<time to start the way back machine...time for some brief news to catch mostly up. Don't want to get to far ahead of Italy. >
September 1936
Tuesday, Sept 7th, 1936
Prinsjedag
The Queen arrived in her carriage and gave her traditional Prinsjedag speech. The speech was traditionally flowery at the outset, but veered towards allegories on hard economic advice to reinvest current profits in the future. This indeed foreshadowed that the Queen would once again stray into directly addressing the people, and she concluded on a somber note :
“The events of recent years should serve as a reminder that our bucolic nation exists in a chaotic world. Unrest and warfare have never been strangers to our nation, and have darkened the doors of our friends.
It behooves us to support the League, even when it brings us coffins, for it is the rule of law that defends our freedoms and secures our trade which lets us prosper. Tyrants, such as Phillip II of Spain who anciently decreed the execution of the Dutch people, only exist because no greater law binds them.
We must stand firm, conduct our affairs in a righteous manner, be true to our friends, and be clear and constant in our dealings. It is always in the present that one lays the foundation for the future.”
The Batavia Bugle
September 10th
The Triannual games kicked off today with a simulated harbor raid on the fleet anchorage at Soerabaja
Large bomber formations cruised south from Sumatra seeking to surprise the Far East Fleet. Reportedly the raid was scheduled for the 11th, but Admiraal of the Dutch Pacific Fleet, Vice-admiraal Maarten Winters secretly advanced the schedule, informing only the judges, and early this morning, Admiraal of the Far East Fleet, Rear Admiraal Lodewijk van Kinsbergen.
Three locations have been chosen throughout the archipelago, where coastal defense battalions have awakened to find they have been selected for simulated amphibious assaults by regiments of the 2nd Marine brigade.
A large scale exercise is planned for Sumatra, where the XIV Division will pose as a “para assualt” force, seeking to block reinforcements to the Aceh area until the “Amphibious” force of the 1st Marines has landed. The Netherlands lacks paratroops, so the XIV Division will start dispersed in companies and will be only informed of their approximate location. Two battalions of Marines will come in via amphibious transport, joining the two regiments prepositioned on the beach. This will allow judges to asses the performance of the batteries at Banda Aceh.
Vice-Admiral Jacob De Boer's Indic and the Far East fleets will skirmish over the beachheads in the coming weeks. As is usual, Danish and Siamese forces will supplement the Indic fleet, and the
Friesland class will substitute for battlecruisers.
The exercises are timed this year to coincide with the Army exercises in Siam. The exercises are expected to conclude in early October. Reacting to complaints registered in 1930, engineer battalions and compensation money are at hand to compensate civilians who experience excessive property damage.
October 1936
The Hague Herald
October 10th
The “Snellensoon report” was delivered today. More commonly known as the 1936 Defense Review, the report was developed under the auspices of Lithuanian Veteran, Generaal-Majoor Snellensoon is chief of the Quartermaster Corps. The review addresses every aspect of the Military, drawing on events in South America, Lithuania and elsewhere to inform decisions, as well as looking to foreign developments. As to be expected, a substantial portion of the report looks to depots and supply lines.
(1)I actually got about 8 pages into this, though it's a bit disjointed, but it is one of several reasons 1936 stalled, another writing project that just got to long. Like the 1934 Libreville exercises, or the 1933 Triannual games...
The Amsterdam Advocate
The treasury announced today that it had identified 'a considerable sum' of money traceable to HEBCO and would be notifying the appropriate banks.
The Government has rarely made public statements regarding the HEBCO case that has embroiled both Ireland and our Ally Siam. Rumors persist that the government is being quite active behind scene, and that the raids in Rotterdam last week were in fact aimed at HEBCO.
