WesWorld

(Quarter Two - Part One of Three)

April 1, 1926

Dominic Fox, Chilean Ambassador to the United States of America, flew out today to start talks with the American government and naval designers about construction of a coastal defense battleship. The Chilean Navy was impressed by the proposed "New Ironsides"-class battleship the US Navy lists in the most recent Jane's Fighting Ships.

April 2, 1926

The Chilean Government, while not satisfied with the outcome of the "Sinking of the Helushka Incident" released the captured Argentinean sailors yesterday and had them flow home so they might spend Easter Sunday with there families. With the suicide of Admiral Nestor Martin, the Chileans have no one to demand. The Argentinean Government...while it did not apologies, did strip the Admiral of his rank and reports that he had exceeded his bounds.

April 4, 1926

Easter Sunday: Armored Cruiser O'Higgins, the destroyer Capitan Herlock, and the collier Angamos arrive in Singapore. They expect to set out on April 6 to patrol the South China Sea up to Hong Kong after a short shore leave.

April 5, 1926

Ambassador Fox began his talks with the United States today.

April 6, 1926

Cruiser O'Higgins sets out on its new patrol route with its escorting destroyer. Collier Angamos is remaining in Singapore to resupply and give the crew extended shore leave.

April 10, 1926

Chilean officials reflect on the lose of a contract with an Italian arms manufacturer in the last month. The Protected Cruiser Maunga Terevaka needs to be rebuild on the slip to make her ready in the least amount of time. The vessel's launch will be delayed by a month while new guns are fitted to her.

April 13, 1926

Cruiser O'Higgins and company arrive early in the morning in Hong Kong for a days shore leave.

April 14, 1926

Cruiser O'Higgins and company leave Hong Kong to continue their patrol.

Meanwhile...

Ambassador Fox concludes a deal with the United States of America to contract the construction of a new Coastal Defense Battleship using the turrets from the recently converted Dreadnought New York .

April 17, 1926

The O'Higgins ship's doctor requests that the ship make a landfall to help in treatment of First Class Petty Officer Don Banker. Banker is diagnosed as suffering from appendicitis and the doctor believes he needs a more stable area to operate. O'Higgins changes course to the nearest land mass, the Paracels Islands, and sends the doctor, patient, and several crew ashore to set up a temporary hospital.

April 19, 1926

Destroyer Capitan Herlock heads toward Singapore to continue the anti-piracy patrol.

April 20, 1926

"To: Mrs. Banker
From: The Department of the Navy

We regret to inform you of your son's death. He died of complication due to appendicitis. As per his wishes he was buried on Sunday on Woody Island in the Paracels Islands. He said he wanted to be buried in the land, and that he knew his body would not make it back to Chile. He rests with the Lord. 'Don is a population of one here for all time', the captain said.

Our Regrets...."

April 22, 1926

Chile announced today that they have placed a claim for the Paracels Islands in the South China Sea. The Chileans say that this would be a good location to maintain an anti-piracy patrol without taxing the surround nations for port space. As the islands are unclaimed and uninhabited, Chile sees no reason this should cause trouble. Chile has offered to maintain the Islands local fishing areas and is willing to allow other countries to use the area freely. The League of Nations is asked to recognize this act in the manner in which it has been given.

(to be continued....based on reaction)

(The below section was suggested for story purposes...might be altered if those involved change their minds)

April 23, 1926

Police in Santiago have arrest a staff worker, a Ricardo de la Hoya, on charges of espionage. He was newly working on as an assistant to the naval design board when a few employees noticed he's accent slipped every once in a while. While it is obvious he speaks Iberian instead of Spanish as is spoken locally, his origins are still to be determined. He is lucky, as Mr. Oyama was not one of those that caught him. His ability with a sword are well known in the office.

April 26, 1926

Light Destroyers Teniente Aldea and Teniente Serrano were both laid down today at the yards in Mejillones. Both ships are of the Teniente Riquelme-class.

Meanwhile...

"'Spy' Ricardo de la Hoya" has been identified as part of the Filipino embassy and has been declared "persona non grata" and deported without farther questioning once his diplomatic immunity came to light. The Chilean Government has asked the Filipino Government if they would remove their section of the SATSUMA "Peacekeeping Patrol," at least until such time as the current situation subsides.

