WesWorld

January 3
The Republic of Chile offers its condolences to the Kingdom of Persia for the assassination of their Shah and the brewing civil war in the country.

January 5
The Armada de Chile has announced the sail-training ship Almirante Uribe will be cruising to western Europe this summer to participate in the Tall Ship Race 1938. This race will take the contestants from Dublin to Oslo with stops in Portsmouth and Amsterdam. The Chilean Navy is an enthusiastic supporter of sail-training and the concept of the Tall Ship Race.

January 20
The governments of Chile and Argentina have agreed to a mutual project to completely rebuild the Transandine Railway between Santiago and Mendoza, upgrading the line from meter-gauge rack railway to standard broad-gauge line. Much of the new line will be designed by Swiss railway engineers, while the summit tunnel, soon to be the second-longest railway tunnel in the world, will be constructed by a veteran British firm. The project, due for completion in 1942 or 1943, will become the major land link between Chile and Argentina.

January 23
The Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (the Federico Santa María Technical University) announces that it will begin a program for students to achieve a doctorate in engineering, physics, and materials science. Dr. Juan Blanche Bennet, Chile's only physics expert of note, has been hired by the University to construct a modern cyclotron, with the intent to turn the university into a school competitive not only with other South American universities, but also international universities, for the study of physics and quantum mechanics. UTFSM also announced that, in conjunction with ENAER and LAN Airlines, it would be instituting an aeronautical engineering curriculum.

In more news from the educational front, the University of Valparaiso has announced it's intent to build a brand-new observatory complex in the Atacama Desert, fifty kilometers east of the city of San Pedro de Atacama.

January 24
Workers have begun preparing the badly damaged cruiser Nevado Ojos del Salado for her return south, either for rebuilding or scrapping. The Navy and the largest Chilean naval contractor, ASMAR, are currently engaged in a dispute about whether or not the ship can be repaired, or should be scrapped. The Armada contends that the ship is too badly damaged to repair, and that repairs should be made only so far as is required in order to bring the ship to the scrapper in Talcahuano.



[SIZE=1]Addendum: No, acquiring a cyclotron is not evidence of upcoming nuclear nefarious plans. It's actually for research and educational purposes.[/SIZE]

February 1
The Chilean Congress's Review Committee on the Peruvian War has completed its analysis of the performance of the armed forces. The following report does not address issues related to The Black Chamber (aka Chilean military intelligence).

Quoted

[SIZE=3]Armada de Chile[/SIZE]

Capital Ships
The current Chilean battle fleet saw little contact with the enemy and suffered only minor air attacks; however, the sinking of the Peruvian Huascar proves that capital ships can be sunk in unfavorable situations by aircraft. It is the opinion of the Review Committee that capital ships should be prepared against air attacks in order to remain effective. Speed is becoming increasingly important to make a well-rounded capital ship; this committee proposes a standard unit speed of 29-31 knots for a future fast battleship. The committee also mandates the use of thirteen-centimeter Hala guns for secondary weapons.

Carriers
The recent performance of the Allied carriers justifies the expense of the vessel as a unit type. This committee endorses the Naval C-in-C's earlier plan to construct a new fleet carrier (Plan-1940) and approves the adoption of the B721-60 design. The committee also agrees with the conversion of design D560-24 for use as a training vessel and escort carrier. Carrier tactics should be reworked with knowledge of the Atlantean doctrine for use as a multi-role scout, strike, and air defense vessel.

Cruisers
The Chilean light cruiser fleet performed well, but we find this section of the Navy severely lacking in numbers, with only six light cruisers in the fleet. This force has been proven to be insufficient in numbers to wage a naval war in broad scope. Additionally, we believe the Peruvian Navy will soon be improving its own light cruiser fleet, which is similar in quantity to the Chilean cruisers, if lacking in larger vessels of the type. It is absolutely imperative to build and acquire more light cruisers.

Maunga Terevaka is found to be a useful vessel for her intermediate size. Should funds for a refit become available, the committee advocates the reconstruction of her gun mounts to accept enclosed gunhouses, and the implementation of geared turbines to replace her direct-drive system, which is found to be inefficient. The three vessels of the Atacama-class and the two vessels of the Nevado Ojos del Salado-class (which share the same hull but different armaments) are similarly found to be acceptable; the outstanding hull strength of these two designs has been amply demonstrated by the survival of the Nevado Ojos del Salado. Current expectations call for a refit of these vessels sometime before 1945, calling for the installation of more modern turbines as a life-extension measure. This said, the committee accepts the Navy's recommendation that Nevado Ojos del Salado be disposed to scrap as being too costly to repair or rebuild. The Astraea-class air defense cruisers have proven themselves admirably in all combat occasions, having received a complete modernization of engines, guns, and electronic systems. The committee particularly has cause to remark on the spectacular performance of Astraea during the Battle of Barranca.

The armoured cruisers of the Capitan Oyama type are currently accepted to be oversized for their current weapons fit and protection, but are otherwise satisfactory vessels. The Constitucion-class heavy cruiser, currently under construction, is deemed to be a better example for future armoured/heavy cruisers, and any further examples should meet or exceed her specifications. The current naval leadership views Constitucion as the replacement for the armoured cruiser Capitan Tylor, currently being rented to the Colombian Navy; as such, when the Capitan Tylor's lease expires in late 1940, the vessel will be offered for sale to Colombia. Should Colombia decline, the committee proposes her wing turrets be removed, and her refit into a training vessel. The committee agrees with the naval leadership that no further heavy cruisers will be required for the foreseeable period after the completion of Constitucion.

The committee has reviewed the specifications of the upcoming Magellanes-class and approves the adoption of the 13,000-ton version. The committee has also reviewed the Angamos-class flotilla leaders and confirms ASMAR's recommendations to down-rate the armament from 15cm BL turrets to 13cm hoist-equipped Hala mounts.

Destroyers
Despite the loss of the Almirante Zero, we believe this class is currently our best destroyer class in service, though speed should be improved to maintain compatibility with the cruiser forces currently under consideration. The Capitan Eyzaguirre-class destroyers (one unit completed) were too new to participate in the war and the design is therefore unproven.

Some considerable and acrimonious debate has emerged over the perceived superiority of the Peruvian "large destroyer" fleet of the Valdez and Independencia classes. This committee unanimously endorses the Admiralty's doctrine to arm all future ships with an armament of no fewer than five and preferably eight thirteen-centimeter Hala guns, as well as sixty centimeter Type-X torpedoes. Hoist mounts are specified for all future Chilean destroyer designs due to the improved rate of fire.

The Almirante Williams-class is being evaluated for disposal, or rebuilding as destroyer-minelayers or high-speed transports. Their hulls remain in good condition but their engines are worn, and if not replaced within eighteen months, will cause these vessels to be completely inoperable. The slightly more modern destroyers of the Herlock-class are rated for another three years of service in their current condition, but options should be considered for their upgrade, reconstruction, or disposal. The destroyer Capitan Simpson, although only thirteen years old, is found to be in poor material condition and with a sub-standard gunnery outfit for her size. The committee mandates the refit of the Simpson within the next twelve months to receive new engines and deploy more modernized armament. The Capitan Orella-class escort destroyers are currently well-regarded by the Navy as suitable vessels for patrol and escort, having modern dual-purpose guns and excellent antisubmarine fits. As more of these secondhand vessels have become available, the committee strongly approves of their purchase and planned refit.

