The Plot Thickens. . .

Contact: Katrina-Bettina von Heffelfinger
Die Krankenstadt Tageblat
4 Schlossplatz
Krankenstadt
The Grand Duchy of Stollen


For Immediate Release:

ZICHENAUER ARMY CROSSES FRONTIER INTO GRAND DUCHY OF STOLLEN
General Phillipe de Latte at Its Head

Somewhat more organized military intelligence now confirms that the Army of Zichenau has crossed the frontier at Zwieback and is moving slowly along the main road toward the Stollenian capital by way of Effibriest and Instetten. Reports also indicate that the notorious French mercenary-adventurer, and veteran of the Seven Years War, General Phillipe de Latte, de facto consort to the Electorate of Zichenau's ruler, Princess Antonia III, is once again in command.

Allied Principality of Pillau-Zerbst Provides Small Levy of Troops to Zichenau

Besides the usual preponderance of baggage wagons, chamber musicians, dancing girls, vivandieres, and birdcages, the Army of Zichenau's slow pace can also be attributed to a larger than normal artillery train. The neighboring Principality of Pillau-Zerbst has provided a recently raised battery of guns along with crew to its larger ally. The exact reason for Pillau-Zerbst's sudden involvement and enthusiastic collaboration with the Electorate of Zichenau has yet too be determined though since diplomatic relations between Stollen and Pillau-Zerbst have been frosty to non-existent since the summer of 1766.

Precise Reason for Hostilities Rather Difficult to Determine

Given the poor state poor state of diplomatic relations in the region, a definite reason for the invasion has not yet emerged. Within certain Stollenian political circles, however, one widely held view is that the tiny Principality of Pillau-Zerbst has designs on recovering a small slice of territory lost to Stollen during the Crisis of 1723. This particular snippet of information remains unconfirmed though. A high-ranking Stollenian minister, who wishes to remain anonymous, has instead suggested to Die Krankenstadt Tageblat that the actual reason behind the outbreak of hostilities and the invasion of Stollen by Zichenau has less to do with coveted territory and more to do with a coveted object, rumored to have belonged to a member of Zichenau's royal family until quite recently.

Grand Duke Irwin-Amadeus II Implicated

The minister in question declined to say more, suggesting that Stollen's Grand Duke Irwin-Amadeus II would be able to provide additional information about the purloined personal effect. The Grand Duke unfortunately, was not available for comment, having left immediately for a long weekend at Aunt Agatha's following yesterday's emergency cabinet sessions.

Stollenian Army to Assemble West of Krankenstadt

Meanwhile, Stollenian ministers and army officers work overtime to assemble the thinly spread Stollenian army just to the west of the capital, where it will march to meet the combined weight of the Zichenauer-Pillau-Zerbst invasion. The officer provisionally in command of the Stollenian army, General von Tschatschke, also known as The Flamboyant Silesian to his men, has indicated that gathering the various units under his command and assembling them into a coherent force will be a notable challenge. However, von Tschatschke added that he was sure his officers and men were up to the task. Whether or not that is actually the case once the two armies face each other in battle remains to be seen. Given the small distances involved from one side of Stollen to the other, however, it should not be many days before Stollenian units converge and meet their adversaries on the field of Mars once again.

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