The Manila Evening Times
23 April 1926

Reactions in the Philippines to the claim by Chile to the Paracels Islands can be summed up as "incredulous" and "outraged".

El Presidente was not availble for comment, however reports are that the Chilean Ambassador was summoned to the Presidental Offices and subjected to a 30-minute, VERY LOUD, harangue this afternoon. One Presidental Secretary claims that she was afraid that the building might collapse.

Meanwhile, several Marina de Filipinas ships, including the "escort cruiser" Leyte and oiler Bambú, sailed this afternoon...

***

The Manila Times
24 April 1926

The Filipino Government has released an official statement in response to the Chilean Governments' claiming the Paracels Islands.

"The Philippines recognises that the Paracels Islands are unclaimed territory. Nevertheless we object to the intrusion of yet another imperialist power into the region.

Nevertheless, we do not believe that these islands are worth fighting over, either with words or with guns. We therefore propose the following compromise to the Chilean Government:

We will not object¹ to the Chileans claiming the Amphritite Group of the Paracels Islands. However, the Crescent Group of the Paracels shall become the property of the Republic of the Philippines."

The Government also stated that, "In light of these developments, the continued presence of Filipino ships in the Magellan Strait Peacekeeping Force is being re-evaluated."

(ooc: ¹ - they won't approve of it, either.)

***

The Manila Evening Times
24 April 1926

The Marina de Filipinas has announced that "a small party of troops from the Filipino Marine Division' has landed on Duncan Island in the Paracels "and hoisted the glorious flag of the Republic of the Philippines."

The statment continues that "Work on establishing a weather station will begin immediately, and establishment of a refueling base for small craft and seaplanes will soon follow."

***

The Manila Times
27 April 1926

The Philippine Government has issued a protest to the Chilean Government regarding the 'spy' incident involving Filipino embassy staff officer Ricardo de la Hoya.

"The Government of the Philippines denies the charges of the Chilean Government that Señor de la Hoya was involved in espionage activities. This claim is a fabrication of the most dastardly manner, a deliberate attempt to embarrass the Republic."

The Filipino portion of the Magellan Strait Peacekeeping Force has been recalled. The ships have been ordered to steam north along the South American coast, and to refuel and reprovision in a Peruvian port prior to returning home.

Officials of the Marina de Filipinas denied comment on whether this is intended to "send a message" to the Chileans (likely that of the thumbed nose, in the opinion of this writer), or whether the Japanese vessels in The Force will also be recalled, or accompany the Filipino vessels in their Peruvian diversion.

Old Chilean Battleship Capitan Prat was dispatched today to shadow the Filipino forces until they leave Chilean waters. Light Cruiser Hyatt and the two new light destroyers will also escort the Filipinos once they are hundred miles from the Peruvian Territorial Waters.

All ships have been ordered to not act aggessively. Just be sure the Filipinos find their way out of Chilean waters safety.

The Chilean Government would note, as the Filipinos should have pointed out, that the islands are unclaimed and uninhabited. Claiming them is hardly an "imperialist" act. The Chilean Government will allow that the League of Nations should be the ones who decide if the claim should be split. A split claim may cause undue tension as the Filipinos seem bent against "imperialist" and send armed vessels to intimidate them. Chile has sent two ships to the islands, and only one is there at this time. They stopped to deal with a medical emergency. The ship's captain found that the islands were unclaimed and send a request to the Congress. Congress debated it for a few days, then we made the anouncment to stake a claim on the Islands. If the Chilean Navy is to continue patrolling the region, then it would be best to not interfere with the local ports and simply cover the trade routes from a central location. The Paracels do that, and don't interfere with others territory or any native peoples. Chile was once ruled by what the Philapines calls imperialist....we defeated ours and we remember our past.

We note with some alarm the converging of Chilean and Filipino warships on the Paracel islands, understand that not only is there no exploitable resource there, but that the entire archipelago is subject to inundation by the merest Pacific ripple, and observe that the lot are not worth the life of a single Chilean of Filipino sailor.

It is a matter of indifference to us who gets what there. It is a matter of some importance to us that the matter be resolved without hostilities. If we have to patrol overhead with aircraft from MN Clemenceau, we will.

