Evening star., 1940-07-26
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON,
Star Aviation Editor

largest scale in Argentine history
are becoming apparent even to the
most hurried visitor to this great
southern republic.
During the flight from Santiago
Chile, across the towering hump"
of the Andes by way of the 10000
foot Uspullata Pass. where stands
the impressive Christ of the
Andes" the traveller sees one Ar
gentine military airdrome after an
other, many of them under course
of construction or expansion. There
are impressive army air fields at
Mendoza and Cordoba. where big
airliners of the Panagra division Of
Pan-Amerlcan Airways stop on the
way across Argentina.
At Cordoba there is new gov
ernment military airplane factory
across the very large airport from
the air transport terminal.
Inquiry brings forth the informa-
ton that the Argentine government
is planning the construction of a
thoroughly modern air force of
about 1000 airplanes as part of
a defense program which already
has reached an estimated total Of
10000 900 pesos and which may go
to 1000, 100000 pesos or more, most
Of which will go into aviation and
anti-aircraft defense.
5000 Pilots Being Trained.
The plans call for the training Of
5000 military pilots. The govern
ment, working with cooperation Of
the Aero Club Argentine, has
opened a campaign for the enroll
ment of civilian candidate for train
ing. Preliminary examinations now
are being given to selected candi-
dates for civilian aviation training
on basis somewhat similar to that
of the Civil Aeronautics Board in
the United States which now is
undertaking the =, aiming of $4,000
civilian pilots.
The Argentine program calls for
the construction of airports at many
strategic points, particularly along
the Patagonian coast. which up to
now has been rather neglected
Hl 10 dllNC W VIC OdllRclS
Of NaI penetration, its fears reach
Ing climax with the recent dis
covery of The Nazi plot which was
reported to have had as its goal
the seizure of Uruguay as a Ger
man colony. Both Argentina and
Uruguay are putting into effect
military defense measures on large
scale but are attempting to avoid
any direct offense to Germany or
to German leaders in South Amer
lea. AS result, quite naturally,
the situation of somewhat confused,
and 1t IS dfffrulE for the visirU to
gain very clear picture Of Just
what is going on.
Airp0rtS Guarded.
The army, particularly in Uru-
quay, now. .ls-maintaining a war
time guard over airports, railroad
stations, telegraph Offices, ports and
frontiers, and the recruiting of the
armed forces is in full swing. The
streets are full of soldiers. and the
evidences of increased military ac-
tlvlties are in evidence on every
hand. A new home for the Ministry
OF War, one Of the largest govern
ment buildings in Buenos Aires. now
is nearing completion, and the site
has been cleared for a home for
the naval administration.
Argentina has enacted emergency
laws, which include rigid censor
ship provisions for the control of
newspapers and broadcasting sta
tions, much to the alarm of many
Argentine citizens. who regard free
press and free speech as vital to
the control of fifth column" ac-
tlvities. There have been repeated
warnings in the Argentine Senate
that Nazi penetration in the re-
public has reached a very danger
GUS stage.
Fifth Column" Menace.
A new and serious element in the
Argentine fifth column" situation
has been created by the release of
some 1000 sailors from the pocket
oattleship Graf Spec. sunk in the
mouth of the River Plate following
her encounter with British cruisers.
Except for some of the officers and
seamen whose pro-Nazi activities
were regarded as particularly dan
eerous, and who are being held on
an island in the river. the young
Germans from the Graf Spec have
been scattered throughout the in
terror Of Argentina, and there is
evidence that they are becoming
local points for Nazi organization
on a considerable scale.
One OF the greatest danger points
IN Argentina. according to reports
In the capital city. is the province
OF Misiones, which extends a mar
row arm to the northeast between
Paraguay and Southern Brazil, ad-
Joining the Southern Brazilian
province of Rio Grande do Sui, in
which there is very strong Ger
man element. with some IA per cent
OF the population classed as German
speaking.
Uruguayans Trained.
The Buenos Aires Herald recent
~ published long article quoting
Bruno Fricke, former officer in the
Hitler S. A. forces and since 1881
head of a Black Front" group
which has been fighting the Nazi
government in and out of Germany,
TO the effect that the danger in
Mlsiones has become acute. He re-
ported 10000 Germans or Germanic
people in the province and an ex-
tremely active pro-Nazi organiza-
ton, which now is we'll armed.
Because of the strategic location
OF Misiones. these Nazis are in a
position to strike against Para
quay to the west Brazil, with its
large German population, to the
east and south; Uruguay to the
southeast or the adjoining provinces
OF Argentina. They have two in
ternational borders across which
they might retreat If too strongly
pressed, Mr.. Fricke said.