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Italian News edition 5
January 14, 2010 - 9:01am — Paul Biddlecombe
PEACE IN THE REGION.....
After what can only be described as a poor performance by Italian forces in the recent conflict against the Austrian intruder, we reflect on what went wrong.
The initial set up was clearly the main problem. Austrians right up to the deadline did not appear to want war. Our forces were spread too wide covering both fronts. As it turned out the French were honourable and merely patrolled the Sardinian border. The effect of the sudden DOW on our east, left Venice pretty much alone.
We counted 2 corps of Austrians in the opening attack , which pretty much took Venice. NAPLES got there, but too late, Papal and Ligurians tried to take tuscany , with Naples help, got Perugia but valiant defence of Firense bottled up to many troops to stop the now rampant attack across Venice by the Empires forces.
Milanese and Sardinian forces took 5 turns to get to the east only for BAVARIA and switzerland to pounce from the north.All was lost. from our starting positions we were to spread, communication was poor on the field of battle, financial restraints became an early problem due to not really planning for a war this season and over spending!
Venice took terms first, the rest of the States seeking help ,did not get any from France? was a deal struck by major nations ? . The States had little option but to seek terms. It must be said the Empire conducted themselves in a correct and proper manner in accordance befitting the throne and court of Austria. The document HRE that is now been signed, we hope will bring prosperity and peace to our worn torn provinces.
Lessons will have been learnt, Generals and Commanders will have looked closely at the performance of troops and command a like.
The Italain States are now part of the Holy Roman Empire and must conduct themselves accordingly. This newspaper having tried to cover the fighting and developments as it happened hope we now see and improvent both in military performance ,and the social fabric of our soceity can once again thrive.
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The attack on Venice, did not
The attack on Venice, did not come as a surprise, my intel wasn't entirely believed or trusted and as acting CIC of the Union forces I accepted that a broader deployment would be more suitable.
The key issue was that the only AQ on current service was deployed in Venice and as such reinforcements had to crawl and by the time the AQ had shifted past Bologna the Battle of Vincenza had been fought and lost.
The Battle itself was a null affair, as my own report indicated at the time of battle the Naplese army refused to participate, ignoring the pleas and cries of their Venetian allies. This is attributed to the Corps General who decided Russian Caviar and Irish Whiskey and French Women were of more import. This view continued for 2 whole weeks, the unnamed commander (unnamed as he has since been booted from the game) frollicing away while watching the "spectacular view" of his army being destroyed by successive waves of Austrian Line Infantry.
Having since seen the Austrian plan of battle I am of the opinion that had a more experienced or willing General supported the former Doge at time of battle then it is likely that the plan (which was to escape to Milan) would have succeeded, not 100% but it wouldn't have spelt the doom of Venice.
As for France, intercepted communiques have shown the French (along with most of Europe- except for the other Italian Union States) knew an Austrian invasion was imminent and had granted approval to such action, going so far to ask Venice to raise TR for "French deployment" in what can know only have been an effort to bankrupt a nation which had been their one willing Italian ally until that point.
We also know the Former Doge had allowed an extensive network of French spies to grow in the region which allowed the French to gather high amounts of sensitive Date on both the Union and Austria. Recent reports indicate that this network has been destroyed with over 40 Agents being hung and another 200 in Prison Hulks (the former Transport group ships).
France offered and promised support however 1 month (3-4turns) into the invasion all communication with Paris had been broken and the French Charge D'Affairs quit Venice upon a luxury yacht, sailing past the transport group earmarked for his nation.
One consolation of the Empire-Union War was the Venetian Navy was very successful, managing to escape from the Austrian traps in the Adriatic only to return and sink 2 Austrian Frigates and severely damage a 3rd. Unfortunately miscommunication between the Union Naval Minister and the Admiral of the Squadron meant the Venetian navy sailed out of Spalato while the Sardinian Navy sailed in, walking into an Austrian fleet of double it's size.
Today Veneto is know a member of the Austrian Empire, not even an independant State such as the other former Union Members. This suits the current Doge well for he has been given a Special Command and he plans on teaching the French a lesson and humbling the Directorate, remember gentlemen, "Though Those that are betray'd Do feel the treason sharply, yet the traitor stands in worse case of woe."
Doge
Never post drunk...unless that is your norm.
Austrian Invasion of Venice
You said, in part:
"As for France, intercepted communiques have shown the French (along with most of Europe- except for the other Italian Union States) knew an Austrian invasion was imminent and had granted approval to such action...."
I trust you are not including Britain in this. We had no specific prior knowledge of the Austrian invasion. Of course we were not surprised as we had employed a blind man to read the signs ...
Certainly we were never asked for, nor did we grant, approval for such a venture.
James R.
Jim Voege
No I did not explicitly say
No I did not explicitly say England knew however I have reports that many States did know. In relation to approval I was talking about the French giving approval to Austria and then trying to play off both sides.
The signs certainly were there, I thought the giveaway was when the army deployed along the border...
Never post drunk...unless that is your norm.
Feelings Understood
Your intense feelings are well understood by the Palatinate. We too were left for lost by the French. The Palatinate will take great pleasure in returning the favor to the French. My hope is that we meet on the field of battle, with the tattered remains of a French army before us.
Von Kizer
Elector of Palatine
Italian Document
A fine, balanced and honourable document.
The attack by Austria on Venetia was obviously well planned and executed, coming as a complete surprise ;-)
John Vanvark
Agreed
The Editors of Den Stockholm Post wished for me to pass along that they "tip their cap to this fine reporter for his detailed and forthright account of the campaign."