~Jan-April 1892: Imperial games
January 1892: Work begins on the construction of a military railway to support the invasion of Sudan. The railway will use the same 3'6” gauge as is in use in southern Africa and extend from Wadi Halfa to Kerma, bypassing the second cataract of the Nile. Then it is intended to build another line from Wadi Halfa to Abu Hamad, allowing supplies to reach the invasion force all year round. This construction is to be covered by an Egyptian brigade, while the British brigade and remaining Egyptian units are to advance cautiously to engage any Mahdist forces. General Kitchener does not feel the new Dominion forces have yet reached a sufficient level of training, so they are to remain in Egypt in reserve for the time being. Kitchener's plan is to secure his supply line's flank by advancing on Gondola and then eventually attack the Khalifa's capital at Omdurman via Abu Hamad.
January 1892: US Senator William McKinley successfully passes the McKinley Tariff Act which massively increases US tariffs, despite President Cleveland's fierce opposition, The act instantly causes a huge increase in prices of many goods and is massively unpopular. It will also lead to widespread introduction of retaliatory tariffs in other countries.
January 1892: Khedive Tewfik of Egypt dies unexpectedly and is succeeded by his eighteen year old son Abbas II, The young Khedive immediately begins to resent the control the British exert over Egypt, seeking to re-establish full Egyptian independence. Abbas immediately begins to surround himself with advisers, primarily French who oppose British control over Egypt. Additionally he begins secretly recruiting supporters in the Egyptian army. In this he is aided by growing opposition to British rule in the Egyptian middle class.
February 1892: Congress votes to reject the new US-Canadian trade and fisheries treaty as is, requiring it to modified to restrict Canadian access to US fisheries and totally rejecting the proposed tariff reductions. While President Cleveland does communicate the modifications Congress requires to the British and Canadians, they refuse to contemplate any such modification, feeling they would unduly favour the US.
February 1892: Since 1881, a French company has been trying to construct a trans oceanic canal cross the Isthmus of Panama. However work came to a halt in 1889. Since that time the company has to attempted to maintain the equipment and keep itself afloat. However the debts are now massive and the company collapses, wiping out hundreds of thousands of investors savings. In the resulting scandal, massive political corruption comes to light, with many prominent politicians being implicated and even convicted.
February 1892: Brazilian Alberto Santos-Dumont, heir to a fortune, moves to Paris and begins studying engineering and aeronautics.
February 1892: In order to support his policies of devolution and domestic reform, Campbell-Bannerman appoint the radical Charles Dilke as Home Secretary. His former position as Colonial Secretary is taken by Herbert Asquith, while Asquith's role as Secretary of State for War is taken by Reginald Brett. Brett, aware the army is in need of further reform, is finally successful in convincing the Duke of Cambridge to retire as head of the army. General Garnet Wolseley is promoted to Field Marshall and appointed as his replacement. Wolseley immediately begins advocating for change and rationalisation, demanding additional telegraph battalions along with the creation of specialist railway engineering battalions in the Royal Engineers, along with the creation single unified Medical Corps and similar unified Ordinance Corps. Finally Wolseley also abolishes the regimental numbers retained for line regiments in Childers Reforms.
February 1892: Since their establishment of a Protectorate over Cambodia in 1863, the French have been seeking to expand their control in Indochina into Siamese territory, with ultimate aim of absorbing Siam completely. However after the French attempts to intervene in Burma, the British have been providing support and arms for the Siamese, allowing them to resist these efforts. In return the Siamese have renounced their claims to the Thai speaking Shan region of Burma. In a new attempt to expand their control, the French demand the Siamese acknowledge French control of all territory east of the Mekong River. Relying on British support, the Siamese refuse.
March 1892: With memories of the Panama Crisis fading and it now clear former President Blaine's trade sanctions on Chile are having little or no effect on Chile, President Cleveland is finally successful in having them lifted. He also sets about negotiating an Treaty of Friendship with the Chileans. The proposed treaty would have little practical effect but Cleveland hopes it might be the first step in restoring US influence in Chile.
March 1892: The French, seeking to undermine British control of Egypt begin giving Khedive Abbas II covert support in his opposition to the British, smuggling some 10,000 single shot Gras rifles into the country. Additionally political advisers are provided, along with funds to incite nationalist unrest.
March 1892: French anarchist François Ravachol plants a series of bombs in the offices of senior members of the French judicial system. He is easily captured after information from a police informant and executed. However a certain romantic mythology around him will develop in anarchist circles, leading to further examples of 'propaganda of the deed' and an eventual crackdown on anarchism and by extension, socialism, throughout continental Europe.
March 1892: With 80% of the Brazilian population being illiterate, Prime Minister Afonso Celso introduces free compulsory education to the age of 11, along with government subsidies for education to the age of 15. Once again, the new liberal policies cause a great deal of opposition with the countries conservative elites.
March 1892: The new Regional Administration Boards are elected, with the English, Scottish and Welsh boards falling under the control of the Liberals, while the Irish board is narrowly dominated by the Irish Reform Party and the Ulster board the Conservatives. With the exception of the Ulster board, all will introduce free and compulsory education until the age of 13 by the end of the year. However Ulster will wait until 1896 before bringing in similar reform.
April 1892: The new Chinese arsenal at Hanyang is completed and begins producing modem weapons. Unfortunately a major fire breaks out a few weeks after production starts, inflicting major damage and requiring extensive repairs. However despite this setback it is seen as a great success.
April 1892: With Thomas Edison having lost control of his own company in 1891, Westinghouse and Edison Electrical merge to form the General Electric Company. This marks the final triumph of AC power distribution in the US and the end of the War of the Currents. From this point on, AC will be the dominant power distribution system worldwide.
April 1892: The naval building programs of the Blaine years finally begin to show their effect with eight armoured warships commissioning into the US navy, unfortunately due to the extended construction times, at least six of these are already regarded as near obsolete. However, despite the calls of the Mahanist Secretary of the Navy Hilary Herbert, the 1892 building program only includes a single battleship, albeit to a greatly improved design and two armoured cruisers.
April 1892: In the wake of the near catastrophe of the Baring crisis the Banking Security Act is passed, for the first time imposing regulation on the British financial sector. The act requires all British banks to make regular financial statements to the Bank of England and allowing the bank to impose capital requirements based on the risk of investment the institution holds. Despite the modest nature of the regulations, the act incites fierce controversy over government intrusion into the workings of the market.