WesWorld

to The League of Nations, as delivered by the Iberian delegate to the League, Senor Arturo De La Fuente Sanchez.

My Fellow Delegates.....

The Iberian Federation catagorically denounce this pronouncement of annexation of our legitimate Leauge appointed Mandate of the Paracel Islands.

We issue the following warning to the revolutionaries of the People's Oriential Republic of the Philippines.....
You are hereby ordered to cease your illegal occupation of the Paracel Islands, and to quit the area.

You have 1 month to comply with these instructions.

Failure to do so will be meet with unrestricted military action.

The Iberian Federation will no longer stand by and watch while other nations cast coveteous eyes over our territories.

The government of Atlantis stands by the League of Nations and its decision to grant the Paracel Islands to Iberia. The decision was made to prevent hostility's, something which the "People's Oriential Republic of the Philippines" seems to care little about

We denounce this pronouncement of annexation of the legitimate League appointed Mandate of the Paracel Islands by the PRP. To allow this annexation would premote further violations of other League of Nations resolutions and as such undermine its credibility as a world body designed to premote peace and stability in the world.

A standard must be set in the face of such naked aggression. Therefore the government of Atlantis fully supports the ultimatum issued by Iberia to the non-ellected PRP so long as the actions taken against the PRP, should they refuse to accept the ultimatum, are taken so as to remove their presence from the Paracel Islands only.

We must state however that we are quite concerned that hostility's in the region have already reached critical levels with the activation of Satsuma under its perscribed clauses. We emplore the Governments of India and Japan to put an end to these hostilities with the utmost speed.

Since the United States does not recognize the PORP as the legitimate government of the Philippine nation, any claims they may make to territories is irrelevant and without merit and any affected nations are well within their rights to take all necessary and prudent actions to resolve the situation.

official statement of the Filipino Ambassador (...Loyalist Government, of course...) to the League of Nations

The Republic of the Philippines, while it has never renounced its claim to the Paracel Islands, abides by the decision of the League which designates these islands as a mandate of Iberia. We do not have any association with the claim by the traitors of the "People's Oriental Republic of the Philippines" and will not interfere in any way with any actions that may be taken against D.O.R.P. forces located in the Paracels.

"The Government of Atlantis can rest assured that India, Japan, Chosen and Formosa are indeed working with the legitimate government of the Republic of the Philippines to bring the conflict to an end as quickly and bloodlessly as possible.

"For the record, Iberian actions taken against Filipino revolutionaries occupying the Paracels will be considered a legitimate act of self-defence. India will not interpret such actions as aggression against its ally, the legitimate government of the Philippines."

Knock knock knock

"Enter"

The ornately carved door of Don Arturo De La Feunte Castillos' office swung slowly open.
An aide half entered the room, "The Philippino Ambassador is just arriving, Your Excellency"
"Thank you Carlos, please show him in."
The aide stepped out, closing the door softly behind him.
"Now, hopefully, we might get a better idea of what your Marines may be up against, eh Pedro?"
"Indeed Ambassador."

A few moments later, the door swung open, Carlos entered, holding it open. "His Excellency, Ambassador David Walkerton of The Republic of The Phillipines."

Don Arturo stood and moved around his desk to greet his guest, while Pedro left his seat and turned to face the door.

"Ambassador Walkerton, so good of you to come." Don Arturo moved forward to shake hands."May I extend my sympathies, and those of the People of Iberia, for the trials your people are suffering at the moment".

The Philippino Ambassador took his host's outstretched hand and shook it firmly, "Thank You Your Excellency, These are indeed troubling times for the People of The Philippines"

"Please, as this is an informal meeting, please call me Arturo. I am sure Pedro or Carlos will not tell anyone about a brief lapse in protocol", Arturo said as he smiled and nodded towards his fellow countrymen.
"In that event, I must insist that you call me David." Walkerton replied.
"As you wish. Allow me to introduce Colonel Pedro Sanchez of the Infantería de Marina's 3rd Batallion. I have asked him along, as I have only a limited grasp of military affairs"

"Carlos, would you organise some light refreshments for our guest"
"At once, Your Excellency." Carlos said, bowed and left, closing the door silently.

"Gentlemen" Arturo started," Please be seated" as he returned behind his desk and sat down.

