Héraut Franerri (Franerre News)

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News from the Front: Massacre at Do'rville
Tristan Łysek

In the newest report released by the Army Information Bureau, the most recent actions detailing the eastern front of the ongoing Tafatu Intervention have been released. After engaging in a spirited defense of the city, lead by General Claude and Major General Rizzolo, the Franerri Army was forced to retreat from the city. The report estimates that the Union had reinforced the then-even battle with some 400,000 fresh soldiers in artillery. Unwilling to throw good Franerri lives away, General Claude made the decision to retreat, with Major General Rizzolo leading the 51st 'Rose and Thorns' Division as they voluntarily stayed behind to defend the city. "Given the large number of casualties already inflicted on Union forces after the our victory at Le Troi and the ongoing Battle of Ferville, we believe this to be the last surge of manpower the Union Army will get," Director Calvere detailed in the report, "Once they are defeated, the road to Juaz, and by extension the liberation of the Tafatu will be wide open." Given the brutality from Union cavalry raids into Franerre - details of which I will not repeat for the sake of any women reading this article - Archbishop Jan Ange of the Diocese of Pareau will be holding a national night of prayer for the city of Do'rville on the 15th of this month. In a recent comment from Isaac Dufour Jr., Second Chairman of the National Chamber, he states "This war could have been over by now if my plan for earlier mobilization had gone through. While I have nothing but respect for First Chairman Verenes, it is clear his policy of an economic mobilization was a total failure." As a reminder to all Franerri men, it's your duty to both register with your nearest conscription station, and to vote in the upcoming election on the 24th. 

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News from the Front: City of Juaz Taken Without a Fight. Tafatu Liberation May be Drawing to a Close

Tristan Lysek

Stunning news has returned home from the battlefields of the Tafatu Republic. General Claude von Riegen of the Franerri 4th Army has taken the city of Juaz without a fight, capturing a 15,000 Union soldiers and a thousand modern artillery pieces. This news came straight from the Army Information Bureau this morning after a rider came to the southern border late last night. Despite the late hour, spontaneous celebrations seem to have broken out in the cities the information traveled through on it's way to Pareau. With this, the only point of contention remains in the ongoing Battle of Ferville, but cut off from any allies or resupply, Marshal Zelgius estimates that the battle, '...will not last for longer than a month.' First Chamberman Isaac Dufour Jr. had this to say on the recent events; "My heart leaps for joy hearing this news. Franerre, her stalwart ally Ashinara, and the people of Tafatu have proven to the world stage that our armies are wiling and capable to not only defend themselves, but to destroy any injustices where they may be found on Touli. With any luck, sense will finally come to the Devil Okeema and he will unconditionally surrender to our Coalition, and various other participants in this war, and we can finally begin the long process of making peace."

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The King Speaks on the Unfolding 'Elenerre Crisis.' Interview Inside!

Jan Clercio 

I feel it is somewhat redundant to state the obvious, but chaos has gripped Pareau following the dubious interview printed in L'Aurore. His Royal Highness King Dante Emil Soleil Della Rossa II, Sovereign of Franerre, Shield of Her People, Defender of the Foa Restoration and Mordred’s Revolution, saw fit to address these accusations, and so invited both I and a reporter from L'Aurore to make sure the public knew the truth behind these rumors and that all people across Franerre could read it. Once I arrived at the Royal Palace, I was escorted to the room where the interview was to take place. I was surprised to find a woman already there, presumably from L'Aurore, and who I would later learn was the same Riva Rose who published the initial interview. How exactly the King thought a woman of all people was qualified to be a reporter in a situation as important as this, I do not know. Regardless, the King seems to have trusted her, and I did not have much time to question it before the interview began.

Clercio: "Thank you for allowing us to interview you, your Highness."

H.R.H. King Dante: "The pleasure is all mine, truly, Mr. Clercio. This may be the most important interview in our nation's history."

Riva: "Perhaps you can forgive my forwardness, your Highness, but I've never been one for idle talk and flattery. Let’s cut to the chase: why the secrecy?"

