WesWorld

[SIZE=3]Summary[/SIZE]

October 1
The submarine Calypso was laid down today in the port of La Rochelle.

October 4
Construction on the Amaria dam in Guinea finished today following several years of work. The dam, located on the Konkouré River, will produce 65kW of electricity, and shall power an aluminium smelter. The facility has become the first aluminium smelter in operation in Africa.

October 5
French aero-engine and automobile manufacturer Hispano-Suiza unveiled a Char-8 Montbrun medium tank powered by an extremely novel gas turbine engine design, the result of five years of research and development by Dimitri Sensaud de Lavaud. Hispano-Suiza is also reportedly working on a racing motorcar with the gas turbine engine, which reportedly produces nine hundred horsepower.

October 6 - Le Figaro, Evening Edition
A force identified as the Italian-organized "Nuovo Partito Socialista-Comunista Avanguardia di Monaco" (NPSCAM) has launched an attempt to seize the city-state of Monaco, overwhelming the Monagasque police force, the Carabiniers du Prince, and taking control of the major points within Monaco. Read more...

October 7
French military forces, identified as the 13th Régiment de Dragons Parachutistes, entered Monaco just before midnight last night to crush the Nuovo Partito Socialista-Comunista Avanguardia di Monaco, or "Avanguardias", who had assumed control of the tiny coastal city-state yesterday morning in a shocking coup de main. Read more...

October 8
Editorials - Read more...

October 9
The Greek coastal freighter Efimia was released from French Naval custody today following a thorough investigation of the ship's role in the Monaco Incident. According to French authorities, the ship was chartered by an independent agent to carry a cargo of wheat from Palermo to Genoa. Instead, the ship was forcibly commandeered in the night by armed Avanguardia members, who forced the captain to leave Palermo and steer for Monaco. Another ship, the yacht SS Atmah, was similarly commandeered in the harbor of Monaco and used to house several hostages. The French government declared these two incidents would result in charges for piracy awaiting a number of Avanguardia members.

October 10
Four days after the attempted Communist takeover of Monaco, life is getting back to normal in the seaside resort. The exception, however, are the protestors: on the one hand, a handful of pro-Communist demonstrators objecting to the suppression of the Avanguardias, and on the other, those calling for the abdication of Prince Louis II, who has yet to return to his princedom in the aftermath of the attack.

October 11
In a press conference at the Élysée Palace, President Theisman repeated his earlier assertion that the Monaco Incident was not a covert or overt attempt by the Italian government to take over the princedom. "It appears," Theisman continued, "That SIM, the Italian military intelligence agency, was monitoring the Avanguardias and a large number of other foreign and domestic political minority groups, but had not received any actionable intelligence about the Avanguardias' intentions to launch an attack against Monaco. The Republic of France believes this to be a regrettable oversight, but not conclusive proof of malicious intent." Speaking to the ability of the hijacked Greek freighter Efimia's ability to transport eighty of the combatants into Monaco without detection, the President contended that naval patrols repeatedly spotted the freighter, but the vessel behaved normally at all times and gave no reason for an inspection.

October 13 - Le Canard enchaîné
What the Bird Has to Say: In this Wednesday's satirical cartoons, Prince Louis II of Monaco dances with a bevy of actresses while Italian revolutionaries seize Monaco. The cartoon is captioned "Prince of Monaco? No, my dear, I am Prince of the Ritz."

October 13
The drama-romance film L'Éternel retour, directed by Jean Delannoy, written by Jean Cocteau, and starring Madeleine Sologne and Jean Marais, opens in Paris.

October 14
Prince Louis II of Monaco returned to his princedom for the first time since last week's attempted seizure by Communist revolutionaries. He was greeted by a crowd of a thousand silent individuals who displayed a banner asking him to abdicate. The Prince's return was reportedly due to the insistence of French President Theisman, who had a private meeting with the Prince on the twelfth. Although the topic of their discussion has not been leaked, some insiders believe President Theisman had very harsh words for the aging Prince, who has shown little interest in the events of the past week.

October 15
Prince Louis II of Monaco has announced his official abdication in favor of his grandson, Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi, who will take the throne as Rainier III. The twenty-year old Prince Rainier promised to restore the Monagasque faith in the monarchy and in the Grimaldi family. Rainier's mother, Princess Charlotte, previously abdicated her place in the line of succession in favor of her son.

