As winter thaws into spring many interesting things happened around the world, outside of the horrendous warfare sweeping Europe and its surrounding areas:
- On January 22 a little play called "Our Town" was staged in Princeton, New Jersey. Some people are saying it might end up being popular.
- In more popular culture press, on February 4 a "cell-animated feature", Snow White, is released in the United States.
- On May 5 the Vatican recognizes Franco's government in Spain; curious, as Franco and his army have virtually abandoned Spain itself
- Amidst the mobilization in Italy, Laszlo Biro patents a new invention, the ballpoint ben, on June 15
- While no World Cup was staged in 1938 thanks to the war, statistical experts ran a rudimentary simulation and determine that Italy would have defeated Hungary in the finals by a 4-2 mark
- Also in the world of sports, American boxer Joe Louis avenged his earlier loss to German Max Schmeling via a spectacular first round knockout at Yankee Stadium in New York City
- Finally, in Asia, Japan has continued to advance in China but there have been a lack of noteworthy engagements. However, in June, Chinese forces flooded the Yellow River to stall the Japanese advance. The Chinese people, aware of oppressive Japanese rule in conquered territories, hope this can be the beginning of turning the tide.
There is one Italian retreat (all neutral units are disbanded). Upcoming deadlines are at the end of this note.

***
PLAYERS
 Britain - sunchung / Sun Chung / sun.chung(at)gmail.com
 France - DrSwordopolis / Nick Powell / nick.s.powell(at)gmail.com
 Germany - charlesf / Charles Feaux de la Croix / charlesf(at)web.de
 Italy (and Nationalist Spain) - raistlin / David Gould / davidchegould(at)bigpond.com
 Poland - smileyrob / Robert Stein / smileyrob68(at)gmail.com
 Turkey - Wladimir7 / Wladimir Mysonski / wmysonski(at)gmail.com
 USSR (and Republican Spain) - Nitsch / Karsten Nitsch / karsten.nitsch(at)gmx.de

***
HEADLINES
 British Naval pressure in Scandinavia yields victory in Sweden, defeat in Finland
 Citizens of Marsailles welcome home French battalions
 Germans turtle, play wait-and-see
 Victory in Switzerland, defeat in Africa for active Italians
 Polish armies prepare for the main event, march openly on the Soviet Union
 Despite defeat in Serbia, Turkey celebrates seizing Soviet holdings in Iran
 Soviet military struggles continue as enemies bear down
 Republicans consolidate their Madrid success France is breached as Nationalists celebrate Fascist progress

Now, for some player press:

***
Italian Press:
El Duce stood impassively as generals and various other flunkeys - that is how he thought of his subordinates - fluttered around the grand map of Europe laid out in marble, silver and gold on the floor below. Various elaborately carved pieces were being moved expressly as he, the Supreme Commander, had commanded. And the results of these movements would soon be known, written in fire and blood. Someone coughed behind him.

'Excellency, the German ambassador wishes to speak with you about the situation in Croatia, and the French are requesting a response to their peace proposal.'

Mussolini turned, his face showing his displeasure. He drew his pistol and aimed it at the unfortunate messenger's chest. The fellow turned white, and raised his hands in supplication. A shot rang out, and he slumped to the ground. The ruler of Italy stepped back, not wishing for icor to stain his fine leather boots. He waved those below to continue.