H.R.H. King Dante: The King chuckled at this. I was aghast that one would address the King so directly. I should have expected no better from a socialist. "You're certainly cut from the same cloth as Verenes, that's for sure. I have two reasons: the first was to prevent panic. You saw the protests outside. It was that exact thing I wanted to prevent. The second was that I wanted to have a plan prepared for Franerre, one that has not fully materialized yet."

Clercio: "That implies that there is a plan in the works?"

H.R.H. King Dante: "Yes, there are quite a few in fact. The first is simple diplomacy. I have sent diplomats to Kumosenkan with a response to the Empress. First and foremost in the letter is a request to have the dispute arbitrated by the nation of Koi, seeing as they are both neutral in all foreign relations as well as possessing the strength to enforce any agreements made with their control over the Staol trade. Secondly-"

Riva: "If I may interrupt for a moment with a question-"

H.R.H. King Dante: "No, you may not." His demeanor shifted, harsher towards the interrupting woman. I couldn't help but feel a smug sense of satisfaction at seeing that upstart socialist put in her place. "I will finish my statement without interruption, and then you may speak. Now, as I was saying, secondly our own armed forces are still mobilized from the Tafatu Liberation, though they cannot be moved into Elenerre proper due to Kumosenkan’s requirement. Third is diplomatic efforts from our other allies abroad. We have engaged in talks with Gaelia, Marrlan, Ashinara, and Lusatia, though the specifics of the negotiations are ongoing, and so I cannot discuss them at this time, with one exception. We have received an offer from the Kingdom of Lusatia. In exchange for leasing two military bases, one inside the disputed territory, in exchange for a hefty discount on modern Lusatian equipment. Both Verenes and Dufour are in favor of the agreement, though surprisingly, they are the minority and their own parties shot down the vote by a hefty majority. Now you may speak."

Clercio: I was shocked at the King's almost casual attitude toward the Lusatian offer. If one had brought it up under any other circumstance it would be shot down immediately, but these are hardly normal circumstances. "Is it safe to assume that you are in favor of the agreement, your Highness?"

H.R.H. King Dante: "Indeed I am. The lives of Franerri citizens and the territorial integrity of Franerre are both of the upmost importance to me. To defend Elenerre would be to sacrifice the former for the latter. To abandon it, the latter for the former. But, this Lusatian deal would perhaps allow Franerre to save both, and that makes it an avenue worth pursuing." 

Clercio: I could understand the King's reasoning, but it still didn't quite sit right with me. The Lusatians are fine people, but to invite there military to Franerre is a step that I saw as too far. "I think it's understandable that people may have concerns about allowing a foreign military on our soil, especially in a long-term agreement like leases on a military base."

H.R.H. King Dante: "The concerns are completely understandable, as you said, but I believe that when given the alternatives, the Lusatians have given us our best opportunity for peace in this brewing conflict." I had a response prepared, but the woman beat me to it.

Riva: "I have…a few questions for you, your Highness, but let’s start at the beginning. You said that in the letter you sent that ‘first and foremost,’ was a request for Koian arbitration. That implies that there are other things stated in that letter. Am I correct?"

H.R.H. King Dante: "You are, though I do not believe that they are entirely relevant to this interview."

Riva: "Your Highness, you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t quite believe you on that point. The fate of the nation could be at stake with that letter. One would need to be a fool to send meaningless drivel to the most powerful woman in the world."

H.R.H. King Dante: The man sighed. "The remaining content of the letter is mostly an appeal to the Empress to reconsider. She is doubtlessly a wise woman - one does not grow to her station without being one. However, I believe she may be misled by Elenrian advisors, still bitter about the long history of conflict between our nations, most recently over our support for the Greatferns in the Elenrian civil war. The Elenrians with their long memories, however, should be able to remember the Treaty of Nanhaimen which legally ceded the city to Franerre in 1547, yet they remain willfully ignorant of that if I am correct. That, combined with the fact that I would be surprised if she were aware of the realities on the ground in Elenerre, means that the Empress cannot hope to come to an accurate conclusion regarding the disputed territory's status."