October 16
Minister of National Education Jules Bernard has resigned, announcing that he had decided to excuse himself from public service. The move comes as quite a surprise to political observers, since Bernard was expected to hold the post until his candidacy for president, as a member of the French Socialist Party, would be announced in mid-1944. The minister's apparent intent to retire from public life raises doubts about the intentions of one of the prospective future leaders of the French Union.

October 17 - Le Figaro
President Theisman announced that the vacant post of the Minister of National Education would be offered to Deputy-Minister Jean-Jacques Saval. Unlike his predecessor, Saval is a member of Theisman's tripartisme Alliance républicaine, but is not a close friend or coworker of the President.

October 18
Minister of National Defense Lemaréchal presented to the French Parliament a plan to extend current mechanization developments through the French Army through the course of 1944 and 1945. The confidential report is rumored to focus on the upgrade of existing 'foot' infantry divisions rather than the creation of new forces. The known exception will be the 202nd Brigade de Chars being formed in Indochina using a mix of local and French Colonial personnel and equipment.

October 20 - Le Canard enchaîné
What the Bird Has to Say: In this week's editorial section, members of the French leftist parties blame Minister of National Education Bernard's retirement on backlash from the Avanguardia attack on Monaco.

October 21
The submarine Thetis was completed today at the naval yards of La Rochelle.

October 22
The Salon de l'Automobile opened today in Paris. Three hundred manufacturers from around the world demonstrated their products, announced new automobile models, and made deals. Among the new cars being presented is Hispano-Suiza's newest car, the J14 Tornade, which features a three hundred c.v. engine, one of the most powerful production cars in the world. Renault also announced their intention to open a Balkan branch in Plovdiv Bulgaria, to be called Bulgarrenault and operated in conjunction with the local firm Metalhim.

October 23
Éditions Denoël released René Barjavel's science-fiction novel Le Voyageur imprudent, a story about a time-traveler who goes back in time to kill his grandfather.

October 26
The government of Monaco announced that after due consideration, the Avanguardias would be tried in military courts as unlawful combatants. For reasons of practicality, the trials will likely be held on French soil.

October 27
The first two aviso-dragueurs of the Arabe class, named Arabe and Algérien, were launched today in the shipyards of Nouméa, Nouvelle-Calédonie. The two ships sponsors, distinguished Japanese ladies, were selected to help maintain a thread with the previous Arabe class, destroyers built in Japan for the Marine Nationale during the Great War. At the launch ceremony, Contre-amiral Alain Dacoury paid tribute to the French and Japanese sailors who contributed to Allied victory in the Mediterranean Sea between 1914 and 1917.

October 29
Construction of Paris's Boulevard Périphérique was completed today after two and a half years of nearly constant construction. The 35km long road, constructed by Société Anonyme pour la Construction et l'Entretien des Routes, encircles Paris, following the route of the old 1841 Thiers wall.

November 1 - La Provence
The Yugoslavian destroyer-leader Zagreb arrived in the port of Marseilles today, the first stop on an international cruise currently being undertaken by the Yugoslavian Royal Navy. This powerful ship, fresh from the Bar shipyards, is armed with eight twelve-centimeter guns and ten fifty-five centimeter torpedoes. Yugoslavian Foreign Minister Boris Furlan, as well as Prince Tomislav, arrived aboard the ship.

Zagreb was welcomed to Marseilles by Contre-amiral Virgile Lapeyre, who has recently been promoted to command the Forces Légères d'Attaque in Bizerte. Contre-amiral Lapeyre extended an invitation for the Yugoslavian First Striking Group to join in a naval exercise with the FLA in 1944.

November 3 - Le Canard enchaîné
What the Bird Has to Say: In this Wednesday's editorials, Le Canard enchaîné offers the opinion that in honor of the British admiral Sir Dudley Pound, the British Royal Navy "ought to rename the battleship HMS Beatty in his memory, as Admiral Pound is more deserving of such a memorial."

November 4
The Syrian government announced that it has secured a military development loan from France which will be used to acquire new aircraft for the Syrian Air Force. As part of the loan, the Syrian Army agreed to order a number of Panhard EBR armoured cars from France. Damascus intends to repay the four year loan with shipments of phosphates, cement, and agricultural products. Speculation about Syria's planned purchases abound, particularly in the light of the recent showing by the Yugoslavian Soko Aircraft Firm of their Orao fighter. At present, the Syrian Air Force still uses aging Dewoitine D.520 fighters. Of the twenty-two aircraft acquired during independence, only sixteen are still rumored to be in flyable condition. Close-support forces are in even more dire straits, depending on Breguet 19 light bombers and an octet of Loire-Nieuport dive-bombers.

