In little league baseball, games can end by mercy rule when one team is ahead by ten or more runs. In horse racing, they will shoot the horse if it is hobbled beyond capacity. And in Diplomacy, we eliminate the Communists. Both China and Russia become phantoms of history this season, and I think both eliminations are merciful.

For the rest of you, however, the fun is just beginning. Sure, Persia is slapping himself on the back for having three builds (only two usable on account of that army in Iran). And Siberia is now a vast Arctic Empire. Indonesia? Plus two. And while not growing, neither India nor Japan is a slouch. Yes, gentlemen, it's not always clear when the mid-game has arrived, but it is in this game. Welcome to the mid-game. Pick your friends. Pick your enemies. Time to dance.

I have taken the liberty of adjudicating the three Russia retreats off the board, and I am also taking the liberty of disbanding the Chinese and Russia units for the Winter.

That leaves us with:

India: Supp 8 Unit 8 Build 0
Indonesia: Supp 7 Unit 5 Build 2
Japan: Supp 7 Unit 7 Build 0
Persia: Supp 11 Unit 8 Build 2
Siberia: Supp 7 Unit 5 Build 2

Those orders are due Thursday at 10:00 CST (15:00 GMT). Then, we'll advance to S1904 next Tuesday.

Fall 1903:
China:
A Hong Kong - Vietnam (*Fails*)

India:
F Arabian Sea - Pakistan (*Fails*)
A Bombay - Delhi
A Burma - Chongqing
F Calcutta - Bombay
A Chongqing - Tibet
A Laos Supports A Thailand - Vietnam
F Sri Lanka - Arabian Sea (*Fails*)
A Tibet - Mongolia

Indonesia:
F Central Indian Ocean - Eastern Indian Ocean
F Eastern Indian Ocean - Jawan Sea
F Seychelles - Madagascar
F Thai Sea Convoys A Thailand - Vietnam
A Thailand - Vietnam

Japan:
A Beijing Hold
F East China Sea Convoys A Philippines - Shanghai
F Hokkaido - Sea of Okhotsk (*Fails*)
A Manchuria Supports A Beijing
A Philippines - Shanghai
F Shanghai - South China Sea
F Yellow Sea Supports A Philippines - Shanghai

Persia:
A Caucasus - Sevastopol
F Eastern Mediterranean Supports A Turkey - Balkans
A Iran Supports F Pakistan
F Moscow Supports A Caucasus - Sevastopol
F Oman Hold
F Pakistan Hold
A Turkey - Balkans
A Uzbekistan - Kazakhstan (*Fails*)

Russia:
A Balkans - Sevastopol (*Dislodged*)
A Kazakhstan Supports A Sevastopol - Moscow (*Cut*)
A Sevastopol - Moscow (*Dislodged*)
F St. Petersburg Hold (*Dislodged*)

Siberia:
F Arctic Sea Supports A Urals - St. Petersburg
A Novosibirsk Hold
F Sea of Okhotsk Hold
A Urals - St. Petersburg
A West Siberia - Urals