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THE WORLD CHILE/COVER STORY The Bloody End of a Marxist Dream For two terrible days last week, the cap- ital of Chile turned into a bloody bat- tleground. Planes roared in almost at rooftop level, firing rockets and sowing bombs. Tanks rumbled through the streets, tearing holes in walls with shells from their cannon. Infantrymen popped up in doorways, and the sound of their fire reverberated through the city. The principal target, the Presidential Palace, disappeared behind a veil of smoke and flames. Inside, Chile's Marxist President Salvador Allende Gossens, 65, died in his office as a military junta took over his country. After his inauguration three years ago. Allende had stood on the small bal- cony outside his office in the palace to launch a great experiment While thou- sands of his supporters cheered in the plaza below, he announced a unique tm- dertaki ng: he intended to lead Chile along a democratic road to socialism. Last week the balcony still stood, al- though the palace was a smoldering ruin. So was Allende's Marxist vision for his country Week after week, as a succession of bitter strikes plunged Chile toward eco- nomic chaos, rumors had circulated in Santiago that the country was on the PRESIDENTIAL PALACE BURIONE AFTER ATTACKS SY CHILEAN AIR FORCE JETS verge of a military coup. Even so, many .5 Chileans dismissed the stories. True, conclude that revolution is a surer route [11 Chile had large and well-trained armed to power than the ballot box. The U.S A1 forces. But unlike the colonels of neigh- was embarrassed by the coup—though VI, boring Peru and the generals of Brazil, Washington insisted that it had taken CIO ORN Chile's officers had by and large a non- no part. Anti-imperialists everywhere H political tradition. immediately assumed that Washington Instant Martyr. Chileans who was behind his downfall. At week's end thought that their country was somehow the U.S. had made no move to recog- immune from military takeovers were nize the new government, but most ob- wrong. Moreover, the coup that ended servers expected an improvement in Allende's experiment in socialism relations. The change of Chilean proved to be extraordinarily violent governments might also affect U.S. cor- even by Latin American standards. In porations; their sizable holdings had the flurry of fighting that accompanied been taken over by Allende. but they the golpe (coup) and in the two days of now might at least be reimbursed for chaos that followed, several thousand what they had lost by a more sympa- people were killed or injured. The mil- thetic government. itary claimed that Allende had killed The coup was carefully planned and himself rather than surrender. Allende's meticulously executed, reported TuviE supporters insisted that he had been Correspondent Charles Eisendrath, who murdered. In a sense, the manner of his watched the action from a window over- death was irrelevant. Almost overnight, looking the palace. Early last Tuesday he became an instant martyr for leftists morning, armored cars rolled across the world over—and a legendary spec- Santiago's broad Plaza de la Constitu- ter that may well haunt Latin America cion to block the portals of La Moneda, for years. the somber 18th century-style Presiden- Allende's downfall bad implications tial Palace. As army sharpshooters took that reached far beyond the borders of up positions, at least 100 armed care- Chile. His bad been the first democrat- bineros—Chile's paramilitary police ically elected Marxist government in —jumped out of buses and double-timed Latin America. Moderate Latins will across the square. Their mission, accord- certainly want no more such experi- ing to the secret order of the day, was ments because of Chile's experience; "to restore institutional normality" in VICTIM OF SANTIAGO STREET FIGHTING leftists, on the other hand, will ruefully South America's most democratic na- Democracy died as wet!. TICE SEPTEMBER 24.1973 35 THE WORLD urged workers—the most loyal and en- station operated by his Socialist Pa thusiastic supporters of his socialist pro- went silent after making a final appeal gram—to seize their factories as a sign to enlisted men to disobey the orders of of defiance. As Hawker Hunters of the their officers. Another station operated Chilean air force swooped low over the by Allende's Communist partners' in palace, Allende made a final appearance the Chilean Unidad Popular (Popular on his second-floor balcony and waved Unity) coalition went dead. Soon the to a small band of curious citizens whom only station left on the air in Santiago the army had not yet shooed away. was one that identified itself as "the mil- Allende immediately recognized itary government