Submarines
The submarine force conducted few operations, with the highlight being Capitan O'Brien's interception and capture of a 400-ton vessel carrying small armaments. This committee believes long-ranged submarines were misused by the Navy, as only two submarines were deployed to the combat zone, the remaining six (of the Gualcolda-class) being judged unsuitable for anything but coastal defense, although this judgment is probably the correct interpretation.

This committee is concerned about the disdain the naval leadership holds the submarine force. Submarines are deemed part of the Coast Defense Forces which, with their current equipment, is their ideal role. However, the committee believes submarines may have a high-seas application as well, as the two submarines of the Capitan O'Brien-class participated in the blockade of Presidentialist Peruvian ports. The committee orders a reevaluation of standing naval doctrine and the further development of the submarine force, even if only to maintain up-to-date knowledge about foreign submarine tactics and doctrine.

Airships
Only one airship, the metalclad training dirigible Capitan Prat, was available for use during the conflict, that vessel being barely accepted into service. Despite this, the Capitan Prat performed three significant patrols for extremely long durations during the course of the short conflict, including her attempts to find the Nevado Ojos del Salado following the Battle of Barranca. The deployment of non-rigid antisubmarine "blimps" is ongoing, and they are anticipated to prove useful in antisubmarine operations along the coast. Although airships remain slow and vulnerable to modern aircraft, their range, staying power, and ability to hover give them a utility which appears to confirm their expense.

Fleet Oilers
The Armada has recently begun supplementing the collier-oiler Araucano with the pure oilers of the Peninsula and Oasis-classes. The committee enthusiastically endorses the acquisition of these new ships, as Peninsula Tres Montes' participation in the war enabled the Flota de Alta Mar unprecedented at-sea readiness.

Tenders
The committee reviews the current naval tender situation and approves of the development of the Lago-class and Golfo-class destroyer tenders.

Transport Vessels and Troopships
Current naval doctrine on the strategic level requires the Merchant Marine (MARCOM) to provide the Navy a set number of vessels for conversion and use as transports and troopships. MARCOM's report of early 1937 indicated the poor state or advanced age of many of the vessels currently on-hand for these uses, finding only three of the twelve transports (Cachapoal, Imperial, and Aconcagua) were under twenty years old or fit for conversion. With the start of the conflict in Peru, the three serviceable ships, along with the Navy's existing Maipo and Rancagua (themselves approaching four decades old), were primarily employed in supplying the Army through the port of Arica; the remaining nine ships marked for service never even came close to being ready for service. Had the war lasted longer or required more extensive Army-Navy operations, the Navy would have suffered a serious shortage of transports. Immediate steps should be taken to retire the current batch of naval reserve transports and to replace them with vessels more suitable for use in the modern era. If necessary, a subsidy should be provided to the shipping companies to ensure there are ships of proper specifications. Additionally, provision must be made for ensuring the private owners maintain these vessels in a state of repair which will permit their mobilization.

Landing Ships
The Navy currently has four "Fast Attack Transports" of the Parinacota-class, converted from old destroyers. These vessels performed very well during the raid on Pisco harbour, but lacked sufficient capacity to carry the entire raiding force. The ships carried four small purpose-built landing launches which are inferior to other designs manufactured abroad, particularly in their lack of a bow ramp, as is current practice on Atlantean landing craft.

Currently, the sealift capability for the Chilean Marines is insufficient to move large concentrations of troops and keep them supplied in a campaign, and no provision has been made to permit the rapid debarkation of troops in the face of an opposition force. The Chilean Marines are well-supplied with small arms but lack sufficient supporting arms to permit them to function as anything besides light infantry.

The acquisition of ramped troop lighters for use aboard the Parinacota-class TdTs should be rectified quickly. Additionally, design efforts should focus on the development of a vessel capable of transporting troops and vehicles ashore with a minimum of available facilities, perhaps using a coastal ferry as a basis for design efforts.

Quoted

[SIZE=3]Ejercito de Chile[/SIZE]

This committee has found that many of the recommendations advocated in the post-Andean War review have not been satisfactorily carried out in the years since the end of the war. This is a serious oversight and substantially hindered the Ejercito de Chile's operations in the so-called "Atacama Sitzkrieg".

Organization
In the post-Andean War reports, the previous committee advocated that infantry divisions be rebuilt as mountain divisions, with more independent regiments equipped with appropriate supporting arms forces. This recommendation was accepted by the army but has been subsequently ignored. Infantry forces are still commanded from the division level, with commanders exercising tight control of the regiments, and likewise maintaining the majority of the attached supporting arms. Further, previous decisions were made to move all divisions to contain three regiments instead of the four, as present in the Army during the Andean War. This arrangement was found to be difficult for commanders to control in the field. However, as of 1938 only three of the nine infantry divisions have moved to triangular format (these being the Army of Valparaiso, the Army of Caule, and the Army of Bío-Bío).

It is proposed to immediately remove the fourth infantry regiment from those six divisions which currently retain it, and use these six regiments to form two new mountain infantry divisions. These units should be equipped as required for mountain divisions, using new equipment.

Additionally, it has been determined to provide all Army divisions with a numeric designation to aid in administrative task.

Vehicles
The Army's operations in northern Chile were severely hindered by the geography preventing the Armies of the Arica and Atacama from being easily resupplied. Although the Army possessed sizable fuel and ammunition dumps near Arica, the experience of the Andean War indicated these resources would be exhausted with two weeks steady campaigning. A lack of land transportation, by road or rail, additionally bound the Army of Arica from engaging in maneuver warfare. This relative lack of motorization was addressed in the post-Andean War review and little to no improvement has been seen up to this point. This committee concurs with the Army Chiefs of Staff that immediate and aggressive efforts should be taken to form a mechanized heavy infantry or "panzergrenadiers" division, formed of two panzergrenadiers regiments and one tank regiment, for more capable operations. The Army of Araucania has been selected for this purpose, and will be renamed appropriately.

Tanks
With the intended development of a panzergrenadier division, the Army requires more tanks. The models currently in service seem predisposed to a rapid eclipse by foreign models currently under development, but most should be useful for continued service for several years yet. However, the current AT-17 tanks are completely outdated and should be retired promptly to tank-training units. No specific recommendation is made by this committee at this time for new tanks, with the understanding that the Ejercito should acquire models comparable or superior in performance to those of our likely opposition. The recently-acquired TK-35/57s are suitable for long-term use as tank hunters; likewise the SP-35/75s are useful and modern assault guns.

Artillery
This committee finds the artillery in a good state of order. The only current criticism is the lack of self-propelled guns and corps-level heavy artillery.

[SIZE=3]Infanteria de Marina de Chile[/SIZE]

The Chilean Marines are well-equipped in terms of small arms, possessing a high number of submachine guns, light machine guns, and modern rifles. FM36 semiautomatic rifles are starting to appear in increasing quantities, and the Marines intend to convert all six Marine battalions to the new weapon by winter 1939.

Supporting arms, however, are in an uncertain state. The Marines possess no support weapons larger than 81mm mortars, and their antitank capabilities are composed of soldiers carrying demolition charges.

This committee calls for the development or purchase of an amphibious weapons-carrier vehicle to equip the IdMdC before the 1940 Defense Review.

