Part I: The Bolivian Problem
December, 1938
President Pedro Aguirre Cerda looked over the newspaper on his desk. It was grim news indeed, more riots and civil unrest throughout the country. Palma had done an excellent job in thoroughly ruining his great nation of Chile.
Without ever firing a shot or even a mild protest, the former-president Arturo Palma handed Antofogasta over to the Bolivians. Now the Bolivians, who were being lead by that mad-man Beccera had effectively doubled their territory after bullying both Brazil and Paraguay.
Of course, it was this very mess that put Cerda into office, the Chilean people were crying bloody murder over the last two years since losing the northern coast and all of the valuable metal mines with it. The economy collapsed nearly overnight. They wanted justice, and for them justice was kicking Palma out of the country.
Cerda was a peaceful man by nature, and he was more interested in trying to improve his country from within rather than continuing old rivalries with her neighbors. The old school teacher only wanted to improve his country's education system and with it the country as a whole, but fate as it would seem has other plans for him. Of course, Cerda knew that the only way to truly restory Chilean pride and end this humilation, was to take back Antofogasta. By force if neccissary, and that was what Cerda was preparing for.
One by one his cabinet entered the conference room. They had an agressive neighbor to the north and they had to do something to stop him.
The first to arrive was his foreign minister, Miguel Cruchaga Tacomal, most saw him as a simple minded man and a brute, but since Cerda wasn't much for talking tough, Tacamal was the perfect man for the situation.
Next was Chile's Armaments Minister, Eduardo Hillman, Mr. Hillman was actually from a north american family and Cerda felt his background would be useful not only in perfecting the national army's munitions and equipment, but also help Tacamal build warm relations with the United States. That is, should events in the southern continent go totally awry.
Then there was the Minister of Security, this was a job that Cerda did not envy. With all of the revolts and protests, they would need a man who could keep things together and gain the trust of the people. That man was Abraham Ortega Aguayo.
The Intelligence minister, Federico Escamante, was next to enter the room. He was picked specifically with the purpose of tracking Bolivian troop movements. His understanding of Army supply lines and habits would be perfect for this task. Cerda knew that the Bolivians did not yet have a navy as they had only recently obtained a coastline. Naval intelligence was not yet an issue.
Then there was the Chief of Staff and Cheif of the Navy, C.J. de la Motte. This man was truely one in a million here in south america. While other military leaders were still emphasising Guerrilla tactics and militias, this man knew that Artillery was the king of the battle, and that Air Carriers would be the wave of the future in naval warfare. Since the early thirties when he first witnessed British Carrier tactics in the atlantic he knew the direction Chile's Navy would have to take. Since then he had been petitioning the government to invest in a Carrier force and submarines. Now under Cerda's leadership he would have his chance.
The Chief of the Army was Carlos Fuentes Rabe, another rarity in South American strategy, he shared many beleifes with de la Motte and beleived that crushing the enemy in a swift and decisive battle would demoralize them enough for the Chilean Army to steamroll over the Bolivian Communist rabble.
Dario Mujica Gamboa was a strong proponent of Air Superiority. But was also aware of the pitiful state of the Chilean Airforce, it was this fact that convinced Cerda to appoint him to the head of the Airforce, it would take a main who recognizes the flaws in a force to fix them. He too had been working closely with de la Motte to promote a force of Naval Bombers and Intercepter Fighters.
With all of them at the table together Cerda sat down and started the meeting after the guard left the room and closed the door.
Cerda turned to his foreign minister. "What is the situation with our neighbors, besides the one to the north."
Miguel let out a cough and pulled out a folder with several files, "Well, I finished speaking with the Argentinian ambassador and he said simply that the issue with Bolivia is not an Argentine issue and that while he and his goverment are sympathetic to our situation, they do not want to get involved. It seems they are not interested in fighting a second saltpeter war."
Cerda frowned, the Argentine army is one of the largest on the continent, and the two countries have had reletively good relations for a long time. Of course the depression has taken its toll on everyone. He looked at the other files under Tacomal's arms. "Is there anything else? It looks like you have a lot."
"Well, it seems that we do have a few other potential friends. Though it may not be completely obvious to some."
He passed some folders around.
"If you all look at the top of the file, we have Brazil. Now, their relations with us are only mildly friendly, but they have one thing in common with us the Argentina does not."
"They lost territory to Bolivia as well." Federico Escamante chimed in.
"That is right, and because of that, I think that with a little more warming up with them, an alliance may not be out of the question. It will simply take a little careful choice of words." Tacomal looked around the table and lifted the second file. "The United States, they may be far away, but they like us a whole lot better than they are liking the Bolivians and Beccera right now. Ever since Beccera started warming up with the soviets, the Americans removed their diplomat and abandoned their embassy faster than we did."
"Will they help us militarily?" Cerda asked in high hopes.
"I doubt it," Hillman interupted, "they may like us enough to trade and talk to us, but the only way I see them intervene is if Beccera plows over us and everyone else on this continent. The only way I see them getting involved is if Beccera decides to invade Columbia."
"Which is right next to the Canal." Cerda frowned. He lifted the American file and looked at the third, "Why do I see Paraguay here?"
Tacomal grinned, "Paraguay will be our wildcard. They had their territory stolen from them as well. And they are even worse off than Brazil or us."
Cerda and his staff looked over the file, "You are right, it seems that Beccera stole their entire manufacturing base."
"Exactly, and on top of that, he tried to annex the rest of their country as well. But they put up a hell of a fight, held off for 8 months and finally forced Beccera to offer a white peace."
"Wow!" The whole table was astonished with the determination of the people of Paraguay.
"So what does this have to do with us?" General Rabe asked.
"Beccera will probably try to invade Paraguay again before they try to take us out. Even though they hate us more than any other country, they also know we can outproduce them. Paraguay on the otherhand has only one industrial complex left and a small guerrila army. They may not win the next conflict."
"What do yo suggest we do?" Cerda asked.
"Guarantee their Independence."
The whole table was filled with confused and skeptical faces.
Tacomal continued, "If we Guarantee their Independence, it will give us a Causus Belli against Beccera, and we can take him while he is still fighting with whatever resistence Paraguay puts up. If we are lucky, they will last for at least three months, and that will be more than enough time to take back Antofogasta and then their capital."
Cerda was shocked by the brutality and foresight of his minister. "Did you plan all this?"
"No, I merely hinted at the scenario, and your military Chiefs drew up the details."
De la Motte, and Rabe smiled with a hint of self satisfaction.
"So when do we start?"
De la Motte frowned slightly, "Unfortunately, that is all up to Beccera. We do have other contingency plans should he attack us first."
Mr. Aguayo interupted, "Ultimately, it would be unwise for us to start anything or do anything that would prompt the Bolivians to do anything at the moment. We need to stablize things a home first. Fortunately, even though unrest and civil strife has been at an all time high, there are signs of things quieting down. Ever since the people and senate ejected Palma we have had considerable more breathing room. However, if we do not act quickly, we may never gain back the trust of the population."
The Security Minister's statement brought a sobering air to the room. Those were the immediate facts and it it truly was up to the Bolivians as to if and when a new Saltpeter War starts up.
end of chapter...