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Noticias Argentinas

Oct 1
Today has marked several firsts in Argentine naval history. The first home built heavy cruiser with 190mm guns La Argentina was laid down this morning at the AFNE yard at Bahia Blanca. It marks the first warship to be built in AFNE's 220m long slipway. The Defence Minister's wife hammered in the first golden rivet.

Oct 12
The population of the numerous refugee camps along the border has now risen to half a million and conditions have improved in some of the older camps and an initiative by the Social Affairs Minister Luis Montague has given temporary logging and farming work to some ten thousand workers.

Oct 19
The Fuerza Aerea Argentina has announced it is ordering two evaluation Spartan F-9 fighters from Atlantis after the good performance the type at the Talons Over Cordoba Contest. If successful around 72 F-9 fighters will be brought to equip a full Aerial Regiment as short-range dogfighters.

Nov 11
Several Paraguayan government officials have arrived in Cordoba for talks. They are trying to discuss the possibility of Argentina supplying the government forces with aid and armaments. The Ministry of Defence refused to send any weapons although the Argentinean Red Cross has pledged to send across some 3,000 tons of food and aid supplies.

Nov 18
Peruvian Foreign Minister Francisco de La Guarda has arrived in Cordoba today. His flight delayed by heavy rains touched down at 3pm. The Foreign Affairs Minister Alfredo Castagone was somewhat disappointed with the sudden change in attitudes now that Argentinean help in several matters had been turned down during his winter tour. The Ministry had already made new arrangements and discarded old plans and was now concentrating on the worsening situation in Paraguay and the threat Brazil may pose given the rumours flying around the corridors of the Ministry and Embassies.

Nov 21
The Compania Argentina de Marinanavegacion Rividavia has announced that the first of two civilian mail carrying ships will be laid down next year and equipped with an as-yet unknown FMA high-speed aircraft design. The work will be carried out in a private yard and the company is paying for all equipment although the Navy has advised on arresting gear. The Department of Transportation has backed the whole scheme and Compania Argentina de Marinanavegacion Rividavia who is in partnership with Royal Australian Steamship Lines.

Dec 8
The Ministry of Marine announced today that major exercises will be held in the Atlantic during the second half of the month before Christmas. All civilian shipping is advised to avoid the area or keep a stricter look-out than normal. No compensation will be paid for any damage to vessels which stray into the area.

Dec 16
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made a public statement approving of the intervention of the League of Nations in the Bolivian War. We propose to help in any way the Leagues wishes to ensure a lasting peace in Bolivia.

Dec 21
The annoucement from Brazil today that Bolivian troops have bee in action along the border and the subsequent decleration of war by Brazil has been met with little public response. Rumors had been circulating and this was no surprise and Castagone has been resigned to the fate of Bolivia for some time. The I Corps has been put on full alert along the Paraguayan border.

Dec 22
The fourth P Class submarine Spiro completed her building and was towed to the nearby dockside where she will be commissioned after builders trials. She is the second submarine to be built in an Argentine yard.

Dec 24
Today frantic activity surrounded the battleship Libertad just in from exercises in Bahia Blanca harbour. As the ship was laid up at the quayside her crew seemed to be removing many items and personal effects and engineers were removing many smaller items of equipment. Later this afternoon the whole crew was given two weeks Christmas leave and two months of shore leave along with shore duty after that. A spokesperson confirmed the battleship was about to begin a refit at the nearby AFNE yard. Apparently the Siam deal has released enough funds to afford a refit now so it has been moved forwards by about a year.

[edit Dec 21 news added]