by “Hippie”

At first glance, Frances position may look pretty poor. It has no completely undisputed Neutral supply centres to take over and not many units to do much with anyway!! What can possibly save it from an early grave from those other hungry sharks???

The answer lies in China. The French are basically the best thing China has to a naval force. China has no navy at the start of the game and for China to build up a naval force early in the game will leave its land locked armies unable to defend effectively across such a large area.

Without France to provide naval support for China, Holland and Japan can swan up and down the long Chinese coast just looking for somewhere to land. But with France having 3 places to build fleets and being stuck on a peninsular without many places to go with an army, then the possibilities of mutual aid increase dramatically.

However, if China views French IndoChina as merely a nuturing ground for early chinese expansion, then hasty negociations with the Dutch are called for urgently

” My biggest mistakes were not talking to Holland early enough, and not recognising the potential that Japan has to cause problems for China. By the time I went seeking Holland’s assistance, there was very little in it for him in assisting me”Jason Gool

Other saving graces for France are that Britain will be quite keen to see that the Dutchman is kept busy as long as possible and this may be useful in gaining a bit of aid in the short term around Bangkok and Rangoon.

Short term alliances with the Dutch may also prove useful. The Dutch will be keen for a quiet life to start with and both France and Holland will be keen to remove those annoying British Fleets so inconsiderately placed in the middle of their defensive lines. This alliance can also come into its own if the Japanese forgo the offer of war with Russia and head tout suite for the Philippines

A political dividing up of the area is quite difficult with the Dutchman as neither will be keen to give up mutually strategic areas. A combined attack westwards against the British does hold some entertaining possibilities.

Alliances with Japan offer quick conquest of China although whether this is achievable before the Dutch start to harass the rear is debateable. Perhaps this is a better possibility if the Frenchman has managed to occupy the East Indies and a suitable line in the sand has been drawn between the two sides. Then the sweep westwards has more appeal.

Alliance with Russia is mostly by association based on distance and potential shared enemies. The Czar should therefore be a good source of information as to the currant winds of change.

“France does not have much room for manouvre and so will look to take on China, Britain or Holland fairly early on… if France does not form an early strong alliance with one of these three nations, then France is doomed as they will all be out to stop her expansion.” Suzi Hollyoake

Opening Strategies

A Ton – N.Sam
F Ann – Ton
A Coc – Cam

A neutral opening based on mutual agreement with the Chinese and British for Mutual growth. The British here offer the most threat as a move by the Hong Kong Fleet into the South China Sea will put pressure both on Tonking and Annam. If the British have agreed to play peacemaker in the area, then this becomes much more viable as an opening.

A Ton – May
F Ann – GoSia
A Coc – Cam

here a potential threat on Frances claim to Bangkok can be fought off from a less than determined bid by either the British or Dutch. The Difficulty is if the British move both the Hong Kong Fleet and the Singapore fleet at the same time. If this is the case, then swift diplomacy will be needed with the Dutch to ensure that the British do not suddenly increase their numbers in the east dramatically.

A Ton – May
F Ann – Ton
A Coc – Ann

A strong opening on the Chinese that suggests that an alliance with Britain is in place (even if not) The possibilities of French support for the British into Canton or from Mandalay or the French fleet slipping into the South China Seas are all possibilities.

This is a difficult choice of opening for the French as there is a potential for only 1 build as a result. However, France probably more than anyone else can get away with a small number of builds in the first phase. This manoeuvre, by pushing back the Chinese should still leave the rest of the Indo-china supply centres open while at the same time making useful inroads into an already weakened Chinese interior

A Ton hold
F Ann – GoSia
A Coc – Cam

With Chinese support and the agreement of Britain to act as peacemaker. This gives the opportunity for France to make a quick end to British presence in the South China Seas. A useful precursor to a Chinese /French alliance with the potential for France to build 3 navies after 1872 to send against the Japanese.

A Ton – May
F Ann – SCS
A Coc – Cam

Again similar possibilities are possible here although if the South China Sea is bounced then it still gives plenty of scope for steady unprovocative expansion.

A Ton – Can
F Ann – Ton
A Coc – Cam

Support from the British in Hong Kong enables France to go for the Chinese all out from the start. The Trade off for the British will probably be Bangkok in the in 1876 and support in Singapore. Hong Kong going around the same time to the French. A difficult alliance to pull off successfully as its quite complicated and needing a good amount of trust on each side. Meanwhile, if Chinas got problems in the north too, then a swift exit is on the cards for them.

A Ton s F BRITISH HK – Can
F Ann – SCS
A Coc – Cam

Basically the same theories put into practice as the previous opening but with Britain supported into mainland China in exchange for Hong Kong.

Without doubt, France is a difficult power to play but if it should survive the opening rounds then the chances look better. If Turkey has been destroyed in the west, this also increases the chances of French survival as it then frees up the British to take on the Dutch. Often it seems a case in Colonial diplomacy that the fate of France and Turkey follow diametrically opposed fortunes