5x55mm Nordic round used by Sweden and Norway. Along with this an improved rifle is to be introduced. The m/1908 weapon will be based on the Krag-Jørgensen rifle already in service in both countries, but features a Danish style side opening loading gate for charger loading, revised furniture and a 60cm barrel. While this will require both countries to convert their existing rifles, the cost will be greater for the Danes, due to their current 8x58mmR round. With the Danish Folketing having reverted to its traditional pacifist stance, this generates considerable controversy, with only 5,000 new rifles along with the conversion of 20,000 existing rifles authorised. In an effort to ease this controversy, the Norwegians agree to adopt the Madsen light machine gun, with eight issued per battalion. While the Danes also intend to issue the weapon on the same scale, pacifist sentiment in the Folketing will again prevent funding.
April 1908: With survey work for the Oulu to Narvik railway completed, it is clear the line's construction will be a far more formidable challenge than anticipated. In light of this, the contract is awarded to the US Great Northern Railway Company due to their experience crossing the Continental Divide, with engineer John Stevens in charge of the project.
April 1908: In February, British Home Secretary Henry Campbell-Bannerman was forced to retire due to declining health, with Federalist David Lloyd George taking his portfolio. Sadly his condition continues to deteriorate, leading eventually to his death.
May 1908: Despite some early successes, the poorly trained and equipped Tibetan militias where no match for the veteran Xianfa troops, with them rapidly regaining control of Tibet, forcing the Dalai Lama to flee to Zheng China. With order restored, a new compliant government under Choekyi Nyima, the 9th Panchen Lama is installed. With the Tibetan Revolt seemingly over, Grand Chancellor Tan Sitong orders the garrison reduced and a local constabulary raised to suppress the remnants of the rebellion.
May 1908: After fruitlessly searching for oil in Persia since 1901. the Burmah Oil Company is on the verge of abandoning its concession when they finally strike oil. In order to exploit this new large field the Anglo-Persian Oil Company is founded.
May 1908: The Banking Crisis of 1907 is just the latest in a long series of cyclical financial crisis's which have plagued the US since the Civil War. In an effort to finally end this damaging boom and bust cycle, Congress passes the Aldrich–Vreeland Act to study the financial industry in the US with the aim of bringing stability to the US banking industry.
May 1908: Needing to rebuild their navy after the Russo-Japanese War, the Russians announce a major naval expansion program. Unfortunately, limited domestic yard space will force them to order some of these vessels overseas, beginning with two battlecruisers for the Far East. In a development which stuns the world the contract is won by Canadian Vickers, who have engaged Eustace d'Eyncourt as lead designer. D'Eyncourt's Moskva class displaces 21,000 ton with eight 12” guns, 8” belt and is capable of 26 knots, though he chooses conventional machinery over the advance types he encountered in French designs.
May 1908: The German Blücher class armoured cruisers ordered in 1906 was intended to consist of three ships. With the expectation the British Invincible class would be armed with 9.2” guns, the class was designed with 8.2” guns. The British battlecruisers however were armed with 12” guns, rendering the design obsolete. While the first two ships were too far advanced to be altered by the time the German navy became aware of the Invincibles true armament, the third ship was delayed a year to allow a new design prepared. The Von Der Tann is a 19,000 ton battlecruiser with eight 11” guns, in one twin turret fore, another aft and two offset wing turrets, for an eight gun broadside. With a 10” belt and capable of 26 knots due to the use of turbine engines, she appears a superior warship compared with the Invincible class. She will also be followed later in the year by the first of two Molkte class battlecruisers with ten 11” guns. However, as with all German capital ships so far, a significant factor in their apparent superiority is their extremely limited crew facilities, preventing them undertaking combat operation of more than a few days duration.
May 1908: With most of the rest of the world's major navies either having laid down their first dreadnoughts or about to, the Italian Navy orders their first, the Dante Alighiere. The ships is revolutionary in several ways, introducing triples turrets, mounting her twelve 12” guns in four such mounts, one forward, one aft and two amidships. In addition she foregoes the normal casement mounted secondary armament, carrying her sixteen 4.7” guns in eight twin turrets, four on each side. And finally she also mounts two 3” anti aircraft guns.
June 1908: Capitalising on the massive outpouring of national and international support after the Lisbon Regicide, Portuguese Prime Minister José de Castro proposes the introduction of a radical new constitution aimed at ending the instability which has characterised Portuguese politics sine the 1840s. Based upon the Brazilian model, the new constitution will introduce universal male suffrage and a Constitutional Court to advise the King on the use of his reserve powers, along with guaranteeing civil rights, the separation of church and state, free public education and a reformed judicial system. While fiercely opposed by conservatives, the popular sympathy generated by the regicide results in its adoption in the following referendum, with over 70% support. The new constitution will prove an important step in reform in Portugal.
