Why the Chinese play cricket (an Imperial Federation timeline)

[Avrorrange]

Yesterday I actually stumbled across a paper on it by Gotelind Muller titles Chinese perspective of the Russo-Japanese War. Fascinating reading. He listed several factors of which shared heritage was one.

I also don’t think general perception of Japan was that bad despite the First Sino-Japanese war. A lot of people including C.K.S went to school in Japan and it was where a lot of revolutionaries came from. Russia meanwhile had almost no soft influence and their soldiers were notorious for ill discipline especially compared to Japan of the period.

 

[Miss Construction]

~July-Sept 1904: China divided

July 1904: With the independence of Panama now recognised by all the Great Powers, along with the legitimacy of the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty internationally accepted, work begins on construction of a canal across the Isthmus of Panama

July 1904: While Yuan Shikai's coup has achieved initial success, his position as head of the Northern Qing is still far from secure, especially as the Southern Qing are still advancing with little opposition in Hubei and Sichuan and many Qing loyalists remain in the Northern Qing administration. In an effort to allow him time to solidify his control of the Northern Qing, Yuan proposes an armistice to bring an end to the fighting. The proposal causes fierce debate in the Southern Qing Grand Council. The moderates headed by Grand Chancellor Zhang Zhidong, supported by Prince Su, Tang Sitong and Sheng Xuanhuai favour accepting the proposal to allow time for the Southern Qing to recover and begin reforms in the territory under their control. However the radicals led by Sun Yat-sen, backed by Huang Xing, Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao, argue Yuan's coup shows the instability of the Northern Qing and the civil war should be continued. Eventually it is need decided as their forces are still rapidly advancing, the proposal should be rejected.

July 1904: With the design of the proposed 'all big gun' battleship for the 1904/05 Royal Navy program progressing, Chief Constructor of the Royal Naval Phillip Watts visits his contemporary in the US, head of the US Navy's Bureau of Construction and Repair, Admiral Washington Capps to discuss the future of battleship design. There he discovers the US are also working on the potential of an 'all big gun' design. Particular discussion is had over the issue of blast damage to lower turrets sighting hoods in superfiring designs. Admiral Capps suggests the solution to this problem is to simply relocate the sighting hoods from the top of the turret to the sides, citing US experience with the unusual Kentucky class with it's secondary armament located directly on top of its primary guns. Watts for his part strongly voices his opinion all future battleships will require a minimum speed of 21 knots and suggests future ships should turbine propulsion rather than the traditional triple expansion engines, offering British expertise to assist the US in their manufacture. These discussions will have a major impact of the design of future battleships in both navies.

July 1904: Seeking to protect their new influence with Yuan Shikai's regime in Northern China, the Japanese begin pushing for the British and US to support an armistice to end the Chinese Civil War. They argue it is better to accept the de facto partition of China in order to restore stability and allow the country to recover. While the British are initially unwilling to support such a move, the US, anxious to see normal trade resume and wishing to avoid the destruction a lengthy war would bring, are supportive. Eventually the British reluctantly agree to support calls for an armistice.

August 1904: After the death of Admiral Stephan Makarov, command of the Russian Pacific Fleet fell to Admiral Wilgelm Vitgeft. He has followed a passive strategy, remaining under the protection of Port Arthur's defences while awaiting the arrival of the reinforcements. This has effectively handed control of the sea to the Japanese, allowing them to move troops and supplies freely. With Vitgeft's superior Admiral Yevgeni Alekseyev growing increasing frustrated at his inaction, the Tsar intervenes, ordering Vitgeft to attempt a breakout to Vladivostok. Vitgeft's fleet is quickly detected as it leaves Port Arthur, and the Japanese under Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō attempt to intercept before the Russians can reach the open sea. With both sides roughly equally matched, the Battle of the Yellow Sea will be a lengthy engagement, with neither side gaining the upper hand. Eventually the cumulative damage will lead Vitgeft to attempt to return to Port Arthur. This prove a mistake as the Russian fleet is force to scatter, with the battleship Poltava and cruiser Novik sunk, while the battleship Tsesarevich crippled and forced to intern herself in the German Kiautschou Bay Colony. However the Japanese also suffer significant damage, with the cruiser Hashidate sunk and two battleships crippled. Nonetheless, the Japanese retain control of the sea and Vitgeft's ships remain trapped in Port Arthur.

