A rules questions

Friends -

Two dip players of some experience have come to a disagreement on a rules
question.  If you could shed light on this situation, it would be most
appreciated.

*The Situation:*

F Por to Spa(sc)
F Gas S F Por to Spa(sc)

*The Question:*
**
is the order for F Gas *Void* or *Valid*

*The Rules:*

On page 7 in the 4th edition of the rules (
http://www.diplomacy-archive.com/resources/rulebooks/2000AH4th.pdf)  two
relevant quotes can be found...

1)  "A fleet that can move to a province with two separate coasts (A fleet
in the Mid-Atlantic for example) can support another Army or Fleet into that
province (in this case Spain) without regard to separate coastlines."  (2nd
paragraph - 2nd column)

2)  "The province to which a unit is providing support must be one to which
the supporting unit could have legally moved during that turn. ...Likewise a
Fleet in Rome could not support a unit's move to Venice because, although
adjacent by land, the Fleet can not move to Venice from Rome." (1st
paragraph - 2nd column)

*The Arguments:*
**
one reading of these rules is that "If you can move to a province you can
support ANY action in that province. period".  ie - the fleet in Gas can
support Por to Spa(sc) because it can itself move to Spa thus making the
support order *Valid*.

the second reading is that since Spa(sc) is not a province that the
supporting unit (F Gas) 'could have legally moved' to, it is thus an illegal
support and therefore *Void*.


I leave this earth-shattering question to these august bodies of wisdom on
Cat23 and look forward to reading various judicious opinions on the
matter.   Has this been resolved elsewhere?

I am told by my fellow diplomacy player that he is 100% positive of his
position and since I hold him and his experience in high regard, I am
inclined to agree with him - but felt that due to my minor doubt, I should
consult with the rest of the village elders first.  (ps. I still have not
told you all which position I have taken in this)

Babak


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