WesWorld

Noticias Argentinas

1 January
The Astillero Nav. shipyard at Puerto Belgrano was facing a bleak future with no future orders and the possibility of laying off hundreds of workers. However, the Navy placed two orders with the yard late last year for two new tankers to be built this year. The vessels will be a petroleum tanker and a water tanker based on the Project 707 Class of coastal tankers, of which three have been built. The first vessel, the petroleum tanker Cabo San Isidro, was laid down today and should complete in April. Also another minelaying cruiser has begun construction for the Chilean Navy as a sistership to the Covadonga and the fortunes of the shipyard are very much altered.
At the AFNE shipyard at Bahia Blanca work has begun on two new transports for the Navy for service along the Patagonian coast

15 January
Reports have been received in the capital that there has been a severe earthquake in the province of San Juan. The earthquake occurred in a region highly prone to seismic events and reportedly destroyed a large part of city of San Juan. Further details will be forthcoming once they are known.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hood
15 January
Reports have been received in the capital that there has been a severe earthquake in the province of San Juan. The earthquake occurred in a region highly prone to seismic events and reportedly destroyed a large part of city of San Juan. Further details will be forthcoming once they are known.

Ooh, I was wondering if you were going to have that!

The Chilean government, having had unfortunately too much experience with this sort of thing, expresses their deep sympathies for the earthquake and offers to send emergency medical teams and search teams to assist the Argentine people. The French government likewise expresses their sympathies and French charities will begin raising funds to help the victims.

The German Government expresses its concern and will be dispatching aid supplies forthwith. Details to follow.

January 16 07:43am

In the control tower at Military Air Base El Plumerillo just outside the town of Mendoza a group of senior officers were pacing around the radio desk. The despatcher looked at the large blackboard behind him. "Sir, Pampas Six should be over the city by now." The Station Commander nodded. A few moments later the speaker hissed and clicked and the pilot's voice echoed out, "This is Pampas Six to Control. Pampas Six to Control do you read my signal? Over." "This is Control. Go ahead Pampas Six, we are reading you strength four." The signal was crackly but good enough to hear. "I'm flying over San Juan now. Or what was San Juan. There's a lot of smoke. I can see people running about, ruins everywhere." the Station Commander grabbed the microphone, "This is Major Santos. What area of the city are you flying over. What is the extent of the damage?" The radio hissed before the pilot spoke again, "I can't tell Sir. A can't make out the roads, the spires have gone, several taller buildings collapsed. I'm over the southern end of the town. So much smoke, there several large fires out of control its like hell down there." The pilots voice broke off. The station commander looked at the board, "There is an Air Force barracks on the south-eastern edge of town can you see it? Is it intact?" A few moments later the pilot radioed back, "I'm not sure Sir. I can see what might be a barrack block but its badly damaged. Can't see any personnel on the ground." The despatcher looked at the clock, "Sir he'll have to break off with his fuel status. Pampas Nine should be arriving within ten minutes." The commander was not happy but he had heard enough to know the devastation was serious. "Very well bring him home for debriefing. I must go and call Headquarters with a report."

16 January
More information has been released about the terrible earthquake near in the Province of San Juan yesterday. The provincial capital San Juan has been destroyed and an estimated 10,000 of its inhabitants killed (roughly 10% of its population). One third of the population of the province have become homeless. It is the worst natural disaster in Argentine history.
The earthquake occurred at 8:52 pm and had its epicentre located 30 km north of the San Juan, near La Laja. Some 90% of the buildings in San Juan were destroyed. It is considered that the reason for such widespread destruction is the low quality of construction, rather than just the power of the earthquake. Many of San Juan's houses are made of adobe bricks. Several government ministries are now supplying aid to the area and caring for the wounded and homeless (there were also around 1,000 orphans). The first phase of reconstruction will be the provision of emergency homes which will all be funded by the national government.

The government immediately contacted local military units into the Province of San Juan to begin rescuing and caring survivors and maintaining law and order in the region.
The only military unit near the city itself was the Commando de la Defensa Antiaerea Regiment No.5, which is an Air Force anti-aircraft unit. The earthquake demolished some structures in the barracks and some accommodation blocks collapsed and sixteen soldiers were killed and dozens injured. The barracks infirmary was intact and by dawn some 200 wounded were being treated and another 800 were seeking sanctuary. The commander was able to make some provisions and tents available but not enough to do more than scratch the surface of the misery. Some security patrols were sent out but generally the local police had stopped functioning.