radio." Its first order that he faced the worst crisis of his "The President of the republic must pro- stormy three-year presidency. An hour ceed immediately to hand over his high before the military's ultimatum, he tele- office." phoned his wife Hortensia at their villa . A Mexican journalist in Santiago. Manuel Mejido, managed to interview 15 of the people who claim to have last seen Allende alive. According to his ac- count, the President assembled close friends in the palace and told them: "I will not abandon La Moneda. They will only take me out of here dead." The group included ten members of the se- curity force and 30 youths of a private guard known as el Grupo de Amigos Per- sonales (the Group of Personal Friends) General Pinochet's call was followed by one from the navy commander, Ad- CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: ALLENDE WAVING AT THIRD ANNIVERSARY ELECTION CELEBRATION; miral Jose Toribio Merino Castro, who ALLENDE'S BODY LEAVING LA MONEDA PALACE; MEETING OF MILITARY JUNTA' repeated the ultimatum. "I will not sur- render," Allende declared. "That is a course for cowards like yourself " tton and "stop a disastrous dictatorship "I'm calling from La Moneda," he told As an attack on the palace became from installing itself" her. "The situation has become very imminent, Allende gathered his rem- Allende had apparently heard ru- grave. The navy has revolted and I am nant of supporters in one room of the mors; at the uncharacteristically early going to stay here." Allende was right. palace. "Gentlemen," he said, "I am hour of 7:15, he had driven to La Mone- Even before the junta's troops surround- staying." He asked everyone to leave. da from his comfortable villa in San- ed the palace, the navy had announced no one did. Allende then ordered the tiago's Barrio Alto district. As the troops that it had taken over and sealed off women to go to the office of the palace began to assemble outside the palace, the port city of Valparaiso, 75 miles major-domo and told the men to take General A ugusto Pinochet Ugarte, com- away. Marines from Valparaiso were ad- up combat positions. There was a 20- mander in chief of the army, telephoned vancing on the capital to join the sol- minute attack by infantry and tanks an ultimatum to the palace. If Allende diers, airmen and earabineros com- During a brief truce, General Pinochel surrendered his office, he would be giv- manded by leaders of the coup. again called the palace, giving Allende en safe-conduct out of the country; oth- Allende soon found himself isolated 15 minutes to surrender. Once more the erwise he would be deposed by force from all potential supporters, A radio Allende refused. "I will not resign," he 'One building attacked by troops at the first Our • declared in a very brief radio broadcast. 'From left: Admiral Merino, Generals Pinochei. ry of fighting was Communist Party headquaners Leigh and Mendoza. In the background- O'Hig- in Santiago, shown on IOM's cover With en Allen "I am prepared to die if necessary " He gins portrait de banner across its facade. 36 TIME. SEPTEmeEe 74 $073 President refused. When the attack halt- never his body—and that he and four ed, the women in the palace—including aides had been killed in cold blood. The one of Allende's daughters, Beatriz. rumors fed the rapidly growing legend 31—left for safety. of Allende the Marxist martyr. At noon, a pair of Hawker Hunters The same day the body of Allende attacked the palace with bombs, rock- was trucked to a military airport near ets and tear gas. An hour and a half Santiago and put aboard a plane bound later, infantrymen entered La Moneda for the city of Vida del Mar, where the by a side door; their officers gave Allen- President's family maintained a crypt. de ten minutes to surrender. "All of you Mrs. Allende was allowed to accompany go down without weapons and with the corpse, as were his sister Laura, two hands up," the President told the hand- nephews and an aide. ful of aides who had stayed with him. At Santa Ines cemetery, Mrs. Allen- "Go and surrender to the army. I will de, torn between sorrow and fury, picked be the last to leave," Then, according some flowers and laid them on the cof- to Mejido, Allende shot himself. fin, "Salvador Allende cannot be bur- Mrs. Allende had listened to her ied in such an anonymous way," she said husband's final radio broadcast. "At in a hard voice to the gravediggers. "I noon, Salvador did not answer the tele- want you to know at least the name of phone at La Moneda" she said. "When the person you are burying," I managed to get through to La Mone- Meanwhile, the junta moved rapidly da, it was security agents or carabineros to consolidate its rule.

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