August 1904: The Royal Navy estimates for 1904/05 finally include a revolutionary 'all big gun' battleship. Despite Phillip Watts discussions in the US, the Dreadnought will not incorporate superfiring turrets, instead mounting ten 12” guns in five twin turrets with one forward, one amidships and one aft along with two wing turrets giving eight guns bearing on the broadside. The ship will be powered by turbines, theoretically giving her a considerable speed advantage. Additionally, in light of the loss of the Japanese battleship Yashimo, the Dreadnought and all future British battleships lacks any torpedo tubes. Due to the revolutionary nature of the ship, it is intended to delay the ordering of the further battleships until she has have finished her trials.

August 1904: Despite their rapid gains earlier, the Southern Qing advance is beginning to slow, due both to increasing Northern Qing resistance and problems due to increasingly stretched supply lines. With the British now joining the Japanese and US in calling for an armistice, the Southern Qing Grand Council revisit Yuan Shikai's earlier offer. The debate is again fierce, with the Council still equally split between the moderates and radicals. The matter is finally settled by the Guangxu Emperor who, mindful of the need to retain British support, favours the moderates position. However his intervention infuriates the radicals who resign from the Grand Council, being replaced by further moderates such as Liu Guangdi and Cen Chunxuan.

August 1904: With the Japanese siege of Port Arthur firmly established after their defeat of an attempted Russian counter offensive in July, the Japanese commander General Ōyama Iwao moved to take the strategically important city Liaoyang. While the Russian commander in the field General Aleksy Kuropatkin wishes fall back, trading ground for time to build up overwhelming forces, as with Admiral Vitgelf he has been ordered to take a more aggressive stance. He has therefore built up a formidable defensive position at Liaoyang. The Battle of Liaoyang will last over two weeks, involving over 150,000 Russian and 120,000 Japanese troops. Though outnumbered the Japanese will take the city, despite heavy casualties though Kuropatkin is successful in extracting the bulk of his forces. The Japanese victory is due in large part to the critical intelligence provided to Ōyama by Northern Qing agents on the ground.

September 1904: Ever since the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War there have been calls in Russia to reinforce their Pacific Fleet with units drawn from the Baltic Fleet. In the aftermath of the disastrous Battle of the Yellow Sea, Tsar Nicholas II, encouraged by German Kaiser Wilhelm II resolves to dispatch the bulk of the Baltic Fleet to the Pacific. Thus, despite the immense logistical challenge, 42 Russian warships including 11 battleships under Admiral Zinovy Rozhestvensky depart from Baltic on the unprecedented voyage of over 33,000km around the world.

September 1904: In an attempt to win German support, Yuan Shikai cancels the management contracts for arsenals and shipyards in territory under his control given to British and US companies by the Southern Qing, awarding them instead to German interests. This will make many European companies hesitant about doing business his new regime, resulting in much of the Northern Qing economy eventually falling under Japanese and to a lesser extent, German, control. Likewise, seeking to increase Japanese support he offers 40,000 'volunteers,' all veterans of the Chinese Civil War, to fight with the Japanese. Though somewhat reluctant, the Japanese have suffered extremely heavy casualties during the war and accept his offer.

September 1904: Lord Curzon resigns as Viceroy of India and is replaced by Liberal politician Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey. Lord Grey will work closely with Secretary for India, John Morley to institute further reforms to bring still greater Indian participation in the administration of the country. Lord Grey also orders a withdrawal from Tibet, handing the country over to the Southern Qing.

September 1904: After lengthy negotiations between in the Shanghai International Settlement, the Southern Qing and Northern Qing sign an armistice ending hostilities. Under the Shanghai Armistice, Southern Qing are left in control of most of Southern China, with the Northern Qing controlling Northern China, though while Manchuria is theoretically in their zone, it remains under Russian occupation. Both sides agree to recognise China's existing international Treaty obligations, with a joint commission established to determine the division of their financial obligations, with a tentative agreement this should be halved equally. This joint commission is also intended to serve as a body for any further negotiations and the resolution of any disputes which may arise.

 

[Dragonboy]

Sweet chapter!

The russians better be getting ready For the negotiating table

 

[Miss Construction]

Sweet chapter!

The russians better be getting ready For the negotiating table

Historically took quite a bit to get them there sadly.

 

[diestormlie]

I can't wait to see how the voyage of the damned goes ITTL.

 

[diestormlie]

I do actually have a fun potential PoD regarding the Russian Second Pacific Squadron. (Though, my source is 'A book that I read on the Russo-Japanese War that I swear is still in my house, for all a cursory search didn't turn it up.')

