An edited excerpt from "A
History of the Settlement of the Spontoon Islands"
"The Gunboat Wars came to Spontoon Island in 1912. These were
a
series
of shifting alliances and powderkeg wars among the small states of the
Pacific from 1905 through 1914. These clashes were sometimes nasty and
sometimes
farces, and were encouraged by the larger world powers. By 1912, mutual
protection
treaties (and an understanding that the large colonial powers may be
the real threats)
were starting to change how the small Pacific states looked at using
warfare."
"In 1912, naval battles occured in the Spontoon Archepelago, most
notably
the cruiser battle with the 'Pirate Fleet' at what becomes known as
Gunboat Island. Spontoon Island was the site of two sharp, small naval
engagements and a troop landing.
The (Spontoon Island Militia) civil defense forces were engaged, and
one of the fights at Spontoon Island
becomes one of the first
demonstrations of naval air power. The incidents surrounding
the
landings were very unpleasant and
only reluctantly talked about later. Only lucky breaks, a fortunate
alliance,
and skilled diplomacy afterward, kept Spontoon Island as an
semi-independent
political entity. The political relationship with the Rain Island
Anarchracy
(formerly Vancouver Island, B.C. and surrounding regions) begins at
this 'Pirate Invasion' and
the Gunboat Island fight."
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