by Blood
AMBASSADOR VON LUTZENBERGER IS DIRECTED TO IMMEDIATELY AND PERSONALLY REGISTER WITH HIGHEST POSSIBLE OFFICIAL OF ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT THE OUTRAGE OF THE GOVERNMENT OP THE GERMAN REICH CAUSED BY THIS BLATANT VIOLATION OP NEUTRALITY BY THE US GOVERNMENT. AMBASSADOR WILL REMIND ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT OP THE SINKING OF THE PORTUGESE MERCHANT SHIP REINE DE LA MER UNDER VERY SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES IN SAMB0R0MB0N BAY AND TO REQUEST IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE LANGUAGE THAT ARGENTINE NAVAL FORCES ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY OF THE COMERCIANTE DEL OCEANO PACIPICO WHILE SHE IS IN ARGENTINIAN WATERS. SIMILAR ACTION WILL BE TAKEN BY THE SPANISH AMBASSADOR.
AMBASSADOR AND GOLTZ ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE WHATEVER PRECAUTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO INSURE SECURITY OF MATERIEL EN ROUTE IN CONNECTION WITH REPATRIATION PLAN. AMBASSADOR WILL REPORT RECEIPT OF MATERIEL BY URGENT RADIO TO FOREIGN MINISTER.
CONTENTS OF THIS MESSAGE, AND ACTION DIRECTED HEREIN HAVE BEEN COORDINATED WITH HIMMLER, BORMANN, CANARIS, AND DOENTTZ.
IN THE NAME OF THE FUHRER, ADOLF HITLER!
VON RIBBENTROP
FOREIGN MINISTER
MOST SECRET
Goltz idly handed the message to Gradny-Sawz and looked at Gr�ner. "We have another situation, don't we, Herr Oberst, where, thanks to the nonavailability of our delicate cryptographic officer, you already know infor-mation you are not authorized to know?' "It would appear so."
"You are now authorized to know it," Goltz said with a smile. "So what is your reaction to this?"
"May I speak freely, Herr Standartenf�hrer? Offer a professional observa-tion that in another context might be considered disrespectful?"
"Of course."
"The Americans and the English knew the Oceano Pacifico is the replace-ment for the Reine de la Mer before they dispatched their vessels to find it."
"How could they possibly have known that?" Gradny-Sawz demanded.
"If they weren't sure, they would have shadowed her with discretion. When they `intimidated' her, they were thumbing their noses at us."
"To what purpose?" Goltz asked.
Gr�ner did not reply directly.
"And they are by now probably wondering what 'materiel' the Oceano Pacifico has aboard that merits the attention of the Foreign Minister, after coor-dination with Canaris, Doenitz, and, especially, Bormann and Himmler."
"You're not really suggesting the enemy has intercepted that message, much less have been able to decrypt it?" Goltz asked.
"There's no question that they have intercepted it," Gr�ner said. "And if they haven't managed to decrypt it yet, it won't take them long."
"I refuse to believe that!" Gradny-Sawz said indignantly. "German cryp-tography is the best in the world!"
"And I would further suggest, Herr Standartenf�hrer," Gr�ner went on, ig-noring Gradny-Sawz, "that other connections will be made. Your name is listed as a special recipient. 'Who is Standartenf�hrer Goltz?' They have an Order of Battle, Herr Standartenf�hrer. They know who you are. 'What is the SS-SD li-aison officer to the Office of the Party Chancellery doing in Buenos Aires? Why is he being made privy to this particular message? Is it because there is a con-nection between him and this mysterious materiel von Ribbentrop is talking about?'"
"You certainly seem to be greatly impressed, Gr�ner, with the capabilities of our enemies!" Gradny-Sawz said.
"I am paid, Herr Baron...," Gr�ner began coldly, but was interrupted by Goltz.
"Anton, sssssh!" he said. "Oberst Gr�ner is not pleased with what he con-siders to be his duty to tell me."
