GREATEST BATTLE IN CAMPAIGN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19804, 21 May 1934, Page 9

GREATEST BATTLE IN CAMPAIGN

FIERCE FIGHT IN GRAN CHACO AMERICA PROPOSES ARMS EMBARGO United Press Association—Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received May 20, 6.30 p.m.) NEW YORK. May 19. The Buenos Aires correspondent of the New York “Times,” says:'—“While the League of Nations and President Roosevelt are making belated efforts to halt the Gran Chaco war. reports from the battlefront declare that the Bolivian and Paraguayan forces, for a week, have been deadlocked in the greatest battle of a two year old struggle at Fort Bollivian, Bolivia’s headquarters on the Pilcomayo river, the right wing of a twenty miles battle front, on which 60,000 to 80,000 men are engaged. Paraguay is attacking viciously. Over one hundred 75m. and 105 m guns, directed by air force, hope to dislodge the Bolivians, before the expected reserves arrive. The reports do not estimate the extent of the casualties, but speak of repeated Paraguayan infantry charges being mowed down by Bolivian machine gun nests. It is estimated that at least three times as many combatants are involved as in any previous engagement. HAMPERING TRAFFIC IN ARMS. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S PLANS. United P'ess Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright WASHINGTON, May 18. The United States Government late to-day asked Congress to declare an embargo on arms shipments to Bolivia and Paraguay. President Roosevelt asked Congress to-day to ratify the Geneva Arms and Ammunition Convention, in a move to obtain control of the traffic in munitions. Mr Roosevelt said: “The private and uncontrolled manufacture of arms and munitions, and the traffic in them, becomes a serious source of international discord and strife. It is not possible, however, effectively to control such an evil by isolated action by any one country.” The message did not refer to the British proposal for a world embargo on the shipments of arms and munitions to the warring nations—Bolivia and Paraguay—but it is believed that the President has sought treaty ratifications to join in that effort. The President also urged the re-convening of the World Disarmament Conference to set up authority for the supervision and control of the arms traffic. The proposals are much more farreaching than those embodied in the Convention of 1924, which is now before the Senate.