บท 82: European Maze (January-March, 1883).
Russian Navy: Baikal and submarines]
Navy member now promoted to Rear Admiral, Stepan Ossipovich Makarov was honored to present to Tsar Alexander III the world's first modern icebreaker, designed for the Russian navy. A polar icebreaker, named SS Yermak, named after the Cossack and Siberian explorer Yermak Timofeyevich.
The class was soon named 'Baikal Class' by Emperor Alexander III and a project was undertaken for its expansion and use in Russian ports and the Russian navy.
An extremely useful project when there are few ports fit to be used all or most of the year, the 'northern route' through the Russian Arctic Sea would simplify many logistical tasks for the Russians, provided it was reliable.
There was also the planned construction of the White Sea-Baltic Sea Canal, which would allow icebreakers to respond more quickly between the Baltic Sea, the Northern Route, and the White Sea for the economic or logistical needs of the Russian Empire.
Among the work of the icebreaker was obviously clearing the way in the frozen regions of the ocean, but also some rescue missions, towing boats, etc.
The mission to continue investing and developing the icebreakers was transported to another team of the Komitet voyenno-morskogo razvitiya (Committee of Naval Development).
Makarov contributed much to the scientific design and production of ships, but his career within the navy of the Russian Empire did not end there with the polar icebreakers advancing within the Russian navy.
Tsar Alexander III reconvened with the Committee of Naval Development to discuss the next objective that the commission should focus on.
*******
"At the moment they have not had much focus on the Russian Empire, they had some role in certain events in the American Civil War and other events, but the important thing is that I think they could be useful for certain sections of the Russian Empire. Do you have any ideas about submarines ?. " Tsar Alexander III explains to Stepan Makarov.
"They haven't been my area of interest, but I think we could give it a try." Makarov responds curiously.
"Okay, I have some potential recruits that are of interest to the project." Tsar Alexander III promptly adds.
The Komitet team was soon joined by a Russian scientist of Polish origin, Stefan Karlovich or also called Stefan Kazimirovich Drzewiecki. An odd choice to become a close friend in such projects, when the Drzewiecki family had a history of being ... troublesome patriot.
Stefan Karlovich's own father, Karol Drzewiecki, participated in the November uprising of 1830-1831. Before that Józef Drzewiecki (Stefan Karlovich's grandfather) served under Generals Kościuszko and Dąbrowski.
But it seems that Stefan Karlovich had no such interests, and he started working for Stepan Makarov's Komitet and Tsar Alexander III without problems. In particular an area for electric submarines.
The other member was a Spanish military man, removed from office due to health problems in the Carlist Philippines (not in the best economic condition, so they had to cut costs).
In addition, possibly the Russian climate and money would do him good, so Isaac Peral y Caballero joined the Russian Komitet at the invitation of foreigners.
The team now had as a mission the production of a submarine for the Russian navy, for which a period of planning and experimentation began in some of Russia's rivers (such as the Neva).
*******
[Secondary project: The first one at the North Pole?]
Although it was certainly not a priority, with the creation of the Baikal class, the Russian Empire under Alexander III raised the possibility to the РГО (Ру́сское географи́ческое о́бщество, Russian Geographical Society) the possibility of a Second Russian Arctic Expedition, this time one destined to be the first to reach the center of the North Pole.
A huge target without a doubt, the De Long expedition of the United States failed for example. However the Russians are willing to learn from this experience and prepare.
The РГО has taken up the 'challenge' or rather request of Tsar Alexander III to try this project, in Saint Petersburg they have begun to gather experts, resources and recruit personnel willing to conquer the North Pole.
*******
['Polish talent']
University degrees and other educational institutions were equal in the Russian Empire since the 1870s, this meant that someone with a tertiary education in the Grand Duchy of Finland could obtain work in other parts of Russia, the same for educated Poles.
The Congress (or Tsardom) of Poland had a similar situation, and with the accelerated economic development of Russia, Warsaw and other Polish areas ceased to be a notable industrial center within Russia. Simply by number they could not compete with the production of factories in the heart of Russia, the fertile and mechanized lands of southern Russia and other areas produced more products, etc.
The place was not forgotten, but it was simply being outgrown, and now other regions of Russia were equally or much more industrialized.
