This is the BBC (Byzantine Broadcasting Corporation) World News for Europe at Fall 1874.

Peace Conference Fails: Europe Set to Fall into Anarchy

In an effort to secure a lasting peace in Europe high level officials met with the Overseer in a secret location in Ottawa last weekend.

Atlantic Simulations Society Observers seen with Hidden Mike.

Special Roman envoy Stabbus in the Backus remarked that while no agreement could be reached on foreign policy and the resolution of  ongoing warfare the summit was able to issue a joint communique stating “The beer was good, really, really good.”

League of Nations  In Conference (Left to Right) Editor of the BBC, Unknown Delegate, The Overseer

Dressed in the Latest Fashions: The Atlantic Simulations Society Golf Shirt

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 Eastern Romans Liberate the Roma and Re-Unite Them With the Empire

With the strange disappearance of the Imperial Russian Fleet in Rumania Roman Cataphracts entered Bucharest to cheering crowds of their long lost Roma brethern. Vowing to re-establish ancient Roma rights to petty thievery, fortune telling, pick pocketing, selling good luck charms, wild music and dancing General Belesarius has promised gypsies full freedom to use their talents elsewhere in Europe.

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 Russian Fleet Scuttled After Eastern Roman Army Attacks Rumania

After attacks by units of the Eastern Roman Empire the Black Sea Fleet chose the “River Plate Option”. Refusing to retreat in the face of the overwhelming might of the Byzantine Army Admiral Stepan Osipovich Makarov ordered his fleet to scuttle itself. The admiral has been recalled to St. Petersburg for urgent consultations with the Okrana.

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Italians and French at Loggerheads Over Sponsorship Rights to Oktoberfest

French and Italian troops clashed over the rights to the valuable sponsorship of the annual Oktoberfest in Munich. Both  the Italians and the French had vowed to replace beer with a fine selection of their famous wines. Unable to reach agreement over  whether or not Chianti or Beaujolais should be featured beverages it would appear that for the time being Lowenbrau will continue to be the beverage of choice for Germany.

Italian plans to open a chain of “Luigi’s  Fusion Sauerkraut & Pizzas ” has been shelved for the time being.

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Lord Stanley and Prince Mac-Mahon Trade Insults: War Imminent

In a vicious criticism of Great Britain based on an apparent lack of keeping their word Prince Mac-Mahon has called Lord Stanley down to the lowest by referring him as a typical “rostbif”. In response Lord Stanley has stated that Prince Mac-Mahon is just the usual type of thing you can expect from a ‘Wog”.

Tensions apparently arose over the control of the Channel Ports.

It can be expected that “les rosbifs” and the “wogs” will continue their historical relationship- that of frienship, goodwill and great insults.

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Lost One Army: Answers to the Name of V Panzer Corps

Reward Offered if returned to Berlin or C/O His Mother-In-Law at Balmoral Castle.

The Kaiser reports that he has lost his favourite army and is offering a reward for its safe return. It was last seen in Fall 1873 wandering off towards Russia. Answers to the name of 5th. Panzer Korps. Anyone having seen this army is urged to contact the Kaiser. A substantial reward for its safe return is offered. Posted below is a recent photo.

My Beautiful 5th. Panzer. Oh where, oh where can it be?

010 Spring 1874 Orders and Results

 Britain (Prime Minister Lord Stanley)
Fleet Edinburgh to Norwegian Sea
Fleet Liverpool to Clyde (BOUNCE)
Fleet North Sea supports Fleet Kiel to Holland
Fleet Kiel to Holland
Fleet Skagerrak to Norway
Fleet English Channel Holds
Army Denmark to Kiel

The German Empire (Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg, by command of His Imperial and Royal Majesty The German Emperor, King of Prussia)
Army St. Petersburgh Holds
Fleet Clyde Holds

The Russian Empire (His Imperial Majesty The Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russians, Tsar Alexander III)
Fleet Rumania Holds  
Fleet Rumania Disbands
Army Galicia to Budapest (BOUNCE)
Army Warsaw to Silesia
Army Berlin Holds
Army Moscow to St Petersburg (BOUNCE)
Fleet Baltic to Gulf of Bothnia