November 6
The new fleet submarines Roland Morillot and Charles Drujon were launched today from the Marseilles shipyards.

November 8
Trials of the Avanguardias began today in a French military court. Three members of the group pleaded guilty to charges of illegal armed insurrection and filibustering and were sentenced to ten years of hard labor in North Africa.

November 9
The new comic series Voisin et Hennequin, published by Société Parisienne d'Édition, appeared on shelves today. Voisin et Hennequin follows the adventures of two aviators of the Armee de l'Aire, Lieutenant Wenceslas Voisin and Lieutenant Claude Nicolas Hennequin. Drawn by a veteran artist who helped produced the bestselling Reynard comic series, this first issue sees the quiet and stoic Voisin and flamboyant Hennequin sent to the fictional French colony of Côte Rocheuse, which is under threat from tribal rebels led by Abdul el-Hakim and his beautiful daughter Galila. Vousin and Hennequin face the additional threat of a mercenary fighter squadron led by the villainous Colonel Dirksen, which is aiding the rebels. To complicate matters, Voisin falls in love with army nurse Joséphine Lalanne, while Hennequin sets his lofty sights on the exotic Galila. According to Société Parisienne d'Édition, the new series will run for at least nine episodes, covering the planned "Côte Rocheuse Rebellion" arc.

November 10 - Le Canard enchaîné
What the Bird Has to Say: in this week's satire cartoons, Minister of Public Health Jean-Baptiste Méliès is mocked for his statement that smoking cigarettes is an unhealthy habit.

November 11
President Theisman and senior members of the government and military celebrated Armistice Day paying their respects to French soldiers fallen in war. The President made two public appearances at Arras and Cambrai.

November 12
A Bloch MB.972 Transatlantique airliner crashed today two kilometers outside La Suze-sur-Sarthe, southwest of Le Mans. The MB.972 had previously suffered a mechanical failure in a trans-oceanic flight from New York City, landing at the Irish airport at Shannon. There it transferred its passengers to a second aircraft, and after inspection was flying back to France for maintenance and overhaul. It is believed that three Air France crewmen aboard the aircraft were all killed. Air Minister Jean-François Jannekeyn promised an investigation into the aircraft's loss.

November 15
The final four escortiers d'escadre of the Étendard-subclass destroyers were launched today in La Rochelle. These four ships, named Claymore, Carabine, Épée and Trident, are the final ships of the Jaguar-class. Although divided into three sub-classes, these warships are one of the most numerous classes of warship in the world, with forty-eight units in service or approaching completion.

November 17 - Le Canard enchaîné
What the Bird Has to Say: in this Wednesday's investigative article, Le Canard enchaîné examines leaked reports about the cost of the French Army's plans to mechanize three more divisions of infantry, in addition to creating several new armoured brigades.

November 19
The contre-torpilleur Vauquelin was launched today from the shipyards of La Rochelle.

November 20 - Le Figaro
Two Avangardias being tried for illegal armed insurrection were additionally convicted of piracy. Having exhausted their appeals, they were hung with all due dispatch.

November 22
The Armee de Terre's Aviation Légère de lArmée de Terre has circulated the requirement for a troop and cargo-carrying helicopter capable of carrying twelve to fourteen men or more at a speed of one hundred knots and a range of three hundred kilometers. France's sole helicopter manufacturer, Societe Francaise Du Gyroplane, has no known machines or paper designs capable of meeting this requirement. The Aviation Légère de lArmée de Terre cited their experience in Morocco as well as the recent event in Monaco as important events in showing the need for a machine with more capacity than the existing SH.20 Cigale.

November 23
Gnome-Rhone reports the first successful bench test of an axial turbojet engine, believed to be designed with technical insight from Atlantean and German sources. The design is currently known under the designation 'Turboréacteur Axial, Curtana' or TRAC.

November 24 - Le Canard enchaîné
What the Bird Has to Say: In the investigative journalism section, Le Canard enchaîné leaks the information that the so-called "Great Colony Swap" (as dubbed by opponents) between Britain and France will take place on January 30th, 1944.