'Foolish fellow,' he thought. 'His own fault. They have all been warned never to interrupt me in the middle of a Diplomacy game.'***
Turkish Press:
Our leader, Ataturk, has heard the moans of the Persian people and has offered assistance to them out of solidarity with their plight. The good people of Iraq have extended their hand of brotherly support in hopes that Iraq and Iran can forever be at peace with one another. The Turkish republic stands for all downtrodden peoples and hopes to extend that generosity to other parts of the world and we challenge our "Western" friends to do the same for its subjugated and enslaved masses. As the weather warms in Anatolia, so too should the relations between us and the other powers.***Observer Press (strongly seconded by the GM!):
Douglas Kent, the editor of Diplomacy World, one of the premier 'zines of the hobby, is conducting a survey so that the 'zine can better serve the readers and the hobby at large. Would you please take a few minutes and fill out the survey and submit it back to Doug by mid-September? Thanks. it can be accessed on p.113 of the Diplomacy World 110 available in PDF format at http://www.diplomacyworld.net/pdf/dw110.pdf.***
Britain: F Denmark Supports F Skaggerak - SwedenF Edinburgh - Irish SeaF Norway - Finland(nc) (*Fails*)F Suez HoldF Atlantic Ocean - MoroccoF North Sea Supports F DenmarkF Skaggerak - Sweden
France: A Algiers Supports A Morocco - Southern AlgeriaA Belgium - PicardyA Gascony - MarseilleA Morocco - Southern AlgeriaF South-Western Approaches - Bay of Biscay
Germany: A Austria Supports A Munich - Switzerland (*Cut*)A Berlin - SaxonyF Hamburg Supports F NetherlandsA Munich - Switzerland (*Fails*)F Netherlands Supports F HamburgA Rhineland Supports F Netherlands
Italy: A Croatia - SloveniaA Marseille - SwitzerlandA Milan Supports A Marseille - SwitzerlandF Naples - Tyrrhenian SeaA Rome - Austria (*Fails*)A Southern Algeria Supports F Atlantic Ocean - Morocco (*Dislodged*)F Valencia - Gulf of Lion
Poland: A Cracow - Western UkraineF Estonia - Leningrad(sc) (*Bounce*)A Hungary - Serbia (*Bounce*)A Latvia Supports F Estonia - Leningrad(sc)A Rumania - Eastern UkraineA Transylvania - Serbia (*Bounce*)A Warsaw - CracowF Gulf of Danzig - Gulf of Bothnia (*Fails*)
Turkey: A Ankara - KurdistanF Greece - Libyan SeaF Istanbul - Black SeaA Kurdistan - IranA Thrace - Serbia (*Bounce*)F Eastern Mediterranean Supports F Greece - Libyan Sea
USSR: A Eastern Anatolia - GeorgiaA Finland - Leningrad (*Bounce*)A Iran - StalingradA Moscow Supports A Finland - LeningradF Gulf of Bothnia - Gulf of Danzig (*Fails*)
Nationalist_Spain: A Navarra - Gascony
Republican_Spain: A Madrid Supports F Portugal
Iraq: A Iraq Supports A Kurdistan - Iran
Portugal: F Portugal Supports A Madrid
Sweden: F Sweden Supports F Gulf of Bothnia - Gulf of Danzig (*Disbanded*)
Switzerland: A Switzerland Supports A Gascony - Marseille (*Disbanded*)

Retreats:Italian A Southern Algeria may retreat to Tri or disband.
***

Ownership of supply centers

Britain:   Denmark, Edinburgh, Egypt, Liverpool, London, Norway, Suez.
France:    Algiers, Belgium, Brest, Morocco, Paris.
Germany:   Austria, Berlin, Czechia, Hamburg, Munich, Netherlands.
Italy:     Croatia, Marsailles, Milan, Naples, Rome, Tripoli, Valencia.
Poland:    Cracow, Gdynia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Rumania, Serbia, Warsaw.
Turkey:    Ankara, Beirut, Bulgaria, Greece, Istanbul, Izmir.
USSR:      Finland, Iran, Leningrad, Moscow, Stalingrad.
Nationalist_Spain: Burgos.
Republican_Spain: Madrid.

Britain:    7 Supply centers,  7 Units:  Builds   0 units.
France:     5 Supply centers,  5 Units:  Builds   0 units.
Germany:    6 Supply centers,  6 Units:  Builds   0 units.
Italy:      7 Supply centers,  7 Units:  Builds   0 units.
Poland:     8 Supply centers,  8 Units:  Builds   0 units.
Turkey:     6 Supply centers,  6 Units:  Builds   0 units.
USSR:       5 Supply centers,  5 Units:  Builds   0 units.
Nationalist_Spain:  1 Supply center,   1 Unit:   Builds   0 units.
Republican_Spain:  1 Supply center,   1 Unit:   Builds   0 units.

***
Upcoming Deadlines (all orders are due at 5 PM EST, GMT -5)
 Summer 1938 Retreats, Thursday July 29 Fall 1938 Prelims, Friday July 30 Fall 1938 Orders, Tuesday August 3