Part II: Preparing for the Worst
"For the last year and 3 months your government has asked many things of Chile and her citizens. We stand at the brink of a conflict that could forever change the course of South American history. Our old rivals of Bolivia have shown us thier true nature, as they have bullied and threatened their Neighbors. Their Leader, German Busch Beccera, thinks he is exacting some sort of revenge against our great nation. But I know better, for while we are small by the standards of the Europeans and the Americans, I know that we are strong. Our Army..." President Pedra Aguirre Cerda paused and smiled to all of the soldiers of Chile's IIIrd Army Corps, lead by the able-minded General Fuentes Rabe, "Is the single most professional force in all of South America, and if Beccera and his communists think they can threaten the Democracy of this nation or any other," Cerda nodded to Paraguay's Ambassador, "They will be sorely mistaken. Chile's brave soldiers, you are our greatest defense against our enemies and I know that while the world may not be watching us now, they will be. Antofagasta will be ours again! If by reason or by force."
The Soldiers and Officers of the Chilean Third Corps cheered as President Cerda left the podium and presented it to General Rabe.
Cerda knew his speech would be heard in Bolivia and the rest of South America, Beccera would easily see it as an open threat to his territorial claims. But Chile hadn't spent the last year in preparation for nothing.
1939 was indeed a busy year, and Cerda had proven himself as a talented and able president of Chile, his approval rating was already the highest ever in Chilean history and dispite what Cerda had said in his speech, the world did indeed notice.
All of this was not possible though if it was not for his cabinet who had managed and rebuilt the country from the ground up.
The first thing they did was work to update and improve upon Chile's Mountain Corps, as their entire country was a vast mountain range, and they were not about to loose their reputation in having some of the best trained and equiped mountain troops in South America.
Many of Chile's commanders stated that with work they would be able to boast not only the greatest in South America, but the world. Cerda had his doubts, but it was a nice thought.
The second thing they researched was the possiblity of a Chilean air carrier.
Admiral De la Motte said that Great War Carriers were already obsolete and suggested further research before actually building one, however, one has to start somewhere. They also researched greater Destroyer tech and air carrier Doctrine. De la Motte insisted that he do the research himself.
Unfortunately, before further naval research could be done, news from the border stated that the Bolivians were already building up forces to the north.
It was immediately decided that despite Bolivia's new coastline, they would not be able to build a navy to compete with Chile's and attention was turned to production of more infantry divisions. And from there the 3rd Army Corps was created. The most important thing they would need that General Rabe insisted was that they would need to create a new mobile Headquarters to further organize Chilean forces against Bolivia.
The efforts in gaining Paraguay's Trust along with improving Brazilian relations have also gone very well.
On top of the continous courtship with Chile's Neighbors, Foreign Minister Tacomal suggested that Chile give Paraguay a continous number of supplies so that they could spend their severely limited IC on more important things.
This would also hopefully allow the people of Paraguay to last longer against a second Bolivian attack.
All was ready, or so President Cerda hoped as he left the base and entered the Presidential Limo, all he and the rest of Chile could hope for was that it would all be enough.
It was indeed a long year.
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