The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-26
THE PLATE WAR.

malta - Paraguaynn Attack at PRsO
da PatriR RSpHlsed by the Allied
-OavRIry-Eighty Thousand BraEiIian
yTF6opa1n the rI'teId-pekensivo works
OF the Parag nay ans Reign Of TerFOr
in PaFaEuay-Ihe DimcuIty Between
Chilli and Urugaay-Great Scarcity of
beef CattIe-Intense Heat as Buen0s
AYres-I04 tn the shade tn December,
Etc. Etc.
ALLIED PREPARATIONS TO ATTACK HUMATTA.
The Allies have concentrated their forces at
Corrientes, near the boundary of Paraguay, and
whence forces can be sent up either the Para
quay river or the Parana. Recently the Bra
Hlaus have been increasing their forces, so that
the Allies must now have assembled forty-hve
thousand men. BY agreement President Gene
raj Nitre is Commander-in-C Chief while the Allies
occupy the Argentine territory II is said that
by the end of January matters in preparations
will be ready for an attack on Fortress Humaita.
THE place has lately been much strengthened.
About two hundred guns are in position, chains
are placed across the river, and torpedoes are
planted near it. President Mitre intends to
attack this fort simultaneously by land and
water.
THE PARAGUAYAN DEFENsEs
Across the river Parana there are two ferries,
or foTds, where the banks of the river are prac-
ticable for teams. These are Paso da Patrla
and Peso de los Bueyes. At the former the
Paraguayans are strongly fortifying and prepar-
ing well to dispute the pass. As the other pass
is unfortifed 1t is likely that President Mtre will
choose this one when he Is ready. He has
ordered the preparation ofthree hundred canoes,
to hold twenty men each, for crossing. BY such
means the Paraguayans often come over at night
and steal cattle and reconnoitre.
General Flores, of Uruguay, is guarding the
Paso da PatIia with Brazilian troops; General
Caceres, of Ooruentes, is at the city of Corren-
tes, commanding Argentines; General Panuero
is with the commander-in-chtef, two and half
leagues from the city of Corrientes
PARAGUAYAN ATTACK REPULsED.
The most important piece of news by this
steamer is that the Paraguayans have again
crossed over at the Paso da Patra and attacked
the cavalry stationed there under command of
General Caceres. The enemy at first numbered
one thousand men, but havln. been reinforced
by five hundred more, comprising artillery and
cavalry, they attacked Caceres' brave followers,
but were driven back in disorder to the noun.
tains which abound III that section.
REIGN OF TERROR IN PARAGUAY.
The last conscription of Paraguay had added
so many old men and boys to the army as to In.
duce the belief that, as to men, Lopez is limited
Several prisoners, long incarcerated, have died,
1t is said, of poison. Many women are held in
prison for political oflenses such as expressing
opinions ayerse to the Paraguayan Government.
In short, Lopez has instituted q reign of terror
that is too severe to last long.
GENERAL URQUIzAs FORCES,
OF Entire Rios, have again dispersed in large
numbers. General Mitre has written to him to
send on to headquarters all the troops ready for
the field, andto punish the dellnquents. Already
large numbers OF officers and men are applying
to General Urquiza for pardons. Nine have
already been shot for mutiny desertion.
General UrquiZa is etfectually aiding the Allies
by his vigor and discipline. At the outset Para
quay offered him great inducements to join
Lopez; but he declined, wisely as well as patrl-
otically. His opposition to the Allies would
have prolonged the struggle through years.
SCARCITY OF PROVISIONS AMONG THE ALLIES.
The fact that the Paraguayans, in their one
L..
away every COW and sheep in Corrientes, makes
supplies OF meat for the army scarce and dear,
A few days ago saw six very splendidly got up
ambulances ready for the afmy, labelled in large
letters, Argentine Sanitary Commission" A
recent fair for that society herethe first of the
kind ever held-yielded $26, 900 in silver. q.
The Allied fleet is made up chiefly of Brazilian
vessels: Four or five OF the sixteen vessels are
Argentine. Uruguay has none at present; but
she has Just bought three fine gunboats from the
United States, which, under the South American
names of Ydtdg, VagttGmte, and Uruguay, will
soon Join the fleet. The Brazilian iron-clad
Idmdnddre has succeeded in getting above Cor
rentes She is greatly relied on in the pro-
iected assault on Humaita. The Brazilian
monitor Is also there.
Brazilian steam transport was wrecked last
week on the Rio Grande coast, while conveying
troops to the seat OF war. There we're on board
$50 men, OF whom two officers and five soldiers
perished
AS to the state of feeling here, no one ex-
presses any doubt as to the issue. Lopez must
fall, and soon. Every confidence is expressed
in our chief officers; thus tar they have steadily
progressed towards the subiugation of the Pa
raeuayan hordes. The discipline of the army is
stricter than ever was known among Argentine
troops, and they fight with great bravery and
determination. The national paper currency is
constantly increasing III value Both bonds and
bank issues nave advanced about ten per cent
since the'War began. The only exciting politI-
cal Question IS not war or no war, but the re-
moval OF the national capital from Buenos
Ayres.
Ii is expected that Chill will make demands
on this Government, as she did on Uruguay, for
sending out privateers and establishing prize
courts; and under this impression yesterday
gold increased one-tweLteth of one per cent
not very destructive rise. The Parana river is
rising-a fact favorable to the grounded Bra
Zillians The United States war steamers Wasp
and Sbd,clR0t have arrived at Montevideo.
In some parts of the country the grasshoppers
are stripping the fields of all green vegetation,
leaving the peach stones hanging on the leahess
tees, and drinking the streams dry. Several
serious Indian invas'ons have occurred-some
OF them within one hundred miles Of Buenos
AyIes. They are boider than for years, lowing
that our soldiers are away at the war. The
wheat harvest has been gathered; it is the most
extensive and productive ever known here. OF
wool, four and a half millions of pounds have
been brought to this market. The price is going
down, as there is but little competition. The IN.
crease of sheep this year is set down at ten mil.
lions of animals. From the San Juan silver
mines eight and halftons of silver have arrived.
BUENos AYREs December 29-To-dav a SUD
Elemental mail leaves to overtake the other at
Montevideo. | send you the latest news.
Two OF the seven Brazilian transports aground
in the Parana river are again floating. That
river is covered with small craft, in the river