The Sun.
London, England, 1868-04-27 00:00:00

It is now more than a fortnight since the pas-
-1 sage of the Iltunaita by the Brazilian ironclads has
been heralded to the world as the greatest nautical
feat of any navy in the world, but the advantages
it brought to the Allies are as yet not mentioned.
The mails just arrived via Bordeaux only prove
that the Brazilians, with the gigantic forces at their
disprral, are as yet unable either to gain a sub-
stantial victory over Marshal Lopez and his gallant
at:ny or to conquer Paraguay. ;Three of the iron-
clad • which have passed Ilumaita sailed without
any molestation to Asuncion, where Cie fort of
Tacumbu stopped their progress, and to show their
presence bombarded the city for two hours, without
giving to the innocent inhabitants any warnibg, as
is customary in civilised warfare. The Government
Palace, the Arsenal, and Custom-house being si-
tuated quite close to the river, have suffered
most; but of this we only have Brazilian accounts,
as they did not think it proper to land. Although
the Brazilians have now part of their navy above
and below Ilumaita, Marshal Lopez ts still in
communication with his capital, and ' the ne-.7 forts
erected on the Chaco side are said to do a great
deal of mischief to the allie 1 fleet. Lopez is not
yet vanquished ; his army has taken a most com-
manding position right in front of the advanced
linter of his enemies. The fiercest cannonading
during all the war took place on the 3d of March,
the result of which was not known at Buenos
Ayres when the steamer left, but was known later
by telegraph in Montevideo, and a decided
defeat of the Allied forces as well as the loss
of one of their ironcla is was reported. 06
the 2d of March, before daylight, the Paraguayans
attacked, in open canoes; two ironclads at anchor
opposite Ilutnaita, which they boarded successfully,
and after killing most of the officers and men on
board, and destroying the machinery, were forced to
leave by the fire of four vessels which came to the
rescue. Such daring feats show that Lopez must
still have plenty of men and ammunition, and that
his people are ready to sacrifice everything to free
their country from the invader. It is believed that
Lopez and his people would make a second Moscow
of every town in the country before submitting to
the Brazilian rule. If we look at the events in the
Argentine Confederation and Uruguay, we find that
the people begin to understand the true policy of
Brazil, and that Paraguay the only Government true
to American principles, having almost sacrificed
its existence to maintain them, as friends and allies,
they will come forward in the hour of need. In the
Confederation the mistrust of the people against their
own Government has reached a climax, and General
Urquiza is called on to lead his followers into the
field against Brazil and General Mitre. At Monte-
video the assassination of General Flores, the tool
obfegtranzinilgaonfd
athseeaduetshoorf
ar obftbhaisrites tear,
was only the
brought about
by the different political chieftains to change if poi-
sible the policy of the present Government, and to
bring one true to the interests of the country, which
of course is against the aggressive policy of Brazil.
General Battle, a friend of Flores, was elected Pre-
sident at Montevideo, and established for a week
or so, but just as the steamer left on the 14th of
March, Montevideo underwent another revolution,
and General Suarez, whose bloody deeds at Pay-
sandu may yet be remembered, is said to be at the
head of the movement. Another version is, that a
leading general of the Blanco party had entered the
city and ousted President General Battle, whose
Ministers had immediately resigned, and the new
Government had declared in favour of Paraguay.
We have no doubt that the next steamer will bring
us some stirring news, and that the war in Para-
guay may be decided by Uruguay and the Argen-
tine Confederation breaking off their unnatural
alliance with Brazil.