บท 182: Russo-Japanese-Greek war (October-December, 1904)
War and economy]
On October 15, the Russia-Japan Incident occurs.
It must be understood that from the reign of Alexander II and later in the government of Alexander III, Russia came into possession of territories that the Japanese ultra-nationalists wanted to recover or conquer.
These were: Tsushima, northern Sakhalin, most of the Kuril Islands, Korea, and Inner Manchuria.
Now, the problem was that Japan was very small compared to Russia, both in economy and size (army, population and territory). That is why by common sense, the navy was pro-Russian and the army looked for ALTERNATIVES to Russia, rather than being subjected (or attacking) to the Russian sphere.
But unfortunately, there are people who underestimated precisely all these differences and signals, such as the Black Dragon Society, a Japanese ultra-nationalist group that had been infiltrating Japan (military apparatus, secret service, etc.) and attempted espionage-sabotage in various parts of the world (Russia, the United States, Hawai'i, Germany, etc).
The Black Dragon Society had begun to mix with criminals, attracted the most radical military officers (from the Philippines in particular), and had very clear anti-foreign and pan-Asian intentions.
For this reason, on October 15, under the action of members of the Black Dragon Society, an invasion (attack) by Japanese citizens occurred to one of the Russian ports in Tsushima (archipelago of islands).
The attack was carried out by criminal-mercenaries, and some Japanese officers under the banner of the Japanese Imperial Navy. Of course, this attack was stopped by locals and the Russian armed forces stationed, but it started a diplomatic crisis between Russia and Japan.
The high command of the Imperial Japanese Army and the imperial regime of Japan of course had problems solving the situation, many did not want a war with Russia, but the ultra-nationalists interfered, the radical officers wanted war, and the confrontation between the conservative IJA-Prime Minister and liberal civil government hindered a proper response.
In the midst of this, the Russian government began measures to prevent Russian resources from reaching the Japanese economy, with an almost immediate effect on Japan (due to soybeans, iron and other Russian raw materials that were going to the Japanese islands).
Found near the end of the Russian ultimatum, various Russian sailors were killed by Japanese citizens (criminals and militant ultra-nationalists). This obviously only made things worse, and finally on October 21, the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan went to war.
Soon a fall in the Japanese national economy was noticed by this war.
The first immediate combat site was the Tsushima archipelago between October 21 and 22. Although the Imperial Japanese Navy gains the advantage due to proximity, to bombard some Russian ports and try to invade the islands, soon the Pacific fleet intervenes.
More than 32 warships, 228 guns, and some battleships, defeated the Japanese Imperial Navy at Tsushma on October 22, threatening Japanese ports shortly thereafter.
On October 23, southern Sakhalin is invaded by Russian forces in the north of the island and forces from the Pacific fleet begin to attack Japanese bases on the Kuril and Hokkaido islands.
The north of Sakhalin (belonging to Russia) was much more populated and developed, so the invasion of the south was relatively easy.
Russia soon began to mobilize defensive forces to the Far East, from armies in Korea to the ports of Manchuria.
On October 26 the Imperial Japanese Navy was stopped on its way to invade Port Arthur, the submarine warfare was more useful for Russia than for Japan.
With its economy on fire, Japan cannot efficiently use some of its military assets (such as the air force), it must use fuel, iron and food wisely.
On the other hand, Russia is delayed in internal discussions, the war was sudden and Russian interests beyond Sakhalin-Kuril were discussed.
Around November and early December the situation was quite slow, the IJN and the IJA began to move troops from Taiwan and to a lesser extent the Philippines.
But Firipin could not be left in the open, because the Russian Pacific Fleet gave certain attacks to the Japanese forces in Philippine waters and the Philippine rebels began to cause more problems with the start of the war.
The waters near Korea and the main islands of Japan were covered with mines and other coastal defenses.
The Ryukyu Islands suffered from certain attacks at the hands of the Pacific fleet.
In mid and late December, both sides began to take more and more initiative, Japan mobilized more than 100,000 men for an operation against Russia (starting a land front, preferably in Korea) but the problem is that such an operation would require dominance. over the seas near the Korean peninsula.
Something that obviously Japan did not have in the beginning for said operation, also the conflicts between the Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy did not help,
Japan was running on borrowed time and rebel groups in Luzon were beginning to have more and more problems.
On December 22, the most serious battles between the IJN and the Russian Pacific Fleet begin, so that Japan can, in the first place, try to approach Korea (and then achieve a successful land assault, it should be said).
The war is undoubtedly more expensive for the Japanese side, although Russia may lose some ships, the Russian Empire simply has the time and resources to mount defenses and forces to defend ports, cities and miles and miles of land.
On December 27, the incident between Greece and Russia occurs.
