[center][b][h1]SALUTE TO THE FALLEN[/h1][/b][/center]

[center][img]https://s11.postimg.org/97z47ug43/World_003.png[/img][/center]

[center][h3]JUNE[/h3][/center]

[b][u]June 16th[/u][/b]
A new company, [b]Ellis Automobiles[/b] opens for business in the [b][color=maroon]Republic of Zellonia[/color][/b]. Semi-subsidized by one of the Great Houses, it's single factory is responsible for the [b]Ellis Gooden[/b] automobile, a four door sedan--the first of its kind and the [b]Ellis Hewett[/b], a sleek coup with a 48 hp EH-48 motor. In a potential time of war, their grand new industrial complex would be accessible to the state.

[center][img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/29/5d/43/295d4390a729859178cca277076be766.jpg[/img]
[i]Automobile enthusiasts in Zellonia with an Ellis Hewett, 1910[/i][/center]

[b][u]June 17th[/u][/b]
Testing at the Tastra Plant reveals the Escarra KhZ motor, putting out nearly twice as much power as the original Tastra ZhR motor. The Escarra can power the prototype TA-1 armored car brings it up to a maximum speed of around 15 miles per hour. The gun boasts a mantlet in the roof where a soldier can peek out and fire with his rifle. Although a machine gun could be placed there, if desired.

[center][img]http://www.militaryimages.net/media/russian-armoured-car-in-poland-wwi.17231/full?d=0[/img]
[i]Staratian TA-1 Armored Car on proving grounds[/i][/center]

[b][u]June 18th[/u][/b]
With additional funding and two more months, the Heidrich Shipways and Shipping company finishes it's final design for the Sturm-class Light Cruiser design. Due to technical limitations, the only possible addition was increasing the 12 guns to 12" instead of 10" and adding an additional 2 centimeters of armor on the central belt.

[hider=Sturm Class Light Cruiser (CL)]
[center][img]http://i41.tinypic.com/14slduc.gif[/img]
[i]Sturm-class Light Cruiser Design[/i][/center]

[u][b]Sturm-Class Specifications[/b][/u]
[b]Dimensions 	[/b]
138,6 x 13,4 x 5,1 m

[b]Displacement[/b]
4570t – 5587t FL

[b]Crew[/b]
346

[b]Propulsion[/b]
2 screws, 2 Kurgen turbines, 16 standard wt boilers, 25,000-29,000 hp

[b]Speed[/b]
27.5 – 28.2 knots top speed

[b]Range[/b]
5,820 nmi (10,780 km; 6,700 mi) @ 12 knots

[b]Armament[/b]
12 x 115mm (singles), 2 TT 500 mm Sub, 120 mines

[b]Armor[/b]
Belt: 62 mm (2.4 in), Conning tower: 100 mm (3.9 in)[/hider]

[b][u]June 19th[/u][/b]
A finished batch of 80,000 Schutze M1902 rifles reach the Tyro-Antarian Imperial Army.

[b][u]June 20th[/u][/b]
The training of twelve infantry divisions in the [b]Kingdom of Jouran[/b] finishes. These men, mostly without rifles, join the Kingdom of Jouran's Doucal Army, quickly becoming an eminent force for such a small nation.

[center][img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/600x315/35/25/54/35255406ceacb455a098c861a0e2984d.jpg[/img]
[i]Soldiers of the Jouran Doucal Army, circa 1910[/i][/center]

[b][u]June 22nd[/u][/b]
The [b][color=beige]Seljuk Army[/color][/b] surrounds the Karalia capital, which refuses to surrender. Seljuk troops dig in, encircling the city and constantly threatening starvation if the Karalians do not surrender. The Karalians send no messenger to respond.

[center][img]http://www.nationalanzaccentre.com.au/sites/default/files/styles/character_bite_images/public/Ottoman%20soldiers%20resting%20in%20Gallipoli%20area,%201915.jpg?itok=6Ihpsn5Z[/img]
[i]Seljuk troops in the Karalian theater, 1910[/i][/center]

[b][u]June 23rd[/u][/b]
The [b][color=brown]Meung Dominion[/color][/b], receiving a pitiful offer from Zellonia, accept the offer from the Saurilian Empire and effectively hand over the coastal city of Tsungmao to the Saurilians at the promise of $500,000,000 to be paid off over a period of ten months.

[b][u]June 30th[/u][/b]
The Staratian arms manufacturers [b]Ferdi and Leopold Industries[/b] and [b]Hüber Steel[/b] both submit [b][color=lightblue]Blueprints[/color][/b] and prototypes for the design competition for a new rifle: the HS-19. Each version of the HS-19 is available for review and can be [b]Accepted[/b] or it's [b]Design[/b] ramifications changed to suit Staratia's needs, although this will significantly add time to it's design timetable.

