WesWorld

August 17th, 1935:

The Wilno-Lithuanian Cease-fire Conference, breaks up for a temporary recess, expected by insiders to be of several days duration, after a particularly stormy cession of debate and negiotations between the opposing delegations. The past seventeen days of the ongoing conference have been discribed by more then one participant - Lithuanian, Wilno or Nordish - as a grueling ordeal.

King Carl Philip was seen to look utterly exhausted and pale after enduring the numerous clashes and angry debates, when he was observed discussed the developing situation with members of the Royal Cabinet. He observed quietly to members of the foreign press that the whole affair was one long head-cracking, frustrating and at time discouraging business. However some progress had been made on some relevent issues, dispite strong disagreements between the delegations.

Reportedly at one point both the Wilno and Lithuanian delegations threatened to withdraw from the proceedings, however both sides surprisingly came back to the table after a short intervel. The sudden change of heart seemed to be occassioned by a series of telegraphic exchanges with the delegations' and their respective governments. It is also believed that King Carl Philip exerted some degree of influence on the delegations, in private discussion following the temporary breakdown of the conference. What the King of Nordmark said and what influence he brought to bear is as yet not clear, but it seems to have been effective.

The Cease-fire talks are expected to resume, in at least two to three days time, according to reliable insider sources. Ambassador Theo Leskien is reported to be returning by airplane to Kaunas to brief the Lithuanian Government on the progress of the conference, but is expected to return to Stockholm in time for the resumption of Wilno-Lithuanian talks.

League of Nations Wilno Cease-Fire and Occupation Task Force Perliminary Special Report

August 18th, 1935

To: League of Nations Council, League of Nations General Assembly
From: General Kazim Orbay, League of Nations Commander and Chief Administrator in the Wilno Region

Subject: Wilno Region occupation and administration

The occupation of the Wilno Republic from August 1st, 1935, to the time of this reports writing, August 18th, 1935, following the acceptance of the League of Nations sponsored cease-fire proposal has been very much an exercise in frustration for myself and my subordinate commanders. I must strongly commend contingent commanders for their restraint, professionalism and energetic preformance of their duties in the face of often problematic situations. The following points are submitted for the League of Nations Council's and General Assembly's consideration.

1) Relations with Wilno and Lithuanian authorities.

Working relations with the Wilno Government in Vaskes have been universally problematic, bordering on unworkable: for myself personally, my Headquarters staff and the German, Belgian, Turkish, Canadian and Bulgarian contingents. Orders and instructions for the maintaince of good public order and civil administration issued by the LoN Task Force are frequently ignored, obstructed or stalled by the officals of the Wilno General-Secretariats, despite orders from Marshal Letowska that the Wilno officaldom co-operate in every way with the cease-fire and occupation administration.

My staff and my subordinate commanders have come to the conclusion that this interference and obstruction is a matter of unoffical but intentional Wilno governmental policy. On the other hand, our working relations with the Lithuania authorities, both military and civil, who are not unjustified in disliking our continued presence have acted at all time with courtesy, and a willingness to help, whatever their personal feelings. Requests for essential supplies, have to date been honoured in a timely fashion, as have requests regarding revisions to Lithuanian troop dispositions relating to the cease-fire line.

I request that the strongest diplomatic pressure, and if necessary economic sanctions be applied to the Wilno Republican government to force it's conformity with the the provisions of the Wilno-Lithuanian Cease-fire. Which to date, the Wilno authorities have systematically attempted in everyway to undermind, Particularly the provisions relating to disarmament of the Wilno Armed Forces and the LoN task force's control of civil law and order. In the interim, I fully intend to use the legal powers granted to me by the cease-fire proposals to ensure smooth and effective administration of the Wilno territory, whether the Wilno Government likes it or not.

2) The Civil Watch Corps.

Soon after taking up occupation and civil occupation duties it became apparent to the Task Force that the Wilno Civil Guards could not be regarded as a reliable force for the maintaince of civil order. The force had been disarmed as per the provisions of the cease-fire, which limited it's ability to project enforcement of law and order in certain circumstances, but more to the point, the Civil Guards were wholely controlled by individuals loyal to the Letowska Regime. This frequently lead to the Civil Guards and the LoN contingents working to cross purposes.

