The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-10-19

Tho Struggle In Paraguay.
Our news from Buenos Ayres Is OF great
interest Tho allied fleet has reduced Fort
Cuupaity and Is now in front OF the famous
stronghold Of Humaita In the demolition OF
Curupaity the feet showed some excellent
fighting qualities, which give promise OF bold
movements in the future. 1t must DO under
stood, however, that Curupally was nero
advance work Of the great main fertilization OF
Humaia. This has been fortified with all the
skill that could be brought 70 bear by Para
quay. Foreign engineers have labored ardu-
ously in adding auxiliary works. Guns OF
very heavy calibre arc mounted behind its
thick parapets, and every precaution which
has been available has been brought to bear TO
Make 1t formidable Chains have been
stretched across the river anG torpedoes
obstruct the channel. In fact tue allied feet
has need Of all its skill and courage to make
the slightest impression upon tho works
Trese ara at least ton times as strong as
Curupaity, and we believe impregnable to
anything thai the allies can bring TO bear upon
them.
stretched out in . thin line, forms crescent.
One arm of this rests on the northern bank
of tho Parana, just above its junction with the
Paraguay river The other they are vainly
endeavoring to throw against the Paraguay
river above Fort Humaita, and connect with
of the great fertilization. II will thus ba seen
that in tho new campaign they have staked
their fortunes upon their feet instead Of their
army, tn, latter playing, for the moment.
secondary part The army occupies very
dangerous position. Stretched far to the north
and westward, and receiving its supplies by
the flank, 1t affords a splendid opportunity
for Lopez to fall with small compact force
upon Its left wing, cut of Its communications
and isolate the whole army 80 completely that
nothing but . miracle can save it from capture.
The generalship displayed in the handling Of
the allied troops has, from the inception of the
war, been very Inferior The very strongest
point in the Paraguayan territory was selected
Tar far attack; and saoh new phase Of the allied
plans has exhibited additional weakness
in the military head that controls.
From the day that the allies drove the
Paragusyan troops from the soil Of Corrientes
matters have been going on from bad to worse.
The first campaign failure, they never had any
further hope; and were it not for the secret
clause Of the treaty Of alliance between the Ar
gentine republic, Brazil and Uruguay, they
would have Withdrawn from the hopeless con-
test long since. Ithss cost them already three
hundred millions Of dollars. The energies OF
half Of South America have been wasted.
There is not . single civilizing principle at
stake In the contest On the contrary, II is q
war purely for national and personal aggran-
dizement 1t is war which had its birth in the
onslaught Of the European monarchical Powers
to cverturn the republics Of the Western
World. II was born at the same time and
took shape from the same brains that conceived
the Mexican expedition, that planned tho on
slsught Of England and France against New
Granada, the spiteful dash of Spain against
her old colonies OF Chile and Peru, and 1t
hinged more or less upon the great battle
which we fought out in the United States
against the ignorance which attempted TO ride
INTO cover upon the ruins Of intelligence. The
allies may overthrow Paraguay If they have an
influx Of European treasure, but the results
will DO valueless to them. A more exhaustive
war would Immediately break out between the
traditional and mortal enemies-Brazil and the
Argentine republic-over the division Of the
spoils. We have little fear, however, of this
ra 1ilt for without foreign aid tha slliaa M
longer possess tho elements for the conquest
OF country which Of itself is natural forth
1caLion.