WesWorld

May 15
Yesterday in a speach, Peruvian presedente Diaz spoke to a crowd and demands Colombia "return" Leticia Province to Peru. Colombia challenges Diaz's remarks. Colombian presedente Alfonso López Pumarejo flatly dismissed Peruvian presendete Diaz's claims to Leticia. "After years of border incidents over Leticia, Peru willfully signed an agreement granting Leticia to Colombia in exchange for Peru gaining rights to all territory south of the Putumayo river. This agreement was made in the interest of peace for both country's and a clear border between them and was even renewed in 1928. Now presedente Diaz would like to egnore this agreement made by both country's in good faith."

May 17
The freighter Carib (2,900gt) arrived safely late today at Isla de Malpelo after a harrowing chase involving the Peruvian destroyer Union.

The Peruvian destroyer intercepted the Carib roughly 200 miles south of Isla de Malpelo and repeatedly demanded that the Freighter heave to and prepare to be boarded. The Captain of the Carib Jose Dantes Esquerra, a retired naval officer, refuses to stop and on several occations reminded the Peruvians that he was in Colombian waters while managing to send a distress call out. The Peruvian destroyer proceeded to then fire several shots off the bow of the freighter.

The Atlantean battleship Memnon is in the area, sailing out of Buenaventura in the middle of training exercises with the destroyers Tyrant, Isla, Ault, and Dent. She recieves the distress call and detatches from her escorts, who are low on fuel, to intercept.
As the Union continues to harass the Carib the Memnon enters the scene and fires several 15" shells across the bow of the Union. The Peruvian destoyer promtly breaks off her action and turns south.

The Peruvians later claim that the Carib is suspected of smuggling arms, a claim that is later refuted when inspectors find only a cargo of Copper, and Tin from Chile.

May 20
Another freighter, the Magdalena (2,800 gt) has been intercepted by the Peruvians. The destroyer Teniente Ferre intercepted the freighter 400 miles south east of the galapagos Islands and her crew boarded the ship after the Colombian skipper complied. Satisfied with her cargo of only Chilean Manganese they departed. The claim is that once again they are searching for weapons smugglers.

May 21
The Colombian government has warned the Peruvian government about its provocative searches of Colombian flagged vessels. "As far as I can tell we are not at war with Peru nor have we recieved any indications that weapons smugglers are operating in the area." stated an official. "The Peruvian government would be wise to inform us about such issues so that we could co-operate with them with reguards to tracking down these "suspected" smugglers. This would also help avoid embarassing moments such as the one on May 20th."

Chilean President Alessandri also protests the statements of the Peruvian president regarding the region of Leticia, and declares that Chile supports its Colombian ally.

The First Cruiser Squadron under Contraalmirante Arturo Somavia (flagship Nevado Ojos del Salado) has been dispatched to escort Chilean and Colombian-flagged merchants in a show of force. The rest of the Flota de Alta Mar remains in Talcahuano.

The US embassies in the region are putting in extra time, trying to determine just what is going on and where it will lead.

May 22
Atlantis has moved the remainder of Pacific fleet units currently stationed at Papeete to Buenaventura. In addition the cruisers Proserpine and Pegasus along with the escort cruisers Torto and Aaxte have been moved from the Caribbean fleet. Its hoped that the increased naval presence will deter Peruvian searches and rachet down tentions.

OOC: Atlantean fleet units in Buenaventura consist of the following vessels.

BB Memnon (F)- Rear-Admiral Orlin Desala
BB Eumelos
CV Alioth
Chilean CV Mapuche, attached to Pacific fleet
CA Dardanus
CA Menemosyne
CL Acestus
CL Brencis
CL Proserpine
CL Pegasus
CAE Torto
CAE Aaxte
CLAA Zerberus
CLAA Danaus

Hasty, Hammer, Harpoon, Hawk
DD's Joust, Jubilant, Judge, Juggernaut
DD's Junta, Jupiter, Jury, Justice
DD's Basilone, Furse, Borum, Avarice
DD's Tyrant, Isla, Ault, Dent
DD's Gore, Torch, Sylph, Expunge
DD's Foss, Cofer, Bull, Muir

Fleet subs D-28 to 33 (6 ships)
Coastal subs R-50 to 61 (12 ships)
20x MTB 82 type

Minesweepers MS-34, MS 35, MS-36, MS 37

Subtenders Artifex and Ausonia
Tankers Sea Horse, Sea Bird
Salvage Vessel Attolo

Quoted

Originally posted by thesmilingassassin
OOC: Atlantean fleet units in Buenaventura consist of the following vessels.

BB Memnon (F)- Rear-Admiral Orlin Desala
BB Eumelos
CV Alioth
...etc

PS, the Chilean CV Mapuche is, as announced elsewhere, deployed with the Atlantean Pacific Fleet and her near-cousin Alioth.

I forgot to add that as i was looking at my own fleet list! Edited.