November 26
The French Army confirmed rumors that it has received permission and funding to convert three infantry divisions to mechanized divisions before 1945. In addition, the Army plans to create two new tank brigades in the Metropole region, rework the four Brigades de Reaction Rapide, create an armoured brigade with Légion étrangère manpower, and support Indochina's creation of their own armoured brigade. Although the changes will not result in an increase in manpower, an order for approximately fifteen hundred armoured carriers, three hundred tanks, and eighteen hundred trucks is expected before 1945.

November 29
The association football team Olympique Noisy-le-Sec is founded in Noisy-le-Sec, a suburb of Paris.

November 30
The French Army has established the Manufacture de Machines du Haut-Rhin to manufacture and experiment with small arms for the French Army.

December 1 - Le Canard enchaîné
What the Bird Has to Say: In this week's edition, the editors look into a leaked report about the cost-benefit analysis of swapping Tchad to Britain in exchange for the Togo mandate and clear ownership of the New Hebrides.

December 2
French naval ships from the Atlantic Fleet came to the assistance of the Polish liner MS Chrobry today following the declaration of an emergency. A drunken and belligerent first-class passenger smashed a bottle of port and attacked another man with the broken bottle, accusing him of seducing his wife. The head steward intervened and was badly injured in the scuffle. Two other crewmen and another passenger were also injured. The French destroyer Baie de Chesapeake, conducting antisubmarine exercises off Finistère, rendered assistance, taking the passenger into custody and evacuating the injured head steward to the naval hospital at Brest. The arrested passenger will be turned over to the Polish police.

December 3
A technical investigation committee began meeting today to investigate the crash of an Air France Bloch MB.972 Transatlantique near La Suze-sur-Sarthe. The investigation committee is similar to that formed following the downing of France-Hydro Flight 714 earlier this year. Some members of the Air Ministry have made calls for the formation of a permanent body organized to investigate air crashes.

December 6
Four new Étendard class destroyers were completed today in La Rochelle. Following sea trials, they will be accepted into the Marine Nationale.

December 8
The city of Lyons lit their traditional "Fête des Lumières" today.

December 9
The Salon du Cheval de Paris opened today. One of the world's premier equestrian events, it will run until December 16th.

December 11
Édith Piaf's new song De l'Autre Côté de la Rue has become a bestselling record in France.

December 14
The new pipeline running to the port and refinery of Bougie, Algeria has been completed and enters operation.

December 15
The destroyer Forbin was completed today in La Rochelle. This ship, the first of a class of powerful new contre-torpilleur, carries the new French 13cm dual-purpose gun. Five other ships are under construction and two more are planned. The Marine Nationale is reportedly interested in ordering four more ships in 1944.

December 17
Contre-amiral Yves Desailly, former commander of the Forces Légères d'Attaque in Bizerte, has been promoted to command the Indian Ocean Flotilla.

December 20
The French government released a report publicizing the progress remaining before the January 30th deadline for territorial changes in Tchad, Togo, and the New Hebrides. According to the report, the government is preparing a special funding bill to begin improvements in the new territories and the Togo mandate. Minister of Colonies Georges Mandel indicated that if the bills pass, France would spend approximately 25% more on infrastructure development and 40% more on education initiatives in Togo than Britain spent in 1943. Mandel indicated that one of the highest priorities was establishing a system to provide clear drinking water in the major cities.

December 22
The final military trials for the Avanguardias was held today in an unknown location. Eight of the men sentenced today will be turned over immediately to the Greek government for trial regarding their role in the hijacking of the Greek coastal freighter Efimia. The French government only recently confirmed rumors that at least one senior member of the Avanguardia movement was not present in Monaco when the 13th RDP stormed the principality and rounded up the group.

December 25
France celebrates Christmas.

December 28
A French expedition led by Sous-Lieutenant Gustave Remy has departed to conduct a survey of the Mount Nimba Region of Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire. His junior rank notwithstanding, Sous-Lieutenant Remy has been busy acquiring an impressive career in exploration over the past four years, having recently summited Mont Blanc, Mount Elbrus, and Aconcagua. Remy is leading a team of surveyors and biologists to investigate the Mount Nimba region for possible creation of a nature preserve.

[SIZE=3]Literature Review: Sous un ciel de feu[/SIZE]
Article from Le Spectateur militaire. Literature Review is a monthly feature which reviews literary works of interest to military readers.