Quoted

[SIZE=3]Fuerza Aérea de Chile (FACh)[/SIZE]

Fighters and Interceptors
The Accrisius F-15 Aves has served as our main fighter of the campaign and performed on par with the Peruvian Hawker Hurricanes. Newer aircraft with more speed and superior performance are coming out soon, however, and so this committee suggests the FACh make no further purchases of Aves types at present.

The Spartan F-9 Storm is a very nimble fighter, but has been completely outclassed by more recent designs. These fighters are being retained mostly in Bolivia where the prospective opposition is minimal. Those squadrons currently in Line service should receive priority to equip with newer I-02-IIs.

Twin-engined Spartan Sp-24 Cutlass did not see their ideal use during the war as they functioned mainly as bomber destroyers and fighter bombers. The planes are heavy and well-armed, and would seem to serve this role best, as they are not very nimble compared to an Aves.

Navalized Spartan Corsair-IIs served as part of the Armada de Chile Arma Aerea (AdCAA). They are remarkable for their excellent speed and superior nimbleness. As part of the fighter group for Mapuche, they should serve well for several years longer. Climb 2,126 fpm

The FMA I-01N Buchon also serves as a fighter for the AdCAA. They seem disposed to use as interceptors due to their high rate of climb and excellent speed, but maneuverability only on par with the F-15 Aves. A pair of I-01-II Buchons, with substantially upgraded capabilities, made one combat patrol and proved to be extremely impressive craft.

Attack
The FACh currently has no dedicated attack or light bomber aircraft. This is a serious flaw due to the FACh's current emphasis on air superiority and medium bombers. The purchase or development of a dedicated ground-attack aircraft is mandated before the Defense Review of 1940.

Medium Bombers
The current force of Vanquish-II bombers is sufficient and should remain active well into the 1940s, barring unforeseen developments.

Heavy Bombers
The heavy bomber force of four-engined Vanguard bombers is sufficient and should remain active well into the 1940s.

Transports
The FACh currently uses the indigenously-produced Valdivia Twin Condor. This is without a doubt the finest aircraft produced in Chile, having excellent rough-field capabilities and excellent reliability. Though slightly small and cramped it is inexpensive to manufacture and operate and, with proper modernization, should be in production indefinitely.

Spotters/Liaison
The Valdivia Single Condor provides adequate short-field service and excellent loiter time. The design should remain in production indefinitely.

Trainers
Trainers to the present time are composed of obsolescent light aircraft, preferrably twin-seat types. These have been sufficient up to the present for teaching new pilots, but as more modern aircraft come into service, a dedicated training aircraft will be useful. The FACh has already addressed this issue with the development and order of ENAER Coati aircraft, although none have yet to see service.

February 7
The CNS Vanguardia has returned to Valparaiso from Antarctic waters with the eight members of the Amenábar Expedition. The populace of Valparaiso turned out by the thousands to welcome home the first Chileans to reach the South Pole. A parade was held, with the expedition members marching together, and the Vanguardia's Twin Condor aircraft and the snow-cruiser Bold Cochrane were towed through the streets behind them.

February 8
ENAER has rolled out the first I-01-IIB Buchon from the plant in Puerto Montt. The new Buchons will replace obsolescent F-9 Storms, which will be surplussed out of the FACh or relegated to training roles. The I-01-IIBs differ somewhat from the Argentine fighter they're based on, being uniquely equipped with dive brakes and bomb racks, permitting them to serve as fighter-bombers.

February 16
After several months of long and tedious discussions, a number of small Chilean companies have announced the formation of a major business consortium named Alianza Empresa (Alliance Enterprises). Each of the companies will become internal divisions of Alianza, each responsible for certain business sectors. Among Alianza's divisions is Valdivia Aviation (manufacturers of civil aircraft), turbine-manufacturer Austral, copper manufacturer Madeco, industrial tool manufacturer Hillyer-Van Rijn, and naval artillery manufacturer Oyama-Pacifica. Another aircraft division, Fanaero Chile, has been formed to license-build Roth-Packard designs. Additionally, engine-maker Austral will expand its business from naval turbines to include license-built Roth engines.

February 17
The government of Chile has sent the Raj of India the present of a saber decorated with Andean lapis lazuli in honor of his coronation as Shah of Persia. Inscribed on the blade of the saber is the motto "Absit Invidia", [1] while the scabbard is decorated with the motto "Ex Oriente Lux".

February 25
The University of Valparaiso, sponsor of the Amenábar Polar Expedition, has revealed geological data taken in early December. Included in the data is evidence of tectonic quakes underneath the ice, which geologists at the University claim may be evidence of sub-glacial volcanoes. The excitement of the University's geologists could barely be contained.

February 28
The Armada de Chile has announced, in a major concession from its past stance, that for the first time in eight years, it has purchased a submarine. The leadership of the Armada has largely distrusted the submarine as an effective instrument of war. The Chilean Navy has selected an Italian design to supplement its two O'Brian-class fleet boats and six Gualcolda or "H"-class coastal submarines. The new submarine will be named Union.

[SIZE=1][1] I couldn't resist putting this on a sword... [/SIZE]

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
Included in the data is evidence of tectonic quakes underneath the ice, which geologists at the University claim may be evidence of sub-glacial volcanoes.

Or Walter playing with the second gate again...

Quoted

Originally posted by Red Admiral

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
Included in the data is evidence of tectonic quakes underneath the ice, which geologists at the University claim may be evidence of sub-glacial volcanoes.

Or Walter playing with the second gate again...

Hee, true dat.

Though I should note the first sub-glacial volcano discovered in Antarctica is in the current Chilean territory.

March 5
Officials announced that the Naval Weather Station on Easter Island has not transmitted within the last four days. The island only has one long-ranged wireless transmitter, and although they reported stormy weather on the evening of March 1, there appeared to be no serious concerns. The cruiser Tierra del Fuego has been dispatched to sail to Easter Island to investigate the situation.

March 7
The cruiser Tierra del Fuego, en route to Easter Island, encountered a small, battered open boat sailing towards Valaparaiso. After receiving distress signals, the cruiser hoisted aboard three men who reported the events which have caused Easter Island's radio silence. The storm of March 1 elevated abruptly to a serious squall, which blew down a number of buildings and destroyed the Navy's wireless tower and the weather station. The men also reported the hospital had been damaged by high winds, and numerous fishermen were reported to be missing. When the storm passed on March 2, the men took an open boat to try to reach Valparaiso for help.

The Tierra del Fuego relayed this news back to the mainland and pressed onward. The Chilean Navy immediately began loading the destroyer tender Lago General Carrera with relief supplies from the Navy's stockpile, and note it will sail on the 9th.

March 9
The Tierra del Fuego arrived off Easter Island. Upon raising the island, Easter Island's harbourmaster immediately raised the 'Quarantine' flag, and signaled to the cruiser that although the islanders had repaired much of the damage from the March 1-2 storm, the island was experiencing an epidemic of diphtheria, having already seen three deaths. The island hospital had lost its roof in the storm and the island's medical stockpiles, particularly the limited supplies of diphtheria serum, had been lost or destroyed. The cruiser's two corpsmen joined the one island doctor attempting to halt the spread of the epidemic.

March 10
The Chilean Navy has announced that the airship Capitan Prat has departed the naval aerodrome at Puerto Varas with an emergency shipment of diphtheria serum. A reporter from the newspaper El Mercurio has received permission to travel with the airship's crew, and has begun sending hourly updates on the airship's progress; national news media (partly due to slow national news) has begun repeating the updates regularly on the radio channels.

