Page 125 - Conflitti Militari e Popolazioni Civili - Tomo II

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aCta
landers, a fact that was acknowledged by the latter. “Where there were private houses known
to be unoccupied the military offered to lease and in some cases this was done and correct
procedures carried out”. 39
In view of the limitations in the supply of foodstuffs, caused by the British blockade
around the islands, it was necessary to go to the countryside in order to purchase sheep,
which was always done under very convenient conditions for the farmers. “Dick Hills, from
the Moody Valley Farm, was the first to sell 400 heads to the army, 20% above the market
price that was current at the time”. 40
In view of the risk of infiltration of special British troops into the islands, the Argentines
used their best efforts to prevent such forces from mixing up with the local population. It was
thus announced that all men aged between 16 and 65 must carry identification cards. These
were small pre-printed white cards with blank spaces to be filled with the photograph, age,
particulars, languages spoken and place of birth. A group of officers visited the houses to
make a list of all men and write up the cards. As the photographs were never taken, the cards
would be of very little use in the detection of infiltrators from the special forces.

7. the course of hostiLities
By mid-April, the government and the military command became aware that the situation
was getting increasingly serious, as the enemy announced the implementation of an exclu-
sion zone to totally isolate the archipelago. This made it imperative to take all necessary steps
to face an armed conflict situation.
On 20 April, an announcement was made to the civil population. “All houses in Stanley
are to be blacked out in case of air raids. All citizens are advised to put out the lights and
get under the table if one happens. We were also instructed that all vehicle lights are to be
masked out, leaving only a 2-in wide strip through which the light can shine. The speed limit
is to be 20 km per hour. During an air raid everyone is to be off the street except the FIRE
Brigade. This seems to be a move to alarm the population.” (see Annex 8).
41
Warlike actions on the islands began on 1 May with air raids and naval attacks mainly
concentrated around the airport. In the evening of that day the Military Junta issued a com-
muniqué to inform about the day’s operations and its intention to guarantee the security and
rights of all British citizens and English-speaking Argentines” on the islands.
42
“As from 1 May, the date of the first attack, an increasingly negative attitude was noticed
among the local population and in some cases small groups of islanders were seen celebrat-
ing the British air raids, while others (a majority of them) expressed fears at the possibility of

39 Strange, Ian; The Falklands Islands, page 258
40 Foulkes, Haroldo, “74 Días alucinantes en Puerto Argentino”, page 52
41 Smith, John, op.cit., page 82
42 Latin American Newsletter, page 52 COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE MILITARY JUNTA N°41:“In relation to
events of public knowledge occurred in the Malvinas and according to Communiqué N° … of the Military
Junta, the Argentine Government reiterates that it guarantees the life, property and rights of the British
and English-speaking Argentine citizens residing in the national territory and islands of the South Atlantic,
and that it will repress with the full force of the Law any action against them, be it of a factual nature or an
offense against their nationality, symbol or beliefs according to the provisions of the Argentine Law”