Some agricultural areas of Poland had underestimated the inventions of their fellow citizens and remained poorly managed and mechanized (not all, but still a significant number). Because the Poles in Russia still had a lot of opposition to the Russian state due to the Polish identity.
At least now Polish was more used in public and in education after the educational reform (since it was impossible for Russian to be taught at all levels or schools, the state simply allowed literacy in native languages, but there had to be compulsory courses of Russian at universities in more literate regions such as Poland and Finland), but Polish actions against Russians were obviously persecuted by the police. And the institutions (Veche, Zemstvo, etc.) guarded by loyal Russian institutions.
However, although the Poles believed they had a victory in the aspect of education (although university students had to learn Russian), their loss of economic importance became a weapon that Tsar Alexander III decided to use against them.
A Ukase was issued which gave considerable economic benefits to the mass of Polish university students (mainly engineers, mathematicians, doctors and members of other factual sciences) to move to other parts of the Russian Empire or to become part of the Russian administration outside the Polish Congress.
A very juicy deal, many job and money opportunities, a large amount accepted moving to other parts of the Empire, stealing a large percentage of the Polish educated mass to other areas of the Empire where they could have more opportunities and be of more use.
The more nationalistic Poles could see these Poles as traitors, but for the Polish middle class (those non-nobles who grew up with the great Russian industrialization) themoney was important, they didn't forget polish, but wanted money and work for the Russians for money wasn't that bad.
In addition, there were already other notable Poles working within the Russian research and development apparatus.
*******
With the Ukase also the government of Saint Petersburg decided to solve the agricultural situation a bit, after all it seems that Tsar Alexander III had some interests in the preservation of the Polish ecosystem and compact but more efficient farms would mean more space for some reserves.
So they expanded or built institutions of tertiary education of various kinds, agriculture, engineering, architecture, chemistry, etc.
Some in Congress understood that the gap between Poland and Russia was diametrically different, with a much more industrialized Russia, with much more literacy, etc.
While some would adapt to the tide, others would seek to go against it or die from the tide. Meanwhile, the Tsar of Russia, Alexander III was thinking about what would be the best place for a reserve of wild horses and potentially other fauna and flora.
Perhaps some good monument or tourist attraction would be beutiful too.
*******
[New Krakow]
Meanwhile in Slavic Africa permits were received to establish a port, which was named New Krakow (Russian Новый Краков, Novyy Krakov and Polish Nowy Kraków). Why? Because originally the expedition was Polish, so that privilege was given to Stefan Szolc-Rogoziński, leader of the Polish and private part of the expedition.
From New Krakow it was possible to fish and gather fruits, establishing some huts and the basic elements of the port as well as an altar for Catholic prayers and another for Orthodox.
Both parties to the expedition believed that New Krakow could be a viable port, and that Slavic Africa could expand onto the African continent, but there were two different approaches.
On the one hand there was the expansionist or pragmatic Polish approach, where the Poles intended to expel the native Africans from the territory simply to replace them with Poles and to establish the colony more firmly.
However there was also the loyalist and more simplistic approach of the Russians, to follow the orders of Tsar Alexander III and avoid any unnecessary bloodbath. After all, New Krakow was founded not by arms, but by three cases of vodka.
Fortunately, the Russian approach gained traction as the Poles were less prepared, their agricultural products were not suitable for the Mondoleh climate, but the Russian state could afford to buy tropical crops.
So suddenly the Poles in New Krakow were dependent on communal farming with the Russians.
The investment came to build and improve housing and the port of course, although it was still debated whether to expand the deals with the natives to get population and labor.
*******
[Round of 16]
The fourth edition of the Russian Soccer League takes place, so once again the duel between 16 teams begins to win:
* Arkhangelsk vs Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy: Arkhangelsk's team wins by 2 to 1.
* Salekhard vs Vladivostok: Vladivostok's team wins 3 to 1.
* Erivan vs Baku: Erivan's team wins 1 to 0, to the sadness of the Russian Azerbaijanis.
* Anadyr vs Rovaniemi: Anadyr's team wins by 4 to 3.
* Omsk vs Yakutsk: The Omsk team wins by 1 to 0.
