WesWorld

Excerpts from The Stateman Editorial January 18th 1940

"What is on the minds of our leaders? The Raj was wise in his decision for Prime Minister in late 1936, that man giving us after the triumph of Karachi the even larger victories of 1938 and 1939. But now that man is failing his ruler."

"His decision to support the bullying of the Chinese; yes, the same Chinese that send military help to the Persian rebels during that Persian Civil War as a slap in the face to our nation, against the British Empire is beyond us. While in our small understanding of foreign policies some of the claims of the Chinese are correct we still can't understand why we are taking the side of a nation that pretty much have shown to us their evil side."

"And to make it worse, these same policies have forced the German Government, a nation that has stand by ours for close to seventy years, to rethink their cooperation level with our nation. We are outraged that Germany has been forced to take this actions due to the stupidity of one man."

January 2nd 1940

In a simple ceremony today the first battleship to be constructed in Bharat in over ten years was laid down today in the city of Mumbai. According to Fleet Admiral Paswan the ship will be "the first of many more to come."

January 8th 1940

The battleship Shah Jahan and escorts returned today from their trip to Europe. The trip was described as uneventful.

January 19th 1940

Tests continue in the light carrier Katar of Japanese and German designs received in early 1939 for evaluation. Sources indicated the designs are been examined in depth by enginners in Kiran Industries and Awali Brothers to develop an local product to fit the BNS needs.

January 21st 1940

The continued unrest in Persia caused by bandits crossing the Afghan border is a continued concern of the Persian and our own Government. In the latest atrociity a small humanitarian convoy carrying medicines east of Mashhed was attacked with heavy casualties. Both the Persian and our own Government have lodged a protest to Afghanistan asking them to stop giving refuge to those bandits.

January 28th 1940

It has been announced today in Bandar Abbas that the BRA will continue to be stationed in Persian soil for an undertermined amount of time. While reduced in size from their heyday in the Civil War, the force continue to help the Persian Government to fight bandits in their territory. The size of the force is currently the 1st Mechanized Brigade stationed in Bandar Abbas with the HQ elements as an emergency force and two Cavalry Brigades fighting bandits near the Afghani border. Is expected this level of presence will continue for now at this level but is expected to be even further reduced in the near future.

Quoted

Originally posted by perdedor99
January 8th 1940
The battleship Shah Jahan and escorts returned today from their trip to Europe. The trip was described as uneventful.

Except for the little boo-boo with the tanker!

February 2nd 1940

The five ships of the 1st Cruiser Squadron returned today to their homeport of Male after an extended detached mission. The ships were rated as being "100% and ready to sail if the need arises" by maintenence crews examining the ships after their long mission.

February 11th 1940

Today a combined team of Imperial Aeronautics and Kiran Industries unveiled under closed doors to military procurement officers a simple and robust unit with six-stage compressor and annular combustor. It was stated in a later on that "this is something to built upon for the future... the culmination of close to three years of combined efforts between our two companies with initial foreign help."

February 19th 1940

It was announced significant military maneouvers are planned for later on the year according to sources in the Imperial Army. The maneouvers location was not specified at this time.

February 21st 1940

The first railroad line connecting Afghanistan and Bharat is expected to be completed in the Spring, with work having been stop at the beginning of Winter due to the inclement weather in the region. The line will connect the city of Karachi with Kandahar through Quetta.

February 23rd 1940

An agreement has been reached between the Government of Persia, Baluchistan and our own to improve the infrastructure and tranportation routes to the city of Gwadar. The decision was agreed upon by the three nations as being beneficial to all; Persia owns the city, an improved port and transportation hubs to the city will help Baluchistan to depend less of Karachi for commerce and Bharat considers improved tranportation hubs in the region will improve flow of materials to Bharat.

_________________________________________________________

Z020340ZFEB

G E N E R A L    K N O W L E D G E     T H E O

FM: Vice Admiral Sir William Ross, Fast Battle Squadron

TO: Admiral Sir Harrison Morrow, Commander-in-Chief, RCN

INFO: SATSUMA Encounter
//HGNOOG//

[size=1]FEastOpsRep[/size]

=========================================================

Summary of encounter with combined Indian/Japanese cruiser squadron off Singapore.