The Restored Eastern Roman Empire (Flavius Justinian, Imperator)
1. Fleet Ionian Sea Supports Army Greece.
2. Army Greece Supports Army Constantinople to Bulgaria.
3. Army Bulgaria Moves to Rumania.
4. Army Constantinople Moves to Bulgaria.
5. Fleet Smyrna Moves to Aegean Sea.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire (His Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty Franz Joseph)
Army Serbia Supports Turkish Army Bulgaria to Rumania
Army Budapest to Galicia (BOUNCE)
Army Vienna To Tyrolia
Army Trieste supports Army Vienna to Tyrolia

Nova Roma (Count Benito Spartacus)
Fleet Western Mediterranean to Gulf of Lyon
Fleet Tyrrhenian supports Fleet Western Mediterranean (Order not Possible)

Army Tyrolia to Munich (BOUNCE)

 Army Tyrolia retreats to Bohemia

Army Venice Holds

la République française (Patrice de Mac-Mahon, président de la République française)
1. Fleet Portugal moves to Mid-Atlantic Ocean
2. Fleet Brest supports Fleet Portugal to Mid-Atlantic Ocean
3. Army Belgium stands
4. Army Picardy supports Army Belgium
5. Army Burgundy moves to Munich (BOUNCE)
6. Fleet Marsailles moves to Spain (South Coast)

Fall 1874 Orders are due Sunday June 10th at 9:00 AM ET

009 Winter 1873 Builds and Disbands

 

 Britain (Prime Minister Lord Stanley)

7 Centres Builds One Unit 
Builds Fleet in Liverpool

British Army Precision Drill Team Exhibit their skills at Camp Aldershot (Photo P. Poutine, French Ministry of Information)

French Military Observers React in Disbelief to Recent British Army Manoeuvers held at Camp Aldershot (Photo P. Poutine,  French Ministry of Information)

Pierre Poutine: Wanted for violation of the Official Secrets Act. Contact Scotland Yard or your local Constabulary.

The German Empire (Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg, by command of His Imperial and Royal Majesty The German Emperor, King of Prussia)

2 Centres No Builds or Disbands

The Russian Empire (His Imperial Majesty The Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russians, Tsar Alexander III)

6 Centres Builds One Unit 
Builds  Army in Moscow

The Restored Eastern Roman Empire (Flavius Justinian, Imperator)

5 Centres Builds One Unit 
Builds Fleet in Smyrna

The Austro-Hungarian Empire (His Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty Franz Joseph)

4 Centres Builds One Unit
Builds Army in Budapest

Nova Roma (Count Benito Spartacus)

4 Centres Disbands One Unit
Disband Army Albania

la République française (Patrice de Mac-Mahon, président de la République française)

6 Centres Builds Two Units
Builds Fleet in Brest
Builds Fleet in Marsailles

Note: Spring 1874 Moves are due Sunday May 27th at 9:00 AM ET.

008 Fall 1873 Orders and Results

Britain (Prime Minister Lord Stanley)

7 Centres Builds One Unit
Fleet Belgium Holds (Fleet Belgium retreats to English Channel)
Fleet Norwegian Sea to Edinburgh
Fleet North Sea supports Fleet Norwegian Sea to Edinburgh
Fleet Skagerrak Holds
Fleet Holland to Kiel
Army Denmark supports fleet Holland to Kiel

The German Empire (Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg, by command of His Imperial and Royal Majesty The German Emperor, King of Prussia)

2 Centres No Builds or Disbands
Army Livonia to St Petersburg
Fleet Edinburgh Holds (Retreats to the Clyde)
Army Kiel supports Army Berlin (Support Cut Kiel Disbands)
Army Berlin supports Army Kiel (Support Cut Berlin Disbands)

The Russian Empire (His Imperial Majesty The Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russians, Tsar Alexander III)

6 Centres Builds One Unit
Army Prussia to Berlin.
Fleet Baltic Sea supports Army Prussia to Berlin.
Army Ukraine to Galicia
Army Warsaw supports Army Ukraine to Galicia.
Fleet Rumania holds.

