In July 1925 the U.S. Embassy at Santiago, Chile produced a 20 page report entitled "A Political, Economical, and Military Estimate of Chile" that was sent to the State Department in Washington D.C. The following is a summary of those sections dealing with military matters.

The author of the report notes that until September 1924 Chile had possessed the most stable government in Latin America. The post WWI years had however witnessed social and economic turmoil in the country fuelled by labour and peasant unrest, plus an unbalanced budget. Whereas in the past the natural nitrate deposits in the country had produced sufficient revenue to cover the government's budget this was no longer true. The country was suffering from an inability to generate foreign currency to service debt payments.

The result of the above was that President Arturo Alessandri, elected by the Liberal Alliance Bloc in 1920, had been unable to form a stable cabinet. This led the military in September 1924 to present a series of demands to President Alessandri. He was unable to meet these demands and as a result was removed from office and forced to leave the country on the 10th September 1924. The next day a military junta was proclaimed consisting of two military and one naval officer. This Junta was in turn overthrown by another military junta on the 23rd January 1925. The new Junta consisted of a civilian, a military officer and a naval officer. This 1925 Junta invited President Alessandri to return to Chile and assume his office of President, taking up this position on the 20th March 1925. Once in office he by decree confirmed numerous previous decrees which had been issued by the Juntas' of 1924 and 1925.

The report noted that Chile during WWI had been pro-German and German influence was still strong in the country. However the British was also reported as being strong with the Chilean Navy which was under heavy British influence. The British government, the report noted, had made substantial gifts to Chile in the years immediately after WWI of military and naval stores. Two other countries were noted as vying for influence in Chile. These were Italy and Japan. Italy having just recently sent the "Italia, a man of war converted into a floating sample room, with representatives of Italian mercantile houses" to visit the ports of Chile. Japan in turn had been increasing her presence in the area through trade and immigration. The Japanese having in 1920 donated "a large gift of munitions" to Chile. This, the embassy said, was part of a program being carried out by the Japanese to discourage the Chilean government from passing a Japanese exclusion act as Canada and the United States had.

The document stated that Chile's main foreign policy was to maintain friendly relations with Brazil. This was because Chile had outstanding border disputes with all three of her neighbours; Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. Brazil thus served as a counter to the hostility of Chile's three neighbours, for she also had boundary disputes with these three nations. In a summary it was pointed out that Chile maintained diplomatic relations with all of the Latin American countries with the exception of Peru.

The report provided numerous details on the Chilean Army. It stated that the Army was under the Ministry of War, this Ministry was headed by an Inspector General of the Army, who also serves as Chief of Staff. The Ministry was divided into six bureau's; General Staff, War Material, Air Service, Medical Service, Division Commands, and Non Division Commands. These bureau's are supported by an Administrative Department and a Personal Department. The Army's strength was given as 600,695 men, of which 19,351 are in the active army, 4,149 in the Carabineros, 87,000 in the First Trained Reserve (age 17 - 30), 90,000 in the Second Trained Reserve (age 31 - 45) and 435,000 in the Untrained Reserve (age 17 - 45).

All Chileans on reaching 17 years of age are liable for compulsory military service, this service is for one year, after which the men pass into the First Trained Reserve. Due to lack of funds only 9,000 conscripts are trained each year.

It was noted that Chile was divided into 4 military zones; Northern, North Central, Central, and the Magallanes. The first 3 zones had an Infantry Division and a Cavalry Brigade assigned to them, the Magallanes zone contained only an Infantry Brigade.

The Army's 3 Infantry Divisions each consisted of 2 Infantry Brigades, (each Infantry Brigade had 3 Regiments of Infantry), 1 Regiment of Artillery, 1 Battalion of Engineers, and 1 Transport Company. The Artillery Regiment assigned to the Infantry Division consisted of 1 howitzer group of 2 Battalions, 2 gun groups of 4 Batteries, 1 range finding section, and 1 observation troop. The 3 Brigades of Cavalry each had 3 Cavalry Regiments, 1 group of Horse Artillery of 2 Battalions each, and 1 section of mounted Engineers. In addition the army contained 1 Telegraph Regiment, 1 Railroad Regiment, 1 Battery of Heavy Artillery, 1 Battery of Mountain Artillery, 1 Battalion of Engineers, and the Air Service.

The Corps of Carabineros was listed as a constabulary unit organised along military lines, it served under the Minister of the Interior. All of its officers and ranks were drawn from 2nd or retired Army personnel.

The author of the report stated that the Chilean war plans called for all active Infantry Divisions and Cavalry Brigades to be brought to war strength within 7 days of the order to mobilise. Equipment was kept on hand to arm 250,000 troops not only with rifles but with machine guns and artillery. Realistically the report stated that Chile could only maintain a force of 175,000 men in the field. The Infantry would be armed with the Mauser model 96, the Artillery would consist of Krupp 75 mm and 105 mm guns, these guns were to be replaced when funds became available with Italian and French guns of the same calibre. Machine guns consisted of 600 Hotchiss guns of Japanese manufacture. The Cavalry were armed with sword, lance and the Chilean model 96 carbine (Mauser). Aircraft were noted as being mostly old and not worth major repair, most of the aircraft should be replaced but money was lacking for acquiring modern foreign aircraft.

Morale of the Chilean troops was rated as excellent, as was the training and care of the infantry, artillery and cavalry equipment. The report however commented on the failure of the various branches of the army to work together, the ability to co-ordinate all arms in an attack was judged to be low. The report however stated that Chile could defeat any offensive operation launched against it by one of its neighbours and even carry on limited offensive operations outside its territory.

The author of the report ranked the Chilean Navy as one of the best in South America, the Navy was said to consist of 662 officers, 5,771 enlisted men, and 969 conscripts. Naval strength was given as 2 Battleships, 6 Cruisers, 4 School Ships, 5 Destroyers, 6 Submarines, 13 Tugs and 1 Aviation tender. All of these ships were presently in home waters. Of these ships only 1 Battleship, 5 Destroyers, and 2 Submarines were judged ready for war. The Navy was also credited with operating 14 aircraft. It had also opened at Talcahuano a 280 metre long dock, the largest dry dock in South America, for service in 1924. The report ended with this thought; Chile maintains the most efficient Navy in South America and an Army no less effective and it would not hesitate to use them offensively should Chilean views of expediency so dictate.

( Another interesting glimpse of the between wars scenario in Latin America from contemporary official papers by Charles, many thanks. T.D.H. )