Part 2: Flashes of War
Justo's car drove slowly through the farming village, in pace with the marching columns of soldiers in front and behind. The parade was met by hundreds of people from the town, a bit of excitement that was rarely experienced by the peasant class. Justo would change that. Not only would their lives improve, but they would no longer be peasants. He would make sure that they benefited from the vast natural resources of the Americas, as the people of North America had.
The United Kingdom might have stolen the Falkland Islands from Argentina, but Argentina was still a tricontinental power, just like Britain.
As the convoy of men and materiel left the crowded main street of the village, the army pulled off of the main road and began to set up camp for the evening.
As Justo's tent was set up and furnished with all the comforts of home, he sat in the back seat of his car and spoke again with General Rodriguez. Who leaned on the passenger-side door, very much at ease. He had forgotten that he was in the presence of Justo himself, his superior.
"We crossed the border into Neuquen a few hours ago, Generalissimo." He reported. "As per your instructions, I have commanded the army to fan out to their designated passes. Before the month is over, Neuquen will be a fortress."
"Good." Justo responded sedately. "I was thinking today as we entered the state; Neuquen is the home of many of the workhouses due to the large number of shanty towns. Besides Buenos Aires, it has the largest number of militias. We're going to give Chile one last chance at peace, and we'll be organizing for another two or three months. We should begin calling up some of our militias and organizing them into irregular divisions."
"I will see to it at once." Rodriguez said, turning to walk away, but then remembering to salute. What a dense fool he was. Still, he performed his job, and Justo didn't think he meant any disrespect.
The Army enters Neuquen and begins to take up positions in the province.
***
May 1st, 1936
My Dearest Cris,
I miss you more deeply than I can describe already. Though it is nice to meet my old friends, I long to be by your side because I know that it will be months before I see your beautiful face again.
I can not tell you where I am going, but I can tell you that I have marched for many days straight and still have not arrived at my final destination. The only reason I would have been called up is to serve Argentina in combat, and it isn't very hard for me to guess with whom she will find herself in battle with.
Know that I love you deeply, and will return to you swiftly so that I might once more enjoy your company; which is so superior to the crude jokes of my platoon.
Kisses to you and little Camila,
Miguel Rojas
Thousands of militiamen are called up for active service from all over Western Argentina.
***
"MILITIAMAN ROJAS!" Screamed his company leader, Lieutenant Parodi as the brown haired youth and new father jogged into camp, exhausted and drenched in sweat. He desperately wanted to lean forward and put his hands on his knees, but he obediently stood at attention in front of his commanding officer and saluted while he heaved and gasped for air. "YOU ARE DEAD LAST, ROJAS. LAST MAN TO RETURN! WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO MOTIVATE YOU? DO I HAVE TO MAKE YOU TURN AROUND AND RUN THE COURSE AGAIN?!"
"No sir!" Rojas said through his gasping. "I will try harder, sir!"
"Thirty men returned before you did, militiaman! Are you ashamed to be the weak link out of such a relatively large number?"
"Yes sir, I am, sir!" He faithfully answered.
"Do you have an excuse, Militiaman?"
"No sir, no excuse. I simply have to try harder, sir!"
"Good, then turn around, and do the course again. And when you get back, you will address your platoon and explain to them why they had to wait so long to go to dinner." The Lieutenant said maliciously, his eyes glinting with cruelty.
"Yes sir." Rojas managed. He wanted to argue. He, in fact, did have an excuse; but excuses would have done him no good, no matter how valid they were. He never said anything, but he viewed his peasantesque comrades with contempt. He figured it must have shone through, because most of them hated him, and went so far as physical violence.
When they began the grueling ten mile run that morning, his boots had been tied together. When he caught up with the first stragglers, they had laughed about what they had done and told him that he would come in last because they had dropped behind to ensure he would not pass anyone.
When Rojas had ignored this and tried to pass, they had attacked him and left him on the ground with bruised ribs. He had given one of them a shiner, he thought, so perhaps his assailant would have raised suspicions when he arrived. In any case, reporting it would do no good, and Rojas didn't care. He just wanted to get back home to his family.
Preliminary attack plans. Justo intends to use Neuquen as a fortress, supporting single divisions of militia in assaulting adjacent provinces and forcing a rapid surrender by Chile.
***
BEUNOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - Following months of protracted talks with Chile over territory disputes, and rapidly deteriorating relations between Argentina and Chile, an ultimatum was delivered by President Justo yesterday morning at dawn to the Government of Chile.
Chile responded in an unexpected fashion; continuing its strategy of ignoring messages of any kind from the Argentinian Government concerning the territory claims that they consider to be unfounded.
The situation has progressed since then, followed by a formal declaration of war by Argentina on Chile early this morning. Sources confirm that an invasion of the mountainous nation is underway, but there have yet to be any confirmed cases of armed combat.
The United States Embassy announced, in response to the sudden outbreak of war in South America, that it was revoking its Non-Aggression Pact with Argentina.
While some fear that this is indicative of a coming military intervention by The United States on behalf of Chile, others view it as a diplomatic warning to Argentina rather than a red flag of things to come.
In response, a representative of the Justo Administration has announced that Argentine-American relations are of the utmost importance to the Government, and that they are confident this unfortunate incident has negatively impacted that; adding that efforts would be made to repair any damage.
Needless to say, The Argentina Star will bring you more stories on this important war as it progresses.
The United States cancels its NAP as war begins in the early hours of the 1st.
Combat begins as scheduled for the city of Santiago, followed by an attack on the south to prevent Chile from retaking Santiago after it is captured.
***
"Attack!" Cried Lieutenant Parodi in glorious triumph. For his irregulars were on both sides of the back mountain road in perfect ambush formations. The enemy had marched right through at double time in a desperate effort to reinforce Santiago, and the bolt-action rifles of the militiamen were singing a steady stream of sharp cracks as bullet after bullet tore down from the hillside into the hurried mountaineers who were diving for cover. In an instant, they were broken and running in full retreat, but their visibility was too good. Not a single enemy escaped.
The entire Chilean province was filled with the advancing Neuquen Militia Division, and they were promised not only a quick victory, but that the war would be over by the time they seized the infrastructure and major cities of the conquest.
Rojas held a healthy doubt about this, but the first part of that promise was quickly coming true.
The combat goes according to plan.
The war hits its first snag, as the forces in the north are reinforced by the retreating Santiago garrison, holding fast in a vital strategic point.
***
"Sir." Rodriguez said, thankfully remembering to salute his Generalissimo this time. "The Beunos Aires Railway Company has finished the final stages of its research, and has tested their rapid redeployment model on a large scale. They await only your orders, and say they can have troops from anywhere in Argentina to anywhere else in no more than a month starting from the moment they are informed of the orders."
"That's excellent news." Justo said in response, nodding to himself. "That situation in the north had me worried. I just got word that the defenders of Santiago were forced to retreat. Our objectives have been accomplished; there's no more we can do in Neuquen. The main army will advance by rail into Santiago and drive back the counter-attack. Also, order the mountain division to reinforce San Miguel for the final attack on Antofagasta; if that doesn't force Chilean surrender, nothing will."
"Yes sir!" Roared General Rodriguez, who actually sounded impressed with Justo.
Justo merely smiled to himself as Rodriguez left the room following an extra-smart salute. Argentina had steamrolled her opponent. Justo was more convinced than ever that Brazil could be taken with similar success...
Redeployment becomes a viable option for the Argentine Army, and work is begun on improving the Navy.
