The population settled in San Antonio Este, for economic reasons, moved to the West. It was the exodus that began in 1905, and gave rise to the founding of San Antonio Oeste on July 10 of this year.
The exodus lasted a few years and the Subprefecture installed in the East since 1898 accompanied this move and was formally established in San Antonio Oeste on April 1, 1911.
The events of this story take place in 1914, a year that began on a Thursday according to the Gregorian calendar. A year of many contrasts, while Henry Ford announced the reduction of the assembly time of the Model T automobile to an hour and a half and Charles Chaplin made his debut in silent film, the First World War changed the reality of the planet.
Victorino de la Plaza was the president of the Argentine Republic and the country had declared itself neutral with respect to the war conflict.
Pedro Serrano was the governor of the National Territory of Río Negro and Don Luis Peirano had been elected as the first president of the Municipal Council of San Antonio Oeste two years earlier.
Through the steppe of the National Territory of Río Negro, the railroad made its way towards the mountain range, safeguarding the national sovereignty of these remote lands.
San Antonio Oeste was the end of the rail line of the brand new railroad and thanks to this, the water trains provided water from the Valcheta Stream for the relief of this town of 1,575 inhabitants, according to the last census.
In just a few years, just nine since its founding, San Antonio Oeste had grown rapidly in population, trade and port activities.
On La Marea the carts came and went in a ceaseless transport to and from the barracks to the docks that were added one after another…one, two, three…six docks.
There were more and more ships docked to transport the country’s fruits to Buenos Aires and the world, and everywhere one could hear languages from other lands.
On December 18, 1914, in the morning, to the surprise of the local Subprefecture authorities and several curious neighbors, the German ship Seydlitz, which had been hiding on the Patagonian coast to avoid several English ships that were pursuing it from Chile, anchored in the harbor of the Port of San Antonio Oeste.
The sub-prefect of San Antonio, Juan Carlos Marsengo, informed the higher authorities who transmitted it to the Ministry of the Navy.
Marsengo received a telegram in response saying: “Please comply with the regulations.”
“What regulations?” asked Marsengo, who was unaware of them because they did not exist in these remote places and he had never experienced a similar situation in his career that would have given him any guidance on how to proceed with such a tremendous mission.
But an order was an order and had to be carried out, and, like a good subordinate, he embarked, with a couple of sailors, on a Subprefecture felucca heading towards the anchored ship.
With the authority granted to him by his position, he informed the captain of the Seydlitz that he was in Argentine waters and, therefore, he had to respect the nation’s neutrality!!!!
The German ship, a merchant ship of 8,000 tons that was providing logistical support to the German fleet, did not respond to the warning, except with a few mocking smiles at the small crew of the fragile sailing vessel that was trying to confront them.
Meanwhile, the auxiliary ship of the navy “1° de Mayo” under the command of frigate captain Carlos Monetta had set sail from Puerto Belgrano to proceed with the capture of the Seydlitz.
The order that Sub-Prefect Marsengo received was that he had to somehow hold off the German ship until the arrival of the naval ship. A real problem.
Despite the mockery, they made several trips to the ship under different excuses, during which a San Antonio citizen named Lahusen, requested by Marsengo, acted as consul (which he was not) and translator.
The attempts were in vain, even the invitation to the captain and his crew to disembark bore no fruit.
After a few days, the ship “1° de Mayo” and Captain Monetta arrived in San Antonio Oeste, to the relief of the diligent sub-prefect.
The matter seemed to be about to come to an end, but it became complicated when Captain Monetta formally ordered the captain of the Seylitz to surrender, weigh anchor and follow in its wake, an order that was not obeyed by the German command.
Neither the military power of the Argentine Navy ship nor the number of its crew – barely twenty – were sufficient to force the German ship, which had two hundred crew members.
But, like Sub-Prefect Marsengo, Captain Monetta also had an order to carry out and he would carry it out; the problem was how he would do it in the face of such an obvious disparity in forces.
Meeting with the sub-prefect, they considered several alternatives until Marsengo came up with the idea of, through Mr. Lahusen, inviting the captain of the Seylitz, his staff and crew to have a barbecue on land and, at the same time, sending a telegram to the German embassy in Buenos Aires ordering the captain of the Seylitz to obey the orders of the Argentine ship.
In this way they gained time and, after several barbecues, they softened the German’s initial position, while the German embassy urged him to put himself at the disposal of the Argentine authorities.
The Seylitz was escorted by the ship “1° de Mayo” to the naval base of Puerto Belgrano, where it remained interned until the end of the war, while its crew was transferred to Martín García Island.
The case was thus closed through “barbecue diplomacy.”
Text: Patricia Adriana Capovilla, writer from San Antonio Oeste
Table of Contents
- 1 - What role did San Antonio Oeste play in maintaining Argentina’s neutrality during World War I?
- 2 Series of diplomatic complications and a heightened sense of tension in Argentine waters. Local authorities were left to grapple with the implications of the encounter and how it would affect their neutrality in the unfolding global conflict.
Table of Contents
- What role did San Antonio Oeste play in maintaining Argentina’s neutrality during World War I?