The nearest airfield is Military Air Base El Plumerillo at Mendoza in the Province of Mendoza and slightly further away Military Air Base Mercedes at Mercedes in the Province of San Luis. Two units are stationed at El Plumerillo and several fighters of the Tactical Fighter School Military made reconnaissance flights over the city shortly after dawn and reports were radioed back of the devastation.
Grupo Transporte at Military Air Base Mercedes quickly sprang into action. Constelación Twin Condor Serie-400 transports began landing this afternoon on a small rough strip of land near the barracks in San Juan and another pilot managed to land onto a small plot of land beside the city hospital and take-off with several stretchers aboard. The unit had few items to transport into the area but some supplies were delivered before dusk and around forty seriously wounded cases were evacuated.
Tomorrow the first soldiers from other barracks should arrive. The nearest Army units are troops of II Brigada stationed in San Luis and the Andes Mountain Brigada at La Rioja. The Army Command has selected both units to enter the city, the Mountain Troops being most useful in search and rescue parties with their equipment and ability to traverse rough terrain and rubble. Overland routes are disrupted and nearer the earthquake zone roads are damaged or impassable and many soldiers have been delayed and are having to march on foot. Refugees are streaming the other way to seek aid but the entire region is struggling to cope with their own casualties.

January 16: The Chilean government is preparing relief supplies for immediate delivery to San Juan, either by land or by air. The FACh offers the services of their N.1510 transports for the purpose of airdropping vital supplies to the affected region, and is readying food, medicine, fuel and tents to ship by rail to Mendoza. Additionally, search and rescue teams from the Chilean military are offered to help join the rescue efforts under Argentine command.

As a result of last year's Ovalle Earthquake (170mi to the west of San Juan), Chile has some facilities for refugees which are currently empty. The use of these will be offered to the Argentine government.

Argentina gladly accepts any foreign offers of help in this most terrible of natural disasters.

The first statements out of Italy come from the Holy See. Pope Pius XII calls for charity and prayer to help those effected by the earthquake. The Italian government follows later stating that it laments the loss of human life to this natural disaster. Like other nations, Italy pledges what assistance it can and is open to helping form a joint relief effort from European nations.

17 January
All day a steady stream of Twin Condors have flown into San Juan barracks and one air drop was made over the hospital with medical supplies. Junkers Ju-52 quicklime transports have also begun flying into the area and landing on available flat fields to deliver their vital cargoes. Meanwhile the Guardia Civil has mobilised over 5,000 volunteers and has sent them to the affected areas. Army units are still finding it hard to enter the worst hit areas and floods of refugees continue to pour into the countryside. Several loud explosions were heard as the remaining oil stocks in San Juan exploded as fires still rage uncontrolled in some parts of the city. The Chilean government is sending vital supplies of food, medicine, fuel and tents by rail to Mendoza. The Chilean Air Force has also supplied several N.1510 transport aircraft and crews to aid the airdropping of vital supplies.

The first pictures have now been published in the Argentine press.




18 January
Army engineers have completed a rough strip enabling aircraft as large as the Junkers to land at the largest refugee camps. Chilean N.1510 transport aircraft have spent the day dropping supplies to several isolated villages around the region and light aircraft have removed a few severe stretcher cases from these areas. Around 130 medical personnel arrived by air today as civil airliners were pressed into service to deliver aid. A large mob trying to break into the food stocks held by the Antiaerea Regiment No.5 at their barracks were held back by gunfire and thirty were killed before the crowd turned away. Martial law is now in full effect and ten looters were executed at dusk.

"With the security situation serious and the need to increase our manpower in the area your idea to drop some of your men into San Juan has merit Capitan Delores but we haven't got the available transports." "But Sir, the Chileans have larger transports, we could drop the entire Battalion within a day if we needed to." "Every plane is needed just to lift the food and medical supplies and if the weather closes in we'll have a devil of a job. Supplies are building up at the railhead already to be shifted by air." "Yes Sir. I understand." "Your zeal is most worthy, we all want to do what we can to help. Have your men on standby Captain, if the looting situation gets any worse we might have to drop a couple of companies but I hope it won't come to that." "Yes Sir, I hope so too. It is not good to turn the guns on the people even if the situation is desperate." "From the report radioed in the commander had no choice, if the people get really desperate they will be almost impossible to control."

