PARAGUAYAN VICTORY

Evening Star, Issue 21881, 19 November 1934, Page 9

PARAGUAYAN VICTORY

THE GRAN CHACO WAR BOLIVIAN DEFENCE CNUMEIES Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright NEW YORK, November 17. The Buenos Aires correspondent of the ‘New York Times’ says: “Fort Ballivian, the keystone of Bolivia’s defences in the Gran Chaco, fell before a Paraguayan stratagem, according to reports from the scene of hostilities, under whith crushing blow the Bolivian southern Chaco defence crumbled rapidly, with the quick loss of six other important forts. The Paraguayans claim they have captured 10,000 pri-

souers and much war gear, with a minimum amount of fighting. In the panic many Bolivian soldiers are reported to have crossed the Pilcomayo River into Argentina, where a large Argentine army is massed to prevent a breach of neutrality. The Paraguayan coup was effected early in the morning. Throughout the night Bolivian sentries awaited an expected artillery bombardment preparatory to an' attack, but the Paraguayans quietly surrounded the position and made the capture. A considerable Bolivian force, , it is reported, has 'been lured out of position by a Paraguayan feint at the petroleum fields to the northward.” SEVEN FORTS CAPTURED SURPRISE OFFENSIVE, ASUNCION (Paraguay), Nov. 17. Bolivia’s Pilcomayo army collapsed on Saturday, and seven Bolivian forts fell into Paraguay’s hands. A wave of rejoicing swept this capital as the news spread that Fort Ballivian, a stout outpost, which five successive waves of Paraguayan soldiers had beaten against.

only to fall back in bloody failure, had been taken. Many predicted two and a-half years of bitter fighting for possession of the low, swampy Chaco Boareal. With shattered - remnants, Bolivian forces in the Pilcomayo sector are retreating northward along the only road left open to them—that following the banks of the river.

fteports reaching Asuncion state that Paraguay had taken 10,000 prisoners in a smashing victory, considered to be the biggest of the War. The forts that fell with Port Ballavian included Ch»challa, further up the river, which earlier reports indicated might provide the retreating Bolivians with their second line of defence. Bolivian troops were reported to be fleeing in wild disorder towards Villamontes, .the major Bolivian army base. Paraguayan troops swept into Ballavian at 7 o’clock in the morning on Saturday, after an all-night forced'

march from the small Port Ihdependicia, which'their surprise counter offensive with the rainy season already overdue, captured on Friday. Bolivia’s defenders, their communications severed by the Paraguayan advance in the Canada el Carmen sector, had already evacuated, the port after setting fire to ammunition dumps and supply warehouses. BOLIVIA'S EXPLANATION DEFEAT DENIED. LA PAZ (Bolivia). November. 18. The Bolivian high command on Saturday night denied Paraguay’s claim that her soldiers had captured Fort Ballavian. “The report that Ballavian fell in consequence of enemy attacks is false. Abandonment of the fort was ordered because it no longer had any military importance. Nothing was lost in the evacuation,” said the high command in a statement. Another statement said that the Bolivian advance in Picuilba and Piquirenda sectors continued, while the War Ministry asserted that Bolivia continued to dominate the situation in Chaco.