The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-31
lF~Sa- Ft55-. 7 - II
The War in South America.

The War In South America.
During the struggle of the allied French and
English forces against Russia in the Crimea
sort of grim pleasantly prevailed among our
people on reading the war news by each arrival
of a steamship from Europe to the effect,
'Sebastopol has fallen, and Immediately after
wards, ''Sebastopol has not fallen" and
again, perhaps during the same evening, Csc
bastopol has been reinforced" or 'Sebastopol
is stronger than ever" In South America, on
the banks Of the noble Parana, history is
repeating ITSELF After the publication of
many reports and an equal number of contra
dictions as to the progress and prospects Of
the confederated Brazlo-Argentine forces
against the power of Paraguay during the
past three years, we have to-day kilograms
from the seat of war, by way of London and
the Atlantic CABLE dated at Rio Janero and in
rear of the Paraguayan lines near Humaita, the
first assuring us that that now celebrated fort
ress had fallen into the hands of the allies, and
the latter equally positively asserting that it
remained in good condition, was well manned,
had been supported by new fanking outworks
and that the Paragraphs never entertained an
idea of abandoning it. On the contrary, the
Paraguayan officers state that the allies having
sent out detachment in reconnaissance in the
direction of their works on the Tebicuari river,
the force was met by their soldiers on the
banks OF the Taparo and dofoated, with con-
siderable loss, after severe engagement. We
are also left to infer that President Lopez had
not made any advances towards o peace ar
rangement
This is Sebastopol news over again, but in
the more serious aspect that, while our trade
was really benefited by the prolongation Of the
war in the Crimea, North American COM
merce is vastly disturbed and many mercantile
arrangements considerably confused by the
overwhelmingly chronic-strife which dis
organizes the entire interests of one of the
most fertile regions of the Continent. South
American contradiction in war matters is pro-
verbal all over the world, but even in its
midst we should expect that the United States
Ministers in Paraguay and Rio Janeiro would
seize every opportunity of obtaining correct
information as to the condition of affairs and
forwarding it to Washington for the enlighten-
ment both of our government and the people.
Our cable kilograms to-day report, however,
that both these gentlemen, Hon. Mr.. Wash
burn in Paraguay, and Hon. James Watson
Webb, of mahogany stock pistol fame, in
Rio Janeiro, are each engaged in an
official difficulty, tho one with the
Marquis dc Caxias, chief of the allied
army, and the other with the Emperor and
Cabinet of Brazil, as personages of less note
would be entirely unworthy of his diplomatic
ire. Mr.. Washburn has been refused o free
transit on the Parana river, and Mr.. Webb is
in vindication Of Mr.. Washburn and the United
States steamer Wasp and threatens-as he has
on one or two occasions previously-to demand
his passports under certain contingency.
This may prove serious phase of the South
American war, perhaps has been and is now
serious The Emperor of Brazil, If not fully
aware of the martial propensities of Hon.
James Watson Webb, may have unwittngly
offended him, and this very incident may have
affected the whole course of the war If So
the Emperor had better read the history of the
mahogany stock pistols and at once "back
down" for there IL not Bourbon among
them more hufy and unyelding than Mr..
| Webb. To take Humaiti is one matter; to
conquer General Webb horse of quite another
color.