Colombia–Peru War

Colombia–Peru War
Part of theColombian–Peruvian territorial dispute
Colombian Army on manoeuvres during the conflict.
Date 1 September 1932 – 24 May 1933 (8 months, 3 weeks and 2 days) Location Colombia Result Resolved by theLeague of Nations: Salomón–Lozano Treatyis upheld Rio de Janeiro Protocolis signed Territorial changes Status quo ante bellum
Belligerents
Peru	Colombia
Commanders and leaders
Luis Miguel Sánchez CerroX Oscar R. Benavides Manuel E. Rodríguez Antonio Beingolea Balarezo Fernando Sarmiento Ramírez Víctor Ramos	Enrique Olaya Herrera Alfredo Vásquez Carlos Uribe Gaviria Efraín Rojas Acevedo Roberto Domingo Rico Díaz Amadeo Rodríguez Vergara Manuel Balcázar
Units involved
V Division: 17th Mixed Infantry Regiment 19th Mixed Infantry Regiment 21st Artillery Battalion 23rd Artillery Battalion 25th Artillery Battalion 27th Artillery Battalion 1 sapper sector	III Military Division
Strength
17,500+ troops (1932) 2 gunboats 3 transport ships 4 auxiliary launches 9 seaplanes	6,000+ troops (1932) 7 gunboats 3 transport ships 14 aircraft
Casualties and losses
60 combat casualties approx. 150–250(mostly from jungle diseases)	60 combat casualties approx. 140–200(mostly from jungle diseases)

TheColombia–Peru War,also called theLeticia War,was a short-livedarmed conflictbetweenColombiaandPeruover territory in theAmazon rainforestthat lasted from September 1, 1932, to May 24, 1933. In the end, an agreement was reached to divide the disputed area between both countries.

Background

Civilian takeover

Peruvian protests in 1932 against ratification of the Salomón-Lozano Treaty

The Colombia–Peru War was the result of dissatisfaction with theSalomón–Lozano Treatyand the imposition of heavytariffson sugar. The National Patriotic Junta (Spanish:Junta Patriótica Nacional), known also as the Patriotic Junta of Loreto (Spanish:Junta Patriótica de Loreto), was created on August 27, 1932, by Peruvian civilians Oscar Ordoñez and Juan La Rosa Guevara, in the presence of Lieutenant Colonel Isauro Calderón, Lieutenant Commander Hernán Tudela y Lavalle, engineers Oscar H. Ordóñez de la Haza and Luis A. Arana, doctors Guillermo Ponce de León, Ignacio Morey Peña, Pedro del Águila Hidalgo and Manuel I. Morey.They obtained, through donations and charity from civilians and the military, the necessary weapons and resources to start the “recovery of the port”.

The group released an irredentist manifesto known as the Leticia Plan (Spanish:Plan de Leticia)denouncing the Salomón-Lozano Treaty.The "plan" would be carried out peacefully and force would only be used if Colombia authorities responded in a hostile manner. Civilians would be the only ones participating so as not to compromise the entire country, which led to Juan La Rosa Guevara renouncing his appointment as second lieutenant in order to participate as a civilian.

The takeover of Leticia, originally planned for September 15, 1932, was brought forward two weeks. The center of operations was the border city ofCaballococha,whose inhabitants joined theCivilian Recovery Army,whose number was 48 people.

In the early hours of September 1, 1932, what is now known as theLeticia Incidenttook place after Leticia was seized by Peruvian soldiers.As a result, Colombian authorities and police fled to nearbyBrazil.

On September 1, 1932, PresidentLuis Miguel Sánchezdispatched two regiments of thePeruvian ArmytoLeticiaandTarapacá;both settlements were in theAmazonas Department,now in southernColombia.Those actions were then mostly ignored by theColombian government.

Colombian patriotism

It was not until September 17 that the Colombian government took notice. The Peruvian forces, which were encamped on the banks of thePutumayo River,stopped several large trade ships from traveling to Leticia.