June 1908: Despite a massive police hunt over the past two years, Brazilian socialist revolutionary Paulo Azevedo has eluded capture, while all the time continuing to gather supporters for his MRS from the growing urban working class. These supporters have engaged in a series of increasingly bold attacks and bombings, targeting business men, government officials, judges, military personal and police, seeking to undermine Brazil's fragile stability. In an effort to combats these terrorists Empress Isabel signs the Lei Imperial de Segurança Pública or Imperial Law of Public Safety. The law creates the Polícia de Segurança Imperial (PSI) or Imperial Safety Police, a dedicated body tasked with combating terrorists and political sedition. Unlike the vast majority of police in Brazil, the PSI will have nationwide jurisdiction and sweeping powers to allow them to counter the growing terrorist movement.
June 1908: In the wake of the Isan Crisis, seeking both to undermine the Japanese relationship with the British and gain an ally to support French expansion in Asia, French Prime Minister Gabriel Hantaux and Japanese Ambassador to France, Shin'ichiro Kurino negotiate a treaty regarding their respective spheres of influence China. The treaty guarantees both will respect the other's possessions in the region, reaffirms their commitment to the 'Open Door' policy and maintaining China's territorial integrity. However the treaty also declares the have a special interest in maintaining order in areas of particular importance. The treaty also includes two secret annexes. The first defines these areas as Manchuria for Japan and Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan for France. The second is an agreement that in the event of war between France and Germany, Japan will enter the war to seize Germany's Asian and Pacific possessions as well as protecting French colonies in the region. Even without knowledge of these secret annexes, the treaty causes alarm in Britain, with concerns raised regarding French ambitions in China and Japan's commitment to continued British, US and Japanese cooperation in Asia.
June 1908: While the Xianfa believe the Tibetan Revolt to be over, with only minor mopping up remaining, The Dalai Lama has been attempting to convince Zheng Emperor Shikai to support the revolt. Seeing an opportunity to destabilise his competitor for control over China, Emperor Shikai agrees to provide arms and training for Tibetans to conduct a guerilla campaign against the Xianfa forces occupying the country. However he refuses to commit Zheng troops directly, fearing the potential of reigniting the Chinese Civil War.
I'm afraid the updates are almost certainly going to slow down dramatically. I have reached the outbreak of the Great War (though ITTL historians will argue endlessly on the exact date, depending on how you look at it either mid April 1913 or late June 1913). However the Great War will require a lot of work on my part, including plotting campaigns, figuring out the politics and diplomacy, gaming out battles and above all making maps so everyone can see what's happening. However I think it will be worth it.
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The next French elections are scheduled for late 1910 and then late 1914. However by then France will be embroiled in the Great War and in the OTL, there were no elections in France during the war. So if he doesn't get turfed out in 1910, it will require some 'extraordinary' measures (parliamentary coup seems most likely, but it could also see direct intervention by the Emperor).
Last as long? In all honesty, I have absolutely no idea, just too many variables. The Empire staying out initially is a biggie, plus there are other changes coming up. My gut says while there is a chance it will be shorter, at least as long (four years) with a reasonable chance of longer.
Equally bloody? Definitely, with a high chance of being bloodier.
Just for comparison, the OTL Great War lasted 51 months, the ITTL 3rd Iteration Great War lasted 67 months. But that gives no guarantees.
Interesting , i thought that maybe it would last less and be less bloody , because of the empire not participating , but we will see i guess .
Well I do have the advantage of being able to see five years into the future ITTL, and there are a lot of developments to come lol.
However, there is something vitally important to remember, it's in the phrase ' The Empire is staying out INITIALLY ' Yes the Empire will not be joining in the first round, and may stay out the entire course. But there is no way the Empire can tolerate permanent German control of the Channel ports. That is a red line.
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Something worth mentioning is what happens with the US ITTL. If things go the same way as the 3rd Iteration and the US enters early, then you likely have a long bloody war. At the moment things are leaning toward an early US entry, but far from decisively.
If the US stays out then the Empire's huge desire to maintain the European balance of power is likely to shorten the war. The Empire CAN force both sides to negotiate by using the threat of intervention on the Central Powers and the threat of cutting off the money on the Entente. However if the US comes in, the Empire's leverage is greatly reduced plus US manpower and resources make up for the Entente missing the Empire.
I won't say too much, but as per the 3rd iteration, Roosevelt gets back the Presidency in 1913. Plus you have the US-Japanese alliance forming pre war in this iteration, and Japan will be entering right at the start. Very far from any guarantees but these do increase the odds of an early US entry.
I think it would be kind of cool if the empire stayed out completly , germany won , even if not a total win , one that has some concessions that satisfy the empire , but still makes germany the overall dominat power in europe .
i am liking the idea of an isolasionist britain that his far more focused on the empire , although that couldnt last forever .
Without britain germany could defeat france with a strong attack quicly , no ?