South American News 1900

[Darman]

7 July 1900
The Argentinean cabinet meets once again to discuss their ongoing rearmament program in the face of the continuing war across their northern borders.  "It is best to buy a vessel superior to any Brazilian or Chilean vessel now rather than wait until we are dragged into this conflict on one side or the other.  Preliminary discussions with several German shipsyards as well as Krupp Industries has yielded an estimated date of delivery of late April 1901 if we order a brand new German-designed protected cruiser right now."  The Minister of the Navy, having had his say, takes his seat.  The President and Cabinet quickly ratify the decision to approve the purchase and construction of the new warship from the Germans.  The cable confirming the order to their agents in Germany was sent immediately. 


Late March 1900
Caceres, Brazil
Disease has begun to ravage the Brazilian army encamped around Caceres.  Over 3,000 men have been buried or evacuated and thousands more have been incapacitated since Caceres was relieved.  Observation of the Allied forces in San Matias across the border has shown they are slowly regrouping. 


April 1900
At dawn on the 3rd the Brazilian vanguard with men from the 3rd Regulars launched themselves upon the unwary Chilean encampments around San Matias.  Within hours the entire Allied force was fleeing for the high road, pursued by Brazilian infantry and cavalry.  On the 18th of April a Chilean counterattack by the 3rd Chilean Regulars begins.  By evening it is evident that the counterattack has failed.  The Brazilian forces continue advancing into Bolivia, engaged only by scattered bands of the 1st and 2nd Chilean Militia Cavalry, which are brushed aside with ease. 


Chilean Coast
At sea, the Brazilian expeditionary force comprised of 3,000 Brazilian marines, the "battleship" Magellan and her two sisters, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro arrives off the Chilean town of Ancud and after a brief bombardment the marines land, capturing the town with minimal resistance.  Establishing a defensive perimeter and taking over the port, the Brazilians begin raiding up and down the coast.  A brief clash between the patrolling Brazilian Magellan and Rio de Janeiro and the Chilean "battleships" Almirante Cochrane and Blanco Encalada leaves the Magellan sinking, the Rio de Janeiro limping back to Brazil for some major repairs, and both Chilean warships are sent back to port with only minor repairs.  The raids along the Chilean coast continue, supported by the Minas Gerais until August when she is blockaded in Ancun harbor by the Almirante Cochrane and Blanco Encalada along with two thousand marines. 

[Darman]

Bolivian Front
Throughout the month of May, Brazilian troops have been slowly advancing through Bolivia, frequently being counter-attacked by Bolivian and Chilean forces, mostly hastily called up troops rushed to the front and thrown in piecemeal.  These counter-attacks are easily beaten back, the survivors, those who don't surrender anyhow, are routed. 
On June 3rd Brazilian troops enter San Jose de Chiquitos and on the 24th they enter Santa Cruz.  Here they pause to regroup and await reinforcements from Brazil. 
Casualties
Brazilian 4th Militia Cavalry: 5,000
Brazilian Fortress troops: 1,800 (combat ineffective)
Brazilian 9th Militia Infantry: 6,000
Brazilian 3rd Regulars: 5,000
Brazilian 4th Regulars: 7,000 (combat ineffective)
Total Brazilian casualties: 24,800
Chilean 8th Militia Infantry: 6,000 + 2,500 captured (unit broken)
Chilean 9th Militia Infantry: 5,000 + 4,000 captured (unit broken)
Chilean 10th Militia Infantry: 3,000 + 1,000 captured (combat ineffective)
Chilean 3rd Regular Infantry: 3,000 +2,000 captured (combat ineffective)
Chilean 4th Regular Infantry: 2,000 +2,000 captured
Chilean 5th Regular Infantry: 3,000 +3,000 captured (combat ineffective)
Chilean 1st Militia Cavalry: 3,000 +1,000 captured
Chilean 2nd Militia Cavalry: 6,000 +2,000 captured (unit broken)
Total Chilean casualties: 31,000 +17,500 captured
Bolivian 1st Militia Infantry: 2,000 +4,000 captured (unit exhausted)
Bolivian 4th Militia Infantry: 8,000 +4,000 captured (unit destroyed)
Bolivian 7th Militia Infantry: 4,000 + 7,000 captured (unit destroyed)
Total Bolivian casualties: 14,000 + 15,000 captured
Chilean Coast
Units of the 7th Chilean Militia Infantry division have laid formal siege to the Brazilian marines, whittling down their numbers slowly.  The Brazilian battleship in port attempts to help the belaguered marines through supporting gunfire, only succeeding in wasting ammunition needed if it should ever attempt a breakout against the two lightly damaged Chilean battleships.  By the end of June things are looking pretty bleak for the marines. 
Casualties
Brazilian 1st Guards Marines (1 brigade): 2,000
Chilean 7th Militia Infantry division: 2,500

[Darman]

October 1900
The Ambassador arrives at the Presidential Palace furtively in the dark of night.  He is let in through a side door and a servant leads him through strangely dark and silent hallways and corridors where the dim sounds of laughter and music could be heard from some distant party.  He is thrust into a dimly lit sitting room and the door shut behind him.  A man sitting in an armchair with its back to the Ambassador speaks in a low voice so the Ambassador has to lean forward to hear him over the sounds of merriment and music drifting through from the closed doors on the other side of the room. 
"You and yours had better finish this war quickly or else there are others who may decide to step in.  And they won't care who's toes they step on."
The voice falls silent and after a few moments the Ambassador quietly slips back out the door from which he came.  The servant who had led him in now leads him out.  The Ambassador looks at the servant, "He doesn't say much does he?"  The servant mutely stares back at the Ambassador who mutters something unintelligible and then departs. 

[Darman]

On August 29th the Brazilian marines have surrendered.  A Chilean naval expedition is prepared. 
The remnants of three Brazilian divisions advance towards the Bolivian capital in three columns.  Forced to forage for supplies the three columns are spread out, beyond supporting distance of one another.  On September 23rd a single Chilean division along with two Bolivian divisions attack and rout the northernmost Brazilian column.  Both sides suffer heavy casualties and the Brazilian retreat pell-mell back down their line of march. 
Meanwhile, a Chilean battle squadron has steamed around the southern tip of South America (tailed by an Argentinian naval patrol) and has begin bombarding Brazilian ports and disrupting Brazilian commerce. 
Under pressure from outside sources the Brazilian and Chilean governments each send representatives to Asuncion, capital of Paraguay, where they meet in secret to discuss terms.  The Brazilians are under severe public pressure to end the bombardment of their coastal cities and towns, and hope to end the war before Rio de Janeiro itself comes under attack.  The Chilean government is being pressured by its own public to end the senseless slaughter in the middle of Bolivia.  What Bolivia wants.... really doesn't matter at this point.  Both sides agree that they can easily force Bolivia to agree to whatever terms the two larger powers agree on.  Stretching the recent news of the Allied victory over one of the three Brazilian columns advancing on the Bolivian capital into a position of parity, if not equality, the Chileans are able to negotiate a status quo ante bellum peace treaty, signed on 7 December 1900.  So ending the war. 
The End!