Janissaries Forward! PBEM 109 DAR

[06 Maestro]

September
Strength Comparisons

Due to the great battle and the related marching the total force has slightly fallen this month. Nearly all losses were concentrated in the 1st Army. There are more than adequate reserves, the Army just needs a break in the action to absorb all that it needs.

Spain's strength is plummeting. As it has the levee in mass it will recover its strength fairly quickly. If it chooses to continue the war long term its manpower will certainly suffer.

[06 Maestro]

September
North Spain

The invasion of Spain proper is about to commence. The 1st Army is to advance straight south (and attempt to capture the horse artillery there) and then turn west and capture Navarre.

The 2nd Army is finishing it reorganization. It will be ready to advance next month.

[06 Maestro]

October 1808
Glory Standings

The Empire has made a big advance on Spain. It is barely over 100 points behind. Great Britain is suddenly nearly 200 points behind the O.E.

There is nothing to fear from the Ottoman Empire-we are only spreading our wonderful culture to those that want it.

More barracks were completed. The guns at Athens is just a minor precaution. Some of the Sultans best friends have large fleets. It is possible that a current friend, in mad state of mind, may wish to take something that does not belong to him. Athens is an important city-it warrants the added security for even a remote threat.

[06 Maestro]

October
Culture

Spain is now in 4th place in Culture. It will be dropping even more in the near future.

After a peace is established the big winner may likely be Great Britain regarding the
culture standings.

[06 Maestro]

October
Battle Reports

The 1st Army did not capture the Spanish horse artillery-or even have contact with the Spanish Army-other than a small garrison. I am left wondering, did the King of Spain pull a trick on the Sultan? It seems to look that way. He may have left that horse artillery sitting there knowing I would go after it. As he was safe in his knowledge of my route, he could take his desired route-one to cut my supply lines. It would seem a sane thing to do for Spanish forces to withdraw-rather than put a bulge in the alliances lines. However, that is what he did-advanced north. There is a possibility of a great battle in October (reported in November).

The Czar has gotten himself into a mess. He was warned. He was advised. What can one do? He is a Czar after all. He will do as he wishes. The alliance will come to his aid, but it will be a while-and the Prussian King knows that.

[06 Maestro]

October
South France

The 2nd Army is finally ready for action. It took a few months to get it to Geno from north Africa and for it to absorb its 3rd corp (6th Corp) and other divisions. In retrospect, it would have been better to send it into action as it was with only 2 corps rather than wait. The 1st Army is ordered to return to Gascony to follow the Spaniards in there strange maneuver.

[06 Maestro]

October
Prussia

The Russians made a bold move into East Prussia with at least one army. It could also be called a rash move in view of the differences in training of the two forces. It is very likely that the Czar was not aware of the arrival of the other Prussian army which eliminated any advantage he may have had in numbers.

The Czar is now in the position of staving off total defeat instead of pursuing an offensive war.

On the optimistic side, the Czar is now heavily investing in barracks. In a few short years the Russian Army will be a much stronger force. It may too late to think about achieving a superiority against anyone but the Swedes. However, it will still be a much more dangerous force in 2 years.

[06 Maestro]

October
Training

Another major training level was reached-line marching. It is not known just how much this will affect performance in battle, but it seems to have helped Prussia-so it was pursued.

[06 Maestro]

October
Strength Comparisons

Ottoman Strength took a little drop-again. There are plenty of replacements available, but the Army needs to stay put in a friendly area to get the full benefit of available replacements it seems.

Spain has increased in strength slightly. It also has the Levee in mass doctrine. Although its main forces also moved, they were in friendly territory. Small matter at this point-Spain will not fully recover before the end of this war.

[06 Maestro]

October
Moral Comparisons

Spanish Moral is now far below zero. Russian moral has fallen to about 500 and Great Britain is rapidly climbing back towards 1000.

Of course, the people and army of the Ottoman Empire are deliriously happy.

[06 Maestro]

November, 1808
Glory Standings

Spain is still maintaining a 100 point plus lead over the O.E. As there was another decisive victory the Ottoman forces last month this will change in the next report.

The O.E. now has more than a 200 point lead over Great Britain. This must have caused a few raised eyebrows in London. The Sultan needs to keep an eye on its good friends-the British.

[06 Maestro]

November
Battle Reports

Another great victory in Gascony! I do not understand the Spanish King's logic in moving back there. I suspect he envisioned cutting off my supply so he could defeat the Otto 1st Army. However, the Ottomans are getting their supply from France-via the Bay of Biscay. This battle was somewhat smaller than the first one, but it still ranked as a decisive victory. It appears that the square firepower training was a worthwhile measure. Two Spanish cavalry divisions surrendered. The 1st Army only has one irregular cavalry division-and it is understrength. It is not one of the originals-so its moral is superior. There is still one surviving irregular cav division-its moral is still at 1.65.

