A WAR FOR A WILDERNESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 114, 17 May 1933, Page 6

A WAR FOR A WILDERNESS.

Paraguay has now declared war against Bolivia. This is a mere formality; for months past both countries have been at war, thoiigh in an informal manner, like China and Japan, though wo have heard little about it. In fact, the forces now arrayed in the Chaco district of South America are estimated at from 60,000 to 90,000 on either side —probably more than are now engaged in the vicinity of the Great Wall of China. When the writer was in Paraguay, little more than four years ago, there was already talk of war with Bolivia over the boundary dispute. The area claimed by both parties, though potentially' ■rich, is almost uninhabited. Although it is quite as large as New Zealand, it does not contain a single town of any importance. That Paraguay should gain somo successes at the start is not to be wondered at, for the Chaco is easily accessible by steamer from Asuncion, while it is separated from the inhabited portion of Bolivia by 'hundreds of miles of uninhabited country, without any roads worthy of the name; but in a war of long duration the superior resources of Bolivia, a much richer country, will probably prevail.

The territory is for the most part inhabited by bands of roving Indians. On the frontier Paraguay lias maintained a number of "fortines" —the so-called forte, though they are little better than blockhouses intended to keep the Indians in check. Since the' outbreak of hostilities they hove been greatly strengthened by the construction of earthworks and dug-outs—the best ■method of defence under modern military conditions. One of these forts is named Nueva Zelandia (New Zealand). An attempt was made a few years ago to colonise the Chaco by British subjects (Mennonites of Russian origin from Canada), and several thousand were reported to have arrived as settlers. Many, however, disappointed at the novel conditions, soon abandoned the settlement. A British company (Bolivian Concessions, Ltd.) was also formed to exploit the resources of the Bolivian Ch:ieo. They aL&o ran a line of steamers from the Chaco to Buenos Ayres, but little has been heard of them of late. It is not generally known that war between the British Government and Paraguay was narrowly averted-on- one occasion. It happened in this way: A British subject had beeil imprisoned in Paraguay; Lord Palmerston (that most energetic of all Premiers.in protecting British subjects abroad) was then in office. Considering that he had a just grievance, he demanded that the ■prisoner should be released, but. the Paraguayan Government was evasive. About this time Carlos Antonio Lopez, Dictator of Paraguay, sent .his son Francisco on a diplomatic mission to Buenos Ayres. Having accomplished his task, ■he prepared to return to his native country on the Paraguayan gunboat by which he had travelled to the Argentine capital. On leaving the port, he was' confronted by two British gunboats, with orders to detain his steamer until satisfaction had. been obtained from the Paraguayan Government. Lopez was no coward, and although either of the opposing gunboats was more than a match for his craft, he determined to fight. But the commander of his gunboat, and almost the entire engiiieroom staff, were British subjects, and refused to fight their countrymen. Lopez was thus compelled to choose between surrender and a return to Buenos Ayres. He adopted the latter alternative, and so "war was averted.—J.D.L.