Clercio: While I can understand our King's reason to believe in the goodness of others, and find it to be quite an admirable quality, I had by limits at seeing the goodness in the spiders of all 'people.' "How can you be so certain that Kumosenkan wishes to come to an 'accurate conclusion' at all?" 

H.R.H. King Dante: The King paused at this point. "If the Empress is only seeking a casus belli for war, then it will be blatantly obvious for all to see by her rejection of my letter for arbitration talks. The world will see Kumosenkan as what they would be in that scenario; a bully engaging in imperialism for imperialism's sake. The world will see Franerre for what she is as well: a nation who has done nothing wrong, fighting only to protect the lives and liberty of their citizens."

Riva: "Secondly, let’s say diplomacy fails and this scenario must devolve into war. How committed is the government to the defense of Elenerre?"

H.R.H. King Dante: "That is a question that extends far beyond myself as King. I am only one part of the Franerri government. I require the cooperation of both the National Chamber and the Army. But, this part of the Franerri government is wholly committed, and I have found the Army and National Chamber similarly so. If Kumosenkan rejects the pen, then they shall find Elenerre full of nothing but swords."

Riva: "Lastly, what of the Franerri citizens currently in Elenerre and the surrounding region? The time you have been waiting on news and planning, they could have been evacuated from the territory. Would you have our citizens live under Kumo rule?"

H.R.H. King Dante: "That supposes we lose."

Riva: "But what if Franerre does?"

H.R.H. King Dante: We will not stop anyone from leaving the area.”

Riva: "For my last question, you said the Lusatians were interested in two bases. Where is the second?"

H.R.H. King Dante: "Fort Arval, near the city of Desterque."

Riva: "Any particular reason the Lusatians were interested in that base?"

H.R.H. King Dante: "I don't believe I'm at liberty to say, though I can say it's not relevant to the unfolding Elenerre crisis."

Clercio: "Before this interview concludes, do you have any comments for the citizens out protesting in Pareau?"

H.R.H. King Dante: The King looked at me straight in the eyes, and in a strong, steady voice declared, "Please, go back to your homes and places of work. Your concerns have been heard, but to survive this, the entire nation of Franerre must be united as one. Franerre Gloria." 

The interview ended there, the King saying he would not be taking anymore questions, and that the interview needed to be put to the printers as soon as possible. When I left that interview, I could not say that I was fully in agreeance with the King on the Lusatian's offer for military bases. But, after giving it some thought, by the time I am writing up this afterward on the interview, I believe I've came around to his thinking. As His Royal Highness himself said, Franerri territory and Franerri lives are equally important. Why sacrifice one for the other, when you can save both?

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Gaelian Taoiseach Insults Franerre! Boycotts of Gaelian Goods Spark Across Franerre
Jan Clercio

After Gaelian Taoiseach’s comments during a summit on a potential alliance between Gaelia and Franerre were revealed during Director Mesny’s report, A Report on the 3/7/1933 Diplomatic Mission to the United Kingdom of Ulster-Gaelia, which readers can find detailed in the previous week’s edition of The Franerri Heralt, outrage at Taoiseach O’Donnell’s comments have sparked boycotts in many major cities in Franerre. For those who have not read last week’s issue, Taoiseach O’Donnell, after being met with nothing but kindness and compromise from Director Mesny towards a common enemy in Kumosenkan, called Franerre, ‘an upstart colony with secessionist tendencies.’ This has caused confirmed boycotts of Gaelian goods in the cities of Pareau, Alcasse, Desterque, and Saint Parsson, as well as in many smaller cities in towns across Franerre. A proposal from Chamberman Leon Blum (SNF) to subsidize the construction of new factories from the Lusatian aid package to produce key goods that would previously have been imported from Gaelia has received unique bipartisan support in the National Chamber. While there is still some debate over the specifics of the bill, it is expected to pass through the National Chamber quickly. The Franerri Herald attempted to reach out to the Gaelian Embassy in Pareau, an epicenter of protests around the Taoiseach’s comments, but no reply was given from the Gaelian Embassy.

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King Dante Emil Soliel Della Rossa II Killed in Attempted Military Coup!