* Irkutsk vs Kharkov: Kharkov's team wins by 3 to 2.
* Moscow vs Lublin: The Moscow team wins by 2 to 0.
* Murmansk vs Saint Petersburg: Murmansk's team wins 3-0.
*******
[International]
Life magazine is published for the first time in Los Angeles, United States on January 4.
On January 10 the 'government' of William V elects through the regency council a minister of colonies (bought and secretly aligned with foreign interests of course), although abroad and some within the Netherlands hoped that this could revive the Dutch East Indies in some way, with the German-Dutch customs union, currently Dutch resources and ships are seriously beginning to participate more in the German colonies than in the Dutch colonies.
That is, a diversion of resources to increase the German Colonial Empire, as various industrialists and nationalists in Hamburg have developed. With the intention of amplifying the colonial growth and markets available to Germany.
This allows Germany proper to divert resources to its armies and the colonial navy.
On January 16, President Hancock's rate reform finally passes Congress despite Republican opposition (by few votes, but it does). The reform has varied long-term effects depending on the state, region, and social class, as it is an income-based fee.
Especially rail workers are affected by such a tariff, while some big businesses manage to avoid the blow to 'come out stronger' after the Long Depression. On the other hand, agricultural workers and farmers are less affected.
America's business culture is on the rise, for better or for worse.
In February the Adventures of Pinocchio are published for the first time in a full book format.
On February 15 for the first time a light is illuminated in German Vietnam, more specifically in a military barracks.
(OOC: I forgot to name a city in German Southeast Asia, I'll do it in the future XD).
February 25, Alabama's anti-trust law fails to pass through state government.
The State Historical Museum of Moscow opens (Государственный исторический музей, Gosudarstvenny istoricheskiy muzyey, also abbreviated as GIM or Гим).
On February 24, the Guatemalan president, Justo Rufino Barrios publishes a letter addressed to the liberal parties of other states of Central America, in which he defends the idea of creating a single state in Central America (and in advance he resigns from any position in the future federation).
Curiously, Emperor Maximilian I has the idea that with the success of his empire in Mexico, eventually the other surrounding nations (Central America) will join the imperial model (superior to democracy or republic according to Maximilian).
On the other hand, Minister-President Porfirio Diaz simply opposes the idea of Rufino Barrios, fearing expansionism and Guatemalan ambitions.
March 2, the Hong Kong Observatory is established.
March 20, another industrial strike occurs in the city of Paris, Second French Empire before the laws of projection of private and industrial property applied by the French Empire of Napoleon IV.
Laws needed when French industry is trying to recover. It is also partly due to English investment in the region and free trade agreements with Austria-Hungary.
However, we have to talk about other important considerations, for example the role of clericalism in the new post-Franco-Prussian war France. With a compulsory and free education, but not secular, priests play a very prominent role among rural communities.
The priests spread anti-German visions, strongly irredentist and nationalist (Bonapartist nationalism, it should be said) towards the population. Measure supported by many members within the government, especially in the Ministry of War.
March 28, the first German expedition to the north of Vietnam takes place, a position they took from the French forces years ago. In battle the Germans faced not only the natives of the Nguyễn dynasty but also the native Black Flag Army, whose combined forces made up about 1000 troops (more or less).
Despite being outnumbered, the Germans nevertheless win with the support of the diversion of Dutch resources and the first victory of the German colonial navy.
Which obviously drives the idea of conquering more territory for Deutsch Südostasien.
*******
[Scramble for the Pacific?]
The Pacific was becoming a sensitive area, the English noticed. Not only the Russian presence increased but now the German navy and army were increasing in number in the region, passing through the Dutch East Indies as owners of the place.
The Austrians also had their own interests and London was still unclear whether the Austrians were friends or foes.
With the Dutch navy practically out of play (administrative and local problems, diversion of resources, competition, etc.) as a serious power that terrified other rivals, now there were only the English.
A wrong action would mean that two powers would unite against the English in the Pacific, and while the English could win such a conflict by the power of money and the navy, the important thing was that it would alienate the powers in Europe and only cause more. problems for the delicate balance in Europe.