[hider=HS-19F (Ferdi and Leopold Industries)]
[b]Description[/b]
[i]Designed by Hugo Ferdi of Ferdi and Leopold Industries, the HS-19F is a five-shot, bolt-action, internal magazine–fed, military rifle. The main disadvantages of Ferdi's rifle were a more complicated mechanism and a long and tiresome procedure of disassembling (which required special instruments – it was necessary to unscrew two fasteners). Compared to the 1898 HS-16, the 1891 HS-12 has a commonality in that it uses two front-locking lugs to lock up the action. However, the HS-16's lugs lock in the horizontal position, whereas the Blutlandic Otto Mark II's locks vertically. The HS bolt body is multi-piece whereas the Otto is one piece. The HS body uses interchangeable bolt heads like the Tyro-Antarian Schutze. Unlike the Otto, which uses a "controlled feed" bolt head in which the cartridge base snaps up under the fixed extractor as the cartridge is fed from the magazine, the HS has a "push feed" recessed bolt head in which the spring-loaded extractor snaps over the cartridge base as the bolt is finally closed. Like the Schutze, the HS uses a blade ejector mounted in the receiver. The HS bolt is removed by simply pulling it fully to the rear of the receiver and squeezing the trigger, while the HS-19 has a bolt stop lever separate from the trigger.

Like the Otto, the bolt lift arc on the HS-19 is 90 degrees, versus 60 degrees on the Schutze. The Otto bolt handle is at the rear of the bolt body and locks behind the solid rear receiver ring. The rifling of the HS barrel is right turning (clockwise looking down the rifle) 4-groove with a twist of 1:9.5" or 1:10". The 5-round fixed metallic magazine can either be loaded by inserting the cartridges singly, or more often in military service, by the use of 5-round stripper clips.[/i]
[/hider]

[hider=HS-19H (Hüber Steel)]
[b]Description[/b]: The HS-19H or Huber 19 (H19) rifle is a manually operated, magazine fed, controlled-feed bolt-action rifle, 1,250 mm (49 in) in length and 4.09 kg (9 lb) in weight. It has a 740 mm (29 in) long rifled barrel and carries 5 rounds ammunition in an internal magazine. The HS-19H has two sling swivels, open front sights, and a curved tangent-type rear sight, known as the Huber Sight.

The controlled-feed bolt-action of the HS-19H is a distinct feature and is regarded as one of the simpler bolt-action system designs. he HS-19 system consists of a receiver that serves as the system's shroud and a bolt group of which the bolt body has three locking lugs, two large main lugs at the bolt head and a third safety lug at the rear of the bolt, which serves as a backup in case the primary locking lugs failed. This third lug is a distinctive feature and was not present on previous HS bolt action designs. The two main locking lugs are positioned opposed to each other and display a locking surface of 56 mm2 (0.087 in2), whilst the third safety lug normally plays no part in locking the action to avoid asymmetric and hence unbalanced bolt thrust forces. The diameter of the  HS-19 system receiver ring was also enlarged to 35.8 mm (1.41 in) diameter compared to previous HS "small ring" bolt action designs that had 33 mm (1.30 in) diameter receiver rings for additional strength and safety. Accordingly, the barrel shank was enlarged to 28 mm (1.10 in) diameter with 15.88 mm (0.625 in) of threaded area at 12 threads per inch compared to previous HS "small shank" bolt action designs that had 24.9 mm (0.98 in) diameter with 16.38 mm (0.645 in) of threaded area at 12 threads per inch barrel shanks for additional strength. The bolt handle is permanently attached to the bolt and, on the HS-19H, is straight and protrudes out for optimal leverage.

Another distinctive feature of the H19 system is the controlled-feed mechanism, consisting of a large, non-rotating claw extractor that engages the cartridge case rim as soon as the round leaves the magazine and firmly holds the cartridge case until the round is ejected by the ejector, mounted inside the receiver. Combined with a slight bolt retraction at the last stage of the bolt opening cycle, caused by the cammed surface on the rear receiver bridge, this results in a positive cartridge case extraction. The  HS-19 bolt-action will cycle correctly, irrespective of the way the rifle is moved or positioned during the bolt cycling action or if the cartridge has been fired or not. Only if the bolt is not brought back far enough, sharply enough, in a controlled round feed bolt-action the cartridge case may not be cleanly ejected and a jam may result.
[/hider]

[hr]

[hider=Relations & Production][center][img]http://s14.postimg.org/ee76vtapt/Politics_1.png[/img]
[i]Political Situation in June, 1910[/i][/center]

[b]RELATIONS[/b]
-- [b][color=maroon]Zellonia[/color][/b]/[b][color=orange]Samgola[/color][/b]: [[color=lightblue]+9[/color]]
[i]As one of the first two countries to acknowledge Samgolan independence, Zello-Samgolan relations are off to a great start[/i].

