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Noticias Argentinas

April 8
Today the Navy made its decision on the Aircraft Carrier Design Competition which aroused great interest across the world. The inferior home-grown design was not chosen and after a close tie between the Netherlands and Japan the latter won the contract to build two new carriers for the Navy.

April 9
The first civilian carrier for the Compania Argentina de Marinanavegacion Rividavia has been laid down today at the Jabrez Brown yard at Comodoro Rividavia. The ship will commence mail operations upon completion. The ship will be called Leonardo da Vinci.

April 11
The Head of the Argentine Naval Commission in Europe Admiral Galindez today witnessed the laying down of the third General Belgrano Class cruiser Almirante Storni in Germany. This ship will be built to an identical standard as the first two sister ships. A rumoured fourth vessel was cancelled and will be built instead in Argentina during 1935.

April 12
In response to the rumours of a government decision to intervene in Paraguay the General Shipbuilders and Ironworkers Union have withdrawn their labour from Argentina's shipyards. Ships affected include the new mail carrier, and all naval ships building in the AFNE, Astillero Nav. and Tandanor yards. The launches of two submarines and work on two cruisers, one nearly complete, have been abandoned. The Navy is trying to get together enough non-unionised workmen to continue work on the refit of the battleship Libertad as a National Emergency Priority Scheme. The severely damaged gunboat Parana is now in the drydock at Astillero Nav. at Puerto Belgrano but no repair work has yet begun. A survey has rated her at 50% and she is therefore seriously damaged. Repairs will include a general modernisation with new guns. The old destroyer El Plata has been laid up in reserve once again; her damage will not be repaired for the foreseeable future.

April 15
The Argentine Navy has publicly confirmed that in Japan two aircraft carriers have, or will shortly be, laid down. Very good economic terms were agreed and work is pushing ahead on top priority. The two ships will be named Independencia and Guardabosques. The new Chief of Staff of the Navy Adm. Jacinto Pablo Peablo and three other high-ranking staff officers have travelled to Japan to witness the laying down ceremonies. Only a small number of VIPs have been allowed to attend and details of the ships are still sketchy apart from the Technical-Tactical Requirement previously published.

May 7
Recent clashes between patrols and artillery along the Rio Paraguay have caused concern in the government. All river traffic along the Rio Paraguay has been halted and the interruption of food and aid for the refugee camps has resulted in several riots in which nine soldiers were killed.

May 12
The General Shipbuilders and Ironworkers Union remain steadfast in their strike and the state and private yards are now virtually silent. Work continues on the Libertad with blackleg labour which has caused some minor disturbances outside the AFNE yard at Bahia Blanca.

May 13
Recent problems along the Rio Paraguay have cut off the food and aid links to the refugee camps and several rots have taken place in many camps. Some groups of men escaped and rampaged in local townships looting and raping. In response some nine hundred troops have been moved northwards and some sixty refugees killed by Argentine forces, unofficial stores tell of at least 300 being gunned down by machine guns. In the Senate the Defence Minister admitted a third of the Army and nearly two-thirds of the paramilitary Guardia Civil were in the area trying to regain law and order.

May 15
The Ministry of Defence is calling for the enforcement of a demilitarised zone along the Argentine-Paraguayan border. This would result in troops being sent over the Rio Paraguay to clear the riverbank areas of troops. Currently the government forces hold these areas after a push which has forced the rebels back. A vote will be held on sending "pacification" forces into Paraguay to end the civil war there. Another session was held afterwards to find a way to deal with the current strike which is threatening to spread to other areas of the economy.

May 21
After five days of deliberations the Chambre of Deputies has voted 62% in favour of action. The Marxist Deputies abstained. Now the vote will go to the Senate for approval before the Cabinet can finalise the decision.

May 27
The Army today accepted the first shipment of Italian light tanks and armoured cars for equipping a new training school, the tanks are believed to have been purchased to the fast Christie type tank requirement of two years ago.

May 28
After a late midnight session the Senate agreed 53% in favour of action but this morning the Cabinet was torn and the United Social Workers Party Cabinet ministers refused to back action. Now the President and the Democratic Union ministers are trying to get their backing.

May 29
Today the Minister of defence made this statement in the Senate before heading to the Nacional Radio to read it live on the air to the population.
"At oh-five thirty this morning I gave the go ahead for the Fuerza Aerea Argentina to begin bombing operations against Paraguayan government forces along the Rio Paraguay. At oh-six twenty ten bombers headed to their targets. The government has decided the time to act cannot be ignored any longer. Paraguayan threats to cut off all river communications and the likely consequences if this occurred and the threat posed to this nation would be too great. Solutions must be found to the refugee problem and the continuing violence in Paraguay. Since both sides have failed to end the fighting we must step in to create a defensive de-militarised zone along the Rio Paraguay Argentine-Paraguayan border. This will be achieved by Ejercito Argentina forces. The Army and the Fuerza Aerea Argentina will also send advisers and supplies to the Paraguayan Anti-Government Front (UPAF). Argentine forces will not support rebel troops or action in any way. The Navy will use its strength the patrol the river and support the army. We can no longer stand by, it is time to act and impose peace in the region, we do not want the League of Nations to interfere in Paraguay, we have seen what can happen if they decide to get off their backsides and offer belated help. The limited operations will not effect the population or day-to-day living of the population and the Army advises losses to our troops will be low. We only ask for the support of the population for our glorious armed forces fighting to keep the fighting and spectre of war away from our peaceful land."