"Now, David, while we are awaiting our refreshments, let us get to business. These revolutionaries that have landed on The Paracels, what can you tell us about them?"

David looked at the Iberian Ambassador. When he had taken up the post of Ambassador in Siam 3 years earlier, his predecessor had warned him that this man was always direct and to the point, refreshing, he had called it then. And at this moment, David had to agree.

"Arturo, Colonel, what I have is not much, I am afraid."
He opened his attache case, and removed a dossier, and slid it across the desk towards Arturo.
"What we do know is..........."

Just when I thought the San Pablo troubles were more or less over...
Good to see some Iberian action about to be taken. :-)

I'm sure we are in for a ride of some sort when it comes to the Philippines.

(For those who are wondering... )

***

F.I.N.E.R.-Davao

29 December

In another blow against the "Revolutionary" cause, the battlecruiser Presidente Malvar captured the fast freighter Enchilada yesterday. It is believed that the rebel vessel seized by the daring Capitan Cain was returning from ferrying troops to the illegally-claimed Paracel Islands.

At the same time, the coastal battleships Dagupan and Tacloban used the long reach of their guns, the longest-ranged in the fleet, to conduct a bombardment of the Corregidor fortress at the entrance to Manila Bay.

No doubt the followers of the "Socialist" cause have had their faith shaken!

Christian turned to his wife, "Ingrid, my darling, you have excelled yourself. This soiree of yours is truly amazing. You have managed to get the Iberians, Dutch, Italians, and Germans to forego their own New Years celebrations to come here. How did you do it?"
"Now now dear, we women don't give away our secrets so easily!" she replied, smiling innocently yet with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
"Ah, I think I suspect the hand, or should I say hands, of that 'Wives Club' of yours are somehow involved".
Ingrid took a step back and placed her hands on her hips "Mr. Ambassador, are you implying that there is some sort of devious scheme that I am involved with?"
Christian stepped forward, placed his hands on Ingrid's arms, and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, "No dear, I imply nothing of the sort, I am merely stating a fact borne of my many years personal experience of the conspirator that I married!"
Ingrid brought the back of her hand to her forehead "You wound me sir, how will I ever survive", fighting to hold back the broad, captivating smile that had been the first thing Christian had fallen for about his wife.
Christian laughed openly, and as he composed himself, said "Ingrid, you are incorrigible! Now shall we go see to your guests?"
"OUR guests, dear" as she took her husband's elbow and proceeded into the ballroom.

Later that evening, Christian was seated in his office with the Iberian Ambassador, Colonel Pedro Sanchez, and Captain Rolf Forsberg of the Loki.
"So what can we do for you Arturo?" Christian inquired of his biggest chess nemesis.
"We would appreciate some assistance from the Danish Navy, and in particular, Captain Forsberg and Loki".
Christian looked puzzled.
"If I may Ambassador?" Pedro inquired of his Ambassador.
"Colonel Sanchez will explain our request, Christian. He would be more informed to answer any questions you may have"
Well, Colonel, please begin" Christian invited.
Thank you, Your Excellency. As you will be aware, Philippino revolutionaries have illegally landed on, and claimed the Paracel Islands as their own. We are planning an operation to remove them from the islands, by force if necessary, but we have run into a problem. Our amphibious assault assets are in Iberia, and by the time we can get them together and shipped to here, we will have passed the deadline we have issued for the revolutionaries to leave"
Rolf Forsberg interjected, "And you wish to use Loki to transport your men? Surely you have other transports that could suffice?"
"Yes Captain, more than enough, but they don't have the shallow draft of Loki, nor their own set of fast launches!" Pedro paused before continuing, "The main problem is the shallow waters around the islands and the reefs around them"
"Ok, I see where you are coming from, Colonel. But the STC's would not be able to carry more than about 12 men at a time." Rolf replied.
"We had planned on about that number, Captain. We were wondering if it would be feasible to replace your torpedoes with armour panels that my men could shield behind for the run to the beach?" Pedro inquired.
Well, I would think........"