The Government of India notes, on 27 April:

"A dispute over the ownership of the Paracel Islands should be resolved through discussion and the verdict of the League of Nations. India frowns on the possibility that armed force may be employed to enforce claims on what would appear to be islands of the most limited value.

"That said, India will not support a Chilean claim whose basis is a desire to provide logistical support to a military operation of dubious value and questionable execution. India is far more inclined to support claims put forward by the Philippines and any adjacent states with a history of using the islands' resources, whatever they may be."

OOC:

Interesting news, if controversial once again.

Just a wee picky point: "Don Banker" sounds less Chilean than "Ricardo de la Hoya"...

Quoted

Just a wee picky point: "Don Banker" sounds less Chilean than "Ricardo de la Hoya"...

True but it was a personal interest, or vendetta, that causes this name to be here at this time.

As for the Chilean view:
Chile sees no material value in the Paracels Islands, only an unclaimed piece of land that can support limited coaling efforts and refueling. Had a group of Filipino vessel not arrived rattling their sabers the cruiser O'Higgins would be on her patrol again and only our collier would head out that way until such time as the warships needed to put on coal, or other supplies the collier is carrying for this trip.

Chile is willing a abid by the Leagues choice, after all the members have had their say on the matter.

To Chile, India, Japan, France, and the League of Nations:

"The Filipino Government has no desire or intention of rattling sabres. However we considered it most unwise to send an unarmed and unprotected ship (Bambú) into an uncertain, unsettled situation without escort.

"It is our desire that the League of Nations discuss this dispute at its earliest possible convience, and we have every expectation of a favourable outcome."


To France:

"While we can understand your concerns with regard to potential operations in the Paracel Islands, with their proximity to your Indochinese colonies, we note that France has not previously or currently claimed any portion of these islands, which are surrounded by International Waters.

"While we do not desire or expect any hostitilies, we will proceed with operations as the circumstances dictate, without regard to aerial snooping by uninvolved powers."


----------------

OOC:

Quoted

the entire archipelago is subject to inundation by the merest Pacific ripple

Several of the islands have permament bases in today's OTL...a port on Duncan Island and an airfield on Woody Island, IIRC.

Quoted

True but it was a personal interest, or vendetta, that causes this name to be here at this time.

You should have just sicced Catbert on him. ^_^


Anyone have any idea as to why the Paracels were unclaimed as late as the 1920s?

Quoted

You should have just sicced Catbert on him. ^_^

If they can find him....battery cables come to mind.

Of course O'Higgins and Prat don't sound Chilean either, but they are.


April 28, 1926

The Chilean Government believes this situation in the South China Sea is being blow out of pproportion by the local powers. The crew of the O'Higgins acted in the traditional sense and claimed an unclaimed set of reefs and sand bars to allow them to operate without hindering the local powers. Now the Philippines has counter claimed a bunch of reefs that just a week ago would probably never cared about. They have plenty of capabilities in the region, and have no need for those islands...in fact no one in the region has any need for the islands, which is why no one claimed them. We have a need for them, so we are claiming them to fulfill a service in the area, not conquer like the conquistadors of old.

The O'Higgins has orders not to start a conflict with the local countries, but to hunt pirates. They will not fire unless fired upon, and with news of the incident with Negro and the "Deathshadow", the O'Higgins crew will be extremely careful about who is firing on them, and why, before returning fire. The world might not respect Chile for any reason, but they are not stupid enough to start a war when the nearest Chilean warships are 7,500 NM away.

The Chilean wait for the League of Nations to decide when and how they will decide this issue. In the meantime, if the Filipinos are willing and Catholic, they can come to Woody Island on Sunday the 3rd of May, and participate in mass at the temporary church the crew of the O'Higgins have setup originally for Petty Officer Banker's funeral.

Quoted

In the meantime, if the Filipinos are willing and Catholic, they can come to Woody Island on Sunday the 3rd of May, and participate in mass at the temporary church the crew of the O'Higgins have setup originally for Petty Officer Banker's funeral.

In the interest of reducing international tensions, the Philippines agrees to this offer.

