WesWorld

April 5th 1933- A deal has been announced with the Kingdom of the Netherlands for the delivery of 30 Fokker XVI fighters with the expected delivery by the beginning of June. The aircrafts are being phased out by the Netherlands’ air force and are expected to fill the niche of secondary fighters.

April 9th 1933- Lockheed stated that they are agreeable in selling 15 more A-9 aircrafts after the first batch of seven sold to our Air Corps has performed very well so far, impressing the evaluators of the Ministry of the Navy. They are expected by the middle of June.

Excerpts from Field Marshall Ricardo Arjona’s private diary.

April 9th 1933- “General Mola(1) arrived yesterday to La Paz to take operational control of the Iberian forces. A damn shame to lose the control of the Iberian 2nd Mountain Division! They were an elite force and broke the back of the Bolivian many times. The advance party of the Iberian Naval Infantry actually also arrived today, from Iquitos, but they didn’t seem to happy. I guess the change in height is affecting many of them. ”

April 18th 1933- “The attacks by partisans continue to increase, with a supply train being attacked west of La Paz. Even the out of hand executions of out of uniform partisans is not having the desired effect. Maybe new measures will need to be implemented.”

April 29th 1933- “An attempt by Bolivian forces to recapture La Paz failed after five days of heavy fighting. I have to give that to the enemy, they are not surrendering. The 2nd and 3rd Divisions were mauled in the fighting but we consider the worst to be over with the arrival of early storms late last night.”

(1) General Emilio Mola, commander of the Iberian Volunteers Corps.

April 30th 1933- Admiral de La Garza read the final report from Captain Velasco (1) for the fifth time and closed the folder. He took his reading glasses off and rubbed his temple before opening the folder that contained the recommendations of the senior members of the Peruvian Naval Academy in response to the events of last month. (2) He began reading the response by the Peruvian Naval minds to his inquiry and sighted when he reached the part that mentioned what he dreaded most;

“...the faith put by our doctrine to depend on the Iberian battlefleet to counter the Chilean threat has being shattered by the events of last month. While the Iberian fleet is superior in number of hulls, training and experience their worldwide commitments do not permit them to concentrate any major forces near our coast for any extended period while the Chileans can in a matter of hours. In case of any conflict with Chile our fleet could be defeated on a matter of days. While the presence of the Iberian squadron(3) helps to counter the lack of heavy and light cruisers by our fleet somewhat we consider we have to use our own means to improve the number of capital ships but at the same time a need of light units is also imperative if the capital ships are increased in number...”

De La Garza finished reading the report and after a short consideration he made his decision. With a stroke of his pen the destroyer expected to be ordered by July was cancelled as it was the sister ship of the Lima.(4)

(1) Captain of the Huascar.

(2) The Huascar fiasco.

(3) numbers and units are in the Peruvian Armada threat.

(4) a sister ship for the CDBB Lima, it was supposed to had been called the Cuzco,

Excerpts from Field Marshall Ricardo Arjona’s private diary.

May 6th 1933- “My first meeting with Mola. What a jerk!(1) I'll be happy when this glory hound is gone. We are trying to decide where to station his forces and I'm posting them in the right flank. He expects his complete forces to be in theather by the end of June but I advised him the weather will turn for the worse very soon. I was very surprised he actually agreed. Engreido del Carajo!(2) ”

May 19th 1933- “News of the Chileans capturing Nevado Sajama had been received. The capture of the peak ensures their command of the road leading to the Desaguadero River. At this pace pretty soon they could reach our lines.”

May 21st 1933- “Our attack aircrafts wrecked the rail line going from Oruro to Cochabamba. It seems the enemy air forces are effectively eliminated. (3)”

May 27th 1933- "Some members of the German mission under Kundst privately stated that the troops in the Mobile Regiment (4) seem ready and eager to fight. I can't wait until they are ready for combat, as the Germans are. It seems they want to try some ideas and we will be their test bed."

(1) The opinion is more little "professional" jealousy.

(2) Can be translated to Stuck up ass.

(3) He's wrong. Bolivians are marshalling their remaining forces and I expect some nations could be allowing the shipping of more aircrafts to them. I could be wrong but what is the stand of Argentina and Brazil? Could hear opinions.

(4) The infantry and AT units are being treated as elite and receiving the best training. Vehicles will not arrive until early June. Unit could be ready for combat by Spring (Q4 1933).

Argentina at present is not supplying Bolivia with any aircraft or weapons and does not foresee doing so in the near future.

Besides the I-100 would be wasted in the hands of untrained pilots. A couple of private orders for some of my monoplane trainers might get through.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hood
Argentina at present is not supplying Bolivia with any aircraft or weapons and does not foresee doing so in the near future.