Tristan Lysek

It is with a heavy heart that I write these words. Our beloved King, Dante Emil Soliel Della Rossa II, Sovereign of Franerre, Shield of Her People, Defendor of the Foa Restoration and Mordred’s Revolution, Mourner of Elenerre was killed on the night of Sablien 30th. Queen Jadwiga gave the following statement on the events that transpired last night.

“I am sure many of you are concerned, after hearing of, or perhaps even witnessing the shocking and tragic events of last night. I am sure you have many questions over what happened, and I hope to explain, to the best of my current knowledge, what transpired on the night of Sablien 30th.

Forces under the command of Gendarmerie Director Virgil Legault stormed the Royal Palace, and despite the best efforts of the Royal Guards, they were overwhelmed by the superior numbers of the traitorous Gendarmerie forces, and General Tauroneo was killed in the fighting. A small group of traitors managed to break into the palace where they found me and my children and threatened us, forcing the rest of the resisting forces to stand down.”

“While all of this was occuring, Gendarmerie forces set off a bomb at the PPD headquarters while a gathering was ongoing. We believe that their leader, Isaac Dufour Jr. survived, but many of their members there did not. Additionally, the Gendarmerie attempted to assassinate SNF leader Julius Verenes, though we believe this attempt also failed.”

“When it became clear that something was occuring last night, General Ranulf heroically did his best to marshal Franerre’s police department in an attempt to beat back the forces of the Gendarmerie, but they were beaten back by forces belonging to the coup. Independently, a Colonel in the city’s garrison, Severin Loup, also rallied some forces of the city’s garrison to beat back the forces of the coup.”

“By the time the General and Colonel’s forces were able to approach the Palace, tragedy had already struck. Legault was attempting to force my husband to dissolve the National Chamber and install the Director as a dictator, but my husband would not have it, and so his men threatened me and our children to get him to comply. Enraged, he broke free of his captors, and was stabbed with a bayonet in the confusion. Seeing this wicked act, Legault was then betrayed by his own conspirators, and the coup was finished.”

Later in the day, Queen Jadwiga was able to meet with both Isaac Dufour Jr and Julius Verenes, who survived the attempts on their lives. Given the deaths of 47 PPD chambermen in the same bombing that injured Durfour, as well as uncertainties over the status of the representatives that would have represented Elenerre, the following plan was proposed and accepted by an emergency session of the National Chamber. The total number of seats in the National Chamber would be reduced from 250 to 225, and snap elections were to be held in three months while an official investigation into the exact nature of the events leading up to the coup and the events of the night of Sablien 30th was to be opened by the National Chamber, as well as handling trials for the traitors.”

Additionally, in the far back pages of the newspaper, a small blurb on the Foreign Affairs Administration issuing a diplomatic apology to Gaelia was printed. Given the events of the coup, and the placement of the blurb, few noticed and fewer cared.

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Protestors and Police Clash at the Battle of Bell Street

Tristan Lysek.

During the ongoing protests that have gripped Franerre, one of the few places in the nation where the police have put up resistance to the protestors have been here in Pareau, where officers have so far prevented protestors from approaching the National Chamber or Royal Palace. It appears that this state of affairs has gone on for too long to the protestors, as in the middle of the afternoon on Fessera 16th, protestors fired on the police officers preventing them from marching down Bell Street towards the Royal Palace. Before the shots were fired, protestors could clearly be heard shouting “Down with the monarchy! Long live Claude and the Contremaitre!”, the Contremaitre being a position they wish to replace the Queen with.

After the shots were fired, Pareau’s police moved in to arrest the protestors and determine who had fired the shots. Other protestors came to the defense of the gunmen, and a brawl between the police and protestors ensued. 38 protestors were arrested following the clash, though whether or not the gunmen are among them or are still at large is unknown. What is known is that the protestors killed 5 police officers, injuring 17 more in the fighting.

I reached out to the Pareau Police Department for a comment, who answered that they would be releasing a statement on the situation when they had all of the information, though they did say that Antoine Claude, the leader of these protests, was not among those arrested on the 16th,