WesWorld

Synopsis: new El Derretir outbreaks in the east; ground fighting stabilizes in Asir; new elements to naval warfare around Arabia...

2 April

Yemeni artillery has begun a bombardment of parts of Sa’dah as Indian and Asirite troops continue to hold out in make-shift fortifications in the eastern part of the city. Yemeni spokesman Zayn Makkawi confirmed that, “We are going to dislodge them even if it requires reducing the area to rubble.”

Indian efforts to air-drop supplies to the defenders have not been overly successful, with the majority of materials landing outside the Indian/Asirite perimeter. General MK Goswami described their situation as “Serious, but not yet dire.”

3 April

The Indian tanker set alight days ago in the Persian Gulf has finally burned out and sunk. The Star of Sittwe was attacked on the 31st by Saudi speedboats, losing six of her crew before being abandoned.

Samraja Brashkar told reporters, “Under the terms of the South Asian Trade, Scientific Undertaking and Military Accord, Bharat has requested Persian military assistance in defending Indian shipping in the Persian Gulf against unwarranted violence perpetrated by Saudi Arabia. The Persian government received the note earlier today and we await their response.”

Indian vessels, including sloops and minesweepers, are now en route to the Gulf but are not expected to arrive for several days yet.

5 April

The Samraja has expressed his hopes that the union of Austria and Germany will be a long and prosperous one. “We wish them well in their new relationship.”

Academics such as Dr. Mohd Kaur are interested in how the amalgamation affects European politics. “Will the Czechs be alarmed at the fact that the western half of their nation will soon be a long salient surrounded by a larger, resurgent Germany? How will Italy react to having a new neighbour? These are questions we do not yet have answers to.”

7 April

The Bharatiya Nau Sena says it has located the camp in which Saudi authorities have contained Indian pilgrims in the Holy Land.

“The camp is east of Al Muwayh, approximately one hundred twenty miles east-northeast of Mecca”, Admiral Kashiram Paswan stated. “Scouting aircraft from the seaplane carrier Palk Bay had been searching for several days now and we discovered the camp yesterday.”

8 April

Persia has confirmed that its navy will assist in the defence of Indian merchant shipping in the Persian Gulf. Navy Minister Shapour Zahedi said, “We will of course aid our Indian friends in this respect, by providing naval escorts and opening our bases at Bushehr and Bandar-e Abbas to the Bharatiya Nau Sena.

10 April

The eastern Indian city of Aizawl is reeling under a sudden onset of El Derretir that has surprised authorities. “There was a case two weeks ago we thought we contained very effectively”, explained a medical professional who asked to be unnamed. “Yet now we have over eighty cases in the past two days. There’s some confusion as to the origin of this occurrence.”

12 April

Indian and Asirite troops in Sa’dah have surrendered after a month-long siege by Yemeni troops. Yemeni spokesman Zayn Makkawi declined to say how many prisoners were taken but said, “They will be taken care of.”

13 April

A third Indian division is now in action in Asir. The Sind Krait Division has skirmished with Yemeni troops south of Al Awran and with Saudi irregulars north of Khamis Mushayt.

15 April

Indian Foreign Minister Jal Kadharni denounced Saudi treatment of Indian pilgrims today as aerial photographs were revealed to reporters. “Look at the size of the camp - how do you fit thirty-thousand plus people inside that space? Look at the perimeter - fences and guard towers. Gun pits, here and here. This is not a refugee camp - this is a prison.”

Saudi spokesman Prince Yusuf Ali Ibn Saud denied the Indian charges. “They are totally incorrect - this isn’t even where we are housing the visitors. This is a Saudi military camp they are looking at, and we will thank them to stop flying their aircraft over our land.”

16 April

New cases of El Derretir are being reported in Chittagong, Imphal, and smaller communities in eastern India. The cause of this renewed outbreak may have been solved in the town of Falam, near the border.

Health Minister Sandeep Hingane stated, “Several cases were reported in Falam late last month and were isolated. Further investigation into these cases has led us to conclude that these were Burmese citizens who had entered India illegally. We have interviewed several more recently admitted patients who admit to being from Burma and claim that there is a severe outbreak in progress - though we have not heard of this in the press or through regular government channels.