One of the (amongst the myriads) infamous traits of the Second Pacific Squadron was its utterly atrocious accuracy; this was not helped by the fact that the fleet sailed without training shells.
according to the book I remember, it wasn't that training shells weren't allocated to the SPS. It was that some bright spark, or quirks of bureaucracy, caused the assigned training shells to be sent to Vladivostok. By rail.
(I posit that what might of happened was that the Home Port of the SPS was administratively transfered, somewhat preemptively, to Vladivostok. And so supplies, including training shells, were routed to the SPS' 'Home Port'.)
Now. The SPS was forced to turn back at the outset due to... Sabotage, if I recall correctly?

So. Consider what might happen if Admiral Zinovy Rozhestvensky discovers that he has no training shells whilst there's still time to do something about it. (And given his infamous temper, I imagine that he can get something done about it.)

Ironically, though, the ability to conduct early gunnery training could well end in catastrophe for the SPS. Imagine a Dogger Bank incident where the Russians could actually hit what they were aiming at.

(Or a chain of events where Gunnery Training means the SPS sinking something in the Baltic, causing Royal Navy ships to be shadowing the SPS when they open fire at Dogger Bank...)

 

[Miss Construction]

A slight revision to the Royal Navy building programs of 1901-1903, reducing the number of battleships from ten to eight. Rather than six Kind Edward VII in 1901, four New Zealand class (OTL Lord Nelson class) spread over 1902 and 1903, I've changed it to five King Edward VIIs spread over 1901 and 1902 and three New Zealands in 1903. It just seemed more realistic.

======

August 1901: Over the past decade naval artillery has been steadily increasing in range. This, along with the increasing effectiveness of modern armour has led many to question the value of the standard rapid firing six inch secondary armament of most battleships, with many nations now turning to a secondary battery of larger intermediate calibre weapons. In line with this trend the three King Edward VII battleships ordered include a secondary battery of four 9.2” guns in addition to the standard four 12” main battery guns and ten 6” guns as a tertiary battery. Also as the navy has been greatly impressed with the Canadian St Lawrence class destroyers, the new program abandons the previous ' 30 knotter' type in favour of a larger class patterned after the Canadian ships. The River class will prove to be far more effective than earlier destroyers. Finally the 1901/02 program includes one 2nd class cruiser, the Ceylon, to be constructed at the new Triconmalee Naval Dockyard in Ceylon in order to give the yard experience, with plans for additional orders in future years.

August 1902: Despite the Germans having ordered nine battleships over the in their 1900, 1901 and 1902 programs against the two Duncan class and three King Edward VII class ordered in 1900 and 1901, the British 1902/03 naval estimates only include two further King Edward VII class battleships. The reason being there is considerable debate over the form of future battleships, with many calling for a move to 'all big gun' armament. With the success of the HMCS Skeena and three Royal Navy experimental turbine destroyers the eight destroyers ordered this year will be turbine powered versions of last years six River class, with the decision made that all future destroyers will be turbine powered. Finally the estimates include an order for thirteen improved Holland class submarines as the A class. These vessels will be the first Royal Navy submarines with some combat value.

August 1903: The debate over the form of future battleships in the Royal Navy has eventual favoured the 'all big gun' advocates. However it is felt particularly care should be taken with the design of such as ship and the 1903/04 estimates only include three additional battleships, with a committee formed to design an 'all big gun' ship for the 1904/5 program. In a move toward this concept, the New Zealand class dispenses with the 6” guns entirely in favour of four 12” and ten 9.2” guns. To free up the name for the new battleship, the older cruiser New Zealand is to be renamed. The initial proposal to rename her Hengist creates huge opposition from New Zealand and eventually the name Zealandia is selected. The estimates also include two classes of specialist shallow draft monitors for coastal bombardment, the four strong Fusilier class armed with a single 9.2” gun and ten Bombard class mounting two 6” guns taken from obsolete cruisers scheduled for disposal.

=McUpdate=

 

[mudhead]

There he discovers the US are also working on the potential of an 'all big gun' design. Particular discussion is had over the issue of blast damage to lower turrets sighting hoods in superfiring designs. Admiral Capps suggests the solution to this problem is to simply relocate the sighting hoods from the top of the turret to the sides, citing US experience with the unusual Kentucky class with it's secondary armament located directly on top of its primary guns.

I've always thought that South Carolina was a better all-round design than Dreadnought, though of course the turbines gave the latter a speed advantage.

US turbines of that era were lacking in certain qualities - the ships so fitted were much shorter ranged, and I think the USN was unique in actually re-adapting triple expansions - on New York/Texas (commissioned 1914), and then Oklahoma (1916).

 

[Miss Construction]

I've always thought that South Carolina was a better all-round design than Dreadnought, though of course the turbines gave the latter a speed advantage.

