LENGTHY WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21961, 19 November 1934, Page 9

LENGTHY WAR

SOUTH AMERICA

PARAGUAYANS' CLAIM

BOLIVIAN REVERSE

RECOVERY OF FORTS

MANY PBISONEBS TAKEN

Br Telegraph—Pressi Association—Copyright (Received November 18. 7.35 p.m.) ~~ / NEW YORK. Nov. 17

A message from Asuncion, Paraguay, states that Bolivia's army in the Pilcomayo .region collapsed to-day and that seven Bolivian forts fell into Paraguay's hands. Wild rejoicing swept the capital as the news Spread that Fort Ballavian, the stout outpost against which five " successive waves of Paraguayan soldiers had beaten 'only to fall back in sanguinary failure, had been taken. Many peoplf? predict that the two and a-half years' bitter fighting for possession of the low, swampy Chaco region is nearly at an end. ; The shattered remnants of the Bolivian forces in the Pilcomayo sector are said to be retreating northward along the only roi.d left open to them, that which follows the banks of the river. Reports, have reached Asuncion that the Paraguayans took 10,000 prisoners in their smashing victory. The biggest of the war forts that fell ■with the Fort Ballavian included Fort Chachalla, further up the river, which earlier reports'had indicated might- provide the retreating Bolivians with their second line of defence. Bolivian troops are reported to be fleeing in wild disorder toward Villa Montes, the major Bolivian army base. The Paraguayan troops are said to have swept ini:o Fort Ballavian at 7 a.m. after a,n all night forced march from the small, Fort Independicia which in a surprise counter-offensive they had captured on the previous day. The Bolivians' communications were severed by the Paraguayan advance in Canada el Careen sector. The former had evacuated the fort after setting fire to the ammunition dumps and supply warehouses. They attempted no resistance. PARAGUAYAN STRATEGY SURPRISE FOR THE ENEMY LURED OUT OF POSITION t (Received November 18, 6.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 17 The Buenos Aires correspondent of the New Yorlf Times states that Fort Ballavian, the keystone of Bolivia's de- ' fences in the Gran Chaco region, fell before Paraguayan stratagem to-day. According; to reports from the scene of hostilities under this crushing blow the Bolivian defence in Southern Chaco crumbled rapidly with the quick loss of six other important fortsThe Paraguayans claim to have captured much war gear, as well as 10,0(X) prisoners, witii. a minimum amount of fighting. In panic many Bolivian soldiers are reported to crossed the Pilcomayo River into Argentina, where a large Argentine army is being massed to prevent a breach'of neutrality. ' The Paraguayan coup was effected early in the rporning. Throughout the night Bolivian sentries had awaited an expected artillery bombardment pre- >- paratory to the attack, but the Paraguayans quietly surrounded the position and captured a considerable Bolivian force. "' It is reported that the Bolivians were 1 lured out of their position by a Paraguayan feint at the petroleum fields to the north. ' CLAIMS DISCOUNTED BOLIVIAN VERSION FORT VOLUNTARILY EVACUATED (Heceived November 18, 8.45 p.m.) NEW YORK. Nov. 18 A message from La Paz, Bolivia, states that the Bolivian high command denies Paraguay's claim that her soldiers captured Fort Ballavian. ' " The report that the fort fell in consequence of enemy attacks is false, the authorities state. " The abandonment of the fort was ordered because it no longer had any military importance. Nothing 'was lost in the evacuation." The high command issued another statement saying that the Bolivian ad- ' vance in the Picaiba and Piquirenda sectors is being continued. The War Ministry asserts that Bolivia continues to dominate thp situation in the Gran Chaco. /