[I am a bit late to catch up but take this as a message send immediately after the earthquake.]

The Government in Gran Uruguay expresses deepest symphaties and offers whatever help is required, be it medical staff and equipment, engineering services or air lift capacity.

[If no direct help is welcome, diplomatic notes indicate the People Help People foundation could be used as a mediator.]

Peru will offer the services of an army field hospital and several transport aircraft.

Bharat, Persia, and Hedjaz offer their condolences and best wishes for effective recovery efforts.

Any help from Grand Uruguay is more than welcome and is any help from PHP who should have volunteers ready to go from their work in Paraguay etc.

Peru's aid is also welcome, especially the field hospital. I think some kind of encampment is going to have to built at Mendoza to house all these extra aircrews and rescue parties until they go into San Juan. Also the local airstrip and air force base will probably be quite crowded! PSP planking will be very much in demand there and at the new strips around San Juan province.

Japan is willing to send aid as well to help out. However it has to determine the best route for its Ki-96 long range cargo planes first:
1 - Northeast, via Alaska and then south along the American continent.
2 - East, via Wake Island across the Pacific and then south along the American continent.
3 - West, through Asia, North Africa, Atlantis and then south into South America.
4 - South, via Australia and Antarctica.

... a cargo version of the G10N would have been quite useful now...

Quoted

Originally posted by Hood
Any help from Grand Uruguay is more than welcome and is any help from PHP who should have volunteers ready to go from their work in Paraguay etc.

Peru's aid is also welcome, especially the field hospital. I think some kind of encampment is going to have to built at Mendoza to house all these extra aircrews and rescue parties until they go into San Juan. Also the local airstrip and air force base will probably be quite crowded! PSP planking will be very much in demand there and at the new strips around San Juan province.

In light of the situation, the Chileans might suggest that any airdrop flights originate from Cordoba in Argentina (256mi / 412km east of San Juan) or Santiago (184mi / 295km southwest, though it involves crossing the Andes) while land-in supplies come to Mendoza. Chile will offer the Peruvian transports permission to land at any of the major FACh bases between Peru and Argentina for as long as the emergency efforts last.

In terms of airlift, the Chilean Air Force currently has both of its air transport regiments ready to assist: the 1st Transport Regiment fields 32x Twin Condors, while the 2nd Transport Regiment fields 32x Normandies. The French Air Force can deploy about a hundred and fifty N.1510s from mainland France at the moment, and the French will offer to take cargo for European countries which lack sufficiently long-ranged transport to cross the Puddle.

The United States offers its deepest condolences to the Argentine government. In the immediate term the United States offers 50 million US dollars to the Argentine government for the purchase of food, shelter, medical supplies, and potable water. The US government makes available all ports, railways, or air bases for any nation wishing to aid the Argentine disaster. Full refuelling and any services that can be provided to the relief effort will be provided. The US government offers the use of 2 transport squadrons to assist with the aerial relief, 2 "Seabee"battalions to construct or expand additional runways and aid in the repairs of infrastructure, the materials for said runways and repairs. The United States government offers 5000 5 ton trucks to transport supplies, food, people, to and from the disaster. Said trucks will begin arriving in 2 weeks with the order complete in three months. Mr. Herbert Hoover will arrive in a week to oversee American involvement and see if more aid is required.

19 January
Army units have managed to reopen three vital roads into San Juan and lorries have been able to get to the outskirts of the city. Almost nothing remains standing or intact and quicklime is being applied everywhere to stop the spread of disease but cholera and dysentery cases are rising alarmingly every day. [There is an urgent need for more quicklime ]All dogs and cats are being shot on sight to avoid spread of diseases. The President arrived by air. He toured some of the Armys medical facilities and met some of the survivors and was given an aerial flight over the city. This evening he made a national plea over the radio for funds and charity for the victims and pledged that the state would not skimp on the resources needed to rebuild the city and the peoples lives. Around 50,000,000 Pesos was pledged by the Treasury today and international aid continues to arrive by air and overland from neighbouring countries and Europe. with more shipments following by sea and via Germany, French, American and British aircraft.