Report recieved at [REDACTED] from [REDACTED] scout plane, "Two CA, two CL, two DD. Position

[REDACTED], course South-south West, Speed 12 knots." At [REDACTED]Renown, Repulse, Furious

and escorts were ordered by Commander, Home Fleet to adjust course to intercept and identify

unknown ships. Flagship closed to 35,000 yards, identifying two Japanese cruisers of the Yukino

class, two Indian light cruisers of the Kanpur class, and two destroyers of Indian make. At a

range of roughly 29,000 yards, combined squadron initiated a turn to port, settling on a course due

north, at a speed of 32 knots. Fast Battle Squadron and Furious ordered to return to excersize

area, contact not regained.

End Report

CC: RN CinC, Singapore
RCN Fleet Intelligence
RAN Fleet Intelligence
RN Fleet Intelligence

=========================================================

ADDENDUM:

Fleet Intelligence has ascertained Indian 1st Cruiser squadron returned to patrolling

off Formosa until the conclusion of the RCN Deployment, then returned to base.
_________________________________________________________

Undisclosed location, 14:18hrs, February 11th 1940

"Close to three years now and they are still there," said the short man in monk robes while sipping his tea. "They lied to us as they always do and we are now wondering if they are trying to ascern their so-called authority over our nation again."

"I can see why your nation could be concern by the latest events so close to your border," responded the full bearded man wearing a turban. "Our nation is also concerned by their actions and," he drop some documents in the table for his guess to revise."They are supporting through third parties the bandits that plague your borders."

The monk revised the documents and shooked his head. "But they are fighting them. Their news indicate..."

He was stopped midsentence by his host."We know their treachery first hand and this is all a ploy by them. Is maybe time for your nation to pay them back."

March 4th 1940 His Highness the Raj authorized the BNS additional funding to continue further research in certain projects. While some are already know, like the development of a new intermediate AA gun, others like the Kuutaa and Bhanwara projects are an unknown to the press.

March 7th 1940 An explotion of so-called Art Deco construction in the city of Mumbai during the last decade was the reason the Gateway to India Arch was designed, with the completion ceremony been today. Mixing European architecture with more traditional Indo-Muslim designs the Arch was ordered by His Highness the Raj in 1935 to utilize more traditional elements in the building while still utilizing the European construction techniques. The Arch was designed to "greet" the visitors to the largest port in the region as they disembark from their ships.

March 12th 1940 Our government presented today an official protest to the Afghani Court for their continued sheltering of the War Criminal Parwiz. The Spokeman for the Foreign Office indicated that "the continued protection of the Afghani nation to that criminal will not be tolerated for long."

March 16th 1940 The barracks of our own 3rd Cavalry Brigade in Mashhed, Persia were attacked today by partisans that caused some damage to the installation. Casualties are unknown at this time but are considered to be light. However, the attack inside a city that was considered secure was a surprise to the Persian leadership and the BRA commanders. Suspected partisan sympathizers were rounded up for interrogation.

March 27th 1940 Bombers attached to the BRA attacked suspected partisan positions on the other side of the Persian border last week, a source reported. The attacks were in response to the cowardly assault to our barracks in the city of Mashhed.

Project Dog and Project Bumblebee? Hm.

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
Project Bumblebee? Hm.

I think Germany, Japan, and Hasbro have dibs on that particular project.

Quoted

Originally posted by perdedor99
March 4th 1940 His Highness the Raj authorized the BNS additional funding to continue further research in certain projects. While some are already know, like the development of a new intermediate AA gun, others like the Kuutaa and Bhanwara projects are an unknown to the press.

What is the intermediate AA gun? That rather beasty 105/71 dual purpose weapon?

No. Just a smaller caliber gun to replace the 15mm with the 35mm taking hte place of the 15mm gun.

April 5th 1940 In a short speech today Prime Minister Singh applauded the British actions by returning Weiheiwei to the Chinese government last month. The Prime Minister stated that "the British Nation has demonstrated again and again to be an honorable nation. Their latest actions speak volumes of this."

April 7th 1940 A stamp in honor of the Karachi Agreement was released for sale today.

