Fear Along the Andes

CHILE Fear Along the Andes

Chile was in the throes of a Congressional election campaign last week. But Chileans had another worry. They had often been warned against the Argentine militarists. Congressman Manuel Gonzalez Vilches had returned from a trip to Chile's Argentine frontier, where, near Lonquimay in the south, the towering wall of the Andes drops to 4,500 ft. His eyes were bugging out.

Across the border, warned Congressman Gonzalez, Argentina looked like a country already at war. The railroad to Zapala carried nothing but soldiers and supplies. A network of new military roads led threateningly toward Chile. At Las Lajas, near the frontier, were barracks for an entire division. The region was teeming with ski troops, mountain artillery and airplanes. The local inhabitants were kept in alarm by officially inspired rumors that Chile was about to attack Argentina. This, said Congressman Gonzalez, was the familiar Hitler technique of pretending to be a victim in order to victimize.

Part of the menace, some Chileans feared, was nearer home. They muttered darkly about reactionary elements in their own country which might welcome Argentine help in overthrowing their democracy. The iron and coal in southern Chile were a tempting plum to Argentine militarists eager to promote their armament program. And around Valdivia was Chile's incompletely assimilated colony of Germans, not all of whom Chileans trust.

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