ARGENTINA PLAYS WAR GAMES

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5295, 7 January 1947, Page 2

ARGENTINA PLAYS WAR GAMES

— ^ - LARGE MANOEUVRES MODERN EQU1PMENT ON A SMALL SCALE BUENOS AIRES Twenty-eight thousand troops with additional naval and air units participated in the most elaborate ,war games in Argentine history in November, featured by "landihg operations in which Allied tactics of North Africa and •Nbrmandy were applied. The exercises were concentrated along the Parana River, part of the great Plate fluviai system penetrat-, ing into the center of South America and on the communications on which Argentina's main defence strategy rests. The area of the manoeuvres is known as Argentina's Mosopota'mia and the accounts of foreign military attaches, as well as news hlm versions, disclosed that the Army possessed modern landing c'raft for its games, though not in any great number. The party of foreign observers, in addition to the North American, included those of Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Boliva, the river-boundary states. Peron Watches President Peron, pausing in his preparations of the Five Year Plan which has a reserved section on na'tional defense with undiselosed millions of pesos for expenditures, witnessed the final phase of the war games culminating in a battle over the rolling landscape between the riverside cities of 'La Paz and San Jdse de Feliciano, Entre Rios Province. The fluviai battle fleet, as distinct from the high seas navy, entered •fully into the war games, organising and escor'ting convoys up and down the broad Parana River and protecting . the amphibious operations. Fleets of plqnes, few however of completely modern deslgn, roared Dverhead.

Generals and admlirals afterward, met -in the city of La Paz and aboard a river steamer to review lessons from the exercises. Unofficial observers praised the physique and disS :ipline of th.e men.- .. The exercises demonstrated, however, that although Argentina is up-to-date in the possession of tanks, ■anding craft, bridgework, aeronau:ical transport, including paratroopers, and most departments of military science, supplies of equipment appear :o he on a small scale. U.S. Policy Practically every garrison was •epresented in the games with the ex:eption of the mountain fighting units vhich will hold their exercises in the Mendoza area in January and February. Argentine newspapers have .printed sports that there are differences oetween the State and War Departments in Washington regarding the supply of arrns to this country. For the gene.al reader speculation has been ended by United States SecL'etary of State James F. Byrnes' statemefnt Ithat there has been no :hange in policy on Argentina, which to all intents and purposes means here will be no North American arms cor this country. until the green light is given by the "State Departmen.