Besides the I-100 would be wasted in the hands of untrained pilots. A couple of private orders for some of my monoplane trainers might get through.

But will Argentina allow the shipping of war material thru their territory? Will Paraguay? I can see Italy and other nations selling military hardware, heck, even the British! IOTL they were the top arm merchants of the world and the promises of oil wealth in Bolivia could finance some weapon loans to them.

May 8th 1933- Foreign Minister Francisco de La Guarda returned from Geneva where the calls from the League to end the conflict fell on the deaf ears of the Bolivian agressors.

After over two months of talks the League issued a resolution asking for an end to the conflict but nothing else. De La Guarda stated he was "disappointed of the lack of action by the League" and that "changes need to be made to give more teeth to the League or it will at the end be only a place for we diplomats to chat for a while and exchange pleasantries."

Well Argentina is held by the Esquel Treaty not to interfere into Chiliean politics so Argentina would not look favourably upon arms smugglers working on the Boilivian broder.

Paraguay being in a civil war is problematic and Argentina is trying to stop deliveries to the government forces but the rebels are getting some arms and in the confusiion some arms may slip through.

Argentina is willing to help find a solution to the war to end the war. Stopping any arms supply will of course bring this about and aid Peru in her conquest.

May 14th 1933- A deal has been reached with the aircraft conglomerate Fokker-Avia for the purchase of 27 F.IXD monoplane bombers to be used to increase the offensive capacity of our Air units. The aircrafts are expected to arrive sometime late in the spring.(1)

(1) late Q4 1933.

May 17th 1933- The Argentinian Embassy responded to the rumors of the Bolivian forces fielding new military equipment "as news to them."

The Ambassador stated and quote; "Under the Treaty of Esquel we are bound to not interfere with the politics and events of Chile and doing anything to help the agressor of Chile will be in violation of that Treaty. So let me assure the good people of Peru that our nation is a neutral in this conflict and we are not, and let me repeat that, we are not supplying weapons to Bolivia."

When asked if Argentian is allowing foreign arm merchants to sell and transport military hardware he responded; "We can't stop foreign civilians to do their business in Bolivia if they desire to do so but those same individuals will need to find an alternate route to deliver their products because our policy has been to prohibit arms shipments to the war torn areas of the Continent and shipments of weapons are being confiscated. That equipment will be delivered to their owners as soon as the current conflicts are over if they desire to do so, but our main intention is to bring the current conflicts to an end."

The Ambassador ended his interview with a plea to both sides in the current conflict to try to bring the war to an end thru diplomatic means to avoid further casualties and lost of lives.

This reporters opinion(1) is that indeed Argentina has tried to be a neutral in the current conflict and indeed they have showed great responsability so far in the conflict.

(1) the reporter works for the government sanctioned press, so pretty much we are hearing the official response. IMO small quantities of weapons could be crossing the border but is not officially being sanctioned by Argentina, being more a mix of military forces being streched to the limit due to the Paraguayan refugee crisis, that causing a strain in the manpower to cover the borders plus good old corruption by maybe some minor local border crossing officers. Maybe some news for Argentina (perhaps border crossing officers arrested for corruption charges.) ;-)

May 19th 1933- Admiral de La Garza was very impressed after the report of the condition of the Huascar with Captain Velasco and decided to make what it was already was the scuttlebutt of the fleet. He considered the man almost like his son and Velasco has been his protege since he left the Naval Academy. Now the order was signed. Velasco was going to be his successor as Commander of the Fleet, with him retiring from active duty but keeping the Ministry of the Navy under his control.

He smiled, considering this a just reward for the years of loyal service by his protege, and put down his pen. He then began studying the report recommending a permanent mission to India, to study that nation's naval tradition and to try to further encourage a working relationship between both nations.

May 21st 1933- It has being announced the Iberian cruiser El Cid will make a final visit to our shores before departing the Pacific after close to six months in the area.

The itinerary of the ship has not being made public due to security concerns but is considered the ship will leave the area before the beginning of the winter.(1) A couple of Iberian destroyers (2) have arrived to the area and is considered by many that could be the beginning of the expected rotation of Iberian ships based in Guayaquil.(3)

(1) before Q3 1933.

(2) I guess D-77 and D-78.

(3) CG explained to me he wanted to rotate ships on a regular basis plus the number of ships will be reduced eventually, I guess that two destroyers will replace two that will escort El Cid back to Iberia.

May 26th 1933- Admiral (ret.) de La Garza studied the report from the mission to Nordmark in regard to the capital ship being sold to Chile and the ships being offered for sale by that nation.