"I don't think it reasonable to assume, Herr Standartenf�hrer," Gr�ner said, "that the Americans or the English have any idea of the nature of the "materiel' they will correctly suspect is aboard the Comerciante del Oceano Pacifico, but because of the interest shown by our senior leaders in it they will conclude that it is important. Given that, they may decide it is in their best interests to destroy the 'materiel,' and worry about the indignation of the Spanish and the Argen-tines later."
"By destroy it, you mean sink the Oceano Pacifico?" Goltz asked, and then answered his own question. "Why wouldn't they have done that on the high seas when they found her?"
"They found her before this message was sent," Gr�ner replied reasonably.
"Permission to speak, Herr Oberst?" Peter von Wachtstein asked. Gr�ner nodded. "Herr Oberst, I have the feeling that I am listening to a discussion I per-haps should not be hearing."
Gr�ner looked at Goltz. Goltz looked at Peter for a moment.
"Give Hans that message, Anton, please," Goltz ordered.
Gradny-Sawz did so reluctantly. Goltz waited until Peter had read the mes-sage, and then went on.
"The 'materiel' to which the message refers, Hans," Goltz said, "is for use in repatriating the Graf Spee officers. Some of it is military in nature, shortwave radios, that sort of thing, and small arms. Some of it is passports and other doc-umentation. There is even some money. It would be very inconvenient if it were lost, and embarrassing, if the documents, in particular, fell into the wrong hands."
Like hell it is, Herr Standartenf�hrer, Peter thought. What you 're talking about is money. The money von Lutzenberger told me the replacement ship was bringing in. And the loss of a few small arms and radios and "some money" wouldn't even be brought to the attention of Himmler, Canaris, and company.
"Yes, Sir," Peter said.
"Two things seem evident to me," Goltz said. "The repatriation of the Graf Spee officers has come to the attention of our most senior leaders. Perhaps the F�hrer himself has expressed an interest-"
"Yes, I would not be surprised," Gradny-Sawz interrupted, which earned him a look of disdain from Goltz.
"-and that Oberst Gr�ner is correct in believing that the Americans are quite capable of sinking the Oceano Pacifico without concerning themselves with either the Argentine or the Spanish outrage that would cause, simply be-cause attention has been called to the materiel our beloved Foreign Minister has informed them she has aboard."
Gradny-Sawz was visibly shocked by the sarcastically disrespectful refer-ence to Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop.
"As a matter of fact," Goltz went on, "I think we should consider ourselves fortunate that the Americans did not have a chance to intercept and decrypt Ribbentrop's message. They very likely would have attempted to board the Oceano Pacifico."
"But Josef," Gradny-Sawz said, "the Oceano Pacifico is armed. She would have fought rather than submitted to a boarding."
"An armed merchantman is no match for a destroyer," Goltz said. "If the Americans had intercepted that message before they found the Oceano Paci-fico, our materiel would now be on the bottom of the South Atlantic Ocean."
"She's due at the mouth of the River Plate at nine tonight," Gr�ner said thoughtfully.
"With a little bit of luck, she may arrive a little sooner," Goltz said. "If I were her captain, under the circumstances I would make all the speed I could. And with a little more luck, the Americans will not be able to decrypt Ribben-trop's news bulletin until she is safely inside Argentine waters."
"You don't think the Americans would sink her inside Argentine waters?" Peter asked. "They sank the Reine de la Mer."
"One, Hans," Goltz explained, "I don't believe they would send a destroyer into Argentinian waters to sink a neutral vessel, no matter what they suspected of her. A submarine, possibly. Two, I don't think they could set anything up be-tween now and the time the Oceano Pacifico will enter the River Plate estuary tonight."
"Yes, Sir, I'm sure you're right," Peter said.
