The climax of the South American campaign
The Empire begins the final stages of the South American campaign with the annexation of Argentina and the moving of forces into position to deal with Chile and Uruguay. Following that it will be Cuba, Haiti and possibly Mexico who will be introduced to Tea
The book 'How to fight with Infantry and guns' was sent out to the commanders in the field along with a promotion, now they are operating at optimum efficiency. Although it was reported that Lt. Gen Haig has rewritten the book as 'How to fight with Infantry as guns'...
Meanwhile back in Blighty, the 'Dread-0' production has been completed, the ship rolled down the gangplank at Portsmouth and to the complete surprise of all present, it did not sink.
HMS London, March 1907
Following this surprise discovery, First Lord of the Admiralty Sir John Fisher advocated a design incorporating speed and firepower, but he was not listened to, now that it had been proven that you could slap tonnes of armour onto a ship and not have it sink, the Admirals wanted the heaviest, most armoured ships available. Nevertheless, Admiral Fishers idea of 'Battlecruisers' is being looked into by our boffins.
Another idea came about from a young Army captain in the cavalry who had witnessed the launching of HMS London and who was an avid reader of the scientific romance author Herbert George Wells.
H.G Wells had in his novel 'The Land Ironclads' described:
Quote:
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They were essentially long, narrow and very strong steel frameworks carrying the engines, and borne upon eight pairs of big pedrail wheels, each about ten feet in diameter, each a driving wheel and set upon long axles free to swivel round a common axis. This arrangement gave them the maximum of adaptability to the contours of the ground. They crawled level along the ground with one foot high upon a hillock and another deep in a depression, and they could hold themselves erect and steady sideways upon even a steep hillside.
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Major General Sir Ernest Dunlop Swinton was approached by the young man and he in turn put forward the idea to the army generals who would have discredited the idea had not the intrepid Field Marshall Sir Bindon Blood been visiting from South America, Sir Blood heard of the idea and admitted that if worked right, it might be an invaluable tool.
Chiefs of the Army are very skeptical, however Sir Blood has a strong hold in the British Army following his leadership and successfull military campaigns, rumour indeed has it that he is looking for a senior position within Whitehall at his senior age of sixty-five. Candidates for taking over his position as highest ranked officer are Lt. Gen Douglas Haig, Lt. Gen John Nixon and Lt. Gen Prince Arthur, The Duke of Connaught.
Haig -
The South American pigeon MURDERER!!
Nixon -
'Supplies, what are those?'
Prince Arthur -
His Royal Highness The Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, Earl of Sussex, Duke of Saxony, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Knight of the Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Extra Knight Grand Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, Knight Grand Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Grand Master and Principal Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, General of the Militia of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
For Britannia!