In Mendoza the population has rallied to the call and over three hundred volunteered as truck drivers and labourers to ferry shipments from the railway station to the airfields and to store the increasing amount of freight. At Military Air Base El Plumerillo, engineers have laid a second runway with PSP planking but the congestion there has resulted in heavier aircraft being relocated to Cordoba. All aid arriving from ships will be shifted by rail to Cordoba and flown from the airbase there. The Ministry of Transport has warned that all civilian flights in the north of the country may be subject to delay and cancellation because aid flights have priority of take-off and landing slots and parking spaces. FMA has a team of sixty engineers on standby to provide any necessary maintenance work for foreign aircraft, many of which are flying some of the longest long-haul routes in history. The Euro-American airlift is one of the most complicated undertakings so far in aviation history. The Japanese are flying even longer sorties with their long-range aircraft too.

Back at San Juan, during the night more disturbances and attempts to loot Army stocks of food supplies resulted in twenty-three being shot as the soldiers were forced to open fire to protect themselves. Three soldiers were killed by the mob before they dispersed. The Antiaerea Regiment No.5 has deployed its searchlights to keep guard over the newly-erected warehousing despite the shortage of fuel for their generators. The few Church leaders surviving (the Bishop is presumed dead) have called for calm.

***

From Paraguay the People's Catholic Party and the Marxist Party are sending money, food and what few other essential supplies they can gather from supporters and donations. The PHP charity has relocated around a hundred of its volunteers and has begun trucking aid south.

20 January
Around sixty aircraft made landings at the new improvised strip in San Juan today and more roads have been cleared of rubble and over 80,000 tents erected. Orderly evacuation of families, the made homeless and orphans with relatives elsewhere in Argentina has begun. The unrest seems to have died down. Cases of cholera and dysentery are still rising but improvements are being made as medical teams arrive.

President Mugnolo made a radio address to the nation this evening in which he praised the Argentine people for their unity and he stated he was, "humbled by the international response of all nations, big or small, rich or poor, in their determination to offer aid to the stricken area. Today the world stands united and is undertaking some of the most audacious and technically demanding aerial flights across vast distances. On behalf of the people of San Juan and of our nation I send a grateful thank you to the world."

21 January
The weather in San Juan has worsened with high winds and squally showers which has reduced the amount of aid flown into the area. Just fourteen Twin Condors were able to land all day but several Normandie transports dropped some supplies over the city but the winds scattered the load. Some was looted by locals but most was recovered. Rain and some local flooding has worsened conditions in the tent camps and some wooden huts have been erected by Army engineers. The Air Force meteorological office forecasts conditions will improve tomorrow. The respite has allowed the ground crews to service the aircraft and allow the crews some rest but many are itching to get airborne. Meanwhile in Cordoba aircraft from across the world have begun to arrive with many more expected within the next few days.

[SIZE=1]A Junkers stuck in the mud at Mendoza[/SIZE]

22 January
The Ferrocarril Central Norte railway line between Cordoba and San Juan has been reopened following engineering work and a temporary station constructed for the transportation of vital goods and refugees out of the area. Around 10,000 have applied to join relatives elsewhere in the country. A press report today claims that ten people have been pulled alive from the rubble and hope remains others may still be alive, perhaps trapped in cellars, but the scale of the rubble presents a massive obstacle to thorough searching before time runs out.

In Cordoba this evening, an artistic gala fundraising event at the National Stadium was hosted by President Mugnolo and attended by the nations leading musicians and actors.
[OTL this fundraising event at the Luna Park Stadium in Buenos Aires was where Colonel Juan Perón, met Eva Duarte. In WW the location is different and Peron is a long-dead war hero with a cruiser named after him. The current President may be single and they may meet but that's for a future storyline!]

23 January
A train on the Mendoza to San Juan railway attempted to make it into the city but an embankment weakened by the earthquake crumbled and six carriages and the engine fell around 30 metres killing the driver and two engineers. The goods wagons were destroyed and two fuel tanker wagons exploded as they hit the bottom. Recovery of the rest of the train was attempted but as dusk fell it was clear more of the track was at risk of slipping and work was abandoned. The rest of the train fell into the ravine during the night.

In Cordoba the airport was becoming crowded with aircraft and almost two-thirds of the nation's civilian airliners have now been pressed into use. On the ground in San Juan the continual aerial ferry continues at airstrips at the anti-aircraft barracks, the city hospital and another on the outskirts of town. Heavy construction equipment has arrived on the roads (some machinery has been flown in by Chilean Normandie transports) and work is now beginning to clear rubble to allow more access around the ruins but until more overseas equipment arrives by ship and can be ferried by rail this work remains hampered given the sheer scale of the task. A mass grave has been dug to deposit the remains which must be removed quickly to avoid disease but all is being done to record distinguishing marks and possessions etc. for later identification but in some sad cases entire families have perished.

