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Just moments after Count Von Majewskiberg concluded a lengthy statement this morning on the steps of the War Ministry building and indicated a distinct shift in the foreign policy of His Majesty Gustav Bjorn, the King himself (who very rarely speaks directly with the media) stunned Royal observers by joining the War Minister at the Podium and delivered a few impromptu words regarding the initial targets of the new bilateral Swedish and Pomeranian foreign policy. Because of the incredible importance of both announcements to residents in the Capital and throughout Sweden, Post stenographers have transcribed both sets of comments and will run each of them separately and in their entirety. First, the Count explains the rationale behind the policy change and lays out the framework for the new Gustav Doctrine, as it is already being referred to by Scandinavian political pundits.
King Gustav Bjorn: The popular Swedish monarch poses for Post artists just days before ordering the enactment of a new Swedish foreign policy doctrine that bears his name.
“While the Kingdoms of Sweden and Pomerania have and continue to reaffirm our hope for an end to the existing conflicts – and a cessation to any new ones – we are bitterly disappointed with the current state of affairs across Europe. And although His Majesty has sponsored and encouraged efforts to secure peaceful resolutions to existing disputes, we are dismayed at the speed with which hostilities continue to intensify and spread across the continent. As a result, Sweden and Pomerania will from this moment forward reserve the right to engage in proactive policies to eliminate the threats of war from our lands and those of our neighboring territories. This may include, but not be limited to, increased diplomatic and economic pressure, such as the levying of appropriate sanctions, and the possibility of military action from Sweden and Pomerania. Let it be known that we sincerely desire peace, and have no long-term goals or interest in these existing hostilities other than to see them end altogether or at least disappear from our part of the world. But neither can we continue to ignore this mounting aggression that surrounds our borders as if the effects do not regularly trickle over into our lands. Some observers may think it counterintuitive that we hope to encourage and secure peace by using a threat of war. But we must adamantly reiterate that we do maintain some say over activities in our own proverbial backyard, particularly when that aggression is largely perpetrated by outsiders. Hopefully the belligerents in these fights will now heed our words with somewhat more clarity. By the hand of the King of Sweden and Pomerania, and with the unanimous support of all senior Ministry members of both nations, we immediately invoke Gustav’s Doctrine as detailed above." The Count ominously concluded his statements by reminding those who question the King's "commitment or resoluteness" of the old German lullaby that originated during the Thirty Years War, ‘Bet, Kindchen, Bet…Morgen Kommt Der Schwed’ (Pray, Little Child, Pray, Tomorrow Comes the Swede).

The King immediately followed those remarks by detailing the initial targets of the Gustav Doctrine, specifically some of the belligerents in Northern Germany.
"Sweden calls upon the parties currently warring in Northern Germany to end that war on terms of return to prewar borders without condition. Sweden understands that all that is required would be the assent of Holland and the Republicans of France. If these two parties will promptly agree Sweden will not throw the weight of her arms into the fray. I deeply regret the nature of these diplomatic actions. The war began without a clear indication of the reasons for the conflict or the goals that the parties were pursuing. I take these actions in the hope they will give both a reason and an opportunity for the parties to come to terms immediately."

Dateline...(LUEBECK) – Multiple sources within the city have reported that fresh units have recently arrived via ship to bolster the Swedish “Observation Division” that is presently based on Mecklenberg soil and charged with properly gauging the hostilities in nearby Hannover. The local Commander referred all queries to the War Ministry in Stockholm, which subsequently denied the rumors. “We continue to monitor the situation as closely as possible but we have yet to directly cross the border into Hannover nor get directly involved,” said a Ministry spokesman. “But I can assure you that we have been welcomed by the Grand Duke of Mecklenberg, one of our closest friends and our partner in the Northern Shield alliance. Our forces have been there for some time now, and I will take this opportunity to reiterate that any encroachment on Northern Shield land by hostile parties, no matter the circumstance, will result in an immediate and decisive response by our military.”

Stralsund: Artists rendition of the Pomeranian capital, with the glorious St. Mary's Cathedral, HQ of General Castozor's Pommern Division, towering over the city Dateline...(STRALSUND) – The newly appointed commander of the Pommern Guards Division, General Castozor, wasted little time in calling for a full mobilization of his forces just days after his arrival from the Royal Swedish Military Academy in Stockholm. The General had previously held the position of Commandant at the elite Academy, but was asked personally by War Minister Majewskiberg to assume command of the Division, which is based in Pomerania, following the announcement of a Russian Declaration of War against Prussia. “Majewskiberg recognized that the strategic location of these forces had taken on added significance because of recent diplomatic events and wished to insert a trusted and capable commander to get these newly raised troops up to speed,” said a War Ministry official with knowledge of the decision. “In reality, no person is more suited for this role than the former Commandant.”

Dateline...(GOTEBORG) – The city was abuzz this morning as word spread amongst locals that Swedish transports had arrived in the harbor last night, quietly loaded onboard some of the crack 1st Marine Division based in the city, and set sail for an unknown location before the Sun had even risen over the majestic waters of the Skaggerak coast.

SPANNING THE GLOBE…REPORTS FROM OUR WESTERN EUROPEAN OFFICES.
Dateline...(HANNOVER) - After repeated requests by our readership for information related to the ongoing conflicts in Germany, our Post reporter embedded with elements of the Danish 2nd Division, filed this report to help paint a detailed picture of events in war-torn Hannover.

