UNDECLARED WAR

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 266, 5 August 1932, Page 11

UNDECLARED WAR

Bolivia and Paraguay TROOPS ON THE MOVE Chaco Boundary Dispute MEDIATOR’S EFFORTS (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) La Paz, Bolivia, August 3. The Ministry of War lias ordered the mobilisation of all classes of youths between the ages of twentytwo and twenty-nine in anticipation of war with Paraguay, in the Gran Chaco region. A high official states that Bolivia will inform the League of Nations that an immediate settlement of the boundary dispute must be reached or she will go to war.

The Foreign Office has informed the League of Nations that Bolivia does not decline pacific means for solution of the controversy with Paraguay over the Gran Chaco territory.

Responding to communications from the League of Nations asking that war should be-averted, the Government recited its version of the conflict, concluding with the statement: “These facts place Paraguay outside the law and oblige us to defend outselves energetically.” PARAGUAY FERMENT First Troops Leave for Front RUSH OF WARLIKE WOMEN Asuncion, Paraguay, August 3.

Hundreds of excited Paraguayan women, society belles, debutantes, and broad-shouldered farm wives besieged the Government demanding the right to go to war. They came by dozens, hanging on trucks and wagons, crowding out of trains, and rushed for the Stadium, where recruiting activities, looking toward war with Bolivia, centred.

The women demanded to be given the right to active service on the battlefront The Government regards this as Impossible in the deep Chaco wilderness, where even the mildest noncombatant service is considered too severe for women. Officials suggested service In civilian capacities at home, filling positions vacated by the men, but the women scoffed and said that if Paraguay goes to war they should be in their place—in the Chaco, not in their homes.

In a proclamation, President Gugglarl called upon the army to prepare to achieve deeds of prowess. Five hundred Paraguayan soldiers, the first to leave for the front to engage in the undeclared war against Bolivia, started up the river toward Chaco. There was considerable confusion and almost a disaster at the start. So eager were the men to join up that 300 volunteers stormed a vessel and nearly capsized her before they were ejected. During the night 1200 men reached the capital, answering the mobilisation order. Most of them were college students and schoolboys. Captain Almonacid, the Argentine flyer who served with the French during the war, has arrived from Buenos Aires to train the Paraguayan Air Corps. EFFORTS FOR PEACE Intervention by League Official Wireless. Rugby, August 3. It was announced by the British Foreign Office this evening that the Acting-Secretary-General of the League of Nations had suggested that his Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and the French, German, Italian, and Spanish Governments should support through diplomatic channels an appeal issued on August 1 by the President of the League Council to the Governments of Bolivia and Paraguay.

The British representatives at La Paz and Asuncion have been instructed to Inform the Governments of Bolivia and Paraguay that the Government of the United States Is anxious to give all possible support to the appeal of the President of the Council and to the moderating action of friendly nations assembled at Washington. The Government of the United Kingdom has Informed the United States Government of the above action.

JOINT NOTE FROM POWERS Washington, August 3. Bolivia and Paraguay have been requested to end hostilities and submit to neutral proposals to avoid war in a joint Note signed by the representatives of the United States and eighteen other American republics.