18 April

Yemeni-operated racing boats have attacked an Indian supply convoy near the Hanish Islands in the southern Red Sea. A freighter and a destroyer sustained superficial damage from small arms fire and rifle grenades, while one or possibly two boats were sunk by the destroyer’s light battery.

20 April

The Bharatiya Nau Sena has confirmed that a scout-bomber from the seaplane carrier Palk Bay unsuccessfully attacked a fishing trawler after seeing mines on the ship’s quarterdeck. The aircraft’s bomb fell wide of the ship and night fell before other attempts to intercept the vessel could be mounted.

Admiral Kashiram Paswan announced, “We will begin boarding and searching Saudi and Yemeni vessels in the Red Sea even if they appear to be of civilian origin. Any vessels found to be employed for military use will be destroyed and their crews taken prisoner.”

23 April

There is a growing refugee problem developing along the Burmese border as thousands of Burmese flee what is said to be a devastating outbreak of El Derretir in that country. “A number of detainees are showing symptoms when arrested - and the problem is that they don’t mind being arrested because it gets them to a hospital sooner”, observed General MK Goswami. He confirmed that the army is re-positioning troops to close the border but added, “It won’t be possible to completely cut off the flow of traffic. Night crossings may still be successful.”

Although there is agreement that armed patrols on the Irrawaddy River would help reduce the flow of refugees, actual deployments have been hindered by bureaucratic arguments over jurisdiction. The Bharatiya Nau Sena has said that the matter is a civilian matter for the Coastal Security Force*, which in turn says that it is only responsible for marine coastal operations and not inland riverine patrols, which are State Constabulary matters. The state of Myanma Naingngandaw insists that the river is an international waterway, and therefore the responsibility of one of the two aforementioned national entities.

In Hyderabad, Foreign Minister Jal Kadharni asked that Britain take quick action to alleviate the crisis in northern Burma, “not only for the sake of the Burmese people but also to ensure that India does not face cross-border outbreaks again.”

[*: The CSF is India’s occasionally mentioned equivalent to the Coast Guard.]

24 April

Persian torpedo-boats have driven off an attack on an Indian tanker in international waters south of Basra. There are no reports of damage or losses to these vessels or to the Saudi attackers.

26 April

Yemeni naval forces have apparently added depth charges to their inventory. An Indian freighter bound for As Salif suffered was damaged after a boat crossed ahead of it at high speed, dropping two depth charges in its path. The weapons detonated about fifteen seconds later, buckling some plating and causing some flooding in the freighter’s forward hold.

28 April

A rise in El Derretir cases has brought the city of Sittwe to a stop. Strict curfews have been introduced and most businesses and government offices have been closed.

Health officials confirmed about thirty cases have been admitted to city hospitals in the past day, with three individuals having already succumbed to the illness.

Bangkok Bugle
22 April

Reports of an outbreak of El Derretir in Burma have raised large concerns in the capital due to the long border our country shares with the British colony. Reportedly most of the plague-affected area is in the western part of Burma, however there are plans to undertake precautionary measures...

I'll fill in the rest of the May news around this in a few days.

May 26

The following note is delivered to the Foreign Minister of each Contracting Power in the Cleito Treaty (including Australia) by the Indian ambassador to said Power, with the usual adjustment with respect to the Netherlands.

To: Maren Xanthus, Foreign Minister, Atlantis
From: Jal Kadharni, Foreign Minister, Bharat

Dear Maren,

I am instructed by His Highness Samraja Brashkar II to withdraw Bharat's request for a conference under Part 1 (VII) of the Cleito Treaty. This does not indicate a reversal in our position regarding Bharat's national security requirements. Rather, we consider that in light of the recent vote, the current collective mood of the Contracting Powers is not conducive to a reasoned, fruitful discussion of our concerns.

For similar reasons, we would further recommend the conference scheduled to take place in Bowes be postponed.

India does not currently view Australia's unfortunate premature evacuation from the Cleito Treaty as a "deal-breaker" in itself, but our future opinion will depend upon the actions of Australia and its allies.

