WesWorld

Things are picking up round these parts; I'm a bit preoccupied with other things and so my news reports will be shorter than they have been.

As always, there will probably be a few additions to the news as the quarter progresses.

----------

1 January

*tap, tap* Is this thing on?

It IS!

*ahem*

Ladies and gentlemen, we welcome you to the first pan-Philippine news radio station, Filipino Information, News, and Entertainment Radio, "your FINER source for everything you want to know!"...

---

18 January

The MdF's schedule of foreign port visits was released today. The only notable difference from past years is that the cruiser Palawan will be visiting Saigon in early May...

---

21 January

We have come into possession of documents which indicate the Marina de Filipinas, "in the event of unfavourable conditions in a war", is planning to evacuate its various "heavy units" to ports of our SATSUMA allies, "from which to carry on the fight", while "coast-defense and light units" would remain behind "to defend as best as possible" the homeland.

According to the document, the only vessels currently slated to be 'evacuated', if we were in such a situation right now, are the cruiser Calayan and destroyer Cerceta. However it notes that the under-construction battlecruiser Samal would be able to be towed - by what? - right now, and would be able 'to proceed under her own power for completion elsewhere' after 'about 4 July'...

---

2 February

Diplomatic attache Ricardo de la Hoya, whom was thrown out of Chile on his ear under accusations of espionage, has been assigned what Foreign Minister Sebastien de Varga calls 'a choice assignment': the establishment of a Filipino Consulate at Godthåb, Greenland, Nordmark.

Exactly why we need a consulate in the frozen wastes of an European nations Arctic colonial possession was not explained, but Señor de Varga said he was 'confident that Señor de la Hoya is the right man for the job'...

---

15 March

El Presidente today announced full details of his 'Grand Design' public works programme, intended, as he says, 'to enhance the quality of life of all Filipinos'.

Among various projects are:

-the construction of a road and rail system 'from Laoag in the north to Zamboanga in the south', with 'fast, comfortable ferries' connecting the islands;

-the construction of a canal connecting Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay, and the dredging of a channel to a new port at Santa Cruz...

---

31 March

The Parliment today approved the 1928-1932 Filipino Armed Forces Estimates, after a large number of heated debates and numerous revisions.

For the Navy:

1 First Class Battleship
1 Aircraft Carrier
2 Heavy Cruisers
4 Light Cruisers
3 Cruiser-Minelayers
3 Frigates
17 Destroyers
8 Submarines
4 'Torpedo Boat Leaders'
6 Cagayan River Gunboats
2 Assault Transports
1 Polar Exporation Ship
1 Destroyer Tender
1 Torpedo-Boat/Submarine Tender
1 Seaplane/Torpedo-Boat Tender

The Battleship Manila and Cruiser Taput will be converted to Traning Ships; the Cruiser Ticao to a Target Ship, and all eight Rabihorcado-class Destroyers to Destroyer Minesweepers.

Naval Aviation will be increased from 120 aircraft to 240, and a second Filipino Marine Brigade will be created.

Two Escort Cruisers, one 'Training Cruiser', four Armoured Gunboats, one 'large Minelayer', one Destroyer Tenders, two Minesweeper Tenders, one Submarine Tender, one Hospital Ship and 60 aircraft were removed from the MdF's request.

It should be noted that ships displacing under 200 tons are not normally subject to Parlimentral approval, nor are "normal maintainence" refits and rebuilds.

For the Air Force:

The Fuerza Aerea Filipinas will expand from 12 squadrons to 24 by 1932. 24 squadrons were removed from the Air Force's request.

For the Army:

A second armoured brigade will be added to the Army. Two infantry divisions were removed from the Army's request.

**

So the big ships will cowardly retreat while small units will pay the bill? What kind of strategy is this?!

It also looks like moss counting in Greenland will continue.... ;o)

The "Small ships are cheaper, faster and easier to build" strategy.

Personally, I'm puzzled that only a CL and a DD qualify for evacuation out of the current Filipino OOB. What about the pre-dreads and Presidente Malvar?

There's a schedule for Filipino visits? Who will be I be seeing?

Quoted

Originally posted by The Rock Doctor
Personally, I'm puzzled that only a CL and a DD qualify for evacuation out of the current Filipino OOB. What about the pre-dreads and Presidente Malvar?

Forgot about Malvar; the predreads are considered to be of use as CDSes.

Additional DDs the Cerceta-class will be added to the "preservation list" as they are commissioned.

Quoted

There's a schedule for Filipino visits? Who will be I be seeing?

Haven't decided yet. I just needed an excuse to mention Palawan...stay tuned...