THE GRAN CHACO

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

THE GRAN CHACO

Extensive Area in Dispute CONFLICTING CLAIMS ‘ The Gran Chaco boundary dispute between Bolivia and Paraguay has dragged on for many years, and been the subject of much negotiation. The main features are clear, said a recent writer in "The Times.” Bolivia claims a territory some 100,000 square miles in area, which is generally known as the Bolivian-Paraguay Chaco. This area is shown as forming part of Bolivia on the State maps, but about two-thirds of it is actually occupied and guarded by Paraguayan armed forces. Paraguay counter-claims not only the entire but even the areas extending far northwards into Central Bolivia. Owing to the violence of local feeling. which cannot be appreciated without a personal visit to the locality, the conflict has sometimes led to bloodshed.

Eastern Bolivia forms a wild and undeveloped region about the size of the British Isles, and is bounded to the west by the Central Bolivian uplands. The natural eastern boundary of Bolivia would run along the Paraguay River, but Brazil holds nearly all the river frontage. The only Bolivian port on the Paraguay River is at Puerto Suarez, situated at the end of a marsh lagoon some 15 miles in length, and only navigable during part of the year tor launches and barges. This lack of harbour facilities naturally tends to encourage the Bolivians in their claims to the Chaco region. Difficult Country. The country consists partly of dense timber forests, with an impenetrable thorny undergrowth, and partly of rough grazing lands and stretches of thin scattered palm groves. The climate is moderately tropical, with long spells of drought, but during the rainy season, from November to March, the lower lands are converted Into huge muddy marshes. Land transport is carried on with wagons and packanimals along rough trails. Few

motor-cars have penetrated into the remote region. The rivers are infested with such fish as the deadly stinging ray and the pirana—a fierce carnivorous fish about the size of a mackerel, which attacks In mass formation both human beings and domestic animals, often inflicting fatal injuries. Insect plagues of incredible variety range from the huge black tarantula and bird-eating spiders to the tiny chiga. which has the unpleasant habit of depositing its eggs under the toenails of the unwary. Legions of vampire bats take a heavy toll of blood from the unfortunate pack-animals when turned out to graze at nights. The pioneers of European civilisation in Eastern Bolivia were the Jesuit Fathers, who penetrated into these wilds, converting some of the Indians to Christianity,' founded agricultural colonies, and built rude churches and schools of wood and mud, some of which are in use to this day. In the wake of the Jesuits came various Bolivian explorers, and sporadic colonisation began some 70 years ago. Today the population numbers between 8000 and 9000. Economic Wealth.

The area under dispute forms a triangle some 550 miles in length from north to south, the apex of which is formed by the junction of the Paraguay and Pilcomayo rivers. Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay, is situated opposite the apex on the east bank of the Paraguay River. In the southern portion of this triangle colonisation by Paraguayans and by foreigners has been carried on for many years. The chief economic wealth lies In the vast supplies of quebracho which this area produces. The exploitation of this product constitutes an Important South American industry which has been developed on an immense scale in the Argentine Gran Chaco. The name “quebracho” means “the axebreaker,” and is applied indiscriminately to several species of trees belonging to the family Anacardiaceae. These trees yield a hard, heavy, dark red' heartwood containing a high tanning content. The extract from these woods forms the basis, of most of the tanning mixtures employed in Europe and America. Bolivian military headquarters are at Robore, a small village situated on a trail some 150 miles to the west of Puerto Suarez. The main Bolivian defences consist of a line of blockhouses running inland from a point on the Paraguay River to the south of Puerto Suarez. An opposing Paraguayan line is situated a few miles distance and the whole of this particular river area forms a military territory from which all outsiders are rigorously excluded. Military dispositions of a similar nature exist on the banks of the Pilcomayo River. In the portion of the Chaco under Paraguayan occupation the banks of both rivers are protected by forts built at wide intervals between which ply steamers belonging to the Paraguayan Government. Periodical clashes occur between the military patrols of both nations when engaged in patrolling the land between the lines of block-houses. Careful watch Is maintained on any encroachments caused by the construction of new blockhouses beyond the original lines of defence.