On the same day Japan manages to put the islands of Tsushima under siege. Despite the native Japanese population, they do not respond to orders from the Japanese government, after living a few generations under Russia.
Attempts to starve the population or land on the islands are unsuccessful by Russian naval officers on the islands, who together with local militias mount a successful defense.
On December 29, a small victory for Japan after the brief Russian distraction, but the situation (opening) is not very favorable.
The logistics lines from Taiwan and the Philippines to Japan and Korea are over-extended, and the worst of the worst remains, trying to land on the Korean peninsula.
Russia of course does not lose its Pacific fleet and is perfectly capable of continuing to fight the Russo-Japanese war. Minister Stepan Makarov and Deputy Minister Alexander Mikhailovich Romanov re-organize the defense of the Pacific fleet after receiving orders from the central government.
On December 31st, the Japanese government gives the hasty order of the invasion of the Korean peninsula (the Yellow Sea and other nearby waters) for a land invasion further south, and if possible, to conquer Port Arthur.
However, the defense of Admiral Makarov and the Pacific fleet, finally achieved a decisive defeat to Japanese forces. Much of the Japanese navy is practically destroyed.
The Japanese armed forces begin to back down to defend the main islands of the Japanese archipelago.
The costs of war are not as many as Fashoda (human lives), but they do have economic and political-social costs.
*******
[What are you thinking?]
In the midst of the Russo-Japanese war, when it begins to have more and more important battles, the central government of Russia and therefore its leadership, are briefly hampered when suddenly Greek nationalists hijack and attack some Russo-Ionian ships, loading civilians and oil.
Soon the Russian government demands explanations for this sudden hostility, to which the Greeks cannot respond efficiently, with an international hostage crisis on their hands.
Greek nationalist militias, partly members of the Greek nationalist government, begin a mobilization in favor of a 'crusade' against Ionia and Russia (for Greek lands).
Carrying out in turn several small blows against local governments, precisely exploding border conflicts between Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Russia.
Shortly after due to this, the alliance of Russia-Bulgaria and Ionia, declare the war to the Kingdom of Greece (similar to a military intervention for the restoration of the order).
*******
* Perspective of the Russian government.
"Very well done Admiral Makarov." Tsar Alexander III mentions approving the Pacific defense re-organization plans (made by Stepan Makarov and Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich Romanov) after the most recent Japanese moves. "Now we must move on to other matters."
"Certain army cliques propose not only the annexation of Sakhalin and the Kurils, but also the 'liberation' of the Philippines and potentially the gaining of Taiwan." Tsesarevich Nicholas and Minister Mikhail Skobelev present.
"... I mean, we could take those territories. We can even pay the costs of invading the main islands of Japan ... But do we want to make those kinds of investment?" Tsar Alexander III questions.
"More resources are good, but it would force us to overextend, invest even more in native integration, and repair any problems the Japanese leave behind." Nicholas insists.
"It seems to make sense, but leaving the Japanese almost intact could prove problematic in the future." Mikhail Skobelev argues.
"... I and the rest of the navy will review plans about possible invasions of the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan. In the meantime, I propose to keep plans about bombing Japanese ports." Makarov proclaims.
"Accepted." Alexander III tells his minister of the navy about the bombing of ports.
* After the Greek crisis.
"Crushing the Greeks should be easy, except for the mountainous terrain." Mikhail Skobelev explains. "The defenses of the straits and the coordination with the Bulgarians is ready." The minister of war adds.
"Perfect, Minister Witte is already ordering the pertinent economic punishments against the Kingdom of Greece." Tsar Alexander III exclaims without much inconvenience.
"What about the Greek navy?" The Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich Romanov asks.
"Greece simply cannot afford to invade the straits immediately, not even Ionia. But the Black Sea fleet is preparing for attacks on the Aegean islands, Crete in particular." Admiral Makarov reports to Tsesarevich.
"Thank you very much Admiral." Nicholas exclaims.
"This stab from the Greeks is a minor inconvenience, but I think I'll be able to give my announcements by January 1st." Tsar Alexander III exclaims, rising from his chair. Getting older, but still excited.
"Are you sure sir? We are in a conflict." Mikhail Skobelev questions with concern.
"I am almost certain that the war with Japan and Greece will end before the elections start, I give them a maximum of 3 to 6 months." Tsar Alexander III mentions.
"If no major power supports Greece or Japan, we suspect it is a close to reality analysis. But we still have to be cautious." Makarov and Nicholas add.
"It's a good point, he has no doubt that we can defeat Greece. But those perfidious Germans or Englishmen could try something." Mikhail Skobelev insists, with strong anti-German sentiment.
