Why the Chinese play cricket (an Imperial Federation timeline)

[Miss Construction]

Now I'm expecting a lot of people are going to send me prayers, support etc. I am very grateful for these, honestly am. But if you want to help me focus on the writing not the writer. I need to learn how to live in the world again, and knowing my writing is still okay helps with that.

So focus on the writing not the writer.

Hugs and kisses Tarren (yes that's my actual name)

 

[Miss Construction]

And damn in all the chaos I missed that I'd be nominated for a turtledove. Thank you to whoever did that, made my day. And 32 votes, not too bad lol

 

[Analytical Engine]

Is Taft going to end up on the Supreme Court in TTL?

 

[Miss Construction]

Is Taft going to end up on the Supreme Court in TTL?

Not sure yet. In the otl it's Harding who put h there. But ittl the US political landscape is shifting as the democrats drift to the left and Republicans to the right, leaving the potential open for a third centrist party.

 

[Veblen Fudge]

Hope you're feeling better and such. Hugs and kisses if you aren't. Now, my thoughts on the update...

The French pulling Denmark into their Submarine supply chain is interesting. It gives them a competitive advantage through specialisation against the German subs, though it does mean they'll need to maintain naval supremacy in the North Sea when WW1 breaks out. And the German U-boat program is already well in development, with supply lines I assume are mostly internal.

Lloyd George takes yet another whack at the universal suffrage pinata, with an attempt I assume will be successful since he's finally cowed the Lords. The logic on this is undeniable from a Liberal perspective, although if OTL shows anything, it's that the Tories are awfully resilient, even under intense electoral stress. Hell, look at 1931.

Taft sows the seeds of own doom in pissing off his fucking asshole friend Teddy. That was all over firing the head of the forest service though, really?? That's funny. On a similar note, how's Eugene Debs doing? A less industrialised US would theoretically have a smaller trade union base to draw from, but at the same time, less prosperous societies breed easier discontent. He won 6% in OTL's 1912, I would like it if you could mention what he gets this time around.

Simultaneous public discontent in both Brazil and The Empire. I understand the general reasons behind this, but was it a poor crop yield year or something? You can match up most periods of major revolution with dips in global temperature and I wondered whether this was the case here. If it is, anti-terrorism legislation against angry starving people is only going to make them angrier and more terroristic. At least they're now being prosecuted locally now, a vast improvement of dragging off traitors to the imperial core, and probably something that'll settle a lot of the discontent. Lastly - are they going to declare the INA a terrorist organisation? This feels like an easy way to get them out of the picture.

Great update, can't wait for what you've got in store 🙏🏼

 

[agloss]

As usual, your work is of superb quality. I can freely say its one of the most derailed and engaging alternate history fic that i have read. And i have read many.

Glad to hear your situation has improved. For as much as words of a stranger who enjoys your work is worth, i hope your situation is only on the begining of upward trend. Keep going as much as you can and then some more.

If your stories reminded me something, it would be fact that history is made here and now. And its painfully accurate message, but one that shoukd be sent nontheless. So thank you for writtig timeline.

And speaking about timelines, i think that many future Imperial Citizens will think that biggest tragedy of XIX century is fact that Anglo sphere is not totaly united. Because with right major swing toward state rights, I could see USA joing this imperial federation in such way.

Aka usa throwing off its trench coat and showing itself to be 51 countries that it really is.

And such behemot imperial federation/unified anglosphere would be practically set up for world unification.

tbh, such alternative history would most likely being written in your own timeline.

 

[mudhead]

Welcome back.

Great updates, as ever.

January 1910: In the latest round of aviation patent cases in the US, a federal court bans aviation pioneer

I think Santos Dumont has fallen off here.

The Kongos will also utilise oil fired boilers, allowing a noticeable increase in protection.

IOTL they had mixed fuel boilers - oil sparayed over coal - until their late '30s rebuilds.

 

[Miss Construction]

Welcome back.

Great updates, as ever.

I think Santos Dumont has fallen off here.

No not Santos-Dumont, Curtiss. Edited to clarify

IOTL they had mixed fuel boilers - oil sparayed over coal - until their late '30s rebuilds.

Yes they did. ITTL pure oil fired. You'll find the same on Tiger. The extra tonnage is being devoted to increased protection. Though officially classified as battlecruisers, these are in fact fast battleships.

 

[Miss Construction]

Hope you're feeling better and such. Hugs and kisses if you aren't. Now, my thoughts on the update...

Thank you, fortunately I'm surrounded by supportive friends who are quite willing to shoot her if she turns up or throw me through a window if I start wallowing, welcome to West Auckland lol. I'm really think they're kidding but you never know out here.