Christian looked at his Iberian friend "Arturo, shall we leave them to it? They seem to have switched into 'planning' mode."
The two military men were deep in discussion as the Ambassadors stood to leave the room. Christian placed his hands on their chair backs, "Gentlemen, please stay here and work out a provisional proposal that you can put to Admiral Bluhme, who is due here later".
"Now Arturo, shall we return to our wives before they manage to talk us out of our jobs?" Christian fought back a smile.
"Madre de Dios, did we leave them together?"
Arturo laughed as they closed the office door behind them.

The door of the Ambassador's office swung open, as Karl, the Ambassador's aide, showed Rear Admiral Christian Albrecht Bluhme, the head of Danish naval operations in the Far East into the impropmtu planning session.

At the sound of the opening door, the 2 men looked around, and upon sight of the dress uniform with copious amounts of gold braid, both of them snapped to attention.
"As you were please, gentlemen." the Admiral's deep voice resonated. "The Ambassador tells me you have an interesting idea, Colonel Sanchez. Present you idea, You have my ear for the next 5 minutes".

"Sir, we have a kernel of an idea for the use of Loki's STCs as fast launches to land troops on a defended beach. As you are undoubtedly aware, we have to effect landings on the Paracels to remove the Philippino revolutionaries, but due to the waters around them, the Armada do not have anything that we could effect these landings with in the area."

"And your thoughts on this idea, Capt. Forsberg?"

"Well Sir, while it seems a little unusual to run a STC directly at a beach, I believe that we can make it work. Without the weight of torpedoes and tubes, we should be able to lower the draft to about 1 or 1.5 metres. This, the Colonel assures me, is shallower than most of the Armada's normal assault launches. We also believe the machine guns and Marsden cannon on the STCs would be useful in suppressing defensive positions". Rolf continued describing their ideas, with Pedro adding details where necessary, for another 3 minutes.

"Very well then, Gentlemen. As it happens Captian, your next posting was to return to Roskilde with Loki and start work on this very concept."
Addressing Rolf directly, the Admiral continued, "I will inform Copenhagen that you and Loki have been seconded to the Armada for the duration of it's operations in the Paracels. Have your vessel ready to sail on tomorrow evenings tide."
"Yes Sir!" Rolf replied.
"Colonel, I would suggest that you travel aboard Loki to San Hainando, as I assume that will be your staging point, to familiarise yourself with the STCs. I cannot order you to give me a full report on the operations that you are about to conduct, but I think that the loan of a ship is worth a few pages of text, don't you?"
"It is indeed a bargain Sir. Thank you"
The Admiral smiled, "Don't thank me yet Colonel, the next round of drinks is on you. Shall we......" the Admiral asked as he opened the door and the sound of the party flooded into the office.

K.D.M.Loki, laying off the Port of Sanya, southern coast of San Hainando.

"Well Colonel, I think that we are as ready as we are going to be." Rolf Forsberg was happy with the way his boat crews and the Iberian Marines had worked together over the last 2 weeks.
"I think you are right, Captain, considering the short time, we have achieved a lot. The boats have been adapted, and the daily practice runs on the beaches of the islands in Yalong bay have helped to smooth out some of our earlier 'incidents', and thanks to the recon aircraft, we have a better idea of the revolutionaries positions."

Around the 2 men, the business of stowing the boats had the bridge crew busy, cordinating the actions of the deck crews, and keeping the Iberians out of harms way, as 20 ton boats were swung aboard.

There were now 220 hand picked Iberian Marines aboard Loki, and space was becoming a premium. Some had been made be putting ashore the ship's compliment of torpedo technicians and the STC's torpedo men, as well as the torps themselves. Some of that space was going to be taken up with the the crews of the extra 4 STCs that they had brought from Bangkok, these being on top of the replacements for those lost in their last operation against pirates. They had decided that it would be best to land as many troops at a time, so the extra boats were assigned to Loki, the idea being to carry the 4 extras on the hatch covers.

As it turned out, each boat could handle 14 Marines as well as boat crews, and with the practice landings they had been able to get them off the boats in a cohesive unit at an acceptable speed. And with the lighter weight of the STCs, it was now possible to get to a point where the water was 3 feet deep, but care had to be taken or the boats would not be able to refloat them until the tide lifted them off. The decision had been made to make the landing 1 hour before high tide so the boats would be able to free themselves. So all was now in place and ready, it was just a matter of when.

intruiging. I am glad to see Iberia getting some action

Agreed. I'm enjoying the story-telling here.