*******
[The ways of Europe]
In 1883, after the talks in Vienna regarding the situation in the Netherlands, there was a European crossroads, each country was in a stage of transformation (some more than others) so to speak.
And it makes sense since as the end of the 19th century approached and the early 20th century approached times of change, transformation and rebirth.
* The German way.
In Central Europe the German Empire had undoubtedly become the main power, after having united the majority of German states, we can say that the father of such a feat was Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Yet the German state is ... complicated, to say the least.
Bismarck was a blessing and a problem for a variety of reasons, his policies attacking (especially during the 1870s and part of the 1880s) Liberals, Republicans, Socialists, Catholic-Zentrum, etc. Having fed the worst parts of the German state, the nationalists, big industrialists, pan-Germanicists, etc.
The German Empire despite having given some autonomy and vote to minor states, was suddenly dominated by the 'victory' of the Prussian model: Austria, France had been defeated and diplomatic victories had been achieved over Russia and the United Kingdom.
This meant that the army and society remained largely militarized, with the former being a bastion of Conservativeism, and society dividing into opposite poles (those nationalists or supporters of Bismarck, and detractors of Bismarck, such as Crown Prince Frederick ).
Furthermore, Berlin could be a new city of culture, industry, etc.
Germany was infested by the 'European Golden Age': Colonies! Militarism! Nationalism! Industry!. Berlin was now (supposedly) the center of Central Europe, with the ability to rub shoulders with the greats of London and Vienna.
But in essence, the electoral system and the political situation became even more chaotic and dangerous, without Bismarck or a figure who could maintain order, the pyramid of cards would fall.
The right believed that if they achieved more victories or the situation as it was, this pyramid would remain. While the center-left considered that reforming the pyramid would be vital to maintain it.
* The English way.
The Victorian Era came to an abrupt end and now the Edwardian era has arrived, suddenly English isolationism and its bubble of superiority burst. Germany and Russia were on a seemingly steady rise, and unstoppable (if not difficult to stop or slow down), France and Austria-Hungary were in trouble, etc.
The murder of Queen Victoria did not mean a great repression in English society because the murderer was a man with mental problems, it meant that the biggest terrorist problem was actually the Irish.
The division between the Unionists and the Home Rule continued to grow day by day.
The English were the world's largest economic power, but suddenly they found that their dominance over the seas and business did not make them invincible any longer in continental Europe.
The English were also the only power with a developed parliamentary monarchy (the Bonapartists still seemed to have a problem with this ...), and in a certain sense they saw themselves as superior in several respects to the German Empire and the Russian Empire (Russophobia was already commonplace. and now anti-German sentiment was growing too).
But now they were spending money in France so that they were once again a thorn in the German side.
Yet capitalism also played an important role, the English did not mind negotiating with autocrats or tyrants, and their seemingly civilized society was blind to quite a few things as they tried to keep the Empire where the sun never sets.
On one side they saw their traditional enemy, Russia, and the growing enemy, Germany. But they ignored many other problems within France, the United States or Austria-Hungary, and would even ignore problems within the United Kingdom itself.
* The Austrian way.
Austria lost her hold over the majority of the German people, and was obviously in a shaky state. The giant with the feet of clay prevented an Italian rebellion, for the moment, but no one knew for how long.
Kaiser Rudolf I on his part viewed the new threat posed by Berlin, or Prussia, or Germany in a bad light.
The general staff was fine for the moment, but it was obvious that reforms would be needed to bring the Austro-Hungarian army up to par in the event of war. But with problems at home this would be difficult.
Austria-Hungary, even more so Vienna, was still understood as a cultural, economic and social center of Europe, worthy of relevance and reverence. This is why Rudolf I proposed a series of reforms in the Reichsrat to guide Austria-Hungary along what he considered to be the best path, of course there would be problems if they were suddenly established, but that is why he decided to install them in Cislethania.
There was poverty and social unrest, industrialization had stopped since the Long Depression, etc. But unlike Russia and Germany (which used protectionist measures), Austria believed in her own path, a path that was by and for Austria and that would make them more relevant in the European world.
The Austrian School (founded in part by Carl Menger, professor of Kaiser Rudolf I himself) dominated economically in Austria and Cislethania, with apparent motivations for entrepreneurship, foreign intervention, and the development of private enterprise for economic growth.