"But tomorrow, as a wise man once said, is another day," Goltz said. "And by the day after tomorrow, there is no question the Americans could bring a submarine into Samboromb¢n Bay to sink the Oceano Pacifico. And we cer-tainly cannot place any real hope that by the day after tomorrow the Argentine government will respond to von Lutzenberger's request that the Argentine Navy protect her."
"Not in the present circumstances," Gradny-Sawz agreed solemnly.
"Which means we have three choices," Goltz went on. "We can try to get that materiel off the Oceano Pacifico tonight, which seems unlikely. Or first thing in the morning, which seems possible but risky-there would be obvious risks in landing a boat during the day. Or as soon after dark tomorrow night as possible, which I think is the solution."
"Yes, I would agree," Gradny-Sawz said.
"Von Wachtstein," Gr�ner asked, "what's the status of the boat?"
"Herr Loche-G�nther's father-took possession of the boat yesterday, Herr Oberst. I believe the both of them-G�nther for sure-were going to El Tigre this morning to test the engine, and so forth."
"That may change, because of the circumstances," Gradny-Sawz offered.
"Have you seen the boat, von Wachtstein?" Goltz asked.
"Yes, Sir."
"In other words, you would know where to find it if you went out there?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Anton, I have a mission for you," Goltz said. "You will find G�nther- preferably G�nther and his father, but G�nther in any case-and order him out to the boat, if he's not already there."
"Wouldn't it be better to send von Wachtstein?"
"I will explain, in this instance, that I believe that the First Secretary of the Embassy of the German Reich, in an Embassy Mercedes, stands a better chance of making it through the lines of the revolutionaries than a major."
"Of course, you're probably right," Gradny-Sawz said.
"And I will tell you this just once, Gradny-Sawz: Never question any orders I give you ever again."
Gradny-Sawz's plump face colored.
"Josef, I meant no-"
"For the time being, Gradny-Sawz, I think it would be best if you referred to me by my rank."
Gradny-Sawz's swallowed.
"Jawohl, Herr Standartenf�hrer," he said finally.
"Von Wachtstein, do you think you can make it through this revolution we seem to be having out to El Tigre?"
"I'm confident I can, Herr Standartenf�hrer."
"You will go there and take possession of the boat. If G�nther and/or his fa-ther is there, they will serve as your crew to take the boat to Magdalena. If they are not there by ten-thirty, you will take the boat to Magdalena by yourself and hold yourself in readiness there for further orders."
"Jawohl, Herr Standartenf�hrer."
"You said, Oberst Gr�ner, that you have someone in Naval Headquar-ters?"
"Yes, I do."
"Can he be relied upon to notify you of the arrival of the Comerciante del Oceano Pacifico within Argentine waters?"
"Not unless I specifically ask him to. I mean, I receive regular routine re-ports of all shipping activity, but I think you're talking about learning of her ar-rival immediately."
"We need to know when she enters Argentine waters and more importantly, where she will anchor. Do you think, Gr�ner, that when the Oceano Pacifico re-ports entering the River Plate your man has enough authority to order her to an-chor in Samboromb¢n Bay?"
"I would have to go to Naval Headquarters and explain the situation," Gr�ner said. "My man, unfortunately, owes his allegiance to Castillo."
"You have only one asset in Naval Headquarters?" Goltz asked impatiently.
"Only one in the office of the Harbor Master," Gr�ner said.
Goltz turned to Peter.
"Oberst Gr�ner and I will work this out, von Wachtstein," he said. "We re-ally have until, say, six o'clock tonight. You understand what I'm thinking?"
"I think so, Herr Standartenf�hrer. Presuming I can get out of El Tigre, I should be in Magdalena by five or five-thirty. Oberst Gr�ner will determine the Oceano Pacifico's estimated time of arrival and where she will drop anchor, and he will send that information to me at Magdalena. On your orders, I will take the boat out to the Oceano Pacifico. From that point, we will proceed with the discharge of the materiel aboard the ship as per the original plan."
