The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-20
THE PARAGUAYAN WAR.

The PARAGUAYAN WAR.
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Communication Between Lopez and Comte
REu-Advance of the Allied Army-E n
counter with the Paraguayans-Position Of
the acknowledgements Of San Pedro
The Defensive Measures Of Lopez-The
Paraguayan Defeat Explained.
From the Angfo-Ih Brazilian Times of June % we
obtain the following particulars Of the progress OF
the war in Paraguay
A note was sent by Lopez to the COmte d'Eu o !.
the 10Th Of May demandinis;hat the Paraeuayan ~
Argentine5 be taken fr0lic Opid sent into his II ma
and that the use OF the Paraguayan flag be forb 6en
threatened to force his prisoners to fight aga st the
allies.
TO this the Comte d'Eu replied that. bel ny crcn.
mander-in-Chief OF only the Brazilian rrces he
would lay Lopez's note before his coleag ses: that
In regard to the appearance of the Parar Hayan nag
GUS fact that the war was not against the
Paraguayan nation, and great man 3 Paraguay
allies lie denied the imputati On Tlae . the
Paraguayan prisoners were not respecteC; on
the contrary the allies had Inv sriaby treated
liberty, their treatment contrasting greatly with the
cruelles perpetrated by Lopez on his prisoners
Finally, he laid upon Lopez the er tire responsibty
OF any increase OF i'll treatment Ne might Subject his
prisoners to on the pretext give o in his note.
d'Eu gives an account of his az vance. ~
Having received 1000 hOrs es he determined AL
lougn tnere were none as re- crvc, to advance upon
the enemy, and II possible scure the railway TO Pa,
ragaary before the Paragua IAN spies could warn the
enemy General Mitre ais agreed to march, but
ingly the army, In two col ps set out on the 22d
column. under General 10 40 Manoel Menna Barreto,
having started two days before by San Lorenzo and
liza to cover the right ank A force was sent to
Patinho Cue to observe the enemy and prevent him
destroying the railway sridge there
On the 23d the First orps reached Itarua and the
second patinno cue; On the Oath Il halt had to be
made because OF the transport mules being tired
occupy the Taquaral station and take Patnho Cue
in reverse the enc ny, however, burned his camp
ana Wlthdrew eaW Ag the bridges and railway unir-
nred. General Joao Manoel Menna Barreto's
column rejoiaed IN First corps in consequence Of
orders sent 10 rhat eeet force from It had that
three and killing aree On the 25th the FIRST corps
SET out IN heav' ram for Plrayd, Ranking corps
Guazuvlra the PLAN Of PirayG was entered. on the
othero slde OF V thioh the mountains held BY Lopez
were, and OF III base of which a camp was seen on
1re.
colonel Man auca Cypriano's brigade was ordered
10 cross the irayh and make some prisoners; but
owing to the difficulties caused by the PrayI river
anu liz swan s the enemy got into the wood. How
ever, COlOne LManduca dashed at another camp fur
Their OFF. at Cerro Leon, ana succeeded in Killing
thirty and nakipg twenty PRISONERS losing only one
Killed and one wounded. Meantime the Cerro Leon
Railway 81 alton and the railway bridge on the pira.
yu were secured by troops from the vanguard SIX
wagons were got ut Cerro Leon three OF which were
handed over TO The Argentines General Mitre having
sent on the San Martin regiment OF cavalry to take
pace amid the vanguard. A locomotive was also
III. A
Pirayu boiler and some pieces OF another locono-
tive were also got The prisoners SAID the rest had
been sent to the mountains some time before
On the 26th General Nasco Aves Perera was sent
with two brgades OF cavalry TO occupy the rest OF
This was successfully done and forty prisoners were
made. All the prisoners made up to then were In
general stout men. They knew nothing of Lopez's
positions. and intentions, having been long time
away IRON his main forces Thirty-twO wagons
were found at Paraguay, all in good order. The
only damage done to the railway was the destruc-
ton OF bridge twenty-siX feet long, two miles on
the near side of Paraguay; but this was soon. re-
placed and the wagons were brought to Pray1, at
which place the CoInte d'Eu established his head.