It has been forcefully recommended to my task force staff, on more then one occassion, that the Civil Guards be disbanded in their entirety for the duration of our mission here in Wilno territories. After reflection I am in agreement with this recommendation.

To further civil order and safety, the task force has already sponsored the recruitment of a local civil defense body, the Civil Watch Corps. This force initially about eight-hundred strong, was composed of selected and screened Wilno volunteers drawn from the more moderate and reliable elements of the temporarily demobilized and disarmed Wilno Army, and some elements of the disarmed Civil Guards. Commanded by a group of volunteer officers and ncos drawn from the task force contingents, and provided with a limited selection of small-arms and munitions from the confiscated Wilno Armed Forces armaments, the Civil Watch Corps was assigned to patrol and guard duties in some of the areas worse affected by roaming bands of Wilno Army deserters and bandits created by the unstable situation of the insurrection and the subsequent cease-fire.

To date the Civil Watch Corps has been conspisciously successful in it's purpose of protecting the people in areas not strongly patrolled by LoN contingents. Thus allowing the said LoN contingents to be used effectively in multiple surpression operation against Desert/Banditry encampments. The Civil Watch Corps while not highly regarded by Wilno officaldom, is well recieved by the populace which see it as a tangible and reliable product of the LoN occupation and administration efforts. I have ordered the increase in the Civil Watch Corps' establishment to five thousand men under arms, the public response has been decidely positive, indeed somewhat overwhelming, as some seven to eight thousand Wilno citizens have applied to join, in the understandable interests of protecting their families and communities.

3) Deserters/Bandits within Wilno Territory.

The ongoing problem of Wilno Army deserters and civilian bandits within Wilno, thrown up by the insurrection is reaching epidemic proportions, although the situation is much improved of late due to the efforts of the LoN contingents and the Civil Watch Corps. I request further assignment of cavalry or motorized reconnaissance units to the LoN Task Force, these units are particularly valuable in using their combination of fire-power and mobility to locate, subsequently track, hunt down and finally destroy or capture, the gatherings of deserters and bandits. Engagements to date have resulted in the capture and internment of some six-thousand, six hundred deserters or bandits, approximately one-thousand, two hundred have been killed in battle or while resisting arrest by LoN task force or the Civil Watch Corps at this date.

A suspision is arising that some of the deserter/bandits are not what they seem, this is under investigation, but it is my belief, shared by my staff and surbordinates, that some of these encountered groups are in fact members of either the Wilno Army or Letowska Guards, secretly and illegally armed in defiance of the cease-fire, and used to terrorize certain segements of the Wilno populace, particularly those of non-Polish ethnicity in order to maintain both a force under arms but also to maintain Wilno Governmental control inspite of the LoN occupation and administration.

4) Evidence of Wilno Atrocities.

The incident of the mass grave discovered in Edykes by members of the German 39th Infantry Regiment is not an isolated incident, and appears to be part of an wider pattern of authorized and unauthorized atrocities/reprisals carried out by officals of the Wilno Security General-Secretariat of the Wilno Republic (typically through the instrument of selected elements of the Letowska or Civil Guards) upon members of the populace in the Wilno Region, or members of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, Security Troops, National Police or Civil Service that have fallen into the hands of the Wilno Insurrectionists since the start of the insurrection in June 1935.

The RCMP contingent is conducting ongoing investigations into the matter, and a small flood of witnesses has come forward since the discovery at Edykes, following the realization that the LoN task force is serious about it's investigations and is willing to grant individuals coming forward with information from harm. Said individuals for their own safety have been transferred to the LoN Headquarters in Vilnius, Lithuania. Several other mass graves of similar or lesser extent have been discovered in each of the LoN contingents' areas of assignment. Local Wilno officals when questioned about the graves, deny any knowledge of them.

It has not been possible to keep details of this development secret from the Lithuanian authorities, who have suspected that such things have occured, and indeed have some evidence already that such things have happened following their re-occupation of Vilnius and other areas that were for a time under Wilno control. I expect that this information will result in considerable political agitation in Lithuanian governmental and public circles, and will have a very negative effect on the cease-fire negiotations going on in Stockholm.