The French pulling Denmark into their Submarine supply chain is interesting. It gives them a competitive advantage through specialisation against the German subs, though it does mean they'll need to maintain naval supremacy in the North Sea when WW1 breaks out. And the German U-boat program is already well in development, with supply lines I assume are mostly internal.

Ahhh Denmark, a wild card ITTL. Firstly Burmeister and Wain have always produced some of the finest marine engines in the world. If you look through the pre 1st WW submarines of all the European Great Powers you will find their name cropping up all the time. By making their submarine program dependant on their engines the French have greatly improved the efficiency of their submarines. But at the same time also greatly increased Denmark's strategic importance.

Secondly you have the growing Dano-Norwegian alliance. While not formalised yet, this is only a matter of signing the paperwork which will come very soon. Plus while not obvious, both nations have massively increased their military spending. The ordering of the four Pedar Skram coast defence ships marks a sea change in the strategic situation. These ships are capable of making even a dreadnought sit up and take very serious notice. And they're backed up by eight older but fully modernised vessels which also can not be ignored. Suddenly forcing the Belts or a surprise landing on Zealand to decapitate Denmark has become an extremely dangerous proposition.

Add to the the growing reforms in both countries armies to achieve standardisation and interoperability make a land invasion something which will require significant forces. Yes Jytland will fall, but in the grand scheme of things Jytland isn't all that important, it's the islands which matter. And the alliance is also building a not insignificant number of coastal submarines and torpedo boat which make this option challenging.

While most Great Power political and military leaders are missing it at the moment, the German Navy has certainly noticed and is worried. Basically watch this space.

Lloyd George takes yet another whack at the universal suffrage pinata, with an attempt I assume will be successful since he's finally cowed the Lords. The logic on this is undeniable from a Liberal perspective, although if OTL shows anything, it's that the Tories are awfully resilient, even under intense electoral stress. Hell, look at 1931.

My spaghetti brain honestly can't remember who is leading the Liberal party ITTL at the moment, but I'm pretty sure control of the Liberals has moved from the radicals to a more moderate approach. So this still not a sure thing

Taft sows the seeds of own doom in pissing off his fucking asshole friend Teddy. That was all over firing the head of the forest service though, really?? That's funny. On a similar note, how's Eugene Debs doing? A less industrialised US would theoretically have a smaller trade union base to draw from, but at the same time, less prosperous societies breed easier discontent. He won 6% in OTL's 1912, I would like it if you could mention what he gets this time around

Here it is quite interesting. The drift of both the Republicans and Democrats to more extreme positions is leaving the ground open for a Teddy lead centrist party headed by Teddy of course.

And the growth in the US economy and industry is slower ITTL it is still not insignificant. What is far more important is the dominantion of the US labour movement by the anarcho-syndalists of the Black International rather than the socialists of the Second International. The US labour movement is actually somewhat stronger ITTL. However they will take votes from the Democrats not the Republicans or any centrist party.

Simultaneous public discontent in both Brazil and The Empire. I understand the general reasons behind this, but was it a poor crop yield year or something? You can match up most periods of major revolution with dips in global temperature and I wondered whether this was the case here. If it is, anti-terrorism legislation against angry starving people is only going to make them angrier and more terroristic. At least they're now being prosecuted locally now, a vast improvement of dragging off traitors to the imperial core, and probably something that'll settle a lot of the discontent. Lastly - are they going to declare the INA a terrorist organisation? This feels like an easy way to get them out of the picture.

Well in Brazil this tension has been quietly bubbling in the background for awhile. While the power of the great landholders has been broken, most of the reforms have been aimed at industrialisation. While this has benefited the growing middle class, the working class has received far less benefit. All that was needed to ignite the growing bonfire was a spark. The assassination of the Prince Imperial and subsequent crackdown was that spark.

As to the INA being declared a terrorist organisation again my brain being reduced to fruit pulp comes into play. I'm pretty sure they are. As you point out the approach of letting local unrest being handled local is a product of the now prevalent belief within the Empire that due difficulties in communication, local crises are much better handled at the local level, with Imperial authority and power available if the situation gets out of hand

Great update, can't wait for what you've got in store 🙏🏼

Lol at the moment neither can I, Baby mush brain sorry.

 

[Miss Construction]

As usual, your work is of superb quality. I can freely say its one of the most derailed and engaging alternate history fic that i have read. And i have read many.

Glad to hear your situation has improved. For as much as words of a stranger who enjoys your work is worth, i hope your situation is only on the begining of upward trend. Keep going as much as you can and then some more.