US turbines of that era were lacking in certain qualities - the ships so fitted were much shorter ranged, and I think the USN was unique in actually re-adapting triple expansions - on New York/Texas (commissioned 1914), and then Oklahoma (1916).

The USN of TTL is not the USN of the OTL, and it's priorities are slightly different. The Spanish-American War shock it's confidence in it's design philosophy somewhat. Thus ITTL, the USN tends to lean slightly more toward foreign practices noticeably in regard to speed, thus the South Carolinia's will be different. Still introducing some important characteristics, noticeable superfiring turrets, but they won't be as "good" as the OTL, faster but less protected. Plus Congress is even LESS keen on spending money, so the entire US battleship development will be slowed at least at first.

 

[Miss Construction]

I do actually have a fun potential PoD regarding the Russian Second Pacific Squadron. (Though, my source is 'A book that I read on the Russo-Japanese War that I swear is still in my house, for all a cursory search didn't turn it up.')

One of the (amongst the myriads) infamous traits of the Second Pacific Squadron was its utterly atrocious accuracy; this was not helped by the fact that the fleet sailed without training shells.
according to the book I remember, it wasn't that training shells weren't allocated to the SPS. It was that some bright spark, or quirks of bureaucracy, caused the assigned training shells to be sent to Vladivostok. By rail.
(I posit that what might of happened was that the Home Port of the SPS was administratively transfered, somewhat preemptively, to Vladivostok. And so supplies, including training shells, were routed to the SPS' 'Home Port'.)
Now. The SPS was forced to turn back at the outset due to... Sabotage, if I recall correctly?

So. Consider what might happen if Admiral Zinovy Rozhestvensky discovers that he has no training shells whilst there's still time to do something about it. (And given his infamous temper, I imagine that he can get something done about it.)

Ironically, though, the ability to conduct early gunnery training could well end in catastrophe for the SPS. Imagine a Dogger Bank incident where the Russians could actually hit what they were aiming at.

(Or a chain of events where Gunnery Training means the SPS sinking something in the Baltic, causing Royal Navy ships to be shadowing the SPS when they open fire at Dogger Bank...)

I've resisted the urge to tinker too much with the Russo-Japanese War. Yes it is different, but will follow largely the same path. However ultimately, it will prove to be a huge bonus to the Russians. Mostly due to the involvement of the Northern Chinese which will have a profound influence on the Russians, especially when it comes to firepower. Other than that, spoilers, but the hints are already clearly there.

 

[Miss Construction]

China as at July 1904

Base maps from Free SVG Maps and used under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution - Non-Commercial 4.0 Intentional

 

[Miss Construction]

China as at August1904

Base maps from Free SVG Maps and used under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution - Non-Commercial 4.0 Intentional

 

[Miss Construction]

China as at September1904

Base maps from Free SVG Maps and used under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution - Non-Commercial 4.0 Intentional

 

[Miss Construction]

And with the posting of those three maps, the Chinese Civil War is complete. Both the Northern Qing and Southern Qing are utterly exhausted by the war, the Northerners particularly since much of their core territory was also devastated by the earlier Boxer War. The Southerners are probably in a position to bounce back faster as their core territory was spared the effects of both wars. This is probably the low point of China's fortunes in the Century of Humiliation ITTL. On the plus side if both Chinese states can build a stable political foundation they are likely to avoid the chaos of the Warlord Era. But that's going to be difficult. The Southern Qing are in reality a shaky coalition of various reformist factions, all with radically different agendas, many of whom want the 'foreign' Qing dynasty removed. Meanwhile the Northern Qing are highly dependent of a single strongman (Yuan Shikai) without a clear successor if he should die, and inheriting much of the conservative Qing support base (Not helped by Yuan deposing Cixi and imprisoning the Northern Qing Emperor). Fun times ahead.

 

[kelgar04]

Hmm also a lot of the current deals with the powers for Northern China are dependent on Yuan as well he dies now they can break apart. It also doesn't help as well that Yuan had just established the insidious poison for modern North China of military coup being the way to power for Northern Officers

 

[Miss Construction]

Hmm also a lot of the current deals with the powers for Northern China are dependent on Yuan as well he dies now they can break apart. It also doesn't help as well that Yuan had just established the insidious poison for modern North China of military coup being the way to power for Northern Officers