April 9th 1940 A short communique from the Foreign Office states that a small military mission will visit Lhasa later this month.

April 22nd 1940 With the increased Afghanistan based-partisan activity against the Persian Government it was announced today that more troops will be sent to Persia to increase the size of the BRA in the near future. This contradicts earlier news of a reduction in size of the force but the latest events have caused this decision.

May 10th 1940 It was announced today the 2nd Mechanized Brigade will be ordered to deploy to Persia to be part of the Defensive Reserve of the BRA. No other units have been identified for deployment yet.

May 24th 1940 The Afghani Government protested today an air raid by a joint Bharati/Persian forces near the city of Herat on suspected partisan camps. The Afghani Government requested to meet with Bharati officials to try to diffuse the situation.

May 31st 1940 Meeting between Afghani and Bharati ends with no agreement. Both sides agree the presence of the bandit leader Parwiz in Western Afghanistan is a problem but both sides will not find a middle ground in how to deal with him.

June 5th 1940 It was announced today the location of the Imperial Army exercise mentioned early on the year. Six mountain divisions and support elements will participate in the exercise.

June 11th 1940 Border clashes occurred today near the Khyber Pass. Foreign Ministry request Afghani Government to meet again to try to diffuse the situation.

June 19th 1940 Afghanistan and Bharat agreed to cooperate to end bandit activity attacking Persia but Afghanistan requested neutral help to hunt Persian War Criminasl inside their borders instead of allowing Bharati forces to enter their territory.

June 22nd 1940 Afghani and Bharati Governments jointly request German and Turkish support to help Afghani forces hunt Persian bandits inside Afghanistan. The nations were picked due to each side thrusting one of nations mentioned to be impartial. Both sides agreed that neutral forces will only stay in Afghani territory for no longer than a year from their arrival.

Undisclosed location, 0609hrs, June 26th 1940

Field Marshall Chandrateya sat on his cot and sip his hot tea while looking at the latest reports. Preparations continued for his operation and in close to 24 hours it will be in full motion. Rumors already abound around the units tasked for the operation but at least the enemy is more worried with events further away.

Soon. Very soon, was his thought while shuffling the reports in front of him. The weather at least will be fine for a while.

Undisclosed location, 0911hrs, June 30th 1940

Three days and still no word from the GHQ. Is difficult to keep our forces in check. They have to either cancel or give the order now. was the thought of Field Marshall Chandrateya while reading the latest situation reports. His aide entered the room and gave him the response to his thought.

"Is this verified?", he asked the young man.

"Yes, Sir." was the response.

"Good. Good news indeed." And Chandrateya sighted.

Germany's role might raise some international eyebrows. German troops haven't served overseas since the Great War. Certainly its further sign that they have re-emerged on the world scene and that they have interest in the peace of the region.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hood
Germany's role might raise some international eyebrows. German troops haven't served overseas since the Great War. Certainly its further sign that they have re-emerged on the world scene and that they have interest in the peace of the region.

I have found passing references to German peacekeeping troops deploying to South America in the early 1930s, but I agree, German troops in the midst of Central Asia might raise concerns - in several quarters.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hood
Germany's role might raise some international eyebrows. German troops haven't served overseas since the Great War. Certainly its further sign that they have re-emerged on the world scene and that they have interest in the peace of the region.

Hum! Germany already rejected the offer to sent advisor and peacekeepers to Afghanistan. That is the reason of the proposal to the League. But if they decide to accept under the new proposal to be in the region they are more than welcomed.

Quoted

Hum! Germany already rejected the offer to sent advisor and peacekeepers to Afghanistan. That is the reason of the proposal to the League.

And the formal German response, with rationale, will be posted at the appropriate time in the German news cycle.

See my response there.

Britain would welcome a fellow ally sending some experienced troops to clear up the problem, Rambo style, to stamp this out once and for all. I don't think the Irish and Czechs can cut it if the combined Bharat, Persian and Afghan armies are stumped.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hood
Britain would welcome a fellow ally sending some experienced troops to clear up the problem, Rambo style, to stamp this out once and for all. I don't think the Irish and Czechs can cut it if the combined Bharat, Persian and Afghan armies are stumped.

Canadian Rangers?