The Thrilling Story of the Seydlitz: How San Antonio Oeste Defended Argentina’s Neutrality in 1914
In the early 20th century, San Antonio Oeste, a small town in the National Territory of Río Negro, Argentina, was a bustling hub of economic activity. Founded in 1905, the town had grown rapidly, with a population of 1,575 inhabitants, according to the last census. The town’s strategic location made it an important port for the transportation of fruits to Buenos Aires and the world. However, in 1914, the town would face an unprecedented challenge that would test its resolve and defend Argentina’s neutrality in the face of World War I.
The Background
In 1914, World War I was raging across Europe, and Argentina had declared its neutrality in the conflict. Meanwhile, Henry Ford was revolutionizing the automotive industry, and Charles Chaplin was making his mark in silent film. In Argentina, Victorino de la Plaza was the president, and Pedro Serrano was the governor of the National Territory of Río Negro. Don Luis Peirano was the first president of the Municipal Council of San Antonio Oeste.
The Arrival of the Seydlitz
On December 18, 1914, the German ship Seydlitz, a 8,000-ton merchant vessel, anchored in the harbor of San Antonio Oeste, seeking refuge from English ships that were pursuing it from Chile. The sub-prefect of San Antonio, Juan Carlos Marsengo, was informed of the ship’s presence and notified the higher authorities, who transmitted the information to the Ministry of the Navy.
The Dilemma
Marsengo received a response from the Ministry, instructing him to comply with the regulations. However, there were no regulations in place to deal with a situation like this, and Marsengo was unsure of how to proceed. Nevertheless, he decided to take action, boarding a felucca with a couple of sailors to confront the Seydlitz.
The Showdown
Marsengo informed the captain of the Seydlitz that he was in Argentine waters and must respect the nation’s neutrality. However, the German ship did not respond to the warning, and the situation became increasingly tense. Meanwhile, the auxiliary ship of the navy, “1° de Mayo,” under the command of Frigate Captain Carlos Monetta, was sent to capture the Seydlitz.
The Stalemate
Marsengo and his crew made several trips to the Seydlitz, trying to persuade the captain to surrender or depart. However, their efforts were in vain, and the situation remained deadlocked. Captain Monetta and his crew arrived in San Antonio Oeste, but they were vastly outnumbered by the German ship’s crew of 200.
The Clever Plan
In a meeting with Captain Monetta, Marsengo came up with a clever plan. They would invite the captain of the Seydlitz, his staff, and crew to a barbecue on land, while simultaneously sending a telegram to the German embassy in Buenos Aires, ordering the captain of the Seydlitz to obey the orders of the Argentine ship. The plan was a desperate attempt to defuse the situation and find a peaceful resolution.
The Outcome
the plan was successful, and the Seydlitz departed from San Antonio Oeste, respecting Argentina’s neutrality. The town’s bravery and ingenuity had prevailed, and the incident became a testament to the country’s commitment to its neutrality in the face of international conflict
The Dramatic Arrival of the German Ship Seydlitz in San Antonio Oeste, 1914
In the early 20th century, San Antonio Oeste, a small town in the National Territory of Río Negro, Argentina, was a bustling port city that had grown rapidly in population and trade. The town’s strategic location made it an important hub for the transportation of goods to and from Buenos Aires and the rest of the world. However, in 1914, the town witnessed a dramatic event that would test its authorities and shape its history.
The Exodus and the Founding of San Antonio Oeste
In 1905, the population of San Antonio Este, driven by economic reasons, began to move westward, leading to the founding of San Antonio Oeste on July 10 of the same year. The Subprefecture, established in the East since 1898, accompanied this move and was formally established in San Antonio Oeste on April 1, 1911.
The Context of World War I
In 1914, the world was plunged into chaos as World War I broke out. Argentina, under President Victorino de la Plaza, declared its neutrality in the conflict. Meanwhile, the governor of the National Territory of Río Negro, Pedro Serrano, and the first president of the Municipal Council of San Antonio Oeste, Don Luis Peirano, were busy governing the region.
The Railroad and the Water Supply
The railroad, which had reached San Antonio Oeste, brought much-needed water from the Valcheta Stream to the town, alleviating the water crisis. The town’s population had grown rapidly, and trade and port activities were flourishing.
The Unexpected Arrival of the Seydlitz
On December 18, 1914, the German ship Seydlitz, which had been hiding on the Patagonian coast to avoid British ships, anchored in the harbor of San Antonio Oeste. The sub-prefect, Juan Carlos Marsengo, was informed of the ship’s arrival and immediately notified the higher authorities, who in turn alerted the Ministry of the Navy.
The Confrontation
Marsengo received a telegram with instructions to comply with regulations, but he was unsure how to proceed since there were no guidelines for dealing with a foreign warship in Argentine waters. Despite the uncertainty, he boarded a felucca with a couple of sailors and headed towards the Seydlitz to inform its captain that he was in Argentine waters and had to respect the nation’s neutrality.
The Showdown
The German captain and his crew disregarded Marsengo’s warning, and the situation became tense. Meanwhile, the auxiliary ship of the navy, “1° de Mayo”, under the command of frigate captain Carlos Monetta, set sail from Puerto Belgrano to capture the Seydlitz.
The Stalemate
Marsengo and his team made several attempts to delay the German ship’s departure, but to no avail. The arrival of the “1° de Mayo” brought some relief, but the situation remained volatile. Captain Monetta formally ordered the captain of the Seydlitz to surrender, but the German command refused to comply.
The Outcome
The Argentine Navy ship was no match for the German warship, and the standoff continued. Eventually, the Seydlitz departed from San Antonio Oeste, leaving behind a