France won a victory against the same forces. It was a quick battle and looking at the casualties, not an easy one for France. In addition to the casualties shown in that battle, France captured 2 Spanish artillery regiments. I was hoping to do that-I need some. At least they will be fighting on the right side.

[06 Maestro]

November
Strength Comparisons

Ottoman forces continue to decline, but not as much as the Spanish. France has also suffered a drop in total strength.

It is interesting in how Prussia is slightly increasing while Russia strength has plummeted-it has a good army. As much as the Sultan loves peace and looks forward to the end of war, it is starting to look like Prussia will have to be fought also. Of course, if the Prussian King were to return lands stolen from Great Britain, France, Austria and make a reasonable peace with Russia-all could be forgiven-even the rebellion it caused in Egypt many years ago. That course of events is not very likely...

[06 Maestro]

November
Moral comparisons

Spanish Moral cannot go any lower. It has maxed at negative 1000, but then comes back up a bit due to its culture. It is about negative 850 now. Riots should start breaking out anytime.

[06 Maestro]

November
Russian AO

The Prussian Army moved into Alytus. Wisely, the Czar quickly withdrew avoiding what would likely have been a massive defeat.

[06 Maestro]

November
Northern Spain

The 1st Army is ordered to move into Navarre-for the second time. It has "charge the walls" orders.

The newly rebuilt 2nd Army will (finally)be sent into action. It will move south into Catalonia then turn west to take Huesca.

The French Army is planning on moving into Catalonia in force to capture Barcelona.

The Spanish moved the smaller of its two armies into Catalonia to meet the expected threat.

The Sultan desires to get some use of his nimble fleet other than transporting divisions. It has been ordered to blockade Barcelona.

[06 Maestro]

December, 1808
Glory Standings

Spain has an insignificant lead over the O.E. There can be no doubt as to which empire all Europe will be alarmed about very soon. The Ottoman Empire now has a 250 point lead over Great Britain. This is a difference that will be difficult to overcome using peaceful methods.

Istanbul has been brought up to a level 5 docks. Nish is another province slated to become a level 5 courts province. New barracks are still being initiated every turn-generally only one per turn due to the high cost in textiles now.

[06 Maestro]

December
Moral Comparisons

Spain is as low as it will get. Hopefully that will be enough to induce a forced surrender. Even if Madrid is captured its moral will not go much lower. It is still about negative 850-it might be possible for it to go another 50 points lower with the loss of some more culture centers. It has an automatic increase of 79 moral points currently

[06 Maestro]

December
National Comparisons

Spain's manpower has fallen considerably since the start of this war (currently 106) while France's and the Ottoman Empire's has slowly increased. While this is a good sign for eventual victory, there are some other factors. The enforced peace with Austria is due to end in about 4 months. it is possible, although not likely, that the O.E. and Austria will be at war again in 5 months. It is notable that Spain has a current labor reserve of 142-it would be 200 if King Iron Warrior was not building anything. It is very doubtful that he has started any new courts or arts centers in the current environment. This means he is building military units. He is not planning on giving up.

Austria's manpower has had some modest improvement. It had gone as low as 28-almost Sweden's level. Austria is still also broke. The reparations were too much-especially in that funding from abroad had dried up-except for Spain. The lack of funds will not be an issue for Austria should it Emperor Matto decide to take vengeance on the Ottoman Empire. There are 4 empires that have almost unlimited funds at this time. Three or 4 of them would be all too happy to Fund Austria's war. Another area that Austria seems to suffering in is textiles. In the peace treaty it had to give up what was most likely a prime supply area of sheep-and timber.

Russia is next in line as an economic basket case-as far as money is concerned. Without the partial reparations and significant funding from France and an occasional gift from the Ottoman Empire, it would be broke or reduced in its ability to do much of anything.

[06 Maestro]

December
Strength Comparisons

Spain has experience a gain in strength-although rather small. It looks like it might be just a few thousand. This is to be expected as it has the levee in mass doctrine. It can easily add 20, to 30,000 per month in replacements.

The Austrian Army is now larger than France's-that is worrisome. Thankfully, Austria did not acquire the levee in mass doctrine with its military reforms after the last war-it concentrated on battlefield methods.

Ottoman forces barely recovered any strength. The 1st Army had "charge the walls" orders in its mission at Sebastian. This cost a few thousand casualties.