Sincerely,

Jal

OOC: Has Australia really pulled out of the treaty or just threatened to do so?

Quoted

Originally posted by thesmilingassassin
OOC: Has Australia really pulled out of the treaty or just threatened to do so?

Australia has announced its' intention to withdraw in 1934; in theory, it could still be persuaded not to do so.

India's interpretation is that it was "fact" and not threat. Hence the final paragraph in the note to Minister Xanthus.

Its a fact, but I could be presuaded to remain in the Treaty.

That may be, but I don't know that India is interested in doing the persuading. It might be useful to observe the reaction of other Contracting Powers to Australia's departure; plus it probably helps the case for greater Indian limits if there's a continent full of beer drinking, rugby playing treaty-breakers doing strange things nearby.

Indian News for May/June 1932

Note that I’m changing the format up somewhat...

El Derretir

The most recent outbreak in northeastern India continues through much of the month.

Samraja Brashkar assigns the Coastal Security Force jurisdiction over the Irriwaddy River that marks the border with Burma. A number of patrol boats, along with their British/Burmese counterparts, do their best to prevent movement of refugees across the river along its navigable length. Some Burmese do manage to slip in, and those who are apprehended by Indian authorities are promptly steered towards refugee camps, rather than being deported. This is not so much a compassionate act as it is a move to isolate potential carriers of the disease as soon as possible, rather than ship them back and risk a second, undetected entrance into India.

Authorities manage to contain the worst of the new outbreak by the end of the month, though cases are still being reported in Chittagong, Dhaka, and in between.

In the town of Baldia, just north of the Mouths of the Ganges, El Derretir is observed to behave differently. There are indications that it is contagious at an earlier stage, prior to the emergence of visible symptoms, and the mortality rate is closer to 60%. A brigade of troops is transported by barge up the Ganges to the town with orders to contain the population, and are forced to shoot a number of citizens attempting to flee it. On 16 May, a resident of the town contacts the army to advise them that the townsfolk are organizing a mass break-out. This information is passed up the chain of command and is met with an edict from the Samraja.

Army loudspeakers announce to the people of Baldia that all those attempting to flee are being shot on sight. Further, if there is any evidence of an organized break-out being planned, the town will be shelled into destruction. For two days, these warnings are sufficient to contain all but a few citizens, but observer balloons report what they believe are signs of an impending break-out on the evening of 19 May. Within ten minutes, machine guns begin raking the town while two companies of artillery commence shelling it - using not just high explosives but also mustard gas and phosgene. By dawn on 20 May, Baldia has been levelled, but the artillery bombardment continues until 22 May. Note: This will not be public news during Q2.

Other Domestic Events

A group of scientists from the Adventurer’s Guild and three universities, along with several Himalayan soldiers and two former crew of the yacht Sharmilla go into quarantine in Cochin. After two uneventful weeks, they board a small passenger ship bound for Durban on 26 May.

In parallel with German developments, the government orders construction of two synthetic hydrocarbon factories. One is to be built at Korba, in Chhattisgarh, west of Kolkata. The other will be in Nagpur, capital of Maharashtra. The two facilities are thus astride two of the nation’s major coal-mining districts (and, coincidentally, far enough inland that they should be safe from most foreign threats). Both are expected to commence operation in late 1934.

Asir

In the Persian Gulf, Indian and Persian forces institute convoys of Indian oil tankers travelling to and from Basra. Saudi light forces, meanwhile, limit their attacks to international waters, clearly seeking to avoid trouble with Britain. Although eleven small craft are sunk by Indian and Persian escorts, one tanker is sunk and two damaged by increasingly skilled Saudi attacks employing depth charges, small arms, and even mortars. Several of the escorts sustain light damage and casualties while engaged with the attackers.

Late in June, the Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryu and escorts enter the Persian Gulf and a joint SATSUMA command under an Indian Vice-Admiral takes over the tanker convoy system. The Japanese carrier is to sanitize the convoy routes and provide scouting for convoys, but is not authorized to attack targets in Saudi waters or Saudi Arabia itself. However, an intelligence gathering program is instituted to identify the depots at which the Saudi light forces are operating. This includes Indian and Japanese photo-reconnaissance missions as well as covert Indian AOWWT operations.