Responding to criticisms about why a faster plane wasn't sent instead, the Chilean Navy noted that neither the AdCAA nor the FACh possess any aircraft capable of flying 2,200 miles to Easter Island while still carrying cargo; the Capitan Prat, however, can easily manage this distance while carrying far heavier cargoes.

March 11
The Capitan Prat arrived at Easter Island, temporarily mooring over the island's incomplete airfield and unloading 300,000 units of diphtheria antitoxin, as well as other emergency supplies, two naval surgeons, and parts to repair the Naval Weather Station's wireless antenna. The airship's arrival, occurring at 1820 Hours, was narrated by an onboard reporter from El Mercurio, who's wireless dispatches were read over the radio across Chile. Media analysis indicated over seven million Chileans tuned in to listen to the event.

March 13
The Capitan Prat has returned to Puerto Varas from Easter Island. The airship will refuel and return with further medical supplies, even though the Navy's destroyer-tender Lago General Carrera is underway with more supplies.

The airship's return was unsurprisingly tumultuous, with over 40,000 Chileans gathered at Puerto Varas to welcome the metalclad back to the massive hangers. Naval commander-in-chief Almirante Moore telegraphed congratulations to the crew and called it "a triumph for the naval airship".

March 18
The FACh has salvaged a trio of Hawker Hurricanes shot down in the Atacama Desert during the recent war with Peru. The Hurricanes, built in Britain, were damaged and downed in the Air Battle of Tacna and Arica, and crashed on the Chilean side of the border. The salvaged aircraft are being restored to flying condition.

March 22
The Health Department has announced that the diphtheria epidemic on Easter Island is ended. Current figures show that from the island's population of 4,527, some 472 diphtheria cases were reported, with a total of 24 deaths, most occurring prior to the arrival of antitoxin on March 11.

The governor of Easter Island offered the islanders' profuse thanks to the crews of the Tierra del Fuego, Lago General Carrera, and Capitan Prat. The airship, having brought in further medical supplies to Easter Island, is currently flying more supplies to the British Pitcairn Islands and French Polynesia, to ensure that their stockpiles are up to date in case the outbreak was not localized.

March 30
The Chilean congress passed a bill criminalizing the intentional "triggering of avalanches, rockslides, and volcanoes with the intent of defrauding insurance companies". The bill was announced as closing a loophole in current insurance law.

April 4
The field for the 1938 presidential election is becoming crowded. With elections scheduled for December 11th, candidates have begun expressing their interest in campaigning. With President Alessandri retiring at the end of his current term, and no obvious heir apparent, a number of candidates have stepped forward to toss their hats in the ring.

Currently leading the field of likely candidates is the current Intendent of Potosi, Francisco D'Alarch. D'Alarch will likely run for the Movimiento Nacional Socialista de Chile (National Socialist Movement of Chile) with the support of party leader Jorge González von Marées. D'Alarch is a popular and highly respected veteran of the Andean War who commanded the occupation forces in southwest Bolivia. D'Alarch's success at restoring infrastructure in the Bolivian war-zone, eliminating armed resistance, and pacifying the region has made him highly respected in government circles. D'Alarch's popularity and nationwide recognition is expected to offset in large part many of the Nacistas' more unpopular party platforms, such as their desire for single-party rule, their anti-Semitism, and corporatism.

Another popular candidate will be Senator Augusto Rush, who has already announced his intent to run for the Partido Socialista de Chile (Chilean Socialist Party). Senator Rush is a senior politician from Valparaiso and has a served as an ambassador extraordinaire to various international governments. Senator Rush is a champion of developing new social programs for the poor and indigenous peoples, which he wants to fund using national copper revenues. This has put him at odds with the military, as most of the tariffs on copper exports are used to fund military procurement. [1] Rush must also overcome the opposition of the Catholic Church in Chile, which has an antagonistic relationship with Rush over some of his social programs.

Although either D'Alarch or Rush are likely to win the election, there's a strong possibility that more candidates might step forward.

April 11
The Chilean Senate has initiated an investigatory commission looking into the behavior of the Chilean Navy's commander-in-chief, Almirante Moore, in conducting the court-martials of Commodore Humberto Balmes (a reserve naval officer in the Senate) and Contraalmirante Daniel Laport. The court-martials, instituted by Moore following the Balmes-Laport feud, cleared Laport of all accusations and found Balmes guilty of misbehavior.

April 12
The Balmes-Laport hearings came to an abrupt and chaotic conclusion today on the floor of the Senate. Almirante Vincente Foxley, the commander of the Flota de Alta Mar and the leader of the courts-martial, was testifying, and in response to Senator Balmes' antagonistic and combative line of questioning, lost his hitherto implacable calm. Foxley finally called Balmes "a blundering embarassment to the Armada and the Chilean Senate" and said that "he should not command anything bigger than a bathtub battleship". An enfuriated Balmes seized the senate minority leader's gavel and assaulted Foxley. Almirante Foxley shrugged off three hits and broke Balmes' jaw with his return punch, then had Balmes arrested for assault, later noting that Balmes "hits like a girly man".

[1] This is historically accurate. The Chilean military gets a percentage of all the tariff of copper exports, and uses it to keep their equipment modernized. This has traditionally meant the Chilean military is not as dependent upon Congressional funding whims as other militaries, and is instead dependent upon flux in the international market.
[2] This is the 90,000th post on this forum!

April 19
The Armada de Chile has announced that the airship Capitan Prat will depart in July for a month-long series of "port calls" around North and South America. Included in the port calls will be Buenaventura (Colombia), San Francisco, Esquimalt, Ottawa, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Montevideo, and finally Cordoba, where the airship will be on hand for Talons 1938. Commanding the airship for this epic voyage will be Capitan de Navio Philip Prien, the commander of the Naval Dirigible Squadron and one of the main technical men behind the acquisition of the unique airship. Also accompanying the Prat will be a reporter for the newspaper El Mercurio and a representative of LAN Airline, which has been studying a long-distance passenger airship route out of Santiago-Valparaiso. [1]

April 25
Molymet has announced that it will build a brand-new roasting plant at San Bernardo with a capacity of 13,600 metric tons per year. The new roasting plant will permit Molymet to separate minerals from copper ore. Molymet's shares immediately went up on the Santiago Stock Exchange following the announcement. The Santiago-based minerals processing company, despite it's recent founding, has won awards from employee groups and commendations from government organizations for its excellent approach to labour-management relations and its work developing "clean manufacturing" processes. The company thus stands in stark contrast to the American-owned copper producer Anaconda Copper, which has been criticized over the same issues. Some observers on the left have called for the nationalization of Anaconda's Chilean holdings and reorganization based on the Molymet model, but this has been rejected.

April 27
Coronel-based manufacturer Austral has announced that it has test-run the first Chilean-manufactured aircraft engine, the 300hp Austral Palomo. The Palomo is a license-manufactured Roth 668R-1200, a time-tested seven-cylinder radial of Atlantean design. The Palomo generates a maximum of three hundred horsepower. Austral has been branching out from naval turbines since its incorporation in Alianza Industries, and earlier this year bought a large percentage of Roth-Packard stock in exchange for a large percentage of Austral stock.

