Warfare in the Chaco

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 268, 15 November 1934, Page 7

Warfare in the Chaco

Bolivia Recaptures Big Area MAJOR BATTLE MAY COME SOON United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Wednesday, 7 p.m. BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 13. A new Bolivian offensive in the Chaco Boreal has recaptured approximately 1600 square miles in the northwest portion of the disputed area, according to reports reaching hero today. The Bolivian drive has virtually wiped out Paraguay’s conquests in the courso of General Sitgarribiae’s daring advance towards Parapiti river and the Bolivian oilfields in August. New developments in the lighting, in which the dispatches indicated 20,000 men on each sido arc engaged, will depend on whether heavy rains now due come soon, and whether the Bolivians are satisfied with having averted Paraguay's threat against towns along the Parapiti river and abandon their operations until after the rainy season. A crowd of 20,000 singing patriotic songs, jammed La Paz streets in celebration of the Bolivian victory, which the Ministry of War announced had smashed Paraguay’s right wing in the northern Chaco, threatened the centre, and pushed the enemy back 25 miles. The capture of Fort Twenty-seventh of November and the Irindague fortifications has left Bolivia confionting the major Paraguayan strongholds at Picuiba, and ono of the most important battles of a long war is expected to be fought there, cither within the next few days or immediately after the rainy season. Since Picuiba controls a network of roads and the water supply in the North-West Chaco, its loss or retention will determino whether Paraguay withdraws towards Cential Chaco or retains the advanced outposts she has captured.