Sous un ciel de feu (Eng. "Under a Sky of Fire") is the long-anticipated third book in a popular military fiction quartet written by French wargaming umpire Pierre Michaux. Following on the best-selling success of the previous volumes (Les Actes des Aigles and Bruits de guerre lointaine), Michaux's third novel shows the continued war between the alliance of Brazil and the US on the one hand and the South African Empire. The conflict is based on a realistic kriegspiel carried out by the French military war college in 1938, which Michaux umpired. Through the course of Sous un ciel de feu, the reader receives the feeling of a tide turning. Although in the previous two books the South African military has captured Rio de Janeiro, hamstrung the US Navy, and then fought a seesaw battle for the Brazilian industrial heartland of Minas Gerais, the manufacturing brawn of the United States is starting to flex.

In the face of the rising capabilities of their foes, talented South African general Nicolaas Blomkamp advises his government to seek a peace settlement which will allow the Empire to achieve its original goals in starting the conflict. Buoyed by victory, however, the government allows the moment to pass, and orders Blomkamp to push for the unconditional surrender of Brazil. To do this, Blomkamp must push the Brazilian and American armies out of the ports of Recife and Fortaleza, far to the north. On the side of the opposition, however, the American armoured forces under the brilliant US General Starkweather are just as ready to attack, and they get in the first blow. Smashing the front line and pouring through to attack the South African rear-echelons, Starkweather's eighteen American divisions practice against the South Africans the same successful tactics Blomkamp has used with such success over the past year. At sea, the American submarine fleets threaten to strangle South African reinforcements. Although Blomkamp's heroic efforts stabilize the line, it is clear that the war must go on until it reaches its conclusion.

As is Michaux's habit, the short novella "Propagande" is included at the end of the published edition. This short narrative shows the efforts of American and South African propagandists, as well as the two nations' competing diplomats at the League of Nations.

Once again, Michaux demonstrates unusual sagacity in his concept of military operations. Many senior military commanders in the French Army are avid fans of Michaux's works, and noted general Charles de Gaul famously declared "In no place does Pierre write what cannot be, only what was not." The armoured tactics used to such great effect by the characters of Blomkamp and Starkweather are based on the actual training documents used by their respective armies. Similarly, Michaux makes a great effort to treat the characters of both sides as neither heroes nor villains; the author has stated that he has received positive comments from both American and South African military commanders.

Although the action rises in the second half of the novel, the first third of the book was somewhat slow, as the two armies, exhausted by their seesaw battles for Minas Gerais in the previous book, attempted to recover and resupply. The internal political scenes where Blomkamp tries to push for a negotiated end to the war occasionally lagged. This is Michaux at his weakest point, but it is still superior to most other military fiction of the last twenty years. Where the politics ended and the combat resumed, the reader is once again thrust into a non-stop action story that cannot be put down.

The fourth and final volume of the quartet, Marée haute (En. "Flood Tide") is due for publication late next year.

IC: The military attaché of the German embassy in Paris acquires fifty copies for transmission to the General Staff in Berlin, with the suggestion, "This is a good read!"

OOC: Very enlightening. Is there to be a fourth in the series?

Yes, there will be a fourth book, Marée haute. It will finish out Michaux's quadrilogy as well as the material from the 1938 Kriegspiel.

By 1945, Michaux should be back in print with a new series. I'm thinking... something set in Europe, perhaps an alternate-history version. France and Britain versus Italy and Austro-Hungary, perhaps? Dunno yet!

October 1
The submarine Calypso was laid down today in the port of La Rochelle.

October 4
Construction on the Amaria dam in Guinea finished today following several years of work. The dam, located on the Konkouré River, will produce 65kW of electricity, and shall power an aluminium smelter. The facility has become the first aluminium smelter in operation in Africa. [1]

October 5
French aero-engine and automobile manufacturer Hispano-Suiza unveiled a Char-8 Montbrun medium tank powered by an extremely novel gas turbine engine design, the result of five years of research and development by Dimitri Sensaud de Lavaud. Hispano-Suiza is also reportedly working on a racing motorcar with the gas turbine engine, which reportedly produces nine hundred horsepower.


Note [1]: Historical fact. Perhaps the SAE has developed something along this lines, but I've not seen evidence of it to date and so I'm sticking with the real-life history.

Note: the below represents classified information.

Quoted

[SIZE=3]Report on the German Jets at Limoges[/SIZE]
by Capitaine Paul de Montgolfier of the EdGA

Minister Lemaréchal,

As requested, I have compiled my initial thoughts following the first week of evaluations on the German Heinkel 280 jet fighters recently made available to the École de guerre aérienne. Please find my report of my initial impressions attached.

