tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6519665561624985779.post2440042176838102862..comments2024-03-27T06:13:42.855-07:00Comments on The Mad Padre's Wargames Page: Diplomacy Game: Fall 1903 Turn ResultsMad Padrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00410143683610813671noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6519665561624985779.post-85388361003107044722014-10-28T14:15:39.588-07:002014-10-28T14:15:39.588-07:00A Long-Needed Geopolitical Restructuring of Europe...A Long-Needed Geopolitical Restructuring of Europe... Or A Falling Out Of Thieves?<br /><br />A commentary by General Sir Erasmus Blatt, geo-political and military correspondent for the Rioters News Agency. <br /><br />Now that the Emperor has no Empire, to whom went the spoils? Italy. For, as I surmised, already there has been a dramatic readjustment of alliances and power blocs. From membership of a victorious alliance that led to the dismembership of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Czar finds his erstwhile friends have turned upon his realms like a pack of ravening wolves. Within the year he has lost more than half his domains.<br /><br />It would require no credulous mind to suppose that Turkey and Italy have cemented a friendship, however transient or otherwise, that permitted the Kingdom to occupy the whole of the vanished Empire, giving the Sultan a free hand along the northern Black Sea littoral. Centuries ago, the Black Sea was a Turkish lake: it is about to become to once again. The Sultan - or his advisors - are showing an uncommon degree of skill in the fields of international dealings. If what we are looking at in Eastern Europe is what we think we are looking at, we have to admire the deal-making capacity of the Porte.<br /><br />So in concert with the Turkish advances in the south have been those by the English along the Arctic Ocean coasts, that it seems clear that the Porte and Brittannia must have cemented a deal. If it is a long term one, do not be surprised if the final Act upon this World Stage involves a showdown between these two, winner take all.<br /><br />Of course that eventuality is far in the future, and dependent upon many things. Somewhat unexpectedly, Italy is doing very well, having conquered and occupied the Lost Empire. That she has placed an Army of Observation in Piedmont is of course a wise precaution to keep France honest. Perfidious Albion has nothing upon the Duplicitous Republic! Yet the Anglo-Gallican Detente must still be holding strongly, for the francophone half of the pair has behaved with quiet constraint compared with the rampaging English. <br /><br />It seemed to this writer likely that by now the Kaiser would be going the way of the Emperor, but readers will recall that last time I did touch upon the possibility of Germany's continued survival as a client of stronger powers. Even then, methought that even so humble an existence would have required a most piteously persuasive petition to the President and the Prime Minister. Having achieved so much - though how lasting this will be seems moot - I was expecting the German armies to strike east or north - the forefront of battle. It seems they have done neither, but were required to remain 'in situ'. But France has obviously agreed for the nonce to leave the Rhinelands inviolate.<br /><br />'Remember Russia'. It is likely that the Kaiser will still have a nation when the stateless Czar of all the Russias is exiled to Siberia.Archduke Piccolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15533325665451889661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6519665561624985779.post-52165307048826051022014-10-28T14:11:39.746-07:002014-10-28T14:11:39.746-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Archduke Piccolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15533325665451889661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6519665561624985779.post-48676608477344720972014-10-28T10:57:38.573-07:002014-10-28T10:57:38.573-07:00This is proving a very exciting game to watch - we...This is proving a very exciting game to watch - well done all involved I say!Tim Gowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00561988214539953646noreply@blogger.com