November 1936
The Hague Herald
November 3rd
After acrimonious debate, the Hawkish representatives of the DMZSBD pushed through a tax increase of 2% as well as a package of cuts to several programs. The additional funds thus freed are to be allocated to a further military expansion. P.M. Krook has argued that the events in Lithuania, South America, the rumblings from the Studetenland, and elsewhere all point to how easily tensions can build and military action be thrust upon the unwilling. The 1936 Defense Review highlighted many needs, and the Prime Minister has argued that it is vital to provide additional funds to meet those needs now.
Coupled with that bill was one extending the terms of service of all service people for one year. This latter bill has been extremely unpopular and was cause for substantial arm-wrenching by coalition members to ensure sufficient support. Remarkably the proposal to institute a system of military style juvenile summer camps was the source of less outcry and also passed.
Former P.M. Eduard Land, as well as Treasury Minister, and former P.M. Lodewyk van der Berg spoke against both bills. Their arguments led to a 'sunset' clause of 3 years for both bills, preserved several programs, including Land's pet T.I.D.E. expenditures, and provided for a bonus pay scale for the additional service year.
The Amsterdam Advocate
November 20th
The War Ministery announced the acceptance of the Czechoslovakian ZH-36 today. The ZH-36 is a semiautomatic rifle which has been developed from the ZH-33 to satisfy Dutch concerns. The ZH-36 will be license built by Fabrique Nationale in Belgium for the Dutch military. While the military had looked extensively at rechambering to an intermediate round, the decision was made to retain the Mauser round that has been in use.
The ZH-36 will first be issued to the Queen's regiments and the Marines.
The Marines separately announced that they will be adding an additional SMG to their TO&E at the squad level. The army is reportedly still considering at which level to add an SMG. Reports are the Army drew up plans to issue Mauser C/96 schnellfuer machinepistols to officers in lieu of SMGs, but that the proposal was removed after lobbying by a Colonel van der Kade, who strongly believe it would merely mark officers as targets.
The Kinshasha Klarion
November 21st
Defense Minister Count Kabaydi wa Tshimbombo announced that the Kongo Army shall adopted the Swiss Schmidt-Rubin K31 with the 7.5mm G11 round as the standard infantry rifle. “The weapon is very well made, and an order by Bulgaria promises to reduce the unit cost of the weapons. We feel it is better to spend the additional monies to equip with quality weapons that have performed well in testing, than settle for older worn rifles that happen to be cheaper.
The Hague Herald
November 22nd
The War Ministry issued orders for the production of 5 prototypes of the T-35C for trials. The T-35C uses the same chassis as the T-35 family, but relies on a different gun and armor distribution. The T-35C is believed a reaction to the sudden trend towards larger and heavier armed tanks.
T-35A
The War Ministry is also considering echoing Belgium's search for a light to medium tank in order to replace the Vickers-6ton “G”s. While hardly old, the “G”s are now underarmed, powered and armored compared to the most recent foreign offerings.
December 1936
The Rotterdam Regulator
December 5th
The War Ministry announced that the Dutch firm DAF has been awarded a large contract for producing 6x6 trucks. The unique suspension that DAF has devised allows for remarkable cross-country performance in shell torn terrain, including the option of converting to a half track in roughly 15 minutes.
As DAF lacks the vehicle production capacity, it is expected they will continue conversions of existing vehicles, likely ordered from Germany or Belgium. If the latter, the truck plant in Liege will likely be subcontracted.
The DAF 6x6 will form the lighter end of the motorized transport spectrum joining the Minvera 4x4 car, the Praga tractor and Brossels TAL prime mover.
The Batavia Bugle
December 10th
The military announced plans today to raise an additional two divisions the “Moluccan” and “Peranakan” from among the territorial population.
The Antwerp Atwitter
December 20th
The Queen and Princess Juliana hosted a Christmas Ball in the town square.
Awards were given for citizenship, contributions to Belgian society and dancing ability.
The presense of Prince Louis-Ferdinand was noted by many, the Prince has been spotted escorting the Princess to several occasions, prompting speculation.