Yuan is a fascinating character, clearly ambitious and has reasonable political instincts, though with some notable failures. He clearly recognised the need for far reaching reforms in China and actually did institute them in the OTL. However ITTL he will have problems there, having inherited the conservative Northern Qing administration from Cixi. Assuming he dies in 1916 as per the OTL, that gives him a little over ten years to consolidate his position and establish a stable political system. His OTL heir was his son Yuan Keding, who fades into obscurity after his father's death in the OTL. However his association with anarchists such as Wang Jingwei is interesting. His coup was probably the best thing for the Northern Qing at the time, but as you point out, establishes a very dangerous precedent. There are plenty of ambitious Northern officers who would gladly follow in his footsteps after his death. In backing the Japanese he has picked a winner which should be in his favour. At the moment his plan is to try balance the Japanese with Germany to avoid excessive Japanese dominance. But it it will be a delicate balancing act, but the wildcard of the growing US-Japanese alliance which puts a break on Japan's does play in his favour. Watch this space, depends how fast the North can recover from the Boxer and Civil Wars.

 

[Miss Construction]

Royal Italian Navy 1870 to 1904

Battleships

Dulio class
11,000 tons, 4 x 17.7" BL turret ,1 (3) x 14” TT uw 1 bow, 21" Steel belt, 2" Steel deck, 15 knots SE FT Coal
- Duilio, ordered 1871, laid down 1/1873, commissioned 1/1880
- Dandolo, ordered 1871, laid down 1/1873, commissioned 4/1882

Italia class
13,700 tons, 4 x 17.7" BL barbette, 3 (6) x 6” BL, 2 (4) x 4”,1 (3) x 14” TT uw 1 bow, 19" Steel belt, 2" Steel deck, 18 knots SE FT Coal
- Italia, ordered 1875, laid down 1/1876, commissioned 10/1885
- Lepanto, ordered 1871, laid down 10/1876, commissioned 8/1887

Ruggiero De Lauria class
9,900 tons, 4 x 17" BL, 2 x 6” BL, 2 (4) x 4.7”, 1 (2) x 18” TT uw, 18" Steel belt, 3" Steel deck, 17 knots CE FT Coal
- Ruggiero De Lauria, ordered 1880, laid down 8/1881, commissioned 2/1888
- Franceso Morsini, ordered 1880, laid down 12/1881, commissioned 8/1889
- Andrea Doria, ordered 1880, laid down 1/1882, commissioned 5/1891

Re Umberto class
13,600 tons, 4 x 13.5", 4 (8) x 6”, 8 (16) x 4.7”, 2 (5) x 18” TT uw 1 bow, 4" Nickel belt, 3" Nickel deck, 20 knots TE FT Coal
- Re Umberto, ordered 1883, laid down 7/1884, commissioned 2/1893
- Sciliia, ordered 1883, laid down 11/1884, commissioned 5/1895
- Sardegna, ordered 1883, laid down 10/18865, commissioned 2/1895

Ammiraglio Di Saint Bon class
10,000 tons, 4 x 10", 4 (8) x 6”, 4 (8) x 4.7”, 1 (4) x 18” TT uw 1 bow 1 stn, 10" Harvey belt, 3" Harvey deck, 18 knots TE FT Coal
- Ammiraglio Di Saint Bon, ordered 1892, laid down 7/1893, commissioned 5/1901
- Emanuele Filiberto, ordered 1892, laid down 10/1893, commissioned 4/1902

Regina Margherita class
13,200 tons, 4 x 12", 2 (4) x 8”, 5 (12) x 6”, 10 (20) x 3”, 1 (4) x 18” TT uw 1 bow 1 stn, 6" Harvey belt, 3" Harvey deck, 20 knots TE WT Coal
- Regina Margherita, ordered 1897, laid down 11/1898, commissioned 4/1904
- Benedetto Brin, ordered 1897, laid down 1/1899, commissioned 9/1905

Regina Elena class
12,600 tons, 2 x 12", 6 (12) x 8”, 8 (16) x 3”, 1 (2) x 18” TT uw, 10" belt, 1.5" deck, 21 knots TE WT Coal
- Regina Margherita, ordered 1901, laid down 3/1901, commissioned 9/1907
- Vittorio Emanuele, ordered 1901, laid down 9/1901, commissioned 8/1908
- Roma, ordered 1902, laid down 9/1903, commissioned 12/1908
- Napoli, ordered 1902, laid down 10/1903, commissioned 9/1908

Armoured Cruisers

Marco Polo class
4,500 tons, 4 (6) x 6", 2 (5) x 18” TT uw 1 bow, 4" Nickel belt, 1" Nickel deck, 18 knots TE FT Coal
- Marco Polo, ordered 1889, laid down 1/1890, commissioned 7/1894