May 29
Troops belonging to the I Division as part of I Corps have crossed the Rio Paraguay into Paraguay early this morning. Infantry Regiment 101 has taken up defensive positions along the riverbank from roughly Asunción across the river to the Argentine town of Formosa to the south, overall the area of the Parana Incident. Infantry Regiment 102 is the main attacking force which has crossed the river on a small fleet of nine requisitions river boats supported by three MGBs and the gunboat Rosario. Further south Regiment 103 is crossing the river below Pilar, which is now in rebel hands. Reinforcing troops from II Division include Regiments 201 and 203. The I Corps organisation is also forming up in the area. Artillery Regiment 104 has been firing on Paraguayan positions across the river.

The commander of the operation General Jose Serra Aznar has explained the strategy to a press conference. 102 and 203 Regiments will push north and cut off the Paraguayan government forces supply lines with Asunción and the government stronghold around that city. 103 and 102 Regiments will attack from the south from the endangered rebel area around Pilar, now in danger of being cut off by advancing government forces. These two Regiments will then turn north eastwards to the town of San Juan Bautista and trap the Paraguayan forces in a pocket. Then additional troops will secure the rest of the river area and the four Regiments in Phase two will occupy all of the Department of Neembucu and will deploy alongside rebel forces south of Caacupe to create a solid defensive zone. No troops will go beyond this point although they may operate further eastwards to clear the Department of Misiones of government forces.

Post deleted.

Could you scratch that last news item Hrolf, there was a typo in the speech. I meant we do NOT want the LoN to interfere, I missed the word out by accident and I never noticed it until just now.

Sorry folks if this disrupts anything, must be more careful when I type!

I've edited the above news with the correct word added.

Heh, not a problem.

June 3
Aerial recconaissance of the known Paraguayan Government held airfields by an unmarked Junkers tri-motor modified with two cameras obtained from civilian survey aircraft has confirmed the existance of several He 45 aircraft and one shot seems to show a He 51 fighter. Further sorties will be flown to ascertain exactly how many new aircraft there are.

June 10
Army forces supported by bombers have now moved along the Rio Parana tributary near the Grand Uruguay border against heavy resistance from Government forces loyal to General Hector Ramon Garioza Ruiz Diaz. Regiments 102 and 103 are now moving further inland to cut off Government supply lines as another offensive has forced the rebels to evacuate their front lines and pull back towards Caazapa, while the advance from Caacupe continues with the rebels forcing the government troops back towards the capital. Pilar is still in rebel hands and now that Argentine forces have secured the inland area the government forces are retreating to a new suspected fortified line.
Rebel forces have apparently, according to neutral news sources, received new aircraft. Several I-100 Barron fighters and A-504 bombers have been spotted on rebel held aerodromes.

June 12
Early this morning Fuerza Aerea Argentina forces clashed with Paraguayan fighters. In response to a number of attacks by He 45 bombers the Chief of Staff of the Air Force: Gen. Eduardo Serra agreed to an aerial strike on the airbase just outside Asuncion to end this threat. Some six Accrisius FN-7 "Archer" fighter bombers escorted by five I-100 fighters were intercepted by five FIAT CR.32 fighters. After a forty minute dogfight the Paraguayan pilots broke off and headed home. Our I-00 pilots claimed two kills; one of our planes is missing.

June 17
In response to the Second Commerce Secretary of Grand Uruguay Mr Hoyedaz's speech today the Foreign Affairs Minister Alfredo Castagone defended the policy of creating a de-militarised zone along the border as, "The only workable policy to enforce the peace and allow aid and commerce free and safe passage into continental America. Once we can stabilise the refugee crisis then we can help end the conflict in Paraguay and cut off supplies of weaponry to the evil regime which prolongs this battle against its people who wish to be free."

June 18
This morning the elderly Santisima Trinidad, now the Siamese RSNS Maeklong, has left harbour today on her delivery voyage after successfully completing builder's trials during the week despite the industrial troubles of the past weeks. She will be escorted part of the way by the Patagonia and the destroyer Heroina.

June 19
The first joint Argentine-African convoy of river boats and barges under the protection of Argentine gunboats has arrived in Asuncion with vital supplies of food and aid for the refugee camps on both sides of the border. The gunboats respected Paraguayan waters and did not open fire on any target during the voyage. The People Help People foundation set up by Argentine and African businessmen has funded most of the supplies along with the Red Cross. Further convoys are planned.

June 25
The resignation of the Second Commerce Secretary of Grand Uruguay Mr Hoyedaz has been welcomed in Argentina today after his unfounded comments on Argentine foreign policy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has promised to work very closely with their African counterparts in Grand Uruguay to further humanitarian relief in the area.