The result was an explosion of Colombianpatriotism.Laureano Gómez,the head of the Senate minority, proclaimed, "Peace, peace, peace in inner Colombia; war, war, war on the border against our despicable enemy."

On September 19,El Tiemporeported that it had received over 10,000 letters calling for war and control ofLeticia.The same day, thousands of Colombian students marched through the streets ofBogotáchanting, "Sánchez Cerrowill die and Colombia will defy! "Vásquez Cobowas declared the general of the Colombian Amazonian Navy, and 10 million dollars were approved by the Senate to fund his venture. Over 400 kg of gold were donated by the Colombian cities as a symbol of gratitude to theHuilanengineerCésar García Álvarez.

Conflict

Theflag of Peruflies over the port of Leticia after the takeover

Sánchez believed that Colombia had no chance of defending itself since it lacked roads in the Amazon and a proper navy due to financial hardships brought on by theThousand Days War.It was not until December 1932 that GeneralAlfredo Vásquez Coboreached the mouth of theAmazon Riverwith a fleet of old turn-of-the-centuryColombiangun boats and newBritishdestroyers that he acquired whilst in Europe. Within 90 days, Colombia organised a respectable military response to the Peruvian invasion.Herbert Boy,Raimunf Behrend, Fritz Tessen von Heydebreck, Hermann Ernst von Oertzen, Ludwig Graf Schaesberg, Gottlob-Fritz von Donop, Bodo von Kaull, Adolf Edler von Graeve, Georg Theodor Meyer.Schaefer, Paul Mutter, Hans Himpe, Heinz Kutscha and other German aviators ofSCADTA,which later becameAvianca,fitted their commercial planes for war as a temporaryColombian Air Force.

At the end of December 1932, the flotilla of ships acquired by Colombia arrived in the Amazon, but President Enrique Olaya Herrera did not authorize the use of these to recover Leticia, hoping for a diplomatic solution instead.

The misgivings of the military were not absent in the war. General Rojas claimed command of operations in Belem do Pará, placing Vásquez Cobo in the background. The troops from Colombia, according to the latter, received the old general with indifference. Olaya had awarded him the Cross of Boyacá but it was not enough. However, it was not just a matter of pride or prepotency. Vásquez Cobo wanted to attack Leticia immediately without taking into account of the guidelines that Rojas communicated to him. Olaya insisted on an assault on Tarapacá in two communiqués of January 20 and 28, 1933 and named Vásquez Cobo Minister of War on commission to overcome difficulties and place it, with all authority, above the military in service. Vasquez Cobo then accepted Olaya's plan and expressed it in a message dated 5 February, accepting his march through Putumayo.

Battle of Tarapacá

Main article:Battle of Tarapacá (1933)

The first attack by theColombian Navywas onTarapacá.The city was chosen becauseLeticiawas on the border withBrazil,and the Colombian Forces preferred to attack a softer target rather than the well-defended Peruvian positions in and around the city. On February 14, 1933, thePeruvian Air Forcehad attempted to bomb the Colombian Fleet, but most of the bombs hit off target.

Attack on Chavaco Island

On February 18, Peruvian aircraft attacked the Peruvian island of Chavaco in front ofGüepí,which had been occupied by 30 Colombian soldiers under the command of Captain Ángel María Diago. One of the Peruvian planes was shot down, falling into thePutumayo Riverin flames.

Battle of Puerto Hilario

Colombian soldiers during the conflict.

On March 13, the Colombian forces, in order to break the Peruvian garrison of Puerto Arturo, mobilized thePichinchagunboat with theMagdalenaandMargaritaarmored launches under the command of General Efraín Rojas. 180 men from the Junambú battalion began to land, trying to occupy the surveillance post of Puerto Hilario on the Cotuhé River (near Buenos Aires between Cerro Tarapacá and Leticia). They were forced to re-embark in droves due to the strong land defense and the attack by two squadrons of Peruvian aeroplanes (6 aircraft.) This attack caused casualties on the deck of thePichincha.Second Lieutenant EP Antonio Cavero M. captured a Colombian flag. This Peruvian victory derailed the Colombian attempt to threaten Leticia from behind.