If your stories reminded me something, it would be fact that history is made here and now. And its painfully accurate message, but one that shoukd be sent nontheless. So thank you for writtig timeline.

And speaking about timelines, i think that many future Imperial Citizens will think that biggest tragedy of XIX century is fact that Anglo sphere is not totaly united. Because with right major swing toward state rights, I could see USA joing this imperial federation in such way.

Aka usa throwing off its trench coat and showing itself to be 51 countries that it really is.

And such behemot imperial federation/unified anglosphere would be practically set up for world unification.

tbh, such alternative history would most likely being written in your own timeline.

Sorry replying to comments is quite stressful at right now so I have to take a break. Sorry I couldn't get to yours at the moment but I shall when I have a little more energy. However I will say you have raised some very interesting points which deserve a response.

 

[Miss Construction]

She pulls herself up and attempts another critical comment. The Dano-Norwegian alliance is radically changing the situation in the Nordic world and it has not failed to escape Swedish attention. Sweden has long considered itself the natural leader of the Nordic nations.

This alliance is threatening that assumption. Denmark and Norway when combined have a very similar population and both's industrial base is growing, driven by not only increased military spending but by the unintended effect of linking the two countries economies. Norway has vast potential for growth due to it's not insignificant resources and huge potential for hydroelectric power.

Add to this the separation of Norway from Sweden in 1905 was not universally well received in Sweden. Then you can throw in the Ulla to Narvik railway which runs perilously close to the Swedish border, in place a few tens of km. Given it's strategic importance, in the event of a European war you can expect the Russians to deploy troops to defend it, something the Swedes could not fail to be alarmed by. Finally if Denmark and Norway are dragged into such a war, it's very likely Russian soldiers would likely soon be appearing to assist in their defence. Again increasing Swedish fears. There is a distinct possibility a German invasion of Denmark could see Sweden entering on Germany's side.

Put simply a European war will see large numbers of Russian troops appearing along the Swedish border. And any invasion of Denmark or Norway is likely to see yet more Russian troops appearing around Oslo and Copenhagen. You can not expect the Swedes to sit back and go "Oh yes that's fine and dandy with us" to either of these things happening.

 

[agloss]

Put simply a European war will see large numbers of Russian troops appearing along the Swedish border. And any invasion of Denmark or Norway is likely to see yet more Russian troops appearing around Oslo and Copenhagen. You can not expect the Swedes to sit back and go "Oh yes that's fine and dandy with us" to either of these things happening.

Tbh, they allowed Germans to use their railways during ww2.

And while Sweden has tottaly different perception of Russia than Germany, i still think they woulf try and cking to neutrality

 

[Miss Construction]

Navies 1909

======/

British Empire

Dreadnoughts

Orion class
23,000 tons, 10 x 13.5”, 10 (20) x 4”, 12” belt, 4” deck, 21 knots Tu WT Coal
- Orion, ordered 1909, laid down 11/1909, commissioned 11/1912
- Conqueror, ordered 1909, laid down 4/1910, commissioned 11/1912
- Monarch, ordered 1909, laid down 4/1910, commissioned 3/1912
- Devastation, ordered 1909, laid down 4/1910, commissioned 6/1912

Battlecruisers

Lion class
26,300 tons, 8 x 13.5”, 8 (16) x 4”, 2 (4) x 18” TT dk, 9” belt, 2.5” deck, 27 knots Tu WT Coal, limited belt
- Princess Royal, ordered 1909, laid down 11/1909, commissioned 5/1912

Light Cruisers

Yarmouth class (Town group II)
5,400 tons, 5 (8) x 6”, 1 (2) x 21” TT dk, 2” slope, 1” deck, 25 Knots Tu WT Coal
- Bournemouth, ordered 1909, laid down 2/1910, commissioned 10/1911
- Dartmouth, ordered 1909, laid down 2/1910, commissioned 9/1911
- Falmouth, ordered 1909, laid down 1/1910, commissioned 10/1911
- Weymouth, ordered 1909, laid down 1/1910, commissioned 4/1912
- Yarmouth, ordered 1909, laid down 3/1910, commissioned 12/1911

Plymouth class (Town group IIa)
5,400 tons, 5 (8) x 4”, 1 (2) x 21” TT dk, 2” slope, 1” deck, 26 Knots Tu WT Oil
- Plymouth, ordered 1909, laid down 3/1910, commissioned 3/1912