Vettor Pisani class
6,600 tons, 7 (12) x 6", 2 (4) x 4.7”, 1 (4) x 18” TT uw 1 bow 1 stn, 6" Harvey belt, 1.5" Harvey deck, 18.5 knots TE FT Coal
- Vettor Pisani, ordered 1891, laid down 2/1892, commissioned 5/1898
- Carlo Alberto, ordered 1891, laid down 12/1892, commissioned 4/1894

Guiseppe Garibaldi class
7,300 tons, 1 x 10”, 2 x 8”, 7 (14) x 6", 5 (10) x 3”, 1 (4) x 18” TT uw 1 bow 1 stn, 5" belt, 1.5" deck, 20 knots TE WT Coal
- Guiseppe Garibaldi, ordered 1897, laid down 6/1898, commissioned 1/1901
- Varese, ordered 1897, laid down 5/1898, commissioned 4/1901
- Francesco Ferruccio, ordered 1897, laid down 8/1899, commissioned 9/1905

Pisa class
9,800 tons, 4 x 10”, 4 (8) x 7.5”, 8 (16) x 3”, 1 (3) x 18” TT uw 1 bow, 8" belt, 5" deck, 23.5 knots TE WT Coal
- Pisa, ordered 1904, laid down 2/1905, commissioned 9/1909
- Amalfi, ordered 1904, laid down 7/1905, commissioned 9/1909

San Giorgio class
10,200 tons, 4 x 10”, 4 (8) x 7.5”, 9 (18) x 3”, 1 (3) x 18” TT uw 1 bow, 8" belt, 2" deck, 23 knots TE WT Coal
- San Giorgio, ordered 1904, laid down 7/1905, commissioned 7/1910
- San Marco, ordered 1904, laid down 1/1907, commissioned 2/1911

Protected Cruisers

Giovanni Busan class
3,100 tons, 2 x 10” BL, 3 (6) x 6” BL, 1 (2) x 14” TT uw, 1.5" Steel slope, 1" Steel deck, 17.5 knots CE FT Coal
- Giovanni Busan, ordered 1881, laid down 8/1882, commissioned 5/1888

Etna class
3,400 tons, 2 x 10” BL, 3 (6) x 6” BL, 1 (2) x 14” TT uw, 1.5" Steel slope, 1" Steel deck, 17 knots CE FT Coal
- Etna, ordered 1882, laid down 1/1883, commissioned 12/1887
- Vesuvo, ordered 1882, laid down 7/1883, commissioned 3/1888
- Stromboli, ordered 1882, laid down 9/1883, commissioned 3/1888
- Ettore Fieramosco, ordered 1882, laid down 12/1885, commissioned 11/1889

Dogali class
2,100 tons, 4 (6) x 6” BL, 1 (4) x 14” TT uw 1 bow 1 stn, 2" Steel slope, 1.5" Steel deck, 20.5 knots TE FT Coal
- Dogali, ordered 1884, laid down 2/1885, commissioned 4/1887

Piedmote class
2,400 tons, 4 (6) x 6”, 3 (6) x 4.7”, 1 (2) x 14” TT uw, 1.5" Steel slope, 1" Steel deck, 17.5 knots TE FT Coal
- Piedmote, ordered 1886, laid down 8/1887, commissioned 2/1889

Umbria class
2,300 tons, 3 (4) x 6”, 3 (6) x 4.7”, 1 (2) x 18” TT uw, 2" Steel slope, 1.5" Steel deck, 20 knots TE FT Coal
- Umbria, ordered 1887, laid down 8/1888, commissioned 2/1894
- Lombardia, ordered 1887, laid down 11/1888, commissioned 2/1893
- Etruria, ordered 1887, laid down 4/1889, commissioned 7/1894
- Liguria, ordered 1887, laid down 7/1889, commissioned 12/1894
- Elba, ordered 1887, laid down 9/1890, commissioned 6/1896
- Puglia, ordered 1887, laid down 10/1893, commissioned 5/1901

Calabria class
2,500 tons, 3 (4) x 6”, 3 (6) x 4.7”, 1 (2) x 18” TT uw, 2" Nickel slope, 1.5" Nickel deck, 16.5 knots TE FT Coal
- Calabria, ordered 1891, laid down 2/1892, commissioned 7/1897

Agordat class
1,400 tons, 7 (3) x 3”, 1 (2) x 18” TT uw 1 bow, 1" Harvey slope, 0.5" Harvey deck, 22 knots TE WT Coal
- Agordat, ordered 1896, laid down 2/1897, commissioned 9/1900
- Coatit, ordered 1896, laid down 4/1897, commissioned 10/1900

 

[Miss Construction]