On land, the arrival of four Indian divisions has stabilized the fronts, though Saudi irregular cavalry continue to be a problem across the north. With the arrival of a fifth division, the South Assam Rifles (which were involved in the original dust-up in 1920), India begins a counter-offensive in the south against Yemen.

Attacking east along the At Tur/Amran road on 4 June, the Indian offensive causes significant problems for the Yemenis. Having not invested in any kind of air force, they are unable to prevent Indian scouting and ground attack missions except with machine-gun fire. After losing a battery of guns to Indian air attack, the Yemenis disperse their artillery, giving each gun a better chance of remaining safe, but preventing coordinated fire missions. Although the Yemenis fight gamely, they are pushed back east of At Tur by month’s end.

In the north, Indian and Saudi troops continue their struggle. An Indian drive on Baljurshi kicks off on 18 May and employs infantry from the Chakravaat Division as well as armor from the Second Jagganatta Battalion. Unfortunately, the infantry have little experience working with armor, the armor has an inflated sense of its own power and survivability, and the Saudis have developed some ideas of how to take advantage of these. A common tactic for Saudi cavalry is to flee in the face of a combined-arms attack, only for the tanks to charge ahead of their supporting infantry and be lured into pre-planned killing zones where they are set upon by anti-tank rifles, mines, and infantry with grenades and fire-bombs. In other cases, Saudi cavalry lure out the tanks, then sweep around to overwhelm isolated or strung-out Indian infantry. In either case, the Saudis take numerous casualties, but inflict many in return; the Indian offensive sputters to a stop on 22 May.

Further inland, the continued Saudi cavalry raids on Indian supply convoys leads to a significant Indian victory on 2 June. After leaving Al Mi’qas for the front line towards Qal’at Bishah, an estimated three hundred and fifty Saudi horsemen attack what they believe to be a convoy of Indian lorries and armored cars. The lorries are, however, carrying troops, not supplies, and Indian aircraft arrive on the scene to strafe anybody on a horse. Machine-guns and bombs claim an estimated two hundred Saudis, for less than fifty Indian fatalities.

At sea, Indian warships begin boarding Saudi civilian craft in the eastern Red Sea to verify that they are not secretly armed. Following six uneventful such incidents, the Indian sloop Phaltan is mauled in a close-range brawl on 16 June with a Saudi tramp freighter. The freighter has been kitted out as a Q-Ship of sorts, with concealed machine guns, mortars, and two light guns resembling older German eighty-eights, and what the gunners lacks in experience they make up for in enthusiasm. Phaltan staggers away from the slower Saudi ship with most of her crew dead or injured. Unfortunately for the Saudis, battle damage prevents them from effectively disguising the ship afterward, and she is bombed and sunk by aircraft from SR Urumi on the 18th.

Another unusual Indian/Saudi naval battle takes place in June and will be described in more detail in a subsequent post.

Yemeni speedboat attacks continue and Indian MTBs, backed by destroyers, launch an attack against a suspected Yemeni depot in the Hanish Islands south-southwest of Al Hudaydah. The depot is shelled to ruin by Indian destroyers but the success is marred by an incident in which Indian MTBs chasing Yemeni craft encounter two Ethiopian MAS in the western part of the islands and engage them, mistaking them for additional Yemenis. One MAS and one MTB are damaged before the action is broken-off. India apologizes soon afterward but questions why the Ethiopians were there at all; the Ethiopians point out a claim to the western islands and accuse India of negligence.

Observers in Red Sea note a considerable amount of new arrivals from India and beyond. Notable are the arrival of India’s amphibious command ship Dhoni and six landing craft (vehicle), the latter supported by a Jagan Rane class tender. A convoy of Filipino ships, including two assault transports, arrives in mid-June, and on 23 June, a larger group of Japanese assault transports arrives under escort at As Salif.

