Argentina and other countries attempted to avert a full-scale naval arms race by offering to purchase one of the two dreadnoughts . Brazil refused Argentina 's offer . After further tensions over the River Plate ( '' Río de la Plata '' , literally " Silver River " ) area and inflammatory newspaper editorials favoring dreadnoughts , Argentina went ahead with a massive naval building plan . After a drawn-out bidding process among fifteen shipyards from the United States , Great Britain , Germany , France , and Italy , Argentina ordered two dreadnoughts with an option for a third from the United States . They also ordered twelve destroyers from three nations in Europe . With its major rival acquiring so many modern vessels , Chile wanted to respond as early as February 1906 , but the country 's naval plans were delayed by a major earthquake in 1906 and a financial depression in 1907 brought on by a drastic fall in the nitrate market
earthquake in 1906
1906 Valparaíso earthquake
Almirante Latorre-class battleship