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Text Chapter 842: Partition of Argentina

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    ¡ö"Mom! I don't want to die here, please help me!" A young Argentinian boy of 17 or 18 years old huddled in the trench and cried with fear on his face.  Many of the new soldiers recruited by the Argentine government are young people between the ages of sixteen and eighteen and people in their thirties who are about to enter middle age.  Although Argentina's population was almost twice that of Chile's, it was still difficult to recruit enough troops when the army suffered heavy losses.  Most Argentines refuse to join the army!

    "Oh God! The Chileans are too powerful. We are no match for them. We have been defeated. Run for your life!" An Argentine soldier shouted, jumped out of the trench and ran to the rear.  However, as soon as he took a few steps out, a stray bullet from nowhere hit him and ended his life!

    Under the fierce attack of the Chilean army, the Argentine army finally collapsed after persisting for several days.  The scattered army fled to Mercedes in large numbers.  The Chilean army took the opportunity to launch a fierce attack and captured many Argentine troops along the way.  The commander of the Argentine army, Chief of Staff General James, knew the moment the army collapsed, it was completely over.  He immediately took his guards and withdrew from the battlefield in advance and fled towards Mercedes.  The commander's escape further exacerbated the collapse of the Argentine army.

    The pursuit of the Chilean army lasted for three days, and they almost stopped after chasing Mercedes.  In this battle, the Chilean army completely defeated the Argentine army at a cost of less than 10,000 people, killing at least 50,000 people and capturing more than 100,000 people.  However, more Argentine soldiers fled.  In order to escape for their lives, they even threw away their weapons and ran directly back to their hometown in the countryside, returning to Mercedes' Argentine army, which did not even number 50,000 people!

    "Your Excellency, we must leave now. The forward of the Chilean army, Mercedes, is less than thirty kilometers away and will arrive here tomorrow afternoon at the latest!" General James fled back to Merced in embarrassment.  After Sri Lanka, he immediately suggested that the Argentine government withdraw to the southern region.  Obviously, with the main force of the army being annihilated, Argentina has no capital to continue fighting!

    "Evacuate to the south? Do we still have a chance?" Argentine President Jose Figueroa Alqueta said with a wry smile.  Eighty percent of Argentina's population is concentrated near the Pampas in the north. The vast land in the south is mostly desert and Gobi, with only a million people.  Even if they escape to the south, Argentina will have no chance of defeating Chile again.  On the other hand, Chile will become stronger and stronger after acquiring the vast territory in northern Argentina.  Argentina has already lost everything in this war!

    "Your Excellency, now we have no other choice." Admiral James said.

    Jose = Figueroa = Alqueta nodded. Although the conditions in the south are a little worse, they are still better than being caught by the Chileans and sent to the gallows.  Of course, the premise is that after they retreat to southern Argentina, the Chilean army will not send troops to pursue them.  Otherwise, the remaining tens of thousands of remnant troops will be defeated, and there is still a severe shortage of weapons and ammunition. Under such circumstances, it is simply impossible to resist the attack of the Chilean army!

    "Don't worry, Mr. President. After the Chileans occupy the north of Argentina, they will definitely fight Brazil. By then, we may still have a chance!" Admiral James comforted.  Argentina's senior officials are no less resentful of Brazil than Chile.  If the Brazilians hadn't been desperate, Argentina wouldn't have suffered such a disastrous defeat.

    "I hope so! I hope the Chileans can fight the Brazilians and both sides will suffer losses!" Jose = Figueroa = President Alqueta's eyes were full of hatred!

    On the evening of January 2, 1908, the Argentine government evacuated Mercedes during the night, taking the last tens of thousands of remaining troops and government officials with them to southern Argentina.  At the same time, millions of Argentine civilians followed them in their retreat.  They were unwilling to stay in the north to avoid being exploited and enslaved by the Chileans in the future.  However, it is almost a thousand kilometers from Mercedes to Neuqu¨¦n, an inland city in the south.  When they arrive in Neuqu¨¦n after a long journey, they don¡¯t know how many people will be left!

    On January 3, 1908, Chilean troops captured Mercedes.  Three days later, Buenos Aires was captured.  With the capture of the capital, this marked Argentina's complete defeat in this war.  Even the Argentine government, headed by President Jos¨¦ Figueroa Alqueta, has not admitted defeat yet.  However, if a miracle doesn't happen, they will have no chance of comeback!