/s/ General Kazim Orbay, League of Nations Task Force Commander & Chief Administrator

Time for another note from General Sikorski, this time to the Marshal.

Lieutenant-General Letowska August 20, 1935

Sir,

Your government's continued stupidity in obstructing the LoN Task Force currently in your territory is evidence of your own incompetance and bellicosity. May I remind you sir, that as of August 15th, of this year, Poland no longer recognizes Polish-Lithuanian independence, and with each day that your government tries to hamper the LoN Task Force means less and less respect for the Polish-Lithuanians remains in Poland. Frankly sir, once this whole mess is over, should the Lithuanians decide to exterminate you all, Poland will give the guns and ammunition to the Lithuanians to undertake such an undertaking. My paitence, and the paitence of this government is wearing thin. We have heard reports of "bandits" crossing into Poland and stealing guns and ammunition from Polish stores. Frankly sir, if you people can't get your act together, and stop stealing Polish property, Poland will be considering more stringent measures, such as a sealing of the border, and total economic sanctions. You can also let your "bandits" know that any further attempts to steal Polish weapons will be considered an invasion of Polish national territory and the "bandits" will be shot on sight.

Have a nice day,

Sincerely,

General Sikorski.

OOC, I really don't like Letowska. Can anyone tell?

Note from the Bulgarian Government, August 22nd:

Regarding the recent request by General Orbay for more cavalry and motorized reconnaissance troops, the Bulgarian Army offers the further assignment of one motorized battalion (after October*) and three cavalry battalions (immediately) to the LoN task force in Lithuania.

*The Bulgarian Army currently has no fully-motorized units and is still in the midst of equipping them.

Given recent reveleations Atlantis is begining to reconsider its possition on participation in the LON task force.

Publically they commend General Orbay and the LON task forces efforts to promote peace in the region.

Given the kissing-up attitude Poland has adopted post-Lithuanian crisis, more troops are most definately welcome, to prevent Wilno "bandits" from stealing Polish weaponary.

Quoted

Originally posted by Agent148
League of Nations Wilno Cease-Fire and Occupation Task Force Perliminary Special Report

August 18th, 1935

To: League of Nations Council, League of Nations General Assembly
From: General Kazim Orbay, League of Nations Commander and Chief Administrator in the Wilno Region

Subject: Wilno Region occupation and administration
..... I request further assignment of cavalry or motorized reconnaissance units to the LoN Task Force, these units are particularly valuable in using their combination of fire-power and mobility to locate, subsequently track, hunt down and finally destroy or capture, the gatherings of deserters and bandits. ....

/s/ General Kazim Orbay, League of Nations Task Force Commander & Chief Administrator

August 20th
Gaston François Marie, Viscount Eyskens, Belgian delegate :
I have forwarded General Orbay's request to the cabinet and Prime minister, where the matter is under consideration and an answer will be forthcoming later in this week.

I have been instructed by Her Majesty, Queen Wilhelmina, to offer the services of her 2nd Royal Guard Dragoon Regiment (1) from the Netherlands.
<at this the Dutch rep looks surprised>
Her Majesty will understand if General Orbay believes the participation of Dutch volunteers in the recent unrest has made the presence of her Guards in any way unhelpful, and will defer to his judgement on the matter.


edit: (1) Despite the "Royal Guard" moniker, this is not a ceremonial unit, this is 1700 fully equipped dragoons.

August 17th, 1935:

Reports of the stalled cease-fire negiotations cause some agitation in Wilno circles, but no outward signs of trouble present themselves for the LoN task force.

General Orbay, orders his subordinate commanders and the Civil Watch Corps to step up their patrol and suppression operations against deserters and bandits, particularly in areas adjacent to the Wilno-Polish border. The possiblility of an armed clash, has Orbay and his staff deeply concerned.

August 18th, 1935:

The RCMP detachment reports increasing difficulties in working with the Wilno Civil Guards, both in regards to investigations into the mass graves and suspected atrocities, and in general law and order duties.