Well without too many spoilers, well into working on 1908 and holy crap the TL has thrown a massive slow left hand spin delivery into the mix all on its own (could be a potential Yorker even). Just the logical conclusion of previous ITTL events. On the face of it, doesn't look too massive but I can see massive potential impacts on the path toward any possible Great War, just not sure how. I really do love the way this TL seems to just write itself so often, the flow of the altered history leads to so many natural results. For interests sake this is the list I paste in when I start working on a new year. It's all the regions of the world where changes significant enough to divert the flow of history have occurred. I have to do it because there are now so many different treads running if I don't, I tend to forget things and leave threads hanging. And the list keeps growing haha

==Argentina
==Balkans
==Brazil
==Britain
==Canada
==Chile
==Dominions
==France
==India
==Japan
==Nordics
==Portugal
==South America
==South East Asia
==US
==Xianfa
==Zheng

Having to sit on my hands to stop from flood posting chapters to show everyone. As to what this spin delivery is, all I'll say is never underestimate Balkans ability to change history and the lead up to the Great War (if it happens, seems very likely now, but still not guaranteed) is proving to be significantly different. In fact every time it looks like swinging back toward the OTL, something comes along and shoves it off on its own merry way again lol.

EDIT
Should also mention the need to keep in mind the level of fear the Paris mob is capable of generating in French governments when worked up by proto-fascist rabble rousers (AKA boulangists ITTL).

 

[Miss Construction]

~Oct-Dec 1904: The mandate of heaven

October 1904: Controversial Admiral John Fisher is appointed as First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy. A reformer similar to former First Sea Lord George Tryon, Fisher immediately sets about implementing further reform. As with Tryon before him, he launches another purge of obsolete warships to cut costs and improve efficiency. Though unlike Tryon who primarily pruned the cruiser force, the Fisher ruthlessly cuts the battlefleet, with seventeen capital ships disposed of. Fisher will also order the of the construction of the first Dreadnought class battleships, scheduled to start early next year, to begin immediately, demanding she be completed within a year.

October 1904: With his control of Northern China along with Japanese and German support now secure, Yuan Shikai declares the Qing Dynasty overthrown, installing himself as the Jubian (巨變) Emperor of the new Great Zheng (大拯) Dynasty, though he will commonly be known as Emperor Shikai. Many members of the old Northern Qing are executed including Prince Duan, Prince Zhaung and head of foreign affairs Qixiu, as well as former army commanders Guixiang, Li Chun and Dong Fuxiang. Dowager Empress Cixi and her puppet Emperor Pujun are sent to Northern Qing, where they will remain under house arrest until their deaths under suspicious circumstances in 1907.

October 1904: Russian fleet sailing toward the Far East has become paranoid regarding the possibility of an ambush by Japanese torpedo boats along his voyage, which has already resulted in a number of minor incidents with Russian ships firing on neutral merchant vessels. After leaving the Baltic and in heavy fog, the Russians sight what the believe to be a group of Japanese torpedo boats and open fire. The vessels are in fact British trawlers fishing in the Dogger Bank. The Russians sink one trawler and damage three others, with three fishermen killed. The incident results in a major diplomatic crisis, with the Royal Navy mobilised in preparation for war. The Russian issue an immediate apology and court martial several officers held responsible, along with voluntarily offering £75,000 {£75,166} in compensation. While the Russian apology and compensation will defuse the incident, it swings British sympathies strongly to the Japanese in the ongoing war, convincing the Germans, who had been considering intervention to aid the Russians, to remain neutral.

October 1904: With the end of the Chinese Civil War, the Guangxu Emperor is anxious to implement further reforms. The Southern Qing Grand Council, now comprised solely of moderates, however believe time should be taken to rebuild after the Boxer and Civil Wars. The Emperor on the other hand, aware of the unpopularity of his dynasty is convinced of the need for immediate constitutional change, especially after the overthrow of the Qing in the north. He therefore forms commission chaired by Grand Chancellor Zhang Zhidong, drawn from across the political spectrum to draft a formal written constitution.

October 1904: With the fall of Liaoyong, General Ōyama Iwao's forces having been slowly advancing toward the main Russian base in Manchuria at Mukden, though their advance has been hampered by supply difficulties. The Russian commander, General Aleksy Kuropatkin, continues to favour avoiding battle until he has received sufficient reinforcements via the Trans-Siberian Railway to give him overwhelming force. Unfortunately the rate of reinforcement has been extremely slow due to the limited capacity of the railway. Kuropatkin's superior Admiral Yevgeni Alekseyev however remains anxious to engage the Japanese. With the Japanese having reached the Shaho River, Alekseyev orders Kuropatkin to launch a counter offensive. The Battle of Shaho will see 210,000 Russians committed against 140,000 Japanese troops, supported by 25,000 Zheng 'volunteers' and Honghuzi troops under Zheng Zoulin. After two weeks of heavy fighting, the Russian fail to break the Japanese defences, suffering some 42,000 casualties against 22,000 Japanese. With winter approaching, Kuropatkin abandons the attack, with both sides digging in for winter.