May 2
A Valdivia Twin Condor licensed to LAN Airlines disappeared today after departing Punta Arenas airport bound for Puerto Montt. The plane, scheduled as Flight 714, never arrived in Puerto Montt nor radioed any distress signals. Missing along with the plane are two crewmen and eleven passengers, including Salvador Allende, the campaign manager for Senator Augusto Rush's presidential campaign, and Rush's speechwriter Isabella Vinay. If the plane is lost, then it will be the second such loss in as many months. Until now, the Twin Condor has acquired an enviable safety record despite its increasing use out of remote or even non-existent airstrips.

May 4
The police chief of Punta Arenas has announced that the disappearance of Flight 714 on Monday might not have been an accident. The police department received a sealed letter from one of the pilots, posted prior to the plane's departure, which stated the pilot's intent to steal the plane "in order to save all Chile." The letter instructed the police to read the pilot's "messianic testament" which would be found in a lockbox in a Santiago bank.

May 10
Four survivors of Flight 714 have reportedly arrived in Puerto Eden, on the Chilean southern coast. No further news has come from this extremely remote village in the southern fjords.

May 11
The survivors of Flight 714 have been flown into Puerto Montt by floatplane, where they were immediately taken to the naval hospital to be treated for malnutrition and exposure. Investigators have been tight-lipped about the fate of the other nine occupants of the plane, but have conclusively stated "the disappearance of Flight 714 is clearly due to criminal action."

May 12
Two more survivors of Flight 714 have been daringly rescued from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field by pilots of the FACh. The Air Force has also announced the discovery of the missing Twin Condor, but was unable to inspect the aircraft from the ground due to ice conditions.

May 14
The Chilean national police have released their first statements regarding the chain of events which led to the disappearance of Flight 714. According to letters left by the pilot and testimony of the survivors, chief pilot Josiah Guzman became convinced that a world-threatening volcanic eruption was to be caused from the unnamed volcano in the center of the South Patagonian Ice Field. [2] The cause of the eruption, Guzman believed, was a titanic and malevolent evil spirit called a cherufe, which Mapuche myths claim lives inside volcanoes and must be appeased by human sacrifices. Guzman, claiming to be a divinely-inspired "messiah", determined to appease the cherufe by hijacking his own aircraft and crashing it into the volcano's caldera to feed the monster. In his letter to the police, posted before departing Punta Arenas, Guzman explained that he had chosen the date and flight because he knew a young woman - Senator Rush's speechwriter Isabella Vinay - would be aboard, and Mapuche myth indicates that "cherufes prefer eating the flesh of virgin women." Midway through the flight, Guzman murdered his copilot and changed course to carry out his suicidal plan. However, the pilot became lost in clouds and circled for several hours trying to find the mountain, and Guzman finally crash-landed the Twin Condor on the edge of the ice field. As he possessed a gun, Guzman ordered the passengers to start marching across the ice to find the volcano. A fight broke out when some of the passengers refused, and Guzman shot two of them. Six men fled with only the clothes on their backs into some of the harshest terrain in the world, leaving Guzman, Ms. Vinay, and the remaining four passengers, two of whom were injured from the gunfire. Leaving the four male passengers behind, Guzman forced Ms. Vinay to start marching across the glacier.

The six escapees returned to the plane after a few hours and found the injured men. Recovering a pair of hunting rifles from the baggage compartment of the plane, two of the men (Army sublieutenant Augusto Pinochet and Salvador Allende) set off in pursuit of Guzman and Vinay, two men (Alejandro Sangre and Javier Contreras) elected to stay with the injured men (Carlos Grossman and Rene Lisperguer) at the crash site, and four men (Army engineer Andres Littin, Horatio Maturana, Emilio Hurtado, and Jack Squella) decided to march to the coast to find help.

Following Littin's leadership, Maturana, Hurtado, and Squella all successfully marched through some of the toughest terrain in the world, in poor weather, to reach Puerto Eden on May 10th. Lieutenant Pinoche and Allende spent two days pursuing Guzman and Vinay, but finally found Guzman wandering alone on the ice-field. A short standoff occurred as Guzman ranted about how all he wanted to do was save the world. The two pursuers kept Guzman talking and realized that Isabella Vinay had apparently escaped from Guzman on the first night on the ice. When Guzman attempted to flee, both Allende and Pinochet fired at him, and the pilot fell into a crevasse in the ice, presumably to his death.

Returning to the site of the plane crash, Lt. Pinochet and Allende reunited with Sangre, Contreras, and Isabella Vinay, who had returned to the plane after her escape. Grossman and Lisperguer had succumbed to the cold and their injuries, and Isabella Vinay was suffering from serious frostbite. Pinochet and Sangre decided to follow Littin's party in walking for help, leaving Allende, Vinay, and Contreras with most of the supplies at the crash site.

By May 10th, Littin's party had reached Puerto Eden; and the FACh rescued Sangre and Pinochet off the ice-field. All six survivors remain hospitalized due to exposure. The fate of Allende, Contreras, and Vinay are as yet unknown, as searchers are not yet able to reach the crashed plane.

May 15
The last survivors of Flight 714 has been plucked off the ice today when FACh pilots finally managed to land near the crash site. Contreras and Vinay were both unconscious when rescue arrived, and did not survive the flight to Puerto Montt; Salvador Allende survived but was hospitalized in very serious condition due to exposure and frostbite.

May 19
The death of Senator Augusto Rush's speechwriter Isabella Vinay has caused a dramatic and unexpected political backlash. Doctors were requested to conduct an autopsy on Ms. Vinay's corpse, and discovered that she had been a month pregnant at the time of her death. Further investigation unveiled that Ms. Vinay had been having an affair with Senator Rush, who was paying his campaign manager (Allende) and Ms. Vinay money to keep the affair quiet. The news deals a potential blow to the indisputed front-runner in the Chilean presidential campaign, as the Catholic Church in Chile unequivocally condemned Senator Rush's behavior. The opposition National Socialist party immediately went on the offensive, criticizing Senator Rush's behavior and his willingness to pay blackmail money to "keep dirty secrets quiet".

May 23
A test-pole conducted by the newspaper El Mercurio found that Nacista candidate Francisco D'Alarch still trails Socialist candidate Augusto Rush. Despite the predominance of D'Alarch and Rush's campaigning, over seventy percent of Chileans say they are still "undecided" or want to vote for a minor candidate. The Chilean Conservative and Liberal parties have been paralyzed by indecision over fielding candidates of their own, despite being the largest parties in the Chilean congress. The deadline for presidential candidates to join the race is September 11th in order for the government to print ballots in time for the December 11th election.

May 31
Guardias Noches (Night Guardsmen), a novel by Edmond Vizcarra, has been published to high reviews. The novel, written by a junior member of the House of Deputies, has been described by reviewers as "a possible result of collaboration between H.G. Wells, G.K. Chesterton, and Adam Smith".

June 1
The Chilean Liberal party has finally nominated Miguel Pizzani to run as their candidate in the Chilean Presidential election. Pizzani is the current Minister of Education under President Arturo Alessandri, and is seen as a safe choice. Pizzani's campaign will undoubtedly weaken the hand of the Socialist Party candidate, Augusto Rush, who has been tarred with scandal and portrayed as a "Communist-Socialist hardliner" by political opponents. Pizzani, a more moderate socialist, may attract more votes than his hard-left opponent.

June 12
The last survivors of ill-fated Flight 714 have been released from the hospital. Salvador Allende, the final man to be released, has indicated that he will not return immediately to serve as campaign manager for Augusto Rush's presidential bid, and will instead take a long break to recover from the frostbite injuries he received, and intends to write a novel which he started during his hospital stay. Another survivor, Sublieutenant Augusto Pinochet, has returned to service in the Army.