The Belgian, German, Bulgarian and Turkish troops report similiar difficulties within their own areas of administration. Orbay, authorizes a further increase in the establishment of the Civil Watch Corps, to some ten thousand men under arms. This move heralds violent protests from the Wilno Government, which the LoN Task Force ignores.

August 19th, 1935:

A reinforced Bulgarian infantry patrol, supported by three German armoured cars and two troops of Belgian cavalry, run unexpectedly head long into a bandit group, estimated to be some 180 strong - moving towards the Wilno-Polish border. A fierce fire-fight develops, over the next three hours, 55 bandits are reported killed, 25 wounded and taken prisoner, a further 53 taken prisoner and the remaining 47 scattered into the surrounding woodlands. LoN casualties are reported to General Orbay to be light in comparison to the bandits, although one armoured car was knocked out by fire from an ATR.

August 20th, 1935:

General Orbay, considers the offer of the Dutch 2nd Royal Guard Dragoons Regiment, carefully. He can certainly use an additional fully equiped and manned cavalry regiment. Orbay's staff imform him that while protests from the Wilno Government over the inclusion of a Dutch unit in the task force will generate some protest, it is unlikely to have any effect on the Wilno populace. The bulk of Wilno citizens are ignorant of the fact Dutch "volunteers" served in the Lithuanian Army during the insurrection prior to the cease-fire, and would be not be inclined to care very much in any event as the 2nd RGD Regiment is not composed of said volunteers.

General Orbay, orders the LoN Task Force Headquarters in Vilnius, to liase with the Dutch government and the Lithuanians, to make all efforts to see to the travel arrangements of the cavalry regiment from the Netherlands, to the depot in Vilnius, and from their to Wilno be make as quickly as possible.

August 21st, 1935:

A tense meeting with Marshal Letowska and his Council of Government, leaves General Orbay and many of his staff, angry and more frustrated then usual. Orbay has pointed out the various errors, omissions and evasions of local Wilno and Governmental authorities and demanded that they be addressed in a positive manner.

While Letowska and his premier adopt a fairly accomodating stance in regard to the various points raised, several of the General-Secretariats baulk at the LoN task force demands, asking for time to study the matter, assuring Orbay, that reasonable changes will be made "In good time, and at the appropriate juncture."

August 22nd, 1935:

General Orbay on being appraised of the Bulgarian offer of three cavalry battalions, and eventually a motorized battalion, is much releaved by this development. Although it is realized that it will take time for the said units to arrive in Lithuania, the somewhat overstretched LoN task force's prospects look much brighter.

Similiar to the Dutch reinforcements, the task force staff quickly sets itself to working out the details of transporting the new units to the depot in Vilnius, and hense to Vaskes, as quickly as possible.

August 23rd, 1935:

General Orbay in a surprise move, orders the Wilno Civil Guard to be formally disbanded, it's membership, save those already serving as volunteers in the CWC are to be rounded up and interned. The Civil Watch Corps will assume all the Civil Guards' previous duties in maintaining law and order in conjunction with the LoN Task Force contingents.

Orbay informs his subordinates that any attempt by the Civil Guards to resist - especially armed resistance - internment is to be met with deadly force. Special detachments of German, Belgian, Bulgarian, and Turkish troops, assisted by reliable units of the Civil Watch Corps (who by and large is compose of people who have no great love for the Civil Guards) are to carry out the order immediately. Members of the RCMP detachment is authorized to seize the Civil Guards files, records and installations in pursuit of this order.

Orbay has reached the end of his patience with regards to the Civil Guards continued unreliability, obstruction and delibrate attempts to evade some of the cease-fire provisions.

Note from General Sikoski, President of the Polish Republic and Commander of the Polish Mobile Force to General Orbay, Commander of the Wilno LoN Task Force.

General Orbay, August 23rd, 1935

The increase in bandit activity along the Polish-Wilno border is very detrimental to both our nation and the mission of your task force.

In order to combat these bandits who are stealing Polish arms and ammuntion from our military stores, I have ordered our motorized brigade to postions along the border, and have sent a very stern letter to Marshal Letowska on this issue as well as their attempts to delay your task force in your mission. Do what you will wih this information.

