June 1922
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Imperator Pax
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June 1922
There were pictures on the table, duplicates so that every man here could see them. The artillery were in pristine condition and were in parade paint. Unscuffed. They looked impressive in the black and white.
Zhang's Schneiders that had been delivered had been brought into Manchuria before the fighting had gotten underway. The problem was that the guns themselves had caused some confusion in the papers. The GPF 155 was a French gun but one the US had taken into service.... which was the detail which had likely lead to the confusion and then the uproar of complaints for those looking to support the position on the arms embargo John Jordan had bullied into position.
But of course the fighting was all but over by the time the news had actually gotten back to it, and the facts that the guns were French not American made wouldn't have changed anything. The French legation had agreed with John Jordan's arms embargo and then the French had turned around and sold Zhang the Schneiders. "Frankly I don't think we should be surprised."
There was shuffling, and the start of protests from some... but Waite was right from a historical standpoint, "The Taiping rebellion, the British consuls and the public back home. All this complaining is the same."
"Right." He replied and the ruffling of the other officers fell silent, "Its the same sort of thing... but the difference is we can do what we need."
"Will this effect the air force?" One of the newer men questioned. It was a good question. The Air Force much as with the prospect of the railway, and the school system enamored the public. It was shiny, and new and modern, and not decrepit which was the most important thing because it presented a contrast to the old dynasty and the failures of the contemporary Republic.
"No, surprisingly not." Waite replied, "Aircraft are not covered by the legation's idiocy." Nor tanks apparently, which was hilarious, "Much as with our automotive engineers we're going to need to entertain racing ideas, and while talk of metal hulls is talk, de Havilland has some ideas, the most practical of which is a twin engine monoplane with an enclosed cockpit. We have interim options available to us, but Britain will not interfere with aircraft options, even if we arm them."
Arming aircraft was an obvious future step. It remained true that the primary impediment to metal hulls was production, and weight limitations imposed by limited engine power. They would need more than a decade to where they could overcome that. The exiting theoretical underpinnings were were well established even if practical engineering concerns would hold back realistic production for time.
Besides of course the conception of aircraft in terms of practical utility was not dropping bombs at this stage, but rather when fitted with increasingly powerful radios the ability to relay falling shots from artillery. That was the driving objective of near term aircraft usage. Observation, and reconnaissance... and it was no surprise at all that the air service wanted more... and Allen knew to head that off before that argument started up for the umpteenth time, even if it meant bringing up the budget and the way they structured the budget.
"We will visit the practical capabilities in two years." He told the general, "In two years I expect a report on not just what we can build, but what is going on abroad, talk to Junkers, de Haviliand and outfits in the states." and he hoped that Sikorsky's demonstrator didn't get brought up again... it had been shown to the army and the navy back home, and while the agreement from the Navy's boys was it had potential, "But I am obliged to reiterate that engine production, of sufficiently robust and powerful engines will take years to build up." Further complicated by the mechanization of the existing rifle divisions and their brigades if it came to that. "That is the priority. Engine production."
1st and 3rd would take priority.
Then 8th under Shang, then2nd but 2nd's priority was increasingly looking to be a case of training and doctrine and working to expand the reserves of personnel to build up the pool of manpower they were doing. Most fighting men in the army would remain leg infantry even though they were not going to be requiring all recruits to attend the infantry basic training.
That itself had been an argument. Direct recruitment to 1st division required completion of the infantry basic school regardless of occupation but that was largely because the First Division expected to act as a firebreak in the event of a disaster. It was what the men spent their time in garrison drilling on, and the expectation of a call up came that there were going to be leadership ready to take charge.
1st and 3rd both had high fitness standards above the regular army standards. Division standards were being pushed. Being released to other units was the way the majority of transfers went to other units either officially or unofficially since the turnover rate was also used to staff units that were standing up; like the 9th Division. 3rdDivision under Lee had almost a non existent smoking culture, which Shellman had observed seemed to coincide with much better run times about nine minutes to a mile was the division average.
All of such material was being compiled as the summer wore on in anticipation of the Fall conference which would as normal convene the cadre, but also to bring together the lower house's membership. The lower house who would be holding elections come November.
The army though was coming to terms with the reality of fighting. Most fighting took place within three hundred yards, there were exceptions of course. 3rdDivision, and units posted to the Bashan Defensive Cordon along Szechwan routinely had to engage beyond that, and there was shooting down slope, which added further complications.
That was beyond the range of the submachine guns they were testing, but when it came to urban combat and close order battle Griswold's modifications provided the men a great comfort in city fighting. Those lost effectiveness in high brush country, the ridgelines of mountains, or the extended plains of the kansu corridor, Tibet, or the likely terrain of engagement against the Bolsheviks.
So there were competing arguments. The shortening of the rifle's barrel had already begun before even the European war. It had begun even earlier than they had been here. The adoption of the sword bayonet was driven by economics and political considerations, but also in recognition that bandits would foolhardily mount brazen cavalry charges of sabres and ponies. Swords and spears were common with bandits, as were older firearms.
That wasn't so much a shock. None of the cadre, none of the first cadre who had almost all had time in the Philippines had been surprised that hill folk would use weapons other than guns. Improvised weapons of all sorts were a fact of life. "We've been here a decade now."
He needed no reminding of that. The RPF had a brotherhood. Veterans gathered to commemorate that they were the first, the older brothers of the whole army even as Xian's papers celebrated its Air Force as a point of pride. Hui officers and their families held banquets to celebrate the death of Bai Lang just as earlier in the year Xian had celebrated the defense of the city against the White Wolf, and the railway reaching the city.
Such were the traditions that had developed. A tradition that was reflected as they got closer to election season, and that with fall those men would go to the polls. Percy seemed to fret over the khaki ... or field gray electorate going to the polls.
