March 6
The Argentine Red Cross has ordered another 2,500 tons of medical supplies for Paraguay while the Government announces that another refugee camp has been closed due to successful repatriation to the Asunción area.
March 10
The British aero-engine engineer Roy Fedden has been spotted by a Heavenly Pursuits reporter in the sleepy town of Maquichao. It seems quite certain he his only in the town because he has visited, or will, the rocketry Research Station located nearby. Rumours are now flying through the international aviation press but Bristol has declined to comment. A spokesman said Mr Fedden is on holiday and is not connected with any company proposals at this time.
March 15
The Chief of Staff of the Navy Almirante Peablo today was officially relieved of command today and has been placed on gardening leave pending an inquest and a further service appointment.
[Historical Footnote]
In July 1936 a group of Naval officers led by Vice Almirante Dominguez, supported by Almirante Benedicto (former naval CoS), Vice Almirante Murphy and Vice Almirante Moreno were dissatisfied with Peablo for professional and personal reasons. They felt Peablo’s focus on the aircraft carrier over the traditional battleship and cruiser had prevented the Navy from operating to its fullest capacity. They pointed to the fact the battleship Gascon had been laid up without reconstruction as funds were spent on two carriers which had little effect on the outcome of the war. Another battleship, they felt, would have been decisive in the naval war. While several attempts to cut the supply lines of the SAE forces were made they were innovative but generally failed to achieve all the aims and of course a battlecruiser was lost. At a time when the Army Chief of Staff was dismissed it was felt that Peablo should resign for his failures. He took a three month break from August owing to overwork and the group of plotters began gaining support among the top Navy brass and even the Minister of Defence, who had sacked Almirante Benedicto in favour of Peablo, backed his removal owing to personality clashes.
On the latter point it was felt that Almirante Peablo had made false claims in his initial arguments, that he had ignored the advice of his advisers and that he had taken control of all planning to the smallest details thus preventing any other input and suggestions.
In January this year, after the elections, the Minister of Defence ordered an enquiry set up as to the leadership change in 1934 rather than any complaint about his war record. It was suggested that he remain within the service if he wished to do so. Almirante Peablo confirmed that he wished to remain active and expressed a preference to serve in the new carrier arm, a wish confirmed by the Minister of Defence partly due to his expert skills in this area unmatched by any other officer.
March 19
Today Almirante Benedicto retook the position of Chief of Staff of the Navy and Vice Almirante Dominguez was promoted to the rank of Almirante.
March 20
The AFNE shipyard has brought the Paraguayan shipyard at Encarnation and the Paraguayan Democratic Council has signed a defence agreement with which formally merges their former Navy with the Argentine River Forces and gives the base at Encarnation to Argentina to use in the defence of Paraguayan interests along the Rio Parana and Rio Paraguay.