I do ask that the troops patrolling show greater cooperation with our troops in curbing this banditry. To this effect I give to the League of Nations Task Force access to Polish territory should these bandits try to seek refuge here. All I ask in return is that this is not violated without good reason, and that the Polish C.O. in charge of the Motorized Brigade is given some notice that a LoN force is in pursuit of bandits so that our forces can participate in the interception.

Sincerely,

General Sikorski.

OOC Yes folks, I just gave permission for the LoN WTF to invade my territory IF they have a justifiable reason. Sikorski is hoping that this gets passed along to Orbay's superiors in the LoN.

The Bulgarian government petitions Romania and Russia again to move some cavalry troops to Lithuania to join the LoN taskforce. Arrangements will be as before, making as much of the trip during the night as possible, in sealed railway carriages with the host nation's observers present at all times.

The Tsar, after reading the reports of action from August 19th, praised the Bulgarian forces and their LoN allies for their steadiness in the fighting, and sent a letter which was read to the soldiers. "The fatherland is proud to call you our sons," the Tsar wrote, "And we grieve over those who have fallen."

The Romanian government has no problems with the Bulgarian wish to send more troops to combat the bandits. As before, we feel no need to place observers on the train, so long as the men and arms travel on different trains. Just give us a rough date as too when these troop movements are going to take place.

Romania also commends the efforts made by the LoN WTF, and the effort that General Sikorski's government is undertaking to combat these bandits. They are especially proud of the work the Romanian medical team has done. To further this work, Romania is offering to organize a field hospital to care for the wounded LoN troops. Replenishment supplies for the first medical unit are also going to be sent with this unit on a special train north through Polish territory.

OOC If the Bulgarians want to use Polish territory, because it is somewhat shorter, Poland has no problem with such a proposal.

Wonder if I should start charging toll for Romanian railways, jk.

August 26th,

Gaston François Marie, Viscount Eyskens, Belgian delegate :
I am pleased to report that my government has seen fit to increase the Belgian contribution. In light of General Orbay's request for cavalry, Belgium shall commit an additional cavalry battalion, under Major Jean Piron, the 2/1st Lancers, 677 strong.

August 25th, 1935 - Berlin

Given the request of General Orbay for reinforcement of his most mobile units, and the arrival over the last 5 weeks of the 4th Infantry Corps in East Prussia, the German government offers the 4th Recon Battallon to the League task force in Lithuania.



[OOC: Oh, forgot to ask: what kind of an armored car was knocked out? The 5th Recon Battalion had several different types, the most likely ones for this sort of operations are the 4 wheeled Sdkfz 222 or the 8 wheeled Sdkfz 231.]

Looks like the LON task force is about to end its issue of being overstretched.

Heh 3 Bulgarian Cav battalions now, 1 Motorized later, a Belgian Cav battalion, a German recon battalion, and one large Dutch Dragoon Regiment (with an AC reconn company) ... call it 7,000 troops ?

And a an Armoured Battalion on call just across the Baltic!

I also missed the Italian and Atlantis MP companies and the Atlantian AC company from the Poland thread.

Heh, I guess with the Wilno troops acting up its sparked some other country's to up contributions.

OOC : Compared to historic peacekeeping- or the current African Union efforts in Mogadishu, countries are being generous. Perhaps its because the Bolivian incident went well, or the threat of WWII spooked folks.

The initial Belgian regiment was partly due to the Walloon wish to emphasis Belgium's continued independent action, that the recession had not sapped her forces, and to announce Belgium was recovering. There was also behind the scenes pressure from the Queen- who is quite pro-League.

With the Kongo Brigades tied up in Kamerun, she can't volunteer them, and Loeder's volunteers had made an initial Dutch contribution politically suspect.

So in this interation, the Belgian contribution is less, after all they already have one of the larger contingents and it would be natural to take the position that it's other's turns; while the Queen decided to simply cut the Dutch Govt. out of the loop and simply send one of her "Household" regiments.

Of course should the bandits decide to try and base themselves in Poland, Orbay has permission to follow them there and can also count on the support of an entire Motorized Brigade. Someone should offer air recon units though, and maybe even some fighter squadrons.