November 1904: After having been convincingly defeated over the issue in both the 1896 and 1900 US Presidential elections, the Democrats finally abandon their support for bimetalism, selecting moderate progressive Alton Parker as their candidate, while the Republicans select incumbent Roosevelt. Parker runs on a platform with little to distinguish it from Roosevelt's, the major difference being opposition to the new US imperialism. Thus the campaign turns largely on the two candidates personalities with Roosevelt's proven record as President allowing him to win a landslide victory, taking the popular vote by over 20%.

November 1904: The scheduled Canadian Federal elections are dominated by Imperial integration, particularly future relations with the US and the Canadian contribution to the Boer War. While a majority of the Canadians are supportive of the growing movement toward some form of Imperial Federation, there remains significant opposition from some sections of the population, particular in the Francophone community. Some 15,000 Canadians served in the Boer War, suffering approximately 2,000 casualties, including 600 dead. With tensions in Europe increasing there are fears Canada may be drawn into any European war, resulting in far higher losses. There are also concerns regarding the Imperial common market, with many feeling it limits Canadian autonomy, with support for a bilateral free trade agreement with the US having strong minority support. These factors allow Wilfred Laurier's Liberal Party to narrowly defeat Charles Tupper's Conservatives taking 110 seats to the Conservatives 104. Following this defeat Tupper resigns as leader of the Conservatives in favour of Robert Borden, while Laurier promises to develop closer relations with the US and negotiate a free trade agreement separate from the Empire.

December 1904: Japanese have been besieging the Russian base of Part Arthur since early July. After months of heavy fighting and over 50,000 casualties, they are finally able to establish an observation post overlooking the harbour. Enabling them to bring their 28cm L/10 siege howitzers to fire directly at the anchored Russian Pacific Fleet. These British designed weapons are capable of firing 250kg armour piercing shells. Their fire systematically sinks the Russian fleet, with the last ship being lost in early December. With the destruction of the fleet, the garrison commander, General Anatoly Stessel can see no reason for continuing to hold the port, especially in light of the heavy casualties which have been incurred. Without consulting other senior officers, he offers to surrender to the Japanese commander, General Nogi Maresuke. Nogi, himself appalled by the huge loss of life during the siege, gladly accepts, granting the garrison the full honours of war. The Japanese will capture a vast stockpile of supplies. These not only greatly ease their supply situation, they demonstrate the garrison could have held out far longer.

December 1904: The Constitutional Commission established by the Guangxu Emperor presents its draft constitution for his approval. The proposed system of government draws from the Brazilian, British and US examples. Despite arguments for a republic by Huang Xing and Sun Yat-sen, the new government will be a federal constitutional monarchy, with the Emperor chairing the Grand Council and retaining limited reserve powers. However the Emperor is to be advised on the use of those powers by a nine member Supreme Court patterned after the Brazilian Constitutional Court. The reserved powers include the power to void the constitution and require the Supreme Court to draw up a new one to ratified by referendum within a year, as well as the more usual such powers. The executive branch will consist of a Grand Council led by an elected Grand Chancellor, serving a six year term. The other members of the Grand Council will be appointed by the Grand Chancellor subject to confirmation by a legislative branch known as the National Assembly. The National Assembly itself will be made of an upper Provincial Chamber with five members appointed every six years by each of the ten provinces and a lower Representative Chamber similar the British House of Commons, based on population and elected sexennially. The Grand Council will have the power to veto legislation, as will the Emperor, though in his case only if the legislation violates the constitution. Any veto by the Grand Council may be overturned by a two thirds vote of both houses, though an Imperial veto is final. The Emperor accepts the constitution without reservation. He dictates the first elections for Grand Chancellor will be held in June 1905, who will appoint an interim National Assembly pending the first Provincial government elections and appointment of the Provincial Chamber in 1907 and Legislative Chamber elections in 1909. The constitution also adopts the Gregorian Calendar to replace the traditional Chinese Lunar calendar, declaring 1905 to be year one of the new Xianfa (憲法) or constitutional era.

 

[Dragonboy]

Great chapter! Good to see that the Chinese are finally getting a semblance of progress in improving their country.

And things are going more and more in japan's favor, Russia better get the memo to cut their losses.