Should we start to prepare popcorn?

Well, one can never be too prepared!

The Argentine Foreign Affairs Minister Eduardo Smith issues a statement publiclly backing Colombia which has "done nothing wrong and is acting lawfully and peacefully without any provocation while Peru once again makes expansionist noises and wishes to extend its influence over others and engineer attempts to cause trouble."

Other Argentine press editorials remind that the recent Argo-South African War begun by misunderstandings while searching for arms smugglers in very similar circumstances. The opinion is Peru should stop all its attempts and leave it's neighbours to get on with their own affairs.


OOC: That's a pretty impressive Pacific Fleet and somehow I feel Peru is biting off much more than it can chew trying to frame up an incident with FAR.

[Best Mockney] Come an' get! Come an' get it! Fresh popcorn for sale!

OOC: Heh, well given Peru's afiliation with AEGIS via Iberia, FAR will be more keen on defusing the situation via deplomacy, which may embolden Peru slightly. This is preaty much on par with the political atmosphere Howard was setting up with Peru and what Mac and I were persuing with Ibero-Atlantean relations.

For now at least, Atlantean assets will maintain vigilant and ensure that its Colombian allies merchant fleet is left alone. Half of the cruiser and destroyer fleet will be providing distant escort, the cruisers Proserpine and Pegasus along with the escort cruisers Torto and Aaxte were transfered with this role in mind but yes there is still a significant main force for Peru to muse about.

The Leticia issue on the other hand won't be solved easily with Diaz in charge.

May 30
Two hundred Peruvian citizens, well-armed, appear to have crossed the Colombian border into Leticia and captured the police and a small number of Colombian border guards. Violence breaks out as the Peruvians seize the city, but Peru denies the Army is involved.
As Leticia is somewhat isolated, it is a few days before it is discovered that it appears to be in Peruvian hands.

June 2
Colombian Presedente Alfonso López Pumarejo Issued a statement today with reguards to Peru's latest actions. "It has now been reported that a well armed mob of several hundred Peruvian civilians have taken control of the small city of Leticia.

This is a most unusual event in that the closest Peruvian town is Cabalochoca, roughly 120 miles west of Laticia, on the opposite side of the Putumayo river! Reconnaissance aircraft also reported that Peruvian forces appeared to be heading upriver to follow the mob, it is unclear what their intentions are, either to disperse and evacuate the mob or assist them in securing the town.

To the Peruvian government I say this, this is an act of thugery beyond comprehension! Colombia demands the immediate withdrawal of Peruvian forces from Leticia! To not do so would be a serious breach of the agreement made in 1922, an agreement I might add that had been radified in 1928".

June 3
Presedente Pumarejo met with his top staff today to discuss the Leticia crisis and what steps should be taken. The Colombian ambassador to Atlantis, Juan Valdez also made a swiftly planned trip to Caracus to meet with his Atlantean counterpart.

June 4
The Chilean government is surprised by the invasion of Leticia, and issues a notice for Chilean border stations to exercise increased caution. Chile sends immediate queries to Lima to demand more information and, if necessary, protest this unprovoked assault.

Due to the lack of a secure land-line (ie one not running through Peruvian territory) between Chile and Colombia, President Alessandri has dispatched Francisco D'Alarch (Intendant of Potosi) and two military chiefs to liaison with the Colombian and Atlantean governments. The Vice President was originally asked to make the trip, but has been suffering from ill health.

The Government of Grand Uruguay expresses their concerns about how the situation between Columbia and Peru developes.

(Popcorn!)

OOC: How this will affect the payments of the Villar? I hope that Peru continues to pay thru all of this. I already got the Q3 and Q4 SIM on record.

OOC: payments will be delt with one way or another, rest assured!

Hmmmm, do I detect a FAR vs AEGIS shooting war in the making?

[Germany sits back with beer and sausages to enjoy the show.]

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
Hmmmm, do I detect a FAR vs AEGIS shooting war in the making?

[Germany sits back with beer and sausages to enjoy the show.]

Yes, but since France can't get through to the Netherlands without going through (in this case) Neutral Belgium, Russia will have to march through Germany. They won't break anything though, they promise...

Heh, if Russia wanted to do that, they'd have to cross neutral Poland to get to most of (also neutral) Germany. Besides, that's why Germany has been acquiring allies, so it would be unlikely that those two particular elephants (FAR and AEGIS) would try to drag it into their issues....

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
Hmmmm, do I detect a FAR vs AEGIS shooting war in the making?

Wouldn't that make Foxy happy, eh? The Mexicans can root for the Iberians to lose, and the Australians can cheer for the French to lose. What a dilemma for him!

[SIZE=1]CG, Wes and I have something scripted. No, it's not going to seriously upset the world order...[/SIZE]

The government of China published a travel warning for that area. China send a small note to both governments,
to express their concerns about how the situation developes.