Quarters 1t being opposite to Ascurra pass, behind
noissance was mdde on the 10th, but little informa
ton could be gained IN consequence OF the woods.
The Second corps was stationed at Taquaral to
guard the first passes Of the Pray1 and 10 protect
stretch OF the railway, while the Argentine army,
which reached the plain OF Pirayd the 27th under
Iaquarai ana Pirayd. the telegraph wires had been
removed to the mountains; but the posts re-
NAMED the line was re-establlShed by the 29th.
The possession OF the railway and the new posi-
tons OF the allies cut the enemy from making raids
between Ascuncon and Angostura.
The ports OF Villeta and Angostura being nearer
than Asuncion, orders mad been given to land the
cattle az those ports and TO explore road by Yagu
efon. lta and Gurambare.
Paraguay is forty-two miles from Asuncion and
about half way to Villa RIGA. The railway proposed
between Paraguay and Villa RIGA Is not
structed.
The accounts given by the American officers who
went to Ascprra, throw doubt on the truth OF the
numerous alleged executions by Lopez, Just as the
reported wholesale slaughter OF 400 prisoners at
Of eone p the r
The American officers say they saw Caminos awe
AND al liberty, and Venanclo Lopez. the sister and
O. The mother also existed.
Two hundred and thirty-three vagrant Para
4guayans at Asuncion were arrested May 49,
and sent 10 Luque to be set to work receiving pay
The Brazilian troops at Rosario on being re-
Enforced by those under the command of General
Calnara undertook operations against the Para
guayans at san Pedro BY the aid of the squadron
ne brigade landed in the Jejuy seized San Pedro and
marched against the Paraguavans stationed on The
bills OF Sargento Lomas to the number of 200 men,
nnder the command OF Colonel Gaeano. An en-
easement took place on the 3Oth of May in which
1tls SAID the Paraguayans were dsastrously routed
WIN loss OF 900 killed and 800 prisoners, together
win twelve small field pieces two flags and some
arms and munitions. 1t Is also said 100 on-coul-
bMants were taken. No Official details Of the actions
nave yet been published. The loss reported by the
viG'ors was eighteen killed and eighty Wounded,
column was sent from Pirayu under the COM
mand OF General J0ao henna Barreto to march
upon VIA hlca and form junction with the troops
OF General Pornho. On arriving at the Tebcuari
II Was found impossible to cross IL on account
OF t high state OF water and the entire absence OF
posted at sapucaia, and General Barreto nc
once proceeded to attack 1t. A short but severe
were taken prisoners and the rest of tne garrison
were, 1t Is SAID, killed. About 600 non combatans
gathered from the country lately invaded, were
found IN the woods and were sent to Asuncion No
official detailed account Is 70 hand.
up . Gsst dates General Menna Barreto had not
been heard of General Portinnos brigade. which was
supposed to be marching from the Upper Parana In
the direction Of Villa RIGA and Pirayu.
ny a. map OF the present seat OF operations 1t ap-
pears that The highlands which Lopez purposes 10
defend are frngcd on their west by range OF steep
mountains, presenting seven or eight dinicuit |
passes. The widest gap Is that OF Ascurra which |
Lopez has made his headquarters, and where |
he Is supposed to have about 1000 men.
All the other gaps, dlficult OF access by ma
ture are said to have been further closed by
formidable series Of abattls The ground Is gene.
rally swampy at the base OF the range and q large
lagoon exists or ten miles length to the north of
Pray6 and Taquara, intervening between the rail-
way and the range. branch railway, OF six miles |
length runs to Serro Leon, which Is an advanced
spur OF the range and Il about four miles to the |
south Of Ascurra.
Plrayd, the Comte deus headquarters lies about
seven miles west Of Ascurra. Paraguay, near
which the constructed railway ends thirteen miles
70 tne soutneast OF Pirayd Prayd is about forty
TWO miles rom Asunct0n and thirtynve from the |
PARAGUAY o. Angostura. Caacupe, LoDcz's foundry |
AND arsenal s about i've miles to the northwest OF