24 January
High winds have hampered flights into the San Juan today but conditions on the ground are improving as sickness rates begin to fall and people attempt to rebuild their lives. Lighting has now been installed at the barracks airstrip and it is hoped that 24 hour flights will soon begin. Soldiers have begun demolishing unsafe structures around the city. Around 400 bodies have been recovered within the last day. The crew of the navy destroyer ARA San Juan have donated two-thirds of their pay to the earthquake charity.
The noted racing driver Juan Manuel Fangio has led a convoy of twenty trucks driven by his fellow racing drivers as they too have volunteered to keep the aid moving.

25 January
The despatcher at Cordoba airport had never seen so many aircraft at the field for years. As he walked across the apron there were American C-54 transports being unladen, German Ar-232 aircraft being loaded with supplies, overhead a British Tudor was coming in to land, French Normandie transports were undergoing pre-flight checks and a South African airliner was taxing for take-off. There were lorries everywhere, boxes of freight with red cross markings, bulldozers, and the Germans had brought a series of containers which he was told contained an operating theatre!

In San Juan German engineers confirmed that there were serious cracks in the dam of the local reservoir that would need urgent repair. Luckily the water level is fairly low but the engineers are going to have to obtain the equipment, ship it here and effect repairs very soon. Geologists now feel that aftershocks are less likely given the time elapsed since the earthquake.
Argentine and Chilean railway engineers aided by Army personnel have begun rebuilding work on the collapsed section of the Ferrocarril Central Norte railway line.

26 January
The first foreign ships carrying aid and heavy equipment have begun to dock in Bahia Blanca and the railway companies have pooled as many freight cars as practically possible for quick shipment to Cordoba. Around seventy aircraft at Cordoba are now ready to shift supplies to San Juan.

In San Juan disease rates continue to fall and the voluntary evacuation process is about a third complete with many being trucked back or crammed into the cargo aircraft. Around four hundred orphans are now being cared for in a purpose-built camp with wooden huts.

27 January
The San Juan recovery efforts continue. The government in conjunction with the University of Bahia Blanca has announced the intention to hold an symposium within the next few months to gather the world's leading seismologists and architects to both study the effects of earthquakes and to devise better methods of building shock-proof buildings for towns and cities in earthquake zones. The government has pledged to rebuild San Juan with the latest such technology and several prototype buildings will be funded to test new features.

1 February
At the AFNE Yard at Bahia Blanca the second ship of the Santisima Trinidad Class of cruisers, the ARA Moreno has been launched today. A crowd of 10,000 watched as the eldest daughter of the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Almirante Dominguez, released the champagne bottle and soon after cracking over the bows the hull slid down the ways into the water. The Moreno should be completed and commissioned into service before the end of the year.

A charity collection for the earthquake victims at the launching raised 15,207 Pesos.

9 February
Almirante Dominguez today retired from the Navy at the age of 65. He was latterly the Commander-in-Chief of Brigada Naval V, responsible for all training in the Navy. During his long career he became the chief engineer of many warships including the ARA Trinidad. He entered the Naval Academy in 1922 and passed out in 1925 as a full Captain and commanded a series of destroyers and light cruisers until made Rear Adm. in 1929 and placed in command of 1st Cruiser Division. In early 1933 he took up command of the 1st Cruiser Squadron. In March 1937 he was promoted to Almirante and in became Chief of Staff of the Navy on the retirement of Almirante Benedicto. In mid-February 1942 he took over command of Naval Brigada V, his final posting before retirement. A sound officer who is capable of planning and tactics he has always been referred to by his crews with affection and was among the best officers in the Navy for getting results and efficiency from his crews.

February 10
In San Juan multinational construction and engineering crews are now hard at work. It is hoped railway repairs will be completed within a fortnight and until then the air bridge continues eighteen hours a day. An American DC-3 was forced down in a field owing to engine problems but a spare engine was brought overland by horse and cart and the aircraft successfully flew out the following day. The voluntary evacuation is almost complete and most of the orphans have been moved overland.