Scout Cruisers

Blonde class
3,350 tons, 6 (10) x 4”, 1 (2) x 21” TT dk, 1.5” slope, 1” deck, 25 knots Tu WT Coal
- Blonde, ordered 1909, laid down 12/1909, commissioned 5/1911
- Blanche, ordered 1909, laid down 4/1910, commissioned 11/1911

======/

United States

Dreadnoughts

Wyoming class
22,200 tons, 8 x 14”, 8 (16) x 5”, 1 (2) x 21” TT uw, 11” belt, 2” deck, 21 knots Tu WT Coal
- Wyoming, ordered 1909, laid down 2/1910, commissioned 9/1912
- Arkansas, ordered 1909, laid down 1/1910 commissioned 9/1912

Light Cruisers

New Orleans class (rebuilt)
3,800 tons, 5 (8) x 5", 1 (3) x 18” TT uw 1 bow, 2” slope, 1" deck, 25 knots Tu WT Coal
- New Orleans (ex Brazilian Minas Gerais), ordered 1/1894, laid down 7/1894, purchased
10/1894, commissioned 11/1896, rebuilt 4/1908, begun 1/1909, recommissioned 8/1911
- Albany (ex Brazilian Sao Paulo), ordered 1/1894, laid down 9/1894, purchased 10/1894,
commissioned 8/1896, rebuilt 4/1908, begun 1/1909, recommissioned 2/1912

======/

Japan

Light Cruisers

Ishikari class
5,200 tons, 5 (7) x 6”, 2 (4) x 21” TT dk, 3.5” belt, 2” deck, 27 knots Tu WT Oil
- Ishikari, ordered 1909, laid down 4/1910, commissioned 7/1912
- Anano, ordered 1909, laid down 8/1910, commissioned 11/1912
- Akan, ordered 1909, laid down 8/1910, commissioned 12/1912
- Niikappu, ordered 1909, laid down 11/1910, commissioned 2/1913

======/

Germany

Dreadnoughts

Helgoland class
22,600 tons, 8 (12) x 12”, 7 (14) x 6”, 7 (14) x 3.5”, 2 (6) x 19.7” TT uw 1 bow 1 stn, 12” belt, 2” deck, 20 knots TE WT Coal
- Thüringen, ordered 1909, laid down 6/1909, commissioned 3/1912
- Rheinland, ordered 1909, laid down 8/1909, commissioned 1/1913

Battlecruisers

Molke class
22,600 tons, 10 x 11”, 6 (12) x 6”, 6 (12) x 3.5”, 1 (4) x 20” TT uw 1 bow 1 stn, 10” belt, 2” deck, 25.5 knots Tu WT Coal, limited belt
- Goeben, ordered 1909, laid down 8/1909, commissioned 8/1912

======/

France

Dreadnoughts

Courbet class
22,200 tons, 10 x 12”, 11 (22) x 5.4”, 1 (4) x 18” TT uw 1 bow 1 stn, 11” belt, 3” deck, 20 knots Tu WT Coal
- Courbet, ordered 1909, laid down 4/1910, commissioned 9/1913
- France, ordered 1909, laid down 5/1910, commissioned 1/1914

Light Cruisers

Michel-Pierre Barreaut class (Lamotte Picquet group II)
4,500 tons, 4 (5) x 5.4", 2 (4) x 18” TT dk, 2" slope, 1" deck, 26 knots Tu WT Coal
- Michel-Pierre Barreaut, ordered 1909, laid down 2/1911, commissioned 7/1913
- Louis-André Senez, ordered 1909, laid down 5/1911, commissioned 1/1914
- André Rigaud, ordered 1909, laid down 11/1911, commissioned 4/1914

Aircraft Carriers

Foudre class (conversion)
6,000 tons, 3 (3) x 4”, 8 ac, 4.5" Nickel slope, 2.5" Nickel deck, 20 knots TE WT Coal, seaplanes only
- Foudre, ordered 1892, laid down 6/1892, commissioned 9/1897, conversion 11/1909
supplemental, begun 2/1910, recommissioned 11/1910

======/

Russia

Dreadnoughts

Gangut class
23,400 tons, 12 x 12”, 8 (16) x 4.7”, 1 (4) x 18” TT uw 1 bow 1 stn, 9” belt, 3” deck, 23 knots Tu WT Coal
- Gangut, ordered 1909, laid down 6/1909, commissioned 12/1913 (Baltic)
- Petropavlovsky, ordered 1909, laid down 6/1909, commissioned 1/1914 (Baltic)
- Poltva, ordered 1909, laid down 6/1909, commissioned 4/1914 (Baltic)
- Sevastopol, ordered 1909, laid down 6/1909, commissioned 9/1914 (Baltic)

