for months, the government had feared calling upon the "carabineros" national police, suspecting them of disloyalty. on 9 august, allende appointed general carlos prats as minister of defence. he was forced to resign both as defence minister and as the army commander-in-chief on 24 august 1973, embarrassed by the alejandrina cox incident and a public protest of the wives of his generals at his house. general augusto pinochet replaced him as army commander-in-chief the same day. in late august 1973, 100,000 chilean women congregated at plaza de la constitución to protest against the government for the rising cost and increasing shortages of food and fuels, but they were dispersed with tear gas.