There were pictures on the table, duplicates so that every man here could see them. The artillery were in pristine condition and were in parade paint. Unscuffed. They looked impressive in the black and white.
Zhang's Schneiders that had been delivered had been brought into Manchuria before the fighting had gotten underway. The problem was that the guns themselves had caused some confusion in the papers. The GPF 155 was a French gun but one the US had taken into service.... which was the detail which had likely lead to the confusion and then the uproar of complaints for those looking to support the position on the arms embargo John Jordan had bullied into position.
But of course the fighting was all but over by the time the news had actually gotten back to it, and the facts that the guns were French not American made wouldn't have changed anything. The French legation had agreed with John Jordan's arms embargo and then the French had turned around and sold Zhang the Schneiders. "Frankly I don't think we should be surprised."
There was shuffling, and the start of protests from some... but Waite was right from a historical standpoint, "The Taiping rebellion, the British consuls and the public back home. All this complaining is the same."
"Right." He replied and the ruffling of the other officers fell silent, "Its the same sort of thing... but the difference is we can do what we need."
"Will this effect the air force?" One of the newer men questioned. It was a good question. The Air Force much as with the prospect of the railway, and the school system enamored the public. It was shiny, and new and modern, and not decrepit which was the most important thing because it presented a contrast to the old dynasty and the failures of the contemporary Republic.
"No, surprisingly not." Waite replied, "Aircraft are not covered by the legation's idiocy." Nor tanks apparently, which was hilarious, "Much as with our automotive engineers we're going to need to entertain racing ideas, and while talk of metal hulls is talk, de Havilland has some ideas, the most practical of which is a twin engine monoplane with an enclosed cockpit. We have interim options available to us, but Britain will not interfere with aircraft options, even if we arm them."
Arming aircraft was an obvious future step. It remained true that the primary impediment to metal hulls was production, and weight limitations imposed by limited engine power. They would need more than a decade to where they could overcome that. The exiting theoretical underpinnings were were well established even if practical engineering concerns would hold back realistic production for time.
Besides of course the conception of aircraft in terms of practical utility was not dropping bombs at this stage, but rather when fitted with increasingly powerful radios the ability to relay falling shots from artillery. That was the driving objective of near term aircraft usage. Observation, and reconnaissance... and it was no surprise at all that the air service wanted more... and Allen knew to head that off before that argument started up for the umpteenth time, even if it meant bringing up the budget and the way they structured the budget.
"We will visit the practical capabilities in two years." He told the general, "In two years I expect a report on not just what we can build, but what is going on abroad, talk to Junkers, de Haviliand and outfits in the states." and he hoped that Sikorsky's demonstrator didn't get brought up again... it had been shown to the army and the navy back home, and while the agreement from the Navy's boys was it had potential, "But I am obliged to reiterate that engine production, of sufficiently robust and powerful engines will take years to build up." Further complicated by the mechanization of the existing rifle divisions and their brigades if it came to that. "That is the priority. Engine production."
1st and 3rd would take priority.
Then 8th under Shang, then2nd but 2nd's priority was increasingly looking to be a case of training and doctrine and working to expand the reserves of personnel to build up the pool of manpower they were doing. Most fighting men in the army would remain leg infantry even though they were not going to be requiring all recruits to attend the infantry basic training.
That itself had been an argument. Direct recruitment to 1st division required completion of the infantry basic school regardless of occupation but that was largely because the First Division expected to act as a firebreak in the event of a disaster. It was what the men spent their time in garrison drilling on, and the expectation of a call up came that there were going to be leadership ready to take charge.
1st and 3rd both had high fitness standards above the regular army standards. Division standards were being pushed. Being released to other units was the way the majority of transfers went to other units either officially or unofficially since the turnover rate was also used to staff units that were standing up; like the 9th Division. 3rdDivision under Lee had almost a non existent smoking culture, which Shellman had observed seemed to coincide with much better run times about nine minutes to a mile was the division average.
All of such material was being compiled as the summer wore on in anticipation of the Fall conference which would as normal convene the cadre, but also to bring together the lower house's membership. The lower house who would be holding elections come November.
The army though was coming to terms with the reality of fighting. Most fighting took place within three hundred yards, there were exceptions of course. 3rdDivision, and units posted to the Bashan Defensive Cordon along Szechwan routinely had to engage beyond that, and there was shooting down slope, which added further complications.
That was beyond the range of the submachine guns they were testing, but when it came to urban combat and close order battle Griswold's modifications provided the men a great comfort in city fighting. Those lost effectiveness in high brush country, the ridgelines of mountains, or the extended plains of the kansu corridor, Tibet, or the likely terrain of engagement against the Bolsheviks.
So there were competing arguments. The shortening of the rifle's barrel had already begun before even the European war. It had begun even earlier than they had been here. The adoption of the sword bayonet was driven by economics and political considerations, but also in recognition that bandits would foolhardily mount brazen cavalry charges of sabres and ponies. Swords and spears were common with bandits, as were older firearms.
That wasn't so much a shock. None of the cadre, none of the first cadre who had almost all had time in the Philippines had been surprised that hill folk would use weapons other than guns. Improvised weapons of all sorts were a fact of life. "We've been here a decade now."
He needed no reminding of that. The RPF had a brotherhood. Veterans gathered to commemorate that they were the first, the older brothers of the whole army even as Xian's papers celebrated its Air Force as a point of pride. Hui officers and their families held banquets to celebrate the death of Bai Lang just as earlier in the year Xian had celebrated the defense of the city against the White Wolf, and the railway reaching the city.
Such were the traditions that had developed. A tradition that was reflected as they got closer to election season, and that with fall those men would go to the polls. Percy seemed to fret over the khaki ... or field gray electorate going to the polls.