======/

Other Nations

Greek Georgios Averof class armoured cruiser (built in Italy)
10,000 tons, 4 x 9.2”, 4 (8) x 7.5”, 8 (16) x 3”, 1 (3) x 18” TT uw 1 stn, 8” belt, 2” deck, 22.5 knots TE WT Coal
- Georgios Averof, ordered on speculation 1907, laid down 4/1907, purchased 8/1909
commissioned 5/1911

Danish/Norwegian Niels Iuel (Nordic) class coastal battleship
5,700 tons, 4 x 11", 4 (6) x 6”, 3 (6) x 4”, 2 (4) x 21” TT dk, 10" belt, 2.5" deck, 18 knots Tu WT Oil, low freeboard
- Niels Iuel (RDN), ordered 1909, laid down 10/1910, commissioned 7/1913
- Nidaros (RNoN), ordered 1909, laid down 10/1910, commissioned 5/1913
- Bjorvin (RNoN), ordered 1909, laid down 6/1913, commissioned 1/1915
- Peder Willemoes (RDN), ordered 1909, laid down 8/1913, commissioned 2/1915

 

[Stark]

Great to see this back! Also wish you the best luck in your private life.

Regarding update, seems like Napoleon IV is using his private influence and funds to fix some of OTL French deficiencies from WW1 (heavy and siege artillery)? That will probably be necessary if France is to withstand German assault without troops from Britain.

 

[diestormlie]

Happy to see this TL back in action. It's as good as ever and I'm looking forward to future updates!

 

[Miss Construction]

Great new update!

Unrelated, but this article has some info about imperial planning and discussions of unified RN against CW navies.

The story behind the battlecruiser HMAS Australia - Navy General Board

A country gifting a dreadnought? Matthew Wright examines the origins that led to the construction of the battlecruiser HMAS Australia

www.navygeneralboard.com

Sorry for the late reply, but fascinating. It lays out the path the Empire will follow. The first signs have already popped with with the RCN and RAN. Here Jin March is the first clear signs of it with Australia, Canada and New Zealand all contributing a battlecruiser to form the core of the Imperial naval presence in the Pacific.

 

[Miss Construction]

Great to see this back! Also wish you the best luck in your private life.

Regarding update, seems like Napoleon IV is using his private influence and funds to fix some of OTL French deficiencies from WW1 (heavy and siege artillery)? That will probably be necessary if France is to withstand German assault without troops from Britain.

Nap IV is a huge benefit for France, even the reforms he was able to make before Hantaux forced him out will serve them well, and the one's he's make quietly behind the scenes now will also help.

 

[Miss Construction]

Tbh, they allowed Germans to use their railways during ww2.

And while Sweden has tottaly different perception of Russia than Germany, i still think they woulf try and cking to neutrality

Sweden is yet another wild card, in fact the entire Nordic world has become a wild card. Even I don't know what's going to happen up there lol

 

[kelgar04]

I get the feeling that quite a few Generals in France will be very thankful for the Emporers efforts with the Imperial Guard when in all goes in the pan, he is basically building up the cadre, doctrine, weapons and kit for the French army it will be the case of ramping it up.

 

[Miss Construction]

As usual, your work is of superb quality. I can freely say its one of the most derailed and engaging alternate history fic that i have read. And i have read many.

Glad to hear your situation has improved. For as much as words of a stranger who enjoys your work is worth, i hope your situation is only on the begining of upward trend. Keep going as much as you can and then some more.

If your stories reminded me something, it would be fact that history is made here and now. And its painfully accurate message, but one that shoukd be sent nontheless. So thank you for writtig timeline.

No thank you and haven't forgotten you. Just given my mind has been methodically and systematically slowly dismantled, replying can be stressful for me, so I try not to push myself too far.

And speaking about timelines, i think that many future Imperial Citizens will think that biggest tragedy of XIX century is fact that Anglo sphere is not totaly united. Because with right major swing toward state rights, I could see USA joing this imperial federation in such way.

The US will never join. The public opposition to such a thing would be far too great. What will happen is they will both come to represent different forms of a federal democracy.

Aka usa throwing off its trench coat and showing itself to be 51 countries that it really is.

What is far more likely to happen is central power in the US will increase at the expense of the states while local power will increase in the Empire, with central power and authority held back to be used if the situation gets out of hand or begins to spill over into other local regions.

And such behemot imperial federation/unified anglosphere would be practically set up for world unification.

tbh, such alternative history would most likely being written in your own timeline.

Oh yes, I can imagine all sorts of alt histories being written ITTL lol.