News Spring 1741

The Europe Guardian

Spring 1741

Page 1

Plucky Sweden hammered East and West

Tiny Sweden, little more than a minor power, has suffered attack in the east from Russia who poured a major offensive into Finland.

After a brief skirmish around a minor fortress the Swedes were lucky to escape with all their forces intact

The Swedish rearguard hold back the Russians while the army escapes

Meanwhile in the west, although it managed to bring  Norway under its wing, it suffered a reverse in its attempt to seize Mecklenberg where it gave way to an invading English force pushing out from Hanover.

France gambles on abandoning colonies

Louis XV has begun the campaigning season with a bold gesture. He has withdrawn all his forces from his colonial possessions, happily leaving them to an English takeover.

His concentrated European armies have marched into Savoy, where two regiments of Savoyards flocked to his colours. Lorraine and the Palatinate. although unrest here means that although he has recruited an extra regiment, unrest in the province will deny him its income and he cannot post new units there.

more controversialy Louis has also thrust into the Austrian Netherlands where the garrison, mistaking him for an ally has thrown in its lot with the Bourbon.

French infantry welcomed by the  ladies of the Austrian Netherlands