"Good arguments from all of you, but I think that political reform cannot wait much longer. Our empire needs a breath of fresh air, if we want it to last for many more centuries." Alexander III proclaims.
*******
[International]
* Bengal Famine, British Raj, 1904.
It must be understood that although there were natural factors involved in the Bengal Famine of 1904, these natural factors were strongly aggravated by the policies of the British administration and certain deaths or catastrophes were preventable if there was prior political action to stop them (which did not occur of course).
And also that one of the reasons for the famine was precisely the systematic replacement of food-growing fields with tea-growing fields.
With the drop in international trade and financial crises in Singapore (especially after a financial panic due to the construction of the Thai Canal), there were also problems associated with the economy that aggravated the situation.
It is generally considered that the famine started on October 3, although in later months there were already small local famines that are sometimes considered as the prelude or part of the great famine that arrived in October.
When the food crisis began, Russia and even Germany offered to send food to the population of the British Raj, but the colonial government of Lord Curzon (and Governor Winston Churchill in particular), refused.
There were even British reports denying that there was a famine.
Bengal was one of the most populated provinces of the British Raj, with slightly less than 78.5 million inhabitants, and in it suffered from the rural environment (the most affected sector) to large urban centers or population contention.
6 to 8 million people died in the famine in Bengal alone, but even some other regions of the Raj near Bengal were affected.
This event was used by Lord Curzon for his plans for a partition of Bengal and the suppression of revolutionary movements in the region.
With the famine, Indian revolutionary movements, especially in Punjab and Bengal, began to organize and network on a larger scale to fight in opposition to British colonialism.
Especially notable is the role of the Punjab natives, who were heavily recruited into the British army, but the Punjab socialists still managed to form an increasingly popular rebellion.
*******
October 4, through populist groups of anti-Semites and white supremacists, collaborators of the Social Aristocrats and other nationalists of the non-monarchical right, the Nationell Nordisk Rörelse (NNR, National Nordic Movement) is founded.
This movement is the basis of the Swedish conservatism's rejection of the monarchy, rampant anti-Semitism, the creation of para-military groups and other similar activities.
(OOC: Based on the neo-Nazi Nordic Resistance Movement / Nordiska motståndsrörelsen).
October 5, the first reports about the food crisis in India reach Russia and Germany, the humanitarian aid proposed by other countries is rejected by London.
Some politicians even deny that the news about the famine is true, and denounce the fact as false.
October 9, German journalist Anna Rüling (pseudonym of Theodora "Theo" Anna Sprüngli) gives a speech in front of the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee of Berlin, German Empire.
Rüling calls for awareness of the social and legal problems faced by lesbians, one of the first publicly recorded.
Not only in Germany of course, but also in other parts of the world (UK, Russia, etc).
* Rüling is also one of the first modern women to come out as homosexual.
October 13, the Türkiye Ulusal Ligi (TUL, Turkish National League) is founded, a decentralized pseudo-confederation of agrarians, Islamic populists and nationalists opposed to Mustafa Kemal and his Turkish revolution.
The problem of course is the lack of experience and management, but it is obvious that not everyone is in favor of Mustafa Kemal's ideas in the Republic of Turkey.
Partly because despite the terrible social situation, humans are always ready to fight each other, and obviously in these contexts the Turks take up radical ideologies (after the catastrophic Ottoman collapse that marks the history of Turkey). From clinging to their religion and following an Islamist path, to going to socialism to take a more secular path.
October 15, Russia-Japan incident.
October 21, the Russo-Japanese war begins with the official declaration of war.
Furthermore, on October 15, President Elihu Root sent engineers from the US Army to begin some of the proposed modernization projects in Haiti and the Dominican Republic (now a single country, more or less).
With the intention of "civilizing" the natives, actually building some infrastructure.
October 19, Isabelo de los Reyes "Don Belong", leader of the Democratic Workers Union of the Philippines (translation into English of the name, Unión Obrera Democrática Filipina) reaches 150,000 followers for the revolutionary force against Japanese colonial rule.
This group of 'red' guerrillas (Marxists) becomes an increasingly growing problem for Japan, but fortunately the Reds and the government of Antonio Luna (president and general of the Republic of the Philippines) begin to have problems with each other.
Something good, but days before the Russo-Japanese war.
October 27-28, the Battle of Darien ends with a victory for the United States and Panama over Venezuela and Colombia, with support from Germany.
This ends with the destruction of some parts of the destroyed Darien ecosystem, and with traps or landmines covering the thick parts of said ecosystem.
The victory was costly, and full of yellow fever. The American invasion of northern Colombia continues, but it already has a trail of blood behind it.
November 3, Canadian federal elections. In these elections the conservative (supported by the Social Aristocrats) Robert Borden, defeats the liberal Wilfrid Laurier.