Aircraft carrier Clemenceau raised steam this morning, and departed Saigon at 0800 Hours, steering East-Northeast once out of the Mekong Delta. She was accompanied by 3rd Flotilla Torpillieurs, and one collier. She is expected to meet Russian 5th Cruiser Squadron at Cam Ranh Bay. This reporter also noticed that the berths usually occupied by 8th Submarine Flotilla were unoccupied.

Quoted

Several of the islands have permament bases in today's OTL...a port on Duncan Island and an airfield on Woody Island, IIRC.

The highest elevation I have found referenced is 14m, an unnamed point on and typhoons are mentioned as a serious natural hazard...

Meanwhile...

The Chilean Government, in responce to the Filipino accusation that the charges on Señor de la Hoya are false, state that they should read the police report. He was found to be in a potentially sensitive area, working as a staff memeber, yet after careful observation was found to not be a Chilean national. It was three days before police discovered his nationality and place of employment. Once his connection to the embassy was known, he was released under the condition that he leave the country. No other charges can be leveled upon him as he had diplomatic immunity.

"The Filipinos can feel offended by this if they wish, but facts are facts," said Police Commissioner Blanc today to the media. "They acknowledge that the man we released worked for their embassy. That is enough for us".

Señor de la Hoya will be sent out on a small steamer to met the Filipino warships currently steaming northwards along the Chilean Coast.

At approximately 1900 Hours today, the force led by MN Clemenceau entered our harbor. Within the hour she departed, accompanied by Russian 5th Cruiser Squadron and seaplane carrier Almaz.


The captain of the Clemenceau was able to characterize his instructions thus:

"I am to remain 80 - 100 nautical miles from the Paracel Islands, monitoring the situation with my patrol aircraft. I am to observe the operations of the Chilean and Filipino ships there, noting especially the instigator of any hostilities. These observations will be reported to my government, and forwarded to the League of Nations.

There is to be at least one patrol aircraft within 10nm of the Paracel Islands during daylight hours.

Is anyone else (aside from Wes) going to comment on this, or should I start working on May? Or would it make sense to wait until Atlantis can give its say on the matter?

Plus, when would the League of Nations convene to debate this issue? Who decides that?

Quoted

Plus, when would the League of Nations convene to debate this issue? Who decides that?

When? I do not know.
Who? If I am not mistaken, the guy here is the one who decides that.

(Oh....so how do we go about it in Wesworld then? Wait for Gravina to call us to order? or Wes? or just start a thread for deliberations of the League in May and have it run until June? I'm putting forward questions.)

April 29, 1926

Destroyer Capitan Herlock sailed near the Sulu Sea today to investigate humors of pirate activity. This is the area that the Chileans lost the merchantman Aurthur Mildoros in February. The ship's captain has been asking local fisherman and other sailors (through translators if needed) if they have any information on the local pirate gangs. No success so far.

I think that it is best that he is used as a 'Neutral' Character so...

Quoted

or just start a thread for deliberations of the League in May and have it run until June?

I think I would do that.
Closest Council Session would be either 39 or 40, but since I can't find no data on session 39, 40 will have to do. RL data on the 40th Session can be found here.

Let's assume it's tabled in June at the Council Session. Discussions will probably drag on for some time, being a political organization.

If the Philippines and Chile and work out a resolution, it might be quicker than waiting for a decision. Might be less risky, too.

News-wise, I'd say you can move on to May.

April 28th 1926

The Govt. of Atlantis is extremely alarmed at the recent claims being made to the Paracel Islands by both Chile and the Phillipines. One wonders why either nation would make claims on these far off and useless Islands.

Further more, sending ships to emphasize their claims seriously endangers not only the Islands inhabitants but its nabours as well. Our steadfast allies, France and Russia have already been spured to take defensive measures to defend their interests but we cannot fail to recognize that if restraint is not shown on the issue the potential for conflict is high.

April 29th 1926

The Govt. of Atlantis feels that it is absolutely imperative that the League of Nations council convein in an attempt to solve the issue over the Paracel Islands, and that both claimants recall their forces at once and await the decision of the League of Nations council.

(Note to staff: The Paracels Islands are uninhabited...there is no population there save the current Chilean and Filipino military forces).