“Morale is at an all-time high amongst soldiers and commanders of the English Coalition following a wildly successful campaign over the preceding weeks that resulted in a pair of decisive victories for the British alliance. The initial stages of the War for Hannover featured two separate thrusts by French forces – one a very successful push into Berg and central Hannover at the expense of the more spread out Prussian troops, and a slower trek along the coastline from Holland towards Bremen. This latter drive was stopped dead in its tracks two weeks ago when the a large multinational force met and soundly defeated the French forces head on at Bremen (T6), in vicious fighting that left the city with significant damage. Following that battle, both sides looked to regroup and consolidate their suddenly spread out forces, with the French appearing to concentrate at Bremen again (and taking the city in the process), while the English moved SE towards Hannover city. But sensing an opportunity earlier this week, the combined English-Hannoverian-Prussian-Danish-Mecklenberger-and Berger army reversed course, sidestepped Bremen, and made a thrust towards Dortmund instead. Not surprisingly, the French came out to meet them at a location between the two cities, setting up another huge battle just three days ago (T9). And despite being slightly outnumbered by Pro-Republican forces, the British alliance secured a massive victory that will not soon be forgotten. English Coalition Commander Sir George Mackay formed a roughly U-shaped defensive line that held against repeated and bloody initial assaults, and then was able to fortuitously close the gauntlet on the second day of fighting. Estimated French losses from both battles are said to range between 60,000-75,000 men (shattered and destroyed), although none of these numbers could be immediately verified by the Post. The British alliance has reported less than 30,000 casualties during this time, and recaptured nearby Dortmund in the process. Neither side has tipped their hand as to their next course of action, but the Post will strive to keep all interested souls up-to-date when they do.
Blocked by Grenadier: Seeking comment from Russian commanders, our Warsaw bureau chief was turned back by this Russian sentry as the Czar's forces encamped for the first time in Prussian Poland.
EASTERN EUROPE…RUSSIANS BEHAVING LIKE ‘POLE’-CATS; EYE PRUSSIAN BORDER CITIES AS VITRIOL INTENSIFIES
(WARSAW) – Tensions remain high across the Prussian Polish frontier after the Russian government ended months of diplomatic silence by announcing a treaty of mutual support with Republican France, joining into a full-fledged alliance with all existing French allies via the Treaty of Minsk, and then immediately declaring war on Prussia. The somewhat ‘half-hearted’ explanation for their actions, supposed border encroachments by Prussian cavalry units, could not be verified by Post reporters and is believed by many observers to be concocted by the Russian Foreign Minister Zhukov and the Czar himself to justify an attack on always susceptible Polish cities in East Prussia. In a somewhat surprising twist to the drama, and even before the ink could dry on the Minsk papers, the Prussians reached out to their Austrian neighbors and both sides came together on their own deal, a Treaty of Lodz. The Austro-Prussian agreement apparently pledges mutual support against the Russians, but as of yet, neither of the Lodz signatories has publically requested that the Treaty be honored. The Swedish Foreign Ministry had no official comment on the Russian actions, although it has been reported that a somewhat terse letter of inquiry was fired off by King Gustav Bjorn to Zhukov inquiring about the Czar’s aims in the wake of the Warsaw and Minsk treaties. Russia and Sweden/Pomerania have a non-aggression treaty that is slated to extend through this year. A Foreign Ministry official who requested anonymity has indicated there is no immediate plan to rescind this agreement in Stockholm at this time. However a Post tipster returning to Karlskrona from a trip to St. Petersburg last week reported passing by a number of eastbound frigates flying the Tre Kronor of Sweden. The Naval Ministry had no official comment on the ship movements.

WHAT WE ARE HEARING…FACT/FICTION, TRUTH/RUMOR, WE’LL LET YOU DECIDE***

- Fissures might be beginning to slowly form in the Austrian’s new Holy Roman Empire, which is not altogether surprising considering the great distances between some capitals, differing languages involved, and the individuality and national ambitions of some leaders. Ironically, one of the state’s most loyal to the HRE might now be Venice, which was the earliest and biggest thorn in the new Emperor’s side not so long ago.

- The Dutch, who have particularly suffered since joining into an alliance with Republican France, are already actively seeking some sort of exit strategy from that agreement following the absolute annihilation of their fleet and the recent conquest of St. Martin by England. If Holland cannot find an out, and quickly, their presence in the Caribbean will be short-lived.

- A few smaller nations have reported some sense of disenchantment with perceived English heavy-handedness in their dealings with British representatives. These feelings have only intensified with the unmitigated success that the English have enjoyed at the expense of the French and Dutch navies, with one leader going so far as to describe the British approach as “borderline arrogant”.

*** - Our Editorial Staff would point you towards a few tidbits from previous editions of “What We Are Hearing” before completely disregarding these rumors. For instance… (http://www.holf.org/guild/drupal1/node/432 - The French and Russians are reportedly interested in obtaining secret agreements when circumstances dictate, making one wonder what those nations have to hide from one another or the rest of Europe), (http://www.holf.org/guild/drupal1/node/532 - The Russian Bear has awakened from its slumber, and it appears to have a look of satisfaction as it surveys the local hunting grounds)