The Hague Herald
December 23rd
The Queens annual Christmas Gala was a smashing success. The presence of Prince Louis-Ferdinand as Princess Juliana's escort has once again raised eyebrows and set rumors flying. It has been decided the Queen will conduct New Years celebrations in Belgium while the Crown Prince hosts here.
January 1937
The Amsterdam Advocate
January 5th
The War Ministry announced final acceptance of the D.XXIII for production. The aircraft has had a protracted development and has grown substantially since the prototype was used to highlight airflow problems with the pusher-puller design. A primary limiter on the plane has been sufficient cooling of the rear engine, which has been solved by careful attention to airflow over the fuselage and abandonment of the earlier aircooled engine approach. An important step was also the Danish development of an ejection seat. Fokkers progress on a workable seat that imposed acceptable g-loading and guaranteed the pilots passage past the rear propeller had been underdevelopment for several years. The combination of approaches has resulted in an ostensibly workable seat, although rumors of potential injury persist.
The D.XIXD is also engaged in trials. The D.XIXD is expected to replace the D.XIXD in naval service, while the D.XX supplants it on land.
February 1937
The Hague Herald.
February 13th
F.M. Van Grootvelds office commented today when asked about the Diplomatic protest Italy has lodged. ”The Italian state has protested Yugoslavia ground incursions repeatedly this year. It is far easier to wander a dozen miles off course in an reconnaissance aeroplane, which after all takes but minutes, than to march beyond ones own borders in rugged terrain. Had the Italians responded to shooting the Yugoslav soldiers, there would be an outcry, instead the Yugoslavs shot down the Italian plane, which people view as a machine, forgetting the fates of the Italian airmen trapped inside.
Kinshasha Klarion
The Government accepted the Fokker G-1B today as its final Zerstorer design. With adequate radial engines now fitted, performance is acceptable for the role. The type is also entering service in the Netherlands.
The newest version of the G-1, the G-2 reconnaissance plane, has been seen in prototype form.
March 1937
The Amsterdam Advocate
March 2nd
The Trials of the T-35C were started today, should they prove promising the type will be ordered into production. Initial deliveries are expected to go to the Netherlands East Indies.
The War Ministry has also been examining the results of the Belgian tank research and is reportedly in talks with M.A.N, which reportedly has excess capacity at this time.
The Amsterdam Advocate
March 12th
The Coronation of Chinese Emporer Pu Yi is scheduled for today.
Prince Alexander has come around the world to be on hand and will be joined by Ambassador Jacob Huyrluyt. The Cruisers of the 3rd Division, the sleek
Breda class, as well as the 3rd Destroyer squadron were on hand to provide proper representation for the Netherlands.
The Chinese Empire is one of the oldest and most cultured on the face of the planet. With all Empires, there have been periods of decline and periods of revitalization. The end of the Warlord era, which ravanged China and led to the flight of many of its people, and the democratic choice of Emporer Pu Yi can only be seen as a rebirth of this ancient land, and a declaration that China has reclaimed her place among the nations of the world .
The Ambon Nation
March 13th
Yesterdays coronation of Emperor Pu Yi was cause for celebration among the Cina Totok, many of who arrived during the Warlord era and simply welcome lasting peace in their homeland. Celebration was muted among the Peranakan many of whom have been native to the Malay Archipelago for over 400 years and have limited ties to their ancient homeland.
Statements made by Chinese and Indian representatives preceding Emperors coronation caused consternation in some delegations prior to the ceremony.
Moluccas Governor Dr. Agustadi Sasongko was asked for comment : “I believe many misunderstood some of the more bellicose utterings prior to the ceremony. To foreigners, China has for many years been a large, but weak nation, wracked by war and opium. However it is easy for the uneducated not to comprehend that, for China, these past decades have been very unusual. For much of the past two millenia, China was the among the world elite. They are starting the long road back to their former status, and demand to recognized as a valid power and be fairly treated with. “