WesWorld

Looks like the Russian rail lines between the black sea and Lithuania will be quite busy! Pencil in a similar manefest for the Turkish forces too. An additional train for the 40 armoured cars will be needed.

General Orbay along with some of his staff will be traveling via aircraft dirrectly to Vilnius then to Wilno.

The evening of the 22nd is fine, although we do as that the Bulgarians delay one train to the evening of the 24th to get everything ready for the medical team.

Quoted

Originally posted by TheCanadian
The evening of the 22nd is fine, although we do as that the Bulgarians delay one train to the evening of the 24th to get everything ready for the medical team.

That is acceptable.

What would be the arrival date of the combined Turkish-Bulgarian-Romanian contingent in Minsk, then in Vilnius, do you think?

Looking at it with an eye to posting something in the Lithuanian News & Events.

Hrm. Enter Romania on the 22nd, travel the 23rd and probably the 24th as well... first Bulgarian trains *might* be arriving late on the 24th, or more likely the 25th if the Russians speed me along. The first trains would essentially run with 200 men aboard, a couple wagons to carry their immediate equipment (rifles, ammo, tents, mess equipment)... Tail end of the movement might come on the 26th, with the last train (delayed in Romania) coming the 27th.

Good. Gives me something of a timetable to work around. Thanks.

The German troops, drawn from the 17th Infantry Division and the 5th Corps stationed in East Prussia, will be ready to cross the Lithuanian border on the morning of the 22nd. It consists of 1 infantry regiment (the 39th), 1 recon battalion, and 1 field artillery battalion, all under the command of General Erik Hansen.

The Turks, save General Orbay and his imediate staff, would be a day or two behind the Bulgarians.

Great Britian would like to offer any sea transport it can and we will send a steamer of aid supplies by the 29th without military escort. 70 Red Cross volunteers will be aboard.

excerpted from the Netherlands news :

The Antwerp Twerp, July 22nd
A regiment of the of the 2nd Cavalry Division, and two battalions of infantry from the 2nd Ardennes Division completed embarkation today. The men of these units, and their attached military police and logistics companies, will sail aboard five ships this afternoon.

The expeditionary force is bound for Lithuania, where they will form Belgium's contribution to the international force there.

January 13th, 1936:

The Republic of Lithuania, formally requests that the League of Nations's commission the formation of a Wilno-Lithuanian Insurrection War Crimes Tribunal as per Article/Provision 5 of the 1935 Stockholm Protocal.

5) An independent Wilno-Lithuanian Insurrection War Crimes Tribunal to be organized and overseen by the League of Nations, with selected representative delegations from Lithuania and Wilno. This war crimes tribunal to have complete powers of investigation and prosecution with regard to individuals and organizations that may have been involved in atrocities and war crimes as defined by international law, within both the Lithuania and Wilno territory.

Both Lithuanian and Wilno delegations to take part in the tribunal are in the process of being organized, the selection of League of Nations officers is considered a matter of urgent priority, especially the selection of a presiding president of the tribunal.

Belgium will second the motion.

Great Britain will also back the motion.

Quoted

Originally posted by Agent148
This war crimes tribunal to have complete powers of investigation and prosecution with regard to individuals and organizations that may have been involved in atrocities and war crimes as defined by international law, within both the Lithuania and Wilno territory.

OOC: what precisely is defined as "atrocities and war crimes" in this particular point in time?

Geneva convention? At least that is what I think would be used to determine that.

As these events refer to a time before I took over as player of Germany, I will defer to the majority opinion; Germany will not actively seek to block formation of such a tribunal.

Personally, it seems somewhat anachronistic to me but provision of such a tribunal has been already written into the storyline.

This wikipedia link might help, it covers the then reigning Geneva Convention's main features.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Geneva_Convention

The Wilno delegates (who are not part of either of the emigre governments-in-exile, but respected individuals, community leaders, etc, who have the confidence of the disputed area's Polish-Lithuanian population.) and the Lithuanian Government of the Grinius regime are determined to see justice done, regarding irregularities over land an property seizures - by the Wilno Republican "officals" and to a lesser extent by Lithuanian governmental forces involved in trying to suppress them, during the Insurrection and following Crisis, as well as the thorough investigate of murders found to be committed against selected ethnic or political minorities within the area by the Letowska Guards, during the above period. Further to investigate claims and counter-claims between Lithuanian and Wilno soldier of small-scale local atrocities committed during the battles and skirmishes of the Insurrection.

Similiar claims have been voiced in regard to the League of Nations garrison troops, during the Crisis, and it is felt that all these "incidents" ought to be brought to light, and judged, and if necessary actions taken to punish anyone responsible or at least prevent it from happening again in future.

agree to form the Tribunal.

Quoted

Originally posted by Agent148
This wikipedia link might help, it covers the then reigning Geneva Convention's main features.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Geneva_Convention

The Wilno delegates (who are not part of either of the emigre governments-in-exile, but respected individuals, community leaders, etc, who have the confidence of the disputed area's Polish-Lithuanian population.) and the Lithuanian Government of the Grinius regime are determined to see justice done, regarding irregularities over land an property seizures - by the Wilno Republican "officals" and to a lesser extent by Lithuanian governmental forces involved in trying to suppress them, during the Insurrection and following Crisis, as well as the thorough investigate of murders found to be committed against selected ethnic or political minorities within the area by the Letowska Guards, during the above period. Further to investigate claims and counter-claims between Lithuanian and Wilno soldier of small-scale local atrocities committed during the battles and skirmishes of the Insurrection.

Given that the proposed tribunal is mutually agreed upon, none of my nations IC have any reason to oppose it.

Quoted

Originally posted by Agent148
Similiar claims have been voiced in regard to the League of Nations garrison troops, during the Crisis, and it is felt that all these "incidents" ought to be brought to light, and judged, and if necessary actions taken to punish anyone responsible or at least prevent it from happening again in future.

IC: "Bulgaria, having contributed troops to the field force, categorically declines to participate in any proposal which would result in their soldiers being investigated by an international body, be it League-sponsored or otherwise. If there are any claims regarding the Bulgarian troops, they should be addressed through direct contact with the Bulgarian government and Department of Justice, which will conduct its own open investigation. Bulgaria views this as a matter of national sovereignty and will absolutely refuse any request to submit their citizens to the peculiarities of foreign or 'international' justice."

France, Ireland, and Chile ditto the above.

Quoted

IC: "Bulgaria, having contributed troops to the field force, categorically declines to participate in any proposal which would result in their soldiers being investigated by an international body, be it League-sponsored or otherwise. If there are any claims regarding the Bulgarian troops, they should be addressed through direct contact with the Bulgarian government and Department of Justice, which will conduct its own open investigation. Bulgaria views this as a matter of national sovereignty and will absolutely refuse any request to submit their citizens to the peculiarities of foreign or 'international' justice."

Germany, which also participated in League operations in Lithuania, raises a similar reservation.