-- [b][color=lavender]Staratia[/color][/b]/[b][color=yellow]Estalia[/color][/b]: [[color=red]-4[/color]]
[i]Both Republics, Staratia and Estalia are at odds as Staratia supported the independence of Estalian Serranthia independence in 1906, sending the rebels there rifles and supplies. Since, the Estalians have wagered a high tax on Staratian trade there through the Strait of Kalif.[/i]

-- [b][color=blue]Thecia[/color][/b]/[b][color=yellow]Estalia[/color][/b]: [[color=lightblue]+9[/color]]
[i]Estalia and Thecia have enjoyed trade for hundreds of years, and while Thecian monarchism reigns supreme, Estalia and Thecia possess a burgeoning trade relationship stymied only by Thecia's distance[/i].

-- [b][color=green]Dongaria[/color][/b]/[b][color=yellow]Estalia[/color][/b]: [[color=lightblue]+1[/color]]
[i]With little trade, culture and geography in common, the Kingdom of Dongaria and the Estalian Republic have no opinion of one another. Most Dongarians believe Estalians to be lazy[/i].

-- [b][color=purple]Tyro-Antari Empire[/color][/b]/[b][color=yellow]Estalia[/color][/b]: [+0]
[i]Two nations whose paths have rarely crossed, the Dual Monarchy and the Coastal Republic have little to discuss, their embassies are rarely used. The former, a more land based power and the latter a more sea based power also have little to complain of one another[/i].

-- [b][color=red]Blutland[/color][/b]/[b][color=yellow]Estalia[/color][/b]: [[color=red]-14[/color]]
[i]The Estalians have long harbored their Blutlandic cousins as a weaker bunch. With an inadequate navy, but a superior holding on the Continent, the Estalians often feel themselves looking inwards to a nation they see as inferior.[/i]

-- [b][color=red]Blutland[/color][/b]/[b][color=purple]Tyro-Antari Empire[/color][/b]: [[color=lightblue]+4[/color]]
[i]Based perhaps on geography, the Tyro-Antarians and Blutlands see themselves as acquaintances at a ballroom party. Neither party has reason to thumb their nose at the other, and neither party has reason to ask the other for a dance.[/i] 

-- [b][color=orange]Madeira[/color][/b]/[b][color=yellow]Estalia[/color][/b]: [[color=lightblue]+16[/color]]
[i]Long time friends, Madeiran and Estalian relations are some of the best they have been since the early 1800's. The Madeirans and Estalians are culturally similar, in that Madeirans speak the Estalian language, albeit with a very unique dialect[/i].

[b][color=maroon]Zellonia[/color][/b]/[b][color=blue]Sessau[/color][/b]: [[color=red]-22[/color]]
[i]In the early 1800's the [b]Zello-Sessauan Wars[/b] were some of the most fierce of the continent. They ended with the Zellonians eventually conquering and fragmenting the large Sessauan Empire, which later became the Kingdom of Sessau[/i].

[b][color=maroon]Zellonia[/color][/b]/[b][color=orange]Estalia[/color][/b]: [[color=red]-15[/color]]
[i]Although friendly originally, Zellonian's recent decision to begin expanding militarily has soured Zello-Estalian relations, as Zellonia and Estalia may have divergent intentions over the Kizurgas Islands in the Inner Sea[/i].

[b][color=maroon]Zellonia[/color][/b]/[b][color=green]Dongaria[/color][/b]: [[color=red]-10[/color]]

[b][color=purple]Tyro-Antarian Empire[/color][/b]/[b][color=beige]Seljuk Empire[/color][/b]: [[color=lightblue]+11[/color]][/hider]

[hr]

-- [b][color=lightgreen]Empire of Saurilia[/color][/b]: +3 Political Support
-- [b][color=red]Kingdom of Blutland[/color][/b]: +1 Political Support
-- [b][color=purple]Tyro-Antarian Empire[/color][/b]: +1 Political Support
-- [b][color=lightblue]Republic of Staratia[/color][/b]: +1 Political Support
-- [b][color=maroon]Republic of Zellonia[/color][/b]: +1 Political Support