Flight Program to Date

The Germans shipped two He280s by air in a disassembled state. I was present for the entire period of their arrival, and observed the reassembly. This was carried out by a number of our technicians at Limoges, supervised by several Germans already familiar with the aircraft and its construction. In order to familiarize myself and my pilots more intimately with this novel aircraft, I closely observed all stages of the reassembly. The He280's construction is not substantially different from other cutting-edge aircraft, although it has many novel features.

While observing the reassembly process, I spoke extensively with Kapitan Walter Nowotny, a German pilot with extensive flying experience in the He280. He warned me of several troubles that have plagued the Heinkel, most notably the difficulties with its engine flame-outs. The aircraft also suffers from tail flutter and occasional sticking of control surfaces, although these issues are not acute. Nowotny also instructed me on the differences between flying jet and piston-engined aircraft.

After familiarization with the He280 cockpit and instruments, I took one of the Heinkels for a first flight from Limoges on June 18th, conducting a dozen circuits of the airfield in conjunction with a wingman in a VG.64. In a second flight, I conducted a series of basic air combat maneuvers to determine the aircraft's levels of performance and acquire the appropriate feeling for piloting a jet fighter. I additionally flew as a wingman to Kapitan Nowotny, in the second He280, who demonstrated for me what performance levels the He280 can achieve. Over the next three days, I have flown approximately six hour-long missions in the aircraft, for a total of ten hours.

Opinions

Although I have yet to accrue significant hours in the Heinkel jet fighter, I believe I may confidently say that there are several major advantages as well as disadvantages to the propulsion system.
1. The jet engines respond relatively slowly to throttle input, either positive or negative, compared to a piston-engine aircraft such as the Revenant or Rafale.
2. Take-off roll is extensive due to the amount of time necessary to build up sufficient engine thrust.
3. Climb rates, once airborne and at full thrust, are significant, and sharp climbs can be sustained for longer before a stall occurs.
4. Engine performance at extremely high altitudes is much better than possible with most piston-engined fighters.
5. Fuel use with the current engines is excessive, and range is thus poor. It appears this problem is not unique to the Heinkel, but to all jet aircraft and engines presently undergoing testing.
6. Vibrations from the engines are reduced, as is engine torque resulting in steering difficulties. Regardless of other features, this makes the Heinkel quite pleasant to fly.
7. Kapitan Nowotny warned all personnel about walking in front of or behind a running jet engine. This information must be distributed more widely AT ONCE in order to prevent more incidents such as occurred with the mess tent.
8. Although the Heinkel has a marginal speed advantage over a VB.20 fighter, it is apparent to me that significantly higher speeds, climb rates, and flight ceilings will be a feature of future jet aircraft. This will result in extremely disfavorable situations in air-to-air combat between jet and piston-engined aircraft.

October 5: Evening
On a merchant vessel, in the Mediterranean Sea.

Major Alberto Nazzari looked around the main deck of the chartered Greek coastal freighter at the faces of his men. There were nearly eighty of them crowded aboard the small ship. Some were former members of the Italian Army, while others had served in Persia fighting for one or the other sides in the civil war there. All of them were well-armed, with guns stolen from an Italian arsenal: Beretta submachine guns, Carcano rifles, and MAR-38 machine guns.

Satisfied, Nazzari looked around at the faces of his three senior leaders. "Shall we go over the plan again, Comrades?"

"I don't think that will be necessary, Major," Giuseppe Bottazzi said. The 'political' leader of Nazzari's band, Bottazzi had organized funding and the acquisition of weapons, as well as set the goal of the expedition.

"Very well, then," Nazzari said. "Comrades, finish your preparations. The men must rest before we reach the coast."

...this should be interesting.

Quoted

Originally posted by The Rock Doctor
...this should be interesting.

My thoughts exactly.

October 6 - 0355 Hours
Port Hercule, Monaco

"It's time," Major Nazzari said with satisfaction, glancing at the hooded clock on the freighter's bridge. "Captain, full steam ahead."

"But signore..." the Greek master whined.

Nazzari patted the holstered sidearm at his side, drawing the Greek's attention to it. "I have given you my instructions and I expect them to be obeyed, Captain," he said, his voice firm but still polite. "In any case, the Jews and capitalists of your nation will doubtlessly cover any of your damages through 'insurance.' You have nothing to fear."

"Yes, signore," the Greek replied. He gave the orders to his three crewmen, and the small ship turned toward the coast, extinguishing its lights.