This marks an acceleration of support for the Imperial Preference and plans for closer ties between the 'white' parts of the British Empire (a more unified navy for example, among other things ...).
November 8, presidential elections in the United States. Elihu Root is once again the Republican candidate (thanks in part to having promised certain promotions to certain people ...), the Democratic candidate is Alton Brooks Parker and the Socialist candidate is Eugene Victor "Gene" Debs.
The choice was SURPRISE, for the time. In its first election in 1904, the Socialist Party of America (a coalition of various regional factions) won a large share of the popular vote, threatening Republican-Democratic dominance in western parts of the United States.
However, obviously the Socialists did not win. Finally, Elihu Root narrowly wins re-election over the Democrats, narrowly.
* During this the National Republicans continue their rise in popularity, in particular the now Senator Robert La Follete and Henry Ford, who receive favors from Elihu Root.
This means better treatment for German-Americans, in exchange for support for certain Root measures.
November 16, in the French conflict the central government forces hit and began to push the remaining rebel groups and the interference of British mercenaries in the conflict.
In the middle of this, an English fishing boat (civilian) is attacked and diplomatic conflicts between the government of Paris and the United Kingdom begin.
November 24, the Russian Empire begins certain investigations so that tractor factories can also produce medved (armored vehicles of the army), when necessary.
With a few modifications of course.
(OOC: Based in some soviet production).
December 2, bank robbery increases in various parts of the world, both by common criminals and by rebel groups (separatists, socialists, etc).
December 3, Charles Dillon Perrine discovers Jupiter's largest irregular satellite, Himalia.
December 6, American victory in northern Colombia and parts of northern Mexico (not counting the guerrilla rebellions in the occupied territory, which remain an incredible pain for the US invasion).
However, especially Colombia and Venezuela begin to contain the United States forces with greater success as the combat progresses.
December 10, various lynchings against African-Americans in South Carolina, United States.
December 23, anti-Parisian groups in Wallonia and peripheral parts of France are successfully crushed by the central government (Pierre Curie and Jules Guesde).
December 27, Greek nationalists hijack Russian ships in the Mediterranean, initiating the Russian-Greek incident.
December 30-31, various labor strikes in eastern parts of the United States (cities like New York or Boston).
*******
[New Indian policy]
With the rejection of Russian humanitarian aid in India, the KGB began its search for more information and contacts in South Asia. After these events, and the destruction of British spy circles in the Russian Middle East (the Russosphere and northern Persia).
In the midst of this, the Russian intelligence services, thanks to Jagadish Chandra (who worked for the state in radio communication technology), contacted "Sister Nivedita" (Margaret Elizabeth Noble).
Sister Nivedita was an important part of the Indian revolutionary movements, and also in the Indian communities in Russia.
Through it, students (both female and male) had the 'opportunity' to go to study in Russia, giving not only education to these young people, but also giving them the space for the development of revolutionary political movements (anti-British).
Also these students were sometimes recruited by the KGB, and allowed the Russian intelligence services to connect with the Ramakrishna Mission (RKM, Hindu religious-spiritual organization) with which Sister Nivedita also had a connection.
This allowed the KGB to find out about many things, such as the anti-British revolutionary movements in Bengal.
Although the Russian intelligence services focused more on simply watching and observing (obtaining information) rather than feeding the revolutionary sentiment itself, the Russian instruction and the Indian communities in Russia were an aid to the Indian independence movements.
Only not as much as for example France, Italy or Iberia. Anti-colonial socialist internationalism (pro-self determination) inspired many young Indians.
OOC: Many thanks to @souvikkundu25140017 for so much information about India.
*******
* Adolf Hitler perspective.
Some citizens of Sweden, like a young Alois Hitler Jr, left Sweden to go to Finland (Russia) to live. This was the case for Alois Jr, but the younger brother, Adolf Hitler, did not follow his older brother.
Instead a young 15-year-old Adolf went to the youth area of the Nationell Nordisk Rörelse (National Nordic Movement).
Green flags with runic symbols waved above a small assembly point as the German-Swede approached.
After the departure of the older brother and the death of his father, a young Adolf simply fell into the realms of the extreme right during the Great Depression in Sweden.
Adolf Hitler then began to learn from the ideas of the British Social Aristocrats, pan-Nordicism and pan-Germanicism, ultra-nationalism, anti-Semitism and other ideas.
* During this period in Sweden, the lack of iron buyers and the HUGE production of wood by Russia (Greater Russia and the Grand Duchy of Finland) simply aggravated the great economic depression in the country.
Sweden, in size and production, simply could not compete with its close neighbor. Besides that Swedish citizens were moving to Finland-Russia (in particular the Baltic) for a better life.
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