FD2-2017 [FD2-2017] Spring 1901 - On onto new (is-)lands!

The Eye of Allah

News for the faithful followers of the Ottoman Sultan - Cover price 0.000003 camels (newsstands) / 0.0000025 camels (subscribers)

Spring 1901 issue

++BREAKING++ Shots returned at the Bulgarian-Ottoman border since 12 o'clock

Bucharest, Bulgaria - Without forewarning, islamophobic and cowardly Bulgarian border guards opened fire on our unsuspecting and brave border guards of the pious Ottoman empire. Since 12 o'clock shots have been returned. We will keep our readers updated next issue on whether our troops succeeded, and could sack the responsible parties for this heinous act of aggression against the realm of the religion of peace.

Latakia tobacco prices skyrocket by 337%

Copenhagen, Denmark - Tobaccoists in all of Europe are reporting an alarming shortage of the Latakia tobacco beloved by so many pipe smokers. This tobacco is exclusively produced in the regions of Syria and Cyprus. Reportedly a group of thugs has recently shown up in Syria, using a black flag with a white circle as their symbol and setting fire to several warehouse housing the tobaccy delicacy.

Our beloved Sultan, peace be upon him, has promised military aid to his brethren in faith, in order to ensure the continued flow of Latakia and bring delight to many pipes and waterpipes to the rest of the world.

The Ottoman secret police had the displeasure to hear rumors that the group had been funded by our beloved Sultan, peace be upon him, and that our beloved Sultan, peace be upon him, has usurious plans to utilize a monopoly on Latakia tobacco in order to increase military spending to subjugate the rest of Europe. Clearly such rumors are the misleading whispers of evil Jinn, and the Ottoman secret police wishes to make it well-known to the populace of the prosperous Ottoman empire that partaking in this slanderous gossip will be punished by cutting the lying tongue off.

You won't believe what happened next when this little girl found the wounded goat in the ditch

Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi, Ottoman Empire - Nesri (7), the daughter of a goatherd, was the first to... (continued on page 3)

It took me a while, but I finally got the variant file hacked up enough to keep it running smoothly in Jdip. Unfortunately arrows to indicate land bridges were not possible without spending another week-end or so on the layer-riddled SVG file to learn why that breaks it, and units often overlap SC symbols on the new islands. I have created a transparant PNG layer that I just slap on the exported map as a lazy quickfix, as I think I have already spent more than enough time on getting the technical side to run.

On another note, I have played around with the colors while I was at it. Russia is now purple (I found the white sometimes hard to distinguish from neutral areas), while England is deep blue to not be confused with Russia. I'm also trying the modern unit symbols. If you find anything hard to see, or would prefer the classic unit symbols, let me know.

The New York Herald Newspaper

February 25th, 1901 Edition

Headline Story: Entire Romanov Royal Family Assassinated in Russia; Only One Survivor Found

In a stunning turn of events, an attempted coup by various factions, led by Georgy Lvov, attempted to overthrown the Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov royal family in Russia. A concerted effort by multiple groups in several locations all struck simultaneously. Nicholas II, Czar of Russia, was killed, along with his entire family as well. His 3 younger siblings, Xenia, Michael, and Olga, were all killed as well, along with all their families. There was chaos for a time in Russia, as people were unsure who the succession should fall to, while also trying to capture the conspirators.

Nicholas II was related to many monarchs of Europe; the king of Denmark was his uncle, and George II of England is his cousin. He was also a first cousin to the king and queen of Norway, as well as the king of Greece. It was considered that one of these might have to also accept the crown of Russia, but the thought of a foreigner ruling their land was inconceivable to many of the aristocracy. Then it was discovered, a few days after the assassination plots, that Nicholas II did have a sibling who survived - a half-sister, Anna, a bastard of his father, Alexander III of Russia, who had lived unknown with her mother her entire life. She was discovered only last month, quickly accepted by much, but not all, of the aristocracy, and was asked to ascend to the throne, as she was the closest relative to Nicholas II left alive.

Though the girl is only 19, and known only a middling existence working with her mother in central Russia, she is now asked to lead one of the great powers of Europe. The aristocrats who were left in the wake of the assassination plots used their resources to capture most of the conspirators, including Georgy Lvov. They were brought before her, and asked the new Czarina what should be done. After a few minutes consideration, she ordered every conspirator to hang. This act, supposedly meant to honor her family she never knew, was greatly lauded by nearly the entire population, and it seems much of the citizenry and aristocracy have rallied to support this young woman.

Now at the forefront of Russian politics, one wonders what can possibly happen in the future, as tensions begin to rise yet again in Europe.

EDIT:

Portrait of Her Imperial Highness, Anna Romanov, Czarina of Russia

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Does Crete border Ionian Sea?