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
October 6 - 0355 Hours
Port Hercule, Monaco

Monaco? What are they trying to do, break the bank at Monte Carlo?

No, no - they're Italians, not British playboys!

October 6 - 0405 Hours
Port Hercule, Monaco

The freighter pushed its way towards the yacht marina to the great alarm of Monaco's sole pilot boat, which flashed its lights with increasing anxiety. Nazzari waited until his watch showed 0405 hours, and then opened the case at his side, removing his flaregun. He fitted a flare into the gun, pointed it at the sky, and fired. He repeated the procedure two more times.

On the Rue Grimaldi, two buses pulled up near the ramp leading to the Prince's Palace, and a dozen armed men poured out of each. Beretta SMGs and Carcano rifles in hand, they started up the stairs. Two minutes later, a pair of Carabiniers du Prince, patrolling outside the Palace, were shocked into action as the leading attackers began sprinting toward them.

Sous Lieutenant Alain Ducasse unholstered his pistol. "Stop!" he shouted.

The attackers did not heed his order: they leveled their submachine guns at him instead. Despite the odds against them, Ducasse and his partner both opened fire with their pistols: no one was getting into the palace they guarded without a fight. One of the attackers fired back with his submachine gun. A few moments later, the Carabiniers' GP-35 pistols locked on empty; and the attacker stood there with a smoking and empty submachine gun. Neither party had hit each other.

Out of ammunition, Ducasse turned around and ran for his life. His partner shared the sentiment but ran the opposite direction.

At the Barracks Moneghetti, two more buses pulled up, and another two squads of attackers surprised the Carabiniers posted there. They surrendered without a fight.

At 0415 Hours, Major Nazzari led the first of his troops off the freighter and marshalled them on the quay.



+ + + + SPECIAL BULLETIN + + + +
+ + + + FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE + + + +
At 0355 Hours local time, unknown military units were reported by the harbor patrol of the Monégasque Force Publique, disembarking from a coastal freighter in Monaco's main civil marina of Port Hercule. Telephone communications with the Prince's Palace and other government structures within Monaco were lost shortly thereafter. French police and local military units have been placed on high alert. No further information is available to the public at the present time.

Distributed by the Palais de l'Élysée at 0730 Hours.

Cripes its an invasion!

I'm sure the French can handle the situation but the British Government pledges any assistance it can offer.

OOC: once the news reaches Britain all RN ships at sea in the Med would be put on full alert. Given the news statement it could be Italian or Iberian troops who have invaded. Who knows there might be an invasion fleet out there somewhere? It could also be a diversion to cover a real target elsewhere so His Majesty's Government will play things safe until more information is available.

Upon receiving the news, Chancellor Adenauer will immediately contact President Thiesman to reaffirm Germany's commitment to the Grand Alliance and to offer assistance if required.

As a precautionary measure, the First Intervention and First Parachute Divisions are placed in alert pending clarification of what power has undertaken this dastardly act.

I suppose elements of the Black Sea Fleet could help, but BlSF naval staff assume the Marine Nationale will promptly have matters well in hand.

October 6 - 0810 Hours
Palais de l'Élysée

President Theisman entered the cabinet meeting and sat down with his coffee. To his right were the President and Vice-Presidents of the Council, Gaston Monnerville and Jean-Pierre Murail, the latter doubling as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. To his left was Jean-Marie Lemaréchal, the Minister of National Defense, assistant minister Alfred August Metayer, and Minister of Justice Edmond Michelet.

"Sorry I'm late," Theisman said, glancing at the clock. "The Italians called." He paused. "Rome wished to assure us of their general good feelings and non-responsibility in this... what are we calling it, an invasion? An incident?"

Murail spoke up. "At the moment, we are calling it the 'Monaco Incident', Monsieur President. It does not appear to have transcended yet to the level of a crisis."

"Very well." Theisman glanced around the table. "I want to know what is going on, gentlemen. Jean-Marie?"

Lemaréchal frowned. "Rome may not have given the orders, but they do bear some responsibility for this. The attackers are carrying Italian weapons - modern ones, definitely not castoffs. A few stragglers of the Carabiniers du Prince have crossed the border and Gendarmes are interviewing them now."

Prime Minister Monnerville shook his head. "Who in the world is stupid enough to invade Monaco? If it's not Italy - and I think that's quite a reach in any case, since we've seen no hint of warlike preparations from them - who is it?"