Battle of Buenos Aires

Main article:Battle of Buenos Aires

On March 17, Colombian General Efraín Rojas, with the ship MCPichinchaand an infantry section from the Amazonas Detachment, attacked a Peruvian post in a village located three hours from the site called Buenos Aires, on the Cotuhé River, forcing the retreat of 50 Peruvian soldiers.

At 17:00, between six and eight Peruvian planes (O-38PandCorsairs) bombed the position taken by the Colombians, leaving one Colombian soldier dead and six more wounded due to the impact of one of the bombs on the gunboat MCPichincha(although the bomb did not pierce the gunboat's armor) and the capture by the Peruvian forces of the Colombian guide José María Hernández, who was shot in Iquitos days later; at the same time one of the Peruvian planes was shot down. Uncertain of receiving air support and facing the possibility of a counteroffensive, the Colombian flotilla withdrew from the area that same night.

Battle of Gueppi

Main article:Battle of Güepí

Another military confrontation occurred on March 26, 1933, where Colombian troops ended up occupying the port of Gueppi.

Battle of Calderón

On April 16, a Peruvian unit commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Oscar Sevilla fired rifles and machine guns at a Colombian infantry company from the Juanambú Battalion belonging to the Putumayo Detachment. This company was commanded by Major Diógenes Gil and was in formation and without their arms being ready, since this unit was undergoing a cleaning review. The combat took place in a port called Calderón, 63 km from Puerto Arturo on the Colombian side of the Putumayo River, leaving one Colombian soldier dead and five more wounded; the Peruvian forces apparently had no casualties.

Battle of Yabuyanos

On April 29, at 11 p.m., in a place known as Yabuyanos, 80 km upriver from Calderón, the Peruvian infantry company Maldonado with 80 soldiers and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Oscar Sevilla attacked the gunboats MCCartagenaand MCSanta Martatransporting two companies of Colombian infantry to Calderón. Colombian forces under the command of General José Dolores Solano responded to the attack and the following dawn made a landing, putting the Peruvian forces in retreat. In the end, Colombian forces reported one Colombian soldier wounded and two Peruvians dead.

Battle of Puca Urco/Saravia

In the early morning of May 7, 1933, the Colombian fleet made up of theCordoba,PichinchaandBarranquillagunboats moved through the Putumayo with two boats transporting 300 soldiers, the Peruvian garrison of Puca Urco under the command of Captain Raguz and Lieutenant Butron was composed by 52 soldiers and a single 75 mm cannon, they faced the Colombian forces that had seven 37 mm cannons and 12 machine guns. The close confrontation did not allow the Colombian troops to land in the sector after being rejected, hours later Major Alfredo Collazos sent a radiogram to General Rojas: "In Saravia strong Peruvian resistance with artillery; three localized pieces and machine guns; in addition, a mine exploded near the right bank; fought for half an hour; lack of support from other ships prevented a longer combat time; place me a kilometer below, I ordered reconnaissance by boat." Hours later, the Peruvian forces began the orderly withdrawal of their troops as ordered days ago by Commander Granadino in the following order "that once the ambush has been carried out, in their retreat they will imperatively save the Schneider piece, since, in addition to preventing it from falling into the hands of the enemy, it represents 50 percent of the artillery fire that I give off." Colombian forces disembarked at 11 AM to reconnoitre, finding no trace of the enemy.

Battle of Algodón River

Peruvian seaplanes

On May 1, 1933, the Colombian fleet regrouped and headed for the Algodón River, where Peru had an air base for seaplanes, but when night fell they could not detect it; Taking advantage of this, the Peruvians evacuated their aircraft fleet from that base.

