| The Marblehead makes it to Haiti | |
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| Topic Started: Sep 2 2011, 09:29 PM (310 Views) | |
| Basil Fawlty | Sep 2 2011, 09:29 PM Post #1 |
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Post Tenebras Lux
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Four days later, the USS Maine departed Norfolk for its date with destiny in Cuba. The question is, what happens if the Marblehead had been in Port-au-Prince on the sixth? Would Germany have been deterred? If so, does the kaiser become even more inclined to intervene in the Spanish-American War just months later? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luders_Affair |
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| Basil Fawlty | Sep 6 2011, 01:58 AM Post #2 |
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Post Tenebras Lux
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A bit of background. Not long before, the Kaiser had annexed Kaichow after a similar incident with the Chinese. This put the European powers on notice that Germany seemed interested in hunting for new colonies. Germany, Austria, France, Italy, and Russia all agreed in the weeks before the Spanish-American War on a joint diplomatic intervention, to prevent the U.S. from going to war and gaining Cuba. However, none was willing to take the first step, so the talks collapsed. All had been hoping Britain would join in and lead. Without British participation, there would be no coalition. The question then becomes, if Germany was more willing to stick its neck out than @, whether this would 1) impel Britain to go along with the original plan (it would be virtually alone otherwise), and if not, whether 2) the kaiser would be sufficiently irritated by previous U.S. interference in Haiti to go ahead without British support. I am skeptical whether a coalition could survive determined British opposition, and that would likely result if the Germans pressed ahead on their own accord. Italy would probably fall first, due to Mediterranean interests; France would be close behind. Austria would probably support its ally regardless. Russia is an enigma, as always. |
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| Simon Darkshade | Sep 6 2011, 10:43 PM Post #3 |
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Nefarious Swashbuckler
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At this point in time, I can't see Britain going against its interests and antagonizing America in favour of what was already a greater rival and growing threat in the form of Germany. |
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| Basil Fawlty | Sep 7 2011, 12:05 AM Post #4 |
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Post Tenebras Lux
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At one point, the American ambassador in London did say something to the effect of, "We could have Britain's entire fleet at our disposal if only we would ask." |
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8:40 AM Jul 11