"You see any problems with that, von Wachtstein? Aside from getting out of El Tigre into the River Plate?" Gr�ner challenged.
"Only finding the Comerciante del Oceano Pacifico at night, Herr Oberst."
"If that looks like a problem, you could delay taking the boat out from Magdalena until first light," Goltz ordered. "I'll have to go out to her myself; and if you think there would be a problem finding her at night, I would have the same problem. Gr�ner, I presume everything else is ready?"
"Yes, it is," Gr�ner replied. "The only possible problems I can see are von Wachtstein getting out of El Tigre, and then finding the ship from there at night."
"We are presuming your friend can order her to drop anchor someplace where it will be convenient to Magdalena and the landing point."
"Where is that, Herr Standartenf�hrer?" Peter asked.
"You'll be advised, Hans, at the appropriate time," Goltz said. "What I will do now is wait here for the Ambassador to arrive. That will be all, gentlemen, thank you."
Gradny-Sawz gave the Nazi salute, and barked, "Heil Hitler!"
Peter had come to the Embassy by taxi from his apartment. Then, there had been any number of taxis on the street. Now there were none in sight on Avenida Cordoba in either direction. There was no other traffic either, vehicles or pedestrians.
The word was apparently out that the revolution had begun.
Further up Avenida Cordoba, he could see the lead elements of the stalled columns of the First Cavalry and the Second Infantry regiments-riflemen on foot, mounted cavalry, and even some horse-drawn 75-mm howitzers.
He was going to have get past those lines anyway, he reasoned. Perhaps traffic was again moving in the areas now controlled by the revolutionary forces. He started walking toward the soldiers.
He had walked two blocks when his ears picked up the sound of a light aircraft. A very low-flying light aircraft. He looked up in the sky, trying-without success-to spot it.
And then it came from behind him, very low. It was a Piper Cub, wearing the insignia of the Argentine Army. It was no more than a hundred feet over the roofs of the buildings lining both sides of Avenida Cordoba.
I wonder what the hell that's about?
Chapter Twenty-Three
[ONE]
Office of the Naval Attach‚
The Embassy of the United States
The Bank of Boston Building
Avenida Bartolome Mitre
Buenos Aires, Argentina
0555 19 April 1943
The event that became known in history books as the Argentine Revolution of 1943 first came to the attention of Lieutenant Commander Frederico Delojo, USN, Naval Attach‚ (and, covertly, OSS representative) of the Embassy of the United States of America at 0452 19 April 1943.
He was later to remember the precise time and circumstances because he not only made a note of the time but also because he was wakened from a sound sleep in his apartment by a horrendous squealing of tortured tires, followed im-mediately by the scream of metal tearing asunder.
He jumped out of bed and went to the balcony of his apartment. As he sus-pected, there'd been one hell of an accident, involving a truck and an automo-bile. The automobile was a police vehicle. It was equipped with a large chrome-plated (and probably American) siren mounted on the roof. And it had collided with an Army truck, striking the truck as it moved through the inter-section.
Then Commander Delojo noticed something odd. There was not just one Army truck, but a number of them, a convoy, presumably under the command of the officer who now appeared, wearing a sword, and accompanied by four soldiers in German-style helmets and field gear. As the officer directed the re-moval of the injured driver of the police vehicle from his crushed vehicle, an-other police vehicle, with siren screaming, came racing down the street and very narrowly avoided colliding with the two vehicles now blocking the inter-section.
It was followed almost immediately by another police car, siren screaming, which could not stop in time and collided with what Delojo now thought of as Police Vehicle Two.
&n
bsp; The intersection was now effectively blocked by the truck and three police vehicles. An Army car, a 1941 Chevrolet four-door sedan, now appeared, and a lieutenant colonel hurried out of the backseat and, with some excitement and waving of his arms, began to order the clearing of the intersection.
Moments later, two sergeants appeared with twenty soldiers in field gear and directed their pushing of the disabled vehicles off the intersection.