The Restored Eastern Roman Empire (Flavius Justinian, Imperator)

5 Centres Builds One Unit
1. Fleet Aegean Sea Moves to Ionian Sea
2. Army Greece Supports Austrian Army Budapest to Serbia
3. Army Bulgaria Supports Army Greece
4. Army Constantinople Supports Army Bulgaria

The Austro-Hungarian Empire (His Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty Franz Joseph)

4 Centres Builds One Unit
Army Budapest to Serbia
Army Trieste supports Army Budapest to Serbia
Army Vienna supports Army Trieste

Nova Roma (Count Benito Spartacus)

4 Centres Disbands One Unit
Fleet Tunis to Western Mediterranean.
Fleet Naples to Tyrrhenian Sea.
Army Albania to Serbia BOUNCE
Army Apulia to Venice
Army Venice to Tyrolia

la République française (Patrice de Mac-Mahon, président de la République française)

6 Centres  Builds Two Units
Fleet Mid-Atlantic Ocean moves to Portugal
Army Picardy supports Army Burgundy to Belgium
Army Burgundy moves to Belgium
Army Marsailles moves to Burgundy

BBC (Byzantine Broadcasting Corporation) World News: Spring 1873 Vol 2

Benito “W” Spartacus Enraged With France Over Weapons of Mass Destruction

Count George....er Benito "W" Spartacus has called for a League of Nations resolution to combat the French program of cheese based Weapons of Mass Destruction. Secretary of State Colin Powell presents irrefutable intelligence to the League proving without a doubt that the French regime has nearly completed work on "The Mother of All Camemberts."

Said Secretary Powell: "We cannot allow the cheese eating surrender monkeys to complete their WMDs and threaten all we hold sacred, including Freedom Fries, the Ottawa Senators, Conrad Black and the Little Baby Jesus. Either the French regime surrenders unconditionally, or we go in and cook us up a mess-o-frogs legs."

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Turmoil in Balkans Continues

Austria Hungary Counter Attacks and Re-Takes Trieste

In a not so brilliant move elements of the Austrian Hungarian Imperial Army swept into Trieste promising to restore paprika, goulash, beet soup and corrupt government. Benito “W” Spartacus has dismissed the attack as a minor hindrance to Italy’s plans for European domination and the restoration of Roman glory.

Meanwhile Flavius Justinian has offered to mediate between the two warring factions and has offered the good services of special ambassador Stabbus in the Backus. Both Franz Joseph and Benito “W” Spartacus stated that pigs would fly before they allowed the treacherous Eastern Romans to negotiate anything.

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Pigs Reported Flying Over the Acropolis

Breaking News

Unconfirmed reports from UFO enthusiasts claimed that strange glowing porcine like objects have recently been seen flying over the Acropolis. Urologists state  that these objects originate from Area LI, a purported secret military base in Anatolia and also rumoured to be a clandestine experimental barbecue site.

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German Imperial Navy Visits Edinburgh and Grieving Widow

At Balmoral Castle

                                                                                                                       

Several squadrons of the Kaiserliche Marine are currently anchored in the Firth of the Forth on a “courtesy visit” to offer their condolences to the Kaiser’s aunt for the death of Prince Albrecht. The aunt was hear to remark “We are not amused”.

Officials in the  Kaiserliche Marine have stated that they will support the widow for as long as it takes for her to return to a normal life which given her current state of depression may take several years.

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Deutsches Heer Begins Grand Russian Tour

Numerous units of the Deutsches Heer having toured Warsaw are now en route to St. Petersburg to take in some Russian culture. Planned visits include the Hermitage, Nevsky Prospekt and the Cruiser Aurora.

Russian tourism officials are reported as being overjoyed at the prospect of  the infusion of much needed foreign money even though they are only Euros.

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Eastern Romans Re-Unite Greece With the Byzantine Empire

Cataphractus supported by dromons of the Byzantine Navy have hoisted the dragon banner over the Acropolis.

In a well co-ordinated plan Eastern Roman units forced Austrian Hungarian naval interlopers from the homeland.

To resounding cheers of “SPQR, SPQR” general Belesarius led advance  elements of the Byzantine army into Athens.

Unfortunately, retreating Austrian Hungarian barbarians caused significant and willful damage to the Acropolis and other historic sites as they fled from Greece.

Imperator Flavius Justinian is demanding reparations from the vile Magyars for the despoliation of the heart of democracy.                                                                                                                     

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Her Majesty’s Government in Crisis!  Demands increase for Lord Gladstone to resign. 
Benjamin Disraeli touted to be next Prime Minister as security breach deepens. 
Senior government officials expected to remain unchanged.

As German naval units assembled in the Firth of the Forth for a celebrators sail past recriminations and finger pointing were evident during question period in the Commons. Coming under increasing fire from the opposition the PM looked increasingly vulnerable.

Blaming recent austerity measures and resultant cut backs in border control critics have demanded the resignation of Lord Stanley, head of the British Civil Service.

Meanwhile Liberal opposition members plan to introduce a motion of non-confidence in Parliament as early as Friday.

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