The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-04-23
PARAGUAY.

Dispatches from Rear Admiral Davis-Posi.
tiOn Of the Allied Armies-Access to the
American Minister Denied by the Allies.
WASHINGTON. April q, 1859.
Dispatches have been received from Rear Admiral
Davis, commanding the South Atlantic squadron,
dated Montevideo, March -. The Kansas, which
had grounded near Vetta, In the Paraguay, and had
been in that position over month, got anoat Feb
ruary 25 and had arrived at Montevideo. having
apparently suffered no injury to her hull The Wasp
had been despatched to Asuncion TO Investigate the
report that the house In which the late United states
Minister had left the archives had been broken into
and pillaged.
The reports were that on the occupation Of Asun-
con by the allies the Legation was forciby entered
the books and papers Unfortunately scattered
through the streets, the rQp safe broken into ana
the contents appropriated. NO communication had
vet been opened with General Mcmahon. and 1t was
believed dispatches from him were still at that place
Before the Wasp departed on this mission our Min
later at BueDQs Ayres had obtained from the Afgen-
tine Minister OF war al o .sr t9 General Mitre the
furnish Lieutenant Kirkland Of the Wasp, an
Communicate comm With General McMahon The Wasp
reached AsuncOn on the 21st OF February
and Lieutenant Commander Kirkland had a
Correspondence with the General-in. Chief OF
Brazilian forces, requesting him TO extend the usual
courtesy OF passage through the lines under nag
nlcatipn could be opened with General McMahon.
The request was declined, on the ground that In the
actual circumstances and necessities OF war IL was
the imperious duty of the allied generals TO besiege
completely the enemy, who, after being conquered,
morally and materially, in all his Entertainments on
the river, had taken refuge in the interior with the
object Of prolOngng the grand SACRIFICES OF the allied
states The new operations which the allied armies
were on the point OF executing required that the
enemy be deprived OF all communication with the
exterior. Furthermore, the place where General
Mcmahon could be found was unknown, and 1t
would be morally and materially Impossible for the
allied generals to expose the dignity OF their flags
ana the lives Of some Of their comrades by sending
to the enemy an escort to conduct dispatches TO
General Mcmahon.
The dispatches which had been entrusted to the
MARQUIS de Caxais to forward to General Mcmahon
were returned to Lieutenant Commander Kirkland
IL was believed at the time TINS refusal was given
tho allied armies fully aware OF the location Of
General Mcmahon, and that gentleman had even
written to them and requested that his dispatches
be forwarded 10 him. Lieutenant Commander Kirk
land appointed board OF naval officers to in
vesgate the reported forcible entry into the Lega
ton. After deligent inquiry, very little definite In
formation could be obtained. 1t seemed TO be
generally understood that during the sacking OF the
city by the allied forces the building formerly occu
pied by the American Legation was entered and such
books and papers had been left there were scat
tered and destroyed Some OF these books were said
be IN the hands Of the soldiers and to have been
Offered for sac.