    After that, the Chilean army sent a part of its army to sweep the northern provinces of Argentina, while the main army moved north along the La Plate River.  The hundreds of thousands of Brazilian troops entrenched in the two provinces east of the La Plate River are a very big threat to Chile.  Even though Brazil¡¯s military advantage is greaterObviously, after defeating Argentina, the Chilean army's confidence has skyrocketed.  In their eyes, the Brazilian army seems to have nothing to worry about!

    January in Rio de Janeiro is almost the hottest season.  However, the Brazilian capital seems a little quiet now.  Because the Chilean Navy launches artillery attacks on Brazilian coastal cities from time to time, most of Brazil's coastal cities are already deserted.  A large number of Brazilians fled to a place fifteen kilometers away from the sea to avoid the shelling of the Chilean Navy!

    Brazil¡¯s presidential palace has also been moved to the western suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, away from the coast.  Although, doing so cost Brazil a lot.  But when the navy is annihilated, there is nothing we can do!  The Chilean army quickly defeated Argentina, which shocked Brazil.  Originally, Brazil did have the idea of ????sitting on the mountain and watching the fight, allowing Chile and Argentina to lose both sides, and then Brazil would come out to clean up the mess and win at the minimum cost.  However, they never expected that the war around Mendoza would end in just a few days. The Chilean army had defeated the Argentine army at a small cost.  This immediately gave the Brazilians some hesitation, and some hesitation as to whether they should enter Argentina and Chile to fight.  Subsequently, the Chilean army's fierce attack made the Brazilians feel the danger.  Therefore, Brazilian President Alfonso Pena finally followed the advice of Army Minister Patrick and ordered the Brazilian army to deploy along the La Plate River instead of crossing the La Plate River to fight the Chilean army.

    Now, Chile has basically destroyed Argentina. Next, whether the Chilean army will launch an attack on the Brazilian army has become a problem that troubles Brazil's top brass.

    After all, the two countries have already declared war and are now at war.  Moreover, the Brazilian navy was annihilated by Chile. The Chilean navy's shelling of Brazilian coastal cities during this period caused at least more than 100,000 casualties to Brazilians.  Under such circumstances, it is almost impossible for Brazil to coexist peacefully with Chile.

    After learning that the main force of the Chilean army was heading north along the La Plate River, Brazilian President Alfonso Pena convened an emergency meeting!

    "Everyone, Argentina is finished. The Chileans have completely defeated them. Now, the Chilean army is moving north along the La Plate River and will soon reach the other side of Parana. Moreover, the Chilean army has just defeated the Argentines.  The Chileans are very popular. Therefore, it is foreseeable that they will attack us soon. So, what should we do now?" President Alfonso Pena asked!

    "Your Excellency, we have deployed thirty divisions of troops along the La Plate River. The Chileans lost 60,000 to 70,000 people in the battle with the Argentines. In addition to the troops they sent to other places,  The Chilean army we have to face is only 250,000 people at most. Coupled with the obstruction of the La Plate River, it will be very difficult for the Chileans to attack us! The Army is confident that it can stop the Chileans in  West of the La Platte River!" said Secretary of War Patrick.

    The mainstream view of the Brazilian leadership has now changed from helping Argentina defeat Chile to taking the opportunity to occupy the three Argentine provinces located on the east bank of the La Plate River as a way to make up for Brazil's losses in this war.  However, although these three provinces are currently under Brazil's control, Chile does not seem to have any intention of acquiescing to the status quo.  Therefore, if Brazil wants to truly turn these three provinces into Brazilian territory, it still needs to withstand Chile's attack.  Otherwise, everything will be in vain!

    "Your Excellency, perhaps we can contact Chile to discuss the possibility of peacefully resolving the dispute. The Chileans suffered considerable losses in the battle with the Argentines. And we, Brazil, are several times stronger than Argentina. Chile wants  Defeating us is simply impossible. So if we can agree to Chile¡¯s occupation of northern Argentina in exchange for Chile agreeing to our occupation of the three provinces east of the La Plate River, maybe the Chileans will agree!¡±  Foreign Affairs Secretary Mullen suggested.

    "If this is the case, it is undoubtedly the best. The north of Argentina should be divided between our two countries. Although the Chileans occupy more, they also pay more. We easily occupy the three areas east of the La Plate River.  A province can be considered a gain!" President Alfonso Pena nodded.  He personally does not want to continue the fight with Chile.  After all, Chile is no longer what it used to be. Even if it defeats Chile, Brazil will probably suffer a lot, which is not worth it!
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