June 20
Another test pole conducted by El Mercurio has shown that Miguel Pizzani has narrowly seized the lead in the presidential race, with over twenty percent of eligible voters saying they would vote for Pizzani. Senator Rush, the Socialist Party candidate, has dropped to ten percent, while National Socialist candidate D'Alarch polled at fifteen percent. Francisco D'Alarch's campaign for the National Socialist party has been uninspired of late, as D'Alarch continues his duties as Intendent of Potosi, and has left much of his campaigning to Jorge González von Marées, the head of the Chilean National Socialist Party. Von Marées, nicknamed "El Jefe" (The Chief) has upset many moderate voters by his antisemitic comments. National Socialist leaders have called for D'Alarch to dismiss von Marées and challenge him for leadership of the Naci Party.

June 23
A political rally in Santiago for the Socialist Party turned ugly today, as white-clad members of the National Socialist party entered the crowd and began scuffling with Socialists. The Carabineros were called out in force to separate the protesters, and in a particularly ugly moment, the Nacista Whiteshirts appeared ready to assault a small band of Carabineros. The policemen, surrounded by hundreds of screaming protesters throwing trash and small stones, fixed bayonets and advanced in formation to break through the crowd. Several youths, who police said were probably drunk, threw themselves into the row of bayonets and were moderately injured. The police regrouped while the Whiteshirts recovered their wounded friends. With the new rallying cry of "Our blood will save Chile!" - ostensibly shouted by one of the injured Whiteshirts - the Nacista protesters appeared poised to riot further when further reinforcements arrived from the Carabineros. The extra police, called out directly by President Alessandri, surrounded the rioting Whiteshirts and arrested five hundred individuals.

June 24
Government officials today praised the "calm response" of the Carabineros in breaking up the Whiteshirt riots in Santiago. Meanwhile, leaders of the Movimiento Nacional Socialista de Chile condemned the actions of police, and Jorge González von Marées, in a speech to supporters, claimed that the police had engaged in a campaign to "stamp out patriotic Chileans" and "crush dissent" at the behest of "conniving Jewish masters".

June 25
Heeding the calls of advisors, Francisco D'Alarch has dismissed Jorge González von Marées as his campaign manager and come out swinging to bring together wavering party members. D'Alarch held a four-hour long conference with von Marées, and "El Jefe" tendered his resignation as D'Alarch's campaign manager. D'Alarch also ordered calm from his supporters, and indicated that he would not support the paramilitary "Whiteshirts", going as far as saying that he would use presidential powers (if elected) to disperse the paramilitaries.

D'Alarch's decisions seem to indicate a major defeat for the hardline National Socialist supporters like von Marées. D'Alarch's strong popularity with the average Chilean citizen has helped keep the Movimiento Nacional Socialista de Chile a political force to be reckoned with, but the hardline Nacista policies do not sit well with many Chileans. With the moderate D'Alarch, who has shown public disdain for von Marées' antisemitism and some of the more hardline Nacista platforms, firmly in control, it is likely that the National Socialist Movement's fortunes will rise again by the time more active campaigning starts in September.

Despite this, a large number of Chilean voters continue to express dissatisfaction with the three political candidates currently in the race. Many observers are waiting to see which candidate the Conservative Party decides to run. The Conservatives have suffered considerable infighting among their own ranks, with three different candidates suggested by party leaders, and all three are opposed by other Party factions.

June 28
After months stuck in Iquique harbour due to battle damage, the heavy cruiser Nevado Ojos del Salado has returned to sea - though not under her own power. The damaged cruiser, fitted with a temporary "prow" to replace her lost bow, is being towed to the yards at Talcahuano, either to await repair or scrapping. Although ASMAR insists the ship can be repaired and many voices still demand the ship's return to service for symbolic reasons, prominent naval constructors and designers point out that the ship was "beaten mercilessly" and is not economical to repair, and suggest it should be scrapped and replaced with a new cruiser. Popular opinion in favor of the cruiser's repair has waned in recent months due to concerns about the cost of the rebuild.

June 30
The cruiser Nevado Ojos del Salado is once again missing on the high seas. The civilian tugs assigned to tow the ship to Talcahuano reportedly refused to heed a weather warning, and just before dawn, with wind and seas rising, cast off their tow of the cruiser and fled to the safety of Valparaiso. A thirty-man caretaker crew aboard the cruiser was inexplicably left behind by the departing tugs, and the Navy has sent warships to find the Nevado Ojos del Salado and rescue her crew.

Although naval spokesmen offered restrained comments regarding the tug captains' decisions to abandon the tow, the Navy's private fury at the abandonment of the ship and her caretaker crew was widely visible. Less than six hours after the arrival of the tugs in Valparaiso, the destroyer Almirante Condell steamed into Valparaiso harbour and boarded the tugs at gunpoint, putting a force of armed sailors aboard; the three salvage tugs sailed within a half-hour.

[Note 1] As per the 1936 news.
[Note 2] This volcano is named Lautaro in 1952.

Good old South American politics; riots, bayonets, plane crashes and mad messiahs!

Can't wait to see which way Chile will swing in the end. The United Workers Party in Argentina is watching with interest.

Lt. Pinochet and Allende to become the best of friends after their ordeal?

Quoted

Originally posted by Hood
Good old South American politics; riots, bayonets, plane crashes and mad messiahs!

Can't wait to see which way Chile will swing in the end. The United Workers Party in Argentina is watching with interest.

Lt. Pinochet and Allende to become the best of friends after their ordeal?

Glad somebody commented!

The historical 1938 election in Chile was pretty exciting with a three-way race, as shown here. In Wesworld, we have a stronger National Socialist candidate, and the Conservatives haven't picked anyone yet, so if they choose a good dark horse, there might be a fourth hat in the ring. The Chilean Constitution forbids incumbents from running again, and so there can never be an incumbent for the presidency. Makes things interesting! The current president, Arturo Alessandri, seems to have still been pretty popular coming into 1938, but the events of his last year in office were a bit tumultuous.

Not sure yet what I'm going to do with Allende and Pinochet. They appeared here doing precisely the jobs they did at the time - Pinochet as a sublieutenant, Allende as the campaign manager for the Socialist presidential candidate. I've considered having them both take jobs that would take them down ahistoric paths and mean the 1973 Revolution could never happen as historical: perhaps Pinochet could become an antarctic explorer, and Allende retires from politics to become a novelist!

July 3
Naval ships have found the cruiser Nevado Ojos del Salado drifting in stormy weather approximately thirty miles off the Chilean coast. Foul weather hampered the search for the drifting ship for days, grounding search aircraft and lowering visibility. The caretaker crew of the vessel had rigged an impromptu sea anchor to keep the ship riding the waves stern-first, but even so spent most of their time in two covered lifeboats, expecting the ship to break apart or capsize.

The cruiser's sister-ship, Volcan Osorno, took the Nevado Ojos del Salado in tow, joining civilian tugs, and together brought the cruiser into Valparaiso.

