[chico20854]

March 23, 1998

The Dutch 105th Recon Battalion is disbanded, its remaining troops used as reinforcements for other formations.

Unofficially,

In the Rio Grande Valley the Mexican refugee camps have become full-fledged combat zones. The 3rd Texas Regiment, reinforced with armored cars from the nearby Laughlin Air Force Base and under orders from the Governor, is ordered to shut them down and deport all the surviving inhabitants.

The Dutch authorities reassess the guerrilla campaign in the occupied territories; while the effort has inflicted a number of embarrassing blows to the French and their Belgian allies, they have not materially impaired their occupation of the territory and there is not even the remotest chance of the Dutch military being able to successfully launch a campaign to evict the occupiers. Therefore, while not calling for an end to resistance, the authorities quietly decide to reduce, and eventually end, material support to the resistance movement, directing the scarce resources to the increasingly dire situation within territory still under government control. Elite military units such as marines and deep reconnaissance units will still be permitted to spend up to 50 percent of their time operating against the French, but with an aim of vengance rather than in preparation for recapture of the lands taken by force.

In the early morning hours the trap set for the 97th Guards Motor-Rifle Division is sprung when the resurgent Romanian Army springs its ambush on the Soviet unit in a narrowing river valley leading to the isolated garrison of Bistrița. The Soviet reconnaissance troops responsible for securing the high ground overlooking the main body have been unable to keep up with the road-mobile column, as the routes through the high ground are in much worse condition than the already abomidable main road (and the division commander's request for helicopter support was denied), so the main body is traveling largely blind, reliant on speed and Romanian disorganization for security. The bet is a bad one, and the Soviet formation is halted by a massive command detonated mine that blasts the road apart, blocking forward progress as emplaced and pre-registered mortar and artillery fire begins to land. The roadsides have been mined as well, restricting the Soviet troops to the road as long-distance machinegun and anti-tank missile fire rake the column. Still, the division is an impressive array of combat power, and the first Romanian assault, by dismounted infantry as darkness falls, is beaten back with massive Romanian casaulties.

A mixed merchant-military convoy departs Kazerun, Iran for Shiraz. Among other cargoes the convoy contains a trailer-mounted 250-kw diesel generator, donated by Saudi authorities, destined for use in increasing the operations of the government-owned munitions plant in Shiraz. (The plant has been in operation since the 1970s, although recently it has been limited to repair of weapons and vehicles of the Shiraz garrison and limited production of spare parts.)