WAR DECLARED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 109, 11 May 1933, Page 7

WAR DECLARED.

GREAT REJOICING.

PARAGUAYANS CHEER.

Conflict With Bolivia Over Gran Chaco. BEEN FIGHTING FOR MONTHS. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 11.30 a.m.) ASUNCION, May 10. ' Paraguay to-day formally declared war against Bolivia. They have been engaged in a hitherto undeclared war in the Gran Chaco border area since last summer. President Eusebio Ayala, using the authority recently voted him by Congress, signed the declaration at 11 a.m. News of the signing provoked great demonstrations, which soon reached the streets. The celebrations were the most widespread since hostilities began last June. Crowds forged through the thoroughfares siiging and cheering.

For the first time in 50 years the Gran Cliaco dispute has reached the formal status of warfare, though for years intermittent fighting has kept both nations armed.

Paraguay hopes that formal declarations of neutrality by < Argentina and Chile, and perhaps by Peru and Brazil, will hamper Bolivian importation of supplies. Both nations are determined that the present struggle shall result in definite and permanent settlement of tho Gran Chaco strife.

Except for the belated entry of several South American nations into the Great War this is the first declaration of war on the continent since Bolivia fought Chile in 1879 over the nitrate fields.