The New York herald., 1868-10-31
SOUTH AMERICA.
The Struggle for the Domination OF
La Plata Valley.
PlOttings for the Paraguay
War.

war.
Unfortunately for the Oriental republic General
Bartolome Mtre, President OF the Argentine repuD.
Nc ambitious OF military honors. and who, as Cover
nor Of Buenos Ayres, had so hostzed the Oriental
administration, wished to carry war into Paraguay
70 mend the error OF the campaign OF Begrano upon
which he had long meditated preparatory 70
writing his history. He commenced by
launching the caadfllo General venancio
Flores into Uruguay as . future suxillery
Flores betraying his protector, General Urquiza
had fought at the head OF the cavalry in the battles
Of Cepeda snd Pavon, when Buenos Ayres was
armed against the thirteen confederated provinces,
whose troops led by the conqueror at Caseros,
Orquiza. - sN.
The Oriental government, being Informed Of these
attempts Of the Argentnes to again kIndle civil war
In Uruguay, gave orders to form body OF 600 men
as corps OF observation to be stationed to the north
Of the Rio Negro, while they aske the motives which
animated such . political movement and that all
cause for complaint should be removed.
The false securities given by General Mitre's
agents induced Ben0 to disarm his troops in March
1868. H
On April 16 General Venanco Flores, with three
companions and several loads OF money, left Buenos
Ayres, and on the 1stn or 10th OF the same month
above the mouth OF the Rio Negro. There he
gathered horses and marched northward to
the river Cuarain, almost without being no.
ticed to place himself at the head OF 800 men,
who on the oath OF April took possession Of the
town OF Santa Rosa. Their invasion had been made
from the frontier provinces OF Uruguayana and
Monte Caseros belonging to the Brazilian province
Of Rio Grande and to the Argentine province OF Cor
rientes where under protection Of the authorities
shese forces had been organized.
Then commenced the raids OF Flores over the
entire Banda Oriental. which by It's peculiar topo
graphy is admirably adapted to partisan style Of
warfare. Tie force, which was increased by Brazi.
han recruits and by renegade OF the country,
who had nothing to lose IN the warfare success
full here and routed them, but always found protec-
ton upon the Brazilian frontier, where they ex.
changed their stolen and worn down horses for fat
ones, at the rate Of two for one, with the Brazilian
estancieroS.
Buenos Ayres put in play all her resources to aid
the gler7iuero. In her capital was the headquarters
Of the revolutionary Colorado Committee which pub
licly collected funds and purchased arms, which
reached Flores by Argentine vessels OF war. Hostili
ties became manifest that the Oriental men war
were detained at the island OF Martin Garcia, which
Is ct the mouth OF the river Uruguay, to intercept
all communication between Montevideo and the
capture OF an armed Buenos Ayrean steamer which
was carrying arms and supplies to the rebels had
offended Argentine sovereignty. Every class Of hos
tilty was received by the Oriental government from
the Argentine Republic, although under protest Of
the sricest neutrality In the struggles Of Uruguay
At Salto they loaned to Flores the steamer Guale.
quay, which hosted the Oriental dag during the
bombardment Of the town, rehoisting the Argentine
nag eight days after, when her services were no
longer needed. Through his own power Flores was
alone master Of the ground upon which he stood.
The government. which felt the united blows OF
Brazil and the Argentine Republic. sent commits
sion to the government Of Paraguay which had al
ready had occasion to call the attention of the gov
ernment OF General Mitre to the unjustifable acts
taking place In the Oriental State In violation OF
neutrality. The Argentine government took very
little notice OF the protests aud observations Of Pres
dent Lopez and the press Of Buenos Ayres oosed its
TRADES upon his government and people.
The Oriental mission had no result for the momen:
except to give notice Of the hostites waged 10y the
neighboring governments.
The raids Of Flores were upon the point Of being
terminated Everywhere beaten and pursued, his
partisans disbandng and disconnected. his attempt
ed revolution was virtually defeated.
The government Of the country had continued
working we'll. At the expiration OF the Presidential
term OF Berro the President of the Senate Agurre,
assumed the Chief Magistracy according to the fun
damenta law.
In tho meantime Brazil and Buenos Ayres feared
shat Flores might Dc driven from Uruguay. The Rio
Grande deputies OF the former Power made direct
application 10 their government to aid Flores for,
if defeated, the 1000 Brazians who accompanied
him would be turned over to the vengeance OF the
Blancos.
1he Conseiero Savara, accredited In this epoch in
extraordinary commission TO the RIO de La Plata,
tsonarv n,ovemen,s .u THIS government represented
10 him that Brazil had adhered to the resolutions OF
the Congress OF Paris and without result proposed
TO submit TO arbitration al questions existing be-
tween the two governments.
The government OF Paraguay here offered lie me-
dation, which was refused. senor Savaira carried
with him n Prearranged plan and would not change
II. He roughly broke with the Oriental government
Under T pretsxt Of making reprsas for imaginary
wrongs the Brazilian squadron entered the
Uruguay river, captured Q few small orien-
tween the government and the garrlsons which
were holding the towns Of Paisand6 and salto,
che forces OF the empire. Orders given TO the
Brazilian army OF Rio Grande to Invade Oriental ter
rItory, ana the most decided protection given to
Flores the cdud0io, who alone was powerlcss 70 re-
duce his country to state OF vassalage.
President Lopez OF Paraguay. being well Informed
OF Brazian tendenc es protested In note OF August
30 1864, declaring TO the imperial government that
ne would consider Il cos,s be,if Il the Brazilian
forces invaded the Banda oriental, and would, in
consequence take sucn measures the interests OF
Paraguay demanded; for he looked upon the abso-
lutte independence OF the states OF La Plata a
cessIy to the political existence OF his country.
During the question OF limits between Brazil and
Paraguay IN 1850 the empire had intended to settle
che difficulties by force OF arms and without the aid
Of the Argentine Republic. AT that date President
Lopez knew well the Importance OF the understand
Ing existing between tie brazilian Legation and
General Nit to stink the oriental nationality. He
knew well that the consequences would be most dis
strous for his country, shut up In the interior OF
South America aud having It's only outlet 10 the
world dominated NJ its mouth by powerful empire.
Brazil, which saw within Its grasp the opportu-
nifty TO satisfy It's Old pretensions OF limiting Para
quay territory by the boundary Of the river Apa
the north and by the ieveny OF the fort OF HumaitA
laughed al the protest Of Lopez, and invading
Uruguay took possession Of the town Of Meo.
This act, which In the face OF the protest Of Au-
gust go 1894 was declaration OF war. was an.
answered by the government OF Paraguay by selling
the steamer Marquis OF Olinda. then route for
Matto.Grosso and lo wing this she invaded that pro-
vince, taking possession OF fort Coimbra Miranda,
Albuoreraue and other points or Upper Paraguay,
route tie BRAZILIAN frnnns ha