He read with interest the report in regard to the Lion; "a very capable ship but with close to twenty years of service Chile will be forced to perform some life extension repairs to bring it to more modern standards."

But the reports in regard to the Oskar II weren't as good; "the ship is in very bad shape due to their long service and the time and money needed to bring it to service standards could be used to pursue opportunities somewhere else."

The light cruisers were both recommended as decent purchases but the new priorities of the Peruvian fleet put them in the backburner and weren't a priority for the moment.

De La Garza put down the report and shook his head. "The first of many more to come." he said to himself, knowing full well of the many missions thru the world looking for ships for the Peruvian Navy.

Oh, Oh, not good. My competidor is out shoping for ships!

Posiedon is still available. Same secondary's caliber as the Thrasius class too!

May 28th 1933- Minister of the Navy de La Garza read the report from the mission to Atlantis with interest that turned to dread the further he read; "...the Poseidon is indeed a very capable ship and comparable to the former Nordmark dreadnaughts currently serving in Chile. The problem is the Atlantean authorities seem to politely ignore our inquiries while rumors abound they are offering the ship to both Mexico and Colombia."

While the de La Garza wasn't too worried about the prospect of Mexico acquiring the Poseidon, the thought of Colombia getting a battleship stronger than anything they got made him swear silently. He finally finished reading the report and wrote a small observation in top of it. "Another thing to worry about."

Quoted

While the de La Garza wasn't too worried about the prospect of Mexico acquiring the Poseidon, the thought of Colombia getting a battleship stronger than anything they got made him swear silently.

Heh, I don't blame him, IIRC the Nordish ship is a fairly old dreadnought with a staggered armament layout similar to Indefatigable, 12" guns IIRC?

Atlantis is a wee bit sqirmish about handing over a BB to an Iberian ally which makes Peru's assessment that Poseidon will likely head to Colombia or Mexico a fairly accurate one.

Colombia does definately have a need for one given its own Predreads are becoming grossly outmoded not to mention quite old and they have been slowly upgrading their port infrastructure.

Excerpts from Field Marshall Ricardo Arjona’s private diary.

June 5th 1933- “Weather is turning for the worse and it seems operations for the time being are over. It's snowing heavily on the mountain passes and pretty much the front is literally frozen. It seems the time to prepare for the spring has come.”

June 8th 1933- “The sight of the Iberian Negro troops (1) arriving to the train station of La Paz made me laugh. The poor bastard seemed so out of place, especially with all the snow on the streets. But at least they seem like they are a tough bunch, even when they are miserable. ”

June 11th 1933- “We have began executions of sympathizers of the partisans on the mountains. I abhor doing this but the previous efforts to eliminate them have failed. With winter getting closer we need to cut their support between the population to eliminate them. We will not make new friends but to keep our supply lines open is our main priority right now. ”

(1) The Angolan brigade joining the CVI.

May 31st 1933- The effect of many of the Europeans nations actively talking about leaving Cleito was doing a number in the plans of the Naval Ministry.

Minister de La Garza read the reports of his purchasing agents in Europe and they weren't good. "France is actually talking of building more ships instead of reducing their size," said one report; "Nordmark is putting on hold their plans to get rid of their older units," said another one.

He sighted at the possibility of their chance of increasing the size of the capital ships of the Peruvian Navy go doing the drain and send a message to all the agents to try to get the fastest deal possible before the complete collapse of Cleito, even overpaying if necessary.

Excerpts from Field Marshall Ricardo Arjona’s private diary.

June 17th 1933- “The news of the fast Chilean advance has taken us by surprise. We knew the best available forces of the Bolivian were facing us but the way the Bolivian defences melted before the Chileans is truly a shock.”

June 22nd 1933- “General Mola is discussing the use of the CVI for the spring and I have agreed that his plan is sound. His mountain division is a very capable force and has been in theater for close to a year now and they should lead the advance in the direction he plans to. Also the German advisors said the Mobile Regiment could be ready by the Spring and they have a plan of their own.(1) ”

June 30th 1933- “Sucre is under siege and we have news the Bolivian government have escaped to Santa Cruz. Rumors exist they want to discuss terms but I instructed Francisco(2) to refuse and to ask for unconditional surrender. We need to test the new troops and at this time Chile is reaping the advantages of the war.”

(1) Proto-blitzkrieg is on the way. We basically have air superiority, the problem will be the quality of the tanks (Six tons used to have problems with engine overheating IOTL) and the forces that will be used. It will be a lesson for the Germans and the rest of the world of how to do it right., because of the many mistakes that will occur during this run.

(2) Francisco de La Guarda, the Foreign Minister.