The New York herald., 1869-09-23
THE PARAGUAYAN WAR.


The Parsguayan problem Is rapidly approaching
Its solution, from force Of circumstances rather tnan
from any skill or craftsmanship In the principal men
et the front Of army. The natural effect OF sucn
odds as those Of the allies and the Paraguayans
would be speedy annihilatlon OF the ParaguaJan
pane. After four years OF desperately contested
progress the allies IN possession OF the river and
OF but little else. Even to-day the barricades ana
guards In the city OF Asuncton are placed therc
because the allies are not sure OF their footing in the
only city they have occupied.
Lopez continues to hold az bay the whole force Of
the allies from his fastness on hill at Ascurra but
1t is generally believed to be only fent as ne has
removed his seat of government and most Of the
families In his protection to Caaguazu. where he has
o stronger position awaiting him, and behind 1t
he has the great bulk OF his loyal people, his best
supplies and proximity to friendly tribes Of Indians.
Once instated in his retreat at Caaguazu pursuit
VIII avail. The best skilled forces must dwindle
and perish In going so far inland to attack him,
by the nature Of the ground and by his strategic
movements they must be at his mercy.
Tne folly OF the DuSe OF Ga1as IN not following
more apparent AT the close OF the battles that de-
cided the dominion Of the Paraguayan river Lopez
complete decentralization Of an army never occurred
IN history His flight was precipltate, and even
ns state papers S'm ms w Ware ana ssh s1s &c,
hind on account Of haste and the fewness OF his
followers. One. two three months passed by, four,
returning Paraguayan troops planted ana ate man.
dioca, recovered from their wounds visited old bat
tie fields to seek for arms and before the tardy allies
were ready to pursue Lopez had gathered force.
some say 10 00V men and some say more. l do not
to-day know OF man that expects this war to close
nursing care Of the wilderness, where wild CATTLE
native tea, mandioca, maize and indigenous fruits
viii supply food ana where native industry Will con-
struct garments, as they did for scores Of years
wnen foreign cotton and wool were unknown.
In ten or ffteen years, or less Lopez, still in the
prime OF life viii have such an army as will sweep
into the river all that the allies Will be disposed TO
leave to such fate.
towards Tebicuari, and on his way he left 5000
women and children at villa Rica. These women
the helpless, poverty stricken remnants of the
peaceful population. The richest OF them have no
patrmony to which they can retire. as all property OF
Paraguayans who have porne arms against the
allies is confscated At first the war appealed to
loyalty aud patriotism and sometimes to sedefence
and now under Inc rule Of the allies the man true to
his country aud to his home loses all.
alizason In his camp. But we cannot depend this
for the lies told by spies and deserers worthy OF
CULVER or MunchauSen. The allies have never
yet found Paraguayan camp demoralized nor dis
The province OF Matto Crosse has been released
by Brazil from taxes for two years. account OF its
desolation by the war. This Is province OF Brazil
on the upper Paraguay, and early In the war IL was
Het before the enemy We're followed by the small M
poX and cholera 80 that the people were reduced to
tue last degree Of poverty supplies sent up found
clothing and equally without the means OF self
were Various kinds Of
Prince d'Eu. in command OF the Brazilian forces,
has taken his position just In front OF Lopez in sight
Of each others manguvres; but one does not intend
to attack and the other IS not prepared.
General Mitre (Argentine) recently asked OF his
government reinforcement OF 1000 men. All the
available forces were at once sent 70 him, and the
Brazilian General gave him division, SO that the
Argentine nag has now about 10000 men to repre-
sent It..
The Provisional Governmental Hitch in Its
Formation-The Division of Spoils-A New
Map for Paraguay.
RIO JANEIRO, August %. 1869.
provisional government has at last been agreed
upon. What caused the long delay was that the
Paraguayans at Asuncion ana In the army were
asslnine enough to believe that the talk OF the allied
commissioners about the free election of the men,
bers of the provisional governments was anything
but little high-sounding buncombe, and they per-
sisted in supporting the candidates they preferred
and In objecting to those the allies wanted. The
commissioners, therefore, delayed the election from
time to time but finally at an eleooneerng meeting
held by the PaIaguayans the Argentine commissioner
spoke plainly to them and let them know that If they
did not elect government Of the persons upon
whom tnc cHOCe OF tue alle5 Ieil tuey snOud nave
no provisional government at all. This settled the
matter, and the nominees OF the allies were at the
proper time "elected.n
The question Of the adjustment OF limits with Par
aguay Is now in discussion by the allied commits.
sloners. As the BANDA Oriental has no frontier with
Paraguay the matter does not affect 1t directly. The
countries affected are the Argentine Confederation
Bolivia and Brazil mot speaking Of Paraguay. or
these Brazil, though the one which has borne the
being the extingnshment Of the Paraguaya claims to
strip OF land fifty miles wide ana l50 long, upon the
north Of Paraguay, bounded on the north by the Rio
Branco, on the west by the Paraguay, on the south
by the Apa, and on the east by the mountain range
known as the serra do Maracad, In Brazil and as that
OF Amambarahi, In Paraguay. As territory the piece
OF land is nearly vaueless, 1t consisting In great
| measure Of swanps and lands annually flooded by
the Paraguay; but In strategic point OF view 1t Is
Of vast Importance to Brazil, as on its possession
depends that Of the long disputed Fecho dos Morros
| where the Paraguay has cut its narrowed bed
| through small mountain range furnishing splen-
did site for FORTS commanding the river and prevent.
ing an invasion OF Matto Crosse by IL. The Brazil
ians took possession OF the pass last January and
| have thrown up works which will be developed into
| powerful position and armed with heavy cannon.
1t is settled that the Paraguayan title to Missones
| Is extinct, the Argentnes now holding the part
| which, up to Lopezs retreat across the Upper
| Parana, was In the possession and under the urls-
diction OF Paraguay. The Upper Parana WIN there
| fore form the southern boundary OF Paraguay, and
1t is also settled that its western boundarysha be
the Paraguay. thus extingushIng the claims main-
|
| the indian territory known as El Gran Cnaco. The
only question Is how IL shall be divided between
Bolivia and the Argentine confederation, both OF
whose claims TO UNDETERMINED halves OF IL were dis
| regarded by Paraguay. IL was the understan ding
that Bolivia should receive slice OF the Chaco thai
caused this country TO abandon les Paraguayan sym.
pathlzers and negotiate a friendly boundary and
navigation treaty with Brazil. The Idea seems to be
10 make the PAconayo the boundary between the
Confederation and Bolivia, which would give the
latter 250 miles OF river, furnishing 10 with much
desired outlet: 10 t6at case Bolivia would abandon
ts claims TO the territory between the lower course
OF that river and the Berme and the Confederation
wond give up its claims TO posses the Chaco UD u
latitude twenty-five degrees south. question TO be
! decided however, is whether the northern south
| ern fork OF the Pllcomayo will be taken AZ the
| boundary.
THE FLORIDA INDIANs.-The Indians are in coun
Gil near the Big Cypress for the purpose selecting
| cnief In the place OF Tiger Tail who some time
since committed suicide by hanging himself, and fol
| the purpose OF selecting delegate TO represent
| them IN our state Legislature. There are the rem
| Dnuts OF three trlbeS-SemlnOlpg. Talahassees and