Other International Events

At a treaty meeting, India votes to allow Japanese construction of battlecruisers for Chosen and Formosa. Although the majority of Contracting Powers are opposed to the transaction, there proves to be no legal basis for preventing it. The meeting ends with the Chosenian and Formosan observers and Japanese delegates walking out after taking offence to the language of some other delegates. Lacking a senior voice in what was expected to be a fairly straight-forward vote, the Indian delegation does not get strongly involved in the debate.

Shortly afterward, on 25 May, Australia serves notice that in two years, it will cease to comply with the Treaty. Although there is some thought given to following suit, Samraja Brashkar contends that it is more useful to see how the other Contracting Powers deal with this precedent. After all, any nation which fails to condemn Australia for this breach of treaty can hardly complain if other powers follow suit later on. Besides which, the Bharatiya Nau Sena’s building program is largely fixed through to 1934 anyway, so an early departure offers no tangible benefits in return for whatever diplomatic price is to be paid.

Indian officials are bemused at the North American outrage over a Japanese carrier being in the eastern Pacific Ocean, as the presence of European warships in the western Pacific has been a recurring problem for centuries. Samraja Brashkar is hardly surprised at the outcry over the simultaneously reported loss of CV Hosho and the Mexican capture of a carrier off their coast. In Hyderabad, bureaucrats joke over tea about the “Worst Case” being that the ship proves to be an unreported Japanese carrier, because then it means that Japan has broken the Treaty and that Mexico has committed an act of war against Japan.

While Foreign Ministry officials question whether Japan actually has a coherent foreign policy, the Navy is displeased when the Samraja orders that the request for new French limits be withdrawn. Consequently, and in conjunction with the Filipino roots of El Derretir, some segments of Indian society are rather discontent with SATSUMA as a whole. Some of those segments are further displeased at intelligence reports that Australia and several European powers are negotiating a mutual defence agreement.

Quoted

Some of those segments are further displeased at intelligence reports that Australia and several European powers are negotiating a mutual defence agreement.

I wonder who told you that.

*picks up shotgun*

Now where's that little bird...

Quoted

The number of diplomatic messages between Australia and several other countries has increased. A number of dimplomats have been dispatched to Siam, Iberia, Denmark and a few other countries. When the Goverment was asked about this increase in diplomatic traffic and the apperant lack of similar communications with the SATSUMA countries, the reply was that similar communications where to be held with SATSUMA but do to "El Derretir" this has been postponed.

Maybe you yourself did some chirping...? I mean, it's not like we stopped answering the phones because of El Derretir.

Hmm, veddy interestink...

Filipinos in Asir? The Saudis won't know what's hit th-*KABOOM*

I had actually considered a..."village incident" with ED in Siam, but decided not to (not enough napalm...).

So it's a "summer of discontent" with regard to India's foreign partners? Hmm.

Quoted

Another unusual Indian/Saudi naval battle takes place in June and will be described in more detail in a subsequent post.

*smirks*

Quoted

I wonder who told you that.

*picks up shotgun*

Now where's that little bird

Bird? I would think it would be a rat...

I like the new format. Events are easier to follow when you're allowed to flow on one subject, instead of chopped up into individual dates.

And yes, the Filipinos will be kicking arse! Hopefully enough arse to at least partially redeem las Filipinas in Indian eyes.

Sounds like a job for 'the other' (Colonel?) Cain...

Quoted

Originally posted by Swamphen
Sounds like a job for 'the other' (Colonel?) Cain...

Unfortunately the Marines aren't going in. Only Muslim-majority units.

I like that format, more of a historical summary than disjointed news reports...I may have to "borrow" it for future news... }

Quoted

Lacking a senior voice in what was expected to be a fairly straight-forward vote, the Indian delegation does not get strongly involved in the debate.

I think the fact that both the United States and Germany both gave strong statements that basically highlighted the fact that the vote had no legal grounds sealed the votes fate.

So, what's the plan for the planned meeting at Cowes in conjunction with the Spithead review? Is it on or postponed?

The United Kingdom is willing to host the delegates, if the delegates wish to attend the conference. If not, then the First Lord will just have to sail his paper yachts on his own...

India's request to discuss increased allocations was the only formal business proposed, and that has since been withdrawn. In the absence of any other formal request by another Contracting Power to discuss a matter in conference, there is no conference.