In essence the Austrian path was the path of reconstruction (cultural and economic), of individualism and 'Austrian characteristics'.
Rudolf I unlike his father was a liberal, the problem was that Rudolf I had no experience in government, and it was not clear whether or not he would survive the problems of the Austrian empire.
* The French way.
Napoleon IV was a prisoner of his own state, the Bonaparte dynasty was young and desperate, France had lost and suffered. In the midst of this, the population shifted to the radical left or radical right, and like Napoleon III, Napoleon IV did not know where to go.
He grew up with humanistic ideals like his father, but now his support was the church and the army (now quite conservative ...).
Irredentism and revenge were growing out of control, clericalism and anti-socialism were state policies, but there was still hope for France.
The French economy was growing and recovering, the problem was whether she would be ready for the next conflict with Germany (and Italy).
The problem is that despite this growth, dangerous and conflicting thoughts were still growing.
On the one hand there were the Marxist ideals, the old French revolutionary ideal, the monarchical-nationalist ideals, etc. Due to this the repression in the French state increased day by day (more than Austria or the United Kingdom for example).
* The Russian way.
Russia was the stranger of Europe, and seen as a barbarous land, devoid of constitution and many freedoms, the tsars had achieved an authoritarianism that others could only dream of or have nightmares about. However Tsar Alexander III was also seen as an outsider, no one knew very well exactly the internal politics directed by or behind him.
Russia had entered the modern economic arena, there was private industry but the state had a notable influence.
They were not liberal, but the worst excesses of nationalism and pan-Slavism were held back by that autocracy. Although the ideal of the Holy Rus was growing in the Russian Empire after all its successes.
Russia was Christian, but it was the only great Orthodox power on the European continent (and therefore the only important one for the rest ...). Ambitious but an enigma about how this rival acts or could be stopped.
It also didn't help that Tsar Alexander III and his extremely moderate and cautious government didn't give much insight into an important political or ideological background - Russia simply existed to continually grow. Then what?
But there were also ... strange humanitarian values, defense of 'animal rights', and the emperor's interest that his population should have food and money rather than political reforms (Russian priorities were clear).
'Freedom' in Russia was more about being able to live a life than having political rights.
Russian isolation and its neutrality were also something strange, the right of a strong state as some would say later, it did not bow but it did not act either. And that could sometimes be seen as weakness, but Russia would not always have a reason to intervene in the first place.
The biggest Russian interventions of the time had dystnaic years (1876-1882), one was for the 'defense of Christians' and other minorities in the Ottoman Empire, and another was to restore order and provide food in Korea.
*******
* [Ottoman Empire]
The Ottoman Empire finally experiences a stroke of luck, the problem is that it is not in any of its skills or successful reforms, it is just that the Kurdish Sheikh, Sheikh Ubeydullah has died of natural causes. Causing a succession problem in the Kurdish nationalist movement that paralyzes the Kurdish rebellion in the east, for the time being.
On the other hand, the empire is still ruined, with debts and economic problems, and two western rebellions that do not have the same problems as the Kurdish rebellion.
Given this, Sultan Abdul Hamid II has decided to give in to the Albanian demands for the union of the Albanian regions in a Principality of Albania, which he has granted to a semi-ceremonial figure, the Spanish Don Pedro Aladro y Kastriota. Unexpected, but the Spanish nobleman truly loves Albanians, and is a less troublesome figure than the Ottoman-Albanian politicians themselves.
Some Albanians wanted to continue the rebellion, but the Ottoman and Albanian forces were both seriously calm, and achieving Albanian autonomy (a deep autonomy, although Albania is not de facto independent ... yet) calmed much of the remaining Prizren leadership. The Ottomans just had to take down some troublesome guerrillas ...
Now the problem is Bosnia ... which the Ottomans are still unable to reach. For this point, Bosnia-Herzegovina functions as a completely independent entity, and due to its lack of borders with the Ottomans or seaports, it is free from Ottoman threats.
It also doesn't help that Kaiser Rudolf I is not going to help with the submission of the Slavs of Bosnia-Herzegovina as he wants to attend to Austrian internal affairs.
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