On May 8, 1933, the Colombian flotilla tried again, but this time during the day, to attack the Peruvian air base, being received by Peruvian planes that proceeded to bomb the Colombian fleet (Vought Corsair and O-38P planes, the only operational fighter in the area that the Peruvians had was a Curtiss Hawk that, short of range, could not escort the Peruvian attack planes), at that precise moment the Colombian planes were heading towards the fleet to support the ground attack, therefore, the Peruvian aircraft did not have enough time to bomb and went on the defensive, attacked by the anti-aircraft artillery of the Colombian flotilla and by the Colombian fighter-bombers: in this action, the plane of the Peruvian pilot Américo Vargas was shot down; then the Peruvian planes withdrew to another base. Immediately afterwards, the Colombian flotilla landed the troops of the Amazonas Detachment at the base of the Cotton River without encountering resistance; Even so, four Peruvian soldiers who remained behind were captured, seizing military supplies and an aircraft workshop.

Battle of La Zoila

On May 26, Colombian troops made up of 10 Colombian soldiers under the command of Second Lieutenant Guillermo Aldana, who were still unaware of what had been agreed in Geneva the day before on the suspension of hostilities, surprised and captured four Peruvian officers, 77 Peruvian soldiers commanded by Captain Manuel Badárrago, taking several rifles and three machine guns from them. The action was carried out by means of a night coup by these Colombian soldiers against a Peruvian camp in a place called La Zoila (La Rebeca), 35 km away from Güepí.

End of the conflict

Peruvian trenches in Leticia

The Peruvian forces in Leticia could not be forced to withdraw, but the events in Lima and the assassination of the Peruvian president changed the situation. The new Peruvian president ordered the undefeated Peruvian troops to leave Leticia. Part of Peru's Pacific fleet came through the Amazon River to engage in combat.

Aftermath

War MemorialinTarapacá,Colombia. The plaque reads,"To the Heroes of theColombian Air Force;who with true courage gave the best of themselves; flying with their noble aircraft over river and jungle. Declaring over our Amazonia with the sound of their motors the sovereignty of our country during the war with Peru. "

On the same day, Colombian PresidentEnrique Olayabroke off all relations with Peru because of the aerial attack. He ordered an attack on Leticia, but it was repelled by Peruvian troops.

On 30 April 1933, Peruvian President Sánchez Cerro wasshot dead;15 days later, his successor,Óscar Benavides,met with the head of theColombian Liberal Party,Alfonso López Pumarejo,to secure an agreement to turn Leticia over to aLeague of Nationscommission.

Colombia and Peru met inRio de Janeiroto sign theRio de Janeiro Protocolin 1934. In the treaty, Peru stated, "We sincerely deplore the events that occurred starting September, 1932. Specifically those that damaged our relationship with Colombia." TheSalomón-Lozano Treatywas also reaffirmed by the treaty.

See also

• Gran Colombia–Peru War
• Salomón–Lozano Treaty

References

• von Rauch, Herbert. "A South American Air War...The Letcia Conflict."Air Enthusiast.Issue 26, December 1984–March 1985. Bromley, Kent: Pilot Press. pp. 1–8.ISSN0143-5450.
• Agn, Scadta, "Informes sobre aviación militar 1931–1933".Minguerra,Caja 43, Carpeta 40, folios 96 y ss
• Arancibia Clavel, Roberto (2002).La influencia del Ejército Chileno en América Latina 1900–1950.Santiago de Chile, Centro de e Investigaciones Militares CESIM.

Bibliography

• Ugarteche, Pedro (1969).Sánchez Cerro. Papeles y recuerdos de un presidente del Perú.Vol. 3. Lima: Universitaria.

External links

• Luis Ángel Arango Library; Colombia-Peru WarArchived2008-09-18 at theWayback Machine(in Spanish)
• Colombia: The Leticia Conflict
• South American conflicts: the Chaco and LeticiaForeign policy report;vol. IX, no. 6. May 24, 1933. John De Wilde, 1910–2000.