July 5
At an evening political rally in Santiago for the Movimiento Nacional Socialista de Chile, the militant "whiteshirts" caused a stir as they chanted for the eradication of political "undesirables", and burned effigies of their various political opponents. The burning of effigies got out of hand, however, when some of the more violent Whiteshirt youth tried to throw gasoline onto a smoldering effigy of presidential candidate Pizzani. The gasoline canisters erupted into flame and the fire engulfed the ranks of the youths. Two university girls who had been pouring the gasoline cans were engulfed in flames and died before medical aid arrived, while eighteen other Whiteshirts received varying degrees of burns.

July 8
The two girls burned to death during a Nacista rally on Tuesday were buried today in Santiago, but the funeral crowd, composed of several hundred Whiteshirts, took the opportunity to blame "operatives of the worldwide Jewish secret cult". A plea by one of the fathers failed to move the crowd, which seemed ready to riot. The timely arrival of the Carabineros, complete with horse-mounted policemen, dispersed the Whiteshirts, though a few bold protesters who tried to resist the police advance were arrested.

July 9
Nacista Whiteshirts and the Carabineros clashed again today in Valparaiso in what may be the bloodiest clash yet. Over a thousand Whiteshirts gathered while a company of nervous police observed them, awaiting reinforcements. The Whiteshirts blocked the escape of the police and began taunting them, then throwing rocks and bottles. The situation continued to escalate when the Whiteshirts lit several cars on fire, and then threw a gas-bomb at the police, though the weapon fell short. Some of the police, fearing for their lives, drew their personal sidearms in an attempt to warn the Whiteshirts to disperse, but a number of Nacistas attempted to seize the sidearms from the police. A second gas-bomb landed among the ranks of the Carabineros, and at this point a general firing began. The besieged Carabineros claimed they feared for their lives, while the Whiteshirts claimed the police were ordered to fire into the crowd and disperse them. The police firing broke the will of the Whiteshirts, who fled, leaving eight wounded and three dead. The Carabineros, however, had casualties of their own, with two officers being badly burned as a result of the second gas-bomb. One of the officers died from his injuries some hours after reaching the hospital.

July 10
President Alessandri today condemned the events of July 9th and announced today that he would be forming a paramilitary group to prevent Nacista protests from getting out of control again. This paramilitary group, to be called the Republican Guard, will be responsible for ensuring safety and security in the period leading up to the election. An additional curfew will be imposed, to be enforced by the Republican Guard.

Political opponents have bemoaned the creation of a Chilean police-state, but others found the development a welcome relief to the increasing violence of the Whiteshirts and the Nacista party.

Presidential candidate Francisco D'Alarch has reportedly lost ground in the informal man-on-the-street polls which attempt to predict the election. Senator Augusto Rush's difficulties with ethical issues have also resulted in sinking approval ratings for the Socialist Party, but the Liberal party's "moderate socialist" candidate, Miguel Pizzani, has gained increasing traction.

July 12
The Nevado Ojos del Salado is once again under tow for Talcahuano, having sheltered in Valparaiso for several days due to winter weather.

July 23
The Republican Guard faced its first challenge today not from the Nacista-inspired Whiteshirts, but instead from a singing throng of Communist Party supporters. The Republican Guardsmen were called out by concerned Carabineros in Santiago, who had attempted without success to disperse the crowd (which was violating curfew laws by holding an outdoor gathering larger than a hundred people). Though the Communist Party members repeatedly sang "The Internationale", the Guards were unimpressed and in the end, the Communist leaders agreed to order the crowd to disperse.

July 24
The Nevado Ojos del Salado has arrived in Talcahuano.

July 27
The editor of the pro-Socialist newsletter Verdad ("Truth") was gunned down today in Santiago. Luis Blanchard was driving home from his office when a pair of motorcyclists rode up behind him and opened fire on his car with pistols. Blanchard was hit in the head and neck, and drove at high speed into a ditch where he was thrown from the car. Other motorists attempted to provide aid, but Blanchard died at the scene.

Blanchard was a strong supporter and close friend of the Socialist presidential candidate Augusto Rush, and Verdad extensively advertised for Rush's campaign. The assassins have not yet been caught, but the Carabineros have assured the people that "perpetrators shall be brought to justice."

July 29
The funeral for the murdered Luis Blanchard turned riotous today as over a thousand Whiteshirts staged what could only be described as a mass assault on the caravan of mourners - mourners which included presidential candidates Augusto Rush and Migeul Pizzani. The uniformed Whiteshirts poured into the streets as the hearse and trailing autos passed through, and overturned both the hearse and Miguel Pizzani's car. Dozens of others were beaten by the Whiteshirts, who chanted "Our blood will save Chile" and "Down with the Marxist tyrants".

The Republican Guard responded with overwhelming force to crush the Whiteshirts and the scene degenerated into a massive street brawl. The Whiteshirts, however, lacked the training and equipment of the paramilitary forces opposing them, and collapsed in the face of the Guards. Hundreds of Whiteshirts were arrested, and there have been reports that the Republican Guards on the scene continued to kick and beat Whiteshirts after they had already been taken into custody.

Miguel Pizzani, though suffering bruises from his overturned car, walked away shaken and vowed in a statement made later to the press to "use the office of the president to crush the Whiteshirts and the Naci Party."

August 2
The landscape of the coming presidential election was rocked today by an announcement from Francisco D'Alarch. The candidate for the Movimiento Nacional Socialista de Chile (Chilean Naci Party) formally announced that he was terminating all political ties with the National Socialist Party, and would be running as a candidate for the Conservative Party instead.

"It has become painfully clear to me over the past few days that the Movimiento Nacional Socialista de Chile is controlled by increasingly violent and unhinged leadership," D'Alarch said. "It no longer represents my views and I cannot continue to run as the candidate of the Nacista political party. Now, I have been offered the opportunity to instead join the Conservative Party as their presidential candidate of choice..."

The stunning defection has stripped the Naci political movement of one of its star players, albeit one increasingly crippled by his affiliation with the violent party of the Whiteshirts. D'Alarch has worked to stamp out the Whiteshirts from his party, going as far as dismissing Jorge González von Marées, nicknamed "El Jefe", from his campaign staff. Von Marées is the titular head of the Whiteshirts, and now seems poised to pick up the leadership of the Naci party from the defecting D'Alarch.

Although D'Alarch remains popular for his role in the Andean War, and in negotiating the end to the recent war with Peru, public perception of him has fallen due to his candidacy with the Nacis. No one is yet certain if D'Alarch's gamble to leave the Naci Party and join the Conservative Party will work.

August 4
As expected, Jorge González von Marées has assumed total leadership of the Movimiento Nacional Socialista de Chile party, and announced his intent to campaign for the presidency of Chile. Von Marées also addressed claims that the Naci party was engaging in a "campaign of terror" against political opposition, claiming that the Nacistas' goal is to save the country from the tyranny of Marxism and the "Global Jewish secret cult".

August 16
Francisco D'Alarch's defection from the National Socialist Party to the Conservative Party has not met with enthusiasm from the ranks of the Conservatives, who have not strongly moved to support the party's choice for presidential candidate. Informal polls show the following results of popular support:
- Miguel Pizzani (Liberal): 30%
- Francisco d'Alarch (Conservative): 20%
- Jorge González von Marées (National Socialist): 15%
- Augusto Rush (Socialist): 10%
- Undecided: 25%

August 19
In an event startlingly similar to the murder of socialist editor Luis Blanchard, three motorcyclists attacked the commander of the Santiago division of the Republican Guard. Teniente Colonel Raoul Felisberto was driving with his wife and two daughters when masked motorcyclists began following his car. Felisberto spotted the assassins and as the two motorcyclists pulled alongside and drew their handguns, Felisberto ordered his family to duck and swerved aggressively towards the closer assassin, knocking him into an oncoming lane of traffic, where the assassin struck a lorry head-on.