"I think we should consider the possibility that this is a non-state actor," Minister Michelet said. "From what Minister Lemaréchal says, the... invaders are relatively small in numbers."

"It's hard to tell without detailed reconnaissance," Lemaréchal said. "But it does seem to be a fairly small group. I have not yet authorized any of our troops to conduct reconnaissance across the border into Monaco, however; seeing as it is an independent state."

Theisman glanced around the table. "Are there any objections? No? Then conduct your reconnaissance, Minister Lemaréchal."

Lemaréchal turned to an army officer standing discreetly in one corner of the room; he nodded once and the officer scurried off to pass the order. "As a precautionary order, I've given the word to certain brigades and regiments to begin preparing for movement to the southeast coast..."

He paused as an aide came in and whispered to Murail. The Minister of Foreign Affairs nodded once, then interrupted. "The attackers have sent out a man under a flag of truce to declare themselves..." He paused as the aide came back in with a paper, the copy of a telex. "Here we are," Murail said, skimming the document quickly. "They... hm, identify themselves as the, and I quote 'New Socialist-Communist Party Vanguard of Monaco', end-quote, and they are declaring their wish to establish a paradise state of socialist ideals at peace with all of Europe."

"What." Theisman put a hand to his forehead.

"They say," Murail continued, "That our treaty with Monaco only demands French intervention in the event of a foreign invasion, which they claim they are not. If we do not acknowledge the establishment of their new socialist state, then they will, quote, 'be forced to take drastic measures to ensure the success of their peaceful uprising of the proletariat working class.' They await our reply."

"In short, this is a hostage situation on a grand scale," Minister Michelet said. "Did they capture the Prince?"

Theisman rolled his eyes. "Prince Louis is staying at the Hotel Ritz Paris. He's probably going to learn about the conquest of his principality in the afternoon newspaper."

"Don't you think we should tell him about it before then?" Monnerville asked.

"Why? Prince Louis hasn't even been in Monaco more than one month out of the year since 1940," Theisman said scornfully. "He lives at the Hotel Ritz, sleeps late, drinks expensive wine and entertains young actresses. Perhaps if he paid a little more attention to his principality, he wouldn't need to learn about its conquest in the newspapers."

"Still..." Monnerville said.

"You're right," Theisman said, sighing. "We should inform him. Why don't you go over to the Hotel Ritz, Gaston? As to this... 'incident'." Theisman looked to his left. "Jean-Marie?"

Lemaréchal inclined his head. "You are looking for a military option? I would like some time to acquire more detailed intelligence, but I hope to have that by twelve hundred hours." He paused. "I venture to say that, if we merely wanted to secure Monaco, I already have adequate forces on the border to accomplish that. The 3rd and 4th Chasseurs Alpin Divisions both have their headquarters within fifty kilometers, and I could have them simply storm the principality. But I would prefer to take a little more time to bring in my... specialists."

"The Legion?" Theisman said, perking up. A former Legionnaire, he was always keen on his old force.

"The 2nd Bataillon étranger de parachutistes might have been an option, but they're involved in a training exercise in Algerie," Lemaréchal said. "It would take time to bring them back and set them up. I'm going to suggest instead the 13th Régiment de Dragons Parachutistes, plus the detachment of the Commandos Marine from Toulon." He looked towards Murail. "I will need some time. Perhaps twenty-four hours?"

"In that case," Murail said, glancing to Theisman, "I will offer to negotiate with them in order to give you the time."

Quoted

'New Socialist-Communist Party Vanguard of Monaco'

OOC:

The residents of city that depends upon the fleecing of the aristocracy and plutocracy of the world has a proletariat? No one in their right mind would believe that. Of course, no one in their right mind would try to invade Monaco with a handful of troops.

The veiled threat though is worrying.

Semi IC:

"Put a call through to Major Skorzeny please..."

Just have Manzo fly circles over Monaco. That will make them surrender in a matter of minutes.

... of course he has to find Monaco first and by the time he gets there, it'll all be over.

Pah! All this French dithering and indecision! France could have swept these geezers into the sea within a couple of hours.

Of course being such a wealthy place and having lots of prime property doubtless the French don't want to cause too much damage and face some hefty insurance claims when its all over. Also, Monaco might face something of a crisis once the People's Republic is over, how many wealthy patrons are going to want to live in and invest in a city state that can be invaded by any boatload of cranks? Monaco has to take more steps for its own defence and possibly build a few patrol boats too.