The two remaining assassins opened fire, but Felisberto's extremely aggressive driving prevented them from successfully hitting any of the occupants. A dangerous pursuit developed as Felisberto attempted to flee, the nimble motorcyclists still in pursuit; but Felisberto again used aggressive driving and his powerful car to his advantage, ramming through a screen of bushes which dismounted both of the pursuing motorcyclists. Felisberto then put his car into reverse and ran over the assassins before they could get back onto their motorcycles.

Astonishly, although over fifty bullet holes were counted in the car, only Colonel Felisberto had been injured by bullets. The Colonel and his family, however, would walk away from the scene, while the three assassins all died before medical help arrived. A post-mortem proved the identities of all three assassins, who were known to be members of the Whiteshirts.

August 22
President Alessandri responded to rumours that he was considering preventing the National Socialist Party from participating in national elections. The President said "I can neither confirm nor deny that we are considering it, but we shall do the best thing for the sake of the nation."

August 23
Speaking before the Chamber of Deputies, Edmond Vizcarra (Conservative, Punta Arenas) criticized the state of the government. Vizcarra, as a junior member from a relatively unpopulated district, has generally avoided the lectern of the Chamber but delivered an emotional and moving speech, seemingly without any prior preparation. Vizcarra's speech criticized both the leadership of the Chilean Conservative Party and the state of the nation as a whole, and despite his junior status, by the time he left the podium held the enraptured attention of the other Deputies.

Vizcarra's speech highlighted much of the unease that moderate Conservatives and Liberal members have felt with their respective candidates, and both Pizzani and D'Alarch dismissed Vizcarra, with Pizzani going as far as calling him "a southern country-hick and rabble-rouser who should have stuck to writing books."

August 28
In the wake of more violence by Whiteshirt militia, President Alessandri continued to confirm or deny that the government was preparing a major move against the National Socialist Party, even as rumors increase that the Republican Guard is seemingly preparing for violence. Several army units have been put on high alert, and some units have been reshuffled.

September...
Is coming.

Foreign Ministry of Russian Federation express their concern at recent violent political developments in Santiago.

V. I. Lenin, leader of Bolshevik faction of Russian Social Democratic Workers Party, commented specifically on manifestations of antisemitism in Chile:


"Tsarist police, in alliance with landowners and capitalists, organized pogroms against Jews. Landowners and capitalists tried to divert hatred of workers and peasants, who were tortured by want, against Jews. . . . Only most ignorant and down-trodden people can believe lies and slander that are spread about Jews. . . . It is not Jews who are the enemies of working people. Enemies of workers are capitalists of all countries. Among Jews there are working people, and they form majority. They are our brothers, who, like us, are oppressed by capital; they are our comrades in the struggle for socialism. Among Jews there are kulaks, exploiters, and capitalists, just as there are among Russians, and among people of all nations . . . Shame on accursed Tsarism, which tortured and persecuted Jews. Shame on those who foment hatred towards Jews, who foment hatred towards other nations."

Latvian Foreign Minister Joesph Levine adds,

" I find it absolutely dispicable that one would accuse Jews of such a thing. For centuries on end, my race, my people have been harmed, when we have done nothing, NOTHING, to deserve it. Jews have a distiniction as money hoarders and bankers only because we were forced by law to be. If this behavior continues, and the Naci party wins the elections, Latvia will have no, and I mean NO, choice but to declare war on Chile. This will not be tolerable. If this goverment is elected, Latvia will cancel it's application for FAR. We have no choice. This a dispicable thing. We will offer all aid to those who fight againist the Naci Party, who fight againist the Axis of Evil."

OOC: Barely expresses my inner feelings

OOC I need to point out that much of this is somewhat as-historical, but using fictitious characters, with the exception of von Marees. The Nacistas, by their violence, drove out D'Alarch, the one person who might have kept their party alive and legitimate - but having smeared him with mud and forced him out, they pretty much self-destructed. Their increasing violence is indicative of just how badly things are going for them.

Though the violence is played up a bit, the country as a whole is disgusted with the Nacistas and wants someone to Just Do Something About It. That disgust is not merely aimed at the National Socialists, but also at the current political parties as a whole. The people are looking for somebody good to vote for, and not liking any of the options.

Quoted

Originally posted by TexanCowboy
If this behavior continues, and the Naci party wins the elections, Latvia will have no, and I mean NO, choice but to declare war on Chile.

*Checks order of battle*

That would maybe provide the Navy with a half hour or so of entertainment.

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
The Republican Guard responded with overwhelming force to crush the Whiteshirts and the scene denigrated into a massive street brawl.

I think you mean "degenerated" here, instead of "denigrated".

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
The Republican Guard responded with overwhelming force to crush the Whiteshirts and the scene denigrated into a massive street brawl.

I think you mean "degenerated" here, instead of "denigrated".

Whups, yes I did.

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
OOC I need to point out that much of this is somewhat as-historical, but using fictitious characters, with the exception of von Marees. The Nacistas, by their violence, drove out D'Alarch, the one person who might have kept their party alive and legitimate - but having smeared him with mud and forced him out, they pretty much self-destructed. Their increasing violence is indicative of just how badly things are going for them.

Though the violence is played up a bit, the country as a whole is disgusted with the Nacistas and wants someone to Just Do Something About It. That disgust is not merely aimed at the National Socialists, but also at the current political parties as a whole. The people are looking for somebody good to vote for, and not liking any of the options.

It's fairly similar to what WW Germany went through in the late 20s and early 30s as the Nazi party was in it's death throes. There, though, the Nazi's spent more of their time fighting with the Communists rather than attacking other parties (at least until the attempted putsch in Berlin).

I honestly was serious about war.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
OOC I need to point out that much of this is somewhat as-historical, but using fictitious characters, with the exception of von Marees. The Nacistas, by their violence, drove out D'Alarch, the one person who might have kept their party alive and legitimate - but having smeared him with mud and forced him out, they pretty much self-destructed. Their increasing violence is indicative of just how badly things are going for them.

Though the violence is played up a bit, the country as a whole is disgusted with the Nacistas and wants someone to Just Do Something About It. That disgust is not merely aimed at the National Socialists, but also at the current political parties as a whole. The people are looking for somebody good to vote for, and not liking any of the options.

It's fairly similar to what WW Germany went through in the late 20s and early 30s as the Nazi party was in it's death throes. There, though, the Nazi's spent more of their time fighting with the Communists rather than attacking other parties (at least until the attempted putsch in Berlin).

Yup. The Chilean Nacis didn't realize how much D'Alarch buoyed them up - an Andean War hero, turned successful administrator of Chilean Bolivia? Chile's foremost diplomat until 1938? Popular, well-spoken, widely-recognized - and he opposed the antisemitism of the Nacistas. Had von Marees and his Whiteshirts not poisoned the water, D'Alarch could have had a serious shot at becoming the Chilean president. Now, though, D'Alarch is tarred by his affiliation with the National Socialists, even though he tried to clean up the party and eventually left in disgust.

Quoted

Originally posted by TexanCowboy
I honestly was serious about war.

I suspect Brock was serious too about how concerned the Chilean navy would be at the prospect.